Sunday Morning Sermon Series - Pastor Jeff Shipley (Date:08/01/2021)

Luke 15 and the Necessity of Repentance

Now I want you to pay attention. It wasn't anything in Israel wasn't their military size.

We're gonna be in Luke chapter 15 this morning. Luke chapter 15 and I'm gonna be honest with you. This was not what I had wanted to preach about today. I wanted to go ahead and get into a couple of other things.

Basically, I wanted to look at the apologetical viewpoint of progressive Christianity but last week we had three folks come to know Jesus in here and From that I had another person come to me and say pastor I believe in God.

I Totally believe in God but I don't know that I'm a Christian and. And They seemed perplexed or Confused by that dichotomy, but I'm here to tell you that all over churches in America today There are people with a moral Understanding and there are people whose bodies are in a church building But whose souls are not in the hands of Christ.

True Repentance, Recognition, and Reconciliation

So I want to look at two things today. First of all for those of you who do not understand what true repentance is we're gonna look at that. But for the believer also, I would like you to be encouraged that at the hands of repentance.

Also comes the beauty of reconciliation. Yes, this sermon to you is bought brought to you by the letter R. We are going to be talking about Recognition we need to understand where we are. Number two we're going to talk about our need for a Resolution and then lastly for believers.

We're going to look at the doctrine of Reconciliation. Luke chapter 15 a passage that has been touted by every preacher. Every priest and minister over the ages. I will read just a portion of it to you.

You will probably know it as the prodigal son Chapter 15 starting and verse 17 when he had come to his Senses meaning he had no longer been an idiot. He said how many of my father's hands have more than enough food and here I am dying of hunger guys repentance is an Absolute necessity for salvation.

On your little sheets of paper I wrote to you or I typed out Luke 24 verses 46 through 47. And it says he also said to them this is what is written the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day and repentance for forgiveness of sins Would be proclaimed to his name in his name to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem over the years the church and pastors and priests and basically religion have done a Disservice to God's kingdom.

What they have said is this if you ask for forgiveness You will be forgiven. Ah, but that is not the reality of Scripture. You see there cannot be forgiveness without Repentance and I know that's an unpopular message today.

I realize that in churches today you can have the smoke machines the lights and the Ootsy-tootsy little feeling goose bumps and you feel like you've had a spiritual encounter with God. Emotion is irrelevant to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

You want to know what you feel like when you're in the presence of God? Look at Scripture. It wasn't everywhere in Scripture. They weren't sitting there going. When you came into the presence of Almighty God, what did everyone do.

They fell flat first on their face before a holy and righteous God. Recognizing their sin their shame and their failures. They were in awe. Fear and respect of the holiness of God wouldn't know what up.

JC High-cap and dabbing cool my best buddy in the house. Hey Garbage, you know what? That is that's a way to try to entertain people to get their minds changed to go through life in a religion. Rather than letting the Holy Spirit of God change their hearts.

You see repentance is not of an act. Guys, this is what so many people don't understand. This is where this young man was. He was in a place and he said I need to do something different. But he didn't just repent of an action.

He repented of his heart guys. Repentance is not going. I walk up and smack terror in the face and go. Oh, I'm sorry. I'll never do that again. That is not biblical repentance. Biblical repentance is not a repentance of an act.

It is a repentance of a life. Your heart is desperately wicked. Your heart is the causality of you doing stupid things boys when you go on www .hotpastors .com. You know what I'm saying, and there's a picture of me there.

You're sitting there going. Oh, I don't need to look at that anymore. You see you're trying to repent of one small thing. You're trying to repent of a Result of the causality of a sinful heart you got to give Christ all of your life.

See, oh, I need to repent of alcoholism. No, you need to repent of the arrogance. You need to repent of your pride. You need to repent of your sin. Guys, you've got to recognize how deep entrenched you are in That sin.

Look at this it says he came to his senses. How many of you have ever lived in sin for a and you're a Christian? Okay, you're a Christian and you've lived in sin for a while. You know, yeah. Any Christian didn't just raise your hand.

There's a word in the Greek for you. It's called a liar. Okay, it's called a liar. You know that point where you get. Have you ever looked in the mirror. I remember doing this. I remember looking in the mirror and going what are you doing?

Have you ever done that before? Have you ever sit there and started praying and go Lord? Forget it. I'm such a big fat stupid loser. He ain't one listen to me. Maybe I'm the only guy in here like that.

