Mission Sent
Thanks so much for your time as you hear from Mission Sent in Florida. Our mission is to Serve Others, Share the Gospel of Jesus, and Live our Lives on Mission! Let's make the world better one Mission at a time.
Mission Sent
Reflecting Christ's Love in Our Daily Lives
Picture this: You're in a worship service, surrounded by others who seem moved by the spirit, yet you feel untouched, perhaps even hardened to the message. Could societal expectations, especially regarding masculinity, be a barrier to spiritual receptivity? Join us as we explore Romans 11:7, grappling with the profound tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, and examine how predestination plays into the complex dynamics of faith and grace. Through personal reflections and biblical insights, we challenge the notion of what it truly means to be spiritually open or resistant.
In a world dominated by fast-paced content and fleeting attention spans, do we genuinely listen, or merely hear? Reflecting on amusing moments from past preaching experiences, we highlight how staying present and attentive is imperative to grasp the deeper teachings of Christ. We draw on the Parable of the Sower to illustrate how only a fraction of hearers genuinely cultivate spiritual growth and produce fruit. The conversation urges us to evaluate our own spiritual journey and consider the signs of true transformation in our lives.
Navigating the divides of modern society, are we reflecting the essence of Jesus in our actions and interactions? We explore the challenge of prioritizing our identity as children of God over societal and political labels. Through stories of personal encounters, we stress the importance of embodying Christ's love and humility in today's fractured world. It's a call to action: to be a witness to Christ's teachings, to embrace change with humility, and to cultivate a softened heart ready for transformation. Join us as we journey towards a faith that is not just an accessory, but the core of our existence.
Well, good morning. We are jumping back into Romans, chapter 11. Today we're going to be kicking off in verse 7, and it starts like this what then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. As it is written, god gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day. And David says let their tables, let their table, become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see and bend their backs forever.
Speaker 1:Father, god, as we jump into your word, I ask and I pray that, god, you lead us, that, father, even though it's my voice, people may hear it. It's your words that cut to our heart. Father, I ask that we are changed from the inside out and that, father, your word just have its way within us. Father, we pray this in Jesus' name, amen, all right. So, as we jump into this, our big question is this Are you hardened Now, specifically, men in here, isn't this what we are taught that we have to be right, like we are taught like from a very early age?
Speaker 1:And I don't know about your house, but I'm sure it was something along these lines. Right, that boys don't what Cry? See, everyone in here can answer that. Right, you're a man. You're supposed to be hardened because you're the one that has to stand up and defend and, although that is a hundred percent true, most of us, this goes into every aspect of our lives.
Speaker 1:So, are we hardened? Are we hardened to the word of God? Are we hardened to what Jesus is saying to us? Are we hardened when it comes, especially and you guys have heard me say this over and over what about when it comes to worship and praise, like most of us, and you see it more so with the men? I'm telling you, you guys ever want to like? Try to prove me wrong, you can. But, like, on Sunday mornings, just look at what everyone else is doing. For the most part, women have no problem actually singing and raising their hands and dancing or clapping or any of that stuff. When it comes to when we're singing, men, what do we do? We just kind of put our hands on the chair in front of us, right? If we're really feeling it, you might have that slight like rock back and forth and you might actually lip the words. Why? Because we're men and we want to feel like we're men. But what I'm going to go through, and that really isn't what I'm talking about when I talk about this word hardened right now, those are just illustrations, because some of us may be here week after week, but we are hardened to the things of God. In other words, it kind of just goes in one ear and out the other, and that's what Paul is really driving with here.
Speaker 1:See, remember, he's building on what he said last week. So last week we looked at this has God rejected Israel? And Paul went on to say, by no means means. But he then went on to go that God could not and will not negate the promises he made to Israel, that sometimes, yes, we wander away from God, but that God will never leave nor forsake his children. So then Paul continues to build this week by going well, if God didn't reject Israel, then why isn't all of Israel saved? In fact, paul says this, that the elect have obtained it, but the rest were hardened. And if we looked at last week, we saw that word remnant, that there is a remnant that God is saving, a remnant just being a very small piece of the larger right we looked at last week when God was telling Paul that, hey, I have saved. During the times of Elijah I had saved 7,000 that did not take a knee to Baal. So we're talking about a small percentage of the whole.
