WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:48.180 Well, good morning, Willow Ridge Church. 00:00:48.260 --> 00:00:50.000 So glad that you were back with us. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.780 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Galatians chapter 6. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:56.660 In just a moment, we're going to start reading in verse 6. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:01.480 I hope you all had a wonderful Easter to be able to spend time with your family. 00:01:01.820 --> 00:01:07.160 It was so wonderful seeing so many of you logging in online, joining us in worship that day. 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:11.620 I know it was a rainy day, so it wasn't an Easter that we're typically used to, but at 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:16.560 least in God's graciousness and God's kindness, He's allowed us the opportunity to stay connected 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:20.160 over technology, which is where we find ourselves at again today. 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:23.600 And so today, we're wrapping up our series in Galatians. 00:01:23.740 --> 00:01:29.560 We've been working through this letter that Paul wrote for the last 14 weeks together. 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:34.900 And so this Sunday, we take the opportunity to just wrap it all up in these last handful 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:40.760 of verses to see what Paul's going to challenge the church with as he finishes the letter to 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:45.240 them, and then what he challenges to us as we work through this. 00:01:45.240 --> 00:01:50.120 And so let's start reading Galatians chapter 6, starting in verse 6. 00:01:50.720 --> 00:01:52.240 Paul writes and says, 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:57.240 Let the one who has taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 00:01:57.860 --> 00:01:59.160 Do not be deceived. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:00.820 God is not mocked. 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:05.180 For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:10.700 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. 00:02:11.140 --> 00:02:16.500 But to the one who sows to the Spirit will reap from the Spirit, reap eternal life. 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:23.180 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:23.740 up. 00:02:24.040 --> 00:02:29.900 So then, as we all have opportunities, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.040 who are of the household of faith. 00:02:32.540 --> 00:02:36.040 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 00:02:36.320 --> 00:02:42.960 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:47.220 and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:55.300 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:57.400 that they may boast in your flesh. 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:04.540 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the 00:03:04.540 --> 00:03:07.840 world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 00:03:08.200 --> 00:03:12.900 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:19.940 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:25.060 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Christ. 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:29.680 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:30.600 Amen. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:37.540 And so here, Paul concludes this letter with two sections that look to be removed from each 00:03:37.540 --> 00:03:40.700 other and look to be isolated within the context in which they're written. 00:03:41.040 --> 00:03:46.700 But what I want us to gain from this as we work through is to take the time to take a 00:03:46.700 --> 00:03:49.560 moment of self-evaluation when it comes to the gospel. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:55.900 You know, this entire time, what Paul's been doing is really challenging the people and 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:58.440 what they believe and why they believe it. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:03.640 And are they willing to walk away from the grace and the freedom they have in Christ to 00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:09.760 follow what the Judaizers are calling them to as the Judaizers are saying, yes, it's Jesus, 00:04:09.980 --> 00:04:12.200 but it's also more. 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:13.640 It's also the law. 00:04:13.760 --> 00:04:15.360 It's also the obedience to this. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:19.220 And so here is what Paul is trying to drive them toward. 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:25.060 And he kind of ends this with an opportunity for them to evaluate who they are and who they 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:25.840 are in the gospel. 00:04:26.260 --> 00:04:30.820 And so as we go through this this morning, that's the process that I want to take us through. 00:04:31.080 --> 00:04:33.080 That we're not worried about our neighbor. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:34.560 We're not worried about our spouse. 00:04:34.700 --> 00:04:36.020 We're not worried about our coworker. 00:04:36.220 --> 00:04:41.520 That we're really, truly looking at ourselves, asking the Holy Spirit to speak in us, convict 00:04:41.520 --> 00:04:45.280 us and ask ourselves the question, who are we in Christ? 00:04:45.440 --> 00:04:48.220 Are we truly living in the freedom? 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:50.340 Because here's what I believe. 00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:57.580 I believe that there are people in the church who attend regularly, faithfully. 00:04:57.960 --> 00:05:02.560 They give regularly, faithfully, sacrificially. 00:05:02.960 --> 00:05:04.300 They serve. 00:05:04.780 --> 00:05:07.380 They may have made a profession of faith. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:08.880 They maybe have been baptized. 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:13.260 They're maybe a part of a small group or have been through a discipleship process. 00:05:13.520 --> 00:05:16.360 But they are absolutely lost. 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:19.680 They are absolutely separated from Christ. 00:05:19.900 --> 00:05:22.580 They are not in a relationship with him. 00:05:22.820 --> 00:05:27.980 But over time, they have convinced themselves that they are saved. 