WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.940 Well, I was going to be a bit aggressive and try to preach through Matthew 10 today, 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:09.800 but we're going to stick to Matthew 9, verses 35-38. 00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:15.220 And so if you would open up your Bibles to Matthew 9, verses 35-38, 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:19.160 I would just delight in reading them to you. 00:00:19.300 --> 00:00:23.640 And as we're reading, take note of Jesus' heart. 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:31.120 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, 00:00:31.380 --> 00:00:34.700 teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:37.299 and healing every disease and every affliction. 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:43.380 When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:48.100 because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:51.560 Then He said to His disciples, 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:54.660 the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 00:00:56.020 --> 00:00:59.760 Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:06.500 to send out laborers into His, His, His harvest. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:12.540 Let's go for a drive together. 00:01:13.820 --> 00:01:17.900 Let's say you meet me down at K9 Corner. 00:01:18.020 --> 00:01:18.820 Do you know where that is? 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:21.899 Down on 22nd Avenue on the south side, 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:24.399 right next to Anderson Pool. 00:01:25.099 --> 00:01:26.639 Let's say we're going to meet there. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:28.079 We're going to meet in my pickup truck. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:32.219 I'm going to take you on a tour of sorts of Kenosha, 00:01:32.399 --> 00:01:37.060 and we're just going to make a kind of a beeline north on 22nd Avenue. 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:39.979 And so we get into my pickup truck, 00:01:40.339 --> 00:01:41.500 and as we're pulling out, 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:44.840 I start telling you about the different demographics 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:47.219 that we see going north. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:49.000 Oh, this neighborhood over here, 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.200 oh, those are ranches built in the 50s and 60s. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:53.540 Mixed neighborhoods, mixed income. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:55.960 We have owner occupiers. 00:01:56.099 --> 00:01:57.120 We have renters there. 00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:58.900 Oh, this neighborhood over here, 00:01:59.019 --> 00:02:01.280 those apartment complexes, 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:04.240 primarily people with lower incomes, 00:02:05.060 --> 00:02:06.620 ethnically very diverse. 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:09.219 And as we're driving, 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:09.960 we hear this, 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:14.259 from the back seat. 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:18.460 My pickup truck's got this back bench 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:19.939 you can squeeze people in on, 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:22.039 and it's Jesus. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.180 And Jesus says something to the extent of this. 00:02:29.480 --> 00:02:31.599 Those things, Mike, you may be saying are true, 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.840 but every person in that neighborhood 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:36.180 is a sheep without a shepherd. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.659 I see that neighborhood as a harvest. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:41.900 I look to you, 00:02:42.299 --> 00:02:43.560 and I look in the rearview mirror, 00:02:43.959 --> 00:02:45.280 and we keep on going. 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:48.099 I bring you to the next neighborhood. 00:02:48.299 --> 00:02:50.919 I give you kind of a demographic stats. 00:02:51.699 --> 00:02:53.400 Oh, the crime rate is rising here 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:54.780 past this certain road. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:57.900 Jesus says, well, that may be true, 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:00.740 but everyone in that crime-ridden neighborhood 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:02.300 is a sheep without a shepherd. 00:03:02.480 --> 00:03:03.260 They need me. 00:03:07.140 --> 00:03:08.120 It's a harvest. 00:03:09.420 --> 00:03:10.600 Needing laborers. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:13.860 I look at you. 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:14.600 I look at Jesus. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:15.460 We keep on going. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.340 Next neighborhood, we come to uptown. 00:03:21.480 --> 00:03:23.800 I try to describe it as best I can. 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:31.120 Then, Jesus says, this is my harvest. 00:03:33.420 --> 00:03:35.420 These are sheep without a shepherd. 00:03:37.020 --> 00:03:38.540 They're harassed and helpless. 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:41.920 I look at you. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:42.520 I look at Jesus. 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:43.240 We keep on going. 00:03:44.920 --> 00:03:46.820 We get up to about Washington Road, 00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:48.620 and I start saying, 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:50.299 well, that, you know, 00:03:51.019 --> 00:03:52.120 Muni Golf Course, 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:53.479 the velodrome, 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:54.500 the park, 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:55.840 it's a berry of sorts. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:03:57.299 There's a different kind of demographic 00:03:57.299 --> 00:03:58.379 on each side of it, 00:03:58.519 --> 00:04:00.439 and I look up in the rearview mirror, 00:04:00.579 --> 00:04:01.799 and I see Jesus. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:02.439 We meet eyes, 00:04:02.519 --> 00:04:02.900 and I say, 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:05.120 but they're all sheep without a shepherd. 00:04:06.459 --> 00:04:07.419 And then you say, 00:04:07.959 --> 00:04:09.240 and it's all a harvest field. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:10.819 And then I say, 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:12.819 and they need laborers. 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:13.340 Laborers. 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:15.259 And then Jesus says, 00:04:16.219 --> 00:04:19.259 so pray to the Lord of the harvest 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:21.079 to send out laborers. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:24.899 This morning, we're going to see 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:28.600 Jesus' heart for the lost. 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:32.100 And His heart for the lost 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:34.079 will compel you. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:36.519 It will compel you 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.159 to have a heart for the lost. 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:40.500 When you see people 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:41.899 the way that Jesus sees people, 00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:44.939 when you feel about people 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:47.399 the way that Jesus feels about people, 00:04:48.239 --> 00:04:50.500 your priorities change. 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:54.279 You will want to live 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:57.299 for what matters most 00:04:57.299 --> 00:05:00.159 according to Jesus. 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:02.299 Not the American dream. 00:05:04.359 --> 00:05:05.539 You're going to want to join Him 00:05:05.539 --> 00:05:06.519 in His mission 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.779 to reconcile sinners 00:05:08.779 --> 00:05:11.799 to God in this harvest field. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:16.459 So here's how we're going to proceed. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.579 We're going to walk through the text. 00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:19.759 And I'm going to show you, 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:21.339 I'm going to make five observations. 00:05:22.159 --> 00:05:24.479 And then those five observations 00:05:24.479 --> 00:05:25.919 move to a point. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:27.000 I'll make that point. 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:28.599 And then we'll seek to apply it 00:05:28.599 --> 00:05:29.019 to our lives. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:30.459 We're going to read about something 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:32.959 that happened maybe 2,000 years ago. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.120 And we're going to bring it 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:35.519 to our lives to bear today 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:35.899 in 2017. 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:36.459 2017. 00:05:38.299 --> 00:05:39.719 So what we're going to see here 00:05:39.719 --> 00:05:42.639 is God's heart for the lost 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.379 and it's designed to compel us. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:51.259 So, let's turn back to Matthew 9, verse 35. 00:05:52.299 --> 00:05:54.419 In observation number one, 00:05:54.579 --> 00:05:56.319 the thing I want you to notice is 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.359 where Jesus is at. 00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:00.300 Look at verse 35. 00:06:00.400 --> 00:06:01.360 And Jesus went throughout 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:02.639 all the cities and villages. 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:05.100 Jesus is on the move. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:08.040 But what you need to see 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:09.720 is that Jesus is on the move 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:11.379 throughout all the cities 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:12.740 and villages of Galilee. 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:15.920 Estimates range from there being 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:18.379 upwards of 200 plus cities and villages 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:20.620 in the greater Galilean metroplex. 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:24.420 But as we talk about that, 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:25.199 I just want to remember, 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:26.699 remind you who Jesus is. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:28.840 Because you can read 00:06:28.840 --> 00:06:30.860 that Jesus is cruising around Galilee 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:33.139 and forget that He's God in the flesh. 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:36.319 Do you remember John 1? 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:37.319 The Word became flesh 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:38.680 and dwelt among us. 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:40.780 Remember Matthew chapter 1? 