Speaker 1:And what Paul is driving at here is that, even though some were saved, the rest were hardened. Has to do a little bit with, you know, that P word that some people think is a really bad one, that whole predestination thing. Right, because the elect what the elect obtained it. We literally just read that, okay, pay attention, the elect obtained it, the rest were hardened to it. So, yeah, that does have something to do with predestination.
Speaker 1:But I'm going to tell you, the bigger thing that we are dealing with is this tension that exists, this tension between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility and by man's responsibility, understand, I am talking about all of humankind, not just the gender male this tension that exists between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. See, we have to think about this. How can the Bible say that we are all predestined but at the very same time say things like but we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that we may be judged according to that which we have done. See, how can everything be predestined and everything be held accountable? Because most of us, when we think of this, we think along these lines that God predestined everything to happen. Therefore, who should have to be judged at the end? God, good job.
Speaker 1:It would be like this If I told JT hey, when you get home, I just need you to take a hammer and go through all the windows in the house and just bust all the windows out. And then, when I get home, yell at JT and go why would you bust all the windows out of the house? What would his defense be? You told me to. So I did, because otherwise I'd have gotten trouble for not doing what you told me to do. See, that would be a no win.
Speaker 1:And the answer to what we're looking at is that tension that exists Because understand, you've heard me say this a lot God is completely sovereign in, over all things. But here's the catch you are still responsible for what you do or don't do. You are still responsible for your choices. Still responsible for your choices. See, the biggest misunderstanding I have or I deal with when it comes to things like reformed theology is this you are not a robot that is just set on this predetermined course and have no choices that you make. One of the examples I give a lot of people when we have conversations like this is this Did Jesus call Peter to be a disciple?
Speaker 1:Yes, did Jesus know what Peter was going to say? Yes, did Peter still have to make that choice? Yes, peter still felt all of the weight of that. Remember, peter had a wife, he had a child, he had a mother-in-law that we know he took care of. Like, peter had all of these things. He had a job.
Speaker 1:It would be the same thing if, like tomorrow, you're sitting at work and you're like, you know what I really feel, like God is calling me to go somewhere else and do something else. The first thing in your mind and I'll tell you right now, I will definitely feel this tomorrow, as kids come pouring into the classroom at 730. I will be like I really think God's calling me to something else, deb. Now. That being said, though, what comes with that? All of the weight? Right, because I have a family that depends on me to work. I have a family that depends on me to have money coming in.
Speaker 1:See, we still make choices all the time. Now, does God know your choice? Yes, 100%. Like if I were to put a bowl of ice cream in front of Kayla and then a bowl of worms and I went hey, you can pick either one of these. Do I know what she's going to choose to eat A hundred percent? Unless they're gummy worms, she ain't mixing them. A hundred percent, I know what she's going to choose. Is she still making the choice, though? Yes, and that's what Paul is driving at. He's sitting here saying your choice is still your choice. You want to know why your life looks the way it does, because you have a lifetime of choices that has led you to this point right now. You are the reason your life looks the way it does, and what Paul is driving at here is your life is a result of those choices. See, some yes, the elect obtained it the rest were hardened. What does that mean? They chose differently. They chose to reject the Messiah. They were hardened. See, there are only two things that can happen when you hear the word of God. One, you accept it. Two, you reject it. That's it. You're softened or you're hardened. And what Paul is driving at here can be found in the teachings of Jesus.
Speaker 1:In Matthew 11, 14, and 15,. Jesus says this, and if you are willing to accept it, what did he say? Yeah, if you are willing to accept this. See, jesus is saying you have a choice right here. Right, you can either accept it or not. He's speaking about John the Baptist. This is right after he says truly, I tell you, no greater man has ever been born among humans than John. And then he goes. And if you're willing to accept it, he is Elijah who has come. Why is he saying that? Because he knew that Elijah was going to come before the Messiah. So what he's saying is if you're willing to accept this, he is Elijah who comes. He who has ears, let him hear. You know what Jesus did right after that Walked away. So it would be like if I said this, like crazy statement, like I don't know. Jesus is the son of the living God. All right, I'm out. And that's what Jesus did, and he doesn't just do it here.
