Spiritual Growth Comes in Cans, Not in Can Nots

Well, thank you again, Mr. Rebar. Mr. Graham. Mr. Graham said to me in my office early, says, you will recognize this song. The title meant nothing to me. And I do recognize it. It was from one of my favorite shows. I think it used to be on PBS, called Stargazer by Jack Horkheimer. And that's where I recognized that song from. So it is very beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Graham. Added a lot to our Sabbath worship today. Thanks so much. Happy Sabbath, all of you, once again. Well, the Passover is less than two weeks away. It's coming up quickly. And as we prepare for the Passover, just a quick reminder of some of the messages that we have shared together the past six weeks or so. One of them is we often think of the gospel, the good news, the kingdom of God, is something that Jesus preached, and indeed he did. And the church continues to preach the same gospel today. At that time, we reviewed the Holy Days in Leviticus 23, and we saw that the Holy Days is outlined in Leviticus chapter 23, also preach the gospel. They preach to the same complete gospel that Jesus Christ himself preached when he walked on earth. Then we went on to discuss the two roles of Jesus Christ in God's plan for humanity. The roles outline chronologically in Leviticus 23 through the Holy Days. His first Christ, our Passover, he's a Savior, and then later on is reflected by the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Tabernacles. He is a king, but he is first and foremost a Savior. And that's what we focus on now. If we don't have a Savior, then a kingdom would do us no good. If we don't have someone to save us from our sins, then it doesn't do us any good that we're dead for eternity in the earth while a kingdom is going on in the world. That would be of no benefit to us. Thankfully, God has given provision reflected by Passover, and he has provided us a Savior. And another message we discussed, our role as God's spiritual first-born, and the important role that first-borns play throughout history in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and also within the kingdom of God. We saw a number of parallels between the physical first-born Israelites in ancient Egypt and the spiritual first-born whom God is working with today. So in today's sermon, I would like to turn our focus to our own spiritual obligations and responsibilities as God's beloved children. And it all begins with one powerful word. It begins with our perspective and our attitude. Here's the truth. Spiritually, we either see everything as a potential or everything is a problem. We either see opportunities in everything and everybody, or we see obstacles in everything and everybody. We either see what God is doing in our lives and on this earth as a glass is half full, or we see it as a glass that is half empty. We either have an abundance mentality or we have a scarcity mentality. I'd like to see what Jesus Christ taught his disciples and a powerful influence they had that changed their lives and transformed them in having a scarcity mentality to having an abundance mentality in their lives. What we're going to see today is that spiritual growth comes in cans, not in cannots.

So let's see the example of Jesus Christ. Matthew chapter 19 and verse 13. If you'll turn there with me. Matthew chapter 19 and verse 13. Spiritual growth comes in cans. I can. I will, not in cannots. Matthew chapter 19 verse 13. Scripture we read usually a couple of Sabbaths after the Feast of Tabernacles. The little children were brought to him. This is to Jesus that he might put his hands in them and pray. This was typical. Parents would take their small children to a rabbi and the rabbi would touch the children and put his hands in the children and pray a blessing upon those children. And by Jesus, through his ministry, people were recognizing him as a rabbi, as a teacher, as someone who came from God. So they brought their little children to him so that he could touch those little children so that he could pray for them and ask a blessing for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Disciples said, no, can't do. Can't do that. But Jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and departed from there. I'm going to read this in another translation, the new century version. Verse 13. Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so he could put his hands on them and pray for them. His followers told them to stop. Can't. But Jesus said, let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children. And after Jesus put his hands in the children, he left them there.

Now I want you to notice the attitude of Jesus Christ compared to his disciples. I'll give them a little slack here. They're not converted yet. There are 12 very carnal, selfish human beings at this point in time. Not the day of Pentecost. They have not yet received God's Holy Spirit. So I'll give them a little slack there. But look at the contrast. Jesus believes that spiritual growth comes in cans, not in cannots. Sure we can do it. You bet we can serve in that way. In contrast, the disciples are negative. Can't do that. It's a bother. The master has more important things to do. They're negative. They're exclusive. They're judgmental. Stop, parents! You shouldn't be doing that. They're judgmental. They're self-centered. Whereas Jesus is positive and outgoing, they were, no, this can't be done. No, no, stop. It just can't happen.

