WEBVTT

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 Thank you, Graham. It really is great to be here this morning. Thank you for your very

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 warm welcome to Brunswick Evangelical. Permit me, just as I was alluding to there, permit me to

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 also say a huge heartfelt thank you for your prayers and your financial partnership with us

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 as Christian unions in Edinburgh. I've seen some wonderful gospel fruit off the back of our week

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 of events that we ran at the end of January, the start of February. I firmly believe that God's

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 mission carries on throughout the whole year. God is at work 52 weeks out of 52 in the lives of these

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 students that I see and that I know. But this specific week of events that we ran at the end

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 of January, start of February, couldn't have happened without the backing of local churches such as

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 yourselves. So thank you very, very much. Okay, Luke chapter 9, we've read and we've prayed. Let's

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 crack on. I remember sitting a few years ago with a girl called Naomi, who I worked alongside at

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 Chalmers for a few years. And we were reminiscing on individual time spent abroad in other countries.

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 We both studied Spanish. I studied at Glasgow University because I like the look of the degree

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 there. She studied at St. Andrews because she's much smarter than me. And I went on my year abroad

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 to Madrid and then we went to Argentina. And when we worked at Chalmers, we used to speak to one another

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 over lunch and probably other times when we should have been doing work,

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 about cultural mistakes that we made when we were in the countries that we were in for our years

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 abroad. So things that we would do that would look like perfect sense to us, that would make perfect

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 sense. But as locals would watch us, they would say to us, no, that's not how we do things around

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 here. They would have to explain to us that things were done differently in that place.

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 And so let me give you an example of that. When I was in Spain, I worked in a school as an English

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 teacher. And I remember after my first day of work, getting back to the flat of the host family

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 that I was living with for the year. I ran half past four in the afternoon and I felt fairly peckish,

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 having not really eaten much since breakfast, but I was fairly content to hold off until dinner at

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 5.30 sharp. Except Spaniards don't have dinner at 5.30 sharp. That would be a late lunch. So imagine

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 the horror when the mother of the family came home from work and explained to me with great enthusiasm

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 that we would be eating early at half past nine. And that was easily one of the longest and the

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 hungriest days I ever spent in Madrid. Another time I remember walking with a teacher to the local

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 primary school where this teacher's seven-year-old daughter was a pupil. And during the break,

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 the children were all outside playing and the two of us walked straight into the playground,

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 he found his daughter, scooped her up, kissed her and put her back down again.

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 And when I explained afterwards that in this country, in Scotland, in the UK, you'd never be

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 able to wander into a playground and do that, he smiled, he shrugged and he said to me,

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 it's not like that here. Things are different.

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 And if I was going to live there in Spain, then I had to rewrite my understanding of how I did things

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 based on the culture of the country I was in. And if that's true of a Scotsman in Spain for nine

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 months, it's certainly true of those that follow Jesus and follow his teaching. Anyone who wants to

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 believe in Christ to live in his kingdom needs to rewrite their understanding of how we do things

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 based on the culture of the kingdom that we now belong to, Christ's kingdom.

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 And you see Jesus doing throughout the whole of chapter nine, something which rewrites

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 the disciples' understanding of what the kingdom values and principles are.

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 Dr. Luke is recording for us what Christ's rule will be like. And there's much that initially looks

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 great in the eyes of those that follow Jesus. It's clear from the first six verses of chapter

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 nine that Jesus' healing kingship will be free from sickness, free from demonic spirits.

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 It's clear from the feeding of the 5,000 that Jesus' abundant kingship will be free from hunger.

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 And it's clear from the transfiguration that Jesus' powerful kingship will be one for his true

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 glory is revealed. And it would even appear that the disciples are starting to partially understand

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 who Jesus is. Peter says in verse 22, you, Jesus, are God's Messiah.

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 But what's obvious from what we read earlier on is that the disciples still have a very this world

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 view. They run the risk of interpreting everything as a we experience glory now

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 understanding of Jesus' kingdom. And you can see why they might think that after witnessing

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 everything that Jesus did and everything that Jesus said, what could possibly go wrong?

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 He comes as a king with an authority, with a glory unlike anything ever seen before.

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 However, Jesus makes it very clear that he comes as a suffering king.

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 His kingdom, by contrast to the expectations of the disciples, has vastly different values

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 and operates in a very, very different way. He mentions his death in verse 22. He mentions

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 a life of self-denial from 23 to 26. Jesus is rewriting his disciples' understanding,

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 of what it means to be a part of his kingdom. You want to follow me in my kingdom, chaps?

