Opening Wells of Living Water

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Opening Wells of Living Water

(Sermon Outline)

1)      God wants to reveal Himself in a manner that will open up rivers of living water from this region.

a)      John 1:16–18 (NKJV) — 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for (instead of) grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

i)        Grace & truth (reality)

ii)      Fullness, received, grace instead of grace.

iii)    Jesus declared/revealed.

iv)    Living epistles – read by all men.

b)      It is like opening a heavenly scroll and now there is revelation and transformation on earth.

c)      I am convinced that the ministry of grace is what will open up wells of living water that flow forth like a river of life.

d)      The ministry of grace develops as we see and reflect our Father in Heaven.

i)        There is no simple principle – it is about the heart of God.

ii)      I challenge you to seek God in prayer and in the word, asking Him to reveal the ministry of grace to you.

iii)    We are going look at a scripture that develops an aspect of the ministry of Grace

2)      The parable of a Father’s Heart Revealed.

a)      Pharisees complaining about Jesus fellowshipping with sinners.

b)      Luke 15:11–13 (NKJV) — 11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

i)        “You are dead to me”

ii)      Inheritances rarely divided before death, and never at the son’s request.

iii)    Not just divided but liquidated.

iv)    The insult, the shame, the hurt, the anger, the humiliation.

v)      The waste

vi)    asōtia, literally “lost life,” …the word prodigal refers to the one who has only the sole vicious tendency to destroy his means of subsistence.” Asōtia, dissipation of wealth and debauchery, is very often associated with drinking binges during festivals: “the temple was filled with debaucheries and orgies by dissolute Gentiles and prostitutes” (2 Macc 6:4);^[1]

vii)   Why would the prodigal son leave?  We do not know for sure, but we can speculate.

(1)   The lures of the world

(2)   The attitude of his older brother.

(3)   Maybe the father?  This would be a transformation story as well.  In our lives, this is more likely the case.

viii)            THE FATHER LET HIM GO!!!

c)      Luke 15:14–16 (NKJV) — 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

i)        The brokenness of a life away from the Father’s house.

ii)      The mercy, grace and sovereignty of God in the famine and effects of sin.

d)      Luke 15:17–19 (NKJV) — 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

i)        I believe this proves he knew his father to some extent.

ii)      What had to be operating for the “repentance we see here?”

iii)    Can you see the depth of the guilt and shame?

e)      Luke 15:20–24 (NKJV) — 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

i)        The father runs – no fear of man!!!  No unforgiveness, or resentment!!!

ii)      His heart is totally unexpected in the world – it is practically unknown!

iii)    The world motivates and controls people through guilt, shame and humiliation.  THEY CAN NEVER GROW TO MATURITY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION!!!

iv)    A resurrection story

v)      The celebration – what if the son would not go in because of guilt and shame??

(1)   Would that have pleased the Father’s heart?

(2)   The difficulty of receiving forgiveness

(3)   If Jesus took our guilt and shame, why are we often still carrying it?

vi)    The resurrection was not complete until the son embraced the Father’s heart by entering the celebration!!!

vii)  THE FATHER SOUGHT RECONCILIATION AND THE REVELATION/REPRODUCTION OF HIS HEART!!!

f)       Luke 15:25–32 (NKJV) — 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

i)        How his attitude kills fellowship and community – he was on the outside of the celebration

ii)      He missed the Father’s heart – a whitewashed sepulcher

iii)    Easily offended and holds resentment.

iv)    Very challenging people to live with and to love and appreciate.

v)      THE FATHER SOUGHT RECONCILIATION AND THE REVELATION/REPRODUCTION OF HIS HEART!!!

vi)    The key to being a son was not working in the business but experiencing and reproducing the heart of the Father!

vii)  That was the true inheritance that neither of the sons had at the beginning. 

3)      The journey of transformation is Jesus saving us from our sinner and pharisee.

a)      Sinners often turn into Pharisees

b)      They both create worlds that are different from our Father’s house.

c)      The sinner’s world was clearly on the outside.

d)      The pharisees world was farther from the father’s true house even though it was in the house.

e)      The church majors in challenging the world of the sinner, but the Pharisee, in fact, it is often just the house of the pharisee.

f)       God is calling us to rid ourselves of the leaven of pharisees to embrace the new wine of His ministry of grace.

4)      Opening up wells of living water

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So with that we’re gonna go head into the ministry of God’s Word

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So father we

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really want us first and foremost say thank you for being a wonderful father Thank you God that you have loved us with a love that is stronger than death Thank you God that you have revealed yourself to us in Jesus Christ

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And we want to see you this morning and come to know you more and to have you reveal your kingdom

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in us Amen

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The title of today’s message is opening wells of living water

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I believe that God wants to reveal himself in a manner that will open up rivers of living water from this region

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And I’m saying this because I’ve run into one person after another And I mentioned this the last time I preached that have either had visions or dreams or words from God

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where they saw a spring of living water welling up and flooding the region

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And it was more than people that are in this church And that to me is super exciting isn’t it That it makes me really convinced that God is doing something amazing

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and we are going to be a part of it

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I want to read from John chapter 1 16 through 18

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and of his fullness we have all received

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and grace for grace for the law was given through Moses But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ No one has seen God at any time

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The only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father has declared him

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And the reason I chose this scripture to begin with is because I believe that it

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connects very important in an important way to this vision that people have had about rivers of living water flowing

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I’ve been praying God What is this river of life that is going to flow and bring radical transformation And the things that people have said are amazing And I don’t believe that’s just wishful thinking

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And the reason I picked this I want to look at a couple of things here and of His fullness we have all received

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just that language and that imagery really sounds exciting doesn’t it We have received of his fullness

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and then it goes on and says and grace for grace

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And that one is really an interesting cause to me because the actual Greek is

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grace instead of grace or grace against grace

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That seems like a strange idea How do we even translate that Right

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And the best

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way I can think about it right now and maybe the Lord will give greater revelation

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but that we receive of His fullness

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and we move from faith to faith and glory to glory that we receive grace and manifest his love and his character And then we receive more grace And when then we receive more grace and we become more and more like Jesus

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we become more and more like Jesus Not because we try hard

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We become more and more like Jesus because we experience

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his grace and his love and his mercy and his goodness

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And so much of Christianity is you need to try harder

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you need to be more dedicated you need to be more committed And a lot of times we drive it and drive it and drive it And there are pitfalls all around self righteousness on one side burn out on the other

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pride

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It it

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just doesn’t work And I think about those who Jesus commences

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on the last day he says they say to him Lord

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when did we do these things

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It was like they didn’t even realize they did it

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because they had become more

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like Jesus and did it naturally

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They didn’t try to love people they love people

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they didn’t try to like people they like people

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they didn’t try to serve people they serve people they couldn’t help it It was who they are because the love of God and the grace of God had changed them from grace to grace to grace revealing the fullness

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of God

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And then this next next verse I think is really interesting for the law was given through Moses But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ

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And I’m picking these scriptures and I’m talking about them because I believe that what God is trying to

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birth in the church

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approaches scripture even from a little different direction

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But that little bit of different direction brings forth rivers of living water

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right And so the first thing that I would challenge is that a lot of times when we hear that passage for the wall came through Moses but grace and truth

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came through Jesus

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But I say it that way and and I hear some laughing but let’s be honest that’s kind of accurate what how people think

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and I really don’t think that that’s the idea

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that John is talking about

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But what has happened is that there’s ideas that have become traditions of men in the church of Jesus Christ and they’re just taken at face value as well That’s the way it is And that one of those ideas the law is bad We have been saved from the law The law is as evil oppressive repressive deadly thing

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But that could be farther from the truth

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That could not be farther from the truth It was given by a loving gracious heavenly father who loves his people and wanted to bless them and do good to them

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The idea was that people would come from afar and see a a society and a people that reflect righteousness and justice and goodness and truth

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But what happened is the law why we got those ideas Because there are some very true ideas that the law

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which is good

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brought forth in us all kinds of evil desire But we’re talking there’s different elements there’s a ceremonial law There was well tradition I think that it’s time for a new rethinking of

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the traditional

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categories But that’s a discussion for another day But there’s the ceremonial law But even the ceremonial law and the laws or dietary laws and all these other laws and rules they were given by a gracious loving heavenly father for a purpose that was good for his people

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But then the moral law and the 10 commandments and all the other elements of the law

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It’s those elements of the law that think around the world of sin doesn’t it Where we think we transgress the law and

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don’t touch and then we touch because I didn’t wanna touch until he told me don’t

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do it right And that law brought forth condemnation He saved us from the condemnation of the law He saved us from the handwriting of the law against us

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that says we were law breakers Jesus died on the cross so that we could be forgiven

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But then later scripture talks about so that in us the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled

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And the way I describe it is a lot of the moral law just reflects the character and nature of God

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Really What is it How do we love God and love one another How do we walk under the rule of love That is actually a good thing The problem is that sinful humanity could never do it

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ever

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So God sent his

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own son to die on the cross

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He is the

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lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world

