WEBVTT

00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.160
 That's one way to break the ice, isn't it? Good morning everyone, are we well?

00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:12.339
 We are well. Thank you so much, Eliza, and thank you so much everyone who's participated so far in our service.

00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:16.899
 It's going to be great if you have sight of those verses in Luke 16 in front of you.

00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:23.839
 We're going to be referring to it a lot as we go through this morning, so it's vital that we have the Scriptures opening in front of us.

00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:27.400
 But let's pray as we come to Luke chapter 16 together.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.340
 Dear Father, we would still ourselves now and just recognize what we are doing this morning,

00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:43.200
 that we have come together to hear your word preached.

00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:45.939
 We've come here together to hear your voice.

00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:50.799
 And Lord, we ask that as we come to your words now, that you would help us listen,

00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.179
 and you would help us heed, and you would help us absorb.

00:00:55.179 --> 00:01:00.579
 And by your Spirit, would you change us from the inside out, we ask for your glory.

00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:04.640
 And we ask in Jesus' precious and strong name. Amen.

00:01:05.579 --> 00:01:09.400
 So I wonder if you've ever been accused of being a selective listener.

00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:14.260
 Selective listening, the art form, and I think it is an art form,

00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:19.700
 of being able to be in a conversation with somebody and listen to the things that you want to listen to,

00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:23.340
 and not listen to the things that you don't want to listen to.

00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:24.280
 Selective listening.

00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:29.079
 Apparently this happens all the day, all the time, in everyday conversation.

00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:36.060
 So I remember reading an article not so long ago about the selective listening habits of men and women.

00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:42.359
 And it has to be said, men, I think unfairly, we come off very poorly in this article.

00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:47.120
 So, apparently the things that cause us to switch off, any talk of babies,

00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:53.099
 the article, not me, okay, talk of babies, talk of soaps, don't mean like dove,

00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:57.099
 I mean like neighbours, or you take your pick, of soaps.

00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.120
 And ladies, don't think you're off the hook.

00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:03.980
 Apparently it's sports for you guys, most especially golf, which I think is harsh.

00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:08.099
 Cars is another one.

00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:11.500
 Things that, as we speak to people, cause us to switch off.

00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:16.439
 Apparently as a nation, one in three of us admit to having a conversation with somebody daily

00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:22.379
 when our mind is somewhere else and we don't actually have a clue what the other person is saying to us.

00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:23.319
 Selective listening.

00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:31.319
 Well, today we're going to meet a man who is brilliant at selective listening.

00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:33.439
 He's got God's Word.

00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:40.020
 He's got his Bible and he's picking and he's choosing the things that he wants to listen to.

00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:44.680
 And he's given a wide berth to the things that he doesn't want to listen to.

00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:51.860
 And that's exactly what the Pharisees, who are in earshot of Jesus talking at this point,

00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:55.900
 Jesus is speaking to them, that's exactly what they are doing with their lives.

00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:03.099
 Now, if you've got a Bible here, let me just get us up to speed with the context and see the flow of Luke's gospel at this point.

00:03:03.480 --> 00:03:04.860
 Chapter 16, verse 1.

00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:07.879
 See how Jesus introduces that parable?

00:03:07.980 --> 00:03:08.939
 There was a rich man.

00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:11.659
 There was a rich man.

00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:15.420
 Chapter 16, verse 19, our verses this morning.

00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:17.219
 There was a rich man.

00:03:17.980 --> 00:03:19.640
 Why does Jesus keep banging that drum?

00:03:19.700 --> 00:03:21.120
 That's the question I'm asking as a reader.

00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.560
 Because these Pharisees are rich.

00:03:25.480 --> 00:03:26.300
 They're rich.

00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:33.740
 And the question is, what are they doing with their riches, their possessions, their stuff?

00:03:33.819 --> 00:03:35.219
 What are they doing with it?

00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:36.240
 Again, see the flow.

00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:40.819
 Chapter 15, the prodigal son.

00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.580
 He wastes his father's possessions.

00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:47.819
 Chapter 16, the dishonest manager.

00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:51.620
 He wastes his master's possessions.

00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:57.539
 And so this morning when we meet a rich man, the question we've got to be asking as readers is,

00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:00.620
 what will this man do with his possessions?

00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:02.319
 Do you see the flow?

00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:06.599
 God has blessed these Pharisees with money and possessions,

00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:12.340
 but they're choosing to ignore what God has said they are to do with the things that he's given them.

00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:13.359
 Now, why would they do that?

00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.660
 Well, Luke tells us, verse 14 of chapter 16,

00:04:19.400 --> 00:04:21.400
 they loved money.

00:04:22.280 --> 00:04:24.020
 Not just that they had money,

00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:27.540
 they loved money.

00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:31.100
 And so instead of caring for the poor,

00:04:31.900 --> 00:04:35.240
 of sharing God's heart for those who cannot help themselves,

00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:38.980
 for being a help to the helpless,

00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:40.680
 those people who are on their doorstep,

00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:44.519
 what they're doing with their riches is that they are hoarding it,

00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:46.920
 and they're loving their money and possessions.

00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:49.459
 And what it's doing is it's choking their compassion

00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:51.259
 for their fellow man,

00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:52.220
 for their fellow Jew,

00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:55.920
 and it's causing them to take their eyes off the God who they're claiming to worship

00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.300
 and focus on them.

00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:00.399
 They love money.

00:05:02.259 --> 00:05:04.860
 Now, I don't know if you've noticed this as we've gone through this bit of Luke's Gospel,

00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:05.680
 and I must say,

00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.720
 this is one of the joys of doing this consecutively.

00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:09.600
 You see it, don't you?

00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:11.680
 Jesus has got an awful lot to say about money.

00:05:12.660 --> 00:05:13.740
 An awful lot to say about money.

00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:15.280
 Here's some statistics I was reading this week.

