WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.019 If you have your Bible this morning, I want you to turn to Luke chapter 7. 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:17.320 Luke chapter 7. 00:00:18.620 --> 00:00:26.000 Jesus loved children, and he lived in a day and in a society where children were best 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.120 not seen or heard, was the thought. 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:31.120 And Jesus wanted to see them. 00:00:32.660 --> 00:00:34.340 And Jesus wanted to hear them. 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:37.299 And he wanted them to hear him. 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:43.460 He said in Matthew 19, verse 13, it says, 00:00:43.660 --> 00:00:47.780 Then children were brought to him, that he may lay his hands on them and pray, and the 00:00:47.780 --> 00:00:49.079 disciples rebuke the people. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:55.100 But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:55.980 the kingdom of heaven. 00:00:55.979 --> 00:00:59.179 And he laid his hands on them and went away. 00:01:00.699 --> 00:01:02.939 Jesus is serious, not just talking about it. 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:08.979 He's serious about receiving children, treating them right, and leading them toward Christ. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:18.700 And we need to do all we can as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ to welcome and nurture and 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:24.320 to care for and to teach and to love children of the Lord. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:30.799 On that note, did you know we had sign-ups for Awana in the foyer? 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:36.739 I think we have availability in the fall for children's Sunday school. 00:01:38.119 --> 00:01:43.739 And thank God we always have an ever-growing need for a willingness to help with child care. 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:50.819 So if you care about children, you don't only say amen, and you don't only applaud, or you don't 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:56.379 only go along with what's being said but are willing to help, text R.C., Jeff, or Jennifer, 00:01:57.039 --> 00:01:58.000 because they'd love to have it. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:59.099 And I'm not just preaching, folks. 00:01:59.119 --> 00:01:59.939 I'm telling the truth. 00:01:59.939 --> 00:02:02.579 We put our feet into action. 00:02:02.739 --> 00:02:03.439 We do it. 00:02:04.659 --> 00:02:09.400 Another time when he was with the disciples, they asked him who the greatest in the kingdom 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:14.479 was because they were vying to be that person, that greatest in the kingdom. 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:18.000 And in Matthew 18, he responded and he said, 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:23.539 Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you'll never enter the kingdom 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:23.979 of heaven. 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:30.099 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:33.319 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. 00:02:33.419 --> 00:02:38.280 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it'd be better for 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:46.419 him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the 00:02:46.419 --> 00:02:46.679 sea. 00:02:47.899 --> 00:02:50.000 Jesus doesn't play, folks. 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:51.439 He's clear. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:58.400 It is important that we set a Christian example before those that are placed in front of us. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.379 And he's telling us to be childlike. 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:05.500 Now listen, there's a difference in being childlike and being childish. 00:03:06.659 --> 00:03:10.759 And today in our passage, he shares a parable about being childish. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:16.579 He is referring to the Pharisees who are the church folk. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:18.620 They're the religious leaders. 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:20.319 They're the proponents of the law. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:26.959 And the scribes called here lawyers, but they are those who interpret the law. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:35.479 They take the law that God established in the Old Testament and they interpret those laws 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:42.039 and they made new rules on top of those and pretended as if those rules were just as important 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:44.139 as God's law that was in Scripture. 00:03:44.139 --> 00:03:51.059 They thought their interpretations were just as important, if not more so, than what Scripture said. 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:57.560 And it was in that misunderstanding that they often had conflict with Christ. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:04.240 They also didn't like his popularity because it took the emphasis off of them and put it on him. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:11.560 And so they had a tendency to stand in the back of the crowd and question, to look for some kind of hot point 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.140 where they could point out something and somehow criticize. 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:15.879 And Jesus knew their heart. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:17.819 He knew what they were up to. 00:04:18.099 --> 00:04:20.599 And so he spoke to them about it. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:23.500 He speaks to the religious upper crust. 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:27.120 And he says, you're acting like children. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.079 Look at what he says. 00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:31.759 He says, it's in Luke chapter 7, verse 31, 32, it says this. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:35.300 To what then shall I compare the people of this generation? 00:04:35.719 --> 00:04:36.680 And what are they like? 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:41.560 They're like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:43.579 we play the flute for you and you didn't dance. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:47.300 We sang a dirge and you didn't weep. 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:50.319 Folks, it's one thing to be childlike. 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:53.040 It's another thing to be childish. 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:56.220 But yet that is what God calls the people of that generation. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:05:00.939 He calls them childish by saying they are like children that cannot play together well. 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:04.060 They're like children that are never satisfied. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:07.439 And he goes on to explain how some people are never satisfied. 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:12.220 See, Jesus and John the Baptist came with two different approaches, 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.800 but they came for the same cause. 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:19.019 Yet most folks rejected both of them. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:21.420 He goes on to say in verse 33, 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:25.300 for John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine. 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.300 And you say, he has a demon. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:30.180 And the son of man has come eating and drinking. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:32.120 And you say, look at him, a glutton and a drunkard, 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:34.300 a friend of tax collectors and sinners. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.319 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children. 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:42.519 Now, John was quite a character. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:47.540 He was ministering and preaching on the outer skirts of town. 00:05:48.579 --> 00:05:53.000 His garments were those that reminded folks of a prophet. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:59.240 When scripture says he wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt, 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:03.920 they're not exactly talking about our idea of a camel hair coat, okay? 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.600 As we would think of today. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:13.540 Instead, he was wild-eyed, wild-haired, eating bugs and honey, 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:16.519 looking like he just came from Woodstock. 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:21.099 And if that personally offends some of you, well, sorry. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:24.659 Man, he was drawing a crowd, though. 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:28.519 And he was telling them to repent of their sins. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:30.680 He was telling them to be baptized. 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:33.519 And he was effective at it. 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:35.220 People were coming. 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:36.300 Lives were changing. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:40.079 And the Pharisees and the Sadducees came out to see what was up. 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:43.980 And when he saw them, he called them the offspring of snakes 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:47.500 and told them to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:50.899 He pulled no punches. 00:06:51.960 --> 00:06:53.920 And he said that if they didn't change, 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:58.340 that God would chop them down like a tree in Matthew chapter 3. 00:06:58.339 --> 00:07:02.519 Now, that may influence people, but it sure doesn't win friends. 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:03.639 And they didn't like him. 00:07:04.179 --> 00:07:04.859 They didn't like him. 00:07:06.159 --> 00:07:08.239 He also proclaimed a coming Messiah 00:07:08.239 --> 00:07:11.979 and ushered in the way that Christ would come. 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:15.339 And when Christ came, John the Baptist got out of the way. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:18.379 Now, it's interesting, a little side note here. 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.019 He was later imprisoned for his faith 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:24.079 and was soon to be beheaded because of his boldness. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:28.339 And he asked his followers during that time of imprisonment 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:32.099 to go to Jesus and ask if he was really the Messiah. 00:07:33.099 --> 00:07:34.319 What in the world does that mean? 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:36.419 Because he came to prepare the way of the Lord. 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:38.519 And he was so strong in his testimony. 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:42.740 So why later did he question that or have them question it? 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:47.240 And there are two possible reasons for that. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:50.219 One was that after he had been so strong 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:53.740 and such a powerful testimony and then been imprisoned 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:55.900 and now his death was looming, 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:58.580 could be that he struggled some with that. 00:07:59.580 --> 00:08:00.540 Could be that he wondered. 00:08:00.780 --> 00:08:02.320 But it also could be as well 00:08:02.320 --> 00:08:05.580 that he was taking his disciples 00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:07.860 and turning them over to Jesus. 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:10.360 So in other words, what he was saying was, 00:08:10.780 --> 00:08:12.320 and I believe this was the point, 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:14.180 he was telling them, 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:16.700 go ask Jesus who he is. 