Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most
recent sermons and more. Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library
if you'd like to automatically receive new episodes each week.
Absolutely. Good morning. If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Joel chapter 3.
Before we get into some other announcements, if you do not have a Bible, if you do not own one,
maybe the one that you use is a little bit difficult for you to read, wherever, if you would like one of these,
here's the point, if you would like one of these, we have some black Bibles that are free.
They're available to you. They're back here, back at this table. And so on your way out, please come by,
grab one of these. It is the translation that I use on Sunday mornings, and so you've got that,
but want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to have a copy of God's Word, and so
that's back there. Graduates, congratulations. Congratulations. To be honest, we got a little
choked up over there watching that for the high school graduates. It was the realization that
I became the senior pastor the summer that you were going into your first grade year at school.
So that hit me emotionally and pridefully, all right? It's like, that explains, I'm really old.
There's a lot of gray that's coming in. But just to see so many of you, whether you've been here,
there's some of you in that, that have been here with us for a couple of years. There's some of you
who have been with us since you were first graders, and even before me. And it's just been
such a joy to see God work and God move in your life. And so you're one of our graduates, high school
graduate, college graduate, whatever that next step is for your life, the prayer is that you would go
and that you would do that for, that you would pursue that for the glory of God, that you would pursue
that for his name to be made known, that you would do that so that you can go out and love people and
share the gospel with them. And so congratulations, a lot of hard work. Parents, congratulations,
a lot of hard work, right? And just excited for you guys. For our high school graduates,
please, please, please want to make sure that you're connected with Josh in our young adult ministry.
And that ministry has been growing and thriving. I want to connect you to be a part. And I know Josh
will be looking to reach out to you as well. If you are a first-time guest here, let me say on behalf
of all of us that call Willow Ridge Church home, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for
worshiping with us. We would like to know that you're here with us. And one way that you can do that
is your QR code that's on the back of the chair in front of you. At some point in time, maybe right now,
you can scan that, give us some information about you. I promise we're not going to bombard you,
but we would like to reach out to you this week and just tell you thank you for worshiping with us.
Or what we'd like for you to do is, as you're leaving today, Aaron and I will be back here at
this table. If you wouldn't mind just stopping by there, we would love, again, love to thank you
personally for being here and for worshiping with us. And if you have any questions, be a great time
to get those questions answered. Also, you'll see that there are these cards that are around. This is for
everybody here who has one of the kids for our kids' ministry. We will be doing our kids' camp.
There's how you can get them registered and who can be a part of that weekend or that week. We want to
make sure that you're getting connected with that. So next Sunday, some different things are happening.
We wrapped up this quarter of our studies this Sunday morning for most of us, I believe. And then
next Sunday, our own children's minister, Dawn Coulter, will be in here sharing her testimony during the
nine o'clock hour, okay? So even though the studies are wrapping up, we will have that opportunity.
And we want you to be in here. We want you to hear Dawn's story to see what God has done in her life
and how God is using her. And so that's an exciting thing. I can't wait to be in here to listen and to
hear all that God has done and all that God is doing. And so we want to make sure that you're in here
with us. Next week also, during our worship hour, we are starting our new summer series. I'm excited
about this as we're going to be teaching through. You know, we kind of do something a little bit
different during the summertime each year. And this summer, we're doing that as well. And so what we're
going to be doing, Pastor Dave and myself and Josh Nix is going to preach on a Sunday too, we're going
to be looking at some of the most misunderstood or misquoted verses of the Bible, all right? So
here's what I want to, we want to go ahead and roll out the grace, all right? Because here's what should
happen. What should happen is you should show up on a Sunday and go, "Man, I've been getting that one
wrong," all right? That should happen. And don't feel guilty because it's been funny as Dave and I have
been talking through this and studying and prepping and looking at things. We're like, "Man, I've gotten
that one wrong," all right? So we're in the same category together. We want to learn and we want to see
what God is doing and the right, the true meaning, the proper application to these verses of the Bible.
