If This Was My Last Sermon: New Life Through Jesus

[Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Applause]

Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause]

Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Welcome to Church in the Park, everyone. Come on.

And we want to introduce ourselves. My name is Pastor Keith. I'm from Journey Church in Ben. and I'm Luke and I'm from Journey Church in Redmond. We want to just go through some just simple instructions today so you know what's going on. We're going to have a great day. Today is the day. Who's pumped to be here today? Come on. So, here's what we're going to do. We're going to have a church service. So, there's going to be some worship where we give God the glory. How great is God? And I listen, I want to challenge y'all like like don't just stand there and watch. It's not a karaoke show. It's not a concert. I've seen some of you guys cut the rug at the concerts and I and I mean by that that that dancing. So listen, none of that like standing there like, "Oh, what's going on?" Come on, have some fun. We're representing Jesus in the house today. Our God is alive, so let's look alive, everyone. That's it. And we are believing today God's best.

In just a moment, you're also going to hear a sermon where we want you to know that there is hope for your life. We want to make sure today that you take the opportunity that if you're uncertain of your salvation, today could be the day of your salvation. This is the day. What better day is there to meet Jesus than today? Amen. And we're going to have baptisms in the river. Hey, let's go. I'm going to talk about it a little bit more, but if you haven't been baptized yet, uh, what are you waiting for? There's like no better opportunity than today to get baptized. So, we will both be in the river. If you've never been baptized and you have believed in Jesus or maybe today for the first time, you put your faith in Jesus. This is your day. We want to make sure you take advantage of that. That's it. And by the way, that's going to be on all the screens. So, if you see an LED wall, you get to celebrate those baptisms. We want you to scream. We want

you to worship. We want you to be a part of what God's doing in Central Oregon. One of the best parts about baptism is when somebody goes under that water. They're they're washing the old away. when they come up to hear the roar of the church celebrating like heaven a new believer, a new new decision to follow Jesus. There's nothing better than that. So, don't just jam out. Stay around and support and cheer on those who are giving their hearts to Jesus in baptism today. That's right. And this is a celebration. We've got food trucks here. We've got tons of inflatables that will be open after the service for all the kids. I mean, this is a family-friendly event. We want you to stick around and be comfortable here. But ultimately today, we want you to know it's all about Jesus. That's what this is about. So, Journey Church in Redmond and Journey Church in Ben, we're here because we want to point you to Jesus. This is gonna be a great day.

Man, it's so excited for today, Pastor Keith. This is the day. This is it. And as we get ready, I just want you to know we've got room up here. So, if you're wondering, you want to just make your way through. Thank you, young people, for setting an example. Today, we're going to celebrate. As we get ready to sing, I want you to press in. We are family here. We're going to have fun because we believe Central Oregon shall be saved because there is hope for everyone. Say with me, there's hope for everyone. Come on, everybody. This is your chance. Put your hands together. All right, here we go. Let's lift up Jesus like he's worthy of praise. He is worthy. Your life is changed because of Jesus. This is your time to sing like it. Let's sing it over the central Oregon. Come on, everybody. Here we go.

Hey, [Music] come on. Let's get moving and grooving this morning. Let's give our all to the Lord. [Music] Goodbye yesterday. I'm living in the light of a new day. I won't waste another minute in my old ways. Praise the Lord. I've been born again. Goodbye yesterday. I'm loving in the light of a new day. I won't waste another minute in my old ways. Praise the Lord. I've been born again.

I've been born again. Again [Music] and again and again and again. You rescued me out of the mess I was in. You prayed tomorrow for something to say. Now I'm dancing on the grave that I want to play back. Goodbye yesterday. I'm living in the light of a new day. I won't waste another minute in my old ways. Praise the Lord. I've been born again. Goodbye yesterday. The spirit of the Lord is upon me. I've got resurrection my faith. Praise the Lord. I've been born again and again and again.

You rescued me out of the mess I was in. Training my sorrow for something to sing. Now I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived in again and again and again and again. You rescued me out of the mess I was living in. Traing my sorrow for something to say. Now I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived. [Music] I have decided to follow Jesus. the world behind the cross before and I won't turn back. I have decided to follow Jesus.

The world behind the cross is gone. And I want I have decided [Applause] to follow Jesus. The world behind the cross before and I won't turn back. I have decided to follow Jesus. The world behind the cross before. And I won't turn back. No, I won't turn back. No, I won't turn back. The world behind the cross before. And I won't turn back. No, I won't turn back.

No, I won't die. The world behind the cross before. And again and again and again and again. You rescue me out of the mess. I was in. You traed my sorrow. Now I'm dancing on the ground. [Music] Again and again and again and again. You rescued me out of the mess I was in. You traed my sorrow for something. Now I'm dancing on the ground. Praise the Lord, I've been born again. [Music] Praise the Lord, I've been born. This is what living looks like. This is what freedom feels.

This is what heaven sounds like. We praise you. We praise you. This is what living looks like. This is what freedom feels like. This is what heaven. We praise you. Oh, dancing on the grave that I once lived in. Dancing on the grave that I once lived. Dancing on the grave that I once lived. Praise the Lord. I've been born. I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived. Dancing on the grave. Oh, dancing on the ground. Praise the Lord. I've been born again.

[Music] [Applause] Thank you, Lord. Come on. Can we lift up a shout of praise in the park? Hey, I I don't know if you saw that, but I saved my microphone from one of those flags. That was some fast twitch muscle fibers. Holy Spirit, we thank you for leading us to Jesus today. Would you have your way? Would you encounter us out here outdoors as we look and we behold you in Jesus name? [Music]

Come on, church. Let's do this together. I know. I know who I am. Cuz I know cuz I know who you are. The cross of salvation. Oh, it was only the start. See, now I am chosen. I'm free. I'm free and forgiven. And I have a future and it's worth living. Every voice. Come on, sing it out. Cuz I was made to be tended in a grave. I was called by him.

One man brings back to life again. I was somebody tell me why. So why would I make a bed in my sh is running my way? I know I was made. Come on, Corgan. Let's sing this together. I know who I am cuz I know who you are. The cross of salvation. Oh, it was only it was only the story.

You know, I have chosen. [Music] Oh, I'm free. I'm forgiven this morning. And I have a future and I know it is worth living. Come on, let me be in the grave. I was born by [Applause] [Music] I was in the morning. So somebody tell me so I sh

[Music] my way. I know I am. I was Come on, somebody sing hallelujah this morning. [Music] You call out my name, so I'll sing on you. You buried my person, so I'm not going. Hallelujah. [Music] You call out my name, so I'll sing out. [Music]

You bury my So I'm not going. I'm not going back. See, I was made to be hidden in a grave. I was called by born and raised back to life for and I come on base give it to me in my shame when I found some of grace is running my way. I know that. I know that. I know that. I know. Yeah. [Music]

I wasn't made to be hidden in the grave. I was born by for [Applause] life. I was dead. Why would I shame when I found some my way [Music] hallelujah? [Music]

You [Music] I'm not going. Come on. Every hand raised in the air sing this. I was made to be I was born and raised back to life for I was made.

So why would I make a bed in my shame when fountain of grace is running my way? I know I am yours. I was made for more. Come on. If you believe that this morning, we just lift up a shout. We're your blood sons and daughters and we're so grateful. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

generations [Music] falling down in worship. Sing the song of ages to the Lord. And all who've gone before us and all who will believe will sing the song of ages to the lamb. Come on, let's lift our voice. Your name, your name is the highest. Your name is the greatest. your name who stands above them all. All the rules and dominions, all powers and positions. Your name stands above the Lord.