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He has established a new covenant He’s poured out his holy spirit

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into us so that we have been set free from the law of sin and death that we can become like him so that the world will know us by our love by our love for one another by our love without hooks by our love that’s free from fear

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It’s pretty exciting isn’t it But what has happened in Christianity is we just hear law bad

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Jesus good

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But I I would I think of it more like this The law was a womb or

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the law is a shadow The substance of the kingdom came in Jesus

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right

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It was a

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shadow

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in that shadow A primary the primary message of the Old Testament is

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blessed are the man whose sins are forgiven

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It wasn’t rules and restrictions to keep you from having life It was blessed as the man whose sins are forgiven the heart of the old Well the law through Moses was the day of atonement

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sacrifice for sin A covering for sin so that God could be with His people

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But the Kingdom was never really manifested because sin was still in our heart

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But Jesus came to take away the sin of the world

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the law the shadow came through Moses But grace and truth has come through Jesus Christ Is this

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exciting

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But then when we read that term grace and truth

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has come to us

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through Jesus Christ

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Grace and truth has come to us in Jesus Christ That’s how we often interpret it again Oops we’ve fallen back into these traditions of men that Rob from life And I would challenge that Maybe the idea A lot of times scripture will say the same thing with two words to try to drive home the idea

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So maybe it’s grace and truth which that word also means reality

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has come through Jesus Christ the reality of the kingdom the reality of the reign of love grace and reality

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The authentic has become possible has become at hand’s

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length a present reality

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through Jesus Christ

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But it all comes through his grace

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in our life

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and experiencing that grace You know we often act like well we have to we often interpret like we got a grace we got

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to love people and accept them But we also have to tell them the truth

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We got to hammer them with the truth

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but we’re often not discerning Is this really bringing

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life

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Are we really doing

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what we see the father is doing Are we really nurturing life And a lot of Christians wrestle with this challenge all the time Like well this is wrong and I need to tell them it’s wrong

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I need to stand up for the truth I need to argue for the truth

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Instead of discerning

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Is this the right time for the word

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Do we rebuke

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the fool in his folly Or we do not Or

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do we not rebuke the fool in his folly

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Proverbs tells us if you don’t do it negative consequences or if

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you do do it negative consequences What what are you talking about

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man

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Talking about

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developing the

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kind of wisdom that knows

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the movements and flow of the kingdom of God to know when

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to apply God’s word and how to apply God’s word to nurture life rather than death

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This word is precious His word is precious but we can use his word in a way that brings death instead of life

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And what this does is it

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nurtures humility in us

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and prayer fullness in us

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and compassion in us

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because a bruised breed we do not want to break in a smoldering whip We don’t want to put out

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But at the same time

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when he’s saying

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this needs to be addressed we need to address it or this There there’s if we look at jesus’ ministry he knew when to put out the money changers He knew when to call people the son of the devil And he knew when to show mercy and grace Oh God how do I know how and when to do this

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Lord I need to be closer to you

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Lord I need your holy spirit Lord we need your guidance Lord we need you

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more and more things in the word of God

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brings us to that place doesn’t it God I need you

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I need to know you I need to see you I need your love to possess me

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God let it come

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so that we can bring a river of life

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00:13:56.309 – 00:13:57.369
to this world

Speaker#2:
00:13:57.9 – 00:14:03.88
instead of just legalism or ritual or forms or right expectations

Speaker#2:
00:14:05.049 – 00:14:07.9
We need to actually bring life and transformation

Speaker#2:
00:14:08.46 – 00:14:14.869
See the difference I hope this is painting a picture of the potential of a river of life flowing

Speaker#2:
00:14:15.84 – 00:14:17.099
through the nations

Speaker#1:
00:14:21.83 – 00:14:23.119
I would say that

Speaker#1:
00:14:24.359 – 00:14:29.26
Oh no let me just read read this part right here No one has seen God at any time

Speaker#1:
00:14:30.719 – 00:14:36.059
The only begotten son who is in the bosom of the Father He has declared Him

Speaker#2:
00:14:37.88 – 00:14:39.159
I love that

Speaker#1:
00:14:41.059 – 00:14:46.7
Because what do you mean He No one has seen God but Jesus declared Him

Speaker#1:
00:14:48.7 – 00:14:53.46
well if we’re just did he just talk about God No he made him known

Speaker#1:
00:14:55.229 – 00:14:59.21
He made him known Do you not understand He has seen me

Speaker#2:
00:14:59.219 – 00:15:00.26
as seeing the Father

Speaker#2:
00:15:01.809 – 00:15:04.02
He perfectly revealed the Father

Speaker#2:
00:15:05.309 – 00:15:07.28
But then the scripture says declared Him

Speaker#2:
00:15:08.859 – 00:15:10.08
I like that too

Speaker#2:
00:15:10.89 – 00:15:11.669
What do you mean

Speaker#2:
00:15:12.84 – 00:15:14.859
It’s the voice of our father

Speaker#2:
00:15:15.82 – 00:15:17.799
a conversation with our father

Speaker#2:
00:15:18.419 – 00:15:20.57
That’s why I love the word of God so much

Speaker#2:
00:15:21.229 – 00:15:26.239
He declared him he made his heart known He communicated

Speaker#2:
00:15:27.869 – 00:15:37.45
the words of our father to us And the words of our father were not they were specific to individuals and the needs of people

Speaker#2:
00:15:39.26 – 00:15:42.729
right He didn’t give the same word to everybody

Speaker#2:
00:15:43.859 – 00:15:56.369
but he brought forth words of life appropriate to bring transformation and a river of life was flowing through him so much The devil said this river of life needs to be cut off in Jesus

Speaker#2:
00:15:57.76 – 00:15:59.419
devil couldn’t read his mind

Speaker#2:
00:16:00.26 – 00:16:02.859
Your your Haman is hanging on his own noose

Speaker#2:
00:16:04.049 – 00:16:07.229
You think you’re cutting me off and you’re cutting off your own head

Speaker#2:
00:16:07.95 – 00:16:24.71
It’s pretty wild God is awesome I mean I love redemption because the devil had no way to win It was literally a no win scenario Jesus was destroying his kingdom Jesus was setting people free Jesus was transforming lives If you don’t stop this thing

Speaker#2:
00:16:26.349 – 00:16:27.179
it’s over

Speaker#2:
00:16:29.39 – 00:16:30.26
But then

Speaker#2:
00:16:31.58 – 00:16:33.27
when he cut off Jesus

Speaker#2:
00:16:34.27 – 00:16:37.76
he had no realization Now it’s really over

Speaker#2:
00:16:38.479 – 00:16:49.34
because we didn’t see what he really wanted to do was to atone for our sins and put his life into our hearts and let that life grow and be manifested

Speaker#2:
00:16:49.94 – 00:16:50.979
in the world

Speaker#2:
00:16:52.96 – 00:16:56.07
to reproduce Christ in us

Speaker#2:
00:16:56.83 – 00:16:59.989
It’s wild isn’t it It’s spectacular

Speaker#2:
00:17:03.26 – 00:17:07.479
I think it would be fair to say in a way Jesus was a living epistle

Speaker#2:
00:17:09.229 – 00:17:15.869
He declared the father his life declared the father right

Speaker#2:
00:17:16.89 – 00:17:19.688
And everything he did declared it

Speaker#2:
00:17:21.109 – 00:17:31.089
And we always have these arguments in the body of Christ Perennially whenever it comes whenever somebody gets excited again about it’s usually Saint Francis of Assisi

Speaker#2:
00:17:32.099 – 00:17:36.26
Was it something like preach the gospel always and use words when necessary

Speaker#2:
00:17:36.89 – 00:17:37.52
right

Speaker#2:
00:17:38.16 – 00:17:49.209
And then a lot of Christians get gung ho about that And then then you see a trajectory in some you see wisdom is specific and judgment is a spiritual discernment

Speaker#2:
00:17:49.76 – 00:17:53.52
and then it becomes an excuse for some to never preach the gospel

Speaker#2:
00:17:54.069 – 00:17:58.4
And then others say well my Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God

Speaker#2:
00:17:58.979 – 00:18:01.229
Well that’s the word of God that was Saint Francis

Speaker#2:
00:18:01.9 – 00:18:06.209
Wait but Saint Francis was responding to something he saw in his day

Speaker#2:
00:18:06.739 – 00:18:10.53
and we can preach the word in such a manner

Speaker#2:
00:18:11.579 – 00:18:38.5
that it doesn’t nurture the Kingdom of God Does that make sense But what happens is when we go out into this world and we love people and we are kind to people and we greet people and we care for people and they see us work with an integrity and they see the hope that we have they are people are not just robots go go go go go God created us actually curious

Speaker#2:
00:18:39.319 – 00:18:42.589
right We’re actually extremely curious things

Speaker#2:
00:18:43.38 – 00:18:51.209
And so when we see somebody that really has a light in their eyes has joy has peace walks in love