So make sure you'll be here then with us. And then this summertime, so what we're going to do,
instead of having individual studies, and it's a wonderful way for us to connect more as a church
family, is during the nine o'clock hour, I'll have preached the previous Sunday on a verse, or Dave
or Josh will have preached on a certain verse. And then the next Sunday morning at 9 a.m., what we're
going to do is for all the adults, we're going to gather in here together and we're going to have
a different member of our congregation lead us through different questions where we can talk amongst
one another about what we learn, about what God is teaching us, about the previous week's message.
And so a wonderful time for you to come and be a part of that. And so that'll be at nine, and then
like I said again, we'll be back into our verses, or back into the message during the 10-15 hours.
I want you to be here and be a part of that. Well, Joel 3:16 says this, kind of a focus
verse first this morning. "The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel." Would you pray with me?
God, we come to you this morning, God, in praise and humility,
thanking you for your love, your compassion, your grace, and your salvation.
God, we lift up these graduates to you. Lord, we thank you for their dedication, their commitment,
their desire of growth, and their study in academics. But we also, Lord, we lift them up to you as this
next phase of life as they go into college, military, career, more school, whatever that may be.
That, God, whatever path that you have for them, while it may look different in the steps that they will take,
that, God, what is consistent is their longing and their desire to be in the center of your will.
God, may we as a church not just pray for them this morning, but may we lift them up daily. May we lift them up consistently to you.
We thank you for them. We thank you that they are not the church of tomorrow, but they are the church today.
And, God, may you use them for your name and for your renown. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.
So, we are going to wrap up Joel, as we've been in Joel the last few weeks. And so, here's what we've seen so far.
If this is your first time with us, we want to kind of bring you up to speed. Judgment comes to God's people and judgment is coming to God's people.
That's what we find out in Joel 1 and Joel 2. So, God calls people to do two things. He calls them in Joel 1 to repent of their sin.
And then in Joel 2, God calls them to return to Him. It's this very specific piece that we see of the acknowledgement of the sin that is in our lives.
Repentance before God and in our returning to Him. And what we find out is that repentance and returning are kind of hand in hand.
They go together. We turn from our sin and we turn to God. We grieve our sin and we celebrate Him.
And then what we find out at the end of Joel 2 is the faithfulness of God.
That God in Joel 2, that God will restore. That this is the work that God is doing. It's not dependent on you. It's not dependent on me.
It is the miracle, life-providing, working hand of God that says in the chaos, in the famine, in the death, that He will restore.
And what we see in the power of the gospel is there is not a soul who is too far lost.
There's not a soul that is too far gone that cannot be held in the restorative hand of God.
And then in Joel 3 this morning, and this is where we will be, we get a prophetic word from God concerning the end times.
Now when it comes to the end times, let's be honest with ourselves, we all want to know the how, right?
We want to know how is it going to happen.
When will it take place?
What's it going to be like?
And there's been more heretics than we can count, who have come forth and said, I know the day and the time.
But the Bible tells us that only God knows the day and the time.
But we want to, right?
Give me the time, give me the events, give me all the stuff.
I want to know how this is going to happen.
And today, you and I, we're from the book of Joel, we're going to get a how, but maybe not the how that you want, but it's the how that we're going to get.
It's the how that we all need.
It is how do I prepare myself now for what will happen then?
I don't know when the then will be, but God's word is very specific and very consistent, that we should prepare ourselves now for what will happen then.
Here's what I want us to get to.
If you believe that one day that Christ will return, if you believe one day that the great judgment will come,
if you agree that you believe that no one but God knows when that day will be,
if all of this is true, then there should be preparation, activity that you and I are doing in response to that.
That should be the focus of the how.
How do I live my life today, knowing that that is true?
So if you would join me in Joel 3, we'll start reading in verse 1.
For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
And I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel,
because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.
And have cast lots for my people and have traded a boy for a prostitute and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.
What are you to me, O Tyre, O Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia?
Are you paying me back for something?
And if you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head, swiftly and speedily.
For you have taken my silver and my gold and carried my rich treasures into your temples.
You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border.
Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head.
I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabians, to a nation far away.
For the Lord has spoken.
Let's pause here for a minute.
Joel here gives us a glimpse from the words of God into the final judgment at the end of the world.
