1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:12,765 Speaker 1: Life audio. That's why I would never pray God give 2 00:00:12,845 --> 00:00:15,805 Speaker 1: me everything I deserve. A lord might respond, do you 3 00:00:15,845 --> 00:00:18,005 Speaker 1: really want me to judge you and throw you into hell? 4 00:00:18,205 --> 00:00:27,125 Speaker 1: That's what I deserve? You know. There are certain things 5 00:00:27,205 --> 00:00:31,405 Speaker 1: people think are true that actually aren't true. We call 6 00:00:31,485 --> 00:00:35,485 Speaker 1: them old wives fables. Right, So here's one we've probably 7 00:00:35,525 --> 00:00:38,205 Speaker 1: heard since we've been little kids. If you drop a 8 00:00:38,245 --> 00:00:40,445 Speaker 1: piece of food on the floor, you can eat it 9 00:00:40,485 --> 00:00:43,604 Speaker 1: if you get it before five seconds. They call it 10 00:00:43,644 --> 00:00:48,165 Speaker 1: the five second rule. That's not true. Fact is, bacteria 11 00:00:48,284 --> 00:00:51,845 Speaker 1: transfers to food immediately, so if you drop the food 12 00:00:51,925 --> 00:00:54,165 Speaker 1: on the floor, you probably should just leave it there 13 00:00:54,445 --> 00:00:56,845 Speaker 1: or let the dog come and eat it. Here's another one. 14 00:00:57,205 --> 00:01:01,085 Speaker 1: Don't go swimming after you eat, or you will get cramps. Actually, 15 00:01:01,205 --> 00:01:04,965 Speaker 1: doctors at Duke Kelt say the science behind that tall 16 00:01:05,005 --> 00:01:08,765 Speaker 1: tale is all wet. Here's a weird one, and a 17 00:01:08,805 --> 00:01:12,045 Speaker 1: lot of people believe it. If you get stung by 18 00:01:12,084 --> 00:01:16,565 Speaker 1: a jellyfish, human urine will heal it. I hope you 19 00:01:16,645 --> 00:01:21,125 Speaker 1: haven't tried this, but actually that's not true. The male 20 00:01:21,205 --> 00:01:24,645 Speaker 1: clinic recommends you just removed this thinger with tweezers and 21 00:01:24,725 --> 00:01:28,165 Speaker 1: soaked the area and some hot water, so no pea needed. 22 00:01:28,885 --> 00:01:31,925 Speaker 1: How about this one, Eating chicken soup when you're sick 23 00:01:32,005 --> 00:01:34,725 Speaker 1: will make you feel better. Believe it or not, this 24 00:01:34,765 --> 00:01:38,565 Speaker 1: one is actually true. Researchers have confirmed that there are 25 00:01:38,645 --> 00:01:43,084 Speaker 1: medicinal benefits to eating chicken soup when you are sick. 26 00:01:43,285 --> 00:01:45,285 Speaker 1: I always thought that was true, because I do feel 27 00:01:45,285 --> 00:01:48,925 Speaker 1: better after I eat chicken soup. Well, there are also 28 00:01:49,365 --> 00:01:52,725 Speaker 1: things about God that are not true. That's what I 29 00:01:52,765 --> 00:01:57,285 Speaker 1: want to talk about. Things Jesus never said. Okay, here's 30 00:01:57,325 --> 00:02:01,404 Speaker 1: the first one. Things that people think the Bible says, 31 00:02:01,805 --> 00:02:06,684 Speaker 1: or things that people think are true about God. Number one, 32 00:02:06,925 --> 00:02:10,165 Speaker 1: God is angry at me and he wants to ruin 33 00:02:10,365 --> 00:02:13,325 Speaker 1: my life. Now, maybe we don't say that out loud, 34 00:02:13,365 --> 00:02:16,925 Speaker 1: but we think that's the case. Nothing can be further 35 00:02:17,405 --> 00:02:20,085 Speaker 1: from the truth. In fact, I would say the very 36 00:02:20,245 --> 00:02:24,405 Speaker 1: opposite of that is true. Listen to this. God is 37 00:02:24,445 --> 00:02:28,405 Speaker 1: not mad at you. God is mad about you. From 38 00:02:28,445 --> 00:02:31,405 Speaker 1: the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation, there's 39 00:02:31,565 --> 00:02:34,485 Speaker 1: one theme that resonates in the Bible, and it is 40 00:02:34,565 --> 00:02:39,245 Speaker 1: simply this God loves you. First, John three to one says, 41 00:02:39,485 --> 00:02:41,805 Speaker 1: see what kind of love the Father is given to 42 00:02:41,925 --> 00:02:45,565 Speaker 1: us that we should be called the children of God. 43 00:02:45,845 --> 00:02:48,925 Speaker 1: The Lord himself says, I've loved you with an ever 44 00:02:49,365 --> 00:02:52,805 Speaker 1: lasting love. And let's not forget John three point sixteen. 45 00:02:53,325 --> 00:02:56,525 Speaker 1: For God so loved the world he gave his only 46 00:02:56,565 --> 00:03:00,005 Speaker 1: begotten son, and whoever believes in him should not perish 47 00:03:00,205 --> 00:03:05,445 Speaker 1: but have ever lasting life. Listen, God wants to bless you, 48 00:03:05,525 --> 00:03:07,405 Speaker 1: and he wants to give you a life that is 49 00:03:07,445 --> 00:03:10,245 Speaker 1: worth living. One of my favorite passages in the Bible 50 00:03:10,605 --> 00:03:13,605 Speaker 1: is Jeremiah twenty nine to eleven, and here's what it says, 51 00:03:13,725 --> 00:03:16,965 Speaker 1: God speaking, I know the thoughts that I think towards you, 52 00:03:17,045 --> 00:03:20,205 Speaker 1: says the Lord, Thoughts of peace and not of evil, 53 00:03:20,325 --> 00:03:23,325 Speaker 1: to give you a future and a hope. I just 54 00:03:23,565 --> 00:03:27,485 Speaker 1: love everything about that verse. First, God says, I know 55 00:03:27,605 --> 00:03:30,925 Speaker 1: the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord. 56 00:03:31,005 --> 00:03:34,325 Speaker 1: If it said God speaking, I know the single thought 57 00:03:34,525 --> 00:03:37,485 Speaker 1: I had about you for a fleeting moment, I'd be 58 00:03:37,565 --> 00:03:40,965 Speaker 1: happy with that. To think that God Almighty had a 59 00:03:41,005 --> 00:03:43,365 Speaker 1: thought about me would make me very happy. But that's 60 00:03:43,365 --> 00:03:46,725 Speaker 1: not what it says. God says, I know the thoughts 61 00:03:47,285 --> 00:03:49,525 Speaker 1: that I think towards you. Well, how many thoughts would 62 00:03:49,605 --> 00:03:53,085 Speaker 1: that be? Another passage tells us The thoughts of God 63 00:03:53,165 --> 00:03:57,405 Speaker 1: toward us are innumerable. They're like the sand of the sea. 64 00:03:57,605 --> 00:03:59,965 Speaker 1: That's a lot of thoughts. And notice they're in the 65 00:04:00,045 --> 00:04:02,965 Speaker 1: present tense, not the past tense. He doesn't say I 66 00:04:03,005 --> 00:04:06,125 Speaker 1: know the thoughts I thought about you, says the Lord. 67 00:04:06,325 --> 00:04:09,885 Speaker 1: He says, I know the thoughts that they think about you. 68 00:04:10,445 --> 00:04:13,885 Speaker 1: Check this out. God is thinking about you right now. 69 00:04:13,885 --> 00:04:16,205 Speaker 1: He might say, well, what kind of thoughts are they? 70 00:04:16,805 --> 00:04:19,085 Speaker 1: Very good thoughts. Let's go to the rest of the verse. 71 00:04:19,445 --> 00:04:21,805 Speaker 1: I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says 72 00:04:21,845 --> 00:04:25,964 Speaker 1: the Lord, Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to 73 00:04:26,045 --> 00:04:29,085 Speaker 1: give you a future and a hope. A better translation 74 00:04:29,205 --> 00:04:32,485 Speaker 1: of that would be an expected end. Here's what that means. 