WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 While we take care of this part, I want you all to think about Jason's Deli and Whataburger. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:14.000 Are you going to go to lunch at either one of those places after the service? 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:32.000 You think I'm kidding. Think about Jason's Deli and Whataburger. Here we go. How many of y'all like Jason's Deli? I like the chili. I like the salad bar. It's all good. Anybody have the muffaletta sandwich? Come on now. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:47.960 I'm not saying it's like a New Orleans muffaletta, but we're not in New Orleans, so it's the best way to get it. It's good. This thing never wants to work. Look, when technology fails you, Jesus never fails you. 00:00:47.960 --> 00:01:00.359 There we go. There we go. All right. Jason's Deli and Whataburger. Did you know that Jason's Deli started in Beaumont, Texas in 1976? How many of y'all people knew that? 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:29.379 Whoever has their hand up, you're weak. Why do you know that? I'm just kidding. How many of y'all know that Whataburger started in Corpus Christi in 1950? That's more probably common knowledge with Whataburger. How many of y'all love Whataburger? It used to just be sand if you walk up to the recording. There it is. They kind of preserved that original building. It's not an active operating Whataburger anymore. 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:44.619 But those were originally not chain restaurants. They were just the local burger joint, the local sandwich shop. Go down there and have Jason make you a sandwich. 00:01:44.620 --> 00:02:02.740 Then they became popular, obviously. Can you imagine being one of the original clientele of Whataburger or Jason's Deli? Like that was your place. They knew you. You can go up there. 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:14.140 You knew my usual. You knew my regular. They probably didn't have the peppercorn ranch sauce that Whataburger has now. By the way, if you have not tried the peppercorn ranch sauce on your burger, you're missing out. 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:28.800 It's incredible. Now, this is fun. The VBS dish. That's great. Sorry, I guess I missed. All right, here we go. 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:37.319 Whataburger and Jason's Deli. Look, these are just two. They started in Texas. I figured we could relate to that. 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:47.359 Can you imagine? All right, let's just use open table. That's a Henrietta original, right? How many of y'all like open table? Isn't it good? 00:02:47.360 --> 00:03:02.400 What if the VBS decided to franchise and they caught on like a half year and then maybe they franchise again and they get around Texas and then they go off to Oklahoma, maybe over to Mexico, maybe Arkansas. 00:03:02.940 --> 00:03:08.860 Maybe they start sprinting out kind of like we've seen Whataburger do, kind of like we've seen In-N-Out Burger do in California. 00:03:08.860 --> 00:03:13.580 Sorry, I missed a dolphin. Y'all got to admit anything else to do. 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:26.700 All right. Pretty soon before you know it, everybody everywhere has an opinion on the open table and they're like, oh yeah, man, you got to go eat open table. It's great. 00:03:26.820 --> 00:03:29.240 They're up in like Vermont or something. 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:41.420 Yeah, right. Or they're like off in another country somewhere. This open table is wonderful. Yeah, we know. We were the original fans, you know. 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:44.260 It came from Henrietta. We loved it. It was great. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:56.780 And then inevitably when these places like On The Border or Whataburger or wherever franchise and they spread everywhere, then you start getting complaints. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:02.020 Well, it's not as good as the original. Lost something. You know, couldn't keep the quality up. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:03.060 It was good as the family. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:14.960 When you feel like you're part of the original group, there's something in you that can test the fans that come along later. 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:19.800 It's like, listen. Hey, I'm not on any microphone, am I? 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:25.540 Y'all can hear me, but the people online are like, what is he talking about right now? 00:04:25.540 --> 00:04:30.980 No, that's great. I'm sorry, people online. I'm not going to go back and repeat everything that I just said. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:32.180 You just missed it forever. 00:04:33.760 --> 00:04:39.140 But the point is, that's why if you can come, be here in the room because you never know. 00:04:39.460 --> 00:04:41.500 You might get a different experience than the people online. 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:49.840 Look, when you are part of the original fans of something, whether it's Whataburger, it's Jason's Deli or whatever, 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:54.199 you feel like that's yours. It belongs to you. 00:04:54.699 --> 00:05:00.619 And no matter how much they expand after that, no matter how many fans they get later on down the road, 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:02.679 you're one of the OGs. 00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:05.079 Everybody know what I'm saying when I say OGs? 00:05:06.359 --> 00:05:10.120 We don't have to get into the fact that OG stands for original gangster, all right? 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:12.459 You know what it means. 00:05:12.459 --> 00:05:15.539 It's like you're one of the original people there. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.099 You're one of the ones who got in early. 00:05:19.039 --> 00:05:22.060 You're a charter member of the Whataburger fan club. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:25.779 What are we talking about this morning? 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:28.659 We're talking about Romans chapter 11. 00:05:28.779 --> 00:05:30.079 Go to Romans 11, would you? 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.279 Paul is talking about OGs and olive trees. 00:05:35.719 --> 00:05:38.699 Romans 11 is about OGs and olive trees. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:46.479 We have been in our series, winning Romans, and Jared, I'm so sorry. 00:05:46.599 --> 00:05:49.019 I gave you so much to cover last Sunday. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:55.079 I gave him way too much to cover in one Sunday, and he did a great job packing it all in. 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:59.680 But this Sunday, we're going to be in Romans chapter 11. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.419 We've been reading Romans backwards. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:08.379 Started in chapter 16 on Mother's Day, and we've been moving systematically through Paul's letter to the church in Rome. 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:19.639 So keep this context of being an OG, being one of the original fans, one of the original members. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:24.319 Keep that in the back of your mind as we read Romans chapter 11. 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:32.740 Paul is diving into a situation where you had the OGs, and then you had the new blood who came in later. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:40.500 So this is the original fans of the open table in Henrietta before they expanded all around the world, right? 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:47.420 Now, I don't get the idea that Yvette wants to take open table all around the nation. 00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:52.660 I support her if she does, but my guess is she's going to stay right here, local. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:07:04.320 But look, Paul is diving into some problems that have to do with this idea of being an original or coming in after the fact. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:06.480 We read about it in Romans 11. 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:12.740 It basically comes down to a question that people still argue about today. 