00:05:28.520 --> 00:05:33.040 Now, I know right now, as a lot of people are staying home and not working as much or watching 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:33.640 a lot of TV. 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:40.060 And one of my favorite TV shows from a long time ago in the 90s was a TV show called Seinfeld. 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:43.160 And there's a character on Seinfeld by the name of George Costanza. 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:48.180 And George Costanza was known as a person who would tell a lie after a lie after a lie. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:51.500 His friend Jerry had to take a lie detector test. 00:05:51.840 --> 00:05:56.600 And he was worried because he just knew that he was going to fail the lie detector test. 00:05:56.980 --> 00:06:00.920 And as he gets ready to walk away from having his conversation with his best friend, who 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:04.920 was known for the lies that he could tell, George Costanza looks at him and says this. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:08.080 He says, Jerry, it's not a lie if you believe it. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:12.840 And I think that's when it comes to lost people in the church. 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:14.780 They've convinced themselves. 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:21.460 They've bought into the lie that they're saved when deep down they know that they are not. 00:06:21.460 --> 00:06:23.420 And how do I know that exists within the church? 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:26.780 Because that's where I was before I came to Christ. 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:29.540 I convinced myself that I was saved. 00:06:29.900 --> 00:06:35.180 I had convinced myself that I was fine until God opened my eyes and opened my heart to the 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:35.540 gospel. 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:37.180 You see, I was a good person. 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:41.020 I believed that Jesus was the son of God. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:43.020 I went to church. 00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:45.500 I knew what the Bible taught. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:48.420 I believed in the existence of sin. 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.840 I believed in eternity in heaven and in hell. 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:54.860 I did religious or Christian things. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:58.400 But the reality was I was lost. 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:00.620 I was fully lost. 00:07:00.760 --> 00:07:09.900 I was without hope as I tried to place my hope in a bunch of things that were never going to matter. 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:16.040 And so as Paul writes this letter to the church, it's what he's wrestling with, with the people 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:17.000 who were there. 00:07:17.260 --> 00:07:21.540 A group of people whom he dearly loved and that he had been appealing to. 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:26.700 And the underlying tone of this entire letter in Galatians is this. 00:07:27.080 --> 00:07:32.360 Paul challenging them, if you are even saved, why would you go back? 00:07:32.580 --> 00:07:35.960 If you were even saved, then why would you do this? 00:07:35.960 --> 00:07:42.160 You see, Paul's trying to convict them and ask them to search their hearts and ask themselves 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.080 this question, am I saved? 00:07:46.840 --> 00:07:51.560 And as we go through this this morning, that's the question that I ask you today. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:55.680 Whether you're a part of our church or whether you're somebody that's found us on Facebook 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:00.360 or on YouTube, whether you've got family members who go here, whether you've never stepped foot 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:04.140 in our church ever before, I just want to ask you the question. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:06.560 Are you buying into a lie? 00:08:07.200 --> 00:08:09.220 Do you believe that you're saved and you're really not? 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:15.260 Or has Jesus Christ absolutely saved you? 00:08:15.760 --> 00:08:17.100 So that's the question that I want to ask. 00:08:17.140 --> 00:08:18.840 That's what comes from this. 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:25.440 And if you are saved, the deeper level question that I want to ask you is, as a believer, 00:08:26.200 --> 00:08:27.800 are you growing in your faith? 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:31.180 As a believer, are you maturing in your faith? 00:08:31.820 --> 00:08:33.820 Or have you plateaued? 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:37.660 Have you reached a certain level and now you're on cruise control? 00:08:38.380 --> 00:08:41.980 Or have you reached a level and now you've regressed? 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:45.360 Not as strong as you were before. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:51.620 And so I want to ask you a series of questions as we go through this, as we look at what the 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:58.880 Apostle Paul is writing to evaluate, not me evaluating you, but you evaluating yourself 00:08:58.880 --> 00:09:03.380 and asking yourself, am I truly a follower of Jesus Christ? 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:08.780 The first thing I want to ask you is this, are you an investor or a consumer? 00:09:09.400 --> 00:09:13.280 The other day I was driving through town and I rode by Lowe's. 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:17.480 And I want to be honest with you, I had to stop that day and get some things for a home 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:19.380 repair project that I finished at our house. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:24.420 And as I was walking through Lowe's and as I'd seen the parking lot and it was filled, 00:09:24.760 --> 00:09:27.680 I thought, man, I wish I had stock in Lowe's. 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:31.380 You see, because for years I've just been a consumer of Lowe's. 00:09:31.640 --> 00:09:34.220 And so here's what I typically do when I go to Lowe's. 