1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,600 Welcome To The River. City Church podcast and a 2 00:00:03,608 --> 00:00:07,700 message by our lead. Pastor Jason Powers our prayer 3 00:00:07,700 --> 00:00:11,100 is that this message would Inspire and encourage you, build 4 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:16,200 your faith and point you to the life-changing love Jesus, may 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,400 you enjoy the goodness of God as you follow him today? 6 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,700 Hi everybody. Hey, listen. 7 00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:41,400 Before we're going to do our, our confession, we're going to 8 00:00:41,408 --> 00:00:44,700 do that in just a second, but before I have to, I have to say 9 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:45,600 something like to address something. 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,800 So first of all, Jesus loves you, that's the most important 11 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,200 and everything gets filtered through that. 12 00:00:53,300 --> 00:00:56,100 Fortunately or, unfortunately, in certain moments, I get to be 13 00:00:56,100 --> 00:01:00,300 his mouthpiece and I am less perfect than he is. 14 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,200 And so, last week we were talking about We're talking 15 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,700 about all kinds of and I made a comment that that was not 16 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:09,900 necessarily untrue but maybe could have been delicate. 17 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:14,500 Here's the thing about a stage here, it resists. 18 00:01:14,500 --> 00:01:17,500 Nuance just utterly, right? Like cause you got to talk to a 19 00:01:17,508 --> 00:01:20,200 lot of people so it's Hardy. So here's the deal last week. 20 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:22,000 We're talking about, we're kind of talking about marriage and 21 00:01:22,008 --> 00:01:26,800 staying on the side and I talked about divorce boy, if there's a 22 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,100 subject that needs some Nuance, huh, right? 23 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:32,800 I spent about 14 seconds on it, right? 24 00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:35,300 But not that you can't say everything that there is to say 25 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:38,200 about that, in that time, needless to say, I just didn't. 26 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,900 And so, so here's the idea, the idea that we kind of said last 27 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:43,700 week was like, man, if your marriage is in trouble, if 28 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:46,800 you're being abused, if you are being, you know, whatever, get 29 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,300 out like leave the Lord, didn't create you to be a punching bag 30 00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:50,300 and it kind of left it like that. 31 00:01:50,300 --> 00:01:54,200 And what that didn't do is leave a lot of context for a lot of 32 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,600 other really, really hard things in marriage aside, from raising 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,800 kids, being married is the hardest thing that I've ever 34 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,400 Ever done that. I'm continue to do it. 35 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,800 I have a really, really great wife, right? 36 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:09,500 It's even harder for her than it is for me because she doesn't 37 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:11,000 get to be married to herself. She has to be married to me, 38 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,700 right? So, here's the thing that I want 39 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:16,000 to say, here's where I think, sometimes we can look over the 40 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:17,300 time, right. I think maybe the church has 41 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:18,700 lost some of her moral voice and culture. 42 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:21,700 One of the reasons I think that comes from is I think it's not 43 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:25,000 enough for the church to say that's bad, don't do that, 44 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,300 right? Because underneath all of this 45 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:33,000 is in my heart is sin and left to my own devices that's in is 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,500 going to come out telling somebody to not sin it's you 47 00:02:36,500 --> 00:02:37,800 might as well just sell them flap. 48 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,900 Your arms and fly to Tuscaloosa. Can't get there from here, 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,300 right? So here's what I want to say. 50 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,800 If you're married, if you are in a relationship and your today 51 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,100 going, it's harder than I think I can bear and navigate what I 52 00:02:52,100 --> 00:02:54,000 want you to do. Like we talked about last week 53 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:59,200 is not give up hope, but I want you to know is there's help you 54 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,200 don't have to figure it out by yourself. 55 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,900 What I I promise you is as your church as his congregation. 56 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,400 We want to help you promises. I can make no judgment. 57 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:13,000 We don't judge. That's not what we do because 58 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:14,900 it's hard and because we all need help. 59 00:03:14,900 --> 00:03:16,600 We will stand with you and we will walk with you. 60 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:19,700 We will my promises we will point to Jesus as Faithfully as 61 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:21,800 we can. And that may be difficult for 62 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,000 you and that may he may say some things that you don't want to 63 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,400 hear, but I promise you, I have seen it happen. 64 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,000 When people say I'm not quitting. 65 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:32,800 I'm going to fight for this and we're going to figure this out. 66 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:35,800 You can make it and we want to help hearing will you raise your 67 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,600 hand? This is Harry and Karen Taylor. 68 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,200 They are a part of caring. You can raise your hand to, as 69 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,000 well. They are part of our marriage 70 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,600 Ministry, they head up our marriage Ministry, there's help, 71 00:03:43,900 --> 00:03:46,300 we can get you counseling, we can get talk to, we can send 72 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:48,100 you, we all kinds of things that we can do. 73 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,700 So if that's you, if you left last week, feeling beat up. 74 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:54,100 Listen, that's me. That's not the Kingdom, right? 75 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:56,200 Jesus will talk to you. Jesus will say things that will 76 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,300 feel like conviction. It may offend you and hurt your 77 00:03:58,300 --> 00:04:00,500 feelings, whatever. But Jesus will lead you to life. 78 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:04,000 Okay. So if I if If I was in delicate 79 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,100 last week, and you walked out feeling beat up instead or 80 00:04:08,100 --> 00:04:12,100 judged, instead of loved and encourage that's on me, please 81 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:15,000 forgive me for that, I'll do my best not to do that anymore. 82 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:17,899 Good, which brings us to our it seems like a good time for our 83 00:04:17,899 --> 00:04:21,500 confession, right? Our confession as the church is 84 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:27,700 we are badly broken. Yes, you are Grace and peace to 85 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:29,300 you. You know, what made me think 86 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:32,800 about that this week, I had a guy who is a friend of mine 87 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:33,900 called me on the phone and just go. 88 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:37,800 Jason, I love you, you know, I love you, right? 89 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,700 Is it, hey, can you think about this? 90 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:45,000 And I did and he was right. And that's a faithful friend, 91 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:46,700 that's a trusted, that's a trusted brother. 92 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:50,100 So you can be that kind of brother to write in love, talk 93 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:52,800 to people. My brother face, a choice that 94 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:54,600 day, he made a choice and it paid off good. 95 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,300 That is what life is about the life that you're in right now is 96 00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:00,800 a product of the choices that you've made. 97 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:02,500 Do you live here? Do you live somewhere else? 98 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:04,000 Do you work here or do you work somewhere else? 99 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,200 You go to college here and you go to college somewhere else, or 100 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,300 do not go to college at all. What do you do with your parents 101 00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:12,100 relationship? What do you do with your 102 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:13,600 friends? How do you spend your time? 103 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:16,800 How do you spend your money? It reminds me of my favorite 104 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,900 poem by Robert Frost. I'm sure you've heard it was 105 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:21,100 studied, right? Two roads, diverged, in a yellow 106 00:05:21,100 --> 00:05:23,600 wood. And sorry, I could not travel 107 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,100 both and be one. Traveler long, I stood and 108 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:28,300 looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the 109 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:31,000 undergrowth. And some of that is and I took 110 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,300 the One Less Traveled by and that has made all the 111 00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:37,800 difference, the decisions that we make lead us on paths and 112 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,700 those paths lead us directions and they get us somewhere. 