00:07:14.640 --> 00:07:16.340 Church, let me ask you this question. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:18.240 Now, y'all talk back, all right? 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:22.639 Who were God's people in the Old Testament? 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:26.680 Come on, say it with your chest. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:27.300 Here we go, ready? 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:29.120 Who were God's people in the Old Testament? 00:07:30.280 --> 00:07:31.780 Yes, Israel, the Hebrew people. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.920 Who are God's people in the New Testament, church? 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:39.340 Gave you a little clue there. 00:07:40.579 --> 00:07:42.740 Who are God's people in the New Testament, church? 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:44.819 The church, there we go. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:46.680 All right, let's say it together. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:47.920 Who are God's people in the New Testament? 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:49.180 Church. 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:53.160 Replacement theology says this. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.780 There is a line of thinking out there called replacement theology. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:02.300 If you ever want to dive into the different theology controversies, what is theology? 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.139 It is the study of God. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:06.519 It is the knowledge of God. 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:08.800 So we all have theology. 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:13.139 Doesn't mean our theology is right, but we all have theology. 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:19.680 When you get into controversies that have to do with theology, you'll get a lot of different opinions on things. 00:08:19.979 --> 00:08:22.800 One of these opinions is called replacement theology. 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:26.699 It says that the church has replaced Israel. 00:08:26.919 --> 00:08:29.000 It's taken the place of Israel. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:36.779 Basically, it's saying the owner decided he hated his original restaurant. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:43.600 He shut it down, fired all the workers, and built a brand new chain of fast food restaurants. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.480 Do you think that's what God did? 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:48.220 Me neither. 00:08:49.379 --> 00:09:01.700 Then there is covenant or expansion theology that says the owner loved the original restaurant so much that he expanded it and shared it with the entire world. 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:04.840 Do you think that sounds more like God? 00:09:05.780 --> 00:09:06.660 I do too. 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:12.900 So I believe in the expansion of Israel, not the replacement of Israel. 00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:19.240 Meaning, I believe in the expansion of God's people, not replacing God's people. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.480 And there are reasons for that. 00:09:20.780 --> 00:09:23.540 And Romans chapter 11 deals exactly with it. 00:09:23.640 --> 00:09:24.600 Let's look at verse 1. 00:09:25.040 --> 00:09:28.640 Romans chapter 11 and verse 1. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:33.100 I ask then, did God reject his people? 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:34.819 By no means. 00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:38.480 Then Paul uses himself as an example. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:43.500 I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:45.759 I got skins on the wall, people. 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:48.519 I am an Israelite to the core. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.840 I got a resume that speaks highly. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:56.139 Any Israelite would revere and admire my resume. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.919 I am an Israelite. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:02.919 But, verse 2, God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. 00:10:03.699 --> 00:10:06.419 Don't you know what scripture says in the passage about Elijah? 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:09.299 How he appealed to God against Israel? 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:12.319 Lord, they've killed your prophets and torn down your altars. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.899 I'm the only one left and they're trying to kill me. 00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:17.120 Don't you remember this? 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.299 Verse 4. 00:10:18.979 --> 00:10:21.000 Paul says, what was God's answer to Elijah? 00:10:21.079 --> 00:10:22.120 What was God's answer to him? 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:29.080 I've reserved for myself 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.620 Trust me, Elijah. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:33.759 Not all of them have turned against me. 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.399 Verse 5. 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:37.080 So too. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:42.899 At this present time, there is a remnant chosen by grace. 00:10:42.899 --> 00:10:45.980 Now jump down to verse 11 with me, would you? 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:53.439 Again, I ask, did they, meaning Israel, stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.100 Not at all. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:11:04.860 Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.539 Everybody know the difference? 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:09.960 The Jews and then the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:14.800 Now I want to bring your mind back to 1 Samuel. 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:16.659 You don't have to turn there. 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:17.700 I'll share it with you. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.899 1 Samuel chapter 12. 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:23.480 Let me jump ahead. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:44.899 This is the truth that we're getting from both 1 Samuel 12 and Paul is reminding us in Romans 11. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.460 The truth that God does not, what? 00:11:49.420 --> 00:11:51.139 Abandon his people. 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:52.240 Can we say that together? 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:55.700 God does not abandon his people. 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.519 Verses 1 and 2. 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:58.919 Did God reject his people? 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:00.180 By no means. 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.460 God did not. 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:08.019 And you could say, you could substitute in there, God will never reject his people. 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:13.200 This is the bedrock of what we know about God. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.960 This is the bedrock of the Old Testament. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:17.379 In 1 Samuel 12 and verse 22. 00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.279 Let's look at it again. 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:20.060 God, here we go. 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:24.319 For the sake of his great name, God will not reject his people. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:28.660 The Lord was pleased to make you his people in church. 00:12:28.660 --> 00:12:30.680 Can we bring that into 2026? 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:33.440 The Lord is pleased to make you his people. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:39.320 The good news that God does not reject Israel no matter how many times they sinned against him. 