Let's pray. Father, thank you for the privilege you've given us of gathering under one name. I thank you for Cross Assembly. I pray over this campus and North Raleigh and Benson and our acoustic service and online that you let your presence be manifest. And Father, that you let your word carry weight.
We pray over all of our missionaries and workers around the world. Father, that we support, that you continue to strengthen them. May they be increasingly effective with the gospel. And for all of our teams that are traveling right now, ministering in other countries, be with them as well. We pray.
In Jesus' name, everybody said. Yeah, it's good to have you here. Listen, before I get started, you know, we've been privileged to be, you know, at this location here for over 10 years, and in the 10 years, we've added two campuses, North Raleigh and Benson, and we wanted to try something a little different. And we really need to make room and the new parking area here at Yonkers has helped us behind the Fergusons building, so we got a little bit of breathing room, so that's really good. But we also felt led to plant a church in downtown Raleigh that'll start Sunday, September 13th.
We asked Pastor Vic to lead that. It's going to be amazing. It's called the gathering. And our goal is to send 300 adults plus kids to that campus. And we actually really feel led to reach the city and downtown.
And we're really excited about this. And this is a part of our church family.
So it's a little different from a campus because with a campus, you normally have the broadcast of the sermon from Yonkers. But in this case, it'll be Pastor Vic preaching most of the time as well as some guest speakers. It'll be Sunday morning only because the place we're renting downtown is only available on Sunday.
So we don't have like midweek. But we eventually plan to get into a location where we have that. And we're really excited about that. I have the same DNA as cross-assembly. When we count attendance on Sunday, it'll count towards overall cross-assembly.
I'd love you to pray if they consider that because tonight at 6 o'clock here at Yonkers Road. In the youth auditorium, there is a gathering of those who are interested in those interested in the gathering. And that'll be at 6 o'clock tonight.
So, if you'd like to know more information about it, I'm going to encourage you to come by tonight and check it out. And we've already got about 100, 150 folks with kids that have committed to this, and so it's going to be amazing.
So, let's take a moment. Would you stretch your hands towards us and pray over the gathering? Father, I ask you to bless this endeavor. Lord, I ask to bless Pastor Vic and his team as they develop, father, the strategy. And all the things that are needed to hold services and to minister and have small groups and youth ministries and children's ministries and everything in between.
Father, I pray that you would draw to them those that are called to help plant this. I also pray, Father, that from the very first Sunday, you would draw people who don't know you, that would come to the safety knowledge through this endeavor. In Jesus' name, and everybody said. Amen. Hey, we're going to be in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 9.
So, if you've got your Bibles, I want you to turn there. Before I read 1 Peter 2, chapter 2, verse 9, I'm going to give us a little bit of some context. I have in my pocket here a coin, it's dated from AD 68. I have a small collection of ancient coins, very, very small, only a few of them. This one is worth about a denarius, or part of a tenth of a denarius, which is a day's wage, and it's got Nero's face on it.
It's actually dated AD 68. This coin came into being about three to four years after the letter of 1 Peter was written. Peter wrote this in the early 60s AD. There's a map they're going to put up behind me here, and it shows the Roman world at that time. And the pink is Jewish settlement, and then the green is areas of Christian concentrations.
Peter, at the time of the writing of this letter, is in Rome. He is the head of the church around AD 60. 263, somewhere in there.
So, roughly about 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. And the gospel at that time has begun to spread across the Roman world. And he's writing specifically to a group of people I don't think he's been to. I don't think he's actually physically been there. And he's writing to people that are in what we would now call northern Turkey, in Bithynia, in Pontus, and Galatia, and Cappodox, and Asia.
And he's writing to them because they're in a difficult position. cultural situation. They do not fit into the culture they're in. They're mostly Gentiles, non-Jewish people, but they're also Jewish believers there. And they were being persecuted.
for being followers of Christ. And they were living in a time when it was not popular to be Christian. It was very unpopular. And in fact, there was a great fire in Rome around AD, oh, I'm going to get this wrong, AD 64, 65, somewhere in there. And Nero, who was running the Roman government at the time, was a wicked ruler, blamed the Christians and persecuted Christians.
And in fact, both... Peter and Paul were martyred around AD 64, 65 coming out of that. And so just a few short years after writing this letter, Peter died for his faith. And he was writing to people who were being openly persecuted for being followers of Christ. In fact, when you're reading scripture, in particular books of the Bible, sometimes you'll see themes running through them.