00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:18.400
 One in every seven verses in Luke's Gospel is about money.

00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:24.620
 Eleven out of the 39 parables that Jesus tells that are recorded in the Gospels

00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:26.640
 are about money and treasure.

00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:29.700
 Jesus has got an awful lot to say about money.

00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:33.860
 And this is why it's really struck me this week

00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:36.360
 that I need to take heed of what Jesus says about money.

00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:38.560
 Is it because we're rich?

00:05:40.080 --> 00:05:41.120
 Do you know how I know that?

00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:42.699
 I googled it.

00:05:43.620 --> 00:05:47.220
 And there's this website that you can go on to called GlobalRichList.net.

00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:47.960
 I'm not joking, right?

00:05:48.580 --> 00:05:51.240
 GlobalRichList.net by the charity Care International.

00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:53.759
 GlobalRichList.net.

00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:55.680
 You enter your salary and it tells you,

00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:56.680
 I don't know how they figure it out,

00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:00.020
 but it tells you how rich you are compared to the rest of the world.

00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:05.519
 Now the average UK family having the average UK household income in 2017,

00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:10.000
 do you know where that put you in ranking in the world?

00:06:10.419 --> 00:06:12.919
 In the top 0.87%.

00:06:12.919 --> 00:06:15.879
 That's the average UK salary in this country.

00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.159
 The average UK household income.

00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:20.099
 We are rich.

00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:25.140
 And I walk to church every morning.

00:06:25.200 --> 00:06:26.879
 This is how it plays out in my life.

00:06:27.640 --> 00:06:29.040
 I walk to church every morning.

00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.180
 As I walk down George Street.

00:06:30.780 --> 00:06:31.879
 So go up onto George Street.

00:06:31.960 --> 00:06:33.220
 George Street, Lothian Roads.

00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:34.640
 That's my route, okay?

00:06:34.840 --> 00:06:35.680
 Go down George Street.

00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.240
 What do I see?

00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:38.100
 I walk past suit shops.

00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:40.060
 And in my head I'm thinking,

00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:41.960
 oh, I'd love to have a suit like that.

00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:44.200
 I'd love to pretend to be a footballer.

00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:45.720
 Just dressing like that.

00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:47.220
 Walk from the suit shop.

00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:48.980
 Walk past the ESPC shop.

00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:51.560
 And I think, what's in the windows?

00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:52.460
 Just houses, right?

00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:53.340
 Just constantly going.

00:06:53.440 --> 00:06:54.120
 Houses, houses.

00:06:54.260 --> 00:06:55.600
 I think, oh, it'd be great to live there.

00:06:55.940 --> 00:06:57.180
 I could dress like a footballer.

00:06:57.260 --> 00:06:58.520
 I could live like a footballer.

00:07:00.020 --> 00:07:02.540
 So easy, isn't it, in our world just to get sucked in,

00:07:02.640 --> 00:07:05.280
 to get lured in to the deceitfulness of riches?

00:07:05.700 --> 00:07:07.240
 How easy is it in our own lives?

00:07:07.280 --> 00:07:08.980
 And I know I'm speaking from my own heart here.

00:07:09.940 --> 00:07:10.760
 To love money.

00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:13.480
 To love the things that God has given me.

00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:16.240
 And instead of viewing them as his possessions

00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.220
 that are just unknown to me,

00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:18.199
 that he's blessed me with,

00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:20.060
 I view them as my own.

00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:21.939
 And I'll use them for my own kingdom.

00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:22.699
 Thank you very much.

00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.639
 This is the temptation I find in my heart all the time.

00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:28.540
 How easy is it to get distracted by money?

00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:30.379
 Now listen, there's nothing wrong with having money.

00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:33.400
 The question we've got to ask ourselves, though,

00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:35.199
 is does it have us?

00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:37.680
 Does it have us?

00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:40.420
 Does the drive, the longing for stuff,

00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:41.620
 does it consume us?

00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:44.199
 Or does Jesus have us?

00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:46.639
 And does Jesus consume us?

00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:49.639
 And do his priorities, his kingdom, a love for him,

00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:50.780
 does that drive us?

00:07:50.780 --> 00:07:51.800
 That's the question, isn't it?

00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.899
 So these Pharisees,

00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:58.680
 Jesus is accusing them of being selective listeners.

00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:01.480
 And all of a sudden when you see it in that context,

00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:03.540
 actually what Jesus has to say to these men

00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:06.259
 comes a lot closer to home.

00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:09.659
 So here's what's going to happen this morning.

00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:11.899
 Jesus is going to tell this parable

00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:13.180
 of the rich man and Lazarus

00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:14.759
 as a way of getting the Pharisees

00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:17.339
 to ask themselves some searching questions

00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:18.599
 about their lives.

00:08:19.599 --> 00:08:20.500
 I'm going to try and put these

00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:23.519
 so that we can understand what the challenge is, okay?

00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:25.379
 So there's just three questions this morning.

00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:26.319
 That's all I want us to see.

00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.319
 Here's the first question.

00:08:27.719 --> 00:08:28.399
 How are you living?

00:08:29.659 --> 00:08:30.920
 Verses 19 to 21.

00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:31.560
 How are you living?

00:08:32.439 --> 00:08:33.960
 So this is where we get into the parable.

00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:36.600
 See that we meet the rich man at verse 19.

00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:40.460
 Now look how Jesus paints the picture of this man.

00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:42.600
 He dresses in what color?

00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:43.000
 Purple.

00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:46.460
 Now purple clothes are a sign of affluence

00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:48.259
 because purple dye,

00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.519
 it comes from this very rare shellfish.

00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:52.720
 Now if you're able to get a lot of it

00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:53.820
 and dye your whole clothes,

00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:54.860
 that means you're very rich.

00:08:55.400 --> 00:08:56.320
 And it's not like this man,

00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:57.920
 do you notice it as we read the text?

