Skip to content The Truth About Following Christ - Jesus Encounter, Part 5 Aug 6 · 41 min ...more
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Empowering multimedia ministry for bold Christian living: Weekend Messages, Deep End Podcast, Deep Dive Bible Study. Tim Hatch, Lead Pastor, Waters Church, 26 years of pastoral ministry, book author.
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0:00 If you have a bible, open up to Luke 9 verse 57 through 62. If you don't have a bible, pull out your smartphone. Turn to Luke 9 verses 7 57 through 62. As they were walking0:12 along the road, a man said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus replied, foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the son of man has no place to lay his head. He said it he said to another man, follow me.0:23 But he replied, Lord, first let me go bury my father. Jesus said to him, let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Still another said, I will follow you, Lord. But first, let me go0:35 back and say goodbye to my family. Jesus replied, no 1 who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. This is God's word. Let's pray. Dear Lord, we are just so thankful0:47 and blessed to be in your present this morning. Lord, I pray that you remove me and replace me with you, Lord. I pray that nothing comes out of my mouth this morning that is not from you. I pray that everybody under the0:58 sound of my voice in house and watching online hears and sees nothing but Jesus this morning in this place have your way, your will be done. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. You may have a seat.1:11 So the title of this message, the truth about following Christ. A lot of people, including myself, I put myself in this category. I used to put myself in this category. I thought following Christ was1:23 easy. As soon as I come to Christ, all my problems are gone. Soon as I come to Christ you know, this was, yeah, I don't know, years ago at this 0.567 years ago. As soon as I come to Christ, I'm gonna find a1:34 wife immediately. Like, where where is she? Right? As soon as I come to Christ, I won't be anxious anymore. I don't have any more fear. I'll be happy all the time. No more problems. Soon as I come to Christ, I'm gonna1:46 get a raise at my job. I'm gonna get a house with this many bedrooms, this kind of countertop, and, you know, I won't settle for anything less. When I come to Christ, this is what's gonna happen. Right? And that's what I1:57 assumed. As soon as I come as soon as I, you know, as soon as I made, you know you know, my my sure I was ready. As soon as I was ready to come to Christ, then everything would be fixed, and I would have no more2:08 problems. So, you know, going back to the scripture, here we have 3 guys that literally were talking to Jesus himself. Right? Like, I went like, I don't even I know we know because we read the Bible, like,2:19 that, you know, these people talk to imagine if Jesus was, like, literally in a human form standing here, and I was able to talk to him. Just a mad that's the thing that I think about every time I read the Bible. I'm2:29 like, these people were verbally, physically, visually talking to Jesus Christ. Right? So there's 3 people that Jesus is talking to that have an opportunity to follow him. Right? And2:41 they have all these reasons and excuses why, okay, well, 1 guy's gotta go bury his father, 1 guy's gotta go stay by those people at his house, And another guy, we're gonna talk to talk about a little bit and break down2:51 that he just wanted Jesus for what he could get. And we're gonna get a little bit deeper into into why that is. I don't know about you, but I can relate to all of these. I had all these reasons and excuses why, you know,3:01 I didn't wanna read my bible. It was too confusing. It's too big. Too many pages. I don't get it. The King James version is like, don't arts and thou's and the the eyes, like, you know, I got better things to do on a3:11 Sunday morning. I don't wanna go to church. I'm good. Like, you know, I'll I'll I'll I'd rather get my beauty sleep. Right? I had all these I didn't wanna stop doing what I knew I wasn't supposed to be doing anyways, and3:21 I didn't wanna start doing what I knew I was supposed to be doing. Right? So all these things kinda kept me out of church, and let me rephrase that. They didn't keep me out of church. I let them keep me out of church. I3:32 gave myself all these excuses. But you know the main thing, the number 1 and please tell me if you can relate to this. The number 1 thing that kept me out of church is I didn't wanna hear something that I,3:44 you could probably finish the sentence, knew I needed to hear. I don't wanna hear something I knew I needed to hear. Right? So I'm like, I'm staying far away from that place. They're gonna tell me something that I I'm3:54 good. They're gonna con I'm gonna feel I didn't know what conviction was at the time, but I'm gonna feel conviction, and I'm gonna have to do this and that and this and that. And I'm like, I'm good. I wanna live the way4:02 I wanna live. Right? So fast forward a couple years, I started going to church in Boston in, right around 20 17, and I thought I gave my life to Christ. I thought I