Jesus, of course, knew that it could be done. That he could do it. You see the dramatic difference between the carnal human mind that places limitations on itself and on everybody else, and the perspective and attitude that Jesus Christ had, who understood the spiritual growth comes in cans. Yes, we can. Yes, I can, not in cannots. Let's take a look at Luke chapter 10 and verse 38. If you'll turn there with me, let's see another example. Luke chapter 10 and verse 38.

Now it happened, as they went, that he entered a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. So far so good. Martha's very hospitable. That's a Christian and a godly quality. She welcomes Jesus into her house. But let's continue. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus's feet and heard his word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried. Of course, he can look right into our human hearts. Jesus Christ, because he was God, knows what people were thinking. He told us a meritan woman how many times she had been married, and that the guy she was shacking up with now she wasn't married to. So you can see right through into the human heart. Mary, Mary, you were worried and troubled about many things, he said, but one thing is needed. And Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. No, I'm not going to tell her to help you. Jesus knew that the good part is stopping to listen to God rather than being trapped inside our heads with negative self-talk, making ourselves martyrs, being anxious, distracted, judgmental. She's condemning her sister, busy.

In contrast, Mary is calm, and she's focused. She's at the feet of Jesus Christ. She's focused on what he's saying. She's learning from what he is saying. She was not distracted.

So who had the right perspective here? As we prepare for Passover this year, which one are we, brethren? Are we quietly sitting at the feet of Jesus Christ and learning? Or have we distorted our thinking to think that somehow busy is being productive? Busy is not being productive. One can be busy and also be productive, but of itself just being busy and doing stuff, just filling your day with stuff to have something to do and be busy does not mean that you're being productive. Mark chapter 6 and verse 30. Let's see another example.

Jesus understood from that example with Martha and Mary that spiritual growth comes in cans, listening to God, being taught by God, settling down, not in cannots. Tell my sister to help me.

Mark chapter 6 and verse 30. From the book of Mark, the disciples were returning from ministering to some villages that Jesus had sent them so they were pretty excited. It says, then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

And he said to them, come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest for a while. Good job! You know what? We need to all chill out for a while. So all, let's go into the desert and let's just build some cod maraudery and maybe do some fishing and get away from the crowds and let's cool our heels for a while. That's what Jesus is saying.

For there were many coming and going and they did not even have time to eat. They're busy productive at the same time, but they don't even have time to eat. So Jesus says, we need to get away from here for a while. So they departed to deserted place in a boat by themselves.

So again, he wants you to just get away from it all with them, but the multitude saw them departing. And many knew him. They recognized Jesus Christ the way he looked and they ran there on foot from all of the cities. They can't escape people who want to be taught by Jesus Christ and hear the gospel message because it was so encouraging, inspiring, hopeful.

They arrived before them and came together to him and Jesus, when he came out, saw a great multitude and said, stop! Go away! You're bothering me! No, that's not what Jesus Christ, who was a can-do person, says. It says he saw a great multitude and he was moved with compassion. Spiritual growth comes in cans, not in canots, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.

So he began to teach them many things. When the day was now far spent and his disciples came to him and said, this is a deserted place, not their carnal individuals.

They're probably already slightly peeved that instead of having some chill time with Jesus, that they've spent all day with all these people who followed them wherever they went and want Jesus to preach and talk to them. So they're probably a little bit already on edge and you and I most likely would be too. This is a deserted place and already the hour is late. I've been here a long time, Lord.

Send them away! Can't do it! Get rid of them! That they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat. And Jesus says without skipping a beat, he answers them and said, not a problem. You give them something to eat. Now being carnal, being human, they're thinking of human ways to solve this problem. And they said, him, shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?

I don't even know if they had two hundred denarii bread. Sounds like a lot of money to me. So I don't even know if they had that amount of money on them. Verse 38, but he said to them, how many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they found out, they said five and two fish. Then he commanded them and made them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So he's going to do this orderly. They sit down in ranks in hundreds, in fifties. So it's not going to be a free for all. It's not going to be like people entering Walmart on Black Friday.

