WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.220 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:10.300 recent sermons and more. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:15.080 Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library if you'd like to automatically 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:16.820 receive new episodes each week. 00:00:27.520 --> 00:00:28.040 Amen. 00:00:28.380 --> 00:00:28.580 Amen. 00:00:29.080 --> 00:00:33.320 If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join me in Matthew 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:35.120 chapter 5 this morning. 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:44.240 As we continue on in our study of Matthew, we are looking at specifically the greatest 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:47.460 message ever preached in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:00:50.980 --> 00:00:56.800 Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount has, previously before this, has called everyone to the kingdom. 00:00:57.620 --> 00:00:58.860 He is the king. 00:00:58.860 --> 00:01:01.860 He is called into the kingdom through repentance. 00:01:01.860 --> 00:01:07.820 And now in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is giving instructions. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:14.280 Jesus is giving descriptions that if you were kingdom people, this is who you are. 00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:20.260 You see, there are certain people during that time that thought to be religious means that 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:21.580 this is what you do. 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:29.160 But Jesus is saying that these actions come from not what you do, this is not a man-made 00:01:29.160 --> 00:01:35.620 creation, but that this is the fruit and the evidence and the work of God in who you are 00:01:35.620 --> 00:01:37.860 and the work coming through you. 00:01:37.860 --> 00:01:44.960 If in the Beatitudes at the beginning of this, if this is Jesus' introduction to the Sermon 00:01:44.960 --> 00:01:51.500 on the Mount, then Jesus' foundation of what he'll continue to preach off of for a couple 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:55.580 more chapters is found where Jesus talks about salt and light. 00:01:56.300 --> 00:01:58.540 The foundation of the message. 00:01:59.540 --> 00:02:01.380 Salt, this is how you are to live. 00:02:02.220 --> 00:02:04.720 Light, this is the message that you share. 00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:07.840 And Jesus connects these together. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:12.940 Our message of hope is lived out in our life of hope. 00:02:13.540 --> 00:02:20.960 Because you and I, as Christians, as followers of Jesus, we are people of hope. 00:02:21.940 --> 00:02:22.820 We know hope. 00:02:22.940 --> 00:02:23.740 We've seen hope. 00:02:23.980 --> 00:02:25.340 We've experienced hope. 00:02:26.460 --> 00:02:32.400 And as Jesus shares this in the midst of an audience that is oppressed, as Jesus shares 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:38.120 this in the midst of an audience who is persecuted, he's reminding them, here's who you are. 00:02:38.340 --> 00:02:40.140 You are blessed in God. 00:02:40.140 --> 00:02:44.820 God, now go live and be the reflection of this. 00:02:45.980 --> 00:02:47.860 Be salt, be light. 00:02:48.820 --> 00:02:55.020 The truth of who you are from who you've surrendered to. 00:02:56.280 --> 00:03:00.200 And now Jesus has moved to some topical studies. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:02.560 He's addressed anger. 00:03:02.720 --> 00:03:03.740 He's addressed lust. 00:03:04.320 --> 00:03:05.640 He's addressed divorce. 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:14.000 And today we will look at, as my Bible has the title, oaths and retaliation, but I would 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:25.300 like to look at it as truthfulness, even in difficult circumstances, and serving even to difficult 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:25.680 people. 00:03:27.040 --> 00:03:31.480 Does the gospel penetrate parts or all of your life? 00:03:32.480 --> 00:03:37.620 And if the gospel doesn't penetrate just parts of your life, it should penetrate all 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:43.600 of your life, every aspect, every fiber, every part of who you are, and therefore this is 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:44.080 what we see. 00:03:45.140 --> 00:03:45.840 So let's start. 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:52.040 Let's read verses 33 through 37 of Matthew chapter 5. 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:54.140 Jesus says, 00:03:54.140 --> 00:04:00.340 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, you should not swear falsely, but 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:02.940 shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn. 00:04:03.880 --> 00:04:09.640 But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:15.260 or by the earth, for it is the footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great 00:04:15.260 --> 00:04:15.620 king. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:21.220 And do not take an oath on your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:25.480 Let what you say be simply yes or no. 00:04:26.260 --> 00:04:30.160 Anything more than this comes from evil. 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:35.180 Jesus begins in this part of what we're going to look at, of talking about what it means to 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:36.720 live a life of truth. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.700 To live a life of truth. 00:04:40.320 --> 00:04:45.680 To not just be a truth teller, but to be a person of truth. 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:51.400 I think all of you in here would agree with me about this statement. 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:54.120 Maybe sometimes you disagree with me, and that's okay. 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:58.840 But as I give cultural commentary, maybe you would agree with me on this one. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:03.040 Today we live in a day marked with lies. 00:05:04.880 --> 00:05:08.140 And I don't have to point to politicians to prove this. 00:05:09.140 --> 00:05:13.180 I'd like to point to one of the most precious things God's ever created. 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:14.660 A child. 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:23.940 When you had a child, and they started to talk, did you have to teach them to lie? 00:05:25.080 --> 00:05:26.860 Or did you have to teach them to tell the truth? 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:28.160 Right? 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:39.580 One of my favorite ones was, as Easter time's coming, Emma's always had an affection for chocolate. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:42.080 She's always loved chocolate. 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:42.920 She's looking at me. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.860 Sweetie, do I have permission to tell this? 00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:45.980 All right. 00:05:46.020 --> 00:05:48.840 I got like an angry yes, so we're going to take that as a yes. 00:05:49.080 --> 00:05:49.980 You're supposed to tell the truth. 00:05:50.400 --> 00:05:50.640 All right. 00:05:52.440 --> 00:06:01.820 And so we're living in Aiken at this time, and Emma has gotten from the Easter bunny, she's gotten a solid Easter bunny. 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:02.720 Chocolate Easter bunny. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:04.020 Like one like this big. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:09.360 And Aaron and I, Emma's probably like three, maybe four years old. 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:14.720 So if you've had a three-year-old in your house before, you know how exhausting that could be. 00:06:15.260 --> 00:06:21.120 Imagine having two of them in your house, and we all still pray for the fries, because they had three of them in the house, right? 00:06:21.340 --> 00:06:22.520 At the same time. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.980 And the house got quiet, and we saw Grayson. 00:06:28.020 --> 00:06:30.480 And he's playing, and he's doing his thing, you know. 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:32.000 We can't find Emma. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.400 So we start looking around the house. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:37.560 Can't find Emma. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:39.240 We begin to panic. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.200 We look out in the yard. 00:06:40.540 --> 00:06:41.740 We can't find Emma. 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:44.380 We go into her room. 00:06:44.460 --> 00:06:45.200 We start searching. 00:06:45.200 --> 00:06:48.480 And we open the closet. 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:51.980 Now, this is Easter Sunday. 00:06:53.700 --> 00:07:03.340 And we look at Emma, and there's an empty wrapper, and there's like a chocolate explosion all over her face. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:17.040 And not with stern voices, not out of a threat of being punished, because parents, I believe if you give your kids candy, they should do their best to eat it all that day. 00:07:19.340 --> 00:07:20.940 Because that's what I do, right? 00:07:22.380 --> 00:07:28.940 We say to Emma, Emma, did you eat all of your chocolate Easter bunny? 00:07:30.980 --> 00:07:31.380 No. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:38.840 And as much as we try to appeal to her, that, sweetie, the evidence says different, right? 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:49.120 What was in her was like, it's better to lie and just go down with this thing than it is to tell the truth in this moment, right? 00:07:49.960 --> 00:07:56.960 Like, from a very early age, all of us, we have a propensity to lie. 00:07:57.940 --> 00:08:01.580 Now, in a culture that lies, here's what we've done. 00:08:02.660 --> 00:08:10.860 We don't like to say, well, you're a liar, or I'm a liar, or I tell lies, or you tell lies. 00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:18.520 So, we've even found, like, in our verbiage, in the words that we use, we try to clean this up a little bit. 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:24.300 So, we say things like, I mean, maybe from time to time I tell a white lie. 00:08:25.720 --> 00:08:29.500 Maybe from time to time I tell a half-truth. 00:08:30.820 --> 00:08:34.000 Maybe from time to time I just fib a little bit. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.740 Maybe I'm prone to exaggeration, but I'm not going to tell a lie. 00:08:41.180 --> 00:08:48.180 We even call it when we're talking with our kids that you've told a tall tale, or they're just telling a story. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:56.620 And maybe one of the ones that I'm thinking about, and I think that today I maybe hear this more than at any other time in my life. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:01.400 Well, you know, it's just the truth as I remember it. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:12.480 But the truth is, all of these, when they're not the truth, when they're not the full truth, is a lie. 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:15.200 And we all know that it's wrong. 00:09:16.280 --> 00:09:22.800 In fact, you can travel all over the world, and while things may change from culture to culture, 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:25.620 determining what is right and determining what is wrong. 00:09:25.880 --> 00:09:26.980 I didn't know this until this week. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.200 I did some research online. 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:33.860 And every country in the world, those who we would say align with our values, 00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:37.340 and those who we would say do not align with our values, 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:43.340 every country in the world has perjury as a law. 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:46.900 So here's the thought conclusion that I came from. 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:50.740 Every country in this world says this, 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:55.540 it's okay for politicians to lie to you, but you can't lie to them. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:07.920 Every country, every people of all time are trying to figure out not how do I tell the truth, 00:10:07.920 --> 00:10:16.640 but how do I twist the truth in order to favor myself. 00:10:17.880 --> 00:10:21.480 During the time of Jesus, oaths were common. 00:10:22.300 --> 00:10:24.560 We see oaths made in the Old Testament, 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:31.720 and without getting into a five-hour study about what the Old Testament does or doesn't say concerning oaths, 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:34.060 let's establish that oaths were common. 00:10:34.780 --> 00:10:36.020 Covenants were common. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:38.040 Promises were common. 00:10:38.760 --> 00:10:40.320 God made them to his people, 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:44.540 and God's people made promises to him. 00:10:45.760 --> 00:10:50.160 Oftentimes, when God's people made promises to God, 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:55.100 they were prefaced by a phrase similar to, 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:59.320 and on the name or by the name of the Lord, 00:11:00.280 --> 00:11:02.040 and then the promise was made. 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:12.140 Establishing God as the witness of the oath of the truth of the promise that was communicated in the moment. 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:17.660 I don't think here Jesus is just dealing on surface level, 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:18.800 telling everyone, 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:20.060 no more oaths. 00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:25.200 We will see testimony continues to ring true. 00:11:26.280 --> 00:11:28.020 God in the fullness of his word, 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:30.680 and we believe God in the fullness of his word is Christ, 00:11:31.020 --> 00:11:33.700 continues to make promises to his people. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.080 I think what we see here in oaths, 00:11:38.140 --> 00:11:42.020 that it's not the action of giving an oath, 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:47.200 it's the heart of the oath giver. 00:11:48.260 --> 00:11:51.440 It's the heart of the oath giver that is there. 00:11:52.180 --> 00:11:53.920 You see, during Jesus' day, 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.160 everyone there, the people of Jesus' day, 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:58.940 including rabbis, 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.260 had developed systems of loopholes, 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:06.960 so that they could tell lies, 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:09.140 they could make promises, 00:12:10.060 --> 00:12:14.220 and then as a result of the loophole they've created, 00:12:14.880 --> 00:12:17.640 they could then go back on their word, 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:21.160 or go back on the truth by telling a lie. 