1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jolan Victoria. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks for. 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an. 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 2: Awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive, and favor filled. 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: God bless you today and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into 7 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 2: your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 2: stop buy and be a part of one of our services. 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: I like to start with something funny, and I heard 11 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: about these three people, a Russian, an American, and a blonde. 12 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: They were talking together and the Russian said, proudly, we 13 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: were the first ones in space. The American said, well, 14 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 2: we were the first ones on the moon. The blonde said, 15 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 2: that's nothing. We're going to be the first ones on 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 2: the sun. The American the Russian. They laughed, you can't 17 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,319 Speaker 2: go to the sun. It's too hot, you'd be burned up. 18 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: Blonde said, we know that. We're not that dumb. 19 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: We're going to go at night. 20 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: Oh say it like you mean, this is my Bible. 21 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 2: I am what it says, I am, I have what 22 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 2: it says I have. I can do what it says 23 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: I can do today. I will be taught the word 24 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my 25 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: heart is receptive. 26 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 27 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: bless you. 28 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: I want to talk to you today about remove the 29 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: grave clothes. There are people God has put in our 30 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: lives on purpose, so we can help restore them. They're 31 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 2: off course, they're addicted, they're broken. It's easy to judge 32 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: and think they should make better decisions. 33 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: It's their own fault. 34 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: But if it was not for the grace of God, 35 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 2: that could be us. We didn't get to where we 36 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 2: are because we're so talented, so disciplined, so obedient. That 37 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: may be true on the surface, but where did you 38 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: get the talent? Where did you get the discipline? It 39 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: came from your heavenly Father. Wasn't anything he chose. 40 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: It's simply the goodness of God. 41 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: But too often we look at others and think, why 42 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: are they still making poor choices? 43 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: Why are they still addicted? 44 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: Why do they get in bad relationships again and again? 45 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 1: I wouldn't do that. 46 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 2: It's because God has given you grace in that area. 47 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: Without his grace, you would be where they are, and 48 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: instead of looking down on them pointing the finger, you 49 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 2: should know better. 50 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: They don't need more condemnation. 51 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: God didn't put them there so you could judge them. 52 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: He put them there so you could love them. Love heels, 53 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: love restores, love lifts up all around. 54 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: You are hurting people, broken people. 55 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: People that may not have had the advantages that you had. 56 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 2: They weren't raised by parents that invested in them. They've 57 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: never felt the love of the approval that you felt. 58 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 2: It's easy to criticize, but you don't know where you 59 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 2: would be if you had walked in there. Use The 60 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 2: longer I live, the less judgmental I am. 61 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: I realize everyone didn't get what I got. 62 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 2: It's easy for me to feel secure, valuable, confident, believe big. 63 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: I had parents that guided me, family that supported me. 64 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: I was born in a great country with opportunity and resources. 65 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: Life is not a level playing field. When you're tempted 66 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 2: to be judgmental, you need to remind yourself most likely 67 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: they didn't get everything you got. If it was not 68 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 2: for the mercy of God, you would be making the 69 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: same decisions that they're making. God has freely given you mercy. 70 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: Here's my challenge freely give it to others. Don't be 71 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: stingy with your mercy. God is counting on us to 72 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: lift the fallen, to restore the broken, to heal the hurting. 73 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: There's enough judgment in our world. There's enough fault finding criticism. 74 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: Where are the healers? Where are the restorers? 75 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: Where are the people that, instead of running away from 76 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: the herding, they run to the herding. Instead of condemning 77 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: the broken, they help heal the broken. John Chapter eleven. 78 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 2: Lazarus was very sick. His two sisters sent word to 79 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: Jesus to come pray for him, but Jesus didn't arrive 80 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: in time. Lazarus died. Jesus showed up four days later. 81 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 2: He spoke to Lazarus, said, Lazarus, come forth. Instantly he 82 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 2: woke up. He was raised from the dead, a great miracle. 