THE ADVOCATE | SUNDAY 31ST MAY | PS PAUL MILLER

I love that song from the team this

morning. I am free. It is going to be

exciting. Yes, you're probably right. I

probably should move this mic stand just

in case I get too free up here. Hi. Uh

so good to have you along here this

morning. If you are new to here, if

you're down visiting the promised land

of Tadanga from another part of New

Zealand or another another part of the

world, can we just say in advance it

doesn't rain often here and we are sorry

that it rains on a long weekend. So,

normally it is just sunshine and fairy

dust all over the place. So, that is an

absolute lie, but it's all right. Sales

pitch here. Hi. So, my name is Paul if

you haven't met me. And it's my pleasure

to share with us this morning. Uh, now I

have probably shared this a few times,

but I just want to like misery loves

company. So uh um if you don't know in

my life I have a vent in my life where

I'm actually color blind and I have

absolutely um uh stuffed up so many

things in my life because of this very

much color blindness. I have got now get

this I've got a painter to paint uh the

entire house the wrong color because I'm

color blind and I didn't know he was

color blind either. The blind leading

the blind. I uh like this is this is

traumatic for me, but I almost like I

almost turned up last week with uh green

jeans on and and what I realized now is

called a grape top. Now uh Jamaima did

stop me before I walked got out the

doors and said those two colors do not

go together. So I ended up wearing black

and black just in case I was uh unsure.

But I have this bent in my life

to see things differently than others.

And we actually before we before we go

into that, we're going to have a bit of

a test to see any of you are also

colorblind hearing. So we got the first

one up here. We got a let's do a test.

Can anyone see the what's written in

there? What is it? 3 2 1.

>> It's Jesus, guys. The answer is Jesus.

Is it one?

That's good. Okay. So, we got I think

the second ones are slightly harder. So,

what's in this one?

>> It's Jesus, guys. The answer to me is

always is Jesus. All right. Are you

serious? Is that 74?

That's very good. Thank you guys. Is

anyone not seeing anything? Am I just

the only one? You horrible people.

Where's your Oh, we got one over here.

This is fantastic. All right. This is I

think this is the hardest one. Deise

told me.

Give me time to process here, guys.

Like, you're just throwing it out there.

So, is this is this is number five? So,

I obviously don't see number five. I see

the words because I just put it in

there. Jesus. Uh because I can't see

anything. Um but and mine's only very

minor. I did see I could see the first

one. I could see number one, but I I

because of this bent in my life, right?

I don't see what everyone else sees. And

I in my life have learned that I have to

go to an external person in my life to

confirm what I'm seeing.

And as we come around the scripture this

morning, my prayer is this morning that

we will all learn that we have a a

internal wiring or a bent in our lives

that we need to go that we see things

differently to what the scripture says

and that we need to go to an external

voice in our lives so that instead of

seeing number one, we see Jesus. You

know,

can he um can I just say God's presence

in our life ignites faith in our lives,

does it not? But obedience to his

presence shapes and sustains our life.

Letting the Holy Spirit lead and guide

our lives is so important. And my prayer

for us this morning is that he guides us

through this text and we keep our lives

on him, our eyes, our lives and eyes on

him this morning because it feels like a

really holy moment. So if you got your

Bibles, why don't you turn to John

John 16:7

chapter 16 verse 7 and 8.

And uh I'm pretty sure you guys can do

this because you guys can see the color.

This is fantastic. You guys are super

smart people out there. I actually

thought there'd be more of us. So this

is all good. John chapter 16 7 and 8.

John 16 · chapter mention

I'm going to read uh initially from the

English Standard Version. Then I'm going

to just quickly read also from the NIV

version. You guys got it there? It will

appear on the giant screen behind me,

but it's so good to get your own Bibles

out uh as well. This is fantastic. I can

hear papers. Oh, you guys are just

awesome Christians out there. I love it.

I found my Bible the other day.

Yeah. It's never a good sign when you

know the pastor doesn't know where his

own Bible is. Uh it's all good. Verse

verse uh here we go. John chapter 16 78.

