Ep 1287 | Jase Gets a Longevity Tip from Morgan Freeman & Willie Crashes the Party

Summary

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Unashamed with the Robertson Family

Ep 1287 | Jase Gets a Longevity Tip from Morgan Freeman & Willie Crashes the Party

Date: March 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Unashamed, the Robertson family dives into topics ranging from longevity tips inspired by Hollywood legends to profound explorations of Christian identity and fellowship with Christ. Through personal stories, biblical reflection, and a surprise drop-in from Willie, the conversation traverses themes of perseverance, spiritual unity, and the continued erasing of the secular-sacred divide. Whether discussing family tales or deep scriptural insights, the Robertsons maintain their trademark mix of warmth, humor, and passionate faith.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Monday Surprises and Texan Hospitality

• Popcorn Monday: Jase introduces the concept of "Popcorn Monday"—you never know what'll pop up after a weekend apart.
• Texas Reflections: Jase returns from Corpus Christi and reflects on the pride and unique terrain of Texas, noting, "Everything here wants to hurt you." (00:54)
• Texiana: Jase jokes about Louisiana and Texas forming their own country: “We’ll be Texiana... We’ll bring the guns, more guns, food. We’re pretty good cooks.” (01:50)

2. Longevity Tips from the Culture

• Morgan Freeman & Clint Eastwood: Jase shares a non-biblical but inspirational tip heard from Morgan Freeman quoting Clint Eastwood:

  "Never let the old man in." (03:37, Jase)

• Spiritual Connection: The quote evolves into a spiritual discussion—resisting the pull of spiritual complacency and choosing vitality and movement in life and faith.
• Mama Jo’s Wisdom: Mama Jo, at 94, gives her own take:

  "The chairs always call ‘em, but I don’t listen.” (04:27, Mama Jo paraphrased by Jase and Al)

3. Mentoring, Family Updates, and the Power of Testimony

• Encore with Wives: Recap of the previous mentoring-focused episode featuring the wives, with Maddie’s genuine connection to the message.
• Zach’s Family Story: Zach recounts seeing his kids open for Larry Fleet—seeing them erase the secular-sacred divide by turning a concert into worship:

  “We can’t let you leave here tonight without telling you the story. This next song is about the story.” (06:53, Zach recounts Max before singing 'Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?')

• Moving Moment: The hymn performance stirs the crowd and prompts reflection:

  “It turned into a worship service. I don’t think anybody was expecting that.” (07:32, Zach)

4. Erasing the Secular-Sacred Divide

• Spiritual Takeaway:

  “Everything we’ve been doing on this podcast is about erasing the secular sacred divide. The kingdom of God is here... It’s everywhere.” (07:59, Zach)

• The moment affirms the Robertsons' mission—faith isn't confined to church, it flourishes in daily life.

5. Deep Dive: Seated With Christ in the Heavenly Realms (Ephesians 2:6)

• Context of ‘Seated With Christ’:
  • Jase, distracted during a sermon, does a deep Bible study, finding “seated” in Ephesians 2:6 is only used twice in the New Testament.
  • Parallels the unique Greek word in Ephesians 2:6 with its only other use—Peter seated at the fire during Jesus’ trial (Luke 22:55).

  “Who you with, where you at?” (18:56, Jase)

  • Contrast: Are you with Christ, or among those denying Him?
• Colossians 3 Integration: Sets the mind on things above—participation with Christ is both a present and future reality.

6. Notable Quotes on Spiritual Position

• “When somebody says, what are you doing? I’m seated in the heavenly realms with Christ, but I’m appearing here on Earth because of God’s plan.” (24:26, Jase)
• “That’s your position with him is this partnership, this participation, fellowship. That’s why we’re here on the Earth.” (24:52, Jase)
• “Now, here’s the irony and here’s why this is hard to wrap your head around... He’s in us, he’s with us.” (26:07, Jase)

7. Scriptural Tracing: 'In Him', 'With Him', 'He in Us'

• Jase conducts a scriptural survey, especially in 1 John, highlighting the recurring “in Him,” “with Him,” and “He in us” language:
  • “The most two important words: In Him... but now I’ve stumbled upon With Him.” (21:39, Jase)
  • Emphasizes both the intimacy and mutuality of this relationship—the divine indwelling and our inclusion in God's fellowship.

8. Do You Want to Get Well? (John 5)

• Jase and Al reflect on Jesus’ question to the paralyzed man by the pool:

  “Do you want to get well?” (27:18, Jase)

  • Applies it as a challenge to listeners—do we truly desire the transformation Christ offers, or are we stuck?
  • Zach relates it to the C.S. Lewis “lizard of lust” metaphor from The Great Divorce:

  “Do you even want to be healed?... Do you want me to take that away from you?... No, I don’t—take it, even if it kills me!” (30:02, Zach narrates)

9. Revelation and Ephesians: Christ Among Us

• Jesus Walking Among the Churches: Jase connects the vision of Jesus walking among the lampstands in Revelation to both Eden and present-day church life.

