Repentance and Renewal

Amen.

What a blessing.

Love that hymn again.

I always pause and not call them old hymns, but timeless hymns.

Just appreciate that tonight.

It's good to have brother Davison back with us tonight.

So my long introduction.

Come on, preach for us.

Thank you, Pastor.

Thank you.

And thank you for the birthday song.

I guess you remember a few years ago, they used to talk all the time and say they didn't remain married because they were incompatible.

Remember, you used to hear that all the time.

Well, Sandra and I looked at each other and said, well, we're not compatible.

And every once in a while we'd really be on the same page and we'd totally agree on something.

We'd say, we're compatible.

But that happened about twice a year.

You know, stuff like that.

But the way I was raised, I'm the fifth of six kids, and my dad was a farmer.

This time of year, you know, we were usually doing hay and still a lot of work to do right before school started and all that.

And so birthdays came and went, and there wasn't much said about it at our house, you know, no big parties.

That's all the family get together and all that.

We just didn't do it that way.

I'm not against it.

Well, her family was just totally different.

So when we got married and we started having kids and everything, and plus acknowledging her birthday like I should, it took me, oh, 40 years to really catch on to what I was supposed to be doing.

But anyway, so I'm still not that big about it, but that number, 80, none of my birthdays have bothered me, you know, to turn 30, 40, 50, all of that kind of stuff.

Always felt 10 years younger than I was anyway.

And somebody asked me here just lately, well, how do you feel?

Why, I don't feel like I'm a day over 90 years old.

So I can tell things are changing and different.

Such as that my mother's mother lived to be 103, and my mom was exactly three weeks shy of 96.

My dad died of cancer when he was 70, but his two siblings lived into their 90s.

So there's a lot of longevity in the family, which doesn't mean I'll be alive by this time tomorrow.

But I am thankful for the privilege, though, of being at this stage and still able to get about and keep a pretty full schedule of preaching.

And I'm very thankful for that, and I'm thankful to be here.

My wife and I have both been blessed by being here in the services and then the fellowship of the pastor.

And Ms. Tanya as well is just a real blessing.

We always enjoy their fellowship.

So thank you, Pastor, for the opportunity and thank you for the gesture and the kindness.

We appreciate it.

I make fun about it and make a fuss about it, but I do appreciate it very much.

Well, you know where we're supposed to be.

Ezekiel, chapter 18.

Did anybody read.

Well, look at that.

Okay, I believe it's the same ones that raised their hand last night.

Looked like it.

And so anyway, Ezekiel 18 tomorrow night we'll be in Ezekiel 14.

We're backing up.

I've saved it for Wednesday night.

It just seems like a good church night message.

And so if you know some of your fellow church members that haven't showed up for who knows what reason, why don't you give them a call, take it upon yourself and encourage him to be here, because I do believe that the chapter tomorrow night, you might read it and wonder, what does this have to do with the church?

And I'm not one to wrench it and make it happen, but I think you'll see that it has a lot to do or a lot to say to us about church life as well.

So I hope you'll bring your Bible and I hope it'll be a blessing and help and encouragement.

So tonight we're in chapter 18, and if you want to stand for the reading of the Word of God, if you need to remain seated, obviously that's fine.

We're going to stand and read a few verses tonight.

Beginning in verse number one, it says the word of the Lord.

Ezekiel said, the word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, what mean ye that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, the fathers have eaten the sour.

Have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge.

Now God's talking to Ezekiel about this, and he means for Ezekiel to confront the people of Israel.

Why are you saying that?

The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge.

As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

Behold, all souls are mine, as the soul of the Father, so also the soul of the Son is mine.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

And then he goes on verse five.

But if a man be just and do that which is lawful and right.

Now, I'm not going to read it, but you have from verse number six down through verse eight, you have what I call a five point moral test or a five point moral standard, where he talks about five Moral positions where they should be right with God on all right.

So in verse 5 again he says, but if a man be just and do that which is lawful and right, in other words, if he meets the five point moral standard that is mentioned down through verse number eight, then look verse number nine.

He hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments to deal.

Truly he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.

He obeys, God lives by it.

And God said he's gonna live.

Now look in verse 10.

But if he begat a son that is a robber, and then you could go to the following verses and see that he violated the five point moral standard.

Then look in the end of verse 13.

He shall surely die, his blood shall be upon him.

Verse 14.

Now lo, he.

The one that violated the five point moral standard is what I'm calling it.

Now lo.

If he beget a son that seeth his Father's sins, which he hath done and considereth, and doeth not such like but then as ye go, he follows the five point moral standard.

Look at the end of verse 17.

