1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,160 Good morning, friends. It's so good to be here. 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:09,520 Thank you so much for inviting me to speak here to you all. 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,080 Friends, greetings from Capitol Hill Baptist Church. 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,800 I know you've had pastors come and preach to you and they came 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:21,440 back encouraged by you and by your ministry here in Chapel 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,440 Hill. I've gotten about a dozen texts 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:29,200 this morning praying for you all, letting the say, letting 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,360 you guys know that the Saints at Capitol Hill Baptist Church are 9 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,920 praying for you and the preaching of the ministry. 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:36,480 So great to be here with you all. 11 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:43,400 And I've been a part of church planting kind of stage in LA. 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,680 And I just want to say thank you for the volunteers for setting 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,040 up the chairs, cleaning up afterwards. 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,080 You guys are serving and helping the church in so many different 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,160 areas. So thank you guys so much. 16 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,880 I know we just prayed, but before we begin, let me just 17 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:04,560 pray quickly one more time. Oh Father, we pray now by your 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:11,320 Spirit that you would reveal to us what we need to hear and that 19 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:18,760 your gospel will be clear to all of us and that your Son will be 20 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,280 exalted high in our lives. We pray these things in your 21 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:32,080 name, Amen. Standing on the truth and doing 22 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:37,160 the right thing sometimes bring disappointment and 23 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:42,880 discouragement. Standing on the truth and doing 24 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,960 the right thing sometimes bring disappointments and 25 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:52,400 discouragement. In 1847, the Vienna General 26 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,960 Hospital had two maternity wards, one that was run by 27 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,800 midwives. The mortality rate from childbed 28 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:06,960 fever was around 2%. But in the ward run by esteemed 29 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:11,840 doctors and medical students, the death rate was a staggering 30 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,720 16%. Ignaz Semolize, one of the 31 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,320 doctors in the hospitals, discovered the horrifying 32 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:23,520 reason. The doctors we're walking 33 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:28,920 directly from performing autopsies on corpses straight to 34 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,920 delivering babies. They were the ones literally 35 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:36,400 carrying death to their patients. 36 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:42,800 So Ignaz made a revolutionary and shocking proposal to their 37 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:44,640 community. Ready. 38 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,840 Doctors should wash their hands before surgery. 39 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:56,160 But the experts and leaders of the medical community completely 40 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:01,120 rejected his findings because to them it was unfathomable that 41 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,880 doctors were causing illness to their patients. 42 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,920 It hurt their pride. So they simply rejected what was 43 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:14,920 so obvious and continued in their horrible practice. 44 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,400 You know the rest of Semmelweis's life. 45 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,680 It's tragic and it's heartbreaking. 46 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,280 The rejections ultimately caused him to multiple mental 47 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,400 breakdowns and erratic behaviors, which eventually led 48 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,800 him to a mental asylum, driven away from his own family and 49 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,640 friends. Standing on the truth and doing 50 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,440 the right thing sometimes bring disappointments and 51 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,560 discouragement. This isn't that true, especially 52 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,160 for Christians. You know, in John 9, the 53 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,600 Pharisees begin to question a blind man who has been 54 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,360 miraculously healed. This blind man's story doesn't 55 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,200 ultimately highlight a physical washing. 56 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,880 He experienced something much greater. 57 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:08,160 He experienced the spiritual washing of his blindness, which 58 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:13,320 led him to see Jesus as someone worth following, as a Son of 59 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,640 man, as a great, true prophet. But like Semmelweis, this blind 60 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,000 man's story isn't entirely rainbows and butterflies. 61 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,440 He's quickly interrogated by the Pharisees, the religious leaders 62 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,480 of the day. And John. 63 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:33,160 The author, describes her questioning to be tame, right? 64 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:39,280 John simply records they asked him and the blind man said the 65 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:44,800 religious leaders answered, but all of a sudden in John Chapter 66 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,440 9 verse 29, their conversation becomes hostile. 