  “Jesus said he’s the one who’s walking among them... And we just don’t believe that in reality.” (45:50, Jase)

  • Challenges listeners: Are we acting as if Christ is really among us?
• Restoring First Love: Echoes Jesus’ warning to Ephesus about losing first love—warns of “forsaken your first love” (49:49, Jase), connects to personal testimony (Al):

  “I turned my back on my first love, which was Jesus Christ... you’re capable of anything in the dark.” (51:30, Al)

10. Being the Light: Everyday Witness

• The episode closes with the practical reminder (tied to Zach’s concert story) that being a light is not limited to formal religious settings:

  “That’s not a once-a-week thing... That’s anywhere during the walk. You want to be that light.” (54:42, Al)

• Reaffirms the grounding verse:

  “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, 54:45, Jase)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Clint Eastwood’s Longevity Secret:

  “Never let the old man in.” (03:37, Jase via Morgan Freeman)

• On Erasing the Secular/Sacred Divide:

  “The kingdom of God is here. It’s everywhere.” (08:10, Zach)

• On Spiritual Fellowship:

  “Are you in Him, with Him, or is He in you? It’s a two-way street.” (38:12, Jase)

• On Restoration:

  “Do you want to get well?” (27:18, Jase—Jesus’ question as a litmus test for readiness to change)

• On First Love:

  “You have forsaken your first love.” (49:49, Jase reading Revelation)

• On Being Light:

  “You want to be that light... That’s what we’re called to do. That’s the moment.” (54:42, Al)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Texas Reflections & Survival Tips: 00:54 – 02:17
• Longevity Lessons—Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood: 02:07 – 03:37
• Mentoring Recap & Zach’s Concert Story: 05:06 – 08:40
• Erasing Secular/Sacred Divide: 07:59 – 09:32
• Deep Dive: Seated with Christ – Ephesians 2:6, Luke 22, Colossians 3: 11:28 – 21:39
• Willie’s Pop-in and Comic Relief: 20:02 – 21:16
• Scripture Survey: ‘In Him’, ‘With Him’, ‘He in Us’ – 1 John: 21:39 – 43:12
• ‘Do You Want to Get Well?’ John 5, The Great Divorce: 27:18 – 33:24
• Christ Among the Churches – Revelation/Ephesians: 45:11 – 54:12
• Personal Restoration, Call to Be a Light: 51:30 – End

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Style & Tone

The episode is warm, humorous, and deeply sincere—a signature Robertson blend. The conversation flows openly, intertwining personal anecdotes, playful banter (including a cameo from Willie and his “minions”), and scholarship rooted in heartfelt faith. All speakers consistently invite listeners deeper into Christian community, challenging them toward both theological reflection and practical steps of faith.

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For the Listener

If you haven’t heard this episode, you’ll find a rich mix of laughter, honest self-examination, scriptural depth, and personal stories. Whether you’re seeking deeper theological insights or just need encouragement to persevere—both physically and spiritually—you’ll finish feeling both challenged and embraced by the family’s authentic approach to faith.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

I am unashamed.

[C]

What about you? Welcome back to Unashamed. It's I call. I call Monday's Popcorn Monday because I don't know what's going to pop up on the, you know, set of Unashamed because, you know, usually we're all been traveling, but you, you were home this weekend, right?

[B]

For the first time in a month,

[C]

I was in Corpus Christi, Texas with the fine folks. What, you know, I love about Texas audiences and I always tell them this at the beginning. Texans love Texas. I mean, they're the most proud state. I mean, I love Louisiana. But then I also know that I also say that we live in a very inhospitable terrain. You know, it's the people are very hospitable, but the terrain. Everything here wants to hurt you.

[B]

You may give you a tip, damage you, kill you. I feel like it's going to be tip day. You ready for a tip? Don't mess with Texas.

[C]

That's what they say. And they love it. I love it. And I always tell them that if they decide to become their own country, which someone says in their constitution, but then it's been challenged and shot down, according to one guy told me, but I said, if that ever happens, I said, we want to go with you. We'll be Texiana.

[B]

I think they are their own country.

[C]

Yeah, they kind of are. But I'd like to go with them and bring. We'll bring the guns, more guns. We'll bring food because we're pretty good cooks. Yeah, we'll bring some merriment. You know, LA people are generally pretty happy. We're just happy to survive. You got any tips on survival today, Jay?

[B]

Yep. I'm going to give you a tip from the culture world. So that's always take it for what you want.

[C]

Not a biblical tip.

[B]

Not a biblical tip. But I heard Morgan Freeman quote Clint Eastwood, which I was a Clint Eastwood fan, just not. I don't know him personally and I don't really know his belief system whatsoever. But when I was young, I really loved his movies. I thought, now this is something, because

[C]

dad loved his Movies.

[B]

So we were watching Outlaw Josey Wales, Good, Bad and Ugly. All those westerns to me were enjoyable and there's never been another series.

[C]

You and I were like, like 8 and 4 one Christmas Eve and we went and saw Dirty Harry.

[B]

Well, my parents, we've documented all that they, they did.

[C]

The way James put it. And he said this to mom and Daddy, they weren't giving out any parents of the year back in the old

[B]

days, you know, they agree with that. So it's okay, they repented. The Lord worked it out. But the, you know, Clint Eastwood, he's in his 90s, I think. Morgan Freeman, have you seen him lately? Approaching 90 or whatever. And so I heard Morgan Freeman quote, Clint Eastwood one time. He said, what is the key to this longevity? And he said, well, a good friend of mine, Clint Eastwood once said, never let the old man in.

[C]

Never let the old. Well, that does have a spiritual connotation.

[B]

That's why I'm saying this now because I thought, ooh, that would be my launching point. Because I saw Morgan Freeman one time on a golf course just a couple years ago. If I ever see him again, I'm going to revisit that quote. There's the end, there's the conversation story.

