WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:07.020 Good morning everyone. My name is Alistair, I'm on the staff here and I just want to add my welcome to Paul's. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:11.300 It is great to see you this morning. That was a difficult passage to read, wasn't it? 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:17.859 Maybe there were bits of it which made us feel a little bit uncomfortable, a bit of it maybe a bit confused. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:23.900 So let's ask for God's strength and wisdom as we turn to this passage. Let's pray together. 00:00:23.899 --> 00:00:31.839 Loving God and Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for every part of your word, for all that it has to teach us. 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:43.119 And we pray that this morning as we look at this passage that Alistair read to us, Lord, we pray that you would help us understand it and that we would glorify you as we put it into our lives. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:46.099 In Jesus' name we pray these things. Amen. 00:00:48.939 --> 00:00:53.079 Decisions are part of our everyday life, aren't they? 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:58.039 So you make decisions every single day. But I think there are two different kinds of decisions. 00:00:58.659 --> 00:01:04.819 So you have the decisions which aren't really important, and then you have decisions which are really, really important. 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:12.500 So for example, decisions that aren't very important. They have no significance for your life, no consequences of your life. 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:16.099 So what you had for breakfast this morning, pretty insignificant. 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:20.359 When someone asks you, do you want tea or coffee, pretty insignificant. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:25.859 When you came into church this morning, depending on who you are, and you looked at the biscuit plate, 00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:28.819 and you chose which biscuit to have, that's a pretty insignificant decision. 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:31.159 It has no bearing on your life. 00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:36.980 But then you have decisions which hold huge bearings and ramifications for your life. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:39.799 Some decisions leave you at a crossroad. 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:45.759 If you go one way, it will change your life again. 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:46.799 Two different ways. 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:50.959 And decisions like this demand a radical response. 00:01:53.039 --> 00:02:00.200 So for example, many of you will know that my wife Sabina works with the refugee and asylum-seeking community here in Edinburgh. 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:06.520 And many of the stories that these wonderful people have to tell you will bring you to tears. 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:12.340 Many of them have stood at this crossroad and they've made a very difficult decision. 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:16.120 Do they flee their own country? 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:23.199 Do they risk their lives on sea and land? 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:29.839 Or do they stay in their country and face war and face terrible danger, both for themselves and their families? 00:02:31.019 --> 00:02:35.899 Now both of these decisions has a consequence, a huge consequence on their life. 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:37.500 And it's not an easy decision to make. 00:02:38.519 --> 00:02:40.439 Many of them have stood at this crossroad. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:43.679 And they've made a decision which has affected the rest of their lives. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.419 Their situation required a radical response. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.839 Now I would like to say this morning that each of us stands at this crossroad. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:59.839 And Jesus this morning is presenting us with a question which requires a radical response from each of us. 00:02:59.899 --> 00:03:01.879 It requires a radical decision. 00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:05.459 And our decision is of the utmost importance. 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:09.560 And the question that Jesus is asking us this morning is, 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:10.560 Who are you serving? 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:14.839 Who is it that you revolve your life around? 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:16.899 Who are you serving? 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:23.659 That's the question that Jesus is asking his disciples and religious leaders of his day. 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:28.420 And that's the question that Jesus is asking us from Luke 16, verse 1 to 18. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:30.259 Who are you serving? 00:03:30.259 --> 00:03:34.039 But we need to remember that this passage has a context. 00:03:34.299 --> 00:03:36.340 So it is in Luke's gospel. 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:41.639 Luke's orderly account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:48.039 And more specifically, it is within a section which started in Luke chapter 13, verse 22. 00:03:48.459 --> 00:03:51.139 And will end at Luke chapter 17, verse 10. 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:57.279 And the big question running through this section, the big teaching point, is who will be in the kingdom of God? 00:03:58.459 --> 00:04:01.419 The kingdom of God is referring to the place we call heaven. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:03.679 So who will be in heaven? 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.899 What does it look like to be a follower of Jesus? 00:04:07.859 --> 00:04:12.779 And this morning Jesus emphasizes that point by asking the question, Who are you serving? 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:16.800 And Jesus gives two opposing options. 00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:19.079 So Jesus says, Who are you serving? 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:20.939 Are you serving God or money? 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:24.519 And then secondly Jesus says, Who are you serving? 00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:26.860 Are you serving Jesus or the law? 00:04:28.699 --> 00:04:31.259 Now, our answer to this question is not insignificant. 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:35.199 It is one of those decisions which has huge bearings on our life. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:37.399 Eternal bearings on our life. 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:41.099 So with that question in mind, Who are you serving? 00:04:41.219 --> 00:04:43.459 Let's dive in and see what Jesus has to say. 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:49.859 The first two options that Jesus gives are, Are you serving God or are you serving money? 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:52.719 Verses 1 to 13, God or money? 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.399 Now, if you look at Luke chapter 16, verse 1, you'll see that Jesus is speaking to the disciples. 