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Part 14 of 16
Week 5: A Call to Authenticity and Repentance
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One of the most dangerous things that will ever affect the life of a human being is the dark power of deception. Deception is when the human mind is misled to believe something that is not true or accurate. It can enter our lives through false teachings, wrong people, wrong associations, rebellion, sin, or wrong exposures.
But perhaps the most destructive form of deception is self-deception. This is when a person holds tightly to their own ambitions, ideals, and biases that are false, positioning themselves to suffer in the end because of that deception. Because of the power of deception, many people will live their lives in darkness, separated from God for all eternity.
Jesus had just been confronted by the chief priests and elders of Israel in the temple during the final week of His life before His crucifixion. They challenged His authority, asking, "By what authority are you doing these things?" Rather than answering directly, Jesus responded with a question about John the Baptist: "The baptism of John—from where did it come from? From heaven or from man?"
The spiritual leaders found themselves trapped. If they said John's baptism came from heaven, Jesus would ask why they didn't believe him. If they said it came from man, they feared the crowd, for John was held to be a prophet. So they answered, "We don't know."
Jesus then used this moment as a transition to teach them three powerful parables—encrypted teachings that both conceal and reveal truth about the kingdom of God. Today we examine the first of these parables, found in Matthew 21:28-32.
"What do you think? A man had two sons and he went to his first son and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he changed his mind and went."
A father commands his son with authority and affection: "Go work in the vineyard today." The son's response is direct: "I will not." This was not normal behavior in first-century culture. In that patriarchal society, children did not typically rebel against their fathers' direct commands. This is why Paul later wrote that in the last days, children would become rebellious toward their parents—it would be a sign of the times.
But then something remarkable happens. The word the father spoke did not simply disappear. It sat on the son's mind. It was heavy on his heart. The word was nudging his soul, tugging at him, working within him. He could not escape it. That word wrestled with him until finally, he changed his mind—he repented—and went into the field to work and be fruitful.
This reminds many of us of our own lives. When the word of God came to us, we rejected it. We wanted nothing to do with it. Some of us ran in rebellion when we saw others respond to the altar call. We were afraid of what God might demand of us—we might become missionaries, or have to give up everything we held dear. So we ran from God.
But isn't anyone here thankful that the word didn't let you go? That at some point, that word wrestled you down to the floor and you finally surrendered to God? His grace kept us alive while that word was working on us.
For those of you who are parents with children who are far away from God: this gives us hope. We should never give up on our children. A day might come when that word wrestles them down in a hotel room, in the middle of a car leaving from the club, or sitting alone in a room. God can reach them. When they're sitting in an abortion clinic, God can get hold of their mind. When they're driving home high from the club, God can touch them. This encourages us that even if someone has been saying no to God for years, there can come a day when that word finally reaches them.
Historically, this first son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes—the lowest people in society's eyes—who heard John's preaching and Jesus's preaching and eventually said yes to God. Though they initially rejected the message, they ultimately repented and entered the kingdom of God.
"And he went to the other son and said the same thing; and that son answered, 'I will go, sir,' but he did not go."
The second son receives the same command. But his response is very different. With respect and honor, he says, "I will go, sir." He has the mouth of honor but the feet of rebellion. He has commitment with no follow-through. He has words with no actions. He is near to the father with his mouth but far from the father in his heart.
This son has been in church his whole life. He can quote Psalm 23. He knows the Lord's Prayer. He walked the aisle when he was five. He's been around the things of God his entire life. On the outside, he appears respectful and pious and religious. But his heart is far away from God.
He has posts with no life to match. She quotes Proverbs 31 with no life to match. He leads and preaches and speaks from platforms, all while his heart is in rebellion. Everyone is fooled by his words and his posts, but his heart is far away from God. He represents lip service with a rebellious heart, rebellious hands, and rebellious feet—religious on the outside while inwardly dark and evil.
This second son represents the spiritual leaders Jesus was addressing: the Pharisees, scribes, and chief priests of Israel. These were men who had the Old Testament. They had been studying the Torah. They understood the word. They were looking for the Messiah. And when Jesus came, they rejected Him—not because He wasn't the Messiah, but because they were jealous of His ministry.
