WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:14.740 ! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:21.179 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.039 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day. 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:29.039 Let's dive in together into God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.500 Well, good morning, everyone. And as I'm setting everything up here, I want to make a couple announcements as we're going through everything here. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:50.879 And the first thing I want to show you is exactly the OCC Connections Bible Study. 00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:58.519 There's been a lot of really good feedback and people who've been asking to, what about during the week? 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:03.620 How can I open God's Word and just expand with all these references that you're doing in Scripture? 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:12.020 And so moving forward, starting in this week, every week you will have a corresponding personal or group Bible study. 00:01:12.460 --> 00:01:18.379 And the really great thing about this is that it piggybacks off of the sermon, and it's for you. 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:23.879 You can use it in your own personal study during the week if you'd like to open the Word and go deeper with it. 00:01:24.299 --> 00:01:33.920 And it's also an opportunity for us as a church body to invite our own friends, to invite people and to let them know to go over the Word. 00:01:34.019 --> 00:01:41.159 And so what you see here is the Tower and the Warring King and just some questions that you can reflect on. 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.079 And I know it's a little small, but it's just for you. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:48.239 It's our kind of starting off with that, and that's really good. 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:58.259 It's really powerful, and I'm really glad for the feedback that you guys have been giving regarding having things that are available during the week. 00:01:58.340 --> 00:02:01.239 And so I just want to start off by saying thank you for that. 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:08.259 And I'd also like to not only say hello to everyone who is here in person, but also to people online. 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:12.019 I'd like to thank Joe, who's going to be our moderator today. 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:13.699 So we were kind of talking through that. 00:02:15.019 --> 00:02:21.560 It's really incredible when not only we think about those that are here in person, but those that are there online. 00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:22.900 And I just want to say welcome. 00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:26.620 All of you are here in person or online. 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:56.599 I want to say goodbye. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:02.819 But what you see on here is a stone that has the word respond on it. 00:03:03.640 --> 00:03:12.599 And as we go through this sermon, I want you to think about the importance of each and every stone here is formed differently, right? 00:03:13.200 --> 00:03:14.159 Different shapes. 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:15.700 Some of them have rough edges. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.040 Some of them are very smooth. 00:03:18.040 --> 00:03:22.960 I got to thank my wife for having the patience to write respond on every single one of these stones, 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:26.580 because I sure don't have that kind of patience, but she sure does. 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:32.640 But in each of these stones you see on here, the word respond. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:35.379 You might have different artwork and different things with them. 00:03:35.900 --> 00:03:44.180 And I want you to think how maybe the stone that you have might represent who you are or what you have been through in your own life. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:49.740 Some of us may identify with more having rough edges and being through a lot. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:55.379 Some of us may have mine here has a kind of what started to be a hole in here. 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:59.260 And I'm thinking all the times of pressure points in life here. 00:03:59.259 --> 00:04:07.560 And so we'll go on into what this means when we're talking about our sermon today, the tower and the warring king. 00:04:07.679 --> 00:04:11.239 It's a very interesting and unique parable that's going on. 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:17.060 And we're going to go ahead and go through it because it's it is very interesting nonetheless. 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:19.480 Let's go ahead and open in prayer and we'll go ahead and get started. 00:04:19.960 --> 00:04:22.639 Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:26.259 We thank you for this congregation that's here in person. 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:29.139 And we're also grateful for those that are here online. 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:34.399 We're just so grateful for who you are as the Lord of all creation. 00:04:34.919 --> 00:04:39.259 We ask, Father, that there will be a sense of understanding, a sense of unity. 00:04:39.740 --> 00:04:41.719 Let there be peace where peace is needed. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:44.099 Let there be comfort and healing where it is needed. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:45.479 And let there be transformation. 00:04:46.039 --> 00:04:51.899 I pray that everyone here knows that they are loved by you and is called to respond to your salvation, 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.719 to grow in you and to be moved to do good in your holy name. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:00.160 Oh, our Lord and our God, we are certainly a needy people. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:05.320 And as we sang that song, Lord, I need you how we need you every hour. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:07.220 So be with us today. 00:05:07.580 --> 00:05:08.720 Be with us this morning. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:15.220 And I pray that this message will honor and glorify you and that it will be understood for all of those who are listening, 00:05:15.380 --> 00:05:19.780 all of those who are attending, all of those who are watching, whether now or later. 00:05:20.460 --> 00:05:21.400 We thank you so much. 00:05:21.440 --> 00:05:23.100 It is in the name of Jesus that we pray. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:23.900 And can I get an amen? 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:25.100 Amen. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:29.800 So we're going to go ahead and go into, let's turn to the Gospel of Luke. 00:05:29.900 --> 00:05:34.879 It's going to be on page 1038 in your ESVP Bibles or your Bible of choice. 00:05:35.200 --> 00:05:36.140 That is fine. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:41.020 We have on here our blue ESVP Bibles. 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:46.220 You are welcome to use one of these Bibles or a Bible of your choice in here. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:52.240 And so as we're turning there, I want to kind of give you a little bit of the context here. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:57.480 This is what is part of here at Ontario Community Church, the OIA method. 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:00.139 Observation, interpretation, and application. 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:04.460 First, we're going to open God's word and see what is going on here, right? 00:06:04.840 --> 00:06:09.480 And so in here, we see that there is some immediate context that's happening, right? 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:16.240 If you go on chapter 14 of the Gospel of Luke, we have what's leading up to this, the parable 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:17.560 of the wedding feast. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.720 When it was taught, where Jesus was talking about if when you are invited by somebody to 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.020 a wedding feast, do not sit in a place of honor, right? 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:26.360 It's talking about humility. 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:29.620 Let someone more distinguished than you be invited by him. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:32.680 And he who invited you will come and say, give your place to this person. 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:35.819 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place. 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:40.160 So when you find your host, he may come to you and say, friend, move up higher. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:42.060 So that parable was talking about humility. 00:06:42.280 --> 00:06:47.180 You go down a little bit into the parable of the great banquet, where it was talking about 00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:51.319 when you are giving a banquet, you want to invite everyone, right? 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:59.899 Where it says in, let's see here, in verse 17, he said to 16, a man once gave a great banquet 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:01.659 and invited many, right? 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:03.459 And he's inviting all of these people. 00:07:03.579 --> 00:07:05.399 But people are saying, I bought a field. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:06.259 I want to see it. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:06.939 I got married. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.560 I have five yoke of oxen. 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:09.800 Please, I want to be excused. 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:10.839 All of these excuses. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.500 But then it's going on into the banquet, this invitation for everyone. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.539 So there is still room. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:23.240 If you look at verse 21, go out quickly to the streets and the lanes of the city, bring 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:25.400 in the poor and the cripple and the blind and the lame. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:27.220 So Jesus is talking about. 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:28.460 So first we have humility. 00:07:28.460 --> 00:07:34.420 And then we have this sense of invitation for everyone to come into the great feast, right? 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:41.379 Which is mentioning this all leads us to where we have in the cost of the discipleship. 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:46.720 Now, it says here in verse 25, great crowds accompanied him. 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:52.300 And he turned and he said to them, if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:56.860 and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:57.700 be my disciple. 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:02.340 This is a very challenging and often misused verse in scripture. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:08.280 Because when we're thinking about it, as we're going to go into this idea of counting the cost, 00:08:08.280 --> 00:08:14.680 there's actually a very unique meaning when we consider our stone or we consider our pebble. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:15.900 So let's keep going on. 00:08:15.899 --> 00:08:20.579 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me does not, cannot be my disciple. 00:08:20.979 --> 00:08:22.459 That's also a very heavy verse. 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:23.319 Let's be honest here. 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:24.039 We're reading this. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:29.219 It's like, oh my goodness, what exactly is going on for which of you desiring to build 00:08:29.219 --> 00:08:33.439 a tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:33.559 it. 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:34.799 So we were going on into that. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:40.860 So the great crowds are traveling with Jesus and he's calling for a decision to follow him. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:47.519 And it's this idea that's tied in with this sense of humility, knowing that you people 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.919 back then and even people now, we all have a decision to make. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:56.000 And it's a decision whether we are going to follow in the footsteps of Christ saying yes 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:59.039 to Jesus Christ, believing in the death, burial and resurrection. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:02.779 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1 through 4. 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.259 If we're going to believe in that or not. 00:09:05.699 --> 00:09:09.699 How many of you have heard that saying before that you need to cast your vote? 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:14.019 I don't want to get too political here, but how many of you have participated in an election 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:14.679 before, right? 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:19.799 Or maybe you voted in who was going to be ASB president, right? 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.740 Or maybe you voted who was going to be the class clown, right? 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:25.279 Maybe you were the one that was voted as the class clown, right? 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:29.939 There's many times and many opportunities for us to cast our vote on certain things. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:33.620 And we can think of that in America as voting, right? 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:38.480 It could be voting for different legislation, different people who are those in authority. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:41.419 And that's some very interesting stuff. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:47.199 So when we're thinking about this idea of counting the cost, the original Greek is talking about 00:09:47.199 --> 00:09:49.679 this idea of considering your pebble. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:51.439 That's very interesting. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:55.660 When we're thinking about, okay, you have to surrender everything. 00:09:55.920 --> 00:10:00.960 It's talking about, think of the stone as a representation of who you are. 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:06.200 Are you going to cast your vote into the things of God or are you not? 00:10:06.280 --> 00:10:09.560 Are you going to place your trust into the things of God or not? 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:15.560 What matters is the word that is written on this stone, which as we continue to go, you'll 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:21.380 understand more is the idea that we are to respond to salvation in Jesus Christ. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:27.000 And we are to continue to respond in what God has called for our very lives. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.640 And so we're going in here, the tower, right? 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:33.700 The man sits down for a moment. 00:10:33.920 --> 00:10:38.620 I want you to think of this imagery where this guy, he's sitting here and he's thinking about 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:40.580 a tower that he's going to build. 00:10:40.900 --> 00:10:42.640 He is calculating, right? 00:10:42.660 --> 00:10:44.120 This idea of counting the cost. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:47.520 He is thinking in his mind, how is this tower going to be built? 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:53.240 How many of you have built a house or maybe a bird house or a tree house, or maybe you've 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.980 put something together with your hands. 00:10:55.620 --> 00:10:59.659 When we're thinking of what we're going to build, we need to have a plan and we need to 00:10:59.659 --> 00:11:05.039 consider, do we have all of the tools necessary, all of these things that are the intricacy for 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:06.259 building something, amen? 00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:12.240 And so in this sense, you're having a gentleman or whoever, you're having a person who's calculating 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:14.399 whether he can finish the tower, right? 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:18.240 If he lays the foundation and cannot complete it, well, there's people that are going to 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:19.759 look at him and they're going to laugh at him. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.960 Now, I don't know about you. 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:22.700 How many of you have gone by? 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:26.379 Maybe you're visiting a town or maybe you know of someone. 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:30.879 You see a house that's like almost built completely and it's not. 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.039 And you wonder, well, what happened? 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:33.919 And they run out of money? 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:34.960 Like what's going on here? 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:39.259 So we can kind of have some sort of similarity to the feeling of what's going on. 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:42.460 Not that, you know, we're going to make fun of people who are not going to complete their 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:45.100 building, but we at least think of it in our minds. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:50.899 What happened to this building project in Boise or what happened in Portland? 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:51.819 What happened over there? 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:52.600 What happened over here? 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.379 All these different things that are going on. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:58.960 So it's going on into verse 28. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:03.759 Which of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.899 he has enough to complete it. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:06.379 So talking about enough money here. 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:11.039 Otherwise, when he's laid the foundation, all those who see it begin to mock him, saying 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:13.480 this man began to build and was not able to finish. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:16.720 So then the second part is we have a king. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:22.220 What king going to encounter another king in war will not sit down first? 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:27.100 And so again, it's this idea of sitting down and considering something, right? 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:33.039 We can think of those movies where you've probably seen World War II movies or the Civil 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:35.039 War and they have their plans all laid out. 00:12:35.439 --> 00:12:40.079 And sometimes they have the little cute little chess sets or whatever representation of their 00:12:40.079 --> 00:12:40.799 armies, right? 