WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.219 Good morning, friends. 00:00:02.280 --> 00:00:03.640 Good morning, good morning, brothers and sisters. 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:06.799 For those who don't know me, my name is Ray Park, 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:10.900 and along with Matt, I'm one of the pastoral interns here. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:13.099 Matt preached last week. 00:00:13.740 --> 00:00:15.519 And so Sean Wu is our full-time pastor. 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:16.839 He's on vacation right now. 00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:17.859 He preaches most Sundays. 00:00:18.900 --> 00:00:22.800 And Matt and I have the privilege of preaching every few weeks. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:28.379 And as a pastoral intern, we're going to become bivocational ministers, 00:00:28.379 --> 00:00:31.439 biblification preachers, and pastors sometime soon. 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:34.560 And just like we're doing now, we're going to be working full-time 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.979 while part-time we're serving in preaching and teaching roles. 00:00:39.979 --> 00:00:44.219 And actually, our internships are coming to an end soon, hopefully, 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.719 because over the next couple months, 00:00:47.780 --> 00:00:50.420 we're planning to sit for our written and oral exams. 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:54.140 And so if you could pray for us that we would pass those exams, 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:55.099 that'd be great. 00:00:55.100 --> 00:01:00.520 That way we can spend our time that we've previously spent studying 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:05.299 to serve you more and to seek God's kingdom here in this language. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:10.719 And I'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you to give us feedback 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.939 and to share your thoughts with us about our qualifications as elders. 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:21.079 So, per 1 Timothy 3, 1 Peter 5, 1 Peter 5, Titus 1, 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:25.280 for me, becoming a pastor is similar to becoming a father. 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:26.959 I think it's super exciting. 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:27.620 It's a privilege. 00:01:28.039 --> 00:01:29.099 But it's really sobering. 00:01:29.679 --> 00:01:33.259 Because Christians, you all are the children of God. 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:33.979 Right? 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:35.299 God loves you. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:38.479 And the shepherding of God's flock is a way to pass. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:41.340 So I want to be sure that I'm well-equipped, 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:42.920 that I'm qualified. 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:47.460 And if you have feedback, please do share with Sean or with me in that direction. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:54.840 Today, we are studying Luke chapter 12, verses 35 through 13 to 9. 00:01:55.460 --> 00:01:59.960 You can grab a blue Bible if you don't have a Bible with you on the middle table. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:02.460 And if you could turn with me there. 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:04.359 Again, it's Luke chapter 12, verses 35. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:08.879 In the past couple weeks, Sean and Matt have preached from Luke 12, 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:14.259 speaking of our need to reorient our lives in light of who Jesus is 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:17.780 and the kingdom of God that is coming to this world. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.819 So these themes continue in our passage today. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:25.340 Luke 12, 35 through 13.9 in the ESV. 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:55.319 Luke 12, 36.9 in the ESV. 00:02:55.340 --> 00:03:25.319 Luke 12, 36.9 in the ESV. 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:55.319 Luke 12, 36.10 in the ESV. 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:00.879 a severe blood feeding. But the one who did not know and did what deserved the feeding 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:06.759 will receive a light feeding. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required. 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.959 And from him, to whom they interested much, they will demand the more. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:17.620 I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled. I have a baptism 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:23.100 to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished. Do you think that 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:29.360 I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on, 00:04:29.460 --> 00:04:36.160 in one house, there will be five divided, three against two, and two against three. They will 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:41.640 be divided, father against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:47.100 against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:53.260 He also said to the clouds, when you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:59.000 a shower is coming, so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, there 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:04.720 will be scorching heat, and it happens. You hypocrites, you know how to interpret the appearance 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:10.980 of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:15.240 not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:20.280 make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge. And the judge 00:05:20.280 --> 00:05:25.040 hand you over to the officer, and the officer puts you in prison. I tell you, you will never 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:30.540 get out until you have paid the very last penny. There was some present at that very time who 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:35.319 told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had needed with their sacrifices. And he answered 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:40.079 them, do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:45.879 they suffered in this way? No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:51.219 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloia fell and killed them, do you think