Speaker#2:
00:18:51.78 – 00:18:53.66
We start to say ha ha

Speaker#2:
00:18:54.17 – 00:18:55.739
I wonder what makes them tick

Speaker#2:
00:18:57.79 – 00:19:08.329
why And I literally had I mean people who have experienced the Holy Spirit know this happens It’s like you got a light in your eyes and usually walk around for several years with an ear to ear grin

Speaker#2:
00:19:09.069 – 00:19:30.66
right Uh We called it the charismatic grin but it’s not like you put it on it’s not put on it’s not fake It’s literally you’ve come to meet your father in heaven You’ve met the Holy Spirit You’ve fallen so madly in love with Jesus that it just radiates from you emanates from your whole being And I was working at a market and a woman literally said why are you always so happy

Speaker#2:
00:19:32.979 – 00:19:34.489
I said why are you not

Speaker#2:
00:19:35.28 – 00:19:38.219
And she told me I’ve seen all these things wrong in the world

Speaker#1:
00:19:38.229 – 00:19:41.209
and I’ve given my whole life to make it better and nothing’s happened

Speaker#2:
00:19:41.449 – 00:19:42.3
And I go well I’m

Speaker#1:
00:19:42.31 – 00:19:46.42
happy because I have seen the difference

Speaker#2:
00:19:46.43 – 00:19:49.14
that you could never achieve in the

Speaker#1:
00:19:49.15 – 00:19:51.52
world in people’s lives that have been delivered

Speaker#2:
00:19:51.53 – 00:19:52.31
from all kinds of

Speaker#1:
00:19:52.319 – 00:19:54.239
things including myself When I

Speaker#2:
00:19:54.25 – 00:19:55.67
met Jesus Christ

Speaker#2:
00:19:57.76 – 00:20:04.02
it opened the door to share the gospel because she witnessed authenticity in reality

Speaker#2:
00:20:04.939 – 00:20:15.839
a river of life living epistles This grace works in our life to reproduce grace Is that exciting to anyone It’s exciting And I’m hoping this is

Speaker#1:
00:20:15.849 – 00:20:16.88
putting ideas

Speaker#2:
00:20:16.89 – 00:20:19.56
in our head and that the Lord is giving revelation

Speaker#2:
00:20:22.16 – 00:20:24.18
because it is an opportunity

Speaker#2:
00:20:25.92 – 00:20:27.949
Lord let life prevail in us

Speaker#1:
00:20:27.959 – 00:20:41.819
Let our light shine before men But a lot of it is breaking the condemnation that gets on people Not good enough I’m not doing enough I’m not standing outside of the mall telling have you been born again

Speaker#1:
00:20:42.359 – 00:20:45.219
Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior

Speaker#1:
00:20:46.579 – 00:20:56.29
And I’m not saying that God can’t use that because we can become legalistic and said oh that’s not the right way to do it That’s not the right way to do it Hey man God is really crazy God

Speaker#1:
00:20:56.869 – 00:20:57.729
He seems to

Speaker#2:
00:20:57.739 – 00:21:05.31
use all kinds of people But what we have to recognize is life first death It’s that robbing

Speaker#1:
00:21:05.319 – 00:21:23.81
of our own dignity trying to put shame and feeling like a failure That’s the death that needs to be broken But the word is not universal It’s specific that you need to hear to keep us walking in life so that the rivers of living water flow is what I’m saying making sense

Speaker#1:
00:21:24.3 – 00:21:31.55
Like somebody can feel like I’m not doing enough and that idea was from the devil to choke the life

Speaker#1:
00:21:32.42 – 00:21:33.729
Does that make sense

Speaker#1:
00:21:34.68 – 00:21:38.099
But somebody might really be frustrated and really

Speaker#1:
00:21:39.119 – 00:21:43.05
truly unsatisfied because maybe they aren’t doing enough

Speaker#1:
00:21:44.569 – 00:21:52.29
You see what I’m saying It’s very specific you know or or people feel like hey I need to um

Speaker#1:
00:21:53.04 – 00:22:02.78
get out and do more and talk to more people about Jesus or whatever it is and I’m not doing it So I feel bad It’s that death working again Does that make sense

Speaker#1:
00:22:03.459 – 00:22:12.949
And then and then they start to discover I just walk in love and smile and greet people and talk with people and then opportunities happen and I share Jesus with them

Speaker#1:
00:22:13.51 – 00:22:18.01
Wow that’s the way it’s done They shouldn’t be doing it that way

Speaker#2:
00:22:19.989 – 00:22:32.949
But then you find people who came to Christ that way too I a good example of Leah I think she might be upstairs and Rachel is in the back there But when she was at college and you know they I was telling that a few weeks ago but it really is true What happens

Speaker#1:
00:22:33.569 – 00:22:34.51
in classes

Speaker#2:
00:22:34.52 – 00:22:42.67
people who are supposed to be Christians or in the kind of college community and they’ll say things I think Christianity and wicker are the same because they’re all seeking love

Speaker#2:
00:22:43.729 – 00:22:47.729
Boom The programming kicks in I need to tell them the truth

Speaker#2:
00:22:49.26 – 00:22:53.79
It’s my moral responsibility Well what did it nurture life when you did So no

Speaker#2:
00:22:55.119 – 00:23:02.78
only one other student there telling the truth Did it nurture life No it caused the fools to revel in their own folly

Speaker#2:
00:23:04.14 – 00:23:07.38
I said just love them and be a light

Speaker#2:
00:23:08.02 – 00:23:10.01
and then the opportunity will come

Speaker#2:
00:23:11.099 – 00:23:13.17
and when that opportunity comes

Speaker#2:
00:23:13.959 – 00:23:15.829
it will be like words of life

Speaker#2:
00:23:17.229 – 00:23:18.119
And it was

Speaker#2:
00:23:18.68 – 00:23:22.16
oh well then the answer is don’t ever don’t ever

Speaker#2:
00:23:22.939 – 00:23:34.199
let it rip when there’s that opportunity in a context where people have it totally wrong But then somebody and so now we we become restrictive rather than saying well it turns out

Speaker#2:
00:23:34.78 – 00:23:45.03
Joe Schmo came along and he had a certain love and grace and anointing from God And in the middle of that setting was able to turn the whole thing around and bring life because there’s different callings and anointing

Speaker#1:
00:23:47.42 – 00:23:48.349
and and he

Speaker#2:
00:23:48.359 – 00:23:55.199
you know his anointing he could never do it that way and they’re anointing they could never do it that way And we always judge our own

Speaker#1:
00:23:55.209 – 00:23:57.5
value by how God works through somebody

Speaker#2:
00:23:57.51 – 00:23:58.29
else

Speaker#2:
00:23:59.78 – 00:24:03.76
rather than how God figuring out how God works through us

Speaker#2:
00:24:04.53 – 00:24:14.459
We do always want to grow and take new territory We can’t be afraid to make mistakes we can’t be afraid to duff it That again is that spirit of death

Speaker#2:
00:24:15.079 – 00:24:16.199
Does that make sense

Speaker#1:
00:24:17.17 – 00:24:20.17
So so a lot of times people don’t ever try because they could

Speaker#2:
00:24:20.18 – 00:24:25.869
mess it up and turn people away from Jesus Well I got news for you for you They’re already turned away from Jesus

Speaker#1:
00:24:26.109 – 00:24:32.689
So what are you gonna do Like I’m turned away from you All right now you turn me turn you more away from I’m already turned away

Speaker#1:
00:24:33.76 – 00:24:38.38
Right If we don’t do something try something

Speaker#1:
00:24:39.77 – 00:24:41.209
they’re gonna stay turned away

Speaker#1:
00:24:42.589 – 00:24:47.28
So don’t be afraid to try Don’t be afraid to duff it God is bigger than our own

Speaker#2:
00:24:47.29 – 00:24:57.569
mistakes It’s freedom but guard the heart Make sure love is your motivation Make sure your compassion is driving you not this need

Speaker#1:
00:24:57.579 – 00:24:58.599
for I’m going to

Speaker#2:
00:24:58.609 – 00:25:01.51
win them to Christ and tell people how awesome I am as a Christian

Speaker#2:
00:25:02.78 – 00:25:03.469
So a lot of

Speaker#1:
00:25:03.479 – 00:25:04.839
Christians and a lot of Christian

Speaker#2:
00:25:04.849 – 00:25:08.88
ministry really is just I’ve never become secure in my father’s love

Speaker#2:
00:25:10.26 – 00:25:22.329
I’m doing it to be seen by men or I’m doing it because I don’t feel good enough myself And this makes me feel good not taught We need if that stuff is at work in us we need to know the father’s love

Speaker#2:
00:25:22.949 – 00:25:24.839
And so with that in mind

Speaker#1:
00:25:26.66 – 00:25:28.66
I want to read a parable

Speaker#1:
00:25:30.359 – 00:25:32.869
the parable of the father’s heart revealed

Speaker#1:
00:25:35.479 – 00:25:38.55
And this is to me this is just another aspect of

Speaker#1:
00:25:39.829 – 00:25:40.91
what I believe

Speaker#2:
00:25:40.92 – 00:25:45.01
in my heart This river of life is going to be the term I’m using