00:05:00.239 --> 00:05:06.539 But verse 14 says that the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, were also within earshot of this conversation. 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:14.279 So Jesus is speaking to his followers and the religious leaders who are standing at a distance listening in. 00:05:15.239 --> 00:05:21.579 So the parable and the point that Jesus is going to make in this section this morning is a kind of a two-edged sword. 00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:27.979 He is warning his disciples that they need to decide who they're going to serve. 00:05:28.239 --> 00:05:30.179 Are you going to serve God or are you going to serve money? 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:36.079 And he's warning the Pharisees and rebuking them by saying, Well, who are you serving with your lives? 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:37.740 Are you serving God or are you serving money? 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:43.740 Now, as this parable was read to us, maybe you were a bit confused. 00:05:43.860 --> 00:05:45.740 I know I certainly was when I first read it. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:47.660 It seems a little bit strange. 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:54.300 But I think the main teaching point of what Jesus is saying is there in verse 13 of chapter 16. 00:05:55.200 --> 00:05:57.700 Jesus says you cannot serve two masters. 00:05:58.780 --> 00:06:01.160 You cannot serve both God and money. 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:06.480 And to illustrate this point, Jesus being the best storyteller that ever lived tells a story. 00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:11.379 There was a rich man who owned a lot of land and he hired a manager to look after it all. 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:18.959 To look after the business affairs, to collect in the profit, to secure the smooth running of his business. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:21.980 However, he didn't get a very good manager, did he? 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:27.360 See, in fact, this manager seems to be wasting his boss's possessions. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:30.759 Now, that's the same phrase that's used in the prodigal son. 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:32.659 So, it's not that the manager is being fraudulent. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:33.779 He isn't stealing money. 00:06:34.159 --> 00:06:35.680 He's simply just throwing it away. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:38.740 He's wasting his boss's money. 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:41.960 He's doing the exact opposite of what his job description is. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.720 And the worst thing is that he actually knows he's doing it. 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:48.879 You see that in verses 2 and 3. 00:06:49.780 --> 00:06:55.740 When the rich man brings in the manager and tells him of what he's heard and he fires him on the spot. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:59.920 The manager sits and hears all this and he doesn't even defend himself. 00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:01.420 He doesn't say anything. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:04.360 He stands there and says, yep, sure, definitely. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:12.900 Now, whenever you get told off for something by your boss at work, if you are innocent, you usually defend yourself, don't you? 00:07:14.460 --> 00:07:23.759 Or if you can remember back to the times when you were a child, when you'd always knew that if you were in trouble and your full name was used, man, it was going to be bad. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:31.279 So if I was upstairs in my bedroom and I heard my mom scream from downstairs, Alistair Scott Chalmers, get down here right now. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:32.399 Ouch. 00:07:33.599 --> 00:07:34.920 I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. 00:07:35.779 --> 00:07:38.199 And it was usually because somebody had broken something. 00:07:39.339 --> 00:07:40.860 And it was usually me, if I'm honest. 00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:44.699 But if it wasn't me, and I knew it wasn't me, I'd defend myself. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:48.780 And I'd usually throw one of my brothers under the bus in the process. 00:07:49.080 --> 00:07:51.420 But if I didn't do that, I would definitely defend myself. 00:07:51.520 --> 00:07:52.639 I would claim that I was innocent. 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:55.460 But this manager does nothing. 00:07:56.840 --> 00:07:58.520 He has a dilemma on his hands. 00:07:59.520 --> 00:08:00.540 He has no job. 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:04.460 And he thinks to himself, well, I'm too weak to do manual labor. 00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:06.620 I'm too ashamed to go and beg. 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:07.500 What do I do? 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:13.100 Well, he comes up with the idea that has rightly given him the name the dishonest manager. 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:19.240 He devises a deceitful plan to secure favor in people's eyes. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:22.639 So he calls in the people who owed the rich man money. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:29.259 Probably a backlog of unpaid rent for a field or for the use of some of his workers. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:33.159 Now, these are not small amounts that these guys owe. 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:42.860 The first guy that we read about, if you're reading the NIV, it will say that he owes the rich man 3,000 liters of olive oil. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:44.759 That is a huge debt. 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:51.519 That is approximately one year's produce of 150 fruitful olive trees. 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:58.519 Or in terms of money, that is approximately three years of wages for the average worker of that day. 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:00.139 This is a huge debt. 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:04.080 And the manager says, you know what, my friends, you take your bill. 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:08.620 You sit down quickly before my boss arrives and I will give you a 50% discount. 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:13.399 Now, the guy who has the debt is sitting there thinking, boom, great. 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:15.519 What a generous guy. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:17.000 So gracious, so forgiving. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.480 But we can sit here and know the full story and we know the ulterior motives are at play. 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:24.100 And so he carries on. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.740 He calls in the second person who has an even bigger debt. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:29.019 30 tons of wheat. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.180 A huge debt. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:35.080 Approximately a year's worth of harvest for 100 acres. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:43.039 Again, in terms of money, it's almost a whole decade of the average wage of a person in that day. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:49.980 And the manager says, you know what, you come in, you take your bill, you sit down and I'll give you a 20% discount. 00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:53.079 Unbelievable, isn't it? 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.599 How this man is just throwing away his boss's money. 00:09:56.679 --> 00:10:01.179 And we can see, can't we, why this man is now being known as the dishonest manager. 00:10:01.179 --> 00:10:08.279 But in verse 8, the rich man commends the manager because he has set himself up. 00:10:09.359 --> 00:10:12.339 He commends the manager because he was without a job. 00:10:12.439 --> 00:10:13.120 He had no money. 00:10:13.219 --> 00:10:14.519 He had no way to make a living. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.859 No way to look after himself. 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:18.179 But he was thinking ahead. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:20.399 He set himself up for the future. 00:10:20.579 --> 00:10:23.059 And that is why the rich man commends him. 00:10:24.339 --> 00:10:27.959 But it doesn't say that the rich man is happy with him, does it? 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:29.859 I mean, of course he isn't. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:32.039 He's just taken a whole bunch of his money. 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:39.960 Now you might be surprised that the rich man commends him, even though he just cheated him out of money. 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:44.480 And the reason this happened is because the point that Jesus is trying to make, 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:50.100 see Jesus is going to use this negative example of a man to teach us something positive. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:55.759 Jesus is not saying that we should be like this dishonest manager in every way. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:01.899 But he explains in verses 9 to 13 the application of this parable. 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.319 And I think there are two applications that Jesus draws out. 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:09.759 The first is that followers of Jesus should live for eternity. 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:14.960 So Jesus uses this negative story to teach a positive truth. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:19.800 Jesus says that like this manager, his followers are to think of the future. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:26.060 Like this manager, they are to think of the future and have their eternity in mind. 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:31.820 Jesus is not praising the manager for how he dealt with this situation. 00:11:31.820 --> 00:11:36.560 But he is using this negative example to teach us something positive. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.900 Yes, we live in the here and now. 00:11:39.040 --> 00:11:41.460 Yes, we live in Edinburgh in 2017. 00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:43.960 But we're to be thinking of the future. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.920 We're to be thinking of eternity. 00:11:48.140 --> 00:11:50.140 Yes, we need finances here and now. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.520 We need to look after ourselves. 00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:54.280 But God is saying, you were created for eternity. 00:11:54.280 --> 00:11:55.100 Remember that. 00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:57.040 And live in light of that. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:05.860 And Jesus is saying in verses 8 and 9 that we should be using our finances. 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:09.480 Specifically in light of eternity. 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:14.079 So Jesus says the people of this world, meaning people who are not his followers. 00:12:15.059 --> 00:12:18.399 They use their money in a shrewd way to get what they want. 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:20.039 To get what they want out of life. 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:23.939 And Jesus is saying that his followers should be using their money for eternity. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:30.160 Jesus' followers should be using their finances for the good of his kingdom. 00:12:31.060 --> 00:12:32.240 For the good of heaven. 00:12:34.020 --> 00:12:39.140 See, the people of this world use their money and they invest it in short-term interests. 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:40.880 Stuff that will affect them here and now. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:45.200 But followers of Jesus are to invest their money in the long-term interests. 00:12:45.640 --> 00:12:47.600 In fact, in eternal interests. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:54.220 Now this ties in very nicely with what Bruce was teaching us last Sunday night from James chapter 1 and 2. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:13:00.320 If you weren't here and you haven't heard that sermon, I would highly recommend that you go online and listen to it. 00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:10.279 And in his sermon, Bruce used a very powerful illustration of what it would look like to meet a person in heaven who we have helped. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.800 Because we've invested our money in eternity. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:19.959 How amazing would it be that if on that day when we arrive in heaven, someone comes up to us, wraps their arms around us, 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:25.240 and thanks us so much because we supported them in their greatest time of need. 00:13:26.099 --> 00:13:27.599 Now we've never met the person. 00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:33.319 But maybe you sent that bag of rice and a Bible to the family of a pastor who was in prison. 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:39.620 And this person is thanking you because you cared, because you invested your money in eternity. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:45.500 You used your money that God had given you to bless people and to bless the kingdom of heaven. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.340 And the second application that Jesus brings out is that we should be faithful. 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:53.379 So that we should live for eternity and that we should be faithful. 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:59.900 Jesus says that his followers should be faithful even in the little things, in something as small as our finances. 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:07.419 Because when we are faithful in the little things, it is evidence that we will be faithful in the bigger things. 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:11.340 William Hendrickson, a Bible commentator, says this, 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:19.199 If you have not been trustworthy in the use of material wealth, which after all is not really yours, but belongs to God, 00:14:20.459 --> 00:14:24.419 then who will trust you with the true heavenly riches which are your possessions, 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:29.220 namely the kingdom of God prepared for you from the foundation of the world? 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:36.019 Jesus is saying that his followers should be faithful in something as small as their finances. 00:14:36.579 --> 00:14:37.019 Why? 