Rick Warren - How to Tell God You Love Him—Part Two

This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the broadcast ministry of

Pastor Rick Warren. Today, Pastor Rick takes a final look

at the power you need to live on, the principles

you need to live by, and the purpose you need

to live for so that you're truly living and not

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find out more. Right now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with

the final part of a message called how to Tell

God you love Him?

Can you imagine how do you think my wife would

have felt if years ago when we were dating, I said, honey,

let's get married and we'll be committed to each other.

But let's just keep it our little secret. Let's don't

tell anybody about it. You know, I'll be committed to you, you

be committed to me. But when we're in public, let's

pretend like we don't know each other, and let's just

act like total strangers. Won't that be great? She'd say,

what kind of love is that? Buster It didn't any

kind of love at all, because when you really love somebody,

you're not ashamed of him. You say this is my husband,

this is my wife. You take on a name and

you say we're a family, and you identify.

With each other.

And you can't say you love Jesus Christ and be

ashamed of him at the same time. Jesus said it

like this, Mark eight thirty eight. If anyone is ashamed

of me and my teachings, then I will be ashamed

of him when I come in with the glory of

my father. Jesus said, if if you are ashamed of

me on earth, I'm going to be ashamed of you

in heaven. So we need to publicly identify ourselves with Christ.

That's how we show our love for him. Now, Jesus

understood the power of symbolism, and so he gave us

two very powerful symbols.

The first one is the symbol of communion.

Communion helps us identify with what Jesus Christ did for us.

What did Jesus do when he died for us? He

did three things. Number One, he saved us from the

penalty of sin. Everything you've ever done wrong was paid

for on the cross, so you get to go free

and forgiven. Number Two, he saves us from the power

of sin. He breaks its grip in our lives, and

he gives us a new power to be able to

make changes so that we're not the same anymore, and

that he can do new things in our lives that

we always wanted to do but never thought we could

do on our own. And then he saves us eventually

from the presence of sin in heaven, where there will

be no sin.

No sorrow, no suffering, no pain, no grief. That's good news.

And when we take communion we remember what Jesus Christ

paid for. What should be my attitude when I take

the Lord's Supper. Should I sit here feeling guilty remembering

all of the wrong.

Things that I've done in my life.

No, because they've already been paid for by Jesus Christ

and forgiven.

When I take communion, Should I.

Feel grief thinking about all the torture and the suffering

that Jesus Christ went through for me. No, because he

didn't stay dead. He came back to life. So what

should be my attitude when I take the Lord's Supper?

It should be the attitude of gratitude, gratefulness, gratefulness for all.

That God has done.

That God would love me this much, would love me

this much before I even knew him, to come and

die on the cross for me. Now, communion is not

for everybody. The Bible says only believers who have accepted

God's gift should take communion. He said, well, I'm not

a believer. Well you can become one right now, even

as you take these elements. That can be your physical

act of stepping across the line of saying today Jesus Christ.

As I eat this cracker and drink this juice, it

is my symbol of saying, yes, I accept what you

did for me. I accept that you died for me,

I that you paid for all my sins, that you

paid for my.

Ticket to heaven.

And I accept you as the leader of my life

from this day forward. As we take communion, we do

several things. We publicly identify our faith in Christ, we

publicly identify our love for Christ, and we publicly state

that we want.

To be closer to Christ.

Jesus Christ paid for three things in your life, and

I want you to thank him for those three things

right now. First, he paid for your forgiveness. Think of

the thing that you feel the most guilty about, the

thing that has caused you the most shame in your life,

that thing that you wish it had never happened.

Then you regret deeply.

And now thank God that because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice

on the cross, It's been paid for and forgiven, wiped

out as if it never happened in God's mind. Thank

him for that gracious forgiveness. Jesus Christ paid for your freedom.

I want you to think of the freedom that you

have because of Jesus Christ, the changes that He's made

in your life. Thank him for those changes. Thank him

that he gives you the power to change. Jesus Christ

has paid for your future. Because of his sacrifice, you

can have the future secured in heaven. I has not

seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart

of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for

those who love him. So thank Him for the future

of heaven. Because of Jesus Christ and what he did

for us, we will never be the same again. We're

different people. We're forgiven people. Jesus Christ has the power

to change lives that nothing in the world can change

except Jesus. No fad and no therapy, no pill, nothing

can change lives the way Jesus Christ can because he

is God. And Jesus Christ turns failures into successes. And

he changes fearful, timid, weak, cowardly people into confident people.

And he turns selfish, egotistical, prideful people into loving, gentle servants.

He turns wife beaters into loving husbands, and distant dads

into caring fathers. He turns drug addicts into responsible citizens. Folks,

that is why we are here. We are not here

to impress anybody. We are not here to just go

through a ritual. We are not here to build buildings.

We're not here to build monuments to ourselves or just

make up programs. We're not even here to just have

a good time. We're here because the only person who

can take the changes in human behavior that we need

in our society is Jesus Christ. And he starts in

our lives, and he moves to our families and our

friends and our culture. And I am not ashamed to

identify with him.

