WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.859 Everyone, it's lovely to be together this morning. 00:00:03.940 --> 00:00:05.820 My name is Graham and I'm the pastor here of the church. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.159 And then we're going to pray and we'll get into it together. 00:00:33.259 --> 00:00:34.659 So this is me reading from the NIV. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:37.619 The NIV is also on the screen behind me. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:40.079 This is Jesus speaking. 00:00:41.460 --> 00:00:44.899 Do not judge or you too will be judged. 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:48.640 For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged. 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:52.900 And with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:57.400 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:00.179 and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 00:01:01.019 --> 00:01:02.460 How can you say to your brother, 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:04.400 let me take the speck out of your eye 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.219 when all the time there's a plank in your own eye? 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:09.140 You hypocrite. 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:12.159 First take the plank out of your own eye 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:15.939 and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:19.039 Do not give to the dogs what is sacred. 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:21.900 Do not throw your pearls to pigs. 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:25.180 If you do, they may trample them under their feet 00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:27.760 and turn and tear you to pieces. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.220 Ask and it will be given to you. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:33.100 Seek and you will find. 00:01:33.320 --> 00:01:35.780 Knock and the door will be opened to you. 00:01:36.740 --> 00:01:39.120 For everyone who asks receives. 00:01:39.980 --> 00:01:41.480 The one who seeks finds. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:44.719 And to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:48.960 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:52.540 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 00:01:52.540 --> 00:01:56.180 If you then, though you are evil, 00:01:56.880 --> 00:01:58.920 know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:04.900 how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? 00:02:06.020 --> 00:02:11.780 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:16.420 For this sums up the law and the prophets. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:19.920 And God will bless the reading of his word to us this morning. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:22.939 Father, we just pray as we think about this passage today, 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:27.659 realizing, Lord, how difficult a subject this is in so many ways. 00:02:28.619 --> 00:02:31.759 Father, we pray that what we know not, you would teach us. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:34.339 What we have not, you would give us. 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:37.179 And particularly what we are not, you would make us. 00:02:37.839 --> 00:02:40.319 And we can pray that boldly and expectantly 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:43.479 because we pray it in the wonderful name of your son, Jesus. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:44.859 Amen. 00:02:46.099 --> 00:02:46.500 Amen. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:48.900 Well, folks, keep that passage open in front of you. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.139 Complete the phrase, popularized by Elton John. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.939 I'm going to go with 1986, but I can't remember off the top of my head. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:02:58.680 What seems to be the hardest word? 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:02.199 Question. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:07.580 Have you ever wondered why that's true? 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:10.620 See, while you're thinking on it, 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:14.900 here's what I reckon on the flip side is the easiest word. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:21.240 Particularly when it comes to critiquing the motives and the failings of others. 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:24.580 If sorry seems to be the hardest word, 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:27.900 I tell you what, I think guilty seems to be the easiest word. 00:03:29.640 --> 00:03:30.400 Same question. 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:32.620 Have you ever wondered why that's true? 00:03:35.099 --> 00:03:38.219 And at this point, let me be the first to put my hand up and say, 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:41.580 Hi, my name is Graham and I've got a judging problem. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:47.139 I'm my own best self-defense lawyer. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:50.139 I love to play judge and jury. 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:53.840 I cut myself meters worth of slack, 00:03:54.139 --> 00:03:58.079 but I offer a shoelace size worth of it to others. 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:01.900 And I desperately need Jesus to change my heart. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:07.560 And if you're like me, you're thinking the exact same thing. 00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:08.580 Do you know the good news? 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:13.379 Is that that's the precise thing that Jesus speaks into today 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:15.740 because he's desperate to heal us of it. 00:04:17.660 --> 00:04:19.680 Now, let me give you two bits of context 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.459 that will color in the background to these verses. 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:23.319 They're really important. 00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:24.160 Here's number one. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.880 Remember the disciples are swimming in the cultural waters 00:04:27.880 --> 00:04:30.320 dominated by the Pharisees, 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.740 the religious leaders of the day. 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:35.840 Do you know what their favorite hymn is? 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:37.740 The chorus goes like this. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:41.600 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, 00:04:42.260 --> 00:04:44.280 earned by a star like me. 00:04:46.260 --> 00:04:48.340 They get grace in the head, 00:04:49.140 --> 00:04:52.240 but they think that God shows them that grace 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.699 because of their religious devotion to his law. 00:04:56.420 --> 00:04:57.620 And that's why they, 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:00.740 maybe we've tracked with this over the number of weeks 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:01.720 in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:05:01.840 --> 00:05:05.720 That is why they are intent on lowering the bar 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:07.199 when it comes to the law. 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:11.000 Therefore, making it easier for people to try and obey it 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:14.259 or for them to feel like they're obeying it. 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:17.780 Because then they can feel really good about themselves 00:05:17.780 --> 00:05:19.879 because their good deeds have got themselves 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:21.319 into God's good books. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:23.639 But the gospel doesn't work like that. 00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:28.240 And Jesus unmasks them and says, 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:31.000 they are proud lovers of self. 00:05:31.099 --> 00:05:32.860 They are like Snow White's apple. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.159 They look really juicy and life-giving on the outside, 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:37.439 but you take one bite of it 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.139 and it's full of poison on the inside. 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:43.240 And because they get grace in the head, 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:45.379 but it hasn't penetrated their hearts, 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.019 do you know what's their speciality? 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:49.439 Judging others. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:53.660 Bit of context number two. 00:05:53.779 --> 00:05:57.600 In stark contrast to the inner life of the Pharisees, 00:05:57.740 --> 00:05:59.680 Jesus is speaking to his disciples 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:03.939 about how through his death and resurrection, 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:06.300 how united to him, 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:10.560 they can know God as their father. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.879 And that, dear friends, 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.939 is the most wonderful privilege that any human being could know. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:19.699 As the late English theologian D.I. Packer put it, 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:23.240 if you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:27.160 find out how much he makes of the thought of being God's child 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:31.500 and having God as his father. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:36.380 And Jesus has been spotlighting, 00:06:36.460 --> 00:06:37.720 in light of that privilege, 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:41.500 the things that might trip up disciples 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:46.760 in terms of living out that truth. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.699 And we thought about a few of these things over the last few weeks. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:51.420 We thought about money, 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:52.439 if you remember that. 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.240 We thought about worry last week. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:58.139 And this morning, 00:06:58.139 --> 00:06:59.759 we are thinking about judging. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:03.219 So Jesus is particularly talking in the context here 00:07:03.219 --> 00:07:06.800 about relationships between people in the church. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.819 And he's going to land it, 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:10.579 if you've got it there, 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:11.639 at verse 12. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:13.920 Have a look at it there if you've got it. 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:15.460 Do you see verse 12? 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:18.259 And do you see the first word of verse 12? 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:21.780 It's the word so, 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.139 which tells us that the purpose of everything 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:29.080 that Jesus has just said in the previous 11 verses 00:07:29.080 --> 00:07:32.560 is designed to get us there. 00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:34.879 So if you like, 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:36.759 that's where the heat of this sermon is. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:37.379 That bit, 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.819 that's where we're aiming today. 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:42.199 And with that verse in mind, 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:45.600 can I tell you what's been in my head all week 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:46.520 what I've been thinking about? 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.579 Here's the question. 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:52.980 How would I like to be treated by others? 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:57.819 Particularly when it comes to my failings. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:00.259 What's on your bingo card? 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:02.460 Can I give you mine? 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:03.000 Here it is. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.040 I'd like people to be patient with me 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:06.980 when I make mistakes. 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:10.600 I'd like people to be quick to forgive me 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:11.620 when I get it wrong. 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:16.160 I'd people to be quick to reach out and say, 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.840 I was slightly offended by that comment you made. 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:22.260 I would love to forgive you. 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:23.220 Do you see it? 00:08:23.520 --> 00:08:24.740 I'd love people to say that. 00:08:24.960 --> 00:08:27.060 I'd love people to give me the benefit of the doubt 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:28.220 again when I get it wrong. 00:08:28.880 --> 00:08:30.340 And on and on and on and on, 00:08:30.400 --> 00:08:32.560 this list could go about how I would love others 00:08:32.560 --> 00:08:34.639 to treat me when it comes to my failings. 00:08:35.300 --> 00:08:36.600 It's quite the wish list. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:41.879 Now I'm going to fly a kite here 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:44.779 and say that your list is probably quite similar to mine. 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:49.720 And here's a thought for you at the start. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.500 Would you not love to be part of a church community like that? 00:08:58.540 --> 00:09:00.820 Which means we desperately need to pay attention 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:03.160 to how Jesus gets to that soul. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:04.460 Yeah? 00:09:05.520 --> 00:09:07.440 And so we're going to take in what Jesus is saying here 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.160 just under two headings. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:11.840 If you're a note taker, these are the two headings. 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:13.180 If you're not, just get into the habit of that. 00:09:13.260 --> 00:09:14.879 Just try and break it up like an orange. 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:16.280 Just don't bite it all at once. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:17.220 Just try and break it up. 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:18.600 Here's number one. 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:20.220 We've taken in verses one to six. 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:21.040 Jesus is saying, 00:09:21.540 --> 00:09:23.640 you need to work hard to see clearly. 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:28.480 And I think verse one is a prime contender 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:31.360 for being the most misquoted verse in all of the Bible. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:33.039 You see it? 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:35.919 Because we'll come on to see 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:38.259 that Jesus is all for judging rightly. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:42.480 What he's dead against is judgmentalism. 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.100 And to make his point, 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:49.059 he uses a bit of observational comedy. 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:50.919 Friends, if you're here today 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:52.620 and you think Jesus wasn't funny, 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:54.860 let this prove you wrong. 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:57.539 And he's taking it straight from a setting 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:00.159 that Jesus would be very familiar with, 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:03.399 the carpenter's workshop. 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:04.700 So Bogdan, are you here? 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:07.759 Bogdan, I saw you itching at your eye earlier 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.240 and I really don't want you to get conjunctivitis. 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:11.679 So can I just come here 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.560 and I'm just going to take it out of your eye. 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:14.600 Okay? 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:17.620 So Bogdan, this is only going to work, bro, 00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:18.440 if you stay still. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:19.740 Okay? 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:22.399 Bogdan, you're making this a lot harder 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:23.980 than it needs to be. 00:10:25.199 --> 00:10:26.740 Bogdan, I don't think you're getting this. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.579 You can sit down. 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:30.379 Okay. 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:32.579 So, here's the question. 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:37.000 Do you see how Jesus is using humor 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:38.059 to make a serious point? 