WEBVTT 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:04.099 That honestly make you want to scratch your head a little bit, wonder. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:09.540 One of those times was when he turned the tables, actually two of those times. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:16.039 The Synoptic Gospels tells us, as Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they wrote very similarly, 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:21.940 tells us about Christ turning the tables at the end of his ministry. 00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:26.920 When John mentions it, it's at the beginning of his ministry. 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:30.500 Both times, it was shocking that he did that. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:34.980 We picture in our mind Jesus being the one that has the lamb on his shoulders, 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:38.480 that greets the children when they come, and that's exactly who he is, 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:40.060 healing others with a touch. 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:43.859 We don't think of him turning those tables. 00:00:44.740 --> 00:00:49.620 But he does physically, but he also does mentally. 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:52.799 And even more than that, he does spiritually. 00:00:54.180 --> 00:00:56.680 He'll turn the tables in your life if you'll listen to him. 00:00:57.500 --> 00:00:58.980 He'll work and move in you. 00:00:59.740 --> 00:01:02.440 And that's what happens in Luke chapter 15. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:08.320 Now, some of you may know that I preached on Luke 15 last week, 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:13.140 and some of you may not, even though you were here. 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:18.920 I remember years ago, an older pastor told me, he said, 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:20.540 all you need is five years worth of sermons, 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:22.640 and when you're done with those five years, you start over again. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.040 I said, I've had long tenures, you know. 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:30.379 And I said, people, I wouldn't do that, but even if I did, 00:01:30.460 --> 00:01:32.260 they would remember those. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:35.340 And he said, they don't remember what you preached last week. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:37.359 So, maybe not. 00:01:40.520 --> 00:01:43.719 I want to look at Luke 15 again, and I'll just be honest, 00:01:43.800 --> 00:01:45.120 I don't care to rehash. 00:01:46.100 --> 00:01:49.439 And I don't aim it, folks. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:53.219 I'll let the text take care of it. 00:01:56.099 --> 00:01:59.799 And I'm not trying to insult your intelligence or waste your time 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:01.620 by dealing with this parable again. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:05.039 I want to show you something this morning. 00:02:05.859 --> 00:02:09.579 There's a part two here that you cannot miss. 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:15.320 You have to catch the context of all of Luke chapter 15. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:20.480 Jesus is taking in, loving on folks, 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:24.200 building relationships with folks that church folk don't like. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:28.340 And the Pharisees and the scribes say, 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:30.460 this man is the one that receives sinners. 00:02:31.420 --> 00:02:32.680 He even eats with them. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.000 And Jesus does not buck that comment. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:38.840 Instead, he responds to it. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:45.219 By explaining God's reaction to the lost. 00:02:45.540 --> 00:02:49.500 And by the way, when we say that people are lost without Christ, 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:51.460 that's where this comes from. 00:02:51.980 --> 00:02:54.480 This is the biblical basis for such a comment. 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:57.220 He tells the story of the lost sheep. 00:02:58.220 --> 00:02:59.720 A man lost one sheep. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:01.800 He left 99 to go look for it. 00:03:02.320 --> 00:03:05.180 He was never satisfied with just the 99. 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:10.000 He celebrated over the fact that he found the lost sheep. 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:14.640 And he said, in the same way, heaven rejoices to hear such. 00:03:15.700 --> 00:03:18.480 And when the Pharisees and scribes heard him say that, 00:03:18.540 --> 00:03:20.140 they rejoiced as well. 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:22.000 It was bowling right down their alley. 00:03:22.100 --> 00:03:22.760 They liked it. 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:24.580 They didn't like him eating with sinners, 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:26.300 but praise God, God receives them. 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:29.400 He then speaks of lost money 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:33.260 and how the lady swept the house looking for one coin, 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:36.100 even though she had nine others just like it. 00:03:37.220 --> 00:03:40.280 A few years ago, I arrived at a high school football game 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.560 before it was to start, and I was talking to somebody. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:46.280 And Abby was standing right there with us, 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.520 and she looked down on a muddy ground 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:52.680 and found clean money just laying there, 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:54.599 right there between us. 00:03:55.259 --> 00:03:59.819 It was four very new and folded $20 bills. 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:03.000 Money from heaven had fell. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.780 I told her, I said, 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:12.060 go put it in the little booster booth over there, 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:15.680 and if somebody comes and claims it, 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:19.280 then, you know, they lost their money. 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:20.100 It's not yours. 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:22.280 But if nobody claims it by halftime, 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:23.839 you can have it. 00:04:24.660 --> 00:04:24.819 You know? 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:27.780 They ain't lost it by halftime. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:28.500 They ain't gonna get it. 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.139 They did not. 00:04:31.220 --> 00:04:32.660 And when I went back to try to remember 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:34.500 which child this had happened to, 00:04:35.340 --> 00:04:36.439 Abby confessed to me. 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:37.379 She didn't even realize she confessed. 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:39.040 She said, I put 40 in the booster 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.519 to see if anybody would claim it. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:42.979 So anyway, she didn't even turn all the money in. 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:43.339 But anyway. 00:04:48.659 --> 00:04:49.680 Nobody came, 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:52.180 and she went back and got the money. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:54.879 I was public address announcing. 00:04:54.979 --> 00:04:56.079 I snuck out of the booth 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.399 and went down to the concession stand 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:01.779 to get something to drink 00:05:01.779 --> 00:05:03.479 to get me through halftime, 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:04.879 and I reached in my pocket, 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:05.800 and I had no money. 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:16.460 The $100 bill I had broke at lunchtime 00:05:16.460 --> 00:05:18.360 and put the change in my pocket was gone. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.180 Abby had retrieved that clean money on that money 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:24.400 because I had just dropped it. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:31.199 So I did not want to take the zeal away from Abby 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:32.699 who had just found that money 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:33.879 and was so excited about it 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:36.019 by telling her it was mine. 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:38.139 For one, she'd probably still be bitter this day 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:39.039 and think I was lying. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:42.979 So I did as any good dad does. 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:45.539 I negotiated with her to buy stuff 00:05:45.539 --> 00:05:48.519 that I was already gonna have to buy on her behalf, 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.159 and we worked it out, 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.479 and I told her well after the fact 00:05:53.479 --> 00:06:00.259 that when a teenager finds $80 clean dollars 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:01.199 on a muddy ground, 00:06:01.299 --> 00:06:04.019 she feels like it's time to kill the fatted calf 00:06:04.019 --> 00:06:07.740 or to buy a Louie or a golden goose 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:11.599 or whatever it is the latest overpriced trap is. 00:06:12.359 --> 00:06:15.060 It's fun to find stuff. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:19.639 Just like when a soul is found. 