A Grounded Faith

1 00:00:00.370 --> 00:00:08.610 Real Life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast, with intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the saints, and impact our 2 00:00:08.610 --> 00:00:09.050 culture. 3 00:00:09.630 --> 00:00:13.990 I've told you for years, Christianity is not what you do. 4 00:00:14.270 --> 00:00:17.070 It's what God does in you and through you. 5 00:00:17.850 --> 00:00:21.610 The greatest description of a Christian life is yield. 6 00:00:22.710 --> 00:00:24.010 Just yield. 7 00:00:29.430 --> 00:00:35.810 You can get the outlines of this podcast by going to Jackhibbs.com slash podcast. 8 00:00:36.270 --> 00:00:42.670 Today, if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ, then make 9 00:00:42.670 --> 00:00:45.070 sure you leave us one of those five star ratings. 10 00:00:45.410 --> 00:00:51.410 To us, that's like saying amen or yes, then that rating will encourage others to listen. 11 00:00:51.790 --> 00:00:55.150 Now open your hearts to what God's word has to say to you. 12 00:00:55.470 --> 00:00:57.030 Here is Jack Hibbs. 13 00:00:58.030 --> 00:01:04.530 So let me ask you, how are you doing in these descriptions of having a grounded or maturing faith as 14 00:01:04.530 --> 00:01:05.730 a Christ follower? 15 00:01:06.150 --> 00:01:12.000 We all need to grow and I'm so grateful that God is patient. 16 00:01:13.080 --> 00:01:17.560 But look at verse four, he goes on to say, and he will be made to stand. 17 00:01:17.740 --> 00:01:23.800 You and I will be made to stand for God is able to make him stand. 18 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:26.840 You and I, listen, I love this. 19 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:28.080 God is able. 20 00:01:28.740 --> 00:01:30.420 Oh, I can, I never do enough. 21 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:31.340 I never pray enough. 22 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:32.240 I never give enough. 23 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:35.160 I never, I never was calm down. 24 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.760 God is able to do this in your life. 25 00:01:40.820 --> 00:01:45.280 I've told you for years, Christianity is not what you do. 26 00:01:45.440 --> 00:01:48.360 It's what God does in you and through you. 27 00:01:48.880 --> 00:01:52.980 The greatest description of a Christian life is yield. 28 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:55.280 Just yield. 29 00:01:58.070 --> 00:02:04.750 And he takes over Philippians chapter two, verse 13 says, for it is God who works in you both to 30 00:02:04.750 --> 00:02:08.150 will and to do for his good pleasure. 31 00:02:08.590 --> 00:02:10.730 Are you enjoying your Christian life? 32 00:02:10.950 --> 00:02:11.690 You should be. 33 00:02:13.270 --> 00:02:20.990 You should be enjoying, even in this crazy world, you should be enjoying the dynamic of your Christian life. 34 00:02:21.610 --> 00:02:23.450 And if you're not, you're doing it wrong. 35 00:02:26.190 --> 00:02:28.550 Stop trying to push a block up a hill. 36 00:02:30.450 --> 00:02:31.810 Just take a walk with God. 37 00:02:31.870 --> 00:02:32.070 Will you? 38 00:02:34.600 --> 00:02:41.320 The Bible also says, listen, in second Chronicles 16, verse nine, the Bible says for the eyes of the Lord 39 00:02:41.320 --> 00:02:49.000 run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal 40 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:49.860 to him. 41 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:51.800 Notice it says loyal to him. 42 00:02:51.880 --> 00:02:52.560 Are you guys with me? 43 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:58.120 It doesn't say whose hearts are perfect, whose hearts are loyal. 44 00:02:58.300 --> 00:02:59.620 In other words, what's your pursuit? 45 00:03:00.760 --> 00:03:01.960 Do you pursue God? 46 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:03.120 Do you want to pursue God? 47 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:07.260 Does it sound attractive to you that you can get closer to God? 48 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:08.620 Absolutely. 49 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:10.680 God says, I love that. 50 00:03:10.940 --> 00:03:12.200 My eyes are on you. 51 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:14.320 Don't you love that? 52 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:20.780 I remember years ago, forever ago, Phil and Peggy, you guys might remember this for Pastor Chuck was telling us 53 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:28.840 when he was raising up their family, one of his sons looked all nervous and all this kind of stuff. 