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
Fat and Lazy
This episode dives into the spiritual complacency found in many believers' lives, drawing parallels with the concept of marriage and the importance of actively cherishing our relationship with Jesus. The discussion centers on Paul’s message in Romans about Israel's rejection of Jesus leading to salvation for the Gentiles, emphasizing the necessity of recognizing and appreciating our faith to avoid spiritual laziness.
• Exploring Romans 11’s significance in the context of faith
• Comparing spiritual apathy to a marriage gone stale
• Emphasizing the importance of recognizing who Jesus is
• How Gentiles receive grace despite Israel's rejection
• Community responsibility towards sharing the Gospel
• A call to acknowledge the love and sacrifice of Jesus
• The necessity of nurturing our faith actively and intentionally
Well, good morning. I'm going to tell you it's going to be a lot of reading up front, which we all know. I am just a huge fan of reading and I never mess up with that. But starting in verse 11 of Romans, chapter 11, it says this. So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means. Rather, through their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous. Now, if their trespass means riches for the world and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean? Now I am speaking to you, gentiles, and as much then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you Then you will say branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note, then, the kindness and severity of God, severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off, and even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is, by nature, a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back in to their own olive tree? All right, that was a lot to read and there's a lot in there.
Speaker 1:In fact, a lot of people struggle with Romans, chapter 11, because it doesn't seem as practical on the surface. Remember, if we were to look back at Romans 10, paul was talking about this mystery of salvation, how salvation is obtained, not just for the Gentiles but also for the Jews. It was very like a kind of following along. Right, if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved. Right, that's Romans 10. It's a very encouraging uplifting.
Speaker 1:Then, when we get to Romans 12, we're going to start with this that your bodies present your bodies as living sacrifices. Do not be conformed to the ways of this world, but in all things be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may know what is good, right and holy. And then Paul launches into marks of a true Christian, how our lives should look in reference to that. But then we have Romans 11 that sits in between these two chapters and for a lot of people it kind of seems out of place. It kind of seems like Paul is like breaking his thought here. But I want us to understand something, and the best illustration to understand all of what we're about to go through is to look at marriage. Now, normally I don't go hey, this is the title of my sermon. But the title of this sermon actually is very important to understanding all of this, and it's this. It's called Fat and Lazy. Now, and here's what I want you to understand. I'm going to pick on myself for a little bit.
Speaker 1:When Debbie first met me, I was 17,. Okay, I spent my life working out, in fact, to the point that I had specified diets from colleges that were trying to recruit me to go play football. So it was very, very meticulous in what I ate and how much I worked out. I will tell you right now, and at the risk of sounding arrogant, you could see any single muscle in my body, because not only did I work it out, but I also sat in front of a mirror for hours trying to learn how to flex every single muscle in my body. Just so, when my shirt came off at the beach, I knew, okay, this is what I had to tighten up to make it look a certain kind of way. That is what Debbie met. So of course, debbie was like oh my gosh, I like the way that looks, right. Yeah, I'm sure it was my brain that no one sees someone jogging down the beach and is like I bet they got a good personality right Now, fast forward some years.
Speaker 1:Me and Debbie get married. Guess what, I don't have to do anymore. I don't have to keep myself in shape. Why? Because she ain't going anywhere.
Speaker 1:So what happens is is we tend to get fat and lazy. I'm not hitting the gym for hours every day anymore. I'm not, for the most part, watching what I eat, except for to watch it go from my plate into my mouth and into my tummy to make me happy. This is how most of us treat our relationship with Christ, the bride of the church, right? See, when we first came to know Jesus, we were super excited about that. To know Jesus, we were super excited about that. We really realized that there was a God who loved us so much that he gave his only begotten son and now that I believe I shall not perish but have everlasting life. And we were super excited and we didn't miss a service that the church offered and anyone we came into contact with we were trying to share this information with Because we were sitting here going. Man, if you could just see Jesus the way that I see Jesus like, it'll change your life, it'll change your marriage, it'll change your home, it'll change the trajectory of your life.
Speaker 1:And then what happens? We get fat and lazy. We don't go home and study scripture, we don't turn on the music and listen to Christian music, we just kind of fall back into our old ways and then we kind of just go through the foundations of life, right, kind of just wake up, go through the day, go to sleep. Wake up, go through the day, go to sleep. We lose that awe, we just get used to Jesus and we become fat and lazy.
