WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.840 Real life presents the Jack Hibbs podcast with intention and boldness to proclaim 2 00:00:05.840 --> 00:00:11.240 truth, equip the saints and impact our culture. Here's the deal, deciding to 3 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:16.620 follow him because he is who he is. It's not that you go to this church or that 4 00:00:16.620 --> 00:00:24.740 church, it's irrelevant. But the joy, the power, the freedom is knowing him and 5 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:31.160 knowing that he knows you. And when he leads you, is the constant dynamic of a 6 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:33.860 Christian life. 7 00:00:35.360 --> 00:00:41.700 You can get the outlines of this podcast by going to JackHibbs.com slash podcast. 8 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:47.060 Today, if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled 9 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:51.940 life in Christ, then make sure you leave us one of those five star ratings. To us, 10 00:00:51.940 --> 00:00:57.480 that's like saying amen or yes. Then that rating will encourage others to listen. 11 00:00:57.480 --> 00:01:03.880 Now, open your hearts to what God's word has to say to you. Here is Jack Hibbs. 12 00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:08.640 If you are a follower of Jesus Christ today and Jesus put it this way, if you've been 13 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.760 born again, God is going to work with you until the very end of your life. Or I 14 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:17.120 should say until your body comes to the end of its life, that's when you begin your 15 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:21.520 real life. 16 00:01:21.520 --> 00:01:27.480 In Matthew, chapter 28, verse 10, Jesus said to them this way, says, do not be afraid. 17 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:32.860 Go and tell my brethren that I go to Galilee and there they will see me. Jesus rose again 18 00:01:32.860 --> 00:01:38.160 from the dead and he tells both the angels announced it and Christ announced it that I'm 19 00:01:38.160 --> 00:01:42.880 going to Galilee. I'm going to, I'll meet you in 90 miles from here. I'm getting out 20 00:01:42.880 --> 00:01:47.080 of Jerusalem. I'm heading back to the country. I'm going up to the Galilee, just south 21 00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:54.200 of the Syrian Lebanese border. I'll meet you guys there. What is he announcing? He's 22 00:01:54.200 --> 00:02:00.680 saying I'm leading. Friends, listen, God leads. He always goes ahead of us if we're willing 23 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:08.080 to follow. He'll go ahead in Psalm 23. Who doesn't love Psalm 23? Oh, Mark loves the 23rd 24 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:15.280 Psalm. But do we know what it says? Psalm 23, verse 2, he makes me to lie down in green 25 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:22.920 pastures. He leads me besides steel waters. He guides me. The Lord wants to guide you because 26 00:02:22.920 --> 00:02:27.320 you are not only in this family, listen up everybody. He's responsible for you. I love 27 00:02:27.320 --> 00:02:32.320 that. Listen personally, I remind God about that a lot. No, really, I'm not being funny 28 00:02:32.320 --> 00:02:38.040 or cute about it. When something is insurmountable to me, impossible to me, or something 29 00:02:38.040 --> 00:02:42.560 that means coming against me and I'm under attack, I always remind them. God, I didn't 30 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:48.600 ask for this position. I never asked you for it. I didn't ask for this church. I didn't 31 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:54.600 ask you to fill the seats. I didn't ask you to put us up front and out there. So God, 32 00:02:54.600 --> 00:03:01.960 listen, you got a problem on your hands. And I'm looking to you to fix it. And I pray 33 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:08.800 that prayer with him because I want to follow him. But if I'm going to follow him, listen, 34 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:13.280 he's responsible for taking care of me because he announces to the disciples. I'm going 35 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:20.760 ahead to the ghettily. I'll see them there. I will lead you besides steel waters. I will 36 00:03:20.760 --> 00:03:26.480 bring you comfort. All of these great promises God has given you and I, and listen, check 37 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:32.040 your heart. Every one of the promises that God gives us, they're exactly what the 38 00:03:32.040 --> 00:03:44.160 doctor ordered. I love that. I don't appreciate, listen, I don't appreciate doctors who just 39 00:03:44.160 --> 00:03:50.400 write prescriptions. I'm sorry if that's you. I'm not going to your office. I don't like 40 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:53.600 a doctor who walks into the room and I'm there and he doesn't even look at me. He's 41 00:03:53.600 --> 00:03:57.680 looking at the chart. He never looks. He never looks. And then he says he writes here, you 42 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:04.160 can get this field at the pharmacy. Don't stare. Forget it. Man, I want a doctor who comes 43 00:04:04.160 --> 00:04:14.960 in the room and puts on the gloves and grabs my tongue, pulls on my ears and does all the 44 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:22.560 other stuff we're not going to talk about. I want a doctor to find out how am I doing? I want 45 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:28.080 him to tell me the truth even though I may not like it. If something's wrong, let's get on it 46 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:33.520 quick. Let's get it fixed. But listen, a good doctor's got to look at you. He's got to touch you. 47 00:04:33.520 --> 00:04:38.400 He's got to see what's going on. And I love that about our God. He just doesn't write you