[C]

He actually lives, used to live down the street from me when I was in Peninsula. I lived around the golf course. We play every summer days when we're down there. And he has a house in there. So. But he still works, you know, he's like Eastwood. But I saw a picture of Eastwood which he looks, he looks really bad now. I mean like he's in his night, but he was still working. I saw him on a movie set that he was directing and he's like 96 years old. Yeah, he's still working.

[B]

Well, that's what I'm talking about.

[C]

Which Mama Joe kind of said something similar. But what she said, her line was because she's 94 and she was coming up to sit with mom, you know, I mean, it's like, Mama Joe, you're 94 and you're sitting with my mom. And she said, I said, what's your secret? And she said, well, it's good. Here's what she says. Good genetics and makeup is what she said. And then she laughed. She said, no, but you know what it is, hun? She said that chairs always call him. But I don't. But I don't listen, see, there you go. That's another good one. The chairs always call it. In other words, once you plop down and quit Moving. It's over is what she said.

[B]

Well, it's all kind of wisdom coming out today.

[C]

Maddie. Maddie, you brought it. Because we had the wives on last week, and Maddie got so fired up about it that we had an encore presentation.

[B]

It was. And I thought she was kidding. She was like, well, that was so moving. Can y' all hang around? And I thought, boy, she's laying it on thick. But she was serious, so I had to apologize.

[C]

Well, they were talking about mentoring young women, and I didn't even think about it. Maddie, is she. Maddie, you fit the profile for exactly what they were talking about. Zach, what about you? You haven't said anything. It's been five minutes in. It's like you're not even there. Are you here? Are you with us or what? What? I'm here in North Carolina.

[D]

We're good.

[C]

You just saw your kids, right? Tell us about that.

[B]

Yeah, because you were going.

[C]

You were flying out right now.

[D]

Yeah. Repping the merch there. I went down. I didn't fly out. I drove out. So they are on tour with Larry Fleet. One thing you don't realize, when you go on tour, I thought it, like, they'd be, you know. You know, you. You show up, you do everything. So they don't have a. They don't have, like, the. The gear. They got the gear, but they got a Layla has a Jetta or something like that. It's like a little Volkswagen. They can't get all their stuff in there, so I let them borrow my truck and the trailer. So I brought that down to them. So I'm driving Layla's Jetta. Dad loaned them the truck, but it was awesome. They played down in atl, and Jill and I went down there. I got to see them open up for Larry Fleet. And it was. It was awesome. I mean, so they're doing a whole 15 city tour. They're doing. They may go to Europe. So it was. It was awesome. They did a great job.

[B]

Did you cry?

[D]

I did tear up in one moment. They. I told this earlier to al they because all their songs are like country music or slash, like Americana. And that's kind of how Larry. Larry plays, like, just straight up country music. He's got that big song that made him pop. The one that really set him off, made him popular, was where I found God, which he talked about on this podcast. But about halfway through the show, the kids. Max was like, okay, this next song I'm gonna sing. He said, you gotta remember, he said, we're storytellers. He said that's what we're. All. These songs are stories. That's all. That's what we do. We tell stories. He said, but we can't let you leave here tonight without telling you the story. And so this next song is about the story. And it was that old hymn, Johnny Cash saying it. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? There's three verses. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they buried him in the grave? And were you there when he rose up from the grave? And, I mean, the place went nuts. It was like it turned into a worship service. And I. I don't think anybody was expecting. I wasn't expecting that, but I was watching people worship in the setting, and I thought, you know, everything we've been doing on this podcast is about erasing the secular sacred divide. The kingdom of God is here. It's not, you know, stuck in a building somewhere, a church building. It is in there, but it's everywhere. God's kingdom is. Is where his rule and reign is. And in that moment, it was like, I. I got to see my kids actually display that, you know, on a stage, and. And the audience, to see their reaction was encouraging, to say the least, because it was like, I think people want to see this secular sacred divided, erased. And I could tell by the. By the response of the audience. So. So we did that. I drove down there on a Friday right after we got done recording, and then drove back here because I had to preach on Sunday. So, yeah, I've been burning it the last two, two and a half days.

[C]

Well, that's. And. And Larry's happy with your kiddos? He's.

[D]

Yeah, he loved it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

He text me the first night when they opened up, and it's like, oh, my gosh, man, they're killing it. They just got a standing ovation. Well, he's awesome, though. I mean, listen. I mean, I'd never been one of his concerts. I mean, it was like, oh, man, it was the whole thing.

[C]

I really like that guy. He was on the podcast when we were in Nashville. You remember him?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I wasn't listening. I was. I was looking at the lyrics to that song, were you there? I was like, what is the meaning behind that? But here's what the artificial intelligence says, which is a bunch of humans that they gathered. It says it prompts us to reverently imagine witnessing the Savior's death and resurrection and to consider how we would have felt if we had been there. Were you there?

[D]

Well, that's interesting. The reverence. Because that's when I was telling Alibata earlier, it was like. It was a moment because everybody's cheering, you're at a concert, you're having a good time. And then. And then when that song landed, it was like silence, except for the voices. And, you know, and it's. It's a. It's a reverent thing when you start to just think about. And that song is so simple, but it's kind of. In a weird way, it's kind of a haunting song that it just. It.

[C]

You.

[B]

You.

