John Chapter 1:3-5

See very often in church services we go again if you've not believed in the Lord trusted him as your Savior. You have a decision to make us be real everybody in here has a decision to make this whether you can follow God with you not follow God baby woke up yesterday morning I will follow the Lord will guess what, same thing. The day Jesus would cement decision. What will that decision be life, death, light, darkness. He wants to reveal himself to each person who you choose him this morning. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, were glad to have one of the McGee's associate pastors DA Brown here with us as Pastor David continues through the book of job hey Bob, many of us are facing choices every day it comes to eternal life. Jesus lets us choose between life and death between light and dark DA that doesn't seem like much of a choice of flight McGregor hamburger meat really good tasting one or the really lousy Bob people clearly know when the standing position. God is not called when he starts to speak to the choice is clear. The question is which way to go. So let's find out more about this important decision. Each of us has to make. As David McGee continues in the Gospel of John, verse three. All things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made interesting words there and no verse two. In the beginning remind you of anything same three words begin the book of Genesis go back to verse one in the beginning is not just happenstance that the gospel of John verse one chapter 1 says in the beginning you go back to Genesis chapter 1 verse one and it says in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I have every reason to doubt the word evolutionist. I have no reason to doubt the word of God which tells me very clearly very plainly about the origin of mankind, and if you think about it rejection of the account of creation is genocide. It wipes out the whole human race wipes away our purpose wipes away or meaning wipes away the fact that we were created in the image of God and by the way, if you're sitting there right now you're going well. I'm a theistic evolutionist and what that what is meant by that is theistic, meaning you believe God, and you also believe evolution so you cannot mix the two together to some hodgepodge say in the beginning God made so it's not this thing of you know from the goo to the zoo to you and so many people begin with the first verse of the Bible to doubt the word of God is you can't do that. You don't have to cut off your head to believe the Bible is a matter fact it takes a lot more faith to believe in the evolution evolution so sort it takes more faith to believe in the creation account you got people with PhD's and whatnot creation scientists to me. You show beyond a shadow of a doubt that God created man, these laws, they well will will you know it just took millions and millions and millions and millions of years. Time doesn't even allow me to shoot all the holes I could into evolution, but this watch is not that complicated took it apart and put it in the bag and shook the bag you think it would turn back into a watch what I shook it a long time still not going to turn into a watch in the beginning, speaks in certainty and absolute truth and you know why why why godless people run around trying to conjure up in guess and how man came about. We have the wisdom of God saying in the beginning God created. We can know that. Isn't that amazing some of the best minds in the world are still trying to figure this out and we know that cool and all the other questions to is there life after death. What's this life about you read your Bible, you believe your Bible you know these things. What a gift from God. Verse four in him was life and the life was the light of men.

These verses are so deep these two words are used light and life in the him in Jesus was life and the life was the light of men.

These are great words to describe Jesus light and life. If you ever noticed how much death is sin, is a former rock musician you know there was a whole lot of death that went with the sinful nature of man, worked it Romans talks about.

There's just so much death that goes with you can go into a bar and is just dark and dingy and people are dying people killing themselves, so there's death was sent, but have you ever noticed how much life there is in the Lord. There is Julie there's a distant awesome experience of life when you're walking with the Lord here this morning is been saved for number of years. Remember, remember when you first got saved, and the sky was blue or the grass was greener. You just every flower was just awesome was life being stirred up and you, as a matter fact, Jesus had so much life in him that he wouldn't stay dead. Think about that. He had so much life in him hitting state, the Prince of life see, the Lord gives an opportunity to experience the fullness of life. Can you contrast that to somebody this trying to hold on to their life trying to grab trying to get get get get get get this, telling when you asked my what are you doing I'm getting this kitten that I hope to get this that the other when he left with after all that sand running through your hands can't hold on the sand. That's what Jesus was, when he said you know what, if you seek your life, you lose if you give it away to find them talking people well what he doing well.

Go get an education. What's great in education what you do that get me a job where you will do if you get a job get me a house to house than what all get me a wife was good thing he finds a wife finds a good thing we don't do that get me some kids waistcoat think it's a good what grow old with 10 one Dacus alt.within the world's experiences get get get Jesus stands to the sciences give give give and you'll discover what living for me is all about. There's a fullness in the relationship with probably all seen people that you know they know the Lord but they're not really walking with the Lord. I called fence sitters.

