Ep 412 | Sour Grapes - Jimmy Cating 8-29-21

Well, we've had a great day together.

Wonderful meal together. Thank you so much for the

hospitality. That was extended and we're so

thankful for this opportunity to worship together.

I do know the challenge that is ahead of me when the belly is

full. The eyelids are heavy, but I

would just ask that you bear with me for a few moments as we

consider sour grapes. Now this expression sour grapes

As we use it today originates from one of Aesop's, Fables, the

story is told of a cluster of grapes that was hanging

dangling, over a wall, just Out Of Reach of The Sly Fox and that

fox junk that he jumped and he just couldn't get to the grapes.

And finally, he gave up turns away in exasperation in and says

Those Grapes are just sour. Anyway, and we use the

Expression, sour grapes based upon the concept that someone is

bitter and angry because things didn't turn out the way they had

hoped. And so, when things don't turn

out the way you'd want, and you kind of respond and arrogantly

or rationally in differently, We say, oh, that's just sour

grapes. But the expression sour grapes

as we use, it is really not how we find it in the Bible that

expression. Sour grapes originated long,

long time ago with the people of God, using the expression over

2,500 years ago, the nation of Israel had gone into captivity

by the Assyrians over a hundred years later.

The Sensational Southern nation of Judah.

The kingdom of Judah would be taken into Babylonian captivity.

And God is going to send prophets to communicate to his

people. During this period of Babylonian

captivity one profit that we know.

Probably the best is the the prophet of Daniel.

The Prophet Daniel was sent to communicate to Babylon to

Nebuchadnezzar that even though you've got God's people, you

don't have God even though you may have control of Of Judah.

You do not have control of judah's God.

And so his prophecy is preaching was really directed to the

world. But there was also another

Prophet, a contemporary of Daniel.

So somewhat and his name is Ezekiel.

His message was not targeted so much to the people of the world

as it was to the people of God. And his message was to the, to

the Jews that you are in captivity because of sin.

And you're not going to get out very quickly, it's going to

last, and this captivity, of course did last for 70 years.

But they had an expression, the people of God in captivity, they

had this proverb, they would use it.

Made themselves feel better, and here's what it said.

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying this is Ezekiel.

What do you mean? When you use this proverb?

Concerning the land of Israel saying the fathers have eaten,

sour grapes. And the children's teeth are set

on edge. You see?

The Jews were throwing themselves, a pity party, they

were in captivity and they were beginning to look at their

circumstances. And that began to try to

rationalize and justify themselves.

And they were actually blaming their circumstances on something

that their fathers had done. We're being punished because of

what our forefathers did, our fathers have eaten sour grapes

and yet the children's Teeth are set on edge so they were in

their pity party, basically, saying, look at what has

happened to us, it's really not our fault. that then, Verse 3,

as I live, says, the Lord God. You shall no longer use this

proverb in Israel. God says to the children of

Israel through through Ezekiel, I want you to stop saying this,

I want you to stop using this proverb.

Behold, All Souls are mine verse for the soul of the father, as

well as the soul of the son is mine.

The soul who sins shall die. Now throughout this chapter,

we're going to find that he uses the terms live and die over and

over again. I personally believe he's

talking about spiritual. Living and spiritual die.

The reason, I believe that it is spiritual in nature is that all

are going to die. Physically, but the soul who

sins will die. Spiritually.

But, regardless of how you interpret the concept and the

nature of death, The principle is the same.

That God is saying that you are going to be responsible and you

cannot, you cannot judge your situation based upon your father

Therefore your father's actions, your father's attitudes.

But ultimately yes, his soul is mine, your soul is mine and the

Soul who sins shall die. There's actually as we go

through this chapter, we're going to see five illustrations

that he is going to use and utilize to point out two

critical lessons. And I want to share those with

you for just a few moments and the lesson will be yours as we

go through Ezekiel 18. We usually focus on one or two

verses but when we look at the whole chapter we see there's a

critical Point being made that's going to illustrate some

application even for us today. The first thing we're going to

see in this illustration of five is he's going to point out a man

who does what is right. We're going to call him the

righteous man. And we know that is a righteous

man because the Bible refers to him as such if a man is just and

does what is lawful and right? What does he do verse 9?