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:41.659 And what do they say humor does to people 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:44.599 in terms of receiving really hard things to hear? 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.639 It lowers the defenses. 00:10:47.459 --> 00:10:47.579 Yeah? 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.859 So, in this story, 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:51.959 Jesus probably doesn't even need to say it 00:10:51.959 --> 00:10:53.699 as people laugh at what he's saying. 00:10:54.199 --> 00:10:56.000 What does everybody hearing this 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.639 know needs to happen first? 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.439 The man needs to take the log out of his own eye. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:01.899 Yeah? 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.399 That's exactly what he's saying here. 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:07.340 I'd imagine this is a bit like 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.159 when you're on a plane 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:11.840 and they tell you to fit your own oxygen mask 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.179 first before trying to help others. 00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:14.779 It's got that, 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.379 those kind of vibes to it. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:22.000 So, you see what Jesus is saying, right? 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:26.159 If the Chuckle Brothers did a sketch like that, 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:27.759 we'd have been hysterics, wouldn't we? 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:31.220 He's using humor to make a serious point. 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:33.399 And so, here is the serious point. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:36.580 First diagnostic question of this passage. 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:39.419 Friends, are we willing to see our heart issues? 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:43.919 And it's worth reflecting on that phrase 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.139 that Jesus uses there. 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.000 Do you see it? 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:49.679 Do not notice. 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:51.340 Again, look at it in the text. 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:53.740 Or pay no attention to. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:55.000 Do you see that in verse 3? 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:58.480 Now, it could be the things in our lives 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:02.639 we are willfully refusing to face them. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.220 And Jesus is saying that's a problem. 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.440 I read one commentator this week 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.159 and he put it like this. 00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:10.460 I thought it was really interesting. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:13.519 It's so often the case that 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.039 what we condemn in others 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:18.399 are the very weaknesses we know exist in us. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.360 And that we're scared to face up to 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.059 in ourselves. 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:24.840 And that's kind of true, isn't it? 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:29.079 How often the failings that I dislike in other people 00:12:29.079 --> 00:12:33.259 and are so quick to pick up on 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:36.799 are the exact things that are issues for me. 00:12:38.939 --> 00:12:40.299 Some questions for you, friends. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.120 When was the last time that you and I 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.559 held our hands up and said, 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:45.919 I think I got it wrong? 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:50.580 When was the last time we owned a mistake? 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:52.920 When was the last time we said, 00:12:53.520 --> 00:12:54.600 Fair Cop Gov? 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.620 When was the last time we said, 00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:58.660 Sorry? 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.100 See if the honest answer to those questions is, 00:13:03.900 --> 00:13:05.200 I can't remember. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:08.680 Then can I lovingly suggest 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:10.800 that we shouldn't take that to mean 00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:12.879 that in life we're playing a blinder. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.000 It is much more likely to be the case 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:20.700 that that is an indicator of a proud heart. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.820 Where would you love to change? 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.820 We always need to remember 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:31.399 that the best looking Christian 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:33.340 is one growing by the Spirit 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.720 into the likeness of Jesus. 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.100 And so where would you love to change? 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:42.940 But something else do not notice could mean, 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.320 if you think about it, 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.180 is that we just don't see our problems. 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.800 It's one of the first things they teach you 00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:53.399 when you're learning to drive, isn't it? 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:55.340 How to use your car mirrors properly 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:57.040 and very quickly, 00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:59.480 just before mirror signal maneuver, 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:01.460 what do they say you've got to be aware of? 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.600 Your blind spots. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.820 We've all got them. 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:07.580 Problem is, by very definition, 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:10.400 we just don't see them. 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:13.980 And that's why we need people around us 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:16.600 who are lovingly invested in us enough, 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.379 who can gently and lovingly point them 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:21.700 out to us in love. 00:14:24.020 --> 00:14:25.680 But back to the comedy sketch, 00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:27.420 let's assume that the log is out. 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:31.060 What does Jesus say 00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:33.240 is now able to happen for that person? 00:14:33.400 --> 00:14:33.879 Have a look. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:36.400 What are they now able to do? 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:40.800 Take the speck out of their brother's eye. 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.759 And don't miss how radical a thing that is. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.340 Particularly in our world 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:48.720 where we are bombarded with that slogan, 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.120 each to their own. 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:53.600 And that is where it stops. 00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:56.879 I mean, who are you to judge others? 00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:58.879 Do you not remember Thumper Rabbit from Bambi? 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.100 If you can't say nothing nice, 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:01.360 don't say nothing at all. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.120 But according to Jesus, 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:06.580 your brother has still got a speck in his eye. 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.220 And if you love him, 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:12.799 you'll speak into the speck. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:17.459 Which takes us to the second diagnostic question 00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:19.059 that this passage asks us. 00:15:19.979 --> 00:15:23.139 Friends, are we willing to say the hard things? 