WEBVTT 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:11.439 Hey, I'm Steve Holt, the senior pastor of the Reddit at Chapel Hills. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:12.880 This is the Reddit Podcast. 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:14.240 Thanks for joining us. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:17.600 My heart is to empower you to change the world. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:19.920 I hope this message impacts you. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.399 Here now is our guest speaker. 00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:30.000 Well, guys, the title of my message this morning is Never Enough. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:33.679 And Q the song from the greatest showman, right? 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:45.280 And the great line from that song, all the shine of a thousand spotlights, all the stars we steal from the night sky will never be enough. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:49.920 Has Hollywood ever spoken truer words? 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:52.880 And yet they keep pursuing it. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:55.840 And yet we keep pursuing it. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:01.359 Temporary satisfaction, momentary fulfillment, fleeting pleasures. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:04.239 Amazon packages at the door. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:06.000 Ah, that feels good. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.519 Well, time to order another. 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:13.439 The big bonus check hit the bank account. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:14.959 Man, that feels good. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:17.359 Well, time to earn another. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:18.319 Right? 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:20.159 Here's one. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:22.799 Record number of likes on Instagram. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.400 That feels good. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.040 Am I wrong? 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.599 Anyone here honest enough to admit it? 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:32.640 So I'm not saying that it's all bad. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:39.359 I believe that the Lord loves to bless his children, and I think that he loves to see delight in our eyes, just like we do our own children. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:52.640 But what I'm talking about is when we rely upon that stuff for our sense of purpose, our meaning, our fulfillment, even, might I say, our salvation, rather than relying on our walk with the Lord. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:59.760 My thesis for today is that stuff will never be enough to satisfy your desires. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:10.560 And this is the harder one, your performance will never be enough to satisfy the Lord's requirements. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:17.280 A good concluding statement for today's message would be only Christ is enough. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:21.840 Let's open our Bibles to Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:55.199 Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1 says, And you he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:57.360 Let's go back to the top of that verse. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.759 Let's look at the first five words. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.599 It says, And you he made alive. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:04.800 He. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.479 It is he who makes you alive. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:14.719 No item, feeling, friend, or momentary fulfillment can bring you from death to life. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:16.560 Only he can do that. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:19.759 Would you lift your voices with me right now and say, only he can do that? 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:20.400 Come on. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:22.319 Only he can do that. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:26.400 Only he can bring you from death to life. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:34.080 It's like we got to speak it into our spirit, get it past our flesh and past our mind so that we actually really believe it and live it. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:35.759 He made you alive. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:38.319 He is the way to life. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:46.639 John 10, 10, Jesus said, I have come that they may have life and life abundantly. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:56.000 And I think that we first look at that scripture, and in our flesh, we think, ah, finally he's come to give me more stuff so I can live. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.639 But I think what he's actually saying is, I am life. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:02.479 I am here. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:04.719 You may have me. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:09.439 And in so doing, you may have abundant life. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.120 Only he can bring you to life. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:16.720 He says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:24.399 And anytime we look to anything less than the Lord to bring us life, we automatically set ourselves up for disappointment. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.519 Only the Lord can create life. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:31.279 Nobody and nothing else can. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:35.519 And then this the verse says, He made you alive. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:37.920 How did he make you alive? 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.680 Well, with the greatest irony in the world. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:53.439 The greatest irony in human history, the perfect, blameless creator of the universe sent his perfect and blameless son to die for us. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:05:01.759 And may we never for a moment undervalue or downplay the single greatest act of love in all of humanity. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:08.480 As Scripture puts it, may we never treat what is holy as common and unholy. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:14.639 How many of us can't even stomach the idea of sending our child to die for somebody else? 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:18.240 Much less somebody who doesn't even like you or appreciate it. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.279 And yet the Lord did that when we least deserved it. 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:37.439 Ephesians 2, 5 says, even when we were dead in trespasses, Romans 5, 7, and 8 says, now most people would not be willing to die for someone who is good, although maybe someone would die for another who is especially good. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:44.959 It says, but God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us when? 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:47.920 While we were still sinners. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:53.519 Now I read that verse and I think, wait a second, still sinners, I wasn't even born yet. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:58.319 That happened 2,000 years before I was born, so I wasn't still a sinner. 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:00.399 I wasn't even born yet to sin against him. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:01.279 So what's that mean? 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:11.360 That means that Christ knew that I would be born 2,000 years later, and that I would sin against him, and yet he still chose to die for me. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:24.560 Furthermore, follow me here, it means that he knew that I would know that he died for me and still sin against him, and yet he still chose to die for me. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:27.920 Is there anybody else who loves you that perfectly? 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:33.360 Anyone else who knows your future sins and still chooses to die for you? 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.199 Is there anybody like our Jesus? 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.959 And how many times do we reach for something less to satisfy? 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:57.759 All the while knowing there is a Savior who values us so highly, who loves us so much that he was willing to lay down his life for us, willing to walk with us and bring us true fullness of joy. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:11.279 You know, the people that I look up to most, the the first thing I notice in them is always, and the first thing I tend to say about them is, man, that guy must really walk with the Lord. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:13.519 Anyone know those type of people? 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.000 You're like, I just want to be like that guy. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:21.519 I just want to be like that person who's just just not easily frazzled. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:32.000 Just walks with the Lord and knows God is good, God's on the throne, he's got this, he rules the world with his feet up, he's not stressed, just walking with the Lord. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.319 I want to be like that guy. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:41.360 See, he made you alive by dying for you in your worst moments. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:46.639 He died especially for the times when you reach for the stuff that wants to kill you. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:51.920 The sin, the temptation, the anger, the lust, the envy, you know your list. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:08:00.399 He took all of that to the grave with him, and when he emerged three days later, the only thing that came with him was the Spirit of the living God. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:09.519 And Romans 8 13 says, If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh, you will what? 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:10.639 Live. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:12.160 You will live. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:15.199 Is there anybody who wants to truly live here today? 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.160 Amen. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:21.120 This leads us to the final word in our verse here. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:22.399 Alive. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:25.439 He made you alive. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:32.960 I have two daughters age six and four, and so of course, I've got all the Disney movies memorized right now. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:38.000 And uh, if you look closely at those Disney movies, the theme is pretty much always the same. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.840 Someone's trying to find themselves. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.000 Someone's trying to find the purpose of life. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:42.960 What am I here for? 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:44.000 What am I supposed to do? 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:44.799 What's my value? 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:45.919 What's my meaning? 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:53.360 Is there anybody here who wants to truly live, who's tired of trying to find the purpose or the value of life, the meaning? 00:08:54.240 --> 00:09:00.320 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:08.480 Psalm 16, 11, David says, You will show me the path of life, and your presence is fullness of joy. 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:13.039 At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:19.120 In him there is true joy, true pleasures forevermore, and the path to true life. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:22.480 Anyone who is in Christ will never die. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:25.759 If that's not abundant life, I don't know what is. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.639 Abundant life is not more stuff, it's not more money, it's not more accomplishments. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.559 Abundant life is an abundance of Christ. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:40.559 An abundant, fruitful walk, relationship with the Lord. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:42.799 That's abundant life. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.080 The verse says, He made you alive. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:50.159 Well, if he made you alive, that means that you must have once been dead. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.759 Like, hey, how's your day going? 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.679 Well, I was dead. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:57.440 Now I'm alive, so pretty good, I'd say. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:07.120 I had a pastor in Chicago, he's uh he was an old timer, he's actually since passed, but um, every time you'd ask him, hey HB, how you doing? 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.759 He'd always reply, it's a great day to be alive. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:11.519 Great day to be alive. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.879 And he's right. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:17.679 Another way to say it is it's a great day to not be dead anymore. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:19.679 Right? 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.600 He made you alive who were dead. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:27.200 The verse says, dead in trespasses and sins. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:32.720 And I naturally look at that verse and I think, well, that obviously doesn't mean me with my little private sins. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:36.480 That means the guys who struggle with, you know, robbing banks and killing people. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:39.200 I don't struggle with that anymore. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:45.679 No, it means all sin. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:50.639 Verse 3 says, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:53.440 See, it's not just the bank robbers and the murderers. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:54.799 All sin. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:59.679 You see, when we walk according to the flesh, we're walking in death. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:04.720 We're literally, like the title of the old show, we're the walking dead. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:09.120 And I think God is saying, Man, I've got so much more for you. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.039 I made you alive. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.480 Walk in that. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.919 I think of the quote from the movie Speed. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:21.039 You guys remember that movie with Keanu Reeves with the bomb on the bus, and silly. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:31.440 But they come to this point where he's getting ready to get on this little like dolly and go under the bus while it's doing 70 miles an hour down the highway, and he's got to diffuse a bomb. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.480 And it's funny the stuff we'll let ourselves believe. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:42.720 But um the guy that's with him, right when he's getting ready to go on this little thing and go onto the bus, the best line ever. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.960 He goes, Alright, Jack, this is it. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:46.799 Don't get dead. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:50.399 It's like that's terrible English. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.919 But that's what's gonna make it stick in your head this week, right? 