WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

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 Open your Bibles, if you will, to Luke chapter 20.

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 This morning we're going to start reading at verse 27.

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 And we're going to read down through verse 44.

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 Follow with me as we read this portion from God's Word.

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 There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection.

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 And they ask him a question, saying,

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 Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children,

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 the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

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 Now, there were seven brothers.

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 First took a wife and died without children.

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 And the second and the third took her.

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 And likewise, all seven left no children and died.

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 Afterward, the woman also died.

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 So in the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?

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 I mean, for seven had her as wife.

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 And Jesus said to them,

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 The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

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 But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead,

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 neither marry nor are given in marriage.

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 For they cannot die anymore.

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 Because they are equal to angels and are sons of God,

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 being sons of the resurrection.

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 But that the dead are raised.

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 Even Moses showed in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

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 Now, he is not God of the dead, but of the living.

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 For all live to him.

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 Then some of the scribes answered,

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 Teacher, you have spoken well.

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 For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

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 But he said to them,

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 How can they say that the Christ is David's son?

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 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

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 The Lord said to my Lord,

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 Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.

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 David thus calls him Lord.

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 So how is he his son?

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 Let me lead us in prayer as we approach the study of God's word.

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 Father, Father, we need your spirit.

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 We cannot in ourselves understand what you would have to say to us today.

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 And Father, I cannot in myself and in my weakness communicate what you would have to say to us today.

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 So all of us, those who are listening and those who are speaking,

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 We need you to be here in our midst by your spirit.

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 To teach us.

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 To speak into our hearts.

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 To reveal yourself.

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 To reveal ourselves.

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 And lead us to where hope can truly be found.

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 So would you come pour out your spirit?

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 And teach us.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You know, as I read this challenge from the Sadducees and the Pharisees before them,

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 I can't help but think again of a movie.

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 And that is the opening scene of the movie Gladiator.

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 In this opening scene, you've got Maximus, who is one of the great Roman generals,

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 and one of his senior leaders, Quintus.

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 They and the Roman legions are facing this barbarian horde.

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 And Quintus simply looks at Maximus and says, people should know when they're conquered.

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 Of course, Maximus replies and says, would you know?

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 Would I?

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 Obviously, the Jewish leaders don't.

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 You see them coming again.

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 And you just want to say, please, no.

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 Enough is enough.

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 Haven't you suffered enough already?

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 Just let it go.

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 But they come with the expected outcome.

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 You know, I love movies like Gladiator because it's a big story.

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 I mean, it's a big story of this great Roman general who, through a change of power,

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 was thought to be murdered.

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 He ends up a slave, has his family murdered.

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 And then, as a slave, rises back to prominence to save the Republic of Rome itself.

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 I mean, what a story.

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 So we love stories like this.

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 We love them because they're big.

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 You know, when we think of the Lord of the Rings, you know, you have the hobbits living

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 in the shire as if there was no place else in the world.

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 And they were perfectly comfortable, perfectly satisfied in a life that was perfectly managed

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 and very small.

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 Until a couple of them ventured outside on a grand adventure.

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 Normal, small view stories, which unfortunately describes many of us, are small.

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 They are manageable.

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 They are predictable.

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 They are controllable.

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 They are very, very limited in risk, but also in vision.

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 Such stories, though they may be very familiar, are not the kind of stories that Jesus has called us to.

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 He's called us into a story that is so much beyond that.

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 He has come to release us, in a sense, from these small views, stories of life.

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 That we might enter into this epic of the gospel.

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 And of eternity.

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 For us to experience the riches in all that God has to offer,

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 we must replace our predictable, small view story with the eyes of faith

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 that we might see the glorious, unfathomable, boundless life

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 that Jesus alone in the gospel can give to us.

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 Otherwise, we will remain imprisoned in a small view of life that goes nowhere.

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 In this story with the Sadducees, we see these guys demonstrating, in a sense,

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 what small view of life is.

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 And they do it in three ways.

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 The first is that they have a very small view of Scripture.

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 They have a small view Bible.

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 Secondly, we're going to see that they also have a very small view of the future.

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 And thirdly, we're going to see a very small view of Redeemer.

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 So let's begin with the first.

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 A small view Bible.

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 You know, in this particular challenge that we have here,

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 the Sadducees are coming to do battle with Jesus.

