The Real Deal

The child will not stop insisting on tasting this, I keep telling him, it's going to be gross, but he does not want to listen. So I'm going to let him find out for himself.

Come on.

Maybe did that when your kid has come on. A few of you, I did. I activated my mom to death. I'm thinking I've seen you put this stuff and things. It taste good. And it's got Coco on it. That means chocolate. I love chocolate. I want to try it before she try to talk me out of it and that didn't do good and so I just had to try it. I just had to have it. And I think I was somewhat like that young man in the video. It was not what I expected. I felt like the label had to see me, even though it said, unsweetened cocoa, I'm thinking I've seen her put this in stuff that tastes real And it looks like chocolate and it's, you know, it's part of chocolate. So it's got to be a lot better. She's trying to hold out on me. She's trying to keep the good stuff for me, is what I was thinking and I wish I could listen, I wish I would have listened. My response was much like the little boy in the video. It was very disgusting and I don't know if you've ever been attracted to something because of its appearance or because of the label that it has on it only to be disappointed when you discover, it's not what you were expecting. Maybe it was something you purchase. One of those gadgets, you see advertised on television, only 1999, plus shipping and handling. But if you call in the next 5 minutes, we will throw in another one. And you get it or you order it from wish and you get it and it's not what it would never forget. Charity ordered a blanket from which And it was like the size of a baby blanket when she got it and we went back and look at the description. We went back and looked at the picture and it was completely misleading when she got it in the mail, it was not what she was expecting. We call that buyer's remorse, right? You buy something and you're thinking this is going to solve all my problems, this they make it look so easy on television, everything's going to be great. And when you get it, it's not as great, as you thought it was, when you eat it. It doesn't taste nearly as good as you thought it would taste and we regret what? We got the commercials in the ads, in the labels make things look fabulous. Make things look easy. Make it look like it's the greatest invention of the century, but you bring it home and it does not deliver. Israel and Judah War. Some really fancy labels. If you look at their rituals and you look at their sacrifices, it appeared as if everything was a okay. But God knew what was underneath the label? The same thing is true about me. And about you. God sees beneath our labels. She's beneath what goes on in our lives throughout the week. What goes on at school? What goes on at work? What goes on behind-the-scenes? What goes on the 167 other hours that we're not in this building. Sees beyond our labels? God is Not interests. In our labels. God is not interested in how we portray ourselves to one another God wants us to be the real deal. That's what I gained from my study this week. As I looked at Hosea, chapter 6 and 7 Last week, I told you of God's decision to withdraw himself from Israel and Judah. He said, I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face and in their distress, earnestly seek me and it seemed that that's exactly what they were going to do. There was a glimmer of hope in chapter 6, verse 1. They said, come let us return to the Lord for he has torn us that he may feel. He has struck us down and he will bind us up. They acknowledged that there was a great distance between them and the Lord, they acknowledge that, they acknowledge that, they needed to return, and people will not return to the Lord in till they. First of all, acknowledge that there is a need to return to the lure, they acknowledge that God, had been disciplining them in. At the same. Turn them is the same hand. That could heal them the same hand that had struck them down, is the same hand that could bind them up. They acknowledged that they needed Revival. However, they expected this revival to happen quickly. They said after two days and verse two after two days, he will revive us. On the third day, he will raise us up that we may live before him. Don't think there was mistaken about the timeline of Revival, but they at least acknowledge to would send this revive, they acknowledged that God and God Alone could revive them and raise them up. So they seem to respond to the message that Hosea, portraying gave them and that I told you about last week in Chapter 4 Verse 6, my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge. God said, I reject you from being a priest to me it. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children and so, they said, Is a third verse of chapter 6. Let us know. Let us press on to know the Lord is going out as sure as the Dawn and he will come to us as the showers as the spring range that water the Earth. You see. Israel and Judah were saying the right things. Israel and Judah were wearing the right label. They knew that God could heal them, they knew that God could bind up their wounds. They knew they acknowledge that. God could send Revival once again and raise them up to prominence. The god, it's see beyond the label. That she threw their empty words. God knew their heart God recognize their motive and they were motivated by their own self preservation. Not. Buy a passionate genuine repentance and love for God. So God told me to tell them. What shall I do with you, Ephraim? What shall I do with you? Old Judah. For your love is like a morning cloud. Like, the Dew that goes early. Away. I said your love is like a morning cloud. The label is like a morning Cloud. It makes an appearance but it's short-lived. Your love is like a cloud. That's moved by the Wind of Change. Started told them previously, and Hosea for one hear the word of the Lord O children of Israel for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. What is that controversy? There is no faithfulness or steadfast love. Their label said, we're faithful. Their label said. We love you, but God said I see behind the label. And what I see is anything, but steadfast love. What I see is anything but faithfulness and he says there is no knowledge of God in the land. Like the Dew in the morning, they're love and faithfulness made a brief appearance, but quickly vanished in the Rays of the Sun. So God continue to send them his message for me and the other prophets. He wanted his people to understand as he said in verse 6 of chapter 6, fried desire, steadfast love and not sacrifice. I want more than just a label. I want more than sacrifice because I want steadfast love. I want the knowledge of God rather than burnt offering. You think God wanted internal commitment and character transformation to be the real deal external labels of ritual observances meant nothing. If they were not born out of a heart that was madly in love with him. You see, we can wear our labels to, we can wear our labels of church, attendance and ties and offerings and and a modest fee and all of these other labels, that died, religious World tells us that we're supposed to wear. And we think because we're wearing these particular labels that that somehow makes us right with God but listen God sees me on their labels. Show me the pictures of the people in this world that where the Christian labels, and that have the Christian bumper stickers on their cars and that listen to Christian radio in and all the other labels that go along with so-called Christianity are some of the most, a bitter unforgiving gossiping people on the face of the Earth. And God sees beyond our labels. He sees behind our labels and he knows whether or not we are the real deal. Dodge people had forgotten what he had told Samuel all those years earlier and they were looking for a king and Samuel said, surely the Lord's anointed is before me For the Lord said to Samuel, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature. Daniel, do not look for the label. Do not look for the label. Saw was Paul, he was a warrior. He was a big man. He was a buff, man. He was a man that we you know, we think a man. He he would make a perfect King yet. We know so, The man. I was led astray man who ended up being involved in witchcraft at the end of his life.