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:36.420 I show up and I get what I want. 00:09:36.760 --> 00:09:41.720 If they can't give me what I want, then I just go to another Lowe's or I go to another 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:44.580 hardware store, I go to Home Depot, I go to somewhere else. 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:49.380 You see, because I solely go to Lowe's to get what I want to get. 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:51.420 I don't know who the manager is. 00:09:51.560 --> 00:09:53.920 I don't know how long the people who work in there. 00:09:54.060 --> 00:09:56.960 I don't care about the decisions that the managers make. 00:09:57.040 --> 00:10:04.080 As long as I get what I need, I approach Lowe's in the manner that I am a consumer. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:11.460 Because I'm only there as long as they give me what I want and they give me what I need. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:14.820 But as an investor, there's something different. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:19.940 As an investor, you're still someone who uses the product, right? 00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:24.120 If you invest in Lowe's, you don't go to Home Depot to get what you need. 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:26.460 You use the product that's there. 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:34.060 But as an investor, you also want to make sure that tomorrow it's even better than today. 00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:37.080 In Galatians 6, Paul alludes to this. 00:10:37.140 --> 00:10:42.320 He says, let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:48.460 And we see a cycle that happens of what it looks like when people invest into the church 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:50.460 and invest into the kingdom of God. 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.020 What we see in Galatians 6 are two investors. 00:10:53.520 --> 00:10:56.200 The first investor we see is the one who was taught. 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:58.760 Now, you would think they're the consumer, but they're not. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.620 They're the investor as well. 00:11:00.880 --> 00:11:03.660 But the investor number two is the one who teaches. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:09.640 Both of the people in the relationship are both investing in, not simply consuming, 00:11:09.640 --> 00:11:15.040 but investing in to make sure that it continues to go forward. 00:11:15.380 --> 00:11:21.780 The one who teaches shares knowledge, shares application, shares wisdom, shares insight. 00:11:22.020 --> 00:11:27.680 But the one who's taught, Scripture tells us, shares in all the good things. 00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:28.960 And that's really interesting. 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:32.420 That phrase, all the good things, refers to anything that can be measured. 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:34.460 So they're sharing in their time. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:36.440 They're sharing in their talents. 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:40.720 They're sharing in their ties or their financial blessings. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.440 And here's the thing. 00:11:43.060 --> 00:11:48.240 In order for discipleship to happen within the church, in order for it to fully take place, 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:51.720 the one who teaches must also be the one who is taught. 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:55.920 And the one who is taught must also be the one who teaches. 00:11:56.420 --> 00:12:00.900 So if you're an investor in the church, if you're an investor in the body of Christ, 00:12:00.900 --> 00:12:04.820 not only are you teaching others what you've been taught, 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:08.840 but you're also giving back to others in what's been given. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:11.260 You see the value of investment. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:15.200 So at no point in time, as an investor, do I get to say, 00:12:15.640 --> 00:12:17.500 this is what I solely get from this. 00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:21.640 But as an investor, I can equally say, this is what I get from this, 00:12:21.880 --> 00:12:25.020 but that this is what I also give from this. 00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:26.480 So are you an investor? 00:12:27.160 --> 00:12:28.060 Are you a consumer? 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:31.840 Second question I want to ask you this morning is this. 00:12:32.280 --> 00:12:33.320 How do you sow? 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:37.760 Do you sow by the spirit or do you sow by the flesh? 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:41.620 We've all heard the phrase, you sow what you reap. 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:45.140 So whatever you plant, that's what you will harvest. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:47.140 That's what you will get from it. 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:50.960 Now, Aaron and I, we keep a garden, a vegetable garden at our house. 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.640 Now, we plant a fall and winter garden, which is kind of small, 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:57.820 but every spring we plant a big spring and summer garden. 00:12:57.900 --> 00:13:01.160 It's a lot of work, it's a lot of time, but we love, we love doing it together. 00:13:01.160 --> 00:13:03.960 And we plant a lot, a lot of different fruits and vegetables. 00:13:04.380 --> 00:13:07.000 But one of the things that I like to do is I like to plant peppers. 00:13:07.380 --> 00:13:10.260 And I like to plant peppers so that I can make hot sauce out of them. 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:14.660 And so every year, I go and I plant jalapenos and golden cayenne peppers. 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:16.840 I plant Tabascos and habaneros. 00:13:17.880 --> 00:13:22.620 And I plant these peppers because I like these and I like the sauces that come from them. 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:27.040 Well, here's the amazing thing of what happens when I plant these pepper seeds. 