00:08:57.980 --> 00:08:59.620
 It's not like he's just got one purple t-shirt

00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:01.580
 that he wears day after day after day after day.

00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.600
 He wears purple.

00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:05.159
 So his wardrobe, presumably,

00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:06.899
 has got a lot of purple in it,

00:09:06.920 --> 00:09:08.779
 which means he has got some serious cash

00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:10.320
 and he wants the whole world to know it.

00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.480
 Look at Jesus go on.

00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.379
 He wears fine linen.

00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:17.680
 Now that word there literally meaning undergarments.

00:09:18.500 --> 00:09:19.540
 I think we're meant to laugh.

00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:21.820
 Jesus is saying this guy is so rich,

00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:22.620
 he's so posh,

00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:23.800
 that even his boxers,

00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:24.600
 even his briefs,

00:09:25.540 --> 00:09:26.980
 are first class.

00:09:28.300 --> 00:09:29.420
 And he lives in luxury,

00:09:29.540 --> 00:09:30.160
 not occasionally.

00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.740
 Do you notice every day?

00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:33.539
 You've got an ESV there.

00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:36.719
 It says that he feasted sumptuously every day.

00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:37.919
 I mean,

00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:40.199
 every night is brought to you by waitress's finest.

00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:41.219
 That's this guy's house.

00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:44.939
 And how does this man do this every day?

00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:46.559
 Every day.

00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:48.039
 I don't believe for a minute

00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.000
 that he's all night peeling the potatoes,

00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:51.240
 carving the meat,

00:09:51.579 --> 00:09:52.240
 setting the table.

00:09:52.339 --> 00:09:53.339
 He's clearly got servants

00:09:53.339 --> 00:09:54.659
 who are doing this round the clock

00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:56.480
 so that he can live his lifestyle.

00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.100
 He's a rich man.

00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:01.560
 And he's got a gate.

00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:02.139
 Do you see that?

00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:02.840
 He's got a gate.

00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.340
 Now most likely it's a grand gate.

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.779
 And the gate is where the action happens

00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:09.460
 in this parable

00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:12.899
 because he is living his life of luxury

00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:14.139
 at one side of the gate

00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:16.639
 and who's at the other side of the gate?

00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:17.440
 Lazarus.

00:10:18.420 --> 00:10:19.399
 Now it's really interesting,

00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:20.580
 as far as I can find,

00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:21.659
 as far as I can see,

00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:24.519
 that Lazarus is the only character

00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:26.319
 in the whole of Jesus' parables

00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:27.100
 that gets a name.

00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:28.519
 He's the only one.

00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.059
 And that's significant.

00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.019
 Because what does Lazarus' name mean?

00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.199
 It means God helps me.

00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:37.539
 Or God helped me.

00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:39.659
 And you say to yourself,

00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.019
 well, is that some kind of sick joke

00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:42.100
 that Jesus is telling here?

00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:43.219
 What an ironic name.

00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.939
 God helps me.

00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.139
 Look at the description of him.

00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:46.779
 He's a beggar.

00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:48.879
 Perhaps he was dropped off

00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.699
 at the rich man's gate every morning.

00:10:51.660 --> 00:10:52.320
 To beg.

00:10:53.640 --> 00:10:55.320
 He's covered in sores.

00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:57.980
 To add insult to injury.

00:10:58.140 --> 00:10:59.759
 The dogs are his only friends.

00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:00.900
 They come and lick him.

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.420
 And he's hungry.

00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.300
 And he's longing to eat the scraps,

00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:07.600
 to eat the spares,

00:11:07.680 --> 00:11:09.080
 to eat anything that's going to fall

00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:10.759
 from this rich man's table.

00:11:12.140 --> 00:11:13.600
 Lazarus is destitute.

00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.600
 Remember in this day,

00:11:15.660 --> 00:11:17.000
 there's no help from the state.

00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:19.200
 There's no benefits package.

00:11:19.300 --> 00:11:20.320
 There's no free health care.

00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:21.360
 This man is helpless.

00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.960
 Lazarus has got no hope.

00:11:24.640 --> 00:11:25.940
 And so on the one side of the gate

00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:26.800
 is this rich man.

00:11:28.160 --> 00:11:29.540
 And at the other side of the gate

00:11:29.540 --> 00:11:30.379
 is God helps me.

00:11:32.580 --> 00:11:34.680
 Now there may only be a short distance

00:11:34.680 --> 00:11:35.580
 between these men,

00:11:35.660 --> 00:11:37.700
 but you see how Jesus is painting the picture

00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:39.080
 of the massive contrast

00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.260
 that exists between them.

00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:43.340
 Jesus as he introduces us

00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:44.180
 to these two men,

00:11:44.280 --> 00:11:45.760
 as he draws out the contrast,

00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.340
 he's asking the Pharisees

00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:48.040
 and the crowds.

00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:49.019
 How are you living?

00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.080
 How are you living?

00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:53.019
 Do you see yourself in this rich man?

00:11:54.300 --> 00:11:55.920
 Do you see his excesses?

00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:58.080
 Do you see his utter neglect

00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:58.980
 for his fellow man?

00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:02.100
 This rich man doesn't get it.

00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.920
 This rich man is a selective listener.

00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:06.740
 The question is,

00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:07.940
 will the Pharisees get it?

00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:10.000
 And the question for us today

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.920
 is, will we get it?

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.879
 How are you living?

00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.899
 Here's the second question,

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.460
 verses 22 to 26.

00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.080
 Where are you heading?

00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.899
 The rich man and Lazarus,

00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.080
 they may well be living polar opposite lives,

00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:23.480
 but do you see how their lives

00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:24.420
 meet the same fate?

00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:27.339
 What was it that Benjamin Franklin said

00:12:27.339 --> 00:12:28.899
 were the two certainties in life?

00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:31.559
 Death and taxes.

