WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:03.359 Hello, everybody. 2 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:06.839 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope with Rick Warren. I'm 3 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:10.599 really glad you're here today. We're continuing our series from 4 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:14.439 Psalm twenty three called living in the Goodness of God. 5 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:17.519 It's all about how God's goodness meets you right where 6 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:21.879 you are and brings hope even in difficult seasons. Okay, 7 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:24.960 and now here's the final part of a message called 8 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.039 how God's Goodness can restore. 9 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:31.320 You Number two. What about when we do wrong? What 10 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.560 about when we sin? What about when we have that 11 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:38.320 unconfessed guilt? How does God the good Shepherd deal with that? Well, 12 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.320 God's good God. And here's the answer. When we do wrong, 13 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:46.560 Jesus takes my sin on himself. He says, I'm gonna 14 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:48.719 take your guilt. Please just hand it over to me. 15 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:50.679 And I'm going to go die on the cross and 16 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.240 pay for all your sins, so you don't have to 17 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:57.000 pay for your sins. This is the best news in 18 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:00.200 the whole world. We call it the gospel, which is 19 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:04.359 an Old English word for good news. And Jesus takes 20 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:07.319 all my guilt on himself. He says, I'm going to 21 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:08.920 give you all my goodness. 22 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:10.799 It's also called righteousness. 23 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:13.599 I'm going to give you all my goodness so you 24 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.640 can get into heaven and you're going and I'm gonna 25 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:19.319 take all of your guilt, and I'm going to pay 26 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:24.719 for it on the cross. Nearly seven hundred years before 27 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.519 Jesus died on the cross, so that would be about 28 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:28.560 two thousand, seven. 29 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:29.519 Hundred years ago. 30 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.200 A guy named Isaiah was a prophet, and God told 31 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:37.879 him in very specific terms that he was going to 32 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:42.560 send a savior to the world, a messiah to save 33 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:45.840 all our sins and to pay for him seven hundred 34 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:49.400 years He gave him this prophecy. It's in many chapters 35 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.879 of Isaiah, but Psal I mean Isaiah fifty three is 36 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:56.040 the clearest. And when you read these details, you got 37 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.319 to read that this guy was saying this seven hundred 38 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:00.680 years before it happened. Only God could have told him this. 39 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:04.519 And in Isaiah fifty three, Verses five and six, it 40 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:08.400 says this about Jesus. Seven hundred years before Jesus arrived, 41 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:13.240 he was wounded and crushed for our sins. This is 42 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:17.240 on the cross. He was beaten, and he took our 43 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:22.560 punishment so that we might have peace. And through his wounds, 44 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:27.639 our wounds are healed. All of us have strayed away 45 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:31.280 like sheep. You know, sheep, I told you last week, 46 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:34.719 not real smart. We've all done our own thing. We've 47 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:37.919 left God's path to follow our own. Yet the Lord 48 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:43.879 laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. Now, 49 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:46.120 what I just read to you is the most basic 50 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:50.400 fundamental truth of the Bible. If this wasn't true, we 51 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.759 could all go home right now, because we wouldn't have 52 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:57.080 anything at all, if Jesus Christ hadn't come to pay 53 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:01.360 for your sins. The most basic truth is that he 54 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:04.240 did that. Everything you're going to do wrong in life, 55 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.680 including the stuff you're going to do tonight and tomorrow 56 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:12.479 and next week and ten years from today, it's already 57 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.840 been paid for. It's already been paid for. You just 58 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:19.800 have to accept God's grace and goodness. That is the 59 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:25.759 goodness of God, that He's already paid for everything I'm 60 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:27.240 even going to do, not just a past, but in 61 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:27.680 the future. 62 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:28.879 It's already paid for. 63 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:31.960 I remember one time there was a guy out on 64 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:35.240 the patio at the Lake Forest campus and he came 65 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:38.039 up to me frantically after the service, and he said, 66 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:42.360 I need to know what do I need to do 67 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.319 to get to heaven? I said, well, you're too late. 68 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:48.960 Just thought it shock. 