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:31.780 So I take the seed and I place it into the dirt and I cover it back up 00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:34.980 and I make sure that it has the right amount of nutrients in the soil 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:38.420 that it will need to grow and be the plant that it needs to be. 00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:41.800 I make sure that it's get the right amount of sun every single day. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:43.920 I make sure that it gets the right amount of water. 00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:48.200 And then do you know what has never happened when I do all of these things? 00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:50.460 Not one time has this taken place. 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:55.460 Not one time have I planted a jalapeno pepper seed 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:57.500 and what comes from it is broccoli. 00:13:58.640 --> 00:13:59.540 Not once. 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:03.000 Not once have I planted a Tabasco pepper seed 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.440 and okra has come from it. 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.360 Not once. 00:14:06.880 --> 00:14:09.080 And you're thinking, Bo, this is the worst science lesson 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:11.620 that we've ever gotten in our entire life, right? 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.940 And that's true. 00:14:13.420 --> 00:14:14.380 But here's the lesson. 00:14:15.420 --> 00:14:17.160 So many people call themselves Christians. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:24.720 And they sow what they think is maturity and depth of faith. 00:14:25.420 --> 00:14:28.660 But what they are reaping from comes from the flesh. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:31.080 You see, what they think they're sowing, 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:33.020 what they portray that they're sowing, 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:37.040 is nowhere close to what they're harvesting that comes from it. 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:39.900 And that's what Paul writes in Galatians 6, verse 8. 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:42.600 For the one who sows to his own flesh 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:44.660 will from the flesh reap corruption, 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:46.860 but the one who sows to the Spirit 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:50.840 will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:53.300 A few weeks ago, Paul talked about this 00:14:53.300 --> 00:14:55.180 as we read through in chapter 5. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:57.960 And he talked about the flesh or the sinful nature 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.240 and the Spirit and the fruit of God. 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.440 And I want to ask you this. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.420 If in your life, 00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:06.480 you have to look at what's coming from it. 00:15:06.760 --> 00:15:09.280 You have to look at what's harvesting from it. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:12.160 And if what you're harvesting is sorrow, 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:15.040 if what you're harvesting is destruction, 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:17.180 regret, shame, 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:20.440 what you're harvesting is broken relationships 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:21.520 and pain and hurt, 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.720 then maybe, just maybe, 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:25.000 what you're sowing is sin. 00:15:26.140 --> 00:15:27.720 And you're sowing in the flesh. 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:30.400 But that's not what we're called to. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:33.660 So are you sowing in the Spirit? 00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:36.420 And that when we sow in the Spirit, 00:15:36.540 --> 00:15:39.260 what is produced is the fruit of the Spirit, 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.900 and what comes from that 00:15:40.900 --> 00:15:42.700 is the fruit or the confirmation 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:45.080 of the life that is saved. 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.860 And so for us, 00:15:46.880 --> 00:15:47.940 we've got to ask the question, 00:15:48.640 --> 00:15:49.380 what are we sowing? 00:15:50.260 --> 00:15:51.980 What are you sowing in your life? 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:55.800 What are you examining for yourself right now? 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:58.460 The flesh or the Spirit? 00:15:59.520 --> 00:16:00.400 As we continue on, 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.480 we ask ourselves the question, 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:04.980 is your standard perfect or good enough? 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.420 The thing about Christianity is this. 00:16:08.140 --> 00:16:09.600 At the heart of Christianity, 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.600 at the heart of the gospel, 00:16:12.140 --> 00:16:14.240 it is extremely offensive. 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:17.480 The gospel in its core and its nature 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:19.420 is designed to be offensive 00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:21.620 to all who hear it. 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:23.900 In Galatians 6.12, it says this, 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:27.020 it is those who want to make a good showing 00:16:27.020 --> 00:16:28.760 in the flesh or their works 00:16:28.760 --> 00:16:31.340 who would force you to be circumcised 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:34.860 and only in order that they may not be persecuted 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:37.020 for the cross of Christ. 00:16:37.020 --> 00:16:38.920 The thing that is so hard 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:40.620 to come to grips with in the gospel 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.780 for so many people, 00:16:42.020 --> 00:16:44.180 the thing that makes the gospel 00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:46.360 so offensive is this, 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:50.180 that the standard is not good enough. 