1 Corinthians: Delightfully Different (5/24/26)

Let's just invite His presence into this place, into our hearts, as we declare, we just want a move of our God this morning. So in faith and in confidence, let's sing this out, all together. Come on, we've come for a move, God. We've come for a move of God. We've come for a move of God. We've come for the Holy One. All we want, all we hunger for is You. And we've come with expected hearts, undying, knowing who You are. All we long for, what only You can do. So Holy Spirit, come light a fire on the altar. Fresh we'll blow it through. We're gonna stay here till we encounter You. Make us an offering, make us an upper roof. We're gonna stay here till we encounter You. Till we encounter You. Make us desperate, tear our idols down. We're repentant, this is still Your house. And You meant it when You said You'd pour Your Spirit out. So we sing Holy Spirit, come light a fire on the altar. Fresh we'll blow it through. We're gonna stay here till we encounter You. Make us an offering, make us an upper roof. We're gonna stay here till we encounter You. Till we encounter You. Till we encounter You. Come on, make that prayer this morning.

We need a move of God. We need a move of God. We need a move of God, yeah. We need a move of God and we're hungry. We're desperate, Lord open the heaven. We need a move of God in this city. We need a move of God in this church. We need a move of God and we're hungry. We're desperate, Lord open the heaven. We need a move of God in our families. We need a move of God in our hearts. We need a move of God and we're hungry. We're desperate, Lord open the heaven. Fire on the altar, fresh we're blowing through. We're gonna stay here till we encounter You. Make us an offering, make us an upper roof. We're gonna stay here till we encounter You. Fresh we're blowing through. We're gonna stay here. ♪ Till we encounter You ♪ ♪ Make us an offing, make us an upper room ♪ ♪ We're gonna stay here till we encounter You ♪ ♪ We need a move of God ♪ ♪ We need a move of God, yeah ♪ ♪ We need a move of God ♪ ♪ We're hungry, we're desperate, Lord, oh, we're not having it ♪ Amen, amen. Hey, good morning, church family. I think I'm all on this end. Uh-huh.

I can't say this loud enough for everybody. Test one, two. We'll grab the other one, or? Good morning. Hey, we are so grateful that you are here, and we already have kicked off an opportunity just to worship Him and just to cry out that, hey, we are desperate for a move, right? We need God. Hey, we are so grateful. We say this often, and we mean it, that if you are a first-time guest here at Crossgates, that to us, you are the most important person in the room. And we are glad that not only are you here, but we believe that God has led you here to come and worship with us. And what we'd love for you to do, if you see on the seat back in front of you, is a Connect card, and there's an opportunity to fill out some information. That way, we can just help you out in any way, only as much as you want, to just find out, hey, what is that next step? What is that opportunity here to worship with us as a Crossgates family? And so we just wanna help out in just whatever God has called us to do. On the other side of that Connect card, you see Connect with God, and that's an opportunity not just for our first-time guests,

but for anybody to fill out a prayer need in your life. And let me tell you, we make a promise, and we keep it, on Tuesday mornings, to pray as a staff, to have those cards, and just come alongside you spiritually, and lifting those things up to God, our Father, who does care and does hear those prayers. And so when we exit here after the service, there'll be some people with some red buckets. We just invite you to take those cards, and you can put it in there, so that way we can get those. And hey, for those who are first fruit givers, we just say thank you. Thank you so much for your giving and your obedience, for allowing us to do so many, so many kingdom things here at Cross Gates. And of course, when you walked up, you saw a lot of fruit of that today, as we just get ready for Vacation Bible School. You see behind me, there's a little hint to it, that yes, he's coming, and he's coming soon. And so is VBS, one before the other. I don't know which one. But we do want to be ready for both, okay? So hey, look, Vacation Bible School is coming up. It'll be June 1st to the 4th. And so with our encouragement, on behalf of just our children's team, our encouragement is that if you have a completed kindergarten through sixth grader,

to register them as soon as possible, because we have a bunch of kids that will come, and they have not registered, and so we want to make sure we have at least as many as possible for our Cross Gates kids, that way a bunch of community children can come and just be ready to be a part of an incredible week as well. So you can do that, obviously, on the Cross Gates app or online. So hey, today, actually I want to invite you to do something real quick. I should have done this at the very beginning. I want to just ask you to take a seat for just a moment. I want to do something a little different. Today is obviously, I know tomorrow is Memorial Day, and it's just part of really just an entire weekend of something that we want to set aside and honor so well, to be so grateful for. It's an important day in our nation, and if you notice something about Memorial Day versus Veterans Day or July 4th, is that you don't typically hear the word happy that precedes it in a greeting or anything, right? It's because it's something different. It is something, that doesn't mean we're not grateful. It doesn't mean that we're not, we're not want to honor that rightfully, but there's just something different about this holiday, if you will.

