WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.940 Look with me at verse 38. John said to him, teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in 00:00:07.940 --> 00:00:17.960 your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us. Well, long before the church 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:26.300 referred to the apostle John as the apostle of love, remember Jesus had nicknamed John one of 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:32.439 the sons of thunder. Remember that nickname is not, it wasn't meant by Jesus as a compliment. 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:39.460 It was actually the opposite. James and John, the sons of thunder, this was given to them by 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:47.500 Jesus as a representation of their tendency to actually respond to people unkindly. You'll 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:52.480 remember, I think it's Luke's gospel that tells us there was a time as it probably around the same 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:58.559 time, that Jesus and the disciples are moving toward Jerusalem. They're going through the areas 00:00:58.559 --> 00:01:04.459 of Samaria. There's a Samaritan village that they wanted to settle in maybe for a night or two, but 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:09.519 the Samaritans, because they were Jews, because they had their minds set on Jerusalem, would not allow 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:14.620 them to stay. And you remember what John and James came to Jesus saying. They said, Lord, why don't 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:21.879 you let us pray that God would send down fire from heaven to consume them? Now, how many of us can 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:27.899 identify with James and John in that? Somebody rejects us or they reject somebody that we love, 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:33.579 and our first tendency is to be like the sons of thunder. We run to the Lord. Lord, why don't you 00:01:33.579 --> 00:01:40.280 just rain down fire on them? Remember times with Moses was the same way. There were times where Moses was 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:45.599 so frustrated with the children of Israel as they wandered through the desert that he prayed to God, 00:01:45.679 --> 00:01:51.599 God, why did you do this to me? Why don't you just kill them or kill me, one or the other, and get us out of 00:01:51.599 --> 00:02:00.640 this mess? Well, that's a long way from understanding the contrast of John, who later in his maturity in 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:07.399 the Lord wrote this in 1 John chapter 4, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:14.039 and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. That's quite a different, isn't it? 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:27.259 It speaks to the wonderful power of the gospel in our lives, that only Jesus, only Jesus can take a man 00:02:27.259 --> 00:02:34.759 like John and a man like James who want to call down fire from heaven to consume people and change his 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:41.359 heart so that later on he writes to a church that's under persecution, that is severe, and says, 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:48.940 love people, just love people because love comes from God. Well, that's not just because John grew up. 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:54.940 That's not just because John flipped a switch in his mind that all of a sudden made him love people. No, 00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:59.880 that's the power of the gospel in our lives, and we see this played out in every one of these disciples. 00:03:00.820 --> 00:03:07.420 The people that we see them to be in Acts and moving forward is far different than what we see them as 00:03:07.419 --> 00:03:16.339 in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Why? Because the power of the gospel transforms us. It radically 00:03:16.339 --> 00:03:24.019 transforms us. But then we get here and we see another glimpse of John's youthful personality 00:03:24.019 --> 00:03:31.939 as he rehearses to Jesus how they had reprimanded another man who was actually doing ministry for the 00:03:31.939 --> 00:03:40.699 Lord. What's interesting about this passage is it doesn't read like a proud admission. 00:03:41.819 --> 00:03:51.520 It really reads more like a confession, doesn't it? I guess it's possible that this happens sometime 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:56.500 after this other conversation, and John thought, man, I'm going to get some brownie points with Jesus 00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:01.639 if I go and tell him that, hey, there was this guy over here casting out demons, but he wasn't with 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:05.479 us, so we stopped him. Just want to let you know we took care of it, Jesus, so you wouldn't have to 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:10.560 worry about that. Perhaps, maybe that was what was in his mind. I think the connection with this other 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:16.920 passage, verses 33 to 37, is actually Mark showing that this might have actually been a confession on 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:22.480 John's part. He's sitting in the house. Jesus has grabbed this little child and put him on his lap and 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.819 told him how they need to serve everyone, and then that brings to mind for John the conviction of what 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:35.319 he had done earlier on their journey when they had stopped this man, and it's interesting. Isn't that what 00:04:35.319 --> 00:04:42.600 the teaching of the Lord and of the Bible should always do to us? Shouldn't it humble us in that way? 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:52.400 Shouldn't it lead us to confession? Shouldn't it lead us to repentance when we're 00:04:52.399 --> 00:05:01.000 confronted by God's truth? There's a difference between hearing the words of Christ and reading 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:06.079 the words of the scriptures and acknowledging that, yes, we have broken that. There's a difference 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:10.479 between admitting what we have done and actually confessing to the Lord in agreement that, yes, we 00:05:10.479 --> 00:05:18.299 have sinned, Lord. We need your forgiveness, Lord. Please change us, Lord. And it seems to me that that's 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:24.600 where John is right here, more of a confession than just a simple admission. Well, what's the situation? 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:32.120 Some point along the way, the disciples interacted with a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:38.160 Now, this does sound very bad, does it? It actually sounds pretty fantastic. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:45.600 And the implication of this text is that the man was a believer. And he wasn't only a believer, 00:05:45.760 --> 00:05:52.720 but he was successfully performing mighty works in the name and power of Christ. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:06:01.680 That's actually amazing. Now, it's not unusual for us to, in modern times, hear people casually or 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:07.120 flippantly use the name of Jesus when doing something. But at this point in biblical history, 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:15.560 there is no reason for someone to invoke the name of Christ. There was no reason other than a true 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:21.199 believer to even think to do that. You understand that? Like at this point, most of the crowds have 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:29.120 left Jesus. No one's necessarily wanting to be a follower of Jesus at this point. Very few people 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:34.180 are actually staying with them. There wasn't, wouldn't just be an average person that was 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:39.180 indifferent to Jesus as actually out there doing works in the name of Jesus. This man had to have 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:48.139 been a true believer. And then notice also, John didn't say that the man was attempting to cast out 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:56.120 demons, but that he was actually successful in doing so. How else could he have been anything other than 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:04.500 a true follower of Christ? Now, some may be quick to say, well, perhaps this was Satan that was using 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:12.120 this man to perform these powers in order to deceive others, to deceive others. That doesn't make any 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:22.340 sense at all. That would be illogical. Why? He's using Jesus's name. Now, it would be different if he's not 00:07:22.339 --> 00:07:27.319 using Jesus's name. He's using some other name. And this, this power was being demonstrated in that 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:33.099 way, but he's actually using Jesus's name. Why would Satan use Jesus's name to cast out himself? 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:38.599 That doesn't make any sense. And it would contra, contradict what Jesus had earlier said to the 00:07:38.599 --> 00:07:45.259 Pharisees. I think it's in Mark chapter three. Remember Jesus was casting out demons. The Pharisees 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:50.239 came and he says, they said, he does all of these things by the power of Satan. He's Beelzebul, 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:57.920 they said. They said, he's Satan. He's the devil. And Jesus says, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:05.639 Satan can't cast out Satan, Jesus says. A house divided against itself can't stand. That doesn't 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:14.300 make any sense. There's no other option here. This man had to have been a true believer. He was doing 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:21.480 mighty works. He was empowered by God and he was doing them in the name of Christ, which by the way, 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:32.460 no one needs to be a person of significance to be used mightily by God. Do you see that in this man's 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:40.680 experience? We don't even know his name. We don't even know his name. We have no idea who he is. 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:46.120 We don't know where he's from. We don't know what happened to him after this moment. We know nothing 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:53.019 about this man except at some point along the way, he had been impacted by the person and the teaching 00:08:53.019 --> 00:09:01.259 of Jesus Christ. He had begun to wholly follow Jesus Christ so much so that God empowered him to do works 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:08.219 that even the disciples had failed to do. And who is he? He's nobody. He's nobody. 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:12.120 He's nobody. There's sometimes we're talking. I know I'm getting off track maybe a little bit here, 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:16.480 but we're talking about missions a little bit this morning and we think, I wonder what we think 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:21.840 sometimes when somebody says, I wonder if you've ever prayed if God would desire for you to do 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:29.860 something in vocational ministry. What if God wanted you to go to Ukraine? What if God desired for you 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:33.860 to serve in this particular way? And how many of us would think, well, I can never do that. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:45.680 I've never been to seminary. I'm nobody. Well, yeah, it's God's good pleasure to use nobodies 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:55.399 like me and like you. Remember what Paul said to the Corinthian church? He's at 1 Corinthians chapter 1 00:09:55.399 --> 00:10:02.039 at the very end and Paul says, remember your calling brothers. There was nothing significant about you. 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:09.740 But God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He uses the weak things of the world 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:19.919 to restrain the strong. God, in his good pleasure, uses weak vessels, jars of clay to do mighty works. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:29.319 Why? In order that he may get the glory. That's why. And here's a man that is a prime example 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:41.740 of what the vast majority of Christians are. Nameless, no significance, yet empowered by God 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:50.760 to do the things that only God can do. It's amazing, isn't it? So why did the disciples try to stop him? 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:57.920 That's the big question, right? Why were they so concerned? Well, John tells us. Notice what he says. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:06.199 Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him. Why? Because he was not 00:11:06.199 --> 00:11:19.219 following us. Do you see the problem there? We would expect that John might justify his action by saying, 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:25.219 we tried to stop him, Lord, because he was not following you. But that's not what John says. 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:30.279 No, we tried to stop him, Lord, because he wasn't following us. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:38.399 The disciples were not concerned with whether or not this man was following Jesus, 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:43.340 but with the fact that he wasn't a part of their little group. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:53.300 So the prideful attitude that had divided them in the earlier section is now overflowing in the way 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:58.399 that they interacted with other believers outside of their circle of friendship and influence. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:03.800 And there's clearly a measure of jealousy here, isn't there? It's not hard to see that. 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:12.359 It's no coincidence that this man is being used by God to do the very works that the disciples failed 00:12:12.359 --> 00:12:19.779 embarrassingly to do earlier in the same chapter, isn't it? Remember Jesus is coming off the mountain 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:24.939 of the transfiguration. There's a man with a demon-possessed boy that comes and the disciples 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:29.379 are arguing at that moment with the scribes. Why? Because they couldn't do the work. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:34.399 Why did Jesus say they couldn't do the work? They had a weak faith. They didn't even stop to pray. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:39.679 They failed miserably. They're embarrassed. And then maybe perhaps it wasn't long after that, 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:44.480 that they're on their journey back to Galilee. And that's when they come across this man who's a 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:48.779 nobody who isn't a part of their group. And they couldn't care less that he's actually doing things 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:53.200 in the name of Jesus. They couldn't care less that God was actually empowering him to do the thing. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:58.299 They just couldn't stand the fact that somebody not in their group was being successful. 00:12:58.299 --> 00:13:04.859 and they get jealous and they try to stop him, not because he's not following Christ, 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:13.339 but because he's not following them. And so they have this elitist mentality. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:18.959 Couldn't stand for someone outside of their group to succeed where they had failed. 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:23.639 And it's not the only time that we see something like this recorded in the scripture. 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:32.360 Pride routinely reveals itself in envy. Pride routinely reveals itself in envy. 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:37.620 In fact, turn with me, would you to the Old Testament to Numbers chapter 11. 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:43.720 Numbers chapter 11. Since we're only covering a few verses, I'm going to let you turn a few times 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:45.639 to the rest of the day. Okay. Numbers chapter 11. 00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:52.779 The children of Israel have been in the wilderness for some time now. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:14:00.160 And God has provided manna to them, but they're tired of the manna. 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:03.560 They don't like what God has provided. They want meat. 00:14:03.560 --> 00:14:07.500 They want some quail, something more substantial than what God had provided. 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:12.220 And so they're complaining to Moses again, and they're telling Moses, we were better off in Egypt. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:17.200 You know, when they were slaves and they were beaten every day and that they were, 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:21.039 they thought that that would be better. And so here they are, they're with Moses. 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:24.799 They're complaining. Moses goes to God again. He says, God, you got to do something about these people. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:30.259 And God ends up judging them. But in the midst of that, God tells Moses to take 70 elders, 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.320 take them to the temple, and he's going to establish some leadership. 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:35.740 But I want you to notice what happens in the midst of this story. 00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:45.659 Look at verse 26. Now, two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, the other named Medad, 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:50.600 and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those who were registered. 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:56.379 I think that probably means of the 70 people that God had instructed Moses to set aside as leaders. 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:00.960 They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent of meeting, 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:07.240 and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:10.740 Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp. 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:16.740 And Joshua, the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth said, 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:20.519 My Lord Moses, stop them. 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:28.519 Now, hang on a second. Why would Joshua not want them to do that? What's he upset about here? 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:33.199 Hang on. These guys aren't where they're supposed to be. They're not with us. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.240 They're not with the rest of the group. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.860 What does Moses say? 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.679 Verse 29, but Moses said to him, 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.399 Are you jealous for my sake? 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:48.519 Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.779 that the Lord would put his Spirit on them. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:56.059 What a wise response of Moses in this moment. 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:59.659 Here's his assistant, who one day is going to be a fantastic leader 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:02.079 over the nation of Israel after Moses' death. 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:03.759 And he runs, and he's a little jealous. 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.099 He's like, these guys are in the camp. 00:16:06.359 --> 00:16:09.620 People are noticing them because they're in the camp. 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:12.980 And maybe they had a gathering coming around them at that particular moment. 