Tough & Tender - Week 8 - The CORE - Pastor Mike Novotny
Tough and Tender
Wk 8 - The CORE
Pastor Mike Novotny
Happy Sunday, welcome back to week number eight of the summer, sermon series called Tough and Tender. Hey, before we jump in, I know you clap before, but this is a really, really huge deal to have Pastor Michael staying here at our church. Some of you are kind of new here. You don't know that I've been here for about eight years and probably the first like half of my Ministry. I mean, we worked hard, we had great people, but we kind of really struggled to reach more people and grow our church and have a really strong, kind of behind His ministry and that radically changed. Michael, you are here. You don't hear him preach as much as I do. You might not see his face as much as you see mine, but what he does behind the scenes. Discipling people, teaching people, counseling people, organizing our ministry has been just a game changer for what we do here. So when I honor him, I want you to honor him. So thank you, Pastor Mike, go for being here? So six months from now when it's another Wisconsin winter. And you think I could be on a Caribbean Island right now? And you got that pasty, you know, Wisconsin skin. Just remember like these people love you and we're grateful to have you.
I hope you don't think less of me for admitting this. But there's a part of me and it's a pretty substantial part of me. That likes to sin.
I've lived experience that makes me say that I've been through about 41 years of living, which means I've done a lot a lot of sinning and if you ask me, what why did you do that? Don't you love the Bible? Don't you love Jesus. Don't you know the Commandments. What? Why don't you? Why do you keep doing that?
Honest answer would be. Because part of me likes it.
It's not the only part of me and it's not a part of me that I'm proud of. But I think of all the things I've done, the lines that I've crossed the times when I didn't follow Jesus, with all of my heart, the fact is I did it because it kind of felt good.
All right, I mean when I was going through my school years and my buddies and I would, you know, kind of have these impressions of our more quirky professors. Those kids from grade school that we really didn't like that's not nice. I wouldn't want people to do that to me. So why did we do that?
Because it was fun. So fun it made our faces hurt when we talked like that in the basement at the sleepover. If you ask me, why, when I was in grade school? Why did I shoplift that GI Joe from the Kohl's department store? The beginning of my very, very short life of crime. The answer would be because it was kind of exciting. It was fun to take home a toy. I normally wouldn't have had otherwise
As I got older, if you would have asked me my God, did you end up in that spot where you're like, looking at things on the internet clicking on links that you should not be clicking at the answer? B is because in that moment, it kind of felt a lot better than life before the click. I take a million sins that I've committed sitting on a folding chair. Put a bright light bulb above my head. And asked me why did you do it? The answer would be. Because I wanted to. You don't have to raise your hand for this question, but you do too.
Why do we do the things that we do? If we know like, on paper, technically, According to Jesus and the eyes of the church and the Bible, this isn't what we should do. So why do we do it? And the simple answer is because there's something deep within us that just wants it, excites us, it feels good. It's very interesting. It feels much better than the other options of obedience. Right. What is the kid who's playing video games next to his brother or sister? Take an extra turn. What does he grip that little controller with dear life? It's not fair. You won't want to be treated that way. So why did he do it? The answer is. Because he wants to. It's more fun playing the game, then sitting there and watching it. Why? When you're on the highway and they're merging Lanes of traffic and you're waiting patiently. Aligned why is there that one jerk who just Zips by you and just cuts in front of it? Some of you do that, don't you? Well why would you do that? You don't like it. When people do that to you cutting in line, the answer is good because they want to good because getting to the destination faster is way more interesting than sitting there putting along idling and thick traffic
When you have something like tension with someone at work or at school, instead of talking with them face-to-face and having a hard conversation, why do we instead talk to them? Why do we talk about them? What do we vent to our significant others or go off when we get home to our spouses or our best friends? Why don't we don't like it when people do that? Just why do we do that? The answer is because it's easier. Feels better. Confronting someone face-to-face is awkward and uncomfortable. So, pick a saint and he said, why do we drink too much? Why do we get high? Why do we kind of turn a blind eye to all that stuff about sexuality in marriage and divorce in the Bible? And I think your answer is going to be the same as my answer because there's something in you in us. That wants to.
The Bible is really honest about that. This is that whether you're a church person or not, whether you follow Jesus or not, there's something in all of our hearts that just once What It Wants, What? Whether it's right or wrong at the moment, it feels really good. And we choose it and we seek it and we desire it and we do it.
And because of that, there are people who want to be pleasing and want to be popular. Who will tell you this? What if you didn't have to choose?
Like, it's hard, say no to that thing inside of our hearts, what if he didn't have to say no to it? What if you could do what you wanted to do? What do you say? Well, what if you could live your truth, be true to yourself, live your authentic life, search inside for what's right around? What if you could do that, and still end up with, with this, with Jesus, What If instead of fighting it and going to war against it and resisting it denying it, which feels like you're like crucifying a part of your heart. What If instead of all that you could just do what you want, have fun. And at the end of the day God's grace and his forgiveness and his love will save you. There's always people in ancient times, Biblical times in modern times who will say that you don't have to choose. God is good, and God is love, and his love endures forever. So just do what you want to do and you're going to end up in a better place because you're not Hitler.
But last week, if you were here Jesus, half brother Jude said. Uh-huh.
No, no, no, that is not what actual people who believe in God. Who love Jesus do
Real Christians, repent. Real Christians, struggle, real Christian stumble, real Christians, mess up real Christians, feel that thing inside of them. Real Christians make 1000 decisions. They look back and say God, why did I do that? Real Christians do all of those things, but the one thing that real Christians do not do is hardened, their heart against God. Now, they don't get used to the sin that they don't live in. It might be the millionth time we've fallen, but we come back to God and instead of concealing it and holding onto it, we breathe it out and we ask for his mercy and forgiveness. If you miss that message, if you can handle it, put a helmet on. Go online. Listen to it again. Judah is really tough with us. He was blunt about the need for repentance for Christian people but today I want to speak to those of you who maybe don't need to be smacked in the face with that truth.
I want to speak to those of you who are a little bit anxious and Afraid. Because of that.
Because there are some people and I could name names of people who are here today, who when they hear that you have to repent, you can't live in sin, you can't get used to it. You can't get numb to it. You have to fight against it when they hear that message, what do they do instead of walking out the door in anger, Is they panicking?
And they start to think. What if I don't make it?
I mean I struggle with sin all the time. What if I, what if I fall away from Jesus? What if I lose my faith? What if I stop feeling bad about this and a year down the road, five years down the road. I'm one of those people who just used to be a follower of Jesus. And now, I'm just following myself. What if I miss out on heaven?
If you're a person who struggles with anxiety or depression, I can almost guarantee this thought will come into your mind.
I was describing anxiety as living in a “What if’ the world? What if I fall away? What if I stop believing? What if, what if, what if, what if, and if you battled depression and just you know, - thinking is instinctual for you? You, you just jump to that - spot. What if I end up as one of those, they're all over in the Bible. What if I'm the next one, who loses their faith? I think Jude knew we would wrestle with that.
Jesus' brother Jude who was filled with the Holy Spirit. He had this Divine insight to know that people tend to choose one or two paths. One is pride and the other is panic. People who are proud. Boom, they got to be smashed in the face with the truth. No, no you can't play God and act like Lord and end up with the actual God and Lord and it doesn't work that way. You need to be called to repentance, but what if you're not there? But here and you're panicking.
And she has a beautiful word for you today. I won't promise you. It's the main theme of his book. He spends most of his time over here. But in the very last verses of the book of Jude, he gives such an incredible promise that today, I want to spend an entire sermon on, basically a single sentence. The two little versus tucked in way at the end of July, there's this like tough sandwich. There's this little piece of bread and Hope. If you're a person who often feels anxious,
Wanderers or gets the press or thinks I'm not going to make it. Jude is a beautiful word of Hope for you today. So before I read those verses to grab your bolts and write this down, here's the big idea that you it's going to share with you. He's going to say that sin feels good. Yep, it's so tempting. There's something in me and in you that wants to send it feels good. But here's an amazing truth, but God Big. Beautiful God glorious. God, God is better.
Yep, sin feels good, the Bible admits it, but don't panic because God is better.
182, the end of the beautiful book of Jude Jude chapter 1 verses, 24 and 25. To him, to God. Who is able to keep you from stumbling? And to present you before his glorious presence without fault, and with great joy, To the only God our Savior be glory Majesty, power and authority through. Jesus Christ, Our Lord before all ages now and forevermore and what a perfect word to end on. Hey, madam. That Judas is a really tough message about repentance but he doesn't end up depressed or worried or afraid he's pretty jacked up about God, you see that? He's like, nope to God, my savior, my Lord, Glory Majesty, honor Power Authority, back then even now forevermore, this is what I believe. Amen. He's ending with a word of Hope. And why does he feel that? Well, it's because of what comes first.
He says to him, who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, there's so much gold and hope in those verses. What I want to do is just break this down phrase by phrase and help you to see when you're worried about losing your faith. When you think you're not going to be repentant enough.
There's a God who steps up to help to save, to keep and to bless. So I gave you some space in your programs. If you want to write down some notes even if there's not some blanks here, let's start with this phrase to him, who is able to keep you from stumbling? You think I'm not, I'm not able to not stumble. Fine. Yep, you're weak. You're sent for me, too, but God is able to keep you from stumbling. Will you think I'm trying to follow this narrow road to heaven? And I'm going to trip up and there's all this temptation, I'm going to fall away. Judas, a god. The God Who did just like save you and said, I'll see you in heaven. Hopefully the God who walks beside you each day just when you're going to stumble and fall on your face and lose your faith catches you. God is able to keep you from stumbling when you feel like I can't I won't. I don't. Jude says, people God can Beautiful words to him. Who is able to keep you from stumbling?
Next, one of my favorite lines, and here's what else God can do. God can present you before his glorious presence.
Now, if you're brand new here, what you don't know is that the presence of the Glorious, presence of God is like my spiritual addiction. I think it's what the Bible is all about getting into the presence of God because no one gets into the presence of God. No one sees the face of God and says Okay, I guess I could do this for a bit. No one in the history of Heaven has ever yawned. Not a single time now. Do you know what people do when they see God?
The word glorious is just a word that means the presence of God. Ever been to the Grand Canyon before? It's like getting to the edge, you've seen pictures on the internet, but you stand there.
You ever been camping and like, a really dark desolate place, and you see the stars lit up like never before?
You ever had a kid or a grandkid and you're on the carpet and she takes those first like stumbling drunken steps or the big smile on her face, like those feelings are glorious. But the presence of God is a glorious herb. And Jude says, here's what my God is able to do and your God. He is able not just to keep you from stumbling. He's able to present you before his glorious presence. Oh my goodness. You There.
The Lord is able to bless you and to keep you. Until you see his face shining upon you.
So, if you notice that, there's a blessing, we use almost every Sunday at our church, at the end. And it's not, just, hey, God's going to be nice too, you know what we say week after week is the Lord bless you and keep you the God who saved you. And forgave you may he keep you keep you for what so that his face shines upon you. You see it now just by faith as I preach, but one day you won't have to use faith. You'll see his face. May God, keep you into that very moment and Judah saying that's not, just some nice thing to say. My God is able to
That for you.
But if you're the anxious type, you think what if I stand in the Glorious presence of God, What's he going to think about me?
How many times? Did I say, how many times did I want that thing instead of God's thing? And she says, okay one more thing for you to him, who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence, listen to these two words without Fault.
The followers of Jesus will be presented into the very glorious presence of God without fault without flaw without sin. They'll be blameless perfect Priceless and holy
Because Jesus. He's like this. Did you know that for half of my life? I squandered my future inheritance on sports cards.
My parents would probably be billionaires if we had just invested that money. Instead of buying me cards at every single store we went to. I collected hockey cards and baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, all the cars I didn't have hundreds of cards, or thousands of cards or tens of thousands of cards. I had half of a walk-in closet. Filled with cards. I love them. I thought they were going to make me Rich and Famous. It turns out there were a million other kids. My age doing the same thing and I sold them off for like 20 bucks at a garage sale. Actually, I was so infatuated with hockey cards one time when I was in middle school, high school, I think I wrote 50 handwritten letters to the most famous hockey players in the NHL and I would wait every day for the mailman to come. See if something glorious would be back.
Like this one. My ultimate hockey hero is the Russian rocket himself, Pavel Bure, you know, that is I've ever heard of Candace Cameron Bure from the Hallmark movies. Now you're nodding, which makes me super depressed, right? She married Pavel Bure, his brother. Also a hockey player I sent him a card and Pavel Bure himself signed it.
And there was much rejoicing that day at the mailbox, this came back. But I mean think of how frail this little piece of cardboard i. You can you can crunch the corner as you could crush it. You put it in the drawer and it can get messed up. So what did I do? As soon as I got this, it was an amazing blessing.
I put it in the case. Like you put your best cards in thick plastic cases so they can be kept and guarded so that they stay Flawless and perfect. Because if something is Flawless it ends up being priceless, Like this. Ding would mess up the card.
Put the cards not messed up because of the case.
Some of you might know the YouTuber named Logan Paul recently bought a very rare Pokemon collector card, like this limited edition, Pikachu, you know, how much you paid for it? And Flawless condition, he paid 5.2 million dollars.
For a Pokemon card.
What was I thinking, man? Pokemon over the key to that was the key to my rich is, right? When something is in Flawless condition. It's worth more than you think.
And what is Jude saying about Christians?
He said there's something that keeps us in Flawless condition.
You're saying you're right. You might be weak, bendable, Crucible, stainable, but it's not just you anymore. If you are a Christian, if you are in Christ, guess who is on every single side of you to keep you from being flawed in the sight of God, the case is Christ. And if Jesus didn't just save you to walk away from you, if he blessed you and then he kept you, if he saved you and then he preserved you this fear and anxiety. We have that, we're not going to be good enough when we get into the presence of God, it's just not true. If the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin then every, every corner, every nook, every cranny of your life is Flawless in the eyes of God, the New Testament gushes about this. Remember, the passage husbands love your wives, just like Christ loved the church and gave himself up to make her holy, cleansing her with water through the word to present her as a Radiant Church Without blemish. But holy and blameless, if you believe in Jesus, if you're connected with him, the blood of Jesus, is this case that keeps you
Safe from everything that would be offensive to God. And I guess this card could have worried me. But the case is going to keep it from being creased.
And you could worry what God thinks about you, but he knows what he thinks. And the case that is Jesus Christ. Will keep you and preserve you until you see his face which explains the last thing that you'd say. Because to him, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you before his glorious presence without fault, I love this line and with great joy,
When I study for sermons, I have, he's really kind of nerdy academic, Greek to English dictionaries. And I looked up the phrase. Great joy. Like, what does that mean in Greek? And here's what one scholar says, it means, quote, a happiness that implies a verbal expression and bodily movement,
I love that. Professors are funny people, aren't they? My happiness is that I empathise with verbal expression and bodily movements and I wrote in my notes, not German, right? Not before, not like this stoic. I am happy. You just don't know any verbal expression. I'm saying it and bodily movements. I'm showing it. You know, if you're like 35, 40 years old. This is, you know, this is what we would do. Yeah, we'd raise the roof. If you're like a teenager 20, you say, whatever he gen Z,
Person says you'd say, let's go, right? The glove, the kids, do these days verbal expression, bodily movement. I'm jacked up about this because my god did not just save me. He kept me without fault to stand before his glorious, glorious presence. I don't have to worry about it. And have to, I don't have to panic about it. Like, I am a child of God. I don't like sin, even though I struggle with it and God has made a promise to people, like me, I'm going to make it.
Philippians 1:6. The God who began a good work in. You will carry it on to completion. John chapter 10, my sheep know my voice, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. Romans chapter 8, The God Who predestined you and saved you a he will he will keep you in. Preserve you into eternity. God makes promise after promise to his repentant. People don't panic. I got you.
So what do we do with these words? Let me make two quick applications first to those of you who may be reluctant about church and faith in Christianity.
Maybe our guest here today, maybe you're watching at home and the reason your kind of reluctant about being a Bible person or a follower of Jesus is because you think that that stuff you really like to do you're gonna have to give it up.
Instead of embracing it and celebrating it, living it. Your habits your words or relationships or sexuality. Like you're so afraid of. Well, what kind of life would I have? If I didn't do that?
Here's Jude's answer. You will lose that.
But you will gain so much more.
I guess you're gonna have to take up a cross. Deny yourself and follow Jesus. To be honestly said, it's going to be like you lose your whole life.
But whoever loses their life, for my sake, he promised will Gain real life.
You will give up this temporary life and what will you get instead?
To be presented in the Glorious presence of God forever and ever happiness. Like you have never felt it is the better of the two options and so if you're reluctant, if you're dragging your feet, if you say no, I want to make my own decisions to find my own Truth live. My own life, Jude is saying to you, you can, but you will lose something so much better and it's not too late.
It's not too late, you can call on the beautiful name of Jesus today and be saved. You can stop holding onto your sin, you can breathe it out, confess, repent. And you could breathe in your immediate salvation through faith. In Jesus Christ, if you're on the fence, this is like your girlfriend's thing or your parents are super religious. I'll tell you today. This is your chance. It's not too late. The gates of the kingdom of God are open for you and his smiling shining glorious face. Would love to see your face too.
But if you are Christian, like I am
Sometimes think about this thing inside of you, that likes the saint and you wonder you freaked out. You feel anxious. What if I don't make it? To just want you to know what. Jude says. Yes, you will. You all.
It's that same sinful flesh that makes you doubt it or question it or wonder about it but today God has made you a promise by the blood of his son.
You can make it, you're gonna get to that finish line. Jesus might have you by the foot, dragging you across the line, you might be so weak. You wonder what God's going to think, but he's gonna get you to stand. You and God's face are going to shine upon you. Don't Panic. Don't be anxious about anything. Don't assume the worst because our God and our Savior he is the best. I love a summary of this teaching to him. Who is able to keep you from stumbling? Represent you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory Majesty, power and authority through. Jesus Christ, Our Lord before all ages now and forevermore
It's going to be such a good day.
Yeah, there's an old Christian song. Pretty popular years ago, I can only imagine, I've heard it. Like what did you ever do? You're just Give it a try to think ahead. What's it like to see God? What would you do? What do you feel? You dance, do you? Weep. Do you fall on your knees? Do you chest bump an angel? Do you have a dog? Jesus? Like what are you doing at that moment and the answer is, I'm not exactly sure, but I do know this. It. It's the best, most exciting, thrilling heart moving moments of this life and it exponentially increases them.
I thought about that just a month ago. My family, I took a road trip that went through Canada. We stopped in Toronto and we visited the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is where we saw one of the greatest championship trophies ever. Let me show you a picture, the Stanley Cup. I've seen it, the keep it in like this massive room used to be a huge Bank lobby. I think and I think we were the first ones into the room we stepped in there. And then always super cool. After seeing the Stanley Cup and touching the Stanley Cup and snapping a picture with the Stanley Cup. The actual Stanley Cup finals were on TV And the team that was about to win the championship. The seconds were taking down, it was so close and have you ever seen even if you don't like hockey, you love this moment. These guys are just waiting on the bench. 32 what? They take our gloves. Sticks are flying and bearded men are hugging, weeping, thanking their parents. They're like celebrating with great joy, verbal expression and bodily movements happening. All across the rig. They're so excited. And the Bible says it, it's like that.
It's like that being a Christian is not easy. It's not always convenient, it's like running a long race, it's like fighting a good fight. It's like being a farmer, working long hours in the field. But but let your mind imagine to that moment when it's all done, when the seconds of your life, take down and you stand in the Glorious presence of God without a single fault, when he looks at you and says
And your heart and that feeling just doesn't last for one season. Last forever and ever, and ever, and ever. And when we've been there, Ten Thousand Years Bright shining, as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first began.
Judah's no fool. When he ends a tough message about the Christian faith with these words. So the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority through. Jesus Christ, Our Lord before all ages. Now and forevermore if you believed it, if you love it, if you want it then would you join your voice with mine and speak Jude's final word? Amen.
Dear God, we thank you for your grace and for your strength. It took Grace to send your son for Sinners Like Us. It took unconditional, undeserved, love for Jesus to give his very life on the cross for the people who are doing their own thing. We thank you today for your grace, that gives us mercy and salvation. And how God we thank you for your strength. You're not just dating a kind compassionate counselor. You are a mighty Supernatural King, who rules all things. The devil may be strong but you are stronger. This feeling in our hearts may be relentless God, but you are better. Our questions and doubts about making it to the Finish Line. May be a constant God, but you are infinite. And so we remind ourselves that you are a great God. We pray that our hearts will magnify you and make you big and beautiful and glorious. So that fear and anxiety, and depression, sin and deception, do not get the last word and we start to say with confidence and faith. My God's got this. Got you got me? You started something in us and you're going to see it through.
That's a father. I speak of a strong word against everyone here. Who struggles with anxiety. Everyone here just assumes they're too messed up or flawed to be forgiven. God breaks through their hearts and helps them to see that what Jude says is not just his opinion, it's a word from your heart. May they find a piece that goes beyond understanding knowing that the God Who blesses them will keep them. And his face will shine upon them forever and ever, we pray these things in the Glorious name of Jesus and all God's people said, amen.
After eight weeks. I've been in the New Testament. Second, Peter, and Jude we're landing the plane today. As you've heard, which means xn is something different. We're going to jump from the New Testament to the old two-story. That some of you have heard but not all of you. It's a story of the first ever season of The Bachelor.
It happened in modern Iran about 2,500 years ago when a very powerful man. Slept with many many women and he chose one of them to give the rose and the woman he gave the rose to save her people. From sure genocide and losing the line of Jesus. Have you heard the story before? It's in your Bible it's called The Book of Esther is one of the only books of the Bible where God is not mentioned, prayer is not mentioned, worship is not mentioned. Jesus is not mentioned, there's zero mention of God. And yet behind the scenes, what are the odds that God would be working all things for the good of his people? He's excited about our next sermon series and book of Esther.
