Accepted Series: Part 2

"All are welcome at the Father's table," Pastor Todd Beal said. In Jesus' parable in Matthew 11 the father gave the prodigal child a robe and a ring when he came home--without doing anything to earn it, he said. "We are not accepted by God based on how good we are. We are accepted by God because of grace," he said.

Todd Beal and his wife Sonja are the founders of New & Living Way Church in Kelso Washington, where he serves as lead pastor. Since the church's beginning in 2012, their desire has and is to see breakthrough in the lives of God's people and for the local church be a fresh, loving and vibrant community of people who are passionately serving God

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Welcome to New and Living Ways Podcast, where we pursue the presence of God, the truth of His Word, and the life of Christ working in and through us. We pray today's message strengthens your faith, refreshes your heart, and draws you closer to Jesus. Here's today's message. How do I get my messages, right? I don't get them off Amazon. And I don't listen to what this preacher's saying, this preacher. I just I want to hear from heaven. And how many of you know you can hear from heaven just like anyone else? Amen? And so the scripture came to me. Let the words of my mouth and let the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh God. And I went, ooh, acceptable. That sounds great. So then, with that one word, do you know God can speak one word to your heart? One word can ignite a lifetime of inspiration. That's what's so amazing about God. So sometimes He just puts a song on your heart or He puts a word in your spirit. Sometimes you get it, sometimes God just gives you a seed. And you take that seed and you think about it, hmm, acceptable, acceptable. And so we shared last week that that uh the message was great, great God, and that King David's great great grandmother was a prostitute. And of course, she got radically transformed by God, and that just shows me that God can use anybody. And then, of course, you had Rahab and the prostitute, and then you had Ruth and Naomi, and it went on down all the way through David, and then and then all the way through the lineage of Joseph, who was uh David's natural father, not by blood, but by lineage. And so don't ever discount anyone because God can use anybody he wants to in our life. And you always want to be sure you do that. So last week we we spoke about uh great, great God in our acceptable series. And what I was sharing is that God accepts sinners in regards, he doesn't accept their sin, but he accepts them for who they are as a creation by him, even while they are totally messed up. And we have to be the same way. It doesn't mean we party along with them or we adopt their lifestyle or we accept their lifestyle, but it means that we accept them as a creation by God Almighty. That they are, everyone here has been uniquely fashioned and formed by the Lord's hands. And when you realize that, man, you realize that everyone is absolutely special beyond imagination and special beyond words. And friends, if I can tell you this, the moment you start valuing people the way God values people, your life will change forever. You start, you say, God, why don't you help me put, uh, I'm not gonna ask, but there's some people in this room I think that had bit that have Bitcoin right now. Don't raise your hand. But I know some of you, because I don't want anyone asking you for money. Because if you would have gotten in on Bitcoin a few years ago, like 15 years ago, you would be extremely wealthy right now. And there are some people that have gotten in on Bitcoin, and man, now, and and see, some people they saw the value. They saw the value in Bitcoin, but but it doesn't immediately happen overnight, and that's the way it is with relationships, that's the way it is with friends. You might think, well, this per this person doesn't have much value, oh, you just don't know that that stock is gonna go up. And God is gonna show you his kingdom value. And once you value people like God values people, things begin to change. So the message tonight is accept it. I have never preached a message quite like this. And last week we shared Great, Great God, which shows that God is accepting people even before they get things together. They can't go to heaven yet, but he accepts them in the condition that they're in so he can change it. But how many of you know that once we are saved and born again, we have been accepted into the kingdom of God. And we've been accepted by God Almighty. Do you realize? Say this with me. I have been accepted by God Almighty. Turn to someone and say, you've been accepted by God Almighty. Now, now that can have little value in your life or it can have great value. And to the degree that you realize that you've been accepted by God and not rejected by God, you will start living your life. You wake up, you go, man, I've been accepted by God. And can I say this? If you are accepted by God, that is all that initially matters in any of our lives. And so the only way