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
[1] Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 220.
Transcription
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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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to this world
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instead of just legalism or ritual or forms or right expectations
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We need to actually bring life and transformation
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See the difference I hope this is painting a picture of the potential of a river of life flowing
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through the nations
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I would say that
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Oh no let me just read read this part right here No one has seen God at any time
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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
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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
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this son
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who felt as low as low could feel
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who felt the shame and humiliation of his behavior and what he’s done
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imagine if
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he didn’t go into the party because of how bad he felt
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That’s not an unreasonable thing When this person feels that bad When they feel that ashamed when they feel that
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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
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If he
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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
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Think about the difficulty
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of receiving forgiveness and grace when we mess up
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If Jesus took our guilt and shame why do we why are we often found still carrying it
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It keeps us out of relationship and fellowship
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It robs the joy of life It keeps us out of the celebration It falls short of the glory of God
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And yet we all know it’s a hard one of the hardest things when somebody messes up and they feel totally bad
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It is so unnatural to the human psyche
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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
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blood of Jesus
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Christ that was shed
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and then
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to enter into life and the joy of life to celebrate to go from that level of low into celebration
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That is one of the hardest works of faith
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because you can’t be ready to share the good news If you don’t
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the river of living water stops If we don’t
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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
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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
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It’s profound isn’t it
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I would say the resurrection was not complete until the son embraced the
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father’s heart by entering the celebration
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The father sought reconciliation
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and the revelation of the father’s love reproduces it
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and those who receive it
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I’m gonna read this real fast Um
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15 25 to 32 Now
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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
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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
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me a even a goat
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a young goat not the fat a calf even a little goat
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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
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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
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the father did He went out he went out after the other son as well
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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
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No
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he pleaded with him
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All that I have is yours
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But your brother was
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dead and is alive again
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The beauty neither
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of the
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sons had the father’s heart
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but the younger son entered in
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and doesn’t tell us what your older son does because that was an invitation to those Pharisees
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But the father is it’s often easier to love a sinner repenting
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Then the older brother the pharisee
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the critical the judgmental
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But that guy he was probably also hurt deeply by his brother’s actions
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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
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I mean think of the implications This younger brother is back and the fathers received them and now we dilute the property even more
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I mean this is just how the world thinks isn’t it
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He was easily offended He held resentment
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Those type of people are very challenging people to live with and to love and appreciate
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But the father did
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do we
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The father sought reconciliation
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Even with the older brother
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his heart wasn’t negative He always sought reconciliation
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I think that’s pretty cool Don’t you
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The key to being a son What I wrote is not working in the business
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but experiencing and reproducing the heart of the father
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neither of them had it the true inheritance neither of the sons had at the beginning
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There’s a richness here Father
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give me my inheritance son
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The true inheritance isn’t this wealth
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It isn’t this property
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The true inheritance is the father’s heart
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The greatest richest
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is the family is the fellowship is the relationship is the community
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It’s beautiful isn’t it
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Both of the sons had elements in them that destroy community
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destroy relationship
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destroy fellowship
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But the one came home and entered in
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they were entered the tax collectors and sinners are entering the kingdom
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You’re invited to come in
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But we but then we also have to think it’s so easy We become a pharisee When we judge the Pharisees
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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
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if we’re going to reproduce the father’s heart we have to have his heart toward all
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And that’s where rivers of living water will flow
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To love the unlovable to genuinely love them to genuinely care about them to genuinely invite them in
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and to celebrate
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It’s beautiful isn’t it
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I’m saying God is calling you see the church
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I would say this There’s a few things the sinner when he was out away from the father’s house he was
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clearly outside of the father’s house
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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
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the church majors in challenging
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the world of the sinner
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But the pharisee
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is often never challenged
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and it’s in the house
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and it’s in our lives
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and it’s in our hearts
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and we always focus on the debauchery
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But how about the judgmentalism How about the critical spirit How about the unloving spirit
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How about the self righteous spirit
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It’s farther from the house
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than the house of the sinner
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It’s farther from the father’s house I should say than the house of the center Even though it’s in the church
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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
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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
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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
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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
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And I really want us to unpack these things because you’ll hear all kinds of stories of God using him powerfully and supernaturally
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and yes sometimes because he engaged in faith but sometimes he’s not it just happens on its own
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I think it’s because he just loves people not trying to actually likes them
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Like some of these things
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really happened
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when we get that 11 of the pharisee out
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Lord do it in Jesus name
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Dan Heather