WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.560 The scripture reading this morning comes from Matthew chapter 13. 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:15.939 Please follow along in your bulletin or on your Bible. 00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:21.019 Starting with verse 44 we read, 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:25.620 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, 00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:28.640 which a man found and covered up. 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:36.299 Then, in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:43.320 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:48.100 who, on finding one pearl of great value, 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:52.760 went and stole all that he had and bought it. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:54.880 This is the word of God. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:57.760 Great, thank you, Angie. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:01.239 Okay, well, there we go. 00:01:01.299 --> 00:01:01.859 Okay, you can hear me. 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:05.019 I'm not sure why the speakers didn't like you, Angie, but thank you. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:16.959 In October 28th, so this week, 1949, 72 years ago, somewhere around there, 00:01:17.739 --> 00:01:21.039 a young American man by the name of Jim Elliott 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:24.640 writes these words in his journal. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:30.440 He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep 00:01:30.440 --> 00:01:35.000 in order to gain what he cannot lose. 00:01:36.580 --> 00:01:40.380 Seven years later, January the 3rd, 1956, 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:46.620 Jim Elliott and four other men would put their conviction to the test 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:51.980 as they flew over the Ecuadorian jungle in the Amazon. 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:56.020 They were missionaries to a tribe there, 00:01:56.160 --> 00:01:58.540 the notoriously dangerous Orca tribe. 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:03.640 They had been preparing for years to reach out to this tribe 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:07.900 to connect with them, build relationship, learn their language 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:10.159 so that they could eventually share the gospel with them. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:15.719 And they land on the beach, and the five men never returned. 00:02:15.859 --> 00:02:18.300 They were speared to death on the landing. 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:25.000 Now, we are looking at this very short passage of Scripture today. 00:02:25.079 --> 00:02:27.079 Last week, we looked at this big passage, 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:30.120 and we kind of zoomed out and took a high view level. 00:02:30.219 --> 00:02:32.159 This morning, we're going to dive deep down, 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.120 and we're going to look at just three verses in Matthew 13, 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:38.439 verse 44 to 46. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:39.900 Let me read it to us once again. 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:40.159 It says, 00:02:40.640 --> 00:02:41.140 Jesus says, 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:45.280 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field, 00:02:45.640 --> 00:02:47.939 which a man found, and he covered it up. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:50.120 Then, in his great joy, 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:52.159 he goes and sells everything he has, 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:53.360 and he buys that field. 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:55.040 Again, Jesus says, 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:57.099 The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant, 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:00.920 someone who's searching for very rare jewels, 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:03.819 and he finds one pearl that is of great value. 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:09.199 He goes and he sells everything he has to obtain that one precious pearl. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:15.579 In these three verses, we have two parables and one meaning. 00:03:16.299 --> 00:03:17.599 They're slightly different, 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:20.099 but by and large, they come down to the same thing. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:24.340 This is one story that Jesus wants us to see. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:28.539 But let's consider first what Jesus is not wanting to say. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:35.959 Jesus is not commenting on the ethics of buying somebody else's property 00:03:35.959 --> 00:03:40.239 if you've got secret intelligence that there's a treasure hidden deep below the surface. 00:03:40.459 --> 00:03:44.299 If you've got concerns about first century Jewish property law, 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.399 you can go and read up about that. 00:03:46.859 --> 00:03:48.659 That's not Jesus' point here. 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:54.319 Jesus is not saying that we should all wear fine pearl necklaces 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.520 and bling jewelry to church on Sundays. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:58.879 That's not the point of these stories. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:04.620 Jesus is not saying that you can buy your way into the kingdom of heaven. 00:04:05.579 --> 00:04:08.659 In fact, Jesus makes it clear that the wealthier you are, 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:10.780 the more difficult it is to be a Christian, 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:13.199 which is challenging for us in Hong Kong, right? 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:16.579 No, friends, what Jesus is saying is this. 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:19.879 Jesus is saying that being part of the kingdom of God, 00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:24.759 which means coming under the saving rule and reign of Jesus, 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:27.279 that's what it means to be part of the kingdom, 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:30.779 where Jesus is your king, you submit to him, you come under his authority, 00:04:31.219 --> 00:04:34.000 to be part of the kingdom of God is so valuable 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.339 that losing everything on earth but getting the kingdom 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:40.120 is a happy and worthwhile trade-off. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:43.279 Jesus is saying to give up everything you have 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:48.000 in order to have the kingdom of God would be a joyful sacrifice. 00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:50.539 Okay, is that clear? 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.939 Now, before we dive in, there's a couple of things we need to take note of. 00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:58.859 The one thing that, in order to understand this passage, 00:04:58.959 --> 00:04:59.919 we need to think about this, 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:05.019 is what is the relationship between the kingdom of God and the church? 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:08.240 And that's a really important question. 00:05:09.539 --> 00:05:10.979 What is the relationship like? 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:14.339 Is Jesus saying that your local church, 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:16.000 Watermark Community Church, Hong Kong, 00:05:16.219 --> 00:05:19.039 is like a treasure that is buried in a field 00:05:19.039 --> 00:05:22.519 and it's worth sacrificing everything for it 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:25.079 so that it can advance and become glorious? 00:05:26.359 --> 00:05:28.219 No, that's not what Jesus is saying. 00:05:28.220 --> 00:05:33.220 The local church, although an extremely important expression 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:36.760 of the kingdom of God, is not the kingdom of God itself. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:39.480 Those two things are not one and the same. 00:05:40.580 --> 00:05:43.180 The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Jesus 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:46.620 and the local church is one expression of it 00:05:46.620 --> 00:05:48.240 and it's important to be part of a church. 00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:49.900 I'm so glad that just last Sunday, 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:52.460 we had 13 people joining our membership class 00:05:52.460 --> 00:05:54.600 looking to become members of this church. 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:56.640 It's important to join a local church 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.219 and become a member of a church. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:00.959 But the church is not the same thing as the kingdom of God. 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:04.120 And that's important because sometimes you'll find pastors, 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:06.479 I apologize on behalf of my friends, 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.060 that we'll confuse these two things. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.419 And as pastors, we like to sometimes crack the whip 00:06:12.419 --> 00:06:15.319 and drive our congregations harder and harder 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:16.959 and demand more and more saying, 00:06:17.539 --> 00:06:19.120 the kingdom of God is like a pearl. 00:06:19.219 --> 00:06:20.779 You've got to give up everything for it. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:23.680 Therefore, we want you at church seven days a week. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:25.659 You've got to give everything you have. 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:28.660 Sacrifice your family, sacrifice your career, 00:06:28.900 --> 00:06:30.360 just serve in our church. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:33.420 Friends, the church is not the same thing 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:34.580 as the kingdom of God. 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:37.940 That's not what Jesus is saying. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:40.460 Of course, every church, every family, 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:41.580 we do make sacrifices, 00:06:41.760 --> 00:06:43.560 whether you're a nuclear family or the church family. 00:06:43.640 --> 00:06:46.520 But Jesus' point here is to give up everything you have 00:06:46.520 --> 00:06:50.400 in order to come under the saving rule and reign of King Jesus 00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:53.140 is a happy and joyful sacrifice. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:56.620 Now, when we hear these scriptures, 00:06:56.779 --> 00:06:58.560 if you've been a Christian for some time, 00:06:58.659 --> 00:07:00.539 and I know that might not be true of all of us, 00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:01.959 there is a danger. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:07.639 And one of the dangers is that familiarity breeds complacency. 00:07:08.039 --> 00:07:08.180 Right? 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:09.360 We all know that in our lives. 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:11.560 Remember when COVID first hit the world, 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:13.180 we were all on high alert. 00:07:13.659 --> 00:07:13.779 Okay? 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:16.159 We were all hand sanitizing 100 times a day. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:19.320 Very, very conscious. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:23.680 Two years later, familiarity breeds complacency. 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:24.080 Right? 00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:29.540 And there's nothing like scripture for us to become familiar with 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:31.440 and to become complacent with. 00:07:31.880 --> 00:07:33.860 Richard Baxter, a famous pastor, said, 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:37.220 these words need more consideration than explanation. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:39.300 The explanation is pretty clear. 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:40.400 What Jesus is saying, 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:42.040 you don't need to be a rocket scientist 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:44.180 or a nuclear physicist to work it out. 00:07:44.260 --> 00:07:47.220 He's saying that to give everything for the kingdom of God 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:48.460 would be a joyful sacrifice. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:50.480 The explanation is clear. 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:51.280 The question is, 00:07:51.379 --> 00:07:52.400 will we consider them? 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:55.760 Will we allow Jesus' words to penetrate our hearts? 00:07:55.820 --> 00:07:57.600 Will we allow them to arrest us? 00:07:57.760 --> 00:07:59.759 And allowing them to arrest us, 00:08:00.020 --> 00:08:02.800 will we believe them and believe in them? 00:08:03.080 --> 00:08:04.620 Will we allow them to change us? 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:09.100 So let's consider these three short verses this morning. 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:11.680 And I've got four very simple things to say. 00:08:11.860 --> 00:08:11.939 Okay? 00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:17.360 So one meaning, two parables, three verses, four things to say. 