John 16 · chapter mention

Now this is Jesus uh talking to his

disciples

uh just before he goes to the cross. Uh

and if you didn't know, we're we're week

three in a Holy Spirit sort of uh series

we're doing here. Uh so this is week

number three. Uh nevertheless, this is

Jesus. This is him talking to his

disciples. I tell you the truth. It is

to your advantage that I go away. For if

I do not go away, the helper will not

come to you. But if I go, I will send

him to you. And when he comes, he will

convict the world concerning sin,

righteousness, and judgment. It's going

to read verse seven in the NIV. But

truly, but very truly, I tell you, it is

for your good that I'm going away. Now,

let's just start there because I I think

a lot of us here when we read that sort

of first part of the verse is we don't

fully believe it. All right? Uh I I know

Eley was out there I think Tuesday night

he was out fishing for 27 hours. 27

hours. It just makes me feel sick

thinking about it. But 27 hours out on

the water and seven or 10 guys and I

think they caught like seven fish

between them all and just they barely

had enough for me to eat. It was

embarrassing. And I I can tell you what

Eley would have loved for the real

physical Jesus to be in that boat,

right? Just uh put your net on the other

side and a large catch of fish. How

awesome would that be? Because I think

sometimes we do read these verses and we

we don't fully believe that it was

actually for our good that Jesus went

away. Can I say this? This girl here

that is uh a lot of us believe this text

as much as this little girl here. When

Lara hears from her parents uh don't

worry I we won't be long. Ma and P will

be looking after you. There's a photo of

her up here. As you can see that's the

face there on the left. She doesn't

believe her parents. She she goes,

"What? These two are looking after me

now." She she goes, "Whatever, parents."

And so it is funny how we come into

these scriptures and obviously when and

mom comes back, look how happy she is at

the end there. So we don't want to be

like Lyra this morning, guys.

We want to believe that it is actually

for our good that the Holy Spirit has

come. We don't want to just think that

it was just a nice to do. It wasn't an

infomercial. God wasn't just promising

something and not delivering. It is for

our good that Jesus went to the father

and that the Holy Spirit came. We've got

to start there. The foundation of this

text and what is coming in this text

later on is for our good. Can we get

this this morning, guys? We can't move

on. So, I sort of get some

acknowledgement here because I'm I'm a

pe I need some sort of feedback here. It

is for our

You guys are awesome. This you guys are

fantastic. 9:00 service. You guys are

amazing. A long weekend and you are

engaging. This is so good. Can I It's so

important that Jesus even at the start

he goes very truly he double emphasizes

something here because he's saying what

is going to come may feel hard or a hard

truth to swallow but it is for your

good.

What is coming is for your good. God,

when God created the world, it was good.

It was perfect. We stuffed it up, but it

was good. God is coming to us and Jesus,

he's going, "It is good." And what I'm

going to say to you is that right there,

guys, you guys ready? I got a prophetic

word for all of you here this morning.

It is starts and it's from the word of

God. If you want to hear God's voice,

read the Bible. Jeremiah 29:11 says

Jeremiah 29:11

this, "For I know the plans I have for

you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper

you and to not harm you." Come on, guys.

plans to give you a hope and a future.

Paul, the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 9:8

9:8 says this, "And God is able to bless

you abundantly so that in all things at

all times, having all that you need, you

will abound in every good work." Come

on, we are starting with a good father

who knows how to do give us good things

this morning.

Come on online, you've got to get this

as well. Good. This is for our good. It

feels like I'm building up to something,

aren't I? It feels like this is going to

be bad news, but I I am so excited by

this morning. I am trying not to cry.

I'm trying not to have ugly snot. I am

doing so well so far. You have no idea.

But I I know what that word that pray

song that joicing. I am free. I am free.

I'm free. It's coming. It is coming.

When we understand that the goodness of

God sets us free. And these words that

we're going to go through set us free.

Oh my gosh, the sunshine that we have

just feels better because we are a God

who is good, who gives us good things.

Wow, there it is. Come on, God. Holy

Spirit, it's right here. Come on, let's

carry on. Otherwise, I'm going to cry.

