WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 For those of you who maybe haven't met Matt, he is our district minister. 00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:16.679 ! He gets to sometimes just pop into different churches in Saskatchewan and share what's going on with our wider church family. 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:27.820 But also offers often to share the word with us as a congregation, which is nice for me to get a break from doing that week after week and focus on other church responsibilities. 00:00:28.140 --> 00:00:30.759 So I want to welcome you here, Matt, and thank you for coming. 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:34.200 And we look forward to hearing what the Lord's laid on your heart. 00:00:34.899 --> 00:00:37.739 Thank you, Pastor Josh. It's always good to be here with you. 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:46.880 And, yeah, I can appreciate what Pastor Josh experiences when it comes to ministry and a young family. 00:00:48.740 --> 00:00:57.140 That's what it was kind of like for my wife and I in 1996 when we started at a church called Lake Park Baptist Church near Birch Hills. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.240 And it was a smaller church as well. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:10.420 Being a solo pastor, trying to do youth ministry and run different kinds of other ministries to chair different groups so that they were organized and so on. 00:01:10.540 --> 00:01:12.120 And it's a big, big role. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:15.280 So I appreciate what Pastor Josh and his family go through. 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:21.020 And that's why I, every once in a while, I call them up and say, how can I help? 00:01:21.099 --> 00:01:23.200 And if I can preach, that's one of the best things for me. 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:25.120 I have a hard time running a youth group these days. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:29.200 But anyway, we've done that for many years as well. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:33.379 So, okay, let's, I just would like to pray with you before I share. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.620 Father, I thank you so much for this time together here this morning. 00:01:36.740 --> 00:01:42.879 I thank you for the spirit of worship, the unity of this family of believers right here in this community. 00:01:43.520 --> 00:01:48.680 And, Lord, as we've had time to share together about requests that we have on our hearts, 00:01:48.780 --> 00:01:52.100 whether personally and then also for others, 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:58.700 Lord, we also want to remember the event that just took place here in Regina and this crusade. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:03.120 And just hearing of those that came forward for prayer. 00:02:04.060 --> 00:02:08.340 We don't know, really, every individual and why it was they came for prayer. 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:15.340 But for some, they came to respond to the call that came through the word, which was by your spirit. 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:20.939 And then also for those who maybe weren't living right and needed to rededicate their life. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:25.199 And that you shone by your spirit a light in their life. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:33.000 And you pinpointed things in their journey that they needed to organize, to deal with, and whatever it may be. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:38.419 And so I pray for each of those and those who were encouraged in that crusade. 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:43.479 And that you would use them for the furtherance of your gospel here in our province or wherever they came from. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:46.520 So I pray now that you would guide us as we open the scriptures. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:49.960 I pray your protection over your word. 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:54.659 That I would not say something, Lord, that would cause an issue with it. 00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:59.460 That you would guard my heart, my mind, and my lips. 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:02.419 And that you, Holy Spirit, would have full freedom to work. 00:03:02.859 --> 00:03:04.319 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:05.199 Amen. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:05.379 Amen. 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:07.459 Okay. 00:03:07.699 --> 00:03:11.280 We are going to be looking at John chapter 7 together this morning. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:17.560 And it's really interesting that as you're going to find out in just a moment, as I'm sharing this, 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:23.299 some of the requests that we heard from one another that we asked for prayer for, 00:03:23.839 --> 00:03:28.179 and how it will apply to what I'm going to be sharing with you. 00:03:28.239 --> 00:03:33.039 And I'll try to draw that in as we go through this passage together. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:36.979 Now, we're not going to look at the entire chapter of John 7. 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:42.399 We're going to look at the first part of the chapter, and then mainly at the last part, 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:46.579 and then a little bit of the verses in between to lead us and connect it all together. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:50.079 But I just want you to know, that's how I used to read books. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.519 I would read the first chapter and the last chapter. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:58.859 And then I would put my English assignment together an hour before it was supposed to be handed in. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:02.759 And so what we're going to be doing is reliving my past, okay? 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:06.419 So, no, not going to happen that way. 00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:12.099 Now, before we read this, I need to set the theme for you as to what is this chapter getting at. 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:21.099 In our day-to-day life, we experience what I would refer to as fences or lines. 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:26.400 And what I don't mean according to agricultural fences and that kind of thing. 00:04:26.460 --> 00:04:33.220 What I mean is there are lines or fences that people will either, they'll walk up to it, 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:35.280 and they'll say, I cannot cross. 00:04:36.140 --> 00:04:39.280 There's other people on the other side of the fence that are saying, come on over. 00:04:39.960 --> 00:04:43.680 And then there's those that are on the fence, and they're saying, I don't know what to do. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:51.139 And so you see that, for example, in, let's pick on politics, right? 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:54.780 You have people that are saying, we are all for this party. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.379 And somebody else will say, absolutely not. 00:04:58.460 --> 00:04:59.740 I am not for that party. 00:05:00.379 --> 00:05:02.699 And then there's others that will say, well, I'm kind of on the fence. 00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:03.079 I don't know. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:04.319 I like some of what they're saying. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:05.420 I don't like this part. 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:09.000 I don't know which way to go, but I'll just entertain both. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.180 Okay, so that just gives you an example of everyday life. 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:20.759 But this is also very practical when it comes to life with Jesus Christ or faith in Christ, 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:26.459 which we talked about and we've heard a little bit in this prayer time that we had prior to me coming up here and sharing with you. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:37.180 There's these moments in life, in our world, where people have definitely chosen which side of the fence they are on when it comes to Jesus. 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:40.379 There are those who say, absolutely not. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:42.420 I will not go there. 00:05:42.939 --> 00:05:46.500 There's others of, for example, you who are gathered here this morning. 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:49.199 I don't know where everybody's at in your spiritual journey. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:54.399 But for many of you, this is definitely, we are on the side of Jesus. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:58.160 And then there are those who are saying, well, I kind of like Jesus. 00:05:58.300 --> 00:05:59.220 I know what he's like. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:00.699 I just don't know which way to go. 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:02.740 I don't know if I should totally commit to him or not. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:08.460 So we're going to begin by reading the first five verses of John chapter 7. 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:10.579 And we're going to see how this comes together. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:13.420 So verse 1, starting there. 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:22.840 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:29.399 But when the Jewish feast of tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, 00:06:29.799 --> 00:06:35.359 you ought to leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:41.019 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. 00:06:41.479 --> 00:06:44.859 Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. 00:06:45.239 --> 00:06:48.759 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:53.759 Now the first thing we need to know when we're looking at these first five verses because it comes up, 00:06:54.159 --> 00:06:55.659 who are Jesus' brothers? 00:06:56.860 --> 00:07:00.920 We don't often think about Jesus' biological family. 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:05.319 We know he grew up like he grew up in a family. 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:09.180 We know that he was born of Mary, which we celebrate at Christmas, 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:15.699 his father being Joseph as far as his earthly father, not his father who brought him into this world. 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:19.659 But we know there is a family, but we don't think about, well, did he have brothers? 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:20.459 Did he have sisters? 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.379 Who were these people? 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.539 Well, in Matthew chapter 13, verse 55, it says, 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:30.539 Isn't this the carpenter's son? 00:07:31.539 --> 00:07:33.419 Isn't his mother's name Mary? 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:38.099 And aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 00:07:39.099 --> 00:07:42.860 Now that's not the Judas that would betray Jesus, by the way. 