But first, I just want to thank the Lord for everything. He's been truly a blessing to me. I know that I know I don't deserve to be here right now, but I'm thankful that the Lord has given me a good opportunity to be here. But if you will turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4. And also the Lord laid a song on my heart that I will also be singing. So extra, extra please pray for me on that because I don't know how that's going to go. If my voice takes a toll, then just shake your head, thumbs up. That's all you got to do. Excuse me. But the title of my message is, Never Too Broken to Belong. And this is a title of a song, but I wanted to use this for my message. And it's really been my heart for the song. And I kind of put it together. I really hope it'd be a blessing to you. Go ahead and verse 18 is where we're going to get started. Matthew chapter 4, verse 18. And it says, And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed him. And they didn't dilly-dally, they're just like, all right, let's do it. In verse 21, and going, sorry, I gotta move this out of the way, it's messing with me. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, in a ship with Zebedee, their father, mending their nets, and he called them, And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him. So I mentioned a few of the disciples that went and followed Jesus. We'll also mention a few more, but just not all of them for the moment. Verse 23, if you follow me with that, says, And Jesus went about to Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments and those which were possessed with devils and those which were lunatic and those that had the palsy. and he healed them. I want to stop right there for a moment. This kind of like stood out to me a little bit where that part where it says that his fame went throughout, Jesus wasn't in for the fame. He wasn't wanting to be like, look at me, look at me. He was like, look what my father's doing. And he's about his father's business. But if you think about it for a second, the reason the title I put that there is I'm sure those people with diseases, they didn't belong anywhere. I'm sure the one, I know for a fact, they didn't belong anywhere. People were avoiding, hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, like, don't come near me, you're unclean, like, don't. And not only that, but those with a palsy, they couldn't hang out with other people. They couldn't enjoy being around, maybe standing or being able to have a good time or whatever. And then those that were possessed with devils. I'm not gonna lie, when I see someone that I don't know what's going on, that they're demon possessed, whatever, I choose to not be around them because They might jump at me, they might try to kill me or whatever, I'm just gonna run. But some of these people do not belong anywhere. And they're probably so broken that they have no hope. They're like, I don't know what I can do. There's no way out of this. I am never gonna be free of this change or this sickness. But when Jesus passed by their way, it says in that last very part of the verse, and he healed them. And that, to me, is where I really want to try to get into real quick. If you turn your Bibles to the same chapter, Matthew chapter 9, we're going to look at verse 9 through 13. And what I want to try to say is that I've been in a place where, you know, growing up in a Christian home, A lot of times people use the phrase, oh, you're a preacher's kid. Boy, you're perfect. I'm like, no, I'm not perfect. I've heard that so many times. And I'm like, I'm not perfect. I never will be. I promise you on that. And I've heard it so many times. But the hard thing was is that my brother, he's an outgoing person. I don't know what he does, but he's so easy to get along with. He has that character that everybody just thinks he's cool and all that. When I was in the homeschool group, I looked around and see, man, that guy's pretty cool. I want to be just like him, put on shades, walk by Kim and say, what's up, bro? I'm a fool of myself. Oh, I tell you what. I wasn't cool. I couldn't fit in. I didn't belong with them pretty much. When I was in my teens, I wanted to hang out with those cool kids. Maybe it seemed like I was cool. I never really got to that place where I kind of felt like I fit in. It was hard, because playing sports and stuff, I thought to myself, if I play more sports, if I get better at what I'm doing, I might be cool. And I might fit in. Everybody will say, call my name, Jerry, you're awesome, and stuff. But I might be good at sports, but I'm just, I guess some people think I'm weird, so they kind of avoid me on purpose, maybe. I don't know. But it's kind of like, I just wasn't able to fit in and belong with those people. And the thing about it is, I've never had ability where I walk. I had a palsy, I was demon possessed, any of that. I have never been in that position where none of them could belong anywhere. I was able to be able to have a good physical body, be able to worship Christ, and be able to do things for God. But yet the thing is, some of these people that were filled with diseases or whatever, they choose to still praise God. They choose to do that. And even in this world, They may not belong anywhere, but in the family of God, they do belong in the family of God. If you follow me real quick to Matthew, chapter nine, verse nine, it says, And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom. And he said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat and meet