Verse seven. Aaron beautifully uh

preached about this uh last week. So, if

you haven't heard it, go back and see

it. I don't know where you were, but I

don't know. You weren't in church, so

judging eyes from up here. Just saying.

No, Aaron would never judge you. I will.

Um verse 7 it says but if I go I will

send him to you. It's so beautiful that

he sends up uh the Holy Spirit the

advocate to us and it the beautiful when

he the moment he sends the Holy Spirit

what happens an outpouring happens fire

excitement they they go out and in that

one day 3,000 people get added to the

church. When God sends the Holy Spirit

something good happens where people get

to know him. Verse eight come on here we

go. John chapter 16:8.

And when he comes, he will, here we go.

Oh, this is a bit of a pivot here. He

will convict the world. We don't like

this word very much. Concerning sin and

righteousness and judgment. Come on,

let's break this down. Conviction.

Firstly, my my understanding of

conviction is this. A lot of us think

the legal term, but my my one is the

conviction. I have a conviction. It is a

it is an unshakable belief.

First thing in my mind when I hear the

word conviction is I have a conviction

that my father is in heaven is good.

That is an unshakable belief. No matter

what I go through, nothing will ever

shake that. The word convict, he will

convict us. The second meaning which a

lot of us think it is and it is. It's an

official declaration of guilt by a court

of law. So the Holy Spirit comes and

this is good for us. Come on guys, this

is good for us. He comes and he will

convict us of and we're in the world

concerning sin of righteousness and

judgment. Here we go. So, if you're here

and you're new to faith, can I say this

is such a good morning for you to be

here as a Christian, if you're here this

morning, you're a follower of Jesus, can

I just say this is and I'm going to say

the word forgiven at the end here, guys.

And you guys should be cheering just in

case. I'm just setting you guys. This is

a soft landing for you guys. So, here's

a very short sentence. As a Christian,

all of your sins are forgiven. Oh, come

on. That was good. That was good. This

Oside over here is a little bit slower.

They were just letting it process that

little bit longer. As a Christian, all

of your sins are what? Are forgiven.

Yeah. Now, you probably believe that

from the Bible. So, how do we respond to

this verse when the Holy Spirit convicts

us of our sin? So, this counselor once

told me, see, some Christians don't

really believe they have sinned.

Others believe they have never really

been forgiven.

I would like us to help us this morning

to appreciate both the reality of your

sin and the reality of Christ's

forgiveness.

We asked this question alpha in week

four. It is we asked this question. It's

going to pop up. What is sin? And I tell

you what, it is actually really hard to

answer for a lot of people. We have a

lot of people from different faiths and

and different walks and the journey

through a lot of things. And you come to

this question and uh Ernie Ernest

Hemingway probably sums up what a lot of

people in alpha will will describe. They

say this he says this I think it's going

to come up. He say once said that if

something is moral good you feel good

afterwards. If immoral you feel bad

afterwards. And that's kind of how most

people think sin is. It's a popular view

of sin. Many have lived by it but it's

not actually the biblical view of sin.

Can I just say biblically or simply put

sin is an attitude of wanting your way

instead of God's way.

The word sin actually means missing the

mark or falling short of the standard.

But I can I just it's simply put it's an

attitude of wanting your way instead of

God's way. So now we know what sin is.

The next question is does sin matter to

God? Great question. And can I say he

cannot tolerate it. Habacook uh one says

this to talking about God. Your eyes are

too pure to look on evil. You cannot

tolerate wrong. Here we go. Come on. God

in first John. God is light. In him

there is no darkness at all. See this

may seem unimportant to you because uh

Jesus has paid for all of our sins,

right? Why be so concerned with the fact

that about sin when God loves us and has

a wonderful plan for our lives to

prosper us? Do we really care about

these little things called sin? Maybe

maybe you view sin is just a mistake,

right? You know, chalk it up to a life

lesson. You know, that was not a very

good decision. Maybe like like me, you

have these sayings like C's get degrees.

