Palm Sunday, the title is Preparing to Meet the King. Preparing to Meet the King. Now, we prepare for just about everything, don't we? Marriage, food preparation, retirement. But very few people prepare to meet the King. Now, for believers, that takes on a whole new dimension because the Bible does call us to be ready for the King, like a bride who's waiting for the groom. And there's a preparation process. Again, if you stumble, if you've fallen, if you're stuck in the mire of sin, you still get back up and you allow Christ to clean you and you keep moving forward. But what we're doing now with Palm Sunday, in case you're not familiar with it, I know many of you are, but this is the historical week where Jesus finished His three years of ministry. And he said, now I must go to Jerusalem. So he sets his face towards Jerusalem. And as he's entering the city, eventually, later that week, to be crucified, as he's entering in, the people they've seen of his miracles, they know who he is. And they begin to throw down palms. palm tree branches. And they begin to put their coats on the ground on the donkey. Like, what's all that about? Well, we're going to find out. And it's very significant for us. And it really begins in Luke 19. And I didn't have the whole passage there, but basically, Jesus' disciples retrieved a donkey. A donkey, really? Well, it was to fulfill Zechariah's words 500 years earlier. Zechariah was a prophet who wrote 500 years earlier. And they spread their clothes and the palm branches on the ground. And here's what Zechariah says, 500 years. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout, behold, your king is coming to you. He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding a donkey. Well, what's the symbolism? Riding a donkey rather than a war horse symbolizes humility and peace. Palm branches represent victory and rejoicing in their anticipation of Jesus as a King. So He came on this... Wasn't that so humble? Here's your Messiah. Here's your Savior. And I remind you often that He came humble, but He returns in vengeance. We forget about that part. And this verse you've heard me talk about a lot before, I want you to actually see it with your eyes. In Revelation, there's a point coming where He will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written and given to Him, King of kings and Lord of lords. And this is how he returns. And John actually is the one who wrote this. And he had this vision. He says, I saw heaven open. Can you imagine? And here comes Jesus with the armies of heaven. on His head were many crowns, and out of His mouth goes a sword that He will strike the nations, and He will rule those nations with a rod of iron." I think it's just a good reminder because so many people still, they have this image of Jesus, man, He was such a nice guy, good teacher, good code of ethics. That's how He came. But that's not how He's returning. Once that door is closed, that opportunity is over. And so Luke 19, verse 37, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, so it's descending down, the whole multitude of the disciples begin to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice. I guess it's okay to praise God with a loud voice from time to time. It's okay to get a little excited about God. I don't think that passage in Isaiah where the angels cried, holy, holy, holy. Holy, holy, holy is our God. I mean, the actual, the doorpost of the temple actually shook. Holy, holy, holy is our God. And I just, I get in these conversations a lot and people just say, well, that's just, you know, worship is, it's too, you express yourself too much. It's emotionalism. Well, I think it's biblical. God gave us emotions, and you can look at David and his musicians, and him being a musician, and just the excitement, and even before they go into battle, and just, probably the tambourine, I'm assuming, right? And the flute, and the harp, and just, if the musical instruments are gauged with the emotions, that's an appropriate response. And they're praising God. They're basically, here comes Jesus, and they're throwing these things down. They're recognizing that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. And here comes those good old Pharisees again. And some of the Pharisees said, teacher, rebuke your disciples. We still have worship rebukers today, don't we? Oh, there's a lot of them. They love to make YouTube videos and sit in their basement of their mom's house. I so want to name names, but I'm not going to do that. Some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "'Teacher, rebuke your disciples. Tell them to be quiet.' But He answered and said to them, "'I tell you that if these will keep silent, even the stones would immediately cry out.'" How powerful is that? And we could say the same thing today. We've got to praise God. It comes out because we know what He's brought us through. We know where we could have ended up. We know what He's doing. And we have to worship the Lord. Pray for those worship rebukers. The reason