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 Well, you'll have to undergo a serious readjustment of your expectations.

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 You think we experience glory now? Well, it's not like that here. Things are different.

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 That's not how we do things around here.

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 And for us sitting here 2,000 years later, it's no different. Jesus is speaking to people

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 who would seek to follow him. Everyday men and women from all walks of life, just like us sitting here.

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 And it's very easy for us that genuinely follow Jesus to still allow the principles of this world,

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 of this day and age, to sneak into our lives and to twist our understanding of how Jesus' kingdom operates.

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 It's very easy and it's very dangerous. And Jesus will not allow it to happen.

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 Perhaps you're here and you're looking into Christianity for yourself.

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 Here it is.

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 Here's what it looks like to follow Jesus.

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 He has a terrible PR campaign.

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 He wants everyone who would follow him to know that it's a difficult journey

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 that does not lead to earthly glory and success,

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 but does lead to eternal glory and eternal success.

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 And so last week we were encouraged to stop, look and listen to Jesus.

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 And this week, under the heading of a detailed description of discipleship,

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 we're encouraged to do just exactly the same.

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 God says to Jesus' followers in verse 35, listen, listen to him.

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 And so the first thing to listen to, from verses 43 to 50,

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 is the caution from the king who devotes his life.

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 The caution from the king who devotes his life.

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 After what they've seen, everyone is amazed at the greatness of God.

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 Everyone is marvelling at all that Jesus did.

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 And in the middle of what looks like a crescendo, a high point in Jesus' ministry,

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 he delivers the most hard-hitting and devastating news.

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 He turns to his disciples and says, verse 44,

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 listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you.

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 The son of man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.

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 At the moment when Jesus looks at his most invincible, he says, I'm going to die.

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 At the moment when Jesus looks at his most popular, he says,

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 I'm going to be delivered into the hands of men.

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 These same crowds that are marvelling will soon shout, crucify him.

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 And this news was so far outside of the disciples' field of expectation

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 that they just can't fathom that it'll happen.

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 They just cannot wrap their heads around it.

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 But we're also told by Luke in verse 45 that it was hidden from them.

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 They were starting to see who Jesus was as he opened their eyes,

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 but only very, very gradually.

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 Jesus still has much to teach them.

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 And the full extent of Jesus' glory is seen when Jesus devotes his very own life

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 for the sake of the salvation of others.

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 Jesus' caution is that the Savior must suffer,

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 so if the disciples are to follow him,

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 then his way must also be their way.

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 It's a hard truth for the disciples that desperately needs to sink into their heads

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 and sink into their hearts.

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 And that's why Jesus has some strong words to say about what follows.

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 The disciples are arguing about who is the greatest.

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 You can imagine the conversation, can't you?

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 Well, when Jesus rescues his people, we'll be the ones in the inner circle.

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 I'll probably be the greatest because I was one of the first disciples picked.

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 I was even up in the mountain with Jesus just there.

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 You were down here struggling to drive an evil spirit out of a little boy.

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 No, some disciple you are.

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 Jesus has just been talking sacrifice.

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 And they're talking self-exaltation.

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 Rivalry rears its ugly head.

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 And so in the process of rewriting their understanding of how Jesus' kingdom is to operate,

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 he has to issue another severe caution.

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 The disciples want personal status.

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 They want personal grandeur.

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 And Jesus takes a little boy and says,

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 whoever welcomes this child, whoever receives this child in my name, receives me.

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 And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me.

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 This is the sort of company the disciples are to entertain.

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 Those that follow Jesus, regardless of status or grandeur.

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 The child who is following Jesus, perhaps with his parents, perhaps on his own,

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 he would look like the least in any kingdom.

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 No reputation.

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 No standing in society.

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 But if this child follows Jesus,

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 then whoever welcomes this child in Jesus' name,

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 welcomes Jesus himself.

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 No self-promotion.

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 Instead, sacrificial welcome.

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 And you see how it's a picture of what Jesus is doing.

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 He welcomes the lowest.

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 This child cannot offer Jesus anything.

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 And yet, Jesus takes the boy and puts him by his side,

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 knowing that he will devote his life to forgive the sins of this young boy.

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 And as he does that, he says to the disciples in verse 48,

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 it is the one who is least among you who is the greatest.

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 It is the least among you who is the greatest.