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:45.620 So these are Jesus' half-brothers. 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:48.139 Do you recognize any of those names? 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:51.139 You do, right? 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:54.360 There's some that are quite familiar. 00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:56.680 One being James. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:02.800 James was the one who wrote the epistle of James that you have in your scriptures right after Hebrews. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.379 He's one of the brothers that is spoken of in John chapter 7, 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:13.259 who at this point in his life did not believe in Jesus. 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:18.540 Oh, yeah, he knew Jesus was a real person. 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:22.620 Jesus talked and ate and, you know, he worked with the family. 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:26.180 He worked possibly with his father in the carpentry business and so on. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:32.919 But here is this James who would later write an epistle that you have in your scriptures. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.919 At this point, he did not believe. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.680 Now just a side note here. 00:08:40.060 --> 00:08:43.820 No one is born a follower of Jesus Christ. 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:47.460 Right? 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:51.240 No one's born as a follower of Christ. 00:08:51.680 --> 00:08:54.680 So you hear testimonies from time to time. 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:58.340 And, I mean, I heard so many of them pastoring in a church. 00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:02.860 People giving their testimony maybe before they were baptized or sharing their testimony 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:05.820 before they became a member of a church, of our church. 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:08.879 And they would say, I was born into a Christian family. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:15.720 And when I heard their testimony, just one-on-one, I'd say, can you please clarify what you mean by this? 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:19.139 Because no one is born a Christian. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:26.759 Just because you were born into a Christian family does not mean your faith comes out of your parents 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:28.860 or your grandparents. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:34.519 And there are so many people that live in this, in our world or in our province, 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:37.740 maybe even in your community, that if you were to ask them, 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:41.240 tell me a little bit about your spiritual heritage. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:44.759 Oh, you know, they would say, well, we attended this church. 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:49.200 And they would explain, you know, what church it was, what denomination it was. 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:51.539 And I grew up going to this church. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:53.799 You know, my family was very Christian. 00:09:53.980 --> 00:09:55.560 And I just did it that way. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:57.680 So, in other words, they're implying, I'm okay. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:01.259 Because I grew up with that kind of heritage. 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:08.480 Every single person on this planet is born without a personal relationship with Christ. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:13.720 And at some point must decide what are they going to do with Jesus. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:19.179 Even men like the Apostle James, who is actually a brother to Jesus, 00:10:19.299 --> 00:10:21.580 needed to make this decision for himself. 00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:23.740 No one is exempt. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.879 But there's something about James and his other brothers, 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:31.580 the other brothers of Jesus, that doesn't quite make sense. 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:35.100 They told Jesus in verse 3 and 4, 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:39.580 you ought to leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples, 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:41.460 okay, your disciples, 00:10:42.280 --> 00:10:45.060 James isn't saying, you know, me being one of them. 00:10:45.139 --> 00:10:48.900 He's saying, your disciples may see the miracles you do. 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:53.179 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:56.939 Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:03.579 Now, if verses 3 and 4 would have Jesus' brothers saying something like this, 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:06.039 we don't think you can do these miracles. 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:10.720 We hear that you're doing these kinds of things in the community or the communities around. 00:11:11.079 --> 00:11:13.419 We don't think that you can actually do these things. 00:11:13.579 --> 00:11:16.079 We don't want to be associated with you. 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:18.860 Do you realize, Jesus, you're embarrassing our family? 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:21.939 Like, cut it out. 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:30.539 No one, in their situation, 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:34.439 no one really wants to be a part of someone who's going out there 00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:40.000 and doing these wild and maybe even what they would think are strange things. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:46.240 Now, if Jesus' brothers would have said something like that, 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:50.519 then it would kind of make sense what we're reading in verses 3 and 4. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:52.659 But this is not the case. 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:56.360 Jesus' brothers believed that Jesus could do miracles. 00:11:56.740 --> 00:11:58.659 They believed he could do these things. 00:11:59.059 --> 00:12:00.220 They were amazed. 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:02.920 They loved what he could do. 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:09.019 And they even wanted him to make an appearance in Jerusalem to become more popular. 00:12:09.540 --> 00:12:14.920 That, Jesus, you actually could become a celebrity by doing these kinds of things. 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:17.860 You need to take your show on the road. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:20.620 Do you realize how much cash you could make? 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:25.759 We'll stand at the door and say, 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:28.060 if you want to see Jesus do this, pay up. 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.580 We'll do this. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:33.980 We could make a boatload of cash. 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:47.139 Verse 10 tells us that Jesus' brothers even went to the same feast or celebration at the church in Jerusalem that Jesus did. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.620 But to this, John says in verse 5, 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:53.700 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:59.920 More plainly put, spiritually, they were on the wrong side of the fence. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:06.559 After I read this and I pondered this, a terrible feeling came over me. 00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:09.779 How many people do you know? 00:13:11.479 --> 00:13:14.500 They like the idea of the person of Jesus. 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:21.459 They like his character of compassion for the sick and the hurting. 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:25.439 They like his sympathy and empathy for those who are grieving. 00:13:25.959 --> 00:13:29.599 They like to hear of him being a forgiving person. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:33.039 They like that he can look after our needs. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:35.219 They like the person of Jesus. 00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:38.559 And they love what the person of Jesus can do. 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:42.899 They even pray that maybe Jesus would do it for somebody in their own life. 00:13:43.959 --> 00:13:48.799 But they do not believe in him for salvation. 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:51.179 They are on the wrong side of the fence. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:57.919 To like or even love the character and the things that Jesus can do. 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:11.500 Does not mean that Jesus likes or loves you or them to the point that just because they like what he can do, 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:13.199 they're good to go for eternity. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:15.719 You won't find that in the Bible. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:20.060 What you will find in Scripture are words like this. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.279 John 1 verse 12. 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:25.100 Yet to all who received him, to those who believe him, 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:36.040 Why is this so important? 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:39.740 John 3 verse 36 tells us, 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:43.179 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:47.240 But whoever rejects the Son will not see life. 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:49.839 For God's wrath remains on him. 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:54.199 People on the wrong side of the fence 00:14:54.199 --> 00:15:00.179 are more interested in committing to religious activity 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:03.219 than committing to Jesus. 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:08.519 Jesus' brothers were all for Jesus, 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:13.480 doing his miracles and going more public with his miracles. 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:17.360 They were interested in going to Jerusalem 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:19.860 and going to the special church meetings, 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:23.779 but they were not interested in making the commitment 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:26.320 that Jesus was actually whom God sent, 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:30.560 that that is to be the Savior, the Messiah for all of mankind. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:34.859 They were not interested in believing in him, 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:37.879 which means that they would not put their faith in him 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:40.359 or entrust themselves to him 00:15:40.359 --> 00:15:42.319 or make a commitment to him. 00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:45.799 So the question is, do you know anyone like that? 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.659 Do you know anyone who says, 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:51.199 Oh, I'm okay with going to church. 00:15:51.719 --> 00:15:54.579 I'm okay with going to a special meeting maybe, 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:57.979 but don't ask me to cross the fence. 00:15:57.980 --> 00:16:00.100 I'm okay. 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:05.440 I'm okay with just attending or accepting some things about Jesus, 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:07.440 but not committing to him. 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.659 In this previous chapter of John, 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:14.120 in chapter 6, verse 2, 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:16.460 it says, 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:19.139 There are a great crowd of people followed him 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:23.919 because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.440 Why were they following Jesus? 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:29.039 Because they liked what he was doing. 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:32.759 We like that Jesus is going to heal people 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:35.320 and do those kinds of things, 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:38.279 so we really like that he can do those things. 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:42.339 And we will follow him as long as he keeps doing that. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.600 Or in Luke, 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:48.159 when Jesus was brought before Herod, 00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:50.079 a Roman official to be questioned 00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:52.559 to see if he deserved the death penalty, 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:55.679 it says in Luke 23, verse 8, 00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:58.539 When Herod saw Jesus, 00:16:58.779 --> 00:17:00.539 he was greatly pleased 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:03.179 because for a long time 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:05.019 he had been waiting to see him. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:08.000 Why was he waiting to see Jesus? 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:11.240 From what he had heard about him, 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:15.400 he hoped to see him perform some miracles. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.720 That's why he wanted to see. 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:22.480 If I could just see Jesus do this stuff, 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:25.119 I hear he does such a great job 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.279 of wowing people 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:28.440 with doing all these great miracles. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.139 I would love to see some of that. 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:34.300 There's absolutely no desire 00:17:34.300 --> 00:17:35.440 for the truth of Jesus 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.080 and to live for Jesus. 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:38.600 The only desire was 00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:40.120 we only want to see Jesus 00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:42.940 do these great things that he does. 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:44.960 Like they're watching a magician. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.440 You know, they've gone to the show, 00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:48.560 they've watched the magician 00:17:48.560 --> 00:17:49.780 do what he does, 00:17:50.300 --> 00:17:51.560 and then in the end, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.980 all they can say is, 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:55.180 what a fantastic show. 00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:57.320 You need to go watch him sometime. 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.800 So for proof 00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:04.040 that they were only interested 00:18:04.040 --> 00:18:05.500 in the activity of Jesus 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.460 and not in committing to Jesus, 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.380 John says in John 12 verse 37, 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.620 even after Jesus had done 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:15.480 all these miraculous signs 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.600 in their presence, 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.759 they still would not believe in him. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.520 They still wouldn't believe. 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.720 They saw all these great things 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.780 that Jesus was doing, 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:27.100 but they would not believe in him 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:28.360 by faith. 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:30.319 So this does not mean 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.659 that there haven't been people 00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:32.719 who have committed their life 00:18:32.719 --> 00:18:34.159 to Jesus because of a miracle. 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.419 There have been. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:39.099 But there's more about liking 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.240 the activity of Jesus 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.439 rather than simply, 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.759 or than the person of Jesus. 00:18:47.939 --> 00:18:49.119 So I ask again, 00:18:49.219 --> 00:18:50.339 do you know anyone 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:53.500 on that side of the fence? 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.960 They like the activity of Jesus, 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.640 the social justice, 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.559 the caring for and befriending 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:03.420 the marginalized in society. 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:05.279 He was a great man 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.279 and a great example 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.200 is what they're thinking, 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.819 but they aren't interested 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.859 in submitting to him 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.500 as their savior. 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:13.619 So that was the first point. 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.900 People on the wrong side 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.440 of the fence 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.759 are more interested 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.160 in committing 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.200 to a religious activity 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:20.599 than committing to Jesus 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.940 as their savior. 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:25.279 So Jesus eventually 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.640 goes to the feast 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.240 in Jerusalem, 00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:30.360 but instead of going 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:31.740 to keep a religious ritual, 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.880 he goes to teach. 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:36.259 Verse 14 tells us this. 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.960 Not until halfway 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.779 through the feast 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.620 did Jesus go up 00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.580 to the temple courts 00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:41.980 and begin to teach. 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.220 And while he was teaching, 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:44.980 people started 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.000 to ask questions. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.120 Questions like this one 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.299 found in verse 15. 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.899 How did this man 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:53.079 get such learning 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.980 without having studied? 00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:57.599 Or this question 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.680 in verse 26. 00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:00.720 Here he is 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.720 speaking publicly 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.720 and they are not 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.099 saying a word to him. 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.099 Have the authorities 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:06.079 really concluded 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.259 that he is the Christ? 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.700 Or verse 31. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.460 Still many in the crowd 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.599 put their faith in him. 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.099 They said, 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.919 When the Christ comes, 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.180 will he do more 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.240 miraculous signs 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.319 than this man? 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.359 In other words, 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:20.319 what they are saying is 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.079 he must be the Christ. 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.579 Questions like these 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.259 didn't sit well 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.099 with the Pharisees. 00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.539 Verse 32. 00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:30.539 The Pharisees heard 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.559 the crowd whispering 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.740 such things about him. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.279 Then the chief priests 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.200 and the Pharisees 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.299 sent temple guards 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.419 to arrest him. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.599 In the meantime, 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.359 right to the very last 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.099 day of the feast, 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.179 people are still 00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:44.439 listening to Jesus' teaching. 00:20:44.939 --> 00:20:45.740 What was Jesus 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.500 teaching about? 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:48.980 verses 37 to 39 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.519 tell us that 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.319 on the last 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:53.579 and the greatest day 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.299 of the feast, 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.119 Jesus stood 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.680 and said in a loud voice, 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.440 If anyone is thirsty, 00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.539 let him come to me 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.160 and drink. 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:02.119 Whoever believes in me, 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.660 as the scripture has said, 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.400 streams of living water 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.819 will flow from him. 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:09.059 By this he meant 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.759 the Spirit, 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.539 whom those who believed 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.519 in him were later 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.259 to receive. 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.500 Up to that time, 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.640 the Spirit had not 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.220 been given, 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:17.620 since Jesus had not 00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:18.720 been glorified. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.980 Jesus' teaching 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.140 gets the people talking. 00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:23.620 Verses 40 to 42. 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:26.000 On hearing his words, 00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:27.480 some of the people said, 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.600 Surely this man 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:30.000 is the prophet. 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.020 Others said, 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.220 He is the Christ. 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.400 So others asked, 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.660 How can the Christ 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.720 come from Galilee? 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.280 Does not the scriptures 00:21:37.280 --> 00:21:38.800 say that the Christ 00:21:38.800 --> 00:21:40.460 will come from David's family 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.860 and from Bethlehem, 00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:43.640 the town where David lived? 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.640 David's family 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.060 said, 00:21:45.060 --> 00:21:46.300 Their talking tells us 00:21:46.300 --> 00:21:47.200 where they are 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.060 in relation to the fence. 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:51.200 They are not on the wrong 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.240 side of the fence, 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.800 nor are they on the right 00:21:53.800 --> 00:21:54.720 side of the fence. 00:21:55.040 --> 00:21:56.100 They're on the fence. 00:21:56.840 --> 00:21:58.960 They're living a way 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:00.400 and trying to live 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.040 in such a way 00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:01.900 that they don't really 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.960 have to make a commitment, 00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:05.759 but they like the side 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.340 of the people 00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.280 that are on the right side. 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.400 They're also agreeing 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.000 with some of the things 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.120 that people are on the wrong side, 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.780 but they don't know 00:22:10.780 --> 00:22:11.580 which way to go. 00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:13.379 Do we go with Jesus 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.339 or do we not? 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.859 And they're actually 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.859 telling us 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:20.019 what it's like 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:21.759 if you are on the fence. 00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:24.279 People on the fence 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.220 are more interested 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.559 in talking about Jesus 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.819 than committing to Jesus. 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:30.119 There are many people 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:31.019 across the nation, 00:22:31.179 --> 00:22:31.519 province, 00:22:31.679 --> 00:22:32.439 local communities 00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:34.619 who are on the fence 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.659 in respect to Jesus, 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.960 and you may have experienced 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.720 that right here 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:39.000 in this town 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.199 or the region of Davidson 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.980 from wherever you are from. 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.900 You've talked to people 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.319 and they've said, 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.140 well, okay, 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.920 I understand 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.400 what Jesus is like 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.559 and I can agree with you, 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:50.080 but again, 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.980 I'm not interested 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:53.319 in going all the way. 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.580 There may even be 00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:57.580 someone here this morning 00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:59.240 that you're in 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.759 exactly that situation. 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:02.680 You're on the fence. 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.180 You don't know 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.100 what to do with Jesus. 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.180 And so if you're 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.000 on the fence 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.900 concerning Jesus, 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.779 I ask you, 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:10.079 won't you come down 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:11.440 off the fence? 00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:14.079 Living on fences 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.119 is not a great place 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.639 to live. 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.899 So come down 00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:18.059 and commit your life 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.559 to Jesus. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:20.240 Don't just talk about Him. 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.139 Come down 00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:22.299 and talk to Him. 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.680 Talk to Him 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.619 about your unbelief. 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.899 Talk to Him 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:28.339 about your sin. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.279 Talk to Him 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.920 about whatever 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.940 is troubling you 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.279 or causing this guilt 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.099 or frustration 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.399 that you're dealing with. 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.859 The same thing 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.740 Jesus taught 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.940 on the last day 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.539 at the feast 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.240 in Jerusalem 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.740 in John 7 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:42.799 verses 37 to 38, 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.640 He teaches you today. 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.079 If anyone is thirsty, 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:49.700 let him come to Me. 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:52.019 Let him or her 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.900 come from either 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.680 the wrong side 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.599 of the fence 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.779 or off the fence 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.740 and drink. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.420 Whoever believes in Me, 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.019 which means 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.200 put your faith in Him, 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:01.900 trust in Him, 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.640 commit to Him, 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.039 as the Scriptures 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.700 has said, 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.379 streams of living water 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:06.980 will flow 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.359 from within Him. 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.720 So come down 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.420 off the fence. 