WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:08.720 This podcast is a ministry of Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.759 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:18.079 Amen. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:18.559 Amen. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:19.199 Let's pray together. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:25.039 Lord Jesus, we've come here to get a deeper, fuller understanding of what the Bible means when it talks about freedom. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:28.239 We're not here to submit to some yoke of religious slavery. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:34.000 We're here to be more freed up people, to scrape all the barnacles off the hull of the ship so we slice through the water. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:37.119 So we get out there on the bow of the ship. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.799 And not like Leonardo DiCaprio and announce that I'm the king of the world. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.200 We're here to announce that you're the king of the world. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:50.640 We're here to say that we are we are blown away and we are postured and positioned under the reality that you're the king of the world. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:54.320 Every good and perfect gift comes down from our Father above. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:55.840 We've been made partakers. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:58.000 We've tasted and seen that the Lord is good. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:02.240 So we're without excuse for choosing bad when we've tasted so much goodness. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:07.519 And so, Lord, expand uh our understanding and our experience of your goodness. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:16.159 Lord, uh uh relate to us like you do in such a way that it makes all these other lesser things just not less attractive today. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:21.280 Oh Lord, let us understand what the Bible talks about when it says what it says to us today. 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:29.519 I'll take a minute before I finish this prayer, and you just kind of, whatever's most on your heart, you just kind of unburden yourself to the Lord. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.560 And so that's not frightening, that's in that's inviting. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:59.359 You're inviting us not to be some religious poser who says one thing but feels another. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:04.319 So let the words, before they're ever on our tongue, we just acknowledge, Lord, that you know them. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:13.199 And so we are we stand before you this morning as a known people and a loved people and an accepted people. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:27.439 Let the fact that you accept us, let that change us, let that sink into the marrow of our bones, not just in our head where it's an idea, but into our bones where it's an experience. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:32.719 Lord, we come at you this morning like cold people towards a hot bath. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:38.400 We want to be thawed out and comforted and compelled. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.680 Lord, all of this we we ask in Jesus' name, and everyone said, Amen. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:44.400 You can have a seat. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:47.599 If you got a Bible, I invite you to take it and open it up to Matthew chapter seven. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:50.879 We'll come to the end of the series we've been in all uh since July. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.439 Uh we've been in a series called the Jesus Way. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:54.400 The Jesus Way. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:58.800 And today I want to read uh about four or five verses from the end of Matthew uh chapter seven. 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:00.240 I'll start reading in verse 24. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.879 I want to talk to you about this this morning, the Jesus Way. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:05.360 And the title of the sermon is Build Well. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:06.719 Build Well. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:10.479 Because it's easy to hear what Jesus says and not understand what Jesus means. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:12.719 So we'll get to that in just a minute. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:23.039 But before I get to that, before I read, I want to just say uh in this passage we're gonna read, Jesus paints a picture basically of what a life looks like that takes him at his word and then does what he says. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:25.680 And so I need some audience participation this morning. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:35.599 If you had to pick one word that describes a person that, hey, this is what it looks like to not just hear what the Bible says, but actually to do it, to build your life on it. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:38.719 What would you say one word is that describes that person? 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:39.360 Go. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:42.479 What? 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:43.919 Giving. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:46.080 Safe. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:46.800 What? 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:48.719 Loving, faithful. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:50.639 By the way, they're getting all the good answers. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.000 You people over here speak up. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:55.840 Hopefully, gentle. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.240 Wait, oh, we've got something from the quiet people. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:02.719 Contented, obedient. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:03.360 Yes. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:07.039 And we could go on, and some of you get warmed up and start throwing your words out there. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:11.039 But because we don't have time for everybody's words, they say a picture's worth a thousand words. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:16.720 I want to bring you a couple of pictures, uh, but I don't want you to overreact and kind of go, oh, I wish you hadn't shown that. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:22.480 Uh because when you ask people like we ask people uh like like in the culture, hey, what is it, what is it being a Christian? 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:23.600 What is that all about? 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.800 Here's probably one of the first things our culture would say it's this. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:30.480 These people just believe the Bible and they're mad about it. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:32.639 I mean, they just they just they're just mad. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:35.600 I mean, if Donald Trump does not get elected, this is what we're gonna get. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:38.079 Uh and so that's what a lot of people think. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:42.639 There's people in my family that think this is what I do every Sunday. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:45.680 Or I shake people down for money. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:48.720 I have a brother that's like, hey man, you're not like those people on TV, are you? 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:49.839 And I'm like, where are you right now? 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:50.319 Why? 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:52.639 Because I'm gonna drive to where you are and punch you in the throat. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:53.279 That's why. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:55.279 I got Chuck Norris riding shotgun. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:56.079 We're on our way. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:02.639 But a lot of people say, hey, if you build your life on the gospel and you do what it says, this is what it turns you into. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:07.120 A lot of people think this is what it turns you into if you build your life on the gospel. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.160 These are not actors, these are real people. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:14.480 Please do not miss the fact that she is she's rocking the flag as a skirt. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:18.639 Yes, this is what happens when you watch too much Fox News. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.319 Well, that wasn't funny to some of y'all, was it? 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.399 It's going fighting words right there. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:25.839 You're talking about Fox News. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:30.160 Uh people, actually, this is a church called Westboro Baptist Church. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:31.920 Uh, and this is what they do. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:34.879 They go around, they're known for what they hate. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:41.199 Despite the fact that the Bible, you should just put up that the Bible says, I love the grandma that you are going to hell. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:43.279 Uh thank you, grandma. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:47.839 I didn't know that, and thanks for rocking those Robocop sunglasses you got at a garage sale. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:50.160 Uh but this is what a lot of people think. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:57.600 And when I see something like this, I just think uh uh uh what the Bible says when Jesus said, Hey, that I mean, John says that they will know us by our love. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:05:59.439 A lot of people think this. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:02.240 Here's what some of you church people think it looks like. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.399 Which that's more deadly than the first two. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:25.439 Yes, it's like an ambient, glowing Thomas Kincaid painting where you got a golden labrador somewhere on the property chasing a squirrel, and everything's great, and your kids don't have acne and they make straight A's, and your husband's awesome, and you got money just flowing everywhere. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.759 And you just love Jesus. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:30.879 And when you talk about him, it's kind of breathy. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:35.120 Like Jesus is the prom king and he asked me out, and I'm so excited. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:42.639 And people that don't know Jesus can't stand you because they just think that is sappy and that's not real. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:43.519 Are you kidding me? 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:44.879 I could never do that. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:50.319 This is not, when I talked to you this morning, this is not what the Bible is, this is not what Jesus is talking about, okay? 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.199 Here's what it looks like what Jesus is talking about. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.639 Now, some of you are like, oh, that looks dangerous. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:00.800 Wouldn't you like to be the cat that lived in that house? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:04.639 Can you imagine what your friend your kids' friends would say to them at school? 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:07.439 Hey, uh, you're the hippies that live in the house. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:10.800 It's like I but it's built on the rock, it ain't going anywhere. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.759 Yeah, but I mean, what's that like? 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:14.720 Oh, it's secure. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:15.360 It's a big rock. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:17.519 It's a little house, but it's a big rock. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:29.519 And what I'm saying to you is this if I had to say, hey, what is it like to build your life on the teachings of Jesus, what the Bible teaches, what it's about, I would give you this picture. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.079 I would give you this picture. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.680 Now, you say, What do you mean? 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:35.759 Jesus says this, what do you mean, build well? 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:37.680 Matthew chapter 7, verse 24. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:42.959 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:49.279 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:55.279 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:03.519 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew again and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:11.439 And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.800 There's about four or five things that involved in this text when we talk about when Jesus is saying, build well. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:21.600 And the first thing that the Bible says to us this morning is simply this the Bible is self-validating. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:23.519 The Bible is self-validating. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.040 Uh now you say, What do you mean? 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:26.240 Look at verse 24. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.920 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.039 In other words, in order to be this, you have to do this. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:41.039 It's not that it becomes more true, but we experience the truthfulness of the Bible when we do what it says. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.159 Let me say that again. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:47.519 It's not that when I say it's self-validating, what I mean is it's not that it becomes more true. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:52.559 It's that we experience the truthfulness of the Bible when we do what it says. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:59.360 A lot of people, now by the way, there's a certainty and a confidence that we never get by simply hearing the Bible taught. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.799 Uh, it validates itself in our experience when we obey. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.039 A lot of people come to church every Sunday. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.279 Every Sunday, they hear a lot of things. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:15.039 Ask yourself today, of all the things that I hear preached about and taught from the Bible, how many, what's the percentage of those that I actually do? 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:19.360 Because you want those percentages to be relatively close to one another. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:22.159 I'm not saying, oh, well, you got to be perfect and walk out of here. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:23.279 No, no, no, no, no. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:31.360 Uh, but but you want those percentages, hey, I hear this, you know, this is the percentage of stuff that I hear that I actually put into practice. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.360 I do what it says, I obey. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:33.919 Why? 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.759 Because the Bible is self-validating to hear things and not do them. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:41.039 If you're not careful over the long haul, two things have to happen. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:48.639 Number one, either you become the cynical, jaded Christian who hears good teaching all the time and only does a small portion of that. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:10:00.320 And the way you bridge the gap in those two things is that you just you become jaded and cynical, and you evaluate and you critique and you're very critical, but you never really taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:06.720 Or the second option is actually worse, you have to renounce the faith and say, I can no longer believe this. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:07.360 Why? 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:16.799 Because if if this is really true, and Jesus, as simply as he says it, when he says, Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built this house on the rock. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.879 It's really that simple. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:25.919 The Bible is that really self-validating, then if that's true, then how do I explain my life? 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:34.879 If I've been a Christian 17 years, how do I explain that I'm so willy-nilly, that my sexual ethic is just like everybody I work with? 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.840 That my morals, my sense of oughtness is about like the culture all around us. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:45.600 If Jesus says, hey, this is this is as simple as I can put it, that's why he says, everyone then. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:52.960 It's like in conclusion, let me wrap up what I've been saying from Matthew chapter 5, chapter 6, and all through chapter 7. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.639 First thing the Bible tells us is of itself is it's self-validating. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:00.080 Secondly, you notice that you can hear and never listen. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.159 You can hear and never listen. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:04.159 There's a difference in listening and hearing. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.039 Jesus says, everyone then who hears these words of mine. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:19.360 Men, I don't know if it ever happens in your house, but sometimes my wife is talking and I'm like watching TV or doing something, and I'm I'm I'm listening to her, but I'm hearing what she says, but I'm not really listening. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.879 And you say, How do you know? 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:24.000 Because my wife never says, Are you hearing me? 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.159 She always says, Are you listening? 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:28.639 And I'll look at her and I'll parrot back everything she just said. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.720 By the way, I put her on notice. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:34.080 I said, now next week, football, college football season kicks off. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:36.159 And there's like games five nights in a row. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:42.159 So say everything you want to say to me, like right now, this week, before Thursday gets here, because Friday, I'm off the clock. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.679 We're just doing football all the time, like for five nights. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:49.360 And she's like, imagine my sadness, not talking to you for five nights. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.600 Uh, I'm like, watch your mouth, woman. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.039 Uh, but she said, so college football, and my wife is not being funny. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.480 She really doesn't keep up with it. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:01.039 Like she said the other day, baseball season's on, and I'm like, it's almost over. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.720 We're almost to the playoffs. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:04.879 And so she said, College football is starting. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:05.679 How long does this last? 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.600 I said, Until January when the playoffs go. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.559 Oh my goodness. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.720 And by the way, pro football is starting. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:16.159 And horror of horrors, Tony Romo, who doesn't drink enough milk and has got a brittle back, broke his back. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.679 And so that's the big controversy. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:20.000 And she goes, When is pro football over? 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:23.279 It's like we we I've duct tapered to the wall, okay? 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:25.279 She's like, When is this over? 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:27.840 Uh, pro football's over in February. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.879 Yes, that's her thought, too. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:34.159 That's exactly what it sounds like. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:42.480 And I said, So we can talk a lot, like Sunday through Friday, except when there's Thursday night football. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.679 And she's like, You're not that way. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.559 What are you joking about? 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:49.039 I'm like, I'm just warning you, because there'll be a lot of conversations, especially when I watch football. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:58.000 My wife will come in and sit down right there on the couch and act like I'm not already doing something and want me just to kind of turn and give her my undivided attention, which I don't by nature do. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.720 I'm not saying that's good or bad, but here's the deal. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:04.159 I can be watching football, she'll be talking, and she'll say, Are you listening to me? 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.759 And I'll turn and tell her everything I said. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:08.399 And she goes, I don't feel like I'm being listened to. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:10.320 Okay. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.840 Pause. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.000 Because my wife said this phrase to me a long time ago. 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:18.240 She said, I need you to listen with your face. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.240 And I said, That's the dumbest thing a person's ever said. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.360 Nobody listens with their face. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.440 But I feel validated when you look at me. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:28.399 Then say, look at me. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.679 Don't say listen to me. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.279 Gosh, why is it such semantical things with you? 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.759 Because you use the wrong words, but go ahead. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:42.960 And so, when, now that I've got your attention, y'all are kind of like, now you're gonna make me have a conversation on the way home with my wife. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.120 Here's why I said I'll like to say this. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.679 There's a difference between listening and hearing. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.279 You say, What do you mean? 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.279 There's a difference in listening and hearing. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.759 When I say you can hear, but never listen, here's what I mean. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.600 Hearing is what someone says. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.519 Hearing is what someone says. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.759 That's why, ladies, when you say, Are you are you listening to me? 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.159 Your husband turns and parrots back what you just said. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.799 And it doesn't satisfy you. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.960 You're like, why am I angry all of a sudden? 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:11.919 Because my smart electric husband just just said what I just said. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:14.799 Hearing is basically, it's what someone says. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:18.000 Listening is what you do with what that person says. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:23.600 See, that's why Jesus says, He who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.039 Hearing's not enough. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.159 You can hear the words. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.159 By the way, all these were religious people. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.919 These are people that are tracking with Jesus. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.039 They're listening to Jesus. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.440 They're like, oh man, I am with you. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.120 You can hear and never listen. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:38.320 The Bible says it like this in James chapter 1, starting in verse 22. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:42.240 He says, But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:53.279 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he's like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror, and he looks at himself and he goes away, and at once he forgets what he was like. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:15:02.879 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer but who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.879 Now there's two things I want you to point out right there. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:16.159 First of all, notice this three-chord progression here where he says, But the one who looks into the perfect law and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:19.759 So you look, you persevere, and the Bible says you'll be blessed. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:25.360 Every time you open the Bible to read it, I want you to have those three words kind of like a pair of glasses you put on. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.840 He says, Look, persevere. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.600 What do you mean, persevere? 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:33.519 Because sometimes what the Bible said is not, you don't see it at first glance. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:36.399 He says, Look and persevere. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:38.240 That means keep on. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.679 Look, persevere. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.120 And the Bible says you'll be blessed. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:41.840 Why is that? 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.200 Well, notice what the Bible, how the Bible refers to itself in that last verse. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.600 He says, But the one who looks into the perfect law. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:52.720 And then he describes it and said, the Bible glosses itself with this phrase, the law of liberty. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.480 The law of liberty. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.399 What do you mean, the law of liberty? 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:00.559 In other words, we we when we think about the Bible, we don't think about freedom. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:07.120 We don't think, but if you really understand the Bible, and then he says, hey, when you look into the perfect law, the law of freedom. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:13.039 In other words, the more you understand the Bible, the more the Bible insists and demands that you and I be set free. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.639 Let me say that again. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:25.440 The more you understand the Bible, the more you read the Bible, the more the truths of the Bible find a resting place in your head and in your heart, the more you understand the Bible insists that you and I be set free. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:28.000 The Bible says we're born as slaves into sin. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.440 We're born slaves to sin. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.480 We have appetites and habits that we can't seem to break. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.720 It's like we we have these chains on us. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:37.440 That's why we sing that Jesus breaks every chain. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:45.200 That's our natural disposition and inclination, which is why some of you in this room are very well-rehearsed self-haters. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:51.600 You hate yourself because you can't stop doing the things that you don't want to do and start doing the things that you want to do. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.120 Well, that's the way you were born. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.320 That's your natural state. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.600 That's my natural state. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:00.639 But the Bible comes along and says, by the way, this is not law like a list of rules and regulations. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.919 This is the law of liberty. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:07.359 This is the, if you understand what God's word says, it insists that you and I go free. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.880 You say, I don't know what you mean. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:15.119 Remember back in the Garden of Eden, first thing God says to Adam and Eve is, You are free to eat of any tree in the garden. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.920 But if this one tree, don't eat, because if you eat of that, you'll surely die. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.759 See, there's laws with liberty. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.200 They're not mutually exclusive. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.640 That's why it's called the law of liberty. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:26.240 You're free, but you this don't don't do this. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:26.640 Okay. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.079 Well, they didn't trust God. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:30.160 They disobeyed, so they forfeited their freedom. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:36.000 What if I told you that Jesus came to give back to you and I the freedom that Adam and Eve forfeited in the garden? 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.480 That's why Jesus said crazy things like this. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.680 If the Son has set you free, you're free indeed. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:44.720 You'll know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.079 Or the Bible says it like this. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:48.720 Paul says it in Galatians chapter 5, verse 1. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.880 He says, For freedom, Christ has set us free. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:55.039 Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:58.400 Hear that again, and I'll demonstrate it out of my own life. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.200 He says, For freedom, Christ has set us free. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:06.319 Now that sounds like it's just repetitive, like, you know, the Bible's running out of words, so it's reusing something. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.039 No, no, no. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:09.359 For freedom, Christ has set us free. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.960 Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:16.160 If you're not careful, listen carefully to me, I want you to understand this. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:22.160 If you're not careful, when you start going, if you go to the wrong kind of church, you will not become a more free person. 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.480 You'll just become more of a religious slave. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:28.799 The Bible says, hey, it's for freedom Christ set us free, so stand therefore. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:31.920 And in this freedom, don't submit again to a yoke of slavery. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.720 I use myself. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:36.799 When I first became a Christian in 1982, I started going to church because that's what you did. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.519 You went to church. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.720 And so I started going to church. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.119 We had church on Sunday morning and Sunday night. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:45.759 And by the way, when I first became a Christian, someone came to me with a little booklet thing called the survival kit. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.880 Anybody remember those? 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.440 Anybody? 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:51.519 A little booklet you filled in the blanks and hand me a pen and a Bible because I didn't have a Bible. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.200 And they said, Here, no, you need to start filling this out. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.640 I was like, okay, I gotta start filling this out. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:59.680 And they said, we got church and not just on Sunday morning, but Sunday night and before Sunday night, we got training union. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:01.200 Anybody remember training union? 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:03.519 I was like, dude, this starts at like 4.45. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.039 Why don't I just sleep down here? 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:07.759 But I just thought, okay, I love Jesus. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.799 I better get out here. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:14.559 And so Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and I thought, oh, we're good. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:17.759 And then they said, hey, by the way, we got Tuesday night visitation. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:20.319 Has anybody in this room ever been on Tuesday night visitation? 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.359 Can I see your hand? 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.880 Because you're over the age of 40. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.079 I'm gonna put it like that. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:26.799 Leave your hands up so we can see where the old religious people are. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.599 There you are. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:33.039 Remember, Tuesday night visitation was basically we got leads, like we were insurance agents or something. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.200 They got names of people that had visited, or somebody said, hey, my neighbor's got a tattoo. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.160 He must be going to hell. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.440 Y'all should go preach to him. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.920 And so you would get names in the fellowship holiday. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.839 Pick up these little cards and you break into teams. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:47.359 We had continuous witness training, CWT or EE. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.559 You got certified. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:53.200 Basically, which meant I'm going to memorize a presentation. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:58.480 I'm going to ring your doorbell on a Tuesday night and I'm going to regurgitate this in your lap. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:00.799 Am I exaggerating? 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.960 Some of y'all are like, oh. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.160 The rest of y'all are like, You really did that? 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.039 Yes. 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:13.759 Until one night on a Tuesday night at about 7:21, the first house we went to, a guy opened the door with his fork in his hand. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.440 He goes, You're from the church, right? 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:17.039 He goes, I'm not a pagan. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.160 I'm not like sacrificing cats in my backyard. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.839 I haven't seen my family all day. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.880 I've been at work all day. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.960 Is this really God's best idea? 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.359 Yes. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:34.400 The guy over here goes, Thank you, sir. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.839 That changed my life. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.359 I went back to the fellowship. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.160 I just quit. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:38.960 I just quit. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.880 I looked at my team and I said, Come on, let's go. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.759 I got in my car. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.240 I was driving. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.119 I drove to the Sonic. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.839 I go, what do you want? 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:46.000 And they go, Oh, we got four of the visits to make. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.599 I can't do this anymore. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.960 This is not freedom. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.319 This is bondage. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.000 Ask yourself this question. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.359 Has anybody in your life ever said to you, you know your problem? 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.880 You're just not free enough. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:03.039 Some of you are like, watch your mouth. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:05.119 What do you mean, freedom? 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:08.160 You don't let my kids hear you say that. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.920 Now, when I say freedom, I don't mean excess. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:15.359 Ask yourself if you really want to know to understand yourself. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.480 Ask yourself, why is it when you hear freedom you think excess? 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.319 I'm not talking excess. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:25.839 When I say freedom, I'm talking about uh uh uh just interest. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:40.400 Because I think unchurch people, I think lost people, people that do not have a relationship with God, people who unconsciously are building their life on the sand or crying out to get around a fully orbed, gospel-fluent, transformed, freed up person. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:44.559 I think it would be the most evangelistic thing they could ever experience. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.480 And I just want to say it again. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:57.039 I don't want to spend the other whole sermon talking about it, but when people when the Bible says, for freedom Christ has set you free, stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.680 The hardest, longest fight you will fight. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.480 In your life is the fight to stay a freed up person in the church. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:10.079 Because, man, we will come at you and say, Oh, you got to be doing this, you got to be doing that, you gotta be doing that. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:14.160 Now, on the other end of the spectrum, here's what you don't need to be thinking right now. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:19.200 Yeah, I'm gonna tell the children's pastor I'm not gonna volunteer anymore because I'm freed up. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.079 I don't need that. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:21.599 That's not what I'm saying. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.119 I'm just saying that we we we want to put people under a yoke of slavery. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:31.759 We want to make, we want to tell people, well, you gotta make sure you read first, second, and third John, John Piper, John MacArthur, and John Shott. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.920 You gotta read this book and you gotta do the. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.640 No. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:35.680 No. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.279 You're free. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.359 You are free. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:43.680 Third thing the Bible tells us this morning is a storm reveals what you trusted in. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.519 The storm reveals what you trusted in. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:52.960 Verse 25, and the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on the rock. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.759 Notice that last phrase, because it had been founded, past tense, on the rock. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:00.480 The storm reveals what you trusted in. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:03.759 When the storm comes, it's it's too late. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:06.240 There's a movie out right now called Sully. 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:12.559 Have you ever noticed it's pop it's possible to be so popular in American culture that you just need one name? 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.599