REWIND
The podcast "REWIND" features a collection of past sermons from Organic Church. Each episode takes listeners on a journey through the teachings and messages delivered during previous worship services. The content is a retrospective look at the spiritual guidance and insights shared by Pastor Michael and visiting guests!
Listeners can expect to revisit powerful sermons, meaningful scriptures, and impactful messages that have been shared in the past. The podcast aims to provide a convenient and accessible way for the church community and new audiences to engage with the timeless wisdom and spiritual teachings presented during earlier sermons.
Whether it's a reflection on a particular theme, a series of teachings, or a selection of sermons covering various topics, "REWIND" offers an opportunity for individuals to deepen their understanding of the faith and find inspiration in the timeless messages.
The podcast may also include commentary or reflections on the historical context of each sermon and how it continues to resonate with the present-day congregation.
REWIND
Return Policy (August 10, 2025)
Have you ever felt that uncomfortable feeling when returning something to a store? That sense of being treated like a criminal even when you have the receipt and tags? While retailers make us jump through hoops for returns, Jesus operates differently.
There's no return policy with Jesus—only the invitation to come home. This powerful truth changes everything about how we approach our relationship with God and understand His grace. Unlike stores that scrutinize our returns, Jesus runs toward us when we're still a long way off, ready to restore us completely.
The Prodigal Son's story beautifully illustrates this reality. When the son rehearsed his speech of unworthiness, his father didn't even let him finish before restoring him fully. He didn't interrogate him about where he'd been or what he'd done with the money. He simply celebrated because his son who was lost had been found.
Similarly, Jesus approached the woman at the well—a social outcast with a complicated past—without judgment or condemnation. Instead of reinforcing her shame, He offered living water and transformed her into an evangelist. And after Peter's devastating betrayal, Jesus didn't just forgive him; He restored him to purpose by commissioning him to "feed my sheep."
Unfortunately, we've often misrepresented Jesus to the world as a cosmic genie who grants wishes rather than a Savior who transforms lives. We pray selfish prayers and teach others that's what relationship with God looks like. But true faith isn't about getting what we want—it's about being transformed into who we were created to be.
If you're carrying shame or feeling unworthy of approaching God, remember: you don't need to clean yourself up first. The transformation happens after the return, not before. Jesus isn't looking for perfection; He's looking for presence. Will you accept His invitation to come home today?
Amen, amen, amen. We'll let the nursery go back. Kids are in the sanctuary today because this is our off week. Man, you guys are quiet today. Hey, quick, quick, thank you. Quick question, quick question Last week, by show of hands, how many of us got an Amazon package A show of hands?
Speaker 1:Okay, not everybody. A lot of us, okay, show of hands. How many of us got an Amazon package Show of hands? Okay, not everybody, a lot of us, okay, show of hands. How many of us bought something that we probably didn't need last week? Okay, that number went up a little bit by show of hands. Who bought something last week?
Speaker 1:Okay, now a question for you have you ever had to return something? Listen, I love to tell you guys stories about myself because I think it makes me look like you realize just how real I am and how crazy my life can be. My wife yells at me all the time because I will get this urge to buy something and I immediately get onto Amazon and I just buy it right Now. The problem is this I don't do my homework first, right, so like I'm like, ooh, that looks really nice, and then I get it. You ever bought anything on Temu? Like I saw somebody bought a sofa one time and it came and it was this big. That's the kind of mistakes that I make in life, right? So nevermind, I'm not gonna tell you that. You don't need to know that. Let's just say I bought myself something to wear under one of my Elvis jumpsuits and it was a child size instead of an adult size. Do the math. I still wear them, just so we're clear.
Speaker 1:Because you know what I hate to do Return anything. Do you know why I hate to return stuff? Have you ever taken something back to the store with the tags on it and you have the receipt and they're like and they kind of look at you like you're a criminal, right? I don't like to return stuff, especially with Amazon. Now here's the reason A lot of times Amazon will let you return it to the UPS store. Right, everybody been there, we've done that.