He shall surely live as for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, did that which is not good among his people.

Lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Now look at verse 19.

Yet ye say, why doth not the Son?

Why, they ask God, why doth not the Son bear the iniquity of the Father?

When the Son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

Verse 20.

The soul that sinneth it shall die.

The Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, neither shall the Father bear the iniquity of the Son.

The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

But if the wicked will turn and get right with God regarding his life, and going by that five point moral standard, then he can turn.

Look at the end of verse 23.

He can return from his ways and live.

And when a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, verse 24.

And committeth iniquity, and doth according to all the abominations of that five point moral standard, shall he live?

No.

All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned in them shall he die.

Yet ye say the way of the Lord is not Equal.

Hear now, O house of Israel.

Is not my way equal?

Are not your ways unequal?

When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them for his iniquity that he hath done, shall he die again?

When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed and doth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live.

He shall not die yet, saith the Lord.

I'm sorry.

Yet, saith the house of Israel, the way of the Lord is not equal.

O house of Israel, Are not my ways equal?

Are not your ways unequal?

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God.

Repent.

How difficult is this?

It need not be as difficult as people make it, I'll tell you that for sure.

Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions.

So iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit.

For why will ye die, O house of Israel?

For I listen to what God says.

I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves and live ye.

I'm gonna step out here just a second and say that if a person not so familiar with the Word of God, let's say somebody that would be rather unlearned in the Word of God.

They haven't made it their business to give a lot of attention to the Word of God.

They haven't heard a lot of the teaching exposition expounding upon the Word of God.

They might read chapter 18 by itself and wonder how in the world can anybody be saved?

But I want you to get it in your mind right quick that chapter 18 is not an evangelistic chapter.

It is not about how to be saved or how to have your sins forgiven so as to go to heaven.

This isn't a New Testament soul winning passage.

It is a charge, a challenge from the prophet of God to the people of God who are in a covenant with God about whether they are gonna know living or not know living.

And when he talks about the soul, he is simply talking about their life.

He's not dealing with here their eternal destiny.

It's whether they're gonna live under the favor of God or live under the judgment of God and die under the judgment of God.

So don't look at it as an evangelistic.

This is about who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.

That is not what this chapter's about.

And you'll get a total misconception if you enter into it with something like that in your mind.

Okay, so kind of little statement there to get us going in the right direction from the very beginning.

All right, I'm gonna have word of prayer and we'll be seated and get started.

Father, I wanna say thank you again for this day.

Thank you for the fellowship we enjoyed over lunch today and the time together.

And as iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

It's good, Lord, to have fellowship with your servants and with friends like the Crawfords.

And for the friendship of this congregation, we're thankful.

And so I pray now you would add your blessings to the reading of your word.

Add your blessings, O God, to this effort to proclaim your word.

I pray that it might be done with clarity and plainness.

And I pray you'd give me the awareness and the alertness, O God, to follow the passage and the message and communicate, O God, why this chapter is still here.

For the benefit of your people, for our learning and for our admonition, may it be accomplished.

We know that can only happen by the work of your Holy Ghost, not because of man's preparation or man's oratory or anything like that.

If your Holy Spirit is not at work, then this service will be for naught.

So we're asking for the unction and the help and the working of your spirit in our lives, individually and in the life of this, your church, corporately.

And we'll thank you and praise you in Jesus, wonderful name.

Amen.

Thank you.

God bless you.

May be seated.

Get a little drink here.

I dropped the lid, and I'm too lazy to go pick it up.

So I'll probably knock that off here in a little bit.

I have a quote from a author, preacher, not necessarily that I would look to, but a great quote.

The name is Stuart Briscoe.

I think he's beyond retirement.

He may still be on earth.

He may be with the Lord.

But he said this quote that I thought was so fitting.

He said, what man will feel like a man and try to live like a man if he believes that he bears no responsibility for his actions?

Now, our whole culture needs to be confronted with this.

Can somebody help me on this?

But I'm afraid it's not just Those people out there.

I'm afraid it happens maybe more than we want to admit.

Maybe in our own lives, in the lives of God's people.

I'll read it again.

What man will feel like a man and try to live like a man if he believes that he bears no responsibility for his actions?

You see, as you know, if a man believes he has no responsibility for his actions, then he will live his life as though he is a victim of circumstances that are predetermined upon him.

He believes that his misfortunes or his hardships or his pains.

If he believes that he bears no responsibility for his actions, then he will look at all of that as though I am a victim of predetermined circumstances that I have no control over.

Nothing to say about now.

That mindset, that way of thinking is called fatalism.

Fatalism.