that they 00:05:51.219 --> 00:05:55.860 were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you. But unless 00:05:55.860 --> 00:06:02.539 you repent, you will all likewise perish. And he told this parable. A man had a fig tree planted 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:07.540 in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it and found them. And he said to the vine dresser, 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:12.860 look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:18.379 it down. Why should it use up the ground? And he answered him, sir, let it alone this year 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:22.460 also. That's why I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, 00:06:22.640 --> 00:06:31.680 well and good. But if not, you can cut it down. It worked out. Let me pray for us. Heavenly Father, 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:36.540 thank you so much for your word. God, we live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes 00:06:36.540 --> 00:06:41.019 from your mouth. And we pray that you would open up our hearts and help us to see wondrous 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:46.620 things in your word, that we might be strengthened to live our lives in faith and in wisdom. 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:48.220 We pray in Christ. Amen. 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:54.680 So throughout chapter 12, the Lord Jesus has been instructing his disciples and the crowds 00:06:54.680 --> 00:07:00.100 around him how they ought to live in light of what is true. For example, it's true that we 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:06.600 will all one day die. So it's foolish to lay up riches for ourselves in this life while 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:11.540 being poured for God, because he might be stuck with us anyway. And it's true that God treasures 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:17.280 us, so we don't need to be anxious about our life's needs. Instead, we can leave it to him 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:23.160 to take care of our needs while we set ourselves to seek his purpose and his kingdom. So we make 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:29.780 God's business our business, and God makes it his business to take care of us. And in 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:35.240 our passage today, Jesus is telling us that just as he came about 2,000 years ago to earth, 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:43.300 he will come again a second time at some point in the future. Therefore, it's foolish to live 00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:51.560 as if that weren't happening. And instead now, we should hear and respond to the gospel. Now 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:58.180 we have time to do that. So for today's passage to be useful and effective in our lives, we 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:05.420 need faith in our hearts. Jesus is telling us about things that we can't learn or conclude 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:10.300 through our own observation and logic. Jesus is telling us about spiritual things that he 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:19.199 sees and knows, but that we are naturally blind to. Is Jesus worthy of your trust and my trust? 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:24.979 Do you consider him to be dependable for something so important as your future life decisions, 00:08:25.659 --> 00:08:32.899 your future investments? Well, in order for anyone to be trustworthy, they need to have the will and 00:08:32.899 --> 00:08:40.480 the skill, right? They need the skill or the ability and the will. They need the desire to make something 00:08:40.819 --> 00:08:45.819 to make something happen. So let's say suddenly, for some reason, I was stricken with blindness up here on 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:51.580 stage and I had to rely on somebody, one of you guys, to walk me down these steps so I don't care 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:57.520 myself. I wouldn't trust a seven-year-old boy to do that because he's totally capable, right? I'm 00:08:57.520 --> 00:09:00.780 saying, like, Ray, the first step's coming, next step, be careful, last step, all right, you're good. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:07.180 So although he's able, he might not be willing because he might take greater pleasure in seeing me fall, 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:13.239 right? And on the other hand, I wouldn't trust my one-year-old daughter, Galadriel, because she's, 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:19.539 she loves me, she wants me to be safe, she's fully invested in my safety. But she's not able to 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:27.759 articulate what is needed with her, like, 10-word vocabulary, right? However, I would trust my wife, 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:34.700 I would trust Matt, I would trust all of you guys to be able and willing, except maybe Josh, 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:41.240 the guy playing guitar, that guy's in the show. But, you know, does God have the skill and the will, 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:46.419 right? So Psalm 62, 11 through 12 says, one thing God has spoken, two things I have heard. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:53.740 Power belongs to you, God, and with you, the Lord is unfairly to me. So yes, with God, there is the 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:59.039 skill in the world. He is powerful, and he is loving, and he wants what is best for you, so place 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:08.180 your trust in him. The passage has five sections, all wrapped around the main theme, that now is the 00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:15.080 time to hear and respond to the gospel. The first section, verse 35 to 48, is about Jesus returning, 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:22.139 so you must be ready. Verses 49 to 53, Jesus brings not peace, but division in this sinful world. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:28.220 54 through 56, interpret the time and respond accordingly, that's what we're called to do. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:36.360 57 through 59, settle with God before he requires that we pay our debt. And 1 through 9, chapter 13, 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:44.000 repent and bear fruit. So let's look at this first and longest section, verses 35 through 48. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:50.399 Jesus instructs us in verse 35, stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:58.459 That phrase, stay dressed for action, is literally, let your loins stay girded. So in the ancient world, 00:10:58.579 --> 00:11:04.199 long garments were worn and were drawn up, so they would flow at the bottom of your feet. And when you 00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:08.819 have to run and get ready, you have to draw them up and tie them around so you're going to trip up. 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:13.240 So the internet is wonderful. Here's a quick illustration of how to gird up your loins. 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:20.460 You grab your garment, you take it, grab the slat, you pull it out the back between your legs, 00:11:21.040 --> 00:11:26.180 you grab it on both sides, you put it together, you tie it in the front, and now you're ready to run like this guy. 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:33.179 Right? And so that's the lesson of today's sermon. Go buy a long garment, burn some lamps, 00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:41.139 serve us over, best sermon ever. Right? No, that's some bad teaching. So the idea of what we have in 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:46.399 mind is being ready for action. Right? That's, again, that's literally what it says, but what does that 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:52.139 actually mean? Stay dressed for action. The Lord uses a few parables to expand on this point. In the 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:57.299 first parable, a master has gone to a wedding feast and his servants wait for him to return. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.580 Weddings are relatively short and scheduled events for us nowadays, usually happening in a day, 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:09.600 maybe split into two, like reception and ceremony. But this is, the ancient weddings are more like 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:15.259 Indian weddings, right? If you know them. They last for days, even for as long as a week. And so the 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:20.740 master is off at this wedding party. And he's coming back for sure, but they just don't know when, 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:27.980 so the servants are waiting for him. And then verse 38 talks about the second and third watches of the 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:36.159 night. So in the Roman schedule, the night hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. were split into four 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:47.240 watches. So there's 6 to 9 p.m., 9 to midnight, midnight to 3 a.m., and then 3 to 6 a.m. So the 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:53.279 second and third watches would be from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The Jewish schedule actually split it up into 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:59.919 three watches. So from 6 to 10 p.m., 10 to 2, and then 2 to 6 a.m., right? So the second and third 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:07.799 watches were from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Either way, the point is clear that they were to be prepared when 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:13.299 they might not normally be ready to do so, right? You're not normally going to be ready 00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:19.019 in this average private sleeping. The second parable speaks of a thief breaking into a home, 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:24.259 and the thief is actually Jesus. Maybe it's surprising and evocative to think of Jesus 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:32.199 as the thief, but remember what parables are. Parables are not strict allegories where it's like a one-to-one 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:37.980 correlation between something in the story and something in real life. Parables, they communicate 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:43.120 some fundamental point, right? So the point isn't that, you know, Jesus is going to come and steal 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:51.060 your stuff. The point is that Jesus, the time of Jesus' return is unknown, like a thief coming into a home. 00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:58.960 So in verse 40, Jesus tells us explicitly, you also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:05.560 you do not expect. Jesus' return is certain. It's definitely happening. But the timing is unpredictable. 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:13.019 We can relate to this in other areas of our lives, right? We know something's definitely happening, 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:19.639 just not sure when, so we need to stay prepared. It's like that slightly sadistic teacher in school 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:24.700 who loved giving pop quizzes, just didn't know when, so you always have to stay on top of your schoolwork, 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:32.879 right? Or maybe you're nine months pregnant and you're waiting for your baby. You know he or she 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:38.140 is coming. You bought the crib. You have the diapers and your clothes already. You get the hospital bag 00:14:38.140 --> 00:14:43.920 ready, but you don't know exactly what's happening, so you're just waiting. So that's the situation here. 00:14:44.900 --> 00:14:52.040 In verse 41, Peter asks a clarifying question. Maybe it goes on your mind too. Lord, are you telling 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:59.740 this parable for us or for all? So who is this meant for? Is it for us, your disciples, the people 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:03.240 who are following you, or just like for the crowds all around you who aren't following you? 00:15:04.459 --> 00:15:09.179 Jesus answers indirectly. He doesn't say, he doesn't get like a yes or no here. This is actually 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:15.939 with a question. Through the next parable, that is, and the answer is the message is meant for everyone, 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:21.960 but especially for those who have knowledge about God. It makes sense that Jesus is addressing 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:27.060 everyone. Throughout this chapter, chapter 12, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, but we know 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:32.300 that there's a crowd, there's a bunch of people around him, you know, all the time. In the next 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:39.320 parable from 42 to 48, we see a picture of faithful and unfaithful servants managing their master's 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:45.160 household. The servants are described in a few ways. There's the faithful and wise manager, 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:51.100 who cares for his master's household. There's a deliberately irresponsible servant who beats 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:55.939 other servants against drunk. There are servants who knew their master's will, but didn't act 00:15:55.939 --> 00:16:01.399 accordingly and receive a severe beating. And servants who act against their master's will, 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:08.159 ignoring, and receive a light beating. So I like charts. Here's a chart that helps visualize 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:14.139 what's going on here. There's faithfulness on one axis, right, and knowledge on the other. 