67 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,120 John Rice, the religious leaders reviled against a blind man. 68 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,000 Why? What has turned this 69 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:04,760 investigation to denunciation is the man's innocent and earnest 70 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:10,040 question to the Pharisees. Do you also want to become his 71 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:15,200 disciples? Offended and raged, enraged by 72 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,800 this man's question, they cast him out of the synagogue, which 73 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,080 represented the social and religious currency of the day. 74 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,320 He experienced supernatural healing. 75 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,720 He told the truth about the Messiah. 76 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:35,520 He was doing the right thing. Yet he's locked out, driven 77 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:40,600 away. Following Jesus, both 78 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,560 individually and corporately, is worth it. 79 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:48,480 But friends, we all know sometimes it's costly. 80 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:52,280 I wonder if that's how you feel this morning. 81 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,360 You're doing the right thing of following Jesus, but you're 82 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,400 disappointed and discouraged. You believe following Jesus is 83 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,560 worth it. You counted the cost. 84 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:08,000 You really want to follow Him. But it's been three months, 85 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:14,400 three years, 30 years, and you feel like you're left in the 86 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,800 dust. Friends, are you discouraged in 87 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,200 your walk with the Lord this morning? 88 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:27,040 If that's you, friends, hear what Jesus has to say to you 89 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,200 this morning. Our passage is in direct 90 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:34,480 response to the man who's been accepted by God yet lost so much 91 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:39,360 and it's discouraged. His words in John 10, verses 9 92 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,040 through 10 is like an injection of vitality to those who are 93 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,080 weak. His words are like opening all 94 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,160 the windows, letting all the fresh air rush into a house 95 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:55,680 that's filled with black smoke. John 10 verses 9 through 10 is 96 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:01,720 Jesus holding your weary hands and your long journey by giving 97 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:06,640 you 2 reasons why you should continue to follow Him in your 98 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,400 discouragement. And that is my prayer for us 99 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,720 this morning as we hear Jesus telling us why we should follow 100 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,680 Him, that He would open our eyes from the things that are 101 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:21,480 distracting and discouraging us, and that we will be faithful in 102 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,440 following Him. So if you have your Bibles, 103 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:28,040 please turn to John chapter 10, verses 9 through 10. 104 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,600 John, chapter 10, verses 9 through 10. 105 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:51,360 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will 106 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:57,320 be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 107 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:05,280 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 108 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:12,040 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 109 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,040 Friends, why is it worth following Jesus and your 110 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,320 disappointments? First, because He's the only 111 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,880 door. Don't be discouraged and 112 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,640 following Jesus because you have entered the right door. 113 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,080 We see this in His own words. I am the door. 114 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:36,360 Notice he doesn't say I am a door or I can show you the door. 115 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,440 No, he's clear in letting us know that he is the door. 116 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:45,040 There's no confusion. Jesus is the door and the only 117 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,760 door. But where does this door lead 118 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,040 to? It leads to a relationship with 119 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,600 God. Jesus is the only way to enter 120 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,880 into the covenant community, the flock of God that He himself is 121 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,640 gathering. And Jesus makes it clear that he 122 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:05,440 is the only one who decides who gets to go in, and he's the 123 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:10,120 exclusive way to God. As Jesus says later in John 14, 124 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:15,400 six, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 125 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,840 No one can come to the Father except through me. 126 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,760 Only Jesus can lead us to the Father, because Jesus himself is 127 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,400 God. Most of us are familiar with the 128 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,600 I AM statements from the Gospel of John. 129 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,720 This phrase I AM is a very same way that Yahweh of the Old 130 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,240 Testament has revealed himself to Moses back in Exodus 3. 