I'll just say to you, to make it short, you won't find fatalism in the Word of God.

You won't be taught fatalism in the Word of God.

Not at all.

And I mention this because in our chapter and in this prophecy of Ezekiel, the people that he is preaching to, they are people that are beset by that very way of thinking because they are in difficult circumstances.

We'll talk about here in just a little bit.

They are in difficult circumstances, and they are in difficult circumstances that are of their own making, by and large.

And yet they are in denial of that and believe that they are rather victims of circumstances that were brought on by those before them.

And they see no need to bear any responsibility, or they cannot see why God feels he needs to deal with them the way he's dealing with them.

You should have done that with those before us because they felt no responsibility for their own actions, for their own behavior, and for the condition that they were in.

Now remember that at this time.

This is a little review here.

Remember that what is taking place.

Babylon has made a move against Judah and against Jerusalem.

Many or a good number of people have been carried away into Babylon.

More will be carried away later.

But right now, at this point, Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonians.

And life is hard in Jerusalem because they are sealed off by the Babylonian army.

And so the goods can't come in, the goods can't go out, the trade is not there.

And you can see in the marketplace, what shall I say?

The shelves are growing empty, and there's just not much there.

And they're recognizing the shortage of food and of the necessities of life.

So the people there are suffering, and then you Take those people that got carried away into Babylon already you have those of the.

Of the elite of Israel, the royalty of Israel that were placed in the house of Nebuchadnezzar.

And you remember that Nebuchadnezzar is training them so that they might serve in the Babylonian way and think like Babylonians, eat like Babylonians, talked like Babylonians, gave them the names of Babylonians and such as that.

And so he's preparing them so that he might use the best of the best of the people of Israel to be of benefit in the central government of Babylon and among his house and among his leaders and such as that.

Now that's in Babylon itself.

Daniel is the prophet to those people.

He is one of those people, and he is God's prophet to those people that are there.

And then you have another element of people that have been carried away.

You know, it's all relative.

But a good distance from the city of Babylon, and there is sort of a remote place called the River Chebar, which is a branch off of the Euphrates river and at the city called Telabim, a very undesirable place.

And their life is not easy there.

Their life is not good there.

It's really a difficult thing.

And so what you have is that all of Judah, whether we're looking back in Jerusalem, we're looking at the people in Babylon, or we're looking at the people at the River Chebar, then no matter where you look, the people of Judah, they're in a very depressed state.

This is a really, really difficult stretch, a difficult time, as they are suffering under the oppression of the besiegement and then of the captivity.

Now what we have to understand is that the Israelites, the Jews, they are hearing from their own prophets that this isn't going to last long.

It's the third night I mentioned it, so I'm sure you got it by now that they think Egypt is going to come up and help them against Babylon.

And the Babylon will never actually destroy Jerusalem like the prophets were saying.

And they had their own prophets that were saying, no, no, no.

If there's gonna be anything really bad happens, it's a long ways off, it's not gonna happen now.

And so the likes of Jeremiah, who was the prophet back in Israel or in Jerusalem, and Zephaniah, who was a prophet contemporary of Jeremiah, they were prophesying that people should repent.

And the day of the Lord is near, a terrible day of judgment is coming, talking about the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the major captivity.

And they're preaching about that.

They're preaching with passion and with heart and warning them.

I like what Zephaniah says.

Chapter one.

The day of the Lord is near.

It is near.

He's not talking about the day of the Lord that you and I know, prophecy.

He's talking about the immediate one, when God was going to allow Babylon to come in and absolutely annihilate Jerusalem walls, houses burnt, their temple destroyed, people killed, people taken into captivity.

It's going to lie in rubble, it's going to be barren, and all that's going to be left there by the time the Babylonians are done.

There's a few poor people that God leaves there, and that's it.

And so it's given the warning.

Now, excuse me.

Day by day by day, they're seeing that thing develop right before their eyes, but they're in denial while their own prophets are saying, ah, those things are afar off.

You're going to be okay.

So you got God's prophets as they see things being fulfilled virtually every day that these prophets are saying are going to happen.

And they see that what their prophets are saying that they're trusting in looks more remote or impossible day by day by day.

But even at that, they won't budge.

They won't humble themselves before God.

They won't turn from their sins.

And they're mad about it.

They've got an attitude about it.

In fact, in the chapter here, you'll see three hateful things that the Israelites are saying to one another and no doubt saying to Ezekiel, the prophet in his hearing as well.

Three accusations against God, three nasty things that they are saying.

I want to show them to you right quick.

We can kind of go through this real fast.

Look at verse number two.

Here's what they're saying.

