1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,480 Morning. Hey y'all, Pastor Tim and I got 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,960 a chance to go out to the camp on Thursday night and be with 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,320 the students. And I want to yeah, you guys are 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,440 amazing. And what I want everyone else 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,840 here to know is what you're seeing is not just energy. 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:22,080 You're seeing spiritual fervor and spiritual fervor that 7 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:25,960 ignites passion and heart of everyone around them. 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:27,680 So we're going to follow you guys. 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,320 We're going to follow you because you are pointed true 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,720 north and you have oriented your life to the one thing that 11 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,520 matters. And we're here to follow you. 12 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,240 So lead us on. Would you encourage and bless 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,280 them? My name is Christine. 14 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,800 I'm one of the pastors here. And it's an honor and a 15 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,200 privilege every time I'm invited to speak and to open and study 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,760 the word of God. And so this morning, I don't 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,200 want to waste any time. We're going to jump right in and 18 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,160 we are closing out our series called Kingdom Unveiled. 19 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,760 So what the series has been about is taking all of the 20 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:05,040 aspects that we can mine for the treasures in the parables of 21 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,200 Jesus where he said the Kingdom of heaven is like, or he gave us 22 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,320 revelation about himself. About what heaven is like, who 23 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:14,560 he is and who we are called to be. 24 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,160 And we've been putting together a beautiful puzzle. 25 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,880 Now, if you haven't been here, that's OK. 26 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,520 You can go back and catch up. If you're visiting with us for 27 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,000 the very first time or you are joining us online, we want to 28 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,160 say welcome. We're so glad that you are here. 29 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,440 And as we as we look to this week, let's do just a little 30 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,680 catch up on where we've been. OK, so picture yourself putting 31 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,360 together a puzzle. We're going to do a few pieces 32 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:39,920 here. The ground that we have covered. 33 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,840 We learned that the Kingdom of heaven has a faithful, generous 34 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,600 sower, and that's the Father. The heart of the Father is to 35 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,000 scatter the seed, because the Kingdom of heaven is inclusive 36 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,240 and he is scattering the seeds generously, that any and all 37 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,160 might take that seed. And like the parable of the 38 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,520 mustard seed, we learned the Kingdom of heaven is like when 39 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,280 we put our trust and faith in the process of what God is 40 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,000 doing. We can take that seed from the 41 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,200 Lord, even a small bit of faith, and trust Him to turn it into 42 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,280 something incredible, right? Isn't that good news? 43 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:20,680 We also learned that the Kingdom of heaven is worth everything 44 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,520 that I have. If I have to give up anything, 45 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,800 sell anything, change anything, do anything, not do anything, 46 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,280 it's worth it. And at the very same time, you 47 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,560 and I are worth everything that God had. 48 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,920 That's why he gave his Son Jesus. 49 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:39,960 The Kingdom of heaven says you are worth it. 50 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,360 The Kingdom of Heaven also transforms us in our 51 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,240 relationships. It gives us a new language of 52 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,720 mercy, forgiveness, compassion and sacrifice. 53 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,960 And then last week, we learned that the Kingdom of heaven has a 54 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,440 good, good Father, one that we can run to. 55 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,040 He has open arms. He's waiting for us, longing for 56 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,200 us, restoring us. And he's always about 57 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,920 restoration. We have a good father. 58 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,600 Would you agree with that? And so this morning, we are 59 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,720 going to close out our series with one more aspect that we're 60 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,280 adding. And it's this. 61 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:22,520 When we are truly a part of the Kingdom of Heaven, we will 62 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:27,440 become completely different. When we are a part of the 63 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,640 Kingdom of Heaven, we will be the ones that are transformed. 64 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:32,800 You know why? Because the Kingdom of Heaven is 65 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,600 not a place. The Kingdom of heaven is a 66 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,000 people, a completely different people that have a completely 67 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,440 different culture and a completely different presence of 68 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,840 God that permeates every aspect of our lives. 69 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:47,920 Because the Kingdom of heaven is worth it. 70 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,880 We don't have a compartment of our life. 71 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,600 Like we don't have the youth camp part of our life, right? 72 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,120 And then we go back to school and we have something different. 73 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,600 We don't have the church person, the church time, the church 74 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,080 hours and then work, school life. 75 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,760 We have a life that is permeated, saturated throughout 76 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,600 by the Kingdom of heaven. And if that's going to happen, 77 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,040 you got to know we're going to be completely different. 78 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:15,240 And so today our parable is found in Matthew chapter 25. 79 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,320 If you need a Bible, I would love for you to raise your hand. 80 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,519 We want to put one in your hands or Usher will bring you a Bible. 81 00:04:21,519 --> 00:04:24,920 Don't be shy if you want one. The word of God is stewarded and 82 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,640 upheld in this house. We'd love to put it in your 83 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:28,800 hands. We'd love that. 84 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:33,040 If you've got your Bible, turn to Matthew chapter 25. 85 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,720 That's where we're going to spend our time today. 86 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,000 You know, as a good student of the Word, every time we come to 87 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,680 the Word, we need to understand a couple things. 88 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,600 We need to understand what is the audience, who is being 89 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,520 spoken to here and what is the context? 90 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,520 And then we need the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. 91 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,760 So let's pray together as you're turning and finding Matthew 25. 92 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,000 Let's get all of that going. God, we thank you so much that 93 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,080 by your spirit you're living an active word can jump right off 94 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,800 the page and quicken our hearts, our minds to understand, to see 95 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,080 you more clearly. So I yield my mouth, my body, my 96 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:15,080 mind, anything that I have brought to this is nothing if 97 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,160 you are not here. So I get out of the way, have 98 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,360 your way. Everybody said in Jesus name, 99 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,400 Amen. Amen. 100 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,520 So let's understand the audience and the context. 