I know for me personally, and for many others in this room, it was an honor to serve, but here's the truth, it was a blessing to come home. And many, many people across our nation did not have that opportunity. So here we are on Memorial Day weekend, where we want to make sure that we do this rightfully as we just set aside this time. And so I want to just ask this for those who are in the room, if you have been affected by that, if you have a loved one that you lost as they fought and served in our nation overseas, will you just do us a big favor, and will you just stand up? We want to make sure that we just honor you rightfully. Thank you so much. Hey church, let's honor them. Let's honor them. Let's honor them. Let's honor them. Let's honor them. Let's honor them. I know I should have said, Still standing, but hey, let's all stand up together as we just continue in worship, and I want to pray for us Lord, we thank you for this morning We thank you Lord for an opportunity To never never take our eyes off of you That no holiday no day is bigger than you we get to worship We get to serve your kingdom Lord that you're on a throne

That in the midst of these things that we honor especially one like this week, and we're just reminded of a sacrifice We're reminded of those who willingly gave so that way we can experience freedom for those in our nation Lord but obviously always Going further and remembering what Christ has done a sacrifice that brings an ultimate eternal freedom So father I do pray even just in jest earlier Lord that that we're ready for that Lord that we're ready to meet you because you Have done something for our sins Lord that give us absolute freedom so that way we can spend eternity with you And that's why we can worship no matter what's going on in our life No matter what kind of pain and anguish we've ever experienced Lord that we can worship And we can lift your name up and so I'll follow I pray that you just continue to move this morning Continue to let us as individuals say whatever it is in our life Lord we need to move we all need to move And we need it be from you So father I just pray God that you're the center of attention that we just continue to worship your name this morning Jesus name I pray amen We're creation Suddenly articulate With a thousand tongues to lift one cry then from North to South and East To West we'd hear Christ be magnified For the whole Echoing is imminent His name would burst from sea sky Rivers to the We hear cries be Christ be magnified Let his praise rise

Christ be magnified Me Christ be magnified the altar Christ be magnified When every creature finds its inmost melody Oh We'll see Christ be magnified Christ be magnified Let his praise rise Christ be magnified Christ be magnified the altar Christ be magnified I Since wrong and worship you if it puts me in the fire Now rejoice cuz you're there, too. I Won't be formed by feelings. I hope that's to what is true if the cross brings transformation Divide with you Cuz death is just a doorway Resurrection If I join you in your sufferings Then I'll join you when you rise And when you return in glory With all the angels and the saints My heart will still be singing My song will be the same Oh, Christ be magnified Let His praise arise Christ be magnified in me Oh, Christ be magnified The altar of my life Christ be magnified in me

Oh, Christ be magnified Let His praise arise Christ be magnified in me Oh, Christ be magnified The altar of my life Christ be magnified in me I am an instrument of exultation I was born to lift Your name above all names You hear the melody 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 one, only You, Jesus Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one, only You, Jesus You are the infinite God of the ages Yet You chose to make my heart Your dwelling place You've healed my brokenness Show me Your glory So I have songs of thanks, not even angels sing 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, only You, 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, only You, Jesus You are worthy God Lamb of God, anointed One Who was and is and is to come Seated on the throne above We sing, Holy, Holy Righteous One who shed His blood

To prove to us the Father's love Jesus Christ be lifted up Holy, Holy Lamb of God, anointed One Who was and is and is to come Seated on the throne above Holy, Holy Righteous One who shed His blood To prove to us the Father's love Jesus Christ be lifted up 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, only you Jesus There is no one, only you Jesus There is no one, only you 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, only you Jesus There is no one, only you Jesus There is no one, only you Jesus So Father, we come by the power of your spirit and we embrace your presence right now and we say to you, Jesus the Christ, you are worthy You are worthy of all worship, all adoration, all attention

all our effort in light of your spirit's empowerment You're worthy to be rightly glorified and made much of, to be lived for You're worthy of course correction, Lord, in our own lives Lord, you're worthy of our steps, rightly declaring the nature and the right response of humanity to a God that came after us and saved us and has set us free You are worthy You're worthy of our everything You're worthy of all things, Lord and ultimately all things are heading straight toward you So we bless you this morning We exalt you, Lord You say to us that our worship is ministry to you, God So we minister to you this morning and say, you're worthy You're worthy I ask now, Lord, for more than merely just the service to get through Would you capture us with your word, Lord, in such a way that it reveals to us a kingdom that has no end That you might rightly rule and reign in every area of our life I pray, Lord, today that your presence would be inescapable Where could we go to get away from you? You're here, right now, speak to us, we pray In Jesus' name, amen Let's give him praise one time, come on now Amen Man, y'all sound great by the way, way to worship him If you need some encouragement, you sound good, okay? I'm glad that you're here, man Memorial Day weekend If you got a Bible, I do want to encourage you to turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 6 as we continue our journey

