WEBVTT

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 Struggling with knowing what to share this morning, I actually had an entire message already prepared as of a day ago.

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!

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 So, I have, in view of it being the day of prayer for the persecuted church, I just want you to be aware that I feel very unworthy to even be standing up here to even speak about them a lot of the time.

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 I don't want to put myself on their level.

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 This is just a personal conviction.

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 You don't have to follow it, but I refuse to say that I've been persecuted just because I've faced some humiliation or ridicule by people that are around me.

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 Here in the U.S., where there really is no threat of anything other than your wounded pride, I just don't want to wear that badge.

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 If it happens, you know, fine.

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 But I do, over the years, our brothers and sisters around the world really have convicted me of how I've lived and what I'm doing in my life.

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 I encourage you to read Richard Wambron's book, Torture for Christ.

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 I've read it at least five or six times, and every time there's always like a new desire to reach people for Christ at all costs.

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 Just after I've read it.

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 And so just with that in mind, just knowing that, like, I take this very seriously, and I'm praying that God uses this time.

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 We may run a little bit over 12 o'clock, so it's okay.

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 You can wait to eat lunch when so many people are without in the world.

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 You're going to get there.

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 So those of you who are hangry, just get over it and just learn that it's not justified.

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 So we're going to be in John 15, but we're going to look at some other places today.

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 So I hope you have your Bible, flipping fingers, ready.

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 We're going to start in John 15.

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 Just look at verse 18.

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 We're just going to read through 21.

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 This is Jesus talking to his disciples.

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 He's preparing to die and to face crucifixion.

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 And this is what he says, verse 18.

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 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

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 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.

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 But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

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 Remember the word that I have said to you.

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 A servant is not greater than his master.

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 If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

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 If they kept my word, they would also keep yours.

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 But all these things they do to you on the account of my name,

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 because they do not know him who sent me.

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 Just join me in prayer.

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 Father, I just ask that this morning you would use your word to break down any kind of entitlement

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 or any desire that we have to flee your presence.

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 That we would face you.

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 That you would show us our sin.

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 That we would have the faith to know how to deal with it in our hearts and in our lives.

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 Challenge us this day.

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 And thank you for the examples we find in your word of people who suffered and died for the cause of Christ

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 and are still doing so today.

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 Make us aware of that, Lord.

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 And just ask that in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, do you know that nearly, nearly 160,000 Christians will be killed this year?

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 That was roughly what the statistics have been over the last few years and they're increasing.

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 And we're going to just use this text just to kind of start walking through,

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 kind of setting the background for persecution.

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 But you'll notice a word that pops up a lot here in these few verses.

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 And it's just the term, the world.

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 Okay?

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 And the word here is cosmos.

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 It means the order or the system.

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 It's not talking about like the beauty of creation or the beauty of nature or the created order.

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 It's speaking in terms of, it's using a negative sense here to talk about like how the people of this world are alienated from God.

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 It's the world is a way of thinking, an ideology, a perception of life and the purpose of life that sets itself against God and God's purposes.

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 It's a whole system of organized humanity that is hostile towards God and alienated from God.

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 So, that's the truth of what we're talking about here.

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 It's the way that the world is going and flowing.

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 So, when Jesus says, he warns his disciples that the world will hate you, the cosmos will hate you.

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 And then he explains why.

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 Because the world has hated him.

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 You know, Christ came into the world in love and grace to a rebellious creation to show them the way to be reconciled to the Father.

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 Showed them that it was by grace, through faith in him.

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 And the result is they spat on this offer of grace from God.

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 They hated him.

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 And it says, you know, this Greek word for hate is a very strong word indicating to detest, to abhor.

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 And it even pictures like an ongoing persecution against someone that you hate.

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 So, that's what we're talking about in this term.

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 But he says, if they hate me, they're going to hate you.

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 And he says why?

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 In two ways.

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 He says, for one, you don't belong to the world.

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 And then secondly, not only do you not belong to the world, but you belong to me.

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 And I chose you out of the world.

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 And so, therefore, you will suffer.

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 And he says, if you were of the world, if you belonged to it and not to me, the world would befriend you.

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 The world would love you.

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 It would treat you as one of its own.

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 But I chose you out of the world, and therefore the world will hate you.

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 And he gives you that illustration of a servant is not greater than his master.

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 And he's saying, like, look, I'm your master.

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 I'm your Lord.

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 The one that you seek to be like.

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 The one that I'm your example.

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 You listen to me, and you follow me, and you believe the words that I teach.

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 So, very clearly, he concludes that they're going to reject you because they've rejected me.

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 And so, then he goes on to conclude at the end of that, in verse 21, a lot of people in this world think that they're okay with God, but they reject Christ.

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 But, in reality, if you reject Christ, you're rejecting the Father.

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 That's what he says here.

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 Because they do not know him who sent me.

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 In verse 21, Jesus says, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

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 That's in chapter 14, 9.

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 And he also says, in other places in the gospel, whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

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 So, all these other world religions who think that they know God, but yet reject the one he sent, do not know the Father.

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 See, it's just a text to look at just to say that those of us who really belong to Christ,

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 we're going to face some measure of hostility by the cosmos because we are not going along with it.

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 We're pressing up against it.

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 We're saying, no, life is about this.

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 This is what matters and not this.

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 And we're going to confront them with evil that is in this world and say,

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 the only hope you have is to be reconciled to God through Christ.

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 And so, the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1, 24, he talks about how he's sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

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 Then he goes on, he says,

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 In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, the church.

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 And what he means in this is not that Christ's sufferings were inadequate to achieve salvation for us,

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 but what he is saying is there are many places in the world that don't know about the suffering of Christ.

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 They haven't physically seen Jesus come and suffer on their behalf.

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 So what he is saying is that through his life, through his body, through his suffering,

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 he's going to betray to the world the sufferings of Christ.

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 So believers going out into the world to preach the gospel,

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 they are an extension of Christ and his sufferings.

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 Joseph's son, who I recommend a book that he wrote as well,

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 Joseph's son, he was a Baptist pastor in Romania in the 1980s,

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 exiled by the government, imprisoned, tortured,

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 interrogated over and over to try to get him to renounce the gospel.

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 But as you'll read, like in Torture for Christ and a lot of these other books,

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 they just embraced it and often converted many of the people that were interrogating them

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 and many of the people that were torturing them out there.

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 So they were just being tortured, preaching the gospel to them.

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 But in regard to the verse in Colossians that we are filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions to reach the world,

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 he said this, he says,

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 I am an extension of Jesus Christ.

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 When I was beaten in Romania, he suffered in my body.

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 It is not my suffering.

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 I only had the honor to share in his sufferings.

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 Suffering and martyrdom have been sent as a part of God's plan.

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 They are instruments by which he achieves his purpose in history

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 and by which he will accomplish his final purpose with man.

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 So I have the privilege, I'm not saying this is anything cool,

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 but for some years I've had the privilege to know David Platt,

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 who is the IMB president in our convention.

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 And I challenge you to read his books.

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 They are really challenging and life-giving, scriptural.

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 And I remember him telling me one time that he was at this really large Southern Baptist church here in the South,

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 and he was talking about persecution,

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 talking about brothers and sisters around the world that he personally knew,

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 not just that he read about,

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 that were undergoing extreme persecution because of the name of Christ.

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 And deep down really praying and hoping that they would just, you know,

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 say, hey, let's go and suffer with them or let's be in prayer for them.

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 Let's do whatever we can to, you know, be a part of what they're going through.

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 He said, after it was over, like, we'll say he didn't even finish.

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 He said he was sharing and the pastor walked up there and just like put his hand on his shoulder

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 and just said, you know, thank you for sharing with us, brother David.

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 But you know what this just makes me think of?

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 This just makes me think that I'm so thankful that I live in America

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 and so thankful that, you know, I have the freedom to come here and worship

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 and that we live in a country that, you know, the red, white, and blue and, you know, eagle soaring, you know, like that.

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 And David just thought, I thought that, you know, Lee Greenwood was going to walk out

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 and sing God Bless the USA like right as I finish sharing.

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 And what we have to understand is if we really are thankful for freedom we have,

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 it's not going to turn to that kind of response.

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 It's going to turn into, now let's go and suffer with them.

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 Let's be a part and feel what they're going through.

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 And, you know, we're going to read some things in the Scripture now that I hope are going to challenge you

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 that I'm taking very seriously myself, like even asking, like in my own personal life, in my marriage,

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 like what is this going to look like?

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 Because it's not just going to be something I store up here.

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 But what I want you to know is in the context of what we're going to be reading today,

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 persecution was real.

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 Like it was, this is going to happen if you follow me.

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 And it also is real even today for thousands of our brothers and sisters across the world.

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 And it's not okay for us, as Nathan alluded to earlier, to just say,

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 well, I'm just glad I live in America. Wonderful.

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 But you should know that Jesus demands the same type of loyalty, love, and devotion

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 as He's asking for anyone who's wanted to risk their life.

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 It's the same kind of sacrifice.

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 And so there's three points we're going to walk through today,

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 each one having a specific text, but we're mainly going to be in the Gospel of Luke.

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 So turn over to Luke 14.

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 Luke chapter 14 and go to verse 25.

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 Luke 14, go to verse 25.

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 And the first point I'm going to make are things that we must do as believers,

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 even here in the West, in America.

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 Number one, we must weigh the cost of following Christ.

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 All right?

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 We must weigh the cost of following Christ.

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 Now, how many of you, when you gave your life to Christ,

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 actually were challenged to think about that?

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 Or was it just, you know, pray this prayer, come down the aisle, maybe be baptized,

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 which in and of itself are not really bad things.

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 But I really feel you see Jesus doing this a lot throughout His ministry.

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 But as soon as people knew who He was, and He began becoming like too popular,

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 He would say things to them that would make them just either split or stay with them.

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 And I always, whenever I'm sharing the Gospel with someone, like, you know,

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 I'll give you an example.