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:24.259 And people love a story about finding money, 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:27.360 and then Jesus goes again, 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:29.540 and he shares another. 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:32.160 And I want to warn you, 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:34.899 this one's a little more controversial. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:38.060 It's Luke chapter 15, verse 11. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:39.840 And it says, 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.579 And he said there was a man who had two sons, 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.100 and the younger of them said to his father, 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:45.580 Father, Father, give me the share of property 00:06:45.580 --> 00:06:46.439 that's coming to me. 00:06:47.460 --> 00:06:49.300 He divided his property between them. 00:06:49.460 --> 00:06:50.280 Not many days later, 00:06:50.340 --> 00:06:51.800 the younger son gathered all he had 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:53.439 and took a journey into a far country. 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:55.800 And there he squandered his property 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.280 in reckless living. 00:06:59.320 --> 00:07:00.300 When he had spent everything, 00:07:00.420 --> 00:07:02.220 a severe famine arose in that country, 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:03.379 and he began to be in need. 00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:05.439 So he went and hired himself out 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.540 to one of the citizens of that country 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:09.740 who sent him into the field to feed pigs. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:12.660 And he was longing to feed 00:07:12.660 --> 00:07:14.780 with the pods that the pigs ate, 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:16.560 and no one gave him anything. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:21.019 But when he came to himself, 00:07:22.019 --> 00:07:23.019 he said, 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:25.120 How many of my father's hired servants 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.920 have more than enough bread, 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:28.280 but I perish here with hunger. 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:30.759 I will arise and go to my father, 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:31.540 and I'll say to him, 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:33.600 Father, I've sinned against heaven and before you. 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:36.139 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:07:36.220 --> 00:07:37.759 Treat me as one of your hired servants. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:40.039 And he arose and came to his father, 00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:41.579 but while he was still a long way off, 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:43.379 his father saw him and felt compassion 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:45.259 and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:46.659 And the son said to him, 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:48.659 Father, I've sinned against heaven and before you. 00:07:49.159 --> 00:07:51.819 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:53.420 But the father said to his servants, 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:54.980 Bring quickly the best robe. 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:57.399 Put it on him, put a ring on his hand, 00:07:58.699 --> 00:07:59.800 shoes on his feet, 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:02.579 and bring the fatted calf and kill it 00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:03.819 and let us eat and celebrate. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:07.040 For this my son was dead, 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:08.839 and thank God is alive again. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:10.459 Lost and is found. 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:12.620 And they began to celebrate. 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:14.980 Praise the Lord, a boy came home. 00:08:16.159 --> 00:08:17.399 The lost has been saved, 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:18.759 and the Pharisees and the scribes 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:19.740 like that story too, 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:22.360 but let me tell you what they were thinking. 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:26.519 The part about the father running, 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:29.639 what's that about? 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:33.980 I mean, if that's to be the God, 00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:34.799 the father, 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.480 he's not running to meet anybody. 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:41.559 Bless God, you crawl to get to his throne, 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:44.259 especially the lousy lost, 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:46.759 you know, them people. 00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:50.919 That's what the Pharisees and the scribes were thinking. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:53.419 Those people that are not like us. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:58.200 So they're not so sure about what he's saying anymore. 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:03.080 These people don't even deserve to come before God 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.140 with all their wickedness. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:06.120 Blowing money, sleeping around, 00:09:06.420 --> 00:09:07.560 picking up odd jobs, 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:09.759 begging, or near about that. 00:09:12.640 --> 00:09:14.080 But Jesus isn't done 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:15.660 because I want to remind you 00:09:15.660 --> 00:09:17.900 of the context in which he speaks. 00:09:18.740 --> 00:09:19.780 It's found in verse 2, 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:20.300 and it says, 00:09:20.400 --> 00:09:22.259 and the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:22.620 saying, 00:09:22.920 --> 00:09:25.520 this man receives sinners and eats with them. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:27.540 And I'm just going to tell you 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:31.099 that when Jesus got wind of them saying such as that, 00:09:31.599 --> 00:09:32.519 it set him off. 00:09:34.099 --> 00:09:37.459 And he's about to turn some spiritual tables over 00:09:37.459 --> 00:09:40.139 because he goes on 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:41.899 and tells the second half of that story. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:45.240 Now his older son was in the field, 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:48.500 and as he came and drew near to the house, 00:09:48.579 --> 00:09:49.879 he heard music and dancing, 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.599 and he called one of his servants and asked, 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:53.059 what do these things mean? 00:09:53.059 --> 00:09:54.000 And he said to him, 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:54.819 your brother's come, 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:56.339 and your father's killed the fatted calf 00:09:56.339 --> 00:09:59.879 because he's received him back safe and sound. 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:00.719 But he was angry, 00:10:01.219 --> 00:10:03.279 and he refused to go in. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.359 His father came out and treated him, 00:10:06.439 --> 00:10:07.699 but he answered his father, 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:09.719 look, these many years I've served you, 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:11.219 and I've never disobeyed your command, 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:13.199 yet you never gave me a young goat 00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:15.059 that I may celebrate with my friends. 00:10:15.059 --> 00:10:19.299 But when this son of yours came, 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:22.979 who has devoured your property with prostitutes, 00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:25.639 you killed the fatted calf for him. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:27.859 And he said to him, 00:10:27.959 --> 00:10:31.119 son, you are always with me, 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:34.419 and all that is mine is yours. 00:10:35.079 --> 00:10:36.839 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:40.500 for this your brother was dead and is alive. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:44.000 He was lost and is found. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.019 You see, the older son didn't like the celebration. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:51.100 And the reason why he didn't like the celebration 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:52.960 was he was a compliant child. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.940 He did what he was supposed to do. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:57.779 He didn't rock the boat. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:10:59.419 He stayed behind. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.299 He did his job. 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:00.980 He was a good kid. 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:02.220 He was the faithful one. 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.039 And when his brother came and asked for his inheritance, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:07.980 by the way, the older brother got his too, 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:10.500 and it was double what the younger brother got. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:15.919 But he continued to rock on faithfully for his father, 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:17.759 just like he was supposed to do. 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:21.399 And yet the father calls him out for his wrong attitude 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.840 about sinners coming to God. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:26.100 He ought to join in that celebration, but he didn't. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.799 He didn't feel like he could. 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:29.100 Why? 00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:30.659 Because the same reason the Pharisees 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.980 didn't like that part of the story. 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:34.139 They didn't like that part of the story. 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:36.340 Same reason some Christians don't like that part of the story. 00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:39.740 The wandering sinner wasn't worthy 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:41.080 to have the best thrown at him. 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.259 Do you know why they felt like that? 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.420 What characteristics in us cause us 00:11:49.420 --> 00:11:51.360 to miss the celebration? 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.899 To have a hard time with the thief on the cross 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:58.980 who Jesus promised would be with him that day 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:00.620 once he died? 00:12:01.660 --> 00:12:02.700 What's that about? 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:08.020 You're talking about a deathbed confession right there. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.759 And yet the same salvation that saves us 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.060 is the same salvation that saved that man that day. 00:12:15.940 --> 00:12:17.960 And those folks have been faithful for years. 00:12:18.160 --> 00:12:19.060 They didn't like it. 00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:21.280 It don't seem fair. 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:25.820 What characteristics cause us 00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:30.340 to miss a heavenly type celebration over a soul? 00:12:30.420 --> 00:12:31.120 I'll tell you what it is. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:33.120 One of them self-righteousness. 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:39.399 Older son was proud of his accomplishments. 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:42.460 He said, look, these many years I've served you 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:45.240 and I've never disobeyed your command. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.960 Look at me. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:52.179 And the irony is that the son of the estate owner's job 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:54.500 at such an event as this, 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:56.419 if there was a gathering, 00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.259 a party, 00:12:57.259 --> 00:13:01.480 if there was to be such a meeting, 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.580 the job of the owner of the home, 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:07.580 excuse me, 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.080 of the son of the owner of the home, 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:11.220 his job was to hold the door open. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:14.659 His job was to work the room, 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.919 to work out any kinks that may come. 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:23.919 The son even stood at the door barefooted 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:27.059 as if he was a servant 00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:30.839 and was to hold that door for the guest, 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.099 physically standing there 00:13:33.099 --> 00:13:36.000 and by his physical presence there, 00:13:36.339 --> 00:13:37.360 basically saying, 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:39.180 I am here to serve you 00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:41.940 on behalf of my father and his estate. 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.980 And instead of that, 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:49.700 this older son stood outside with his arm crossed. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.340 If he had anything to say, 00:13:52.300 --> 00:13:54.759 he should have said it after he served, 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.919 not pacing around angry, 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:58.200 but instead he went out there, 00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.080 got on his cell phone, 00:13:59.159 --> 00:13:59.740 went to Facebook 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:02.100 and said, 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:02.940 this ain't right 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:05.040 and I ain't gonna do it. 00:14:06.880 --> 00:14:08.220 He had too much dignity 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:09.920 to bear his dirty laundry, 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.440 so he put a cryptic message 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.360 that just his friends would ask about. 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:15.220 Private message him 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.260 and pat him on the back. 00:14:17.520 --> 00:14:19.760 He refused to serve, 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:21.480 hush, Siri, my soul. 00:14:21.900 --> 00:14:23.420 He refused to serve, 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:27.960 but just wanted to talk about his service. 00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:30.660 That's what self-righteous does. 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:33.679 Self-righteous is a horrible sin 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:34.559 that is seldom seen 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.719 by the one who's guilty of it. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.459 And it'll send you to hell 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:43.000 or it'll make you act like you've been there. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.679 Jesus told the Pharisees 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:48.480 in Matthew chapter 23, verse 15, 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.519 he said, 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.819 they were turning converts 00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:54.299 into twice as much son of hell 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.240 as you are yourselves. 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:57.059 That's the words of Jesus. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:00.079 And that's why Jesus speaks 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.800 of the 99 that need no repentance. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.639 Who does not need repentance? 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.840 Every sinner needs repentance, 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:09.400 but some don't think they do. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:12.259 Everyone's a sinner, 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:15.379 but everybody don't think they are. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:18.240 Self-righteousness will cause you 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.360 to miss the celebration. 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:21.680 Tell you what else will, jealousy. 00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:24.480 Jealousy will cause you to miss it. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:27.740 It is easy to point out the wrong 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.060 in somebody else's life. 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.120 It's easy. 00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:32.220 It's much easier than facing 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.519 what's wrong in your life. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:35.480 It's much easier than dealing with 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.879 what you're dealing with 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.279 when the younger one was wrong 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.139 and he was wrong 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.279 and he left the house 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:45.940 and separated himself 00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.220 and rebelled, 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:49.639 estranged himself from the estate. 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.620 But at the same time, 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.679 the older one stayed home, 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:55.039 but he distanced himself. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:57.699 He refused to go in. 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.120 His daddy reached out to him, 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.919 petitioned him. 00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:04.159 Let me tell you about the God that saves. 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.779 The one who grew up in church 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.819 and then outgrew it, 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.340 thinks it's old-fashioned 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.179 and out of touch, 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:13.679 that one will find a loving father 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.399 running out to meet him 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.419 when he comes back to the cross. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:19.079 That's the God we serve. 00:16:20.099 --> 00:16:21.379 God does not want us 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.439 to waste our time. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.299 God does not want us 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:25.279 to waste our talent. 