Joy That Cannot Be Taken Away

Let us pray.

Gracious God and Father, for us who know you this morning, prayer is not a routine, but a routine

!

Father, for us who know you this morning, prayer is not a routine, but a routine is not a routine

of the Lord.

And this morning we join in prayer together, asking that just as we have sung your truth,

that we'd also be open to hear the word that informs and instructs our hearts.

That our joy would be full.

That our hearts would have ambition for the things of eternity.

And that, Lord, we would long for the day that the one who we love we would see face to face.

We ask for the power of your Spirit to work in our lives, those of us who are believers,

those who are here that do not know Christ.

That today would be a significant day, one for those who are believers, that our hearts

would be encouraged and strengthened, that we would grow honestly to be more dedicated,

more committed, more resolute, more passionate for the holiness and truth of Christ.

And that those who are here that do not know Christ this morning would have your Spirit convict

them of the misery and the hopelessness of their sin and realize that there is no other remedy

but to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.

We ask this in your precious name.

Amen.

Well, I'm going to ask that you turn in your Bibles this morning to John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

And you who are reasonably well-versed in churchiology know that John 16 is not anywhere near the resurrection stories.

And if you were here before breakfast, that is at the 830 hour, you know that we actually

looked at several of those passages where the fact of the resurrection was borne out,

looking at passages in Luke and in Matthew and in Mark and reminding ourselves of the actual

series of events that took place when Christ was raised from the dead.

What I want us to look at this morning is a passage that several weeks ago as I was studying

and actually doing my own devotional life in the morning, I was just struck as I read this,

because it was a reminder of what would someday come.

Now, this is a day when we as believers celebrate perhaps with the greatest amount of affection

and enthusiasm for the victory that Christ has had over sin and death.

Now, we enjoy Christmas, and I admit that, and I know you enjoy it as well, but the resurrection

Sunday is the day that we draw attention most particularly to the victory that we have in the Lord

Jesus Christ.

And so what I'd like you to do is turn with me to the passage in John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

I'm going to read the passage for you, and then we're going to study it together, and we're going

to ask that the Spirit of God kind of drive these truths home and have a significant difference in

our life.

Let's follow as I read.

You look in your own copy, and I will read from mine.

A little while, and you will see me no longer.

And again, a little while, and you will see me.

So some of his disciples said to one another, what is this that he says to us?

A little while, and you will not see me.

And again, a little while, and you will see me.

And because I'm going to the Father.

So they were saying, what does he mean by a little while?

We do not know what he's talking about.

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him.

So he said to them, is this what you are asking yourselves that I meant by saying?

What I meant by saying, a little while, and you will not see me.

And again, a little while, and you shall see me.

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.

You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy.

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come.

But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been brought, born into the world.

So also you have sorrow now.

But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Now I want you to think with me just a little bit this morning as we look at this passage.

First of all, kind of recognize the background of what Jesus said.

Here was Jesus speaking a little while before his actual crucifixion, and in that context, he was talking about what would come.

And I think it's important for us to note here that the disciples never really understood what Jesus had to say or what he was teaching about his death before it actually happened.

Now you need to recognize that Jesus, from the very beginning, made the fact of his death, burial, and resurrection something that he was very public about.

It wasn't one of these little closeted secrets that was kept away from everyone else.

It was something that Jesus was very upfront in declaring.

But despite all his teaching and the clarity with which he made these statements, his disciples never really picked up on it.

Now we do see that they were a little nervous and a little uncertain, but they really didn't understand what was going to happen.

Probably one of the better illustrations of just how brain-dead they were on this subject is over in Luke chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

And I want you to turn there if you would.

Go in your Bible to Luke chapter 22, and we're going to mark just how much they missed it.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

In Luke chapter 22, we are at the passage where we find the celebration of the Last Supper.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

And we understand that actually what took place is that they thought they were celebrating the traditional, typical Jewish Passover.

And they were kind of looking forward to this, a very important annual event in the life of the nation of Israel.

And they were kind of thinking, well, we're just doing what we normally do.

It's a little bit like for us, it's Thanksgiving on steroids.

For a Jewish individual, it's something that reminds them of God's deliverance from the land of oppression that they've been in.