If he has walked in my statutes and kept my judgments

Faithfully, he is just he shall surely live, says the Lord God.

Now, here's a man that's going to live.

Why is he going to live? Because he does.

What is right? He is a righteous man because he

considers What God Says and he listens and he obeys God's word.

And he does what is right in the sight of God.

He is going to live. Now, let me ask you, what kind

of a son do you suppose? A man like this is going to

produce Now if you're like me naturally, we are inclined to

think that a righteous man who obeys God and loves.

God is going to teach his son that he should obey God and

love. Love God.

And he most certainly does but just because he does, doesn't

mean that his son is actually going to follow in his footsteps

and so the next illustration is going to be of an unrighteous

son. As we see here in verses 10

through 13, Ezekiel says, if he that is the righteous man

bhagat's a son, who is a robber or a shedder of blood who does

any of these things and does none of those duties.

But has eaten on the mountains or defiled, his neighbor's wife.

This is a rotten, man. He is an ungodly man.

He is not. Obviously, considering the way.

Eyes Of God if he has oppressed the poor and needy robbed by

violence. Here's a violent man.

He's a he's got a righteous father but he is a violent son.

Not restored the pledge, lifted, his eyes to the idols or

committed Abomination, if he isn't exactly Usery and and take

an increase, shall he then live? He shall not.

Live. If he has done any of these

Abominations, he shall surely die.

And here's, here's the kicker. His blood shall be upon him.

Now. Here is a man that is the polar

opposite of his father. And we recognize that that

happens. Sometimes there are examples in

the Bible of this happening. Eli was a righteous and godly

man who had vile Sons. For Samuel to 12, Samuel was a

righteous and a godly man who had corrupted ungodly Sons verse

Samuel, chapter 8, verses two through five, but here in

Ezekiel 18, and verse 10, in spite of the fact that he had a

Godly father. And because of the fact that he

made poor choices himself that conclusion, in verse 13 is that

he is going to die and he will it will be his own fault, his

blood shall be upon him Now, here's another question.

You've got a son like that. A man like this.

What kind of a son, do you think this guy's going to have?

Now, you might think well of a guy that's described like this

obviously doesn't love God and doesn't care to teach his

children about God and he probably doesn't.

And therefore, what kind of a disadvantage would his son have?

If he is raised my father like this?

And so if you, if you are imagining like I would imagine

an unrighteous man having a son, he's going to be just as ungodly

and just as unrighteous as he will, if not more.

But that's not. What we see.

This man. Has a son.

Who is actually a righteous man? Here's what Ezekiel has.

I'm sorry. I have to click over here on my

phone. But Ezekiel says, if however, He

begets a son. This guy is going to be get a

son, who sees all the sins which is father has done and

considers. But does not do likewise.

He's watching he's watching dad and he's looking and he's

actually even considering what's he considering?

Whether or not. He should follow the same path

and he considers maybe he's tempted and contemplating going

that direction but he does not he actually Turns away and does

not do likewise who has withdrawn his hand from the poor

and not received usury or increase.

He's the polar opposite of his father but has executed my

judgments. And walked in my statute, he

shall not die for the iniquity of his father.

He shall surely live. So here we have the first three

illustrations teaching us the first lesson and the first

lesson is this every Person. Is responsible for their own

personal spiritual condition. Your own personal spiritual

condition. Usually in chapters 18 of his

Eco. We focus on verse 20 and 20 is a

powerful verse that conveys. This very thought this teaching

the soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear.

The guilt of the father, neither the father bear, the guilt of

the Sun that word guilt. There is very imperative for us

to understand the kind of the nature of This relationship and

we'll talk about that in a moment.

The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself

and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Everyone is responsible for their own.

Personal spiritual. Condition.

The Bible teaches. That we are all responsible for

our own choices and conduct. You know, this refutes the idea

that were born in sin it does not think this is a good passage

to help us understand that, we We are not born.

As guilty, Sinners inheriting, the original sin of Adam.

You know, there's a lot of people that believe that, that

when Adam and Eve sinned, that that original sin somehow is

transmitted and inherited and passed on to all of mankind.

