WEBVTT

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 And again, it's boiling, isn't it?

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 So if you feel you need to get out

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 accidents, there are tyrants,

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 there are bullies which force their plans

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 on the world and crush anyone

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 who stands in their way.

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 Maybe there are things that have happened

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 in your life and the question is,

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 why does God allow that?

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 And it's a stumbling block, isn't it, to many people.

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 It's a challenge to us

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 as Christians that we need to face

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 that if Jesus is God's King,

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 bringing in God's kingdom,

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 why isn't it here yet?

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 It's been such a long time

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 coming. Why is there so much

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 opposition to Christianity in the world?

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 And in trying to make sense

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 of the world in which we live,

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 I think we can go to two extremes.

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 We might be over-optimistic as Christians

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 and we might, things are bound

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 to get better

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 and we try to capture the world for Jesus.

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 Things will just get better and better.

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 The other hand is,

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 we can be pessimistic, can't we?

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 That things are going from bad to worse

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 and so we just battle down the hatches

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 and we wait until Jesus comes back.

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 There's a teaching out there

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 that is a heresy.

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 It comes from America,

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 as most heresies do.

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 It's a teaching called the rapture.

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 You might have heard it.

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 There's many books that have been written

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 on this theme.

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 There are very bad films

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 that have been written.

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 It's very bad theology

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 and it's this,

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 that when Jesus returns,

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 he will snatch up all the Christians

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 and he'll rapture them away

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 and he'll leave the world to unbelievers.

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 So you wake up one morning

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 and you go out

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 and there's people's clothes

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 lying on the pavement

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 because all the Christians have disappeared.

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 You were flying to America

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 and there was a Christian pilot

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 and sadly he's just disappeared.

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 They've been taken away

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 and unbelievers are now in charge of the world

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 and that is a scary thought

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 but let me tell you,

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 it's not going to happen

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 and it's not going to happen

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 because Jesus says

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 it is not going to happen.

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 And that's what this parable is about.

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 Jesus is not going to root out

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 all the evildoers

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 or snatch away all the Christians.

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 Do you see what he says?

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 They will continue side by side

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 right to the very end.

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 The wheat of God

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 and the weeds of Satan.

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 The sons of the kingdom,

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 the sons of the evil one.

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 Side by side

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 right to the day of judgment.

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 Good and evil

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 will coexist.

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 And as much as you and I

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 would love God

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 to remove all evil from the world,

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 mercifully,

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 he will not do that

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 until judgment day.

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 And so is this world

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 going to get better

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 or is this world

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 going to get worse

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 and the answer is

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 yes.

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 The world is getting better.

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 The good seed of the gospel

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 is growing.

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 We've seen that

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 in the first parable,

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 it's an unstoppable harvest.

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 It's producing

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 an abundant harvest.

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 Grain on the stalk.

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 It's much,

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 much more,

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 isn't it,

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 than that tiny little seed

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 that was planted

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 into the ground.

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 And it's growing.

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 But the weeds are growing.

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 And every week that passes,

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 they are larger

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 and more deeply rooted

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 than before.

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 And that is the teaching

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 of Jesus in this parable.

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 I've just got two things to say.

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 One,

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 this parable helps us

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 to understand

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 our present reality

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 and it points

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 to a future certainty.

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 Our present reality

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 and our future certainty.

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 Let's first of all

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 look at the present reality.

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 It helps us to make sense

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 of the world

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 in which we live.

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 When we look at the world,

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 we see,

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 don't we,

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 good and evil

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 side by side

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 vying with each other.

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 And when you look

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 at world history,

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 you'll see that

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 there are times

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 when evil gets pushed down

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 and that it rises again

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 in a different form.

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 Often in a more sinister form.

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 And so,

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 2,000 years of Christianity,

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 the world is much

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 as it always has been.

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 There are still wars out there

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 and there are still

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 rumors of wars.

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 The wheat and the weed,

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 they grow together.

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 And when I move

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 from looking at the world

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 to looking into my own heart,

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 what do I find?

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 What's my experience?

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 Well, it's exactly

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 the same experience

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 as the Apostle Paul.

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 The good that I want to do,

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 I can't do.

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 And the evil that I don't want to do,

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 I find myself doing.

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 There's good and evil

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 side by side in the world,

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 but there's good and evil

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 side by side in my heart.

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 And that's the present reality

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 in the church.

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 We're told,

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 Jesus told,

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 we're told that Jesus

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 chose the 12

00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.379
 in John 6,

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 but one of them

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 was a devil.

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 And so,

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 if you're looking

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 for a perfect church,

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 if you've come here tonight

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 as a perfect church,

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 looking for a perfect church,

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 let me tell you,

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 this isn't it.

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 But if you find it,

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 as someone says,

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 don't join it

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 because you'll spoil it.

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 And let me say,

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 what I'm telling you,

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 it's not an excuse

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 to walk away

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 from the church either.

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 Some people say to me,

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 they say to you,

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 I don't go to church

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 because it's full of hypocrites.

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 And the response to that is,

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 well,

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 there's always room

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 for one more.

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 Come and join us.

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 The wheat and the weeds

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 grow together.

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 And that fits

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 with our experience

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 in the world,

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 in our lives,

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 and in the church.

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 The sons of the kingdom

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 are cheek by jowl

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 with the sons

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 of the evil one.

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 Isn't that right?

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 And so just look

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 in the parable with me.

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 There's two things

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 that you wouldn't

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 necessarily know.

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 The wheat and the weed

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 at certain points

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 are indistinguishable.

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 There's a very

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 specific word

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 that's used here

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 to describe the weed.

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 The bearded darnel.

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 It sounds like something

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 from Lord of the Rings,

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 doesn't it,

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 or Star Wars.

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 But it's a weed.

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 That's the word here.

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 It's being called

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 wheat's evil twin

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 because you can't

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 distinguish it

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 immediately from the wheat.

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 It's a poisonous,

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 extremely toxic weed.

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 In fact,

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 in a big enough dose,

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 this weed will kill you.

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 And at first,

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 when it begins to grow,

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 you can't tell the difference

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 between the wheat.

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 Both grow together.

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 It's why it's so dangerous.

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 And in this parable,

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 this weed doesn't just

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 spring up.

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 Can you see verse 25?

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 It's planted by an enemy.

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 While his men were sleeping,

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 his enemy came

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 and sowed weeds

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 among the wheat

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 and went away.

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 What have you got here?

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 This is germ warfare.

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 This is bioterrorism.

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 Agricultural sabotage.

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 The farmer's got a competitor.

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 There's a rival

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 who deliberately sets out

00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:20.240
 to destroy the crop.

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 And he does so

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 by planting poisonous,

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 toxic weeds

00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:25.560
 in amongst the wheat.

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 And doesn't that

00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:28.760
 accord with our experience?

00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:31.320
 According to Jesus,

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 verse 38,

00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:33.120
 the field is the world.

00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:33.920
 Don't make the mistake

00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:34.680
 that some have made

00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:35.939
 in thinking this parable

00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:36.660
 is about the church.

00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:37.160
 It's not.