Speaker 1:Sometimes you walk into the UPS store and you've just got whatever it is that you're returning, all loosey-goosey, and they're like, yeah sure, we'll take it, and they put it in a box and out you go. Other times you walk in there and they're like this is supposed to be packaged with a label on it and I'm like I'm sorry. I'll do it for you this one time. I'm sure somewhere in that return it says that, but I've gotten so used to just being able to take it. I don't know what to do. I don't like to be treated like a criminal, right? I always feel like how many of you have ever left the store and not bought anything but you feel like they're going to stop you outside the door because they think you stole something. If I go to Walmart, I'm going to buy a pack of gum at least, because I know when I get to the door I'm going to feel funny just leaving right.
Speaker 1:The problem is oftentimes when we want to return something, there's some sort of requirement from us, like it used to be at Walmart a long time ago. You had to give them your photo ID when you wanted to return something. Remember that. And if you return too many things, they wouldn't return your stuff anymore. It didn't matter if it was broken or if it was brand new, it didn't matter, they wouldn't take it. After so many returns They've stopped doing that.
Speaker 1:But I think the problem that I have is is that every time I try to do a return, every time I try to take something back. I feel like I'm being treated like a criminal. I'm being treated like a criminal, like they're looking at me a certain way, right, here's the thing. I was listening to the radio the other day. I'm gonna just tell you this secret too it really is not fun not having satellite radio in your car. Right, when you start making financial adjustments in your life and you realize satellite radio is the first thing that's gotta go. That ain't fun. Because now I'm listening to the river and Caleb and you don't get good reception on either of them, no matter where you are, right, okay, and they said it wrote this whole message for me that Jesus doesn't have a return policy.
Speaker 1:There is no return policy. The only requirement is to come back. And as I thought about it, I thought, man, we often get inside ourselves when we're trying to return something to the store that we know we bought and paid for. Right, and we still get inside of our heads. And Jesus bought and paid for us and doesn't have a concern about whether we're damaged or broken. He just wants us to come back home, amen. And so as I wrote this message today, I realized that it doesn't matter our life circumstance, and we know this, but we have to tell ourselves time and time again all Jesus wants to do is to have us return home. He welcomes us with open arms, so long as we're willing to return. Amen.
Speaker 1:And today is not just a message that I'm gonna deliver. Today is a call to repentance. Today is a call to go back to Jesus just the way that you are. You don't have to shine yourself up, you don't have to get pretty. Listen, some of y'all come to church in your pajamas. Jesus will take you in your pajamas, all right.
Speaker 1:Pastor Holly and I, we both got the same experience yesterday. We were here working and I was in gym shorts and a t-shirt. Many of you have seen me like that Not everybody, but many of you have seen me like that and we had one congregant and he comes in and he goes you don't look anything, like you do on Sunday morning. And I'm like thanks. I didn't know if it was a compliment or not, but I just. And then he said the same thing to Holly Well, you don't look anything, you're not all dolled up, thanks, like I don't know. But the point is, is Jesus is gonna take us just like that? He'll take us at our best. He'll take us at our worst, amen. And so today I want to invite you to listen to the word, prepare your hearts and get ready to return to Jesus, amen.
Speaker 1:Now there are some of us sitting in this room who say, well, I'm in good standing with Jesus and my life is perfect and I don't have anything to worry about. And I would tell you that that should concern you, because I know deep down inside, there is something inside of all of us that is probably eating away at what we believe or what we think. I was thinking about this this morning. I think about stuff in the shower. How many of you guys think about stuff in the shower? I do my best thinking in the shower. Right, it's quiet, it's warm and toasty.
Speaker 1:And I realized while I was standing there that so many people in my life don't even know who Jesus is. Right, they've heard the name, they're aware that I'm a pastor, but they don't actually know who Jesus is, they don't know what he did on the cross, they don't know what he's accomplished in their lives already. And I thought, man, if they only knew, if they could only understand. And in that moment I realized that while I'm thinking about those people, I shouldn't just be thinking about them, I should be praying for them. And while I'm praying for them, I should send them a text and just say hey, I love you and I would love to see you at church one day. It doesn't have to be this church, I don't care what church you go to, but God wants you to know who he is. God wants you to have a relationship with him. Amen.