God tells in Joel 3, 1-8, that it is He, God, who will judge.
And very specifically, what we gain from this, what begins the thread that is through, is that God will judge human evil.
And here is the important part, the important piece for us of what we can cling to, of what we can understand.
He does not need our help in doing that.
Just as God will be the one to restore, God will be the one to judge.
And it says that He will gather people into the valley of Jehoshaphat for the final judgment,
and He will pour out vengeance on the nations because of what God has done.
God will hold them accountable.
God will be the one, God will be the one, God will be the one who executes wrath.
God will be the one who pours out judgment.
And here's where this should be, as you and I,
who live in the midst, in the middle,
of the brokenness of the brokenness of this world,
where we see injustice after injustice go unpunished.
Where we see depravity and debauchery celebrated.
Where we see destruction and evil established as the expectation of the world.
Here is where you and I can draw some comfort in this moment.
God will set all things right.
God will.
God will set all things right.
For every injustice, there will be justice.
And it will come from the very hand of God.
So what does that mean for me now?
So what does God call us to do,
knowing that at the right day
and at the right time,
in the very hand of God,
this will take place.
What does God call you and I to do?
Forgive.
God calls you and I,
as his people,
to be people of forgiveness.
Why?
Because there are two types of people in this world.
You see,
we try to categorize people
by a million different ways,
a million different categories
that we can drop people in.
But when we look biblically,
what we begin to see
is that in the course of eternity,
there's a category that matters.
The first one is those who are forgiven
so they do not stand in the wrath of God.
Because the wrath of God
has been poured out on Christ
instead of on them.
And if you're a Christian,
a follower of Jesus,
this is the category that you fall into
because you've placed your faith,
hope, and trust
in Christ and Christ alone
and you are forgiven
and you are saved
from the wrath of God.
Reason to celebrate.
Reason to smile.
This is how we've been forgiven.
And this is the category
that we fall into.
But then there are those
who are not forgiven.
who do stand in the wrath of God.
They are not forgiven
since they have not
or did not place their faith in Christ
so they are not saved from His wrath.
It's saved versus lost.
It's what Paul talks about
in Ephesians 2
where he says that before Christ
that we were by nature
objects of wrath.
But we are forgiven
or we are not.
And that those
who have been forgiven
that we are called
to forgive
because we've experienced
the forgiving grace of God.
When Jesus is teaching
the disciples how to pray
in Matthew chapter 6,
Sermon on the Mount,
close gatherers that are there,
a crowd that's there around them,
Jesus looks at Matthew 6 verse 12
and He says,
forgive our debts
as we also
have forgiven our debtors.
You see,
there's an expectation
within the life of a believer
who has been forgiven
not by some,
not by current,
but by all sins,
past, present,
and future
that we will be people
of forgiveness.
He continues on Matthew 6,
14 and 15
for if you forgive others
their trespasses,
your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others
their trespasses,
neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
So the connection
of what's there
of people of grace
live as people of grace.
Because here's what we begin
to understand,
did you or I deserve
to be forgiven?
No, absolutely not.
I did not deserve
the forgiveness.
I did not deserve
the payment of Christ.
But God,
who is rich
in mercy
because of His love
for us,
offered Christ.
Put on Him
the punishment
that we deserve.
So we don't just forgive
those that we feel
deserve it,
we forgive others
even if we don't feel
they deserve it,
we are forgiving.
So the question is,
then why is that
difficult for us?
Why is that
difficult for us?
Number one,
if that's difficult
for you,
I just,
there's two aspects.
You see,
because there's that
part of our flesh
that we continually
wrestle with,
but I do,
I feel misled
if I don't begin
by saying this,
that have you
truly looked
at your walk
with the Lord?
have you truly
begun to see,
are you saved?
Does it need
to begin
with the peace
right now
that you humbly
submit before Him?
Understanding the depth
of your depravity
and the beauty
of His grace.
But if you have,
why is it,
why is it still,
why is it still
a struggle?
And I think
often times
is that you
and I struggle
to forgive.
not because
we want
to be bitter,
not because
we want
to be angry,
but because
you and I
want to be right.
We want
vengeance.