54 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:33.880 And his son comes to him and says, I heard in Sunday school today, dad, that God is always watching 55 00:03:33.880 --> 00:03:34.180 me. 56 00:03:36.320 --> 00:03:37.720 And he says, that's right, son. 57 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.320 And he saw the terror in his son's face. 58 00:03:42.540 --> 00:03:46.620 Oh, some people feel like, some of you feel like that. 59 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:47.640 God's watching me. 60 00:03:47.640 --> 00:03:51.400 And so his son was just mortified. 61 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:56.000 Clearly he had crossed the line somewhere in Sunday school class. 62 00:03:56.100 --> 00:03:57.760 And the teacher said, God's watching you. 63 00:03:59.420 --> 00:04:01.320 So dad, is it true he's watching me? 64 00:04:01.760 --> 00:04:03.960 And Pastor Chuck said, oh, absolutely true. 65 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:05.200 At all times he's watching you. 66 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:11.500 And he could see the spirit of his, the will, just kind of the kid started to wither. 67 00:04:11.980 --> 00:04:15.160 And Chuck said, it's because God loves you so much. 68 00:04:15.220 --> 00:04:16.620 He can't take his eyes off of you. 69 00:04:20.089 --> 00:04:20.790 And that's good. 70 00:04:20.850 --> 00:04:21.630 And that is correct. 71 00:04:23.190 --> 00:04:24.390 That's a beautiful thing. 72 00:04:24.870 --> 00:04:26.510 God will make you able to stand. 73 00:04:29.550 --> 00:04:30.810 God will take care of you. 74 00:04:30.890 --> 00:04:34.670 He'll prop you up and strengthen you. 75 00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:43.880 I heard a song the other day, and I just wanted to work it into the message based upon that 76 00:04:43.880 --> 00:04:45.920 second Chronicles verse, God's always watching. 77 00:04:46.580 --> 00:04:52.800 So I heard, I forget who sings this, but every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching 78 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:53.240 you. 79 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:04.840 I don't know. 80 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:05.860 I wasn't asking for it. 81 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:09.840 I mean, I was, okay. 82 00:05:14.610 --> 00:05:22.290 The fact is this, is that the love of God for you, the scripture says it's the goodness of God 83 00:05:22.290 --> 00:05:23.530 that leads a man to repentance. 84 00:05:25.610 --> 00:05:29.690 God's goodness should cause you to run from the evil and run to his arms. 85 00:05:31.030 --> 00:05:41.770 And even though you might be latent with sin, you come in repentful, tearful, you're convicted, you're mortified. 86 00:05:42.290 --> 00:05:43.710 I've been found out. 87 00:05:45.150 --> 00:05:48.650 And my sin, as the scripture says, David says, is ever before me. 88 00:05:48.930 --> 00:05:49.750 I can see it. 89 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:54.840 And God says in his word, bring it to me. 90 00:05:56.900 --> 00:06:02.040 Our tendency is to go run and hide and bury it somewhere in the garden and then mingle among the 91 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:06.800 bushes and hope he doesn't walk in and say, Jack, where are you? 92 00:06:10.010 --> 00:06:15.350 I am convinced if Adam and Eve would have walked out of that garden and said, God, we blew it. 93 00:06:16.190 --> 00:06:17.130 Please forgive us. 94 00:06:17.450 --> 00:06:25.050 I think God would have made an offering and you and I would be walking around now in a garden. 95 00:06:26.750 --> 00:06:29.750 Jeremiah 29, 11 says, for I know this is God speaking. 96 00:06:29.850 --> 00:06:31.410 I know the thoughts that I think toward you. 97 00:06:31.530 --> 00:06:32.230 Can you imagine that? 98 00:06:33.510 --> 00:06:35.070 God says, I know what I think about you. 99 00:06:35.470 --> 00:06:36.470 And you go, really? 100 00:06:38.070 --> 00:06:38.430 Yeah. 101 00:06:41.440 --> 00:06:46.100 Says the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. 