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.500 They would say things like, 00:12:23.640 --> 00:12:24.900 I swear by heaven, 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.820 I swear by the earth, 00:12:27.160 --> 00:12:29.060 I swear by Jerusalem, 00:12:29.520 --> 00:12:32.060 I swear by my own head, 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:35.440 I swear by as long as I live. 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:41.700 And as long as they didn't invoke the name of God in the moment, 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:48.100 then the teaching of the day was it was right for them to lie, 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:51.500 or to break the promise that they had just sworn to. 00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:56.280 I don't know if kids still do it this day, 00:12:56.420 --> 00:12:58.060 but I remember growing up, right? 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:01.860 It was, well, I've got my fingers crossed, right? 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:05.080 This is kind of what the rabbis are doing here. 00:13:05.880 --> 00:13:07.400 So, Jesus comes, 00:13:08.040 --> 00:13:08.760 and he says, 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:13.720 let's not be marked by the people who do these pointless, 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:16.100 these senseless oaths. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:18.540 Look back at verse 37 with me. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:19.960 Remember, 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:22.460 kingdom characteristics of who you are, 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:24.420 of who God's called you to be. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.180 He says, 00:13:26.660 --> 00:13:30.140 let what you say be simply yes or no. 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:35.300 Anything more than this comes from evil. 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:38.680 Jesus is telling his audience, 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:43.160 be a person of truth. 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:47.460 Live a life of truth. 00:13:48.400 --> 00:13:49.720 So, that seems simple, right? 00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:52.560 Let's talk about what this life looks like. 00:13:53.380 --> 00:13:55.360 Number one, it begins in honesty. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.800 Don't lie. 00:13:58.920 --> 00:13:59.780 Don't lie. 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.440 Be an honest person. 00:14:03.540 --> 00:14:05.940 Be a person who tells the truth. 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.100 Be a person who tells the truth, 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:10.640 whether it benefits you or whether it hurts you. 00:14:11.040 --> 00:14:11.860 Be honest. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.220 Well, but who should I be honest with? 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.260 What if others are trying to con me? 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:18.200 What if others are trying to trick me? 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.340 What about in this moment? 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:21.480 Like, but where am I honest? 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.380 Well, here's what I think, 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.920 very simply what we'd see from this. 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:25.680 Number one is be honest with yourself. 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:28.760 Be honest with yourself, right? 00:14:28.900 --> 00:14:30.400 One of the things that I love from scriptures 00:14:30.400 --> 00:14:33.100 is God's word always calling us to do certain things like, 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:35.860 don't think of yourself more highly than you ought. 00:14:38.380 --> 00:14:43.660 Pray for and seek for God to expose the sinfulness of your heart. 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:59.200 I think to be a person of truth, it has to begin with being honest with yourself and with being honest with ourself in the moment where the flesh begins to come up and we want to lie, 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:15.180 where we have the desire to lie in and out the first step of honesty is being aware that we're sinners. 00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:22.060 We have to be honest with ourself, number two, we have to be honest with others. 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.980 We have to be honest with others. 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.440 Tell the truth. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:30.120 Tell the truth when it benefits you, tell the truth when it doesn't benefit you, tell the truth when it's neutral. 00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:31.560 Be a person of truth. 00:15:31.880 --> 00:15:35.060 Be honest with others. 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.480 Here we go. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.600 Confession time. 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:45.940 A few weeks ago, I was headed to an appointment. 00:15:48.640 --> 00:15:49.760 And I woke up late. 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.800 And I was going to be late. 00:15:54.380 --> 00:16:02.580 And on my way to this appointment, because I live in Lexington, South Carolina, I ran into what? 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.120 Traffic. 00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:11.320 And I went and I sat down with a person. 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:15.900 Now, I'm going to tell you, I was more late because of the traffic. 00:16:17.380 --> 00:16:18.900 But I was going to be late regardless. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.240 Because I woke up late. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:22.620 Here it is. 00:16:24.380 --> 00:16:24.980 I get there. 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:27.120 Hey, man, I'm sorry I'm late. 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:30.280 You know how bad traffic is, right? 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.240 I lied. 00:16:36.760 --> 00:16:40.640 I didn't want them to think that I didn't value this appointment. 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:43.520 That I didn't value this meeting. 00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:46.300 I didn't want to say I overslept. 00:16:46.400 --> 00:16:48.860 I did not want to make myself look bad. 00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:53.600 And in doing so, I lessened the name of God. 00:16:54.380 --> 00:17:00.320 Which is sin that I need to repent of. 00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:03.780 Be honest with others. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.820 Number three. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.500 Be honest with God. 00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:09.480 Be honest with God. 00:17:11.540 --> 00:17:14.840 He already knows. 00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:18.680 Can I tell you what honesty with God is? 00:17:19.580 --> 00:17:20.440 Agreeing with God. 00:17:21.540 --> 00:17:22.600 It's agreeing with God. 00:17:23.560 --> 00:17:29.600 God already knows how big of a sinner that we are and how much we desperately need his grace. 00:17:30.280 --> 00:17:36.700 How comical is it that we have to sometimes feel like we need to convince God that he's so worthy that we are on his team. 00:17:37.300 --> 00:17:38.700 And we are on his side. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.820 We need to be honest with God. 00:17:42.020 --> 00:17:42.840 So what does it mean in life's truth? 00:17:43.360 --> 00:17:43.800 Honesty. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:44.320 Number two. 00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:45.000 Integrity. 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.620 Integrity. 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:49.080 Define integrity this way. 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:53.440 Simply do what you say you will do. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:58.540 Do what you say you will do. 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:04.580 What does it mean to be a man, a woman of God, and a person of integrity? 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.280 Ask yourself this question. 00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:08.800 Are you a person people can depend on? 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:13.300 Are you a person that your word means something? 00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:18.900 Are you a person who says if you are going to do something that you are going to do it? 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:20.580 Can people depend on you? 00:18:20.800 --> 00:18:26.660 And then the second question with this is as they depend on you, can they depend on you for your best? 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:30.280 Can they depend on you for your best? 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:33.340 So they're depending on you to do a job? 00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:36.180 It doesn't matter how hard the day is. 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.760 I'm going to do my best. 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:42.900 Because the Bible tells us that when we work, when we serve, when we're doing this, we're not even doing it for them. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.600 We're doing it for the Lord. 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:49.780 So can they depend on you and can they depend on you for your best? 00:18:50.040 --> 00:18:50.960 It's not an excuse. 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.160 It's not a reason. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.460 It's not a justification for why we can't. 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.200 You depend on me. 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.400 I've given you my word. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.060 I will do it. 00:19:02.260 --> 00:19:10.900 And then it continues on, not only in honesty and integrity, but what it culminates to is goodness. 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:16.220 To be a person of truth is to be a person of goodness. 00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:20.640 That our words should be good. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.540 That our words should be holy. 00:19:24.060 --> 00:19:26.600 That our words should communicate righteousness. 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:30.040 That our words should communicate truth. 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:39.060 Not just about the moment and the situation, but they communicate the truth of God. 00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:49.580 Is how we live reflected in the words that we say, reflective of the gospel we claim? 00:19:51.020 --> 00:20:00.380 Do we communicate the beauty and the effectiveness of the gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:09.220 Here's where I tell you the conflict that happens with so many Christians, so many churches, and folks, so many pastors. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.400 So many pastors. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:23.340 Is that when we're not honest, when we don't have integrity, when we go to claim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, why should they believe us? 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:31.940 If truth does not mark who we are, then who are we when we try to proclaim who Jesus is in their life? 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:41.460 If I will lie about everything for my benefit, why would I not also lie about this for my benefit? 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:58.180 Folks, let what you say be simply yes or no, because you are of Christ and you are of his kingdom. 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:04.600 So Jesus continues, and he talks about retaliation next. 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:08.720 And again, as we look at this, we see that it's more, right? 00:21:08.760 --> 00:21:11.080 It's more than just don't swear to oaths. 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:12.320 It's be people of truth. 00:21:13.260 --> 00:21:19.940 And in this, it's not just don't retaliate, but it's to live a life of sacrifice. 00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:35.760 Now, in this teaching, Jesus is going to give us four examples of what a life of sacrifice looks like in the life of a person who's not responding in the flesh. 00:21:36.760 --> 00:21:46.600 Jesus is looking out over a group of people that feel afflicted, oppressed, that feel beat up and persecuted. 00:21:47.420 --> 00:22:00.880 And he's going to look at them and say, I want your response to not be that of retaliation, but I want your response to be one that is reflective of the gospel and the compassion of Christ. 00:22:01.760 --> 00:22:04.480 So, four different examples that he gives us. 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.360 Look with me in verse 38. 00:22:07.760 --> 00:22:08.180 He says, 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:28.060 If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him, the other, also. 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.860 Okay. 00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:45.480 If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them and give them the other side, also. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:50.500 But, Bo, the Bible says, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. 00:22:51.780 --> 00:22:55.580 They slap me, I get to slap them. 00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:59.480 Well, that's what the rabbis taught. 00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:07.460 Well, see, in this, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, it's about the governmental law. 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:15.000 It's what God had given his people to establish so that justice could be found in the laws. 00:23:15.760 --> 00:23:21.860 An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is what is given so that government could not oppress people. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:25.740 And it's what just governments continue to operate by. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:29.640 So, for instance, it's why you don't get life in prison for speeding. 00:23:32.020 --> 00:23:34.660 It's why you don't get community service for murder. 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.640 Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:41.560 Jesus isn't speaking about the judicial system. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:52.760 Jesus is instead speaking to those who seek their own retribution in a world that God has placed them and called them to live. 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:57.480 To reflect the life of Christ. 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:04.900 So, number one, what we see in here is a life of sacrifice is a life of peace. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:10.580 A life of sacrifice is a life of peace. 00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:14.980 I don't know if you've ever been slapped before. 00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:20.020 But let me tell you, it doesn't feel good. 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.800 It doesn't feel good. 00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:31.660 And I'll be honest with you, being slapped is not just how can I physically hurt you. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:42.480 But being slapped, specifically publicly, is how can I publicly embarrass you. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:52.180 You see, during the time of Christ, much like today, to slap someone was not to just inflict physical pain. 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:55.820 But it was to humiliate them. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:00.440 It was a physical way of insulting another person. 00:25:01.560 --> 00:25:03.260 And so here's what Jesus says. 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:04.620 His words. 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:10.320 He says, when someone slaps you, turn the other cheek. 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:16.400 Be willing to endure further insult for the sake of the gospel. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.600 Here's the picture that he paints. 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:24.240 If I'm going to slap you in the time of Christ on the right cheek, I'm backhanding you. 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:30.920 And Jesus says, so you take the insult. 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:39.780 And then now that they've exposed themselves for who they are and what they're capable of. 00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:43.460 For the sake of the gospel, you're willing to take the insult again. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.660 Now, I don't like it. 00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:51.740 I don't like it. 00:25:53.800 --> 00:26:00.480 In my sin tendencies, if you cut me with your words, I've already thought of a thousand more ways that I could cut you back. 00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:04.900 And in my sinful flesh, that's what I want. 00:26:06.280 --> 00:26:19.920 But Jesus says, for the work, for the sake of the gospel, you rise above the moment and reflect the one who humbled himself. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:28.840 In the Beatitudes, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 00:26:30.300 --> 00:26:40.200 A wise man a few weeks ago was doing a Bible study on this, and he reminded me that what it means to be meek is not to be weak. 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:44.980 What it means to be meek is strength restrained. 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:51.140 It's not what can I do in the moment. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:54.740 It's what's reflective of God that I should do. 00:26:56.120 --> 00:27:02.840 You see, when Jesus died on the cross, he experienced every form of pain. 00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:07.320 Emotional pain as well as the physical pain. 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:10.180 He was beaten, yes. 00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.840 He was nailed to a cross. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.660 Yes, all of these things happened. 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:17.120 He had a crown of thorns shoved on his head. 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:19.080 Absolutely, the physical pain was there. 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:22.320 But in every moment, being mocked. 00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:27.960 If you could call down angels to save you, but look at you now. 00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:39.300 And in this, praise God, what Jesus displayed and what Jesus brought was peace. 00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:41.320 It was peace. 00:27:42.120 --> 00:27:44.540 So, life of sacrifice is a life of peace. 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.860 The second thing in here, look at verse 40. 00:27:48.860 --> 00:28:04.840 If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:09.200 A life of sacrifice is also a life of grace. 00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.240 It's a life of grace. 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:18.280 Particularly with men during the time of Jesus, when they got dressed, they put on two pieces of clothing. 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:24.500 They put on their tunic and they put on their cloak. 00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:33.980 Now, their tunic was both their undergarment and their first layer of their outer garment. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.440 It was an inner garment, so to speak. 00:28:37.300 --> 00:28:40.600 It was made of thin wool or linen. 00:28:41.820 --> 00:28:46.200 And while it was valuable, it was not as valuable as the cloak. 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:54.660 In fact, during the time of Jesus, right, where we couldn't cash app and Venmo and pay by tapping our phone, right? 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:57.360 That came a little bit later, during the time of Paul. 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.200 Just kidding, right? 00:28:59.660 --> 00:28:59.860 Right? 00:29:00.800 --> 00:29:07.500 People would often, if they needed to pay for something, they would go, they would take off their tunic, 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:13.180 they would wrap up in their cloak, and they would pay for that item with their tunic. 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:21.160 Courts would oftentimes, when someone was sued for a lesser matter, would order that someone pay with their tunic. 00:29:22.020 --> 00:29:26.180 It's where we get the phrase, that someone would give you the shirt off their back. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:34.380 So Jesus says, if anyone would sue you, now here's the thing, if anyone would bring legitimate charge, 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:37.780 this suing is not a false piece. 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:43.600 There's a conflict, there's a moment, and you realize in this moment, 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.140 you've got to give up something. 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:49.440 And what you owe them is your tunic. 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:55.860 Jesus says, let them have your cloak as well. 00:29:57.380 --> 00:30:03.940 You see, Jesus is saying that grace seeks to not meet the minimum, 00:30:05.280 --> 00:30:11.100 but grace seeks to live and respond abundantly. 00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:15.980 That it's not just about making it right, but it's about blessing. 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.900 It's not just about retaliation. 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:19.840 Well, you get yours and I get mine. 00:30:20.060 --> 00:30:24.080 Jesus is saying, if this is what you owe, give them this. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.540 Let this be what marks you. 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:38.120 Shower them not with what you have, but shower them with what you have, not what you're capable or just simply responsible for. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:52.220 Jesus says, and this is what grace does, that grace goes beyond, that you and I live in such an abundant grace of God that we don't understand. 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:56.560 Understand, it's not that salvation has saved us. 00:30:57.520 --> 00:31:03.980 It's that our salvation in Christ has saved us, is saving us, and will continue to save us. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:13.640 And every sin that we have, every single one, is covered fully and completely by the blood of the Lamb. 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:21.520 Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied in the areas that I'm aware and in the areas that I'm not. 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:25.960 Thank you, Jesus, for your grace. 00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:30.200 The third that he gives, verse 41. 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:38.300 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:41.080 So Jesus has called us to peace. 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.340 Jesus has called us to grace. 00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:48.560 And now Jesus says, if you're going to live a life of sacrifice, it's a life of service. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.200 Why was Israel oppressed? 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.620 Israel was oppressed because Rome was there. 00:31:54.320 --> 00:32:10.440 And every time that Israel dealt with the Roman officers and Roman laws, it was meant and designed to remind Israel who their occupier was, who their master was, and it was the Roman government. 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.660 I've read a couple things. 00:32:12.760 --> 00:32:15.080 I'm not sure, so I'll tell you both of them real quick. 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:15.560 It doesn't matter. 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.920 It just helps prove the point. 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:25.600 But there was a law that was in state here that said that if a Roman soldier, and some people say any Roman official, 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:31.100 but that if a Roman soldier or a Roman official was carrying something, 00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:36.400 and they walked and there was a Jewish person who was there, 00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:42.680 and that the Roman person no longer wanted to carry the item that they were carrying, 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:46.720 regardless of how small it was or how large it was, 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:49.840 that they could not ask you if you would carry it, 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:53.960 but that they would demand that you carry it. 00:32:55.040 --> 00:32:58.640 Now, it didn't matter if your wife was getting ready to have a baby. 00:32:58.900 --> 00:33:00.680 It didn't matter if you were headed to a wedding. 00:33:01.040 --> 00:33:03.600 It didn't matter if you had a work appointment that you were getting to. 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:09.120 At any point in time, a Roman official, a Roman soldier could come to you and say, 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:11.300 it doesn't matter what you're doing. 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:13.520 It doesn't matter how important that is. 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:16.780 I want to require you to carry this item. 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:18.060 So carry it. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:21.760 And you were obligated. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:28.440 You were obligated to carry it for up to one mile, 00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:33.860 but you were legally not obligated to carry it any further. 00:33:37.020 --> 00:33:38.200 Here's what Jesus says. 00:33:39.560 --> 00:33:41.100 When it comes to serving, 00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:48.460 there are things that we will feel that we are obligated to do. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.920 And here's what Jesus says. 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:54.640 Don't just go the mile. 00:33:55.600 --> 00:33:56.600 Go the second. 00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:03.340 And keep going, and keep going, and keep going. 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:06.220 You see, we serve. 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:11.340 We don't just do what's required. 00:34:12.180 --> 00:34:17.220 That we look at those, even those who oppress us. 00:34:18.640 --> 00:34:20.180 And we continue on. 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.880 Does it benefit? 00:34:24.140 --> 00:34:25.700 Does it reap a reward? 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.400 No. 00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.960 But Jesus says, 00:34:31.080 --> 00:34:33.660 live a life of service. 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.540 Who are you serving? 00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:39.180 Who are you serving? 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.440 Now, I hope right now, 00:34:44.100 --> 00:34:45.500 as followers of Jesus Christ, 00:34:46.020 --> 00:34:47.500 there are names that are popping into your head. 00:34:52.080 --> 00:34:55.280 My concern for you is the same concern that I have for myself. 00:34:56.920 --> 00:35:00.120 Oftentimes, those who I serve, 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:04.780 sometimes in a selfish way, 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.780 it benefits me. 00:35:08.120 --> 00:35:10.140 And so my service for them 00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:12.660 is not out of a heart of sacrifice. 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.940 It's out of a heart of greed. 00:35:17.640 --> 00:35:20.120 So who's the oppressor? 00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:22.960 Who's the persecutor? 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:28.400 Who's the one who brings harm and hurt to your life? 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:31.940 And here's what Jesus is saying to you today. 00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.160 Serve them. 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.180 Serve them. 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:36.980 Serve them. 00:35:38.020 --> 00:35:39.220 But God, do you know? 00:35:39.600 --> 00:35:40.060 Serve them. 00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:42.200 But God, do you understand? 00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:43.180 Serve them. 00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:45.220 Serve them. 00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:50.280 Lastly, verse 42. 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.480 Jesus says, 00:35:53.560 --> 00:35:55.060 give to the one who begs from you 00:35:55.060 --> 00:35:59.660 and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 00:36:01.060 --> 00:36:03.480 What we see here is that a life of sacrifice 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:05.820 is a life of generosity. 00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:08.060 It's a life of generosity. 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.980 So we see peace. 00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.280 We see grace. 00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:12.680 We see service. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.360 We see generosity. 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.840 Jesus could have said, 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:17.840 Jesus could have said, 00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.440 give them a meal. 00:36:20.560 --> 00:36:20.960 Jesus said, 00:36:21.040 --> 00:36:21.840 give them finances. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.040 Give them time. 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:27.320 Jesus breaks it down and says, 00:36:27.700 --> 00:36:30.760 be a person who is generous. 00:36:31.040 --> 00:36:31.500 Well, with who? 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.760 Well, with the one who begs 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:35.060 and the one who borrows. 00:36:38.060 --> 00:36:39.060 Are you generous? 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:42.000 Do you live your life open-handed 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.840 or closed-fisted? 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:45.640 Do you live your life to bless others 00:36:45.640 --> 00:36:46.720 or to be blessed? 00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:50.220 Jesus calls us 00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:52.480 in who we are 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:54.920 to live lives 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:56.200 of generosity 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:57.900 that reflects 00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:59.100 the generous 00:36:59.100 --> 00:37:00.180 heart 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:01.100 of God. 00:37:02.160 --> 00:37:02.880 You see, 00:37:03.020 --> 00:37:03.540 when we 00:37:03.540 --> 00:37:04.960 came to God, 00:37:05.620 --> 00:37:07.400 we had 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.720 nothing to give. 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:12.160 We had nothing to give. 00:37:13.140 --> 00:37:14.620 We had no righteousness 00:37:14.620 --> 00:37:15.880 that was of our own. 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:18.260 We had no goodness 00:37:18.260 --> 00:37:19.320 that was in 00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:20.180 and of us. 00:37:21.320 --> 00:37:22.820 And Jesus says, 00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:24.740 all that you have 00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:25.660 to give me 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:27.820 is sin. 00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:30.540 And I take it. 00:37:32.120 --> 00:37:33.500 And Jesus says, 00:37:34.020 --> 00:37:35.800 and I'm going to be 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:37.020 generous with you. 00:37:38.060 --> 00:37:38.780 I'm going to be 00:37:38.780 --> 00:37:39.860 generous with my blessing. 00:37:41.040 --> 00:37:41.700 I'm going to be 00:37:41.700 --> 00:37:42.760 generous with my person. 00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:44.400 I'm going to be 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.560 generous with my presence. 00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:46.940 I'm going to be 00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:48.160 generous with my spirit. 00:37:49.100 --> 00:37:49.500 I'm going to be 00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:50.660 generous with my salvation. 00:37:51.620 --> 00:37:52.160 I'm going to be 00:37:52.160 --> 00:37:53.300 generous with my grace. 00:37:54.080 --> 00:37:54.660 I'm going to be 00:37:54.660 --> 00:37:55.120 generous. 00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:56.700 Well, Jesus, 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.320 do you know that 00:37:57.320 --> 00:37:57.700 we're going to take 00:37:57.700 --> 00:37:58.380 advantage of that? 00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:00.660 I don't know about you, 00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:03.280 but I take advantage 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:03.820 of those things 00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:04.280 all the time. 00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:06.940 I'm not a good steward 00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:07.980 with what he blessed me with. 00:38:08.060 --> 00:38:08.660 I begin to think 00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:10.000 arrogantly about who I am 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:10.660 and that I've arrived. 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.780 Like, I begin to just 00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:13.120 butcher and butcher 00:38:13.120 --> 00:38:13.900 and butcher 00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.680 all of the things 00:38:14.680 --> 00:38:15.500 that Jesus gives me. 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.300 And so what does he do? 00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:19.080 He gives me more 00:38:19.080 --> 00:38:20.440 and he gives me more 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.700 and he gives me more 00:38:21.700 --> 00:38:22.780 and he gives me more. 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.920 To be a person 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:28.640 of sacrifice 00:38:28.640 --> 00:38:31.040 is to live 00:38:31.040 --> 00:38:32.000 with your hands 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:33.200 open. 00:38:34.660 --> 00:38:35.060 God, 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:35.600 all 00:38:35.600 --> 00:38:37.720 that I have 00:38:37.720 --> 00:38:39.620 is yours. 00:38:41.660 --> 00:38:42.980 Use it for your name 00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:44.820 and use it 00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:45.360 for your kingdom. 00:38:46.860 --> 00:38:47.300 I'm going to ask 00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:48.020 the worship team 00:38:48.020 --> 00:38:48.440 if they'll 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:49.480 come back 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.300 onto the stage. 00:38:52.620 --> 00:38:53.380 Ask the prayer 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:53.940 encouragers 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.860 if they'll go ahead 00:38:54.860 --> 00:38:56.240 and get in place. 00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:02.500 Here's why this, 00:39:03.200 --> 00:39:04.140 here's why all of this 00:39:04.140 --> 00:39:04.940 matters so much. 00:39:08.200 --> 00:39:08.880 When it comes 00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:09.480 to salvation, 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.740 when it comes 00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:12.300 to eternity, 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:14.380 what do you want? 00:39:15.580 --> 00:39:16.480 What do you want? 00:39:17.620 --> 00:39:18.520 Do you want 00:39:18.520 --> 00:39:19.800 what you've deserved? 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:23.560 Do you want 00:39:23.560 --> 00:39:25.260 what you've earned? 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:28.080 Do you want 00:39:28.080 --> 00:39:29.140 what you've worked toward? 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:31.800 Or, 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:33.500 or, 00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:35.760 do you want 00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:36.320 Christ 00:39:36.320 --> 00:39:38.540 to give to you 00:39:38.540 --> 00:39:41.100 what you do not 00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:41.560 deserve? 00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:43.860 Do you want 00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:44.480 the peace 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:46.320 that you do not 00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:46.640 deserve? 00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:48.240 Do you want 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:48.820 the grace 00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:49.740 that you do not 00:39:49.740 --> 00:39:50.080 deserve? 00:39:50.860 --> 00:39:51.560 Do you want 00:39:51.560 --> 00:39:52.100 the service 00:39:52.100 --> 00:39:52.820 that you do not 00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.220 deserve? 00:39:53.660 --> 00:39:54.260 Do you want 00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:55.000 the generosity 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:56.020 that you do not 00:39:56.020 --> 00:39:56.360 deserve? 00:39:56.520 --> 00:39:56.740 Folks, 00:39:56.780 --> 00:39:57.340 I can tell you 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:57.860 what I want. 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:00.620 I do not want 00:40:00.620 --> 00:40:01.460 God to be fair 00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:01.840 with me. 00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.320 I do not want 00:40:04.320 --> 00:40:05.160 God to give me 00:40:05.160 --> 00:40:05.900 what I've earned. 00:40:06.540 --> 00:40:07.300 I do not want 00:40:07.300 --> 00:40:08.040 God to give me 00:40:08.040 --> 00:40:08.740 what I've worked 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:09.000 for. 00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.200 I don't want 00:40:10.200 --> 00:40:11.000 God to give me 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:11.880 what I've pursued. 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.520 What I want 00:40:13.520 --> 00:40:14.860 is for God 00:40:14.860 --> 00:40:16.660 in the truth 00:40:16.660 --> 00:40:18.120 of the gospel 00:40:18.120 --> 00:40:20.320 to give to me 00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:21.940 in sacrifice, 00:40:22.540 --> 00:40:23.160 that it's 00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:24.020 sacrifice of 00:40:24.020 --> 00:40:24.740 his son 00:40:24.740 --> 00:40:26.460 to come to me 00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:27.620 and to richly 00:40:27.620 --> 00:40:28.340 overflow 00:40:28.340 --> 00:40:29.560 in my life. 00:40:33.040 --> 00:40:33.720 Folks, 00:40:34.720 --> 00:40:35.640 to be 00:40:35.640 --> 00:40:37.320 kingdom 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:38.460 citizens. 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:41.960 It's because 00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:44.060 of who 00:40:44.060 --> 00:40:45.540 we are 00:40:45.540 --> 00:40:46.900 in Christ. 00:40:46.900 --> 00:40:47.100 Christ. 00:40:47.100 --> 00:41:15.680 why are we 00:41:15.680 --> 00:41:16.560 stingy with what 00:41:16.560 --> 00:41:17.180 we have not 00:41:17.180 --> 00:41:17.500 earned? 00:41:20.820 --> 00:41:22.060 Would we go 00:41:22.060 --> 00:41:24.100 and share 00:41:24.100 --> 00:41:26.840 people of truth 00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:28.420 to share truth? 00:41:29.680 --> 00:41:31.000 Why would we 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:32.440 not, 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:33.640 as Christ 00:41:33.640 --> 00:41:34.380 has sacrificed 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:35.220 for us, 00:41:36.060 --> 00:41:37.220 be willing 00:41:37.220 --> 00:41:38.380 to sacrifice 00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:39.600 for others 00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:41.420 so that they 00:41:41.420 --> 00:41:42.600 may come 00:41:42.600 --> 00:41:43.600 to know 00:41:43.600 --> 00:41:44.400 the Lord? 00:41:46.020 --> 00:41:47.000 would you pray 00:41:47.000 --> 00:41:47.360 with me? 00:41:52.100 --> 00:41:52.580 Lord, 00:41:52.640 --> 00:41:53.120 we thank you 00:41:53.120 --> 00:41:53.840 for your goodness 00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:54.860 and your grace. 00:41:57.860 --> 00:41:58.340 Jesus, 00:41:58.440 --> 00:41:59.020 we thank you 00:41:59.020 --> 00:42:01.380 that you came 00:42:01.380 --> 00:42:03.620 and in the truth 00:42:03.620 --> 00:42:04.320 of your word 00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:06.140 share with us 00:42:06.140 --> 00:42:07.060 everything that is 00:42:07.060 --> 00:42:07.400 needed, 00:42:07.820 --> 00:42:08.540 everything that is 00:42:08.540 --> 00:42:09.060 possible 00:42:09.060 --> 00:42:12.100 so that salvation 00:42:12.100 --> 00:42:13.200 could come 00:42:13.200 --> 00:42:13.760 to us. 00:42:17.160 --> 00:42:17.720 God, 00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:18.120 may we be 00:42:18.120 --> 00:42:18.940 people of truth. 00:42:20.340 --> 00:42:21.220 May our word 00:42:21.220 --> 00:42:22.000 mean something. 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:24.340 May what 00:42:24.340 --> 00:42:25.180 out of our mouth 00:42:25.180 --> 00:42:26.220 comes out of our mouth 00:42:26.220 --> 00:42:26.780 reflect 00:42:26.780 --> 00:42:28.420 the heart of God. 00:42:30.520 --> 00:42:31.560 May we be people 00:42:31.560 --> 00:42:32.140 of yes 00:42:32.140 --> 00:42:33.780 and know 00:42:33.780 --> 00:42:35.160 because we're 00:42:35.160 --> 00:42:35.760 reflective 00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:37.080 of who Christ 00:42:37.080 --> 00:42:37.380 is. 00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:40.560 God, 00:42:40.600 --> 00:42:41.040 may we turn 00:42:41.040 --> 00:42:41.840 the other cheek. 00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:45.220 May we go 00:42:45.220 --> 00:42:47.700 the extra mile. 00:42:49.700 --> 00:42:51.080 would we give 00:42:51.080 --> 00:42:52.340 of all 00:42:52.340 --> 00:42:53.220 that we have? 00:42:55.820 --> 00:42:56.600 Would we 00:42:56.600 --> 00:42:57.460 live life 00:42:57.460 --> 00:42:59.440 as open-handed, 00:43:01.160 --> 00:43:01.760 reflecting 00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:02.560 to serve 00:43:02.560 --> 00:43:05.400 not just 00:43:05.400 --> 00:43:05.940 those 00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:07.200 who we 00:43:07.200 --> 00:43:07.660 deem 00:43:07.660 --> 00:43:08.040 deserve 00:43:08.040 --> 00:43:10.640 or those 00:43:10.640 --> 00:43:11.060 who you've 00:43:11.060 --> 00:43:11.760 put in our life? 00:43:14.820 --> 00:43:15.340 we ask 00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:15.700 all these 00:43:15.700 --> 00:43:16.140 things 00:43:16.140 --> 00:43:17.960 and Jesus 00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:18.460 let me pray. 00:43:19.580 --> 00:43:19.840 Amen. 00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:22.560 That's it 00:43:22.560 --> 00:43:23.280 for this week's 00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:23.680 message. 00:43:24.220 --> 00:43:24.800 Be sure to check 00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:25.640 back next week 00:43:25.640 --> 00:43:26.460 for a new episode 00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:27.700 and in the meantime 00:43:27.700 --> 00:43:28.740 you can visit us 00:43:28.740 --> 00:43:29.620 online at 00:43:29.620 --> 00:43:31.240 willowridgechurch.org 00:43:31.240 --> 00:43:32.300 or by searching 00:43:32.300 --> 00:43:32.980 for Willow Ridge 00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:33.660 Church on 00:43:33.660 --> 00:43:34.120 Facebook, 00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:34.900 Instagram, 00:43:35.280 --> 00:43:35.680 and YouTube. 00:43:36.120 --> 00:43:36.620 Thanks again 00:43:36.620 --> 00:43:37.080 for listening. 00:43:44.820 --> 00:43:45.820 Thank you.