we've been accepted is through the blood of Jesus. Is there anyone that's thankful for the blood of Jesus? And when you realize that that price that Jesus paid, Jesus didn't just pay the price so you would be forgiven. He paid the price so you would be accepted. And you need to have this understanding and this uh air about you. I've been accepted by God. I've been accepted by God. Not because I'm a goody two shoes, not because I have it all together, not because I'm just doing everything right. No, but by the blood of Jesus, I have been accepted. And so I live my life not waiting to be accepted. I have already been accepted by God. Hallelujah. And once you realize that He's accepted us, and so tonight I call a scripture sermon. And uh some of you have copies of our notes, and I might have to, now that I'm announcing it, I might have to make more copies available. Uh, but we are gonna post these, and if you look at my notes, you'll see scripture, scripture, scripture, scripture point, scripture, scripture, scripture, scripture, scripture point, and so on and so forth. And so tonight we're gonna uh does anyone love the word of God? Did you know the word of God will change your life for all eternity? When you get a hold of one word from God, you can hold on to that word, and it doesn't matter what happens in your life, you hold on to the word. And some of you have got to get let that word let it go deep. Don't let the enemy steal that word, because the enemy is after the word. He's after the word. He does not want you quoting the word, he doesn't want you believing the word, he he don't he wants you to go, well, I know what the Bible says, but no. We want to hold on to the word of the Lord, amen. Because the word of God is sharp and it's powerful, right? Sharper than any two-edged sword, and it will absolutely wreak havoc on the kingdoms of darkness. And the Bible says he sent his word and healed them. And Jesus said, Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And every day God desires to speak his word of life over your life. The question is, what are you doing with the word? Because once you hunger for the word and thirst for the word and begin to consume the word, how many of you know that word will just bring forth a harvest in your life? God is looking for people that will not listen to the words of other people, but listen to the word of God. And once you do that, things will begin to change. The Bible says, Let every man, let God be true and every man be a liar. In other words, I appreciate people, I love people, but I'm gonna value the word of God above any other voice that I hear. Above the voice of a president, above the voice of legislation, above the voice of people that may love and care. I'm gonna listen to the word of the Lord over my life. Now, I'm gonna give you some scriptures. I hope you let these scriptures get so down deep inside of you that you'll just leave here so full of the word of God, and it'll just be bubbling out of you. In John 6, let's read this. All that the Father gives me will, let's read it, come to me, and the one who comes to me, I will by no means cast out. Aren't you thankful that we can run to Jesus and He doesn't cast us away? That we can run to Him and He says, Run to me, come to me, all you who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Remember this Jesus will never cast you out when you are running towards Him. He will He will ask you to get rid of things in your heart, rid of things in your life, but anyone that comes, all are welcome to the Lord's table. One of the greatest examples we're not going to turn here is the prodigal son. And we hear about this, and we hear that the prodigal son just, I mean, totally, he got his inheritance early. He wasted it, he totally, some people would say, Man, you messed up, you wrecked your life. You wrecked your life. Totally messed up, totally blew it, sinned, and all he knew is that all he had to do was turn around. Can someone say turn? All he had to do is turn and start thinking, I just need to get back home. And the Bible says that when God saw him coming home, that the father ran to him. I want to tell you that God is not up there just going, well, it's about time. What God is saying is, I am ready to run to your loved ones, I'm ready to run to your relatives, I'm ready to run to those who simply made the statement in their heart, it's time for me to come home. And once you have that heart, you understand that God not only welcomed the prodigal son home, but how many of you know that he gave him a robe? And that robe was a royal robe. It just wasn't something that he got down at goodwill, nothing against goodwill. But it was a nice robe. And then God put uh the father put, guess what? He put on him, he put a ring on his. I want you guys to understand that you, and don't get a big head of it, but you are God's royalty. He puts a robe of righteousness, he puts a ring of his authority, of his authority over your life. The son did not earn it based on anything he did. He earned he received it because he was accepted by the Father. He didn't do