A Grounded Faith

100:00:00.370 --> 00:00:08.610Real Life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast, with intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the saints, and impact our200:00:08.610 --> 00:00:09.050culture.300:00:09.630 --> 00:00:13.990I've told you for years, Christianity is not what you do.400:00:14.270 --> 00:00:17.070It's what God does in you and through you.500:00:17.850 --> 00:00:21.610The greatest description of a Christian life is yield.600:00:22.710 --> 00:00:24.010Just yield.700:00:29.430 --> 00:00:35.810You can get the outlines of this podcast by going to Jackhibbs.com slash podcast.800:00:36.270 --> 00:00:42.670Today, if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ, then make900:00:42.670 --> 00:00:45.070sure you leave us one of those five star ratings.1000:00:45.410 --> 00:00:51.410To us, that's like saying amen or yes, then that rating will encourage others to listen.1100:00:51.790 --> 00:00:55.150Now open your hearts to what God's word has to say to you.1200:00:55.470 --> 00:00:57.030Here is Jack Hibbs.1300:00:58.030 --> 00:01:04.530So let me ask you, how are you doing in these descriptions of having a grounded or maturing faith as1400:01:04.530 --> 00:01:05.730a Christ follower?1500:01:06.150 --> 00:01:12.000We all need to grow and I'm so grateful that God is patient.1600:01:13.080 --> 00:01:17.560But look at verse four, he goes on to say, and he will be made to stand.1700:01:17.740 --> 00:01:23.800You and I will be made to stand for God is able to make him stand.1800:01:24.280 --> 00:01:26.840You and I, listen, I love this.1900:01:26.840 --> 00:01:28.080God is able.2000:01:28.740 --> 00:01:30.420Oh, I can, I never do enough.2100:01:30.480 --> 00:01:31.340I never pray enough.2200:01:31.400 --> 00:01:32.240I never give enough.2300:01:32.400 --> 00:01:35.160I never, I never was calm down.2400:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.760God is able to do this in your life.2500:01:40.820 --> 00:01:45.280I've told you for years, Christianity is not what you do.2600:01:45.440 --> 00:01:48.360It's what God does in you and through you.2700:01:48.880 --> 00:01:52.980The greatest description of a Christian life is yield.2800:01:52.980 --> 00:01:55.280Just yield.2900:01:58.070 --> 00:02:04.750And he takes over Philippians chapter two, verse 13 says, for it is God who works in you both to3000:02:04.750 --> 00:02:08.150will and to do for his good pleasure.3100:02:08.590 --> 00:02:10.730Are you enjoying your Christian life?3200:02:10.950 --> 00:02:11.690You should be.3300:02:13.270 --> 00:02:20.990You should be enjoying, even in this crazy world, you should be enjoying the dynamic of your Christian life.3400:02:21.610 --> 00:02:23.450And if you're not, you're doing it wrong.3500:02:26.190 --> 00:02:28.550Stop trying to push a block up a hill.3600:02:30.450 --> 00:02:31.810Just take a walk with God.3700:02:31.870 --> 00:02:32.070Will you?3800:02:34.600 --> 00:02:41.320The Bible also says, listen, in second Chronicles 16, verse nine, the Bible says for the eyes of the Lord3900:02:41.320 --> 00:02:49.000run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal4000:02:49.000 --> 00:02:49.860to him.4100:02:50.080 --> 00:02:51.800Notice it says loyal to him.4200:02:51.880 --> 00:02:52.560Are you guys with me?4300:02:52.560 --> 00:02:58.120It doesn't say whose hearts are perfect, whose hearts are loyal.4400:02:58.300 --> 00:02:59.620In other words, what's your pursuit?4500:03:00.760 --> 00:03:01.960Do you pursue God?4600:03:02.080 --> 00:03:03.120Do you want to pursue God?4700:03:04.660 --> 00:03:07.260Does it sound attractive to you that you can get closer to God?4800:03:08.140 --> 00:03:08.620Absolutely.4900:03:09.340 --> 00:03:10.680God says, I love that.5000:03:10.940 --> 00:03:12.200My eyes are on you.5100:03:13.620 --> 00:03:14.320Don't you love that?5200:03:14.680 --> 00:03:20.780I remember years ago, forever ago, Phil and Peggy, you guys might remember this for Pastor Chuck was telling us5300:03:20.780 --> 00:03:28.840when he was raising up their family, one of his sons looked all nervous and all this kind of stuff.5400:03:28.960 --> 00:03:33.880And his son comes to him and says, I heard