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 Who's that?

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 Well, it will be Jesus himself, won't it?

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 As he hangs on the cross.

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 He will be the one who will become loathed, despised, delivered into the hands of men.

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 He will become the least.

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 But Jesus knows that the path to true greatness and glory takes him via the cross.

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 And he wants his disciples to follow accordingly.

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 Jesus models and will model the selflessness and sacrificial love he wants his followers to have,

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 because that is what true glory looks like in Christ's kingdom.

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 And just in case we were starting to wonder if the disciples were beginning to comprehend,

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 John very helpfully clears it up for us.

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 His response to all this is to say,

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 Oh, Master, we saw someone driving at demons in your name,

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 and we tried to stop him because, you know, he's not one of us.

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 And after everything that Jesus has just been explaining,

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 my initial response to John is,

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 John, you idiot.

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 And yet I know exactly what it is to be in John's position.

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 I was helping out last week at a CU events week down in Coventry.

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 It's the middle of nowhere, honestly.

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 And on Friday morning, we were feeding back as to how the Thursday night event had gone.

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 And the guy sitting opposite me, who was also helping out with the week,

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 explained to us all that God had used him to lead two students to repentance and faith in Jesus.

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 And I'd love to tell you that my instinctive reaction was,

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 That's such good news.

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 But it wasn't.

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 My instinctive reaction was,

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 Why couldn't that have been me?

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 I had to sit with someone who believed in Buddhism,

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 couldn't even tell me what type of Buddhism they believed in,

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 had no interest in Jesus,

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 and it was a really frustrating conversation for 40 minutes.

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 How come this other guy managed to enjoy success and I didn't?

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 But if Jesus' path is one where he devotes his life for the sake of his people,

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 then Jesus' caution to me, to all of us, to his disciples,

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 is that there can be no spiritual snobbery,

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 or spiritual elitism,

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 or spiritual jealousy.

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 There will always be those that are doing fruitful gospel work,

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 when things just aren't going well for us.

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 Maybe they're in a different part of the city.

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 Maybe they aren't just quite like us.

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 And yes, we have to be discerning.

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 Yes, we have to ask whether it's genuine gospel work or not.

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 But it's too easy to allow that to lapse into tribalism,

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 because they're not one of us.

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 Elitism, snobbery, is the ugliest thing in our church today.

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 And I feel the tug towards it in my own heart.

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 The Christian unions in Edinburgh are really healthy,

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 as I said earlier on.

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 It's very easy for me to think that other CUs across Scotland

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 just don't quite have it right.

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 Not like we do.

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 I don't want people to become Christians somewhere else.

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 I want them to become Christians here.

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 How ugly is that?

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 And you guys will know where risks appearing in your own hearts

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 and in the life of the church here.

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 But what will put a stop to it

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 is listening to the caution that comes from the king

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 that devotes his life.

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 If people are going to follow a selfless

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 and sacrificial King Jesus

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 to true glory in his kingdom,

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 how can we take any self-promotion on the way?

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 It's a real message for all who are called to be disciples.

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 Let there be no self-promotion, rivalry, triumphalism.

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 Rejoice.

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 Rejoice when others are doing the work of Christ's kingdom.

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 Rejoice when others are doing the work of Christ's kingdom.

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 Not according to Luke.

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 The destination of the journey, according to Luke in verse 51,

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 is Jesus being taken up to heaven.

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 And so his journey through immense suffering

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 leads ultimately to eternal glory

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 and it exemplifies the journey anyone takes

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 who trusts in Jesus

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 from the temporary kingdom of this creation

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 to his kingdom of the new creation.

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 And the road of discipleship will look like self-sacrifice.

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 And here we see clearly in these verses

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 it will look like facing real rejection

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 and open opposition.

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 Jesus is going through this territory

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 for the first time in Luke's gospel.

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 He is decidedly and obviously and purposefully

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 extending his kingdom to the foreigners.

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 All are invited.

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 The Samaritans would have been seen

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 as second-class citizens in the eyes of the Jews.

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 But true to Jesus' character,

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 true to Jesus' kingdom,

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 the gospel comes to them on the same terms.

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 He has come for the insider and the outcast,

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 for the privileged and the poor.

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 But all must welcome the saviour.

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 It's not enough just to hear about Jesus

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 or to meet him.

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 And tragically in this case,

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 the Samaritans don't want anything to do with him

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 because, verse 53,

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 he was heading for Jerusalem.

