WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.879 me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 10. If you're looking in one of the pew Bibles, it is page 815. 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:16.719 Last week we concluded our series in Messianic prophecies from Isaiah, and today we are starting 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:23.879 a series in the middle section of the Gospel of Luke. Chapters 10 through 19 will be journeying 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:29.600 through this section of Luke from now until Easter Sunday. We've entitled this series With 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:35.840 Jesus on the Road of Discipleship. If you see one of these blue cards in the row in front of you, 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:40.200 that lists the text that we'll be looking at from week to week. If that's helpful for you to take, 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:45.939 feel free to take one home with you and spend some time reading and meditating on these words 00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:53.980 beforehand as a way of preparing for worship. But this morning we're looking at chapter 10, 00:00:53.979 --> 00:01:06.439 verses 1 to 24. So I'm going to read these words to us. Luke chapter 10, beginning at verse 1. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:15.340 After this, the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them on ahead of Him two by two into every town 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:21.299 and place where He Himself was about to go. And He said to them, The harvest is plentiful, 00:01:21.299 --> 00:01:29.319 but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:38.979 His harvest. Go your way. Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money 00:01:38.979 --> 00:01:44.840 bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 00:01:45.479 --> 00:01:50.259 Peace be to this house. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him, but if not, 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:55.200 it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, 00:01:55.300 --> 00:02:01.400 for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:07.400 receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:13.159 come near to you. But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:18.599 Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, 00:02:18.599 --> 00:02:25.379 know this, that the kingdom of God has come near. I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:31.799 Sodom than for that town. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done 00:02:31.799 --> 00:02:38.219 in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:46.000 ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:51.599 will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. The one who hears you, 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:57.240 hears me. And the one who rejects you, rejects me. And the one who rejects me, rejects him who sent me. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:04.639 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:11.759 And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I've given you authority to tread 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:16.719 on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:23.620 do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:30.159 written in heaven. In the same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank you, Father, 00:03:30.299 --> 00:03:34.759 Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:39.159 and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:44.859 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except 00:03:44.859 --> 00:03:50.859 the Father, or who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:57.099 Then turning to the disciples, he said privately, blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 00:03:57.859 --> 00:04:02.319 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see and did not see it, 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:06.439 and to hear what you hear and did not hear it. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.079 Are we there yet? 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:17.500 Anyone who has ever taken a long car trip with young children knows those words well. 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:22.500 Two summers ago, before we had a third child, we drove to Wisconsin. 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:28.939 Our most ambitious journey ever, over summer vacation, the first day we planned to leave 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:32.639 after church on a Sunday and drive for 12 hours till Indiana. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:37.199 An hour and a half into our trip, we found ourselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.639 Tappan Zee Bridge, and it wasn't the kids. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:45.720 It was the adults who were saying to each other, how much longer will this be, and why exactly 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:48.240 did we embark on this journey anyway? 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:56.519 In the course of the Christian life, I think we can sometimes find ourselves asking a similar 00:04:56.519 --> 00:04:57.340 question. 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:06.180 As we seek to walk with Jesus through this present age toward the hope of eternal glory, sometimes 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:08.560 we ask, are we there yet? 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:11.460 How much longer will it be? 00:05:12.780 --> 00:05:17.480 The section of Luke we'll be looking at over the next four months is called the Journey to 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:18.420 Jerusalem. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:27.360 If you look at chapter 9, verse 51 and 53, it says twice that Jesus set His face toward 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:28.300 Jerusalem. 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:32.860 Now, that phrase might ring a bell because it comes from Isaiah 50, which we looked at two 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:33.540 weeks ago. 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:39.540 Isaiah described a servant of the Lord who would set His face like flint, who would obey without 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:45.160 flinching, who would suffer without deserving to, and who would ultimately triumph over His 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:46.100 adversaries. 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:52.379 And it's very likely that Jesus consciously understood His own vocation, His own calling 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:55.780 in light of passages like that one we looked at from Isaiah. 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:03.160 So, we see Jesus here heading toward His final destination of Jerusalem with resolute confidence, 00:06:03.320 --> 00:06:08.980 determined to obey the will of God, aware that He would suffer for His obedience, but also 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:12.460 trusting that there in Jerusalem He would triumph. 00:06:12.459 --> 00:06:25.919 But the surprising thing is, as determined as Jesus is to head toward Jerusalem, it takes Him quite a long time, at least in the way Luke tells the story, for Him to get there. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:29.439 It takes all the way to chapter 19. 00:06:30.520 --> 00:06:34.379 Almost half the book is this journey to Jerusalem. 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:40.620 And several times in this section, Luke says, 9.57, they were going along the road. 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:42.719 10.38, as they went on their way. 00:06:43.159 --> 00:06:45.620 11.53, as He went away from there. 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:51.180 13.22, He went on His way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:07:00.199 And the way Luke tells the story almost provokes us as the hearers to ask the question, when are we going to get there? 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:03.480 Why is this journey taking so long? 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:09.639 But as we look at these chapters over the next four months, I want us to remember this. 00:07:10.460 --> 00:07:17.240 When we're walking with Jesus, the destination is essential, but the journey matters too. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:25.319 If you're trusting Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, your destination, your spiritual destination for all eternity is secure. 00:07:26.540 --> 00:07:30.519 You're headed toward the right place to be with Him. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:37.660 But trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord also means trusting Him at every step of the journey. 00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:41.220 Trusting that He's teaching us. 00:07:41.400 --> 00:07:43.180 Trusting that He's leading us. 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:44.519 Trusting that He's with us. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:49.500 Trusting that He's sanctifying every step of our earthly journey. 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:55.680 And what we're going to see over the next four months is how in the course of His journey to Jerusalem, 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:59.359 Jesus takes every opportunity to teach His disciples. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:05.259 To shape and form them into the people that He wants them to become. 00:08:08.039 --> 00:08:12.240 Because they would become His earthly representatives after His ascension. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:12.740 Right? 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:22.540 Jesus is determined to reach His destination, but He's also determined to take advantage of every step along the journey to teach His disciples what they need to know. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.180 And who they need to become. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:29.560 And in a similar way, God is determined that every follower of Jesus reach our destination. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.060 But sometimes it's a long journey. 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:36.359 And there's a lot of things He wants to teach us along the way. 00:08:37.239 --> 00:08:44.539 So that's what's ahead of us in the next few months as we embark on this series with Jesus on the road of discipleship. 00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:52.819 This morning in particular, we're looking at Luke 10, where Jesus sends out 72 others. 