in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And verse 11, and when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, why eateth your master with publicans and sinners? And when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, they that behold need no physician, but they that are sick. but go ye and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy and not sacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And that's the thing, this world today, nobody is wanting to repent anymore these days. You see people, oh, Jesus accepts me for who I am, even if I'm full of demons, or if I'm a drug addict, I'm always going to jail and stuff, abusing my family. Jesus accepts me for who I am. Well, actually, He will never accept your sin. He loves you, that person, even though you're a sinner, He loves you, but not the sin. And it seems like that repentance, that God is is chasing after to see people to turn away from their wicked ways to see if they truly are following after the Lord. And the Pharisees did not like it. They saw, oh, we're judging right now. We're judging Jesus. He's eaten with them publicans and sinners. And guess what? Jesus is making them feel like they belong too. He's going out and over and beyond to those publicans, those that are tax collectors. And when it says sinners, it doesn't mean like a certain type of sin. It means all, like every sinner. I'm a sinner, but I'm saved by grace, and I'm thankful for that. one of the part where it says, I'm not come to call the righteous. If you think about it, it seems like this world has a circle around who they think is who you call friends. Rich people, those with limousines, those with all these kind of crazy rich things, and if you're famous, oh I forgot, you're famous, you're in that bubble too. But anybody that is poor, that, you know, is not cool or anything like that, it's just outside that bubble. I'm so glad that there, I feel like there's no really, like, you know, circle around certain type of Christians or certain type of people. God calls for all those to repent. He goes after them, those that are sinners that will repent. And I'm thankful that God didn't look at me and say, you know what, Jared? You're okay, guy, even though I created you, but you're not gonna do, you don't belong here. You're not with me on this. So I'm just gonna move you to the side. I'm so thankful. I'm so thankful that he didn't leave me where I was. He saved me by his grace, and I'm so thankful that. I have a lot of verses, but it's going pretty fast, but sometimes that might be a good thing, right? I got a couple more hours for you guys. Luke chapter 5 Luke chapter 5 Luke chapter 5 verse 27 through 32 so As you can tell, there have been a few of the disciples that are fishermen and a few that are tax collectors. And you think that, well, being a fisherman, you can get dirty sometimes. You seem like you had to mess with the fish guts and all. Well, I don't want to go any further with that, but when it comes to tax collectors, they're like, they're pretty powerful, if you know what I mean. Zach Keaton was a powerful man. He'll go up to a Two big dudes say, give me your money. No, not like that. But when it comes to that part, it's a very important job in their position. And as a fisherman, they had to bring in the fish too. Jesus comes up, he's like, hey guys, come and follow me. And they followed him, just like that. So you're telling me that a fisherman, like someone that does that work and stuff, would follow Jesus. Even though they may not fit in with the world or belong anywhere, but he knew that they're going to do something. He knew that they're going to do something for God, and that they're going to cast out demons. They're going to do more than some of us. And not just the fishermen, but the tax collectors as well. So when they said, you know what? I'm going to put away what I've been doing. I'm going to put away. I'm gonna follow Jesus. I have faith that this is the Messiah. I have faith in him. Getting sidetracked, my brain likes to do that all the time. It's a good thing I don't chase rabbit trails a lot. I do sometimes, but not a lot. Verse 27 of Luke chapter five says, and after these things, he went forth and saw a publican named Levi sitting in the receipt of custom, and he said unto him, follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And it does say that he had to carry some stuff. He said he left all. And I feel like that, I don't know what the Lord just gave me this, but when it comes to repenting, that means leaving it all. I'm not picking anything up. I'm leaving everything I have behind, and I'm following Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Sometimes it's good when the Lord gives you stuff. I tell you what, if it was me, y'all would have been like, nah, Jared, get out of here. No, I'm just kidding. But I'm so thankful that Levi, it shows us too that Levi wasn't the kind of guy that's like, really? Jesus, I mean, I'm sure you're cool and all. I'm sure you're a fine dude, but I have a lot to take care of right now. I have a lot to do right now. And I have a very important job. So you want me to leave everything? He wasn't like that. He left all and he followed Jesus. And that's pretty cool. And verse 29, and Levi made him a great feast in his own house. And there was a great company of publicans and others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? Question mark. And Jesus answered and said unto them, they that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. So that's very