WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.540 Please grant me the peace and all those things that I need to do. 00:00:03.060 --> 00:00:05.400 But it's always good to have her here and good to be with family. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:07.280 And good to be with our church family. 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:09.720 So if you found your place there in the Gospel of Luke, chapter number 9, 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:12.759 we're going to read verse 51 down through the end of the chapter. 00:00:13.200 --> 00:00:14.220 And the Bible says this, 00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:18.760 And it came to pass when the time was come that he should be received up, 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:22.080 he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:24.820 and sent messengers before his face, 00:00:24.820 --> 00:00:29.060 and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him. 00:00:30.019 --> 00:00:33.820 And they did not receive him because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 00:00:34.519 --> 00:00:38.019 And when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:43.119 Lord, will thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:44.619 even as Elias did? 00:00:44.879 --> 00:00:46.060 And we're going to talk about this in a second, 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:50.679 but they tried to spiritualize calling fire down from heaven on these people. 00:00:50.739 --> 00:00:52.899 And they were like, Lord, this just sounds like a great idea. 00:00:53.340 --> 00:00:56.939 And I love what, maybe you thought that this week with the co-worker. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:00:59.599 Lord, would you call fire down from heaven? 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.899 But Jesus would probably have the same response that he did to them. 00:01:02.979 --> 00:01:05.519 But he turned and rebuked them and said, 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:08.099 Ye know not what manner of spirit you are. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:13.319 For the Son of Man has not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. 00:01:14.039 --> 00:01:15.680 And they went to another village. 00:01:16.479 --> 00:01:19.019 And it came to pass that as they went in the way, 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:23.579 A certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:27.819 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and the bird of the air have nests, 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:30.299 but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.140 And he said unto another, This is Jesus, follow me. 00:01:35.259 --> 00:01:38.079 But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:42.159 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:43.500 Like, yikes. 00:01:44.259 --> 00:01:45.039 Man, that's harsh. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:49.340 But go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 00:01:50.460 --> 00:01:52.980 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee. 00:01:53.800 --> 00:01:57.680 But let me first go and bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 00:01:58.580 --> 00:02:06.640 And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:02:07.380 --> 00:02:13.020 As we've seen here in Luke chapter 9, Jesus is really getting ready to move towards Jerusalem. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:14.460 He's always been heading that way. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:16.739 He's always been heading to the cross. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.780 Before the foundation of the world, he was heading that direction. 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:26.239 But really in the gospel, this marks this moment where he is set towards Jerusalem. 00:02:26.819 --> 00:02:28.959 And he's been kind of getting his disciples ready. 00:02:29.079 --> 00:02:32.399 He's been letting them know, Hey, when you follow me, this is what it looks like. 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:33.959 Discipleship is costly. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:38.359 If any man follow me, let him come after me and deny himself and to take up his cross daily. 00:02:38.859 --> 00:02:41.799 And so he let them know, Hey, I'm not looking for all these fans. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:43.960 I'm looking for true followers. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:56.280 So as we kind of come to this close of this chapter, Jesus is letting them know and he's reminding us today that when we follow Jesus, it's wherever, it's whenever, and it's whatever. 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:59.979 That's what true discipleship looks like. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:03.180 And I think there's going to be some great truths we can take home with us this morning. 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:04.300 But first, let's go to him in prayer. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:05.699 Father, thank you for this time together. 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:10.280 Thank you for the songs that have prepared our hearts and reminded us of your goodness to us. 00:03:10.819 --> 00:03:12.740 Lord, thank you for those that are here this morning. 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:14.139 And I don't know the needs. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:15.219 I don't know the situations. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:17.060 They may be facing their life, but you do. 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:21.039 And Lord, I pray you would meet them right where they are, Lord, that you would speak to their hearts. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:25.859 I pray there is someone here that does not know you as their Savior that today would be that day. 00:03:26.620 --> 00:03:31.239 Lord, maybe there are those that do know you, but they're not following like you've called us to follow. 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:32.199 And I pray you would help us. 00:03:32.239 --> 00:03:36.280 You would help us to respond and not just to be hearers of the word, to be doers as well. 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:37.379 I pray you'd be with me now. 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:38.939 You'd empty me of self, Lord. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:39.899 Cleanse me of sin, Lord. 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:43.859 Help me say the things that need to be said and the things that don't I would not say. 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:46.819 Lord, I pray you would just be with us now and I ask these things in Christ's name. 00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:47.719 Amen. 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:48.680 Thank you so much for standing. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:49.079 You may be seated. 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:51.840 There's two types of people here today. 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:54.480 People that love sports and weirdos. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:56.840 Okay. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:03:58.220 Maybe you shouldn't have said that. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:00.460 I thought about not saying it, but it's just what it is. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:02.439 And you've been around me. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:04.960 Most of you have been around me enough that you know that I do love sports. 00:04:05.160 --> 00:04:07.460 And some of you are diehard fans like me. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:11.720 And, you know, I can't remember what my wife tells me yesterday, but I can name every player, every stat. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:15.260 I know when they were born, what's going on, all the situations. 00:04:15.340 --> 00:04:17.160 You know, important things in life. 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:22.240 And, yes, we have a friendly college football rivalry here at Central Baptist. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:25.379 But, really, my favorite sport is basketball. 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:27.340 I'm passionate about it. 00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:30.740 I was certain in the middle school I was going to the NBA. 00:04:31.699 --> 00:04:34.500 Did not quite work out quite like I thought it would. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:36.360 So, I did the next best thing. 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:38.480 I just went all in on being a fan. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.100 And I'm a big fan of the Dallas Mavericks, Fire Niko. 00:04:41.280 --> 00:04:43.840 And I'm very passionate about the Dallas Mavericks. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:45.800 And I love watching the team. 00:04:46.020 --> 00:04:51.960 And I remember 2011, we won the NBA championship. 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:56.740 And I take a lot of credit for that because I watched all the games. 00:04:56.840 --> 00:04:57.500 I cheered for them. 00:04:57.520 --> 00:04:58.520 I went to some of the games. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:05.159 I shouted at the television to inform the referees of the horrendous calls they were making at the time. 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:06.899 You know, I wore the jersey. 00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:08.799 Kenzie was just born. 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:10.219 So, she was my good luck charm. 00:05:10.299 --> 00:05:11.159 Not that we believe in that. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:12.579 But, in sports, we do believe in that. 00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:16.959 And when we'd win, I'd hold her up like Simba on the Lion King. 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:19.299 You know, like this is how it goes. 00:05:20.479 --> 00:05:24.839 In conversations, some of you have even called me out about this and the Aggies. 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:25.919 I do say we. 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:28.979 I mean, like we need to do this and we just did that. 00:05:29.179 --> 00:05:30.759 And, you know, because I'm all in. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.619 I am a diehard fan. 00:05:33.719 --> 00:05:35.779 And I'm going to cheer with them. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:37.319 I'm going to cry with them sometimes. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:42.779 But the sad thing is, is when the Mavs won the championship, nobody gave me a championship ring. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:44.359 I kept waiting. 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:47.259 I kept going and checking my mail, seeing when's the ring going to come in. 00:05:48.179 --> 00:05:50.739 My wife just told me, listen, you're not on the team. 00:05:51.239 --> 00:05:52.259 You're just a fan. 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:55.339 You're just kind of, you're there. 00:05:55.659 --> 00:06:03.420 And I know it's a silly illustration, but I want us to see there's a big difference between being a fan and being on the actual team. 00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:07.560 Being a player that's on the court or on the field. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.399 You see, a fan gets excited when things are going well. 00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:14.159 And it was not going well for me the beginning of last night in the first half. 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:16.219 And some of you, thank you for not texting me. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:20.199 My mother-in-law, I was going to call fire down from heaven. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:21.240 Let's just say what it is. 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:23.459 I had to walk away. 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:25.620 You know, if you're on the team, you can't just walk away. 00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:26.500 You've got to stay on the field. 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:30.740 See, a follower stays faithful when things get tough. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:34.019 See, a fan sets in the stands and cheers. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:40.699 But the follower, the player, takes the field and moves forward in the mission. 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:43.939 And that's kind of really what we've seen here in Luke chapter 9. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:49.139 That Jesus is, he's had these followers, he's had these disciples and there's been others that have come alongside. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:53.920 But Jesus wasn't looking for people that admired him from a distance. 00:06:54.719 --> 00:06:58.240 He didn't say, follow me and watch all the cool things I can do. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.860 No, he's looking for people who will walk closely with him. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:04.680 That are on the same page. 00:07:04.780 --> 00:07:06.680 That are on the same mission. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:13.220 And I think sometimes we can get it mixed up in our own life that Christianity is not about knowing about Jesus. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:17.439 No, that Christianity is about knowing him personally. 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:21.300 That's where our life is and that's what it's rooted in. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:27.720 When Jesus says, follow me, when he was talking to the disciples, and by the way, the call still rings today. 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:31.960 He's not saying, hey, just watch how the mission works. 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:33.819 Sit back and enjoy it. 00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:36.280 Sit back and enjoy the show. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:37.980 No, he's saying, join in. 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:45.560 That God intends for every single person, whether you're going to Italy or you're going to work tomorrow, to be on mission. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:47.740 And that's what he's teaching here. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:53.319 So the question that every person must answer is this. 00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:58.439 Am I a fan of Jesus or am I a follower of Jesus? 00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:03.680 Because there's a lot of fans and we're going to meet some fans here this morning in the text. 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:08.800 And really that question, it sets the stage for the passage before us. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:19.939 See, here in Luke 9, what Jesus has been doing is he's drawing a clear line between the crowd that cheers him and the disciples who truly follow him. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:22.180 That's what he's wanting us to understand. 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:25.240 And we begin our text here in verse number 51. 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:30.300 And really, Luke is showing us kind of the turning point of Jesus' earthly ministry. 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:39.500 See, up to this point, Jesus was, his ministry was centered in Galilee and he was teaching and he was healing and he was feeding thousands. 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:44.500 He was revealing his identity through his compassion and his power and his message. 00:08:45.560 --> 00:08:48.399 And the crowd, the crowds have started following. 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:50.259 Some out of curiosity. 00:08:51.060 --> 00:08:55.720 I mean, if you heard somebody's just making bread just reappear all over the place, you'd line up too. 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:58.980 I would line up. 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:03.620 If somebody said, hey, this guy over here, he just makes Texas Roadhouse Rolls just keep coming. 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:05.399 And cinnamon butter just keeps coming. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:08.139 Y'all would all leave right now and go find where this guy is. 00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:10.320 But he's drawing crowds. 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:12.279 Some are really trying to figure out who he is. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.960 But some are just thinking, hey, I'm hungry. 00:09:14.040 --> 00:09:15.180 Let's go see where this guy is. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:17.100 Hey, I want to see some cool miracle. 00:09:17.460 --> 00:09:19.220 And the curiosity has grown. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:22.000 But with that, the opposition has begun to build. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:27.200 And Jesus here in verse number 51, this is not just a travel note. 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:30.320 It's not saying, hey, he's just kind of moving towards Jerusalem. 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:32.600 No, the Bible says, when the time was come. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:35.820 You see, God does everything in his perfect timing. 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:39.919 Because when you really read the Gospels, he would say this often, my time's not yet come. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:43.059 And when they would ask him to do something, he said, the time is not now. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:44.620 But the time is now. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:49.179 That he has set his face steadfastly towards Jerusalem. 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:51.259 That he is locked in. 00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:53.120 That he is on mission. 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:55.859 And that phrase is simply just a divine appointment. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.819 A moment fixed in time by the Father. 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:02.519 And Jesus knows exactly where he's going and why he's going. 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:05.799 He's going to Jerusalem not for a crown. 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:07.759 He's going for the cross. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.939 And he's been trying to get his disciples on the same page. 00:10:11.079 --> 00:10:13.719 Because they're pretty sure they're about to be elevated. 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:19.980 They're pretty sure they're about to gather all of these things and have a little bit of power and prestige. 00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:22.980 But that's not how it's going to go. 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:26.840 And he's wanting them to understand the truth. 00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:30.240 But as we read these first few verses of our text. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:33.019 And we're going to walk through it quickly just to give us a little bit of background. 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:37.700 See, on the way to Jerusalem, he was rejected by the Samaritans. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:43.280 And see, we look at Jesus' ministry and today we kind of have this, man, it must have been awesome. 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:43.980 And it was. 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:47.180 But Jesus received a lot of rejection as well. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:51.000 That not every time the gospel was preached, everybody was excited. 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:53.480 Not every time somebody was healed, they think, wow, praise the Lord. 00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:55.740 No, many times they said, let's kill this guy. 00:10:56.640 --> 00:10:57.860 He received it a lot. 00:10:57.940 --> 00:10:59.680 But here he does as well. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:02.879 But he sends the disciples and says, listen, I'm going to Jerusalem. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.160 But let's stop in Samaria. 00:11:04.400 --> 00:11:05.480 Let's stop in these villages. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:07.040 And let's preach the gospel. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:08.779 Let's preach the message of the kingdom. 00:11:09.939 --> 00:11:10.679 And he goes there. 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:13.459 And the Bible says in verse number 53 that they didn't receive him. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:17.139 Because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:19.399 Now to us, we kind of just read through that. 00:11:19.459 --> 00:11:23.899 And we're thinking, why did James and John just lose their mind and try to call fire down from heaven? 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:27.379 See, the Samaritans were descendants of the Jews. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:33.299 But they had intermarried with the Assyrian foreigners kind of after the conquest a long time ago in the Old Testament. 00:11:33.599 --> 00:11:34.899 Right around 2 Kings. 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:39.419 And many of the Samaritans, they believed, they would say they believed in the same God. 