did. Looking back,4:14 I could tell. I could tell you all right now, I did not give my life to Christ. And I have 3 reasons why I know I didn't give my life to Christ back in 20 17. Reason number 1, I wanted what God could give me. Like I4:26 said, I saw people that went to church. You guys are always just so happy and smiley all the time. And it seemed like, you know, people at church, like, had no problems. Like I said, you know, they had, you know,4:35 financial freedom and, you know, great relationships and good jobs. And, you know, every time I saw them, they were smiling. I'm like, how can you smile that that much? Like, does your face get tired after a while?4:46 Right? So I'm like, hey, maybe if I follow Christ, I'll get these things. Maybe if I follow Christ, I'll receive these blessings and these these things that other people are receiving from Christ. Right? During this4:58 season of my life, I was just like this first guy that we're gonna talk about in Luke 9 verse 57. As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. I've said that so many times5:10 in my life before I actually did it. Right? So first of all, just like me, this guy verbally followed Christ, but we know he didn't follow Christ at5:22 this moment. Right? Actually, there's no there's no actual, you know, proof that he never followed Christ. Just in this scripture, in this moment, he didn't follow Christ. Right? But we know he didn't do it with his5:33 heart in that moment. It's kinda like the gym. Kinda like the gym. And you can look this up right now. I literally looked it up before. Guess what? 18 percent of people who sign up for the gym5:45 never go. Isn't that crazy? So out of 100 people, 18 of them will never step foot in the gym. We live in the age of technology. You don't even have to go into the gym to sign up anymore. You could do it from your phone.5:56 18 percent never go to the gym, and this fact blew my mind even more. 90 percent quit after the first 3 months. Their heart wasn't in it. They said, I wanna get in shape. Maybe6:08 they even actually wanted to get in shape, but it's the actual act of going to do the things to get in shape is what's more is is what's really important. Right? So it's not enough to just say I follow Christ. Yes. The6:20 Bible does say confess with your mouth. Right? But you can say a lot of things with your mouth and not saying with your heart. It's not enough to just say I follow Christ. You gotta mean it with your heart. It's not6:29 enough to just say it's not even enough to just want to follow Christ. I wanted to follow Christ since high school. Right? I wanted to, but I didn't actually with my heart want to. Right? So so,6:41 yes, we're supposed to say things with our mouth, but it's the meaning of the heart that's even more. Right? Jesus said a lot of stuff. Imagine if he said stuff he didn't mean. I don't even know what that looks like. I6:51 don't know where we are. I don't know where we would be. Imagine if he said your sins are forgiven, and he just said it and didn't mean it. What if Jesus just wanted to forgive our sins but didn't actually forgive them?7:00 Right? What if Jesus said, your faith has healed you? He says that to many people in the Bible. Go. Your faith has healed you, but he didn't mean it. Right? Imagine if you said, I will go before you, and he didn't mean7:12 it. Right? Just I don't I don't even wanna imagine that. But that's the thing. Jesus meant what he said. So why did this guy say it and not mean it? How do we know that? Right? It's implied that he only wanted7:24 Jesus for what he could get. So how do we know? There's a couple possibilities. The first 1 right here, I'll give you some examples. Earlier in Luke 8 so we're reading out of Luke 9 right now. Or just earlier, the7:34 chapter before Luke 8, Jesus performed miracles. Right? He calmed the storm. Right? For those of you who don't know the story, the big boat with all the people on it, there was a gigantic storm. They were all, you know,7:43 freaking out. Jesus, we're gonna die. Jesus is like, calm down. I'm good. I'm awake, but we're here. Calm the storm just like that. Then he cast a demon out of a out of a possessed guy. Pastor Tim talked about this a7:55 couple weeks ago. He healed a woman that had been bleeding for 12 years. But how did he do it? He didn't touch her and say, go. Your faith has healed you. You're clean. She touched him, and she didn't even touch him. She8:05 touched his robe. She didn't even touch it. There was no physical skin to skin contact. She touched his robe, a shirt that he was wearing, and she was healed from bleeding for 12 years. Imagine seeing8:17 that. Imagine being an outsider seeing that. And by the way, when that happened, he was on his way to bring somebody back from the dead. He was on the road to literally resurrect somebody. Right? And then he8:29 brought that girl back from the dead. And then a little earlier in Luke 9, he fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. And I thought about doing this example, but it wouldn't work, and here's why. There's I8:39 don't think there's 5000 people, and I was gonna bring 2, 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and, like, like, pass this around. Try to like, but that's not I