75 00:04:33,165 --> 00:04:35,284 Speaker 1: I know it sounds like a good cliche, but it's true. 76 00:04:35,325 --> 00:04:38,485 Speaker 1: God has a plan for your life, and whatever is 77 00:04:38,525 --> 00:04:42,325 Speaker 1: happening in your life is either done by or allowed 78 00:04:42,565 --> 00:04:45,445 Speaker 1: by God. So either the Lord did it with a 79 00:04:45,485 --> 00:04:48,605 Speaker 1: bigger purpose in mind, or he's allowed it for a 80 00:04:48,685 --> 00:04:53,685 Speaker 1: purpose ultimately for your good in his glory. So no, 81 00:04:53,845 --> 00:04:57,685 Speaker 1: God is not out to ruin your life. God's plan 82 00:04:57,805 --> 00:05:00,725 Speaker 1: for you is better than your plan for yourself. My 83 00:05:00,845 --> 00:05:03,965 Speaker 1: oldest son, Christopher, when he was a little boy. We 84 00:05:04,005 --> 00:05:07,085 Speaker 1: went into a toy store one and it's when Star 85 00:05:07,125 --> 00:05:09,245 Speaker 1: Wars came out the first time, so that marks it 86 00:05:09,285 --> 00:05:12,525 Speaker 1: in time. We're talking early seventies, so they got all 87 00:05:12,565 --> 00:05:16,325 Speaker 1: the Star Wars toys out. So we're looking around at 88 00:05:16,325 --> 00:05:20,845 Speaker 1: things and I said, Christopher, pick out something for yourself. 89 00:05:21,285 --> 00:05:23,964 Speaker 1: Pick a little figure out. So he's looking at Darth 90 00:05:24,045 --> 00:05:28,925 Speaker 1: Vader figures and Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, etc. And 91 00:05:28,965 --> 00:05:32,525 Speaker 1: he picks out Han Solo. It goes, Dad, I want this, 92 00:05:33,245 --> 00:05:35,085 Speaker 1: And I said do you want anything to go with it? 93 00:05:35,125 --> 00:05:39,005 Speaker 1: And he says, no, no, you decide Dad. Well, he's 94 00:05:39,005 --> 00:05:41,365 Speaker 1: a smart kid because he knew that I tend to 95 00:05:41,365 --> 00:05:43,445 Speaker 1: be a bit in the generous side with my kids 96 00:05:43,445 --> 00:05:47,365 Speaker 1: and grandkids. So I chose a Millennium Falcon to go 97 00:05:47,485 --> 00:05:49,805 Speaker 1: with it. That's a big giant toy. Okay. So I 98 00:05:49,845 --> 00:05:53,045 Speaker 1: came home with a millennium Falcon and my wife just 99 00:05:53,125 --> 00:05:56,205 Speaker 1: rolled her eyes, like seriously. But I think that we 100 00:05:56,325 --> 00:05:58,365 Speaker 1: think that way about God. Oh if I say God, 101 00:05:58,445 --> 00:06:00,925 Speaker 1: you choose from me, he's going to be stingy and 102 00:06:00,965 --> 00:06:03,925 Speaker 1: he's going to hold it back or give me something miserable. 103 00:06:04,245 --> 00:06:07,485 Speaker 1: The opposite is the case. Remember Jesus said, if you, 104 00:06:07,765 --> 00:06:10,605 Speaker 1: being earthly parents, do good things for your children, or 105 00:06:10,685 --> 00:06:13,245 Speaker 1: you being sinful parents, how much more will your father 106 00:06:13,365 --> 00:06:15,365 Speaker 1: do for you? If you ask your child for a 107 00:06:15,405 --> 00:06:17,765 Speaker 1: piece of bread, are you going to give them a rock? 108 00:06:18,725 --> 00:06:20,285 Speaker 1: If they ask for an egg? Are you going to 109 00:06:20,325 --> 00:06:24,245 Speaker 1: give them a snake? Of course not. So his point was, Hey, you, 110 00:06:24,325 --> 00:06:27,284 Speaker 1: as earthly parents, do good things for your kids, won't 111 00:06:27,325 --> 00:06:31,485 Speaker 1: your heavenly father do more for you? God is out 112 00:06:31,525 --> 00:06:34,725 Speaker 1: to ruin my life? Want to lie? God is out 113 00:06:34,805 --> 00:06:38,165 Speaker 1: to bless your life. Here's another one, and this is 114 00:06:38,285 --> 00:06:40,845 Speaker 1: usually said when you're doing something you should not do. 115 00:06:41,445 --> 00:06:45,284 Speaker 1: God loves me, It accepts me as I am. Now 116 00:06:46,365 --> 00:06:49,365 Speaker 1: in the big picture, that is basically true. God does 117 00:06:49,485 --> 00:06:53,325 Speaker 1: love you. God loves you when you sin, God loves 118 00:06:53,365 --> 00:06:57,885 Speaker 1: you when you're obedient. God loves you unconditionally. So that's true. 119 00:06:58,085 --> 00:07:01,085 Speaker 1: And it is also true that he accepts you as 120 00:07:01,165 --> 00:07:04,165 Speaker 1: you are. But let's go into a little more detail 121 00:07:04,525 --> 00:07:08,165 Speaker 1: on that. Other verys of this statement are known as 122 00:07:08,245 --> 00:07:12,125 Speaker 1: perfect or don't judge my journey? Has anyone ever said that? Please? 123 00:07:12,165 --> 00:07:15,285 Speaker 1: Don't say that don't judge my journey? And they have 124 00:07:15,325 --> 00:07:19,405 Speaker 1: two favorite verses they often quote judge not lest you 125 00:07:19,525 --> 00:07:23,205 Speaker 1: be judged, and let him, that is, without sin, cast 126 00:07:23,285 --> 00:07:27,565 Speaker 1: the first stone. Okay, let's start with the basic statement. 127 00:07:27,725 --> 00:07:31,805 Speaker 1: God does love you and accepts you as you are, 128 00:07:31,925 --> 00:07:36,165 Speaker 1: but he doesn't want to leave you this way. Okay, So, yes, 129 00:07:36,165 --> 00:07:38,885 Speaker 1: he loves you in your sinfulness. You don't have to 130 00:07:38,925 --> 00:07:41,645 Speaker 1: clean your life up and come to Christ. You come 131 00:07:41,685 --> 00:07:45,605 Speaker 1: to Christ and then He cleans your life up. So 132 00:07:46,045 --> 00:07:48,645 Speaker 1: the story of the prodigal son is a perfect illustration. 133 00:07:49,285 --> 00:07:52,525 Speaker 1: Here's his son who rebelled against his father and said, 134 00:07:52,605 --> 00:07:56,245 Speaker 1: basically loose paraphrase, I'm tired of your rules and regulations. 135 00:07:56,325 --> 00:07:58,485 Speaker 1: I want to live my life. And he goes off 136 00:07:58,525 --> 00:08:03,005 Speaker 1: to a far country and consorted with prostitutes and wasted 137 00:08:03,085 --> 00:08:05,325 Speaker 1: all of his money and drugged the family named the 138 00:08:06,045 --> 00:08:08,165 Speaker 1: and one day came to a sensus and thought, this 139 00:08:08,245 --> 00:08:11,565 Speaker 1: is insane. It was better when I was at home 140 00:08:11,605 --> 00:08:14,405 Speaker 1: with my dad. But obviously I've blown that. Dad would 141 00:08:14,405 --> 00:08:17,805 Speaker 1: never accept me as a son. So I'll just say, father, 142 00:08:18,005 --> 00:08:20,405 Speaker 1: make me a hired servant. So the boy's on his 143 00:08:20,485 --> 00:08:22,725 Speaker 1: way home, probably going over what he's going to say. 144 00:08:22,885 --> 00:08:24,885 Speaker 1: I was going to say, father, I have sinned. I'm 145 00:08:24,925 --> 00:08:27,485 Speaker 1: no longer worthy to be called your son, Just take 146 00:08:27,525 --> 00:08:29,645 Speaker 1: me on as a hired hand. Probably said it again 147 00:08:29,685 --> 00:08:32,165 Speaker 1: and again. Finally he gets up that road to his 148 00:08:32,285 --> 00:08:35,645 Speaker 1: home and he sees his father in the distance. And 149 00:08:35,765 --> 00:08:39,205 Speaker 1: Jesus says, when his father saw him, he ran to 150 00:08:39,325 --> 00:08:43,085 Speaker 1: a son. Remember this is a story Jesus told, and 151 00:08:43,125 --> 00:08:45,645 Speaker 1: it's a story that Jesus told to show us what 152 00:08:45,725 --> 00:08:49,645 Speaker 1: God is like. What is God like? According to Jesus, 153 00:08:49,685 --> 00:08:52,925 Speaker 1: God is like a father that loves us. God is 154 00:08:52,965 --> 00:08:56,125 Speaker 1: like a father who misses us when we go astray. 