WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.679 Luke chapter number 11 in our series in the Gospel of Luke, walking where Jesus did, Jesus and His mission. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:12.960 ! What does it look like? How does how He lived affect how we live today? 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:16.539 ! Because if we're following Christ, we should be living like Him as well. 00:00:16.620 --> 00:00:18.280 And we're going to see that here today. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:23.740 We're in chapter number 11, verse number 29, and the Bible says this. 00:00:24.060 --> 00:00:27.280 And when the people were gathered thick together, He began to say, 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:30.339 This is an evil generation. 00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:37.299 They seek a sign, and there shall be no sign given it but the sign of Jonas, or Jonah the prophet. 00:00:38.020 --> 00:00:42.980 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation. 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:48.159 The Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:49.280 talking about the Queen of Sheba, 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:55.219 and condemn them, for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 00:00:55.219 --> 00:00:59.240 And behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:05.480 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:08.060 for they repented at the preaching of Jonas. 00:01:08.459 --> 00:01:11.840 And behold, there is a greater than Jonas is here. 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:19.539 No man, when he lighteth a candle, putteth in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, 00:01:19.859 --> 00:01:22.239 that they which come in may see the light. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:28.000 The light of the body is the eye, and therefore when thine eye be single, thy whole body is also full of light. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:31.500 But when thine eye be evil, the body is also full of darkness. 00:01:32.479 --> 00:01:37.439 Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:41.500 If thy whole body, therefore, be full of light, having no part dark, 00:01:42.019 --> 00:01:48.819 the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:53.399 So Jesus is kind of building upon what we've looked at the last few weeks. 00:01:54.179 --> 00:01:56.659 That he has shown his power clearly. 00:01:57.479 --> 00:01:59.479 And the light has been revealed. 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:02.679 And they're still saying, I'm not sure about that. 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:05.539 I need a little bit more evidence. 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:09.060 Hey, why don't you give us just a little bit more proof? 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:13.840 But Jesus is reminding him, reminding the crowd, and he's reminding us today, 00:02:14.340 --> 00:02:15.939 the proof is standing right in front of them. 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:19.560 And this is a bright light for dark hearts. 00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:22.140 The question isn't, is the light right? 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:24.080 The question is, where is our heart? 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:27.719 How does our heart receive the light that has been revealed? 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:28.659 And that's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:31.060 But let's have a word of prayer and ask him to bless our time together. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:32.159 Father, thank you for this time. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:33.680 Thank you for the word of God. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.840 And thank you for allowing us to have a copy in our hand. 00:02:36.480 --> 00:02:38.360 That we might have a guide for our life. 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:39.580 That we might have the truth. 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:41.300 And Lord, that we might know you. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.120 Lord, I pray that as we open it up here this morning. 00:02:44.260 --> 00:02:46.360 And we expound on what you've given us, Lord. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:47.700 I pray that you would just help me. 00:02:48.159 --> 00:02:49.900 Help me to say the things that need to be said. 00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:51.780 And those that shouldn't, Lord, that wouldn't be. 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:56.379 And I pray if there's somebody here today that does not know you as their Savior, Lord. 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:58.819 That they would see the light of the glorious gospel. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:00.740 And they would come to it. 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:04.379 And Lord, for those that do know you as their Savior, Lord. 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:08.799 We'd be reminded that we don't need to be just used to the light. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:10.240 That we need to be sharing it. 00:03:10.299 --> 00:03:12.500 We need to be on mission just like you are. 00:03:12.519 --> 00:03:14.979 And I pray you'd be with us now as we move into the service. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:16.120 And we ask it in Christ's name. 00:03:16.579 --> 00:03:16.879 Amen. 00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:17.719 Thank you so much for standing. 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:18.199 You may be seated. 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.259 Who here has ever used a GPS to get somewhere? 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:24.180 Yeah. 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:26.500 You know, we have to these days. 00:03:26.700 --> 00:03:30.840 You know, I applaud some of you that grew up without GPS's. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:32.060 Like, how did you get anywhere? 00:03:32.640 --> 00:03:35.620 Like, how did you, you know, I've seen, every once in a while, I'll see somebody pulled over 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:37.900 the side of the road with a Rand McNally map open. 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:40.760 I'm like, what are they doing over there? 00:03:41.700 --> 00:03:43.520 But we trust our GPS somewhat. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:47.080 When you really think about it, you know, I put it in there. 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:48.700 I've never been there. 00:03:49.040 --> 00:03:51.060 But I'm pretty sure I know better than the GPS. 00:03:52.100 --> 00:03:52.819 Anybody like that? 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:54.840 But we start driving there. 00:03:54.919 --> 00:03:56.239 We're like, this doesn't look right. 00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:59.819 And it says, turn left in 500 feet. 00:04:00.459 --> 00:04:02.840 And we, this is at least what's going on in my mind. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:04.180 Does it really mean that? 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:05.639 All right. 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:07.639 Are we sure it's 500 feet? 00:04:07.799 --> 00:04:12.539 You know, like, when did we become experts in measuring distances, by the way? 00:04:13.019 --> 00:04:16.199 You know, the GPS, turn left in 1,475 feet. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:17.600 We're like, how far is that? 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.040 And we begin to think. 00:04:19.140 --> 00:04:19.980 We maybe slow down. 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:20.600 You start looking around. 00:04:20.760 --> 00:04:23.300 You always know you're behind somebody that's listening to their GPS. 00:04:23.700 --> 00:04:25.180 Because they're going and all of a sudden they slow down. 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:27.160 They're like, they're looking around. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:28.200 And we're looking around. 00:04:28.260 --> 00:04:29.220 We're seeing for the destination. 00:04:29.460 --> 00:04:31.660 And then the GPS says, turn left now. 00:04:32.320 --> 00:04:33.980 And you're thinking, no, I'm not sure about this. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.580 If this is really the turn, I'm going to pass it. 00:04:36.640 --> 00:04:37.900 And then it will reroute me. 