in Sunday school today, dad, that God is always watching5500:03:33.880 --> 00:03:34.180me.5600:03:36.320 --> 00:03:37.720And he says, that's right, son.5700:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.320And he saw the terror in his son's face.5800:03:42.540 --> 00:03:46.620Oh, some people feel like, some of you feel like that.5900:03:46.680 --> 00:03:47.640God's watching me.6000:03:47.640 --> 00:03:51.400And so his son was just mortified.6100:03:51.500 --> 00:03:56.000Clearly he had crossed the line somewhere in Sunday school class.6200:03:56.100 --> 00:03:57.760And the teacher said, God's watching you.6300:03:59.420 --> 00:04:01.320So dad, is it true he's watching me?6400:04:01.760 --> 00:04:03.960And Pastor Chuck said, oh, absolutely true.6500:04:04.000 --> 00:04:05.200At all times he's watching you.6600:04:05.520 --> 00:04:11.500And he could see the spirit of his, the will, just kind of the kid started to wither.6700:04:11.980 --> 00:04:15.160And Chuck said, it's because God loves you so much.6800:04:15.220 --> 00:04:16.620He can't take his eyes off of you.6900:04:20.089 --> 00:04:20.790And that's good.7000:04:20.850 --> 00:04:21.630And that is correct.7100:04:23.190 --> 00:04:24.390That's a beautiful thing.7200:04:24.870 --> 00:04:26.510God will make you able to stand.7300:04:29.550 --> 00:04:30.810God will take care of you.7400:04:30.890 --> 00:04:34.670He'll prop you up and strengthen you.7500:04:39.480 --> 00:04:43.880I heard a song the other day, and I just wanted to work it into the message based upon that7600:04:43.880 --> 00:04:45.920second Chronicles verse, God's always watching.7700:04:46.580 --> 00:04:52.800So I heard, I forget who sings this, but every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching7800:04:52.800 --> 00:04:53.240you.7900:04:59.860 --> 00:05:04.840I don't know.8000:05:04.980 --> 00:05:05.860I wasn't asking for it.8100:05:05.920 --> 00:05:09.840I mean, I was, okay.8200:05:14.610 --> 00:05:22.290The fact is this, is that the love of God for you, the scripture says it's the goodness of God8300:05:22.290 --> 00:05:23.530that leads a man to repentance.8400:05:25.610 --> 00:05:29.690God's goodness should cause you to run from the evil and run to his arms.8500:05:31.030 --> 00:05:41.770And even though you might be latent with sin, you come in repentful, tearful, you're convicted, you're mortified.8600:05:42.290 --> 00:05:43.710I've been found out.8700:05:45.150 --> 00:05:48.650And my sin, as the scripture says, David says, is ever before me.8800:05:48.930 --> 00:05:49.750I can see it.8900:05:52.740 --> 00:05:54.840And God says in his word, bring it to me.9000:05:56.900 --> 00:06:02.040Our tendency is to go run and hide and bury it somewhere in the garden and then mingle among the9100:06:02.040 --> 00:06:06.800bushes and hope he doesn't walk in and say, Jack, where are you?9200:06:10.010 --> 00:06:15.350I am convinced if Adam and Eve would have walked out of that garden and said, God, we blew it.9300:06:16.190 --> 00:06:17.130Please forgive us.9400:06:17.450 --> 00:06:25.050I think God would have made an offering and you and I would be walking around now in a garden.9500:06:26.750 --> 00:06:29.750Jeremiah 29, 11 says, for I know this is God speaking.9600:06:29.850 --> 00:06:31.410I know the thoughts that I think toward you.9700:06:31.530 --> 00:06:32.230Can you imagine that?9800:06:33.510 --> 00:06:35.070God says, I know what I think about you.9900:06:35.470 --> 00:06:36.470And you go, really?10000:06:38.070 --> 00:06:38.430Yeah.10100:06:41.440 --> 00:06:46.100Says the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.10200:06:47.300 --> 00:06:51.060Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me and I will listen to you.10300:06:52.400 --> 00:06:56.560And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.10400:06:57.880 --> 00:07:00.300That's a loyal heart, not a perfect art.10500:07:00.540 --> 00:07:01.140We don't have it.10600:07:02.040 --> 00:07:02.680But do you want him?10700:07:03.880 --> 00:07:05.240Do you want Christ to forgive you?10800:07:05.320 --> 00:07:06.600You want God to erase away?10900:07:06.760 --> 00:07:09.840Listen, God will erase by the blood of Christ all of your