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:44.259 And they're moving it all around and they're planning out their battlefield that's going 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:44.500 on. 00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:49.279 Well, this king here, he's sitting down for a second and he's deliberating whether his 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.939 army of 10,000 can go up against an army of 20,000. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:56.079 Now, it's not to say that the army is not strong or anything. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.660 We actually see what happens. 00:12:58.420 --> 00:13:03.400 If not, while the other is yet a great weight off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms 00:13:03.400 --> 00:13:03.820 of peace. 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:09.860 He has thought to himself, with the army of 10,000 that I have, it's not enough. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:11.879 I'm going to lose the battle. 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:19.740 And so we can think of this language about sitting down and considering, sitting down and calculating, 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.440 sitting down and deliberating. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:27.740 Because when we're thinking of this idea and this notion for us to make a decision for Christ, 00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:30.040 we have got to consider. 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.580 We've got to deliberate. 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.960 We've got to calculate, as it's mentioning here. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:39.920 And as I use this imagery of the stone, where are you going to place your trust? 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.320 Where are you going to place your stone? 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.300 Some people may say, you know what? 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:45.280 Don't want it. 00:13:45.760 --> 00:13:48.100 I'm going to hang on to my stone and place it somewhere else. 00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:50.040 Other people may say, you know what? 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:54.019 I believe in Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:58.120 I'm going to put, cast my vote or cast my pebble into this. 00:13:58.299 --> 00:14:02.000 It's a very powerful representation that we can think about. 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:09.480 And so, in the end, in verse 33, therefore, any of you who does not renounce all that he 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.919 has cannot be my disciple. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.120 It is very heavy language. 00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:14.259 And we have to be very careful with this. 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:20.759 It is understanding that the kingdom of God, that salvation in Christ, is far of more value 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:22.100 than anything of the earth. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.840 Does that make sense, church? 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:29.720 It's understanding that there are people in this world who have all of the money, all of 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:35.100 the fame, all of the women, all of the cars, all of the mansions, whatever it is. 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.200 They have all of these things. 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.580 And I'm not saying money in of itself is bad. 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:40.220 It's what you do with it. 00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:45.220 And you have to think, are you making money or fame or whatever it is your God? 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:50.960 Because God is calling us to have him at the center of our life, for us to make a decision 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.759 for him and to say yes or to say no to him. 00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:57.460 So it's saying, God, you are the most important one. 00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:59.580 I want to seek you and your salvation. 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.280 I don't want to seek fame. 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:04.100 That's not as important as you, right? 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:09.040 That is not, nothing is as important as our Lord and our God. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:15.420 And for each and every one of us, as I've mentioned, the stone that you hold, how many of you may 00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:17.280 identify with your own stone you're holding? 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.480 Maybe not, right? 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:23.960 You think of how the course of your life, how we're all different, we're all made in the 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.660 image of God. 00:15:24.660 --> 00:15:26.800 And we've all had our battles. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.759 We've all had our seasons in life. 00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:32.319 We've had the good, the bad, and the ugly in here. 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:38.759 And so the tower, and just kind of as some fun facts here, the tower is likely a watch 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:40.379 tower that was to be built back then. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:45.740 It would be visible and it would be costly if it was left half built. 00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:51.399 So think of someone who basically their reputation is on the line if they don't complete that 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:51.719 tower. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:56.699 When we're thinking of the warring king, well, there are lives that are at stake when he's 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.160 about to consider going to battle. 00:15:58.660 --> 00:16:03.580 He's like, if I don't make a good decision, I could very well lose this army of 10,000 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:03.960 people. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:08.860 Giving you different perspectives, different angles when we're thinking about counting the 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:11.300 cost or considering your pebble. 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:18.099 And so as I mentioned, this idea, calculate, it is from the Greek, which comes from the idea 00:16:18.099 --> 00:16:18.679 of pebble. 00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:22.519 And back then, pebbles were used for counting or for voting. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:28.079 And this symbolic pebble represents a choice that we all have to make. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:36.540 How many of you have thought, sat down and counted, as it were, considered your life, as it were, 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:40.860 and thought about choosing or not choosing Christ? 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:45.980 For each and every one of you, of course, I would encourage you, make a decision for Christ. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:51.800 Cast your pebble upon him, as it were, much like how we are to place our faith and trust 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:57.740 in the living God, whose arms are open for all of us to respond to him. 00:16:58.859 --> 00:17:05.299 And when we really bring it home, when we think for a moment, maybe you think and identify 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:10.559 with someone who has rough edges or a lot of pressure, just as mine has. 00:17:10.659 --> 00:17:12.099 It's right above my E. 00:17:12.159 --> 00:17:14.259 I have a big pressure point right here, right? 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:17.379 Maybe you've been through moments of pressure. 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:25.080 Regardless of what you have been through, the call remains the same to respond to salvation, 00:17:25.300 --> 00:17:28.120 to respond to the gospel in Jesus Christ. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:33.460 And so, with all of this, then, we go now into the interpretation. 00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:36.500 We have observed the text. 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:40.880 We have observed the context and some of the connections that happen in here. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:43.840 So what can we then, in turn, learn from this? 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:47.799 Well, the first thing that comes is to sit down and respond to Christ. 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:51.159 And certainly, that can mean literally sit down, right? 00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:53.839 You could go sit down and take a few moments and think about that. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:18:01.819 But the idea of it is for you to be deliberate, be intentional about if you're going to respond 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.799 to Christ or not. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:10.699 Really think about the consequence, as it were, of if you say yes to Christ or if you don't. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:13.500 So to sit down is to reflect. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.660 It is to consider these things. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:22.259 I know for, in my own walk with the Lord, one of the things that really helps me and helped 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:28.860 me make a decision for Christ is, what would I lose if I did not believe in Christ? 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:31.660 I would lose far more than I would ever gain. 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:40.140 And that was one of the many things that made me decide that there is, that I need to respond 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.759 accordingly. 