You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be

back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson.

If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can

listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com.

In the Bible, Jesus told us that in this world

we will have trouble, but we should take heart because

He has overcome the world. It's easy to forget Jesus's

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Now back to more from God's Word with Pastor Rick Warren.

There's another way that you can identify yourself as a believer,

and that is through the second symbol that Jesus gave us,

and that's baptism. Now, what is baptism all about? I mean,

what is this thing about, you know, getting dunked underwater?

I mean, what's the big deal about this? Baptism makes

three powerful public statements. Look at your outline number one

Romans six'. THREE i love this in the message, paraphrase

when we went under the, water we left the old

country of sin, behind and when we came up out

of the, water we entered into the new country of,

grace a new life in a new. Land that's what

the baptism into the life Of jesus. Means when we're

lowered into the, water it's like the burial Of.

Jesus it's a. Symbol it's like the burial Of.

Jesus and when we're raised up out of the, water

it's like the resurrection Of Jesus.

Christ the first.

Reason you need to be baptized is SAY i believe

in the death and resurrection Of.

JESUS i believe In.

Easter and you give a picture of that by going

under and coming. Up and that's Why jesus, himself as

thirty year old, adult went down to The Jordan river

was baptized By john to, say this is HOW i

want it. Done it's a picture Of jesus death and. Resurrection,

second it's a picture of what happens to you that

you are dying to an old way of. Life clausius

two to twelve says.

Going under the water was a burial of your old.

Life coming up out of it was a, Resurrection god

raising you from the dead as he did In. Christ

and when you are, baptized you're, Saying i'm dying to

all my old. Sins they're, forgiven they're, forgotten they're out

of my, life And i'm beginning a.

Brand new lifefe In.

Christ and number three it symbolizes your new life In

Jesus Christ.

Galatians three twenty.

Seven your baptism In christ was not just washing you

up for a fresh. Start it also involved dressing you

in an adult faith. Wardrobe christ's life the fulfillment Of

god's original, promise an adult faith. Wardrobe NOW i have

an honest question for some of. You you say you Love,

jesus then why have you not followed him in the

most basic act of?

Baptism are you ashamed of?

Him are you more concerned about getting your hair wet

in front of somebody than making a statement to SAY

i am not ashamed Of Jesus. Christ how can you

say you love him if you won't even do the

very first thing he, commanded and that is publicly signified

through the waters of baptism that you are a follower Of.

Christ if you're in a small, group why don't you

make sure that everybody in your small group has taken

this next.

Step before the end of the.

Year the fifth waite express love To god is simply

by being committed to. Him you, see this is what

love is really all.

About it's about.

Commitment you don't really love somebody unless you're committed to

their best. Good, now nothing ever significant happens in life without.

Commitment your commitments determine your. Future you are becoming whatever

you are committed. To so you better choose your commitments,

carefully because if you're committed to.

The wrong, thing you're going to become the wrong. Thing.

Now you can't lose by being committed To. God weak

people are defined by their, circumstances but strong people are

defined by their. Commitments The bible Tells Second chronicle sixteen,

Nine god is looking for people whose hearts are fully

committed to him that he can bless and can. Use

what does it mean to be fully committed To? God,

well in The, bible there are five basic. Commitments we've

Built Saddleback church around these five. Commitments we talk about

them over and over and. Over commitment number, one giving

my life To Jesus.

Christ that's.

Good second step commitment number, two committing my life To his,

family The body Of, christ The, church and joining a church.

Family commitment number three choosing to grow spiritually and become

more and more Like Jesus christ every day in my.

Character commitment number four using my talents and gifts in helping.

Others we call that. Ministry we talked about it last.

Week And commitment number five sharing the Good news with

other people and fulfilling the mission and Purpose god put

me on this earth to. Do these are the five

basic commitments At Life. Battleback we use a little baseball

nymen to illustrate.

Them what's the next step for?

You give your life To, christ join his church family

and be. Baptized start growing as A, christian find your,

ministry begin to fulfill your life, mission and discover What

god puts you on earth to. Do you see what

we're talking about. Today worship is not just something that

happens in the four walls of a building and a.

Church worship can happen anywhere your life can Worship.

God notice the next.

Verse take here every day ordinary, life you're, sleeping, eating

going to, work and walking around life and place it

Before god as an, offering embracing What god does for

you is the best thing you can do for, him

committing your life to.

Him, finally the sixth way that you can.

Tell god you love him is by giving to. Him

by giving to. Him you, see, giving at its core

is the essence of. Love you spell love g iv

e because that's what loves all.

About when you love, someone you want to give to.

Them, now you can give without, loving but you cannot

love without.

Giving it is impossible to do.

That you say you Love, god then it's going to

show up in your generous. Lifestyle you, SEE i can

claim to be A, CHRISTIAN i can claim to be

a follower Of.

CHRIST i, Enclaimed oh, YEAH i Love.

