2018-12-23-CCCC

He rules the world with truth and Grace and makes the nation's prove the glories of his righteousness and the wonders of his love. It's the fourth and final verse of Joy to the World. And again, it's one of those verses that without knowing that this is a Triumph film of Christ's return it just it just it's like we sing it and we want to believe it but can't quite makes the nation's prove the glories of his righteousness in the wonders of his love. We don't see a lot of righteousness. We don't see a lot of love. So it's important for us to remember again. This is a him about the returning of Jesus. Now thankfully Jesus his Kingdom Kids Rule and Reign is present in our hearts right now. So that's part of that in-between time that we live in Jesus. His kingdom is here in your heart as one resurrected by him. If you found your need a Christ in his kingdom is present and he is currently presently ruling in your art and will forever and he's returning to establish that Kingdom that is already established in your heart and he's going to establish it in the world and when we look out and see the Nations countries or just people groups or cultures we can say yes Lord Jesus, please come and establish this Rule and reign because apparently

We need to help tell me what an understatement that is as though all we need is a little help right as as don't let me think about it again your heart being the analogy for what price is going to do in the world. When Christ came to you. He didn't come to you with with a list of of tips or life hacks as they call them now. He didn't come to you with just listen, you're doing pretty good on this. But if you could just tighten this up a little bit if you could just do a little bit better on this if you could just My Heart Cries Out Jesus, I don't think I need to be tinkered with I think I need to be replaced and that's what Jesus does he that he doesn't help us to shine up our existing heart. He takes out our existing heart and gives us a new one. Right. So that's what Jesus is going to do when he comes is he's going to replace all the little tiny Thrones with his one throne. But yet here we are living this life in this world right now at nnn and we look out. We see what all the little Thrones. half wrought to speak in the king Jamie

and and what we see is not a rule and reign of Truth and Grace and not the nation's ringing out in righteousness, but we see a world that is seemingly ruled by que hacen and heartache.

chaos and heartache Merry Christmas

the fall set self and Satan they seem to be ruling now. They seem to be in charge. Que hacen and sinned and fallen and Satan just like we learned last week about Satan himself this serpent the snake if you will its back has been broken. And we as Christians we see that. His back has been broken but he is angry and he still hasn't been on and he still has fangs and and and for whatever reason and God knows we do not he is allowed a certain leash a certain short leash to continue to do what he has been doing from the beginning. I've got a lot of references but let me just pick a couple you can go to 2nd Corinthians Chapter 4 verses 1 through 6 and and and Paul speaks of the of the short leash and limited rule of Satan 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 starting the first one there for having this ministry by the mercy of God. We do not lose heart, but we have renounced disgraceful underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cutting or to tamper with God's word. But by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled it is veiled only to those who are perishing and their case the god the little G God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. Who is the image of God for what we Proclaim is not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord with ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake for God who said let light shine out of Darkness has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So again, we who are the the little Pics of Christ Kingdom our hearts that have been resurrected in our eyes that are connected to those resurrected Hearts. We can see the truth. We can see what is now and what is to come but Paul says the world those who are perishing. They can't see it. They don't see it. Imagine if all you saw was the chaos and the fall and the sin and the rule and reign of the tiny Thrones in the rule and reign of the little G God of this world. That's all you could see. No wonder you don't believe in anything else anything greater. All you see is Darkness. I had a friend in High School exam was Joe and he was blind and in and he was a believer in and I got to be close but I am I remember asking a message. Oh, so so what do you see? Do you see darkness? And it goes what's darkness? Egg whites to it's the total absence of light. He says what's light? It's okay. Alright, or is it just like you just see like just total Blackness and he says what's black.