00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:13.860 Here we are, Moses. 00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.159 We're at the tent of meeting. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.200 We're outside the camp. 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.340 Nobody's really out here. 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:19.019 You got to go stop those guys. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:20.679 They're going to get all the credit for this. 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:23.120 Moses says, Are you jealous for my sake? 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:27.899 I wish that every one of God's people would be endowed with the power of God's Spirit 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:31.179 in the way that Eldad and Medad have just been empowered. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.460 You see Joshua's weakness there? 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:37.200 It wasn't about noticing what God was doing. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:40.720 It was the fact that they weren't really a part of his group. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.620 He didn't like that. 00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:45.020 He wanted Moses to stop that. 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:48.400 Turn to John chapter 3 back in the New Testament. 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:54.280 John chapter 3, you might would be more familiar with this particular case. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:17:02.579 The purpose in all of this is really just to show how easy it is for us to fall into this particular sin. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.899 John chapter 3. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:09.220 Look with me at verse 25. 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.139 John 3, 25. 00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:16.759 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:22.099 And they came to John, this is John the Baptist, and said to him, 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:28.579 Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, that's Jesus, 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:33.759 look, he's baptizing and everybody's going to him. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:37.879 Now remember what they're used to seeing happen with John's ministry. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:40.039 What is it the Bible tells us? 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:45.339 Everyone in Jerusalem, everyone in Judea were traveling to the desert to see John. 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:47.220 And these disciples were a part of that. 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.139 It's fantastic. 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:50.419 But now Jesus has come. 00:17:51.179 --> 00:17:55.019 And all of those people who were coming to John and his disciples are now leaving them. 00:17:55.159 --> 00:17:58.119 And they're going to Jesus and Jesus's disciples. 00:17:58.679 --> 00:18:01.279 And the disciples of John are a little jealous about that. 00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:04.199 But look how John responds in verse 27. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:10.220 A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 00:18:11.159 --> 00:18:14.919 You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:16.720 but I have been sent before him. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.680 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:26.140 The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:30.080 Therefore, this joy of mine is complete. 00:18:31.080 --> 00:18:35.460 He must increase, but I must decrease. 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:39.160 And so the same thing is going on with Joshua and Moses. 00:18:39.560 --> 00:18:41.560 The disciples of John, they're a little jealous. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:43.720 They don't like that Jesus is getting all the attention. 00:18:43.919 --> 00:18:45.059 And what is it that John says? 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:48.019 With great wisdom, he says, listen, this is not about me. 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.419 This is about him. 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:52.299 My whole purpose was to send people to him. 00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:57.440 And now I have so much more joy because people aren't following me. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:00.059 They're following Christ instead. 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.899 He must increase. 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.519 I must decrease. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:10.379 But when we get back to Mark chapter 9, Jesus' own disciples haven't learned that lesson yet. 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:14.039 They still think a little bit of this is about them. 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:20.379 And they're bothered by the fact that someone outside of their group is doing these things, 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:22.839 that people are paying attention to what they're doing, 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:26.420 and he is succeeding in a way that they failed. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:29.839 And Jesus is so gracious with John here. 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.920 He always is. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:41.320 He stands ready to love and forgive and help any person who comes to him in a spirit of repentance. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.120 And I really think that's what John's doing here. 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:47.360 And so Jesus responds with such gentleness, graciousness. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.500 He didn't scold the men. 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:55.620 He gave them three reasons why they shouldn't have hindered the man in his ministry. 00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:56.560 Three reasons, okay? 00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:57.500 I'm going to give them to you quickly. 00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:59.800 Each one is a verse, and then we're going to be finished, okay? 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.320 Verse 39. 00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:01.700 Verse 39. 00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.840 But Jesus said, 00:20:05.300 --> 00:20:13.320 Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:20.240 No one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:27.799 The first reason Jesus gave for not stopping the man was that he presented no immediate danger to leading people away from Christ. 