You know, it's like close enough is good

enough. Or if you're like Clinton, he's

not on the house, but if you're a

builder in this house, Clinton has this

amazing sale, do your best and silicon

the rest. Maybe that's your view of life

and uh that's not how he built the

offices. It's okay. It's all right. It's

how he does other jobs. No, I wouldn't

say that. I hope you watch this too,

Clinton. This is fantastic.

God never views sin as such.

Because of one sin, Adam and Eve were

exiled from paradise.

Because of sin, God brought a flood upon

the earth's inhabitants in the days of

Noah. He bought fire and destroyed Sodom

and Gomorrah because of their blatant

sin. Sin kept the Israelite nation out

of the promised land for 40 years. One

lie in the New Testament about an

offering being brought to the to God was

enough to kill them. God hates sin.

Can we say this again? To the mezzanine,

God hates sin. Yet to us, sin feels good

and we do it. And like Adam and Eve, we

think we can eat the fruit and know good

and evil and not be overcome

by it. But we are not like God.

There was a lie that the devil used as

the humanity at the beginning. God knows

the existence of evil. Yet God is not

evil. Nor does he give into evil. We on

the other hand are attracted to it and

we give into it. However, whenever we

sin, can I say God's spirit inside us is

grieved. Sometimes it's because we he

will cause us to feel guilty in sinning.

We are choosing in that instant to live

independently of the Lord's will for our

life. God doesn't hate. This doesn't

cause God to hate us. He still loves us.

But it does sadden him. In Ephesians 4,

it says, "Do not grieve the Holy

Spirit." Okay. To understand how sin I'm

going fast because I got a lot to cover.

To understand how sin does affect you,

let's look at the difference between

these on these these tables over here.

Hopefully, they come up. Oh, look at

this. Deise, you are amazing. So on the

left we have our relationship with God.

This is what sin does not affect this

this left hand column over here. It

begins when you accept Christ as your

savior. His love your relationship with

God is uh everlasting. It is maintained

solely by God. It never changes. These

are some great verses for you guys to go

through. So sin does not affect your

relationship with God. Starts with us

giving our lives to Christ. It is

everlasting. It is maintained solely by

God. It never changed. Can I say your

fellowship or your, it's a really

Christian word, your connection, your

daily living with God is affected by

God. It still begins when you receive

Christ as your savior. But in Psalm 32,

it says it can be hindered because of

sin. Your everyday life can be hindered

because of sin. It is in part maintained

by you. First John, and it ch your

connection with God does change when you

sin. If you read Psalm 66:18,

Psalms 66:18

so sin does not affect God's, can I say

this, eternal relationship with you.

That was established when we trusted

Christ as our savior. We took his

payment for our sins. God died for our

sins both past, present, and future. All

that time, everything was paid for

because of your faith in Jesus. You are

totally forgiven. Can I say that? You

are totally forgiven. When you put your

faith in Jesus, your relationship with

God is 100% secure. Can I say this?

Foundation. He's a good father. Our

relationship with him is absolutely

secure. However, sin does affect your

connection with God.

Your daily life, your sin affects how

you communicate with him, your

usefulness in doing his will. Sin dulls

h how the things you do for Christ and

what you're thinking about. This is

David. This is a this is one of the most

beautiful ways in coming back to God and

sort of confessing our sin in Psalm 32

says the writer of David. He did so many

dumb things but he he got this right.

There was a time hopefully comes up on

the screen when I wouldn't admit what a

sinner I was

but my dishonesty made me miserable

and filled my days with frustration.

All day and all night, your hand was

heavy on me. My strength evaporated like

water on a sunny day until I finally

admitted my sins to you and stopped

trying to hide them. I said to myself, I

will confess them to you, Lord, and you

forgave me and all my guilt is gone.

This is the correct response to sin. He

didn't deny it. He didn't become preo

preoccupied with it. That's a hard word

to say. He confessed it.

Confessing sin and repenting. What does

that mean? I'm sorry. This is I I really

want to make sure this is super clear.

Super clear because a lot of the time we

gloss over these sorts of things. I

really want this to help you guys

because I don't want us to leave this

place not being free this morning.

Confessing sin and repenting. What does

it mean to confess sins and repent?

First, confession means to agree with

God. He already knows you've sinned, so

you might as well be honest.