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:20.979 Go find out for yourself who Jesus is. 00:08:22.099 --> 00:08:24.219 And it was in that kind of context 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:28.680 with the pressure of the Pharisees and the Sadducees 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:32.639 and their followers bearing down on Christ too, 00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:35.500 which was just the Pharisees and the Sadducees, 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:39.620 just two political parties within the church. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:42.759 Just two different mindsets, 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:45.500 some different theology, 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:47.639 but both of them power mongers 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:50.080 and both of them in the decision rooms of the church. 00:08:50.819 --> 00:08:53.220 And they were bearing down on Christ 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:56.139 and that's when Christ speaks the passage 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:57.179 that I read this morning. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:59.679 Basically what he's saying is this, 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:00.980 God sent two men. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.860 One, he sent a prophet and a paver of the way for Christ. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:07.340 You didn't like him. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:09.600 Then he sends his only son 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:11.159 and you don't like him. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.959 One is bold and brash and forceful. 00:09:14.219 --> 00:09:16.639 One is gentle, lowly and humble. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:20.159 And you want to do the opposite of either one of them, 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:22.659 but yet their approaches are very different. 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:24.919 But both are of God. 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:27.559 In other words, Christ is telling us 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:29.159 we ought to become childlike, 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:33.179 but instead so often we become childish. 00:09:33.339 --> 00:09:34.879 It's like children at play. 00:09:35.939 --> 00:09:37.339 Children often when they play 00:09:37.339 --> 00:09:39.120 like to mimic life when they play. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.120 Little boys play with cars 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.000 hoping one day to be able to drive. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:45.539 And little girls put towels on their head 00:09:45.539 --> 00:09:46.779 as if it was a veil 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:47.820 looking forward to the day 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:49.399 when they can be a bride. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:51.460 Or they play with dolls 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:52.539 wanting to be like mommy. 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:55.340 Or the kids play house 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:56.539 and they pick different roles. 00:09:57.580 --> 00:09:58.480 And as they get older, 00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:00.039 they play school during the summer 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:00.980 when they're out of school. 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:05.560 They mimic what they see. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:08.399 And the two big ceremonies 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.000 in the first century 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.220 were funerals and weddings. 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:15.620 And so that's what children saw. 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:16.899 And so that's what they played. 00:10:17.180 --> 00:10:18.879 And Jesus speaks of children 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:20.340 mimicking those things when they saw. 00:10:20.420 --> 00:10:22.720 They sang sad songs at funerals. 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:24.800 Or they play a flute 00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:26.920 like the music of a wedding dance. 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.120 However, sometimes children 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.979 don't play along. 00:10:31.219 --> 00:10:32.259 And Jesus is saying, 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:33.559 John took one approach 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:35.599 and I took another approach 00:10:35.599 --> 00:10:37.159 and this generation 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:38.879 has accepted neither. 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.979 And if you accept neither, 00:10:42.979 --> 00:10:44.979 you miss the message 00:10:44.979 --> 00:10:46.639 of the Lord. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:52.840 I wish it was just that generation. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:57.240 The reality is 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:00.179 there's a lot of good church people 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:00.980 like us 00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:03.980 that are not receptive 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:06.639 to the movement of God today. 00:11:07.860 --> 00:11:09.240 We can be a lot like the world 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.259 when it comes to that sometimes. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:14.779 We can be spiritually childish. 00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:18.519 Why are we prone 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:21.139 to be childish? 00:11:21.339 --> 00:11:22.740 And if you're sitting out there thinking, 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:24.759 I'm not childish. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.399 Well, there you go. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.600 Why are we prone to be childish? 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.319 One is, 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:34.120 it could be the expectation 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.159 that we have. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.279 We expected something different. 00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:40.639 I mean, sometimes people 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.659 just want it their way. 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:42.939 And it's not that there's 00:11:42.939 --> 00:11:44.019 really anything wrong 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:45.559 with how something is happening. 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:47.460 It's just not acceptable 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:48.759 because it's not what I expected. 00:11:49.199 --> 00:11:49.840 I didn't think 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.799 it was going to go this way. 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:52.919 They didn't think 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.559 John was going to continue 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:56.100 to go after everyone's sin. 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:57.000 That was his message. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:58.360 And he did it boldly 00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.439 and he kept on 00:11:59.439 --> 00:12:00.579 going after people's sin. 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.019 We don't mind 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:03.819 when you go after 00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:04.879 somebody else's sin. 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:05.639 You know? 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.120 I mean, you pounce 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.259 on somebody else's sin. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:09.639 Woo-hoo! 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:10.480 Go at it, preacher. 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:11.240 You get them. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:12.139 Get them. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:13.319 But when you start 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:14.480 messing with my sin, 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.720 that's when it changes. 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.480 John's message 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.259 was to prepare 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:21.199 the way of Christ 00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:23.600 by helping people 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.059 see the need of Christ 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:27.939 in the midst of a culture 00:12:27.939 --> 00:12:29.600 that did not see the need 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.600 for a coming Savior. 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:33.480 So he was the shock jock 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.100 that came 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.000 to wake everybody up 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.500 to their need of God. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.939 John came 00:12:38.939 --> 00:12:40.379 to show them the dirt. 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:40.500 Dirt. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.480 Jesus came 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.919 to show that 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:45.220 God will accept you 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:46.200 dirt and all. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:47.820 People didn't expect 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.279 that either. 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.240 The thought was 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:51.799 that people need 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:52.500 to clean up. 00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:54.659 You clean up your life, 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:55.679 then you can come to Christ. 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:58.019 But the message of Christ 00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:59.799 is that you cannot 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.980 clean yourself up. 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.480 You don't have 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.320 the innate ability 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.139 to do that. 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:07.419 Thank God today, 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:09.059 I can say without reservation, 00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:10.359 you can come to Christ 00:13:10.359 --> 00:13:11.959 just as you are 00:13:11.959 --> 00:13:13.759 and he will change you. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.239 He'll empower you 00:13:15.239 --> 00:13:15.979 for change. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.419 He'll make the difference 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.079 in your life. 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:19.219 Come to Christ 00:13:19.219 --> 00:13:19.619 as you are. 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.699 Christ will clean you up 00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:21.379 and some people, 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:23.019 some good religious people, 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.419 they don't like that. 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:25.799 I mean, 00:13:25.839 --> 00:13:26.479 they just don't like it. 00:13:27.219 --> 00:13:28.599 If Christ accepts people 00:13:28.599 --> 00:13:29.459 as they are 00:13:29.459 --> 00:13:30.879 and changes them, 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.099 then that means 00:13:33.099 --> 00:13:33.919 that we're supposed 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.219 to help folks 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:37.279 that are not like us. 