83 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 2: The problem was Lazarus was wrapped with grave clothes. 84 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: In those days, when someone. 85 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: Died, very often, they would wrap them up like a mummy. 86 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: Verse forty four says Lazarus came out bound. 87 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: In grave clothes. 88 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: Jesus said to them, unwrap him and let him go. 89 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: Even though Lazarus was alive, Even though God had done 90 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: something amazing on the inside. He was still bound on 91 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 2: the outside. Somebody had to remove his grave clothes, or 92 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: he would have never experienced the fullness of. 93 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: What God had done. 94 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: You can imagine when they went to take off the 95 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: grave clothes after being dead for four days, the smell 96 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: was almost unbearable. Every layer they unwrapped, the stench got worse. 97 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: It was dirty, messy, smelly. They had to be incredibly dedicated. 98 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 2: They must have loved Lazarus a whole lot to have 99 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: been willing to endure all it took to remove his 100 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 2: grave clothes. This is what God has called us to do. 101 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: There are people around us wearing grave clothes. God has 102 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: done something on the inside. He's breathed life into them, 103 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: given them purpose. But they're still bound on the outside. 104 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: They have addictions, they struggle with their temper, they're loosing 105 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 2: their morals. 106 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: The problem is it's messy. 107 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: It's tempting to think when they clean themselves up, then 108 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 2: I'll help them when they get back on course, Joel, 109 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: when it's not so messy, when they come back to church, 110 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 2: then I'll encourage them. How can they get free if 111 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: someone doesn't step up to remove their grave clothes? Where 112 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 2: are the people that are willing to get dirty to 113 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: help someone else, to go out on a limb, to 114 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 2: befriend someone that others think are too far down, to 115 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 2: reach out to that relative that's struggling with an addiction 116 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: that others have written off. It would be easy to 117 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 2: remove grave clothes if they were nice and tidy, if 118 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 2: people were making good decisions on the high road. That's 119 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: not reality. Grave clothes are dirty. Grave clothes are messy. 120 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 2: Grave close stink. When we think when someone still has issues, 121 00:06:57,080 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 2: they still have an addiction, they compromise, they're better, they're jealous, 122 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: they have a long way to go. But just because 123 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 2: they're wearing grave clothes, just because they're still dirty, doesn't 124 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: mean they're not clean on the inside. Jesus spoke life 125 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: to Lazarus. He was free on the inside, but still 126 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 2: bound on the outside. 127 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: What am I saying? Don't judge by appearance. 128 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: The grave clothes may stink, they may be dirty, but 129 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: on the inside, there's a free person. 130 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: There's a clean person. 131 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 2: There's a forgiven person, there's a victorious person. They're just 132 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: waiting for someone that won't be put off by the outside, 133 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 2: someone that will step up to help. 134 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: Remove the grave clothes. 135 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: How do you do this by speaking faith into them, 136 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 2: not telling them what they are, but telling them what 137 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: they can become, by loving them, by taking time to care, 138 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: by going out of your way to be their friend. 139 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: They have enough people pushing them down, pointing out their faults, 140 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: complaining about their grave clothes. You can be the one 141 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 2: to push them up, to see the best in them, 142 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 2: to help them get free. 143 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: You can be a grave clothes remover. 144 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: For years, my mom prayed for a man by the 145 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 2: name of Bill Nash. She would see his name on 146 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 2: marquees around town. Bill was a popular entertainer country Western singer. 147 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: He grew up singing in church as a little boy. 148 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 2: His parents were missionaries. He was raised in a strong 149 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: family of faith, but as a teenager, Bill got off 150 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,319 Speaker 2: course and started running with the wrong crowd, not making 151 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: good decisions. Instead of singing in churches, now he was 152 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 2: singing in bars and clubs. But the scripture says God's 153 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 2: calling on your life is irrevocable. That means you may 154 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 2: run away from God, but God won't run away from you. 155 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: His grace will come looking for you. 156 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 2: Paul wrote about the gri in Romans that God freely 157 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:07,959 Speaker 2: gives us. One translation of the word freely is promiscuous. 