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 --> 00:00:13,300 your faith. And point you to the 5 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:18,200 life-changing love of Jesus, may you enjoy the goodness of God as 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:35,700 you follow him today, So this is our confession and 7 00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:38,600 boy, doesn't it seem relevant right now? 8 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:41,400 Our confession is we are badly broken. 9 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,200 Yes, you are Grace and peace to you. 10 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,600 It's a crazy time we come here and we do this and this is are 11 00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:50,800 kind of our thing in this, all kind of falls. 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,400 Under the broad scope brought of religion, right? 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,100 Like a religion and religion gets a bad rap like it's a 14 00:00:57,300 --> 00:00:59,100 common, a popular thing to say what to say, right? 15 00:00:59,100 --> 00:01:05,600 We say that people their spiritual but not religious, 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,300 right? People will often say I believe 17 00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:12,900 in God I just don't like organized Religion, right? 18 00:01:12,900 --> 00:01:15,300 And so, they hear I'm a pastor and I'm like, the great, you 19 00:01:15,300 --> 00:01:17,400 know, like I'm the problem right? 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,700 You just talk to me, you find out what do they like? 21 00:01:19,700 --> 00:01:22,800 And yes, they say, yeah, well, they like the idea that that 22 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,000 there is goodness. The, I like the idea that there 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,100 is love, but when they see religion, what something they 24 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:30,700 say, it's just man's activity. It's just man. 25 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:31,800 It's just the works on the accident. 26 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,300 Well, they're right. Here's a definition. 27 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:36,500 This is what Merriam-Webster the great theological tool Merriam 28 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:39,500 Webster says about religion religion is an institutionalized 29 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:45,200 system of attitudes beliefs. Oops and practices in service to 30 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,800 and worship of God or the supernatural. 31 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,000 Big idea is institutionalized and I think this is the problem. 32 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:54,800 This is where we get the problem, right? 33 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,100 This idea of when things become institutionalized, when they 34 00:01:57,100 --> 00:01:59,900 become repeated, when they become kind of wrote, they can 35 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:03,600 kind of lose their meaning and they become for for the sake of 36 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,400 the thing. This was the problem in first 37 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,500 century Israel. The first century Judaism was 38 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:12,900 built on this idea. God gave Israel, the law, And so 39 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:16,100 over time as they heard God's voice and the prophets came the 40 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:18,700 law, they grew, and they built temples and they were God's 41 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:21,700 people didn't really follow it, but then after the Book of 42 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:26,300 Malachi for 400 years, there's no spoken word from God. 43 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,200 There are no profits in Israel. And so what do they do? 44 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:33,100 They go to the law and they set up this system of behaviors, 45 00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:34,900 right? You can't walk this far, you 46 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:37,600 can't go this far. You can't eat this on that day 47 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,300 or wear this on that day or do this. 48 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:41,900 And you should do this. And what happens was that 49 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,000 Religious system that institutionalized set of beliefs 50 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,500 and attitudes and activities and behaviors begins to push some 51 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:54,100 people away and some people up and I believe this is still what 52 00:02:54,100 --> 00:02:56,800 people say and what people think about when they think about 53 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,000 religion and it looks different and some of it has been on I 54 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:05,600 grew up Baptist and so from me religion was hymnals and suits 55 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,700 in pews on Sunday, right? Some of you had to say now I 56 00:03:08,708 --> 00:03:12,600 went to a church of Christ College where religion Was 57 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:17,600 acapella singing and a certain Behavior or belief about the 58 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,600 Holy Spirit and scripture. If you grew up Presbyterian you 59 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:26,100 grew up baptizing infants with a liturgical service and reformed 60 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:28,700 theology. If you grew up Methodist, you 61 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:32,700 grew up also baptizing infants. But with a more Wesleyan 62 00:03:32,700 --> 00:03:34,600 arminianism geology. And so, we have all these 63 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,600 religions and everybody looks as you guys can't even get 64 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,500 together. You guys can't even figure out 65 00:03:39,500 --> 00:03:42,300 what you're doing, right? So, the question is, What does 66 00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:45,300 Jesus say about this? Because for the last several 67 00:03:45,300 --> 00:03:47,700 weeks, we've been looking at Matthew, 5, 6 and 7, 68 00:03:47,700 --> 00:03:51,900 specifically Matthew 5, Jesus called we call ragamuffins, 69 00:03:51,900 --> 00:03:54,300 right? This group of people who had 70 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,500 found themselves on the wrong line, on the wrong side of law, 71 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,900 religious law, they found themselves excluded from all the 72 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:05,300 things that made Israel, Israel. They were, they were by their 73 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:06,300 Heritage. They were just, they were 74 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:08,500 excluded from the temple because they were unclean because they 75 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:11,500 were sick or because they were lawbreakers, and Jesus comes and 76 00:04:11,508 --> 00:04:15,300 starts saying, There's a new kingdom and it's not the kingdom 77 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:18,300 with temples and sacrifices in the law that says Kingdom of 78 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:20,000 Grace. It's a kingdom for the 79 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,000 have-nots, and he began to teach them about what relationships in 80 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,700 the Kingdom look like. And what relationships look like 81 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:31,000 is, well, they're supposed to look like self sacrificial. 82 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,500 Love. That's what Jesus did, but he 83 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:37,600 calls us to this inside-out transformation says, it's not 84 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,500 enough. Just not to kill people. 85 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:41,900 You need to not hold him in contempt either. 86 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,400 Right, we need to practice and work on this forgiveness, and 87 00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:48,300 it's not enough to not just physically cheat on your spouse. 88 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:50,800 You need to not have adulterous eyes. 89 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,100 You need to just not be watching people walk by right, like 90 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:54,600 shaking your head, that doesn't honor them either. 91 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,500 So talks about this transformation where your heart 92 00:04:57,500 --> 00:05:01,800 for people is real and it's, and it's good and it's not just this 93 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,800 external show, right? So how does that work when he 94 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,900 talks about religion? Because that Principle as we do, 95 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,100 if the kingdom is about this Inside Out transformation and a 96 00:05:11,108 --> 00:05:13,300 God, who sees the What does that have to do? 97 00:05:13,300 --> 00:05:15,500 What does that have to say about religion? 98 00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:18,100 What Jesus in Matthew chapter 61 says this. 99 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:22,900 Be careful not to practice your righteousness. 