They're saying to one another and to whoever will hear.

The fathers have eaten the sour grapes and.

And the children's teeth are set on edge.

Now, let me try to, you know, dramatize it here just a little bit.

People or two guys are talking together.

Yeah, I know why this is happening to us.

Who knows?

And so they wind up saying to each other this, yeah, it's the fathers that ate the sour grapes, but it's us that getting to bad taste.

So, you know, you get this picture in your mind of fathers eating grapes, and they're sour grapes, but they're just eating them away.

Fine, eat them up.

And now the sons are going, you know, with all the contortions that you'd go through when you put Something real sour in your mouth.

So this is.

Somebody said, this is weird.

No, I'm just saying this is what they're saying.

The fathers are the ones that ate the sour grapes.

They're the one that brought the bitterness to this place.

And we are the ones that are having to taste it and.

And having to live with it.

And so they are blaming God, saying, isn't this something?

The way God works?

It's the generation before us that fouled up, and we're the ones paying for it.

That's the bottom line right there.

That's what they're saying.

They're the ones that messed up.

We're the ones that are paying for it.

Like us.

We're fine.

When really they're not.

Not at all.

That's what this is about.

All right, so here's the second thing.

I see you're not too excited about that one.

Let's try one more.

Look in verse number 19.

Verse number 19.

Yet ye say.

Here's what they say.

Yet ye say, why doth not the Son bear the iniquity of the Father?

See, they're not inquiring and saying, is this the way it is?

No, they're saying, this is the way it is.

They're saying, why is Ezekiel preaching all of this?

You know, we understand how God works.

The fathers mess up, and he beats the brains out of the boys.

That's what they're saying.

They're accusing God of that.

If you don't believe that, just hang tight just a second.

And they're saying, it is the fathers that messed up.

So what does God do?

Well, because it gives them a free pass.

Now, what is.

How's he going to deal with it?

He beats us over the head.

That's the way God works.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what they're accusing God of.

Nowhere's the third thing.

And it really vindicates or backs up what he said.

Look in verse number 25.

Look, verse number 25.

Yet ye say.

Here it is again.

Watch this.

Now, the way of the Lord is not equal.

Now, hold on just a second, somebody.

I don't know what that means.

The way of the Lord is not equal.

We're talking about a balance.

Like, if you're gonna weigh something out, it would be equal.

If it is.

It is.

Something is placed here of this weight.

It's equal if it's the same weight as here.

And it's like this.

But in their minds, it's like this.

All the weight is over here.

And the ways of the Lord are Not equal.

There's nothing fair about this.

Excuse me, we're talking about the righteous God.

I said the holy almighty one.

We're talking about God, whose name is Jehovah, the self sufficient selfishness.

And we could talk about his attributes for about eight days and non stop and the righteous and holy nature of God.

And here are people who rather than looking at themselves and acknowledging their own need to get right with God, they are saying it's God that is the problem.

Now I mentioned the other night, I'll mention it again, this is really nothing new.

This is in their past as well.

As the people passed through the land of Israel.

You remember when they got so discouraged.

They were so much discouraged is the way the Bible puts it.

They were much discouraged and they murmured against God and the snakes came in.

You remember that one?

Well, that's why God dealt with them in the way he did.

Because they're saying that God is not righteous and God is not dealing with them fairly and God is not dealing with them.

Right.

And now they're saying the same there.

I want you to look at that again.

They are saying the way of the now this is blatant arrogant pride, self centeredness, rebellion against God.

The way of the Lord is not equal.

That's what they're saying.

So there you have the threefold thing.

The fathers eat the sour grapes, the son's teeth are set on edge.

And the second one was what?

The way of the Lord is not equal.

That's the third one.

The second one was.

What was that one?

Let's see why.

Yeah, the son bear the iniquity of the father.

So they had this threefold idea about God and the way he's dealing with them.

And as they talked to one another it was like, this is not right.

I can just see them kicking the dirt and upset and mad and griping.

And if you think, I don't know, I think you're reading too much into it.

Go go back and read the book of Numbers right past and you'll see this is very much in their genes, this is very much in their DNA that they.

Excuse me.

Rather than acknowledging the favor of God, the blessings of God, the opportunities that God has given them, the fact that they are still in existence as a nation is the grace of God itself.

And instead of that, no, they are blaming God for every negative thing that they are experiencing.

Excuse me.

And they are willing to bear no responsibility themselves.

Not at all.

So they are making these accusations against God.

Now as always, God's ready for this.

I Mean he's got an answer.

So I want you to go back and look in chapter 18 and look in verse number four.