Speaker 1:So our big question is this Do you appreciate your relationship with Jesus? Because this is really what Paul is trying to drive at in Romans 11. See, the marks of a true Christian and the practicalities of our faith, and what we should be doing means nothing if we don't rightly see Jesus. Because, see, there are plenty of atheists in this world, plenty of people who would sit here and go hey, god is not real. Who do nice things, who feed the homeless, who give clothes out, who donate to charities, who do nice things. See, you can do all the nice things, but if you don't understand and appreciate your relationship with Jesus, that's all pointless.
Speaker 1:So our big question do we appreciate our relationship with Jesus? Think about it when was the last time that you were just in awe that Jesus would save a wretch like you? See? And we either need to first come to the conclusion am I a wretch or did I do something that was worthy of salvation? That's what Paul has been building at right.
Speaker 1:Remember Romans 3, 1 through 3, actually Like there's nothing good inside of us. In fact, when we get to Galatians 3, isn't that what Paul says? That anything good inside of me came from Jesus is no longer I who live, but Jesus who lives in me. So, in other words, I never got to a point where I was worthy of salvation. So when was the last time I looked at Jesus and I went? Man, I am just in complete awe that you, seeing me for everything that I am and every sin that I've committed, still went. I love you enough that I'm willing to die for you. When was the last time we stopped and went? I am so thankful that God would save a wretch like me, and it's with that in mind that I'm going to pray, and then we're really going to jump into that. So, father, I ask and I pray that, as I go through your word today that, even if it be my voice, people hear it is your words that are cutting to the heart. Father, I pray by the power of your spirit for revival for each and every one of us in this room, father, I pray that it just starts in the inside and that God is just something we cannot fill and that it just continue to bubble out of us. Father, I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 1:So if we were to look specifically at verse 11, it said this. So I ask did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means. Rather, through their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous. So let's start with this. What was the trespass of Israel I mean, paul is sitting here going it was a trespass of an entire nation. That's pretty big, right? The trespass is simple it is Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. So, in other words, here's the thing. Israel had the Old Testament, right. They had Genesis to Malachi. What does Genesis to Malachi focus on? What is the entire point of those 39 books? That there is a Messiah coming, and whoever your parents are should be very proud that there is a Messiah coming, that there is one coming who is going to save, who is going to bring and usher in the kingdom of heaven, who is going to take all of the sin, all of the death, all of the destruction and go. No, this is what God designed that there is a Messiah coming. That is what those 39 books were.
Speaker 1:Now we have these people that you see all over the New Testament, right, they're called the Pharisees, the scribes and the Sadducees, right, and everywhere we kind of see Jesus, we see, in some way, shape or form, the Pharisees, the Sadducees or the scribes, and they're always there ready to argue with Jesus. Now, understand this about the Pharisees scribes and the Sadducees they were more religious than any one of us in this room because they didn't just have a couple of verses memorized, right, they didn't just have, they didn't just have this working knowledge of scripture. Like, they devoted their entire life to the study of scripture. They had Genesis to Malachi memorized. Like. I think I'm hot because I like have like at least 15 or 20 verses like committed to memory. They have 39 books and if you've ever read through Isaiah, it's a little rough to try to commit 66 chapters of prophecy to memory.
Speaker 1:But yet that's what they have and they are standing there with the Messiah, they are standing face to face with God in the flesh and they go crucify him, kill him. He is a blasphemer, he's a lunatic. He's a crazy person. You go back into Mark 3,. Even Jesus' own family were seeking to have him arrested. Because they went. He's crazy. Why? Because he's standing up going I am the son of the living God. And if you have siblings in here, what would you think of your brother and or sister if they stood up and they went? Hey, you guys know what I am, god in the flesh. We would be thinking the same thing. Right, arrest them. They done lost it, they went crazy. And so Israel rejects the Messiah, this promised one that has been coming in. Israel rejects and goes. Nope, he is a liar, a crazy person and a blasphemer.
