Go a little deeper
Pastor Alex Mutagubya opens by thanking the congregation for partnership in work in Uganda and inviting further support. He then shares a pastoral burden he says he carried all week, including a sense that some in the room are wrestling over a large amount to give, and he leads the church in prayer over Pastor Keith and Kara and their wider ministry. After a prayer for the congregation, he reads John 15:18-27 aloud together with the room.
Pastor Alex pictures a red line across the stage to distinguish a life infused with the Holy Spirit from one that is not. On one side he places legalism, license and a hypocritical mix of both; on the other, a life of grace where the Spirit empowers what the law alone cannot. From that vantage point he reads Jesus' warning that the world will hate and persecute his followers, explaining 'world' as the cosmos, a system not set up for believers because Christ has called them out of it while leaving them in it.
He shares a personal family story of his mother's conversion and the cost she and the family faced, then turns to the Helper: the disciples first heard Jesus' words before the Spirit came, but the church now hears them after Pentecost, equipped to face hatred and persecution with love, perseverance and joy rather than fear. Pastor Keith closes with an invitation to cross from religion into grace and a short prayer of response.
Take this with you
Two Kinds of Life, One Red Line
Pastor Alex frames John 15:18-27 with an image of a red line separating a life without the Spirit's indwelling from one infused with him. He describes legalism as working hard to reach God, license as ignoring him, and a double life as collapsing under its own inconsistency. Grace, empowered by the indwelling Spirit, produces the obedience the law points toward.
The World as a System, Not Just Individuals
In John 15 Jesus speaks of the world as a whole system incompatible with those he has chosen out of it — a system that uses individuals to oppose them. Pastor Alex explains that believers are left in the world but are no longer of it, so resistance should not surprise them. Hatred can be subtle or open and can become active persecution, but its root is opposition to Christ in his people.
Told Before the Spirit, Heard After Him
Jesus told his disciples about the world's hatred while promising the Helper in John 15:26-27. Pastor Alex notes that the first disciples heard these words before the Spirit came, while the church hears the same passage after Pentecost, already indwelt and already prepared. He tells listeners they need not stockpile or rehearse responses; the Spirit supplies wisdom, resilience, love and joy in the moment of trial.
Grace Carries What Effort Cannot
Pastor Alex grounds the believer's confidence in Jesus' promise of the Helper in John 15:26-27. Because grace is operating in them, those who face hostility can stand with hope and perseverance rather than in their own strength. The confidence offered is not a search for persecution but the assurance that what comes against you is not stronger than what is in you, and that the Helper holds your hand.
An Invitation to Cross Over
Pastor Keith closes by appealing to believe in Jesus and receive the Spirit rather than continuing to do life alone, drawing on Romans 10:9 and its connection between believing in Jesus, confessing that faith, and salvation. He frames this not as earning something but as receiving by faith, and prays a short prayer with those responding.
The conversation,
in their words.
Transcript from the recording’s captions. Select any timestamp to hear the original audio.
Wow. Thank you very much. Thank you. Wow. Yeah. We continue to look for partners [music] with us to do that work in Uganda. We continue to look for uh [music] yeah people who stand with us because much of that work is done [music] because we have individuals uh organizations, [music] companies and churches here that are coming alongside the work and part of my time here is to invite as many as the Lord would put [music] it on their heart to do that. Amen. However, before I also uh preach the word, uh if you can allow me have just a small
pastoral prophetic moment. [music] Uh usually [music] when God uh places something on your heart that is [music] a God thing uh there's always a wrestle in the in the heart because some things God asks us to do in fact most of the things God asks us to do uh [music] they are out of our human they they're not done by our human effort. So usually [music] when God asks you to do something uh in your in [music] your mind it's a bit hard. So uh there
there are two and and and that's [music] at every level at every different level. He may ask you to take care of some orphans when you have zero [music] money yourself. And he may ask you to move to [music] a country you've never been to. He I mean and all these things. Uh he [music] he may ask you to start a certain business idea and and you're wondering why would it be like why should I do this and [music] and and so at different levels. So even us who are ministers sometimes the Lord will ask you to say some things um that you would rather not say. Um [music] and so I feel that there are two things I wanted to say to Journey
Church that I've been wrestling with the [music] whole week. Uh but I believe I I mean I've walked with the Lord [music] for some time to have confidence that he will use this [music] and uh and that he is speaking to us. uh two things. Uh number one is [music] that uh since Tuesday I've been having a sense [music] that there are maybe someone or some people in this church you are wrestling [music] with a certain number because God has placed it [music] on your heart uh to give uh [music] an amount to this church that is that is big and and
that's the reason you are wrestling with it. Um but I [music] I mean if it's not yours, it's not yours. If it's yours, this you you you you're hearing this as a confirmation. [music] Uh so I I I'm just here to encourage you to say, you know what, go ahead and do it. God has said it. and and um and and I I can't promise you anything [music] except God who has placed it on your heart knows why you need to [music] do that cuz uh he's the one has placed it on your heart. You've been wrestling with a a a number to give and it's a [music] large amount of money. So then the second thing is I would like us to pray for pastor Keith and car.
