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Good morning, church.
Thank you.
If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Matthew
chapter 7.
Here in just a moment, we will pick up in verse 6.
We will talk about it for a few minutes, and then we'll drop down to verse 12.
If you weren't able to be here last week, I would like to share with you, Chad Fry, one
of our elders, came up here and shared at the very end of the service about a sabbatical
that I will be going on this summer.
And so just kind of hit some of the high points for that for you guys.
My last message here before the sabbatical will be next Sunday on the May 31st.
And then I will be returning here to preach on June 28th.
I believe it's the 28th.
It's the last Sunday during the month of June.
I'm very humbled.
My family and I are very humbled and blessed by this opportunity.
A lot of churches do not do this.
Healthy churches do provide for this.
And so we thank you guys for this opportunity.
I do not that anybody has asked these questions, but we like to stay ahead of them just in case
you're thinking things.
There's nothing wrong.
And that's good.
This isn't a break because I've done something.
This isn't a break because I'm exhausted.
This isn't a break because there's something wrong in the church.
This is just out of the kindness and the compassion of our church is just an opportunity for me to
have an extended time of break and rest with my family.
And so we greatly, we greatly appreciate that.
If you have any questions about the sabbatical, you can feel free to come and ask me, ask any
one of our staff members, ask any one of our elders.
A lot of you were here last week.
And so, you know, I'm just going to be spending some intentional time in God's word, intentional
time with the Lord, intentional time with my family.
We're going to visit some churches, not to look to go to one, but just to be there and
to be able to take part and to worship.
And so we're grateful.
I was able to do this about seven years ago.
And then the church has kind of put this into a practice for pastoral care.
And so we're just extremely grateful that our elders and our leadership at our church see
this as important and grateful that you guys do as well.
So here's what we're going to be working through in here together for the next two weeks.
It is the goal that we will achieve short of the Holy Spirit coming
and stopping us.
We're going to finish out the Sermon on the Mount.
We're going to, so we're going to look at some bigger chunks of scripture as we see this
today.
And if we remember through the Sermon on the Mount, right, Jesus is not giving advice for
advice sake.
Jesus is talking about the kingdom and he's given kingdom characteristics and he's called
people to repent and he's called people to follow him.
And so as followers of Jesus Christ, as individuals in the kingdom, as residents of the kingdom
of God, that through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, moving us and changing us and creating
us to be more like Christ, that there are things that you and I should be doing that should be a
part of us.
Not because we're trying to earn God's favor, his kindness or his forgiveness, but because
God has given us his favor, his kindness and his forgiveness.
And because he's given us his forgiveness, and because he's given us his spirit, this is now who we are.
And so Jesus doesn't give advice.
Jesus gives commands.
And I love this, that what we see in the teaching of Jesus is the Son of God giving the word of God
God as recorded into the very written word of God.
This past week, I was asked this, this is either this past week or two weeks before,
I was asked if you could give a senior in high school one piece of advice that you wish someone had given you
when you were a senior in high school, what would you say?
Now, I'll save that answer for a different point in time.
But coming into this morning's message this week, I thought, man, as an 18-year-old, I would have loved to have
heard this.
But I'll be honest with you, as a 47-year-old, I need to be reminded of this.
And I hope that this catches at the heart of who we are.
And it is this.
The wisdom of the world will seem appealing.
Amen, brother.
I'm telling you, out of the mouth of beige, right?
The wisdom of the world will seem appealing.
But the wisdom of the word will never fail.
And for you and I, what we do in this journey of life together, right?
The reason why, there's many reasons why we gather.
There's many reasons why we come into homes of one another.
There's many reasons why we get here early.
There's many reasons why we do studies.
There's many reasons why we open up our word first thing in the morning.
There's many reasons why we download apps that will send us Bible verses throughout the day.
There's many reasons why we are called to think and meditate and memorize God's word.
But so much for us to be linked into the consistent flow of the truth of God's word.
So that when the situation calls for it, the wisdom of the word may be accurately applied.
We're going to look at four different sections of scripture this morning where Jesus imparts to his audience in the Sermon on the Mountain,
God's word shows for you and I today, the wisdom of the word.
The wisdom of the very words of the Son of God.
The wisdom of the word that God inspired and brought to paper.
So that 2,000 years later, we can gather together people of all ages and not wonder what Jesus would have said.
But we can see the truth of the very spoken word of God.
So as we do that together this morning, would you join me as we go to the Lord in prayer?
God, we thank you for the truth of your word.