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:42.160 No matter how faithless they were to him. 00:12:42.160 --> 00:12:48.600 No matter how many times they wandered in their hearts or wandered physically away from him and his will for them. 00:12:48.780 --> 00:12:50.680 He never abandons them. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:52.519 He never rejected them. 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.799 And so no matter how far you wander from him. 00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:58.379 No matter how faithless you are to him. 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:06.319 No matter how often you doubt and you struggle and you give in to the pull of the world, the flesh and the devil around you. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:08.199 God does not abandon you either. 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:11.800 So this is good news for us. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:13.879 That God does not abandon his people. 00:13:14.400 --> 00:13:21.360 Because when he expanded his people to not just be the Israelite people but also bring in the Gentiles. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.240 That's you and me. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:29.240 Then we get to take part in that promise also that God does not abandon his people. 00:13:30.640 --> 00:13:33.580 Paul uses himself as the first exhibit there. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:35.759 He's exhibit A. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:40.000 He's saying if God was done with Israel, he would have been done with me. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.660 Because I am Israel. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:44.240 He said I'm the ultimate Jewish Pharisee. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.639 I was climbing that ladder. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:48.440 I was successful in that world. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.820 God's not done with his people. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:54.360 Elijah. 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:58.440 He references Elijah right here in Romans 11. 00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:02.500 Elijah had reached his limit. 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:09.240 Elijah was up to his neck in the foolishness of the Israelite people. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.080 He had had it with them. 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:16.759 With their rejection of God who had been so faithful to them. 00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:18.820 Had provided for them so much. 00:14:18.900 --> 00:14:19.720 Had guided them. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.440 Helped them. 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:23.040 Fought battles for them. 00:14:23.520 --> 00:14:23.920 Been there. 00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:26.500 Come through time and time and time again for his people. 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:29.280 And they still struggled with their faith. 00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:31.800 You and I wouldn't know anything about that, right? 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:35.399 Struggling with our faith after God has been so faithful to us. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:40.699 But of course, Elijah was fed up with it. 00:14:41.099 --> 00:14:44.000 He said, look God, you got to move on from them. 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:52.879 When you and I look around and we think there is a people group or there is a place that is without hope, 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:54.859 we're usually wrong. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:15:01.240 Jonah was wrong when he thought the people of Nineveh were beyond saving. 00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:05.139 When he thought they were without hope, God said, no, no, no, trust me. 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.960 I know it looks like a terrible, wicked, evil place. 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:08.419 Trust me. 00:15:08.800 --> 00:15:10.139 You preach the message to them. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.080 They will respond. 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:17.280 I don't know how many times I've been told that California has gone to the devil and it's without hope. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.540 Trust me. 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.420 That girl down there can testify. 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:23.139 God is still alive and well in California. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:28.020 I've been to places that we call Sin City here in America. 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:29.160 I've been to Las Vegas, Nevada. 00:15:29.280 --> 00:15:30.500 I've been to New Orleans, Louisiana. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:37.360 And I've seen firsthand God moving and working powerfully in some of these places. 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:44.399 New York City, all around the world, countries, third world countries where very, very, very few people know of Jesus. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:47.200 So there's very little light of the gospel in that darkness. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:52.580 And I've seen God move and work powerfully in places where you would say, man, there's no hope there. 00:15:52.580 --> 00:16:00.320 When we think hope is gone, that's when God says, watch this. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:07.720 When we think a rock is too hard to crack, God says, watch me work. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.220 That's what happened with the Israelite people. 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:15.340 Elijah, God's prophet, thought they were too far gone. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.360 God said, watch. 00:16:18.040 --> 00:16:21.060 I've got a people who will survive this. 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:23.019 And they will be faithful to me. 00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:24.059 And they did. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.039 And they were. 00:16:26.119 --> 00:16:34.500 You can't say the Israelite people as a whole today, the Jewish people, turn to God and recognize Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah. 00:16:34.739 --> 00:16:35.799 But there are some. 00:16:36.359 --> 00:16:37.339 There is a remnant. 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.779 There will always be. 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:44.179 And you can't say the Gentiles, by and large, recognize Jesus Christ as this Messiah. 00:16:44.359 --> 00:16:46.299 And the world is all turning to Christ. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.039 Of course not. 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:48.099 But there are some. 00:16:48.099 --> 00:16:49.139 There is a remnant. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.799 And we call it the church. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.079 Of Jesus Christ. 00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:54.419 So God will have his people. 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:59.019 And he will survive them through the generations. 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:05.240 God isn't using us, the Gentiles, to replace Israel. 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:12.779 He's using the Gentiles to make Israel, watch this, homesick for their own Messiah. 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.460 Homesick for their God. 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:18.799 Homesick for the God of their forefathers. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.600 The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.559 All the Old Testament heroes. 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:24.819 The patriarchs that we read about in the Old Testament. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.620 God was their God. 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:34.559 And he's using, bringing in the Gentiles to make them homesick for their God. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.559 God includes Gentiles. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:44.220 God includes Gentiles in his people to bring all nations together in Israel's Messiah. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.440 Did you catch that? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.460 God is using the Gentiles, us. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:52.000 Now he loves us every bit as much as he loves his people. 00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:54.779 Once you're his people, you are his people. 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.740 He loves you. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.200 He will do anything for you. 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.700 Even sending his own son. 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:09.120 But he includes us to bring all nations together in Israel's Messiah. 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:11.380 In Jesus Christ himself. 00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:16.980 The same God who will not abandon his covenant to his people, the Jewish people. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:22.080 He will also not abandon his covenant to us. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:27.340 Because of Jesus, he extends that covenant mercy to all nations. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.980 What is a covenant? 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.160 What are we talking about when we mean covenant? 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.680 What is a covenant? 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.120 What's that? 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:37.360 An agreement. 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.440 A promise. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.200 Entered into almost a contract in a way. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.600 God has this agreement. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.600 This bound in, this signed in blood. 00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:51.420 This promised agreement with the Israelite people. 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:55.779 And he has expanded that covenant to the Gentiles to bring them in. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.200 So let's look at the second section here. 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.779 And this is about grafting. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:02.160 How many of y'all know what grafting is? 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:05.519 We're getting into horticulture here. 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:08.180 We're getting into trees and plants. 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:12.980 And grafting something into something else to help both. 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:15.480 So, Romans chapter 11 again. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:17.380 And we're down in verse 16. 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:24.539 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy. 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:28.460 If the root is holy, so are the branches. 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.759 So this is what he's talking about. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:34.000 If the root of something is good, then the rest of it will be good. 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.620 Verse 17. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.220 If some of the branches... 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:41.700 So he switched now from dough over to branches. 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:43.340 He started with dough. 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.940 He's using analogies. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.900 He's using word pictures. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.140 Then he goes into trees and branches. 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:57.259 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others, 00:19:57.520 --> 00:20:01.940 then you now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root. 00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.100 Verse 18. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.720 So, don't boast over those other branches. 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.580 If you do, consider this. 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:12.840 You don't support the root, but the root supports you. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:17.779 You will say then, branches were broken off so that I could be granted in. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:18.859 Granted. 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:22.000 But they were broken off because of unbelief. 00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:26.500 Not because of how great you are, but because of unbelief. 00:20:27.459 --> 00:20:29.899 And you stand by faith. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.659 That's all you stand by. 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:35.720 Otherwise, you would fall just like anybody else. 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:38.379 You only stand by faith. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.299 So, don't be arrogant, but tremble. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.379 Verse 21. 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:46.400 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he won't spare you either. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:52.760 And if they do not persist in unbelief, then they will be grafted in, just like you were. 00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:57.560 For God is able, verse 23, to graft them in again. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.920 So, we're getting into this idea of grafting. 00:21:01.300 --> 00:21:05.260 Now, I want to show you a little bit of what we're talking about. 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:14.960 The interesting thing is, what God did was different than what most people would do for grafting. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:23.960 If you're grafted in, if you want to improve, let's just use olive trees, because that's what Paul uses, and that was common to the region. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:27.259 So, say you're trying to grow olives. 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:30.340 And you've got a grove of olive trees. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.900 How many of y'all like olives? 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.400 I love olives. 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.340 I'll eat the black ones. 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:38.759 I'll eat the green ones, the fancy ones. 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:42.740 If you go to a Whole Foods market, have you ever seen their olive bar? 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.480 It's ridiculous. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:46.240 I can't afford it, but it's fun to look at. 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.680 I love olives. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:51.119 But even if you don't like olives, just work with me on the olive tree picture here. 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:54.339 So, I think I'm the only one. 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.539 No, Austin likes olives. 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.200 Nobody else does. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:58.019 So, you're trying to grow olives. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.900 You've got your healthy olive tree. 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:02.500 But you're trying to make it better. 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:04.380 You're trying to improve your crop. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:13.720 And you're going around, and you're walking around, and you're outside your vineyard, and you're looking around, and you see a wild olive tree growing. 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.600 But it doesn't have any olive tree. 