00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.639 God does not want us 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.019 to waste our treasure. 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.639 But when we do, 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:30.879 thank God, 00:16:30.959 --> 00:16:31.939 he'll take us back. 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.639 That's the God we serve. 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:35.099 He'll receive us back. 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.659 The wanderer had come 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:39.419 up with what he was gonna say 00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:41.339 the last time he was feeding those swine. 00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:42.639 When it clicked, 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:44.219 I call it the Holy Spirit clicked. 00:16:44.339 --> 00:16:46.099 When the Holy Spirit spoke to him 00:16:46.099 --> 00:16:47.139 about what he needed to do, 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.019 he needed to go home, 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.779 he prepared a speech 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:51.159 that he would say to his father 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.319 so that his father would receive him. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.279 And I'll tell you 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.360 that when he got there, 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:57.120 his father went running out to him, 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.279 cut him off 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:00.139 from telling his story 00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.059 that he wanted to tell 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:03.319 and gave him the best that he had, 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:04.619 saying, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.299 you don't have to explain yourself, son. 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.740 You're mine. 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.740 I receive you back. 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.759 Just come. 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:12.420 And I will tell you today, friend, 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:14.759 if you are wandering away from God 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:17.440 and God speaks to your heart and life 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.640 and draws you to come, 00:17:19.320 --> 00:17:20.340 you just come. 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.680 You don't have to have an explanation for that. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.539 You just come. 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:26.980 I want to get right with the Father today. 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.300 I want to make it right. 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.440 You just respond. 00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:34.759 Some may have a hard time 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:36.279 with what God does 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:38.019 in others' lives, 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:40.200 but we ought to love it. 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:41.460 We ought to love it. 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.900 God will forgive the faithful pew sitter 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:48.879 who thinks he's better than his neighbor. 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.200 He'll forgive that too. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:55.859 Jealousy doesn't look as bad 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:57.379 as flagrant sin does. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:01.220 But Jesus died for it too. 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:04.259 And it'll separate you from the Father. 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:08.180 The only hope that any of us have 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.920 is in Christ. 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:14.379 And the ground is level at Calvary. 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:16.359 All of us need it. 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:20.960 But you'll miss the joy of the journey. 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.099 You'll miss the celebration 00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:27.960 if your life is also filled with selfishness. 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.059 Selfishness. 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:33.019 We have a good thing going on here. 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:34.619 We don't want anybody to mess it up. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.480 Well, let me be honest with you. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.619 This dad in this story, 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.759 he was loaded. 00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:45.559 He was loaded. 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.619 He had many servants. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.059 He was loaded. 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.359 A lot of money got wasted 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.319 when that boy left 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.400 with a third of the estate. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.940 A lot of money got blown. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:01.599 Even more was given to the older son. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:04.259 He was now the joint owner of the estate. 00:19:05.959 --> 00:19:07.299 And when he complained, 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.379 his dad told him, 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:12.059 all that is mine 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.719 is yours. 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.799 Is that enough? 00:19:19.179 --> 00:19:20.819 Somebody asked John D. Rockefeller, 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:24.419 who was worth in today's dollar 00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:25.599 about $25 billion 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:28.859 at the turn of the 20th century. 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:31.119 They asked him, 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:31.399 they said, 00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:31.839 John D., 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:33.039 how much is enough? 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:34.819 He said, 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.399 a little more. 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.279 We can get that way 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.240 about our church. 00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.559 We can get that way 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.559 about our role in it. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.500 Modern day Pharisees 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:49.419 don't want a whole lot 00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:50.279 of their church changed 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.299 by those people. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:53.139 Those people can be new Christians. 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.740 They can be new people. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:58.299 Or they can be the whole generation 00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.200 that's following them. 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:03.819 I don't care to serve in that role. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.460 I've done my time. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.839 But I don't think 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.859 they ought to be serving either. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:12.240 That's selfishness. 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.359 This older brother wanted a goat 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:18.599 to celebrate with his friends. 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:22.079 He thought that's what was fun 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:25.039 instead of seeing lives changed. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.179 And instead, 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.359 it's just selfishness. 00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:29.919 Let me tell you 00:20:29.919 --> 00:20:31.139 what all of us ought to do 00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:34.519 is find our spot 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.599 to serve the Lord 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:39.039 and let's get after it 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.859 using our gifts 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:42.740 for his honor and glory 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.419 in his church. 00:20:45.179 --> 00:20:46.179 Young and old, 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.879 find your place. 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:49.840 Be faithful. 00:20:51.040 --> 00:20:51.880 Serve faithfully. 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:53.560 Let's get after it. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.440 Let's see what God 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.960 does in us 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:59.300 when we give him 00:20:59.300 --> 00:21:01.620 everything we've got. 00:21:01.800 --> 00:21:03.820 But we will miss it 00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:06.340 if we get selfish. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.560 I'll tell you another thing 00:21:09.560 --> 00:21:09.960 that causes you 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.720 to miss the celebration 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.060 and that is aloofness. 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.940 Again and again 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:16.940 in this story it says 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.140 he distanced himself. 