So went when one of David's Brothers comes before Samuel, he's tall and he's strong and Samuel said, man, this must be the guy. This is what God Said in return. He said, do not look on his appearance from the height of the Statue because I have rejected him for the Lord. Sees not as man seeth. Man looks on the outward appearance.

But the Lord. Looks on the heart.

God is Not Looking for labels. God is looking for steadfast, love and faithfulness. And if we have all the right labels on but we do not have steadfast love and faithfulness then we can wear all the labels we want to but God knows the truth.

she never consumed with sacrifices and burnt offerings, this soon with the trappings and traditions of religion consumed with a Pomp and Circumstance with the rituals with everything but

Everything.

God sees through this if the Sham and sees that our heart was wicked and far from him that they put on a good show on the Sabbath day. But during the week, there lies were not characterized by steadfast love Justice and righteousness of God was sick of their empty show. By the way, Jose is not the only one that carry this message to God's people. Isaiah said, in Isaiah, 1:13, bring no more, vain or empty. Offering incense is an Abomination to me, new moon and Sabbath in the college convocation. I cannot endure iniquity and solemn.

I just I am sick of the empty religious rituals that mean absolutely nothing.

even Amos said, God said through a mesh. I should say. I hate I despise your Feasts. I take no Delight in your solemn assemblies even though you offer me of your burnt offerings in your grain offering, I will not accept them in the peace offerings of your fat and animals. I will not look upon them take weight. Listen to what he said now, God said, take away from me, the noise of your songs. To The Melody of your heart. I will.

No, it's possible to sync. Oh, how I love Jesus. Not really love cheese.

I just bought.

Let Justice roll down like Waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

You can have your labels, you can sing your song. You can wear your your your religious Garb. You can do all of these things yet. You don't have trust if you don't have steadfastly, love if you don't are not living a righteous life or just wearing a label, your fault advertise.

Micah.