a verse 48 00:04:38.400 --> 00:04:44.240 and say, you know, happily ever after. See you later. You know what? He touches you. He reaches out 49 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:49.120 and he grabs you by the heart and by the mind. And he's real and is alive. He rolls again from 50 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:53.760 the dead. He left an empty tomb in Jerusalem and you should not settle for anything less but the 51 00:04:53.760 --> 00:05:03.440 living God. He's absolutely amazing. Psalm 23 verse 4 says, yea, though I walk through the valley 52 00:05:03.440 --> 00:05:09.520 of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Who said that? God did 53 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:15.680 when David was in fear of his life. Here's the deal. When the Bible says, yea, though I walk 54 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:21.200 through the valley of the shadow of death, just know this. It's the now. He's with us now. 55 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.320 To be absent from this body, the Bible says is to be present with the Lord. When we walk through 56 00:05:26.320 --> 00:05:31.440 the hurt and the pain of this life, it's now. Christ says, I'll never leave you or forsake you. 57 00:05:32.640 --> 00:05:38.400 It's now. This is our, as a believer, this is the valley of the shadow of death for us 58 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:46.640 in this world. It only gets brighter. It's amazing. I love it. To be led by the Holy Spirit. 59 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:53.120 Those who I have found this to be true anyway, my observation, one reporter's opinion, 60 00:05:53.760 --> 00:05:59.680 is that those who understand, they're not perfect. We're not perfect. But we know, Lord, you lead. 61 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:07.760 We've learned over the years that when we're leading, we have a tendency to hit walls and bounce 62 00:06:07.760 --> 00:06:17.600 off guardrails and hit barricades. Sometimes we can get going so fast that Jesus is somewhere 63 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:23.360 back there a few miles. The church at Ephesus did that, you know? They got so busy being a church 64 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:33.600 that they forgot Jesus in their first love relationship. Is Jesus Christ literally the most 65 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:39.120 active part of your living? Think about that. I'm not asking to become some sort of weirdo, 66 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:48.000 crazy person. I'm asking you to be honest with yourself. I just met somebody last service. They're 67 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.800 of IndyCarb people, Indianapolis Carb IndyCarb. That's pretty cool stuff, right? I mean, I like that 68 00:06:52.800 --> 00:07:00.560 stuff. I think that's cool. But here's the great thing. The Indy world is somewhere down on a list 69 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:09.120 of their life. Jesus is at the top. Unrivaled. Unrivaled. It's not like Indy passes Jesus sometimes, 70 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:16.000 and then Jesus passes Indy. No, he's at the top. And everything that they do comes out of that 71 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:22.640 relationship. But that ought to be true for all of us. When we name the name of Jesus, who are we? 72 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:29.760 And that is often defined, if not perfectly defined, by being led by the Spirit of God. The Holy 73 00:07:29.760 --> 00:07:38.880 Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. The Bible says he has feelings. The Bible says that he 74 00:07:38.880 --> 00:07:44.480 thinks. The Bible says that he speaks. The Bible says that he can be offended. The Bible says that 75 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:51.360 he can be our power. The Bible says that he can be our wisdom and our guidance. The Holy Spirit 76 00:07:52.880 --> 00:07:58.560 available, unlimited to every believer led by the Holy Spirit. It's amazing. Get ready to 77 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:04.400 write down a bunch of verses. Are you guys ready? You're very quiet. Troubles me greatly. And don't 78 00:08:04.400 --> 00:08:10.000 tell me, are you really? Oh, Pastor, we're listening so close. Then what's with this? 79 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:26.400 I can see you. I just want you to know. Psalm 33 verse 6. By the word of the Lord, the heavens 80 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:35.360 were made. Wow. God spoke. And the physical universe was established. And all the host of them, 81 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:41.520 the starry sky, by the breath of his mouth, verse 7. He gathers the waters of the sea together as 82 00:08:41.520 --> 00:08:47.840 a heap. He lays up the deep in storehouses, verse 8. Let all the earth fear the Lord. The word 83 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:52.560 fear is to be in reverential awe, to be brought to that place, though, where you tremble at his word. 84 00:08:53.360 --> 00:09:01.120 It's incredible. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him for he spoke and it was 85 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:10.000 done. He commanded and it stood fast. Isn't that awesome? It stood fast. His creative powers. 86 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:17.520 Psalm 11 says, blessed is the man or happy, happy, content. We actually, the word, you know the 87 00:09:17.520 --> 00:09:23.600 word welfare. The word welfare has a negative connotation to us today. That's the word blessed is 88 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:32.560 well off or well faring. Farewell, we would say farewell. Farewell to the man who walks not in the 89 00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:41.600 counsel of the ungodly. Don't get your advice from dumb people. Nor stand in the path of sinners. 