And so they were thinking about this, and Jesus in that context, remember, he breaks bread and he says,

this is my body which is broken for you.

Now they knew that was not part of the normal Passover meal.

And then he says, and this cup is the cup of the New Testament in my blood.

Whoa, what are you saying?

You would think that would kind of get their attention, wouldn't you?

You would think that would be a good stop and think, what is he talking about?

But the truth of the matter is, is they really didn't connect.

And if you look at Luke chapter 22, verse 24, we see that right after Jesus had taught this lesson,

Luke 22:24

they're on their way out the garden, and here's what they end up talking about.

A dispute rose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

Who are these people that are arguing about who's going to be the greatest?

This is the hand-chosen, selected, the special core, the elite of the future church,

and here they are, they're bickering among one another about who's going to have the first place.

Now it wasn't the first time they'd had this discussion.

Incidentally, we do know from other comparative passages that they thought when Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem

that what was coming next was that the kingdom was going to be established,

Jesus was going to be the king,

and so understandably he was going to need help in managing this kingdom,

and they wanted to be certain of their order and the pecking order.

They wanted to have their place.

They were not thinking at all about the coming crucifixion and what would happen.

And as you look back at our text, go back to John chapter 16, if you will, again.

John 16 · chapter mention

Here he is teaching on the matter of his coming crucifixion,

and we find there that they were a little put off or they were a little uncertain about what was going to happen.

Look at verse 18.

It says,

Now they were talking back and forth,

and one of the problems with talking back and forth when Jesus was around

is that Jesus knew what you were saying.

In fact, he didn't even have to be around to figure out what you were saying.

And anyway, here he is.

They're talking, and they're kind of having this little sidebar conversation,

and Jesus steps right into the middle of it and says,

Hey, what's this that's going on?

What's the problem?

And we find that the disciples, as they were kind of going back and forth on the matter,

they really didn't understand what was taking place.

Now mark what we find here in the passage, and it's going to be the substance of our study.

Jesus tells them right up front what's going to take place.

Christ told them all that they needed to know well in advance.

Look at the passage and mark what it says here.

He says,

And one of the things that I want us to kind of put back in the back of our mind at this moment is this,

is that the truth of the matter is that the Bible, and God's Word in particular,

tells us what we need to know in advance.

It doesn't leave us in the dark.

I appreciate that.

One of the things that goes with advertising is they tell you all the good things up front.

They don't really tell you all the challenges and the probability of things not working out.

Am I right?

The promises are all up front.

The hardship and the difficulty just not out there at all.

And yet God in His Word, He tells us all that we need to know to handle the challenges of life.

And as we look here, we find that God loves His children enough,

and He lets us know what to expect and how the story ends.

And that's what we're looking at here in this passage.

There in verse 20, mark what it says.

It says,

The world will rejoice.

Now stop and think with me what was actually going to take place.

And you turn back in your Bible, and I want you to go there, if you would, just for a moment,

turn back to Luke chapter 23.

Luke 23 · chapter mention

Luke chapter 23, verse 35 and 36.

Luke 23:35

And we find ourselves in this passage in the middle of the crucifixion process,

and we find that there are some people that are rather happy with what's taking place.

In 35 and 36, here's what we read.

It says,

And so here we have a picture of many of the individuals who were standing around the cross

actually finding pleasure in that suffering Savior.

It was kind of a media event of that ancient world.

And individuals that were crucified provided a certain amount of entertainment,

and particularly those who hated Christ,

took this as an opportunity of throwing their attitude towards Him

and mocking and rejoicing in what was taking place.

Furthermore, you can imagine that when Jesus actually died,

that those who hated Him is like,

Finally, we are finished with this guy.

You remember earlier that as Jesus had gained notoriety,

and I mean he gained respect for the miracles that he'd done

and for the power that he was displaying,

the Jewish leaders thought,

Man, we've got to do something about this guy

before he completely sweeps us all away.

And they decided,

Ah, the thing we're going to do is we're going to put him to death.

Got to figure out a way to get this done.

But they had it all planned out.

They called on Judas to betray Him.

And then they put together this mockery of a trial,

and they led that whole thing,

or they brought that whole thing to the crucifixion of Christ.

And no doubt, as they saw things working right towards that very end,

there in their hearts was a growing sense of accomplishment.