158 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 2: When someone is promiscuous, they're loose, they're unrestrained. They'll be 159 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: with anyone. That's the way God's grace is. You can 160 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: be in a bar and Grace will come looking for you. 161 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 2: You can be high on drugs and Grace will come 162 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: knocking at your door. You can be in the wrong places, 163 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 2: doing the wrong thing with the wrong people, and when 164 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 2: you least expect it, out of nowhere, you'll hear that 165 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 2: still small voice saying, come back home. 166 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: I love you. I have something better. God doesn't say. 167 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: If you clean yourself up, I'll show you mercy. If 168 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: you get back on course, I'll think about being good 169 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 2: to you. God's grace is promiscuous. It goes to unlikely places. 170 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 2: And every time my mom saw Bill's name under her breath, Lord, 171 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 2: thank you for bringing Bill back home. Thank you that 172 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 2: he'll fulfill his destiny. She had never met him, had 173 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 2: no connections, but year after year she kept praying for him. 174 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 2: Didn't look like anything was happening, But you don't know 175 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: what God is doing behind the scenes. One day that 176 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 2: Grace convinced Bill to turn his life around. He wanted 177 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 2: to go to church, but he thought nobody'd want somebody 178 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 2: like me. I've made a lot of mistakes, lived a 179 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 2: rough life. I'm known as a partier. He turned on 180 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: the television and saw my father talking about the goodness 181 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 2: of God. That Sunday, he walked in Lakewood, first time 182 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: since he was a teenager. Sat way in the back. 183 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: Someone recognized him and brought him down. 184 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: To see my mom. 185 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 2: She told how she had been praying for him and 186 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: how that was a dream come true. That day was 187 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: a turning point in Bill's life. A few months later, 188 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 2: he gave his first Christian concert at Lakewood, and he's 189 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: been using his talents for the Lord ever since. Like Lazarus, 190 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 2: Bill needed someone to help. 191 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: Remove the grave clothes. That's what my mother did. 192 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 2: She recognized underneath the mess, the partying, the compromising, there 193 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 2: was a free man, a man destined to do great things. 194 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 2: There are a lot of bills out there, people that 195 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 2: are bound on the outside, but they have greatness on 196 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 2: the inside. They just need someone that won't be afraid 197 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 2: to get dirty, someone that won't be judgmental and say 198 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: he used. 199 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 1: To be in church, he's in the bars. 200 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: What's wrong with him instead of judging them, Why don't 201 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 2: you take that same time to pray for them, to 202 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 2: reach out to them, to let them know that you 203 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 2: believe in them. 204 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: What if when Jesus. 205 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 2: Raised Lazarus, no one was willing to remove the grave clothes. 206 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 2: Nobody wanted to deal with the stink. Nobody wanted to 207 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 2: get dirty. Lazarus and have lived that long he was bound, not. 208 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: Able to move. 209 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 2: Jesus did his part, but he was counting on Lazarus's 210 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 2: friends and family to do their part. 211 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: Are there people in your. 212 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 2: Life waiting for you to help remove their grave clothes? 213 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 2: Their off course, struggling in some area. It's easy to 214 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 2: make excuses. They brought the trouble on themselves. It's their fault. 215 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 2: I'm too busy. I've got enough problems of my own. No, 216 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 2: take time to make a difference. Don't look at them 217 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 2: through eyes of judgment, look at them through eyes of love. 218 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 2: Maybe deep down they want to change. Maybe grace has 219 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 2: been knocking at their door, getting stronger and stronger, but 220 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: they don't know the next step. A phone call from you, 221 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: a kind word, taking them out to dinner, not to 222 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 2: try to straighten them out, but just to let them know. 223 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: That you care. 224 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 2: That's what speaks volumes that you're not there to condemn them, 225 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 2: to point out their You are there to simply love them. 226 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: John chapter eight. 227 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: These religious leaders brought a woman to Jesus threw her 228 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 2: down at his feet. She was caught in the act 229 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 2: of adultery. They said, Jesus, the law says stone her. 230 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: What do you say we should do? Seemed obvious. The 231 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: law was clear, the lady was guilty. 