Absolute Truth

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Let's pray Lord we are thankful that we are justified because of that we can boldly approach to not because of what we've done for you, but because of what you have done for us. For that we are thankful we have now that you will bless our time as we open your word that we will hear your voice and that what we learned today will change the way we look at things the way that we look at life the way that we behave in function, we commit this time a Bible study to you now in Jesus name we pray, commit, or you can be seated. Good morning. Good to be back. Sorry about last week. I just said and a lot of people are sick right now I'm I was one of the last week I've had this crazy cold that sometimes I wonder if it ever is completely gone away. You know, you think you're getting better and then boom, it's back again but I'm feeling good now so it's good to be back again. Of course want to pick my friend Don McClure for speaking the available data. Great job. I listen online. It was great. So God all right how many of you brought your Bibles with the church. The database your Bible jump.

Why do you have a pink Bible, why, why anyone the Barbie edition really very nice. Okay anyway, glad you brought your Bible because, as always, were going to be looking at what the Scripture has to say. You know sometimes we are Bibles we don't read them enough. I read recently that there are the top 10 signs you're not reading your Bible on the number 10 when the pastor says the sermon is from Galatians you out to check the table of contents understandable. We want to do that as much when you're first starting to read the Bible you know exactly number nine sign that you're not reading your Bible and the you think Abraham, Isaac and Jacob may have been singing group from the 60s and a number eight you open the Gospel of Luke in a World War II savings bond falls out. Whoever wrote this is pretty old World War II savings Manuel about this and number eight sign that you're not reading your Bible enough you open parties of the one your favorite Old Testament patriarch is percolating that's not good.

Number seven of Paul's small family of woodchucks is taken up residence in the book of Psalm number five, you become frustrated because Charlton Heston is not listed in either the concordance of the table of contents number four sign. You not reading your Bible and the you find your kids reading the song of Solomon and you demand who gave you this stuff number two or three rather you think the minor prophets worked in the quarry number two you keep falling for it. Every time the pastor tells you to turn to third condominiums. These jokes are free, folks, I did get out and the number one sign that you're not reading your Bible and the is the kids are asking me to many questions about your usual bedtime story, Joan of the shepherd boy and his arc of many colors.

Okay this brings me to a true story. Some of that wrote me recently before I read the story to you. I have to ask you a question. How many of you heard me use the illustration of the guy that took the job at the zoo and dress up in the gorilla supervisor. It's almost of you know what I'm talking about. It's an illustration of use. Many times dyspepsia Crusades and the point of it is. People pretend to be something they aren't in. It's a guy who goes to a zoo to get a job and all the positions are filled with the gorilla just died so they asked him if he put on the gorilla suit, then to be the gorilla. The real one arrives guy doesn't and he's enjoying it and the crowds are getting bigger and he gets a little carried away one day and swings a little too far and lands in the middle of a lion's cage or lines that I could say. And then he realizes he's going to be killed, but he doesn't want to cry out and admit that he's a guy in a gorilla suit and as a lion is approaching.

He can't contain himself in the longer he yells out help with alliances shut up stupid or you'll get us both by J so that's illustration time. The two-story Greg. We went to harvest up until we moved out of the city in 2005 once in a while we let our six-year-old daughter Kelsey sit with us and overflow her out of the café. The following story is why we showed it in our new neighborhood. We are all outside talking meeting our new neighbors parents and kids were just hanging out and having a great time and my daughter came over to me and said she wanted to tell her new friends about Daniel in the lion's den. I don't want a great idea write up about the know are all Christians, even a little girl I moved in closer to hear her tell the story of this is Kelsey's version of Daniel in the lion's den, 86.

Well it all started one day at the zoo.

They didn't have enough money to buy a new monkey suit so they hired this guy Daniel to put on the monkey out that I love the way she's merging the two stories now so then he was in the monkey Dan and he really loved it and he was swinging around the people love them. He got so excited he swung right over to the lion's den. Danny was so scared he started praying to God for help. Back to the Daniel story again and the lion started moving closer and he was really scared Daniel at Salina please not even the line moved in closer, lifted his mask and said be quiet or you'll get us both fire funny it's okay with this six-year-old gets things could board sad is when someone who is been a Christian for a while is illiterate when it comes to the things of the Bible and that is probably one of the biggest problems were seen in the church today is a complete ignorance of what the Bible actually teaches. George Barna conducts a lot of Paul's wrote an article recently pointing out that the Christian body in America is immersed in a crisis, biblical illiteracy, he says, how else can you describe matters when most churchgoing adults today reject the accuracy of the Bible. They reject the existence of Satan. They claim that Jesus said they see no need to evangelize and they believe the good work. One of the keys to persuading God to forgive them of their sins. Barna went on to point out that the most widely known verse among adult and teen believers is are you ready God helps those who help themselves. Yeah, I threw my favorite verses, not in the Bible because you won't find in the Scripture might be ingesting Bible.