155 00:08:56,725 --> 00:08:59,845 Speaker 1: God is like a father who is ready to forgive us. 156 00:09:00,445 --> 00:09:03,325 Speaker 1: So the story goes on. The father runs to the son. 157 00:09:03,685 --> 00:09:06,204 Speaker 1: He throws his arms around him. The boy starts his 158 00:09:06,245 --> 00:09:09,165 Speaker 1: speech father, and no longer worthy to be Coulder's son, 159 00:09:09,285 --> 00:09:13,005 Speaker 1: Dad cuts him off. Hey, everybody, my son is back again. 160 00:09:13,285 --> 00:09:15,485 Speaker 1: He who was lost is found. He puts a ring 161 00:09:15,565 --> 00:09:18,365 Speaker 1: in his finger that means he's still a son. He 162 00:09:18,445 --> 00:09:20,885 Speaker 1: puts a robe on him, a clean robe, and they 163 00:09:20,925 --> 00:09:23,405 Speaker 1: have a party. They have a barbecue. Give it. Here's 164 00:09:23,445 --> 00:09:28,005 Speaker 1: the point. Did the father accept the son as he was? Yes? 165 00:09:28,445 --> 00:09:31,605 Speaker 1: Did the father make this son clean himself up before 166 00:09:31,645 --> 00:09:35,205 Speaker 1: he would welcome him back? No? Did the father put 167 00:09:35,205 --> 00:09:38,645 Speaker 1: a clean robe on him. Yes, So here's what it 168 00:09:38,725 --> 00:09:41,885 Speaker 1: means to us. Yes, God loves you as you are, 169 00:09:42,725 --> 00:09:45,485 Speaker 1: but once you come to him, he wants to change you. 170 00:09:45,605 --> 00:09:48,405 Speaker 1: Let's go to that other statement. Let him that is 171 00:09:48,445 --> 00:09:51,325 Speaker 1: without sin, cast the first stone. So what's the backdrop 172 00:09:51,405 --> 00:09:54,325 Speaker 1: of that statement. That's a woman who was caught in 173 00:09:54,365 --> 00:09:58,005 Speaker 1: the act of adult tree. She was thrown before Jesus, 174 00:09:58,085 --> 00:10:00,925 Speaker 1: and the people who brought her there said, the law 175 00:10:01,005 --> 00:10:03,165 Speaker 1: says she should be stone. What do you say? They 176 00:10:03,165 --> 00:10:06,405 Speaker 1: didn't care about this woman. This was a trap to 177 00:10:06,485 --> 00:10:09,245 Speaker 1: put Jesus on the horns of a dilemma, if you will. 178 00:10:09,685 --> 00:10:15,045 Speaker 1: Jesus looked around at these condemning, self righteous, hypocritical leaders 179 00:10:15,325 --> 00:10:18,205 Speaker 1: and said, let him that is without sin among you, 180 00:10:18,445 --> 00:10:21,245 Speaker 1: cast the first stone. And they left, from the oldest 181 00:10:21,245 --> 00:10:23,205 Speaker 1: to the youngest. But now, what did he say to 182 00:10:23,245 --> 00:10:27,605 Speaker 1: the lady? He says, woman, where are your accusers? By 183 00:10:27,645 --> 00:10:30,245 Speaker 1: the way, that word he uses for woman is a 184 00:10:30,325 --> 00:10:33,925 Speaker 1: term of respect. I'm sure she had been called a 185 00:10:33,925 --> 00:10:36,885 Speaker 1: lot of things, but probably not woman. And be like 186 00:10:36,965 --> 00:10:42,204 Speaker 1: calling someone ma'am or lady ma'am. Jesus says, where are 187 00:10:42,245 --> 00:10:47,245 Speaker 1: your accusers? She says, I have none. Lord, He says, 188 00:10:47,365 --> 00:10:51,365 Speaker 1: neither do I condemn you, Go and sin no more. Wait, 189 00:10:51,445 --> 00:10:54,325 Speaker 1: you might ask when did she become a believer. She 190 00:10:54,405 --> 00:10:57,485 Speaker 1: was just caught in the active immorality. I believe it 191 00:10:57,565 --> 00:11:01,645 Speaker 1: was the moment when Jesus dismissed her accusers. He says, 192 00:11:01,685 --> 00:11:06,045 Speaker 1: where are your accusers? She says, I have none. Lord, 193 00:11:06,845 --> 00:11:11,045 Speaker 1: You know how long it takes to believe in Jesus Christ. Days, hours, 194 00:11:11,445 --> 00:11:15,285 Speaker 1: no can happen just like that. That's what happened to her. 195 00:11:16,205 --> 00:11:19,485 Speaker 1: I have done, Lord, and he says, neither do I 196 00:11:19,725 --> 00:11:23,125 Speaker 1: condemn you, Go and sin no more. See he accepted 197 00:11:23,165 --> 00:11:26,805 Speaker 1: her as she was, but now he tells her to 198 00:11:26,845 --> 00:11:30,445 Speaker 1: go and sin no more. Summ it up what I 199 00:11:30,485 --> 00:11:33,365 Speaker 1: said earlier. We don't clean our life up and come 200 00:11:33,405 --> 00:11:36,925 Speaker 1: to Christ. We come to Christ and he cleans our 201 00:11:37,005 --> 00:11:41,365 Speaker 1: life up. Jesus cleans his fish after he catches them. 202 00:11:41,365 --> 00:11:44,804 Speaker 1: In other words, you come as you are. You're accepted 203 00:11:44,845 --> 00:11:47,285 Speaker 1: in love by God, but he wants to change you. 204 00:11:47,365 --> 00:11:50,725 Speaker 1: Now as a Christian, you should desire to follow him. 205 00:11:50,765 --> 00:11:53,685 Speaker 1: You need to repent of your sin. The Bible says, 206 00:11:54,045 --> 00:11:57,605 Speaker 1: repent and be converted in times of refreshment will come 207 00:11:57,645 --> 00:12:00,565 Speaker 1: from the presence of the Lord. The word repent is 208 00:12:00,605 --> 00:12:03,725 Speaker 1: a military term that effectively means to hang a youth 209 00:12:03,805 --> 00:12:07,005 Speaker 1: turn in life. You've been going away from God, now 210 00:12:07,045 --> 00:12:10,285 Speaker 1: you go toward him. Jude in his Short Little Book 211 00:12:10,325 --> 00:12:13,685 Speaker 1: tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God. 212 00:12:14,285 --> 00:12:16,685 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean do things that will cause God to 213 00:12:16,765 --> 00:12:19,925 Speaker 1: love us. What it does mean is stay away from 214 00:12:19,965 --> 00:12:23,285 Speaker 1: anything that is unlike him. Stay in a place where 215 00:12:23,285 --> 00:12:28,365 Speaker 1: God can actively show his love to you and bless you. So. Yes, 216 00:12:28,525 --> 00:12:32,445 Speaker 1: God accepts you as you are, but he doesn't want 217 00:12:32,485 --> 00:12:36,925 Speaker 1: to leave you that way. Okay, here's another thing. Jesus 218 00:12:36,965 --> 00:12:40,445 Speaker 1: never said a thing that people will often say as 219 00:12:40,525 --> 00:12:43,645 Speaker 1: a truism of life, and it's just not true at all. 220 00:12:44,245 --> 00:12:48,365 Speaker 1: Follow your heart. It's similar to God loves me and 221 00:12:48,445 --> 00:12:52,125 Speaker 1: accepts me as I am, and other variations of following 222 00:12:52,205 --> 00:12:55,885 Speaker 1: your heart would be the heart wants what it wants? 223 00:12:55,965 --> 00:12:58,445 Speaker 1: What does it even mean? How about this one? Listen 224 00:12:58,805 --> 00:13:01,605 Speaker 1: to your heart and you'll find the truth. Now, when 225 00:13:01,645 --> 00:13:05,405 Speaker 1: we say heart, we're usually talking about our emotion. Will 226 00:13:05,525 --> 00:13:08,165 Speaker 1: say something along the lines of, well, my mind says 227 00:13:08,165 --> 00:13:11,805 Speaker 1: one thing, but my heart says another. And so if 228 00:13:11,805 --> 00:13:15,325 Speaker 1: someone is very emotional, we'll say, you know, they wear 229 00:13:15,365 --> 00:13:19,365 Speaker 1: their heart on their sleeve, right, And then if we're sad, 230 00:13:19,405 --> 00:13:22,564 Speaker 1: we'll say, oh, I'm just heart broken. And if someone 231 00:13:22,645 --> 00:13:25,365 Speaker 1: is insensitive to the needs of others, we might say 232 00:13:25,645 --> 00:13:28,725 Speaker 1: they're heartless. When we wonder why someone does not care, 233 00:13:28,805 --> 00:13:31,605 Speaker 1: we'll say, hey, where's your heart? Maybe the nswer is 234 00:13:31,845 --> 00:13:35,125 Speaker 1: their heart is on their sleeve. But you know, think 235 00:13:35,165 --> 00:13:37,485 Speaker 1: about all the songs that have been written about the heart. 