WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:07.140 Loving God, what I have prepared is just a speech if your Holy Spirit isn't present in power. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:13.679 I pray, Lord God, that by your grace, only the truth would be spoken and only the truth heard. 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:16.100 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:21.219 I was choking this morning, so I brought some water with me. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:23.660 Forgive me. 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:30.940 As we were deciding what we were going to preach for these weeks, 00:00:31.240 --> 00:00:37.100 George laid out a host of scriptures that we could kind of choose from, which were from the miracles of Jesus. 00:00:37.700 --> 00:00:43.620 And the one that we have, if you want to turn to it, Luke 7, was jumped out at me, the faith of the centurion. 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:45.359 Most of you know I'm a military chaplain. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:50.060 I've been working for about 15 years amongst the soldiers in the army and the special forces. 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:56.640 And so when the faith of the centurion shows up or any of the army guys show up, I usually jump all over that. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.740 So that's why I chose this one. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:00:59.640 I wouldn't say I stole it. 00:00:59.660 --> 00:01:00.740 I chose this one this morning. 00:01:01.980 --> 00:01:07.900 Charles Spurgeon once quipped, he once stated that there's plenty of people in his time, 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:14.120 there was plenty of people who couldn't kill a mouse without publishing it in the local paper. 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:23.140 And he said that the Lord finds modesty so rare that he takes great pains in his word to record it. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:29.560 And Luke 7, 1 to 10 is one of those places where modesty and humility, 00:01:30.080 --> 00:01:34.760 Luke is taking great pains to make sure that he records it. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:39.600 The story of the centurion's servant is a story of humility and faith. 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:40.760 So let's start there. 00:01:40.820 --> 00:01:41.320 Let's look. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:43.219 I'm going to go right through the passage. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:44.599 Let's look at 7, 1. 00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:51.099 After he finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:57.640 Jesus has been teaching all over the north of the Sea of Galilee. 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:01.460 If you can picture the Sea of Galilee is in the northern part of the nation of Israel. 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:04.980 It's, you know, all kinds of stories about that. 00:02:05.259 --> 00:02:09.919 And so Jesus all along the north has been preaching and doing wonderful, marvelous things. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:17.819 And it says in chapter 6 that multitudes of people now, multitudes of people are following him. 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.099 They're just coming out of the woodwork in order to follow him and see what's going on. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:22.179 Word is spreading. 00:02:22.739 --> 00:02:27.599 And in this time, he actually, it seems that he pops in and out of Capernaum at times. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:32.960 So he comes in to and pops into Capernaum, probably to do some teaching. 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:35.019 This is a small town. 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:36.979 It's on the northwest of the sea. 00:02:37.419 --> 00:02:42.659 We believe archaeologists, from what they find in the ruins, that this was a fishing town. 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.639 Although it was a fishing town, it had a synagogue, a place of worship. 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:50.419 We believe it's where the man with the withered hand was actually healed within that synagogue. 00:02:50.419 --> 00:02:54.679 So it makes sense that Jesus is popping in and out of Capernaum at this time. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:01.060 And archaeologists also tell us that this town had about a thousand people in it. 00:03:01.739 --> 00:03:04.779 So it was a bustling worship center. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.539 It was a bustling fishing town. 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:08.579 It was a bustling little small town. 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:10.939 Now, I'm from a small town. 00:03:11.399 --> 00:03:13.699 My mom is here at the back there. 00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:22.079 And if I did something bad on one side of town, my mom heard about it before I even got home. 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:22.819 All right. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:26.099 Word spreads quickly in a small town. 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:28.519 Everybody knows about Jesus. 00:03:29.539 --> 00:03:36.239 Most of them, possibly even the centurion, has witnessed in some way something that Jesus has done. 00:03:36.519 --> 00:03:40.699 And pretty much everybody at this point is wondering and trying to figure out for themselves, 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:42.799 who is this guy? 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:44.719 Who is Jesus? 00:03:45.839 --> 00:03:51.599 And it seems like the centurion of all people, of all people, the non-Jew, Gentile centurion, 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:56.439 is on to something as far as who this person is, who Jesus is. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.159 And so Jesus enters, verse 2. 00:04:01.979 --> 00:04:03.899 Now a centurion had faith who was sick. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:09.199 The centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death who was highly valued by him. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.699 So Jesus enters and there's this soldier. 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:19.039 And the message, if we look through 7, 1 to 10, is about the soldier's character, 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:21.759 not really about the miracle itself. 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:27.639 The passage spends its time looking at and describing the soldier's character. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:28.659 So that's what we're going to do. 00:04:28.719 --> 00:04:32.599 We're just going to follow through and we're going to look and focus on the soldier's character. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:35.539 We don't know his background nationality. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:39.240 Most definitely was not a Jew, though. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:39.740 We know that. 00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:42.180 But a centurion could have been from anywhere within the Roman world. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:46.700 And there's pretty much a spectrum within Capernaum, according to this passage, 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:49.780 of where we could place this centurion. 00:04:50.320 --> 00:04:53.160 On the far side, he could have been a convert. 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:54.939 Can I get someone to close that door for me at the back? 00:04:54.939 --> 00:05:01.100 It's great music, but thanks. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:07.300 On the one hand, he could have been a convert, a full convert, a Gentile, but ostensibly, you know, 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:10.319 a Jew like everybody else in the town, on the one hand. 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:14.180 He could have been what we would call an adherent. 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:16.240 At that time, they call it a God-fearer. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:21.460 So that would have been someone, a Gentile, who chose to worship like a Jew would, 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:26.840 but really isn't fully invested, isn't going to convert and become fully a Jew. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:34.519 And then on the far side, over here, he could have just been a soldier who was following the Roman customs. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:39.100 And the Roman custom was to recognize that the local religions are a force for good, 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:42.759 and we just kind of need to leverage that for the good of the Roman Empire. 