Speaker 1:And this, this is what we all have to do. This is where we all start. You have to sit here and figure out who is Jesus, see, and a lot of us have a very general idea of that term. Right, like most of us in this room. If we were honest, we would sit here and go oh, jesus is the son of God. Duh Like, why do you think I'm in here? It's not because I have these questions about who Jesus is. I know who Jesus is.
Speaker 1:Well, jesus did the same thing to his disciples in Matthew 16. In Matthew 16, he says this. In Matthew 16, he says this but who do you say that I am? This is right before Peter confesses Jesus as Christ. This is right before Jesus looks at Peter and goes. Surely you couldn't have figured this out, like you guys ever thought about how Jesus talks to Peter? Like he calls him the devil. He tells him he's stupid. He's like you couldn't have. You couldn't have figured this out on your own. I've talked to you long enough, peter. I know you didn't know the answer to this question. This was revealed to you by God Because Peter goes. You are the son of the living God and then that's when Jesus goes upon this rock.
Speaker 1:I will build my church, but right before this, jesus is sitting here going. Who did they say that I am? Who does everyone out there say that I am? And they go. Some say you are John the Baptist, some say that you are a great prophet, some say that you are a great teacher, and then he stops and he goes. But who do you say that I am? He makes it very, very, very personal, and this is where we have to start with, because if you were sitting in this room and you were going, oh, jesus is the son of God. Well, what does that mean for your life, then? Because if you're going to admit that Jesus is exactly who he said he was, then what should you be doing? Exactly what he said to do, right, like, if you're going to sit here and go? I believe this Faith isn't saying I believe this fact is true. Faith is sitting here going because I believe this Faith isn't saying I believe this fact is true. Faith is sitting here going because I believe this fact is true. I will do. Well, what's that mean? I will love God with all my heart, mind, body and soul. What does that mean? That means everything I do is directed towards glorifying and making much of God, which means that my time should be spent studying who God is.
Speaker 1:How many of us do that, like, on a regular basis? I know some of us like we started the new year and we were like, hey, I'm going to read through the Bible. This year, 88% of all new year's resolutions are done in the first two weeks of January. In other words, you've given up on that. We're still. I mean, we still got what? Four days, three days, no, what is today the 19th? So we still got, yeah, four days left in our fast. How many of us are still in that? How many of us are taking the opportunity on Wednesdays to go? Hey, you know what, for this month at least, I'm going to pray Like I go.
Speaker 1:This is what we have to understand that Jesus is sitting here saying who do you say that I am? And if you're sitting here saying that I am exactly who I said I am, then your life should look a certain way, then you should be doing certain things. See this question who do you say that Jesus is? This is paramount to everything else in life, everything. Cs Lewis would say it like this.
Speaker 1:In his book Mere Christianity, cs Lewis says he would either be a lunatic on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg, or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. See, before anything else, before we can go any further, we have to understand this, no matter who we are, no matter what we believe.
Speaker 1:The very first question is simple who is Jesus? See, if Israel's unbelief is the rejection of Jesus, then how do we know that we are not continuing in the trespass of Israel and rejecting Jesus? And think about this. There are what? 7.4 billion people in this world, and if any of them write the date out, they are saying that we believe that that Jesus existed, because the only reason we know we're in year 2025 is because we sit here and go. It's been 2,025 years since the dominion Anti. I can't ever say Latin words, I struggle with English. Anti, say it Deb, anti-domin, whatever. Yeah, that word. See.
Speaker 1:For the Christian, jesus is Lord and Savior. For the Jew, they had to figure out and they went. He is a madman, a lunatic and a blasphemer. For the Muslim, what about this? Who do the Muslims think? Jesus is A great prophet. In fact, jesus is mentioned more times in the Quran than Muhammad. What about for the Buddhists? They believe that he reached peak nirvana. He is the most sophisticated and at peace with the universe person that has ever existed.
Speaker 1:Do you understand that every other world religion has to figure out what to do with Jesus? Even an atheist, even someone who would sit here and go. I don't believe that there's a God. Guess what? They had to figure out, what to do with that? They had to sit here and go. Oh, I have to come to the conclusion that I don't believe that a God exists. And the list could go on and on and on. But no matter what, we have to figure out who Jesus is and what to do.