113 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:42,000 So the questions are the question. 114 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,800 I have for you is what are the decisions that you've made in 115 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,700 your life that have been most impactful? 116 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,300 What are the things? What are the decisions? 117 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:51,900 The choices that you've made that have guided and shaped your 118 00:05:51,900 --> 00:05:53,500 life? Here's another question. 119 00:05:53,700 --> 00:05:56,200 Do you remember me? In those choices, or did you 120 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,600 wake up one day? And just realize that you had 121 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,500 made a choice that changed, everything. 122 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,600 And you felt stuck maybe or you feel caught or you felt lost 123 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,400 This is relevant and big because we have to make a choice. 124 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,700 What we do with Jesus's teaching in The Sermon on the Mount, 125 00:06:13,900 --> 00:06:16,400 because it confronts us at every turn. 126 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,400 It confronts us with a reality that it's not, okay, to just 127 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:20,900 have it on the outside, it's not. 128 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:23,300 Okay. To just choose some good things 129 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:24,800 and go do those. Good things? 130 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,900 Jesus is Calling his invitation to us, is to be made good from 131 00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:32,100 the inside out, and that's harder to work harder to do and 132 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:38,300 it's often Invisible often difficult to see. 133 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:40,900 So what do we do with the Sermon on the Mount? 134 00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:45,000 When we read Jesus saying if you call a brother, if you tell a 135 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:49,400 brother, you fool, You've committed murder. 136 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:50,900 Do we have a choice to do? What do we do? 137 00:06:50,900 --> 00:06:52,500 There we go. Jesus, you're just being crazy. 138 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:55,100 You're just being yet. Stop exaggerating Jesus, not 139 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:57,600 that bad or do we believe him and look at him, just go, that's 140 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,600 a big thing that I need to check in the question becomes. 141 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,500 If I harbored that on my heart, do I have pain and hurt and 142 00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:06,100 wounds in my heart? Do try to do both, do you go? 143 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:08,500 Oh well I'll just tolerate a little bit of content in my 144 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:09,900 heart. I'll be mad at people. 145 00:07:09,900 --> 00:07:11,800 I won't lie people. All be really kind of loud and 146 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,500 obnoxious and public spaces, but I'll go to church all, you know, 147 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:17,700 and we'll figure that Jesus Will Make A Deal me and Are you 148 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:21,700 making deals with Jesus? See, the problem is if we find 149 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:25,400 ourselves or if we believe we are, or if we feel like we are 150 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:30,200 in a position to negotiate with Jesus on the kingdom terms, that 151 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,700 means that we make some day. Are you ready? 152 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:35,000 That means if we're like Jesus like, hey, how about this? 153 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,200 Jesus, you give a little here and I'll give a little bit here, 154 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,900 and I'll get a little bit here. We may find, we may come to find 155 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:46,700 some day that Judgment day will be a surprise to many. 156 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:53,500 We may find that the choices that we have made come to bear 157 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:57,500 on Judgement Day and here's the deal, I say all the time, the 158 00:07:57,500 --> 00:08:00,200 mortality rate for the human race continues to hover right 159 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,400 around 100 percent. And the uncomfortable truth is 160 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,400 on the day that we die on the day that we stand there and we 161 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:12,500 take our last breath, we will have chosen the choices of Our 162 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:15,400 Lives will have been made and we will stand and listen, you may 163 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,000 not believe in eternity and that's okay. 164 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,600 There are certain things that exist Our list of what we feel 165 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,800 about them and what we believe them. 166 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,800 But what so what I believe in what I'm pointing to and we 167 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,400 talked about him, scripture is on that day, when life ends, we 168 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,200 will have chosen. And so the question is, what do 169 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:37,400 we choose is a little scary the prospect of standing before God 170 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:41,000 one day and having it not go. Maybe the way that we think it 171 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,100 should or the way that we feel would. 172 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:45,700 Maybe it gets you a little uncomfortable, right? 173 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:47,800 So who's that for who are the people that are going to be 174 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,000 surprised? Now, here's the thing that I 175 00:08:49,008 --> 00:08:51,200 want to tell you've got, we've got to settle this right up 176 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,800 front. You don't have to wonder, you 177 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,600 don't have to guess, you don't have to be biting your nails. 178 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,600 And the Heavenly line. There is a way that you can be 179 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,600 assured. That what is just not everybody 180 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:01,900 believes it. So how can we find that? 181 00:09:01,900 --> 00:09:03,100 What are we going to find Jesus stood? 182 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:05,200 And remember, he's been talking from the beginning, right? 183 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,000 He started with repent and this idea of repentance is like to 184 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,300 turn around to walk a different way. 185 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,900 The very context of the word repentance means a direction 186 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:17,400 change. So Jesus said, change directions 187 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,800 because the kingdom is here. And so the And then becomes, if 188 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,400 you don't change directions, if there is no Direction, Change 189 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,700 whatsoever, what really has happened. 190 00:09:28,500 --> 00:09:31,500 And so, Jesus is painting this big picture of life in the 191 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:35,600 Kingdom of life, where we discipline our discontent, where 192 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:39,000 we discipline, our anger, where we discipline our 193 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,800 self-righteousness, and we worship Him and we humble 194 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,600 ourselves, and we navigate, and we nurture, and we seek out and 195 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,300 we repair the relationships and Jesus stands before. 196 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,400 His disciples who had would have heard this, and they would have 197 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,400 been perplexed for sure. And Jesus says this enter 198 00:09:56,400 --> 00:10:00,400 through the narrow gate for wide, is the gate and Broad is 199 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,100 the road that leads to destruction and many many enter 200 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:05,900 through it. But small is the gate and narrow 201 00:10:05,900 --> 00:10:10,200 is the road that leads to life and only a few find it. 202 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,100 People are going to be surprised on Judgement Day or people that 203 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:16,400 take the path of least spiritual resistance. 204 00:10:17,100 --> 00:10:18,800 Maybe the good news. Is that on that day? 205 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,400 That we stand. For Jesus, there's going to be a 206 00:10:20,408 --> 00:10:23,500 big, huge wide open gate, and it's probably going to have big 207 00:10:23,500 --> 00:10:26,800 like, curlicue metal like lots of good iron works right. 208 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:28,900 Apparently st. Peter's going to be there, 209 00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:29,500 right? That's good. 210 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,100 This is what we're expecting and what we imagine is we're going 211 00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:34,500 to come and we're gonna stand and we're going to have all of 212 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:36,900 our baggage with us. Right? 