July 8, 2025 • 25 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
We're glad you've joined us for today's program. Pastor Jeff
Ministries is the Bible teaching ministry of doctor Jeff Swarzentra,
Senior Pastor of Brave Church in Denver, Colorado. Today, Pastor
Jeff concludes his message the Danger of Spiritual Lethargy from
the series The Greatest and urges you to pursue maturity
(00:24):
and assurance by pressing on in faith and hope. Pastor
Jeff will get started in just a moment, but first
want to let you know there's a wealth of resources
to help you grow in your walk at Pastorjeff dot com.
Visit Pastorjeff dot com today to find out more and
to sign up for Pastor Jeff's weekly devotional emails. Now
here's today's program.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You're saved.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
There's a double grip on you. The Father and the
Son are holding you in their hand, and nobody, but nobody,
not even the devil, not even yourself, not even your
own stupid decisions, can take away your salvation.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
You need to know that. Here's just a couple other verses.
They're all over the New Testament.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Philippians one six says that he who began a good work,
and you will carry it on to completion until.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
The day of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
What got started he gonna finish?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
What about In.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Romans Chapter eight, verse thirty one, If God is for us,
who is against us? Verse thirty five says who will
separate us from the love of Christ? And verses thirty
eight and thirty nine he says, for I am convinced
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height
(01:38):
nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able
to separate us from the Love of God, which is
in Christ. Jesus our Lord.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Nothing can separate you from God's love.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
If you've trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
you belong to Christ. It's Christ in you, the hope
of glory. He's not going anywhere. We'll give you one more.
Ephesians one thirteen and fourteen says in him you also,
after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of
your salvation, having also believed you were sealed in Him
with the Holy Spirit of promise. Who is a is
(02:10):
given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view
to the redemption of God's own possession to the.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Praise of His glory.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
So not only does Father and son hold you, but
the Holy Spirit has been given to you as a deposit,
guaranteeing your inheritance.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And the saints Christian.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
If you've turned from your sin and Jesus Christ is
your lord, he's always going to be your lord. You
are not ever in peril of losing what God gave
you in salvation.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Is that good news?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So let's talk in context, because context is everything in
the Bible.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
That's why.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
You know, sometimes people go through the Bible and they
pick a verse here, and they pick a verse there,
and they pick a verse here, and they pick a
verse there.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I can do all things through Christ. You strengthens me.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
That means somebody, I can be a president, I can
be the quarterback in the broncos, I can be whatever
I want through Christy strengthens me. Well, that's not what
that means. In context, I can be content no matter
what I go through.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I mean if we don't look at context, we can
come up with a very erroneous interpretation. I mean, imagine
taking these three verses out of context, and Judas went
out and hung himself. Friends, do not be merely hearers
of the word, but doers.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Of the word.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
And Jesus said, what you do do quickly. I mean,
that's butchering the Bible, that's pulling different scriptures out. And
every cult in the world does that. We have to
take it as a whole. So what is the context here?
The context here are Jewish people, some of which you
have been converted, some of the community aren't. And he's
(03:39):
speaking to the ones in the community that aren't, and
he's saying, I'm scared about you. I'm scared about some
of you that aren't maturing. And the reason I'm scared
about some of you that aren't maturing is because you're
really not saved.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And I want to make sure that you're saved.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
You've come all the way to the point of repentance,
but you're not all the way there yet.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
So let's read what he says. Let's let the text
speak for itself.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
See if this makes sense, he says, But each one,
I'm sorry, he says this, for in the case of
those who have once been enlightened, what doesn't mean to
be enlightened. Enlightened means you have a mental awareness. You
become aware of something going on, but you haven't necessarily
done anything with it. If I told you today that
there's a sale at Park Meadows and everything in every
(04:20):
store is seventy five percent off, I would be enlightening you.
But if you don't go to Park Meadows, you don't
get to experience what I'm enlightening you about.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
By the way, if you go to Park Medals, that's
not true. It's not gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
So but enlightening. They've been enlightening. They've been enlightened to
the truth. They've been made aware of the information. They've
been made aware.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Of Jesus Lord.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
They've heard the apostles preach and teach. They know what
Jesus said, they know who he is, but they haven't
done anything with it. What else have they done? They've
tasted of the heavenly gift. What's the heavenly gift? It's
Christ for our salvation. They've tasted of it. Tasted does
not mean embraced and eaten. Jesus tasted death for everybody.
(05:03):
Hebrews two nine told us he tasted death for everyone.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Is he still dead? He tasted death.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
He completely died, But he's not dead anymore. Death apart
from Christ is forever. Jesus had a taster. He tasted it.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
But he didn't endure it for all time. I'll give
you a passage of scripture that.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Will will back this. In Matthew, chapter twenty seven and
verse thirty four, when Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross,
it says, and they gave him wine to drink, mixed
with gold, and after tasting it same word, he was
unwilling to drink. Tasting does not mean swallowed. Tasting does
not mean fully embraced. It means they know they've been
(05:47):
enlightened at Jus's Lord. They've seen that Jesus is Lord.
They've even had a little taste of the gospel. They've
even had some experience in the community that the gospel's real,
but they.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Haven't done anything with it. Was I mean they've been
made for takers of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
It means this they've experienced the manifest presence of the
Holy Spirit and community that they've experienced him. The Holy
Spirit brings conviction about sin and judgment and righteousness.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
The Holy Spirit prompts you in a service.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
When you're here today at Brave, you can experience the
manifest presence of the Holy Spirit without being saved. Some
of you may say, well, I kind of like the preaching,
or that song made me cry. Or man, when they
said that today, that really resonated with my heart. They've
experienced the Holy Spirit. Some At First Tuesday. Last First
Tuesday we had I asked people, hey, raise your hands
if you've been physically healed since being here at Brave.
(06:35):
About a third of the hands went up. And some
people might say, well, that's great. I've seen God heal people.