The angels cry. Sing it out. And the creation rise is holy cuz you are lifted high. This holy forgive me [Music] for me. And if you're redeemed, sing forever to the end. Keep walking freedom. Come on. Cuz if you walk until you bear his name,

we'll sing the song for lifted up. We sing the song forever. Amen. And the angels cry. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Applause] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music]

[Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Sing it out. Your name is the highest. Come on. It's your name. Lift your voice. It's your name. And your name. Yes. Who stands above them all? [Applause] All dominions, all powers and positions. Your name. Who stands above the king. Your name is the highest. Come on. Your name is the highest. Your name is great.

Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] Yeah. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music]

[Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Holy Ghost is the highest. Your name is the greatest. Your name

stands above them all. There's no higher name and many In position to your stand one more time. You are lifted. It's holy. [Music] Thank you Jesus. [Music]

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] We crown you Lord Lord, King of Kings,

a blessing and honor and glory unto the Lamb. You are here moving in arms. I worship you. I worship you. You are here. I worship you. [Music] I worship you. You are here moving in our midst. I worship you. I worship you.

You are here working in this place. I worship you. I worship you. You are way make miracle work, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. We make a miracle work, promise keep, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. You are here touching every heart.

I worship you. I worship you. You are here healing every heart. I worship you. I worship you. And you are here. You're turning lives around. I worship you. I worship you. You are here. You're bending every heart. Oh, I worship you. I worship you.

You are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. You are a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. Away maker, way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. That is who you are. I am way maker, miracle worker, promise

keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] It's who you are. It's who you are. That is who you are. That is who you are. Oh, that is who you are. Oh, that is who you are. [Music] Light in the darkness. Oh, it's who you are. It's who you are.

You're the light in the darkness. The light in the dark. It's who you are. [Music] Even when I don't see it, you're working. Even when I don't feel it, you're working. You never stop. You never stop working. You never stop. You never stop working. Even when I don't see it, you're working. Even when I don't feel it. Come on, sing it out. You never stop. [Music] You never stop. You never stop working. Even when I don't see it, you're working. Even when I don't feel it, you're working.

[Applause] You never stop. [Music] Even when I don't see it, you're working. Even when I don't feel it, you're working. You'll never stop. You never stop working. You never stop. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Yeah. Heat.

[Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh, we love you Jesus. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Promise keep my God. [Music] Way maker, promise keeper.

[Applause] My God, that is who you are. Way maker, promise keeper, my God, that is who you are. Come on. If you're going to believe it today, sing it again. Come on. Yes, Lord. Let's believe it over your family. Oh, we prophesy this over central Oregon right now. That is who you are. Yes, Lord. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, the darkness, my God, that is who you are.

We have a waymaking God. If you can't see a way, that means God has to do it. That mean God, he gets the glory. Let me tell you about my God. Just one week ago, we were praying about this fire in Central Oregon. Just one week ago, one week ago, it was not even at 2% contained. Now, those firefighters have been working hard. The government's thrown a lot of money towards it. But when there was no rain in the Ford cast, all of a sudden some rain came down. When you have rock bands that are cancelling concerts because the air quality is not good, let me just tell you, we have a waymaking God that we

believe we're able to worship no matter what's happening outside. I don't know about you, but the air seems pretty good today. I just want to say we have a waym making miracle working God. I have to connect the dots that just one week ago we prayed about this and here we are enjoying the fruit of our prayer. We have a waymaking God. Just several weeks ago we prayed for a young girl named Paige Wood who was in a horrific car accident. Everything looked lost and yet we prayed and she's not only talking but we're seeing miracles in her life. I'll tell you, we have a God that hears our prayers. I don't know what you're going through today, but I do know this. God is great enough to get you through it.

So, so we're not here just to sing songs. We're not here just to call this church. We're here to experience the living God. We have a holy expectation that revival can happen in our generation to watch these children up here worshiping a living God. I tell you, my God can do anything if you would just be willing to surrender your life to Jesus. If you would just trust in him. And I'm going to pray right now. I'm going to pray your heart would be open to hear from the Lord today. And then we're going to preach a sermon today as if it's our last sermon ever preached. And today, I pray you would take the Lord so seriously that from this day forward, your life would be seriously changed. Would you just join me in prayer? Lord, we thank you for this opportunity that we live in such a great region. We just thank you that we get the opportunity to

worship you in central Oregon. But Lord, we don't take it for granted. We know that every good gift comes from you, our heavenly father. So we thank you for every good gift. But God, we know that this region is suffering. There are too many people dying from suicide, too many people dying from overdose. There are too many people stuck in depression. There are too many young people that are confused that have no hope. And we know that you're a God that does not leave us there. So today, we call out on the name of Jesus and we ask God the central Oregon shall be saved. We take you at your word. We thank you, God, that it's never too late with you. So we ask today, Jesus, the risen king of all kings, the one that defeated death and defeated the devil, that today

you would loosen off strongholds. People who have been stuck a long time today would be set free in Jesus name. I ask today, God, that you would make this place a house of prayer. That we can be in the park in the center of Bend, Oregon, but we know God that you're in the center of it all. We celebrate you today, Lord. We celebrate you not only for what you've done, but what you're going to do. You're the God that's able. So today, I pray that hearts that might seem dead would come alive in Jesus name. Lord, if there's anyone depressed, today would be the last day. There'd be a stake in the ground. If anyone's been struggling with addiction, today would be the last day.

If anyone's hurting today, they'd be healed and they would have hope in Jesus name. We trust you, Lord. I speak on behalf of your church today. We trust you, Lord. We believe in you, the God that's able. Speak to our hearts now. I pray in Jesus name. Come on. If you're expecting miracles, would you shout, "Amen" today? Amen. And amen and amen. Hey, why don't you take a seat and just slap your neighbor and say, "God is good." Come on, somebody. slap a different neighbor and say all the time, God is good. Can I have Bruno come up for just a moment and help me with some interpretation? I want to just give a couple quick more announcements. Thank you. Hey, real quick before we get into the sermon, I forgot to share this earlier and I want to make sure to take this opportunity for everyone that's here

today. If you need prayer for anything, if you need a healing in your life physically, if you need a financial miracle, if you want to pray for somebody else, if you need breakthrough in any area, there's going to be prayer right after this service in this orange tent over to your right. There's a banner that says prayer. I brought Bruno up here because he speaks both English and Spanish. And I want to just welcome all of our Spanish-sp speakaking friends today. So, and I want to just say hello to all the Spanish speaking friends. We also have represented here today a Spanish-sp speakaking church, God in the nations.

Nations. So, if you need prayer today and you speak Spanish, there is going to be uh Spanish-sp speakaking prayer warriors that will pray over you today as well. [Music] There's hope for everyone. There's hope for everyone. Thank you, Bruno. I just want to make sure to take that opportunity. You never know what will happen with one prayer. We're not here just to have church. We want to encounter a living God. He hears your prayer. So, if you haven't had a prayer answered, this might be the day, my friends. Come on, somebody.

This might be the day. Life is short. Your life is short. Yet, we often do not live like it. The Bible says in the book of James that life is like a vapor. It's like a mist. It's there one moment and then is gone the next. All it takes is a phone call, a doctor's diagnosis, or an accident that can change your life forever. And today, Pastor Luke and I want to share with you the one necessity you need before your life ends. This is for all of us today. No matter how young you are or how old you are, I want to share with you the key to eternal life.