God but The bible says there's one way to really

test the sincerity of your. Love look at the last

verse on your. Outline Two corinthians eight says, This just

as you excel in, faith in, speech in, knowledge and

in complete, earnestness see that you ought to excel in

the grace of. Giving i'm not commanding, you BUT i

want to test the sincerity of your, love the sincerity

of your love by looking at your. Giving why does

he do? That god doesn't need your, Time he doesn't

need your. Money what does he? Need he wants your,

heart he wants what your giving, represents and he wants

you to become like. Him god so loved the world

that he. Gave now you can either become Like god

and become a generous. Giver you can become Like satan

become a stingy. HOARDER i have discovered that they're really

basically two kinds of people in, life cheerful givers and fearful.

Givers cheerful givers, say, Hey i'm gonna give it all

belongs To. God, anyway he gave it all to. ME

i wouldn't have anything Without, god So i'm gonna give

it all to. Him he can take care of all my.

Needs cheerful, givers that's the Kind god. Loves and then

there's the fearful. Givers, OH i can't afford to do.

THIS i can't afford to give. IT i got a

WARD i gotta watch out with for. Me i've got

to protect my selfish. Interest cheerful or, fearful you make

the decision Like, god like the. Devil god tests the

sincerity of my love by how GENEROUS i am in.

Life so rate.

Yourself which word best describes you're giving lifestyle, regularly, occasionally,

rarely giving ties and.

Offerings let me clarify.

This at the end of service is not, Like, okay

it's time to Tip. God if that's your, attitude forget.

It god doesn't need your money and doesn't want it.

Anyway giving is another active. Worship it's as much an

active worship as, singing, praying, thanking listening and everything. Else

it's Saying, GOD i love you so.

MUCH i want to give back to. You. God you

saved my. Life you saved.

My, Life that's what he, did AND i want to

give back to. You everything we have came From, god

and we can't Outgive god Because he gave it all

us in the first. Place now here's the bottom. Line

there are many many ways to express.

Your love To.

God we just looked at six And god has wired

you up in certain ways that certain ways are going

to appeal to you Because he loves us and we love. Him,

first you need to establish that relationship With. God so

let's close in. Prayer would you pray this prayer in your?

Heart if you've never opened your life To Jesus, christ Say,

GOD i realize the need for You in my life

And Jesus. Christ Today i've realized what you did for

me on The, cross AND i realize That i'll never

be able to repay what you've done for. Me AND

i realize that EVERYTHING i have is the gift from.

You please forgive me for not trusting you with every

area and every moment of my. Life, TODAY i want

to make these five life. COMMITMENTS i want to trust

my life to. YOU i want to join a church.

FAMILY i want to start to grow. SPIRITUALLY i want

to use my talent to help other. People AND i

want to fulfill the purpose and mission that you put

me on this earth to. DO i want you to

be first in every area of my, life my, schedule my,

finances my. Relationships please use me to make a difference

in the.

World in your, NAME i. Pray.

Amen hi, everybody this Is rick AND i hope you

enjoyed today's. Broadcast you, know if you just prayed that

prayer for the very first, time or you just recommitted

your life To jesus again, today would you let me

know about. It there's something real about sharing your. Commitment

so write Me rick At pastrick dot com and, Say,

RICK i prayed that prayer of. COMMITMENT i gave my

life To, christ And i'll send you some material that'll

help you on your journey With. Jesus And i'll also

pray for. You god bless. You this Is Pastor Rick's Daily. Hope.

Now if you've missed any part of this, message or

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warren and this, ministry just visit Pastor rick dot com

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For rick's free daily email devotional while you're. There rick

will be back to close out our time. Today but,

first in order to live For god in the most

meaningful way, possible we need to have his word deep

down in our. Hearts that's Why Pastor rick created a

spiritual growth tool called The verses Of Hope Scripture. Box

Here's rick to tell you.

More one of the most powerful ways you can transform

your spiritual life is to memorize. Scripture you SAY i

can't do, That, oh yes you. Can The bible says

In proverbs, seven verse, two guard my words as your

most precious. Possession write them down and keep them deep

within your. Heart to keep them deep in your, heart

you have to remember. Them that's Why i've had my

team create a beautiful gold scripture box so you can

practice memorizing the verses that we give you and some

that you can develop on your. Own, now we've started

a collection of forty verses about. Hope these are going

to encourage you when you feel down and. Discourage it's

a collection that will help you Keep god's word in

you so you have it when you need. It, NOW

i had a graphic artist Create bible verse cards with

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hope you can write down verses that are meaningful to

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i want to encourage you to use these cards to

write down the scriptures that you want to put in

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when you need, them The Holy spirit can bring them

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mind so store them in this beautiful gold. Box it's

a real pretty box that will make a great conversation. Piece,

now my hope is that this tool will help you

learn to Love god's, word listen To god's, word and

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while you're working on these verses and some of the

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new sets Of bible verses that will be really at

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Collection SO i hope you'll get this. Tool we're doing

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You we'll send you The Gold versus Of hope scripture

box when you give a gift today to help daily

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hundred five thousand and. Four today is the last day

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