But that's not what the Bible teaches.

And there's a number of passages that refute this and certainly

this one does, and when we're talking about the guilt now,

yes, there it's possible for us to sin and so sin, that we pass

on the consequences of our sin to other people, other people

can suffer because of our sins. If I choose to drink and get in

the car and drive down the road drunk, and I hit somebody and

kill somebody, they are Innocent, but they are suffering

because of my sin. This is not what's going on

here? The soul who sins shall die?

The son shall not bear. The guilt of the father.

Neither the father bear, the guilt of the Sun.

That means we are not held accountable.

For something that someone else has done our fathers or mothers

have done. And it refutes, this idea that

we inherit the guilt and thereby are held accountable for someone

else's sin. You know what else?

It refutes? Is the notion that who we are is

limited to who our parents are now.

I know, genetics are powerful and yes, you can see a mini

characteristics in a son that resemble.

Character character of the Father, the characteristics.

I should say of a father and I believe one of the strongest

influences on our lives comes from our parents.

There is a saying that thought like father like son or the

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Proverbs, 26, or 5:40, says train up a child in the way that

he should go. And when he is old, he shall not

depart From it. Now, that is a proverb.

It is not a promise. And a proverb, of course, is a

teaching, a wise statement of how things generally turn out,

but they are, there are exceptions.

Even God, the most faithful loyal, the greatest of all

fathers, has wayward children. And so in Proverbs 23 and verse

22, when it says, drunkards become poor.

Usually, that's the way it turns out, but there are exceptions to

that rule aren't there. There are some well, Earthy

drunkards, but the point of Ezekiel chapter 18 is not to

Ezekiel 18 · chapter mention

diminish the power of Parental influence but rather to

demonstrate the power of personal choice.

Yes, here in three generations, Ezekiel illustrates, that's

possible for a Godly father, to have an ungodly son.

How is that? Because of the choice of that

ungodly son and for an ungodly son to have himself a Godly son?

How is that possible? Because of choice, it tells me

in spite of my upbringing or in spite of my circumstances.

Everybody has a choice of what kind of person they're going to

be and you may have the greatest Influence in your life you may

have had the greatest father the greatest mother the greatest

grandmother the greatest grandfather and you don't use

that as to your advantage you don't soak that up.

You choose to go a different path.

That's your choice. And you may have had.

The opposite where you've had parents, that weren't what they

ought to be. And you choose to be different.

You know, people like that I do. There are cycles that do not

have to continue. There are cycles of abuse that

don't have to be. There are cycles of addiction

that don't have to continue. There are cycles of rebellion

that do not have to be. And just because my father may

have had a certain disposition. That doesn't mean my course is

set. I love the story about Ben

Hooper. He was twice elected governor of

the state of Tennessee Ben Hooper.

But it was born in very sad circumstances, really?

When he was born many, many years ago, his mother was not

married. He was an illegitimate child and

so that brought a stigma a it brought an identification

abayas, a shame, and that day and age.

It was a terrible ugly thing for a child to be considered such a

an illegitimate child. Nothing whatsoever to do with

Is. Birth or who he was but that's

the way it was. The kids at school were mean, to

him ugly to him. The adults were mean and they

were ugly to him when he went to school, they ostracize them.

He had to eat lunch by himself. Many of the parents said, what

on Earth is a boy like that doing in our school, with our

kids at recess, he had to study at his desk.

He was just a loner, he was by himself, had no friends, had

really, no family. On Saturday, when his mother

took him into town, the adults gave him disapproving comments

and glares. Made her feel small and made him

feel even smaller and insignificant.

It was a tough existence one day he gets word that a young

preacher had moved into their Community, a new preacher in the

Hills there of Tennessee. And been Hooper started hearing

about what a great preacher he was and he was curious and he

would go and he would sit in and he would listen he go down to

That little building nestled into the hills of the Smoky

Mountains and he would listen, he would always arrive late and

he would leave early as to avoid the crowd.

But one week, even though he kept going back over and over

again. He got so caught up in the

sermon that he lost track of time and there he was found

himself with the service, dismissed surrounded by

everybody. And all of the sudden he feels

these hands on his neck as shoulder.

