WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.440 Mark chapter 10, I serve a wonderful Lord. 00:00:05.600 --> 00:00:08.839 Jesus Christ gives us so very much. 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:13.179 ! Not only did He die for us to give us salvation, 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:15.839 ! which is the greatest thing that He could have done for us, 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:18.960 but He does so much more. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:24.820 He gives us a guide in how to come to Him through His Word 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:27.179 and through the Holy Spirit. 00:00:27.179 --> 00:00:32.259 He shows us how to live for Him and He shows us how to grow 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:33.000 through Him. 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:37.640 We get the blessings of seeing Him as the Master Teacher. 00:00:38.460 --> 00:00:42.640 To read His words, to watch His interactions, 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:48.060 to see Him capitalize on opportunities, it is transforming. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:51.159 Not only to those in the first century that walked with Him 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:55.780 physically in those days, but through the inspiration of the 00:00:55.780 --> 00:00:58.640 Holy Spirit of God to us as well. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:02.939 The Word of God gives us a perfect picture of who Christ is 00:01:02.939 --> 00:01:05.700 and the difference that He makes. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:08.980 I want to encourage you, I hope I already have, 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:12.159 but I want to encourage you to study the Word of God. 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:16.219 Don't just find a verse or read a devotional thought. 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:18.480 No, study the Word of God. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:24.840 Study the words and the movements of Jesus because it will challenge you. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:27.040 It will inspire you. 00:01:27.700 --> 00:01:29.060 It will change you. 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:32.359 I want to show you what I mean by that. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:37.980 Last week we looked at an account of a man that has been nicknamed the rich young ruler. 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:43.740 He's been nicknamed that because Marx tells us that he was a man with great possessions. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:45.020 That means he was rich. 00:01:45.019 --> 00:01:47.839 Matthew tells us that he was a young man. 00:01:48.479 --> 00:01:50.840 And Luke tells us that he was a ruler. 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:55.060 And if you put those three together, the rich young ruler, that's what we know him as. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:04.259 He's a man of moral character, of monetary privilege, but he has some flawed priorities. 00:02:05.259 --> 00:02:09.000 And he's challenged by Christ on those flaws. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:15.639 And the reality is his love for money was more than his interest in Christ, 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:19.900 and he walked away unchanged and sad. 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:25.340 So how does Jesus respond to that? 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:29.460 I want you to watch this. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:34.460 Because what we're going to look at today happens immediately after that. 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:43.980 So this man who was so dedicated to the law, a good man, a moral man, came to Christ. 00:02:45.420 --> 00:02:48.480 Christ told him to sacrifice more than he was willing to do that, 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:54.040 and he walked away sad while the disciples saw the whole thing. 00:02:55.620 --> 00:02:57.200 Watch how Jesus handles this. 00:02:58.379 --> 00:02:59.439 It's in verse 23. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:03.000 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:10.379 How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. 00:03:11.300 --> 00:03:16.039 And the disciples were amazed at his words. 00:03:17.079 --> 00:03:18.379 But Jesus said to them again, 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:24.139 Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God. 00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:29.139 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 00:03:29.739 --> 00:03:34.399 And they were exceedingly astonished and said to him, 00:03:34.899 --> 00:03:36.059 Then who can be saved? 00:03:37.359 --> 00:03:38.959 And Jesus looked at them and said, 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:42.779 With man it is impossible, but not with God. 00:03:43.579 --> 00:03:46.779 For all things are possible with God. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:49.259 And Peter began to say to him, 00:03:49.459 --> 00:03:53.299 See, we've left everything and followed you. 00:03:54.139 --> 00:03:55.419 And Jesus said, 00:03:56.179 --> 00:03:57.359 Truly I say to you, 00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:04.079 There's no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands 00:04:04.079 --> 00:04:06.259 for my sake and for the gospel 00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:09.979 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:13.019 houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:14.679 with persecutions 00:04:14.679 --> 00:04:16.979 and in the age to come, 00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:18.419 eternal life. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:21.759 But many who are first will be last. 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:25.480 And the last, first. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:29.460 Mark Twain once said, 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:33.939 It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me. 00:04:34.520 --> 00:04:36.280 It's the parts that I understand. 00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:42.540 It's not hard to understand what Christ is saying here. 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:46.819 He's saying rich folks 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:51.000 are going to have a hard time coming to Jesus. 00:04:54.260 --> 00:04:54.740 Why? 00:04:57.140 --> 00:04:59.560 Because they often think they got all they need. 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:02.900 To pursue a Savior, 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:05.060 you have to know that you need one. 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:05.640 And by the way, 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.360 He's pursuing us when we think we're pursuing Him. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:12.100 But if people feel self-sufficient, 00:05:12.340 --> 00:05:13.780 they feel like they're enough. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:17.020 And wealth can make people feel like that. 00:05:17.960 --> 00:05:18.879 It's delusional, 00:05:19.020 --> 00:05:21.000 but it can give them a sense of invincibility. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:23.199 And when people with need, 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:28.540 they're open to find answers. 00:05:30.020 --> 00:05:31.300 Whatever that need may be, 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:32.139 whether it be medical, 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:35.439 that'll change things for you. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:37.800 Occupationally, 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.740 when your job changes suddenly, 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:44.040 that's an eye-opener. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:46.639 Directionally, 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:48.860 what's my next step? 00:05:48.960 --> 00:05:49.800 What should I do? 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:52.420 Financially, 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:55.280 those things matter. 00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:55.819 However, 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:57.020 if health is good, 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:59.480 and finances are good, 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.960 and life looks headed in the right direction, 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:02.960 well, why change? 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:07.240 But I want you to notice that even with that, 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:09.720 this rich leader walked away, 00:06:09.840 --> 00:06:12.519 and it says that he walked away sad. 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.600 And the disciples watched him walk away, 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:17.840 and they couldn't understand. 00:06:18.960 --> 00:06:21.040 They couldn't understand why Jesus said that to them. 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:22.860 They couldn't understand why Jesus felt like that. 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:26.259 The thought was that if you had a lot, 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:28.879 that it was due to the blessings of God, 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.279 that God was rewarding you. 00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:33.199 Children, 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:36.920 who really have nothing to offer the kingdom, 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:38.600 except themselves, 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:42.600 are welcomed in by Christ, 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:44.040 earlier in this chapter. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:46.300 Yet the rich, 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:48.740 who seem to have so much more to offer, 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.920 Christ challenges them. 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:52.360 And that seems backwards. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:56.640 There was a common thought in this day 00:06:56.640 --> 00:06:59.800 that what theologians now call 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:02.220 the Deuteronomic formula. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:03.840 It's easy for you to say. 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:06.480 The Deuteronomic formula. 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:07.840 And the Deuteronomic formula 00:07:07.840 --> 00:07:10.800 is like a man-made summary of the law. 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.060 And what it says is that if you obey God, 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:14.939 he'll bless you. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.160 And if you disobey God, 00:07:17.220 --> 00:07:17.980 he'll curse you. 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:20.220 And so if, 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:22.120 based on that formula, 00:07:23.140 --> 00:07:24.540 the rich man's got to be right. 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:25.620 I mean, he's been blessed. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:26.720 He's got money. 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:28.660 So apparently, 00:07:29.020 --> 00:07:29.840 he's been obedient. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:30.520 He's been right. 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:31.300 He's rich. 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:34.980 Yet Christ challenges him, 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:39.860 but yet he was indignant with the disciples 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:42.660 who hindered the children coming to him. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:45.100 Just right here together. 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.920 Again, that seems backwards. 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:52.120 Well, the reality is there is no formula 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:54.660 that is a guarantee that God will make you rich 00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:55.660 if you follow him. 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:57.200 There's not a formula like that. 00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:59.300 I don't care what the smiley preachers 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:00.759 with big jets tell you. 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:03.620 There's not a formula that says that. 00:08:04.400 --> 00:08:05.500 The reality is, 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:06.980 as Christ is stating, 00:08:07.140 --> 00:08:09.520 the rich often find their security in their stuff. 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:13.939 And some believe they have all they need. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:14.939 They're self-sufficient. 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.500 They don't need salvation. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.399 And that's why Jesus said what he did. 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:23.240 He said, 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:26.279 it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:29.199 than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:32.179 And I bet you've heard, 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:32.919 as I have, 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:33.980 about the eye of the needle. 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:38.819 I remember growing up hearing about a gate 00:08:38.819 --> 00:08:43.639 somewhere over there in the Holy Land 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:46.819 that was small and tight, 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:48.319 and when people tried to get through it, 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:48.879 they took a, 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:51.679 they had to get their camel down, 00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:53.240 sometimes even grease them up, 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:55.080 and get them down on their knees 00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:57.820 and push them through this little hole 00:08:57.820 --> 00:08:59.440 to get through. 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:03.720 I heard it referred to when I went to Bethlehem. 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:07.360 There was something called the door of humility 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.940 at the church of the nativity. 00:09:11.659 --> 00:09:14.600 And the person who's coming out of that gate there 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:16.379 is a small person, by the way, 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.240 because I remember when I went through that hole, 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:24.460 I had to nearly get on my knees to get through that. 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:27.500 And I remember hearing somebody when I got to it say, 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.440 it's like the eye of the needle. 