WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.799 So last week we finished our summer going through the parables of grace taught by Jesus. 00:00:04.959 --> 00:00:08.080 We've been going through those for the entire summer. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:16.640 And now this week we're going to begin using the church liturgical calendar to guide our teachings on Sunday morning. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:29.280 And what that is is, if you're not familiar with that, that is how the church has historically structured the calendar year and put passages Sunday by Sunday for us to learn the scriptures over time. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:31.519 And so we jump in at John 6 this morning. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:45.200 So at this point, Jesus fed the 5,000, probably 15,000 people, 5,000 men, so there's women, there's children, so maybe 15,000 people, and he feeds them with five loaves of bread and two fish. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:46.320 An incredible miracle, right? 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:47.280 I mean, this was incredible. 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:49.840 Everybody would have known about these, not only these 15,000 people. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:52.240 Word would have spread about this. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:01:00.640 Then there's this story where he goes out on the water, there's a storm, he walks on water, another incredible, incredible story. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:06.239 And then he ends up back on land, and this crowd of people finds him. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:08.000 Well, rightfully so. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.159 These were hungry people. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:15.519 These are the people that were either fed at that miracle or they heard about it, and they're hungry people. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:17.760 They're not at Chick-fil-A three times a week. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:20.000 They don't know about the Golden Corral buffet. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:23.439 They are hungry, literally starving people. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:27.599 And this man, this rabbi can provide food. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:30.159 Well, yeah, I'm gonna find him. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:32.640 I'm gonna show up at that place. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:34.319 Of course they find him. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:41.040 And then in that moment, in that moment, Jesus delivers this truth bomb, verse 26. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:50.319 Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:52.079 That's John 6, 26. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.959 He's saying, you love the bread, but you don't love me. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:56.159 That's what he's saying. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:00.079 You love the good stuff, you love the bread, but you don't love me. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:02.159 You see, you you can miss him. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:04.719 You can miss him. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:17.520 You can love church, you can love the checklist that religion gives you that makes you feel productive and valued, and you can miss him. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:20.719 You can love all the good stuff. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.680 You can own all 137 Hillsong albums. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:27.039 You can own all of them. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:29.280 Maybe 237 at this point. 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:31.280 I don't, I can't keep count. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:33.599 And you can miss him. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:38.479 Because you can love the bread. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.080 What he can give, but you can miss him. 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:44.240 That he is the bread. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:46.000 Now, what am I talking about? 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:53.039 Well, point number one is this Jesus primarily came to be bread, not to give bread. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:55.759 Alright, let me break that down a little bit. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:00.000 So, bread's getting a bad rap, right? 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:00.960 Right? 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.199 Oh, you oh you eat bread? 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:03.759 Oh. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:07.840 I think my pastor eats bread. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.879 Well, if you aren't in a culture where there's a million of other options, you eat bread. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.240 Like, I mean, it's the staple in most diets around the world. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:19.840 Historically, everywhere you go. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.800 Bagels, naan, pita, tortillas. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:25.919 We all love the red lobster cheese biscuit. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:26.719 We do. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:30.319 It's the only good thing coming out of that place at this point. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.960 And no matter where you go in the world, you will find bread. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:40.479 You'll find some form of bread because it is universal and it is accessible. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:52.000 And you know what I'm talking about, because it's interesting that we will actually crave bread and not crave others. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:54.800 You've never craved celery, right? 00:03:55.280 --> 00:04:02.960 But man, when there is a basket of bread in the middle of the table, and we wrap it up too, like a present, right? 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.280 Like other food we put on platters, right? 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:08.719 Like, but bread, we put it in a bag, we wrap it up, a little blanket for it. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.080 And you will crave bread. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:16.079 Just me mentioning the red lobster cheese biscuit, you're thinking that through a little bit. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.439 You're like, yeah, it's pretty good. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:18.879 It is pretty good. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.120 And Jesus says, I'm not bread for your body. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.240 Like that's what these people were thinking. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:27.439 That's what they wanted from him. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:31.920 Can I get something from him just to apply it into my life? 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:36.000 And keep my life the same, keep me the same, but just get something from him. 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:37.680 Get some bread. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:41.600 He says, No, no, no, no, no. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:43.439 I'm for your soul. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:47.920 And we have to understand the difference of these two. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.639 Verse 35, 41, 48, I'm the bread of life. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:56.720 Verse 51, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:01.759 And then verse 60, when many of his disciples heard it, so they heard this teaching, they say, ah, it's a hard saying. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:02.800 Who can listen to it? 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:05.920 But Jesus, knowing himself, disciples were grumbling. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:07.759 He says, Do you take offense at this? 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:09.279 Does this offend you? 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:14.399 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:16.160 And then he delivers this. 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:17.279 Verse 63. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.240 It is the Spirit who gives life. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.759 The flesh is no help at all. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:28.800 The words I've spoken to you are spirit and truth, spirit and life. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:33.920 Point number two is this your flesh is a costume. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:38.879 And that costume is useless. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.920 That's verse 63. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:47.920 Last week, my oldest daughter and I, we went to the square to get some ballet tights. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:52.399 Now, we're driving up there, getting a parking spot. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:54.000 I'm like, babe, where do we get them? 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.480 She says, Oh, we got to go into Eddie's trick shop. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:58.480 And I'm like, no, no, okay, for real. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.319 Like, there has to be like a little dance shop, right? 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:01.839 For like little girls to go in and buy their stuff. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.360 No, she's like, no, really, you walk through Eddie's trick shop to the back of the store. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.959 Have you been in Eddie's trick shop? 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:12.240 You've been in there, didn't see ballet stuff at the back of that store, did you? 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:16.240 You walk in, it's about 30 feet wide by 300 feet long. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.560 It's the longest store you've ever been in in your life. 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:21.040 You know, you're like, how can this still be in a building? 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:44.800 And you walk, and it's it's like makeup and dress up makeup and dress up costumes and masks, and just about when your little girl is emotionally wounded from all the zombie, strange, bloody like knives through the forehead, and you know, and then oh, and here's the sweet ballet shoes and tights in the back after we've made you walk through everything else. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:48.800 And so she's back there, and while she trying, changes into her tights. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:55.600 I'm looking at the weird stuff in the shop, and man, there's stuff in there, like there's inventory in there from 1973. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:58.560 Like, I mean, you start looking around, you're like, this shop's incredible. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.399 And it's been there for that long. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:02.800 Like, like it's been there that long. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.639 People are buying people something. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:05.920 We are, we are, right? 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:07.759 Like, like you want a costume, that's where you go. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:09.199 It's incredible. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:15.199 Just costume after costume, mask and makeup, you can paint yourself and wig yourself and make yourself up. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:20.399 I mean, it people love costumes, and we are people. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.600 You see, your flesh is a costume. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:26.879 That's what your flesh is. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:29.519 Maybe the best way to understand your flesh. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:33.199 And there's two parts to us there's our soul and there's our flesh. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:38.399 And our soul is our true self that's underneath all the costumes, underneath all the behaviors. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:42.879 Healthy, unhealthy, sinful, not sinful. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.519 But the soul's underneath all of that. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:47.040 It's the forever you. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.480 That's your soul. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:52.399 And then your flesh is that false self that is afraid. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:54.240 It's afraid. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:08:00.079 It's afraid that if you were really seen underneath all of that, whether you would be loved or not. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.480 And so the flesh does all sorts of crazy stuff. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:07.040 The flesh just keeps putting on costumes. 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.839 A rebellious costume, right? 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.480 Escapism and sinful behaviors. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.040 Rebellious behaviors. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.560 But then it's very happy. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.120 The flesh is very happy to get into church. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:23.279 A church is a wonderful place for the flesh to hide and feed on. 