00:07:39.340 --> 00:07:40.020
 In the world,

00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:40.980
 there are two agendas.

00:07:41.320 --> 00:07:42.680
 There are two peoples.

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 There are two kingdoms.

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 There are two forces

00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:48.879
 side by side.

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 Vying with each other.

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 And that's always been the case,

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 isn't it?

00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:55.600
 If you go back

00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:56.939
 to Genesis chapter 3

00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:57.620
 that Johnny preached

00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:59.060
 so helpfully on last week,

00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:00.780
 there have always been

00:08:00.780 --> 00:08:01.400
 these two.

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 The sons of the kingdom

00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:06.620
 and the sons of the evil one.

00:08:08.020 --> 00:08:09.340
 And in that first announcement

00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:09.819
 of the gospel,

00:08:09.960 --> 00:08:11.040
 which Johnny preached brilliantly

00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.000
 on the other Sunday morning,

00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.120
 Jesus preaches to Satan.

00:08:14.620 --> 00:08:15.540
 That's who the first sermon

00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:16.160
 is addressed to.

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 And it's not good news.

00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.420
 He says,

00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:21.220
 I will put hostility,

00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:22.379
 I will put enmity

00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:23.720
 between you and the woman

00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:24.740
 and between your offspring

00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:25.439
 and her offspring.

00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.040
 And he shall bruise your head

00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:28.939
 and you shall bruise his heel.

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 And that's the story

00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:30.579
 of the human race.

00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:32.840
 The sons of the kingdom

00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:34.139
 and the sons of the evil one.

00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.320
 And this struggle begins

00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:36.159
 to play itself out.

00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:37.679
 And so Genesis chapter 4,

00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:38.379
 the next chapter,

00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:39.600
 you have a murderer

00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:40.200
 and a victim.

00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.080
 And it's played out

00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:44.360
 all the way to the current time.

00:08:44.640 --> 00:08:45.560
 There is an enemy

00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:46.800
 who is opposed

00:08:46.800 --> 00:08:48.100
 to God's rule on earth

00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:49.160
 and he is intent

00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:50.200
 on sabotaging it.

00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:53.160
 There is a personal,

00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.460
 malevolent being

00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.620
 at work in this world

00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:56.259
 called Satan

00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:58.240
 and he sows weed

00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.040
 amongst the wheat.

00:08:59.120 --> 00:08:59.879
 Verse 25,

00:09:01.800 --> 00:09:02.840
 an enemy came

00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:04.759
 and sowed weeds

00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.320
 amongst the wheat

00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:07.640
 and went away.

00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.799
 So when the plants

00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:12.299
 came up

00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:13.340
 and bore grain

00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:14.600
 then the weeds

00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.139
 appeared.

00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:17.399
 How does that happen?

00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:21.559
 I read this week

00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:22.419
 that King Jong-un,

00:09:22.819 --> 00:09:24.019
 the Korean dictator,

00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:27.139
 his great-grandfather

00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.899
 was a Presbyterian minister.

00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:29.779
 I'm not,

00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.199
 he's certainly influenced

00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:32.000
 by Presbyterians

00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.480
 but it seems

00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:35.059
 that he may well

00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:36.059
 have been a Presbyterian minister.

00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:38.819
 They came out of China

00:09:38.819 --> 00:09:40.579
 as a Christian family

00:09:40.579 --> 00:09:41.279
 and moved to Korea.

00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:43.319
 How did that happen?

00:09:45.699 --> 00:09:46.799
 How did he become

00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:47.859
 what he has become?

00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:49.500
 An enemy has done this.

00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:52.500
 While they were sleeping

00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:53.299
 an enemy came

00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:54.119
 and planted weeds

00:09:54.119 --> 00:09:54.959
 amongst the wheat

00:09:54.959 --> 00:09:57.519
 so that now North Korea

00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.099
 is one of the most

00:09:58.099 --> 00:09:59.119
 oppressive regimes

00:09:59.119 --> 00:10:00.199
 in all the world.

00:10:02.319 --> 00:10:03.219
 And yet in North Korea

00:10:03.219 --> 00:10:04.119
 tonight there are sons

00:10:04.119 --> 00:10:04.579
 of the kingdom

00:10:04.579 --> 00:10:05.279
 in that field.

00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:07.399
 and there are seeds

00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:08.079
 of the evil one

00:10:08.079 --> 00:10:08.619
 in that field.

00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:09.819
 Together in God's province.

00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:10.399
 You see we must

00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.199
 wake up to this.

00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:14.419
 This is spiritual warfare.

00:10:14.619 --> 00:10:15.619
 Paul says we wrestle

00:10:15.619 --> 00:10:16.759
 not against flesh and blood

00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.699
 but powers and principalities

00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.679
 in the heavenly realms.

00:10:19.819 --> 00:10:20.899
 This is the evil one

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.559
 trying to stop

00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:22.599
 God's work in the world

00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:23.759
 seeking to destroy it.

00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:28.079
 Remember Jesus told them

00:10:28.079 --> 00:10:29.000
 in Mark's Gospel

00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.000
 it gets that point

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:30.439
 in Mark 8

00:10:30.439 --> 00:10:31.039
 where he says

00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:31.719
 and we're going to go up

00:10:31.719 --> 00:10:32.079
 to Jerusalem

00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:32.839
 and the Son of Man

00:10:32.839 --> 00:10:33.759
 which is the way

00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:34.699
 he describes himself

00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:35.300
 will be betrayed

00:10:35.300 --> 00:10:36.060
 to the chief priests

00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:36.960
 the teachers of the law

00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:38.020
 they'll condemn him

00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:38.420
 to death

00:10:38.420 --> 00:10:38.940
 they'll turn him

00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:39.740
 over to the Gentiles

00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.580
 he'll be flogged

00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:41.000
 and mocked

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:41.460
 and crucified.

00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:42.680
 And they didn't

00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:43.280
 want to hear that.

00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:45.400
 And they say

00:10:45.400 --> 00:10:46.759
 no way Jose

00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:47.259
 is that going to

00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:47.800
 happen to you.

00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:50.240
 And what did Jesus

00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:51.460
 say to Peter

00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:52.400
 when Peter said that?

00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:53.660
 What did Jesus say?

00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.480
 Did he say thanks Peter

00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.600
 for caring for me so much?

00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:58.920
 Thanks Peter

00:10:58.920 --> 00:10:59.720
 I really appreciate

00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:00.420
 your concern.

00:11:00.419 --> 00:11:02.319
 No he said

00:11:02.319 --> 00:11:03.339
 get behind me Satan.

00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:06.299
 What he's saying is

00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:07.199
 Peter don't you realise

00:11:07.199 --> 00:11:08.039
 what is going on?

00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:10.179
 Wake up to the

00:11:10.179 --> 00:11:10.959
 spiritual warfare

00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:11.679
 that the enemy

00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:12.620
 is trying to stop me

00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:13.679
 from going to the cross.

00:11:15.479 --> 00:11:16.439
 But I must go.