Okay, but that's where I've been. How many have you sat there and go? Oh. You know some lady up here singing just as I am Pastor Jeff if you're walking down the aisle you're crowd. It's not running all over the place.

Getting on my clothes as you're hugging me going 24 hours later. You're back in that pigpen again. Guys, doesn't that stink? Don't you hate that? Well, I'm gonna let you in on a secret that's exactly what you need to do.

Oh, I know you've been told your whole life never hate. That's not scriptural. That's not Scriptural. I want you to learn how to hate. I want you to learn how to hate. Oh, I know Jesus is a little white guy with the blonde hair and the blue eyes smiling with little cherub angels little fat fluffy sheep running around.

I know how you were raised, but get rid of that felt-bore lie theology and come to know scripture. Listen to this. Psalms 97 10 says this you who love the Lord. In other words He's addressing his people.

You who love the Lord watch this hate Evil. It is a command to hate evil. Watch this. He protects the lives of his godly ones. He rescues them from the power of the of the wicked Revelation 2 6 yet. You do have this in other words.

Jesus is giving the remember. This is the little Jesus guy. He's giving his church an attaboy and this is what he says yet. You do have this one thing going for you. You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans.

Which I also hate. You want to start overcoming some sin? Stop flirting with it and start hating it. Stop flirting with it and start hating it. It is a Strength that will get in you listen. I'm one of those guys in life.

I Hate losing more than I hate winning. I'm just the way I am. I cannot play board games. Not only do I think they're wait, but I mean like it monopoly, I'm going to win. Alright, I'm going to win. I will cheat.

I will lie. I will steal money and here's why not because I want to win but because I hate Losing. It's always a competition with me unless I'm losing then it's just fun. But when I'm winning it's a competition.

I hate Losing guys. Hey, you have that distaste in your mouth. Have you come to a place where you realize that sin and the Christian? Can never walk hand-to-hand together if you're in this room and you're a born-again Christian.

I might be boring some of y 'all and you're usually those idiots who are living in sin. So stop fidgeting put your stupid phone down and listen for you ruin your life and pitch your life away. Listen.

You come to a place where you think you can be a born-again believer and Walk hand in hand with sin. You're one of those idiots who think that time cancels out the effects of sin. I'm here to tell you and I've got 30 40 and 50 year olds in this room.

With scar tissue to prove it that sin will rob from you more than you were willing to give to begin with. It will keep you longer than you intended to stay and it will not only damage you but everyone your life.

Touches so that the sin of the fathers will be visited on the children. Listen to me today. You have to come to a recognition of how powerful sin is and the call to hate it. Listen, don't be one of those Christians that find.

Okay for those of you that played sports you're gonna get this for those of you who didn't. I Don't know. Well, it's not just sports. Even if you were a band nerd, you know when you were doing the. You know, what are these people flag corps peoples and all that, you know, even if you're a band nerd you get this.

Okay, because I remember practicing three a days I remember the band nerds were down there out in the hot sweat and Sun marching around in circles with some dude yelling at him. Okay. All right. I Hated playing with those people who always found an excuse to quit.

Couldn't stand him can't stand him. I still have that feeling for church people. I'm gonna be honest with you. There was a guy and his wife here last week. And this is what he said. He said I Agreed with everything you said, but we are used to a more structured church.

Experience. First of all when you walked in the door, what made you think there was any structure to this at all? Look at our door greeter. It's Rodney. Okay. It's a high church, but watch this. You know what he was doing.

This is what he was doing. I don't like this this or this and that is the reason I don't want to hear the Word of God. No, here's the real reason you're finding a reason to quit you're finding a plausible Reason to try to soothe your soul from the conviction of God that your religious Understanding is going to send you straight to hell instead of the gates of heaven.

You keep trusting in that religion you keep trusting in the structures of men and you will find yourself in the murder at the absolute wrath of God in hell. It is not religion that will ever save anyway, you need to recognize that reality guys.

Look what it says. He came to his senses. Guys, some of you in here are justifying. This is the last thing on this point. You're justifying your sin by something. You're in your world guys. I'm not an alcoholic.

I'm not but I'm 30 years sober. You know, why because man, I love that cocaine. Baby right, man. I love it. I can still hear that sound baby. I Love it, but watch this I'm not an alcoholic. Why yesterday's perfect example.

I got up yesterday and it was a hundred and thirty degrees. It felt like you know, Oh Memphis weather, you know three raindrops and you feel like you're in Vietnam. You know or the South South America or something, you know, you're waiting for zebra to come running by.

