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January 26, 2022 12:30 am
Today's episode features Pastor Russ Andrews as he continues the sermon on Luke Chapter 5 speaking about the different stages in a changed life through the saving power of Christ.
This is Han's trial from the finishing well podcast on finishing well. We help you make godly choices about Medicare long-term care and your money. Your chosen Truth Network podcast starting in just seconds. Enjoy Sharon but most of all, thank you for listening and choosing the truth. Podcast network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill. Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God.
If you do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today.
Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose, glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living.
For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose. You can visit us online@findingpurpose.net or connect with us on Facebook.
Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious today messages on new life in Christ. This is the first night of the Christian walk in the psyche must recognize two things who Jesus is God in the flesh, and who you are a sinner in need of forgiveness.
Every problem that will not don't be scared. The second stage a commitment to follow Christ picking up now with verse 27.
After this, Jesus went out, and so a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth follow me. Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him, and Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with him, but the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belong to their site complained to his disciples what you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners got the bright Jesus answered them, is not the help I love this part right here is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous sinners to repentance. Tax collectors were the most detestable people in Jewish society. They were basically agents working for the Roman government and their job, which got in late take collect taxes from their fellow Jewish brethren, and most of them were fraudulent in their dealings they they want to get a click of more than the tax bill was. If you have 10,000 detail year 20,000 he would give Roman government 10,000 where to put another 10,000 in his pocket, so they became rich and they were despised.
They were worse than a leper, Matthew Bartlett, Levi's name is Matthew. But I will be referred him to leave a lot because that's what Luke also. Levi was one of them.
He was good for nothing tax collector in the text says, look at Jesus one out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting in his tax booth. This cortisol means more than just see physically, it means that Jesus carefully and deliberately examine Levi. Probably the same way he examined the thief on the cross he could see Levi's heart Levi must been wondering what is what you want with me any progress done when Jesus said Levi follow me Levi got up and left everything and followed Jesus. What we think it makes it a left everything according to Kent Hughes the right commenter that this in your lecture notes. It is not me that he never returned to get his affairs in order. What Lucas emphasizes that he made a decisive break from his old way of life and began to follow Jesus. From that point forward. And guess what he follow him all the way to the end of his life when he was martyred. That's called leave it all behind to clean your life and then he gave us this wonderful book the Gospel of Matthew would Levi do next. Peter central party invite all of us frantically a whole lot of tax collectors and the Kinko's house where he offered food and beverage want to do this if you want everybody to know the one that he listened. There is no more joyful occasion. No more reason for celebration in the salvation of a man's soul and I don't think we really have to have graded yes, this is a great treasure if the DV discovery backyard you enjoyed take all the money you have, to buy Bishop JC Ryle had it right when he said it is far is a far more important event been married a coming of age will be made a noble man or sleeve, and a great fortune is the birth of an immortal soul is the rescue of a sinner from hell is a passage from death to life is been made a king and appraise for evermore. Is been provided for both in time and eternity is adoption into the noblest and riches of all families. The family of God, you, Russ. If you are in Christ everything. I just ripped from Ryle is true of you true of me. We cannot… The creator of the universe, we belong to him.
It we walk around soft light. We just don't even realize it. You love your delivery joyful tonight. This is why we should feel that salvation so massive you ever had a party invite or whatever told him that you're following Jesus. Let me ask you this if you ever shared with a single soul that you following Jesus. Jesus is not willing to knowledge me before men, another willing technology before my father was in heaven.
But if you knowledge me before man. I will acknowledge you before my father how'd you like to step three. Gifts door GU state). Jesus and he says he belongs to me. Did you know that if you have your salvation is greater than the cure for cancer for people right and left, died of cancer, but we what we have is far greater. If you are cured of cancer would you keep it to yourself or just use Paramount top-down have to do the cure of cancer or your soul is cured of sin. You stand before God, righteous and holy. We should shout out to the entire world. I heard tonight from George Cunningham that in our 15 that he said three friends recently to over Christmas 20 oh sons committed suicide is an epidemic. I do this funeral service of a 20 30 a few years back who committed suicide. There committed suicide because they don't have hope you don't have a not telling them about Jesus.
When a man knows Jesus is a game changer.
Jesus answered them after they said while you eat with and drink tax collection centers listened they were standing silent. They wouldn't come into Matthew's house you want because he was a Gentile and they did not want to be polluted so that you're still outside and then they grumble to the disciples instead of rejoicing over the fact that just recently a man was healed the paralyzed man there, grumbling, and now this. Matthew is eating with sinners and Jesus answered them, is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. Not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
You know what this is one my favorite verse in the Bible picture shows you much God loves sinners you work it would usually hang out if he were here today hang out with us hang out with sinners, prostitutes, homosexuals, adulterers, alcoholics, druggies, a member Chuck Colson years ago. General note from a wood chuck house he's done don't have but he was he was a great center got saved on his way to present and they came out got sinner back in to say prisoners, a sort of prison Fellowship. One day he was preaching that California is beautiful church with marble columns and beautiful floors and all the rich and beautiful people were there the day before been in the present receipt of them. He someone which is will be more comfortable here today aware was yesterday.