Turns around and there, he was staring right in the face of

that preacher. And the preacher asked him a

question that he wished. It was his worst nightmare, he

was just wanting to disappear. If the preacher said whose boy

are you And he didn't know what to say.

The preacher, no doubt. Detecting the situation.

Began to smile. And he says, I know.

I know the family you belong to. The resemblance is unmistakable.

You're a member of the family of God.

That's quite an inheritance boy and he slapped him on the back

side and said now go live up to your inheritance.

And Ben Hooper said he said. It was that day that he was

elected. Governor twice.

The state of Tennessee because it was on that day.

That he began to see himself. From a different point of view.

It's not who our parents are that.

Who we are her statement the other day?

We don't, we don't come from our parents.

We just come through them. We come from God.

And who we are and who we choose to be.

It's ultimately up to us. If we're wise, we will take the

good and we will learn and build on it.

And if we're wise, we will take the bad and we will, we will.

Learn from it. Emerson was 100% right when he

said what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny

matters. Compared to what lies within us.

I read about a study that was done.

On two young ladies who were grown in growing up, raised in

the same environment by an abusive alcoholic father.

And they were Setting down different points, different

times and the researcher was trying to kind of do a case

study of the situation, both of them lived in the same ordeal,

same situation, but one of them grew up and became an abusive

alcoholic just like her father. The other one grew up and became

a successful, professional lawyer actually.

And the researcher interviewing them, both ask the same

question. He asked the lady, who was an

abusive alcoholic. Why do you think you are the way

you are? And she said, because my father

was an alcoholic. What do you expect?

she asked and he asked that the lawyer Given your circumstance.

Why do you think you turned out so Successfully.

And her answer was because my dad was an alcoholic.

What would you expect? Some people use their

circumstance as stumbling blocks.

And others as stepping stones. Do you know, the ultimate

decision of what kind of person you will turn out to be the

choices that you make? If you are being raised by her

grandmother, that's Godly. That's wonderful.

Take advantage of that. Soak it up, Live It Up, enjoy

it. Don't take for granted. maybe

you being raised in a situation that Isn't so pleasant.

You know, the Bible doesn't talk about God having grandchildren.

Even notice that. It only speaks of children of

God. The reason the reason I suppose

it's because God expects every person to have their own faith,

their own relationship with him. It's not secondhand and the out

may come a time when you have to you may be living off of the

faith of someone else, but eventually you're going to have

to make it your own. Develop our own The proverb that

was so popular popular in the land of Israel, the children

have eat or the fathers have eaten, sour grapes but the

children's teeth are set on edge, they were casting the

blame, they were Shifting the responsibility and God said

enough of that. You will no longer use this

proverb in Israel. Everyone is responsible for

their own personal decision. Now I said five illustrations.

Here's the fourth. he shifts now from talking about this

generational, To this situational.

Where this wicked man. Lives a wicked life.

But some how some way he changes.

Now, listen, if a wicked man turns from him from all his

sins, which he has committed keeps all my statutes and does.

What is lawful and right? He shall surely live.

He shall not die. Here's a wicked, man.

That changes he repents and God says He's going to live.

He's not going to die. None of the transgressive

aggressions, which he has committed, shall be remembered

against him. All those sins that he's

committed all in his life, he turns to me.

God says, I'm not going to remember those things.

What a blessing. What a wonderful thing that is.

That you see a man. who can change and God will recognize

and judge him not based upon his past.

But upon his present. And the fifth exhibit.

Illustration is the flipside of that.

And that is a Godly, Man. Who changes?

Just as it's possible for a wicked man to turn from his sin.

It's actually possible for a righteous man to turn from his

righteousness and this is the point rather long longer verse

24, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and

commits iniquity and does according to all the

Abominations that the wicked men does, shall he live?

So for a righteous man, turns and does what the Wicked Man

does? Is he going to be Better.

She going to live. Not.

So all the righteousness which he has done, shall not be

remembered. Here's the flip side.

Just as the sin will not be remembered against that Wicked

Man. Who repents the righteousness

will not be remembered. For the righteous man who

Rebels. They shall not be remembered

because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin

which he has committed because of them, he shall die.

So, here's the second lesson. That's provided here.

