WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.760 I'm looking forward to sharing today. 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:04.719 It's not like a traditional Mother's Day message. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.160 I I really prayed about it because I'm not opposed to pausing, but I felt like that uh we were supposed to stay in the text that we were in. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:15.199 And in that, there's still gonna be honor for for you moms. 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:18.000 But uh what we're not gonna talk about today is aliens. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:27.359 Uh I know that's been big in the news lately, so we're not how they might be the Nephilim that built the pyramids or uh the Hannah Montana virus or whatever that is. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:33.039 We're not gonna those are not the things we're discussing today, so rest assured it's gonna be okay. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:36.159 We are gonna be in the Bible, we're all gonna be in Luke 20. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:38.399 We're gonna talk about taxes for a minute. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:40.000 We're talking about taxes. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:44.799 So um, does that feel like a great Mother's Day message already? 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:48.399 You're like, oh boy, your hands are just ringing in excitement. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:49.359 Yeah. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:51.280 Here we go. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:52.560 Let's do this. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:54.799 Watching for their opportunity. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:56.880 Now, I want to say who is watching for their opportunity? 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:58.000 We're gonna get that in a minute. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:02.159 As we've come into this passage, we know right now Jesus went into the temple. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:08.879 He flipped the tables of the money changers, made a whip, drove out all the animals that were being sold for sacrifices. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.200 He was showing, hey, this system's messed up. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.200 My father's house should be called a house of prayer. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.280 He's been at the temple now in the temple courts teaching daily. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:27.120 Now, in this time of year, what you would see often is the leading rabbis would go to different sections and stand, and people would then come to them and ask them questions. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:28.400 That's what's going on. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:31.200 They'd walk up, ask their rabbis, what do you think about this? 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:32.400 What do you think about that? 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:34.239 And then the rabbi would share. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:47.519 Now, there's some people that are diligently asking questions, and now there's other people you're going to see that are trying to hoodoo Jesus because we know that he is in his last days and the Passover is coming. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:51.680 Watching for their opportunity, the leaders, check this out, sent spies. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:54.000 That sounds like something church leaders should do. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:59.599 The church leaders sent spies, pretending to be honest men. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:08.479 They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he uh would arrest Jesus. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:12.800 Teacher, they said, we know that you speak and teach what is right. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:14.719 So that they're blowing a little bit of smoke, right? 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.879 Like you don't mess up, you get things right. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:22.800 Teacher, they said, we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:28.159 You teach, check this out, you teach the way of God truthfully. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:32.159 Now tell us, they think they've painted him to a corner. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:36.719 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.039 He saw through their trickery. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:41.840 Shocker. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:46.639 Listen, let's just be honest with you, he sees through your trickery too. 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:51.520 My trickery, like, let's just do away with the trickeries. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:52.159 All right. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:03:00.319 He saw through their trickery and said, Show me a Roman coin, whose picture and title are stamped on it. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.319 The Caesars, they replied. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:08.400 Well then he said, Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:13.039 So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:16.000 Instead, they were amazed by his answer and they became silent. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.960 I'm I'm gonna hold off on jumping ahead just for a second. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:29.680 So the leaders, one of the things that's interesting is we know that other gospels uh bring information into this text that maybe we don't have right here because everybody's emphasizing a little bit something different. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:36.319 But we know that in Matthew's gospel, in this moment, it notes that the leaders are the Pharisees and the Herodians. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:44.240 I wanted to bring that up just for a minute because this is it's a note that any other day, the Pharisees and the Herodians would have been at each other's throat. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:45.759 They would have been opposition. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.240 But the only thing that they're finding common ground on is to attack Jesus. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:50.719 Right? 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:55.199 So any other day, I don't like you, I don't like what you believe, I don't like what you stand for. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:04:00.159 Hey, but what I don't like more than you is that guy over there who's trying to overthrow the whole system. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:07.439 So they perceive, check this out, they perceive Jesus to be a greater threat than they were to each other. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:08.560 Right? 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:13.680 So it's like, okay, this guy is changing everything, and he is answering every question. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:15.520 He is a threat to what we're doing. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:18.079 Remember last week we talked about how they wanted control. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:20.319 They didn't want to lose control, right? 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:26.000 So you've got an interesting moment here where enemies are working together. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:33.839 Verse 22, it says, now tell us, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar? 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:38.480 The question is it law for us to pay taxes to Caesar? 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.000 It's a question that's kind of ambiguous at best. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:45.920 Uh they are asking a Jewish man, is it lawful? 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:54.959 So for Jesus, a Jewish man, lawful, when you hear the word lawful, it replies to the Torah, not who the Roman authorities' law is, right? 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:56.079 Is it lawful? 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:57.199 Is it in the Torah? 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:58.800 Where is your allegiance? 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:02.720 And in the Torah, allegiance is to God, to God is the core. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:04.800 Allegiance is to God is the only thing. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.560 You don't stray, you don't defer, you don't differ. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:12.319 So if Jesus says, yeah, pay the taxes, then it shows something. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:22.000 They're also asking him, a Jewish man living under Roman rule, where Loman Raw requires tribute, they're trying to say, listen, we're gonna paint you into a corner. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:32.480 So either you're denying the authority of God and we're gonna get you on that, or you're denying the authority of the Roman state and we're gonna turn you over to them. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:36.800 You see what they've done is they've calculated, they've triangulated. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.240 And I want to tell you something. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:47.519 In your life, don't ever be afraid if the enemy tries to back you into a corner, because if you walk before God, he will always walk you through the mess and give you wisdom how to do it. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:58.399 One of the things that inspires me when I read how Jesus responds to these people is that I know that the Holy Spirit is with me, and the Holy Spirit will give me wisdom as I encounter difficult people in my life. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:05.120 I'm not going to be afraid of people that bring challenges and try to corner or trap me because what does the word say again? 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:08.160 If God be for me, then who can be against me? 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:09.439 You with me on that? 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.439 Okay, so they're trying to trap him. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:13.120 Jesus has seen through it. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:20.079 Now he does something here that, like, over the years I missed a key part. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.959 And I just want to be honest with you. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:28.319 He says, uh, show me a coin, verse 24. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:29.759 Show me a Roman coin. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:37.920 I think it's telling that the people that are questioning him if his allegiance is to Rome, those are the people that are carrying the Roman coins. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:40.879 Hey, show well, show me a coin real quick. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:42.639 Oh, and they're not even thinking about sure. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:43.120 Boom. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:44.319 Here it is. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:46.720 Well, that's a little bit hypocritical. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:47.439 You with me? 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:55.920 Like you're dogging me, you're trying to challenge me on like my allegiance to Rome or to God, and you're the one carrying around his money in your pocket. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:56.560 Right? 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.360 So he brings out their hypocrisy in front of everybody. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:00.399 They seem to miss that. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.000 And he says, Whose picture and title are stamped on it? 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:05.439 It's imprinted with something. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.040 What's it imprinted with? 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:11.519 It's imprinted with Caesar, they replied. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.800 Well, then he said, Give to Caesar. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.000 Another version will say, render to Caesar. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.279 What is Caesar's? 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:24.480 That word means uh the Greek word literally means to give back, repay, return. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:28.079 Like I borrowed something from you and I'm just giving it back. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.759 It wasn't mine to begin with. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:30.399 I'm giving it back. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:31.120 Does it make sense? 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:33.439 So return to Caesar what's his? 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:35.680 It's got his face, it's got his imprint on it. 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:37.199 Return it to him. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:44.399 And give to God what belongs to God. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:57.759 So if we're talking about imprints, then if the coin's imprinted with Caesar, and Jesus is making this point, then what is imprinted on us? 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:00.639 Give to God what belongs to God. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.560 Where is his imprint? 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.480 In Genesis, right? 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.319 Genesis chapter 1, 27. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:10.560 So God created human beings in his own image. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:14.480 In the image of God, he created them, male and female, he created them. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:20.240 So this is a word we used earlier last year, the Imago Day, the image of God. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:26.800 He's looking to have, listen, he's saying to everybody there, give Caesar what his image is on, but give God what his image is on. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:28.480 And his image is on you. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:31.279 And so he's asking for relationship with you. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.600 You can put the money to Caesar, give it to him. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:34.960 I'm not worried about the money. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:36.320 I'm worried about you. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:38.320 I want to have relationship with you. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:48.720 And as you're in this place today, there's something you need to recognize is Jesus has not changed his desire to render to God what belongs to God, return to God what belongs to God. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.919 And we are that which belongs to God. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:55.600 He created us, he formed us, he shaped us, he designed us. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.360 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.440 I don't care what anybody says about you. 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:01.440 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.679 When I was growing up, I weren't good at English, and I still ain't the best. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:06.480 Right? 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:11.440 And I had this one teacher, and she went through red marker after red marker on my papers. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.440 There would be more red than black. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.399 And I'd get done. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.559 I'm like, I don't even know how to correct this. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:20.240 And I'm just like, there were just moments where I'm like, oh my gosh, this is not. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:26.799 And then I'd have to remind myself, man, I'm fearfully and wonderfully made, regardless of what the score looks like on the test. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.080 Can I just tell you something? 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:33.279 Regardless of what your life has looked like to this point, you are still fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:40.639 Screw ups, mess-ups, faults, flaws, victories, successes, all of that is secondary to the imprint that's upon you. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:43.679 And you are the Imago Day, the image bearers of God. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:47.360 And he's saying, return to me what belongs to me. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:54.240 These guys, they were trying to corner him, and now he's bringing conviction upon them. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:03.279 He's saying, Listen, you guys are going around doing trying to get all check all the boxes off of what a good Hebrew boy or girl is. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:07.360 I'm trying to tell you right now, give to God what belongs to him. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.440 He wants your life. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.960 He doesn't want anything less. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:23.840 I really believe, and man, I've hit this week after week after week, but I just feel like I want to kick this door down. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.840 We do not desire to have a church of attenders. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:34.960 We desire to have a church of disciples who have given their whole life to God. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.360 I could listen, we are called to come together, we are living stones. 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:40.240 He puts us together. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:43.919 The togetherness of this time is holy and it's sacred. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.559 Right? 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.679 You with me on that? 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.200 But listen, check this out. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.679 But your heart matters in the process. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:52.720 Because are you surrendered as a living stone to God? 00:10:52.799 --> 00:11:01.840 Or are you just somebody going through the motion saying, I'm showing up because it's going to make somebody else feel good or it's going to make me feel good, but I'm not really going to do anything about what I learned. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.759 We're talking about taxes. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.399 If anybody doesn't know, that's an old Allen Iverson reference about practice. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:13.039 So talking about practice. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.879 Talking about taxes. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:20.879 So they they failed to trap him. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:25.759 But there's something that I kept thinking about, and I kept thinking about, is this. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:36.879 At the core, at the depth, at the starting place, your deepest, listen to me, your deepest identity is child of God. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:42.159 That should have hit you harder. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:46.960 Your deepest identity is child of God. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:52.639 Not what your job is, not what you do, not what you've done, not what you can accomplish. 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:57.200 The identity deepest in your DNA is child of God. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.600 So what does that mean? 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:05.200 Once we capture that, we can live from our identity rather than to establish one. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:08.559 Because people are trying to establish their identity every single day. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:10.000 And God's saying, no, no, no. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.320 Your deepest identity is I made you. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.600 So live from that. 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:17.279 You're not trying to attain an identity because that's what we try to do. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:22.480 We try to attain like a status of how good I am at what I do, or listen, check this out. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:24.559 Moms, what a great mom you are. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:28.799 But where the enemy attacks you is what a terrible thing you do here and there and everywhere. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.720 Listen, my mom, I love her to death. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.960 She would always say, Joey, I'm so sorry that I wasn't better at this or better at that. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:38.480 And I look back and I can just remember beautiful things that she did. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:48.399 But the enemy is relentless with moms, attacking them, saying, if only you were better, then your child would do this, or you're living in a life of comparison. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:52.799 The enemy just throws these zingers your way over and over and over. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:54.480 And moms, am I missing it at all? 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.759 Was it just my mom? 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:56.320 Okay. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:04.559 Like, because the enemy's like, if you were only better, if you could only try harder, if you only gave more time, if you only whatever. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:06.799 And God's like, no, no, no, no. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.720 Your identity is not there. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.639 You mother from the identity is daughter of God. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:15.440 You mother from there. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:24.559 You being a mother is not your identity, it's an outflow of your responsibility in this season of life. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:30.320 And he just comes and he whispers. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:36.879 And listen, man, I know that he does it to you, but your day's coming in another month. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:45.200 And by the way, we're gonna turn the tide on that because the least attended Sunday in America is Father's Day. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.399 We will turn the tide. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.600 You with me? 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:54.639 Man, if that wasn't a bassie amen from the men, ooh, don't get frustrated. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.879 It's Mother's Day, you better be glad it's Mother's Day. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.480 I was gonna circle back. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:03.519 Your deepest identity, that's worth writing down, that's worth putting in your notes. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:08.720 Your deepest identity is child of God. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:11.759 Let's go to verse 27. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:16.080 A new group enters the chat. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:20.480 Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.919 I will try my hardest not to do wordplay today. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:31.759 Every pastor falls short in this area with Sadducees because they're Sadducee. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:40.159 But I'm not gonna do that because I practice self-control. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:53.200 Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees, religious leaders, check this out, who say there is no resurrection from the dead. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:08.240 They pose this question Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother's name. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:14.879 Well, suppose there were seven brothers, and the oldest one married and then died without children. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.960 So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:26.080 Then the third brother married her, and this continued with all seven of them who died without children. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:34.159 Listen, by the time you get to five, brother number five, if you have not like, come on. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:39.120 There's coincidence, and then there's like yeah. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.039 Yeah. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:44.559 There's like radiator fluid in your coffee or something. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:49.039 This continued with all seven. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.080 They weren't quick. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:53.120 All seven who died without children. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.679 Finally, the woman also died. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:00.639 So tell us whose wife will she be in the resurrection? 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.320 For all seven were married to her. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.000 I want to just stop right there. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:06.080 Super weird question. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:11.600 And uh, but the context is uh is out of Deuteronomy 25. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.399 Um and Deuteronomy 25 is it's it's wild. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:26.000 So so I'm gonna read this to you, and this is scripture, and I'm gonna tell you why, because for a minute you're like, this is crazy weird, but I'm gonna tell you why it is the way it is. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:29.039 So Deuteronomy 25 starts in verse 5. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:37.200 If two brothers are living together on the same property and one of them dies without a son, his widow may not be married to anyone from outside the family. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:44.240 Instead, her brother's husband should marry her and have intercourse with her to fulfill the duties of the brother-in-law. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:55.600 Fur the first son she bears to him will be, check this out, considered the son of the dead brother, so that his name will not be forgotten in Israel. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.559 Check this out. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:06.480 But if the man refuses to marry his brother's widow, she must go to the town gate and say to the elders assembled there, My husband's brother refuses to preserve his brother's name in Israel. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.640 He refuses to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law by marrying me. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:14.000 The elders of the town will then summon him and talk with him. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:25.519 If he still refuses and says, I don't want to marry her, the widow must walk over to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:41.839 Then she must declare, This is what happens to a man who refuses to provide his brother with children, even afterward in Israel, his family will be referred to as the family of the man whose sandal was pulled off. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:56.799 Women didn't really have a whole lot of rights. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:02.079 So if they died a widow and then they didn't have any children, they were wildly vulnerable. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:05.279 There would be no inheritance, there would be no legacy. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:09.359 This is a protective measure. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:12.480 This is a protective measure to care for them. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:21.680 And and check this out it's such a protective measure that if the brother didn't fulfill the duties, the removal of the sandal, it'd be awesome if you removed the sandal and slap him with it. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:26.880 That I thought that right right across the face. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:32.079 The removal of the sandals, like you're not worthy to walk in the land of your legacy. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:37.279 You're not worthy to walk in the land of your inheritance because you wouldn't fulfill your duties. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:41.279 So that's the context that they're coming from. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:48.640 But it's weird that the Sadducees are asking about resurrection because they don't care about the resurrection. 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:50.480 They don't believe in it. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:53.279 If you don't believe in something, you don't ask about it. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:55.759 But but they had they had intentions again. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.480 Everybody that's coming up is trying to come up with negative intentions. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:03.039 So Jesus says something here that is phenomenally beautiful. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.279 He gives us an insight of what heaven's going to be like. 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.240 You ready for this? 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.839 Okay, this is the insight. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.599 This is verse 34. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:24.319 Jesus replied, Marriage is for people here on earth, but in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they will never die again. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.960 In this respect, they will be like angels. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:29.599 They are children of God and children of the resurrection. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.720 On a pause right there. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:36.079 So verse 34 says, Marriage is for people here on earth. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.559 Marriage is for people here on earth. 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:43.759 But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:55.039 So we we're getting a glimpse that when Jesus comes and when he returns and everything's made right, and we step into eternity, all of us, there's no more marriage there. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:58.880 You're not gonna get married, you're not gonna be married. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:19:59.440 Right? 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:04.640 Now, listen, to some people, this is a sad thing to hear. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.039 You love your spouse. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.000 You like, man, I can't imagine. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:14.720 For other people, they're like, woo-hoo. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.519 Right? 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.720 Like, right? 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:20.160 There's some people that heard that and it was not good for them, right? 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:26.559 I I I heard the story recently, a true story of a lady she'd been married 45 years, her husband died. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:29.200 Two weeks later, the pastor's checking on her and say, How are you doing? 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:37.359 It must be so, so weird to go lay down at night in a bed that you've laid next to your husband for this this long, and like it must be so weird. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:40.160 And she goes, Mm-mm, I slept good. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:44.400 And he said, she said it just like that, held out the good. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.640 And he's like, Really? 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:48.240 It like it was not weird. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:50.720 She said, Mm-mm, I sleep good. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:54.960 That man was evil, right? 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.480 I was like, yikes. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.160 So not everybody's gonna be mad about this verse. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:05.680 And there's some people that you're like, geez, but but but why is that? 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.160 Just real quick insight. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:19.920 So the church, when you look through scripture, you see an image of the church being the bride of Christ, the bride of Christ. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:26.480 Um Ephesians 5, 25, verse 25 through 27. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.200 You can write that down. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:30.400 Ephesians 5, verse 25 through 27. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:40.720 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word. 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:49.519 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:52.640 John chapter 14, verse two and three. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.119 John chapter 14, verse two and three. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.680 Check this out. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.960 This is Jesus talking. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.359 In my father's house are many rooms. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:05.279 If it were not so, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you? 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:14.880 Verse 3 says, If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:18.319 I don't know if you've ever recognized that that's wedding talk. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:32.400 Because the way that it rolled in Jewish tradition was the vows were exchanged, and then the groom left for the period of a year, and he would build on an addition to his father's house for he and his bride. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:37.039 And the bride didn't exactly know when the groom was going to return. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.200 So she would wait and watch. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:42.480 And she would prepare herself and she would wait and watch. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:46.319 And right now, that's what where we're in in the body of Christ. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.240 The return to the king is coming. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:52.799 The return of Jesus is coming, and he's coming back for his bride, which is the church. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:23:00.079 And there's going to be a phenomenal, a phenomenal intimacy, not in the sensual, but in the spiritual. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.359 With me on that? 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:04.799 And so sometimes people hear like we're the bride of Christ, something feels icky about that. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.359 No, no, no. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.640 It's a beautiful thing. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:11.680 Because we get to wear, you want you want to know why brides wear white gowns? 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:18.079 It's because it's a symbolic gesture that Christ has cleansed the church and made us white as snow. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:18.880 Right? 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.319 There's a purity in that. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:24.240 And so he's coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle or blemish. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.359 And so we're in the process right now of waiting on him. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:28.319 Yeah? 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:31.039 So this is what Jesus is addressing. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.160 Right? 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:35.519 So we're not going to be in the in the age to come. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:42.160 And so it says, in this current age, which is the age we're in right now, where things aren't working out, crazy things are happening, aliens, right? 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.759 Like all this stuff. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:46.000 Weird things going all over the place. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:49.359 Like this is not the age that will be. 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.880 There is an age coming. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:54.079 There is a time coming that's not going to be like the time is right now. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:24:08.000 Where there's no more pain and there's no more hurt, and there's no more disease, and there's no more worry, and there's no more fear, and there's no more death, there's no more discouragement, and there's no more depression, and there's no more anxiety. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:18.720 Like, I wonder if we become so inoculated to hear that that it doesn't truly get us excited, or if we don't truly believe it. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:33.119 Because if you tell me, Joey, there's a time coming where there will not be anything that will bring sorrow to your heart, harm to your body, illness, injury. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:37.839 There will not be anything that brings great worry or concern, that all will be made right. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:45.359 If you tell me that, that that time's coming, there's something in me that rises up like, well, let that time come as soon as it can. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.839 Let that time begin to happen. 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:58.240 And what it does for me is it begins to allow me to say, I need to let other people know that there's a time like this coming, so I'm not going there by myself, but that I can go with others. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:12.640 That I can go with a group of people that I won't go lonely to heaven, that I will go hand in hand with other people that I've said, listen, I know things right now in this age look bad, but there's an age to come that won't look like right now. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:28.400 And so when you hear that, there should be, if you don't get excited in your core, not emotionalism, but a true joy that overrides your circumstance, there needs to be, okay, God, help me get a picture, a glimpse of what you've got for us. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:30.559 Because right now I'm not capturing it. 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:38.400 Because what can happen is your current circumstance can be so overwhelming, you can hear the truth of the word, but not believe the truth of the word. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:46.720 And if you're in that moment right now, you're like, my I hear Joey, I hear what you're saying, but my circumstance is too loud. 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.519 Whatever you feed the most will be the strongest. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.720 You with me? 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:59.519 And some of our faith is atrophy because it's not been fed. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:08.079 Like I try on Sunday morning to bring you a meal. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.079 You with me? 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:20.960 Boy, and sometimes it's crackers, and I know, I know when it's not going good, but sometimes it's you know, it's mac and cheese. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:23.440 And sometimes you're like, man, that was steak, that was good today. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:33.920 Pastor was on, like, but you can't just come get nutrition on Sunday morning, live the wet rest of the week without it, and expect to ever be growing. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:36.319 But we do that consistently. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:38.319 We're like, why am I always frustrated? 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.759 Why am I always upset? 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.039 Why am I always anxious? 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.319 Why am I always depressed? 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.759 Why am I always worried? 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:46.000 Why am I so focused on everything that's wrong? 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:48.799 It's because you feed that and you feed that and you feed that. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:57.119 It doesn't mean that you have to act like a fool, like it doesn't exist, like problems don't exist, but you don't magnify them over God. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:02.079 It's got more control in your brain than what the word of God does. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:05.680 I've got to be transformed by the hearing of the word. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.839 I've got to get it in my system. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.119 You with me on that? 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:12.559 It's a Mother's Day message for you right now. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:19.200 So Jesus is using a marriage language that he's gone to prepare a place for us. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:23.039 Even now, there's a place being prepared for you in heaven. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:29.519 Man, is that good, like is that just me that gets amped up about it? 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:31.680 Like right now, it's like, could you see him? 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:35.759 Like I've seen, I've seen Luis with a tool belt on, and he looks awesome with a tool belt. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:40.400 He's why he hung the TVs and him and Juan, they hung the TVs and the speakers. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.960 You can walk under them and they will never fall off. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.480 It's perfect. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:47.279 And they walk around with tool belts and they look awesome. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:49.519 Juan does it sleeveless. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.400 He got because he got muscles, right? 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.720 Not that Luis Dutton, but he's humble. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:08.000 And like, could you imagine you get a picture of Jesus got a tool belt on, and he's building a place for you because he loves you. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.440 It's like he doesn't even see me. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:13.279 What are you talking about? 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:16.960 He's building a place for you right now. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:19.039 He doesn't care about me, he doesn't hear my prayer. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.000 No, no, no, no. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:22.480 He's building a place for you. 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:29.839 You will be so concerned with this age, you'll forget about the age to come and you'll start only living for this age. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:43.119 And when you do that, then you get a church that is only concerned about comfort and warm fuzzies and making people feel better for a little while because it sucks so bad out there. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.160 No, no, no, no. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:47.279 The church's call is to go into the battle. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:50.160 You remember scripture talking about putting on the whole armor of God? 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:53.119 Why do you need armor if you're just called to a couch? 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:55.279 You need armor when you're called to battle. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:29:00.640 And so we're called to a war that he will win, but we got to invest in and get in the fight. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.000 Let other people know. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:05.920 Listen, there's a God who loves you so much, he sent his son to die for you. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:10.079 And that son is now in heaven preparing a place for you. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:14.720 Yeah, but I but but but you don't know what I'm going through. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:18.480 He's preparing a place for you. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:29.920 And now, we as his bride, the way that we wait for his arrival is we let other people know that he's coming. 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:33.839 So we get a glimpse into heaven. 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:38.079 Not gonna be married, not gonna be given in marriage. 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:42.880 And verse 36 says, and they will never die again. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:47.839 In this respect, they will be like angels. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:53.920 In this respect, they will be like angels. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:59.920 Don't anybody ever dare tell you when somebody dies, well, they've gone and they have their wings now. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:03.440 No, that's not scripture. 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:06.000 I don't know when that weaved itself in. 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.720 That's a lie. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:13.039 You're like angels in that you're not gonna die again. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:19.759 But you're as you, and we're not gonna go down this path on this one, but you be greater than the angels. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.000 Are you with me on that? 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:34.400 So when somebody passes away, they don't go up and get a harp and some wings and just like drum the harp sitting on the cloud, right? 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:43.039 They walked before, and there's a judgment day that will come for everybody. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:50.160 And if you know him, he's gonna say, your name is in the book. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:57.119 And he's and he and and he's gonna take everything that's happened in your life and he's gonna lay it out in front of you. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:03.359 All the all the all the things, all the works you've done, not to get his love, but because you love him. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:10.480 And I I love him, but can I tell you, I'm gonna be real with you, there's things I've done that were for Jesus that made me feel better. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:12.960 And so the intentions were not pure. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:17.200 And there's things I've done for Jesus that were truly to honor him and glorify him. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:25.680 And so that pile is gonna get set on fire, and anything that's hay is gonna burn, and anything that's jewels is gonna remain. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:28.960 And then he's gonna form and fashion a crown for your head. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:34.000 You're not getting angels when you get to heaven, you're getting a crown. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.039 And you're not gonna die. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.319 That's done with. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:50.640 They will be like angels. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:55.920 Children of God, children of the resurrection. 00:31:56.559 --> 00:32:00.079 There's a I'm gonna throw a theology word at you real quick, okay? 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:04.400 We've joked enough about aliens, serious stuff now. 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:09.200 Eschatological belonging. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:11.680 Eschatological belonging. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:22.480 It's a huge theological word, but it basically means your true identity, your true home, your true security is in Jesus and the place he has prepared for you. 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:24.960 Eschatological belonging. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:29.279 It means like it's again, church, it's the shifting. 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:31.359 We are children of the resurrection. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:35.440 It's a shifting to say, all my focus, it's not here. 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:37.039 It's when he comes. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:40.640 It's everything that happens after I breathe my last. 00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:44.640 So that while I'm still breathing, the breaths are important. 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.200 Let me say that again. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:51.200 Let me run that back because that made more sense in my head, and I thought you'd be like, uh-huh. 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:57.440 If my breaths are gonna have meaning in this life, I can't forget about the next life. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:03.359 And the more I just think about this life, the less my breath has meaning. 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:05.440 Doesn't mean the less valuable I am. 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.240 I'm still loved. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.599 You're still loved. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:18.799 But if I'm gonna live a legacy, not just leave a legacy, but if I'm gonna live a legacy, I gotta remember that there's a future coming that's eternally with him. 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:21.759 The place that he's prepared for me and prepared for you. 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.799 You with me on that? 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.640 Cool, all right. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.720 Revelation 21, just one more thing. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:32.160 Revelation 21, verse 4, I just want to add to this. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:42.960 In that time, it says this, and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:34:03.519 And there will no longer be death, there will no longer be sorrow and anguish or crying or pain for the former order of things has passed away. 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:36.159 And I wanted to read that verse, and I'm like, my mom had this Bible that was like full-on falling apart, duct taped together, notes sticking out everywhere, and uh it was always she always read the amplified version. 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.800 Have you never read the amplified version? 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:44.800 It's like it takes like every word and expounds each word to the most meanings of that word, right? 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:47.440 And um, it's like a thesaurus, right? 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:54.320 You open it up and it gives you like every word, and and I and as preparing, I was like, I want I want to read the amplified version. 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:58.719 And I and I sat and I was reading that, and it hit me. 00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:02.079 I was like, man, this is the version my mom would read. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:10.880 And um and there was something about it for me of just like reading a passage. 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:17.679 I don't know that we do good with with with with with grief. 00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:20.239 But man, with grief comes tears. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:24.400 And sometimes Mother's Day, I just wanted to hit this point. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:30.800 Sometimes Mother's Day is not a day that some people look forward to because a lot of pain associated, because there's distance now. 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:40.559 But man, when I read Revelation, I'm like, it's tears that I cry. 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:42.639 That don't, they don't have a chance. 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:45.119 They're like just every tear wiped away. 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.599 And I don't know if that's you this morning. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:52.719 You're like, man, that's just certain times of years hit and it gets harder, not easier. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:55.119 It's difficult for you because everybody's kind of celebrating you. 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:57.440 They're like, ah man, I'm kind of grieved. 00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:06.079 But I love that as children of the resurrection, we don't have to grieve as those who have no hope. 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:14.159 Verse 37 says, But now as to whether the dead will rise, or excuse me, be raised, even Moses proved this. 00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:15.679 Why is Jesus quoting Moses? 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:21.679 Moses is talking to the Sadducees because they only believed that Moses' words were authoritative. 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.199 Right? 