anything to earn it. He didn't go to church, he didn't read his Bible, he didn't do all these religious things. He just knows I gotta get home. And the moment he crossed that threshold, guess what? He got his authority back, he got his robe back, and then God made a banquet table before him. And the only people that got really mad at him was his religious older brother that saw the blessing of God on him and just thought, well, what have you done for me? Can I say this? If you want to increase the blessings of God upon your life, be happy when God starts blessing someone else. Get excited when God starts blessing someone else's business. When you see someone that might have done everything wrong and God starts blessing that person, you say, Glory to God, Lord, I rejoice with that person. We don't ever want to be like the older brother that was all bent out of shape because we saw the blessing of God on them and say, Well, what about me? You know what, you know what the father told the older brother? He says, You are here with me all the time. But my son was dead, and now he is alive. And we need to be looking for dead people. People that have lost hope, people that have lost all sense of normalcy in their life, and they don't even know which way, and you just tell them, guys, it's time to turn, it's time to come home, it's time to come home to the is anyone listening to what I'm saying? This region is full of people that just need someone to come and pick them up. Did you hear what I said? And you just bring them in. Ephesians 1 says, just as he chose us in Christ, in him before the foundation of the world. Did you know that you were chosen before you were born? Did you know that you were chosen before the world was ever formed? How special is that? And that we should be what? What does it say that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestined us to adoption? We've been adopted as sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will. Watch this to the praise of the glory of his grace, one of the favorite passages, let's read it, by which he made us. Write it down, Ephesians 1, 6. You have been accepted in the beloved. This world is full of rejection. Am I talking to anyone right now? This world is full of people who will reject you. But I'm here to tell you tonight that you have been accepted in the beloved. And once you realize that, people's opinion of you, people approving you or not approving you, you just say, Lord God, I thank you that I've been accepted by you. Hallelujah. And we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. And in Romans 8, it says, the spirit you received does not make you slave, so that you live in fear. That's where the song, I'm no longer a slave of fear. Rather, the spirit you received, uh, rather the spirit you received brought about your adoption by him, we cry, Abba, Father. That's kind of similar to where when you have a baby and a baby says, Dada, da da. Right? You don't really have to teach a baby. You try to teach the baby, but that's usually what it says, dad, mama. And Abba, Abba is that it's that instinctive, inherent that it's on the inside of you. It's that cry that just says, Abba, Father, Daddy. Do you know God as your daddy? Do you know him as your father? I know a lot of us have memories of growing up. Not everything was right in our household. Can I please share with this? God is the perfect daddy. And I would I would submit to you, start saying, Lord, show me who you are as my dad. And I know a lot of people, it's a sensitive subject. You may not have known your dad, or your dad had a temper, or your dad did this or that. But can I say this? God is a perfect father. And he'll show you. And we live in a generation that's hurting. Right? Am I talking to anyone? But did you know that you can show them the heart of the Father? How exciting is that? That you can be the voice of the Father in people's lives. That's what Jesus did, didn't he? He said this. If you see me, you see the Father. That's because he knew the Lord as dad. Because he's accepted. Now, Ephesians 2. Let's read it. Ephesians 2. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been brought near by all your good works, right? No. You've been brought near by the blood. Remember this, friends. In our society, we're always comparing people based on the good things they've done and the bad things they've done. But in the kingdom of God, God says that you have been brought near not by your works, but by the blood of Jesus. And the blood of Jesus is the great equalizer. We're all washed in the same blood. Is anyone thankful for that? And our works determine our rewards in life, but have nothing to do with our acceptance into the kingdom of God through the blood of Jesus. We are saved by faith, not of works. Amen. By grace through faith. Now it says in Colossians 1, once you were alienated from God or separated from God, and you were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. Let's read it together. But now, can everyone say now? Now he's reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish and free from what? Hallelujah. Is there anyone thankful that in the sight of God you are free from accusation? Hallelujah. That's what the scripture says. Hebrews 10 says, Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way. There it is. That's God, that's Jesus' body. He opened us through the curtain that is his body. That uh we have a great high priest over the house of God. Let us draw near to God. What does it say? Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. Having our hearts, let's read it, sprinkled to cleanse us from a did you know that God does not want you to have a guilty conscience? And having our bodies washed with pure water. Hallelujah. Why? First Peter, you are a chosen people. A royal, let's read it together. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who has called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light. The moment that you realize that you've been chosen specially and specifically by God and that you are God's royalty, everything will begin to change. You'll say, Well, royalty doesn't think like that. Royalty doesn't speak like that. Royalty doesn't act like that. How many of you remember, is it uh is it Prince uh is it uh William, right? Prince William, is that who it is now? And he said and Catherine is his his uh wife. How many of you know they have all this protocol? Right? I don't think I've ever seen Prince William, you know, uh uh uh, you know, a dignitary just start uh swearing at somebody. Why? Because he's royalty. And when they go places that, how many of you know they carry themselves a certain way? And people go, that's royalty. And they don't need necessarily need all the fancy stuff, the pomp and circumstance, but you can just tell just by the way they carry themselves that he's a king's kid. And friends, I want to encourage you, let the Lord minister that to you. I'm gonna skip a few scriptures. I want to say this, friends, that people may not always accept you. Can I tell you something? That's okay. And I don't mean like, well, that's okay. I don't need you anyway. No. It's okay. Because especially if they're a believer, you're gonna know them forever. So whether I accept you now, they're gonna accept you later. At some point, they're gonna accept you. Oh, you're not ready to accept me yet? Okay, it'll come. It might be after Jesus comes, but I'm good with that. And did you know you can be good with that? It's okay. I see people get right with God on their deathbed. I see people that God is amazing. God, he has all kinds of grace, and he will let someone do the most terrible things their whole life. Just terrible, full of all bitterness and all this stuff, and then he will wait until they're on their deathbed and he will just start pouring so much grace upon them. Because he's not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to eternal life. Could someone say amen? People may not always accept you, but through Jesus, God Almighty has accepted you as his child. When you go to bed tonight, you say, Thank God I've been accepted by God. You know, the enemy is always trying to compare you, right? What kind of clothes you wear? What kind of shoes you wear? I remember in high school, man, I did not, I wanted to wear what everyone else was wearing. We had those corduroy pants. The old corduroy pants used to go, vrp, vr. I said, Sonia, I don't think they do that anymore. She says, no, they have a different formula they put on it. It's much softer. He says, shh, shh, shh, shh. But I remember trying to keep up with OP, they would have OP, Ocean Pacific. Man, you, if you didn't have Ocean Pacific, and then when Pac-Man, I'm really dating myself, when Pac-Man came out, you know, they had the Pac-Man hats, the Pac-Man clothes, and they had Nike, and Nike was the big thing. And I mean, you couldn't just go down. I mean, now you can get clothes so cheap. And but I remember trying to compare myself with what the cool kids or who I thought the cool kids were. And then it got goes on to an adulthood. And you're like, oh, well, he's got a Mercedes, or he's got this. Oh, look at that house. Oh, look at that car. Oh, look at that uh uh education he has. And how many of you know that God is not doing that? And it is time for the church to stop comparing ourselves with one another. It's up to us to realize there's only one person that we need to be striving to be like, and that is Jesus. And when we keep our eyes on him, that happens in business too. You're looking at what this business is doing. Oh, I wish I could be like this business. Just run your race. Be faithful with what God has called you to do. Let God put wind in your sails because your flow is going to look completely different than other people's flow. And you don't need to be in other people's flow. You need to be in the calling and the purpose and the flow God gave you. And once you begin singing and playing and being the instrument that God has called you to be, so stop trying to be like everyone else. Stop trying to sound like everyone else because God has made you unique. I just had to say that. So that'll be a lifelong