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:17.640 It doesn't have any olives on it yet. 00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:19.300 And you look at it. 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:21.220 It's not being tended. 00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:28.060 Probably the bird scattered the seed, and it happened to spring up, and there's a wild olive tree. 00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:29.360 And it looks pretty good. 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.840 It looks pretty healthy. 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:33.700 It looks like it's surviving on its own for now. 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.800 We know it's not going to survive forever. 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:37.080 It's not being tended. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.259 It's not being cared for. 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:40.519 But it looks like it's surviving right now. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:53.420 So, you go, and you cut off a branch of that olive tree, the wild one, and you bring it back to your healthy, maintained olive grove. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:59.480 And you go in, and this is one technique of grafting it. 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.180 And there's different techniques that they would use. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:04.319 But you cut, take one of the branches. 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:07.440 You cut a split into it. 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:13.640 And you put two of those shoots of the wild olive tree into it. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.680 Then you bind it up. 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:17.539 And usually they put some kind of sealant over it. 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:28.599 And before you know it, you've got a whole new olive tree growing out of the original. 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:41.839 I mean, it branches off into a whole new healthy branch that almost turns into its own tree branching off. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:47.879 And you've basically doubled your olive production from that one tree. 00:23:49.199 --> 00:23:56.179 The interesting thing is, though, that God didn't necessarily do it that way. 00:23:56.180 --> 00:24:06.480 He didn't take a wild tree that wasn't producing fruit and graft it into a healthy tree. 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:15.340 He took a wild tree that was producing fruit and grafted it into the unhealthy original tree. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:20.980 His Israelite people were not producing much fruit. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:24.559 His Israelite people, their faith had struggled. 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:29.000 Whereas with the Gentiles, they were producing fruit. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:33.039 The name of Jesus was flourishing among them. 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:36.059 The kingdom of God was growing among the Gentiles. 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:38.860 And so he almost opposite grafted. 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.559 He brought them in 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:45.720 to make the original tree healthy again. 00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:51.839 And he cut off the branches of the original tree that were not producing fruit. 00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:57.940 And he says, what I can do, though, is go back to the original way of grafting. 00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:04.119 I can take these branches that I've cut off and I can graft them back in. 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:07.440 This is like double grafting here. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.840 We've got the original tree of Israel. 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:14.320 And then we've got the unhealthiness of that original tree. 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:17.720 Most of the branches weren't producing fruit. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:20.600 Then he goes over and he finds the wild olive tree 00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:23.440 that is responding to the gospel message about Jesus. 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:26.519 And he cuts off some of those and brings them in 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:29.080 and grafts them in to the original tree. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:32.980 And he says, I can take these other branches from the original tree 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:37.200 and I can graft them back in a second round of grafting. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.740 And we see that happening. 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:41.500 When people go to the Israelite people, 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:44.180 to the Jewish people today in the modern age, 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.900 and they share the light of Jesus, 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.720 and some of those respond to Jesus, 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:51.000 they're getting grafted back in to the tree. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:54.299 That's what Paul's writing about here in chapter 11. 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:58.259 If they don't persist in their unbelief, 00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:00.819 they will be grafted in. 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:03.059 He had to cut them off because of their unbelief. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:06.579 You can't be part of the family of God if you reject God. 00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:10.599 But if at some point they cease to reject God 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:13.500 and they respond to the drawing of the Holy Spirit, 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:16.559 then they can get grafted back in. 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.460 Verse 23. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.619 All this talk of grafting and roots and vines and branches 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:24.319 reminds me of John 15, 5. 00:26:24.439 --> 00:26:26.240 Jesus said, I am the vine. 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.839 You are the branches. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:31.279 If you remain in me and I remain in you, 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:33.399 then you will bear much fruit. 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:36.519 Because apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:40.319 So why were those branches not producing fruit anymore? 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.199 Because they hadn't remained in him. 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.819 They'd been faithless. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.399 Their faith had failed. 00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:50.059 So he had to cut them off. 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:54.179 But he wants so badly to graft them in again. 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:59.019 So there's no reason for the Gentile people, 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:01.200 for you and me to get prideful. 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:04.119 Well, the Jewish people abandoned their God. 00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:08.059 But we, we have faith in their God. 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:09.179 So we're better than they are. 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:13.200 This is what Paul was encountering in the church in Rome. 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.720 That's why he had to write about it. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:18.200 The Gentile said, look, we got this. 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:20.799 We're the new Jews, all right? 