similar. And I know in different of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, there are different ways they bring things up in the Bible. But when it comes to Jesus, You know, going over and beyond, not just for those that are rich, those who are famous, whatever, those that need a physician. And he is the great physician. And I'm thankful that he didn't look at those certain centers and, well, you're beyond repair. I can't help you. He didn't say that. I'm so thankful that he healed the sick back in the other verses. But y'all don't have to turn here, but I did bring this out. And I was thinking about this for a second. My message from last Wednesday, I was preaching in a youth service, and the first two verses, I was thinking about this for a second, and it says, Luke 15, verse one and two, then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners, excuse me, for to hear him, publicans and sinners, just like the other chapters. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, this man receiveth sinners, and any with them. So a lot of these Pharisees and scribes love to murmur and complain all the time. Because when you know that God's doing something, It's gonna be right there. It's gonna be right there to criticize. And it's crazy to sound, it sounds where you being a believer, a child of God, you're like, man, life is good. God is right here. God gave me a raise. God gave me a new car. You know, God helped me financially. God healed me from the sickness. I'm sure we can go on about it. But it seems the devil's right there on your doorstep. Hey, hey, Jared, Jason, Brian, hey, I got something for you, and the devil's waiting for something. He's planting traps out, just waiting for you to get your mind off of God. And that's exactly what these Pharisees and scribes were doing. They're murmuring about everything. And the thing is, I'm so glad that Jesus doesn't, you know, just like, you know what, you're right guys, I shouldn't even be here. But knowing that Jesus didn't care what they were saying. He knew exactly what they were going to say, even in their thoughts. But Jesus was like, you know, Hold on a second. I'm dining with the Republicans and Senators. I'm dining and I'm eating with them because they matter too. I understand their thoughts. I understand their heart. I know what they're going through. And the thing is, so many people are in their bubble, in their own world, trying to be all about, maybe all about these certain things, about what they're taught, or what is exactly, it's got to be exactly like this. But I know the Word was made flesh, which is Jesus. And He walked on the earth the same as we do now, but without sin. So many people are following religion and not following Jesus. And I've seen so many Christians, so many people that I've known, so much about their standards or how they're taught, whatever, and then when they look for themselves, like, you know what, I don't really want this anymore. It's just, everything's the same. Everything's about do's and don'ts, and their heart's not there, they're not saved, or they're just far from God, and they walk away from Him. And they get away from, you know, they don't want to repent. They don't want to bring up their past. They don't want to bring up their past mistakes, their sin. But I've seen so many people that are okay with their sins. Not just those that are lost, but even Christians too. They're okay with, you know what God, I mean, it's okay. this in my heart, you know. I mean, I want to be able to, I want to be able to chase after my dream. I want to be able to get that new car, that new job. Well, just saying, if you get that job, how's your schedule going to look like? Well, I'm just going to, I'll be working on Sundays. Oh boy, guess what? The more you get, you know, the more you get away from God, the less you'll see that your sins is what's weighing, your sins is what's pulling you back. And this last part, if you want to turn to John chapter 15. I pretty much skimmed through it. I don't know. Got a little faster than I thought. But I don't know what you guys are going through. I do know going through sickness and going through cancer treatments, going through surgery, even death. The world can only tell you and pat on your back and say, it's okay, I'm here for you. If you need anything, I got some money, I can get you food, I'm here for you. But we as Christians, we have something that's far more better. We can say I'm praying for you, the Lord knows. There's a place called heaven that that a child believer said, we'll see him again. We know where they're at. We'll see him again. And have that blessed hope and that wonderful news called the gospel that we may be bound here on this earth for a moment. But God, I'm so thankful that even though we may be in a place of brokenness, I love that title, Never Too Broken. You're never so far down and broken and beaten up to where you can't look to God and say, God, I need you. And then God's like, well, I don't know, and just walk away from you. As long as you have breath and strength left in your body. There is hope. There's always, there's, and I've heard this many times before in movies, there's always hope, there's always hope, but their hope is not in the Lord. Their hope is in themselves or in other things. But, excuse me, John 15, if you look at verse 15 real quick, I'll try to push on. Got a few more minutes left, praise the Lord. Amen. Well, I was gonna say another hour, but I said nah. Verse 15, if you read with me as