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:51.860 I can confirm that, you know, militaries have been doing that for years, for millennia. 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:57.879 For myself as a chaplain, some of us were chosen to be trained down in America 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:02.500 for religious leader engagement and religious leader assessment. 00:06:02.599 --> 00:06:05.699 So I went down to South Carolina, and basically what that is, 00:06:05.719 --> 00:06:09.240 is to learn how to assess the religious situation within the country, 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:14.100 and then discover which religious leaders it is that we need to be engaging as a military, 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:16.800 and what we need to be saying, what the message is. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:22.379 And we're trying to leverage religion, leverage whatever faith is present there, 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:24.860 as a force multiplier, we call it, for good. 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:29.960 To kind of use and use religion as a tool to build peace. 00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:34.620 And so the Romans did it, and for 2,000 years, militaries have been doing that. 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:37.420 So he could have just been purely a soldier who was doing that, 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:41.579 not out of the goodness of his heart, but seeking to engage towards peace. 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:44.240 So he's somewhere along that spectrum. 00:06:45.459 --> 00:06:47.399 Either convert, adherent, or just being a soldier. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:54.280 The facts that the passage lay out, I would say he's probably a God-fearer, 00:06:55.280 --> 00:07:01.360 but let's not kid ourselves, he's also using religious engagement to win over the local populace. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:05.460 That's pretty much what we could understand about this centurion. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:10.939 Being a centurion was roughly equivalent to what, in the army, we would call a captain. 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:14.100 He is in charge of, he's nobody's fool. 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:18.560 Okay, this is the guy who is in charge of the garrison in Capernaum. 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:23.920 He's got a century, about 100 people who are underneath him, 100 soldiers. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:31.180 So in this town of 1,000 people, he's the guy who is in charge of 100 soldiers. 00:07:32.080 --> 00:07:33.680 He's a pretty important person. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:42.180 You know, it talks about the Jewish elders in here, but, you know, he's the guy who's in charge, really, when it comes civilly. 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:47.720 A Greek historian, Paul Abias, stated that what they looked for in a centurion 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:52.800 was not someone who was out there looking for danger and seeking for glory. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:08:00.740 What they wanted was someone who was steady, reliable, and not over-anxious to go running into a fight. 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:03.340 They wanted someone smart to be a centurion. 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:04.240 That's who they chose. 00:08:04.900 --> 00:08:08.480 But when this person was hard-pressed, they were hard as a rock. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:13.280 They were ready to hold their ground and die at their post, if need be. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:17.000 That's who you had to be to be a Roman centurion. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.319 And the Roman army was brutal. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:19.759 We know that. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.300 The Romans were brutal. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:26.060 So he came through all that and became a captain, became a centurion. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:31.720 We find throughout the scriptures that centurions were men of fortitude and integrity. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:33.919 Do you know when soldiers are spoken about in the New Testament? 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.820 They're always spoken about positively. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:38.259 Always spoken about positively. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:43.039 So this is most probably, when we talk about the character of the centurion, 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:48.279 he's most probably a shrewd, thoughtful, intentional individual. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:53.779 And further to his character, we see in verse 3, 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:59.480 when the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews, 00:08:59.959 --> 00:09:04.199 asking him to come and heal his servant. 00:09:04.459 --> 00:09:07.019 And then we hear what it is that they have to say about Jesus. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:13.939 And the fact that he highly values, we go back to verse 2, 00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:19.159 he highly values some, at least some, if not one of his servants, all his servants together. 00:09:19.579 --> 00:09:22.879 And when this term says highly valued, it's not like, 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:25.819 I highly value this guy because he knows how to make my coffee. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:30.039 This is, he's invested in this person. 00:09:30.199 --> 00:09:32.620 He highly esteems this person. 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:35.860 And I don't know why most of the Bibles translate it like that, 00:09:36.060 --> 00:09:40.340 but he's invested personally in this servant, 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:43.320 which is a little bit unusual for the time. 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:44.919 A little bit unusual for the time. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:48.519 And his worthiness, as I just read, is witnessed by the elders. 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:52.480 Verse 4, when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him, 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.419 earnestly saying, 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:56.120 he is worthy to have you do this for him, 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.680 for he loves our nation, 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:00.759 and he is the one who built our synagogue. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.779 So they're probably not, 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.839 these elders are probably not the religious elders, 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:09.019 or the religious leaders at that time. 00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:13.979 The elders were those who were chosen civilly to act as judges within the town. 00:10:14.239 --> 00:10:17.959 So it's even the civil leaders of the Jewish nation there 00:10:17.959 --> 00:10:20.179 are the ones who are coming and pleading with Jesus. 00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:22.259 And they say, like, he built this synagogue. 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:24.259 When we talk about the building of the synagogue, 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:25.839 the captain is wealthy. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:29.920 He has more money than the soldiers would have. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.480 But he's not that wealthy. 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:38.720 Building a synagogue would have taken a lot of his personal wealth to do that. 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:42.120 It hurt financially for him to have built the synagogue. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:45.180 So we see, you know, he actually, 00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:50.100 yeah, he's engaging as a soldier within the local religious populace, 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:53.780 but, you know, he actually cares about this worship life. 00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:56.600 He's invested somehow in the worship life. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:00.740 And so we see here this man of integrity, 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:02.860 this thoughtful individual, 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:06.439 who's probably very intentional about how he goes about doing things. 00:11:06.819 --> 00:11:10.399 He goes to Jesus through intermediaries. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:14.519 And so Jesus went along with them, 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:16.840 even though he's going to the home, 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:18.720 to go to the home of this Gentile. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.919 As he approaches the house, 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:22.100 even more friends, 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.699 more of the friends are sent to him. 00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:27.240 These are probably Jewish friends that the centurion has, 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.220 because they're approaching a Jewish teacher. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:33.279 Tells you again something about how he's invested within this community 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.659 that says his friends were probably Jews. 00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:39.500 And so they come and they approach Jesus. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:43.059 Now, these go-betweens are an important factor. 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:45.679 When Matthew tells this story, 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:50.819 he doesn't include the fact that there was intermediaries there. 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:53.439 It's not an important factor for him. 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:56.839 But Luke includes this detail, 00:11:57.199 --> 00:11:59.240 that there was intermediaries that came. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.579 Because he's trying to make a point. 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.459 Friends, when we look at the passages, 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:05.740 the way the different Gospels tell, 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.420 the different stories, 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.780 the different nuances they give, 00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:08.860 any kind of differences, 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.320 anytime you see a difference, 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.700 it's basically the author, 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:13.759 or the Holy Spirit saying, 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:15.240 okay, knucklehead, slow down. 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:18.400 There's something important here that you need to notice. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:20.759 And so Luke is saying to us, 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:22.879 okay, he didn't go himself, 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:25.060 even though he was this big, important person, 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.920 he actually sent people twice. 00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.080 Twice he sent people. 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.620 To go in between, 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:32.259 because he didn't feel worthy to go up to Jesus. 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:34.879 Luke is highlighting for us, 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:37.299 the humility of the centurion. 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:42.639 He's highlighting the role of humility, 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.580 in this kind of faith. 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:47.500 And so the soldier highlights Jesus' word, 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:49.340 as an instrument that affects his purpose. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.899 We look at verse 7. 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:54.379 Therefore, I do not presume to come to you, 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:56.080 but say the word, 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:58.019 and let my servant be here. 00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:04.340 And so the soldier highlights that Jesus' word 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:07.779 is the tool that he uses to affect his purpose. 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.579 You just saw here, 00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:12.379 like this microphone is a tool that I'm using 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.639 to affect my purpose, 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.960 which is to preach to you. 00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:19.939 And the soldier is saying that God, 00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:22.980 that Jesus' word is what he uses 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:24.840 to affect his purpose that's out there. 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:27.660 And we see this throughout the Gospels. 00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:32.180 This interplay between Jesus and his word. 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.040 They become synonymous. 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.780 In the beginning there was what? 00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:37.500 The word. 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:39.899 And we see this throughout the Gospels, 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.379 how in the scriptures 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:43.840 are actually the very word, 00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:45.220 and that's where the presence of God is. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:48.780 And the soldier seems to get that. 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:50.159 In the military, 00:13:50.839 --> 00:13:52.279 in the military where I am, 00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:52.899 I'm a major, 00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:54.500 when my lieutenant colonel 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:56.339 says something to me, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.779 tells me to do something, 00:13:58.059 --> 00:13:59.339 that lawful command 00:13:59.339 --> 00:14:02.079 is literally a law for me. 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.159 The word of the person in charge 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:06.100 is the law. 00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:07.279 If I don't follow it, 00:14:08.079 --> 00:14:09.220 I get court-martialed 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.439 and bad things happen. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:11.659 Right? 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:14.179 It is literally the law. 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:16.419 And so the soldier seems to get 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:19.579 the importance of the word of Jesus. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:23.120 And I want us to notice, though, 00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:26.799 exactly how the soldier says it 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.559 in the passage. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.500 Because Luke, again, 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:29.899 saying, 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.839 slow down, knuckleheads. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.519 Let's notice something here. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:37.819 Verse 8. 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:51.940 He doesn't say right away, 00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:54.200 I'm this big important person 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:55.420 who says something 00:14:55.420 --> 00:14:56.280 and people do it. 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:58.140 What does he highlight first? 00:14:59.300 --> 00:15:00.379 I am someone 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:02.420 set under authority. 00:15:03.540 --> 00:15:04.880 He doesn't have to say that. 00:15:05.420 --> 00:15:06.000 It's the captain. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.519 But Luke is, 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:09.220 in quoting him exactly like that, 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:11.139 Luke is showing for us, 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.659 highlighting for us, 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:13.840 humility. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:15.500 The role of humility 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:17.659 in the faith of this centurion. 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:21.139 And Jesus 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:24.220 marvels at the man's faith. 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.480 Humility 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:29.080 is at the root of that faith 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:30.200 that Jesus marvels at. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.940 You know this is one of two places 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:33.299 in the entire Bible 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:35.240 Jesus marvels at something. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.259 Usually it's him 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.179 that's surprising people 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:39.620 and people are marveling at him 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:40.899 walking across the water. 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:44.259 Next week I'm going to talk 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:45.279 about the loaves, 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.440 about the feeding of the 5,000. 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.559 People marveled at that. 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:49.759 This is one of two places 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.200 where Jesus actually marvels at. 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:51.799 He's here 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:53.519 with respect to humility 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.240 and faith, 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.720 but also he marvels 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.899 in his hometown 00:15:57.899 --> 00:16:00.179 with respect to 00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:01.399 lack of faith 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.779 and their pride. 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:05.059 when he went to Nazareth 00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:05.699 to preach, 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.539 what happened? 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.240 Who are you? 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.539 You're just a carpenter's son. 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.659 Who are you to preach to us? 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.839 Who are you to think 00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:13.459 that you're a big, 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.259 important person? 00:16:14.959 --> 00:16:15.959 And the Bible says 00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:18.399 that Jesus has famous words, 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:20.079 a prophet is not without honor 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.240 except in his hometown. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:23.779 And he could do no miracles 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.919 because of their unbelief. 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.599 So here, 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:26.779 in our passage, 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:28.199 he marvels because of humility 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:28.959 and faith, 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:30.459 and there he marvels 00:16:30.459 --> 00:16:31.419 because of pride 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:32.979 and unbelief. 00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:36.019 He says he's found faith like this 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:38.079 nowhere in Israel. 00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:39.959 For all the soldiers' 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.839 lack of the knowledge of Judaism 00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:43.179 as the religious leaders 00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:43.679 would have had 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.719 or maybe these magistrates 00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:45.360 would have had, 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.199 here he grasps 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:49.159 the very heart 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.179 of God's purposes 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:51.099 for Israel 00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:52.500 and for the world. 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.419 And it points to Jesus. 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:57.559 The one true God 00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:58.360 was active 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.879 in the person of Jesus. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.099 He responds, 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.719 and as he looks to Jesus, 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.339 he responds realizing his place, 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.599 which is not even to be 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:09.619 in God's presence. 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.700 And then because of that, 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:14.779 you know, 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.960 when he's at home, 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.839 he's not able to do 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.980 any works of power. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:18.940 Here, 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:20.619 because there's a faith 00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.759 that he even marvels at 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.680 from a Gentile, 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.899 he's able to do 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:25.340 a very unique miracle. 00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.580 Usually, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.700 when Jesus does a miracle, 00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:28.560 he's right there. 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.340 He's right there 00:17:29.340 --> 00:17:30.019 with the loaves 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.460 and the fishes. 00:17:30.840 --> 00:17:31.620 He's right there 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.120 with the man 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:33.540 with the withered hand. 00:17:33.780 --> 00:17:34.620 But here, 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.500 and in the ancient world, 00:17:35.540 --> 00:17:36.320 this is very weird, 00:17:36.580 --> 00:17:37.280 it's a miracle 00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:38.580 that happens over a distance. 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.500 He doesn't even have to see. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.900 He's so amazed. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.920 There's so much faith there. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.300 He doesn't have to see this servant. 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.440 The servant's just healed. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.500 Luke is highlighting for us 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.960 that dichotomy 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:51.079 between those two things. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.819 In today's lesson, 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.400 a key attribute 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.059 of the faith 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.700 that Jesus is seeking from us 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:00.119 is humility. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.279 The definition would be 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.740 understanding God's holiness 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.539 and power 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:07.359 as a soldier sees 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.940 and our place 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:11.960 in response 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.900 and in comparison 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:14.019 to that. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.180 Why does this matter? 