There's different names that you compute potatoes so we don't have to use the weekend happy potatoes but you know have noticed this. People are often more miserable than people who don't know the Lord is not walking in the fullness of joy in their miserable and my heart breaks because occasionally I do see people here that fit that description in my heart breaks for him because they don't have the unit or not walking in the thing of sin, but they're not experiencing the joy of the Lord are stuck right there in the middle in their miserable friend.

I hope that that describe you if it does, you can make a change this morning and the sad thing is a lot of damages been done to the body of Christ by these people is there they are, their miserable and when they do they try to witness to somebody, which is a little scary. You know, I mean there regularly been baptized in vinegar or something and then the joy they got in your thinking. No, I don't looks like you got all the joy in the world but there's a sea of living for the Lord the enemy he wants to rip you off to walking in the fullness of this joint. He doesn't want you live in the abundant life. That's what God desires to give you. Don't let the enemy keep ripping you off. There is so much more than walking with the Lord when you're not walking and that surrendered life miserable have said this before it: Christian meteors ever seen the movies Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore you member Igor Eeyore was the donkey and things could really be going well but oh, Eeyore. It's not a word ever met believers like that have we got when we were early on in ministry here.

He was my Eeyore and I would say that we were in Oakville.

That's what men were full again working at another service body will why think God's got Delano my heart to do that. That's not the Lord don't be Christian the horse to get a shirt one day.

It has a Eeyore's face and wonders circles with a/the I know I'm pretty hard-core breeze got Jesus's life. Jesus once again this life is also called life might help to see and it warms you and causes things to grow.

These are things that Jesus does to us.

He helps us to see.

He warns us he causes us to grow. These are just words that are thrown in. Without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit saying this is Jesus light and life.

When asked a question you ever been in a room and try to shut out light. It's almost impossible to be on the road. You know the hotel room and there's a streetlight right outside. You try to do the curtains and that's not right you get up in the rearranged lot because light in the darkness. Notice that you go into a room and you flipped on the light switch. What happens is darkness. Don't like that word because darkness can stand up to light the presence of the light takes darkness away and you consistently can play with the curtains and you can go you can cover your head with the pillow, but you're still aware that that light is there. That's a lot like Jesus and he's called the light of the world.

He is light his life in his life.

The only thing that really gives life to mankind will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want take a minute to pray for some listeners in these cities in California have Fort Bragg, Gardnerville grass Valley happy Camp hey Fort India in Johnston. Bill God, we thank you for the people tuning in today in the cities low. We pray that there encouraged and what you're laying on the heart to do. We pray that they would put their trust in you and get plugged in a Bible teaching church. We pray for the pastors or that they would have wisdom and discernment. How to encourage the people to come to hear the word low. We ask you, bless the cities in Jesus name, amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse.

That's interesting life issues 36 times in the Gospel of John. And it's interesting because there's four things that you need to sustain to promote life. One is light.

The other is fair water and food, light, air, water and food other subcategories under these for you know what's interesting is Jesus is described as these four things in the Gospel of John. The light he is the light of the world the air. He is the breath of life in the water. He is the living water. The food he is the bread of life.

He's all we need. I like what Corrie 10 boom said went through so much agony or to she said you don't know that Jesus is all you need to. Jesus is all you got awesome awesome sister in the Lord. She was one of the ladies pretrade in the hiding place as part of the book Member if it's in the movie part of the book where the two sisters are sitting there and there in this concentration camp and their discussing courier saying you know what it would just be so awesome to build a home. After this war is over for everybody who was in the concentration can sisters going in the crate that be great and you know we could take all these people who suffered so much. You know, at the hands of the soldiers and we could build a home for and her sister turned to her and said start about the guards light and life light and life in verse five and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it just doesn't understand Jesus Christ doesn't desire to understand Jesus Christ and you know what you can explain Jesus Christ all day long assembly that is willfully lost in the not going even if they get it appeared to not get it in your heart if they don't want to understand and they will understand. If they do well to understand the Lord will reveal himself to Mrs. word.

Here's probably better translated darkness overcame it. Not the darkness could not overcome the light back to the room you going to a room you turn on the light. What happens the darkness is call you ever going to room turn on the light in the darkness because now I'm not only stay here first. Hopefully not it's gone. And somehow we've gotten the twisted notion as believers that were trying to eke this thing out. Hope we make it by the skin of our teeth were used known for dear life.