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:46.920 So to count the cost means to consider your pebble or to cast your pebble. 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:50.779 And Jesus calls us to think, to reflect, and to pray. 00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:53.960 Most importantly, to respond in faith. 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:58.880 Let your foundation be in Christ as the solid rock. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:04.420 And let God work in and through you to build up upon your life. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.860 Stay true to him. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.680 Seek God. 00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:11.799 Have him as that foundation in your life. 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:16.259 Let that be the beginning of your new life in Christ. 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:23.039 For some of us, we might have had moments where we felt distant or we have been hurt by people. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:27.099 Don't raise your hand if you've been hurt by people, because I know we all have. 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:35.359 Even when we have had storms in life, even when we have had battles that we've had, things 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.680 that have happened to us. 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:43.839 As I've said before, and I will say again, man can and will fail you. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:47.039 But God will never fail you. 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.079 I'm going to say that again. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.679 Man can and will fail you. 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:54.819 But God will never fail you. 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:59.019 And that, I hope that brings you great comfort. 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:05.399 And knowing that we trust in the living God who is always there for us, calls for us to 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:13.279 be saved, calls for us to be transformed, to grow in him and to become more like him. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:16.099 We think of these things. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.119 So begin your new life in Christ. 00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:20.139 Be molded in Christ. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:23.220 And let God finish that work in you. 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:27.139 The second thing then is to consider the what, church? 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:29.240 Consider the consequence. 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.959 It's that C word that nobody likes. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.879 How many of you like the word consequence, right? 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:35.639 Even us adults, we don't like that, right? 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.099 There's a consequence for different things here. 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:41.579 Well, we have the king's calculation here. 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:48.519 Where the king was 10,000 versus 20,000, basically showing that he can't win that battle. 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:51.179 So we had to find alternatives. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:58.900 Well, much like the king for a moment here, how many times do we think that we can do something 00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:03.299 on our own and we calculate and we think, we try to plot and scheme how things will go. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:06.920 And then we realize for a moment, wait a minute, I can't do it. 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:12.440 That is a very similar, a parallel, as it were, with what you're seeing with the king. 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:17.900 Where he has this huge army and he's thinking for a moment, I cannot do this on my own. 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:23.060 I'm going to need to seek terms of peace, as the language is saying here. 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:26.600 But how many of us need peace in our lives? 00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:32.860 How many of us have tried to fight a battle that we couldn't win, realizing that we need 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:36.360 to seek the Lord and the peace that comes from him? 00:21:36.780 --> 00:21:40.160 That is important for us, church, to think about. 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:47.019 And so counting the cost, then calculating and deliberating means that we are to rely on 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:51.279 the Lord as our source, as our comfort, and as our strength. 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:57.259 So we in turn, let us cast our pebbles onto Christ. 00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:01.339 The third thing then is to surrender the what life? 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:04.379 The old life for the new. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:12.359 This is very powerful language, church, is that to believe in Christ, it is putting your 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:15.139 trust in something that is higher than yourself, right? 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:20.420 Letting go of the old life, saying, God, I need you for transformation. 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:22.680 I need you for restoration. 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.520 I need you for healing. 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.680 I can't do it on my own. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:31.160 And to put away the old life and to let God transform your life. 00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:36.900 For some of us, it may be just a simple changing in the way that we think. 00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:43.640 For others of us, it may be healing that comes in our marriages or in our relationships. 00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:51.000 For others, it might be simple comfort when we're going through really bad times. 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:53.740 How many of us have gone through a hard time? 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:55.440 Don't raise your hand, please, by all means. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.200 We've all been through that. 00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:03.259 And we turn to the Lord for our strength and our comfort in those kind of moments. 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:08.940 Knowing that God is going to transform us and to show us how to live and love like him. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:13.039 Knowing that there's peace that surpasses all understanding. 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:18.759 There's insurmountable, inexpressible, inexhaustible joy that comes from him. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:25.299 I'm always amazed that when you find people, their house burned down or someone passed away 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:29.099 and yet they have that joy in the Lord and you ask them, 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.619 well, why aren't you sad? 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:33.079 This tragic thing happened and they're like, 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:36.859 I know, I know I'm going to be okay. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.440 Or I know this person's okay. 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:41.899 It's something that a lot of the world doesn't understand, 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:45.720 but yet God is working in them in such a profound way. 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:52.920 I know that in many times in my life where I have felt so alone or I've felt hurt by people, 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:58.039 to pray to the Lord and to ask God, give me peace and calm, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:02.640 that he supplies that peace and that sense of knowing. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.759 And I want to make this clear to you, church. 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:08.120 No matter what it is you go through, 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:11.259 when you place your faith and trust in God, 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:13.940 God is always going to be there in your life. 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:21.500 There are so many moments where we feel alone or where we feel like there's no one or nothing. 00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:25.779 But I'm telling you, knowing that Christ is there with you, 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:30.600 despite what happens to us, should give us so much comfort. 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:35.920 And so consider the parables we've talked about, 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:38.700 the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:42.759 setting aside the lesser things. 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:47.839 It still makes me very excited when I think of that parable, 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:50.779 that the guy found a pearl so valuable, 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:53.420 no other pearl mattered. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:58.740 And he was willing to risk everything and to lose everything for it. 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:02.140 That's got to be a pretty valuable pearl, right? 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.559 It's got to be. 