Here's a few things that I want to encourage you One, as Brad rightly said, we don't want to just move past this moment and not remember those that gave their literal lives so that we might have the freedom that we have in this room right now to worship Jesus Christ So for the families that that affects, man, thank you so much for what it cost you so that we could do this right here And I would say to echo what he also said You see in all the trappings around this house right now we are getting ready for VBS And I want to encourage everybody to pray toward that Pray toward the week that is to come ahead of us here in a couple weeks But also sign up, it really helps us prepare Serve if you get a chance, but then get the word out Man, let your neighbors know, let families know that there's an opportunity for their kids to come and have a great experience And what we know is we're going to teach Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in such a way that it might help a lot, a lot of people Encouragement as we start this season I'm coming off of vacation, so I'm so excited to be here Had great moments with my family I know the summertime avails itself for some opportunities to get away But here's my encouragement, and I have to remind myself Don't waste your summer spiritually Don't wake up to yourself in the fall where you are in your relationship with God. So if you have moments that you take vacations, get away, you're not in the area, all for that, that's awesome. Make sure you're making more time for God, though. Man, if you're away from here,

we do have online that you can watch with us, but maybe you go somewhere, you're in some other city, find a local church there that preaches Jesus, man, and go and make more time for God. Don't check out spiritually this summer. Looking at the room, and I'll just say to you, I'm proud of you for being here. I know that you could've done many other things, but we're here to meet with Him. Now, I do wanna say, and I don't want us to miss this, I wanna say to all the men and women in correctional facilities all around the nation, we're honored to open God's Word with you this morning. Can we let them know that we're glad to be with them? Way too cool, way too cool. Now, the couple of chapters that we're sovereignly in, according to God's Word and His timetable, helps us get a balanced diet biblically, meaning it's not necessarily the chapters that you would lean toward, that Brother David preached a word last week, and chapter five of 1 Corinthians will be in chapter six today, and here's the truth about God's Word, and I just wanna say this on behalf of God in light of a letter that he wanted to make sure the church in Corinth got, that 1 Corinthians gets a really bad rap. What God knew in that moment is His great love for the church in Corinth that needed some course correction

as you heard last week, that the church needed to know how to be a better friend to people that were struggling with brokenness and bondage, and how do you lean into this human experience in such a way by the power of the Spirit to help people not just find freedom, but live free? And we're gonna continue that conversation this morning. It's the kind of thing, listen to me, it's the kind of things that you need spiritually that you don't know you need until you're there, that you don't know that you need until the opportunities come for you to see this world well. Paul turned the page in this letter to the church in Corinth, and he starts addressing sin specifically, how they should respond to it, the hindrance that it is to their witness and their gospel effectiveness. Paul realizes something that we need to understand, that in our fight for personal holiness is also the protection of our witness to this world, is also, listen to me, at stake the reputation of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and what Paul's doing, empowered by the Holy Spirit in this moment, is saying, listen, this war against our flesh matters, and we need to know how to war well, and when we find ourselves in situations where someone's tripped and stumbled,

how do we help them get back on course? So that's where we pick up today in chapter six of 1 Corinthians. Reading from the New Living Translation, because I like the everyday language, it helps us consume these truths. It says, when one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers? Don't you realize that someday, we believers will judge the world? Pretty crazy thought, right? And since you're gonna judge the world, can't you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don't you realize, you need to get this now, this is awesome, don't you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. Now, let me say a few things. Paul isn't saying that there is no place for legal constructs in society, he's not saying that. He's not saying that there's never a need for appointed officials to help address specific matters. So Paul, inspired by the Spirit, he's not throwing shade at judges or lawyers or the legal process per se. As a nation of laws, which we're grateful for, right? Right?