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:39.560 Then I'll know I'm in the right place. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:49.199 I mean, some of you won't turn left until it says it three times, see the sign, and see somebody else that you kind of think is going to the same place turn into the same place. 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:53.740 I'm sure some of you have gotten lost because you've fallen somebody that thought they were going where you were going. 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:54.780 And you're like, where are we? 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:56.360 We're in some abandoned parking lot. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:57.399 We're going to get jumped out here. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:00.540 And then we get mad at the GPS. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:03.300 Why didn't it warn me better? 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:14.639 You know, what I do to my GPS is I just mute it because I'm tired of it telling me at the next destination, at the next stoplight, at the next turn left, like, be quiet. 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:15.819 And then I'm just driving. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.660 I'm like, why is the GPS not talking to me? 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:20.780 Well, because I got tired of it. 00:05:21.340 --> 00:05:22.400 And I muted it. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:26.460 And we can all laugh sometimes at the lack of our trust in our GPS. 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:33.579 But as we come to our text today, I think we're kind of reminded how often we can do that spiritually in our life. 00:05:34.659 --> 00:05:36.180 We can come to church on a Sunday. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:39.099 We can open our own copy of God's Word at our house. 00:05:39.359 --> 00:05:41.279 And God gives clear direction. 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:44.219 And we're thinking, does he really mean that? 00:05:45.159 --> 00:05:46.319 I don't know. 00:05:46.419 --> 00:05:48.459 Does that really apply to me? 00:05:48.659 --> 00:05:50.759 I need a little bit more confirmation. 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:52.079 We turn into Gideon. 00:05:52.159 --> 00:05:54.159 We're throwing fleeces out all over the place. 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:59.960 He gives truth and we ask time and time again for another sign. 00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:04.400 And I think if we're just going to be real honest, it's not because we don't hear him. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:06.880 It's not because we're not listening to the sermon. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:10.440 It's not because we're not listening to the Word of God when we're reading it ourselves. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:15.860 I think many times it's simply because we're not ready to turn quite yet. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:19.540 We kind of are comfortable on the road that we are. 00:06:19.700 --> 00:06:21.360 We kind of like where our life is. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:24.500 And Lord, if I take that turn, where does that lead me? 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:28.120 I'm not sure I'm going to necessarily like the destination. 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:31.759 And I think that's kind of what's happening here in Luke chapter 11. 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.379 That Jesus has shown his power. 00:06:34.840 --> 00:06:36.660 It's been very evident. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.600 He has revealed who he is. 00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:39.960 They were there. 00:06:40.080 --> 00:06:44.939 If you remember, if you were here last week in verse number 14, he heals this man that was possessed by a demon. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:48.120 This demon had caused this man to not have a voice. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.540 And he was a mute and everybody knew it. 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:54.340 In these small villages, it wouldn't have been like some random person. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:54.579 They didn't. 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:56.780 Everybody knew who this man was most likely. 00:06:57.540 --> 00:07:01.100 And Jesus shows up and he casts the demon out and this man can speak. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:03.879 And the miracle was very clear. 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:06.319 It wasn't like, well, I'm not sure what happened here. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:11.780 No, it was Jesus constantly showing himself who he was. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:14.739 Miracle after miracle after miracle. 00:07:14.859 --> 00:07:17.259 We've seen it already through our journey in Luke's gospel. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:24.579 And yet, instead of responding, the crowd keeps saying, well, we need another sign. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:29.579 I know this was a pretty big deal, but we're just not sure. 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:31.359 We need something. 00:07:32.719 --> 00:07:35.000 But really, it wasn't because of their understanding. 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:40.000 It was because their hearts were not ready to surrender. 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:45.699 And sometimes I think if you're like me, I read my Bible and I think, man, what are these people's problems? 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:48.279 I'm the only person reading my Bible like that. 00:07:49.420 --> 00:07:53.439 I mean, I'm in the book of Exodus right now in my own Bible reading plan. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:57.759 And I just think to myself, man, these children of Israel are the worst. 00:07:58.620 --> 00:07:59.379 Have you ever read that? 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:01.160 And you're like, I mean, they're complaining. 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.200 I mean, they set up camp, water comes out of a rock, and they're so thankful. 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:07.320 They go a few days later, and they're like, we don't have any. 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:09.060 I'm like, do you not remember? 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:11.240 Do you not remember what God did in Egypt? 00:08:11.320 --> 00:08:12.400 Do you not remember crossing the Red Sea? 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:12.720 Do you not remember? 00:08:12.880 --> 00:08:14.800 It's raining bread from heaven. 00:08:15.380 --> 00:08:17.160 And you're like, oh, we don't like this. 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:18.260 We need something else. 00:08:19.200 --> 00:08:22.060 But I think when we read the Word of God, whether it's the Old Testament or in these, 00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:25.340 I think we can see ourselves a lot in it if we really just look. 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.720 We don't want to admit it, but we give them a hard time saying, 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:32.200 well, if I was there, I would believe instantly. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:33.980 I don't know about that. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.759 Because I think it shows the condition of our heart. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:39.720 I think it shows where we tend to find ourselves. 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:44.080 And I would submit to you this morning that we still live in a world that's always wanting more proof, 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:47.220 whether it's spiritual things or just everyday life things. 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:50.360 You know, we think one answer is never enough. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:52.899 I don't know if you're like me, but when I'm going to buy something, 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.100 I'm going to research and read every review. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:09:00.240 I mean, you go on Amazon, it's like 4.9 stars, 7,000 reviews. 