In 1 and 2 Peter, you really see the theme of suffering, not because he's trying to highlight suffering, to discourage them, but because they were going through suffering. Mm.
Now I don't know about you. And we're not living in this type of persecution, at least yet. But I do know that there are times often that I don't feel that I fit into the culture I am in. I don't feel that I fit into the American culture. There are things about America that I love.
I took my dad to a baseball game, did it last night for his birthday. Like, I love that kind of stuff, right? But there are things about our culture that really disturb me. There are decisions being made by government. I'm a very conservative individual and a very conservative biblically individual.
And, you know, I believe in the sanctity of life, that babies are babies from the moment of conception. Our culture doesn't agree with that in many ways. I believe the sanctity of marriage, one man, one woman, that's it, marriage. And our culture doesn't believe that. I also believe in the sanctity of our sexuality, that we are born as a man or a woman, that we don't get to choose that, right?
And there's a lot of things about our culture and beyond that that I don't like. I don't like the way our culture entertains. There's all kinds of things. And there are times that I feel that, man, this is not my home. I don't fit him.
And Peter is writing to people who really aren't home. They are strangers. in a strange land.
So we're going to read 1 Peter 2, verse 9. And would you stand with me for the reading of the word? Would you stand at the other camps as well and online? over in the acoustic service as well. This is 1 Peter 2, verse 9.
I'm reading for the New Living Translation. But you are not like that. For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests. A holy nation.
God's very own possession. As a result, You can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of darkness into His. His wonderful light. And then he quotes Hosea here and he says, Once you had no identity as a people, now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy, now you have received God's mercy.
Dear friends, the Greek word agapetos there means beloved. I warn you, as temporary residents and foreigners, really take note of that. to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
Thank you, you may be seated. May God add his blessing to the reading of his word. The message says it this way. Right after it gives you a Rice Krispie Treat recipe. The message says this way: it says, But you are the ones chosen by God.
Chosen for the high calling of priestly work. chosen to be a holy people. God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him. to tell others of the night and day difference. He made for you.
From nothing. to something. from rejected to accepted. Friends, agapetos, beloved. This world is not your home.
So don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be one over to God's side. And be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
When Peter writes this, he writes in 1 Peter 1, 1 to people living as foreigners in those five provinces, right? Peripodemos. It meant people who are only passing through a location. In 1 Peter 1.17, he uses the language temporary residence, the parokos in the Greek. It meant a sojourner, a foreigner, one who is residing among a people who are not his own.
Feel uncomfortable in this world?
Well, the readers of 1 Peter understand that. Because we live In a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel. Among people who desperately need the gospel. We live in a culture increasingly against the word of God. among people who desperately need the word of God.
And as such, What should we do? Do we Run away? From the culture we're in and hide from it. Do we Attack it? Right?
Go after it. Let it know how wrong it is. Or do we engage our culture with the gospel? There are three things that I think comes out of this passage that Peter is trying to remind These listeners And I think this is increasingly important. And the first is this, so if you're a note-taker, write this down.
We live in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel among people who desperately need the gospel. As such, we should, one, remember our identity in Christ. Remember Who you are. Peter says in verse 9 of chapter 2. for you are a chosen people.
You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. When we talk about world views, Philosophers say there are four questions. Every worldview, and a worldview is a way of just saying this is how I look at life, this is how I view life. There's our four questions every worldview has to answer: origin. Destiny Morality and meaning.
Origin is the question. How did I come into being? I don't mean from your mom and dad, but how did all of this come into being? Destiny is a question of what happens when I die. Where do I go?
Morality is a question of how do I know right from wrong? How do I know the difference between what I should do and what I shouldn't do? And then meeting, what is the meaning of life? What's the purpose of living? There's a fifth question I'd like to bring into this, and it's the identity question, which answers the question.
Who am I? You see, Christian identity Is rooted in what God says about us. Not on what we or others say about. ourselves. You see, our identity is not formed as followers of Christ.
By looking within ourselves and trying to find the truth. Don't look within. The word of God says that if the heart is deceptive above all things and beyond cure, who can understand its ways, right? Which is my version: your heart's an idiot, don't listen to it.
So the world says, our culture says, no, no, no, look within. Look within and decide who you are. Decide what sex you are. Decide what's right and wrong. Look within.
