Istrouma Baptist Church Podcast

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Istrouma en Español
Nov 22 – 23, 2020

==========
Noviembre 22, 2020
"No entierres tus talentos "
==========

Mateo 25:14-27
»El reino de los cielos será también como un hombre que, al emprender un viaje, llamó a sus siervos y les encargó sus bienes. A uno le dio cinco mil monedas de oro, a otro dos mil y a otro solo mil, a cada uno según su capacidad. Luego se fue de viaje. El que había recibido las cinco mil fue en seguida y negoció con ellas y ganó otras cinco mil. Así mismo, el que recibió dos mil ganó otras dos mil. Pero el que había recibido mil fue, cavó un hoyo en la tierra y escondió el dinero de su señor. »Después de mucho tiempo volvió el señor de aquellos siervos y arregló cuentas con ellos. El que había recibido las cinco mil monedas llegó con las otras cinco mil. “Señor —dijo—, usted me encargó cinco mil monedas. Mire, he ganado otras cinco mil”. Su señor le respondió: “¡Hiciste bien, siervo bueno y fiel! En lo poco has sido fiel; te pondré a cargo de mucho más. ¡Ven a compartir la felicidad de tu señor!” Llegó también el que recibió dos mil monedas. “Señor —informó—, usted me encargó dos mil monedas. Mire, he ganado otras dos mil”. Su señor le respondió: “¡Hiciste bien, siervo bueno y fiel! Has sido fiel en lo poco; te pondré a cargo de mucho más. ¡Ven a compartir la felicidad de tu señor!” »Después llegó el que había recibido solo mil monedas. “Señor —explicó—, yo sabía que usted es un hombre duro, que cosecha donde no ha sembrado y recoge donde no ha esparcido. Así que tuve miedo, y fui y escondí su dinero en la tierra. Mire, aquí tiene lo que es suyo”. Pero su señor le contestó: “¡Siervo malo y perezoso! ¿Así que sabías que cosecho donde no he sembrado y recojo donde no he esparcido? Pues debías haber depositado mi dinero en el banco, para que a mi regreso lo hubiera recibido con intereses.

1. Dios es el dueño de todo.

2. Nosotros no somos dueños de nada.

3. Dios espera que seamos fieles.

Registrate
Si es la primera vez que asistes te invitamos a que te registres
https://istrouma.org/nuevo

Visita nuestra pagina.
Tus comentarios:
https://istrouma.org/espanol

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Direct download: IBC_Espanol_20201129.mp3
Category:Navidaid en Istrouma -- posted at: 6:23pm EDT

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Istrouma Baptist Church
Nov 29, 2020

==========
November 29 | Baton Rouge
Welcome Back! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.  

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Update
Update:
https://mailchi.mp/istrouma/istroumaupdate-577842?e=%5BUNIQID%5D

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

November 29, 2020  | Jeff Williams
"The Promise of Faith"
Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

What wakes you up in the middle of the night?

What scares you about the future?

What do you feel unqualified/inadequate to accomplish?

God has been, is, and always will be unstoppable

The right response is
I surrender
I’m available.
I trust You

Pastor Updates
For all pastor updates and information go to:
https://istrouma.org/pastor

Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week?
Click here to add your name to our mailing list:
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Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
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Our Website
https://istrouma.org

Direct download: IBC_20201129.mp3
Category:Christmas at Istrouma -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma Baptist Church
Nov 22, 2020

==========
November 22 | Baton Rouge
Welcome Back! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.  

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Update
Update:
https://mailchi.mp/istrouma/istroumaupdate-577822?e=%5BUNIQID%5D

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

November 22, 2020  | Dwayne Pitre
"Personal Stewardship"
Matthew 25:14-27

Matthew 25:14-27
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

1.    He owns _______
2.    We own _______
3.    He expects _______

How Not to Give
1.    Materialistic _______
2.    Legalistic _______
3.    Never _______

How to Give
1.    Informed by the _______
2.    Informed by the whole _______
3.    Informed by the _______

Pastor Updates
For all pastor updates and information go to:
https://istrouma.org/pastor

Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week?
Click here to add your name to our mailing list:
https://istrouma.org/email

Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
https://istrouma.org/give

Our Website
https://istrouma.org

Direct download: IBC_20201122.mp3
Category:John -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma en Español
Nov 22 , 2020