00:08:52.820 --> 00:09:01.680 In chapter 9, He had sent out the 12 apostles on a sort of missionary excursion journey. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.160 And here He sends out a larger group. 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:08.040 Jesus had 12 apostles who were sort of His closest disciples. 00:09:08.040 --> 00:09:14.460 But He also had many other dedicated and devoted disciples that we see, for example, here. 00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:16.420 Verse 1 says, 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:22.600 Jesus sent out these 72 ahead of Him into every town and place where He Himself was about to go. 00:09:22.660 --> 00:09:25.400 So they're performing a function a bit like John the Baptist. 00:09:26.280 --> 00:09:28.879 Sort of the advance guard. 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:30.519 Prepare the way for the King. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:35.700 Verse 1 to 16, we see Jesus' instructions as He sends them out. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.220 Verse 17 to 24, we see Jesus' response when they return. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.460 Now there are many ways one could summarize this passage. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:50.300 But this morning I want to focus on three characteristics that Jesus is building in the 72. 00:09:51.680 --> 00:10:01.120 And three characteristics that we need as followers of Jesus as we embark on the journey of this new year. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:07.540 And the characteristics are humility, confidence, and joy. 00:10:07.539 --> 00:10:10.539 Humility, verses 1 to 7. 00:10:11.099 --> 00:10:12.819 Confidence, verses 8 to 16. 00:10:13.219 --> 00:10:15.379 Joy, verses 17 to 24. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:17.039 That's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:21.519 So first, humility, verses 1 to 7. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:26.699 Consider Jesus' instructions to the 72 in these verses. 00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:28.059 Right? 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:30.240 Some of the specific directions He gives them. 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:31.819 First, they're not to go it alone. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:33.159 He says two by two. 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:41.339 Jesus sends them out together for companionship, for protection, for accountability, for unity, as they bear witness to Him. 00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:43.480 Verse 2, they're to pray. 00:10:44.899 --> 00:10:48.699 Before Jesus tells them to go, He tells them to pray. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.740 Independence on God. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:57.059 Verse 3, they're to be simple and sincere as lambs in the midst of wolves. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:00.179 Wolves probably representing the hostile opposition. 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:03.899 Verse 4, they're to travel light. 00:11:04.959 --> 00:11:07.579 Verse 5 and 6, they're to offer peace to all. 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:14.120 They're not to try to guess in advance who will receive them and who will reject them, but everyone receives the same offer. 00:11:15.599 --> 00:11:19.519 Verse 7 and 8, they're to receive hospitality but not abuse it. 00:11:20.579 --> 00:11:23.239 That's why Jesus says, eat and drink whatever they provide. 00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:24.319 That is, don't complain. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.800 But then He says, don't go from house to house. 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.340 In other words, no freeloading. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:30.420 No mooching. 00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:38.000 In a word, the messengers of Jesus are to be humble. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:47.020 Humility is making much of Jesus and less of ourselves. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:50.639 Sometimes the word humility is misunderstood. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:57.939 Being humble does not mean being shy, mumbling, looking down at the floor all the time. 00:11:58.539 --> 00:12:04.100 It doesn't mean constantly talking about how bad you are or never expressing your real feelings. 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:06.939 No, none of that is what humility is really about. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:09.419 Humility is expressed in these qualities. 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:15.179 Being prayerful, being peaceful, being simple and sincere. 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:20.179 Not violent, not self-seeking, not manipulative, not pretentious. 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:23.699 Humility is simply recognizing who we are before God. 00:12:25.219 --> 00:12:28.319 And living before the presence of God. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.500 Now, some of you might say, okay, I see the main point. 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:33.459 Humility, that's fair. 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:34.819 But what about these details? 00:12:36.459 --> 00:12:39.219 Don't we apply these verses rather selectively? 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:42.860 Some of these verses are frequently quoted. 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:47.279 Verse 2, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labors into his harvest. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:51.399 If you hear a sermon about the world mission of the church, you might hear that verse quoted. 00:12:53.219 --> 00:12:58.019 Or verse 8, eat what is set before you. 00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.579 Right? 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:01.179 That's a parent favorite. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:06.860 Probably almost all of us have quoted that to our children in one form or another at some time. 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:11.979 But others are less fashionable. 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:12.979 How about verse 4? 00:13:14.079 --> 00:13:17.979 The modern equivalent of verse 4 would be, don't carry a wallet or purse. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.419 Don't carry a backpack. 00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:20.599 Walk barefoot. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.000 And don't say hi to anybody that you pass by. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:37.120 Now, a few Christians throughout history, like Francis of Assisi or Teresa of Avila, have insisted on going barefoot and living in poverty in an attempt to literally put into practice this command. 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:39.899 But most of us read verse 4. 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:42.940 We decide it doesn't sound very practical. 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:45.820 And therefore, it must not apply to us. 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:50.500 Our reasoning is, verse 2 sounds good, so I'll quote it. 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:53.160 Verse 7 helps me with my children, so I'll quote that too. 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:55.540 Verse 4 sounds bad, so I'll ignore it. 00:13:58.520 --> 00:14:06.340 But as some non-believers have rightly pointed out, that is not a very consistent or compelling way to interpret Scripture. 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:10.800 We have to have a better way of interpreting Scripture than that. 00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:13.660 Now, common sense is a gift from God. 00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:15.040 We shouldn't throw it away. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:20.300 Common sense can sometimes protect us from doing foolish things out of a misguided zeal. 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:31.279 But we can't simply let our individual and cultural instincts have the final say in how we interpret and apply the Bible either. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:39.379 If we only put into practice the commands that sound good or seem useful to us already, 00:14:39.699 --> 00:14:43.799 and we disregard the ones that sound impractical or difficult, 00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:53.139 then we're just using Scripture in a self-serving way to be a sort of microphone for our own desires. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:15:00.279 But God has given us the Scripture not only to comfort us and strengthen us and encourage us, 00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:03.720 but also to challenge us and correct us even at the deepest level. 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:10.960 And so if Jesus is truly Lord over our lives, we need to be willing to take to heart the hard sayings of Scripture 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:13.899 and not just the ones that we like instinctively. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:19.840 So how do we wisely interpret and apply a passage like this? 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:25.399 Well, first of all, we need to step back and remind ourselves, what are we reading here? 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:33.740 We're not reading Jesus' instructions to all of His followers in all times and at all places. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:47.580 No, we're reading Jesus' instructions to 72 of His followers who had a specific job preparing for His journey back in the day. 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:54.100 They were sort of the advanced publicity team, if you want to put it that way, announcing His coming. 00:15:55.620 --> 00:16:00.620 And later on in Luke 22, 36, Jesus explicitly revises some of these commands. 00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:02.780 In that verse, He says, 00:16:03.160 --> 00:16:07.400 Now take a money bag and a knapsack, if you've got one, and even a sword. 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:11.139 We can interpret that another day. 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.740 Okay? 00:16:12.819 --> 00:16:17.419 So on the one hand, Jesus' instructions to the 72 are just that, His instructions to the 72. 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:25.960 But on the other hand, we still follow the same Jesus who gave them all these instructions. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:31.580 And to the extent that these instructions express Jesus' unchanging character, 00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:35.279 and the character He consistently requires of His followers, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:38.240 we can and should rightly apply them to ourselves. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:40.860 Or here's another way to put it. 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:43.279 What's the Gospel of Luke? 00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:52.600 It's the story of how Jesus fulfilled the promises that God had made to His people Israel in the Old Testament. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:58.840 It's one part of the larger story that we read in the whole Bible. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:06.019 It begins with the story of creation, and then the fall, and then God calling a people Israel, 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:14.960 and then the Gospel is God fulfilling the promises that He had made to Israel in the person of His Son, Jesus. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:19.139 But that chapter of the story has been finished. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.480 Jesus has died. 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.339 He has risen. 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.720 He has ascended into heaven. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:27.200 And we live in the next chapter of God's unfolding story, 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:32.240 which begins in the book of Acts, when Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to empower His followers 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:36.100 to proclaim His salvation to the ends of the earth. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:39.620 So, as we read through the Gospel of Luke, 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:44.180 our goal is not to imitate everything that the disciples do in the Gospels. 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:53.340 Our goal is to faithfully bear witness in our words and in our deeds to all that God has accomplished in Jesus, 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:57.539 to let our stories be an echo of His story. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:04.100 Now, in the storyline of Luke, the sending out of the 72 actually anticipates the next chapter in the story. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.080 It points forward to… 00:18:06.080 --> 00:18:12.759 It's sort of a miniature version of what's going to happen in the book of Acts on a much larger scale. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.839 The worldwide mission of the church. 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:20.539 That's probably why Jesus appointed 72 in the first place. 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:23.940 Now, some translations, if you have a King James Version, it says 70. 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.819 Or a New American Standard says 70. 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:29.680 If you have an ESV or an NIV, it says 72. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.140 And you might say, well, why the different numbers here? 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:40.359 Either way, it's almost certainly a deliberate reference to the nations of the world that are listed in Genesis 10. 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:46.799 So, the Hebrew text of Genesis 10 lists 70 nations, representing the entire world. 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:54.939 The Greek translation of Genesis, which was popular in Jesus' day, because many people spoke Greek, lists 72 nations. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:19:00.259 That may be why some of the manuscripts of Luke say 70 and some say 72, 00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:04.559 because there's different copies, because it's about half and half. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:13.579 We're not quite sure what was the original number, but either way, 70, 7 times 10, or 72, 6 times 12, represents the world in its fullness. 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:26.019 And so, what we see here in Luke 10 is a tiny little preview of the message about Jesus going from all nations to all nations. 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:33.980 Now, here it's just a small representative people, a group of people within Israel going to the towns of Israel. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:39.480 But what we're going to see in the book of Acts is that Jesus' messengers are people from all nations going to all nations. 00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:46.339 So, the question we need to ask ourselves is not, how do we obey Jesus' instructions to the 72? 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:56.679 But does the way we carry ourselves as followers of Jesus today point to that same Jesus who gave these instructions back then? 00:19:58.699 --> 00:20:01.899 So, that's a big picture of sort of how do we interpret the Gospels. 00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:04.839 Keep that in mind over the next few months as we journey through Luke. 00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:08.439 But getting back to the main point, the first point here, 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:13.039 do our lives reflect the humility that Jesus calls for in verses 1 to 7? 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:18.460 It's not just here that Jesus calls His disciples to humility. 00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:20.399 It's the first of the Beatitudes. 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:23.619 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:27.119 Over and over, Jesus says, 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:30.480 The greatest among you must be like the least. 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:33.220 The one who leads like the one who serves. 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:40.980 Without humility, there is no way to faithfully bear witness to Jesus 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:44.539 apart from a growing humility. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:54.480 And I think some of these characteristics can point us to expressions of humility. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:58.500 Are we people who walk two by two? 00:20:58.660 --> 00:21:01.279 That is, side by side with other Christians. 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:07.240 That's why so many of the commands in the New Testament epistles include the words, 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:08.440 one another. 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.460 Love one another. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.759 Serve one another. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.900 Pray for one another. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.299 Bear one another's burdens. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.779 Teach one another. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.019 Admonish one another. 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.160 Encourage one another. 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:27.299 Don't be a lone ranger Christian, unattached and unaccountable. 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:31.400 It's not the way Jesus intended His followers to live, here or ever. 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:35.300 Are we people of earnest prayer? 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:41.580 As Jesus encourages in verse 2, and as Jesus encourages in chapter 11, 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:44.440 which we'll get to in a couple weeks with the Lord's Prayer. 00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:48.440 Come to adult Sunday school this month as a way to come together in prayer. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:52.540 Spend time learning about prayer and spend time praying with one another. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.880 Are we straightforward? 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:59.980 Are we sincere and unpretentious like verse 3 talks about? 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:03.960 Again, this is not confined to this passage. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:06.500 The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1.12, 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:14.400 Our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.059 and godly sincerity. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:21.400 Can the world look at us and say, 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.860 You guys are the real deal. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:26.440 You're not faking it. 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.680 You're not putting on a show. 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:30.980 You're not in it for personal gain. 00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:37.259 Have we forsaken all forms of manipulation and greed? 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:45.599 I think that's partly why Jesus tells the disciples not to take anything with them on this first mission. 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:53.539 So they won't be tempted to use their worldly possessions in manipulative ways. 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:55.119 No. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.559 No. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:23:02.819 All they have is the message and the character that Jesus has given them. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:06.639 Do we offer the gospel to everyone? 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:09.399 As here, they're supposed to offer peace to everyone. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:11.720 Or rather than judging people in advance, 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:14.599 based on how we think they'll respond. 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:18.539 We get into all kinds of trouble when we judge people in advance. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.319 And Jesus says the offer is the same, whether people accept it or reject it. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:29.000 You haven't failed if you offer something to someone and they reject it. 00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:30.179 No, you've been faithful. 00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:39.039 Do we receive help and hospitality without complaining and without taking advantage of people? 00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:43.960 See, all of those are marks of humility. 