Speaker 1:If you're familiar with the story of jesus feeding the 5 000 okay, it was more like 20 000 people, because it was about 5 000 men, but Jesus feeds this huge crowd of people, he gives up, he gives a sermon and then he goes. Let he who has ears listen and then he walks away. The disciples actually come to him and they're like Jesus, why would you do that? Like we're finally getting crowds, we're finally getting people to come listen to us, we're finally building up all of this stuff. Like Jesus, we're finally starting to make it Like we're making a name for ourselves, and then you just go hey, either eat my flesh and drink my blood, let he who has ears listen, and then walk away. Why would you do something like that? Because I don't know about you, but I'm sure one or two of you. If, like, all the seats were full in here and I was like, hey, look, here's's the deal, like we have to eat Jesus's flesh and we have to drink his blood, and then I just walked out the door, most of you especially if you care at all about mission sent would be like what is wrong with you? Like you're finally starting to get everything you wanted and now you're just walking away. And and what is this? Let he who has ears listen.
Speaker 1:Do you guys really think that in this crowd of people there were a lot of people that didn't have ears and some who did? I mean, it's a good theory, but that's not at all what Jesus means. Because if you have children in here, you know what I'm about to talk about. There is a huge difference between hearing and listening. Like I can tell you right now with all three of my kids, you know when you're having those really weighty conversations. You know when you're having those really weighty conversations. You, as an adult, know that what you're talking about. If they just get it, it will change the trajectory of their life. And they are looking at you like you are speaking in a foreign language and you know everything you are saying is just going in this ear and out the other. They might as well just be hearing seagulls at the beach and, if we're honest, most of us in here we've been in that position too right, where your parents were telling you something and you're just like in your mind Caw caw, caw caw. And that's what Jesus is saying when he says let he who has ears listen. He's sitting here and going.
Speaker 1:I know some of you are hearing the words that I'm saying, but you are not listening to what I am telling you and I'll tell you right now. It's even harder in today's age. You know why? Because we have things like social media and TikTok. Do you know how hard it is to keep someone's attention right now Because, let's be honest, most people under the age of 30, isn't that? What you told me is like the cutoff JT, like if you're older than 30, you use all the old stuff. It might have been even younger. I forget the conversation because I wasn't listening. I was hearing, okay, but we're used to getting information now in a minute or less, which makes it really hard.
Speaker 1:Then, when you come to something like this Because I'm going to be honest, I'm not the most long-winded preacher I've ever heard, but I'm definitely not sure either and there are times when I am up here preaching, I can look around and all of a sudden you can see, uh-oh, like I don't always need the clock up there, because sometimes I can just tell I've been going too long Because you can just start looking around. You can start seeing like someone's like well, I'm hungry, someone's sitting here going. Hey, this is what I have to do. After lunch One of my favorite stories I went and guest preached at a different church and I'm sitting there preaching and one of the elder's daughters is sitting in the front row and all of a sudden I look at her and she starts just doing this and I'm like, whoa, like we get done with service. And I was like, hey, man, that's really cool. You guys have a timekeeper that sits in the front row and the elder looks at me and he goes, we don't have a timekeeper. And I was like your daughter was telling me like to wrap it up. I was like I didn't know, I only had like 20 minutes, but like, and he goes. She was saying what? And I was like I didn't mean to get anyone in trouble here, but yeah, that's what she was giving me.
Speaker 1:But think about it. We live in this day and age now where shorts and reels and whatever other crap is out there, that's what we consume, and it has to be a minute or less. And then we wonder why we can't get into the weightier things. Well, here's the deal. I can't explain a lot of this in a minute. It's just impossible, because you're dealing with things about the creator of the universe. I can't just sit here and wrap it up in this nice little bow and go here.
Speaker 1:It's like when I get a text message from someone and I'm like, hey, look, I can give you a call or we can talk about this in person, but there's no way I would have to type a dissertation to fully explain what we're talking about right here. This isn't just something that's a real quick boom in your face, see, and that's what most of us do, right? We just want these real quick answers. I remember me and Debbie used to have these. She would ask me a question and I'm like starting to talk, right, and then I'm getting into it and I'm getting excited because it's something I actually care about, and all of a sudden she's like I just needed a yes or no, that's all I needed. And I'm like but, debbie, this isn't just a yes or no kind of thing. See, some of us were hardened. Some of us were sitting here and the information is just kind of like hitting us and it comes in and it goes out.