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:40.820 And we said 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:41.940 we wanted to serve the Lord, 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:42.460 but that's not 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:43.340 what we had in mind. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.139 We had an idea 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.259 about what we want to do. 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:49.460 And then God 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.580 puts people in our paths 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.220 that's not exactly 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.259 what we expect. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:54.340 And I've learned 00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:55.320 many times over 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:57.040 that when you do 00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:57.519 what the Lord 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.300 calls you to do, 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.500 it's not always 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.560 following your expectations. 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.279 it's not always 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.500 going to pan out 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.379 like you thought it was. 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.739 God may do 00:14:06.739 --> 00:14:08.179 a much different work 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:09.279 than the way 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.319 you anticipated 00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:10.979 it to be done. 00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:11.719 And some folks 00:14:11.719 --> 00:14:12.179 would rather 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:14.039 trust their anticipation, 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:15.079 let's just be honest, 00:14:15.359 --> 00:14:16.039 they'd rather trust 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.779 their anticipation 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.379 than they would 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.419 the movement of the Lord. 00:14:20.099 --> 00:14:21.419 If you get too sold 00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.759 on your anticipation, 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.839 you don't want to 00:14:24.839 --> 00:14:25.459 follow along 00:14:25.459 --> 00:14:25.979 with the Lord 00:14:25.979 --> 00:14:26.939 and what He's doing. 00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:29.759 And so we become childish 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:32.360 because we thought 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.059 it would be different. 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.080 Another reason 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.220 we tend to act childish 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.080 toward Christ, 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:39.899 excuse me, 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.879 they tend to act childish 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.580 before Christ. 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.220 It could be 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:47.580 the personal problems 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:50.080 that we endure. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:55.480 For instance, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.899 children do not 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.860 play good together 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.720 when they're tired. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.879 we don't either. 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.159 And sometimes 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:06.120 we just get tired. 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:09.500 Sometimes we just get tired. 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.120 It's not that we're 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.080 not doing a good work. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.659 Let me give you an example. 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:14.819 Elijah was like that. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.379 Man, Elijah was 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:17.840 a miracle worker of God. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.399 Did wonderful things. 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:19.879 And then 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.340 Elijah got tired. 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.759 He got so tired 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.500 he wanted to die 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.659 and he laid down to die 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:26.299 but God said, 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:26.799 get up. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.299 And he gave him 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.539 exactly what he needed. 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:31.079 And I'm so thankful today 00:15:31.079 --> 00:15:32.099 that he'll do the same 00:15:32.099 --> 00:15:32.719 for us. 00:15:33.859 --> 00:15:34.519 Say, preacher, 00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:35.099 I'm tired. 00:15:35.219 --> 00:15:35.799 Well, yeah. 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.019 We all get tired sometimes. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.579 And he invites us 00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.500 to come to him. 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.120 Come to me, 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.939 all you who are 00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:44.279 weak and heavy laden. 00:15:44.339 --> 00:15:45.699 I will give you 00:15:45.699 --> 00:15:46.699 rest. 00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:48.279 You'll find rest 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:48.799 in the Lord. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.519 He'll take care of you. 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:52.620 Not only that, 00:15:52.699 --> 00:15:53.480 children don't play good 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.179 when they're hungry. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:57.220 And when they're too young 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.199 to tell us they're hungry, 00:15:58.579 --> 00:16:00.220 they still have a way 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.840 of letting us know 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.299 they're hungry, 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:01.740 don't they? 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:06.000 Sometimes we get childish 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.079 because we're hungry. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.480 That usually happens 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.759 to y'all about 1155. 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.000 Excuse me, 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.659 we started earlier 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:16.879 than that, 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.199 didn't we? 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.840 That just scared 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.340 the wooly out 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:19.799 of a lot of you, 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.120 didn't it? 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:28.399 Folks, 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.139 when we get hungry 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.779 for the things 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.419 of the world, 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:33.639 we're not satisfied 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:37.199 because the appetite 00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:38.139 for the things 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.759 of the world 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.699 will never satisfy. 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:44.120 It's like eating air. 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.620 It's not going to satisfy. 00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:49.740 And unsatisfied people 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:51.620 do not always go along 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.980 with what God wants to do 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.200 because they're unsatisfied. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.299 And so sometimes 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.080 we get childish 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:59.100 because we like it our way. 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.960 And these kids 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.960 in this parable 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:05.059 did not get invited 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.960 to play a game 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.579 they wanted 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:08.059 so they didn't go along. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:10.200 And sometimes 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.240 the course that God 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.099 has for us 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:13.039 is different 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.059 than our way. 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:16.159 it's not exactly 00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:17.299 what we anticipated. 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.619 It's not exactly 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.700 what we feel like. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.119 And we get childish 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.119 about it. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.339 Another reason 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.460 people act childish 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.220 toward God 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:28.599 it could be 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:29.519 the message 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.179 that we hear. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.500 And I want to be clear 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:33.899 about this 00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:34.480 and I'll close. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:37.079 The gospel 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.539 is a two-sided 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.299 message 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.420 and you better 00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:41.160 proclaim 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.579 both sides 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.700 of that message 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.700 or you'll have 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.940 half the message 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.920 filled with 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:47.860 half truths. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.539 One side 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.480 of the gospel message 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.240 is that 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.440 every one of us 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:53.120 are sinners. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.120 Romans 3.23 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:55.779 says 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:56.740 for all 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.640 have sinned 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.839 and fall short 00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.700 of the glory 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.500 of God. 