Watch them do great things. Been partakers with the Holy Spirit.
Doesn't mean they're in dwelled with the Holy Spirit, doesn't
mean they're filled with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
But they've experienced the Holy Spirit. What else have they done?
They've tasted of the Good Word. The good Word is
the spoken word. They've tasted of it.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
They like preaching. They like good preaching. Man, that pastor
he told a good story.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I like that. I like good preaching. Remember Herod. He
even liked hearing John the Baptist preach.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Didn't always like what John the Baptists had to say, like.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Listening to them.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I mean, there's some people that just like getting their
ears tickled for the sake of getting them tickled.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
There's some people like.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
To be in church because it's a good moral thing
to do. And I kind of like what the pastor
has to say. But that doesn't mean that. Because you
hear the word and experience the spirit and know that
Jesus is the.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Way that you have made Jesus Christ the Lord of
your life. That's what he's saying. And notice what else
he goes on to say.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He goes they've tasted the good Word and the powers
of the age to come. I mean, we study the
life of Jesus, we see not only saves, but he heals,
he delivers. These people have seen all that. They've seen
the apostles do all that. They've watched people be delivered
from demons. They've watched people get healed. They watch, you know,
the apostles raise people from the dead. They've experienced all this.
(07:55):
But you know what they haven't done. They haven't allowed
Jesus Christ to be lord. You know why because when
you're spiritually lethargic, here's what you say.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, I know all that's good, but I got my
life to live. I'm not giving my.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Whole heart to Jesus. Maybe someday I'll give my whole
heart to Jesus. I'm not ready for that kind of
commitment yet. Oh I'd like him to be my savior.
I just don't want him to be my lord. There's
nowhere in the Bible where that plays out. Or somebody
looks Jesus in the eye and say, hey, I want
you to die for me, but I just want you
to know I got a life to live.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
This different than what you're asking. And Jesus says, okay.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Somebody says, He says, he who puts his hand to
the plow and looks back, it's not fit for the
Kingdom of heaven. When the rich young ruler comes to
him and walks away, he says how hard it is
for the rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. He
points at people's hearts and says, I'm lord. I need
you to be I need to be your lord. And
if I'm your Lord, I will save you. Like that's
what's going on here.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
It means this at Brave Church.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
It means you can come to Brave Church and you
can experience all the same things and still not be saved.
Did you know that you can come to Brave Church
and you can like the preaching, you can like the worship.
You can experience the manifest power of the Holy Spirit.
You can taste of the heavenly gift. And here's stories
of people that are saved. You can be enlightened and
made aware that Jesus Christ is Lord, and you must
turn from your sin and make Jesus Christ Lord and
still not be a Christian.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
This is Pastor Jeff Ministries with doctor Jeff swarzentrauw. Today
Pastor Jeff is sharing his message the danger of spiritual
lethargy from the series The Greatest, urging you to pursue
maturity and assurance by pressing on in faith and hope.
We'll return to Pastor Jeff in just a moment, but
before we do, we want to help you live differently,
(09:36):
to think clearly, to pray powerfully, and to walk wisely
every single day with Pastor Jeff's battle tested wisdom a
ten day prayer journey for real life decisions. This resource
is our thanks for your gift of support to help
reach more people through Pastor Jeff Ministries. To request your copy,
simply go to Pastorjeff dot com and give a gift
(09:57):
to keep teachings like this one today going strong your
pastor Jeff ministries Again, that's Pastorjeff dot Com. Now let's
return to today's teaching.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
You can come to break Church and you can like
the preaching, you can like the worship. You can experience
the manifest power of the Holy Spirit. You can taste
of the heavenly gift. And here's stories of people that
are saved. You can be enlightened and made aware that
Jesus Christ is Lord, and you must turn from your
sin and make Jesus Christ's Lord and still not be
a Christian. Now here's the danger when you have all
that experience and notice what it says and then fall away,
(10:34):
and then fall away, it is what impossible to renew
them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves
the son of God and put him to open shame. Now,
some people I've watched try to twist this text and say, well,
possible means really really difficult. That's hard to understand when
(10:56):
in Hebrews six point eighteen it says it's impossible for
God to lie?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Is it really really difficult for God to lie? But
he does it?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Sometimes or is it impossible for God to lie? It's impossible.
So whoever this group of people.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Is, and I'm making the case that these are unsaved.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
People who have got to the precipice of giving their
lives to Christ. And then after they've had that entire experience,
it's not that they leave the church. It's not that
they change churches. It's not that they go through a
season of difficulty. It's where they say, I want nothing
to do with Christ, I hate him, Get out of my.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Face, Jesus, I'm done with you. Here's what it says
about people like that.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
It is impossible to renew them again to repentance because
they crucify to themselves the son of God all over again.
It's impossible to get them back to a place where
their heart would be soft enough to respond to the gospel.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Is that a warning or what? Now?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
This warning is for the people that hear it. It's
not for you to look at other people and.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Say, oh, yeah, that's you. You'll never come to Christ.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
No, no, no, no, we don't know, because you know what,
I have the same sixth sense and flesh that you have.
And there's been times in my life where outwardly, I've
been hardened towards something, but inwardly I really want it.
I've just been embarrassed or shamed. So we can't look
at somebody and say, oh, God will never take you back.
That's not what this text is teaching. This text is
(12:15):
teaching the individual who is at the place of making
a decision for Christ but refuses to do it, says, hey,
be careful because you have the experience and you know
the truth. And if you turn and harden your heart
towards this, there will come a place where it's impossible
for you to get back here. Don't think that you
can just come to Christ on your own terms anytime
you want. So I all throw up this text. We've
(12:35):
heard it three different times today. If you hear the
Lord's voice, do not harden your heart, because it will
come a time where your heart will be hard and
you won't be sensitive to things of God. And what's
the challenge with this, Well, a person like this, it
can't be brought back to repentance because what they're saying
publicly and what they're saying in their heart is Gus
(12:57):
deserved to die.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Crucify him. I don't want them they're putting him to
open shame once again.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
I've had people ask me when I teach this text, Hey,
does that mean when I see somebody go wayward, I
shouldn't pray for him anymore. No, we're called to pray
and never give up. The Bible says the Lord knows
those who are his.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I don't know who's his and who's not his.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I don't have the ability every single time to see
exactly who's saved and who's not, and what God's doing.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
I don't have that total ability Jesus does. What we
have the ability to do is pray for the lost.