Speaker 1:See, paul is telling us here that the Jews rejected Jesus, that they wanted nothing to do with him. So the first thing we have to sit here and go is am I following in Israel's unbelief? The second thing would be this, and it's found in verses 13 through 15. Specifically, paul says now I am speaking to you, gentiles, inasmuch, then, as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, that I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean? But life from the death? See, what Paul is driving at here is simple. The Jews rejected their Messiah, so God went. Fine, I'll go talk to the Gentiles Now.
Speaker 1:For the Jew, Gentiles would have been a second-class kind of citizen, and we do this a lot in churches, don't we Like? We don't say it out loud, we don't write it down, but here's what we do. I am up here because I am the pastor. Like I'm the one that has all the answers, I'm the one that gets up and talks, I'm the one that's supposed to spread the gospel. Like I'm the one that's supposed to do the Jesus stuff. You guys, as the laymen, you guys are a little bit below me, right. Like this is what we do in churches. Do you know that in the first century church, how ridiculous that would have looked to them? In other words, you should know just as much as I do. You should have the ability, just as much as I do, to be able to go out and preach the gospel.
Speaker 1:Remember Romans, chapter 10,. Going back to that, paul said how are they to believe in whom they have never heard, and how are they to hear if there's no one there to preach? He wasn't sitting here going hey, those people that are specially called by God to do this thing, they're the ones that have to go do that. What he was saying is, if you call yourself a Christian, just like Peter would later say, you are an ambassador of Christ, which means you have just as much responsibility to go out there and preach the gospel to your co-workers, to your family, to your friends, even to those people on Facebook, and that means more than just throwing up a verse every once in a while. See what Paul is sitting here doing. Is he's sitting here, going Gentiles? Look, now that you're coming into this, there's some stuff you need to know Now. For starters, the Jews would have sat here and went. Gentiles are second-class citizens, so you're like God's second choice. We have 90s trivia coming up right. This would be like you know that girl you were really trying to ask to the eighth grade dance and she said no. So then you went to your safety girl. Like that's how Paul is trying to say that Gentiles are. But what I want us to understand is that that was always God's plan from the beginning. Think about it. Who does Jonah go talk to? Like where does God send Jonah Nineveh? Nineveh is not a Jewish city, it's the Assyrians. They're Gentiles. What was Jonah's message to the Ninevites? Repent, and God will forgive you why they're Gentiles.
Speaker 1:In Isaiah, chapter 65 and verse 1, it says this this is God speaking. He says I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me. I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said here I am. Here I am to a nation that was not called by my name. See, god is doing what every parent who has multiple children has done. Here's the thing. If JT decides, daddy, I don't want to go shrimping with you, I have other things I want to do, do you know? The easiest way for me to get him to change his mind Is to look at Gabby and go Gabby, you want to go shrimping with me? Because as soon as she says yes, jt will be like whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. And it's not that he had this huge change of heart, it's. He just really doesn't want his sister to go do what he has the right to go do.
Speaker 1:God is doing the same thing with the Jewish people. He's sitting here, going. Fine, you want to reject me? You want to crucify me? Cool, stand by. I'm going to go save them, so that the Jews will sit here and go whoa. Aren't we the chosen people? Aren't we the ones that were called by your name? Aren't we the ones that you said you will never leave or forsake, because then Paul can go. Okay, now let's talk about this, because you left and you forsook and you crucified the Messiah and you've got to figure out what you're going to do with this Israel. But see, god is doing the same thing that any one of us, as parents with multiple children, will do, because Paul is sitting here going.
Speaker 1:God saving the Gentiles is made to make the Jews jealous To sit here and go. Hold on, what did we forget? What did we not do that we should have been doing? Why, all of a sudden, is God saving those Gentiles that we thought were so far beneath us? Think about this when a Jew would go to another country before they would come back into Israel, they would stop and shake all of the dust off of their clothes. This would be like, okay, you're coming over Lake Monroe, right, you're coming from Sanford back into Deltona. You pull the car off to the side of the road and you're like hold on, we got to get all this nasty Sanford off of us. And I know some of us look at it like that. I don't All right. In fact, I do it when I'm going into Sanford, right, I'm like man, we got to leave the Deltona here, but that is what the Jews would have done, because we can't bring any of that nastiness back into Israel, because we're the so-called chosen people.