This is going to be planned and systematic and organized. People are going to be responsible and expect to be responsible as food is given to them. So he sat down in ranks in hundreds and fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them.

And the two fish he divided among them all, so they all ate and were filled. Everyone had as much as they wanted. Some ate little and a lot. Verse 43, and they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and the fish, now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

So again, let's contrast the attitude of Jesus compared to his disciples. He believes that spiritual growth comes in cans, not in canots. Do it! People are hungry, they need fed? Not a problem. Go ahead, feed them. They, on the other hand, are negative, exclusive, always looking for an obstacle. What they can't do, they said, get rid of these people. It's getting late. Jesus says, no, we're going to be good hosts and we're going to feed them. He was positive. He was outgoing. He told them that they could feed the people if they really wanted to. If you really want to, you can do what Jesus said. I said, no, it can't be done. So let me ask you this question. How about us, brethren, as we prepare for the past? Passover in spring-only days of 2021. What is our perspective on life towards our spouse, towards the church, brethren, towards the church itself, towards our relationship with God, towards our careers, towards any aspect in our lives? We could look at many other examples of Christ and see his positive can-do approach to the most serious problems. When he said in Matthew 17 and verse 20 that if you have enough faith, you can literally move a mountain, he was not kidding. He meant it. He was serious. He told them that they could move a mountain. He knew he could move a mountain, but he's encouraging them and saying if you have enough faith, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there, and that mountain will move. And whether you want to use that as a metaphor of a literal physical mountain or a mountain being something that's in our way, an obstacle, that's stopping us to get from here to there, either way you want to do it, Jesus Christ said, we have that ability that lies within us. So we haven't seen very good examples from the disciples so far. They have not, at this point, demonstrated a can-do approach, problem solving to their own lives, to other people. They're very judgmental, very can't-do that, very scarcity mentality. But let's see if they changed after something happened on the day of Pentecost, and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let's go to Acts chapter 5 and verse 25, read through a number of verses here, because I think this highlights that they literally had become transformed. And brethren, I'm going to be plain and honest with you today. A lot of the brethren in the Church of God have a scarcity mentality. They're negative, they're self-righteous, they're judgmental, and that's why they have been stuck in neutral for decades.

Because they think they can't do things, and it holds us back, brethren. Acts chapter 5 and verse 25. I think we're familiar with this in the book of Acts. The apostles had been thrown into prison for preaching the gospel. Miraculously, they got out of the prison, and they go right back to the temple to preach the gospel. Let's pick it up here in verse 25. So one came and told them, saying, look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. So the officers went to the disciples in the temple and said, excuse me, would you just kindly come with us? They didn't want to manhandle the disciples or be violent with the disciples, because the people like the disciples. This could have turned into a riot. It would have been ugly. So they gently asked them if they would follow them. You're under arrest. Would you just kindly please come with us? And they did. Verse 27, and when they had brought them, they sat them down before the council. Now high priests asked them, saying, did we not strictly command you not to teach in his name? Can't do the answer is no. Stop! That's what he says. What part of no don't you understand? He says to the disciples, and look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us. But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than man. We can do. We can obey God. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered. Then he begins to preach the gospel. Pretty clever opening, I think. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered, by the way, by hanging on a tree. Him, God, is exalted to his right hand to be prince and savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we harvest witnesses to these things. And so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. A little synopsis of the gospel there, who Jesus Christ was. Let's see their happy reply, because in their world everything is limited. Everything is can't do. Everything is bad. Everything is no. But when they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the council stood up a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a while. He doesn't want them to hear what he's going to say, because he's going to talk candidly. He doesn't want them to know what he's about to tell this council in secret. Verse 35, and he said to the men of Israel, Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. Be very careful what you do to these individuals, he says. For some time ago, Thut us rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered, and it came to absolutely nothing. After that, this man, Judas of Galilee, rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them alone. You see, he's smart. When you make martyrs of people, you just enhance the movement.

More people will follow when there are martyrs in the movement.