00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:17.599
 Satan is trying

00:11:17.599 --> 00:11:18.579
 to divert me

00:11:18.579 --> 00:11:19.479
 from going to the cross

00:11:19.479 --> 00:11:20.519
 and Satan does

00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.259
 his damnedness

00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:22.139
 to get rid of him

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.419
 right from the very beginning.

00:11:23.599 --> 00:11:24.120
 So you remember

00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:24.939
 Herod

00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:25.899
 seeking to put

00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:27.179
 those babies to death.

00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:34.459
 And so

00:11:34.459 --> 00:11:35.240
 wonderfully

00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.919
 with the bruised heel

00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:37.860
 of his

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:39.379
 crucified humanity

00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:41.039
 Jesus has

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.599
 stamped

00:11:41.599 --> 00:11:42.939
 on Satan's head

00:11:42.939 --> 00:11:44.879
 and destroyed

00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.519
 the works

00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.039
 of the devil.

00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:48.539
 Do you see

00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.019
 what is happening

00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:50.059
 is spiritual warfare.

00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:51.319
 You see in Acts 2

00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:52.539
 when Peter preaches

00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:54.500
 the sons of the kingdom

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.219
 spring up

00:11:55.219 --> 00:11:56.120
 and there's a great harvest.

00:11:56.319 --> 00:11:57.059
 Thousands of people

00:11:57.059 --> 00:11:57.759
 become Christians.

00:11:59.059 --> 00:11:59.620
 And what happens

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.659
 is that the enemy

00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.679
 comes persecuting

00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.039
 the church

00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.360
 from the outside

00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.820
 and counterfeiting

00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:05.399
 Christians

00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.279
 on the inside.

00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:08.600
 And you remember

00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.759
 Ananias and Sapphira

00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.120
 pretending to be

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:12.000
 what they were not.

00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:15.340
 Pretending to be

00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:16.940
 sons of God

00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:17.759
 when they weren't.

00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:19.860
 What is that?

00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.840
 What's going on

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.320
 at that point?

00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.340
 It is the enemy

00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.539
 planting weeds

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.620
 amongst the wheat.

00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:27.139
 So much harm

00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:27.779
 is done, isn't it?

00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.620
 So much harm

00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:28.879
 is done.

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.340
 And it's been done

00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:30.059
 in your life

00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:30.840
 and my life

00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:31.539
 by people

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:32.379
 pretending to be

00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:32.799
 Christians.

00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:36.960
 Gandhi

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.860
 was in South Africa

00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:40.480
 during the days

00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.320
 of apartheid.

00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.139
 And Gandhi

00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:44.659
 was very attracted

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:45.659
 to the gospel.

00:12:47.439 --> 00:12:48.200
 Gandhi read

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:48.679
 about the Sermon

00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.080
 on the Mount.

00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.320
 He read the life

00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:51.840
 and the teachings

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.419
 of Jesus

00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:53.740
 and was attracted

00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.559
 to Jesus.

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.080
 He tried one day

00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.000
 to go,

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.580
 well I think,

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.180
 into a reformed church

00:12:59.180 --> 00:12:59.980
 in South Africa

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:00.759
 and they refused

00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:01.300
 him entry

00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:02.560
 because of the colour

00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:03.160
 of his skin.

00:13:04.660 --> 00:13:05.540
 And it turned him

00:13:05.540 --> 00:13:06.020
 off Christianity

00:13:06.020 --> 00:13:06.759
 permanently.

00:13:07.280 --> 00:13:07.600
 He said,

00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.700
 I would become a Christian

00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.720
 if I could find one.

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:11.680
 How did that happen?

00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.020
 An enemy did it.

00:13:15.020 --> 00:13:15.960
 While the church

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.620
 was sleeping,

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.379
 an enemy

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.700
 planted weeds

00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.500
 against the weed.

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:22.740
 The other thing

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.059
 to notice

00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:23.500
 is not only

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:23.820
 the weed

00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.120
 and wheat

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.860
 are indistinguishable

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.200
 at first

00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.179
 but they're entwined.

00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:26.759
 Can you see that?

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:27.700
 So you can't

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:28.460
 pull up the weed

00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:30.879
 without uprooting

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.200
 the wheat.

00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:31.779
 This is what he says

00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:32.480
 in verse 28.

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:34.899
 An enemy

00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:35.940
 has done this.

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:36.779
 So the servant

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.080
 said to him,

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.639
 well then what do you

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.039
 want us to do

00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:38.919
 to go and gather them?

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:40.320
 But he said,

00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:40.480
 no,

00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.179
 lest in gathering

00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:41.799
 the weeds

00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:42.559
 you root up

00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:42.919
 the wheat

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.360
 along with them.

00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.720
 Let them grow together

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.919
 until the harvest

00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:46.940
 and at harvest time

00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:48.840
 I will tell the reapers

00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.700
 gather the weeds first,

00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.480
 bind them in bundles

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:50.920
 to be burned.

00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:54.960
 I hope when you read

00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:57.100
 those verses

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.940
 you're glad.

00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:00.800
 I think we should be glad.

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:02.480
 Aren't you glad

00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.240
 that Jesus said that?

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.600
 Because what if

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:07.259
 all the weeds

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.040
 were ripped out?

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.460
 Where would that

00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:08.899
 leave you?

00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.300
 John Chapman,

00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.580
 Australian evangelist

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.379
 said this.

00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:14.639
 He said,

00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:15.160
 if you're going to

00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:16.440
 call the garbage man

00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.660
 make sure you

00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.400
 climb out of the bin.

00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.100
 It's good,

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:20.360
 isn't it?

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.120
 If you're going to

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.120
 call the garbage man

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.920
 climb out of the bin,

00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:26.540
 if you really want

00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:27.340
 God to intervene,

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.320
 if you really want

00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.019
 God to rip out

00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:29.759
 all the weeds

00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.680
 and root out

00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.180
 all evil,

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.700
 where does that

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.180
 leave you?

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.759
 What a mercy it is,

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:37.000
 isn't it,

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.820
 that God has not

00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:39.080
 separated the wheat

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:39.620
 from the weeds.

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:41.960
 He lets both

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.500
 grow together

00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.019
 until harvest.

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.879
 That is the kindness

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.800
 and the patience,

00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:45.639
 the perfect patience

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.060
 of God

00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:47.860
 towards us.

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:48.560
 God says

00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.100
 he doesn't wish

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:49.600
 that any would

00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:49.960
 perish.

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.080
 Peter says,

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:52.700
 the Lord isn't

00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.539
 slow to carry out

00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.120
 his promise,

00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:54.940
 as some count

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.360
 slowness,

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.240
 but he is patient

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:56.940
 towards you,

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.980
 not wishing that

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.500
 any should

00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:00.560
 perish,

00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:01.180
 but all come

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:01.620
 to repentance.

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:03.800
 He doesn't want

00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.440
 anyone lost.

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.379
 Those who are

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.539
 weeds today

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:12.580
 may be wheat

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.080
 tomorrow.

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:13.780
 that's what

00:15:13.780 --> 00:15:14.580
 Augustine said.

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:16.960
 And that was

00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:17.800
 Augustine's story.