sin.11000:07:10.940 --> 00:07:14.100That's why, listen, because Christ lives because God is real.11100:07:14.320 --> 00:07:15.920That's how you and I know sin.11200:07:16.900 --> 00:07:20.340You know, the stuff you don't bring up, the stuff that only you remember, the stuff that you hope nobody11300:07:20.340 --> 00:07:24.100else remembers or the stuff that you hope nobody finds out.11400:07:25.200 --> 00:07:26.760God says, I'll wash that away.11500:07:26.900 --> 00:07:28.100If you come to me, come to me.11600:07:28.440 --> 00:07:29.480That stuff will kill you.11700:07:29.620 --> 00:07:30.160Come to me.11800:07:30.800 --> 00:07:32.140That's how much he loves you.11900:07:35.130 --> 00:07:36.710Is that how love works anyway?12000:07:40.300 --> 00:07:42.640I'm going to read you a compounding of scripture here.12100:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.020It's John chapter four in John chapter seven.12200:07:45.140 --> 00:07:46.340You can follow on the screens.12300:07:47.540 --> 00:07:49.520The Bible says Jesus is speaking.12400:07:49.700 --> 00:07:57.140Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him notice when you drink water, folks, it goes inside of12500:07:57.140 --> 00:07:57.380you.12600:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.500But ask yourself, is this you will never thirst?12700:08:01.940 --> 00:08:11.440But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting12800:08:11.440 --> 00:08:12.140life.12900:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.920That's what God wants for us.13000:08:15.420 --> 00:08:22.820Coupled with John chapter seven on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out13100:08:22.820 --> 00:08:26.500saying, if anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink.13200:08:27.020 --> 00:08:33.460He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.13300:08:33.659 --> 00:08:41.980But this he spoke concerning the spirit of the Holy Spirit, whom those believing in him would receive for the13400:08:41.980 --> 00:08:45.920Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.13500:08:45.920 --> 00:08:51.880In other words, the Holy Spirit was not yet given to indwell the believer because Christ had not yet been13600:08:51.880 --> 00:08:53.600crucified and resurrected.13700:08:54.300 --> 00:08:59.780Up until the day of Pentecost, folks, the Holy Spirit from the day of creation could only come upon you13800:08:59.780 --> 00:09:01.100and he would leave you.13900:09:01.680 --> 00:09:04.820That's why David said, take not your Holy Spirit from me.14000:09:05.060 --> 00:09:06.020Why did he say that?14100:09:06.140 --> 00:09:10.320Because that's how the spirit of God worked in the Old Testament economy.14200:09:11.100 --> 00:09:19.460Jesus comes and brings us a complete fulfillment of God's promises as he wrote in the Old Testament.14300:09:20.260 --> 00:09:22.140I will write my law in your heart.14400:09:22.740 --> 00:09:26.260I will come into your very being and live inside of you.14500:09:26.640 --> 00:09:29.360You will be mine and I will be your God.14600:09:30.360 --> 00:09:37.540That's an Old Testament promise describing the born again opportunity that you and I live in today, where the spirit14700:09:37.540 --> 00:09:39.080of God now lives in us.14800:09:42.990 --> 00:09:45.230Listen, a private faith?14900:09:45.390 --> 00:09:45.490Sure.15000:09:45.570 --> 00:09:46.210Personal faith?15100:09:46.310 --> 00:09:46.730Absolutely.15200:09:47.310 --> 00:09:48.690But it's impossible to hide it.15300:09:50.940 --> 00:09:52.660God is working in some of your lives.15400:09:52.980 --> 00:09:59.120You might even be shy and you love God, but you're starting to almost percolate on the inside.15500:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.580It's like you were starting to bubble.15600:10:01.720 --> 00:10:08.060And it's just like, oh, man, every time I read my Bible, every time I go to a sermon, I15700:10:08.060 --> 00:10:09.440just feel like I'm going to explode.15800:10:10.580 --> 00:10:10.860Why?15900:10:11.800 --> 00:10:19.950Because God has put his word in you personally and privately to possess you.16000:10:21.310 --> 00:10:25.570That God's truth might