131 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:42,320 And Jesus teaching himself, revealing himself to be that 132 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:47,480 very same God of Moses, uses the same phrase I AM. 133 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,280 So here we see the I AM, the door and the verse that I 134 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:56,920 mentioned in John 14, six I am the way, the truth, the life. 135 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,920 John 10 I am the Good Shepherd, I'm the light of the world, I'm 136 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,600 the bread of life. All these I AM statements are 137 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,440 being used by Jesus to show the different aspects of Jesus's 138 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:17,240 fulfillment but also singular aspect that Jesus himself is 139 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:22,680 God. Only God the Son and only Him 140 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,400 can lead you to the Father. And if you're in Christ, you are 141 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,200 in. You have entered into this 142 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,800 covenant community and relationship with God and all 143 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,960 those who have already entered and will enter into the future, 144 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:42,320 you belong with them. We see that we have not listened 145 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:47,560 to the thief and the robbers, but by his mercy and grace that 146 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:51,040 we have heard his voice and followed him. 147 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,880 You know, if you don't consider yourself to be a Christian, 148 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,680 thank you for being here with us. 149 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:58,760 I'm usually not the preacher here. 150 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,640 Michael is. But don't let Jesus's 151 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,680 exclusiveness keep you from coming to Him. 152 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:11,120 Friends, this door has a sign. It doesn't say keep away. 153 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:17,680 It says come in when Jesus says if anyone enters by me, he is 154 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:21,520 inviting people to come in. You don't need a stacked resume. 155 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,640 You don't need experience. You don't need the approval of 156 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:30,280 others. All you need to do is enter and 157 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:36,280 trust and believe in Him and know that this invitation is for 158 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:37,360 you. This morning. 159 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:43,200 Maybe you feel like you're too bad to be loved by God, or you 160 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,880 think yourself to be too good, that you don't need him. 161 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:50,560 But when Jesus called himself the door, he wasn't talking 162 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:53,240 about you, He was talking about himself. 163 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:58,600 He means that there is only one door, one way of salvation. 164 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:04,480 It's not Jesus plus your resume. It's not Jesus plus your 165 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:08,160 ministry. It's not Jesus plus your 166 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:14,360 success. It's Jesus and Jesus alone, you 167 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,720 know, if you're not a Christian, maybe what I said earlier 168 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,920 sounded off putting, right? Am I saying that Christians 169 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,840 should be happy because we chose the right thing? 170 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:27,600 We made the right decision. That's why we that's why we 171 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:33,280 should be half happy as we sound awfully proud when we say that. 172 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,720 But I actually mean the very opposite. 173 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,400 As Christians, we believe that we're terrible and we are not 174 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:46,360 deserving of God's love. The door to God was once barred 175 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:51,880 shut and locked because of our rebellion against our Creator. 176 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,280 We in fact deserve the very opposite. 177 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:00,040 We were walking on the road that led not to the door of life in 178 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:04,720 heaven, but door to hell and eternal punishment. 179 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:12,440 But Jesus Christ, through his perfect death and resurrection, 180 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:19,200 has become that door which humanity, you and I, can have a 181 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,760 relationship with God. And how do we enter this door, 182 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,800 friends? We simply trust. 183 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:31,080 We trust that Jesus did what we could not have done. 184 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,720 We don't enter into this relationship by relying on our 185 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:42,160 own works, but instead trusting in His work, His perfect work on 186 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,280 the cross. Friends, if you're not a 187 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:50,800 Christian, trust in Jesus today. Enter by this door today. 188 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,040 If you don't know what that looks like, talk to the person 189 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,280 next to you or I'll be standing right in the back. 190 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,160 I would love to talk to you about what it means to trust 191 00:13:58,680 --> 00:14:04,840 Jesus, but what does this have to do with Christians, right? 192 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,400 What does this have to do with Christians who have already 193 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,880 entered this door who already follow and trust him? 194 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:19,480 I have two applications for us. Application one, some of us were 195 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:25,240 used to 1 door leading to another door leading to another 196 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:31,400 door, right? Some of us, if I know this 197 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,800 person, this person is going to help me know that person, and 198 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,560 that person is going to help me know that person. 199 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,600 If I get this job, hopefully it'll lead to that job and that 200 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:51,560 job will lead to this job. Door after door, after door. 201 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,000 You know, sometimes we approach God like that, don't we? 202 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:02,360 We trick ourselves into thinking that we need to go door after 203 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:08,920 door after door to really know God, to really be loved and 204 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,200 accepted by him. Friends, what is that door for 205 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,840 you? Is it spiritual disciplines like 206 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,880 Bible reading, prayers, gathering with your people? 