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:20.920 My math is hot this week. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:21.180 Okay? 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:23.899 So first thing, let's consider this. 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:27.000 No one enters the kingdom of God by accident. 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:30.139 Consider these parables again. 00:08:30.420 --> 00:08:34.460 This farmer is confronted by the unearthing of this treasure. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:40.000 This merchant is arrested by the discovery of this pearl 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.960 that exceeds even his wildest expectations. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.399 And here this laborer, farm laborer, 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:49.919 here this merchant are arrested by this discovery 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:51.460 and they've got a choice to make. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:53.120 What are they going to do? 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:56.560 In order to obtain this treasure, this pearl, 00:08:56.940 --> 00:08:59.019 is going to require some sacrifices. 00:08:59.019 --> 00:09:00.440 They're going to have to sell some things. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:01.940 They're going to have to get rid of some things. 00:09:02.640 --> 00:09:04.600 There might be some very important things. 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:06.100 Maybe some family heirlooms. 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:08.260 Some important piece of furniture. 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:12.160 Maybe that thoroughbred horse that he has been saving up for. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.820 Maybe some gold bars. 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:18.200 There's going to be some decision that is going to be needed to be made. 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:21.720 The merchant may have to sell his collection of prized jewels. 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:23.420 What's he going to choose? 00:09:23.419 --> 00:09:27.899 Jesus' point here is that the kingdom of God is not just like a lottery, 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:30.240 that you wake up one day, your number's been called, 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:31.899 and Bob's your uncle. 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:33.479 You are now in the kingdom of God. 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:37.879 Jesus' point is that you don't just enter God's kingdom by osmosis, 00:09:37.939 --> 00:09:41.599 or by accident, or just by growing up in a Christian family. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:45.639 The kingdom of God is entered into by a decision, 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:47.240 a choice that's made. 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:49.360 Jesus makes the same point elsewhere. 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:51.360 He says in Matthew's Gospel, 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:54.120 which of you, you desire to build a building? 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:57.200 How many of you are going to engage in that building process 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:59.019 without first considering the cost? 00:09:59.560 --> 00:10:01.159 You've got to weigh up the pros and cons. 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:02.220 You've got to come to a decision. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.480 You want to launch a business? 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:04.300 You've got to work out. 00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:06.019 What's the cost going to be involved? 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:07.560 How many of you, he says, 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:09.159 how many kings go off to war, 00:10:09.339 --> 00:10:11.579 and they've got to first work out with my army, 00:10:12.099 --> 00:10:13.819 are we going to win the war against that army? 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:16.879 If a business wants to take over their competitor, 00:10:17.119 --> 00:10:20.359 launch a hostile takeover, bid for their shares, 00:10:20.719 --> 00:10:22.539 you've got to weigh it up, make some decisions. 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:24.419 Jesus is saying, 00:10:24.579 --> 00:10:27.719 the point here is no one enters God's kingdom haphazardly. 00:10:28.319 --> 00:10:30.199 No one enters it just by osmosis. 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.419 You hang around with some Christians, 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:32.939 and you find out you're part of the kingdom. 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.579 Friends, if you were born part of a wonderful Christian family, 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:37.840 praise God for that. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.340 But that doesn't make you a Christian. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.820 You don't get citizenship in God's kingdom 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:44.259 by way of ancestry. 00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:48.700 You enter the kingdom of God 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:50.860 by weighing up who Jesus is, 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.220 by being confronted by who Christ is, 00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:54.740 and making a decision. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:56.700 Am I going to be part of his kingdom? 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.820 Am I going to come under the authority, 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:01.420 the saving rule and reign of Jesus? 00:11:02.800 --> 00:11:04.060 Jesus' point here is that, 00:11:04.280 --> 00:11:05.500 like the parable on the soils 00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:07.139 that Chris spoke about a few weeks ago, 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:10.700 no response is very much a response. 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:12.340 It's tempting to say, 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:14.019 I'm a little busy at the moment. 00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:15.399 I'm just trying to finish my degree. 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:16.620 I've got young kids. 00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:17.639 I'm trying to launch a business. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.580 I'll get to that some later stage. 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:20.899 And Jesus is saying, 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:23.600 that is as much of a response as saying, 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:26.639 no, I think I'll stay the Lord of my own life. 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.139 No one enters the kingdom of God by accident. 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:31.639 Secondly, 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:35.419 Jesus tells us that the way into the kingdom of God 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:38.620 is the same as the way of the kingdom of God. 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:42.019 The way into the kingdom is the way of the kingdom. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:44.120 Now, last week, 00:11:44.199 --> 00:11:46.580 we looked at this passage right at the end of the sermon. 00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:48.340 We just looked at it in a few minutes. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:50.519 And one of the things that I said 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:53.279 was that this is the way into the kingdom of God. 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.259 And that's true. 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:57.360 But one of the things that we at Watermark are learning 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:00.480 is that the way into God's kingdom 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:02.759 is also the way of God's kingdom. 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:04.939 The way that you become a Christian 00:12:04.939 --> 00:12:07.519 is also the way that you live as a Christian. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.399 Maybe a good analogy of this 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:13.279 is it's similar to marriage, right? 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.019 Those of you that are married, 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:17.080 one day you stand at the altar 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.659 and you hold your wife's hands, 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:19.519 your husband's hands. 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:21.159 You look them in the eye 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:21.919 and you say, 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:23.459 with all that I am 00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:24.860 and all that I have, 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.439 I give myself to you 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:27.799 in the covenant of marriage 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:29.039 for better or worse, 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:29.839 richer or poorer, 00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:31.059 in sickness and in health, 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.759 till death us do part. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.019 Right? 00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:33.779 Does that sound familiar? 00:12:34.979 --> 00:12:35.399 Okay. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.339 Justin and Annabelle nodding. 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:38.599 Four weeks in, 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:39.679 still doing strong. 00:12:39.839 --> 00:12:40.399 Okay, great. 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:42.599 Well, that's, 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.439 I'm glad that Dave's still onto it, okay? 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:47.740 But those of us that are married 40 years, 00:12:48.219 --> 00:12:50.139 I hope you're still onto it as well, right? 00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.079 It's not just four weeks. 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:52.180 It's 40 years in. 00:12:52.900 --> 00:12:55.200 You can't 10 years into marriage, 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:55.560 you know, 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:57.120 your wife asks you to do something 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.740 and you say, 00:12:57.920 --> 00:12:58.259 no, 00:12:58.660 --> 00:12:59.600 not really interested. 00:13:00.400 --> 00:13:01.000 And she says, 00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:01.360 hang on, 00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:02.080 what is all about, 00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:04.000 what is all that better and worse stuff? 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.300 You know, 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.300 you give yourself to me, 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.180 I give myself to you. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.020 What is up with that? 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.000 And you say, 00:13:08.040 --> 00:13:08.180 oh, 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:09.759 that is just in order to get married. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.400 You didn't expect me to actually live like that, 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:11.660 right? 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.020 I mean, 00:13:12.520 --> 00:13:14.020 no one actually does that stuff, 00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:14.320 right? 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:15.220 No, 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:15.340 no, 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:16.780 the way into marriage 00:13:16.780 --> 00:13:18.379 is also the way of marriage. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.600 You say these vows in order to get married, 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:22.179 but you live out those vows 00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:24.259 in order to have a healthy marriage. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:26.299 In the same way, 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:28.279 the way you become a Christian 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:32.179 is through faith and repentance. 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:36.320 Repentance means turning away 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:37.939 from some lesser God, 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:39.620 some counterfeit God, 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.480 some idol, 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.779 something that grabs our heart's attention 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:45.419 rather than the true God. 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:47.279 We turn away from that, 00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:50.019 but then we turn to Christ in faith. 00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:51.860 Faith and repentance 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:54.159 are two sides of the same coin. 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:55.019 They go together. 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.479 Eric Scott says, 00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:58.740 they are the two pedals of a bicycle, 00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.019 right? 