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 There was a baseball player that I met with for probably two months straight every week,

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 just going through the Gospel, talking about sin and God's holiness and the cross and faith

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 to the point where He got it.

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 Like, you know, I understand.

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 Like, I get it.

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 And I believe it.

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 I believe it.

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 And I said, well, great.

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 And then I asked Him, what's holding you back from just following Christ now?

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 And then I usually switch into a couple of weeks of trying to talk them out of following Jesus.

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 And what I mean by that are passages like we're about to read.

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 Luke 14, verse 25.

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 Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them,

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 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children

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 and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

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 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

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 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost,

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 whether he has enough to complete it?

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 Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish,

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 all who see it begin to mock him, saying,

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 This man began to build and was not able to finish.

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 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war,

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 will not sit down and first deliberate whether he is able with 10,000

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 to meet him who comes against him with 20,000?

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 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off,

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 he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

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 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all he has cannot be My disciple.

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 Very heavy words.

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 And He said this when He was getting momentum.

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 He was becoming cool.

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 Crowds were following Him.

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 And He kind of turns around and stared at this crowd who,

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 in a way, is just kind of following Him around to see Him do tricks

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 and thinks He's cool.

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 They're intrigued.

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 Indeed, He turns around and boldly says these heavy words to this crowd that is flirting with Him.

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 And a few things you'll be able to draw out of this is,

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 first of all, Christ says,

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 I am more important.

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 I am more worthy than your family is.

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 That's harsh.

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 Most people in this entire world,

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 including those who are some of the most wicked, vile people ever,

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 they still love their own family.

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 Right?

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 All of us love our family.

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 And He says,

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 I demand a superior love to all those who you call family

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 and all earthly relationships that you have.

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 And so, the word hate here is not the same word that's being used in John 15.

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 It's used here in a comparative sense,

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 not like in terms of malice or evil towards somebody,

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 but it's used in a comparative sense to mean loving one thing or a person much less than another thing.

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 So that love for this one thing,

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 by comparison,

00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.960
 looks like hate to the other thing.

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:59.259
 So, it's not saying have malice and evil in your heart towards your family.

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.980
 It's just saying,

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:04.319
 I demand a much greater love than your family.

00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.799
 And He's saying,

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:12.480
 I cultivate such a deep love for Christ and a desire to know Him

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:15.960
 that all other loves in this world,

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.360
 by comparison,

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.500
 look like hate.

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:22.420
 And in a similar context,

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.599
 in Matthew chapter 10,

00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:26.240
 you don't have to turn there,

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:28.180
 but Matthew chapter 10, verse 34,

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.900
 Jesus gives us a clearer picture of what it means

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:33.599
 so I can actually hate your family in this way.

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.940
 He says this in verse 34,

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:55.320
 Listen to this.

00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:55.320


00:19:55.319 --> 00:20:13.639
 So,

00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:20.179
 what He's saying here is like the true living presence of Christ in your life

00:20:20.179 --> 00:20:22.299
 can cause relational division.

00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.919
 It can cause,

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.279
 it can bring a sore to,

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.559
 it means by that,

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:29.579
 like it can cause some true division in your families.

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:32.379
 You can be rejected by your family.

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.480
 He's saying.

00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.299
 In this context,

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:34.859
 it was real.

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:37.000
 You'd be kicked out of your family more than likely.

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.899
 Still is the case around the world.

00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:45.059
 I would like to just give you an example of a friend of mine,

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.819
 a personal friend.

00:20:46.659 --> 00:20:47.659
 Her name's Kara.

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.980
 She lives in Northern Ireland.

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.620
 She's a school teacher.

00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.680
 And she grew up in,

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.559
 if you don't know about Northern Ireland,

00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:00.519
 Northern Ireland is still under Great Britain.

00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.559
 It's a part of the UK.

00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:03.400
 It's not a part of the Republic of Ireland.

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.559
 Very strange,

00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.019
 I know.

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.720
 Read the history.

00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:06.779
 But,

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:13.720
 but there's a huge battle in the North over centuries of Protestant versus Catholic.

00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:18.319
 Irish Catholic versus Brits and Scots who were there who are Protestant.

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.279
 And most of us,

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:21.819
 it's not about the gospel at all.

00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:23.059
 It's just about nationalism,

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.419
 politics.

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:30.819
 But Kara grew up in a very devout Irish Catholic home.

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.939
 Her father,

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.759
 I'm pretty sure,

00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:36.240
 was a part of a militia group in Northern Ireland.

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:39.299
 And she,

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:41.799
 she had a friend that was a part of one of the,

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:47.440
 the Baptist youth associations and was a believer.

00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.960
 And she kind of,

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.680
 she says now,

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:52.460
 like I was tricked into going to this,

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.140
 you know,

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:53.960
 this summer camp.

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:56.480
 I thought it was just going to be like games and outdoor adventures,

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.700
 but they did do that.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:59.559
 They talked about the gospel while they were there.

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.779
 And so in the process,

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:04.159
 Kira heard for the first time,

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:14.519
 like the gospel and believed and was completely just devastated by like the love of Christ for her and the forgiveness of sins.

00:22:15.399 --> 00:22:18.639
 And as soon as she gave her life to Christ though,

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.079
 she had to think,

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.639
 wait,

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.119
 stop.

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:23.059
 If I do this,

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.819
 my family is probably going to hate me,

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.699
 especially my father,

00:22:28.479 --> 00:22:29.479
 because I'll be saying like,

00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.399
 I'm not going this way anymore.

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.559
 I'm going this way.

00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:37.059
 I'm not for what the Roman church is doing here in Northern Ireland.

00:22:38.239 --> 00:22:39.659
 And she was terrified.

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.479
 She was in tears.

00:22:41.199 --> 00:22:42.399
 She just couldn't sleep for nights.

00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.639
 She finally went back,

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.899
 back home,

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:49.939
 and was praying and working up the courage to at least tell her mom,

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:54.860
 finally told her mom what Christ has done.

00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:58.380
 And her mom just broke down in tears and said,

00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.420
 praise God.

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:02.580
 I only came to know Jesus two weeks ago.

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:05.660
 Like there's two of us in this family now.

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:08.860
 So they just began encouraging one another,

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.279
 praying.

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:13.180
 And they finally worked up the boldness to tell the father,

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:13.820
 the husband,

00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:16.480
 and he was furious,

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.000
 furious.

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.000
 Lost,

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.440
 lost control,

00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:22.519
 threw things around,

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.460
 just angry,

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.619
 saying like,

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.480
 you're betraying me,

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.680
 you're betraying your country,

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:29.000
 you're betraying like the cause here.

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:32.980
 And for a long time,

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:35.359
 just a lot of fighting between her mom and her father.

00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:41.399
 And eventually her dad called her and the rest of the family to a meeting.

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.699
 And they were,

00:23:42.919 --> 00:23:46.740
 she was pretty sure that her dad was going to say,

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:49.139
 we're getting a divorce and this family is done.

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.159
 So finally,

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:54.459
 they sat down together in the living room there in Belfast.

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.019
 And finally,

00:23:55.219 --> 00:23:55.459
 she,

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.699
 he said,

00:23:56.700 --> 00:24:00.160
 as much as it's killing me to say this,

00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:03.080
 I see like the love of Christ in your life.

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.600
 And I want that for my life.

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.539
 And he gave his life to Christ.

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:10.180
 And that's a transformed family.

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:14.180
 But Kira had to weigh the costs of,

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.580
 of such a relationship with Jesus.

00:24:17.399 --> 00:24:19.179
 And that's just an example in the West.

00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:21.519
 But around the world,

00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:23.339
 this is a true thing.

00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:24.019
 This can happen.

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:26.179
 Your family can leave you.

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:28.019
 Your family could kill you,

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.819
 throw you out.

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.419
 And so,

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.859
 it is a,

00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.379
 you know,

00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:34.579
 we need to not just say,

00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:34.740
 well,

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.059
 I'm glad that wouldn't happen to me.

00:24:36.699 --> 00:24:38.139
 We have to weigh the costs as well.

00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.419
 So,

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:41.859
 first we see that Christ demands a superior love to family.

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.000
 But secondly,

00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:43.699
 in this text,

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:46.139
 we see that he desires a superior love to your family.

00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.079
 Yourself.

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.599
 Even your own life,

00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:49.079
 he says.

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:52.039
 You must love me more than your own life.

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:55.240
 He says that you must take up your cross.

00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.480
 And later on,

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.579
 or earlier in Luke,

00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:01.359
 so a few places I want you to turn,

00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:01.699
 but,

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:04.720
 just flip earlier to Luke chapter 9.

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:07.939
 We're going to look at some things in Luke 9 together.

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:11.079
 Trying to keep you in the same book.

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.099
 But,

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.679
 Luke 9 verse 23,

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:18.519
 similarly,

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.619
 Christ said this,

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:23.879
 And he said to all,

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:26.460
 if anyone would come after me,

00:25:26.520 --> 00:25:27.960
 let him deny himself,

00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:30.100
 take up his cross daily,

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.980
 and follow me.

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:34.140
 For whoever would save his life will lose it.

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:38.220
 Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

00:25:39.020 --> 00:25:42.120
 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world

00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:44.820
 and loses or forfeits himself?

00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:46.259
 So,

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.099
 this phrase,

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.119
 take up your cross,

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:52.519
 it is an invitation to come and die and suffer.

00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:54.399
 In this context,

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.299
 it meant only death.

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.200
 It didn't mean jewelry.

00:25:56.379 --> 00:25:59.480
 It didn't mean anything cool or culturally acceptable.

00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:01.480
 It was a mockery,

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.899
 and it meant to come and die.

00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:03.859
 So,

00:26:03.919 --> 00:26:05.000
 if you're going to come with me,

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:07.039
 you must take up your cross.

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.759
 It's an invitation.

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:11.019
 And he also said,

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.220
 like,

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.559
 to deny yourself.