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:59.519 When you reach for something less than the Lord, just say to yourselves, wait a second, don't get dead. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:01.200 You already dead once. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:02.720 He made you alive. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.960 Stay alive, don't get dead. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.759 Walk in the spirit. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:12.960 Don't settle for temporary satisfaction, momentary fulfillment. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.639 It'll never be enough. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.799 It lasts only a moment. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:18.159 It's temporary. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:22.000 Scripture says he has written eternity on your heart. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:24.720 That's an eternal void that you feel. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:28.159 Temporary stuff ain't gonna do it. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:36.159 Again, the first part of my thesis: stuff will never be enough to satisfy your desires. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:38.559 Only Christ is enough. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:47.759 And then the second part, this one's even harder, your performance will never be enough to satisfy the Lord's requirements. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.480 I know a lot of people hear that and cringe. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:56.480 And that's because we've been told all our lives how special we are that we can tie our own shoes. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:01.840 And don't worry, we've got participation awards at the back. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:09.279 You can email your rebuttals to me at Dejocomo at you can't spelldegiocomo.com. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:18.320 See, I think we have an innate desire to feel accomplished and to impress, right? 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.279 And to be proud of something, and that's not all bad. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.919 Scripture says if you're gonna boast, boast in the Lord. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.080 So obviously boasting is in us. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:31.759 But as we've already talked about, first we want to satisfy our fleshly desires. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:37.759 We want to boast in our own stuff and what we've accomplished, and we want to impress ourselves, and we want to impress others. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:42.559 But we walk that path long enough and we realize wait a second, this is pretty empty. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:43.600 Right? 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:48.159 We realize, wait a second, fulfillment is in the Lord. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.519 But here's the problem. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:54.720 Even when we we've had that epiphany, the enemy doesn't just say, all right, I give up. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.720 I'm not gonna keep tricking them anymore. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:00.399 No, then the enemy turns it to us trying to impress who? 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.759 The Lord. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:02.960 Right? 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.759 And then we end up in hyper-religiosity. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:13.840 And maybe if I just go to church enough times and I don't skip church and I do enough Bible studies and I do enough good stuff, then maybe the Lord will be impressed with me. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.240 Then maybe he'll give me his approval. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:18.879 Maybe he'll bless me, maybe he'll let me in. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.559 Has anybody been there? 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.200 Most of my life. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.320 It's where hyper-religiosity comes from. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:37.759 But you see, we have scripture, so we see Saul, who was Paul, we see the Pharisees, we see the Sadducees, and we realize, okay, obviously it's not in that religiosity stuff. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.519 It's not in funny outfits and piety. 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:48.159 So we end up in the modern day version of religiosity, which is again just playing the Christianity game. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:51.279 Like I just won't, I won't skip church that many times. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.000 Then maybe God will be satisfied with me. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:09.360 Or if I put on a phony front of humility by constantly talking myself down, refusing to receive compliments, working my hands to the bone for little to no pay, letting people roll over me, then maybe the Lord will be impressed with me. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:13.039 Hypothetically speaking, of course. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:18.720 No, see, if that sounds specific enough to be from experience, it's because it is. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:22.799 And I think many of you can relate. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:32.399 See, I think most of us can relate with trying to impress God and satisfy a requirement that God has neither equipped nor called us to satisfy. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:37.279 Let me quickly tell you a little bit about how God led me to this sermon. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.799 It started back when I was a kid, maybe five or six years old. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:45.840 Um I'm one of ten kids, and yes, we were Catholic. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.320 Get that out of the way. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:52.559 I'm not sure that had anything to do with it. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.879 Now being an adult, I know that Catholic isn't what causes kids. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:58.720 It's something else. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:07.679 Anyways, growing up in a family that size, I quickly realized, like, man, there's not a whole lot of extra time, money, or attention to go around. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:14.080 So I decided as this little five or six-year-old, I don't want to be a burden, I want to be a help, and so I'm just gonna stay out of the way. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:19.679 And I'm gonna need nothing from anybody, and I'm and I'm gonna be hyper-independent. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.159 Now, I say that, but I was five. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:25.279 I was probably still wet in the bed by then, but let's be real. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.639 But I determined not to need anything from anyone. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:40.559 And what that meant was that if I was going to be successful at my little five-year-old mission, that I was going to have to hold myself to incredibly high standards. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.600 I mean, I'm talking like if I made an error in T-ball, you couldn't talk to me for three days. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.360 I was so mad at myself. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:58.480 And so I started to think, well, well, if I have such high standards for myself, and God, who is perfect, he must have even higher standards for me. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:06.079 And so I basically ended up making God into like this angry egomaniac who was just waiting for me to screw up. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:10.319 Now I have to say, none of this was my parents' fault. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:16.799 When you're one of ten kids, if you make it to the end of the day, everybody's still alive and knows which one they are. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.279 That's a pretty successful day. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:32.880 One nice thing about being in a family that size was that if uh you got in trouble and mom went to yell at you, well, she couldn't remember which one you were, so by the time she made it down the list to your name, I was like halfway down the block. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.559 I never got spanked. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.640 I was far enough down the list. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:48.799 Seriously, though, my idea of God's standard as a kid sounded like try harder, work harder, accomplish more. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.200 That's not good enough. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.680 You need to do it better, you need to do more. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.960 When are you ever gonna get it right? 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:06.000 That's why I basically made God into a big jerk who only gave grace, love, or mercy to those who'd earned it. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.599 Sad, right? 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:11.599 The enemy knows how to get us, especially as kids. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:15.839 That's why this stuff is so critical for parents of small kids. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:21.039 Let's look back at our verse here, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 4. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.240 Says, but God. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:31.279 Heard a pastor one time who said he's gonna do a sermon series called The Greatest Butts in the Bible. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:38.000 It's gonna be the best attended men's study ever in church history. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:44.079 Verse says, but God, who is rich in mercy. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:49.519 Mercy's been defined as God not giving us what we do deserve. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.559 Scripture says we were all deserving of what? 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.519 Death. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.599 Thank God He doesn't give us what we deserve. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.319 Amen. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:04.000 And yet, how ironic that we get caught up trying to earn from God. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.720 Trust me, you don't want the only thing you can earn from God in God's economy. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.480 Receive his mercy. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:17.519 Let down your guard, let down your unrelenting standards for yourself. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.680 God's not impressed. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:22.079 You've tried it long enough, haven't you? 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:25.200 You've shown yourself that it's not working. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:27.359 Receive his mercy. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.599 Then the verse goes on. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:37.599 It says, Because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:42.480 So not only could we not earn it, but we were in fact dead. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:45.440 How valuable is a dead guy? 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.759 How much can a dead guy earn? 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.960 Nothing. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:19:59.359 Sad. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.920 Sad that that's even a joke that can be told. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.839 It's true. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:14.400 See, our verse continues, it says, He made us alive together with Christ. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:17.359 By grace you have been saved. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:23.759 And raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:32.079 You see, the Lord isn't waiting for you to work your way into becoming some barely approved pathetic subject in his kingdom. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.799 No, quite the opposite. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.440 Doesn't matter how hard you try, it won't work. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:46.640 Instead, but God took care of it for you, and in fact, promoted you far beyond what you could ever earn in your own way. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:54.160 Promoted you, what scripture say, to the heavenly places in Christ, to be seated with the King. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.319 Oh, that we would cease useless striving, trying to earn from the Lord. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:07.279 Instead enjoy your seat with the Lord in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:09.200 Thank you, God. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.000 Are you Martha or are you Mary? 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:15.839 Are you striving to earn his approval? 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:20.240 Or are you sitting with the King, enjoying your place with him? 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.880 Our verse goes on. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.240 It says that in the ages to come he might show what? 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:33.680 The exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:42.799 Hopefully, your view of the Lord is starting to shift to see that he's not only not stingy, but is instead infinitely generous toward his children. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:49.039 And finally, we find ourselves in the most liberating verse in the Bible. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:55.200 Scripture says, For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:58.079 And that not of yourselves. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.680 It is the gift. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:06.720 Of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:09.680 For by grace you have been saved. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:13.920 Through faith, there are three gifts in that one line there. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.039 Do you see them? 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:19.359 Grace, salvation, and faith. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.920 None can be earned. 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.759 All are free. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.160 All are required. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:31.839 I love the acronym for the word grace, God's riches at Christ's expense. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:37.279 We get all of God's riches because of the price that Christ paid for us. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.119 We didn't earn it. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:43.680 We are incapable of earning it because the standard is perfection. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:50.720 The only thing that could pay the price for our sins was the blood of the one who never sinned. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.640 And there's only ever been one. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:58.480 The only one who could ever earn us God's approval was Christ. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:08.400 No amount of Bible studies, good deeds, self-sacrifice, high work ethic, whatever else is on your list, could ever earn an ounce of God's approval. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:11.440 We love to try and earn it, don't we? 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:24.000 I have to tell you, a few weeks ago I found myself in a place where I was wrestling with God day and night because He was trying to bless me, and I didn't want the blessing his way. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:27.440 I wanted to earn it myself. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:32.640 And I want to be able to say that my hard work has provided for my family. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:37.119 I don't want to receive the blessing and the generosity of others. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:39.920 Such pride and arrogance, right? 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:46.240 And thankfully, a great friend and a mentor of mine kept saying, dude, receive the blessing. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:52.079 Quit trying to get it your own way just so that you can beat your chest and say, Look what I did. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:58.559 He said, God has a different mission for your life than just conquering the American dream. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:11.039 You see, God knew this was a hurdle that I had to cross after having spent 30 years trying to prove myself, trying to earn my way, trying to be enough, trying to need nobody. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.759 You see, the enemy had been whispering in my ear my whole life, you'll never be enough. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.039 You'll never be enough. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.240 Work harder. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.000 Maybe you can earn it. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:20.880 Not enough. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.000 Do better. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:28.480 Sad part is I actually thought that was God saying that the whole time. 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:33.119 But what the enemy intends for evil, the Lord turns for good. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:46.319 And the Lord, one day, a couple weeks ago, in the most loving and liberating way, said to me, Kyle, you'll never be enough. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:48.400 That's why I sent my son. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:53.119 He said, I didn't call you to be enough. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:55.200 I called you to be loved. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:59.200 Ladies and gentlemen, you weren't called to be enough. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.599 You were called to be loved. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:09.759 And I wonder how many here today need to be liberated and realize I don't need to be enough. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:15.519 You weren't called to perform or live up to or accomplish. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:22.720 Your works are as rags in comparison to what Christ has done for you in the way that He has made for you. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:24.480 You weren't called to be enough. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.240 You were called to be loved. 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:35.119 And in that place of being loved and knowing him and walking with him and being known by him, he'll do the work in you. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.880 He'll do the good work that your heart desires. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:42.400 We're going to finish up with our verse here, verse 8. 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.279 Let's look there. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:55.279 It says, By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:03.599 See, the problem is that even if we could accomplish it on our own, we would immediately resort to sinful boasting and then have to start all over. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.039 Right? 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:15.279 But instead, God wants to walk with us and cause the good works to well up out of our relationship with Him, out of our walk with Him. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:20.799 Our verse concludes, it says, For we are His workmanship. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:24.079 We're meant to show His glory, not ours. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:32.160 Created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:40.240 You see, if you realize what we've done here, we finally put right order to cause and effect. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:52.160 See, for the longest time we thought that the cause was our good works, and the effect was God's love, God's approval, God's permission. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:59.920 What we've just seen here in Scripture is that in fact God's love is the cause. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:04.000 How much He loved us and loves us. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:06.400 His love is the cause. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.480 The works are the effect. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:11.359 We've got to keep that straight. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:15.440 The key factor here is walking. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:19.039 That's all you have to do, just walk. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:21.279 Just walk with the Lord. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:26.400 We don't need a list, we don't need a checkbox. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:29.599 We need a relationship with the Lord. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.960 We need time with the Lord. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.920 That's it. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.559 Before we finish, just one final story. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.680 Then we'll worship. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:39.599 I had a dream when I was a kid. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:45.279 And it's a dream that I think the Lord has forever used to keep me walking with Him. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:53.680 In this dream, Jesus very clearly came to me and said, Kyle, I can heal anybody you want. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:28:02.000 And the rest of the dream was literally just Christ and myself just walking around, encountering people who are sick. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.920 So simple. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:08.559 And we would just encounter somebody who was sick, and I would say, Jesus, can you heal them? 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.599 He'd say, Yeah. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.839 And he'd heal them right there on the spot. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.960 That was it. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.839 That was the full complexity of that dream. 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:20.079 And I believe that is the full complexity of our walk with the Lord. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.440 We just walk. 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.960 We just walk with him. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.319 And we rely on him. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:27.279 We rely on our relationship with him. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.559 He does the good work in and through us. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.440 But it's the effect. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:35.359 The causes his love. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:38.799 The causes us walking with him, knowing him. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:44.400 Hey, thanks for listening to the Road Podcast. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:48.079 It's been my joy to be a part of your life today. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:56.240 And you know, that's part of what we do here at The Road, and this is what I do, and having this Road Podcast is to empower people to change their world. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:05.440 My passion and desire is that you would take God's word through the power of the Holy Spirit and make that relevant for your life. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:11.279 You know, the reality is that God has placed your life here on this earth to make a difference. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:20.400 And if you'd like more information about how to grow in Christ, if you need prayer, if you want more equipping in different areas of your life, go to thero.org. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.680 God bless you.