WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.339 Found your place there in your copy of God's Word, Luke chapter 8, verse number 16. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:06.240 We're going to begin reading. 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:08.080 We'll read down through verse number 21. 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:09.140 The Bible says this. 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:16.939 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, cover it with a vessel or put it under a bed and 00:00:16.939 --> 00:00:21.519 setteth it on a candlestick that they which enter in may see the light. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:25.800 For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest, neither anything hid that shall 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:27.660 not be known and come abroad. 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:29.500 Verse 18. 00:00:29.500 --> 00:00:32.560 Take heed, therefore, how you hear. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:38.760 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and whosoever hath not, from him it shall 00:00:38.760 --> 00:00:41.980 be taken, even that which he seemeth to have. 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:47.859 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 00:00:48.420 --> 00:00:53.820 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without desiring 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:54.740 to see thee. 00:00:55.260 --> 00:01:00.740 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:03.320 of God and do it. 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:06.019 This morning I want to preach a message entitled this. 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:08.519 Be careful how you listen. 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:10.260 Anybody here bad at listening? 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:14.000 You're probably not listening right now, so that doesn't really work. 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:17.340 That's what Jesus is telling us in verse 18. 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:19.359 He said, be careful how you listen. 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:25.120 Because how we listen is going to determine how we live when it comes to the word of God. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:29.980 Because you can be here this morning and you can hear it, but here's what Jesus says. 00:01:30.820 --> 00:01:31.219 Do it. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:32.480 Live it. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:38.020 Let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father 00:01:38.020 --> 00:01:39.000 which is in heaven. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.580 Let's have a jump into a word of prayer and then we'll get right into the message. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:44.380 Father, thank you for the wonderful day you've given us. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:48.600 Thank you for the Spirit this morning just in the songs. 00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:52.140 We're reminded of who you are and what you've done for us. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:57.560 And Lord, I pray that if there's someone here today that has never come to that realization 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:02.120 that that rugged cross was their cross, but you took their place. 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:03.000 You took our place. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:05.420 You paid a debt that we could not pay, Lord. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:09.479 That you were buried for us and risen again. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.699 That we might have hope and we might have life eternal. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:13.740 We might have purpose. 00:02:14.020 --> 00:02:16.780 And Lord, I pray that today would be that day. 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:21.039 Lord, I pray that you would be with all of us, those that do know you as their Savior. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:27.319 That we wouldn't just be here just to listen, but we'd be here to hear and to obey your word. 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:28.459 Lord, I pray you'd be with me now. 00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:30.680 You would empty me of self, cleanse me of sin. 00:02:30.739 --> 00:02:33.780 Lord, fill me with your Spirit that I might be a help to these people this morning. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:35.139 And we ask it in Christ's name. 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:35.840 Amen. 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:36.719 Thank you so much for standing. 00:02:36.799 --> 00:02:37.219 You may be seated. 00:02:39.859 --> 00:02:41.680 Has anybody ever had a fight with their GPS? 00:02:44.219 --> 00:02:46.599 Like you have to put it in because you don't know where you're going. 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:52.039 You know, and I changed mine to a guy's voice because I'm tired of my wife always telling me what to do. 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:54.379 I don't need a GPS telling me what to do as well. 00:02:55.019 --> 00:02:55.359 You know? 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:59.359 And if you're like me, you know, I'm pretty good with directions. 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:01.500 I feel like I can get there. 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:03.099 If I've been there one time, I can get there. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:07.419 But mainly I put it in because I'm trying to avoid construction is really what I'm trying to avoid. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:10.379 But you know, you put it in, especially if you don't know where you're going. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:13.439 And I heard about a man that was going to visit some friends a few hours away. 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:16.500 So he punched the GPS, punched the address into his phone. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:18.560 And everything seemed to be going smoothly. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:21.340 But like most men, he thought, you know what? 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:22.680 I think I know a better way. 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:24.759 This just doesn't feel right. 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:26.659 This just doesn't seem right. 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:29.300 So lo and behold, he takes an exit. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:33.859 And he gets off the road and just kind of doing his own thing. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:36.379 And a few minutes later, the GPS calmly says, recalculating. 00:03:37.519 --> 00:03:38.259 Anybody ever heard that? 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:38.439 Yeah? 00:03:39.079 --> 00:03:39.340 Yeah. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:41.460 You think, well, I'm just going to keep going. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:44.599 Again, it says, recalculating. 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:50.420 And then finally they just get real mad at you and they say, please make a legal U-turn as soon as possible. 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:54.080 I just, it frustrates me. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:56.240 Well, this man, he finally does it. 00:03:56.379 --> 00:03:59.099 After he kind of gets lost and he finally decides to listen. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:01.120 And he arrives at his friend's house. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.800 He's late and he's frustrated and he's full of excuses. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:05.900 None of us have ever been there. 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:09.020 Here's the point, though. 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:11.920 The directions were clear. 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:13.920 He punched the address in. 00:04:13.960 --> 00:04:14.920 It was going to take him to the right place. 00:04:15.140 --> 00:04:17.040 The instructions were accurate. 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:20.040 The problem wasn't the voice speaking. 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:23.300 It was how he heard it. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:25.080 It's what he did with what he heard. 00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:27.319 He had heard it plainly. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:28.140 He heard it clearly. 00:04:28.460 --> 00:04:30.620 He listened, but he didn't trust. 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:34.100 He said, this GPS has no idea where I want to go. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:35.120 I know a better way. 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:36.160 I know a shortcut. 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:37.420 That never works out. 00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:40.680 See, he listened, but he didn't trust. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:43.220 He heard, but he didn't obey. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:48.780 And friend, that's exactly what Jesus is talking about here in our text in Luke 8. 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:53.920 Many times we hear, the instructions are clear. 