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.620 Because you cannot serve two masters. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.899 You cannot serve both God and money. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:48.059 See, money will leave you to live a comfortable life here on earth. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:53.759 Money will be taken up with your family, with friends, with houses, with material possessions, 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:58.360 all of which are great things and things that we need if they're kept in the right place. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:04.460 But Jesus says that one day all of that will vanish and we'll be left with nothing. 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:11.080 But if you serve God and you use your money accordingly, you'll be giving to your church. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:14.340 You'll be giving to missions as we were thinking about yesterday. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:18.120 You'll be helping the spread of the gospel financially. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:22.060 You'll be helping train gospel workers all over the world. 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:28.259 You'll be giving money to support Christians in starving countries and Christians who cannot read the Bible. 00:15:30.959 --> 00:15:33.679 If you do all of this, then we'll be serving God with our money. 00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:36.679 So let me ask us the question this morning. 00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:38.479 Who are you serving? 00:15:40.099 --> 00:15:45.319 One of the easiest ways to check this out is probably to look at our bank statements. 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:54.240 Is all of our money going on our mortgage, our car, food, entertainment, fun, books, whatever it may be. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.080 You put that in. 00:15:56.280 --> 00:15:57.640 None of these are bad things. 00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.520 They really aren't. 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:05.780 And Jesus isn't expecting us to give up everything, to become ascetics and refuse ourselves every kind of pleasure or entertainment. 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:10.959 But this should challenge us to think about how we use our money for world missions. 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:16.100 And how we support our brothers and sisters across the globe. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:22.539 If we are Christians, our desire should be to see the kingdom of God supported financially. 00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:25.879 To see more people hearing about Jesus. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.759 We should be supporting those organizations who are translating the Bible. 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:35.259 So that one day everyone can read the word of God in their own language. 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.639 That they can understand it. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:43.899 Do you know how many languages in the world don't have any form of Bible translation in their own language today? 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:51.600 Approximately 1,800 languages across the world have no access to the Bible. 00:16:53.019 --> 00:17:00.539 Or if you go on the Open Doors website, you'll see a list of 50 different countries in which Christians are persecuted. 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.799 And that isn't all of them. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.900 That's just the 50 that persecute Christians the worst. 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:08.400 And the question is, are we helping them? 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:14.259 That's what it would look like for us to invest our money in eternity. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.759 So who are we serving this morning? 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:24.140 The second two options that Jesus gives when he's asking the question, who are you serving? 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:27.359 Is are you serving Jesus or are you serving the law? 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:29.400 Verses 14 to 18. 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:31.160 Are you serving Jesus or the law? 00:17:32.360 --> 00:17:37.840 Now the law is referring to the Old Testament laws that were given specifically to the nation of Israel. 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:42.320 We read about these in Leviticus, a great Bible study to mention. 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:49.759 So they're laws about food, about clothing, the sacrificial system, and how Israel as a nation was supposed to live. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:55.799 And Jesus is asking specifically the Pharisees now, who are you serving? 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.839 Jesus, are you serving me or are you serving the law? 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:07.220 Now the Pharisees would have heard everything Jesus was just saying about how followers must serve God and not money. 00:18:08.159 --> 00:18:15.079 And he said that those people who want to be in heaven, who want to be in the presence of God forever, they need to serve God. 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:20.619 And notice how Luke sneaks in that little comment there in verse 14. 00:18:21.939 --> 00:18:26.659 In verse 14, Luke says, the Pharisees were lovers of money. 00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:30.919 And as a result of their love of money, they sneer at Jesus' teaching. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:33.860 Now these were the religious leaders of the day. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:39.580 They were supposed to be leading Israel and pointing them towards God. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:43.460 They were supposed to be helping people live a godly life. 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:47.500 They were to be godly examples of what it means to be right with God. 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:54.160 And when they hear Jesus say that it's either God or money, they lift their noses and they scoff. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:00.900 You know that look that the bad guy gives the good guy in the movie when he looks like he's just about to be defeated. 00:19:02.300 --> 00:19:08.660 Or maybe that look of complete unbelief you have when somebody says something which doesn't sit well with you. 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:13.500 Maybe they say something funny and you kind of scoff a wee bit at them. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:19.820 That is exactly what the Pharisees were doing simply because Jesus wasn't in their crowd. 00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:21.660 Jesus wasn't part of their gang. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:27.640 You see, they thought that they were the ones who upheld the law. 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:30.759 They thought that they were the holy ones. 00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:33.040 I mean, they dedicated their lives to God. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:35.279 They'd obeyed the law of God to the T. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:40.500 In fact, they had even created more laws to protect themselves from breaking God's law. 