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:20.220 And there's a low end and a high end for each axis here. So the faithful manager has high knowledge, 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:26.080 high knowledge and high faithfulness, right, upper right quadrant. The severe beating servant has high 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:31.679 knowledge, but low faithfulness. The light beating servant has low knowledge and low faithfulness. 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:37.139 And there isn't anyone for the upper left quadrant in this parable, but if we want to, we could place 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:42.840 young Christians there, maybe. Those who want to be faithful to God are trying to be, but they have a lot 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:47.539 of room for growth in terms of knowing God and knowing Scripture, right? So that's what we're looking at. 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:54.419 Our aim, of course, is, of course, to be in the upper right quadrant, to know what God's will is and to live 00:16:54.419 --> 00:17:02.200 faithful. So thinking back about this phrase, about girding our loins, what does it mean to stay dressed 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:11.019 for action? I think practically it means a couple things. One is to remind ourselves of what is true 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:18.100 and to prioritize accordingly. So remind ourselves of what is true and prioritize. Because life is a 00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:23.220 marathon, right? You guys know. Like a marathon, if you start off well, it doesn't really matter, 00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:26.600 because if you lose sight of the finish line and the proper route of how to get there, 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:32.480 you might get to the end and be like 10 miles off course, right? Our lives, it's a marathon of just 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:39.639 like the small day-to-day things. We go to work, we attend school, there's taking tests, paying bills, 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:45.259 watching Netflix, spending time with friends and family, going to college, changing diapers, 00:17:45.939 --> 00:17:54.240 a bunch of stuff, right? It's easy to go on autopilot and to drift from my priorities of seeking God's 00:17:54.240 --> 00:18:00.120 kingdom. So as Christians, we often just need to remind ourselves of what we already know to 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:07.980 be true, but what hasn't quite blossomed yet in our lives. So vigilantly remind yourself of what is 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:14.980 true and also be the kind of person who is open to other people of what is true. I hope together as a 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:22.039 community we can grow to be a church that lovingly speaks and receives truth into each other's lives 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:30.960 because we need it. So that's the first thing. Second thing with staying dressed for action is to take 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:39.019 acts of faith, to act in steps of faith. So we need to take concrete steps to act out our priorities. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:45.240 So for example, just thinking back about the past couple of times, you know, you could buy the brand 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:53.120 new iPhone for like $1,200, right? That's like 256 megs gigs. But you know that the phone is, it's just 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:57.519 stuff, right? You're reminding yourself it's just stuff. And your current phone is perfectly fine. 00:18:58.380 --> 00:19:04.240 So it'll last year, probably another year or two, and maybe you choose to support a missionary this year 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:11.440 for $100 a month instead of getting that phone. Or you're driving and someone else almost hits you 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:17.039 on the road, which can happen often in Boston. So you want to get out in front and cut them off and 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:23.320 you know, show them the business. But you remember that God created that person in his image, and 00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:27.940 therefore he is inherently valuable, right? And you remember how much God has been patient with you 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:36.039 and forgiven you. So you forgive them in your heart. You stay self-controlled, right? And so that might be a 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:43.899 couple things that we see. Why might we fail to be faithful servants? Why might we fail to be in that 00:19:43.899 --> 00:19:49.960 upper right quadrant? One reason is we just might lack knowledge, right? We just might not know. 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:58.779 If that's the case, all we need to do is ask and seek, because God delights to give us good things. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.579 In Matthew chapter 7, we read, 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:31.559 Right? 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:39.419 We need to be faithful to the Bible. We need to be faithful to the Bible, right? We need to stay true to live out what we've learned. 00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:51.419 That's one reason. Another reason is maybe a lack of captivation. As Christians, we know we should be eagerly awaiting our masses' return. 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:59.279 But sometimes we're just more excited about other things. Sometimes I'm just more excited about that new iPhone, right? 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:03.279 We're too captivated by the things of this world and not enough on the life to come. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:11.139 Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't enjoy the things of this world because God made them. God made them for us to enjoy. They're good things. 