We want
to pay them
back.
We want
to do
to them
like they've
done to us.
We want
to hurt
them more
than they've
hurt us.
We want
to do
these things.
But here's
what Paul
says in
Romans 12
that I think
rings true
and is an
emphasis
of what we
see begin
to happen
in Joel
chapter 3.
Repay no
one evil
for evil.
Repay no
one.
Well,
what about
him?
Nope,
not him.
What about
her?
Nope,
not her,
but what
about
especially
that guy?
Nope,
nope,
especially
not him.
Repay no
one for
evil,
but give
thought to
do what
is honorable
in the sight
of all,
if possible.
And these
are some
hard words.
So far
as it depends
on you,
live peaceably
with all.
You see,
if possible,
live peacefully
with all
means that
there might
be an
instance that
it's not
and there
might not
be there,
but here's
the deal,
as far as
it depends
on you.
So it's
not their
fault,
it's my
fault.
Live
peacefully
with all.
Verse 19,
Beloved,
never
avenge
yourselves,
but leave
it to the
wrath of
God,
for it
is written,
vengeance
is mine,
I will
repay,
says the
Lord.
But God,
what about?
Nope.
But God,
in this?
Nope.
But God,
you don't
understand?
Nope.
Repay no
one evil
for evil.
Vengeance
is mine,
I will
repay,
says the
Lord.
Jonathan
Akin,
in his
commentary
on Joel
3,
says this,
Bitterness
and
unforgivenness
are failures
to believe
the gospel
fully.
Let me
repeat that.
Bitterness
and unforgivenness
or failures
to believe
the gospel
fully.
When you
hold a
grudge,
you are
saying that
the cross
of Jesus
Christ
is enough
to forgive
the sins,
or isn't
enough to
forgive the
sins you
have committed
against God,
but it is
enough to
forgive the
sins that
I have
committed
against God.
Forgive
as you
have been
forgiven
because God
has poured
out his
vengeance
at the
cross
or will
at the end
of the
age.
He does
not need
your help.
Words
that should
cut to the
core of
who we
are.
Let's keep
reading.
So we're
called knowing
that the
end is
coming to
be people
of forgiveness.
Let's keep
on in
Joel 3,
9.
Proclaim
this among
the nations.
Consecrate
for war.
Stir up
the mighty
men.
Let all
the men
of war
draw near.
Let them
come up.
Beat your
plowshares
into swords
and your
pruning hooks
into spears.
Let the
weak say
I'm a
warrior.
Hasten
and come
all you
surrounding
nations
and gather
yourselves
there.
Bring
down your
warriors,
O Lord.
Let the
nations stir
themselves up
and come
up to the
valley of
Jehoshaphat.
For there
I will
sit to
judge
all the
surrounding
nations.
Put to
the sickle
for the
harvest
is ripe.
Go and
tread
for the
winepress
is full.
The vats
overflow
for their
evil
is great.
Multitudes,
multitudes
in the
valley of
decision
for the
day of
the Lord
is near
in the
valley
of
decision.
The sun
and the
moon
are darkened
and the
stars
withdraw
their
shining.
Joel 3
9
tells us
that there
will be
a battle
that will
take place
and they
will rally
against
God
but have
no shot.
Joel 3
describes that
they will
be defeated
like grapes
in a
winepress.
God
will win
the battle.
So what
does God
call us
to do?
praise.
God
calls us
to praise.
At the
beginning
of each
track season
Aaron and
I get an
email
from the
distance
coach
and he's
really
thorough.
He gives
a lot of
information
and it
never fails
like the
information
that we
skip
sometimes
is the
information
that we
desperately
need.
the point
of him
is read
all the
information
that he
gives you
and he's
great
and we
love him.
We love
the influence
that he's
had on
Grayson and
we love
the influence
that he's
had on
Emma.
Dear guy
to our
heart,
close guy
to our
family.
but at
the end
of that
email
and we've
gotten
this
email
since
Grayson
was in
seventh
grade,
at the
end of
that
particular
email
he says
something
along the
lines of
listen
parents
Adam
meet
Adam
meet
I'm
there to
coach
you're
there
to
encourage
and to
celebrate.