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:45.700 Now that might sound like a good thing on the surface, but it actually wasn't. 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.680 It made them become legalistic. 00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:52.400 See, they went through all the outward motions. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.140 They did what was right in the eyes of people. 00:19:55.500 --> 00:20:04.900 They thought they were so convinced of their own acceptability before God that they despised other people without any pangs of conscience. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:10.400 But do you see how Jesus pulls the rug from under their feet with five simple words? 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:13.060 But God knows your hearts. 00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.519 Ouch. 00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:19.700 These men were the religious elite. 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.519 Surely their hearts were in the right place. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:25.960 They were living the religious life. 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.960 They went to the synagogue. 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.539 They obeyed the food laws. 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.680 They rebuked those that didn't. 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:35.900 They didn't mingle with the sinners, with the tax collectors, with the Greeks. 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:37.180 They didn't do any of that. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:39.019 They stayed as far away from them as possible. 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:40.579 They looked good on the outside. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.500 And that was the problem. 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:46.099 They made sure they looked good on the outside. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.339 They justified themselves before people. 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.599 They looked the part and they made sure everybody saw it. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.319 But Jesus says, you can have all of that, but God knows your hearts. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:04.079 And the truth is that what people value in this world is detestable in God's sight. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:08.460 Now we can go to church every Sunday. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:11.859 We can listen well to the sermon. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.759 We can take notes. 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:14.579 We can sing wholeheartedly. 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:20.659 We can go through all of the outward motions, drop a few Bible verses into our conversations. 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.980 Because we know exactly what people want to hear. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:25.500 And we know exactly what people want to see us do. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:30.339 But at the end of the day, let me just say this, that God knows our hearts. 00:21:31.199 --> 00:21:33.740 Now I wish somebody would have told me this when I was younger. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:36.039 When I was growing up in the church. 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:44.519 I wish somebody would have shocked me up with the truth that all of my outward religion melts away. 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.839 And God sees my very core. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:52.139 That may be a truth that you need to hear this morning. 00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:55.579 That God sees your heart. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:59.839 Do not strive for the approval of humans, for the approval of man. 00:21:59.939 --> 00:22:02.639 But strive for the approval of God. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:05.180 Because God knows your heart. 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:06.220 Strive for Jesus. 00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:11.100 See, the Pharisees could impress people, but they couldn't impress God. 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:13.700 Because he saw them for who they were. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:16.880 Stiff and proud sinners, like everyone else. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:20.200 These men loved the law. 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:27.420 But they loved the law so much that it blinded them to the fact that the Son of God was standing right in front of them. 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:38.600 Jefferson Bethke, who has a very famous video on YouTube called Jesus versus religion, says this about religion. 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:43.240 The problem with religion is that it doesn't get to the core. 00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:48.720 Religion is just behavior modification like a long list of chores. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:53.680 Now the Pharisees were going through this long list of chores. 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:57.140 They were prisoners to their own traditions and prejudices. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:01.700 And all of this blinded them to the fact that Jesus was right in front of them. 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:05.880 That God's salvation was being offered to them through the person of Jesus. 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:10.420 The kingdom of God, the invitation to the kingdom of God was there. 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:12.980 But religion blinded them. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:17.640 The law and the prophets were proclaimed until John the Baptist. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:21.200 He was the last messenger of the Old Testament, the Old Covenant. 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:25.900 He was the last messenger who pointed forward to the coming of Jesus. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.160 But now Jesus has arrived. 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.740 Now things are going to be different, Jesus says. 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:34.300 Now the kingdom of God is going to be preached. 00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:38.400 See, the whole Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:45.280 Pointed forward to God's King who would come and end man's separation from God. 00:23:46.280 --> 00:23:50.060 But now that the King has arrived, now that Jesus is here, 00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:53.440 He's made it possible for us to be reconciled with God. 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:58.400 Now people are striving to enter through the narrow door. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:01.040 That's what Jesus is saying at the end of verse 16. 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:05.800 People are striving to enter into the kingdom of God, to enter into heaven, 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:09.700 through the window of salvation that Jesus has opened up to the world. 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:12.859 People are now striving to be followers of Jesus. 