213 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,500 All of our insecurities, we're going to bring all these and we 214 00:10:39,508 --> 00:10:42,500 go hey I'm going to need you. Jesus to accommodate all these 215 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:44,100 things right. Like I need to listen, I'm 216 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:46,500 afraid of people so I don't really like to have to get 217 00:10:46,500 --> 00:10:48,900 involved with people, right? And the good news is on the 218 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:50,700 wide. Gay on The Wide road, is a whole 219 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:52,200 bunch of people that are walking going. 220 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:55,300 Yeah, me too, I'm insecure too. Let's hurry. 221 00:10:55,300 --> 00:10:57,200 And let's get in and so, you just go good. 222 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:01,100 I can bring all of my stuff, all of my sin and all of my fear and 223 00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:03,000 all of my Prejudice and hatred of my anger. 224 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,700 I can bring all of that because there's plenty of room through 225 00:11:05,700 --> 00:11:07,200 the gate. And you know how I know we're 226 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,900 going to believe that because Jesus said the kingdom is here 227 00:11:09,900 --> 00:11:12,300 and there's all kinds of Christians that do that now. 228 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:16,900 We're told is the path is Broadwell. 229 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:19,400 Paid lots of room. You can walk six, but six beside 230 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,200 right. Lots of room for us, to hold on 231 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,300 to our failures and our weaknesses, and our sins, and 232 00:11:24,300 --> 00:11:27,300 our preferences in our things. Jesus said, but there's another 233 00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:32,000 way a narrow road and it's like hidden like the big like the big 234 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,700 girls got like, blinking lights and flashing, signs and music, 235 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:37,800 right Thunder to write and draw on everybody. 236 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,100 And then you gotta leave that and you gotta go walking, you 237 00:11:40,108 --> 00:11:42,900 got to go hon through the woods and you find there's this little 238 00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:44,500 narrow path. You look like Even know. 239 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:48,000 That's a gate and it's stick and it's wood and it's like this 240 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,100 big, right? So you got to like narrow 241 00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:51,100 through it. You just like, okay I'm just 242 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:53,700 gonna bring one insecurity all but it won't come. 243 00:11:53,700 --> 00:11:56,000 It won't go and see your like so now you stand back and now you 244 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:00,700 got a choice. It's easier over there and you 245 00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:03,800 read my Bible, I can do my quiet time, I can go to church, I do I 246 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:05,900 can go over there, that's one that lets me have some stuff, 247 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:09,700 but if I come here, I have to leave everything. 248 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:12,800 And so you make your choice and you go. 249 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,600 Yeah. So you leave your stuff and you, 250 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:15,600 oh my gosh. How am I going to live? 251 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,700 Without that, that it secures protected me and it's made me 252 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:19,600 look. So you just squeeze through the 253 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,100 Geitner, right? You're sucking, then you get 254 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:24,000 through, oh, and you give me like, oh, and you're looking 255 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,200 back. Like, oh my gosh, how am I ever 256 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:26,700 going to make that? And you turn around, you know 257 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:28,300 what? Jesus is right there. 258 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,600 Hey, let's go. Yeah, but Jesus almost like he's 259 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,000 like that. Let's go. 260 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,700 Come on, and you start walking and then you get to some, then 261 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:38,600 there's another person there. And there aren't a lot of people 262 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,100 read, says, Narrows the get rough. 263 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:42,400 You, or Any walking, fine. And another person. 264 00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:44,500 And this is a person that, you know, they're they're bigger 265 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:46,500 than you, or they're better looking than you or whatever it 266 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:48,700 is, that makes you insecure. Whatever it is that makes you 267 00:12:48,700 --> 00:12:50,800 feel like you're less than and you see him coming in. 268 00:12:50,808 --> 00:12:54,400 You're like, Jesus hide me. And she's like, no, I'm proud of 269 00:12:54,408 --> 00:12:55,700 you. Come on, you're mine. 270 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:57,700 You're with me and you like, oh God, if they see me there and 271 00:12:57,700 --> 00:13:00,100 Kami, right? And she says, we live wide open 272 00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:02,400 here. You're going to have to trust 273 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,300 me. The Kingdom of Heaven is at 274 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:05,000 hand. It's here. 275 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,100 It's now we can choose that and live that now and the only 276 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:13,300 reason, the only way we do that, That is because Jesus see the 277 00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:16,300 crowded path where you bring all your stuff and you make all your 278 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:18,100 provision. I got got my wallet, I got all 279 00:13:18,100 --> 00:13:19,400 my money, I had everything I need. 280 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,500 I can provide for myself, I got a good line of credit. 281 00:13:21,500 --> 00:13:23,000 I got a good job, I got to do all that. 282 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:24,100 I got my sins, and I mean security. 283 00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:25,200 So nobody takes advantage of you. 284 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:26,800 Nobody hurts me and everything's good. 285 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:29,400 The good news about that is, you don't even need Jesus for that. 286 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,000 So if you choose that, just go, you don't even need to be here 287 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:36,300 though on Sundays because you can carry all your stuff with 288 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:38,800 you through life. You can take all of your stuff. 289 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:43,000 But what Jesus said is give it Me what Jesus said is Follow Me 290 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,500 Jesus said, take the gate right? Take the narrow gate because on 291 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:48,700 the narrow gate, you're never alone and it's not like just a 292 00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:51,300 map to get where you're going. You've got a guide on the guide 293 00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:55,500 is well God himself, who loves you, who left eternity to come, 294 00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:58,300 find you and it come chase you. And so, if you don't want to be 295 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:00,900 surprised on Judgement Day, the big question that we have to 296 00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:03,600 ask, is what are you doing with Jesus? 297 00:14:04,300 --> 00:14:06,000 Not what do you believe about Jesus? 298 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,800 What are you doing with Jesus? Because Jesus said, follow me, 299 00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:12,800 So do we follow Jesus, or do we forget him. 300 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,500 We follow Jesus, or do we fight with him? 301 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,700 Do we follow Jesus, and we call them out. 302 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:19,700 Do we argue with him? Do we Heckle with him? 303 00:14:19,700 --> 00:14:22,800 Here's the question. Now again, I'm not going to 304 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,300 assume that you're that you're a Jesus follower. 305 00:14:25,500 --> 00:14:27,000 I don't, I don't make that assumption. 306 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,400 So if you're here and you're not a Christian and you haven't 307 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,000 been, then you are welcome here. This is a great place, you can 308 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,800 hear. And you can you can you know, 309 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:35,800 find what we're talking about and get the secret code words 310 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,200 and all that stuff. It'll be good, right? 311 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:38,900 But for those, if you are a Believer, if you've been to 312 00:14:38,908 --> 00:14:41,700 believe even if you just been a believer, Jesus and a follower 313 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:44,100 of Jesus for 10 minutes. The question is how is Jesus 314 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:46,800 changed? You has there been any 315 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,700 different? Let's talk specifically based on 316 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:50,200 some of the Sermon on the Mount stuff. 