For if this plan or this work is of men, it'll come to nothing. Just leave them alone, and if it isn't meant to be, it's going to die out like all the other ones did. Verse 39, But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God. And they agreed with him. And when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, when's the last time you got a really good beating? Were you happy about it? Did you rejoice over that beating? Oh, thank you, Dad. Thank you so much. God bless you. You're the best father in the whole world. And in beating them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and then they let them go. Take your bruises, take your scratches, take your bloody limbs, and get out of here. So they departed from the presence of the council, complaining, whining, no, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. They just got a beating. And what's their response? They rejoiced. What an honor it is to be persecuted for the name of Jesus Christ. That was their attitude, far different from the same men that we read about in a couple of instances a little bit earlier. So did they obey what they were told? Remember, it said that, and they had beaten them, and they commanded them, that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and then they let them go. And it says here in verse 42, and daily in the temple, and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Do you notice that their thinking was transformed by something that occurred in the day of Pentecost? Some of these were the same cowards who abandoned Jesus on the night he was arrested. On that night, some of these very same individuals were anxious, were afraid, were hiding. And here they are being bold with a can-do attitude, realizing that spiritual growth comes in cans, not in cannots. What changed them? Their attitudes and their life purpose was changed after they received the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in 31 A.D. So how's our transformation process going, brethren? 2 Corinthians 11, verse 19, Paul, of course, wasn't one of the original disciples. He was called later on. So let's see if he got the example of Jesus. Let's see if he got the picture.

2 Corinthians 11, verse 19. Paul is frustrated. In Corinth, one of the things he's frustrated about is they keep boasting about these other ministers and how great they are, implying, of course, to Paul that you're just rather mediocre. You're not much to look at as a speaker.

So Paul had a little bit enough of this. And they'll keep telling how righteous and how godly these other ministers are who come and visit us. And unlike you, Paul, they're nice to us. 2 Corinthians 11, verse 19. Are they Hebrews, Paul says? Are they of Hebrew descent? You're telling me how great they are? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? Do they have the, in your eyes, the right DNA and lineage? He says, so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? He says, now I've kind of snapped. I'm going to speak like a fool. All right, you say they're great ministers. Well, here's some questions I have. Are they ministers of Christ? I am more. In labors, more abundant. I've outworked every one of them. In stripes of love measure, I've been beaten more times than they have. In prisons, more frequently. I've been in prison longer and more times than they have. In deaths, my life has been threatened, and my life has hung on a hair a number of times, more than what they've experienced. From the Jews, five times I received 40 stripes, minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I have been in the deep, which means a drifted sea. In journeys, often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils of the sea, in perils of false brethren, and in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness, often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings, often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things which comes to me daily. My deep concern for all the churches, my constant grieving for the problems that exist in all of the churches, is what Paul says here.

And here's my point. Paul went through more problems and personal persecution, and probably all of us in this room combined in our lifetimes. One man experienced these things. Yet, in spite of these events and experiences, he had a can-do attitude. In spite of all this, he got up every morning energized, ready to do his job. And if it required him going into a strange city, not knowing if he'd be welcomed or beaten, he was willing to do that. And why? Because he knew that spiritual growth comes in cans, not in canots. He got up every day and lived his calling because a positive attitude propelled him forward. He looked beyond all of these negative experiences, and he just listed them, and they are horrific. Yeah, but Mr. Thomas, I had to wear a mask at the church.

Well, Paul got up every day and lived his calling because his positive attitude propelled him forward. You know, we can make some sacrifices if we need to. Compare your life to what this man went through before we start pretending to be martyrs, sitting in our comfortable church halls with just the right temperature, food to eat when services are over, coffee waiting for us after services end. He focused on his personal life mission. Can do. Not obstacles. Not all the problems. Not all the reasons I can say no. All the excuses I can justify why I don't do something. He was can do. How about us, brethren? How we've been doing this last year? It's been about a year now when a pandemic hit the United States, hit our world, hit our congregation. How are we doing?