memory. God has made you unique. Ah. Did you know it's okay to have joy in the house of God? Did you know it's okay to have a happy home? Did you know it's okay to try to make the people in your home laugh uncontrollably? It's okay to have fits of laughter in your home. It's okay to wake someone up and just look over them just like this. Good morning. Do whatever you need to do to try to get people full of the joy of the Lord. Because how many of you know it's better to inspire someone to get happy than angry? And usually you're gonna inspire them one way or the other. Now I want to say something. We want to operate out of love. Love. Now I want to say this. People who have felt rejection in their life reject other people many times. There are many times that people through various situations were rejected. And so they carry an air. Some people say it's a spirit. I will say this, it is an it is a an uh attitude of rejection. And all they want to do is try to project that rejection over on you. And ultimately, do you know what they're expecting you to do? To reject them. I want to encourage you in the name of Jesus, the next time someone tries to reject you, accept them and flip that rejection on its head. Oh, I know people are chewing really hard because you're used to pushing them away. Am I talking to a come on now? Jesus was rejected, but yet he died for people while they were rejecting him. So the ultimate thing you can do is when people are operating in a spirit or an attitude of rejection, you just love them and you accept them. And guess what? You have just taken all their weaponry of the enemy away from them. Because rejection is really a spirit of fear that says, I'm gonna push you away because I've been pushed away in my life. So I'm gonna push you away because ultimately I'm gonna preserve myself. But can I tell you this that you're not preserving anything? All we do is give into an attitude and a spirit of fear. And thank God the Bible says God has not given us a spirit of fear or of timidity. And so I want to encourage you, and this might be a challenge for some of you, because all of our life, in one form or the other, we have all faced rejection. But if you know that you have not been rejected by God, then you can accept people. I love the chosen. If you don't like the chosen, I'm sorry. And I don't mean like I'm sorry. I'm just saying I'm sorry that this analogy may not uh uh minister to you that much, but I'll say this there's a scene where Jesus at the woman at the, she's at he's at the woman at the well, the Samaritan woman, that society has absolutely rejected. And she says, Why are you even talking to me? And part of the dialogue, and I know it's an embellishment, but they're saying, you know, don't you know I've been rejected? And she says, Yes, I know you've been rejected, but not by the Messiah. And society, young young women, a lot of times they're looking for affirmation from a man because the father was not the father, so they'll project that because they're so used to being rejected, they don't want to be rejected. So at any cost, they'll try to find that acceptance. But can I tell you this that if we have the true heart of acceptance by God, we won't need to have that type of acceptance from others? We are accepted by God, and because I'm accepted by God, I have dignity, I have respect, I have self-worth, I have self-value. So give people that value. When they try to reject you, you accept them. Isn't that a good word? You say, I know you're rejecting me right now, but I accept you and I love you anyway. So there. Now, don't magnify their rejection, they'll hit that rejection, and then you want, oh, you want some? Okay. Kab out, but but do you see how the enemy wants? And all the enemy's trying to do is get creation to fight creation. It started with Cain and Abel, and God love and the enemy loves using religious stuff too. The first murder was about an offering. Go figure. God's like, I created Adam and Eve, so far, so good. Oh, let me think. Oops, they fell away from mankind because they ate the apple, they're banished from the garden. Right? And then the first, you know, sons, Cain and Abel, one of them killed the other one because of jealousy. And it's kind of funny because God told, uh, I believe it was uh Cain, he says, Cain, if you do the right thing, won't you be accepted? And see, all throughout history, all the fighting, all the wars, all the divorces, all the things rooted in some type of rejection. So that's why when you are rooted super deep in God's acceptance, hallelujah, no one can shake you. Isn't that good? Don't magnify their rejection, overcome it with acceptance and love. Now I want to go to the phase two. Phase one was um you're accepted by the Father. Phase two is you are free of guilt and shame. No guilt, no shame. That's why they've come out with so many fat-free, sugar-free things. I'm gonna give this to you, and it tastes almost just like what it is, but you don't have to have the guilt or the shame. Now I want to say this. If you're taking notes, you can write this down. The Lord desires