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:19.279 In a world of political 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.980 and social 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:23.779 and corporate hierarchies, 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.200 humility can be 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.160 a very tough sell. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:28.560 You know, 00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.600 I work within the machine 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.259 here in Ottawa 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.320 and I've got to tell you 00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:32.440 when it comes to public service 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.060 or the military, 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.580 humility can be 00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:35.500 a very tough sell. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.900 There's a fear 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.960 of being overlooked. 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.519 There's a fear 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.900 of being underutilized 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:43.259 or overutilized 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.860 by the machine 00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:44.960 and just run over 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.880 by the big political machine. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.079 But this is important 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.180 because humility 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:52.440 cuts across that jungle, 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.340 cuts across our false selves 00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.039 we buy into 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.400 when we start playing that game 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.100 and it opens room 00:18:58.100 --> 00:18:59.259 for the Holy Spirit 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:01.480 to bring out 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.660 our new selves, 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.100 renewed, 00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:07.039 as Ephesians 4.24 says. 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:09.259 Cuts right across it, 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.160 opens it up, 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.220 humility does in faith, 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.000 and allows our true selves 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.059 to blossom. 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.500 Jesus prizes humility 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.620 whereas our culture 00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:19.920 is a battle royale 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.019 of who has the most 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.140 social merit. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.740 Some people, 00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:24.519 it's just important 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.960 that they be seen 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.079 as the most powerful 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.000 and the most important. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.279 And oddly enough, 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.120 for others, 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:34.539 it's a battle 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:36.259 to see who's the most oppressed. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:38.299 Because if I'm the most oppressed, 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.440 that means I'm 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.440 the most important voice. 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:42.299 But on both sides, 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.799 it's all about 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.620 who's on the top 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.140 of the heap 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.880 and who's the most important. 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:50.100 My kids are really, 00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.860 I don't know if you've ever seen this, 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.620 my kids are really into people 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:55.080 who stream video games 00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.759 on the internet. 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.640 Have you seen this? 00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:59.220 It's bigger than sports, folks, 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.259 and it's bigger in cable. 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.880 Kids aren't interested in that. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:02.880 They're interested 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:03.700 in going on YouTube 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.960 or this thing called Twitch 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.539 and watching someone. 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.539 It'll be up here. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.720 It's basically them 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.259 them playing the video game 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.140 and a little box 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:11.900 of their head up there 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.660 talking to you 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.240 while they're playing 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.819 that video game. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.019 Sounds funny, 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.799 but it's a huge thing. 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.920 Now, because my kids 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.579 are into this, 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.539 Amy and I are into this. 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.299 Right? 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.400 You want to kind of 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:26.240 be able to be involved 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.799 in whatever it is 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.460 that your kids are into. 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.220 But something 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:32.339 they always talk about, 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.420 these streamers, 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.960 always talk about 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.920 on social media 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.920 or on their streams, 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:38.539 is something called clout. 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.660 Basically, 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:42.720 the more clout you have, 00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.500 the more people pay attention. 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.980 It's people paying attention 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.960 to your social media 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.460 or they're watching 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.620 or want to watch 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:51.360 your stream 00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:52.900 and so you become 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.700 an influencer. 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.600 And the more clout you have, 00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:57.460 the more advertising dollars 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:57.960 you get 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.220 because the advertisers 00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.860 want their little logo there 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.420 and they want you 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:03.259 drinking their Coca-Cola 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:04.380 on stream. 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.340 So it's just, 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.360 they want clout. 