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My name is Kenneth McFarland. I am an associate pastor here at 2819. We're going to hop into it. I want to first start off by explaining some of the reasons why we feel like we are so radical the way that we are. Right. Well, for me, I know that there are a lot of things that can instantly transform this earth, this world that we live on, and it can totally eradicate everything on Earth. Like if an asteroid from space the size of a planet hits Earth, that will totally eradicate everything Earth. If for some reason another war broke out, instantly, it changes everything. If nukes fly all over, it will eradicate everything on Earth. And there are so many more things that can easily eradicate all life in existence on Earth. And there is one thing that I fear we don't really pay attention to, that can also eradicate everything on Earth, and that is the defamation of God, of the Gospel, and of Jesus Christ. Defamation. Defamation is false information, slander or libel designed to degrade, dismantle or deconstruct the gospel, the reputation of Jesus, or even God himself. And this is something that we can see from the beginning of time. Think Adam and Eve were created in the garden. And as they are in the garden, a serpent comes. And when the serpent reaches them, he starts saying, God just doesn't want you to be like him. Slander. And in that one instance, the lie that is told, within a matter of seconds it reaches their heart. They do something that they're not supposed to do. And now sin enters the earth. Not only does sin enter the earth, but every creature, every human at this point is now condemned. So we think about man like sometimes lives aren't bad, but in this instance, how many of us are struggling because of sin from a lie that was told when creation was created? And in that same instance, I honestly believe that people go about talking and slandering God and doing all these things so much that they don't understand exactly what they are doing. And this is also the reason why the Lord gives us over a hundred one anothers bear one another's burdens and all these things because he wants to keep us away from all the evilness in the world and all the slander from the world. And he even says that he does not like when people sow discord. And he doesn't like division so much so that he even said that division is something that is an abomination to him. And I feel honestly that this is where we find ourselves in the scriptures and what we're going to title this Message is defamation for dominance. Defamation for dominance. Today we're going to be going through Matthew, chapter 21, starting in verse 23 through 27. I want us to remember that Matthew was an outcast Jew who lived in the first century A.D. he was converted to Christianity by the Lord Jesus himself. He became a follower of the Lord Jesus. He became an apostle of the Lord Jesus and ultimately a martyr for the Lord Jesus. He died for what he believed in. And I don't know of anyone who will die for a lie, but he died believing that the Gospel is true and real. And we will be reading out of the book that bears his name. So I want us to also remember, and it's very important we remember the teachings so far as we are in the series Entry and End Times. Pastor Philip taught about how Jesus was riding into Jerusalem, but he started out walking over 100 miles. Then he chose to receive a donkey to fulfill prophecy. Y'all remember that, all right. We also remember that once he got to the temple, there were individuals in the temple who were selling and doing the wrong things inside the temple, and he drove them out of the temple. We remember that. And then we also remember that as Jesus was leaving, he saw a fig tree. And when he walked up on the fig tree, it had leaves, but it did not have fruit. And because it did not have fruit, he cursed the tree and it died. It withered up. And that was a precursor to let us know that if we are falsely claiming to be disciples of the Lord, that at some point in time that someone will run up on us. And if that someone runs up on us and we have leaves no fruit, that the consequences will be the same for that fig tree. And it's important that we remember all of these things, because as we read the text, we will find ourselves having to see these things again. So Matthew, chapter 21, starting in verse 23, it reads, and when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him, and he was teaching and said, by what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority? Pause. It said, the chief priests and the elders of the temple. The chief priests and the elders of the temple. How crazy it is that Jesus goes into the temple. He's preaching and teaching, and then the person who's supposed to be the steward of the temple is approaching Jesus, and the person who's supposed to be the steward of God's people are approaching him. And again they ask him, what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this well, why are they asking these questions? This. This is how I study. I ask a thousand and one questions. Why is it the chief priests coming? Why are they asking these questions? I want to know more information. And Luke. Luke gives us the answer to this question. Luke, chapter 19, starting in verse 45 through 48. And he entered the temple, he being Jesus, and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, it is written, my house shall be a house of prayer. Question side note. I know that 2819 is a house of prayer. Is your house. Though my heart was convicted about this. And it was like, man, I know that everything that we do at 28:19 first starts with prayer. It ends with prayer. We're seeking him on everything. We're talking to him about decisions before we even make decisions. But is my house a house of prayer? So just. Just a nugget. Just. Just a nugget, but you have made it a den of robbers. And he was teaching daily. Daily. Remember that word in the temple? The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people. Uh, oh, y'all see this? These are same account, same individuals were seeking to destroy him. But they did not find anything that they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. Now, this is so dope to me because in this instance it says Jesus was teaching