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.240 He was actually doing the opposite. 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:34.039 Aside from being outside of the group of 12. 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:36.960 This man's ministry was really no other people's ministry. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:47.159 He was going in the power of Christ, in the name of Christ, and God was using him to do things that only Christ can do. 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:49.160 There's no danger there. 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.340 There's no danger there. 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:50.340 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:50.340 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:50.500 There. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:50.500 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.500 There. 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:53.440 He's not leading people away from Christ. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:56.980 He's actually leading them toward Christ. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:21:00.539 The power of Jesus is evident in his life. 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:03.859 Everything's done in the name of Jesus. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:06.480 He's pointing people toward him. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:13.019 How could they possibly consider this man an enemy of the gospel? 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:20.200 Now, Jesus didn't say that the man had all of his theology right. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.360 That wasn't the point. 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:30.099 Jesus didn't say that this man would never have a moment in his life where he would potentially speak evil of the Lord. 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.380 That's not what he's saying at all. 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:37.780 He's saying that no one demonstrating the power of God in the name of Christ can quickly turn people against Jesus. 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:42.060 Even if he wanted to, it'd be really hard for the man to do it, wouldn't it? 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:46.000 Because he's just come to somebody that doesn't have a few sniffles from a cold. 00:21:46.520 --> 00:21:49.960 He's coming to people who are being tortured by demons. 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:57.200 And through the power of Christ, they are being freed and their life is being transformed. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:02.500 None of those people are very quickly going to turn around and think evil of Jesus. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.140 Why? 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:08.080 Because Jesus, the name of Jesus, has just radically transformed their lives. 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:11.160 And Jesus is telling his disciples, don't stop him. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.100 This man poses no threat. 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:16.200 He's pushing people towards me, not away from me. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.519 Look at what he's doing. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:20.120 Secondly, verse 40. 00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:27.059 Jesus says, the one who is not against us is for us. 00:22:27.739 --> 00:22:31.799 The one who is not against us is for us. 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:40.859 So Jesus teaches the disciples here to have proper judgment when discerning who or what is an enemy of Christ. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:45.959 Now, it sounds like Jesus is being a little contradictory here, doesn't it? 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:54.640 Because it was at the end of chapter 8 that Jesus says, if anyone will truly follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:56.799 Anyone who saves his life will lose it. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:01.200 But anyone who will lose his life for my sake and the gospels, the same will save it. 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:04.559 That was a strong call to discipleship, to salvation there. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:12.620 So is Jesus now saying here that all that really matters is that they're not blatantly against us and everything's okay? 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:15.939 No, that's not what he's saying. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:24.319 This isn't a reference to some people that maybe you and I know who are not necessarily followers of Christ, 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:27.559 but would maybe say, well, I don't really have a problem with Christ. 00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.359 I don't really have a problem. 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:30.939 In fact, Christianity has done so much good for the world. 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.819 How could I be against it? 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:34.899 I'm just not personally a follower of Jesus. 00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:37.619 There are millions of people that fit that description. 00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:39.539 That's not what Jesus is talking about. 00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:42.219 Those people are deceived. 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:44.199 Those people are deceived. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.699 Jesus isn't talking about that here. 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:53.000 He actually uses a similar statement in Matthew chapter 12 that I think will help us understand it. 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:54.299 Here's what he said there. 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.839 He said actually the opposite. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:58.619 Matthew chapter 12 and verse 30. 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:03.619 Whoever is not with me is against me. 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:08.199 And whoever does not gather with me scatters. 00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:11.279 Whoever is not with me is against me. 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:14.279 Whoever does not gather with me scatters. 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:17.440 This is the same statement from the opposite perspective. 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:22.779 In chapter 9, he's saying, whoever is not against us is for us. 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:25.200 Now, here's what Jesus is getting at. 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:29.860 You cannot have a neutral position when it comes to Christ. 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:37.380 You cannot be indifferent when it comes to the person and the work of Christ. 00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:41.460 You cannot have a position of neutrality to the gospel. 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:46.279 You are either for Christ or you are against Christ. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:52.079 You are either for the gospel or you are against the gospel. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:59.220 And this man that Jesus was using to cast out demons was clearly not against the gospel. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:03.980 He's clearly not against Christ because God is using him in the name of Christ. 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:10.039 And he tells his disciples, you guys got to, you got to stop drawing your lines in places that aren't the gospel. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:13.019 This man is one of us. 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:15.119 He's not against us. 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:18.299 He was clearly a believer. 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.819 He may not have been a part of their group. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:23.259 But that didn't mean he was an enemy. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.119 Right? 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:36.599 In fact, the very lesson that Jesus was teaching is that the disciples in their pride were drawing lines in the wrong places. 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:44.399 And what they ended up doing was treating someone who was a child of God as an enemy of God. 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.799 Does that sound familiar to us? 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.899 I know where I'm going somewhere with all of this. 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:56.880 Have you ever looked at another Christian as if they were your enemy? 00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:59.900 Not because they deny Christ. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.960 Not because they deny the gospel. 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:06.080 But because they're not a part of your group. 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:11.680 You ever drawn lines in places other than the gospel? 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:15.300 Instead of trying to stop this man, 00:26:16.300 --> 00:26:19.820 the disciples should have rejoiced in the work that God was doing through him. 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:22.019 But there was no rejoicing. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.300 They weren't rejoicing with those who rejoice. 00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:31.660 They were condemning one who was doing mighty works in the power of Christ. 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:36.019 Paul made a similar point in Philippians chapter 1. 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:38.060 Remember, he's in prison. 00:26:39.040 --> 00:26:42.540 And he says that there's some people that are preaching Christ out of envy and jealousy. 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.660 And what does Paul say? 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.080 So what? 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:50.199 Let God deal with them the way that God wants to deal with them. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:53.379 As long as they're preaching the gospel, I'm in favor of them. 00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:56.099 I want the gospel to go out. 00:26:56.099 --> 00:27:01.179 If they're not against us, they're for us. 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:04.599 Verse 41, the third reason. 00:27:05.959 --> 00:27:07.740 For truly I say to you, Jesus says, 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:13.619 whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:16.619 will by no means lose his reward. 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:22.459 So finally, Jesus appeals to them on the basis of spiritual rewards. 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:29.620 Now, it could be that he was meaning to reference the man as an illustration here. 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:34.380 That because the man was doing the work of God, that he would be rewarded by God. 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.460 That's possible. 00:27:36.340 --> 00:27:40.279 But this man was doing so much more than giving people cups of cold water. 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:45.620 This man was being used by God in really an amazing way, a fantastic way, 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:48.019 that we've really only seen Jesus and the 12 do. 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.460 Right? 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.779 So I don't think that he's referring to the man here. 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:54.299 I think what he's referring to is his disciples. 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.960 That what they should have done was serve the man. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.819 They should have served the man. 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:04.920 It would have been a spiritually rewarding experience had they humbly served him 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:07.639 a refreshing drink, Jesus is saying. 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:12.299 But because of their pride, they dismissed him, 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:15.079 tried to hinder his work for the Lord. 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:19.439 What could have been a rewarding gesture of humility 00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:22.559 was for the disciples a sinful act of pride. 00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.399 Why? 00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.839 Because he wasn't in their group. 00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:33.399 Now, I think the application here is clear and we'll close with this. 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:41.460 Jesus wasn't teaching a form of ecumenism that diminishes the gospel. 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:43.299 I hope you don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say. 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.099 Jesus wasn't doing that. 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:51.000 What he's doing is he's calling those who are followers of him, 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:54.700 those who have truly been saved, those who are true disciples of Christ. 00:28:54.839 --> 00:29:00.200 He is calling us to a radical unity with all who believe and preach the gospel. 