69 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:52.360 Him, you're too late? 70 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:55.719 He is, no, no, no, really, what do I need 71 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:58.960 to do in order to get to heaven? I said, sorry, 72 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:01.879 you're too late? So what do you mean it's got to. 73 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:03.520 Be something I can do? I said, there's nothing. 74 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:09.680 It's already been done by Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. 75 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.960 This is what makes Christianity different from religions that are 76 00:04:13.960 --> 00:04:17.040 out there. Every religion has a list of things to 77 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:19.800 do to get to heaven, and each religion this is 78 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.360 our list, and this is our list, and that's our list, 79 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.439 and another religion that's our list. And if you'll do 80 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:27.560 these things, it's all based on your performance, you might 81 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:31.120 make it into heaven. Can't be sure, but you might. 82 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.839 And so all the other religions can be summed up 83 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:38.959 in the word do. Christianity is summed up in the 84 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:44.040 word done. And when Jesus was on the cross, he 85 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.720 cried out, it is finished. 86 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:47.720 Now. 87 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:52.120 Notice he didn't say I'm finished, because he wasn't. He 88 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:55.600 came back to life three days later and he wasn't finished. 89 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:57.240 And he's alive today. He lives in my heart. I've 90 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.360 been his friend now for over fifty years, and many 91 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:03.040 of you have too. But when he says it is finished, 92 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.040 he's saying you don't need that anything. It's not I 93 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.240 die on the cross, plus you do these ten other things, 94 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:11.360 then you get to go to heaven. There's only one 95 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:14.720 thing you need to get into heaven, humility. To realize 96 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.079 you're never getting there by what you do. The only 97 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:21.079 way is to say I am a sinner and I 98 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.560 need a savior. That's what you say. That's humility. That's 99 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:27.000 the sin that will keep you out of heaven. I 100 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.920 don't need anybody to saying I'm good enough to get 101 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:32.800 there on my own. Really, it's a perfect place. I 102 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:36.439 stop being perfect about thirty seconds in to this planet, 103 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:41.240 and so nobody bats a thousand. I've never met anybody 104 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.560 who actually claim to be perfect. We all know we're imperfect, 105 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:47.959 but we say to God, God, we're gonna trust you. 106 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.360 And when you come to Christ and you say I'm 107 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.439 gonna you're gonna take my sins on you? Yeah, what 108 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:59.800 are you giving me in return? My goodness? You don't 109 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:03.480 have to beg Please God, please please save me. You 110 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:05.720 don't have to bargain. If you'll do this God, then 111 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:08.759 then I'll do that. You don't have to bribe. I'll 112 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:13.879 read my Bible every day. If you do this, breag, bribe, bargain. 113 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:19.720 You don't do anything. You don't beg. You just believe. 114 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:23.439 That's it. That's why it's called the good news. 115 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.720 The word gospel is just nold English word that means 116 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:27.360 good news. 117 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.480 And what's the best news. 118 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:30.720 You can't get to heaven on your good works, but 119 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:35.160 it's already been paid for. You just have to humbly 120 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.079 admit you need a savior, that you're not good enough 121 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:43.920 to go to a perfect place. He said, But Rick, 122 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:45.959 you don't know what I've done. It doesn't matter. I 123 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:47.560 don't need to know what you've done because I know 124 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.920 what Jesus has done. And what Jesus has done is 125 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:53.920 bigger than what you have done. The good thing he 126 00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:56.439 did on the cross is bigger than the bad thing 127 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:00.000 you have done. That's why we call it good Friday. 128 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:04.920 When he died. It's not good for Jesus, it's painful, 129 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:05.920 but it's good for you. 130 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:07.879 He said. 131 00:07:07.879 --> 00:07:09.920 Well, Rick, I've asked God to forgive me. 132 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.360 I just don't feel forgiven. 133 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.079 It means you don't fully understand it yet, because once 134 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:18.439 you understand how fully forgiven you are, you just want 135 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:21.720 to shout, you want to jump up it down. And 136 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:24.279 if God comes into your life, it's gonna make some changes. 