Speaker 1:And I realized that so often we're afraid of rejection, that we're not willing to have those conversations with people. See, we know who Jesus is and we hold on to him in here, but we don't share him anywhere else. Right? Pastor Holly and I were talking and she asked me if I ever, just after preaching a message or after delivering a word, if you ever just feel empty and you just sit and cry. And I said every Sunday after church, I always feel entirely empty. Do you know why? I believe I feel entirely empty. I've poured it into you, I have given you everything I've got and that is my hope for you every week when you leave this place that you are full up so that you can go and pour out. That drink is not just for you, that living water is not just for you, it's for the world around you. The world around you is far more broken than we can even realize because everything we see or know of people around us is social media posts. Right, it is rare that we ever actually spend time with people and realize their brokenness. Oftentimes we see that they're on vacation or they're out doing this and they're out doing that, but what we struggle to realize is they're also sitting in deep depression and that the enemy has gotten a hold of their finances, or the enemy has gotten a hold of their marriage or whatever it may be, and there is no hope in allowing people to live that way. Amen. We have to be willing to be the mouthpiece. You know the valley that we live in, to be the mouthpiece. You know the valley that we live in.
Speaker 1:David, everybody who David Zeisberger is, do I need to give you a quick history lesson? I feel like you need to give you history. I'm not gonna. Okay, I'm not gonna. You guys need to go see Trumpet in the Land this summer. All right, let me know, we'll get you taken care of. You need to go see it. He was called the trumpet in the land. They called him the trumpet in the land because everywhere he went, he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Okay, that is how we became to be in this area, because all of the Indians were converted into Christianity and then we were able to settle here safely. The reason that we exist in this community today is because he was not afraid to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, amen.
Speaker 1:The problem is is we have become afraid of what that might do to our lives, because once I tell you that I know Jesus, I can't act a fool in front of you anymore, because if I act a fool in front of you, you're going to say well, some Christian, you are right. Listen, if you're sitting in this building and you're like I don't even know Jesus and you're just learning about Jesus, understand that no Christian will ever be perfect. Okay, we will never be perfect, but it should be our goal to strive to be more like Jesus every day, every single day. Jesus welcomes you just as you are. You don't need to clean yourself up. The only requirement is come home. The only requirement is come home Now.
Speaker 1:If you thought I was going to preach this message and not tell the story of the prodigal son, well, guess what? You're wrong. That's where we're going to go. Grab your Bibles. We're going to go to Luke, chapter 15. We're not going to do the whole thing. I'm only going to give you the second half, okay, because we know most of this story. Right, show of hands. If you know the story of the prodigal son Eek, I'm going to tell the story, okay.
Speaker 1:So what happens? This boy becomes of age and he decides that he wants, rather than waiting for his father to die, he wants to collect his inheritance. Now, inheritance, money, right, riches, wealth, whatever the father would have left him when he died. The son wanted it. Now the father agreed to give him his inheritance. The son took it and squandered it, spent it on all of the sins of life, living his best life in the city, just living for the world, and didn't really understand what the cost would actually be.
Speaker 1:So the second half of this story the son finally comes to his senses and he realizes I was stupid. Any of us ever realized we were stupid. I realize it daily because my wife tells me. When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself now listen, he's thinking this, he's rehearsing this At home. Even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger. He was eating slop with the pigs. Right Now, I don't think I don't like my food to touch right, I don't think I'm going to be eating slop with pigs, but that's where he was at.
Speaker 1:He was so broke he had squandered all of that money and he said even the servants in my father's house have more than enough to eat. He says I will go home and say father, I have sinned against both heaven and you. I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant. That's humbling man when God humbles you enough to say I am not worthy of being your son, allow me to be a hired servant. So he returned to his father and while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming, filled with love and compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Now listen. But his father said to the servants, not to the son, to the servants quick, bring me the finest robe in the house and put it on him, get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet and kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began Amen, Amen.