Um first of all Johnny church can we praise God for the [music] gift that he has given you in this house. [applause] Pastor Keith and Kara, we bless the Lord for you. Yeah, [music] this is an anointed man of God. He is an anointed man of God. Now, um, currently in our generation, we don't have as many men [music] and women, ministers that are anointed beyond just their local congregation. But I've just been having the sense that Pastor Keith that God is about to usher
you into an anointing [music] that is not just for bend. That he's going to begin exposing you [music] outside of this community. that he's going to be placing a word even some of the word that you are delivering on this pulpit that sounds uh n ready for your people but it is a word that is going to feed nations. I I I I feel that God is anointing you not only with the word but also with vision for for nations for for nations. And so I just wanted us to raise our hands right [music] now and pray for Pastor Keith and Kara because he is going to be starting to travel.
He is going to be starting to minister beyond these borders. He's going to be and God is placing a word, [music] a strong word. And I think in the last few months, what you've experienced [music] on this stage is a pro a a a a way of preaching that has been almost different from the usual. uh a way of bringing even topics that are tough to to talk about and [music] he preaches about them with such grace that it is received and and that's a special anointing [music] and we need a num we need more of that anointing not only for this room but for
uh for the church worldwide and so let's raise up our hands and bless this man of God father we thank you for at the anointing ing and the grace [music] on Pastor Keith and Kara and how you are anointing them to start ministering beyond [music] these walls to have vision beyond these borders to to to minister a word that will bring life to nations, life to those who have never met uh him, who will never ever step a foot in Journey Church or Bend Oregon, but that you have placed a word in season for him to speak a word in season to them that are weary, [music] to those that are broken. I thank you, heavenly father, because you are using
him beyond what he ever thought he could ever imagine he could ever plan for. I thank you that you're giving him vision and you're bringing around him men and women that will carry that vision beyond the borders. You are giving him practical wisdom on how to put systems and structures in [music] place to carry this beyond this nation. I thank you that you're bringing sons and daughters around him. Men, [music] faithful men and women that will carry what he has on his life beyond the boundaries of this nation. I thank you heavenly father that even in our days and in our uh in our times you are raising up an anointed vessel and an anointed mantle so that his voice will speak beyond this nation.
His voice will speak beyond this generation. He'll be able to connect the young people to the old people. He will be able to connect women to men. He'll be able to connect uh professionals to business people. He will be able to connect ministers and uh and politicians and people of different walks of life. He will be able to deliver those that have been oppressed and suppressed and captives of the enemy and bring them into the light of the kingdom. I thank you heavenly father for what you are doing. We bless your name. Someone give a shout to the king of kings to the lord of lords. Amen. [music] Hallelujah. Well, uh, praise the Lord, Johnny Church. Okay, I have to teach you again the same thing I always teach you when
I'm here. When I say praise the Lord, you say amen. When I say hallelujah, you say amen. Okay, let's also help this side to do the same. Praise the Lord. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. Great. And you will hear all of you will hear that all through the sermon. Uh when you hear me say praise the lord or hallelujah just say amen and it will help uh the sermon. Father I want to thank you again for the privilege of bringing your word to your people. I thank you for the Holy Spirit who is here with us to be our teacher and to be our guide.