137 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:25.839 You can't have him come into your life and it 138 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:28.519 not changed you. So if your life hadn't changed any 139 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.519 you might have gotten something, but you haven't gotten God. 140 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.360 Somebody as big as God can't come into your life 141 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.800 and not change you. And when you the more you 142 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:40.800 understand grace, the more joyful you'll be. Many of you 143 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:43.360 know that one of my mentors in life was the 144 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:48.519 father of modern management, Peter Drucker, and he mentored me 145 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.920 the last thirty years of his life from about sixty 146 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:55.160 five to ninety five, and he trained all of the 147 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:59.480 who's who of business leaders that are leading businesses today. 148 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:02.240 And one day I was up at his house and 149 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:05.560 he was mentoring me on some leadership things, and I said, Peter, 150 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.879 when did you step across the line, When did you 151 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:11.720 find Christ? When did you put your faith in Jesus? 152 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.079 And he said, in that thick Austrian accent, Well Rick, 153 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:22.600 he said, when I finally understood the concept of grace, 154 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:25.839 I knew I was going to never get a better deal. 155 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:31.720 When you finally understand how good God really is. 156 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:35.200 You're not going to go anywhere else because he's a 157 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.120 good good father. 158 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:42.480 Now, as I said, Isaiah wrote that part about Jesus 159 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:45.000 suffering on the cross. Let me read you some more 160 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.919 of it and listen to the details of this seven 161 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.879 hundred years before it actually happened Isaiah fifty three, verses 162 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:56.559 seven to twelve. He was beaten down and punished talking 163 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:59.279 about Jesus on the cross before the cross, but he 164 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:00.240 didn't say a word. 165 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.200 That all happened. 166 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.840 He was led out like a lamb to be slaughtered. 167 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:10.320 He was condemned to death without fear judgment, and then 168 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:13.720 he was put to death for the transgressions of everyone else. 169 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:14.519 That's us. 170 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.399 He died like a criminal, but then was buried with 171 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:23.440 the rich, even though he'd done nothing wrong and had 172 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:23.879 never lied. 173 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:24.720 You know this is true. 174 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:27.879 Jesus died on the cross as a criminal. You know 175 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.720 that was the worst capital punishment available. It's humiliating death 176 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.840 on the cross. But when they took him down, there 177 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:36.480 was a wealthy man named Joseph of Verimathea who had 178 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:38.600 a brand new tomb he'd bought for his family, off 179 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:43.320 in baptized, bury people in the same tomb for decades 180 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.320 and then like a hole in the wall of a cave. 181 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.039 And then covered up. 182 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:51.480 And Joseph Verimathea was quite wealthy, and and but he 183 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:53.679 offered his tomb for Jesus because he's not going to 184 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:59.759 need it very long. Think about that, like, you know, 185 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.279 what's a few days? You know, he said, he's coming 186 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:04.799 back to life, So why would I worries borrowed for 187 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.600 a couple of days. I don't intend to die between 188 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:12.080 now and then. But seven hundred years, Isaiah says, a 189 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:15.879 rich man is going to provide him a tomb. And 190 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:19.360 it says, yet it was God's plan to cause him 191 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:21.840 to suffer. It was God's mind who put Jesus to death, 192 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:28.240 not the Romans, not Jewish leaders. God did, God did. 193 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:31.919 Jesus said, I lay down my life. He's part of 194 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:34.440 the training. I voluntarily do this for you and me. 195 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:38.720 It was God's plan to cause him to suffer and 196 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:44.840 make his life a guilt offering for our sins, sacrifice 197 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:49.240 to bring forgiveness. But after his soul suffered many things, 198 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.559 he will enjoy life, enjoy again, that's the resurrection. He's 199 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:56.639 saying this seven hundred years before it happened. But my 200 00:10:56.759 --> 00:11:00.519 suffering servant God says, will make many people right with God, 201 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:04.279 and he will be He will bear all their sins, 202 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.759 and he will willingly give his life. And he was 203 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:09.399 treated like a criminal, but he took the place of 204 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:13.919 everyone who had sinned, and he interceded for their forgiveness. 