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 They seem to understand where Jesus is going

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 and Samaritans reject the idea

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 that Jerusalem is the place

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 where God should be worshipped.

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 So maybe it was pure sectarian hatred

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 on the part of the Samaritans.

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 Regardless of the reasons,

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 when people will not welcome Jesus,

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 when they say,

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 we don't want you,

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 we don't want your message,

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 Jesus listens.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.079
 He doesn't try and alter his teaching

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:43.639
 to be welcomed.

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:47.139
 Verse 56,

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:49.339
 he and his disciples went to another village.

00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:54.179
 Well, how are the disciples going to respond to this?

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.000
 Well, once again,

00:17:55.379 --> 00:17:57.059
 just in case we're starting to wonder

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.779
 that the disciples were beginning to comprehend,

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.500
 James and John clear things up for us.

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.000
 They asked Jesus,

00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:03.779
 verse 54,

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:06.220
 do you want us to call fire down from heaven

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.879
 to destroy them?

00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:10.639
 They want justice and vengeance

00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:11.839
 on their own terms.

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.740
 And once more,

00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:16.059
 Jesus has to rewrite the principles of his kingdom

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.859
 on their hearts.

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:19.019
 He rebukes James and John.

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.019
 Let's be clear here.

00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:21.500
 Jesus doesn't rebuke them

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.899
 because there are no consequences

00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:23.939
 to rejecting Jesus.

00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.059
 No, no.

00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:25.980
 Jesus makes it very,

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.519
 very clear

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.500
 that there are severe

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.939
 and serious consequences

00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:30.359
 to rejecting him.

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.279
 However,

00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:34.000
 Jesus' correction here to James and John

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.379
 comes from the king

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:38.619
 that instead demonstrates his grace.

00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:40.199
 Wonderfully,

00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:41.539
 if you read on

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:44.019
 in Luke's second book of the Bible,

00:18:44.219 --> 00:18:44.599
 Acts,

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.699
 you'll see in chapter 8

00:18:46.699 --> 00:18:48.399
 that Peter and John,

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.259
 of all people,

00:18:49.979 --> 00:18:52.359
 place their hands on many Samaritans

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:54.119
 to receive the Holy Spirit

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.839
 who have heard the gospel

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.579
 and are new Christians.

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.299
 I reckon John,

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.559
 when he was there in Samaria

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.439
 in Acts chapter 8,

00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:02.939
 probably kept pretty quiet

00:19:02.939 --> 00:19:03.759
 about what he'd said here

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.979
 in Luke chapter 9.

00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:07.379
 But to see the Samaritans

00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:08.519
 who had rejected Jesus

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.500
 now welcome Jesus instead

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.219
 is a wonderful display

00:19:12.219 --> 00:19:12.799
 of the grace

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.000
 that the king extends

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.819
 towards his enemies.

00:19:16.959 --> 00:19:18.000
 Jesus makes it very clear

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.119
 that whilst it won't happen

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.679
 to everyone,

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.279
 there are definitely those

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.559
 that first resist the message

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.200
 of the gospel

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:26.119
 who latterly welcome

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:28.200
 Christ into their lives.

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.940
 I'm sure we'll know

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.259
 of people like that.

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.000
 Again,

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.720
 very easy for me to think

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.339
 how awful of James and John

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.019
 to suggest

00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:37.819
 such a thing as fire from heaven

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:39.139
 when Jesus had very,

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.339
 very clearly spoken

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:42.359
 about welcoming the outsider.

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.259
 However,

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:49.319
 I've had some fairly choice thoughts

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.579
 about those

00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.699
 that have rejected the gospel

00:19:51.699 --> 00:19:53.500
 and have mocked

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.339
 the king that I follow.

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.099
 Perhaps,

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.460
 even in my darkest moments,

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:58.779
 I've thought,

00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:01.899
 I cannot wait

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:02.759
 until that person

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.839
 stands before God

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:04.579
 and realises

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.339
 they've been wrong

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:05.939
 all along.

00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:08.839
 It'll feel so good

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.699
 when that person

00:20:09.699 --> 00:20:10.659
 kneels before God

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:11.819
 and feels the weight

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.439
 of every word

00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.319
 they've said against him.

00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:14.240
 Have you ever thought that?

00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:18.359
 Is that such a different attitude

00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:19.460
 to the one that James and John

00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.119
 display here?

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.480
 I don't think it is.