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 This is really the only encounter that Luke gives us of the Sadducees and Jesus.

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 He'll mention them in the book of Acts, but here, this is the only time.

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 There are a whole different class of Jewish leader from the Pharisees.

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 In some ways, the Sadducees are the kind of the political left.

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 But the Sadducees, you know, their appeal was primarily to the wealthy, elite classes of Israel.

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 But they were also very accommodating to Rome.

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 They did not mind kind of working with Rome,

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 making the most and the best of their occupation.

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 And so,

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 they did not fight against,

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 in some ways encourage,

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 some of the Hellenistic influences that were coming.

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 They knew their Bibles.

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 They knew them well.

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 But the only part that they liked

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 was what was called the Torah,

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 the first five books of Moses.

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 So, for them,

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 Moses was the only authority

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 that they trusted.

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 And in addition,

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 one of the things that Luke tells us here

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 about their theology is

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 that they did not believe in

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 or they rejected

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 the idea that there was a resurrection.

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 For them,

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 there was no life after death.

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 Life just ended.

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 And so,

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 when they thought of eternity,

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 it was how their name would be carried on

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 through their children,

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 through their names,

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 and so forth.

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 Which might also tell us

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 why they thought of this particular example

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 from Deuteronomy 25.

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 So,

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 they come to Jesus

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 with this very fanciful dilemma

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 based on what is called

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 leverate marriage.

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 And in leverate marriage,

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 that meant that if,

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 you know,

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 a man and a woman,

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 they get married

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 and the husband dies

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 before a son in particular

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 is born,

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 then that man's brother

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 or next of kin

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 was to fulfill,

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 in fulfilling the law,

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 was to come

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 and then take the wife

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 and bear children through her

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 so that the name of the brother

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 who died

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 could carry on.

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 It was also very helpful

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 for the woman

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 because for her

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 to have anyone at all

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 to care for her

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 in her older age,

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 she needed children.

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 And so,

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 this was for both

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 the carrying on

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 of the family name

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 but also the caring

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 for this widow.

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 And so,

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 they developed this scenario

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 that in their mind,

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 I mean,

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 it was a crazy scenario

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 but in their minds,

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 in their logic,

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 they believe

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 that this will

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 absolutely prove

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 that there cannot be

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 a resurrection

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 because this kind of thing

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 can never happen.

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 So,

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 though they thought

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 they had

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 Moses

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 as their authority,

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 you know,

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 actually,

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 in this case,

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 Moses

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 was under

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 their authority

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 because what

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 they were doing

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 was going back

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 to Moses

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 and finding

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 a place

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 that would prove

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 what they believed

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 instead of going

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 to the scriptures

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 to find out

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 what they should believe.

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 And as they did that,

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 you know,

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 they missed

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 everything.

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 They missed

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 a very foundational

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 doctrine

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 and a place

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 of hope

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 for their faith.

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 They missed

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 the possibility

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 of eternal life.

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 And so,

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 to them,

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 the Bible

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 was simply

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 a rule code

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 that they could

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 pick and choose

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 what they wanted

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 and just

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 leave out

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 the rest.

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 But we don't

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 do that.

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 You know,

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 it's interesting

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 how

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 two opposing

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 groups

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 can read

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 the very same

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 scriptures

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 and come

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 to two

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 totally different

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 conclusions.

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 Or to say

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 it says

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 something very,

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 very different.

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 different.

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 Those who are

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 on the conservative

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 side

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 will look

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 at the scriptures

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 and read it

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 as if,

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 you know,

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 it supports,

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 you know,

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 public morality,

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 it supports

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 capitalism,

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 it supports

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 all of these things.

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 It's like it was

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 written by Republicans.

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 But then you have

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 the other side

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 who will read it

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 with eyes

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 that find

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 where it says

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 all about mercy

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 and justice

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 and help

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 for the oppressed.

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 And who's

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 right?

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 The problem

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 is,

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 you know,

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 one may not

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 be more right

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 than the other.

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 But how did

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 they get there?

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 And unfortunately,

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 too often,

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 when we read

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 the Bible,

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 we're coming

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 with our own

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 ideas

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 and we press

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 them in

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 to make them

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 fit,

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 which is what

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 the Sadducees

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 had done.