Lord, we thank you for Pastor Joel who came to us last week and challenged us with the persistence and the desperation of prayer.
Lord, we come to you now in desperation.
Lord, we come to you now in persistence.
And Lord, speak.
May it not be my voice, but may it be yours.
May it not be my words, Lord, but may it be yours.
Lord, speak to us.
Lord, and may we listen.
Not for the sake of knowledge, but from a transformed heart.
May we listen out of a desire to be obedient.
And so, God, work and move.
Bring people to salvation.
Bring people to repentance.
Bring comfort to hearts who are hurting.
And it's in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So, if you look at me in verse 6, we'll begin here.
Matthew 7, verse 6.
Do not give dogs what is holy.
And do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Jesus here gives a nugget of wisdom, a powerful truth that he imparts into this audience.
I will be honest with you.
If you were there at that point in time, you would not just hear these words and just go,
I wonder what this is talking about.
Jesus' words and his application of what he's going to do would resonate with the whole audience
and offend so many of them.
Do not give dogs what is holy.
And do not throw your pearls before the pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
So, as we look at the wisdom of God and the discernment of how we live in this world,
we're going to look at this morning, discernment concerning the spread of the gospel.
Discernment concerning the spread of the gospel.
Jesus talks here about dogs and pigs.
I don't know about you, but I love dogs.
I really love pigs, all right?
I had bacon this morning.
Dogs and pigs.
I want a quick survey.
The lights are up.
This is not anything that is vulnerable for you.
So, I would like the entire congregation to engage in this little poll that we're about to take.
This is just a show of hands, but if you raise your hand, leave your hand up there for a moment, all right?
Raise your hand if you've ever had a pet dog.
Leave it up.
Okay.
Hands up.
Don't drop.
Leave your hand up in the air if you have ever bought an article of clothing for that dog.
All right, those of us with our hands up in the air, they're all judging us.
Right?
They are.
All right, you can lay your hands down.
Thank you.
Thank you for that quick.
I believe that there's more of y'all that have bought clothing for your dog.
You just didn't want to admit it.
That's okay.
It's okay.
We don't judge you.
We didn't even talk about cats, but that's a whole nother different, that's a whole nother
different message, all right?
So, here's my point.
We have dogs and we have pet dogs, right?
Like you see the puppy jogging down the street.
We love dogs.
We will spend thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars on dogs.
And I don't judge you.
I would, I wouldn't love to know.
I would be scared to know over the course of my lifetime how much I have spent for dogs
and dog food and vet bills.
And yes, I have bought my dog at one point in time a sweater.
All right.
I would hate to know what we've done with this.
But dogs during the time of Jesus were not pets.
They were not domesticated.
You wouldn't walk up to a dog on the side of the road and come up and try to pet him.
You wouldn't bring a dog after school home to your mom and ask her if it can become a pet.
And you definitely, definitely, definitely would not do what the Bradberries do and every single night invite a wild dog into your bed to sleep in between you.
You wouldn't do it.
Why?
Because the dogs were dirty.
The dogs were wild.
The dogs were of the world.
Right here, what we see is Jesus says, do not give what is holy.
Do not give the dogs what is holy.
He's not talking about dogs.
Jesus is talking about people.
Now, let's let this set for a second.
Right before this, if you were here with us two weeks ago, Jesus says, don't judge.
Jesus says, don't judge.
Jesus gives four verses on do not judge.
And we shouldn't.
But what we'll see from here is that as you and I walk being led by the Spirit of God,
there's a difference in between what God has called us to judge not that you be not judged for with the judgment you pronounce,
you will be judged with the measure you use it, it will measure to you.
And do not give dogs what is holy.
You see, Jesus, when the calling against the attitudes of judgment is the calling against the attitude of self-righteousness.
But Jesus here in verse 6 is dealing with the spiritual matters.
That you and I, as followers of Jesus Christ, that there should be some discernment in who we are.
There should be discernment in what we do.
There should be discernment in what we've been entrusted with and what we entrust others.
So as Jesus is saying, in your self-righteousness, do not be judgmental.
Yes.
And what he's saying is, and in the righteousness of God, and God is the standard, and God's word is truth, use discernment.
Don't give dogs what is holy.
Don't throw your pearls before pigs.
The dogs and the pigs here are used for us to understand.
And you guys know that this is true.
That there are those in this world that are hostile toward the kingdom of God.
Now, that doesn't mean that there are people who don't believe and don't follow and don't know the things of God and haven't responded to God.
That's not who Jesus is necessarily talking about.