101 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,880 We're at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. 102 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,560 There's only three other chapters that come after where 103 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,640 our parable is found in Matthew 25 and the rest of the Gospel of 104 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,320 Matthew. As soon as this chapter ends, is 105 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:42,080 Jesus entering Jerusalem, being arrested, put on trial, 106 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,560 crucified, buried and resurrected. 107 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,360 So this is a pivotal moment in the Gospel of Matthew. 108 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,240 We are at the very end of Jesus's lengthy teachings. 109 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,360 And if we go back just a little bit to Matthew 22, we're going 110 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,680 to see at the end of that chapter that something in the 111 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,880 atmosphere is shifting. The previous parables have been 112 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,360 a lot of give and take exchange between different people in the 113 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,480 crowd. Some people that were curious 114 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,280 asked Jesus questions and he answered them sometimes in a 115 00:06:10,280 --> 00:06:12,360 parable. Some of the religious leaders 116 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,600 wanted to trip him up and challenge him, discredit him, 117 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,600 get him off the scene. That's what most of the 118 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,960 exchanges have been. And through parables, Jesus has 119 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:26,720 been concealing some things from people who didn't want to hear 120 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,000 and revealing to people that did. 121 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,040 Right. Remember, these are earthly 122 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,280 stories with heavenly truths and heavenly messages. 123 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:38,680 But right at the end of Matthew chapter 22 and verse 46, we read 124 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,240 this. No one could say a word in 125 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:47,520 reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more 126 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,520 questions. Is something shifting? 127 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,200 Something is shifting. So in Matthew 23, the very next 128 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:58,680 chapter, we see Jesus no longer concealing what he feels about 129 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:00,800 the religious construct of the day. 130 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,800 He's directly challenging all the teachers and the religious 131 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,560 leaders of the Jewish religion at that time. 132 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,800 He in fact uses a word many times in chapter 23, and that 133 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,680 word is whoa. Everybody say whoa, this is not 134 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,720 whoa like stopping a horse. This is whoa, like it would be 135 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:21,840 so much better for you if this wasn't true. 136 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,560 That would be so much better for you if this wasn't true. 137 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:26,800 It'd be so much better for you. Whoa. 138 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,520 Teachers of religion weighing down the people that are trying 139 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,520 to come to me with useless laws. That's what he was saying. 140 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,640 So he went to the Church of the day and he blew it up a bit. 141 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:42,480 And in chapter 23, he's very direct indicted them saying 142 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,120 whoa, let's end this and let's do something new. 143 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,600 In Matthew chapter 24, he is now speaking only to his disciples. 144 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,920 24 and 25 make up what is called the Olivet Discourse. 145 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,920 It means Jesus was in the Mount of Olives spending extended time 146 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,440 talking to his disciples. Now these are his early 147 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,440 disciples that will found the church. 148 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,120 So what's the context? Jesus is nearing his last 149 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,800 breath. He has moments with the church 150 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,800 he's building and he is about to teach them something 151 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,920 foundational. And he is about to say, if 152 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,800 you're going to build a church that will become my bride, it's 153 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,000 got to be different than what's already been built on the earth. 154 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,120 It's got to be completely different. 155 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,640 This is the context of Matthew chapter 25. 156 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:34,919 So what have they been asking Jesus? 157 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:38,440 They've been hearing Jesus say, I'm going to go, I'm this is 158 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,200 going to end. That temple's going to be torn 159 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,120 down. I'm going to tougher, I'm going 160 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,560 to die. And they're like, whoa, how is 161 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:48,600 this thing going to end? So they've been asking Jesus, 162 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,040 how will this end? How will we know it is the end 163 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,800 and what are we supposed to be doing? 164 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,720 And so in Matthew chapter 25, Jesus is building on a point of 165 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,600 certainty that he is going to go and he is going to return. 166 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,040 Everyone say return. And the clarity that he is 167 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,840 giving is not a specific date. It is the indisputable reality 168 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,040 that the Kingdom of heaven has been revealed and it has one 169 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,440 true king. In this time when the king 170 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,360 returns, it's not going to be in humility. 171 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:25,280 It's not going to be kind of in secret or to a small group of 172 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,000 people. What he is saying is when I come 173 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,680 back, I'm coming back in the full power, the glory of all 174 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:36,680 that I am. And when I do, it's going to be 175 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,440 clear. Now, if this gets you excited or 176 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,400 curious or even a little fearful, then I invite you to 177 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,360 come back and join our next series that's called The King is 178 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,000 Coming. It's understanding the Book of 179 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,480 Revelation and living in the light of the promise and the 180 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:58,160 love that actually gives us hope and not fear if we understand 181 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,440 what Jesus was truly trying to say in the Book of Revelation, 182 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:05,960 because the king is coming. Thank you God. 183 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,120 And in Matthew chapter 25, yes, glory to God. 184 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,840 In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus tells 3 parables. 185 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,680 We're only going to study one of them, but all three are telling 186 00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:22,440 about an element that matters most when it comes to his 187 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,640 return. And there are three parables. 188 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,520 The first, the one we're going to study today, is about the 10 189 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:32,360 bridesmaids or the 10 virgins. The second is about an issuance 190 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,640 of gold or money that was given to people to steward and what 191 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,480 they do with it. And the third parable that Jesus 192 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:43,120 uses in this series is separating a group of people 193 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:47,440 into sheep and goats. And in every parable, Jesus is 194 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,920 talking about an aspect of readiness for his return. 195 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,600 And if you're taking notes, I would invite you to write these 196 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,440 two sentences down because it's what we're going to cover today. 197 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:02,000 What we do while we wait for Jesus return matters. 