I'm
there to
coach
you're
there
to
encourage
and
celebrate
in a
very
polite
way
here's
what
he's
saying
parents
coach
is not
in front
of your
name
it's
in front
of my
name
and I
am
not
their
parent
you
are
their
parent
and
here's
what
I
need
you
to
do
I
need
you
to
stay
out
of
the
way
and
let
me
do
my
job
and
if
you're
a
coach
if
you've
ever
coached
you
get
that
right
I'm
looking
at the
bushes
they
both
coach
like
absolutely
like
that'll
preach
right
let
me
coach
and
you
do
what
you
are
supposed
to
do
God
says
listen
I'm
going
to
and
I've
been
fighting
battles
here
and
I
need
you
to
let
me
fight
my
battles
and
I
need
you
to
let
me
take
care
of
this
because
I'm
God
and
you're
not
worship
team
kudos
for that
song
and
if
you
came
in
here
late
you
missed
it
God
is
the
one
who
has
God
is
the
one
who
is
God
is
the
one
who
will
fight
the
battle
in
front
of
you
and
in
front
of
me
is
not
the
name
God
that's
not
us
stop
trying
to do
what
he's
already
done
stop
trying
to
do
what
he's
doing
and
stop
trying
to
do
what
he's
going
to
do
so
where
do
we
get
praise
I
love
this
I
love
the
picture
and
how
God
puts
together
throughout
the
history
of
his
people
and the
words
and the
prophecies
to begin
to see
these
things
come
together
you see
because
in
2nd
chronicles
2015
there's
a battle
that we
find out
about
that
happens
900
years
before
the
birth
of
Jesus
so
Joel 3
is
talking
about
the
future
this
points
us
back
to
the
past
it
we
see
some
consistencies
and
here's
what it
says
2nd
chronicles
20
starting
verse
15
and
he
said
listen
all
Judah
and
inhabitants
of
Jerusalem
and
King
Jehoshaphat
thus
says
the
Lord
to
you
do
not
be
afraid
and
do
not
be
dismayed
at
this
great
horde
for
the
battle
is
not
yours
but
God's
there's
a
battle
that
will
happen
there's
a
battle
that
will
take
place
in
God's
people
in
and
amongst
and
by
the
power
of
themselves
will
be
crushed
and
defeated
God
says
this
battle
is
not
yours
it's
God's
verse
16
tomorrow
go down
against
them
behold
they
will
come
up
by
the
ascent
of
Ziz
you
will
find
them
at
the
end
of
the
valley
east
of
the
wilderness
of
Jerusalem
you
will
not
need
to
fight
in
this
battle
stand
firm
hold
your
position
and
see
the
salvation
of
the
Lord
on
your
behalf
oh
Judah
and
Jerusalem
do
not
be
afraid
do
not
be
dismayed
tomorrow
go out
against
them
and
the
Lord
will
be
with
you
then
Jehoshaphat
bowed
his head
with his
face
to the
ground
all
and all
of
Judah
and the
habits
of
Jerusalem
fell down
before
the
Lord
worshiping
the
Lord
and the
Levites
and the
Kohathites
and the
Korathites
stood up
to praise
the
Lord
the
God
of
Israel
with a
very
loud
voice
and they
rose
early in
the
morning
and they
went out
into the
wilderness
to
call
and they
went out
and Jehoshaphat
stood and
said
hear me
Judah
and
inhabitants
of
Jerusalem
believe
in the
Lord
your
God
and you
will be
established
believe
his
prophets
and you
will
succeed
and they
had taken
the
council
with the
people
and he
pointed
those
who
were to
sing
to the
Lord
and praise
him
in holy
attire
as they
went
before
the
army
and say
give thanks
to the
Lord
for his
steadfast
love
endures
forever
marching
into the
battle
in front
is the
choir
and when
they began
to sing
and praise
the
Lord
set an
ambush
against
the men
of the
Moab
and Mount
Seir
who had
come
against
Judah
so
they
were
routed
who
did
that
God
did
that
there
ain't
a
man
on that
battlefield
taking
credit
God
says
let me
do
what
I
do
let
me
fight
let
you
do
what
you're
supposed
to
do
praise
church
our
praise
is
our
partnership
in the
cosmic
battle
against
evil
may
we
be