00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:52.900 The standard is perfect. 00:16:53.540 --> 00:16:54.940 Here is the problem though. 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:58.740 You and I and no one on the face of this earth 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.360 outside of Jesus Christ 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.260 can ever produce perfect. 00:17:03.520 --> 00:17:06.540 It's impossible to do that in the flesh. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:08.000 And so what we do, 00:17:08.280 --> 00:17:09.680 what mankind has done 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.420 for every generation 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.280 is rationalize then 00:17:13.280 --> 00:17:16.160 what is good enough for them to do. 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:18.380 So no matter how hard you work, 00:17:18.540 --> 00:17:19.980 no matter what you do, 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.800 no matter what other people think 00:17:21.800 --> 00:17:23.760 the standard for good enough will be, 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.740 it will never be the standard 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:30.100 because the standard for God is perfect. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:32.800 And so when we try and build onto 00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:34.560 and establish our works 00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:37.360 and we think we can stand before God 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:37.660 and say, 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.980 look at what I've done, 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.040 what we've done 00:17:41.040 --> 00:17:43.440 will never be enough. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.520 What we've done 00:17:45.520 --> 00:17:47.860 will never be perfect. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.880 And so the gospel looks at every single person 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:53.120 and says, 00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:53.560 mm-mm, 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:58.780 you're just not good enough. 00:17:59.540 --> 00:18:01.260 So to embrace the gospel 00:18:01.260 --> 00:18:04.620 means that you and I have to come to grips 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:08.500 with our lack of imperfection 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:14.160 and understand that only Jesus is good enough. 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:17.060 You know, we always think about the work of Christ 00:18:17.060 --> 00:18:17.840 and the rest of what he does 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:19.740 is that he takes away our sins. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.300 And that's true, 00:18:22.060 --> 00:18:23.760 but that's only part of the truth. 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:26.900 Yes, he comes and he takes away our sins, 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:29.540 but through the wonderful work of the cross 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:31.280 and the empty tomb 00:18:31.280 --> 00:18:34.140 is that he imparts perfection in return. 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:38.740 You see, Christ takes and he gives back 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:42.360 and the gospel demands that we need this. 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.880 The next thing I want us to ask 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.160 to investigate within ourselves is this. 00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:50.240 Is the change you're going through in your life 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.880 inside out 00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:54.120 or is it outside out? 00:18:54.260 --> 00:18:55.920 Now I'm going to explain what I mean by that 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.740 in just a second. 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:59.580 The gospel of Christianity demands change. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.800 I've said this before 00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.540 and I'll say it again. 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.700 God loves you too much 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:04.500 to save you from where you are 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.660 and then leave you the way you are. 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:08.660 And so the whole point of the gospel 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:10.140 is God molds us 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.020 and shapes us 00:19:11.020 --> 00:19:12.100 and changes us. 00:19:12.260 --> 00:19:14.240 And here's what change means in the gospel. 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.240 Change means that it is progressive. 00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:17.840 It happens over time. 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.900 Change is that it's spiritual. 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:21.400 It's the work of the spirit 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.540 in the life of the believer. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.120 Change is discipline, 00:19:24.260 --> 00:19:25.540 which means that you and I, 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:27.800 we invest in our change. 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.700 Change is also inevitable. 00:19:30.040 --> 00:19:30.980 It will happen. 00:19:31.260 --> 00:19:33.500 But there is an inside out change 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.320 that the gospel calls us to 00:19:35.320 --> 00:19:38.400 and then there's an outside out change 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.320 that is a fraud, 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.720 that's a counterfeit change. 00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.940 Paul writes in Galatians 6.13, 00:19:44.540 --> 00:19:46.180 For even those who are circumcised 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.660 do not themselves keep the law, 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.480 but they desire to have you circumcised 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:53.300 that they may boast in your flesh. 