What I will be godly in anybody else's.

This study revealed that less than one out of every 10 believers possess a biblical worldview as the basis for his or her decision-making and behavior. And that's a problem that's why we've taken this time to look at a series that we called essentials what every Christian needs to know 30 messages all about God and the foundations of our Christian faith. Today we start a brand-new series that we are calling worldview worldview picks up where essentials left. The subtitle of this series is learning to think and live biblically.

Do you have a Christian/biblical worldview. Why is that important Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer said and I quote, as Christians, we are not only know the right worldview. The worldview that tells us the truth of what is.

But consciously to act upon that worldview. So we can influence society in all of its parts and fountains across the whole spectrum of life as much as we can, to the extent of our individual and collective ability." He sealed worldview really matter and everyone has one question as to whether or not you have a worldview.

The question is do you have a biblical one. Our worldview the way that we see life is formed by a lot of things. Its form by the culture were raised in its form, sometimes by her upbringing by the books we read our education are the media we expose ourselves to so it's not really an issue of do I have this worldview, what kind of worldview to I have. The reason it's important as a worldview is comprehensive, it will affect you and everything that you do from your personal morality to the way you spend your money to the way that you vote to the way that you live. But what is a biblical worldview. John MacArthur in his book thinking biblically writes and I quote a Christian worldview is based on two major presuppositions. The first will be the extent of the eternal existence of the personal transcendent triune creator God. Second, got his gives me the God of Scripture cycles are completely. Second, the God of Scripture is revealed as character purposes and will and the infallible and inerrant pages of a special revelation, the Bible, which is superior to any other source of revelation or human reason alone. Allow me to simplify what we just read.

There is a living God and is revealed himself in Scripture.

Therefore, as Christians, we believe that we can find absolute truth from the word of God. And that's why I've given this message, the title. Absolute truth regardless of what culture says regardless of what is politically correct regardless of what we feel is right or not right. We base our beliefs on what the Bible teaches. That's what it is to have a Christian worldview. And this will affect the way that we see everything CS Lewis said and I quote I believe in Christianity is a believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it. I see every thing else." Why is this important because friends we are living in the last days.

Jesus Christ is coming back again in November there was a time we need to know our Bible and of a close walk with Christ. The time is now.

Listen to this description of the end times given to us in second Timothy chapter 3 it says in the last days there will be very difficult time for people love only themselves and their money will be boastful and proud's copy then God disobedient to their parents, and a grateful they will consider nothing sacred will be a loving and unforgiving slander others have no self-control will be cruel and have no interest in what is good though, betray their friends.

We recklessly puffed up with pride. The local pleasure rather than God will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that. Is this not an accurate assessment of the times in which we are living. America has never been more spiritual, yet more immoral, we throw that word spiritual around a lot older into spirituality all their very spiritual person. What is that even mean a pole done in 2009 found that Americans are more interested in quote faith and spirituality in the RN Christianity.

One expert said Americans increasingly want to keep their own faith experience by concocting the uniquely personal brand of faith what they've done is put together a whole series of beliefs in a series of religious practices in a series of relationships and connections, all of which makes sense to them so they can feel good about themselves were sort of customizing it. You know and why not, we live in the age of the iPod and the iPhone, and now we have the iPad.

Why not the eye God and why not I faith hey listen, you can write your own acts you can customize the home screen, you can keep the stuff you like that throughout the things you don't agree with. So if you believe in a God of love and forgiveness and mercy. You can keep that. But if you're offended by the biblical teaching of a God of holiness and righteousness and judgment.

You can delete that it worked out perfectly. We are God. But the question is, will that God be able to save you in the final day you are effectively making God in your own image. It's been said God made man in his image and man return the favor.

That's what's happening today and the result is we have something we call moral relativism that is so prevalent.

What is that moral relativism is the belief that there are no absolutes.