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.899 So there were those 00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:13.960 who heard Jesus teaching 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:15.859 and they said, 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.200 no, 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.159 not interested. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.740 There are those 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.819 who were on the fence 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.119 and saying, 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.399 we're thinking about it. 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.420 But then there are those 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.639 who actually did cross over. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:27.259 Remember how the Pharisees 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.480 sent the temple guards 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.759 to go and arrest Jesus? 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.799 They were so fed up 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.980 with people 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.839 entertaining the thought 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.859 that Jesus was actually 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.519 the Messiah 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:39.680 that they said, 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.700 go and arrest Him 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.579 and bring Him here. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.279 Well, look what happens, 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.000 verse 45. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.480 Finally, 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.299 the temple guards 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.700 went back to the chief priests 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.480 and Pharisees 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.599 who asked them, 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.339 why didn't you bring Him in? 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.859 And look at their answer. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.900 No one ever spoke 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:56.140 the way this man does. 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.859 The guards declared, 00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:59.479 you mean, 00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:01.159 He has received you also? 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.399 He has deceived you also? 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.500 The Pharisees restored. 00:25:05.899 --> 00:25:07.379 Has any of the rulers 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.559 or the Pharisees 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.399 believed in Him? 00:25:09.959 --> 00:25:11.199 They forgot about Nicodemus, 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:11.979 which is coming up. 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.619 No. 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.799 Pretty clear 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.559 which side of the fence 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.179 they're on, correct? 00:25:15.479 --> 00:25:17.019 We're not going over that fence, 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:19.039 so neither should you. 00:25:19.979 --> 00:25:21.019 Now Nicodemus, 00:25:21.199 --> 00:25:23.519 who had gone to Jesus earlier 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.679 and who was one 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.799 of their own number, 00:25:25.939 --> 00:25:26.339 asked, 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:28.119 does our law condemn anyone 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.459 without first hearing Him 00:25:29.459 --> 00:25:30.220 and finding out 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.279 what He is doing? 00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:32.419 They replied, 00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:34.799 are you from Galilee too? 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.279 Look into it 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.379 and you will find 00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:38.059 that a prophet 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:39.119 does not come 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:40.139 out of Galilee. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.279 Okay, 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.099 side note. 00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:49.319 When the wise men 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.919 came 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:52.319 to try and find 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.699 Jesus at His birth, 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:56.380 or He had actually 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.039 been born already, 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.740 they found Him 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.319 somewhere else, 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.600 but when they came 00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:00.080 at the time 00:26:00.080 --> 00:26:01.019 of Jesus' birth, 00:26:02.340 --> 00:26:03.319 remember they went 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.480 to the Roman official 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.420 of that time 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.860 and they asked, 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:08.100 where would we find 00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:08.640 Jesus, 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.920 born King of the Jews? 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:13.039 And He said, 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:13.720 I have no clue, 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.640 but I'm going to ask 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.140 for you. 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.440 Who did He ask 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:18.720 to find out 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.920 where Jesus would be born? 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:22.400 Do you remember? 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.200 Pardon? 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.580 Well, 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.600 the Magi came, 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:29.300 the Magi asked, 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.600 where would we find Him? 00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:31.900 Where did the 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:33.200 governor official 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.160 of that time say, 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.360 well, 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.300 I know where you can 00:26:35.300 --> 00:26:36.000 get the answer. 00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:36.920 Who did He ask 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:38.080 for the answer? 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.960 The Pharisees. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.940 The Pharisees 00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.820 said, 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.500 we know, 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.940 according to the prophets, 00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:48.480 where He would be born 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.420 when He comes. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.580 He'll be born 00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.320 in Bethlehem. 00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.940 But they didn't go. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.180 And now they're saying 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.880 in this verse 00:26:57.880 --> 00:27:00.660 to Nicodemus, 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.039 are you from Galilee too? 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.779 Look into it 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.800 and you will find 00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:04.380 that a prophet 00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:05.259 does not come 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.279 out of Galilee. 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.460 And it was just prior 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.759 to this in the same passage 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:10.080 that the people knew 00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:11.620 He's coming from Bethlehem. 00:27:14.300 --> 00:27:15.400 Now consider this 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.700 very carefully with me. 00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.160 The temple guards 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.019 came back 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.000 to the chief priests 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.980 and the Pharisees 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.480 and when questioned 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.519 why didn't you 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.720 bring Him with you, 00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.980 they didn't say, 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:28.640 well, 00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:30.140 we were thinking about it 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.540 but we thought 00:27:30.540 --> 00:27:31.100 that's just going to 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:31.880 cause a lot of trouble. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.880 They didn't say 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.660 something like that. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.060 What they did say is, 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:43.759 no one ever spoke 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:46.039 the way this man does. 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.519 And then one of their own, 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.700 a Pharisee by the name 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.539 of Nicodemus 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:53.139 from John chapter 3 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.179 who came to Jesus 00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:54.799 in the night 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.399 and Jesus explained to him 00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.279 this doctrine 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.919 of being born again. 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:02.059 This man perks up 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.299 and he starts 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.299 defending Jesus. 