But that there are people in this world who seek to destroy.
There are people in this world who seek to pull down.
There are people in this world who seek to do things that Jesus warns us against.
Just as the dogs were wild, the pigs, the pigs were unclean.
Jesus says, don't cast your pearl before the pigs.
I don't know if you ever watched a pig eat.
If you haven't watched a pig eat, come get with me.
We'll go to D's Wings, right?
I'll show you what it looks like, all right?
You slap a wing out in front of me.
I'm just telling you.
You might hear me crunching on a bone at some point in time, right?
This is what's there.
But for a pig, the point is that the pig would take and devour.
But when the pearl would have been in the pig's mouth, it would have been too difficult.
And so it would have gnarled it and sought to destroy it only to spit it out.
Do not give the dogs what is holy.
Do not throw your pearls before pigs because they'll just trample.
And they'll trample, and they'll trample.
And then, Jesus says, they'll turn to attack.
Don't offer what is holy, the holiness of the message, the holiness of the gospel.
Do not throw your pearls before pigs, the preciousness of the gospel.
Folks, there's a holiness to the message that God has given us.
There's a preciousness to the message that God has given us.
The message of Jesus Christ is the only message that saves.
Be careful.
This passage can be confusing.
So, Bo, what are we to do?
Is Jesus saying, is Jesus discouraging us from sharing the gospel?
Absolutely not.
Then what in the world is Jesus calling us to?
Just earlier, Matthew chapter 5, verses 13 through 16.
Let your light shine before others.
Jesus has called us to be salt and light in the world, to live for his name, to share.
Matthew is going to end his letter by calling his gospel, by calling us to the Great Commission,
to take the gospel wherever we go, to see people come to faith.
That's not what Jesus is doing, but Jesus is calling us to be ready.
Jesus is calling us that as God is working, and that as God is moving,
that we are not doing our work, but we are doing God's work.
And that we must do the work of God.
But folks, the work of God is done by God through us.
The work of God is done by the power of God and for the glory of God.
And the warning for you and I is don't go out and try to do the work of God by the power of Bo for the glory of Bo.
But there will be points and times where those that message can bring hope
and the spirit of God is not at work, and what they will seek to do is destroy it.
We live in a culture that loves to use the phrase,
in all things, political, sports, concerning food.
Prove me wrong.
And what I've watched happen time and time again
is in matters that are holy,
in matters that are precious concerning the gospel.
We're teeing off against one another,
claiming to do the work of God,
but by the power of man,
for the glory of man,
and the agenda that is driven
by the person who's carrying
the very precious nature
of the gospel,
is I desire to prove you wrong.
And in order to prove someone wrong,
what we need to change is their mind.
But what the gospel seeks to change
is the heart.
It's the heart.
And folks,
the only person,
the only person
who can change the heart
is God
is God.
Jesus will share
and share
and be rejected.
And what will he do?
It says time
and time again,
he moved
to the next town.
He moved
to the next village
and continued
on
and on
as the Son of God
worked
by the power
of God
all
for the glory
of God.
I believe
that verse 6
is a challenge
of the heart
of those
who are carrying
the message.
What
are we doing it
for?
Jump down
with me
to verse 12.
Another
beautiful nugget
of wisdom
that Jesus gives.
So whatever
you wish
that others
would do
to you,
do also
to them
for this
is the law
and the prophets.
So whatever
you wish
that others
would do
to you,
do also
to them
for this
is the law
and the prophets
the golden rule
do unto
others
as you
would have
them
do unto
you.
Heard that
a thousand times
usually
from a parent
helping navigate
through the
relationship
between me
and my sibling.
Do unto
others
as you
would have
them do
under you.
Here's what
we'll see
in the wisdom
of this
discernment
concerning
the treatment
of others.
Did you know
that during
the time
of Christ
we hear
this statement
right?
We hear
the golden
rule.
That's
something
that we
share.
I would
be willing
to say
that even
in secular
settings
that this
is used
quite often
and frequently.
It's one
of those
sneaky
things that
when you
hear someone
say it
ask them
who said
it
and they
probably
don't
know.
They'll
probably
drag it
back
from
grandma
that kind
of came
from
Jesus
right?
Son of
God
like this
is who
he is
and this
is what
he said.
This
is what
he said
the golden
rule.
But that
during the
time of
Christ
there was
a statement
that was
said
but it
was a
little bit
different.
Instead
of Jesus
has said
it to
the
positive
it would
be stated
in the
negative.
So they
would say
things like
you should
not do
to your
neighbor
what you
would not
want him
to do
to you.