00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:47.600 They're all expressions of godly humility. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:52.319 And humility is so foundational in the Christian life. 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:54.259 We have to begin here. 00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.959 That's the first point. 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:05.919 Jesus is building humility in his followers. 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:11.299 But second, Jesus not only builds humility in his followers, 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.699 he also builds confidence. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.539 We see this in verse 8 to 16. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:21.719 Now, in these verses, we see that Jesus' followers, like Jesus himself, 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.659 will experience both acceptance and rejection. 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.439 Do you notice that? 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.059 We've seen that already in verse 6. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:31.039 If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.679 If not, it will return to you. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.859 Verse 8 and 10, 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:39.079 when you enter a town and they receive you. 00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:42.579 Verse 10, whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:47.459 Jesus is not a naive optimist. 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.339 He's upfront. 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:49.419 He's upfront. 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:51.839 Not everyone will receive him and his message. 00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:54.659 At the same time, he's not a despairing pessimist. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:57.399 Not everyone will reject it either. 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.339 It's not fruitless. 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.719 And sometimes, he says, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:08.839 the ones who seem most likely to receive it end up rejecting it, 00:25:08.939 --> 00:25:12.119 and the ones who seem most likely to reject it end up receiving it. 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:13.859 That's the point of verse 13 to 15. 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:21.279 Jesus declares woe on Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:24.439 So these were all towns on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, 00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:29.819 which was sort of the home territory where Jesus and his disciples spent most of their time. 00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:33.459 Now, Philip and Peter and Andrew were from Bethsaida. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:35.880 Jesus lived for a while in Capernaum. 00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:40.640 But Jesus says, for the most part, those towns, 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:45.759 his sort of home base, if you will, would not receive his message. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:49.620 They would not be very open to it in general. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:54.079 And by contrast, Jesus says, 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.679 Tyre and Sidon, 00:25:56.739 --> 00:26:01.119 now those were towns that were sort of notorious for their wickedness and oppression. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:05.079 They were denounced by the Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel. 00:26:06.479 --> 00:26:08.379 Jesus says those towns would have repented. 00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:11.299 The implication is, 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.099 some of the places you go, 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.259 you think it's the least likely place 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:18.500 that someone will ever be receptive to anything about Christianity, 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.680 and they welcome you with open arms. 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.740 And you go to some other places and you think, 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.779 of course, this is our home territory. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:28.339 Of course, people are going to be open to Jesus. 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:31.680 And they say, yeah, we've already heard all that already. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.400 We're not interested. 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.700 And we see that, of course, in the book of Acts. 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:44.299 The gospel of Jesus takes root in the most unlikely of places. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:49.359 And in verse 16, Jesus reminds us 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:54.639 why faithful followers of Jesus will experience both acceptance and rejection. 00:26:57.399 --> 00:26:59.440 He says, because we represent him. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:04.860 The one who hears you, hears me. 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:07.220 The one who rejects you, rejects me. 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:10.320 The one who rejects me, rejects him who sent me. 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:13.299 So one writer put it this way, 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:15.080 he leads us. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:19.000 Our mission is Christ's mission. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:25.759 When we are persecuted, he encourages, supports, and protects us. 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:27.740 When we preach, he preaches. 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.539 When we are heard, he is heard. 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.839 When we are rejected, he is rejected. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:34.960 Our salvation comes only from him. 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:40.099 Jesus says, if we are being faithful to him, 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:43.680 we will experience both acceptance and rejection. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:52.980 Now, of course, Christians can behave in ways that are foolish and unfaithful 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:54.720 and experience rejection for that reason. 00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:56.420 We're not talking about that. 00:27:56.580 --> 00:28:01.039 Jesus is saying, faithful followers of Jesus will experience acceptance and rejection. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.700 So here's a question for us. 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:07.660 How do we maintain a steady confidence, 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:13.940 a level-headed conviction in the face of both acceptance and rejection? 00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:19.660 That's what Jesus is building in his disciples here. 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:24.460 You know, I think for us, I think sometimes people's acceptance 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:27.480 can tempt us to become big-headed instead of level-headed. 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:30.220 All right? 00:28:30.820 --> 00:28:32.360 If everyone speaks well of us, 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:35.080 when a Christian ministry is outwardly successful, 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:38.019 when many people come to faith in Christ, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:40.980 when people look at you and say, 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:44.859 oh, how good you are, how respectable you are, 00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:46.859 how wonderful your family is, 00:28:47.199 --> 00:28:49.539 we can be tempted to take all credit for ourselves 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:51.319 rather than to give all praise to God. 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:56.699 We can be tempted to become more concerned 00:28:56.699 --> 00:28:58.960 about always having a good appearance 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:01.619 so that everyone always speaks well of us 00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:04.059 rather than being genuine and truthful 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:06.039 about our weaknesses as well as our strengths. 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:10.179 We can be tempted to make it our goal 00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:11.359 to always please everyone 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:12.539 and meet all their felt needs 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:14.339 and tell them everything they want to hear. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:16.839 We can even fall into the trap of thinking 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:19.019 that we have become someone's Savior, 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:21.099 that they need us, 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:27.740 rather than pointing them to Jesus. 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:30.900 But notice how Jesus commands His messengers 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:33.059 to act when people receive them 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.319 in verses 8 and 9. 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.000 First He says, 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:38.319 eat what is set before you. 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.299 In other words, 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:44.120 receive from those who receive your message. 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:48.500 And then He says, 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.180 heal the sick. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.740 In other words, 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.200 give generously. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.960 Do all that is in your power 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.740 to help people physically, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:55.920 spiritually, 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:57.560 whatever that looks like. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.620 You see, 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.039 if you tell someone about Jesus 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:03.220 and they become a Christian, 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:05.160 you have not become their Savior. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:10.080 You're simply a messenger of the King. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:12.320 Or as somebody said it, 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:15.300 one beggar telling another beggar 00:30:15.300 --> 00:30:16.400 where to get some food. 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:20.960 It's a good way to think of ourselves. 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:25.759 Now, you're both fellow citizens 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.720 of the kingdom of God. 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.360 And over time, 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:29.539 you may well have as much to learn 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:31.860 from someone that you lead to Christ 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:34.340 as you have to give and teach to them. 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:38.340 There's a partnership that is established. 00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:41.539 That's one of the great things 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.279 about being a Christian. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.440 Sometimes you become a mentor 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.559 to a younger Christian, 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:46.079 and three years later, 00:30:46.120 --> 00:30:47.700 you find that they're mentoring you. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.940 They're speaking into your life. 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.259 They're challenging you. 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.600 They're praying for you. 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.120 They're standing beside you, 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:56.380 and you thought that you were helping them. 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.539 And God says, 00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:58.840 oh yeah, 00:30:58.860 --> 00:31:00.320 I always meant to go both ways. 00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:05.940 But sometimes, 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.400 people's rejection 00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:09.200 or the fear of people's rejection 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:11.039 can tempt us in other ways. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:15.019 And perhaps that's the main challenge 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:16.720 Jesus is preparing His disciples 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.619 to face here, 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:19.440 because He talks quite a bit 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.099 about rejection. 00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:24.960 Sometimes when we fear rejection 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:27.019 or when we've experienced rejection, 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.599 sometimes we're tempted to deny 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:30.019 or back away 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:32.839 from difficult truths of the gospel. 00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:36.359 But do you notice that 00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:39.220 the message Jesus tells His disciples 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:41.199 to proclaim doesn't change 00:31:41.199 --> 00:31:43.579 based on people's reaction to it? 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:46.359 Verse 9 and verse 11. 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:48.299 Verse 9 tells them what to say 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.319 when people accept them. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.759 The kingdom of God has come near to you. 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:54.119 Verse 11 tells them what to say 00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:55.720 when people reject them. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.740 Know this, 00:31:57.959 --> 00:31:59.459 that the kingdom of God has come near. 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:03.059 The message is the same. 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.059 King Jesus, 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:09.100 right, they're saying, 00:32:09.340 --> 00:32:10.840 King Jesus is right around the corner. 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.460 Come to Him. 00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:14.539 He's the world's true Lord. 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:18.400 We're not saying Jesus is coming. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.559 We're saying He has come. 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.680 He's died. 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.600 He's risen again. 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:22.880 And He will come again. 00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:27.180 He is the true Lord of the world. 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:31.460 He's the true Lord of the world. 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:35.460 So we need to be courageous 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:37.380 and truthful 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:41.500 in speaking the truth. 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.960 I think another temptation, 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.600 if we face rejection 00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:50.000 or if we've been mistreated, 00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:52.340 sometimes Christians can be tempted 00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:53.240 to take revenge 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:55.079 in one way or another, 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:56.960 to hold grudges, 00:32:56.960 --> 00:33:01.759 to see whole groups of people 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.799 in negative ways. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:06.299 Look back at chapter 9, verse 52. 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:09.819 It says, 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:11.340 Jesus sent messengers ahead of Him 00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:12.500 who went and entered a village 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.420 of the Samaritans 00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:14.980 to make preparations for Him. 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:18.640 But the people did not receive Him 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:21.059 because His face was set toward Jerusalem. 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:23.179 And when His disciples, 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:23.960 James and John, 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.319 saw it, 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.639 they said, 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:24.980 Lord, 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:27.000 do you want us to tell fire 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.859 to come down from heaven 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.679 and consume them? 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.000 But He turned 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.500 and rebuked them 00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:36.079 and they went on 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:36.899 to another village. 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.639 Jesus says, 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.000 no, 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.379 your job 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.980 is not to take revenge 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:46.399 on people who hurt you. 00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:48.279 It's not to make sure 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.460 that they pay. 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:54.740 What does Jesus say 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.220 to the 72? 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:56.400 If they don't receive you, 00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.840 wipe the dust off your feet. 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.500 That was a symbolic gesture 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.620 in the ancient world 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:02.500 that in some ways 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:03.059 was sort of 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.079 giving a warrant, 00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:05.059 warning people 00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:05.819 that they were making 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:07.539 a deeply wrong choice. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.940 But then Jesus says, 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.519 keep it moving. 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:13.960 Don't get in, 00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.659 don't stand there 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.639 and get in a public argument 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.579 and yell at each other. 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:16.619 Don't stand there 00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.619 and get in a public argument 00:34:17.619 --> 00:34:19.440 and yell at each other. 00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:21.139 Don't go on social media 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.780 and rant. 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.519 Right? 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.820 That's sometimes 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.340 how Christians 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.280 take revenge today. 00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.679 You blast somebody 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.280 on Facebook. 