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.079 Verse 51, 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:06.419 does our law 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.720 condemn anyone 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:09.059 without first 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.699 hearing him 00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:10.439 to find out 00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:11.699 what he is doing? 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.559 So what's going on 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.119 with these people? 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.379 I'm referring to 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:20.000 the guards 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.720 and Nicodemus. 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.460 What's going on 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.079 with these people? 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:24.019 The key is 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.779 that the guards 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.720 came back. 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.859 They didn't have to. 00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:32.159 Another key action 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:33.880 is that Nicodemus 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.920 spoke up 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:38.080 in defense of Jesus 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:39.259 knowing that 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.300 this group of Pharisees 00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:41.560 disliked Jesus 00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:42.259 so much 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.180 that they actually 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.140 wanted to kill him. 00:28:44.560 --> 00:28:45.180 So in regard 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:45.940 to the fence, 00:28:46.300 --> 00:28:47.700 where are the temple guards 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.759 and Nicodemus? 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.320 They have crossed over. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.580 And how do we know? 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.440 What is the telltale sign 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.140 of somebody 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.680 that's going over the fence 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.279 and they're actually 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.000 on the right side 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.460 of the fence 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.880 regarding Jesus Christ? 00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.900 People who are 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.720 on the right side 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.259 of the fence 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.359 are more interested 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:03.759 in publicly identifying 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.700 with Jesus 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:06.420 than remaining private. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.940 Now here's where 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.640 the prayer request 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.259 came in 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:12.420 about how people 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.279 that you're experiencing 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:16.039 there's a hostility 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.940 toward the gospel. 00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.480 That's happening 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.599 in our communities. 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.160 It's happening 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.759 in Canada. 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:24.079 There's a hostility 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.519 toward the gospel. 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:25.940 Why? 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.200 Because it speaks 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.859 about the very fact 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.460 that there are 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.779 specific values, 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:32.279 specific guidelines, 00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.740 specific truths 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.539 that people 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.860 should be living by. 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.779 And it's not 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.519 our idea, 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.360 by the way. 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.480 It's God's idea. 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.039 And people get 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.019 opposed to that 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.620 because 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.700 who are you 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.600 to tell me 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.840 how I should live? 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:52.419 Now even if it means 00:29:52.419 --> 00:29:53.000 there could be 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.539 tension, 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.679 people that are 00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:56.339 on the right side 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.799 of the fence 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.500 are okay with 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.939 publicly identifying 00:29:58.939 --> 00:30:01.159 with Christ 00:30:01.159 --> 00:30:01.740 rather than 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.879 remaining private. 00:30:03.939 --> 00:30:05.059 Even if it means 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.959 they could be 00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:06.419 questioned, 00:30:07.179 --> 00:30:08.199 they will willingly 00:30:08.199 --> 00:30:09.359 take their relationship 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:09.939 with God 00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:10.899 to another level. 00:30:11.859 --> 00:30:12.839 They put their 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.299 commitment 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.259 right out there 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.240 for all to see. 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.559 They don't do this 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:18.120 for pride's sake. 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.039 Look at me, 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.799 I'm a Christian. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.220 They do this 00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.120 because they know 00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.980 that in Christ 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.920 and Christ alone 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.440 their eternity 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.299 is secure 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.440 and that's the only 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.359 way anyone 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.980 will come 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.019 to eternity 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.720 with Christ 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.380 forever. 00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:32.079 It is through 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:32.779 Christ and Him 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.180 alone. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:34.940 So their 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.940 conviction, 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:36.880 if you're on the 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.720 right side of the fence, 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.460 your conviction, 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.200 you don't have to be 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.920 concerned about 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:42.160 verses like Matthew 10 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.519 verses 32 to 33 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.980 where it says, 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.940 whoever acknowledges 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.680 me before men, 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.740 I will also acknowledge 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.480 him before my 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.180 Father in heaven. 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:49.940 But whoever 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.619 disowns me before men, 00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.900 I will disown him 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.779 before my Father 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.240 in heaven. 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:55.639 See, the people 00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.200 on the right side 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.519 of the fence, 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.420 this isn't a concern 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.859 for them. 00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:01.039 People on the right 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.559 side of the fence 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.799 publicly identify 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:04.019 with Jesus. 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.359 So when is the 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.359 last time you saw 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:08.319 someone go public 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.119 with their 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:10.160 relationship with 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.480 Jesus? 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.099 When is the 00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:12.799 last time that 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.380 you have gone 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:14.400 public with 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.539 your relationship 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.360 with Jesus? 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.759 You might ask, 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.480 well, what exactly 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.140 would that look 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:19.380 like? 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.059 Well, one of the 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:21.099 examples would 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.799 be baptism. 