100 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:24,400 Now, there's a big war. We talk about that. 101 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,100 Just like be careful. Not to practice your 102 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:30,600 righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. 103 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:33,800 Now, be careful, not to practice your righteousness for his now. 104 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,400 Just a second. We're going to talk about 105 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:40,600 giving, like giving alms begin. We're going to talk about prayer 106 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:43,200 or in, talk about fasting. Here's the thing. 107 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,400 Up, ferrite Jesus says prayer, I don't don't. 108 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,600 What is this? A don't practice your 109 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,400 righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. 110 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:55,200 So what does that mean for me, when I when I do here, right? 111 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:56,600 Because you can hear me and you can see me. 112 00:05:56,700 --> 00:05:58,900 Does that mean that my prayers offered from the stage are 113 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:00,300 invalid? Because people in here that 114 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:02,600 listen, what's important? There's a difference between 115 00:06:02,900 --> 00:06:07,000 practicing your righteousness and being seen and practicing 116 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,100 your righteousness to be seen. You see the difference, right? 117 00:06:12,300 --> 00:06:15,500 One is Yeah, it's an accident, you're walking by something. 118 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:16,700 Oh, hey, that person is doing a thing. 119 00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:19,500 Another is, I want to be visible and I want to seen. 120 00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:25,400 Jesus says, if you do, you'll have no reward from your father 121 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:28,400 in Heaven. So when it says your works of 122 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:34,900 righteousness, righteousness is a word that the implications in 123 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:37,500 the Old Testament were about and the New Testament were about. 124 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:40,600 Covenant righteousness, is about Covenant, we take righteous. 125 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:45,800 The mean some General Degree of Moral goodness, right? 126 00:06:46,100 --> 00:06:49,200 When Jesus talked about righteousness, he's talking 127 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,100 about faithfulness to the Covenant, specifically the 128 00:06:52,100 --> 00:06:54,000 Covenant of Abraham, right? God went to Abraham and said 129 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,000 Abraham, I'm gonna make a people out of you. 130 00:06:56,008 --> 00:06:57,300 I'm going to make a nation out of you. 131 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:01,000 And what'd he say, says the whole world will be blessed 132 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,700 through them. That was the Covenant Abraham's. 133 00:07:02,700 --> 00:07:05,900 Like, I don't even have kids and God says, it's not about you, 134 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,000 it's about me. That's what the Covenant is, 135 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,800 right? And the problem is, then that is 136 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,700 right, people stopped doing that. 137 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:14,300 They stopped being a blessing to the world and they started 138 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,700 filling the coffers, being a blessing to do their whole 139 00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:18,900 selves and then God's like got to start over. 140 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:20,700 Right? And so when Jesus came and at 141 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:26,100 the end what he say, this is the new what Covenant in my blood do 142 00:07:26,100 --> 00:07:29,800 this, as often as you remember in remembrance of me, write as 143 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,500 often as you drink. And so the idea by Justice is 144 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:37,500 faithfulness to God's promise to bless the world through us. 145 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:41,800 Now that's going to look a lot like moral righteousness, love 146 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,300 and grazing, is like the idea. It's It's behind. 147 00:07:44,300 --> 00:07:47,100 The idea is it's a connection to the heart of God. 148 00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:50,900 That looked at humanity and said, I want to make you a force 149 00:07:50,900 --> 00:07:52,900 on this world. I want to use you to be a 150 00:07:52,908 --> 00:07:56,300 reflection of my goodness and my power and well that's why God 151 00:07:56,300 --> 00:07:57,600 planted him in the garden, right? 152 00:07:57,700 --> 00:08:00,200 Hey, make things grow because that's what I do. 153 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,100 I make things grow. God says Hey make expand the 154 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:05,400 boundaries on the borders of garden because that's what I do. 155 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,700 That's what it is. That's what Covenant is. 156 00:08:07,700 --> 00:08:10,600 That's what righteousness is that's our doesn't God said, 157 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,500 Jesus said be careful not to just do that. 158 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,300 That so that everybody can see and everybody can walk. 159 00:08:17,300 --> 00:08:23,700 You see, that's where we get off in our religion, the purpose of 160 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:25,300 Kingdom religion. Because remember, that's what 161 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:27,200 Jesus was talking about. The Kingdom of Heaven, is at 162 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,600 hand. The purpose of Kingdom religion 163 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:34,000 is to turn our eyes and our hearts from our self to God. 164 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:37,600 So, when we're doing these religious things, the question 165 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:43,700 is, who is the focus The questions that we asked 166 00:08:43,700 --> 00:08:45,900 ourselves, maybe if it's self-focused worship. 167 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:49,200 Maybe Who hears me? Singing. 168 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,700 Maybe I don't like this song. Why doesn't Oscar? 169 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:56,400 Just seeing, oceans more? We need more oceans from Oscar 170 00:08:56,500 --> 00:08:58,700 oceans, right? That's cell was just God. 171 00:08:58,700 --> 00:09:00,700 I can't watch it because I don't like that. 172 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:01,700 Now, there's some room for premise, right? 173 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:05,900 But yeah, it is like what does this do or say about God? 174 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,300 Is this God's heart that we are celebrating that we are 175 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:11,700 reflecting. So I guess I'd want to talk 176 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:13,400 about giving and going to talk about prayer and we're gonna 177 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,200 talk about fasting. Those three religious practices 178 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:19,500 in particular. Euler kind of form the basis for 179 00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:21,900 the foundation of Jewish religious life, going to the 180 00:09:21,908 --> 00:09:24,000 temple. Now the thing is so every 181 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,500 religious observant religious person would have would have 182 00:09:27,500 --> 00:09:28,700 could have done those things, right? 183 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:34,700 That form the foundation, we most some, a few of us, don't 184 00:09:34,700 --> 00:09:39,900 practice all these things. But I feel like we should and I 185 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:43,600 think that part of the problem maybe is that we don't have this 186 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:48,000 well-developed system and set an understanding of Religion. 187 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,700 That takes our eyes off of us and off of this world and puts 188 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:53,500 it on him. So, as we talk about these, as 189 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:55,500 we talk about these three kind of disciplines in these 190 00:09:55,500 --> 00:09:59,800 practices, as we practice them, well, they turn our eyes up, 191 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:04,800 maybe just up this far right from here, from looking at mean 192 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:09,300 navel-gazing, if you will to my neighbor, To God. 193 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,300 These three are powerful and perfect. 194 00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:12,900 So, let's take a look and let's see what they say. 195 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:17,500 We start in verse 2. So when I win is an important 196 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:23,400 word, Jesus could have said if hey if you decide that this is a 197 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,300 proper religious tract for you, that's not what he says. 198 00:10:26,300 --> 00:10:31,800 What Jesus says is when when so when you give to the needy Do 199 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,300 not announce it with trumpets as the Hypocrites, do in the 200 00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:38,100 synagogues and on the streets to be honored by others. 