00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:43.379 Jesus is God with us, Emmanuel. 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:46.019 And so, do you see what's going on here? 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:48.560 We are seeing God in the flesh 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:50.699 walking around Galilee. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:52.079 God's there. 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:53.420 He's walking. 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.819 It's exactly where He intends to be. 00:06:59.780 --> 00:07:00.959 It's no accident. 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:03.220 He's not there against His will. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.800 He is in and among the people. 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:08.660 He is on a mission. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.420 A mission of mercy 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:13.540 to reconcile sinners to God. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:14.480 It's in His name. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:15.759 Jesus. 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:17.279 It means God saves. 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:18.500 That's why He's there. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.199 Now, some of you remember 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:22.300 back in 2005, 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:23.720 Hurricane Katrina. 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:24.399 Do you remember that? 00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:27.920 It did over $100 billion of damage 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.480 in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:33.360 You may not remember this, 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:37.199 but when Katrina made landfall, 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:40.019 President Bush was on vacation 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:41.500 in Crawford, Texas. 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:44.560 And he stayed on vacation 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:45.579 in Crawford, Texas. 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:49.599 And he eventually flew out of Texas 00:07:49.599 --> 00:07:51.759 on August 31st. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.000 August 29th is when Katrina hit. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.579 And as he's flying back to Washington, D.C., 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:01.219 he tells the Air Force One pilots 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:04.219 to kind of veer over the devastated area. 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:06.480 And there is this photograph taken 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:07.540 of President Bush 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:10.280 looking out a window of Air Force One 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:12.960 and looking down upon the devastation 00:08:12.960 --> 00:08:15.280 wrought by Katrina. 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:17.520 And to this day, 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:18.120 he would say, 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:19.640 that was one of his biggest regrets. 00:08:20.900 --> 00:08:22.320 Because in that photograph, 00:08:22.820 --> 00:08:25.280 it depicts him as being distant 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:26.940 and uncaring. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:30.939 Some say that his presidency 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:33.940 started to fade at that point. 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:38.519 Our southern citizens, 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.299 they were harassed and helpless. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:41.940 And they needed a leader. 00:08:43.220 --> 00:08:44.779 And he flew right over them. 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:49.100 Not so with Jesus. 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:52.819 Galatians 4.4 says that 00:08:52.819 --> 00:08:55.539 just the right time, 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:58.379 Jesus' feet hit the ground. 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:02.000 He didn't stay away. 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:03.860 He didn't fly over. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:05.759 He came. 00:09:07.699 --> 00:09:09.819 Some people have a very big challenge 00:09:09.819 --> 00:09:11.019 with the problem of evil. 00:09:11.459 --> 00:09:12.879 And it's not the easiest thing 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:13.439 to talk about, 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:14.579 but I can say this. 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:15.959 Our God, 00:09:16.339 --> 00:09:17.439 in light of the evil 00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:19.000 that has been wrought by sin, 00:09:19.459 --> 00:09:20.659 He didn't stay away. 00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:22.819 He didn't write white papers. 00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:24.319 What He did was this. 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:27.259 He came and dwelt among us. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:30.860 He came and joined us in the mix 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:32.740 to do something. 00:09:33.579 --> 00:09:35.899 To give His life as a ransom for many. 00:09:36.079 --> 00:09:37.860 To completely reverse 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:41.299 the multi-layered effects of sin. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:42.379 That's why He came. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.200 He addresses the problem of evil. 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:46.439 Square on. 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:49.460 Jesus came. 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:52.879 And when He walked around 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.059 these cities and villages of Galilee, 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:57.879 and as He sees these crowds, 00:09:58.039 --> 00:09:59.700 it had a deep effect on Him. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.120 So the first thing I want you to notice 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:02.519 is where Jesus is at. 00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:04.460 He's in and among the people. 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:07.680 Just where He intended to be. 00:10:08.280 --> 00:10:09.180 That's our Savior. 00:10:09.920 --> 00:10:10.820 That's our God. 00:10:11.900 --> 00:10:13.500 The second thing I want you to notice 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:15.280 is what Jesus is doing 00:10:15.280 --> 00:10:16.480 while He's traveling 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.400 through the cities and villages of Galilee. 00:10:19.400 --> 00:10:20.920 We read that in verse 35, 00:10:21.160 --> 00:10:22.900 that He's teaching 00:10:22.900 --> 00:10:25.740 and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:27.659 and He's healing all sorts 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:29.919 of different diseases and sicknesses. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.240 He was actively working 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.060 while He was in town. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:36.060 He's not cruising through 00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:37.360 taking snapshots. 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:40.220 He's not in some kind of bus 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:42.440 unable to be seen by anybody else. 00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:44.500 He's walking through, 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.700 engaged, doing the work of the Kingdom. 00:10:48.560 --> 00:10:49.600 That's what the teaching 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:50.519 and the proclaiming 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.659 and the healing was all about. 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:53.980 It was pointing to Him coming 00:10:53.980 --> 00:10:56.439 and establishing the Kingdom of Heaven. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:58.179 The saving reign of God. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.480 We spent quite a bit of time 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:02.439 in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.120 It's an unbelievable sample 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.039 of His teaching. 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.679 Jesus gets a ton done. 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:11.779 It's the inaugural address 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:13.519 of the King who has come. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:15.939 And what He does in it, 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:16.199 He says, 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:17.759 this is what's to be true 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.659 of My citizens, 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:19.720 the Beatitudes. 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.720 And they start with being poor in spirit. 00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:23.820 The hallmark of My people 00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:24.560 is humility, 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:25.500 is what He says. 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:27.560 And then He goes on to teach 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:28.680 in the Sermon on the Mount 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:31.720 how His citizens live 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.379 in full light of the law 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:36.080 and live fully in obedience to it 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:37.100 for the glory of God. 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.560 And at the end of chapter 7, 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:43.240 the crowds were amazed 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.379 at His teaching 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:45.899 because of His authority. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:47.519 It was authoritative. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.179 It was a signal 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:50.519 that the Kingdom of Heaven 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.019 had come. 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:53.879 Not only does He teach, 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.419 He proclaims, 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.019 He preaches, 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:56.939 He announces. 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.259 And what we learn here 00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.240 is that He proclaimed 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:02.360 the Gospel of the Kingdom. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:04.340 The good news 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:06.500 that the Kingdom had arrived. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:07.379 And notice, 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:08.699 the Kingdom arrived 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.939 when Jesus arrived. 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:13.319 He's the King 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:15.460 of God's Kingdom. 