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:19.000 But we should recognize that our final destination is heaven. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.859 And it will pass away. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:26.859 Our world is full of sickness and poverty. It's full of natural disasters. 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:36.159 I was in India last week. And one of the cities, Chennai is, they're running out of water. That was happening in Cape Town last year, right? 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:48.400 You have major cities of, like, in China, it's like 9 million people running out of water. I think there's some government report saying that maybe some 21 cities will be running out of groundwater in India by 2020. It's insane. 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:54.100 And so we have that happen. There's a lot of inequality and injustice in our world. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:22:04.259 And then, I mean, not least, there's our own sick hearts. There's my sick heart where every day I do the battle, self-centeredness implied, right? 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:06.359 I can't feel that. It's not going away. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:12.420 But with the Lord Jesus, there is hope. There's hope beyond what we have here. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:18.619 He died for us to secure our salvation, including a new heaven and a new earth. 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:23.180 He thinks about us, and he intercedes for us on our behalf. 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:31.519 When Jesus returns, all are held accountable so everything that's unjust, unequal, we can entrust to him. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:39.879 We will receive new heavenly bodies and live forever, living with purpose and love and community because he loved us and gave himself for us. 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:43.820 Do you know that Jesus loves you? 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:52.460 One of my favorite things right now with my daughter, Caladriel, when we ask her yes or no questions, sometimes she'll say yes. 00:22:52.780 --> 00:22:55.760 But she simply grunts, mm, that's her yes, right? 00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:57.000 So if she says that, she means yes. 00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:59.780 And when I ask her, do you know that Daddy loves you? 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.360 She'll just say, mm, right? 00:23:01.800 --> 00:23:04.860 And no hesitation, she'll say mm, which is very sweet. 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.760 I love that, right? 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.740 She just takes it for granted. 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:11.079 Do you know that Jesus loves you? 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:19.000 He gave up his privileged spot, his blessed place in heaven, to become a helpless and dirty baby. 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:25.779 He grew up in this world as a perfect man before God, like a lamb without blemish, 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:30.640 than like a lamb who was led to the slaughter on our behalf so that we could be forgiven. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:39.360 So I don't want you to have less joy in this world, but more joy, lasting joy, overflowing joy in the Lord. 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:44.480 So where are you in that chart that I showed earlier? 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:50.020 Have you heard about Jesus and decided to respond to him yet? 00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:55.540 Are you being faithful with what God has given you, what he has revealed to you, 00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:59.120 both in the big decisions and in the little decisions of life? 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:07.579 Is there anything that God has been saying to you through his word that you've been ignoring or disobeyed? 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:11.719 Remember, disobedience comes in two ways. 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:16.859 It can be sins of commission or sins of omission, right? 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:24.939 You can actively commit a sinful act, or you can passively omit or fail to obey, right? 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:29.019 So if I go to collateral, she's playing with her for trains, and I tell her, 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.259 it's time to eat dinner. 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:31.960 Let's go to the table. 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:37.680 She could either freak out and start throwing Thomas engines at my head 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:39.600 and start screaming and running away, 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:43.180 or she could simply say, like, I'm good, Daddy. 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.620 You go ahead. 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.080 You do you. 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:45.640 I'll do me. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.320 I'm fine. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.600 Either way, there would be disobedience. 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:55.699 So some of us with God tend to go kicking and screaming, hard for him. 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:59.179 Others simply just turn away with a smile and with a friendly wink, right? 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:02.919 But either way, those are both acts of rejection to God, 00:25:03.419 --> 00:25:05.939 who made us and has authority over us. 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:10.899 So let's keep looking at our passage. 00:25:11.459 --> 00:25:14.719 Let's look at 49, verse 49 through 52. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.360 It says, 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:19.940 I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already committed. 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:22.819 I have a baptism to be baptized with, 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.900 and how great is my distress until it is accomplished. 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.620 Do you think that I've come to give peace on earth? 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:32.059 No, I tell you, but rather division. 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:34.920 For from now on, in one house, there will be divided. 