==========
Noviembre 22, 2020
"No entierres tus talentos "
==========

Mateo 25:14-27
»El reino de los cielos será también como un hombre que, al emprender un viaje, llamó a sus siervos y les encargó sus bienes. A uno le dio cinco mil monedas de oro, a otro dos mil y a otro solo mil, a cada uno según su capacidad. Luego se fue de viaje. El que había recibido las cinco mil fue en seguida y negoció con ellas y ganó otras cinco mil. Así mismo, el que recibió dos mil ganó otras dos mil. Pero el que había recibido mil fue, cavó un hoyo en la tierra y escondió el dinero de su señor. »Después de mucho tiempo volvió el señor de aquellos siervos y arregló cuentas con ellos. El que había recibido las cinco mil monedas llegó con las otras cinco mil. “Señor —dijo—, usted me encargó cinco mil monedas. Mire, he ganado otras cinco mil”. Su señor le respondió: “¡Hiciste bien, siervo bueno y fiel! En lo poco has sido fiel; te pondré a cargo de mucho más. ¡Ven a compartir la felicidad de tu señor!” Llegó también el que recibió dos mil monedas. “Señor —informó—, usted me encargó dos mil monedas. Mire, he ganado otras dos mil”. Su señor le respondió: “¡Hiciste bien, siervo bueno y fiel! Has sido fiel en lo poco; te pondré a cargo de mucho más. ¡Ven a compartir la felicidad de tu señor!” »Después llegó el que había recibido solo mil monedas. “Señor —explicó—, yo sabía que usted es un hombre duro, que cosecha donde no ha sembrado y recoge donde no ha esparcido. Así que tuve miedo, y fui y escondí su dinero en la tierra. Mire, aquí tiene lo que es suyo”. Pero su señor le contestó: “¡Siervo malo y perezoso! ¿Así que sabías que cosecho donde no he sembrado y recojo donde no he esparcido? Pues debías haber depositado mi dinero en el banco, para que a mi regreso lo hubiera recibido con intereses.

1. Dios es el dueño de todo.

2. Nosotros no somos dueños de nada.

3. Dios espera que seamos fieles.

Registrate
Si e Istrouma: Noviembre 29, 2020s la primera vez que asistes te invitamos a que te registres
https://istrouma.org/nuevo

Visita nuestra pagina.
Tus comentarios:
https://istrouma.org/espanol

Email List
Si deseas recibir información sobre nuestros eventos suscríbete en el siguiente link.
http://eepurl.com/gxAkRX

Direct download: IBC_Espanol_20201122.mp3
Category:Juan -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma Baptist Church
Nov 15, 2020

Direct download: IBC_20201115.mp3
Category:John -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma en Español
Nov 15 , 2020

Direct download: IBC_Espanol_20201115.mp3
Category:Juan -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma Baptist Church
Nov 8, 2020

==========
November 8 | First John (BR)
Welcome Back! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.  

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Update
Update:
https://mailchi.mp/istrouma/istroumaupdate-577798?e=%5BUNIQID%5D

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

November 8, 2020  | Jeff Williams
"Love Begins with Worship"
1 John 5:13-21

1 John 5:13-21
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Notes:

Pastor Updates
For all pastor updates and information go to:
https://istrouma.org/pastor

Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week?
Click here to add your name to our mailing list:
https://istrouma.org/email

Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
https://istrouma.org/give

Our Website
https://istrouma.org

Direct download: IBC_20201108.mp3
Category:John -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma en Español
Nov 8 , 2020

==========
Noviembre 8, 2020
“Todos deben de saber”
==========

1 Juan 5:13-21
Les he escrito estas cosas a ustedes, que creen en el nombre del Hijo de Dios, para que sepan que tienen vida eterna. Y estamos seguros de que él nos oye cada vez que le pedimos algo que le agrada; y como sabemos que él nos oye cuando le hacemos nuestras peticiones, también sabemos que nos dará lo que le pedimos. Si alguno de ustedes ve que otro creyente comete un pecado que no lleva a la muerte, debe orar por él, y Dios le dará vida a esa persona. Pero hay un pecado que lleva a la muerte, y no digo que se ore por quienes lo cometen. Todas las malas acciones son pecado, pero no todos los pecados llevan a la muerte. Sabemos que los hijos de Dios no se caracterizan por practicar el pecado, porque el Hijo de Dios los mantiene protegidos, y el maligno no puede tocarlos. Sabemos que somos hijos de Dios y que el mundo que nos rodea está controlado por el maligno. Y sabemos que el Hijo de Dios ha venido y nos ha dado entendimiento, para que podamos conocer al Dios verdadero. Y ahora vivimos en comunión con el Dios verdadero porque vivimos en comunión con su Hijo, Jesucristo. Él es el único Dios verdadero y él es la vida eterna. Queridos hijos, aléjense de todo lo que pueda ocupar el lugar de Dios en el corazón.