I thank you that even right now revelation knowledge is flowing unhindered unchecked by any force. I thank you heavenly father that you have anointed my lips to speak as an oracle of God to your people. I thank you that even my hearers, their ears uh being anointed to hear as they ought to hear and their hearts to believe as they ought to believe. And so, heavenly father, for all that shall be revealed and for all that shall be manifested, we covenant right now that we will give you all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise and all the thanks. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen. I have a very simple task today.
We are going to be uh continuing from where pastor Keith left off last week in John chapter 15. And uh we are going to read from verses 18 to 27. If you can get out your Bibles or your swibos. Um, [laughter] wow. And um, I would like us to do this together. So, we are going to read this whole text out loud together. All right. It's going to be good. Okay. One, two, three. Let's go. If the world hates you,
you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the words that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake, because they do not
know him who sent me. If I had come and spoken, if I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. But now they have sinned and also hated both me and my father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law. They hated me without a cause. But when the helper comes, when whom I shall send to you
from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me and you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. Amen. So I would like you to imagine with me a red line on this stage. Can you see it now? Yeah. We we are we are imagining together. Can you now see the red line?
Some people are living on the which side is this? Is this left or right? Okay, let's call it right because it's the right side on my side. Okay. And some people are living on the left of the red line. The line is read because of the blood of Jesus. Jesus came. Jesus died, shed his blood for us. Now when he resurrected from the dead and went back to the
father, he told us that he will not leave us as orphans. Okay? He said he will pray to the father and the father will give us a helper, the holy spirit. So the red line is representing for us a life that is infused with the Holy Spirit. On the right side of this line is a pre Holy Spirit infused life.
We get it. On the left side of this line is the post holy spirit infused life and those are two different kinds of lives. Any man or woman that is living in the pre Holy Spirit infused life is marked by either a thing we call legalism. Legalism is where you live your life by the law.
You live your life by obligation. You live your life because you must and you need to do certain things. That life is very dogmatic. It's because this is a person who wants to reach God but has to work hard to fulfill the requirements that God has for them. And there's a lot of people who feel that God requires certain things out of their lives and they need to work hard to do that. They are living a religious life.
All right. Now to live a religious life where you have so many alt to alt toss you are obliged. Uh you must keep the law does not require being spirit infused because you are working it on your own and it's hard. It's tough. It's a miserable life because it's like you are looking at all the other people. They seem to be having so much more fun than you are. But you know what? You can't have the fun because if you do, you may mess up your relationship with God. And so your
relationship with him is based on I ought to, I must, I need to, I have to. with there. The other person living on that right side of the line is who we call a lensious person. Now, this person doesn't care about the law of the Lord. Doesn't care about relationship with God. In fact, he looks at the other person and he's like, "Your life is really miserable. I am not signing up for that. I am not doing it." And uh and so I'll just live my life the way I want it, the way I feel it. In fact, that person is led more by how they feel at the time.
Now both of them are actually estranged from God because God is like a master slave driver who has all these requirements and one of those persons the first person I described has decided I am going to try. This other person is like God have your standards. Put whatever you want. I am my own self. I am my own person. I live my own life. I am in fact I probably I am my own God. They won't probably put it in those very same words, but they just live their lives the way and whether God exists or he doesn't exist. Uh that's his deal.
The problem with that is that actually God actually exists. Oh yes. It's not it's not a debate of is do we have a god there or we don't. No, that's God is not trying to prove his existence. He is and and we have a number of uh brothers and sisters that have done an incredible job to tell those who are on that side of I don't think God exists. I don't think God minds my life. to try to tell them and show them through uh all these different uh ways and arguments and proofs that actually God is. Now, for me, I'm not of that kind. Me, I'm of the kind that just says, "Listen, um God is that's it."
