The Christian Walk

2008-May-28 17:21

Note: You can download the free MP3 audio of this message here: New Attitude | Liveblog

CJ INTRO

• We've asked CJ to remind you about the Love of the Father
• We have spent 3 days studying God's Word.
• Right now I want each of us to just fix our gaze on the father.
• Spend 55 minutes just thinking about God's love for us.
• I've been sitting under CJ's teaching for 17 years.
• I love
• I know my Bible so much better now because of his preaching of the Word
• I feel that I enter into his relationship with Jesus by the Spirit.
• Frankly, it's infectious. It creates in me more of a hunger: "Man, I want to know the Lord like this man does"
• It is so contagious.

CJ MAHANEY:

• :: laughs at sputtering microphone ::
• :: CJ cautiously walks ::
• :: Josh Brings Microphone ::
• :: CJ Laughs ::
• :: LAUGHS AS SOUND MAN PULLS ON MICROPHONE AND JOSH TELLS CJ TO KEEP TALKING :) :) :) ::
• So rarely does anything go wrong here, and yet when you think of all that's involved, all of the specifics, wires, buttons, individuals who arrived early and will stay late.
• :: LOUD CLAPPING FOR all those involved ::
• 3 Books to recommend to you that I  think will serve you
• Written excerpt of what you heard last night
• Battling Unbelief
• John Piper like you must talk to himself.
• And preach the gospel to himself.
• I sat last night and received hope.
• Checkbook of the bank of faith - Charles Spurgen
• Identified and isolates particular promise.
• Intro: "The sight of the promises themselves is encouraging to the eyes of faith"
• ...

• :: stops early applause for Josh and Eric ::
• Countless hours have been devoted to you by these men
• These are busy men. Men with serious responsibilities.
• And yet they agree to take on a conference of this massive magnitude.
• Why?
• Here's why: They care.
• They love the Saviour and they care about you.
• Their labor (and it is a labor) is a labor of joy.
• This conference is a gift from them to us.
• Thank you Josh, Thank you Eric.
• Thank you for caring about everyone present
• Thank you for doing all this.
  
• :: VERY LOUD STANDING OVATION ::
  

MESSAGE BEGIN:

• Galatians 4:1-7
• Heir is under managers and guardians.
• But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, .... to redeem those under the lay so we might receive adoption as sons. God has sent His Spirit in our hearts crying "ABBA FATHER!" So then you are no longer Sons, but heirs through God.
  
• God is eager, not reluctant, not hesitant, to reveal himself to each one present.
• Understanding the doctrine of ...
• Understanding Grace.
• :: Amazing humble prayer (See newattitude.org for audio)
  

• The following is a moving story of a man that CJ know's who adopted 2 boys from a Russian Orphanage.
• We almost vomited when we say the boys.
• They were laying in the dark in cribs in their own waste
• I said: "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you"
• Finally we returned after getting paperwork done
• The transition was much harder then we thought.
• We walked out of the orphanage, into the sun to the terror of the two boys.
• They had never seen the light or felt the breeze
  
• They were shaking and reaching back to the orphanage in the distance.
• All they know was the orphanage...It was squalid...It was their normal.
• They are now full Americanized (maybe too much) able to recognize the sound of the microwave ding from 40 yards? away.
• I still remember those little hands, and I see myself there.
• As I think about the 27 years I've had the privilige to serve at.
• Over those 27 years, few experiences filled me with as much joy as stories of adoption!
• Parents have traveled to dangerous places to adopt...
• Each time they've introduced me to their newly adopted children, I've felt God's pleasure.
• Each time I was reminded of God's love for me.
• So I wasn't surprised when I came across the following words from the classic Knowing God by JI Packer
• A Christian is one who [has God as father]
• The Truth of our adoption gives ups the deepest insights into the greatness of God's love.
• That forms my hope this morning.
• Here is my hope.
• I've already communicated that hope through my prayer.
• It is my hope this morning that everyone present who has turned from their sins...
• That this morning you become convinced OF GOD'S PERSONAL, PARTICULAR, and PASSIONATE LOVE FOR *YOU*.
• That's my hope.
• That's my prayer.
• I've interacted with too many genuince Christians who aren't certain of God's love for them.
• They are suspicious of God.
• Their awareness of Sin causes them to wonder if GOD REALLY DOES LOVE THEM.
• They think of God as merely tolorating them.
• Often frustrating them, eager to punish them.
• Perhaps this morning you are one of them.
• If so I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FORMS A DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
• I hope this morning you will be convinced of God's adopting Grace.
• For non-Christians
• I pray you will be convinced of your sins...turn from your sins..flee wrath. Flee to the Cross. I pray you will ... adopting Grace.
• POINT 1:
• The preparation for adoption (we're going to move at warp speed!!)
• ........... :: warp speed ensues ::
• .........
• Gal 4:
• Legalism had bewitched the Galatians.
• They were in process of abandoning the gospel of Grace ...
• For these Christians, the work of Jesus on the cross was no longer sufficient
• This was a distortion of the Law.
• Law was never meant to save from sin
• It was mean to reveal sin.
• :: more warp speed ::
• Gal 3:19
• Why then the Law?
• v. 23 Before faith came we were held captive under the law.
• The law was our guardian until Christ came.
• In order that they might be justified by faith.
• 
  
• Israel under the law [didn't?] have access to their experience (sort of like slave)
• Recipients were Gentiles not law, they were ignorant of law.
• 4:8 When you did not know the law, you were enslaved to those who were by nature not gods.
• By abandoning the gospel and subjecting themselves to the law, the Gentiles were returning to their pre-saved state.
  