What we have the ability to do is comfort people
who are wayward.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
What we have the ability to do is do everything
we can to point them to Jesus.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It's God's job to do the saving. Amen. But it
is a warning passage, and it's sobering.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
If this person here is a Christian that he's talking about,
it means this.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
You would have to teach, hey, Christian, here's what it means.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
You fall away from the faith, you ain't ever coming back,
which would terrify me. I was at a seminary one
time that taught this way. It was a Wesleyan Seminary.
And I raised my hand in claim, as I often did,
and I said, if you really believe this is a denomination,
how come nobody ever teaches it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
I grew up in a Methodist church. I was never
scared of going to Hell ever. And I said, you
really believe this?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
He said, yeah, I believe this. I said, well, what
would happen. Our seminary was right across the street from
the college. I said, well, what would happen if I
were crossing the street and I saw a girl crossing
the street and I lost it in my mind about
was hit by a truck right then when I go
to Hell?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
And everybody started laughing.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
He said, well, I think the Lord would know that
you were going to ask for forgiveness, so you'd probably
still go to heaven. And I thought, what pathetic theology.
Jesus Christ died on the cross to forgive me for
all my sins. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, Jesus
Christ's Lord.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
He gave me the gift of the Gospel by his grace.
I did nothing to earn it.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I trusted in Him for the forgiveness of my sins,
and he is mine for all eternity, and I am
his and no one can snatch me out of his hand.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Amen. That's the gospel. That's why I believe.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Here he's talking to someone who has had experience without
the full measure of knowing Christ as Lord. And there's
grave consequences. There's grave consequences. I mean, we see this
all throughout the New Testament. First John two nineteen says this,
they went out from us, but they were not really
of us. For if they had been of us, they
would have remained with us. But they went out so
(15:21):
that it would be.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Shown that they are not of us.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
It's sobering when we think about all the people that
grow up in the church that have had every opportunity
to trust Christ.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
And we say things like this, Oh, they went off
to college, they lost their faith.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Here's what I would say, they never had it to
begin with, and never had it to begin with. They're
living what they're living in total rebellion of God, because
they always did even when they sat here. They just
couldn't act out on the full measure.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And they need Jesus.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I mean, this is a troubling passage for those of
us to come to church every week. They don't have
Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and savior? Isn't it
because I believe, I mean, I.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Believe just because we open our doors doesn't mean that
it already walks in. Here is a Christian? I don't believe.
Everybody tells stories.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Well I did this, and then I did this, and
then I did this, and now I think I'm a Christian.
Have you repented and trusted Jesus Christ alone for the
forgiveness of your sins? Are you comfortable with letting Jesus
Christ be the lord of your life in every area?
That's what he's pointing at here, And here's what he says, So, well,
how do I know?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
This is a good news?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
That spiritual athargy becomes obvious over time. You can see
it in your own life, and you can see it
in the lives of others.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Notice to the story that he tells at the end
in verses.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Seven and eighty says, for ground, it drinks the rain
which often falls on it, and brings forth vegetation useful
to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives
a blessing from God. But if it yields thorns and thistles,
it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it
ends up being burned. He says that when the same
gospel goes out over the same group of people and
(16:51):
falls just like rain falls on the ground, to some
who have trusted Christ's Lord, it begins to bear fruit.
But those who don't have Christ's Lord, it's stills, thorns
and thistles. Why because there's nothing wrong with the word
of God. When the word of God gets into good soil,
it always produces a harvest. I mean, the parable of
(17:11):
the Sowers talks about hard soil and weedy soil and
rocky soil that chokes out that seed, making it unfruitful.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Because people like that don't have a heart for God.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Some are hardened towards it. Some a peer that they
have joy, but it burns out, and some are choked
by the world. And none of them bear fruit because
none of them, in their life Jesus Christ is Lord.
But when the word of God gets planted in a
heart that says I want you to be the Lord
of my life, it always produces thirty sixty or even
one hundredfold. John fifteen says, it's to my Father's glory
that you bear much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
It is normal for the Christian to bear fruit. If
you've been a Christian for a period of time, you.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Will begin to notice changes in your life that more
reflect the life of Christ. You'll have a greater love
for God. You'll have a greater love for other people.