He didn't bother him. He did not get invited by the church, by the way, Jesus got into the gutter site. People see the truth of the matters that were there were all sinners.
There's no one watches Paul makes this clear in Romans 310 through 12 voices. There's no one righteous, not even one. There's no one who understands, no one is six God. All have turned away together become worthless. There's nobody does good, not even want you find your name in there somewhere. This is all of us from Billy Graham and Mother Teresa all the way down to the worst criminal the severance that lived were all sinners. But here's the good news. Jesus came to save sinners. However, he can't save anyone who thinks he's already righteous because of their so-called good deeds. This gets to the problem of religion of religion attempt to make you real good about yourself because it's a work based religion join the church live a good mall like the kind to others. Love everyone and God, in turn, will love you is all about love love love you.
This does when you when you begin to think like that you making God debtor you putting got a position where he owes you something. Look at God, look at the wonderful life of lift look at all the things I've done.
This is in essence what the Pharisees believed this is the essence of the religion that Arco churches once again Jesus lays down another gauntlet is declaring war he was doing. He state way we serve a war your God hate weekenders are thinking to do battle.
He can defeat the enemy and the enemy disguised as an angel of light. These Pharisees look good on the outside but Jesus and therefore the admin bones and everything you compare them to a grave white monument but inside, underneath that dark dead men's bones, full of OF sin and hypocrisy and get this thing out there saying we gotta wash your hands, you can't do this on the Sabbath. Give me a break. So not only did Jesus kind of a God but also said he did not come to save so-called righteous man. I'm sure you're looking at them came to save sinners.
John 316 and seven in the closest truth for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have what for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, he can send Jesus into the world to condemn us, it came to what save us here is the essence of biblical Christianity stage I you recognize Jesus as your your God and Savior, and in so doing you confess that your center as you look into the mirror of Scripture and you say that your center then you as you confess your sins, you also repent, which made you turn away from them and and all this all the while this taken place your he's forgiving you second stages you hear Jesus say follow me Terry you with Jeff you Robert John Neil Wayne you're already running. He sees Russ Stephan follow me if you turn your to a fisher of men and what we need to do. Similarly, by the healing you we left everything he was leaving his old way of life to follow Jesus and that brings us to the third stage, which are called new life in Christ. What you think that what you have a new life in Christ.
Look at verse 33 through 39 they said to him, they said to him, just disciples often fast and pray and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your skill in eating and drinking well aware that drinking there's not, wars talking about probably wine, so they will you they were eating and drinking wine back in and Jesus turned water into wine but he drank wine with them. He never seem to get us the he never got a bus he just would have a glass I guess of wine or two and that was it, but he was not a teetotaler. By the way, this like some Baptist uncomfortable we get to heaven first thing we'll do is drink. Why would Jesus, that's what is waiting to do after the Last Supper said I will not drink anew again electric in the coming kingdom about fricative on-again Jesus answered, can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he's with for the time will come when the bridegroom retakes from them talk about the crucifixion the cross.
In those days they will fast. They tell them this parable, no one cares a patient out of a new garment to pageant 01. If he does he will make you happy, he was told he will tour the new garment and the pack from the new were not match the old and no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins. The wind will run out in the wineskins will be ruined. No new wine must report into new wineskins, and no one after drinking old wine wants the need for they say, the oldest, Vanessa proverb welcome to the Varian ischemic abuse 24 is rated according to Matthew's account that the people that the get the people to came. The man became a question Jesus here were not the Pharisees. Your second disciples of John the Baptist that they work quite testing Jesus, they would just confuse rumor John the Baptist was an athlete he ticket a Nazarene vial so he was a teetotaler. No alcohol but Jesus disciples found a new freedom in Christ, not to sin but to live, but not to live by regulations that have nothing to do with salvation. Okay, that's the point. In response to John's disciples.
Jesus teaches two very important principles about what it means man to be a true Christian you ready for this is probably the most important thing is that in life. Christianity is a relationship with God is not a man-made religion all man-made, religious, or man trying to work their way up to God by earning his favor Christian is about God coming down to earth and rescuing sinners who are lost and drowning in their sin and need a savior. Session 1 questions about a relationship with God through Jesus. Do you have that secular Christian is all about a brand-new life in Christ. In verses 34 and 35 look at that again Jesus says can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them, but the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them. In those days there will fast. So here's the deal you marriage a tilt and any couple get hurt American marriage in the Bible picture is intimately linked is a very intimate relationship or marriage which is what is to be between a man and a woman and no other account of relationship man or woman one man one woman even grip to teach at America today. One man one woman by the way God designed marriage to sees the author of marriage. I think he gets to tell us who get married is that simple.