Christian and Denny says, no, no. Your identity is not based on looking within, it's looking at Christ, it's looking at the Word of God. And what the Word of God says, and by what the Word of God says, that's what my identity is. Our identity in Christ, Tim Keller said, is one we receive, not one we achieve. It is one we what?
receive, not one we what, achieve. You see, our redemption is ultimately not man-centered, but God-centered. Every other worldview says. That the way that you are right with whatever God you're serving, even atheism. says that basically be a good person.
That if you do, if you do, or I do more good things than bad things, and if I do enough good things to outweigh the bad things, I will be right with whatever God we're serving. Religion, those worldviews are spelled D-O, Do. It's about doing this or. Not doing that. But Christianity is different.
Because Jesus comes along and says, no, following me is spelled D-O-N-E. It's about what I have done for you. Not what you do, what I do for you, what I have done for you. And our identity in Christ is rock solid. When we become followers of Christ, our identity does not change by our circumstances.
It doesn't change by our job title. It doesn't change by the status of our relationships or our marriage. It doesn't change by whether we're battling with depression or sin issues in our life that we are trying to overcome by the grace of God. It is unmovable. Charles Spurgeon said, Your identity is not found in what you do for God, but in what God has done for you.
We live in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel among people who desperately need the gospel. And we need to remember, one, our identity in Christ. Remember who we are. In the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis, The Word of God makes note that human beings are different from the rest of creation, the universe as we know it. It says in verse 26 of Genesis 1: Then God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness.
In verse 27, so God created man in his own image. In the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. We. are a reflection of the Father God, the Creator.
And how we get our identity is by looking at him. and seeing his reflection. in our life. Augustine said, You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Our identity in Christ is one we receive.
Not one we achieve. And how many people know? You can try really hard to achieve an identity, and no matter how hard you try, it's never enough, is it? Because you and I, right, we know our own failures. I know we're blind to a lot of them too, but we know our own failures.
We know we're messed up people. I do, I know I'm a messed-up person. Right, my identity can't be based on Chris Connell, it's got to be based on Christ. In fact, when it comes to identity, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. He is a new what?
Creation. He's a new creation. In fact, there's a Greek word induo, it meant to dress oneself, to put on clothes. And Romans 13, 14 uses that word. But in duo, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.
Galatians 3, 27, for as many of you who are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Ephesians 4, 20, it says that we need to, in verse 22, to put off your old self, take it off, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on in duo the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Isn't it good to know our identity is not based on what we do, but on what Christ has done? Can we give him praise for that this morning? Amen.
Amen. That's our identity.
So, one, we need to remember our identity is in Christ. We remember who we are because we live in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel among people who desperately need the gospel. We need to remember that. Number two, if you're taking notes, we need to remember our testimony about Christ. In 1 Peter 2:9, he says, as a result, you can show others the goodness of God.
That word there, the show others, exangelo in the Greek, it meant proclaim throughout, declare, right? Matthew 5:16, Jesus said in the same way, let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do you know the main way, the primary way that God chose to deliver the gospel, the good news? to the world is you and I. He chose people.
So when we think about the culture we're in and we think about how we don't always fit in and how we're it's increasingly hostile to the gospel, one, we need to remember who we are in Christ, but two, we need to remember we have a job to do. Maybe we don't like what's happening in our culture, but God has placed us in this time and in this season at this place for now for a reason and a purpose. And a part of that is to show people who Jesus is. Not to hide in a hole, not to run away, not to attack, but to really give people Jesus. That is a part of our role.
It doesn't change just because it's difficult. I have had the privilege of traveling to places that are closed to the gospel politically, right? Religiously, right? But Jesus gets in everywhere. There's no boundary he can't cross.
And when I go to those cultures and those countries, some of them I won't even say because of the people we work with would get in trouble for doing what they're doing there. You know what they're doing? They're making friends with people who don't know Jesus, and they're telling them about Jesus.
Now there's a lot to it. They learn the language, understand the culture, all these things. But you and I are in the same place. We're a missionary right here where we are among our own culture. And God has placed us among friends and family and coworkers.
Maybe God's got you in that job more than just to make money. Maybe God's got you in that neighborhood more than just to be blessed to live in that place. Maybe He's got a purpose for you. I think He does, it's to remember your testimony about Christ. Matthew 28, 19, Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples of some nations.
All nations. Even The nations And the cultures that are doing things and saying things that we don't like. We're called to reach them.