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 A better way

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 to read

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 the scriptures

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 instead of

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 just going

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 to the scriptures

00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.639
 to find places

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.240
 where we can

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.060
 defend our

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:50.639
 positions

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.879
 is to read

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.620
 it with the eyes

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.279
 of faith

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.940
 and go ask

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.740
 the Holy Spirit

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.060
 and say,

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.779
 Holy Spirit,

00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:56.799
 show me

00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.039
 what I need

00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:59.519
 to see here.

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.620
 Show me

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.279
 what you would

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.139
 have to say

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.740
 to me.

00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:05.419
 Show me

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:06.360
 where I'm

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.439
 missing the boat.

00:16:07.959 --> 00:16:08.339
 Show me

00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:09.259
 what I need.

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.480
 Make yourself

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:11.959
 known.

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:14.360
 Make me

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:14.799
 known.

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.779
 Let me see.

00:16:21.839 --> 00:16:22.459
 See,

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.019
 we need

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.039
 a Bible

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:24.679
 that's big

00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.120
 enough

00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:28.080
 that will

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.500
 actually

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.539
 challenge

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.340
 our way

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:30.919
 of life.

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.379
 If we

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:33.840
 read our

00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.240
 Bibles

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.580
 and it

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.019
 does not

00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.879
 challenge us,

00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:36.159
 if it

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.500
 doesn't

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:36.879
 challenge

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.480
 your political

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.080
 positions,

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.039
 if it

00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:39.379
 doesn't

00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:39.820
 challenge

00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.259
 your whole

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:40.759
 sense of

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.259
 what life

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:41.659
 is supposed

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.060
 to be

00:16:42.060 --> 00:16:42.560
 or your

00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:43.220
 values

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.200
 or your

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:44.840
 cultural

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.639
 ideas,

00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.200
 then you're

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.120
 not

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.580
 reading it

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.860
 with the

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.240
 eyes of

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:51.539
 faith.

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:54.319
 you're

00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:54.699
 managing

00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:55.099
 it.

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.899
 It's a

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:57.439
 very small

00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:58.039
 view Bible.

00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.719
 So we

00:17:00.719 --> 00:17:01.439
 need those

00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.059
 eyes of

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:02.519
 faith

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.420
 where we

00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:04.759
 come to

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.259
 the Bible

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.920
 in

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.599
 submission

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:11.740
 and we

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.159
 let the

00:17:12.159 --> 00:17:12.460
 Spirit

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:14.259
 tell us

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.960
 what we

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.359
 need to

00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:16.839
 believe,

00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:17.980
 how we

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.420
 need to

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:18.759
 see

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.220
 life.

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.920
 we

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.139
 need

00:17:23.139 --> 00:17:23.359
 big

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.579
 view

00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:24.019
 Bibles.

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.259
 Well the

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.819
 second point

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:27.099
 that he

00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:27.680
 makes here

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.159
 and it

00:17:28.159 --> 00:17:28.720
 follows,

00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:29.379
 it flows

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.099
 from the

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:30.659
 first,

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.139
 is that the

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:32.740
 Sadducees

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.200
 not only

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:33.559
 had this

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.319
 very small

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:34.980
 view of

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:35.379
 Scripture

00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:35.839
 but they

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.899
 also had

00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:37.539
 a very

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.119
 small view

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:38.339
 of the

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:38.779
 future.

00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.720
 Because of

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.240
 their limited

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.220
 respect for

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.579
 Scripture,

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.200
 they had

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.700
 developed

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.039
 this view

00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.659
 of life

00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:50.599
 that was

00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.519
 very small

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.259
 and contained.

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.059
 The Sadducees,

00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:54.439
 their view

00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:54.879
 of life,

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.279
 it ended

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.819
 at death.

00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:57.679
 They could

00:17:57.679 --> 00:17:58.219
 live on

00:17:58.219 --> 00:17:59.119
 maybe through

00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.819
 just their

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.399
 name carrying

00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:00.980
 on through

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.719
 their children.

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.879
 But with

00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:04.639
 that reference

00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:05.219
 point,

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.159
 then that

00:18:07.159 --> 00:18:08.179
 shaped everything

00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.980
 else they did

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.740
 in life.

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:11.079
 So they

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:11.559
 lived their

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.319
 life in such

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.000
 a way that

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.539
 they got

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.139
 everything out

00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:14.619
 of life

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:16.459
 now that

00:18:16.459 --> 00:18:17.119
 they could.