232 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 2: One thing I love about Jesus is he broke religious 233 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 2: rules in order to be good to people. In the 234 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 2: Old Testament, God gave them ten commandments, but the people 235 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 2: turned them into over two thousand laws. When Jesus came, 236 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 2: he said, in effect, I'm getting rid of all these 237 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 2: religious rules, all these heavy demands you put on people 238 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 2: that only make them guilty and condemned. Instead, I'm going 239 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 2: to condense them down into two commandments. 240 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: Love the Lord your God with all your heart. 241 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 2: And love your neighbor as you love yourself. He was saying, 242 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 2: people are more important than religious rules. Everything is not 243 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: going to fit perfectly into ar theology. 244 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: They have to do this, they have to do that. 245 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: They can't do that, they can't go there. 246 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 2: If you convince people to follow all your religious rules, 247 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 2: but you don't have love, the scripture says, we're like 248 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 2: a loud, clinging symbol. I don't want to be known 249 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 2: for what I'm against. I want to be known for 250 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 2: what I'm for. I'm for people. I'm for second chances. 251 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 2: I'm for mercy. I'm not in the condemning business. I'm 252 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 2: in the loving business. I'm in the healing business. I'm 253 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 2: in the lifting business. I want to be known as 254 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: a grave cloth remover, as someone that saw the best 255 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 2: in people, that helped push them into their destiny, as 256 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 2: someone that was willing to get dirty, to go after 257 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: messy people, broken people, people that society has written af 258 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 2: But let me warn you, when you love people who 259 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 2: are messy, you may be criticized, You may be talked about. 260 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: One time, Jesus was walking. 261 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 2: Through a crowded town, thousands of people around. He looked 262 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 2: up and saw Zachias, the chief tax collector. He was 263 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 2: known as one of the most dishonest people. He lied, 264 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 2: he cheated, he didn't keep his word. Yet Jesus said, 265 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 2: I want to go to dinner with you today. 266 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: Of all the people there. 267 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 2: That day, there were priests, rabbis, elders in the synagogue, 268 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 2: but Grace goes to unlikely places. Jesus didn't see just 269 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 2: what Zachias was. 270 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: He saw what he could become. 271 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: He was bound on the outside by grave clothes, but 272 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 2: he knew on the inside was a man of integrity, 273 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: a man of honor. Jesus went to dinner with Zachias, 274 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: someone that people considered dirty, messy, broken. In fact, the 275 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: scripture says the religious leaders complained that he went to 276 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: dinner with a notorious sinner. When you go after the broken, 277 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 2: the hurting, the addicted, people may criticize, they may talk 278 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 2: about you, but you're in good company. You are never 279 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 2: more like God than when you go after messy people. 280 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: This lady was on the ground in front of Jesus, 281 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 2: surrounded by all these men. She was afraid, embarrassed, expecting 282 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 2: the worst. 283 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: Jesus knelt down and wrote in the ground. 284 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 2: He said to them, whoever is without sin, throw the 285 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 2: first stone. They all put their heads down. They were convicted. 286 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 2: When you're tempted to be judgmental, ask yourself, have I 287 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 2: ever done wrong? Am I qualified to throw the first stone? 288 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: None of us are? 289 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: The men walked out from the oldest to the youngest. 290 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: He said to her, where are your accusers? 291 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: Hasn't anyone condemned you? She said no. 292 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 2: Man, Lord, he said, neither do I now go and 293 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 2: sin no more. Our religious minds. 294 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: Go tilt till tilt. 295 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 2: Grace for somebody that committed adultery, Grace for a man 296 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,640 Speaker 2: that's known for being dishonest, Grace for a guy that's 297 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 2: singing in clubs. 298 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,199 Speaker 1: God's grace is promiscuous. 299 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 2: Why don't you go after someone that doesn't deserve it, 300 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 2: someone that's made mistakes, someone that's hurting. You can be 301 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 2: the one that helps put them back on their feet. 302 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 2: Nobody's too far gone, nobody's made too many mistakes. 303 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: All some people need. 304 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 2: Is one person to believe in them, one person to say, hey, 305 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 2: I'm praying for you, one person to breathe new life back. 306 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: Into their spirit. 307 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 2: Years ago, there was a minister that was touching the world, 308 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 2: doing great things, but someone accused him of having a 309 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 2: lack of integrity. Rumors started to spread. They took on 310 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 2: a life of their own, and he had made mistakes, 311 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 2: but it was blown way. 312 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 1: Out of proportion. 