205 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.200 And when Jesus died on the cross, he covered all 206 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.600 your sins and he forgave you. And the Bible says 207 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.480 he throws your sins in the deepest part of the sea. 208 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:26.120 It's like a metaphor. And then I want to add, 209 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:29.759 and he puts up a no fishing sign. Why would 210 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:33.159 you drag out something to remember that God has already 211 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.080 forgiven and forgotten. 212 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.600 When you keep feeling. 213 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.399 Bad about something you've already confessed to God and God's 214 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:45.080 forgiven you and Jesus died for it, then it says, 215 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:46.600 I don't really believe. 216 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.639 Jesus paid for my sin. That's unbelief. 217 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:53.159 When you keep asking for forgiveness for something you sincerely 218 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:58.960 ask for already is unbelief. Because Jesus gives completely and 219 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:04.039 freely and instantly and with grace. When Jesus forgave all 220 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.679 your sins, which one were not included? 221 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.200 None? 222 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:11.720 They're all included, every single one. This is why I 223 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.840 serve Jesus Christ. I don't serve him for money. I 224 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:17.000 don't serve him for fame. I don't serve him out 225 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:19.279 of duty. I don't serve him out of fear. I 226 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:21.240 don't serve him out of guilt. I serve him out 227 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:28.120 of gratitude. And you should too. And if God has 228 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:30.320 forgetting all forgiven all your sins, shouldn't you? 229 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:30.799 Now? 230 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:33.240 What about the third thing? We talked about? Guilt, we 231 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.039 talked about grudges. What about this third area that warps 232 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:37.519 my soul? 233 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.279 Grief? 234 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:42.320 He might write this down When we experience loss here 235 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:46.720 it is loss in pain. Jesus feels my grief and 236 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:51.240 heals my heart. He feels my grief and he heals 237 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:55.120 my heart. Why does Jesus feel my grief because he 238 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:58.720 understands grief. He's been there, He's experienced it too. He 239 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.840 understands to earth and became one of us. So he's 240 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:07.240 experienced all of the loneliness that people experienced, the betrayal 241 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:10.360 that people experience, the rejection that people experience us, and 242 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:13.799 he came to feel my grief and heal my heart. 243 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:19.000 That is the goodness of God. The Lord is my shepherd. 244 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.759 Again more in this same chapter, Isaiah fifty three, same place, 245 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.440 seven hundred plus years before Jesus came to earth, Isaiah 246 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:33.000 says this describes Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior. He was 247 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:38.440 despised and rejected by others. If you've ever been despised, 248 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:42.399 you know how that hurts. Maybe you were despised at school. 249 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.600 That hurts. 250 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.320 Maybe you're despised because of a handicap, or the color 251 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:51.320 of your skin, or because your female or male or whatever. 252 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:56.000 If you've been despised, Jesus understands. He was despised. 253 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:57.200 He was rejected. 254 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:00.879 If you've ever had somebody reject you walk out on 255 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:05.360 your life, Jesus understands that hurt. There's no hurt you 256 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.159 can experience that. He doesn't understand no grief. Why can't 257 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:13.639 Jesus understand my grief he's experienced at all? Isaiah. He 258 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:17.240 was despised and rejected by others. He was a man 259 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:23.440 of sorrows, which endured much pain and suffering, and he 260 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:28.759 experienced deep grief. Imagine leaving heaven and come here to 261 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:33.360 live a bunch people who hate you. He experienced deep grief, 262 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.200 but we ignored him and we looked the other way. 263 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:38.159 He was hated and we did not care. Yet it 264 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:41.320 was our weakness that he was carrying on the cross, 265 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:47.320 and it was our sorrow, our sorrow that weighed him down. 266 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:51.320 So he understands. He doesn't just understand, he doesn't just feel. 267 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:52.039 He heals. 