Micah chapter 6, will the Lord be pleased with owls and Zofran with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression? The fruit of my body for the scent of my soul he is told you oh man, what is good? And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your

Not interested in empty labels, that mean nothing. God wants us to be. Genuine followers price. Things in Israel and Judah were a mess. They were going through the motions of outward. External religion for their land will spoil as a as a San Jose hotels Us in verses 8 and 9. All of the city of evildoers track with blood as robbers. Lie in wait for a man notice so, the priest band together, Even the religious leaders of the society, the priests of this day. We're involved in evil and wicked. They murder on their way to shake them. They commit villainy and that, that weird villainy carries with her all kinds of immoral reference.

So long with spiritual adultery and idolatry Israel and Judah had also become dependent on ungodly alliances. Summer God had led them through the Wilderness. God had defeated, their enemies. God let them into a promised land that was flowing with milk and honey. Yet rather than continue to depend upon God. They began to depend upon other ungodly Nations around them for protection. And provision chapter 7 verse 8 tells us that Ephraim mixes himself with the people's Ephraim is a cake, not turned. They were half-baked.

In mixing with these ungodly alliances, they have become half-baked and when they were confronted with this shin and their foolishness, they refused to reach out to God for help. If you want, Jose is set in verses 10 and 11 of chapter 7. The pride of Israel testifies to his face yet they not return. There.

For all of them. Ephraim is like a dove silly and without sense. Calling to Egypt. Going to a Siri. Set up going to God, they were going to all these other nations that were idolatrous in Wicked.

And I want you to notice What God Says. Chapter 7 verse 14.

They do not cry to me from the heart.

Leave this on the screen for just a moment. Want you to look at this first Disbursed says that they do. It does not say, they do not cry to me.

they do not cry to me from where Heart, do not cry to me from the heart. They whale upon their beds.

but, for what? We're God. 4 grain and wine. What are they doing? They're dashing themself They're cutting themself.

They rebelled against me, they're calling out to God, but they're not calling out to God from the heart. You're not calling out to God. They're calling out to God for what God can give them. Head of God, doesn't give it to them, then they're going to go to the idolatry that those other nations have brought in the number to do what they sing other nations do cutting themselves. Like they did when they have or excuse me. When I Elijah was on the mountain with 1/2 prophets that were doing what cutting themselves all day crying out to these false gods, hoping that these false gods would answer.

so, For crying out to God, for God, or for what? God can give them remember talked about it, the last two weeks, and we're looking for God, we're looking for a spiritual sugar daddy to give them what they want. It, Exactly. What they

Or grain and wine the gas themselves. They rebelled against me. They Weld and they wept. But it wasn't because they were repentant. It wasn't because they were grieving over their idolatry and spiritual adultery. They weren't crying. From the heart. They were crying out to God only because of their difficult circumstances.

Didn't really want God. Just wanted what God good for that.

but once again, as we've seen every week, In the midst of all of this. rebellion and all of this hypocrisy and all of this, a spiritual adultery and all of this selfishness, Once again, see glimmer of hope.

Chapter 6, verse 11.

Are you also all Judah a harvest is appointed? When I restore. Fortune of my.

Is there still hope? are still coming a day when I'm going to restore the fortunes of my

what is this have to do with us? I think we got to ask ourselves some very important, very serious. And thought-provoking questions

Are we guilty? False advertise.

We wearing. Labels.

That are not backed up. I watch really inside.

God looks beyond the labels when God looks beyond the Sunday Morning Show.

What does a c?

What does he see at work? What does he see us being at school?

What does he say when we're away? From all of the good Christian people that know us.

What does he see? Cuz even though I may not see, and even though you may not see God seats, don't know.

Are we guilty of false advertising? Maybe you heard about the police officer that was behind the lady. the lady was honking her horn, at the person in front of her, the light was green, and the person didn't go as He thought that maybe that person should have been, and that she kept honking the horn and she was, you know, waving with one finger up in the air, at the lady in front of her, and, and all of this. And finally, the police officer pulled over and arrested her for stealing.

She said officer this is this is my car, I've got my ID, I can prove you. It's my vehicle and she surely can't be your vehicle because you got to you know, you got a sign of the Fish sticker on the back and you got all these Christian stickers on the back.