Philippians chapter 4 and verse 8, scripture that many of us are familiar with, but I just want to reaffirm that Paul had a can do attitude in spite of all horrific events he personally experienced. He was positive. He was can do. That was the gift, the example that Paul brought to the church at that time. That example has been set for us because when he was converted, he got it. Philippians chapter 4 verses 8 through 9, he says, finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, if there's anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. Do you notice what he doesn't happen here? Wherever you can state your opinion, wherever you can judge somebody who isn't just like you, he doesn't say that because those are not things worthy of meditation. That is, negative self-talk that we need to flush out of our minds just like we would flush something else out of our lives.

And if there's anything praiseworthy, think on these things, the things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me. So he's not a hypocrite. He's not saying that we should all do these things, but he was different. That you saw in me these two, and the God of peace will be with you.

So Paul learned how to control the messages going on in his head.

Fear, being arrested and beaten, anxiety, not knowing whether his life could end any day. The grief, having his very own congregations treat him like a garbage can, like corn. All of these things he could have allowed, like we do, to roll around in our heads and make mountains out of molehills and make big issues out of nothing. But he chose not to do that. He chose to be productive, positive, thriving spiritually, and his personal example proved it.

Brethren, what does our personal example reveal to the world? The scripture says in Matthew 5 and verse 14, Jesus says we need to be a light, a light that's set up high so that everyone, so that more and more people can see that light. A light provides illumination for others to be able to see. Let's see. Lights do not create an irritating noise.

A light that creates or has an irritating noise needs to be replaced. It's defective.

So what kind of light are we being?

You know, we could also look at the attitude of Stephen in Acts 7. He's being stoned. He's literally being murdered. He says, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. What would most people do? Raging against the—God'll get you! You can burn in hellfire for all I care! No, he doesn't react that way. Stephen takes his terrible stoning, and in compassion he asks God not to hold the sin against the people who literally are killing him. Take a look at verse 10.

Are we content, brethren? Do our lives show other people contentment or anxiety, fear, judgmentalism, self-righteousness? What are we telling the world by our examples? He says, I know how to be abased. I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I've learned both to be full and to be hungry. I've been both, Paul says, both to abound and to suffer need. In verse 13, before I read it, do you think he believes that spiritual growth comes in cans or cannot? He says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Do you think he sets the same example that Jesus Christ did? Don't stop the little children from coming to me. Don't tell the people to leave. Just feed them. Martha, don't tell Mary to help you serve. She's doing the right thing here. And in the case of Paul, no matter what I go through, no matter what I personally experience as far as persecution and abuse, even from my own church congregations, Paul says, I can. It's my choice. I have the ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Christ gave him the ability to do all things, the added dimension of the power of God's Holy Spirit in our lives. Again, spiritual growth comes in cans, not in cannot. Paul truly believed that he could accomplish virtually anything. And that's what gave him strength. That's what drove him on to fill his mission. With all the cares going on in the world and all the stresses and all the things happening, he just kept growing and he kept marching forward. When we immerse our thoughts in positive things, we can face our problems, even old problems, with a new approach and focus. It is all with attitude. And if we don't have the right attitude, we'll struggle with the same old problems for decades. Because we're looking at it the same way. We're reliving what's already in that old wineskin. We're just sloshing it around, looking at it some more. We're not expanding our lives. We're not expanding our thinking. We're not looking at our lives and opportunities from a fresh approach. These scriptures that we read today are powerful examples of people who put their cares upon God and lived a positive approach to difficult problems and trials. And yeah, feeding 5,000 people, I would say, is a difficult problem. Overcoming what Paul went through and waking up every day positive and expecting to do your jobs. Yeah, that's pretty challenging. I would agree with that. Are we allowing God's Spirit to transform us from a defeated, negative approach to life to a positive can-do spirit? I can overcome that problem I have. I can change my personality so I'm not so obnoxious. I can become more encouraging to other people. I can stop dwelling in that cesspool of negative self-talk that's pulled my life down my whole existence and stop it. And I can't be better. I can be different.

I can use the power of God's Holy Spirit to change my life.