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:27.819 Our job is not to be like girls in a hen do 00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:30.279 who will only say nice things to the bride-to-be, 00:15:30.699 --> 00:15:32.879 or to be like the guys down the pub with their mates 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.199 who put the world to rights, 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:36.220 but talking about the serious things of life 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.680 is completely out of bounds. 00:15:38.540 --> 00:15:39.920 Hear me when I say, friends, 00:15:40.040 --> 00:15:43.620 that echo chambers might be comfortable and affirming, 00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:45.379 but they are terrible places 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:47.000 for the development of our character. 00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:51.280 And that's why the local church, 00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:55.040 this network of people, 00:15:56.160 --> 00:16:00.980 is the God-given arena for us to grow in godliness. 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:04.080 That's why if you're here today, 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.800 maybe you're a student new to the city, 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.139 you've literally just arrived, 00:16:07.280 --> 00:16:08.820 maybe you're starting a job here, 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:11.160 can I plead with you to prioritize 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:13.160 finding a local church? 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:18.060 Do we have people in our lives 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:20.420 who we have given express permission to 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:22.980 to tell us the things that we might not want to hear, 00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:24.480 but that we need to hear? 00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:27.500 And do you notice what has happened 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:32.180 by the time we get to the end of this comedy sketch? 00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:34.120 Blink and you might miss this. 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:34.899 Look what's happened. 00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.919 Do you notice 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:40.379 that both people are now seeing clearly? 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.139 What a win for the health of the church. 00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.679 Now listen, really quickly as we move on, 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:51.279 this idea of seeing clearly 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.719 carries on to what Jesus talks about 00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.399 when he says, 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.859 throwing pearls before swine. 00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:58.559 Don't have an awful lot of time to get this, 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.139 but I just wanted us to touch on it. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.299 I take it Jesus is talking about 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:04.259 if the gospel is the pearl 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:06.720 by the swine he's got in mind, 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.559 I take it those who continue to reject the gospel. 00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:13.179 He's got in mind those people who we speak to 00:17:13.179 --> 00:17:15.720 who aren't interested in seeing clearly. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:18.940 And that can be hugely discouraging 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.919 just to own that. 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.500 Remember living in halls at uni, 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:25.000 right next door to a girl called Alice. 00:17:25.159 --> 00:17:26.759 Alice and I got on great guns, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:29.240 but she made it very clear from the start, 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.180 abundantly clear, 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.480 that she just wasn't interested 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.759 in any of my God stuff. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.519 And that's fine. 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:37.059 Just kept trying to take opportunities, 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:39.460 kept trying to speak to her. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.879 But then the Lord opened my eyes to say, 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.819 there's actually another 600 people in this hall 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.339 so you need to keep speaking to. 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.599 And so I take it, friends, 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:51.900 that it's true that there is a time 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:53.960 when we need to leave people with the Lord 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.519 and perhaps move on 00:17:56.519 --> 00:18:00.100 and to start speaking to other people in our lives 00:18:00.100 --> 00:18:02.360 who don't know Jesus. 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.980 We want to tease that out a bit more. 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:06.960 Just grab somebody who you've come with this morning 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.720 or one of the elders. 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:10.579 We'd love to pray into that a bit more with you, 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.779 but we need to move on. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.759 Flowing on from seeing clearly. 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.819 Second thing that Jesus says is, 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.340 verse 7 to 12. 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:21.759 Look up and ask trustingly. 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.359 So when Jesus says, 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.740 ask, seek, knock, 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:28.959 I think this is Jesus just saying the same thing 00:18:28.959 --> 00:18:31.839 three times in complimentary ways. 00:18:32.939 --> 00:18:33.439 Why? 00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:39.199 Because he knows that we so quickly forget. 00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:41.699 What's the key to education? 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.059 Repetition. 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.399 Do you see how he says it? 00:18:44.459 --> 00:18:46.199 Not once, not twice, three times. 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:49.259 Because he knows that we're slow to believe this. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:52.539 And what this says is ultimately another opportunity 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:54.120 to gaze at the heart of our Father. 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:57.740 And to get us thinking along those lines, 00:18:57.880 --> 00:18:58.620 Jesus says, 00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.019 do you see, 00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.620 I want you to think about 00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:03.640 what kind of parent you are 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:06.539 or perhaps the kind of parent that you had. 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.180 And again, 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.680 this is where I need to hold my hands up 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.840 and say to you 00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:13.259 that nothing has revealed my heart issues 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.440 quite like being a parent. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:17.480 And there have been moments 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.680 when in the cool of the day 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.640 when I've honestly reflected on my actions 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.680 and I've thought to myself, 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:24.960 perhaps impatience is a bigger deal in my life 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.860 than I think it is. 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:29.279 Perhaps I'm not over anger. 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:30.100 I'm actually, 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:33.059 I still am deep down an angry man. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:36.460 I go good cop when I should have gone bad cop. 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:39.200 I often go bad cop when I should have gone good cop. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:42.420 But here's the thing. 