Now, you may just read this casually and maybe not see what's really there.

So let's kind of look at it carefully.

Verse number four, While they are saying the Father, verse two.

The fathers eat the sour grapes and the Son's teeth are set on edge.

While they're saying the ways of God are not equal and not fair.

God said, verse 3.

As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to.

To use this proverb in Israel.

Can I have your attention just a second.

This is God's way of saying, I don't want to hear this anymore.

Did anybody ever hear that from your parents when you were growing up?

Yup.

I can remember saying to my dad, dad, I would like to go to town.

I got my own car and everything.

You know, I'm going to go in and see Herbie and whatever.

I got something I want to do.

My dad says, no, you're not going to.

And he didn't appreciate it if I asked why that he said I wasn't going was enough.

My brothers are eight and 10 years older than me, and I noticed from watching them that's kind of the way it was.

If dad said no, it's no.

So if you go like this, you'd say, but, dad.

But, dad.

Don't but dad me.

I heard that a time or two.

Don't butt dad me.

I told you, you're not going.

And it would be according to his mood.

Perhaps it'd be according maybe to the attitude of the person that's trying to get him to change.

And my dad would say, I don't want to hear any more about it.

My dad said, I don't want to hear any more about it.

I decided the best thing would be he wouldn't hear any more about it.

My sisters were really slow to learn that they had real issues and problems, but I thought that was rather comical.

But I didn't appreciate it when it happened to me, you know?

And so you know what God is saying?

I don't want to hear this anymore.

You're saying things that you don't even know what you're saying.

The fathers ate the sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge.

Like, here we are, lily white, and they're the ones that made the mistakes and did the sin, and we're the ones that are paying for it.

God said, I don't want to hear that kind of talk anymore.

And now read on.

Look in verse number four.

Verse four.

God said this.

Behold, all souls are mine.

What do you mean by that?

The soul of the Father, so also the soul of the Son is mine.

What is he saying?

Where God is saying, every generation is mine.

Every generation.

Look at me just a second.

Is accountable to me.

I am not a remote God that deals with people from far off.

I am a personal God.

And every generation is mine.

And this generation is responsible for their behavior toward me.

And the next generation is responsible for their.

For their behavior toward me.

It's not as though I ignore the behavior of this one until I realize, well, they really did bad.

So I'll beat the brains out of these.

God said, I don't do that.

I am a personal God.

And I deal with this generation according to their behavior before me.

And I deal with that generation according to their behavior before me.

And look down in verse number four at the end.

He says it this time and says it again.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Look at me a second.

You are not being punished for what they did.

I dealt with them in the way I knew to deal with them in righteousness and judgment in their time.

And I will deal with you according to your behavior before me, your time.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

It's his way of saying, every soul that is every life, every life of every generation has personal responsibility before God.

See?

Okay, so why are you making such a big deal about it?

Because that seems to be so little understood.

Because it seems to be so.

I mean, I can count on one hand in all these years the number of times I've dealt with somebody whose life went far away from God, who got in all kinds of misery and all kinds of, you know, nonsense upon them that came upon their lives as a result of their nonsense.

And you talk to.

And how many times did you.

Somebody say, brother Sam, the truth of the matter is I messed up.

I rebelled against God.

I just ran from God.

I turned from the Lord.

You know what it's mostly like?

Yeah, well, I was doing fine till they.

And they start finding people to blame.

And something happened in the home or something happened at the church or something happened in the youth department or somebody that they looked up to failed, or somebody broke their heart and somebody disappointed them and somebody.

And they've always got somebody to blame.

No, I'm not making this up.

This is still very much in the DNA of many people who may not have any Israeli or Jewish genes in you, but we are all connected back to Adam's race.

And you might remember when Adam and Eve got called into account, there was a little blame game going on there too.

Do you remember that?

And so that's the nature of sinful and faithful ladies and gentlemen, that people do not want to accept the responsibility for their own conduct and their own behavior.

And God said, here's the way it is.

I deal with this generation and every person in it according to their response to me.

And I will deal with this generation and, and every soul in it according to their response to me.

Well, somebody says, okay, what am I supposed to do with that?

Well, we have here in the account where God makes it very clear and very simple.

There's no need scratching.

I don't know if I understand that.

Well, okay, he goes and he talks about verse number five.

Here's a guy, here is a man that is a just man.

Now how is he measured as a just man?

Remember, this isn't talking about personal salvation, Pastor.

That's not what it's talking about.

It's talking about how he lives his life before God.

So here's a just man.

Well, how would he be a just man?

Well, he wouldn't be a just man by thumbing his nose at God, doing everything God said not to do, now would he?