• LEGALISM IS SLAVERY!
• Those who are legalists.... seeking to achieve acceptance.
• They are enslaved just like pagans who are serving false Gods.
  
• The law was never meant to be relied upon as a means of salvation.

POINT 2: The basis of adoption

• v.4
• In these words we encounter the turning point in History and the most important point in History.
• Apart from these saving events that these words describe, we would have no saving ....salvation.
• God has provided to us the Saviour that we need.
• Please go to newattitude.org/liveblog and listen to CJ's PASSION!
• But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son!
• While we were enslaved by sin
• It was impossible for us to free ourselves from this enslavement.
• God sent forth his Son, from heaven to earth.
• Brothers and sisters, BEHOLD THE LOVE OF GOD REVEALED in sending forth His Son.
• Mr. Spurgeon's reflections on this verse
• Observe, ... that the Lord .... [wow, I didn't know advent meant coming]... (listen online for this GREAT quote and to hear CJ read it!)
• God sent forth His Son for those enslaved by their sin.
• The Son of God sent forth by the father, eventually to be crushed under the weight of the fathers wrath against our sin.
• This....
• This Saviour was uniquely qualified to be our substitute
• In order to be our Saviour he must be like us.
• Born of Woman
• He must also be different
• A perfectly righteous man.
• He was truly God and fully man.
• The mediator between God and Man.
• The PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THIS DEATH:
• We read: TO REDEEM
• God Sent forth His Son to redeem those from the law and held captive to sin.
• Before God adopted.
• We [weren't?] orphans
  
• We weren't appealing
• We were enslaved to sin.
• We deserved the curse of the law, the wrath of God.
• We were held captive by sin and it was humanly impossible for us to get free.
• We needed someone to redeem us.
• A price needed to be paid for us because of our sin
• ...
• One day we'll even be freed from the presence of sin.
• God Sent forth His son to redeem!!!!!
• ...
• To free them from His righteous and furious wrath.
• God sent forth His son to redeem (v.5) those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• Send forth His son with
• Atoning purpose
  
• Adopting purpose
• ...
• If the sermon ended right there, the content of this sermon would be sufficiently astounding.
• No one should be disappointed when informed that God sent forth his substitute to pay our penalty for our sin.
• No one should be disappointed if I said it's over and invited band back up.
• BUT THE SENTENCE DOESN'T STOP THERE!!!!!!
• IT KEEPS GOING AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING AS WELL!
• Get read for where this is going to take us.
• God's perpose did not conclude with redeption
• It culminated with adoption.
• He made slaves into sons with the death of His son.
• JI PACKER was right.
• Here encounter the ... of ... (see mp3 on newattitude.org )
• We are encountering the DEEPEST INSIGHT INTO THE GREATNESS OF GOD'S LOVe
• So there is not misunderstanding.
• We've taught more on justification than adoption.
• I don't think we should teach less on the doctrine of justification.
• I just think we should teach more on adoption.
• doctrine of justification must always remain primary
• adoption depends justification.
• Grasping justification allows you grasp adoption.
• WE WILL NOT SPEAK OF THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD APART FROM THE CROSS AND ...
• Justification and Adoption ARE NOT THE SAME!
• Understanding difference is critical.
• PACKER QUOTE: "That justification -- by which we mean God's forgiveness of the past together with his ... We all stand by nature under God's judgment.....we have no peace in ourselves because we have no peace with our Maker....we need forgiveness of our sins, and assurance of restored relationship more than we need anything ELSE IN THIS WORLD.................To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the father is greater.... (see mp3)"
• ...... (listen to the MP3! POWERFUL!)
  

• What a great relief to know this day that we are right with God the judge, BUT to be loved and cared for by God the father is greater!
• There's a great *and* and greater!??!?
• ...
• Now he wants to draw your attention to the greater.
• It's possible to be affected by the great, and not experience the greater.
• Do the words closeness, affection, and generosity ,describe YOUR relationship with God (not what you subjectively feel in your heart towards God)
• Do you perceive God as full of affection FOR YOU?
• Desiring to be close with you?
• Do you?
• If not, perhaps you are more aware of your sin than the adopting grace of God.
• Perhaps you're aware more of the .....
• I recommend you study the Doctrine of Adoption until you are assured of your ... with God.
• When I'm approached by someone not certain of God's love...
• I want to create a specilized diet...draw them towards adopting grace. Gal 4:1-7
• I want to say: Study these verses, remain close to THESE verses. Cry out for illumination.
• By the grace of God...you'll experience the closeness, affection, generosity of God.
  