00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:03.440 I'm going to find that one review that's like, this is the worst toaster. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:04.879 It ruined my life. 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:06.560 I'm like, definitely not buying that toaster. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:12.379 Even though it's got 4,996 good reviews, we just want one more. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:14.259 One confirmation is not enough. 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:16.840 One sign never really satisfies us. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:20.680 We may not say it verbally, but sometimes we say things like, 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:23.399 well, once God shows me again, then I'll believe. 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:29.939 Once God fixes this, once God gives me this raise, once God does this in my family, 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.039 once he does that, then I'll trust him a little bit more. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:39.139 Once life settles down, then I'll get real serious about serving God. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.319 But I don't see that in Scripture. 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:43.480 That's not how Jesus operates. 00:09:43.579 --> 00:09:45.319 That's not how the Word of God calls us to. 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:51.300 I think when you really study Scripture out, you find that it consistently shows us that a desire for more proof 00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:55.140 is often just an attempt to replace true repentance. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:57.740 Just to kind of keep us on our path. 00:09:57.900 --> 00:09:59.760 And it's not that we're saying no. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:02.580 We're just saying, not right now, Lord. 00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:06.200 This is, you know, this is not really kind of on my calendar. 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:13.920 And as we come to this text this morning, Luke has placed it perfectly right after Jesus' display of this power. 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:18.700 It's there, and this man is speaking, and his power is revealed. 00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:24.240 And instead of surrendering, they accuse Jesus of being in league with Satan, we saw last week. 00:10:24.660 --> 00:10:28.379 They say, well, you know, he's got to be doing this through Beelzebub. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.500 This has got to be the power of Satan. 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:34.259 And what Jesus does is he kind of starts reasoning with them. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:38.179 He's like, hey, guys, put your thinking cap on. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:39.759 That makes no sense. 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:42.759 A kingdom divided is not going to stand. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:48.600 And he kind of goes to logic, and he begins to warn them, and he's appealing to their hearts. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:55.139 But as we come into the verses we read this morning, the crowds are continuing to gather. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:58.039 I love how the Bible says that, when the people were gathered thick together. 00:10:58.980 --> 00:10:59.919 I mean, this was crowded. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.360 But this was a, there's no personal space here. 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:06.539 And they're sign-seeking, and they're coming after him. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:10.759 He lets them know they don't need more signs to believe. 00:11:11.699 --> 00:11:12.939 That's not the issue. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:18.819 What needed to happen is they needed to respond to the truth that had already been presented, 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:23.139 and the light that had already been revealed. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:26.860 Because here's the main thought of our text this morning. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:33.819 That when God reveals his light, either hearts receive it or resist it. 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:36.399 That's what's taking place right here. 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:38.740 They didn't need to see another miracle. 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:42.500 They've seen plenty of miracles, most likely, by this point. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:46.379 And even if they saw just this one, it was a proof of who he was. 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:52.179 And so what Jesus immediately shows us, he shows this truth by pointing us to a group of people 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:58.460 who had more light than they knew what to do with, and yet they still rejected it. 00:11:59.059 --> 00:12:00.559 That's what we see in verse 29 and 30. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.419 We see a sign for hard hearts. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.580 I mean, Jesus looks at this group of people, and he says, 00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:08.540 This is an evil generation. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.060 They seek a sign. 00:12:10.580 --> 00:12:12.700 That's a great opening to a message, isn't it? 00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:15.160 Remember what I got here, y'all got here this morning? 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:17.220 Hey, y'all bunch of wicked evil people. 00:12:18.020 --> 00:12:18.379 Whoa. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:21.580 I mean, Jesus, that seems a little harsh. 00:12:22.300 --> 00:12:24.940 I mean, I thought you were supposed to love everybody, Jesus. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:29.580 Listen, he's not trying to hurt their feelings. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.500 He's not trying to be mean. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:36.140 He's not just ramming the truth down their throat, so to speak. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:39.059 Here's what he's doing, because this crowd has been following. 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:41.399 They've been sign-seeking. 00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:45.100 He is simply exposing their resistance. 00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:47.899 They wanted to have all the fun. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:49.819 They wanted to see all the miracles. 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:52.939 They wanted all the bread and loaves and fish to be in their belly, 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:55.259 but they didn't really want to go all in. 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:58.080 But you know what Jesus is telling us all the time? 00:12:58.319 --> 00:12:59.220 Come unto me. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.299 Follow me. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.720 All in. 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.539 They had heard the truth. 00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:08.980 They had witnessed deliverance right in front of their own eyes, 00:13:09.099 --> 00:13:11.839 and yet they still wanted more proof. 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.360 You say, preacher, what's wrong with that? 00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:17.899 See, they weren't looking for a sign to believe. 00:13:18.319 --> 00:13:21.740 They were just delaying and delaying and delaying, 00:13:21.839 --> 00:13:24.899 because repentance wasn't what they wanted. 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:28.059 You know, we're professionals at delaying, aren't we? 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:30.239 You know, if your kids need to pick up their room, 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:34.539 they can find everything in the world to do except pick up their room. 00:13:34.739 --> 00:13:36.259 You know, they're going to vacuum the front room. 00:13:36.339 --> 00:13:38.199 Like, what are you vacuuming up here for? 00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:39.279 I just want to be a blessing. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.799 Go clean your room. 00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:43.519 Stop delaying the inevitable. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:46.599 You know, we learn it from a young age, 00:13:46.699 --> 00:13:48.519 but we carry it really throughout our life. 00:13:48.979 --> 00:13:50.439 And that's what they're doing here. 00:13:51.020 --> 00:13:52.580 And Jesus kind of gathers them around. 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.980 He says, listen, you don't need another sign. 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:56.580 You've got plenty. 00:13:57.760 --> 00:14:00.000 And really what he's going to do here is he's going to kind of, 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.380 they're going to be irritated, 00:14:01.880 --> 00:14:03.340 because he's going to give two examples 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:08.480 of when Gentiles responded to just the Word of God. 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:12.740 Just an opportunity to hear the wisdom of God's Word. 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:16.680 And yet they're standing here in front of the Creator of all things, 00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:18.600 and they've seen miracle after miracle, 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:21.940 and they say, well, we just don't have enough proof. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.860 So in verse 29 and 30, 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:27.139 he begins to tell a story 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:29.920 that they all would have learned in Sabbath school. 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:31.120 Jonah. 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.860 Jonah and the fish. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.920 And he begins to explain it, 00:14:35.040 --> 00:14:37.080 and no doubt their mind would have ran there, 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.300 and they would have thought that, 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:40.700 hey, I remember when Jonah got the call from God, 00:14:41.420 --> 00:14:43.660 and God said, hey, Jonah, I got a job for you. 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:45.279 And Jonah's like, all right, I'm ready to go. 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.320 Where do you want me to go? 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:47.840 Nineveh. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.259 And Jonah said, not going. 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:53.980 And that's basically the first three verses of the book of Jonah. 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:56.600 And he said, whoa, man, I got some money in here. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:59.300 I'm going to get on a boat and go as far away as possible. 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:01.680 And he got on a ship heading toward Tarshish, 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.820 and he's there, 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:05.560 and he does not want to go preach to the Ninevites. 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.280 And if we really dig into it, 00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:09.180 we probably understand why. 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:11.780 The Ninevites were a wicked, brutal people. 00:15:12.660 --> 00:15:14.400 They'd have been like the Romans before the Romans. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:19.399 They were interested in conquering the world and just brutalizing everybody they did that to. 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:23.679 And Jonah said, they don't deserve the word of God. 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.360 And I'm going to get on a boat, and I'm not going to preach. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.539 And he gets on the boat, and if you know the story well, 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:31.199 he's there, and this big giant storm comes up, 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.419 just out of coincidence. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:34.379 Not out of coincidence. 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.899 And all the mariners on the boat, 00:15:37.099 --> 00:15:39.059 all the mariners are thinking, what is going on? 00:15:39.099 --> 00:15:40.679 I mean, some god is mad at us, 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:42.039 and they start throwing everything overboard, 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.399 and they start praying to their gods, 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:45.740 and they said, hey, there's a guy sleeping down in the bottom of the boat. 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:47.319 Why don't we wake him up and see if he knows anything? 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.939 And they wake Jonah up. 00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:51.179 He said, yeah, I know what's going on. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:53.599 I serve the Lord of heaven and earth, 00:15:53.599 --> 00:15:55.139 and I'm kind of running from him. 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:58.199 And these pagan sailors are thinking, 00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.199 what? 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:01.939 You know God, and you're running from him? 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:03.260 How dumb are you? 00:16:03.540 --> 00:16:06.700 This is kind of a real quick overview of the book of Jonah. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.160 And it doesn't exactly say it like this. 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.180 It's the Tyler version. 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.140 But this is what's going on. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.420 And instead of repenting at that moment when he realized, 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.240 well, I guess I can't outrun God, 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:19.020 Jonah said, well, there's only one thing to do. 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.960 Throw me overboard. 00:16:21.380 --> 00:16:25.780 Jonah would rather die than preach to the Ninevites. 00:16:26.540 --> 00:16:27.900 That's where his heart was. 00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:30.340 That's kind of his mindset. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:34.540 So he thinks in some weird way, I can just envision this. 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.019 Maybe it's not how it happened. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.820 But as he's thinking, he's kind of smiling and thinking, 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:39.100 well, at least I didn't have to go to Nineveh. 00:16:40.160 --> 00:16:42.320 Well, the Bible says the Lord prepared a great fish. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.780 Swallowed Jonah. 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.680 You think, well, I don't know about that. 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.920 Well, the word of God said it. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.800 Jesus confirmed it. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.360 If he created everything by his word, 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:54.280 I think he can handle a fish swallowing a man. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:59.360 And so Jonah's sitting there in the belly of this fish. 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:02.059 And he does cry out in chapter number two. 00:17:02.199 --> 00:17:03.459 And chapter two is kind of a prayer. 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.759 And he's asking for deliverance. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.039 And I love what the Bible says. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.799 And so the fish just vomited him out on the beach. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.839 I bet Jonah smelt great. 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:16.599 And reluctantly, he goes to Nineveh. 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.519 And he preaches. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.879 He didn't come with all these miracles. 00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:25.559 I mean, I can just imagine, you just think some crusty old preacher. 00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:27.779 That's Jonah. 