Cuanto mayor es el conocimiento de un hombre, mayor ha de ser su fe;
y cuanto más se acerca a Dios, más clara es su visión de Dios.
(Víctor Hugo 1802-1885 Novelista francés)

1.    S_____ que tenemos vida eterna.

“Estas cosas os he escrito a vosotros que creéis en el nombre del Hijo de Dios, para que sepáis que tenéis vida eterna.” (5.13)

2.    S_____ que Dios contesta nuestras oraciones.

“Y esta es la confianza que tenemos delante de Él, que si pedimos cualquier cosa conforme a su voluntad, Él nos oye. 15 Y si sabemos que Él nos oye en cualquier cosa que pidamos, sabemos que tenemos las peticiones que le hemos hecho.” (5.14-15)

3.    S____ que Jesucristo nos da la victoria.

“Sabemos que todo el que ha nacido de Dios, no peca; sino que aquel que nació (5.18)

4.    S____ que los creyentes somos hijos de Dios.

“Sabemos que somos de Dios, y que todo el mundo yace bajo el poder del maligno.”(5.19)

5.    S____ que Jesucristo es el verdadero Dios y la vida eterna.

“…y nosotros estamos en aquel que es verdadero, en su Hijo Jesucristo. Este es el verdadero Dios y la vida eterna.” (5.20b)

Anuncios para esta semana:
Catch up on this week's announcements here:
https://mailchi.mp/440311bf7b88/istrouma-en-espaol-4123101

Registrate
https://istrouma.org/nuevo

Visita nuestra pagina.
Tus comentarios:
https://istrouma.org/espanol

Email List
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Direct download: IBC_Espanol_20201108.mp3
Category:Juan -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma en Español
Nov 1 , 2020

==========
Noviembre 1, 2020
Marcas de nacimiento.
==========

1 Juan 5:1-5
Todo el que cree que Jesús es el Cristo ha llegado a ser un hijo de Dios. Y todo el que ama al Padre ama también a los hijos nacidos de él. Sabemos que amamos a los hijos de Dios si amamos a Dios y obedecemos sus mandamientos. Amar a Dios significa obedecer sus mandamientos, y sus mandamientos no son una carga difícil de llevar. Pues todo hijo de Dios vence a este mundo de maldad, y logramos esa victoria por medio de nuestra fe. ¿Y quién puede ganar esta batalla contra el mundo? Únicamente los que creen que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios.

1. Creemos que Jesús es el Cristo (v.1)

2. Creemos que nacemos en la familia de Dios (v.1)

3. Amamos a Dios y a sus hijos (v.2)

4. Creemos que sus mandamientos no son costosos (v.3)

5. Vivimos victoriosamente a través de la fe (v.4-5)

Anuncios para esta semana:
Catch up on this week's announcements here:
https://mailchi.mp/b2e660e87b7d/istrouma-en-espaol-4117957

Visita nuestra pagina.
Tus comentarios:
https://istrouma.org/espanol

Email List
http://eepurl.com/gxAkRX

 

Direct download: IBC_Espanol_20201101.mp3
Category:Juan -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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Istrouma Baptist Church
Nov 1, 2020

==========
November 1 | First John (BR)
Welcome Back! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.  

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Update
Update:
https://mailchi.mp/istrouma/istroumaupdate-577786?e=%5BUNIQID%5D

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

November 1, 2020  | Jeff Williams
"Winning Team"
1 John 5:1-12

1 John 5:1-12
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

When obedience is driven by love it loses its burden

The faith that saved you gives you victory over all things

Our confidence is in the fact that Jesus is God and that Jesus loves us

Jesus is God...
His birth, life, teachings,
miracles, death, and
resurrection.

God showed His commitment
God showed His love

Pastor Updates
For all pastor updates and information go to:
https://istrouma.org/pastor

Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week?
Click here to add your name to our mailing list:
https://istrouma.org/email

Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
https://istrouma.org/give

Our Website
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Good morning, and so glad that you're here. And if you have a Bible turn to First John chapter five, we're going to jump in to the last chapter today. And in this series will finish next week and a really just excited about what we're going to talk about. It has been an interesting week. Ah, you know, we had another storm, you know, about that just happens like every other week now. And just all kinds of things that are happening in time change. I don't know about you, but some people talk about, Oh, I love time change because I get an extra hour sleep. 

Well, all I do is wake up earlier than I normally do, and then have to take a nap. I mean, that's pretty much what it means for me, but anyway, then a of a Halloween last night, which, you know, I think is funny that what we do at Halloween, you, that we spend hundreds of dollars on costumes and decorations and candy so that we can go around and beg for 5 cent candy from somebody else. I don't understand that. But anyway, so we, we were involved in that last night and I have to say that as we went, ah, you know, it's, I grew up in an environment where, you know, talked about how evil Halloween was you Weren't supposed to, even at like you liked it or whatever, and they have this. Now I'm not going to get into that conversation today. But there is something that is very powerful about the number of connections you can make with your neighbors on that day as its interesting, that that day of the year is the day that we have the opportunity and probably talk more to more of our neighbors. And we did that last night as we walked around, but the most creative, a thing that I saw a yesterday,  as we walked around, it was this one family decided to make sure social distancing was happening, but still we give out candy. 