00:34:32.220 --> 00:34:34.639 Before you post something 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.320 on social media, 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.980 you need to ask, 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.980 is Jesus pleased 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.860 with what I am saying? 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.920 Have I said it 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:42.059 to this person's face? 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:44.220 Especially before 00:34:44.220 --> 00:34:45.340 you post it publicly. 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:50.260 the apostle Paul 00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:51.519 wrote this in Romans 12. 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:52.500 He says, 00:34:52.720 --> 00:34:53.260 if possible, 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.900 as far as it depends on you, 00:34:55.120 --> 00:34:56.079 live at peace 00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.860 with everyone. 00:34:59.100 --> 00:34:59.880 And then he says, 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.240 beloved, 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.800 never avenge yourselves, 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:03.019 but leave it 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:04.180 to the wrath of God. 00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:06.059 For it is written, 00:35:06.200 --> 00:35:07.039 vengeance is mine, 00:35:07.160 --> 00:35:08.039 I will repay, 00:35:08.200 --> 00:35:08.820 says the Lord. 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:10.980 To the contrary, 00:35:11.100 --> 00:35:12.000 if your enemy is hungry, 00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:12.740 feed him. 00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:14.640 If he is thirsty, 00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:15.800 give him something to drink, 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.820 for by so doing, 00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:18.039 you will heap burning coals 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:18.700 on his head. 00:35:19.620 --> 00:35:20.820 Do not be overcome 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.480 by evil, 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.519 but overcome evil 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.019 with good. 00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:25.140 That's how 00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:26.539 the Bible teaches us 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.740 to deal with rejection, 00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:30.000 is by overcoming evil 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.800 with good, 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:33.300 with truth 00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:35.140 and righteousness 00:35:35.140 --> 00:35:38.140 and faithfulness 00:35:38.140 --> 00:35:38.960 to God. 00:35:41.080 --> 00:35:41.840 So in the phase 00:35:41.840 --> 00:35:42.600 of both acceptance 00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:43.860 and rejection, 00:35:44.060 --> 00:35:45.240 Jesus urges his disciples 00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:45.960 to maintain 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:48.080 a steady confidence. 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.720 Now before we go on 00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:51.420 to the third point, 00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:54.160 let me give a brief challenge 00:35:54.160 --> 00:35:55.060 to you if you're not 00:35:55.060 --> 00:35:55.560 a Christian. 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.460 You might have noticed 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.660 back in verse 1, 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:01.859 Jesus is referred to 00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:02.699 as the Lord. 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.079 And then verse 2, 00:36:05.159 --> 00:36:05.599 Jesus says, 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.399 pray earnestly 00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:07.599 to the Lord 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:09.179 of the harvest 00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.279 to send out laborers. 00:36:10.339 --> 00:36:10.960 And in verse 3, 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.299 he says, 00:36:11.379 --> 00:36:11.699 behold, 00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:13.539 I am sending you. 00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:16.279 So Jesus says, 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:18.359 I'm sending out laborers. 00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:20.379 I hear and answer prayer. 00:36:20.839 --> 00:36:22.719 I am the Lord God himself. 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.960 Did you notice that? 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.500 Now you might say, 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:26.599 well, 00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.159 what's my point 00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:27.699 in saying that? 00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:27.899 Well, 00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:29.399 sometimes you can learn 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:31.099 what somebody really believes 00:36:31.099 --> 00:36:32.160 by listening 00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:34.260 to their offhand comments. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.559 You hear someone, 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.960 they're not trying 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.900 to prove something. 00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:42.980 They say it 00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:44.880 as if they assume it, 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.820 but they're not trying 00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.320 to prove it. 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.900 Jesus is not trying 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.660 to prove 00:36:48.660 --> 00:36:49.840 his divine nature 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.920 in verses 2 and 3, 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:52.860 but he certainly 00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.780 assumes it. 00:36:55.660 --> 00:36:56.480 Or look down 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.320 at verse 22. 00:37:00.240 --> 00:37:00.940 All things 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:01.460 have been handed 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.079 over to me 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:02.820 by my Father, 00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.659 and no one knows 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.300 who the Son is 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.079 except the Father 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:05.820 or who the Father 00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.740 is except the Son 00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.559 and anyone to whom 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:08.260 the Son chooses 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:08.940 to reveal him. 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.579 In other words, 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:10.900 Jesus claims 00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:12.639 to have an absolutely 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.860 unique relationship 00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:14.820 with God the Father. 00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:17.599 Now, 00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:18.780 some scholars say, 00:37:19.820 --> 00:37:20.179 ah, 00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:21.099 we can disregard 00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:22.059 such statements. 00:37:23.179 --> 00:37:24.240 They were just added 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.539 later on by Christians. 00:37:25.799 --> 00:37:26.699 Jesus never actually 00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:28.000 said anything like this. 00:37:29.779 --> 00:37:31.000 But here's a problem. 00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.639 Verse 22 appears 00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:34.939 not only here in Luke, 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:37.299 but also in Matthew chapter 11. 00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:39.939 And the most skeptical 00:37:39.939 --> 00:37:42.039 New Testament scholars say 00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:43.819 that the material found 00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:45.239 in both Matthew and Luke, 00:37:45.319 --> 00:37:46.079 but not Mark, 00:37:46.359 --> 00:37:47.479 sometimes known as Q, 00:37:47.879 --> 00:37:49.019 is some of the earliest 00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:50.179 source material we have 00:37:50.179 --> 00:37:50.859 in the New Testament. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.019 So even if you're working off 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:54.619 a rather skeptical account 00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.599 of how the New Testament 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.559 got put together, 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:58.199 verses like this one 00:37:58.199 --> 00:37:59.800 are the earliest ones, 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:02.239 not the latest ones. 00:38:04.619 --> 00:38:05.679 So here's the point. 00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.259 You can see this 00:38:08.259 --> 00:38:09.079 in almost any chapter 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.820 of the New Testament 00:38:09.820 --> 00:38:11.219 of the Gospels. 00:38:11.759 --> 00:38:12.739 Jesus believed 00:38:12.739 --> 00:38:14.320 that he was God. 00:38:16.259 --> 00:38:17.159 Was he right? 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:19.139 Or was he wrong? 00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:21.579 If he was right, 00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:23.400 you should worship him 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:25.279 and devote your entire life 00:38:25.279 --> 00:38:26.059 to following him. 