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.659 People pay attention to you. 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.979 You get these advertising dollars, 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:09.979 you get invited 00:21:09.979 --> 00:21:10.859 to the biggest tournaments, 00:21:10.979 --> 00:21:11.419 you get invited 00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:12.359 to the biggest conferences 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.899 and the dollars roll in. 00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.219 We see them 00:21:15.219 --> 00:21:16.359 constantly grinding 00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.759 against each other. 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.719 I watch this with my kids. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.459 They're grinding 00:21:19.459 --> 00:21:20.399 against each other 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.759 for this clout. 00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:23.919 And I think, 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:24.519 you know, 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.500 just to get more eyeballs, 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:26.519 more eyeballs watching. 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.579 And I think that is 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:29.439 an image, 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.459 we can laugh at it, 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.219 but it's an image 00:21:32.219 --> 00:21:33.599 of our society at large. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.980 people trying to convince 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.599 each other 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:38.059 of their social clout, 00:21:38.219 --> 00:21:39.039 their importance 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.159 in the eyes of the world. 00:21:40.459 --> 00:21:41.139 And it's a battle 00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:41.959 to see whose voice 00:21:41.959 --> 00:21:42.980 is more important. 00:21:43.219 --> 00:21:46.019 And it is so easy 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.719 to get caught up in that. 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.899 I'm a minister 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.659 who works within 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:51.459 a rank structure. 00:21:52.219 --> 00:21:54.439 It is so easy 00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:55.539 to get caught up 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.579 in that. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:58.599 But in light 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.199 of the gospel, 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.500 complete nonsense. 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.079 Complete nonsense. 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.359 It's an anathema 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.399 to the message of Jesus. 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.500 Humility 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.500 is the root 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.299 that our true selves 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.699 and faith 00:22:13.699 --> 00:22:14.240 grow that of. 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.460 Thomas Akempis said, 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.220 the more humble 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.939 a man is in himself 00:22:19.939 --> 00:22:21.859 and the more obedient 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.740 towards God, 00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:24.359 the wiser he will be 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.259 in all things 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.480 and the more 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.720 shall his soul 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.099 be at peace. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:31.180 Are you looking 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.920 for peace 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.379 this morning? 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.900 Humble yourself 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:37.799 before almighty God. 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.220 That's where peace 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.619 is found. 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:43.180 So what are we called to? 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:45.200 I believe this morning 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.879 we are called 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:47.680 to a deep understanding 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.559 of our place 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.200 before God. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.759 A deep understanding 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.079 that there is a God 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:55.559 and you or I 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.539 aren't him. 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.980 Not even close. 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.679 Humility, 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:03.659 friends, 00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.500 is a social, 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:05.939 is a spiritual practice 00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:07.220 that we're called to. 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.799 We often think of it, 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.379 you can see in the 00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.099 growing of grace 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.460 section 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.740 or the to do section, 00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.339 we often think 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.939 of humility 00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.659 as kind of one 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.039 of the fruits 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.500 of the spirit, 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.259 something that grows 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.879 out of our faith, 00:23:17.939 --> 00:23:18.639 which is true, 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.980 but even more so 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.919 we are told 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:22.880 to put on humility, 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.500 to be humble. 00:23:25.800 --> 00:23:26.980 This is an act 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.840 that the Bible 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.860 tells us to do. 00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.279 A means of grace, 00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:32.120 a spiritual practice 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:33.060 through which 00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:34.500 our faith is grown. 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:35.440 And so I want to 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.640 challenge us this week 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:38.180 to practice 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.480 humility. 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.460 I wonder if we might 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.320 prayerfully look 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:45.039 at how we're managing 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.960 our own image 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.740 this week. 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.220 If you journal, 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.640 this is a perfect 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.519 opportunity to use 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:50.900 your journal. 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.420 If you don't, 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.079 perfect opportunity 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.900 to start journaling. 