317 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:54,100 Can you name anybody that used to be an enemy that is now 318 00:14:54,100 --> 00:14:57,200 closed? Can you name somebody that you 319 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:01,100 used to keep at arm's length? And at arm's distance who you 320 00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:05,000 have now loved and started to serve and built a relationship 321 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:09,300 with, if none. If there's nobody, we have to 322 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:11,800 ask the question. Jesus told us to love our 323 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,100 neighbors, to love our enemies and to go after, and he painted 324 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:17,800 the picture again, you know, of God, the father and the prodigal 325 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,300 son in Luke chapter, 16, he chasing after the Sun. 326 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:23,700 And if that's what God is like, and if we're following him, then 327 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:26,500 we should have some of that too. Who are the people? 328 00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:29,900 Who don't know Jesus. That you have a burden for that 329 00:15:29,900 --> 00:15:35,000 you care, deeply about you pray and love, and serve, and talk to 330 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,600 because Jesus is loving and serving and talking to and 331 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:44,100 inviting people as well. So the question is, what are we 332 00:15:44,100 --> 00:15:47,600 doing with Jesus? Because believing in is not the 333 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:53,100 same as believing believing. Jesus means following him 334 00:15:53,100 --> 00:15:56,600 because Jesus said my father in Knows what you need and he'll 335 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,600 provide all of that. My father in Heaven, takes care 336 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,300 of the flowers. My Father in Heaven, takes care 337 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:03,900 of the birds, won't he take care of you too. 338 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:08,300 And you go, yes, Jesus. He will do then, I want you to 339 00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:10,200 go love that person that can do that Jesus. 340 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,400 Because that's dangerous. Jesus says, but you just told me 341 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,100 that you believe me that it was going to be safe. 342 00:16:16,100 --> 00:16:18,000 I do, but that's the danger. You see? 343 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,300 Believing Jesus leads us the following him and it will lead 344 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:27,900 us to Gaspard sometimes and go and get it in the, you get it. 345 00:16:27,900 --> 00:16:29,500 It's gonna be terrible and then you find out. 346 00:16:29,500 --> 00:16:31,400 Oh my gosh. Once again, Jesus has come 347 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,500 through. What are you doing with Jesus? 348 00:16:33,500 --> 00:16:36,600 Are you just believing in him or you following him? 349 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,800 Are you going where he goes? And this is a sobering thought. 350 00:16:39,900 --> 00:16:42,200 This is a challenge to me. I have Back here, we can just 351 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:43,100 go. What am I doing? 352 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,700 Am I following you? Lord does my life look more like 353 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,700 you than it did back then and so now you start going okay well 354 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,400 how do I follow? What does that look like? 355 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,000 Is that sobering thought right? Well The Company You Keep 356 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,100 matters. I try to tell my kids this all 357 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:56,700 the time, right? Then that's one of the biggest 358 00:16:56,700 --> 00:16:58,800 things about, you know, as they're kind of growing up, is, 359 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,800 man, the friends that you make matter, you become the friends 360 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,000 that you are not to remind myself. 361 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,000 Well, I should tell myself that as well, right? 362 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,800 Because Jesus talks about this as he goes. 363 00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:11,900 And verse, 15, 13 says, watch out for false prophets. 364 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,300 They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly, they are 365 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:18,099 ferocious wolves. So the idea of a prophet is a 366 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:20,900 prophet is not a person who tells the Future, Okay? 367 00:17:21,099 --> 00:17:24,700 A prophet is a person who speaks God's word, the kind of the 368 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:28,800 calling card of profit is thus, says, the Lord God says this. 369 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,400 So when a prophet speaks, it comes untrue. 370 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,300 And so, what Jesus is saying here, is that not everybody who 371 00:17:36,300 --> 00:17:40,700 claims to speak Or God actually does speak for God. 372 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:43,700 Watch out for false prophets. Now, here's one of the times, I 373 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:46,400 love when Jesus like tries to make a point because Jesus is 374 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,900 typically pretty succinct, right? 375 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:50,700 He speaks his words and his and it comes through Jesus right 376 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:56,600 here just flat starts rambling. He says the same thing like 16 377 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:58,400 different ways. Ready notice the thing that he 378 00:17:58,408 --> 00:18:01,000 says, what does he say by their fruit? 379 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,400 You will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from 380 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,500 thornbushes or figs from thistles likewise, every Good 381 00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:08,700 tree Bears. Good fruit. 382 00:18:08,700 --> 00:18:10,400 But a bad tree Bears. Bad fruit. 383 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:12,900 A good tree cannot bear, bad fruit and a bad tree. 384 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:14,100 Cannot bear. Good fruit. 385 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:15,500 Every tree that does not bear good. 386 00:18:15,500 --> 00:18:17,400 Fruit to come down and thrown into the fire. 387 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:19,900 Thus, by their fruit. You will recognize them. 388 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:22,500 What do you think? Jesus is main idea in this is 389 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,500 fruit. Fruit. 390 00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:28,700 It's like you keep saying it didn't even sound like a word 391 00:18:28,700 --> 00:18:30,000 anymore, right? Fruit fruit. 392 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:31,400 Fruit fruit, right? What does that mean? 393 00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:36,900 well, this isn't just for profits. 394 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:42,100 People are going to be surprised on Judgement Day when they don't 395 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:48,100 evaluate based on fruit, but they evaluate based on something 396 00:18:48,100 --> 00:18:53,000 else. Anything else volume, right. 397 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,600 That's a method that I use a lot, right? 398 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,600 Try to get you to believe me. I'm just going to talk louder. 399 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:02,800 Sometimes anger, right? I can get you angry and if I can 400 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,200 convince you that somebody else is the bad guy that I can make 401 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,100 you angry at them. And I can make you side with me 402 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:09,700 and I can make you get with me. But what Jesus said is that it's 403 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:13,000 not how many Bible verses a person memorizes, a person can 404 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,400 be Wicked thoroughly and decidedly Wicked. 405 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,200 In their heart and memorize every verse in this Bible. 406 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,600 And you wouldn't know a person can call everybody brother a 407 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,600 brother and they can have a Caleb sticker and a Jesus fish 408 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,100 on their car and they can wear all of Shirts and they can go 409 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,200 all the places and do all of the things. 410 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,300 But at the end of the day, it's not about that. 411 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,600 It's not about your shirt, it's not about the sticker on your 412 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,400 car, it's about what's in your heart, right? 413 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,800 So what is your life producing? What does you're like? 414 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,600 What is the fruit of your life look like? 415 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,600 And not only you, the people that you're listening to because 416 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,600 what Paul said is the fruit of the spirit, right? 417 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,800 The fruit of a fig tree is what. Good. 418 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,100 That was good. The first try to get in the try. 419 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:55,700 Another one. The fruit of a grapevine is the 420 00:19:55,700 --> 00:19:58,500 fruit of the. Holy spirit is joy. 421 00:19:58,500 --> 00:20:00,000 Peace patience. Kindness goodness, faithfulness. 422 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,600 Gentleness self-control all those things. 423 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:04,400 Now what does a great Vine have to do to produce grapes? 424 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,200 Nope. Do you know what a grapevine has 425 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:15,400 to do to produce grapes? Be planted in the ground and 426 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,400 stay healthy and it will just come out. 427 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:27,500 So when Paul says, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, 428 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,400 patience. Kindness goodness, faithfulness. 