But I tell them that marriage is a picture of the kind of relationship. The goggles have with you and me and personal relationship.
So when you say I did Jesus was happening that moment when you make that commitment is.
He becomes your bridegroom and you become a part of the universal invisible church. Fasting was a practice found in the Old Testament, not the main Jesus said when you fast so you still do today, but back then it was really a ritual. It was a common practice among the Jews when they were morning is an overall effect of this religious practice. According to Hughes Western was to view true religion solemn, joyous, and can learn me nothing gloomy about it. Marriage is anything but solemn or gloomy. It's a joyous occasion. Remember Jesus first miracle was at the wedding in Cana where he turned water into wine wine is symbolic of joy relationship with Jesus should be the most joyous possession that we have in this world and this what Jesus tried to explain to further explain this. He told them this parable, no one cares a piece out of a new garment to pageant 01.
If he does he will tour the new garment and the patch from the new will not match the old and no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
If he does, the new wine will burst the skins. The wind will run out in the wineskins will be ruined.
No new wine must report new wineskins is the deal. Judaism was a worn-out garment.
The law was never meant to save anyone. If you have a purpose, but the reason God gave the 10 Commandments of Moses so that we would look at them and see RCN and it would drive us to Jesus so slight. The law comes along to your center and point you to Christ. That was the only purpose of the law, but they couldn't even keep the first commandment which says thou should have no other gods before me, the Pharisees, they were inwardly and outwardly worshiping other gods just like when you started night.
John Calvin famously wrote man's nature, so to speak is a perpetual factory of idols. The old covenant Judaism could not be patched over with a few things taken from the gospel of Jesus Christ something altogether new to come. You know what this new thing that was coming was prophesied in the Old Testament the book of Jeremiah and Ezekiel out you listen to what Jeremiah says is Jeremiah 31 of your return.
There and I'm almost done, just bear with me because this is so exciting.
Jeremiah says in his look away into the future about six or 700 years is the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of usual and with the house of Judah. It would not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers.
As the old covenant when I took them by the land to lead them out of Egypt. As they broke my covenant, though, was a husband to them, Christ the Lord then explains the covenant. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord is declaring it. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or man brought the same know the Lord catch this is Jeremiah speaking seven years before Christ, as they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord, did you hear that they will all know me, this brings us to the foresight, the personal Lordship of Christ. To this new life in Christ guys I want to Ian with this climax begins when you place your trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and the actors had a friend of mine for your Just get this in that moment relationship with God through his son Jesus begins his new marriage.
You come to know Jesus in a personal relationship and God becomes your heavenly father, your what was another word for father bought what is it me to be standing up probably watch the news one night.
It was in Jerusalem and they will interview and this man right behind. I could hear this little child going, his collectors, daddy, and roams a this is we call our father. Do you to your heavenly daddy in the morning and asked him to help you in John 1014 and 27 Jesus confirms this, knowing him personally says I am the good shepherd under my sheet in my sheet nerve me my sheep listen to my voice.
I know them and they follow me in this, what it means to have eternal life. You know Jesus is a warning if you don't know Jesus. You never see heaven. Matthew 721 to 20 3G cynically many, many religious people who stand before him one day little list all the things I've done a short essay depart from me, because I never knew you do know Jesus personally.
I walked in here because of time Proper by the way, when he says the and no one after drinking all one wants the new voice is the oldest daughter with that we will that makes us is the proper geez what you are saying is that when people become set in their ways that they like it really an older person who which is a lot of us in here who have been going to church all year but never really understood what it means to know Jesus when they hear the gospel to just on intricacy. They like the old white. They don't want Shane according to the Billy Graham Association, the average age for second look at millions and millions of decision. The average age most people become a believer is in your teenage years.
18 heritage older you get the law given out there listening to the gospel table. You cannot just give it a step forward, only listen, the harder your heart becomes youth. It was always better. I want this new way. As for me personally tried their way in a no turning back off try the new way is no better way.
So if you've got a spare if you cannot truly experience this new life in Christ.
I invite you today, just as Jesus invited Levi leave your old life behind follow after Jesus and listen. He will lead you through this life day by day step-by-step verse by verse and he will bring you to the end of your life safe and secure him. I believe this with all my heart.
If you don't leave it with all your heart, I will be right here after what you come up talk to me okay and I'll be glad to have a cup of coffee with you and explain to you why it's so important okay (Emma father, thank you for this day. Thank you for your word. Thank you for the truth there in speculative faith comes from hearing a word that you've left a such a great treasure your work in the Holy Spirit only need you. Love you all that you don't pray Lord comes.
Being a Christian is not about being religious about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders defined God by helping men and their purpose for living, and discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources purpose.net connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network