One
of the
known
religious
teachers
would say
what is
hateful
to you
do not
do
to anyone
else.
This
is
the
whole
law.
All
the rest
is
commentary.
Go
and learn
it.
So when
Jesus
comes
Jesus
is here
sermon
on the
mount
folks
are gathered
around
him
Jesus
says
this
and
he
does
not
simply
label
it
to
what
we
do
not
do
but
instead
he
brings
it
forth
to
what
we
should
do
unto
others.
What
we
would
want
them
to do
unto
us.
Now
the
application
of this
the depth
of this
command
the breadth
of this
command
now
goes
much
broader.
You see
because for
Jesus
it's now
not the
difference
between
not
breaking
the law
and
instead
it's
about
doing
something
that's
positive
and
influential
for those
around
you.
You think
about this
Jesus
just
said
the
words
about
dogs
and
pigs.
Jesus
is
drawing
lines
in the
sand
right?
He
is.
But
just
even
though
Jesus
drew
the
line
he
doesn't
say
just
because
you're
not
to
give
what
is
holy
to
the
dogs
doesn't
mean
that
you
have
the
right
to
kick
the
dog
when
you
pass
by.
And
I
think
for
those
of
us
as
followers
of
Jesus
in
our
flesh
there
can
still
be
this
thinking
in
our
mind
us
versus
them.
Jesus
doesn't
say
let
this
just
be
who
you
are
don't
just
treat
others
the
way
you
would
want
to
be
treated
don't
just
do
for
others
how
you
would
want
them
to
do
for
you
Jesus
says
for
this
is
the
law
and
the
prophets
and
what
Jesus
is
showing
here
this
simple
principle
the
golden
rule
summarizes
all
that
the
law
and
the
prophets
say
about
how
we
should
treat
one
another
folks
how
often
how
often
do
we
complicate
what
God
has
calling
us
to
in
the
situations
that
we
find
ourselves
folks
in
situations
be
kind
love
view
one
another
and view
others
that we've
all been
made
believer
or
non
believer
and
the
image
of
God
that
every
person
deserves
amount
of
respect
and
that
out
of
our
obedience
to
God
and
who
he
is
and
what
he
has
called
us
to
it
should
drive
us
to
not
just
think
differently
about
eternity
it
should
not
just
drive
us
differently
in
how
we
think
about
God
it
should
not
just
drive
us
differently
to
think
about
each
other
but
it
should
drive
us
to
think
differently
in
how
we
view
the
world
in
truth
in
love
in
compassion
in
empathy
Jesus
says
don't
throw
as
holy
don't
cast
your
pearls
but
you
can
still
be
a
person
of
love
Jesus
continually
speaks
the
difficult
truths
that
offend
people
and
cause
them
to
walk
away
but
it's
their
flesh
that
is
offended
and
every
time
he
does
so
in
kindness
and
compassion
Charles
Spurgeon
said
this
oh
that
all
men
acted
on
it
and
there
would
be
no
slavery
no
war
no
swearing
no
striking
no
lying
no
robbing
but
all
would
be
justice
and
love
what
a
kingdom
is
this
which
has
such
a
law
one
of the
most
interesting
things
to take
a group
of people
like I've
had the
opportunity
to do
and to
go and
visit
other
cultures
around
the world
there
are
just
things
that
we
do
within
us
that
is
inherently
American
right
and
we go
in
and
we
will
stand
there
one
of the
things
especially
in
really
fast
pace
Asian
worlds
is
like for
us
like when
we're
there
like the
first
person
that
gets
to
a
restaurant
let's
say
and
there's
a
group
of
people
right
like
with
you
like you'll
do
what
like
you'll
reach
the
door
and
you'll
pull
it
open
and
what
will
you
do
right
like
you'll
let
everybody
else
go
in
we've
in
San
Jose's
sometimes
after
church
on
Sunday
it
becomes
this
no
you
no
you
no
you
no
you
no
you
right
when
there's
the
double
doors
you're
trying
to
figure
all
this
out
and
to
walk
in
to
another
culture
and
do
things
like
that
doing
the
things
that
you
do
right
like
in
most
cultures
pedestrians
do
not
have
the
right
of
way
if
you
think
you
have
the
right
of
way
in
India
you'll
just
become
a
part
of
the
sidewalk
right
that's
not
how
it
works
right
but
we
go
there
and
we
act
like
Americans
because
this
is
what
we're
used
to
this
is
who
we
are
folks
think
about
this
when