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.060 And then I heard about it again at Masada. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:39.960 That's Herod's desert mountain retreat 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:44.840 when we came to this tight squeeze there. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:50.399 That wall gets closer and closer together 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:53.480 the further you go down that little entryway there. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:55.180 And I remember the guide saying, 00:09:55.280 --> 00:09:56.240 that's the eye of the needle. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:57.360 That's neat. 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:01.300 That's not what Jesus was talking about. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:07.060 The church of Bethlehem was not built in his time. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.980 The reason they built the church of the nativity 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:14.700 was to protect the site of the nativity of Christ. 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:18.220 And when you go down in the basement of that building, 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:21.460 they'll show you, just to be honest, 00:10:21.800 --> 00:10:25.540 a weird little spot that is supposed to be 00:10:25.540 --> 00:10:27.200 where Jesus was born. 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:33.100 And I don't believe he went to Masada. 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:35.840 There's nothing in Scripture about it. 00:10:36.180 --> 00:10:38.920 And I don't know why in the world he would have visited 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:43.320 a Roman military fortress that overlooked the Dead Sea. 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:47.980 The truth is, as illustrative as those pictures are, 00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:49.960 I'll tell you what Jesus was really saying. 00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:52.300 Jesus was really saying that a rich man going to heaven 00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:55.860 is like Palestine's largest animal 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:58.940 going through the smallest opening that you can think of. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:04.260 Actually, the Babylonians would say something like this, 00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:07.600 but they would say it's as hard as an elephant 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.960 going through the eye of a needle. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:13.340 But Jesus was relevant because the people 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:15.320 what he was talking to didn't have elephants. 00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:17.600 They had camels. 00:11:18.540 --> 00:11:20.879 What we got here is cultural idioms. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.240 And really, it's a hyperbole. 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:27.480 It's a stretched comment that's meant to prove a point. 00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:29.920 Whether you feel comfortable with it or not, 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.879 he does it again and again. 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:33.259 In Matthew 7, verse 5, he says, 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:36.679 that maybe you need to remove the log from your own eye 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:39.899 without worrying about the speck in someone else's eye. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.779 And in Matthew 23, 24, he tells us, 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:46.759 you strain out the gnat but swallow the camel. 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:50.519 Now, to be clear, they did strain out the gnats 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:53.240 because if they had an open picture, 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.139 there may be a gnat that gets in there. 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:58.360 So they would put cheesecloth over their cup. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.700 And when they poured it in, they would strain out the gnats. 00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:04.780 But they did not swallow the camels, at least not whole. 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:14.300 But here he clearly means you have to put God over your stuff. 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:19.020 And when the disciples heard that, they were amazed 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:22.420 and they were astonished, bewildered, 00:12:24.020 --> 00:12:26.120 literally stunned beyond measure. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:28.860 And they followed that up by saying, 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:31.419 then who can be saved? 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.720 What they're saying is if the rich guy 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:37.080 who's been blessed by God in such ways like that 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:39.680 can't be saved, then what about us? 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.600 They don't have near as much. 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.519 Jesus looked at him and said, 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:47.220 with man it's impossible, but not with God, 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:49.560 for all things are possible with God. 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:53.259 Which brings us to his first teaching point. 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:57.779 And that is salvation is impossible without God. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.980 To be clear, we don't initiate it. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.759 We can't make it happen. 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.519 Ephesians 1 tells us that he chose us 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.259 before the foundations of the earth. 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:11.039 We cannot purchase it. 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:12.779 We cannot earn it. 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:15.019 Ephesians 2, 8, 9 says, 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.879 for by grace you've been saved through faith, 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:19.220 and this is not your own doing. 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:23.320 It is a gift of God, not as a result of works 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:25.379 so that no one may boast. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:29.100 In other words, it's only by the grace of God. 00:13:29.680 --> 00:13:31.660 And because Christ was the perfect sacrifice 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:34.200 and could, and thank God did, 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.220 provide what we could not for ourselves, 00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:39.920 our only hope is found in the grace 00:13:39.920 --> 00:13:41.700 and the mercy of God. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:44.139 We do not save ourselves. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:48.040 Salvation is impossible without God. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:51.939 The second teaching point that he gives us 00:13:51.939 --> 00:13:56.959 speaks directly to the rich, young, powerful man's problem, 00:13:57.099 --> 00:14:02.000 and that is surrender is required to follow Christ. 