But that brother, that sister is a is there and he lives a life that doesn't really mind whether God is or God is. And for some of the people on that on that line in that line, they just haven't even given it thought. It's not even registered. Now for others who are living on that side, they've never been told. There are people who have never been told uh that God is really interested in their lives or that they really must live their lives the way God has designed it to live to be lived. So that's a a lensious person. They're also on the right side of our you still seeing our red line. Great. Um they're
still on. Now there's a third person who is a mix of the two. And that one I think is probably the most uh miserable because their life is hypocritical. They have a facade of being kind of godly but when no one is seeing they're doing their own thing. [laughter] And so that third person is living a double
life on and and by the way there are people who have mastered the art of living a double life so well that none of us can actually tell except their own uh the the their the wrestling in their hearts and the unsettledness of their heart because you see you can deceive everyone else but you can't really truly lie to yourself. you still know I I am yeah everyone thinks I'm this great preacher but I am living a different life than what is seen by the rest and and and so that inconsistency uh uh develops uh or brings you into you
a a conflict in your own lives and pretty soon such a person gives up or such a person blows out because the two things can't uh really work well together. Now, however, on the left side of that line is the spirit infused life. And the spirit infused life is an incredibly amazing life to live. It is amazing because what happens is when your life is infused with the
spirit of God, what happens is the spirit of God ushers you to a place called grace. to a zone called grace where now the relationship you have with God is a relationship that is empowered by his spirit and therefore granted to you by his grace and the spirit infused life. Therefore, the grace life makes it that I am
able to fulfill all the requirements of the law, not by my working, but because I am empowered by the presence of his spirit in my life. Oh, this train is going somewhere, people. And and and and so you see what the law cannot do in us, grace accomplishes by empowering us. Grace will uh I mean the law will point us to the requirements of God. Grace will empower us and thrust us into the requirements of God. And therefore then
because of the spirit infused life I am able to do what normally I could not be able to do. All right. And so a man comes to Jesus. And when you come to Jesus, he moves you from this right side of life and brings you to this left side of life. When you come to Jesus, he moves you from a pre spirit infused life and
ushers you to a postspirit infused life. In that life, you are given capacity and ability and empowerment to do what enormous situations you of life you could never be able to do on your own. It is an amazing life. And by the way, that's the life he has called us into. That is the life we must enjoy. That's the life we must live. a spirit infused life. Now, I've begun from there because when you read this passage, you must read it from one of two from one of those two locations because Jesus is not trying to convince you.
He is not trying to say there's an option in this. He is simply stating it as it is. He is simply telling us if the world hates you, which means listen at some point in your walk with me as we journey together, you're going to be hated. You are going to be hated by the world. And I know my reaction at that sentence when he first says it to me. I'm like, h Jesus, I really don't want to be hated.
You see, but he says the world if the world hates you. So that means he's like um yeah he's I I have this picture of him with the his disciples and you know they had just had supper that evening. So they are kind of sitting and and having a conversation either sitting or walking having a conversation and they're going to the garden of Gethsemane and he's like guys you know if the world hates you they hated me before they hated you. What? Where did that come from? I thought you were talking about the love and it's like no. Yeah, but they still will hate you.
And so, uh, the the world and when he talks about the world, it's the word cosmos. It's the system the the system of the world. You see, the world system is not set up for believers in Christ. Oh, okay. Let me tell this side. The world systems are not set up for us. Okay, this side. Listen, we are incompatible really to the system of this world. And it is because when Christ came in our lives, you see, came in our lives,
right? He reconstituted the makeup of who we are and turned us into who really he is by infusing his spirit in us. And therefore when we stand in the world, the whole system is set up to reject what is not compatible to it. And that is you and I. And he says that it is the reason we are not compatible is because when he comes into our lives, he chooses and pulls us and calls us out of this world.
You see that? You see the challenge is here. We were once in the world. We were we were all born into this system. And then he called us out of the system. But when he called us out of the system, he actually really didn't actually really take us out of the world. He leaves us in there, but we are not of there. That's what it is saying here. And so it's not a strange thing for you to go into the system where you where we have to operate from right now and the system is not set up for you.
And you see he is saying system he is saying the cosmos because it's not just the individual in the system but the system is going to use the individuals. So my mom was the first one to give her life to Jesus in her entire clan. But she had been born in a shrine. In fact, she was born as a result of consultations with the witch doctor.
You understand? I ask that not because you don't understand, but because it helps me to know we are together. Amen. Um so when she gives her life to Jesus in fact they had to chase over 70 demons of her life. Oh yes someone is wondering how they all reside in some Oh yeah. You remember Jesus? He got to a man and the man had a legion. So my mom had few. [laughter] But when she did and experienced the peace of God, now she goes back to her
clan and she can no longer participate in shrine worship. She can no longer be part of what they are doing. Guess what they do? They ostracize her. They push her out. But you know what? She left. And because she left, we suffered a lot cuz her husband left and got eight other wives. Her family said, "We can't support you because you will not come to our things." And guess what? Now four of us, her kids, we have to beg for food. We have to uh uh [laughter] it's a whole story.