429 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,700 Gentleness self-control. He says, against these things, 430 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:35,700 there is no law. Here's what that means. 431 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:38,300 When we touched on this before, that means that as a follower of 432 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:42,700 Jesus, not only are you allowed, but you are supposed to love 433 00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:45,600 everybody. You see in a way that other 434 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,900 people will go, you can't do that. 435 00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:53,300 You've tracking and you know why we do that because that's what 436 00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:57,600 Jesus did for you. See, we labor under this idea 437 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:01,100 that Jesus came to us and got us because we're so awesome. 438 00:21:01,700 --> 00:21:04,400 But Jesus up there, right? Like, I'm I'm running away from 439 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,100 him. I'm rejecting him, right? 440 00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:09,800 I'm you know, this world-class recreational chemist and 441 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,800 college, and I'm doing all of these things, right? 442 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,300 And I'm up there, like Jesus is just going, oh my gosh, the 443 00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:16,200 Kingdom's, never going to happen without him. 444 00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:19,400 That ain't it. Jesus is the kingdom and he 445 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:24,300 lovingly invites us. So here's what we need to do and 446 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:31,400 this is really relevant for us. And and again The internet age 447 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:35,700 means that you have access to every single person's thoughts. 448 00:21:36,500 --> 00:21:39,900 That's not good. What that means is that you can 449 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:43,300 hear some really wonderful and beautiful and life-giving 450 00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:45,600 Biblical teaching on the internet. 451 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,900 But also means that you can find some rank garbage. 452 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:54,400 And on the internet, it can be hard to tell the difference 453 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:59,000 because what we need to look at is the fruit of a leader. 454 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:05,300 Beware of hearing, a leader of listening to a leader who every 455 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:09,400 time you're done, you feel guilty, you feel ashamed, you 456 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,900 feel small, beware of a Christian leader who every time 457 00:22:13,900 --> 00:22:18,500 they speak every time they talk to you, you feel afraid of 458 00:22:18,500 --> 00:22:21,200 somebody. Like you have to dig in and 459 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,500 protect yourself from somebody. I can have it on good authority. 460 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:28,000 That Jesus is not afraid of anybody. 461 00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:33,000 Jesus is not afraid of any movement, Jesus, not afraid of 462 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,600 any ideology. With the scripture tells me is 463 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,100 that Jesus has conquered, I've read the end of the book. 464 00:22:38,100 --> 00:22:40,500 It says that he will reign once and for all. 465 00:22:40,500 --> 00:22:43,500 So beware of these leaders that make you feel small that make 466 00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:45,800 you feel powerless, because that's not what you said. 467 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,600 Now, listen, my hope. Is that, every time you come in 468 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,000 here, my hope is that every time you enter into this place you 469 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,500 feel conviction, my hope is it in your heart. 470 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,500 Every time. Jesus speaks something to you 471 00:22:55,500 --> 00:22:58,300 that says give me that attitude. Stop. 472 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:00,600 Holding that grudge against those people. 473 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,500 That's not the path to the joy, that you need. 474 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:06,200 Your protection, isn't in a party or an election. 475 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:07,600 Your protection is in the Kingdom. 476 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,500 My hope, is that every single time you walk into this room and 477 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:13,000 hear my voice, you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit? 478 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,000 Do you know why? I don't want to save you from 479 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,000 that. Do you know why? 480 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:18,500 Because when you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I 481 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:24,100 have really good news for you. Jesus loves you, and he cares 482 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:26,100 for you. And that thing that he's putting 483 00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:29,000 his finger on, he wants to take away from From you. 484 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,300 Nobody gets angry that the doctor wants to take their 485 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:33,900 cancer away from them. Do they? 486 00:23:34,900 --> 00:23:36,300 Oh no. Doc you can't have this. 487 00:23:36,300 --> 00:23:40,700 This is mine and I love it. So know we're begging, get it. 488 00:23:41,700 --> 00:23:45,100 Jesus is the same way. Hey, I can take that insecurity 489 00:23:45,100 --> 00:23:48,000 from you and it will allow you to love your spouse better know. 490 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:49,500 Jesus. It's mine. 491 00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:53,000 What are you talking about? My Hope Is that we will be 492 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,500 convicted, so then we can hear Jesus go. 493 00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:58,400 If you'll give me that, I'll set you free, My Hope Is that we 494 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,400 would be that. So the question is the question 495 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:05,200 that we ask is. Who are the people helping you 496 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:10,000 find and follow Jesus? Are the deepest and closest 497 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,000 relationships in your life. People that are pointing you 498 00:24:13,500 --> 00:24:19,400 rabidly to Jesus. Sang, follow him more, give him 499 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:20,800 your. Have you prayed about that? 500 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:21,900 Are you following? What are you doing? 501 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,800 Who are the people in your life? Are the people closest to you? 502 00:24:26,100 --> 00:24:29,500 Making it more difficult or making it easier for you to 503 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:32,100 follow. Jesus are all the people in your 504 00:24:32,100 --> 00:24:35,200 life on the wide Road or on the narrow road. 505 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:40,500 Because I know, I remember what I look at my kids, my kids 506 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:43,400 become their friends, their friend groups, I know that 507 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,100 because I did, now does this mean that we have to hide and 508 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:48,700 ricotta? Never talk to anybody? 509 00:24:48,700 --> 00:24:50,900 That's outside Church. Absolutely. 510 00:24:50,900 --> 00:24:53,400 Not. We just recognize and understand 511 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,000 what that is. They're not going to point us to 512 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,200 Jesus. It's our job to point them to 513 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,800 Jesus. It's our job to point them to 514 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,400 the life that he offers. And so, this is so crucial for 515 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,000 the internet age. Listen, here's the deal. 516 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:10,400 And I just, and I say this, kind of lightly, but also not if a 517 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:18,700 person has ever said the phrase, God told me that Any person has 518 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:23,500 ever said that about an election, about an idea about a 519 00:25:23,508 --> 00:25:28,900 thought. God told me that good news, that 520 00:25:28,900 --> 00:25:31,600 person has claimed to be a prophet, the Old Testament tells 521 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,900 us what to do with profits, instead of a prophet speaks for 522 00:25:34,900 --> 00:25:37,900 me, if God says of a prophet speaks for me, it will come 523 00:25:37,900 --> 00:25:40,300 true. So a person who says thus saith 524 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:44,300 the Lord, and that doesn't come true, that makes them a false 525 00:25:44,300 --> 00:25:46,800 prophet, you know what the Old Testament tells us to do with 526 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:51,500 false prophets, Kill him. Take him outside of town and 527 00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:53,500 throw rocks at them until they're dead. 528 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:55,400 Now we're under the New Covenant, we don't do that. 529 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,100 We don't kill that old. We don't don't do that. 530 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:03,800 But are you listening church? That person does not have 531 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:07,500 authority. If you continue to listen to the 532 00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:11,400 people who claim to speak for God and don't you or walking 533 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,700 down the wide Road of people, who will say whatever it is that 534 00:26:13,700 --> 00:26:16,600 you want to hear. Whatever it is that agrees with 535 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,300 you. What Jesus says comes true. 536 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:22,900 What Jesus says happens. And listen, it is. 537 00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:26,600 Okay to go. Oh, remember that time where you 538 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,100 said the sunrise was going to be purple and it wasn't you said 539 00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:32,800 God told me the sun. Yeah, so I love you. 540 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,400 We can play Canasta, but you're not the prophet in my life 541 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,800 anymore. You're not the one who gets to 542 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:40,800 tell me, because that's fine. I'm not mad at you. 543 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,500 I want you to listen. I want you to know I want to. 544 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:44,900 Let's figure that out because maybe someday God will use you. 545 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:47,700 But we've got to get close and we've got to get connected to 546 00:26:47,700 --> 00:26:50,100 him. We have to have people in our 547 00:26:50,100 --> 00:26:53,200 life who point us to the way and the truth, and the life that is 548 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,300 Jesus. So now he goes, this is again, I 549 00:26:57,300 --> 00:26:58,800 told you this is a phrase that gives me nightmares. 