00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:20.980
 If you know

00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.759
 anything about him,

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.600
 Augustine certainly

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.520
 knew how to

00:15:23.520 --> 00:15:24.340
 sow wild oats,

00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:25.440
 and he was a

00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:26.180
 young man who

00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:26.960
 lived a very

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.460
 wild,

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.040
 desolate life.

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.139
 But St.

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:32.160
 Augustine had a

00:15:32.160 --> 00:15:32.780
 godly mum,

00:15:32.900 --> 00:15:33.139
 Monica,

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:33.860
 who prayed for him.

00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.360
 And he was

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.300
 wonderfully converted

00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:38.000
 in 386 AD.

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.740
 Converted to

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:42.000
 Christ in 386

00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.340
 AD.

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.360
 But what if

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.080
 Jesus had come

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:46.100
 back in 385

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.379
 AD?

00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.740
 What would

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.179
 have become of

00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.600
 him then?

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.980
 What about you?

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:53.659
 How many of you

00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.059
 have become

00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:54.639
 Christians in

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.259
 the last 20

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.980
 or 30 years,

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.600
 or the last 10

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.179
 years, or the

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.419
 last year, or

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.080
 the last few

00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.059
 months, or the

00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:02.360
 last few

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:02.659
 minutes?

00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:05.759
 What if Jesus

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.240
 had come back

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:06.860
 before then?

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.820
 I think that I

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.039
 became a Christian

00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.059
 in July 1993.

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:14.779
 I'm a bit

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.159
 unsure.

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.080
 It's a complicated

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.539
 story.

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.179
 But I think it

00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:20.320
 was July 1993.

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.460
 Not everyone

00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.240
 can give a date,

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:22.940
 neither do you

00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:23.539
 have to give a

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:23.740
 date.

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.080
 But what if

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.539
 Jesus had come

00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:27.960
 back in May

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.620
 1993?

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.200
 Or June

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:33.740
 1993?

00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.179
 I would have

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:34.600
 been eternally

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.940
 lost, because I

00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.659
 was weed amongst

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.279
 the wheat back

00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:37.539
 then.

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.899
 I came to

00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:40.320
 church three

00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:40.980
 times a Sunday,

00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:41.519
 but I didn't

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.019
 love the Lord

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.700
 Jesus Christ.

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:45.759
 And you

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.200
 must not

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:46.720
 assume that

00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.019
 you're a

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.519
 Christian tonight

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:47.940
 just because

00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:48.340
 you're sitting

00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:48.899
 in church.

00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.399
 Because the

00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:51.759
 wheat and

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.080
 the weeds,

00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:52.379
 they grow

00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:52.720
 together.

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.139
 The sons of

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.460
 the kingdom

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:55.980
 and the sons

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.440
 of the evil

00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:56.919
 one can be

00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.440
 sitting side

00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.500
 by side in

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.100
 the same row

00:16:59.100 --> 00:16:59.580
 in church,

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.039
 but don't

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:00.659
 despair because

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.279
 God is kind

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.720
 and God is

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.039
 patient.

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:02.820
 And he's

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.500
 slow to anger

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.279
 and he's

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:04.740
 swift to

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.319
 show mercy.

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.079
 And those

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.759
 who are weeds

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.099
 today may be

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:09.819
 wheat tomorrow.

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.059
 So let both

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.500
 grow together.

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:12.880
 Now let me

00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.460
 apply this.

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.619
 What he's

00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:18.079
 saying is

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:18.700
 where the wheat

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.359
 and the weeds

00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.099
 grow together,

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:23.839
 your roots as

00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.480
 a believer will

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.439
 be intertwined

00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:26.059
 with people

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.159
 whose roots

00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:27.819
 will be very

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.459
 different from

00:17:28.459 --> 00:17:28.699
 you.

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.059
 And that

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.599
 will be true

00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.639
 in your life.

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.279
 God has

00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.019
 placed you,

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.359
 it's not a

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:36.879
 mistake the

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:37.339
 family you were

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:37.859
 born into,

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.519
 it's not a

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.159
 mistake the

00:17:39.159 --> 00:17:39.740
 situation that

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.039
 you find

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.599
 yourself in.

00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:41.619
 God has

00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.399
 placed you in

00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:42.919
 his sovereign

00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:44.139
 providence into

00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:44.839
 the family you've

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.500
 been born into.

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.779
 He has put you

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.419
 into the career

00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:47.799
 that you're

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.179
 following.

00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:50.519
 He has placed

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.100
 you where you

00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:51.980
 are in his

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.740
 sovereignty with

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.220
 people and

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.160
 your roots are

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.400
 intertwined with

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:55.779
 people.

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:56.860
 And what Jesus

00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.860
 is saying is

00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:58.299
 this, don't

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.720
 pull up the

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.000
 roots.

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.120
 Let both grow

00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:02.779
 together until

00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.380
 the harvest.

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.400
 In other words,

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.060
 he is telling

00:18:07.060 --> 00:18:07.560
 you and I,

00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:09.120
 engage where

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.820
 you are

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:12.880
 with who

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:13.380
 God has

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:13.960
 planted you

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:14.220
 with.

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.460
 He has put

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.420
 you in your

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.320
 daily life.

00:18:23.320 --> 00:18:23.860
 And so don't

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.360
 rush off to

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:24.980
 some monastery

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:25.700
 or whatever the

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.220
 equivalent of

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.620
 that is,

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.360
 don't kind of

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.220
 rush into some

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:28.900
 holy huddle

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.539
 singing praise

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:29.980
 songs.

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.000
 God in his

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.660
 sovereignty has

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.900
 put you into

00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:34.820
 your family and

00:18:34.820 --> 00:18:35.480
 so stay there,

00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.400
 engage with those

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:36.680
 people.

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.860
 You are probably

00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:40.880
 the only Christian

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.740
 in your workplace,

00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:42.480
 in your school,

00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.180
 and stay there

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:43.600
 where God has

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.019
 placed you.

00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:46.360
 And your roots are

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:47.039
 intertwined with

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.639
 those people and

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:48.480
 not how God

00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.139
 has designed it

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:49.420
 to be.

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.079
 Don't pull up

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.460
 the roots,

00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:51.180
 flourish where

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.759
 God has placed

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:51.960
 you.

00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.240
 Remember those

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.740
 who are weeds

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:57.039
 today, maybe

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.659
 weak tomorrow,

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.559
 and remember

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.240
 this, that the

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.799
 mission of the

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:03.240
 church is sowing

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.940
 seed, not

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.720
 pulling weeds.

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.779
 Do you hear

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.019
 that?

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.319
 We've got a big

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.759
 enough challenge,

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.039
 haven't we?

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.039
 I've got a big

00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.440
 enough challenge

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:11.899
 trying to deal

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.379
 with the sin in

00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.019
 my own heart,

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.399
 in my own

00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:13.740
 family.

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:16.779
 It's not in

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.299
 our power,

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:17.920
 it is not in

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.799
 our calling to

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:20.099
 root out in

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.839
 the world.

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.180
 Root it out

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:22.620
 in the world.