That's Africa, but you know what? I'm saying well pygmies with an anaconda, I don't know but I'm out there sweating and I'm toiling and I'm edging my yard. And I mean it is not an edger for the weak son.

It's like 30 horsepower and I haven't edged my yard in 15 years. It's like. You know, it's trying so I'm pushing it through and I'm sweating. I mean and I like the sweat. I like working in the heat and I remember walking in my shop, you know.

And you know what? I wanted so bad after doing that who said it of course the love shed it. Vicky I Wanted a beera. Okay, I ain't talking about no beer. I don't want some mocha latte frappee IPA. I wanted a bud.

Bud Weiser man in the old days. It wasn't nothing like a bud after working after hot Shirley knows I'm just kidding. I'm kidding sure Raina knows. There's nothing what you are so stinking cute. Guys I ain't gonna drink one, you know, why?

Because I recognize this. The anything that flirts with that old life of Jeff. I don't want to mess with it. I don't and I because I'm not that strong. I mean, I know My limitations. I know if I start playing with it old playmates are bad for me, but so are old playgrounds.

Guys. Recognize the power that sin has over you now second thing for repentance. It's not just reconciliation or recognizing it then. Involves a resolution now for those of you under the age of 30. Let me explain to you what that word means.

It means that I am resolved. I was doing this now I'm going to have a change of the will of the mind and the body to do something completely Different read with me verse 18 and 19. It says this I will get up from where I am.

I will get up go to my father and say to him father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight I am no longer worthy to be called your son make me like one of your hired hands. Guys. Didn't God's grace good.

I mean I I Love God's great because here's what it means means I can do whatever I want and still go to hell. You know what? I mean? No, that's what it means. That means I can live like a godless heathen.

I can be that godless pig but because I pray Jesus in my heart. And once I don't decide I'm going to heaven. By the way, those two things pray Jesus in your heart once saved always say are found nowhere in English Greek or Latin anywhere in Scripture.

Nowhere, so bet your eternal destiny on the sayings of Baptists and you're going to hell. Listen to me for a second. Look at where this guy is. He recognizes where he's at, but then he resolved to do something different now I'm fixed to offend some of you woke folks in here.

If you're some of them woke foot TV land if you are one of them woke folks. Get ready because you ain't gonna like me watch this. It says this I will get up guys in his clear. Thinking when he came to his senses, he didn't try to change the pink pin.

He got out of the pig pen now let me tell you something for a second some of you in here, especially some of you young ins that are in here and. And the children need to be listen the children's church is like well, they're only in fifth grade.

I got fifth graders who can't decide with their girl or boy. I got fifth graders that think because you're white you're racist. I got all these idiots out there in the in the cultural world. They're not dealing with junior high anymore.

They're giving out condoms to ten-year-olds. Guys, you've got to understand this listen. You've got to come to a place where you understand this in this world. I am NOT here to change the world. I am NOT gonna spend my life trying to change how the world thinks here's why it is apart from Jesus Christ it cannot Comprehend the things of God.

Lost people say well, I read the Bible. It doesn't make sense. You know why you're lost. It ain't gonna make sense to you. The preaching of the gospel is foolishness to them who believe you hand a lost person a Bible.

It's gonna do them. No good without the Holy Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit of God that regenerates your soul guys. Listen to me for a second. You've got to get in an understanding if you are a believer in here today and you were being convicted of your sin.

Stop trying to change the pigpen and get the heck out of the pigpen. Look what it says. I will get up. I will go to my father. Oh Whoo now for those you that weren't raised in church like me. Let me explain how this dude got here real quick real quick.

You see he was a rich boy. He was one of them privileged Jews. You know, hey, he was one of them kids and was real rich so he's decided he wants to go party hard because he's tired of living on the farm working with dad and brother and he says.

To his father give me my share of the inheritance now and let me go on about my business. Father says Okay, Bucky and he gives him his share dude runs off to another land. And he is rooting and tooting and shooting up and drinking and partying and chasing broads or dudes.

Or whatever. He was chasing. And all of a sudden he gets broke. So he has to take a job as a Jewish person feeding pigs pretty humiliating. But his pride wouldn't let him do anything else at the moment.

So we got in the pigpen and he was eating the pig food. Because he was so hungry. Now when he decides it's time to repent. He says I will go to my father. Do you know why most people don't repent of their sin?

They're too prideful. They're too prideful. Come on, some of y 'all need to be shaking your heads in here. Because I ain't talking about the street walking prostitute on Jackson Avenue. I'm talking to you.