It does not matter how much money you have or do not have because if you die, you're not taking any of that money with you. But today, I want to tell you the very key to eternal life. The one thing you need is Jesus Christ. Now, before you shut me off or before you leave, please, please hear me out. This is the most important message that you could ever receive. The text that I want to share from today is Galatians 2 verse 20. The Bible says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the son of God who loved me

and gave himself for me. Today, if I only had one sermon to preach, this would be it. If this was the last sermon I would preach, this is what I would want you to hear today. I have been crucified with Christ. Crucified with Christ. Crucified with Christ. I want you to understand what that means today because there is a lot of bad news in this world. Every day we hear about something bad happening. Another shooting, another controversy, another fire, another war or rumors of war. But today I'm not here to talk about bad news. I want to tell you about the good news of Jesus.

This is the good news that changes everything. This is what it means to be a Christian. Christianity is not about trying harder or being better or checking off a list of dos or don'ts. Christianity is all about what Jesus has done for you. This message today is all about Jesus. And this one verse will change your life if you let it. It's not enough to know this Bible verse, but to believe it and then act on it. I have been crucified with Christ. Would you just shout crucified with Christ? Crucified with Christ. What can that message do? Well, how it can change your life. Hallelujah.

How can a little boy who was raised in a tiny town, a nowhere town, who was raised by a single mother whose father abandoned him at the age of two, who never grew up in church? How could that boy grow up one day to be a preacher who stands before you today? I will tell you it was because I have been crucified with Christ. My life was not changed by religion. My life was not changed by my efforts. My life was changed by Jesus. And I'm here today to tell you about these words that were written long ago by a man named Paul so that you understand what it means to be crucified with Christ. Crucifixion was a brutal form of torture.

The purpose of a crucifixion was to lead a person to death, but not without suffering. excruciating pain. That word excruciating comes from the cross. It comes from multiple Latin words which means to to be with the cross. Jesus was crucified. He was not killed by the Romans. He was not killed by the Jews. Jesus said himself that he lays down his life. He suffered for you, my friends. He died on the cross for you. He willingly went to the cross for you.

Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died on the cross because the first man, Adam, sinned. And sin brought suffering into this world. And every human since Adam has suffered. We have all sinned and fall short to the glory of God. Yet Jesus is God that became a man. And he did what no man has ever done before. He did not sin. And he who was without sin took your sin on the cross. He suffered on your behalf. He took on the suffering of the world. So when the writer says, "I have been crucified with Christ," it's an identity saying, "My life is no longer mo mine.

My life is with Jesus." Let me put it another way. We're not talking about a better life. We're not talking about putting makeup on your life. This is not a fresh coat of paint on your life. Oh no, my friends. This is a new life. When you are crucified with Christ, you die to your old life and you accept the new life in Jesus. Crucifixion is the end of the old and it's accepting the new in Jesus. It's believing I'm not getting a better life. I'm getting new life in Jesus Christ. This isn't about adding something to your life. It's about exchanging your life for his.

Years ago, I was taking my kids to school in the middle of winter and my truck hit some ice and I slid into another truck headon. They examined the damage and the insurance company looked at the truck and they said, "It's totaled." Meaning, this truck is finished. You cannot make this truck better. We will not give you money to fix this truck because it's done. It's totaled. That's what it's like to believe in Jesus. You don't fix your old life. You don't improve your old life. You say, "I am totally giving my life to Jesus." You see, the insurance company said, "We're not going to help you fix this truck. We'll give you money for a new truck. We'll give you money for a new

vehicle." I need you to understand today that when you believe in Jesus, he does not want you to improve your life. He wants to give you his life. It's a great life. It's a great exchange. So what does it mean to be crucified to the cross? It means I die of pride. It means my addictions were crucified on the cross. It means every lie that was spoken to me or every lie that I thought in my life died on the cross. It means every false identity. You are not who you say you are or what any other person says about you. You are who God says you are.

And when you believe in Jesus, he calls you a child of God. That's who you are. So, my plans are dead on the cross. I want God's plans for my life. And my friend, God made you and he did a great job with you. There's no one like you. You are the best of the best. The very, very best. But apart from Jesus, you're still trying to figure out who you are. You're still trying to numb the pain of your past. But when you say, "I have been crucified with Christ. I surrender totally everything to Jesus. My anger died on the cross. My shame died on the cross.

The number one the number one issue that older people have in their lives before they die is regret. They wish they did more. They wish they would have done things differently. But when you say, "I have been crucified with Christ." regret dies on the cross because it's never too late with Jesus today. It doesn't matter how old you are or how young you are. We have such a good God that when you believe in Jesus, it changes everything. But you cannot carry your old life and life with Jesus. Matthew 16:24 says Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, shout anyone. Anyone who decides to

go after Jesus, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. That means you cannot carry this world and Jesus. That means depression dies on the cross. Suicidal thoughts dies on the cross. My friends, this is why Jesus changes everything. When you carry your cross, you're saying Jesus died for you so that you could live again. He died for your suffering, for your pain, for your sin. And hope is not found in any other place than Jesus Christ. I declare today in the heart of Central Oregon, hope is not found in a horoscope.

You will not find your future by seeking a psychic. Healing does not happen because of crystals. My friends, there is one necessity for your life and it is Jesus Christ. And today God is not asking you to be a good person. Today God is not asking you to work harder. Today God is not asking you to be better. Those things are found in religion. Today God is asking you for your whole heart. Will you give him your whole heart? Faith is not about feelings. You have to be able to trust God even when you don't feel it. Faith is not a good vibe or a good thought.

Faith is trusting in almighty God who was, who is, and will forever be God. But today, I recognize that not everyone will embrace this message. It's a mystery to me why we don't all run to the cross of Jesus. Why wouldn't we all celebrate being set free from our sins and and and receive the mercy of God today, which means you've been changed by his mighty love? Why don't we all receive that? Because the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing." The cross is foolishness to some of you who are here today because it requires everything.

So, some of you say, "I don't want to surrender everything to Jesus. I want to hold on to my alcohol. I like my marijuana. I I I I like looking at pornography. I like doing the things I do." Because if you believe in Jesus, all of those things die on the cross. It's foolishness to some because you're perishing. But to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Today, if you believe in Jesus, you receive the same power that raised Jesus from the grave. And until you die with Christ, you will never truly live with him. The cross says that you're forgiven of your sins. And not just some of your sins. You are forgiven of every single sin.

The Bible says that by believing in the Lord Almighty, you can go to the east and the west and you won't be able to find your sins when you believe in Jesus. By believing in Jesus, you receive what he did on the cross. He declared with his last breath in John 19:30, "It is finished." These were his last words in the ancient language to tell us it is finished. Meaning you don't have to do it on your own. There is a solution for sin. There is a solution for suffering today and it's new life in Jesus Christ. Jesus warns us in Matthew 16:26, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

Would you please consider that question today? What would it profit you to get everything and lose your soul? Because you have a soul and it will live forever and it will either live forever with God or apart from God. And the Bible says that by believing in Jesus and confessing with your mouth that he died on the cross and rose from the grave, you are saved. What if today was your last day on earth? What would really matter most to you? Or what would not matter at all? Why wait until that last day and start living like it today? that we would recognize what the writer Paul says in Galatians 2:20. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith

in the son of God. I'm choosing to live for Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me. God loves you, my friend. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that includes you, he loves you." Yes, he loves you so much. That's why he went to the cross. And believing in him today does not mean behavior modification. It means a transforming heart. This is transformation. You see, I declare today with all my heart, I believe Central Oregon shall be saved because I know that God can do it. Some might ask, I I can't see how this is possible. Well, the Bible says that his mercies are new every morning. He

cannot run out of mercy. He loves you so much that this mercy is kindness and it leads to repentance. So today, I don't care what you did yesterday, you could receive his mercy today. And you could repent of your sins today and receive salvation. And the good news is repentance leads to revival because God doesn't give you a better life. He takes the dead and he gives you a new life in Jesus. There's no greater love than this. So, what does that love look like? Dying to yourself. Being willing to lay it down. That no matter what comes your way, like Job said long ago, though he slay me, yet I will hope in him. Pastor Luke is going to tell you about that power of what it means to live in Christ. And I want you

to know that you have a God that can exchange your sin for everything he has to offer. Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope," that's my God, he's a God of hope. I declare that over your life, over every person in your family, the God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace. What do you get instead of suffering? Joy and peace. How do you get that joy and peace? In believing, believe in Jesus today. So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you turn to your neighbor and shout you. You may abound in hope. I declare in Jesus name. Hallelujah.