And I think we have a picture of it up there. And so they sat on the top level and they shot in the candy down in the deal. And so that they didn't have to touch anybody or I just, I thought that was kind of cool. I don't know if that's new to you, but for a redneck from Alabama, that's a new thing for me. So I thought that was pretty awesome. And then this morning on Facebook, one of the kids from our church that I saw this, there is mom posted and I don't know how well you can see this, but he did this chart of his candy. This is what he got last night. And what I love is at the very bottom yucky candy. I mean, that was by far the most. 

And so let me say this, do people to give out that kind of candy, you know who you are, right. And stop it, stop it, give it up a good candy. All right, unbelievable. Anyway, I just thought that was awesome. And so I have to share that and so Declan, I'm not sure if I'd ever you met, but I asked his mom for permission to share that. And that was absolutely amazing. But anyway, so listen, I was thinking of this week in preparation for this message about a 10 years ago, a little over 10 years ago. And my family moved to Arkansas when I was going to be the pastor of this church and that this church that was pastored at a every year, they did this 5k run called run with the Son and they would do to it. 

It was a pretty big race. And then they would take the money that was collected from that. And they would give it to a local ministry organization is really just a cool event. And so when I got there, I had just been on this track of just trying to, to lose a bunch of weight and get back in shape. But I wasn't a runner. I mean that, this wasn't my thing. I've always been a headcase about running. Like, you know how I just can't do it. I mean, your mind just tells you, you can't do things that you, you really can't do that if you would get your mind out of the way, but that's where I was. But so I thought to myself, there was a guy who was on staff and he was about 10 years older than me and yeah, but he was a runner, but I thought, you know what, he's 10 years older than me. 

I can take him. And so I began to in promotion for the event, I began to practice a couple of my, of my greatest spiritual gifts. Now I don't know if you know anything about spiritual gifts, but you know, you can take tests and they can tell you what those might be in your life. And so when I take those tests and come back to my two greatest spiritual gifts are sarcasm and trash talking, that's my two greatest spiritual gifts. And so I began just to practice those is we got ready for that, right? And I'm thinking I can take this guy. You know, I'm getting in a pretty good shape and whatever. 

And he absolutely destroyed me. I mean, it wasn't even close because I just, wasn't a good runner. And I thought, you know, I can do better than this. I mean, I know that I can do better than this. And so when it got around to the beginning of next summer, the, the race was always the first week of school. And so I had all summer in three months, I was going to a train and I was going to, I was going to be ready at this time. So I've got a friend of mine. It was an actual runner to help you. He and I did all of the things he told me to do, and I know it was ready and I was going to beat this guy. And of course I was still talking trash again because I didn't learn anything from the first year. 

And so we get to the race and I know, and I don't know if you've ever done anything like that, any kind of sporting event when there was a starting block in all the people, hundreds of people around. And I was just all jacked up so excited, but I had this plan of what I was supposed to do, eat smile. And so as we are running at mile one and mile two, they would tell you, Hey, here's your time. This is where you are. This is what you've done. And so I was all excited. And so I was trying to pace myself because I knew where I wanted to be in. And so I took off because I was so excited. 

I mean, I was going a lot faster than I should have been going. And so I got to mile one and they told me what my time was. And it was like a minute and a half faster than what it should've been. And you might think, Oh man, you must be really proud of yourself. Look how great you're doing. But no, not me. All right, because remember I told you it was a headcase and I thought, Oh my goodness, that's way too fast. And my mind started turning right about, about, there's no way that I can keep this up and there's no way that I can make it. I started out too fast and there's no way that I can keep up this pace. 

And because of that, I'm going to get too tired. And because of it, I'm going to lose. And all of a sudden, your mind starts feeling your way. You start feeling yourself with all of these negative thoughts. And before I knew it before I even got to mile two, I'm breathing. So I mean, just like I can't even hardly a walk anymore. And so I stopped running and I began to walk. And in that moment I was absolutely defeated and he beat me again. And I never talked trash about that ever again, by the way. Right. I stopped it at that moment, but I was defeated. 

Not because I couldn't do it because I had done that, that 3.1 miles I had done it probably 60 or 70 times over the course of that summer. I, and I had run that exact route that we ran. I have to run that at least 10 times and done it to every single time and without stopping within, without really a lot too much of effort in terms of just being so tired. But in that moment in my mind, got in a way. And I defeated by myself because of all of the things that I was feeling in my mind. 