[D]

It just. It transports you back into that moment. I heard one. I heard David Crowder, who we've also had on the podcast one time. He did a. A mashup of that song with his song I'm the one who. Who held the. The nails.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[D]

You know, like, I'm the one. It's me. I'm. I'm guilty. I was the one hammering, you know, hammering my hand. And so they, they. It was at an Easter service and he had. They started with that. Were you there? And they crucified my Lord. And then it was basically like moved into. I. Yeah, I was there. I was the one that was driving the nails in the hands of Jesus. And because a lot of times, even in wearing this Bible study that we're doing, we're talking about what they did to Jesus, but that's not really the biblical story. It's what we did to Jesus. And to put yourself in that place of not only witnessing the love of Christ, but then also on the other side of it, understand that he died for our sins, which means that we were the ones who put the nail in the hand of the one that we call Jesus.

[C]

So, Jayce, want a hit? About 45, I began to notice that something was changing with the old body. The metabolism started to slow, I was eating things unhealthy. And before I knew it, I was quite a bit overweight.

[B]

Gravity begins to shift.

[C]

It became a reality. You're right. And look through the years after that. For the last 20 years now, I tried all the different diets and they would work temporarily until my willpower changed. And then I was right back where I started. And so I. I found out through some new folks, PhD, weight loss. They really taught me about resetting the metabolism and burning fat. Here's a picture of me at the beginning of the journey. Here I am now £80, much healthier. CPAP machine is gone. Exercising regularly now and just overall feel much better, not snoring at night. So you may be telling yourself, okay, 2026, this is the year I need to do it. I'm looking at ow is looking pretty good compared to 2025. Now's the time to do it. If you call now, they'll give you two free weeks on the program and pay for your food so you can finally see real results without more trial and error. If you're done with yo yo dieting and you want clarity, call PhD weight loss now and mention Al. No more guessing, just answers. Call 864-644-1900 and say ow. That's 864-644-1900. Or you can visit [e-mail]

[B]

I'm taking this as a sign. So yesterday during the sermon, I got distracted and I started doing my own Bible study for a second. I'm shocked, like I just did here. And I guess I was thinking I forgot the. There was some. Some statement about going to heaven. And I thought, you know, that statement is actually not in the Bible the way it's used hundreds of times every Sunday. And so I went to Ephesians 2. 6. But this is in the context of being or experiencing the new birth. We were under the control of the evil one. We were following the ways of the world. We were gratifying the cravings of our sinful flesh. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by the grace. It is by grace you've been saved. And then it didn't. It kind of what Zach just did. Like, were you there? Yeah, we were there. It says, and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms, in Christ Jesus. Because in my mind, I was thinking, where does it say we go to heaven? Well, I just read it to you. Yeah, well, when did that happen? So when did that happen?

[D]

That's a good question.

[B]

So, look, this gets better. So I did my little Greek lexicon. I'm sitting on the front row, acting like I'm paying attention, but I'm reading this.

[C]

No wonder I asked you what the sermon was about. You had no idea.

[B]

I think you're going to find this fascinating. So I looked that word up, seated us. Because here's what I was thinking when in the. If you go back to the garden and Adam and Eve, when it says, and God rested Adam in the garden to work it. And I was thinking, I wonder if there's a similarity there. Of Setting Adam in. And now in this new creation, we're resting in the heavenly realms with Jesus seated. So that was my thought, which I never really got down that way because when I looked it up in the Greek lexicon, that word for seated is only used twice in the New Testament. Only twice. And so to sit or place or rest is used a bunch of times, but that's always just kind of the idea of sitting down or the common. Like the feeding of the 5,000. They sat down. Well, that's a form of the word. But this actual word is in the company of. It's only used twice. What's fascinating, it's used here. So it's a partnership, a fellowship, a reality that you're in the company. Well, that kind of made me start getting excited because I thought, oh, he made a point, Paul did, to say, look, you're literally in the company, which goes in with what we've been studying with first, John 1, this fellowship, participation. Here's what's interesting. The other time that it's used, Luke 22, is your mind wondering, what in the world. 55, Luke 22, Jesus is arrested. Remember that Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny him three times. Then John kind of uses his one time to get into the temple. And remember Peter, he was not. He chose not to keep going further. So Jesus is arrested. Luke 22. Yep. So 54 says. Then seizing him, they led him away, took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, that there's the other time that it's used. Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, this man was with him, but he denied it. And so you probably see where I'm going with this. Who you with, where you at? And when you Throw in Colossians 3, I think my point makes sense. Colossians 3, verse 1. Since then, you have been raised with Christ. Same phrase as Ephesians 2, 6, 7. Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. So that's how this happens in your mind. You're seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. I think those go together. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden. Oh, these two phrases with Christ in God. So then you get to When Christ, who is your life, appears, you will also be with him in glory. We're already There.

[C]

Yeah, we're in the company.

[B]

I don't know any other way to interpret that. I just gave you the two times it's mentioned. And so you realize, am I sitting around a fire staring at it, denying Jesus with worldly. Yeah, I mean, those are the two pictures.

[D]

What were the two verses again?

[B]

Luke 22:55 and Ephesians 2:6. And then I think Colossians 3:1 4 explains further. Ephesians 2:6. And then. So here's what I did before you comment. So then I went to first John, and I want to add another theme. Another theme added. Because I've been doing these things about the themes. Remember all the ifs and remember all the. We know this. All right, Is this enough? Did y' all need to call a pro?

[C]

Did you get stumped on a question?

[B]

It must have been the wrong number.

[C]

The Willie pop in. We love the Willie.

[B]

Yeah, that was. That was. There were cameras.

[C]

He had, like, a little entourage behind him, all these little minions.

[D]

He got his little minions with him.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's gonna wind up someplace, just so you know. Yeah, he's somewhere outside of your control.

[B]

He wasn't in front of a mic, but he said, did y' all need to call a pro?