550 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,400 Not everyone who says to me, Lord Lord will enter the kingdom 551 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:07,000 of heaven. Lord means boss, it is a, it is 552 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,400 a position, right? And so the idea is, if you go to 553 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,900 your work and your go, hey boss, I'm here for the day, boss. 554 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:14,700 Hey, boss, I'm here for the day and the boss goes. 555 00:27:14,700 --> 00:27:16,500 Hey, I need you to go. Pick up that box and move it 556 00:27:16,508 --> 00:27:17,300 over. There you go. 557 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:22,800 No. Why do you call me boss and not 558 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,800 do what I say? Why do you act like you're 559 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,300 submitting? But not submitting, they will 560 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:31,900 never enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who 561 00:27:31,900 --> 00:27:34,300 does the will of my father, who is in heaven, will what's the 562 00:27:34,308 --> 00:27:36,200 will of my Father in heaven? Love your enemies. 563 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:38,400 Pray for those who persecute you. 564 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:41,300 Like, why do it? I already read that. 565 00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:42,700 Right? Many, will say, to me, on that 566 00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:45,800 day. Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy 567 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,100 in your name? Didn't we drive out demons? 568 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:50,100 And in your name, perform many miracles, you know, it's 569 00:27:50,100 --> 00:27:52,100 interesting, right? There is, they just said, didn't 570 00:27:52,100 --> 00:27:55,400 we do? Didn't he didn't talk about love 571 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:56,800 joy, peace patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, 572 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,100 gentleness self-control. Do you know why? 573 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,500 Because I would honestly, if I'm telling you the truth, right? 574 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:04,000 Maybe just once I would rather do a miracle than have patience. 575 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,100 Cuz if I could do Miracles, I wouldn't need patience, right? 576 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,300 But the Lord saying you're going to be late Lovejoy Pete? 577 00:28:11,300 --> 00:28:12,000 Right? Didn't say that. 578 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,200 But didn't we do all this? And then this is the one. 579 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:19,800 Then I will tell them plainly. I never knew you away from me, 580 00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:23,000 you evildoers. Now this can make me nervous. 581 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,100 I'm like oh my God, what if he doesn't know me, what if he 582 00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:28,000 doesn't know the picture here is a people who have intentionally 583 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,500 and deliberately chosen to just make their life based on the 584 00:28:31,500 --> 00:28:34,400 actions on the words, right? Because this is the world. 585 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:38,000 The World values you by your work, the work, the world 586 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,900 values, you by what your output is, right? 587 00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:43,700 And so, listen in Revelation. Jesus talking to a church at a 588 00:28:43,700 --> 00:28:46,000 place called Ephesus and he explains it. 589 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,000 Like this Revelation Chapter 2 starting in verse 12, the angel 590 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,700 of the Church of Ephesus. Write these are the words of him 591 00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:54,400 who holds the Seven Stars in his right hand and walks among the 592 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:59,400 seven golden lampstands. Jesus, Here's Jesus, words to 593 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:00,600 the church in Ephesus. Are you ready? 594 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,600 Listen, I know your Deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance 595 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,900 and you're just like, amen. Yes, Lord, I know that. 596 00:29:07,900 --> 00:29:10,900 You know, my Deeds, I know that, you know, Lord, you're welcome. 597 00:29:10,900 --> 00:29:13,300 Lord, You're hard working person. 598 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:15,700 I know that you cannot tolerate, Wicked people. 599 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:19,000 And we listen, we're like, that's right here, the wicked 600 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:20,700 one. We little tolerate, anybody, 601 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:23,100 your, I know, that's right. Boy, you know, it look that you 602 00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:25,400 have tested those who claim to be Apostles, but are not. 603 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:27,700 That's right. Lord, we listen and we judge, we 604 00:29:27,700 --> 00:29:30,500 draw Fruit, you do that. You have persevere and endure, 605 00:29:30,500 --> 00:29:33,100 hardships, for my name and you have not grown weary and he 606 00:29:33,108 --> 00:29:38,700 goes, yes, Lord. Yet, I hold this against you. 607 00:29:40,300 --> 00:29:43,200 I don't want that. That's the phrase that I don't 608 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,900 want to hear. So the Lord's word that you 609 00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:50,200 didn't do enough to combat wickedness, tolerate to not 610 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,700 tolerate evil people. This is what I have against you. 611 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:58,500 You have forsaken. What I just wanted you to say 612 00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:02,100 it, so I don't have to say it all the time. you've forsaken 613 00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:08,300 love oh you're right doctrinally boy your Doctrine sweet and 614 00:30:08,300 --> 00:30:17,400 nobody cares because you don't love Consider, how far you have 615 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:21,500 fallen repent and do the things that you did it first. 616 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:25,100 If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your 617 00:30:25,100 --> 00:30:29,200 lampstand from its place. See the world loves to evaluate 618 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,600 and judge you based on your work based on what you do. 619 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:36,000 And Jesus says, yeah, really it comes down to about Love. 620 00:30:37,500 --> 00:30:42,300 She belonging or being used by God is not the same thing as 621 00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:47,700 belonging to him. God in the scripture, used a 622 00:30:47,700 --> 00:30:53,500 donkey to speak to a King. He used demon-possessed people, 623 00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:57,300 God is remarkably creative in all the ways that he can speak, 624 00:30:57,300 --> 00:31:03,400 he does not need our work. Now, he invites us to share, he 625 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,400 invites us to serve. And I believe that when we 626 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:08,000 follow him and when we get him and His life gets in us. 627 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,000 I believe we will make work, we will do things. 628 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:12,400 He said in Ephesians 2:10, right? 629 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:14,300 He created you to do, good works. 630 00:31:14,300 --> 00:31:16,500 But it is not the good works on which we stand. 631 00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:22,300 Jesus said I never what new you. So the question is, are you 632 00:31:22,300 --> 00:31:25,800 focused on being with Jesus or just working for him? 633 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,400 Do you work for him? As much as you spend time with 634 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,000 him? Do you spend time with him at 635 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,100 all? Jesus, Miss under Jesus. 636 00:31:37,100 --> 00:31:39,900 Cautioned about misunderstanding the kingdom. 637 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:43,600 He talked about religion in terms of intimacy and talk in 638 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:48,900 terms of closets and hiddenness and rewards in secret. 639 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:51,800 Jesus said don't misunderstand the kingdom. 640 00:31:53,100 --> 00:31:55,500 So how do we do that? Are you ready? 