201 00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:41,000 Truly, I tell you they have received their reward in full 202 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:43,700 now. Does this say that if you give 203 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:46,600 and somebody sees a that come and go Hey, I saw that you gave 204 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:47,600 to that person. That's really nice. 205 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,200 Does that mean that you just go? Great. 206 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:53,400 Worthless gifts. Here's the deal. 207 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,400 If that were the case, it wouldn't matter. 208 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,600 Do you know why? Because I'm not doing it for 209 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,100 that. But the idea is, if we'll do 210 00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:04,200 that, the ideas that God will actually reward. 211 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:09,800 So the question is, who's reward are we seeking yours or 212 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,900 father's? Because there's a way to do it 213 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:16,200 with both 11 way apparently involves trumpets, I don't feel 214 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,000 like I haven't noticed any more River City. 215 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,000 We haven't had like, the long trumpet Fanfare offering box 216 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,600 thing, right? When someone puts it in their 217 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:27,400 own rights, I don't think most of you give with Fanfare but the 218 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,600 idea again, is this word hypocrite hypocrite, an old 219 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,900 Greek word that talk about actors, they would have a play 220 00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:36,300 with 20 act with 20 Parts in the play, but they would only have 221 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,600 five actors. So, the actors the Hypocrites 222 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,700 would take their masks and they would go. 223 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,900 Now I'm Susie. Now, I'm Jane, now, I'm Red. 224 00:11:45,900 --> 00:11:48,600 Now, I'm Bob, this is the idea behind hypocrisy. 225 00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:51,500 Now, I'm religious now, I'm a Cowboys fan. 226 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,400 Now, I like softball, not whatever it is and we change 227 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,100 with the wind as it goes in. With Jesus saying is, don't be 228 00:11:57,100 --> 00:12:00,000 like that. Don't be all about the Fanfare. 229 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,400 Don't be all about where you are and what you're doing, right? 230 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:07,600 He says When you give do it in secret, right? 231 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:11,500 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know 232 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:16,000 what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be done in 233 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,700 secret. Then your father, who sees, what 234 00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:21,500 is done in secret will reward you. 235 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:26,900 Giving is a thing in the church that has been abused often. 236 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,100 It's easy. Listen, you just need to know. 237 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:34,500 Pastors are human Pastor struggle pastors, lose Faith, 238 00:12:34,500 --> 00:12:36,100 sometimes pastors. See. 239 00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:40,300 Instrumental mountable obstacles and scripture talks a lot about 240 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:42,400 money because money is important thing. 241 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,400 And it's listen, like I said, pastors lose faith, and one of 242 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,300 the easiest ways to start abusing and manipulating people 243 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,400 is to start hammering on money if you if the Bills are all that 244 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,800 the incomes a little low. You start whipping the troops, 245 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,300 you start doing that. We don't really try not to do 246 00:12:58,300 --> 00:13:02,100 that here. I don't know who Gibbs if you 247 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:04,700 give. I'm not going to know it partly. 248 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:06,600 Because of the scripture says, because I don't want to 249 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,800 jeopardize your gift, I want you to have your gift between you 250 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:09,500 and the Lord. Right? 251 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:12,700 I want to be able to that, but part of the reason is, yeah, I 252 00:13:12,700 --> 00:13:15,000 want you to take that. I want you to be able to 253 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:19,200 experience the blessing, and the reward that God says is 254 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,400 available to you as you, give as you go. 255 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:26,100 Oh, right. And so here's the idea when I 256 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:28,400 have my stuff, whatever. My stuff is my house, my money, 257 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:29,900 my car, and my kids, my stuff like that. 258 00:13:29,900 --> 00:13:32,800 I look at it and go. This is mine, right? 259 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,300 And I look going to go, I need this, this is what I have now. 260 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:39,200 Everything over is fine. If I go okay okay you can have 261 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,300 you can have this right? But this stuff is still mine. 262 00:13:42,300 --> 00:13:45,800 What happens is we begin to believe that this is the 263 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,200 effective range of God's goodness, right? 264 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,700 And so I have all this stuff in here that I only have one little 265 00:13:50,700 --> 00:13:53,800 thing out here and so I just go Got no, don't have anything. 266 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:54,800 No, yes, you do. Look. 267 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,700 You have all of this, right? So what if instead of doing 268 00:13:57,700 --> 00:13:59,500 this? What if we just go this? 269 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:01,400 Here's what I suspect will happen. 270 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:03,000 If we just are going. Okay. 271 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:04,900 Can use this use this and use this and use this, right? 272 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:06,000 What happens? Is you go? 273 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,400 Here you can have this and then God goes over your shoulder puts 274 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:10,300 little something back. Yeah. 275 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:16,700 So you give it away. I can never run out. 276 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:22,800 Now, what I didn't say? This is not Not Prosperity 277 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,500 Doctrine. Just so if a suite of 10% in a 278 00:14:26,500 --> 00:14:28,200 lord, I'll give you 100 fold it about. 279 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,800 No, not the case. Jesus himself said the son of 280 00:14:31,808 --> 00:14:33,100 man doesn't have a place to live. 281 00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:35,300 This ain't what that's about. What this is about is 282 00:14:35,300 --> 00:14:39,400 understanding that God is absolutely trustworthy with 283 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:44,700 stuff and God is absolutely infatuated with people. 284 00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:49,400 So, your stuff is an opportunity for you to make an impact on 285 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:53,100 those things that God Loves the most and you know who my 286 00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:56,500 favorite people in the world are people who give my kids, great 287 00:14:56,500 --> 00:14:57,900 gifts. You know why? 288 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:02,700 Because now I don't have to and that's I wish I were more 289 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:05,100 spiritual than that, but really, that's it, right? 