In other words, is no right or wrong. Moral relativism teaches that were all products of the evolutionary process were not made by a creator God. There is no plan or purpose for our life.

There is no devil. There is no good.

There's no evil more relevant to bid moral relativism would teach that we make our own lot. We create our own fates and were all basically good and that we happily go bad, it's because were simply products of our environment. We make our own true and the funny thing about people that except moral relativism is there very tolerance of everyone except people who have absolute beliefs and then they suddenly become very intolerant if you dare to stand up and say well I believe that the Bible is the word of God instead of them saying all that your truth about my trip.

They will set you Puritanical narrowminded bigot.

How dare you say that you Bible bashing you don't want to go because there's no tolerance for review like this today in our culture.

No moral relativism may sound fine in theory but what if we were to put it in the practice. I have my truth you have your truth in your truth is not necessarily my truth. Wait a second.

How can you live like that when we went out tonight and we removed all the traffic lights and stop signs and painted overall the lines in the street he woke up in the morning and it would be chaos out there that moral relativism is doing in our culture today and this is where we are essentially making God in our own image. Now let me just test your worldview really quick really get into this more as we move forward in this series and talk about hot button issues that people have questions about today and will tell you what the Bible has to say and the need to make your own decision, but let me just start with some no-brainer Christian worldview statements, if any of these statements that I'm about to make make you uncomfortable, it would indicate there is something wrong with your worldview. Questar statement number one. Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

Number two. The Bible is the only inspired book given to us by God who is known about the you are a true Christian anywhere the biblical worldview. You must believe that it is Jesus and Jesus alone who can save you from your sin. Now the reason I bring this up as I've heard Christians say. Well, Jesus is my way any change my life. My to say that he is the way for everyone. Someone else might find God to their own venom and no I'm sorry that's not a biblical worldview that is moral relativism is a sometimes nonbelievers have a better understanding of what the Bible teaches that so-called believers I was reading interview that was done recently between a woman minister who describes herself as a liberal Christian who is interviewing well-known atheist Christopher kicked again. Christopher kitchens is an atheist. Here's how the interview went. She said to him, Mr. Hitchens, the religion you siding your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds.

I'm a liberal Christian I don't think the stories of the scripture literally. I don't believe in the doctrine of atonement that Jesus died for our sins, for example, do you make a distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion Christopher Hitchens about atheist response quote I would say that if you don't believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead, and by his sacrifice, our sins are forgiven you are not in any meaningful sense Christian" right it's wrong with this picture.

He would probably going to say I don't believe a word of that but I know this much for bureaucrats and this is what you believe this kind of sloppy thinking that gets into the church today where people of all these crazy ideas about God our country was founded on what we call Judeo Christian principles, but more specifically, many of our founding fathers were professed believers in Jesus Christ, and though revisionists will try to change that narrative. A careful study of history will show it is true founding father, Patrick Henry, payment for his statement, give me liberty or give me death said on another occasion, and I quote, it cannot be emphasized too clearly into often at this nation was founded, not by religionists but by Christians, not by not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For this very reason people of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of words appear."

Right and it's our departure from these Jews that it brought us to where we are today with abortion on demand and epidemic scale.

Marriage is falling apart at record rates. The very redefinition of the family which is the foundation for any society rampant violence in high school campuses with kids blowing kids away the recent increase of suicide, sexual immorality, etc. this should not surprise us. The Bible says in Hosea 87 if you so that when you will reap the whirlwind.

And that brings us to this moral illiteracy we have today.

A number of years ago on the Boston Globe newspaper article was done about the topic of oral illiteracy in the article says and I quote it started when William Kirkpatrick, a professor of education at Boston College began noticing what he would come to call signs of moral illiteracy among the students. He said they were talking about the 10 Commandments he wanted to list them on the board. He said it wasn't that individuals couldn't think of them all, but the whole class working together could not come up with a complete list.

Wow, Kilpatrick was right in noting that there is a connection between morality and the 10 Commandments. That's a regular start this series in the 10 Commandments, because there we find absolute truth written by the finger of God and tablets of stone truth that we can depend on truth that we can believe that.