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:56.340 They're plain, but we don't choose to trust. 00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:59.180 We don't choose to obey. 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:06.319 We sing the old hymn, trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:07.819 We think, you know what? 00:05:07.840 --> 00:05:08.780 I can live my life. 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:14.000 I can listen, and if it works for me, and it fits my plan, and it fits my schedule, then I'll obey. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:18.439 But, you know, if it doesn't really fit me in my stage of life, then I don't really have to pay attention to that. 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:23.300 And I think we've all been down that road where we realize, I should have listened the first time. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:26.620 I should have trusted the Lord the first time he told me that. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:33.579 And see, this passage, it comes right after the parable of the sower, the parable of the soils that we looked at last week, 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:44.159 where Jesus teaches that how we receive the word of God depends on the soil or our heart, how receptive it is. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:50.820 And so that comes off, these verses we read come off the heels of that, and really what he's doing is he's kind of pressing even deeper. 00:05:51.460 --> 00:05:58.760 He's digging in a little bit, and he wanted those that heard the parable of the sower to understand what he's really talking about, 00:05:59.200 --> 00:06:01.020 what he's really speaking about. 00:06:01.760 --> 00:06:05.260 And he wants us to see this, that you've been given the light. 00:06:05.820 --> 00:06:07.660 You've been given the truth of the gospel. 00:06:08.020 --> 00:06:09.940 We aren't given that to hide it. 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:14.459 He's going to dig in a little bit deeper, and he's going to remind us that you've heard it. 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:17.360 If you've heard the word, don't waste it. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:22.600 Jesus didn't give you the truth so you can say, eh, I'll get around to it when I do. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:24.279 That's like your honey-do list, you know. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:27.180 My wife gives me this list, I'm like, don't pay attention. 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:29.759 Eh, I'll get around to it when I do. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.019 Listen, that's not how we treat the word of God. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:35.819 But sometimes that is how we treat the word of God. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:42.399 And if you want to be part of the family of God, if you're in the family, you've got to do more than just listen. 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:43.540 You've got to live it. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:45.579 And Jesus shows us these things. 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:50.180 He reminds us that lights are meant to shine, and hearing requires humility. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.860 And obedience really kind of reveals what family you're in. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:56.539 That's what he's going to teach us in this text this morning. 00:06:57.180 --> 00:07:00.199 Because when it comes to the word of God, it's not just whether you hear it. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.420 It's how you hear it and what you do with it. 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:07.560 So Jesus starts it off with a simple truth that we read there in verse number 16. 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:10.699 That no man, when he lighteth a candle, cover it with a vessel. 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:17.680 Or put it under a bed, but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter may see the light. 00:07:18.900 --> 00:07:22.939 Jesus used illustrations often in his preaching. 00:07:23.580 --> 00:07:24.639 Things they would understand. 00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:31.000 But we know, and as we've kind of fleshed it out, that Jesus wasn't giving the crowd last week a farming lesson. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.399 He wasn't saying, gather around here, I'm going to tell you how to farm right now. 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:39.259 And this morning, he's not giving a TED talk about which lamps they should use in their house. 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:41.060 And which lamps give off the most light. 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:42.959 It's not what Jesus is doing. 00:07:43.660 --> 00:07:45.420 He's using very common things. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:47.800 Things they would have been very familiar with. 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:49.819 It was an agricultural society. 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:53.139 And they would have understood what sowing and how it worked. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:58.439 And they would picture in their mind the seeds that fall just by the wayside and are stomped on. 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.139 They would have pictured that very clearly. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.439 But now Jesus is talking about light. 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:06.180 He's talking about a lamp. 00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:10.180 And you know what, this just is a good time to pause and thank the Lord for electricity. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.600 If you ever just thought this, this is just how my brain works. 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:17.680 I'm so glad the Lord knew I couldn't live in a time where he had to have candles. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:20.980 You know, I would be the one that burns my house down. 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:22.620 You know, that's just, that's where I would be. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:25.379 But it still relates to us. 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:29.060 Because what exactly is this light that he's talking about if it's not candles? 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:30.180 Here's what it is. 00:08:30.340 --> 00:08:31.079 It's his truth. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:32.980 It's the message. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.580 It's the gospel. 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:40.759 And what Jesus is doing is he's digging in deep and he's showing those and reminding those that with good soil, 00:08:41.060 --> 00:08:43.240 with those with hearts that receive the word of God, 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:46.200 that he did not give the truth so it would be hidden. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:48.139 He didn't give you the gospel. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.539 He didn't give you the truth that he loves you, 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:55.079 but you're a sinner and you need a savior so you could hide it and keep it and hoard it. 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:57.099 That's not why he gave it. 00:08:57.339 --> 00:09:06.199 He gave it to you so it could be seen and it could be shared and it could be lived out in a world that needs to see it so desperately. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.240 See, don't miss this. 00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:11.019 The candle here is not your personal talents. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:13.199 It's not your platform that God has given you. 00:09:13.319 --> 00:09:15.980 It is the revelation of God's truth. 00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:17.099 That's what the candle is. 00:09:17.719 --> 00:09:18.980 That's what the light is. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:22.840 And we have been entrusted with it. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.340 Listen, you're not the owner of truth. 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:27.000 You know what Jesus is? 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:30.399 He is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:34.340 Jesus has given us the truth and here's what we're supposed to do. 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:35.200 Share it. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.000 We are stewards of the truth. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:45.620 Paul tells the Philippians in Philippians 3, I believe, that we are to hold forth the word of truth. 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:51.139 It doesn't mean we have to walk around and preach the Bible every day to somebody like, hey, listen here. 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:52.600 Our life should do that. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:57.799 We should look for opportunities to share the gospel because that's what God has called us to do. 00:09:58.340 --> 00:10:01.279 That is our number one job as Christian people. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:08.740 See, God gives his light not for secret storage but for spiritual visibility. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:12.100 That's exactly what he taught in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:10:12.699 --> 00:10:14.139 I love the Sermon on the Mount. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:19.079 Jesus is showing kind of the upside down way of thinking, which is really the right side up. 00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:23.279 He's laying out how a Christian is supposed to live. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.799 And here's what he says. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:26.959 I'm sure you may be familiar with these verses. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.939 Matthew 5, verse 14. 00:10:29.459 --> 00:10:31.720 Ye are the light of the world. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:34.980 A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:41.559 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:45.419 Let your light so shine before men. 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:47.659 That's Jesus' intention. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:50.159 We're not the truth. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:57.360 We're just image bearers of the truth, that we have received the truth, and God has changed us if we know him as our Savior. 00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:59.319 And here's what Jesus is telling us. 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:00.539 Show somebody. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.100 You know, we talked about this, and I'm getting pumped up for college football. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.959 I thought I'd get a lot more amens than that. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.759 You know, and we see it. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:17.819 We see all our loyalties here, and I'm trying to be very kind because last time I said something, 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:20.460 a whole burnt orange row showed up, and it's just, mmm. 00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:25.140 But I would like to, man, I see some maroon out here today. 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:25.960 God bless you. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:32.080 You know, but when it comes that time, we're going to let people know what team we're on. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.660 What team we're on, like we play for them, you know. 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:35.900 I'm going to come with a helmet. 00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:39.220 But, you know, we're excited about things. 00:11:39.280 --> 00:11:40.460 We let them know, hey, this is my team. 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:42.660 This is who I'm rooting for, and everybody knows it. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:49.899 Does everybody know that you've received the truth, that Jesus Christ changed your life, 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:51.939 that he's your Savior? 00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:57.299 Because we've received that light, and Jesus is saying, listen, people should see that. 00:11:58.259 --> 00:12:00.319 Listen, does your family see it? 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:04.759 Because it's easy on a Sunday morning when we're all singing about it and we're all praising the Lord about it, 00:12:04.839 --> 00:12:06.399 but how do we live it at home? 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:11.100 I know it's a sore subject, but school's starting back. 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:13.100 You know what your friends need to see at school? 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.179 The light. 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:20.720 They need to see that Jesus Christ changed you, that Jesus Christ loves you, and he can do the same for them. 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.740 Listen, and it doesn't just apply to teenagers. 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:24.419 Your coworkers need to see it, too. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.740 We're called to share the light. 00:12:26.959 --> 00:12:30.279 Listen, it's easy inside these walls, but here's what we're supposed to do. 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:35.039 Take it outside the doors with us, and take it into our workplace, and take it into our world. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.740 Listen, does our speech reflect the gospel? 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:41.399 Did Jesus Christ change us, or is our speech just full of opinions? 00:12:43.199 --> 00:12:44.899 Listen, the world doesn't need your opinion. 00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:48.059 Your friends don't need certain opinions. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:48.620 You know what they need? 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.599 The truth of the Word of God. 00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:52.939 Because opinions didn't change your life. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.519 Jesus Christ did. 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:55.919 And that's what he's teaching. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:56.620 He's reminding. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:00.899 Listen, he's saying, you didn't get the truth so you can just stash it away so nobody can see it. 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:03.519 The truth was given to you to share it. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.079 I mean, you think of a lighthouse. 00:13:07.079 --> 00:13:08.839 It doesn't exist to look pretty. 00:13:09.839 --> 00:13:13.839 They're not going to say, let's just make this the prettiest lighthouse, but it doesn't really need a light. 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:16.039 Actually, it does. 00:13:16.099 --> 00:13:16.620 It's a lighthouse. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:25.620 The entire point of a lighthouse is to warn ships of the rocks and the danger ahead, and to safely guide them to port. 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:31.240 And the same is true in our life, that if you cover the light of a lighthouse, the ships are going to crash. 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:35.860 And we look around at our world, and we think, why does it keep crashing into the rocks? 00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:38.340 Because maybe the lights aren't shining like they're supposed to. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.100 That's what God has called us to do. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.980 That's what he's reminded us. 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:45.820 That's exactly what happens when Christians cover their faith. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:48.560 The world remains in darkness. 00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:51.019 But they need to see. 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:53.519 Even if it's just a little light, you think, what's one light? 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:56.120 Well, when it's real dark, one light makes a big difference. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:14:00.440 And that's really what Jesus is fleshing out there in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:04.820 That as light, we should point others to Christ, and we're the salt of the earth. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.840 Here's what salt does. 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.679 It preserves. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.220 It seasons life. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:10.659 We talk about it. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.440 You can't eat french fries without salt on it. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.899 Or especially mashed potatoes. 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:16.960 It brings a seasoning to life. 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.560 You know what your life should do? 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:20.379 It should bring a seasoning to others. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.100 It should make them thirsty for the things of God. 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:27.000 Hey, why is your light so different? 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:28.460 It doesn't seem like mine. 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:29.379 Here's what's the difference. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.240 Jesus Christ. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.500 But here's the thing. 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:35.519 Your light only shines when the lamp is lit. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.480 I know this is real deep this morning. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.259 I don't hear any Aggie jokes, by the way. 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:48.320 But the way that your lamp stays lit is if you're truly hearing the Word of God. 00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:53.720 Because you can't just hear something one time and then just live off of it the rest of your life. 00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:55.159 Now you can. 00:14:55.560 --> 00:14:56.700 You're saved one time. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.700 But that's not what I'm talking about. 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:01.080 We need to constantly be in the Word of God. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:04.300 It needs to be part of who we are. 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:08.379 If we love the Lord, then here's how we talk to Him right here. 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:09.759 We can talk to Him in prayer. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.960 But this is God's Word. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:11.820 It's alive. 00:15:11.920 --> 00:15:12.279 It's quick. 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:12.940 It's powerful. 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.680 It's sharper than any two-edged sword. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.840 This is not some book that just gathers dust that you can read every once in a while. 00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:18.180 No. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.540 This book knows you. 00:15:19.540 --> 00:15:20.580 It reads you. 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:23.340 And it knows what we need. 00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:27.160 That's why sometimes when you're reading it or you hear a message, you think, man, that preacher's reading my mail. 00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:28.520 Nope, the preacher's not reading your mail. 00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:32.180 It's the Holy Spirit of God that shows us what we need. 00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:33.780 Listen, He knows your workplace. 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:34.900 He knows your friends. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.500 He knows your family. 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:40.000 He knows all the situations you're going to face, and He's going to bring something to you that you can take with you. 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:45.519 And that's why Jesus moves from light, showing us, hey, if you've received the Word, you need to share it. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.759 But here's how you keep it going. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:47.879 Listen. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.600 Verse 18. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:53.639 Take heed, therefore, how ye hear. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:56.480 Here's what Jesus is saying when it says take heed. 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:56.940 Here's what He says. 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.860 Pay attention. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:09.960 You know, sometimes with my son, because I passed this ADD on to him, I just have to grab his face, and I say, are you listening? 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:15.019 And he's like, you know what the Lord's doing right here? 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:17.399 He's grabbing us by the face and saying, hey, are you listening? 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.659 Hey, pay attention. 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:22.580 Pay attention how you're hearing. 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:31.160 He's reminding his true hearers, these true disciples, it's not just what you hear, it's how you hear it. 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:36.379 Because sometimes we can hear things, and we kind of take it our own way, and we put our own spin on it. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:38.940 No, but Jesus is saying, I want you to hear what I'm saying. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.020 Because why is it so important? 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:49.060 Because how you hear determines whether your spiritual life moves forward or backward. 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:52.059 See, Jesus intends for us to move forward. 00:16:52.479 --> 00:16:54.699 Really, it's a principle throughout Scripture. 00:16:55.099 --> 00:16:57.659 God intends for His children to move forward. 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:03.539 He doesn't intend for us to say, hey, find a place where you're comfortable, and then just kind of hang out there. 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:05.460 That's not anywhere in Scripture. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:12.559 God, we are continually growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.519 We cannot come to a place in our Christian life and say, you know what? 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.019 I like it here. 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:18.019 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.359 It's pretty comfortable. 00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:22.279 Let me just pull the lazy boy back and just hang out right there. 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:24.559 That's not what Jesus calls us to do. 00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.299 Anybody here have bad posture? 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:36.019 You ever been walking by a bunch of windows, and you're like, that's what I'm... 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:42.400 You feel like, man, I'm not sure I've got the greatest posture. 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.839 I know Miss Nina gives me a hard time. 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.200 She's like, you need to straighten up and put your... 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.100 I'm trying. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.059 Like, I know it's bad. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.299 But you kind of straighten up and you... 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.440 Because it makes a difference. 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:55.299 Jesus is kind of wanting us to check our spiritual posture. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.420 Kind of how we're listening. 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:59.840 Because, you know, sometimes when you ask your kids, are you listening? 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.700 And they're like this. 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:04.360 They're probably not listening well. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:08.500 But sometimes we come into church, and that's how we're listening. 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:12.100 We're here on the outside, but on the inside, we're like, again? 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.459 We sang this song three weeks ago. 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:17.399 We've been in Luke for 25 years. 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:18.579 Ugh. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.139 Yeah, I'm reading your mail. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.419 But is that not how we think sometimes? 00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:30.959 And we can say all the right things, and we can say amen, and we can do all the things we're supposed to. 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:34.199 But Jesus is saying, listen, I need you to be real careful how you listen. 00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:35.619 I need you to check your ears. 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:38.419 Because sometimes we come in and look and all right, but spiritually we're like this. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:43.059 I mean, I'm not sure I want this. 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:48.099 And the question Jesus is asking is, how are you hearing the word of God? 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:53.019 Because if you listen humbly and respond obediently, here's what God's going to do. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.339 He's going to give you more truth. 00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:56.159 He's going to give you more grace. 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.839 He's going to give you more light. 00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.739 We all need that. 00:19:00.739 --> 00:19:02.179 How are we going to keep moving forward? 00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:03.339 How are we going to keep growing? 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:08.559 Not just by remembering one thing from the past, but learning new things and learning more about Christ. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:11.099 Because the more that we learn about him, the more that we're going to love him. 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:13.459 And the more that we love him, the more we're going to live for him. 00:19:14.439 --> 00:19:16.819 But if we come in and we think, I've already heard this. 00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:20.819 I mean, I know all these things. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:26.179 Because if we tune out or we coast spiritually, what we think we have is going to slip away. 00:19:27.459 --> 00:19:28.579 Because we're not in it. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.899 We're not living it. 00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:32.240 It's just how it goes. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:35.220 So many things in life are like that. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.180 Hebrews 2, 1 reminds us, 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:44.120 Therefore, we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.519 Listen, we should always be growing. 