The Believer's Study Bible says this about the fruit of God's Holy Spirit. Are we allowing the fruit of that spirit that we were given to laying on of hands to transform our lives? I mean, we know we've talked about sermons in the past. It's not going to force us to do anything. God's Spirit is a rich and wonderful gift and it's opportunity to use it. It's not going to force us. It's waiting for us to tap into that incredible power to draw the potential that exists in our lives. Here's what the Believer's Study Bible says under the fruit of the Holy Spirit quote, the fruit of the Spirit refers to the attitudes of life and thought which become characteristic of those who walk in the Spirit. A good test for those who claim to be spiritual can be formulated from the checklist in verses 22 and 23 of Galatians. So how are we doing in that regard? James chapter 1 and verse 2. James chapter 1 and verse 2.

Why is getting rid of that negativity so important?

Because it even affects our faith. It even affects God's ability to hear our prayers. James is going to tell us that right here. Being cynical, sarcastic, and self-absorbed.

We actually put ourselves under a curse. And that curse can last our whole lifetimes if we choose to allow it to do so. James chapter 1 and verse 2. My brethren, count out all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives all liberally and without approach, and it will be given to him, but let him ask in faith. Can do! God, with the power of your Holy Spirit, I can do this. You can do this in my life. You can help me to make this change in my life. It's possible I can, because Christ dwells in me and strengthens me. Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind, for let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Notice he says, and let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. We put ourselves under a curse. Our attitudes hold us back. The Greek word for double-minded, which is tepsoschos, means two-spirited. Are we two-spirited? Yeah, I'm excited about God's way of life, but then half the time I'm a cranky, sarcastic, suspicious person, critical of my spouse, other church members, the church, and everything else, and I wonder why things aren't happening in my life. Meaning two-spirited. That's what that's Greek word means. Vassalating. So what does James understand? He understands that spiritual growth comes in cans. I ask for something. I do my part because you need faith and works, and God promises that it can happen. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Doubt and negativity, wavering self-righteousness, judgmentalism is an enemy of biblical faith. And my, the last year, I've seen a lot of judgmental attitudes, comments made about other people because they were doing things differently than we wanted it done. We thought it should be done. Shame on us.

So as we prepare for the Passover this year, I'd like to mention four quick cans that we can all focus on as we think about the Passover. Four quick cans that hopefully will be an antidote to the negativity and the selfishness that so many have exhibited, particularly this past year. Number one, I can approach the throne of God and be forgiven of all my sins. Number one, I can approach the throne of God and be forgiven for all of my sins. That's everything you've ever thought, everything you've ever done, every intention you ever had in your heart. They can absolutely all be forgiven. Turn with me to 1 John chapter 1 verse 8. I can approach the throne of God and be forgiven of all my sins, not just some of your sins, not just the sins you committed before you were baptized. All of our sins can and will be forgiven when we repent and go to the throne of grace. 1 John chapter 1 and verse 8. John said, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. And we need to acknowledge that, and we need to accept that. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness, not just some of our unrighteousness, but all of our unrighteousness. And we need to do that self-examination before we come to the Passover. We need to repent of our sins. We need to accept and understand that we are sinners. We need to understand that we are sinners. We need to accept and understand that we are sinners. And it's only by the grace of God that we were ever called and that He gave us the gift of His Holy Spirit. None of us deserve God's calling. None of us are entitled to God's calling. It's all out of His great compassion and grace.

Verse 10, and if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and the word is not in us. So again, I want to emphasize we're mere human beings struggling with our own carnality. Paul said in Romans chapter 7 and verse 14, he said, for we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, Paul said, sold under sin. Now, he'd been in the church a long time when he wrote the book of Romans. Are you and I humble enough to admit that? The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. Thankfully, someone purchased us. We're sold under sin, but someone purchased us with His shed blood so that we now belong to Him instead of the prince of the power of the air, so that our lives can be a little easier because we're guided and directed by the Spirit of God. Again, number one, I can approach the throne of God and be forgiven of all my sins. Number two, I can continue to examine myself and grow through the lens of God's Holy Spirit. I can continue to examine myself and grow through the lens of God's Holy Spirit. James chapter 1 and verse 21, if you'll turn there with me.