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.880 Baptism is a 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:26.039 very real public 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.220 example of going 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:29.160 out front of 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.120 people and saying, 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.480 I am a follower 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.579 of Jesus Christ. 00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.579 I believe that 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.519 He died for me. 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.599 I believe that 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.400 He went to the 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.380 grave and took 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.259 care of my sin 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.140 but rose again 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.700 victorious, 00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:41.579 conquering death. 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:42.759 I know it's 00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.619 only through Him. 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.799 Now, if you 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.660 haven't been baptized, 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:47.339 talk to your 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.160 pastor or some 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.619 of the leadership 00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.140 here at the 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.579 church and they'd 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.279 love to talk to 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:51.920 you about that. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.140 But what about 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.680 when a conversation 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.819 goes toward the 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.680 spiritual discussion? 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.160 You know, you're 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:57.599 going and you're 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:58.259 doing business 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.980 here in Davidson 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.900 or in your region, 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.900 wherever it is, 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.599 you meet up with 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.500 people and the 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.500 conversation goes 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.160 to the spiritual 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.839 part of it. 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:06.019 Do you engage 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:06.940 in sharing about 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:08.359 Jesus and that 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:09.219 you are a follower 00:32:09.219 --> 00:32:09.759 of Him? 00:32:11.699 --> 00:32:12.439 Or are you not 00:32:12.439 --> 00:32:12.919 even on that 00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:13.579 side of the fence? 00:32:14.919 --> 00:32:15.500 You say, 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.539 well, it's been 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.039 a while. 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.740 I'm just not 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.759 that vocal or 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.439 I don't want to 00:32:20.439 --> 00:32:21.379 come across as a 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:21.839 fanatic. 00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.459 I don't want to 00:32:22.459 --> 00:32:23.459 cause a scene. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:24.740 Look at what 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.619 Jesus says in 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.959 Luke 9 verse 25. 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.679 Oh, I'm way 00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:29.339 behind, sorry. 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:31.259 Maybe I'm not. 00:32:34.699 --> 00:32:34.839 Hmm? 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:34.879 Hmm? 00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:34.939 Hmm? 00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:34.939 00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:34.939 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.719 No, that's 00:32:38.719 --> 00:32:38.919 the one. 00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.819 If anyone is 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.919 ashamed of me 00:32:41.919 --> 00:32:43.000 and my words, 00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:45.259 the Son of Man 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.979 will be ashamed 00:32:45.979 --> 00:32:46.740 of him when he 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.339 comes to his 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.479 glory and in 00:32:48.479 --> 00:32:49.119 the glory of 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.439 the Father and 00:32:50.439 --> 00:32:50.939 of the holy 00:32:50.939 --> 00:32:51.459 angels. 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.699 Is this the 00:32:53.699 --> 00:32:55.539 reason that 00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.279 some people don't 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:56.759 want to go 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:58.479 public with their 00:32:58.479 --> 00:32:59.339 relationship with 00:32:59.339 --> 00:32:59.639 Jesus? 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.139 Are they ashamed 00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:02.539 of him? 00:33:03.959 --> 00:33:05.000 And if so, 00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.799 it might be an 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.500 opportunity to 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.099 consider what 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:08.599 side of the 00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:09.140 fence am I 00:33:09.140 --> 00:33:09.680 really on? 00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.519 For some of you 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.059 may say, well, 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:13.640 no, Matt, 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.599 that's not it. 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.799 I just don't 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.500 want to cause a 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.359 division between 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.140 myself and 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.500 people. 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.900 I prefer to keep 00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:20.579 the relationship 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.359 going, so I 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.140 don't want to go 00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:22.660 there because I 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.000 don't want to 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.779 disrupt that. 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:24.680 You know what? 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.559 There is no way 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.180 around that. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.460 Division is very 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.619 possible if you 00:33:29.619 --> 00:33:30.380 are on the right 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.319 side of the fence. 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.680 People who are 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.819 not on the same 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.799 side of the fence 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.839 as you concerning 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:39.319 Jesus, they will 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:41.039 not accept the 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.199 values and things 00:33:42.199 --> 00:33:42.980 that you're sharing 00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:44.199 about your 00:33:44.199 --> 00:33:45.559 relationship with 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:45.839 him. 00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.539 No matter how 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.179 tactful and 00:33:48.179 --> 00:33:48.980 courteous you are, 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.259 if you go public, 00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.699 division is very 00:33:51.699 --> 00:33:52.720 likely going to 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.079 happen. 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.419 It's not that you 00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:55.220 are going to cause 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.099 it intentionally, 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.079 it's just going to 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.419 happen. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.799 Verse 43 said, 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.059 thus the people 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.919 were divided 00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:02.759 because of Jesus. 00:34:03.179 --> 00:34:04.500 You won't cause a 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.240 division, it will 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:06.019 be Jesus who 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.640 will cause it. 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.460 Jesus admitted 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:09.460 this in Matthew 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:11.360 10, 34-36. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.219 Do not suppose 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:13.039 that I have come 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.780 to bring peace 00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.380 to the earth. 00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.380 I did not come 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.119 to bring peace 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.940 but a sword. 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:18.360 For I have come 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.000 to turn a man 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.139 against his father, 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.420 a daughter against 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.519 her mother, a 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.219 daughter-in-law 00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.539 against her mother-in-law, 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.440 a man's enemy 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.639 will be the members 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.579 of his own 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.539 household. 