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:38.480 There will be five divided, three against two, and two against three. 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:42.700 A couple of things to point out in these verses. 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:48.160 First, Jesus came not to give peace on earth, but division. 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.819 This might seem surprising. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:56.880 I mean, earlier in the book, in Luke chapter 2, at the birth of Jesus, 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:59.960 angels appeared to shepherds and declared to them, 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:05.600 glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:08.740 So how do we reconcile these seemingly different purposes? 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:12.579 Well, it's true that Jesus brings peace to the earth, 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:15.180 because he offers to us peace with God. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:20.839 But this is a peace that we either choose to receive or reject, 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:23.039 by receiving or rejecting him. 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:30.839 And our decision on that will determine our relationship with the world around us. 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:36.720 This world, it's not neutral towards God, but it is at enmity within. 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.240 It is in hostility. 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:44.879 Therefore, those who receive Jesus and are at peace with God will be at enmity with the world around us. 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:46.659 And that's why there's division. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:51.299 It's like we're all fish swimming one way down a stream, 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:55.200 and then we realize that we've been swimming the wrong way towards food, 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:58.599 and we turn around, and now we're going against the flow of everyone else. 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:05.200 This division happens not just between acquaintances, friends, coworkers, 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:10.879 but Jesus is saying that it goes into the family, the most intimate of relationships. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:16.460 So be warned that there is a cause to following Jesus. 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:20.340 And one of them is this division. 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:23.980 It's not the easiest or safest journey to go with Jesus, 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:26.579 but it's good and it's worth it. 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:31.319 Even though you might lose the good opinion of others or relationships with them, 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.579 you gain God. 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.860 You gain the one who loves you. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.740 Psalm 2710 comforts us. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:39.799 It says, 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:43.799 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:50.319 Second in these verses, here we have an example of Jesus wanting something, 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.460 but having to wait for him. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:57.059 He wants to bring the fire of division on the earth. 00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.019 He wants to cast it. 00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:01.559 He wants to get to his goal, bring about his purposes. 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:04.720 And he has great distress until his baptism, 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:07.480 his death on the cross, 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:10.079 where he experiences God's wrath. 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.839 So he can accomplish that. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.259 But he has to wait. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:17.559 And I think that this is a comforting thing for us. 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:21.180 Have you ever wanted something and not gotten it? 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:24.180 Either in the timing, you want it faster than God's giving it to you, 00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:26.559 or God actually says no to you. 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:30.500 Be comforted because Jesus knows how you feel. 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:33.539 In Hebrews chapter 4, it says, 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:37.839 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:41.799 but one with every respect has been tempted as we are, 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.960 yet without sin. 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:45.880 So you can cast your hardships on Jesus. 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.680 He knows what you're going through. 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:49.299 He understands it. 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:52.100 And I find that super comforting, 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:56.700 because even though people have experienced similar things to you, 00:28:56.720 --> 00:29:03.019 no one's ever experienced your specific situations in life that Jesus needs. 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:07.579 After this, we have verses 54 through 56. 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:11.680 The people in these verses, Jesus points out, 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:15.240 they were able to forecast the weather based on what they saw. 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:19.440 So in this passage, we have a bunch of stories, a bunch of parables put together, 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:21.139 and this one is about forecasting weather. 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:27.440 Israel was located to the east of the Mediterranean Sea. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:32.759 So when a cloud arose from the west, that would mean rain on the land. 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.620 And south of Israel was the desert. 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:43.080 So when a south wind blew up, that meant the desert heat would be coming up and frying that land. 