The scripture was read a few weeks ago in a fine sermonette by Mr. Housen. James chapter 1 and verse 21. We even captured him on YouTube standing in the still photo before you started as him holding that mirror. Mirror up. James chapter 1 and verse 21, therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word. Is God's word implanted in our hearts or is it superficial? Is it something we express on Saturdays and then we're different the other days of the week, which is able to save your souls but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves. In other words, be can do. A doer is someone who can do and does. Verse 23, for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man at observing his natural face in a mirror. Look at all those blemishes. Boy, that's really hideous. For he observes himself and goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. Boy, that I'll never do that again. Verse 25, but he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, that's God's spiritual law, the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work can do. This one will be blessed in what he does. And that law of liberty is the spiritual application of God's moral law. We should be examining ourselves, not examine the church, not examine the brethren, not examine our spouse, not examine our neighbor, not examine the people we work with out in the world. We should be examining ourselves and looking into that spiritual mirror and rather than comparing yourself with anyone else, here's the way that we should compare ourselves. Do we love God's law?

Do we steal? Do we lie? White lies? Slight exaggerations? Half truths? Or are we people filled with honesty and integrity?

Covet? We resent someone because they've got something we don't, they have a nicer car, bigger home, and we resent them for one reason or another? Covet? What they have?

Or are we like Paul who said, I've learned to be content in whatever state I'm in? We just read that a little earlier. Whatever he had in life, it wasn't about comparing what he had with someone else.

And I'm not talking about the mere letter of the law, the Ten Commandments, but I'm talking about the spiritual application of the law that Jesus taught. He said, you've been told that it was a sin to commit adultery. I'm telling you that if you look at a woman with impure thoughts in your heart, you've already committed adultery. And that can be applied to stealing, worshiping a false god, materialism, usually in our culture today, coveting.

We could go on and on through the commandments. Because you see, what's in our heart, what's in our self-talk, reveals our attitudes, motives, intent, and our inner desires. Those are what's really important. Those are what God wants to change. Because if we change those, then we have no problem keeping the letter of the law. If we change what's going on up here, then we have no difficulty. As I've said before, the very first place in this universe that the kingdom of God is intended to be established is between our two ears. That's where the kingdom of God should reside today. That's a kingdom of can-do, a kingdom where people reach their potential, not a negative kingdom. Number three, number two, was I can continue to examine myself and grow through the lens of God's Holy Spirit. Number three is I can come to Passover worthy because the righteousness of Christ dwells within me by faith. Let's turn to Romans chapter 3 and verse 21. Would you remind us of a little theology? We are all carnal. We are all sinners. We fall short of the glory of God. Every day we struggle with our own carnality.

We are not righteous by anything that we do. Our so-called perception of righteousness stinks in the nostrils of God. But here's what makes the difference. When we receive the gift of God's Holy Spirit, we receive the righteousness of Christ in us. That's what makes us worthy to come to the Passover. Not anything that we do or say, but Jesus Christ makes us worthy. Romans chapter 3 and verse 21, in spite of our weaknesses and our carnality, he says, but now the righteousness of God, apart from the law, is revealed. So separating the commandments, separating everything, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus to all and on all who believe. The righteousness of God is imparted to us because we believe and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. We thankfully appreciate that he shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and we have been baptized. We've repented at a point in our life and received the gift of God's Holy Spirit, and that spirit within us changes everything. It makes us the children of God. Verse 23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We're not justified even because we do a self-examination this year. That's our responsibility. That's our obligation. That's our role to play in preparing for the Passover. But we should never think that somehow that makes us worthy. Only Jesus Christ can make us worthy. Verse 25, whom God sent forth as a propitiation or as an atonement on the literal mercy seat. Remember when the high priest in the Day of Atonement would go in one day a year and he would sprinkle blood under mercy seat, and that would be for the forgiveness of all of Israel's sins until next year. But in the case of Jesus Christ, it's perpetual that forgiveness is ongoing as a propitiation by his blood through faith to demonstrate his righteousness, not ours, because in his forbearance God passed over the sins of all that were God passed over the sins that were previously committed. That includes our sins. To demonstrate at the present time his righteousness, not ours, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. What justifies us? Our works? Our actions? No, what justifies us is having faith in Jesus Christ. Paul also stated in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 27, he said, therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself. And I've heard many sermons where the person kind of stopped there, but we're going to look at the can-do approach that Paul had. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. That's can-do. Our responsibility, our obligation, is do a gut check in our lives and see how we've been doing. That in itself doesn't save us. Doing that won't make us worthy to keep the Passover. Only Jesus Christ makes us worthy to keep the Passover. Our personal responsibility is to do an examination of our present Christian walk in good faith and sincerity. Have a serious talk with ourselves, honestly. And again, as I've said before, just don't trust yourself. Talk. We lie to ourselves all the time. Don't ever assume that you are telling you the truth.