236 00:13:37,805 --> 00:13:43,045 Speaker 1: Selena Gomez sings the heart wants what it wants. Bruce Pringsteen, 237 00:13:43,085 --> 00:13:46,485 Speaker 1: of course had a hungry heart. We can't forget Billy 238 00:13:46,565 --> 00:13:50,564 Speaker 1: Ray Cyrus, who's saying about his achy breaky heart. Maybe 239 00:13:50,565 --> 00:13:54,365 Speaker 1: that's why Tony Broxton saying unbreak my heart, because Billy 240 00:13:54,405 --> 00:13:57,725 Speaker 1: Ray gave her an achy breaky one. Now I understand 241 00:13:57,765 --> 00:14:01,365 Speaker 1: the BG song how can you mend a broken heart? 242 00:14:01,685 --> 00:14:05,605 Speaker 1: But don't worry. Selene Dion reminds us the heart will 243 00:14:05,645 --> 00:14:08,324 Speaker 1: go on a am I. Okay, Well, let's just think 244 00:14:08,325 --> 00:14:11,965 Speaker 1: about what the Bible says about the heart. We say 245 00:14:12,005 --> 00:14:14,405 Speaker 1: I want to follow my heart, or the heart wants 246 00:14:14,405 --> 00:14:18,325 Speaker 1: what the heart wants. The Bible says the heart is 247 00:14:18,365 --> 00:14:23,285 Speaker 1: deceitfully wicked above all things, and who can understand it? No, 248 00:14:23,445 --> 00:14:27,925 Speaker 1: don't follow your heart. Follow God's heart. In other words, 249 00:14:28,405 --> 00:14:32,165 Speaker 1: follow God's will. And where do I find God's will? 250 00:14:32,365 --> 00:14:36,725 Speaker 1: I find his will revealed in the Bible. I need 251 00:14:36,805 --> 00:14:41,965 Speaker 1: to not think emotionally. I need to think biblically. I 252 00:14:42,045 --> 00:14:44,965 Speaker 1: need to educate the way my heart and my mind 253 00:14:45,045 --> 00:14:50,005 Speaker 1: thinks by immersing myself. In the Scripture and Ezekiel thirty six, 254 00:14:50,085 --> 00:14:53,285 Speaker 1: God says, I'll give you a new heart, and I'll 255 00:14:53,325 --> 00:14:56,965 Speaker 1: put a new spirit in you. In fact, then Psalm 256 00:14:57,005 --> 00:15:00,205 Speaker 1: thirty seven, the Bible says, take the light and the Lord, 257 00:15:00,365 --> 00:15:05,805 Speaker 1: and He'll give you the desires of your heart. Here's 258 00:15:05,805 --> 00:15:10,165 Speaker 1: another one, trust your gut. People will say, you know, 259 00:15:10,205 --> 00:15:13,405 Speaker 1: when I'm making big decisions, I just trust my gut. 260 00:15:13,485 --> 00:15:17,165 Speaker 1: It's kind of a variation of follow your heart, the 261 00:15:17,245 --> 00:15:20,205 Speaker 1: idea being you should just go with what feels right 262 00:15:20,525 --> 00:15:23,805 Speaker 1: to you. Okay. So the Bible tells us about a 263 00:15:23,845 --> 00:15:27,525 Speaker 1: miserable time in Israel's history where everyone did what was 264 00:15:27,645 --> 00:15:30,765 Speaker 1: right in their own eyes. I guess you could say 265 00:15:30,765 --> 00:15:34,005 Speaker 1: they were trusting their gut or doing what they thought 266 00:15:34,045 --> 00:15:37,045 Speaker 1: was the right thing to do, and their selfishness was 267 00:15:37,165 --> 00:15:40,725 Speaker 1: motivating them. The Bible even tells us that there is 268 00:15:40,765 --> 00:15:43,285 Speaker 1: a way that seems right to amend, but the end 269 00:15:43,365 --> 00:15:47,005 Speaker 1: of it is the way of death. So instead of 270 00:15:47,165 --> 00:15:51,685 Speaker 1: following your heart or trusting your gut, you should trust 271 00:15:51,805 --> 00:15:54,565 Speaker 1: in the Lord. The Bible says, trust in the Lord 272 00:15:54,645 --> 00:15:57,525 Speaker 1: with all of your heart. Lean on into your own 273 00:15:57,645 --> 00:16:01,685 Speaker 1: understanding in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and he will 274 00:16:01,725 --> 00:16:07,965 Speaker 1: direct your pass. Here's another thing. Jesus never said we 275 00:16:08,045 --> 00:16:12,245 Speaker 1: need to learn to love ourselves. People will even say 276 00:16:12,245 --> 00:16:15,885 Speaker 1: the Bible teaches us to love ourselves, and the problem 277 00:16:15,965 --> 00:16:19,845 Speaker 1: is we don't love ourselves enough. Actually, the Bible does 278 00:16:19,885 --> 00:16:22,445 Speaker 1: not teach us that we need to learn how to 279 00:16:22,565 --> 00:16:27,765 Speaker 1: love ourselves. The Bible assumes that we already do love ourselves. 280 00:16:27,965 --> 00:16:30,925 Speaker 1: When the Bible says love your neighbor as yourself, it's 281 00:16:30,965 --> 00:16:34,245 Speaker 1: assuming you already do that. In other words, you love yourself, 282 00:16:34,485 --> 00:16:37,285 Speaker 1: So could you love your neighbor in the same way. 283 00:16:37,805 --> 00:16:40,725 Speaker 1: Fact of the matter is we love ourselves too much. 284 00:16:40,845 --> 00:16:46,085 Speaker 1: We are obsessed with ourselves. We're constantly thinking about ourselves, 285 00:16:46,125 --> 00:16:49,805 Speaker 1: and some say they're even trying to find themselves. But 286 00:16:49,925 --> 00:16:53,725 Speaker 1: check this out. If you want to find yourself, you 287 00:16:53,845 --> 00:16:57,645 Speaker 1: need to lose yourself. You might be thinking that doesn't 288 00:16:57,685 --> 00:17:01,165 Speaker 1: make any sense. Okay, Jesus said, if anyone comes after me, 289 00:17:01,605 --> 00:17:04,885 Speaker 1: let him deny himself and take up the cross and 290 00:17:04,965 --> 00:17:09,045 Speaker 1: follow me, and whoever will lose his life will find it. 291 00:17:09,205 --> 00:17:12,884 Speaker 1: Check this out. If you want to find yourself, you 292 00:17:13,084 --> 00:17:16,925 Speaker 1: lose yourself. Okay. What this means as you reckon, Guys, 293 00:17:16,925 --> 00:17:19,644 Speaker 1: going back to an earlier point, the God's plan for 294 00:17:19,725 --> 00:17:23,564 Speaker 1: you is better than your plan for yourself. You have 295 00:17:23,685 --> 00:17:27,325 Speaker 1: to accept that. And once you realize that's true, when 296 00:17:27,365 --> 00:17:30,685 Speaker 1: you lose yourself, when you take God's plans and say 297 00:17:30,725 --> 00:17:33,124 Speaker 1: I want your will above my own, you're going to 298 00:17:33,205 --> 00:17:36,764 Speaker 1: find a joy in putting God first. You know, Jesus said, 299 00:17:37,084 --> 00:17:40,445 Speaker 1: seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and 300 00:17:40,604 --> 00:17:43,884 Speaker 1: all these things shall be added onto you. There's nothing 301 00:17:43,965 --> 00:17:47,645 Speaker 1: wrong with wanting to have certain goals in your life, 302 00:17:47,725 --> 00:17:51,325 Speaker 1: or having dreams for yourself and making plans. In fact, 303 00:17:51,365 --> 00:17:53,925 Speaker 1: those are very good things to do. But I want 304 00:17:53,965 --> 00:17:56,924 Speaker 1: to commit all of those things to the Lord and 305 00:17:57,084 --> 00:18:01,484 Speaker 1: preface it by saying, not my will, but yours be done. 306 00:18:02,044 --> 00:18:04,684 Speaker 1: Here's another thing Jesus never said, but you know a 307 00:18:04,685 --> 00:18:08,085 Speaker 1: lot of people believe it. Sometimes, even Christians, they'll say 308 00:18:08,125 --> 00:18:12,244 Speaker 1: something along the lines of I deserve to be happy, 309 00:18:12,484 --> 00:18:16,405 Speaker 1: or God wants me to be happy. It's been said 310 00:18:16,445 --> 00:18:18,805 Speaker 1: there are two things that are true of every person. 