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:19.120 He brings the saving rain 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:19.960 when He came. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:21.240 If you look back 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.480 at Matthew 4, verse 23, 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:27.200 this was His M.O. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:28.500 He would go around 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:30.519 teaching, proclaiming, 00:12:30.580 --> 00:12:31.080 and healing. 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:33.000 We read in Matthew 4, 23, 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:33.780 and He went throughout 00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:34.660 all of Galilee, 00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:36.420 teaching in their synagogues 00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:37.139 and proclaiming 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.200 the Gospel of the Kingdom 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:39.680 and healing every disease 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.960 and every affliction 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:42.519 among the people. 00:12:42.660 --> 00:12:43.680 So His fame spread. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:45.639 He taught, 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.779 He preached, 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.620 and He healed. 00:12:47.719 --> 00:12:49.299 He proclaimed the Kingdom. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.620 It was good news. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:52.579 Here's what happens 00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:53.019 with the Kingdom. 00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:54.359 Here's where the Kingdom is. 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:55.719 The Kingdom is where 00:12:55.719 --> 00:12:57.679 Jesus is being proclaimed. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.799 Sinners are responding 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.879 in repentance and faith 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.839 and becoming Christians. 00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:03.659 And they're being discipled 00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.379 to obey Him 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.399 and all that He commanded. 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:07.779 And His name is being glorified. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.000 That's where the Kingdom 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.659 of Heaven is. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:11.559 That's where the saving reign 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:12.179 of God is. 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.539 And Jesus brought that 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.319 with Him when He came. 00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:15.699 And He announced it. 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.039 He announced it 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:17.679 through His teaching. 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:18.500 He announced it 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.519 through His proclamation. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.659 And He also made it clear 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.480 through His healing. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.679 If you look back 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:26.779 at Matthew 8 and 9, 00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:28.500 it is one healing 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.459 after another. 00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:31.899 It starts with 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:34.360 Jesus healing a leper. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:36.440 And He does what 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:37.539 nobody else would do. 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.740 He touches the leper. 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.120 And instead of being 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:41.200 made unclean, 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:43.000 Jesus cleans the unclean 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:43.639 with His touch. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.259 It's amazing. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.080 And remember the centurion? 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:49.960 Jesus heals the servant 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.980 of the centurion 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.940 from a distance. 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.740 It doesn't end there. 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:58.300 The demons and the Gadarenes, 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.920 Jesus casts them out. 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:05.299 But, we go on 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.120 and we read about 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:09.360 Jesus healing Jairus' daughter. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:11.819 We read about Jesus 00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:12.719 healing a woman 00:14:12.719 --> 00:14:16.199 with a 12-year hemorrhage 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:17.419 of blood 00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:19.219 that made her unclean 00:14:19.219 --> 00:14:19.879 and isolate. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:21.120 Jesus healed her 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.199 and then put her forward 00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:22.979 to everybody and said, 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.599 she's back in the mix, gang. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.939 Doesn't stop there. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:28.539 Jesus goes on 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.419 to heal two blind men. 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:31.799 Then He heals 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:33.699 a demonized dumb man. 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:34.459 Do you remember all that? 00:14:35.599 --> 00:14:36.819 Again and again and again. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.360 He's healing. 00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:38.159 And then, 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.299 there's the whole healing 00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:39.979 of the paralytic. 00:14:40.099 --> 00:14:40.399 Do you remember 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.059 what happened there? 00:14:41.439 --> 00:14:43.979 Jesus heals this paralyzed man. 00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.879 And it's clear why He does. 00:14:46.479 --> 00:14:49.759 He heals his physical paralysis 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.479 in order to demonstrate 00:14:51.479 --> 00:14:52.219 His authority 00:14:52.219 --> 00:14:54.480 to heal the disease of sin. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.740 So that you may know 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.480 that the Son of Man 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.439 has authority on earth 00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:58.179 to forgive sins. 00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.259 He turns to the paralytic 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.720 and says, rise, 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.539 get your mat, 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.179 and go home. 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:02.879 And He does. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.179 There, Jesus is bringing 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:06.879 in His authority 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.799 both over the spiritual 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:11.139 and physical maladies 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.240 we all have to endure. 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:18.879 At the end of chapter 9, 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.860 we are just amazed 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:23.700 amazed that this man 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:26.480 is unlike any other. 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.680 And after all of His healing, 00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:30.800 the crowds were amazed 00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:33.200 that God had given authority 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.220 to man. 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:36.720 His teaching, 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.759 His proclaiming, 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:39.000 His healing, 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.539 we all point 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:42.000 to this is the one 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.659 that has brought 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:44.860 the kingdom of heaven. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.779 So the second thing 00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.600 I want you to notice 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:49.539 is what He's doing 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:52.000 when He's cruising around 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.460 the Galilean Metroplex. 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.980 The third thing 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:55.860 I want you to notice, 00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:57.259 we see in verse 36, 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.399 when He saw the crowds, 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.960 when He saw the crowds, 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.740 He's making His way 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.539 through these villages 00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.100 and cities, 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.519 and when He saw the crowds, 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.940 He had compassion for them 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:11.700 because they were harassed 00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.200 and helpless. 00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.240 The third thing 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.200 I want you to see, 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:14.980 I want you to notice, 00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:18.060 is how Jesus sees. 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:20.740 Not just that He sees, 00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:23.560 but how He sees. 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.440 He saw the crowds. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.680 He had compassion for them 00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:32.159 because they were harassed 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:32.680 and helpless 00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:35.779 like sheep without a shepherd. 