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:25.920 To feed on self-righteousness and judgment. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.480 I mean, what a costume for the flesh. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:37.039 I mean, you can feel incredibly good about yourself in church and still not be loved in your soul. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:45.600 The flesh tries to use approval and achievement, religious merit, anything to feel full. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:52.559 But the hunger's still there because the hunger underneath all your costumes and my costumes, the hunger is still in your soul. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.080 It's underneath. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:06.399 And all of that sin, by the way, like whether it's rebellious or like self-righteous moralism and performancism, that's all sin, right? 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:12.000 Like it's all us trying to self-save apart from God's provision in Jesus. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:17.759 Us trying to absolve ourselves of our sin or work our way into righteousness by our own work. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:18.399 That's sin. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.120 That's what sin is us self-saving. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.480 Rather than saying, no, God provided that as a gift to us in Jesus. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:27.600 My sin is put upon Him, His righteousness is given to me. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.440 I'm forever His beloved. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:31.840 I'm loved in my soul. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:35.440 That's the great rescue. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.759 Your flesh is a costume, and the costume is useless. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:49.039 The more we begin to see that costume, confess it, repent of it, the more we get comfortable being loved in our soul, enjoying our salvation. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:54.080 Point number three, the spirit brings life to your soul, but the law kills. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:07.440 For while we are living in the flesh, our sinful passions aroused by the law. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.600 Well, that's really interesting. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.720 That's a lot right there. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:23.519 That's a lot because he's saying, um, while you're living in the flesh, so your costumes, your sinful passions, behaviors out of those costumes, and that was aroused by the law. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.200 All right, hold on. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:35.519 My sinful passions were aroused by the good and holy and righteous law that God gave to us for how we should live. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.600 Okay, that's what Paul's saying. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:49.279 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work and our members to bear fruit for death. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:11:06.480 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:09.759 Okay, so here's what it's saying. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.320 The flesh, your flesh, loves a good law. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.879 Nothing like a good law. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:26.720 A standard to try to dress yourself up as, to be somebody in front of the world, in front of the church, in front of God, to you, you to do your dressing up. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:31.200 Rather than to be covered in the righteousness of Jesus, I'll just cover myself up. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.639 I'll form a costume. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:37.279 And our flesh uses laws, that's why the sinful passions are aroused by the law. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:47.200 Our flesh uses laws, the standards and rules and merit, to feel redeemed, to feel valued, ultimately to feel loved. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:59.039 But it never works because you're not you're not having bread of life in your soul, you're taking bread for the flesh. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:04.879 If I'm liked or loved or viewed enough, then I'll be okay. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.960 If I have that respect or that money, then I'll be okay. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.240 These are all laws. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:16.080 If I'm good enough, I'm kind enough, if I'm disciplined enough, then I'll be okay. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.440 None of it works to bring you life. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:26.159 Because God's love is only received enjoyed in the soul. 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:31.360 This is what Jesus is saying that the Spirit brings to us. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:42.879 Point number four, while the flesh wars against you, you, hidden in Christ, are truly a loved soul. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:45.840 That's who you are, that's what you are. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.159 And here's how you know the difference. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:49.840 How do I know the difference? 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:56.240 Oh my gosh, like how do I know the difference if I'm just like religious flesh or am I actually loved in the soul? 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.600 I mean, how do I know the difference? 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:01.919 One way, just sit somewhere still and quiet. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.200 A million things will rush into your mind. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.600 And they're all emergencies. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.720 They weren't an emergency 15 seconds ago, right? 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:17.759 So they're right now, I gotta go do whatever, I gotta clip my fingernails, I gotta do it right now. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:19.279 It's very important. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:24.000 You didn't have to two minutes ago, but all of a sudden, right now you need to. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:30.960 So that's all your flesh, it's so scared for you to be seen in the soul. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:39.440 A million things will rush into your mind of what you need to do and should do and have to do and what's coming up, and all of them can wait. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.440 They're all escapes, they're all escapes. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:46.639 Your flesh is panicking, so you're you're there. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.320 And then maybe your flesh gets religious. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.159 You start to recount all your good things. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.120 Maybe you start to compare yourself to other people. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.840 It's still your flesh. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:05.120 It's still costumes, it's still you showing things you do to God. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.519 Maybe you move on to a to-do list. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:14.799 Maybe you start planning ways to escape your anxiety or guilt or shame. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:19.679 Start thinking about unhealthy and sinful things to do. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.480 It's still a costume. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:27.360 And the question is that the soul is wondering. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:35.679 Will you let God love you underneath the flesh? 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.840 Just write through it. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:43.279 He'll just love right because he's taken care of it already on the cross. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.799 But will you get still enough? 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.559 And the soul doesn't need costumes. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.279 It doesn't need it. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.879 That's the great thing about the soul. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:56.320 The soul doesn't need it, the soul waits to be loved apart from everything else. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.200 The soul sees the costumes. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.399 You know what the soul wants to do? 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:01.759 Just confess them. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:08.960 Just confess more and repent more and walk in the spirit more and enjoy that freedom more. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:16.639 And to see that you're putting on a costume in front of somebody, in front of yourself, in front of your parents, and to confess it and repent it. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.159 I'm doing that performance thing again, I'm doing that guilt thing again. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:25.919 Like, I don't have to do that to live from your soul that's already loved in Jesus, hidden in Christ. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.840 Victory, victory. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.840 There's no performance in the soul. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:33.919 It's only faith and belovedness. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.000 And Jesus says, I am bred for your soul. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.879 There's a classic Bible story, the prodigal son. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.639 You've probably heard it, probably. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.919 I don't know, maybe you haven't heard it. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:46.639 It's a great story. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:49.200 It's two sons, wealthy dad. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.440 The younger son comes up, you remember the story? 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.159 The younger son comes up and say, Dad, can I have my share of the inheritance? 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.399 And dad would have been very offended, right? 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:01.519 Like if you go to your dad right now and you say, Dad, I know you're alive, don't really care that much about you, but I want your money. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.399 Can I have your money? 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:04.159 Like, of course your dad's offended. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:07.759 This dad would be offended, but he gives it, he gives it over. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.039 And the son takes all his money and he runs off. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.799 He's like, peace out, I'm out of here. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.159 I got the money, I'm gone. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:19.600 And he goes off to a foreign country, he goes off to another country, and he is living it up. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:27.759 He is spending his money, he is having parties, he's having women, he is living, he is spending the costume is on. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:36.399 And then the money starts to run out, and then the money runs out, right? 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:40.399 The costume finally fails, as they all do. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:43.600 And he does an amazing thing. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:47.679 This is the moment where a lot of times we have the option of just putting on another costume. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:55.360 He's at the end of himself, and Luke 15 says he remembers. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.120 He remembers his dad. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:04.720 He remembers his home and he begins to think, perhaps dad'll take me back. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.359 I wonder if dad will take me back. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:18.079 I wonder if I am loved so deeply, I am loved under all costumes, unto just me when there's nothing else. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.319 And so he forms this little speech as he's going home. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:26.000 He said, I'm gonna say that I'm gonna say that I've sinned against you and against heaven. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:28.880 I'm gonna say that, okay, I'm gonna say I'm not worthy, I'm gonna say that. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.200 Those will be really good, those are good things or true things, okay? 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:34.400 I'm gonna say that, and I'm gonna say I'm just gonna beg him, I'm gonna beg him. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:39.759 If I can just get back, make me your hired servant, just anything to get back in. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.720 That's what I'm gonna say. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:48.559 And the story says while he was a long way off, the dad runs toward him and embraces him, throws his arms around him. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.319 The son starts in on a speech. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.160 He's been practicing it, so he's ready. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:59.039 The son starts in on his speech, and the father, almost like he doesn't hear, just begins to throw a party. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:02.400 He starts giving orders, hey, hey, hey, fat and calf, let's get that taken care of. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.519 We're gonna we're gonna have that. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:08.079 He starts planning the party because the son was lost and now was found. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.880 And the father has loved him underneath all that costume business the whole time. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:17.440 The father loved him in his soul, in his true self. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.319 And then this older brother, right? 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.160 Comes along. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:26.400 He's seen all this play out. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.160 He's not happy. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:30.240 He says, Dad. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:34.960 Man, all these years, I've been working. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:37.200 I've been working for you. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.759 I've been performing. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.680 You've never thrown a party for me like this. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:50.480 He's thinking, you know, the our little brother, he disrespected you. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:53.599 He wasted your money. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:57.519 The very least he should have to do is work his way back in. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.000 And it's a costume. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.039 He has on a costume. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:04.480 It's his costume of moralism and performancism. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.759 It's pride. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.279 This is the good son. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.200 He would have been in church. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:15.839 He would be wearing an overpriced plaid button-up shirt. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:22.400 And he's saying, I work and I don't even get this. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.559 And you know what it results in? 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:34.720 It results in an inability to receive the true love of the father, an inability to have compassion on his brother. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:42.319 He's self-consumed, he's self-righteous, he's arrogant, and he's unhappy. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:46.880 And the father says, No, no, you don't get it. 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:50.079 You're always with me. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:54.160 Everything I have is yours. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:57.119 It always has been this way. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:08.880 The father's working off of a system and a framework of grace, and the son is working off of a system and a framework of some performance system. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:12.240 And the father was talking to his soul. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.880 But he wouldn't have it. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.599 He just kept his costume on. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.519 And here's what I love. 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:23.759 What I love is that the father still loves both sons. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.839 That's the good news. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:37.920 Because there's times in our lives where we have on the costume, and it takes us a while to figure out oh my gosh, the last two weeks, last two years, before you confess and repent. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:43.519 And the father loves both of them the entire time. 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:52.160 See, church, when you're hidden in Christ, God loves you. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:21:03.440 All your sin and the way we dress up and costume and performance and even escape into unhealthy things that break peace with God, sin. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:08.079 Even that has taken care of He loves you. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:12.880 He's already proud of you, already values you. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:20.480 And it's not even because of what you do, it's because of His grace for you and what Jesus did for you. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:29.200 What I know is I know all of my fear, all of my anxiety, which is incredibly real. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.519 All of it is because I walk around in the flesh. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:39.200 And not the truth that my whole self is hidden in Christ. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:43.359 Church, the Father really loves you. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:47.839 So, my brothers and sisters, hear the words of the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 55. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:53.119 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:59.119 And he who has no money, come, buy, and eat. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:04.160 Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:08.559 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread? 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:12.240 And your labor for that which does not satisfy. 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:17.519 Listen diligently to me and eat what is good and delight yourselves in rich food. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:24.960 Incline your ear and come to me here, that your soul may live. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.799 Let's pray together. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:49.680 God, thank you for the gift of Jesus that is so supreme that while we act like fools in this world and before you, putting on costumes of rebellion and costumes of performance, you love us underneath it all. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:55.359 You love us despite our motives and despite our behaviors. 00:22:55.519 --> 00:23:01.119 You you love us despite we are sinners and push you away. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:12.240 You love us while we are the younger, rebellious sons, and while we are the older, prideful sons. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:18.079 Thank you that your love triumphs all and the gift of Jesus is sufficient. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:29.599 That all of our sin has been taken upon the cross, and your righteousness is given to us, and we are made forever the beloved because of the work of Jesus, not our work. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:34.400 May we live from our souls that are forever loved and cared for. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:36.240 In Jesus' name, amen.