Yeah. So that things might be rightly judged in light of what is right, just, and fair. What Paul is doing in this moment is lifting the eyes of the believers in Corinth to a higher court. That believers should be, followers of Jesus Christ should be different in their dealings specifically with one another than any other group of people on planet Earth. Meaning that when two professing followers of Jesus Christ in the same church, no less, find themselves in a sharp dispute and that they would. To go to a secular court to decide that matter is blowing Paul's mind, and it is breaking God's heart. What Paul is saying is this, and we gotta slow down and get it. What Paul is saying, if anyone, anywhere, should know how to discern what is right, it should be God's people. If anyone, anywhere, should know how to discern what is right, what is just, what is fair, what is true, it should be God's people. Then he gives us the context. Think about this. Since one day, we'll get to be a part of God's final judgment. Pretty wild thought, by the way, right? That God lets those that have followed Christ

be a part of the final judgment, judging even the actions of angels, no less. If we'll do that, what Paul is saying now, let me give you a perspective, higher court. Let me help you understand your true identity. If we'll one day do that there, surely we can do it a little bit better here. If that's ultimate reality, shouldn't that help us in our present situation? What Paul is essentially doing is reminding them, and listen to me, he's reminding us of our primary identity in citizenship. Our primary, our unending identity in citizenship. He's saying, don't you realize that you are a part of a kingdom? Don't you realize that you're a child of a king, and that these believers that are embroiled in some legal dispute, most likely two dudes, are both first and foremost, in right perspective, if they'd back up a second, are first and foremost, they're sons of God most high. They're children of a king, meaning they're brothers in God's family, and what Paul is doing in this letter is slowing down, and he's looking into the eyes of the church. In Corinth, he's looking into the eyes of the church at Crossgates, and he's saying, with God, there's always a better way. Yeah, look at me. With God, there's always a better way,

but the only way you understand that is you get a better vantage point. You have to first go upward before you look outward. You gotta first go vertical before you look horizontal, which I would encourage us, here's a principle. Believers should always take the time to remember who they are, and how they should respond. So when you find yourself in dispute, when you find yourself frustrated, anybody ever been frustrated with anybody? Come on, don't look at them right now, all right? If you ever found yourself in a sharp disagreement, you ever found yourself where you're listening, you find yourself on the other side of some situation, some decision, some dispute. Like what Paul's not saying is, don't fake it till you make it. What Paul's not saying is there's not some things that need to be discerned. What Paul's not saying is there's not certain things that we need to consider. What Paul's not saying is that everything should just come easy. What Paul is saying is, but there's a better process. That the people of God should always go vertical first. The people of God always first rightly identify with Christ as their king. And then look to other believers specifically as a part of God's family. Hey, we're family.

And we should learn, listen to me, and our family's got dysfunction. Can I get a witness? Right? Let's say everybody's got crazy cousins, right? If you don't have one, you are that crazy cousin. You're like, I don't think that's us. You it. That's not in my notes, it's free. But how do we handle when life happens? How do we handle when hard situations, disputes, confrontation come? Listen, we go here first. We identify with him personally as God's people. And then, listen to me, and before we villainize someone, specifically if they're a follower of Jesus Christ, we remember we're family. So how do we rightly handle a moment of confrontation, conflict? And I'm listening to me, and there's situations happening in the room right now. Right now. If not, you will see these situations in your lifetime. You'll see these moments that occur and what God is trying to do is, hey, consider how you walk into these things. Verse four, if you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges? who are not respected by the church. I'm gonna give you some context for that in a second.

I'm saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues, but instead one believer sues another right in front of unbelievers? This is Paul, and listen to me, he's having his moment. Have you lost your ever-loving mind? And let me tell you why he's so dogmatic about it in this moment, because you gotta understand the court system's in Corinth, that it was wicked, evil, everybody's on the take. It's all about who had the right money or the right agenda or found the right person, that it wasn't, listen to me, it wasn't a legal process like we know. It was corrupt at its core in every way. And what Paul is saying, listen, you were saved out of this world. Why would you go get the wisdom of this world? You were saved, set apart by Christ, why are you going back into this world to be contaminated, corrupted again by it? To go back specifically to the judicial practices of Corinth that were known for its corruption. This makes no sense unless you're only looking at this from a fleshly mindset. What Paul is revealing to you, the reason why you went there is because of what's in here.

The reason why you went there is because of what's going on in here. And he gives them two reasons why, in these three verses, here's two reasons why this is such a bad idea that we need to think about in our dealings with one another. One, the first reason this is such a bad idea is don't you have someone, church in Corinth, church in Crossgates, don't you have someone, don't you have some ones in your church that could help y'all discern and decide what needs to be done? Don't you have someone in the body of Christ in Corinth? Don't you have a family that can help you think through how this should happen? People that are not coming with bias, but people that are coming with truth. People that are not coming with agendas other than the kingdom of God and the reputation of Christ and the good of humanity. Because what Paul knows is that we have to really believe, guys, really believe to the core that there's no greater gift God could give to us than us. That there's no greater gift you could have in a situation where you need discernment like the fact is that you can go to brothers and sisters in Cross that have God's truth in their hand, come on now, who have the Holy Spirit in their heart, who have the godly counsel of a plurality of leaders to help us discern what needs to be done.