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.000
 Let's understand

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.819
 the reality of all this.

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.980
 To be on the path

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.819
 to glory with Jesus

00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:31.019
 will always mean hostility

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.439
 from all sorts of people

00:20:32.439 --> 00:20:34.199
 for all sorts of reasons.

00:20:34.699 --> 00:20:36.159
 Let's not be surprised by that.

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:36.779
 Yet,

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:38.079
 Jesus is patient

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.480
 and his judgment

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.619
 is withheld

00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:42.159
 for the moment.

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.779
 and knowing that the king

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.400
 we follow

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:47.160
 demonstrates his grace

00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.840
 to his enemies

00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:49.620
 means that we too

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.779
 are to extend grace

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.120
 to those that oppose him.

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.120
 And friends,

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:56.080
 it's incredibly hard,

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:56.920
 isn't it?

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:59.440
 It can often come

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.820
 at real personal cost.

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.539
 cost.

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.119
 And yet,

00:21:04.179 --> 00:21:05.000
 it was exactly

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.539
 at a real personal cost

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.039
 that Jesus

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.359
 extended his grace

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:08.980
 to us

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.000
 before we were

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.759
 his friends.

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.519
 Realistically,

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.480
 can we seek

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.139
 any sort of

00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:15.980
 earthly retribution

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.679
 for those that have

00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:17.460
 opposed Jesus

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.740
 when we have done

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.700
 exactly the same thing

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.240
 and yet Jesus

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.420
 has demonstrated

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:21.880
 his grace

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.519
 towards us?

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:25.819
 Wonderfully,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.620
 thankfully,

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.059
 vengeance does not

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.700
 belong to us.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.440
 It belongs to the Lord.

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.340
 So in turn,

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.400
 we extend grace

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.779
 to others.

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.420
 See again here

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.180
 how Jesus' way

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.680
 ends up being

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.700
 the way of the disciple too.

00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:41.920
 So the caution

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.360
 from the king

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.200
 who devotes his life,

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.140
 the correction

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.660
 from the king

00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.759
 who demonstrates his grace,

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.440
 and now finally

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.120
 as we close,

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.900
 the call from the king

00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:50.080
 who demands our all.

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.700
 The call from the king

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.660
 who demands our all.

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.100
 Very quickly,

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.460
 three short incidents

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.200
 between Jesus

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.880
 and those that would

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.420
 follow him.

00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:00.420
 That word is all over

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.000
 our last section

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.400
 this morning,

00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:01.860
 follow.

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.519
 And Jesus is clarifying

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.900
 the nature of the call

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:05.920
 to follow him.

00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:08.180
 The first man

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.080
 that he speaks to

00:22:09.080 --> 00:22:12.900
 wants to leap

00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:13.720
 into a commitment

00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.700
 to follow Jesus

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:17.000
 without first understanding

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.680
 the cost of it all.

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:21.360
 Jesus warns him

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:23.320
 clearly in verse 58

00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.680
 that whilst foxes

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.259
 have dens,

00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:26.820
 birds have nests,

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.800
 the son of man

00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:28.440
 has no place

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.220
 to lay his head.

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.780
 Jesus' path he walks

00:22:31.780 --> 00:22:32.940
 is one of homelessness

00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:34.320
 in this world.

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.300
 It's a world

00:22:35.300 --> 00:22:36.100
 that he created.

00:22:36.560 --> 00:22:37.300
 Even the animals

00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:37.700
 have somewhere

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.620
 they can call home.

00:22:39.280 --> 00:22:40.140
 And yet he's not

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.780
 putting down

00:22:40.780 --> 00:22:41.440
 any roots

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.380
 in this world

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.420
 because he is

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.200
 heading towards

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.680
 the cross

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.780
 and he is heading

00:22:45.780 --> 00:22:46.460
 towards the new

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.240
 creation to come.

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:49.920
 He is an outcast

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.740
 in this world

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.259
 and for any disciple

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.460
 seeking to follow Jesus

00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.819
 we cannot

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:56.620
 permanently invest

00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.700
 in the things

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.120
 of this age.

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.380
 We cannot put

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.700
 unhealthy roots down

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.660
 in this world

00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.700
 as our home.

00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.440
 Not when we weigh up

00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:07.059
 with the new creation

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.299
 to come.

00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.420
 And Jesus is

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.240
 seriously reconfiguring

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.460
 how his followers

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.720
 view things

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.480
 in this world.