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:39.379 Those two words, 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.560 harassed and helpless, 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.039 they're worth spending 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.120 a little time talking about. 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:46.360 Have you ever been bullied? 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:49.240 Have you ever been harassed? 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:53.000 I was harassed by a man 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.100 not too long ago 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:55.680 who threatened me, 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.120 threatened my family. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.980 It was a very uncomfortable time. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.500 Harassed is a word 00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.559 that means to trouble, 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.519 to annoy. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.839 We tend to think about 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:10.079 in terms of being bullied. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:13.839 maybe you've been threatened before. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.279 It's not fun. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.079 And it's not just the threat. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.480 It's the experience. 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:25.539 It's the experience of being beat up, 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:28.220 whether that's physically or emotionally. 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:35.220 Now, this word harassed, 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:37.460 the sense of being bullied and beat up 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:40.279 is linked to this word helpless, 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.839 harassed and helpless. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.759 That, in the original language, 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:46.720 it literally means to be cast down, 00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:48.199 to be made prostrate. 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.319 And the idea there is 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.139 you're vulnerable. 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:55.059 Being exposed to harm 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.899 without any kind of recourse. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:00.119 Someone taking advantage of you, 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.519 you don't have anything to do, 00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:03.139 any ability to protect yourself. 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:06.180 I don't know about you, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.259 but there are a few things 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:09.620 more psychologically diminishing 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:11.980 than when you are being threatened 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:14.140 and you don't feel like 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.940 you can do anything about it. 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.800 You feel completely vulnerable 00:18:17.800 --> 00:18:21.100 and exposed and helpless. 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:26.200 Harassed and helpless. 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:31.160 And so, what we see here 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:32.960 is that Jesus is making His way 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.519 through Galilee. 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.779 He's going from city to village to town. 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.539 He's teaching. 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.279 He's preaching. 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.039 He's healing. 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:42.080 And He's taking note 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:44.400 of this people. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.360 This people He's in the midst of. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.980 They're harassed and helpless. 00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:53.279 Like sheep without a shepherd. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.460 This is a different group of people 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:57.620 than the Pharisees and the scribes. 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:03.460 These are people that 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:06.559 are just feeling the impact 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.880 of their lousy leadership. 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.700 The harassed and helpless 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.240 are those who are being brutalized 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.340 by the fallout of sin. 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.279 Whether it's disease, 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.579 or whether it's demons, 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.620 or death, 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.120 or natural disaster, 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.920 or just the dysfunctional leadership 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.860 of the Pharisees and the scribes 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.360 of the time. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:31.480 So what we see happening here 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.980 is Jesus sees the crowds, 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:35.680 and He sees that they are harassed 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.240 and helpless, 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.580 and it moves Him. 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.019 He's affected by it. 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.400 But just to be honest, 00:19:43.060 --> 00:19:44.140 the harassed and helpless, 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:47.539 that's symptomatic of the real problem. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:54.299 And Matthew points us right to it. 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:56.180 Harassed and helpless 00:19:56.180 --> 00:20:01.039 like sheep without a shepherd. 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:03.559 The biggest problem 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:06.859 that these harassed and helpless sheep 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:08.019 were experiencing 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.839 was not so much 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:12.399 the experience of harassment, 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:15.159 it's the symptom of them 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:17.100 not having a shepherd for them. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.120 They were shepherdless. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.300 That was the problem. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:25.360 Jesus is the good shepherd. 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:28.820 Jesus is the shepherd king 00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:30.600 from the line of David 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.320 who had come 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:35.980 in order to lead His people. 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.320 If you want to look at Matthew 2.16, 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.580 look what happens. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.380 Look what is announced of Jesus. 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:41.560 Jesus. 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:48.320 And you, O Bethlehem, 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.160 in the land of Judah, 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:52.500 are by no means least 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:54.500 among the rulers of Judah. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.360 For from you shall come a ruler 00:20:57.360 --> 00:21:02.320 who will shepherd My people Israel. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.720 If you flip back all the way 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.700 to Ezekiel 34, 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.519 don't go there. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.180 Look at it this afternoon. 00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:09.620 Look at it sometime this week. 00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:11.360 God's people, 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:12.400 the shepherds, 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.660 the men He's put in place, 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:15.360 has failed His people. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.100 And so God Himself says, 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.340 I will shepherd My people. 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.779 I will become their shepherd. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.960 And so what we see happening here 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:28.019 is the shepherd has come. 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:31.220 And He's walking around Galilee 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:33.860 and He's seeing all the effects 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:36.920 of a people who lack a shepherd. 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:40.380 And so His heart of compassion 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:45.300 springs from this void of leadership. 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:48.440 Their King has come. 00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:50.519 Now just a word about sheep. 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:56.620 Sheep are known to be dumb animals. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:22:00.320 A sheep would graze in the same place 00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:03.440 until there was nothing left but dirt. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:05.820 If it weren't for a shepherd 00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:08.120 to move that sheep along 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.500 to greener pastures. 00:22:10.820 --> 00:22:12.799 They are not the smartest animals. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.259 They need the provision of guidance. 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:18.680 But they also are easily harassed. 00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:21.240 They really don't have 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.680 any stellar defense mechanisms. 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.620 I don't know about you, 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:27.240 but I've never seen quills 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.340 on a sheep before. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:31.140 I'm unaware of any poison glands 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.800 on a sheep. 00:22:32.540 --> 00:22:33.660 I don't think they have 00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:35.280 switchblades in their pockets. 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.800 They need protection. 00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.440 In short, 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.420 sheep are helpless. 