people
of
praise
more
proof
Jericho
and
Joshua
six
priests
play
instruments
the walls
fall
down
that
wasn't
the
trumpets
that
was
God
Paul
and
Silas
act
16
they're
imprisoned
they're
in the
bottom
they're
in the
cellar
they're
in the
dungeon
surrounded
by what
we begin
to understand
the prison
set up
is they're
surrounded
by the
runoff
the
waste
and the
feces
of everyone
in the
prison
and what
do
they do
they sing
hymns
and pray
and what
happens
they're
freed
from prison
and a
family
comes
to
faith
if the
most
powerful
thing
you
and I
can do
we all
agree
this world
ain't getting
better
but God
calls us
as he's
fighting the
battle
for us
to praise
for us
to praise
him
then why
do so
many of
us
when we
have the
opportunity
to gather
together
as God's
choir
that God
has appointed
that God
has chosen
that God
has placed
at Willow Ridge
Church
then why
is it
when it
comes time
to praise
we stand
there with
our mouths
closed
our arms
crossed
and a
face that
looks like
I'm not
a person
of praise
but I'm
a person
of bitterness
may we
be people
who praise
God
and men
men
the most
manly
thing
you can
do
the most
manly
way
that you
can
lead
your
family
in
worship
is not
by being
that stoic
hard man
that you
think that
you are
but is
being
vulnerable
in your
praise
before the
Lord
well you
don't
understand
I don't
like the
song
I don't
care if
you like
the song
I don't
like some
songs
that's
my
flesh
well you
don't
understand
I don't
sound
good
well let's
have a
battle
I guarantee
you
Damien sat
beside me
today
ask him
I sound
worse
you want
proof
nah
that's
afterwards
right
men
you want
to be
the soldier
for God
that he's
called you
to be
may it
begin
with an
attitude
and a
posture
of praise
invulnerability
in our
weakness
before him
let's
continue
on
Joel
3
16
the
Lord
roars
from
Zion
and
utters
his
voice
from
Jerusalem
and the
heavens
and the
earthquake
but the
Lord
is a
refuge
to his
people
a
stronghold
to the
people
of
Israel
so you
shall
know
that I'm
the
Lord
your
God
who
dwells
in
Zion
my
holy
mountain
and
Jerusalem
shall
be
holy
and
strangers
shall
never
pass
through
it
and
in
that
day
mountains
shall
drip
sweet
wine
and
the
hills
shall
flow
with
milk
and
the
stream
beds
of
Judah
shall
flow
with
water
and
the
fountain
shall
come
forth
in
the
house
of
the
Lord
and
water
the
valley
of
Shetham
here
God
is
described
as a
lion
who
roars
I love
that picture
of him
a
lion
who
roars
and
in
that
it's
as
simple
as
his
sound
that
not
only
brightens
those
against
him
but
shakes
the
very
foundation
of
the
earth
he's
a
lion
should
be
fear
there's
power
there's
wrath
but
Joel
3
16
doesn't
end
there
because
it also
says
but
the
Lord
is
a
refuge
to
his
people
he
is
salvation
to
his
people
and so
look at
verse 17
so you
shall
know
that I
am the
Lord
your
God
so what
does God
call us
to do
we're to
forgive
right
we're to
praise
we're to
believe
we're to
believe
we're to
believe that
God is
both
terrifying
and tender
he's both
terrifying
and tender
we're to
believe that
he is the
judge
and that
he is
the
savior
if you're
here this
morning
do you
believe
do you
believe
Paul writes
in Romans
10
9
through 10
he says
simply
if you
confess
with your
mouth
that
Jesus
is
Lord
and
believe
in your
heart
that
God
raised
him
from
the
dead
here's
the
promise
of
God
church
you
will
be
saved
he
will
not
be
the
lion
that
you
are
afraid
of
he
will
be
the
refuge
that
you
find
salvation
in
for
with
the
heart
one
believes
and
is
justified
and
with
the
mouth
one
confesses
and
is
saved
do you
that
deep
within
you
are
you
believing
beyond