don't know. We're not gonna do that. But it's a miracle. Jesus was8:49 performing miracles. Who knows how many of this stuff this guy saw and said, hey. If I follow Christ, I might get some of this. I might get some of these blessings. Right? But that's just an analysis.9:01 That's not like the Bible didn't say this is why the guy didn't really wanna follow Jesus. Right? So how do we really know, factually, that this guy only wanted the good or favorable parts about following Jesus? By9:12 Jesus' response. Let me explain. It's implied that it's implied by Jesus' response that this guy only wanted the comfortable parts about following Jesus. Let's break it down. So this guy says, I'll follow you wherever9:24 you go. I'll follow you. And then Jesus' response was something that seemingly had nothing to do with what the guy just said. He's like, I'll follow you wherever you go. Jesus said, why have no place to sleep tonight?9:35 Oh, okay. Did did you not hear what I I said, I'll follow you. I didn't say, do you have a bed for me tonight? I said, I'll follow you. And you would expect Jesus to say something like, okay. Cool. Let's go. Let's go9:44 spread the, you know, let's go spread the gospel to all the nations. Cool. I have another follower. Let's no. But he said, I have no place to sleep tonight. That's like if I walk up to you and I say nice shirt, and9:54 you're like, well, the moon was pretty last night. Okay. What does that have to do with the shirt? I just said you have a nice shirt. Right? So why did Jesus respond like that? Luke 16 verse 15. And he said to10:05 them, you are those who justify yourselves before men, but is it up there? What's the next 4 words? It's not up there. It oh, yeah. It is. Okay. God knows your heart. That's a trick question. I10:17 got you. So but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Jesus knew his heart. Right? That takes us to the first point. Point number 1, God10:29 knows my heart. God always knows what's really going on in here. No matter what you say, no matter what you do, no matter what you look like on the outside, Jesus10:41 knows your heart. How many parents we got here? Razeen, if you have any how many parents we got? Kids? Okay. Okay. So dad, your son walks up to you. Hey, dad. You're looking kinda buff. You've been working out? You you10:51 get a haircut today or something? That a new shirt? I haven't seen that shirt, it looks good on you. You'd be like, alright, son. What do you want? I mean, some of you might just be blessed with, like, really nice kids11:01 that are just complimenting you all the time. But 90 percent of the time, it's like, what do you want? And you don't even talk like you want you wanna try to tell me how good I look today? Like, what about yesterday?11:08 Like, you know? So if you know the heart of what person's saying, you almost don't even acknowledge the actual words that are coming out of their mouth sometimes because you know their true intentions. Right? That's what11:20 Jesus is doing here. Jesus says, the son of man has no place to lay his head. This guy said, I'll follow you everywhere you go. Jesus is like, well, you know I have nowhere to sleep tonight. Right? You know people want11:30 me dead? You know I'm persecuted everywhere I go? By the way, you wanna be a follower. Do you know what happens to my followers? You know who Job is? Like, everything taken away from him except his life for the sake of11:41 the gospel for my sake? How about David in the lion's den? How about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that got thrown in a fiery furnace for my sake? By the way, you know where I'm headed right now? I'm literally on the11:52 road walking to go get to go to go get home from a cross right now as we speak. That's what Jesus is saying. Do you really know what you're asking for? Right? As a matter of fact, earlier in Luke 9, Jesus said12:04 this to his disciples. Luke 9 23 through 24. Then he said to them all, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up the cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,12:15 but whoever loses their life from me will find it. You must die to yourself daily to find new life in him. I think that's in your notes.12:28 So James 1 yeah. Another example. James 1 verse 2 to 4. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.12:40 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete and not lacking anything. So it's crazy. It says consider it joy when you face trials. What do you mean? I'm supposed to be happy when I get fired?12:50 I'm supposed to be happy when my car gets stolen out of my driveway? I'm supposed to be joyful about what do you mean? Why? Because it says the testing of your faith produces perseverance. For what? So13:02 that you may be concerned, complete, and not lacking anything. Right? So we can look forward almost to to trials and tribulations in Jesus' name. Right? So that takes me to point number 2. I should follow Christ.13:14 It's a little bit longer here. I should follow Christ because I can have joy, be complete, and not lack anything through trials. Now does that mean I'm always gonna be happy?13:26 Nope. But I can have joy. And there's a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness comes and