Building on The Basics

So it's only too fantastic if the god of the Bible does not exist. But if he does exist, it's quite rational to assume that he can can do that. And I I understand. I I mean, I might even have problem believing it myself except for one critically important piece of information, the empty tomb, that that great big hole in the ground. The empty tomb is proof positive that we will be changed. Every one of us that know Jesus Christ as our personal savior. We will be changed as a result of the the the proof positive the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [01:06:32] (49 seconds)  #ResurrectionProof

It's understandable, but it wasn't commendable. It wasn't admirable because it wasn't Christlike. It wasn't Christlike. All I did was raise my blood pressure and lower my my witness to my team and maybe to others around me if they could understand me. I I probably helped to elevate that whole ugly American stereotype that that people have all over the world because, just because I let this thing get under my skin instead of instead of just stopping and saying, Clay, you're a child of God in Guangzhou or Timbuktu or anywhere else. [00:52:43] (54 seconds)  #ChristlikeWitness

The the the plumber didn't show up when he was supposed to show up. Your boss, you thought he's getting a raise. He cut your pay. You you this or that or right? And in those moments, we've got to let gratitude direct our attitude because that's what honors Christ. Attitude. Doctor Steve Brown, who used to be on my staff in North Carolina, he used to put it this way. He said, god saved me, and I ain't got over it yet. That that's that's the way you approach this. It's appreciation for who we are because of him. [00:54:43] (43 seconds)  #SavedAndGrateful

And the next flight to JFK I don't remember. Left sometime the next day. Sometime the next day. Yeah. and there we are. Right? We're we're we're we're just we're stuck in the airport, and I don't wanna be in the airport. I wanna be I wanna be home. Change your altitude. That's what I need to do. But I didn't. You know you you you you know in that moment, you'll find it hard to believe about your pastor, but gratitude was not shaping my attitude in that moment. [00:50:26] (40 seconds)  #ChooseGratitude

last part of the verse, by the way, is just is just reminding us that the world, those outside of relationship with Jesus Christ, when they look at your life, they don't understand. They don't get it. They they don't understand why you would you would live for him and live to serve him and and learn learn to give for him and learn to and and desire to to go for him. They they they don't get that. They don't understand why you would choose a life that is oftentimes difficult, most times sacrificial, and should be all the time focused on and desiring to glorify God in our life. They don't they don't get it. [00:44:47] (42 seconds)  #TheyDontGetIt

And John has made it clear that if if that process is not going on in my life, if if there's no desire to to mature in Christ and grow in Christ and become more like Christ and treat people like Christ and to you know, all those things that are that are part of being a follower of Jesus, if that is not evident, if there's no desire in my life for those things, then John has been been building this case throughout his letters that that is evidence that that person doesn't really know Christ no matter what they may say. [01:00:04] (29 seconds)  #FruitOfFaith

Clay, you belong to the family of God in The United States or in China. Clay, you've been adopted. You've been redeemed. You've been born again. You've been purchased and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ, and that makes you part of the family of God. That makes you a child of God no matter where you are, no matter what's going on. [00:53:37] (18 seconds)  #AdoptedChildOfGod

And the reality is, ladies and gentlemen, all of our all of us are a work in progress. The reality is I am a construction zone, And so are you if you know Christ as your savior, and we will be a construction zone from now until Jesus comes back. [01:01:52] (22 seconds)  #WorkInProgressInChrist