313 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 2: He was so devastated he got out of the ministry 314 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 2: for months, you didn't hear anything from him. 315 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: I didn't know him well. It's much older than I am. 316 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 2: But I felt like I was supposed to reach out 317 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 2: to him, but my mind came up with all these excuses. 318 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:25,440 Speaker 1: Joe, he's not gonna listen to you. 319 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 2: If people find out you're talking, you're gonna be drug 320 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 2: into this mess. You better leave him alone. He doesn't 321 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 2: have a good reputation, he's tainted, he's messy. But I 322 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 2: found God loves messy people. God loves broken people. He 323 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 2: loves people that are at a disadvantage, not just people 324 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 2: that have had bad breaks, but he even loves people 325 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: that have brought the trouble on themselves. And this is 326 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 2: where human nature says, they're getting what they deserve. 327 00:18:57,880 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 1: Let them deal with it. 328 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 2: They're guilty, but only the guilty need mercy. Where are 329 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 2: the healers? Where are the restoreres, the people that are 330 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 2: not too self righteous to get down? Where someone is 331 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 2: hurting with the broken, to help heal the wounds. I 332 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: didn't know if he'd take my call, but I felt 333 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,360 Speaker 2: strongly about it. He answered the phone. I could barely 334 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 2: hear him speak. He said, Joel, I don't have any 335 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 2: more fight left in me. 336 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: I'm done. 337 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 2: I didn't talk long, but for the next three minutes, 338 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 2: I spoke faith into him. I spoke restoration. I told 339 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 2: him that we needed him, that the nations were waiting 340 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 2: on him, that God's mercy is bigger than our mistakes, 341 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 2: that his best stays were not behind, they were still 342 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 2: out in front. He said in a real soft voice, thank. 343 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: You, and hung up. Didn't seem like it did any good. 344 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: But six months later he called back and sounded like 345 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 2: a different person. He had his fire back, his passion back. 346 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 2: He was about to go overseas. He said something I'll 347 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 2: never forget. He said, Joel, it all turned around that day. 348 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 2: You called something reignited in my spirit. Something came alive 349 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 2: on the inside. When you go after the hurting, the broken, 350 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 2: the discourage, the anointing on your life will break yokes 351 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 2: that are holding them back. You may not feel it, 352 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,479 Speaker 2: they may not respond right away, But when you speak faith, 353 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 2: change or breaking. When you show loves, strongholds are coming down. 354 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 2: When you're merciful, compassionate, forgiving, you pouring oil on the wounds, 355 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 2: you're being a healer, a restorer, a lifter. There was 356 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 2: a young prophet in the Old Testament named Hosea. He 357 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 2: lived at a time when the Israelites were worshiping idols 358 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 2: and not honoring God. Hoseia was well respected. People came 359 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 2: from all over to get his advice. He was a 360 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 2: single man and looked forward to the day he would 361 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: get married. He knew God would bring him a wife, 362 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 2: but it wasn't what he thought. God told him to 363 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 2: marry a lady named Gomer. Gomer was a former prostitute. 364 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 2: She didn't have a good reputation. Can imagine Joseah thought, God, 365 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 2: do you know who this lady is. I'm a prophet, 366 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 2: I'm a man of God. What are people going to think? 367 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 2: He could have talked himself out of it, but he 368 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 2: knew to obey and things started off good. They were 369 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 2: in love. They had a son, but then things went downhill. 370 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 2: Hoseiah would go out to minister, but Gomer didn't understand 371 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 2: the calling on his life. She had two more sons, 372 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 2: but not by Hoseah. She slipped back into her old ways. 373 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 2: Hoseiah was heartbroken. He knew she was being unfaithful, but 374 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 2: he loved his wife. He pleaded with her again and 375 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 2: again to change and it would last for a little while, 376 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 2: then she'd go right back to make matters worse. Everyone 377 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 2: knew about Gomer's affairs. 378 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: She was the talk of the town. 379 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 2: One morning, Joseah woke up and Gomer was gone. She 380 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 2: had abandoned him and the three children. Maybe she left 381 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 2: a note saying, I'm sorry, but I'm done. 382 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: I found another man to love. Going with your life. 383 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 2: I can hear Hoseah's friends saying, it's about time that 384 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: lady has brought you nothing but heartache and pain. 385 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: You deserve much better. 