[C]

Yeah. Did y' all get stumped on a Bible question? That was his thing.

[D]

I heard. Yeah, I could hear it through the mic. It just sounded like nonsense to me. But, you know, I'm sure in his world, that was meaningful.

[B]

Well, here's my take on that. When you start preaching the reality of Jesus and us being seated with him in the heavenly realms, people start responding. They just start coming, saying, holy Spirit, just move.

[C]

There's our first convert to this.

[D]

I think he felt convicted. I think he felt convicted.

[B]

There was a spiritual awakening that just happened, and we saw great. So here. Here.

[C]

I don't know what the difference in us. And there's a podcast going on next door. The Duck I recorded. He would sit down in there, and that would be the whole rest of their podcast. We're just like, okay, poof, be gone. Let us get back to it.

[B]

We have so many distractions today. They're working on the roof.

[C]

Yeah. If you hear.

[D]

Well, hold on. You got to tell people who that was. Do we even say who it was?

[B]

It was Willie with his little posse, and they were filming.

[C]

There was a little film crew over here behind Maddie. So, Maddie, I'm glad you didn't look toward the camera, because we need you. You got to be. Never look at the camera. You're Part of our mystery.

[B]

So let me show you this. I think you'll love this. All right, let me show you this. So in First John, I looked up, and thanks to human intelligence, they've gathered all these verses for me. So look, the phrase in him or with him is constantly all over the place. But look, think of the difference. And I tried to wrap my head around that. What's the difference in being in him and with him? Because it uses those phrases multiple times in one john. And look all over, especially Paul's writing. I mean, in him, I said, I think are the most two important words. But now I've stumbled upon with him. And when we read the end of First John 2, where he got to chapter three, when he said, when he appears, we'll be like him. So there's your sermon, Al. In him is our current status.

[C]

So, Jase, you got two little pooches. Different personalities between the two.

[B]

I have two that are actually cousins. A male and a female. Buddy and Hazel. And Hazel. She actually does a good job of alerting me when someone I don't know is nearby. Buddy is not good for much at this stage of his life. But we're hoping, Al. We're hoping.

[C]

Yeah. And dogs are different. They're always there for, right? We love them even when they maybe their manners aren't what they're supposed to be or their instincts aren't quite there, but they're there, right? And we love them because they're our pets. And as they get a little bit older, they get a little slower, a little pickier, and sometimes their stomachs get a little bit off. And then we have some issues with that as well. Part of the reason why is that traditional dog food is missing probiotics, enzymes, omega oils, and the live vitamins and minerals that your dog needs to digest and absorb food. Ruff Greens is America's number one dog supplement. You sprinkle right on the food. It's packed with all the live nutrients that they need. Plus, it's all natural. It's made right here in the US Of A. Ruff Greens is helping your dogs feel younger, more energetic, and healthier than they have in years. Your dog could be one of these. And my three eat rough greens every single day. They love it. They're more energetic, their coats are better. So it's a great product. We want you to try it. Check it out. Get a free Jumpstart trial bag for your dog. You just cover the shipping. Go to ruffgreens.com, use the discount code. Unashamed Rough greens. We make any dog food better?

[B]

So when somebody says, what are you doing? I'm seated in the heavenly realms with Christ, but I'm appearing here on Earth because of God's plan. And if you would like to. We got a. We got a chair for you. Right. There's a door that. That's why Jesus said, I am the door.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

The door is open to this access if you want to come.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And rest in Him. That's your position with him is this partnership, this participation, fellowship. That's why we're here on the Earth. We're with him and we will be like Him. That's what happens after we die, or if we're still alive when he comes back, there's going to be a change to this body, where it becomes heavenly. Earthly to heavenly, but still a body. We'll be like Him.

[C]

And you're right, what's happened is most of our understanding of this, and sad to say, most of the teaching that still goes on is in him. And then with him will be the after. And we never get into the, like. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's an early cutoff. Like we're just kind of in a waiting status that's not already amazing. That's what we've kind of missed.

[B]

Exactly.

[C]

Through the process.

[B]

Now, here's the irony and here's why this is hard to wrap your head around. Because for all the passages that says you're either in him with him or be like him or you know him.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

There's a bunch of those. You know him. Well, then it has a contrast, saying, he's in us, he's with us.

[C]

Yeah. So it's like, he's like us. He's made like us in every way.

[B]

Remember, he was made like us. And he knows us. We know him. Oh, he knows us.

[C]

He knows our name.

[B]

So what comes first? Well, he addresses that. Where we're. The next section, we're going to be say. Yeah, he addresses that. What now?

[C]

He.

[B]

He's the initiator. He knows us so we can know Him. I mean, he will be in us

[C]

because he first loved us.

[B]

Yeah. So. And that's. That's the way this participation. But the more you wrap your head around this, the more. The more intimate this becomes. And that's why Paul wrote those things. This is a reality in our mind because part of this is part of this new creation, this new life is just believing in the possibility that there is a door, that he is real. I mean, that gets into your Desires and thoughts. And I think that is the biggest thing to overcome. It's kind of like we were talking about before we started when he. In John 5, when he comes up to the man who had been laying by this pool for years and who had. 40 years. Yeah, almost 40 years. Well, Jesus asked him an interesting question. He's like, do you want to get well? I mean, that. That is such a profound question. Yeah, because you. For that long, you've now become dependent because memory. He was like, well, I can't get to. Yeah, he had all these excuses, which. Why wouldn't you have them? Because that's the way your life is. You pretty much realize that it's probably not going to happen. I mean, you're basically going on a lottery here, remember? Because that little cultural verse that was not in the ancient manuscripts, said it was believed that the first one in there, the angel of the Lord, started the waters or whatever. He's like, do you want to get well? I mean, it's. It's sometimes hard to think outside our box of our earthly existence, so.