00:14:04.099 --> 00:14:05.459 This was a good man. 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:10.339 He was sincere in doing right. 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:14.139 However, he was unwilling to let go 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:16.699 of what God told him to walk away from. 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:23.100 He had a lot, but he didn't have Christ. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:28.400 A couple of weeks ago, we had a Utah church planner here. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.240 He was here for our midweek worship, 00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:33.840 and then right after that, 00:14:33.900 --> 00:14:36.259 we had a professor of missions in our pulpit. 00:14:36.540 --> 00:14:37.600 Actually, vice versa. 00:14:38.160 --> 00:14:39.800 The professor of missions was here first. 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:47.159 Both have a focus on trying to win some very sincere, 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.819 good people to the Lord. 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:57.519 However, Latter-day Saints are caught up in a false gospel. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:02.480 Great efforts do not work. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:16.500 Great efforts do not work. 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:25.379 No matter how many doors they knock on in their two years of committed service 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:30.139 in order to make it in to the celestial kingdom, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:37.039 the reality is their sincere efforts do not work. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:41.639 There are Muslims across the world. 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.259 They're not all terrorists. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.419 They're not all horrible people. 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:51.919 Many of them are very sincere about their prayer life 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:53.559 and about their faith to Allah. 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:58.119 But until they walk away from that 00:15:58.119 --> 00:16:01.559 and realize their need for Christ Jesus, 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.519 they're lost without him. 00:16:06.859 --> 00:16:10.699 Sincerity gets you nowhere unless it's through Christ. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.739 Surrendered obedience is what God blesses. 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:20.219 And you can find obedience surrender a lot in Scripture. 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:24.879 Matthew left a Roman tax booth to follow Christ. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:27.379 Do you understand what that means? 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:31.860 That he sold himself to the devil, basically. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.560 He went and worked for the enemy 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:39.779 and then had the gall to walk away from him. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:47.560 James and John left the Zebedee and Sons Fishing Company, 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:51.899 dropped their nets to follow Christ. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:57.859 Zacchaeus, another rich and revered man, 00:16:57.979 --> 00:17:01.679 climbed a tree like a little kid to get close to Christ. 00:17:03.739 --> 00:17:07.119 And then after meeting Christ and having a meal with Christ, 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.899 generously paid back people he had wronged. 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:14.740 Saul left all that he had worked for. 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:17.599 What had he been doing? 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:22.819 He was mastering the law of God. 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:28.920 He was guarding the traditions built around the law of God. 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.839 But he had to leave it to follow Christ. 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.640 Let me ask you, 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:40.720 what is it that is hindering you 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.180 from following Christ? 00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:47.800 Is it your reputation? 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.880 I mean, what are people going to say 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:56.920 if you really 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:00.160 sell out 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.060 and get serious 00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:05.420 about loving Jesus? 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:10.140 Is it your love for your habits? 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.759 You got stuff you like to do 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:16.100 that you're not going to want to give up doing? 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.340 Your persuasions? 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.440 Something about your lifestyle? 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:27.460 What are you holding so tightly to? 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:32.920 To follow Christ means that we must surrender. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.600 And that begins with an initial surrender to follow Christ. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.240 You have to know that you have a need in Christ. 00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.940 You have to admit that you're a sinner. 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:43.519 You have to ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you of your sins. 00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.779 You have to commit your life to him. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.460 There's an initial surrender there. 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.640 And then it's followed by a daily surrender to follow Christ. 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:53.460 Jesus said you must take up your cross daily and follow Christ. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:57.259 It's a daily decision to surrender to the Lord Jesus. 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.780 It is a one-time thing. 00:18:58.840 --> 00:19:00.320 But it's not just a one-time thing. 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:03.560 It's a daily thing to live for God. 00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:08.020 We had a house dog one time 00:19:08.020 --> 00:19:11.520 that had a knack for catching squirrels. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.100 She's good at it. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.780 She never went hunting. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:21.139 She's just a hunting dog that walked up one day 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:22.980 and chose us instead of us choosing her. 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:28.039 And I watched her corner squirrels in the yard. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.779 It was amazing. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.000 Fun to watch. 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.420 And one night I let her out. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:37.420 And when I let her back in, 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.539 she came in real quick with her head down low 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:42.299 and went running right past me 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:45.359 quickly and quietly and laid down on her bed. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:49.420 And much to our shock, 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.599 when I walked in there, 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:53.000 she had brought a squirrel in. 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:58.500 You see the shame on that dog? 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.700 Now let me just say 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:05.879 that for those of you 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:08.660 that don't believe a dog ought to be in your house, 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.500 you are no fun. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.940 You're no fun. 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:11.960 You're no fun. 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.000 You're no fun. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.139 Now listen, there's a rule. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.799 She had to surrender that squirrel 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.759 to come in the house. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.680 She couldn't keep both. 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:24.940 She couldn't do it. 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:27.000 And my goal, honestly, 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:28.039 was to get that up 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.279 before anybody else saw it 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.759 because if the wrong person in my house, 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.759 and I'm not saying any names, 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.599 if the wrong person saw that in the house, 00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.599 we might all be gone. 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:40.659 Let me ask you, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:44.159 what are you squirreling away 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:48.419 that keeps you from surrendering to Christ? 00:20:51.419 --> 00:20:54.959 That thing that you drop your head 00:20:54.959 --> 00:20:57.980 and hold on to 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:00.819 and run quickly 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:03.279 to hide 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:06.539 that keeps you 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:09.539 from being everything you could be 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:11.380 for the Lord. 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:16.180 Surrender is required 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:18.500 to follow Christ. 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:23.180 His third teaching point is this. 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:27.360 Reward is incomparable in Christ. 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:32.200 Peter, as well as the disciples, 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:35.700 obviously, at least for a time, 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:38.220 walked away from their careers, 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:41.380 spent less time with their families, 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.460 and put themselves in harm's way 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.160 to follow Christ. 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:46.840 And Peter said it was like leaving everything. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.519 That's what he said. 00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:49.299 He said, Lord, we've left everything. 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:53.519 And Jesus responds by saying 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.899 that the reward of following Christ 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:56.879 is much greater than the cost. 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.480 Christ says, 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:03.460 what you leave will come back a hundredfold. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:07.960 In Genesis, Abraham left his people 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.859 to go to a land that he would be shown. 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:12.599 He left without knowing where he was to go. 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:15.339 And God blessed him, 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.779 or we wouldn't know his name. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.259 God blessed him. 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.180 As he went. 00:22:21.659 --> 00:22:23.500 When Christ mentions family here, 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.859 I want you to be clear about something. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.559 He does not instruct us 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.700 to tear up our families. 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.220 That's not what he's doing at all. 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.899 But I will tell you that 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:34.799 following a clear calling from God 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:36.460 can lead to some family strain. 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:40.240 To do what God would have you to do, 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:43.139 some of your family is not going to understand 00:22:43.139 --> 00:22:46.299 when you sell out to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:49.339 And there is, 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:51.500 there's that part that he mentions 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.659 that I don't want to bring up, 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.539 but I'm going to have to, 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.460 about hardship and persecution. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.960 He says, that'll grow. 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:02.879 Now, can I just be completely honest? 00:23:02.899 --> 00:23:03.559 Even though I'm preaching, 00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:04.799 I'm going to be completely honest, right? 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:11.919 We know little about hardship and persecution in America 00:23:11.919 --> 00:23:14.279 when it comes to our faith. 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.559 Little about it. 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:19.639 We enjoy tremendous freedom in this country to worship. 00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:22.360 I want you to hear me as well. 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.940 Such freedom should never be assumed. 00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:31.000 There are movements and cultural changes 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:33.940 in our world today, in our nation today, 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:36.920 that challenge convictions that Christians hold. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:42.800 And if the wrong kind of changes come to our country, 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.520 following Christ can be much more costly. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:51.339 It will not affect a lot of us, 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:55.180 but it will affect the next generation. 