they don't like worship is because they've never experienced a powerful move of God. And I actually put this together this morning. I think it's a good time to remind us of this. Last week, you remember, I mentioned the greatest hindrance to not really experiencing God is your own satisfaction of being without Him. The greatest hindrance of you going deeper with God is you. Because we're satisfied. I don't want more of God. I'm good." And we often use Isaiah 64. Many of you know that's the Scripture reference for rend the heavens. Isaiah 64. Oh God, would You rend the heavens. And if you keep reading, it's kind of sad. Verse 7. Verse 7, God says, no one stirs himself up to take hold of Me. Look it up when you get home. 64.7 No one stirs himself up to lay hold of Me. Guys, you can't wait for your feelings. I don't feel like it. It doesn't matter. You have to stir yourself up to lay hold of God. Gene easily said this, we'll have church when God comes, but not until then. All of our religious activities mean nothing without His hallowed presence. The dilemma that brings us shame is that we have learned how to have church as usual, whether He is here or not. The week is full of activities. We know how to keep the programs going. We know how to play our part. The machinery continues to operate, but the mountains won't move until He comes. Now for you theologians out there, we know, as I often say, what do you mean, God? Where's He at? Like on Mars or something? What do you mean, comes? What are you talking about? Well, we know He's everywhere. He's at a Taylor Swift concert. He's at a Metallica reunion concert. He's at the Viper Room down there in Hollywood, or Whiskey a Go-Go. Right? He's everywhere. But is there a big difference between the atmosphere here and there? See, because he's everywhere, omnipresent, everywhere, but there's times where Even at church, of course He's there, but there's not the moving of His Spirit. There's not the hearing of His voice. There's not that where He's quickening and convicting and encouraging and the freedom there to worship Him and where He's moving in more powerful and profound ways. That's really what a living church is. And many churches aren't living, they're dead. People are coming for living food, living water, but they leave dry. because God's there in His omnipresence, but He's not there manifesting His presence. And I'm careful. I love being conservative. I love the Word. I love the truth. We don't want to get weird, and God's presence, but it's biblical. It's biblical. Joshua didn't want to leave the temple because he wanted to linger in the presence of God. The disciples in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell upon them, I think they experienced His presence. What we talked about last week, Moses said, I beseech you, I beg you. I beg you. What was Moses begging God? To show me Your glory. I think he was saying one more time, Lord, this is my second time on the mountain, and I've been up here, I'm fasting, I'm hungry, I'm losing weight. King James, beseech. I beseech You, O God, I beg You, show me Your glory. And church services where we're like, Lord, come down and rent the heavens. Isaiah knew God was everywhere. Why would he still pray, rend the heavens, come down? These guys had correct theology? Because guys, there's something powerful and significant when God begins to... He's like consuming fire. Spiritual water that we drink. has similarities to physical water, I should say. Physical water that we drink. I'm excited to tell you this point, that's why I'm confused here. So spiritual water has similarities to physical water. Remember the lady at the well, and Jesus said, I have water. I have something to satisfy you, where if you drink of this water, you will never thirst again. You see, truly thirsty people want one thing. I don't know about you. I might be a little selfish this morning. I might have to bear my heart with you this morning and I hope you don't think less of me. I really don't. I came here because God called me. Don't get me wrong. I put together the message because it's on my heart. But I came for really one reason. I'm hungry and I'm thirsty for more of God. I want to drink deeply of that well. I hunger and thirst for righteousness. Oh, God, satisfy. I'm parched, I'm thirsty, God, for more of you. That living water that Christ spoke of, those rivers of living water, that vibrant relationship, that passion as a deer that pants for that water. Oh, God, my soul pants for thee. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. I came here thirsty. I don't know about you. I don't want to play church. Do you want to play church? Let's get through the book and let's do this and gosh, I'm hungry. I'm out of here. Get through the motions. I'm glad we offer events and fellowship, and I'm glad we do all these things, but I'm thirsty for God. Our life must be a consuming passion for God. Habakkuk said, oh God, would you revive thy work? Isaiah said, oh God, rend the heavens. The psalmist said, oh God, would you not revive us again so we can rejoice in you? Why is worship so difficult? This is interesting. And I was about 630 this morning, I was looking over this, I'm praying. God, would You... I don't think I have the answer yet. Maybe I never will. But why is it so easy for people to get in the Word, but they're not worshipers? Have you noticed that? Some of the most critical hearts I've ever met spend time in the Word. Oh, but don't you dare challenge them to be worshipers. Brother, that's just emotionalism. Worship is my lifestyle. Why is it so easy? Sit down, read the Bible for an hour. Try to come to morning worship for an hour. Oh, all hell breaks loose. I mean, we really don't have challenges. Some people do, but it's easy to open the Word, but it's hard to worship. And the only thing I can really think of is because I'm reading the Bible. I'm reading the Bible. I have intellectual knowledge. That makes sense. But I'm not applying what I'm reading. And it's easy to do that. Because I can fool God when I'm reading. Oh yeah, boy, I need to do that. Husbands, love your wife. Yeah, that's a good one. Yeah, look at this historical context of Luke and Matthew and the synoptic Gospels. Man, this is an incredible plan here. And they lay it out on the Romans' road. And like, okay, next week. And just reading, which is good. We have to. But when you have to worship, that's where the rubber... You cannot play games with God in worship. There might be some fake ones out there. I don't know. But when you go deep with God in worship, that's where the heart is revealed. We can stay hidden just reading the Word. And I'm only saying this too because any time I've talked to, you can only imagine, the amount of people I've talked to about this topic, and people get upset at the church, or whatever it is, and my stance, or whatever it is, but every single Christian who's in the Word a lot, knows a lot, they get offended when I talk about worship as if they're not doing it enough, or as if they're being challenged by it. The critical hearts, the hard hearts, It's kind of confusing, because they're in the Word, they love the Word, but boy, you dare challenge them to worship. There's something amiss, something off in there. And when it comes to worship, we have to come with the spirit of expectation. Expectation. I love that story where Elijah saw that little cloud. Remember, it says, it's the size of my fist. I can see a cloud, but I know it's going to bring an abundance of rain. Folks, we need to slow down enough to weep and to worship. We need to slow down enough to weep and to worship. Blessed are those who mourn. And there's something dynamic that takes place, I believe, when we begin to Mourn over the condition of our nation. Mourn over the condition of churches and our families. If it doesn't break your heart, that's how you get near to the heart of God. You allow those same things to break you and ultimately humble you because it shows a spirit of compassion, does it not? Are you a worship rebuker like the Pharisees? And I've heard it too. Shane, worship's more for women. Boy, you've got a problem with that one theologically. Sounds like you have an excuse. Worship is actually for warriors. Is it not? People are so excited to go and buy that next weapon and fill their gun safe. But the best thing you can do for your family is this, is worship and worship and worship. That's how you become a better leader. That's how you guard your family and guide your family. That's how you put on the full armor of God. It's for women. That's just an excuse. because your heart has grown dry and callous and cold. Oh, we have to say like David, one thing have I desired. One thing have I desired that I may stand in the courts of the Lord all the days of my life. One thing have I desired. Do you think he was talking about just going outside of a tent and standing there? Of course not. His pursuit. His life goal. It's basically God's presence. God's anointing. Knowing you're loved by God in the filling of the Holy Spirit. It's so important. Let me tell you, if that's not your one and greatest desire, something else will creep in there and take center stage. God was never designed to be on the back burner. You ever put stuff on the back burner? You know, the rice is done, but you've got to keep it heated up a little bit longer. You've got that steak on the front burner. Yes, you need to work. You need to do everything you're doing. But the one thing have you desired is to seek God. And then you live accordingly. Worship rebukers still exist today. Isn't it sad? Now what happened after Jesus rode in to Jerusalem? The next thing He did is something a lot of people can't quite understand. Some can, of course, but you go from this incredible time of just joy, and here He comes. The Messiah is here. and the people are excited, but then it goes right into Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. Welcome to ministry 101. This I have not mastered yet. Joy with sadness. Rejoicing with mourning. Get used to