290 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,800 But what if God feels like that too? 291 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,300 Not without the not have to write, but what if God just 292 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:13,100 goes, oh my gosh, that person just prayed for something to 293 00:15:13,108 --> 00:15:14,700 look my friend. AJ just gave it to him. 294 00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:16,600 All right, it's working. Whoo. 295 00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:21,500 And my friend AJ. Now gets to experience, God 296 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:26,800 putting back and restoring and redeeming my promise to you is. 297 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,000 I'm not going to go looking and searching and hunting and 298 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,400 finding out who gives? What or where when why or how? 299 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,900 Because that's not up to me. Listen God didn't give me your 300 00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:38,300 stuff, he gave you your stuff. And so I want to invite you. 301 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:45,400 The point of this is intimacy. The point of this is for you to 302 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:51,100 begin to see God. God as a giver for you to begin 303 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:55,900 to see and know that God knows your needs better than you do. 304 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,300 That's why I said, the kingdom blessed are those who mourn for 305 00:15:59,300 --> 00:16:02,200 they will be comforted, right? If we don't allow ourselves to 306 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,900 mourn, will never know what it is to be comforted. 307 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:08,200 If we don't allow ourselves to give, we will never know what it 308 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,700 means for God to give back. And by the way, the whole time, 309 00:16:11,700 --> 00:16:14,800 we're protecting this, we're forgetting that, he's the one 310 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:16,900 that put it here in the first place. 311 00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:22,100 Right, because I was born with nothing - hey j-bird when I die. 312 00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:24,500 I'm gonna have a cheap set of clothes on a box and they're 313 00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:26,500 gonna put me in the ground. And that's going to be it. 314 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:30,300 Everything between naked and cheap suits, God did it. 315 00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:32,900 So I can just go ahead and give it away and trust that he's 316 00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:35,700 going to give back and trustees going to put it back. 317 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,700 What if that was the position of the church? 318 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,000 Always when there's a need, will meet it. 319 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:45,400 I mean, right, if there are fatherless children, well, we'll 320 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,800 adopt them. If there are hungry people, well 321 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,000 will feed them. If there are sad people, well, 322 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,200 we will figure it out. Here's the good news because I 323 00:16:54,208 --> 00:16:58,100 don't think many of you are really like Trumpets on the 324 00:16:58,108 --> 00:17:00,400 street corner kind of people, right? 325 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:04,900 But here's the idea. Here's what this means for us. 326 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:10,500 That it's not a show. If your gift is smaller than 327 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:13,099 someone else's, that's not what it's about. 328 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:20,200 The idea here is that our God sees you are, God knows you. 329 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:22,099 He knows what he's given you, some of you. 330 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:25,000 What you Your hoard is this big, some of you, your heart is this 331 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:26,800 big. Some of you can't even contain 332 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,400 all your horde of the Lord knows where you are. 333 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:30,700 But what happens is, when you begin to get involved in his 334 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:33,800 kingdom by becoming a Giver by by spreading around my past. 335 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,800 And he's like, that's exactly what you were created to do. 336 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:38,900 That's exactly what your life is Right. 337 00:17:39,300 --> 00:17:41,800 Ephesians chapter 2 is pulsed talking about salvation, right? 338 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,000 For by Grace you are saved through faith and this is not of 339 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,200 yourselves. It is a gift of God. 340 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,100 You're looking all that. You know what, the last verse 341 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:49,400 and that is as your savior saving, his Grace's place. 342 00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:52,400 The last verse in that chapter is for you, are his work. 343 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,800 Command Ship. You are his Masterpiece created 344 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,700 to do good works and This falls under that category. 345 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:01,200 So the question is, do we value intimacy? 346 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,800 Do we value provision or publicity? 347 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:08,500 Because if our giving is about an obligation, if our giving is 348 00:18:08,508 --> 00:18:11,200 about, so everybody can see so that I can have position, it 349 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,500 will be pretty much empty not because God is mad at you but 350 00:18:15,500 --> 00:18:19,200 because people's reward people's adoration, it really doesn't 351 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,100 last long. So if you're giving to be seen 352 00:18:22,100 --> 00:18:26,000 the I had to come and realize is most people really just don't 353 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:32,500 care that much. right it's just you don't care how much I give 354 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:36,300 you don't care whether I like you so people are so if that's 355 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:42,100 what I'm working for that's not enough and yet Jesus tells me 356 00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:45,400 that there is a way. There's a thing that I can do in 357 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,500 this life and this place that can allow me to experience. 358 00:18:50,300 --> 00:18:55,500 God in tangible ways we can begin to go where in this world, 359 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:59,200 do you think God would like comfort, and we can begin to 360 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,400 funnel our resource to that place. 361 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:04,300 Maybe it's money. Maybe it's come from, the, 362 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:07,500 whatever it is, but to position ourselves, as a giver to say 363 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:12,200 that God has given me. And so I want to give And what 364 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,100 happens in his, we realize that we're never truly alone, we 365 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:16,800 realize that we're never truly powerless. 366 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,400 We can't do all the things, but we can do something. 367 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:24,900 And so, our religion, our practice of being like, Jesus, 368 00:19:24,900 --> 00:19:28,600 draws us closer to him, also closer to each other. 369 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:34,400 He goes on verse 5, and when you pray, I bet, if you asked a 370 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,600 hundred percent of Pastors in this country, what's the one 371 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,800 thing that they feel guilt, or some matter of Shame over. 372 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:44,000 Over my bet is somewhere between 90 and 100 percent of those 373 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,000 pastors would say a prayer. You want to know why. 374 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,700 I know that, right? I need to pray more. 375 00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:51,900 I need to pray better. I need to do more. 376 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:55,000 So she says when you pray don't be like the Hypocrites for. 377 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,200 They love to pray standing in the synagogues. 378 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:58,600 Well, that's what I'm doing right here. 379 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,600 That's not good. I don't like to read that. 380 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:05,400 And on the street corners to be seen by others, this doesn't 381 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:07,600 mean that if you bow your head to pray at a restaurant and 382 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,500 somebody sees you, it doesn't mean that your prayer isn't 383 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:11,200 heard. The question is, is that While 384 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,000 you're doing it, are you doing it to be seen? 385 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,300 And if so that's a heart issue and the question would be why, 386 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,900 what do you want from them? What do you want them to see? 387 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:23,400 Or think about you? And the question is, why does 388 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,900 that matter to you? Why is that important? 389 00:20:25,900 --> 00:20:28,200 So he says, don't stand in the synagogue. 