102 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:51.060 Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me and I will listen to you. 103 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:56.560 And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 104 00:06:57.880 --> 00:07:00.300 That's a loyal heart, not a perfect art. 105 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:01.140 We don't have it. 106 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:02.680 But do you want him? 107 00:07:03.880 --> 00:07:05.240 Do you want Christ to forgive you? 108 00:07:05.320 --> 00:07:06.600 You want God to erase away? 109 00:07:06.760 --> 00:07:09.840 Listen, God will erase by the blood of Christ all of your sin. 110 00:07:10.940 --> 00:07:14.100 That's why, listen, because Christ lives because God is real. 111 00:07:14.320 --> 00:07:15.920 That's how you and I know sin. 112 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:20.340 You know, the stuff you don't bring up, the stuff that only you remember, the stuff that you hope nobody 113 00:07:20.340 --> 00:07:24.100 else remembers or the stuff that you hope nobody finds out. 114 00:07:25.200 --> 00:07:26.760 God says, I'll wash that away. 115 00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:28.100 If you come to me, come to me. 116 00:07:28.440 --> 00:07:29.480 That stuff will kill you. 117 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:30.160 Come to me. 118 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:32.140 That's how much he loves you. 119 00:07:35.130 --> 00:07:36.710 Is that how love works anyway? 120 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:42.640 I'm going to read you a compounding of scripture here. 121 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.020 It's John chapter four in John chapter seven. 122 00:07:45.140 --> 00:07:46.340 You can follow on the screens. 123 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:49.520 The Bible says Jesus is speaking. 124 00:07:49.700 --> 00:07:57.140 Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him notice when you drink water, folks, it goes inside of 125 00:07:57.140 --> 00:07:57.380 you. 126 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.500 But ask yourself, is this you will never thirst? 127 00:08:01.940 --> 00:08:11.440 But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting 128 00:08:11.440 --> 00:08:12.140 life. 129 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.920 That's what God wants for us. 130 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:22.820 Coupled with John chapter seven on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out 131 00:08:22.820 --> 00:08:26.500 saying, if anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. 132 00:08:27.020 --> 00:08:33.460 He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 133 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:41.980 But this he spoke concerning the spirit of the Holy Spirit, whom those believing in him would receive for the 134 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:45.920 Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. 135 00:08:45.920 --> 00:08:51.880 In other words, the Holy Spirit was not yet given to indwell the believer because Christ had not yet been 136 00:08:51.880 --> 00:08:53.600 crucified and resurrected. 137 00:08:54.300 --> 00:08:59.780 Up until the day of Pentecost, folks, the Holy Spirit from the day of creation could only come upon you 138 00:08:59.780 --> 00:09:01.100 and he would leave you. 139 00:09:01.680 --> 00:09:04.820 That's why David said, take not your Holy Spirit from me. 140 00:09:05.060 --> 00:09:06.020 Why did he say that? 141 00:09:06.140 --> 00:09:10.320 Because that's how the spirit of God worked in the Old Testament economy. 142 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:19.460 Jesus comes and brings us a complete fulfillment of God's promises as he wrote in the Old Testament. 143 00:09:20.260 --> 00:09:22.140 I will write my law in your heart. 144 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:26.260 I will come into your very being and live inside of you. 145 00:09:26.640 --> 00:09:29.360 You will be mine and I will be your God. 146 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:37.540 That's an Old Testament promise describing the born again opportunity that you and I live in today, where the spirit 147 00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:39.080 of God now lives in us. 148 00:09:42.990 --> 00:09:45.230 Listen, a private faith? 149 00:09:45.390 --> 00:09:45.490 Sure. 150 00:09:45.570 --> 00:09:46.210 Personal faith? 151 00:09:46.310 --> 00:09:46.730 Absolutely. 152 00:09:47.310 --> 00:09:48.690 But it's impossible to hide it. 153 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:52.660 God is working in some of your lives. 154 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:59.120 You might even be shy and you love God, but you're starting to almost percolate on the inside. 155 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.580 It's like you were starting to bubble. 156 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:08.060 And it's just like, oh, man, every time I read my Bible, every time I go to a sermon, I 157 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:09.440 just feel like I'm going to explode. 