Well, what is the gospel? You've seen me do this before, but I just want to share it with you again. Let's just declare this: what is the gospel? If you've got a, most of you have a right hand or left hand, pick one, okay? There's no, this is not pass/fail, okay?
If you take a hand and stick your thumb up like this, all right? And just say this, good news. Thumbs up, good news. God loves people. But God shows his love for us, and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, right?
Romans 5:8. All right, then take your pointer finger and point at your neighbor and say, bad news. You're a sinner and I'm a sinner too. See you got one finger pointing at them and three pointing back at you. Romans 3:23, fall of sin and fall short of the glory of God.
Now, this is important. We use all the fingers right now, okay? Go to the center finger, all right? Otherwise, we'll be showing people the universal symbol of disapproval. All right.
This is the center finger because Christ is in the center. He's in the middle between God and man. Problem solved. Jesus paid the price. For the wages of sin is death, Romans 6, 23.
But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Then the ring finger. Get the ring finger out there. Put a ring on it. Repent and commit your life.
to Christ. Good news, bad news, problem solved, put a ring on it. Romans 10, 9, and 10 says, For with a heart one believes and is justified, and with a mouth one confesses and is saved. And then the pinky finger, a little bit of faith. We are saved by faith and not by works.
Romans 10, 13, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That's the gospel. That's the good news. It's that simple. Good news, bad news, problem solved, put a ring on it, a little bit of faith.
That's the gospel. What is the response to the gospel?
Well, it's as simple as ABC. Admit. and repent. 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The first step towards the gospel is to realize I'm wrong.
I messed up. I have sinned, and I've sinned against God. That's the bad news, right? And then we must confess those sins and then repent. It's a Greek word that literally means you were driving one direction down a road and you did a 180, it went the other way.
It means to turn back from your old way of living. Acts 3:19, repent, therefore, and turn back that your sins may be botted out. What's the response of the gospel, A, B, C? A, admit and repent. B, believe in Christ.
Trust in Christ. Put faith in Christ. Faith that his work completed what you could not do. Acts 2:21. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 3:16, Jesus says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have what? Eternal life. We believe in Christ and finally the C ABC Commit your life to him. Right? Because Receiving him as your savior, as the forgiver of your sins, is one thing.
In some ways, that's the easy part. The hard part is the death itself, when you say in the Greek, they would call it doulas, which is a great description of servants of Christ in the Bible. It meant slave, is you are no longer yourself. You are owned by Christ. He is the boss, He is the Lord, He is the CEO, He is the King of your life, and what He says goes.
Son of democracy. It's a benevolent dictatorship. Thank God it is. We must commit our life To him, Luke 9:23, Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, Let him, let her deny himself. and take up his cross daily.
and follow me. That's the new life that we have in Christ. We live in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel. Among people who desperately need the gospel, we need to remember our identity in Christ. We remember who we are.
Secondly, we need to remember our testimony about Christ, that we have a job to do in this culture that God has placed us right where we are to be a light. And there are people, probably, in your life. And in my life, That you may be the only person that has an opportunity to reach them with the good news. The third thing is we should remember our life should be lived in a way That honors Christ. Peter says in 1 Peter 2.11, That, as temporary residents and foreigners, we are to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very soul.
Notice he doesn't say, run away from culture, go hide. What he says is, don't live like them. Keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. And then he says in verse 12: be careful to live properly. Among Your unbelieving neighbors.
How we live matters. It doesn't earn us salvation. But it should be a reflection of Christ. Then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and they will give honor to God when He judges the world. That live properly, in the Greek kalos, it meant good, fine, moral character.
In fact, in 1 Peter 1:14. He says, as obedient children, Do not, there's a choice in this, folks. Listen to this. Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. You don't have to be a slave to your sin anymore.
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am what? Holy. Perfect. Yeah. There are times in the body of Christ and in my own life that I see things that are not lining up with the Word of God.
I see it sometimes in the things that we're entertained by. But I see it, I have the privilege of doing weddings. I don't do a lot of them, but I do a few of them every year, and it's a privilege to do so. And I would say, over the last 20 years of doing weddings, I would say that. At least.
80% of the couples that I do weddings for in the church, in the church, not outside the church, are living together before marriage.
So, I'm not here to beat anybody up. I just want to address this. I think there's a lie in our culture that says. If I live together with someone before marrying them, I lower my risk of divorce. Did you know that statistically?