Come on, guys. He already knows what

you've done. You might as well be honest

with it. It says in First John, "If we

confess our sins, he is faithful and

just and will forgive us our sins and

purify us from all unrighteousness."

Confession means freely admitting our

sin and accepting God's attitude about

our sin. Confession does not mean

begging God forgiveness. It doesn't mean

beating yourself up and woe is me, all

that sort of stuff. It simply means

coming to him and uh rep confessing your

sins to him. What happens when I still

feel guilty? This will happen in times

when I still feel guilty even after

you've confessed your sin. And berating

yourself and and like like beating

yourself up doesn't actually help the

purpose here because we've got to part

of confession is I have to now see the

way God sees it. Part of confession is

thanking God that all of our sin has

been paid for by Christ on the basis

what God says in Hebrews. He goes, "I

will be merciful towards their

iniquities. I will remember their sins

no more." So when you're beating

yourself up, God's like, "What are you

beating yourself up for? It's already

been forgiven."

Thanksgiving involves faith because you

are responding to what God's word says

is true about the about you instead of

how you feel. Can I say that again?

God's word says it is true, but you

instead of how you feel. To beat

yourself up focuses yourself on your sin

rather than on Christ and his

forgiveness.

Temptation. Can I say this? Temptation

is not sin.

Jesus was tempted. It wasn't sin. Don't

beat yourself up if you get tempted.

Don't be feel guilty for being tempted.

A great verse I learned is 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 10:13

10:13. No temptation was overcome or has

overtaken you that is not common to man.

God is faithful and he will lead you to

be tempted beyond your ability. But with

the temptation, he will also provide a

way of escape that you may able to

endure it. Can I say this again? God has

completely forgiven everything you've

done.

God has completely forgiven

you. God has completely forgiven you of

everything you've done. In Romans 8,

there is therefore no condemnation for

those who are in Christ Jesus. He

doesn't look back on your sins and your

failures with condemnation, and neither

should you. God says, "I will remember

their sins and their lawless deeds no

more." I'm really trying to get this

across, guys. We are using the word of

God as a mirror to see what what is in

our lives. The cloud is gone. The cloud

of guilt is gone. Accept God's forgi

complete forgiveness.

The Christian life. Oh, here we go.

Romans 8:2. I told uh Lou that I was

Romans 8:2

going to go fast. For the law of the

spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set

you free from the law of sin and death.

The Christian life is a life of freedom.

Come on guys. Freedom from guilt and

freedom to live as God intends which is

ultimately the most satisfying life. It

is a process of growth of becoming like

Christ and reflecting Christ. And it

takes time to grow. Can I say this? The

practice of sin is not the normal

lifestyle of believers.

The practice of sin is not the norm not

to be the normal lifestyle of believers.

When we sin, it has effect upon us as

well upon others. For one thing, it robs

us of our ability to understand the

spiritual truth from the Bible. Uh can

we go the first one here? Sin diminishes

our lifegiving Bible reading. Psalm 1

says this, "Their delight is in the law

of the Lord." We are supposed to uh Oh,

there we go. We are supposed to let

God's word act like a mirror to point

out areas in our personal life that

needs changing. Instead, we make excuses

and forget to listen or forget to read

and we busy ourselves with other things.

But Pastor Aaron also shared that two

weeks ago, so I won't go into that. Can

I say sin also robs us of our joy this

morning?

Sin robs us of our joy. This is the a

fantastic verse and I just need to get

rid of this copy thing. Uh the the the

Bible says that God wants our joy. These

things we write to you that your joy may

be full. Come on guys, we do not have to

live a dry, tired, flat life. Our joy

can be full. There is a freedom in

Christ that our joy can be filled. This

is joy is a deep satisfaction. A deep

satisfaction that stems from knowing the

channel is open between us and God. It

is not based on our circumstance. It is

not based how much money we have in our

checking account to hopefully we pay our

mortgage bills. It is based was that too

personal. It is based on uh can knowing

our connection with him is good and

beautiful and true. It's an inner

happiness not dependent on anyone else

upon outsome circumstances and sin will

rob us of that joy. An example of this

again would be King David after his sin

and murder and adultery. Let's just hit

three of the big ones, right guys? He

asked the Lord for restoration of his

joy. He had the audacity after what what

was it? Uh there was a murder, then

there was adultery and there was other

things and lying. He goes restore

to me. Come on, guys. Restore to me the

joy of your salvation. Uphold me in the

your generous spirit, generous spirit.