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.099
 That is the

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.660
 calling of Christ,

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.339
 he will do it

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.779
 in the great

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.079
 judgment.

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.539
 You know what

00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.099
 Paul says to

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.680
 the Corinthians,

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.660
 in 1 Corinthians

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:33.220
 chapter 4,

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.880
 what have I to

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.460
 do with judging

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.059
 outsiders?

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.980
 That's not my

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.420
 business.

00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:38.480
 It's those

00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.440
 inside the

00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:39.920
 church that we

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.319
 are to judge.

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.359
 God judges

00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:42.319
 those outside,

00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.519
 so stop judging

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.359
 those outside.

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.119
 There's a lot

00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:45.619
 of that about,

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.059
 isn't there?

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.259
 Don't pull up

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.839
 the weeds,

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.319
 sow the seed.

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.440
 I think it's

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.180
 an issue,

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:56.420
 isn't it,

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:56.740
 for churches

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.379
 like us,

00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.160
 that we can

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.720
 become really

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.680
 issues driven.

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.859
 We have a

00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.160
 voice,

00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.180
 we're entitled

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:09.059
 to make that

00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.700
 Christian voice

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.160
 heard,

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.920
 to proclaim

00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.859
 Christ publicly,

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:16.019
 to stand up

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.339
 for those

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:16.660
 who are most

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:16.980
 vulnerable.

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:19.960
 We're entitled

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.019
 to make our

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.619
 voice heard to

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:21.980
 the government,

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.339
 to make our

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.119
 views known.

00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.000
 There is a

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.799
 place for that.

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.200
 But I find it

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.759
 far easier to

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.480
 sign a petition

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:33.160
 than a petition

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.579
 on the throne

00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.079
 of grace.

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.460
 And our

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.940
 calling is not

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.379
 to pull up

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:38.920
 weeds,

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.960
 leave that to

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.400
 Jesus on

00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:40.920
 judgment day.

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.380
 our job,

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.240
 our calling

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.740
 is to plant

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.360
 and sow

00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:44.740
 the seed

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.320
 amongst people

00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:47.560
 who we've

00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:47.920
 been placed

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.140
 with.

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.860
 So this is

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:51.340
 the present

00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:51.740
 reality,

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.440
 sowing and

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:52.720
 growing,

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.340
 but thank

00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:54.779
 God there's

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.259
 no mowing.

00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.440
 Sowing and

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.600
 growing,

00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:57.900
 but no

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.140
 mowing.

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.519
 The kingdom

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:00.960
 is coming,

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.860
 and it is

00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:03.120
 coming,

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.720
 and the seeds

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.220
 of the sons

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.660
 of the kingdom

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.279
 are springing

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.019
 up through

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.400
 the preaching

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:06.960
 of the gospel.

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:07.920
 The kingdom

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.660
 is coming,

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:10.340
 and judgment

00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:10.920
 is delaying.

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.300
 That brings me

00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:12.700
 to my second

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:12.920
 point,

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.360
 which is the

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.040
 future certainty,

00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:14.779
 for judgment

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.420
 is certainly

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:15.720
 coming.

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.279
 And that's

00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:18.600
 why Jesus

00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.060
 takes us

00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:19.279
 in his

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.620
 explanation

00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:20.019
 of the

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.220
 parable

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:20.500
 in verses

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.100
 36 to

00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:21.540
 43,

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.060
 to the end

00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:22.500
 of the world

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.900
 of the day

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.320
 of judgment,

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.060
 and he sets

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:24.779
 himself up

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.600
 as the final

00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:26.460
 arbiter of

00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.080
 human destiny.

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:28.840
 And make

00:21:28.840 --> 00:21:29.460
 no mistake,

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.600
 this day is

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:30.900
 coming,

00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:31.440
 and it is

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.040
 only a

00:21:32.040 --> 00:21:32.460
 heartbeat

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:32.980
 away.

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:35.660
 C.S.

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.380
 Lewis describes

00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:36.779
 it in one

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.540
 of his broadcast

00:21:37.540 --> 00:21:38.120
 talks.

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.599
 He says

00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:38.819
 this,

00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:39.259
 I wonder

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:39.739
 whether people

00:21:39.739 --> 00:21:40.219
 who ask

00:21:40.219 --> 00:21:40.859
 God to

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.399
 interfere

00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:42.239
 openly and

00:21:42.239 --> 00:21:42.899
 directly in

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.379
 our world

00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.239
 quite realise

00:21:44.239 --> 00:21:44.559
 what it

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:44.699
 will be

00:21:44.699 --> 00:21:45.000
 like when

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.339
 he does.

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.879
 When that

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.159
 happens,

00:21:47.239 --> 00:21:47.599
 it is the

00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:47.899
 end of the

00:21:47.899 --> 00:21:48.159
 world.

00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:49.719
 When the

00:21:49.719 --> 00:21:50.319
 author walks

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.659
 onto the

00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:50.899
 stage,

00:21:50.979 --> 00:21:51.219
 the play

00:21:51.219 --> 00:21:51.639
 is over,

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.219
 and God

00:21:52.219 --> 00:21:52.719
 is going

00:21:52.719 --> 00:21:53.319
 to invade,

00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:53.759
 all right?

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:58.699
 He will

00:21:58.699 --> 00:21:59.519
 strike either

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.159
 irresistible

00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:00.739
 love or

00:22:00.739 --> 00:22:01.359
 irresistible

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.079
 horror into

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.779
 every creature,

00:22:02.939 --> 00:22:03.239
 and it will

00:22:03.239 --> 00:22:03.779
 be too late

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.079
 then to

00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.439
 choose your

00:22:04.439 --> 00:22:04.779
 side.

00:22:05.979 --> 00:22:06.439
 That will

00:22:06.439 --> 00:22:06.819
 not be the

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.139
 time for

00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.379
 choosing.

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.079
 It will

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.319
 be the

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.659
 time when

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.139
 we discover

00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.599
 which side

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.039
 we've really

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.399
 chosen,

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:11.859
 whether we

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.399
 realised it

00:22:12.399 --> 00:22:12.799
 before or

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.099
 not.

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.459
 Now today,

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.139
 this moment,

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.559
 is our chance

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.079
 to choose the

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.479
 right side.

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:17.719
 You see,

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.000
 there's an

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.579
 urgency about

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:18.779
 this,

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.139
 isn't there?

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.659
 There's a

00:22:21.659 --> 00:22:22.279
 future division

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.699
 of the human

00:22:22.699 --> 00:22:23.099
 race,

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.859
 and Jesus

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.699
 is the

00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:25.019
 one who

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.299
 is going

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.879
 to judge.

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.119
 You will

00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.539
 not be

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:29.299
 judging

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.099
 Jesus on

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.599
 that day.

00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:32.959
 people

00:22:32.959 --> 00:22:33.219
 people often

00:22:33.219 --> 00:22:33.919
 say stupid

00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:34.399
 things to

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:34.519
 me.

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.199
 They say,

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.199
 I've got a

00:22:36.199 --> 00:22:36.639
 bone to

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.019
 pick with

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.539
 your God.