You'll have a greater hunger for His word. You'll have
a greater hunger for prayer. You'll find yourself stewarting your
resources different. You'll find yourself handling your relationships different.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Things will begin to change. What it doesn't mean is that.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
You'll be perfect from the time you trust Christ. We're
not talking about somebody that's imperfect here. We're talking about
somebody who's rejecting the Gospel. But here's what I want
to talk about. I mean, we use the word backslide
in church all the time. I don't really find that
word in the Bible too much. Now, the Bible does
say that at times we slide back for a little
(18:28):
period of time, perhaps, but not twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I mean, maybe for a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
That's why in Galatians six' one he tells us, brethren
even if anyone.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Is caught in a.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Trespass you are a spiritual, restore such a one in
a spirit of, gentleness each one looking to yourself so
that you too won't be. Tempted there are times in
our life we Need christian community around us to, say, hey,
bro are you doing the right.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
THING i became A christian right BEFORE i went to.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
COLLEGE i had all sorts of behaviors of mine that
followed me into My christian life that weren't.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Good AND i remember my junior, year one of.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
The guys that was in A bible studyed WITH i
had the utmost respect, for and he walked his. Talk
we were in the locker room before practice one day he, Said,
hey how is it you call yourself A christian and
talk like? THAT i had a filthy, Mouth but when
he said it to, ME i wasn't mad at. HIM
i wasn't, like who are you to talk to? Me
it kind of hurt my, heart, like, hey he doesn't
(19:22):
Think i'm doing this thing? Right AND i went home
and begin to pray to The. Lord i'm, Like, lord
how DO i change my? Mouth And god walked me
through the scriptures and, said it's not your MOUTH i
need to, change it's your.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Heart and IF i change your, heart then your mouth will.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Change And god began to change my, heart and my
mouth began to, change And god did a. Work and
maybe not BECAUSE i tried to fix my, language but
BECAUSE i repented of my sin and Asked jesus to
cleanse me and change.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Me we go through seasons like.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
That but What i'm not talking about is when we
talk about, backslid where we talk about, somebody you, know
when they're in the casket and we're officiating their, funeral
and they died at eighty, four and they went through
a myriad of, marriages and they were horrible to, people and,
they you, know spent all their money on, themselves and
they were, wicked and they were, ugly and they were foul,
mouthed and they were, abusive and they got into fights
(20:05):
all the, time and they did all these, things and
then the funeral we say something like, This, YEAH i
think they're in heaven because when they were, eight they
went To Brave. Church they were at high five and
they prayed to Receive. Christ that's not, backsliding that's not Trusting.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Jesus you see the. DIFFERENCE i, mean all of us
have moments in our life that we're embarrassed about since
becoming A.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Christian but it should be like the stock market that
we keep moving up and all of us As christians
can send all the same sins Non christians can, sin
and there shouldn't be shame for.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
That there should be the blood Of jesus that washes.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Those things clean and we move. On that's true at
these three girls in our church that gave me A
t shirt recently that, said live your life so that
your pastor doesn't have to lie at your.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
FUNERAL i like that. Shirt and that's what he's talking about.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Here he's talking about here not are you, perfect because
none of us are on this side of.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Heaven he's, saying are you? Growing are are you moving?
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Up because perhaps there's some of you here today and
somebody are listening to my voice, today and you're not.
Growing you've been spiritually stunted for so, long and the
way that.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
You grow is by watching others.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Grow maybe you like the way your pastors, grow and
maybe you like the way your small group leaders, grow
and maybe you like the way your spouse is.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Growing maybe like the way.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Your mom and dad are, growing and you're around, it
so you feel like you're, Growing but if we're to
really examine.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Your, heart you Say i'm not growing at. ALL i
haven't grown at. All, maybe just maybe this is the
Warning passes you needed to hear That god has brought
you so close and you're to the point of.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Repentance but you've never crossed the line and, Said, jesus
that need you to be my. Lord why not make
today the day and for others of? You Or Jesus
christ is the lord of your. Life perhaps you've been
playing games LIKE i was WHEN i was in, college
not even being aware of some of the sin The
lord was trying to point out to. Me or you're
trying to fix it on. Yourself you're trying to make
commitments To god and you come to. Church, hey this
(21:57):
Week i'm going to stop, this and this Week i'm
gonna start, this and this WEEK i Commit i'll never
do that.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Again and what you've never done is, Say, Jesus i'm
done with. That you be The lord of my. Life,
lord you forgive.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Me i'm going to receive all your forgiveness. TODAY i
confess my sin before you all want to turn from,
that change WHO i. Am you, Know jesus has a
perfect track record of changing people's.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Lives you, know the beauty of this, passage no.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Matter how severe and dark and disgusting your, sin is
the blood Of. Jesus christ is greater than, that and
he will wash it all.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Clean isn't that good? News that's what he's talking about?
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Here and he tells, us he, goes, hey you know
it's been going to become. OBVIOUS i Mean matthew, Seven jesus, says.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
You can know people by their.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Fruits, WELL i can't look into everybody's, heart AND i
can't discern Oh.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Christian Non, Christian christian Non, christian although we can.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Sometimes here's What jesus says In matthew chapter, seven starting
in verse.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Sixteen he, says you will know them by the.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Fruits grapes are not gathered from thorn, bushes nor figs from,
things are? They so every good tree bears good, fruit
but the bat tree bears bad.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
FRUIT a good tree.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Cannot produce bad, fruit nor a bad tree produce good.
Fruit every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown in the. Fire so then you
will know them by their. Fruits we're scared to say
that to people, sometimes.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
How who are you to tell?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Me Because i'm a discerner in The word of, righteousness
AND i know that you don't have a heart For,
god and if you, do you would. Repent good trees
produce good. Fruit bat trees produce bad. Fruit look at your,
land look at the soil of your. Heart Is god
producing fruit in? You or is it barren and about
(23:47):
to get? Burned you, know the tragedy in this life
is not. Dying the tragedy of this life is dying
apart From. Christ the bigger tragedy would be dying apart From.
Christ when you've been hearing from A god's word clearly
That Jesus christ is willing to save your soul and
save you to the full right at this, moment and
that no one could ever take that away from. You
(24:07):
and he's offering you a.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Gift that you don't take that would be even more.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Tragic thanks for listening To Pastor Jeff. Ministries that Was
Pastor jeff with this message the danger of spiritual lethargy
from the Series The, greatest urging you to pursue maturity
and assurance by pressing on in faith and. Hope before you,
go be sure to Request Pastor Jeff's Battle Tested, wisdom
(24:32):
a ten day prayer journey for real life. Decisions when
you give a gift in support Of Pastor Jeff. Ministries
to request your, copy go To pastorjeff dot com and
give to help reach more people through these, teachings and
while you're, there remember to sign up for email updates
From Pastor Jeff ministries so you never miss new resources
designed to equip you for courageous. Living That's pastorjeff dot.