David knew who God was. He knew he had

stuffed up. But he comes back to him and

goes, "God, restore my joy of your

salvation." Some of us need to do that

this morning. The Christian who looks at

to worldly pleasures to fill that void.

It's like an anesthesia to dead in the

pain of an empty heart. Sin robs us of

our joy. Sin robs us of our peace. Sin

also robs us of our peace. The believer

is to be characterized by inner calm and

a contentment not based on good

circumstances. Can I say that again? On

an inner calm and contentment not based

on good circumstance.

You can go through the valley of the

shadow of death and still be at peace

because his rod and his staff comfort

us.

So many of us our emotions are dictated

by what is happening around us. What is

other people doing to us?

Sin robs us of our peace. And the peace

of God who surpasses all understanding

will guard your hearts and minds through

Christ Jesus. And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts to which you also

were called into one body. Be thankful.

All right, we're getting close, guys. We

are getting close. You guys are doing so

well. Sin causes feelings of separation.

Sin can cause a feeling of separation

between ourselves and God. Um, one John

1 says this, "If we say we have

fellowship with him and walk in

darkness, we live a lie."

Come on. And do not practice the truth.

This is a really confronting verse. If

we say we are connected to God, we love

Jesus, he is our life, and yet we walk

in darkness, we live a lie

and do not practice the truth.

My last one here is our top word on this

place over here. Sin robs us of our

confidence in prayer.

One John 3, it says this in the later

part. I won't read the whole thing. We

have confidence toward God. And whatever

we ask, we receive from him because we

keep his commandments.

See how that later part is tied into

having confidence with God. Our

confidence comes from obeying his

commandments.

It is so good. Can I uh we'll get the

worship team back up. Now,

I have said all of this.

I had the last couple weeks, this has

been heavy on my heart

because I know what it is in my life to

to live a Christian life but still carry

the weight of sin in my life.

And this morning, God, I just sense in

my heart of hearts that there's some

people in this place

that need a moment and need an

opportunity to respond to the good

father because this is for your good

that we're going to respond here this

morning. If you read further in John 16,

you will see righteousness is available

because Jesus pays the price. And there

is deliverance from the judgment because

of Jesus.

But I believe this morning there is

freedom. The word freedom is on God's

heart this morning. Freedom from sin.

Freedom from its power and its

consequences. Freedom from pretending

this morning. Freedom from having a mask

that covers your your your your your

insecurities this morning. Freedom from

having to live two lives. Freedom in

your whole life. There's hidden doors

that you don't let anyone else into.

Freedom on every aspect. Free every day,

every moment. fre a freedom that is

filled with joy

and every day filled with joy, every day

filled with peace and every day filled

with a connection with God. The freedom

has already been paid for, guys.

It is waiting on you to confess.

Can I say this? Let's not keep ourselves

captive for what Jesus has already paid

for.

If you're sitting in here this morning

going, "This is a great word for those

that aren't here me. Aren't here this

morning."

It's good for those on the other side of

the church, but you're too afraid to go

there yourself because you're like that

first one. Some people think they've

never sinned, and some people think

they've never been forgiven.

What you tolerate in your life will

eventually control it.

If you are here this morning, you are

wanting this freedom.

If you are sick of hiding aspects of

your life from God, if you're sick of

living a double life, if you're sick of

running, of sin ruining your times with

God, your connection with God, your joy

in your life, your peace in your life,

you're sick of dry, flat times in the

presence of God, this morning, let's

surrender it all to God this morning.

team is going to lead us in a song. I am

going to we're going to stand and we're

just going to have a moment of response.