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.640 Now 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.500 I want you 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:03.839 to notice 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.279 something. 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:05.880 It says 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.519 for all 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.500 have sinned 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.920 and fall 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.440 short 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:12.220 that verb 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:12.660 is in a different 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.160 tense 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.599 and fall 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.539 short 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:17.660 of the glory 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.180 of God. 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.339 The glory 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.039 of God 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.759 is that 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.359 revealing 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:23.980 of God. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.099 It's when 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:25.900 he shows 00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.339 himself 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.200 and God 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.900 has made 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.559 us to be 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.400 in relationship 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:30.160 with him 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.200 and to 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.779 amplify 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.720 and be a 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.240 light of 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:33.840 his message 00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.240 and his 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.779 truth. 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:35.440 And the 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.300 reality is 00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:36.740 that every 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.500 one of us 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.980 have sinned 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.600 and therefore 00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.400 failed to 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.060 live up 00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:41.900 to what 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.519 God made 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.140 us for. 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.700 We've all 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.500 messed up. 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.200 Now you don't 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.800 like to hear 00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:48.120 that. 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.700 I don't like 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.259 to hear that. 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:49.700 I don't like 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.220 people pointing 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.700 out the things 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.180 I do wrong 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.000 but the reality 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.840 is it's there. 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.480 We're all 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.080 in the same 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:55.600 boat. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.740 Without Christ 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.580 we're hopeless. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.180 And that 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.540 is the 00:19:01.540 --> 00:19:02.060 message of 00:19:02.060 --> 00:19:02.380 John the 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:02.660 Baptist. 00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.460 That's what 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:04.960 he said. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.480 However, 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.300 many others 00:19:08.300 --> 00:19:09.560 did not 00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:10.140 like it. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.019 It was a 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.960 funeral dirge 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.340 and they 00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:12.779 didn't want 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.100 to play 00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:13.540 funeral. 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:16.860 They didn't 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:17.320 want to hear 00:19:17.320 --> 00:19:17.720 about the 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.160 death that 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.640 comes from 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.120 our sin. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.279 I'm thankful 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.840 today there's 00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:26.480 another side of 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:26.840 the gospel 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:27.560 message because 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:28.220 if there wasn't 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.580 I wouldn't 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:29.040 be here. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.200 There'd be 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.600 no need 00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:31.960 for me to 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.519 tell you 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.680 that you're 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.120 doomed. 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:35.700 Go home. 00:19:36.860 --> 00:19:37.240 You have 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:37.660 no hope. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.019 Nobody wants 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.600 to hear that. 00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:43.420 You have 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.200 to understand 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:46.880 that to 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.360 get the 00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:48.040 second half 00:19:48.040 --> 00:19:48.279 of the 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.820 message. 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.100 And sometimes 00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:51.860 you have to 00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.560 preach that 00:19:52.560 --> 00:19:53.060 and proclaim 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:54.279 that and show 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.380 that with 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.160 more emphasis 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:56.779 than you do 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:57.220 the second 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.460 half. 00:19:57.540 --> 00:19:57.900 But you 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.000 can't preach 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.660 half the 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.140 truth. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.580 You've 00:20:01.580 --> 00:20:01.740 got to 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.000 preach the 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.480 whole truth. 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:05.940 Second 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.420 half of 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:06.860 the truth 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:09.540 is that 00:20:09.540 --> 00:20:10.220 the wages 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.720 or the 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.540 cost or 00:20:11.540 --> 00:20:12.100 the penalty 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:12.540 of our 00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:13.140 sin is 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.660 death. 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:14.940 And in 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.180 the New 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:15.720 Testament when 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.120 it speaks 00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:16.519 of death 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:16.880 it's not 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.500 talking about 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.200 the heart 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:18.820 stopping and 00:20:18.820 --> 00:20:19.180 the brain 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.000 stop functioning. 00:20:20.300 --> 00:20:20.840 It's talking 00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:21.240 about the 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.000 separation that 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.380 comes from 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:22.660 death. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.700 I lost 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.540 my dear 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:25.920 godly 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.300 grandmother 00:20:26.300 --> 00:20:27.259 years ago 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.960 and when 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.539 she died 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:28.920 I was 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.420 sad. 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.579 Why was 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.059 I sad? 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.539 Because she 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:31.900 was going 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.339 to heaven 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.720 and her 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.200 faith had 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.980 become sight 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.519 and everything 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.059 that she had 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.460 looked for 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.099 now she was 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:38.640 being fulfilled 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.079 before her. 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:39.559 No, not at 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:39.759 all. 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.759 I was sad 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.319 because I was 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.599 going to be 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.339 separated her 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.099 for as long 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:43.539 as I live 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:43.819 on this 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.059 earth. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:44.660 It was the 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:45.099 separation 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.740 that was 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.379 so difficult. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:47.819 It was not 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.420 the destination 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.279 of the one 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.000 that believes 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.660 in Christ. 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.059 It was the 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.519 separation. 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.440 So when he 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.240 says the cost 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.480 or the 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:54.759 penalty 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.160 or the 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.700 wage 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.279 of sin 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.079 is death. 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.740 He says 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.220 that it's 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.339 separating us 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.079 from God. 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.420 But the 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.460 free gift 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:02.940 of God 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.420 how many 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:03.620 of you 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:03.940 like a 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.500 free gift? 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:05.759 You know 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.319 no strings 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:06.839 attached 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.319 you know 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:09.620 the free 00:21:09.620 --> 00:21:10.019 gift of 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.319 God 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:10.839 is eternal 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.339 life through 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.019 Jesus Christ 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.359 our Lord. 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:13.920 Now the 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.559 reality is 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.000 if it's a 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.420 gift 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.140 you can't 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.539 earn it. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:18.620 Just a 00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:18.980 gift. 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.000 It's not a 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.579 payback. 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.339 That's something 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:21.759 different. 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.000 It's just 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.120 a gift. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:26.519 Romans goes 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:27.019 on to tell 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.440 us that 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.279 God shows 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.000 his love 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.579 for us 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.120 that while 00:21:31.120 --> 00:21:31.880 we were yet 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.700 sinners Christ 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.559 died for us. 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.700 Listen I 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.319 don't want to 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:35.940 know everything 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.680 you've done. 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.640 I'm not going 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:38.980 to tell you 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.500 everything I've 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:39.779 done. 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:40.799 Okay. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:41.920 I mean look 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.779 if our sins 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.620 in life 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.680 were like 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.380 stones 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:47.339 and the 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.039 little sins 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.420 and by the 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.059 way we judge 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.519 how big the 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.000 sins are not 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.519 God because 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:50.859 they all 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.380 separate us 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:51.740 from God. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.000 Okay. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.000 But we have 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.460 a way of 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.539 saying what 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.059 sins big 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.319 and what 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.799 sins not. 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.019 If I 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.640 asked you 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.279 to list 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:57.680 what's a 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.039 big sin 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.279 and what's 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:58.600 a small 00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.220 sin we 00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.759 could all 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.160 know what 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.720 that was. 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:01.640 We understand 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.259 that culturally 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.660 what that 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:02.940 means. 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:03.759 But even 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.220 the little 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.759 bitty ones 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.360 sent Christ 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:05.620 to the 00:22:05.620 --> 00:22:05.840 cross. 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.000 You 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.319 understand 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.740 that don't 00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:06.880 you? 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.480 So there's 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:07.880 not really 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.340 a difference. 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:08.680 It all 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.299 separates us 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.660 from God. 00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:10.220 But let's 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.680 just say that 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.000 the little 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.319 ones are 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.100 little stones 00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.640 and that 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.000 the big 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.299 ones are 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.039 big boulders 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.539 and we 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:14.920 all have 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.660 a bag. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.420 I'm going 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.620 to tell you 00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:17.880 if you're 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:18.980 half my age 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.440 your bag's 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.000 too big 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.420 to fit in 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.000 this room. 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.000 We're in a 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.319 mess. 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.460 And nobody 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.099 wants to 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.539 know all 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.000 that about 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.339 you. 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.079 But God 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.620 does know 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:33.980 it all. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.480 He knows 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.160 the thoughts. 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.140 He knows 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.539 the things 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:39.819 that you 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.279 wanted to 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.559 say. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.299 He knows 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:42.620 the things 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.079 you said. 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.860 He knows 00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:45.160 the things 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.420 that you 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:45.880 wanted to 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.039 do. 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.400 He knows 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:46.759 the things 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.200 you did. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.799 He knows 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.160 the places 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:50.620 you wanted 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:50.900 to go. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.299 He knows 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.700 the places 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.079 that you 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.380 went. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.220 And He 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.099 knew all 00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.900 of that. 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.680 And He 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.460 shows His 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.140 love for 00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.620 us. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.059 That even 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.539 though He 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.380 knows all 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:03.779 of that, 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.519 He died 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:05.960 for you. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.799 He died 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.079 in your 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.579 place. 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.099 So you 00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.400 would have 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:12.740 hope. 00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:14.660 And not 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.240 spend eternity 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.660 apart from 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:16.960 God. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:21.220 And the 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.700 last part 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.019 of that 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.660 second half 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.140 of the 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.960 gospel truth 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:27.279 is that 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.620 if you 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:28.400 confess 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.500 with your 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:29.900 mouth 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:31.240 that Jesus 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.620 is Lord 00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:33.519 and believe 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:33.819 in your 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.180 heart that 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.599 God raised 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:34.799 Him from 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.059 the dead, 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.360 you will 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:35.759 be saved. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.039 Now let 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.940 me explain 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.299 what that 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:37.700 means. 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.380 Confess 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:42.980 is not 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.420 just meeting 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:43.680 with the 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.120 preacher in 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.539 his office 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.339 and confessing 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.579 that I've 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.200 sinned before. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:51.299 confession is 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.819 not just 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.660 telling somebody 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.340 else that 00:23:53.340 --> 00:23:53.640 you know, 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:55.019 I believe 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.519 in Jesus. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.319 I mean, 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:57.620 I'm not 00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.640 going to 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.880 live it out, 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.140 I'm not 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:00.340 going to make 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:00.680 a big deal 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.039 out of it 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.200 and that 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.360 kind of 00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:01.539 stuff. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:01.720 But I 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:01.799 mean, 00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:02.500 I believe, 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.120 I believe. 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.400 I'll tell 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.640 you what I 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.240 believe Paul's 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.880 talking about 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.380 because the 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:08.960 context of 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.160 when he 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.640 says Jesus 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.120 is Lord. 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.179 Lord. 00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:13.459 There was 00:24:13.459 --> 00:24:15.219 a ceremony 00:24:15.219 --> 00:24:15.799 in the 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.439 Roman Empire 00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:17.319 where people 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.939 would pledge 00:24:17.939 --> 00:24:18.699 their allegiance 00:24:18.699 --> 00:24:19.359 to the 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:19.779 empire. 00:24:20.479 --> 00:24:21.139 They would 00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.899 burn incense, 00:24:22.219 --> 00:24:22.479 they would 00:24:22.479 --> 00:24:22.979 kneel before 00:24:22.979 --> 00:24:23.679 some icon 00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.279 of Caesar 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:24.819 and they 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.500 would say, 00:24:25.979 --> 00:24:26.699 Caesar is 00:24:26.699 --> 00:24:27.119 Lord. 00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:29.119 And when 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.779 they proclaimed 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.439 their allegiance 00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:31.819 to the empire, 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.219 they continued 00:24:33.219 --> 00:24:33.779 to keep their 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.439 rights and 00:24:34.439 --> 00:24:34.919 would continue 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.919 to live and 00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.579 Rome was proud 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.099 of their rights. 00:24:37.199 --> 00:24:37.619 They were proud 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.339 of their citizenship 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.459 and they were 00:24:39.459 --> 00:24:39.939 able to keep 00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:40.179 that. 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:40.759 But when 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.419 Christians were 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:41.839 put on the 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.339 spot and they 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:42.759 burned that 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.379 incense and got 00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:43.819 to that point, 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.659 they would say, 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.740 Kyrios Christos, 00:24:46.939 --> 00:24:48.839 which is Greek 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.759 for Christ is 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.119 Lord. 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.980 And when they 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.459 stood in that 00:24:54.459 --> 00:24:55.059 crucible and 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.039 said that, 00:24:56.959 --> 00:24:58.459 they would lose 00:24:58.459 --> 00:24:59.079 their citizenship. 00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.659 They would be 00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:02.079 imprisoned. 00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:04.459 They would be 00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:05.480 exiled like John 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.199 was when he wrote 00:25:06.199 --> 00:25:06.839 the Revelation. 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:09.919 Nero would 00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.720 take the bodies 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.399 of professed 00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:11.799 Christians, 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.699 impale them, 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.539 dip them in 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.839 tar, and 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.259 light his 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.859 garden with 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.019 them. 00:25:22.199 --> 00:25:22.799 The 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.480 confession of 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.199 Christ is not 00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:25.079 a quiet, 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:26.899 private, 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.459 just between 00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.319 you and me 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:29.839 matter. 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:31.579 It's an 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:33.079 open confession. 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.199 It's living 00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:36.179 out our life 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.460 for the Lord 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.400 Jesus Christ. 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.620 And belief 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:41.440 is not just a 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.060 belief in a 00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:42.820 historic Jesus 00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:43.440 that did good 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:45.240 things and died 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.860 and rose again. 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.500 It is instead 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.720 a commitment 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:51.060 to live your 00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.640 life for his 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:54.200 cause and for 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.740 his kingdom. 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.980 I don't know 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.580 about you, 00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:59.519 but because he's 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.220 changed my life, 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.360 that's music to 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:02.220 my ears. 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:05.100 but some 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:05.980 don't like to 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.500 dance to 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.039 that tune. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.860 So may I 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.339 ask, 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:14.920 to the ways 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.700 and the will 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.759 of God for 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.460 your life 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.960 today, 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.799 are you 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.200 childish? 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.880 Or are you 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.500 childlike? 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:27.559 are you 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:27.940 stubborn? 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.599 Are you 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:30.859 humble? 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.200 Are you 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.779 rejecting 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.160 what God's 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.640 telling you? 00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:38.079 Are you 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.740 receiving it? 