00:22:41.800 --> 00:22:43.140 They're easily harassed 00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:45.820 and they need a lot of help. 00:22:48.780 --> 00:22:50.640 And what Jesus says 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.800 throughout the Gospels 00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:53.360 is that people are like sheep. 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:55.580 We need help. 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:59.839 Because of the deceitfulness 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.079 of sin in our own hearts, 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.960 here's what we do. 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.779 We become enslaved 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.119 to the very pleasures 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:08.019 that we think 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.759 are going to satisfy us. 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:12.000 And so we eat 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.220 and eat 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:15.240 from the same place 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.079 until it's just dirt 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:19.319 and we think all is well. 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:23.079 We like to think 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.279 we can protect ourselves. 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:26.200 But our defense mechanisms 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.159 never fully work, 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.619 do they? 00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:30.399 Have you met people 00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:31.879 who are so guarded 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.819 about being hurt 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:35.119 they essentially isolate themselves 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.279 from everybody else? 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.119 We all need help. 00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.740 We're more like sheep 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.000 than we care to admit. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.960 We're all in need 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.439 of a shepherd. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:50.200 2,000 years ago, 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.220 Jesus walked around 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:52.580 the Galilean metroplex 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:54.299 and He identified the need. 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.320 You need a shepherd. 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:59.759 We need a shepherd today. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.220 The harassed and helpless 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.840 just didn't live then. 00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:08.000 You drive around this city 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.799 and you will see 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:10.340 plenty of harassed 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:11.340 and helpless. 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.779 Jesus saw the crowds 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.600 as they truly were. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:18.819 and Jesus sees us 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.859 as we truly are. 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.539 He sees through 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.319 our empty attempts 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:26.339 of satisfying ourselves. 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:28.039 He sees through 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.619 our weak attempts 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:31.259 to protect ourselves. 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.899 And you know how He responds? 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.559 He doesn't bring the heavy. 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.899 He brings a compassionate heart. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.699 You need a shepherd. 00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:41.399 That's what you need. 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:45.240 So, the third thing 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.220 I want to notice here 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:49.000 is how He sees 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.200 these crowds 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.820 and how He sees 00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:53.600 many of us 00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:55.700 like sheep 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.920 without a shepherd. 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.600 Jesus identifies 00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.500 our greatest need. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.440 He 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.960 is 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.880 our shepherd. 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:07.960 shepherd. 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:10.540 The fourth thing 00:25:10.540 --> 00:25:11.440 I want you to notice 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:13.520 is in verse 36 too. 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.280 When He saw the crowds, 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:17.480 He had compassion for them 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:20.080 because they were harassed 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:20.480 and helpless 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.000 like sheep 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.640 without a shepherd. 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:25.280 He's affected 00:25:25.280 --> 00:25:27.300 by what He sees. 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:30.000 He's moved 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.839 deeply 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:33.700 by the shepherdless crowds. 00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:36.139 He moves 00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:37.960 towards them. 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.059 There were great crowds 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.700 of people following Jesus. 00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:45.919 We read that in Matthew 4.23. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.180 That also comes up 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.339 in Matthew 8.1. 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.539 And as He's making His way 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.659 throughout Galilee, 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:54.159 He's seeing these crowds. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.139 And Matthew tells us 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:58.240 not only how He sees them, 00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:01.220 but how He feels about them. 00:26:02.040 --> 00:26:03.120 What we see here 00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:05.300 is the heart of God 00:26:05.300 --> 00:26:06.600 for the lost. 00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:09.080 His heart for sinners. 00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:11.520 His heart for the harassed 00:26:11.520 --> 00:26:12.680 and for the helpless. 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:14.840 It's just like God's heart 00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:15.540 for His people 00:26:15.540 --> 00:26:16.980 back in Ezekiel 34. 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:20.240 He wants good for His people. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.220 He wants Himself 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:24.440 for His people. 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:27.660 When Jesus saw the crowds, 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.660 He didn't see 00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:30.039 a potential fan base. 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.740 He didn't see 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.740 the grassroots 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.539 of a new political movement. 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.240 He didn't see 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.400 a demographic market 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.860 to make a quick denarius. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.860 Matthew tells us 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:44.140 that when Jesus saw the crowds, 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.460 He had compassion for them 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:47.339 because He saw them 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.680 as sheep without a shepherd. 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:51.860 And that's why He came. 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:56.200 That word compassion 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:58.200 is used in your New Testament 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.259 only of Jesus. 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.380 Only of Him. 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.340 It's used only of Him 00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:04.340 and only by Him. 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.320 And what seems to be 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:07.980 going on there 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:10.080 is that this compassion 00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:11.960 is more than human pity. 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.240 It's more than just 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.620 a human emotion 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.560 to seeing people 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.659 in tough situations. 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.679 What we see happening here 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:21.659 is the heart 00:27:21.659 --> 00:27:22.960 of the Messiah. 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:25.059 The Good Shepherd. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.879 His heart is on display 00:27:26.879 --> 00:27:28.519 for the harassed 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:30.200 and helpless sheep. 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.960 Jesus is deeply moved 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.359 at seeing these people 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.599 and their need for Him. 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.940 It's why He came. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:42.200 He's deeply, deeply moved by it. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:47.900 What Matthew seems to be saying 00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:50.720 is this deep emotion 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.900 he's experiencing 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:54.700 is unique to the office 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.380 he holds. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.380 He's the Messiah King. 