Look at me, the court systems can never trump that. But we gotta, the question is, do we really believe that? Do we believe as the family of God, here now listen to me, in light of disputes, opportunities that we need to discern what to do, obstacles, confrontations that you might find yourself on at odds with another believer, look, that you might need to move toward those in spiritual leadership and say, we don't know what to do here, can you help us discern what God would say? Could you help us discern what God's word would say about this, what God's ways would be in this? Would you come to people that love you enough to tell you the truth? I'm gonna tell you this, listen to me, I need that, you need that, we need that. That's why we even here, man, establish systems and structures in light of God's word, in light of elders and leaders and deacons, spiritual leadership, that we might rightly walk into the future together, because listen to me, if you're living your faith alone, listen to me, if you're living faith alone and Christ will save you, living your faith alone, listen to me, will kill you. That you and I need one another, you're gonna need people to help you discern truth, the truth for your family, the truth for your future, maybe the truth with a business dealing that you don't know quite what to do,

big life stuff and everyday life stuff. And I'm gonna just not preach at you, just talk to you, you ready for a second? And the only reason that they in this moment didn't pursue that first, and the only reason you and I will choose to not pursue that first, first is that they didn't want it. Because what if a spiritual leader or leaders, what if they tell me that I need to let go of something I don't want to let go of? What if they tell me that I need to hold on to something I don't want to hold on to? You got to look at me, your flesh is sinister. I know because I got one too. And what it will try to make me do is to maneuver around those that might tell me the thing I don't want to hear. Anybody else? Y'all feel that, right? Don't look at me wholly, I ain't impressed, right? But you got it in you too. And what Paul is saying to them in this moment is, you've moved around the construct of God. You've moved around the design of God in light of the leaders that you have that could have helped you discern this so that you could try to get your way. And I want to say something to you, listen to me. You can win what you want and lose every time. You can win what you want and lose what God desires. Isn't that scary? Man, come on now, right? Let's talk. That's what Paul's saying to them. You can get what you want guys, but you won't like what you get. The second reason that this grieves Paul so much is one for them, but the second reason why, which I think probably made the hair on the back of Paul's neck stick out, he says, and you're doing all of this in front of unbelievers. I think, listen to me, a godly anger is in Paul in this moment, like going, you are ruining the witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the way that you are interacting with the family of God. Paul said, and listen to me, the way that you're interacting inside of the church is making the watching world go, and listen, if Jesus is king and this is how his kids act, I don't want any part of it. Seen that before, haven't we? And what God's Word is saying, we are and we should be different than any other group of people on planet earth. We

should be willing to die to self for the glory of God, to do what is right, noble, in these moments, instead of giving the enemy ammunition. I'm gonna say something to you, let me tell you one of the hardest things to overcome as a pastor ministering to people is church hurt. I'm dead serious with you. Brother David will come here and testify. Some of the easiest people to reach and see set free is people that were just totally on the fringe, far from God, no religious experience whatsoever, because once they taste and see that Jesus is king, they're like, man, come on. Some of the hardest people to reach is that have all these obstacles, all these experiences with people that testify that they know Jesus Christ, but have ruined, listen to me, the reputation of the kingdom, which Paul is saying is costing us too much in Corinth. Not merely in the church, but in our witness. So here's two principles to learn from this. You're a two principles. One, we should find wisdom within the church and watch over our witness to the world. So when you find yourself in a moment that you need some help, look at me, move toward the design of God laid out in the church. Seek godly counsel. Seek out wisdom. Life group leader here, man, if it moves from that to other staff member there, if it moves from that like even to the point you need elders or somebody to help you discern something, move toward the process and the plan of God. And remember the whole time, what's at stake is not just who wins this argument. It's a reflection of the gospel. More is at stake than we can imagine. Listen to me, and here's the truth, and our children are watching. Our children are watching. And I went to Disney this week with my family. My wife's been planning this for like since Joy was conceived, I believe. She's five and like, she's killed it and her planning toward that. It was a great week. It was, it's over. Uh. It was, I kid, we had a blast. Memory making moments, all those things.

Let me tell you my spiritual epiphany in the midst of it. And the reason why all that worked so well is that they built a kingdom. And we're drawn to a kingdom. We just are. There's something magical about it. There's something about it. And honestly, at its best, it's just a shadow. And one of the things I wanted to just say to us here today, I want to say to us, don't ruin the reputation of the kingdom. Don't grieve what God designed in the kingdom. Find wisdom within the church and watch over your witness to the world. Verse seven, even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? You hear that? I'm gonna read that again. Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you yourselves are the one who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. Paul makes a huge point to those in the throes of a legal dispute you've already lost.