00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:18.399
 They loved

00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:19.119
 living with

00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:19.539
 the upper

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.079
 crust.

00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.159
 They loved

00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:21.859
 living with

00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:22.619
 the elite

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.599
 of society.

00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:25.099
 They prized

00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:26.000
 high position.

00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.099
 They prized

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.019
 control.

00:18:31.739 --> 00:18:32.199
 In fact,

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.859
 even as you

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.479
 read their

00:18:33.479 --> 00:18:34.299
 discussion and

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:34.899
 talk about

00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:35.399
 the way they're

00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:35.979
 talking about

00:18:35.979 --> 00:18:36.619
 marriage,

00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.319
 they lifted

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.459
 themselves up

00:18:39.459 --> 00:18:40.359
 highly and

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.319
 degraded

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.699
 women.

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.879
 They were

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.279
 getting

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.000
 everything

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.619
 now.

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.980
 Because there

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.579
 was nothing

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.460
 later.

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:55.640
 Again,

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.640
 I have to,

00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:57.240
 if I'm going

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.579
 to quote

00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.220
 gladiator,

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:58.700
 I've got to

00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.140
 use this

00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.500
 quote.

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.720
 From basically

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.359
 the same

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.039
 scene at the

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.480
 beginning of

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:03.900
 the movie,

00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:05.200
 Maximus gets

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.019
 his cavalry

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.680
 off to the

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.700
 side and to

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.480
 encourage them

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.019
 to go into

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.720
 battle and to

00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.420
 be faithful

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.640
 and courageous,

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.220
 he makes

00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.900
 this statement.

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.380
 He says,

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.420
 everything we

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.100
 do in this

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:18.060
 life echoes

00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:19.660
 through eternity.

00:19:21.520 --> 00:19:22.300
 And he was

00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:22.720
 right.

00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.500
 This is not

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.500
 all there is.

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.680
 So do we

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.420
 live with

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.260
 eternity in

00:19:33.260 --> 00:19:33.700
 mind?

00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.620
 Or do we

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.820
 get so fixated

00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:39.620
 as our view

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.500
 of the future

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.280
 and life so

00:19:41.280 --> 00:19:42.000
 small?

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.259
 that what

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:44.839
 this life

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.480
 offers is

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:45.819
 all there

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.400
 is?

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.039
 Is this

00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.359
 it?

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.940
 Three things

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.779
 Jesus says

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:55.160
 that should

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.279
 have sobered

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:58.500
 the Sadducees,

00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.779
 especially in

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.519
 regard to the

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:00.839
 future.

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.339
 The first

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.240
 one was that

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.119
 the very

00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.740
 scripture they

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.279
 claimed to

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.980
 trust taught

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.700
 very clearly

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.180
 that there

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.700
 was life

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.160
 beyond the

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.660
 grave.

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.339
 That God

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.980
 was the God

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.539
 of the living.

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.500
 He was the

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:12.940
 God of

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.899
 Abraham and

00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:14.519
 Isaac and

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:14.920
 Jacob.

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.319
 Then and now,

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.159
 the time when

00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:17.859
 that was spoken,

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.319
 they were

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:18.980
 dead.

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.659
 Or were

00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:20.899
 they?

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.240
 Secondly,

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.059
 life in the

00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.740
 coming age was

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.579
 totally different.

00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.799
 They were

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.759
 looking through

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.539
 the lens of

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.200
 just the way

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.019
 everything is

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.819
 now and

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.500
 were imposing

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.359
 that on the

00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.920
 future,

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.619
 especially in

00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.059
 regard to

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.539
 marriage.

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:38.619
 marriage.

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.639
 And so

00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:41.200
 marriage in

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.859
 this life,

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.259
 though,

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.359
 if we read

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:43.879
 the scriptures,

00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.819
 is merely a

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:45.599
 shadow of

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.399
 something so

00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.399
 glorious and

00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:48.420
 wonderful to

00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:48.799
 come.

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.099
 Are we going

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.539
 to know our

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.319
 spouses when we

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:52.759
 get to heaven?

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.819
 Well,

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.039
 probably.

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.440
 I hope so.

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.980
 It's going to be

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.379
 different,

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:01.779
 though,

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:05.059
 because the

00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.319
 real,

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.039
 the true love

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.759
 of my life

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:09.359
 is going to

00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:09.879
 be right there

00:21:09.879 --> 00:21:10.359
 before my

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.819
 face.