• 3 recommendations
• Knowing God by JI Packer
• Turn immedietely to chapter 19
• buy the book if you don't have it.
• He'll spent a whole chapter explaning
• Children of the Living God
• Adopted into God's family by Treaver Burk.
• YOU CAN ANTICIPATE, EXPERIENCING, FEELING,
• Theologically informed feeling
• Feeling the affection of God himself for YOU!
• YOU will experience his closeness
• His affection
• you'll become freshly aware...
• Those who are not receiving and enjoying adopting grace, this saddens the father.
• John Owen wrote the following:
• "The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the father, the greatest unkindess you can do to Him is not to believe that He loves you"
• It's not scadelous sin (not minimizing sin)
• I think Owen is right.
• Why would this be the greatest sorrow?
• Here's why:
• He sent for this Son and CRUSHED His son .... for our Sin ... so He might liberate us from ... (listen to mp3 (see link above), much better than reading these incomplete notes)
• When He cried the garden.
• All my Son heard was silence, there was no alternative
• :: whispers :: This Saviour suspended....the effect of His sacrifice...the physical pain wasn't the primary agonoy, it was hour after of hour of WRATH. No WONDER He cried out. MY GOD, MY GOD, WHERE ARE YOU? Why is this taking place?
• That's what the father did to His Son, in order to redeem sinners like you.
• And not just redeem you, but adopt you.
• So He could pour out His personal....
• So that He could be generous to you.
• So when we don't believe he loves us. It is the greatest sorrow and burden we can lay upon the father....
• Here's what I recommend:
• LET'S STOP DOING IT.
• Let's by the grace of God, believe him
• and through beleiving him, please him
• Let's stop listening to ourselves and instead talk truth to ourselves and say:
• He sent forth His Son to redeem and adopt.
• :: searches for watch (Josh throws one: )
• Lastly, the experience of adoption:
• First God sends His Son so that we might have status.
• Sends His Spirit so we might experience.
• Accomplished by Son.
• Applied by Spirit
• :: warp speed ::
• ...
• There is a new cry in the heart of the believer: "Abba Father!"
• This cry assures us of God's love for us.
• This cry is a means of assuring us of God's love for us.
• Mr. Spurgeon ONE MORE TIME :)
• "I once knew of a good woamn who was a subject of many doubts, .... she knew she loved Christ but she didn't know if He loved her.......The heart is so corrupt, naturally, that love to God would never Get .....WOW AMAZING QUOTE! TO DO: GET THE REST! GOOGLE It.... You can be assured of God's love if You Love God!"
• It did not originate with you.
• God put it there
• [LISTEN TO CJ! Much better than these notes! He's passionate!!!!]
• You wouldn't be singing here had it not been for the Grace of God.
• If you're disappointed every time worship ends....
• That's proof positive..evidence of God's love for you.
• That cry:
• God put it there.
• As you cry God the father, it should be a means of God [showing you His love]
• It's possible to grow less aware of this cry.
• Paul is writing to those who have grown less aware.
• The Galations are no ...
• Many voices seek to turn our attention away from adopting grace
• Legalism
• indwelling sin
• distracting voices so that we might not experiece the assurance of this.
• So we can't be aware of the adoption of God.
• Not hearing the right voice? Getting distracted: Let me recommend that you contemplate these verses about adopting grace. You will experience God's affection, ... generosity.
• v.7
• Not the chance from plural in v.6 to singular in v.7
• Becomes very personal
• Notice "So You"
• Built upon all previous argument
• "So You" is God making eye contact with You
• "SO Eric"
• "So Josh"
• "So Catherine"
• You are no longer slaves, you are sons, you are my daughter.
• Son
• It's like..
• Just before we conclude, God wants to make eye contact with everyone here.
• :: Points all around "YOU!" "YOU!" ::
• You are no longer slaves, YOU ARE SONS!
• And if a son, then an heir.
• :: expresses amazement ::
• An hear, yes!
• Great
• Greater
• Greatest!
• You're an heir
• In the ancient a mans property was restricted to his sons, he couldn't transfer property to his daughters.
• If necessary, he would adopt an heir.
• God's adoption of you and me, wasn't necessary, He already has a Son, His only begotton Son.
• He didn't need an heir, He already had a heir.
• ... crushes His Son so He might redeem those enslaved to Sin.
• Make them heirs in order to reveal His love, in order to convince you of His love for you.
• "So, you are no longer slaves, you are heirs..."
• Then Paul turns our attention away from ourselves and back to God.
• This was only because of and though God.
• Therefore, ALL GLORY TO GOD.
• Let's pray....
  

Comments? Questions? What do you think?

Sorry, new comments have been disabled.