00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.259 If you're just doing repentance, 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.299 you're going to go around in a circle, 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:02.559 right? 00:14:02.579 --> 00:14:03.639 If you're just doing faith, 00:14:04.199 --> 00:14:05.219 you're going to go around in a circle. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:05.899 You've got to, 00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:07.159 faith and repentance 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:08.500 is the way into the kingdom, 00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:10.240 but faith and repentance 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.939 is the way of the Christian. 00:14:12.719 --> 00:14:14.559 It's the way that we live out our lives. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:16.059 It's until death do us part. 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:19.039 Tim Keller famously says, 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.619 faith and repentance, 00:14:20.819 --> 00:14:21.459 or the gospel, 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.839 is not just the ABC of the Christian life, 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:27.359 it's the A to Z of the Christian life. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:29.339 And Tim Keller actually got this 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:31.919 from a famous man called Martin Luther, 00:14:32.479 --> 00:14:34.939 who 504 years ago, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.779 this very week, 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.879 31st of October, 1517, 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.599 he's this Catholic monk, 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.580 and he wants to talk to, 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.240 he wants the Catholic church 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.360 to have a big discussion 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.580 about some things 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.720 that he thinks are going wrong, 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.040 right? 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:49.340 And so he posts this post 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:51.180 on the social media of his day, 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:51.379 right? 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.940 He posts this post on Facebook, 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.379 except they didn't have Facebook 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.300 500 years ago. 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.080 And so the way that they did it 00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:59.060 was he goes to the church door 00:14:59.060 --> 00:15:00.500 of Wittenberg Castle 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:02.740 and he nails this big poster 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.620 on the church door, 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:03.840 okay? 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.019 That was like social media 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.040 500 years ago. 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:07.899 And he says, 00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:08.339 hey guys, 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:08.899 there's some stuff 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.799 we've got to talk about. 00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:12.519 And so he nails this long piece of paper 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.860 with 95 statements 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.980 called theses 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.939 that he says we've got to talk about. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.099 Now Martin Luther wasn't trying 00:15:20.099 --> 00:15:21.759 to start the Protestant revolution. 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:23.699 He wasn't trying to start a new church. 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.579 He was just saying, 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:24.759 listen, 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:26.059 we need to talk about some things. 00:15:26.819 --> 00:15:28.299 Do you remember the very first one 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.099 of his 95? 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.459 I think it's on the screen. 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:30.939 There we go. 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:32.519 He says, 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.099 when our Lord and Master, 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.019 Jesus Christ, 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.719 said repent, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:38.519 he willed that the entire life 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.159 of believers 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.240 be one of repentance and faith. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.419 What Martin Luther was saying 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:44.719 is the problem with us as a church 00:15:44.719 --> 00:15:46.719 is that we enter the Christian life 00:15:46.719 --> 00:15:47.779 through faith and repentance 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.939 and then we go on 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:50.379 with our way of living ourselves. 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:51.579 He says actually, 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.500 when Jesus said, 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.719 come and follow me, 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.259 turn from your false gods 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.259 and follow me, 00:15:56.599 --> 00:15:57.939 he willed that that would be 00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:59.139 the pattern of our lives 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.919 day in and day out. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:01.779 Friends, 00:16:01.839 --> 00:16:02.980 if somebody told you 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.139 once upon a time, 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:06.039 just pray the sinner's prayer, 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.319 surrender to Jesus 00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:08.580 and then you can get on 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.360 with your life, 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:11.399 I'm so sorry to tell you 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.299 they lied to you. 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.580 Please forgive them. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:16.220 That's not true. 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:19.759 The way into the Christian life 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.120 is the way of the Christian life. 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.159 Faith and repentance. 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:22.679 And actually, 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.399 what we see in this parable 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.419 are those two things 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.259 that work, right? 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.879 This is actually a parable 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.120 of what faith and repentance 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.279 looks like. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:32.579 We see here Jesus tells this parable 00:16:32.579 --> 00:16:33.399 to demonstrate 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.699 what this life looks like. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:36.699 It is giving up the false 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:38.539 and taking hold of the true. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.620 It is giving up the counterfeit 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:42.379 and taking hold of the genuine. 00:16:42.839 --> 00:16:45.220 It's giving up some lesser God, 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.459 some lesser treasure 00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:48.199 in order to take hold 00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:49.759 of the true treasure of heaven, 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.679 which is the kingdom of God 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.000 and Jesus Christ himself. 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:55.620 This is the life of a Christian. 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.860 Day by day, 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.879 week by week, 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.159 month by month, 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.759 letting go of that 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.519 which captures our heart's attention 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.959 and reminding ourselves 00:17:03.959 --> 00:17:05.099 Christ is true, 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.039 Christ is real, 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:08.960 take hold of the treasure of heaven. 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.539 And so what that means, friends, 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.119 for those of us 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.980 that are not Christians this morning, 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.159 friends, 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:17.000 you'll never become a Christian 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:20.139 until you give up those things 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:20.819 that have captured 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.859 your heart's attention 00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:23.839 and discover the beauty 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.039 of who Christ is 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.559 and take hold of him. 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.500 But what it also means 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.519 is that for those of us 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.259 that are Christians this morning, 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.559 the life that Christ calls us to 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:35.680 is to day by day 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.039 give up the things 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.759 that are tempted 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.440 to capture our heart's attention 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.799 and to turn to the treasure 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.400 that is Christ. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.319 This is the gospel-centered life. 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:49.259 Okay, so the way 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:51.559 no one becomes a Christian by accident, 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:53.299 the way into the Christian life 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:55.140 is the way of the Christian life. 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:56.720 Now here's another question. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:18:00.640 What is it that Jesus asks us to give up? 00:18:01.100 --> 00:18:02.420 I mean, Jesus here in these parables 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:02.759 says, 00:18:03.040 --> 00:18:03.759 you tell these parables 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.560 of these two guys 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:05.500 that go and give up 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.000 everything they have. 00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:08.759 What does that actually look like 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.720 for us 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:11.580 in 21st century Hong Kong? 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.620 Ah, Jung, that's totally fine. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.520 Your little one is too cute. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:16.759 Okay. 00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:19.780 What does that actually look like for us? 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.140 Well, that's a great question. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.860 For every one of us, 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.059 it will look different. 00:18:24.199 --> 00:18:25.740 But the overall answer is this. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:28.679 Whatever owns your heart 00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:30.639 has the tendency 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:31.619 to keep us 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.819 from the kingdom of God. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.679 Whatever owns your heart 00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:37.299 has the tendency 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.019 to keep us 00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:39.000 from the kingdom of God. 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.539 For some of us, 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.299 that may mean 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:43.479 the everyday pleasures of life, right? 