WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.680 Welcome to the First Love Church podcast. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:11.279 This is a collection of Sunday teachings inspired by the revised Common Lectionary and recorded weekly in Ocala, Florida. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:16.160 In the season of creation, one of the things that we are invited into is awe. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:24.480 To be inspired by creation and to remember what it calls us into, into oneness, into belovedness, and into a deep longing. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:40.560 One of the things that we're going to do as a church, and you're invited to participate with us, you could talk to me after church about it, is at the same Harvey's Fellowship, which is a community of under-resourced people, and we're so grateful that they actually have those kind of apartments for people like that. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:47.840 But there's three boxes, and they're they're good size garden boxes, but they have been neglected for a year. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.159 And so one of the things that we want to do is rehab them. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:56.240 So we're going to spend just one day and uh replenish all the boxes and we're going to put vegetables in them. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.719 And we have people at Harveys who are so excited. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.799 We already asked for permission and they're like, You're going to do it for us, and then you're taking the harvest. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:04.159 I'm like, no, we're going to do it for you. 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.480 And then whoever wants it should take the harvest or eat the food, the fresh food. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:11.599 And so it's one of the ways that we as a church are going to give back. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:15.280 And so we're going to replant their um their food boxes. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:18.799 And if that's something that you want to be a part of or you want to give toward, you just let me know. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:22.000 And again, we just bless the work of their hand and bless creation. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:46.480 One of the things that I was thinking of in the past few weeks, really contemplating the season of creation and how we're supposed to go about not only just caring for the earth, respecting it, but recognizing our oneness with it, is there's a group of uh people and um they were um they taken hostage and they were in another land, and this was uh Israel, and they were taken away, and they begged God, let us go back home, let us go back home. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:48.319 You want us, let us go back home. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:02:00.000 And God sent to them and said, No, you're gonna stay there and you're gonna work for the good of the city, and you're gonna plant gardens. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:12.800 And then God said this, because I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are good, and they are for your good, and they are not for evil. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:18.560 And so sometimes if you don't know what God is up to, plant a garden, beloved, just get out there and start planting. 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.439 Do something that enriches something else. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.599 And I know that it's Florida and there's times where it's desperately hot. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:30.080 So get up early or don't even do it very late because then the bugs are already up. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.639 But I mean, just there's times where you go, this is not the season. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:36.479 But one of the beautiful things about Florida is it gives us a chance to garden almost all year round. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:39.680 I mean, we get to the our soil is not frozen solid. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:44.639 So it's an invitation into awe and then into repentance. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:58.479 And we're grateful to be in this season where we remember, hey, the invitation is to learn how to hear the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit that is with us and knows all things and intercedes for us and comforts us and prays with us. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:12.960 And as we go to the text today, and we're grateful to have the opportunity to do this, but as we go to the text, we listen with the guidance or the Holy Spirit's imagination. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:21.680 So I hope this morning that you will open your ears to hear a text maybe that you've heard before, but allow yourself to be scandalized. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:26.080 Jesus said this parable and it scandalized the people. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:34.879 I think sometimes when we sit in church for a long time and we've heard the stories again and again, we almost get um numb to the scandal. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:38.000 And I hope this morning to re-scandalize you. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.400 I don't know if you know this, but Jesus was a scandal. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:54.560 His whole being was a scandal, everything about it, from the incarnation, beloved, scandalous, and to, you know, Advent, and everything Jesus did was an affront to the way people thought they should be done. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:03.520 So we go to this particular part of the Gospel of Matthew, and there's a couple questions that the landowner asks. 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:10.879 And I remind you that there's a question that God asks Jonah, is it right for you to be angry? 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:12.400 You remember the story, right? 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:17.839 It's in the season of creation because there's fish and there's vineyards and there's a plant. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.480 I mean, there's a reason that it all gets connected. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:26.079 But God says to Jonah, I want you to go and I want you to tell these people that they need to repent. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:30.240 Jonah has an eight-word sermon. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:33.759 I don't know if anyone's had this kind of result from an eight-word sermon. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:38.639 But he goes to the town and he says the thing, repent or God's gonna overthrow you. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.600 And the people listen and they repent. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:46.079 And then Jonah gets mad. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:48.319 Jonah gets really mad. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:52.160 And he says to God, you might as well kill me because this is so bad. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:56.240 And he said, This is what I knew you were before I even left the house. 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:57.519 That's why I didn't want to go. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:03.519 You're merciful, you're slow to anger, you're so compassionate. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:05.759 I can't stand this. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:08.160 It's literally what he says to God. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:12.879 And God says, Do you even have a right to be angry about my compassion? 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:19.040 Now we can look at Jonah and we can say, Well, he's really messed up. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:24.800 Or we can look at ourselves and go, where am I scandalized by the compassion of God? 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.920 Where am I scandalized by grace? 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:35.680 Where am I upset when something goes right for someone else, someone I don't think deserves it? 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:38.079 I would like for them to get justice or judgment. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:40.639 And God gives mercy and grace. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:45.839 So, in this same way, I ask you to consider this particular parable. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:55.600 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning, he was probably in Florida, to hire laborers for the vineyard. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:02.639 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into the vineyard. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:05.759 These are day laborers, pay attention to that. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:07.920 In that particular culture, too. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:15.120 Someone goes out to the market, you find the people who are waiting, you make an agreement with them, and then he sends them to the vineyard. 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:27.040 And when he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, You also go to the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:28.639 So they went. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:34.319 And when he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:39.360 Listen to the way Jesus describes the Father to us. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:44.560 He doesn't just give one call and say, If you want to work here and get a wage, I'll do that. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:56.480 He keeps going back, he keeps going back, he keeps going back, offering the invitation, offering the way, offering a place to belong, wages so that you can feed your family. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.120 Over and over again, we see this. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:08.000 And we see this is the same way that Jesus tells us about a God who is like a shepherd who leaves 99 and goes after the one. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:19.040 This is such a beautiful reminder of God's continuing presence, asking us, inviting us, offering us, and making steps to go to us. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:33.680 You know, as we look at this, we're gonna see the scandalous grace, the the offensive grace that we as followers can have against our own God. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:40.160 And before you say, well, that's Jonah and not me, are you familiar at all with the Jesus movement? 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:51.199 It's really the last time there's been a tremendous tilt, uh, real revival in Christianity in America. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:53.279 And it was about 40 years ago. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:55.279 And what happened in the Jesus movement? 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:56.639 Have you heard of the Jesus movement? 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:57.120 Anyone even? 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:01.360 You're looking at me like do you think it was a good thing anyone disagree? 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:06.959 Uh let me tell you what was happening in the Jesus movement, if the truth be told. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:19.120 Churches that had rules that people had to dress a certain way, to look a certain way, to say a certain thing before they were ever allowed to enter in laid all those rules down. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.000 And they were welcoming drug addicts. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.560 Not used to be a drug addict, but you can't ever touch the stuff. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:33.919 People using, coming in and going back out and using, still, still living in that life. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:43.679 People that were uh uh uh having uh sex outside of marriage, coming inside that building, and then going back out and doing those same things. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:56.159 And I'm any manner of lifestyle, and and there was there was there were these pastors that were saying the grace of God is bigger than that, we need to welcome these people in. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:07.919 And there were people that were standing against it, you gotta have standards, you gotta do the you know, and they're they're just monitoring and minimizing the amount of grace that could be. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.440 And there were other people that's saying, let's just let it flow and see what happens. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:30.799 And those people were radically being delivered from their addictions and being transformed, and and the masses of young people that were coming in, and they were jobless and homeless, and they didn't fit in any of the criteria that made you seem like a good Christian. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:40.720 But God was moving amongst these people in a way that to so many people who look upon it in the past, they look upon it so lovingly and fondly. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:56.240 But the people at that time, many people were so angry and so offended because it did not meet their sensibilities and how they thought grace should be delved out. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:57.120 Amen. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:08.879 So here it is now, 40-something years later, have we become those frozen chosen that set in the pews and say why people can't come in? 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:26.080 Or would we still dare risk being reckless with love and just willing to delve out grace in such an amazing manner? 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.200 And about five o'clock he went out and he found others standing around. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.759 He said to them, Why are you standing here idle all day? 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.519 And they said, Because no one has hired us. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:36.480 And he said to them, You also go into the vineyard. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:46.240 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, Call all the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the least and then going to the first. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:53.279 And when those hired at about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:11:00.240 Now, when the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:10.879 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, These last worked only one hour, and you have made us equal to them. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:20.799 Sometimes we need to check our own hearts and our own thoughts about what we believe about equality. 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:27.440 Is everyone equal, worthy to receive the love and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:29.039 This is why it's scandalous. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:36.720 Because those people that got there early in the morning that were hired to work in the morning worked all day in the heat of the day, and they worked hard. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:39.519 And it's hard on your back to be a vineyard worker. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.840 And they had physically exhausted themselves. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:46.960 And there were people who came in at the very last moment and received the same pay. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.120 And this is the scandal. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:51.200 This it he said, here's the problem. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.480 You made us equal. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.240 We do not want equal, beloved. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:12:00.320 We love hierarchy because we love to be able to criticize the people at the top and then also want to get there. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.879 And then we don't even think about the people that are below us. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.919 And that is not the way of Christ or the way of the kingdom. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:11.200 It is a circle, it is wide open, it is the Trinity, it is this beautiful invitation. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:15.840 You've made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:20.399 But he replied to one of them, friend, I am doing you no wrong. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.000 Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:26.639 Take what belongs to you and go. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:31.919 I chose to give this to the last, the same as I gave it to you. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:36.080 Am I not allowed to do with what I choose with what belongs to me? 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:40.559 Or are you envious because I am generous? 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:45.120 I want you to think about that for a moment. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:53.919 When you are generous, or when someone else is generous, does it bring you joy? 00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:00.000 Or does it conflict with an idea that we have, if they get something, that means I get less. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.320 Beloved, the mercy of God is not pie. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.200 There's not less for you because someone gets it. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.639 It is ever-ending. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:10.240 The love of God is eternal and it is so big. 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:16.080 According to the apostle, he said, there's nothing that we could do to ever outrun the love of God. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:24.000 There is not even nothing that would separate us from the love of God, not death, not hell, not angels, not demons, not anything above the earth, nothing underneath the earth. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.399 There is no way that you can escape the love of God. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:32.639 And so this invitation is how are we seeing God? 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:38.480 As someone who divvies up just small amounts of something, and if I give it to you, then there's not enough for the next person. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:44.080 This is an invitation to re-examine the way that we see the generosity of God. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:48.080 And then look, these people are simply envious. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.519 Now, good news for envy, you can repent. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:53.600 Good news for envy, it can be forgiven. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:59.360 But look in your own heart and say, where am I envious of someone else because they got blessed? 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:04.879 And really that shows in our own self that we have agreed with a lie of scarcity. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:10.240 Someone else being forgiven does not mean that there is less forgiveness for you. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.639 Everyone forgiven. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.960 This is the plan of Jesus. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:22.480 You know, in this culture, um, they they refer to that enviousness and covetous enough as an evil eye. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:29.759 And and make no mistake, that is something that each human being must address. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:39.279 To pretend like it's not there or get enough people that that uh believe the same way you do, so it makes it seem normal or okay. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.759 Not how we deal with it, you know? 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:50.480 And really head-on is the way, the best way to look at this and to recognize that there is something in you. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.000 Be honest. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:55.120 Some of you have been at church your whole life. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:59.600 And do you really are you really cool? 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:06.559 Or is it set a little odd with you that some junkie's gonna come in the last minute and get the exact reward that you're gonna get? 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:11.840 No, no, because I'm building up treasure and my treasure's gonna, so I'm gonna get more. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.399 No. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:25.360 And there's something within us that wants that fair and and and wants that um uh uh to to be seen as better. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:29.120 And what that is in you is that's your ego. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:47.039 That's the part of you that tries to figure things out, tries to make for yourself, and it's something the evil eye is something that we have to learn to push aside and allow the spirit of God to subdue within us. 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:56.799 And so when we're talking about these weeks of Pentecost, and we're reminding you that there is a Spirit of God that lives on the inside of us and strengthens us for things like these. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:10.639 So I really want to talk about these kind of topics, and I want you to think about that and really, you know, feel what you feel because I have to be honest, you know, I've given up a lot of things as a Christian. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:19.759 And there's part of me that for that duty wants a reward. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:30.080 I I don't want other people not to get the reward, I just want my pile to be a little bit bigger to at least show at least show the work here, you know, the effort. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:36.639 But to recognize that's something within all of us that is wicked. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:52.159 And we need to identify that that once we get down that path, we start looking towards a lack and a and and and and and scarcity, and we forget about the abundance of God, which is a whole nother way to live. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:17:01.440 Because not only can I give that out if I deal with this, but I can truly receive it in all areas. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:10.799 And the problem is, whether you realize it or not, there are so many areas that you're snared by this own wound of your heart. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.960 You're trapped by it. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:18.480 So let's let the Spirit of God deal with this head on. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:22.720 And then let's examine our own hearts for things that we recognize. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.119 Sometimes we don't like to use words like envy. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:29.119 I'm not envious, but maybe you are because you live in the United States of America. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:33.759 And that's something that's kind of inbred into all of the things that we do in this culture. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.920 It's why the marketing works, because we want what somebody else has. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:45.599 And the invitation is to live contented, to live in love, to live as neighbors. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.279 This is the message of Jesus. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:52.960 And again, I reminded you this morning this might be scandalous, but it's this idea of is it all right? 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.640 Or and is it all right with me? 00:17:54.880 --> 00:18:00.960 Because again, you're asking the the landowner is going to do as the landowner knows should be done, give generously. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:07.519 But whether you're standing grumbling, going, I can't believe that those people also got the mercy. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.920 They did nothing to deserve it. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:16.960 I remind you, Jesus goes on to further demonstrate this when he is being crucified on the cross. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:29.680 There are people, according to Peter's own confession, he said, We have given up family, we have given up houses, we have given up lands, we have given up our reputation to follow you. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:37.359 And there's a thief on the cross next to Jesus who is dying and says, Lord, remember me when you go into paradise. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.319 And Jesus said, Today you'll be with me. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.880 Well, it seems a little late, buddy. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:46.799 You know, like here's this we you didn't give up lands and things like this. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:53.119 You lived your whole life as you pleased, hurting others, harming others, and now Jesus is welcoming you. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:55.920 Yes, that is the good news. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.799 The man on the middle cross says, I can come. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.079 And no matter how we come, we come to Christ. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.960 And what does this mean? 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:09.359 It's not just about salvation and forgiveness, but beloved, it's about the forgiveness that we have been given to give to others. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:15.839 Jesus said that you are to forgive people's sins, that whoever sins you forgive, they will be forgiven. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:28.720 And this understanding to live in a state of forgiveness, to not only accept it for ourselves, but to be people who practice radical forgiveness, who practice radical love, who practice radical generosity. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:32.000 Here's a man who's saying, I'm gonna pay everyone the same. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.559 Even those who come in at the very last minute. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:38.799 If you wanted to know what God thinks about a living wage, it's here in this parable. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.519 We should be able to take care of our children. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:46.000 We should be able, as a community, to take care of the things that we need. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:52.160 And Jesus is showing us this way of living, not in a hierarchy, but in community. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.720 This is the message that Jesus brings to us. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:20:00.880 There's so many things that we accept uh while we live in this particular culture that we were born into. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:06.799 You know, and it's the idea, hey man, I go to work and the guy that works the hardest gets the bonuses, and that's just fair. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:09.200 And I didn't get it because I didn't work as hard as he is. 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:18.480 And so what we do then is we kind of take that home, and then we bless some of our children who maybe that have an aptitude for the kind of work that you need done. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:23.119 And so they get a better loving and blessing from you. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:31.119 And so what we do is we we propagate something that is a system that ultimately is made by man. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.559 So can I tell you something? 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:38.240 It is broke, or at least it's flawed from its foundation. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:42.079 And so God has a whole different way. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:47.759 Now, I love America, uh, and I love Jesus and her boyfriend too, because I'm pre-fallen. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.759 I don't know, I'm lost, I'm time painting. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:56.799 No, I I love this country, but I don't think that capitalism is perfect. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:14.720 And and the problem is so many of us, because it's the best thing going, we worship it instead of recognizing there should be something within us as followers of Christ that we recognize when things are going wrong. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:19.359 And we write them, we write that ship, we we do things differently. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:39.359 And if we just perpetuate that inside of our families by the way that we treat each other and the way that we treat our uh you know our our families is the way that you run a business, that's a that's a problem in the church in America today because a lot of churches are run like a business and not like the way God runs things, amen. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:42.880 And and it because it's a it's a family. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:44.720 We're a family here, amen. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:45.440 Amen. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:59.759 And so God let us begin to see how we've maybe adopted some things and are carrying that in, that uh and and you can tell when you've adopted it because a story like this. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.839 This doesn't set right. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:09.680 There's at some level that offends you and I that God is giving this scandalous grace. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:16.960 I've talked to people just relatively recently, and they're going, there's no way that murderer is going to get to go to heaven. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.160 That's ridiculous. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.480 Your gospel is ridiculous. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:34.960 Because it is so scandalous, it's hard for us to wrap our minds around God's loving forgiveness because we're certain that some are in and some are out, because there's somewhere there's a line and they've all crossed it, but not you. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.000 Come on now. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:39.119 That ought to tell you right now something's a little askew. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:44.400 Because we judge everyone else by their what their actions, but us by our intentions. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:48.799 We pause here for a moment to thank you for joining us today. 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:54.400 If you're finding this episode meaningful, would you take a moment to share it with a friend? 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:59.680 This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of people just like you. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:11.920 If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church and the continued work of our podcast, visit us online at firstlovechurch.org, reminding you to like, follow, and subscribe. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.920 Verse 15 has a lot in it. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.039 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:23.279 This sounds so much like Jesus, who in the verses before said, listen, God reigns on the just and the unjust. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.079 Mana fell out of the sky, beloved. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.960 Water came out of the rock. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:34.240 There was enough wine for everyone to drink until they were happy. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.319 That's what it said. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:39.119 Some of you are really sad and need more drink than others. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:42.319 And there was enough, is what the scripture says. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:52.720 There were people who were hungry in the desert, and a little boy offered his loaves, and there was so much that every single person was fed and there were leftovers. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:58.480 Over and over again, Jesus shows us, Jesus explains to us, abundance. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:02.720 The lie of scarcity, beloved, is insiduous. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:11.599 And we are invited into the truth of abundance, that there is everything that we have need of in Christ, in God. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:15.200 You need more mercy, beloved, there is plenty in Jesus. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.640 Do you need more peace? 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:18.559 It is in the communion table. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.880 It is in that oneness with God. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:28.480 And this invitation that the scripture tells us, where God says, Am I not allowed to do with what I to choose what belongs to me? 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:32.160 Or are you envious because I am generous? 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:36.720 So the last will be first, and the first will be last. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:43.200 That's a terrible way to run a business, also, and that's not a lot of way to get your prizes and your ribbons and your trophies. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:45.519 But here is what we are offered. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:52.720 Jesus said this: if you want to be great in God's kingdom, the way to greatness, beloved, is not domination. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:55.680 The way to greatness is not taking from your neighbor. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:58.880 The way to greatness is be a servant to all. 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:01.119 That's the message of Jesus. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:09.119 The way to greatness is to recognize that we are all one and that we serve each other with love and compassion. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:20.640 I was talking to Heather and I were talking to Silas the other day, and there was something he was wanting to get, but he said it's going to be hard to get this Christmas because it's a new game and it's just out. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:25.279 And Heather and I are looking at each other and we're like, well, we know this game that they're playing. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:28.559 This is called the false creation of uh scarcity. 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:31.119 Come on, tickle me Elmo fans. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.799 Cabbage packed dolls. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:39.119 30 years ago or whatever it was, cabbage packed doll, they figured out, or they accidentally didn't make enough and it and it made a craze. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:47.759 And they're like, oh, if you create an artificial scarcity, the people think they have to have it and they will line up to get this stuff. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:26:00.960 And so what that what the uh uh people are doing is they're creating this illusion that there's not enough of these things and you're not gonna be enough unless you have it. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:05.920 So you'll get up and s sleep out in front of the toy store so you can tickle you some elmo. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:11.920 Now the problem is tickle me elmo does not satisfy you. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:20.720 None of this thing from the world satisfies you, but they've created an illusion that you need this thing and that there's a scarcity. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:23.519 But what God is saying is quite the opposite is true. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.039 God is more than enough. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.480 There's an abundance. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:29.599 There's there's enough for everyone to get the full pay. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:34.400 There's enough for there's an there's the abundance should not be our issue. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:41.200 There's more fish to fry, there's more issues for you to address in this world than is there gonna be enough. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:46.559 But if I can keep you in that illusion, I can control you, consumer. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:49.920 I can decide at Christmas what you're gonna buy. 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.799 I can run the rule the masses. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:27:07.200 Now, if you don't think that that our economy and our world has tapped into this, and this spiritual principle that many of us are trapped in is the exact same illusion that somehow there's not enough. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:13.039 And our ego says, Well, if there's not going to be enough, I watch it play out every outreach we get. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:19.119 There's always a battle between me and somebody that says, I didn't get a box. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:22.559 Well, I send somebody over there and they we put a box in your house. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.519 Well, it's not there. 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.400 I need a box. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:26.079 And they start screaming at me. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:32.559 Okay, I'm over here working, out of the goodness of my heart, generosity, bring this stuff, and you're gonna scream at me. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:35.039 I got some things I want to say to these folks. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:44.640 But then I recognize, wait a minute, they're trapped in a place of scarcity that they feel like they need to manipulate me, or they're scared they're not gonna get. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:47.440 And so many times these people will try to double up. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:53.119 I've watched them change shirts more than one occasion. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:55.599 I said, but you can't change the caps on your teeth. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.640 I know ya. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.400 I'm here every week. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.519 Come on. 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:09.839 And so what's happening here, church, is that we're so embedded into a system, and then I have people going, Don't give that to him, he already got one. 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:14.640 And I'm like, look, church, we're breaking something here. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.799 Look, if you need three, take them. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:20.559 The way of Jesus is compassion, has always been compassionate. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:23.599 And we want to follow the the we want to, well, I'm not gonna make an example. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:32.799 I'm not gonna, yeah, yeah, that how well has that law thing been working for Christians since time memorial, you know, all these rules, and you gotta do the you know what? 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.319 The the the what transforms my heart, and people are so afraid. 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:45.599 Oh, what if you what if you just open the door and say, all are welcome, then everything goes, and what happens is hearts truly get changed, and no one wants to do all that sin in. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:49.200 Because they have truly tasted and seen. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:52.240 Oh, that the Lord is good, amen. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:29:08.400 The world doesn't have anything to offer us, we get the good stuff, and so we have to be free from that idea that there's there's scarcity and that we can't have the and I watch people I watch that play out with people, and so we work with them. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:10.400 Here, take an extra box this time. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:14.319 Take it, well, I'll make sure I'll try to get you an extra box next month. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:19.440 And and I've watched those people after a few months go, I'm good, but can you help this neighbor? 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:28.640 And all of a sudden something begins to shift because we're we're we're living under something that God wants to set us free from, amen? 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:47.119 One of the examples in the scripture that gives us an actual pattern to play or a way to engage with this is recognize that anytime you're envious or fearful like that, invite the Holy Spirit into this situation or into your thought and say, Can you change the way that I see this? 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:49.759 Can you show me where the abundance is? 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:52.799 Can you and this is the invitation to consent? 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:59.680 This is the practice during Pentecost, but during our whole life, consent to the Holy Spirit changing the way you see things. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:06.000 But the invitation is not into shame if you're envious, but into repentance, change the way you think about it. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:15.039 Every time you feel envious, ask the Spirit Is it possible for you to show me the provision that I will receive or where I can go or how God is with me? 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:23.119 One of the things that we practice here at First Love Church is what Jesus told us every time you gather, do this in remembrance of me. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:29.519 We practice communion, reminding ourselves that everyone is invited to the table of the Lord. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:34.240 We remind ourselves that we don't make the table of the Lord. 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:37.119 Jesus does, and he's invited everyone. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:41.119 We eat bread, but we didn't turn that bread, that grain into bread. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.240 Somebody else did. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:45.119 We're also a part of somebody. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:47.279 And, you know, then we bought it from Publix. 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:51.440 You know, the people at Publix blessed them for their part in the communion table. 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:53.440 And it's not just bread and wine, beloved. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:31:00.960 The Spirit comes upon it, and it is not just sacrament or element, it becomes an invitation into holy mystery. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:08.480 It becomes an embodied practice that reminds me that everything I need can be met in Christ. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.759 Everything I need. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:21.759 And every week we bring ourselves to the communion table and we remind ourselves I am loved, I am fed, that there is enough for me, there is a place for me in the table of God. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:27.680 There will be food for me, there will be drink for me, there will be Christ for me. 