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.599
 And we'll

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.099
 stand there

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.639
 together because

00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.379
 he'll be her

00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:15.980
 true love,

00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.420
 too.

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.240
 And he'll be

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.759
 glorious.

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:23.960
 The third

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:26.259
 thing that

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.940
 Jesus says,

00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.960
 almost kind of

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.700
 says it in

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.160
 passing,

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.819
 but he makes

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.539
 sure he says

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:30.940
 this.

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.820
 He talks

00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.519
 about those

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:32.920
 who are

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.460
 considered

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.140
 worthy

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:37.620
 for the

00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.120
 age to

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.519
 come.

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.080
 And the

00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:39.980
 verb tense

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:41.440
 is pointing

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.259
 us here of

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.539
 someone else

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.700
 considering them

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.140
 worthy.

00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:47.880
 It's not

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.740
 they themselves

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.480
 gaining worth,

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.900
 but do they

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.180
 measure up in

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.660
 the eyes of

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.320
 God himself?

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.539
 God.

00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.740
 Our lives

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.019
 will be

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.740
 weighed in

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.500
 that day,

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:02.919
 will be

00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.279
 weighed in

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.879
 the balance,

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.259
 we will

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:04.939
 give account

00:22:04.939 --> 00:22:05.859
 to the

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.720
 true authority

00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.139
 and judge

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:10.379
 to see if

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:10.939
 we have

00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:11.859
 met up

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.679
 the standards.

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.139
 The Sadducees

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.779
 had basically

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.619
 wiped that

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:19.299
 out of their

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.179
 theology because

00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:21.059
 if death was

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.819
 it and you

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.379
 just kind of

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:22.819
 ceased to

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.279
 exist,

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.099
 you lived,

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.200
 you did not

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.000
 live in this

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.859
 life as if

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.559
 judgment was

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:30.939
 coming.

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.779
 Convenient.

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:38.899
 well, let me

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.299
 ask this

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.680
 question.

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.279
 How does

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.059
 life change

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.619
 now?

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.660
 If I

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:50.599
 see clearly

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:52.019
 that there is

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.619
 another life

00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:52.940
 coming,

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:56.700
 how does

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.579
 a view of

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.480
 eternity

00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.740
 change the

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.420
 way I

00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.039
 approach

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.639
 life now?

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:05.359
 I mean,

00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:05.779
 how does

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:05.980
 it,

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:06.940
 you know,

00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.339
 if that

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.079
 life is

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.599
 far more

00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.200
 substantive,

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.619
 far more

00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.139
 glorious,

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.539
 if that

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:15.099
 life is

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.899
 something where

00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:16.660
 all that I

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.299
 would achieve

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.019
 in this

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.740
 life mean

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.379
 nothing,

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.399
 how would

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.619
 that change

00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:26.039
 the way I

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.440
 live my

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.379
 life now?

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.500
 How does

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.059
 life change

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:32.359
 now?

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.139
 you know,

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.500
 when God

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.920
 first,

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.700
 when we

00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:39.000
 decided to

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.879
 go to the

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.440
 mission field

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.339
 back in

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.519
 1999 is

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.539
 when I was

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.299
 really challenged,

00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:44.819
 one of the

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.619
 things that God

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.500
 used to challenge

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:48.819
 me was

00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.559
 simply this

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:51.779
 idea that

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:53.220
 my roots in

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.899
 this life were

00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:55.660
 far too deep.

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:57.820
 God's

00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.880
 because we

00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.840
 lived in a

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.560
 really nice

00:24:00.560 --> 00:24:01.120
 little community

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:01.740
 in South

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.180
 Georgia.

00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:02.900
 We had a

00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.900
 nice little

00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.380
 church.

00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.700
 Our kids

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.840
 were prospering.

00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.300
 They had a lot

00:24:07.300 --> 00:24:08.080
 of friends in

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:08.720
 the community

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.279
 and everything

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.980
 was going

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.200
 great.

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.259
 We were,

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.920
 in a sense,

00:24:15.040 --> 00:24:15.920
 living the

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.360
 American dream

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:18.500
 life where,

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.220
 you know,

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.660
 you got great

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.300
 healthy kids,

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.960
 they're happy,

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.759
 and your church is good.