There it is. There it is. It turns itself off when I put it back in my pocket. Wow. Come on, somebody. That's amazing. And the God of all hope. You know, I love this message. Like you said, it's the last message. If we could say anything, this is what we would say is this message that we die to ourselves. And what a what a strange thought this is. Jesus in the the scriptures that that Pastor Keith was teaching us about in Matthew. Mark also writes about the same thing. And right in between what Pastor Keith was talking about picking up the cross and losing your soul, Jesus says these words. He he says in in Mark chapter 8, he says that if you seek to find your life, that's to preserve it, to save it, to to earn it, to deserve it. He says, "Whoever would seek to find their lives," he said, "if you do so you would lose it. But whoever would lose their lives," he says these

words for my sake, Jesus says, "For the sake of the gospel," he says you wouldn't lose it, you would find it. It's this weird inverted way of thinking. But think about this for just a moment of what this life Jesus promises to to give to us looks like. Because we live in a world today that says hold on to what you've got and keep trying to get it. That if you live on the right side of the river, if you have the right amount of money in the bank account, if you have the right amount of vacations, if you drive the right kind of car, if you have the right type of followers on your social media account, then you've got everything you need. But yet when we look at the people that have what we would say in our society is the most amount of life, yet you can see more and more and more it seems as though they lose it because there's something in this life that is that is rooted into each and every one of us.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that eternity is written in our hearts. It's why as humanity that differentiates us from every other creation on earth is that we look to the stars in the sky. We look to the to the life and to the existence that we live and we say, "What is this for? Is it just to show up to to to get what we can while we can and then to die and then to pass that on to somebody else? Or is there something more to life than this?" And this is what Paul talks about. He says that I've laid my life down. I've crucified my life. And he says now these words in in Galatians chapter 2 verse number 20, he says, "The life that I live," I love this. He says it like this. He says, "It's it's no no longer I that live." He says, in other words, I'm dead. I'm gone. I've been nailed to that cross.

And he says, it's no longer I who live, but look at this. It's Christ who lives in me. Now, think about that for a moment. That that's that's kind of strange if we try to think about that. Like, what does that mean? Like Jesus like does he come on and like, you know, like take over and and like they take control like cuz I don't know about you, but I haven't figured that part out. That's not what he's talking about. He's not talking about manipulation. He's not talking about coercion. He's not talking about power grab or or or or like like Nietze would say, the opiate of the masses. No, no, no, no, no. He's saying this is Jesus who is living in me. And I love what he says and he did so by modeling it. He loved me and he gave himself for me. This is the sacrifice of

love. This is the purpose of hope that Jesus would promise to each and every one of us that in this great exchange our sin, our shame, our hopelessness in exchange for his life, his peace, his love, his purpose in each and every one of us that it would solve the great mystery of life. Why are we here? To bring glory to God. to reveal the goodness of God in and through the world around me. This is the great exchange. Jesus living in me and Jesus living through me. His life is a life of purpose and love. You know, it's interesting that in the mid 1900s, some sociologists and psychologists got together to try to figure out the

meaning of life to answer this milliondoll question, if we could call it that. Why are we here? Dr. Abraham Maslo came up with a very famous theory called Maslo's hierarchy of needs. And he said that that when you have the basics of living established, you can you can climb to the next hierarchy of life. And that basic establishment of hierarchy is once you've had food, once you've got air to breathe, once you've got something that that sustains life, then you can start to think about what life is is about. And and then what what's next? Well, that's security. That's shelter. That that's that's resource around us. Once we're established and we're out from the cold or once we're warmed on on those cold

days or cooled on a hot day, we can start thinking about what's the next purpose in life. And they came up with that next part of hierarchy. And that's that's love and esteem. It's relationships. It's friendships. It's it's intimacy, they say. And they said once you've established love and once you have those relationships and once you have those interpersonal connections as a human being what what's what's after that you get married you have kids you make friends what comes after that and they they said in this hierarchy of needs at the at this point in time they said that the the height of human existence was accolade was to recognize that that that I I had received awards or I would get credit or I would have an establishment of my life. It's what we would call worth and belonging.

But after some time of trying to figure out what this theory was, they realized that awards don't bring purpose. That you can get a trophy for for doing something. You get your name on a plaque. You can have recognition and accolades the world over, but you know what? Those trophies tarnish. The accolades go away. People forget your name and forget your legacy. And so is that the height of the human existence is to be known. They they realized that there was something else missing and they called it this. They called it transcendence. The peak of human existence is to transcend to climb out of just surviving and just living and just existing and to live a life that actually matters. A life that transcends your own life. A life of purpose. a life of meaning, a

life that makes a difference in the world around us. Now, here's the interesting thing. They found this out in 1950. Friends, could I tell you something? AD0 Jesus is preaching about this. This is the life Jesus is talking about. He says, "When you try to get your way, get your things, do your way of living, you lose it. But if you let it go, you'll find it. And the life that you find isn't a life of popularity. It's not a life of money. It's not a life of of awards. It's not a life of accolades. It's a life of purpose. It's a life that realizes and recognizes come what may. I could have everything and I could have nothing. Like Paul says in Philippians, but because I've got

Jesus, I have everything I need for today. It's a life that matters. And how many people today, how many of us, you and me included, are looking at this life that we live and saying, "What is it here for? What am I here on this earth for? What is the purpose of my life?" Friends, can I tell you it's Jesus that answers that question? It's Jesus that gives us this life. Because here's what life looks like in Jesus. Jesus didn't come to give you better life. Sometimes religion will tell you that, you know, you follow the rules. You follow the regulations, you try hard, you give your money away, whatever it is that they tell you to do. And if you do, your life will be better. Friends, can I tell you something? That was never the message of Jesus. Because Jesus never came to make your life better. That's what Pastor

Keith was talking about. Jesus came so that you can you and I could experience life brand new. See, that's what Paul says in 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Paul says it like this. He says, "Therefore, that this life that we've been living, this life that we've been striving, this this whole existence that we've been pressing for," he says, "the old is passed away. Behold, in Christ, all things become new." Friends, can I tell you, the life of Jesus isn't just a better life, it's a brand new life. This is why Jesus would use the word in John chapter 3, born again. Now, you think about that word today in our society. be born again made it like one of those, you know what I mean? Like those types of people like, "Oh, I don't know if I want to be those types of people." That's that's not what Jesus

was talking about. He wasn't talking about getting crazy. He wasn't talking about being fanatical. He wasn't talking about being like all wild and out of control and making everybody wonder what's going on around you. No, no, no, no. When Jesus was talking about born again, he was having a conversation with a man who lived everything by by religion, every rule, and every regulation and every way of life, this was the guy that did it all. And you would think his name was Nicodemus. You would think that when Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus and Nicodemus asks him, "What must I do to inherit this eternal life you talk about?" That Jesus would pat Nick on the back and be like, "Man, you just keep going." But no, he says, "Nicodemus, you must be born again." Nicodemus in John chapter 3, the famous section of scripture, scratches his head, looks at Jesus, and says, "I don't understand what you're talking about. You mean you

