WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:06.560 Are we well? Yeah, we're a bit sleepy, aren't we? Great to be here this morning. Why don't 00:00:06.560 --> 00:00:10.679 we just pause as we come to God's Word this morning and let's pray and let's ask that 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:14.540 He'd be so kind and gracious to us and that He would speak to us this morning. Let's pray 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:23.240 together. Dear Father, as we turn to Your Word now, our prayer is that You would capture 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:29.839 our hearts with the all-surpassing greatness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. And would You fill 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:36.500 our hearts, Lord, maybe even for the first time this morning, for a fresh, with a fresh 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:42.960 love for Him and a desire to know Him more. And so it's in His name that we pray these 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:50.379 things. Amen. Well, I wonder if there's anyone here this morning and you have a phobia of something. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:57.039 According to phobialist.com, there is actually such a thing as that website. There are 530 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.320 official recognized phobias. Now, I learned of a new one this week. It's on the screen. 00:01:03.379 --> 00:01:11.480 It's called Me-phobia. And it's the fear of becoming so great that the world is no longer 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:17.400 able to handle you. Now, just in case you wondered whether that is actually a real phobia, really 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:22.280 it's a tongue-in-cheek way of telling somebody that they're a little bit proud. It's not a term 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:27.280 you use of yourself. It's a term that you use of someone else to tell them that they're a little 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:32.980 bit proud. Well, what we're going to see this morning is we're going to see Jesus at a meal. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:39.140 And at this meal, He's going to interact with some people who have come down with a serious dose 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:46.680 of me-phobia. So, would you like to grab a Bible and turn to Luke chapter 14? That's where we are this 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:51.760 morning. And as you're turning there, let me get you up to speed with where we're going this morning. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:57.680 If you remember last week, Alistair helped us see the big question of this new section of Luke's 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:06.939 gospel. Jesus has been speaking about His kingdom, this upside-down kingdom, where the first are last 00:02:06.939 --> 00:02:15.900 and the last are first. This kingdom that is full of followers, not of fans. And it's a kingdom that's 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:19.759 full of people. And so the question that we've got to be asking ourselves in this section of Luke's 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:27.019 gospel is, what are the marks of this kingdom people? What does the people of Jesus' kingdom, 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:31.879 what do they look like? What are they characterized by? Well, here's what we're going to see this 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:40.239 morning. Is it humility? Is it the heart of the kingdom? And now here's the warning before we dive 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:48.120 into these verses, that Jesus is going to go after your heart this morning. He's going to probe, 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:52.439 and He's going to search, and He's going to expose, and He's going to challenge, and He's going to 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:58.640 transform your heart. Why is He going to do that? Because that's what He does. That our God loves us 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:04.959 too much to see us stay the way we are. So if you're here this morning, and you wouldn't call 00:03:04.959 --> 00:03:09.899 yourself a Christian, and we love that you're here. We absolutely love that you're here. You're so 00:03:09.899 --> 00:03:16.039 welcome. But Jesus is going after your heart this morning, because He wants you to come to know Him. 00:03:17.359 --> 00:03:21.759 If you are a Christian here this morning, then Jesus is going to go after your heart, because God, 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:28.179 your Father is committed to the business of transforming you, His child, day after day after 00:03:28.179 --> 00:03:36.319 day after day more into the likeness of His Son. So Jesus, in these verses, is going to go after your 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:43.639 heart this morning. What I want us to see as we work our way through is that there are two confessions 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:50.159 at the heart of a humble heart. Two confessions that we'll see that these men that we meet this 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:56.139 morning. Two confessions that they don't have, and two confessions that Luke is telling us, as the 00:03:56.139 --> 00:04:01.800 readers, that we need to have. So Luke 14, let's just read it together from verse 1. 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:12.800 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:19.620 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:25.860 Pharisees and experts in the law, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? But they remained silent. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:33.540 So, taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Then he asked him, 00:04:33.840 --> 00:04:39.780 if one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately 00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:47.879 pull it out? And they had nothing to say. When he noticed how the guests picked the places of 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:53.439 honour at the table, he told him this parable. When someone invites you to a wedding feast, 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:59.019 do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:05.519 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, give this person your seat. 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:11.579 Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:18.180 But when you're invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:24.800 friend, move up to a better place. Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:33.399 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:39.879 Then Jesus said to his hosts, when you give a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends, 00:05:40.039 --> 00:05:46.519 your brothers or sisters, your relatives or your rich neighbours. If you do, then they may invite you 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:53.199 back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, 00:05:54.000 --> 00:06:01.779 the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:09.259 at the resurrection of the righteous. Amen. And I'm sure God will bless the reading of his holy words 00:06:09.259 --> 00:06:18.659 this morning. So here's confession number one, verses one to six of chapter 14 of a humble heart. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:26.519 Jesus, you are right and I am wrong. So come with me. Verse one, Jesus is at a meal. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:34.180 So this ruler of the Pharisees has invited Jesus to join him and his Pharisee buddies at dinner. 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:40.579 And Jesus accepts. Now from everything that we've seen in Luke's gospel so far, 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:47.379 we may well have expected Jesus to say, dine with you guys? Are you kidding me? 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:56.800 I've actually got some paint at home that I need to watch dry on the wall. But Jesus goes. He goes to 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:04.399 this meal. Why does he go? Because he's concerned about the hearts of these men. But Luke lets us know. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:08.839 Do you see in the text that this was no olive branch invitation from the Pharisees to Jesus? 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:15.259 What are they doing? They're watching him carefully. And as if by magic, verse two, 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:20.899 behold, behold, says Luke, that's meant to get our attention. Behold, this man with dropsy appears in 00:07:20.899 --> 00:07:29.579 front of him. This man suffering from intense swelling. And because of his suffering, he would 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:37.500 have been rendered unclean and he would not have been allowed to enter the temple. And yet this man 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:44.519 just happens to show up at dinner at the ruling Pharisee's house. I'm not buying it. This is a sting 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:49.719 operation. This man has been planted there quite deliberately by the Pharisees. Notice when? 