Now I wonder if you could come up with a complete list of the 10 Commandments. Not even necessarily in order but just get all 10 of it. Nothing else comes from this message today. I hope that you will know the 10 Commandments and will get a look at them in just a moment, you know, some time ago, in Scripture we read about a man that came to Jesus and said what's the greatest commandment, Jesus said, you will love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your mind with all your strength. That's the first commandment. And the second is love your neighbor as yourself. There are no other commandment greater than these. Now Jesus was not doing away with the 10 Commandments when he made that statement he was simply summing them up and perfectly. He shows us how they play out see if I love God with all of my heart, soul and mind. I will not have any other gods before him, I will not have a graven image of him that I will worship.

I will not take his name in vain have I love my neighbor as I ought, as I already love myself. I will not steal from him.

I will not covet something that she has. I certainly would not light of them or covet something that belongs to them. So Jesus is effectively safe to get this down in the Commandments will come together for you the 10 Commandments the bone in Exodus chapter 20.

Sometimes we think they are five and five but really there for in six the first four commandments have to do with our relationship with God the last six commandments have to do with our relationship with others. Commandments 1 to 4 are vertical commitments by Big Ten are horizontal. Let's read them out. Exodus chapter 20, and I would encourage you to pull a pan out and underline some key statements so you will have the 10 Commandments in their proper order. Exodus 20 let's look at these commandments now commandment number one you shall have no other gods before him. Verse one of Exodus 20 the Lord spoke all these words seen on the Lord your God brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me commandment number two no graven images. Sometimes people merge these two, but their distinct in Scripture. It's a second commandment certainly connected to the first step no graven images versus 46 and back to this 20 you shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath, or the water under the earth, you will not bow down to them nor serve them. For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands those who love me and keep my commandments.

Commandment number three.

Do not take the Lord's name in vain.

Verse seven you shall not take the Lord's name in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless takes his name in vain. Commandment number four this is the last of the first four commandments keep the Sabbath day holy. Verse eight. Now we come to the second section commandment number five. Honor your father and mother. Verse 12, number, commandment number six do not murder. Verse 13 commandment number seven.

Do not commit adultery. Verse 14 commandment number eight you shall not steal. Verse 15 commandment number nine you shall not live verse 16. And finally, commandment number 10 you shall not covet. Verse 17 told covet your neighbor's house for his wife or his male servant, female servant, or his ox, or his donkey for anything that is your neighbor's okay God's top 10. Here they are not. I've read that people think that some commandments are greater than others.

I read recently that people rearrange the commandments and this was I think a group of ministers in they felt that the most important commandment was to not commit adultery. The second was not to murder.

But who am I to edit or rearrange the 10 Commandments God gave them in the order that he wanted us to have them before everything anything else. As I got to get this one down because if you mess this one up. Everything else is gonna fall apart.

You shall have no other gods before me. That's a big deal to God.

God doesn't like it when we worship other gods starts here. Interestingly, a survey revealed that 76% of Americans consider themselves completely true to the first commandment the Lord people reading this would say well maybe about a little trouble with this.

Without this one. I'll never have another God before them. Maybe we don't understand what that statement actually mean is it all starts in the place of God in your life. Why is this important because you will serve. What or who you worship. When repeat that you will serve.

What or who you worship Jesus said you shall worship the Lord your God and him only show you sir if the Lord is number one in your life. Everything else will find.

If proper balance. He is not. Everything else will fall into chaos want to the notice the wording in verse two on the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage Lord to take.

I would like to remind you what I've done for you already is reminded he's reminding Israel about the fact that they were slaves to Pharaoh.

You remember that Moses went and demanded the release and he refused in a series of plates came against each of you know that the Egyptians were real big on worshiping all kinds of got there were thousands of gods in Egypt including the Nile River. The Egyptians had a godly worship that was half man half frog God said oh you like these items in these gods check this out. I think the Nile River intern at the blood and I'll send you a plague of frogs you worship them.

If you live in.

After a while, one of these frogs removed along with allies in the locusts and all the rest. They came their way and when the Egyptian firstborn were struck down and the Israelis were spared. Finally, the Jews are released and now God is given the commandments written with his own finger on tablets of stone on both the front and the back and the Lord said, here's the number one commandment have no other gods before me. And remember, I brought you out of the land of Egypt out of bondage in the same way. We need to keep this in mind, because God saying here's what I've done for you. I've forgiven you of your sin.

I redeemed you I bought you. This is what I done for you know, here's what you can do for me. You can keep my commandments.