One gospel writer records that the Pharisees said to themselves: "This man keeps speaking like this; the whole nation will believe in him. If he keeps preaching about the kingdom, about righteousness, about holiness—the whole nation will believe him. The whole nation will experience revival. We need to do something to stop him."
The Pharisees knew who Jesus was. But their envy, their jealousy, wouldn't accept it. Jealousy is an evil and dangerous thing. When you can't celebrate someone else's calling, when you're driven by the flesh rather than by the Spirit, you tear them down. You make videos about them. You post about them. You try to discredit them—not because they're false, but because you don't understand God's favor on their life.
Jesus now asks the spiritual leaders a direct question: "Which of the two did the will of the father?" They answer correctly: the first son.
Then Jesus delivers His stunning verdict:
"Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you."
Think about this. Jesus is speaking to the religious elite in the temple and telling them that tax collectors and prostitutes—the lowest people in society, people they despised—are entering the kingdom of God ahead of them. These are people who were far away, who didn't know the scriptures, who couldn't quote Bible verses. But they heard the message and God got hold of their hearts, and they're coming into the kingdom.
But listen to what Jesus says next:
"For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him."
John came in the way of righteousness. His ministry was righteous. The spiritual leaders didn't believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. And even more: they saw the fruit. They saw revival break out in Israel. They saw salvation after salvation. They saw the outpouring of God's favor. With their own eyes, they saw it. And they still didn't repent.
This reveals the true nature of self-deception: it is so powerful that even when confronted with undeniable evidence, the self-deceived person refuses to change. They saw the fruit. They saw the Souls being saved. They saw revival explode in Israel. And it wasn't enough.
We need to stop being impressed with big shows of godliness. In America, it's easy for any fool with a microphone to create an audience. Not everybody with a title is from God. Every person calling themselves a prophet isn't from God. Every person calling themselves an apostle isn't from God.
We're so impressed with outward religious displays that we lack discernment. We worship men and walk past the old woman in the back who has enough anointing to pray down principalities and powers. We think someone isn't holy because they don't have a suit or because they have chains around their neck. We fix our eyes on external, lowercase-g godliness, and we don't have enough discernment to hear truth, to discern character, or to discern true anointing.
This is my plea to you: run from hypocrisy. Run from self-righteousness. If you're going to post, be about it. If you're going to sing, be about it. If you're going to preach, be about it. Let your words and your life match.
At this point in the message, I'm pleading with you: how long will we continue to post and not be about it? How long will we keep coming to church and not truly be about this? At what point does it stop being just a checkbox? At what point do we read the scriptures and find Christ, not just yourself? At what point do we stop listening to preachers and podcasts and actually become disciples?
Christ didn't die for us to live a phony, hypocritical, self-deceived life.
Which son are you? Are you the first son who heard the father, changed your mind, and spent your life in His vineyard bearing fruit? Or are you the second son—deceived by your external piety while your heart is far from God?
Which son do you want to be?
If you're under the sound of my voice right now, there are people who are that second son. You have heard the message before. You've been in church your whole life. You know scriptures. But you're still far away from God.
Today is the day of salvation. The gospel is this: You are a sinner separated from God. If you die in your sins, you will be eternally damned. You are not prepared to face what will happen if you die separated from God.
But the Lord, in His love for you, sent Jesus Christ. He died a sacrificial death for you. He already knew you belonged to Him before the foundation of the world.
Right now, in this moment, you don't even have to walk an aisle. The Spirit is strong enough to meet you right where you are, in your chair. You can talk to God in your heart. He can see your thoughts.
Just say: "God, I see it now. Today I repent of my sin. Today I surrender my life to You. I'm going to go. I'm going into that field. I'm going to give You all of my life and see what You do with it."
Surrender right now. He already knows those who are His. Your repentance is not magic. He already knows. Those tears He sees. Those hands raised—He sees them. He's catching those tears with both hands.
It's time. No more running. No more yes with disobedient feet. It's time to repent. It's time to throw yourself on the altar of God's mercy. Tell Him you're sorry. Surrender.