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.360
 It doesn't mean

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.660
 we can't enjoy things.

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.059
 Please don't mishear me.

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.099
 Friends,

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.740
 family,

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.480
 romance,

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:20.980
 holidays,

00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:21.680
 sport,

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.519
 food,

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.440
 these are good

00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.380
 gifts to us

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.140
 from God.

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.220
 But the son of man,

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.220
 the creator,

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.380
 didn't think to take

00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.339
 a home for himself

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.120
 in this world

00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:33.240
 when he was here

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.180
 in the flesh

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.460
 sharing the good news

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:35.940
 of the kingdom

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.640
 to come.

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:40.059
 He had every right to

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.620
 but he didn't.

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.240
 He knew where he was headed.

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:45.740
 And his demand

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.779
 on this first man

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.420
 is that he will

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.400
 follow a saviour

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.559
 who did not find

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.319
 his home here.

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.180
 That's the warning.

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.039
 His people can expect

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.120
 a life of exile,

00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.140
 not comfort,

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:59.200
 in this creation,

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.700
 awaiting the wonderful

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.700
 new creation to come.

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.539
 The second person

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.799
 Jesus calls to follow him

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:07.039
 gives what initially

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.980
 seems like a perfectly

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:09.599
 reasonable reaction

00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.099
 in verse 59.

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.839
 Lord, first let me go

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.859
 and bury my father.

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:16.079
 Surely that's only reasonable.

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.399
 But let's understand

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:20.459
 that the whole

00:24:20.459 --> 00:24:21.659
 burial process

00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.219
 for a Jew

00:24:22.219 --> 00:24:22.980
 would have taken

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.859
 roughly a year

00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:25.399
 from start to finish.

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.159
 It's not even

00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.980
 explicitly clear

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.799
 that this man's father

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.579
 has died yet.

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.119
 He might still have

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.599
 a few years

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.319
 to go first.

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.299
 But regardless

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.819
 of all that,

00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:35.919
 this man has not

00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.480
 grasped

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.480
 the urgency

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:39.360
 of Christ's call.

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.740
 Nothing is more important,

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.220
 not even

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.819
 our earthly families.

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.779
 The Bible has some

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.640
 very positive things

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.660
 to say about family life.

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.759
 We're told to honour

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.339
 our parents.

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:52.279
 We're told to raise

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.460
 our children to know

00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.620
 and to love Jesus.

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.220
 However,

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.160
 when the time comes

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.380
 and it will often come,

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.480
 Jesus' call

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.759
 is firstly

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:03.119
 to him

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:05.000
 and to his kingdom

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.980
 over

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:08.079
 our earthly relationships

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.259
 with family.

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.859
 I've spoken to

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.539
 young men and women

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.420
 who have given

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.240
 their lives to Jesus

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.920
 at university

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.079
 through various

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.680
 events weeks

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:17.680
 and these students

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.379
 have parents

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:18.839
 that are now

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.759
 desperately upset

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:21.279
 and desperately angry

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.440
 that their child

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.019
 goes to church

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.519
 every week.

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.879
 I've spoken to

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.379
 students who are

00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:27.160
 thinking of perhaps

00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.119
 spending a year

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.519
 volunteering with UCCF,

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.819
 working for a church

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.980
 or another Christian

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.419
 movement.

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.319
 They're expected

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.200
 to fundraise

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.740
 for the year

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.599
 and often these

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.220
 young men and women

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.200
 come under tremendous

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.480
 pressure from their parents.

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.279
 Some of these parents

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.839
 are Christians

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:43.000
 and they say things like,

00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.500
 how are you going

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.220
 to afford that?

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.939
 I think you should

00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:46.759
 be getting a job,

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.519
 a good job.

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.019
 We've paid for you

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.500
 to go through

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.939
 three, four years

00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:51.619
 of university.

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.000
 What a waste

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.419
 it would be

00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:53.939
 if you were to

00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:54.519
 give it all up

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.639
 and work for a church.

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.500
 Leave that

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.099
 for other people.

00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.819
 And the tug

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.379
 of feeling like

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.200
 your first allegiance

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.039
 is to your parents

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.799
 at the expense

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.519
 of honouring Jesus

00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.919
 is very, very real

00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:09.439
 and it's very, very hard.

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.179
 Jesus' call

00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:13.019
 as king

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:14.019
 is to demand

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.279
 all of this man's life

00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.119
 and it's the same call

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:18.259
 he places on any follower.