00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:19.340 He distanced himself 00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:20.000 from his brother 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.220 when he's talking to his daddy. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.600 He said, 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:23.180 this son of yours. 00:21:23.820 --> 00:21:24.720 He didn't claim him 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.279 as his own. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.539 Not only that 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.360 but he distanced himself 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:28.960 from his dad 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.460 when he said, 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.240 your property. 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.559 He squandered your property 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:35.860 because he thought himself better. 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.859 He was too good 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.059 to open up the doors 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.899 to a dirty center. 00:21:40.219 --> 00:21:41.559 Too good to approve 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.500 of him coming home. 00:21:42.719 --> 00:21:44.139 Too good to show him up 00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:46.719 as a welcoming guest. 00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:48.099 To welcome him 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.719 as a guest. 00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:51.099 Modern day Pharisees 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.859 in the church 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:53.599 only get involved 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.719 when it's good for them. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.619 They look at a bulletin 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.819 and they hear the announcements 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.679 and they look at it 00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:03.459 from this perspective. 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:05.220 This bulletin gives me 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.840 church events 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.759 to choose from 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:10.019 instead of ministry opportunities 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.660 to be a part of. 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:14.200 It's just a different perspective. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.259 And the reality is 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.819 that the father 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:18.059 extended the same grace 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.840 to the older son 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.220 that he did 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.000 to the younger son 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.860 but his nose 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.840 was so high in the air 00:22:21.840 --> 00:22:23.160 he didn't even notice it. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.819 I want to be clear today. 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.519 Whether you went out 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.519 and squandered money 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.299 in years 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:33.639 on riotous living 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:36.960 or whether you've been 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.000 in the church 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.200 and a part of the church 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.500 maybe sulked a little bit 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.160 along the way 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.339 I'll tell you 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:44.400 God's not mad 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.139 at any of us. 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:47.319 He's not mad at you. 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.480 He'll accept you 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.240 as you are 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.680 but he will call you 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:54.539 he'll call it as it is. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.639 He'll make it clear. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:58.680 We are responsible 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:00.160 for our response 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.440 when he speaks to us 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.560 and we're all sinners 00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:03.700 and the only difference 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:05.100 between one and the other 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:06.240 is one is lost 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.000 without Christ 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.140 and one is saved 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:09.180 by the grace of God. 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.380 Not one of us 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.320 has earned it. 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.759 As you read earlier 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.240 Ephesians chapter 2 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.240 8 through 10 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.440 says for by grace 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.140 you've been saved 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.720 through faith. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.880 This is not of your own doing 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.900 it's the gift of God 00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:22.560 not as a reserve of works 00:23:22.560 --> 00:23:25.060 so that no one can boast. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:27.099 Listen 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.659 what's he saved us for? 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.179 We are his workmanship 00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:31.519 created in Christ Jesus 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:31.940 for what? 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:33.000 For good works 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:35.200 which God prepared beforehand 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.819 that we should walk 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:38.779 in them. 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.579 Let's walk 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.980 in it 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.879 together 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:46.019 for the honor 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.440 and the glory 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.619 of God. 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.179 I want you to notice 00:23:52.179 --> 00:23:52.819 two things. 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:58.139 by posing 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.859 two questions 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.079 and I'll close. 00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.679 Is this the whole point 00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:05.439 of Luke 15? 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.679 If you look at it 00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:11.659 in the context of it 00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:14.839 it actually is. 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.480 Now don't misunderstand me. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.319 Just like one loses 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.799 an animal 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.399 and wants to go 00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:21.000 after that animal 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.859 and one loses money 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.319 and wants to go 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:22.880 after that money 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.579 and one loses 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.220 a loved one 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.019 and wants that loved 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.859 one to come back. 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.740 Of course 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.519 all those things 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.000 are true. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.099 But the reality 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.880 is the beginning 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.480 of this 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:33.140 was in verse 2 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:35.319 and in verse 2 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:37.119 the Pharisees 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.619 and scribes 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.240 grumbled saying 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.920 this man 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:40.200 received sinners 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.079 and eats with them 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.359 and the gospel 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:43.079 writer says 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.819 so he told 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.819 them this 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.359 parable 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:48.220 and he followed 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.879 it with another 00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:50.079 and he followed 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.019 it with another. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.220 When I was 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.819 growing up 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:56.559 my neighbor 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.339 had HBO 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.819 sandbox 00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:00.339 there at the house 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:03.059 but they had 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.639 a contract 00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.839 with Mike Tyson 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:07.179 in the 80s. 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.399 Mike Tyson 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.560 was quite a boxer 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:12.800 in his day 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:14.500 unlike anything 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.320 I've seen 00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:19.040 and every time 00:25:19.040 --> 00:25:19.980 he'd fight 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.380 on HBO 00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:24.360 me and my dad 00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:25.460 possibly my brother 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.280 we'd go up 00:25:26.280 --> 00:25:28.040 and watch 00:25:28.040 --> 00:25:29.300 boxing 00:25:29.300 --> 00:25:31.040 with Uncle Charlie. 00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.660 He'd pop popcorn 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:35.240 in a brown paper 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.300 grocery bag. 00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:36.900 Some of you 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.280 don't even know 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.799 what that is 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.200 but anyway 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:40.259 and he'd fill it up 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.859 and we'd have 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.420 Pepsi Cola 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.039 and popcorn 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.700 sitting floor 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.599 and watch boxing 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:46.559 and it was a quick 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.299 fight usually. 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.359 Mike Tyson 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.399 fought every six weeks 00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:52.200 during those days 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:54.539 and normally 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.139 he'd hit a man 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.599 one time 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.319 and he'd fall down 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.259 first couple of rounds 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.000 it's pretty amazing 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.579 to watch 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.779 but if he ever 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.639 got challenged 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:03.639 he'd begin 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.500 to work on the body 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:08.799 man keeps 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.259 his hands 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.859 up high 00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:11.960 but if you 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.920 work on his body 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.559 you bruise 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:14.960 him around 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.680 his ribs 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:17.119 he'll drop 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.599 his hands 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.200 in protection 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.740 and when he 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.640 drops his hands 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.859 he opens his face 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:22.500 and exposes 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.039 himself 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:24.519 for a knockout. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.759 The parable 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:31.119 of the sheep 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:32.920 was a body blow. 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:35.400 The parable 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.680 of the lost 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.140 coin 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:38.920 was a body blow. 00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:41.259 The parable 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.900 of the lost 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.340 son 00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:44.000 was a body blow 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:46.019 and when the 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.519 Pharisees 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.220 and the scribes 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.019 began to drop 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:49.019 their hands 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.700 Jesus 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.460 delivered 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.360 the blow 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:54.380 and that was 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.400 the prodigal 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.720 other son 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:59.039 or the real 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.500 prodigal. 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:03.519 second thing 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.000 is this 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:06.579 what happens 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.359 next 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.359 after this 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:08.759 story? 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.700 It's interesting 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:12.079 if you'll notice 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:13.519 the story's 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:13.900 not quite 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:14.380 complete. 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.259 We don't know 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.740 how it turned 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.180 out. 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.599 Did he go 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:19.940 in? 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.740 Did he apologize 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.539 for his attitude? 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.259 Did he confront 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.779 his brother? 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:29.200 Did he bust 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.839 up the party? 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.059 Did that 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.700 wayward boy 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.119 that came 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.279 home 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.819 did he stay 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.160 home? 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.139 Did he continue 00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:36.779 to be faithful? 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.359 Did he stay 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:37.759 right? 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.619 What's next? 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:42.819 I'd love 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.379 to know 00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:45.759 but Jesus 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.220 told it 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.460 the way 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.980 he told it 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.639 on purpose 00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:49.000 because 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.700 for us 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.579 today folks 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:52.019 it really 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.519 don't matter 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.139 what happened 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.700 next 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.400 in their 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:55.920 lives. 00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:58.640 What matters 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.059 is 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:01.080 what happens 00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:01.519 next 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.420 in our 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.000 lives. 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.660 Are you 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.120 coming home? 