And man, we're finally going to be finished with this.

And this problem, this thorn in our side,

is going to be wiped away and we're done.

They're happy.

They're rejoicing.

And Jesus says to his disciples,

You have to understand that there will be people who will rejoice

seeing my crucifixion come about.

He says also in that passage,

He says,

And you yourselves are going to weep and lament.

And we find that level of sorrow and brokenness on the part of the disciples.

Many of them fled because they were afraid.

They too would pay the price with their own lives.

But there were others that came and watched what took place,

and their hearts were broken by what happened.

I think of the passage over in Luke chapter 24,

Luke 24 · chapter mention

where we find even after three days out,

the day of the actual Christ's resurrection,

we have the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

And as they were going there,

what were their spirits like?

I have to admit it.

I stayed up and watched the game last night.

And, you know,

and I didn't have my head hung down on the,

I watched one of the players,

you know,

just hands buried,

his head buried in his hands.

I mean,

he was brokenhearted.

And it's just over a game,

right?

I mean,

and here were the disciples.

The one that they loved had been crucified.

Days later,

they just say,

you know,

we had hoped.

And Jesus,

he looks at these guys,

and he says,

what's the problem?

Don't you know?

Jesus was crucified.

And in this passage in John,

as Jesus is speaking ahead of time

and telling his disciples what's going to happen,

he says,

listen,

there's going to be people that are really excited

at my crucifixion,

and you are going to have broken hearts.

I don't want you to miss this point.

At the beginning,

believers may not know every part of the journey

that their life is going to take,

but I want you to recognize

that God graciously tells us enough

of how things are going to play out

that even in the midst of the heartache

and difficulties,

we do well to remember

we know how the story ends.

And I think that's important for us

to look at this morning.

Don't be surprised by troubles.

Don't be overwhelmed by the challenges

and the hardships that you're going to suffer.

I want you to recognize

that life is marked by difficulties

because we live in this broken world.

On top of that,

if we live as believers,

we shouldn't be surprised

by the heartache and challenges that we face.

I remember reading earlier this week

that there was a student in Florida,

and some of you perhaps have tracked that,

that his assignment in his class,

and this is verified,

his assignment in his class

was to take a large piece of paper

and write Jesus on it

and then drop it down on the ground

and stand back and think for a second

and then stomp on that paper.

And when the student rejected that assignment,

he was at first disciplined

by the administration

for refusing to follow through

with that assignment.

I want to tell you something.

I'm very glad that there was enough

of a public outcry

that the university had a second thought

on that fact.

But listen to me carefully.

I believe it's just an early indicator

of where things are going in our culture.

And recognize the fact

that there is going to be the day

where you shouldn't be surprised

if you are persecuted for your faith

because all around the world

there are people today

that suffer for their faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And don't be surprised if it comes here.

I think today of the fact

that Israel is being discredited

at the very time

that the Muslim Brotherhood

has received millions and millions

of dollars from our government.

Don't be surprised at what's coming

with the debate on homosexual marriage.

I am not the least bit surprised

by what is taking place

with the devolution of our culture.

And in the face of all of this

we need to recognize

that there will be hardships

in this life

and we shouldn't be surprised by those.

Troubles will come.

And over in verse 19

it says here

you know you're asking

about all these details

and I want to explain them to you

Jesus says.

Here's what I said

and he wants to explain it to us

so we understand it clearly.

Now I want you to mark

the promise of lasting joy

that we find here.

Yes hardship is going to come.

Difficulty is going to come.

We're going to face

some real trials

but mark what we find

in the passage.

It says there

your sorrow will be turned to joy.

I want you to look at this

and just see what this

must have looked like.

Go back a little bit

to the passage

in Luke chapter 24 verse 17.

Luke 24:17

Luke chapter 24 verse 17.

Luke 24:17

And he said to them

what is this conversation

you're holding

with each other

as you walk?

Talking about the two

disciples again.

They were kind of sorrowful

but then what does Jesus say?

Mark the reality

of what is going to come

and that's what flows on

here in the passage

a reminder

that Jesus Christ

indeed

is going to be resurrected

from the dead

and glorious truth

of our salvation.