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:31.440
 Then I found myself in Ukraine

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:36.039
 wondering if God wanted more.

00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:46.079
 And I realized that my view of the future,

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:49.140
 my view of life was way too small.

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:53.100
 My view of ministry was way too small.

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.940
 My view of ministry and what I felt like

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.259
 was being accomplished,

00:24:57.520 --> 00:24:59.820
 I felt anybody could have come and accomplished that.

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:04.440
 In fact, if I was really looking for evidence

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:07.520
 that God was really at work in the midst of us,

00:25:07.820 --> 00:25:09.900
 I would have to question that.

00:25:11.280 --> 00:25:14.540
 And so I decided that we needed to go somewhere

00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:17.740
 where if the Spirit of God was not at work,

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.020
 nothing would happen.

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:21.800
 And we found it.

00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:29.900
 But sadly, as soon as we came back,

00:25:32.020 --> 00:25:36.280
 my bigger view of life contracted.

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:42.859
 And now, unfortunately,

00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:48.779
 too much of my focus is just on my standard of living,

00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:51.399
 success in this life,

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.259
 retirement,

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.779
 and a new bike.

00:25:55.779 --> 00:26:03.119
 all the good things in life.

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.319
 So what's the answer?

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:12.859
 Well, I think we need to remember

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:14.960
 that this life is momentary.

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.779
 It's just a shadow.

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:19.799
 It's not the substance.

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:22.160
 It's the previews.

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.539
 Nobody, if you like movies,

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.759
 nobody wants to just live on previews.

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:30.339
 We want the full feature.

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.359
 And that's still to come.

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:38.640
 And that story is so grand and glorious

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:41.940
 that it will,

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:45.820
 there's no comparison between it and the shadow.

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:52.419
 So when eternity is clearly in view,

00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:59.220
 then I am freer to move my family to another part of the world

00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.980
 that may be a lot harder for life.

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:04.099
 When eternity is fully in view,

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:07.500
 I can experience hardship and persecution

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:10.640
 because this life is only momentary.

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:13.120
 And the real wealth,

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.279
 anything that I would lose here

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:19.160
 is worth nothing there.

00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:25.599
 If I saw eternity clearly in view,

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:31.959
 how would life be different?

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:37.199
 Well, the third point he makes is,

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:40.899
 the Sadducees had this small view of Scripture.

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.859
 They had a very small view of the future.

00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:46.980
 But now we're going to find out

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:49.980
 that there's a very small view of a Redeemer.

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.779
 And at this point,

00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:55.039
 after Jesus had given the answer,

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.959
 to the Sadducees,

00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:59.599
 we find there's another group of Jewish leaders there

00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.919
 in the crowd,

00:28:01.159 --> 00:28:02.679
 and he mentions the scribes.

00:28:02.959 --> 00:28:05.599
 The scribes were friends of the Pharisees.

00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:07.939
 And the scribes and Pharisees

00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:10.119
 are a lot of times always mentioned together,

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:14.019
 but they come from the conservative end

00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.659
 of the religious spectrum.

00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:19.939
 And so they also have,

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.699
 you know, a high view of Scripture,

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.859
 at least according to their mind.

00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:29.359
 But their idea of a Messiah

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:33.399
 was released from Rome.

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:36.139
 They were not like the Sadducees.

00:28:36.459 --> 00:28:40.759
 The Sadducees accommodated the occupiers,

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:43.459
 not the scribes and Pharisees.

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.819
 They resisted.

00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.419
 They fought against them.

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:48.279
 They wanted nothing to do with them.

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:51.920
 And their idea of what the Redeemer would accomplish,

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:53.779
 what Messiah would bring,

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:58.299
 is freedom from Roman occupation.

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:02.680
 They wanted the Son of David

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:06.819
 to throw off that yoke of Rome.

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:09.000
 They wanted a political Savior

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:12.599
 who would give them the freedom

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.359
 to live and worship on their own terms

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:18.539
 and not in slavery to some foreign power.

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:24.319
 Rome was their problem.

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:28.679
 And they needed a Savior from Rome.

00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:32.559
 And Jesus uses this psalm

00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:36.859
 and kind of puts all of that to the test

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:39.220
 because the Son of David,

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.759
 this political Messiah,

00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:43.419
 was supposed to be the Son of David,

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.500
 the psalmist,

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.839
 says,

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.519
 wait a minute.