Speaker 1:Now I want to talk about this a little bit, because the second half of the story is what I want to tell you about today, because we've all done dumb things. We know that we've done dumb things. Some of you are going to leave here and do something stupid by the time you get out of the parking lot, right. Some of you are going to do something stupid by the time you get out of the parking lot, right. Some of you are going to do something stupid before you get out of this room. It will likely be me, okay, because we don't always think before we speak. We don't always think before we act. Listen, if you're thinking it up here, god already knows it. You've already sinned, right, so we have to control those thoughts. But here's the challenge that I want to give to you today.
Speaker 1:The son had determined the servants lived better than he was living, and he rehearsed a speech. Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I am no longer worthy of being your son. Take me on as a hired servant, amen. So the son is willing to come back to the father. Before he can say those words to his father, he sees him a long way off and he goes running to him and he embraces him and he kisses him. And the son is still pleading with him father, I have sinned against you and against heaven. I am not worthy to be your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.
Speaker 1:And what did the father do? Instead of saying you know what that's a fair trade, he restored him to where he was before, brought the finest of the robes, the most beautiful ring, Killed the calf that they had been fattening for a feast. And the feast happened right now because the son who was lost has now been found. The son who was dead is now alive. Hallelujah, praise Jesus.
Speaker 1:Because let me tell you something each and every one of us, when we choose to walk away from God, we are dead, we are lost, but when we choose to come home, we are alive and well. We are alive and well. And I will tell you that we, each and every one of us, fall short of the glory of God on a daily basis, each and every one of us, and there is no shame in falling short of the glory of God, so long as you can recognize what you have done, repent of your sins and come back to the father. Amen. Now let me tell you this isn't going. Oh, I screwed that up. Father, forgive me, but I'm going to go do it again this afternoon, because repentance equals change. Right Now, the story doesn't go on to tell us that the son went and got more inheritance and went and squandered it. We're to assume that the son realized his mistake and lived righteously in his father's house Amen.
Speaker 1:I trust that each and every one of you are doing the same today, that right now, as we're sitting here listening, some of us nodding off as I talk, that we're exploring our hearts and we're realizing that God is doing something transformational in our lives. Right now I don't mean when you leave, I don't mean this morning when you woke up. I'm talking. Right now you're realizing I'm holding on to that and I shouldn't be. Oh Lord, I've been doing this and I know that I shouldn't be Lord. I know that I've been skipping my Bible reading, lord. I know that I've been, because whatever he's laying on your heart right now, that is called conviction. And, lord, I know that I've been, because whatever he's laying on your heart right now, that is called conviction. And when the Lord convicts you of something, when he starts to share it with you and put it on your heart, you should recognize it and take action, make change, meaningful change in your lives. Don't just look at it and go well, god, you'll forgive me later. He may, but what if you don't get the chance? You'll forgive me later he may, but what if you don't get the chance? Let me just tell you who timed that. Normally, you guys time how long I hold my water bottle before I take a drink. Somebody in this room timed it and will text me after church and if I don't take a drink, then I get chastised for that, for carrying it around and not taking a drink.
Speaker 1:When he finally came to his senses, he returned home to his father and the son had rehearsed the speech, but the father didn't want to hear it. Amen, the father said I am not worried about what you have done. I am thankful you are home. Jesus, each and every time that we return home is thankful that we are there and he is not counting our sins so long as we have repented. He is looking at us as a blood-bought child, that we are clean and we are fresh. And let me tell you clean and we are fresh. And let me tell you I want to be that way every waking moment of my day. I realize that it is hard.
Speaker 1:The father didn't interrogate the son. He didn't ask him where have you been and what did you do with my money? Because he could look at him and know he screwed up right? He doesn't have a robe on, he doesn't even have sandals on his feet. He's probably looking thin and frail and looking like he's seen a lot of stuff. The father doesn't ask questions. He celebrates. He looks at his son and he says let's make you whole and complete again, in the name of Jesus.
Speaker 1:So as I work through all of this, we're gonna do all of the typical scriptures. I apologize. We're gonna put a twist on these. Okay, I don't apologize, actually. And the reason I don't apologize is because some of you, when we read these, you get something new every time. That's why the word is alive amen, amen.