mean you want me to go back to my mom and like crawl back up and then come back out? That's weird, Jesus. And Jesus says, "Nicodemus." Nicodemus. He says, "How is it that you're a teacher and you don't get this?" He said, "Don't you get it? What is of the flesh is flesh? But there's something more to you, Nicodemus. You know this. It's your soul. It's your spirit. It's the part of you that looks into the to the unknown and says, "God, what uh do you have for me here?" And Jesus says, Nicodemus, what is born of the spirit is spirit. He says, I'm speaking to you in spirit. I'm speaking to you in life. There's something about each and every one of us that longs for purpose. 85% of the world's population believes in a

god or some higher power or some form of afterlife. Friends, that's not coincidental. That's not accidental. That's not some closed-minded thinking. There was something put inside of us that God has hardwired us to live a life that actually matters. And this is the message of Jesus. It's the promise of Jesus. His life brings to us a new creation, a new life that is filled with his spirit. Jesus not only shows us and models what life looks like. Jesus not only promises us that we would find life. But friends, can I tell you something? Jesus proves to us that we

will have life in Christ, a life resurrected, a brand new life. One of my favorite verses is Romans chapter 10 or excuse me, Romans chapter 5. Because Romans chapter 5, Paul is is establishing, he's building a foundation of this gospel message. And in Romans chapter 5, before I get to verse number 10, he says these words. He says, "God wants to demonstrate his love for you." If you've ever wondered if you matter, if you've ever wondered if God cares for you, if you've ever wondered if your life has a purpose or a reason, if you've ever wondered, "Does God see me? Does God recognize me?" Paul says, "God demonstrates his love for you." How that while we were sinners, Christ died for

us. That while we were at our worst, when everybody else would say, "Not them, not now," Jesus says, "This is the right time." And he dies on the cross for us. God demonstrates his love in the death of Jesus Christ. But look at Romans 5 verse number 10 because Paul says it like this in Romans chapter 10. If while we were enemies to God, we were reconciled through his death. Oh, I love this. How much more? Come on, somebody say, "How much more?" How much more shall we be saved through his life? You know, so often in Christianity, so often in faith and in religion, the icons, the pictures that we have of Jesus are Jesus on a cross.

And the cross is a heavy picture. It's a picture of our sins. It's a picture of our shame. It's a picture of all of our regrets and all of our wrongs. But friends, can I tell you something? While Jesus accomplished the the the reconciliation of our sins on the cross, friends, can I tell you something? He didn't stay on it. He didn't go in that grave and stay in the grave. There's no marker on earth. I've been to Jerusalem several times. I've looked. I've searched. There is no gravestone, no conclusive place where it says, "Here lies the body of Jesus Christ." Why? Because death couldn't hold him. The grave couldn't keep him. He resurrected on the third day.

And do you get this? Look at this. The story of Jesus's resurrection is fantastic because there's nobody outside the tomb better or bigger than Jesus saying, "Jesus, come forth." No. from the inside of the grave, from the darkness of death, Jesus raises to life and walks out of the grave from the inside out. And friends, Paul says it like this. If that is a model of life, then think about if his death satisfies our sins, then how much more does that resurrection bring life to you and to me? Think about the grave that we've made ourselves. I love that song that we sang. Why would I build a bed in my shame? Why would I live in my regrets?

Think about the graves that so many of us have made for ourselves. Mistakes, messups, hang-ups, flaws, again and again and again. But friends, here's the message of Jesus. Not only modeled, not only preached, but now promised to you and I and proven by the resurrection. And now Paul says in Romans chapter 8, the same power of God that gave life to Jesus in the grave now gives life to you. Friends, can I tell you that's his spirit? The presence of God. He's not he hasn't left us. He's not some deity somewhere far away that someday may return. Friends, can I tell you Jesus is here? He has promised to you. He has promised to me his Holy Spirit. He says, "I'm going to give you power from on high. And when you get this power from

on high, you're going to get immersed in it. And when you get immersed in it, you can't help but be a witness." You know what that word witness means? You don't like this. It means martyr. Martero is the Greek word. He says, "You'll be a martyr for me." What does that mean? That means your life will tell me. I find it amazing that Jesus calls tax collectors, he calls zealots, he calls fishermen, he calls uneducated, rejected men. And yet when they see and when they experience the power of the resurrection, these uneducated and ordinary men travel the world to spread the news of the gospel. And friends, can I tell you without ever lifting a banner of resistance, without ever raising a sword against an empire, they overtook

the greatest power this world has ever known by the message of Jesus Christ. Why? Because this is the life of Jesus. It's not found in our government. It's not found in our retirement. It's not found in our society. It's not found in our bank accounts. It's found only in Jesus. Jesus offers you the highest human existence, life that matters. I love what Jesus says in John chapter 10. He says, "The thief doesn't come except to steal from you, to kill you, and to destroy you." But Jesus says, "He has come." Why? That you would have life and that you would have it abundantly. Friends, can I tell you abundant life is not just eternal life. So often we think that if I could just survive this time,

if I could just make it by, if I could squeak by in this existence, maybe the next round will be better. Friends, can I tell you that's not the message of Jesus. Jesus cares about your life today. Abundant life today isn't based off of your monetary value. Abundant life today isn't based off of how many friends you have. Abundant life today isn't based on how great your marriage is. Abundant life today is not based off of how wonderful the summer was or how you could get out in the elements of nature. No, no, no, no, no. Abundant life is based on Jesus. It's a life that says, "I know who I am. I know why I'm here. I know my value. I know my purpose. I know that I'm not a mistake. I know that I'm not an

accident. I know that I'm not a screw-up." Why? because all of that was nailed to the cross. And now I am a new creation in Jesus. Now my future is settled. Now my purpose is established. Now my hope is not in what tomorrow may bring because I already know what tomorrow brings in Jesus. This is abundant life. And yet so many of us today are searching, seeking, trying to find that life in a bottle, in a friend, on a paddle board, at a lake, trying to find that that that hope or that abundant life at the end of a hit or a take. Friends, can I tell you the only way to live is to lay that down, to let

it go, that you might find what life really looks like. That's life in Jesus. life with hope, life with peace, life in love. Because he gave himself for you. Because he loves you. Because he's promised to you better days in front of you than behind you. Regardless of your story, here's what you can know in Jesus. What's in front of you is so much better than what's behind you. Yesterday was my 42nd birthday. Hey, uh, I'm proud to be 42. I'm old enough to remember what I would say are the good old days. Friends, can I tell you something? The good old days

aren't days of long past times. The good old days are in front of us. In Jesus, these are the good old days. The days of the glory of God. Like like Peter says in Acts chapter 2, that in these last days, the spirit of God will descend. Friends, can I tell you that's these days on your sons and your daughters and they will prophesy. You know what prophesy means? It means they'll speak the oracles of God. He says your sons and your daughter daughters will prophesy and your old men will dream dreams. Some of you have been so long since you've dreamed a dream in your heart. But Jesus is here to give you life. Why? That you can see a dream of what life would look like again. He says your young man would see visions. that God's going to give you a picture of what life, what hope, what peace, what future looks like to forge a new path in