in the temple daily. And here it is, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people want to destroy him because everyone was hanging on his words. They couldn't do anything. Here it is, the one who's supposed to steward the house of God, and the one who's supposed to steward the people are upset because Jesus is teaching daily and everyone are hanging on his words. In other words, what the Scriptures are saying is Jesus is doing their job. The chief priests are the ones who are supposed to be teaching daily the word of God, and the elders of the people are the ones who are supposed to be stewarding the people of God. But here it is, Jesus takes over their job, and they wanted this. They wanted to destroy him. Because now they have been almost like stripped of their position, and they don't like it, but they can't do nothing because all the people are hanging on to every word that he says. Now I'm hoping and praying that I'm not the only person here who sort of feel some type of way when somebody else comes in and they sort of take my job. Not only did they take my job, they doing my job better than I did my job. And if I'm Honest in my heart wells up this. I know you lie. Oh, and you did it right. And here it is. They feel like they are becoming obsolete or they're becoming low. That their, that their power and authority, that their place, all of that is being taken away because they weren't doing the right thing in the first place. Now for me, I'm still sort of confused because it's like, well, why are they asking by what authority? And for the life of me, they really assumed that a man gave Jesus authority. And they were asking about who this man was because they felt like the man who gave them authority. They're hoping that that man is higher than the man who gave Jesus authority. They want their authority to override or supersede Jesus authority. And let me put it in Georgia Southern. L go play your part. Stay in your place. This ain't your role. They are trying to put Jesus in what they would consider his place. And I know it's a couple of us that know about putting people in their place as a matter. Look, listen, I wish you would. Huh? Hey, hey, hey. Three A's in this cone. And if you're not, if you're not from Atlanta, if you ever see this right here, look who behind you beside you and move. But here it is. They're trying to put Jesus in their place, in his place. They wanted to pretty much gain a sense of security solistic behavior. I understand that I did not do what God told me to do, but don't strip this away from me. But Pastor Philip gave me this quote. We were sitting and we were talking about literally, like, the positions that people hold and like the authority that people have been given. And literally just talking about, like, pastors and like, we can't just take things for granted. And he just really. Just making sure that I'm wringing out my heart. And then he said something that was so powerful to me. He said, our only real security is in integrity. Our only real security is integrity. That means that what I can't do, it feels some type of way. If I'm doing the wrong thing in the dark and then expecting God to elevate me in the light. What are you thinking when you're alone? What's in your heart when you by yourself? What are you doing when nobody's watching you? And we expect that all of that is okay, that we continue to do this and live this way and be this way. And then when we don't receive the elevation or we feel like things are being taken away, we get offended. But our Only real security is in integrity, our character. So much so Jesus was explaining this to the disciples in Mark, chapter 10 and 42. You don't have to turn. It's not going to pop up on the screen. But he says, but it shall not be so among you that the greatest among you shall be servants. Oh, I knew that wasn't going to fly over too well. You want to know why I knew it wasn't going to fly over too well? Because the truth of the matter is in our heart, we're so entitled. We so entitled that we feel like we deserve. And because we feel like we deserve, we wind up going around seeking glory with no God. We wind up going around seeking honor with no holiness. We. We doing all these things because we want to be elevated and living a hellish life in the dark. The only position. The only position that a disciple should desire is that of a servant. The only position that a disciple should desire is that of a servant. But if serving is beneath you, then leadership is above you. And one of the things that I love about Scripture, one of the things I love about this house is there. There will always be individuals that will come. They will come, and they'll be like, you know what? I'm gonna serve. Oh, I'm gonna serve. But I can't wait until I get Miss Rhonda's spot. Ooh, I can't. Oh, just. Just wait. When I. When I sit with the elders and people look at me, oh, holy is he. Oh, I can't. I can't wait to be like Don. Where I sit, I stand beside. And when they look at Pastor, they look at me. But the problem is, ain't nobody trying to wait like David, anointed as a kid, had to wait over almost 20 years to become king. So they sitting there, or they sitting there and they like, Ms. Rhonda. Ms. Rhonda, when can I pray? When can I be elevated? When can I? When can I? The heart always exposes the real wants and desires of men. And the truth is, all it takes is time. Right now, the Lord telling me, you need to keep sitting. Well, you know what? I feel like my season. My season is up. The Lord told me that my ministry needs to. Why is it when somebody tells you no, does our heart not expose us that in that time frame, we refuse. We refuse to wait on the Lord. And we refuse because we don't want what the Lord wants. We want what we want. Oh, but praise be to the Lord. The Lord has worked on my heart. I don't Want you to leave. I used to. I'm being honest. Y'all judging me. I used to. I used to be like, lord, just remove them. Let them go. Send them on their way. And the Lord grabbed a hold of my heart. And now I'm like, no, Father, help them to stay. And while they stay, break them. The ones that are clapping are most likely the ones that have been broken. Been broken. And they know I can't just go off and do what I want to do. I tried to leave, and he