Okay, thank you for your overwhelming response.

Then how would he be a just man?

Well, he knows what God said to do.

And it's not like he was a perfect man in his life, but the testimony of his life was he endeavored to be obedient to God and do what he said.

There's a five point moral standard there.

It has to do with the sexual morality.

It has to do with finances.

It has to do with how you treat other people.

It has to do.

You can read it, it's there.

It's repeated three times in the chapter.

And so I chose not to get into that so as not to get carried away.

But I'm just saying you can read it yourself.

And so this man took it upon himself to treat people right.

If he loaned somebody money, didn't charge him interest because they're one of their own, of their own people.

And he was true in his morality.

He married a wife and he was true to his wife.

He wasn't an adulterer, he wasn't a fornicator, he wasn't a whoremonger, he wasn't any of that.

He was a moral man.

He lived a moral life and he kept the five point moral standard that is here and God Said that man is a just man.

So, okay, God, how are you going to deal with him?

Well, the way I'm going to deal with him is because his family before him messed up.

I'm gonna make him pay.

No, no, not at all.

Not at all.

God said, I'm gonna deal with him according to the way he's living his life before me and this man is going to live.

Now, did you know if you go back to the book of Deuteronomy, I preached on this just a while back at a meeting.

But anyway, back in the book of Deuteronomy, he's talking about being obedient to God.

You know, where he rehearses the law.

That's what Deuteronomy is, rehearsing the law.

And he said, you know, to know what God says and act upon what God says and be obedient to God.

Look at me a second.

He said, this is your life.

You want to know what living is?

Know what God says in regards to what he expects of your life.

Act upon what God says.

And God said, this will be your life.

You're going to live.

Don't forget Jesus said, I am come that you might have life.

We say, yeah, eternal life.

We're going to heaven.

Yeah.

That isn't all he's talking about.

He said, I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.

I don't want to just exist in this world.

I want to live and I don't want to just exist and live and say, yes, I'm saved and I know my sins are forgiven.

If he has joy and abounding, joy and fruitful, I want in on it.

And God says, if you just know what I say and act upon what I say, you will live not just in the sense of existing, but in the sense of living a full life, living a meaningful life, leading a life that affects others in a wonderful way, leading a life that will make others consider God's demands on their own life, living a life that will glorify God.

That's what he's talking about.

And he said, if a man lives that way, it doesn't matter what his daddy did.

It doesn't matter what anybody else did.

It just matters that this person here determined, I'm going to find out what God wants of me and I'm going to act upon what.

What God expects of me.

Yeah, I know you're surprised to see me.

You weren't expecting the pastor to come by, but I just wanted to come, man.

We miss you at church, haven't seen you in a long time.

And you know, we just, you know, converse a little bit and then just say, you know, why don't you.

I can remember when you were on fire for the Lord and you were important to the life of the church and you were a contributor, a giver.

We're not talking about finances.

You were a giver, not a taker.

And you were just.

And man, we miss you.

And I hate to see you missing out on the blessings of God and the favor of God.

No.

Is there anything I can do or talk to you about to help you?

No, no.

Your hang up is.

Well, he said they did.

Somebody fouled up and since then, that's it.

I'm just done.

I'm done.

Okay, so you are not following Jesus.

Not because Jesus failed you, but they failed you.

Does that make any sense?

I'm asking you a question.

Is this on?

It is.

Does that make any sense at all?

Trying to think whether to tell this or not.

But I mean, I know a situation I want to talk about because of the way everything flies around out there.

But what if I'd have gone to my wife and said, sandra, I can't be married to you anymore.

Now, you know, this is an illustration because I've never done that because I don't have the nerve to.

She might say, oh, yeah, you know, I'm not sure.

58 years, 59 years.

That's a long time.

So.

Well, I can't be married to you.

And let's say she was surprised and disappointed at that.

Let's assume that.

That would be the why.

Why?

Why?

Well, you know, so and so.

Yeah, you know, his wife has the same name as you.

She left him.

Well, what's that got to do with you and me?

For all I know, you might leave me.

So I'm not going to be married to you because of how, that what she did to them.

And if you're a thinking person, you're saying that we don't say stupid in the pulpit, but if we did, this would be a good place.

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of in my life.

And you would be right.

And yet there are people that do God that way all the time.

Because I will say to whoever is in this room that your steps have been taken backward and you've never got it right again.

I'm going to say something to you right now.

God never failed you.

Jesus never failed you.

I said he never failed you.

He's not even capable of Failing you?

Well, I'm not saying he did.

No, I'm not saying he did.

But they did.