Jesus as the old is gone and you are a new creation. And friends, can I tell you something? This doesn't happen because you're a good person. This doesn't come because you try hard. It it doesn't fall upon you because you identify with an ideology or with a religion. Well, my mama told me growing up we were Baptists and so I've always said that or my I got catechized or baptized as a child. I I must be good friends. Said none of these things are the litmus test or or the line in the sand that we cross over to find this. John chapter 14, Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. You heard Pastor Keith talk about it, friends. There is there is no way of thinking that there is no cosmic power. There's no universal pull that brings us all to

salvation. Like you might say, "Well, you do your thing and I'll do my thing and we'll all get there the same way." Jesus makes it implicitly clear that he is the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the father except through him. Friends, can I tell you something? The the picture of God is here for you today. God's not mad at you. He's not out to get you. He doesn't want to ruin you. He loves you. He loves you so much that he gave Jesus for you as a son. And I love what Jesus says in that famous section of scripture. Pastor Keith quote a part of that. He says, "For God so loved the world, that's you." He says that he gave his only begotten son. But look at this. Whosoever would believe in

him would not perish or die, but shall live or experience eternal life. Friends, that word believe today is a little convoluted. We don't quite fully understand that. Why? Because we got a Disney approach to believe. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I believe in Jesus. Sure, why not? Yeah, I believe in God. Yeah, why not? Everybody does. I believe tomorrow will be a good day. I believe I'm a good person. We're not talking about a fairy tale system of belief. This word that Jesus used in Jesus's day was actually a very clear word. It's the Greek word pistus. It's the same word that we use faith for. Here's what Jesus is saying. Whoever would put their trust in him, whoever would put their life in him, whoever would put not just their sins, how about this? Their successes in him, whoever would put their past in him, and whoever would trust their

future with him would not experience this death. Why? Because what did he say? He said, "If you try to find your life and preserve it, you'll lose it. But if you would release it, you'll find it. And whoever would put this trust in him would not perish but have everlasting life. That's life today. That's life now. And that's life forever with Jesus. Friends, that doesn't happen because you call yourself a Christian. It doesn't happen because you go to church. It doesn't happen because you've thrown out a prayer here and again when you needed God. Friends, it happens when you put your trust and when you put your faith into the hands of Jesus Christ. When you lay your life down and say, "It is no longer like Paul said, I who live, but it is now Christ who lives in me."

And the life now that I live, I don't live for myself. I don't live for my purpose. I don't live for my own gain. He says, "The life that I now live, I live for Jesus who loved me and who gave himself for me." Friends, this is a message that revolutionized the world as we know it. Can I tell you something? It's not outdated. It It's not inapplicable for today. If ever a day we need to know that God is real, that God loves you, that salvation is here for you, today is that day. And friends, today I want to go before we before we wind this down. I want to give you the opportunity right here, right now to establish your life in Jesus. Not in religion, not in church attendance, not asking you to join a church, not asking you to join an organization. I'm inviting you to join the family of God through salvation in Jesus Christ.

If you're in this place today and you say, "Pastor, if I'm honest, if I just was to take off the mask, one of our values at Journey is that we're relentlessly real." Let's just get real for a minute. Let's take off that mask of religion for just a moment. That mask that says, "Yeah, I know how to play the part. I know how to speak the language. I know how to do the things." Let's take that off for just a moment. You and God and you and God alone. If you between you and God and you and God alone, you say, "Pastor, if I'm honest, I don't know God. I'm not sure where I stand before God." Friends, can I tell you one of the prayers of the church is Ephesians chapter 1 verse number 17. Paul prays for you in scripture. Read it for yourself. Paul says, "I pray that you would be given by God the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of him." That's not just knowledge about him. Paul's not saying, "I pray you get smarter about Jesus." You could read a book and know all about somebody, but you know this and I know this. There is

a vast difference between knowing somebody and knowing about somebody. And some of us, it's time to shift from knowing about God and knowing about Jesus to knowing him deeply, personally, intimately for your life. To experience the life, the resurrection of Jesus. To experience, like Pastor Keith read in Romans 15, the hope of of of God for you to experience like we read in Romans chapter 5, the love of God in your life. to experience true life. And that comes only when you lay your life down at the altar of the cross of Jesus Christ and receive the resurrection of Jesus for

you here and now. If you're in this place, you're at this park, you hear the sound of my voice, you say, "Pastor, if I'm honest, I don't know God. I feel like I'm far from God. I feel like I'm confused in my faith." Friends, can I tell you something? God loves you. He chose you. You're not too far gone. You're not too far out. Friends, if there is breath in your lungs, there is grace for salvation for you today. If you're in this place, you say, "If I'm honest, I don't I don't know where I stand before God." Why on earth would you go another minute of your existence searching, seeking, and hoping that you're on the right path? Why would you not today make the decision to follow Jesus once and for all? Perhaps you're in this place and you've walked away from your faith. I hear stories of it all the time. I had seasons in my life

where I questioned it, where I wasn't quite sure of it. While what where somebody in the name of Jesus misrepresented the mission of Jesus. Friends, can I tell you something? God's not mad at you for that. This is the moment that the invitation is there extended for you here and now. To say yes to salvation, to say yes to life, to say yes to hope in Jesus. And if this is you in this place and today, I want to pray with you right where you're at. I'm not going to embarrass you. won't call you forward. We're not even equipped to have you come up forward. I just I want to just know today if you're in this place, you say, "Pastor, I need Jesus." Then this is your moment. I love the words of Jesus in Revelation chapter 3. He's speaking to a church people familiar with the ways of God. And he says these words. He says, he says, "You think you're good. You think you've got it all together. You really don't get it

that you're naked and you're destitute." But he says, "I wish that you would come to me and I wish that you would have this this supernatural, this spiritual gold refined by God, that you would live a life of purity, of hope, and of resolve." And he says, "And I stand at the door and I knock." Would you open that door today? Would you allow Jesus to bring new life to your life today? To leave the old in the in the past, dead and gone with the cross of Jesus. today accept and receive the new life of Jesus Christ. Then today, if that's you, salvation is here for you. The opportunity to say yes to purpose, the opportunity to say yes to eternity, the opportunity to say yes to abundant life in Christ is here for you all across this field as we pray in just

a moment. If you're in this place and you say, "Pastor, that's me. I need Jesus. Pastor, that's me. I feel like I'm drowning. Pastor, that's me. I feel like I'm lost. Pastor, that's me. I feel like something needs to change. Friends, can I tell you this is your moment. This is your time. You say, "I need to see and I need to put my faith in Jesus." And then and then here's what I want to do. I want to pray with you. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Nothing to be ashamed about. Nothing to shy away from. Sometimes we want to do this in the privacy of a dark room or or or in his secret. Friends, can I tell you something that Jesus says that if you would confess him before men, he will confess you before his father. He said, "If you would deny him before men, he would deny you." What a wonderful opportunity it is right here in this beautiful climate, this beautiful place on this beautiful day to say yes to the salvation of Jesus Christ. Here's what I'm going to do in just a moment. I want to pray with you. But I just want to

know who I'm praying with all across this this amazing field. Some of y'all way way way way in the back, you too. If you're in this place, you say, "Pastor, that's me." I just want to see a response to say, "Pastor, that's me. I need Jesus. Pastor, that's me. I need God. Pastor, that's me. I want to give my life to Christ today. Pastor, it's me. I want to leave my past behind and start fresh with Jesus. If you're in this place and that's you, here's what I want to do. I want to pray with you right where you're at. And I just want to know who I'm praying with. So, here's what I'll do. I'll go like this. I'll count to three. One, two. On the count of three, I'll smack my fingers together and I'll say three at the same time. Just real big loud moment. If you're in this place, you say, "Pastor, I need Jesus. Would you just shoot your hand up?" Just be bold about it. Don't be embarrassed. Pastor, what what if what if my wife sees me? What if my neighbor sees me? What if my friends see me? Who cares what they think? This is between you and God. You're going to stand

before God Almighty at the end of your existence and give an account for your life. And friends, can I tell you, your neighbors and your friends will not be with you. This is your moment to decide. Would you say yes to Jesus? All across this place today, if that's you, I'm going to count to three. When I count to three, if that's you, slip a hand up, shoot it up, be bold about it, be be excited about saying yes to salvation. It's the greatest decision you could possibly make in Jesus. This is your moment. This is your time. All at the same time, we'll do it together as I count to three. If that's you, slip a hand up and we'll go together. You ready? Here we go. One, two, three. If that's you in this place, keep a hand up. Keep them up. Keep them up. Keep them up. Keep them up. Look at you. Look at you. All over. All over. All over. All over. All over. All over. All over. Way back in the back. I see you. Yes.