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:59.859 On the Sabbath to get a reaction from Jesus. No small talk at this arrival from this dinner. No mood 00:07:59.859 --> 00:08:06.439 music to create an ambiance. This dinner party has well and truly kicked off. Jesus, knowing the 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:11.719 intentions of these men, he responds with his own words. Do you see verse four? 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:21.780 Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not? Genius. Genius. Here's why it's genius. If they say yes, 00:08:22.640 --> 00:08:29.220 then having Jesus there but forbidding him to heal is lacking compassion and mercy. And if they say no, 00:08:29.460 --> 00:08:34.060 then they risk admitting that they were wrong the whole time, dividing themselves and having their 00:08:34.060 --> 00:08:40.899 whole organization and manner of life questioned. Genius question. Checkmate move from Jesus. 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:53.919 See how they respond. They remained silent. And in passing, notice the quite distasteful way that 00:08:53.919 --> 00:09:02.399 they are treating this man. Like he, this human being who has been so beautifully and wonderfully made in 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:07.799 the image of his creator God, this human being is some kind of fodder for their spectator sport. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:13.059 They have no love for this man. They have no compassion for this man. 00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:22.199 But Jesus does. And the funny thing is, is what the Pharisees did in using this man as a pawn in their scheme. 00:09:22.439 --> 00:09:28.359 Best thing that ever happened to him. Jesus touched him. Do you see Jesus again getting involved in their 00:09:28.359 --> 00:09:34.639 lives, these messy lives? Jesus touched him and he healed him and he sends him away. Just like that. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:44.279 Verse 5. Jesus isn't done. Which one of you? Again, do you feel the language? Which one of you? He speaks to them. 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:51.580 Having a son or an ox which has fallen into a ditch won't pull him out. Answer none of them. 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:59.960 Verse 6. They have nothing to say. Nothing to say. Pin drop in this moment. 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:07.540 And here's what we need to see. The Pharisees at this point, instead of waving the white flag 00:10:07.540 --> 00:10:13.780 and saying, you win Jesus, you were right, they cannot bring themselves to say, 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:21.700 Jesus, you are right and we are wrong. Now why? Do they have an intellectual problem that Jesus is saying here? 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:26.400 No. They cannot say it because of the stubbornness in their own hearts. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:30.459 And because of the stubbornness in their own hearts, they will not budge. 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:35.120 The confession of their hearts for no other reason than their own pride 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:37.819 is that Jesus, we are right 00:10:37.819 --> 00:10:39.559 and you are wrong. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:45.740 And as Luke invites us in, as he tells us about this incident in Luke 14, 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:48.360 he's saying, this is what a kingdom heart 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.579 doesn't look like. 00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:54.259 So what is the state of your heart this morning before our Lord? 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:57.799 What is the state of your heart this morning before Jesus? 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.559 Do you see yourself in these men? 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:02.059 Are you here this morning? 00:11:02.819 --> 00:11:04.659 And for no other reason than your own pride, 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:09.759 you will not raise the white flag in surrender to Jesus. 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:14.319 Now could this morning be the first day 00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:18.860 where you render submission to this King? 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:21.620 Jesus, you are king 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:23.200 and you are right 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.480 and I am not. 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.779 But let me ask you, 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:29.680 maybe you are here this morning 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:30.480 and you're thinking to yourself, 00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.620 listen, I've made that confession. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.060 I made that confession when I was six. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.779 Let me ask you, 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:38.279 is that confession 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:39.820 day by day, 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.159 hour after hour, 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.259 minute after minute, 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:43.700 is it working its way 00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:44.740 through your life? 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.159 Jesus, you are right. 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.439 You are right 00:11:48.439 --> 00:11:49.120 and I am wrong. 00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.159 Now let me show you 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:51.959 what I mean by this. 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:53.120 Our little girl, 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:53.860 Chloe at the minute, 00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:55.539 she's really into climbing, 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:57.740 just loves climbing. 00:11:58.100 --> 00:11:58.860 And in our flat, 00:11:58.919 --> 00:11:59.919 we've got a toy box 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:01.759 and she loves to climb 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:02.860 on top of that toy box 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:03.620 but the only thing 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.079 that we know 00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:04.899 that she doesn't know 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:05.899 is that when she presses up 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:06.740 against the glass, 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:08.459 that there's a 15 foot drop 00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:08.919 the other side 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:10.039 of that single pane glass 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:11.059 and she would probably 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:11.740 go to her death. 00:12:13.339 --> 00:12:13.579 Chloe, 00:12:13.699 --> 00:12:14.879 come down from the toy box. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:15.179 Chloe, 00:12:15.319 --> 00:12:16.500 come down from the toy box. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:16.980 Again, 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:17.899 and again, 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:18.759 and again, 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:19.340 and again. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.500 The other day she did it. 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:22.139 She climbed on the toy box. 00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:22.460 Chloe, 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:22.960 sweetheart, 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:23.700 please come down 00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:24.460 off the toy box. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:26.139 So she looks me 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:26.759 right in the eye 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.100 and she proceeds 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.960 to slowly come down 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.700 on the toy box. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.340 She leaves her right leg up. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.120 And it's one of the 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.960 surreal moments in life 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.700 when you're looking at her 00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:37.899 thinking, 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.139 I'm having a showdown 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:40.259 with my two-year-old daughter. 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:42.580 Where have you learned 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:43.240 this stuff? 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.440 And why are you good 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:45.179 at this stuff? 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:46.839 But the confession 00:12:46.839 --> 00:12:47.519 of her heart 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.139 in that moment, 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:49.479 Dad, 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:51.859 you're kind of right. 00:12:53.359 --> 00:12:53.759 Dad, 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:54.579 you're kind of right. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:55.579 And because you're 00:12:55.579 --> 00:12:56.219 kind of right, 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:58.159 I'm going to offer you 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.419 semi-obedience. 00:13:01.099 --> 00:13:02.259 A kingdom heart, 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:02.959 one that says, 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:03.239 Jesus, 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:03.879 you are right 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:05.019 and I am wrong, 00:13:05.359 --> 00:13:06.299 does not offer him 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:07.179 semi-obedience. 00:13:08.479 --> 00:13:09.179 Is there an area 00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:09.819 of your life 00:13:09.819 --> 00:13:10.699 where right now 00:13:10.699 --> 00:13:11.500 you've still got 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.159 your right leg 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.959 on the toy box? 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.299 Think about your own 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:14.860 life for a minute. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.480 You know what God 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:17.339 has said in his words. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.480 You know what an 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.659 honoring life 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.219 to Jesus 00:13:21.219 --> 00:13:22.279 looks like. 00:13:22.339 --> 00:13:23.019 And you may not be 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.939 like these Pharisees 00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:24.799 who will 100% 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:25.519 not budge. 00:13:26.819 --> 00:13:27.439 Let me ask you 00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:27.860 in your life 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.439 right now, 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.240 is there an area 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.240 where you 20% 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:31.860 won't budge? 00:13:32.699 --> 00:13:33.419 Is there an area 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:33.899 of your life 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:34.740 where you 10% 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.480 won't move? 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:37.860 in your relationships, 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:40.279 in your conduct 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.860 at work, 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:42.720 in your speech, 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:43.200 the way that you 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:43.940 speak about people, 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:44.659 in the way that you 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.420 use your money, 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.039 in the way that you 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.100 use your free time, 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.159 in your dreams, 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:49.019 in your aspirations 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:50.259 for your own life. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.480 A kingdom heart 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.700 does not 80% 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.659 submit to him. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:55.899 A kingdom heart 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:57.080 does not 90% 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:58.080 conform to his word. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.039 A kingdom heart 00:13:59.039 --> 00:13:59.720 offers Jesus 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:01.120 100% devotion. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.639 That's a kingdom heart. 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:06.700 Humility 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:08.320 is at the heart 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.080 of the kingdom. 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.259 Confession number one. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:12.639 Jesus, 00:14:13.420 --> 00:14:14.759 you are right 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:16.200 and I am wrong. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.759 Here's confession number two, 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:20.019 verses 7 to 14 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:21.279 of chapter 14. 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:21.720 Jesus, 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:23.360 you are first 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.800 and I am last. 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.080 Verse seven, 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.700 we're back at this 00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.240 dinner party. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.100 I'm sure the atmosphere 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.960 would have been at this point 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.740 a bit frosty, 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:33.360 but mercifully, 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.320 it's time for folks 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.000 to take their seats 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.399 for the meal. 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:36.460 Now we might not get 00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:37.259 the full force, 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:37.700 no sorry, 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.800 to get the full force 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:40.120 of what Jesus is saying here, 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.899 we need to understand 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.940 a bit about 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:43.899 how a meal worked 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:44.820 in the first century. 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:46.600 The table would have been 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.500 shaped something 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.180 like a U 00:14:48.180 --> 00:14:49.720 and the host 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.180 would have sat 00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:50.840 at the bottom 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:51.980 of the U. 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.360 And so the position 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:53.840 of honour 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.800 at one of these meals 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:56.259 was on the immediate left 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.420 or the immediate right 00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:58.639 of the host. 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.420 You can understand 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:01.539 the closer to the host 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.279 that you sat, 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:03.100 the more important 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.300 you were considered 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.919 to be. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.620 And the flip side 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.419 is also true, 00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:08.519 that the further away 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.019 from the host 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.539 you sat, 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:10.799 the less important 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.379 you were considered 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:11.819 to be. 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.599 So what does Jesus 00:15:13.599 --> 00:15:14.359 do at this meal? 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.419 He just hangs back, 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.339 he watches this 00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:17.939 all unfold. 00:15:18.719 --> 00:15:19.819 He watches these men, 00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:21.219 probably elbows and all, 00:15:21.719 --> 00:15:22.459 battle their way 00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:23.159 to the top. 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.079 Battle their way 00:15:25.079 --> 00:15:25.879 to be top dog. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.639 You can imagine them, 00:15:26.719 --> 00:15:27.000 can't you? 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.799 One man so obviously 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.639 coming in and hanging 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.759 his coat really obviously 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.980 over the right hand seat. 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.519 Another man coming in 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.120 and getting a cup 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.220 and putting big letters, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.820 Mark a pen, 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.019 Bob slamming it down, 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:36.799 that's his seat. 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.340 They want these seats. 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.220 And Jesus, 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.399 observing all this going on, 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.279 tells them a parable 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.100 at verse 8. 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.659 About a wedding feast. 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.080 Now we might not 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:49.740 immediately click 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.620 with the U-shaped table, 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.360 but we do click 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.419 with the wedding feast. 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.840 You know what it's like 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:56.200 the moment when it comes 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:56.920 to dinner time. 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.440 You go in to the hall, 00:15:58.500 --> 00:15:59.139 what do you see? 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.440 You see the seating plan. 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:02.980 Now we don't normally 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.040 have a ranking order, 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:06.180 but we do have a top table. 00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:08.440 And close to the front 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.100 normally comes 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.379 the close family members 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.040 and other members 00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:11.980 of the wedding party. 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.639 And if you made it 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.240 onto the list 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.620 as a plus one afterthought, 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.500 you're probably 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.440 somewhere at the back. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:18.780 Jesus, 00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.900 as he watches these men 00:16:19.900 --> 00:16:20.780 jostle for position, 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.780 he speaks to them 00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:23.160 and he appeals to their sense 00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:24.360 of knowing what a wedding feast 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:24.899 is like. 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.060 Would it not be better, 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.759 says Jesus, 00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:30.240 if instead of presumptuously 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:31.460 racing to the top 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.080 of the table 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.080 and taking your seat 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:34.039 next to the bride 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.500 before being confronted 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.560 by an angry groom 00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.120 who tells you 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.620 to take the walk of shame 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.840 to the lowest place 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.500 and there's no other seats 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.120 left in the house 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:42.980 because all the other guests 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.600 have taken them 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.860 and you're humiliated, 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.060 would it not be better 00:16:46.060 --> 00:16:48.680 if you took the lowest seat 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:49.399 in the house 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:51.399 and the groom came over 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:51.980 and said to you, 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.600 dear friend, 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.500 you don't deserve 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.159 to be here, 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.179 come on up. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.080 What are you? 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.539 You're honoured 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.720 in front of all the guests. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.820 Publicly honoured 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.080 because you were bumped up 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.160 rather than downgraded. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.140 You ever had that experience 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.039 on a flight before? 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.579 Remember when we were young? 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.140 My dad, 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.099 we've got two brothers, 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.099 my dad always used to make us 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.000 dress really smart 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.240 because of this reason. 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.220 But you know what? 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.960 We laugh at him, 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:20.720 one time he absolutely nailed it. 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:23.039 And I remember that moment 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.259 as we got onto the plane 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.980 instinctively, 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.559 what do you do? 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.140 You go right? 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.920 No, no, no, sir. 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:27.779 Show me your ticket. 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:29.160 Hey, you're going left. 00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:31.480 The thing about these men 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.539 is they have walked in 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.400 and they have presumptuously 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.779 assumed that they're going left 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:37.660 when in actual fact 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.339 they should be going right. 