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:07.919 And so in all of this, we now go to the application. 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:10.379 So as I've mentioned before and I'll mention again, 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:13.099 observation, interpretation, and application. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:15.500 What all that means is we read scripture, 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.240 we look at what we can learn, 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:18.839 and we look at what we can do. 00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:20.740 So the first thing is what? 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.139 I want you to hold up your stone, 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.839 and please don't throw it at me, all right? 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.440 I want you to hold up your stone. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.779 And I want you to think for a moment 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:32.720 how important it is for you to know your stone 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:35.320 and to know what you're going to place your trust into. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.600 Let this be an imagery, 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.799 a representation of your own life 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:43.200 and what or who you are going to place your trust in. 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:46.200 I should put that meme up there, Tim, 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:49.059 one of these days of the guy from the, 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:51.840 what is it, Raiders of the Lost Ark. 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:54.639 The guy who says choose wisely, right? 00:25:54.699 --> 00:25:57.000 Those words still resound very true for us. 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.699 You know what I'm talking about, 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.199 the Knights of the Round Table. 00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:00.899 You got all those chalices, 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:04.779 and the guy wants to drink the really fancy cup. 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.939 You're like, please don't. 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.759 You got to drink from the right cup. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:11.799 But it's the same concept, and it's the same idea, 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.959 that we have to choose wisely 00:26:13.959 --> 00:26:16.579 who or what we place our trust in. 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.659 And it's very interesting to me 00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:20.599 how there's so many mindsets 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.959 or religions out there 00:26:21.959 --> 00:26:23.819 that say you need to seek truth. 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:27.139 But what's so powerful is that in Christianity, 00:26:27.699 --> 00:26:29.240 we can read in our own Bible 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.919 that Jesus is the way, 00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.599 that he is the truth, 00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:34.399 and he is the life, 00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:36.079 and that there is safety 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:38.819 and there is security that comes from him. 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:43.259 Let us respond by casting our pebble. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.219 Respond to the gospel 00:26:45.219 --> 00:26:47.459 and trust in the death, burial, 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.679 and resurrection of Christ, 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:51.640 as I mentioned 1 Corinthians 15, 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.620 verses 1 through 4, 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:56.640 which talks about how the death, burial, 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.960 and resurrection of Christ 00:26:57.960 --> 00:27:00.380 is in accordance with the Scriptures, 00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:03.820 showing the consistency of our Word 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:06.240 and how powerful it is for us 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.620 to open the Word 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:10.259 and to see how Christ being a fulfillment 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.220 of prophecy. 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:15.000 I know we can go on and on about that, 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.880 but it's showing that in that verse 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:19.759 that Jesus has been planned 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.819 by God 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:25.019 and that God is supplying 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.660 what we need in him. 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:29.059 Let us respond accordingly 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.819 and ask yourself the question, 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.960 have I decided to follow Jesus? 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.339 Maybe you have, 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.240 maybe you haven't, 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:37.019 but believe in the Lord 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.900 as it says. 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:39.720 I always put that in your notes. 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.680 Believe in the Lord 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.720 and be saved. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.380 Let us remember that. 00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.960 And the second thing then 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:47.000 is upon salvation then 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:49.460 is to let God work on you 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.320 until the end. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.960 Are we a work in progress? 00:27:54.300 --> 00:27:55.460 I think for a moment 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.380 of how many of us 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.900 we make a New Year's resolution 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.200 and we say we're going to 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.120 change our diet 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:01.200 and change our life, 00:28:01.780 --> 00:28:02.880 change our eating habits, 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.100 maybe go to the gym more, 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.019 go for a walk. 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:07.680 And how does that go? 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.639 Not putting a burden on you, 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.059 but right? 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:12.059 We think of those things, right? 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:14.279 That we are to, 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.680 in the New Year, 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:17.339 we try to work on ourself. 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:19.339 But when we think of God 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.539 working in and through us 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:22.420 is that God is going to continue 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.779 to transform our lives. 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:25.079 First and foremost, 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.079 be saved, 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:27.139 believe in Christ, 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.519 and then from there, 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:30.139 grow in him. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.740 Let God change your mind. 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.079 I always love the idea 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.759 of repentance. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.839 Many of you here, 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:38.880 repent and believe, right? 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.039 Change your mind 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:41.099 and believe in Christ 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.380 and be saved. 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.759 And there's this continued 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.279 sense of repentance, 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.079 which is this sense of God 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.960 working in you 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:49.240 and changing your mind 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.339 and molding you 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.839 as a potter molds clay 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:53.720 or as these stones 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:56.259 get molded in their own sense, right? 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.000 When you think of, 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.500 how many of you have ever had 00:28:58.500 --> 00:29:00.880 those rock tumbling machines? 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.099 Do they still make those? 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:03.879 Because you would rock it 00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.740 all around, right? 