00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:47.839
 Jesus said, wait a minute.

00:29:47.899 --> 00:29:49.079
 This is what the psalmist says.

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.079
 The Lord,

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.859
 and if you read in the Hebrew,

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:54.319
 it means Yahweh,

00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:58.460
 says to my Adonai,

00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:00.299
 which means God Almighty,

00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:04.699
 sit on your throne

00:30:04.699 --> 00:30:06.460
 until I make your enemies

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:08.460
 a footstool for your feet.

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.619
 And Jesus said,

00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:12.139
 wait a minute here.

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:17.599
 The Messiah is the Son of David.

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:21.220
 But the psalmist says

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:24.819
 he's a whole lot more than that.

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:29.679
 He's not just going to be a political redeemer.

00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:32.359
 He's not coming to just throw off Rome.

00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:36.619
 We're talking about God himself.

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:45.899
 How could David say this

00:30:45.899 --> 00:30:48.179
 about his son?

00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:51.960
 They read the scriptures

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:53.839
 just like the Sadducees.

00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:56.960
 They brought their own ideas into play.

00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:00.919
 And they missed the Messiah himself.

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:06.819
 They missed what he would come to do

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:08.059
 and to give to them.

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.439
 And it was a lot more

00:31:11.439 --> 00:31:13.599
 than a better political leader.

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.279
 And this is where,

00:31:15.459 --> 00:31:15.699
 again,

00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.240
 I just,

00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:17.839
 I really have to ask my question,

00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:20.339
 what do I look for in a Messiah?

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.719
 What do I want from Jesus?

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:26.119
 What do I want him to do for me?

00:31:26.699 --> 00:31:27.879
 What kind of Savior

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:29.759
 do I want?

00:31:30.939 --> 00:31:31.279
 Well,

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:35.259
 one of the best ways to figure that out

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:37.480
 is to ask,

00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:37.879
 okay,

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.220
 well,

00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:39.879
 what do I pray for?

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.019
 Well,

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:47.099
 when my dream life is threatened,

00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.779
 I pray for Jesus

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.480
 to come and protect it.

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:54.059
 And when he doesn't,

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:56.099
 I can get despondent,

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.500
 I can get angry

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:57.839
 and think,

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.960
 he doesn't love me.

00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:03.259
 When my health is threatened,

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.180
 I pray for him to restore it.

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.860
 When I fear I don't have enough,

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:11.160
 I call on him to provide.

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.860
 When I'm traveling someplace,

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:16.719
 I want him to make sure

00:32:16.719 --> 00:32:17.939
 I don't get a flat tire.

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:22.199
 I think it's called traveling mercies.

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:28.179
 So what my prayers say

00:32:28.179 --> 00:32:29.959
 are most important things in my life

00:32:29.959 --> 00:32:34.859
 are travels free of disruption,

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.519
 freedom from disease,

00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:40.019
 even colds.

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.839
 Heaven forbid,

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.179
 I would get a runny nose.

00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.719
 Successful children,

00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:49.159
 a comfortable retirement,

00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:51.179
 well,

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.319
 we'll leave out that new bike.

00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:55.939
 But this is what I expect Jesus to bring.

00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:58.179
 Because this is all I ever ask him for.

00:33:00.439 --> 00:33:01.479
 Maybe not all,

00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:03.579
 but this is so much of it.

00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.979
 Is this all we want him to do?

00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:10.559
 Are these our big problems?

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:13.279
 Are these the big dangers in our lives?

00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:18.099
 When God the Father

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.519
 puts all of Jesus' enemies

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.439
 under his feet,

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.439
 one of those probably

00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:23.039
 will not be flat tires.

00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.419
 His primary agenda

00:33:29.419 --> 00:33:34.000
 is not to deal with all these,

00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.779
 what I consider external threats,

00:33:36.719 --> 00:33:37.839
 but he's going to come

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.219
 and deal with the internal ones.

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:41.920
 the ones that threaten

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.460
 not just my convenience,

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:47.539
 but eternity itself.

00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.839
 Those enemies are,

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.140
 we read in the scriptures,

00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:53.920
 there's three,

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.420
 they put them in three categories.

00:33:55.600 --> 00:33:56.799
 First is the flesh.