390 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,300 Truly, I tell you they have received their reward in full 391 00:20:31,300 --> 00:20:33,500 and the ideas and Jesus being stingy the ideas. 392 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:36,300 That's what you wanted. So fine, you got it. 393 00:20:36,300 --> 00:20:39,300 That's what you want, but you can't say, you want that and 394 00:20:39,300 --> 00:20:41,500 then expect more. On top of that. 395 00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:44,300 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to 396 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:47,200 your father, who is unseen. Again, we have this image of 397 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,000 this hidden. This invisible God who's 398 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,900 attending to your every move who is watching you, who is with 399 00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:54,600 you? Who is there? 400 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,600 Any in your prayer cause where nobody else can see you? 401 00:20:57,700 --> 00:21:01,200 He is there, then your father who sees what is done, will 402 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,000 reward you and when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans 403 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,500 for, they think they will be heard because of their many 404 00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:09,600 words. Do not be like them for your 405 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,200 father, knows what you need. Before you ask him, sit with 406 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:17,600 that picture, your father knows what you need. 407 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:19,800 What that means is that you don't have to come up with an 408 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:23,200 eloquent way to convince him. What that means is that you 409 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,400 don't have to beg him against his will. 410 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,700 As if he's out there going, I don't want to give you good 411 00:21:27,700 --> 00:21:29,900 things. The idea is he knows what you 412 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:32,300 need more than you do. And so, when you go into that 413 00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:38,100 room, maybe all you can do is be silent, maybe all you can do is 414 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,400 cry out or cry. Or scream. 415 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,600 Picture that Jesus gives us a prayer as this intimate 416 00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:51,300 Connection in silent places where the depths of our heart 417 00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:58,000 are opened up and loved. And the Dole word and cherished, 418 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:00,900 right? You talk about fear and what you 419 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:05,600 want the antidote to fear is a radical crystal-clear ever 420 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:10,000 growing awareness and understanding of God of Jesus, 421 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,200 and his presence and his purpose with us. 422 00:22:13,300 --> 00:22:16,700 So he says, don't write like, you don't have to battle. 423 00:22:16,700 --> 00:22:19,400 This is good news for us because if you're not eloquent, if you 424 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,300 weren't raised in the church and you don't know, all the lingo 425 00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:23,600 and you don't know all the jargon. 426 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:24,600 What I want to tell you is Jesus. 427 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,800 Doesn't care about that. Jesus doesn't need you to stand 428 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,100 up and pray with preacher language or with King James 429 00:22:31,100 --> 00:22:33,200 English language. He doesn't need you to pray and 430 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,200 do all those things. What do you want you to do is be 431 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,800 alone with him? I love some of my favorite 432 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,600 times, as a parent when my kids were babies, right? 433 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,300 When they would seem like, all they ever did was scream and 434 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:45,000 yell and snot, and poop. And they all needed somebody 435 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,000 that my favorite times were when they're asleep. 436 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:48,800 Do you know why? Because they don't need anything 437 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:53,500 then, and I could just look at him and I just loved to be with 438 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:56,900 them. And what we're told is prayer is 439 00:22:56,900 --> 00:23:01,700 where we get that and we're father, gets that we're father, 440 00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:04,100 gets to just spend time with you and be with you. 441 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,700 The point of our prayer isn't to get God to hear our voice. 442 00:23:07,700 --> 00:23:10,900 The point of prayer is for us to be able to hear God's voice. 443 00:23:10,900 --> 00:23:14,300 And so the question is, do you value intimacy over honor, do 444 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:17,300 you want to be known as a great Prayer by people here? 445 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,800 Or do you want to be known as a great Prayer by Father, in 446 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,000 Heaven were great prayer. Doesn't mean the words that you 447 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:27,700 say to him but the Action in the heart that you have with him. 448 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:32,500 One who need knows your needs. I think it's especially relevant 449 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:36,900 in Seasons like this. Where maybe you're sad, or your 450 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:40,900 grieve, or you're angry, or you're, you're upset, because we 451 00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:43,600 did talk last week and Jesus talked about non retaliation 452 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,000 about not giving an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 453 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,200 But let me just tell you right now. 454 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:51,000 I like I for eye tooth for tooth. 455 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,900 I want that because right now, I'm aiming it as somebody else, 456 00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:58,400 but in prayer, I sit and well, look, a little. 457 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,800 We read. Jesus says, this then is how you 458 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:02,200 should pray. Jesus didn't say, you have to go 459 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:04,200 and recite this word, for whatever this is. 460 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:06,500 This is a model. For your prayer, Our Father in 461 00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:09,100 heaven Hallowed, Be Your Name. See when I pray and seasons of 462 00:24:09,100 --> 00:24:11,500 Darkness, I pray, Hallowed be your name. 463 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:12,700 What? I'm reminding yourself as a 464 00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:14,200 weight. God, you're not out of control. 465 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:16,000 The world seems like it's spinning off. 466 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,000 Its axis right now. World everything seems to be a 467 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,300 giant dumpster fire god and I don't get it, I don't 468 00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:23,100 understand. But when I said, I can go our 469 00:24:23,100 --> 00:24:27,100 father in Heaven, your holy your God. 470 00:24:27,100 --> 00:24:29,300 I'm not you're in control, I'm not. 471 00:24:29,300 --> 00:24:33,800 I also pray Our Father, not just my father, Our Father, father, 472 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,300 all who are grieving and lost in her. 473 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,600 And right now we call and we claim on you, how would be your 474 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,100 name, your kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is 475 00:24:40,108 --> 00:24:41,500 in heaven. Here's the good news, when I go 476 00:24:41,500 --> 00:24:43,900 to God and I pray simply like that. 477 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,800 What I'm asking is not, I don't want a World created in my 478 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,000 image, your kingdom come your will be done as it needs. 479 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:53,200 God, help us, get to a place. Move me, motivate me. 480 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:54,100 Help me. Encourage me. 481 00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:56,400 Make me. I don't want to live in a place 482 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,600 where I have to be afraid of the news anymore because my heart 483 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,900 can't take one more. Sad thing I want to can't. 484 00:25:02,900 --> 00:25:05,100 I want the king. I want your kingdom. 