00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:55.040 You see, inside out change 00:19:55.040 --> 00:19:56.320 is what we're looking for 00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:58.220 and inside out change is this. 00:19:58.560 --> 00:20:00.460 Because I am a child of God, 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:02.380 this is what happens in me 00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:04.740 and then this is what happens through me. 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:07.100 So that when you see me, 00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:10.060 you see a reflection of who I am 00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:10.980 at the heart 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:13.620 and the work that is done in me first 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:15.640 and that this is what happens in a believer. 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.120 So that when you see me, 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:20.060 you see what God's done in my heart 00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:22.280 to then change the things that I do 00:20:22.280 --> 00:20:24.520 and at my very core who I am. 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:28.080 But the outside out change is a false change. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:30.100 Outside out change is this. 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.900 This is what I will do 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.980 because it's not who I am, 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:37.380 but it's because who I want to appear to be 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:39.780 for my glory and my recognition. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.940 You see, my heart hasn't been changed, 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:44.380 but I've just modified my actions 00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.860 so that you will think 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:47.960 that I'm something different than I am 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:50.520 and you won't glorify God as a result of it, 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:53.220 but that you will glorify me. 00:20:53.780 --> 00:20:57.580 But inside out change seeks to glorify God. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:02.020 That's why the Judaizers wanted to boast in themselves. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:06.680 But Paul says that we're to boast in him 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:09.160 and the work that he's done 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:12.740 and the spiritual aspects that are taking place 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:16.560 as he takes the old and he makes it new again. 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.460 I want to ask you also, 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.520 what do you depend on? 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:23.140 His works, I'm sorry, 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:25.200 his work or your works? 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.800 You see, the whole point that Paul's been driving 00:21:27.800 --> 00:21:30.480 from the very first verse that we read 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:33.180 is it's either grace or works. 00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:36.640 You see, this can't be a both and. 00:21:36.800 --> 00:21:38.000 It's an either or. 00:21:38.320 --> 00:21:41.000 It's either grace or it's works. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.900 It can't be both. 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:45.360 Galatians 6.14 says, 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.680 but far be it from me to boast 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:51.020 except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:21:51.020 --> 00:21:54.260 by which the world has been crucified to me 00:21:54.260 --> 00:21:56.060 and I to the world. 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:59.160 It's what we celebrated these last several weeks. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.660 It's the work that Jesus did 00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:03.900 from the cross of Calvary 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.560 into the grave 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:08.160 and through the resurrection in the tomb. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.340 It's the work that you and I can't do. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:13.180 We could talk about his work 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:15.080 and perfection of the life that he lived, 00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:17.100 but that it's even in his death 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.280 what he accomplished 00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:21.020 is his body laid there cold in the tomb 00:22:21.020 --> 00:22:24.300 and then walked out the grace that is found in that, 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.400 the work that's imparted to us, 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:29.740 the only work that the Bible tells us 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.240 that can save 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:33.600 is the work done by Jesus. 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.680 And so what we do, 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:36.980 what we depend on 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:39.180 is we depend on our works, 00:22:39.560 --> 00:22:41.640 on our spiritual resume, 00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:43.240 on the things that we've done, 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:44.960 on the things that we've accomplished, 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.780 on the classes that we've done, 00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:48.440 on the people that we've shared with, 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.960 the Bible studies that we've gone to, 00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:51.880 the mission trips that we've been a part of, 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.660 the amount of money that we give, 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:55.700 the consistency of attendance that we have, 00:22:55.900 --> 00:23:01.860 or are we depending on his singular work, 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.940 the work and the life of Christ? 