WEBVTT

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 So if Jesus was going to vote in the general election, who would he vote for? Conservatives? Labour?

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! The Brexit Party? The Greens? Or would he have his own party?

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! Do you think Jesus is more capitalist or socialist?

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 What do you think? In some ways, when Jesus talks, it feels like, doesn't it, he's got the sound of being a free trader, an entrepreneur, a businessman.

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 And Jesus is always concerned about people making wise investments.

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 Don't store up your treasures on earth where moth and rust and recession can destroy, no, invest in heaven, he says.

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 Why? Because great will be your reward. It's a dumb investment to invest here. The smart investment is to invest there.

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 He's always talking about weighing up your options, carefully.

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 And he's talking about paying up your profits, a man or a woman or a boy or a girl if they gain the whole world, and yet they lose their own soul.

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 It's a bad, bad decision.

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 So he speaks like an entrepreneur, a businessman.

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 And yet there are other sides of Jesus where he sounds a little bit more like a socialist.

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 Where there's a strong thrust in his teaching on equality.

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 That we're all in the same boat.

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 That we are all to be treated in the same way.

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 Well today's parable, the story that Jesus gives us, it is a feel that it's a little bit more socialist than communist.

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 Socialist than capitalist.

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 Now let's hear the story.

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 It's a really straightforward one, isn't it?

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 Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a landowner.

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 To a master of a vineyard.

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 To a landlord, to a landowner who is basically paying the same amount to people who've worked different amounts in the day.

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 So some people start working for this man at 6 o'clock in the morning.

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 Others start working at 12 o'clock midday.

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 Others at 3pm.

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 Others at 5pm.

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 Some even at 5.30pm.

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 And they all finish at 6pm regardless of when they started.

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 And at the end of the day, they all get paid the same amount regardless of when they started.

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 And those who've worked longest, they are understandably a bit annoyed at the fact that they've worked for the same amount.

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 At the fact that those who've put in an hour are getting paid exactly the same as those who've put in 11 hours.

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 Those who've worked longest are getting paid exactly the same as those who've worked for a very short time.

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 But those who've worked longest are getting paid exactly what they were promised at the start of the day.

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 And so Jesus speaks now.

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 And the point is obviously not how to order your kind of workers and employers and rights and payments.

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 It's a parable.

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 And so you are to draw a spiritual point from this story.

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 And it's not, the point is not how you kind of negotiate with your employer as an employee.

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 No, it's about Christians who've been Christians for 50 years.

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 And they've laboured long.

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 And how they are to think about those who join and come late into the story.

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 But let's pick up where Jesus in this parable comments on those who started to despise those who are paid the same amount and yet work so little.

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 So look at chapter 20 and verse 13.

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 He replied to one of them,

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 Friends, I am doing you no wrong.

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 Did you not agree at the start of the day with me for a denarius?

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 Take what belongs to you and go.

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 I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

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 Am I not allowed to do what I chose to choose with what belongs to me?

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 Or do you begrudge my generosity?

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 So, three points this morning.

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 Three aspects of the character of God that I think are undermined or assaulted.

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 The first point is this. Is God fair?

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 Is God fair?

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 When he allows those who've done so little and they've come so late to receive the full inheritance of the Christian.

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 The full inheritance the same as those who've worked so long and so hard.

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 Is God fair?

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 Is God just in treating us the same?

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 Even though the reality this morning is there.

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 Some Christians have laboured longer and harder than others.

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 And his answer to that is very, very clear.

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 Look at verse 14.

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 Friend, take what belongs to you and go.

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 No.

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 I choose to give to this last worker as I gave to you.

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 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?

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 Now, you read that and even that answer sounds a little bit unfair.

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 Let's say there's a teacher in school.

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 And they decide, I'm out of school, in school, that they're going to give an A to all of the students.

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 And all of the students are getting an A regardless of effort, regardless of how often they've turned up, regardless of their work.

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 They decide to give everyone in their class straight A's.

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 What do you think is the reaction to that teacher?

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 Well, some of the children love it, don't they?

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 You know, the lazy kids who've done nothing all year.

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 But those who've worked hard, how do they feel about that?

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 They wanted to receive, don't they?

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 And those who were in the class, they want to receive the reward of their labours.

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 And they didn't like it.