You're too prideful in other words you little old church woman or some of you I've been a member of this church for. You're who I'm talking about because your gossiping tongue is as detestable to God as the drug addict down there.

But that ain't God ain't talking to you. God's talking to all those other people. He's talking to liberal Democrats. He's talking to them queer folks. He's talking to everyone else. But me listen to me if that's your thought process that prideful mindset.

Absolutely proves the fact that you're the one the Holy Spirit of God is talking to you. Do you know what this parable is about? You know who Jesus was talking to he was talking to the sinners and the church folks showed up and go.

Why are you talking to sinners? You need to separate yourself and Jesus said well. Let me tell you a story, and he told him this I will go to my father. But here's the part of humility that is absolutely just screaming at you, and if you don't look at it.

You will miss it. You know how many times I have heard folks say something to me like this. Well, I used to go to church. But something bad happens something bad happens. First of all idiot you can't go to church.

This is not a church. It's a gym. This is the church you either a part of the church, or you not it's not a destination. It's a living organism number two if You have a plausible excuse of somebody hurts you or somebody didn't do right to you.

The very person you need to go to today if you want to get your heart. Right is that person and get that bitterness and anger up on out of your heart. You know what humility will do for you. It will take that absolute deep-seated bitterness in you, and it'll wash it away quicker than anything.

Some of you in this room. You're angry at your mama's or your daddy's or your Sunday school teacher your husband or your wife, and you hate them. And maybe they did. Do you wrong. I'm okay. I can't remember who said this.

I I think it was origin or Nietzsche, but he said this. He said this if you don't forgive others. I will not forgive you. Oh Wait a minute that was Jesus Christ. Let that sink in just for a second again if you don't forgive others I Will not forgive you.

So wrap your head around that. But don't just sing just as I am. Without the humility to actually make the change to be different than who you walked in here as watch this. It says I will go to my father and say to him.

I love this part. I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. You know what he does here. He makes no Excuses for the situation he is in. Let me talk to you a little bit about CRT in that what it's called.

Isn't that it. And what's that stand for again? Critical race theory. Yeah, that's it guys. Now this is just my opinion as your pastor and a father of five if your school is teaching that humanistic Human almost said a bad word humanistic that humanistic garbage you Absolutely need to get your kids out of that place because let me tell you what it's doing to them.

That's nothing to do with reconciliation. What it has to do is feeding the self-importance of the Individual and the victimization of that individual rather than the repentance that a soul needs to be set free.

Understand this today wrap your head around this. I'm telling you Anything the culture of this world offers you Separate from the Word of God is not going to be beneficial to you or your family. It's there and says I am going to go to my father and say I sinned I failed I did this.

What he is doing is taking personal responsibility. For where he's at all of this other cultural stuff is saying it's not your fault. It's everyone else's fault. Guys, let me tell you something if you are in jail for the 15th time.

It ain't everybody else's fault. Quit trying to blame the economy for your stupid Decisions. Oh well I didn't know why I killed those five people other than they was home. But I have an issue with my brain.

I was dropped on my head as a kid, and it's not my fault that I keep robbing and murdering people. Okay, well I have a hundred and fifteen grains that will fix that for you real quick fast in a hurry.

Guys understand this when Jesus when God said if any man kills another man with malice Drag him from my altar and put him to the sword it has nothing to do with forgiveness. It has to do with consequences for actions and our society and our nation has lost that.

This guy sat there and said I'm gonna go to my father. I'm gonna apologize because the only reason I am in this Situation is because I have sinned against God first, and then I have sinned against my family.

What personal mistake are you struggling with that is not your fault now? I know some of you in here. You maybe you were molested as a kid or maybe your ex-husband beat you up. And you have lived in the victimization and the banner.

In other words you your only identity is you're a victim. Guys let me tell you something. Your continual Degeneration of failures is because of your mindset because the child of God is told in scripture that we are more Than overcomers we are conquerors and my enemy is not the world or the culture or Homosexuals Christians or Walt Disney quit boycotting Walt Disney.

Okay. The problem is we have a lack of humility that we have first sinned against God. Our churches are not in the state. They're in because of the neighborhood changing our churches are in the state.

They're in is because we are too prideful to make the changes in our own lives. Is that too much truth for you? Guys, you are in a place where you are 100 Responsible for where you at now here's something else.

You might be there for the sole purpose of God trying to reconcile you back to him. Notice what this guy did he started getting hungry. He was in a bad place. Some people say well, you know, you can't come to God unless your heart leads you there.