it
comes
to
the
kingdom
of
God
what
if
what
if
what
is
what
is
gathered
all
throughout
the
churches
of
America
where
we
look
and
we
see
the
ungodliness
that
is
filling
and
filling
and
filling
our
country
the
people
who
desperately
need
Jesus
and
what
would
happen
what
would
happen
if
the
culture
that
left
here
was
the
culture
of
Jesus
Christ
that
reflected
not
our
flesh
but
the
person
of
Jesus
Christ
who
died
on
the
cross
for
us
discernment
concerning
the
treatment
of
others
kindness
love
compassion
and the
truth
of the
gospel
the
next
that
we
see
jump
down
with
me
13
and
14
enter
by
the
narrow
gate
for
the
gate
is
wide
and
the
way
is
easy
that
leads
to
destruction
and
those
who
enter
it
who
enter
then
those
who
enter
by
it
I'm
sorry
are
many
verse
14
for
the
gate
is
narrow
and
the
way
is
hard
that
leads
to
life
and
those
who
find
it
are
few
and
those
who
find
it
are
few
discernment
concerning
life's
choices
discernment
concerning
life's
choices
here
Jesus
gives
a
command
Jesus
begins
with
the
command
begins
with
the
command
to
the
people
enter
by
the
narrow
gate
for
the
gate
is
wide
and
the
way
is
easy
that
leads
to
destruction
so
enter
by
the
narrow
gate
Jesus
here
in his
kindness
and his
compassion
and his
goodness
he
knows
the
limitations
of
you
and the
limitations
of
me
he
doesn't
leave
it
for
us
to
figure
out
Jesus
sets
a
plan
for
us
and
then
he
gives
a
warning
he
gives
a
warning
about
the
wide
gate
he
says
the
wide
gate
is
easy
what
does
that
mean
the
wide
gate
is
where
most
people
are
going
to
go
wide
people
is
the
wide
gate
is
where
most
people
are
going
to
find
themselves
naturally
drawn
to
he
says
but
that
this
leads
to
destruction
its
end
is
not
for
the
good
its
end
is
not
for
the
glory
its
end
is
not
where
they
hope
that
it
will
lead
them
folks
the
wide
gate
of
this
world
is
an
ideology
that
is
broad
but
at
its
core
holds
no
truth
morally
it
is
open
and
it
is
not
restrictive
but
it
is
absence
from
the
command
and
truth
of
God
spiritually
it
is
open
and
open
to
many
ways
and
this
road
is
not
new
but
this
road
has
been
around
since
Satan's
deception
in the
garden
where
two
out
of
two
fell
for
the
lie
Jesus
gives
the
warning
what
road
will
you
go
down
Jesus
says
many
go
down
this
he
then
describes
a second
gate
a second
road
he
says
that
this
road
will
be
narrow
and
this
road
will
be
difficult
again
the
truth
of
Jesus
never
over
promises
and then
under
delivers
what
he
says
is
always
true
you
see
what
he
communicates
here
is that
coming
to
Jesus
does
not
mean
that
we
will
be
removed
from
the
pains
of
this
world
in
fact
oftentimes
these
pains
are
intensified
if
you're
here
today
and
you're
not
a
follower
of
Jesus
Christ
let
me
explain
something
to
you
Jesus
Christ
will
never
lie
to
you
Jesus
doesn't
say
that
if
you
come
to
him
that
he'll
remove
all
difficulties
that
he'll
remove
all
hardships
that
he'll
remove
persecution
from
your
life
he
doesn't
promise
that
at
all
in
fact
what
he
promises
is
that
in
this
world
you
will
face
difficulties
in
this
world
he
says
you
will
face
hardships
and
in
fact
the
promise
that
he
does
give
is
that
when
you
follow
Jesus
you
will
face
persecution
but
the
beauty
of
the
gospel
and
the
hope
that
we
find
is
that
through
the
difficulties
through
the
hardships
through
the
persecutions
that
the
prize
the
reward
is
Jesus
and
at
the
end
and
in
the
middle
and
in
the
beginning
and
all
the
way
through
it
folks
it's
worth
it
it's
worth
it
it's
worth
it
and
so
in
this
as
you
make
the
choices
of
life
are
we
walking
in
the
path
of
obedience
unto
the
Lord
not
because
we're
trying
to
earn
his
salvation
not
because
we're
trying
to
prove
ourselves
worthy
of
it
because
we
can't
but
because
he
is
and
he
is
worth
it
lastly
in
verses
15
through
20
in
the
wisdom
that
Jesus
calls
us
to
he
says
beware
of
false
prophets
who
come
to
you
in
sheep's
clothing
but
inwardly
are
ravenous
wolves
verse
16
you
will
recognize
them
by
their
fruits
are
grapes
gathered
from
thorn bushes
or
figs
from
thistles
so
every
healthy
tree
bears
good
fruit
but
the
diseased
tree
bears
bad
fruit
a
healthy
tree
cannot
bear
bad
fruit
nor
can
the
diseased
tree
bear
good
fruit
for
every
tree
that
does
not
bear
good
fruit
is
cut
down
and
thrown
into
the
fire
thus
you
will
recognize
them
by
their
fruits
we
love
to
grow
food
at
our
house
it's
our
hobby
Aaron
likes
to
grow
it
I
do
my
part
I
like
to
eat
it
right
now
we've
got
about
six
peach
trees
in
our
backyard
every
morning
I
come
we
got a
big
window
in
our
living
room
that
looks
out
into
our
backyard
and
in
the
very
back
left
corner
we
grow
a
peach
that's
called
the
Georgia
princess
it's a
white
peach
pink
on the
outside
and when
you bite
into it
it's
it's a
beautiful
white
color
and every
day
I
sit
there
on my
couch
and since
we saw
the first
buds
come in
they
turned
into
beautiful
flowers
and
then
they
turned
into
green
fruit
and
then
they
turned
into
yellow
fruit
and guess
what
color
they
are
now
right
it's
that
deep
that
deep
pink
peach
color
still
a little
bit
firm
wait
for about
another
week
and I
can't
wait
to
walk
out
there
during
the
heat
of
the
day
grab
that
first
peach
off
of
the
tree
and
bite
into
it
and
taste
the
sweetness
and
the
goodness
of
what's
there
here's
the
difficult
thing
about
growing
good
peaches
you gotta
take care
of your
peach
trees
that a
healthy
tree
just
as
Jesus
said
a
healthy
tree
that's
been
fed
the
right
way
a
healthy
tree
that's
been
watered
the
right
way
a
healthy
tree
that's
been
grown
and
matured
the
right
way
will
produce
good
fruit
be
aware
of
false
prophets
Jesus
has
warned
us
against
a
path
that
leads
to
destruction
folks
now
he
reminds
us
that
there
are
many
individuals
even
folks
who
stand
behind
pulpits
who
call
themselves
pastor
who
would
love
nothing
more
than
to
lead
you
down
that
path
he
says
the
part
that's
difficult
is
that
on the
outside
you'll
look at
them
and
they'll
look like
a
sheep
they'll
be
dressed
in
kindness
they'll
be
dressed
in
empathy
they'll
be
dressed
in
compassion
but
you
will
recognize
them
Jesus
says
by
their
fruits
you'll
recognize
them
by
their
fruits
and
Jesus
says
here's
what
we
need
to
do
what
you
need
to
do
is
not
just
find
heaven
forbid
be
careful
of
this
phrase
this
is
just
someone
I
like
to
listen
to
because
Jesus
says
you're
going
to
recognize
them
you're
going
to
know
them
by
their
fruit
by
what
they
produce
by
what
they've
eaten
by
how
they've
been
watered
and
again
one of
the most
important
parts
of
caring
for
a
fruit
tree
is
how
it's
been
matured
reading
on
this
passage
of
scripture
and
different
people
who
were
speaking
to
this
topic
now
read
this
and
I
like
this
it's
very
simple
way
that
I
need
and
have
things
explained
to
me
and
it
says
concerning
a
teacher
concerning
a
pastor
concerning
a
preacher
it
is
important
for
us
to
pay
attention
this
author
wrote
this
to
these
three
important
things
number
one
should
pay
attention
to
the
manner
of
living
a
teacher
shows
while
they
cannot
be
perfect
do
they
show
righteousness
do
they
show
humility
do
they
show
faithfulness
in
the
way
they
live
number
two
we
should
pay
attention
to
the
content
of
their
teaching
now
I
love
this
I
love
this
it
doesn't
say
quality
it
says
content
Josh
Nix
a few
weeks
ago
he
was
getting
ready
to
preach
I
was
going
to
be
here
that
Sunday
he
was
getting
ready
to
preach
he
was
in
my
office
that
Thursday
morning
I
said
how
you
doing
man
he
said
I'm
a wreck
and I
don't
know
why
I
said
why
are
you
a wreck
he
said
I'm
nervous
he
said
well
why
are
you
nervous
I'm
nervous
every
week
why
are
you
nervous
he
said
I
don't
know
and
then
here's
what
Josh
said
and
please
hear
this
in
the
humility
of
Christ
in
which
Josh
Nix
said
this
he
said
Bo
he
said
I've
been
faithful
to
study
I've
been