641 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,000 Because this is a warning and listen, the, the goal in this 642 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,800 Jesus is goal is not to scare at. 643 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,500 This is not one of those like Halloween things right where 644 00:32:02,500 --> 00:32:05,000 we're trying to scare people into following Jesus, this isn't 645 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,600 that, but Jesus is faithful. And he is fair, and he tells us, 646 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,300 listen your choices matter. It's not like every choice is 647 00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:13,800 the same. Not all roads lead to the same 648 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,600 Pace there. I know, we know that there 649 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,700 aren't all roads lead to the same place. 650 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:20,000 We know that one road goes, right. 651 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,100 One load goes left. Those are different. 652 00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:22,700 That's Aaron. What? 653 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:25,600 Jesus saying he wants you to have all the information so that 654 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,000 you can choose. So what do we do? 655 00:32:27,100 --> 00:32:29,700 Intentionally? Choose the way of Jesus. 656 00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:33,400 Every day, you have to wake up and choose this and I have to 657 00:32:33,408 --> 00:32:37,200 wake up every day and choose it. And there will be no inertia and 658 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:38,900 there will be no. I'm gonna have to wake up every 659 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:41,100 day and go. I'm going to choose this over 660 00:32:41,100 --> 00:32:43,600 that because every voice in your head is going to say, get them 661 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:48,600 fight, back retaliate, you do you, it's your voice, your the 662 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:50,500 manual, all of those. And we're gonna have to listen, 663 00:32:50,500 --> 00:32:52,600 and we got to choose every day and decide every day. 664 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:54,900 Where we follow Jesus or we do the other. 665 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,500 How do we do that before you activate contemplate? 666 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:01,100 You ready? This is a process before you 667 00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:04,100 activate before you. Somebody sends a thing on 668 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:06,800 Facebook and you look at it and you know that is wrong. 669 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,900 I must bring Justice to this, right? 670 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,800 And so you sit down and you're ready to go before you activate 671 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,800 contemplate. Hmm. 672 00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:19,900 Hmm. Have I prayed? 673 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,000 Before I fire that off. Have I prayed for that person? 674 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:26,100 Hi May write something very this time. 675 00:33:26,100 --> 00:33:28,200 He's our Men's Ministry, right? Hi May write something on 676 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:29,300 Facebook that I look at it and go. 677 00:33:29,300 --> 00:33:32,000 Well, that is not true. I must fix it. 678 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,300 The Lord is, have you prayed about your own heart? 679 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:39,200 Have you prayed for Jaime? Have you stopped and brought 680 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:43,100 High met before The Throne of God and said, Lord, I know that 681 00:33:43,100 --> 00:33:46,100 you love High me and I thank you that you love High me and I 682 00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:49,600 thank you that you sent him here even though he's just wrong all 683 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,900 the time about this. Lord I just helped him to be 684 00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:55,200 right like me and you Jesus. Right. 685 00:33:56,800 --> 00:33:58,000 Sorry. What did you give her sit in the 686 00:33:58,008 --> 00:34:01,600 front row, bro. A second question is, have you 687 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,200 taken the plank out of your own eye? 688 00:34:04,300 --> 00:34:07,500 Because you're about to crush someone for the speck of dust 689 00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:10,900 and there, I have you taken time to go before the Lord and go 690 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:12,199 Lord. I'm going to be judged too. 691 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:15,699 Someday, your word says, to do unto others as I would have 692 00:34:15,699 --> 00:34:16,500 them. Do unto me. 693 00:34:16,500 --> 00:34:18,800 How would I like Jason to handle this? 694 00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:23,199 Have I how I prayed have? I stopped? 695 00:34:23,199 --> 00:34:27,199 How I considered do that first. Listen to what Jesus said? 696 00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:31,800 John chapter 12. Jesus says, for I did, he's 697 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,400 talking to in and you can find the story in context with the 698 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:35,900 pictures. Jesus is perspective. 699 00:34:35,900 --> 00:34:39,800 Like I did not speak on my own, but the father who sent me 700 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:41,600 commanded me to say, all that I have spoken. 701 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,199 I know that his command leads to eternal life. 702 00:34:44,199 --> 00:34:47,900 So whatever I say is just what the father has told me to say 703 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,300 you almost, get the picture of Jesus standing there, and 704 00:34:50,300 --> 00:34:52,600 there's a Pharisee here, tell him all well, you're not 705 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:54,900 supposed to do that on the Sabbath and you're a lawbreaker 706 00:34:54,900 --> 00:34:56,600 and you're going to hell and you're terrible in your 707 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,000 authorized. And Jesus is like fight him, 708 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:00,300 right? But in To do not Jesus. 709 00:35:00,300 --> 00:35:03,000 I got his ears. Like tell me Father. 710 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:06,300 What you owe me to get them. I got some things I could say 711 00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:08,800 no. Forgive love quiet. 712 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:13,000 Okay. And wait, have you prayed have 713 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,900 you contemplated? Have you considered if Jesus 714 00:35:15,900 --> 00:35:19,100 needs to hear from the father before he speaks? 715 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:24,700 So do I, I can assure you before you activate contemplate, as you 716 00:35:24,700 --> 00:35:28,300 contemplate. Evaluate ask yourself the 717 00:35:28,300 --> 00:35:31,100 question. What fruit will this bear? 718 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,300 Now, this is where we have to be careful because I have convinced 719 00:35:34,300 --> 00:35:37,000 myself that I am such a persuasive argue. 720 00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:41,900 That all they need to do is hear my comp It's wisdom spoken 721 00:35:41,900 --> 00:35:45,200 eloquently and surely their mind will change and then we will all 722 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:47,400 be on the same side. Said that almost never happens 723 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:51,000 like that. So if I do this, if I send this 724 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,200 post, what's going to happen more than likely, they're going 725 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:55,900 to respond back. Now we're in a war. 726 00:35:55,900 --> 00:35:58,100 Now, we're fighting each other shooting missiles at each other. 727 00:35:58,100 --> 00:36:02,100 What if we stopped is this a demonstration? 728 00:36:02,100 --> 00:36:05,000 And my life is this what I'm about to type and put out there 729 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:07,500 is this love joy, peace, patience. 730 00:36:07,500 --> 00:36:10,200 Kindness. What will it Inspire in them? 731 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:12,500 Lovejoy. Am I the kind of person that 732 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:15,300 inspires these good things. He's fruitful things than other 733 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:17,100 people. And if not, what does that say 734 00:36:17,100 --> 00:36:21,100 about me is Jesus going to use me to Bear bad fruit in someone 735 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:22,500 else's life? I don't think so. 736 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:27,600 So what if it's up to me evaluate, how does this require 737 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:30,700 trust? Listen, Hebrews 11:6 says this 738 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,700 without faith. It is impossible to please. 739 00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:35,600 God, listen, we listen for just a second because here's the 740 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:37,800 thing. You cannot be right enough to 741 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:42,200 make God pleased with you. You cannot not do enough good. 742 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:53,900 You because those who come to him 743 00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:57,100 must believe that he is, and that he rewards that he is a 744 00:36:57,108 --> 00:37:00,800 rewarder of those who seek him. What that means, is that if this 745 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,500 decision, if my response to this person doesn't require some 746 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:08,500 measure and aspect of faith in me, it may not be the right one. 747 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:10,400 And, you know why we require Faith. 748 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,900 Because I'm going to be like this, quivering wanting to 749 00:37:13,900 --> 00:37:18,000 retaliate because of the sin in my life and Jesus says, just 750 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:20,900 don't do it. Stop giving voice to the sin in 751 00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:26,000 your life and start giving voice to the humility in your life and 752 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,000 quivering because I just want to fight because my heart's not 753 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,100 yet, but guess what? The first time we do that, the 754 00:37:32,100 --> 00:37:35,200 second time gets easier and the third time gets easier and the 755 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:39,400 fourth time gets easier. And then don't just ruminate 756 00:37:39,900 --> 00:37:42,000 Activate, see how we've gone full circle. 