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:50.220 We should always be moving forward. 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.660 But we have to be careful how we're doing that. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:54.839 And here's a simple question, a way to think about it. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.380 How do you approach the Word of God? 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.279 How do you approach it? 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:03.639 How many of you go home and just turn on TV just to have background noise? 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.200 Yeah. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.899 Don't, I mean, you are not that spiritual. 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:10.680 You're probably going to go home and turn it on and just walk away. 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.759 I mean, sometimes we do that. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.899 We just need a little bit of noise in our life. 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:18.000 But the Word of God is not just background noise. 00:20:19.320 --> 00:20:21.259 You know, you say, well, I read my Bible every day. 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.240 How intently are you reading your Bible? 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:26.640 Well, I need to check this box off real quick. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.060 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:20:28.060 --> 00:20:28.380 What is that? 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:32.980 Are you come to it as a life-giving truth? 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:35.220 That's how you should come to the Word of God. 00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:36.140 Why? 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.540 Because it is. 00:20:39.020 --> 00:20:41.759 It didn't just save you and change your eternal destiny. 00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:44.060 No, the Gospel is not just a one-time thing. 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:46.440 It's how it shapes us for the rest of our life. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.300 Yes, it changes your eternal destiny, but it can change your parenting. 00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.759 It can change how you treat others. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:55.660 It can change how you look at the world and how you look at other people. 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:57.240 That's exactly what it's supposed to do. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:00.400 The Word of God is to change how we think. 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:05.040 And when you change how you think, you change how you live. 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:12.680 Maybe this week you need to step up to the Word of God and look at it as the life-giving truth that it is. 00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:14.880 Not just something on a to-do list. 00:21:15.560 --> 00:21:21.360 Listen, I'd rather you read one verse and meditate on it than read five chapters and get nothing out of it. 00:21:22.780 --> 00:21:25.100 How are we approaching the Word of God? 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:31.020 Is it a Sunday habit or a personal calling? 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:34.920 You know, I'm glad you're here. 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.840 I'm glad you come to church. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:40.200 Because if not, I'd just yell at my wife while I'm up here preaching the whole time. 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.960 Like, I'm going to preach. 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:47.640 But are you here just because it's Sunday and we go to lunch after? 00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:51.180 Don't act like you're not bad, dude. 00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:52.680 I'm not going to eat today. 00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:58.740 I'm sure on the way here, you've had the conversation, what are we having afterwards? 00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:01.339 Yeah, you can look at it. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:01.680 I know. 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.059 I mean, that was the first thing you thought of. 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:04.620 My son wakes up and goes, what are we eating? 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.920 I mean, that's just like, it's just the first thing that comes to his mind. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.099 But sometimes we can come. 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.579 Even the pastor can come. 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:13.880 You know what? 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.860 I'm supposed to be here on Sunday. 00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.360 I'm going to come do my thing. 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:19.060 That's not why we should be here. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:22.400 It shouldn't just be some habit in our life. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:25.720 It should be a habit where you are here, but not in that way. 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:27.880 It should be a calling because you realize this. 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.740 I need the Word of God. 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:32.720 I need to be around people that need the Word of God. 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:34.500 That we're growing together. 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.920 That it's not just, hey, no man's an island. 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.300 We need each other. 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.899 And you can come and be reminded. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.359 There's other families that are trying to parent biblically. 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:44.339 There's other people that are trying to do the right thing. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.259 I need that in my life. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:52.659 See, many times the difference between a fruitful Christian and a fruitless often comes down to this. 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:54.960 How you hear the Word of God. 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:58.000 Are you going to it with seriousness? 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:02.180 I mean, think of about two cups outside in a rainstorm. 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:04.139 One is turned right side up. 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.460 The other one's turned down. 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.659 Guess which one's going to fill up? 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:09.859 That's how it is. 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.500 How are you coming here? 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:14.819 How do you come to the Word of God in your personal devotions? 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:17.579 See, the Word of God is pouring out every Sunday. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:19.539 It's pouring out every time you open it up. 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:22.519 But how is your heart hearing it? 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.159 Willing and ready to obey? 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:30.779 See, Jesus closes out with one more powerful truth here. 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.599 And it kind of seems weird. 00:23:33.399 --> 00:23:35.460 It kind of seems like, what is Jesus talking about? 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:41.680 He's saying, listen, if you want to know if you're truly part of the family, it's not about background. 00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.720 It's not about bloodlines. 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:45.640 It's not about Bible knowledge. 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.340 Here's what it's about. 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.480 Obedience. 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:50.240 Obedience shows. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:55.640 It's an outward manifestation that God has changed our heart. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:59.279 See, before you knew Christ as your Savior, yeah, who cares? 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:05.200 But the more you know Him, the more you love Him, the more you do for Him. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:09.039 We do not do things so the Lord will love us more. 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:12.559 We do not do things so that we'll have more grace in our life. 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:15.660 Listen, God can't love you any more than He already does. 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:19.339 Jeremiah tells us that He loves us with an everlasting love. 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.759 Listen, how do we know that He loves us? 00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:22.559 Just look at the cross of Calvary. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:26.819 While we were His enemies, Christ died for us. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:30.119 So we don't do things so God would love us more. 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:34.359 No, He already loves us more, but it's a picture. 00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:39.039 It's a good example because Jesus says, by their fruit, you shall know them. 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:42.159 We should be producing things in our life. 00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:47.220 And we see this lastly, that hearing and obeying makes you family. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:51.319 Now, understand this, salvation is what makes you family. 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:57.539 But this is the picture of, and kind of the evidence that you're in the family. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.940 Notice what takes place here in verse number 19. 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:07.220 Then came to Him His mother and His brethren, and could not come at Him for the press. 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:10.600 So here we see Jesus' biological family. 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:15.480 And they're here, and at this time, His brothers don't believe that He's the Messiah. 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:19.059 Like, other instances when they come, in Mark chapter 3, I believe it is, 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.099 they come because they think He's lost His mind. 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.980 Like, this guy's crazy. 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:26.079 He's saying all these things, he's preaching all these things. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.420 Hey, I grew up with this kid. 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.140 Who does he think he is? 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:32.519 Now, if you really study it out, you know what changed their mind? 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.839 And it should change everybody's mind? 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.759 The resurrection. 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.799 It changes everything. 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.920 Because dead people don't come back to life. 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.539 But Jesus did. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:44.220 And it really changed them, and it brought them forward. 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:46.019 But they come, and they're trying to find Him. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.740 They're trying to get Him to say, we've got to get Him home, man. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:50.079 He's making our family look real weird. 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.720 Anybody got family members like that? 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:54.940 You're like, hey, don't tell Him I'm in your family. 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:57.460 That's kind of how His brothers felt. 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.700 Now, His mother, not so much. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.779 Most likely by this time, Joseph is passed off the scene. 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.839 They can't get there. 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.900 They get in, and it's packed. 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:11.100 Because at this time, Jesus' ministry is exploding, and people just want to be around Him. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.600 They don't want to miss something. 00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:14.839 Maybe they missed the last miracle. 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:17.159 They weren't necessarily looking for the message many times. 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:18.459 They were looking for that supernatural. 00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:20.259 They were looking for that truth. 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:21.779 And they said, we've got to be there. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:24.139 And so the crowd is kind of pressed in. 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.919 So in verse number 20, 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:27.699 And it was told Him by certain which said, 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:29.639 Thy mother and thy brethren stand without. 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:31.639 So they're in the crowd, and they're maybe tapping and saying, 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.899 Hey, can you pass a message up to Jesus? 00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:35.939 We need to talk to Him. 00:26:35.939 --> 00:26:37.199 Tell Him His mama's out here. 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:40.019 You know, that's just what you say to get anything happening. 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:42.680 And, you know, if mama's there, you've got to respond to mama. 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.440 Tell them mom's here. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.799 I mean, don't tell them we're here, the brothers. 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:47.559 But just tell them mom wants to talk to them. 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.759 So they passed the message up. 00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:54.180 Look at Jesus' response when the message gets to Him. 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:56.980 And He answered and said unto them, 00:26:57.100 --> 00:27:03.100 My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God and do it. 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:07.740 I mean, honestly, on the surface, to me, it seems a little insensitive. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.000 Like, ouch. 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:12.279 He's like, that's not my family. 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.880 I'll tell you who my family is. 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:16.039 I mean, that's kind of how we look at it sometimes. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.519 But don't misunderstand. 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:20.259 Jesus is not rejecting His mother. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.980 He's not rejecting His brothers. 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:23.039 He loved them. 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:28.159 But He is defining what it looks like to be in the family of God. 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:33.240 Because there's a lot of people, and it wasn't that He was taking a shot at them, 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:36.019 but there would be a lot of people in this crowd that thought, 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.500 You know what? 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:38.519 I'm a follower of Christ because I'm here. 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:42.180 Because of their proximity to Jesus. 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:44.440 Hey, I'm for Jesus. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:46.339 Man, I clapped when He did the miracles. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:48.440 I definitely ate the bread when He passed it to me. 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.799 I'm for Jesus. 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:51.599 That was their mindset. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.159 Because that's kind of how the Pharisees looked at it. 00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:58.480 Their proximity to religion, their proximity to the law, they just said, 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.960 Listen, we got everything we need. 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.819 We got the land. 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.639 We got the law. 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.740 We got all this stuff. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:08.059 And they thought, because we're so close to everything, I mean, we're Jews after all. 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.579 We have to be in the family. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:12.200 And that's not what Jesus is saying. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:19.019 What He's reminding us in these verses is the true people of God aren't marked by proximity to religion. 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:28.339 I know this is hard to hear, but there's going to be people that spend every Sunday in a church that don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:33.859 I know that's not a popular message, but it's one that Jesus teaches. 00:28:35.420 --> 00:28:41.019 The true people of God are marked by obedience to the revelation of His truth. 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.440 That's what makes the difference. 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:46.480 James says it like this in James 1, verse 22. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:52.759 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:58.180 Because we can hear and hear and hear, but Jesus says, what are you doing with the truth? 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.200 Because here's the truth. 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:02.559 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.079 And you know what? 