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.799 Don't think too hard. 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:31.619 I don't want you to get in the flesh. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.839 Hopefully you're not thinking about me. 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:38.759 I mean, I just, I don't think he wanted to be there. 00:17:39.179 --> 00:17:40.279 Would you agree with that? 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.879 But you know what he did? 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.939 He preached the word of God. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.419 And guess what? 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:45.279 It changed lives. 00:17:45.699 --> 00:17:48.059 When you read the book of Jonah, he preaches, 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.500 just tells them what God said. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.519 And hey, you need to repent. 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:52.519 God is not happy with what's going on. 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.519 You shouldn't be doing this. 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.619 Hey, God loves you. 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.720 And these aren't Jews. 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:00.319 These are the most wicked Gentiles on the planet at this time. 00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:02.240 And they repent. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.720 From the king all the way down. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.919 And they put sackcloth and ashes on. 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.839 And it shows repentance in the Old Testament especially. 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.059 And they begin to pray. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.679 And they ask God for forgiveness. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.460 And Jonah's still mad about it. 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.419 And he sets up a little booth outside of the town. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.579 Because he wants to watch God destroy Nineveh. 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.299 But he doesn't. 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.039 Why? 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:22.019 Because they heard the word of God preached. 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:25.619 And they said, if that's true, we need to change our life. 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.779 And that's what he tells them. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.519 No miracles. 00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.220 Jonah didn't show up doing miracles. 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:36.159 He didn't show up causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the dead to live again. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:40.380 No, he just preached a message he didn't even want to preach. 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:46.960 And Jesus is saying, listen, you're asking for another sign? 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.120 You're asking for more light? 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.120 Why don't you think about Nineveh? 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.599 Jonah. 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.179 They had a preacher that didn't even want to be there. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:57.239 And he just said what God told them to. 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.500 And everybody repented. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:02.139 They repented with far less light. 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:06.439 And we saw earlier, he said, there's one greater than Jonah standing here. 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:11.239 This would have been a story they would have told their children of how great Jonah was. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:14.259 No, the book of Jonah is not about Jonah, and it's not about a fish. 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.440 It's about God. 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:17.720 And God changes lives. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:22.859 And he's reminding them now, listen, I am standing in front of you, not preaching the word. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.059 I am the word. 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:29.099 And the word was made flesh, and he dwelt among them as the only begotten of the Father. 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:33.380 And he's standing there, and he's speaking the truth, and he's performing miracle after miracle. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:35.759 And they still resisted. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:43.180 And the idea is this, is more signs don't soften hard hearts. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.859 Repentance does. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.119 That's what makes the difference. 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:52.619 I mean, you think about these Jews at this time period, these first century Jews. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.740 They're seeing all these things. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.319 You know, they're saying, we need something else. 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:01.119 We need just a little bit more. 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:07.939 I mean, if anybody would have repented and changed their life, I think Pharaoh could have been on that list. 00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:11.379 Think of all the things he saw God do. 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.719 Because God was the one that led them out of Egypt. 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.939 Everybody understood that. 00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:16.519 Because this wasn't Moses. 00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:17.399 This wasn't Aaron. 00:20:17.659 --> 00:20:19.739 No, this was by the hand of God they left Egypt. 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:22.659 And even the Egyptians realized, we don't know how to do this, Pharaoh. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.579 This is the finger of God doing this work. 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:29.500 And yet, Pharaoh's heart kept getting harder and harder and harder. 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.899 Sign after sign after sign. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:35.819 We'll say, preacher, how does this apply to us today? 00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:39.679 I think sometimes it just happens in quieter ways. 00:20:40.939 --> 00:20:42.579 Listen, God still works in lives. 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.139 God's still doing things. 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.460 God's still making himself known. 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.039 He's given us the complete revelation of his word. 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:52.199 He's given us the Holy Spirit if we know him as our Savior. 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:57.039 And if we don't know him as Savior, he gives us that spirit to draw us to himself. 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:00.319 But we say things like this. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.600 Like, well, if God will fix my marriage, then I'll get serious about church. 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:08.900 Once I understand everything about the Bible, then I'll obey. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.860 You're never going to understand everything about the Bible. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:14.720 We're still, we're always constantly learning. 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:20.620 Hey, once life slows down, then I'll do what God wants me to do. 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:25.139 Once I feel ready, then I'll surrender. 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:28.419 But yet, God has given you a sign of this. 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.739 And God is working in your marriage. 