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Crazy Good God

Crazy Good God, do you know Him? He's somethin' else! And He thinks you are AWESOME! My fifteen minute Episodes eventually became five minute Quick Deep Points. The QDPs will make you ponder! Episodes launch every Wednesday morning 5am. Since a child I was told about Jesus. Over the years there have been difficulties and losses that have heightened understanding of who He is. I was involved in numerous ministries and church leadership for several decades. There were many opportunities to see God at work. But, it wasn’t until 2012 that the Lord took me on a journey to discover the mystery of the Gospel, the wonder of Jesus’s incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. All of it involves us! For over ten years (hey, I’m a slow learner!) He exposed and dismantled religious mindsets that blocked my understanding of who He really is. Crazy good! Join me on a wondrous adventure to encounter and grasp Jesus's finished work. Religious Christianity tells us there are things we have to do or say to get saved. But, Jesus said, "It is finished." What does that mean? Sounds like Jesus did it all. God just wants us to enjoy His life. He freely gives it to all. All we do is RECEIVE! This crazy good God is head over heels in love with you and all mankind. He made us in His image and likeness so He doesn't make junk! God sees the hidden treasure in everyone. The fall of man brought darkened understanding, deception, and ignorance. The first lie was Adam and Eve thought God was holding out on them and really didn't care about them. What a big fat lie! Man still believes God is distant, aloof, angry, disappointed and we must do something to get back to God. But, Jesus said, "It is finished." Now, why do we think we have to do something? Get ready to be wowed! Find out jaw-dropping truths that will expose many lies you've believed about God. If you’ve tried to serve Him and still feel guilty, must do more, just plain worn out, then listen in. The truth is renewing and the Truth is FOR YOU! If you don't know God, never heard of Jesus, or could care less about God, then check out Crazy Good God podcast. You will be surprised and discover God is actually fun! I will even share some fascinating visions and dreams God has given me. They mean even more in light of Jesus' finished work. How cool is that?! QUESTIONS COMMENTS - I'd love to hear from you! CONTACT ME nancy@crazygoodgod.org (Music by joystock.org)

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How yeast super effective No striving in God's kingdom His way simple

November 09, 2022 • Nancy Teague • Episode 40

0:00 | 5:53

E40 Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” Jesus said “Strive to enter through the narrow gate. For many, I say to you will seek to enter and will not be able.” This sounds hopeless! Is this what Jesus meant? Leaven (or yeast) is key to understanding what He meant. There’s even a comical aspect in how the disciples couldn’t understand how simple His way is, and actually didn’t like it. Jesus redefines ‘works of God’!

40E TRANSCRIPT How yeast super effective No striving in God's kingdom His way simple

www.crazygoodgod.org

Nancy Teague

nancy@crazygoodgod.org

Nov 9, 2022

Hi there, welcome to crazy Good God podcast. I'm Nancy Teague and thanks for listening.

00:16 What do narrow gate, leaven, signs, believe have to do with work?

00:24 Last week's episode unfolded. How Jesus is the narrow gate and took the difficult way for us. This meant no striving on our part to be in the Kingdom because Jesus became everything for us.

00:36 But then I came across this seeming contradiction in Luke 13, someone asked Jesus, "Lord. Are there few who are saved?" Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate. For many, I say to you will seek to enter and will not be able.” Is Jesus saying you have to work at it?

01:00 Actually, He is saying, in context - 'Go ahead, try all you want. Many will seek to enter by striving and none will succeed.' Here's why I can say this. Prior to ‘Strive to enter’, Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened. That little bit of yeast affected the whole lump! The Kingdom of God is like that - profoundly effective in its hidden silent working in humanity. The narrow gate and difficult way of incarnation, death and inclusive resurrection are like leaven.

01:44 What a contrast! The hidden leaven of His finished work for all humanity versus mankind striving and working to enter the narrow gate or get others to.

01:56 Here's a great incident in John 6 showing our penchant to do something to get in the Kingdom versus just believe.

02:06 Jesus had fed 5000. That multiplied food was like leaven affecting all. After this miracle, Jesus left, but the masses looking for him were shocked to finally find Him on the other side of the sea. Jesus said to them, “Truly you seek me not because you saw the signs. But because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” In other words, 'your personal gain drove you here'.

02:36 And then he said, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures - in the Greek, that means, abide remains the food to everlasting life, which I give to you. Hmm, no striving here.

02:53 Well, then what happened? The disciples didn't get it! They asked, “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Isn't that something? Just like sincere believers today. What must I do to get saved? What must I do to please you? What must I do to save others?

03:14 Jesus’ answer to their question, ‘What shall we do’ is opposite of His ‘Strive to enter’. Religion’s interpretation of that is - work hard to get saved. But, remember Jesus was saying – ‘Go ahead, try all you want to enter.’

03:30 Here's the true answer to ‘What must I do’. Jesus said, “This is the work of God that you BELIEVE in him whom He sent.” That's it. ‘Believe in Him’. In, the Greek eis e-i-s – into, motion into which implies penetration, union. Jesus is talkin’ about relationship, connection, oneness.

03:58 Did the disciples get it? Nope. Because then they asked, “What sign will you perform then that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert...” Ha. Here they are back to signs and works. Jesus responded, ‘I am the bread of life. Come to Me, you won't hunger or thirst. You've seen Me, yet you do not believe.” If we focus on ‘What must I do, what must they do - we won't see Jesus.

04:35 One last thought. Jesus told the disciples that His Father's will meant ‘all He has given Me, I lose nothing but raise it up.’ Now fit this with Hebrews 10. Jesus said, “I came to do Your will, O God.” Then it states, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”

05:06 Narrow gate Difficult way Leaven Signs Believe - all point to Jesus’ work, not ours! Jesus did the difficult way to reconcile and restore. We get to simply enter into and enjoy. This is for all! Jesus loses none! It's His working to bring revelation of this crazy good work of sanctification.

Until next Wednesday, bliss to you and never forget God is absolutely crazy about you!

References: Mt 7:13,14 Lk 13:23,24 Lk 13:18,19 Jn 6:2-39 Jn 6:25-29 Jn 6:30 Heb 10:9,10 Eph 2:4-8 Rom 4:25 Heb 2:11 2Tim 1:9,10