207 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:27,280 You know, they're meant to be like windows where we could see 208 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:33,000 God and commune with him. But a lot of us are tempted to 209 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,880 treat them as doors and replace Jesus. 210 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,800 Many of us are tempted that more Christian things we do, the more 211 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:46,200 will be accepted and loved by God rather than sisters fight to 212 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:50,120 remember this week. There's only one door and it's 213 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,640 not you. And just like you didn't do 214 00:15:53,640 --> 00:16:00,600 anything to deserve to enter in this door, our eternal security 215 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,320 and status are only because we have entered through the 216 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:11,240 sufficient work of Jesus Christ. Rest assured, in Christ and His 217 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,760 work alone. You know, one way we could do it 218 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:18,120 is by simply changing the posture of our hearts. 219 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:23,480 You know, it's so easy for Satan to attack our motives to make us 220 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,000 stop doing the good work that we're doing. 221 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,480 Oh, I know you struggle with pride whenever you serve others, 222 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:31,400 so why don't you just stop serving altogether? 223 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:35,040 Just do that later. Oh, I know you feel like you're 224 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,200 just checking off the list when you pray and when you read your 225 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,440 Bible. So why don't you just hold that 226 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:48,440 off until your heart gets right? You know the enemy is so good at 227 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:53,280 stopping us from doing good works by pointing out our bad 228 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:56,080 motives. Brothers and sisters, instead of 229 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,840 stopping good work, pray that the Lord would even use our 230 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:05,960 feeble and impure hearts like ours and friends do that good 231 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,880 work today. You know, the second application 232 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:15,359 is that some of us construct our own doors that apply to other 233 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,720 people. Yes, of course, believe and 234 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:25,119 enter by Jesus, but and also enter this door of reading 235 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,600 Puritan books and dare I say 9 Marks books. 236 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,920 Or what kind of political party that you align yourself with or 237 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,440 how you discipline your kids or lead your family or how much 238 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:46,640 you're involved at church. Friends, be aware of setting up 239 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:51,680 doors that Jesus didn't set up. This is exactly what the 240 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:55,560 Pharisees have done, and Jesus condemns them. 241 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,920 Be the church, brothers and sisters. 242 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:06,480 Be the church that celebrates one door and only one door. 243 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:12,080 So why should we trust in Jesus despite disappointments and 244 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:16,080 discouragement? Because he's the only door to 245 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,800 salvation. He's the only door to God. 246 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:29,920 But I imagine with a room this big, there's some of us who are 247 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:39,400 disappointed in entering. Some of us regret trusting in 248 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,880 Jesus today. The world that you stepped out 249 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:48,760 of it looks enticing. The lifestyle that you left 250 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,320 behind seems brighter. And maybe this week we found 251 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:58,600 ourselves looking backwards to where God saved us from more 252 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,160 than looking ahead where God is taking us. 253 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,880 If we're honest, some of us, we want to go back. 254 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:16,240 If that's you this morning, I have one more good news for you. 255 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:21,880 Jesus gives you one more reason why you should keep trusting 256 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:27,000 Him. He promises that you won't 257 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,600 regret following him. So point #2 you won't regret 258 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,880 following Jesus. Look at our verse again. 259 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:46,160 If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out 260 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,520 and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, 261 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,600 kill and destroy. But I came that they may have 262 00:19:54,600 --> 00:20:02,200 life and have it abundantly. Why do we regret or get 263 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,560 disappointed in life? Most of us regret in life 264 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,720 because when things don't meet our expectations right? 265 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,120 When things don't meet our expectations, we get 266 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:14,440 disappointed. We regret making that choice. 267 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:20,120 So for some of us, we've been studying for this job interview 268 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:26,360 for weeks and months and you land that job only to realize 269 00:20:26,360 --> 00:20:28,800 that work hours are longer than you expected. 270 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:35,400 The Co workers are not as kind. You really were looking forward 271 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:41,840 to college and you studied for all these tests, but you're 272 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,480 there. You got in, but your friendship 273 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,680 is rocky. Classes are not as interesting, 274 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,040 you change your majors, and you're not satisfied. 