Now I cannot fully imagine

what the emotions

must have been like

for these disciples

at this point

but if you go back

to that passage

in John chapter 16

John 16 · chapter mention

you have to mark the fact

that they were a little

concerned and uncertain

about what was going

to take place.

They heard what Jesus said

they had trouble

putting it together

and the fact that he said

it over and over again

must have kind of

amplified

their uncertainty

because Jesus was not

the kind of teacher

that said something

just to hear himself talk.

When he made a statement

there was a purpose for it

and he was telling them

yet again

that he was going

to suffer

and there was going

to be hardship

in front.

Now listen to what

Jesus said there

in verse 22

that no one would

take their joy

from them.

John chapter 16

John 16:22

verse 22

So also you'll have

sorrow now

but I will see you again

and your hearts

will rejoice

and no one

will take

your joy from you.

He was speaking

to the very disciples

that would soon

be overwhelmed

by the certainty

or by watching

Jesus Christ

their Lord

and Savior

be crucified

and it must have

it would be something

that would be

supremely unsettling

because in their minds

what were they expecting

Jesus would do

on the next day

when he came in.

Remember the triumphal entry?

Came into the city

riding how?

Riding on a donkey

in keeping

with Old Testament

prophecy

behold your king

comes unto you

with meekness

riding on a donkey

and they thought

hey this is it

this is our opportunity

the next thing

that we know

is the coronation

of Christ

and all of us

will have our special place

and our setting

will be established

and here he is

speaking to them

and says listen

understand

understand

you're going

to sorrow now

but

I will see you again

and your hearts

will rejoice

and no one

will take that joy

from you

and he was talking

about the fact

that after his crucifixion

would come his resurrection

and they would see

the risen Christ

and their hearts

would revel in that truth

and their hearts

would rest in that truth

and no one

no one at all

would take that joy

from them.

I want you to imagine

just for a moment

how profound

that emotional

a joy must have been

after the third day

and the women

came back

to the disciples

and say

he is risen

how did the adult

male disciples respond?

alright

no

that's not it at all

in fact

you remember

good old Thomas

what did Thomas say?

there are some of us here

that would be

Thomas's on steroids

right

unless I put my finger

in those wounds

I'm not going to believe

and the rest of them

pretty uncertain

as to what was going

to take place

and yet Jesus says

the day is coming

that your joy

is going to be full

and after he revealed

himself to them

we find there

that their hearts

were just unbelievably

lifted up

and rejoicing

you look in John

and it tells us

that when he appeared

to them

it says that their hearts

were just overwhelmed

with that fact

so let's think about

the next thing

that Jesus says there

and you look there

and he says

that your joy

will be full

and no one

will take your sorrow

from you

I want us to think

as we study

the scriptures together

of powerful reasons

for this lasting joy

see our joy

today

is not a joy

just in the fact

of the resurrection

of Christ

but all the other

related facts

that tie into it

and are connected

to that reality

we have lasting joy

because Christ's

resurrection

affirms

the effectiveness

of his sacrificial death

I want you to turn

in your Bible

so you can understand

this passage

see this text

for yourself

in Romans chapter 4

Romans 4:25

verse 25

Romans chapter 4

Romans 4:25

verse 25

why do I have

lasting joy

I do not have

lasting joy

because of Tim Knoyer

I do not have

lasting joy

in our economy

I do not have

lasting joy

in the weather

I have lasting joy

in the finished work

of Christ

and the absolute

certainty

I have

that the work

he begun

is accomplished

and settled

in the heavens

Romans chapter 4

Romans 4:25

verse 25

it says

who was delivered up

for our transgressions

and raised

for our justification

think with me

about that

it says that

Christ

was sacrificed

for our sins

why did Jesus

die on the cross

did he die

because he was

a sinner

no

he died

because I

was a sinner

and you

were a sinner

and he died

in my place

and he satisfied

my debt

and what does it say

he was delivered up

for our trespasses

!