00:12:31.699 --> 00:12:33.139
 We'll park the taxes for just now.

00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:34.979
 But he's banging on the money,

00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:35.319
 is he not?

00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:35.740
 It's true.

00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:37.759
 Death is the great equalizer.

00:12:38.459 --> 00:12:39.719
 Death knows no class distinction.

00:12:40.959 --> 00:12:42.059
 Both of these men die.

00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:44.939
 You know, last time I checked,

00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.939
 the death rate was still up

00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:47.219
 around about the 100% mark.

00:12:47.339 --> 00:12:48.579
 Both these men die.

00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.839
 This is what he's telling us.

00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:51.319
 The same fate comes to both.

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:52.019
 They both died.

00:12:52.339 --> 00:12:53.579
 There was a contrast in life,

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.900
 but do you see how Jesus tells

00:12:54.900 --> 00:12:55.820
 these Pharisees

00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:57.440
 there was a contrast in death?

00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.960
 Jesus speaks about Lazarus first.

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:01.780
 Here he is.

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.460
 God helps me.

00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:03.040
 Is that true?

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.139
 Is that going to be true for him?

00:13:05.540 --> 00:13:06.139
 What are we told?

00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.759
 The angels carried him

00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.840
 to Abraham's side.

00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:10.900
 Now you say,

00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.120
 well, what's Abraham doing there?

00:13:12.160 --> 00:13:13.080
 How's he snuck in there?

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.460
 Well, he's the father of the faith.

00:13:15.560 --> 00:13:16.560
 And here he is,

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:19.040
 welcoming, embracing Lazarus.

00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.320
 And so Lazarus' name

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.379
 was clearly not just

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.360
 some wishful thinking

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.080
 by his parents.

00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:24.080
 It was true for him.

00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.460
 That he trusted that God

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:28.340
 would ultimately save him.

00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.480
 That he trusted that God

00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:31.259
 was who he says he is

00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:31.740
 in his word.

00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:32.720
 That he is the father

00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.419
 of the helpless.

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.419
 And ultimately,

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.899
 God is going to be the one

00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.560
 that saves him.

00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:40.639
 It reminded me this week

00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:42.759
 of the old hymn

00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:45.419
 sung by the American slaves

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.220
 back in the day,

00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:46.960
 oppressed,

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:48.960
 destitute.

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.659
 What did they sing?

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.940
 Swing low, sweet chariot.

00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.840
 Now how that got to

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:54.140
 Twickenham today,

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:54.960
 I have no idea.

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.940
 But swing low, sweet chariot.

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:57.660
 So they used to sing,

00:13:58.660 --> 00:14:00.080
 I looked over Jordan,

00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:00.920
 what did I see?

00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:02.580
 Coming forth to carry me home.

00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:04.820
 A band of angels

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.700
 coming after me,

00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:07.220
 coming forth to carry me home.

00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.620
 That's the kind of thing

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:09.540
 going on here with Lazarus,

00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:10.060
 I imagine.

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.540
 The truth that one day

00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:14.360
 my God will liberate me.

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.320
 The truth that one day

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.680
 my God will vindicate me.

00:14:16.760 --> 00:14:17.480
 The truth that one day

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.960
 my God will come to save me.

00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.060
 And you have to say

00:14:21.060 --> 00:14:22.840
 that as we read

00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:24.680
 about Lazarus here,

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.400
 welcomed,

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.280
 comforted,

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:26.860
 loved,

00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:27.700
 embraced

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:29.340
 at the father's side,

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.400
 at Abraham's side,

00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:30.860
 we have to say

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.879
 that's a beautiful picture.

00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:32.900
 Doesn't it?

00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.259
 That's a beautiful picture

00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.139
 of who our God is.

00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:39.400
 But look at the rich man.

00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:41.720
 Like Lazarus,

00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:42.400
 he dies.

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.740
 Text tells us

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.320
 he was buried.

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.680
 Imagine it was

00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.420
 a no expense

00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.379
 spared burial.

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.459
 Is he at Abraham's side?

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.059
 Verse 23,

00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:52.360
 no.

00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:53.219
 Look at the description.

00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:55.639
 He's in torment.

00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.799
 He's in anguish.

00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:58.959
 Jesus painting it out here.

00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.899
 He's in hell.

00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:00.240
 Now,

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:01.299
 why is he there?

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:03.419
 That's a precise question

00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:05.599
 that he's asking himself.

00:15:05.719 --> 00:15:06.479
 Do you see how he makes

00:15:06.479 --> 00:15:07.559
 his appeal to Abraham?

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:09.319
 Verse 24,

00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.299
 what does he call him?

00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.360
 This is key to see this.

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.139
 Verse 24,

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.319
 Father Abraham.

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.319
 Notice what he calls him there.

00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:17.260
 Father Abraham.

00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:17.940
 So what does he do?

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.680
 He plays the relation card.

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.020
 So Abraham,

00:15:21.160 --> 00:15:22.460
 am I not one of your people?

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.879
 We share a family tree,

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.460
 do we not?

00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:27.080
 We share a common heritage.

00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.460
 So why are we not

00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.780
 sharing eternity together?

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.980
 And he sees Lazarus.

00:15:33.040 --> 00:15:33.120
 Now,

00:15:33.160 --> 00:15:33.740
 I love this.

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.200
 I love what goes on here.

00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:38.160
 This man's so accustomed

00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:39.280
 to barking orders.

00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.860
 Do you see how he

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.420
 talks past Lazarus?

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.600
 Does he even acknowledge him?

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.360
 He talks past him

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:46.139
 and he sees Abraham

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.980
 and he asks him,

00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:49.120
 would you send Lazarus here?

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:51.399
 Would you send Lazarus here

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:54.060
 to help me in my anguish?

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.040
 Now,

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:55.940
 notice in passing

00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:57.060
 that this rich man,

00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.540
 he knows Lazarus' name.