Speaker 1:And now they're sitting here, going, but wait, why is God saving them? Think about it. Like why does Peter get in trouble in Acts after he goes and sees Cornelius? That's a different one, but, yes, you are correct. Like he gets called back to Jerusalem. They're like hold up, hold up, hold up.
Speaker 1:Who told you to go to the Gentiles? Like, how do we even know that God's saving the Gentiles and Peter's? Like? Well, I was just at Cornelius' house and the spirit of God fell on them because they're speaking in tongues. They were baptized, they accepted Jesus. Like we know that God is going to the Gentiles and the Jews are sitting here, going hold up.
Speaker 1:Then what did we miss? See, these people are below us, they don't matter, they don't even deserve salvation. Like, these are nasty people. Like Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh, why? Because he went God, they don't deserve it. Do you know what they do to your prophets? Do you know what they do in their homes? Does that sound familiar? No, that can't be the church, could it? That couldn't be us, could it. That can't be all of us in our high ivory towers looking at the world going. They don't deserve it. They don't deserve to be saved. They're nasty, wicked people. Do you realize that?
Speaker 1:I have been in churches before when, like this young lady wanted to sing and they went? She's not where she needs to be. She has her own record contract now, by the way, like had a beautiful voice and instead of someone taking the time to go, hey, let's disciple her, let's walk with her. Let's understand that at one point, before Jesus came and got me, I was in the same point as her. Instead of someone going, hey, let me give my time to grow her, they just went wait, you go get yourself and then come back and see us. Isn't that the message of the church?
Speaker 1:You don't look right, you don't sound right, you don't vote right, you don't dress right, you don't look right. Go get yourself cleaned up, then come back and see us. How in the world is someone who doesn't even know they're dirty going to get themselves cleaned up? You know how many times I look at Kayla after she gets done eating and I'm like girl, go wash your face. Why doesn't she see it? Because it's hard to see your own face, right? She doesn't understand. She has like spaghetti in her hair and you're sitting here going. How did that even happen? Like the hair is on the back of your head, how did you get spaghetti all the way back there?
Speaker 1:But see, that's what the church is called to do, right? To be able to look at others and go hey, you got spaghetti on the back of your head. You need to go get that cleaned up. Here's how you clean it, right. You need to go get in the shower. We've already taught you how to bathe. You need to do all the things we taught you to do. That's what we're called to, galatians 6.1.
Speaker 1:If any of you is caught in trespass, those of you who are righteous should go restore them in a spirit of gentleness. In other words, if we're to sit here and go, someone's got it wrong. It's not the world who doesn't know, jesus who has it wrong. We're to look at each other and go hey, we know better, you're wrong for this. You know why we don't do this? Because we put a facade on as soon as we walk in the door.
Speaker 1:Anyone in here ever texted me and went hey, I'm struggling with this right now. Hey, can you talk to me about this? I mean, I know there's at least two of you that have, but most of you don't. Most of you are like, whatever, I'll see you again on Sunday. I'll sit and listen to you preach again. Sometimes you're funny. Very, very seldomly will you text and go. Hey, can you pray for me? Hey, I'm really struggling with this right now. Hey, my family is falling apart.
Speaker 1:By the time I get to know your family is falling apart, it's usually like, hey, this is last minute, hail Mary, let's try to do marriage counseling. Oh, these problems have been going on for years and years and years. And now we think we're just going to come in here and magically fix everything. And then, after three sessions, when nothing changes, because you've given three weeks to a problem that's been going on for 10 years, and you're like, well, this doesn't work, guess Jesus is wrong. For 10 years. And you're like, well, this doesn't work, guess Jesus is wrong. And then it's just divorce because, see, we can't, because we're too prideful. We're too prideful to sit here and go.
Speaker 1:Hey, I don't have all the answers. So let me be the first one to tell you I don't have all the answers. There are questions some of you in here have asked me before that I've been like I don't know. I mean, I'll figure it out, I'll find it. I'll go to people who are smarter than me, who know more than me, who have more wisdom than I do, and I'll figure it out. I just don't know it off the top of my head. But see, most of us were too prideful to do stuff like that. Most of us are too prideful to go.