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:06.819 A lot of Americans would say, I agree with that. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.799 What are you doing with it? 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:12.099 Because there's a debt that must be paid. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.220 A price that we can't pay. 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:19.180 And that's why Jesus came and died on the cross of Calvary, to pay our sin debt. 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:24.799 And the wages that we owe, the payment that we owe, it's death. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:27.860 But the gift of God is eternal life. 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:31.500 But you don't get that by coming to church and being a good person and doing Christian things. 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:34.019 You get that by calling upon the name of the Lord. 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:38.759 By placing your faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.559 That's what makes the difference. 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:43.660 And Jesus is saying, listen, yes, this is my mom and my brothers. 00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:47.200 But if you want to be in the family of God, how are you responding to those truths? 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:50.099 How are you responding to it? 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:56.079 Listen, don't deceive yourself by being a professional sermon listener. 00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.379 It can be easy. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:29:59.960 We're very used to it. 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:01.500 We come in and we've heard that. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:04.160 And we got, I mean, you may even have things underlined in your Bible. 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.900 Like, man, I highlighted my Bible. 00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:07.759 I'm definitely listening. 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.620 What are you doing? 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:12.220 That's what Jesus wants us to know. 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:17.039 Your life should reflect the truth of the Word of God. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:21.680 That if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:26.519 That doesn't mean you just say, I love Jesus and continue to do everything you used to do. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:29.399 No, when Jesus comes in, things change. 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:32.879 It doesn't mean we're perfect, but there should be some growth in your life. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:37.339 There should be some things that you used to not think twice about, but now God's got a hold of your heart and you realize, 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:41.519 I probably shouldn't do that because I love the Lord and He's forgiven me of that. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.420 I need to move forward on that. 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:48.160 Maybe ask yourself, am I obeying what I already know? 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.180 That's a good way to look at it. 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.800 There's some truth in the Word of God. 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:54.160 You think, well, what am I supposed to do? 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:57.660 I would imagine many of you here this morning already know some things. 00:30:58.320 --> 00:30:59.080 Are you doing it? 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.560 Are you obeying it? 00:31:01.320 --> 00:31:04.940 Do you see spiritual fruit in your life? 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.860 We should all see spiritual fruit. 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:12.000 Now, sometimes it feels like we're in a season and sometimes we begin to struggle. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:15.940 But listen, you should be able to look back at your life and see, well, God is working here and God is doing this. 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:18.559 And I can see God moving in my life and my family. 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:22.740 Listen, am I living as part of Jesus' family or am I just visiting on a Sunday? 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:26.799 There should be a noticeable difference. 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:30.180 You ever met somebody that likes to name drop? 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:34.819 And it doesn't matter who you say, oh, yeah, I know them. 00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:37.960 Yeah, my great-great-grandpa, he was friends. 00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.679 He was best friends with Abraham Lincoln. 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:39.960 Yeah. 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.419 I mean, no matter who it is. 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:44.679 Like Ramses, oh, yeah, Ramses the Pharaoh. 00:31:44.939 --> 00:31:51.000 Yeah, my great-great-great-aunt's cousin's nephew's former roommate was friends with Pharaoh. 00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:53.899 We all know somebody like that, don't you know what I mean? 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:57.419 But you think, preacher, what in the world are you saying? 00:31:58.060 --> 00:32:01.740 Listen, the truth is, many times that person doesn't know them from Adam. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.920 And this is just a disclaimer. 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:06.539 Just because you're friends on Facebook doesn't mean you're friends. 00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:08.840 Just wanted to say that. 00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:13.279 Where are you going, preacher? 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:17.360 Some people try to name drop Jesus. 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.220 Oh, I go to church. 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.640 They'll quote the Scripture. 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.820 I mean, they'll quote the Romans wrote to you. 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:24.060 They know all about it. 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:25.180 Oh, I know Jesus. 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:28.519 Here's what Jesus says in Matthew 7, 21. 00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:54.140 That's tough. 00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:56.900 But you know why Jesus said that? 00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:58.380 Because he loves us. 00:32:59.560 --> 00:33:03.460 Because we can't convince ourselves just because we name drop Jesus. 00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:07.779 And just because, hey, I go to church and I put a little in the offering plate and I've been dipped in the water. 00:33:08.019 --> 00:33:09.519 That everything's good. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:14.560 No, how have you responded to the truth? 00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:16.920 Your life should show it. 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:18.759 Your light should be shining. 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:22.319 You should be hearing with the intention to obey. 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:25.059 And as you obey, it gives evidence. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:27.339 It gives the fruit that you're in the family. 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:29.200 That you're not just close. 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.799 And it's not just some proximity thing. 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:32.680 It's not just being a good person. 00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:35.900 You see, remember the man at the beginning? 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:38.000 The one who ignored his GPS? 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:41.720 And he ended up lost and late and frustrated. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:44.319 The directions were clear. 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.660 They were, the voice was accurate. 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:52.420 And the only reason he got off track is because he thought he knew better. 00:33:52.420 --> 00:34:00.340 Listen, my prayer that is if anybody here that's ever walked through the doors of Central Baptist Church, 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:03.700 when they get to heaven, they're not going to say, well, I didn't hear that. 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:08.139 No, no, the voice is clear. 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.200 It's not my voice. 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:11.099 It's not my truth. 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.680 I'm just a steward of the truth. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.920 As you are. 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:17.820 The question is, how do you respond to it? 00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:21.619 See, so many people treat the word of God like that. 