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.220 Are you 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.299 withdrawing in 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.039 your faith? 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:43.819 It's just 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.440 between me and 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.720 God. 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:46.920 Are you 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.599 outreaching? 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.160 Being a 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.579 light of the 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:50.880 world? 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.960 Being a 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.460 salt that 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.240 flavors the 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.900 society in 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.400 which God 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.000 has placed 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.420 us in. 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.160 And believe 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.440 me, 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.359 he knew 00:26:58.359 --> 00:26:59.420 the status 00:26:59.420 --> 00:26:59.839 and the 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.440 circumstances 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.819 of the 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.440 society that 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:01.839 he placed 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.160 us in 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.819 before we 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.339 ever got 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.660 here, 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.620 and yet 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.299 caused us 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.599 to be 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:05.940 salt and 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.279 light in 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.599 the midst 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:07.960 of it. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:09.940 Jesus 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.579 wants us 00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:11.160 to become 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.920 like children, 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.400 not act 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.980 like children, 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.220 but instead 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.599 to be 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.160 dependent, 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.180 to be 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.200 yielding, 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.900 and to 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.620 be open 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:23.620 to whatever 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:25.339 he wants 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:27.299 us to 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.579 do. 00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:29.419 I've 00:27:29.419 --> 00:27:30.119 always lived 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.619 away from 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.119 family. 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.539 Always have. 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:32.959 I've always 00:27:32.959 --> 00:27:33.419 had family 00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:33.739 that lived 00:27:33.739 --> 00:27:34.019 a long 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.479 way away. 00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:37.099 My daddy 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:37.459 was in the 00:27:37.459 --> 00:27:37.979 Air Force 00:27:37.979 --> 00:27:38.639 and he 00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.699 retired in 00:27:39.699 --> 00:27:40.039 the upper 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.719 peninsula of 00:27:40.719 --> 00:27:41.059 Michigan. 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.819 You can't 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.299 get in Ohio 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.639 and the 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.159 United States 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.539 before you 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.039 hit Canada. 00:27:46.199 --> 00:27:46.759 When he 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.359 retired, we 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:47.819 moved to 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.199 Greenville. 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.200 New Orleans 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.080 and 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.620 my grandmother 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.100 lived in 00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:51.840 Grand Rapids, 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.120 Michigan. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.840 And so on 00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:55.279 occasion, 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.220 vacations were 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.380 commonly to 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:57.900 go up there 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.460 and see her. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.519 When we 00:27:59.519 --> 00:27:59.960 lived in the 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.759 UP, if we 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.039 had a 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.860 vacation, it 00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.180 was to 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.500 come to 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.039 South Carolina 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:03.539 and see my 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:03.660 other 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:03.980 grandmother. 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:05.880 We moved 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.220 to South 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.680 Carolina. 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.220 I grew 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.519 up. 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.600 God called 00:28:09.600 --> 00:28:09.920 me to go 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.100 to New 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.259 Orleans 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.759 Seminary. 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.900 I married 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.340 a Mississippi 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:12.700 girl. 00:28:13.380 --> 00:28:13.519 Okay? 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:14.920 Pastored 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.480 in Mississippi, 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.440 traveled to 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.160 South Carolina. 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.940 to see my 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.299 family. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.960 Moved to 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.519 South Carolina. 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:22.980 Traveled to 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.640 Mississippi to 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.220 see family. 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.920 Lived in 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.180 Mississippi. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.720 Traveled to 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.340 South Carolina 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:32.380 to see family. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:34.680 Now, hey, I 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.539 left a daughter 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.640 in Mississippi, 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.360 so I think I'll 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.220 probably be 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.559 traveling to 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.059 Mississippi. 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.259 But when I 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.960 was a child, 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.940 I never 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.620 questioned, 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.180 where are 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.519 we were 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:48.880 going? 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.700 I mean, I 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:49.960 might have 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.480 asked them, 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.200 but it 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.480 didn't really 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:51.860 matter. 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:52.940 I didn't 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.200 really have 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.799 a choice. 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.140 When that 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:57.160 68 or that 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:58.700 76 Buick was 00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.880 full, it's 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.240 time to get 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.700 in the back. 00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.320 No seat 00:29:02.320 --> 00:29:04.039 belt, back 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.620 window down. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.039 I threw a 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.380 G.I. 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.840 Joe out the 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:06.279 back window. 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.240 Greatest sin I 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.660 ever committed 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.380 as a child was 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:08.900 throwing a G.I. 00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:09.259 Joe out the 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:09.600 back window. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:12.219 But we got 00:29:12.219 --> 00:29:13.659 him back, and 00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:14.259 he was a war 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:14.839 veteran after 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.339 that, you 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.480 know? 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:19.439 So, I 00:29:19.439 --> 00:29:20.059 just got in 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:25.019 the car and 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.059 went where my 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.199 parents were 00:29:27.199 --> 00:29:27.519 going. 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:32.179 It's time for 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:34.240 Christians to 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.939 just get in a 00:29:34.939 --> 00:29:35.599 place. 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.059 Quit 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.619 questioning 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.379 everything that 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.379 God stirs in 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.200 our hearts to 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.599 do. 00:29:42.919 --> 00:29:43.740 Just go. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.579 Hey, I 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.879 don't know 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.159 where we're 00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.559 going in this 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:48.859 life. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.240 I know where 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.720 I'm going when 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.200 I leave this 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.500 life. 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:51.119 I don't know 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:51.740 what God's got 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.200 in store for 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:52.720 us tomorrow, 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.819 but I know 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:55.379 I'm biting 00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:56.839 at the bit to 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.839 be exactly where 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.619 he wants me to 00:29:58.619 --> 00:30:00.339 be today and 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:00.819 tomorrow. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.919 Let's just go 00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:02.500 with God. 00:30:03.179 --> 00:30:03.679 Let's quit 00:30:03.679 --> 00:30:04.279 trying to figure 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.859 it out and 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.519 go with God. 00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:07.960 With every 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.559 head bowed and 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:08.880 every eye 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.360 closed. 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.579 Maybe you're 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.720 here today and 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.559 the reality is 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.259 your sin has 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:14.900 separated you 00:30:14.900 --> 00:30:15.500 from God and 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.100 you've never 00:30:16.100 --> 00:30:16.660 surrendered your 00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.259 life to follow 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.840 the Lord Jesus 00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:18.299 Christ. 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.120 You never ask 00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:20.579 him to come into 00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.299 your life and to 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.940 change you. 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.519 There is no 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.319 personal commitment 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:23.980 to Christ. 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.960 You don't have a 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.600 relationship with 00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:26.059 Christ. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.000 You may have a 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.500 relationship with 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.140 the church. 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:29.600 You may have a 00:30:29.600 --> 00:30:30.120 relationship with 00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.960 good godly people, 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.559 but there's never 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.160 been a time in 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.840 your life when 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.420 you've committed 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:34.120 your life to 00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:34.880 follow Christ. 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:36.480 I want you to 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.620 know that this 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.680 time, we'll stand 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.280 in just a moment 00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:39.860 and we'll sing, 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:41.320 and this time is 00:30:41.320 --> 00:30:42.440 created for you to 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.500 have that opportunity 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.400 to respond to 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.600 Christ. 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.380 It's not the only 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:45.940 time you can 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.980 respond, but what a 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:48.240 great time it is. 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.640 The spirit of God 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.160 is leading you to 00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:51.480 do that. 00:30:51.540 --> 00:30:52.140 I encourage you to 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.820 be obedient and 00:30:52.820 --> 00:30:53.980 follow his lead. 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.180 Maybe you're here 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:56.840 and you are a 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.520 Christian, but the 00:30:57.520 --> 00:30:58.660 reality is you know 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.580 that God is drawing 00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:00.360 you to be a part of 00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:00.880 this congregation. 00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:02.880 We've been blessed 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.620 in recent days. 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.279 Many have come 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.959 along the way 00:31:04.959 --> 00:31:05.559 because they've 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.759 told me, I 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.719 believe God is 00:31:07.719 --> 00:31:08.539 calling us to 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.319 join in the 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:11.599 journey with this 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.439 body of believers 00:31:12.439 --> 00:31:13.319 and to follow his 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:13.599 will. 00:31:14.679 --> 00:31:15.619 If God's leading 00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.199 you to do that, 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.759 you come. 00:31:17.739 --> 00:31:18.519 We'll help you 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.339 in that process. 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:21.899 Maybe you're here 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:22.759 and you have made 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.599 a private decision 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:24.259 for the Lord, but 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.859 you've never made 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.479 that public. 00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:29.559 Jesus, by example 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:31.500 and by teaching, 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:33.239 shared with us 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.839 that we make 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.500 that public 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.680 first by baptism. 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:38.319 We'll be baptizing 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:38.880 in a couple of 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:39.240 weeks. 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.140 If you're here 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.140 today and have 00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:42.880 accepted the Lord 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.759 before but never 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.359 been baptized 00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:45.759 since that time, 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.819 I encourage you 00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.200 to come. 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.380 Take advantage 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.299 of that opportunity. 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.680 Or maybe you're 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.440 here and you are 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.279 a Christian and you 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.259 know that, but you 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.059 know there's some 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.920 childish things in 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.380 your life. 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.140 Sometimes you buck 00:31:59.140 --> 00:31:59.940 in the back seat. 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:01.859 You're not happy 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.779 with exactly what's 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.179 going on. 00:32:03.699 --> 00:32:04.339 And you don't 00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:06.119 exactly do what 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:06.919 God wants you to 00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.159 do. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.059 Will today, will you 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.899 surrender that to 00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:09.139 God? 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.839 Lord, I don't know 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:14.059 what I'm to do and I 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.839 don't know where we're 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.679 going, but I want to 00:32:15.679 --> 00:32:16.639 get in on what you 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:17.979 want to do and I want 00:32:17.979 --> 00:32:18.879 to follow your lead 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.459 today. 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.039 You can do that at 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.899 these steps and make 00:32:21.899 --> 00:32:22.759 it a makeshift altar. 00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:23.479 You can do it where 00:32:23.479 --> 00:32:23.879 you are. 00:32:24.639 --> 00:32:26.119 I'll never ask you to 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:27.179 do anything more or 00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:28.219 anything less than what 00:32:28.219 --> 00:32:29.059 God would have you to 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:30.639 do, but please don't 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:31.819 satisfy yourself with 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.759 less because you'll 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.679 never be satisfied. 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.980 Just obey God as he 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.579 speaks to your heart 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:36.940 and life. 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.980 Lord Jesus, I love 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.179 you. 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.679 I thank you for the 00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:40.440 opportunity that you 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.279 give us through Christ 00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.099 and I pray that you'll 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.039 help us to respond in 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.679 obedience today as you 00:32:44.679 --> 00:32:45.399 speak to our heart and 00:32:45.399 --> 00:32:45.679 life. 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.539 In Jesus' precious name, 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.500 amen. 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:48.619 Amen.