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.100 They accepted the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses. 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.379 But they really rejected Jerusalem. 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:48.659 They rejected the place that God had really set up for worship. 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:51.699 And instead, they built their own temple on Mount Gerizim. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:54.639 And claimed that that's where God should be worshipped. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:58.439 If you remember the woman at the well, she said that when she's having this conversation with Jesus. 00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:59.659 She said, why do we need to go to Jerusalem? 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.860 We have our own mountain here. 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:03.460 And Jesus was speaking to her there. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:10.820 But really, because of all of that situation, because of their intermarrying and their religious views, 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:16.659 by the time of Christ, there was deep hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans. 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:21.740 In fact, so much so that Samaria was kind of located in the middle of Israel. 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:27.299 If you lived in the north side, you would go all the way around Samaria to the south side, 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:29.259 just so you didn't have to see a Samaritan. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.519 Just so you didn't have to talk to them. 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:33.360 I mean, you talk about, like, hatred. 00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:35.419 You don't even want to see them. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:37.779 You don't even want to have a conversation with them. 00:12:38.680 --> 00:12:42.360 Because when a Jew walked through Samaria, they were asking for conflict. 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:46.940 So that's kind of where this rejection comes from. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:49.980 So the disciples show up and say, hey, we're going to stop here. 00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:50.920 We're going to set some things up. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.500 Jesus is about to come preach because he's on the way to Jerusalem. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.200 And when they heard that, it was a direct insult. 00:12:58.800 --> 00:13:00.720 And they wanted nothing to do with it. 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:04.380 Listen, they were not rejecting Jesus because they didn't recognize him. 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:10.020 They were rejecting Jesus because he didn't fit their prejudice and expectations. 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:12.780 That was the issue. 00:13:13.540 --> 00:13:15.640 And let me remind us, that's still the issue today. 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:20.220 That we don't get to pick and choose what kind of Jesus we want. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:23.840 He's not some buddy that we put in our pocket to help us out. 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:26.379 No, no, he is who he is. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:28.419 And they didn't like the expectation. 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:31.879 They said, hey, if he really loves us, then he'll do what we want him to do. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.819 Listen, you don't want to serve a God like that, by the way. 00:13:35.699 --> 00:13:39.740 Because I know I get my own self in trouble because I think I know what's best for me, and I don't. 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:41.220 And my wife says, see, I told you so. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:42.899 We all are there. 00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:44.419 But that's kind of where they are. 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:47.740 See, their message to the disciples was essentially this. 00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:51.719 If he's going to Jerusalem, he's not welcome here. 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:55.339 And James and John, man, they got hot. 00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:58.059 And they come to Jesus, real spiritual. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.059 Lord, you know, we've been reading our Old Testament. 00:14:00.939 --> 00:14:01.899 And we love Elijah. 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:02.979 He's a great prophet. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.279 You know what I think we should do? 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:06.879 Call fire down from heaven and kill these Samaritans. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:09.899 I hope we get to see this in heaven. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:13.620 I wonder, Jesus is thinking, you thought that's the best idea? 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:17.059 Of all the ideas, you thought, here's what we're going to do. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.299 Kill them with fire. 00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:21.100 I wonder if James, well, it was actually John's idea. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.399 I mean, I'm just here. 00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:22.879 I'm his brother. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.980 I can't really get around that situation. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:26.420 But there's all this frustration. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:31.899 And the sad thing is, as we've walked through chapter 9, they just keep missing the point. 00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:34.600 He keeps saying, it's about following me. 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.980 It's about denying yourself. 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.740 No, they didn't want that. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:40.600 They felt like it was their job to protect Jesus. 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:46.659 But what Jesus does in verse number 55 and verse 56, he rebukes them and he tells them, verse 56, 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:51.100 for the Son of Man has not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:57.120 He's saying, guys, I have been drilling this home over and over. 00:14:57.320 --> 00:15:01.000 You know, it's kind of like when your parents, how many times do I have to tell you? 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.700 Anybody ever heard that growing up? 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.279 Yeah. 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:06.160 Who heard it on the way to church this morning? 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.100 Anybody? 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:08.580 Husbands. 