Speaker 1:Hey, I don't have it all together. Hey, I'm struggling here. Hey, I feel like I'm drowning here. Hey, I need some help. Because I'll tell you right now if you came out and you went shrimping with me and you fell in the water and you can't swim, let's just assume that. Do you have any shame about going? Hey, throw me a life jacket, help me. No, why? Because you're sitting here going. I'm gonna die if you don't help me. But yet this is what we do all the time. You're sitting there, drowning, bobbing up and down, can barely breathe and instead of going, hey, throw me a life jacket. Hey, can you help me with this? Hey, can you walk with me through this? Hey, can you pray with me through this? Hey, can you pray with me about this. Hey, what should I do here? We're like, no, I got. And then what happens? Then we die and we don't understand why, because this is what the church does.
Speaker 1:The church is known If you've watched any YouTube shorts or the now banned TikTok. What is the church known for? Being what? No, it's not known for being judgmental, arrogant and prideful, is it? It's known for being humble and gentle and loving, because that's what Jesus was known for. No, see the church. Yeah, guess what we're known for.
Speaker 1:Like, when you first tell someone you're a christian, what is the face they give you? I didn't know, you were part of that cult. You've been brainwashed, you've been like it's never a good thing, it's never like oh man, you guys do so much good, see, but that's what we should be known for. But yet what Paul is sitting here telling us is because we became the chosen ones, because we became the ones that God was going after. We became what Fat and lazy. We became Israel. Just how Israel would sit here and look down on the Gentiles, we sit here and look down on those who are not part of the church. Where's our compassion for a dead and dying world? Where's our heartbrokenness for a world that is literally on their way to hell. You know how many people I've had tried to sit and talk like argue with me about predestination and they're like well, I couldn't believe that God would send anyone to hell. What kind of a loving God is that? You know what my argument back to that is what are you doing so that God doesn't send them to hell?
Speaker 1:What did Abraham do when Sodom and Gomorrah was going to be destroyed? When God came to him and went hey, look, there is so much sin and so much wickedness and there is not one just person in that city. I'm going to destroy both Sodom and Gomorrah, where Abraham's nephew was living. What did Abraham do to God? He went God, what if? What if there are 50 righteous people in that city? Surely you would not destroy the whole city. And God went you're right, there are 50 righteous people, I won't destroy it.
Speaker 1:And then Abraham remembered what Sodom and Gomorrah actually was. He was like hold up 50, maybe trying to shoot the moon. God, what if there were 25? And God went fine, if there are 25 people, I won't destroy it. Abraham went look, I drove through there one time. It's like South OBT, like you know, I just what. If there's one and God went, you're fine. If I send my angels in there and we find one, I'll spare the city. Now they didn't get spared, except for Lot and his daughters, because his wife was so attracted to that, to that shine and gleam of the world and the just filling of all my lustful passions. So, as the angels are like, hey, run away. She wants to look back because she wants to remember what used to be, instead of the new person she could be.
Speaker 1:Now, how many of us are sitting here going God, just give me a little more time, god, there's still people in this city. I know you're gonna try to save God. I know Deltona could see revival. Like, how many of us are going to God going, hey, like, let me just preach a little bit longer, god, maybe there's just one or two more that can come to know you, because what if that one or two more is someone you love? Like, we're fine. We became Israel. We became the chosen ones. We became the ones that are up here looking down on a dying world. We became the ones that went. Hey, we have this special relationship with God.
Speaker 1:And then let's see what Paul warns us here in verse 19. He says this. Then you will say branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in. In other words, I am so worth it that God got rid of his own kids to bring me in. Paul says that is true. They were broken off not because you're worth it, but because they chose not to believe because of their unbelief. But you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Speaker 1:What Paul is really saying is, if you do what they did, you're going to get what they got. Why? Because if God doesn't, he is no longer a just God. So it would be like this as a teacher If I went hey, I'm grading papers and I went, this student, I really like 100. This student, I can't stand zero.
Speaker 1:Now let's say and I know no parents ever gossip, but let's say their parents found out about that Do you think those parents are going to come talk to me as a teacher? Do you think they're going to be sitting here, going hey, can you explain this to me? Because this isn't right. You know how bad it sucks, honestly, as a teacher, to have that challenging student and you're putting like a 100 on the top of the paper because every fiber in your sinful being is sitting here going. They don't deserve this. They give me a headache, like, let's be honest, you don't think God ever looks at me like that, like he doesn't deserve this. He, he gives me a headache, I'm sure.