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:06.940 And so in conclusion, 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:09.760 I want to leave you with this one last question. 00:23:10.520 --> 00:23:12.900 When you take all of this into account, 00:23:13.520 --> 00:23:15.380 when you think of all of the things 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.380 that we've talked about, 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:19.060 are you striving for obedience, 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.460 or are you embracing disobedience? 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.400 Galatians 6.16, 00:23:25.560 --> 00:23:26.840 Paul concludes with this, 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.240 and he says, 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.940 and as for all who walk by this rule, 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:32.220 peace and mercy be upon them, 00:23:32.760 --> 00:23:35.040 and upon the Israel of God. 00:23:35.580 --> 00:23:37.460 I love those words he uses 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.520 that begin in the sentence, 00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:42.180 and as for all who walk by this rule, 00:23:42.760 --> 00:23:44.220 Paul uses some words, 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:46.680 some similar words that he used earlier, 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:48.660 when he's talking about the people 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.860 who have wandered, 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.800 when he's talking about the people 00:23:50.800 --> 00:23:53.980 who've tried to pull them away from their faith. 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:54.740 And he says, 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:54.980 Paul, 00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:55.440 he says, 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:55.640 look, 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:58.280 their conduct is not in step. 00:23:58.280 --> 00:24:01.740 It's not walking with the truth of the gospel. 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:05.200 And so we begin to picture what that looked like. 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.360 And I want to tell you guys, 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.080 I told a story, 00:24:07.520 --> 00:24:09.480 I think this was week three of this series, 00:24:09.580 --> 00:24:10.800 and I want to tell it again. 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:12.060 Because for me, 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:14.220 it's the best picture of what it looks like 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.840 to walk by this rule, 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.460 to walk in step with the gospel 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.840 of what this means 00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:21.240 and what this needs to be embraced 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.620 within our lives. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.060 And I hope that you'll give me some grace 00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:25.880 as I share it again, 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:27.320 or maybe if you're joining with us online, 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:29.660 you've never heard this story from me before. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.460 But it's a story of me and my son 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.800 were out in the woods, 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.480 and we'd been hunting, 00:24:36.020 --> 00:24:37.580 and it was getting dark 00:24:37.580 --> 00:24:39.180 and we were getting ready to climb down 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:41.040 out of our deer stand 00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:42.760 and the place that we were hunting was a swamp. 00:24:43.260 --> 00:24:43.900 And this swamp, 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.260 it's got some bad stuff in it, right? 00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:46.700 It's got wild hogs, 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.880 it's got gators that are in it, 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.800 it's got rattlesnakes and water moccasins. 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.380 And so we always go in there 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:53.340 and make sure that we've got our flashlight with us. 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.280 And so we go, 00:24:54.340 --> 00:24:55.440 we climb down out of the stand 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:57.040 and I go to cut on my flashlight 00:24:57.040 --> 00:24:58.380 and my flashlight's dead. 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.560 So I think, 00:24:59.700 --> 00:24:59.780 well, 00:24:59.800 --> 00:25:00.500 the next best thing, 00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.360 I'll pull out my phone 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.680 and cut on my phone's flashlight 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:05.620 and my phone's flashlight is dead as well. 00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:07.340 And so I've got all of this stuff, 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.020 I've got my gun, 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:09.380 I've got everything that I've got to carry out, 00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:10.760 and then I've got my little son, 00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:13.180 this time he's probably five or six years old, 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.700 who's right behind me. 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:17.020 And you can see the look on his face 00:25:17.020 --> 00:25:18.720 because it's gotten really dark by now 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.940 and he's petrified. 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:20.320 And I said, 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:20.500 son, 00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:21.680 here's what we're going to do. 00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:24.100 I'm going to put my hand right behind me. 