That's not the Christian life the Christian life is walking in fullness and walking in the joy of the Lord, you know I was in Israel. Most of you know that I was in Israel for 10 days and one of the places that we went was to Syria. Philip was too serious and about the oneness of Syria merit team a which is spoken of in the book of acts Sir Philippi is where Peter gave the revelation when Jesus said who do you say that I am Peter said yours, your God, and Jesus said to Peter you cannot come upon this God has revealed this to you and upon this rock upon what rock upon Peter no no no, upon the rock of the knowledge that Jesus Christ is God. That's what Jesus is saying here.

The Lord said upon this knowledge that I am God. I am the son of God. I am the Messiah, she met sheet he said upon this foundation of knowledge I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The gates of hell will not stand up against it in one of the things it's interesting as you go through Israel you're able to see these things and one of the things that you see Syria.

Philippi is there is a spring there's a hole in the ground where they used to make sacrifices and they believed that those were actually the gates of hell and it was necessary to Philip that Jesus said to Peter, the gates of hell will not be able to stand up against my church is gates are not an offensive weapon was last time he saw soldier running in the battle care negate and don't happen.

It's a defensive weapon in the lurch and you know what it won't stand up the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates of hell will not stand up to the power of God and in the end, the darkness will not put out the light.

The light will put out the darkness.

Amen. That's the end result of what happens here on planet Earth were not openly eat this out. I'm not generally get by with the skin of my teeth win behind those we will be victorious because Jesus is all powerful and will vanquish all the forces of darkness and hell, to the point they don't exist anymore cast something to get excited about whatever you're going through this morning you're going through it. You're not going to stop in the middle of it you get into the other side and so often we think well this little thing I'm dealing with this little child, little tribulation. I'm always going live right here in this spot forever, but you're not. That's a lot it's going to end as you go through it and even if you struggle with that until the time you.when you die you will struggle with that anymore. Maybe you're dealing with the physical infirmity. Maybe you're waiting on the healing of the Lord, I believe firmly God supernaturally heals whether he heals you on this earth are you heals usually going to heaven only guarantees you will be healed. You may take scars right up to the gates. But you're not taking the scores in lifeless number four. Jesus lets us choose between life and death, light and darkness. Jesus lets us choose between life and death like darkness when Ashley was a little girl she had the stalls. There was one you pull string and the doll says I love you never really did anything for me probably glad to know that I have at my office not know have meaning to me. But when my little girl looked at me and decided to say to me daddy I love you still melts my heart.

See Jesus has given us the decision he could've made us robots pull the string Lord I love you but he's given us a choice. He's given you a choice. Life, death, light, darkness, peace with God at war with God which we choose. Jesus made everything.

That's what these Scriptures are saying Jesus made all things, stop and consider that for just Jesus made the manger that he was laid Jesus made the water, he walked upon Jesus picked Judas as a disciple know when he would betray him. Jesus put pilot and power know when he would condemn him to an execution.

Jesus grew the thorns that would be slammed down on his head. Jesus created the metal in the spirit was thrust into a side Jesus grew the tree that he was crucified on he created man crucified, and with all this. He still gives you a choice.

He still let you decide.

Jesus Christ and his mercy and his grace is allowing you to make a choice this morning.

She very often in church services we go again.

If you not believed in Lord trusted him as your Savior. You have a decision to make but you guys must be real everybody in here has a decision to make this morning whether you can follow God with you not to follow God, you woke up yesterday morning you said I will follow the Lord will guess what you need to do same thing the day Jesus waits on that decision. What would that decision be life, death, light, darkness.

He wants to reveal himself to each person in here will you choose him this morning. Perhaps you've never trusted in Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins, perhaps you walk around thinking that if you're good enough for long enough that the Lord excepts that that's not the Bible. The publicist is none righteous, no not one. And we've all fallen short of the glory of God, which means your best efforts on your best days are not good enough, they don't achieve sinless perfection. And that's the standard that's the bad news. The good news is he wants to forgive you of your sins and all you have to do is come to him. Turn your ways, his ways Metro Center and ask him to forgive.

That's the good news. But again everyone of us this morning as a decision to make. Follow our ways to follow his ways. Think most of us followed our ways on family friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

So congratulations string you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day.

You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good Pastor. And again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link.

There you will experience a live service from David's home church. The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continued teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God