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:43.759 See, 00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:47.940 despite all the messed up work in progress nature of my heart, 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.660 I have never, 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:50.720 ever wanted anything 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.460 than to give my children what is good for them. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.720 And that's Jesus' point 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.400 is he uses another bit of first century humor. 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:00.799 You know, 00:20:00.840 --> 00:20:02.519 if I could translate what Jesus is saying 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.539 at verses nine and 10, 00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:05.500 have a look at it there into modern terms. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.900 This is the equivalent of wrapping a, 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:09.360 he's saying you would never do this. 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:10.920 You would never wrap a Christmas present, 00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.080 put it under the tree 00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:13.160 and on Christmas morning, 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.480 invite your child to open it 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:14.740 and say, 00:20:14.820 --> 00:20:15.860 what's that little rosy? 00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:17.400 Does it look like a squishmallow? 00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:18.019 What is it? 00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:18.240 No, 00:20:18.280 --> 00:20:19.360 it's a live hand grenade. 00:20:19.560 --> 00:20:20.220 Ha ha ha ha. 00:20:22.060 --> 00:20:22.920 That's what he's saying, 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.320 isn't it? 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.400 And here's Jesus' point. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:28.200 You would never dream of doing that 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.080 and you are, 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.160 do you see the word he uses? 00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:32.080 You are evil. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.340 You would never dream of doing that 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.400 and yet you are evil. 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.660 How much more then? 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.700 And we've seen that logic 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.620 that Jesus has been using 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.920 over the last number of weeks. 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:42.440 How much more then 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.980 will your perfect heavenly father 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:48.200 give you exactly what you need? 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.100 And again, 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.720 two quick diagnostic questions. 00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.900 Here's the first one. 00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:53.680 Friends, 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:56.680 will we trust his definition of good? 00:20:58.600 --> 00:21:00.640 Back to the parent-child thing again. 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.340 You know, 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.080 there are times 00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:03.580 when our kids ask for things 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:05.419 and it's just a no. 00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:08.279 Other times, 00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:10.460 it's a not now. 00:21:12.199 --> 00:21:12.579 Right? 00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.579 Maybe a mobile phone, 00:21:13.679 --> 00:21:14.139 one day, 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.119 not when you're 10. 00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:15.679 Right? 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.699 Not now. 00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.500 Sometimes, 00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:21.419 it's a yes. 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.519 But the thing is, 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.879 whichever option you choose, 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.539 the thing is, 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.419 you're trying to communicate 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:27.220 that the answer that we're given 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.500 is rooted in the fact 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.360 that we love you. 00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:32.680 How much more then 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.820 does our heavenly father 00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:34.880 who is for us 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:37.460 and has his full affection on us 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:39.240 because our lives are united to Christ, 00:21:39.560 --> 00:21:41.660 how much more is he the perfect parent 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:43.279 with no speck in his eye? 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:46.060 How much more will he give us 00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:48.240 what is good? 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:50.480 And friends, 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:52.359 what if that definition of good 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:55.019 included that which is tough? 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.880 How many of us in this room 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.420 have stories 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:01.539 that God took us through trials, 00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:03.440 trials that we would never have chosen, 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.960 but that we came through them 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.779 knowing our heavenly father 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:09.079 so much better 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.900 than we ever did before. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:13.440 There'll be a lot of stories 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.500 in this room like that. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:18.319 But maybe just go and pastoral 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.880 for a moment. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.440 I know so many of you 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.440 are in this room just now 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:23.039 and perhaps you're in the place 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.140 or you've been in the place 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.299 and you hear me say that, 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.180 you read this text 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:26.779 and you think, 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.240 not convinced. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.859 Because I've been praying 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:32.180 for something for years 00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:34.259 and it just feels like 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:36.019 I'm getting voicemail. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.339 And dear friends, 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:43.000 the only thing I can say 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.740 in love 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:46.400 and desiring to walk with you 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.420 through life 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.660 and that's what church community 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:49.380 is all about. 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.779 Just encourage you to see 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.599 that Jesus knows 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.400 what that is like. 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.920 He knows what it is 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.880 for him to pray 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:59.440 to his father 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.519 and for his father 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.619 to stay silent. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.339 Because fast forward 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.680 to the end of Matthew's gospel 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:06.440 and I have no idea 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.099 when we'll get there 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.680 but we will. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.440 On the cusp of the cross 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:11.099 in the garden of Gethsemane, 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.700 Jesus would cry out 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.920 and remember 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.220 the thought before him 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.819 of the cross 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:17.360 was utterly terrifying. 00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:19.340 That is why he sweats, 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:21.759 he sweats drops of blood 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.360 and he prays, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.660 Lord, would this cup 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.900 pass from me 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:27.880 and yet silence. 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:31.600 But fully submissive 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:32.640 to the will of his father, 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:35.160 he goes there. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.860 And so the plea, 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.660 pastorally, 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.980 is all of us 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.500 to consider Jesus. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.279 And because he went there, 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.819 because he did that 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:49.640 in our Genesis 3 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:51.279 east of Eden world 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.460 where evil things happen 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:55.220 and we can call them evil 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:57.759 and life is full of loose ends 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.339 and hurts and heartaches, 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.380 this word good 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.039 means that we can play 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.000 the long game 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.180 knowing the father's heart. 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:09.400 we can look forward 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:12.080 to heaven 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:14.720 and to him 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.640 and not that he's 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.420 at the finish line 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.740 just waiting for us to come. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.240 He's with us 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.560 through every single 00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:23.620 heartache and pain 00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.740 and tear that we shed. 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:29.120 And so second question 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:30.060 and we land with this, 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:32.480 will we embrace 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.440 his example 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.240 of good? 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.399 And perhaps 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.240 if that last application 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.339 point was wide, 00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:40.460 I think this application 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.460 point is narrow 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.139 and it's probably 00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:42.779 where the grain 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.359 of the text 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.019 is leading us 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:44.700 because I think 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.480 in the context 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.259 of those verses, 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:47.980 Jesus is still 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.899 talking about 00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:49.679 relationships 00:24:49.679 --> 00:24:50.740 with other people 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.480 in the church. 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.980 So he's not 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.119 changed the subject. 00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:56.079 This can so often 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.440 read like an AOCB. 00:24:57.679 --> 00:24:58.220 We were talking about 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.019 that in sermon prep 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.460 this week, 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.480 an AOCB to the 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.019 Sermon on the Mount 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.460 where he's just 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.299 chucking in things 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.740 randomly. 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.599 I think there's a lot 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.700 more purpose to that 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.299 than that. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.460 He's not changed 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:07.940 the subject. 00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.599 And I think this is 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.160 where we need to 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.059 close it today 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:11.680 as we think about 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.400 our life together. 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.619 You know, 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.279 I was up in, 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.879 we were up in Aberdeen 00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:16.700 for John and Ali's 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.859 wedding on Thursday. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.200 And it's actually 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.680 the first time 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.359 that I've been back 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:21.920 in Aberdeen 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.900 since I graduated 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.319 from there in 2008. 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.119 Shocking. 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.799 But we're driving 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.539 the streets 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:29.599 and I'm giving 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.539 Alex the tour. 00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:31.920 This big part 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.319 of my life 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.339 that she never knew 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:33.619 and I'm giving 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:33.899 him the tour. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.879 That's where 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.639 our halls 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.500 of residence were. 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:36.859 That's where 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:38.379 the lecture halls 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:38.720 were. 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.759 And that was 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.059 my first flat 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.559 when I moved 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.259 out of university. 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:42.779 And I scored 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.480 a great goal 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.139 on that football 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.839 pitch as if she 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.359 was caring. 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.299 But all these 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.859 memories come 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.559 flooding back to 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:48.920 me of that 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.079 season of my life. 