Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons podcast.
We're so glad you chose to listen today.
Today's message from Titus 1.10-16 warns against false teachers and deceptive gospels
that distort the truth of Christ.
Paul cautions Titus about those who mislead others for personal gain, reminding us that
false teachings can be appealing but ultimately destructive.
Today, we face similar distortions of the gospel, whether it's prosperity preaching,
self-help theology, or watered-down grace.
Join us as we examine the dangers of these false messages and learn how to stand firm
in the true life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for listening.
All right, good morning.
Thank you so much.
If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, I invite you to join us in Titus chapter 1.
That's where we'll be this week.
If you're a first-time guest, I want to also echo what Pastor Dave said and thank you for
being here for worshiping with us today.
After the service is over with, if you wouldn't mind, my wife Erin and I will be back here at
this table back to my left.
If you wouldn't mind just stopping by, we would like to meet you personally and thank you for
being here in this place.
If you have any questions about our church, we would love to be able to answer those questions
or help connect you in any way that we possibly can.
Also, we are doing the Lord's Supper.
It'll be the very last thing we do together as a congregation.
We want you to know that if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, whether Willow Ridge Church
is your home or not, you will be invited to partake in that with us.
We do not pass out the elements during the service, but they're handed out as you came in.
And so if you missed that on your way in, it's okay.
You can head right back there.
You can grab you some.
And then the very last thing that we will do is partake in that together.
And I'll come back on stage to give instructions for that.
I'd like to thank Dave for preaching last week.
As we were away on the ski trip, I had somebody ask me, we're going away with the youth, how are
your legs feeling today?
I was like, man, my legs were good.
Because I went slow, right?
I went slow.
You hit that point where you begin to realize at your age that slow and steady is definitely
going to win the race.
Maybe not down the mountain, but in life.
All right?
So the legs are feeling good.
But what is hurting a little bit still is the arms and the chest and the back from like
picking up and doing those.
But wonderful time of skiing with these kids.
It's been a cool week.
Aaron and I were talking about, so we went up to the mountains to ski and then the South
Carolina Baptist Convention did a pastors and wives retreat at Hilton Head this past Thursday
through Saturday morning.
And so Aaron and I had an opportunity to get away and go to Hilton Head and again, kind
of showing you like where you realize where you are in life.
On Friday from noon to seven was free time.
Had some wonderful times of teaching of God's word, had a guy there by the name of Mark Dance
who works at Guidestone.
He talked to us as pastors and wives what it looks like to continue to leave and cleave,
what it looks like to Sabbath well, and just a wonderful time of him pouring in and investing
in us.
But we had from noon to seven just to kind of go and do what we wanted to do.
And so we got there like, well, let's go out on the beach for a little bit.
And so we went out there and sat on the beach for about an hour.
It was, it got cold.
So we decided to go do something else.
And so we're there and, and, and it's, it's Hilton Head.
There's shops, there's golf, there's tennis, there's restaurants, there was a bike rental
place.
There was people out there in that wind and in that cold parasailing.
I looked at Aaron and I said, what would you like to do?
And with sincerity and truth in her eyes, she looked at me and she said, take a nap.
And I said, you read my mind.
Let's go.
So it was a wonderful time, wonderful opportunity to get away and to do that, but excited to be
back with you guys.
Excited after missing one Sunday, it feels like you've been gone forever, but it is good.
It is good to be here.
We're going to continue on in Titus, but I want to read something out of Mark 13 before
we, before we pray and get into God's word.
It says this, for false Christ and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead
astray.
If possible, the elect be on guard.
I have told you all things beforehand.
Let's pray.
God, I come to you today thanking you for this wonderful privilege and opportunity that it is
to gather together as your people.
God, we celebrate you for lives surrendered, lives saved.
God, what a joy it is to be able to open your word and to preach.
God, I pray that as, as we look at your word today, Lord, I pray that, that I would be faithful
to you, faithful to your word.
God, if there is any part of this that is of me and not of you, Lord, that you would remove
that and that all that will be done in this place will glorify your name.
And it's in Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
So, so Pastor Dave opened us up in, in Titus last week.
But, but a verse that I want us to get to, because this is going to be this piece that
kind of builds us through and it's not on the screen.
I apologize, but Titus one, one, Paul, the writer of this writing it to Titus who is serving
on the island of Crete, a sinful, sinful pagan culture.
And so Paul's writing this Titus, Paul, a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ for
the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with
godliness.
And so there's this, there's this formula in the very first sentence that, that Paul lays
out that is going to be prominent for us today.
And it's this, that it's, that it's, it's faith in Christ, the faith of God's elect, and from
there the knowledge of the truth of God, which accords with godliness.
It's, it's the formula of faith.
It's the formula of sanctification of what we see.
So it's not get right so you can get to God.
It's what God does in you, and then from that becomes your obedience to God.