Makes a huge point to all those in the throes. Your reputation, your witness, and so much more as a believer has taken a hit. In the way that you've interacted with one another. Look at me. What the world calls a dub, the kingdom doesn't. What the world calls a win, the kingdom doesn't. And Paul presses in, in light of what you're trying to get out of here, I want you to remember what you're losing. Verse nine, don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God? You hear that? Don't fool yourselves. And then he gets around there, he says, since we're talking about identity, let's talk about it. Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin or those who worship idols or commit adultery or are male prostitutes or practice homosexuality or are thieves or greedy people or drunkards or are abusive or cheat people, none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that, but you were cleansed. You were made holy. You were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God.

Paul, again, addressing sexual sin in many forms. All that, listen now, I'm gonna slow down, I'm gonna tell you this. All that are based off of someone wanting to fulfill a sexual desire outside of God's design. Feeding the flesh, and let me tell you what our flesh is always screaming. Hear me now, eyes for a second. I want it now. I want more of it and in many forms. That's what our flesh. I want it now. I want more of it and I want it in many forms. That's what the flesh is continually calling a person toward, which doesn't, by the way, hear me, which doesn't stop with sexual sin. It's the same spirit that is at play in this passage in theft. It's the same spirit that's at play in greed. It's the same spirit that's at play in addiction. And what Paul is saying in this moment, in light of the manner in which they're living, have you truly believed the message of Jesus? In light of what is coming out of you, you need to consider your true identity. What Paul is saying, let's be real, let's talk. If these pursuits in your life have taken precedence, it makes me wonder, do you really know Jesus as king?

It's one thing, hear me now. It's one thing to make a bad decision. Anybody else in the room made a bad decision before? Come on, raise your hand, throw it in the air like you don't care. There you go, right, you made it. It's another thing to make a few bad decisions and find yourself in bondage. A believer can find himself in bondage, it's true. But it's another thing to find yourself in such a state that these decisions have become your identity. They have become your identity. What Paul then reminds the church in Corinth is this, to the true cross followers in this room, that that's not who you are, that's who you were. That's not who you are, that's who you were, that Jesus saved us from ourself. Jesus saved us from our sin, he's cleansed us. Now the spirit of God is freeing us from our future struggles with these things, helping us to live free when someone is living in these kinds of sins defined in this, listen to me, there's one or two options, one or two realities, only two options. One, if somebody finds themselves as these things describe, one, they're a follower of Christ that's living contrary to their identity. They're living contrary to their identity, and look at me, if that's you today, it won't work. The most miserable people on planet Earth, I believe this all in my heart,

are not those that don't know Christ yet because they don't know. The most miserable people on planet Earth that do know Christ is king, but are living contrary to their identity in his kingdom. And I just say in Jesus' name, I hope you're miserable in your sin. God loves us too much to allow us to, listen to me, to have true joy in the midst of our sin. And one of the greatest evidences that you are a follower of Christ is that you're sin sick. That even when you find temporary indulgence in whatever that might be, conviction's there, hallelujah. Unfortunately, the enemy's also there, who brings condemnation, shame, regret. So that might be you. That's one option if you find yourself in any of these ways or in some future season find yourself lured away. The second is this option, which you need to, if you find yourself in these practices that are taking precedence, what it might be revealing is, well, that's really your true identity. You're far from God. You're not merely struggling with sin, listen to me, you're a sinner that needs a savior. That you've never been set free, you've never been saved by Christ, listen to me. Two options, they're saints, then that's what happens the moment you come to know Christ. Saints that still sometimes sin.

Still make mistakes, still miss the mark, all those things, but you're fighting from a victory. Or you're a sinner that needs a savior. And this is the encouragement that Paul's given to the church in Corinth that I would encourage every one of us in this room today to discern your true identity. Discern your true identity. Where do you land in light of these passages of Scripture? A few more things and then I'll be done. If, I thought I was gonna have a short message, here we go. You say, I really did, I was like, no, let's just be short today. Crockpot preaching, here we go, verse 12. You say, I am allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for you, don't you think? This is Paul saying, this is what you keep saying. Well, I'm allowed to do anything, I've been freed, there's grace for that, I'm allowed to do anything, but everything, but not everything is good for you, and even though I'm allowed to do anything, everything is good for you, and even though I'm allowed, he's quoting them, which is a cultural statement, I'm allowed to do anything, I must not become a slave to anything. You say, food was made for the stomach and the stomach for food, this is true, though someday God will do away with both of them, but you can't say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality.