275 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:58,080 Or maybe some of you guys were rooting for UNC. 276 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,360 I don't need to say any more than that. 277 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:10,280 But friends, what Jesus points out is that what we hoped for 278 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,880 when we decided to follow Him will never let us down. 279 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,680 How? Well, first we see that the 280 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,200 treasure and benefit that we have in Christ is that we're 281 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,680 saved. The thieves and robbers who are 282 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:31,520 trying to kill, destroy. But Jesus has come to give life. 283 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:37,400 This word saved and life remind us that we are saved from the 284 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:43,360 wrath of God and we're saved into eternal life and salvation. 285 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:50,120 He says I came that they may have life and have it 286 00:21:50,120 --> 00:21:53,960 abundantly. Friends, these two words I came 287 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,720 contain the most perplexing mystery and the greatest gift 288 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,320 combined. Jesus came because he wanted to. 289 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,480 Jesus came to dwell with sinners because he loved them. 290 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:13,120 Jesus came to die so that if you trust in Him, you will have this 291 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:17,040 life that He promises. The fullness of life that 292 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:21,640 existed before time began. The life that can't be taken 293 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:27,000 away by anyone or anything. The life that gives life to all. 294 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,560 This life can only come from Jesus. 295 00:22:32,360 --> 00:22:39,240 This life is yours, friends. Not only is our future life 296 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:43,360 guaranteed, we can be sure that our life here on earth will also 297 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:45,720 be marked by our communion with Him. 298 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,760 You know, he says he will go in and out and find pasture. 299 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:55,400 That's a picture of a sheep that has access to both inside the 300 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,600 sheep pen and outside where the food is. 301 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,640 Not only does his sheep experience protection at night, 302 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:08,280 he is free to wander around, explore, and enjoy the abundant 303 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:12,120 life in the day. You know, I don't think this 304 00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:17,480 verse is implying that going in is staying in God's protection 305 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,480 and going out is going out of God's protection. 306 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:21,960 I don't think that's what Jesus is saying. 307 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:25,520 Rather, I think Jesus is conveying the freedom and 308 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:30,560 accessibility and protection that the sheep have because 309 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:35,080 they're always under his care. So this is what Psalm 121 says. 310 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:40,520 The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade on your 311 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,560 right hand. The Lord will keep you from all 312 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,320 evil. He will keep your life. 313 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:53,440 The Lord will keep your going out and coming in from this time 314 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:59,400 forth and forevermore. Going in and out, both in Psalm 315 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:04,720 121 and John 10, is a metaphor of showing us the protection and 316 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,680 the accessibility that we have in God. 317 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,920 And friends, when He's talking about the pasture and the 318 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:16,080 abundant life, Jesus certainly had the Old Testament in mind. 319 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:21,000 Your Psalm 23 is perhaps one of the most familiar passage in 320 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,400 Scripture. How does it begin? 321 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:30,120 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 322 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:40,360 He makes me lie down in green pastures, Ezekiel 34, where God 323 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:45,400 indicts the wicked leaders and promises that he will lead his 324 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,120 people to the pasture. This is what Ezekiel 34 verses 325 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:51,880 11 through 14 says. For thus says the Lord God, 326 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:56,760 behold, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 327 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,200 I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from 328 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,080 the countries, and will bring them into their own land. 329 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,240 And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel by the 330 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:09,520 ravines and all the inhibited places of the country. 331 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,560 I will feed them with good pastures. 332 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,000 And on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing 333 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:23,000 land. There they shall lie down in 334 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,400 good grazing land and on rich pasture. 335 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,320 They shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 336 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:40,640 Whether it's the green pasture in Psalm 23 or the good and rich 337 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:47,080 pasture in Ezekiel 34, the point that Jesus is making in John 10, 338 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:54,760 the point is that the pasture, it's not so much about a place, 339 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:01,920 it's about a person. The pasture is not so much about 340 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,600 a place. What about the person, friends? 