90 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:46.080 Hey, there's some people you shouldn't hang around with. Your mom told you this at the earliest 91 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:50.800 of ages. You know, when your mom sits, stay away from that guy. Stay away from that girl. 92 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:57.920 There's a reason. God says, mm-hmm. God loves you. You're in the family trying to keep your 93 00:09:57.920 --> 00:10:03.200 safe. Nor sit on the seat of the scornful. You know the people who sit around, they're just grumpy, 94 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:09.680 griping all the time, chewing everybody, everybody's wrong, but them. They're it. Bible says, don't 95 00:10:09.680 --> 00:10:13.760 hang out with them. Don't even sit down there. You're going to get all bitter and been out of 96 00:10:13.760 --> 00:10:21.920 shape. No need for that. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, the Word of God, and in his 97 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:27.200 law he meditates day and night. It just simply means he's guided by the Word of God. The Bible is in 98 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:35.040 you, and so it's in your thoughts. Listen, what happens to that individual? Happens to you if he 99 00:10:35.040 --> 00:10:42.560 so choose. He, you, shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. That's a beautiful sight. 100 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:50.160 That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does, 101 00:10:50.160 --> 00:10:58.320 shall prosper. Isn't that good news? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 6 verse 1. So let us stop going 102 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:05.280 over the basic teachings about Christ. Notice this, Peter's, the author of Hebrews is speaking. 103 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:12.320 Listen, let's stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead 104 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:18.240 to becoming mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental 105 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:24.240 importance of repenting from evil deeds, placing our faith in God. Listen, how he just, these are all 106 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:32.240 basics. You should know this by now. The instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, 107 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:39.920 the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment, and so on. God willing, we will move forward 108 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.960 to further understanding. How does it happen by God leading us? Notice this friend, listen, 109 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:52.640 everybody. This affects all of us. When God leads us, we are always growing. Our faith is becoming 110 00:11:52.640 --> 00:12:03.440 stronger and your, your resolve. I'm looking for a word. As a Christian and as you're growing, 111 00:12:03.520 --> 00:12:07.760 you know, the Bible says the Old Testament, the righteous can be as bold as lions. 112 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:14.160 They speak up. They don't have to be afraid because their closet is clean. You know what I'm saying? 113 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:22.080 And so they can be fearless. Listen, when you're being led by God, it's a very liberating experience. 114 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:25.840 Many of you already know this. That's why, seriously, that's why you love the Bible. 115 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:30.480 Is that, as you read it, God guides you and then when somebody comes up and criticizes what 116 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:35.440 you're doing, does it matter? It doesn't matter because you're being led by God. It doesn't 117 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:41.040 mean that you're heartless, but you know what God has said. But the world's not going to understand 118 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:46.080 that. Family is not going to understand it sometimes. But I tell you, that's why, listen, any, 119 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:51.920 any single people in here, listen, life is tough enough. Make sure you marry a believer. In fact, 120 00:12:51.920 --> 00:12:59.680 let me take that back. Marry a believer that you're impressed with their faith now, not their hopeful 121 00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:04.720 faith later. Oh, he's so cute. I think I can turn him into a wonderful believer. 122 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:14.240 You know, how are you going to do that? It's not going to work. I'll change him. 123 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:22.080 No, no, no. Listen, get excited about a girl or a guy who loves Jesus more than you. 124 00:13:23.040 --> 00:13:33.280 That's what you want. I'm serious. It's awesome. I'm so glad that my wife doesn't love me so much. 125 00:13:35.040 --> 00:13:40.960 She loves Jesus most. I'm down there somewhere, I don't know. Well, now we have grandkids, 126 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:47.600 so I think I'm down, but down to number five or something. Maybe six. Wouldn't change it for 127 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:53.200 anything in the universe, friends. It's a wonderful way to live, to be led by the spirit of God. 128 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:58.160 It's not by emotions, not by what you feel or think, but by the sure, steadfast foundation 129 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:04.080 of God's word. And the reason why church is important is not because of membership. Remember, 130 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:10.000 you can't become a member here. I love saying that. Oh, you're just saying this to make people 131 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:20.400 members. We