Speaker 1:How many of you know the story of the woman at the well. Most of us, we're going to read that story next. Grab your Bibles. We're going to go to John, chapter four. We're going to go to verse seven. Now we all know this woman had a past, right. This woman had a past. She had five husbands. This woman had a past. She had five husbands. There's gotta be a record, right. No, roger goes not even close. Not even close. Five husbands. She was living with a man who wasn't her husband. Amen, it says. Soon.
Speaker 1:A Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus said to her please give me a drink. He was alone at this time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. Jesus is sitting at the well by himself. This woman comes up at noon when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It is hot. You guys ever been hot before?
Speaker 1:How many of you worked outside yesterday here at the church? Hot, hot, right. Dave was like I ain't doing, no more. I pressure washed half the building. I'm sitting down and that's that what. He works outside all day, right, you know, hot, right, hot is not a desirable place to be.
Speaker 1:I went in the attic yesterday. No holes in the ceiling. We must have done a good job. It's like what? 10, 20 degrees hotter up there than it is outside. I'm talking, I came out sweating, I was shaking because it was like an obstacle course up there and I'm carrying three pounds of all of these extension cords that are all wrapped up inside the rafter. Beth, I promise we're not going to do that anymore. Okay, just for you. I promise I make Beth nervous. With extension cords, we use them for everything. They're safe, right? I don't think the ones we had in the ceiling are safe. They were like the real thin, residential kind and we were like breaking off the grounds to plug stuff in. It's fine, everything's fine, don't worry about it.
Speaker 1:She came to the well at noon, at the hottest part of the day. Why did she go at noon? Nobody would be there. She wanted to avoid the judgment Amen. Her desire was to stay away from all of the people who were going to call names. How many of us know people who call names as grown adults? Amen. It's silly to me, but that's what they do. Because we need you to feel bad about your choices. I need you to think about your life and feel bad about it.
Speaker 1:So when the woman was surprised, for Jews refused to have anything to do with Samaritans. So she said to Jesus you are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink? Now, understand that she's expecting judgment and she's not receiving judgment. Jesus is looking at her, saying I can help you if you'll only come to me. Amen.
Speaker 1:Jesus replied. If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me and I would give you living water. This is my favorite part. I tell you that every time. I read this but, sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket. Man, look around this room and think to yourself how many of us treat Jesus that way. When Jesus speaks to us and he says all I want to do is give you the finest things in life, All I want to do is be in close relationship with you, and you look at him and say but you don't have a rope or a bucket. You can't give me living water because you don't have the tools needed to draw water, not realizing who Jesus actually is and that he is, in fact, the living water. Amen. We hear the name, we know Jesus right, we talk about him. We pray in his name, amen, but we don't always understand who he is. There are people sitting in this room right now who do not recognize who Jesus truly is or what he did on the cross. Listen, did on the cross, listen. That's our responsibility. It is our responsibility to share that.
Speaker 1:And the woman at the well got to experience it. And besides, do you think you are greater than our? Oh sorry, you went, did I go too? Go back one, but, sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket, she said. And this well is very deep, where would you get this living water? And, besides, ready. Do you think that you are greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this? Well, how can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed? This is the important part. That is what the world looks at. Amen, what do you mean, pastor Michael? Go back for me. And besides, do you think you are greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this? Well, how can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?
Speaker 1:Listen, I am not Jesus. I cannot have the world look at me as the mark for perfection. And people say you're a pastor, I have to say but I am not Jesus. But I am not Jesus. I may be a pastor, I may know the word, I may be able to speak life into you, but I cannot give you the living water that Jesus can give you. Only Jesus can send you to heaven. Your relation I can't. I can't pray you to heaven, your mama can't pray you to heaven, your grandma can't pray you to heaven. It's not going to happen. You have to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the only way to enter into heaven the living water of Jesus Christ. But the world looks at us as the mark of Jesus and it is our responsibility to portray Jesus in the best possible light. That means when we talk to people, we talk to them kindly. That means when we're in the store, we behave appropriately, right, it's hard to do. Why'd you shake your head? No, stephanie, oh, because Jordan doesn't behave. It's Jordan's fault. I've talked to Stephanie. It ain't Jordan she gotta worry about. No, I'm kidding, it's Ashley. Ashley, you're getting thrown under the bus, sweetheart.