Speaker 1:But see, what Paul is saying is, if you do what they did, god's going to do what he did to them. You get proud, arrogant, fat and lazy, your branch is going to get cut off and I'll graft them back in Because God's sitting here going. I am God and can do as I will. This is all mine. I own the cattle on a thousand hills. You only have breath because I gave it to. You only have breath because I gave it to you. And so if we want to follow along with what Israel is doing, well then we'll get what Israel got.
Speaker 1:See, we are called to repentance. We are called to turn from our wickedness to fight against our flesh. But how are we called to do all of that? With love. See, we are to love God with all we are and love others as we love ourselves. Could you imagine what this world would look like if we loved others the way that we love us? Because some of us, let's be honest, love ourselves a lot and it shows. And what if we loved others that much? What if we loved others that much? What if we loved others to the point that we were willing, I don't know, to serve them, to share the gospel with them, to live our life on mission so that they may be saved from an eternal damnation in hell? Now, how do we do that? We realize how lucky we are to be with Jesus.
Speaker 1:See, and I'm going to give you a human example of this, debbie. I'm going to tell you guys right now, if you don't know this, and some of this is kind of like private stuff, and Debbie loves when I share our private life with everybody, this kind of like private stuff, and Debbie loves when I share our private life with everybody. Debbie's an amazing wife, like just phenomenal wife. She is an amazing mother. She loves so much, sometimes a little too much, but I'll tell you this I have never in 24 years doubted if Debbie loves me. I've doubted if she's liked me. I've doubted if she understands the words that I'm using, like when we went shrimping the other night. But I've never, ever, ever doubted that Debbie loves me.
Speaker 1:And then in 20 years, you know what I've never had to do make my own plate of food. Like it's dinner time. All I have to do is sit down because I know I have a doting wife that has no problem going in the kitchen making my food. Last night we had steak right, they had steak and shrimp. I don't eat seafood, so I just had steak and mashed potatoes Well, baked potato salad. By the time my plate came to me, not only was all the gristle and fat cut off of my steak, but my steak was cut up in nice bite-sized pieces.
Speaker 1:There have been people in my family that have looked at Debbie In my family like they're supposed to be for me right. They've looked at Debbie and went you baby him too much. He can cut his own food. He's a grown man. And I went first of all, stop meddling in my marriage, because I got her right where I want her.
Speaker 1:Number two or number three, I, I, she is just phenomenal. I haven't made a plate in 20 years. I don't have to do wash, you know what. I don't even have to cut the yard if I don't want to. Now I have some kind of sickness. I do love being outside and working outside, so I will, like we have legit gotten to arguments over who's going to cut our yard, and then you throw JT in the mix and then now it's like it's a three-way argument over who's going to do yard work. Like I haven't had to do anything but love Debbie back. That's all I've had to do. I haven't had to call and talk to the cable company. I haven't had to do anything. Debbie is a phenomenal wife.
Speaker 1:See, I know and I understand what I have in Debbie, and because I know what I have in her, you know what I do Try to be the best husband I can be. Why? Because I love her. There's another reason I know what I have and I don't want her to go find someone else and because of that I go. I have to be the best that I can be, because if I'm not, I open up the door to the devil to go. You can get better.
Speaker 1:Now, what does this have to do with what we are talking about? Well, when I look to Jesus, do I realize what I have in Jesus? Do I realize that I will never, ever, ever have to answer for my sin? Do I realize that there was a God that loved me so much that he stepped into creation, that he went from full glorification into a humble baby, born in a manger to live a perfect life, for that life, only to end with him getting beat and spit on and murdered, just so that he could go? Hey, I have restored our relationship. Like, do you understand, I did nothing to reconcile myself to God, but that it was the other way around and God went. I will reconcile myself to you.
Speaker 1:Like, do you realize what you have in Jesus? Do you realize that you can have peace with the Father and, in turn, that means I can have peace with one another? Do you realize that Jesus said I came so that you may have life and have life abundantly? Like you can actually enjoy this, like some of us that you know, you're just sitting here, just poor me, woe is me. Oh, it's always one step in front of the other. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, like that.