00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:13.940
 And like,

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:16.980
 the phrasing of this word in the original language means

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:19.000
 to refuse to associate with.

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.379
 And like,

00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:23.339
 you're refusing to associate with the things

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:25.039
 that you used to associate with

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.839
 before you knew Christ.

00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:30.740
 To relinquish absolute control of your life.

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:33.000
 A willingness to follow Jesus,

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.759
 to serve him,

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.660
 to keep his commandments.

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.920
 And if need be,

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.180
 yeah,

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:38.420
 like to die for him.

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.060
 And so,

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.920
 I think,

00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:43.080
 if I could paraphrase,

00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:45.880
 saying this to us now,

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:49.180
 if Jesus would say something along this line,

00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:52.560
 if you knew that coming after me to be my disciple

00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:54.920
 would cost you your life,

00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.519
 would you come anyway?

00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:59.340
 It might not cost you your life,

00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:00.080
 but if it did,

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:00.980
 would you still come?

00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:04.320
 Are you that desperate for Jesus?

00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:06.859
 Do you see how much you need him

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:08.200
 and how precious he is

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.099
 that you would be willing

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.779
 to lose your life?

00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:13.859
 Are you willing to give up your life now

00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.619
 for eternal life later?

00:27:16.899 --> 00:27:18.179
 That's just what he's saying.

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.700
 It's not a,

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.319
 it's not cool theology.

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.039
 It's not to help you live a better life.

00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:24.059
 It's a call to come and die.

00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:24.359
 Like,

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.960
 to give your whole life,

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.200
 to surrender everything

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.579
 for Christ.

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:31.579
 And back in our text,

00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.639
 you can stay in Luke 9,

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.519
 but back in Luke 14,

00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:36.559
 he gives you an example.

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.099
 He said,

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.899
 two examples,

00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:40.079
 one of building a tower

00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:42.119
 and the other one of going to war

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.839
 to show like how you need to stop

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:45.539
 and think about

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:47.240
 what you're doing.

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:48.939
 So it didn't just,

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.179
 come on,

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.339
 Jesus wants you on his team

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.439
 and I'm not going to tell you

00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:53.279
 how much that costs.

00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.799
 He says,

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.279
 you need to stop

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.019
 and think about

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.220
 what it's going to cost you

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.500
 to follow me.

00:27:59.139 --> 00:28:00.480
 Don't rush into this,

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.160
 in other words.

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.960
 Slow down.

00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:05.119
 Which is so anti

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.579
 what most churches are doing today.

00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.279
 Is that not true?

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.879
 It's quick,

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.420
 easy,

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.200
 believism

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:11.240
 that costs nothing.

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.059
 And he's saying,

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:14.279
 stop and consider.

00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:17.160
 Some of you may

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.819
 remember me sharing

00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.920
 about another friend of mine

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:22.160
 who's from Kyrgyzstan,

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.200
 which is over near China.

00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:26.120
 His picture was out

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.920
 on the board out there.

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.160
 I don't know if you've ever seen it,

00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.039
 but his name's Ossal.

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:31.980
 And he does ministry

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.259
 with the Underground Church

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.259
 in Central Asia.

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:36.380
 And he came up here.

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:39.220
 There's probably only a handful of you

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.420
 that were probably here back then,

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.980
 but probably,

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:43.360
 probably eight or nine years ago,

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.580
 he stood on this stage.

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.279
 He came here

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.740
 and shared with like

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.880
 probably 80 to 100

00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:49.380
 college students.

00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:50.800
 and he said,

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.200
 you know,

00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.740
 in America

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:54.520
 it's fairly easy

00:28:54.520 --> 00:28:57.720
 to come to be a Christian.

00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:59.020
 But he said,

00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.840
 in Central Asia,

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.960
 first you have to stop

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.440
 and consider

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.260
 if you're going to be a Christian,

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.740
 you have to be willing

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.480
 to be kicked out

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.080
 of your family.

00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.000
 And then he said,

00:29:09.040 --> 00:29:09.660
 after that,

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.220
 your community

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:13.640
 will ostracize you

00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:15.140
 and ridicule you.

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.980
 then he said,

00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:17.640
 the state

00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:19.640
 will either not allow you

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.120
 to work,

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:21.900
 imprison you,

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.720
 or kill you.

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:25.400
 And he said,

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.720
 if someone

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.800
 that we've been sharing Christ with

00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:30.900
 goes through all of that,

00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.780
 still trusting Christ,

00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:34.080
 we know that they're a true Christian.

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.900
 That's like what he said.

00:29:36.800 --> 00:29:38.220
 And I was just so

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:40.020
 challenged by that.

00:29:40.780 --> 00:29:41.380
 So some of you,

00:29:41.520 --> 00:29:41.620
 like,

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.160
 don't take these stories

00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:43.680
 as like,

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.299
 that just makes me feel shameful.

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.980
 That just makes me feel guilty.

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.500
 You can either allow it to be that

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:51.320
 or you can allow it to be

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.100
 a conviction

00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:53.420
 that God is hitting you with

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.340
 and then just repent

00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:57.340
 and strive to live

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:58.180
 as they live

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.980
 and have the faith

00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.660
 that they have

00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.259
 in the Savior.

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.759
 So use it as encouragement

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.680
 and not just,

00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:04.880
 I'm terrible

00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:05.840
 and I don't measure up.

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.560
 Use it as fuel

00:30:08.560 --> 00:30:09.759
 to follow Christ.

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:13.500
 Then in case he missed anything,

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.640
 in our text back in Luke 14,

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.779
 he says,

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.120
 you know,

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.940
 relinquish all you have,

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.740
 everything.

00:30:20.060 --> 00:30:21.660
 In case I left the stone unturned,

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.759
 if losing your life wasn't enough,

00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.080
 like,

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:25.779
 relinquish all you have,

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.960
 everything,

00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.140
 to follow Christ.

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.060
 So stop

00:30:30.060 --> 00:30:31.120
 and weigh the cost.

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.460
 Weigh the cost

00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.240
 of following Jesus.

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.420
 The same baseball player,

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.840
 after I kind of challenged him

00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:38.259
 with this,

00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:39.519
 these texts,

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:42.799
 a week later,

00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.599
 he came back and says,

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:43.960
 you know,

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.200
 I want you to know

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.279
 that I really believe this,

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.440
 like,

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.339
 I really believe that,

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:47.539
 you know,

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.279
 Jesus is real

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.779
 and that I need him

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.619
 and all of this,

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:50.900
 but,

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:51.819
 you know,

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.420
 I mentioned this

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.059
 to my girlfriend

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.460
 that I'm living with right now

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:56.180
 and she doesn't think

00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:57.039
 it's a great idea.

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.200
 It means we'd have to break up

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.359
 and I,

00:30:59.519 --> 00:30:59.700
 you know,

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.579
 maybe one day,

00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:00.839
 like,

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.160
 I'll come back around to this.

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:04.099
 It was heartbreaking,

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.159
 but what would I have done

00:31:06.159 --> 00:31:06.839
 if I had just said,

00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:06.980
 well,

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:08.000
 you can still be a Christian.

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:08.899
 You know,

00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:09.299
 you can still,

00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:09.779
 it's okay,

00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.579
 Jesus is all right

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.559
 with your adultery.

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:12.779
 You know,

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:14.500
 he exposed the one thing

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.639
 that he cared more about

00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.939
 than Christ.

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:19.879
 He didn't really see his need,

00:31:20.659 --> 00:31:22.000
 just pretended that he did.

00:31:23.219 --> 00:31:23.859
 And so,

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.219
 this goes to number two.

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.179
 Number two,

00:31:28.439 --> 00:31:29.939
 we must weigh the urgency

00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:31.639
 of following Christ.

00:31:32.439 --> 00:31:33.259
 So weigh the cost,

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.619
 but weigh the urgency too.

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.339
 So it isn't like

00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.879
 when we're sharing with people,

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.299
 it isn't,

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.240
 you know what,

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.460
 you've got the rest of your life

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.400
 to think about this.

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.920
 The Bible stresses urgency

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:45.539
 as well as weighing the cost.

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:48.160
 While you're in Luke 9,

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:51.000
 look down to verse 57.

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.859
 And these are another time

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:56.460
 when people were following

00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:57.099
 around Jesus

00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:57.839
 and this is something

00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.359
 that he said

00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:59.920
 to three different men.

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:03.740
 verse 57,

00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.500
 chapter 9.

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.640
 As they were going

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.340
 along the road,

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.340
 someone said to him,

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:11.220
 I will follow you

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.180
 wherever you go.

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.180
 Bold statement.

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.539
 Verse 58.

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.779
 And Jesus said to him,

00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.720
 foxes have holes

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:21.200
 and the birds of the air

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:21.900
 have nests,

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.519
 but the Son of Man

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.140
 has nowhere

00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:26.240
 to lay his head.

00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:28.519
 To another he said,

00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.160
 follow me.

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.660
 But he said,

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.039
 Lord,

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.480
 let me first go

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.359
 and bury my father.

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.519
 And Jesus said to him,

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.259
 leave the dead

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.740
 to bury their own dead.

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.599
 But as for you,

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.019
 go and proclaim

00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:43.099
 the kingdom of God.

00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.380
 Yet another said,

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.299
 I will follow you,

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:46.620
 Lord,

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.339
 but let me first

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.099
 say farewell

00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.440
 to those who are at home.

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.799
 Jesus said to him,

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.279
 no one

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.299
 who puts his hand

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.559
 to the plow

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.379
 and looks back

00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:57.960
 is fit

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:59.359
 for the kingdom of God.

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.680
 Again,

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.379
 hard words.

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.920
 True for us

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:06.819
 as it was true for them

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:07.899
 and true for anyone else

00:33:07.899 --> 00:33:08.399
 in the world.

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.379
 So,

00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:11.579
 you may be like,

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:11.879
 man,

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.759
 Jesus is really strict here.