It's not get right so that you can be saved.
It's that God saves you and imparts his righteousness to you, and then from that, you're saved.
And a saved life is different than a dead life, and it's what we see.
Paul goes into with Titus, and he, he, he lays out the expectations and the qualifications
of elders in order to lead the church, because in the critical times of which they find themselves,
which this will kind of bring you to the tail end or the midpoint of where we're going with
our conversation this morning, which isn't all that different from where we find ourselves
today.
And this is who you must be in a wonderful picture, though, of the qualifications to be
a pastor, an elder, an overseer, but the standard of God's truth for, for not just my life,
but for yours, of the expectations of godliness.
And then Paul's going to come in, and he's going to, he's going to address a matter of, of
great concern of false teachers that have invaded the church.
And I would argue with you, if you would like to disagree with me today, but I would argue
in front of you, with you, amongst you today, that the crisis that the church as a whole is
facing, not just in this world, but particularly the church in America, is false teachers.
And so let's see what Paul says, 20 verse 10.
He does not hold back.
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of
the circumcision party.
They must be silenced, since they are upsetting the whole, since they are upsetting the whole
families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
One of a Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy
gluttons.
This testimony is true.
Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves
to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.
But both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works.
They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
False teachers have infiltrated the church at Crete.
Paul instructs Titus to appoint qualified elders so they may fight against these teachings.
He says, silence them, rebuke them, speak the truth of God to them, because what they are
doing is they are destroying families and the church, all while they are saying they promote
Jesus.
What they are really doing is promoting the sin.
What they are really doing is promoting the culture that they come from.
They aren't simply bad teachers.
They don't know the truth of God.
And so what we want to do this morning, which is a little different than how I typically would
preach from God's word, is I want to look with allowing this passage to kind of set a
foundation for what we're going to talk about in the rest of the message.
And it's a warning of false teachers, but it's also going to be a warning of false gospels.
Paul deals here with the false gospel of the circumcision party of what's there, but there's
different false gospels that you and I have seen invade our cultures, invade our pulpits,
invade our Christian bookstores, invade the messages that we hear, and it's dangerous.
And Paul uses very aggressive language when he deals with this.
It says, church, this topic is not one that we can handle lightly.
It's interesting what we've seen when you study the New Testament, especially in Acts.
It's the formation of the church and then the explosion of the church.
When you look through Acts, yes, you see persecution.
It's difficult.
It's hard.
Men and women of faith die because of their faith in Christ.
But you see church planning that's never happened before happening all over, not just in a town,
not just in a county, but in a region of the world that will expand into Asia,
into Europe, into Africa, all in Acts.
And you see persecution happen.
And the writers of the New Testament, what they do for persecution
is they encourage through the persecution.
But they warn strongly against the false teachers.
Historically speaking with the church, and when I say the church, I'm not just saying our church,
but I'm saying the church as a whole.
Historically speaking, when the church is attacked from the outside, meaning persecution,
a miracle of God happens, and the church typically, historically, has exploded and has thrived.
That's why what we've seen recently is that in places like China,
where you can be arrested for being a believer,
and places like Iran, where you can be executed for becoming a believer,
the church is growing.
The church is exploding.
The church is seeing men and women walk out of the lies of atheism,
Islam, and come to faith in Jesus Christ.
And that's not just a trend of today.
That's a trend that we've seen in church history.
But there's a counterside to that.
Is that historically speaking,
again, when the church, the church as a whole,
is attacked from the inside,
false teachers,
false doctrine,
false gospel,
it spreads like a cancer.
And when not dealt with,
the churches in that area
die.
That's what we see happen.
Where the church began,
where the church spread,
largely in Europe at the time,
and it's what we're seeing today.
The United States
is largely still
the hub
of the world
for Christian missionaries,
Christian theological training.
But folks,
that's beginning to decline.
We're living in a day and time
where we think
that the United States
is the growing explosion
of Christianity
and faith in Christ.
But I would say to you this morning
that that is no longer the case.
Now,
there's a large group of us
who were in here this morning
who were from that region
of our country
known as the Bible Belt.
And we would like to blame
all those other places
that are not from the Bible Belt
for the decline of Christianity.
But that's not true.
That's a lie.
I don't have the latest numbers
because I can't find them,
but I can tell you this.
Ten years ago,
not in Seattle, Washington,
not in New York City,
not in Boston, Massachusetts,
not in Denver, Colorado,
but ten years ago
in Lexington, South Carolina,
33% of the population
of Lexington, South Carolina
identified themselves
as Christians
and followers of Christ.
And what we need to be
is we need to be those people
who stand not just for Jesus,
but Jesus of the Bible,
who Jesus truly is.
You see, because the false narrative
of Jesus is not Jesus at all,
but Jesus of God's Word
is the Jesus that we share.
It's the Jesus that we trust.
It's the Jesus that saves us.