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:28.420 If he was wrong, 00:38:28.859 --> 00:38:30.319 you probably shouldn't 00:38:30.319 --> 00:38:32.139 trust anything else he says. 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.980 There's not really 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:37.639 a sensible middle ground. 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.759 If you respect 00:38:41.759 --> 00:38:43.359 Jesus' moral teachings 00:38:43.359 --> 00:38:44.839 and his example, 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.879 you need to wrestle 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:48.599 with his belief 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:50.599 that he was God 00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:53.660 and say, 00:38:53.740 --> 00:38:54.260 was he right 00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:56.160 or was he wrong? 00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:00.280 So first, 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:01.420 Jesus teaches us humility. 00:39:02.539 --> 00:39:02.980 Second, 00:39:03.079 --> 00:39:04.000 Jesus gives us confidence. 00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:05.980 And third, 00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:06.740 and finally, 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:09.000 he shares with us joy. 00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:12.340 Verse 17, 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.160 the 72 returned 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.480 with joy. 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.339 Because their mission 00:39:18.339 --> 00:39:18.799 had met with 00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:20.019 an unexpected success. 00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.199 Even the demons 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:22.079 are subject to us 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:22.699 in your name. 00:39:24.379 --> 00:39:25.480 Verses 18 and 19, 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:26.480 Jesus affirms 00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:27.559 that what they're saying 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.079 is true. 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:29.920 He says, 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.539 Satan's kingdom 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:31.639 is on its way down. 00:39:32.699 --> 00:39:33.779 Perhaps Jesus is saying 00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:34.980 that Satan is being defeated 00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:36.000 as his messengers 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.839 cast out demons 00:39:36.839 --> 00:39:37.500 in his name. 00:39:37.639 --> 00:39:38.739 Perhaps he's envisioning 00:39:38.739 --> 00:39:40.319 Satan's ultimate downfall 00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:41.279 and saying this is 00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:42.719 the beginning of that. 00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:43.619 Either way, 00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:44.399 Jesus' disciples 00:39:44.399 --> 00:39:45.159 have authority 00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:46.059 over Satan 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:46.759 and demons 00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:48.139 when they call upon 00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:48.739 his name. 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:50.219 That is, 00:39:50.259 --> 00:39:51.679 when they rely upon 00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:54.739 and call upon 00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.339 the power 00:39:55.339 --> 00:39:56.039 and authority 00:39:56.039 --> 00:39:56.799 and character 00:39:56.799 --> 00:39:57.359 of Jesus. 00:39:57.439 --> 00:39:59.000 That's what his name means. 00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:59.619 His power 00:39:59.619 --> 00:40:00.500 and authority 00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:01.399 and character. 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:03.599 And Jesus has promised 00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.799 to protect us 00:40:04.799 --> 00:40:05.459 from anything 00:40:05.459 --> 00:40:06.359 that could truly, 00:40:06.799 --> 00:40:08.419 eternally harm us. 00:40:08.759 --> 00:40:09.659 Spiritual protection 00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:11.399 and spiritual power. 00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:11.480 power. 00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.059 These are privileges 00:40:15.059 --> 00:40:16.800 for all of Jesus' followers. 00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:19.460 It's not just the power 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:21.079 that the twelve apostles had. 00:40:21.700 --> 00:40:22.920 These weren't the twelve apostles. 00:40:23.320 --> 00:40:25.180 It's not just a promise 00:40:25.180 --> 00:40:25.940 that Jesus made 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:27.119 to people who are alive 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:28.240 in his day. 00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:29.740 And it's not only 00:40:29.740 --> 00:40:30.280 for Christians 00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:31.480 who attend Pentecostal 00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.519 and charismatic churches. 00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:36.519 Jesus says in verse 20, 00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.559 the spirits are subject 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.099 to you. 00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:39.460 That applies to all 00:40:39.460 --> 00:40:40.160 of his followers. 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:41.460 Now, 00:40:43.619 --> 00:40:44.639 I am not an expert 00:40:44.639 --> 00:40:46.599 in casting out demons. 00:40:47.799 --> 00:40:48.639 Some people have 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.539 far more experience 00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:50.099 in that area 00:40:50.099 --> 00:40:50.699 than I do. 00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:52.379 Some people claim 00:40:52.379 --> 00:40:53.019 to have experience 00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.719 in that area 00:40:53.719 --> 00:40:54.879 and they are unbalanced 00:40:54.879 --> 00:40:55.679 and untrustworthy. 00:40:56.839 --> 00:40:57.940 But don't throw the baby 00:40:57.940 --> 00:40:58.899 out with the bathwater. 00:41:00.739 --> 00:41:01.940 If you're being afflicted 00:41:01.940 --> 00:41:02.519 by a demon, 00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:03.960 we will confidently 00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:05.000 call upon the name 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:05.379 of Jesus 00:41:05.379 --> 00:41:06.359 and command the demon 00:41:06.359 --> 00:41:06.940 to leave. 00:41:06.940 --> 00:41:09.240 That might not be 00:41:09.240 --> 00:41:10.240 the only thing we'll do. 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:12.260 We might do some 00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:13.019 biblical counseling. 00:41:13.220 --> 00:41:13.740 We might pray 00:41:13.740 --> 00:41:14.500 for inner healing. 00:41:14.619 --> 00:41:15.139 We might tell you 00:41:15.139 --> 00:41:16.360 to go see a medical doctor. 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:18.000 God can work 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:19.000 in all those ways. 00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.599 We shouldn't rule out 00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:21.539 any of them in principle. 00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:25.220 But as Jesus followers, 00:41:25.340 --> 00:41:26.019 we have power 00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:27.099 over Satan 00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:27.820 and demons 00:41:27.820 --> 00:41:29.260 in Jesus' name. 00:41:29.260 --> 00:41:32.040 But having said that, 00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:33.660 in verse 20, 00:41:33.740 --> 00:41:34.420 Jesus says, 00:41:35.680 --> 00:41:36.220 that's not 00:41:36.220 --> 00:41:38.220 the deepest source 00:41:38.220 --> 00:41:39.080 of our joy. 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:42.220 Don't rejoice in this 00:41:42.220 --> 00:41:42.840 that the spirits 00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:43.780 are subject to you, 00:41:43.820 --> 00:41:44.400 but rejoice 00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:45.580 that your names 00:41:45.580 --> 00:41:47.020 are written in heaven. 00:41:48.300 --> 00:41:49.620 Our abiding joy 00:41:49.620 --> 00:41:50.480 comes not from 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.500 our present successes 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:52.960 or from the experience 00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:54.060 of spiritual power, 00:41:54.380 --> 00:41:55.080 God's power 00:41:55.080 --> 00:41:55.980 working through us, 00:41:56.060 --> 00:41:57.560 but from our 00:41:57.560 --> 00:41:59.120 secure salvation. 00:41:59.260 --> 00:42:02.420 Do you notice 00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:03.620 how the 72 are talking? 00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.300 Even the demons 00:42:05.300 --> 00:42:06.400 are subject to us 00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:07.700 in your name. 00:42:09.060 --> 00:42:09.900 The content 00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:10.500 of their statement 00:42:10.500 --> 00:42:11.000 is true. 00:42:11.100 --> 00:42:11.760 The tone, 00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:13.360 I think, 00:42:13.400 --> 00:42:14.360 is a little bit off. 00:42:15.780 --> 00:42:16.780 I think that's why 00:42:16.780 --> 00:42:17.600 Jesus corrects them. 00:42:17.640 --> 00:42:18.060 They seem to be 00:42:18.060 --> 00:42:19.460 a little too excited 00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:22.680 about the power 00:42:22.680 --> 00:42:24.100 that they're exercising. 00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:27.140 And Jesus redirects them 00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:29.480 like a parent 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:30.559 wisely redirects 00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:31.119 a child. 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.239 He says, 00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:34.920 let me give you 00:42:34.920 --> 00:42:35.460 three things 00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:36.639 to really rejoice about. 00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:38.059 Your names are written 00:42:38.059 --> 00:42:38.519 in heaven. 