Speaker#1:
00:25:45.02 – 00:25:46.54
is the Ministry of Grace

Speaker#2:
00:25:48.13 – 00:25:55.949
You could maybe also call it the ministry of the Holy Spirit but I’m calling it the Ministry of Grace I really see that as the river of life that’s going to flow and bring

Speaker#1:
00:25:55.959 – 00:25:57.089
transformation

Speaker#1:
00:25:57.739 – 00:26:01.959
and and and I can’t just put it in like here’s a three sentence

Speaker#2:
00:26:02.28 – 00:26:06.869
explanation What it is is a revelation of the father

Speaker#2:
00:26:08.119 – 00:26:10.709
that reproduces the father’s heart in us

Speaker#2:
00:26:11.739 – 00:26:12.719
And so it’s not like

Speaker#1:
00:26:12.729 – 00:26:15.849
well this is the one scripture that deals with it No it

Speaker#2:
00:26:15.859 – 00:26:16.91
actually starts

Speaker#1:
00:26:16.92 – 00:26:23.839
to unpack all kinds of scripture and brings transformation It changes the way we read scripture all over

Speaker#2:
00:26:23.849 – 00:26:24.819
the place

Speaker#1:
00:26:24.829 – 00:26:31.78
and how we see it and perceive it Does that make sense That’s why like if I didn’t explain to you what I’m doing and why I’m doing it will

Speaker#2:
00:26:31.79 – 00:26:36.52
get you read the parable But how does it connect to what God wants to do

Speaker#2:
00:26:37.15 – 00:26:52.119
It’s because it’s revealing the father’s heart and as that Father’s heart is revealed and we see it we start to reflect it in a mirror We start to evaluate ourselves according to it and we start to participate in this move of God

Speaker#2:
00:26:53.03 – 00:26:54.93
and I’m excited about it myself

Speaker#1:
00:26:56.25 – 00:26:59.01
So the parable of the Father’s heart revealed

Speaker#1:
00:27:00.0 – 00:27:05.729
the Pharisees were complaining about Jesus hanging out with sinners once again

Speaker#1:
00:27:06.739 – 00:27:15.41
What a surprise So Jesus tells a couple parables the parable you know of the lost coin and the parable of the lost sheep

Speaker#1:
00:27:16.05 – 00:27:19.349
And then he tells the parable of the father’s heart revealed

Speaker#1:
00:27:20.709 – 00:27:24.859
See those the the the titles of the parable are not in scripture So I am free

Speaker#2:
00:27:24.869 – 00:27:26.77
to change scripture how I want because

Speaker#1:
00:27:26.78 – 00:27:33.26
it it it really it might be in your Bible But the parable of the prodigal son is not actually in the original Greek

Speaker#1:
00:27:35.479 – 00:27:38.339
and maybe the the parable of the father’s heart revealed isn’t

Speaker#2:
00:27:38.349 – 00:27:39.819
either but that’s OK

Speaker#1:
00:27:41.469 – 00:27:48.459
Luke 15 11 through 13 Then he said a certain man had two sons

Speaker#1:
00:27:49.089 – 00:27:54.89
and the younger of them said to his father father give me the portion of goods that falls to me

Speaker#1:
00:27:56.469 – 00:27:59.92
So he divided to them his livelihood

Speaker#1:
00:28:00.859 – 00:28:10.319
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together journeyed to a far country and there wasted his possessions and prodigal living

Speaker#1:
00:28:14.15 – 00:28:16.069
That passage is so

Speaker#2:
00:28:16.079 – 00:28:16.839
interesting

Speaker#1:
00:28:18.53 – 00:28:21.9
You know when we when people study the historical context

Speaker#1:
00:28:22.689 – 00:28:27.29
the weight of what’s really going on is profound

Speaker#1:
00:28:29.319 – 00:28:42.329
It seems as far as at least where we are with understanding Jewish literature at that time period It was very rare for a father’s estate to be divided while he lived very rare

Speaker#1:
00:28:43.27 – 00:28:47.5
And in many of the much many or some of the literature was even frowned upon

Speaker#1:
00:28:48.65 – 00:28:51.349
But if it did happen it would be the father doing it

Speaker#1:
00:28:51.989 – 00:28:54.239
right Not the sun

Speaker#1:
00:28:56.069 – 00:28:57.729
by saying this

Speaker#1:
00:28:58.969 – 00:29:02.869
the son is essentially saying to his father you’re dead to me

Speaker#2:
00:29:04.56 – 00:29:05.439
you’re dead to

Speaker#1:
00:29:05.449 – 00:29:05.9
me

Speaker#1:
00:29:12.01 – 00:29:16.989
Now this is a parable So it’s not a true story So we’re going to take lots of liberties

Speaker#1:
00:29:17.699 – 00:29:19.67
that are not in scripture But I things that we’re

Speaker#2:
00:29:19.68 – 00:29:20.579
going to ponder and

Speaker#1:
00:29:20.589 – 00:29:21.8
wrestle and think about

Speaker#1:
00:29:23.319 – 00:29:25.29
you don’t get to that point

Speaker#1:
00:29:26.29 – 00:29:27.339
out of nowhere

Speaker#1:
00:29:31.77 – 00:29:32.939
You’re dead to me

Speaker#2:
00:29:33.739 – 00:29:34.579
give me my

Speaker#1:
00:29:34.589 – 00:29:35.56
inheritance

Speaker#1:
00:29:36.819 – 00:29:39.439
You don’t just wake up one day and that happens

Speaker#2:
00:29:39.949 – 00:29:42.14
It’s a seed that has grown

Speaker#1:
00:29:43.91 – 00:29:45.109
Does that make sense

Speaker#1:
00:29:45.699 – 00:29:48.739
And the parable gets even worse because if you think about it

Speaker#1:
00:29:49.3 – 00:29:56.93
there’s a family and and and it it seems to be a pretty wealthy family because they have servants and they’ve got lands right

Speaker#1:
00:29:58.069 – 00:30:06.569
And the son says give me my inheritance It’s like you’re dead to me Then he takes that inheritance and liquidates it

Speaker#1:
00:30:08.739 – 00:30:15.619
So now the family holdings have not just been divided but it’s now been liquidated

Speaker#1:
00:30:18.099 – 00:30:25.43
How offensive is that to that family to this You see what I’m saying How offensive is it to the whole community

Speaker#1:
00:30:26.849 – 00:30:32.949
And then he takes that liquidated inheritance and goes and squanders

Speaker#2:
00:30:32.959 – 00:30:33.219
it

Speaker#2:
00:30:35.319 – 00:30:36.689
really interesting

Speaker#1:
00:30:37.099 – 00:30:38.949
when you really think about

Speaker#1:
00:30:40.05 – 00:30:52.239
what’s going on here and you think about the world think about people in the world I mean it’s so intriguing when people die that that you realize people are really greedy and corrupt and selfish and self centered

Speaker#1:
00:30:54.02 – 00:30:57.18
It’s it the stories that happened around

Speaker#1:
00:30:58.02 – 00:30:59.04
somebody’s death

Speaker#2:
00:30:59.05 – 00:31:00.41
It’s awful isn’t it

Speaker#1:
00:31:02.93 – 00:31:08.589
Sometimes the worst of human nature comes out That’s what we were seeing before he’s even in his grave

Speaker#1:
00:31:10.41 – 00:31:11.26
right

Speaker#1:
00:31:12.39 – 00:31:15.38
And then people talk about it and complain about it and

Speaker#2:
00:31:15.39 – 00:31:19.079
they sow seeds about people’s

Speaker#1:
00:31:19.089 – 00:31:22.76
character about it It just creates this

Speaker#1:
00:31:24.619 – 00:31:29.479
bitterness and unforgiveness It creates something so contrary to the kingdom

Speaker#2:
00:31:30.099 – 00:31:33.119
like a cancer or a sickness that sits around

Speaker#1:
00:31:33.13 – 00:31:33.969
in the world

Speaker#1:
00:31:34.54 – 00:31:39.349
right You can imagine this I mean you’ve seen this you know that this is the way it happens right

Speaker#1:
00:31:41.01 – 00:31:46.66
But I do I do wonder well first I think about it it’s super insulting to the father

Speaker#1:
00:31:47.28 – 00:32:00.219
and it’s super insulting to the other brother It’s insulting to the family name It causes them to be ashamed how many people I I’m convinced in my mind that one of the reasons why

Speaker#2:
00:32:00.31 – 00:32:00.959
in in at

Speaker#1:
00:32:00.969 – 00:32:02.229
least since

Speaker#2:
00:32:02.239 – 00:32:05.26
I’ve been growing up I don’t know what it was in previous generations

Speaker#1:
00:32:05.27 – 00:32:07.469
but it’s the proverbial pastor’s kid

Speaker#1:
00:32:09.64 – 00:32:13.68
Well I wonder if part of why the pastor’s kid is a problem is because