198 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:08,600 But more truthfully, maybe more foundationally, who we become 199 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:12,560 while we wait will determine what we do. 200 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:14,720 And this is what Jesus is saying. 201 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,440 He's giving a mission critical question to answer today. 202 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:23,720 Now that the Kingdom has been unveiled to you, what will you 203 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:28,520 do with it in Matthew 25? One, it begins this way. 204 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:32,760 Then the Kingdom of heaven will be comparable to 10 virgins who 205 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,600 took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 206 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,040 OK, so we have wedding language here. 207 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,520 We get that bridegroom. But as modern day listeners, 208 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,160 this first sentence doesn't immediately bring understanding, 209 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:47,960 right? Anybody been to a wedding lately 210 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,720 with lamps and oil and a processional? 211 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,320 Anyone seen that? Yes, you did. 212 00:11:55,560 --> 00:11:57,480 I want to talk to you, Patrick. That's amazing. 213 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,360 That's amazing. But in general, it's not 214 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,960 something that we see in an Instagram wedding, Right? 215 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:05,320 I've seen a lot of things lately. 216 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,120 You know why we're planning a wedding. 217 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,280 I mean, I'm not planning a wedding, but someone I love is 218 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:10,720 planning a wedding. Yeah. 219 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:17,600 Yes, and my feed on Pinterest and Instagram knows we're 220 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,200 planning a wedding. Somehow I got a notification 221 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,280 this morning at like 6:00 AM that had wedding dresses on it. 222 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:25,880 I was like, you're really close, but that's not me. 223 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:30,920 So at any rate, we know contextually a lot about 224 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,560 weddings for our day, right? But things are changing. 30 225 00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:38,880 years ago when I got engaged, I I didn't have Pinterest, I 226 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,480 didn't have social media feeds, I didn't have Instagram. 227 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,840 You know what? I had magazines at the Publix 228 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,440 nearest to my house. Listen, children, there was a 229 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:50,200 day. No, I was kidding. 230 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:55,040 No, I, I went to Publix and I literally bought every magazine 231 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:56,760 that I could find, a bridal magazine. 232 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,320 And those, those pages were turned down and I found a dress 233 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,440 that I loved and, and then I found one in real life. 234 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,040 But that was way different than what happens today. 235 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,360 You know, just a few weeks ago, I was invited. 236 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:14,560 So precious, such an invitation. My daughter and I got to get on 237 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:18,520 a live stream and my future daughter-in-law invited us to be 238 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,720 a part of her Say yes to the dress moments. 239 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,360 Isn't that so kind? But I got to be in the room. 240 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,080 That wouldn't have happened 30 years ago. 241 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:30,640 Things are changing, right? And this is only a span of 30 242 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:32,680 years. What we're reading about was 243 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:36,200 2000 years ago in a completely different culture. 244 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,120 So if we're going to understand what Jesus is saying, we need a 245 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:40,640 bit more context. OK? 246 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:46,000 So in Jesus's time, in ancient biblical Jewish culture, the 247 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,480 situation for marriage went like this. 248 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,520 A bride and a bridegroom a lot of times arranged, but a bride 249 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,360 and a bridegroom would commit to each other in a ceremony called 250 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,680 a betrothal, say betrothal. Betrothal was kind of like our 251 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:01,960 engagement, except it was way more committed. 252 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,920 So they had a ceremony, they were essentially married, but 253 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,240 then they would live apart because there was a preparation 254 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:08,960 season that needed to take place. 255 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,280 But they were committed and they were married. 256 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,720 But after that betrothal, the bridegroom would go back to his 257 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,320 father's house to prepare a place that she would come and 258 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,560 live. And the idea is that the bride 259 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,280 would go and prepare herself. The bride room would go and 260 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,760 prepare the place. And when the father of the house 261 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:32,120 said, son, you're ready, go get your bride. 262 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,520 He would go. Now if you're familiar with 263 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:38,200 Scripture in the context of what Jesus has said about his return, 264 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:42,000 this should sound exciting. Because Jesus said I'm going to 265 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,600 my father's house where there's many rooms and I'm going to 266 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,520 prepare a place. And when he tells me to go, I 267 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,320 don't even know when it is. I'm going to come and get who 268 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,040 the bride and you know who the bride is. 269 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,320 It's you. It's the church that Jesus is 270 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,840 now teaching his disciples to build. 271 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:03,000 There's so much parallel here. It's so incredibly beautiful. 272 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,920 And in this parable, they're getting to the moment where the 273 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:10,080 bridegroom has been told by his father it's time to go. 274 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,200 So what's going to happen is he, during the night, is going to 275 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,560 March to where his bride is. Someone will make an 276 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,280 announcement, sometimes a shofar, sometimes a loud cry, 277 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,680 and in the darkness the bride, Bridesmaids, in this case, 278 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,600 they're called virgins. They would wake up and they 279 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,880 would be ready with their oil and their lamps to jump and go 280 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,920 meet the bridegroom, to go get the bride. 281 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,560 So in this parable, it is not about the bride or the 282 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,560 bridegroom. It's actually about the 283 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:45,080 attendance. So as we turn our attention to 284 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,280 this, we need to understand what is going on. 285 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,960 Let's continue reading in Matthew 25, verse 2. 286 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,960 So what do we learn about these bridesmaids? 287 00:15:55,200 --> 00:16:00,040 Five of them were foolish and five of them were prudent or 288 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,040 wise. Everyone say foolish and I'll 289 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,920 say wise. Jesus is saying at the end of 290 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:09,240 the age what matters the most is who you are while you wait, and 291 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,960 what you do and who you become are intricately tied. 292 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,360 Do you want to be foolish or do you want to be wise? 293 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,400 Verse 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil 294 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:24,280 with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their 295 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,040 lamps. So what made them foolish and 296 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:31,200 what made them wise was a difference in preparation. 