(24:54):
Com thank you for joining us.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Today
We're glad you've joined us for today's program. Pastor Jeff
Ministries is the Bible teaching ministry of doctor Jeff Swarzentra,
Senior Pastor of Brave Church in Denver, Colorado. Today, Pastor
Jeff concludes his message the Danger of Spiritual Lethargy from
the series The Greatest and urges you to pursue maturity
(00:24):
and assurance by pressing on in faith and hope. Pastor
Jeff will get started in just a moment, but first
want to let you know there's a wealth of resources
to help you grow in your walk at Pastorjeff dot com.
Visit Pastorjeff dot com today to find out more and
to sign up for Pastor Jeff's weekly devotional emails. Now
here's today's program.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
You're saved.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
There's a double grip on you. The Father and the
Son are holding you in their hand, and nobody, but nobody,
not even the devil, not even yourself, not even your
own stupid decisions, can take away your salvation.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
You need to know that. Here's just a couple other verses.
They're all over the New Testament.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Philippians one six says that he who began a good work,
and you will carry it on to completion until.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
The day of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
What got started he gonna finish?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
What about In.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Romans Chapter eight, verse thirty one, If God is for us,
who is against us? Verse thirty five says who will
separate us from the love of Christ? And verses thirty
eight and thirty nine he says, for I am convinced
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height
(01:38):
nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able
to separate us from the Love of God, which is
in Christ. Jesus our Lord.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Nothing can separate you from God's love.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
If you've trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
you belong to Christ. It's Christ in you, the hope
of glory. He's not going anywhere. We'll give you one more.
Ephesians one thirteen and fourteen says in him you also,
after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of
your salvation, having also believed you were sealed in Him
with the Holy Spirit of promise. Who is a is
(02:10):
given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view
to the redemption of God's own possession to the.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Praise of His glory.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
So not only does Father and son hold you, but
the Holy Spirit has been given to you as a deposit,
guaranteeing your inheritance.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
And the saints Christian.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
If you've turned from your sin and Jesus Christ is
your lord, he's always going to be your lord. You
are not ever in peril of losing what God gave
you in salvation.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Is that good news?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So let's talk in context, because context is everything in
the Bible.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
That's why.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
You know, sometimes people go through the Bible and they
pick a verse here, and they pick a verse there,
and they pick a verse here, and they pick a
verse there.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I can do all things through Christ. You strengthens me.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
That means somebody, I can be a president, I can
be the quarterback in the broncos, I can be whatever
I want through Christy strengthens me. Well, that's not what
that means. In context, I can be content no matter
what I go through.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I mean if we don't look at context, we can
come up with a very erroneous interpretation. I mean, imagine
taking these three verses out of context, and Judas went
out and hung himself. Friends, do not be merely hearers
of the word, but doers.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Of the word.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
And Jesus said, what you do do quickly. I mean,
that's butchering the Bible, that's pulling different scriptures out. And
every cult in the world does that. We have to
take it as a whole. So what is the context here?
The context here are Jewish people, some of which you
have been converted, some of the community aren't. And he's
(03:39):
speaking to the ones in the community that aren't, and
he's saying, I'm scared about you. I'm scared about some
of you that aren't maturing. And the reason I'm scared
about some of you that aren't maturing is because you're
really not saved.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And I want to make sure that you're saved.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
You've come all the way to the point of repentance,
but you're not all the way there yet.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
So let's read what he says. Let's let the text
speak for itself.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
See if this makes sense, he says, But each one,
I'm sorry, he says this, for in the case of
those who have once been enlightened, what doesn't mean to
be enlightened. Enlightened means you have a mental awareness. You
become aware of something going on, but you haven't necessarily
done anything with it. If I told you today that
there's a sale at Park Meadows and everything in every
(04:20):
store is seventy five percent off, I would be enlightening you.
But if you don't go to Park Meadows, you don't
get to experience what I'm enlightening you about.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
By the way, if you go to Park Medals, that's
not true. It's not gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
So but enlightening. They've been enlightening. They've been enlightened to
the truth. They've been made aware of the information. They've
been made aware.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Of Jesus Lord.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
They've heard the apostles preach and teach. They know what
Jesus said, they know who he is, but they haven't
done anything with it. What else have they done? They've
tasted of the heavenly gift. What's the heavenly gift? It's
Christ for our salvation. They've tasted of it. Tasted does
not mean embraced and eaten. Jesus tasted death for everybody.
(05:03):
Hebrews two nine told us he tasted death for everyone.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Is he still dead? He tasted death.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
He completely died, But he's not dead anymore. Death apart
from Christ is forever. Jesus had a taster. He tasted it.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
But he didn't endure it for all time. I'll give
you a passage of scripture that.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Will will back this. In Matthew, chapter twenty seven and
verse thirty four, when Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross,
it says, and they gave him wine to drink, mixed
with gold, and after tasting it same word, he was
unwilling to drink. Tasting does not mean swallowed. Tasting does
not mean fully embraced. It means they know they've been
(05:47):
enlightened at Jus's Lord. They've seen that Jesus is Lord.
They've even had a little taste of the gospel. They've
even had some experience in the community that the gospel's real,
but they.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Haven't done anything with it. Was I mean they've been
made for takers of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
It means this they've experienced the manifest presence of the
Holy Spirit and community that they've experienced him. The Holy
Spirit brings conviction about sin and judgment and righteousness.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
The Holy Spirit prompts you in a service.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
When you're here today at Brave, you can experience the
manifest presence of the Holy Spirit without being saved. Some
of you may say, well, I kind of like the preaching,
or that song made me cry. Or man, when they
said that today, that really resonated with my heart. They've
experienced the Holy Spirit. Some At First Tuesday. Last First
Tuesday we had I asked people, hey, raise your hands
if you've been physically healed since being here at Brave.
(06:35):
About a third of the hands went up. And some
people might say, well, that's great. I've seen God heal people.
Watch them do great things. Been partakers with the Holy Spirit.