Speaker#2:
00:32:13.689 – 00:32:15.38
people force them

Speaker#2:
00:32:16.079 – 00:32:18.16
to put on an external show

Speaker#2:
00:32:19.04 – 00:32:22.839
because they want to please the expectations of people

Speaker#2:
00:32:25.959 – 00:32:26.949
just a thought isn’t

Speaker#1:
00:32:26.959 – 00:32:27.25
it

Speaker#1:
00:32:28.28 – 00:32:41.349
But that kind of shame What will people think How will they judge us How will we belong to the community This is all going on with the father and the other son when the other son runs off product

Speaker#1:
00:32:42.859 – 00:32:57.469
What are they saying What’s going on in their house I mean you see what I’m saying It’s just it’s not just a simple thing It’s really profound and has community wide implications especially when this is a wealthy family They’re not obscure

Speaker#1:
00:33:09.04 – 00:33:16.319
Why would the prodigal son leave We don’t know for sure but we can speculate one Speculation could be the the the

Speaker#1:
00:33:16.869 – 00:33:17.63
apparent

Speaker#2:
00:33:17.64 – 00:33:27.39
lures of the world The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were beautiful and took them for wives Solomon Do I need to say any more Right

Speaker#2:
00:33:29.03 – 00:33:32.26
It seems like they’re having so much fun in the house of sin

Speaker#2:
00:33:34.02 – 00:33:46.68
We think that it has so much pleasure and we’re being robbed and that’s how the laws have often been painted especially unbeliever It’s what keeps you from having fun It’s what keeps you from living life to the full

Speaker#1:
00:33:47.17 – 00:33:48.619
And that that’s a very

Speaker#1:
00:33:49.13 – 00:33:52.189
possible reason And really to be honest

Speaker#2:
00:33:52.199 – 00:33:55.099
we’re talking about a parable So it really didn’t happen But if

Speaker#1:
00:33:55.109 – 00:33:56.02
it did happen

Speaker#1:
00:33:56.67 – 00:34:04.339
that could be one of the reasons Right I wanna read that word that that says protocol It’s it’s really interesting

Speaker#2:
00:34:06.819 – 00:34:08.158
So

Speaker#2:
00:34:08.709 – 00:34:13.86
or so means to save right in Greek And this is a Sotos

Speaker#2:
00:34:14.439 – 00:34:19.178
Um it literally is connected to a word that means against salvation

Speaker#2:
00:34:20.6 – 00:34:21.12
But

Speaker#2:
00:34:22.6 – 00:34:25.489
it literally I’m reading from

Speaker#2:
00:34:26.04 – 00:34:29.178
I wrote I wrote it so small I can’t even read the own writing

Speaker#1:
00:34:31.04 – 00:34:33.889
Well you can read it I put notes online So if you’re

Speaker#2:
00:34:33.899 – 00:34:43.959
interested you can see where the resource is and I wish I could tell you for watching But if you want to you have to go to our website and look at the notes because they are on the website But it literally

Speaker#1:
00:34:43.969 – 00:34:51.719
means lost life The word protocol refers to the one who is the one who has only the sole vicious

Speaker#2:
00:34:51.729 – 00:34:55.58
tendency to destroy his means of substance

Speaker#2:
00:34:56.928 – 00:34:59.979
It means dissipation of wealth and debauchery It is often

Speaker#1:
00:34:59.989 – 00:35:03.678
associated with drinking binges drinking binges during

Speaker#2:
00:35:03.688 – 00:35:09.949
festivals The temple was filled with debauchery and orgies by dissolute gentiles and prostitutes

Speaker#2:
00:35:13.04 – 00:35:17.0
So that is a possible I think explanation of

Speaker#1:
00:35:17.129 – 00:35:28.07
why he said hey man divide the inheritance because I’m going partying Right I think it’s so good I think it’s so awesome I think it’s gonna be wonderful I’m gonna go live it

Speaker#2:
00:35:28.08 – 00:35:30.659
up I’m tired of living the simple life

Speaker#1:
00:35:33.62 – 00:35:34.899
That could be one reason

Speaker#1:
00:35:36.27 – 00:35:37.08
Don’t know

Speaker#1:
00:35:39.01 – 00:35:41.139
Maybe it was the attitude of the older brother

Speaker#2:
00:35:43.79 – 00:35:44.81
I can’t stand him

Speaker#1:
00:35:44.82 – 00:35:57.209
He’s always mean He’s always looking down on me He’s always judging me He’s always criticizing me I I I I just even hate being around Just get me out of here I can’t stand it any longer

Speaker#1:
00:35:57.8 – 00:35:59.36
He’s so critical He’s so

Speaker#2:
00:35:59.37 – 00:36:01.639
nasty He’s so judgy

Speaker#2:
00:36:06.3 – 00:36:08.459
That really could be one of a real reason

Speaker#1:
00:36:08.469 – 00:36:09.03
couldn’t it

Speaker#1:
00:36:09.709 – 00:36:12.209
I I don’t even care about our family anymore

Speaker#1:
00:36:12.899 – 00:36:15.58
I don’t care I just have to get out of here

Speaker#1:
00:36:18.149 – 00:36:25.919
The first one I think would be what the church would always be focusing on on the product He went after the things of this world

Speaker#1:
00:36:26.87 – 00:36:27.8
But why

Speaker#1:
00:36:29.35 – 00:36:31.429
Maybe it was just they seemed like they were

Speaker#2:
00:36:31.439 – 00:36:32.219
more fun

Speaker#2:
00:36:34.179 – 00:36:35.479
But I’m telling you

Speaker#2:
00:36:37.629 – 00:36:41.679
when somebody is experiencing authentic love

Speaker#2:
00:36:42.28 – 00:36:43.83
in relationship

Speaker#2:
00:36:44.459 – 00:36:48.53
and appreciation and significance and worth and value

Speaker#2:
00:36:53.54 – 00:36:58.649
it’s a lot harder for the things of the world to sneak in there and see more

Speaker#2:
00:36:59.439 – 00:37:00.5
interesting

Speaker#2:
00:37:01.189 – 00:37:03.189
Sometimes I’m not sure if

Speaker#1:
00:37:03.949 – 00:37:05.729
that running after those things of the

Speaker#2:
00:37:05.739 – 00:37:09.61
world wasn’t started by this relational dysfunction

Speaker#2:
00:37:10.419 – 00:37:12.53
that made us look to self medicate

Speaker#2:
00:37:14.85 – 00:37:15.989
You see what I’m saying

Speaker#2:
00:37:18.09 – 00:37:19.28
Just some thoughts

Speaker#2:
00:37:24.129 – 00:37:25.56
This one is a bad one

Speaker#2:
00:37:26.389 – 00:37:29.36
I have to put it out there anyway Maybe it was the father

Speaker#2:
00:37:30.389 – 00:37:32.149
because if you think the older

Speaker#1:
00:37:32.159 – 00:37:35.85
son had that maybe it ran in the family

Speaker#1:
00:37:40.139 – 00:37:44.0
I think this this one if it was if we were

Speaker#2:
00:37:44.01 – 00:37:51.159
granted again I understand we’re talking about a parable and it didn’t really happen It is a real story But but I’m just pondering the ideas of how this could happen

Speaker#2:
00:37:52.27 – 00:37:54.6
If it was the father theoretically

Speaker#2:
00:37:55.61 – 00:37:57.649
then this is an incredible story

Speaker#2:
00:38:01.229 – 00:38:03.879
incredible story

Speaker#2:
00:38:04.479 – 00:38:11.57
And I think in our own lives this one makes the most sense to what really happens in our own lives If we’re being honest

Speaker#2:
00:38:15.649 – 00:38:16.85
Well what do you mean

Speaker#2:
00:38:17.889 – 00:38:20.01
Well if the if that

Speaker#2:
00:38:20.6 – 00:38:29.189
criticism and judgmentalism that whitewash supper was in the older brother maybe it came down to the father

Speaker#2:
00:38:32.54 – 00:38:38.55
But if it came down through the father see we tend to paint things black and white

Speaker#2:
00:38:39.87 – 00:38:42.09
we tend to demonize

Speaker#2:
00:38:43.03 – 00:38:44.159
or glorify

Speaker#2:
00:38:46.179 – 00:38:48.929
In reality people are mixed bags

Speaker#2:
00:38:50.429 – 00:38:55.129
If he if it was judgy and critical and it came from the father then he is bad

Speaker#2:
00:38:58.27 – 00:39:03.57
But if he was so bad the son when he came to his senses would never have dared come home

Speaker#2:
00:39:04.469 – 00:39:06.32
So he would have also had some good

Speaker#2:
00:39:07.629 – 00:39:10.939
and then how he responds to his son’s request

Speaker#2:
00:39:11.899 – 00:39:13.29
which we’ll look at later

Speaker#2:
00:39:15.199 – 00:39:17.61
shows that he also had some good

Speaker#2:
00:39:20.409 – 00:39:24.629
And then if there was also a mixed bag in the father