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.399 Or some of you had 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.459 the automatic one. 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:08.500 Or some of you would just 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.319 turn it and turn it 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.980 until it got smoother, right? 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.679 And we can think of how 00:29:12.679 --> 00:29:13.839 in our own lives, 00:29:13.959 --> 00:29:15.559 we might be tumbled 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.859 around and around, right? 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.559 We might have those moments 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.019 where it's like, 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:20.119 man, things are just going 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.179 every which way. 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:23.099 But we're going to be 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.399 molded, as it were, 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.699 into what God wants us to be. 00:29:27.179 --> 00:29:27.799 Now, granted, 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:30.459 is every lesson that we learn 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.880 about the Lord an easy one? 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.079 Well, no. 00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.579 It's just like if you 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.440 begin praying for patience, 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.299 right? 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.680 And you're wondering 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.880 why you can't have patience 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.759 right now, right? 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.920 I want patience 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:44.460 like I want my ramen noodles 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:44.940 instant. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.680 Come on now. 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:48.140 But many of us, 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.579 we pray for these different things 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.920 and it's asking God 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.259 to work in our very lives. 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:54.160 Praying to God 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.620 for a softened heart 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.939 or saying, 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.839 God, I want you, 00:29:57.939 --> 00:29:59.339 I want to be more like you. 00:29:59.979 --> 00:30:00.719 I'm ready. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.219 May we be ready. 00:30:02.399 --> 00:30:03.519 And sometimes God 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.259 will just mold us 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.459 whether we like it or not. 00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.319 But very often, 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.779 it's just at least knowing 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.879 that God's going to work 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:10.599 in your life. 00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:12.379 May you be ready 00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.059 and prepared 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:15.419 to have God work on you 00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:16.119 until the end. 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.879 Because let us be reminded 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.679 that we are covered 00:30:18.679 --> 00:30:20.139 by the blood of Christ. 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.739 What he begins, 00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:22.559 he completes. 00:30:22.699 --> 00:30:24.000 And let us rely 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.380 on the Holy Spirit 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:27.079 for leading and guiding. 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.920 And let us begin. 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.039 How can we reflect 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.759 the light, 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.059 love, 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.099 and truth of God 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.779 to other people every day? 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.559 How can we do that? 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.319 How can we speak truth 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.579 and do it in love? 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:41.200 That's always a hard thing. 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.019 We think about it. 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.720 A lot of us, 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.740 we want to take the truth 00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:45.480 and we want to pound people 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.039 over the head. 00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.400 Not with a stone, 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:47.819 mind you. 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.180 But you want to pound people 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.079 over the head with it. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.680 But you have to deal 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:52.579 in love in that. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.759 And for many of us 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.980 that are very big on love, 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.339 it's like, 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:56.539 well, we have to speak truth 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.299 to them as well. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.759 So it's important 00:30:58.759 --> 00:31:00.559 for us to understand 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:02.799 we exhibit the love of Christ 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.920 and the truth of it. 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:05.420 It's a sense of balance 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.900 that comes from the Lord. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.200 May we have habits 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.480 of opening God's word 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.299 and praying 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:13.140 and being in community 00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.940 with one another. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.539 The kind of relationships 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.680 that you can have 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:19.240 by knowing brothers 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.480 and sisters in Christ 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.859 in the local church 00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.940 or whether you're online, 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:24.420 the sense of community 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.340 that you can have 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.039 with one another 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.360 is very powerful. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:29.080 That you can pray 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:29.779 with one another. 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.920 That you can be present 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:31.680 with one another. 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.460 You can ask questions 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.700 and sometimes 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.480 just be there 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.140 and just listen. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.700 You never know 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.240 what someone 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.059 is going through. 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.279 You never know 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.080 their backstory. 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:42.759 How many of you, 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.820 you may have known 00:31:43.820 --> 00:31:45.039 someone their entire, 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.160 most of their life 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.940 and then they tell you 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.220 something, 00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:47.500 you're like, 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:47.700 wait, 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.039 Uncle Steve, 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:49.920 I didn't know that 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.680 about you. 00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.220 You might have 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.279 a relative like that. 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:54.720 They went through something 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.659 and you learned about it 00:31:55.659 --> 00:31:55.899 and you're like, 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:56.119 man, 00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.420 I wish I learned that sooner. 00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:59.319 These kind of things. 