Now, before we get into
false teachings,
I do want to say this.
Sometimes godly individuals
say the wrong things.
I have.
That makes them both incorrect
and in sin.
It does not make them
false teachers.
And when we do,
as teachers of God's Word,
say the wrong thing,
incorrect things,
it is sin.
We need to acknowledge that.
We need to repent.
And we need to confess that.
And that's why we need
to be studied
when we teach the Bible
and not googling AI.
What does Ephesians 2 mean?
That's why we need
to spend time on our knees
in prayer before God
dependent on Him
to teach us,
before we teach God's Word.
And I'm not saying
this as pastors.
I'm saying this
as discipleship teachers.
I'm saying this
as small group leaders.
I'm saying this as those
that teach God's Word
in their home.
That's why we need
to be humble as well
and understand
that as much as we want
to be right,
we can be wrong
and understand
that while we may be
in sin,
God's faithful
to forgive us
and we live
in His grace.
But this concept,
this issue
of false teaching,
it is prevalent
throughout the New Testament.
I want to be honest
with you,
I've kind of forgotten
how prevalent it was
of the warnings
against false teachers
in the New Testament.
And I'm not going
to read to you
this morning
every verse
that deals
with false teachers
or false doctrine
or false gospels,
but I will say this,
we're going to read some
and here's who
we're going to hear from.
We're going to hear
from Jesus.
We're going to hear
from Paul.
We're going to hear
from Peter.
We're going to hear
from John.
We're going to hear
from Jude.
So if that group
of men
say yes,
we need to make sure
repeatedly
over and over
and over again
that we're warning
the church about this,
this needs to be something
that we as the church
are talking more about.
Jesus says this
in Matthew 7
starting in verse 15,
beware of false prophets
who come to you
in sheep's clothing
but inwardly
are ravenous wolves.
You will recognize them
by their fruits.
Paul says
in Acts 20,
his very words,
I know that
after my departure
fierce wolves
will come in among you
not sparing the flock
and from among
your own selves
will arise
men speaking
twisted things
to draw away
the disciples
after them.
Peter in 2 Peter 2
1 through 3
but false prophets
also arose
among the people
just as there will be
false teachers
among you
who will secretly
bring in destructive
heresies
even denying
the master
who bought them
bringing upon themselves
swift destruction
and many will follow
their sensuality
and because of them
the way of truth
will be blasphemed
and in their greed
they will exploit you
with false words
their condemnation
from long ago
is not idle
and their destruction
is not asleep
John
you know sweet
kind
John
that just wants
to talk about love
right
beloved
do not believe
every spirit
but test the spirits
to see whether
they are from God
for many false prophets
have gone into the world
by this you know
the spirit of God
every spirit that confesses
that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh
is from God
and every spirit
that does not confess
Jesus
is not from God
this is the spirit
of the antichrist
which you heard
was coming
and now is in the world
already
Jude
Jude 3 and 4
beloved
although I was very eager
to write to you
about our common salvation
I found it necessary
to write
appealing to you
to contend
for the faith
that was once for all
delivered to the saints
for certain people
have crept in
unnoticed
who long ago
were designated
for this condemnation
ungodly people
who pervert the grace
of our God
into sensuality
and deny
our only master
and Lord Jesus Christ
those aren't
light words
those aren't
passive warnings
they're the words
from our very own
Savior
to his disciples
to the writers
of the New Testament
beware
ravenous wolves
perverting
the message
denying
the divinity
of Christ
it still rings
true today
so what makes
false prophets
so dangerous
what
what makes them
so dangerous
but it's just words
it's just
it's just a book
it's just
it's just a thought
it's just
it's just a teaching
why is it so dangerous
well I want to
describe you
what their message is
when
when we look at
the fullness
of those passages
and the passages
what we can draw
from that
and number one
their message
the message is deception
the message is move
from God's truth
and sometimes
the move is subtle
Satan in Genesis 3
says what
did God actually say
God wouldn't
the message is deception
the message is to move you
from the truth of God
and who God is
and what God has done
and what God has said
and not come out
and throw it all away
like a good false teacher
won't do that
what they do is
they'll just kind of
take it and they'll turn it
and they'll twist it
and next thing you know
they're babbling stuff
like you too can become God
their message is self-motivated
it's clear time and time again