Yeah, well, what's so weird about me not wanting to be married to her anymore because of what somebody else did in their marriage?

That has nothing to do with Sandra and me and what that person did to you.

There are words in the Bible that tell you how to go about making that right.

And if you don't want to make it right, then why are you blaming God for this?

I'm not blaming God.

Will you stop following him?

You stop being a true disciple of Jesus.

You stop growing in the Lord.

You stop serving.

You stop being a servant and a giver.

What do you mean?

Well, they.

I don't understand why everybody still thinks they're such a good person.

Well, where they are, God will deal with that.

God's gonna deal with you, with where you are now.

Are you in submission to the authority of Jesus Christ in your life?

Well, no.

Well, then don't blame them.

Because if you want to follow Jesus and love him and walk with him, nobody on this planet can keep you from it.

And you've got the same attitude as these people did.

You're saying the ways of the Lord are not equal.

You're saying that they're the ones that made a mistake and I've got the sour taste in my mouth and I'm backslidden because of them.

That is a lie.

That's an absolute lie.

That is not even true.

Yeah, but you don't know what happened to me.

Well, I'm sure it's worse that happened to you than what's ever happened to anybody else before you.

Oh, excuse me for the sarcasm.

That is an ugly way to talk.

But I meant it.

It's true, isn't it?

It's absolutely true.

God said, you need to understand, I deal.

If this man does what's right before me, then you know what's going to happen to him?

He's going to live.

He's going to know what life is.

You'll never talk to this guy who is being obedient to God.

Doing his best doesn't mean he's a perfect man.

But he's trying to live before God.

He's not got a rebellious spirit.

He's not willfully bowing his neck to the authority of God.

He may stumble along the way.

He may make a mistake here and there.

But in his heart he is not defiant against God nor turned against the Lord.

And he means to follow the Lord.

Then God said this man, if you want to talk to somebody that knows what living is.

Go talk to him.

Because he has life.

Because I deal with him according.

Now look in verse 10, it doesn't matter if it's his own son, verse 10.

But if he begat a son, even if it's his happy life, man, son, he's got choices to make himself.

Choices to make himself through time.

And I've had this thrown at me a few times over the years.

Preacher's kids.

Preacher's kids.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Here's one right here.

I can see why some people.

Just kidding, no preacher's kids.

Look, I don't care if it's a preacher's kid or a deacon's kid or your kid.

If you've never been a preacher or a deacon, either one, it doesn't matter what kid.

Your kid is going to have to make decisions before God for himself and for herself.

Eventually.

That's going to happen.

There's no mistake about it.

And if there is a man like this guy here and God says he has life, but he has a son that says, I don't want nothing to do with that stuff.

There are people I think were hypocrites and, you know, judgmental and all that kind of stuff.

Well, if he beget a son and he defies God and he goes against the five moral, five point moral standard and he's a robber and he's immoral and all of that thing, and he's not honest in his resources or anything like that, and he steals money or takes usury when it's not right.

And then God says at the end of that he shall die.

Now does that mean that God's gonna kill him?

Well, it could.

Doesn't necessitate that.

But he's gonna die without living.

What I mean, I'm usually messed up on a lot of things.

I'm not messed up on this whole.

He not gonna know the kind of life this guy has.

Nobody'll look at him and say, that's living.

You know why?

Cause the joy is not there because of the burden of sin.

There's a burden of guilt that's there.

There's a burden of bitterness that's there.

There's an attitude that goes with those who are always blaming somebody else for why they're not right themselves.

There's a spirit that goes with that.

And as far as his living a life of joy and fullness and meaning, he's not.

He might be dead while he's walking, you know what I'm talking about?

Because his life is not full.

His life is not abundant.

His life is not joyful.

It's not there.

And sometimes God can take him out.

I read in the book of First John, there is a sin unto death.

It's not unlike God to take a child and say, okay, that's enough, and take them out.

He would do that.

You said he would.

So I suppose that happens.

Of course it does.

Read it in the book.

But the point is everyone.

And then he goes on to the next one.

We'll say, this rebel here, verse number 10 through 13, let's say he has a son, and we're into the third generation, and he has a son, and he's the son of this rebel.

He's the son of this wicked man.

He's the son of this sinner.

Yeah, but he decides he's gonna fear God.

Yeah, but his dad messed up.

I mean, he'll pay for that for the rest of his life.

That isn't what God said.

God said, if he lines up with my word and does what I says, he.

Look at it at the end of verse 17.

This is the end of that section.

He shall surely live.

He's going to live.

You want life now, you know, I'm going to wind this thing down.