Jesus died

in my place

he died

in your place

and it says

and he was raised up

for our justification

if he had died

and not risen again

would we have

any certainty

that his death

had accomplished

anything

what's the answer?

not at all

not at all

his resurrection

verifies

the fact

of

his sacrifice

for our sins

the debt of my sin

has been satisfied

and the way that I know

it's been satisfied

is Jesus rose

from the dead

and he's made

that fact undeniable

secondly

we have lasting joy

in Christ's resurrection

because it is proof

of the power

that is on tap

for us to change

look in your Bible

if you would

to Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1:19

verse 19

and then Ephesians

Ephesians 2:10

chapter 2

verse 10

Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1:19

verse 19

and Ephesians chapter 2

Ephesians 2:10

verse 10

what is it

that makes me glad

with a joy

that cannot be taken away

when I stop

and think about

the resurrection

of Christ?

well it is this fact

that his resurrection

power

is available

to not only

bring salvation

to me

and complete forgiveness

for all of my sins

but also to help me change

Ephesians chapter 1

Ephesians 1:19

verse 19

it says

and what is the

immeasurable greatness

of his power

towards us

who believe

according

to the working

of his great might

how many of you

have ever found yourself

kind of wondering

well is it possible

that I can really change

to be someone different

than who I am?

the fact of the matter

is that Christ saved you

and he has given

to you

the power

of the gospel

and the power

of the spirit of God

so you don't have

to stay the way

you are

and how do I know

that that power

is available to me

and how much power

there is?

well here's what it says

it says

verse 20

that he worked in Christ

when he raised him

from the dead

and seated him

at his right hand

in the heavenly places

what kind of power

does it take

to raise a person

from the dead?

does anybody know?

anybody ever seen

that done?

there are a number

of you here

that are part

of the medical community

and I have no doubt

that you have watched

individuals

go through that process

of finally slipping

into eternity

and when it's over

it's what?

it's over

it's over

there is no coming back

from that point

and here

the scriptures tell us

that the same power

that raised up Christ

from the dead

is available to us

that we do not

have to stay

the way we are

isn't that encouraging?

in the previous

generation

you could walk

into a place

like Borders

or Little Professor

or Barnes and Noble

and there was

this great big section

piled with books

on self-help

right?

how many of you

remember that?

you had to walk

past that

to get to the

religious books

you know

there's shelf

after shelf

after shelf

about how to

improve yourself

how to help yourself

how to make friends

and influence people

blah blah blah

and you wait

two years

and where would they be?

they'd be at the

front of the store

on this little old

table called

discount books

and you could

you could buy them

and wait 20 years

because the same idea

just come back

back around

and cycle through

remember that?

self-help

is what?

it's worthless

but the power

of Christ

at work

in the believer

gives us

certainty

that we

who know Christ

are going to

grow in grace

and be different

by his power

I want you to look

at another thing

that we want to mark here

and mark this fact

that because of the

resurrection

we have confidence

in our own resurrection

and eternal joy

how do I know

what my future is?

in the near term

here's what I know

unless Jesus comes back

Tim Kenoyer

is going to die

can I tell you

that all of you

are going to die?