However, there is something inside her that would never let go of Jesus. Now, but then Jesus says the system will not only hate you. The whole system, it will not only hate you, it will even push it a little bit more from hatred to persecution. Now hatred is I I I think in in in America you get to experience quite some bit of hatred for the Christian and it's a bit it it can be subtle or it
can be as open as when someone shoots Charlie. Yeah. And that hatred can be real. It can be as real as if you someone finds you praying at a workplace and says, "Hey, hey, hey, you can't do that here." And and and it is within this the system like you don't feel the the the ability to express the fullness of who you are within the system and it's and it's friends, I just came to tell you it is part of the Christian life. So don't be surprised when it happens. But then that hatred can actually uh graduate into real persecution.
Persecution is then when the whole system is now set up not only to uh ostracize you but to actively uh torment you because of your faith in Jesus in Jesus Christ. And he says it is because it's not about you. It's not you. The problem is not you. The problem is who is in you. That's the problem. So when they are trying when they persecuting you, when they are actively coming after you and the whole system is set up to say if you don't then we will show you that you cannot do that here.
And that whole system is set up because it is a system against our Christ. Amen. Now, however, when you hear all of that, it kind of makes it can have a sense of making you feel, "Oh my god, I'm not sure. I I want that." And trust me, no one really wants that. But Jesus says it's going to happen. Now, however, we receive it from one of these two sides. He says, "Because when the helper comes, whom I shall send to you from my father." Now, the disciples who are
hearing this in the beginning are hearing it before the Holy Spirit comes. But you and I, we are not hearing it before the Holy Spirit comes. We are all here hearing this same text but from a point where the Holy Spirit has already come. The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon us. The Holy Spirit has drawn us to God. And guess what? You know what? You and I are so prepared. We may not realize it, but you are so prepared to go through what the hatred of the world may throw at you and the persecutions of the world may throw at you. It is interesting how much as a
believer in Jesus Christ, how much you have capacity to take on it. It's amazing. And so I don't want you to hear this text and feel like, "Oh my god, I need to prepare for being hated." Or, "How then do I react when I'm hated? Uh, what do I do when they begin to persecute me? Or what do I do when they begin to persecute the church? Uh, do do we build banks, bankers, and and stock up?" No, no, no, no. You don't have to. You just need to rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit. Trust that the presence of the Holy Spirit in you will will will at that point when that happens, you
will be amazed at the wisdom that God gives you in that very same situation. You'll be amazed at the resilience he will give you in that situation. You see, when the spirit of God comes and he is in you and in a spirit infused life makes you a witness to the gospel. And part of that witness comes with love within tough situations. Uh that same spirit infused life comes with perseverance. That same infused the spirit infused life comes with a joy within suffering.
Oh yes I we have been there. You see for for for some of us in the other parts of the world we have experienced this and and you see people wonder how do that how do we keep going in the midst of hatred and persecution it's not our working and even you as you hear this I want you to hear it with the confidence that he who is in you is greater than He who is out there and that he has given us his promise. God, the scriptures have told us that whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
Oh, and this is the victory that overcomes the world. Even our faith, our confidence, trust that he who is in me is preserving me through my days and through my times. And he will preserve you when they hate you. You will receive it with love. You will receive it with joy. You will receive it with patience. You will receive it with perseverance because the fruit of the spirit will be in you testifying to them that hey I am made of better material than this than the world can give me. I am not of the world. I am made I am born of God. [cheering] [applause]
Oh yes. Someone say it with me. I am not of the world. I am not of the world. I am born of God. I am born of God. That's it. That's the confidence we have. Amen. That's the confidence we have. And so we are not out there looking for looking to be hated. We are not out there looking to be persecuted. But we have confidence. We do have confidence in this in our God. We have confidence in his spirit in us that even when we face that situation, we are not looking for it. But even when it comes, I am telling you my friend, you will be amazed at how much you are
able to go through, you will be amazed at how much you are able to to hold on. You will be amazed when the spirit of God is in you. The grace of God carries you and the grace of God will carry you to a place. Do you know that all that the apostles of Jesus except John never died a natural death? Yeah. Some were hung upside down. Others were put in fire. Others they had their heads cut off. Others had were sewn into and you look at this thing and you were like h how were they able to do it? No, it was not them. But he says, "But when the helper comes, the helper infuses in you, within you, a certain ability and a certain capacity because grace is operating in you. And that grace is able