297 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,600 Verse 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got 298 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,960 drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was the 299 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,400 shout. Remember, behold, the bridegroom 300 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,080 come out to meet him. Then all 10, all the virgins 301 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:49,000 rose and trimmed their lamps. So what's the issue here? 302 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,160 What makes them foolish and wise? 303 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,200 It wasn't that they slept. All ten of them slept, right? 304 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,400 So Jesus, when he comes back, he's already told us, keep 305 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,160 living your life. You're going to get tired, 306 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:01,760 you're going to eat, you're going to sleep, you're going to 307 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,920 wake up. But no matter what you're doing, 308 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:07,480 when you're doing it, even when you're sleeping, be ready. 309 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,000 Because the call came in the middle of the night. 310 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:15,200 And all ten of them rose, all 10 rose and trimmed their lamps. 311 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,079 The issue wasn't that the foolish didn't know how or what 312 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:24,400 to do. The issue is that they weren't 313 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:28,359 actually prepared. They had the appearance of being 314 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,200 prepared. They were in the right place 315 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,480 with the right lamps, with the equipment, but they didn't 316 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,760 maintain enough oil to make the trip. 317 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,200 We don't get to know why. We just know that they didn't 318 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:44,480 have whatever they needed. They were not prepared. 319 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:49,480 Verse 8 The foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your 320 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,440 oil, for our lamps are going out. 321 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,640 And the prudent answered, No, there will not be enough for us, 322 00:17:55,800 --> 00:18:00,680 and for you to go instead to the dealers and buy some for 323 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,600 yourselves. While they were going away to 324 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,760 make the purchase, the bridegroom came and those who 325 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:11,000 were what those who were ready went in with him to the wedding 326 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:15,480 feast and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also 327 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,680 came saying, Lord, Lord open up for us. 328 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:24,040 But he answered, truly I say to you, I do not know you. 329 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:30,320 So Jesus's words then in verse 13, be on the alert then, for 330 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,280 you do not know the day nor the hour. 331 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,040 Now it's important when we study parables, it's important to 332 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,920 understand that we must focus on what they are essentially trying 333 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,120 to teach us. Most parables have one central 334 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:47,640 .1 central theme and we don't want to focus on the things 335 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,560 they're not saying. So what is it not saying in this 336 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,640 parable? It's not saying the wise ones 337 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,680 were mean to the foolish ones and they should have shared 338 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,400 their stuff, right? It's not saying that. 339 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,120 It's also not telling us to be unkind or stingy. 340 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,160 We already read the Good Samaritan. 341 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:07,040 The Good Samaritan was generous, compassionate, merciful. 342 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:11,520 So what's going on in here? That Jesus is highlighting this 343 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:16,680 parable makes a different point. Spiritual readiness cannot be 344 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,720 borrowed. I'm going to say it again. 345 00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:24,400 Spiritual readiness cannot be borrowed from someone else. 346 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,880 Not your good friend, not your parents, not an amazing 347 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:32,800 grandmother, not not a pastor or a teacher or anyone else. 348 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:38,160 Spiritual readiness cannot be borrowed because true 349 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:42,600 discipleship isn't signing up for church membership and riding 350 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:47,080 it out until heaven. One of the greatest tensions 351 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,720 that we have in the Christian faith is actually the 352 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,840 relationship between faith and works. 353 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,760 Everyone say faith and now say works. 354 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,920 You know, we have got to make this really, really clear and 355 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:01,320 that's what we're going to do this morning. 356 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,680 Ephesians chapter 2 verses one through 10. 357 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,320 I'm about to read this passage. I want you to listen for every 358 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,440 bit of past tense language. OK, you're going to listen for 359 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:17,440 were formerly was listen for the past tense language and now 360 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,240 listen for the present tense because there's something 361 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,840 happening in this passage that relates to grace or faith and 362 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:25,880 works. You guys ready? 363 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,520 OK, verse one and you were dead in your trespasses and sins in 364 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,040 which you formerly walked according to the course of this 365 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,800 world, according to the Prince of the power of the heir of the 366 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:42,200 spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 367 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,160 So who's at work causing disobedience in the in the 368 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,920 world? The Prince of the air, the enemy 369 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,680 of God, Satan, right. Verse three among them we to all 370 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:58,480 how many of us all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, 371 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,880 indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind and where 372 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,600 by nature children of wrath, even as the rest It's all of us 373 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,520 guys. It's every one of us two amazing 374 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:12,640 words. But God being rich in mercy, 375 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,720 because of His great love with which He loved us even when we 376 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:20,840 were dead in our transgressions, made us, what are we now alive 377 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:24,440 together with Christ? By grace you have been saved. 378 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:27,000 He raised us up with Him. He seated us with Him in the 379 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:31,960 heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the kindness of God 380 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:36,800 towards us in Christ Jesus, He could show surpassing richness 381 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,000 of His grace. Verse 8. 382 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:43,840 For by grace you have been saved, period. 383 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:45,880 Oh, there's a little more, but it is a period. 384 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,320 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of 385 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:53,360 yourselves, so that it is not a result of work, so that no one 386 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:55,800 may boast. For we are his workmanship. 387 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,120 Praise God created in Christ Jesus for good works. 388 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:04,080 What did that say? We were created for good works 389 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,440 which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 390 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,120 So what's clear in this passage? It is not about what we do, it 391 00:22:12,120 --> 00:22:14,640 is about God's grace and grace alone. 392 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,960 But something about that grace is going to change something 393 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:21,560 about what we do. All three of these parables in 394 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,560 Matthew chapter 25 are about doing something. 