485 00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:07,500 My kingdom. So we submit to the idea of 486 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:11,100 Jason, maybe things will look differently when I do, what I 487 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:13,000 want. Then when you do what you want 488 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,900 and so when I pray your kingdom, come your will be done on Earth 489 00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:18,200 as in heaven. I opened myself up to the idea 490 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,500 that it may not be my plan that we go with. 491 00:25:22,900 --> 00:25:24,500 And then we pray. Give us today. 492 00:25:24,500 --> 00:25:26,900 Our daily bread. What does it do? 493 00:25:26,908 --> 00:25:28,800 You need courage? You need hoped you need loved. 494 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:30,600 You need an opportunity. Do you need money? 495 00:25:30,900 --> 00:25:33,000 Do you need a job? Do you need comfort? 496 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,300 Do you need healing? Give us today. 497 00:25:35,900 --> 00:25:40,300 My prayer is Lord, give me for the next seven months so that I 498 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:43,400 don't have to live in doubt, but Jesus says no known just. 499 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:45,100 I'll be here tomorrow. Come tomorrow. 500 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,600 And you know why it feels risky because I haven't been in that 501 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:53,700 place where every day I go because I 17 months, right? 502 00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:56,700 I want my horde and Jesus has just come back everyday. 503 00:25:56,700 --> 00:25:57,700 Give us today. Our daily bread. 504 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:03,000 Forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass 505 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,200 against us, forgive us. Our debts. 506 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,800 We begin with confession. You know why we confess first? 507 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,600 Because when we confess first, and we receive Grace, it makes 508 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,100 it much harder than to go back and go, but don't get Grace to 509 00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:17,100 that person, get Grace to me. God, don't give rise to that 510 00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:18,400 person because they're terrible, right? 511 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:21,600 And lead us, not into temptation, protect us and got 512 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,100 us. And then he says, Is this? 513 00:26:23,100 --> 00:26:26,200 Are you ready? Don't like this part as much for 514 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:28,600 if you forgive other people, right? 515 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,200 As he's talking about prayer, for if you forgive other people, 516 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:34,200 when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also 517 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,700 forgive you. But if you do not forgive 518 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:40,100 others, their sins, your father will not forgive your sins. 519 00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:44,500 Donna, just leave that up there because this confronts us, it's 520 00:26:44,500 --> 00:26:45,800 right. And I want to try to explain 521 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,500 what and I want turns out all I would say is other ways that 522 00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:51,700 this idea could be expressed. Maybe the reason that I don't 523 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:56,600 want this to Say this is because I don't like this but in 524 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:01,500 essence, Jesus is asking what kind of world do you want to 525 00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:04,000 live in? Because you have to live in the 526 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,900 world that you create? Do you want to live in a world? 527 00:27:06,900 --> 00:27:09,900 That is created around the idea of forgiveness, and Grace, and 528 00:27:09,900 --> 00:27:12,400 Redemption. Then you better be a person 529 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:16,100 about forgiveness and Grace or redemption or you won't fit in 530 00:27:16,900 --> 00:27:20,600 it won't be your kind of world. If you want everybody to 531 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:25,600 forgive, except you guess, What? You're Now, The Outsider you're 532 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:30,000 now the enemy but if you want a kingdom of Grace because you 533 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,100 need Grace. Do you know where that starts 534 00:27:32,100 --> 00:27:37,300 with you and with me, I forgive well I don't forgive first 535 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,200 because Jesus forgave first and he didn't wait for me to come to 536 00:27:41,208 --> 00:27:43,300 him. He forgave me for us and then he 537 00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:46,800 says that's what the kingdom is. Like the kingdom is a place 538 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:51,200 where people forgive so Do you want it or do you not any 539 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,700 includes this in prayer talks about praying for your enemies 540 00:27:54,700 --> 00:27:57,500 praying for people, right? That's what you saying, is that, 541 00:27:57,500 --> 00:28:02,200 as you're praying, you need to be forgiven confess because then 542 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,200 you receive Grace. And as you receive Grace you 543 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,100 recognize. And you now say, oh well Lord, 544 00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:10,100 let's get it out there, you've forgiven me, I've been forgiven 545 00:28:10,100 --> 00:28:14,200 so now help me to forgive my wife, my kids, my neighbor, the 546 00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:18,000 the senator, the congressman, the shooter, the person, the 547 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,900 neighbor, whatever it is. It begins with an awareness and 548 00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:25,600 understanding, if we don't practice confession, forgiveness 549 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:28,800 is going to be nearly impossible, almost impossible 550 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,700 because we just don't get or understand Grace. 551 00:28:32,500 --> 00:28:37,100 And so he goes on, when you fast fasting, is the deliberate and 552 00:28:37,100 --> 00:28:41,700 intentional foregoing of food. And you can say, oh, people say 553 00:28:41,700 --> 00:28:46,200 I forgot, I fast Facebook There's a difference. 554 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,300 I think between abstaining and fasting. 555 00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:50,900 When Jesus talked about fasting in the Bible. 556 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,800 He was talking about food. When he talked an Old Testament 557 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:56,300 fasting. He was talking about food. 558 00:28:56,300 --> 00:29:00,900 Here's why I don't like that because I like food and I want 559 00:29:00,900 --> 00:29:03,500 other things. But Jesus says this, when you 560 00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:06,100 fast do not look somber as the Hypocrites do for they disguise 561 00:29:06,100 --> 00:29:07,600 their faces to show this other fasting. 562 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:09,600 Here's the deal. If I wake up one morning and I'm 563 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,900 just going, I'm doing something. If I get to go play golf, if I'm 564 00:29:11,908 --> 00:29:14,200 going on the Moor, and I'm playing golf and I go, I'll play 565 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,300 right through and it'll be the And it'll be 11:30 12:00. 566 00:29:17,300 --> 00:29:19,200 I'm like, I better get something because I'm hungry. 567 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,500 If I go to bed at night and say, I'm going to fast the next 568 00:29:21,500 --> 00:29:24,300 morning, the instant that I get up, my stomach feels like it's 569 00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:26,900 caving in on itself, right? My body is telling me like 570 00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:29,600 you're about to die, you've got to have sustenance, right? 571 00:29:29,700 --> 00:29:33,100 Because it's a spiritual discipline. 572 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,500 Fasting is saying I will intentionally and deliberately 573 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:41,200 not put food in my gullet to tell my body, that it doesn't 574 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,000 call the shots. So in says don't look summer. 575 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,500 That's was talking about, right? Like I could say I'm fat Fast. 576 00:29:45,500 --> 00:29:48,000 And I can show it to our staff meeting on Tuesday and just be a 577 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,700 week, huh? I'm fasting today don't ask me. 578 00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:54,300 Hard questions, right? And what Jesus is saying is 579 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:56,100 great, if you want people to think that you're awesome, 580 00:29:56,100 --> 00:29:59,000 that's one way to do it, but what he says is wash your face, 581 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,200 comb your hair, put on a clean shirt, do your thing and show 582 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:06,200 up, right? Because they'll have their 583 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:09,700 reward in full. But when you fast Put oil on 584 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:12,100 your head and wash your face. So there will not be obvious to 585 00:30:12,100 --> 00:30:14,400 others that you are fasting but only to your father who is 586 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,300 unseen and your father, who sees what is done in secret will 587 00:30:18,300 --> 00:30:22,100 reward you. The thing is, I need reminders 588 00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:23,800 that I can tell my body. No. 589 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,200 Because my body tells me all the time. 590 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,400 You gotta do this. You gotta go, you gotta strike 591 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:29,300 back. You got to fight. 