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 So is God being just like that teacher?

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 Were some of those kids' accusation against that teacher right?

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 Was that teacher being unfair?

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 Well, of course she was unfair.

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 And she shouldn't have done it.

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 Let me tell you why.

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 Because the teacher did not warn the students ahead of time, this is how it's going to work.

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 And so basically, here are people who are working on one criteria,

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 and then they discover halfway through the school term,

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 that the rules have changed halfway through.

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 Am I being unfair?

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 No, Jesus says.

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 He says, remember what I promised you from the beginning.

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 I'm not being unfair to you.

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 Didn't I promise you right at the start of the day workers,

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 that if you worked a full day for me, you'd get a tavorius?

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 That's exactly right, isn't it?

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 God is not unfair.

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 God is not unfair to you.

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 He's not unfair to you who have been Christians for 20, 30, 40 years.

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 Because at the end of the day, you will inherit exactly what the new Christian who dies will get is the same.

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 The Christian who gives his life to the Lord Jesus on his deathbed,

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 receives exactly the same thing as the person who has been a Christian all their life.

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 New life, everlasting life.

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 It would be unfair, wouldn't it, if God changed the rules halfway through the game?

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 It would be unfair if God promised you eternal life,

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 and decided for a trick to pull it back from you.

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 That would be unfair.

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 But at the end of the day, after 60 years of labor,

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 in the end, you get paradise.

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 And that is exactly what you were promised from the beginning.

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 Now at that point, it's worth understanding this question,

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 and it's this, knowing what it is exactly that God has promised,

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 and what it isn't that God has promised.

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 So our assurance of God was John 3, 16, wasn't it?

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 It doesn't say,

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 That isn't the promise that you came to.

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 If that was the promise that you came to,

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 many of us would have walked away from Jesus within two years,

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 because we've either had poverty come our way, or sickness.

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 No, the promise Jesus gives,

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 that when you come to him,

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 whenever you come to him as Lord,

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 regardless of how long you've been a Christian,

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 is that for God so loved the world,

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 that he gave his one and only Son,

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 so that whoever believes in him shall not perish,

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 but have eternal life.

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 Paradise. Heaven.

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 Call it what you like. It's the same deal.

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 And everyone gets it,

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 from the moment they come to the Lord Jesus.

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 And yet the temptation is so natural,

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 to start to despise the fact,

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 that if you've worked so hard and long for Jesus,

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 to kind of despise those who've not laboured so long,

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 or as hard.

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 And here's a parable,

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 so firstly it's speaking to you,

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 who've served long and hard,

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 I'm hard.

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 And I'd be sleeping,

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 whichever church you've come from.

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 Because the temptation is,

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 to resent the fact that my labour,

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 hasn't resulted in me getting,

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 two heavens.

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 Or three paradises.

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 God is not being unfair,

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 there,

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 he's giving you exactly what he's promised you.

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 Life everlasting.

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 It can't be thinking,

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 a lot of us,

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 perhaps not all of us,

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 have contributed to this building,

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 in which we're in.

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 And we've put in some serious money.

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 Fantastic.

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 And there are people,

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 who will join our church,

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 who are going to enjoy the full blessings,

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 of this building,

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 and yet they haven't put in a penny.

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 And isn't that fantastic?

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 Now of course we will ask them to contribute,

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 because we've got a £900,000 loan on it.

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 But there is a sense, isn't there,

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 which people, ongoing,

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 will inherit,

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 inherit,

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 the blessings,

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 of those who've gone,

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 long before.

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 And those who've long,

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 worked long,

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 and hard,

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 and given,

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 sacrificially.

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 And the great joy of the Christian life,

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 is that we get to serve,

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 and they get to benefit.

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 It's also worth keeping in mind,

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 that in 1979,

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 the people who sacrificed so much,

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 so that that building could be bought,

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 and the land could be bought.

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 And so in the end,

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 contribute anything anyway,

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 it's all of grace, isn't it?

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 God is fair.

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 God is just.

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 The second point is,

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 God is generous.

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 God is generous.

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 And we need to make sure,

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 that we don't despise the kindness of God.

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 Look what he says.

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 He says,

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 Why are you envious?

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 Do you begrudge,

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 verse 15,

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 my generosity?

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 Are you jealous,

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 God says?