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.019 Listen, 00:23:55.360 --> 00:23:55.660 friends, 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.200 to how, 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:56.880 I'm going to do 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.360 this this week, 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.220 I need it as much 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:58.839 as anybody else, 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.100 can we listen 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:01.000 to how we talk 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.579 about ourselves 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.059 this week? 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.620 Can we journal 00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:05.640 when we kind of 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.240 spin the story 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.799 about ourselves 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.480 to make ourselves 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:08.980 look better? 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:11.559 I want us 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.360 to pay attention 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.960 to what comes 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.680 out of ourselves 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.319 when we meet 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:15.880 someone new. 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.579 What do we want 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.160 to come out? 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.640 Do I want my rank 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.240 to come out 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.060 when I'm talking 00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:20.700 to someone new? 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:24.120 We want to journal 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:25.120 how we respond 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.580 to praise or blame. 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.700 And any one 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.220 of those things, 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.880 just focus on 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.320 one of them. 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.259 And to offer 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.800 to God 00:24:32.800 --> 00:24:33.420 those moments 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.180 and ask Jesus 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.259 to root us 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.400 in his love 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:36.720 instead, 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:38.000 so that through 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.940 faith and humility 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.779 our true selves 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.640 can blossom up 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.220 in this world 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.120 that needs you 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.640 to be so. 00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:44.560 We call this 00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:46.000 keeping watch. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.900 As Jesus commanded 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:49.280 in Matthew 25, 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:49.800 13, 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:50.300 he said, 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.360 watch therefore 00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.220 yourself 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.300 because you 00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:53.680 don't know 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.140 the hour. 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:56.080 Spiritual practice 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:57.019 of living in 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.480 watchfulness 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:57.840 when we're 00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:58.800 constantly asking 00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.460 these questions 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.080 of ourselves 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.900 and our interactions 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:01.759 and in our lives 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.380 and offering 00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:02.920 those moments 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.400 to God, 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.420 that's walking 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.160 in watchfulness, 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:05.960 actually paying 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.540 attention to 00:25:06.540 --> 00:25:06.940 what it is 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.519 that we're doing 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.960 in light of God 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.860 in our lives. 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:12.740 we pray 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.399 always for the 00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:13.899 desire to 00:25:13.899 --> 00:25:14.419 become more 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.059 like Jesus 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.619 who, 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.439 as Jonathan Edwards 00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:16.879 said, 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:18.259 is infinitely 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.279 greater than us 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:21.119 but also 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.699 infinitely 00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:22.799 more humble. 00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:24.919 Jesus humbled 00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:25.459 himself, 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.159 I mean, 00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:27.159 Jesus is on high 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:29.240 but he humbled 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.779 himself 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:31.159 to a death 00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:31.939 on the cross 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:33.779 so that those 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.459 of us who are 00:25:34.459 --> 00:25:34.979 humbled 00:25:34.979 --> 00:25:35.779 and faithful 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.439 before him 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:38.220 are raised 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.539 up 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:40.259 to our new 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.880 selves now 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.500 and to 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.160 eternity then. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.120 Thanks be to 00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.400 God. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.259 Amen. 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:48.120 Let's pray. 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.480 Loving God, 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:49.900 we just pray 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.559 for your presence. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.160 We pray that you 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.200 would walk with us 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.660 this week, 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.160 Lord God. 00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.400 Help us to keep 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.460 watch on ourselves 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:57.120 by the power 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.700 of your spirit 00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.759 and to know 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.240 those times 00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.559 when we need 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.299 to offer it to you. 00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:00.799 In Jesus' name 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.140 we pray. 00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:01.860 Amen.