a
collection
of
facts
but
are
you
believing
in
the
posturing
that
puts
hope
you
see
to
confess
to
confess
is
to
admit
publicly
that
belief
in
God
is
not
just
an
internal
recognition
within
our
mind
of
a
statement
of
facts
but
it's
a
boldness
of
a
belief
in
God
that
causes
us
to
confess
that
Jesus
is
Lord
to
confess
that
he
died
on
the
cross
for
my
sins
to
confess
that
he
will
return
one
day
to
confess
that
I
am
his
and
that
he
is
mine
to
confess
that
he
is
sinless
to
confess
that
he
is
God
and
do
you
believe
do
you
believe
we've
talked
about
this
before
earthly
belief
and
hope
are
so
much
lower
than
biblical
belief
and
hope
biblical
belief
and
hope
is
I
really
would
like
for
this
to
happen
I
would
really
trust
that
these
are
the
events
that
would
take
place
but
that's
not
what the
Bible
teaches
about
belief
that's
not
what the
Bible
teaches
about
hope
what the
Bible
teaches
about
belief
and
hope
is that
we know
we
know
just as
sure
that I
know
that I'm
standing
here
today
one day
my faith
will be
sight
and
I'll
know
beyond
knowing
that
the
Lord
is
my
refuge
if
you're
here
this
morning
and
you're
not
a
follower
of
Jesus
and
you're
wondering
like
but
what do
I need
to
clean
up
what do
I
need
to
do
differently
what do
I
need
to
correct
what do
I
need
to
fix
what do
I
need
to
sell
what do
I
need
to
get
rid
of
what do
I
need
to
do
pursue
could
we
begin
today
with
belief
right
now
between
you
and
the
Lord
your
confession
is not
to me
your
confession
is to
him
would
you
confess
to
him
that
Jesus
is
Lord
and
that
you
need
to
be
saved
right
now
would
you
confess
to
him
and
believe
in
your
heart
a
belief
that
produces
a
faith
of
confidence
of
not
what
may
happen
but
what
will
happen
that
as
God
raised
him
from
the
dead
that
God
one
day
too
will
raise
you
and
you'll
spend
eternity
with
him
you see
the
complicated
part
sometimes
for the
gospel
for people
is the
simplicity
of it
would
you
confess
and
believe
and
so
let's
close
Joel 3
19
through
21
Egypt
shall
become
desolation
and
Edom
a
desolate
wilderness
for the
violence
done to
the people
of Judah
because they
have shed
innocent blood
in their
land
but Judah
shall be
inhabited
forever
in Jerusalem
to all
nations
I will
avenge
their
blood
I have
not
avenged
for the
Lord
dwells
in
Zion
Joel 3
says that
there are
those
who
oppress
God's
people
and they
will become
desolate
why
because in
their attack
and their
sin
against
and their
crimes
against
they've
rejected
the blessing
of God's
people
they've
rejected
the hope
of nations
so what
does God
call us
to do
as we
take the
context
of Joel
3
and put
it
in the
context
of all
scripture
what is
God calling
us
God's
calling
us
to share
you see
it's not
just
that I
believe
but it's
because I'm
a believer
in Jesus
Christ
that I'm
called
to share
and this
has always
been
the goal
of God
for his
people
that they
would be
a people
who bless
others
and their
blessing would
not come
from their
finances
from their
kind words
from the
simple works
they can do
but that their
blessing would
come forth
and come
from the
blessing we
receive in
Christ
Genesis
12
1-3
who would
begin to
see the
heart of
the great
commission
now the
Lord said
to Abram
go from
your country
and your
kindred
in your
father's
house
to the
land that
I will
show you
and I
will make
you a
great
nation
and I
will bless
you
and make
your name
great
so that
you
will be
a
blessing
I will
bless
those
who
bless
you
and him
who
dishonors
you
I will
curse
and in
you all
the families
of the
earth
shall be
blessed
I've got
a friend
of mine
who's a
doomsday