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.100 Ephesians 00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.700 chapter 2 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.319 verse 13 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:13.640 says 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.360 but now 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.059 in Christ 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.600 Jesus 00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:17.259 you who 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.940 were once 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.299 excuse me 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.180 you who 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.880 once were 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.700 far off 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.680 have been 00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.400 brought near 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:24.500 by the 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.799 blood of 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.259 Christ. 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.819 Have you 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.460 been here 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.160 all the 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.740 time 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.880 but yet 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:35.620 not really? 00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:39.360 Possibly 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:40.080 crossing your 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:40.600 arms and 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.059 looking down 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.680 on others 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:43.100 and not 00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:43.779 joining in 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.539 the celebration? 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:47.299 The celebration 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.900 is where 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.400 God's on 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:48.940 the move. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.120 The celebration 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:51.639 is where 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.079 God is 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.659 at work 00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:55.159 and we 00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:55.399 don't 00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:55.779 dictate 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.379 how he 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.079 does that 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.479 and we 00:28:57.479 --> 00:28:57.819 can't 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.579 conjure up 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.039 how he 00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.799 does that 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:02.279 or who 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.759 he does 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.239 it in. 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.879 We just 00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.299 get in 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.759 on it 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:09.139 and God 00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:09.759 opens the 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.159 invitation 00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:10.979 for us 00:29:10.979 --> 00:29:11.500 to just 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.059 get in 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.559 on it 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.419 and I 00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:14.699 don't want 00:29:14.699 --> 00:29:15.039 to miss 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.339 it 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:17.419 and I 00:29:17.419 --> 00:29:17.799 don't want 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.079 you to 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.579 miss it. 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:21.240 so my 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.639 question 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.159 for all 00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:22.480 of us 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:22.939 today 00:29:22.939 --> 00:29:25.000 is what's 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.599 next? 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.119 Christ 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.799 has exposed 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.639 the lostness. 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.259 Christ 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.019 has exposed 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.919 the smugness. 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:35.519 Christ 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.240 has exposed 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.599 who we 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.240 really are 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.740 and he 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.099 does that 00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:39.379 through the 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:39.819 Holy Spirit 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.199 of God 00:29:40.199 --> 00:29:40.699 speaking to 00:29:40.699 --> 00:29:41.079 our hearts 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.740 and lives. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.839 it's a 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.240 good thing 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.880 to know 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.940 what's 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.180 wrong 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.640 with us. 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.660 It's 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:48.880 another 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:49.120 thing 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.400 to do 00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:49.660 something 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.200 about it 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:52.259 and so 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.940 my question 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.700 today is 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.539 what's 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:55.839 next 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.400 for you? 00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.000 Maybe 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.500 as these 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.500 folks were 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.220 baptized today 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.740 you realize 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.200 there's never 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.720 been a time 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.259 in your life 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.660 when you've 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:03.920 surrendered 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.380 your life 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:04.940 to Christ. 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.000 You've 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.420 never given 00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.940 him control 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.279 of your 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.920 life. 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.380 Whether 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.640 you've been 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:10.920 a part 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.400 of a church 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:11.680 or whether 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:11.860 you've 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.000 been 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.340 publicly 00:30:12.340 --> 00:30:12.740 baptized 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.180 the reality 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.480 is when 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:13.740 you look 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:13.960 at your 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:14.300 life 00:30:14.300 --> 00:30:15.080 you don't 00:30:15.080 --> 00:30:15.940 see evidence 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.380 of true 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:17.900 salvation. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.440 And you 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:20.700 look at 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.060 your life 00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:21.519 and realize 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.880 you've never 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.320 given your 00:30:23.320 --> 00:30:23.600 heart and 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.000 life to the 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.380 Lord Jesus 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:24.660 Christ. 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.000 I'm going 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.279 to tell 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.200 you the 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.800 Father will 00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:27.259 not only 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.960 receive you 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.420 he will 00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.120 run and 00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:29.840 meet you. 