That does not bear out. In fact, some statistics show a higher rate of divorce. from living together than being married.
So What do you do if you're shocking up? This is going to be a shock attack right here.
Okay. You either Break up. and separate. Or you get married.
Now, if you tell me we can live together and not have sex, you're a better man than I. I don't believe you. How's that?
So, what I want to challenge you with is this: this is one area. That in the body of Christ, we have taken a value in the world and we have brought it into the church. In fact, we have couples who do premarital counseling. In fact, Bob and Michelle are sitting right here. And they are somewhere couples that do it, and they'll meet you after service.
He's a licensed minister now. They'll get you married in the lobby today, okay?
So you just show up, get it right, okay? But I'm just saying to that that living together before marriage is pretending to be married when you're actually living with someone who's not your spouse.
Okay, there's other areas, right? There's pornography, right? Big issue in the body of Christ. Physically, we have as much of a problem with it as the world does. We've got to break those habits.
We've got to get help. We've got to go to things like CR on Friday nights. We've got to be set free from that, right? Anger issues. You know, money is a big one in the body of Christ.
We act like our money is not God's and we're just going to do it whatever we want. And I would tell you that all of our lives should reflect Christ. And God is not looking at us, asking us to be perfect, but because He has denied Himself and died for us. And paid for us with a price, we are not our own, and our life should reflect Christ and the way we live. Except for driving over the speed limit, I feel like God allows for that.
Feel like I've been looking for a verse in the Bible. I haven't found it yet, but I think it's where it says: nine, you're fine, ten, you're mine. That's what I feel like. I feel like that's biblical.
Somehow. Remember, our life should be lived in a way that honors Christ. If you've got an error in your life that is not in line with scripture, Well, let's get it right with the Lord. You see, we live in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel among people who desperately need the gospel. And as such, we should remember our identity in Christ.
Remember who we are. We're children of the king. Our position in eternity is Unmovable. The peace that God gives us is not based On our circumstances. Christ died and rose from the dead.
The greatest injustice ever happened in all of humanity was Christ on the cross. And he rose from the dead. And if he really rose from the dead, and I do believe he did, then nothing else in life should scare us. Our identity is sure in Him. We should also remember our testimony about Christ.
That we should verbalize the gospel to others. We have these great little invite cards that you can take, and I encourage you to keep some in your wallet or keep some in your car, keep some in your purse, and just invite people to come to church with you. It's a simple way of evangelizing. We should remember our life should be lived in a way that honors Christ. You know, in verse 11 of 1 Peter 2.
The ESV uses that word beloved. Patch Chad says it. He says it like this: beloved. I can't do it. Beloved.
He also says te telestai, and it just sounds better. coming from him than when I say that's what it sounds like I said Beloved is a Greek word, agapetos. It's that word that has the same root word of agape of God's love, and it means beloved and dear, a person who is. In a special close relationship with another. It indicates someone who is considered dearly loved or valued.
We as far as of Christ. And even before we became followers. We are deeply valued by the Father. Maybe Maybe we didn't have The best upbringing. Maybe we didn't have a great relationship with our dad or our mom.
And that's Cause us to reflect on God. We need to know. That God is not like an unfaithful father. or an abusive mom. He is a loving father and he truly loves his children.
If there's an area of our life That we need to get right. Let's get it right. You see, as followers of Christ, We are not defined by our failures. We are defined by Christ's finished work. If there's an area of your life that is not right, That I want you to encourage you to, one, confess it to the Lord.
The Word of God says, confess your sins, and He'll forgive them. Two, find a brother or sister that you trust that won't gossip about you or post it on social media and share with them what you're struggling with. Right? Maybe we just need to forgive someone, right? Maybe there's an unforgiveness.
Maybe there's an attitude. Maybe there's an addiction. Maybe there's an issue. God's not here to condemn us for that. He's here to convict us and bring us to a place of reflecting Him.
Let's get that right with the Lord. Secondly, Evangelism, we should be sharing our faith with others. And if you don't know what else to do, literally, just take an invite card and start inviting people to come to church with you. Share the gospel. Finally, there may be folks within the sound of my voice that have never made a decision to follow Jesus.
You've been doing life On your own. You've been trusting in your own good works. Or maybe you don't even believe in God. How do you become a follower of Christ? Is there some Magic words you have to say.