Speaker 1:The woman left her water, she left the jug that she had drawn and she ran back to the village to become an evangelist, to tell people about Jesus. The need that she had was water. She came to draw water for herself. Right, she wasn't drawing water for everybody else in town, she was drawing water for herself. But when she received the living water, when she realized that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of God, she ran back to the village to tell everybody about this living water. Listen, that's where we come in. That is where we come in. This isn't about each and every one of us being able to just be living in relationship with Christ. It is us pouring Christ out into those people that we live with, because the problem is they don't understand the return policy. They don't know what it means to come to Jesus. See, the problem is we have treated Jesus like a genie.
Speaker 1:You pray your wants, you pray your needs and God will give them to you. And we say that to the world. God, give me a better job. God, why don't you provide finances for me to take care of God? Why don't you this? God, please do this. But we're praying selfish prayers and we're teaching the world that that's what God is like. And when he doesn't give it to you, what do you say? You just didn't believe. Quite hard enough, right?
Speaker 1:There's a movie called Leap of Faith. How many of you have ever seen it? If you've never seen it, you should. There's a movie called Leap of Faith. How many of you have ever seen it? If you've never seen it, you should. It's a fantastic movie.
Speaker 1:It's about an evangelist who travels across the world and he tricks people into thinking that he hears from God. He brings people in in wheelchairs and he parks them up front. And he brings them up front and he tells them they're healed and they get up and walk. But all of these people are planted in that front row. He has an earpiece that people are talking to him, telling him all the things to do. And then he hangs this cross, this crucifix is hanging up behind the pulpit, and he decides to paint the eyes open to get people excited that God is here and God is doing something, amen. And he's tricking all of these people into believing that God is doing this. And then, finally, the town figures out that this guy's a fraud. The town is a farming town and all they need is water. And they say to him just pray that we'll get some rain. And finally he gives up and he decides to skip town. And as he's leaving town, guess what happens? The rain just starts to flow.
Speaker 1:Now I'll tell you that as Christians, we lead people into a false sense of who Jesus is. Each and every day. We lead people into a false sense of who Jesus is. Jesus isn't a genie. He is providing for you in his will. He is providing for you in his riches and in his glory, not in yours, not in your selfish desires, because oftentimes, when we are praying to God for those things, they are selfish desires. Jesus doesn't bring condemnation to that woman. He brings transformation. He transforms her from a nobody into a somebody. He turns her into an evangelist for the gospel. He turns her into an evangelist for what God is doing in their midst. And I am sure she was rejected just the same as many of us are whenever we're out preaching the gospel Amen.
Speaker 1:There are people who listen to messages all day long and they pick out all of the things that were wrong. They didn't like the way the pastor pronounced that word. They didn't like the way the pastor talked about this. Listen, if you want to look for all of the things wrong in the world, you're going to find them. But can I promise you there is more good in the world than there is evil in the world. I promise you that the news doesn't. You don't see that on the news, right? I mean, we look at the news and it's all about death and destruction. But can I tell you about all the good things that God has done? You don't see mainstream media talking about Forrest Frank's back being healed, right? Don't see mainstream media talking about Forrest Frank's back being healed, right? You don't see these things happening. And when it does happen, it's a glimpse, it's a blip and it's gone. The next news cycle comes back and it's death and destruction. It's hate, it's hurt, it's heartache. I promise you there is more good than there is bad. Jesus will not bring us condemnation, he will bring us transformation.
Speaker 1:All right, we're going to talk about my favorite guy next. Are you ready? I love to talk about Peter because he's like my spirit animal. I mean, if I'm going to relate to somebody in the Bible, peter doesn't take any stuff, right? The problem is he's a pretty big screw up. Bible Peter doesn't take any stuff, right. The problem is he's a pretty big screw up. It's the one thing I'm good at, so why stop now? Right, it's an art that I have perfected. So we're going to go to John. So we're still in John, we're going to go to 21 and we're going to read verses 15 and 17. Now, this is after Jesus has come back to the world, this is after the resurrection, and Peter and Jesus are together and Jesus. So remember that Peter denied Jesus three times, right after saying he wouldn't do it. Oh, I would never deny you. And Jesus is like trust me, buddy, you're going to do it, you're going to mess up, okay?