Right. That's what Jesus says. If you have eyes to see if you have ears to hear. Like an Jose case he was born just without function Eliza's eyes did not function. He did not have eyes to see. Let's allow that to fuel our compassion. And our passion for sharing the gospel so that their eyes might be opened faith comes by hearing.

to this Little G. God of this world Satan has has availed the truth has blinded the unbelievers. God is Sovereign over that blindness though, praise God. The Holy Spirit can lift that Veil. He's the only one that can. You're great arguments. They don't perfect logic. It's not what they need. They need the Holy Spirit to move in them in the Holy Spirit does in our Faithfully sharing our testimonies of God's goodness. I hear that here's another one Ephesians 2:1 through to you just flip Florida couple Pages. If you're in your Bible Ephesians chapter 2 starting and verse 1 and you and I all of the verb tense here cuz for us for for for believers, this used to be true about us not true anymore and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked following the course of this world following the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

The prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now at work in the sons of Disobedience. So it it seems like Satan it is able to run with it a certain amount and now it seems like he's just running around is just given free rein. But but remember it's a short leash for a short time that God is allowing him to do his work in hand for that. For those of us who are in Christ whenever we can sense or see that Satan is trying to do something like that night that Satan tried to Do whatever he thought he could do to my children in my house and I by the power of Jesus in the name of Jesus the strength of Jesus and the piece of presents the only girl I put them back in his place. That's all we can do, right because we're not citizens of this world where the little G God is allowed to rule and Reign we're citizens of God's Kingdom, right? We are citizens in his kingdom. This is a cool example of analogy. If you will if you go to acts 22 Paul came against some persecution, and he does something kind of awesome here. So you go to acts 22 Starting in verse 22 22 22 sounds like a football play to ask 2222.

I've heard.

acts 22 starting at verse 22

up to this word and then we don't have time to go back policy saying stuff that makes people angry. He's used to it by now. Up to this word. They listen to him then they raise their voices and said, oh way was such a fellow from the Earth. But you should not be allowed to live. And as they were shouting and throwing off their clothes and flinging dust into the air the Tribune ordered him to be brought to the barracks saying that he should be examined by flogging. Okay to find out why they were shouting against him like this, which is amazing. Right? This is the strategy. Let's flog Paul to find out why they were yelling at him. Okay. Yes. Awesome. That's another little thrown right trying to establish justice, right? That's what the Romans thought would be a good idea. Right the Tribune ordered him to be brought to the barracks saying that he should be examined by fogging to find out why they were shouting against him like this, but when they had stretched him out for the whips Paul said to the Centurion who was standing by I love this. Excuse me. Is it lawful for you to flog a man? Who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? I'm just curious. I added the I'm just curious Park. When is Centurion heard this he went to the troop the Tribune and said to him. What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen. So the Tribune came and said to him tell me are you a Roman? And he said yes. The Tribune answered I brought this citizenship. I bought this citizenship for a large sum Paul said but I am a citizen by birth. So those who are about to examine him withdrew from him immediately and the Tribune also was afraid for he realize that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had found him as a Roman citizen who was born a Roman citizen. He had a rights and privileges that could not be violated and all he had to do is saying, excuse me. I'm a citizen.

when that serpent persecutes you say, excuse me, Satan. I hate to quibble.

I'm a citizen. Of the kingdom of Christ. Does that make a difference for what you were attempting to do?

now

imagine that truth established on the entirety of the Earth. Citizens of Christ ruled by Christ that is what Jesus comes to establish. I Kingdom ruled by truth and Grace.

He rules the world. He will rule the world with truth and Grace and Truth and grace are the two things that Satan and this Fallen Kingdom cannot abide truth and Grace.

No, truth capital T truth in our culture has been replaced by your truth. Just live your truth you be you. right Your Truth has been replaced with your truth which is just a another way of saying relativism where everything is relative which is another way of saying that everything is true which is a way of saying that nothing is true.

I think you're going to live your truth. I'm going to live my truth. What if my truth is the harman abused you will you can't do that? You can't do that because my truth is that you can abuse me what my truth is that I can. Bright, so I made a vow long time ago as a preacher to not talk about traffic cuz it just seems to be like of the lazy low-hanging fruit go to for preachers to talk about traffic.