Doesn't mean they're in dwelled with the Holy Spirit, doesn't
mean they're filled with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
But they've experienced the Holy Spirit. What else have they done?
They've tasted of the Good Word. The good Word is
the spoken word. They've tasted of it.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
They like preaching. They like good preaching. Man, that pastor
he told a good story.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I like that. I like good preaching. Remember Herod. He
even liked hearing John the Baptist preach.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Didn't always like what John the Baptists had to say, like.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Listening to them.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I mean, there's some people that just like getting their
ears tickled for the sake of getting them tickled.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
There's some people like.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
To be in church because it's a good moral thing
to do. And I kind of like what the pastor
has to say. But that doesn't mean that. Because you
hear the word and experience the spirit and know that
Jesus is the.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Way that you have made Jesus Christ the Lord of
your life. That's what he's saying. And notice what else
he goes on to say.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
He goes they've tasted the good Word and the powers
of the age to come. I mean, we study the
life of Jesus, we see not only saves, but he heals,
he delivers. These people have seen all that. They've seen
the apostles do all that. They've watched people be delivered
from demons. They've watched people get healed. They watch, you know,
the apostles raise people from the dead. They've experienced all this.
(07:55):
But you know what they haven't done. They haven't allowed
Jesus Christ to be lord. You know why because when
you're spiritually lethargic, here's what you say.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, I know all that's good, but I got my
life to live. I'm not giving my.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Whole heart to Jesus. Maybe someday I'll give my whole
heart to Jesus. I'm not ready for that kind of
commitment yet. Oh I'd like him to be my savior.
I just don't want him to be my lord. There's
nowhere in the Bible where that plays out. Or somebody
looks Jesus in the eye and say, hey, I want
you to die for me, but I just want you
to know I got a life to live.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
This different than what you're asking. And Jesus says, okay.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Somebody says, He says, he who puts his hand to
the plow and looks back, it's not fit for the
Kingdom of heaven. When the rich young ruler comes to
him and walks away, he says how hard it is
for the rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. He
points at people's hearts and says, I'm lord. I need
you to be I need to be your lord. And
if I'm your Lord, I will save you. Like that's
what's going on here.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
It means this at Brave Church.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
It means you can come to Brave Church and you
can experience all the same things and still not be saved.
Did you know that you can come to Brave Church
and you can like the preaching, you can like the worship.
You can experience the manifest power of the Holy Spirit.
You can taste of the heavenly gift. And here's stories
of people that are saved. You can be enlightened and
made aware that Jesus Christ is Lord, and you must
turn from your sin and make Jesus Christ Lord and
still not be a Christian.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
This is Pastor Jeff Ministries with doctor Jeff swarzentrauw. Today
Pastor Jeff is sharing his message the danger of spiritual
lethargy from the series The Greatest, urging you to pursue
maturity and assurance by pressing on in faith and hope.
We'll return to Pastor Jeff in just a moment, but
before we do, we want to help you live differently,
(09:36):
to think clearly, to pray powerfully, and to walk wisely
every single day with Pastor Jeff's battle tested wisdom a
ten day prayer journey for real life decisions. This resource
is our thanks for your gift of support to help
reach more people through Pastor Jeff Ministries. To request your copy,
simply go to Pastorjeff dot com and give a gift
(09:57):
to keep teachings like this one today going strong your
pastor Jeff ministries Again, that's Pastorjeff dot Com. Now let's
return to today's teaching.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
You can come to break Church and you can like
the preaching, you can like the worship. You can experience
the manifest power of the Holy Spirit. You can taste
of the heavenly gift. And here's stories of people that
are saved. You can be enlightened and made aware that
Jesus Christ is Lord, and you must turn from your
sin and make Jesus Christ's Lord and still not be
a Christian. Now here's the danger when you have all
that experience and notice what it says and then fall away,
(10:34):
and then fall away, it is what impossible to renew
them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves
the son of God and put him to open shame. Now,
some people I've watched try to twist this text and say, well,
possible means really really difficult. That's hard to understand when
(10:56):
in Hebrews six point eighteen it says it's impossible for
God to lie?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Is it really really difficult for God to lie? But
he does it?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Sometimes or is it impossible for God to lie? It's impossible.
So whoever this group of people.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Is, and I'm making the case that these are unsaved.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
People who have got to the precipice of giving their
lives to Christ. And then after they've had that entire experience,
it's not that they leave the church. It's not that
they change churches. It's not that they go through a
season of difficulty. It's where they say, I want nothing
to do with Christ, I hate him, Get out of my.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Face, Jesus, I'm done with you. Here's what it says
about people like that.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
It is impossible to renew them again to repentance because
they crucify to themselves the son of God all over again.
It's impossible to get them back to a place where
their heart would be soft enough to respond to the gospel.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Is that a warning or what? Now?
Speaker 3 (11:49):
This warning is for the people that hear it. It's
not for you to look at other people and.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Say, oh, yeah, that's you. You'll never come to Christ.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
No, no, no, no, we don't know, because you know what,
I have the same sixth sense and flesh that you have.
And there's been times in my life where outwardly, I've
been hardened towards something, but inwardly I really want it.
I've just been embarrassed or shamed. So we can't look
at somebody and say, oh, God will never take you back.
That's not what this text is teaching. This text is
(12:15):
teaching the individual who is at the place of making
a decision for Christ but refuses to do it, says, hey,
be careful because you have the experience and you know
the truth. And if you turn and harden your heart
towards this, there will come a place where it's impossible
for you to get back here. Don't think that you
can just come to Christ on your own terms anytime
you want. So I all throw up this text. We've
(12:35):
heard it three different times today. If you hear the
Lord's voice, do not harden your heart, because it will
come a time where your heart will be hard and
you won't be sensitive to things of God. And what's
the challenge with this, Well, a person like this, it
can't be brought back to repentance because what they're saying
publicly and what they're saying in their heart is Gus
(12:57):
deserved to die.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Crucify him. I don't want them they're putting him to
open shame once again.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
I've had people ask me when I teach this text, Hey,
does that mean when I see somebody go wayward, I
shouldn't pray for him anymore. No, we're called to pray
and never give up. The Bible says the Lord knows
those who are his.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I don't know who's his and who's not his.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I don't have the ability every single time to see
exactly who's saved and who's not, and what God's doing.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
I don't have that total ability Jesus does. What we
have the ability to do is pray for the lost.