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.519 I'm sorry. 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:15.379 But that one statement is the heart of his mission. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:21.159 We're going to see later in Luke 19, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:26.800 The disciples' spirit was retaliation, but Jesus is always redemption. 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.060 They wanted to burn their enemies. 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:32.860 Jesus has come to die for all the world. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:38.639 They wanted to win a fight, but Jesus wanted to win their heart and their soul. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:44.919 And if we're going to join Jesus on his mission, we must understand his mission. 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:48.539 Because there's a lot of people when they hear about you, oh yeah, I'm for Jesus. 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.779 Man, I'll cheer for him. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:51.120 I'm all about it. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.539 We need to make sure we understand what we're committing to. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:57.919 That when it comes to following Christ, it's not about comfort. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.719 It's not about conquest. 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:02.299 It's really about the cross of Calvary. 00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.860 That's why we're here this morning. 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:04.659 That's what we sing about. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.079 That's what we preach about. 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:10.079 Because that's where the cross of Calvary is what changes lives. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:20.600 And right after this kind of instance in the Samaritan village, Luke introduces three brief encounters of people who say, man, I want to be on mission. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:22.720 I want to live for Christ. 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:24.580 I want to follow him. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:30.480 But each one wants to do it on their own terms. 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:33.120 Anybody like to do things on their own terms? 00:16:33.900 --> 00:16:36.740 Like, I'll do it, but I'm going to do it this way. 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:41.460 Okay, you know, we'll say, all right, well, if we can move this around, then I'll be in that. 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:44.440 But that's not how Jesus calls us to follow him. 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:47.659 That's not what we see in our text here this morning. 00:16:49.100 --> 00:17:00.120 See, to join Jesus and to be on mission with him means saying yes to wherever he leads, whenever he calls, and whatever he asks. 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:04.859 That's what he laid out there in verse number 23 of chapter number 9. 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:09.059 And if we're going to do that, we must be willing to walk that same road. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.779 It's a road of surrender, not comfort. 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.899 It's a road of obedience, not convenience. 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:21.679 And it doesn't mean that your life is going to be horrible, but there are going to be things that we're going to have to deny ourselves and live for Christ. 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.839 And he wanted them to know that. 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:27.599 And as we walk through our text, we're going to see a few things. 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:30.619 We're going to see what a true disciple looks like, how they follow. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:35.879 And the true disciples of Christ follow wherever. 00:17:37.199 --> 00:17:39.039 The test of location. 00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:41.839 They were willing to do that. 00:17:42.199 --> 00:17:43.579 We see that in verse number 57. 00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:47.459 And it came to pass that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:50.679 Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 00:17:50.979 --> 00:17:52.479 I think he was proud of himself. 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.879 Jesus came and said, 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:55.700 Hello, Jesus. 00:17:56.760 --> 00:17:59.680 I will follow you whithersoever thou goest. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.980 And it sounds noble, doesn't it? 00:18:02.540 --> 00:18:04.580 I mean, you think, yeah, sure, we should do that. 00:18:04.760 --> 00:18:06.980 I mean, we sing, I will follow, I will follow. 00:18:07.060 --> 00:18:08.560 We sing all the songs like that. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:12.800 And maybe he's seen the miracles and he wants in on some of that excitement. 00:18:13.060 --> 00:18:15.220 Hey, Jesus, I'm all about that right there. 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.940 Hey, I'm excited. 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:19.340 Wherever you want to take me, I'm going to go. 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:24.000 And Matthew's account tells us that this man was a scribe. 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.419 He was educated. 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.359 He was respected. 00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.519 He was religious. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:33.720 And he's willingly offering all of his knowledge and all of his services to Jesus. 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:37.619 But Jesus gives a weird answer in verse 58. 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.619 And he said unto him, 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:43.980 Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, 00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:47.879 but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.400 What is Jesus saying? 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:55.800 He's telling this man that was kind of used to a life of comfort and convenience, 00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:58.940 listen, following me is not comfortable. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.980 This was a man that lived in a plush life and he had the opportunities of education 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:07.180 and kind of the upper crust of society. 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:10.040 And Jesus is not pushing him away, 00:19:10.760 --> 00:19:14.000 but he's saying if you're going to follow me, you have to count the cost. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:18.220 You have to put in the work, so to speak. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.420 And here's the reality when it comes to our lives, 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:25.500 that walking with Jesus, it sometimes means embracing uncertainty. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:29.099 I love uncertainty, said no one. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.819 Now you want to know what you're getting into. 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.680 You want to know what's going on. 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:35.680 You want to know kind of how it's going to play out. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:38.019 Sometimes it means embracing inconvenience. 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:41.180 Americans love being inconvenienced. 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.920 Just try it. 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:46.700 I tell you all the time, when the light turns green, just sit there. 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:51.839 I mean, it's five seconds and they are just laying the horn on you. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.900 We don't want to be inconvenienced in any way. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.940 Sometimes it means embracing rejection. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.660 He just experienced that. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:03.639 And what are we going to do when we feel rejected for maybe living for Christ at work? 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:05.299 Call fire down from heaven? 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.159 That's what Jesus is showing. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:08.680 That's not how we walk. 00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:11.399 Listen, Jesus didn't promise a pillow. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.259 He didn't promise ease. 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:16.720 He promised a cross to these men that we're going to take it up and live for him. 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:19.440 This man said, I'll follow you wherever. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.319 And Jesus said, what about there? 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:25.339 And I think that's where the question comes to us this morning. 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:27.180 Kind of where the rubber meets the road. 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:34.639 Discipleship gets real when wherever turns into a specific place or a specific person. 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:41.259 Maybe Jesus is asking you and I asked you this morning, where's there for you? 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.220 Maybe it's at home. 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.940 That God's calling you, hey, I want you to be all in there. 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:51.240 Does your love for Christ shape how you treat your family? 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.119 How you treat your siblings? 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.859 How you treat your spouse? 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.240 How you treat your parents? 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.740 Does the love of Christ, does it do that for you? 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:01.359 Because here's what Jesus is saying, I want you to serve there. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:04.359 Well, you say, well, that's where I let my hair down. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.559 You know, that's where I kind of just can clock out for just a few minutes. 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.639 That's not what Jesus calls us to do. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:12.799 Listen, maybe there is work. 00:21:13.959 --> 00:21:15.259 Maybe it's school, young people. 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.839 And you say, I'm going to follow Christ. 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:20.039 It's real easy to say it on a Sunday morning. 00:21:20.219 --> 00:21:21.819 It's real easy to say it at youth camp. 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.119 But tomorrow's coming. 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.359 Monday's coming. 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:27.179 Work's coming. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.099 School's coming. 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:33.980 And that decision that you were so passionate about, Jesus says, what about there? 00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:38.480 He's called a service. 00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:45.500 I can imagine what Brother David wrestled with because I was there when the Lord called me to preach. 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:48.919 Man, I had all my plans set out. 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.599 I'm going to do this. 00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.839 I'm going to go to college here. 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:52.079 I'll let you guess where that was. 00:21:52.199 --> 00:21:53.279 And I'm going to go to college there. 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.019 And I'm going to do this. 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.099 I'm going to do all these things. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.359 And the Lord's like, I want you to preach. 00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:57.819 I'm like, absolutely not. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:00.099 Preachers are old and no fun. 00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:02.619 That's what I said to him. 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:04.740 But now they're awesome. 00:22:05.419 --> 00:22:06.939 Preachers are the best people I know. 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:13.480 Maybe it's not Italy for you. 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.619 But it is this situation. 00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:19.639 It is that workplace that you're trying to run from. 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:22.300 But the Lord has actually placed you there because somebody needs the gospel. 00:22:23.560 --> 00:22:25.500 It's that person in class that you have to sit next to. 00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:27.040 And you've asked the teacher, can I change desk? 00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:28.200 I don't want to sit next to this person. 00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:31.440 But maybe the Lord has placed you in that desk for a specific reason. 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.360 Maybe it's online. 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:37.300 Does your testimony or that post, does it reflect the character of God? 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.940 Because Jesus said, well, what about there? 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.880 What about there? 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:43.300 That's where God is calling us to. 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:46.019 Listen, I love the song, I Surrender All. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.639 But sometimes, if I'm honest, my life hums, I surrender some. 