00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:15.240
 He's being a little unreasonable.

00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:16.940
 He could have all these

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.700
 extra followers,

00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:18.259
 but he's,

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.220
 you know,

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:20.579
 being overboard.

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:23.660
 But a really close glance at

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:25.400
 context here

00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:27.200
 will help you realize

00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.279
 all he's really doing

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.160
 is just exposing

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:30.519
 that they don't really believe

00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:31.580
 who he says he is.

00:33:33.040 --> 00:33:33.480
 So,

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.380
 the first man,

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.680
 this same account

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.440
 is in Matthew.

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.019
 And Matthew calls

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:40.000
 this man a scribe.

00:33:40.540 --> 00:33:41.140
 So this man,

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.940
 the first man here

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:43.640
 was a scribe.

00:33:44.300 --> 00:33:45.740
 A man who apparently

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.540
 was used to

00:33:46.540 --> 00:33:47.920
 a pretty comfortable lifestyle

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.920
 and making some decent money

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.440
 probably.

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.180
 And back then,

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.080
 as today,

00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:54.279
 if you were low

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.019
 on the totem pole

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.480
 of social life,

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:56.960
 you would

00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:58.559
 attach yourself

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.299
 to someone

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.460
 who was

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.099
 powerful,

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.319
 influential,

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:04.399
 and as they rose,

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.299
 you went with them.

00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.980
 Same kind of thinking

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.679
 even today.

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:08.920
 So,

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.980
 he wanted to advance

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.900
 his position

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.860
 in society.

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.259
 And Jesus,

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:14.759
 you know,

00:34:14.819 --> 00:34:15.059
 again,

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.579
 cut straight to the point

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.500
 and informed this man,

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.099
 if you're looking

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:18.739
 for comfort,

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.099
 if you're looking

00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.659
 for riches,

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:23.839
 for great influence

00:34:23.839 --> 00:34:25.599
 in an early way,

00:34:25.839 --> 00:34:26.519
 worldly way,

00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.759
 I'm the wrong guy.

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.539
 I'm not your guy.

00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:29.819
 I don't even have

00:34:29.819 --> 00:34:30.759
 anywhere to lay my head.

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:32.739
 I don't have a mansion

00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:34.319
 and tons of cars

00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:35.559
 and all those other

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.940
 comforts of life.

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.619
 So the path

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.860
 of true discipleship

00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.739
 is not found

00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.319
 in comfort

00:34:41.319 --> 00:34:42.599
 or ease,

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:43.019
 but rather

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.880
 in a hard life

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.659
 that brings suffering

00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:45.299
 and persecution.

00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:46.420
 And he knew

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.039
 this man

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.940
 was not in it

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.420
 for him.

00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:48.940
 He wanted

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:50.039
 something else

00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.620
 out of him.

00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.960
 So this man

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.160
 considered those things

00:34:54.160 --> 00:34:54.960
 more important

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:56.180
 than following

00:34:56.180 --> 00:34:57.039
 the king of kings.

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:59.000
 The second man

00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.500
 said,

00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:00.880
 let me go

00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:02.140
 and bury my father first.

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:03.700
 So again,

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.580
 sounds honorable,

00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:04.960
 right?

00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:06.800
 So,

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:07.940
 but just again,

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.600
 a studying of

00:35:08.600 --> 00:35:10.300
 the context here.

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:12.039
 It didn't necessarily

00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.640
 mean

00:35:12.640 --> 00:35:13.700
 that his father

00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.240
 was dead.

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.959
 this was a

00:35:15.959 --> 00:35:16.739
 cultural way

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.299
 of saying,

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.679
 let me wait

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.539
 for my inheritance

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.059
 first.

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:21.179
 Let me wait

00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.379
 until my father dies

00:35:22.379 --> 00:35:22.959
 and then let me

00:35:22.959 --> 00:35:23.659
 get my inheritance

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.839
 and then I'll

00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:25.519
 come follow you.

00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:27.179
 And so,

00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:28.899
 that's why

00:35:28.899 --> 00:35:29.679
 Jesus' phrase,

00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:31.459
 let the dead

00:35:31.459 --> 00:35:32.119
 bury their own.

00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:32.359
 Like,

00:35:32.419 --> 00:35:32.579
 look,

00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:33.319
 what I'm telling

00:35:33.319 --> 00:35:34.059
 you to do

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:35.500
 overrides

00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.279
 that importance

00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:37.000
 of waiting

00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.559
 for your father

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:37.959
 to die.

00:35:38.439 --> 00:35:39.399
 I'm telling you

00:35:39.399 --> 00:35:40.119
 the most important

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:40.599
 thing for you

00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:41.099
 to do

00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:42.119
 is to go

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:42.699
 and proclaim

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:43.899
 the kingdom

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.400
 of God.

00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:45.960
 So,

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:46.900
 again,

00:35:47.700 --> 00:35:48.200
 this man

00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:49.240
 desired money

00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:50.019
 and title

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:51.260
 and inheritance

00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:52.900
 more than

00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.400
 following the

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:53.780
 Messiah.

00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:56.019
 And then thirdly,

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.740
 this is the most

00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.460
 puzzling one

00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:57.980
 to me,

00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.579
 at least.

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.460
 The man says,

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:00.840
 simply,

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:02.220
 let me say goodbye

00:36:02.220 --> 00:36:02.900
 to my family

00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:04.280
 and then I'll

00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:04.980
 come follow you.

00:36:06.260 --> 00:36:07.300
 Do you think

00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:07.880
 that is a

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.480
 undesirable,

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:08.980
 like a

00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.139
 unrealistic request?

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.819
 I don't.

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.460
 But,

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:13.900
 again,

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.339
 Jesus sees

00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:15.980
 something that

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.559
 we don't see

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:16.819
 here.

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.000
 And I want

00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.460
 you to,

00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.519
 again,

00:36:19.879 --> 00:36:20.299
 hold your

00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:20.900
 hand on Luke,

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.319
 don't move it,

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.759
 but turn to

00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:24.779
 1 Kings.

00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:26.480
 I'll get some

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.039
 Old Testament

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.839
 action today.

00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.139
 1 Kings

00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:30.139
 chapter 19.

00:36:32.299 --> 00:36:33.139
 This is the

00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.059
 story of

00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:35.719
 Elisha

00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:36.799
 and Elijah,

00:36:37.939 --> 00:36:39.259
 the two

00:36:39.259 --> 00:36:40.219
 prophets of

00:36:40.219 --> 00:36:41.159
 ancient Israel

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:43.059
 in the early

00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:44.259
 days of the

00:36:44.259 --> 00:36:44.599
 nation.

00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:46.159
 And this is

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:46.980
 when Elijah

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.519
 is getting

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.399
 ready to

00:36:48.399 --> 00:36:49.199
 pass on

00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:50.559
 being the

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.219
 prophet to

00:36:51.219 --> 00:36:51.819
 Elisha.

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.299
 And

00:36:53.299 --> 00:36:54.819
 it's an

00:36:54.819 --> 00:36:55.679
 interaction that

00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.379
 takes place.

00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.259
 And just

00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:57.899
 think about

00:36:57.899 --> 00:36:59.259
 the similarities

00:36:59.259 --> 00:37:00.019
 between this

00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.699
 third man that

00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:01.379
 Jesus is talking

00:37:01.379 --> 00:37:02.739
 to and what

00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:03.319
 happens right

00:37:03.319 --> 00:37:03.619
 here.

00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:06.159
 verse 19.

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:06.659
 So,

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.880
 talking about

00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:09.139
 Elijah.

00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.099
 So he

00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:11.759
 departed from

00:37:11.759 --> 00:37:12.239
 there and

00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:13.639
 found Elisha,

00:37:13.779 --> 00:37:14.440
 the son of

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:14.920
 Japhat,

00:37:15.819 --> 00:37:16.219
 who was

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:17.119
 plowing with

00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:18.000
 twelve yoke of

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.759
 oxen in front

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:19.079
 of him.

00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.539
 And he was

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:20.900
 with the

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.219
 twelve.

00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:22.799
 And Elijah

00:37:22.799 --> 00:37:23.779
 passed by him

00:37:23.779 --> 00:37:24.679
 and cast his

00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:25.539
 cloak upon

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:25.839
 him.

00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:26.339
 Kind of a

00:37:26.339 --> 00:37:28.019
 symbolic act

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:28.739
 of passing

00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:29.139
 it on.

00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:30.400
 And he

00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:30.839
 left the

00:37:30.839 --> 00:37:31.339
 oxen and

00:37:31.339 --> 00:37:31.900
 ran after

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.299
 Elijah.

00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:32.639
 And listen

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.239
 to this.

00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.739
 Let me

00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:35.400
 kiss my

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.139
 father and

00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:36.579
 my mother

00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.239
 and then

00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:37.779
 I'll follow

00:37:37.779 --> 00:37:38.159
 you.

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.380
 Sound

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:39.759
 familiar?

00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:41.159
 And he

00:37:41.159 --> 00:37:41.519
 said to

00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:41.759
 him,

00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.279
 Go back

00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:42.699
 again,

00:37:42.819 --> 00:37:43.079
 for what

00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.339
 have I

00:37:43.339 --> 00:37:43.719
 done to

00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:43.900
 you?

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:45.739
 And he

00:37:45.739 --> 00:37:46.359
 returned from

00:37:46.359 --> 00:37:47.039
 following him

00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:47.440
 and took

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.039
 the yoke of

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:49.359
 oxen and

00:37:49.359 --> 00:37:49.900
 sacrificed

00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.699
 them and

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:51.259
 boiled their

00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:52.259
 flesh with

00:37:52.259 --> 00:37:52.839
 the yokes of

00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:53.900
 oxen and

00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:54.519
 gave it to

00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.359
 the people and

00:37:55.359 --> 00:37:55.799
 they ate.