for us to live our lives with a guilt-free and clear conscience. He wants you to live with a clear conscience. Did you know that God does not want you remembering your mistakes of yesterday or even today? He wants you to live with the free flowing blood of Jesus. Am I talking to anyone tonight? Stay close to that flow. Oh, precious, is that flow? Remember, God wants you to have a clean, clear conscience. Whether people like it or not, you live with a guilt-free conscience before the Lord. Amen. The Lord does not want us. Oh, wait, this is a tough one. The Lord does not want us reminding others of their past mistakes that they have been forgiven of. Now, if we live this way, it would be beautiful. You would never say things like this, here we go again. Because there is no again, because it is all under the blood. What if I told you that God never wants you to pick up someone's past and use them against them today? And to me, it doesn't matter if it happened five seconds ago, as far as I'm concerned. I mean, I I, you know, people can get real technical. I look at Jesus' model of forgiveness. They are crucifying him. They don't come to him, they don't even say they're sorry. And what does Jesus say? Father, forgive them. And Jesus doesn't get risen from the grave, right? And he doesn't hunt those people down. You crucified me. You know what? He had already forgiven him. And the question is whether we can live with that kind of faith free of guilt and shame for others. Stop me demanding apologies. You owe me Jesus paid it all. Am I talking to anyone tonight? And remember this if you're taking notes, once you have repented of your sins to Jesus, He forgives you. Can I say it again? Once you have repented of your sins to Jesus, He forgives you. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 8. You guys probably know it. There is therefore when, when, what does it say? Now, what does it say? No condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, according to the Spirit. You realize this condemnation is not the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Conviction is, in other words, you get this little check. Hey, this isn't right. But how many of you know God does not condemn us? Aren't you glad? So that's where you have to learn to discern the voice of the Lord. Now, sometimes God can be very straightforward with you, very strong, but He still doesn't condemn us. This is very important because we live in a very condemning society where people are quick to condemn. Um look at this. John 5. Let's read it. Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Those are the words of Jesus, my friends. Hebrews 10, one of my favorite scriptures. I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds. I hope some of you are getting free tonight. Because did you know sometimes you'll sit there and did you know that the enemy has a record of all of your mistakes? And he will try to bring those things to you at the right, at the wrong moment to try to discourage you. But how many of you know Jesus says that I'm not going to remember them? Hallelujah. And it's not that he doesn't have the ability to, he chooses not to remember them. And God has dealt with me over the years when I see someone, even though I have a physical recollection of something, God wants me to drop that and he wants me to see those people as forgiven and healed and whole and righteous and forgiven through the blood of Jesus. And so when I see that person, I don't want to be seeing for all these things they've done. Why? I want to give them a clean slate every single day of their life. Why? Because I need one. Is anyone getting anything out of this tonight? Look at this, Romans 5. Therefore, since, let's read it, since we have been made right in God's sight, how? By faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done. Realize this that we've been made right by faith, not by your actions, not by your ability to be perfect, but by faith. Here's another one that I love in Hebrews. Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts, fully trusting Him. For our guilt, let's read it, for our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. See, friends, I'm convinced that the enemy loves to work on our minds. And I I'm on look, if if it happened I don't care if it happened five seconds ago or 50 years ago, when you give it to the Lord, he washes us clean and he wants to give us a pure conscience. Amen. I love this one too. This is well, what if I still feel it? Well, 1 John 3, here's another one. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything. If you've got a King James that says, dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. I love one translation says that if uh if uh we are feel guilty, that God is greater than our hearts. So you might say, Well, I know I went to God, but I still have this, I still feel guilty. Don't go by your feelings. I said, Don't go by your feelings. Don't go by your feelings. Why? God is greater than our hearts. Just because you feel guilty doesn't mean you're guilty. And sometimes we love to feel guilty though. And some people want us to feel guilty. Now, if I'm looking at someone, don't get the wrong impression, okay? Sometimes I hear them preach like this. Sometimes we want, do you really understand what you did to me? But guess what? Do we really understand what they did to Jesus? And how many of you know Jesus paid it all? Can you say amen? And and and it does, it does happen. That's why the people that wanted to stone Jesus, and he's like, okay, who's ever without sin, you cast the first stone. And the Bible says, from the oldest to the youngest, they dropped them. Not youngest to oldest. Why? Because the older you go, you go, yeah, I've been forgiven a love a lot. And you have this revelation that who am I? Who can who in the world? I I'm sorry, you have to indulge me just for a second. I just keep thinking of this courtroom, heaven's courtroom, you're in front of the judge, you had a life sentence, and the judge is like, he's ready to pound the gavel and pronounce you guilty for all of life. And right before he does it, Jesus says, Judge, I paid the fine. And you're still in the courtroom, and court is still in session, and the judge says, You're free to go, but I need you to just step over a few feet. So you step over here. And then all these people that have done all this stuff to you, one by one, they come up in front of the judge and they're standing right next to you. You were just set free of a life sentence. And the judge looks at you and says, You got anything to say about this person? And you go, uh, no, judge. Oh no, I ain't got nothing to say. And once you have this heart, you'll understand that God is the judge. Amen. Now, finally, we we shared to get free of guilt and shame. And uh, hallelujah. Verse, uh, we're gonna skip down a few here. First John, I'm sorry, John 8 36. So if the Son sets you free, is there anyone here that Jesus has set you free? Are you living, are you living in that freedom? What kind of freedom does Jesus give you? Does he give you generic freedom? He gives you total, so here's the thing: live in the freedom Jesus gave you. None of this is a license for us to sin, but is a reason for us to live holy. Do we still get things right with God when we miss it? Absolutely, and then we still come running back into his arms of grace. I love that song we sang tonight. Handle, I'm running to your arms, I'm running to your arms, right? The riches of your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to your embrace. I love that. Romans 15 says this, therefore, man, this these are some great scriptures. Therefore, what's it say? Receive one another just as Christ has received us. Receive people the same way Jesus has received you. Isn't that good? Through Jesus, you've been accepted. Finally, third is raised up. Give me Ephesians 2, 13. Let's read it. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been what? Brought near how was it by your good works? Was it how good you were that day, and you really said your prayers that day? No, by the blood of Jesus. Now let's see if we have another verse after that. How many of you think Chris is doing an amazing job tonight? Ephesians 2, verse 4. Here we go. Here we go. But God, let's read it, but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, how many of you are thankful that God is rich in mercy? He has made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by what? It's by what? What is it? Remember, not by how good you are. Get that out of your mind. We are not accepted by God by how good we are. We are not accepted by God by how good we are. We are accepted by God because of grace. And the next verse says, And God, come on, raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Friends, we're not merely forgiven sinners standing far away, but through Jesus we have been brought near and we are seated with Jesus in heavenly places. Whether you think so or not, you're seated with Christ. You're seated with Christ in heavenly places. Well, I don't feel that way. Well, sorry. God is greater than our hearts. And because you have been accepted, you're now seated with Christ. I know it's hard for our minds to comprehend, so don't think about it. Just let your spirit rejoice. You wake up in the morning, I'm seated with Christ. You you meet someone, how you doing today? Man, I'm great. I'm highly favored by God. Who is it? Dave Ramsey. He said, How you doing, Dave? No, how you doing, Dave? He says, Better than I deserve. Because we have been made the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. See, when God, look, guys, God washed you clean. And he wants you to live your life free of condemnation. Free of guilt, free of shame. Thank you for joining us for this podcast from New and Living Way. For more messages, ministry updates, and ways to connect. Visit us online at NewandLivingWay.church. Follow us on YouTube and Facebook. And if you're in the Kelso, Longview area, we'd love to welcome you in person. Join us Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at 215 Academy Street in Kelso, Washington. May the Lord bless you in a rich and powerful way.