311 00:18:19,165 --> 00:18:21,764 Speaker 1: We all want to be happy. We're all going to die. 312 00:18:21,925 --> 00:18:24,885 Speaker 1: I think it's pretty true that everybody wants to experience 313 00:18:25,205 --> 00:18:29,205 Speaker 1: personal happiness. I would even say God wired you that way, 314 00:18:29,484 --> 00:18:31,885 Speaker 1: and that goes back for centuries. That's not a new 315 00:18:32,284 --> 00:18:37,124 Speaker 1: twenty first century Phenomena Augustine back in AD three ninety 316 00:18:37,165 --> 00:18:42,645 Speaker 1: seven said everyone, whatsoever his condition, desires to be happy. 317 00:18:42,725 --> 00:18:46,285 Speaker 1: So when we see people pursuing happiness today, this has 318 00:18:46,365 --> 00:18:49,884 Speaker 1: been going on a long time. So it's not wrong 319 00:18:50,044 --> 00:18:53,725 Speaker 1: to one to be happy, but let's understand how we 320 00:18:53,804 --> 00:18:56,484 Speaker 1: should pursue it. So here's the thing we need to 321 00:18:56,524 --> 00:18:59,445 Speaker 1: go about finding happiness in the right way. There's an 322 00:18:59,445 --> 00:19:01,764 Speaker 1: old song from my youth. I don't know if you've 323 00:19:01,804 --> 00:19:03,925 Speaker 1: ever heard it, but the lyrics were, if you want 324 00:19:03,965 --> 00:19:05,965 Speaker 1: to be happy for the rest of your life, life, 325 00:19:06,205 --> 00:19:10,484 Speaker 1: never make a pretty woman your wife. From my personal 326 00:19:10,564 --> 00:19:13,885 Speaker 1: point of view, get an ugly girl to marry you. Well, 327 00:19:13,885 --> 00:19:18,004 Speaker 1: that's not true. So how do we find happiness. We 328 00:19:18,044 --> 00:19:22,165 Speaker 1: don't find happiness by seeking it. We find happiness by 329 00:19:22,284 --> 00:19:26,645 Speaker 1: seeking God. The Bible says, happy are the people whose 330 00:19:26,725 --> 00:19:30,084 Speaker 1: God is the Lord. See here's the problem. People chase 331 00:19:30,125 --> 00:19:34,525 Speaker 1: after happiness and instead they find misery. As an example, 332 00:19:34,645 --> 00:19:38,445 Speaker 1: we might think possessions will make me happy, or success 333 00:19:38,564 --> 00:19:41,845 Speaker 1: will make me happy, or if I find fame, or 334 00:19:41,965 --> 00:19:45,844 Speaker 1: if I have this experience, I'll be happy. Comedian Dave 335 00:19:46,205 --> 00:19:50,604 Speaker 1: Chappelle was making millions of dollars early in his career 336 00:19:50,965 --> 00:19:53,284 Speaker 1: and it was not bringing him the happiness he wanted 337 00:19:53,284 --> 00:19:55,804 Speaker 1: to have. In fact, he said, and I quote, the 338 00:19:55,925 --> 00:19:59,925 Speaker 1: higher up I go, for some reason, the less happy 339 00:20:00,084 --> 00:20:03,645 Speaker 1: I am end quote. That's because happiness does not come 340 00:20:03,685 --> 00:20:06,685 Speaker 1: from what you have. It comes from who you know. 341 00:20:07,365 --> 00:20:09,524 Speaker 1: It's not that God doesn't want you to be happy, 342 00:20:09,764 --> 00:20:13,204 Speaker 1: because he does, but the fact is you find it 343 00:20:13,324 --> 00:20:16,284 Speaker 1: again in a relationship with him. So I would not 344 00:20:16,405 --> 00:20:19,885 Speaker 1: frame it this way. I deserve to be happy. Oh no, 345 00:20:19,965 --> 00:20:24,884 Speaker 1: you don't really deserve happiness. Let's not get into what 346 00:20:24,965 --> 00:20:28,764 Speaker 1: we deserve too much, because the reality is we're sinners. 347 00:20:28,885 --> 00:20:31,885 Speaker 1: We break God's commandments. That's why I would never break 348 00:20:31,925 --> 00:20:35,205 Speaker 1: God give me everything I deserve. A lord might respond, 349 00:20:35,205 --> 00:20:37,004 Speaker 1: do you really want me to judge you and throw 350 00:20:37,044 --> 00:20:39,764 Speaker 1: you into hell? That's what I deserve? So I don't 351 00:20:39,764 --> 00:20:42,165 Speaker 1: come to God and say I deserve to be happy. 352 00:20:42,685 --> 00:20:45,445 Speaker 1: I come to God and say I want your plan 353 00:20:45,524 --> 00:20:47,964 Speaker 1: for my life. And guess what. That plan happens to 354 00:20:48,004 --> 00:20:51,124 Speaker 1: include happiness. But it may not come in the way 355 00:20:51,365 --> 00:20:54,884 Speaker 1: that you think. But he does want you to be 356 00:20:55,084 --> 00:20:59,324 Speaker 1: a happy person. In fact, Jesus said, I've told you 357 00:20:59,445 --> 00:21:03,524 Speaker 1: this to make you completely happy, as I am happy 358 00:21:03,645 --> 00:21:07,725 Speaker 1: John fifteen eleven. Here's an interesting thing. Do we think 359 00:21:07,764 --> 00:21:10,324 Speaker 1: of Jesus as a happy person? You know, when you 360 00:21:10,365 --> 00:21:14,205 Speaker 1: look at religious art, you know often see Jesus smiling. 361 00:21:14,604 --> 00:21:17,804 Speaker 1: He looks very solemn. He also looks very weak. It's like, 362 00:21:17,885 --> 00:21:20,925 Speaker 1: give this man a sandwich. He needs to work out more. 363 00:21:21,084 --> 00:21:23,965 Speaker 1: That's not the Jesus of the Bible. That just weird 364 00:21:24,324 --> 00:21:28,565 Speaker 1: religious art that portrays Christ as as anemic weak man. 365 00:21:29,284 --> 00:21:33,044 Speaker 1: Jesus was a happy dude. He was smiling all the time. 366 00:21:33,165 --> 00:21:36,925 Speaker 1: Why else would children approach him. He was a man's man. 367 00:21:37,044 --> 00:21:40,605 Speaker 1: He was a strong man. You know, don't forget that 368 00:21:40,844 --> 00:21:46,205 Speaker 1: Pilot said after he had scourged Jesus Christ, behold the man. 369 00:21:46,925 --> 00:21:49,284 Speaker 1: So he was a man that was filled with happiness. 370 00:21:49,284 --> 00:21:51,444 Speaker 1: You say, well, no, the Bible says he was a 371 00:21:51,445 --> 00:21:54,564 Speaker 1: man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Well, that's true. 372 00:21:54,885 --> 00:21:58,004 Speaker 1: When he was burying the cross, when he was taking 373 00:21:58,084 --> 00:22:00,445 Speaker 1: on the sins of the world, he was a man 374 00:22:00,484 --> 00:22:04,325 Speaker 1: of sorrows. But generally overall Jesus was a happy guy. 375 00:22:04,445 --> 00:22:07,284 Speaker 1: And he said, don't you to be happy? Just like 376 00:22:07,445 --> 00:22:11,044 Speaker 1: I am happy. The apostle Paul writes about the good 377 00:22:11,125 --> 00:22:15,604 Speaker 1: news from the happy God. He says, blessed God. But 378 00:22:15,764 --> 00:22:18,724 Speaker 1: blessed is a word that's interchangeable with happy, And I 379 00:22:18,764 --> 00:22:23,364 Speaker 1: love that the happy God. We serve a happy God. 380 00:22:23,645 --> 00:22:27,125 Speaker 1: So let me throw a little curve in this. Happiness 381 00:22:27,165 --> 00:22:31,244 Speaker 1: does not come merely from what we do. It also 382 00:22:31,365 --> 00:22:36,205 Speaker 1: comes from what we don't do. Let me explain. Someone says, 383 00:22:36,764 --> 00:22:40,085 Speaker 1: blessed or happy is the man or the woman who 384 00:22:40,125 --> 00:22:42,645 Speaker 1: does not walk in the council of thee and godly, 385 00:22:42,965 --> 00:22:45,204 Speaker 1: or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in 386 00:22:45,205 --> 00:22:48,684 Speaker 1: the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in 387 00:22:48,885 --> 00:22:52,004 Speaker 1: the word of the Lord. In it does he meditate 388 00:22:52,165 --> 00:22:54,925 Speaker 1: day and night. He'll be like a tree planted by 389 00:22:54,925 --> 00:22:57,644 Speaker 1: the rivers of water that will bring forth food in 390 00:22:57,685 --> 00:23:00,805 Speaker 1: the season. His leaves shall not wither, and whatever he 391 00:23:00,844 --> 00:23:03,925 Speaker 1: does will prosper I love that you want to be happy. 