And how that looks to you is entire to

you because the Holy Spirit leads and

guides each individual person. Can I say

in my life and how I do it with God and

how I respond to these tough challenges

is is I often often will feel in my

heart to get out of my seat and come to

the front. Not because it means anything

to anyone else, but it means so much to

me because it feels like I am physically

doing something. I am getting up out of

my current circumstances.

I sit I'm in my current circumstances

here and when I take these steps of

faith, it's like I am stepping out of my

current circumstances and I'm stepping

into the will of God. I know this is

hard for so many people here because

other people they might see that you are

a normal human being. Oh my gosh. But I

know for me in my life when God has

challenged me when I when I take these

seven to 20 steps out of my seat and I

walk up in humility and I come to the

front and often you'll see me kneeling.

I was kneeling before the the sermon

because of something in my heart and I

was kneeling. I come and God I just

surrender it back to God. cuz I know

this is the best thing for me is because

my connection with God is so precious to

me.

So precious to me. And my encouragement

this morning during this song is is I

surrender all or I Holy Spirit for

whatever song they're going to do. I

can't tell from the music, but whatever

it is and I don't know songs very well

anyway.

My encouragement for you, those online,

those in the mezzanine, those in the

back, those in the left, those in the

right, those in the front row. Doesn't

matter who you are. Doesn't matter what

other people will think. This is a

moment between you and God, not between

you and your neighbor. This is not

between you and the church. This is

between you and God. If there

are things in your heart that God is

putting his finger on in a sense this

morning, my encouragement to you this

morning is step into that pain. Step

into that humility. Step into that

moment. Step out of your seats and come

to the front and just kneel. Stand.

Look, I'm probably going to be crying

with you. It's okay. The tears are right

here with me. Ugly cry. We got tissues

up the front. It's okay. Someone will

hand them to you. But take a moment this

morning

so that you can leave this morning

going, "I am free.

>> I am free.

I am truly truly free this morning."

Because when we are truly honest and

truly confess God is faithful and true

and will forgive.

Can I just say as we one last group of

people I I didn't mention this morning,

but if you've come into here this

morning and you don't have an active and

a real relationship with God and you've

heard all the talk of sin and you're

like, "Oh, that's probably me." Can I

say that Jesus not only died for your

sins, but he died so that you can have a

life filled with joy, peace, and a

connection with him. And that starts

with you confessing your wrongs and his

rights. And if that's you this morning,

I would love to pray with you. I'm just

going to be down here on my left, your

right. I don't care who you are, how

long you've been coming, but I will

stand here and I will be willing to pray

for anyone, all of you, whoever you want

to be prayed for, but I want to lead you

into relationship with Christ because it

is a it is a personal decision, but it's

not a private decision. And God calls us

to be a part of a family. So, if that's

you here this morning, I encourage you

down here, guys. Guys, I don't care if

no one comes at the front. My life is

good. I am free. But I'm going to

encourage you this morning. If there is

something in your heart, do not leave

this place saying I will do it later in

the privacy of my home. This is

basically saying no.

If God is stirring something in your

heart this morning and there is a

conviction or some will describe it

awake or your heart's pounding, there's

feels like fire, something's tingling.

All these sorts of experiences are true.

But if there is a something in that that

is God is stirring in your heart. Can I

encourage you this morning? Have the

courage, have the conviction, the belief

system, the unshakable belief that God

is a good father and he's going to do

something in my life up here in this

front. Thank you. Why don't we stand to

our feet, church? I think the lights are

going to go down a little bit lower and

I'm going to hand over to Joy and Jess

is going to come wrap us up when when

she feels ready. Con we take a moment as

I just Holy Spirit we just invite you

into this place.

Holy Spirit we every life every every

person in this place is so important to

you. Holy Spirit we just pray right now

those words in John 16 verse8 you would

convict us of the sin in our lives. You

would convict us of what righteousness

means. Lord, you will convict us that

you've already paid the judgment and

there is no judgment for us when we

confess our sins to you. So this

morning, we open our hearts, our lives,

and give us the courage to respond to

you. Not to me, to you, Jesus, this

morning. Come on, church. Why don't we

just worship and respond as you feel

led? Thanks, Joy.