00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.620
 Do you see that in the text?

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.639
 He knows his name.

00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.139
 And it's not because

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:04.600
 Lazarus has got to heaven

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.180
 and Abraham has given him

00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:07.519
 one of those conference lanyards

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:09.379
 that says Lazarus on.

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:09.600
 It's like,

00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:09.840
 oh,

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:11.800
 I never knew you were called Lazarus.

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.200
 He knows his name.

00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:13.360
 Now,

00:16:13.400 --> 00:16:14.320
 why does he know his name?

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.600
 Because he recognizes him

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.540
 as being Lazarus.

00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:18.660
 He used to sit

00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:19.900
 outside his house

00:16:19.900 --> 00:16:20.560
 behind the gate

00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:21.900
 and he used to beg every day.

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.820
 He recognizes him.

00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.780
 This is Lazarus.

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.120
 So,

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.060
 this rich man

00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:27.520
 can't claim innocence here.

00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.480
 It's not like

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.420
 he can say,

00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:31.340
 if only I'd known

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.120
 you were there,

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:32.540
 Lazarus.

00:16:32.580 --> 00:16:33.540
 If only I'd known,

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:35.160
 maybe I would have come down

00:16:35.160 --> 00:16:35.740
 and given you a hug,

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.360
 invited you in,

00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:37.200
 we could have chewed the fat

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.000
 over a hog roast.

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.360
 I just didn't know.

00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.379
 It can't kill him

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.659
 innocence,

00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.279
 this man.

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:42.720
 Lazarus,

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.559
 I knew he was there.

00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.399
 He knows his name.

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.960
 He knew he was there.

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.159
 And God,

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.100
 who we saw last week

00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.019
 at verse 15,

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.960
 he knows the heart

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:58.240
 and he knows

00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.120
 that this rich man knows.

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.899
 And so,

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.700
 Abraham responds,

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.419
 verse 25,

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:03.899
 rich man,

00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.579
 you had your time

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.039
 in the sun.

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.759
 You had your good things.

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.700
 You had your chance.

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.660
 You had your opportunity.

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.559
 You had your Bible

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:12.079
 and you made your choice.

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.160
 I'm sorry,

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.599
 but eternity for you,

00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:17.079
 key word at verse 26,

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.960
 is fixed.

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.720
 Here's a little lesson

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.299
 that I've picked up

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:21.759
 along the way

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.259
 when it comes to

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.259
 understanding a passage

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:23.940
 like this.

00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.240
 And it's this,

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.259
 that the plain things

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.059
 are the main things

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.899
 and the main things

00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.759
 are the plain things.

00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:32.579
 Okay?

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.759
 Plain things

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.720
 are the main things

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.379
 and the main things

00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:36.019
 are the plain things.

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:36.740
 So,

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.799
 what is Jesus teaching here?

00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:40.919
 Will you be able to see

00:17:40.919 --> 00:17:41.619
 heaven from hell?

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.099
 Honestly,

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.019
 don't think so.

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:43.519
 Honestly,

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:43.940
 don't know.

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:44.659
 Okay?

00:17:45.679 --> 00:17:46.720
 Will you be able to communicate

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.539
 between the two?

00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:48.779
 Honestly,

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.240
 I don't think so,

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:50.839
 but I don't know.

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.359
 There's rabbit holes here

00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.000
 that we can take

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.559
 that I don't think

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.579
 we're being invited to take.

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.819
 What is the main thing

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:58.000
 from this parable?

00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.039
 What is the plain thing

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.899
 that Jesus is teaching

00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.899
 the Pharisees here?

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.500
 Surely it's this,

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.139
 that the choices

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:05.440
 that we make in this life

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.920
 have consequences

00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.659
 for the next.

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:09.619
 See,

00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.279
 that's the plain thing

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:11.039
 from this parable.

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.460
 And you see that

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:15.039
 come out in the rich man's reaction.

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.980
 Do you see how he plays

00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:17.000
 the race card

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.639
 to Abraham?

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.259
 He doesn't play

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.220
 the grace card

00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.119
 to Abraham.

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.839
 What does he say?

00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.220
 He says,

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.240
 I deserve to be in heaven

00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.539
 because of my heritage.

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.779
 Whereas the consistent

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:28.859
 testimony of Scripture

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:30.379
 is that we are saved

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:31.220
 by grace alone.

00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.220
 That God sent

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.279
 his promised son.

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.480
 That's amazing grace.

00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:38.039
 The son died on the cross

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.920
 for our sin.

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:40.319
 That is amazing grace.

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.920
 And that through faith

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.440
 in Jesus

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.399
 and what he did,

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.839
 as Charles alluded to earlier,

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.480
 we are ransomed,

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.259
 we are healed,

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.160
 we are restored,

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.119
 and we are forgiven.

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:51.920
 That is amazing grace.

00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:54.279
 And that God

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.240
 has adopted us

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.060
 as his children.

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:56.700
 He's given us

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.340
 a new heart.

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:57.980
 He's taken out

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.640
 that heart of stone

00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.660
 and he's put in there

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:02.240
 a heart that beats for him,

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.060
 a new heart.

00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.259
 And we have a quite

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.539
 incredible life to live.

00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.360
 We have a quite

00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.180
 incredible destiny

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.700
 ahead of us

00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.580
 of delighting

00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:09.180
 in his presence

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.120
 and singing his praises

00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:10.920
 for all eternity.

00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:11.500
 That

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.900
 is amazing

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.960
 grace.

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.800
 It is by grace

00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:16.500
 that we have been

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.460
 saved.

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.259
 As the old hymn puts it,

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.379
 sing the wondrous love

00:19:21.379 --> 00:19:21.839
 of Jesus,

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.140
 sing his mercy

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:24.059
 and his grace.

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.619
 In the mansions

00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.599
 bright and blessed

00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:27.799
 he'll prepare

00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.680
 for us a place.