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.959 And God is calling you here. 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:32.219 And God is doing these things. 00:21:32.439 --> 00:21:34.059 And he's asking you to be a witness at work. 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:36.639 And he's saying, Lord, I can't do that. 00:21:38.979 --> 00:21:42.019 What we're really doing is we're doing the same thing they're doing here. 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:44.559 We're just postponing obedience. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:47.919 It's not that we aren't waiting on God. 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:50.879 We're protecting what we don't want to change. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.480 That includes this preacher right here. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:58.639 Because there's things that God's going to say, hey, you don't need to be doing that. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.539 But I like doing this. 00:22:00.899 --> 00:22:01.480 Here's what he's saying. 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.000 Turn left. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.659 We're thinking, ah, does he really mean that? 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.419 No, he really does mean that. 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.159 James tells us like this. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.460 And we don't maybe like this verse. 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:10.440 To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not. 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:12.100 To him, it is sin. 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.620 God is calling us all the time. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.299 God has a job for us to do. 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:19.259 God has a plan for our life. 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:21.319 And many times you think, well, what is it, preacher? 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.779 I bet you know what it is. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.779 You got kids, here's what it is. 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:27.100 Raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:29.039 You got a job with other people? 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.880 Be a light. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.559 Be a witness. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.680 You got friends at school? 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.680 Share the gospel. 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.000 Many times we think, well, I'm not sure. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.660 No, we know what it is. 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:41.840 We're just kind of postponing it under the guise of, well, I'll do it at some point. 00:22:43.560 --> 00:22:48.320 But my mama used to tell me all the time, the late obedience is still disobedience. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.180 And I pass that on to my children. 00:22:50.300 --> 00:22:51.240 They love when I say that. 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:56.480 But I need to be reminded in my own life that that's true as well. 00:22:57.620 --> 00:23:00.500 Listen, you can come to church every Sunday, every Wednesday. 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:05.440 You can be involved in every ministry and still be disobedient because God is working on your heart. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:09.240 And you're saying, well, if God really wants me to do that, then I need another sign. 00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:15.680 Listen, step back and think of all the things God has done in your life and how he's working in your life. 00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:19.660 And so now Jesus strengthens this truth with another example from history. 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.420 We see it there in verse number 31. 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:39.160 We see this number two, that a greater light brings greater responsibility. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:47.240 So Jesus brings up another Gentile from history that responded to the wisdom of God and the word of God. 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:50.580 This story takes place in 1 Kings chapter number 10. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.940 And the queen of Sheba, she would have traveled a great distance. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:01.480 Many scholars believe that the kingdom would have been down in the southern part of Saudi Arabia, kind of Yemen area, that area. 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:04.339 And you think, man, crossing a desert is difficult. 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:07.400 And Jesus makes the case of that. 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:14.579 This trip, when she traveled to Jerusalem, when she traveled to Israel to see Solomon, it would have been dangerous. 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:16.180 It would have been difficult. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:21.960 And yet she was willing to go just to hear of the wisdom of Solomon. 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.640 Now, she didn't understand where the wisdom came from. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:27.400 But when she got there, she realized it's from God. 00:24:28.020 --> 00:24:31.040 Hey, there's the only one explanation for this. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:39.759 And she exerted great effort with great personal cost to see and to hear from the greatest, wisest man that ever lived. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:43.620 And they would have in this crowd would have said, yeah, who's the wisest man ever? 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.300 Jeopardy. 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.640 Who is Solomon? 00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:46.880 That's what they would have said. 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:52.860 And Jesus said, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:55.839 That she was willing to go to hear. 00:24:56.419 --> 00:25:03.659 And what Jesus is making the point, yes, Solomon possessed great wisdom, but Jesus is wisdom. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:14.299 That all the truth about God and about salvation and about life and about eternity and about anything else you want to find is found in Jesus. 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.779 He is the way. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.959 He is the truth. 00:25:17.219 --> 00:25:18.099 He is the life. 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:23.679 And Scripture tells us in Colossians chapter 2 that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom. 00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.639 Listen, you know where you need to run to? 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.079 You need to run to Jesus when you don't have the answers. 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:34.819 Listen, the queen of Sheba was trying to find it, and she found out it's not Solomon. 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.819 He's getting it from somebody else. 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:39.039 That the God of Israel is real. 00:25:39.439 --> 00:25:41.799 And the God of Israel does give this wisdom. 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:48.019 And just to make sure they're kind of understanding what he's saying, he goes back to the men of Nineveh in verse 32. 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:55.960 And reminds them once again, both of these situations, they change their life based on just hearing the word of God. 00:25:57.500 --> 00:26:00.119 See, it's not a miracle that changes lives, so to speak. 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:05.419 But it's how one responds to the truth they've been given. 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:12.219 You know, it would have been a lot easier about growing up if Jesus would have just wrote in the clouds, 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:14.579 Tyler, you need to be saved. 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.879 But you know what? 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:19.139 I would have said, did he really write that? 