it now. Because we want to live on an emotional high all the time, don't we? Joy. We heard of family restored. The kids get daddy back. And then we hear of another one falling apart. A baby's born, you celebrate. And then somebody else loses a child. But this sadness was profound. Can you imagine Jesus' wept? And what happened as He drew near to the city. Verse 41 of Luke. So here He's coming to the city. And He saw the city. He wept over it saying, if you had known, even you, especially in this your day..." In other words, I'm here. We don't have an excuse. Can you imagine? Them? Here's all the prophecies I've fulfilled. Read Zechariah. Look, you see the healings. You see the character, the nature of God. And that's why a lot of people did believe, but pride prevented others from not believing. The things that make for your peace. If you had known your Messiah was here, this is what makes for your peace. And that's why I want to remind you there is only one path to peace. There's only one path to peace. Do you ever see the news outlets? Such-and-such president is meeting with such-and-such, and a path to peace. We'll never have peace. We'll never have peace. You'll never have peace in your heart unless your heart is right with the One who created you. Isn't that where true peace comes from? Because when I'm separated from God, there's seasons of peace. You get that brand new car and that wears off for about a week later. You meet someone, oh, I'm so happy, and then give it six months. There's temporary peace, but nothing lasting to fulfill that void in the human heart because our relationship with God is disconnected. And Jesus said, but these things are hidden from your eyes. They just don't see it. And that's sad with pride and people rejecting God. They just can't see it because we have spiritual eyes as well. The natural man does not understand the things of the Spirit. Not some weird Oprah Winfrey New Age thing. But you know when you came to know the Lord and those scales fell off, boy, I didn't realize how much of a jerk I was. I didn't realize I was so depraved. And those scales fall off and now you see with spiritual clarity. For the days will come upon you. Jesus sees about what are we here? Let's just say 33 A.D. He sees almost four decades later into the future when all of Jerusalem is going to be surrounded in A.D. 70, it actually took a couple years, by the Roman general Titus. And he decimated Jerusalem. They estimate a million people lost their lives. Little children thrown against the walls. Rome decimated Israel. Even secular history, it's a known fact. And He said, your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you, and close in on you on every side, and they will level you and your children within you to the ground. And they will not leave you one stone upon another. because you did not know the time of your visitation." It doesn't say they could not know. Did you notice that? It doesn't say they could not know. They did not know. They did not perceive. Many of them did, but most of them did not repent and believe. The price of disobedience affects everything and it affects others. Think about the disobedience of the parents and how it affected their little ones. Oh guys, gals, that should cause all of us to sit up straight and look at our own lives. There are ripple effects to sin. Obedience is better than a hundred sermons. I want to put that up every Sunday. Oh, let's come and hear the sermon. Let's come and hear the sermon. Obedience is better than a hundred sermons. I would add ten thousand sermons. And like Jesus, we too must weep over sin. We must weep over sin. Now what's interesting, in Luke, if we're following along, Jesus actually taught the narrow way on the way to Jerusalem. He taught about the narrow way on His way there, and He said this, He went through the cities and villages, again, this is on His way to Jerusalem, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. So what a question here. Then someone said to Him, Lord, are there few who are saved? Now remember, they thought salvation was for the wealthy, and Jesus had to clarify that. But He's asking, are there few who are saved? And He said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Now, don't let that word fool you. That word, the verb, strive, conveys the idea of engaging in a struggle, often with a sense of intense effort. So we don't earn salvation. Correct? I hope you guys know that by now. It's not like I don't believe in God, but man, I'm striving, and I'm earning, and I'm working, and I've got all these good works, and boy, this is difficult. The Greek word is something like agonismo. It's where we get our word agonize from. And so it has nothing to do with doing works, but everything to do with the battle within. The flesh, the carnal mind is at war with God. How a person is thinking, where their flesh is leading them, how the enemy is sidetracking them and detouring them, that is a very strong desire to reject God, largely because of pride. If it was a God to