Speaker 1:This is exactly what Jesus was saying in the parable of the sower. Like, in the parable of the sower, jesus is talking about these four different types of people. He's sitting here going like hey, there are some people that don't even hear what I'm saying. 75% of people, though, in in the parable of the sower under or hear at least what Jesus is saying. How many actually take root in what Jesus is saying? 50%. Now of those 50%, how many actually grow up to produce fruit? 25 percent, okay, that's what we call a remnant. So if we took 100 percent of the people, 75 percent are actually going to listen, but only 25 percent of those are going to actually grow to produce fruit. That is a remnant. A quarter of all people who hears.
Speaker 1:This is why Paul is talking about and God gave them a spirit of stupor. Now, who knows what stupor is? Because most people, when we're referring to drunkenness, right, you're stuporing. You're just kind of stumbling along. You don't make any sense. I know in your mind and I speak from experience that when you're feeling really good and you are having a conversation in your mind, it makes perfect sense, but to the person that is listening you make no sense whatsoever. Like when I was a cop, I've had people in the back of my car and they swear that they are lawyers. In that moment in time and as you're listening to it, although they are playing out their favorite episode of Law and Order or whatever it may be, you're sitting here going. That's not a law, that's not a real thing. I know you saw that on TV or on TikTok, but that's not a thing that doesn't actually exist.
Speaker 1:And that's what Paul is saying that God gave him this spirit, that he gave him eyes that could not see Again. Is he talking about blind people? Yeah, but not like physically blind. He's talking about spiritually blind. Think about it. There are people that sit week in and week out and listen to the word of God be preached and have no change whatsoever. Why is that Like? Why is it? Some people have a breakdown every service and other people just kind of show up and then leave Because they're hardened. I heard it. Because they're sitting here and going. Yeah, that was great. Yeah, okay, let's go get breakfast. Like seriously, I sat in a church for eight years and do you know how many times I've like experienced Jesus in that eight years? Zero, just like most people, I would sit there and I would go. Man, is he about done? Like he said in closing, like four different times already, like I'm ready. Why? Because some of us have a spirit of stupor, like think about this.
Speaker 1:Here's what jesus says in matthew 13 about this. This is right after this parable of the sower. Jesus says, starting in verse 13 this is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they do not see, and hearing they do not see and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says you will indeed hear but never understand. And you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull and their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn. And then what I would heal them. Remember, I told you. Jesus says let he who has ears listen walk away. The disciples chase Jesus down and they go. Jesus, why do you do this? Why do you speak to them in parables? And this is Jesus answering the disciples.
Speaker 1:And it's funny because, like, I hear kids a lot of times and when I say kids, I mean I'm older. Okay, I'm not talking about like children, I'm talking about like younger people. Try to explain why Jesus speaks in parables. Oh, it's so, you know people could relate in their illustrations. The Bible says different. The Bible goes. This is why Jesus speaks in parables because not everybody is going to see it, because if you don't have ears to hear, you're not going to hear the gospel being preached.
Speaker 1:Have you ever noticed you've had some conversations, gospel conversations with people and like it just goes right over their head. They just can't get it. And in your mind you're like getting like, let's be honest, you're getting angry because you're like this isn't that hard to understand. You're a sinner who can't save yourself. God, who loves you, sent his son to die in your place and all you have to do is receive that and then follow after Jesus. This is not hard. In fact, I think it was CS Lewis who said I think it was CS Lewis that if it's not true that Jesus died or that Jesus saved you, then what have you lost? But if it is true, you have lost everything. And see, and what we have to understand is what Paul is talking about right here. See, for some people they'll never see it, they'll never understand it. Like they'll never get it. Stand it, like they'll never get it. Is that you Like? Think about it?
Speaker 1:How much effect has the word of God had in your life? Or are you someone who's still struggling with the same thing over and over and over and over and over? See, sanctification is a lifelong process. None of us are going to be perfect this side. However, there should be a process, right? Jesus says that every tree produces good fruit, and if a tree does not produce good fruit, it is cut down and thrown into the fire. Are we producing good fruit or are we so hardened to the word of God that it has no opportunity to even impact our life in any way, shape or form? In other words, are you different now that you have seen Jesus, or are you stuck in your old ways of thinking? Because, see, understanding and sight come from you actually seeing Jesus for who he is?
Speaker 1:See, jesus specifically spoke in parables so that they would not hear, because so many people would have heard him talking about a sower throwing seeds and they would have just tuned it out. They didn't wait. I didn't come to see Jesus to hear about this farmer. I came to see Jesus because I need help in my marriage, I need help with my finances, I have a wayward child, I need God to heal, I needed to eat. Remember this started with Jesus feeding the 5,000. In other words, I need Jesus to fill this need that I have.