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:50.440 But do you know 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.180 what else came 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.899 flooding back to me 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.420 in that same 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:52.759 moment? 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.059 It was all 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.859 the mistakes I 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.180 made. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:59.159 particularly when 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:00.180 it comes to 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.960 how I treated 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.579 people. 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.519 And it struck 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.359 me afresh 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.379 because I knew 00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:07.859 we were preaching 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:09.039 this this morning. 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.599 Just how 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.559 patient 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.399 our Father 00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:14.139 is 00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:15.480 with us. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.639 And the thing 00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.420 is we probably 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.319 have no 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.059 idea. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.180 And knowing 00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.200 his patient, 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.599 patient 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:27.000 with me 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.519 who is 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.179 evil 00:26:28.179 --> 00:26:30.359 character 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:32.159 should change 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:33.179 how we view 00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:33.980 and relate 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.740 to other 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.139 people. 00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:35.799 Do you see it? 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.699 Because see if that 00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.299 word good is 00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:37.740 simply about 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.759 material things, 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.359 if God gives 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.799 me the good 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.039 things, 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:40.859 that's not 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.439 going to help 00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.099 me love and 00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:42.659 treat others 00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.179 like I want 00:26:43.179 --> 00:26:43.699 to be treated, 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.039 is it? 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.379 And that's 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:45.619 what convinces 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.219 me that's the 00:26:46.219 --> 00:26:47.000 connection between 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.740 these two 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.639 things. 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:49.759 However, 00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:51.399 what if within 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.359 that definition 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:53.000 of good 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.500 are the 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.000 character 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.740 traits that 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.240 you and I 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.959 need in order 00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:57.439 to love 00:26:57.439 --> 00:26:58.179 people in 00:26:58.179 --> 00:26:58.659 our church 00:26:58.659 --> 00:27:00.059 family the 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.399 way that 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:00.719 we'd love 00:27:00.719 --> 00:27:01.000 to be 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.299 treated? 00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:04.139 Lord, 00:27:04.219 --> 00:27:04.719 help me. 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.299 Give me the 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.979 good thing 00:27:05.979 --> 00:27:06.599 of being 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:07.439 more patient 00:27:07.439 --> 00:27:08.039 with people. 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.879 Lord, 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.679 give me the 00:27:10.679 --> 00:27:11.259 good thing 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.179 of not being 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:13.359 defensive when 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.219 I'm challenged. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.719 Lord, 00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.259 give me the 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.740 good thing 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:17.599 of dropping 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.359 my pride, 00:27:18.699 --> 00:27:19.399 swallowing it, 00:27:19.459 --> 00:27:20.000 and admitting 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.919 when I got it 00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.159 wrong. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.180 Because what's 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.779 going to convince 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.000 me, 00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:23.300 friends, 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.920 to get down 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.500 off of my 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.220 high horse 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.940 and face up 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.560 to that log 00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:27.259 in my eye? 00:27:28.060 --> 00:27:28.860 When everything 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.779 about the 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.580 Pharisees wants 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.140 to lurk in 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:31.560 my heart, 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:31.980 that I want 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.600 you to think 00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.040 I'm better 00:27:33.040 --> 00:27:33.740 than I am. 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.640 What's going 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.120 to convince 00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:35.540 me to get 00:27:35.540 --> 00:27:35.800 off my 00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:36.200 high horse 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.600 and deal 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.019 with that 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.519 speck? 00:27:37.800 --> 00:27:38.300 What's going 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:38.840 to convince 00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.540 me to treat 00:27:39.540 --> 00:27:40.160 others the 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:40.620 same way 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:40.960 that I'd 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.420 like to be 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:41.759 treated, 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.600 particularly 00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:43.240 when I feel 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.880 the sharp 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.440 end of the 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.980 faults of 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.360 others, 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.220 and for that 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.779 change to be 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.140 more than 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.720 skin deep? 