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.759
 Oh, where would we be,

00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.039
 friends,

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:32.859
 without God's grace

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.720
 in our lives?

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.440
 Where would we be?

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.379
 But this rich man

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:38.879
 has chosen

00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:40.279
 to ignore God's words

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:42.480
 and ignore Lazarus

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.660
 and Abraham's making

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.339
 it quite clear

00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:45.299
 that that race card,

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.079
 that I ain't gonna save you.

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.940
 He's a selective listener.

00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.220
 This rich man

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.039
 doesn't get it.

00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.500
 Will the Pharisees

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:53.879
 get it?

00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:54.480
 Will they see that

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.220
 there's still space

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.859
 for grace?

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.599
 Will we get it?

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.680
 Where are you heading?

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.640
 Here's the third question,

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.740
 verses 27 to 31.

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:05.480
 What are you trusting?

00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.779
 And so as Jesus

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.579
 tells the story,

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.240
 it seems like

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.019
 this rich man,

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.279
 as he hears Abraham

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.879
 explain things,

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.819
 he kind of comes

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.599
 to see that there's

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.259
 nothing he can do

00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.119
 to change his fate.

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.900
 What does he do?

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:18.539
 He begins to think

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.240
 about his family.

00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:20.960
 Again,

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.599
 he's still barking

00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.079
 the orders.

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:22.779
 Do you notice this?

00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.900
 Would you send Lazarus

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.779
 to go and speak to them,

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.460
 Father Abraham?

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.259
 I don't know how

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.259
 Lazarus puts up for this.

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.599
 I find it really fascinating

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.160
 that Lazarus

00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.819
 doesn't even speak

00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.619
 in this whole parable.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.379
 Look at Abraham's response.

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.160
 Verse 29,

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.420
 they've got Moses

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.019
 and the prophets.

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.660
 They've got their

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.460
 Old Testaments.

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:45.180
 So this Jewish family,

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:47.100
 they will likely heard

00:20:47.100 --> 00:20:48.120
 Moses and the prophets

00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:48.900
 read and taught

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.620
 every week

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.660
 as they go to synagogue.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.200
 They've heard it taught

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.480
 of who their God is,

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.200
 what he's like,

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.279
 what he's done for them

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.500
 as his people,

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:58.240
 what he's asked of them

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.120
 as his people,

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.559
 and how he's warned them

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.559
 down through the ages

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.440
 through Moses

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.160
 and the prophets

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.279
 about the consequences

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.360
 of keeping ignoring

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.920
 what he's telling them.

00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:08.800
 They have it all,

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.420
 says Abraham.

00:21:09.560 --> 00:21:10.160
 They have it all.

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.100
 They have it right there

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.420
 written.

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.300
 The question is not

00:21:13.300 --> 00:21:13.960
 do they know?

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.500
 The question is

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.240
 will they listen?

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:18.980
 Fair enough,

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.720
 says the rich man,

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.420
 but if only you could

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.120
 give them a sign,

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.720
 if only you could

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.240
 give them a sign,

00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:23.640
 I bet my bottom dollar,

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:24.700
 and he's probably got

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.620
 a lot of dollars, okay,

00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:26.960
 bet my bottom dollar

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.700
 that they would listen.

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.660
 What does Abraham say?

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:29.720
 No, they wouldn't.

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.360
 Even if somebody

00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:33.519
 came back from the dead,

00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:34.380
 strong language,

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:34.720
 isn't it?

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.300
 Even if somebody

00:21:35.300 --> 00:21:36.279
 came back from the dead,

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.960
 they still wouldn't listen

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:39.619
 because believing

00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.799
 is not a matter

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:42.039
 of lack of knowledge.

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.579
 Failure to believe

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.859
 is because of a hard heart

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.379
 that just doesn't

00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:45.839
 want to listen.

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.059
 This is what Abraham's saying.

00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.299
 And we see that

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.960
 in the Gospels,

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.539
 do we not?

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.500
 Think about what we see.

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.460
 John 11,

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.599
 the other Lazarus

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.639
 that's in Scripture.

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.440
 Jesus raises him

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.119
 from the dead.

00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.460
 And what did the Pharisees say?

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.079
 I tell you what,

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.740
 they don't say,

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.220
 oh Jesus,

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.740
 we've got you

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.599
 completely wrong.

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:05.039
 Now we understand,

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.859
 now we surrender.

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.719
 What do they say?

00:22:07.979 --> 00:22:08.740
 We say we want

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.539
 Lazarus dead

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:11.199
 because he's telling people

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:11.919
 that Jesus brought him

00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.699
 back from the dead

00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:14.159
 and he needs to stop talking.

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.439
 Even Jesus himself

00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.539
 when he rises from the dead,

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:20.000
 what is Matthew recording?

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.959
 You can check it out later

00:22:20.959 --> 00:22:22.039
 towards the end of his Gospel.

00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:22.959
 What does he record?

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.740
 Jesus rises from the dead.

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.719
 The reports are there.

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:27.099
 What did the Pharisees say?

00:22:27.219 --> 00:22:27.919
 The religious readers.

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.839
 Not Jesus.

00:22:28.939 --> 00:22:29.559
 We get it now.

00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.539
 We get it now.

00:22:31.219 --> 00:22:31.979
 Please forgive us.

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.559
 We get it now.

00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:33.519
 No, they say,

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.259
 they go to the guards.

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:37.440
 And they say,

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.500
 here's a large sum of money.

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.319
 Would you tell people

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.400
 that the disciples came

00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.259
 and they stole the body?

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.819
 Because we cannot risk

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.460
 this getting around.

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.140
 And when you begin to see

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.019
 it in that context,

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.259
 you see that Abraham here

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.579
 is bang on the money.

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.579
 He's bang on the money.

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.900
 They will not be convinced

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:56.059
 even if somebody rises

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.660
 from the dead.