false teachers gain
from their message
there's a secular magazine
that always does
the 10 fastest
that's not it
the 10 wealthiest pastors
in America
go study their doctrine
false teaching
after false teaching
there are men and women
becoming wealthy
and seeing their name great
as they're lowering
the name of Christ
their message is appealing
I don't even want to say that
their message is appealing
not appealing to the soul
but appealing to the flesh
their message will always
drive you
to this is what I get
from this
and what you get from this
is never Jesus
but it's appealing
the message is always culturally relevant
it's always culturally relevant
they speak to matters of today
and how they're so enlightened
they speak to matters of today
and looking down on the truth
of God's word
and truly today is not the same day
as when God communicated to Abraham
truly today is not the same day
as when Jesus stood on the side
of the mountain
and spoke to his disciples
truly today isn't the day
that Paul wrote the truth
of God's word
to all the churches
that Paul had planted
that Paul oversaw
truly today is not the day of then
and they are correct
truly today is not the day of then
but God's truth of then
is still God's truth of today
regardless of what culture
leads in the direction
that culture wants to point
but always
always
the message destroys
ravenous wolves
destroying families
destroying churches
that's where we find ourselves
it's why
Paul
looks to Titus
and says
listen man
more so than where your church
is going to meet
more so than what type of music
you're going to have
for worship
more so
if you're
Titus
don't worry about
if you're going to be in a suit
if your shirt's going to be untucked
or if you're a guy
that every week
for some reason
wears cowboy boots
jeans and a sports coat
right
like whatever
those things don't matter
here's what this is
Titus
here's what this is
what you need to make sure
that you're holding to
that you need to protect
the message of God
it's why
in 2 Timothy 2
that we need to take
what we've heard
from faithful teachers
and that our job
is that we're to
entrust them to others
so that we continue on
with what we've been taught
in the gospel of Jesus Christ
that's what Paul writes
to Timothy
it's the protection
of the message
and what we've been
entrusted with
so what I want to do
this morning
I think I've got
five of them
maybe six
is I want to
I want to talk to you
about what I believe
are today's most prominent
false gospels
and what the Bible says
concerning them
I hope
that if at the end
of this
if you have question
if you have concern
if you have issue
let's grab some coffee
and have a conversation
I want you to hear
my heart
through these
but I don't want
a wolf in your home
and I sure don't want
a wolf in this church
number one
is the prosperity gospel
prosperity gospel
I'm going to give
an elementary definition
for all of these
for time's sake
prosperity gospel
teaches us
that Jesus
is simply a means
to wealth
health
and financial
and earthly prosperity
to follow him
faithfully
means that these
three blessings
will come to you
this movement
is also known
they try to pretty it up
as the word of faith
movement
here's the difficulty
with this
teaching
Jesus
is
infrequently
talked about
I'm sorry
Jesus
the difficulty
with this message
I apologize
is that Jesus
is frequently
talked about
scripture
is
quoted
and that if you
follow these
teachings
you too
can have your
best life now
topics such as
sin
wrath
and judgment
are avoided
and quickly
what you will find
is that Jesus
is not to be
the desire
of your heart
but simply
a means
to get
what your
heart
desires
and here's
what begins
to happen
here's the
manipulation
here's the
lie
here's the
destruction
is that
when people
face
financial
difficulty
when people
face
poor health
when people
face
difficult
circumstances
in their
life
it is
then
taught
that
their
faith
is
weak
or
else
God
would
have
blessed
them
and
unfortunately
these books
and teachings
fill many
of our
Christian
bookstores
and I'm
doing this
on purpose
many of our
TV preachers
promote the
prosperity gospel
where Jesus
is a means
to what your
flesh really
desires
to what your
heart really
desires
some problems
with that
number one
that
we're
we're warned
about money
the love
of money
the love
of money
specifically
for the love
of money
is the root
of all kinds
of evils
is what 1st
Timothy 6
10 tells us
it is through
this craving
that some
have wandered
away from
the faith
and pierced
themselves
with many
pangs
like I'm
just gonna be
honest with
you
like when
when you're
sitting
in a
building
filled with
thousands
of people
and your
message is
how do you
get wealthy
when you're
not rich in
Christ
but rich in
money
and I want
to tell you
this God
uses
wealthy
people all
the time
here's what
wealthy godly
people know
and do
consistently