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.500
 And that's me,

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.200
 my heart,

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.620
 my propensity

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:03.100
 to look at life

00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:05.240
 all through this lens

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:06.419
 that says self.

00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:08.579
 Self-sufficient,

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.619
 self-determining,

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.539
 self-glorifying,

00:34:12.839 --> 00:34:14.019
 self-satisfying,

00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:16.019
 self-righteous.

00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:20.199
 Life is all about self.

00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:23.559
 That's the flesh.

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:26.319
 The second one is the world.

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.660
 And that's kind of

00:34:27.660 --> 00:34:29.700
 corporate flesh.

00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:33.140
 It's this world system

00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:34.340
 that functions like

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:36.260
 this is all there is,

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:39.000
 so get with the program.

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.880
 And so you have every system

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.200
 that we have out here,

00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.320
 all of life,

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.700
 is pushing us

00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:49.720
 toward this small view of life.

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.980
 And conformity.

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:56.900
 And the third is

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.179
 Satan himself.

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:01.699
 Who walks around

00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:02.800
 with a gas can

00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:04.500
 and sees these temptations

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.019
 of the world

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.679
 and the flesh

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.659
 and pours gas on them.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:11.039
 It makes them so much worse.

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:17.320
 These are the enemies

00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:20.039
 that Jesus comes to bring down.

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:22.119
 These are the enemies

00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:24.679
 that threaten my very soul.

00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:30.039
 And what Jesus has come to do

00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:34.300
 is to take them on.

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:37.679
 Through his life,

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:39.820
 through his death,

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:42.659
 and through his resurrection,

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:47.599
 he breaks the power

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:51.539
 of sin and death.

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:53.480
 He breaks the power

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.860
 of the fear of death.

00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:56.719
 He breaks the power

00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:58.119
 of the fear of judgment.

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.500
 He tells me

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:02.099
 that there is so much

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.079
 a bigger world

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:05.319
 and paves the way

00:36:05.319 --> 00:36:07.139
 for me to get there.

00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:11.039
 He comes and takes me

00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:11.699
 by the hand,

00:36:12.139 --> 00:36:14.860
 puts my small little world

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.599
 to death.

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.460
 and says,

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:18.380
 come with me.

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:22.480
 I give you life.

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:25.360
 I give you eternity.

00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:30.000
 I give you joy

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.860
 everlasting.

00:36:31.860 --> 00:36:38.240
 Jesus has come

00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:41.480
 not to make this life better,

00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:45.440
 but to help me throw it off

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:49.660
 so that I will look forward

00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:52.599
 to a much bigger story,

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:56.019
 a much bigger eternity

00:36:56.019 --> 00:37:01.880
 where I get God himself.

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.880
 Is that the kind of Savior

00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.480
 you want?

00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:11.019
 Is that what you're looking for

00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:11.759
 in a Savior?

00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:17.440
 This Savior says,

00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:18.259
 come to me.

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:21.079
 Come to me.

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.139
 Come to me.

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:21.199
 Come to me.

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.259
 Come to me.

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.400
 Let's come.

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.840
 Let me pray for us.

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.719
 Lord Jesus,

00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:35.699
 would you show us

00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:39.119
 how our views of life

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:39.659
 and eternity

00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:40.559
 are way too small?

00:37:43.780 --> 00:37:44.960
 And would you show us

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.460
 what you have in store for us?

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:49.960
 And then would you defeat

00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:50.659
 the real enemies?

00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.639
 Would you set us free

00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:54.300
 from our slavery to self?

00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:56.159
 Would you set us free

00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.119
 from our slavery

00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.420
 to this world

00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:59.820
 and the pressures it brings?

00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:01.599
 And would you set us free

00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:03.880
 from the condemnation

00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:04.780
 and the deceptions

00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:05.599
 of the enemy

00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:09.639
 that we might look forward

00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:13.279
 to this glorious hope

00:38:13.279 --> 00:38:15.759
 of eternity with you?

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.920
 Come to us

00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:22.739
 and draw us to yourself,

00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:24.199
 we pray.

00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.659
 In Jesus' name,

00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:26.440
 amen.

00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:31.519
 For more information,

00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:32.839
 visit us online

00:38:32.839 --> 00:38:34.139
 at southwood.org.

00:38:35.599 --> 00:39:05.579
 For more information,