395 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:29,240 The wise virgins had not only the lamps and knew how to trim 396 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,840 them, they had the flasks and they had enough oil. 397 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:34,760 No matter how much oil was used in whatever their day-to-day 398 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,160 life was, they had enough replenishment. 399 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,680 They had a source somewhere, like maybe the oil of His 400 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:44,440 presence, and they had oil coming up and out of them that 401 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,240 they always had enough. They were ready, the wise 402 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,000 stewards, they had the money and they invested and multiplied the 403 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,560 resource that the owner entrusted to them. 404 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,560 And then the third parable, the sheep that are separated out 405 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,480 from the goats. You know what they did? 406 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,880 They loved, they cared for, they clothed, they fed, they 407 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,400 welcomed, they hosted the most undesirable. 408 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,320 Jesus said the least of these. You did this too. 409 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,920 And you know what they said? When did we do that? 410 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:14,640 Because whatever they were doing wasn't tied to something they 411 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,840 thought they were earning. They were doing it because God 412 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,520 had transformed them. So in every one of these cases, 413 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,440 God is doing something here to make it clear and we must be 414 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,800 listening. One of the things that I 415 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,160 appreciate the most about my husband Tim, is how he stewards 416 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:35,120 our finances for our family. He overseas so well, and he 417 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,480 often will go through services or like subscriptions and things 418 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,840 and find out could we do something different and save a 419 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:44,040 little money. So after many, many years of 420 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:46,800 being with the same car insurance company, he's moved us 421 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,960 to a new insurance company and he says, hey, I need you to 422 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,480 download this app and I want you to log in and I'm going to put 423 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,040 this device in your car. Anybody know what I'm talking 424 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,400 about? And he's like, hey, we're 425 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,200 already getting a discount, but if we do really great, we'll get 426 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,920 a better discount. So the maximizer in me was like, 427 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,000 yes, I can do this. Until I started looking at the 428 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,400 scorecard. And then I was like, oh, now I'm 429 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,360 using cruise control in our 25 mile an hour neighborhood. 430 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,400 You know why? Because someone's watching, 431 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:19,920 right? When we believe someone is 432 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,960 watching us, giving us our score, I'm checking how I'm 433 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:24,680 turning. I'm checking my acceleration. 434 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,160 I'm making sure I'm turning smoothly. 435 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,800 I'm not breaking too hard, and I'm not on my phone. 436 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,560 You don't realize how many times you touch your phone until 437 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:39,080 someone's really watching you. But this is not what I'm talking 438 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,840 about with God. I'm not talking about performing 439 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,480 or manufacturing fruit because you think that God is watching. 440 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,240 What Jesus is saying in this passage and in the fullness of 441 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:55,600 the Bible is there is no true faith that doesn't change us and 442 00:24:55,600 --> 00:25:00,120 produce good works in time. But the order is critical 443 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:04,720 because Kingdom people are completely different from the 444 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:08,920 inside out. And that brings us to the part 445 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,880 of the parable that I hope we can be really honest with each 446 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,320 other. Can you guys be really honest 447 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:14,800 with me? I'll be really honest with you, 448 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:18,640 when we get to the part about the closed door and we get to 449 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:22,480 the part that five that knew him, knew him enough to say 450 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,320 Lord, Lord, it's us, let us in. And they find the door has been 451 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,080 closed and he says depart from me. 452 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,040 I don't know you. This is hard. 453 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,520 It's hard to read. It's quite possibly some of the 454 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,760 hardest passages to read and understand. 455 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:45,240 This does not feel awesome. But here's the thing, this is 456 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:52,640 Jesus clarity as kindness. This is Jesus to his disciples 457 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,240 saying you are coming out of a spirit of religion, a construct 458 00:25:56,360 --> 00:25:58,920 of laws and laws and laws and laws. 459 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:02,640 And what I am birthing in you, leaders of my future church, my 460 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:06,120 future bride, has got to be completely different. 461 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,600 And so while Jesus is saying I'm sowing these seeds generously 462 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:15,280 and I want everybody to come, if you don't decide to come, the 463 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:20,360 door is going to close. And we are in a world at an age 464 00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:23,800 where every influencer at your fingertips can tell you anything 465 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,520 that we want to hear. Yeah, it doesn't matter. 466 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:27,560 Sin. No big deal. 467 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,000 I don't know why that's going on. 468 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:30,360 Yeah, you can do whatever you want. 469 00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:32,320 Come on in. It's going to be just fine. 470 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:38,280 And Jesus, in his kindness and his mercy gave his life, offered 471 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,520 the invitation to everyone. And then in his mercy he is 472 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:46,280 saying you have to choose. You get to choose. 473 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:51,880 Please choose, but know that if you're going to teach and lead 474 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:55,400 and stand for me, you have got to tell the truth. 475 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:59,440 The door will close, the time will come, the hour will arrive 476 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,880 that He will return and He will appear on the earth. 477 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:06,600 And in that moment the entire world is going to know, because 478 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:11,400 in His fullness of glory, no one can stand people. 479 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,360 Well, either you believe in Jesus or not. 480 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,840 We'll fall on our face and say glory to God. 481 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,880 In the highest you are holy, You are who you said you were. 482 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:26,400 But God, in that moment, we'll say you're all bowing, but you 483 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:32,520 are mine and you never were. And this is a teaching that we 484 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:37,040 must wrestle with and know how to steward with urgency and 485 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:41,320 compassion, love and truth. And that's what this parable is 486 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,400 about. Jesus made it very clear. 487 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,560 So the question that we're asking today is, how do I know 488 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,400 if I'm ready? That's a great question to ask 489 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:53,880 right about now, right? How do I know? 490 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,960 Am I the wise with the oil burning? 491 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,480 Is it flowing? Will I be ready no matter when 492 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:03,240 he comes? Or am I the foolish thinking 493 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,280 that I've got everything because I have the equipment, I'm 494 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,280 showing up, I'm doing the things. 