they know
how to
use
what god
has
given
them
to
promote
the
kingdom
not how
god
has
blessed
them
so they
can
simply
expand
their
greed
another
issue
with this
is jesus
promises
his
followers
that they
will face
difficulties
this is one
of the issues
that i have
with it's
like well
you know
i'm going
through some
difficult times
i'm walking
through some
difficult seasons
how many of
you have ever
been in a
difficult time
in a difficult
season and
what you saw
from walking
through that
was god
was blessing
you through
it like you
would never
choose to
walk through
it again
but praise
god as
you did
what god
was doing
was growing
was persevering
you was
was empowering
you as you
walk through
this
jesus says
john 16
33
i've said
these things
to you
that in
me you
may have
peace
in the
world you
will have
tribulation
but take
heart i've
overcome the
world
the prosperity
gospel
defines
blessing
in such
a fleshly
ignorant
way
it's
disgusting
to say
that it
comes
from god's
word
because god's
word says
this
that you
are blessed
i don't
care what's
in your
bank account
i don't
care
what the
doctor's
prognosis
said
when we
are in
christ
we are
blessed
he is
enough
he is
sufficient
he's
more than
enough
god's
word says
that he
is rich
in
mercy
paul
writes in
ephesians
1-3
here's
what he
says
blessed
be the
god and
father of
our lord
jesus
christ
who has
blessed us
in christ
with every
spiritual
blessing in
the heavenly
places
here's what
the prosperity
gospel does
god can
choose to
bless you
however god
chooses to
bless you
he is
god
what the
prosperity
gospel does
at its
core
is it
creates
a system
of
idolatry
as it
elevates
the gifts
above the
giver
as it
elevates
the gifts
of god
over the
giver
of the
gifts
right
destroying
lives
the
second
i've coined
this the
jesus plus
gospel
we'll move
faster now
the jesus plus
gospel
this is the
belief that
simple faith
in christ and
his work alone
is not sufficient
for salvation
but instead it is
faith in christ
plus some form of
religious rules that
must be adhered to
in order for salvation
to be earned
this is largely what we
see 2,000 years ago
in in the writing of
scripture and what we
still see today
this is largely the
false gospel that
paul is dealing with
and crete and
warning titus of
and it still rings
true in many
legalistic churches
today
but paul says this
in ephesians 2
8 through 9
for it is by grace
you have been saved
through faith
it's it's by grace
it's by grace
this is it
you've been saved
through faith
and just so
paul reiterates
over and over
and over again
it is not
of your own doing
it is the gift
of god
not a result
of your works
so that no one
may boast
it is not
jesus plus
anything
in fact
jesus plus
something equals
nothing
and it's jesus
please hear me
the gospel
of jesus christ
calls us
for good works
in fact that next
verse
verse 210
in ephesians
talks about the
good works that
god has
for you
that he prepared
for you beforehand
before you were
even saved
god was ordaining
works for you
to do
in his name
not so that you
could be saved
but because you
are saved
the truth of the
gospel
it's just an
inside out
process
of what we
saw
in verse 1
for the sake
of the faith
of god select
and their knowledge
of the truth
which accords
with godliness
so god saves
us
god indwells
us
god changes
us
the beauty
of what we
see
and there's
so many
denominations
that are
teaching
well no
no
it's jesus
plus this
it's jesus
plus this
it's jesus
plus this
in church
it's just jesus
next is the jesus
minus gospel
there's a lot of
ways that this
teaching is
is classified
my brain if i can
remember the jesus
plus gospel i can
remember the jesus
minus gospel
and this teaches
that god is ever
changing and so
is his word
as a result
then you choose
what part of god's
word best apply
to your situation
your culture
and your needs
then you determine
what parts of the
bible align with
your truth
and then you follow
those
this was
specifically the
temptation that we
saw in genesis
3 1
it's take
what you like
take
what affirms
you
take
what speaks
to you
and then that's
the gospel of
christ
and then take
out what you
don't like
it doesn't matter
because this is
just an old
book
written by people
who want to
hold you down
and hold you
back
and they're
keeping
from you
the true
god
here's the
problem
with the
true story
the moment
you find
a lie
in the
true story
the moment
that story
ceases to
be true
so to say
that i can
take any
of this
out
because it's
not true
would then
for me
that all
of it
is false
but we
believe
that it
is
true
so
paul
says
second
timothy
3
14
through
17
but as
for you
continuing
what you
have learned
and heard
firmly
believe
knowing
from whom
you learned
it
and how
from childhood
you have been
acquainted
with the
sacred
writings
which are
able to make
you wise
for salvation
through faith
in christ
jesus
all scripture