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:46.120 And I think that's what's happening in like Europe right now, like there was usually wave. 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:51.319 So the crowds were able to predict these things easily. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:55.239 Yet, to Jesus and his signs, they were still blind. 00:29:56.399 --> 00:29:58.139 Jesus is born of the house of David. 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:00.139 He's born from a virgin mother. 00:30:00.719 --> 00:30:02.899 He preaches with authority, casts out demons. 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.859 He heals the sick and raises the dead. 00:30:05.699 --> 00:30:09.799 And still, Jesus did not command the hearts of all those in the crowd. 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:12.399 Still, they failed to enter into God's kingdom. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:19.060 And like the crowds, we should see the signs around us and not be blind, but be wise. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:24.960 The next short story is in verse 57 through 59. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:28.840 We see a parable of someone being dragged to the judge by his accuser. 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:37.000 So here, the point is that we should be motivated to see and respond to the signs of God's kingdom 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.040 because we are all God's debtors. 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:46.700 Our sin demands justice from God, who is holy and just. 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:50.740 And God has offered us a way out of paying this debt through his son, 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:54.000 who has died for us, who paid it for us, 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:56.480 and so we can settle accounts with God and be forgiven. 00:30:57.420 --> 00:31:04.339 And now it's time to do that because, yeah, we, all of us owe a debt to God, 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:06.299 and the time is limited. 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:10.099 God is being gracious, but the need is urgent to do that quickly. 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:20.399 This is echoed in the last chunk of our passage in verses 1 through 9 of chapter 13. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:23.859 So we read of a couple of tragic events first. 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:31.899 These events aren't reported elsewhere, but we read one of where Jewish pilgrims were killed 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:37.399 while offering their sacrifices, and another where a coward fell and killed 18 people. 00:31:38.439 --> 00:31:41.500 So amidst these stories, there's an underlying assumption by the people 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:48.879 that being a worse sinner leads to greater judgment from God or greater suffering, right? 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:52.940 So, of course, you can't see the sin, but if you see that someone's really suffering 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:56.480 or is being judged, they must be a really bad sinner. 00:31:59.300 --> 00:32:05.000 But, and along with that, there might be some self-justification and pride from these guys, right, 00:32:05.060 --> 00:32:05.820 who are pointing it out. 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:10.160 They might think, you know, like, they died like that, but I'm still here, 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.760 so they must have been bad. 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:13.720 I must be better than them, right? 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:18.700 And maybe they're thinking to Jesus, you know, all this judgment talk, Jesus, 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:21.600 it's only for the really sinful people, right? 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.299 Not me. 00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:23.559 It must be for those guys. 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:28.400 But Jesus points this assumption out, and he denies it, right? 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:29.160 He says that's not true. 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:33.960 The Lord flips this conversation on his head in a way that he's so good at doing. 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:37.539 He doesn't delve further into a couple of things that he could have. 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:42.360 He doesn't delve into disbelief that worse things happen to worse people. 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:44.439 He doesn't get political, right? 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:50.799 Because in the first tragedy, Pilate, a Roman official, is the one who kills these people. 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:56.519 But Jesus points to the spiritual reality that they'll all die in this life. 00:32:57.240 --> 00:33:00.399 The real tragedy is dying ultimately before God, 00:33:00.939 --> 00:33:03.279 who has the power to cast us away from him forever. 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:06.759 So have you guys played Mario Kart? 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:08.719 Hopefully most people have played Mario Kart. 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:11.399 You get weapons in Mario Kart. 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.060 It's a racing game. 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:15.180 And all these weapons, all these items, 00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:17.340 you get them by driving through an item box, 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:20.519 and you can get banana skins, turtle shells, mushrooms, etc. 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:22.860 And one of the weapons is a thunder cloud. 00:33:23.280 --> 00:33:26.940 I hate it because it's an anti-weapon, right? 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.700 It doesn't help you, but it hurts you. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:32.040 And after a few seconds, there's a sun and cloud up over you, 00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:33.840 and the cloud will zap you with thunder. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:36.399 And it tricks you down, makes you slower. 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:39.340 And that's what happens. 00:33:39.340 --> 00:33:40.120 It hurts you. 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:43.200 Unless in those few seconds before you get zapped, 00:33:43.860 --> 00:33:47.180 you pass it off to somebody else by bumping into them, right? 