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:18.680 But this does not make the Old Testament irrelevant for us as Christians today. 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:24.759 Do you see in verse 17 how important the Old Testament was to Jesus? 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:43.859 Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but He came to fulfill it. 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:50.059 So many people think today that Christians should only be focusing on reading the New Testament. 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:53.439 That churches should only be preaching through the New Testament, 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:55.019 but I would say that is a mistake. 00:24:55.719 --> 00:24:57.899 We have so much to learn from the Old Testament. 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:03.119 B.B. Warfield, a great theologian, says this, 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:09.679 The Old Testament may be likened to a room richly furnished but dimly lit. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:14.479 The introduction of light brings into it nothing which was not in it before, 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:19.299 but it brings out into clearer view much of what is in it, 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:23.059 but was only dimly or not even perceived at all before. 00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.979 He goes on to say, 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:32.019 The Old Testament revelation of God is not corrected by the New Testament revelation of God, 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:37.120 but it is only perfected, extended, and enlarged. 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:41.519 Jesus isn't saying that the Old Testament is irrelevant. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:43.240 He isn't saying forget the Old Testament, 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:47.539 but He is making sure that the Pharisees know that He has come to build on it. 00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:52.579 The Old Testament is the bedrock, the foundation, the beginnings, 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:55.899 all pointing forward to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:26:00.699 And the Old Testament laws that you'll read about in Leviticus 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:03.339 were written specifically to the people of Israel. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:08.720 But now the new people that Jesus is gathering as His church 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:13.000 is no longer defined by political and ethnic unity. 00:26:13.199 --> 00:26:16.019 Rather, they are a people of all nations, 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:20.000 all ethnicities scattered among all political states, 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:22.259 not identified with any one of them, 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:25.960 but connected through Jesus Christ. 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:30.079 Therefore, the laws which dealt with Israel as a state 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:33.960 are no longer applied in the same way to the people of God 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:36.179 because we are no longer a political entity. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:39.379 Followers of Jesus aren't a nation. 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.359 We are passers-by. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:43.759 We are citizens of heaven 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:47.699 who are united unto the kingship of our Lord Jesus. 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:52.180 And therefore, we are to live different and distinct lives. 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:56.140 Lives marked by a striving for the kingdom of God. 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:59.460 Lives marked by the fact that once we were lost, 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.960 but now we are found. 00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:06.700 Lives marked by the cost of following Jesus Christ. 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:12.380 Now Jesus gives us an example of what this looks like in verse 18. 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:16.799 But at this point, let me just slow down. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:21.759 Let me just quickly say three things about this difficult topic 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:24.799 of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:27.460 First of all, I want to acknowledge 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:30.919 that this is not an easy topic for anyone to deal with. 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:35.319 Secondly, I want to make it clear 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:38.259 that this is not everything Jesus has to teach 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:40.440 on marriage, divorce, and remarriage in the Bible. 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:42.619 We could go to Matthew. 00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:44.379 We could go here to Luke. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.700 We could go to 1 Corinthians. 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:47.639 This is not all Jesus has to say. 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:50.740 And thirdly, I want us to remember 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:53.540 that what Jesus is saying here in verse 16-18 00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.680 has a context. 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.920 And that is important to understanding 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.840 why Jesus is saying this. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:01.060 So let's remember that context. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.680 Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:07.420 at this point for how they had misused the law. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:11.880 And specifically, he uses marriage, divorce, and remarriage 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:14.360 as an example of how they've misused the law. 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:17.500 You see, there were some Pharisees who taught 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:20.919 that divorce was only allowed under certain circumstances. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.740 But there were other Pharisees who taught 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:26.359 that even if your wife brought you burnt food, 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:28.339 that that was sufficient grounds for a divorce. 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:32.719 So Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees 00:28:32.719 --> 00:28:34.439 and the culture of their time 00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:38.119 for their casual view of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.179 Why? 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:42.559 Because God loves marriage. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:45.259 God wants marriage to succeed. 00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.899 He wants a husband and wife 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:50.519 to live together in a promised relationship. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:54.720 God doesn't like divorce because it hurts people. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:58.119 I don't need to explain this to you. 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:02.200 If you know someone who's divorced, 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.379 if you are divorced yourself, 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:06.619 if your parents are divorced, 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.700 you will know that nobody walks away 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:10.259 from a broken marriage pain-free. 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:15.279 Now, I don't want to tack this painful 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:17.700 and difficult subject onto the end of a sermon. 00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:20.940 I don't want to do a superficial 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:23.039 or a surface-level study of it 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.619 because that wouldn't be helpful at all. 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:28.859 I do want to say that if you have any questions 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:30.599 whatsoever on what Jesus teaches 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:32.079 about marriage, divorce, and remarriage, 00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.859 please come and speak to Graham, 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:36.259 myself, any of the elders after this service, 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:39.160 and we will happily tell you what Jesus has to say 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.000 in the rest of the Bible. 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.759 This is a sensitive topic, 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:44.799 and for me to cover it properly 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:47.200 and faithfully according to the Bible, 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:50.720 we need a lot more time than we have this morning. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.720 But I do want to say 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.599 that I believe Jesus does say 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.779 in certain circumstances 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:58.400 that divorce is allowed, 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:01.259 and that he also goes on to speak 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.980 about remarriage after divorce. 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:06.640 I don't want anyone walking away this morning 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:08.740 thinking that they have failed God 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:10.440 because of what this verse says. 00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:14.140 I don't want anyone walking away this morning 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:17.780 thinking that God is an unsympathetic God 00:30:17.780 --> 00:30:19.300 who doesn't understand your situation. 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:21.180 That is not true at all. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:25.960 Jesus is using marriage, divorce, and remarriage 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:28.560 as an example of how the Pharisees 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.600 were misusing the law. 00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:33.120 They weren't serving Jesus. 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:37.220 So let me ask us this morning, 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.060 who are we serving? 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.900 Are we serving the law? 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.820 Are we trying to work our way 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:45.120 into the kingdom of God? 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:48.039 Do you maybe have all the trimmings 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.400 of being a follower of Jesus, 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.680 but in your heart of hearts 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:52.880 you know that you're just a fan 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.340 who's standing off in the distance? 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.640 If this is you, 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.519 if you wouldn't say 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.960 that you're a Christian here this morning, 00:31:00.060 --> 00:31:01.200 let me remind you 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:03.200 that God sees your heart. 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.340 Let me remind you this morning 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:08.019 that no amount of good works, 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.940 no amount of moral living 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:12.640 will make you, 00:31:13.340 --> 00:31:14.940 will make God look on you with favor. 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:18.120 The church is not a place 00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:20.660 where good and moral people gather. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.460 on a Sunday morning. 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.460 But it is a community, 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.500 a family of people 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.259 who know their brokenness, 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:30.080 of people who understand their sin 00:31:30.080 --> 00:31:31.200 and how their wrongdoings 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.820 have separated them from God. 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:34.880 Church is a place 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.500 where we gather 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:37.400 to give thanks to our King Jesus 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.900 who has taken the punishment 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.620 for our sins 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:41.740 so that we can be reconciled with God. 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:43.740 The church is a broken 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:45.980 but restored people. 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.980 It is a community of people 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.000 who have gathered together 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.880 to serve Jesus. 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.859 So who are you serving this morning? 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:56.140 Are you serving Jesus? 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:58.800 Have you come to an understanding 00:31:58.800 --> 00:32:00.200 that only Jesus 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:02.140 can reconcile you with God? 00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:04.860 Have you been forgiven 00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:06.160 of your wrongdoings? 