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:50.980 It's only 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.460 knowing that 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.100 my father 00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:53.299 has always 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.600 and will 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.480 always treat 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.339 me who is 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:58.059 evil with 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.980 his good. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.500 You see it? 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.339 He is a 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:02.980 God who is 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.559 so generous 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.559 and patient 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.500 even to 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.220 those who 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.240 are evil. 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:08.880 Do you know 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.339 he's a God 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.079 so good that 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.660 he would give 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:10.980 what? 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.539 His one and 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.240 only son 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.140 to those 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.579 who didn't 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:14.900 deserve 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.779 anything but 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.839 hell and 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.319 judgment. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.740 And that 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.259 son is the 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.700 very one 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.160 speaking, 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.579 and that 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:22.859 is the 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:23.140 son who 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.480 would give 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.960 his life 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.220 on the 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.759 cross as 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.180 a ransom 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.819 for many. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.240 Friends, 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.140 this is the 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.620 kind of 00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.160 father that 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.740 we have. 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:30.980 Let me 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.259 pray. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.599 Lord, 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:36.940 we just 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:37.299 ask, 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:37.620 Father, 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.000 as we 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.980 think about 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:40.079 the challenge 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.640 of this 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.220 passage, 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:46.120 your word 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:47.140 has perhaps 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.200 uncomfortably 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:48.900 touched some 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:50.480 nerves in 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:50.940 our hearts, 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.160 Lord, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.839 I pray that 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.079 you would 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.620 give us the 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.400 humility to 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:53.980 change. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.360 Lord, 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:56.039 we recognize 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:57.559 our inability, 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:57.940 Father, 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.600 often to do 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.019 the thing that 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.360 we need to 00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:00.960 do to change, 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.360 but Lord, 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:01.940 thank you that 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.460 this is not 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:02.960 about us. 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.259 You have 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.680 given us 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.180 your spirit. 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:05.460 And we 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.019 pray that he 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.500 would be at 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.220 work in 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:08.160 our lives, 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:09.400 pruning, 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.740 chipping away 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.579 revealing what 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.180 is bad, 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.259 and that, 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.420 Lord, 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.000 he would be 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.460 about his 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:15.920 work of 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.940 forming us 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.440 more into 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.039 the likeness 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.579 of Jesus. 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.120 So, 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:20.319 Father, 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.079 thank you 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.819 for your 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.579 commitment 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.440 to us. 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:24.960 Thank you 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.440 for your 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.500 love for 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:26.839 us. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.079 And, 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.259 Father, 00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.759 we pray that 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:28.940 you would 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.380 just be with 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:29.839 us now as 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.460 we move 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.059 into a 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.440 time of 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:31.779 communion 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.279 together, 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.140 as we 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:33.740 savor, 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.339 just a bit 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.960 more slowly, 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.480 savor the 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.319 blood and 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:37.980 the body 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.240 broken for 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.599 us. 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.279 So, 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:41.460 Father, 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:41.980 we pray all 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:42.539 these things 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.400 in Jesus' 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.380 precious name. 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.539 Amen. 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.700 Amen. 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:46.839 Amen.