00:33:48.860 --> 00:33:51.240 And the thunder cloud will transfer over to them, 00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:53.140 and then you get to share your love that way. 00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:55.140 So the people in the crowd are saying, 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:59.220 man, those people who died really must have deserved that thunder cloud. 00:33:59.540 --> 00:34:00.620 But the rest of us are fine. 00:34:00.780 --> 00:34:02.180 And Jesus is correcting them to say, 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:06.100 no, what's actually happening is everyone has a thunder cloud. 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:09.180 Everyone has a thunder cloud above your heads. 00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:12.219 And it's only a matter of time until the lightning's going to strike them. 00:34:12.839 --> 00:34:16.059 And Jesus is saying, pass it on to me, right? 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:19.279 You should repent, turn away from your sins. 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:21.199 Don't die, but pass it on to me. 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:26.619 And Jesus finishes with this parable about a fig tree. 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.980 There's an owner of the vineyard, 00:34:29.819 --> 00:34:32.219 and he's allowed this fig tree to grow for years 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:34.279 and take up space and resources, 00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:37.619 only to find out that it has never borne fruit. 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:39.839 It's a useless tree. 00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:45.119 So it might seem like harsh or not compassionate, 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:47.359 but it's kind of a wise decision. 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.339 You're growing a bunch of trees, 00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:51.059 and it's the wisest thing to get rid of this thing 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:53.199 and put another plant in there 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:57.139 that will take its place and actually produce something, right? 00:34:57.900 --> 00:35:01.679 But the vine dresser, the guy who's managing this vineyard, 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.179 has compassion. 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:05.319 He says, sir, let it alone this year also, 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:07.059 and so I dig around it and put on manure. 00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:09.539 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well, good. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.440 But if not, you can cut it down. 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:16.420 So the tree is given the opportunity to change and bear fruit. 00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:20.299 Again, the time is short, but the opportunity is there for them. 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:25.639 So God has given all of us the opportunity to repent and live 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.440 at a time of shame. 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:30.920 Now is the time to repent and believe and bear fruit. 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:32.880 In 2 Corinthians 6, it says, 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:37.800 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain, 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:41.119 for he says, in a favorable time, I listened to you, 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:43.159 and in a day of salvation, I helped you. 00:35:43.780 --> 00:35:45.500 Behold, now is the favorable time. 00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:47.700 Behold, now is the day of salvation. 00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:50.859 Now is the time to repent for all of us, 00:35:51.339 --> 00:35:56.399 to turn away from our life of rebellion and indifference to God, 00:35:56.759 --> 00:36:01.179 to turn away from our sin, to rely on Jesus to save us from our sin, 00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:04.819 from its penalty and power and its presence in our lives. 00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:10.320 I'll end with a story from Swami Kierkegaard. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:13.140 He's a 19th century philosopher, 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:17.039 and he wrote a story about some geese. 00:36:17.640 --> 00:36:20.300 So in this story, the geese are like us. 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:22.580 They can think, they can talk, they even go to church. 00:36:23.100 --> 00:36:23.539 That's great. 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:26.140 And every week, they would go to church, 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:28.800 and every week, they heard the pastor preach. 00:36:29.680 --> 00:36:32.740 Their geese pastor would preach of the glorious destiny of geese, 00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:35.779 that they had wings, high way to the distance they belonged, 00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:38.259 for they were only pilgrims on this earth. 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:41.579 The sermons were essentially the same each week. 00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:44.399 He kept on preaching about these wings that they had. 00:36:44.839 --> 00:36:46.619 Every week, the geese would go to church, 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:49.739 listen to the sermon, they would respond reverently, 00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:53.839 and every week after church, the geese would waddle back home. 00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:59.699 And I encourage you not to waddle back home, 00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:03.239 but to consider what Jesus says in our passage today. 00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:06.519 Will you accept or reject what he says? 00:37:06.919 --> 00:37:09.299 For the many of us who have accepted, 00:37:09.919 --> 00:37:12.739 do our lives show that we're living in accordance 00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:14.279 with what we hope to be true? 00:37:14.859 --> 00:37:17.279 How do we remind ourselves and try to live it out? 00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:20.579 I hope that each of us will knock away, 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:24.919 but determine to be faithful and wise servants of our Lord Jesus. 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:28.519 So please take a moment to consider the message, 00:37:28.700 --> 00:37:31.420 and we'll continue our service with the prayers of the people.