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:30.720 I tell 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.220 folks the 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.019 hardest step 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.400 that they 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.160 possibly will 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:33.800 ever make 00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:34.100 is to 00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.539 walk into 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:36.480 the aisle 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:36.880 to come 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.340 down but 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:37.860 once you 00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.300 do it 00:30:38.300 --> 00:30:39.640 it's amazing 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.340 how the 00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.819 Father will 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.159 meet you 00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:41.539 where you 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.359 are and 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:42.740 give you 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.259 the strength 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.980 to continue 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:45.839 and he'll 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:46.159 do that 00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:46.459 for you 00:30:46.459 --> 00:30:46.819 today. 00:30:48.439 --> 00:30:49.099 Maybe you 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:49.519 have done 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:49.839 that. 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:51.980 You know 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.539 you're saved 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:52.819 you know 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.439 you're Christian 00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:55.480 but the reality 00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.059 is you've 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.679 enjoyed your 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.579 place so 00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:59.399 much that 00:30:59.399 --> 00:30:59.799 you failed 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.179 to serve 00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:00.519 the way you 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:00.799 need to 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.099 serve. 00:31:02.439 --> 00:31:03.279 What's next? 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.720 What's next? 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:07.559 I'll 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.200 never ask 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:08.360 you to 00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:08.480 do 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:08.940 anything 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.519 God 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:09.680 wouldn't 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:09.860 have 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:09.940 you 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.059 to 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.259 do 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.299 but I 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.420 don't 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.600 ever 00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:11.839 want 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:11.920 you 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.120 to be 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:12.460 satisfied 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.640 with 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:12.720 doing 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:12.980 anything 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.380 less. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.140 I don't 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.440 know what 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:15.779 God's 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.100 saying to 00:31:16.100 --> 00:31:16.539 you today 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.539 but I 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:17.860 know you'll 00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.240 never be 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.819 satisfied 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.860 until you 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:20.299 follow his 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.600 will and 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.319 his way 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.799 for you. 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:22.900 With 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.240 every head 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.559 bowed and 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:23.860 every eye 00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:24.299 closed 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:26.039 dear Lord 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.440 I pray 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:26.839 today 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:28.180 for those 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:28.420 who need 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:28.680 to make 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.059 private 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.620 decisions 00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.720 Lord for 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.059 those who 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.299 need to 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.779 make public 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.400 decisions 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.480 God I 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.000 pray today 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.380 that you 00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:34.900 will speak 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.360 to each 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:35.680 and every 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.040 one of 00:31:36.040 --> 00:31:36.519 us and 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.100 that God 00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:37.540 you will 00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:38.240 give us 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:40.320 the strength 00:31:40.320 --> 00:31:42.040 and the 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:42.540 faith and 00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.180 the fortitude 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.420 to do 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.200 exactly what 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:45.680 you called 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.360 us to do. 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.600 Lord there's 00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:49.040 some that 00:31:49.040 --> 00:31:49.580 may need 00:31:49.580 --> 00:31:50.480 salvation 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:50.980 today. 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.500 There's 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:52.900 some that 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.340 may need 00:31:53.340 --> 00:31:53.960 to publicly 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.700 profess that 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.360 through baptism. 00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:57.240 Some that 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:57.759 know that 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.240 you're leading 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.700 them to be 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.040 a part of 00:31:59.040 --> 00:31:59.720 this church. 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:03.440 God lead 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:03.620 them. 00:32:04.800 --> 00:32:05.300 Show them. 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:06.680 Lord there's 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.160 hearts that 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.519 need to be 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.259 made right 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.720 whether at 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.300 this altar 00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:11.680 in their 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.140 seat 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:13.240 with a 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.019 pastor praying 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.440 regardless 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.860 God 00:32:15.860 --> 00:32:18.060 help us 00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:18.440 Father 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:19.200 to simply 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.660 follow your 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:19.920 will and 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.340 your way 00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:21.540 in all of 00:32:21.540 --> 00:32:21.980 our life 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.280 and may 00:32:23.280 --> 00:32:23.600 you get 00:32:23.600 --> 00:32:23.840 all the 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.240 glory for 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.620 it all 00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.840 in Jesus 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.660 precious name 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:27.780 Amen.