to make you know, okay, at this time, you can't deny Jesus. What has come against you is not stronger than what is in you. You have a hope and a future. You have a hope beyond these current situations. And that holy same Holy Spirit, the helper palocrate will hold your hand. He will walk with you. He will move with you. He'll make you persevere. He will make you stand when others are falling. Come on, let's give him glory. And so, ladies and gentlemen, that is our testimony. That's your testimony. that you are not living a pre-spiritfilled life, a spirit infused
life unless you have not believed in this Jesus, unless you have not given him this life of yours. But for every one of you who has given him your life, when you look at this scripture, it has to bring a certain joy in you. It has to bring a certain confidence in you knowing that whatever comes against you, huh, is not greater than what is in you. Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. Amen. At this point, I'm going to ask Pastor Keith to come
and and conclude this uh with us, but let's give glory. Praise God. Can we thank Pastor Alex? [applause] All right. Before you rush out of here, I want to just ask, can every eye be closed for just one moment? Some of you came here today, and I can't assume because you came to church today that you've been infused and empowered by that Holy Spirit. That happens when you believe in Jesus. Pastor Alex has made it really clear. It's not something you earn. It's not something that you can get on your own. It's something you do by faith. The Bible says if you would just believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. And if you're willing to confess it with your mouth, you will be saved. Today, if you want to have that hope of eternal life and you want to receive the power of the Holy Spirit, would you just raise your
hand right where you are and keep your hand up? We we want to just make sure that we get you the next step. Just raise your hand nice and high, bold, with joy. You can say, "This is what I want to receive today. I don't want to I want to I don't want to do it on my own anymore." If your heart is racing and your stomach has some butterflies, I want you to know that's God saying, "I'm I'm I'm calling you to the other side. By the blood of Jesus, you can be saved today." Just raise your hand nice and high. I want to see who you are and celebrate with you. It's the greatest decision you could ever make. If you're tired of living in religion, it's time to cross over to grace today. If you're tired of doing things on your own, you've tried the world, but you've been let down day after day. Would you just raise your hand right where you are?
Don't wait another day. This is your day of freedom. This is your day of grace. Meaning, God loves you. He forgives you. Just right where you are, slip your hand up. Just say, "Yes, that's me. I had the eyes closed because this is between you and God. It's time for you to take your life seriously with the Lord. Who is that here today that just says enough is enough. I'm going after Jesus. I want to [music] receive his love. I want to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. That's you today. Would you just wave your hand? I want to see you. I want to celebrate with you today.
It's never too late with God. My friend, if you've feel like you've sinned and that God can't love you, I want you to know Jesus died on the cross for all of your sins. By believing in Jesus, no sin is held against you any longer. You're counted as righteous. So, if you want to be forgiven today, just raise your hand. Say, "Yes." Praise be to God. Yes. Amen. You are forgiven and you are loved by Jesus. Praise be to God. There is so much joy in heaven when you say yes to Jesus today. He sees you. He loves you. Praise be to God. Anyone else just raise your hand right where you are. You may have come in one way, but today you can leave forgiven. You could leave set [music] free empowered by that same Holy Spirit Pastor Alex was preaching on
today. Anyone else? Just raise your hand. I don't want to rush this. It is never too late with God. You're never too old that God's not you're you're still my child. So if you're [music] wrestling, is it is it too late? I'm here to tell you today, his grace is so great. From this day forward, you can have a living hope. Feeling like someone came in today with religion and you need to be set free from that, that dogma, that legalism. It's time for you to be empowered. Anybody else? So grateful for the word that we received today. I want to just close with just a really brief prayer. Want to just ask anybody that's believed in
Jesus, would you just join me? Prayer is talking to God. He loves it when you talk to him. He loves it when you listen to him. You don't need the the most eloquent words. You just need to get real with God. So today, would you join me in this prayer? [music] Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I love you because you've loved me. Fill me with your spirit. Forgive me of my sins. Help me live for you. In Jesus name. Amen. And amen and amen. Amen. [applause] Praise be to
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Not of the World, Still In It
Pastor Alex reads John 15:18-27 with the congregation and then explains that 'world' means the cosmos, the world system, not merely hostile individuals. Believers were born into that system and were called out of it without being removed from it.