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.919
 It's a deliberately

00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:22.539
 sore example here.

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.039
 It's a deliberately

00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.000
 sore example

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.939
 because it's meant

00:26:25.939 --> 00:26:26.480
 to show us

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.019
 just how difficult it is.

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.839
 As I said,

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.980
 no small print.

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.539
 Even the best

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.039
 of reasons

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.539
 and excuses

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.279
 cannot delay,

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.720
 cannot derail us.

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.519
 And the last

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.559
 interaction is similar.

00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:43.220
 A man says,

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:43.960
 I will follow you,

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.180
 Lord,

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.900
 but first

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:46.059
 let me go back

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.539
 and say goodbye

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.119
 to my family.

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.160
 Surely,

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:48.859
 again,

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.019
 a fairly reasonable

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.619
 excuse.

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.279
 But the man

00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.839
 is betrayed

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.819
 by his own words.

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:57.279
 I will follow you,

00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:58.659
 but first.

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.980
 These are words

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.439
 that are spoken

00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:03.079
 all too often.

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.700
 I know a girl

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.220
 who I started

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.119
 university with

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:05.899
 who told me

00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:07.500
 that she was going

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:07.720
 to,

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.220
 and I quote,

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:09.099
 give up God

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.859
 for university

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:11.659
 before picking him

00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.159
 back up again

00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.059
 after she graduated.

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.980
 I will follow you,

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.019
 but first.

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:20.059
 And it's no surprise

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.779
 that she's no longer

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.399
 anywhere near

00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:22.240
 following Jesus.

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:25.620
 And Jesus says

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.200
 that this man

00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.099
 and anyone else

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.920
 with this attitude

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.299
 is similar to a man

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.200
 who plows,

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.460
 looking away

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.220
 over his shoulder,

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.859
 only to see the plow

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.880
 veer off track.

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.359
 We've seen it

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.940
 happen ourselves.

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.259
 Jesus has to be

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.380
 our sole focus

00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:42.859
 before anything else.

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.759
 There's no room

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.039
 for Jesus plus.

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.759
 The first man

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.500
 is too quick,

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.579
 hasn't weighed up

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.059
 the cost.

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.579
 The second is too slow,

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.679
 hasn't grasped

00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:54.179
 the urgency.

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.940
 The third is too busy

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.339
 trying to juggle Jesus

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.299
 alongside all these

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.859
 other commitments.

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.980
 And Jesus' call

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.339
 is to demand everything,

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.700
 not because he wants

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.500
 to ruin our fun,

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.059
 not because he needs

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.639
 our everything

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.639
 as a narcissist,

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.339
 but Jesus knows

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.240
 that true joy,

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.679
 true discipleship,

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.960
 means following him

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.980
 wholeheartedly.

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.240
 He knows the dangers

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.359
 of allowing the principles,

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:20.639
 the values,

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.639
 the priorities

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.479
 of this world

00:28:22.479 --> 00:28:23.699
 to creep into our walk

00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:24.259
 with him.

00:28:24.979 --> 00:28:26.619
 And he does not want us

00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.859
 to fall away from him.

00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.519
 So he says to his disciples,

00:28:30.979 --> 00:28:32.019
 that's not how we do

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.779
 things around here.

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.519
 The caution from the king

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.379
 who devotes his life

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:38.479
 is to say no to self-promotion,

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:40.399
 no to spiritual snobbery,

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.639
 no to rivalry.

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:43.839
 The correction from the king

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:45.000
 who demonstrates his grace

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.819
 is that we will face opposition,

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.839
 but we respond not with

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:50.119
 our own flavor of vengeance,

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:52.799
 but with grace and patience

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.900
 in the same way that he did.

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:56.039
 And the call from the king

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.859
 who demands our all

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:58.339
 is that true discipleship

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:59.759
 means that he is the number

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.740
 one priority in our lives.

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.099
 It's uncomfortable,

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:06.000
 it's urgent,

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.980
 it's uncompromising,

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:10.740
 but it's everything

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.759
 that Jesus embodied

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.980
 when he was on earth.

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.960
 Jesus doesn't make demands

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.880
 that he did not live out himself

00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:18.839
 in his own life.

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.420
 Do you see that?

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.279
 When we experience

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.440
 all of these struggles,

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.640
 when we try and soldier on

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.779
 to live the life of a disciple,

00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:29.420
 we can turn to Jesus and say,

00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.680
 this is really difficult.