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:23.500 We're the ones that God loves now. 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.100 He's moved on from you. 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.319 Paul says, no, no, no. 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:29.539 God does not abandon his people. 00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:31.519 He grafted you in. 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.339 You were not the original. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:36.400 You were the wild olive tree that God brought in. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:41.380 He can bring those others in just like he brought you in. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.440 You didn't invent the faith. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.200 You didn't write the scriptures. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.779 You didn't pump life into the tree. 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.759 The roots did that. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:53.860 The Jewish roots that God established are pumping life into you. 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:58.500 You have taken the faith that God gave first to them. 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:01.380 And now he's expanded it to you as well. 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:07.559 So this kills any arrogance on either part. 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:11.980 It kills the arrogance of the Jews. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:14.480 Kills the arrogance of the Gentiles. 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:17.980 None of us have anything to be prideful about. 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:21.460 Now let's go to Ephesians chapter 2 and we're almost done. 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:27.120 As you're turning to Ephesians 2, I want to show you this little graphic. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:31.340 Kind of a picture of what we've been talking about. 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.480 Romans 11, 17, 18. 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:37.700 It is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:39.799 Do you see here on the left? 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:41.340 You've got Israel's branches. 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:44.900 These are the remnant that survived by faith. 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:49.740 Then you've got the broken off branches laying on the ground because of their unbelief. 00:28:49.820 --> 00:28:50.900 He had to break them off. 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:53.180 Then you've got the Gentile branches. 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:59.519 After they've been grafted in, you see almost a whole other tree growing off of the original root. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.280 These are the Gentile branches. 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.100 They're called the wild olive shoots. 00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:07.580 And they're all receiving nourishment from the same root. 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:12.759 Whether it's the original tree or the brought in, the grafted in Gentile tree. 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:16.099 They're all receiving nourishment from the same root. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.579 You don't support the root. 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:19.059 The root supports you. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.900 I love that. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.879 Where did he say that? 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:24.460 Verse, I've got to look at it again. 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.879 18, verse 18. 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:28.960 You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.819 Can we say that together? 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.079 Ready? 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:34.079 You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:35.220 And who is the root, church? 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.619 Say it with your chest, church. 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.259 Who is the root? 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.859 Yes, he is. 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:42.019 God is the root. 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:43.940 Jesus Christ is the root. 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:46.379 He is the foundation, the cornerstone. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.799 He's the one whom we are built on. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:52.539 He's the one we receive our nutrients for this life from. 00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:55.319 The root supports us. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:57.279 Now, Ephesians 2, verse 12. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.200 Look down at verse 12. 00:29:58.319 --> 00:30:05.119 Remember that at that time, talking about before Christ, you were separate from Christ. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:08.079 Excluded from citizenship in Israel. 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.879 You couldn't be part of the tree. 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:18.380 But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:20.620 Paul uses architectural language. 00:30:21.080 --> 00:30:24.580 He uses civic governmental language here instead of agricultural. 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:27.480 But he's presenting the same principle. 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:30.360 Gentiles were total outsiders. 00:30:30.360 --> 00:30:37.160 But God's power brought them in to Israel's historic covenant family. 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.079 So this leads us to number three. 00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:43.019 God's ultimate plan is always expansion. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:46.720 God's ultimate plan is always expansion. 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.860 Look down, if you would, at verse 25. 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:51.220 Romans 11, verse 25. 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.259 Back in Romans 11. 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.160 I had you in Ephesians 2. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:56.580 Skip back to Romans 11, verse 25. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:31:01.980 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited. 00:31:02.540 --> 00:31:03.980 Remember, no room for arrogance. 00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:05.019 No room for pride here. 00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:08.500 Israel has experienced a hardening in part. 00:31:09.300 --> 00:31:10.040 Not completely. 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.000 God always has his remnant. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:16.240 But in part, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:19.539 Only God knows what the full number of the Gentiles is. 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:21.079 He created all of us. 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:24.700 He knows which of us will reject and which of us will receive. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:28.319 He'll know when the full number of Gentiles has come in. 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:30.200 And in this way, watch this. 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:30.799 You ready for this? 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.480 It's going to blow your mind. 00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:35.900 In this way, all Israel will be saved. 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.880 Who's he talking about? 00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:43.880 The expanded Israel. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:47.780 Israel plus the Gentiles. 