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:01.480 The Shepherd who has come 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.319 in the line of David. 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:05.200 And he sees His people. 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.900 A people needing Him. 00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:11.840 So, what I want you to notice 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:13.960 is how He feels. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.300 How He feels about 00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:17.280 the harassed and helpless. 00:28:18.040 --> 00:28:19.360 How He feels about those 00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.019 without a shepherd. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.000 The fifth thing I want you to notice 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:27.280 is how Jesus responds. 00:28:27.540 --> 00:28:29.560 What Jesus does first. 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.700 He sees these crowds. 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:35.480 He is moved to the depths 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.240 of His being over it. 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:39.799 And what He does first 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:41.700 is really instructive for us. 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.580 Really informative. 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:46.500 We see that in verses 37 and 38. 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.740 He's moved to compassion. 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.240 He sees these people 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.340 like sheep without a shepherd. 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.480 And then He says to His disciples, 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.819 the harvest is plentiful, 00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:59.519 but the laborers are few. 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:02.400 Therefore, pray. 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.180 Pray. 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:04.860 Pray. 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.600 Pray earnestly to the Lord 00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.140 of the harvest 00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:09.400 to send out laborers 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.480 into the harvest field. 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.720 Pray. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.779 Did you notice there's a shift 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.559 from language? 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.000 A language that moves 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.039 from sheep and shepherds 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.559 to harvest and laborers 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.000 and the Lord of the harvest. 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:25.640 So there's a shift in metaphor here. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.980 The harvest that Jesus speaks of, 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:30.799 of course, it's not a harvest of wheat. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:34.700 It's not a harvest of corn or soybeans. 00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:38.139 It's a harvest of the harassed and helpless. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.079 The harvest is a harvest of people. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:47.179 People are incredibly important to God. 00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:49.220 Do you know why? 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.980 We're made in His image. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:54.240 We're designed to worship Him. 00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:56.799 His worship, 00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:58.539 the worship of His name, 00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.480 He treasures. 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:02.279 And when His name is not treasured, 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.839 it grieves Him deeply. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:07.199 People are very important 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:08.119 to the living God. 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:11.639 And so He starts talking harvest. 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:13.619 And in verse 7, 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:16.099 He seems to identify a problem. 00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.419 According to Jesus, 00:30:20.139 --> 00:30:21.839 there's too much harvest 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:24.039 and not enough laborers. 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:25.979 Up until this point, 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.159 Matthew, Jesus has been doing 00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:28.359 the work of ministry Himself. 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.579 And next week, 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.879 when we look at Matthew 10, 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.959 we're going to see Him 00:30:31.959 --> 00:30:33.839 send out 12 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.899 to join Him 00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:35.519 in the work 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.839 of the harvest field. 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.079 But right here, 00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:40.919 what we're seeing is 00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:42.480 Jesus is aware 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:44.619 of a harvest boon 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:48.039 and a serious labor shortage. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.399 And how does He respond? 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.559 What does He do? 00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:57.899 He calls a prayer meeting. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.839 That's what He does. 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:03.980 He sees the problem 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:05.000 and He says, 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.859 let's go to the Lord 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.459 of the harvest. 00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:10.539 Let's ask Him 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:12.199 to send out laborers 00:31:12.199 --> 00:31:15.339 into His harvest field. 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.240 Did you notice that? 00:31:19.439 --> 00:31:20.959 Whose harvest this is? 00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:24.379 The Lord of the harvest. 00:31:25.419 --> 00:31:26.359 His harvest. 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.439 He's speaking of God. 00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.199 God's in control. 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:33.259 God looks at the city 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:33.779 of Kenosha 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.319 and He's thinking, 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.459 this is my harvest. 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.539 But what I want you 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.259 to notice is 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:42.799 the first impulse 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.399 of Jesus 00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:46.039 is not to equip people 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.179 on how to share their faith. 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.259 There's a place for that. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:51.259 It's to call people 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.740 to pray 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:54.220 for the Lord of the harvest 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.599 to raise up laborers. 00:31:58.419 --> 00:31:59.339 So five things 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.199 I wanted you to notice. 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:01.480 Where Jesus is. 00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:03.620 What Jesus is doing there. 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:05.259 How Jesus sees people. 00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.980 How He feels about them. 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:08.360 And what's the first thing He does? 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.299 He calls a prayer meeting. 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:10.140 He calls us to pray. 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.380 And so the point 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:12.680 of it all is this. 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:15.380 God is showing us 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:17.080 the compassionate heart 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:17.799 of Jesus 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:20.180 to reconcile sinners to God. 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.660 It's all about reconciliation. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.480 Reconciling sheep 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.319 to their shepherd. 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.740 Harvesting a people 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:27.100 to the Lord of the harvest. 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:28.579 It's all about 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.819 reconciliation. 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:32.159 It's the mission of Jesus. 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:34.359 And that's what He's calling us 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.079 to be a part of. 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:38.619 If you see the heart of Jesus, 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:40.379 if you see His heart, 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:42.159 how He sees people, 00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:44.259 and how He feels about people, 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:46.980 it's going to change your priorities. 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:50.039 You're going to want to join Him 00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.940 in the work He's doing. 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:53.559 And so in light of that, 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.319 let's apply this 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.640 in four ways. 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.539 First is this. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.119 Delight. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.440 Joy. 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.440 Rejoice. 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:08.180 Why? 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.759 Here's why. 00:33:10.840 --> 00:33:11.880 Delight yourself 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:14.900 in that the compassion of Jesus 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:18.299 was towards you. 00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:22.019 He had compassion on you. 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:26.080 He was moved at your situation. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.340 And He did something about it. 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.320 If you're a Christian, 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:31.160 remember you were once harassed 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:32.660 and helpless like a sheep 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.380 without a shepherd. 00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:35.220 But if you put your faith in Jesus, 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.140 no more. 00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:38.980 Your shepherd is for you now. 00:33:39.820 --> 00:33:41.600 You belong to His flock. 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.840 He wanted you to be His own. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.580 So much so, 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:47.320 He laid down His life for you. 00:33:49.340 --> 00:33:50.299 He's your shepherd. 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:52.000 He has claimed you as His own. 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:55.240 And He will never let you go. 00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:58.759 Now let's say you're here this morning 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.880 and you're not a Christian yet. 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:02.380 I'd like you to ask yourself a question. 00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:05.340 Is it possible 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:07.359 that the risen Jesus 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:10.860 has a heart full of compassion towards you? 00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:15.480 And His heart is full of compassion towards you 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:17.700 because you are a sheep without a shepherd. 00:34:19.620 --> 00:34:21.280 His heart moves towards you 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:23.000 because He wants to be your shepherd. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:27.179 He wants you to respond to Him in faith. 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:32.179 He wants to reconcile you to Himself. 00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:35.880 And so if you find yourself in a situation 00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.940 where you came in here and said, 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.880 I'm not Christian. 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.039 I don't want to follow Jesus. 00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.539 And now you're thinking, 00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:41.900 well, maybe I want to be a Christian. 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.719 Maybe I want to follow... 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.559 He sounds awesome. 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.699 He's paid for my sin. 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.299 Well, let me tell you. 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.659 Here's what you need to do. 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:54.919 You need to start being honest with yourself 00:34:54.919 --> 00:34:56.159 and honest with Him. 00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.579 You need to tell Him 00:34:58.579 --> 00:35:00.579 that you've made a mess of your life 00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.739 trying to be your own shepherd. 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:04.139 Trying to lead yourself everywhere. 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:07.199 And you've made a mess of things. 00:35:09.439 --> 00:35:11.079 And then you tell Him something like this. 00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.259 You say, 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:15.420 I believe you laid down your life for me. 00:35:17.239 --> 00:35:18.860 Lord, would you take me as your own? 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:22.319 He says yes every time. 00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:25.279 He'll bring you into His fold. 00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:27.420 Make you one of His sheep. 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:29.400 But it doesn't end there. 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.460 Tell Him you will follow Him 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.340 wherever He leads 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:35.139 and obey Him at whatever the cost. 00:35:35.219 --> 00:35:35.679 Tell Him it. 00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:36.840 Tell Him it. 00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:38.259 I'll go wherever you lead. 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:40.139 I'll obey whatever you say. 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:43.279 Now let me just say something right there. 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:46.259 When you see Jesus for who He is, 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:49.259 these kinds of words of response, 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.920 I'll follow you wherever. 00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:53.480 I'll obey you no matter what. 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:55.659 Those kinds of words of response, 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:58.059 they don't spring from duty. 00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:00.440 Yes, Jesus, I will do whatever you say. 00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:01.000 Yes, sir. 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.960 They spring from delight. 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:06.519 They spring from joy. 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.299 Here's why. 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:10.120 Because when you realize 00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:11.600 you were lost 00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:13.480 and your shepherd 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:15.740 came and found you 00:36:15.740 --> 00:36:18.740 and laid down His life for you 00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:21.480 so that you could be part of His flock, 00:36:22.200 --> 00:36:23.260 do you know what happens? 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.720 Delight. 00:36:26.580 --> 00:36:28.180 I will follow my shepherd 00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:29.400 wherever He leads me. 00:36:30.260 --> 00:36:32.100 I will go wherever He wants. 00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:33.639 I will obey every word 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.619 as I am able. 00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:37.099 Where are you at? 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.699 Where are you at? 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:43.900 Today, God is talking to you. 00:36:45.279 --> 00:36:46.079 Respond to Him. 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:50.059 He wants to be your shepherd. 00:36:52.139 --> 00:36:53.119 Delight first. 00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.819 The second thing is see. 00:36:54.819 --> 00:36:57.360 See people as Jesus sees people. 00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.860 So see sheep, 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.559 see harvest. 00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:03.840 People everywhere 00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:05.140 need a shepherd. 00:37:06.120 --> 00:37:07.960 We've got that in common. 00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:11.460 So when you run into someone 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:13.900 with a different skin color than you, 00:37:14.680 --> 00:37:16.320 that person needs a shepherd 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.180 just like you. 00:37:17.700 --> 00:37:19.019 Whenever you bump into someone 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:20.840 who has a different sexual orientation 00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.740 than you do, 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:22.920 I'm not saying that's okay. 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.559 I'm just saying 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.780 that's where we live. 00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:25.880 When that happens, 00:37:26.060 --> 00:37:28.640 realize that person needs a shepherd. 00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:32.300 When you bump into people 00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:33.960 of different income levels, 00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:36.000 who cares if they're poor? 00:37:36.060 --> 00:37:37.100 Who cares if they're rich? 00:37:37.420 --> 00:37:38.400 They all need a shepherd. 00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:41.780 Educational backgrounds. 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.600 You bump into someone 00:37:42.600 --> 00:37:44.200 who didn't get out of elementary school. 00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.280 And then you meet someone 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.780 with three PhDs. 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:47.720 You know what they have in common? 00:37:49.600 --> 00:37:50.580 They need a shepherd. 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:54.840 Criminal backgrounds. 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:57.319 Someone has clean as a bill. 00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.779 Other ones has racked up 00:37:58.779 --> 00:37:59.739 years in jail. 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.119 They all need a shepherd. 00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:04.699 Maybe you're here legally 00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:07.519 as a citizen of the United States. 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:09.019 And maybe you know someone 00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:10.000 who's here illegally. 00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:11.799 We all need a shepherd. 00:38:11.799 --> 00:38:16.659 We're all like sheep 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.279 without a shepherd. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:21.440 Every person living in this city 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:23.340 is somehow harassed and helpless. 00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.460 It changes the way 00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.120 that you see them. 00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.620 And it's not just limited 00:38:28.620 --> 00:38:29.320 to our city. 00:38:30.140 --> 00:38:32.160 This is a global phenomena. 00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:36.460 All seven whatever billion people 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.600 on the face of the earth 00:38:37.600 --> 00:38:39.640 in need of a shepherd. 00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:41.120 One shepherd. 00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.540 The shepherd. 00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:44.060 The good shepherd 00:38:44.060 --> 00:38:45.140 who laid down his life 00:38:45.140 --> 00:38:45.600 for his sheep. 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:47.299 Let me just kind of dial this in 00:38:47.299 --> 00:38:47.900 a little bit more. 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:48.839 Husbands. 00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:51.900 Your wife needs Jesus, 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.659 the good shepherd, 00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.920 more than she needs you. 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:55.819 Wives. 