Is there a special process? Not really. All you have to do is simply Talk to the Lord. And tell him. Hey, I'm a sinner.
I've messed up. And I've sinned against you. And I need your forgiveness. And I know I deserve. The punishment of death for my sin, but Would you forgive me?
Would you be my Savior? Would you be my forgiver? And then you can just simply say, I submit to you. I deny myself. I lay down my life.
Over to you and I accept you. as the Lord, the leader, the master. The governor of my life, you take over. I submit to you. And then you can do something, say, fill me.
With your Holy Spirit. That I May be the person you've called me to be because he'll give you that power. Take me to heaven with you. When I die. If that's you this morning With every head bowed and every eye closed.
And you need to pray that prayer. I want you to do this right now. I'm not even going to lead you. Just take a moment. The sound of my voice, whether it's online or North Raleigh Benson or the acoustic service.
Just Take this moment. and just talk to the Lord and invite him into your life. Amen. You can look up if If that's you, they're going to put on the screen behind me. A QR code.
a text number. We'd like to get your social security number and your credit card. Kidding, we don't want those. But we'd love to send you a booklet. It's called You Said Yes, and it just has information about your going to walk with the Lord.
But a couple of real practical things. One, You need to go to church, not because going to church God loves you more. But you need to be around followers of Christ on a regular basis. And I encourage you, as many Sundays as you can go. Be in church.
Two, you need to join a small group of Bible study. You need to be around. Sitting in rows is great. You need to sit in a circle too and be face to face with people who. are wrestling through their faith like you are.
So join a small group. And three, find a place to serve. Take your gifts and abilities and use this for the Lord. Finally, next Sunday is Water Baptism Sunday. And I would encourage you: the Bible says that the public way we say we're following Jesus is water baptism.
You don't have to be baptized. to be right with God. It is like a wedding ceremony. It is like being a witness to other people that I am committed my life to Christ. And when you go down into the water, it's a symbol, and the symbolism is: I am dying to myself.
And when I come out of the water, I'm brand new in Christ. And that's going to be next Sunday.
So I'm going to encourage you to sign up for that today. Would you please stand with me this morning? We live in a culture increasingly hostile to the gospel among people who desperately need the gospel. We need to remember who we are, identity in Christ. We need to remember our testimony about Christ.
And we need to remember our life should be lived in a way that honors Him. Father, I pray today. Help us to be people that are secure in you. that know who we are. And that's not movable.
It's immovable. Lord, your word says that when our life is built on your bedrock, when the storms of life come, the house still stands. And God, I pray for people who are going through storms right now. I pray for people who are facing divorce. I pray for people who are facing depression.
I pray for people who are facing sickness and disease. I pray for people who are facing prodigal sons and daughters. I pray for people that are facing financial difficulties. I pray for people that are dealing with questions of life they don't have answers to. Father, I pray that you would meet them right now and they would know that they are beloved in you.
They are agapetos. They are loved by you. And I pray your Holy Spirit would minister to them and they would find their feet firmly planted on you. In Jesus' name. Would you worship with the worship team?
Without my achievements when I loved my achievements.
Well loved by your Jesus you will be able to do it. Good, you look good because you are Jesus. Christ is my firm foundation. The rock on which I stand when everything around me is shaking. I've never been more lying.
I put my faith in Jesus, He's never let me down. Faithful through generations.
So I would he fail. I hope he won't. Testify that this morning, church, He won't fail. He won't fail. He won't, he won't, he won't.
Yes, you're good and you're faithful. He won't. Oh, no, no, no, no. He won't fail. He won't fail.
Christ is my firm foundation. The rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaken, I'll never be more glad. I put my faith in Jesus because He's never let me down. He's faithful through generation.
So I would hear it. Come on, he won't. Yes, give faithful Jesus. He won't he won't fail. He won't fail.
Yes, Jesus. Good to know. The foundation of our life. is unshakable. It's a foundation that will not be moved.
Would you lift your hands and receive this blessing? Father, I pray on this church's behalf. That out of and according to the glorious riches of Christ Jesus. that you would strengthen them. with power.
through your spirit in their inner beings.
so that Christ would dwell in their hearts. through faith. And that each one of them being rooted and established in love, would have power to grasp. How wide? And long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Mm.
and that they would know this love that surpasses knowledge. That they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness that is in you. In Jesus' name, amen. Love you guys. Have a great week.
you