Can't be your car because you're a Christian.

She was wearing a label. Our actions spoke something, vastly different.

Someone said, if we were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict? Our friends and family members were called to testify.

Would there be enough evidence to convict us of being a true? Genuine Christ fall Where are you in all of this? Where is our church in our city, and our nation and all of this People Are People. Every generation looks different. Yes, every generation has certain things that they struggle with more than others, but we all have the same issues deep down in our heart, we just label them differently.

So I think there's some things that we need to do is work for True Believers. If we know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, if we don't have been born again by the spirit of the Living, God, I think that we need to acknowledge our need for revive at least at the beginning of this chapter, even if their words were not genuine, at least they said, the right thing at least, they acknowledge that they were away from God. Acknowledge that they needed to return to the work. They acknowledge that God had discipline them and only he could bring the healing that they needed. How do I know if I need Revival? How do I know if I need to be revived ever been a time in your life that you love Jesus more than you love him?

Church of Revelation. Jesus said, I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love. There was a time in that Church's life, where they were more in love with Jesus than they were then.

Never been a time in your life. Your walk with God closer than it is today that your love for God was deeper than it. Is today that your commitment to God was stronger than it is. Today, the difference you and I need Revival. If that's

secondly, we need to pursue getting to know God through his word. I want to sound like a broken record but I got to go back to what we learned last week and Hosea, chapter 4 verse 6. My people are destroyed for a lack of

What are the reasons that are asking you to read through the New Testament with us this year? Not so, we can all get a certificate next march and say, oh, I rather than Because we want you to pursue getting to know God through his word. And if God's people can be destroyed through a lack of knowledge. That's why Knowledge. I need to go deeper into his word. We need to be like the bereans that search the Scriptures Daily to see, if what we're being told is true.

I would like to give out in the certificates, next Mark, so that's why you're doing it.

Ribbons. No certificates.

But you will be blessed far greater than a certificate and a ribbon. If you learned to get to know God through his

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Not really listen. You have more access to God's word than any generation before its. Do you realize that You have more access to God's word than any generation before us. With the click of a button. And have somebody read hot word to us.

Download the Bible app for free. I don't got to do is put the pot and it will read. You have, you can listen to Somebody read the word of God to you, while you're driving down the road, while you're going to work, while you're coming home from school, while you're standing in the shower. listen to God's word to you.

We have access. The word of God. We have access to physical copies of the word of God. We have access to digital copies of the word of God. We have access to audio copies of the word of God. There really is no excuse. For the Christian. 2021. Not getting no God through this.

I really convicting thought yesterday, it said, if we say that, we don't have time,

God. Church. For his word. Check out your daily screen time.

Fixing to me. I probably have more daily screen time than I do have in the word of God. If I have time to play. Hey. I have time.

Hobby. have time to do everything else I want to do and need to do in Shirley Have fun. The creator of the universe. You always has time for me. Get to know God. Just work. And then you need to exchange the outward show of religiosity.

for the inward transformation of sphere.

Need to exchange the outward show of religiosity.

Or the n-word transformation of the spirit. I hope that you don't misunderstand me and think that I'm saying, That nothing we do or are outwardly is important. Cause man still sees gout repair. And who are we witnesses to where Witnesses? The people that see the outward appearance. No problem. Problem lies. Is when we focus. On the outward appearance. And the black noir transformation.

I believe if we are transformed inwardly. It will work its way out.

But if we are just transformed outwardly, it will never work its way in.

Get that. Legalism says, I'm going to transform the outside which will transform the inside. It never happened. Christianity says. Transform the inside. The outside will take care of it.

What's on the inside will work its way out. What's on the outside will never work its way in.

I Think Jesus had something to say about that. Matthew chapter 23, the Jesus said to the crowds into his disciples, the scribes and the Pharisee settle Moses's seat, so do and observe what they tell you but not the works. They do. Were they preach? I do not Frank. A tie up heavy burdens hard to bear and lay them on people shoulders. But they themselves are not willing to move them with a finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. They got to make sure they're wearing the right label. I ain't do, all their needs to be seen by others before they make their file after each Broad and their friends. As long as he's talking about some of the outward appearances that they have, they love the place of honor at feast and the best seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the marketplace, and they love being called Rabbi by others. But you are not to be called Rabbi for, you have one teacher and you are all brothers and call, no, man, your father on Earth. You have one father.