But when you go to talking about the judgments that are in the book of Ezekiel, and the judgment, the kind of judgment we talked about previously in the Last Message, and the wrath of God.

The judgment of God and his judgment upon them, the Babylonians coming against them.

Look, look, God is not in heaven saying, ah, this is what I delight in inflicting misery upon my people.

No, just the opposite.

Would you look at the end of the chapter again?

God said, therefore will I judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, saith the Lord God, repent.

Here is our God.

To people who willfully defy him.

Excuse me.

To people who are standing around kicking the dirt saying, the ways of the Lord are not equal.

Isn't that something?

They ate the sour grapes and we got the bitter taste.

Isn't that something?

The way God works.

Isn't that the way God works?

The fathers do the sin, the sons get beat over the head, poor.

Yeah.

And you know what God says to them?

I mean, come on, why wouldn't God just say, why wouldn't he do that?

God said, I take no pleasure in judgment.

And he says, repent.

Turn yourself from your transgressions.

You read the whole section again, and here's what you conclude.

Find out what God says.

He expects.

Do what he says, and live.

It's not that hard.

Life need not be as complicated as people make it.

For real.

Just know what he says.

Have you.

I just put that on hold for just a second.

Have you read Deuteronomy 28 lately?

Well, read it sometime.

Or Leviticus 26.

You know what he says in Deuteronomy 28?

The first 14 verses.

God says, if you'll do this in obedience to me.

I preached on that years ago.

And the title of the message is, do right before God and look out behind you.

Because God says, if you'll just take me at my word and act upon my word, my blessings shall run over you.

Do right and look out behind you.

You're about to get run over.

By what?

The favor and blessings of God.

I don't like the Old Testament.

That's Old Testament.

That's what it says.

14 verses.

I think it's 14.

Might be 17.

Look at it.

Don't look at it now, but look at it later.

Just do what I say.

You won't believe the blessings.

And then he has about 54 verses that go like this.

But if you don't, you're gonna bring misery upon yourself.

Verse after verse after verse after verse after verse, after verse after verse.

Why the big segment on the negative?

To get through to his people.

To get them to see, do you want life?

Do you want to live?

And if you're missing out on it because of some circumstances or because of some hurtful experience or because of some bitterness in your own soul or resentment against somebody that you feel like failed you, if you want them to keep you from him, you can live that way and die that way.

Or you can say, I'm going to repent toward God and I'm going to humble myself before Him.

And it is true.

I'm not trying to sound like Joel Osteen.

If you want to follow Jesus, nobody can keep you from it.

If you want to know God's favor, nobody can keep you from being in love with God and.

And obedient to Him.

And no circumstance can keep you from that.

Even when there are miserable failures all around you of all kinds and hurtful experiences.

Why, God's even made it where you grow by them.

And even they can be for your good and his glory.

The final verse.

Let's stand together, shall we?

Verse 32.

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves and live ye well.

I can't help but think of these young people over here again.

O these young people.

Oh, the world is so.

Oh, these young people.

How about you don't listen to that stuff?

Just say as much as I know and can know the will of God.

I'm just gonna try to follow the Lord.

I'm not gonna be perfect.

I'm gonna need some help along the way.

And God will no doubt rebuke me through teaching, preaching other ways.

But I'm gonna make up my mind to follow the Lord.

And if you want to do that, nobody can stop you.

Some of the greatest testimonies at Southwest Baptist Church are some bus kids.

Some of them pastoring churches now graduated from Heartland that have never received one word of encouragement from their parents.

Some of them who are raising kids, sending them to Heartland, and they've still never had an encouraging word from their parents.

And they're serving God, raising their kids for the glory of God, pastoring churches and winning souls.

How about that?

Makes you want to kick the devil in the teeth, doesn't it?

You don't want you to listen to that stuff.

You make up your mind to follow Jesus and follow him.

Yeah, but these people out there are really living.

Truly.

Some are trying and doing some of the weirdest things on earth to make it look like they are really living.

But real living is defined right here.

And if you want to follow Jesus, you can.

Don't let the wrong boy in your life or some beautiful young ladies over.

Don't let the wrong guy in your life.

And you knuckleheads over here, guys, don't you go after the wrong kind of girl, either.

Let God bring you your Eve.

Oh, yeah.

You can live for Jesus.

You can know this.

I don't know all your backgrounds, but I know this.

You can know what this son knew, though his daddy did wrong.

He said, I'm gonna do right.

I'm gonna follow God.

And every one of us is responsible for our own behavior.

Every one of us.

That's what he said.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Everybody bears personal responsibility.

Don't point the finger.

They no go look in the mirror.