Speaker#2:
00:39:25.189 – 00:39:26.909
Then when the sun comes home

Speaker#2:
00:39:27.57 – 00:39:32.179
the father’s response shows the kind of transformation that we saw in somebody like Judah

Speaker#2:
00:39:36.229 – 00:39:40.28
One of the most beautiful passages in scripture study is life

Speaker#2:
00:39:41.5 – 00:39:42.939
from going

Speaker#2:
00:39:44.149 – 00:39:46.199
having a kid with his

Speaker#2:
00:39:47.0 – 00:40:03.629
daughter in law who was dressed up like a harlot so she could get the kid because he wasn’t giving his sons to her in marriage like he was supposed to because the other two sons were kind of like the older brother bad rips And apparently it didn’t fall far from the tree

Speaker#2:
00:40:04.659 – 00:40:10.82
And then you know when Joseph was sold into slavery there he was in the middle of that mix

Speaker#2:
00:40:11.62 – 00:40:18.08
But as the years rolled down and he saw the pain in his father And now when they go back into Egypt

Speaker#2:
00:40:20.58 – 00:40:22.3
and Joseph is testing him

Speaker#2:
00:40:23.8 – 00:40:26.27
to see if it’s the same if they’re the same

Speaker#2:
00:40:26.909 – 00:40:31.58
brothers that had sold him into slavery and they make his younger brother come

Speaker#2:
00:40:32.58 – 00:40:40.26
and and Joseph works things in such a way that he’s going to take the younger brother and they think put throw him in prison

Speaker#2:
00:40:41.659 – 00:40:48.989
Jehuda says take me instead let me be in his dead let me be his kinsman redeemer in a way

Speaker#2:
00:40:50.25 – 00:40:50.969
why

Speaker#2:
00:40:52.639 – 00:40:54.449
my father had another son

Speaker#2:
00:40:57.929 – 00:40:58.889
and his dad

Speaker#2:
00:41:01.179 – 00:41:07.05
And if we don’t bring this son back to my father he is going to go down into the grave from sorrow

Speaker#2:
00:41:07.989 – 00:41:10.52
So take my life for the life of the lion

Speaker#2:
00:41:11.969 – 00:41:14.12
And then Joseph couldn’t take it anymore

Speaker#2:
00:41:16.29 – 00:41:20.76
Transform lives from grace to grace

Speaker#2:
00:41:21.54 – 00:41:31.62
from mixed bags But going from faith to faith and glory to glory letting the love and grace of God transform and renew and revive us

Speaker#2:
00:41:32.129 – 00:41:33.459
It’s beautiful isn’t it

Speaker#2:
00:41:34.889 – 00:41:37.889
Maybe Maybe And you see how

Speaker#1:
00:41:37.899 – 00:41:39.02
like when we even deal

Speaker#2:
00:41:39.03 – 00:41:47.139
with the negative things and think maybe it was the nasty older brother maybe it was the father But then when we look about it and think about it

Speaker#2:
00:41:47.879 – 00:41:49.699
compassion comes

Speaker#1:
00:41:49.77 – 00:41:52.729
because people are mixed bags and if we focus on their

Speaker#2:
00:41:52.739 – 00:41:53.649
negative we will

Speaker#1:
00:41:53.659 – 00:41:54.77
demonize

Speaker#1:
00:41:55.639 – 00:42:03.139
But when we refocus on what is good we empower that and show love and that love and that grace

Speaker#2:
00:42:03.959 – 00:42:05.939
has power to transform

Speaker#2:
00:42:08.56 – 00:42:12.709
because of the blood of Jesus only because of the blood of Jesus

Speaker#2:
00:42:18.32 – 00:42:21.81
But one thing that the father does when the son asks

Speaker#2:
00:42:22.659 – 00:42:24.27
give me my inheritance

Speaker#2:
00:42:25.06 – 00:42:25.79
Oh brother

Speaker#2:
00:42:26.53 – 00:42:33.34
I have four pages and I I messed it all up today I’ve been trying to keep it to 1.5 page Um

Speaker#2:
00:42:33.879 – 00:42:35.399
But when the father

Speaker#2:
00:42:36.78 – 00:42:40.219
was asked by his son give me my inheritance

Speaker#1:
00:42:42.05 – 00:42:48.6
how dare you ask me of that Go to your room you don’t get dinner you’re grounded

Speaker#1:
00:42:49.179 – 00:42:58.05
There’s no way I’m giving you your inheritance and now you have just I’m going to make your life miserable until you come online under my control and authority

Speaker#2:
00:43:02.149 – 00:43:05.01
That’s how the world often works Even in the church

Speaker#2:
00:43:05.679 – 00:43:08.07
authoritarianism and control

Speaker#2:
00:43:09.31 – 00:43:14.54
we don’t look how the father governs and gives people free will

Speaker#2:
00:43:15.06 – 00:43:23.03
and lets them make their own choices and experience the consequence of those choices We try to control them externally

Speaker#2:
00:43:23.919 – 00:43:25.33
But the father here

Speaker#2:
00:43:26.51 – 00:43:33.05
knowing that it’s going to likely be squandered because I doubt he was stupid

Speaker#2:
00:43:33.83 – 00:43:34.709
Gave it to him

Speaker#2:
00:43:37.52 – 00:43:38.419
gave it to him

Speaker#2:
00:43:43.199 – 00:43:45.59
Maybe this father really knows what he’s doing

Speaker#2:
00:43:47.169 – 00:43:52.76
The only change I’ve lost my son My son just said I’m dead to him

Speaker#2:
00:43:53.52 – 00:43:58.81
The only chance he could ever be resurrected is I have to let him go

Speaker#2:
00:44:01.81 – 00:44:05.35
If I force him to stay I’m already dead to him

Speaker#2:
00:44:05.909 – 00:44:07.53
Relation I’m dead to him

Speaker#2:
00:44:08.879 – 00:44:10.959
Relation it’s already dead

Speaker#2:
00:44:11.79 – 00:44:17.37
I’ve got to let him go and I’m going to sew it with generosity and grace

Speaker#2:
00:44:19.84 – 00:44:20.54
Wow

Speaker#2:
00:44:21.629 – 00:44:24.61
Powerful stuff Isn’t it challenging

Speaker#2:
00:44:25.189 – 00:44:31.229
But so different from how we actually usually act and behave and govern ourselves Isn’t it

Speaker#2:
00:44:32.949 – 00:44:35.32
challenging At its deepest level

Speaker#2:
00:44:38.32 – 00:44:42.09
going on Luke 15 14 to 16 But when he had

Speaker#1:
00:44:42.1 – 00:44:55.25
spent all there were a rows of severe famine in that land and he began to be in want Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country and he sent him into his fields to feed swine and he would gladly have filled his stomach with the

Speaker#2:
00:44:55.26 – 00:44:58.84
pods that the swine ate And no one gave him anything

Speaker#2:
00:45:06.85 – 00:45:08.08
traditional

Speaker#2:
00:45:08.8 – 00:45:15.61
the traditions of men that this new wine wants to wash out would rail

Speaker#2:
00:45:16.31 – 00:45:18.229
on the wretchedness

Speaker#2:
00:45:19.439 – 00:45:20.729
of a life of sin

Speaker#2:
00:45:21.979 – 00:45:25.76
instead of being broken hearted of the effects of a life of sin

Speaker#2:
00:45:28.34 – 00:45:29.919
Yes that’s true

Speaker#1:
00:45:30.75 – 00:45:34.75
It seemed good But the end of it brought him to the lowest of

Speaker#2:
00:45:34.76 – 00:45:37.629
the lowest place unclean animals

Speaker#1:
00:45:38.429 – 00:45:40.379
I am jealous of the food that they

Speaker#2:
00:45:40.389 – 00:45:42.399
get I’m in a famine and I

Speaker#1:
00:45:42.409 – 00:45:44.85
have nothing I have destitute

Speaker#2:
00:45:44.86 – 00:45:48.3
The world is just as low as you could get

Speaker#2:
00:45:52.26 – 00:45:54.05
Some of that You can see that the

Speaker#2:
00:45:56.62 – 00:45:58.919
how the world is ordered

Speaker#1:
00:46:00.179 – 00:46:02.229
that when we walk contrary

Speaker#2:
00:46:02.239 – 00:46:07.3
to wisdom and love it falls apart And that is an act of grace

Speaker#2:
00:46:09.83 – 00:46:11.75
But there was a famine in the land

Speaker#2:
00:46:12.409 – 00:46:14.32
and that’s an act of sovereignty

Speaker#2:
00:46:15.09 – 00:46:16.729
God acting

Speaker#1:
00:46:18.77 – 00:46:22.59
It wasn’t just the natural effects of sin

Speaker#2:
00:46:22.6 – 00:46:31.31
brings Brokenness It does And people in that Brokenness when they feel it when they experience it and even people who are living

Speaker#1:
00:46:31.32 – 00:46:38.83
lavishly while he was still reveling and hadn’t spent all he had yet There was still Brokenness He

Speaker#2:
00:46:38.84 – 00:46:41.919
just didn’t realize that there was no self realization