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.640 Now what's Jesus getting at? 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.920 He's not interested in seats. 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.039 He's getting at the heart. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.920 What's going on 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.319 in the hearts of these men? 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:50.399 I need to get ahead. 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.539 I need to be in the spotlight. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.319 I need to be recognized. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.619 And Jesus looks at them 00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:59.700 and he lays out the principle 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:01.159 of his kingdom at verse 11. 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.019 If you want to be humbled, 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.379 go right ahead and exalt yourself. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.259 If you want to be exalted, 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:11.519 then go right ahead 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.420 and humble yourself. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:16.080 Humility is at the heart 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.400 of the kingdom. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.740 C.S. Lewis, 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.019 humility is not thinking 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:22.060 less of yourself. 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:24.259 It's thinking of yourself less. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.620 Jesus then proceeds 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.980 to talk to the host of the party. 00:18:29.100 --> 00:18:29.519 Do you see it? 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.120 Verse 12. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.259 I'll be honest, 00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:32.279 I'm amazed he's even still 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.580 at this party at this point. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.640 He's offended the guests. 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.800 He's at a pop at their habits. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.480 And here he is talking to the host. 00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.640 What does he say? 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.840 Can I make a few observations 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:41.820 about your invite list? 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.380 Can I see the names? 00:18:43.560 --> 00:18:44.259 Can I see the names? 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.120 The only people 00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:47.039 that you tend to invite 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.640 to these things 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.380 are the people 00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:49.160 who are in a position 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.560 to give you something back. 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.220 When was the last time, 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.100 when was the last time 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:55.279 that you invited somebody 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.940 to one of your parties 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:58.740 who had absolutely nothing 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.440 that they could give you 00:18:59.440 --> 00:18:59.820 in return? 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.039 No connections, 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:04.160 no prestige, 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.600 no glitz and glamour. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.480 In particular, 00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:06.980 if you're struggling 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.660 to picture them, 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.340 the crippled, 00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.700 the lame, 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.120 the blind. 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:10.000 Those who have literally 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.680 got nothing 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.720 to give you back 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.220 in return. 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.860 Now I doubt that this man 00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:15.460 has ever, 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.640 ever done that 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.900 in his life. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.700 But here's the crux of it. 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.320 Why should he? 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:23.060 Why should he? 00:19:23.060 --> 00:19:23.160 I mean, 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.779 who's this guy, 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.100 Jesus? 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.920 He just rocks up 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.380 and tells me 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.420 how to run my life. 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.720 Why should he? 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.980 Because he's at the heart 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.779 of who God is, 00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:32.600 right at the heart 00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:33.720 of who our Savior is. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.400 And it's at the heart 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.039 of the gospel. 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.779 The God who simply, 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.120 because he is gracious, 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.160 welcomes the unclean 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.519 to come and dine with him. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.759 Because a heart of humility 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.819 sees oneself 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.740 not as the giver 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.559 of the invitation, 00:19:50.100 --> 00:19:50.980 but as the recipient 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.860 of the invitation. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.460 And a recipient 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.120 who knows 00:19:54.120 --> 00:19:54.740 that we cannot 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.360 ever possibly 00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.819 fully repay God, 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.440 our host. 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.220 And we are simply 00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.839 at his table 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.160 because of his free grace. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:04.580 We are the crippled, 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.360 the lame, 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.360 and the blind. 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.480 And this is 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.740 who our God is. 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.279 And Jesus, 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.320 in the wider context 00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.040 of Luke's gospel, 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.840 is on his way 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.580 to the cross 00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.720 to make a way 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.680 for his people 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.960 not to be at God's table 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.240 simply as an afterthought, 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.620 but to be at God's table 00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:21.019 as his adopted sons 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.680 and daughters. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.660 The gospel is incredible 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.759 and we see it right here 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.580 in Luke 14. 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:28.720 This is how 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.560 the kingdom works. 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:31.899 And this is how 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.940 kingdom people think. 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.599 And Jesus is here 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.700 saying to this man 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:38.119 that there is a direct link 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.339 between how you operate 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.440 and how you treat others 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:41.960 and how you think 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.980 and perceive 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.279 God has treated you. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:47.319 The second confession 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.119 of a kingdom heart, 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.480 Jesus, 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.839 you are first 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.720 and I am last. 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.740 As we seek to apply 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.359 this to our lives, 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:56.899 let me just bring 00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.679 one challenge 00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:59.019 and one observation. 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.779 As we work to a close. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:01.839 Firstly, 00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:02.500 the challenge. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.720 This confession 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.799 of Jesus, 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.379 you first 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.099 and me last. 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.019 It needs to work 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:11.039 through every single 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.559 aspect of our lives. 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.919 It needs to work 00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:15.539 in our wallets, 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:15.839 Jesus, 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.399 you first, 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:16.980 I'm last. 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:17.819 It needs to work 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.619 in our schedules, 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.220 our weeks, 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:19.559 Jesus, 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.179 you first, 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.819 me last. 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.139 It needs to work 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.919 in our priorities, 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.319 Jesus, 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:23.859 you first, 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.279 me last. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.220 It needs to work 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:26.019 through our dreams 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.659 and ambitions 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.139 that we have 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.099 for our own lives, 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.399 Jesus, 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.259 you first 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.899 and me last. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.740 Submitting to Jesus 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:35.419 and willfully 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:36.319 bringing ourselves 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:38.059 to say, 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.079 Jesus, 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.319 you first 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:43.079 and me last. 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:46.679 my prayer this week 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:48.299 has just been, 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:48.539 Lord, 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.099 would you help me 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:49.899 take my eyes 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:50.559 off myself? 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.259 Help me take 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.339 my eyes off myself. 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.079 Would you help me 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.980 to be more aware 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.679 of people? 00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:59.859 People in the church, 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.319 but people outside 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.319 the church as well. 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.199 The staff who look 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:05.899 after my girls 00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:06.460 at nursery, 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.059 the shop assistant 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.879 who serves me 00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:10.480 at Tesco. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.839 Father, 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.480 would you help me 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.079 see that these 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.759 people are not 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.880 just here to serve 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.319 me, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.200 that these are 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.279 people who you've 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.599 put in my path 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:19.579 deliberately, 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.519 and would you help 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.279 me have a heart 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.140 that takes a loving 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.180 interest in these 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.299 people and wants 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.160 to serve them? 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:25.880 Why? 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.000 Because that's what 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.700 you've done for me. 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.099 You are so good 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.400 to me, 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:30.640 Lord. 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.539 So let me ask you, 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:33.920 is there people 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.500 in your life 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.220 that you can think 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.500 of? 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:36.940 How is this going 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.400 to play out 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.019 in your own life? 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.019 Jesus, you first, 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.519 your agenda first, 00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:41.720 your kingdom first, 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.299 me last. 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.839 That's the challenge. 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.700 Here's the encouragement. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.119 I see a lot of you 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:48.639 doing this. 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:51.299 I see a lot of you 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.859 doing this. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.920 The way that some of you 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.819 serve one another 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.980 so sacrificially, 00:22:57.379 --> 00:22:58.339 the way that some of you, 00:22:58.359 --> 00:22:59.660 I see it behind the scenes, 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.740 you give up your time, 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.000 the way that some of you 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.599 practically care and love 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.339 for other people, 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.359 and you get nothing 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:05.939 in return. 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.719 Accept the thought 00:23:09.719 --> 00:23:11.419 and truth in your mind 00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:12.899 that I'm living 00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.879 for the last day 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:15.259 when I will meet 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.599 my Savior face to face 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.719 and he will say to me, 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.559 well done, 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:20.039 good and faithful servant, 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.740 which I presume 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.259 in the language 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:24.019 of this passage here 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:25.879 means when you'll be 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:27.359 exalted at the resurrection 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.079 of the just. 00:23:28.979 --> 00:23:29.759 That's what some of you 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.240 are living for. 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.779 I see it, 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.699 and it's inspirational. 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.099 And is it not 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.899 a wonderful witness 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.559 as we do this 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.339 as a church family? 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.399 Is it not a wonderful witness 00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.639 to the watching world 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:40.619 of the truth 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.259 of the gospel? 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.500 That Jesus 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:45.219 is alive 00:23:45.219 --> 00:23:46.899 and by his Spirit 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:48.219 the Father lives 00:23:48.219 --> 00:23:48.779 in the hearts 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.459 of his people? 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.579 That I want people 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.119 from the outside 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:53.319 to look into my life 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:53.839 individually 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.480 and to look into 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.599 our lives corporately 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.759 and say that there is 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.539 no explanation 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.299 for how those people 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.079 love one another 00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.079 except that the gospel 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.599 is true. 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:03.339 humility 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:05.099 is at the heart 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.219 of the kingdom. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.279 Humility 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.199 is at the heart 00:24:09.199 --> 00:24:10.039 of the kingdom. 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.039 Two confessions 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:13.019 of a humble heart. 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.299 Jesus, 00:24:14.439 --> 00:24:14.980 you're right 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:16.519 and I'm wrong 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:18.219 and Jesus, 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:18.980 you're first 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.639 and I'm last. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.859 We started out 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:25.099 joking about me-phobia. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.639 I hope you've seen 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.199 as we've journeyed 00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:28.619 through this 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.099 that Jesus, 00:24:29.419 --> 00:24:30.439 well Luke is telling us 00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:31.399 that Jesus' kingdom 00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.500 is completely opposite. 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.139 What does a kingdom 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:35.979 heart look like? 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:37.099 What does it mean 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.459 to have these confessions 00:24:38.459 --> 00:24:39.099 at the heart 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.759 of your heart? 00:24:40.979 --> 00:24:41.659 Well as we close 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:42.359 let me just tell you 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:42.799 a story 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.159 of a minister 00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:44.799 from Glasgow 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.719 named John Harper. 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:46.939 It was great, 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.759 we were talking about him 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.099 this week 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.799 in our home group. 00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:51.359 1912, 00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:52.039 he's on his way 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.839 with his six-year-old 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.859 daughter to Chicago 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:55.839 to speak at the famous 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.899 Moody Church. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.939 Now it was rumored 00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.559 that he went, 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.380 they invited him 00:24:59.380 --> 00:24:59.840 to speak 00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:00.600 because they had him 00:25:00.600 --> 00:25:01.100 down as being 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:01.920 their next minister. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.500 Now that's a wonderful 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.380 life opportunity, 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.559 that is a wonderful 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.500 career progression, 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.039 especially since 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.620 this church 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.620 had just experienced 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:11.019 a time of great revival. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.660 And in April 1912, 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.759 they set sail 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.440 for America 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.440 along with thousands 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.900 of others 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.820 on board the Titanic. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.600 The iceberg hits 00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:24.420 and John Harper's 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:25.160 first thought 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.039 is not, 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.139 what of my job, 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.599 his first thought 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.460 is what of these 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.440 people on this boat 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.139 who do not know 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:31.759 Jesus Christ 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.180 as the Lord, 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.920 King and Saviour. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.159 Sees his daughter 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:37.059 onto the lifeboat, 00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:38.240 makes sure that she's safe. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.200 Then not only does he 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.339 not get on the lifeboat, 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.059 but he takes off 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.779 his life jacket 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.619 and he hands it 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.519 to someone else, 00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:45.680 saying, 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.220 you need this 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.740 more than me. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.159 And the ship 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:50.639 goes down, 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.440 he finds himself 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.319 in icy waters 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.299 and he comes across 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.039 this young man. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.799 Do you know Jesus, 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.240 young man? 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.759 He says. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.259 And I don't, 00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.079 replies the man. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.680 And they drift apart. 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:01.779 A little while later, 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.920 they drift together again. 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:04.099 Do you know Jesus yet? 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.879 Says John Harper 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.639 to this young man. 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.139 No, I don't, 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.839 says this man. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.420 John Harper 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.379 sinks to his death. 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.019 Now, incredibly, 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.059 seven people 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.579 were hauled 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.480 from the icy waters 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.099 that night, 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.460 including 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.779 Anguilla Webb, 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.720 the young man 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.339 that John Harper 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.039 had spoken to 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.859 in the icy waters. 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.500 So he stands up 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.460 in his church at home 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.620 and he makes 00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.380 this confession. 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:25.860 He says, 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.480 there alone 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.200 in the night 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.259 and with two miles 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.559 of water underneath me, 00:26:29.840 --> 00:26:30.819 I first believed. 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:33.019 And I am John Harper's 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.700 last convert. 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:37.259 So in the face 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.900 of death 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.600 and drowning, 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.720 there is a man 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.319 who is concerned 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.259 for Jesus' kingdom, 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.700 not his own career. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.220 There is a man 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.220 who, 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.019 despite the fact 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.460 that he was about 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.299 to lose everything, 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.279 said that in Jesus, 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:52.079 I have everything. 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:54.539 two confessions 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.420 of a humble heart. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:55.740 Jesus, 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.360 you're right 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.559 and I'm wrong. 00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:58.819 Jesus, 00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.519 you're first 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.840 and I'm last. 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.200 Humility 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.640 is at the heart 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:04.539 of the kingdom. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.039 Just as we close 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.059 and just before we move on 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.940 with the rest of our service, 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.559 why don't we just 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.940 pause and let's have 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.799 a moment of reflection 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.759 and then I'll close 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.400 in prayer. 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:24.480 and maybe there's 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:24.860 someone here 00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:25.680 for the first time 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.259 this morning 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:28.320 convicted 00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:29.380 that you need to say 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.140 in your own life, 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:31.820 Jesus, 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.420 you're right 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.680 and I'm wrong. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:49.440 and so Father, 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.980 we thank you 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.460 for your word 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:50.980 this morning. 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.840 We ask, 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.180 dear God, 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.140 that you would help us 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.840 by your spirit 00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.839 to take our eyes 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:02.059 off of ourselves 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:04.939 and by your spirit 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:06.359 help us this week 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.319 to place them 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.419 and affix them 00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:09.619 on your son, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.519 Jesus Christ. 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.000 Would you help us 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.220 to be humble 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.319 like him? 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.480 And so this is our prayer, 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.179 dear Father, 00:28:18.679 --> 00:28:19.619 in Jesus' name. 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.500 Amen.