where you could do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, to whoever you wanted, everybody liked that God. But the flesh hates God. It's at war with God. But then Jesus said, repent. Repent of that wrong heart, that wrong attitude. Repent and believe that you need salvation. Believe that I died for your sin. So in that process, Isn't it difficult? That pull of the flesh and the desire to repent and believe, and of course, you can get really deep into God's sovereignty, man's responsibility, and the Calvinism debate and Arminianism debate, and you know what? I've come to the point where it's like, well, the Bible teaches both. God is sovereign, but He calls men to repent and believe. I'm going to let Him sort it out. I'm just a simple country preacher. I'm not going to get too deep into how these things work. If God says it, if He commands it, if He tells you to repent and believe, But when people hear that, they get upset, don't they? You ever hear those guys interviewing people at the college campuses? Or trying to do things, or trying to debate, or trying to... When you bring the light out, they hate the light. Well, there's that struggle within. They hate it. They have to fight against that impulse and repent and believe, and somehow, I mean, we know that faith is a gift of God, and we know that the Holy Spirit convicts, and the convicting work of the Spirit convinces them to repent and believe. So he said, strive to enter through that narrow gate. It's a very narrow gate. Because when the master of the house has risen up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock at the door. Hey, I'm ready now. I'm ready now. What do you think the odds would be? if it were possible for God to have everyone in eternal darkness, separated from Him, there now, if He gave them the opportunity to open the door again. I don't know. Some say, oh no, they hate God. But I don't know. Remember in Lazarus' bosom, the rich man said, oh, just go tell my brothers this is terrible. Go tell my family this is terrible. Once that door is shut, it's just like Noah. Do you realize once God closed that door, you don't think there may be people outside floating in little boats? that they made or pieces of wood. Well, I don't know, maybe they didn't have a lot of water. Let's see. Well, let's assume that many of them will be knocking, screaming, let us in. But He will answer and say to you, I do not know you. Where are you from? Then you'll begin to say, we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. What do you mean you don't know us? If you've been coming here a while, you've heard me talk about this before. He's not denying knowing who they are as a person. He's saying, I don't have a relationship with you. That word know is like an intimate word where there's a relationship. You are my Messiah. You are the Christ. You are the Son of God. I've repented of my sin. I know you. where the other person only knows about Jesus. Can you imagine that? To me, I can imagine people saying, I heard Shane on the radio. I went to Sunday sometimes. I listened. I heard. I went to a Christian school when I was young. I want a Bible. I went to that Easter play, God, come on! I don't have a relationship with You. Always remember this. Familiarity, being familiar with something, doesn't always equate to freedom. People are still bound to their sin just because they're familiar with God. And insight does not lead to salvation. If insight led to salvation, a lot of people would be saved. Because they have insight. You've talked to them. Oh, well, Shane, clearly, there's a man upstairs. I mean, I'm not stupid. Look at how the earth is just perfectly set for life and all this creation. I mean, of course, I can't believe there isn't some type of higher being. However, that insight doesn't lead to salvation. You've got to say, higher being, I acknowledge You as God, Sovereign Lord, King of kings. I can't help myself. I have to repent and I have to believe. And if you're saying, man, this is heavy. Heavy. Guess what? The door's still open. The door's still open. Isn't that amazing? The door is still open. But Jesus will say, I tell you, I don't know you. Where are you from? Now what's interesting, He doesn't keep having a dialogue. Because people think, when I get to heaven, I'll show God all my good works. When I get to heaven, we're going to have a face-to-face. We're going to talk about some things. I didn't understand why He took my mom when I was six. I don't understand this. No, you're not going to have a conversation. Depart from Me. Depart from Me. In other words, leave My presence. You are a worker of iniquity. We still sin as believers, but we repent and we get right with God. This type of person lives in their iniquity. I mean, that's who they are. The cleansing blood of Jesus Christ has not saved them and set them free. Well, what's it going to be like? There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And he's talking to the disciples or others in the area. They know exactly what he's saying. you will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourself will be thrust out." In other words, you're right. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, these men of God, Abram actually says, and Abram believed in God, and God counted it to him as righteousness. We believe in the Old Testament that there was kind of like a holding cell waiting for Christ to come. He wasn't even born yet. Abram, what, 1,500, 2,000 years before? And so there's this place, but they believed. They believed in God, looking forward, the Bible says, to the promise. But we... Look back on that promise. And a decision has to be made. Maybe for some of you this morning, I've been using that word a lot, you need to fully surrender. God has about this much of your life, of your heart. That's why you're miserable. That's why there's no joy. Because God needs everything. He's an all-consuming fire. So Shane, you've perfectly given God your whole life. I mean, fully surrendered. No, I've not fully surrendered 1,100%. Walk around, hey, here's how you do it. I've mastered it. I haven't sinned. Gosh, what year was that? Do you remember? 2005 or so? What? Yeah, 25. 2025. Thanks, Rick. But see, it's not, people, oh, I gotta give, and you, Lord, my finances, my marriage, for some of you, my sexuality. Don't be ashamed because you struggle with something that might be embarrassing. We all struggle with something. Anybody struggle with insecurity? Hello? So God says, I'm gonna put you up on the stage. Oh, thank you very much. Thank you very much. Right, my mom even says, I was a little boy, because I was raised, my brother went a whole different direction. But the angry house, anybody ever lived in an angry house? I didn't know if my dad was coming home in a good mood, or if all hell was going to break loose, and things were going to go flying. And so because of that, I did the opposite. I kind of hid in my room. Or I kind of just became that. I still don't like confrontation sometimes. But I became that, and then wonder what people think of me. Wanting to be liked. And so that's because you're shaped a certain way. That was my predisposition. And that's why when I came back to the Lord, people said, oh, man, you're going to be a great motivational speaker. I'm like, I think God had other plans. Not Joel Stein, Shane Heidelman. Right? Because it's a different... But so struggling with that. What does that look like? Maybe it's hard to sometimes run into people. I don't like conflict. Somebody's upset. And so you struggle with these things, but you give them to the Lord. Lord, I fully surrender my finances. But is it hard to tithe each month? Dang, really? Can I miss this month? Next month? Anybody fully surrender? Lord, help me with this. So it's a process. But see, it's a journey of laying it down again and laying it down again and laying it down again. Fully surrendering. And we know if there's one area we don't want to give God, and often it's that area we're convicted about. But I'll let Him deal with you on that. I'm not going to go down the list. We've done that before. So knowing all this, let's do a quick self-assessment and we will be done. Time for a self-assessment. The King is here. Do you know Him? Do you know Him? We're talking about preparing, right? I remember reading it I think for the first time, You know when you get goosebumps? The word used to do that a lot in my younger years. I'm like, this is in the Bible? Wow. But it said, prepare to meet thy Maker, O Israel. I think it was Hosea maybe or Malachi. Prepare to meet your Maker. Oh, that's where that comes from. I've heard it on TV programs. But God is saying, can you imagine God saying prepare to meet your Maker? And it does put some onus back on the person. Do I need to make changes in my life? Am I truly prepared to meet the Son of God? Or maybe a person who doesn't know Him yet. Prepare. Look at all the opportunities. The Word of God is there. And we can read the word. The preaching is there that will convict. and something that's far greater than anything else. It's actually a gift. It really is. Can you imagine if God left us to our own devices? But the Holy Spirit is actually given to convict. So even in rebellion against God, can you imagine? It's hard to comprehend, because a person would say they're in rebellion against God, and I know some people don't hate God, but there are some people who hate God. They're so mad at God, even though He supposedly doesn't exist. And they're just so mad, they're rejecting, they're blaspheming, look at all the satanic things coming out, yet He still convicts. with the Holy Spirit. Drawing them. Drawing them. Nobody comes to the Son unless the Father draws them. Strong concordance and exhaustive concordance says it's a divine impulse. And God is still wooing. So there's literally no excuse. So I want you to think about this morning. Where are you at with your Maker? If you don't know Him, this is the day, Palm Sunday, to get ready for that glorious weekend next weekend, Easter. And