Back there. Back there. Back there. All over. Look at you. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Sunny. I see you right in the front. Yes. Yes. Yes. All over the place. Hundreds. Friends. Can I tell you something? It's the best decision you could possibly make to say yes to Jesus. Today, I want to lead you in a prayer. Now, the Bible tells us, listen, let me let me just let's get something straight. Can we get something straight real quick? Here it is. Praying with the pastor at an event on a stage is not going to get you to heaven. Let's walk away from that one right now. Here's what this prayer represents. You've all done this before. You followed those GPS directions on your phone told you to go this way and at this marker, turn left. This is that marker. We're making a directional shift right here, right now. You're changing

the direction of your life to the direction of Jesus. All across our amazing state, there's monuments. There's there's pillars. There's there's statues. There there's there's plaques. They're called monuments. And they they preserve a moment in time that's worth remembering. This is a monument right now for your life to say, "This is the moment. I'm giving my life to Jesus. This is the moment. Everything in my life shifts and changes before Jesus." Scripture tells us in Romans chapter 10 that if we believe with our heart and we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and raised from the dead, we shall be saved. So, how about this? How about we put scripture to practice? I want to pray with you. I'm going to give you the words. Don't just repeat them like religious jargon that God's not interested in that. Take these and make them yours. Declare them, listen to me, out loud in faith. Why? We're responsible for what we say. And the

Bible says that Romans Romans tells us that faith comes by hearing. Sometimes we need to hear what we want God to hear because that's what builds our faith, too. So, let's say this together out loud, on purpose, and in faith. Would you pray with me today? Would you bow your heads for a moment? Close your eyes. Let's go before God in a posture of reverence here and now. Would you pray with me right here, right now? Say these words after me. Say, "Father God, thank you for Jesus. I accept salvation in Jesus Christ. I put all of my faith. I put all of my hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for my sins and for my salvation. Forgive me of my past and of my regrets. From this moment forward,

I choose to follow Jesus with all of my heart, with all of my life. Fill me today with your Holy Spirit, with your love, with your grace, and with your peace. From this day forward, I follow Jesus. Amen. Come on. Let's celebrate these decisions. Wow. Hey friends, can I tell you something? Let me tell you something. You didn't arrive at your destination. You started a journey. A journey of faith in Jesus. That's why we call our church's journey. You thought it was cuz we like the rock band. No. Because it's a journey of faith in Jesus. And if you leave today, before you go, let me give you one bit of advice, one bit of direction out of the

mouth of Jesus for you. This is a journey, and every journey's got ups and every journey's got downs and and every journey has all sorts of different parts. But here's the promise of Jesus for you on that journey. Matthew 28, verse number 20, Jesus says he'll never leave you. He'll never forsake you. He says he will be with you always until the end of the age. You're never alone in Jesus. Don't stop. Don't quit. Don't give up. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. It's your birthday. Happy birthday. Just a moment. The band's going to close us out. And we're not really closing out. We're just kicking off. This was just the intro for the day. and we're going to step aside and we're going to step over there to the river and have some baptisms. You know, in scripture, every time you see somebody in the book

of Acts find Jesus and follow Jesus, you know what the next step of their faith journey is? Baptism. So, let me say this. Those of you that said yes to Jesus, what are you waiting for? Well, pastor, pastor, pastor, I I don't have any clothes. I'll give you a t-shirt and a towel. Come on. This is the most the the most idealic moment for you to make a profession of your faith. And here's what baptism represents. Baptism is not just a picture of faith. I believe there's a power in baptism. Paul says in Romans 6 that we're laid to death in Jesus Christ. That's going under the water. That's going under the grave. You're leaving the old. And here's the beautiful thing about doing it in a river is that river is a picture. It's washing away. That water doesn't stay where you are. It keeps moving downstream. And so does your past away from you. Scripture says, "As far as the

east is from the west, so God separates your sins." Friends, this is the moment for you to say yes to that proclamation of your faith, to let hell know I'm not yours, to let the world know, I follow Jesus, and to accept and to receive the power of God in baptism. We'd love to invite you to join with us today. The band is going to continue leading us in worship and praise. Wherever there is a screen around this venue, you will see baptisms going on. Friends, I want to tell you, don't just jam. Don't just go. Don't just take what you want. Celebrate those who are going public with their faith. There's so much something so special about somebody coming up out of that water, a new creation, and hearing the roar of the church, celebrating as

they give their life to Jesus, as they accept what new life looks in Jesus. So, in just a moment, our team's going to take over and lead us in some songs. I want to encourage you, stick around, stay, don't leave, don't pack up, don't go just yet. The day is just getting started, but we're going to have time for baptisms. If you haven't been baptized, I'm going to invite you to make your way over to that baptism tent over there by the river where the flags are. You see a big flag that says baptism. We're going to be there. We're going to baptize you. You are going to be today a new creation in Jesus' name. Amen. Hey, let me pray over you today as we begin the next part of this service. Father, thank you for every person that is here today. Lord, bless them. God, keep them. Cause your face and your countenance to shine upon them. And

Lord, would you give them peace in Jesus mighty name? Amen. Come on, let's worship Jesus together. [Music] [Music]

Also, if you need prayer, there's a prayer tent right here to my left. Get people ready to pray for you. Touch heaven and agree with you today. I'm calling on the God of Jacob. whose love endures your generation. [Music] I know that you will keep your cover. I'm calling on the God of Moses, [Applause] the one who opened up the ocean.

I need you now to do the same thing for me. For me. Oh God, my God, I need you. Oh God, my God, I need you. Oh, how I need you now. Oh rock of ages I'm standing on your face. Oh, you're faithful. [Applause] [Music]

[Applause] I'm calling on the God of Mary [Music] who favor the lonely. [Music] I'm all with you all things. I'm calling on the God of David who made a shepherd boy courageous. I may not face Gol.

[Applause] [Music] Oh God, my God, I need you now, Lord. I rock. I'm standing on. [Applause] [Music] You heard your children. You hear your children.

You are the same God. You are the same God. You answered prayers back then and you will answer now. You are the same God. You are providing. You are providing. You are providing. Cuz you are the same God. You are the same God. You moved in power. God move in power. Now, you are the same. Yes, you are the same God. You are a healer.

You are a healer now. You are the same. You are You are a savior. You are a savior. [Music] Oh God, my God. [Music] [Applause] or rock [Music]

for your [Music] heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] I'm calling on the Holy Spirit.

[Music] I'm calling on the Holy Spirit. [Music] I'm calling on the Holy Spirit. I'm calling on the Holy Spirit. [Music]

I see your face in every sunrise. The colors of the morning are inside your eyes. The world awakens in the light of the day. I look up to the sky and say you're beautiful. Oh. Oh, [Music] you're beautiful. [Music]

I see your power in the moon and night where planets are motion and galaxies are bright. We are amazed in the light of the stars. It's all proclaiming who you are. You're beautiful. Oh. [Music] Oh, Jesus. You're beautiful. [Music]

I see you there in an on tree. You bled and then you died and you rose again for me. Now you are sitting on your heavenly throne. Soon we will be coming. You're beautiful. [Music] Yes, you're beautiful. Yes, you are. Yes, you are.