00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.019
 Then he

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.719
 arose and

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.339
 went after

00:37:58.339 --> 00:37:59.359
 Elijah and

00:37:59.359 --> 00:38:00.039
 assisted him.

00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:02.039
 All right.

00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:03.099
 Now,

00:38:03.139 --> 00:38:03.360
 what's

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.139
 different about

00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:05.059
 Elisha and

00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:05.699
 this third

00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:06.199
 man that

00:38:06.199 --> 00:38:06.559
 Jesus is

00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:07.059
 talking to?

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.300
 A big

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:08.779
 difference.

00:38:09.820 --> 00:38:10.699
 Elijah did

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:11.239
 go home.

00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:12.860
 He says

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.460
 farewell to

00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.059
 his family.

00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:15.519
 But then,

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.000
 listen to this,

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.960
 he sacrifices

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.719
 the yoke of

00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:18.199
 oxen to

00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:18.679
 the Lord.

00:38:19.699 --> 00:38:20.119
 And these

00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:20.619
 are all

00:38:20.619 --> 00:38:21.739
 symbolic acts

00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:22.440
 of severing

00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:23.099
 himself from

00:38:23.099 --> 00:38:23.679
 an old way

00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:25.059
 of life to

00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:25.559
 start a new

00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:25.739
 one.

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.099
 He ended

00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:27.840
 his livelihood

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:29.079
 in order to

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.460
 say, like,

00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.019
 I'm leaving

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:30.800
 this and I'm

00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:31.360
 moving to

00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:31.740
 this.

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:32.420
 He had

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:32.900
 nothing to

00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:33.300
 go back

00:38:33.300 --> 00:38:33.480
 to.

00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:34.980
 So he

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.079
 just momentarily

00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:37.220
 went back

00:38:37.220 --> 00:38:37.880
 to cut old

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.340
 ties.

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.440
 However,

00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:40.380
 Jesus clearly

00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:40.940
 sees that

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.579
 this man

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:43.440
 loves his

00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:44.119
 family so

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.440
 much that

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:45.760
 though he

00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:46.340
 may follow

00:38:46.340 --> 00:38:46.920
 him for a

00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.420
 time, he's

00:38:47.420 --> 00:38:48.119
 always going

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:48.460
 to be looking

00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:49.019
 back over

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.179
 his shoulder

00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:51.019
 saying, like,

00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:52.840
 I've got to

00:38:52.840 --> 00:38:53.260
 go back.

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:54.639
 I can't follow

00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:55.220
 you anymore.

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:55.720
 I've got to

00:38:55.720 --> 00:38:56.099
 go and be

00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:56.420
 with my

00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:56.780
 family.

00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:58.900
 And, again,

00:38:59.019 --> 00:38:59.540
 a superior

00:38:59.540 --> 00:39:01.380
 love to

00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:02.019
 family is

00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:02.480
 what Christ

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:02.980
 calls us

00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:03.280
 for.

00:39:04.560 --> 00:39:04.980
 He makes

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.980
 that analogy

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:07.100
 that, you

00:39:07.100 --> 00:39:07.440
 know, most

00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:07.760
 of us are

00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:08.240
 not familiar

00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:08.820
 with plowing

00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.980
 at all, but

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.519
 if you're not

00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.220
 looking forward,

00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:11.680
 you can't

00:39:11.680 --> 00:39:12.120
 plow a

00:39:12.120 --> 00:39:12.740
 straight line.

00:39:13.540 --> 00:39:13.980
 And so he's

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:14.320
 saying, if you're

00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:14.860
 always looking

00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:15.320
 back, you're

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:15.900
 just going to

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.720
 go all over

00:39:16.720 --> 00:39:17.240
 the place.

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.580
 And so he

00:39:18.580 --> 00:39:19.080
 turns this

00:39:19.080 --> 00:39:19.840
 man away.

00:39:20.660 --> 00:39:21.280
 And Luke,

00:39:22.160 --> 00:39:22.820
 always looking

00:39:22.820 --> 00:39:23.240
 over his

00:39:23.240 --> 00:39:24.460
 shoulder, and

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:25.080
 eventually, where

00:39:25.080 --> 00:39:25.620
 he would walk

00:39:25.620 --> 00:39:26.380
 away from

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:26.740
 Jesus,

00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:26.900
 Jesus.

00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:30.080
 So, there

00:39:30.080 --> 00:39:30.840
 is urgency

00:39:30.840 --> 00:39:31.640
 in following

00:39:31.640 --> 00:39:31.980
 Jesus.

00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:34.160
 I've used

00:39:34.160 --> 00:39:34.740
 this analogy

00:39:34.740 --> 00:39:36.140
 before, but

00:39:36.140 --> 00:39:37.660
 years ago, when

00:39:37.660 --> 00:39:38.120
 I was waiting

00:39:38.120 --> 00:39:38.660
 for my lung

00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:40.280
 transplant, I

00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:40.600
 was getting

00:39:40.600 --> 00:39:42.040
 sick and

00:39:42.040 --> 00:39:42.580
 sicker and

00:39:42.580 --> 00:39:44.220
 sicker, and

00:39:44.220 --> 00:39:45.519
 the surgeons

00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.260
 told me

00:39:46.260 --> 00:39:48.420
 basically this,

00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:50.320
 look, you're

00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:51.060
 very sick.

00:39:51.160 --> 00:39:51.519
 You have

00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:53.000
 20% of your

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.620
 lung function

00:39:53.620 --> 00:39:55.180
 going this

00:39:55.180 --> 00:39:55.360
 way.

00:39:55.420 --> 00:39:55.660
 You're not

00:39:55.660 --> 00:39:56.040
 going to make

00:39:56.040 --> 00:39:56.300
 it much

00:39:56.300 --> 00:39:56.680
 longer.

00:39:56.680 --> 00:39:57.280
 You really

00:39:57.280 --> 00:39:58.760
 need to

00:39:58.760 --> 00:39:59.180
 get a

00:39:59.180 --> 00:39:59.580
 transplant.

00:39:59.740 --> 00:39:59.920
 There's

00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:00.740
 urgency here.

00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:01.980
 You need to

00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:02.320
 get this

00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:03.080
 procedure done.

00:40:04.440 --> 00:40:04.780
 And then he

00:40:04.780 --> 00:40:05.300
 said, but

00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:06.840
 this is a

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.539
 huge decision.

00:40:08.420 --> 00:40:08.840
 A lot

00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:09.300
 goes into

00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:09.519
 this.

00:40:09.580 --> 00:40:09.880
 There's no

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:10.519
 guarantee that

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:10.880
 you'll even

00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:11.640
 survive the

00:40:11.640 --> 00:40:12.780
 surgery or

00:40:12.780 --> 00:40:13.340
 the recovery.

00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:14.940
 You have to

00:40:14.940 --> 00:40:16.039
 think about

00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:16.480
 this, though.

00:40:16.600 --> 00:40:16.980
 You have to

00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:17.320
 weigh the

00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:17.860
 cost of what

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.120
 you're about

00:40:18.120 --> 00:40:18.460
 to do.

00:40:19.180 --> 00:40:19.600
 So there was

00:40:19.600 --> 00:40:21.240
 urgency, but

00:40:21.240 --> 00:40:21.740
 there was also

00:40:21.740 --> 00:40:22.480
 weigh the cost,

00:40:22.640 --> 00:40:23.100
 like in that

00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:23.839
 same decision.

00:40:24.839 --> 00:40:25.779
 And that's

00:40:25.779 --> 00:40:26.299
 what it is.

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.699
 Like, are we

00:40:26.699 --> 00:40:27.319
 willing to

00:40:27.319 --> 00:40:29.179
 say, whatever

00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:29.900
 it is, like

00:40:29.900 --> 00:40:30.619
 it's urgent, I'm

00:40:30.619 --> 00:40:31.219
 going to deal

00:40:31.219 --> 00:40:31.839
 with this in my

00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:32.139
 life.

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.279
 I'm going to

00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:34.420
 follow Christ,

00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:35.799
 whatever it

00:40:35.799 --> 00:40:36.159
 costs.

00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:40.079
 Thirdly, this is

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:40.819
 the final point.

00:40:41.839 --> 00:40:42.980
 We must weigh

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:45.179
 the worthiness of

00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:45.599
 Christ.

00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:45.639
 Christ.

00:40:47.759 --> 00:40:49.279
 And last

00:40:49.279 --> 00:40:49.639
 thing I want

00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:50.059
 you to turn

00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:50.579
 to, but look

00:40:50.579 --> 00:40:51.059
 at Mark

00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.920
 chapter 10.

00:40:52.779 --> 00:40:53.179
 Mark

00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:53.839
 chapter 10.

00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:59.039
 So, the

00:40:59.039 --> 00:41:01.119
 reality is we

00:41:01.119 --> 00:41:01.759
 feel like we're

00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:02.440
 losing and

00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:03.440
 sacrificing so

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:04.380
 much for Jesus,

00:41:04.860 --> 00:41:06.360
 but in reality

00:41:06.360 --> 00:41:07.000
 we are not.

00:41:08.839 --> 00:41:09.880
 Sins forgiven,

00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:12.259
 rebellion against

00:41:12.259 --> 00:41:13.940
 God, pardoned,

00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:16.240
 reconciled to

00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:17.139
 God, spared

00:41:17.139 --> 00:41:18.619
 His judgment,

00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:20.480
 given His

00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:21.340
 fellowship, given

00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:22.159
 a relationship

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:22.619
 with the

00:41:22.619 --> 00:41:24.860
 Creator, an

00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:25.820
 eternal life to

00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:27.700
 come, eternal

00:41:27.700 --> 00:41:29.059
 joy in Christ

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:29.619
 to come.

00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:32.360
 If we really

00:41:32.360 --> 00:41:33.200
 understood what

00:41:33.200 --> 00:41:34.039
 we've gained in

00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:34.599
 Christ, we would

00:41:34.599 --> 00:41:35.500
 never be able to

00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:36.260
 say we sacrificed

00:41:36.260 --> 00:41:38.000
 anything, because

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:38.480
 it would be that

00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:38.980
 much greater.