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.259
 I've got

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.839
 some questions

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.299
 I'd like to

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:42.839
 ask him.

00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:45.839
 Do you

00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.099
 think that

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.399
 you're going

00:22:46.399 --> 00:22:46.619
 to be

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:46.919
 judging

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.319
 Jesus?

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.000
 No one

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.679
 is going

00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:48.879
 to be

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.099
 judging

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.500
 Jesus

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.000
 on that

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.279
 day.

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.379
 The

00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:52.659
 Son of

00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:52.899
 Man,

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.619
 that favourite

00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.459
 self-designation,

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.439
 verses 41

00:22:55.439 --> 00:22:56.359
 to 43.

00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:58.259
 The

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.500
 Son of

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:58.759
 Man will

00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.159
 send his

00:22:59.159 --> 00:22:59.539
 angels,

00:22:59.639 --> 00:22:59.839
 they will

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.299
 gather out

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:00.500
 of his

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:00.979
 kingdom all

00:23:00.979 --> 00:23:01.619
 causes of

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:01.979
 sin and

00:23:01.979 --> 00:23:02.699
 lawbreakers and

00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:03.039
 throw them

00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.299
 into the

00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:03.939
 fiery furnace.

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:04.779
 In that

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.179
 place,

00:23:06.959 --> 00:23:07.279
 there will

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:07.879
 be weeping

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.519
 and gnashing

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.159
 of teeth.

00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:10.779
 And then

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.179
 the righteous

00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:11.699
 will shine

00:23:11.699 --> 00:23:12.019
 like the

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.359
 sun in

00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:12.659
 the kingdom

00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:12.979
 of their

00:23:12.979 --> 00:23:13.379
 father.

00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.079
 He who

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.819
 has ears,

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.279
 let him

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.559
 hear.

00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:15.779
 It's

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.059
 pretty

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.519
 graphic,

00:23:16.699 --> 00:23:16.839
 isn't

00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.039
 it?

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.119
 Jesus

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.599
 doesn't

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.039
 mince his

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.519
 words.

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:21.859
 It is

00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.279
 terrifying.

00:23:22.439 --> 00:23:22.779
 This is

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.139
 gentle

00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:23.519
 Jesus,

00:23:23.679 --> 00:23:23.979
 meek and

00:23:23.979 --> 00:23:24.339
 mild.

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:26.139
 The

00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.559
 wheat and

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:26.699
 the

00:23:26.699 --> 00:23:27.079
 weed will

00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.720
 be eternally

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.379
 separated,

00:23:28.679 --> 00:23:29.119
 the harvest

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:29.659
 will come,

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.240
 the wheat will

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.619
 be gathered

00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.220
 into God's

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.579
 barn,

00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.279
 and the

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.639
 weeds will

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.059
 be burnt

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.339
 up.

00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:35.259
 I know

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.720
 it's picture

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.079
 language,

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:36.480
 I'm prepared

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.000
 to concede

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.359
 that.

00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:39.000
 It's

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.259
 picture

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.799
 language,

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.039
 but the

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.619
 reality is

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.279
 more sobering

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.539
 than the

00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:42.839
 picture.

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.819
 And there

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.039
 is a

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.299
 massive

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.679
 warning,

00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:46.919
 isn't

00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.059
 there,

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.379
 for you

00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:47.740
 and I

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.119
 here,

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.599
 that hell

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:48.899
 is a

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.339
 reality.

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.519
 And no

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.000
 one had

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.599
 more to

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.039
 say about

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.459
 hell than

00:23:53.459 --> 00:23:53.740
 the Lord

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.019
 Jesus.

00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:56.419
 No one

00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.019
 spoke more

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.819
 frequently about

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.279
 hell than

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.699
 Jesus.

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:00.839
 And listen

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.220
 to what he

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.619
 says,

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.059
 there will

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.779
 be weeping

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.339
 and gnashing

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:03.899
 of teeth.

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:04.679
 That is,

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.179
 hell is a

00:24:05.179 --> 00:24:05.699
 place of

00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.279
 eternal,

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.579
 everlasting

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.419
 regret,

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.879
 but no

00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.299
 repentance.

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.779
 Eyes

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.379
 opened,

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.399
 but hearts

00:24:14.399 --> 00:24:15.379
 not softened.

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.859
 Reaping

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.480
 and gnashing

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.099
 of teeth,

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:20.359
 permanent

00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:22.199
 and unrelenting.

00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:24.399
 Anger

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.399
 and frustration

00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:26.639
 against God,

00:24:26.699 --> 00:24:27.079
 that is

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.500
 hell.

00:24:29.199 --> 00:24:29.699
 And Jesus

00:24:29.699 --> 00:24:30.319
 doesn't say

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:30.759
 this tonight

00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.299
 to frighten

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.539
 you.

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.019
 He says

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.339
 it because

00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:34.599
 it is

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.059
 true.

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.219
 Jesus

00:24:40.219 --> 00:24:40.759
 doesn't say

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:40.979
 it to

00:24:40.979 --> 00:24:41.279
 frighten

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.459
 you.

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:42.859
 He's not

00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.240
 trying to

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.019
 scare people

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:44.379
 into the

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:44.639
 kingdom,

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:44.979
 that is

00:24:44.979 --> 00:24:45.279
 not how

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.539
 Jesus

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.139
 operates

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.359
 it.

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.579
 He

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:47.799
 doesn't

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.059
 say it

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.479
 to frighten

00:24:48.479 --> 00:24:48.639
 you,

00:24:48.699 --> 00:24:49.000
 he says

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.259
 it to

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.539
 warn

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:49.799
 you.

00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:51.619
 And

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:51.819
 he's

00:24:51.819 --> 00:24:52.099
 looking

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.539
 for a

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.039
 response

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.839
 for us.

00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:55.179
 Verse 43,

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.559
 he who

00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.559
 has ears,

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.819
 let him

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.459
 hear.

00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:00.379
 Heed the

00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:00.679
 warning.

00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.819
 You've

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.099
 got a

00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.419
 pair of

00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:05.699
 ears,

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:06.619
 haven't

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:06.759
 you?

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.839
 Some

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.019
 of you

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.519
 are blessed

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:09.859
 with your

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.199
 ears.

00:25:11.479 --> 00:25:11.740
 Some

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.039
 of us

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.399
 have

00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.679
 considerable

00:25:13.679 --> 00:25:14.139
 ears.

00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:17.240
 There's

00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:17.919
 no mystery

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.240
 about

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.500
 becoming

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:18.679
 a

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:18.939
 Christian.

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.299
 You

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.419
 don't

00:25:21.419 --> 00:25:21.639
 have to

00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:21.779
 go to

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:21.899
 a

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.159
 secret

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.639
 ceremony.

00:25:23.179 --> 00:25:23.559
 You

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:23.799
 don't

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.179
 have to

00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:24.419
 come to

00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:24.559
 a

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:24.839
 special

00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.299
 place.

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.439
 You

00:25:26.439 --> 00:25:26.619
 have

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:26.740
 to

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.039
 listen.