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 Then I'm generous.

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 And again,

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 it's a word about not despising.

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 The God,

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 who gives to people,

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 who come to him very late in the game,

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 eternal life.

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 He gives eternal life,

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 whether you've been a Christian for 50 years,

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 or 50 seconds.

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 You get the full spiritual blessings,

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 the moment you come to the Lord Jesus.

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 Now religious people,

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 they don't like the kindness of God.

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 And religious people like to focus on what they've done,

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 how they deserve it.

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 And they like to focus on what others have not done,

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 and how they don't deserve it.

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 And at the end of the day,

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 it is his generosity.

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 I read this week,

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 I read this week,

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 about John Wayne.

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 John Wayne,

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 the country western actor,

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 the cowboy,

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 he was always,

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 played the same role it seems to me.

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 He was a cowboy actor.

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 And John Wayne lived his life,

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 I don't know how he lived it,

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 but he lived it without Christ.

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 But at the end of his life,

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 apparently,

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 he turned on his deathbed,

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 and he became a Christian.

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 I said this to another minister this week,

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 I'm not sure I believe that.

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 And some people will think about John Wayne,

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 well that's not fair.

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 You work hard,

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 you do the right thing,

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 he lived the way he wants,

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 any old way,

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 and right at the end,

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 he says,

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 I'm sorry to Jesus,

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 and he gets in.

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 That's not fair.

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 So what would Jesus say to you?

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 Jesus would say to you,

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 why are you envious,

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 that I could be generous to a man like that?

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 A man who indulged in this world perhaps.

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 I don't know his life,

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 but he gets to indulge now in the age to come, doesn't he?

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 And again,

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 it's a word for us,

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 that temptation.

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 If you,

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 this morning,

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 you have carried the weight of the kingdom harder than others.

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 Some of you have given 10%,

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 15%,

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 20% of your income for years for the Lord's work.

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 And there are some of you that always,

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 always put up your hand,

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 when there's things to be done,

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 who work hard,

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 and consistently week in,

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 week out.

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 And you carry the load, literally.

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 Much more than others,

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 and well done for that.

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 Yet the temptation is to look on those,

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 who just get in by the skin of their teeth.

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 Or perhaps other Christians who don't work that hard.

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 And this word of Jesus corrects two errors.

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 Two errors.

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 The error to resent them.

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 And resent God's generosity to them.

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 It's a big temptation.

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 You can almost hear it in the words of these people.

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 They've worked the whole day in the parable.

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 And they say to him, don't they?

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 Verse 12,

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.000
 You've borne the burden of the day.

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.000
 And the scorching heat.

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.000
 And there are those that you've,

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:18.000
 that have only worked one hour,

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.000
 and you've made them equal to us.

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.000
 How is that fair?

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.000
 You are giving to them exactly what you're giving to us.

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.000
 And we've suffered harder.

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:32.000
 Worked longer.

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:34.000
 And it does not seem fair.

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.000
 And Jesus sounds more socialist at this point.

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:39.000
 Jesus is correcting two errors.

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.000
 And I think it reminds you and I,

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.000
 that we need to really stop thinking

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000
 that somehow in the Christian life,

00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.000
 you get in by grace,

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.000
 but you stay in by works.

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:55.000
 That somehow it is your faithfulness

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.000
 that becomes the means by which God accepts you.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.000
 It's very, very easy.

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.000
 You start the Christian life,

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.000
 hallelujah.

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.000
 Hallelujah.

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.000
 I've been saved.

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.000
 All my burdens have been taken away.

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.000
 All my sins are forgiven.

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.000
 Yippee!

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.000
 Praise the Lord.

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.000
 And then you start to get into the groove of serving

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.000
 week in, week out, year in, year out,

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.000
 decade in, decade out.

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:28.000
 And all of a sudden we've made a shift

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.000
 from thinking that we're in by grace

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.000
 to start thinking we're in by works

00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.000
 and what we've done.

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.000
 But remember this morning,

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.000
 you are in by grace

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.000
 and you stay in by grace.

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:47.000
 Thomas Hooker was a faithful and puritan preacher.