268 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:55.039 Look at the next verse, Ps. One forty seven, Verse three. 269 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:59.960 He heals the broken hearted, and he binds up their wounds. 270 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.759 I don't know what's broken your heart. Some of your 271 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:08.879 heart's breaking right now. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, and I'm 272 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.960 glad you're here because this is a place for the 273 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:15.000 healing of broken hearts. But the fact of life is 274 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.519 Jesus says, I heal, and I feel, and I care 275 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:21.279 about what you're going through. 276 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.480 Now. So what are you doing with your grief? 277 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.360 Maybe you just had a big breakup, Maybe you just 278 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.279 got fired at work. 279 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:30.200 Maybe you just go. 280 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:39.519 Does anybody want me? Does anybody want me? Does anybody 281 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:44.000 notice me? And there's that ache in your heart? What 282 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:47.320 do you do with that ache? You take it to 283 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:53.840 Jesus because he heals, and he feels he understands it all. Now, 284 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:57.679 Jesus never wanted us to forget the sacrifice he made 285 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:01.320 to handle your grudges, your grief, and your guilt. And 286 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:04.320 he gave us a symbol called communion, the Lord's Supper. 287 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.039 He said, I want you to remember what I've done 288 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.480 for you. 289 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:08.679 Now. 290 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:12.039 I know you can't stand to have an unfilled blank, 291 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.240 So I'm going to give them to you real quick. 292 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.559 All right, you want to write these down? 293 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.879 All right? 294 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:19.840 You gonna write these down. Three things that are my 295 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.279 response to what Jesus does for me because of my guilt, 296 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:27.440 my grief, and my grudges. How should I respond? Well, 297 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:30.440 it's all summed up in the attitude of believe trust, 298 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:34.960 And number one is trust the good Shepherd to forgive 299 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:38.639 my sins. Actually believe that he has forgiven my sins. 300 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:43.480 Start acting like all your sins are forgiven rome Is three, 301 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.519 twenty three and twenty four. All of us have sinned, 302 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:50.480 yet God declares us not guilty if we trust circle 303 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:55.480 that word trust in Jesus Christ, when this free mercy freely. 304 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.440 Takes away our sins. 305 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.960 So I just trust, I believe, I accept that my 306 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.720 my sins have been forgiven because of what Jesus did 307 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:08.240 on the Cross. Number two, Release my offenders, Release my 308 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:11.200 offenders people who've hurt me, and focus on the future. 309 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:15.519 Don't let them get under your skin anymore, because your 310 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:20.680 soul cannot be restored until you let go of resentment 311 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.960 in your mind, in your thoughts, and let go of 312 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.640 revenge in your emotions, and let go of retaliation in 313 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.880 your actions. 314 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.400 And your decisions. 315 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:31.839 You gotta let it go, said God. Today, I'm letting 316 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:35.839 them go. The Bible says Ephesians four thirty. Get rid 317 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:39.720 of all bitterness. Let me just you should not. Bitterness 318 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:44.319 is a barrier to your life forgiving each other just 319 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:46.680 as Christ forgave you. Not only is that you to 320 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.200 get rid of resentment, he said, you got to get 321 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:53.519 rid of retaliation Romans twelve. Never avenge yourselves. Leave that 322 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:57.759 to God. He said, He'll repay those who deserve it. 323 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:02.920 So I trust God really did forgive all my sins. 324 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:06.680 And then because of that, I start offering forgiveness of 325 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.680 other people. I let other people off the hook, and 326 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:13.680 I released my offenders so I can focus on the future. 327 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.480 I've certainly not got to get stuck in the past 328 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:19.079 for the rest of my life. Then number three, I 329 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:25.079 team up with Jesus to carry my load. God never 330 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:32.880 intended for you to go through life carrying all your grief, guilt, grudges, problems, pressures, stresses, 331 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.799 situations by yourself. 