They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies, and God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead. See, the Lord didn't set us free so that weak followers of Christ might find another form of bondage. Here's a great question in light of anything you might be considering, and I just wanna say this to us, and this is the lie that the enemy's been promoting for years under the label of Christian freedom. Well, you know, I can do that, here's that line, how close can I get to that line? There's tons of conversations, has been since the inception of the church. Where's the line and how close can we get? Can I do that, can I not, how much, to what extent, all those things. In light of our, hey man, what's the best dating practices? Man, how can we go about that? How far can you go sexually? What does it look like to have an online presence? I mean, our day, I could set up for the rest of the day. What's the line in being savvy in my business dealings? What about drinking over here? Where's the line? And the enemy, honestly, he loves that wrestle. Because he knows our flesh man. Well, I can do this, I can do that, and I can still be faithful to Christ.

And I'm just gonna tell you, listen, when you start approaching that conversation that way, I think we've already lost. I'm just saying. I think it's, listen to me, I think it's the wrong question. So what's a good way to be faithful with Christ and to live free? Anybody else wanna live free? Let me give you five guiding questions in light of living free. In light of decisions you gotta make, what about this, how easily could this become bondage? Whatever it is. Man, online, hey, if I watch this show, I might binge watch 25 more shows. You know what I'm talking about, right? Well, how easily could this become bondage? In light of discerning a question I gotta answer, man, does it help me grow in Christ's likeness? Does this practice, does this appetite, does it help me grow in Christ's likeness if I start feeding it? Here's a question, I mean, Brother David talked about this. This is a question I have in life. What would wisdom say? What would wisdom say? What would the wisdom of God's word say, man? What would the wisdom of others that have done this longer than I say? Could it impact my witness?

Could it impact my witness? And the last question, is it worth it? Is it worth it? Is it worth it? In light, look at me, in light of Christ's king and the advancement of his kingdom, is it worth it? Paul in this moment is trying to help the church remember what really matters. Verse 15, it says, don't you realize that your bodies are actually apart? Of Christ, whoever's playing can go ahead and come back and play. Should a man take his body which is apart of Christ and join it to a prostitute? Never. And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the scriptures say the two are united into one, but the person who's joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. And then it says, huge statement, verse 18, run from sexual sin. Run, flee. No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does for sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Let me tell you something that God knows, and listen to me, he keeps coming back to this. Paul keeps coming back to this in light of what's going on in their culture and time.

And listen to me, if Paul was writing to us, he'd keep coming back to this. He'd keep coming back to this in light of our forms, and it might not be prostitution, it might be pornography. God knows something about sexual sin and sexual fulfillment that we need to know. That it was never intended to be merely physical. It's got huge emotional, mental, relational implications. And when fulfilled as God intended, it brings about blessing for the whole person and other people. It's got beauty. But when impure, it brings brokenness to the whole person. And it always impacts other people. All of which, by the way, was paid for through the blood of Jesus. Somebody say amen. Amen. And freedom can be found and experienced even today. Let me tell you what I love about the Bible. The Bible tells us to stand and fight in a lot of things. And then the Bible says, and I wanna say this to us, but when it comes to this area of sexual temptation, it says run. Flee. Kyle translation, put it in B for boogie, baby, all right? Get out of there. Get out of that situation. Get out of that situation. Get out of that situation.

Get out of that situation. Get out of that car. Get out of that apartment. Get off that screen. Get out of there. Do what is right. Every takes to flee Because there's a lot at stake Corrupts the whole person The most courageous thing you can do with sexual sin is turn and run toward the light Run It ends with this verse 19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit follow you're right on Pentecost Sunday, by the way today is Don't you realize It's the temple of the Holy Spirit God lives in me Who lives in you was given you Who lives in you was given to you by God you do not belong to yourself Go back to the question they're asking earlier man. Why can't I do that again? I this is what's my freedom and this is you ain't your own You don't belong yourself for God has bought you with a high price so you must honor God with your body Which lends itself to this principle make a daily decision Which lends itself to this principle make a daily decision make a daily decision to give God the whole you Let me tell you what I've learned about this battle personally and then ministering to people You're one day away from a bad decision You're one day away from a bad decision Every day victories have to be applied And listen to me and you're one season away listening from some kind of bondage that needs to be broke Some of you are in it today And today could be a day of great liberal or liberation our part