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:04.960 It's not about which group we're in. 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:07.680 It's about the gospel first. 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.360 It starts there. 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:15.400 And it would be wrong for us to consider another believer 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:19.900 whom Jesus has saved as an enemy. 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:25.860 Rather, they are a brother, a sister in Christ, 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.920 whom we should humbly serve, 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:31.560 not condemn for the way that God is using them. 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:37.819 It doesn't mean that our differences are unimportant. 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:39.399 They are actually very important. 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:43.119 But we can't consider someone an enemy of the gospel 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:45.379 simply because they're not a part of our group. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:49.679 Listen, I'm a Baptist by conviction. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:54.880 I believe that's what the Bible teaches as far as believer's baptism. 00:29:56.580 --> 00:30:02.240 I would be a fool to think that only Baptists know Christ. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:07.460 To think that our Presbyterian friends down the road 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:11.039 who do not follow baptism in the same way that we do are an enemy. 00:30:11.360 --> 00:30:12.220 They're not our enemy. 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.220 They're not against us. 00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:15.920 They are for us. 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.779 Our differences are unimportant. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:21.139 There's a reason we have a Baptist church 00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:22.779 and they have a Presbyterian church. 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:25.339 But that is secondary to the gospel. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:28.019 And we don't go condemning them. 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:30.339 We don't go castigating them. 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:32.599 We don't consider them an enemy of the gospel. 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:35.019 No, they are a friend of the gospel. 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.960 I'm a cessationist. 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:43.759 I believe that there are certain gifts in the New Testament 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:45.399 of the Holy Spirit 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:49.360 that ceased at the end of the apostolic age, 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.960 at the conclusion of the foundation 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:53.880 that Paul says God was building on the apostles 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.519 and the prophets and the word of God. 00:30:56.780 --> 00:30:59.019 Some of those things, I believe, have ceased. 00:31:00.060 --> 00:31:01.600 But I'd be foolish to say 00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:04.220 that every person who disagrees with me on that 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:07.580 is such a heretic that they've gone against the gospel, 00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:09.740 that they've turned their back on Christ, 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.500 and that God is not using them. 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:18.519 I have some pretty strongly held convictions 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:20.599 about the local church, 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:23.200 what God desires for it, 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:26.000 what our responsibility is in it. 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.460 And there's many people 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:29.339 that don't draw the lines in the same way. 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.900 That doesn't mean they're our enemy. 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:35.500 I am happy, rejoicing, 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:39.280 in any church in Cornelius and Davidson and Huntersville. 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:42.060 They may not look like us in every way. 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:44.320 If they're preaching the gospel, 00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:46.000 praise the Lord. 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:49.980 If God is using them to reach people 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:52.980 for eternity's sake and the gospel and for Christ, 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:55.120 praise the Lord for that. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.140 They're not our enemy. 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:59.860 Instead of condemning them, 00:32:00.280 --> 00:32:02.160 we should serve them. 00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:04.740 We should pray for them. 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:07.180 We should encourage them. 00:32:08.540 --> 00:32:11.040 Friday night, I told you that. 00:32:11.520 --> 00:32:14.620 Julie and I coach Harper's soccer team. 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:19.280 And it's been a bit of a struggle this season. 00:32:19.560 --> 00:32:21.240 They've scored, before Friday, 00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:23.540 they scored two goals the whole season in seven games. 00:32:24.060 --> 00:32:24.940 It's been a rough one. 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.840 And this last Friday, 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:30.460 we played a team that struggled a little bit like us. 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:32.440 And we had a lot of opportunities to score. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.620 And there was a moment in the game 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:35.700 where one of the little girls on Harper's team, 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:37.880 one of Harper's friends, Colby, scored a goal. 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:40.000 And it's the first time she'd ever scored a goal in soccer. 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:42.100 And the girls were so excited 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:43.640 that they all ran, 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.820 they didn't want to play anymore. 