well. Henceforth, I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth, but I have called you friends. For all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Man, this is kidding me. Sorry, excuse me. And it ordains you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. Give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. And the thing is, is that people say so many times that Jesus doesn't love me, God doesn't love me. This verse proves it all. It says, I call you friends. I call you friends. And he says, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Jesus loves us so much that my dad used the verse John 3, 16 last Sunday. That right there in itself, you can get saved off just one verse. And I believe with my whole heart as well. I love that verse. And the sad thing is so many people are okay with being just broken. I'm okay with being broken. and being in my sins. I don't need repentance. I'm okay if I put my life in somebody's hands. Guess what? They're going to bury my heart too. If I put my hand in or my heart in this or that, I'm just going to be broken. Might as well don't even try anymore. There are so many people that are so bad themselves is that they're missing the truth. The truth is right here and I'm so thankful that the Lord loves me and I wanna sing a song that, y'all can go ahead and put those earplugs in if y'all have any. But, let's see. And it's that same title I use, it's Never Too Broken To Belong. And Pray For Me, my throat's not, it's like in and out, so I'm just kinda all over the place. But hopefully I remember the tune. The door is open, come on in as you are. All you need to bring are remains of your heart. I see the years of fear, the pain on your face. But take a step, enter in. You are safe in this place. You're never too broken to belong. Never too wounded, never too far gone. Here you find Jesus, you'll find your home. You're never too broken to belong. Come find the perfect love that no one deserves. A peace so sweet it can't be put into words. And grace that's greater than the darkest of sin. Taste and see, take a step, let the healing begin. You're never too broken to be lost. Never too wounded, never too far gone. Here you find Jesus, find your home. You're never too broken to belong. We too, sorry, we too were wounded and defeated. So we know how you feel. But the wounds of our Redeemer we believe, and we were healed. You're never too broken to be long. Never too wounded, never too far gone. Here you find Jesus and find your home. You're never too broken to be long. So it wasn't the exact tune, but I get over the fear of singing sometimes. I'm just kind of, get out there. But what I was saying about these verses, that when I was, you know, listening to it and praying about it, the Gold City Sings, if you want to look it up, they do a whole lot better than I know of. But it's a huge blessing. But reading these verses, And he said, you can be able to find this perfect love that no one deserves, but it's here. And that peace that's so sweet, it can't be put into words. And the grace that's greater than that darkest sin, the sin that can ruin your life, that sin that we were born with, the phatom. But yet, but God, who is rich in mercy. That's not in the verse. I'm just quoting some scripture. I don't know who's here, but I feel like there's people that need healing. I know there's people that need peace, that need something from the Lord. And I know the Lord, he knows what we're going through, he knows how far down we may be, but never too far gone. And I feel like Jesus is right here, one step away. He's right here. And so many people choose to say, I'm OK. I don't need repentance. I'm OK to be broken. I'm just going to stay broken. But there's hope that he's going to put those pieces together. He loves each and everybody here. He knows the burdens we share, we bear, sickness, health, all that. I know it's so challenging. It's painful. And I'm so thankful that I don't live this life alone. I'm so thankful I have a Savior that is willing to just go further than just, oh, we're just so close, but I can't, it's just too far. I'm so thankful that that bridge, the cross he had to lay his life on, to the cross and to shout, it is finished. That cross was a bridge to Him and I, to you guys and the Lord. He made a way, made a possible way that this world is still now forgetting, not just forgetting, but so blind that I don't see it. I don't believe Jesus. I believe it's all fiction. I think it's... Faith, there's no way about it. Why would a loving God send his only son to die for our sins? They choose to deny it, they laugh, they just make fun of it. They don't think it's for real. But to heart, to heart, I don't know what you guys are going through again, but I need some healing in my life too. I need some things patched up. Not just patched up, but I need the healing of God. Not just going out into the world and trying to patch those little things up. The world's not going to help you. Sorry to throw that out. It will never help you. But this Word is full of truth. It's full of grace. It's full of healing. You may not get flesh in the flesh, maybe. You're not going to be fully healed. Trust me, I'm hurting all the time. My back, my knee, and all that kind of stuff. It will never be gone just like that. I mean, that's the Lord's will. But in heaven it will be. But I feel like we need to choose to keep serving God. We need to choose to say, you know what, even in my darkest moments, even in my brokenness, you're still here. And I'm so thankful that I belong in the family of God.