Is to freshly surrender Every season man every season God. Here's my whole body. Here's my mind. Here's my heart Here's my dealings and interactions with people God. Here's what's going on in my endless to me in my witness to this world This is what's happening in my relationships. I need help. We need help. We need you We need the help of others I Mean to what I love about this and sort of connecting the dots late brother Davis tell me this morning Pentecost Sunday. I knew that from Several weeks ago somebody else had told me I just didn't connect the dots to this day in an interesting For us we find ourself in this moment in this world where the Lord's saying Hey, man, give your whole self for the sake of the Holy Spirit filling and flowing through you I Don't think that's an accident But some of us have too much listen to me too many other things It's taking up too much room in our being You need a rending You come listen, let me tell you what I found if I'll get empty God will fill me Fresh Anybody need to be freshly filled man pure water cleansing today help Spatter heads for a moment If you need to be prayed for today about anything you need wisdom. You need help. You need a revival man You need a fresh touch from God Today some of our prayer leaders are gonna be here. We're gonna sing one song and be done But why miss this moment to say God, I just need a fresh touch Maybe you want to come in repentance this morning. Maybe you'll come in confession this morning. I mean come ask the Lord To revive you If you see you and you need to do business with God, don't wait Go ahead and come man. Come you can come to altar come pray with somebody about anything Hey, if you're here and you realize in the course of this message, the reality is for you

That you're a sinner that needs to be saved by the grace and mercy and the fulfilled finished work of Jesus That you need him to make you a part of his family If you need that My asking you right now to be bold and say hey, I need Jesus to save me Would you be bold and just do something? We just look at me and say Kyle. That's me I need Jesus to save me for myself this morning. Would you just raise your hand look at me say Kyle That's me. I need Jesus to save me make me a part of his forever family. Awesome Just be bold enough for a second. Raise your hand say that's me Kyle. I need that today Well look into me won't save you okay But I can help you get to him If you're here When you need Jesus to make you new, why don't you say something like this to him? Lord, I am here right now. I recognize my brokenness and sin. I'm putting faith in your finished work on my behalf. Save me. I want to follow you. Now, if that was you this morning, just look at me for a second. Nobody else is looking. If that was you this morning, you put faith in Christ. When you walk out of this room, you got to go past this next step center. This is your bold, courageous move. Just come up to somebody at that next step center and say, I need a box. What that helps us do is continue the conversation. We got some things in it for you in light of this step, but we want to go on a journey with you.

So be bold and do that today. I'm gonna pray for us. If you need to be prayed for for anything, we'd be honored to do that. Lord, thank you for your presence. Thank you for your power. Thank you for your work. Thank you for what you're doing. I pray even now that you'd be glorified in our right response. I pray in Jesus' name, amen. Hey, let's stand, let's sing. If you would allow us the privilege, we would love to pray with you about anything going on in your life. Come on. It was my cross you bore So I could live in the freedom you died for And now my life is yours And I will sing in praise of you And I will sing in praise of you And I will sing in praise of you And I will sing of your goodness forevermore And worthy is your name, Jesus You deserve the praise Worthy is your name And worthy is your name, Jesus Only you deserve the praise Worthy is your name Oh, we thank you, Jesus

And now my shame is gone I stand amazed In your love undeniable Your grace goes on and on And I will sing of your goodness forevermore Worthy is your name, Jesus Only you deserve the praise Worthy is your name Yes, worthy is your name, Jesus Only you deserve the praise Worthy is your name It's only Jesus It's only Jesus, you alone are worthy So be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name above all names Be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name above all names Be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name above all names Be exalted now in the heavens As your glory fills this place You alone deserve our praise You're the name above all names Oh, we thank you, Jesus

Oh, it's only you, God Worthy is your name, Jesus ♪ Jesus, you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, yes worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, only you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, yes worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, Jesus, only you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, yes worthy is your name ♪ ♪ Jesus, only you deserve the praise ♪ ♪ Worthy is your name, yeah ♪ ♪ in ♪ If you would extend your hands to receive the blessing this morning. The last words of Jesus to his disciples before ascending into heaven, from Acts one, verses four and eight, while staying in with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. Which he said, you heard from me, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. 40 days later, we celebrate today, comes the fulfillment of his promise. In Acts two, four, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues

as the Spirit gave them utterance. Here, utterance means spoken words, expressions, or declarations. It refers to what comes out of someone's mouth, especially meaningful or inspired speech. I bless you today with the sobering knowledge that as a child of the King, you represent the King. Your words, your expressions, your declarations are all meant to be in agreement with the King. Therefore, I bless you with clarity in hearing the Father's voice as he loves on people through you. I bless you with urgency. The urgency of confidently delivering kingdom messages to hurting people. I bless you with the authority that is yours as a blood-bought son or daughter of the King. You can follow Jesus' example of saying only what you hear the Father say and doing only what you see the Father do. May this clarity, urgency, and authority be grafted deep into your nature and your character in the coming days. This reference is now in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.