What we have the ability to do is comfort people
who are wayward.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
What we have the ability to do is do everything
we can to point them to Jesus.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It's God's job to do the saving. Amen. But it
is a warning passage, and it's sobering.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
If this person here is a Christian that he's talking about,
it means this.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
You would have to teach, hey, Christian, here's what it means.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
You fall away from the faith, you ain't ever coming back,
which would terrify me. I was at a seminary one
time that taught this way. It was a Wesleyan Seminary.
And I raised my hand in claim, as I often did,
and I said, if you really believe this is a denomination,
how come nobody ever teaches it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
I grew up in a Methodist church. I was never
scared of going to Hell ever. And I said, you
really believe this?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
He said, yeah, I believe this. I said, well, what
would happen. Our seminary was right across the street from
the college. I said, well, what would happen if I
were crossing the street and I saw a girl crossing
the street and I lost it in my mind about
was hit by a truck right then when I go
to Hell?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
And everybody started laughing.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
He said, well, I think the Lord would know that
you were going to ask for forgiveness, so you'd probably
still go to heaven. And I thought, what pathetic theology.
Jesus Christ died on the cross to forgive me for
all my sins. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, Jesus
Christ's Lord.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
He gave me the gift of the Gospel by his grace.
I did nothing to earn it.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I trusted in Him for the forgiveness of my sins,
and he is mine for all eternity, and I am
his and no one can snatch me out of his hand.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Amen. That's the gospel. That's why I believe.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Here he's talking to someone who has had experience without
the full measure of knowing Christ as Lord. And there's
grave consequences. There's grave consequences. I mean, we see this
all throughout the New Testament. First John two nineteen says this,
they went out from us, but they were not really
of us. For if they had been of us, they
would have remained with us. But they went out so
(15:21):
that it would be.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Shown that they are not of us.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
It's sobering when we think about all the people that
grow up in the church that have had every opportunity
to trust Christ.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
And we say things like this, Oh, they went off
to college, they lost their faith.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Here's what I would say, they never had it to
begin with, and never had it to begin with. They're
living what they're living in total rebellion of God, because
they always did even when they sat here. They just
couldn't act out on the full measure.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And they need Jesus.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I mean, this is a troubling passage for those of
us to come to church every week. They don't have
Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and savior? Isn't it
because I believe, I mean, I.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Believe just because we open our doors doesn't mean that
it already walks in. Here is a Christian? I don't believe.
Everybody tells stories.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Well I did this, and then I did this, and
then I did this, and now I think I'm a Christian.
Have you repented and trusted Jesus Christ alone for the
forgiveness of your sins? Are you comfortable with letting Jesus
Christ be the lord of your life in every area?
That's what he's pointing at here, And here's what he says, So, well,
how do I know?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
This is a good news?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
That spiritual athargy becomes obvious over time. You can see
it in your own life, and you can see it
in the lives of others.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Notice to the story that he tells at the end
in verses.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Seven and eighty says, for ground, it drinks the rain
which often falls on it, and brings forth vegetation useful
to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives
a blessing from God. But if it yields thorns and thistles,
it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it
ends up being burned. He says that when the same
gospel goes out over the same group of people and
(16:51):
falls just like rain falls on the ground, to some
who have trusted Christ's Lord, it begins to bear fruit.
But those who don't have Christ's Lord, it's stills, thorns
and thistles. Why because there's nothing wrong with the word
of God. When the word of God gets into good soil,
it always produces a harvest. I mean, the parable of
(17:11):
the Sowers talks about hard soil and weedy soil and
rocky soil that chokes out that seed, making it unfruitful.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Because people like that don't have a heart for God.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Some are hardened towards it. Some a peer that they
have joy, but it burns out, and some are choked
by the world. And none of them bear fruit because
none of them, in their life Jesus Christ is Lord.
But when the word of God gets planted in a
heart that says I want you to be the Lord
of my life, it always produces thirty sixty or even
one hundredfold. John fifteen says, it's to my Father's glory
that you bear much fruit and prove to be My disciples.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
It is normal for the Christian to bear fruit. If
you've been a Christian for a period of time, you.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Will begin to notice changes in your life that more
reflect the life of Christ. You'll have a greater love
for God. You'll have a greater love for other people.