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:25.160 And what I want you to do 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:27.760 is I want you to squeeze a hold of my hand 00:25:27.760 --> 00:25:28.780 as tight as you can. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:31.160 And wherever I step, 00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:33.120 that's where I want you to step. 00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.880 Don't get beside me. 00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:37.780 Definitely don't get out in front of me, 00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:40.620 but just hang right there behind me. 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:42.960 And as best as you can, 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:45.600 walk where daddy walks. 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:49.140 And so we moved our way out of the woods, 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:52.100 we moved our way onto the path by the swamp, 00:25:52.280 --> 00:25:53.760 and we finally got to the truck. 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:55.680 But every step that I took, 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:57.920 every small step that I would take, 00:25:58.080 --> 00:26:02.900 I would hear my son taking that exact step 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:07.840 so that he could walk in line with where I was 00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:11.500 in complete obedience to his dad. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.100 And that's what it looks like to walk 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:16.400 in obedience of the gospel. 00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:19.660 Walking where God calls us to 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:24.020 because it's for our best and for his name. 00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:26.300 And so church, I want to challenge you. 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:28.620 Are you striving for obedience? 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:32.320 Not seeking to just solely please God 00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:33.720 because he'll be angry with you, 00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:36.080 but because it's for your best 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:38.360 and because it's for his glory. 00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:41.980 So are you an investor or a consumer? 00:26:43.060 --> 00:26:46.580 Are you sowing in the spirit or in the flesh? 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:50.880 Are you just striving for good enough 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:54.960 or living in the perfection of the sacrifice of Christ? 00:26:55.740 --> 00:27:00.060 Is your change, true change from the inside out 00:27:00.060 --> 00:27:04.860 or is a fraud, a phony from the outside out? 00:27:05.540 --> 00:27:07.960 Are you depending on his singular work 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:10.600 of what he did in his life of Christ 00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:12.380 or on your works? 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.980 And are you being obedient, 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:18.420 walking in obedience of the faith? 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.960 Would you pray with me? 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:23.120 God, I thank you so much for this morning 00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:24.180 that we could be here together. 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:27.440 I thank you for this wonderful word from Galatians. 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:31.480 Lord, I pray that as people are at home right now, 00:27:32.040 --> 00:27:35.240 they would really examine themselves in their lives. 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:39.260 Lord, seeing what the Holy Spirit is teaching them. 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.440 Lord, and if there are those of us 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.660 and we do not know you, 00:27:43.260 --> 00:27:44.840 Lord, I pray today would be the day 00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:48.000 that we would place our faith in Christ and Christ alone. 00:27:49.020 --> 00:27:50.820 Lord, but I also pray if there's some of us 00:27:50.820 --> 00:27:54.060 who need to repent, Lord, and come back 00:27:54.060 --> 00:27:57.660 or to find ourselves to grow in our faith, 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.060 to grow in maturity, 00:27:59.520 --> 00:28:01.700 then today could be the day where that begins. 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.520 Jesus, we love you. 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:04.920 We praise you. 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.460 In this in your name we pray. 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.420 Amen. 00:28:20.760 --> 00:28:21.960 Thanks again for listening 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:23.880 to the Willow Ridge Church Weekly Podcast. 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:26.700 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:29.100 If you'd like to learn more about who we are 00:28:29.100 --> 00:28:30.700 or explore additional resources, 00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:35.760 visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:28:35.760 --> 00:28:37.980 or by searching for Willow Ridge Church 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.320 on Facebook and Instagram. 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:39.720 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.680 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:40.680 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.580 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:41.580 --> 00:28:42.360 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:44.460 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:46.640 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:48.640 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:50.580 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:50.880 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.480 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:28:51.480 --> 00:29:21.460 Thank you.