First John 419 says we love him because he first loved us. Right to what is his first commandment have no other gods before me. Another way to translate this is have no other God before my face ever that expression get out of my face you know some people stand too close when they talk to you notice that I call them space invaders psycho like right here like why use I can even focus on you. You're so close. Please step back just a little and then when you step back a step forward. You gotta save my face with false gods all do it secretly will. Here's a problem. God is omniscient, which means he is all-knowing is on the present. Which means wherever you go. Is there already, so you can shut the door and turn off the light pencil season. So what this effectively is saying is any worship of another God besides the Lord is doing it in his face and up God that we tend to think of an idol worshiper is someone lying prostrate before a carved image that certainly would be an idol worshiper, but it's much broader than that. Maybe we don't give these new gods the names they used to give to them like Dagon and Ashtoreth of Baylor's juicer for but their gods.

Nonetheless, were told over and first John 521, little children, keep yourself from idols, the believers. By the way, another translation is little children can keep yourself from the idle new living translation says keep yourself away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts, the Phillips translation of that same versus be on your guard dear children against every false. What is this me it means something that takes the place of the Lord and idol. Let send out an idol or a false God, is anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life and repeat that an idol or a false God, is anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life and know this. Everybody has a God even atheists have a God is not the true God but God nonetheless they worship and serve. Believe it or not. Idolatry comes naturally to all of us.

Why, because we must worship and we will worship even as nature abhors a vacuum. So does the human soul the human soul will always find an object of worship, either on the shelf around the altar or in the mirror or in heaven, but will find something to worship because were born idolater. But why would we worship an object or thing or something else instead of the true God because in our minds. He gives us control. Albert Mohler, in his book, hearing the voice of God in the 10 Commandments wrote we could take and I love that we can put an idol down. We can move an idol to this place and we can move it to another place the idlers at our disposal.

We can hide it from our side. We can put it in the very center of the room. We will devise our own worship because we have the buys our own God." That's right because it gives me control. This is what I believe is a form of idolatry. When you make a statement like, well, I don't believe in a God who would judge someone my God is just, merciful and loving and compassionate and never would judge anyone will. I don't believe what you're making up your own God. Buckaroo that's an idol will I go to great. Who cares what you will. As a matter remember a biblical worldview is believing that there is a God as revealed in Scripture and the Scripture in the Scripture alone is the authority and source of that belief is not what I feel that someone is popular.

That's not what is acceptable. What is perceived as cool. It's what does the Bible say and when you come up with your own version of God, you effectively are having another God before him an idol or a false God is whatever you get excited about whatever you're passionate about people get excited about a lot of things. They may not call them, their God, but in effect, they are what is the focus of your life that for all practical purposes, is your God.

Some people just worship themselves with Oscar Wilde who said to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. Indeed, we love ourselves. That's pretty much an established fact. Don't you think that song by Whitney Houston from years ago the greatest love of all, I found the greatest love of all is easy to achieve learning to love yourself. That's the greatest love of all, while it's true though we all love ourselves.

I don't know how much we have to learn to do it. I've heard it said we know the Bible teaches we need to learn to love ourselves. But Jesus said love your neighbor as you love yourself and therefore we learn to love ourselves that we can effectively love others and the reason we don't love as we ought to do because we don't love ourselves. I disagree. I think you already love yourself and I already love myself and I'll admit it. The Bible says no one ever yet hated himself, but he nourishes himself and takes care of himself. We love ourselves. Jesus is not safe. Learn to love yourself and love others. He said a you already love yourself.

That's obvious.

Love your neighbor in the same way and love God even more.

The sin is not loving yourself for caring about yourself. This sin is loving yourself more than you love God. It's worshiping yourself and some people worship themselves there idol there. God is facing them in the mirror every single morning. Some of course, worship money and/or possessions are probably aware of the fact that Apple just released a brand-new product, it's called the iPad. It's basically I don't know what I an iPod on steroids. A big iPod. I mean it's it's a cool device. It seems like it might be a good thing to have but maybe people got a little too carried away with the other was an article in the Wall Street Journal that said last time there was this much excitement about a tablet it at some Commandments written on really another hail this new product from Apple as quote the Messiah machine and the Jesus tablet. One article is the question. Can the Jesus tablet deliver a miracle. Excuse me. Did I miss something. Here is the iPad going to grant the forgiveness of sin is to change my life. I think some of these tickets need to seriously get a lot, preferably an eternal one. I read a article in the paper the other day that just amazed me. It was about people viewing the new film Avatar. That's well on its way to becoming probably one of the most popular films of all moneymakers and so forth in this article from CNN to quote James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle avatar is been a little too real for some fans say they've experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world. Pandora hello it's a cartoon I know it's a nice cartoon.