Each individual is responsible. Not only for their personal

decision, personal condition. But their present spiritual

condition. not so much based upon what you have done in the

past, but what you do In the present.

Now, in a sense that is extremely encouraging.

But it is also. Extremely disconcerting.

It can be disturbing to think that a person might very well

live many years as a faithful and loyal servant of God and for

some inconceivable reason decide they're going to turn and do

what they want and not live that way anymore.

God tells us if a righteous man turns from God, God will not

remember all of those righteous Deeds, you know, sometimes we

hear somebody say the expression resting on your laurels.

You know that the ancient Olympiad where they would, they

would run the race and they would be given a crown.

They would be basically given a crown of laurels, you know,

this, this Shrubbery that would be placed on their brow.

And so these successful Olympic athletes would boast that all of

the trophies, they would be resting upon their Laurels,

their successes and their victories of the past.

And if we're not careful, we can do that.

Thinking of all of the success and all that, we've done all of

the sacrifice, all that we've lived and given up we rest on

that. And then we give up, can't do

that and maybe you've lived a life for the Lord for years and

years. You're not done yet, you're not

through yet. You can't give in.

Can't give up. Can't sit down, can't fall down.

Can't turn back. Keep going.

Keep moving when a righteous man turns?

Away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies in it.

This is what we're talking about the present State.

When you die in it. It is because of the iniquity,

which he has done that, he dies again.

What a wicked man. Turns from the wickedness, which

he commits and does. What is lawful in his, right?

He preserves himself. Ally this live, this refutes,

the idea that once you're saved, you're always saved a righteous

man can so turn away as to be lost.

If he dies in it, he will be lost.

He Ecclesiastes, 11 verse 13 or three, I believe in a very

poetic fashion Solomon. Says if a tree falls in to the

South or the North in the place where the tree falls, there it

shall I'll lie, the state. This is a figurative.

This is a metaphor for death, the state in which you fall the

state in which you die that seals the fate and will be

judgment, will be based upon that present.

Condition. Yes, the Judgment of our soul

will be based upon the present condition of our relationship

with God. Be thou faithful unto death and

I will give thee a crown of righteousness, Revelation 20

Revelation 20:10

verse 10, be thou faithful, how long unto death.

And yes, that has a persecution context be faithful even in the

face of death by persecution or sacrifice.

And if it meant that certainly, it means be faithful until all

of your life is over. And so we have here, five

illustrations to lessons, the first reminds us that we're

going to be judged by our personal condition.

And the second reminds us that we're going to be judged based

upon our present condition and here's the conclusion.

Therefore whenever you hear the word therefore read it.

It's there for a reason, right? Hermeneutics want to want.

It's there for a reason, it connects Doctrine with Duty.

Usually, here's the duty, based upon everything, we've seen all

that we've learned there for I will judge you.

O House of Israel. I will judge you.

Don't worry about so much about what your dad did, what your

father did. I will judge you o House of

Israel. Everyone.

According to his ways, says the Lord God.

What do we do? Repent, and turn from all your

transgressions. So that iniquity will not be

your ruin cast away from you. All the transgressions, which

you have committed and get yourself a new heart, and a new

spirit for. Why should I for, why should you

die o House of Israel for? I have no pleasure in the death

of one who dies says the Lord. Therefore turn.

And live. No longer using that proverb in

Israel turn and live take responsibility.

And you will be judged upon your present and personal condition.

Lesson is yours this afternoon. If you're here and you've never

obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we invite you to come

believing in Jesus as the Son of God repenting of your sins,

repent, turn and live. You know that idea of

repentance. It's a it's a simple idea it's

more of a complex concept but it Elves with the change of it

begins there, the change of your mind, how you do, how you view

things and then what you do. And so repent for God, commands,

all men everywhere to repent and confess what you believe

concerning the Lord, Jesus Christ, with the heart man,

believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is

made unto salvation. If you believe that I am, he

unless you believe that I am, he you will die in your sins, Jesus

said, and then upon That confession be baptized to have

your sins washed away. If you have taken those steps

but you need the prayers of the church we invite.

You will pray with you and for you just simply come tonight

this afternoon while we stand in while we, we thank you for

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