[Music] You're beautiful. You're beautiful. [Music] When we arrive at eternity shore, where death is just a memory and tears are no more. will enter as the wedding bells ring. Your bride will come together and we'll see. [Music]

When we arrive at eternity shore, where death is just a memory and tears are no more, will enter the break. We come together. [Applause] [Music] You're beautiful. Oh, [Music] [Applause] [Music] it's so beautiful. [Applause] Oh, Jesus.

[Applause] I'll see your face. Oh, you're beautiful. Oh, you're beautiful. Oh, you're beautiful. I see your face. Yes, you are. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat.

[Music] Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. [Music] You're beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. You're beautiful. Beautiful.

Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Beautiful. [Music] Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. [Music]

of exult. [Music] You hear the mey of all creation. But there's a song of praise that only I can bring. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no only you Jesus. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy?

There is no one and only you, Jesus. You are the God of the anges. Yeah. You chose to make my heart your dwelling. You heal my brokenness. Show me your glory. There's a song of praise. Holy angels sing. Cuz who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no Jesus.

Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one only you Jesus. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one you Jesus. Who else is worthy? [Music] Who else is worthy? [Music] There is no one only Jesus. [Applause] [Music] The love of God and more to one who was and is and is to come. Seated on the

throne above. Holy, holy lamb of God, anointed one who was and is and is to come seated on the throne of God. Holy, holy, lamb of God who was and is to come. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music]

Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Jesus Christ [Music] is worthy. Who else is worthy? There is no [Music] Jesus. Who else is worth else?

Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Only Jesus. There is only Jesus. [Applause] [Music] My Jesus, my savior. Lord, there is none like you.

All of my days I long to praise the wonders of your mighty love. My comfort, [Music] my shelter, tower of reuge and strength. And every breath and all that I am never cease to worship [Music] you. [Music] Shout to the Lord all the earth. Let us sing.

Power and majesty rise to the king. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. [Music] And I'll sing for joy at the work of your hand. Forever I'll love you. Forever I'll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you. [Music]

My Jesus, my savior. Lord, there is none like you. All of my days, I long to praise the wonders of your mighty [Music] love. [Music] My comfort and my shelter. hour of reuge and strength. Let every breath and all that I am,

let it never cease to shout. You [Music] shout to the Lord all the earth. Let us see. Power and majesty praise to the king. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. And I'll sing for joy at the work of your hands. Forever I love you. Forever I'll stand.

And nothing compares to the proise I have in you. [Music] Shout to the Lord all the earth. Let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the king. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. I'll sing for joy at the work of your hand.

Forever I'll love you forever I'll stand. Nothing compares to the Nothing compares. Oh, nothing compares to the pro. Nothing compares. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you. [Music]

[Music] You're worthy of it all. You are worthy of it all. For from you are all things and to you are all things. Oh, you deserve the glory worldy. Cuz you are worthy of it all. You are worthy of it all, Jesus.

For from you are all things and to you are all things. Oh, you deserve the glory. You are worthy. You are worthy of it all. Jesus, you are worthy of it all. [Music] For from you are all things and to you are all things. Oh, you deserve the glory. Cuz you are worthy of it all.

Cuz you are worthy of it all. Jesus for from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve glory. Day and night, night and day. So day and night, night and day. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Heat. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] So [Applause] [Music] my day you [Music] [Applause] [Music]

He always [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] For from you are all things and to you are all for you are all things. And to you are all things. Oh, you deserve the glory.

[Music] You're not sure. [Music] [Music] breakfast. [Music]

Yesterday Hey, okay. She's good. [Music] [Music]

I'm in your pants. [Music] That was the second [Music] Before [Music] I spoke a word, you were singing over me.

You have been so so good to me. Before I took a breath, you breathed your life in me. [Music] You have been so so kind to me. Oh, the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down. Find leaves and I deny I couldn't burn it. I don't deserve it.

Still you give yourself away. How the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. [Music] When I was your foe, still your love fought for me.

You have been so so good to me [Music] when I felt no worth. You paid it all for me. [Music] You have been so so kind to me. The overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down. Find still found leaves and I deny. If I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it. Still you give yourself away.

Oh, the overwhelming neverending reckless love. Yeah. [Music] Oh, we're thankful for you. Oh, we're thankful. Oh, we're thankful. Oh, thankful. [Music] Oh, the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down. Fight till I leaves the night.

And I couldn't earn it. I don't deserve it. You give yourself away. The overwhelming neverending witness of God. No shadow you won't light up. Mountain you won't climb up. Coming after me. No wall you won't kick down. You won't tear down. Coming after me. There's no shadow you won't light up. You won't climb.

There's no wall you won't kick down. Lie you won't tear down. [Music] There's no shadow you won't light up. Mountain you won't climb up. Coming after me. There's no wall you won't kick down. Lie you won't tear down. Coming after me. There's no shadow you won't light up. Mountain you won't climb up. Coming after me. There's no wall you walking down. You won't turn down. Coming after me.

All the overwhelming neverending reckless love of God. Oh, it chases me down. Find still the 99 and I couldn't earn it. I don't deserve it. Still you give yourself away. Hold the overwhelming neverending reckless love. [Music]

[Music] you. Oh, we love your love. Oh, we love your presence. Thank you. Oh, how we love you. How we love you, Lord. [Music] [Applause] [Music] We love you, Lord. We love you, Lord.

[Music] He loves us. Oh, how he loves us. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. He loves us. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. [Music] He's jealous for me.

Loves like a hurricane. I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy. [Music] When all of the sun, I am unaware of these afflictions. Eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me. Oh, how he loves us. Oh, how he loves us.

How he loves us all. Sing oh. Oh, how he loves us so. Oh, how he loves us. How he loves us all. He loves. [Music] He loves us. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves us. Oh, how he loves. Oh, he loves. He loves us. Oh, how he loves us.

Oh, how he loves us. Oh, how he loves. We are his portion and we are his portion and he is our prize. Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes. If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. So heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about singing. We are his portion.

So we are his portion and he is our prize. Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes. If grace is an ocean we're all sinking. And so heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss. And my heart turns finally inside of my chest. I don't have time to make my regrets when I think about the way he loves us. Oh, how he loves.

Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. [Music] Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. He loves. He loves. He loves. He loves Oh, with his whole heart. He loves you. Oh, he's not holding anything back from you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.

[Music] He loves us. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. [Music] He loves. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he loves. Oh, how he [Music] I wasn't made to be tended in a grave. I was caught by me. Born in a raised back to life again.

I was made for more. Why would I make a bed in my shame when a fountain of grace is running my way? I know I am yours. I was made for more. I wasn't made to be tend in a grave. I was called by name. Born and raised back to life again. I was made for more.

So why would I make a bed in my shame when a fountain of grace is running my way? I know I am yours. We were made for more. I know who I am cuz I know who you are. [Music] The cross of salvation was only the start. Now I am chosen. [Music] I'm free and forgiven.

I have a future and it's worth the living. I wasn't made to be tended in a grave. I was called by name. Born and raised back to life again. I was made for more. [Music] So why would I make a bed in my shame when a fountain of grace is running my way? I know I am yours. I was made for more.

[Music] You called out my name. So I'll sing out your praise. H you bury my so I'm not going back. Hallelujah. You call out my name so I'll sing out your praise. Hallelujah. You burying my past, so I'm not going back. [Applause] I wasn't made to be tend in a grave. I was called by name. Born and raised back to life again.

I was made for more. [Music] So why would I make a bed in my shame when a fountain of grace is running my way? I know I am yours. I was made for more. [Music] I wasn't made to be tended a grave. I was called by name. Born and raised back to life again. I was made for more. [Music]