341 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:11,080 What good? It's a green pasture if there's 342 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:20,280 no one to lead us. What good is rich pasture if 343 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:27,440 there's no one to feed us? Psalm 100 tells us that we are 344 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:34,360 His people, the sheep of His pasture, and the pasture that we 345 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:39,760 long for and that we need can never be a part from Jesus 346 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:43,080 Christ. As you may feel like you're not 347 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:48,200 in a pasture right now, but He promises you the everlasting 348 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,800 pasture in the heavenly city. Friends, did you notice the 349 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:58,640 certainty of this pasture? If anyone enters by me, he might 350 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:04,080 find pasture. He should find pasture. 351 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:10,720 Oh friends, no, he will find pasture. 352 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:16,280 And in that pasture, all your disappointments and regrets that 353 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:22,800 this life has caused will be repaid, will be repaid by our 354 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:26,040 Heavenly Father. The cries and tears that you're 355 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:31,720 having right now are not only heard in this moment in heaven, 356 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:38,320 but later. Our God will dwell with us and 357 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:44,360 we will be his people. God himself will be with us as 358 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:49,480 our God. He will wipe away every tear 359 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:52,280 from our eyes. Friends, you may feel like 360 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:53,720 you're not in a pasture right now. 361 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,680 You may feel like you don't have that life. 362 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:01,440 But friends, when we get to heaven, we will not complain how 363 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:07,000 the Lord brought us there. Brothers and sisters, this isn't 364 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,040 true for just individual Christians. 365 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:15,120 This is true for you as a church, Trinity Baptist. 366 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:20,040 You have covenanted together. You have met together over the 367 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:25,560 months and years to follow Jesus faithfully to proclaim the good 368 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:31,560 news to those around you. Yet some of us, I imagine you 369 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:35,360 guys, are discouraged. You guys are confused. 370 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:42,440 Abundant life and green pasture as a church seems like a thing 371 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,240 of the past and distant in the future. 372 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,720 Oh friends, just like you will not complain when you get to 373 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:53,120 heaven, friends, you will not complain how the Lord brought 374 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,720 Trinity Baptist Church to heaven. 375 00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:00,120 Yes, there are ups and downs. Yes, there are trials and 376 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:05,080 temptations, but brothers and sisters, in Jesus there is only 377 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:09,880 life. There's no death or decay, only 378 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:13,600 life and abundant life. Trust in Him. 379 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:18,120 Trust that He is bringing life through your trials. 380 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,840 Encourage one another. Point each other to the life 381 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:25,040 that is in Christ Jesus. Bear one another in this season 382 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,520 and let every trial be the testimony that you are clinging 383 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:34,120 to Jesus because you trust him, because you trust that he could 384 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:41,480 give you life. You know, the story of Samuel 385 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:46,360 Wise is tragic. It's tragic because it shows 386 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:51,400 that someone can be so right and yet rejected. 387 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:55,400 Some might say the true thing about. 388 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,600 Some might say the same thing about the blind man in John 9. 389 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:05,400 He was so right about Jesus. He was so right and following 390 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:10,040 him, yet he was rejected. He's discouraged. 391 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,880 But friends, we know his story is not tragic. 392 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,880 It's not tragic because even though he was rejected by man, 393 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:28,400 he was accepted by the Creator. And this Creator of the universe 394 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:36,080 welcomed him, accepted him, and promised him that he won't 395 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:43,160 regret following him. And this Jesus, who encouraged 396 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:48,280 and cared for this blind man, encourages and cares for you 397 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:52,480 today. Friends, Jesus is worth 398 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,600 following despite the discouragement that we face 399 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:00,560 today. Keep trusting in Him because 400 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:06,160 He's the only door, and keep trusting in Him because you 401 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:08,600 won't regret it. Let's pray. 402 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,840 Our Father in Heaven, we marvel at Your grace and mercy 403 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:25,920 displayed through Jesus Christ. We pray by Your Spirit that You 404 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,960 would cause us to be faithful to You. 405 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,480 Help us to keep looking to You for all that You have given us 406 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:36,080 through Christ and what You will give us in the end. 407 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:39,920 We pray this in Christ's name, Amen.