John 15:18-27
- Where in your daily life do you most feel the pressure of a system that is not set up for your faith?
- How would you describe the difference between being in the world and being of the world?
- What comes to mind when you hear that Christ leaves his followers in the world but does not count them as of it?
Hatred, Persecution and the Root Issue
Using Jesus' warning in John 15 that the world hates what is not compatible with it, Pastor Alex describes hatred moving from something subtle to open hostility and sometimes into real persecution. He insists the root issue is not who a believer is but Christ present in them, and that the response is trust in the Spirit rather than fear-driven preparation.
John 15:18-21
- What is your first instinct when you sense others are hostile toward your faith?
- How does hearing that the root issue is Christ in you, not you yourself, land on a difficult day?
- What would trusting the Spirit in that moment change about how you respond?
Grace Empowers What the Law Demands
Pastor Alex frames the Spirit-infused life as one of grace: it does not lower God's requirements but supplies power to meet them. He contrasts that with legalism, license and hypocrisy, and notes that many listeners may carry a sense that God's acceptance depends on performance.
John 15:18-27
- What does it feel like to hear that grace empowers?
- Which of the three postures — legalism, license or hypocrisy — most describes your past?
- What would change if you believed your obedience flowed from God's Spirit rather than from your own effort?
The Helper and Resilience in Trial
The message describes resilience and perspective as gifts the Spirit gives: wisdom in the moment, joy in suffering, and the certainty that God's grace carries you. Pastor Alex grounds this in Jesus' promise of the Helper in John 15:26-27 and in the scriptural assurance that what is born of God overcomes the world.
John 15:26-27 · 1 John 5:4
- Where have you seen resilience that you know was not your own strength?
- What does it mean to not look for persecution but to be confident when trials come?
Receiving by Faith, Not Earning
In the closing appeal, Pastor Keith invites the congregation to believe in Jesus and receive the Spirit, insisting that this is received by faith rather than earned by religious effort. He draws on the apostolic teaching that believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth brings salvation, and leads a short prayer with those responding.
Romans 10:9
- What keeps people from receiving something they cannot earn?
- What would it look like to treat salvation as a gift you receive rather than a standard you meet?
Answers from this recording
Start a conversation.
What is the 'red line' Pastor Alex keeps referring to?+
It is a visual device for a single point: the boundary between a life lived without the Holy Spirit's indwelling and one lived with him. Pastor Alex places legalism, license and hypocrisy on the far side, and grace on the near side. On the near side the Spirit supplies what the law only demands. It is a way of saying that the difference between the old life and the new one is the Helper Jesus promised in John 15:26-27.
When did the difference between those sides stop being theoretical for you?
Why does Pastor Alex say the world hates believers?+
In John 15 the word 'world' is treated as the cosmos, the whole system, not merely individual hostility. Pastor Alex argues that this system is not set up for people Christ has called out of it; they still live in it but are no longer of it, and the system uses individuals to oppose them. Christ's presence in a person is what creates the friction. Hatred can be subtle or open and can become persecution, but the root is opposition to Christ, not a personal flaw.
Is there a way to be spared having to face that hostility?+
Not according to Pastor Alex's reading of John 15:18-27 as a whole. Jesus presents the world's reaction as a fact rather than a possibility, so preparation should not mean fear or hoarding but trusting. The first disciples heard Jesus' words before the Spirit came; Pastor Alex tells the congregation they hear them after Pentecost, already equipped. What is promised is wisdom, resilience, love and joy in the moment rather than a guarantee of avoiding the difficulty.
What would trusting the Spirit look like for you in a situation where your faith is unwelcome?
What exactly is being invited at the end of the service?+
The response, led by Pastor Keith, is an invitation to receive by faith what the sermon has described: to believe in Jesus and to enter the Spirit-empowered life instead of continuing alone. Pastor Keith insists it is not earned by religious effort and draws on Romans 10:9, that believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth brings salvation. It is a response moment, and the closing prayer is short and simple.