Speaker 1:You are not coming to Jesus for Jesus, then you are trying to get what you can from the king and see, and that's why Jesus goes hey, no, I'm going to speak so that you will not understand me, because you're not looking for me, you're looking for my stuff. This is why, in Romans 1, paul says that we worship creation rather than the creator, because we don't want Jesus, we just want what Jesus can give us. And see, when we see Jesus, for who Jesus is, all of a sudden I don't care about the things that Jesus has. In fact, I'll be honest, you guys ever been to like, have you ever gone to someone's house? And you're looking around? You're like oh my God, this is amazing, like I wish I had this.
Speaker 1:That's how most of us are entering into this Christianity thing. We're looking at what other people have and we're going what's in it for me? What do I get out of following Jesus Like? Is he going to heal my cancer? Is he going to help my marriage? Is he going to make my kids act normal? What's the secret? What can I get out of this? See how many of us are just in awe of who Jesus is, because that's what Paul's actually driving at. He's sitting here, going.
Speaker 1:You have been hardened and we have to understand a few things about this. Number one is this the Bible is for us. It just ain't about us. Matt Chandler, he's a pastor out of Texas, so famously put it like this you are not David and your problems are not Goliath. We have to start understanding that, that the Bible isn't this self-help book. Are there practical things that will help you in Scripture? Yes, there are. Just take Romans 13, for instance, the borrower is slave to the lender. So there is a practical lesson that can be pulled from that, but that's not the purpose of the Bible.
Speaker 1:The purpose of the Bible is very simple it is so that you may know Jesus. In fact, john 20, 31 says it perfectly right. All these things were written why? So that you may believe, so that you may know who Jesus is, so that you may know who God is. Because how would you know who God is without scripture? Romans 1 says this that we are without excuse because of creation.
Speaker 1:Okay, you look out, you see creation. I can see those trees over there, and before people go over there and mulch them and make it, you know, into another parking lot, it looks beautiful. Or like the other night when I was out shrimping and I can just look around and go man, this is amazing. Or when we went fishing last weekend and y'all were like man, I can't believe how peaceful it is out here and cold. We have creation.
Speaker 1:We know there's a creator, but how do I know anything about this creator? Well, he's revealed himself to us how, in the person and work of Jesus and throughout scripture. That is the entire point of the Bible is so that I may know who God is. And when I know who God is, when I see Jesus, for who Jesus is, yes, it does overflow into every other area of my life. I will tell you right now I became the husband I am because I saw the husband Jesus is to his bride. I understood what it meant to forgive others when I understood what I was forgiven of. I understand what it's like to extend grace to people when I understand the grace that Jesus has given me. I understand what it's like to serve people when I see how Jesus served me. I understand what it is to love others when I look and see how Jesus loved me. See, in other words, these sanctifications are me looking more like Jesus. Well, how am I to look more like Jesus if I have no idea what Jesus actually looked like? How am I to understand who Jesus is if I never spend time studying him?
Speaker 1:See, think about it. Like I can answer almost any question you have for Debbie. Like I can tell you this is what Debbie's going to say. You know why? Because for 20 years I've spent studying Debbie, getting to know Debbie. I literally have worked with Debbie for the past seven, eight years. In other words, we have spent almost every single day together. So if you go, hey, how would Debbie react in this situation? I can tell you, really, really specifically. Here's what she would say, almost down to the. We have had conversations and Debbie hates this where I would answer for her in my conversation and then she would look at me and go, do I even need to be here for this? And I would go you know what? You don't? I'll have this whole conversation and argument with myself because I know what you're going to say.
Speaker 1:But how many of us spend the same time studying Jesus? How many of us could answer for Jesus in any given situation? See, think about it. If someone were to come up to you this afternoon, let's just say you're walking, you're enjoying the day, it feels nice outside and they punch you in the face, what's your response going to be? Call the cops, punch them back. That's most of us right, because here's what your parents taught you growing up you better never start a fight, but you better never lose one either.