But literally so help me God. I went out shopping yesterday not because the last minute stuff now this is long-planned. I wasn't I'm not that cliche. But I remember it so, I'm sure I find I find the parking space at Aldi of all places. I find the parking space and I don't have a lot of room so I have to kind of squeeze in there and I remember having a thought like a man now they're going to think that I'm a terrible human being because I parked so close next to them. How how how in the world could I show them or prove to them that I'm not the terrible human being I'm just I'm taking the only room I have because this Joker decides he's going to park like in the middle of the line. You can't park it and then I thought would have parking lots had no lines. A boy and can you imagine that reality at this time of year when there were no lines in a parking lot? Where would people Park? Everywhere, who would they block everyone who would block you everyone else? Who's going to get mad? Everybody? Who's going to be happy nobody? Those lines praise God for the lines. You have to stay inside your life. How does the person know that I'm not the terrible human being look at the car for next week. They're the one that's parked on top of the line. I know I'm just using all the space available to me. Who wanted molynes reports show? It's a silly example, but it's a true one right in an in an age of absolute relativism, which is a hilarious statement in its own. Right right absolute relativism. The only truth that exist absolutely is that there is no absolute truth what kind of bra that but that's the world that we live in truth has been replaced by your truth relativism. Everything is true means nothing is true and Grace has been replaced by tolerance.

Wright's Grace has been replaced by tolerance was just a fancy way of saying a license. Which is a fancy way of saying and I mean this literally you can do whatever the hell you want to do with your life. I mean that literally I'm not trying to be clever. That's what it boils down to whatever you want to do you do it. I can't tell you that it's wrong and that's supposed to be Grayson and that in a weird way. It's supposed to be love.

All right as a parent that should make no sense to you. I can't parent that way then why should we govern that way? Right there, like whatever you want to do. You be you write your truth. I'm going to tolerate it.

It it it becomes nothing, right? Truth is dissolved away. Grace is non-existent. It's it's like, okay. I'm on a bit of a blasphemer on I've built furniture from time to time. I'm a proud American but yet the metric system is far superior to the Imperial inches and fractions. Come on people. Like how do we get a foot while that was a size of the king's foot? What if we get a different King?

The mass in the metric system makes so much more sense. I'm so I have to like surrender my American flag or something. I don't know what it is. I heard this the other day. There are two types of countries in the world those that use the metric system and those that landed on the moon and I just leave it.

The rule the literal rule that people would live by is the size of the king's foot of the distance between the Kings thumb and elbow or you know, I don't know, right? But at least there was a standard. Right, at least there was a standard. It's like I can't claim that. I'm 9 feet. All right, what you you pull out a ruler and you measure it? Okay. We need the lines in the parking lot. We need the hash marks on the yardstick. We we need it, right but we've replaced the monarchy with Anarchy. And in praise God Jesus is coming to establish truth and Grace or rather reestablishing or maybe actually I don't want to say reestablish. There's never been a golden age of life on Earth in this country any other we've always been sinful. We've always been following our own Hearts. Thank you Disney. We've all just been doing whatever we wanted to do. And this is the result and with the exception of where Jesus has personally resurrected a person a family a church. All we see is anarchy outside a parking lot without lines everyone living there truth. And Jesus is going to come and he's going to establish this Kingdom. of Truth and Grace not relativism and license, but truth and Grace and when he comes

the eulogy of our world will be spoken in it's written. It's in Romans. Let me just read it sin Romans 1 starting a verse 18 you've heard it before but this is the this is the eulogy. This is what will be spoken. About this world and this Kingdom after it passes away. For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who buy their unrighteousness suppress the truth for what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them for his invisible attributes namely his eternal power and divine nature. I've been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made so they are without excuse for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish Hearts were darkened claiming to be wise they became fools and exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things therefore God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions for their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to Nature in men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another men committing Shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error and since they did not see fit to acknowledge. God God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness evil covetousness. Malice. They're full of Envy murder striped two-seat maliciousness. They are gossips slanderers haters of God insolent Hardy boastful inventors of evil disobedient to parents foolish faithless heartless ruthless following their own hearts. Do they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die. They not only do them, but give approval to those who practice them. We need truth and Grace. Truth to put very simply is a fixed point. Truth is just a fixed point. It's a Northstar. It's what's a magnetic north where all compasses are just drawn. It's the ruler it is a fixed point. That is what truth is in the ultimate truth. It's Christ himself is the ultimate fixed point of all existence.

And when he comes to establish his Rule and Reign, he literally will be the center and fixed point of all of existence go to Revelation you might as well just come on a Sunday morning with a book Mark already in Revelation, even though it's the last one you can usually find it, but we're going to be there.

I have a daughter who loves to read and she often will read the end of a book.

Before she Begins the book. What if something happens?

Praise God like we do the same thing. We know how the story ends. Right, we know how the story and so no matter what we know this is where it's going to end Revelation 21 starting in verse 1.

And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first heaven in the first Earth and passed away in the sea was no more and I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with man he will do well with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

I had a daughter once who is morning. She was crying and I tried to comfort her and what she said to me was Daddy. I can't wipe away my tears, which meant that she couldn't stop crying. They kept coming. Jesus only Jesus will forever wipe every tear from their eyes and Death Shall be no more neither shall there be morning nor crying nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away and he who was Seated on the throne said behold. I am making all things new.

Also, he said write this down for these words are trustworthy and true and he said to me it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end notice. He doesn't say I was at the beginning I'll be at the end. He says that he is the beginning and he is the end. To the Thirsty I will give from the spring of the Water of Life without payment. The one who conquers will have this Heritage and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the Cowardly the faithless the detestable as for murderers the sexually immoral the sorcerer's the idolaters and all the Liars their portion will be the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second death.

The second Kingdom that they get to enjoy and picking back up in verse 22 and I saw no temple in the city friends Temple is the Lord God the almighty and the lamb and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives its light and it's the lamp is the Lamb. Why it's light will the Nations walk and the kings of the earth will bring their Glory into it and its Gates will never be shut by day and there will be no night there. They will bring into it to the glory and the honor of the nation's but nothing unclean will ever enter it nor anyone who does what is detestable or false? But only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The Earth itself will have one fixed point and it's going to literally be Jesus. On his throne in the middle of the city.

And that will be truth. What is Grace Grace is unmerited favor? Truth is one fixed Point Grace put simply is unmerited favor. And who will live in this city who live in the city just for the back few pages to Revelation 5. And we'll see who will live in the city. With Christ is the true fixed point of the center of all things in Revelation 5 starting at verse 9. It says this

and I sing a new song saying worthy. Are you to take the scroll in to open it seals for you were slain and by your blood you ran some people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and Priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth. You ransomed people for God. So who will live in the city? Who will be citizens in this Kingdom Those whom he ransomed? Grace is unmerited favor. It means it means a gift or or or or I or a payment that you didn't earn.

Right. I mean we won't know about Dre. Send me to be a parent at Christmas wrapping up all the presents right? I mean if they're my children aburrido always deserve right what they've been given.

Grace is unmerited favor. The citizens of that Kingdom trending that Throne will be ransomed. Sit right there. You will Ransom 2 people for God who pays a ransom. the hostage

No, you can't pay it.

Hostage doesn't pay the ransom. price.

So the truth is the grace. The name of Truth is Christ. The name of Grace is Christ.

indeed Let me put it this way. No one standing around the throne. Will be wearing their own robe.

We will only be wearing what we have been given.

I've something imma show you.

I just I want you to look at this glorious jacket. I mean

exclusively hand-tailored by Santana clothing in Kowloon Hong Kong and I mean and look at the lining of this thing. And not you know, what? If it's me.

So this must have been hand-tailored for me. You know, it's mine.

It was given to me. You really only wear it around Christmas. I think it looks appropriately Christmassy.

Fits me. And it's mine. It was hand Taylor for someone else and it was given to me by his widow was a man that I was just a pool cleaner and I met this amazing man, Jim Patrick. He's a combat wounded pilot Purple Heart recipient from Vietnam.

the gem of a man that means something in this church done it Jim Jim futuric, and I got to know him and you reminded me of my grandfather and

When he passed away, his is his widow miss Patricia. She said I had some things have gyms and I'd like you to have them.