158 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:10.860 Why? 159 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:19.950 Because God has put his word in you personally and privately to possess you. 160 00:10:21.310 --> 00:10:25.570 That God's truth might come out of you and splash as it were onto others. 161 00:10:27.030 --> 00:10:30.570 Get them all wet as it were. 162 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:34.820 And so listen, I wrote this down. 163 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:42.600 I know this is a big statement, but it may be the most single, most important verse in the Bible. 164 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.820 So that's a big statement. 165 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.800 Yes, it is. 166 00:10:45.920 --> 00:10:51.340 But listen, John chapter three, verse three, Jesus answered and said, that's to Nicodemus. 167 00:10:51.660 --> 00:10:56.620 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 168 00:10:58.060 --> 00:10:59.660 Jesus is to Nicodemus. 169 00:11:00.020 --> 00:11:06.920 Let me tell you, Nicodemus is far out, far out, exceeds us completely. 170 00:11:07.900 --> 00:11:09.360 And Jesus says, you're not going. 171 00:11:10.640 --> 00:11:12.000 You have to be born anew. 172 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:13.000 You have to be born again. 173 00:11:16.510 --> 00:11:19.010 So when was the first account of somebody being born again? 174 00:11:19.110 --> 00:11:20.170 Can we qualify this? 175 00:11:20.250 --> 00:11:21.530 Is it, can it be tested? 176 00:11:22.210 --> 00:11:22.670 Oh yeah. 177 00:11:23.050 --> 00:11:24.150 John chapter 20. 178 00:11:24.590 --> 00:11:25.250 This is awesome. 179 00:11:25.890 --> 00:11:27.450 John chapter 20, verse 19. 180 00:11:27.850 --> 00:11:32.970 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, this is post resurrection. 181 00:11:33.570 --> 00:11:41.970 When the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in 182 00:11:41.970 --> 00:11:44.790 the midst and said to them, peace be with you. 183 00:11:45.050 --> 00:11:51.250 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side, that would be his right side. 184 00:11:51.890 --> 00:11:55.950 Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 185 00:11:56.110 --> 00:11:56.570 Verse 21. 186 00:11:56.770 --> 00:11:59.750 So Jesus said to them again, peace to you. 187 00:11:59.830 --> 00:12:03.110 As the father sent me, I also send you. 188 00:12:03.570 --> 00:12:08.250 And when he had said this, this is Jesus breathed on them. 189 00:12:08.450 --> 00:12:11.070 And he said to them, receive the Holy spirit. 190 00:12:11.130 --> 00:12:14.030 The word means receive the Holy spirit within you. 191 00:12:15.050 --> 00:12:15.910 That's the born again. 192 00:12:16.390 --> 00:12:22.910 When was the, if, if being born again is such a big deal to God and pastor, you just said 193 00:12:22.910 --> 00:12:24.610 it's the most important verse in the Bible. 194 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:32.920 When Jesus in John 20 says, receive the spirit and he blows on them. 195 00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:37.660 The word is the spirit of God went inside of them. 196 00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:39.960 They were born again in that moment. 197 00:12:40.400 --> 00:12:47.620 They would not receive the power of the Holy spirit until the day of Pentecost where the spirit of God 198 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:49.160 didn't come inside of them. 199 00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:51.540 Very specific Greek word is used. 200 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:55.940 The spirit of God came upon them for ministry and for power. 201 00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:58.880 Remarkable. 202 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:06.900 The Bible tells us in first Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12, for as the body is one and has many 203 00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:11.840 members, but all the members of that one body being many are one body. 204 00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:17.860 So also as Christ for by one spirit, we were all baptized into one body. 205 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:24.200 That is the body of Christ, the church, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves are free and have all been 206 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:27.500 made to drink in one spirit. 207 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:33.700 Verse 14 for in fact, the body is not one member, but many. 208 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:36.840 This is us, the church. 