00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:57.980 Your husbands need Jesus, 00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:59.079 the good shepherd, 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.219 more than they need you. 00:39:00.839 --> 00:39:01.279 Parents. 00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:02.679 See your children 00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:04.360 as sheep needing 00:39:04.360 --> 00:39:05.279 the good shepherd. 00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:06.559 It changes the way 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:07.059 you parent. 00:39:08.779 --> 00:39:09.719 If you're a friend, 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.880 see your friends 00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:14.279 as people in need 00:39:14.279 --> 00:39:14.920 of the shepherd. 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:17.259 You got an overbearing boss? 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:18.179 He needs the shepherd. 00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.339 And so do you 00:39:19.339 --> 00:39:20.159 as you deal with him. 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:23.019 You got an annoying sibling? 00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:26.500 You both need a shepherd. 00:39:27.779 --> 00:39:29.079 You've got a nosy neighbor? 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.799 They need a shepherd. 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:36.179 We need to see people as sheep 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:38.299 and we need to see our city 00:39:38.299 --> 00:39:39.339 and the neighborhoods in it 00:39:39.339 --> 00:39:40.679 as a harvest field. 00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:44.319 If you drove along 22nd Avenue, 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:46.960 how would you interpret 00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:49.239 what you see normally? 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.879 What would you see? 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:54.179 Would you see different crime rates 00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:56.019 of the different neighborhoods? 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:58.980 Would you see different home values 00:39:58.980 --> 00:40:00.379 based on locations? 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:03.980 Would you think of different qualities 00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:06.219 of school based on the neighborhoods? 00:40:06.219 --> 00:40:08.859 different business opportunities? 00:40:09.959 --> 00:40:11.059 Police activity? 00:40:11.259 --> 00:40:12.259 How do you interpret it? 00:40:12.879 --> 00:40:14.199 How do you make sense of it? 00:40:14.379 --> 00:40:15.239 When you see it, 00:40:15.299 --> 00:40:16.079 how do you see it? 00:40:17.500 --> 00:40:18.919 See it like Jesus sees it. 00:40:20.019 --> 00:40:20.419 Harvest. 00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:22.839 If Jesus was in the back seat 00:40:22.839 --> 00:40:23.659 when you're driving, 00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:25.779 you know what He would say to you 00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:27.139 as you're driving through Allendale? 00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:29.239 Well, it's my harvest. 00:40:30.379 --> 00:40:31.420 It needs laborers. 00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:33.159 Harbor Park? 00:40:33.359 --> 00:40:34.079 It's a harvest. 00:40:34.279 --> 00:40:35.219 It needs laborers. 00:40:35.599 --> 00:40:36.379 Wilson neighborhood? 00:40:37.339 --> 00:40:38.299 It's a harvest. 00:40:38.779 --> 00:40:39.859 It needs laborers. 00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.659 Lincoln Park? 00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:43.139 All the way through 00:40:43.139 --> 00:40:44.480 as you get out 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:46.039 from downtown Kenosha 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.539 and as you work your way 00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:49.319 west, north, and south. 00:40:49.739 --> 00:40:52.039 It all is a harvest field 00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:53.559 needing Jesus. 00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:56.219 Needing laborers. 00:40:57.139 --> 00:41:01.519 See the city 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:02.980 as Jesus sees the city. 00:41:03.739 --> 00:41:04.460 It's a harvest. 00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:06.719 You need to want 00:41:06.719 --> 00:41:08.000 what Jesus wants. 00:41:08.879 --> 00:41:11.059 So delight, see, want. 00:41:12.379 --> 00:41:13.799 Let me just ask it this way. 00:41:15.019 --> 00:41:16.460 When you see your neighbor 00:41:16.460 --> 00:41:17.339 next door to you, 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:19.719 does it occur to you 00:41:19.719 --> 00:41:22.759 that they need a shepherd? 00:41:24.440 --> 00:41:26.179 Have you started asking yourself 00:41:26.179 --> 00:41:26.839 the question, 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:28.960 with those people living around you, 00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:32.699 what does Jesus want to do here? 00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:34.859 Have you begun asking yourself 00:41:34.859 --> 00:41:35.359 that question? 00:41:36.259 --> 00:41:37.839 Start asking yourself that question. 00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:41.759 You begin to want what Jesus wants. 00:41:42.759 --> 00:41:45.059 How does Jesus feel about your neighbors? 00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:49.940 is it possible that he wants to be their shepherd too? 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.420 And finally, pray. 00:41:54.759 --> 00:41:56.239 Pray along the lines 00:41:56.239 --> 00:41:58.159 that Jesus compels us to pray. 00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:59.739 Pray for laborers. 00:42:00.340 --> 00:42:01.599 We had a leadership team meeting 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:02.380 this past Wednesday 00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:03.239 and we all heard this 00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:04.779 very interesting statistic. 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:08.440 92% of church growth in the United States 00:42:08.440 --> 00:42:10.440 is by transfer growth. 00:42:11.640 --> 00:42:14.920 It's Christians going from church to church to church. 00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:17.539 And then there's a place for that. 00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:20.980 We're not saying that's bad necessarily. 00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:26.760 So far as Christians are leaving one church 00:42:26.760 --> 00:42:27.579 and going to the next 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:29.000 for God-pleasing reasons 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:30.219 and God-pleasing ways, 00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:30.860 welcome. 00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:33.000 But I'll tell you what, 00:42:33.219 --> 00:42:35.240 we want to be a church here in the city 00:42:35.240 --> 00:42:37.199 that is growing more and more 00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:38.280 by conversions. 00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:42.060 Men and women hearing Jesus 00:42:42.060 --> 00:42:44.780 and realizing I am harassed and helpless 00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:45.880 and I don't have a shepherd 00:42:45.880 --> 00:42:46.780 and you're the shepherd. 00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:49.120 And you lay down your life for me. 00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:52.220 That's why we're here. 00:42:53.160 --> 00:42:54.660 And that's what we're going to pray for 00:42:54.660 --> 00:42:56.320 this Friday night, 7 o'clock. 00:42:56.740 --> 00:42:59.060 Here, we're going to pray for revival 00:42:59.060 --> 00:43:01.240 and we're going to pray for the raising up 00:43:01.240 --> 00:43:04.519 of laborers to go to our city. 00:43:05.980 --> 00:43:07.280 We're going to do that on Friday night. 00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:09.440 Do you know what we're doing on Saturday? 00:43:11.060 --> 00:43:13.519 We're sending Chelsea Zeman to Nicaragua. 00:43:15.140 --> 00:43:16.100 Is that pretty cool? 00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:20.220 May there be more Chelsea Zemans 00:43:20.220 --> 00:43:22.160 that go to our city, 00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:23.500 in our state, 00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.620 in our nation, 00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:26.019 in this world. 00:43:27.380 --> 00:43:28.840 Would you start praying personally 00:43:28.840 --> 00:43:29.860 for laborers? 00:43:30.300 --> 00:43:31.600 Pray when you're driving. 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:33.720 Pray with your family around the dinner table. 00:43:34.140 --> 00:43:35.300 Pray in your life groups 00:43:35.300 --> 00:43:37.900 and join us this Friday as we pray here. 00:43:38.280 --> 00:43:42.160 Let's go for a drive. 00:43:43.940 --> 00:43:46.300 Say we may meet down at Canine Corner. 00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:49.080 This time Jesus is driving. 00:43:50.220 --> 00:43:51.560 And as we're making our way north, 00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:53.519 person after person, 00:43:53.620 --> 00:43:54.700 He points to and says, 00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:55.940 you see Him? 00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:57.900 Harassed and helpless. 00:43:58.620 --> 00:43:59.660 A sheep without a shepherd. 00:43:59.740 --> 00:44:00.440 He needs me. 00:44:01.200 --> 00:44:02.220 She needs me. 00:44:02.220 --> 00:44:03.760 They need me. 00:44:03.760 --> 00:44:04.639 I'm the shepherd. 00:44:06.240 --> 00:44:07.400 He goes on to say, 00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:08.240 all these neighborhoods, 00:44:09.200 --> 00:44:10.760 these are all different areas 00:44:10.760 --> 00:44:12.420 of this harvest 00:44:12.420 --> 00:44:15.139 that I want to harvest souls from. 00:44:17.659 --> 00:44:19.179 The harvest is plentiful, 00:44:19.300 --> 00:44:20.220 but the laborers are few. 00:44:20.219 --> 00:44:23.259 Let's pray to the Lord of the harvest. 00:44:24.359 --> 00:44:26.079 And let's pray that He sends us. 00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:28.399 Lord Jesus, 00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:30.599 we are so thankful 00:44:30.599 --> 00:44:32.559 that You are the good shepherd. 00:44:33.559 --> 00:44:35.559 Thank You that for many of us in this room, 00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:36.819 You have come for us. 00:44:36.899 --> 00:44:38.399 You laid Your life down for us. 00:44:38.899 --> 00:44:40.279 And now we know Your voice 00:44:40.279 --> 00:44:41.959 and we follow You with great joy 00:44:41.959 --> 00:44:43.699 even when things get tough. 00:44:43.699 --> 00:44:44.259 Lord, 00:44:45.639 --> 00:44:47.539 we want to live our lives for You 00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:49.179 and we want to be on Your mission. 00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:50.379 God, 00:44:50.439 --> 00:44:51.819 would You raise up laborers 00:44:51.819 --> 00:44:53.539 to go to the city of Kenosha 00:44:53.539 --> 00:44:55.539 to speak the Gospel, 00:44:55.779 --> 00:44:58.219 to swing the sickle of the Gospel 00:44:58.219 --> 00:45:00.859 and to harvest for You men and women, 00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:01.659 boys and girls, 00:45:01.960 --> 00:45:03.460 from all stripes of life 00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:06.000 to live for the glory of Your name. 00:45:06.799 --> 00:45:07.659 It's Your name we pray. 00:45:08.439 --> 00:45:08.759 Amen.