goes. Joy is here forever. And joy is given to us through Jesus. Jesus provides us with joy so through trial, we can have13:37 joy. Right? Does that mean that I always have what I want? Mm-mm. Absolutely. You might not get anything you want, but you always have what you need. Right? Does that mean you always feel13:48 complete? I think I I feel incomplete more often than not. Right? So you won't you almost feel incomplete, but you'll be made complete through Christ. Christ makes you complete.14:01 So you can look forward to struggle with Christ. You look forward to struggling in life with Christ. Right? So 3 reasons why I don't think I gave my life to Christ in 20 17. Reason number 2, I was putting other14:13 things before God. You name it, man. Anything, relationships, you know, going out and, you know, going out to clubs and partying, whatever, staying up late, not going to church. You know, I14:25 can't even think just name something. I probably put that before Christ. I probably put that before, you know, God. Right? I was just like this second guy. Right? So Luke 9 59 through 60. He said to14:36 another man, follow me. But he replied, Lord, first, let me go bury my father. Jesus said to him, let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. By the way, I think it's very important to14:47 note that this is the only only guy of the 3 that Jesus approached him. The Bible didn't say why. Like, was this guy I don't know. Like, does it mean that this guy was better than the other 2? No. Not at all.14:59 It doesn't say why, but I think it's important to note that Jesus approached him. The other 2 approached Jesus. Right? This goes to show that people Jesus reaches people differently. Every single person in this room has15:10 a different testimony. How about these baptism give it up 1 more time for these baptism testimonies we just experienced. Come on now. That's powerful. If that's not if that doesn't show you how God works and I, like, had15:22 the love that God has for us, I don't know. Like, I'm so glad that I go to a church where we do baptisms every week. Because seeing him work in people's lives just gives me more hope. Right? But all these baptism test15:33 all your testimonies are different. God you might have similar testimonies, but God reaches us all differently. I used to have this friend, like, way back, like, you know, right around 20 17, and when I thought I'd get15:44 him lighted to Christ. Used to have this friend who every single day this person would just be like have have this, like, Jesus encounter. I'm like, I was listening to a radio, and this commercial came on about this15:53 product that, like, spoke to me. I'm like, k. Awesome. And it should be and then they'll like, yeah. Was watching TV today, and, you know, this person I was watching Lilo and Stitch, and then this I don't know. I'm16:05 just like like, every day, there'll be just some random Jesus encounter. Right? And I'm like, where's my Jesus encounter? Right? Where's my how come I don't hear Jesus on the radio? How come I don't have how come I'm not16:17 hearing God's voice every single day? Right? But the thing is that Jesus gets through to people differently. Right? This also just goes to show that not only, does God oh, sorry.16:28 So, yeah. So Jesus get through people differently. So I'm looking for my Jesus experience. I'm looking for my, like, moment where I see Jesus coming through the clouds and my son, I'm speaking to you. I'm looking for16:40 that moment. Right? But, you know, years later, I'm standing here, and I know for I know for a fact that Jesus was there the whole time trying to trying to get in touch with me. Trying to he was right there the entire16:51 time saying, yo, Isaiah, I'm right here, bro. You're looking for me because you're comparing yourself to other people. You're looking at other people's testimonies, and that's not your testimony. You didn't go through17:00 what they went through. Right? So, this also goes to show that God does not only wait for you to come to him, he's also pursuing you. Like I said, Jesus approached that 1 person, and the other17:12 2 people came to him. He's both pursuing. That takes us to point number 3. God is both patiently waiting for me and pursuing me. Right? God is both patiently waiting for me17:24 and pursuing me at the same exact time. So there's never a right or wrong time to come to Christ. There's never a right or wrong time to pray. There's never a right or wrong time to give your life to17:35 him. Right? So verse so Isaiah, going to Isaiah, 30 verse 18. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you. Therefore, he will rise up and show you compassion. For17:47 the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for him. So the Lord longs to wait for you. To long for something means like, I cannot wait for this to happen. I'm so excited. God is so excited just17:59 eagerly waiting to be gracious to you, to show you his love and his grace and his forgiveness and the joy and peace and freedom that can be had in him. And it's not like he's just chilling like, yeah, man. I can't wait18:10 for this person to come to me. No. He is knocking, pounding at your door all hours of the day and night waiting, longing to show you his love, his grace, his mercy. Right? That's what that verse means. So18:22 because of this, you don't have to be like that person that encounters Jesus every day from the radio and the TV. You might. You might because I said God has different different ways of reaching people. But you can ex18:33 you can experience God wherever you are, whenever you want, no matter what. Right? Because of this, you can have a Jesus encounter whenever you want because he's always right there pursuing you. Pastor Tim says this a18:45 lot from the stage, and I'm sure you've heard it, you know, from other other sources before, but I love this quote. I don't know if it's a quote or not, but this statement, you are as close to God as you want to be.18:56 Because he's always right there. This podium is right here. It's not going anywhere till service is over. I wanna be close to what I'm right here. If I wanna go over here, the podium's still right there.19:08 But I wanted to go over here. But the podium's still right there. I wanna be a little close to the podium today. I feel good. Let get a little closer. Still there. Didn't go anywhere. Man, I messed up bad. I messed up19:20 real bad. I'm gonna go stand over here today. Podium's still there. Didn't go anywhere. Right? But here's the thing, that the podium's a physical object. God is God, and he's still right here even if I'm over there.19:32 Does that make sense? God is always always right there, and you are as close to him as you want to be. Right? So Jesus approaches this guy, and the guy says, first, let me go. Is that slide up19:44 there? Yeah. So first, let me go. The verse could end right there, but it doesn't. It's the bible. There's no mistakes in the bible. But I'm gonna for example's sake, I'm gonna end the verse right there. First, let me19:54 go. There's nothing you can put in that slide. There's no fill in the blank here if it's on your notes. There's nothing you can put in that blank that is sufficient. There's nothing you can put in that blank that is20:05 gonna give you joy, peace, comfort, forgiveness, grace. There's nothing that you can put in that blank that will work. Right? We yes. We do serve a patient20:16 God. Patience, as a matter of fact, is 1 of the fruits of the spirit. We serve a patient God, but guess what's not so patient? The devil, the world, the fallen world we live in, the sinful the the the the20:28 sinful nature, the sin of the flesh is not patient. So I don't know about you. I don't how many you can relate back in the day. I'm like, yeah. I'm young. I'm good. Like, you know, like, you know, teens, early twenties.20:39 I'm good. I'm just gonna live my life. I'm a go out a couple more years. You know, maybe I'll accept Christ later. I'll go to church some other day. You know, I'm young. I wanna live my life. Well, guess what? Guess20:48 what? The the world's impatient, and tomorrow is not promised. Right? But God is always there. Right? So this first guy says, let me go bury my father.21:00 Right? Some sources say that this guy's dad might not have even been dead yet. Some sources say that apparently, this guy just wanted an inheritance. Because back then it was tradition for the firstborn son to get the21:10 inheritance when the father passes away. So some sources say he just wanted some money. He's like, alright. Well, yeah, I'll follow you, but I'm just gonna go get this money real quick just in case if this is your, you21:19 know, whole Jesus thing you don't work out. Like, I I just heard you told the last guy that you're persecuted and, you know, you might get, like, attacked on the way here. So if that doesn't work out, I'm just gonna have21:27 this money as a backup. So but let me go do this, and then I'll be back. Right? So, you know, with that being said, it's we go to the first commandment. Right? We go to the first commandment where it says, you21:39 shall have no other gods before me. Now am I talking about Buddha? Am I talking about, you know, any of the other gods? Yes. But I'm also talking about anything that you put21:51 before God. Right? If you are willing to put something before I believe this is in your notes as well. If it is, fill it in, highlight it, circle it, underline it. If you are willing to put something before22:03 God, then that is your God. If you are willing to put whatever you're willing to put before God, then that is your God. Right? And it doesn't matter what it is. It could be22:15 it could be a good thing. Right? And I'm not saying school and getting, you know, a good job and, you know, success. Those aren't bad things. God wants us to to be fruitful. Right? But when those things come before22:26 Christ, that's when it becomes a problem. When your education comes before Christ, that's a problem. When it when when your job when your job title comes before Christ, that's a problem. When your hobbies come before22:37 Christ, that's the pro that's a problem. Right? So this guy, you know, is saying, you know, I'll follow you, but first let me go. Right? So if that so if those sources are correct where22:49 he just wanted inheritance, this guy is technically putting money before Christ. Right? And Jesus replies with, let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Is Jesus23:00 being insensitive