386 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: That sounded good on the outside, but Hooseiah still loved Gomer. 387 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: He grieved greatly over this loss. 388 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 2: Years later he overheard from the town gossip that Gomer 389 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,439 Speaker 2: was still alive. She had been deserted by all the 390 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 2: men that said they loved her. 391 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: Now she had hit rock bottom. She was about to 392 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: be sold as a slave. 393 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 2: The scripture says the Lord said to Joseh, heya, go 394 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 2: get your wife again and bring her back home. 395 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: After all the pain she had caused. 396 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 2: After all the rejection abandonment, you would think Joseiah would say, 397 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 2: I am done with this lady. I am over with her. 398 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 2: But Joseah had this undying love. He went back to 399 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 2: the city and found her in the red light district 400 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 2: on the auction block, about to be sold. She was 401 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 2: beaten down, dirty hair, disheveled, clothed, torn her head down 402 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 2: in shame. He got up close and whispered Gomer. She 403 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 2: looked up and couldn't believe it. He smiled and said, 404 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 2: don't worry. I'm going to get you out of here. 405 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 2: What was that promiscuous grace? It goes to unusual places. 406 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 2: He went to the man in charge and said, that's 407 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 2: my wife. I'm taking her with me. He said, you're 408 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 2: not taking her anywhere. She belongs to me. 409 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: She's for sale. You'll have to buy her. 410 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,719 Speaker 2: He took out his wallet and paid fifteen shekels and 411 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 2: five barley loaves. He bought back what should have been 412 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 2: already His Hoseiah is a picture of God. Gomer represents 413 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,959 Speaker 2: you and me. We've all been unfaithful. We went our 414 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 2: own way, did our own thing. But God, who is 415 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,880 Speaker 2: rich in mercy, when we turned our back on him, 416 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 2: he had every right to walk away, but he didn't 417 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: turn his back on us. 418 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: He came down to the messy. 419 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: Places to where we found, to where we should have 420 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: been finished, and he brought us back, not with fifteen. 421 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: Shekels, but with the blood of his own son. 422 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 2: Since God has rescued us, since He has brought us back, 423 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 2: will you be a Hoseiah and buy somebody else back? 424 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: Will you rescue them? 425 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,959 Speaker 2: They are hurting people all around you, broken people that 426 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 2: don't think any one cares. They're in messy places. They 427 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 2: don't deserve your kindness. You could walk away, nobody would 428 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 2: fault you. But God rescued you. He's counting on you 429 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 2: to rescue them. 430 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: They're not in your path by accident. God put them there. 431 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 2: Because he can trust you. You can help love them 432 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 2: back into wholeness. Other people may not see it. But 433 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 2: underneath the mess, the addictions, the bad habits, there's a son. 434 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 2: There's a daughter of the Most High God. They may 435 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 2: be bound on the outside, but like Lazarus their royalty 436 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 2: on the inside, they have. 437 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 1: Seeds of greatness. 438 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,919 Speaker 2: Will you be a Hoseiah and go after the hurting, 439 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 2: Go after the broken, those that are deddicted, those that 440 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,719 Speaker 2: have been written off by society. Not with your finger 441 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 2: pointed in judgment telling them what they're doing wrong, go 442 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 2: after them with something more powerful, with love, with mercy, 443 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 2: with the goodness of God. They don't deserve it. Neither 444 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 2: did we while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us. 445 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:10,959 Speaker 2: You've been shown incredible mercy. I'm asking you show that 446 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 2: mercy to others. Be a Hoseiah. If you'll do this, 447 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 2: I believe and declare, as you lift others up, God 448 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 2: is going to lift you up. As you rescue somebody else. 449 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 2: God will always have somebody to rescue you and your children. 450 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 2: The seeds you so will come back to you in Jesus's. 451 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: Name, And if you receive it. Can you say amen today? 452 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 2: Who I'd like to give you an opportunity to make 453 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:38,600 Speaker 2: Jesus the. 454 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 1: Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 455 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come 456 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 2: into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 457 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 2: If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 458 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 2: born again. Get in a good Bible based church, Keep 459 00:26:58,040 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 2: God first place.