every single
bit of it
all scripture
the parts
that you like
the parts
that you
don't like
the parts
you agree
with
the parts
you don't
agree
with
the part
that that
causes you
to go
the part
that goes
yay
like
all of
it
all scripture
is breathed
out by
God
and profitable
for teaching
for proof
for correction
and training
in righteousness
that the man
of God
may be
complete
equipped
for every
good work
every bit
of it
here's what
I'll tell you
about God's
word
God's word
isn't easy
God's word
isn't easy
and sometimes
in our flesh
we wish
parts of it
weren't there
but you can't
claim a perfect
God and not
claim that
his word
is perfect
and it's
our job
to consume
it
it's our
job to
devour
it
it's our
job
to study
it
and see
how the
Holy Spirit
will enlighten
our minds
and our souls
to it
and then the
change that
he'll bring
apart from it
you see
it's not
Jesus minus
it
it's all
the fourth
is the
self-help
gospel
the self-help
gospel
self-help
gospel
is a gospel
that causes
people to
focus on
themselves
their successes
their goals
rather than
God
the focus
becomes how
can I make
myself
largely external
actions better
and not how
can I grow
in my relationship
with God
and focus
on him
when growth
is seen
in the self-help
model
the praise
goes to the
individual
not to God
alright let me
say this
so if you're
like Bo
are you saying
counseling's wrong
no I'm not
saying counseling
is wrong
I'm not saying
counseling's wrong
I have been
in counseling
numerous times
in my life
as godly
faithful
individuals
have helped
me walk
through
issues
that I'm
facing in my
life
and I praise
God for it
but I am
saying that
not all
counseling
is equal
not all
counseling
is good
and not all
counseling
is biblical
do I think
we need to
take evaluation
of ourselves
absolutely
God's word
calls and
demands that
of us
but we do
it in the
power of the
Holy Spirit
and the
leading of
the Holy
Spirit
do I think
we set
goals
seek to
change
behaviors
desire to
better
ourselves
absolutely
we do
but all
of this
must happen
in a proper
pursuit of
God
and submission
to him
here's the
warning of
Jesus
in Matthew
23
woe to you
scribes
and Pharisees
hypocrites
for you
clean the
outside of
the cup
and the
plate
but inside
they are
full of
greed
and self
indulgence
you blind
Pharisee
first clean
the inside
of the
cup
and the
plate
that the
outside
also
may be
clean
right
the truth
of self
help
the self
help
gospel
is this
it will
clean up
the outside
it will
tip to
clean up
the outside
but it will
ignore the
heart
every single
time
and what
God
desires
is God
desires
your heart
so as you're
going into
counseling
and some
of you
are in
counseling
some of you
need to be
part of
counseling
let me ask
this
when you're
diving into
this
and when
you're
dealing
with the
issues
that are
there
the heart
has to be
addressed
and all
that's
given
because when
it's just
the outside
and the
outside is
what's
there
here's
what we
find from
the flesh
now
the works
of flesh
are evident
sexuality
immorality
impurity
sensuality
idolatry
sorcery
enmity
strife
jealousy
fits of
anger
rivalries
dissensions
divisions
envy
drunkenness
orgies
and things
like these
I warn
you
as I
warned
you
before
that
those
who
do
such
things
will
not
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
this
is
what
we're
capable
of
this
is
what
we
do
apart
from
God
these
are
the
works
of
the
flesh
but
verse
22
but the
fruit
of the
spirit
is
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self
control
against such
things
there is
no law
and those
who
belong
to Christ
Jesus
have
crucified
the
flesh
with
its
passions
and
its
desires
you see
it's the
works
of the
flesh
and it's
not the
fruit
of the
better
you
or the
better
me
it's
the
fruit
of the
spirit
so here's
what this
looks like
in our
life
that
when we
grow
in joy
and love
and peace
and patience
and kindness
and goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self
control
when we
grow
in these
and we're
not living
the self
help
gospel
but we're
living in
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
and so we
have faithful
men and
women who
pour into
us
who point
out these
areas of
our life
where we
need
correction
and they
come
alongside
for us
and they
pray for
us
and they
give
great
godly
counsel
of what
God's
word
says
and we
come
and we
submit
these
things
to hear
when we
see
these
fruit
in
our
life
you know
what
that
causes
us
to do
praise
god
praise
god
praise
god
that
I'm
not
like
I'm
not
19
20
21
anymore
because
not
that
I'm
better
but
that
because
god
is
god
and god
is
good
and
this
is
what
god
has
done
we
create
the
works
of
the
flesh
god
creates
the
fruit
of
the
spirit
number
five
number
five
social
justice
gospel
right
in the
early 20th
century
there
began to
be a
shift
that
happened
in the
church
where
pastors
began
to
stop
preaching
the
cross
and
instead
began
to
preach