Speaker#1:
00:46:44.29 – 00:46:47.5
But then the famine comes God also works

Speaker#2:
00:46:47.739 – 00:46:49.32
I’m gonna bring your son home

Speaker#2:
00:46:51.159 – 00:46:52.139
I’ve already set it

Speaker#1:
00:46:52.149 – 00:46:52.629
up

Speaker#1:
00:46:53.52 – 00:46:54.59
and there’s been enough

Speaker#2:
00:46:54.6 – 00:46:56.57
of my seed there to bring him home

Speaker#2:
00:46:59.0 – 00:47:00.11
wild isn’t it

Speaker#2:
00:47:00.899 – 00:47:02.87
I’m speeding it up because I’m gonna get through this

Speaker#1:
00:47:05.379 – 00:47:20.679
But when he came to himself he said how many of my father’s hired servants have bred enough to spare and I perish with hunger I will arise and go to my father and say to my father I’ve sinned against heaven and before you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son

Speaker#1:
00:47:21.239 – 00:47:23.77
Make me like one of your hired servants

Speaker#1:
00:47:25.219 – 00:47:26.719
He has an awakening

Speaker#1:
00:47:29.83 – 00:47:35.489
something in him knew enough about his father to believe that this was possible

Speaker#1:
00:47:37.36 – 00:47:42.52
He knew that he wasn’t just critical and judgmental but he also had mercy and grace

Speaker#1:
00:47:45.639 – 00:47:48.649
There it was there wasn’t such a repulsion

Speaker#2:
00:47:48.659 – 00:47:51.07
that he wouldn’t go home

Speaker#2:
00:47:52.969 – 00:47:53.889
But look at

Speaker#1:
00:47:56.1 – 00:47:59.169
and and we do see this is repentance He

Speaker#2:
00:47:59.179 – 00:48:01.739
awoke came to his senses and went home

Speaker#1:
00:48:02.77 – 00:48:05.439
But can you see the guilt and shame on this guy

Speaker#1:
00:48:07.389 – 00:48:15.76
He is under the weight of guilt and shame beyond imagination I’m not even worthy to be called your son

Speaker#2:
00:48:20.83 – 00:48:21.919
But he goes home

Speaker#2:
00:48:24.09 – 00:48:26.229
15 23 24

Speaker#1:
00:48:26.239 – 00:48:33.479
and he arose and came to his father But when he was still a great way off the father saw him and had compassion

Speaker#1:
00:48:36.55 – 00:48:39.389
and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him

Speaker#1:
00:48:41.82 – 00:48:46.85
All the other people are in the community They are probably filled with judgmental people

Speaker#1:
00:48:47.8 – 00:48:51.76
filled with people that would not approve of his father’s action

Speaker#1:
00:48:52.3 – 00:49:03.239
making a spectacle of himself He made his own bed he needs to lie in it and he needs to pay the piper and he needs to be made to feel bad enough for what he has done

Speaker#1:
00:49:04.129 – 00:49:09.31
But no the father has compassion and runs to him and hugs him and kisses him

Speaker#1:
00:49:10.12 – 00:49:25.439
And the son said father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight And I am no longer worthy to be called your son But the father said to his servants bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet

Speaker#1:
00:49:26.62 – 00:49:31.84
and bring the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry

Speaker#1:
00:49:33.6 – 00:49:37.649
for this My son was dead and is alive again He was

Speaker#2:
00:49:37.659 – 00:49:39.709
lost and found and they began

Speaker#1:
00:49:39.719 – 00:49:40.56
to be married

Speaker#1:
00:49:45.31 – 00:49:49.08
His father’s response is so unknown in the world isn’t it

Speaker#1:
00:49:50.989 – 00:49:55.61
The world motivates and controls people through guilt shame and humiliation

Speaker#1:
00:49:56.139 – 00:50:00.28
But people can never grow to maturity under this type

Speaker#2:
00:50:00.29 – 00:50:01.439
of administration

Speaker#1:
00:50:02.239 – 00:50:04.0
Yes This this passage is a

Speaker#2:
00:50:04.01 – 00:50:09.879
resurrection story But I want to talk about another element of it The celebration

Speaker#2:
00:50:11.629 – 00:50:12.62
this son

Speaker#2:
00:50:13.409 – 00:50:16.469
who felt as low as low could feel

Speaker#1:
00:50:16.52 – 00:50:21.01
who felt the shame and humiliation of his behavior and what he’s done

Speaker#1:
00:50:23.709 – 00:50:24.729
imagine if

Speaker#2:
00:50:24.739 – 00:50:27.86
he didn’t go into the party because of how bad he felt

Speaker#2:
00:50:30.129 – 00:50:35.929
That’s not an unreasonable thing When this person feels that bad When they feel that ashamed when they feel that

Speaker#1:
00:50:35.939 – 00:50:51.0
guilty they have no heart to celebrate They have no heart to be around people They have no heart to be in relationship because they feel so horrible guilt and shame kills community and robs the joy out of life

Speaker#1:
00:50:54.449 – 00:50:55.52
If he

Speaker#1:
00:50:56.159 – 00:51:03.85
wanted to hold on to that guilt and shame and didn’t go into the party and didn’t connect with people would that have pleased the father’s heart

Speaker#1:
00:51:07.61 – 00:51:09.56
Think about the difficulty

Speaker#2:
00:51:09.689 – 00:51:12.889
of receiving forgiveness and grace when we mess up

Speaker#2:
00:51:14.899 – 00:51:20.409
If Jesus took our guilt and shame why do we why are we often found still carrying it

Speaker#2:
00:51:22.54 – 00:51:25.55
It keeps us out of relationship and fellowship

Speaker#2:
00:51:27.86 – 00:51:33.489
It robs the joy of life It keeps us out of the celebration It falls short of the glory of God

Speaker#2:
00:51:35.129 – 00:51:41.62
And yet we all know it’s a hard one of the hardest things when somebody messes up and they feel totally bad

Speaker#2:
00:51:42.8 – 00:51:46.129
It is so unnatural to the human psyche

Speaker#2:
00:51:47.54 – 00:51:56.419
to receive forgiveness and grace because of what Jesus did at the cross and choose to honor God by receiving his forgiveness based solely on the

Speaker#1:
00:51:56.429 – 00:51:57.37
blood of Jesus

Speaker#2:
00:51:57.379 – 00:51:58.659
Christ that was shed

Speaker#2:
00:51:59.32 – 00:52:00.0
and then

Speaker#2:
00:52:01.199 – 00:52:09.0
to enter into life and the joy of life to celebrate to go from that level of low into celebration

Speaker#2:
00:52:10.32 – 00:52:13.29
That is one of the hardest works of faith

Speaker#2:
00:52:16.33 – 00:52:19.53
because you can’t be ready to share the good news If you don’t

Speaker#2:
00:52:20.58 – 00:52:24.12
the river of living water stops If we don’t

Speaker#2:
00:52:25.689 – 00:52:35.0
there’s no Ministry of Grace If we don’t you see why bringing this up with this vision of a river of life the Ministry of Grace it’s not just going home

Speaker#2:
00:52:35.61 – 00:52:51.05
it’s dumping the guilt and shame and entering into the celebration of the Lord based on the shed blood of Jesus Christ so that we become authentic and it becomes good news and we become a living epistle

Speaker#2:
00:52:52.01 – 00:52:53.469
It’s profound isn’t it

Speaker#1:
00:52:56.659 – 00:53:00.51
I would say the resurrection was not complete until the son embraced the

Speaker#2:
00:53:00.52 – 00:53:02.79
father’s heart by entering the celebration

Speaker#2:
00:53:04.3 – 00:53:06.699
The father sought reconciliation

Speaker#2:
00:53:07.729 – 00:53:12.629
and the revelation of the father’s love reproduces it

Speaker#2:
00:53:14.11 – 00:53:15.5
and those who receive it

Speaker#2:
00:53:20.11 – 00:53:22.179
I’m gonna read this real fast Um

Speaker#2:
00:53:23.3 – 00:53:25.389
15 25 to 32 Now

Speaker#1:
00:53:25.399 – 00:53:52.37
his older son was in the field and as he came into near the house he heard music and dancing So he called one of the servants asked what these things meant And he said to him your brother is coming because he has received him safe and sound Your father has killed the fatted calf but he was angry and wouldn’t go in He wouldn’t enter the celebration either The celebration is where the father’s heart is his character It’s the kingdom He wouldn’t go in go in the other son did but he didn’t

Speaker#1:
00:53:53.489 – 00:54:04.429
So his father came out and pleaded with him So he answered and said to his father though these many years I’ve been serving you and I’ve never transgressed your commandment at any time And yet you never gave

Speaker#2:
00:54:04.439 – 00:54:06.07
me a even a goat

Speaker#2:
00:54:06.699 – 00:54:09.879
a young goat not the fat a calf even a little goat

Speaker#1:
00:54:10.719 – 00:54:25.239
that I might make marry with my friends But as soon as this son of yours came who has devoured your livelihood with harlots You killed the fatted calf for him And he said son you are always with me and all that I have is yours