faithful
to
pray
and
I
believe
that
what
I'm
saying
is
what
God
has
for
me
to
say
concerning
the
scripture
and
I
said
Josh
buddy
that's
all
we
need
we
live
in
a
culture
that
overwhelmingly
from
pulpits
demand
entertainment
and
it's
the
content
of
the
truth
of
God's
word
so
pay
attention
to the
manner
of
living
pay
attention
to the
content
of
their
teaching
third
pay
attention
to the
effect
of
their
teaching
pay
attention
to the
effect
of
their
teaching
now
get
Jesus
preaching
people
walked
away
but
what
we
should
be
able
to
see
is
in
the
desire
of
the
pastor
is
the
goal
to
entertain
or
is
the
goal
to
challenge
because
here's
the
truth
sometimes
in
my
foolishness
I
say
things
that
are
foolish
and
for
that
I'm
wrong
and
I
apologize
to
you
when
and
if
I
do
that
but
sometimes
I
will
say
things
that
God's
word
says
and
it
is
God
who's
offended
your
heart
and
who
you're
angry
at
is
him
because
you
love
your
sin
more
than
you
love
him
and
that's
not
on
me
and
that's
not
on
Josh
and
it's
not
on
Joel
and
it's
not
on
Dave
and
I'm
not
casting
that
out
at
you
because
it
happens
to
me
as
well
the
effect
of
the
teaching
and
then
I
want
to
add
one
more
I
want
to
add
one
more
and
I
think
this
one's
important
I
think
this
one's
big
I
think
this
one's
big
in
the
culture
in
which
we
live
we
need
to
pay
attention
to
the
manner
of
the
living
we
need
to
pay
attention
to
the
content
of
their
teaching
we
need
to
pay
attention
to
the
effect
of
their
teaching
but
I'm
going to
tell
you
I
think
this
is
number
one
in
identifying
false
prophets
we
need
to pay
attention
to the
hero
of
their
teaching
the
hero
of
their
teaching
folks
I'm
a mess
I'm
a mess
it's
only
by
God's
grace
it
is
only
by
God's
grace
and
so
are
you
and
you
are
not
the
hero
of
your
story
and
I
am
not
the
hero
of
my
story
sometimes
people
say
things
are
just
foolish
at
graduation
time
and
I
heard
someone
say
go
be
the
hero
of
your
own
story
no
folks
go
let
Jesus
be
the
hero
of
your
story
oftentimes
false
teachers
will
attempt
to
point
to
Jesus
but
they'll
end
up
pointing
back
to
themselves
real
quickly
real
quickly
this
I
believe
is
a
biblical
soapbox
that
we
stand
on
this
is
why
this
is
so
important
this
is
why
what's
happening
between
that
wall
and
that
wall
and
that
wall
and
that
wall
matters
because
we live
in a
world
where
right
now
I can
be
connected
with
any
pastor
any
church
in
America
through
this
I
can
sit
on
a
phone
I
can
sit
on
an
iPad
and
swipe
through
two
minute
clips
and
hear
liars
fake
telling
the
truth
about
who
Jesus
is
and
it's
why
this
matters
it's
why
this
is
important
it's
why
folks
setting
myself
up here
by the
grace
of God
examine
my
manner
of
living
examine
my
content
of my
teaching
examine
the
effect
of my
teaching
examine
the
hero
of
my
life
and
I'm
just
going
to be
honest
with
you
can't
do
that
watching
online
and
I
don't
care
if
it's
a
church
of
20,000
in
Florida
or
250
in
Lexington
I
don't
care
now
we
stream
we
stream
so
why
do
we
stream
because
I'm
gonna
tell
you
if
you're
watching
at
home
online
we're
glad
that
you
are
but
you're
missing
this
and
this
is
essential
this
is
essential
do
not
forsake
the
gathering
so
why
do
we
do
that
I've
had
that
question
asked
to
me
we
do
it
for
three
reasons
three
reasons
number
one
number
one
for
most
people
who
visit
churches
they
will
check
you
out
online
for
six
months
worth
of
worship
services
before
they
step
foot
about
we
want
you
to
know
if
you're
going
to
be
able
to
tolerate
a
guy
who's
pouring
sweat
and
standing
here
in
boots
and a
sport
coat
right
this is
who we
are
who's
preaching
for way
too
long
number
two
we do
it for
people
who are
sick
we do
it for
people
who are
sick
some
of you
who are
at home
right now
and you're
sick
and you're
sick
for a
day
and there's
some
of you
who are
at home
right now
and you're
sick
for a
season
and you
need to
be
at home
right now
and we