[C]

And the interesting thing was, we made the point we were there is the healing he got was way bigger than being able to jump up and run around. I mean, that was a sign for the moment for Jesus, but the healing took place at a far deeper level. It's kind of like, Zach, that. What was the phrase from the. From our Hillsdale podcast, the God is transcendent and imminent. Yeah, I mean, I love that idea that the bigness of God, sometimes it's hard for us to wrap our mind, but that he's with us, that he's in us, that he makes Himself available to us. You know, we talked about that on that other podcast, but that in Jesus, that's exactly what we get. And we really can't understand the other without seeing Jesus, without having him here, without experiencing him being one of us. I think that's how we.

[D]

The incarnation.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Is interesting. I mean, y' all mentioned in the connection to who we are. You mentioned that Hebrews passage, which I actually preached on Sunday, that he had to become like us in every way. And that's in Hebrews, too. And what he says is, before he talks about Christ becoming like us in every way, which is the. That is the incarnation. You know, it's the. It's the transcendent becoming imminent in the incarnation that Christ took on flesh. He became like humans in every single way. He became a human. But before that, he says. He basically says it wasn't the angels to whom God subjected the world to come. That's the kingdom. The world to come is the kingdom. It's the consummated kingdom. And so there's another. Like this world that we're in now. The kingdom's here, but it's not fully realized yet. And so we have this idea that there's another world that's going to come that we're going to be a part of. And he says it wasn't the angels that he subjected that world. That was that. Then he references. He says it's written somewhere. And he references Psalm 8. And when he gives that Psalm 8 passage, he says, what is man? That you are mindful of him, the Son of Man, that you would care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels. And the Psalm 8 passage, to go back and read Psalm 8, what the Psalmist is actually talking about is this dominion that humans possess. And so when Paul. Sorry, not Paul, the Hebrew writer, is writing this, and he says it wasn't the angels to who God subjected the world to come. What he's saying is, it's you, it's the spiritual believers, those who are. Who are connected with the crucified Lord Jesus Christ. We will be actually reigning in the new heavens and the new earth. And the way that he describes that in Psalm 8 is the transcendent and the imminent. Because he starts with God so far above us. He says, if you go back and read Psalm 8, says, oh, Lord, oh, Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth like you have. You are so amazing. And other than. And then the question that arises out of that is, and what is man? That you would even notice him, much less care for him? You know, like, what does it say about us? If you're that amazing and you have us in mind, what does that say about us as humans? And what it ultimately says is, is that Christ has an intention for us. And that intention is to rule, it is to reign, it is to exercise dominion, it is to cultivate a garden. And the way that's accomplished is by Christ being he goes through first and actually accomplishes that. That's why he had to become like us in every way. So when you get to Jace's question that he mentioned, do you even want to be healed? I mean, that's the question. Do you even want this? Because that's the part, I feel like, that some people can't want the healing because they're so attached to whatever the vice is. And it's like that C.S. lewis thing in the Great Divorce when it has that lizard of lust on the. On the guy's shoulder. Remember that? It's like a lizard of, like a lot. It's like it's attached to him. And the angel's like, hey, you. You want me to remove that? Do you even want to be healed? Do you want me to take that away from you? And the guy's like, no, no, it'll kill me. It's gonna hurt. It'll kill me. And the angel's like, yeah, I might kill you, but you want to live like that? The guy's like, no, I don't take it, even if it kills me. And so when the angel takes that, that lizard of lust, he rips it off his shoulder and he throws it on the ground. And then it becomes some creature that then the guy rides and he's in control of. That's the picture, right? Ultimately, when he says, do you want to be healed? What he's saying is, do you want to be ruled by the creation? You want it to rule you, or do you want to rule it? That is the question. And if you don't have an imagination for what could be, then you're going to say, no, I'm going to stick with what I know, and you're going to miss out.

[C]

So, Jase, you and I grew up

[B]

fishing, and I have maintained my love for fishing and my love for consuming. Consuming fresh fish.

[C]

And that's why I'm super excited about one of our sponsors, Wild Alaskan Company.

[D]

It's absolutely amazing. They got a lot of different varieties of fish and, and it's great for you.

[C]

So you get a lot of different varieties. They got sockeye salmon, they got coho salmon, they got Pacific halibut, Pacific cod, Pacific rockfish. And so when you get the box, I got my box, it was all in there. They're all delicious. And, you know, we tell you the truth about food and it's really, really good. Wild Alaskan Company is the real deal and we're excited to have them as our sponsor. It's 100% wild caught, not farm. So there are no antibiotics, GMOs, or additives, just clean. Real fish shipments are flexible, so wild Alaskans live right to your door in perfectly portioned six ounce packages. If you're not much of a cook, they give you expert tips. It's full of nutrients, it tastes great. It's frozen right off the boat. The fish in your combo box varies each month because they only fish for species that are abundant. We love that they want to protect wildlife and Sustainability is such a priority. If you're not completely satisfied with your first box, Wild Alaskan company will give you a full refund. No questions asked, no risks, just high quality seafood. Not all fish are the same. Get seafood that you can trust. Go to wildalaskan.com unashamed for $35 off your first box of premium wild caught seafood. That's wildalaskan.com unassamed for $35 off your first order. He also said when he pulled that lizard off his shoulder, there was a scream that was almost non earthly. It was so such a, you know, he really painted a picture. And I love that idea because the idea is it is hard for us, the concept of putting something ourselves to death. And that's exactly what has to happen. CS Lewis called it the bittersweet, the ultimate bittersweet moment. Because it's difficult to do. I mean, it's hard to lay your life down, you know, which is exactly what this text is about.