I know it's the latest in CG technology, but we get all excited about the new product from this for the new movie from that and today's technology is tomorrow's doorstop, but we make idols out of these things. We make idols out of images out of possessions they can become more important to us that God himself. Some people worship their own body.

They worship every day of the first Church of the perfect physique you know they just can't get enough. Working out in enough exercise and weightlifting and running or whatever becomes addicting to become obsessed with it. Now some people definitely could use more of this in their life and not false worship but just basic exercise, but on the other hand, there are some that will certainly go overboard with the with their appearance read 94% of girls age 18 and under which they were more beautiful and 85% of women over 40 say they are not as attractive as the average woman very self-conscious about the way you know why you feel that way is because you love yourself. See if you were ugly you wouldn't care. Maybe they love yourself. You be happy were ugly ugly school go because you love your setting up this or whatever your images, you know, I read about a reality TV star that recently had 10 plastic surgery procedures done it one time. This is her second time under the knife and she's only 23 years old and she said in an interview I'm obsessed yes you are, but we can become so obsessed with these things and with other things.

Colossians 3, 5 to 7, says in as far as you are living here upon this earth have nothing to do with sexual immorality, dirty minded this uncontrolled fashion, evil desire a lot for what other people have is that is serious of a sin is idolatry. It's interesting thoughts about sexual immorality and dirty minded this you know some people's minds. There always in the gutter. Everything is a double and thundering with that whatever you say. Her hair turned mirror are want to say what they would say is I don't put those thoughts in your mind you, we've all heard it. What will I don't know why I didn't believe he just came over that we have such a sex obsessed culture and people wanting what other people have. See, here's the funny thing we might say what the person was probably in problem with the idolatry as far as objects goes obviously a very wealthy person on the lid of the car. They have a look at that because they live in a very materialistic we know, maybe they are and maybe they're not.

I don't know. I can see their heart. I don't know if they love that more than they love God that you know you can. Every little and still make a night a lot of things you don't have to have things to make and I lot of things sometimes adjust the session with the Bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil which will some of coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. It does not say, as some have quoted money is the root of all evil Bible does not say money is a root of all evil that is the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some have coveted after, will define what that means. In a later message coveting they erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, always wanting what others have and some people worship people. Maybe it's a rock star or a movie star or a celebrity of some kind.

Sometimes we even worship spiritual leaders. We make idols out of them and that will only disappoint you. You know I whoever you meet there going to disappoint you in some way that people say we'll Greg I would like to wish you could come over to our house for dinner. The church is so big we want to get to know you better know, maybe it's better if I don't come over to your house for the probably disappoint you, and I really like Greg Julie came over for dinner this one thing about them really bugged me. You know what put me in a pedestal all disappoint you go put anyone in a pedestal.

I'm not trying to excuse something that I or someone else would do that would be bad representation of what it means to be a believer.

What I'm saying is we make idols out of people and then they do something human was all I can't believe I can't believe what that humans are human, worship the Lord God and him only shall you serve. He will never disappoint you.

He will never let you down every person in some way shape or form will remember that know I can be rude to you get away with no audit all sometimes people keep us from God we have a relationship that pulls us away. We realize while if I really follow the Lord.

I could lose my relationship with this person you know you could might be a choice you have to make someone dragging you down spiritually. Right now, Jesus said if anyone wants to be my follower that you must love me more than your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple.

Yeah that's it have no other gods before him because let me tell you something. These guys that we create in our minds which really are not gods of all there just false images are not to do anything for us and we will become like the God we worship.

And here's my big question for you. Will this God save you in that final day will that God give you the strength you need in your moment of crisis and you will face a crisis will that God forgive you of your sins have not been it's a false God turn to the true and living God, the 10 Commandments. No one can keep them perfectly Bible tells the story of a God identified as a rich young ruler who came to Jesus and said good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said well you know the commandments don't commit adultery. Don't murder. Don't steal. Don't lie to your father or mother, and this young man replied. I've obeyed all of these commandments since I was a child because one gospel says Jesus looked at him and love to. I think he probably laughed out into to joke right kept all these commandments, it would've made more sense if we were to read and Jesus smacked him and said what you talking about Willis signing on what this guy was arrogant, rich young ruler easy to be a ruler meant that he was in a position of great authority, but he was young, so he climbed the ladder quickly and knowing he's probably feeling very good about himself. Probably the very cool chariot lowered spinners on it. You know who's the slot today.