00:32:01.159 --> 00:32:02.399 So let God work 00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.180 in and through you 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.519 and consider 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.720 as you are growing, 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:07.379 how can you reflect 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.680 that light, 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:08.899 love, 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.079 and truth of Christ. 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.379 And then finally, 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.299 we have, 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.379 let the new, 00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.460 live the new life 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.779 as God's hands 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.559 and feet. 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.460 It's very important 00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.259 for us when we think 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.279 of the hands and feet, 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.519 you're like, 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.480 what are you talking about? 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.519 What if you don't have a foot? 00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:22.879 What if, 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.119 you know, 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:24.299 these kind of things. 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:26.039 It's living out the gospel 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:28.039 through action. 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.319 Now, 00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.160 for some people, 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:32.099 we think of how, 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.720 a lot of people, 00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:35.000 we like learning 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.599 and growing. 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.700 That's fine. 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.680 But as you learn 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.160 and grow, 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.700 live it out in your life. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:43.019 Be a prayer warrior. 00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:45.299 Practice the ministry 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.099 of presence, 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.180 being present 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:48.500 with those in need. 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.899 Think of how you can 00:32:50.899 --> 00:32:51.839 share in your faith, 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.720 even if you, 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.299 some people may say, 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:54.460 well, 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:54.779 pastor, 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:56.500 I work in a job 00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.559 that doesn't allow 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.200 for Christians. 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.759 That's okay. 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.579 You can still exhibit 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:02.379 in how you live your life 00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:04.539 as a testimony 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:06.119 for who God is. 00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.940 Even if you work 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:09.279 in the auto industry, 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.579 right? 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.339 Not to pick on 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:10.980 the auto industry, 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.220 right? 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.359 But even if you work 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:13.259 in different fields, 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.680 you can still 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:16.220 exhibit that light, 00:33:16.340 --> 00:33:16.500 love, 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.120 and truth 00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:18.279 of the Lord. 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.820 So it's very important. 00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:21.180 And let us remember 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.860 that everything 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:24.160 that God has given us, 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:24.299 right? 00:33:24.320 --> 00:33:25.320 Every perfect gift 00:33:25.320 --> 00:33:26.320 that comes from above 00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:27.259 is from God. 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.320 It is a blessing. 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.019 We consider 00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:30.100 his time, 00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:30.799 right? 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.820 Our time, 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.519 our talent, 00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:33.140 and our treasure. 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:34.279 And I've mentioned also 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.560 another T 00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:36.600 is our testimony. 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:38.560 With God giving you 00:33:38.560 --> 00:33:39.220 so much, 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:41.480 can you not even give 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.519 a little back to him? 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:44.539 For some of us, 00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:45.259 it's no. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:47.799 Let God work in your life 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.339 in that way. 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:50.480 How you give back 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.019 to the Lord 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.920 is unique to you. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.220 How you can serve 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:55.599 the Lord 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.539 and how you can be 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.619 that ambassador 00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.299 for Christ 00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:59.920 is unique to you. 00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:02.160 As we are given, 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:02.480 then, 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.339 let us give to others. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:06.039 Just as it says 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.579 in Scripture, 00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.579 as we sow, 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.920 so shall we reap. 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.960 Let us mirror Christ 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.760 in his love, 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.119 grace, 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.740 and truth 00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:14.480 being more like him. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.780 So we think of, 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.740 there's a church 00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:18.159 that I would visit 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:19.039 sometimes that, 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.920 on the back here, 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.039 if you can turn your heads 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.380 real quick, 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.119 if you can imagine, 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:25.159 and the language 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.139 that it was saying is, 00:34:27.220 --> 00:34:28.280 as you leave, 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.019 your service begins. 00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.500 And those words 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.480 really resounded to me 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.500 that you're hearing 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.519 from the word of God 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:36.300 and you're worshiping him, 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:37.880 but you still have to serve 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:39.780 the Lord beyond Sunday. 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:42.620 You have to be that 00:34:42.620 --> 00:34:44.620 ambassador for other people. 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.300 So it's very, 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.480 very powerful. 00:34:47.600 --> 00:34:48.740 It's for us to think about. 00:34:49.540 --> 00:34:50.380 And so in closing, 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.700 then, 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:52.220 let us sit down 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:52.860 or reflect 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:54.240 and consider 00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.600 our stone. 