want to
care for
you
and we
want to
provide
you
with
this
and we
want you
to gather
with us
the best
way we
can
and then
number
three
folks
there's
some
of you
who are
away
you know
what humbles
me more
than anything
else
is when
there's
some
of you
like I'll
see on
Facebook
or on
Instagram
that you've
been on
vacation
and that you
were on
vacation
on a
Sunday
and then
I really
enjoyed that
worship service
praise God
that you
decided to
go out
onto the
beach
at Hilton
Head
and take
your phone
with you
and jump
in with us
humbles me
that's why
we do
this
we do
not do
this
and if
you're
at home
and this
is you
we do
not do
this
so you
have an
excuse
to isolate
you from
the body
of Christ
and if
you are
doing that
it's sin
and stop
it
and come
and join
because it's
who God's
called us
to
I told
y'all
I sit
on my
couch
and look
at the
fruit
I love
to sit
on my
couch
and look
at the
fruit
but the
best way
the best
way to
experience
the fruit
is to
get up
and walk
through the
orchard
to get
up and walk
through
and smell
the smells
and see
the different
colors
and to
feel
the sun
shining
down
on
you
it's an
experience
that cannot
be achieved
virtually
would you
come and
join us
and walk
in the
orchard
that God
has
for this
church
I'm gonna ask
the band
and the prayer
team
if they'll
come forward
right now
there are
people who
are false
teachers
and they
want to
lead you
in a way
that is for
their own
selfish motive
or their
selfish gain
their goal
is how do I
earn my
earthly reward
not how do I
make a
heavenly
investment
they are
attempting to
use the
Bible to
make it
say what
they want
it to
say
and not
for what
God
purposes it
to say
they seek
to live
for their
own glory
not the
glory of
God
their
approval
is for
the
approval
man
not the
approval
of God
examine
their
fruit
folks
Jesus
gives
us
his
commands
his
wisdom
his
warnings
his
call
to
obedience
would
you
be
willing
to
respond
to
him
is
your
life
grounded
in
the
wisdom
of
the
world
or is
your
life
grounded
in
the
wisdom
of
God
the
wisdom
of
the
word
would
you pray
with
me
God
we
thank
you
word
for
the
truth
the
beauty
the
power
of
your
word
God
may
we
live
as
kingdom
citizens
in
this
country
that
you
placed
it
Lord
may
we
be
marked
by
the
language
that
we
use
by
the
character
that
we
have
by
the
things
that
we
do
not
based
in
a
region
that
we
grew
up
in
or
a
vernacular
that
we
heard
but
because
of
the
sweetness
and
the
goodness
of
the
gospel
has
penetrated
us
and
through
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit
we
have
been
saved
and
we
have
been
changed
and
our
hearts
have
been
transformed
and
dead
people
come
to
life
and
it
makes
the
words
that
we
say
not
the
words
of
foolishness
of
ourselves
but
of
the
goodness
of
you
may
we
love
people
in
manners
which
are
sacrificial
which
cost
may
we
love
may
we
may
we
guard
and
hold
on
to
the
preciousness
of
the
gospel
as
we
share
it
may
we
be
wise
in
the
truth
that
we
listen
to
and
not
desire
the
truth
of
man
desire
the
truth
of
the
word
God
I
thank
you
Lord
where
my
life
is
not
worthy
where
my
life
is
not
in
line
with
the
gospel
God
would
you
bring
me
to
repentance
God
where
my
teaching
is
not
in
line
with
the
content
of
your
word
may
you
convict
me
and
may
you
shut
me
up
until
my
teaching
aligns
with
you
and
God
may
the
effect
of
this
word
be
because
the
movement
of
your
spirit
and
our
obedience
to
teach
it
and
Jesus
thank
you
because
you
are
the
hero
of
my
story
you
are
my
savior
you
are
my
lord
you
are
my
redeemer
you
are
my
messiah
you
are
my
healer
if
there
anything
that is
of me
that is
good
praise
God
it's
you
God
work
and move
in
us
in
how
you
see
fit
for
your
name
in
your
glory
and
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
a
new
episode
and
in
the
meantime
you
can
visit
us
online
at
willowridgechurch.org
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