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:24.119 They hear it, but they think, you know what? 00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:25.339 I know a better way. 00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.679 I know a shortcut. 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:29.619 You know, I can still do these things. 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:31.699 They listen, but they refuse to follow. 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:34.059 And they may sit in service and nod their heads. 00:34:34.279 --> 00:34:35.539 But every once in a while they say, you know what? 00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:36.699 I think I'll take that exit. 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:41.219 Narrow is the gate that leads to life. 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:43.500 Listen, it's not what we do. 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:46.440 You can't say, well, I'll just, I'll pick and choose what I like. 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:48.079 Listen, the word of God is not a buffet. 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:51.840 That's not how we are to treat it. 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:55.279 So let me ask you just a couple questions and we'll close. 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:59.360 Has God turned on the light in your heart? 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:03.619 Listen, do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? 00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.500 Then don't hide the light. 00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:09.519 Is it shining? 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:13.400 Sometimes we know the Lord as our Savior and we still try to hide it. 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:15.460 It's easy to let it shine right here. 00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:16.619 But what about tomorrow? 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:21.559 What about at school where it's not the most popular thing to do? 00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:24.800 What about at work where it's not the most popular thing to do? 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:28.079 What about in some of the things you do as a parent? 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:30.840 Say, well, we're not going to do that because of this, this, and that. 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:33.880 Listen, it's hard sometimes to live in this world. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.360 But we're not living for this world. 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.539 We're living for our Savior. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:41.360 Maybe you're just listening week after week after week. 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:43.660 Don't just listen. 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.420 Obey. 00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:48.579 Take it and apply it to your life. 00:35:50.240 --> 00:35:54.059 Do you know that you truly belong to Jesus? 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:56.160 It's not a name drop thing. 00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:57.800 It's not a claim it and name it. 00:35:58.440 --> 00:36:00.539 It's repent and believe. 00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:02.780 That's what Jesus calls us to. 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:06.500 Because in the end, it's not just enough to be near the word. 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:08.400 You got to hear it. 00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:10.000 You got to heed it. 00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.460 And you got to obey it. 00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:13.639 That's exactly what he tells us here. 00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:18.380 So today, if God's been speaking to you through his word, don't delay. 00:36:19.679 --> 00:36:20.820 Don't put it off. 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:24.320 Don't walk out of these doors unchanged. 00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:29.179 Don't ignore the voice that is guiding you home. 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:32.260 Maybe you know him as your Savior, but here's what he's telling you today. 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.400 Recalculating. 00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:35.380 Hey, why don't you make a U-turn? 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.360 Why don't you do something? 00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:38.000 You're on the wrong path. 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:40.180 This is not going to help your family. 00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:42.039 This decision is not going to help your life. 00:36:42.240 --> 00:36:45.840 And sometimes we think, well, I know what the word of God says, but I think I can handle this. 00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:47.400 Recalculating. 00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:49.079 Recalculating. 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:55.559 Instead, say in your heart today, Lord, I hear you. 00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:58.280 And I'm ready to follow. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:01.039 Would you stand with your heads bowed and with your eyes closed? 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:10.679 Today, Jesus is calling. 00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:17.059 Not for better listeners, but for wholehearted followers. 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.099 That's what he's looking for. 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.320 You know what Jesus wants you to do? 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.360 Go all in. 00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:25.200 You can't ride the fence. 00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:29.519 You can't come here and feel good and, man, I love God. 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:30.160 I love the church. 00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:30.720 I love these things. 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:32.360 But then just go live however you want. 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.500 We said it last week. 00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:37.300 We need to let our Sundays touch our Mondays. 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:40.360 And Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays. 00:37:41.120 --> 00:37:42.960 That it should affect how we live our life. 00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:49.360 Maybe you've sat in church for years, but never truly surrendered. 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:52.960 You know him as Savior, but what are you doing? 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:56.460 How are you building his kingdom? 00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:59.019 How are you serving him? 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:08.679 Maybe you're here and you've heard countless sermons, but never truly responded in repentance and faith. 00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:11.480 That's where it starts. 00:38:12.839 --> 00:38:17.980 And in a matter of it's your first time here, or you're the longest term member that we have, here's what we would do. 00:38:18.379 --> 00:38:18.739 Celebrate. 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:22.619 The Bible says there's rejoicing in heaven over one center. 00:38:22.839 --> 00:38:24.019 One center that comes to repentance. 00:38:27.299 --> 00:38:31.179 Listen, if that's you, I'd love to meet you down here at this old-fashioned altar. 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.859 You say, I don't feel comfortable coming to a preacher. 00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.159 Grab me on the way out. 00:38:34.159 --> 00:38:39.739 Do not leave this premise if you don't know the Lord as your Savior. 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:43.139 Maybe you've been walking your own way. 00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:46.599 You know him as your Savior, but the Holy Spirit is whispering right now. 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:48.759 It's knocking on your heart saying, make a U-turn. 00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:50.299 Recalculate. 00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:54.799 I don't know where you are, but lights are meant to shine. 00:38:55.859 --> 00:38:59.039 We're to hear his voice and walk in his word. 00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:01.259 Father, thank you for this opportunity. 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:03.019 Thank you for your word. 00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:05.219 Lord, I pray you would use it. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.960 You promise that it will not return. 00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.280 Amen. 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:07.960 Amen. 00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:08.400 Amen. 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.400 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.400 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.400 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.400 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:08.400