Now, I think about that when it comes to the subject that we've talked about the most over the course of this series, about loving one another in about those people in our lives, that we struggle with loving so much that some of you have defeated yourself, but that you have a com to a place where there's no way that you can ever love anybody else, because you have filled your mind with so many negative things, and there's no way that you will ever be able to accomplish it or not. 

Because God hasn't given you the ability not have been. Not because God hasn't given you all the tools, not because you are beyond having a, the ability to make that happen, but simply because you have defeated yourself before you ever really got started. And so today, what I want us to do is we look at the beginning of chapter five is I want to hopefully give you some confidence. I want you to see who you are in what it is that you have, because when God calls us to do something, he's not calling us to do that in order to punish us. 

He's not asking us to do something that is beyond our ability and it's not because you can, or you can is because he can and he's inside of you. And because of those facts and because of those realities, there's a victory that we have, that we are on a winning Team. We are in fact, we've already Won, but yet many of us live as though we've already been defeated. Many of us live as that, I'm just holding on until I die. And maybe Jesus will accept me. And that is a horrible way to live because if we could just buy into what God teaching us and modeling for us and desires for us to just live in obedience than what we will see is not only can we accomplish it, but there will be a joy that fills us. That is absolutely overwhelming. 

And so for all of those of you that came today out of obligation, because you're supposed to do that. But the whole way here you're praying is that I wish he wouldn't talk about loving one another again. Well, I'm sorry, we're going to talk about it again, but I hope that you leave today with a confidence that maybe you didn't have when you came in. So with all that in mind, look at First John Chapter five and let's begin in verse one. This is the, you know, 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. So we've talked about that a bunch, right? That believe me is that you put your whole weight upon you, take your life and you place it in God's hands that if you do that, if you've ever made that decision in your life, and by the way, if you've never made that decision at your life at any moment in time, you can do that. God is always willing and ready to accept you. You just say God I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I need you to place my life into your hands. That anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ you've been born of God. 

That means you are a child of God in everyone who loves the father, loves whoever has been born of him. That means we love one another, right by this. We know that we loved the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments, the proof that we really are born of God is that we love each other. It doesn't mean that we earn God's approval by loving one another. It means this, the evidence that we already, 
I love God for this as the love verse three of God That we keep his commandments and don't miss this last phrase and his commandments. They're not Burdensome. Now that's an interesting phrase, right? Have you ever Thought about things that God tells you to do? Or are you ever read something in the Bible and you just want to put it down, right? You just wanted to ignore it and go back to the parts of the Bible that you like, because it feels like a burden. It feels like an obligation that I just don't want to do because often times, and this is the way that the world things that we see, the, the, the, the laws of God and the commandments of God is such an impossible task for us to have any part of fulfilling. 

And the reason is, is because we think it's all about things that were no longer allowed the dude or things that we have to do that are no fun, that are, are too hard, that are too difficult. And I don't receive the pleasure that I want to receive when I do what God wants me to do. And if we were, to be honest, I would say that at times, and our lives, all of us have been there. And that we see those things as a burden. But it says that when you love God that keeping his commandments is really not a burden. 

So thinking about it this way here, here's a statement that a road that went obedience is driven by love. It, loses his burden. 

I think about that for a minute, that Winning, If we choose to obey God, and that we're obeying God, not out of obligation, but we're doing it out of love. The burden is lifted. Thank you. Ma'am Is that for those of you that are parents, think about the things that we do for our children, that if we had to do those for someone else's children, that would be a burden, but we do them for our children because we love them. I think about a family vacation. I mean, I mean, you talk about anything that can be a burden, right? A family vacation. You have to take it out a second loan too, to pay all of that money, to go to Disney world, right? And then you have to pay for all that money to go down there. And then when you get done with that trip, you, if your, your, your thankful that you haven't killed any of those kids, that you are so loved that you took with you right now. 

And then I, at the end of that, you're so tired. You need another vacation just to recover from your vacation. And if you have kids like mine, you probably need counseling when you get back, because it's just been such a struggle. But we do a year after year, after a year now for us, we have given up, right. We don't do any of that no more. I mean, I told you the last one we have given up, all right, is that we probably need counseling ourselves, but we'd go to the beach. And what we say is, Hey, listen, we're going to the beach and we're going to sit by the pool, or we're going to sit on the beach. Then if you don't like it, you can get a job and go on your vacation. All right. That's what you can do. Right? 

But the things That we do for our kids that we wouldn't do for somebody else's kids, that they're motivated by our love for them, I've shared with you that our youngest two kids, Mason and Harper are adopted is, and if you've never been a part of the private adoption, you may not completely understand this, but it's expensive. I mean, it is absolutely expensive. And if we weren't driven by love for them, I mean, I'd probably sit around and think about how much money I spend on those adoptions. Not thinking, man, if I don't have these kids, I can have the nicest pull in a neighborhood. 