392 00:23:04,405 --> 00:23:06,764 Speaker 1: Happy is the man that does not walk in the 393 00:23:06,804 --> 00:23:10,084 Speaker 1: council of the Ngodly. You know, when you scroll through 394 00:23:11,084 --> 00:23:14,205 Speaker 1: x or watch videos on TikTok, or look at posts 395 00:23:14,244 --> 00:23:17,405 Speaker 1: on Instagram, that can make you very unhappy because you're 396 00:23:17,445 --> 00:23:21,124 Speaker 1: looking at all these supposedly happy lives that are really 397 00:23:21,284 --> 00:23:25,484 Speaker 1: just an illusion. They're not showing their real life. I mean, 398 00:23:25,524 --> 00:23:28,044 Speaker 1: when we post a photo, do we put a photo 399 00:23:28,125 --> 00:23:30,205 Speaker 1: up of how we actually look in the morning? No? 400 00:23:30,324 --> 00:23:33,044 Speaker 1: We always you know, no touch that up or change that. 401 00:23:33,125 --> 00:23:36,125 Speaker 1: I want a better shot. You know, we project an 402 00:23:36,165 --> 00:23:38,804 Speaker 1: image of what we want people to think we are 403 00:23:38,885 --> 00:23:42,324 Speaker 1: instead of what we actually are. So I think that 404 00:23:42,524 --> 00:23:44,565 Speaker 1: we think, oh, I want to be happy like those 405 00:23:44,604 --> 00:23:47,845 Speaker 1: other people don't walk in the council of the ngodly, 406 00:23:48,044 --> 00:23:51,204 Speaker 1: or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in 407 00:23:51,205 --> 00:23:53,804 Speaker 1: the seat of the scornful. Have you ever noticed the 408 00:23:53,844 --> 00:23:58,004 Speaker 1: progression there? Or shall I say the regression? First you're 409 00:23:58,244 --> 00:24:01,524 Speaker 1: walking in the council of the ungodly, then you're standing 410 00:24:01,564 --> 00:24:04,084 Speaker 1: in the way of sinners, then you're sitting in the 411 00:24:04,084 --> 00:24:06,764 Speaker 1: seat of the scornful. Let's say you're on a diet 412 00:24:07,645 --> 00:24:11,004 Speaker 1: and your favorite place to eat is Krispy Kream donuts, 413 00:24:11,165 --> 00:24:13,564 Speaker 1: especially when the sign's lit up. I don't know if 414 00:24:13,604 --> 00:24:15,805 Speaker 1: you have a Krispy Kreme in your area where you live, 415 00:24:15,885 --> 00:24:18,645 Speaker 1: but it's a donut place that they light the sign 416 00:24:18,725 --> 00:24:21,364 Speaker 1: up and they're making fresh glazed donuts. I have to 417 00:24:21,405 --> 00:24:24,445 Speaker 1: tell you they're amazing. So let's say donuts are your weakness. 418 00:24:24,925 --> 00:24:27,524 Speaker 1: So you're walking by and you look in the window 419 00:24:27,524 --> 00:24:30,045 Speaker 1: and you see the sign is on. So you're walking 420 00:24:30,125 --> 00:24:33,404 Speaker 1: in the way of sinners. Then you're standing. Now you stand, 421 00:24:33,445 --> 00:24:36,725 Speaker 1: you're looking, you're watching. Then you're sitting in the vat 422 00:24:36,804 --> 00:24:40,324 Speaker 1: of the row dough eating the donuts before they're even made. 423 00:24:40,484 --> 00:24:43,484 Speaker 1: My point is simply this. You're walking by something, you 424 00:24:43,524 --> 00:24:46,165 Speaker 1: stop and contemplate it. Nix thing you know you're doing it. 425 00:24:46,365 --> 00:24:49,445 Speaker 1: Don't do that. You want to be happy. It consists 426 00:24:49,524 --> 00:24:52,764 Speaker 1: of not doing certain things, and it also consists of 427 00:24:53,004 --> 00:24:56,285 Speaker 1: doing other things in their place. So let's put it together. 428 00:24:56,885 --> 00:24:59,445 Speaker 1: Happy is the man that does not walk in the 429 00:24:59,484 --> 00:25:02,205 Speaker 1: council of the godly, or stand in the way of sinners, 430 00:25:02,405 --> 00:25:05,844 Speaker 1: or sit in the seat. And it's scornful. But the 431 00:25:06,004 --> 00:25:10,404 Speaker 1: light is in the word of the Lord, and in 432 00:25:10,445 --> 00:25:14,244 Speaker 1: it he meditates day and night, so he looks forward 433 00:25:14,324 --> 00:25:17,764 Speaker 1: opening the Bible in the morning, in the afternoon, in 434 00:25:17,804 --> 00:25:21,764 Speaker 1: the evening. Notice it says he meditates in it day 435 00:25:21,804 --> 00:25:25,244 Speaker 1: and night. The word meditate and the Bible means to 436 00:25:25,365 --> 00:25:31,324 Speaker 1: contemplate and ponder and Eastern meditation. One empties their mind 437 00:25:31,445 --> 00:25:36,364 Speaker 1: and wears lululemon and meditates. That's not biblical meditation. And 438 00:25:36,405 --> 00:25:40,564 Speaker 1: biblical meditation one fills their mind with the Word of God. 439 00:25:40,725 --> 00:25:42,725 Speaker 1: So the idea is not just to read tons of 440 00:25:42,764 --> 00:25:47,484 Speaker 1: Bible verses, though that's great, but it's to read with comprehension. 441 00:25:48,004 --> 00:25:50,524 Speaker 1: You know, someone might say, I read ten chapters of 442 00:25:50,564 --> 00:25:53,084 Speaker 1: the Bible today, Great, what were they about? I have 443 00:25:53,165 --> 00:25:56,004 Speaker 1: no idea, but I read ten chapters. You'd be better 444 00:25:56,084 --> 00:26:01,685 Speaker 1: off reading ten verses with comprehension than ten chapters without it. 445 00:26:02,084 --> 00:26:05,884 Speaker 1: Happy as a man that meditates in the world of 446 00:26:05,925 --> 00:26:08,844 Speaker 1: the Lord day and night, and he's a country bringing 447 00:26:08,885 --> 00:26:13,484 Speaker 1: for fruit. So happiness God wants you to experience it. 448 00:26:14,004 --> 00:26:18,645 Speaker 1: Don't chase after it, chase after God. Put God first, 449 00:26:19,004 --> 00:26:22,924 Speaker 1: and you'll find the happiness that you're seeking in life. Again, 450 00:26:24,044 --> 00:26:28,244 Speaker 1: the Bible says, happy are the people who's God is 451 00:26:28,284 --> 00:26:33,124 Speaker 1: the Lord Okay, a final thing that Jesus never said. 452 00:26:33,205 --> 00:26:37,044 Speaker 1: This is a big one, and it's believed by many. Ready, 453 00:26:37,725 --> 00:26:41,405 Speaker 1: if I live a good life, I will go to heaven. 