00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:39.380
 It would be

00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:40.300
 infinitely greater

00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:41.300
 than anything we

00:41:41.300 --> 00:41:42.019
 feel that we've

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.720
 lost here.

00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:44.539
 only Christ is

00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:45.179
 worthy of that.

00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:46.799
 So, listen to

00:41:46.799 --> 00:41:47.119
 this.

00:41:47.799 --> 00:41:48.259
 This is one of

00:41:48.259 --> 00:41:48.679
 those moments

00:41:48.679 --> 00:41:50.019
 when the

00:41:50.019 --> 00:41:50.599
 disciples are

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:52.079
 being very, you

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:52.839
 know, self-pity,

00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:53.899
 like, well, we've

00:41:53.899 --> 00:41:54.699
 done so much for

00:41:54.699 --> 00:41:54.919
 you.

00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:56.659
 And Luke, or

00:41:56.659 --> 00:41:57.259
 excuse me, Mark

00:41:57.259 --> 00:41:58.579
 10, verse 26,

00:41:59.799 --> 00:42:01.799
 says, they were

00:42:01.799 --> 00:42:02.359
 exceedingly

00:42:02.359 --> 00:42:03.119
 astonished and

00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:03.839
 said to Jesus,

00:42:04.299 --> 00:42:05.459
 who then can be

00:42:05.459 --> 00:42:05.879
 saved?

00:42:06.879 --> 00:42:07.339
 And Jesus

00:42:07.339 --> 00:42:08.019
 looked at them

00:42:08.019 --> 00:42:08.579
 and said,

00:42:09.279 --> 00:42:10.519
 with man it is

00:42:10.519 --> 00:42:11.519
 impossible, but

00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:12.460
 not with God.

00:42:13.239 --> 00:42:14.380
 For all things

00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:15.019
 are possible

00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:15.800
 with God.

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:16.940
 This is after he

00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:17.719
 turned that man

00:42:17.719 --> 00:42:18.039
 away.

00:42:19.420 --> 00:42:20.320
 Peter, of course

00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:20.679
 it would be

00:42:20.679 --> 00:42:21.179
 Peter, right?

00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:22.420
 Peter began to

00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:22.960
 say to him,

00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:24.639
 see, we have

00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:25.599
 left everything

00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:26.900
 and followed

00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:27.259
 you.

00:42:28.340 --> 00:42:28.800
 Like, we've

00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:29.159
 sacrificed

00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:30.039
 everything, Lord.

00:42:31.099 --> 00:42:31.519
 And Jesus

00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:32.039
 said to him,

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:33.059
 truly, I say

00:42:33.059 --> 00:42:34.559
 to you, there

00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:35.780
 is no one who

00:42:35.780 --> 00:42:36.619
 has left house,

00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:37.900
 our brothers,

00:42:38.239 --> 00:42:38.780
 our sisters,

00:42:39.420 --> 00:42:40.019
 our mother,

00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:40.519
 our father,

00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:41.079
 our children,

00:42:41.800 --> 00:42:42.440
 our lands,

00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:43.159
 for the sake,

00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:44.719
 for my sake,

00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:45.340
 and for the

00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:45.679
 gospel.

00:42:46.639 --> 00:42:47.539
 Who will not

00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.360
 receive a hundred

00:42:48.360 --> 00:42:49.460
 fold now in

00:42:49.460 --> 00:42:50.179
 this life,

00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.340
 houses,

00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:52.139
 brothers and

00:42:52.139 --> 00:42:52.500
 sisters,

00:42:52.739 --> 00:42:53.019
 mothers,

00:42:53.340 --> 00:42:53.860
 children and

00:42:53.860 --> 00:42:54.280
 lands,

00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:56.039
 with persecutions

00:42:56.039 --> 00:42:56.860
 in the age to

00:42:56.860 --> 00:42:57.659
 come, eternal

00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.099
 life.

00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:00.239
 So, his

00:43:00.239 --> 00:43:01.539
 response seems

00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.280
 to indicate,

00:43:02.840 --> 00:43:04.259
 this is how I'm

00:43:04.259 --> 00:43:05.199
 going to rule out

00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:06.059
 this idea that

00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:06.679
 you're losing

00:43:06.679 --> 00:43:07.159
 something,

00:43:07.780 --> 00:43:08.199
 that you've

00:43:08.199 --> 00:43:08.619
 sacrificed

00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:09.339
 something.

00:43:10.299 --> 00:43:10.739
 He's saying

00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:11.339
 you're denying

00:43:11.339 --> 00:43:12.059
 yourself like

00:43:12.059 --> 00:43:13.099
 little finite

00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:14.039
 things here in

00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:14.619
 order to gain

00:43:14.619 --> 00:43:15.179
 something that is

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:15.920
 far greater.

00:43:16.940 --> 00:43:17.519
 And the fact

00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:18.119
 that you know

00:43:18.119 --> 00:43:18.779
 me and that

00:43:18.779 --> 00:43:19.079
 you have

00:43:19.079 --> 00:43:19.980
 eternal life

00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:21.279
 is going to

00:43:21.279 --> 00:43:22.119
 be so great,

00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:23.019
 so glorious,

00:43:23.759 --> 00:43:24.079
 that you

00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:24.579
 would not even

00:43:24.579 --> 00:43:25.920
 begin to ever

00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:26.460
 say, I

00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:27.380
 sacrifice to

00:43:27.380 --> 00:43:27.980
 follow Jesus.

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:30.440
 Surely what he

00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:31.480
 means is that he

00:43:31.480 --> 00:43:32.420
 himself makes

00:43:32.420 --> 00:43:33.779
 up infinite

00:43:33.779 --> 00:43:34.659
 times over for

00:43:34.659 --> 00:43:35.460
 every sacrifice.

00:43:35.460 --> 00:43:35.659
 sacrifice.

00:43:36.880 --> 00:43:37.619
 Jesus wants

00:43:37.619 --> 00:43:38.360
 us to think

00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:39.460
 about sacrifice

00:43:39.460 --> 00:43:40.659
 in a way that

00:43:40.659 --> 00:43:41.720
 rules out self-pity.

00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:43.320
 Deny yourself

00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:44.360
 garbage here so

00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:44.760
 you could have

00:43:44.760 --> 00:43:45.500
 gold later.

00:43:45.619 --> 00:43:46.099
 That's like what

00:43:46.099 --> 00:43:46.500
 he's almost

00:43:46.500 --> 00:43:46.920
 saying.

00:43:47.099 --> 00:43:48.579
 Don't throw

00:43:48.579 --> 00:43:49.300
 away your life

00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:49.920
 over things that

00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:50.699
 don't matter and

00:43:50.699 --> 00:43:51.079
 perish.

00:43:52.860 --> 00:43:54.599
 So, I wanted

00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:56.639
 to read this

00:43:56.639 --> 00:43:57.400
 in closing,

00:43:58.480 --> 00:43:59.340
 but this is

00:43:59.340 --> 00:44:01.619
 an Iranian

00:44:01.619 --> 00:44:04.260
 pastor who

00:44:04.260 --> 00:44:05.400
 converted to

00:44:05.400 --> 00:44:05.920
 Christianity

00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:06.720
 from Islam

00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:08.620
 and he

00:44:08.620 --> 00:44:09.880
 has a church

00:44:09.880 --> 00:44:10.580
 in Amsterdam

00:44:10.580 --> 00:44:12.840
 now and

00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:13.960
 predominantly

00:44:13.960 --> 00:44:15.540
 made up of

00:44:15.540 --> 00:44:16.100
 people from

00:44:16.100 --> 00:44:16.740
 Africa and

00:44:16.740 --> 00:44:17.920
 Asia and

00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:18.280
 Amsterdam.

00:44:18.540 --> 00:44:18.900
 And listen to

00:44:18.900 --> 00:44:20.280
 this, his

00:44:20.280 --> 00:44:21.140
 main goal is

00:44:21.140 --> 00:44:21.640
 to train

00:44:21.640 --> 00:44:22.520
 missionaries to

00:44:22.520 --> 00:44:23.080
 reach the

00:44:23.080 --> 00:44:24.560
 West, to

00:44:24.560 --> 00:44:24.860
 come to

00:44:24.860 --> 00:44:25.760
 America and

00:44:25.760 --> 00:44:26.820
 to come to

00:44:26.820 --> 00:44:27.300
 the places

00:44:27.300 --> 00:44:28.120
 where supposedly

00:44:28.120 --> 00:44:28.760
 there's a lot

00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:29.280
 of Christians

00:44:29.280 --> 00:44:30.500
 and really to

00:44:30.500 --> 00:44:31.080
 say, look,

00:44:31.160 --> 00:44:31.560
 we're bringing

00:44:31.560 --> 00:44:32.500
 the gospel to

00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.000
 you guys.

00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:36.000
 So, this

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.719
 is what he

00:44:36.719 --> 00:44:37.099
 was asked

00:44:37.099 --> 00:44:37.599
 the question,

00:44:38.840 --> 00:44:39.420
 why are so

00:44:39.420 --> 00:44:39.940
 many American

00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:40.880
 churches not

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:41.360
 really doing

00:44:41.360 --> 00:44:41.659
 well?

00:44:41.760 --> 00:44:42.159
 Why are we

00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:44.320
 failing?

00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:44.760
 Why are we

00:44:44.760 --> 00:44:45.159
 not really

00:44:45.159 --> 00:44:45.579
 growing?

00:44:45.739 --> 00:44:46.059
 Why are we

00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:46.739
 stagnant?

00:44:47.860 --> 00:44:49.739
 And he

00:44:49.739 --> 00:44:50.260
 said a few

00:44:50.260 --> 00:44:50.719
 things.

00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:52.739
 This is what

00:44:52.739 --> 00:44:53.139
 he said.