592 00:30:29,300 --> 00:30:30,700 You got to have sex. You Gotta Eat. 593 00:30:30,700 --> 00:30:32,000 You Gotta cheat. You got to do this. 594 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,300 And what fasting does it says? No, I don't. 595 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:36,800 It's you're hungry, you're gonna die. 596 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,400 Okay, bet I won't eat for an hour and I bet I'm not dead and 597 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,300 then you don't eat an hour and then at the end of that hour, 598 00:30:42,300 --> 00:30:45,500 you go I bet I can eat an I cannot eat for another hour and 599 00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:48,600 what if you go for a whole day, here's the principle. 600 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:49,200 Right? Because you go. 601 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:50,900 Why does that? Why is that a thing? 602 00:30:50,900 --> 00:30:54,800 Listen, Galatians 5:13, you my brothers and sisters were called 603 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:56,000 to be free. Listen. 604 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,200 Stop. Are you looking that's for you? 605 00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:03,000 You were called to be free free to what? 606 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,500 Listen. But do not use your freedom to 607 00:31:06,500 --> 00:31:09,500 indulge the flesh freedom to free to do whatever. 608 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:11,700 I want, you're free to do whatever you want. 609 00:31:11,700 --> 00:31:15,600 Just not religiously, not do you go do whatever you want. 610 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:17,600 But in the Kingdom, it's different. 611 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,200 Rather serve one another humbly and love for the entire law is 612 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,300 fulfilled in keeping this one command, love your neighbor as 613 00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:26,400 yourself. If you buy you, devour each 614 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,000 other watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 615 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,700 That's the whole you have to live in the world that you 616 00:31:30,700 --> 00:31:34,100 create, right? So I say walk by the spirit and 617 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:36,200 you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 618 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:37,900 Well, what does that mean? Listen, this is so good. 619 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:41,100 It's like for the flesh desires. What is contrary to the spirit 620 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:43,600 and the spirit, what is contrary to the flesh? 621 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:47,200 They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do 622 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,500 whatever you want. But Are led by the spirit. 623 00:31:49,500 --> 00:31:51,400 You are not under the law. Here's the image. 624 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:54,300 You got two dogs. You got to husky dogs. 625 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:56,900 Right in their puppies. So they're this big right here, 626 00:31:56,900 --> 00:31:59,300 you got a choice every day. One of those little husky 627 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:02,000 puppies is called spirit and one of those is called flesh. 628 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,300 Flesh, says feels good. Do it. 629 00:32:04,300 --> 00:32:06,000 You gotta do it. And your spirit says, no, you're 630 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:07,900 an eternal being your created for eternity. 631 00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:10,700 You got to and you got this much food and you got every day you 632 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:12,400 got to decide which one do I feed. 633 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,400 If you feed that flesh, dog. And you don't feed the spirit, 634 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:15,900 dog. Guess what? 635 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:17,100 That flesh. Dogs going to do? 636 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:22,800 This big and then when you tell it, no, don't respond in Anger. 637 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,300 When your wife has offend you, you know what? 638 00:32:24,300 --> 00:32:27,400 That flesh dog is gonna do. He's gonna snarl, he's gonna 639 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:29,400 bite your head off and you're going to snap. 640 00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:33,600 But if you feed that flat, that Spirit dog, you start to go, I 641 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,700 can forgive my spouse, I can forgive my wife, I can forgive 642 00:32:36,700 --> 00:32:38,300 my kids. I can forgive my co-workers. 643 00:32:38,300 --> 00:32:40,900 I can give I can pray. I can fast, and it begins by 644 00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:42,600 saying one day. When you just go? 645 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:46,500 No, I'm not eating. I'm not going to eat today, 646 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:48,600 instead of eating, I'm going to pray. 647 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:51,300 I'm going to feed this Spirit dog. 648 00:32:51,500 --> 00:32:54,700 So that someday that Spirit, dog can eat all the flesh that at, 649 00:32:54,700 --> 00:32:58,500 once it can eat all that and I will begin to look like Jesus. 650 00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:03,200 I will begin to have this to be spiritually, significant to have 651 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,400 a spiritually, strong and vibrant life, right? 652 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:08,800 Did I read it all that? You're fasting? 653 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,000 Yes, so that's the idea, right? So here's the question. 654 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:15,600 Do you believe in us to believe that spiritual Are real. 655 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,400 Or do you believe that this world is all that there will 656 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:26,200 ever be? Because if spiritual reality is, 657 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,400 first of all, a spiritual reality isn't real. 658 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,300 If this world is all there is, you don't have to come here 659 00:33:31,300 --> 00:33:36,600 anymore because 100% of what this is about, is the Kingdom of 660 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:41,000 Heaven here, extending into eternity forever. 661 00:33:41,900 --> 00:33:46,300 If that is real, then every investment in your face every 662 00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:50,800 time you humble yourself. There's a reward now and in 663 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:54,100 eternity, every time you give every time you pray every time 664 00:33:54,100 --> 00:33:57,300 your father who is in secret sees, you there is life and 665 00:33:57,300 --> 00:33:59,500 there is hope, and there is reward. 666 00:33:59,500 --> 00:34:03,300 That's what religion is religion, isn't just about doing 667 00:34:03,300 --> 00:34:04,500 things. It's not about earning, it's not 668 00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:08,100 about earning at all for Jesus. When he talked about religion, 669 00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:09,500 he talks about fasting and giving him. 670 00:34:09,500 --> 00:34:13,699 Praying religion, is what facilitates intimacy with God. 671 00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:16,900 That's what religion is about. It's about bringing you into the 672 00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:20,300 very presence of God. It's about Denying myself I 673 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:23,600 hoard because it's about me. But when I give, I believe that 674 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,600 saying Jesus, I believe that you're real and so I'm going to 675 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:28,699 trust you. And so we give when we pray 676 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:30,699 Jesus, I believe that you're real. 677 00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:33,100 So I'm not going to just rush out and do it myself. 678 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:35,300 I'm going to talk to you first. I'm gonna get your word when I 679 00:34:35,300 --> 00:34:37,699 fast Jesus. I believe that you're real, and 680 00:34:37,699 --> 00:34:40,300 you're able to nourish and sustain me even when I can't 681 00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:44,000 nourish and sustain myself that understanding, and that instinct 682 00:34:44,100 --> 00:34:49,400 that God has big and is in control that changes Everything 683 00:34:49,900 --> 00:34:53,800 that moves the church that inspires the church. 684 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:58,600 And the only way for us to do that is for us to learn to Value 685 00:34:58,900 --> 00:35:04,700 discipline over comfort. We have to Value discipline, we 686 00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:07,900 do value discipline in some areas, some of you go to the gym 687 00:35:07,900 --> 00:35:10,600 and work out. Are you run long distances or 688 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:12,200 whatever it is that you do, right? 