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:33.279 Beloved, the best thing for all of us, for the whole world, is Christ. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:42.720 More illumination, more understanding of the light of Christ that says, Father, make them one as you and I are one. 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:48.240 The invitation back into the fold, the invitation back into the house of God. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:54.160 Your belonging is secure at the communion table when we say, No, I'm welcomed here. 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:57.920 This is my father's house, and this table has a place for me. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:09.680 I want you to maybe consider the idea that God wants to shift you from a thermometer to a thermostat. 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:16.240 A thermometer tells what the temperature is, but a thermostat decides it. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.759 Amen? 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:23.920 And I believe when the Spirit of God is upon us, we have a discernment of what's going on. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:26.799 And we can tell, man, there's some weird stuff going on here. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.720 But you know, Heather and I've been talking about this. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:32.319 We've been talking about how we don't have to be changed by the atmosphere. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:36.880 When, but Heather and I sometimes we'll be like at a store and we'll go, oh, it's getting weird around here. 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:39.359 And we'll start talking, like, oh, you feel that? 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:41.599 The energy just dropped in this place. 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:44.000 Oh, and then we'll kind of look around, who is it? 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.200 Oh, it's on that one right there. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:57.759 And then we'll just, you know, and and then and then as we began to be comfortable noticing this and not allowing it to bring us into it, we begin to start having compassion on those people that were stuck in it. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:06.960 And we were like, God give, and we'd be in the cargo, God, when we go out today, help us be able to be a thermostat, that we could change the energy. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.759 And I I was up in uh St. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:19.599 Louis with my brother just a month or two ago, and I should have warned him that I've been working on this process of being a thermostat and not a thermometer. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:31.440 I walked up and I seen these three guys jump out of their pickup truck and they started running at an old man with hammers and um pry bars because he cut them off in traffic. 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:33.519 And they go, I'm gonna kill you, old man. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:36.720 And I said, Hey, what's wrong with being an old man? 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:38.000 I'm an old man. 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:41.920 And they turn to me and they're like, We've got weapons. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:49.519 And I'm thinking to myself, oh no, no, I thought to myself, I'm not mad at them, I'm not trapped into this thing. 00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:53.680 I'm I'm just gonna see if I can change their energy. 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:57.920 And they go, and they started telling me, well, it's not about being old. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.039 They started apologizing. 00:33:59.119 --> 00:34:01.279 They go, that old man, Joe, he's gonna cut off. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:08.719 And I go, well, I do know when you get old you don't see, and and so uh I wonder if we can just bless that guy and whatever. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:14.559 We're gonna bless him, we're gonna kill him, and they're cursing, and and so I'm having a dialogue with psychos. 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:17.599 And I'm telling you, not always recommended, beloved. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.159 Not always. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:22.880 Not always recommended, but I'm telling you, right now they were not aggressive towards me. 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:26.320 They would literally calmly explain to me that why they were gonna kill the guy. 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:29.760 And I thought, well, if I can do this long enough, that guy's gonna get away. 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:35.679 And the old man got in his car and drove off, and then they ran after him, and I'm like, and then my brother goes, What was that? 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:37.119 And I go, I'm sorry, I should have told you. 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.880 But I'm I'm trying to this thing, you know. 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:42.960 And Henry, uh, tell him about the post office just the last time. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.719 I love this story. 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.719 Or the publix, I think it's better. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:48.559 Well, I'm sure one you want to tell. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:50.400 Uh tell the post office one too. 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:54.719 Because the post office one is you get a win in it, though. 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:56.159 You do what you want. 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:58.559 We're practicing this, beloved. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:04.320 So at the public's, because we're all at the public's, and then for we'll save the post office for a later date. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:09.840 But um, at the public's, there was a man standing at the you were waiting to be helped, and you know, there's a lot of things that are happening. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:15.039 So we're at the customer service counter, and the man next to me says, I'm 80 years old. 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.480 And I said, Congratulations. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:18.000 And he said, I live by myself. 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:20.079 And I said, How is that for you? 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.920 And he goes, It's very lonely. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.280 And I said, I couldn't imagine. 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.719 And he goes, I talk a lot. 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:26.719 I said, Probably because you have no one to talk to. 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.840 And he goes, Exactly. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:30.159 And I was like, Oh, and I said, Do you have a church? 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:34.159 And he goes, Oh, I don't do church, and I said, Oh, okay, that's yeah, that's okay. 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:42.719