messages
just
simply
about
how
we
should
be
good
and
be
good
with
our
fellow
man
to
address
the
social
matters
of
the
day
first
I
want
to
say
this
that
Christians
that
we
should
lead
the
charge
for
the
gospel
in
matters
of
social
issues
we
should
God's
word
is
very
clear
we
see
this
in
the
life
of
Jesus
that
you
and
I
like
we're
called
to
where
we
are
called
to
help
those
less
fortunate
than
us
we're
called
to
do
it
not
with
our
pocket
change
but
sacrificially
you
and I
as
followers
of
Jesus
Christ
should
seek
that
mankind
view
one
another
in
our
wonderful
diversity
in
which
God
created
us
while
recognizing
that
we
are
all
image
bearers
of
our
creator
we're
made
man
we're
made
woman
we're
different
we're
image
bearers
we're
made
from
different
cultures
we're
made
from
different
races
we're
made
we look
different
we celebrate
the
wonderful
creative
diversity
of
our
God
while
recognizing
that
we're
all
image
bearers
of
our
creator
and
we
should
champion
that
we
should
roof
houses
stop
start
soup
kitchens
visit
widows
care
for
orphans
teach
those
left
behind
by
educational
systems
fight
for
those
who've
been
abused
we
should
stand
for
life
that's
not
what
the
danger
of
the
social
justice
gospel
movement
is
the
danger
of
the
social
justice
gospel
is
this
they
want
to
address
all
the
issues
of
the
world
that
will
make
today
better
but
they
give
no
concern
no
thought
or
no
message
for
the
critical
issue
that
affects
all
of
us
is
that
our
hearts
are
sinful
and
we
need
to
know
Jesus
and
that's
why
Jesus
when
you
see
him
and
in
his
healings
when
you
see
him
performing
his
miracles
I
got
two
of
them
that
I
want
to
show
you
one
is
in
Luke
5
starting
in
verse
17
one
of
those
days
as
he
was
teaching
Pharisees
and
teachers
of
the
law
were
sitting
there
who
had
come
from
every
village
of
Galilee
and
Judea
and
from
Jerusalem
and
the
power
of
the
Lord
was
with
him
to
heal
and
behold
some
men
were
bringing
on
a
bed
who
was
man
that
was
paralyzed
and
they
were
seeking
to
bring
him
in
and lay
him
before
Jesus
but
finding
no
way
to
your
faith
he
said
man
your
sins
are
forgiven
and
then
he
called
him
to
get
up
but
look
at
what
Jesus
dealt
with
greater
than
his
issues
that
his
legs
didn't
work
was
that
his
heart
was
sinful
and
what
awaited
him
was
judgment
and
more
so
than
new
legs
what
he
needed
was
Jesus
John
8
3
through
11
the
scribes
and
Pharisees
brought
a
woman
who
had
been
caught
in
adultery
and
placing
her
in
the
midst
they
said
to
him
teacher
this
woman
has
been
caught
in
the
act
of
adultery
which
by
the
way
let's
put
a
pause
here
like
there
is
no
greater
lover
of
women
than
Jesus
in
any
false
narrative
that
says
that
Jesus
sought
to
belittle
women
is
of
the
pits
of
hell
now
in
the
law
Moses
commanded
us
to
stone
such
women
so
what
do
you
say
this
they
said
to
test
him
that
they
might
have
some
charge
to
bring
against
him
Jesus
went
down
and
wrote
with
his
finger
on
the
ground
and
they
continued
to
ask
him
he
stood
up
and
said
to
them
let
him
who
is
without
sin
among
you
be
the
first
to
throw
a
stone
at
her
and
once
more
he
bent
down
and
wrote
on
the
ground
but
when
they
heard
it
they
went
away
one
by
one
beginning
with
the
older
ones
and
Jesus
was
left
alone
standing
with
the
woman
before
him
in
verse
10
Jesus
stood
up
and
said
to
her
woman
where
are
they
no
one
has
condemned
you
and
she
said
no
one
Lord
and
Jesus
said
neither
do
I
condemn
you
go
from
now
on
sin
no
more
Jesus
always
dealt
with
the
gospel
message
Jesus
always
dealt
with
the
matter
of
the
heart
and
folks
we
can
go
out
and
do
good
we
can
go
out
and
seek
to
serve
but
if
it's
not
with
and
I
do
use
this
word
specifically
with
the
agenda
to
share
the
gospel
as
the
Holy
Spirit
leads
us
so
that
men
and
women
will
come
to
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
who
cares
if
they've
got
soup
in
their
belly
while
their
souls
are
destined
for
hell
thank
you
the
ministry
of
Jesus
had
social
action
to
it
but
always
came
with
a
desire
to
see
people
turn
from
their
sin
and
turn
to
God
the
greatest
issue
that
this
world
faces
is
never
going
to
be
decided
in
DC
in
London
in
Beijing
or
anywhere
else
is
that
there
are
sinful
people
and
what
they
need
is
Jesus
and
lastly
the
universalist
gospel
this
sounds
crazy
but
this
is
being
taught
by
many
who
call
themselves
Christians
today
the
universalist
gospel
teaches
that
all
people
will
eventually
be
saved
and
reconciled
with
God
they
believe
that
eternal
punishment
is
inconsistent
with
a
loving
and
just
God
they
believe
that
all
religions
offer
a way
to
God
and
there
is
more
than
one
means
of
obtaining
salvation
praise
God
before
I
got
saved
this
is
what
I
believed
but
I
had
a
group
of
people
who
didn't
care
if
they
hurt
my
feelings
John
14
Jesus
is
about
to be
betrayed
about
to be
crucified
I
shared
this
passage
at
every
funeral
that
I
do
Jesus
says
in my
father's
house
there are