00:25:28.959 --> 00:25:29.219
 You

00:25:29.219 --> 00:25:29.500
 have to

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:29.819
 listen to

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.219
 what Jesus

00:25:30.219 --> 00:25:30.759
 is saying

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.139
 to you

00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:31.500
 tonight.

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.759
 If you've

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.259
 got ears

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.639
 to hear,

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.059
 there is a

00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.359
 way to

00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.019
 escape hell

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.439
 tonight,

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.099
 and to

00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.619
 be bundled

00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.159
 together with

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.479
 those who

00:25:39.479 --> 00:25:40.199
 are Christ's

00:25:40.199 --> 00:25:40.579
 people.

00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:43.279
 And so

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.119
 take this

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.339
 tonight from

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.000
 Jesus as

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.720
 a challenge,

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.059
 not a

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.500
 conclusion.

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.440
 Take it as

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.099
 an invitation

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.819
 to life,

00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:51.160
 not a

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.880
 sentence of

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.259
 death.

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.019
 Two of

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.240
 the great

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.099
 leaders of

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.859
 the 19th

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.240
 century,

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.700
 the Christian

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.039
 leaders,

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.839
 were John

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.180
 Newton.

00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.039
 He wrote

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.900
 Amazing Grace.

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.180
 He's a

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.960
 converted slave

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.220
 trader.

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:03.759
 You can go

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.799
 to his

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.000
 church at

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.380
 Bank,

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.220
 right in

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.640
 the heart

00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:07.900
 of the

00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.200
 city.

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:09.880
 He was a

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.599
 converted slave

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:10.980
 trader, and

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.339
 one of his

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.200
 friends was

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.259
 William Wilberforce,

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.019
 a man who

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.759
 spearheaded in

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.400
 many ways the

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:15.980
 end of

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.960
 slavery.

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.500
 He was a

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.559
 social reformer,

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.019
 and Wilberforce

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.539
 and Newton

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.000
 were great

00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.420
 friends.

00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.259
 Wilberforce

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.700
 moved in

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.480
 high circles.

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.079
 He was a

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.500
 friend of

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:26.779
 the Prime

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.059
 Minister,

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.380
 William

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:27.740
 Pitt the

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.160
 Younger,

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.480
 and he

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:28.860
 invited

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.180
 William

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.519
 Pitt the

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.740
 Younger

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.019
 to go

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.240
 and hear

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.500
 John

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:30.720
 Newton

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.220
 preach.

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.400
 William

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:33.640
 Pitt the

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:33.839
 Younger

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.039
 became

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.279
 Prime

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.480
 Minister

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.620
 at

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.099
 24.

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.319
 He

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.579
 was a

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:35.799
 brilliant

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.120
 man,

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:36.360
 one of

00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:36.539
 the most

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:36.839
 famous

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.079
 Prime

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.360
 Ministers.

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.440
 William

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:40.120
 Wilberforce

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.640
 invited him

00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.019
 to church,

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.039
 and Pitt

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.559
 said,

00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.660
 after he'd

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.039
 been there,

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.519
 my dear

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:45.180
 Wilberforce,

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.159
 what was he so

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.839
 excited about

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.200
 today?

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.000
 I don't think I

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.680
 grasped it.

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.940
 Pitt was one of

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.539
 the most brilliant

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:56.960
 minds in

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.220
 England,

00:26:57.220 --> 00:27:00.660
 listening to

00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:00.920
 one of the

00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.519
 most eloquent

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.559
 preachers of

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:02.960
 grace,

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.440
 the man who

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:03.980
 wrote Amazing

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.400
 Grace,

00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.579
 and yet he

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.259
 heard it,

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:06.740
 but he

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.180
 didn't hear

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.380
 it.

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.539
 He didn't

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.200
 have ears

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:10.700
 to hear.

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.759
 And I

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.200
 think tonight

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:14.860
 he's regretting

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.100
 that,

00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:15.519
 don't you?

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.900
 I think he

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.319
 will regret

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.980
 that to all

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.420
 eternity.

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.279
 He

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.960
 heard the

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.319
 gospel,

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:22.759
 but he

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.319
 didn't hear

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:23.579
 it.

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.799
 Hearing it,

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.319
 but didn't

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.039
 understand it.

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:29.100
 And what

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.440
 about you?

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:29.740
 Do you

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.660
 see yourself

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.039
 in this

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.259
 parable?

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:31.660
 What are

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:31.799
 the

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.279
 parables?

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.200
 Earthly

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.860
 stories of

00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.220
 the heavenly

00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.620
 meaning,

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.660
 it's not a

00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.380
 great diagnosis,

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.120
 it's not a

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.700
 great definition.

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.740
 A better

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.460
 definition that

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:41.880
 somebody has

00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:42.059
 said,

00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:42.500
 they are like

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.259
 hand grenades,

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.019
 they're like

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.940
 time bombs,

00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:47.759
 that Jesus

00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.839
 throws and

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.360
 then they go

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:49.900
 off and they

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.620
 explode at the

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.220
 right time,

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.100
 and Jesus

00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:53.940
 throws these

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.900
 stories alongside

00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.839
 us, which is

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.160
 the word

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:56.700
 literally what

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.080
 a parable

00:27:57.080 --> 00:27:57.560
 means to

00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:57.940
 be alongside

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.440
 us.

00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.500
 And he

00:27:59.500 --> 00:27:59.840
 gives you

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.279
 this parable

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.640
 not to

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.360
 destroy you,

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:01.700
 but to

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.160
 save you.

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.820
 And so do

00:28:05.820 --> 00:28:06.040
 you see

00:28:06.040 --> 00:28:06.540
 yourself in

00:28:06.540 --> 00:28:06.960
 the story,

00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:07.420
 a simple

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:07.820
 story?

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.259
 Can you see

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.720
 yourself here?

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.200
 Are you a

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.640
 member of the

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.279
 royal family,

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.060
 a son of

00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:11.440
 the king,

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.220
 or are you a

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.640
 son of the

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.320
 evil one,

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.920
 a member of

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.400
 the devil's

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:15.700
 family?

00:28:17.320 --> 00:28:18.000
 Which family

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.440
 do you belong

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:18.680
 to?

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:20.880
 At harvest

00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.380
 time, Jesus

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:23.299
 says, I

00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.960
 will tell

00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.860
 the reapers,

00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.060
 gather the

00:28:27.060 --> 00:28:27.900
 wheat first,

00:28:29.060 --> 00:28:30.180
 gather the

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:30.960
 wheat first.

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:38.779
 Gather the

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.400
 wheat first

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:39.779
 together,

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.740
 and throw

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.240
 the weeds

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.600
 into the

00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:42.880
 fire.

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.820
 They'll be

00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.360
 bundled up

00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:47.759
 together.

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.079
 Which bundle

00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:49.539
 are you in?

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.819
 On that

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.259
 great and

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.019
 terrifying day,

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.399
 will you be

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:53.799
 found in the

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.219
 bundle of

00:28:54.219 --> 00:28:54.939
 life, bundled

00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:55.500
 together with

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:55.939
 those from

00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.619
 Christ's eyes?