495 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:11,880 So let's ask the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, come and move, 496 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,600 bring fresh revelation, remove the veil from our eyes, let 497 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:18,720 every ear that wants to hear, every eye that wants to see, 498 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:23,480 hear and see. And if that's you say Jesus, I 499 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:28,120 want to hear, yes, yes. So I'm going to give you some 500 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:30,440 questions to ask. These are from the Holy Spirit. 501 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,640 I said, Lord, how do you want us to check? 502 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,200 And he said, how do you tell what kind of tree is growing 503 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,400 that's bearing fruit? You look at the fruit, right? 504 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,400 If I want to know what kind of tree, and I go to my friend's 505 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,960 house and they tell me it's a Peach and I see an apple, is it 506 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:48,840 a Peach tree? No, it's not what we say, it's 507 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,000 what we actually produce. And so this is the Holy Spirit 508 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,480 invitation to us today. Are you currently sensing the 509 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:01,320 Holy Spirit convicting you, causing change in your life? 510 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,080 And I don't mean like once. I mean like there's a whole 511 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:08,520 before and an after. And that before and an after is 512 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:10,480 still going in your life. You know why? 513 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,840 Because I'm still becoming sanctified in Jesus. 514 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,360 I'm still becoming more and more like Jesus. 515 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,560 You know that phrase on the wall in the lobby that says meet with 516 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:23,720 God, discover who you are in Christ, become more like Jesus 517 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,840 and lead others to do the same? We actually mean it. 518 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:32,640 Not as a phrase or a slogan or a T-shirt, as a life of walking 519 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:36,600 with Jesus. My before list, my you were 520 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,640 formerly list is constantly growing. 521 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:44,560 Not because I'm adding sin, but because he's making me more and 522 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:49,440 more and more free. And so as we look and we see 523 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,640 what is happening in our lives, what happens on Sunday mornings 524 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,960 or in groups during the week or when you read the Bible on your 525 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:01,440 own, are you being changed? Is your were list still growing? 526 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,320 This is the way Matthew 38 puts it. 527 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:08,840 Therefore, bear fruit. Remember, you're a fruit tree. 528 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,280 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 529 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,160 What that means. Repentance means to change your 530 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,240 mind. A lot of people think repentance 531 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,000 means to turn away. Turning away is what happens 532 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,240 after you change your mind, that you don't want whatever thing 533 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:25,040 you've been heading for. But repentance is the change of 534 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,440 your mind. And so if you grew up in a 535 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:32,000 household where you were taught don't give, we barely have 536 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,800 enough, right? You got to hang on to everything 537 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:36,520 you have. Don't give anything away. 538 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,360 We're living in scarcity. Then you've got to repent and 539 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,480 change your mind to this reality. 540 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,080 Your Heavenly Father owns the cattle on 1000 hills and has 541 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,440 every resource. And it doesn't mean that you're 542 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:50,120 automatically going to be rich in material sense. 543 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:52,960 It means you're already rich in every sense that matters. 544 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,800 And if you generously so and generously give, then He is 545 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:04,720 going to take care of you. But bearing fruit in keeping 546 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:08,200 with repentance means if I keep my old way of thinking, I'm 547 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,880 keeping my old fruit, right? So what if you grew up in a 548 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,120 household that taught you to perform perfect? 549 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:21,520 Do everything just right to get God's approval, indirectly or 550 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:23,400 directly? That's what I grew up with. 551 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,200 Not because anyone overtly said it to me. 552 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,320 Somehow it's what I picked up along the way. 553 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:32,160 And So what I've had to repent of what's on my were list is 554 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,880 that I'm doing anything to get God's approval, when in reality, 555 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,880 I'm doing everything from His approval that I've already had 556 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:44,040 my entire life. Do you understand how the 557 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,160 repentance changes the fruit that we're bearing? 558 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:51,000 And so the question that we're asking is, is there an ongoing 559 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,200 change going on in your life as a result of being in a 560 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:58,680 relationship with a living God and living in His active word? 561 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:02,360 Are you ready? Are you becoming completely 562 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:03,880 different? What about this? 563 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:08,040 How hard or easy is it for you to forgive people? 564 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:13,480 How hard or easy is it for you to use your resources to bless 565 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,360 people when you're not going to get any credit for it? 566 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,480 Like maybe we're good to bless as long as somebody's watching 567 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:24,680 my State Farm up. But are we good to bless and 568 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:28,160 give? And so when no one's looking but 569 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:32,320 the Father who says thank you for taking care of, thank you 570 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:37,200 for taking care of, what happens in secret, do you find yourself 571 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:40,800 aching and longing for the word of God or the presence of God? 572 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,640 Do you wake up in the morning with a song on your lips with 573 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,760 gratitude flowing? Do you wake up saying, thank 574 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:51,080 you, Lord, the hills are where I look because you are my help. 575 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:52,680 Thank you, God, that you're my shepherd. 576 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,760 I can go to sleep and I can wake up and rise knowing that you're 577 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,840 watching over me. Do you wake up with a song in 578 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,600 your heart? If not, maybe there's more for 579 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,960 you. Maybe there's more completely 580 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:07,640 different, transformative, spirit filled life that God is 581 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:09,000 offering you. Are you ready? 582 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:14,120 When people leave your presence, do they feel refreshed and 583 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,160 blessed because being near you means they've been near the 584 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:22,280 Spirit of God? Do you look at what appetites 585 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:25,200 are growing in your life and do you see a hunger for 586 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:28,360 righteousness, peace and joy? Or do you see a hunger for 587 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:31,160 wealth, status, promotion, success? 588 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:34,520 What appetites are growing in our lives? 589 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,880 Are you experiencing unexplainable power of the Holy 590 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:41,720 Spirit to do things that make no sense now? 591 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,920 I don't mean like magic and fantasy. 