689 00:35:12,500 --> 00:35:15,500 And it hurts and it's uncomfortable but you see the 690 00:35:15,500 --> 00:35:18,100 value and you know that ultimately it's worth it. 691 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,400 Spiritual disciplines are the same way they hurt. 692 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:26,800 They are uncomfortable, but the value is eternal value goes on 693 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:32,800 and on forever. So life is hard, there is Not 694 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:37,400 hard option. The question isn't, would you 695 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:40,400 prefer an easy life or a hard life? 696 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:44,000 The question is, would you prefer to go through a difficult 697 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:48,300 life alone or with Jesus? And the promise? 698 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:50,800 That this isn't how the story ends. 699 00:35:51,500 --> 00:35:53,600 My Hope Is that you'll choose Jesus. 700 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:56,800 Because look at what he said, John 16 Verse 33. 701 00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:01,500 He said, I have told you these things so that in In me you may 702 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:03,900 have peace. Anybody need piece this week. 703 00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:08,800 In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart, I have 704 00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:13,100 overcome the world. So, practice generosity, 705 00:36:13,900 --> 00:36:20,800 practice prayer, practice fasting and do those things now 706 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:24,400 today, so that the next time, there's tragedy. 707 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:27,300 So the next time the world seems to be pulled out from under you 708 00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:30,600 like a rug, your spiritual store your intimacy with Jesus will be 709 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:32,700 intact, you'll be able to in that moment. 710 00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:34,200 Go Jesus. Where are you? 711 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:37,700 Because you have disciplined, your flesh, you will have Hast 712 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:41,300 your desires. You have been used to living 713 00:36:41,300 --> 00:36:43,800 with his voice in your head, you'll be used to being the 714 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,700 blessing that he created you to receive practice. 715 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:51,100 Secrecy, discipline yourself to be secret. 716 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:54,800 A great way to do that is to take a, take a break from from 717 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,000 social media, right? Just not being seen, not being 718 00:36:58,100 --> 00:37:00,900 visible, not saying all the things that you think. 719 00:37:00,900 --> 00:37:03,900 But having conversations asking questions doing things 720 00:37:04,100 --> 00:37:07,800 privately, practice, confession, and why do we do that? 721 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:11,700 Listen, the first religion was instituted in the Garden of 722 00:37:11,700 --> 00:37:15,200 Eden. When God stood with Adam and Eve 723 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:16,700 in the garden and he said be fruitful. 724 00:37:16,700 --> 00:37:19,700 And multiply when he said, take the fruit of the earth and 725 00:37:19,708 --> 00:37:22,700 extend the garden expand, fill the Earth. 726 00:37:22,700 --> 00:37:26,600 And multiply the first religion was in the presence of God and 727 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:32,300 it was about managing and stewarding God's good creation, 728 00:37:32,300 --> 00:37:35,300 and light of his good and perfect character. 729 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:39,200 His original intention for religion was, for us, to be with 730 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:42,500 him and experience him in the cart and the context of growing. 731 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,700 Living things. That's what this is. 732 00:37:45,700 --> 00:37:48,500 That's what religion is supposed to be a vital and vibrant 733 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:52,400 connection with God, that enables us to be his hands and 734 00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:54,300 feet in this world to love those. 735 00:37:54,300 --> 00:37:57,600 That he loves that, we sometimes don't to serve those. 736 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:02,700 That he would serve that. We often don't, we don't give 737 00:38:02,700 --> 00:38:07,000 because of people because people are fickle, you will give to 738 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,500 people and they won't appreciate you and they won't thank you and 739 00:38:09,500 --> 00:38:11,000 they will take and they will ask for more. 740 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:15,200 We don't give because of Well, we give because of God, we don't 741 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:18,800 pray because of people, because people are selfish, we pray, 742 00:38:19,100 --> 00:38:23,200 because God hears us. We don't fast because of people 743 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:28,500 because people are unimpressed we fast because God, as mighty 744 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:34,000 and big and strong and powerful as he is, he is impressed and he 745 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:37,700 loves you and all he desires us time. 746 00:38:38,300 --> 00:38:41,600 So, Jesus, I ask that you would help us to be disciplined in 747 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:46,100 Pursuit Of You. And it's hard. 748 00:38:46,100 --> 00:38:49,100 Sometimes we get tangled up because we know we're not saved 749 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,400 by the things that we do. We know we can never pray our 750 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,500 way into the kingdom. We can never fast our way in the 751 00:38:53,508 --> 00:38:56,000 Kingdom. We can't make you love us when 752 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,400 we fast. We don't you're not more proud 753 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:01,400 of us when we when we give you just love us on your proud of us 754 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:05,200 because it's not it's not about us. 755 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:13,000 It's about you. And so Jesus, as your child, as 756 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:16,500 a servant in your kingdom, I lay down my rights. 757 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,500 And I ask that you would help me to live simply and intimate 758 00:39:22,700 --> 00:39:26,800 connection with you. Lord help me to see people as 759 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:30,000 you see them. The shooter. 760 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:33,600 Help me to see him as you see him my neighbor. 761 00:39:34,900 --> 00:39:36,500 Help me to see them as you see them. 762 00:39:37,900 --> 00:39:41,700 And just maybe you may you be glorified by the way that we 763 00:39:41,700 --> 00:39:45,800 walk and talk in this world and Lord, I pray that you truly 764 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:49,400 would raise up your church to make a change in this world. 765 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:53,800 I pray that we would come together for Life To Worship 766 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,300 You, to serve our brothers and sisters, and to point to a 767 00:39:57,300 --> 00:40:02,400 different way into call. Watching World Jesus. 768 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:04,600 We ask these things in your name and for your glory. 769 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:07,700 Amen. Thank you for joining us today. 770 00:40:08,100 --> 00:40:10,900 River City Church is all about experiencing and expressing 771 00:40:10,900 --> 00:40:12,800 God's love in our lives and community. 772 00:40:12,900 --> 00:40:16,400 And we hope that you've been able to experience that today as 773 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:18,000 grateful. As I am, that you've spent this 774 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:21,400 time, listening in this morning, this podcast is no substitute 775 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:23,900 for full participation in a local church. 776 00:40:24,300 --> 00:40:27,400 I love it when River City people listen to other pastors, but it 777 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:29,400 is those who show up week after week. 778 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,100 Faithfully, giving their support and time and resources, that 779 00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:35,400 make all of this possible. If we can help you get connected 780 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:38,800 to a local church, pray for you or support you in any way. 781 00:40:39,100 --> 00:40:41,600 Click the link in the description and let us know if 782 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:43,700 you'd like to financially support the ministry of River 783 00:40:43,700 --> 00:40:45,500 City. Click the give link on our 784 00:40:45,500 --> 00:40:48,600 website in the description. Don't forget to subscribe, and 785 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:50,400 don't forget to share this with your friends. 786 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,400 Thanks so much for listening. May the Lord bless, and keep you 787 00:40:53,500 --> 00:40:55,000 in all Grace and peace.