Listen a hungry stomach or Jail time or you getting cancer or your marriage going in the toilet will get you right with God quick fast. It'll start you seeking that process to find God. Don't think that's not part of God's hand.

I'm not saying cancer is God's way of no. No, it's an effect of a sinful fallen world. But don't make the mistake to think that because you're in a bad spot. God hates you and doesn't want you back. Because here's the next part if you recognize where you're at and then you make a resolution to change.

The Father’s Compassion and the Meaning of True Repentance

Here's the beauty of what repentance will bring now notice this and getting down there in verse 20. So he got up. Watch this he got up. In other words, he was walking towards sin. Now he's gonna walk back to his father and watch this he got up and went to his father.

Compassion, Forgiveness, and the Meaning of the Father’s Welcome

While the son was still a long way off. The father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran and threw his arms around his necks and kissed him and the son said to him father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father told his slaves quick bring out the best robe and put it on him a ring on his finger and sandals on His feet then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it and let us celebrate with a feast.

Compassion Is Love in Work Clothes

Because this son of mine was dead and is alive again, and he was lost and now he is bound and Found and so they began to celebrate this guy was driven by needs. Okay. But he came to a place where he went back to his father you see.

The Father’s Compassion and the Celebration of Restoration

He didn't just leave the land. He was in he didn't just leave the pig pen and go find another pig pen guys. Some of you with your little codependent relationships. You're trying to fill that emptiness in your heart with something other than Jesus Christ.

You're gonna leave one chick and go find another chick. Usually you women you're gonna go about four or five bad boys and you're gonna have so much baggage scar tissue. TWA won't even let you fly. You got so much baggage.

Listen to me for a second. Don't leave one pig pen go find another. Guys, the same stupid is going to be there. It's just a different name. Okay, if you want to leave the pig pen, it takes two things.

It takes you. Making a resolution to leave and then turning to the only source of peace and that's God the Father now. Look at this guy. He comes to a place and he walks up to his dad listen, and he says Nothing.

He didn't get a chance to say to his dad. He had a prepared speech. You ever had an argument with someone in the car and you're by yourself. You know what I mean? You know your wife. Wow. Right and you're in the car man, I'll tell you what and you're arguing all the way to the worst or.

You messed up and you know, you need to fess up. And so you rehearse that speech, too. That's what's really beautiful is. Before you even get to the throne of God God's already gonna meet you where yet man, I'm telling you I'm telling you a Absolute reversal of pride into humility.

Will bring God rushing from his throne of grace to rescue you where yet? While he was still a yet far way off the father saw him. Now watch the father saw him and had Compassion, you know what compassion is.

Can someone tell me what compassion is? Great wonderful theological scholars in here glad you've been going to church for 30 years. It's done a lot of good. All right. Watch this. Compassion is this it is love in work clothes.

Okay, I can feel sorry for somebody that ain't love. I can love my children a whole bunch. I can love my church family. Well, you know, I love them, but ain't no buts. Ain't no buts. Watch this love will turn into compassion and Compassion is only measured by action.

Watch this. Let me explain this to you. Maybe maybe I can explain it to you in a little better way. How you doing, baby. I Sure would love you. Man, baby, you sure look fine. Maybe the next day man. I really enjoyed that conversation we had.

You know. You're the only one that understands me. You're the only one that gets me. I Just I just feel so connected with you. Girls women there ain't just girls. Some of you dumb women still fall for that garbage.

You know, there is no guy that's ever walked up and gone. What's up, baby. They know how to get you. You little insecure codependent daddy issue women. All they gotta do is mess with your heart. Get you thinking that they actually care now watch.

Here's what compassion if you want to know what a man is like for you ladies watch this. If he sacrifices his wants needs and desires. For you. You see one is an emotional feeling. Compassion is sacrifice.

See do you understand what work and love love and work clothes is it's that compassion of sacrifice. And why that boy Was still coming. The daddy ran now. Look the boy starts giving his speech like in the car.

He sits there and goes father, you know father. I have sinned against heaven in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. This is what the father did. He didn't sit down and go. Well, let's have a conversation right.

He sat there and Dismissed everything the son had rehearsed. Didn't even reply to it. He turned to his slaves and said Bring a robe to put on my son's back. Put a ring back on his fingers and sandals on his feet.

The father wasn't listening to the religious service. God don't care about your music the clothes you're wearing. God don't care about how fancy your prayer is real repentance isn't what you do with your words.

It's where your heart leads your body to do.