592 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:47,320 I mean like forgiving someone who's really wrong to you or 593 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:50,280 bearing self-control and patience in a situation that's 594 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:55,560 requiring so much endurance. Do you have an experience of the 595 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:59,600 Holy Spirit producing a new things that are not natural? 596 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:02,800 Like words of encouragement from someone who says, how did you 597 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,400 know I needed this? I didn't, but God did. 598 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:07,880 These are signs that you're ready. 599 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:09,880 They're signs that you're completely different. 600 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:11,920 And here's the last question I would ask you. 601 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:16,080 When is the last time you shared the love of Jesus with someone 602 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:18,560 else? This is a sign that we are 603 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:20,719 completely different. And I don't want you at this 604 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:24,480 point tripping over some kind of like fear based Oh my gosh, 605 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:28,320 what's wrong with me? The purpose of this is so we can 606 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:31,199 be invited in deeper. And what I want to move us 607 00:34:31,199 --> 00:34:34,760 through here today is to believe that this should be happening. 608 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,880 Romans 12/1 tells us that we can be transformed by the renewing 609 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:41,800 of our mind. And 2nd Corinthians 3 tells us 610 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:45,040 that we're being transformed into God's image from glory to 611 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:48,440 glory to glory to glory. That's that ongoing list, right? 612 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:52,920 First, John 26 says when we abide in Jesus, we ought to walk 613 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:57,000 with him. And Galatians 220 says your old 614 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,160 life has been crucified in Christ. 615 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:04,240 That's not me anymore. Now I live through God, a 616 00:35:04,240 --> 00:35:08,160 completely different life because a completely different 617 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:12,440 disciple is not doing things to earn salvation or manufacturing 618 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:15,080 good fruit, right? We're not showing up with fruit 619 00:35:15,240 --> 00:35:18,400 because we should. A completely different disciple 620 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,680 is experiencing a love relationship that causes 621 00:35:21,720 --> 00:35:25,240 overflow and transformation. So what if you're here this 622 00:35:25,240 --> 00:35:28,400 morning, you're saying I think I'm on the not ready list in 623 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,800 some way or another. I'm not overflowing. 624 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:32,800 I'm I'm not completely different yet. 625 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:35,600 You're in the right place, keep listening. 626 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,720 I want to introduce to you 3 potential blocks that could be 627 00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:42,560 blocking this readiness and this overflow. 628 00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:44,960 Completely different life. The 1st is this. 629 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:49,560 There is a chance that you are confessing with your mouth but 630 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,640 not believing in your heart. There's a chance you're 631 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,320 confessing with your mouth by coming to church or doing the 632 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:59,640 things or praying or fasting or whatever it might be, but you're 633 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,560 counting on your good works to be the transformation and your 634 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:06,160 salvation. Or you're counting on some 635 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:09,440 aspect other than the saving blood of Jesus. 636 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:14,640 Because what the Bible is clear about is that Acts 319 says 637 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:19,560 repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out. 638 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,600 And here's the completely different part than the last 639 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,880 part of that verse, that times of refreshing may come from the 640 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:29,760 Lord. When we repent and we put our 641 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:33,560 entire faith in the saving, complete work of Jesus Christ, 642 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:35,600 we stop trying to do it ourselves. 643 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:38,880 Do you know that's refreshing? The times are the refreshing 644 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:41,960 that come from the Lord, come from Him doing the work from the 645 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:44,400 inside out. And there's a chance that you 646 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,120 may not be ready because somebody told you you had to 647 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:52,040 earn it, or somebody told you sin was not a big deal. 648 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,280 What's the matter with the church anyway? 649 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:59,720 Why is the church so hung up on sin making us all feel bad? 650 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,520 Why? Because God loves us so much, He 651 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,360 doesn't want us to earn what sin earns. 652 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:10,720 He is holy and wants to be with us. 653 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:13,520 But sin is a problem. Romans 623. 654 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:14,920 Why does the church care about it? 655 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:18,720 Because God cares about it. He says what sin earns us. 656 00:37:18,720 --> 00:37:23,400 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life 657 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:28,480 in Christ Jesus our Lord. And maybe the reason you're not 658 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,920 ready or you're not completely different yet is because you've 659 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:35,160 been confused. Maybe you haven't known your 660 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,680 step of faith. Maybe you have thought like, I 661 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:40,000 was born a Christian. I've heard so many people say 662 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:43,120 that I was born a Christian. But remember, we can't borrow 663 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:45,800 someone else's spiritual readiness, right? 664 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:48,960 So if you were born into an amazing household where your 665 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,040 parents are pouring into you, praise God. 666 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:56,600 But at some point you've got to take the step to do what Romans 667 00:37:56,600 --> 00:38:00,120 10 says in verse 8. What does it say? 668 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:03,120 The word is near you, it's in your mouth, it's in your heart. 669 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:06,320 That is the message concerning faith that we proclaim. 670 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:12,360 If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in 671 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:15,400 your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be what 672 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,400 saved for. It is with your heart that you 673 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,720 believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you 674 00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:23,960 profess your faith and are saved. 675 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:28,920 It takes both the internal belief and then the movement of 676 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:33,200 our body to confess and live it. So what is Jesus saying? 677 00:38:33,280 --> 00:38:35,880 If you're not ready, if you've never believed in your heart, 678 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:39,920 confess with your mouth. You might need salvation, and 679 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:43,920 today we're going to offer it. Praise God, today might be your 680 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:47,240 day for salvation. Yes, but the second reason you 681 00:38:47,240 --> 00:38:50,520 might be blocked from being ready or completely different is 682 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:52,800 maybe nobody has taught you how to grow up. 683 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:57,280 Maybe nobody taught you that discipleship is putting your 684 00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:01,600 entire life under the authority of Jesus, consistently allowing 685 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:05,360 him to examine you by the Spirit, and transforming you in 686 00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:10,280 an ongoing way more and more and more into the image of Jesus. 687 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:13,200 Let today be the day that you know. 688 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:16,640 Today you remember that phrase like I am today, years old, when 689 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:22,400 I learned God intended for your salvation to be a now moment and 690 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,720 an ongoing process of sanctification. 