00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:25.119 So he's meeting them where they're at. 00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:29.119 Even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:34.079 Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, check this out, had died. 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:42.239 He referred to the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:46.320 So he is the God of the living and not the dead, for they are alive to him. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.840 I want to read that again. 00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:56.880 It says, he referred to the Lord as the God of Abraham, not he was the God. 00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:04.400 As to whether the dead will rise, even Moses proved it. 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.440 Long after Abraham, Isaac had died, he referred to the Lord as the God currently. 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:12.639 That word, when you break it down into the Greek, it's right now. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:16.159 He's right now the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac. 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.719 Right? 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.760 Like, are you with me on that? 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.960 So what is he saying? 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.559 Like, what does he mean by that? 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:22.079 It means that they're not dead. 00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:24.800 If he is currently their God, then they are alive. 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:26.159 They just aren't here. 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:35.599 It's not he was their God, because if they had died and they didn't exist anymore, then he was in the past tense, but he is in the present tense still their God. 00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:42.800 So when somebody dies and they have relationship with Jesus, they they they may have died here, but they are still alive in him. 00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:45.440 He is still their God. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:53.280 And so he speaks about Moses in this regard, like currently, right now, he is the God of the living and not the dead. 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:58.880 There's nobody that's passed away that had relationship with him that doesn't still have relationship with him. 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:02.000 He is the God of the living and not the dead, for they are alive to him. 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:03.679 Check this out, verse 39. 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.960 Well said, teacher. 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:07.440 Could you imagine giving props to God? 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:16.239 Well said, teacher, remarked some of the teachers of religious law who are standing there, and no one dared to ask him any more questions. 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:18.559 No one dared to ask him any more questions. 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:30.880 I love that in these two passages we see that our deepest identity is that we are children of God. 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:37.679 And that wrapped up in that identity is our future. 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:42.800 That he will always be our God because we will not die. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:50.719 My deepest identity is that I'm his child, and attached to that identity is I will always be in his presence. 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:53.360 I will always be with him. 00:38:57.679 --> 00:39:03.920 When you live with those two truths, it changes how you live. 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:11.360 And um, I'm gonna I'm gonna go out of where I didn't tell Adam I was gonna do this first, it's not gonna be on your screen. 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.079 I'm jumping ahead. 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:14.400 He's not even in the room right now, so who cares? 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.920 Chapter 21, it's not on, it's not on there. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:18.880 This is chapter 21. 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.719 I'm actually skipping a little bit of a portion. 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:22.239 I'll teach on that next week. 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:29.920 In chapter 21, verse 1, it says, uh, while Jesus was in the temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts into the collection box. 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:34.159 They're doing the right thing, but not necessarily the right heart. 00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:36.079 Then a poor widow came by. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:36.719 Check this out. 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:38.559 Then a poor widow came by. 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:40.000 What did we just learn about widows? 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:46.880 They don't have any legacy, they don't have any inheritance, they don't have any rights, they're fully taken advantage of. 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:50.960 A poor widow came by and dropped two small coins. 00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:54.079 I tell you the truth, these are red letters. 00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:54.800 This is Jesus. 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:56.480 I tell you the truth, Jesus said. 00:39:56.639 --> 00:40:00.320 This poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:07.920 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has. 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:13.760 And this is what hit me when I read that, thinking about our identity and what we'll be in our future. 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:21.440 This, we even just read a little bit ago, like, why did brothers have to marry the spouses of their brothers who had died? 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:26.159 But so that there would be some kind of place for them in history. 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:29.920 And I love how Jesus comes and he rearranges everything. 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:35.519 And now this widow that doesn't have any legacy, any kind of any kind of inheritance, she doesn't have anything. 00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:36.400 Check this out. 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:38.800 You can Google and look and check this out. 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:45.280 That it's estimated that four, I gotta look. 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:48.159 Don't get it wrong. 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:58.880 Four to six billion Bibles, four hundred to six hundred billion Bibles, sorry, have been printed. 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:07.840 Now, portions thereof have been translated into over a couple thousand languages, but there are 700 languages that the entire Bible has been printed into. 00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:08.960 With me on that? 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:12.880 So, like billions, let's just say this, billions and billions, that's a number we can't wrap our head around. 00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:14.239 Billions and billions of Bibles. 00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:17.760 Enough Bible to fill this place and go all the way like up, right? 00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:20.239 Like it's just we can't fathom that many. 00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:21.920 That many people reading the Bible. 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:22.719 Check this out. 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:35.679 This woman gave two coins, and yet her legacy has been translated into 700 languages, into billions of Bibles, so that billions of people over the course of history have learned about her faithfulness. 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:40.000 There's not a small thing that you do in service to God. 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:43.599 There's only faithful things that you do and you let Him bless it. 00:41:43.840 --> 00:42:00.320 She walked in with nothing, gave two coins, and now we read about her in 2026, about this lady who gave, didn't have any children, didn't have anything else in her life, but those two coins gave them, and God honors her by letting us hear about her legacy. 00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:06.239 There's a moment when you'll be in heaven, and it just seems like, as you read scripture, that you're just gonna somehow know people. 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:17.119 Like on the Mount of Transfiguration, like right when Moses and Elijah show up with Jesus, and the apostles are like, hey, listen, they recognize them. 00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:19.440 I don't know how they recognize them, but they recognize them. 00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:22.239 And we're just gonna know people. 