00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:32.179 Jesus doesn't 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:33.099 mean this to 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.320 happen intentionally. 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.300 It's not like 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:35.760 he's saying, 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:37.079 okay, if you 00:34:37.079 --> 00:34:38.039 accept me as 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.579 your savior, 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:40.280 really try hard 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.159 to get your son 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:42.079 to not like you. 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:43.900 That's not what 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.480 he's saying. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.000 It's just a 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.559 byproduct of the 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:48.159 relationship. 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.480 It's not always 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.320 going to be 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:51.860 unifying in a 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.239 family. 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.360 It's not always 00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:54.679 going to be 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.920 unifying in your 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.400 community. 00:34:58.199 --> 00:34:59.500 I know of people 00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:00.440 who have left 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.059 a religious 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.539 background to 00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.260 live in a 00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:04.239 personal relationship 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:04.959 with Jesus. 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.739 And then their 00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:08.019 family found out 00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:09.299 and they told 00:35:09.299 --> 00:35:10.299 this dear loved 00:35:10.299 --> 00:35:11.019 one of theirs, 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:11.779 they told their 00:35:11.779 --> 00:35:12.519 son, this just 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.259 happened about a 00:35:13.259 --> 00:35:13.819 month and a half 00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.319 ago, I heard 00:35:14.319 --> 00:35:14.819 about this. 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.359 If you don't 00:35:16.359 --> 00:35:16.899 quit this 00:35:16.899 --> 00:35:17.839 relationship with 00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.759 Jesus stuff, 00:35:18.979 --> 00:35:19.659 you are not 00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:20.459 welcome here. 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:25.920 I know of families 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.860 where children have 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.820 grown up in the 00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.720 teaching of Jesus 00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:30.099 and have accepted 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:32.420 Jesus, but today 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.599 their children 00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.960 don't see Jesus 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.920 like their parents 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:37.579 do and it has 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.220 caused them to 00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.699 become estranged. 00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:46.980 that happens in 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:50.439 my family, my 00:35:50.439 --> 00:35:52.359 own son. 00:35:56.439 --> 00:35:57.960 Going public with 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.879 your faith will 00:35:58.879 --> 00:36:02.079 cause division and 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.719 it's painful. 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.859 But that's what life 00:36:06.859 --> 00:36:08.079 is like on the 00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.719 right side of the 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:09.000 fence. 00:36:14.879 --> 00:36:15.759 When it comes to 00:36:15.759 --> 00:36:17.480 the fence, which 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.159 side are you on? 00:36:19.279 --> 00:36:19.879 Or would you say, 00:36:19.919 --> 00:36:20.639 I'm not on any 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:22.159 fence, I'm on the 00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:22.879 fence on this one, 00:36:22.919 --> 00:36:23.099 really. 00:36:23.359 --> 00:36:24.500 Just truthfully, I'm 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:25.159 on the fence. 00:36:25.259 --> 00:36:26.519 I don't know which 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.819 side I want to go on 00:36:27.819 --> 00:36:28.500 and that's fair. 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:33.579 And if you want, 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.400 don't hesitate to 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:34.840 talk to your 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:37.380 pastor about where 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.880 you're at. 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.699 Or if you know of 00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:40.579 somebody that's on 00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.719 the fence and they 00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:42.820 want to talk about it 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.500 and you don't really 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.039 know if you feel 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:45.380 comfortable, then say, 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.119 I know someone who 00:36:46.119 --> 00:36:46.780 can help you with 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:47.699 this and introduce 00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:48.659 them to your pastor 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:50.000 or to a leader of 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.679 the church or 00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.980 somebody who else 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.800 they may respect 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:54.539 within the dynamic 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:55.780 of who Jesus is. 00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.720 And if you've 00:36:58.720 --> 00:37:00.140 chosen the side of 00:37:00.140 --> 00:37:02.080 the fence that 00:37:02.080 --> 00:37:02.900 does not include 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:03.960 Jesus, I pray that 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:05.039 God by his spirit 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.420 will continue to 00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.500 call you as you're 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:07.820 searching. 00:37:08.580 --> 00:37:10.039 I'm going to pray 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:11.559 and then I'll 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:13.380 hand it over to 00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:13.980 Pastor Josh. 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:15.099 Lord, thank you so 00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:17.480 much for our time 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.400 together this morning 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.840 and Lord, we are 00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:22.880 grateful that you 00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.820 have shown us very 00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.559 clearly through 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.699 scriptures, like even 00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.400 the one we looked at 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:28.960 today, that there's 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:29.880 just times in life 00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:30.659 where people are just 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.679 not willing to cross 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:32.019 over. 00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:36.559 And Lord, it's 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:39.920 painful when people 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.860 on the fence just 00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:41.880 aren't willing to 00:37:41.880 --> 00:37:42.200 commit. 00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:44.079 It's painful. 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.240 And Lord, we know 00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:49.440 how painful it is 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.180 for us and we 00:37:50.180 --> 00:37:50.840 can't imagine how 00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.599 painful it is for 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:51.840 you. 00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.139 But you've called 00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:56.340 us to simply live 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:58.320 life according to 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:00.019 the values, the 00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:01.159 ethics, the 00:38:01.159 --> 00:38:01.860 doctrine, the 00:38:01.860 --> 00:38:02.460 theology of 00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:04.840 scripture and let 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:05.460 you take care of 00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:05.860 the rest. 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:07.539 And that when we 00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:08.500 have opportunity to 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.460 share, we'll share. 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:13.320 And we won't let 00:38:13.320 --> 00:38:14.300 any of the division 00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:15.139 stuff get in the 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:17.320 way because we 00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:18.099 know how important 00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:19.599 you are to 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:21.380 everybody in this 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:23.000 world and in our 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:23.320 lives. 00:38:24.920 --> 00:38:26.079 In Jesus' name I 00:38:26.079 --> 00:38:26.940 pray, amen. 00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:27.039 Amen.