00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:39.239 Verse 20. 00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:41.539 Is your name 00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:42.099 written in heaven 00:42:42.099 --> 00:42:43.339 in the book of God? 00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:44.119 Some people give 00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:44.940 millions of dollars 00:42:44.940 --> 00:42:45.679 to have their name 00:42:45.679 --> 00:42:46.500 etched on a building 00:42:46.500 --> 00:42:48.739 that might possibly 00:42:48.739 --> 00:42:49.480 outlast them 00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.319 a hundred years 00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.779 if it's not destroyed 00:42:51.779 --> 00:42:52.980 or renamed by then. 00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:55.820 But if your name 00:42:55.820 --> 00:42:56.199 is written 00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:57.240 in God's book, 00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:59.280 you have a reason 00:42:59.280 --> 00:42:59.960 to rejoice. 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:04.619 Because it will never 00:43:04.619 --> 00:43:05.440 be crossed out. 00:43:06.760 --> 00:43:08.019 Verse 21 and 22, 00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:08.480 Jesus says, 00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:09.820 rejoice that God 00:43:09.820 --> 00:43:10.280 has revealed 00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:11.320 His truth to you. 00:43:11.780 --> 00:43:13.099 Here Jesus rejoiced 00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.900 in the Holy Spirit. 00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:15.000 He turned to His Father 00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:15.719 in thanksgiving. 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:16.380 Why? 00:43:16.539 --> 00:43:17.280 Because the plan 00:43:17.280 --> 00:43:17.960 which the Father 00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:18.539 and the Son 00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:19.300 and the Holy Spirit 00:43:19.300 --> 00:43:20.219 had conceived 00:43:20.219 --> 00:43:21.039 from all eternity 00:43:21.039 --> 00:43:22.400 was now coming to pass. 00:43:22.980 --> 00:43:26.980 It wasn't the wise 00:43:26.980 --> 00:43:27.740 and understanding 00:43:27.740 --> 00:43:28.440 that is the people 00:43:28.440 --> 00:43:29.639 who thought they knew 00:43:29.639 --> 00:43:30.340 all that they needed 00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:30.940 to know 00:43:30.940 --> 00:43:33.000 who were seeing Jesus. 00:43:33.099 --> 00:43:34.320 It was little children. 00:43:34.599 --> 00:43:34.960 Again, 00:43:35.900 --> 00:43:36.360 humility. 00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:38.539 Little children 00:43:38.539 --> 00:43:40.800 seeing Jesus. 00:43:42.059 --> 00:43:42.699 And Jesus is saying 00:43:42.699 --> 00:43:43.719 all of His disciples 00:43:43.719 --> 00:43:45.559 are like little children 00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:46.579 who see something 00:43:46.579 --> 00:43:47.579 and they're so excited 00:43:47.579 --> 00:43:48.039 about it 00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:50.039 because it's so amazing. 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:54.860 And Jesus delights 00:43:54.860 --> 00:43:55.420 in that 00:43:55.420 --> 00:43:56.119 as a parent 00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:57.539 looks at their child 00:43:57.539 --> 00:43:58.619 and delights in them. 00:44:01.980 --> 00:44:02.599 You see, 00:44:02.659 --> 00:44:03.440 Jesus' disciples 00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:04.800 can see 00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:06.119 not because we're wiser, 00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.699 not because we're smarter, 00:44:07.960 --> 00:44:09.039 not because we're better, 00:44:09.340 --> 00:44:10.579 not because we're more qualified 00:44:10.579 --> 00:44:11.360 or more disciplined 00:44:11.360 --> 00:44:11.900 or anything. 00:44:12.099 --> 00:44:12.699 We have nothing 00:44:12.699 --> 00:44:13.500 to boast about 00:44:13.500 --> 00:44:14.559 except that the Father 00:44:14.559 --> 00:44:15.179 and the Son 00:44:15.179 --> 00:44:16.059 and the Holy Spirit 00:44:16.059 --> 00:44:17.000 have delighted 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:18.740 to reveal 00:44:18.740 --> 00:44:20.179 God's truth 00:44:20.179 --> 00:44:20.940 to us. 00:44:20.940 --> 00:44:23.659 rejoice. 00:44:24.179 --> 00:44:25.059 Your names are written 00:44:25.059 --> 00:44:25.500 in heaven. 00:44:25.860 --> 00:44:26.320 Rejoice. 00:44:26.740 --> 00:44:28.679 God has revealed 00:44:28.679 --> 00:44:29.340 His truth to you. 00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:29.960 Rejoice. 00:44:30.740 --> 00:44:31.720 Verse 23 and 24 00:44:31.720 --> 00:44:32.420 that the fulfillment 00:44:32.420 --> 00:44:33.579 of the ages has come. 00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.480 Jesus says, 00:44:35.579 --> 00:44:36.420 you are seeing 00:44:36.420 --> 00:44:37.780 what people 00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:39.099 for generations 00:44:39.099 --> 00:44:40.679 have longed for 00:44:40.679 --> 00:44:41.800 and hoped for. 00:44:43.380 --> 00:44:44.519 When the wise men 00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:44.960 came 00:44:44.960 --> 00:44:45.960 and followed 00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:46.659 that star 00:44:46.659 --> 00:44:49.119 all the way 00:44:49.119 --> 00:44:49.700 to see 00:44:49.700 --> 00:44:50.920 the child Jesus, 00:44:50.940 --> 00:44:52.360 said, 00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:52.920 finally, 00:44:53.380 --> 00:44:54.440 after their long 00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:54.860 journey, 00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:55.800 the star stopped 00:44:55.800 --> 00:44:56.559 over the place 00:44:56.559 --> 00:44:57.639 where the child lay. 00:44:58.099 --> 00:44:58.900 And when they saw 00:44:58.900 --> 00:44:59.639 the star, 00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:00.340 it says, 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:01.320 they rejoiced 00:45:01.320 --> 00:45:02.720 exceedingly 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:04.619 with great joy. 00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:09.720 Because they had seen 00:45:09.720 --> 00:45:10.440 the one 00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:12.320 that people had been 00:45:12.320 --> 00:45:12.800 waiting for 00:45:12.800 --> 00:45:13.460 for years. 00:45:14.960 --> 00:45:16.099 Do we realize 00:45:16.099 --> 00:45:17.340 what a privilege it is 00:45:17.340 --> 00:45:20.340 to live on this side 00:45:20.340 --> 00:45:20.360 to live on this side 00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:22.360 of Jesus coming 00:45:22.360 --> 00:45:22.900 to earth 00:45:22.900 --> 00:45:24.160 and dying on the cross 00:45:24.160 --> 00:45:24.680 for our sins 00:45:24.680 --> 00:45:25.720 and rising from the dead 00:45:25.720 --> 00:45:26.680 and we can look back 00:45:26.680 --> 00:45:27.079 on that 00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:27.720 and see 00:45:27.720 --> 00:45:29.500 God is faithful 00:45:29.500 --> 00:45:31.240 to His promises. 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:33.260 God has done 00:45:33.260 --> 00:45:34.760 exactly what we need. 00:45:36.380 --> 00:45:37.700 And we can see it. 00:45:38.100 --> 00:45:39.000 Other people just had 00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:40.019 to take God's word 00:45:40.019 --> 00:45:40.500 for it 00:45:40.500 --> 00:45:41.420 and trust that it would 00:45:41.420 --> 00:45:42.240 happen in the future. 00:45:42.440 --> 00:45:43.660 And we can look back 00:45:43.659 --> 00:45:44.259 and see 00:45:44.259 --> 00:45:46.079 it has happened. 00:45:47.879 --> 00:45:48.399 That's 00:45:48.399 --> 00:45:49.079 a reason 00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:49.799 to rejoice. 00:45:52.639 --> 00:45:53.599 Brothers and sisters, 00:45:53.739 --> 00:45:54.859 whatever the journey 00:45:54.859 --> 00:45:56.440 that you are on 00:45:56.440 --> 00:45:57.359 in this new year, 00:45:58.239 --> 00:45:59.199 may God fill 00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:00.460 us with humility, 00:46:00.960 --> 00:46:01.299 confidence, 00:46:01.519 --> 00:46:01.980 and joy. 00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:03.139 Let's pray. 00:46:09.139 --> 00:46:09.779 Father, 00:46:09.839 --> 00:46:10.500 we thank You 00:46:10.500 --> 00:46:13.260 that You 00:46:13.260 --> 00:46:13.760 have delighted 00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:16.019 to reveal Yourself 00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:18.239 to us 00:46:18.239 --> 00:46:18.739 through Your Son, 00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:19.420 Jesus Christ. 00:46:21.420 --> 00:46:22.059 We pray 00:46:22.059 --> 00:46:22.480 that You would 00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:22.780 shape 00:46:22.780 --> 00:46:23.940 our character, 00:46:25.400 --> 00:46:26.900 that we would 00:46:26.900 --> 00:46:27.380 become 00:46:27.380 --> 00:46:28.480 more and more 00:46:28.480 --> 00:46:29.599 people of humility 00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:32.059 before You, 00:46:32.219 --> 00:46:33.460 people with confidence 00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:35.179 in the face 00:46:35.179 --> 00:46:36.139 of acceptance 00:46:36.139 --> 00:46:37.000 or rejection 00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:37.820 and above all 00:46:37.820 --> 00:46:38.679 people of joy. 00:46:38.679 --> 00:46:41.419 people who rejoice 00:46:41.419 --> 00:46:43.679 in the things 00:46:43.679 --> 00:46:46.199 that cannot be 00:46:46.199 --> 00:46:47.239 taken away from us, 00:46:47.759 --> 00:46:48.699 that our names 00:46:48.699 --> 00:46:49.000 are written 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:49.639 in Your book, 00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:51.859 that You've 00:46:51.859 --> 00:46:53.239 opened our eyes 00:46:53.239 --> 00:46:53.980 to see You 00:46:53.980 --> 00:46:55.199 and delight in You, 00:46:56.359 --> 00:46:58.960 and that the 00:46:58.960 --> 00:46:59.759 fulfillment of the ages 00:46:59.759 --> 00:47:00.299 has come. 00:47:03.339 --> 00:47:03.779 Lord, 00:47:03.879 --> 00:47:04.399 fill us with all 00:47:04.399 --> 00:47:04.940 that we need 00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:06.919 to be Your messengers, 00:47:07.119 --> 00:47:07.759 Your representatives, 00:47:07.940 --> 00:47:08.500 Your disciples, 00:47:08.679 --> 00:47:10.440 in this year to come, 00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:11.480 we pray in Jesus' name. 00:47:11.819 --> 00:47:12.059 Amen.