00:44:54.380 --> 00:44:55.219
 Number one,

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.599
 we must

00:44:56.599 --> 00:44:57.199
 embrace the

00:44:57.199 --> 00:44:57.679
 miraculous.

00:44:58.599 --> 00:44:59.460
 Because America

00:44:59.460 --> 00:45:00.159
 has so many

00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:00.860
 comforts,

00:45:00.860 --> 00:45:01.900
 people don't

00:45:01.900 --> 00:45:02.800
 see the

00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:03.340
 need for

00:45:03.340 --> 00:45:03.680
 God to

00:45:03.680 --> 00:45:04.079
 act in

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:04.559
 the miraculous

00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:05.039
 way.

00:45:05.980 --> 00:45:06.660
 In Africa

00:45:06.660 --> 00:45:07.059
 and other

00:45:07.059 --> 00:45:07.680
 places where

00:45:07.680 --> 00:45:07.980
 there are

00:45:07.980 --> 00:45:08.900
 few hospitals

00:45:08.900 --> 00:45:09.539
 and churches

00:45:09.539 --> 00:45:11.400
 for healing,

00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:12.720
 but the

00:45:12.720 --> 00:45:13.340
 truth is that

00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:13.840
 we need the

00:45:13.840 --> 00:45:14.420
 Holy Spirit

00:45:14.420 --> 00:45:15.400
 like never

00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:15.840
 before.

00:45:17.220 --> 00:45:18.039
 We can't

00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:18.539
 just have

00:45:18.539 --> 00:45:19.380
 great buildings

00:45:19.380 --> 00:45:20.039
 and wonderful

00:45:20.039 --> 00:45:21.019
 social gatherings

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:22.300
 and miss the

00:45:22.300 --> 00:45:22.920
 Holy Spirit.

00:45:24.260 --> 00:45:24.780
 A church

00:45:24.780 --> 00:45:25.740
 without the

00:45:25.740 --> 00:45:26.500
 Spirit's power

00:45:26.500 --> 00:45:27.120
 will not

00:45:27.120 --> 00:45:28.599
 save the

00:45:28.599 --> 00:45:28.920
 world.

00:45:28.920 --> 00:45:31.260
 number two,

00:45:32.800 --> 00:45:33.460
 this is

00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.920
 convicting.

00:45:35.700 --> 00:45:36.240
 We must

00:45:36.240 --> 00:45:37.300
 reject Hollywood

00:45:37.300 --> 00:45:37.980
 tendencies.

00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:39.619
 Some churches

00:45:39.619 --> 00:45:40.200
 in the United

00:45:40.200 --> 00:45:40.860
 States look

00:45:40.860 --> 00:45:41.340
 more like

00:45:41.340 --> 00:45:41.900
 they're sponsoring

00:45:41.900 --> 00:45:42.800
 fashion shows

00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:43.280
 or TV

00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:43.920
 programs.

00:45:44.680 --> 00:45:45.180
 This is a

00:45:45.180 --> 00:45:45.920
 bad example

00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:46.539
 to churches

00:45:46.539 --> 00:45:47.039
 in other

00:45:47.039 --> 00:45:47.500
 nations.

00:45:48.099 --> 00:45:48.700
 And I know

00:45:48.700 --> 00:45:49.099
 that some

00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.780
 foreign churches

00:45:49.780 --> 00:45:50.720
 are now copying

00:45:50.720 --> 00:45:51.539
 this flashy

00:45:51.539 --> 00:45:52.539
 American style.

00:45:53.119 --> 00:45:53.720
 For example,

00:45:53.820 --> 00:45:54.200
 in some

00:45:54.200 --> 00:45:55.119
 African countries,

00:45:55.539 --> 00:45:56.159
 some pastors

00:45:56.159 --> 00:45:56.579
 have started

00:45:56.579 --> 00:45:57.460
 imitating this

00:45:57.460 --> 00:45:58.360
 Hollywood style

00:45:58.360 --> 00:45:59.680
 by manipulating

00:45:59.680 --> 00:46:00.539
 people to

00:46:00.539 --> 00:46:01.000
 get money.

00:46:02.160 --> 00:46:02.800
 I was

00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:03.300
 shocked to

00:46:03.300 --> 00:46:03.640
 hear that

00:46:03.640 --> 00:46:04.300
 one pastor

00:46:04.300 --> 00:46:04.599
 in a

00:46:04.599 --> 00:46:04.940
 developing

00:46:04.940 --> 00:46:05.680
 country

00:46:05.680 --> 00:46:06.940
 recently

00:46:06.940 --> 00:46:07.400
 began

00:46:07.400 --> 00:46:07.840
 dealing

00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:08.480
 in a

00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:08.800
 stolen

00:46:08.800 --> 00:46:09.340
 luxury

00:46:09.340 --> 00:46:09.940
 car so

00:46:09.940 --> 00:46:10.220
 he can

00:46:10.220 --> 00:46:10.519
 make

00:46:10.519 --> 00:46:11.340
 money

00:46:11.340 --> 00:46:11.599
 for

00:46:11.599 --> 00:46:12.120
 himself

00:46:12.120 --> 00:46:12.720
 and

00:46:12.720 --> 00:46:13.120
 appear

00:46:13.120 --> 00:46:13.820
 successful.

00:46:15.460 --> 00:46:16.039
 Number

00:46:16.039 --> 00:46:16.420
 three,

00:46:17.360 --> 00:46:18.640
 we must

00:46:18.640 --> 00:46:19.160
 forsake

00:46:19.160 --> 00:46:19.920
 our pride.

00:46:21.240 --> 00:46:21.760
 Outsiders

00:46:21.760 --> 00:46:22.180
 do not

00:46:22.180 --> 00:46:22.519
 read our

00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:23.120
 doctrines

00:46:23.120 --> 00:46:23.480
 or our

00:46:23.480 --> 00:46:23.840
 bulletin

00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:24.220
 boards.

00:46:24.400 --> 00:46:24.940
 They read

00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:25.660
 our character

00:46:25.660 --> 00:46:26.140
 and our

00:46:26.140 --> 00:46:26.599
 lives.

00:46:26.599 --> 00:46:28.139
 When people

00:46:28.139 --> 00:46:28.619
 see that

00:46:28.619 --> 00:46:28.940
 we live

00:46:28.940 --> 00:46:29.319
 a dual

00:46:29.319 --> 00:46:29.819
 life,

00:46:30.119 --> 00:46:30.659
 why would

00:46:30.659 --> 00:46:31.179
 they bother

00:46:31.179 --> 00:46:31.759
 to be a

00:46:31.759 --> 00:46:32.099
 part of

00:46:32.099 --> 00:46:32.579
 the church?

00:46:33.420 --> 00:46:33.819
 And this

00:46:33.819 --> 00:46:34.319
 is how

00:46:34.319 --> 00:46:34.699
 he sums

00:46:34.699 --> 00:46:35.079
 it up.

00:46:35.819 --> 00:46:36.739
 I wish

00:46:36.739 --> 00:46:37.940
 that my

00:46:37.940 --> 00:46:38.480
 American

00:46:38.480 --> 00:46:39.339
 brothers and

00:46:39.339 --> 00:46:39.739
 sisters

00:46:39.739 --> 00:46:40.860
 realized how

00:46:40.860 --> 00:46:41.480
 hurtful it

00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:42.619
 is to the

00:46:42.619 --> 00:46:43.039
 cause of

00:46:43.039 --> 00:46:43.539
 Christ when

00:46:43.539 --> 00:46:44.039
 they focus

00:46:44.039 --> 00:46:44.739
 so much

00:46:44.739 --> 00:46:45.339
 on material

00:46:45.339 --> 00:46:45.880
 things.

00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:47.319
 I am

00:46:47.319 --> 00:46:48.019
 not against

00:46:48.019 --> 00:46:49.239
 beauty of

00:46:49.239 --> 00:46:49.779
 things and

00:46:49.779 --> 00:46:50.579
 having things,

00:46:50.920 --> 00:46:51.519
 but why does

00:46:51.519 --> 00:46:51.920
 a preacher

00:46:51.920 --> 00:46:52.920
 need a

00:46:52.920 --> 00:46:53.500
 limousine

00:46:53.500 --> 00:46:54.039
 instead of a

00:46:54.039 --> 00:46:54.699
 normal car?

00:46:54.699 --> 00:46:56.939
 must

00:46:56.939 --> 00:46:57.480
 preachers

00:46:57.480 --> 00:46:57.799
 have a

00:46:57.799 --> 00:46:58.079
 huge

00:46:58.079 --> 00:46:58.759
 entourage

00:46:58.759 --> 00:46:59.739
 in order

00:46:59.739 --> 00:47:00.059
 to enter

00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:00.599
 conferences

00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:01.139
 and churches?

00:47:01.939 --> 00:47:02.599
 God is

00:47:02.599 --> 00:47:03.119
 fed up

00:47:03.119 --> 00:47:03.480
 with all

00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:03.699
 these

00:47:03.699 --> 00:47:04.059
 things.

00:47:04.799 --> 00:47:05.259
 We cannot

00:47:05.259 --> 00:47:05.799
 transform

00:47:05.799 --> 00:47:06.399
 others if

00:47:06.399 --> 00:47:06.579
 we

00:47:06.579 --> 00:47:07.000
 ourselves

00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:07.500
 are not

00:47:07.500 --> 00:47:08.199
 transformed.

00:47:10.119 --> 00:47:10.599
 So,

00:47:10.839 --> 00:47:11.539
 for those

00:47:11.539 --> 00:47:11.779
 of you

00:47:11.779 --> 00:47:13.139
 here who

00:47:13.139 --> 00:47:13.679
 are without

00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:14.139
 Christ,

00:47:14.259 --> 00:47:14.779
 know that

00:47:14.779 --> 00:47:15.819
 the offer

00:47:15.819 --> 00:47:16.500
 of salvation

00:47:16.500 --> 00:47:18.139
 is completely

00:47:18.139 --> 00:47:18.859
 a gift

00:47:18.859 --> 00:47:19.379
 of God's

00:47:19.379 --> 00:47:20.139
 grace in

00:47:20.139 --> 00:47:20.460
 Christ.