Hey Jesus, what must I do to inherit eternal Jesus quoted the law not to justify the member. The show the man that he needed Jesus. The members on it since it Lord I try to keep these commandments ever since have been a little boy and I fall short.

And that's why I'm talking to you. You got what it said is I kept all of these commandments for my youth up.

What I still lack about honesty, no endeavor kept them from their youth up and here's why. The commandments were not given to make us righteous.

They were given to show us that we are not righteous. Romans 319 says we know that whatever the law says, it says of those are under the law to every mouth may be silenced in all the world will be held accountable before God, the law Sean Tarbell, and it opens our eyes to condemns what it does not convert its challenges, but it does not change. It points a finger but he can't give mercy and leaves us without excuse drives us to Jesus, who has the answer were looking for. See the lawn is like a moral mere and when you see yourself in the mirror. It's not always a pleasant site visit, especially in the morning and then if you're one of the pioneers. Those are just scary.

Wow I can't believe I looked that way you know and maybe you were out with some friends and you're having lunch always laugh and laugh and everything you're saying because that would and he went to the restroom and check yourself in the mirror and found out where they were laughing, you had an encrusted little on your face the entire time. Cover the marinara sauce right there, although they were laughing with me. They were laughing at me to your upset I don't like this mare. I don't know about the mayor yourself are not using the napkin. But here's the problem. The mayor just revealed the truth to you and sometimes I come a lot ago well I don't like the law. Why did you like what you see because you fall short. I fall short welded and the law was given to send this to Jesus because when he died on the cross.

The Scripture tells us in Colossians 313, he forgave our sins and wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us to get out of the way, nailing it to the crutches he all those accusations of a law that I've broken were dealt with by Jesus at the cross, who will pardon forgive me of any sin I've ever committed. Yes, in the 10 Commandments I find absolute truth, but also in the 10 Commandments I find standards I cannot live up to my own ability and that's why need Jesus to change my life and hearts were all want to do these things out of desire instead about a mere duty and closing. Maybe you joined us here today and most of you have but you're not really sure if your life is right with God made you try to be a religious person.

You're like the rich young ruler was kept all these commandments are my youth listen, you need Christ you need his forgiveness. That's the only way to change and he'll give you the biblical worldview and transform your life in first and foremost you gotta get rid of that barrier that separates you from God called sin. There's nothing you can do to scale the wall no morality that you can perform that will meet God's requirement for God is already satisfied his righteous demands when he sent Jesus to die in our place and then the rise again from the dead, and a full turn from our sin and receive them in our life. We can be forgiven and God will write as law on our heart.

We will do these things because we want to not because we have to. My question to you is, have you asked Jesus Christ to come in your life you can forgive you of your sin. If not, I like to give you that opportunity as we close now in prayer. Let's all pray. If you would father I pray not for any that is joined us does not yet know you Lord help them to see their need for Jesus and help them to come to you now. We pray for the heads of God and her eyes are closed and were praying, if you want Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin if you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven if you want your guilt taken away if you're ready to say yes to Jesus.

Would you stand your feet wherever you are, nominally join a prayer of commitment.

Just stand your feet if you want Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin, you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven. Just stand your feet and nominally join a prayer wherever you are pure out of the courtyard.

Stand your feet if you're up in the building we call the court. Stand your feet right there nominally join this prayer.

Others are standing so don't feel like you'll be the only one to stand up now. You want God's forgiveness. You tried to be a good person a moral person a religious person and you keep failing.

Listen Fred, you need Jesus.

You need Jesus to come and live inside of you and change and he will come in forgive you now if you would like to ask for his forgiveness.

Stand your feet nominally join a prayer anybody else publish it on the balcony, bless you stand up a few more of you that need to do this just stand there anybody else publish you.

Yes I get out in the amphitheater. You stand up in the court newsstand to probably join this prayer final moment anybody else begin to stand stand now.

Bless you. Anybody else arrived you that are standing. I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me. This is what you're asking Christ to come into your life.

Pray this prayer out loud after me, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you died on the cross for all of the sins I've ever committed high turnout for my sin I choose to follow you from this day forward be my Savior and my Lord and my God, my friend. Thank you for accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray.

God bless each one of you that