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.000
 Thomas Hooker was on his deathbed

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.000
 on his deathbed

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.000
 and after many, many years

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.000
 of living a long life

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.000
 of service to the Lord,

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:56.000
 one of his friends came to comfort him

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.000
 on his deathbed

00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.000
 before he dies

00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.000
 and says,

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.000
 Thomas, you are going to receive

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.000
 the reward of your labour.

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.000
 Be encouraged.

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.000
 And quick as a flash,

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.000
 Thomas Hooker said,

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.000
 no I'm not.

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.000
 I'm going to receive mercy.

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:14.000
 Mercy, because Thomas Hooker understood

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.000
 you're in by grace

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:17.000
 and you stay in by grace.

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.000
 And no matter how faithful you've been

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.000
 with the Lord,

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.000
 you're in by grace

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:29.000
 and you stay in by grace.

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.000
 Let me tell you about a man I know,

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.000
 he's probably the greatest Christian I know

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.000
 if there's such a thing.

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.000
 He's 93 years old,

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.000
 he's served the Lord

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.000
 since he was in his early twenties,

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.000
 steadfastly.

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.000
 He's made great sacrifices

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.000
 for the Kingdom of God.

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:47.000
 But when he comes to die,

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.000
 whichever day that is,

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.000
 he'll be in the Kingdom

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.000
 because of grace,

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.000
 not because of what he's done.

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:55.000
 Do not despise the generosity of God.

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.000
 The second thing I use this parable

00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.000
 starts to expose

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:03.000
 is our motives for service.

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:07.000
 Because you don't work hard

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.000
 to pick up two paradises

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.000
 and three kingdoms.

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.000
 Three kingdoms.

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.000
 You don't work hard,

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.000
 so in the end,

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.000
 you'll pick up an extra eternal life,

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.000


00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.000
 like in a computer game.

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.000
 And so why is it that you serve?

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.000
 I think that's really the question.

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.000
 Why is it that those of you

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.000
 who've been serving,

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.000
 you've been doing it for years,

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.000
 for decades,

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.000
 well,

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.000
 I hope it's because of continual gratitude

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.000
 for the mercy of God.

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:39.000
 I hope it's because

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.000
 that you've worked out

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.000
 that God's way

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.000
 is the best way.

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.000
 I hope you've worked out

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.000
 that the reason you want to serve

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.000
 and give your best

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.000
 is because God gave you his best.

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.000
 I hope it's because you've worked out,

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:56.000
 which perhaps not every Christian works out,

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.000
 that your greatest joy

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:02.000
 is found in God's glory

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.000
 and giving yourself to Him.

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.000
 And when you give yourself to Him,

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:11.000
 in serving Him and His people

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.000
 and His honour

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.000
 and His name,

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.000
 you will find that

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.000
 that is your greatest delight.

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:24.000
 I think if anyone in the Bible

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.000
 had a right to complain,

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.000
 it was probably the Apostle Paul.

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:33.000
 I was reading 2 Corinthians chapter 11 this week

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.000
 and I was reminded of the kind of suffering

00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.000
 that the Apostle Paul experienced.

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.000
 He was one of the apostles,

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.000
 a follower of Christ,

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.000
 and he talks about

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.000
 how he unashamedly worked harder.

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.000
 He was imprisoned more frequently,

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.000
 he was flogged more severely,

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.000
 he was exposed to death

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:55.000
 again and again and again.

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.000
 He says,

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.000
 five times I was beaten

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.000
 with the 39 lashes,

00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.000
 the Roman punishment.

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.000
 Three times I was beaten

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.000
 with rods.

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.000
 Once, he says,

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.000
 I was stoned with rocks.

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.000
 Three times I was shipwrecked.

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.000
 For a day and a night

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.000
 in the open sea.

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.000
 All because of my loyalty to Jesus.

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.000
 He tells us,

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.000
 I've lived my life constantly

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.000
 on the move,

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:21.000
 in danger from bandits

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.000
 and my own countrymen.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.000
 I've laboured

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.000
 and I've toiled at my own expense.

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.000
 I've often gone without sleep,

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.000
 without food,

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.000
 without water.

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.000
 I've been cold,

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.000
 I've been naked,

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.000
 and above everything else,

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.000
 and this is the only thing I can relate with,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.000
 I carry the worries of the church,

00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.000
 he says.