Jack is one of those things. I'm literally I'm wearing another man's jacket. Is it given to me and it covers me fits me? Right. I didn't earn it. I didn't buy it. It wasn't fitted for me.

In our country, we live in Freedom. That we didn't pay for. The gym Patrick's Jim Goodman's the time to Massey's. The gym bonds the others.

Right, but yet we were covered in it. We are covered in the grace of Christ given to us.

given to us In disgrace, it doesn't just happen. The grace comes through righteousness not our own the Christ's. It was purchased. By his righteousness and then given to us. Where has the song he makes the nation's prove the glories of his righteousness? But we are robed in his righteousness 2nd Corinthians. 5:21 says he made him who knew no sin to become sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. We have become the righteousness of God. He has given us the righteousness. If you're covered in Christ you're covered in. His righteousness. That's why we stand before the judgement.

We're forgiven. It's not a technicality. It's not just all men. You are terrible, but it says here that you accepted Jesus, so I guess I have to forgive you. We Stand Before the Throne covered in righteousness, it's called The Great Exchange we gave Christ Our unrighteousness and he gives us his righteousness and the work is done right the outfits complete. It doesn't need to be accessorized it's done. Philippians 3 has this powerful I didn't mean for all of this to be so from Paul's Mount that mean listen to this in Philippians 3, he's dealing with the same problem storing in first one just finally my brother's rejoice in the Lord to write the same things to you. It's no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs. Look out for the evildoers. Look out for those who mutilate The Flash for we are the circumcision who worship by the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh though. I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh. Also it if anyone thinks he has a reason for confidence in the flesh. I have more circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrews as the law a Pharisee as to seal a persecutor of the church has to righteousness under the law blameless, but whatever game I had I counted as loss for the sake of Christ indeed. I count everything as lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for his sake. I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as garbage in order that I might gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law. But that which comes through faith in Christ the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and share his sufferings becoming like him in his death that by any means possible. I may attain the resurrection of the Dead we are all closed in his righteousness, and we don't have to add a thing.

Righteousness is imputed. It's not computed. We're simply covered in it. It's not calculation on God's part of bad versus good. Wicked Deeds versus Good Deeds, we are saved by works Jesus's works of righteousness, and then he clothes Us in them. The work is done. And he makes the nation's prove the glories of his righteousness. And wonders of his love and 1st John 4:8 too familiar passage. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love we get it backwards. We always get it backwards we hear God is love and we think Love Is God. So whatever we Define love to be that to God becomes. Love is you can't tell me what to do. You have to accept me into matter what I choose. That's love so that's got that's what God does know God accepts a Raichu. And by his grace he covers Us in it.

That's love. If you want to know what real love is know who God is then you'll find your definition of love. You want to know true love know. God love himself will sit on the throne of his new kingdom. Surrounded by creatures made Sons by a Lord made a brother. Citizens not just ransomed from a hostile and fall in land but a hostile land remade as a home. All so that his glory would be made known and his truth would be shown and would Echo aimlessly for all and forever.

So let us remain faithful till that day comes how by holding to the truth and being held by the grace.

spray

Father help us to hold on to what is true. And be held by what is gracious. You are Grace Hold Us.

If it was up to us, we'd have no hope it was up to us just to Simply Be Right and to do right we would have no hope.

But we have faith in you Christ Jesus the one who lived righteously as man as God.

Dying on the cross that had our name on it.

That cross had my name on it and you took it from me and you died up on it in the blood that you shed on that cross covers me.

Jesus as you were resurrected you resurrected me. also you wrecked you you resurrected we also

That is what your true. That is what's right, that is truth and righteousness.

And that is our hope. That is why we will be able to sing Joy to the World upon your return. So we're asking you Jesus. Please come back. Please return. today

tomorrow the day after don't tarry. Please return come home here come and claim who are yours? Establish Your Kingdom Here We want to see you come we want to see you come Lord Jesus. And then we can all sing together that Joy has truly come to the world Jesus. We love you and we thank you and we praise you and your precious and holy name we do pray.