forced me back. I didn't want to listen to him. And yet still there's something inside of me that forces me to listen. I pray that you be broken. Broken before the Lord. Broken in such a way. Broken in such a way that the Lord can use you. But the Lord doesn't stop right there, right? So they asked Jesus this question, and then in verse 24, it says, Jesus answered them. I will ask you one question, Jesus, such a thug. And if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Pause. Jesus doesn't just automatically give them an answer. And the reason why Jesus didn't automatically give them an answer was for two reasons, I believe. One, Jesus was secure in his identity. He did not have to prove anything, show anything, tell anything. He knew who he was and he knew whose he was. So when people come and they. Who do you think you are? I know who I am. Let me ask you a question. Who are you? Jesus. Jesus? Yeah. Jesus. That he knew his identity. Do we know ours? Or is it that every time somebody ask a question or something, we gotta. We gotta answer it real fast. We gotta answer every call, we gotta answer every text. We gotta turn around and make sure, like, we gotta talk to everybody. As a matter of fact, so much so we leave with our titles. Oh, I'm Dr. So and so. I'm Bishop so and so. I'm Apostle so and so. I'm Prophet. So we. We leave with all of this stuff as if that's who we are. Come on. And it's not what we do. I am Kenneth McFarland Jr. And I just so happened to pastor. The title did not make me. Does your title. Does your title make you. Do you have to be called X, Y, and Z? But I believe that the Lord and his wisdom and his divine nature shows them that he's one, secure, and two, he's trying to ask them a question to get to their heart and convict it. So Jesus sees their question. He doesn't fall. He knows It's a trap. He does not fall for it and instead ask them a question back. You know why this is so powerful to me? Because the more time that you actually spend talking to the father, conversing with the father, explaining things to the father, asking before you do things to the father, the more he starts revealing things like other people's hearts. So now I don't have to do this because the Lord already showed me that your heart is wicked. I don't have to do everything. He didn't have to answer him because he already knew their heart. I can't see hearts, can you? Can you? But I know someone who can. So before I start doing things, I start talking to him. Oh, that conversation be so good. Father, this seems like it's a really good opportunity, and it's something that could potentially change my life, change my family's life. All these things can happen. What do you want me to do? No, Lord, I'm ask again. Oh, y'all don't want clarity? I want clarity, Lord. I think I heard you. It's a little muffled. Are you sure? No, I wanted to do this. The Lord said no. But in our insecurities, what winds up happening is. You want me to do this? Yes. And now when everything is going to shambles. Shambles, y'all so unholy. What y'all thought I was about to say? Shambles. When everything goes to shambles. When it goes to shambles and the fit hits the fan, the outfit come on. Then we run to our Lord, Father, help me fix this. I need. And he's. I didn't even want you to go over there. Now we sitting here in his permissive will versus his perfect will because we wanted to do our own thing and ask him to bless it instead of doing what he wanted us to do and living in his authority. And this is the reason why Sayings like, oh, well, I would rather do it and ask for forgiveness later and think that that's. Wow. I pray that's broken over this house. That he doesn't. He doesn't. Father, help me. That he doesn't sit and make it seem like he has to answer everyone's question or do everything or answer to everyone that got a comment to say or anything of the sort. But what does he say? Oh, Jesus. Oh, this is when it gets good. Verse 25, the top part, he says, the baptism of John. This is Jesus question back to them, from where did it come? From heaven or from man? And everything in my soul was like, why we talking about John? I don't get it. Why are we talking about John? John? Like, what about his baptism? And then the Lord showed me Matthew, chapter three, starting in verse one. In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. His message was, repent, repent, repent. For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who has. Who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his path. Or make his path straight. Why is this important? Because, oh, Jesus. In verse 5 to verse 7, it says, Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him and they were baptized by him. Him being John the Baptist. They were being baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him. Pause. Why did he say something about John the Baptist? Because John the Baptist had a message for them. And. And we. We. We will stand on what the Bible says here instead of clapping back. This is what the Scriptures say. Take that how you may. Verse 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, you brood of vipers. Who warns you to flee from the wrath to come, bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. What authority you have? You think that because you throw the name Abraham around that you have more authority than who sent me? Because they think that Abraham is their father? Abraham, that ain't. Do not presume to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham. You think that you are a child of Abraham, the one who testifies of the Lord Jesus? You think that Abraham's authority supersedes the Lord's? You think that your teacher, preacher, pastor, apostle, bishop, that they have more power than the Lord Jesus, that this is what we ascribe to, regardless of what they say? But he does not stop there. Verse 10. Even now the ax is laid to the root of the tree. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. How beautiful it is that Jesus is referencing John. And John was speaking of Jesus. My God, I baptize you with water for repentance. Something that happens in the heart. The water is just the ring to show that baptism is something that happens in the heart. The water is the Ring to show that I am married. If I take this off, I'm still married. I put this on to show I am married. I baptize you with water for repentance. But he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandal I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Fire. Pay attention. But for those who do not believe, his winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the shaft, he will burn with the unquenchable fire. Fire is coming. And you will either be burned by the fire of the Holy Spirit, or when everything ends, you will be burned by the lake of fire. Choose. Choose. And Jesus doesn't stop there. Going back to Matthew, chapter 21, after he asked them this question. After he asked them this question, it says, and they. Verse 25, the latter part. And they discussed it among themselves, saying, if we say from heaven, he will say to us, why then did you not believe him? But if we say from man, we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet. Hey, do y'all notice? Jesus, help me. Do y'all notice? They knew the truth. There's no way all these people can flock from all over and be confessing sin and their hearts being changed. And they no longer do the things that they used to do. They coming off the pole. They coming out of the streets. They coming like all of these individuals are coming and they are turning their lives over to Jesus. But if I admit it, then he's going to ask me, why don't I believe? John said that there is one that is coming after me. And then he points out Jesus. And they knew this. And because they knew it, they had no opposition to stand. They had no ground to stand on. How can we hurt him? How can we hurt him? Because there's no way we're going to admit the truth. Because if we admit the truth, then that means everything that we work for will be taken away. And then to sit there and say, but if we say for man, if we lie, if we lie, then all the people, they'll get us. How you be more afraid of the people than God? You so afraid of the one that can kill the flesh and not the one that can kill the flesh and the spirit. Two. Two deaths are gonna happen either way it goes. Two, Two. Oh, how two deaths. Two deaths are going? You gonna die twice. What do you mean I'm gonna die twice? You gonna die twice? You Want to know how I know? Because the scriptures are clear. For those who are disciples of him, he tells them to die daily. I gotta die. I don't want to die. Cool. Don't then. And then what will happen is once this flesh dies, there will be a second death. For those who did not die when they were living. Y'all not getting it. Two deaths are going to. I die daily. I don't want to. I do. I want to do what I want to do, and then I don't. That don't sound like it. Make no sense at all. But for everyone who is a disciple, for everyone who follow Jesus, I want to do it. I don't want to do it. Jesus, we fight an internal war that even the things that we want to do, we lay it down at his feet that I choose to die in this area. And if you say no, then it's a no. But I'm letting you know, we are all walking this life in this role called sanctification. And my heart has not changed in some of these areas. So I'm telling you the truth, I want to do it. But if you say no, all right, if you know what I'm talking about, shout. This is a fight. It's a battle. And I have to die daily. Pastor Philip, he has to wring out his heart daily with the things that are not right before the Lord. And he's constantly just wringing out his heart. And we are following suit by wringing out our heart with everything that is in our heart and the thoughts in our mind and the things that have corrupted our souls and the seeds that have been planted from individuals that never should have planted seeds in our life. And we are just laying everything at the feet of our Savior because we know that these things should not be. Want to anyway. And we just, we. We continue to wrang out our heart. We continue to wrang out our heart. And then Jesus finishes up because these. These individuals talking all this trash to him, they trying his gangster. And then ultimately when they do respond, verse 20 says 27 says so they answered Jesus, we do not know. Because they couldn't choose to tell the truth or a lie. They would rather be lukewarm, double minded. And he, Jesus, said to them, neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. They tried to down Jesus, defame him, slander him. They talked trash about him. They did all of these things about him. And I'm not gonna lie, I wanted him to clap back because I want to clap back. But the Lord answered the Lord responded and he did not. He didn't even have to defend himself. So neither do we. At 28:19, Father, I hope I accomplished what you wanted me to accomplish. So there are a couple of things that I hope and pray that we take away from this. One, that we continue to wring out our heart before the Lord. Please continue to ring out your heart before the Lord until everything that is not of him is out of you. Pastor Philip is doing it, I am doing it, the leaders are doing it in hopes that everyone will do that. Two, that our integrity and our character will speak more than anything else in the light and in the dark. Three, we don't have to respond to everything that's being said. And four, in the same way that Jesus didn't back down, neither will we. So, Father, I thank you for everything, Lord, that you have spoken in your scriptures that give us strength. Lord, May we find our identity in you, in everything, Father. Lord, help us in every area, Lord, that we need help. Lord, if we need to be broken, we are asking you to break us. That we know that in your hands we can honestly be used in the right way instead of wanting our own thing. Father, may we desire the desires that you have. May we love what you love, hate what you hate. Lord, help us in our heart and our mind, Lord, that we will leave it all at your feet and not pick it back up. Even those, Father, who do not belong to you. Father, may they I pray that they heard the words that you doubled down on to repent. Because the kingdom of heaven is at hand and we don't know how long it is before you open that door. So that is our prayer, Father. That is our prayer. And we speak, we pray this in your mighty and majestic and matchless name. In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we say amen.