If we're going to say in the end of that chapter 100 to use fries and Pharisees, and what's the next word you used?

For you clean. Listen. How to get your label, right? You clean the outside of the cup in the plate. They make the outside, look, nice. They make the outside looks shiny. Make the outside look like it glimmers. But inside. Listen. She's behind the label.

Inside are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee. First clean the inside of a cup in the plate. Outside. He also be. I said you let me transform the inside. I will transform the couch. Inside will never be transformed. Focusing on the site. What are you scribes and Pharisees hypocrite for your like whitewashed tombs. Which outwardly appear beautiful. But within are full of dead, people's bones and all and cleanliness Franklin has. So you also outwardly appear appear wearing the label appear righteous to others. but within

that's what God know within you're full of hypocrisy. Lawless.

one of these men, one of these fares, she

They were very religious State, they fasted twice a week. I gave ties of all that they possess, not just their monetary possessions but they literally would go to their spice cabinet. Since I know we've got a pound of whatever we're going to tile off of that as well. I mean, they were very minutely religious, very detailed in there for the boat religious rituals.

One of those Pharisees was a man by the name of nicotine.

Bemis. For the right light. Nicodemus. Was raised in a very devout. Religious home. As far as we know, as likely as a Pharisee, he had learned and memorize we struggle with memorizing Aversa week. It memorize the first five books of the Old Testament. Genesis Exodus, Leviticus Numbers, and Deuteronomy

What does label shine? Label was beautiful. His label was attractive. His label. Screamed. Richard.

I want you to hear what Jesus told the man. Bearing, this late. Truly truly, I say to you. Less one is born again. Did not see Kingdom.

You know, labels will not get you to heaven.

Keto fasting hiding Church attendance. Let me doing all through or shaking a preacher's hand. Hello sayings. You haven't heard of those things left, heaven and paid the sacrifice for my sins and yours. That's why Jesus said I am the way, the truth, the life. No, and no person comes to the father, except through me.

Labels, do not get you to heaven, it's the Lord Jesus Christ. It gets us to have. That makes us right with God, that enables us to have our sins forgiven that justifies us. That brings us into right relationship with father. we going to say to Nicodemus, truly truly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit the spiritual bird.

Cannot enter. Kingdom. We don't need a a spiritual rebranding. Just need to change the label, right? I just needed a rebranding companies, go through a rebranding. so what we need in a rebirth, Universe how to read Brandon, but a new birth. Not more, is empty religion, but a spiritual heart, change your radical new birth with the spirit of God.

so as we close today, What you to ask yourself a couple of very important question. Number one, as a Christian as I believe, we will talk to Christians. Want to talk to Believers or just am on my way and I want you to be honest with God. Guess you ain't gotta.

Are you guilty? Call Chen.

Ask.

Guilty. Call Travis.

The label that I wear on Sundays.

What?

What other people see Monday? For sure.

Label that I wear. Munch flavors.

Like what my children see in fear at home.

How to make guilty of all time.

I've been there. I've been there more times and I was there at like, to admit.

What I have found is a gracious. Loving kind generous merciful gracious. Heavenly Father. Says, to his children. If we confess our sins, he is faithful. And just to forgive us, cleanse us all

Ross's children. You are ambassadors price. We wear his name. Our actions and our attitude should reflect that when they don't reflect that need to be honest with God. As a God, I wasn't very reflective of you today to my family, to my friends, to my classmates, to my mom, to my dad, to my children, my spouse. Forgive me. I wasn't very reflective of me. God says, if you will confess those things to him, he will forgive and clench

When I ask a question. If you're not sure that you're a Christian, you know, that you're not a Christian, never been a time in your life, if you genuinely genuinely repented of your sins and embraced price as you're safe. Matters. Not Label, you may wear. Labels will not make you right with God. Labels will not forgive you of your sins. Labels are just like.

Questions more. Do you know? Know him as your lordship. She don't. They? Be the first day. Rested.