209 00:13:41.190 --> 00:13:43.050 You are who you are. 210 00:13:43.630 --> 00:13:44.610 Can I put it this way? 211 00:13:45.730 --> 00:13:48.430 Jesus Christ died for your sins and my sins. 212 00:13:48.530 --> 00:13:51.670 He did not die for my personality or your personality. 213 00:13:53.070 --> 00:13:58.750 You and I have a different opinion on this, but God loves the variation of our personalities. 214 00:13:59.750 --> 00:14:03.290 We would rather have people be more like the way we want them to be. 215 00:14:04.670 --> 00:14:08.810 And God says, Nope, that's why I've made you the church. 216 00:14:09.930 --> 00:14:12.430 This person is really hard to like over here, Jesus. 217 00:14:13.110 --> 00:14:14.990 And Jesus says, Yeah, any though. 218 00:14:16.890 --> 00:14:19.050 So get on over there and love on him. 219 00:14:19.670 --> 00:14:22.450 Oh, God, can't you send someone else to love on him? 220 00:14:23.590 --> 00:14:25.790 Did you know how bad you and I need one another? 221 00:14:25.870 --> 00:14:26.930 We didn't realize it. 222 00:14:27.310 --> 00:14:28.550 So I don't know about that. 223 00:14:29.130 --> 00:14:36.170 Listen, if there's anybody in under this roof or soon to be out in the parking lot, and it's like, 224 00:14:36.230 --> 00:14:36.850 Hey, wait a minute. 225 00:14:36.950 --> 00:14:39.270 My bumper was further out than yours was. 226 00:14:42.110 --> 00:14:46.250 God is teaching you to love one another and to grow. 227 00:14:46.730 --> 00:14:47.890 It's quite remarkable. 228 00:14:48.490 --> 00:14:51.430 So in Acts chapter one, I mentioned the power coming upon. 229 00:14:51.610 --> 00:14:53.690 So I guess I should begin to wrap it up this way. 230 00:14:54.130 --> 00:15:00.070 When the moment you say, Lord Jesus, I understand now I see that you died on the cross for my 231 00:15:00.070 --> 00:15:00.310 sins. 232 00:15:00.390 --> 00:15:01.430 The Bible says this. 233 00:15:02.330 --> 00:15:07.810 And even though I wasn't there 2000 years ago, I know that I'm a sinner. 234 00:15:09.690 --> 00:15:15.550 I have bad thoughts, lustful thoughts, angry thoughts or temperament or whatever it is. 235 00:15:16.250 --> 00:15:17.570 That's not good. 236 00:15:18.430 --> 00:15:19.370 And I have a past. 237 00:15:19.550 --> 00:15:21.950 Oh, God, you would say, Please forgive me. 238 00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:25.740 I'm sorry for my sins. 239 00:15:26.300 --> 00:15:29.300 The Bible says in that moment, you're born again. 240 00:15:29.380 --> 00:15:30.880 The Holy Spirit moves inside of you. 241 00:15:32.160 --> 00:15:38.000 Now, can somebody tell me what that feels like when you're like, Oh, please forgive me in the Holy Spirit 242 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.980 moves inside of you and you Oh, wow. 243 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:45.900 I don't know about you, but I've never felt anything that the night I got saved. 244 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.480 All I knew was that message was true. 245 00:15:48.640 --> 00:15:50.180 I was convicted of my sins. 246 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.180 God knew everything about me. 247 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:57.300 And what I just heard a moment ago gives gives my mind reason and hope. 248 00:15:57.380 --> 00:15:58.620 I want Jesus. 249 00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.800 I need Jesus. 250 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:03.380 And I went forward and there are people crying around me. 251 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.640 I'm looking at people on that Monday night. 252 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.220 They're all crying. 253 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:08.240 Oh, God, forgive me. 254 00:16:08.640 --> 00:16:09.640 And I'm like, Here's me. 255 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.220 Here's me. 256 00:16:10.280 --> 00:16:10.880 I'm like this. 257 00:16:13.900 --> 00:16:14.800 I had enough. 258 00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:15.700 I had no feeling. 259 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:20.200 And I began to think, Oh, it must not be working for me. 260 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:28.100 And then when you pray the prayer and you go back to the prayer room afterward, they give you a 261 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.600 new material. 262 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.960 And I told the guy, Hey, everybody around me is crying. 