You'll have a greater hunger for His word. You'll have
a greater hunger for prayer. You'll find yourself stewarting your
resources different. You'll find yourself handling your relationships different.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Things will begin to change. What it doesn't mean is that.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
You'll be perfect from the time you trust Christ. We're
not talking about somebody that's imperfect here. We're talking about
somebody who's rejecting the Gospel. But here's what I want
to talk about. I mean, we use the word backslide
in church all the time. I don't really find that
word in the Bible too much. Now, the Bible does
say that at times we slide back for a little
(18:28):
period of time, perhaps, but not twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I mean, maybe for a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
That's why in Galatians six' one he tells us, brethren
even if anyone.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Is caught in a.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Trespass you are a spiritual, restore such a one in
a spirit of, gentleness each one looking to yourself so
that you too won't be. Tempted there are times in
our life we Need christian community around us to, say, hey,
bro are you doing the right.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
THING i became A christian right BEFORE i went to.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
COLLEGE i had all sorts of behaviors of mine that
followed me into My christian life that weren't.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Good AND i remember my junior, year one of.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
The guys that was in A bible studyed WITH i
had the utmost respect, for and he walked his. Talk
we were in the locker room before practice one day he, Said,
hey how is it you call yourself A christian and
talk like? THAT i had a filthy, Mouth but when
he said it to, ME i wasn't mad at. HIM
i wasn't, like who are you to talk to? Me
it kind of hurt my, heart, like, hey he doesn't
(19:22):
Think i'm doing this thing? Right AND i went home
and begin to pray to The. Lord i'm, Like, lord
how DO i change my? Mouth And god walked me
through the scriptures and, said it's not your MOUTH i
need to, change it's your.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Heart and IF i change your, heart then your mouth will.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Change And god began to change my, heart and my
mouth began to, change And god did a. Work and
maybe not BECAUSE i tried to fix my, language but
BECAUSE i repented of my sin and Asked jesus to
cleanse me and change.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Me we go through seasons like.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
That but What i'm not talking about is when we
talk about, backslid where we talk about, somebody you, know
when they're in the casket and we're officiating their, funeral
and they died at eighty, four and they went through
a myriad of, marriages and they were horrible to, people and,
they you, know spent all their money on, themselves and
they were, wicked and they were, ugly and they were foul,
mouthed and they were, abusive and they got into fights
(20:05):
all the, time and they did all these, things and
then the funeral we say something like, This, YEAH i
think they're in heaven because when they were, eight they
went To Brave. Church they were at high five and
they prayed to Receive. Christ that's not, backsliding that's not Trusting.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Jesus you see the. DIFFERENCE i, mean all of us
have moments in our life that we're embarrassed about since
becoming A.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Christian but it should be like the stock market that
we keep moving up and all of us As christians
can send all the same sins Non christians can, sin
and there shouldn't be shame for.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
That there should be the blood Of jesus that washes.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Those things clean and we move. On that's true at
these three girls in our church that gave me A
t shirt recently that, said live your life so that
your pastor doesn't have to lie at your.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
FUNERAL i like that. Shirt and that's what he's talking about.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
Here he's talking about here not are you, perfect because
none of us are on this side of.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Heaven he's, saying are you? Growing are are you moving?
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Up because perhaps there's some of you here today and
somebody are listening to my voice, today and you're not.
Growing you've been spiritually stunted for so, long and the
way that.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
You grow is by watching others.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Grow maybe you like the way your pastors, grow and
maybe you like the way your small group leaders, grow
and maybe you like the way your spouse is.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Growing maybe like the way.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Your mom and dad are, growing and you're around, it
so you feel like you're, Growing but if we're to
really examine.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Your, heart you Say i'm not growing at. ALL i
haven't grown at. All, maybe just maybe this is the
Warning passes you needed to hear That god has brought
you so close and you're to the point of.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Repentance but you've never crossed the line and, Said, jesus
that need you to be my. Lord why not make
today the day and for others of? You Or Jesus
christ is the lord of your. Life perhaps you've been
playing games LIKE i was WHEN i was in, college
not even being aware of some of the sin The
lord was trying to point out to. Me or you're
trying to fix it on. Yourself you're trying to make
commitments To god and you come to. Church, hey this
(21:57):
Week i'm going to stop, this and this Week i'm
gonna start, this and this WEEK i Commit i'll never
do that.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Again and what you've never done is, Say, Jesus i'm
done with. That you be The lord of my. Life,
lord you forgive.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Me i'm going to receive all your forgiveness. TODAY i
confess my sin before you all want to turn from,
that change WHO i. Am you, Know jesus has a
perfect track record of changing people's.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
Lives you, know the beauty of this, passage no.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Matter how severe and dark and disgusting your, sin is
the blood Of. Jesus christ is greater than, that and
he will wash it all.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Clean isn't that good? News that's what he's talking about?
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Here and he tells, us he, goes, hey you know
it's been going to become. OBVIOUS i Mean matthew, Seven jesus, says.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
You can know people by their.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Fruits, WELL i can't look into everybody's, heart AND i
can't discern Oh.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Christian Non, Christian christian Non, christian although we can.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Sometimes here's What jesus says In matthew chapter, seven starting
in verse.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Sixteen he, says you will know them by the.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Fruits grapes are not gathered from thorn, bushes nor figs from,
things are? They so every good tree bears good, fruit
but the bat tree bears bad.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
FRUIT a good tree.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Cannot produce bad, fruit nor a bad tree produce good.
Fruit every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown in the. Fire so then you
will know them by their. Fruits we're scared to say
that to people, sometimes.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
How who are you to tell?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Me Because i'm a discerner in The word of, righteousness
AND i know that you don't have a heart For,
god and if you, do you would. Repent good trees
produce good. Fruit bat trees produce bad. Fruit look at your,
land look at the soil of your. Heart Is god
producing fruit in? You or is it barren and about
(23:47):
to get? Burned you, know the tragedy in this life
is not. Dying the tragedy of this life is dying
apart From. Christ the bigger tragedy would be dying apart From.
Christ when you've been hearing from A god's word clearly
That Jesus christ is willing to save your soul and
save you to the full right at this, moment and
that no one could ever take that away from. You
(24:07):
and he's offering you a.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Gift that you don't take that would be even more.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Tragic thanks for listening To Pastor Jeff. Ministries that Was
Pastor jeff with this message the danger of spiritual lethargy
from the Series The, greatest urging you to pursue maturity
and assurance by pressing on in faith and. Hope before you,
go be sure to Request Pastor Jeff's Battle Tested, wisdom
(24:32):
a ten day prayer journey for real life. Decisions when
you give a gift in support Of Pastor Jeff. Ministries
to request your, copy go To pastorjeff dot com and
give to help reach more people through these, teachings and
while you're, there remember to sign up for email updates
From Pastor Jeff ministries so you never miss new resources
designed to equip you for courageous. Living That's pastorjeff dot.
(24:54):
Com thank you for joining us.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Today
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