the Bible's clear. It just says repent and believe. Why those two? What about, Lord, I believe in a God. I believe You. I believe there's a God. But I'm not repenting of my sin? That's why it takes both. I acknowledge that I'm in rebellion against you. I acknowledge it. I'm in sin. I can't cleanse myself. And I repent. I acknowledge that. I see this the way you see it. And I believe that you have given me a sacrifice, a way out, Jesus, to take that wrath that would be on me. I repent and I believe. That's it. That's it. Aren't you so glad it doesn't say you've got to bring $10,000 next week? You've got to fast for 40 days and nights. Just repent and believe. And that's why we're going into communion. That's why we do this once a month. Or sometimes more, but it's to remember. I don't know about you, but I have to go back and remember sometimes. That's why I love some of those worship songs. That one about evidence. I see the evidence all over my life. All over my life. Maybe I'll try to sing now. I'll leave it up to Maddie, no pressure. But don't you see, I see the evidence all over my life. All over my life. Lord, You're a good, good God. C.C. Wyans, I think is her name. It's like the goodness of God. And that's one good thing about worship is it brings you back. Some of you need to remember. You need to go back. Remember that time when that relationship was precious. When you loved your Savior. You told people about Him. And over the years, you've grown dry and dull and dead. You can reignite that passion during communion. But I love these words. I just want you to listen. It's not up on the screen. Jesus said this, when evening came, He's getting ready to go to the cross. He was reclining with the twelve, and they were eating, and He said this to them, truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me. And I thought, I wonder, maybe it's a question for you, are you closer to Judas this morning or Jesus? Oh, Shane, that's pretty strong. It's actually true. If you don't know God, you're closer to Judas Iscariot than you are to Jesus. One of you will betray Me. and they were deeply grieved, and they began to ask Him one after another, Lord, not I. Surely, God, not I. Can you imagine the confusion in their hearts? Lord, I don't want to be that person. I don't want to be that person. And Jesus says, the one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me, he will betray Me. The Son of Man will go basically to the cross, just as it's written, but woe be to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for Him if He had never been born. And I don't think Judas said anything the first time, but this time the Bible says, then Judas, who would betray Him, said this, surely not I. I can make a whole sermon out of this and call it the tell of two Shirleys. One group said, Shirley, not I. Jesus said, Shirley, not I. What's the difference? The heart. This was a hypocrite caught in deception. And you know, Shirley, not I. Right? His words were deceptive. The other disciples were genuine. And He said, you said it yourself. Now while they were eating, Jesus took bread. He spoke a blessing and broke it and gave it to the disciples saying, take and eat. This is My body. And remember when He said this before, many of His disciples stopped following Him. Like, ooh, this is a hard saying. And then he explained it, spiritual, spiritual essence here. We're not cannibalism. What does it mean? It's to partake. Because remember, the life, the life of the food, especially more back then, not now, it's a lot of dead food. But the life of the food, do you know that's one of the points of food? The life of it, the phytochemicals, the enzymes, the fiber, the pectin, the nutrients, the minerals, that life gives life to the body. It sustains, it reenergizes. Taking that food in. So he said basically the same thing here. This is my body, take and eat. Let that life give you life, that spiritual life. the body that was broken and bruised. And then He gave the cup and He said, drink, drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. When we drink of the cup, meaning Christ's sacrifice on the cross, it doesn't mean a physical cup, it's taking in, it's embracing. we avoid God's wrath being poured out on us. I mean, you can look at Jeremiah, the wrath of his indignation being poured out. I think Isaiah as well. One was dealing with the nations, one was dealing with Jerusalem. God's wrath being poured out. And that's why we're coming up next week and when Jesus, on that cross, that incredible time, where it said, my God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why have You left me? It was that time that He absorbed, took in the wrath of God being poured out. Because the penalty of sin is death. The wages of sin is death. And somehow He was able to absorb all the sin all the sin on the cross. And now because of that, we can remember what He did for us. So make sure your heart is right. Basically, Jesus drank, so you don't have to. He drank of God's wrath, so you don't have to.