691 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:27,800 He intended for you to be sealed and promised and marked for the 692 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:31,960 day of eternity and continue to be transformed into His image. 693 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:34,160 And we want to teach you how to do that. 694 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,920 So if you're here today and you're ready for that, it's 695 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:38,960 called discipleship. We're going to teach you. 696 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,280 And the third possible block that I would say could be in 697 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:46,440 your life keeping you from being ready, from the oil of presence 698 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:50,520 flowing in your life and being completely different is a lack 699 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:53,000 of freedom. What do I mean by that? 700 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:57,840 When we have bitterness, unforgiveness, when we have 701 00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:01,960 anger, when we have trauma, when we're holding on to things, 702 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:05,160 wounds and hurts that are blocking us from the free 703 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:08,360 flowing power of the Holy Spirit, we may not be living 704 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:10,880 completely different. Because I don't have to go very 705 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,960 far to find anger and bitterness and unforgiveness in the world, 706 00:40:13,960 --> 00:40:17,560 do you? So if that is in your life, what 707 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:21,520 I want to encourage you is that God wants to heal and remove 708 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:25,760 that block. Ephesians 431 and 32 say it this 709 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,200 way. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, 710 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:34,760 anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. 711 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:39,000 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other 712 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:43,160 just as in Christ God forgave you. 713 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:49,600 Do you know 2nd Corinthians 210 and 11 connects unforgiveness, 714 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:55,080 our unforgiveness with giving Satan an advantage over us. 715 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:30,800 disciples had these critical moments with him and they wanted 716 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:32,880 to know Jesus, how is it going to end? 717 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:35,920 And Jesus did not ignore their question. 718 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:38,680 But you know what he told them. It doesn't matter so much the 719 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:41,000 day and the time. That's not really what matters. 720 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:46,240 It's going to happen. But what matters is how you 721 00:41:46,240 --> 00:41:49,480 wait. And how you wait will be a 722 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:54,440 result of who you become. Because Kingdom of heaven people 723 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:58,760 are becoming completely different because we actually 724 00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:03,200 carry the Kingdom within us. And when we do this, do you know 725 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:07,640 what happens when you become a Kingdom bearing fruit, bearing 726 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:13,080 disciple in a broken world? You unveil the Kingdom for 727 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:15,960 everyone around you. Jesus's plan when he was 728 00:42:15,960 --> 00:42:19,240 building the church into these foundational leaders of these 729 00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:21,880 disciples is you're going to build a completely different 730 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:25,360 church and you are going to embody the Kingdom of heaven. 731 00:42:25,360 --> 00:42:28,560 And everywhere that you go, you will reveal the Kingdom of 732 00:42:28,560 --> 00:43:14,720 heaven, the Father's heart, hearing, but make space for the 733 00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:17,560 Holy Spirit to show each of us how to respond? 734 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:22,040 So now is the moment. This parable fits into a series 735 00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:24,200 of parables called crisis parables. 736 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:26,960 It's meant to make us a little uncomfortable, right? 737 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:28,600 Why? To hurt us? 738 00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:31,040 No. Everybody say no, right? 739 00:43:31,040 --> 00:43:34,560 Because clarity is kindness. Jesus is saying today is the 740 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,120 day. Stop borrowing someone else's 741 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:40,360 spiritual readiness. Today is the day for you to find 742 00:43:40,360 --> 00:44:10,680 freedom to begin discipleship place, three days if you're a 743 00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:13,960 woman here to come and and learn how to become completely 744 00:44:13,960 --> 00:44:16,120 different with a bunch of people that want to do that too. 745 00:44:16,280 --> 00:44:18,000 You should sign up. I really mean it. 746 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:20,320 You should sign up. But this is what she said and it 747 00:44:20,320 --> 00:44:23,360 relates to any step of faith that you take, whether it's 748 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:27,120 coming to conference or coming forward or getting baptized like 749 00:44:27,120 --> 00:44:28,440 we're going to experience in a moment. 750 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:32,200 She said it's such a God moment right now. 751 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:35,200 Her friend was texting her. She said, because I'm terrified. 752 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:38,240 I signed up to go to a women's event tomorrow night, the one we 753 00:44:38,240 --> 00:44:58,160 had in February, and she's am afraid that I had to be in a 754 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:01,040 different place in my faith than I was at the time to be 755 00:45:01,040 --> 00:45:05,800 qualified to go or do or say yes, or be free or be completely 756 00:45:05,800 --> 00:45:08,480 different. I had no idea what that women's 757 00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:10,840 night was even going to be. But when I woke up the next 758 00:45:10,840 --> 00:45:13,240 morning, something told me I had to go. 759 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:17,400 And now I can say that night, that step changed my life. 760 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:20,840 This is what it looked like. I saw women on the panel speak 761 00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:23,800 about the Bible, their relationships with God, and 762 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:26,320 about Illuminate, and it blew my mind. 763 00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:30,160 It cracked the wall that had been around my heart for years. 764 00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:32,520 And here's maybe the most important sentence. 765 00:45:32,800 --> 00:45:38,520 That night made me feel safe. Safe for the first time in 766 00:45:38,520 --> 00:45:40,600 years. I felt hopeful about the 767 00:45:40,600 --> 00:45:45,120 relationship I could have with God and entrusting a church to 768 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:48,320 help guide me. And she said that night will 769 00:45:48,320 --> 00:45:52,440 forever live in my mind as the event that changed the direction 770 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:55,600 of my life. And So what I'm saying to you 771 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:57,680 today is don't just listen to me. 772 00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:04,200 Don't just listen to me. Listen to a woman who was right 773 00:46:04,200 --> 00:46:07,240 where you are hanging back saying that's for the people 774 00:46:07,240 --> 00:46:10,520 that have it all together. That's for the pastors, the 775 00:46:10,520 --> 00:46:31,600 leaders. close service a little bit 776 00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:35,280 differently today. I want you to linger and I 777 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:37,760 actually want you to linger and not rush or worry. 778 00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:41,280 Your children are being well cared for and they know the the 779 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:43,160 ministry over there is going to continue. 780 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:47,200 Often when we close service and we offer salvation, we do it 781 00:46:47,320 --> 00:46:50,760 with everybody praying together and there's absolutely nothing 782 00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:53,920 wrong with that. But today we want to make it so 783 00:46:53,920 --> 00:47:10,840 clear as The invitation is here. 784 00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:13,080 Come forward and pray with one of our prayer ministers. 785 00:47:13,720 --> 00:47:18,120 If you know that you are on the cusp of a real discipleship 786 00:47:18,120 --> 00:47:21,640 journey following Jesus and you want someone to teach you how 787 00:47:21,800 --> 00:47:24,400 and walk with you, come forward and pray with one of these 788 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:25,680 prayer ministers. Yes. 789 00:47:26,200 --> 00:47:29,080 And the final thing is, if you know there is a block in your 790 00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:32,920 life, life unforgiveness, bitterness, a sin that you can't 791 00:47:32,920 --> 00:47:37,240 break and you need freedom to bust wide open, come forward and 792 00:47:37,240 --> 00:47:39,400 pray with one of our prayer ministers. 793 00:47:39,680 --> 00:47:42,960 If you would linger and let the Holy Spirit speak, 794 00:48:13,280 --> 00:48:14,200 freedom, Jesus.