prepper
and maybe
you are
no judgment
here
that's maybe
a side
conversation
that we
can have
but I
talk with
him
and I'm
like
well
how many
gallons
of water
you got
now
he'll
share
I'm
talking
like
he has
a whole
section
of his
house
dedicated
to canned
goods
water
toilet
paper
medical
supplies
like all
of these
things
like
stacked
on top
of one
another
I love
him
bless
him
it's
his
hobby
I guess
right
we all
gotta have
something
but as
God's
people
we don't
know
when
we don't
even
know
how
but we
know
that Jesus
will return
and that
God calls
us
to live
as a
people
who are
prepared
I'm
prepared
because
as
someone
forgiven
but I
trust
in the
power
of the
Holy
Spirit
in the
easy
and in
the
difficult
and in
everywhere
in between
to forgive
those
who I
think
deserve
my
forgiveness
but even
to desperately
cry out
to God
to help
me
forgive
those
who I
don't think
are worthy
of my
forgiveness
that
God
calls
me
to be
a
people
of
praise
that
the
joy
that
is
in
my
heart
is
knowing
that
the
battles
that
need
to be
fought
that
he's
fighting
those
and
then
I
can
trust
that
God
is
going
to do
what
God
is
going
to
do
and
watch
the
work
of
his
hand
and
praise
him
for
it
that
I
need
to be
a
people
I
need
to be
a
person
of
faith
a
person
of
belief
in
Jesus
Christ
not
as
a
means
to
an
end
but
as
the
savior
of
my
soul
to
not
just
take
care
of
a
bank
account
to
not
just
take
care
of
a
sickness
to
not
just
take
care
and
treat
him
like
a
genie
from
a
bottle
because
he
is
not
that
but
to
treat
him
and
trust
him
with
all
that
is
mine
is
his
my
salvation
to
share
the
hope
that
we
have
that
he
is
our
refuge
and
regardless
of
where
you've
been
and
regardless
of
where
you
are
he
can
be
your
refuge
too
would you
pray with
me
God
in
your
goodness
and
your
mercy
Lord
we
thank
you
for
who
you
are
Lord
as
we
look
at
your
word
we
look
specifically
at
Joel
3
we
are
excited
as
we
look
forward
Lord
to
what
you
are
going
to
do
of
what
you
are
capable
of
and
that
God
that
we
do
not
stand
in
front
of
the
lion
brings
fear
and
judgment
but
you
are
our
refuge
you
are
our
strength
you
are
our
peace
you
are
our
stronghold
Lord
you
are
our
hope
so
God
as
we
live
as
we
talk
about
that
we
need
to
be
a
people
who
live
in
the
reality
of
the
power
of
the
resurrection
God
that
we
need
to
be
a
people
who
live
in
the
reality
that
one
day
Christ
will
return
and
that
in
that
there
are
those
who
are
saved
and
those
who
are
not
God
my
prayer
is
that
the
people
of
your
church
the
sheep
of
your
flock
the
sons
and
daughters
of
God
would
be
numerous
beyond
comprehension
that
there
is
not
a
soul
in
this
room
who
would
not
find
themselves
in
that
place
but
we're
brought
in
through
the
adopting
work
of
Christ
and
so
God
if
there's
anyone
here
or
maybe
earlier
during
the
prayer
Lord
maybe
now
in
this
moment
may
say
I
don't
understand
everything
about
Christianity
I
may
not
understand
everything
that was
talked
about
this
morning
but
today
whatever
I
put
my
faith
in
my
hope
in
anything
that's
not
Christ
I
place
that
in
you
today
Jesus
God
and I
pray
that
today
be the
day
of
their
salvation
God
we
thank you
so much
for your
kindness
and your
compassion
may
we
with
all
that
is
in
us
in
because
of
all
that is
the
beauty
of who
you
are
as
vulnerable
loved
forgiven
sons
and
daughters
of
God
may
we
praise
you
it's
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
a
new
episode
and
in
the
meantime
you
can
visit
us
online
at
willowridgechurch.org
or by
searching for
Willow Ridge Church
on Facebook
Instagram
and YouTube
thanks again
for listening
and YouTube.com.com.