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:40.000
 The Apostle Paul,

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.000
 at the end of his life,

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.000
 in 2 Timothy chapter 4,

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.000
 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 6,

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.000


00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.000
 I fought the good fight,

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.000
 I finished the race,

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.000
 kept the faith.

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.000
 Now there is stored up for me

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.000
 the crown of righteousness,

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.000
 which the Lord,

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.000
 the righteous judge,

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.000
 will award to me on that day.

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.000
 And you say,

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.000
 good on you Paul,

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.000
 well done.

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000
 Man,

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.000
 that would be one big crown of righteousness,

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.000
 that you receive.

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:12.000
 You deserve it Paul.

00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:15.000
 And then he says in the very next verse,

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.000
 and not only to me,

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.000
 but also to all who've longed for his appearing.

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.000
 That's us.

00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.000
 That's those who've trusted in Christ.

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:30.000
 You,

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.000
 that alone to you,

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.000
 are getting the same crown of righteousness.

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.000
 Do you see what he does there?

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.000
 He says,

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:40.000
 I stay faithful to the end.

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.000
 And I'm going to get that crown of righteousness,

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.000
 because God has promised it to me.

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.000
 And by the way,

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.000
 there's nothing special about me,

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:49.000
 I'm going to share it with my brothers and sisters,

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:52.000
 who've also walked with Jesus,

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.000
 and love him,

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.000
 and trust him,

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.000
 and long for his appearing.

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:59.000
 And so whether you've been doing it for 50 seconds,

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.000
 or 50 years,

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.000
 he does not despise the generosity of God.

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:05.000
 He's not envious towards those,

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.000
 who are going to receive what he is going to receive.

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.000
 Even though,

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.000
 in his earthly life,

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.000
 he suffered much more,

00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:16.000
 and he worked much harder.

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.000
 But at the end of the day,

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:19.000
 God has a right to do,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.000
 with his plan of salvation,

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.000
 whatever he pleases.

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:25.000
 And that's the third point.

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.000
 God is generous,

00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.000
 God is fair,

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:29.000
 God is just,

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:31.000
 and God is sovereign.

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:34.000
 Listen to this in verse 14.

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.000
 Take what belongs to you,

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.000
 take your pay,

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.000
 and go.

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:44.000
 I choose to give this last worker,

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:46.000
 as I give to you.

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:49.000
 Am I not allowed to do what I choose,

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.000
 with what belongs to me?

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:55.000
 Or do you begrudge my generosity?

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.000
 So the last will be first,

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.000
 first will be last.

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:03.000
 That's right, isn't it?

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:05.000
 Am I not allowed to do,

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.000
 what I choose,

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.000
 with what belongs to me?

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.000
 That's what these workers never quite understood.

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.000
 The landowner in this parable,

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:24.000
 and God as the landowner of this universe,

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.000
 has the right to do what he pleases,

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.000
 in this universe.

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:32.000
 And yet, we have the audacity,

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.000


00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.000
 and many of us do this,

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.000
 we fall into this trap,

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:36.000
 of thinking that somehow,

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.000
 we are wiser than God.

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:44.000
 Somehow, we are fairer than God.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.000
 Somehow, we are more loving than God.

00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.000
 If I were God,

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.000
 I would have done it differently.

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.000
 But the bottom line is this,

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:57.000
 you are not God.

00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.000
 And you would have done it differently.

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.000
 You would have done it differently.

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:03.000
 And you would have done it a lot worse.

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.000
 And God is saying,

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.000
 I have the right to do as I see fit.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:17.000
 And if I decide to hand out eternal life

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:19.000
 to whoever comes to my son,

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.000
 whenever they come to my son,

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.000
 that is my right.

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.000
 And if God wants to give to the apostle Paul,

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:28.000
 and to the serial killer,

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:29.000
 eternal life,

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:32.000
 because that man repented on his deathbed,

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.000
 before he was executed.

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.000
 Then that man will be receiving the crown of righteousness

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.000
 that the apostle Paul is receiving.

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.000
 Do I have the right to do that?

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.000
 Do I have the right to do that?

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.000
 You might be listening to me and you might think,

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.000
 are there a thing called rewards in the Bible?

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.000
 Oh, there is.

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.000
 Matthew's Gospel and Luke's Gospel talk about that.

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.000
 There are degrees in heaven.

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.000
 Like there are degrees in hell.