00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:20.839
 So come

00:47:20.839 --> 00:47:21.259
 to him,

00:47:22.079 --> 00:47:22.359
 surrender

00:47:22.359 --> 00:47:22.799
 your life

00:47:22.799 --> 00:47:23.079
 to him,

00:47:23.139 --> 00:47:23.460
 but know

00:47:23.460 --> 00:47:23.799
 it's going

00:47:23.799 --> 00:47:24.259
 to cost

00:47:24.259 --> 00:47:24.480
 you.

00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:24.840
 If you

00:47:24.840 --> 00:47:25.360
 really are

00:47:25.360 --> 00:47:25.699
 following

00:47:25.699 --> 00:47:26.019
 him,

00:47:26.599 --> 00:47:27.000
 as we

00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:27.260
 read,

00:47:27.380 --> 00:47:28.019
 all those

00:47:28.019 --> 00:47:29.460
 who desire

00:47:29.460 --> 00:47:29.960
 to live a

00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:30.679
 godly life

00:47:30.679 --> 00:47:31.139
 in Christ

00:47:31.139 --> 00:47:31.880
 Jesus will

00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:33.320
 be persecuted.

00:47:35.139 --> 00:47:35.740
 And for

00:47:35.740 --> 00:47:36.159
 believers,

00:47:37.199 --> 00:47:37.679
 this was

00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:39.240
 something that

00:47:39.240 --> 00:47:39.579
 I've thought

00:47:39.579 --> 00:47:39.940
 about over

00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:40.500
 the years.

00:47:41.320 --> 00:47:41.860
 A long

00:47:41.860 --> 00:47:42.480
 time ago,

00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:44.119
 an abbot,

00:47:44.960 --> 00:47:45.500
 or kind

00:47:45.500 --> 00:47:45.860
 of like a

00:47:45.860 --> 00:47:46.159
 monk,

00:47:47.019 --> 00:47:47.599
 was asked,

00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:47.940
 you know,

00:47:49.219 --> 00:47:49.820
 after your

00:47:49.820 --> 00:47:50.420
 life's over,

00:47:50.500 --> 00:47:50.599
 like,

00:47:50.659 --> 00:47:50.920
 what if you

00:47:50.920 --> 00:47:51.400
 realized that

00:47:51.400 --> 00:47:51.659
 there really

00:47:51.659 --> 00:47:52.079
 was no

00:47:52.079 --> 00:47:52.420
 God?

00:47:52.519 --> 00:47:52.659
 Like,

00:47:52.679 --> 00:47:53.079
 you surrendered

00:47:53.079 --> 00:47:53.519
 your whole

00:47:53.519 --> 00:47:53.920
 life to

00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:54.960
 being in

00:47:54.960 --> 00:47:55.460
 a monastery

00:47:55.460 --> 00:47:55.840
 to have

00:47:55.840 --> 00:47:56.200
 a quiet

00:47:56.200 --> 00:47:56.639
 life?

00:47:57.039 --> 00:47:57.619
 What if

00:47:57.619 --> 00:47:58.320
 you realized

00:47:58.320 --> 00:47:58.599
 at the

00:47:58.599 --> 00:47:59.019
 very end

00:47:59.019 --> 00:47:59.400
 there was

00:47:59.400 --> 00:47:59.900
 no God?

00:48:00.619 --> 00:48:00.940
 Would you

00:48:00.940 --> 00:48:01.400
 consider it

00:48:01.400 --> 00:48:01.720
 to be like

00:48:01.720 --> 00:48:02.139
 a wasted

00:48:02.139 --> 00:48:02.599
 life?

00:48:04.119 --> 00:48:04.680
 And the

00:48:04.680 --> 00:48:05.260
 abbot replied

00:48:05.260 --> 00:48:05.700
 this,

00:48:06.340 --> 00:48:07.720
 holiness and

00:48:07.720 --> 00:48:09.579
 silence are

00:48:09.579 --> 00:48:10.240
 beautiful in

00:48:10.240 --> 00:48:10.680
 themselves,

00:48:11.079 --> 00:48:12.139
 even without

00:48:12.139 --> 00:48:12.700
 the promise

00:48:12.700 --> 00:48:13.300
 of reward.

00:48:13.860 --> 00:48:14.639
 I still

00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:14.880
 would have

00:48:14.880 --> 00:48:15.300
 used my

00:48:15.300 --> 00:48:15.760
 life the

00:48:15.760 --> 00:48:16.659
 same way.

00:48:17.500 --> 00:48:17.780
 Like,

00:48:17.840 --> 00:48:18.079
 meaning,

00:48:18.079 --> 00:48:19.099
 I've

00:48:19.099 --> 00:48:19.319
 lived a

00:48:19.319 --> 00:48:20.079
 life of

00:48:20.079 --> 00:48:21.819
 peace and

00:48:21.819 --> 00:48:22.420
 solitude

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:23.659
 and beauty

00:48:23.659 --> 00:48:25.119
 and even

00:48:25.119 --> 00:48:25.460
 if this

00:48:25.460 --> 00:48:25.759
 turned out

00:48:25.759 --> 00:48:26.079
 to be a

00:48:26.079 --> 00:48:26.420
 hoax,

00:48:26.480 --> 00:48:26.719
 I would

00:48:26.719 --> 00:48:27.059
 say it

00:48:27.059 --> 00:48:27.279
 was a

00:48:27.279 --> 00:48:27.779
 good life.

00:48:28.840 --> 00:48:29.460
 How many

00:48:29.460 --> 00:48:29.679
 of you

00:48:29.679 --> 00:48:30.000
 could say

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:30.299
 that?

00:48:31.860 --> 00:48:32.739
 But here's

00:48:32.739 --> 00:48:33.340
 the staggering

00:48:33.340 --> 00:48:33.880
 difference,

00:48:34.799 --> 00:48:35.679
 very different

00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.159
 from what

00:48:36.159 --> 00:48:36.539
 the apostle

00:48:36.539 --> 00:48:37.139
 Paul said.

00:48:38.659 --> 00:48:39.079
 He's

00:48:39.079 --> 00:48:39.340
 basically

00:48:39.340 --> 00:48:39.920
 talking about

00:48:39.920 --> 00:48:40.639
 the resurrection

00:48:40.639 --> 00:48:42.420
 in 1 Corinthians

00:48:42.420 --> 00:48:42.880
 15.

00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:44.500
 This is what

00:48:44.500 --> 00:48:44.880
 he said.

00:48:45.039 --> 00:48:45.360
 This is how

00:48:45.360 --> 00:48:46.219
 different it is

00:48:46.219 --> 00:48:46.559
 from what the

00:48:46.559 --> 00:48:47.099
 abbot said.

00:48:47.960 --> 00:48:48.320
 If in

00:48:48.320 --> 00:48:50.480
 Christ we

00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:51.759
 have only

00:48:51.759 --> 00:48:52.320
 hoped in

00:48:52.320 --> 00:48:52.960
 this life,

00:48:53.539 --> 00:48:53.920
 we above

00:48:53.920 --> 00:48:54.579
 all people

00:48:54.579 --> 00:48:55.000
 are to be

00:48:55.000 --> 00:48:55.840
 most pitied.

00:48:56.980 --> 00:48:57.279
 Like,

00:48:57.360 --> 00:48:57.940
 we have

00:48:57.940 --> 00:48:59.460
 thrown

00:48:59.460 --> 00:49:00.239
 ourselves to

00:49:00.239 --> 00:49:01.019
 slaughter and

00:49:01.019 --> 00:49:01.779
 torture for

00:49:01.779 --> 00:49:02.179
 Christ.

00:49:02.820 --> 00:49:03.840
 Pity us if

00:49:03.840 --> 00:49:04.299
 this wasn't

00:49:04.299 --> 00:49:04.619
 true.

00:49:06.099 --> 00:49:06.500
 Not,

00:49:06.799 --> 00:49:07.000
 well,

00:49:07.079 --> 00:49:07.380
 it was a

00:49:07.380 --> 00:49:07.840
 good life

00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:08.239
 anyway.

00:49:09.199 --> 00:49:09.559
 And I

00:49:09.559 --> 00:49:10.139
 hope that

00:49:10.139 --> 00:49:11.179
 all of us,

00:49:11.239 --> 00:49:12.699
 you and

00:49:12.699 --> 00:49:13.039
 me,

00:49:13.980 --> 00:49:14.440
 can say,

00:49:14.579 --> 00:49:14.639
 like,

00:49:14.699 --> 00:49:15.259
 I really

00:49:15.259 --> 00:49:16.239
 sacrificed to

00:49:16.239 --> 00:49:16.939
 follow Christ.

00:49:17.699 --> 00:49:18.199
 And then in

00:49:18.199 --> 00:49:18.679
 doing so,

00:49:18.779 --> 00:49:19.019
 you're

00:49:19.019 --> 00:49:19.739
 enlightened and

00:49:19.739 --> 00:49:20.019
 you see,

00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:20.159
 like,

00:49:20.199 --> 00:49:20.599
 I really

00:49:20.599 --> 00:49:21.199
 didn't

00:49:21.199 --> 00:49:21.739
 sacrifice

00:49:21.739 --> 00:49:22.379
 anything

00:49:22.379 --> 00:49:23.139
 because of

00:49:23.139 --> 00:49:23.579
 how much

00:49:23.579 --> 00:49:23.879
 I've

00:49:23.879 --> 00:49:24.259
 gained

00:49:24.259 --> 00:49:25.519
 in Christ.

00:49:27.599 --> 00:49:28.119
 Join me

00:49:28.119 --> 00:49:28.459
 in prayer.