1 00:00:00,700 --> 00:00:01,279 Robert: Let's pray. 2 00:00:03,389 --> 00:00:07,760 God in heaven, thank you so much for allowing us to be your people, God. 3 00:00:08,290 --> 00:00:09,430 Thank you for your love. 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,130 Thank you for your mercy, your goodness, your kindness. 5 00:00:12,490 --> 00:00:15,790 Thank you for bringing us together as your people, Father. 6 00:00:16,248 --> 00:00:21,250 And we pray, Father, as we gather and sing to you and worship you, that you will 7 00:00:21,250 --> 00:00:23,720 fill our hearts with your spirit, God. 8 00:00:24,140 --> 00:00:27,749 Be with all those visiting us, whether they are Christians 9 00:00:27,749 --> 00:00:29,170 and just want to be encouraged. 10 00:00:29,470 --> 00:00:32,080 or visitors seeking and searching for you. 11 00:00:32,089 --> 00:00:39,430 God, we pray that they will see you in us experience you and that the word will help 12 00:00:39,499 --> 00:00:41,870 them find you God and guide them along. 13 00:00:42,180 --> 00:00:45,060 Thank you so much God for all that you do for each of us. 14 00:00:45,420 --> 00:00:50,669 And as we prepare to take communion after this sermon, we pray God that 15 00:00:50,669 --> 00:00:55,030 we will take it in a manner that's worthy and respectable and honors you. 16 00:00:55,369 --> 00:00:56,869 We're so grateful for Jesus. 17 00:00:57,119 --> 00:00:58,010 In his name we pray. 18 00:00:58,119 --> 00:00:58,479 Amen. 19 00:00:59,405 --> 00:00:59,875 Amen. 20 00:00:59,925 --> 00:01:01,105 Okay, we're working on it. 21 00:01:01,115 --> 00:01:02,345 We're working on it here. 22 00:01:03,965 --> 00:01:05,905 So, the harvest. 23 00:01:05,925 --> 00:01:06,445 That's today. 24 00:01:06,445 --> 00:01:07,675 We're celebrating the harvest. 25 00:01:08,244 --> 00:01:09,585 This is Harvest Sunday. 26 00:01:09,604 --> 00:01:09,895 Yeah, go ahead. 27 00:01:09,994 --> 00:01:11,315 We can cheer for Harvest Sunday. 28 00:01:12,054 --> 00:01:15,674 That's actually a big deal in the Bible. 29 00:01:15,705 --> 00:01:17,615 It's a big deal in Scriptures. 30 00:01:17,994 --> 00:01:19,725 To celebrate harvest. 31 00:01:19,735 --> 00:01:20,935 God commands it. 32 00:01:21,215 --> 00:01:22,884 God calls us to do that. 33 00:01:23,175 --> 00:01:25,735 And when I think of harvest, I think of harvest. 34 00:01:26,679 --> 00:01:32,340 I think of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 35 00:01:33,390 --> 00:01:36,009 Raise your hand if you've had a Krispy Kreme doughnut. 36 00:01:36,850 --> 00:01:39,330 Okay, so you know what I'm talking about. 37 00:01:40,090 --> 00:01:43,859 There's just, there's nothing like Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 38 00:01:44,339 --> 00:01:45,979 They are unique. 39 00:01:46,220 --> 00:01:47,650 They are special. 40 00:01:47,860 --> 00:01:49,180 They're extra order. 41 00:01:49,180 --> 00:01:50,960 They're not like any other doughnut. 42 00:01:51,890 --> 00:01:52,729 They don't have yeast. 43 00:01:53,039 --> 00:01:57,660 You know, they're actually the healthiest donut out there, you know, and now I 44 00:01:57,670 --> 00:01:59,610 know that's a sliding scale, right? 45 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:03,679 That's, that's, but, but, but they're, they're the better donut. 46 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,449 If you're going to have a donut, you want to have a Krispy Kreme donut. 47 00:02:07,509 --> 00:02:08,100 That's the one. 48 00:02:08,228 --> 00:02:10,780 Unfortunately, I can't have them anymore, but you know, you can have them. 49 00:02:10,780 --> 00:02:12,990 And I remember how good they were. 50 00:02:13,410 --> 00:02:14,480 They were extraordinary. 51 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:19,769 I want to read this to you about a story about Krispy Kreme donuts. 52 00:02:20,855 --> 00:02:21,484 Oh, here we go. 53 00:02:21,484 --> 00:02:21,855 Here we go. 54 00:02:21,855 --> 00:02:22,595 We got slides. 55 00:02:22,595 --> 00:02:23,595 We got slides here. 56 00:02:23,734 --> 00:02:24,195 Let's see. 57 00:02:28,265 --> 00:02:29,385 Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 58 00:02:32,935 --> 00:02:37,715 Now you see them and your mouth is starting to salivate. 59 00:02:39,365 --> 00:02:40,974 And now listen to my story. 60 00:02:41,284 --> 00:02:46,965 When you step out of your car in a Krispy Kreme parking lot, the 61 00:02:46,965 --> 00:02:49,695 aroma beckons you inside the shop. 62 00:02:50,625 --> 00:02:52,865 At the big ones actually making doughnuts. 63 00:02:52,865 --> 00:02:56,235 That is not the small stores that fake you out with their curbside 64 00:02:56,235 --> 00:02:59,404 appearance, but only import doughnuts three or four times a day. 65 00:03:00,215 --> 00:03:06,704 And when you do step inside the green and white doors, the fragrance of hot dough 66 00:03:06,735 --> 00:03:13,285 meets you and sugar envelops you in warmth and then guides you over to the room 67 00:03:13,585 --> 00:03:16,095 making the machines making the doughnuts. 68 00:03:16,665 --> 00:03:19,875 Where you can look through the length wall length window to watch 69 00:03:20,145 --> 00:03:28,103 the wonderful crispy doughnuts chain make making a series of doughnuts, a 70 00:03:28,103 --> 00:03:34,775 machine busily at work and gradually watching those doughnuts grow and pop 71 00:03:34,775 --> 00:03:37,734 up to become full size doughnut rings. 72 00:03:37,734 --> 00:03:43,180 Then suddenly they dive into hot oil and their transformation 73 00:03:43,180 --> 00:03:45,904 from dough to Krispy Kremes. 74 00:03:45,905 --> 00:03:50,704 takes place like swimmers in a backyard pool. 75 00:03:51,155 --> 00:03:57,035 They ease down their lanes of hot oil, then quickly flip over to the 76 00:03:57,043 --> 00:03:59,214 Brown, to Brown their undersides. 77 00:03:59,725 --> 00:04:03,544 They trundle up a conveyor, trundle mind you. 78 00:04:04,184 --> 00:04:08,065 They trundle up a conveyor and finally parade through a 79 00:04:08,065 --> 00:04:10,445 grand sugar glazing waterfall. 80 00:04:11,095 --> 00:04:13,025 The taste is beyond compare. 81 00:04:13,025 --> 00:04:13,085 it. 82 00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:19,540 A donut so airy and amazingly light that at a mere finger touch leaves a dent. 83 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:21,010 You know what I'm talking about. 84 00:04:21,860 --> 00:04:25,579 But few fingerprints remain when a dozen disappear in a blink. 85 00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:31,990 And no matter how many times a person has eaten a Krispy Kreme donut, they 86 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,890 still have that same joyful response. 87 00:04:35,270 --> 00:04:36,990 Biting into a new hot one. 88 00:04:37,330 --> 00:04:42,720 Something along the lines of howdy, or wow, or good god. 89 00:04:44,110 --> 00:04:50,590 It all translates to the same wonderful, magical, scrumptious thing. 90 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:55,290 The extraordinary Krispy Kreme Donuts. 91 00:04:56,599 --> 00:04:58,450 You know what I'm talking about, right? 92 00:04:58,810 --> 00:05:00,039 Did I get you hungry now? 93 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:07,270 Why does Krispy Kreme Donuts remind me of the harvest? 94 00:05:08,730 --> 00:05:17,740 Because we We are the harvest of God and because we are an 95 00:05:17,740 --> 00:05:20,609 extraordinary people to God. 96 00:05:22,729 --> 00:05:27,060 Not a normal donut, we're an extraordinary donut. 97 00:05:27,969 --> 00:05:30,700 We are unique before God. 98 00:05:31,039 --> 00:05:34,109 The Bible tells us that we are different. 99 00:05:35,909 --> 00:05:40,590 The Bible tells us, which means the Holy Spirit wrote this through Peter. 100 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:49,530 He says you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people 101 00:05:49,550 --> 00:05:55,260 belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out 102 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:58,439 of darkness into his wonderful light. 103 00:05:58,969 --> 00:06:00,869 You're not just any people. 104 00:06:01,229 --> 00:06:02,960 You're not just ordinary people. 105 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,370 You are extraordinary people. 106 00:06:05,460 --> 00:06:06,490 You realize that? 107 00:06:07,169 --> 00:06:09,570 Before God, you are extraordinary. 108 00:06:10,190 --> 00:06:11,180 You are special. 109 00:06:11,180 --> 00:06:14,100 You're his chosen people. 110 00:06:14,250 --> 00:06:16,050 He chose you. 111 00:06:16,850 --> 00:06:18,230 He chose you. 112 00:06:19,030 --> 00:06:25,110 He picked you to be here, to know him, to live your life with him, to be filled with 113 00:06:25,110 --> 00:06:27,260 his love, to be filled with his spirit. 114 00:06:27,430 --> 00:06:28,190 He called you. 115 00:06:28,199 --> 00:06:30,220 You're not here by accident. 116 00:06:30,930 --> 00:06:33,100 The universe is not an accident. 117 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:36,220 The universe has a creator. 118 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:43,240 A designer who wanted you here to know him, to be with him. 119 00:06:43,670 --> 00:06:49,000 You were chosen and that's always really special to be chosen, right? 120 00:06:49,039 --> 00:06:51,999 I mean, all the way back to childhood, when you were on the playground 121 00:06:51,999 --> 00:06:56,450 and the kids picked the teams, the worst thing was to be picked 122 00:06:56,530 --> 00:06:59,310 last or to not be picked at all. 123 00:06:59,310 --> 00:07:01,390 And somebody just had to take somebody, right? 124 00:07:01,790 --> 00:07:02,950 That was traumatizing. 125 00:07:02,970 --> 00:07:04,599 We're still working on getting over that one. 126 00:07:06,245 --> 00:07:07,505 But yes, not you. 127 00:07:08,365 --> 00:07:09,555 God picked you. 128 00:07:10,245 --> 00:07:11,275 He chose you. 129 00:07:11,815 --> 00:07:14,035 He said, I want you on my team. 130 00:07:15,124 --> 00:07:17,355 I want you to be one of my people. 131 00:07:18,075 --> 00:07:20,145 One of those extraordinary people. 132 00:07:20,725 --> 00:07:22,595 You're a royal priesthood. 133 00:07:23,075 --> 00:07:25,745 You're not just a priesthood of what's a priesthood. 134 00:07:25,945 --> 00:07:28,675 These are the people that connect that were specially 135 00:07:28,685 --> 00:07:31,434 chosen to connect people to God. 136 00:07:31,834 --> 00:07:33,395 You're a royal priesthood. 137 00:07:33,975 --> 00:07:36,385 You're the priesthood of Jesus, who is the king. 138 00:07:36,775 --> 00:07:40,115 You're the one that Jesus picked to go reach out to everybody. 139 00:07:40,625 --> 00:07:43,395 To show them how good he is. 140 00:07:43,835 --> 00:07:46,555 To show the world that God is love. 141 00:07:47,205 --> 00:07:47,984 You're chosen. 142 00:07:47,995 --> 00:07:49,555 You're a royal priesthood. 143 00:07:49,825 --> 00:07:51,765 You are specially commissioned. 144 00:07:52,185 --> 00:07:55,635 You are specially given orders to go and do this. 145 00:07:56,605 --> 00:07:59,175 Because God wants you to fulfill that role. 146 00:07:59,455 --> 00:08:01,305 He says a holy nation. 147 00:08:01,625 --> 00:08:03,435 Not just any people. 148 00:08:03,885 --> 00:08:07,375 A people that He would form a group, a nation out of. 149 00:08:07,654 --> 00:08:09,485 That would be in every nation. 150 00:08:09,885 --> 00:08:11,445 That would be in every country. 151 00:08:11,625 --> 00:08:13,154 That would be on every continent. 152 00:08:13,394 --> 00:08:15,795 And show the world who God is. 153 00:08:16,775 --> 00:08:17,985 How good He is. 154 00:08:18,325 --> 00:08:19,535 The truth of God. 155 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:21,010 The love of God. 156 00:08:21,310 --> 00:08:23,360 A people belonging to God. 157 00:08:23,510 --> 00:08:24,640 Remember those old t shirts? 158 00:08:24,820 --> 00:08:26,590 People used to wear property of? 159 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:28,330 That's us. 160 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:30,699 Property of God. 161 00:08:30,699 --> 00:08:32,450 We belong to Him. 162 00:08:33,318 --> 00:08:34,729 We're His people. 163 00:08:35,359 --> 00:08:38,320 And I gladly say I belong to God. 164 00:08:38,870 --> 00:08:40,190 I belong to Jesus. 165 00:08:40,190 --> 00:08:43,929 I turned myself in, April 6, 1983. 166 00:08:44,470 --> 00:08:46,500 I said, I give myself to God. 167 00:08:46,529 --> 00:08:48,580 You remember that day that you were baptized? 168 00:08:49,515 --> 00:08:52,405 And if you haven't had it, get to it as soon as possible. 169 00:08:53,075 --> 00:08:57,385 Cause it's a day you will never forget where you turn yourself in and you said, 170 00:08:57,395 --> 00:09:00,895 Jesus is Lord, meaning I belong to him. 171 00:09:00,895 --> 00:09:05,015 Now I'm one of his people, his holy nation. 172 00:09:05,245 --> 00:09:06,755 And he, and we're given a job. 173 00:09:06,765 --> 00:09:11,795 He says to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness 174 00:09:11,815 --> 00:09:17,645 into his wonderful light, he gave us a very special role in this world. 175 00:09:18,344 --> 00:09:20,365 To show the world the light. 176 00:09:21,005 --> 00:09:23,645 To show the world what it means to love each other. 177 00:09:23,844 --> 00:09:29,115 In a world that is in darkness, full of hate and fear, and all these issues, to 178 00:09:29,125 --> 00:09:32,305 be the people who show people how to love. 179 00:09:32,844 --> 00:09:34,614 How to overcome differences. 180 00:09:34,675 --> 00:09:36,104 How to forgive each other. 181 00:09:36,355 --> 00:09:37,685 How to be a light. 182 00:09:37,714 --> 00:09:39,735 How to give everyone hope. 183 00:09:40,295 --> 00:09:41,175 That's our job. 184 00:09:41,204 --> 00:09:43,245 He said, You, that's who you are. 185 00:09:43,245 --> 00:09:44,555 You're extraordinary. 186 00:09:44,555 --> 00:09:44,574 You're extraordinary. 187 00:09:44,925 --> 00:09:46,705 You're not like any other nation. 188 00:09:46,705 --> 00:09:48,695 You're not like any other people. 189 00:09:49,155 --> 00:09:50,815 You're God's people. 190 00:09:51,505 --> 00:09:54,294 And that is extraordinary. 191 00:09:54,825 --> 00:09:56,414 Do you feel that this morning? 192 00:09:56,895 --> 00:09:57,854 Do you see that? 193 00:09:57,855 --> 00:09:58,705 Do you know that? 194 00:09:58,714 --> 00:09:59,644 You need to. 195 00:10:00,044 --> 00:10:01,925 Because it is the truth. 196 00:10:03,604 --> 00:10:04,925 Before God it's the truth. 197 00:10:05,705 --> 00:10:07,895 It's how God sees you. 198 00:10:08,315 --> 00:10:11,975 And I know we have all kinds of issues with identity, and how we 199 00:10:11,975 --> 00:10:15,474 see ourselves, and who we think we are, but this is the truth. 200 00:10:15,494 --> 00:10:17,145 This is how God sees you. 201 00:10:18,195 --> 00:10:21,085 And we have to accept that, because it's good. 202 00:10:21,655 --> 00:10:26,985 And it's so inspiring, and it's so encouraging, how much God loves you. 203 00:10:27,469 --> 00:10:31,300 And how he chose you and pulled you onto his team. 204 00:10:31,660 --> 00:10:33,400 This is how God works. 205 00:10:33,449 --> 00:10:37,169 Since the very beginning, he says, the Lord did not set his affection 206 00:10:37,170 --> 00:10:40,849 on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other people. 207 00:10:41,110 --> 00:10:44,110 For you were the fewest of all peoples, but it was because the 208 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,060 Lord loved you and kept the oath. 209 00:10:46,069 --> 00:10:49,790 He swore to your forefathers that he brought you out of a mighty, 210 00:10:49,819 --> 00:10:53,259 with a mighty hand, redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the 211 00:10:53,270 --> 00:10:55,329 power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 212 00:10:55,665 --> 00:10:59,665 Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is God. 213 00:10:59,995 --> 00:11:04,615 He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand 214 00:11:04,615 --> 00:11:08,655 generations of those who love Him and keep His commands. 215 00:11:08,965 --> 00:11:12,934 And I know this is Old Testament, this is when God was calling the Jews out 216 00:11:12,935 --> 00:11:15,545 of Egypt, but it's recorded for us. 217 00:11:16,575 --> 00:11:19,645 Because we're the thousand generations afterwards. 218 00:11:20,105 --> 00:11:22,215 We're the people who still love God. 219 00:11:22,255 --> 00:11:23,705 Raise your hand if you love God. 220 00:11:24,815 --> 00:11:25,695 That's us then! 221 00:11:25,705 --> 00:11:26,485 That's us! 222 00:11:27,335 --> 00:11:28,645 That he's talking about. 223 00:11:30,315 --> 00:11:31,175 He chose us. 224 00:11:32,005 --> 00:11:33,725 Not because you're the most numerous. 225 00:11:34,114 --> 00:11:35,844 Not because you're the best looking. 226 00:11:36,305 --> 00:11:38,264 Not because you're the most educated. 227 00:11:38,564 --> 00:11:41,114 Not because you got the best dance moves on the floor. 228 00:11:41,385 --> 00:11:43,635 Not because you got the most money. 229 00:11:44,945 --> 00:11:47,205 He chose you because he loves you. 230 00:11:48,795 --> 00:11:50,085 He knows you. 231 00:11:50,614 --> 00:11:51,294 Better than anybody. 232 00:11:51,404 --> 00:11:52,444 Better than you do! 233 00:11:52,445 --> 00:11:52,589 You do. 234 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,170 He knows me better than I know me. 235 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,770 And yet, he loves me. 236 00:11:59,960 --> 00:12:01,300 And chose me. 237 00:12:02,809 --> 00:12:03,950 We are his harvest. 238 00:12:05,530 --> 00:12:07,319 We are his harvest. 239 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:12,179 We are the fruit of the labor that has happened. 240 00:12:13,110 --> 00:12:19,350 We are what has been produced out of thousands of years of labor. 241 00:12:20,185 --> 00:12:25,815 to bring about a special people, a holy nation. 242 00:12:25,835 --> 00:12:27,725 That is so awesome. 243 00:12:28,345 --> 00:12:31,605 And we're to celebrate that in Exodus 34. 244 00:12:31,645 --> 00:12:35,544 God told him said celebrate the festival of weeks with the first fruits of 245 00:12:35,544 --> 00:12:40,245 the wheat harvest and festival of in gathering at the turn of the year. 246 00:12:40,495 --> 00:12:42,135 God loves to party. 247 00:12:42,625 --> 00:12:44,375 God loves to celebrate. 248 00:12:44,765 --> 00:12:47,425 God doesn't want a bunch of religious people hanging their 249 00:12:47,425 --> 00:12:49,845 heads, feeling bad about themselves all the time, guilt ridden. 250 00:12:50,045 --> 00:12:51,885 That's not how God operates. 251 00:12:52,745 --> 00:12:53,705 That's not who He is. 252 00:12:54,095 --> 00:12:56,194 Jesus came to set us free. 253 00:12:56,834 --> 00:12:57,934 The fruit of the Spirit. 254 00:12:57,945 --> 00:12:58,565 Love. 255 00:12:58,704 --> 00:12:58,934 Joy. 256 00:12:58,935 --> 00:13:02,194 Joy. 257 00:13:02,195 --> 00:13:06,755 To be happy, to rejoice, to enjoy this life that God has given us. 258 00:13:06,785 --> 00:13:08,465 He commanded them to celebrate. 259 00:13:08,465 --> 00:13:09,915 He said, get out there and party. 260 00:13:10,235 --> 00:13:11,855 Get out there and rejoice. 261 00:13:11,855 --> 00:13:13,874 Get out there and have fun with each other. 262 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,520 Enjoy these, look at these people around you. 263 00:13:17,090 --> 00:13:19,060 I know they're, they're problematic. 264 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,280 But he wants you to enjoy them. 265 00:13:22,199 --> 00:13:23,689 Have fun with them. 266 00:13:23,779 --> 00:13:25,299 Give somebody a high five. 267 00:13:25,569 --> 00:13:27,340 Go ahead, give somebody a high five. 268 00:13:27,460 --> 00:13:29,449 Tell them how glad you are they're here. 269 00:13:34,989 --> 00:13:43,610 You see, sometimes, sometimes we forget, sometimes we forget how 270 00:13:43,750 --> 00:13:45,689 special it is to be a Christian. 271 00:13:46,430 --> 00:13:49,740 Sometimes we forget how special it is to be God's people. 272 00:13:49,950 --> 00:13:54,179 We get all caught up in the problems of the world, or we get all caught 273 00:13:54,179 --> 00:13:57,270 up in the problems of the church, or the problems of our family, or the 274 00:13:57,270 --> 00:14:00,559 problems of our kids, or the problems of our parents, or the problems of our 275 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:02,430 cousin, or the problems of the neighbor. 276 00:14:02,750 --> 00:14:04,619 We just get all caught up in problems. 277 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:11,119 And so he would command them, take a time to celebrate the fruit of the labor. 278 00:14:11,759 --> 00:14:13,000 The fruit of all you've done. 279 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,179 And that's what a harvest is. 280 00:14:16,265 --> 00:14:20,814 It's where you celebrate the fruit of all that we have done. 281 00:14:21,954 --> 00:14:25,555 A lot of us, man, we've been Christians for, we've been 282 00:14:25,604 --> 00:14:26,984 Christians longer than God. 283 00:14:26,984 --> 00:14:28,435 I mean, we've been around forever. 284 00:14:29,045 --> 00:14:31,224 We've been to church more times than Jesus. 285 00:14:31,264 --> 00:14:37,005 I mean, we've just, all those years of sacrifice and self denial and giving 286 00:14:37,005 --> 00:14:40,415 admissions and showing up and getting up early and having quiet times. 287 00:14:40,655 --> 00:14:43,795 When somebody else is sleeping in and getting another half hour of sleep. 288 00:14:44,265 --> 00:14:47,584 All those times of self denial and saying no to sin. 289 00:14:49,045 --> 00:14:51,395 There's a harvest that comes from that. 290 00:14:52,515 --> 00:14:55,234 And he wants us to celebrate that harvest. 291 00:14:55,464 --> 00:14:56,704 Not everybody gets it. 292 00:14:56,714 --> 00:14:59,274 He says, Sluggards do not plow in season. 293 00:14:59,275 --> 00:15:03,084 So at harvest time, they look and find nothing. 294 00:15:04,975 --> 00:15:06,074 Nothing. 295 00:15:06,935 --> 00:15:08,155 Because they didn't do this. 296 00:15:09,545 --> 00:15:11,895 They didn't give their hearts to God. 297 00:15:11,944 --> 00:15:13,574 They didn't deny themselves. 298 00:15:14,325 --> 00:15:18,715 God says in the, one of the many parables Jesus tells about sowing and harvesting. 299 00:15:19,015 --> 00:15:20,095 He told a lot of those. 300 00:15:20,815 --> 00:15:23,654 He also said this is what the kingdom of God is like. 301 00:15:24,154 --> 00:15:27,375 A man scatters seed on the ground night and day whether he sleeps or 302 00:15:27,375 --> 00:15:29,874 gets up, the seed sprouts and grows. 303 00:15:30,374 --> 00:15:31,654 Who makes things grow? 304 00:15:32,325 --> 00:15:33,675 God makes things grow. 305 00:15:34,810 --> 00:15:38,680 And God is always working and God is always moving and he's working. 306 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:40,310 He's working before you get there. 307 00:15:40,310 --> 00:15:41,650 He's working while you're there. 308 00:15:41,750 --> 00:15:43,279 He's working after you leave. 309 00:15:43,420 --> 00:15:48,239 He's working in ways we don't see him in ways that we don't even know, but 310 00:15:48,239 --> 00:15:52,499 God is always working for us night and day, whether he sleeps or gets 311 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:57,449 up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how all by itself. 312 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:01,770 The soil produces grain, first the stock and then the head, 313 00:16:01,790 --> 00:16:03,340 then the full kernel in the head. 314 00:16:03,650 --> 00:16:09,260 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it because the harvest has come. 315 00:16:10,269 --> 00:16:11,710 You are his harvest. 316 00:16:12,689 --> 00:16:16,810 God has worked so hard to get us to where we are now. 317 00:16:17,980 --> 00:16:19,880 To get us so that we would know him. 318 00:16:20,810 --> 00:16:22,940 To get us so that we would be with him. 319 00:16:23,510 --> 00:16:24,950 That we would walk with him. 320 00:16:25,535 --> 00:16:29,595 That we would realize the extraordinary gift he has given us 321 00:16:30,235 --> 00:16:33,855 of making us an extraordinary people. 322 00:16:34,444 --> 00:16:37,405 A people that belong to him. 323 00:16:37,895 --> 00:16:41,174 Jesus told lots of parables about harvesting. 324 00:16:41,175 --> 00:16:44,324 He said, then he told them many things in parables saying, A 325 00:16:44,324 --> 00:16:46,005 farmer went out to sow a seed. 326 00:16:46,245 --> 00:16:49,365 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path and 327 00:16:49,365 --> 00:16:50,675 birds came and ate it up. 328 00:16:50,905 --> 00:16:53,895 Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. 329 00:16:54,235 --> 00:16:57,455 It's sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 330 00:16:57,655 --> 00:17:01,165 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and they 331 00:17:01,175 --> 00:17:02,755 withered because they had no root. 332 00:17:03,025 --> 00:17:06,365 Other seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked the plants. 333 00:17:06,685 --> 00:17:11,714 Still other seeds fell on good soil where it produced a crop a hundred 334 00:17:11,714 --> 00:17:14,174 sixty or thirty times what was sown. 335 00:17:14,614 --> 00:17:16,814 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 336 00:17:16,944 --> 00:17:19,493 This is actually a parable of the harvest. 337 00:17:20,395 --> 00:17:21,925 He said there's four hearts. 338 00:17:22,510 --> 00:17:24,660 It's the last one who has a harvest. 339 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,098 It's the last one that is different, that's distinct. 340 00:17:28,358 --> 00:17:30,060 It's not like anything else. 341 00:17:30,109 --> 00:17:35,200 In all, in the whole universe, I mean, everything God sets up, there's sowing, 342 00:17:35,430 --> 00:17:39,030 there's watering, there's working it, and then there's harvesting. 343 00:17:39,619 --> 00:17:41,180 And it's the same thing with Him. 344 00:17:41,620 --> 00:17:44,320 God is sowing His Word into your hearts. 345 00:17:44,860 --> 00:17:47,460 He's doing it right now as we read this scripture. 346 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:53,260 That heart is, that's, that Word of God is either entering us and changing 347 00:17:53,260 --> 00:17:55,720 us or it's bouncing off, right? 348 00:17:55,740 --> 00:18:00,639 It's, it's doing something and he goes on, he says, he says, as he explains 349 00:18:00,639 --> 00:18:03,970 it, he says, because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven 350 00:18:04,239 --> 00:18:06,610 has been given to you, but not to them. 351 00:18:06,850 --> 00:18:10,229 Whoever has will be given more and they will have an abundance. 352 00:18:10,290 --> 00:18:14,629 Whoever does not have even what they have will be taken from them. 353 00:18:14,629 --> 00:18:16,180 I never understood this scripture. 354 00:18:16,370 --> 00:18:18,060 I thought that's not fair. 355 00:18:18,470 --> 00:18:20,980 The guy who's only got a little bit is going to get it taken away from him. 356 00:18:22,165 --> 00:18:27,864 That doesn't seem fair, but I realize that we have as much as we want from God. 357 00:18:29,104 --> 00:18:32,634 Because it all depends on us sowing into the Lord. 358 00:18:33,344 --> 00:18:36,584 It all depends on us giving him our hearts. 359 00:18:37,154 --> 00:18:39,935 And God will bless us with so much. 360 00:18:40,284 --> 00:18:44,425 And he says that the knowledge of the kingdom, most people just don't get it. 361 00:18:45,044 --> 00:18:46,675 Most people don't understand it. 362 00:18:46,854 --> 00:18:48,024 And he goes on to keep that. 363 00:18:48,024 --> 00:18:49,334 We're still in Matthew 13. 364 00:18:49,335 --> 00:18:49,354 Jesus! 365 00:18:49,655 --> 00:18:53,355 Though seeing they do not see, though hearing they do not hear or understand. 366 00:18:53,675 --> 00:18:56,105 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. 367 00:18:56,315 --> 00:18:58,545 You will be ever hearing but never understanding. 368 00:18:58,555 --> 00:19:00,945 You will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 369 00:19:01,345 --> 00:19:03,485 For this people's heart has become callous. 370 00:19:03,864 --> 00:19:07,524 They hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. 371 00:19:07,894 --> 00:19:13,565 Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with 372 00:19:13,565 --> 00:19:18,365 their hearts, and turn, and I would hear. 373 00:19:18,380 --> 00:19:24,030 God always knew we need healing. 374 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:26,820 We need to be healed. 375 00:19:29,030 --> 00:19:30,300 We're a broken people. 376 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:32,610 We're hurting people. 377 00:19:33,679 --> 00:19:35,100 We're suffering people. 378 00:19:35,780 --> 00:19:36,720 How do I know that? 379 00:19:37,259 --> 00:19:39,509 Because it's true of every human being on this planet. 380 00:19:40,279 --> 00:19:45,149 In different ways, but all of us need to be healed. 381 00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:47,729 But blessed are your eyes. 382 00:19:48,545 --> 00:19:59,445 Because they see and your ears because they hear they hear and they understand 383 00:20:00,405 --> 00:20:05,645 they get it though seeing they do not see though hearing they do not hear 384 00:20:05,834 --> 00:20:10,285 or understand in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah you will be ever 385 00:20:10,285 --> 00:20:14,934 hearing but never understand bottom line is most people don't get it they 386 00:20:14,934 --> 00:20:17,325 don't Most people will not get no man. 387 00:20:17,335 --> 00:20:19,785 You can explain it until you turn blue. 388 00:20:19,945 --> 00:20:25,344 They're not going to get it because it takes a level of honesty. 389 00:20:26,375 --> 00:20:33,735 It takes a level of humility to recognize where I'm at to see my 390 00:20:33,735 --> 00:20:40,875 needs, to see my errors, to see my weakness requires a scary level of 391 00:20:40,875 --> 00:20:43,605 honesty and most people won't go there. 392 00:20:45,410 --> 00:20:46,920 And many people can't go there. 393 00:20:48,350 --> 00:20:51,340 Because they see God as a judgmental, harsh God. 394 00:20:51,340 --> 00:20:52,790 They don't want to get open and honest. 395 00:20:53,820 --> 00:20:56,270 They're afraid He'll just, He'll just condemn them. 396 00:20:56,950 --> 00:21:00,090 It's why people need to know who God really is. 397 00:21:00,780 --> 00:21:03,459 That He is the God of, He is love. 398 00:21:03,529 --> 00:21:04,899 He's not very loving. 399 00:21:04,899 --> 00:21:06,649 The Bible says He is love. 400 00:21:08,350 --> 00:21:12,719 And this is why it's so important that we share our faith and I don't mean invite 401 00:21:12,719 --> 00:21:14,010 people to church That's a good thing. 402 00:21:14,010 --> 00:21:19,539 But sharing our faith is sharing what we know about God That he is 403 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:26,340 good That he is love that he is mercy that he is forgiving no matter what 404 00:21:26,370 --> 00:21:33,899 you've done God will forgive it repent Change okay, that's you know, repent. 405 00:21:33,929 --> 00:21:36,990 That's one of those scary words I used to always think when you say 406 00:21:36,990 --> 00:21:38,650 repent, you have to say repent. 407 00:21:40,180 --> 00:21:43,940 You have to say it with a southern accent, southern preacher accent. 408 00:21:44,950 --> 00:21:47,750 You can be bro, I think you just need to repent. 409 00:21:49,910 --> 00:21:51,159 It's a big scary word. 410 00:21:51,379 --> 00:21:54,010 All it means, all it means is change. 411 00:21:55,069 --> 00:21:57,440 It means come back to God, literally. 412 00:21:58,470 --> 00:22:02,419 You guys all know the Greek word metanoia means change, but how about the Hebrew 413 00:22:02,420 --> 00:22:03,980 word from which the Greek word came. 414 00:22:05,254 --> 00:22:06,584 It just means come back. 415 00:22:07,504 --> 00:22:08,404 Turn around. 416 00:22:09,465 --> 00:22:10,114 Turn around. 417 00:22:10,114 --> 00:22:13,084 That song we, we sang is such a beautiful song. 418 00:22:13,114 --> 00:22:14,165 My favorite song. 419 00:22:15,054 --> 00:22:16,205 The Lord is my shepherd. 420 00:22:16,235 --> 00:22:17,384 I lack nothing. 421 00:22:17,834 --> 00:22:19,834 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 422 00:22:20,044 --> 00:22:21,954 And He leads me in my quiet waters. 423 00:22:22,215 --> 00:22:24,484 He restores my soul. 424 00:22:24,634 --> 00:22:26,204 Guess what that word is in Hebrew? 425 00:22:27,014 --> 00:22:28,415 He turns me around. 426 00:22:28,415 --> 00:22:29,415 He shoves me. 427 00:22:30,214 --> 00:22:32,165 He brings me back to Him. 428 00:22:32,165 --> 00:22:35,094 He This is what people don't get. 429 00:22:35,995 --> 00:22:37,264 God is so good. 430 00:22:37,265 --> 00:22:41,048 God is so good. 431 00:22:41,048 --> 00:22:44,064 And so they see, but do not see. 432 00:22:45,074 --> 00:22:47,955 They hear, but do not, they listen, but they do not hear. 433 00:22:48,824 --> 00:22:50,624 They have shut him out. 434 00:22:52,195 --> 00:22:54,345 Ever hearing, but never getting it. 435 00:22:55,375 --> 00:22:57,155 But he said, but blessed are your eyes. 436 00:22:58,685 --> 00:22:59,884 Blessed are your ears. 437 00:23:00,754 --> 00:23:03,729 Because you heard, And you responded. 438 00:23:05,610 --> 00:23:08,560 You listened and you understood. 439 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:11,580 And you responded to God. 440 00:23:13,310 --> 00:23:14,150 Extraordinary. 441 00:23:15,230 --> 00:23:16,419 Not like everyone else. 442 00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:20,260 Most people, they don't understand what the kingdom of God is. 443 00:23:20,949 --> 00:23:22,580 They don't understand the church. 444 00:23:23,810 --> 00:23:26,060 They expect to be some perfect group of people that do 445 00:23:26,060 --> 00:23:27,230 everything right all the time. 446 00:23:27,510 --> 00:23:29,139 And nobody can live up to that pressure. 447 00:23:30,169 --> 00:23:31,840 And it certainly doesn't happen. 448 00:23:31,919 --> 00:23:33,779 You only have to be here more than about 15 minutes. 449 00:23:33,790 --> 00:23:37,860 And you begin to realize that there are problems. 450 00:23:39,310 --> 00:23:42,560 Most people don't understand what it means to be a Christian. 451 00:23:43,390 --> 00:23:46,409 They think it, it means you belong to a church or you belong to a group 452 00:23:46,609 --> 00:23:50,060 or, or, or you celebrate Christmas, or you don't say happy holidays. 453 00:23:50,060 --> 00:23:51,130 You say Merry Christmas. 454 00:23:51,180 --> 00:23:54,580 They think things that, yeah, okay. 455 00:23:54,580 --> 00:23:56,764 They apply, but so much deeper than that. 456 00:23:57,755 --> 00:24:01,545 What it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 457 00:24:01,555 --> 00:24:06,984 The word, the Bible uses that you make the choice to follow Jesus in 458 00:24:06,984 --> 00:24:12,584 everything, including mind and heart, not allowing myself to be like the world, 459 00:24:15,554 --> 00:24:23,545 but following Jesus eyes fixed on him heart set on things of above and 460 00:24:23,545 --> 00:24:27,745 the things that God has said, what it means to have a spiritual life. 461 00:24:28,830 --> 00:24:34,389 That you walk with your creator, that you listen to the Holy Spirit, that 462 00:24:34,389 --> 00:24:41,490 you are empowered by him to overcome fear and anger and temptation, 463 00:24:42,530 --> 00:24:44,719 that you live in the Holy Spirit. 464 00:24:45,159 --> 00:24:48,200 Most people don't understand what it means to follow Jesus. 465 00:24:48,899 --> 00:24:51,260 What does that mean to fix your eyes on him? 466 00:24:51,990 --> 00:24:53,620 What does it mean in the morning when you get up? 467 00:24:53,629 --> 00:24:55,829 What does it mean in the afternoon when somebody insults you? 468 00:24:56,145 --> 00:25:01,445 What does it mean when somebody hurts your feelings, when somebody 469 00:25:01,445 --> 00:25:05,805 disappoints you, when somebody says something that's judgmental 470 00:25:05,805 --> 00:25:09,635 and mean to you, to follow Jesus. 471 00:25:10,784 --> 00:25:13,054 What does it mean to live your life with God? 472 00:25:15,125 --> 00:25:18,125 Though hearing, they do not understand. 473 00:25:19,195 --> 00:25:22,835 Though seeing, they do not perceive what God has done. 474 00:25:23,675 --> 00:25:25,394 The fourth heart in that parable. 475 00:25:26,870 --> 00:25:27,860 It's the heart that got it. 476 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:32,160 It says, but the seed falling on the good soil refers to someone who 477 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:33,970 hears the word and understands it. 478 00:25:35,420 --> 00:25:39,270 Understand that understanding it takes effort, right? 479 00:25:39,660 --> 00:25:41,490 Remember the first time you opened your Bible and started reading? 480 00:25:41,530 --> 00:25:42,530 What in the world? 481 00:25:43,769 --> 00:25:45,600 And most everybody starts in Revelation. 482 00:25:45,630 --> 00:25:46,460 Are you kidding me? 483 00:25:47,940 --> 00:25:49,850 My hardest book in the Bible to understand. 484 00:25:49,870 --> 00:25:51,040 That's where everybody wants to start. 485 00:25:51,820 --> 00:25:53,450 What are the seven beasts, you know? 486 00:25:53,780 --> 00:25:54,609 Don't worry about that. 487 00:25:55,885 --> 00:25:57,405 You focus on Jesus 488 00:25:59,545 --> 00:26:04,715 but here's the incredible thing is You don't have to have Bible education. 489 00:26:05,205 --> 00:26:09,904 Yeah, I said that You don't have to have a degree in theology. 490 00:26:10,405 --> 00:26:17,835 You don't need to read Greek or Hebrew You know what love is You know what it means 491 00:26:17,835 --> 00:26:26,400 to have faith You know, these are basic concepts that he teaches us And anybody 492 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,460 can understand it if they put the effort. 493 00:26:32,140 --> 00:26:35,450 But if they don't, we won't the fourth heart. 494 00:26:35,450 --> 00:26:40,360 I'm sure the first heart, you guys know, it didn't even listen and said, that's 495 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:45,099 the one that seeds bounced off and you can say, well, isn't that the non Christian? 496 00:26:45,099 --> 00:26:47,219 Cause we always use this for Bible talks to reach out to 497 00:26:47,219 --> 00:26:50,110 people who aren't Christians, but it wasn't written for them. 498 00:26:50,110 --> 00:26:50,950 It was written for us. 499 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:53,120 It wasn't spoken for them. 500 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:54,780 It was spoken for you and me. 501 00:26:55,490 --> 00:27:00,730 To check our hearts To make sure that when I hear the Word of God, is it 502 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:03,770 penetrating or is it bouncing off? 503 00:27:04,370 --> 00:27:06,590 And people it can bounce off for a lot of different reasons. 504 00:27:07,210 --> 00:27:11,219 Maybe somebody had a bad experience Maybe somebody got hurt. 505 00:27:11,669 --> 00:27:13,090 Maybe somebody got disillusioned. 506 00:27:13,220 --> 00:27:18,150 Maybe somebody prayed for something and it didn't happen The heart can harden 507 00:27:18,150 --> 00:27:23,835 for many reasons And here's the thing is, it's probably not the person who refuses 508 00:27:23,835 --> 00:27:25,405 to come to church or go to a Bible talk. 509 00:27:26,235 --> 00:27:29,135 Because this person is where the seed is being scattered. 510 00:27:29,745 --> 00:27:34,145 This is the person at church who doesn't let it penetrate anymore. 511 00:27:35,275 --> 00:27:37,584 And it could be because they think they know it already. 512 00:27:37,995 --> 00:27:41,195 Oh come on bro, parable of the sower, I've done that Bible talk 30 times. 513 00:27:43,195 --> 00:27:46,154 It could be that they've been hurt and they're angry. 514 00:27:46,155 --> 00:27:46,249 It could be. 515 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,530 It could be that they're in sin and their heart is hardened. 516 00:27:50,540 --> 00:27:51,780 They're living a double life. 517 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,500 There's a lot of reasons, but it's not the person outside. 518 00:27:55,530 --> 00:28:00,059 It's the person in the church that isn't letting the Word of 519 00:28:00,059 --> 00:28:01,289 God open their heart anymore. 520 00:28:02,559 --> 00:28:03,899 That isn't being changed by it. 521 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:06,300 And the second one, that one just didn't pay attention. 522 00:28:07,170 --> 00:28:10,070 That one, it says he accepted it with glee. 523 00:28:10,180 --> 00:28:13,530 In the early days, this person was fired up, using our language. 524 00:28:15,165 --> 00:28:18,845 This person was excited, but they dug no roots. 525 00:28:19,605 --> 00:28:20,785 They got too busy. 526 00:28:20,785 --> 00:28:22,375 They didn't have time for quiet times. 527 00:28:22,375 --> 00:28:24,555 They didn't have time to read Bible study books. 528 00:28:24,555 --> 00:28:25,894 They didn't have time to get in there. 529 00:28:26,085 --> 00:28:27,544 They cut short their prayer life. 530 00:28:27,575 --> 00:28:32,025 They were always on the go, always wishing they had more time and 531 00:28:32,025 --> 00:28:34,175 therefore became shallow in their faith. 532 00:28:35,195 --> 00:28:36,115 And you know what? 533 00:28:36,135 --> 00:28:39,625 When you're not digging into scripture, when you're not praying, when you're 534 00:28:39,625 --> 00:28:41,545 not fighting for your quiet time. 535 00:28:43,250 --> 00:28:47,420 They slip away and it doesn't, and it isn't like, I always wish, I 536 00:28:47,420 --> 00:28:51,020 thought, I wish that there was some way that spirituality was physical. 537 00:28:51,020 --> 00:28:54,800 Like we'd all get taller or green or blue or something. 538 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,980 You know, . So you could tell with somebody walking, bro, you 539 00:28:57,980 --> 00:28:59,570 haven't had quiet time in days. 540 00:28:59,990 --> 00:29:00,620 Let me help you. 541 00:29:02,830 --> 00:29:04,750 But they don't look any different. 542 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:06,970 However, they do act different. 543 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,080 When they get hurt, they get mad. 544 00:29:12,645 --> 00:29:15,455 Well, everybody gets mad, but they get overcome with their anger. 545 00:29:16,635 --> 00:29:17,625 They can't overcome it. 546 00:29:18,645 --> 00:29:21,685 When they get tempted, they get drug away and re enslaved. 547 00:29:23,165 --> 00:29:24,755 Not an obvious difference. 548 00:29:25,765 --> 00:29:27,185 But time reveals it. 549 00:29:28,695 --> 00:29:29,955 How they act shows it. 550 00:29:30,484 --> 00:29:31,315 No roots. 551 00:29:32,145 --> 00:29:32,945 No time. 552 00:29:33,555 --> 00:29:34,315 Too distracted. 553 00:29:34,315 --> 00:29:37,005 The third one, of course, this is the tragic one. 554 00:29:37,695 --> 00:29:40,215 Cause they were doing great at one time. 555 00:29:41,220 --> 00:29:44,440 They let the word sink in and change their lives. 556 00:29:44,899 --> 00:29:46,580 They were out there serving God. 557 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:47,620 They were busy for the Lord. 558 00:29:47,660 --> 00:29:49,080 They were serving and sacrifice. 559 00:29:49,330 --> 00:29:51,000 They were doing awesome, 560 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:55,810 but their faith got choked out. 561 00:29:57,090 --> 00:29:59,049 And he says the deceitfulness of wealth. 562 00:29:59,790 --> 00:30:01,010 In the worries of life. 563 00:30:01,260 --> 00:30:02,780 This is a tragic one. 564 00:30:03,510 --> 00:30:05,790 Once upon a time they had great impact. 565 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:08,810 Once upon a time they were rejoicing in the Lord. 566 00:30:08,939 --> 00:30:11,900 Once upon a time they were having a great time as Christians. 567 00:30:13,559 --> 00:30:15,459 But the worries of life, which is what? 568 00:30:15,490 --> 00:30:16,260 Fear. 569 00:30:18,220 --> 00:30:18,919 Consumed them. 570 00:30:20,079 --> 00:30:22,670 And there's a lot of things to be afraid of in this world. 571 00:30:23,860 --> 00:30:26,920 In our world right now, we're in scary times. 572 00:30:27,660 --> 00:30:29,119 It's scary out there. 573 00:30:31,015 --> 00:30:34,925 And if you're not rooted in the word of God, you will get 574 00:30:34,925 --> 00:30:36,885 chewed up and spit out by fear. 575 00:30:38,075 --> 00:30:38,945 We get destroyed. 576 00:30:38,955 --> 00:30:40,455 This one got destroyed. 577 00:30:41,315 --> 00:30:42,475 Because he didn't have the roots. 578 00:30:42,475 --> 00:30:43,685 And roots, you know how roots are. 579 00:30:44,594 --> 00:30:45,925 You got to keep watering them. 580 00:30:46,584 --> 00:30:49,995 You got to keep feeding them or the roots die. 581 00:30:51,875 --> 00:30:56,005 You got to keep expanding or you become root bound and the plant die. 582 00:30:57,830 --> 00:31:02,450 You got to keep growing and this is the one that once upon a time they were 583 00:31:02,470 --> 00:31:05,270 growing But they don't grow anymore. 584 00:31:05,290 --> 00:31:09,740 It's the saddest one to me Because they were so close and then of course 585 00:31:09,740 --> 00:31:12,930 the last one Unlike this one's unique. 586 00:31:12,939 --> 00:31:19,635 This one's extraordinary Unlike the first heart they kept their heart soft Unlike 587 00:31:19,635 --> 00:31:23,305 the second heart they kept guarding their quiet times their Bible study 588 00:31:23,305 --> 00:31:27,444 their prayer their meditation on the Word of God They kept in there with God 589 00:31:28,354 --> 00:31:32,245 Unlike the third heart when stuff came up when the rocks in the and this junk 590 00:31:32,245 --> 00:31:33,725 came in their heart They got rid of it. 591 00:31:33,835 --> 00:31:35,284 They confessed their sin. 592 00:31:35,704 --> 00:31:40,065 They dealt with their sin they were open and honest so all this junk that 593 00:31:40,065 --> 00:31:47,860 kills a Christian was removed and They kept growing And the one thing he 594 00:31:47,860 --> 00:31:49,620 says is, therefore, they understood. 595 00:31:51,630 --> 00:31:52,460 They got it. 596 00:31:53,330 --> 00:31:54,110 They got it. 597 00:31:54,780 --> 00:32:00,509 Even in hard times, even in difficulties, even in dangerous times, they were okay. 598 00:32:01,450 --> 00:32:03,190 Because they had the roots. 599 00:32:03,650 --> 00:32:04,770 They had the strength. 600 00:32:06,069 --> 00:32:06,949 They understood. 601 00:32:07,139 --> 00:32:09,079 Understanding is huge. 602 00:32:09,079 --> 00:32:12,100 Jesus said to the crowds, away from me, you evildoers. 603 00:32:12,420 --> 00:32:13,639 I never knew you. 604 00:32:14,915 --> 00:32:20,175 Understanding Jesus, understanding what he's looking for. 605 00:32:20,175 --> 00:32:21,925 They got it. 606 00:32:22,605 --> 00:32:23,214 They got it. 607 00:32:23,735 --> 00:32:24,615 They're special. 608 00:32:25,424 --> 00:32:26,284 They're unique. 609 00:32:27,155 --> 00:32:27,784 Their choice. 610 00:32:27,785 --> 00:32:32,015 They're not for the record, not more talented, not more educated, 611 00:32:32,475 --> 00:32:34,785 not prettier, not handsomer. 612 00:32:35,075 --> 00:32:37,125 I know some of us think we are, but no, no, no. 613 00:32:37,595 --> 00:32:39,245 There's always somebody out there prettier. 614 00:32:39,735 --> 00:32:41,315 There's always somebody out there more handsome. 615 00:32:41,635 --> 00:32:43,645 Somebody out there richer, somebody out there poorer, 616 00:32:43,645 --> 00:32:45,035 somebody out there more religious. 617 00:32:45,615 --> 00:32:47,565 They're not even the most religious people. 618 00:32:47,995 --> 00:32:50,185 There's a lot of religious people that don't get it. 619 00:32:51,805 --> 00:32:52,755 Don't get it. 620 00:32:54,205 --> 00:32:58,774 They demand righteousness in a very unrighteous way. 621 00:33:00,244 --> 00:33:02,515 With hearts given over to anger and bitterness. 622 00:33:03,475 --> 00:33:07,635 Instead of having compassion and mercy. 623 00:33:07,635 --> 00:33:09,285 The things Jesus was looking for. 624 00:33:10,740 --> 00:33:12,210 That's extraordinary. 625 00:33:13,010 --> 00:33:14,880 There aren't a lot of people in the world like this. 626 00:33:15,700 --> 00:33:17,760 There aren't a lot of people who care this much. 627 00:33:19,529 --> 00:33:21,080 They do fine in the harvest laws. 628 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:22,440 You know, harvest has laws. 629 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:25,019 There are laws in the harvest. 630 00:33:25,670 --> 00:33:27,739 2nd Corinthians 9 says, remember this, whoever sows 631 00:33:27,750 --> 00:33:29,809 sparingly also reaps sparingly. 632 00:33:30,109 --> 00:33:32,729 Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 633 00:33:33,709 --> 00:33:37,459 If we put the time into our relationship with God, we harvest. 634 00:33:38,440 --> 00:33:39,940 From a great relationship with God. 635 00:33:40,660 --> 00:33:47,440 If we put the priority to pray and walk with God, we reap a harvest from God. 636 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:56,310 If we give God our hearts generously, God, I'm all in. 637 00:33:56,910 --> 00:33:58,260 I'm yours. 638 00:33:59,190 --> 00:34:06,780 We reap from God and no matter what, this world dishes out and lemme tell 639 00:34:06,780 --> 00:34:08,580 you something that you already know. 640 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:10,460 The world is harsh. 641 00:34:12,150 --> 00:34:16,170 The world is ugly and I'm not a negative downer person. 642 00:34:16,679 --> 00:34:18,380 I just know what's going on out there. 643 00:34:19,309 --> 00:34:20,510 I know what's happening. 644 00:34:23,090 --> 00:34:23,849 It's not good. 645 00:34:25,130 --> 00:34:28,030 This week is going to be a scary week for a lot of people. 646 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,219 There's a lot of bad stuff happening. 647 00:34:31,780 --> 00:34:33,630 There's a lot of bad stuff being said. 648 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,440 We are extraordinary. 649 00:34:38,650 --> 00:34:39,679 We love. 650 00:34:40,925 --> 00:34:46,364 We give, we serve, we love everybody. 651 00:34:46,405 --> 00:34:46,915 Amen. 652 00:34:48,514 --> 00:34:50,864 Law of the harvest, you get what you put in. 653 00:34:52,235 --> 00:34:53,135 Do not be deceived. 654 00:34:53,145 --> 00:34:54,224 God cannot be mocked. 655 00:34:54,235 --> 00:34:55,495 Nobody's gonna fool God. 656 00:34:56,175 --> 00:34:57,245 There's no shortcuts. 657 00:34:58,455 --> 00:35:01,075 God knows what we're putting into our relationship with him. 658 00:35:01,885 --> 00:35:05,895 God knows whether we're prior to somebody can say, Oh baby, I love you. 659 00:35:05,995 --> 00:35:07,425 But you know if he loves you or not. 660 00:35:09,380 --> 00:35:13,550 We're not stupid and God isn't stupid We say Jesus is Lord, 661 00:35:13,550 --> 00:35:15,000 but he knows if he's Lord or not 662 00:35:17,770 --> 00:35:18,680 Do not be deceived. 663 00:35:18,690 --> 00:35:23,450 God cannot be mocked a man reaps what he sows Whoever sows to please their flesh 664 00:35:23,450 --> 00:35:30,140 the from the flesh will reap destruction Whoever sows to please the spirit From 665 00:35:30,140 --> 00:35:35,020 the spirit will reap eternal life Let us not become weary in doing good for at 666 00:35:35,050 --> 00:35:42,070 the proper time We will reap a harvest if we do not Don't give up, don't quit, 667 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:47,010 don't quit, not even a little bit. 668 00:35:47,450 --> 00:35:49,860 Sometimes we don't, we don't do the big dramatic quit. 669 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:50,760 I'm out of here. 670 00:35:51,590 --> 00:35:52,980 Sometimes we do the little quit. 671 00:35:53,659 --> 00:35:54,800 I'm just not saying anything. 672 00:35:55,769 --> 00:35:57,330 I'm just not giving my heart anymore. 673 00:35:57,890 --> 00:35:59,460 I'm just not going to love anymore. 674 00:36:00,030 --> 00:36:04,480 I'm just not going to serve because I know those people got problems and 675 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,159 they're probably going to hurt me or disappoint me or do something stupid. 676 00:36:07,885 --> 00:36:09,665 And I'm not contributing to stupidity. 677 00:36:13,495 --> 00:36:14,635 Very much like the world. 678 00:36:17,545 --> 00:36:19,135 Thank God Jesus didn't have that attitude. 679 00:36:20,665 --> 00:36:24,885 Jesus was, I know they're evil, but I'm going to die for them anyways. 680 00:36:25,894 --> 00:36:30,465 I know they're messed up and they're weak, but I'm going to go 681 00:36:30,465 --> 00:36:33,355 to the cross for them to save them. 682 00:36:34,355 --> 00:36:34,605 Why? 683 00:36:34,605 --> 00:36:39,115 Because his actions weren't based on our goodness. 684 00:36:40,135 --> 00:36:40,965 His actions. 685 00:36:41,310 --> 00:36:42,640 We're based on God's goodness. 686 00:36:44,550 --> 00:36:46,910 That's what makes Christians extraordinary. 687 00:36:47,820 --> 00:36:49,220 Extraordinary. 688 00:36:50,270 --> 00:36:53,140 What we sow, we reap. 689 00:36:53,189 --> 00:36:54,590 We sow hate, we reap hate. 690 00:36:55,490 --> 00:36:57,629 We sow love, we will reap love. 691 00:36:57,999 --> 00:37:00,419 We sow anger, we will reap anger. 692 00:37:00,859 --> 00:37:03,549 We sow mercy, we will reap mercy. 693 00:37:03,949 --> 00:37:05,819 We sow fear and we will reap fear. 694 00:37:05,959 --> 00:37:08,799 And the challenging part of this is it doesn't happen right away. 695 00:37:10,235 --> 00:37:13,755 Sometimes you sow love and nobody loves back. 696 00:37:15,265 --> 00:37:16,985 And you're like, man, what the heck? 697 00:37:20,464 --> 00:37:21,185 Hang in there. 698 00:37:21,384 --> 00:37:22,135 Don't quit. 699 00:37:23,275 --> 00:37:24,334 You're planting seeds. 700 00:37:24,335 --> 00:37:28,684 Judge each day by not by the fruit it bears, but by the seeds you plant. 701 00:37:30,354 --> 00:37:31,385 What am I planting? 702 00:37:32,085 --> 00:37:35,385 Because that's what I'm going to harvest down the road. 703 00:37:35,935 --> 00:37:42,640 The world Sows hate, prejudice, fear, panic, lies, deceit, anger, 704 00:37:42,660 --> 00:37:43,750 bitterness, apathy, unbelief. 705 00:37:44,410 --> 00:37:45,160 You don't believe me? 706 00:37:45,170 --> 00:37:46,049 You think I'm being negative? 707 00:37:46,050 --> 00:37:46,800 Turn on the news. 708 00:37:48,890 --> 00:37:49,979 This is the world. 709 00:37:50,730 --> 00:37:51,370 You want it? 710 00:37:52,009 --> 00:37:52,540 You can have it. 711 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:53,220 I don't want it. 712 00:37:54,319 --> 00:37:55,549 I want the kingdom of God. 713 00:37:56,849 --> 00:37:58,550 And I know we struggle. 714 00:37:58,570 --> 00:38:01,000 I know all weaknesses. 715 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:02,010 I know my own. 716 00:38:03,390 --> 00:38:04,460 But God is good. 717 00:38:06,100 --> 00:38:08,570 And if I keep sowing love. 718 00:38:10,545 --> 00:38:11,885 It's what I'm reaping already. 719 00:38:12,605 --> 00:38:13,875 The Krispy Kreme people, 720 00:38:16,065 --> 00:38:23,254 they sow love, they sow kindness, even, even when they get hurt or 721 00:38:23,255 --> 00:38:27,634 disappointed or disillusioned or they get left behind or they get forgotten, 722 00:38:27,634 --> 00:38:31,635 they keep sowing love and it works. 723 00:38:32,525 --> 00:38:38,065 Maybe not the first week, maybe not the first year, but I guarantee you they will. 724 00:38:38,075 --> 00:38:38,944 God is not a liar. 725 00:38:39,950 --> 00:38:41,070 God will not be mocked. 726 00:38:41,790 --> 00:38:44,380 It's so peace in goodness, bro. 727 00:38:44,420 --> 00:38:44,940 Chill out. 728 00:38:44,980 --> 00:38:45,460 It's okay. 729 00:38:45,620 --> 00:38:46,200 We'll get there. 730 00:38:46,820 --> 00:38:47,489 We'll be all right. 731 00:38:49,180 --> 00:38:49,500 Sister. 732 00:38:49,500 --> 00:38:50,140 Don't worry. 733 00:38:51,260 --> 00:38:54,649 Trust God that people are evil. 734 00:38:54,649 --> 00:38:56,229 Yeah, they are, but God is good. 735 00:38:57,209 --> 00:38:57,970 God is good. 736 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:01,210 So truth and honesty. 737 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:06,199 Yeah, you messed up, but the truth is I messed up too. 738 00:39:07,319 --> 00:39:08,819 So I'm nobody to judge you. 739 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:13,000 I want you to change, but I know I need to change. 740 00:39:13,590 --> 00:39:15,630 So maybe I should deal with the plank in my own eye before I 741 00:39:15,630 --> 00:39:16,760 worry about the one in yours. 742 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:20,890 They sow truth. 743 00:39:21,490 --> 00:39:22,220 They sow honesty. 744 00:39:22,220 --> 00:39:23,400 They sow forgiveness. 745 00:39:24,070 --> 00:39:26,009 It's easy to forgive when you know you're a sinner. 746 00:39:26,509 --> 00:39:29,039 When you know you've messed up, but when you think you're better than 747 00:39:29,039 --> 00:39:30,440 other people, it's hard to forgive. 748 00:39:33,110 --> 00:39:36,860 It's easy to sow faith and trust when we know God. 749 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:38,500 That's what the Krispy Kreme people do. 750 00:39:40,570 --> 00:39:43,440 They sow joy and goodness. 751 00:39:45,150 --> 00:39:46,530 This is awesome. 752 00:39:47,930 --> 00:39:50,480 Say, but Robert, you don't know my Bible talk. 753 00:39:50,549 --> 00:39:51,749 There's so many messed up people. 754 00:39:51,749 --> 00:39:54,150 They're uncommitted, they're sinful, they're weak. 755 00:39:54,690 --> 00:39:56,279 Yeah, I know, but it's still awesome. 756 00:39:56,470 --> 00:39:58,620 Because every one of them was made in God's image. 757 00:39:58,970 --> 00:40:01,980 And as long as they're coming and listening to God's word, there's hope. 758 00:40:04,380 --> 00:40:05,260 There's hope for me. 759 00:40:06,399 --> 00:40:07,110 There's hope for you. 760 00:40:07,110 --> 00:40:07,244 There's hope. 761 00:40:08,275 --> 00:40:10,815 Whoever sows to please the spirit, what do they reap? 762 00:40:11,475 --> 00:40:17,664 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 763 00:40:17,665 --> 00:40:19,305 gentleness, and self control. 764 00:40:20,685 --> 00:40:21,454 That's a life. 765 00:40:21,455 --> 00:40:24,375 I want to close out with this story. 766 00:40:25,734 --> 00:40:31,315 There was a very wealthy man who was very talented, very smart, had the 767 00:40:31,325 --> 00:40:36,245 best education, started a business that just thrived, made lots of money. 768 00:40:37,090 --> 00:40:39,820 He was doing really well, loved his business. 769 00:40:40,750 --> 00:40:45,569 But then he met this young lady and he fell in love head 770 00:40:45,569 --> 00:40:48,130 over heels, totally in love. 771 00:40:48,130 --> 00:40:50,710 And she became his love. 772 00:40:52,220 --> 00:40:55,060 And they got married. 773 00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:56,700 They had a home together. 774 00:40:57,530 --> 00:41:02,050 They were living life, a very good life together in love. 775 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:04,000 She got pregnant. 776 00:41:05,665 --> 00:41:07,455 She gave birth to a beautiful little boy. 777 00:41:08,515 --> 00:41:11,465 But unfortunately, she passed away in the birth. 778 00:41:13,255 --> 00:41:17,175 And the dad, the father, the husband, was grief stricken. 779 00:41:18,175 --> 00:41:21,855 He was broken hearted, but he poured all his love into his 780 00:41:21,855 --> 00:41:25,474 son, whom he loved so much. 781 00:41:26,764 --> 00:41:33,135 But unfortunately, when he was still a child, his son got sick and also died. 782 00:41:34,575 --> 00:41:38,955 And the man was left alone, in his beautiful mansion with all his, he 783 00:41:38,955 --> 00:41:43,914 was an art collector, he had beautiful art collections, and cars, and things 784 00:41:43,914 --> 00:41:45,804 that every man envies and wants. 785 00:41:47,964 --> 00:41:49,614 And he lived the rest of his life alone. 786 00:41:50,994 --> 00:41:53,835 And when he passed, because he had no children, his entire 787 00:41:53,835 --> 00:41:55,795 estate went up for auction. 788 00:41:57,455 --> 00:42:02,284 And on the day of the auction, they had a huge auction, and hundreds of people came. 789 00:42:03,225 --> 00:42:06,885 They wanted the artworks, the cars, the furniture, all the stuff he had. 790 00:42:08,525 --> 00:42:11,805 And the first thing they put on the block was this painting of the little boy. 791 00:42:13,475 --> 00:42:15,954 And they said, who would start the bidding at 500? 792 00:42:16,454 --> 00:42:17,034 Nobody. 793 00:42:17,534 --> 00:42:18,205 Put their hand up. 794 00:42:19,195 --> 00:42:21,304 He said, okay, 400, nobody. 795 00:42:22,195 --> 00:42:23,755 300, nobody. 796 00:42:24,865 --> 00:42:26,385 200, nobody. 797 00:42:26,385 --> 00:42:27,925 It's the painting of his son. 798 00:42:29,565 --> 00:42:30,629 100, nobody. 799 00:42:31,110 --> 00:42:34,680 And the little old guy in the back of the room raised his hand. 800 00:42:34,700 --> 00:42:35,670 He was the gardener. 801 00:42:37,230 --> 00:42:40,150 And the gardener loved this little boy. 802 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:45,340 He taught him how to plant seeds, and how to grow plants, and how 803 00:42:45,340 --> 00:42:47,020 to harvest his little garden. 804 00:42:48,189 --> 00:42:50,380 He loved the little boy, and he wanted the painting. 805 00:42:50,380 --> 00:42:54,990 He couldn't afford it, but he went ahead and spent a hundred dollars. 806 00:42:55,005 --> 00:43:00,375 And so the auctioneer asked anybody else anybody, you know, and they said 807 00:43:00,385 --> 00:43:06,395 nobody raised a hand He said sold to the man in the back for 100 And then 808 00:43:06,395 --> 00:43:11,174 he took the book that had all the items listed And he closed the book. 809 00:43:11,904 --> 00:43:15,405 He said that concludes the auction And everybody's like whoa. 810 00:43:15,425 --> 00:43:15,795 Whoa. 811 00:43:15,805 --> 00:43:20,315 Whoa, everybody was upset He said the man left it clearly stated 812 00:43:20,315 --> 00:43:24,305 in his will that whoever got the boy painting got everything 813 00:43:26,970 --> 00:43:27,950 Let me tell you something. 814 00:43:29,190 --> 00:43:34,300 If you get it, if you get Jesus, if you get the kingdom 815 00:43:34,300 --> 00:43:36,940 of God, you get everything. 816 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:37,730 God bless you. 817 00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:49,379 A prayer for communion. 818 00:43:49,489 --> 00:43:49,879 Sorry. 819 00:43:50,949 --> 00:43:51,809 I got excited. 820 00:43:57,230 --> 00:43:58,080 Father God, 821 00:44:00,630 --> 00:44:01,540 God, we get it. 822 00:44:03,140 --> 00:44:04,710 We get how loving you are. 823 00:44:05,669 --> 00:44:06,850 How wonderful you are. 824 00:44:06,850 --> 00:44:06,919 Amen. 825 00:44:08,060 --> 00:44:08,990 How good you are. 826 00:44:10,350 --> 00:44:12,010 We get the value of your son. 827 00:44:13,230 --> 00:44:15,180 And by having your son, we get everything. 828 00:44:16,429 --> 00:44:18,949 Help us, God, in our weakness. 829 00:44:19,900 --> 00:44:21,180 Help us in our sin. 830 00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:23,260 Forgive us our sins. 831 00:44:24,410 --> 00:44:34,140 Help us to love, to serve, to give, to sacrifice, to be a light first 832 00:44:34,140 --> 00:44:39,050 in our homes, With our families and our children and our parents. 833 00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:45,209 Help us to be a light in the church and to love and to give and to 834 00:44:45,210 --> 00:44:47,920 serve and to to be like Jesus. 835 00:44:49,230 --> 00:44:51,290 Help us to be a light to the whole world. 836 00:44:51,319 --> 00:44:51,669 God. 837 00:44:53,009 --> 00:44:57,730 To know who we are to know that we are a royal priesthood. 838 00:44:58,830 --> 00:45:01,370 A chosen people a holy nation. 839 00:45:02,429 --> 00:45:03,079 Help us. 840 00:45:03,515 --> 00:45:09,245 To shine brightly, especially in our world right now that is so in trouble. 841 00:45:10,255 --> 00:45:15,325 Help us to show them the extraordinary faith we have. 842 00:45:16,474 --> 00:45:17,905 Help us to be extraordinary. 843 00:45:18,455 --> 00:45:23,005 We know God that Jesus was extraordinary for each of us. 844 00:45:24,695 --> 00:45:30,555 He died that we could live that we could be set free, that we could 845 00:45:30,564 --> 00:45:36,955 live this life you've We thank you for his body as we eat this bread. 846 00:45:37,415 --> 00:45:40,335 We thank you for his blood as we drink this cup. 847 00:45:41,275 --> 00:45:45,254 We thank you for the forgiveness it represents and the power 848 00:45:45,254 --> 00:45:47,225 to overcome that it grants us. 849 00:45:47,595 --> 00:45:48,505 In his name, we pray. 850 00:45:48,725 --> 00:45:49,035 Amen.