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.919 Or was that an airplane? 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.299 Is that the government chemtrails? 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:28.500 Whatever you want to believe about all these things. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:33.460 But wouldn't we try to explain it away? 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.279 Wouldn't we try to do that? 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:38.720 But God gave us something that we can't explain away. 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.359 Thy word is settled forever in heaven. 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.759 See, it's not a miracle that changed your life. 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.299 If you know the Lord is your Savior, here's what changed your life. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:52.220 You realize the truth of the word of God, and you realize you're a sinner. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:55.400 And that there's a debt to be paid. 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.180 And you couldn't pay it. 00:26:57.180 --> 00:27:00.560 But Jesus came and he lived a life that we could not live. 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:02.420 He died a death that we could not die. 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:05.519 And he rose again that we could not do. 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:05.940 Why? 00:27:06.060 --> 00:27:07.100 Because he loves us. 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.220 And he paid the debt. 00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:11.160 And even while we were his enemies, he did this. 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:17.200 And then he asks us and tells us and commands us that if we call on him for salvation, he'll give it to us. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:19.060 That that's where it's found. 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:22.299 And the principle is clear in these verses. 00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:26.700 The more light God gives, the greater responsibility we have to respond. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:32.859 Listen, you have the responsibility to respond to the word of God because you're here this morning. 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:37.519 And I'm trying to make it as clear as possible that the gospel is not some fairy tale. 00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:40.599 No, it is the facts based on the word of God. 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:42.859 And you must respond to that. 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:46.339 Jesus came so that we would have hope. 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.359 That we would have a chance to respond. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:50.599 That he could have just left us in our sins. 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:52.980 But praise the Lord, he didn't. 00:27:53.959 --> 00:27:55.219 He gave us a way out. 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:58.939 We're going to see in a couple chapters, Jesus says, 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:03.679 Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required. 00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:12.179 Listen, spiritual privilege can quietly become a very serious danger in your life. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:19.740 I mean, think about growing up in church but never surrendering to Christ. 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:25.019 Listen, church membership doesn't save your life. 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:29.439 Do I think you should be involved and plugged into a local New Testament church? 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.339 100%. 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.240 I know a good one. 00:28:34.219 --> 00:28:36.439 But that's not going to, you're not going to get to heaven and say, 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:38.259 Well, I'm on the roll at Central Baptist Church. 00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:40.959 No, that's not what changes a life. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:47.539 Listen, you can hear sermon after sermon but never change habits or priorities. 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:51.379 The word of God was not given so you have a bunch of information. 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:54.460 It was given to transform your life. 00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:59.259 It was given to conform you to the image of his dear son. 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:03.980 Listen, you can know all the Bible verses in the world 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:09.000 but refuse to forgive and repent and obey. 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.579 It's not about what we know. 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:13.319 It's about who we know. 00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:16.539 Listen, you can be so close to the truth 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:19.659 and yet not be transformed by it. 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:22.099 That's why James commands us, 00:29:22.439 --> 00:29:25.720 Be ye doers of the word. 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:28.079 Not just hearers only. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:31.279 Deceiving your own selves. 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.919 Listen, I know it sounds weird 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:34.919 but sometimes the most dangerous place you can be 00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:36.159 is just in a church. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:38.500 Just around the things of God. 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:41.380 Because if that's all we do and we don't respond to it 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.779 and we don't apply it to our life 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:44.200 then we just think, hey, I'm okay. 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.940 No, no, but we've been given a light 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:50.200 and we have a responsibility to respond to it. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:53.900 Listen, it's not a lack of knowledge that hardens hearts. 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:57.279 It's resisting what we already know is right. 00:29:58.599 --> 00:30:00.240 That's what Jesus is teaching right here. 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:04.160 And we'll hasten to a close here. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:07.140 Because Jesus moves from historic examples 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.840 to the condition of the heart itself. 00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:10.340 Number three, we see this. 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:12.940 The heart determines how light is received. 00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:16.100 Jesus uses a simple illustration 00:30:16.100 --> 00:30:16.940 that we would understand. 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.120 They would definitely understand then. 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:21.120 Light is meant to shine. 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:24.779 He says, who lights a candle and hides it? 00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:27.140 No, you light a candle so it lights the house. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.220 That's what it does. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:31.120 It's there to help those that are in the house. 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:32.500 It's there to be a guide. 00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:35.139 It's there to make life better, to make life easier. 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:37.379 That's why, you know, when I get up in the middle of the night 00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.739 to go get a midnight snack, 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:41.039 I don't turn the lights on because I don't want to wake up. 00:30:41.399 --> 00:30:41.759 But guess what? 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:43.139 It's dangerous without lights. 