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:03.000
 Some will be beaten with more stripes than others.

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:07.000
 Let's face it, any place in hell is bad.

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.000
 But the nature of hell is that some people

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:11.000
 have been punished more severely than others.

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.000
 The more you've had,

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.000
 the more you've known,

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.000
 the more you've turned your back on,

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.000
 the more cultively you are.

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:21.000
 And Jesus says,

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.000
 don't store your treasures on earth,

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.000
 store them in heaven,

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.000
 and great will be your reward.

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.000
 But whatever else it is,

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.000
 Jesus says in one of his parables,

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.000


00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.000
 when he is handing out life and death,

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.000
 eternal life and eternal death,

00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:35.000
 he says to those who are going to receive eternal life,

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:38.000
 come and enter your master's joy.

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.000
 Whatever it is,

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.000
 it'll never be better than that.

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.000
 That you get to enjoy.

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:50.000
 The joy of pleasing your Father in heaven for all eternity.

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.000
 The joy of knowing that my Father is pleased

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.000
 with my obedient choices.

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.000
 Pick a family where there are two sons

00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.000
 and they're going to receive an inheritance.

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:05.000
 And one works hard and the other is a total slacker.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:08.000
 What is motivating the son that works hard?

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.000
 He's going to get the inheritance.

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:15.000
 So why would he work hard for his dad?

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.000
 What is motivating him?

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:20.000
 His dad is motivating him.

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:24.000
 To please his dad is what gives the son joy.

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.000
 To honor his dad,

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.000
 he's going to get the inheritance.

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:28.000
 Either way,

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:31.000
 the joy of pleasing your Father in heaven,

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:33.000
 there is no greater reward than that.

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.000
 And that will rebound for all eternity.

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.000
 I guess some of you are thinking,

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:45.000
 this is going to be asking for trouble, isn't it?

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.000
 Don't you think what you're preaching,

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.000
 come early, come late,

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.000
 doesn't matter how bad you are?

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.000
 Don't people say that?

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:59.000
 I think you begin,

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:03.000
 you know a person has begun to understand the gospel

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.000
 when they start saying,

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:07.000
 well I may as well go and murder and rape and pillage

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:09.000
 and then just say sorry at the end of my life.

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:12.000
 That's what you want.

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.000
 Live it up.

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.000
 Enjoy life.

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.000
 And then at the end I can say sorry to God

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.000
 and it won't be okay.

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.000
 People say,

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.000
 as they understand this message,

00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.000
 they say,

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.000
 won't this delay people coming to Jesus?

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:29.000
 Won't they all want to just do a John Wayne?

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.000
 Live any old life

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.000
 and then at the end with their last breath say,

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.000
 I'm sorry Jesus.

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.000
 Well, let me tell you in practice,

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.000
 that isn't what happens.

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:40.000
 The reality is,

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.000
 we know that very,

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.000
 very few people at the end of their life

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:46.000
 say yes to Jesus.

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.000
 In 18 years as a minister,

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:50.000
 I can't think of one.

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.000
 And I've sat on the deathbed of many people.

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.000
 And what John Wayne may or may not have done,

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.000
 and I can't be sure that he did what has been reported,

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.000
 it is very, very rare.

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:08.000
 So talk to a chaplain who works in a hospice if you want.

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.000
 Talk to a Christian chaplain and say to him and ask him,

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.000
 people are there because of their dying.

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:17.000
 Very few people give their lives to Jesus at the end of their lives.

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:22.000
 Or argue there's less than there used to be.

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:24.000
 But you can talk to me about that after.

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.000
 And you might think, well no,

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.000
 in old age things will be clearer.

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.000
 They are not.

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.000
 They are not.

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:32.000
 They are not clearer than they are now.

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:37.000
 And if you, if you are not clear now,

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.000
 the chances are,

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:40.000
 you probably won't be clear then.

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.000
 Because here's the thing,

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.000
 here's the thing about saying no to God.

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:49.000
 You just get good at it.

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:55.000
 And you may think, I'll have the opportunity later.

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.000
 And theoretically you do.

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.000
 Theoretically you do.

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.000
 But the reality is,

00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:00.000
 if you keep saying no to God,

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.000
 you just get good at it.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:07.000
 And do not take comfort that you are going to be in a badder position.