come out of you and splash as it were onto others.16100:10:27.030 --> 00:10:30.570Get them all wet as it were.16200:10:33.100 --> 00:10:34.820And so listen, I wrote this down.16300:10:34.820 --> 00:10:42.600I know this is a big statement, but it may be the most single, most important verse in the Bible.16400:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.820So that's a big statement.16500:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.800Yes, it is.16600:10:45.920 --> 00:10:51.340But listen, John chapter three, verse three, Jesus answered and said, that's to Nicodemus.16700:10:51.660 --> 00:10:56.620Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.16800:10:58.060 --> 00:10:59.660Jesus is to Nicodemus.16900:11:00.020 --> 00:11:06.920Let me tell you, Nicodemus is far out, far out, exceeds us completely.17000:11:07.900 --> 00:11:09.360And Jesus says, you're not going.17100:11:10.640 --> 00:11:12.000You have to be born anew.17200:11:12.060 --> 00:11:13.000You have to be born again.17300:11:16.510 --> 00:11:19.010So when was the first account of somebody being born again?17400:11:19.110 --> 00:11:20.170Can we qualify this?17500:11:20.250 --> 00:11:21.530Is it, can it be tested?17600:11:22.210 --> 00:11:22.670Oh yeah.17700:11:23.050 --> 00:11:24.150John chapter 20.17800:11:24.590 --> 00:11:25.250This is awesome.17900:11:25.890 --> 00:11:27.450John chapter 20, verse 19.18000:11:27.850 --> 00:11:32.970Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, this is post resurrection.18100:11:33.570 --> 00:11:41.970When the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in18200:11:41.970 --> 00:11:44.790the midst and said to them, peace be with you.18300:11:45.050 --> 00:11:51.250And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side, that would be his right side.18400:11:51.890 --> 00:11:55.950Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.18500:11:56.110 --> 00:11:56.570Verse 21.18600:11:56.770 --> 00:11:59.750So Jesus said to them again, peace to you.18700:11:59.830 --> 00:12:03.110As the father sent me, I also send you.18800:12:03.570 --> 00:12:08.250And when he had said this, this is Jesus breathed on them.18900:12:08.450 --> 00:12:11.070And he said to them, receive the Holy spirit.19000:12:11.130 --> 00:12:14.030The word means receive the Holy spirit within you.19100:12:15.050 --> 00:12:15.910That's the born again.19200:12:16.390 --> 00:12:22.910When was the, if, if being born again is such a big deal to God and pastor, you just said19300:12:22.910 --> 00:12:24.610it's the most important verse in the Bible.19400:12:27.600 --> 00:12:32.920When Jesus in John 20 says, receive the spirit and he blows on them.19500:12:33.680 --> 00:12:37.660The word is the spirit of God went inside of them.19600:12:38.440 --> 00:12:39.960They were born again in that moment.19700:12:40.400 --> 00:12:47.620They would not receive the power of the Holy spirit until the day of Pentecost where the spirit of God19800:12:47.620 --> 00:12:49.160didn't come inside of them.19900:12:49.800 --> 00:12:51.540Very specific Greek word is used.20000:12:51.940 --> 00:12:55.940The spirit of God came upon them for ministry and for power.20100:12:58.280 --> 00:12:58.880Remarkable.20200:13:00.000 --> 00:13:06.900The Bible tells us in first Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12, for as the body is one and has many20300:13:06.900 --> 00:13:11.840members, but all the members of that one body being many are one body.20400:13:11.920 --> 00:13:17.860So also as Christ for by one spirit, we were all baptized into one body.20500:13:17.900 --> 00:13:24.200That is the body of Christ, the church, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves are free and have all been20600:13:24.200 --> 00:13:27.500made to drink in one spirit.20700:13:28.120 --> 00:13:33.700Verse 14 for in fact, the body is not one member, but many.20800:13:33.980 --> 00:13:36.840This is us, the church.20900:13:41.190 --> 00:13:43.050You are who you are.21000:13:43.630 --> 00:13:44.610Can I put it this way?21100:13:45.730 --> 00:13:48.430Jesus Christ died for your sins and my sins.21200:13:48.530 --> 00:13:51.670He did not die for my personality or your personality.21300:13:53.070 --> 00:13:58.750You and I have a different opinion on this, but God loves the variation of our personalities.21400:13:59.750 --> 00:14:03.290We would rather have people be more like the way we want them to be.21500:14:04.670 --> 00:14:08.810And God says, Nope, that's why I've made you the church.21600:14:09.930 --> 00:14:12.430This person is really hard to like over here, Jesus.21700:14:13.110 --> 00:14:14.990And Jesus says, Yeah, any though.21800:14:16.890 --> 00:14:19.050So get on over there and love on him.21900:14:19.670 --> 00:14:22.450Oh, God, can't you send someone else to love on him?22000:14:23.590 --> 00:14:25.790Did you know how bad you and I need one another?22100:14:25.870 --> 00:14:26.930We didn't realize it.22200:14:27.310 --> 00:14:28.550So I don't know about that.22300:14:29.130 --> 00:14:36.170Listen, if there's anybody in under this roof or soon to be out in the parking lot, and it's like,22400:14:36.230 --> 00:14:36.850Hey, wait a minute.22500:14:36.950 --> 00:14:39.270My bumper was further out than yours was.22600:14:42.110 --> 00:14:46.250God is teaching you to love one another and to grow.22700:14:46.730 --> 00:14:47.890It's quite remarkable.22800:14:48.490 --> 00:14:51.430So in Acts chapter one, I mentioned the power coming upon.22900:14:51.610 --> 00:14:53.690So I guess I should begin to wrap it up this way.23000:14:54.130 --> 00:15:00.070When the moment you say, Lord Jesus, I understand now I see that you died on the cross for my23100:15:00.070 --> 00:15:00.310sins.23200:15:00.390 --> 00:15:01.430The Bible says this.23300:15:02.330 --> 00:15:07.810And even though I wasn't there 2000 years ago, I know that I'm a sinner.23400:15:09.690 --> 00:15:15.550I have bad thoughts, lustful thoughts, angry thoughts or temperament or whatever it is.23500:15:16.250 --> 00:15:17.570That's not good.23600:15:18.430 --> 00:15:19.370And I have a past.23700:15:19.550 --> 00:15:21.950Oh, God, you would say, Please forgive me.23800:15:24.040 --> 00:15:25.740I'm sorry for my sins.23900:15:26.300 --> 00:15:29.300The Bible says in that moment, you're born again.24000:15:29.380 --> 00:15:30.880The Holy Spirit moves inside of you.24100:15:32.160 --> 00:15:38.000Now, can somebody tell me what that feels like when you're like, Oh, please forgive me in the Holy Spirit24200:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.980moves inside of you and you Oh, wow.24300:15:41.200 --> 00:15:45.900I don't know about you, but I've never felt anything that the night I got saved.24400:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.480All I knew was that message was true.24500:15:48.640 --> 00:15:50.180I was convicted of my sins.24600:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.180God knew everything about me.24700:15:52.360 --> 00:15:57.300And what I just heard a moment ago gives gives my mind reason and hope.24800:15:57.380 --> 00:15:58.620I want Jesus.24900:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.800I need Jesus.25000:16:00.200 --> 00:16:03.380And I went forward and there are people crying around me.25100:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.640I'm looking at people on that Monday night.25200:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.220They're all crying.25300:16:06.220 --> 00:16:08.240Oh, God, forgive me.25400:16:08.640 --> 00:16:09.640And I'm like, Here's me.25500:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.220Here's me.25600:16:10.280 --> 00:16:10.880I'm like this.25700:16:13.900 --> 00:16:14.800I had enough.25800:16:14.920 --> 00:16:15.700I had no feeling.25900:16:16.720 --> 00:16:20.200And I began to think, Oh, it must not be working for me.26000:16:24.080 --> 00:16:28.100And then when you pray the prayer and you go back to the prayer room afterward, they give you a26100:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.600new material.26200:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.960And I told the guy, Hey, everybody around me is crying.26300:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.260I didn't cry.26400:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.880What's the deal?26500:16:40.410 --> 00:16:42.990He said something that I've used a