here? At first, I thought so. I'm like, this guy's dad is dying or apparently dead. And Jesus is like, no. Don't worry about him. He's he's he's dead. Forget about him. That's what I that's what I23:11 thought when I first read this. But when you look deeper into the what he's actually talking about, he's not being insensitive here at all. Right? So remember I said that, you know, some sources say23:22 you might not have been dead. Well, the Bible is 1 of them. Right? So here's another perspective. And this is why it's important to read the Bible in different translations, in different, in different versions. Right? So23:32 the NLT, the NIV, all those kinds of things. We've been we've been reading from the NIV this whole time. If you look at the same scripture in the NLT translation, right, he said to another person, come follow23:44 me. The man agreed, but he said, Lord, first, let me return and bury my father. But Jesus told him, let the spiritually dead, spiritually dead bury their own dead. Your duty is to go proclaim the kingdom of23:56 God. Could it be possible that this guy's dad wasn't dead at all physically, but he was just spiritually dead? Could it be possible that this guy was just, you know, 1 of the people persecuting Jesus? Could it be24:06 possible that this guy's dad was somebody that didn't believe in the movement of Jesus Christ, didn't believe in God, and and Jesus knew that if he went back if the guy went back that his dad might have talked him out of24:16 it? The Bible, again, is not incorrect. The Bible is the the living word of God. There would be no translation that said spiritually dead if that's not what it meant. Could it be possible24:27 that this guy's dad was just Jesus knew that if this guy went back, then he wouldn't come back to Jesus. Right? Because here's the sad truth, that some people will wholeheartedly deny Christ.24:40 It's just the truth. Some people will will will persecute continue people continue to persecute them to this day. Sometimes, an even more sad truth, it might be your own family. I know24:52 people who that's the experience. It might be your best friend. Right? That just wholeheartedly just deny Christ. Maybe not even wholeheartedly, but just like pastor Tim talked about a couple weeks ago. Maybe25:04 they just pull you away from him. Maybe it's like, yo, come do this instead. Right? So some people will do that. And what Jesus is saying here, you are not to be concerned with those people.25:15 You are to be concerned with the kingdom of God. Those spiritually dead people, you are not to be concerned with what they're concerned about because they're not concerned with life like I am, like Jesus is. Right?25:28 So those spiritually dead people don't follow them is what Jesus is saying. He's telling us, God, don't go back to your dad. He's spiritually dead. He wants nothing to do with me or life. Don't follow them.25:40 Lead them. Right? I'm only here today because I was led by spiritually alive people. I was spiritually dead once as well. I think most of us were. As a matter of fact, we all were. Bible says we are born sinners. That25:52 means we are born apart from God. You're born apart from God, that means you're spiritually dead. We were all spiritually dead at once, and the only reason we're here is because we were led by spiritually alive people.26:02 Right? So about that translation thing. I know the message version is a very not you know, you know, people people talk about the message version because it's not a word for word translation. It's more of a thought for26:13 thought translation. It's kinda more of a commentary. Right? So we're not supposed to you know, I wouldn't make this your main version because it's not a word for word translation. But again, all translations hold26:25 weight. It's still the word of God. So we're gonna go with the message version today because this hit. This really hit. So Luke 9 verse 59 through 60, Jesus said to another, follow me. He said, certainly, but first,26:37 excuse me for a couple days, please. I have to go make arrangements for my father's funeral. Jesus refused. First things first, your business is life, not death, and life is26:49 urgent. Announce God's kingdom. That hit. Right? That did that kinda just breaks down what the NIV was talking about. Right? Or the NLV. Right? Your business is he's27:01 telling this guy, your business is life, not death. Don't worry about the spiritually dead. Let them worry about themselves. We're not concerned with what they're concerned about. We're concerned about life. Point number27:10 4, I should follow Christ because he is concerned with eternal life, not death. So I added that word internal there, like, just a couple days ago because he's not only27:21 concerned with life. Yes. He wants you to be have joy and peace and and and courage and all those things here on earth and and be fruitful and bring people to him. That's why we're here. Right? But it's not only about27:33 this life that he's concerned about. He's concerned about eternal life. Right? And about the life that can be had in him. So 3 reasons why I don't think I actually gave my life to Christ 20 17. Reason number 3, I27:44 was stuck in the past. Kept going back to old relationships, old