Number four. Again, number three was, I can come to the Passover worthy because the righteousness of Christ dwells within me by faith. Number four, I can accelerate my spiritual growth through the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me. I can accelerate my spiritual growth through the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me. We saw an example of that today. We saw a number of disciples whom Jesus worked with, and before they received the Holy Spirit, they were, stop! People can't do that! No! Can't do that! Bad!

And after the day of Pentecost, they were, thank you for beating me. What an honor it is to be beaten for the name of Jesus Christ. And as far as your command not to preach the gospel, watch me. Go ahead, make my day. You just noticed incredible transformation that takes place in their lives all through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians, our final scripture today, 1 Corinthians 5 and verse 6.

We sometimes read this scripture. We sometimes think of being a new lump as something that happened once. Maybe when we came out of that baptismal tank, we looked at our lives as a new lump. No, brethren, we're intended to be a new lump every day.

That's one of our hymns, taken from the book of Habakkuk. Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed, you have provided.

1 Corinthians 5 and verse 6. Again, talking to a congregation, that was a challenge to him. Your glorying is not good. They thought they were very tolerant by allowing someone who was committing incest to continue to fellowship in the congregation. They were so open-minded. If they turned their head sideways, their brains would fall out. That's how open-minded they were. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore, purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump. He's talking to the Gentiles. This was a Gentile congregation who had been keeping the Holy Days for a number of years. He obviously doesn't have to explain to them how to do it because they've been doing it. They are still a new lump. Since you truly are unleavened, Jesus Christ did dwell within them through the power of the Holy Spirit. It may have also been during the days of Unleavened Bread. Who knows? But the righteousness of Christ made them unleavened in the eyes of God. For indeed, Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast not with old leaven nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. So, brethren, we are new creatures in Christ, and that newness never ends during this physical lifetime. Every day we get an opportunity to wake up and be new.

Make a connection with God. Think about where we're at and to do changes in our lives. Every day is that gift, is that opportunity. Are we taking advantage of it? Or having a negative philosophy? Is it holding us back? Is it keeping us in a rut? Is it keeping us down?

The Apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 17, he said, You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We do that every day. At least we have the opportunity to do that every day. But that's a choice. We have to make it. God's Spirit isn't going to force us to do anything against our will.

There's a precious gift just waiting for us to tap into it. Are we? Are we letting day by day by day by day go by stuck in a rut, stuck in a life of mediocrity, blaming everyone else for our problems, the government, the church, people?

Or are we looking into the law of liberty, into that mirror, and seeing where the real problems lie? And if we look into that spiritual mirror, we'll find out that they're looking right back at us. That's where the root of our real problems lie. Not in churches, cultures, spouses, children, ministers, bosses, politicians, not in anyone else.

So as we begin to think about the Passover coming up in less than two weeks, Jesus did his part as our Savior. He lived a perfect life. He willingly chose to suffer, accepted crucifixion, shed his blood so the UNI can be reconciled to God. He continues to do his part. He's our great High Priest right now. He's right next to the throne of God the Father, interceding on our behalf when we need it. He's there for us. He's done his part. Are we ready to do our part? Again, a sincere self-examination doesn't save us. It alone doesn't make us worthy to partake of the Passover. But it is our spiritual obligation. It's our spiritual responsibility to do that because it will help us to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord. And that will engender growth in our lives. Why? Because spiritual growth comes in cans, not in canots. Have a wonderful Sabbath day.