263 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.260 I didn't cry. 264 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.880 What's the deal? 265 00:16:40.410 --> 00:16:42.990 He said something that I've used a thousand times since. 266 00:16:43.930 --> 00:16:47.850 He said, Listen, do you understand the gospel? 267 00:16:47.970 --> 00:16:49.430 Can you tell me the gospel that you just heard? 268 00:16:49.590 --> 00:16:50.070 I told him. 269 00:16:50.150 --> 00:16:51.210 He goes, Yeah, you got it. 270 00:16:51.650 --> 00:16:52.290 You got it. 271 00:16:53.330 --> 00:16:56.910 Nowhere does this say feeling goosebumps tingle down this point. 272 00:16:58.090 --> 00:17:00.090 Feel this and you're saved. 273 00:17:01.090 --> 00:17:07.829 Listen, I'm grateful that I listened, kind of did the spiritual math, figured out. 274 00:17:08.450 --> 00:17:12.349 And this puts me bankrupt. 275 00:17:15.650 --> 00:17:18.609 Jack is hopeless without Jesus. 276 00:17:19.270 --> 00:17:32.230 And so that young man in that counseling, that new believers room said nowhere in the Bible says it's based 277 00:17:32.230 --> 00:17:32.910 on your feelings. 278 00:17:33.070 --> 00:17:34.610 It's Bible says it's based on faith. 279 00:17:34.610 --> 00:17:35.990 Did you come to Jesus? 280 00:17:36.290 --> 00:17:36.570 Yeah. 281 00:17:36.930 --> 00:17:37.490 Do you want him? 282 00:17:37.750 --> 00:17:37.870 Yeah. 283 00:17:38.790 --> 00:17:39.470 And he said this. 284 00:17:41.130 --> 00:17:41.950 Why don't you? 285 00:17:42.150 --> 00:17:43.750 Why don't you tell me right now? 286 00:17:43.830 --> 00:17:44.810 You don't want Jesus. 287 00:17:45.130 --> 00:17:49.310 You're gonna give the Bible back to me, and you're gonna walk out of here and never step foot in 288 00:17:49.310 --> 00:17:49.970 this place again. 289 00:17:50.690 --> 00:17:51.690 I said, Why would I do that? 290 00:17:51.830 --> 00:17:52.850 I don't want to do that. 291 00:17:54.210 --> 00:17:55.270 He goes, Exactly. 292 00:17:57.820 --> 00:17:58.800 Pretty clever, right? 293 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:04.140 No, my friends. 294 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:11.150 Listen, for those of us, our pursuit now today is this. 295 00:18:12.670 --> 00:18:18.310 Jesus said in Acts Chapter one verse eight, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes not in you, 296 00:18:19.090 --> 00:18:26.950 upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all of Judea, Samaria into the ends 297 00:18:26.950 --> 00:18:30.140 of the Church family. 298 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:36.800 When God saves you, please listen. 299 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:39.140 You can close your Bible doesn't mean leave. 300 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.080 Just close your Bible. 301 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:41.520 We're done. 302 00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:48.940 When God saves you, he begins his work of maturing you. 303 00:18:51.930 --> 00:19:00.830 When a baby's born, the mother begins her work of nursing that baby, and dad begins the work of changing 304 00:19:00.830 --> 00:19:01.250 diapers. 305 00:19:03.850 --> 00:19:07.490 But the baby doesn't grow by having its diaper changed. 306 00:19:08.830 --> 00:19:15.390 The baby grows nursing energy from mom. 307 00:19:19.760 --> 00:19:22.180 And with that investment, the baby grows. 308 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:27.520 Jesus says you must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. 309 00:19:27.760 --> 00:19:29.220 You must be born from above. 310 00:19:29.300 --> 00:19:30.960 The word means born a second time. 311 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.600 And God will nurse you. 312 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:40.520 And he's nursing us always with every Bible verse, every sermon, every song of praise. 313 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:49.740 Every time we get together and fellowship, we are nursing the strength of almighty God that he desires for you 314 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.440 and I to have. 315 00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:53.180 And we are growing up in Christ. 316 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.040 It's a relationship. 317 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.860 It's alive. 318 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.640 It's real. 319 00:20:02.190 --> 00:20:07.990 This Jack Hibbs podcast, as well as all the broadcast outreach opportunities, are listener supported. 320 00:20:08.630 --> 00:20:11.470 Will you consider partnering with us through a special gift? 321 00:20:12.170 --> 00:20:16.830 Go to Jackhibbs.com to learn more and stay connected.