332 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.319 And Jesus says, I. 333 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:39.039 Want to team up with you. I want to yoke 334 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:41.920 up with you. And when he uses the word yoke, 335 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:45.119 he's not talking about an a yoke. He's talking about 336 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.799 the kind of yoke that they would put over two 337 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:51.720 cattle is a beam, and the beam, then the two 338 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:54.279 cattle can pull the wagon together. Here's what it says. 339 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:59.240 Look up here on the screen. Come to me, Just 340 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:01.720 come to Jesus. Come to me, you who are weary. 341 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:05.559 You're tired. You carry a heavy burdens, and I will 342 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:08.799 give you a lot more to do. No, that's all 343 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:12.519 he says. Come to me, and I will give you what. Yeah, 344 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.359 rest we talked about that last week. 345 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.640 Take my yoke upon you. 346 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.160 Let me teach you because I'm humble and gentle, and 347 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:24.400 you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke 348 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.759 fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light. 349 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.720 Now when you read that, it sounds like he said, okay, 350 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:32.759 you know this cattle yoke that they would put over 351 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:35.000 two horses or two cattle they pull the wagon. 352 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.000 You go, wait a. 353 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.519 Minute, he's putting something else on me. That sounds pretty heavy. 354 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.759 That doesn't sound good, A little big heavy. 355 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.960 Thing like that. 356 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.279 No, no, you don't understand. The purpose of a yoke 357 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:48.480 is not to put more on you. It's to take 358 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:52.319 off half of your load. If you're pulling the wagon 359 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.960 by yourself, it's one hundred percent dependent on your energy. 360 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.960 Jesus says, yoke up with me, let's share it and 361 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.480 guess what I'll help you carry, and it will be 362 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:05.880 half as difficult. That makes sense. The yoke is not 363 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:08.039 to put more on you. The yolk is saying I'll 364 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:13.079 pull your load. Jesus doesn't have any load. He's God. 365 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:16.880 He has no load. Everything's easy for him. And so 366 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:21.279 when you yoke up, team up with Jesus, he says, 367 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.880 I'll help you pull your load. And by the way, 368 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.440 when you yoked up to Jesus, it's impossible for you 369 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:30.359 to run the wagon into the ditch because he's not 370 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.559 gonna let you do it. You got to go the 371 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:34.519 direction he's going, and you got to go with the 372 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.519 pace he's going, and he will go at a more 373 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:42.279 reasonable pace than you will. That's what he says, I 374 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:49.400 want to do in your life. It's bower heads. Would 375 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:52.240 you pray and would you talk to God right now? 376 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.839 Say God? My soul needs restoring. I don't always think, 377 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.400 I don't always choose right, I don't always feel right. 378 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:10.039 And I need you to restore my damaged soul, my mind, 379 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:16.160 my will, and my emotions. And Lord, specifically today, I 380 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:18.640 want to help ask your help on the things that 381 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:27.279 do damage my soul. About those unaddressed grudges. I know 382 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.720 it's not doing me any good to hold onto the hurt. 383 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.119 I'm only hurting myself with the anger. And every time 384 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:35.839 I remember that the way they hurt me, it just 385 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:43.200 hurts again. Would you turn my hurts into holiness? Would 386 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:47.759 you turn my pain into gain? Would you do what 387 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.839 only you can do? Would you transform me and turn 388 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:57.279 the conflict and the chaos into character. 389 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.759 In my life? 390 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.160 I need your help to do that, and Lord, I'm 391 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:06.400 going to ask you also with the unconfessed guilt. And 392 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.880 there's stuff I've been carrying around in a large garbage 393 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.880 bag for a long time, and it's starting to stink. 394 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:16.960 I'm going to say to you, I need your forgiveness, 395 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:19.319 and then more than that, I'm going to believe it. 396 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:23.000 I'm not going to listen to my feelings or what 397 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:27.000 anybody else says, or what thoughts that Satan might try 398 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:31.039 to put in my mind. Thank you Jesus for taking 399 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:34.599 all of my sins on yourself at the Cross. Thank 400 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:38.200 you that you were wounded and crushed for me. You're beaten, 401 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:42.480