[B]

Yeah. So I wanted to give you these examples, just a thumbnail. So in First John 2:5, it says, but if anyone obeys His Word, God's love is truly made complete in Him. All right, Verse six. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. So then 2:24. I mean, you're going to be fascinated how this works. It says, see that you have heard. What you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. First John 2:28 and now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed for him at his coming. Then three six. No one who lives in him keeps on the practice of sinning. Look at 3:24. Those who obey his commands live in Him. I'm going to stop right there. 4:13 it says, We know that we live in Him. I'm going to stop right there. 4:16. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God. Then you have first John 5:20. Of course we know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, even in His Son. Now if you look at the not the opposite, what would you call that? The him and us.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's us and Him. Well, look, it's almost the same verses, but I'll just pick out a few. So look at first John 2:27. As for you, the Anointing you receive from him remains in you. Remains in you. And you do not need anyone to teach you. He's like, you have the Holy Spirit, which is me in you. Yeah. First John 3, 24. Those who obey his commands live in Him. And then I stopped the first time. He and them, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us. We know it by the Spirit he gave us. Isn't this fascinating? Then first John 4. 4, you dear children are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who's in the world. Oh, I just found this fascinating as I continued read verse 12 of chapter 4. Says, no one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. It's hard to get your head around verse 13. We know that we live in him and he in us because of the Spirit, because He has given us of his spirit. 4:15. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him. And he and God, there's another dual 4 16. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. I mean, I don't know how more profound that John can be where he said, don't miss this, this is a two way street. But he puts it in the context of when he starts trying to explain this in detail. And when he says, you know, this is love, not that we love God, it makes more sense of it all. Where's that at? First John 4:10, this is love. Not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. And I only bring that up because he's the initiator of this, but he's welcoming us to him. That's why I believe when Jesus in John 10 said, I'm the door, I know my sheep by name. Why is he saying, why is he going into detail about that? You're like, oh, oh, I need to enter this door. And door pops up all over the New Testament in various ways.

[C]

Yeah. Knocking on the door, the whole thing. Well, and it's interesting because we say this about every fifth podcast we've been in, First John. But if you, if you look at the timeline of now this John, who is an older man, an elder in the church, who has lived now this wisdom, and obviously there's some love that's waning at the end of the first century because that's where we're headed in the next chapter. In chapter four is all about the love of God. But remember when he wrote John, he was a much younger man. It had just happened. But everything Jesus is talking about was only was pointed to because Jesus hadn't died yet. He kept pointing to everything. He was painting these pictures and all of his teaching about what that fellowship would look like. Remember, he spent three chapters talking about the Holy Spirit in 14, 15, 16. And so these disciples, and to your point of Peter just couldn't grasp this idea. How would this be possible, to have this relationship with Yahweh, especially when it was just so fearful. And the idea was it would be so hard to have that intimacy. And Jesus kept saying, but look at me, look at me, look at me, look at me. And then right up to the point of his death, then they all thought, what happened? Then he raised, and then they got it. But they only got it when the Holy Spirit came. Remember, we breathed into them. So I just love it that now in later. That's why he keeps just going back over and over and over again. How many times Jay's just mentioned, because, I mean, how many are repeated? 27 times. I found in my study of chapter four, he mentions love. Yeah, 27 times in 15 verses. I mean, you talk about repetitive. I think he's trying to get them to understand how much God loves us, like you said, and what he did for us and now what that does for us, putting us in the company. Because think about it. You got the Father, you got the Son, you got the Spirit, and now you got us in that fellowship of this triune God. I mean, it really is fascinating that we get to do that because of his love.

[B]

I wanted to show you another example of this. And I think we. I don't know if this kind of hit me, but so in Revelation, and this was me studying about this walking in the light, or whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. There's a lot of walking verses in one John. And it makes me think of when Jesus was doing his miracles and all. And he would hit like the guy by the pool. He gets up and he walks. And so Paul uses this illustration. Unfortunately, the NIV does not translate the word walk in this anymore. So that was unfortunate. But I want to read this. When Paul in Romans 6 says, what shall we say then? Shall we go on sin so that grace may increase and we die to sin? Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. It's not in the niv, but when I looked up the Greek, it was in there. That's why it hit me. And so you say, well, what's my point? Well, when you get to Revelation, and here's a message to seven churches, and the first one in Revelation 2 in Ephesus, which we went through the book of Ephesians, and you remember Ephesus, all this different diversity of human beings from people all over the cultural world.

[C]

How many times did Paul use in Christ or in him, by the way, in the book of Ephesians?