friendships, people that God had taken out of my life unknowingly. You know, I would go back to old ways of27:56 thinking, and I still struggle with that. I still struggle with old ways. I doubt myself all the time. I was doubting myself walking on this stage today. Right? All the the weeks leading up to this, you're not good at28:08 dude, you you you still struggle with a, b, and c. You you you know, you you're you're not good enough to do this. Well, I still struggle with that. Right? But God's working on my heart. But, anyways, I was stuck in the28:19 past. I would go back to comfort. I'd go back to what I knew. I'd go back to I would just go back, keep going back, and keep going back. I was just like, guess what, the third guy. Luke 9 verse 61, still28:31 another said, I will follow you Lord, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family. Jesus replied, no 1 who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is set for the service in the kingdom of God. Again, verbally28:42 verbally says, I'll follow you. Right? But he also says, first let me go. So again, we already know this guy's heart wasn't in it, putting something before Christ already. Right? But then28:54 he adds 1 very important, very crucial, very big word after that. He says he says what? Can anybody can anybody get what's the word? Back. He says back. He's I'll29:06 follow you, but first let me go back. Anytime you go back, that leads to destruction. Destruction. How many know there's nothing good back there? There's nothing good back there. All the things that we've been through,29:18 all the things God's pulled us from, it's not even good back there. Right? Don't look behind the person behind you is probably good. Right? Not literally in this moment. Right? But there's nothing good behind us. Right?29:30 Anytime you look back, it leads to destruction. Genesis 19, anyone? Lot's wife? For those of you who don't know the story, Sodom and Gomorrah, they've turned from God. They were deceitful. It says they gave themselves29:42 to sexual immorality and perversion. They were living in blatant intentional sin. So God's like, I'm gonna destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham came to God said, hey, what about the righteous people in that city? You're29:53 gonna destroy them too? God's like, okay, Abraham. I will I will save the righteous. Right? So God sent 2 angels to Sodom and Gomorrah to rescue all the righteous people. Lot and his wife and his family were the only30:04 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. Right? So God is destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, raining raining fire on on Sodom and Gomorrah, and these 2 angels take Lot and his family out, and they rescue them, and30:16 they're free. Right? And then verse number 17, As soon as they had brought them out, the angels, 1 of them said, flee for your lives. Next 3 words. Don't30:28 look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plane. Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away. Not only do the angels tell them not to look back, but they30:40 say what's gonna happen if they do look back. Right? So there's like it's like a double edged sword right there. I mean, you know not you know not to look back, and you know what'll happen if you do. Right? But guess30:51 what? Verse number 26, Lot's wife looked back, became a pillar of salt. She was warned not to look back, and what would happen if she didn't, and she looked back. Right? So does anybody know what31:03 big red button syndrome is? Probably not because I literally just made it up. So if you see a big red button that says do not touch, I'm touching it. I'm pressing the button. I wanna know what happens. I see a31:14 bigger do not press. Oh, it's a pretty big red button. Let's see what happens. But you can bet that is the exact opposite if you tell me what's gonna happen. If it you say don't press the big red button or your house is31:26 gonna blow up, I'm not press get get me away from that button. I'm not pressing it. Right? So not only did Lot's wife know not to look back, she knew what was gonna happen and still did it. Point number31:38 5, I should not look back at what God has already rescued me from because it will lead to destruction.31:49 Second Peter verse 2, second Peter chapter 2 verse 21, for it would have been better for them to never have known the way of righteousness, then after knowing it, turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.32:00 What does that mean? Let's break this 1 down. That means if you are unknowingly, that's an important word, if you are unknowingly doing the wrong thing, then at least you think you're doing the right thing. At least.32:12 But worst case scenario, at least you think you're doing the right thing if you if you don't know you're doing the wrong thing. But guess what? Once you find out you're doing the wrong thing and continue to do the wrong32:22 thing and not try to do the right thing, that's when destruction happens. That's when problems start to occur. Right? Cigarettes. Now if you smoke cigarettes, I'm not judging32:34 you. We all struggle with something. Every including me. We all struggle. And you're just a prayer away from freedom. Amen? Amen. So I'm not saying