Speaker 1:Do you understand what would have happened if Jesus would have punched the Romans back? Like, do you understand what a right hook from Jesus would have punched the Romans back? Do you understand what a right hook from Jesus would have done to them? I mean, here's the power of creation coming at your face. I don't think you're standing up to that. In fact, when Pilate is asking Jesus, are you a king? He is saying if I was a king, then my servants would fight for me. Pilate didn't want that Because, although Rome might have been the superpower at the time, there would have been no match for just one angel, let alone the legions and hosts of angels that Jesus could have called down. But see, most of us, when given the opportunity to act like Jesus. Because what happened when Jesus was punched in the face? He turned the other cheek, he didn't fight back. What happened when Jesus was spit on? What happened when Jesus was being murdered? Here's what he said Father, forgive them, they know not what they do, man. But let someone wrong us, let someone say something about us on Facebook, and here's the thing right, they don't even come out and say your name, but you know who they're talking about and it starts World War III.
Speaker 1:I have literally seen families fall apart because someone at Christmas said they were voting for someone else. Think about it. So how are we Jesus? See, because most of us we try to take what we grew up with and mix it with a little bit of Jesus and go hey, look, this ain't Kool-Aid Christianity. You can't just throw it all in one picture and mix it together. Jesus is sitting here going no, no, no, no, no, no. If you got ears, listen to what I'm telling you. You need to follow me, you need to look like me, you need to be my witnesses. You need to be different than what you are. You need to be different than the world is. People should look at you and see me.
Speaker 1:Anytime my kids go anywhere, like Friday night, they got to go out with some friends. I went look, understand this, because you are outside of mommy and daddy's presence. Not only do you represent our family, because, let's be honest, if my kids are wilding out, that's a reflection of who Me Like. Think about that. Right, my kids go out with someone and they act like a complete idiot. Thank you for good words. Or think about it. You're around someone else's kid, right, and they're acting like a fool. What's your first thought? How your parents do that, and most of us. The second thought is this man, if I would have done that, here's what my parents would have done. Think about it. You're out to lunch this afternoon. The table next to you has like three little kids walk up with it. The first thought in your mind is man, let's move tables. Why? Because you're sitting here and going. I know what's about to happen. But the second thing I tell them so not only do you represent our family. The second thing I tell them is this you also represent Jesus. Because not only are you claiming to be a Christian, but let's be honest, your friends know what your father does for a living too. So you got some pretty big shoes that you need to fill, see, and the more I see Jesus, for who Jesus is, the more my life will look like the life of Jesus.
Speaker 1:Paul in first Corinthians, 11 1 says this be imitators of me as I imitate Christ, in other words, like the next chapter we get into. Let's be honest. Here's how it starts right. Your life is a living sacrifice. Do not conform to the ways of this world, but in all things, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Why? Because your life is wrapped up in me. You represent Jesus when you go places.
Speaker 1:I'm not calling myself Jesus. I understand how that sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth. I'm not calling myself Jesus. I understand how that sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth. See, and that's what Paul is driving at. And if you do not know who Christ is, how can you imitate him? You can't. If you don't know what the Bible actually says, then what are you following?
Speaker 1:And so many of us are so hardened to this. I'm not going to ask a question about that. I'm going to look like an idiot. I would rather you ask a question and look like an idiot than walk around believing something that's not true. I go, and I would rather have uncomfortable conversations with you where we disagree, but we understand. At the end of it, our goal is to look like Jesus. That's it. My goal isn't to look more like a Republican or a Democrat or a conservative or a liberal or a white man or a Spanish woman or whatever. It is Like that song we were singing this morning. My name is. My identifier should be this, and this only I'm a child of the one true king.
Speaker 1:So, as we close this morning, let me ask you again are you hardened? Is this something that just goes in one ear and out the other? Are you someone who's sitting here going? I got all the answers. Is Jesus just an add-on to your life or is Jesus your life, because there's a difference between these two things. Are you seeking Jesus more every day or are you only interested in what you can get from Jesus? Is your life changing as you imitate Jesus, or is everything still just about you?
Speaker 1:If you need someone to talk with or pray with, as always I am here and there are also, I'm sure, people around you that can help you. But at the end of the day, am I hardened or am I humbled? Am I sitting here going hey, I got some work to do or am I sitting here going? I've worked my whole life, I'm good. So, father, I ask and I pray that as we move from this point forward, that God, if there's anyone in here who may be looking at this going hey, I got some issues to handle. Father, I pray that you soften us. And God, you just soften us like butter or clay, as your word says, to mold and shape us into your image, so that we leave here today looking more like you and less like us. Father, I ask and I pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen.