Timothy: Let’s press on with the first word Jesus preached when he started God’s ministry. Underscore that God’s ministry, the word “repent”.
Intro: Welcome to the Consider Podcast where we turn our minds to consider wisdom, madness and folly. Join the host Timothy and Jacob on a quest to have God enlighten the mind according to verse 25 of Ecclesiastes chapter 7. So, I turned my mind to understand. To investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. Ecclesiastes 7:25. The Consider Podcast examining today’s events and Paulorrow’s realities at www.consider.info.
Timothy: We’re going to continue to talk about the love of Jesus Christ, because that’s what we’re talking about. Reason Jesus came to earth was because of the love of God flowing through him and in him and he was love personified in bodily form. We’re going to look at some scriptures that we’ve kind of touched on before in the very beginning, and I encourage those who are listening for the first time to go back and start at the beginning. It’s very difficult to jump into this podcast and think you’re going to be able to get it all together understand it. Because we’re building on scriptures and sometimes, we repeat.
I know when Paul wrote to the church in Filippa, he said, “It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again and it is a safeguard for you.” we’re repeating things but we’re adding too and we’re going on to maturity, and so we’re honing in on the word “repentance” today. We’ve talked before and discussed the fact that everybody loves the clamor of their worship which is really entertainment these days, rather than having the love of Jesus Christ that calls all to repentance. Even the understanding of what repentance is, why we need repentance is not understood. It’s not defined well. It’s not seen well. It’s not presented in such a way that somebody entering into a church would understand, oh I have to repent. This is a church of repentance.
The worst it really happens is that we take our ideas of repentance are really what we want repentance to mean, and which of course would be whitewashed shallow type things. And so, we never have the mind of God, let alone the heart of God and the heart of Jesus Christ to call other people to repentance. That’s worth repeating. We’d rather hold on to our shallow concepts our whitewash books are whitewash movies our whitewash revivals that just so easily paint over. I mean the least little bit; I mean the smallest of actual repentance or conviction or whatever. It’s called revival. It’s called holy and it’s not even close, not even close. In fact, it’s the false teachers or the Pharisees and by the way, don’t expect the Pharisees to be excited about what we’re looking at here today because this message doesn’t build large churches but it does build those who are holy seeking after a living God. It’s like simple little children in the church today.
There was an article I was just reading this morning Jacob about “The seven largest churches in America”. And the article said that, if you want to make an influence for Jesus, join these seven large churches. But you can get a large church if you’re whitewashed. If I went in there and preach one 45-minute sermon and I’d be cutting it short, well I would be ran out of the church building for sure or it would clear the crowd and all it would be left would be like Gideon just a few people that might hunger for the living God and even that might be whittled back down. So, the church in America is like children with a papercut. What happens when a young child gets a paper cut, Jacob?
Jacob: They start screaming. I need a band aid. I need this. I need that. I have a paper cut.
Timothy: Yep. It’s end of the world.
Jacob: End of the world.
Timothy: Armageddon’s coming.
Jacob: This is just well so you know I have young children and it was just funny only because she had like tripped and fall. I think she maybe like scraped her knee. Oh, I died. I died. She came up with this thing that she had died. So yes, little things are huge.
Timothy: Well, they even accept the rebukes or scripture. Let’s forget just even a flat-out scripture just kind of read if they even accept that that would be a plus, but they don’t they act like it’s the end of the world it’s a paper cut. Oh, instead of being cut to the heart it’s a superficial papercut at best that doesn’t mean anything and they think it’s the end of the world.
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: In Luke chapter 7 verse 30 we’ll take a kind of a quick look at this. And this is one of those I think we covered before early on, but I want to readdress it because it’s important to understand. We’re not going to be able to present repentance to other people if we ourselves have not repented properly. Because you’re only going to present what you understand and what God is able to work through you. And if hating your own life and seeing your sin and eventually we’re going to be into just how worthless you really are unless that’s really been immersed in you, you’re not going to be able to call your neighbor to repentance because you’re not really going to see a sin for what it is.
If you’re being saved and you think you’re being saved and you’re living a whitewashed Christianity or half a whitewashed Christianity, then you’re going to think your neighbor’s not that bad. You’re not going to have the love of Jesus Christ that literally lays down your life because you’re going to face persecution if you preach this repentance. I know right now things you can look like you’re a part of Jesus pretty easy, because anything Christian is being attacked. But it’s not because of righteousness’ sake. It’s because opinion or philosophy or influence of Christian influence. Everything’s being turned over, but people are really mistaken if they think they’re being persecuted because of righteousness’ sake.
In Luke chapter 7 verse 30, “but the Pharisees”. Again, don’t expect your religious leaders except anything I’m telling you here today. “But the Pharisees and experts in the law”. Those who knew the proper words in the Greek and the Hebrew and the law and everything the Pharisees. It says, “They rejected God’s purpose for themselves.” It’s important to ask selves. Well now why did they reject God’s purpose? What was it that they didn’t do or what demonstrated that they themselves are rejecting God. I don’t want Jesus Christ. I don’t want anything part with him. I’m going to eventually crucify him. He’s wrong. He’s totally in a wrong direction this Jesus here.
What was the thing that demonstrated to God and the angels and to us and what are we about to read that shows they rejected Jesus Christ? Jacob, go ahead and start Luke 7:30 and read from that all the way through and let’s listen carefully at what demonstrates this.
Jacob: “But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.”
Timothy: They had not been baptized by John. And we’re talking about a baptism of John, an immersion as what baptism is, it’s not sprinkling. An immersion of understanding of what John’s baptism is. It’s an immersion into the suffering of seeing one’s heart and looking at one’s life as John preaches. Let’s go to first Thessalonians 1:5. And it says, “Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. you know how we lived among you for your sake.” You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcome the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit.” You don’t find that in whitewashed churches which today in America is pretty much anywhere you go. If you think your church is not of the Whitewashed Church, give me a call. Leave me a message. We’d be eager for the fellowship. We’d be eager to acknowledge that.
Those few that are seeking God, I know they’re out there. But these large churches and many churches are just cold and it’s just why wars is being presented. In fact, I don’t know. Let’s press on. Jacob, go ahead and read first Thessalonians 1:7 & 8.
Jacob: “And so, you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achia, your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it.”
Timothy: There are model messages, there are model examples. There are those churches for which we should look to and go that’s example, that’s what I should expect. So, let me back up. Verse 5, a model church would be the preaching does not simply come words but it comes with deep conviction. And we’re going to look at John the Baptist here in a moment. So, we’re talking deep conviction even beyond John and then it goes that you get sufferings along with that. You became imitators of us. Oh my. What are they doing there, Jacob?
Jacob: They’re following a man.
Timothy: Following a man. They’re in a cult. See, that’s where the slander’s going to come in. “You became imitators of us and of the Lord”. Of course, it’s all the Lord and the two are one if you’re really seeking God. “In spite of severe suffering.” There were, when I was preaching there were several individuals, I won’t say how many. For whom somebody wanted to join and there was great opposition among families and friends they’d say you could go to any church you want to but don’t go to that church. Unfortunately, they didn’t come. In that sense the persecutors do you a favor. They just weed out those individuals who would be lukewarm anyway, but on a worst-case scenario they may also divert those who are young in the Lord and they’re going to pay a heavy price for that.
“You became imitators of us into the Lord; in spite of severe suffering.” You welcome the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit. So, it’s a measure of accepting the word. And doing so with joy not just the joy of man. You see these big revivals or these large churches or these little mini movements that happen in smaller churches. It’s not a joy given by the Holy Spirit. It’s a joy of activity. It’s a joy of human zeal. You can get the same thing going to a sporting event or going to a Christian concert or going quote unquote to a Christian movie about People being strong in the Lord. You can get the old tingle’s watching any movie. You can be driven to tears watching any movie. And so, the whitewashed preachers like to just tack on. Oh, that’s from Jesus Christ. That’s from God because it builds the numbers. It makes them feel good. They haven’t been crucified to their lust of the flesh that wants people following them.
Alright verse 7 again. “And so, you became a model to all the believers”. So, there’s a certain model. There’s a certain full gospel message. There’s a way that we ought to say I want to attain that or I want that in our church. I want that in my life.
Verse 8 says, “The Lord’s message rang out”. It rang out. Again, we’d ask in our part one of this, what message rings out. It’s not repentance among groups. It’s not repentance among churches. In fact, it’s come to our church. We’re a friendly church. We’re all these things. You’ll be blessed. You’ll be entertained so on and so forth but the Lord’s message. The Lord’s message Hang out. And we’re going to have to back up and not be Pharisees or experts in the word or experts in the law. We’re going to have to go back to the message John the Baptist to find out what this message of repentance is about.
So, there is a full gospel message. Jacob let’s go ahead and play the part about, “Even the Demons Believe”, the book because that’s a good book. If somebody wants to get started you can get it free. You can order it. It’s even online. So go ahead Jacob.
Testimonial video: JF who lives in Brazil set up the book “Even the Demons Believe”. I would like to tell you that I’m doing chapter 7 right now. It’s the second time I’ve read the book, “Even the Demons Believe” and I think it’s an impacting book. Literally impacting. Let us say the first time you read it, you get shocked, outraged, and maybe sort of mad at the author. However, a second reading makes you go deep into your own spiritual life and church experiences. I presume it has gotten people exactly where Pastor Williams wanted them to be. Cornered and faced by their own attitude towards the almighty.
If you are interested in the full and complete gospel message before becoming a disciple of Jesus. Then the book, “Even the Demons Believe” might prove helpful. As the angel told the apostle Peter in Acts 5:20. “Go stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.’ The book “Even the Demons Believe will also guide those claiming the name Christian to test themselves. As the apostle Paul wrote in second Corinthians 13:5. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Unless of course you fail the test? The Consider Podcast, today’s events, Paulorrow’s realities. www.consider.info.
Timothy: In Luke 3:3 it says, “John the Baptist went into all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance.” Baptism means immersion. The whole life comes under the influence of repentance. It says, “A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus began by saying his ministry by saying repent and believe the good news John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus with a baptism isn’t repented. Jacob, you’re telling me the story about pot and you don’t have to clean up your life or something like that?
Jacob: Yeah, there was this one pastor and the story goes that there was a kid, a young man and he was pretty much asking this pastor. I mean he was saying it in certain words and you know I have to kind of give up marijuana blah blah. And the pastor kept telling him, well no no, no, no you don’t have to give that up and he ended it with, he said, “Well, you don’t get cleaned to go take a shower, you take a shower to get clean. So, you’ll come to Jesus and then you and him can kind of work that out. And if there’s something that needs to be cleaned up it’ll get cleaned up.”
Timothy: Well, first of all that’s just a cop out of a pastor he doesn’t want to face any opposition that comes from actually telling people what they need to repent of.
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: That’s kind of a sub issue.
Jacob: But even the kid knew. Like he felt the guilt, he knew he was going to have to give up things for Jesus. He knew liked Pot and he was going to have to give up the pot for Jesus. You know what I mean though?
Timothy: Yeah, he was being convicted.
Jacob: He was being convicted. He knew.
Timothy: We all do that. We’ll go we’re being convicted. We hope we’re wrong. So, Jacob what do you think? Is this right or wrong? And then once you say it or somebody goes, no that’s wrong. It becomes obviously clear but we’re we need each other. But in that sense yeah, he’s being convicted. He knows Pot’s wrong. And then correct me if wrong, when you originally told me the story. He tells, the pastor this says, no, and then the kids kind of going, “Well, wait are you sure you’re right on this thing or his attitude was.” That I could be wrong on that.
Jacob: No, during the story the kid kept bringing it up because the pastor I kind of shortened it, but the kid almost didn’t believe the pastor because he kept asking him. The story goes, the story goes that he’s asking, oh well, I have to give it this or whatever, and thinking that the pastor didn’t understand what he was talking about. Supposedly, he reaches into his jacket and he pulls out like a joint.
Timothy: Let me pause. I can see that. It’s like, no, you don’t understand what Pod is. You’re that ignorant. He’s like, yeah.
Jacob: No, but that that was a story and the guy, and so the kid supposedly physically pulls out a joint out of his pocket to make sure it was clear. He’s like, no, this. Do I have to give up this and then the guy’s like, oh you take a shower, blah blah blah.
Timothy: Alright. Well, we better press on because it’s kind of obvious where this is coming from now.
Jacob: Correct? Unfortunately, I don’t know what church that was. It was probably in the top seven that you mentioned.
Timothy: It’s an attitude that pervades almost everywhere. I remember when I first came to the Lord, I knew I was hooked to TV. This is, look, okay, this is back when you had three channels and that kind of thing, but it was difficult to give up. And I threw away anywhere I don’t remember three to seven TVs before the Holy Spirit was able to get under control. I just kept cutting off my hand or cutting off what was ever in the way. These things have to be out. You got to go to extra strength forceful men’s scripture says, “Take hold of the kingdom”.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, oh my, we’re in the Old Testament, all you Old Testament people, well, go off somewhere else. A voice of one calling in the desert. In order to get the baptism, this is important. In order to get the baptism of John, before you get to Jesus, and whether you reject him or not, you got to go to the desert. It’s inconvenient. You got to go some distance away from all the stuff. Think about people listening to this podcast. In other words, we’re in a dated with all kinds of podcasts. You could do all kinds of things and there’s noise around us and music constantly and so on. You got to get alone. You got to get out there to the desert. You got to strip away kind of get down to the nitty gritty of life and what you’re doing. You just strip away everything that you’re doing and go to the desert and it’s in that desert then you actually discover things you need to give up.
So, most people think, well, I’m going out to hear John the Baptist. Oh, I had to give this up and I had to stop this and I got to stop this activity and I’ve got to stop this appointment over here and all we always get together on Wednesday for prayer meeting or whatever it is. Can be noble, can be unnoble, doesn’t matter. You all of that has to stop. Your life as you know it stops. And you go out to the desert. And what does it say? What does John the Baptist tell anyone before they get to Jesus? Prepare the way for the Lord. Clean up what you can clean up. That’s the point.
There are things that you can do that you have to do before the Holy Spirit can begin to come and to cleanse you out and to deal with a lot more serious things and get on with the new life. Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him to get to you. How many people will begin to listen to this and just get busy with other stuff. You’ve got to clean up and get rid of straighten those paths out so that John the Baptist can get it to you. Let alone Jesus Christ. But how many people are going to claim that they have Jesus Christ? I’m going to ask my usual question Jacob. When’s the last time you seen any discussion among that would come to the Lord as like, oh I just got through with the baptism of John.
Jacob: Yeah, you don’t hear about it.
Timothy: No. The other sad part is people will have children reach a certain age within the church where they become interested and want to become Christians. And we immediately want them to ask Jesus in their heart or baptism or whatever is going on. They haven’t been hounded or rebuked or corrected by John the Baptist. They’re not ready for it. They just don’t understand the seriousness of what it means to give up and to follow Jesus Christ. John says in verse 5, “Every valley shall be filled in.” That is all your self-pity, your depression, life is meaningless. All that that ooey gooey, you know how miserable I am and grumbling and complaining. Your little valleys of depression and you know you just go into the darkness and you just kind of hide in there. Those have to go. I had a lot of self-pity before I came to Jesus Christ.
“Every mountain and hill were made low.” Your pride has to be leveled down. Your accomplishments have to get out of the way. Your goals to be this in a career. Your goals to do this in a sport your successes, the money in your account, everything that you are, your trophies on the wall, your pride, the things that oh this is how I am and this is who I am and I was designed this way and I’m made this way. That mountain, that hill, that thing that you think you are has to be leveled. This is before Jesus Christ can get to you. “Those crooked”, what’s it say? “The crooked road shall become straight.” Gonna have to make it easy for Jesus to get to you. You have to make yourself available.
Please don’t call me and go, yeah, you know, I’ve got some questions. I want to study. I want to look, and I’m kind of booked up for the next two or three days. Wait till you’re ready. Wait till you just clear your slate, your agenda, your life. You go lock yourself in the room, get a loan book for the Lord and then give me a buzz. “The crooked road roads shall become straight.” You got to do it. The rough way smooth. So, you straighten out your road and then all the little crooked paths and things are on there. You get those out. Alright so I’m going to stop there. Jacob, verse 5. Does that sound like a lot of activity before you get to Jesus Christ?
Jacob: Yeah, that sounds like a lot of activity.
Timothy: Alright, so then how are all these people at these revival meetings or when they go to church finding Jesus Christ so quickly so easily. Now I realized they wanted to give up smoking early. Well, that kid want to give up pot or somebody was depressed or whatever. But do you see valleys being filled in, mountains taken down, crooked roads made straight or anybody even telling them, that’s great. God’s calling you but you’re rough, you’re crude, you cuss, you’re tough, you’re macho, you’re macho woman. Whatever it is, there’s lots of things in our lives that are just an absolute thing that gets in the way of God. Unfortunately, what happens of course we immediately bring them to the Lord whatever that means in your church, whatever it means to you, and then we start dealing with some of these things. And then of course, if somebody comes along with the full gospel message that’s why they get so much opposition, because it’s like well you didn’t tell me any of this or they attack the person bringing it to them.
So anyway, we announce that they’re in Jesus Christ then we take them to John the Baptist. I call that fraud. When you tell somebody, oh that you’ll get all these things, but you don’t tell them what the cost is or what the ramifications are, how they need to clean up their life. You’re presenting a fraudulent gospel message. Very much illegal in God’s sight. Read Luke chapter 3 verse 6 Jacob, and notice it very carefully.
Jacob: “And all mankind will see God’s salvation.”
Mid Point
Timothy: If you had a group of people, they went out in the desert to see John the Baptist and they’re filling in valleys of self-pity and depression and pride and family and friend government, whatever it is they’re into their church or whatever, their twisted thinking is being cleaned up. Are you not seeing the gospel? Yeah, just hearing about it. You’re seeing people do it. And it just reinforces itself. And it’s a presentation of the truth without ever declaring the truth. That’s why we’ve looked at before scripture says somebody comes in and unbeliever comes into a church and they fall down because everybody’s prophesying and exposing their sins. That’s not what you see going in in church. Everybody’s there to have fun.
Alright, we covered this before. We’re going to cover it again. Luke chapter 3 verse 7. John the Baptist said to the crowds not the Pharisees here but the crowds. Coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” Really, tell me one time your pastors ever stood up to visitors that showed up and go, you’re a viper. What are you doing here? Who warned you to come through these doors? Why are you here? He just doesn’t say it in a nice way calling somebody snake can pretty much get you in a lot of trouble. “You brood of vipers.” That’s what he’s saying to the crowds. This is what you’ve got to go to first. So, when you come and talk to me, I’m going to convince you that you’re a viper. I guess that’s why people don’t come talk to me, huh Jacob?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: Alright, then in Matthew chapter 3 verse 7, but when he saw many of the Pharisees and the Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them, “You brood of vipers.” Kinda unequal territory, wouldn’t you say?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” And then John he goes on in Luke chapter 3 verse 8, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” And do not begin to say to yourselves well I’m Baptist, I’m Church of Christ, I’m Methodist, I serve God, I’m prolife. “And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” The axe is already at the root of the trees. That’s why there’s so much urgency in the preaching and the working of those who are seeking God. The axe is already at the root the trees and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Christian or not, if you’re not bearing good fruit that is fruit produced by the Holy Spirit, it’ll be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Then we read in Luke chapter 3 verse 10, the crowd says, “Well, what should we do then?” Are you getting the idea here that this is all about action. Correct. Are you getting the idea that everybody can see what’s going on here? We’re talking water baptism out in the desert. It’s public. Everybody’s out knowing exactly what needs to be cleaned up. We see the same what should we do then in Acts chapter 2 verse 37. So, the John the Baptist baptism is not something that we did away with once Jesus went towards the same result. Acts chapter 2 verse 27, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter.” Because remember Peter and the other apostles did, they not go out to see John the Baptist? Of course. “Brothers, what shall we do?” So, there’s this this action. There’s this repentance.
Then we read a verse 38 of Acts chapter 2. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Did they not then reflect the image of Jesus Christ? Is this not then Jesus speaking through them? Because what’s the first word they use, Jacob?
Jacob: Repent.
Timothy: Repent. Most people probably come to Jesus by what method Jacob?
Jacob: Well, most people as you mentioned earlier it’s like a con or it’s like somebody sort of convincing you on the heels of a spiritual hyped up worship service.
Timothy: And what is the do that you have to do in order to be a Christian?
Jacob: Well, to be saved is the term, right? All you have to do is confess believe in your heart Jesus is Lord that he raised you from the dead and a lot of people will say you should be baptized. That you should be baptized.
Timothy: But that’s after the fact.
Jacob: Well, you have to do is believe.
Timothy: Okay, alright I have to believe. But generally speaking, and correct me if I’m wrong is you just ask Jesus in your heart. You say the believer’s prayer. Well however that comes out and then everything else follows or doesn’t follow.
Jacob: So, it depends right?
Timothy: Yeah.
Jacob: It depends on which one of the seven churches you’re going to. So, they each have their own twist or some requirements.
Timothy: Right.
Jacob: But it’s minimal. It’s very minimal.
Timothy: Well, see what I was thinking of was a situation where I was talking to one individual and I won’t mention denomination because they all kind of do it. So, I said I tell you what we’re going to do we’re going to roleplay here. I’ll say what should I do to become a Christian. Acts 2:37, and you just repeat to me verse 38. Just read it back and the person couldn’t do it. It was so ingrained to just ask Jesus in your heart they literally couldn’t do it and then once I kept honing in then they refused to do it. So, that’s just part of the problem is we have to give up our crooked paths of our salvation calls. Jacob, let’s take a seal a moment and let this kind of sink in.
Selah Moment:
Timothy: Jacob, go to second Peter chapter 3 verse 9 and read that passage for us.
Jacob: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Timothy: Who is Peter writing to there?
Jacob: I think Peter’s writing, well he’s writing to the church. I don’t know which church.
Timothy: Doesn’t matter which church. Just mentioned church. Is he writing to Christians or non-Christians?
Jacob: Writing to Christians.
Timothy: Correct. So, repentance is one thing that we just kind of do way back when and pretty much meander from there. Pursuing Godliness is actually an act of repenting all the time. It just shifts focus. When it first came to the Lord and when people first do, you just kind of cleaning up your life. You’re repenting in that kind of crude fashion of things that just got to go. Then, as you pursue righteousness, you’re leaving wickedness behind. So, its really repentance is moving you forward into Godliness and then Godliness moves keeps you moving forward as you hunger and thirst for righteousness. But the point we’re looking at here is Peter’s talking about the fact that God is patient with you. It says, as some understand slows his, he is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish.
So, clearly if you believe in one side always say the scripture doesn’t mean anything you might as well just take a black match marker and mark it out, because it doesn’t mean anything to you. But for us that are actually following Jesus Christ and accepting the full gospel message, the reason God is patient with me trying to give me a chance to repent of things that I have put off too long repenting with and that’s an important point. So, every day that I get up it’s like I’m being baptized again only stronger because I’m stronger in the Holy Ghost. I’m stronger in the word. He wants me to come to repentance so he’s being more patient. So, if he lets Timothy Williams live to be in ripe old age. Guess what? He’s just being patient with me to give me more time to repent. To seek out more things that I can repent of and become Godly.
So, let’s jump to or zoom back to Romans chapter 2 verse 4. Because Paul really expounds on this. Romans chapter 2 verse 4. And he’s talking to Christians again. He’s talking to the church. So, put down your little church feathers that are all ruffled up. And let’s just listen to what God has said. Let’s humbly accept the word that can save us if we obey. Paul will say, or do you show contempt? And that’s really what’s going on in the church. When you see people rejecting what’s being preached in terms of the full gospel message or going on to righteousness. They’re just contemptuous of God. And they’ll be paid back most severely if they continue in that.
So, here’s one thing. If you’re repent of being contemptuous. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing.” Stop being stupid. “Not realizing that God’s kindness leads us toward”, what Jacob?
Jacob: Repentance.
Timothy: Now again it does lead you toward blessing, but it’s the blessing of repentance. So, I got to redefine how everybody’s redefine all the words. It leads us toward repentance. Our whole life every single day should have a sense and a feeling of greater and greater repentance. Now what’s the one word I’m going to be kind of stretching here Jacob that nobody likes? In that sentence of verse four, what’s the one word everybody seems to hate the most?
Jacob: Well, I would say the repentance word.
Timothy: Nah, I’m having fun with you. Nah. What? For sure they would. But what’s the first word they would get all upset about.
Jacob: So, I guess what? Contempt? Because that would imply that like they’re showing contempt for.
Timothy: I used to hate it when pastors did that in the church. Yeah, they ask a question. They know where they’re going with that. No, it’s the word “toward”. “Nobody wants to be led toward repentance.”
Jacob: Oh sure.
Timothy: So, you bring in the full gospel message or you pass out a track that talks a little bit more about the full gospel message. Nobody wants to taken toward repentance.
Jacob: You could also say the word leads.
Timothy: Correct.
Jacob: You can’t you know that’s following a man. I’m not going to listen to what you say, because I’m already saved. I already have Jesus in my heart. What are what are you talking to me for?
Timothy: Amen. Yeah. That nobody wants to be led or go toward repentance. Exactly. They run from it. They persecute it. They hide from it. It’s really, isn’t it kind of amazing that mostly the whole world is willing to go to hell? Because they don’t want to admit they’re wrong. It’s just kind of amazing thing you can look at all the people that did bad things and they go all the way and they never meant guilt, but that’s really the whole world. They’re just a little bit ahead of everybody else. God when he gets a hold of Jacob in the morning, when I get up in the morning and God laid hold of myself Timothy, he’s going to lead me where? Toward repentance. Get up, get moving, get out of these things repent of that you’re tired, you’re sore, you’re old whatever it is move on toward repentance, no excuses. Let’s keep going.
Most people, verse 5, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepented heart.” They don’t even have a heart of repentance. It’d be a thrill to bump into people that have a heart for repentance. They’re just hungry for. They can’t find enough things to repent of. They’re eager for God to humble their pride or come against and they’re letting the word just do the but no, it’s their stubborn. They just refuse to go there in the least little hint, hint that they might actually have to change or come into obedience on any of God’s word and their stubbornness all get out. “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart,” what does it say? Oh, you’ll get in but you’ll just barely get in or you’ll be rewarded for the good you do or God loves you, and so you’re not going to face his wrath because you believe in Jesus Christ your Lord Savior. Is that what it says Jacob?
Jacob: No.
Timothy: Alright read it.
Jacob: All the verse 5?
Timothy: Sure, let’s do the whole thing.
Jacob: But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed.”
Timothy: He is talking to believers. Letting that soak in. He’s talking to believers that they are storing up wrath. Ever heard anybody at the front of the prayer branch down in front of the pulpit saying and weeping over their sins saying, I’ve been storing up wrath against myself?
Jacob: No.
Timothy: No, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed. All because why? They don’t have an attitude of repentance. Verse 6, “God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”” John the Baptist begin with, everybody will see the salvation Lord and I know that means Jesus Christ. It also means change lives, that’s what seeing the gospel long before the words are ever spoken. And then verse 7 tells us some very important piece of the puzzle. Says, “To those who by,” what Jacob?
Jacob: Persistence.
Timothy: Persistence. Day in and day out. It’s not like just come to Jesus Christ and you have all this crud and this sin and this self-centered life back here and somehow God just sees Jesus and doesn’t see all that. No. It says, “To those who by persistence.” A lot of people, when I say a lot. I do mean a lot of people turn back because they don’t want the persistence. They’ll do it for a short period of time but not long enough. “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life.” It’s not given to those who just ask Jesus in their heart and that’s pretty much it. Not at all. Only to those who persist in doing good. Every day is just full of just doing good deeds and they’re seeking glory, glory for God in doing those good deeds and honor for God and those it’s no selfish motivation who seek immortality. That is they have faith in right in front of them knowing that this life is getting over fast and they need to get ready for what’s coming. He will give eternal life.
Verse 8, the warning goes out though. It just doesn’t stop there. “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” Want to hone in on the word “self-seeking”. Romans 2:8, “But for those who are self-seeking.” People are self-seeking today in the church by claiming Jesus Christ. They’re self-seeking when they go to church. Very often you hear people say, I want to find a church that I feel comfortable at or that church has a lot going on. They’re self-seeking. They’re only coming to Jesus Christ for what they can get.
The wicked part about this is most of the people that are preaching appeal to this self-seeking nature. They don’t call them “brood of vipers”. They go, well, come to church and be blessed or let’s go see this Christian movie or let’s read this Christian book or let’s get inspired and get all tingly and you’ll be blessed and God did all these good things for me. You’re bribing people into kingdom. It’s not even, of course, it’s not God’s kingdom, it’s the wrong kingdom but for those who are self-seeking, self has to go. You can’t come to Jesus Christ because you just want him for yourself. Well, how do you know whether you’re self-seeking or not? Wouldn’t that be a natural question, Jacob?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: Well, how do we know? Well, let’s go to first John chapter 5 verse 2. Let me go back and read verse 8. It says, “For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth.” The measurement whether a man or a woman is self-seeking is whether they accept or reject the truth of Jesus Christ. The man who says he loves me but his life is not full of rich obedience to the word of God to the full gospel message. He just doesn’t hunger for it all or he plays pretense to it all does not love God. He is self-seeking.
Let’s go to first John chapter 5 verse 2. “This is how we know that we love the children of God.” Oh, what’s the test? I sure wish some pastors and leaders and Sunday school who will pass out this test. Okay, so how do I know so and so loves me in Jesus Christ? By loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God. To obey his commands and his commands are not burdensome. You would think I’m preaching some strange gospel here or that it’s unkind or it’s unloving or that it’s me, whatever all the tragedies and adverbs everybody wants to use. But it’s those who can point description go, I’m obeying that by the Holy Spirit, I’m obeying that by the Holy Spirit, I’m obeying that by the Holy Spirit. God is working that in me by the Holy Spirit.
I’m being overwhelmed, I’m being immersed in this, I love the word of God, I run through the word of Lord. That’s the man or the woman that loves. You can measure how much a person actually is able to love you in Jesus Christ by the degree or the like of degree by which They obey all of God’s commands. It’s really that simple. This is love for God. Verse 3, “To obey his commands and his commands are not burdensome.” Oh, stop. Everybody stop your whining. Literally, I was ran out of a town because I preached that you should be obey God. That’s no exaggeration, is it Jacob?
Jacob: No.
Timothy: Verse 4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world.” It’s the world that’s disobedient, isn’t it? It’s the world that no credence to God’s word or if they pick it, don’t you see how self-selective they are about what they’re picking about? You’ll hear political leaders quote scripture all the time and you’re going, oh yeah, you’re quoting that one but what about all the rest of them and we know we’re being conned or at least we should. “This is the victory that has overcome the world even our faith.” So, it’s those who obey that are born again and his commands are not burdensome says for everyone born of God.
So, being born again means your life is radically obedient to Jesus Christ in all kinds of ways. This is the victory. This is the victory. Not the whitewashed over here and not this game playing over here or this simple one, simple Simon asked Jesus in your heart. It’s kind of over with kind of thing and just everybody meandering around like yeah just keeping busy doing church stuff or mixing church stuff with sports stuff and go down the line. Jacob, go ahead and read Acts chapter 26 verse 20 & 21.
Jacob: “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”
Timothy: “That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.” You want honest persecution in your life because of righteousness’ sake? Then preach the full gospel message. It says, repent, turn to God and prove it. Prove you’re a Christian. They will seize you in the temple courts, in church, and they will run you out.
Video: Claim the name, declare you trust Jesus, protest that your church is in the faith. God’s holy preachers are moved by the Holy Spirit to declare prove it. Such holy preachers are always persecuted for demanding proof. “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preach that they should repent and turn to God and prove the repentance by their deeds. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.” (Acts 26:20-21).
Outro: This has been the Consider Podcast at www.consider.info where yesterday’s folly is today’s madness. In the beginning, the unrepentant sinners words are folly. At the end, they are wicked madness. Ecclesiastes 10:13. Judgement begins with the house of God. Therefore, let everyone who loves the Lord with an undying love pick up their cross and walk the talk. As Peter the wrote. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Be self-controlled”. First Peter 1:13-14. The Considered Podcast, examining today’s events and Paulorrow’s realities. www.consider.info
End
The Consider Podcast
Examining today’s wisdom, folly and madness with the whole gospel
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