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:46.820 They were all hugging in the middle of the field. 00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:48.220 They were just so excited. 00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:49.400 We finally got a goal. 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.880 After seven games, we got a goal. 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:53.299 And they were so excited for Colby. 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:56.740 And after the game, I was hyped up. 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.159 We didn't even win the game. 00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.759 We didn't even win the game. 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.599 But it didn't matter. 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.599 We scored a goal. 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:02.680 And that was progress. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.759 And I was hyped up at the end of the game. 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:07.079 And we were coming down around the fields, 00:33:07.159 --> 00:33:08.159 walking out to the parking lot. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.240 It's like, it's late. 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:09.940 It's getting late. 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:12.000 And I come around the corner. 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:14.000 And right when I got around the corner, 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:17.180 I saw a pastor from Christ Community, 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:20.220 the lead pastor at Christ Community Church in Huntersville, 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.600 just down the road from where Marty and Faye live. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.460 I've never met him before. 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.779 Couldn't remember his name. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.980 I'm hyped up in this moment because we scored. 00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:28.400 And I just, I embarrassed Julie. 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.460 And I immediately said, 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:31.680 hey, you're the pastor at Christ Community. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.240 And he had one of those faces like, oh no. 00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.720 You know what I mean? 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:41.200 And we started talking and he was just so gracious. 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:43.480 He was so gracious and kind. 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:46.400 And he's asking all about our church 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:50.480 and how long it had been since we planted 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.500 and all these things. 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.559 And we were talking with one another, 00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:54.759 just rejoicing in what the Lord was doing in our churches. 00:33:56.120 --> 00:33:57.539 And he was telling me about all these things. 00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.880 They're passionate about church planting. 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.480 They're about to start a church in Denver. 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:04.880 They're sending 20% of their church to Denver 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:05.720 to start this church. 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.160 That's amazing. 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:09.880 They're sending 115 people from their church. 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:13.579 Sending them out to go and plant another church. 00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.360 That's fantastic. 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:17.260 I hope that the Lord allows us to do that one day. 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.860 It's amazing. 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.940 We're talking, you know, 00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:21.199 if you were to go down to a service 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:22.380 at Christ Community today, 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.119 their service would look very different 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:27.099 than what you have been a part of here today. 00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.639 We'll look different. 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.440 Their music may be different. 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.559 The way they dress may be different. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:37.739 But you know what unifies us together 00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:39.000 with Christ Community Church? 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:43.519 Conviction on the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:48.739 Passion to share the gospel of Christ 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:50.619 with the area in which we live 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.739 and around the world. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.940 And let me tell you something. 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:54.799 They're our friends. 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:57.660 They're not against us 00:34:57.660 --> 00:35:00.620 because they're not against Christ. 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.420 And we need to be careful 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:07.200 that we don't get so schismatic 00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:10.220 in the way that we approach church 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:14.019 and in the divisions that we do have 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:15.800 that are sometimes necessary. 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:17.740 We don't need to get so schismatic 00:35:17.740 --> 00:35:19.840 that we become like the disciples 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:21.240 and we think the only group 00:35:21.240 --> 00:35:22.320 that matters is our group. 00:35:24.680 --> 00:35:26.440 And we start to look at everybody else 00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:26.960 as an enemy. 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:27.560 No. 00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:29.920 That's a spiritual pride. 00:35:31.180 --> 00:35:33.100 And in the case of this teaching here, 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:35.480 it's something that we must repent of. 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:35.740 Well, let's take a look at 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