00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:28.320 Wouldn't it be amazing that you just you're walking one day and you see this woman? 00:42:31.760 --> 00:42:34.000 You're the two coins, woman. 00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:37.119 I don't even know your name. 00:42:37.920 --> 00:42:40.000 You're the two coins, lady. 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:47.039 I just need to tell you that those two coins remind me there's nothing insignificant in my life that I give to God. 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:54.639 Moms in this room, there's nothing insignificant in this life that you give to God. 00:42:56.960 --> 00:43:03.760 Everyone in this room, there's nothing insignificant if you give it to them. 00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:09.920 There's some things in life that are a cost. 00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:13.840 Coffee out, right? 00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:15.039 It's a cost. 00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:18.079 Some people call it self-care. 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:24.719 I'm just keeping it real with you. 00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:28.079 I've never had a coffee that was like my whole week changed. 00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:30.320 It's like 15 minutes. 00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:31.920 I was like, I was alright. 00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:34.320 But now I want a muffin, right? 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:40.239 Like there's some things in life that you give money, it's a cost, you're not getting that back. 00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:43.760 But there's things in life that are an investment and you see return on. 00:43:44.719 --> 00:43:49.280 And everything you give to God is fully invested in the right place. 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:52.880 Because coming for you, listen, is a love. 00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:56.880 Like, I can I just tell you, it shook it shook me a little bit preparing this message. 00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:59.519 Like, I don't get to be married to Ashley in heaven. 00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:06.159 I'm not trying to get points right now, but it bothered me, man. 00:44:07.840 --> 00:44:16.000 Like uh, how great is it gonna be? 00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:19.280 Right? 00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:25.039 Like, how incredible is it gonna be that the fullness of his presence is all I need? 00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:37.440 That the most meaningful relationship I have with another human on this planet isn't gonna be able to compare to what's going on in that place. 00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:43.760 And everything that I do now is not wasted. 00:44:44.239 --> 00:44:48.719 But as much as I look at this life and focus on this life, man, I'm gonna make some wrong choices. 00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:51.920 But if I can remember, I'm a child of the resurrection. 00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:56.000 And the groom is there, and he's preparing a place for me, and he's returning for me. 00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:58.559 I want to live today with purpose. 00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:01.360 I want to live Monday with purpose. 00:45:01.599 --> 00:45:05.280 I want to seize an opportunity to share the gospel with people. 00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:08.960 I want to seize opportunity to love on those who aren't loved. 00:45:09.039 --> 00:45:27.679 Listen, I want to tell you right now, moms in this place, you you you, I know you got physical children, but I want to tell you, every woman in this place, God would call you in this season to be a spiritual mother because there are sons and daughters that don't know what it is to have a spiritual mom, pray over them, prophesy over them, embrace them safely. 00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:38.800 And listen, those young sons and daughters are gonna be coming to this church, and you can do something that I can't do. 00:45:40.639 --> 00:45:42.800 I can pray for the spiritual mothers. 00:45:42.960 --> 00:45:50.960 I cannot be a spiritual mother because God has created you in such a fashion, such a way that you're gonna do it so differently than what I could ever imagine. 00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:55.440 It's gonna be the right words at the right time, the right embrace in the right moment. 00:46:00.079 --> 00:46:07.519 And so this morning, why I want to honor you, I also want to throw out a uh a responsibility if I can. 00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:12.719 Like, Joey, I didn't come to get more responsibility, I came to get caffeine after the service. 00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:24.159 I feel like it's something that God's laying on the women of this church right now. 00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:31.679 Let me just pray over you. 00:46:35.599 --> 00:46:50.960 God, I just prophesy right now over the women of this church, the mothers who have children currently, the mothers who don't yet have their children in their arms, but they're coming. 00:46:52.000 --> 00:47:00.239 And the mothers, all of them who operate with a calling from heaven. 00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:24.880 Lord, I prophesy over them right now that their hugs be anointed, that their words be anointed, to speak into a generation that doesn't really know what true love feels like. 00:47:25.760 --> 00:47:28.800 They don't really know what an unconditional love is. 00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:40.639 I prophesy over them right now, God, that they would have anointing in their hands and healing in their hands to bind up those who are broken and those who are wounded. 00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:47.360 And I thank you, God, that as they pour out, you would refresh them. 00:47:47.599 --> 00:47:49.360 Because I know they're tired. 00:47:49.679 --> 00:47:56.880 I pray that you would refresh them, that their rest at night would be sleep, that they could sleep with peace, not worrying about tomorrow. 00:47:57.199 --> 00:47:58.880 Because God, what is there to worry about? 00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:02.239 Death has lost its sting, the grave is going hungry. 00:48:02.480 --> 00:48:04.239 Lord, that you've won. 00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:05.760 Victory is yours. 00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:07.920 Eternity is waiting for us. 00:48:08.159 --> 00:48:10.559 Your arms open on the other side, waiting for us. 00:48:10.719 --> 00:48:17.280 God, I thank you right now that these women in this room that might worry at night would worry no longer. 00:48:17.599 --> 00:48:19.599 They would sleep sound and wake up refresh. 00:48:19.679 --> 00:48:26.079 God, I pray that you would minister to them in their time of getting in the word, their time of sharing with one another. 00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:32.559 Man, for those that are in this room right now, maybe there's not a whole lot of quiet moments. 00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:37.039 The door is getting knocked on while they're in the restroom, God. 00:48:37.119 --> 00:48:42.400 Like, Lord, would you just meet them in all the cracks and all the spaces of time? 00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:46.400 Just pour into them, refresh them. 00:48:47.760 --> 00:48:51.360 And Lord, I just want to pray and prophesy over this church right now. 00:48:52.320 --> 00:48:54.239 We are not attenders. 00:48:54.559 --> 00:48:59.440 The men and women in this room are not attenders of Hope City. 00:48:59.679 --> 00:49:02.079 They're disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:49:06.159 --> 00:49:10.000 Whose focus is not on the now, but on the future. 00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:19.840 And Lord, as we know and we recognize that our life is about the one to come, not the one that is, God, that that brings meaning to the one that is right now. 00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:29.280 Father, I thank you for disciples in this room that would put on the whole armor of God and run into the fight. 00:49:29.760 --> 00:49:33.760 Run to rescue, run to heal, run to share hope. 00:49:35.119 --> 00:49:36.719 Thank you for that right now. 00:49:41.760 --> 00:49:44.800 Lord, we honor you and we love you and we bless your name. 00:49:45.360 --> 00:49:52.639 I pray over this time as we just celebrate together, Lord, that it'll be rich in conversation, rich in prayer, rich in love. 00:49:53.920 --> 00:49:56.800 And we just thank you for what you're doing in this church. 00:49:56.960 --> 00:49:59.199 We thank you for what you're doing in this space. 00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:00.800 We honor it. 00:50:01.199 --> 00:50:02.800 We submit to it. 00:50:04.719 --> 00:50:06.000 We bless it. 00:50:06.480 --> 00:50:07.599 And we bless your name. 00:50:07.679 --> 00:50:08.639 In Jesus' name, we pray. 00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:08.960 You say,