00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:45.599 So the things 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:47.959 that in everyday life 00:18:47.959 --> 00:18:48.599 that grip us, 00:18:48.719 --> 00:18:50.399 that amazing new car, 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.779 that career promotion, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.059 career success, 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:55.839 the things that make us 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.079 feel good about ourselves, 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.200 the things we look to 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.379 that grab our attention 00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:01.160 and think that's going to make life 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.220 worth living. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.940 For some of us, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.339 the things that own our hearts 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.599 are people's approval, 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.879 the affirmation of others. 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.879 And so we do whatever it is 00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:12.200 to please people, 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:14.220 to gain other people's recognition 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.000 and their favor. 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.480 But what this means 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.460 is that those people 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.299 own our hearts. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.660 They're actually our king. 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.539 They're actually our treasure. 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.279 Jesus says that 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.539 everything we look to 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:26.000 to make us feel worthwhile 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.839 or commendable 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.839 or admirable 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.460 needs to be sold off, 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.099 given up 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.460 in order to take hold 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.180 of the treasure 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.279 that is Christ. 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:34.680 Friends, 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.480 for some of us, 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:37.039 one of the most difficult things 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.539 to give up 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:39.039 is not the pleasures of life. 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.039 It's not the big car 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.700 or the big house 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.599 or the overseas holiday 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.440 that owns your heart. 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.559 For some of us, 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:45.159 it's the pride 00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:46.119 of our hearts. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.680 I see this in my own life. 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.119 That's what's so deadly serious. 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:53.399 And Jesus says that 00:19:53.399 --> 00:19:55.680 the pride of our hearts 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.980 has a way of blinding us 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.759 to seeing the treasure of Jesus. 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.559 Pride manifests itself 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.119 in many different ways. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.099 One of the most 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:10.059 unobvious ways, 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:11.460 the most sinister of ways, 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:14.700 is when we feel sorry for ourselves. 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:17.680 Maybe someone's disappointed you 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.680 or let you down. 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.180 Someone's hurt you. 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:21.480 Maybe, 00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:21.880 hopefully, 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.120 they've come and said sorry to you, 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.160 but maybe they haven't. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.460 Friends, 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.460 are we still holding on 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.100 to that offense, 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.779 that bitterness? 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.840 Holding on to it 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:31.680 because it's a position of power 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:33.019 that makes us feel justified? 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.840 Jesus says, 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.759 it's very hard 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:37.060 to let go of everything, 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.900 to take hold 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:38.940 of the treasure of Jesus 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.180 and still hold on 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.759 to bitterness 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:42.259 and offense. 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:44.279 Friends, 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:45.000 for some of us, 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:45.900 maybe it is, 00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:47.740 for some of us, 00:20:47.780 --> 00:20:49.220 it's our very religious duty 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.019 that keeps us 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.820 from taking hold of Jesus. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.920 There's this amazing sentence 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.680 in a book 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.240 by Flannery O'Connor 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.480 called Wise Blood. 00:20:58.600 --> 00:20:59.740 I remember reading this book 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.160 five or six years ago 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.660 and I stumbled across 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.259 the sentence 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:05.019 that absolutely blew me away 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.600 and when I read it, 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:07.720 I realized that actually 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.440 I'd heard Tim Keller 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.380 quoting this before, 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.240 but I'd forgotten it 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.280 until I read the sentence 00:21:12.280 --> 00:21:12.860 in this book. 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.479 The book Wise Blood 00:21:14.479 --> 00:21:15.719 is about this young man 00:21:15.719 --> 00:21:17.299 that is abandoning 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.619 the faith of his upbringing. 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.399 He grows up 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.399 in the American South 00:21:20.399 --> 00:21:21.519 and he's turning his back 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.919 on the faith of his upbringing. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.219 And he says, 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:24.939 there's this sentence 00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:25.419 in the book 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.279 where Flannery O'Connor 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.819 writes this, 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.059 there was already 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:30.019 a deep wordless conviction 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.579 in him 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.679 that the way 00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.959 to avoid Jesus 00:21:32.959 --> 00:21:35.000 was to avoid sin. 00:21:36.679 --> 00:21:36.919 Okay, 00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:37.659 just think about that 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.179 for a second. 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.819 Is that not 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.099 an amazing insight? 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.199 Right? 00:21:42.659 --> 00:21:43.619 Here's this person, 00:21:43.719 --> 00:21:44.559 sorry if you can't see, 00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:44.819 Ellen, 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.259 here's this person 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:49.240 that wants to avoid 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.259 the gaze of Jesus 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.459 looking into his heart. 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.439 And the best way 00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:55.980 to fly under the radar, 00:21:56.179 --> 00:21:56.919 he reckons, 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.759 is not by running far away 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.159 but by sticking close. 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.099 You know, 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.939 isn't there that saying, 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.799 some saying about 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.879 keep your friends close 00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:07.099 and your enemies even closer? 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.899 If you want to be 00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.579 an enemy of Jesus, 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.579 if you want to avoid 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.519 coming under the rule 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.399 and reign of Jesus, 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.480 one of the best ways 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:13.919 to do it 00:22:13.919 --> 00:22:15.099 is to hide it 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.639 with lots of religious 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.859 activity and duty. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.720 So you serve in church, 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.699 you're part of a CG, 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.199 you attend, 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.059 you come early, 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:23.639 you unpack, 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.519 you stay late, 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.119 you sit up, 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:26.679 you do all these things 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:28.720 in order to avoid 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.599 the gaze of Jesus. 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.000 Friends, 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.480 don't you see 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.639 how you can use religion, 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.899 even Christian devotion, 00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:36.619 as a way of avoiding 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.779 coming under the rule 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.980 and reign of King Jesus? 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.200 You think that 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:41.079 if you serve enough, 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.680 give enough, 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.519 do enough, 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.000 no one will notice 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.640 and you can fly 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.200 under the radar. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.980 You see how religious 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.180 devotion can be a way 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:48.880 of avoiding 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.099 the reign of Jesus, 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.420 the saving reign of Jesus? 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.980 But Jesus says 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.079 that if you want to encounter 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:55.200 the life transforming 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.420 power of the gospel, 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:58.380 if you really want to encounter 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.440 the life transforming 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.640 grace of Jesus 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.180 and the love of Christ, 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.519 you've got to come 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.059 to the place 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.660 where you see Jesus 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.279 for who he is 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.279 and you take hold of him 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:07.920 and you abandon 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:09.220 even religious devotion, 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:11.000 even religious duty 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.639 in order to take hold 00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.779 of who Jesus is. 