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:54.520 This now represents the people of God, a.k.a. in parentheses, Israel. 00:31:55.580 --> 00:32:01.020 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.860 Every one of us has been disobedient. 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:11.159 God has allowed sin to bind us, to trap us, to enslave us. 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:16.139 So that then he could have mercy on all of us. 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:19.479 He didn't step in and say, well, you're robots. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:24.159 I'm going to create you impervious or completely resistant to any kind of sin. 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:24.399 No. 00:32:24.619 --> 00:32:29.740 He allowed sin to seduce us and lead us astray into disobedience. 00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:32.279 So then he could have mercy on all of us. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:34.719 And then Paul breaks into worship. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:37.539 At the end of chapter 11, he breaks into worship. 00:32:37.699 --> 00:32:41.819 He says, oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. 00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:44.139 He's blown away by how deep this goes with God. 00:32:45.219 --> 00:32:46.919 How unsearchable are his judgments. 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:48.219 We can't figure all this out. 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.799 This is beyond us. 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:52.139 His paths are beyond tracing out. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.899 Verse 36. 00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:57.539 For from him and through him and for him are all things. 00:32:58.099 --> 00:33:00.579 To him be the glory forever. 00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.539 Amen. 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:04.940 Isaiah chapter 49 in verse 6. 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:09.200 The prophet Isaiah wrote so many years before Christ ever came. 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:14.359 He says, it is too small a thing for you to be my servant. 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:16.279 Speaking on behalf of God. 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:20.759 This is too small of a thing for you to be my servant. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.279 Speaking to Israel. 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.119 The Jewish people. 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.700 The Jewish people. 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:25.460 To restore the tribes of Jacob. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:30.279 He says, I will also make you a light for the Gentiles. 00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:36.039 That my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:38.559 This is expansion language. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:43.619 This is not God being satisfied with just the Jewish people. 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:46.779 He died for the sins of the whole world. 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.460 He loved the whole world. 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.659 Here's the little secret. 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:52.299 God didn't just love the Jewish people. 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.579 He loved everyone. 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:57.460 But according to his perfect sovereign plan. 00:33:58.159 --> 00:33:59.779 He chose Israel first. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:04.960 Knowing that someday he would expand his people beyond just the Jewish people. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:08.260 Now we would be saved. 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:11.460 Anyone could be saved by faith. 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:14.440 And his salvation could reach to the end of the world. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:16.780 So God is in the expanding business. 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:20.019 God's not content with just the local franchise. 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.820 He's going to take this thing worldwide. 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:25.199 And praise God he did. 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.880 Because it reached to Clay County. 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:29.019 It reached to Henrietta, Texas. 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:32.179 It reached to Gainesville where I found Jesus. 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:36.579 It reached to California where my wife found Jesus. 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:40.839 It reached to wherever you were when you found Jesus. 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:43.960 Thank God he's in the expanding business. 00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:47.659 The hardening is not temporary. 00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:50.819 The hardening is temporary. 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.079 It's never total. 00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:56.039 God has not closed the door on his historic people. 00:34:56.679 --> 00:35:01.399 But he's paused it to let the rest of the world crowd in with him. 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:02.400 God has not closed the door on his historic people. 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:05.139 This is like a symphony of God's mercy. 00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:09.660 He uses this pause to show mercy to the Gentiles. 00:35:10.160 --> 00:35:14.300 One of those pictures I'll never get out of my mind is when we looked at that graphic a moment ago. 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:16.019 You saw those branches laying on the ground. 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:19.180 God had to cut them off because of their unbelief. 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:25.680 But then Paul went on to say God wants nothing more than to graft those branches back in. 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:28.419 Even those who have rejected him. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:31.639 He wants to bring them back in. 00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:36.940 When Paul realizes the beauty of God's rescue plan. 00:35:38.379 --> 00:35:41.239 He stops writing theology and he just starts worshiping. 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:45.239 How wonderful is our God. 00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:48.039 And church let me say this to you before we close. 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:59.719 If your understanding of King Jesus and the gospel that he brought does not leave you in awe and worship. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.940 Then you haven't understood it yet. 00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:10.420 If your understanding of the King Jesus gospel doesn't leave you in awe and worship. 00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:16.280 of how good, how right, how wonderful God is. 00:36:17.180 --> 00:36:18.960 Then you haven't fully understood it yet. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:22.039 So I want to challenge you. 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:30.159 When we look at the root of the tree. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:33.200 We aren't looking at a group of people who are better than us. 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.019 Neither group. 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:36.280 The Gentiles nor the Jews are better than the other. 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:39.460 We're looking at the covenant promise from God. 00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:44.079 That found its ultimate picture in Jesus. 00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:46.980 It found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. 00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:49.199 It found its ultimate yes in Jesus. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:52.199 No one on this tree is a second class citizen. 00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:55.440 No one on this tree is any less than anyone else. 00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:58.980 Because every single one of us is sustained by the root. 00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:05.800 Every single one of us is sustained by the same sap of pure grace through faith. 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.460 From God himself. 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:09.380 So here's the challenge. 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:15.099 Stop comparing the branches and start celebrating the root. 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:19.780 Celebrate the root more than the branches. 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:23.519 This is the message that Paul had to get across to this church. 00:37:24.380 --> 00:37:26.099 The Gentiles and the Jews were divided. 00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:28.559 They both worshiped the same Jesus. 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.960 They got their sap from the same root. 00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.320 They were divided. 00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:38.200 So church, my question to you is, do you see yourself as better than anyone else? 00:37:39.740 --> 00:37:41.140 Are you one of the OGs? 00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:42.240 Are you one of the originals? 00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:46.759 You say, I've been here longer than some of these new people who come into this church. 00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:49.219 They can't take this church from me. 00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:52.819 I'm one of the ones who was here for a long time. 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:56.100 Or are you one of the new people that says, man, forget you. 00:37:56.160 --> 00:37:57.320 I got more energy than you do. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:59.160 Jesus means more to me. 00:37:59.220 --> 00:38:00.059 He's stale to you. 00:38:00.120 --> 00:38:00.960 He's fresh to me. 00:38:01.580 --> 00:38:02.840 I'm all excited about it. 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.080 This is my church now. 00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:10.159 Paul says, neither one of you is more valuable than the others. 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:14.599 Whether you're one of the originals or you're one of the ones who's been recently brought in, 00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:21.400 you're both drawing your same energy, your same sustenance, your same sap from the same root system. 00:38:21.819 --> 00:38:26.360 So celebrate the root that you have in common more than the branches. 00:38:26.759 --> 00:38:27.779 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:33.599 God, we need to be growing in the same direction. 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:44.059 Growing upwards toward you in the same direction, sustained by the same root system. 00:38:46.179 --> 00:38:52.380 Jews or Gentiles, long time Christians, or more recently come to faith. 00:38:55.599 --> 00:39:01.840 Those from established families or those whose family tree, they just want to try to ignore. 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:07.260 Those from wealth and those from poverty. 00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.260 Doesn't matter. 00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:11.700 The ground is level at the foot of the cross. 00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:13.840 You died for all of us. 00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:15.700 You rose for all of us. 00:39:16.559 --> 00:39:21.860 You offer salvation by faith to all of us in your grace. 00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:23.660 We thank you for it. 00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:26.779 God, I pray that you would bind us together. 00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:34.059 Like you bound that church in Rome together, largely through Paul's ministry, through his writing. 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:41.179 God, I pray that you would challenge us in 2026 to come together over our faith in Jesus. 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:43.739 Celebrate the root more than the branches. 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:46.299 Help us to see how we need each other. 00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:47.840 The value in this. 00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:49.659 The Jews needed the Gentiles. 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.960 The Gentiles needed the Jews. 00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:55.279 And we need one another in this walk by faith. 00:39:55.280 --> 00:39:57.880 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:58.200 Amen. 00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:59.360 Keep your seats if you would. 00:40:00.320 --> 00:40:03.500 Let's be in an attitude of prayer for just about one or two more minutes. 00:40:05.040 --> 00:40:07.200 Let me ask you this question as our heads are bowed. 00:40:08.400 --> 00:40:09.680 Let me ask you this question. 00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:12.640 Is there anybody here who doesn't know Jesus as personal Savior? 00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:15.200 You haven't yet surrendered to him and said, 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:22.659 God, by faith, I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died for me, that you rose for me, that you offer forgiveness to me. 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:25.279 And I choose you. 00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:32.799 I'm going to place my faith in you, not the church, not any man, woman, nobody except Jesus. 00:40:33.099 --> 00:40:36.679 You are going to be my source of strength. 00:40:36.859 --> 00:40:39.359 You're going to be who I place faith in. 00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:43.599 If that's you today and you say today is the day that I make this decision, 00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:48.500 would you be bold enough to slip your hand up right now and testify to that? 00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:52.079 Thank you. 00:40:52.720 --> 00:40:54.180 Let me ask you this question. 00:40:55.200 --> 00:40:57.960 How many of you would say God spoke to me about something? 00:40:59.019 --> 00:41:08.880 Maybe it was about unity in the church and maybe it was about valuing others and not living in my arrogance or my pride. 00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:14.640 Maybe it was about something completely different, but you say the Holy Spirit worked on me about something from the scriptures today. 00:41:15.180 --> 00:41:16.760 Would you lift your hand and I'll pray for you as well? 00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:18.220 Thank you. 00:41:18.579 --> 00:41:19.079 Thank you. 00:41:20.180 --> 00:41:20.720 Thank you. 00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:23.500 Okay, God, you know exactly what's going on in our hearts. 00:41:23.700 --> 00:41:32.559 More importantly, you know exactly how to fix it, how to help, how to step in and help us grow in our faith and understanding of you and our walk with you. 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:36.500 And as we grow closer to you, God, we will grow closer to each other. 00:41:36.680 --> 00:41:37.780 It's how you designed it. 00:41:37.780 --> 00:41:40.260 It's how you designed your church, how you designed us. 00:41:40.900 --> 00:41:43.700 So I pray that you would accomplish that in your church and Henrietta today. 00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:47.200 Thank you for bringing this group of people together in this moment. 00:41:48.140 --> 00:41:51.680 I pray that as we grow closer to you, we would grow closer to each other. 00:41:51.840 --> 00:42:00.900 And the church and the community would see the fruit of that and feel the impact of your people coming together for your purpose, your kingdom. 00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.480 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:03.200 Amen. 00:42:03.200 --> 00:42:03.300 Amen. 00:42:03.300 --> 00:42:03.340 Amen.