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.059
 Will you be

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.019
 among the

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.579
 righteous who

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:58.959
 will shine

00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.299
 like the

00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.559
 sun?

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:01.679
 Do you

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:01.899
 know where

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.179
 you'll be

00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:02.419
 in that

00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:02.719
 day?

00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:05.659
 And if

00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:06.199
 you're unsure

00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:06.619
 tonight,

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.179
 please make

00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:07.799
 sure tonight.

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.159
 Jesus is

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:11.859
 saying to you

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.259
 tonight through

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:12.599
 the preaching

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:13.339
 of his word,

00:29:13.719 --> 00:29:14.139
 turn to

00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:15.179
 me, cry

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:15.619
 to me,

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:17.859
 trust me

00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.739
 to save

00:29:18.739 --> 00:29:19.299
 you and I

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.779
 will rescue

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.079
 you.

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.659
 I will

00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:22.159
 rescue you

00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:22.419
 from the

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:22.759
 wrath to

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:22.979
 come.

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.219
 John

00:29:26.219 --> 00:29:27.379
 Wesley was

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.699
 the founder

00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.399
 of Methodism.

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:29.979
 He famously

00:29:29.979 --> 00:29:30.659
 said, the

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:31.279
 world is my

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.719
 parish.

00:29:32.719 --> 00:29:33.519
 He averaged

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.599
 15 sermons a

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:34.819
 week.

00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:35.379
 I can just

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:35.899
 about manage

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.519
 one decent

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:36.799
 one.

00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.779
 He reached

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.379
 right up into

00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.379
 his 80s.

00:29:40.459 --> 00:29:40.879
 He preached

00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.799
 40,000

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.379
 sermons.

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:42.959
 He travelled

00:29:42.959 --> 00:29:43.339
 more than

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.779
 250,000 miles

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.539
 on horseback

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.279
 even into

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.059
 his 80s.

00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.420
 During an

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:48.920
 age when

00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.680
 the roads

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:49.980
 were just

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.639
 muddy tracks,

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.279
 no tarmac,

00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:51.740
 he was an

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.220
 incredibly

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.200
 organised guy.

00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.579
 He meticulously

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.420
 kept a diary

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:56.279
 and this is

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.799
 his entry

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.079
 for the

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.759
 28th of

00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.779
 May 1742.

00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:00.759
 We came

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.500
 to Newcastle,

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.500
 Newcastle-pontine,

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.619
 about six o'clock

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.139
 and after a

00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:04.980
 short refreshment

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.599
 walked into

00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.000
 the town.

00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:06.839
 I was surprised.

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.139
 So much

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.759
 drunkenness,

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.539
 cursing and

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.000
 swearing,

00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:10.639
 even from the

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.019
 mouths of

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.559
 little children.

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:13.339
 Do I

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:13.659
 never

00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.200
 remember to

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.579
 have seen

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:14.879
 and heard

00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.339
 before?

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:15.779
 It's a

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.200
 small

00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.859
 compass of

00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.179
 time.

00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:17.839
 Surely

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.419
 this place

00:30:18.419 --> 00:30:19.059
 is ripe.

00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.500
 Ripe for

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.779
 what?

00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:24.740
 What would

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.039
 you say?

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.359
 How would

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.759
 you finish

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.279
 that sentence?

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:28.599
 Our

00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:28.960
 natural

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.579
 reaction

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.859
 would be

00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:31.259
 to complete

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.839
 the sentence

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.579
 well with

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:32.940
 something like

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.220
 this.

00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:33.899
 It's ripe

00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.359
 for hell.

00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:36.359
 Surely

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:36.819
 this place

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.159
 is ripe

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.679
 for judgment

00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:38.319
 but Wesley

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:38.819
 saw things

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.240
 differently

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.519
 and this

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:39.679
 is what

00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:40.059
 he wrote.

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.220
 surely

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.779
 this place

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.579
 is ripe

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:44.039
 for him

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.659
 who came

00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:45.079
 not to

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.460
 call the

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:45.779
 righteous

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:47.599
 but sinners

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.119
 to repentance.

00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:49.899
 That's it,

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.200
 isn't it?

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.399
 This is what

00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:52.839
 this parable

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.480
 teaches us.

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.819
 As you look

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.279
 at the world

00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.019
 around us,

00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.480
 how do you

00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:58.779
 see it?

00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.279
 Do you see it

00:30:59.279 --> 00:30:59.659
 being ripe

00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.159
 for judgment?

00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:02.299
 Finger wagging,

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:02.960
 pulling up the

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.419
 weeds,

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.519
 pharisaical

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:04.960
 Christians,

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:06.740
 ripe for

00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.000
 judgment,

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.619
 almost gloating

00:31:07.619 --> 00:31:08.139
 over it.

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.539
 All right

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:10.940
 for Jesus.

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.659
 Let's pray.

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.119
 Lord Jesus,

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.460
 when you

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:17.819
 saw the

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.259
 crowds

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:18.799
 and the

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.299
 multitudes,

00:31:20.179 --> 00:31:22.099
 you had

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.579
 compassion

00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.159
 on them.

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.179
 You

00:31:25.179 --> 00:31:25.659
 wept

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.000
 over

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.440
 Jerusalem.

00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:28.839
 You

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.339
 pleaded

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:29.639
 with them

00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:30.079
 to repent.

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.480
 You

00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:32.879
 came

00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.419
 not to

00:31:33.419 --> 00:31:33.819
 condemn

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.240
 but to

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.539
 save.

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.679
 Scripture

00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:37.480
 even tells

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.940
 us that

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.599
 judgment

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.139
 is your

00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:39.879
 strange

00:31:39.879 --> 00:31:40.359
 work.

00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:43.859
 And so

00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:44.059
 Heavenly

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.259
 Father,

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.019
 we ask

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.439
 that you

00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:45.939
 would give

00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:46.500
 to us

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:48.339
 the heart

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:48.599
 of the

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:49.039
 Lord Jesus

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:49.919
 for this

00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:50.199
 city,

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.980
 for this

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.459
 area,

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.319
 for this

00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:54.599
 family.

00:31:56.919 --> 00:31:57.599
 We ask

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:57.779
 Heavenly

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.159
 Father that

00:31:58.159 --> 00:31:58.439
 you would

00:31:58.439 --> 00:31:59.019
 be gracious

00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.480
 to us

00:31:59.480 --> 00:31:59.779
 tonight.

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.519
 You

00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.139
 would melt

00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:04.579
 our icy

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.059
 hearts.

00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:06.839
 You

00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.379
 would soften

00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.000
 the stony

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.559
 heart here.

00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:10.099
 and you

00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:10.399
 would give

00:32:10.399 --> 00:32:10.619
 to us

00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:10.839
 the heart

00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.279
 of flesh

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.679
 by your

00:32:11.679 --> 00:32:12.000
 Spirit.

00:32:13.199 --> 00:32:13.619
 We pray

00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:13.959
 in Jesus'

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.240
 name.

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.059
 Amen.

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.199
 Amen.