I mean, that would be absolutely amazing when I can, but I think that very often, by the way, all right. But the reason I don't is because I love them. I mean, I love them with all of my heart. In fact, there are times that I will sit and watch them play when they're not fighting, which is rare. But anyway, then when they're not fighting and then I'm sitting and watching them play, and I know the backgrounds of the families that they come from, I know that the things that they've walked through, I know what their life would be like if they were in those homes that not ours and listened to our home is by no means perfect. 

But you know what I do know that the dysfunction that they out of could have absolutely destroyed We are live. And because of that, when I watch them play and a half, I think about all of the other stuff that I just joked about, that drives me crazy. And that I'm thinking I'm way too old to be doing this all over again, that I find myself being drawn to the reality that I am so thankful that I have been able to have them come to be a part of our family, because I love him with all of my heart. And I would never want them to experience all the things that they will never understand. Okay. And that their lives could have been like, Oh, you know what? That is, that It's taking something that if you don't have the right mindset, that could be a burden, but because you do it at a love, it changes. So, so what's the application for that. And the application for that is that what happens so many times is it that we think about this struggle about those people that are hard to love. And because we think about this struggle of who they are and what they've done to us and how they've heard us that somehow what we've done is that we replaced the priority. Is that how they have heard us when the priority all of long should be the reality of how much God loves us. And that's because we love him so much, and we're overwhelmed by what he's done for us, that it just changes our perspective on the people that God's called us to love. 

We look at them different. We no longer see them for how they hurt us when we no longer see them for the pain that they caused To us. But we See them through the eyes in the model, have someone that loved us so much that what other people have done to us that, and let me be very clear with you about this. What other people have done to you pales in comparison to what you did to a Holy God that caused him to have to send his son to the cross, The dye. And when you see it that way, right? It just changes your perspective. So we can do this. We can fulfill the commands of God. The problem is, is that many of us we've let our minds get in the way. And we've begun to focus on things that are temporary. We begin to focus on the emotions of what other people have done to us or how other people make us feel. And what we do really need to bring ourselves to is a place where we come back to a mindset and Understanding that Who I am is all because of what Christ has done for me. And that, because of that, that my actions towards others can be born. All of that love. And it becomes not burden to it and listen to it Doesn't mean it's always easy. Some people are just difficult, right? I mean, let's be honest. I mean, this is not just a, a pie in the sky. Ah, you know that it's not an issue. Some people are difficult to love. It doesn't mean is never going to be tough. Listen, parenting is tough. And I just shared with you how much I love my kids. Know how much I'm thankful for them. But at the same time, there are times this is not easy. I mean, I think y'all, I, I been told by her, I should read a book about Harper. Ah, but ah, you know, this past week, I will give you another example of this past week. 

And I know what y'all know about adoption. And when he tells her to do something that she didn't want to do it. And she looks at Wendy and he says, well, you can't tell me what to do. You're not my mom. All right. So anyway, that the sheet, she's a, doesn't a, a completely understand. Everything is not always easy when you're dealing with kids, but there's something that changes when you recognize that, right? 

Well, we do is born out of a light. This has been changed. Now, let me say this before we move on. For some of you, Everything is always an obligation and there's not a desire deep down inside of you to respond to others in response to how God's loved you. Then you may need to examine whether or not you really know God, I don't mean with your head, but I mean with your heart, by giving him your life. Because when you give God your life, he changes, you know that there is a, a gradual move towards him. It doesn't mean that every day that you look and act just like Jesus right, none of us are there, but it does mean that we're moving in that general direction. 

It does mean that there is a conviction that comes when we don't act in obedience is the way God calls us to act. There are things that just happened that are different when you are a follower of Jesus. And that's part of what John was saying here is that you really need to examine whether or not you really are a follower of Jesus. And you do that based on how you really feel. Because I would say that for many of us, we have a desire to love other people, but it's still not always easy, is it? 

But when obedience is driven by love that The burden is lifted. So here's the next let's look at verse 14. And I promise the rest of this. Won't be as long as that one was all right, verse four, for every one who has been born of God, overcomes the world. And then This is the victory. Here's the good news, right? Here's how we know that we're on the Winning Team And. This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith, who is it? We did that overcomes the world, except the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God. So we believed that Jesus, his son of God, in our faith, in him, we have already won the victory. Here's another way of saying that the faith and that saved us, gives us a victory over all things. The faith has saved us. Does it just give us a victory so that we could go to heaven when we die? Right? The faith has saved us, gives us the victory over all things. It gives you a victory over today, and it gives you a victory over the toughest things in your life. The things that God calls you to do, or to stop doing that, you don't know how in the world that you can do. And the, the faith that you have in Jesus is what gives you the victory. In essence, what you need to recognize and understand is that you've already won that you're already a winner. 