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.420
 And he turns back to us

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:35.079
 and responds with,

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:35.660
 I know.

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.599
 Trust me.

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.720
 I know.

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.620
 And so the take home from today

00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.579
 isn't moralism.

00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:44.380
 It's not be more modest,

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.360
 be more gracious,

00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.640
 be more committed.

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.240
 That's not what I'm saying.

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.680
 That's not Luke chapter nine.

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.640
 The take home is follow Jesus.

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:56.059
 See how he models

00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:57.200
 that which his disciples

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.920
 are to follow.

00:29:59.019 --> 00:30:00.180
 See the cross.

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:03.140
 See the way that he reconciles us

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.960
 to God and pays the debt

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.620
 of our sins.

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:07.559
 See the destination

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.240
 at the end.

00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:11.099
 His kingdom for all eternity

00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:11.819
 for the believer.

00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:14.859
 Let Jesus be what motivates you

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:16.480
 to live in such a way

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.639
 that points away from ourselves,

00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:19.059
 away from this world,

00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:20.259
 to him

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.339
 and to his kingdom.

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:23.980
 let me pray for us

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.779
 as we close.

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.319
 Lord Jesus,

00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:28.779
 we thank you for the

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.199
 honesty

00:30:30.199 --> 00:30:32.159
 and the realism

00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:34.199
 that the Bible has

00:30:34.199 --> 00:30:35.399
 towards those who follow you.

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.299
 Father,

00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:37.939
 in many ways,

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.279
 the personal cost

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.119
 is great,

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:42.240
 but we can look at Jesus

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.039
 and we can see

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.859
 the way that he

00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:46.459
 models all of these things

00:30:46.459 --> 00:30:47.359
 for us to follow.

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.079
 Father,

00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:50.419
 we know this morning

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:51.039
 that an eternity

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.599
 with you,

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.819
 an eternity with Christ

00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.919
 is so worth

00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:56.259
 the pain,

00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:57.439
 the suffering

00:30:57.439 --> 00:30:58.359
 of this day and age.

00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.359
 Father,

00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:00.859
 help us

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.819
 by your Holy Spirit

00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:02.639
 to have our eyes

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.659
 fixed upon Christ.

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.379
 Help us

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.240
 by your Holy Spirit

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:08.139
 to lean upon you

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:10.699
 not to mingle

00:31:10.699 --> 00:31:11.859
 kingdom priorities

00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:12.500
 and principles

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.099
 with the principles

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.659
 and priorities

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.340
 of this world.

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.140
 Help us,

00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:17.460
 Father,

00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:18.180
 by your Spirit

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.220
 to stay distinct.

00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.860
 Help us to live

00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:23.700
 the life

00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.240
 of a disciple

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.019
 that genuinely

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:26.180
 loves you

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:27.600
 increasingly

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.600
 as the days go on,

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.720
 that knows you better

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:31.400
 and understands

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:31.759
 the love

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.160
 that you have

00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:33.300
 for us better.

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:34.480
 Father,

00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.060
 we thank you

00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:36.240
 that for those of us

00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.140
 that this morning

00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:38.320
 have not been doing this,

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.700
 we know that there is

00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.060
 forgiveness

00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:41.100
 because of the cross.

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:43.160
 We're so thankful,

00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:43.420
 Father,

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.340
 that we can turn back

00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:44.700
 to you,

00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:46.120
 look at what Jesus did

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:46.779
 and say,

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.140
 forgive me

00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:49.480
 and know that

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:49.960
 that forgiveness

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.539
 is ours.

00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:51.779
 And so,

00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:51.980
 Father,

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.779
 would you forgive me?

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.740
 Would you forgive

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.700
 all of us sitting here

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:56.440
 that have allowed

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.120
 other things

00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:57.940
 to sneak in

00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:59.100
 and distort

00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.660
 the principles

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.140
 of the kingdom

00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:00.759
 in our lives?

00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:02.900
 Give us everything

00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:03.240
 we need,

00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:03.440
 Father,

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.019
 to live a life

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.860
 that glorifies you

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:07.600
 in the same way

00:32:07.600 --> 00:32:08.259
 that Jesus did.

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.840
 In whose name we pray.

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:10.720
 Amen.

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:15.120
 Let's do it.

00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:17.360
 Lup searchчат-

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:19.480
 By the way,

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.080
 Abraham,

00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.539
 Jesus,