anything, but here's the thing. If you32:46 we all know whether you smoke cigarettes or not, the harmful things that they can do. We all know that today. It's not it's not that secret anymore. Guess what? That wasn't always the case, though. Some of you may know.32:57 Back in the 19 twenties and fifties, these are the things cigarettes are used for. Weight loss and appetite suppression. I've been a trainer for over 10 years now. I promise you, I've never put smoked cigarettes in33:08 anybody's training program to lose weight. Okay? It was used as a digestive aid. Again, you're never gonna see that in a in a nutrition plan for me. It was used to cure throat irritation.33:19 Nowadays, we know that it causes throat ear irritation. And this last 1 blew my socks off. Back in the 19 twenties and fifties, cigarettes were used for a respiratory ailment33:31 treatment. Tobacco smoke was thought to have a soothing effect on respiratory issues such as asthma and bronchitis. Now we know that it literally causes those things. Right?33:43 So what am I saying? What am I saying here? Why are we talking about this? Because people in the 19 twenties through fifties were better off smoking cigarettes back then, not knowing the harmful effects they have,33:55 than we are today smoking cigarettes knowing the effects that they have. That's what that verse is saying. So Lot's wife, right, looked back when she knew not to, and she knew what happened if she did.34:07 Basically, what it's saying is she was better off not knowing to, you know, not look back. I mean, she was better off not knowing yeah. Not knowing to not look back, but she knew, and she still did it anyways. Right? So34:18 what does Jesus say to this guy? Right? Luke 9 verse 62, Jesus replied, no 1 who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the service of the kingdom of God. What is Jesus saying here? If you keep looking back,34:29 how can I bring you forward? How can I do what I wanna do in your life if you keep looking back there? Like, I already pulled you out of that. You already been through that. Right?34:40 Again, Lot and his wife, they were already free. They were rescued. They were out of the destruction. Right? God sent those 2 angels to get them out. They were all it wasn't like they were trying to get out when she was34:50 looking around at the dis she was out. The destruction was back there. She was already free and rescued from it. And she decided to still look back. Right? And some of you might be sitting here thinking, oh,35:02 well, know, my life's been pretty good up to this point. You know, like, I mean, yeah, like my my cat passed away when I was in high school. My fish died when I was in elementary school. That's about it. Like, you know,35:11 my family's healthy. Like, I have a good job. I'm getting good grade. Like, nothing really bad is going on in my life. Well, 2 things. Well, 3 things. Well, first of all, that's awesome. God bless you. Second of all,35:22 it's coming. I hate to break it to you. That's the truth of the fallen world that we live in. And third, it doesn't matter how good your past was because guess what? I can't walk35:34 this way and look back at all the good oh, man. I remember that year. Man, that was a good year. That was a great I was making a lot of money that year. That was really good. I might I might fall off the stage if I keep35:43 going. So it doesn't matter. There's no there's nothing here that you're obviously talking about Sodom and Gomorrah, they look back at destruction. But even looking back at good I'm not saying don't have any memories,35:53 but just don't get stuck there. Don't get stuck back there. Look forward. This actually takes me right to our next point, our last point. Look forward to where Jesus is36:05 leading you Because he's leading you somewhere. He wants to do something in your life. And maybe you're thinking, man, he's already done so much. Well, he wants36:17 to do more. Maybe you're thinking he's never done anything. Well, he wants to start right now. You're not here by accident. You're not watching online by accident. Jesus wants to do a work in your life for his36:29 for his glory. Right? And then something that I came to realize when I finally actually did come to Christ, right, is that it's not about me. You know? Like, I gave36:41 all these selfish reasons and excuses why I couldn't give my life to Christ, why I didn't wanna go to church, why I didn't wanna pray, why I didn't wanna read my bible, why I didn't wanna, you know, stop doing the things36:51 I knew I shouldn't have been doing anyways and start doing the things that I knew I should have done. I gave myself all these reasons why I couldn't. When I finally put myself aside and getting and made Jesus the leader37:01 of my life, then I realized it was never even really about, yes, Jesus wants a relationship with you individually and specifically. But then when you come to Christ, he gives you love for his people. Amen. And37:13 people that are not his people yet because we're here to bring what what's our thing here at Waters Church? We are here for those who are not yet here. Right? And then you get the and then you get the the selflessness.Show more
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