many
rooms
and I
go and
prepare it
for you
and I'll
come back
to you
to receive
you that
where I
am
you may
also
be
Thomas
wonderful
doofus
Thomas
says
to him
Lord
we
do
not
know
where
you
are
going
how
can
we
know
the
way
and
this
is
this
is
what
I
don't
understand
how
I
could
buy
into
the
lie
how
others
have
bought
into
the
lie
that
Jesus
is
just
some
good
teacher
and
Jesus
is
a
godly
Jesus
is
God
and
his
teaching
is
godly
Jesus
said
to
him
like
he
doesn't
hold
back
Jesus
says
I
am
the
way
I
am
the
truth
and
the
life
no
one
comes
to
the
father
except
through
me
Jesus
says
this
in
the
context
this
is
important
the
word
that
Jesus
would
have
used
to
go
through
way
truth
and
life
would
not
have
had
the
in
front
of
it
so
the
word
that
he
would
have
to
use
in
that
moment
of
there
it
would
have
been
written
it
would
not
have
been
translated
the
way
but
Jesus
is
saying
oh
get
this
the
words
you're
not
mishearing
and I
should
have
said
a
way
Jesus
says
I'm
the
way
Jesus
says
I'm
the
truth
Jesus
says
I'm
the
life
so
like
folks
that
is
the
way
it's
Christ
it's
his
life
it's
his
death
it's
his
resurrection
it's
not
seeking
enlightenment
it's
not
following
Buddha
it's
not
saying
five
prayers
to
Mecca
it's
not
that
we
all
get
there
in
spite
of
what
Oprah
wants
us
to
believe
it's
not
that
well
Jesus
is
my
way
but
this
may
be
your
way
but
it's
okay
because
if
we
get
on
an
interstate
all
interstates
will
eventually
lead
to
somewhere
that
and
that's
not
even
true
road
illustration
frustrates
me
every
time
you
all
get
there
eventually
nope
it's
Jesus
and so
if you're
here today
and you're
like
Bo
that's
very
ignorant
for
you
to
believe
shouldn't
there
be
more
that's
out
there
well
here's
what I
believe
I
believe
that I'm
here
today
and
that
you're
here
today
not
because
by
chance
particles
that
no
one
can
explain
collided
and
life
formed
I'm
here
today
and
you're
here
today
because
the
one
true
holy
God
spoke
and
creation
came
into
existence
and
I
believe
that
I'm
here
today
and
you're
here
today
because
that
holy
God
says
I'm
going to
call
and
I'm
going to
create
myself
a
people
and
then
those
people
they
rebelled
and they
rebelled
and they
rebelled
and they
rebelled
and they
rebelled
but God
says I
mean
the people
and
one day
I'm
going to
have
and those
people
are going
to be
with me
for all
of eternity
but because
of our
rebellion
and because
of our
sin
and because
of God's
standard
God's
standard
for heaven
is
perfection
and so
God
says
they're
not
perfect
they're
not
going
to
be
perfect
so
what
I'm
going
to
do
is
I'm
going to
send
my
son
and my
son's
going to
live a
perfect
life
and my
son
by the way
his name
is Jesus
he's
going to
live a
perfect
life
and he's
going to
die
on the
cross
and his
death
his death
is going
to pay
for their
sins
and then
three days
later
after his
death
he's
going
to be
resurrected
and just
as he
walks
in life
that they
will walk
in life
here on
this earth
and then
for all
of eternity
and so
that in
death
for me
is not
the end
and death
for me
is not
judgment
but in
death
for me
and for
you
and for
all
who put
our faith
hope
and trust
in Jesus
Christ
is the
reward
of him
for all
of eternity
you see
he's the
reward here
he's the
reward
there
and that
God so
loves me
and that
God so
loves you
not only
did God
pay the
price for
your sins
but he
imparted
his
perfection
into your
account
so that
when he
looks at
you
he does
not see
your
failures
and your
shortcomings
but because
God is
rich
in mercy
because
God is
gracious
to us
what he
sees in
those
is the
perfect
acts
of Christ
in his
complete
and perfect
obedience
and that's
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
right
and we
submit
by faith
in him
and in him
alone
would you
pray with
me
God we
come to
you today
we're
thanking you
for the
truth of
your word
God I
thank you
that there
are people
who did
and who
have
who will
continue
to do
to pour
into me
God may
we
come to
the truth
of your
word
not
making
it
not
attempting
to make
it
what
we
want
but
Lord
receiving
from you
what you
have
for us
that I
pray
if there's
anyone
here
and they
don't
they don't
know
Jesus
and I
pray
that today
would be
the day
of their
salvation
but their
faith
their hope
their trust
in him
God I
pray
if there's
anyone
who's
confused
who's
been
misled
who's
been
deceived
by the
false
gospels
of this
world
God that
the truth
of your
word
would
enlighten
their
mind
and be
received
in their
heart
they pursue
after you
Jesus we
love you
it's your
name we
pray
amen
that's it
for this
week's
message
be sure
to check
back next
week for
another
episode
in the
meantime
you can
stay up
to date
with
everything
happening
at
Willow
Ridge
by
visiting
us
on
Facebook
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YouTube
and
online
at
willowridgechurch.org
thanks again
for listening
you can see you next time on the podcast.