454 00:26:41,524 --> 00:26:45,925 Speaker 1: If I'm a good person, God will let me in 455 00:26:45,965 --> 00:26:48,804 Speaker 1: to heaven. Now, many people believe this kind of thing, 456 00:26:48,965 --> 00:26:52,725 Speaker 1: even some Christians believe it. So let's break it down. 457 00:26:52,885 --> 00:26:57,244 Speaker 1: First of all, what is good? Is it? Your definition 458 00:26:57,365 --> 00:27:00,404 Speaker 1: of good? Is it my definition of good? The Bible 459 00:27:00,445 --> 00:27:03,685 Speaker 1: says all of sin and fallen short of the glory 460 00:27:04,004 --> 00:27:07,965 Speaker 1: of God, and it even says there's not one good, No, 461 00:27:08,324 --> 00:27:11,924 Speaker 1: not one. Now, in a broad sense, there are good people. 462 00:27:12,645 --> 00:27:14,524 Speaker 1: I would even take it a step further, and I 463 00:27:14,524 --> 00:27:16,925 Speaker 1: would say, in a broad sense, there are some people 464 00:27:16,965 --> 00:27:20,444 Speaker 1: that are not Christians that are very good people, But 465 00:27:20,524 --> 00:27:23,965 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean they're good enough to get to heaven. 466 00:27:24,244 --> 00:27:29,565 Speaker 1: Let me say something that will seem provocative, but it's true. 467 00:27:29,604 --> 00:27:33,284 Speaker 1: There's gonna be some good people in hell, and there's 468 00:27:33,324 --> 00:27:36,965 Speaker 1: gonna be some bad people in heaven. Let me explain, 469 00:27:37,925 --> 00:27:41,764 Speaker 1: if you turn to Christ, even on your deathbed, God 470 00:27:41,804 --> 00:27:44,604 Speaker 1: will hear you and forgive you of your sin. I 471 00:27:44,645 --> 00:27:46,925 Speaker 1: can tell you that I have prayed with many people 472 00:27:47,645 --> 00:27:51,685 Speaker 1: over the years on their deathbeds who believe people who 473 00:27:51,725 --> 00:27:55,404 Speaker 1: did not live godly lives but realize their need for 474 00:27:55,524 --> 00:27:58,964 Speaker 1: Christ and turn to him at the end of life. 475 00:27:59,244 --> 00:28:02,404 Speaker 1: The thief on the cross comes to mind. Remember he 476 00:28:02,564 --> 00:28:05,965 Speaker 1: was crucified next to Jesus, and the Bible tells us 477 00:28:06,004 --> 00:28:09,604 Speaker 1: initially both thieves, and by the way the word thief, 478 00:28:10,004 --> 00:28:14,845 Speaker 1: he probably was a murderer because the Romans didn't crucify thieves, 479 00:28:14,885 --> 00:28:17,324 Speaker 1: and that's just the word we use, so think of 480 00:28:17,445 --> 00:28:20,884 Speaker 1: him as a person guilty of a capital crime. So 481 00:28:20,925 --> 00:28:24,205 Speaker 1: there were two criminals crucified in each side of Jesus. 482 00:28:24,564 --> 00:28:28,205 Speaker 1: They joined the chorus of mockery where the people are saying, 483 00:28:28,405 --> 00:28:31,004 Speaker 1: if he's really the son of God, let him come 484 00:28:31,084 --> 00:28:34,844 Speaker 1: down from the cross. And Jesus gives the first of 485 00:28:35,044 --> 00:28:40,005 Speaker 1: seven statements from Calvary. And the first statement was not 486 00:28:40,485 --> 00:28:43,005 Speaker 1: my God, my God, why if you're forsaken me? That 487 00:28:43,045 --> 00:28:46,765 Speaker 1: would make sense. Nor was his first statement, I thirst 488 00:28:46,844 --> 00:28:49,725 Speaker 1: that two would make sense. His first statement from the 489 00:28:49,805 --> 00:28:53,885 Speaker 1: cross was Father, forgive them, for they don't know what 490 00:28:54,005 --> 00:28:58,165 Speaker 1: they do. So both of the thieves are mocking Jesus. 491 00:28:58,525 --> 00:29:01,765 Speaker 1: Jesus gives his first statement, Father, forgive them, for they 492 00:29:01,765 --> 00:29:05,325 Speaker 1: know not what they do. And right there, that sin, 493 00:29:05,805 --> 00:29:10,045 Speaker 1: that thief, that criminal believed. And he turned to Jesus 494 00:29:10,084 --> 00:29:13,045 Speaker 1: and he said, Lord, remember me when you come into 495 00:29:13,084 --> 00:29:17,084 Speaker 1: your kingdom. And Jesus said, truly, truly, I say to 496 00:29:17,125 --> 00:29:21,245 Speaker 1: you today, you will be with me in paradise. So 497 00:29:21,405 --> 00:29:25,405 Speaker 1: that man, because he believed, was forgiven. So that would 498 00:29:25,445 --> 00:29:29,325 Speaker 1: be a bad man in heaven. That would be a 499 00:29:29,365 --> 00:29:32,205 Speaker 1: sinner in heaven. So there's going to be some bad 500 00:29:32,285 --> 00:29:35,445 Speaker 1: people in heaven and there's going to be some good 501 00:29:35,485 --> 00:29:38,765 Speaker 1: people in hell. And when I say good people, I 502 00:29:38,805 --> 00:29:44,925 Speaker 1: mean people that trusted in their own religious efforts. Jesus said, 503 00:29:44,965 --> 00:29:47,844 Speaker 1: in that final day, many will come to me saying, Lord, Lord, 504 00:29:48,125 --> 00:29:50,925 Speaker 1: did we not prophesy in your name and in your name, 505 00:29:51,084 --> 00:29:54,844 Speaker 1: cast out demons and do many wonderful works in your name? 506 00:29:55,084 --> 00:29:57,525 Speaker 1: You know, we could update that to say, Lord, we 507 00:29:57,565 --> 00:30:00,805 Speaker 1: went to church in your name, or we received communion 508 00:30:00,925 --> 00:30:03,805 Speaker 1: in your name, or we were baptized in your name. 509 00:30:04,165 --> 00:30:07,445 Speaker 1: And to those people, g Jesus says, depart from me. 510 00:30:07,844 --> 00:30:11,485 Speaker 1: I never knew you. Listen, it's not enough to know 511 00:30:11,685 --> 00:30:15,885 Speaker 1: about God. You need to know God. So you could 512 00:30:15,925 --> 00:30:19,005 Speaker 1: be a good person in hell, meaning you're trusting in 513 00:30:19,045 --> 00:30:23,245 Speaker 1: your own human efforts. So let me go back to 514 00:30:23,285 --> 00:30:26,005 Speaker 1: a point I made earlier. God loves you as you are, 515 00:30:26,125 --> 00:30:29,045 Speaker 1: but he wants to change you, and he wants to 516 00:30:29,125 --> 00:30:31,965 Speaker 1: forgive you. So the way to go to heaven is 517 00:30:32,045 --> 00:30:34,644 Speaker 1: to turn from your sin and put your faith in 518 00:30:34,844 --> 00:30:38,645 Speaker 1: Christ and Christ alone, Not through any human efforts, not 519 00:30:38,645 --> 00:30:42,164 Speaker 1: through any ritual you may have gone through, Not because 520 00:30:42,165 --> 00:30:44,964 Speaker 1: of the fact that maybe you were raised in the church. No, No, 521 00:30:45,325 --> 00:30:47,684 Speaker 1: there has to be a moment where you believe in 522 00:30:47,805 --> 00:30:51,844 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, where you become a child of God. Listen, 523 00:30:52,205 --> 00:30:56,444 Speaker 1: God doesn't have any grandchildren, just sons and daughters. The 524 00:30:56,485 --> 00:30:59,485 Speaker 1: Bible says, for as many has received him, he gave 525 00:30:59,525 --> 00:31:03,405 Speaker 1: them the power to become sons of God. So I've 526 00:31:03,445 --> 00:31:07,245 Speaker 1: talked to you about things Jesus never said. Now let 527 00:31:07,325 --> 00:31:11,085 Speaker 1: me talk to you in closing about something Jesus did say. 528 00:31:11,844 --> 00:31:14,844 Speaker 1: Jesus said, come onto me, all of you who are 529 00:31:14,885 --> 00:31:19,005 Speaker 1: exhausted with life, bending beneath its weight, come to me, 530 00:31:19,604 --> 00:31:22,845 Speaker 1: and I will refresh you with rest. What a promise 531 00:31:22,885 --> 00:31:26,285 Speaker 1: that is. Jesus is saying, just come to me. You know, 532 00:31:26,604 --> 00:31:30,685 Speaker 1: we've talked about finding yourself. We've talked about loving yourself, 533 00:31:30,885 --> 00:31:34,124 Speaker 1: we've talked about following your heart. You were designed to 534 00:31:34,245 --> 00:31:38,645 Speaker 1: know God, you were prewired to have a relationship with Him. 535 00:31:38,725 --> 00:31:42,285 Speaker 1: And there is nothing that this world offers, nothing this 536 00:31:42,445 --> 00:31:46,084 Speaker 1: culture offers that's going to fill that void deep inside 537 00:31:46,084 --> 00:31:50,364 Speaker 1: of you. You were designed to know God. And if 538 00:31:50,405 --> 00:31:53,045 Speaker 1: you come to Christ, and when I say come to Christ, 539 00:31:53,604 --> 00:31:55,684 Speaker 1: I mean if you will say Jesus, I want a 540 00:31:55,725 --> 00:31:58,525 Speaker 1: relationship with you. I want you to come into my 541 00:31:58,645 --> 00:32:02,165 Speaker 1: life and be my savior and my Lord, everything will 542 00:32:02,245 --> 00:32:05,245 Speaker 1: change for you. So I was a confused seventeen year 543 00:32:05,285 --> 00:32:08,525 Speaker 1: old kid making a lot of bad decisions in life. 544 00:32:09,165 --> 00:32:13,685 Speaker 1: I experimented with drugs, I'd tried partying, drinking, all the rest, 545 00:32:14,205 --> 00:32:16,605 Speaker 1: and it was all empty to me. And I came 546 00:32:16,645 --> 00:32:19,685 Speaker 1: across a group of outspoken Christians on my high school 547 00:32:19,725 --> 00:32:23,005 Speaker 1: campus that would sit out at the front lawn of 548 00:32:23,045 --> 00:32:26,645 Speaker 1: the school and sing songs about God and how Bible studies, 549 00:32:26,685 --> 00:32:29,884 Speaker 1: and I thought they were all collectively nuts. But I 550 00:32:30,005 --> 00:32:33,325 Speaker 1: sat down close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation, but 551 00:32:33,445 --> 00:32:35,884 Speaker 1: not so close that my friends would think I was 552 00:32:36,045 --> 00:32:39,325 Speaker 1: joining them. But I was interested in what they were 553 00:32:39,365 --> 00:32:43,205 Speaker 1: saying and what they believed. And I heard a statement 554 00:32:43,245 --> 00:32:45,725 Speaker 1: from the guy who was preaching that day, Lonnie Frisbee. 555 00:32:45,725 --> 00:32:48,725 Speaker 1: We made a movie about it. It's called Jesus Revolution 556 00:32:48,844 --> 00:32:51,525 Speaker 1: if you haven't seen it. But he made a statement. 557 00:32:52,125 --> 00:32:54,805 Speaker 1: He said, Jesus said, you're for me or against me. 558 00:32:55,325 --> 00:32:57,605 Speaker 1: So I looked around at these Christians and I thought, well, 559 00:32:57,604 --> 00:33:00,725 Speaker 1: I'm not one of them. Does that mean that I'm 560 00:33:00,765 --> 00:33:05,124 Speaker 1: against Jesus. I didn't want to be against Jesus. And 561 00:33:05,205 --> 00:33:08,125 Speaker 1: then Lonnie said, if you want to believe in Jesus, 562 00:33:08,165 --> 00:33:10,485 Speaker 1: get up and walk up here, and I'll lead you 563 00:33:10,485 --> 00:33:12,565 Speaker 1: in a prayer. And some kids got up and walked up, 564 00:33:12,604 --> 00:33:15,205 Speaker 1: and I hung my head down and I thought, there's 565 00:33:15,245 --> 00:33:17,565 Speaker 1: no way I could ever do that. Next thing, I 566 00:33:17,645 --> 00:33:20,245 Speaker 1: knew I was up there, and I prayed that prayer. 567 00:33:20,325 --> 00:33:22,364 Speaker 1: I had no idea what I was doing, but I 568 00:33:22,445 --> 00:33:25,124 Speaker 1: prayed that prayer with as much faith as I can muster. 569 00:33:25,604 --> 00:33:28,404 Speaker 1: And I can tell you with certainty that is the 570 00:33:28,485 --> 00:33:32,164 Speaker 1: day Christ came into my life. And maybe I'm talking 571 00:33:32,205 --> 00:33:35,364 Speaker 1: to somebody that needs Christ to come into their life. 572 00:33:35,885 --> 00:33:39,525 Speaker 1: Have you ever asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin? 573 00:33:40,084 --> 00:33:42,645 Speaker 1: Do you have the confidence that if you were to die, 574 00:33:43,125 --> 00:33:45,485 Speaker 1: you would go to heaven? If not. You can have 575 00:33:45,565 --> 00:33:49,325 Speaker 1: it right now, you say, what do I need to do? 576 00:33:49,365 --> 00:33:51,685 Speaker 1: Just pray a prayer. I'll lead you in the prayer. 577 00:33:51,844 --> 00:33:54,645 Speaker 1: In fact, it's a simple prayer that you can pray. 578 00:33:55,084 --> 00:33:57,285 Speaker 1: You can pray it out loud if you like. Well, 579 00:33:57,325 --> 00:34:00,684 Speaker 1: you're asking Christ to come into your life. So if 580 00:34:00,765 --> 00:34:03,164 Speaker 1: you want Jesus to come into your life, if you 581 00:34:03,205 --> 00:34:06,045 Speaker 1: want him to forgive you of your sin, if you 582 00:34:06,084 --> 00:34:07,644 Speaker 1: want to know that when you die you will go 583 00:34:07,685 --> 00:34:10,285 Speaker 1: to Heaven, if you want to fill that void in 584 00:34:10,325 --> 00:34:13,605 Speaker 1: your life, just pray this after me right now. Just 585 00:34:13,765 --> 00:34:17,925 Speaker 1: pray these words, Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner, 586 00:34:18,885 --> 00:34:21,805 Speaker 1: but I know that you're the savior who died on 587 00:34:21,885 --> 00:34:25,005 Speaker 1: the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. 588 00:34:25,405 --> 00:34:28,445 Speaker 1: I turned from my sin, and I choose to follow 589 00:34:28,485 --> 00:34:32,965 Speaker 1: you from this moment forward as my savior. And Lord, 590 00:34:33,685 --> 00:34:37,285 Speaker 1: thank you for hearing this prayer and answering this prayer. 591 00:34:37,765 --> 00:34:42,045 Speaker 1: In Jesus name, I pray, Amen, did you just pray 592 00:34:42,125 --> 00:34:44,845 Speaker 1: that prayer? If so, I want you to know, on 593 00:34:44,925 --> 00:34:48,285 Speaker 1: the authority of God's word that Christ has come into 594 00:34:48,365 --> 00:34:50,925 Speaker 1: your life. The Bible says these things we write to 595 00:34:50,965 --> 00:34:54,005 Speaker 1: you that believe on the name of the Son of God, 596 00:34:54,165 --> 00:34:56,605 Speaker 1: that you may know that you have eternal life now 597 00:34:56,605 --> 00:34:59,645 Speaker 1: because you feel it. You can know it because God 598 00:34:59,685 --> 00:35:03,364 Speaker 1: has made a promise. And guess what God keeps his promises. 599 00:35:03,725 --> 00:35:05,605 Speaker 1: I would like to send you, at no charge ar 600 00:35:05,885 --> 00:35:09,165 Speaker 1: a copy of something called the New Believer's Bible. It's 601 00:35:09,205 --> 00:35:12,844 Speaker 1: a New Testament in modern English, it's called the New 602 00:35:12,885 --> 00:35:16,245 Speaker 1: Living Translation. It has hundreds of notes that I wrote 603 00:35:16,805 --> 00:35:19,725 Speaker 1: to help you in this new commitment you've made to 604 00:35:19,845 --> 00:35:23,245 Speaker 1: follow Christ. There are ten million of these Bibles in 605 00:35:23,365 --> 00:35:25,725 Speaker 1: print all around the world, and I want to send 606 00:35:25,765 --> 00:35:29,725 Speaker 1: you your own copy for free. Order your copy of 607 00:35:29,765 --> 00:35:32,765 Speaker 1: the New Believer's Bible and start reading it so you 608 00:35:32,845 --> 00:35:37,364 Speaker 1: can find out what Jesus said. God bless you. You've 609 00:35:37,405 --> 00:35:41,005 Speaker 1: made the right decision, the decision to follow Christ.