Speaker#1:
00:54:26.35 – 00:54:34.27
It was right that we should make Mary and be glad for your brother is dead and is alive again He was lost And now he’s found

Speaker#1:
00:54:34.929 – 00:54:41.31
the father did He went out he went out after the other son as well

Speaker#1:
00:54:42.59 – 00:54:53.489
And he said how dare don’t you even know me How dare you not come into the party If I’m throwing a party how dare you separate yourself from the family like this

Speaker#1:
00:54:54.04 – 00:54:54.78
No

Speaker#2:
00:54:54.87 – 00:54:56.36
he pleaded with him

Speaker#2:
00:54:57.05 – 00:54:59.31
All that I have is yours

Speaker#1:
00:55:01.79 – 00:55:02.84
But your brother was

Speaker#2:
00:55:02.85 – 00:55:05.28
dead and is alive again

Speaker#2:
00:55:08.36 – 00:55:09.679
The beauty neither

Speaker#1:
00:55:09.689 – 00:55:10.219
of the

Speaker#2:
00:55:10.229 – 00:55:12.5
sons had the father’s heart

Speaker#2:
00:55:14.469 – 00:55:16.699
but the younger son entered in

Speaker#2:
00:55:18.679 – 00:55:24.159
and doesn’t tell us what your older son does because that was an invitation to those Pharisees

Speaker#2:
00:55:25.449 – 00:55:30.179
But the father is it’s often easier to love a sinner repenting

Speaker#2:
00:55:31.06 – 00:55:33.199
Then the older brother the pharisee

Speaker#2:
00:55:33.919 – 00:55:35.909
the critical the judgmental

Speaker#2:
00:55:36.469 – 00:55:41.78
But that guy he was probably also hurt deeply by his brother’s actions

Speaker#2:
00:55:42.679 – 00:55:53.139
And now it does say that the father divided to both of them But then when the father says all that I have is yours and he the father still could kill the fatted calf It kind of seems like it’s still the fathers right

Speaker#2:
00:55:54.11 – 00:56:00.57
I mean think of the implications This younger brother is back and the fathers received them and now we dilute the property even more

Speaker#2:
00:56:03.11 – 00:56:05.28
I mean this is just how the world thinks isn’t it

Speaker#2:
00:56:08.08 – 00:56:10.729
He was easily offended He held resentment

Speaker#2:
00:56:14.189 – 00:56:19.1
Those type of people are very challenging people to live with and to love and appreciate

Speaker#2:
00:56:19.87 – 00:56:21.09
But the father did

Speaker#2:
00:56:21.729 – 00:56:22.479
do we

Speaker#2:
00:56:25.11 – 00:56:27.54
The father sought reconciliation

Speaker#2:
00:56:29.06 – 00:56:30.659
Even with the older brother

Speaker#2:
00:56:31.699 – 00:56:36.459
his heart wasn’t negative He always sought reconciliation

Speaker#2:
00:56:37.699 – 00:56:39.51
I think that’s pretty cool Don’t you

Speaker#2:
00:56:42.129 – 00:56:46.54
The key to being a son What I wrote is not working in the business

Speaker#2:
00:56:47.719 – 00:56:50.719
but experiencing and reproducing the heart of the father

Speaker#2:
00:56:52.26 – 00:56:58.149
neither of them had it the true inheritance neither of the sons had at the beginning

Speaker#2:
00:56:59.659 – 00:57:02.139
There’s a richness here Father

Speaker#2:
00:57:02.75 – 00:57:05.479
give me my inheritance son

Speaker#2:
00:57:06.199 – 00:57:08.459
The true inheritance isn’t this wealth

Speaker#2:
00:57:09.08 – 00:57:10.51
It isn’t this property

Speaker#2:
00:57:12.219 – 00:57:14.52
The true inheritance is the father’s heart

Speaker#2:
00:57:15.87 – 00:57:17.32
The greatest richest

Speaker#2:
00:57:19.27 – 00:57:25.54
is the family is the fellowship is the relationship is the community

Speaker#2:
00:57:26.979 – 00:57:28.5
It’s beautiful isn’t it

Speaker#2:
00:57:29.55 – 00:57:34.389
Both of the sons had elements in them that destroy community

Speaker#2:
00:57:35.29 – 00:57:36.989
destroy relationship

Speaker#2:
00:57:37.61 – 00:57:39.149
destroy fellowship

Speaker#2:
00:57:40.79 – 00:57:43.06
But the one came home and entered in

Speaker#2:
00:57:44.86 – 00:57:49.05
they were entered the tax collectors and sinners are entering the kingdom

Speaker#2:
00:57:50.449 – 00:57:52.129
You’re invited to come in

Speaker#2:
00:57:53.32 – 00:57:59.82
But we but then we also have to think it’s so easy We become a pharisee When we judge the Pharisees

Speaker#2:
00:58:00.959 – 00:58:15.76
we become critical and hypocritical and judgmental when we get frustrated at how wrong these people are how off they are How mean they are how nasty they are You see how sneaky and crafty it is The log in the spec

Speaker#2:
00:58:16.62 – 00:58:22.159
if we’re going to reproduce the father’s heart we have to have his heart toward all

Speaker#2:
00:58:24.5 – 00:58:27.459
And that’s where rivers of living water will flow

Speaker#2:
00:58:28.629 – 00:58:35.949
To love the unlovable to genuinely love them to genuinely care about them to genuinely invite them in

Speaker#2:
00:58:36.85 – 00:58:38.11
and to celebrate

Speaker#2:
00:58:39.689 – 00:58:41.219
It’s beautiful isn’t it

Speaker#1:
00:58:44.459 – 00:58:47.149
I’m saying God is calling you see the church

Speaker#1:
00:58:49.959 – 00:58:54.83
I would say this There’s a few things the sinner when he was out away from the father’s house he was

Speaker#2:
00:58:54.84 – 00:58:56.709
clearly outside of the father’s house

Speaker#2:
00:58:57.52 – 00:59:08.0
living in debauchery and then ended up broken in a famine The pharisee world was far out from the Father’s true house even though it was in the house

Speaker#1:
00:59:10.429 – 00:59:12.57
the church majors in challenging

Speaker#2:
00:59:12.58 – 00:59:13.939
the world of the sinner

Speaker#2:
00:59:14.459 – 00:59:15.739
But the pharisee

Speaker#2:
00:59:18.37 – 00:59:21.1
is often never challenged

Speaker#2:
00:59:23.57 – 00:59:24.87
and it’s in the house

Speaker#2:
00:59:26.239 – 00:59:27.52
and it’s in our lives

Speaker#2:
00:59:28.239 – 00:59:29.399
and it’s in our hearts

Speaker#2:
00:59:30.639 – 00:59:33.929
and we always focus on the debauchery

Speaker#2:
00:59:35.489 – 00:59:41.85
But how about the judgmentalism How about the critical spirit How about the unloving spirit

Speaker#2:
00:59:42.379 – 00:59:44.36
How about the self righteous spirit

Speaker#2:
00:59:46.06 – 00:59:47.989
It’s farther from the house

Speaker#2:
00:59:49.189 – 00:59:50.56
than the house of the sinner

Speaker#2:
00:59:51.3 – 00:59:57.679
It’s farther from the father’s house I should say than the house of the center Even though it’s in the church

Speaker#2:
01:00:01.33 – 01:00:13.179
God is calling us to rid ourselves of the 11 of Pharisees to embrace the new wine of His Ministry of Grace He’s going to open up rivers of living water when we get the father’s heart

Speaker#2:
01:00:13.699 – 01:00:25.52
and go and do likewise I have a vision of Christianity being cleansed from the leven of the pharisee And it’s a vision of wells of living water opening up a river of life to the world

Speaker#2:
01:00:26.05 – 01:00:32.87
We need to reproduce the father’s heart and I was going to summarize it but I’m not But I’m just gonna give a teaser

Speaker#2:
01:00:33.679 – 01:00:47.33
We we we when we were out Thursday night and I just Sheila’s wonderful dessert put me into a sugar coma And I just listened to and I just listened to Pastor Mike tell story after story after story

Speaker#2:
01:00:47.85 – 01:00:56.79
And I really want us to unpack these things because you’ll hear all kinds of stories of God using him powerfully and supernaturally

Speaker#2:
01:00:59.209 – 01:01:05.949
and yes sometimes because he engaged in faith but sometimes he’s not it just happens on its own

Speaker#2:
01:01:06.86 – 01:01:11.439
I think it’s because he just loves people not trying to actually likes them

Speaker#2:
01:01:13.02 – 01:01:14.76
Like some of these things

Speaker#2:
01:01:15.729 – 01:01:17.33
really happened

Speaker#2:
01:01:19.82 – 01:01:22.629
when we get that 11 of the pharisee out

Speaker#2:
01:01:23.84 – 01:01:25.699
Lord do it in Jesus name

Speaker#2:
01:01:27.959 – 01:01:28.75
Dan Heather

 

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