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.440
 The question is not,

00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:57.980
 do they know?

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.400
 The question is,

00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.960
 will they listen?

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:03.079
 I remember as a young Christian

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.720
 at university

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:05.400
 walking along the road

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.620
 with my mate from football

00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:08.980
 and he said,

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:09.519
 Graham,

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.440
 I wouldn't mind believing

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.299
 but I just would want

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.160
 to see something more.

00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.180
 I just want to see

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.779
 something more.

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.759
 And I'll be honest,

00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:16.600
 as a young Christian,

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.160
 a new Christian,

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.840
 that threw me.

00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:19.860
 It threw me.

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.779
 Begin to ask yourself.

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.600
 Begin to pray in my mind,

00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.539
 God,

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.500
 would you just speak to him?

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:28.039
 And then you begin

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.779
 to think about it

00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.220
 and you think,

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:29.420
 well,

00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.740
 what do I actually believe

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.220
 as a Christian?

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.119
 What do I believe

00:23:32.119 --> 00:23:32.859
 the Bible is?

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.640
 I believe it's,

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.200
 as Calvin called it,

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.619
 God gone public

00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.240
 with himself.

00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.740
 That God's made himself known,

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.000
 that God's on full disclosure,

00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:42.940
 that God has spoken.

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.019
 This is what the Bible is.

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.619
 What a privilege.

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.920
 We were looking

00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.880
 at the Reformation earlier.

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.019
 What a privilege it is.

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.440
 And men and women

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.400
 down the generations

00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.200
 have given their lives

00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.119
 that we can have the Bible

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.039
 in our own language.

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:55.599
 That we can know

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.299
 what God has said,

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:57.379
 that we can read about Jesus,

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.180
 that we can read about

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.740
 God's rescue plan

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.319
 from before eternity

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:02.359
 to rescue men and women

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.559
 to himself through his Son.

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.000
 God has spoken.

00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.159
 What does my friend need?

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.099
 He needs the Bible.

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:09.940
 And he needs me

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.659
 to read it with him.

00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:12.980
 Again,

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.940
 just beginning to pray,

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.220
 God,

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.180
 would you give him a sign?

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.180
 Again,

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.799
 thinking to myself,

00:24:17.899 --> 00:24:18.599
 working that through,

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:18.879
 well,

00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.940
 what kind of sign?

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.440
 Thinking it through.

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.139
 But I can trust

00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:25.940
 these Gospels.

00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:27.579
 They're historically reliable.

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.460
 What are they telling me?

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:28.960
 They're telling me

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.920
 that Jesus died

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.139
 and Jesus rose

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:32.460
 and Jesus ascended.

00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.740
 If he's not going to be

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.819
 convinced by that miracle,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.839
 I don't know what

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.579
 other miracle

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.180
 he's going to be

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.139
 convinced by.

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.039
 God,

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.659
 would you

00:24:43.659 --> 00:24:44.839
 save him?

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.559
 Abraham's

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.180
 bang on the money.

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.000
 He's bang on the money.

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.879
 And so our conviction

00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:52.720
 sitting here this morning

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.500
 is God's people

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.160
 has got to be

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.980
 heaven's conviction.

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.380
 And that is that

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:56.860
 the Bible

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.960
 is trustworthy.

00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.860
 And our confidence

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:00.600
 can be in

00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.620
 every single word

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.220
 that is proceeded

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.000
 from the mouth of God

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.880
 that we have in front of us

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.640
 in our own language.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.079
 And I'll tell you

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.819
 how this works out

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:08.299
 in our evangelism.

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.700
 I've got another friend

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.360
 who I read

00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:13.220
 John's Gospel with.

00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:13.980
 Do you know how long

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.839
 we've been doing it for?

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.380
 Four years.

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.539
 Taught me that

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.980
 evangelism is no

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.680
 short-term thing.

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:22.740
 It's about relationships.

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.880
 It's about people.

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.500
 But it's also taught me

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.560
 that this conviction

00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:28.080
 is true.

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.620
 That my confidence

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:32.000
 that my friend

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.400
 will come to meet Jesus

00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.279
 is not in my ability

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.240
 to answer his questions.

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.620
 My confidence

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.539
 is not in my

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.480
 apologetic skills

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.620
 to explain stuff to him.

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.299
 My confidence

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:42.100
 is in the word of God.

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.740
 And I go on the basis

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.960
 that my friend,

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.259
 wherever he stands

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.039
 before the Lord,

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.420
 I don't know,

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:50.079
 my friend needs

00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:50.720
 what I need

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:52.819
 and your friends

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.700
 need what you need

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:55.079
 and that is

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.519
 he needs to meet Jesus.

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.819
 He needs to meet Jesus.

00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:01.240
 And so how is he

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.859
 going to meet Jesus?

00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.659
 Well, he's going to meet him,

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.059
 he's going to encounter him

00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.940
 in the pages

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.779
 of the Gospels.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.399
 And not just the Gospels,

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.319
 the whole Bible

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:10.759
 is pointing to him,

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.659
 God's rescue plan.

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.279
 How is my friend

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.839
 going to know?

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:15.159
 I've got to sit down

00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:16.019
 and read the Bible with him.

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:16.819
 Four years ago.

00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.119
 Four years.

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.819
 I'm not going anywhere

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.519
 anytime soon.

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.119
 He and she,

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.519
 so we're going to keep doing it.

00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.439
 But four years

00:26:23.439 --> 00:26:25.439
 because of this conviction.

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.240
 What does my friend need?

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.119
 My friend needs Jesus.

00:26:28.199 --> 00:26:28.980
 What do I need?

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.819
 I need Jesus.

00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.539
 Here's a challenge

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.659
 before you go this morning.

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.619
 Is there somebody

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.259
 in your life,

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.079
 is there a friend,

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.899
 is there a colleague,

00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.559
 is there a mate at work,

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.119
 whoever,

00:26:39.459 --> 00:26:40.220
 mate from sport,

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:40.959
 whatever you do,

00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.159
 could you read the Bible?

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.640
 Will you be faithful

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.259
 with them?

00:26:45.080 --> 00:26:45.779
 And if not,

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.440
 will you pray

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.720
 for my friend

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.279
 that you become

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.840
 to know Jesus?

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:51.560
 Come and speak to us afterwards.

00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.160
 Anybody that you've seen

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.920
 up the front here this morning,

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.220
 some terrific resources

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.259
 that we can recommend

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:56.519
 about sitting down

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.380
 one to one with a friend

00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:58.480
 and reading the Bible with them.

00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.900
 What our friends need,

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.120
 same thing that we need,

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:02.800
 we need to meet Jesus.

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.460
 He's glorious.

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.320
 He is glorious.

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.620
 They need to meet Jesus.

00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.560
 This rich man

00:27:09.560 --> 00:27:10.220
 doesn't get it.

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:12.299
 He's a selective listener.

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:13.600
 Will the Pharisees get it?

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.360
 Will we get it?

00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:16.700
 What are you trusting?

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.259
 Are you here this morning

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.039
 and as we bring this

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.500
 to a close,

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.620
 are you here this morning

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.480
 and you're currently

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.720
 being a selective listener?

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.880
 Are you here this morning

00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:30.079
 and money and possessions

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:32.380
 are distracting you?

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.480
 They're choking your love

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.059
 for the Lord.

00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.380
 I wonder if a lot of us

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.799
 this morning,

00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.700
 and I include me in this,

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.880
 we've got some work to do,

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.559
 business to do with God.

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.400
 As I close,

00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:45.960
 I was reminded this week

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.500
 of the place

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.080
 that I went to buy

00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:48.039
 my first ever CD.

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.940
 Don't anyone else

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:52.259
 remembers HMV?

00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.360
 Is it still going, HMV?

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.779
 Is it not going?

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.539
 Wow, I'm old.

00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.640
 There it is.

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:57.759
 HMV.

00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:58.580
 Is it still going?

00:27:59.420 --> 00:27:59.819
 It's.

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:00.840
 Host and Terminal.

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.279
 Okay.

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.500
 Still going.

00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:03.980
 Not as frequent,

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.779
 but they're still going.

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.200
 Life in the old dog yet.

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.019
 Here we are.

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.580
 HMV.

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.799
 Do you know what HMV stands for?

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.779
 I only learned this recently.

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:13.100
 His master's voice.

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.420
 So here we are this morning

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.799
 talking about selective listening.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.680
 I think this is a wonderful example

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.360
 of what it means

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.940
 to listen to our master's voice.

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.080
 Do you know the story of this dog?

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.480
 So there was this man

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.720
 called Mark Barrow.

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.460
 When Mark Barrow died,

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.340
 his brother Francis

00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:28.759
 inherited two things for him.

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.559
 He wasn't very rich.

00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.640
 He inherited two things.

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.880
 The dog,

00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.559
 called Nipper,

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:34.039
 and the gramophone

00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.119
 completely with some of Mark's

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:36.419
 recordings of his own voice.

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.299
 Francis noted

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:40.619
 that every time

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:42.039
 he turned on that gramophone,

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.639
 every time that he played

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:45.159
 Mark's voice,

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.519
 that Nipper would go

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.179
 and listen.

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.339
 I'm distracted.

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.679
 Devoted.

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.720
 We'd go and listen.

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.500
 I think it's a wonderful example

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.220
 of what it means

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.039
 to listen well.

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.960
 Jesus is having a go

00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.759
 at the Pharisees

00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:00.079
 for their poor listening,

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.339
 for their selective listening.

00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:02.759
 You see what Jesus

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.699
 is calling us to?

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.599
 Attentive,

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.779
 anticipatory,

00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:10.139
 all out love

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:12.079
 for every single word

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.179
 of his.

00:29:14.199 --> 00:29:15.259
 I think David Platt,

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.259
 he's an American pastor

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.699
 and author,

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:18.139
 he captures this so well

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:19.859
 and with this we close.

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.179
 He says,

00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.980
 Radical obedience to Christ

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:25.079
 risks losing all things,

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.740
 but in the end

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:28.419
 such risk finds it reward

00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.619
 in Christ

00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:29.679
 Christ.

00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:31.059
 And he

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.539
 is more than enough

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.039
 for us.

00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:34.779
 Amen.

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.500
 Let's pray together.

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.559
 Maybe in the quiet now

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.479
 you just want to offer up

00:29:40.479 --> 00:29:41.219
 your own prayer

00:29:41.219 --> 00:29:42.959
 as we respond

00:29:42.959 --> 00:29:43.699
 to God's word

00:29:43.699 --> 00:29:44.259
 as we've heard it

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.759
 this morning.

00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:52.839
 Dearest Father,

00:29:52.939 --> 00:29:53.539
 we would ask

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.559
 that you would help us

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:56.039
 to be those

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.039
 who don't simply

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.059
 offer you selective

00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:58.559
 obedience,

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.619
 but rather,

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.059
 dear Father,

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.940
 by your Spirit

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.379
 who is living in us,

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.299
 would you make us

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.019
 those who are

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.799
 sacrificial

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:10.220
 and radical

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.119
 in our obedience

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.779
 to you.

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.619
 Oh dear Father,

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.539
 we know our own weakness,

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.420
 we know our hearts

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.519
 that so often wander,

00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:18.079
 so Father,

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:19.019
 we take the line

00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.720
 of that song,

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:20.899
 would you come

00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:22.079
 and bind our wandering

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.819
 hearts to you.

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.619
 And so this is our prayer

00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.399
 made in the strong

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.019
 name of Jesus.

00:30:26.659 --> 00:30:27.019
 Amen.