[B]

And look. And if you look up the word walk in the book of Ephesians all over the place, because I did, I think it's seven or eight times. So but watch how this works. He said to the angel of the church in Ephesus, write, these are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand. Because he had just said, you know, John is seeing this vision, and he sees this vision of Jesus where in verse 17 of chapter one, don't be afraid. I'm the first and the last. I'm the living one. I was dead. Behold, I'm alive forever. I hold the keys of death and Hades. This is our king, the king of kings. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw on my right hand, and of the seven golden lampstands, is this the seven stars are the angels or messengers of the seven churches? And the seven lampstands are the seven churches. So there's a lot of debate about, are these stars? Does each church have an angel? Or is this the. The whole point is Jesus has them in his hand. The one holding this is more important. But then it. But here's a little phrase I was going after. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands which we just read, those are the churches. The church is supposed to emit the light of the Lord. We're giving the world a glimpse of what new creation looks like in our world. What I found fascinating is Jesus said he's the one who's walking among them. And we just don't believe that in reality. Look, I think some churches, if they thought about that, they would think, he ain't Walking in here. I can tell you that, because I'm contrasting that by us being seated with him at the right hand of God. We're like, whoa, that can't mean that. Well, I read it to you. It sure seems that was what Paul's implication was, that that's a reality because he doubled down on it in Colossians 3, saying, Put your mind up there because that's where you're at. Meanwhile, he's walking among your fellowship. And you know why I thought of that? Because it takes me back to the garden. You remember what was the Father doing when Adam and Eve were in the garden? Pre sinful act? He was walking. It says the exact phrase that he was walking in the cool of the day among the garden. His presence is there. So I just found that fascinating. He says it again in one of the other churches about walking among in chapter three. I can look it up, but I just didn't know if you had thought about that picture before.

[C]

No, and I think you're exactly right, which is John's point in 1 John, but also in his revelation, because remember, John's the one that gets that revelation. And remember, he had been at this church at Ephesus as an elder for many years. And so he had intimate knowledge of this church and their issues. I'm sure, like any church would have. So his whole tone is this reminder about what your purpose is and who you are. There's a drift that's obviously happened here in this first century church setting from when they first found out about Christ. And they're on fire and they're loving each other and now these doctrines are coming in and Jesus didn't really come here and he wasn't really in flesh because the Greeks had it right. Flesh is bad. So you see all this stuff creep in. It's the same stuff we deal with today. You get off track and you're right. As you realize, we're not really alike because we're fighting with one another. And you know, it becomes this place of gossip and, you know, a detriment. And some people are like, church becomes a negative act. I mean, all of us run into people every single day. They're like, well, I love Jesus, but I hate church. And you're just like, that's a terrible thing that's happened. It's awful.

[B]

Well, even in his letter to them, first he brags on them. He's like, I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. Well, you just need to stop there. Like he's walking among Your church. He knows exactly what's going on. He knows everybody by name. He's fully aware of what's happening here. And he's like, I know that you can't tolerate wicked men, that you've tested those who claim to be apostles but are not. You have found them false. Everything's good here. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary. Fully aware. This is giving you a picture of him walking among your church. Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love, which is why I thought this went in with first John, with him loving us first. That is the definition of love. Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent. Do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I'm going to come to you and remove your lampstand from its place because you're not doing your job. Emitting the. But you have this in your favor. You hate the practices of the nickelodeons, which I also hate. He who has ears, let him hear. Let him hear what the Spirit says of the churches and then watch what he says to him who overcomes. I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God, which he goes back to the garden when the Father was walking along with the first two humans. So we've got the first creation, and now we have the new creation that Jesus introduced. And it's just as intimate.

[C]

Yeah, no, I love that. And it's. Whenever I do Lisa and I speak, I talk about the four year period. Now I got a good verse for it, Jase, because when I was seated in the company of unbelievers, and that's where I went to, and I was denying Christ. Now I got that verse, that, Luke 22:55, that when you're seated among the unbelievers and you're living like they do. The line I use, I always say, during this era of my life, I turned my back on my first love, which was Jesus Christ, because God had protected us through some really rough times before mom and dad were Christians, and I turned my back on him. And then in that interim of time, ironically, I also turned my back on my second love, which is now the love of my life, my wife as well, and crushed her. So you're capable of anything in the dark, is my point. Which is why the Bible is just pleading to not be seated in that place, to be seated in the heavenly realms. What an opportunity. And why would you ever want to go back to the darkness. Once you've seen the light, why would you ever want to go back to being the guy that was sitting by the pool that didn't want to get well, you know, he never went back there. That guy never went back to that pool. He gone, he gone. He's like. He's up and hopping, skipping, jumping someplace, but he ain't going back there, which why would you ever want to.

[B]

The other analogy was in Revelation 3, when he at the church in Sardis, he's like, these are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God, the sevenfold spirit and the seven stars which he'd already been through. I know your deed. You have a reputation of being alive, but you're dead. Yeah, wake up. Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of God. He's walking, saying, what are you doing? You're not acting like you've been made alive. You're not seated with me in the heavenly realms. I'm walking through and watching what you're doing. Remember, therefore, what you've received and heard, obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief. And then he gets to verse four and he's like, yet. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. That's his analogy. They will walk with me dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will like them be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge their name before my Father and his angels, which is where we're seated.

[C]

I love that as a callback here, because we're out of time. Zach, what you described in that concert was your son and daughter being a light for Jesus by giving him that glory in the middle of a concert. That's what we do. That's the moment, you see, that's what we're called to do. And that's in the everyday. That's not a once a week thing or, you know, just somewhere in a church building. That's anywhere. That's anywhere during the walk. You want to be that light and

[B]

you want to shine it makes First John 1:7 ring more true. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.

[C]

I love it. And that used to be a verse, used to say, you got to get yourself back in church. It's way bigger than that, boys. We're seated in the heavenly realm. All right, we'll get back into it. Next time. Don't Unashame thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. And don't miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube. And be sure to click the little bell and choose all notifications to watch every episode.