I mean

have you ever heard

the statement

there are only two things

that are undeniably true

one is death

and the other's taxes

and we know

the day is coming

that we're going to slip

from this place

into eternity

I love the flow

of logic

and I want you to turn

back in your Bible

if you would

to 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15 · chapter mention

chapter 15

in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15 · chapter mention

chapter 15

the apostle Paul

wrote to a group

of people

who had kind of

lost their

confidence

and their certainty

in the reality

of the resurrection

resurrection

and he wanted

to remind them

of the truth

of the resurrection

from the dead

by the Lord Jesus Christ

and its application

to us as believers

and so you look there

in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:14

chapter 15

verse 14

and he makes

a statement

that helps you

understand why

this Sunday

of all Sundays

is the most important

to us in our faith

and if Christ

has not been raised

then our preaching

is in vain

and your faith

is in vain

if Jesus did not

come back from the dead

and the tomb

is not empty

then we are here

as actually

the most miserable

of all people

why would I say

the most miserable

for one thing

because Christianity

is not simply

another plan

for how to become

a good person

how many of you

realize that

let me say that

carefully

all kinds of religions

in the world

and I've said this

many many times

there really are only

two different religions

in the world

one religion

poses

that men may

improve themselves

over time

by working hard

and by the way

if you're a Hindu

and you don't get it right

the first time

guess what

you can get it right

the second time

and if you don't get it right

the second time

guess what

you have the third

and the fourth

and the fifth

you just keep working at it

others propose

that well

if we don't get it right

in this life

well we've got

purgatory to pay it off

but eventually

we'll get there

you know what

Christianity says

you can't solve

your problem

God sent his son

the Lord Jesus Christ

to die

in your place

and he

is willing

to save you

from the absolute

hopelessness

of your situation

if you will admit

that you're a sinner

and need Christ

as your savior

and here is

the apostle

writing and saying

listen

if Christ

did not

raise from the dead

we've got no hope

we've got no hope

but then look at

what he says

in verse 20

but in fact

Christ

has been

raised from the dead

the first fruits

of those

who have fallen

asleep

for as by

a man

came death

by a man

has come

also

the resurrection

of the dead

do you know

why we die

we die

because sin

entered the world

when Adam

and Eve

sinned

they brought

upon all

of us

through their

federal headship

the consequences

of sin

and beloved

every one

of us

today

you are

in the process

of going

on that

journey

to the grave

it's a fact

but here's

what it says

just as

through Adam

death

came upon

all of us

so also

in Christ

Jesus

the power

of the resurrection

and the certainty

of the resurrection

is ours

to hold

on to

and to be

confident

in

now look

at what

it says

in verse

22

for as in

Adam all

die

so also

in Christ

shall all

be made

alive

but each

in his

own order

Christ

the first

fruits

at his

coming

then those

who belong

to Christ

over the years

as a pastor

I have buried

many people

who over time

became my

friends

and I'll

tell you

there is

a profound

difference

between

doing the

funeral service

for someone

who knows

Christ

and someone

who I have

no confidence

of where they

will spend

their eternal

destiny

and when I

am at the

graveside

at the

committal

service

for those

who know

Christ

I take

great pleasure

in the

absolute

certainty

I have

in the

resurrection

of the

dead

from

the grave

and why

do I have

that confidence

because

Jesus Christ

arose

from the

dead

isn't that

right

anybody that

will fire

us up

is like

bring it

on

Jesus

I'm ready

there's one

other thing

I want you

to think

about this

morning

as you

think

about the

cross

and you

think

about the

empty

tomb

I want

you to

go in

your

Bible

to Acts

Acts 17 · chapter mention

chapter

17

because

I'll

tell you

what

for those

of us

who are

here today

and know

Christ

the fact

of the

resurrection

and the

power

of the

empty

tomb

just

makes us

fired up

and it

gives us

ambition

!

By the

way

it also

ought to

give us

a passion

for godly

living

do you

understand

that?

If Jesus

rose from

the dead

we're going

to see

him again

and if

we're going

to see

him again

we'd like

to be

tuned up

and ready

for his

coming

would you

agree with

that?