If you are a follower of Jesus. In fact, if you are a follower of Jesus and you live in obedience to him, you cannot lose no matter what the obstacles are, no matter how difficult it might be. There's a confidence in a peace that comes with knowing that you have already won. Now, for those of you that are like me, they're a sports fans, the, the pandemic, the COVID-19 or whatever other name you want to give to it. One of the toughest things about that for sports fans is that there was a period of time when there was no live sports, right? 

So I spent most of my time when you just have to have that fix watching the SCC network, because they would have a replay, a old football games, right? And so you do this to you, right? If it was a game that, you know, you one, then you have to stop and watch it. But if it was one, you knew you were lost, then you'd move on to go on, to go find someone else to do. And so I remember during the early part of that, when I just needed to fix one day, I turned on a sec sports network and they were replaying from a couple of years ago when a Bama, a beat Georgia and a national championship. And notice I'm not using your team. All right. So Bama a beat Georgia in national championship. 

Ah, and I remember watching that game and there was tears because we are we're way behind. And when we started coming back, but then at the very end, it was fourth down in like 47 to go. And there was no way that we were going to win, but yet an amazing play to have those to test out pass when the national championship, it was absolutely just a absolutely amazing, right? And so, as I watched it the first time I remember how anxious I was, 'cause you're in the middle of it. And you don't know how it was going to turn out, but when you know, you already won, isn't it fun to watch those? 

I mean, you stick it in the Lanxess, right? Your thinking is no way we're going to pull this out and no way, but in the back of your mind, you know, that you won, there's just such a, a, an enjoyment about watching something when you know what the end result is already going to be. And it's a good one. Right? Well, think about That related to the Christian life. What did he say when John was saying here is that you've already won the victory. You have faith in Jesus. You cannot lose. And if you look at the end of the story is John tells us in the book of revelation where you will find His is that God defeats a death hell and the grave that you have a home in heaven and what God promises you in that home and heaven is far greater than any struggle that you are walking through today. 

Oh, you're a winner you've won. So stop living as though you're defeated, Stop living as if there is no hope, stop worrying about what has been and look forward to what God has in store for you live in obedience to him, knowing that you are As a winner, man, I've got to move on. And because we were talking about that all day long, if I know, right, look at, look at the next section, the verses verses six to nine, I told you to be a little faster, right? Versus a six, six to nine. Yes. This is he here. Can you buy a water and blend? Now it gets a little weird here. I'm going to explain this in just a minute. Alright. This is who you came by. Water and bloods. Jesus Christ not by the water only, but by the water and the blood And the Spirit is the one who testifies. That's the key word there, right? This is the testify. God is going to testify about who Jesus is because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify the Spirit and the water and the blood. And these three agree If we receive the testimony of men. 

Look at this, don't miss this. The testimony of God is greater for this as the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. So within this, and I'll explain it. And just a moment, a little more clearly, but there's basically God's testifying about who Jesus is. And because of that also who you are. And that means is that because God is testifying and we see the evidence of all that Jesus has done. It gives us the confidence of knowing that God knows what he's talking about. 

And so therefore you can trust him because he is the authority, right? And it says that the testimony of man is a good thing, but how much greater is the testimony of God, about who this? Jesus is a think about that as it relates to people that you listen to. And when I grew up playing tennis and there was this deal where people, ah, that they could go to a class, it didn't matter how good you were. It didn't matter if you knew anything about tennis, you could go to this class and they would give you the certificate, buy the USDA, and you would be considered a tennis pro. 

Now I was a, a, a, a pretty, you know, opinionated, a teenager. And I remember that it would be, and these guys that would, The where we played tennis and that they would come and they would try and give lessons. And I'm thinking that person's horrible. They're not in a good, I allow in a world that I don't want to take lessons where someone that I, that MI as a 15 year-old kid, that I'm better than they are, or why in the world would, I want to take lessons from them because I want to take a lesson from somebody that knows what they're doing. It it's like someone who is not in shape, trying to tell you what you need to do for you to get in shape. 

I don't want to listen to you about that, right? I don't want to listen to someone who looks better than I do, but he was in better shape than I do. But why? Because the evidence is in who they are, they have shown that they know what they're talking about. Well, what John says is that the testimony of min is good, but let's take the testimony of God. Look at what God has us. Look at what God has described for us. And he talks about the spirit of God, which is God that he testifies of the water in the blood. 