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.560 Then let's not do 00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:09.620 what the Pharisees did. 00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:12.120 Let's not turn our faith 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:13.540 into a set of rules 00:32:13.540 --> 00:32:15.440 that we impose on everyone. 00:32:16.020 --> 00:32:17.860 Let's not fall into the temptation 00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:19.920 of trying to repay God 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:21.540 for the free gift of salvation. 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:24.700 Instead, let us serve God 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.539 with thankful hearts 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:27.519 and an outrageous love 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.440 because of who He is 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.659 and what He's done for us. 00:32:31.659 --> 00:32:33.659 Let us spend our lives 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:35.220 living for the eternity 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.339 for which we were created. 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.960 Let us keep our eyes on Him 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:41.619 because Jesus is the perfect example 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:43.500 of what it means to serve. 00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:46.940 We'll be singing this song 00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.539 in a moment. 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.180 Do you think we can sing it 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:49.879 wholeheartedly? 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:52.200 See, this is our God, 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.780 the Servant King. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.920 He calls us now 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.860 to follow Him, 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:59.640 to bring our lives 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.880 as a daily offering 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:01.500 of worship 00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:02.700 to this Servant King. 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.280 And so let us learn 00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:06.160 how to serve 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.720 and in our lives 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.520 enthrone Him, 00:33:09.300 --> 00:33:10.240 each other's needs 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.900 to prefer 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:12.480 because it is Christ 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.780 that we are serving. 00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:17.280 So let me close this morning 00:33:17.280 --> 00:33:18.740 by asking you that question. 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.760 Who are you serving 00:33:20.760 --> 00:33:21.340 this morning? 00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:24.000 Are you serving God 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.040 or money? 00:33:25.820 --> 00:33:27.120 Are you serving Jesus 00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:28.500 or the law? 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.660 Who are you serving? 00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:34.040 Let's bow our heads. 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:38.879 I'd just like us 00:33:38.879 --> 00:33:40.200 to take a few moments 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.200 and ask ourselves 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.839 that question. 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.220 Who am I serving 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.799 this morning? 00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:47.279 Take a few moments 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.759 and I will pray. 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:48.839 Amen. 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:58.519 O loving God 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.279 and heavenly Father, 00:33:59.359 --> 00:33:59.859 we thank you 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.500 for your word. 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:02.539 And Lord, 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.019 we thank you 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.819 for this question 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.980 that Jesus is asking 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:06.599 us this morning. 00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.500 Who are we serving? 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:10.659 Lord, 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:12.099 if we find ourselves 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:12.579 this morning 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.420 serving money 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:15.179 or serving the law, 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:18.319 help us see, 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:18.559 Lord, 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.799 that you see our hearts. 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.639 Help us see 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.359 that we shouldn't 00:34:21.359 --> 00:34:22.339 be serving those things 00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:22.919 but that we should 00:34:22.919 --> 00:34:23.739 be serving you, 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.279 that we should be 00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:26.079 serving your Son. 00:34:28.839 --> 00:34:29.179 And Lord, 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.739 if we are serving God 00:34:30.739 --> 00:34:31.819 and we are serving Jesus, 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.139 Lord, 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:32.659 I pray 00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:34.699 that you would keep us 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.359 from becoming 00:34:35.359 --> 00:34:36.419 Pharisaic 00:34:36.419 --> 00:34:37.079 in our lives. 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:38.699 Lord, 00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:39.819 help us to see 00:34:39.819 --> 00:34:41.639 other people 00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.639 as brothers 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.779 and sisters in Christ. 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.960 Help us live a life 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.079 that is glorifying 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.740 to you. 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.539 We ask this 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.119 that your name 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.000 would be lifted up 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.980 above every other name 00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.579 on this world. 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.599 We ask this 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.179 in your Son's 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.820 most holy 00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:56.240 and precious name. 00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.300 Amen.