Speaker 1:After breakfast, jesus asked Simon Peter, simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, lord, peter replied you know I love you. Then feed my sheep, feed my lambs, jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question Simon, son of John, do you love me? Yes, lord Peter said you know I love you. Then take care of my sheep, jesus said A third time. He asked him Simon, son of John, do you love me? And Peter was hurt that Jesus asked this question a third time. He said Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. And Jesus said then feed my sheep.
Speaker 1:Peter denied Jesus three times, but when Jesus rose from the dead, he didn't discard Peter, he didn't cast him aside, he didn't tell him that he wasn't worthy. Do you love me? Yes, lord Peter replied. Then feed my sheep. Jesus didn't discard Peter. What did he do? He restored him, not just to forgiveness. That's where we get stuck. See, Jesus has forgiven me. He didn't just restore him to forgiveness, he restored him to purpose. He said then feed my sheep, then feed my lambs. What is he saying? Build my church, care for my people, amen.
Speaker 1:And here we are, blood-bought children of the Almighty sitting here saying we know who Jesus is and we believe who Jesus is, yet we won't feed his sheep, yet we won't care for his. You know, you know what lambs are? Right, they're little sheep. Look around what. You don't have any. When you get one, will you bring it for us so we can hold it and pet it? No, you're not bringing a horse in the building. A little lamb we can put in the lobby and we can all pet it. Just stop, stop. You're trying to mess this up. Listen, we should be caring for the children in this house just the same as we're caring for the adults in this house, right, listen?
Speaker 1:This morning I was thankful I'm always thankful that I let somebody else pray over the offering. And you know, pastor Holly, her and I have this weird connection and I don't. Maybe she sensed it, I don't know. She probably wouldn't tell me if she did, because she'd probably feel like she's afraid to make me feel bad. But this morning I was distracted by the noise in here, right, like even when we were giving announcements. I was like man, shut these people up. Like these kids they keep screaming. Shut these kids up, lord Jesus. Right, I just preached the message a couple of weeks ago about being able to worship through that and I'm like Lord, lord Jesus, listen, I get back there and Pastor Holly says allow us to drown out the distraction. I'm like I needed that today, jesus, right, and we share that connection. And the thing is, even if she sensed it in me, she wouldn't tell me that because she went to the Father instead.
Speaker 1:Right, see, that's what we should be doing. We should be able to focus on the sheep, focus on the land. We should be able to pray through all of those things. We should be able to pour our spirits out, pour out the things that the Holy Spirit has instilled in us out into the world. That doesn't mean that you have to go home and call all of your neighbors and tell them about Jesus. That doesn't mean that you're gonna go stand on the.
Speaker 1:You guys know that guy on the street corner at Walmart, right? You see him all the time. You don't have to do that. That's not what I'm asking you.
Speaker 1:But when you encounter somebody who is very obviously hurting, pray for that person. I've learned this and I want to share it with you. Don't ask can I pray for you, beth? This is for you. This is for you. Okay, hold on to this. Don't ask can I pray for you? Why You're going to be met with opposition, and a no is a no right? How can I pray for you? How can I pray for you? You look like you're hurting. You look like you're. How can I pray for you?
Speaker 1:And they're gonna say, well, my legs have been bothering me, or well, my husband lost his. Well, and they're always gonna have something that they need prayer for, and they're not going to have something that they need prayer for and they're not going to turn you down. You don't have to lay hands on that person to pray for them. Father, let your will be done in this situation. God, we know that all things good come from you and, father, I am standing here believing that whatever my friend needs you are providing in the mighty name of jesus, right, that's it.
Speaker 1:Oftentimes, they are not going to reject a how they're always gonna reject a can, right? And so we have to shift our mindset. As Christians, we can't just walk into the world the way that we've always walked into the world. This place is a dangerous jungle. Now, right, there are far more non-believers than there are believers. They don't want the gospel, because the gospel requires transformation, but they need to understand what the return policy is. They need to understand that they don't have to change their mindset today. Jesus just wants you to come, because when they get in the door, when they find a relationship with Christ, that's when transformation takes place.
Speaker 1:Right, how many of us went to church for the first time because we just didn't know what else to do with our lives. We ended up in church. Some of us were forced here, right, some of us were forced into church. But let me tell you life-giving power, right? I remember the first time I came to church. It was because I was having a relationship problem and I thought you know, the first time I came to church, it was because I was having a relationship problem and I thought, you know I ain't got anything else to do with my Wednesday night, right Might as well go to church. Next thing I know my life has changed completely. I'm saved and I'm able to walk away from the pain and the hurt that I had been feeling. I was able to look at those broken relationships and say that's not what God wanted for me. It was what I wanted for me. And I was able to look at those broken relationships and say that's not what God wanted for me, it was what I wanted for me, and I was able to break those chains. I was able to come to the Father a broken mess and be restored into something new.
Speaker 1:Now I'll tell you I'm still missing pieces. I am not perfect. I know some of you might like to think that and I'm being serious there are some of you that put me on a pedestal. I know some of you might like to think that and I'm being serious there are some of you that put me on a pedestal. I want to tell you I am not perfect. I never will be. I've never professed to be, and I don't want to be perfect. All I want to do is be like Jesus. I want to be able to live that life day in and day out, and I hope that every person sitting in here feels that in their heart, that they realize the importance of being more like Christ.
Speaker 1:The great commission is to go out and preach the gospel to all the world Amen. We aren't even doing it in our own community. If we want to reach every corner of the earth because you know Jesus won't come back until that's done right, that's what the Bible tells us. No man shall know the hour. That's because we're lazy. We don't want to go out and preach the gospel. That man on the corner by Walmart, he's doing his job. He is doing his. He's probably doing some of our job too. Right, it is our responsibility to preach the gospel. It is our responsibility to tell people who Jesus really is and what he can do in our lives, because there is no return policy when it comes to Jesus.
Speaker 1:Now I learned this. I was researching return policies at stores Because you know when you're gonna do a. Did you know you can return anything at Costco? No questions asked, I'm gonna start shopping at Costco, right? I'm going to go to Costco and be like this banana was already half eaten, I just got a peel. Is that how that works? See, that's dishonest. That's dishonest. We shouldn't do that. We shouldn't do that. They'll take almost anything back no questions, no pressure, no shame. People will laugh about it and people will do just that. They take something back that they've used and then Costco will give them all of their money back. They think it's funny, but honestly, that's the kind of grace that we get when we return to Jesus. There is nothing that he is looking for in return. Relationship is all we need to have. You don't have to be perfect, you just need to be present. You don't need to clean up, you just need to come back. The father is watching, he is waiting and he will see you from a long way off and he will greet you and he will embrace you and he will give you all of the finer things in life because you are his follower Amen.
Speaker 1:Now what I'm gonna do we've got a little bit of time. I'm gonna open the altar and what I want is I want the church to just take a second. I want you to just look at your heart. Maybe you don't know Jesus at all. Maybe you have never given your heart to the Lord. I want you to take this opportunity to come to the altar. I want you to take this opportunity to be in the presence of God. Go ahead and turn on some prayer music for me, and I want you to just be present with Jesus right now. We're going to pray for you. If you want prayer, if you say, if you come to the altar for the first time today and you say I really want to, I want to have more of a relationship with Christ, know this, I want you to come see Pastor Roger, myself or Pastor Holly. We'll be prepared and we'll pray with you and we'll talk you through what it means to take this next step in your faith walk. It is a big deal to be in relationship with Christ.
Speaker 1:Now some of us are sitting here saying I don't need this. I promise you you need to reconsider, because there are some of us who are living life in a way that is not in accordance to what God would have in our lives. I know that every time we open the altar, people think, oh, this is just a spot of pressure. They just want us to. I don't care what you do, jesus does. This isn't about me. This isn't about what I think about you. It's not about what somebody else might say when you come to the altar. They might gossip about you in the hallway. Let them, oh, don't get me started. Don't get me started. Listen, it's not you they don't like, it's he that lives in you, amen. So let's just.