757 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:46,000 Don't just activate contemplate, contemplate evaluate. 758 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:48,800 Now, once you've contemplated a new venue, evaluated, now, it's 759 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,100 time to get busy. Now, we've got things that we 760 00:37:51,100 --> 00:37:53,100 can do right now. We've got to go because Jesus is 761 00:37:53,100 --> 00:37:56,600 life, is the model Jesus didn't just send us a lectionary. 762 00:37:56,700 --> 00:38:00,200 Jesus didn't just send us an elementary school primer. 763 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:02,400 Jesus didn't just send us a book. 764 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:08,500 God sent life, God sent a human and he showed us. 765 00:38:08,500 --> 00:38:11,300 He showed us how to love. And for people, he showed us how 766 00:38:11,300 --> 00:38:13,400 to deal with overtly religious people. 767 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:16,000 He showed us how to pray. He showed us everything that we 768 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,600 know for Life. Jesus is life is our example, 769 00:38:21,100 --> 00:38:24,300 right? Listen to this, brings it all 770 00:38:24,300 --> 00:38:27,200 together. John chapter 10, starting in 771 00:38:27,200 --> 00:38:29,500 verse 7. Jesus says this. 772 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:37,800 Very truly, I tell you. I am the gate, enter the narrow 773 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:38,900 gate, right? It's hidden. 774 00:38:38,900 --> 00:38:41,900 It's out of the way. I am the gate. 775 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:46,300 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the 776 00:38:46,300 --> 00:38:49,400 sheep have not listen to them. I am the gate. 777 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:52,300 Whoever comes through me, will be saved. 778 00:38:52,300 --> 00:38:55,400 They will come in and go out and find pasture. 779 00:38:55,500 --> 00:38:59,500 The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I have 780 00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:06,100 come that they may have life and have it to the full, all that 781 00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:09,200 stuff that gets squeezed out. And the narrow gate is all the 782 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:12,400 stuff that's keeping you from the Abundant Life that God has 783 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:15,600 for you. All that stuff that Jesus wants 784 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:19,000 you to leave his stuff that keeps you from the Redemption 785 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,200 and the life that he has planned for you. 786 00:39:21,900 --> 00:39:24,400 It's hard. It's a hard walk. 787 00:39:24,900 --> 00:39:28,700 But here's the perspective for those who followed Jesus, may 788 00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:33,700 live for 80 or 100 years, in really difficult seasons and 789 00:39:33,700 --> 00:39:36,000 times, and you may feel like you don't have enough in this life 790 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:39,000 and people are against you. And then for eternity, you will 791 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:42,800 hear the voice of father that says come and enter your rest. 792 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:47,100 For the rest of Eternity, you will have nothing or you can 793 00:39:47,100 --> 00:39:52,400 fight for your goodness and your piece right now and this this 794 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:56,500 will be the best of your experience for all of eternity. 795 00:39:57,300 --> 00:39:59,900 So, get your way. Climb the mountain. 796 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:04,100 Climb the ladder fight to the top because death is coming. 797 00:40:04,500 --> 00:40:06,900 And on that day, we will have chosen. 798 00:40:07,900 --> 00:40:11,600 The invitation of the church is to choose the narrow way to help 799 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:14,200 people follow and walk the narrow way. 800 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:19,200 Life is hard. People will abandon you, people 801 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,300 will betray you and they will hurt you. 802 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:25,400 Good things will happen to bad, people and bad things will 803 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:32,000 happen to good people, but Jesus calls us to Eternity not to a 804 00:40:32,008 --> 00:40:35,000 good day, not to a good week to an eternity. 805 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,700 And so my listen, I said at the beginning, I don't know where 806 00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:39,300 you are. I don't know where you're where 807 00:40:39,300 --> 00:40:41,800 you're coming from. I don't know if you're a Jesus 808 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:43,900 follower. What I know is. 809 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:48,000 Jesus didn't come and tell people to be good. 810 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:53,600 Jesus didn't come, and stay and say, stop come cussing, Jesus 811 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:57,800 came and said, follow me. And let me just tell you. 812 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:03,100 This Jesus is far more open and accommodating to our way 813 00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:07,600 weaknesses and our failures than Christians often are That's why 814 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:09,600 we follow Jesus and not Christians. 815 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,200 That's why we follow Jesus. Because listen, I have a 816 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:14,600 brother. Name is Aaron. 817 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:17,400 He's been here spoken before my tell you secretly. 818 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:19,900 Don't tell him he's a pain in the butt. 819 00:41:23,100 --> 00:41:26,100 That's my brother. And we used to fight like dogs, 820 00:41:26,900 --> 00:41:29,700 you can't be a part of my family and not get my brother. 821 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:32,900 You can't be a part of the father's family and not get the 822 00:41:32,900 --> 00:41:36,300 brothers and sisters. And in fact, that's what it's 823 00:41:36,300 --> 00:41:39,100 about, that's what love looks like. 824 00:41:39,300 --> 00:41:43,700 That's the way the narrow way, not a flashy gate, not lights, 825 00:41:43,700 --> 00:41:45,800 not the helicopters, buzzing, and all that. 826 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:49,300 A narrow path of the garden with Jesus. 827 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:54,700 Father, I ask that you would help us find that. and when all 828 00:41:54,700 --> 00:42:01,300 the things, That I want to inflict on this world. 829 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:05,900 Save the world from me, Jesus. I don't want to try to squeeze 830 00:42:05,900 --> 00:42:09,700 my baggage to the gate. That's what confession is 831 00:42:10,500 --> 00:42:13,100 confession says, I have a lot of baggage that I have tried to 832 00:42:13,100 --> 00:42:17,500 carry down this road with you. I have defended my insecurities 833 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:23,900 rather than fought for freedom. So make us free today's 834 00:42:23,900 --> 00:42:26,400 Juneteenth. What a beautiful reminder 835 00:42:26,900 --> 00:42:30,600 Freedom the cost of freedom, but the goodness that comes Lord, 836 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:33,400 let us be free. Make us free. 837 00:42:34,900 --> 00:42:37,000 May your church be an example. In this world. 838 00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:41,000 May we love as you loved met. The people who were drawn to you 839 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:44,700 be drawn to us, and may, we look more and more like you every 840 00:42:44,700 --> 00:42:47,500 day. For those in this room who 841 00:42:47,500 --> 00:42:48,900 haven't followed you. But today are going. 842 00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:52,600 I want that, I want eternity. I don't want to get, I don't 843 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:54,900 want to be surprised on that day and I don't want to hear. 844 00:42:54,900 --> 00:42:57,600 Jesus say, I never knew you if that's you and this place you 845 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:00,400 just confess Jesus. I don't think that I know you, 846 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:07,100 but I want to and ask him. Jesus said, if you asked he will 847 00:43:07,100 --> 00:43:12,500 come and just like that he begins to lead and he begins to 848 00:43:12,500 --> 00:43:16,700 guide you. Pray this with me, if that's 849 00:43:16,700 --> 00:43:19,700 you. Jesus, forgive me for my sins. 850 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:22,300 Every day. I'm going to need that. 851 00:43:23,100 --> 00:43:26,300 And Lead Me in the way of righteousness and peace. 852 00:43:26,900 --> 00:43:31,900 Make me part of your family as we trust in you, Jesus. 853 00:43:31,900 --> 00:43:34,300 I ask these things in your name and for your glory. 854 00:43:34,900 --> 00:43:37,300 Amen, thank you for joining us today. 855 00:43:37,700 --> 00:43:40,500 River City Church is all about experiencing and expressing 856 00:43:40,500 --> 00:43:42,400 God's love in our lives and community. 857 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:46,000 And we hope that you've been able to experience that today as 858 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:46,900 grateful. As I am. 859 00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:49,400 That you spent this time listening in this morning, this 860 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:53,100 podcast is no substitute for full participation in a local 861 00:43:53,100 --> 00:43:55,400 church. I love it when River City people 862 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:58,700 listen to other pastors, but it is those who show up week after 863 00:43:58,700 --> 00:44:01,200 week Faithfully, giving their support and time and resources. 864 00:44:01,300 --> 00:44:04,600 Sources that make all of this possible if we can help you get 865 00:44:04,600 --> 00:44:07,900 connected to a local church, pray for you or support you in 866 00:44:07,900 --> 00:44:09,500 any way. Click the link in the 867 00:44:09,500 --> 00:44:12,300 description and let us know if you'd like to financially 868 00:44:12,300 --> 00:44:13,700 support the ministry of River City. 869 00:44:13,900 --> 00:44:16,400 Click the give link on our website in the description. 870 00:44:16,700 --> 00:44:19,400 Don't forget to subscribe, and don't forget to share this with 871 00:44:19,400 --> 00:44:21,500 your friends. Thanks so much for listening. 872 00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:24,600 May the Lord bless, and keep you in all Grace and peace.