don't have membership. You don't sign up. If you love God, show up. Here's a deal. 132 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:29.440 Is this deciding to follow him because he is who he is. It's not that you go to this church or 133 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:39.920 that church. It's irrelevant. But the joy, the power, the freedom is knowing him and knowing 134 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:46.240 that he knows you. And when he leads you is a constant dynamic of a Christian life. 135 00:14:46.880 --> 00:14:51.520 You've heard me say a thousand times, but if your Christianity is not on the radar and or 136 00:14:51.520 --> 00:14:56.560 boring, you're doing it wrong. That doesn't mean you're not anything else. 137 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:05.440 God has called you to do and to be what your occupation or career is. Do it. And do it the best. 138 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:13.440 Would you be the best at it? If you're a professor, be the best at it. Follow Jesus. Stay away from 139 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:22.320 wokeism. If you're a surgeon, please be good at it. Listen, I was in an Uber yesterday and 140 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:31.600 I was beginning to wonder. The guy can disguise that. I don't know if he's afraid of death. 141 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:38.400 The way he's driving this car. And then by the time I got to my destination, I thought, I 142 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:43.600 better give him five stars in a tip because he might turn around and run me over if I don't give him 143 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:51.600 a good one. But we don't need to be intimidated like that. To be led by the spirit of God. 144 00:15:52.640 --> 00:15:59.600 Psalm 32 verse 8 tells us, I will instruct you. God says, how's that? I will instruct you and 145 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:06.320 teach you in the way that you should go. Imagine a father or a mother saying this to a child or a 146 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:12.240 graduate. A son, daughter, God says, I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. 147 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:18.960 I will guide you with my hand with my eye. God says, do not be like the horse or like the mule, 148 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:27.200 which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridal, else they will not come near. 149 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:34.720 God says, don't be like a donkey. Don't do that. I want to lead you with my eye. 150 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:43.040 What a beautiful thing. Second Timothy 316 says, all scripture. I love this. All scriptures given by 151 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:48.400 inspiration of God. And my atheist friends always jump in and say, that's what's wrong with you. 152 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:55.040 We tell you we don't believe in God or the Bible. And then when you argue for God in the Bible, 153 00:16:55.040 --> 00:17:00.560 you use the Bible to argue for God in the Bible. You're so foolish, it's ridiculous. 154 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:07.680 Oh, then let me hear your explanation as to how things became and what life is for. 155 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:13.360 And then they start talking. And when they start talking, don't interrupt them. It's a beautiful 156 00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:18.720 sight to behold. You might film them if you get out your phone or put your phone in your pocket. 157 00:17:19.520 --> 00:17:29.520 Just turn it on. And record your atheist friend. Tell you how the universe began. 158 00:17:31.520 --> 00:17:35.760 And how it all came into being. And when it's all done, reach out and shake their hand and say, 159 00:17:35.760 --> 00:17:41.280 man, I commend you. I don't have that level of faith. You got so much faith. That's you. That 160 00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:45.680 makes my faith look like a little pee. You got like basketball faith. That's amazing. 161 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:51.280 Because that was the nuttiest story I've ever heard in my life. You got it in me. It's like, wow, 162 00:17:51.280 --> 00:17:56.880 really? You believe that? It's easier to believe that in the beginning God created. 163 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:10.720 Listen, the Bible says of the Bible that it's the word of God. It's not a self-fulfilling argument. 164 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:17.600 It's a statement of fact, which means this. I love it. The Bible says it's written by God. 165 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:24.240 But you criticize it. But the statement is still true. It means this. Bible says this. 166 00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:30.080 Prove me wrong or prove it wrong. The Bible says this. Prove it wrong. 167 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:36.640 God makes a statement. Listen, first verse to the Bible. If you get past Genesis 1, 1, it's all 168 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:42.240 downhill. In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. After that. 169 00:18:47.760 --> 00:18:51.360 The Bible says what it says. If you don't like it, then explain it away. 170 00:18:53.680 --> 00:19:00.480 But the very laws that God has given, logic, reason, have to be employed. And you know that. 171 00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:06.960 And that word of God that he's given is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, 172 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:12.000 instruction and righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good 173 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:15.040 work. But an awesome, beautiful truth.