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.399 Remember the apostle Paul, 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:17.000 he says in Philippians chapter 3, 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:19.139 that famous passage of scripture, 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.599 he says, 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:22.399 I once was extremely religious. 00:23:22.939 --> 00:23:23.779 I had my resume 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.619 all printed out, 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.679 top marks. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.779 I was the top of my class. 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:29.419 I was born to the right family. 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:29.980 I was tutored 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.000 by the right teachers. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.980 I was excelling 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.299 way above everyone else 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.939 in my age. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.759 I was a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:37.359 I had everything going for me 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:39.519 until one day 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.199 I discovered 00:23:40.199 --> 00:23:41.859 your surpassing worth 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:43.259 of the treasure 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.459 of heaven. 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:46.779 And now I consider 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.799 all those things 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.840 as rubbish, 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.680 as dung, 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:52.299 compared to the all-surpassing worth 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.660 of knowing Christ Jesus, 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.160 my Lord, 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.980 and taking hold 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.539 of the treasure 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:57.019 and becoming like him 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.799 and being found 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.600 in his likeness. 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.019 Friends, 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:03.880 sometimes we've got to give up 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.400 even our religious devotion 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.660 to take hold 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.180 of the treasure of Jesus. 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.720 For some of us, 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.319 lastly, 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:13.819 the thing that stops us 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.960 discovering the treasure 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.419 of Jesus 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:17.439 is not our religious devotion, 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:19.500 it's how irreligious we are, 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.419 how modern we are, 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.779 how authentic we are, 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.319 how woke we are. 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.859 We look at religious people 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:27.299 and we think, 00:24:27.399 --> 00:24:28.379 oh, they're so stuck up. 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.939 They're so full of themselves. 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.019 Well, at least I'm authentic. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.899 At least I'm not trying 00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:34.179 to pretend to be somebody 00:24:34.179 --> 00:24:34.859 that I'm not. 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:37.019 I'm authentic millennial, 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.480 right? 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.559 But friends, 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.279 don't you realize 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.759 that in your authenticity, 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.059 in your wokeness, 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.039 you can be just 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.039 as full of yourself 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.480 as the religious person 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.680 sitting next to you. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.180 Jesus says 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.680 the only way 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.379 to encounter 00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:50.440 the kingdom of God, 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.579 to really discover 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.059 who he is, 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:53.059 to see the beauty 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.960 of who he is, 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:56.000 is to lose ourselves 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:57.180 and to be enamored 00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.900 with who Christ is. 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.539 Friends, 00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:00.940 it's tempting 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.019 to look at Christianity 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.539 and think, 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.379 I've got the jade stone, 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.279 I've got the diamond, 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.680 now let me add a pearl 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:08.680 to my array of jewelry. 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.200 And Jesus says 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:10.940 that will not do. 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:12.600 That will not do. 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.460 You cannot add 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.100 a bit of Jesus 00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:14.799 to your life. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.580 You come to him 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:15.900 and you say, 00:25:16.060 --> 00:25:16.840 have your way. 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.039 Let me come 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.039 under your rule 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.620 and your authority. 00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.160 Jesus, 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:20.880 you are Lord 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.900 and I am yours. 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.420 You discover 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:25.180 the kingdom of heaven. 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.519 The kingdom of heaven 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.259 is like a merchant 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.660 in search of fine pearls 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.200 who in finding one 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:31.380 of great value, 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.820 exceedingly great value, 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:33.860 went away 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.759 and sold all 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.460 that he had 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.940 to take hold 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.560 of the pearl 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.519 of great price. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.599 No one enters 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.619 the kingdom by accident. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.359 The way into the kingdom 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.059 is also the way 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.619 of the kingdom. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.740 Thirdly, 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.299 the hindrance 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.799 is the kingdom 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.500 and finally, 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.440 the promise 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.099 of the king. 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:51.740 Now, 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:54.019 look at verse 44 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.079 with me again. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.339 Jesus says this, 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:58.259 the kingdom of heaven 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.700 is like a treasure 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.579 hidden in a field 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:02.500 which a man found 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.480 and covered up. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.440 Then in his extreme 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.879 misery and sadness, 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:08.040 he went 00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:08.800 and he bought 00:26:08.800 --> 00:26:09.500 that field 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.320 because that's 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.360 what God expected 00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:11.860 of him. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.740 Okay? 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:13.680 No, 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.700 that's not what it says. 00:26:15.020 --> 00:26:15.700 What does it say? 00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:16.760 The kingdom of heaven 00:26:16.760 --> 00:26:17.400 is like a man 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.340 that found a treasure 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.720 and he covered it up 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:21.140 in his great joy. 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.020 He went 00:26:22.020 --> 00:26:22.800 and sold all 00:26:22.800 --> 00:26:23.420 that he had. 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.380 He sold it 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.000 at a bargain. 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.620 He sold it 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:26.340 for a discount. 00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:28.320 Take whatever you want. 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.520 I just need your money. 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.580 Whatever it takes, 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.120 I must have 00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:33.220 that treasure. 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:35.180 Jesus promises 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.019 that being part 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.640 of his kingdom, 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.960 coming under the saving 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.740 rule and reign 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.900 of Jesus as king 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:41.460 is so valuable 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.519 that losing everything 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.440 you have on earth 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.480 to gain the kingdom 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.059 is a happy 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:48.220 and joyful 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:50.400 and worthwhile sacrifice. 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.519 Friends, 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.140 in some ways, 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.160 this describes 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.220 the job description 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.640 of the elder pastors 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.920 at Watermark Church. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.160 Our job 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.160 at Watermark Church 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.700 is to do 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.860 everything we can 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:03.820 to clear away 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:04.500 the dross, 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.460 to clear away 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.259 the haze 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.519 and to help us 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.259 to see 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.420 week in 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.240 and week out 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.980 the infinite glory 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:13.519 and the infinite worth 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.120 of Jesus 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:16.100 so that as a church 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:17.900 we can live lives 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.800 that say yes 00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:19.720 to you Christ 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.880 and not be 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.500 distracted 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.900 by the glitz 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.660 and the glamour 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.640 of the world 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.220 around us. 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.880 Our job 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.380 as elders 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.460 is to help us 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.040 not just 00:27:29.040 --> 00:27:30.140 accept Jesus 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:31.240 not just 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.300 admire him 00:27:32.300 --> 00:27:33.660 but to utterly 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.420 adore him. 00:27:35.060 --> 00:27:35.740 Our job 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.580 as elder pastors 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.540 is to help us 00:27:37.540 --> 00:27:38.300 not just 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:39.560 tolerate Jesus 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:41.940 but to treasure him 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:43.780 above all things. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.260 And friends, 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:45.740 can I say 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.420 that if you are 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.480 a parent here 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:49.840 that is your job too. 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.420 Your job 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.000 is not just 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.660 to provide 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.260 a house 00:27:53.260 --> 00:27:53.820 and a roof 00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:54.700 and clothing 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.360 and food 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:55.980 for your kids. 00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:57.000 That is an important job. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.059 Don't neglect that. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.579 Those social services 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.059 are going to come 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.640 knock on your door. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.359 Do that. 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.839 But don't just do that. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.400 Don't just get your kids 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.019 through school 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.839 and good grades 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.539 and university. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.900 Do all that you can 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.759 to help them 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.480 see the infinite worth 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.000 of Jesus. 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.140 That they won't 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:14.579 just admire Jesus 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.740 or accept him 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:17.160 they will utterly 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:17.839 adore him 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.759 and treasure him 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.920 above all things. 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.880 And can I press 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.539 a little further 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.519 and say men 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.839 you are the head 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.420 of your home. 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:26.019 It is primarily 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.099 your responsibility. 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.200 Don't sit back 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.940 and let someone else 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.299 do it. 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.200 Stand up. 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.259 Take responsibility. 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:33.500 Friends, 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.400 husbands, 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:34.960 wives, 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.500 parents, 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.500 this is our job. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.720 Jesus is saying 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.519 that for the one 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.059 who has eyes 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.599 to see it 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.319 give up everything 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.819 you have 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.660 it is totally 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.240 worth it 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.819 because of the 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.579 all surpassing 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.359 worth of Jesus. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:46.720 Friends, 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.440 let me ask you 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.940 what's holding you back? 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.920 What's that thing 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.240 that is so tempting 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.580 to earn your heart? 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.100 What is it 00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:56.080 that is so hard 00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:57.100 to give up for Jesus? 00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:58.820 Friends, 00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.720 that thing, 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:00.700 some boyfriend, 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.480 some girlfriend, 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.860 some career progression, 00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:04.420 some bank account, 00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:05.980 those things may be 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.960 a great gift from God. 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.480 They may be 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.539 a wonderful thing. 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.840 But are they still 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.440 going to be 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.440 the treasure 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.140 of your heart 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:13.820 in a hundred years 00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:14.240 from now? 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.380 Maybe in five years time 00:29:16.380 --> 00:29:17.180 they'll still be great, 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:17.559 wonderful. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.519 Ten years time, 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.220 maybe if you're 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.740 very lucky 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.680 50 years time 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.200 you'll still be 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.799 treasuring them. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:24.059 But in 200 years time 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.400 and a thousand years time 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:26.680 and a billion years 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.240 from now, 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.599 what are those things 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.379 going to mean to you? 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:31.440 Friends, 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.299 Jesus says 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.740 that if we 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:35.519 treasure Christ 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.379 supremely 00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.759 above all things 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:39.759 in one billion years 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.279 from now 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.900 that will still be 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.680 a joyful 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.099 and a worthwhile 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.220 transaction. 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.339 salvation. 00:29:47.100 --> 00:29:48.079 But as we come 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.480 to close, 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:49.660 here's another reason 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.420 why giving up 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.299 everything to follow 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:52.600 Jesus is a happy 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.259 trade-off. 00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:54.880 We spoke earlier 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.700 about Philippians 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.299 chapter 3. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.039 Remember, 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.779 very super famous 00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.220 verse, 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.559 the apostle Paul 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:00.839 says, 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.819 I had all these 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.759 things going for me 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:05.059 and then I 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.039 discovered Jesus 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.920 and I considered 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.539 them rubbish 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.160 compared to the 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:09.100 all-surpassing worth 00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:09.779 of knowing Christ 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.559 Jesus my Lord. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:11.940 And then Paul 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.660 goes on and he 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.160 says this, 00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:14.180 not that I have 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:15.400 already obtained 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:15.960 all this, 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.559 in other words, 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.539 not that I'm 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.120 perfect, 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:18.820 okay, 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.380 I'm going to, 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:19.980 but he says, 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:21.039 I press on 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.820 to make it my 00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:24.420 own because 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.600 Christ Jesus 00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:26.740 has made me 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.380 his own. 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.799 Okay, 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:29.460 so think about 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.080 this for a second. 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.700 I know this is 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.320 late in the sermon 00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:32.039 to get theological 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:33.059 but just stick with 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.779 me for two minutes, 00:30:33.840 --> 00:30:34.059 okay, 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.920 we're almost done. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.759 Paul says, 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:38.360 not that I've 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.259 got this all 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.920 sorted out, 00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:40.480 okay, 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.240 the way into the 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.720 kingdom is the 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.140 way of the 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.339 kingdom, 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:42.740 I'm going to 00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.299 carry on, 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.460 but I press 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.319 on day by 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.839 day to make 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.660 Christ Jesus 00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.279 my own, 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:49.099 to take hold 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:49.620 of Jesus 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:51.400 because he 00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.460 has already 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.299 taken hold 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:53.839 of me. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.059 What's Paul 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.460 saying? 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.099 Paul is 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.799 saying that 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.559 he continues 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.279 to take hold 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.960 of Jesus 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.700 knowing that 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.359 Jesus has 00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:04.880 taken hold 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:05.099 of him. 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.579 Paul is 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.620 saying that 00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.759 Jesus Christ 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.640 gave up the 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:09.620 glory and the 00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:10.319 treasure of 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.720 heaven, 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.259 to take 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:12.779 on the 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.620 mess and 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.200 the shame 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.720 of this 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.839 world and 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.480 the shame 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:16.880 of the 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:18.579 cross so 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.220 that we 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.400 broken people 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.019 can give 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.559 up the 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.220 mess and 00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:23.759 the shame 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.099 of our 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:25.039 false gods 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.180 in order 00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:27.539 to embrace 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.200 the treasure 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.559 that is 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:28.900 heaven. 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:29.720 You see 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.680 the exchange 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:30.960 there? 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.579 Jesus gave 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.160 up heaven 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.000 to take 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.299 on the 00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:34.660 mess of 00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.200 this world 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.059 so that we 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.460 can turn 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:36.880 our backs 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.200 on the 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.500 mess of 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:37.980 this world 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:39.740 and embrace 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.440 the treasure 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.220 of heaven. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.460 Jesus says 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.120 I will 00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:43.860 embrace the 00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.380 shame of 00:31:44.380 --> 00:31:44.819 the cross 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.339 so that you 00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.079 can embrace 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:47.180 the treasure 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.440 of heaven. 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.120 Friends, 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:50.500 in the 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:50.860 gospel, 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:52.779 Jesus Christ 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.480 had it all. 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.259 He had it 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.579 all in 00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:55.860 heaven. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.559 But because 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:57.920 of his 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.860 infinite love 00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.500 for you and 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.160 because he 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.779 knows how 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:01.319 much you 00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.620 and I 00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:02.279 need him, 00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:03.960 Jesus gave 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.460 that up 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.960 to walk 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:07.059 in the 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.559 shame and 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:07.900 the mess 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.160 and the 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:08.539 brokenness 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:08.819 of our 00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:09.279 world 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.500 so that 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:10.980 we can 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.460 turn our 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:11.880 backs 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.779 on the 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.180 mess and 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.559 the shame 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:13.799 and the 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.380 brokenness 00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:14.759 of the 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.160 things that 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:15.660 capture our 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.000 heart's 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.440 attention 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.740 and can 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.220 have the 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.680 treasure of 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:18.980 heaven 00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.980 and can 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.539 have Jesus 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.160 himself. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.319 Friends, 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:23.940 Jesus gave 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:24.340 it all 00:32:24.340 --> 00:32:25.860 so that we 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.279 can have 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:26.539 him. 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.120 And now 00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:28.680 he asks 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.279 us to give 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.039 up a very 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.900 small thing, 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.380 a counterfeit 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:32.799 God, 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:34.159 a false 00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:34.579 idol, 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.180 a worthless 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.700 treasure, 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:37.859 that we 00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.559 may have 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.680 eternal 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.119 treasure. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.299 Friends, 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:41.759 this is why 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.299 we gather 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:42.859 at church 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.519 on Sundays. 00:32:43.919 --> 00:32:45.000 Six days 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.339 a week 00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:45.720 we're being 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.960 told money 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.419 is your 00:32:47.419 --> 00:32:47.799 life, 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.680 relationships 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.139 are your 00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:49.460 life, 00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.639 sex is 00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.180 your life, 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.099 career 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:53.019 progression 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.460 is your 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:53.799 life, 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.019 grades are 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.559 your life, 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.819 and once a 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.119 week we 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:57.619 gather to 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.299 remind ourselves 00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:58.680 no, 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:58.899 no, 00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.180 no, 00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.740 that is not 00:32:59.740 --> 00:32:59.980 true, 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.659 Jesus is 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:01.139 our life. 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.259 Those are 00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:02.539 false 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:02.940 treasures, 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.000 Jesus is 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.500 the treasure 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.980 above all 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.299 treasures. 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:06.660 Jesus and 00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:07.220 his saving 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:07.799 rule and 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.240 reign in 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:08.720 our lives 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.299 is utterly 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.180 glorious and 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:10.779 worth it all. 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:11.839 And of 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.279 course one 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.879 hour a week 00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:13.379 is not going 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:13.859 to be enough 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.519 and so day 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.220 by day we 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.740 wake up in 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.160 the mornings 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:16.440 and we 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.940 get into 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.339 God's 00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:18.839 word in 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.259 order that 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:19.960 we go out 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.460 that week 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.119 to withstand 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.720 the onslaught 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:22.019 and to 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.519 remember Jesus 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.079 is the 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.839 treasure above 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.519 all treasures. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.680 Friends, 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.259 he is no 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.279 fool who 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:28.920 gives up what 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.299 he cannot 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:30.720 keep in 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.200 order to 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.799 gain what 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.319 he cannot 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.000 lose. 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:35.879 Jesus gave 00:33:35.879 --> 00:33:36.379 up heaven 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:37.119 so that we 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:37.839 can gain 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.460 that which 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.819 we cannot 00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.180 lose. 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:39.599 Friends, 00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:40.079 can I invite 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.220 you? 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.779 Can I call 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.079 you this 00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:41.279 day? 00:33:42.119 --> 00:33:42.359 Why don't 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:42.759 you turn 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.180 your back 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:43.460 on the 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.039 things that 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.519 are tempted 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.039 to own 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.559 your heart? 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:46.839 What's holding 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.359 you back? 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.639 The thing 00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:48.879 that you 00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:49.440 tempted to 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:49.779 love and 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.379 adore above 00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:50.680 all else? 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.039 The thing 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.359 that you've 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:51.899 come under 00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.500 its rule and 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.099 its authority, 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:53.919 its reign in 00:33:53.919 --> 00:33:54.379 your life? 00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.379 Friends, 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:55.839 did it ever 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.299 go to the 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.720 cross for 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:56.839 you? 00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:58.220 Did it ever 00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.659 lay down 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.560 its life 00:33:59.560 --> 00:33:59.940 for you? 00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:01.640 Did it ever 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:03.720 die on the 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.140 cross for 00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:04.300 you? 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.600 Jesus Christ 00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:05.880 did. 00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:07.500 Jesus loves 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:07.920 you so 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.619 supremely he 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.059 went to the 00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.440 cross for 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.619 you that 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.200 we in 00:34:11.200 --> 00:34:12.240 order can 00:34:12.240 --> 00:34:12.720 have the 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.980 treasure that 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.280 is here. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:14.840 Let's pray 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.260 together. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:17.180 Let's pray. 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.360 Lord Jesus 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.180 Christ, we 00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:22.000 acknowledge the 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.559 words of Richard 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.280 Baxter are so 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:23.539 true. 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.159 These words 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:24.659 don't need 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.639 great explanation. 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.500 They're pretty 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:26.800 clear. 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.260 they need 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.580 greater 00:34:27.580 --> 00:34:28.360 consideration. 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.539 Father, the 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.700 familiarity with 00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:32.920 these famous 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:35.260 passages is 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:35.700 challenging. 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.480 God, we 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.660 pray that you 00:34:38.660 --> 00:34:40.380 will arrest 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.080 our hearts. 00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:42.660 It's so 00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.240 tempting to 00:34:43.240 --> 00:34:43.780 nod our heads 00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.380 and say, yes, 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.000 the kingdom is 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.340 valuable. 00:34:45.560 --> 00:34:45.960 Yes, the 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.380 kingdom is 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:46.880 worthwhile. 00:34:47.680 --> 00:34:48.280 Jesus, won't 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.000 you pierce 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.519 through our 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.140 head nodding 00:34:50.140 --> 00:34:51.760 apathy and 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.440 open the eyes 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:53.160 of our hearts 00:34:53.160 --> 00:34:54.180 to see you 00:34:54.180 --> 00:34:54.840 for who you 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.420 really are. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.900 Jesus, come 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.160 and have 00:34:58.160 --> 00:34:58.519 your way 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:58.820 in our 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.160 life, we 00:34:59.160 --> 00:34:59.400 pray. 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.120 Father, where 00:35:02.120 --> 00:35:02.700 we've tempted 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.760 to love and 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.400 adore and 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.019 trust other 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:06.500 things, won't 00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:06.880 you forgive 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.240 us? 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:09.120 We want to 00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:09.580 turn to you 00:35:09.580 --> 00:35:10.039 in faith and 00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:10.420 repentance. 00:35:10.580 --> 00:35:10.800 Won't you 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:11.340 give us the 00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:11.840 faith to 00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.400 turn to you? 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.260 We pray. 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.620 Jesus, come 00:35:17.620 --> 00:35:18.300 and help us. 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.220 Help us to 00:35:21.220 --> 00:35:21.700 turn to you, 00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:22.100 we pray. 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:24.319 in your 00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:24.960 great and 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.699 gracious name, 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.259 amen. 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.279 I want to 00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:30.000 ask us to 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:31.500 respond differently. 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.179 I think we 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:33.599 got two 00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.259 questions up 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:34.440 there. 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:34.819 I want to 00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.339 ask you just 00:35:35.339 --> 00:35:36.139 to take two 00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:37.579 minutes and 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:37.920 maybe you 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.440 want to write 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.059 it down on 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.960 your phone or 00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.440 on the 00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.039 bulletin if 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.380 you've got a 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:41.759 pen with 00:35:41.759 --> 00:35:41.960 you. 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.559 What is it 00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.480 that Jesus 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:45.179 is saying to 00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:45.460 you this 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.719 morning? 00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.259 And then 00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:48.799 secondly, how 00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.119 are you going 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.639 to respond? 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:51.099 And a 00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:51.599 good way to 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.159 start off a 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:53.239 response is 00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:54.119 these words, 00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:55.159 Heavenly Father 00:35:55.159 --> 00:35:56.219 dot dot dot. 00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:58.440 Heavenly Father, 00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.299 I come before 00:35:59.299 --> 00:35:59.619 you this 00:35:59.619 --> 00:35:59.839 morning. 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.500 Heavenly Father, 00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.420 I need you. 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.559 Heavenly Father, 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.079 come and help 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:05.879 me to see the 00:36:05.879 --> 00:36:06.539 treasure that is 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:06.859 Jesus. 00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:08.859 What's Jesus 00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:09.420 saying to you? 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:09.980 How is he 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.539 calling you to 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:10.920 respond? 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.539 Let's take a 00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:12.980 few minutes to 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:13.480 do that and 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.359 then Ellen's 00:36:14.359 --> 00:36:15.179 going to sing 00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:15.839 and lead us 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:16.799 and we can 00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.539 stand when 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.059 maybe Ellen 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:18.579 can tell us 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.179 to stand at a 00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:19.819 certain point. 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:20.759 But in the 00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:21.179 beginning, let's 00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.779 just listen to 00:36:21.779 --> 00:36:22.259 the words and 00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:22.539 then we'll 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.179 take communion 00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:24.579 after that.