We ought

to be

living

like that

but I

want you

to look

with me

at Acts

Acts 17 · chapter mention

chapter 17

where the

apostle

preaches

a sermon

to a bunch

of people

that are

mildly

entertained

by the

concept

or the

thought

of the

resurrection

in Acts

Acts 17 · chapter mention

chapter 17

we find

Paul in

Athens

and he

is preaching

in the

Agora

in the

open

marketplace

and as

he'd come

into that

city

he'd been

really

kind of

fired

he was

put off

to see

so many

idols

they really

they just

they bothered

him

and he took

advantage of

that and he

ended up

having this

opportunity

to preach

and the

sermon

kind of

flows

with this

nice

quiet

dignity

but it

really gets

down to

the zinger

and if

you're

wondering

how

apostolic

preaching

or how

Jesus

preached

I want

you to

know

that he

was not

one to

kind of

dodge

around

the

subject

and avoid

making

people

upset

we have

the idea

I think

that Jesus

is preaching

was this

kind of

you know

kind of

warm

lukewarm

just kind of

flowers in your

hair type of

deal for my

age and

generation

nothing really

biting

but here is

Jesus

kind of

putting it

on

and look

if you

will

down there

to Acts

Acts 17:30

chapter 17

verse 30

and 31

the times

of ignorance

by the way

who was he

addressing

people who

did not

think

they were

very

ignorant

and he

says

the times

of

ignorance

God

overlooked

now

notice

the

tense

when

did

God

overlook

it

in the

past

but

now

he

commands

all

people

everywhere

to

repent

mark

what

follows

because

he

has

fixed

a

day

on

which

he

will

judge

the

world

in

righteousness

by

a

man

who

he

has

appointed

and

of

this

he

has

given

assurance

to

all

by

raising

him

from

the

dead

what's

he

saying

the

day

is

coming

that

Christ

Jesus

himself

will

be

the

one

who

judges

mankind

earlier

this

morning

I was

reading

I was

reading

in

Revelation

Revelation 4 · chapter mention

chapter

4

and

5

and

Revelation

Revelation 4 · chapter mention

chapter

4

is that

it is

just

I

tell

you

I

was

listening

to

some

of

you

Revelation

Revelation 4 · chapter mention

chapter

4

the

glory

of

God

the

Father

and

Revelation

Revelation 5 · chapter mention

chapter

5

the

glory

of

God

the

Son

do

you

know

who

is

going

to

be

the

judge

of

the

whole

earth

who

will

bring

condemnation

on

those

who

have

rejected

God's

Son

as

their

Savior

it

will

be

Christ

the

one

who

hung

on

the

tree

and

bore

my

sins

the

one

who

hung

on

the

tree

to

bury

your

sins

if

you

reject

him

it

will

be

he

with

nail

scarred

hand

who

will

condemn

you

for

all

of

eternity

for

refusing

the

gracious

and

tender

appeal

of

Christ

to

your

soul

I

spoke

of it

earlier

this

morning

but I

want to

touch

on it

again

when

Jesus

was in

the

garden

praying

before

the

cross

do

you

know

what

he

was

doing

he

was

saying

Lord

if

there's

another

way

remember

what

it

says

in

the

text

if

it

be

possible

here's

what

he

was

saying

if

there's

any

other

way

to

work

this

out

let's

try

that

one

and

it

wasn't

the

infinite

debt

of

my

sin

against

the

infinite

holiness

of

God

demands

either

Tim

Kenoyer

spend

eternity

paying

that

infinite

debt

with

infinite

suffering

or

I

trust

in

the

infinite

sacrifice

of

Christ

as

being

satisfaction

for

all

of

my

sins

now

the

purpose

of

preaching

beloved

truthfully

is to

put you

on the

spot

of

saying

yes

or

no

to

God

do

you

understand

that

here's

the

truth

God

sent

his

son

to

pay

the

penalty

for

our

sins

because

God's

holiness

cannot

overlook

the

offense

our

sins

are

against

him

and

God

in

his

perfect

wisdom

sacrificed

his

only

begotten

son

for

my

sins

and

for

your

sins

and

it

is

righteous

it

is

true

and

it

is

imperative

that

we

with

humility

confess

yes

I

stand

condemned

before

a

holy

God

and

I

believe

Jesus

Christ

died

for

my

sins

and

I

accept

his

work

as

satisfactory

and

finished

let's

bow our

heads

in

prayer

beloved I

want you

to think

with me

this

morning

as

your

heads

are

bowed

and

you

who

are

here

today

as

Christians

that

you're

praying

and saying

Lord

work

in

us

the

gospel

is

glorious

the

gospel

announces

to

lost

mankind

that

there

is

no

hope

apart

from

Christ

and

the

gospel

bids

you

this

morning

to

confess

your

sins

where

you

are

and

call

upon

the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

and

be

saved

it

is

profoundly

simple

and

profoundly

humbling

God

you're

holy

and I

understand

that I

stand

condemned

before you

as a

sinner

but I

believe

the record

of

scriptures

that Jesus

died

for my

sins

and I

admit

that I

stand

condemned

and I

thankfully

receive the

finished work

of Christ

in my

place

and on

my

account

and if

you're

here today

and this

morning

the spirit

of God

is putting

that part

of truth

on your

heart

I would

encourage

you to

not delay

but to

respond to

it in

faith

yes I

need

Christ

I need

salvation

through

him

I'm

done

trying to

do this

on my

own

and this

morning I

trust him

as my

savior

if that's

the fact

of your

heart

I would

ask that

you

humble

yourself

just

quietly

slip

your

hand

up

where

you

are

just

slip

it

up

and say

pastor

that's

me

I

need

Christ

as