Now, now think about what those represent. The water is talking about Jesus, his water baptism, right? So that when Jesus is at the beginning of his ministry, that he ushered in this idea that he is God in the flesh, through the baptism. And that God sent up the dove. And he was the, the entire thing was a sign that this is my Son. This is the, the, the Messiah, Oh, this is the one that I promise you. Jesus is him. Now that was a huge moment for the people that have been praying for the Messiah for generation after generation after generation. 

And so God says, Hey, here is in the blood. Obviously he represents the cross that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins. And so it signifies the reality that God did what he said he was going to do. And so God testifies, this is my Son. This is the one. Everything that you need is found in, you know, and the testimony of God is so much greater than just the testimony of the experience of man. 

So, so here's how I would describe this and think about the things that God testify about. We see this in Jesus, His life, his teachings, his miracles, his death, and his resurrection In all of those things. What they are is evidence God's for you. God's not against you. 

If you need the confidence in that, go read the end of Romans eight today, all right, starting in about a verse 29 and go all the way through the end of the chapter. I have an amazing picture of what this describes, but what we see in Jesus, birth life teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, all of those or evidence, God says, Hey, I'm for you. I've done everything that you need. I've given you everything that you need in your life. Everything that has passed that is needed for you to possibly obey the commands of God. 

He says, I have given you all of those Thanks. And this John describes this When he describes as this mindset or this idea is, is you look at every single one of these are all the way down to the resurrection, because really that that's where it all comes together, right? Because Jesus Rose from the dead. And by being raised from the dead, he proved that he was God. And that same God who had the power to raise himself from the dead. He has the power to give you everything you need in your life. 

He has the power to help you to be obedient. And to a sense of that, you can love those difficult people in your life, not through your own power, but through the power of the one that resides inside of it. 

You've already won. You have the victory. We should walk in confidence. So these last versus, and then we're done versus 10 to 12. 

Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself Whoever does not believe in it  God has made him a liar because he said Was not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son in here it is. And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life. And this life is in his Son Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the son of God 

God does not have life. Life is in him. Life is in who he is and what he's done for you. So what we ought to be able to do is come to a place in their life where we stopped living as though we've lost, we are victorious. Yes, we are winners. And the way, The way that I would describe this as we wrap up today is this is a God has showed his commitment to us, and God has showed his love for us. And because of that, you can 

Trust him. You say, Well, Jeff what do I do with that today? As I leave this place, I just go back to where you started. Go back to what we read at the beginning have today. And that is, is that your victory, if you're going to live like a winter, that you go back to where you started at the beginning of your relationship with Christ. We say, God, I put my faith in you. That's where your victory is. God, today I put my faith in you or whatever you're facing. 

And whether it's someone that you are attempting to love, whether there is another challenge that's in your life, where there's something that you just can't get passed. You say, God, I'm making the choice today. I put my faith in you that I choose as to where I've made that prayer. The God I'm going to stand up and I'm going to begin to walk and live and victory because I've already one, because I'm all in the Winning Team. And because I know that I can walk in obedience and trust you because you do not fail. 

You do not lose. That's the God that we serve. That's the God that desires for you to live an abundant life. But it only, when you get out of your own head, stop living as though you're defeated, stop being miserable by doing it in your own way, come back to him, place your faith in him today. 

And trust him. He will not fail you. You will not lose. Amen. And amen. Let's pray together today. Lord, I don't know what the needs are across this room today, but God, I find comfort and confidence in the fact that you did Lord. I, I just have to believe that in a room this size, there are people that walked into this place with an issue in their life that caused them to feel defeated. 

And God, I pray that for those individuals that God even right now that through the power of the Holy spirit, that you will flood them with a peace and a desire to just, you know, Right. 

Lord, I pray for any one in this room that doesn't know, you know, they got, maybe they have just been going through the motions and they've been trying to earn your approval. And it's been all about their actions and not about their faith. And so God, I prayed that for those individuals, that they can humble themselves. They can confess with their life that you are the Christ, you are the law and they can put their whole weight upon, you know, they got, they could place they're life into your hands or what I prayed it right now. 

And there are people all across this room that are praying a prayer like that, that are just, just giving themselves to, and then God for those of us that, or somewhere in the middle of all of that, what you just give us confidence today, would you just to remind us of how much you are committed to us, about how much you love us? And I prayed that the testimony of who Jesus is and all that he's done or remind us this week was whatever we face. 

That guy we can trust. Thank you. That we're all on the Winning Team thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for the victory. You're going to give us this week because of who you are and because of what you've done it, we love you. And we thank you for that victory, this in Jesus name. I pray. Amen and amen. Well, thank you so much for being here today. And as always, if there's ways we can help you, we'd love the opportunity to share with you and talk with you after the service, we'll be here as well. 

So hope that you have a great week and we we'll see you again next Sunday. 

Direct download: IBC_20201101.mp3
Category:John -- posted at: 11:58am EDT

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