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:46.339 When kids leave things out, when I leave my own shoes out. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:49.279 But if I turn the light on, I'd be able to see those things. 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:51.379 Light is simply there to help us. 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:53.419 And then he tells us in verse number 34 00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:56.379 that the eye is the light of the body. 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.939 What is he meaning here? 00:30:59.979 --> 00:31:00.879 Here's what Jesus is saying. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:03.100 The eye doesn't create light. 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.920 It lets it in. 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.020 That's where he's at. 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:09.800 A healthy eye receives the light. 00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:13.060 A damaged eye blocks it. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:17.540 If we, those that are able to see, we can see all this light. 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:20.320 But people that do not have that ability, that are blind, 00:31:20.780 --> 00:31:22.980 it doesn't matter how bright the lights are, they can't see it. 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.320 It's damaged. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.420 They can't receive it. 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:31.920 See, when Jesus came, he came to shine bright light into dark hearts. 00:31:33.300 --> 00:31:34.480 And here's what he's teaching. 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:38.300 That a humble heart welcomes the truth. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:41.980 Sometimes the truth is still hard even if we love the Lord. 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:44.160 But we're willing to welcome it. 00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:47.980 But a hard heart says, no thanks, I'm good. 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:51.579 Hey, give me another sign and I'll think about it. 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.900 You know, we do that in our own life sometimes. 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:57.059 We say, if you give me the truth, show me something else I believe. 00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:00.319 Knowing good and well, we're just trying to push that person down the road. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:02.059 We're trying to move it on. 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:07.200 See, it's the same light Jesus is saying, but different responses. 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.659 That's why verse 35 is a warning. 00:32:10.379 --> 00:32:14.599 He says, be careful, lest the light you think you have is darkness. 00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.759 If you're just trusting in yourself. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:19.720 In other words, here's what Jesus is saying as we bring it all to a close. 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:22.019 Examine your heart. 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.779 You want to know how you're receiving the truth? 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.960 Take a look at your heart. 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:28.519 Because we can look real good on the outside. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.740 We can look real Christian. 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:31.000 We can say the real Christian. 00:32:31.120 --> 00:32:34.220 We can use all the Christian language, but be dead on the inside. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.700 That's the way David said this. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.099 Search me, oh God. 00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:39.839 And try me. 00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:41.299 And know my heart. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.859 And see if there be any wicked way in me. 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:45.900 And lead me into the way everlasting. 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:49.380 And it just reminds us, the problem is never God's revelation. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:51.279 It's our reception to it. 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:56.160 And I don't want you to leave this place wondering if the light works or not. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.500 No, the light is good. 00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.599 Because he is the light. 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:03.900 But the question is, how are we responding to it? 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.120 Because it shows up every day. 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:12.359 One person can hear the word of God and be convicted and repent. 00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:15.059 Others can make excuses. 00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:18.900 One person can obey quickly and another delays indefinitely. 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:23.000 One person can forgive when another person holds grudges for years. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:26.240 One person can change priorities while another just stays comfortable. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:28.000 And it's not that there's different light. 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:30.180 No, same truth, different heart. 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.539 Maybe it's, Lord, help my heart. 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.759 Soften my heart to your truth. 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:41.779 Because truth and light always reveal what we love most. 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:48.160 You know, when a bright light comes on, it exposes things. 00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:50.799 That's why in the morning when you turn the light on in the bathroom, you're like, oh. 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:53.920 Well, it's what it is. 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:57.519 It's exposing what's there. 00:33:58.700 --> 00:34:01.059 You know why sometimes we run from the word of God when it says turn? 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:03.000 Because we don't like what it exposed. 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.899 We don't like that. 00:34:05.679 --> 00:34:06.599 We're like, I don't want to turn left. 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:08.579 I'm just going to keep going and pretend like it didn't say that. 00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:10.980 That's a dangerous place to live. 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:16.559 Because here in Luke 11, Jesus has revealed his power, his truth, his kingdom, his light. 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.380 And some still resisted. 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.739 Not because the light wasn't bright enough. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:22.320 The truth wasn't good enough. 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:24.179 It's because their heart was hard. 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:27.940 Are you waiting on another sign? 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:33.099 Are you saying, God, I just need this. 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:36.239 Have you heard the truth maybe without responding? 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:39.859 Is your heart open to God's light? 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:42.980 Or are you just defending what you don't want to surrender? 00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:45.000 Say, that's tough, preacher. 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:46.960 That's kind of where Jesus met him. 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:50.599 Jesus loves us enough to tell us the truth. 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:54.799 But he loves us even more to lead us to where he wants us to go. 00:34:55.460 --> 00:34:56.980 Would we respond to his truth today? 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:59.059 Would you stand with your heads bowed, with your eyes closed?