thousand times since.26600:16:43.930 --> 00:16:47.850He said, Listen, do you understand the gospel?26700:16:47.970 --> 00:16:49.430Can you tell me the gospel that you just heard?26800:16:49.590 --> 00:16:50.070I told him.26900:16:50.150 --> 00:16:51.210He goes, Yeah, you got it.27000:16:51.650 --> 00:16:52.290You got it.27100:16:53.330 --> 00:16:56.910Nowhere does this say feeling goosebumps tingle down this point.27200:16:58.090 --> 00:17:00.090Feel this and you're saved.27300:17:01.090 --> 00:17:07.829Listen, I'm grateful that I listened, kind of did the spiritual math, figured out.27400:17:08.450 --> 00:17:12.349And this puts me bankrupt.27500:17:15.650 --> 00:17:18.609Jack is hopeless without Jesus.27600:17:19.270 --> 00:17:32.230And so that young man in that counseling, that new believers room said nowhere in the Bible says it's based27700:17:32.230 --> 00:17:32.910on your feelings.27800:17:33.070 --> 00:17:34.610It's Bible says it's based on faith.27900:17:34.610 --> 00:17:35.990Did you come to Jesus?28000:17:36.290 --> 00:17:36.570Yeah.28100:17:36.930 --> 00:17:37.490Do you want him?28200:17:37.750 --> 00:17:37.870Yeah.28300:17:38.790 --> 00:17:39.470And he said this.28400:17:41.130 --> 00:17:41.950Why don't you?28500:17:42.150 --> 00:17:43.750Why don't you tell me right now?28600:17:43.830 --> 00:17:44.810You don't want Jesus.28700:17:45.130 --> 00:17:49.310You're gonna give the Bible back to me, and you're gonna walk out of here and never step foot in28800:17:49.310 --> 00:17:49.970this place again.28900:17:50.690 --> 00:17:51.690I said, Why would I do that?29000:17:51.830 --> 00:17:52.850I don't want to do that.29100:17:54.210 --> 00:17:55.270He goes, Exactly.29200:17:57.820 --> 00:17:58.800Pretty clever, right?29300:18:00.700 --> 00:18:04.140No, my friends.29400:18:04.500 --> 00:18:11.150Listen, for those of us, our pursuit now today is this.29500:18:12.670 --> 00:18:18.310Jesus said in Acts Chapter one verse eight, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes not in you,29600:18:19.090 --> 00:18:26.950upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all of Judea, Samaria into the ends29700:18:26.950 --> 00:18:30.140of the Church family.29800:18:31.640 --> 00:18:36.800When God saves you, please listen.29900:18:37.240 --> 00:18:39.140You can close your Bible doesn't mean leave.30000:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.080Just close your Bible.30100:18:41.180 --> 00:18:41.520We're done.30200:18:42.360 --> 00:18:48.940When God saves you, he begins his work of maturing you.30300:18:51.930 --> 00:19:00.830When a baby's born, the mother begins her work of nursing that baby, and dad begins the work of changing30400:19:00.830 --> 00:19:01.250diapers.30500:19:03.850 --> 00:19:07.490But the baby doesn't grow by having its diaper changed.30600:19:08.830 --> 00:19:15.390The baby grows nursing energy from mom.30700:19:19.760 --> 00:19:22.180And with that investment, the baby grows.30800:19:23.980 --> 00:19:27.520Jesus says you must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven.30900:19:27.760 --> 00:19:29.220You must be born from above.31000:19:29.300 --> 00:19:30.960The word means born a second time.31100:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.600And God will nurse you.31200:19:33.960 --> 00:19:40.520And he's nursing us always with every Bible verse, every sermon, every song of praise.31300:19:41.420 --> 00:19:49.740Every time we get together and fellowship, we are nursing the strength of almighty God that he desires for you31400:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.440and I to have.31500:19:50.780 --> 00:19:53.180And we are growing up in Christ.31600:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.040It's a relationship.31700:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.860It's alive.31800:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.640It's real.31900:20:02.190 --> 00:20:07.990This Jack Hibbs podcast, as well as all the broadcast outreach opportunities, are listener supported.32000:20:08.630 --> 00:20:11.470Will you consider partnering with us through a special gift?32100:20:12.170 --> 00:20:16.830Go to Jackhibbs.com to learn more and stay connected.