00:23:58.879 --> 00:24:00.180 It'll affect my children. 00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:04.319 It'll affect my children's children. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:09.379 And you can see that taking place in Christians' lives 00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:10.480 all over the world. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:15.079 I have friends, and we support missionaries 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:19.240 that left their homeland and their extended family 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:22.339 to live in much humbler means for the sake of the gospel. 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:27.000 I remember when Kenny Dubnick told me 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.160 that God had called him to go to Birmingham, England. 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.779 He was pastoring a great church in North Carolina, 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.480 very mission-minded church, 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.460 and got so caught up in missions with that church 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:39.059 that God called him to the mission field. 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:43.940 And I remember him telling me 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:47.559 that they had just found a house with some land 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:50.139 and were thoroughly enjoying where they lived, 00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.759 and they sold all of it 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:57.960 to go live in an apartment 00:24:57.960 --> 00:25:00.639 with Pakistani Muslims 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:07.340 in an effort to reach them for the Lord Jesus. 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:11.500 He sent me a picture of a mushroom 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:14.400 growing out of his wall behind his refrigerator. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:24.180 I know missionaries serving in Southeast Asia 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:27.200 that were given 24 hours to leave a country 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.480 or to be imprisoned. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:32.640 I served beside them twice. 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:37.920 You can't now in that country. 00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:40.560 Folks, it's real. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.120 And Jesus is saying, 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.060 that don't go unseen. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.320 God sees that. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:55.960 And his reward for such is, in fact, a hundredfold. 00:25:56.040 --> 00:25:57.980 And he makes it clear that those rewards 00:25:57.980 --> 00:26:00.280 are in this life as well as in the next. 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:02.779 Now, when he says a hundredfold, 00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:04.480 he means that what we leave 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.440 is not even comparable 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:08.339 to what you will gain when you follow Christ. 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:11.399 And he's not talking about monetarily. 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:14.440 He's talking about something better than that. 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:18.279 And then he ends in verse 31 by saying, 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:20.899 many who are first will be last, 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.279 and the last first. 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.059 In other words, what he's saying is, 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:28.039 the ones that you expect to be the greatest 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.899 may not be after all. 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:33.519 They thought the rich young guy was pretty great, 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:36.460 and they were amazed and exceedingly astonished 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:38.579 when he came in last 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:41.740 because he walked away sad with great riches. 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:46.299 In reality, it'll be the simple. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.759 It'll be the unrecognized. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.119 It'll be the ordinary faithful folks 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.599 that should be, 00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:56.419 that shall be made first. 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.919 And if you don't see it now, you will. 00:27:03.739 --> 00:27:05.779 Something very interesting happens here 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:09.899 at the peak of Mark. 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:13.740 I've explained to you before, 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:16.980 one of the strengths of going through 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:19.780 a gospel like we are, 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.860 verse by verse, 00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:23.100 even though it takes us a long time to do it, 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:28.300 is to understand the whole landscape 00:27:28.300 --> 00:27:30.560 of how the Holy Spirit led Mark 00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:32.100 to write what he did. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.620 We know that he wrote it 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:38.160 based a lot on the witness of Peter. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.259 Mark was young. 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.600 He was probably a teenager 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:41.660 when Jesus came through. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:44.800 And so Peter shared with Mark, 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.519 and historians tell us that, 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:49.300 of that day. 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:54.640 And Mark shared much of what he learned from Peter. 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.960 So we get a lot of it from Peter's perspective. 00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:58.480 And because of that, 00:27:59.540 --> 00:28:02.400 all of Mark chapter 1, verse 8, 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:05.860 is ramping up to the great confession of Peter 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:08.279 that's found in Mark chapter 8, verse 29, 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:08.859 when he says, 00:28:09.199 --> 00:28:10.279 you are the Christ. 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:16.439 And then we get to Mark 9 and 10, 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.639 and we're on the peak. 00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:21.099 We're on the peak of this gospel, 00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:24.879 and it's kind of a midstream peak, 00:28:24.959 --> 00:28:26.819 and it's where the transfiguration is, 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:28.619 and we see the four stages of his glory divine, 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:32.500 and we see the reaffirmation of who Christ is 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:34.479 and what he's come to do. 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:38.339 And as we've been in Mark 9 and 10, 00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:40.079 I want you to notice the lessons 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:41.659 in these two chapters. 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:44.519 Because once we hit chapter 11 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.839 with the triumphal entry, 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:48.019 we will rush toward the cross 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:50.719 and be there at Easter. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:57.500 But if you put yourself first, 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:02.380 if you try to stop others from ministering, 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:05.799 and that's what the disciples did in Mark 9, verse 38, 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:11.480 or if you hinder people bringing children to Jesus, 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:14.319 that's what they did in Mark chapter 10, verse 13, 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:19.039 or if you tear up families for your own satisfaction, 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.659 that's what he talks about in Mark 10, 1 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:23.119 when he talks about divorce. 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:28.420 Or if you rest in your riches instead of Jesus, 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:31.720 that's what the rich young ruler did in Mark 10, verse 17. 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.920 You'll be last. 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:38.519 However, if you're one that gives others what they need, 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:41.079 like a cup of cold water, Mark 9, verse 41, 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:45.559 or that serves anyone and everyone, Mark 9, 35, 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:50.240 or that brings children to Jesus, Mark 9, 36, 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:54.859 or that comes to Jesus like a child, Mark 10, verse 13, 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:57.839 or serves the Lord sacrificially 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.839 to share the good news of Christ, 00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.259 our passage today, 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.839 you'll be first. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:07.480 In other words, put Jesus first, 00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:09.339 and you'll be first. 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.839 Put yourself first, 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:13.699 and in the end, 00:30:13.699 --> 00:30:15.359 you'll lose. 00:30:17.139 --> 00:30:20.819 Jesus must come first. 00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:24.779 And when you put Jesus first, 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:28.019 the possibilities are unmatched. 00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:34.099 The rewards do not compare to anything else. 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:39.719 You never really know 00:30:39.719 --> 00:30:44.599 what you get in Jesus 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:50.639 until you give all that you are. 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.959 And what you get, 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:58.299 based on the words of Jesus, 00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.679 is 100 times better 00:31:00.679 --> 00:31:03.559 than you ever had before. 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:08.359 And if you don't believe me, 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:11.179 you just wait. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.940 Or maybe 00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:17.500 you shouldn't wait. 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.779 Give him your all, 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:25.299 and let's see what he's up to 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:27.779 for your life. 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:36.399 when I was 18 years old, 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.160 I 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:43.399 had felt a draw to ministry. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:49.599 But I had seen bad examples. 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:52.359 And I didn't want to be another one 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:52.979 bad example. 00:31:56.459 --> 00:31:56.859 And 00:31:56.859 --> 00:32:01.579 I had a burning bush type experience 00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:03.719 in the shower of all places. 00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:06.059 I'm telling you, 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:11.000 I walked out of that shower 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.619 and knew 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:15.979 almost positively what God wanted me to do 00:32:15.979 --> 00:32:16.699 for the rest of my life. 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:21.460 I was young in college 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.220 and I was helping 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:25.259 the church basketball team, 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.799 high school basketball team. 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:28.700 I went to that ball game that morning 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:28.960 and 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:32.480 I went by my youth minister's house afterwards. 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.420 And I told him, 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:35.799 I said, 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:38.119 before today, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:40.259 I felt like I was about 80% sure 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:41.740 I was going to be in business somewhere, 00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:42.559 do something. 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.379 And I said, 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:45.639 but 00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:47.240 now I feel like 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.720 it's 90, 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.799 I'm 90% sure 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.940 I'm supposed to go into ministry. 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:53.799 But I'm just not 100%. 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.700 I mean, 00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:57.079 I had a great experience 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:57.799 and I just, 00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.339 just, 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.480 but 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:02.119 I don't want to be like what I've seen. 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:02.159 I don't want to be like what I've seen. 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:14.480 And he told me, 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:16.339 he's wiser than he was, 00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:16.759 honestly. 00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.779 Probably smartest thing he ever told me. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.319 He said, 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:24.500 why should God give you 00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:26.319 that clarity 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:28.819 without your complete surrender? 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:34.539 And I got in the, 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:37.539 hatchback Honda Accord 5-speed 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.259 with no air. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.899 And as I drove out of that neighborhood, 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:45.319 I said, 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.559 from this day forward, Lord, 00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:50.519 I'm going to dedicate my life to ministry. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:54.019 I'm going to try to prepare myself 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:56.539 for you to use me 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:59.359 until you tell me different. 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.659 I'm all in. 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:06.279 And God gave me a clarity 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:08.420 and an understanding. 00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:12.200 And he's blessed my life 00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:14.900 a hundredfold. 00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:20.260 Because I simply took him 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:21.300 at his word. 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:27.680 Whatever you're squirreling away, 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:31.179 let go of it. 00:34:32.379 --> 00:34:33.559 And let God do 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:35.699 what he wants to do. 00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.699 With every head bowed, 00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:38.359 and every eye closed, 00:34:38.419 --> 00:34:39.579 I ask you this morning, 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:42.899 I ask you this morning, 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.299 if you, 00:34:43.379 --> 00:34:46.359 if you've ever given your heart and life 00:34:46.359 --> 00:34:47.119 to the Lord Jesus, 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:53.139 has there ever been a time 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.679 when you've admitted your need for him? 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.940 When you've admitted the sin 00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.199 that separates you from God 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:02.179 and ask him to forgive you 00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:02.739 and to cleanse you 00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:03.659 and to come into your life? 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.779 If that's never happened to you, 00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:08.440 I encourage you to follow him today. 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.639 He'll meet you where you are. 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:13.559 He'll change your life 00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.099 a hundredfold. 00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:16.819 Maybe you're here 00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:17.659 and you know you're a Christian, 00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.719 but you've never publicly 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:19.619 acknowledged that. 00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:23.420 It's a barrier that you've had 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:25.579 that just stood in the way, 00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.519 and it's become a hindrance 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.159 to your walk, 00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:28.299 whether you realize it or not. 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:30.559 Jesus, by his example 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.319 and by his commission, 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.440 tells us that we ought to 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.099 publicly acknowledge 00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:34.019 our faith through baptism. 00:35:34.679 --> 00:35:35.539 If you've never been baptized, 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.739 I encourage you to come this morning 00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:36.880 and say, 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:38.239 Pastor, I want to set up baptism. 00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:39.079 I want to be baptized. 00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:39.480 I believe. 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.559 Maybe you're here this morning 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:44.960 and God's leading you 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.500 to be a part of Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.480 God's doing wonderful work 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:47.799 in our church. 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.679 I'm thankful for that. 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:50.460 If God's leading you here, 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.719 I'll never ask you to do more 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.920 than what God tells you to do, 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.400 but I never want you to be satisfied 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.880 by doing less than what God tells you to do, 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:58.119 so I just ask you to be obedient. 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.279 Maybe you're here 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:03.980 and none of that applies to you. 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:07.139 God's not. 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.360 He don't have your all. 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:13.099 You're holding on to things 00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:14.160 that keep you from having 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.460 God's very best for your life. 00:36:17.160 --> 00:36:19.160 And today is the day to give them up. 00:36:20.700 --> 00:36:21.820 You can do it at this altar. 00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:23.140 You can do it with me praying with you. 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:24.760 You can do it where you stand. 00:36:26.660 --> 00:36:27.500 But today, 00:36:30.140 --> 00:36:31.960 let's don't walk away sad, 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.460 holding on 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:37.380 to what's too precious to us. 00:36:38.740 --> 00:36:39.460 Lord Jesus, 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.460 lead us right now, 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:40.960 I pray, 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:43.179 as only you can, 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.340 have your will 00:36:45.340 --> 00:36:46.139 and your way 00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:47.340 in our midst, 00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:47.780 O God. 00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.240 In Jesus' name, 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.220 Amen.