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.000
 You don't even know,

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.000
 you don't even know whether you will even be aware when it's your last breath.

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:15.000
 So many people die unexpectedly.

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.000
 But at the end of the day,

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.000
 do you know what is encouraging?

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.000
 It's such an encouraging thing, isn't it,

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.000
 to the journey you come lately.

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:31.000
 It empowers each one of you who are Christians

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.000
 to look your non-Christian friend or colleague or neighbor

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.000
 or family member in the eye and say,

00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.000
 you've got no idea.

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.000
 That if you decide

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:40.000
 to turn your life back to God,

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.000
 to Jesus Christ

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.000
 and to trust Him,

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:44.000
 to trust His death and His resurrection

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:47.000
 for the forgiveness of sins,

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.000
 you'll be accepted.

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:53.000
 But you need to understand this.

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:57.000
 That you will get exactly

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:02.000
 what I've been promised for the last 26 years of my life.

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.000
 And that is eternal life.

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.000
 Jesus doesn't say,

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.000
 let's try a probation period

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:11.000
 and see how you get on for the next five years.

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.000


00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:15.000
 if you try hard over the next decades,

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.000
 maybe I'll get a little piece of heaven.

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.000
 No, He says,

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.000
 the moment you say yes.

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.000
 The moment you say yes,

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.000
 is the moment you gain every spiritual blessing in Christ.

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:33.000
 And I think that ought to empower us.

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:37.000
 The vilest offender who truly believes,

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.000
 that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:43.000
 It ought to empower you and I to share the gospel.

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.000
 It's so different, isn't it,

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.000
 from every other world religion.

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.000
 Every other religion you've got to try to build up

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.000
 this culture of good works.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.000
 And maybe, just maybe,

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.000
 on judgment day,

00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:54.000
 the scales will tip in your favor.

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:56.000
 That is not Christianity.

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.000
 Christianity is saying,

00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.000
 Jesus has done it all.

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.000
 All to Him I own.

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.000
 And what I need to do,

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.000
 is I need to humble myself,

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.000
 and take His hand to forgiveness.

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.000
 And when I do that,

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.000
 all of the blessings of Christ,

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:18.000
 are mine straight away.

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:21.000
 And you may have lived,

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.000
 today,

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.000
 20,

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.000


00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.000
 40,

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.000
 50 years,

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.000
 and still not come to Christ.

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:31.000
 I read of someone this week,

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.000
 who didn't wait 40,

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.000
 50,

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.000
 60,

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.000
 70 years,

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.000
 not even 80 years,

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:40.000
 not 90 years,

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.000
 not even 100 years.

00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.000
 She was 103,

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:45.000
 before she gave her life to Jesus.

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:47.000
 That is leaving it late,

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.000
 isn't it?

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:51.000
 And she's going to get,

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:54.000
 exactly what the apostle Paul got.

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.000
 What Pauliney gets.

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.000
 What Alison Kelly gets.

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.000
 Look at verse 6.

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:08.000
 By the 11th hour,

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.000
 Jesus went out,

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.000
 and He found others standing,

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.000
 and He said to them,

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:14.000
 Why do you stand here,

00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.000
 idle,

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.000
 all day?

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.000
 Why do you stand here,

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.000
 doing nothing?

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.000
 It's quite an interesting way,

00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.000
 of describing life.

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.000
 It's very shocking, isn't it?

00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.000
 Even in a waste of space.

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:32.000
 As far as the kingdom of God is concerned.

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:36.000
 As far as the kingdom of God is concerned,

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:37.000
 you've contributed nothing.

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:41.000
 You may well have been a loving husband,

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.000
 a loving mother,

00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:43.000
 a loving wife,

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:45.000
 but as far as the kingdom of God,

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.000
 doing it for the king's sake,

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.000
 nothing.

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.000
 And it's time to stop doing nothing.

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:54.000
 And get on board,

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.000
 for the kingdom,

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.000
 to serve this wonderful king,

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.000
 and enjoy him.

00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:01.000
 And like I said,

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.000
 you don't have to turn your stripes.

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.000
 You just come in,

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.000
 simple repentance,

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.000
 and faith in Jesus,

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.000
 and you get to sit with Abraham,

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.000
 and Isaac,

00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:09.000


00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.000
 in the kingdom of God,

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:11.000
 in paradise.