Speaker 1:Like Jesus is sitting here going no, no, no, I came so that you may have life abundantly and you're sitting here going well, I don't have a lot of abundance. That's not what he's talking about. Do you know what it's like to actually have real friends who love you? Like, do you know what it's like to have a spouse who loves you? Do you know what it's like to have a marriage that is actually built on biblical principles? And sitting here going, hey, my wife is my helpmate.
Speaker 1:Like, do you understand what it's like to lead like Jesus? Like, do you understand what you have in Jesus? Because if you don't, this is always just going to be a list of do's and don'ts to you. Bless you. This is always just going to be something else that's added to your life. And you know what your first problem is Is you don't understand what you have in Christ.
Speaker 1:Now, chapter 12, that's all those practical things we were just talking about, and we'll get into that in two weeks, and so you'll hear all of the amazing things you have in life because of who Jesus is and what Jesus did for us. But until we get there, we need to stop being fat and lazy in our relationship with Jesus. We need to realize what we have in Christ and we need to realize that if we don't understand what we have in Christ, then Christ could just go find another bride, see, because that's what happens. That's why I try to do for Debbie. So, as Josh comes up and we sing one more song, it's today the day you finally understand and realize what you have in Jesus. And it's today the day that we stop being fat, lazy, arrogant and prideful. Is today the day we go. Our bride Jesus isn't going anywhere, so I can just be whatever I want to be. See, I do understand this.
Speaker 1:Like Debbie's a good Christian wife, I know what it would take to make her walk out the door. So I know I have a lot of grace and leeway with that, a whole lot. And I know me, being the redneck from Sanford that I am, that I've pushed that grace and leeway on more than one occasion. Sometimes I've pushed it just to see how far I could, just because that's the kind of person I am, because I like to test boundaries. I don't know if anyone else in here is like that. Sometimes I like to get Debbie super mad and then see if I can calm her back down, just for fun, because it's fun for me and it's a game. Sometimes I've looked at her and went. I don't know why you're with me, you should go somewhere else.
Speaker 1:But what I want us to understand is why do you think Paul uses the mystery of marriage or the illustration of marriage to show the mystery of salvation? Because could the same not all be said true for my relationship with Jesus? Think I've ever tried to argue with Jesus. Think I've ever looked at him and been like you're wrong on this one, like you're just trying to keep me from having fun and I'm going to push that boundary as far as I can push it. Think sometimes I push that boundary a little too far.
Speaker 1:There have been times where I've looked at Jesus and went hey look, I don't understand why you're with me, you. There have been times where I've looked at Jesus and went hey look, I don't understand why you're with me, you need to go somewhere else. There are times I've looked at Jesus and went hey, I don't get why you love me. What do I bring to the table? See, paul knew this is the best illustration I could give, because I've done all of this with Jesus. Why do you think it's the church, is the bride of Christ?
Speaker 1:See, is today the day that you go? You know what? No, I realize what I have in Jesus. I'm going to repent of being fat and lazy. I'm going to start doing what I used to do. I'm going to start going. You know what? I know what I have to do so that our marriage will be strong. See, if you have some hard work, I would pray that you do it today, that you don't wait, because the longer you wait, I'm telling you, just like in an actual marriage, the harder the work gets to do.
Speaker 1:So, father, I ask and I pray that if there's anyone in here today, father, that is sitting here going, you know what, yeah, I've gotten lazy with this, just started kind of going through the motions and, just like in any marriage, that will fall apart. I just kind of Father, you know, did what I was supposed to do and just became fat and lazy with it. And, father, I ask and I pray that today be the day that we go. Yep, nope, I need to get serious about it. I need to put the work in on this. I need to do this.
Speaker 1:That, father, I need to to stop being arrogant. I need to stop being prideful. I need to stop taking for granted, father, the, the, the, the bride we have in you, the father. We sit here and go. We don't want to be cut back out so another branch could be grafted in that. Father, we want to be with just you. So, father, if that is anyone in here I ask and I pray, father, that through the power of your spirit, god, you give them a renewing and a revival and a fresh fire in their heart to sit here and go. I know what I have in Jesus and I want to be the best I can for him, simply because of who he is. Father, I ask and I pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen.