This transcript is a short sermon by Holly Furtick emphasizing that God communicates as a loving Father rather than a condemning judge. Using scripture (angel to the shepherds, Numbers, 1 John 4:18) and personal testimony, the speaker urges listeners not to fear God, explains that Jesus came to remove fear and condemnations, and frames God’s corrections as loving direction leading to relationship rather than shame.
Chapters
Even when God speaks to correct us.
He does it as a loving father.
Not a condemning judge.
I can't wait to tell you this next part.
Cause God gave me this next part first.
And I have been waiting for several weeks to tell you this next part. I don't want to like over promise and under deliver, but it's really good. Okay, so look at what the shepherd. Look at what the scripture says, what the angel said to the shepherds. Verse 9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah. Who Are you ready for this? Here's number two. God has good things to say to you. Don't be afraid. I bring you good news. Now, I grew up in church. In fact, I would challenge anyone who is in this room or watching online today that I have spent more time in church than you. Some of you heard me say this before, but my dad was a pastor my whole life. I rarely missed a Sunday or a Wednesday church.
In fact, the same is kind of.
True for my kids. Abby has strep throat. She's backstage right now watching. But then when I was in high school, my parents joined this traveling revival ministry where we held services almost every night. And then I went to a Christian college. And then, as you know, I married a pastor. And I'm so grateful for the foundation that my parents gave me in my faith. It made me the person that I am today. But somewhere along the lines, and no fault to you, mom and dad hate. My parents are watching at our Greenville location. Somewhere along the lines. I spent a lot of my teen years and my young adult life missing what it means to actually have a relationship with Christ. Because I thought that most of the time when God speaks to you, it's because you have broken a rule. In fact, I remember a Sunday school lesson where we memorized numbers 32, 23. This is what it says. Behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out.
I still remember it. And oftentimes when I would think about.
My relationship with God, I would think about the things that I'm not supposed to do as a believer in Christ.
And I would imagine that when God.
Would speak to me, it would be about something that I needed to stop doing.
Now listen, before I get to the good news part, sometimes when God speaks.
To us, it is to correct us. Sometimes it is to direct us or redirect us or stop us from doing something really dumb.
And when God speaks these things to.
Us, like, be kinder to your spouse, be honest in your schoolwork, be faithful in your job, it can be really hard to receive. Nobody wants to hear, hey, you need to change this. So, yes, that is a part of having a relationship with God. But listen to me say this. This is so if you only hear me say one thing today, I want you to hear me say this. Jesus came so that you and I do not have to be afraid of God.
Even when God speaks to correct us.
He does it as a loving father.
Not a condemning judge.
I read a quote this week that said, all fear is the notion that God's love ends. And I want to tell you today, don't be afraid of what your loving Father wants to speak to you today. First John 4:18. There is no fear in love because perfect love drives out fear. Fear has to do with punishment. And Jesus did not come to earth to punish us.
He came to earth to save us. He came to earth to atone for our sins, not to condemn us again and again and again about them. The funny thing about that verse in.
Numbers, it said, you sin will find you out.
And I think that my sin does a pretty good job at finding me out.
Most of us are doing a great job feeling ashamed of the mistakes that we have made. Most of us are well aware of the consequences of our poor choices. The message of Jesus is repentance, not shame and condemnation.
And God did not send his son to rub your mistakes in your face. He sent his son because he loves you. And his love for you is endless. It's beyond anything that you can fathom. There is nothing that you can do that will make God stop loving you. I gotta say that again because I want it to sink in. There is nothing that you can do that will make God stop loving you. And what God wants for you is.
To have a relationship with you.
That is the gospel, you know, it.
Is actually literally translated good news. Hey, thanks for watching. I hope that that encouraged you today. Make sure that you subscribe so that you don't miss out on other videos like this. And I'll see you back here next. Sam.