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.000
 It's yours.

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.000
 Two people.

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.000
 Two people.

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.000
 Let's think of them for a moment,

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:21.000
 as we finish.

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.000


00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.000
 the apostle Peter.

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.000
 The apostle Peter was with Jesus,

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.000
 for three years.

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.000
 He had foot and mouth,

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.000
 and the seeds to be.

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.000
 But generally speaking,

00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.000
 Peter hung out with the Lord,

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.000
 and after Jesus had died,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.000
 and risen and gone to heaven,

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:37.000
 he faithfully served Jesus.

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:39.000
 He was,

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:40.000
 he endured imprisonment,

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.000
 there was a whole lot of persecution.

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.000


00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.000
 if tradition is true,

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.000
 he ended up in Rome,

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.000
 crucified upside down.

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.000
 The guy served the Lord God,

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.000
 and his Saviour,

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.000
 for the bulk of his life.

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.000
 That is Peter.

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.000
 Let's think of the other guy,

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:54.000
 the thief on the cross.

00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:57.000
 He's a man without a name,

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:02.000
 who lived a life clearly anti-God,

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:03.000
 and even on the cross,

00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.000
 he was cursing Jesus,

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:06.000
 until he finally woke up to himself.

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.000
 And minutes perhaps,

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:08.000
 before he died,

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.000
 he realised exactly who Jesus was,

00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:12.000
 and he says to Jesus,

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.000
 remember me when you enter into the kingdom.

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.000
 And what did Jesus say?

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:19.000
 Jesus said,

00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:21.000
 today you will be with me in paradise.

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:23.000
 And I'm telling you,

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:24.000
 the unnamed thief,

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.000
 and the apostle Peter,

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.000
 and Paul,

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.000
 are round the throne this morning,

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.000
 praising the Lord Jesus.

00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:32.000
 And enjoying life everlasting.

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:35.000
 And that is what makes Christianity so wonderful,

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:37.000
 and yet so offensive.

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:42.000
 So we who've been Christians 30 plus years,

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:45.000
 we want to join with God,

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:47.000
 and say to you this morning,

00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.000
 if you've not taken the hand of the Saviour,

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.000
 why don't you do it?

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:55.000
 Come and enjoy what the rest of us are enjoying,

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.000
 which is life everlasting.

00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:58.000
 And sure,

00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:02.000
 you might have spent every second of your life without God,

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.000
 but the moment you say,

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.000
 I do,

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.000
 the moment you take his hand,

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:08.000
 you will have everything we've been promised,

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:09.000
 will everlast in life.

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.000
 What's holding you back?

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:15.000
 What's holding you back from taking the hand of the Saviour?

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.000
 Is it you're afraid?

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:21.000
 Is it that you're afraid to admit that you're not a Christian,

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.000
 but everyone thinks you are?

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:29.000
 Is it that you're afraid of the consequences of what it means to follow the Lord Jesus?

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:31.000
 The cost.

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.000
 Think of those words of Jesus.

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:39.000
 What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his own soul?

00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:44.000
 And this morning you are invited to share in what every other Christian has been promised.

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:46.000
 Everlasting life.

00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:49.000
 And you don't have to wait to enjoy that promise.

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:53.000
 I don't really know who Kanye West is.

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:57.000
 I did a radio interview with a Christian radio station the other day,

00:35:58.000 --> 00:36:01.000
 and they asked me what my opinion was on Kanye West,

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:04.000
 and I'd say, I'm really sorry, I don't know who he is.

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:08.000
 But Kanye West has released an album,

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:10.000
 which is all over the internet, I've not read it.

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:14.000
 It's called Jesus is Lord.

00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:17.000
 And I just want to read you one tweet.

00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.000
 If you're not on Twitter, you should be a great source of helpful interaction on a whole host of things.

00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:25.000
 But this preacher said this,

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.000
 I don't know Kanye West,

00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.000
 I don't know Kanye West,

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:31.000
 but if he thinks for one second that calling on the name of Jesus

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:33.000
 will somehow forgive a lifetime of misogyny,

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:36.000
 blasphemy, profanity, and sexual immorality,

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:39.000
 he's absolutely right.

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:43.000
 Let's pray.

00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.000


00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.000


00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.000


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00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:44.000