00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.400 Let us consider 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.880 and count the cost 00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.620 as it says. 00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:01.460 Don't rush, 00:35:01.820 --> 00:35:03.060 but be intentional. 00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.740 Think about the consequence 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:07.760 and why it's so important 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:09.320 for us to believe in Christ. 00:35:09.780 --> 00:35:10.920 as that, 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.620 I mentioned the, 00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:12.940 uh, 00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.600 Raiders of the Lost Ark 00:35:14.600 --> 00:35:16.180 choose wisely. 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:19.160 May you choose wisely 00:35:19.160 --> 00:35:21.740 and seek, 00:35:22.280 --> 00:35:23.420 just as the king 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:25.260 was seeking for peace 00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:27.060 in a time of war, 00:35:27.660 --> 00:35:28.560 may we seek 00:35:28.560 --> 00:35:30.019 the stronger king, 00:35:30.620 --> 00:35:32.120 the king of kings. 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:34.739 and let us remember, 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:36.880 let us let go 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:37.599 of the things 00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:39.119 that hold us back 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:41.299 from seeking the Lord. 00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:43.420 May we let God 00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:44.400 transform us 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:45.639 every single day. 00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:47.339 And so, 00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.940 in all of this, 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.900 as we close 00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.539 and we think 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.779 about this parable 00:35:52.779 --> 00:35:54.000 of the tower 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.039 and the warring king, 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.699 it all comes back 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.319 and I want you 00:35:57.319 --> 00:35:58.319 to keep this 00:35:58.319 --> 00:35:59.380 stone 00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:01.240 as a reminder 00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:02.079 from this Sunday 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:03.780 that you 00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.500 need 00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.480 to respond. 00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.240 May you respond 00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.420 to Christ in faith 00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:10.119 and may you respond 00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:11.079 whenever there's 00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:11.800 a situation 00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:12.420 to grow 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.619 or to live out 00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.200 your faith. 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.079 May you 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:16.440 respond accordingly. 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.860 Let us pray together. 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.380 And Father, 00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.480 we thank you for, 00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:23.640 we thank you for the, 00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:24.280 your word 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:24.980 and we thank you 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:27.000 for this very unique parable 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:29.260 talking about the importance 00:36:29.260 --> 00:36:31.159 of us to count the cost 00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:33.079 and how interesting 00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:34.079 is it when we go 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:34.780 to the language 00:36:34.780 --> 00:36:35.820 and it's talking about 00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:37.239 to consider our pebble. 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:39.559 Something that's so small 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.659 but yet so profound. 00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.460 In the same way, 00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:44.400 may we respond 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.159 in faith. 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.739 Something that is 00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:47.820 so significant, 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.960 the greatest decision 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.019 that we can make 00:36:50.019 --> 00:36:50.619 in our lives. 00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.960 Believing in the death, 00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:52.340 burial, 00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:52.860 and resurrection 00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.960 of Jesus Christ. 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.519 I pray for those 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.239 that may have been 00:36:56.239 --> 00:36:56.899 hurting, 00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.519 those that may have felt 00:36:58.519 --> 00:37:00.239 distant or hurt by man, 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.559 that there will be 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.500 a healing process 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.779 that you will comfort them 00:37:03.779 --> 00:37:05.039 and let them know 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:07.419 that man will fail them 00:37:07.419 --> 00:37:08.559 but you, God, 00:37:08.659 --> 00:37:10.000 will never fail us. 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.439 And I pray 00:37:11.439 --> 00:37:12.279 that we may all 00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:12.979 grow together 00:37:12.979 --> 00:37:14.459 and that we may all 00:37:14.459 --> 00:37:15.199 be moved 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.119 to do good 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:17.859 in your Son's 00:37:17.859 --> 00:37:18.579 holy name. 00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:20.579 We love you, Lord, 00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.859 and we thank you 00:37:21.859 --> 00:37:22.899 so much for giving us 00:37:22.899 --> 00:37:23.599 this life, 00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:24.899 another day 00:37:24.899 --> 00:37:25.839 to praise you 00:37:25.840 --> 00:37:26.720 and to come together 00:37:26.720 --> 00:37:28.420 as the body of Christ. 00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:29.640 And Father, 00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.280 I'm grateful 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:31.059 for every person 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.720 that's here today. 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:33.000 Every person 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:34.200 that's here in person 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:35.519 and every person 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.180 that's online. 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:37.900 I just pray, Father, 00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:39.059 that you give them comfort. 00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:40.940 You lead and guide them. 00:37:41.700 --> 00:37:42.840 Whatever that means. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:43.880 I don't know 00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.539 what that means, 00:37:44.640 --> 00:37:46.480 but you certainly know 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.240 how to lead 00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:48.320 and guide your people. 00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:50.519 In all of these things, 00:37:50.640 --> 00:37:51.720 we pray in the name 00:37:51.720 --> 00:37:53.180 that is above all names, 00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:54.359 Jesus Christ. 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.379 And we all say together, 00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:56.119 Amen, church. 00:37:56.419 --> 00:37:56.919 Amen. 00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:00.179 Thank you for listening 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:01.319 for this week's message 00:38:01.319 --> 00:38:02.759 from Ontario Community Church. 00:38:03.139 --> 00:38:05.259 I pray that you are encouraged 00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:06.279 and strengthened 00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:07.539 in your walk with Christ. 00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:08.819 For more sermons 00:38:08.819 --> 00:38:09.599 and resources, 00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:10.500 visit 00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:12.899 OntarioCommunityChurch.org. 00:38:13.339 --> 00:38:14.539 May God bless you 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.419 as you live out 00:38:15.419 --> 00:38:16.719 His grace and truth 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.919 every single day. 00:38:17.919 --> 00:38:18.019 Amen. 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:18.519 Amen. 00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.019 Amen. 00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.519 Amen. 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.019 Amen. 00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:24.179 Amen.