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:52.579 Lord, I'll give you this and this, but not there. 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.159 That's my place. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.980 That's my thing. 00:22:56.859 --> 00:23:01.659 See, following Jesus wherever means that nothing is off limits from his lordship. 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.579 Because he's in control. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.460 We're not on our mission. 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.420 We're on his mission. 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:14.200 And so we see that following Jesus isn't just about where he leads, but it's also about when he leads. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.779 See, the next man shows us the discipleship. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:21.819 It requires surrender of our comfort, but also surrender of our timing. 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:28.600 Jesus not only wants our willingness to go anywhere, but he wants our readiness to go as well. 00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:30.400 That's what he's looking for. 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:32.940 So we see number two, we see the whenever. 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:35.779 However, the test of timing. 00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:39.140 Jesus offers the invitation himself. 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:44.700 The first man, he came up and said this, but Jesus looks at another and said in verse 59, 00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:46.539 Follow me. 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:54.700 This man said this, but he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 00:23:55.820 --> 00:23:59.740 I mean, all reasonable people here think that's a pretty solid request. 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:02.940 I mean, he's supposed to honor his father and mother. 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.259 He's supposed to love them. 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:06.279 He's supposed to take care of them. 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:10.000 I mean, after all, these are God's laws that he's trying to follow. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:15.440 But there's something much deeper when you look in the context of this. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:23.599 In the Jewish culture, burying one's father was a phrase that could refer to caring for one's parents until they die. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:29.959 Most likely, most commentators think this man's father was probably in good health. 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:33.659 He's probably there and it was more of a convenience thing. 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:38.059 He wasn't saying, hey, listen, I'm going to follow you, but, you know, my dad's funeral's tomorrow. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:41.039 That's not what's taking place here. 00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:43.439 That is not the mindset. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:49.059 He said, in fact, he was probably just kind of enjoying the comforts that his father provided him. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:55.380 See, what the man was really saying is this, Lord, I'll follow you later. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.299 But I got some things that I got to take care of first. 00:24:59.080 --> 00:25:01.620 Lord, you know, I've read the Old Testament. 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.920 I'm going to take care of my family. 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:06.519 You know, that's what good Jewish boys do. 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:13.940 He's saying, Lord, when the time is right, when my schedule clears up, then I'm all in. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:19.119 Hey, you write my name down in pencil because I'm going to be all in someday. 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.480 That's what's taking place. 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:29.079 The idea is that he wanted to follow Jesus on his own time, on his own timeline. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:33.639 Here's Jesus' response, verse 60, let the dead bury their dead. 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.080 Whoa. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:39.259 Like, Jesus, can you say that? 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:43.520 I don't think that's politically correct, Jesus, to let him know that. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.720 Jesus wasn't attacking his family. 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.780 Here's what he was doing. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:50.400 He was confronting the spiritual delay. 00:25:52.040 --> 00:25:52.920 You know what Jesus knows? 00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:53.800 Well, he knows everything. 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.200 But you know what he knew about this man's life? 00:25:56.780 --> 00:26:01.259 That someday discipleship was really disguised disobedience. 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.120 That's what it was. 00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:05.160 And Jesus knew that. 00:26:06.040 --> 00:26:08.100 And let's just get real here for a minute. 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:13.960 This man's heart mirrors ours so well sometimes. 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.900 I've said it. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.540 I'm sure you've said it. 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.880 Lord, I'll follow you. 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:21.780 I mean, you know my heart, Lord. 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.380 You know I love you. 00:26:24.280 --> 00:26:26.240 But just right now is not good. 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:27.920 You ever been there? 00:26:28.840 --> 00:26:32.960 Right now is just, listen, I know it's a Sunday morning, but this is just where we're at in the gospel. 00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.600 And I think it's meeting us where we live. 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:37.539 Lord, it's not that I don't want to. 00:26:37.820 --> 00:26:41.720 Lord, when I graduate, got some seniors here. 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.500 We got some that are getting there. 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:44.519 Lord, I'm just enjoying my time. 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:46.359 When I graduate, I'm going to get serious. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.160 When I get married, I'm going to get serious. 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:51.039 When I'm financially stable, I'm going to get serious. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.160 Don't wait on that one. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:58.480 When things slow down. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:02.680 How many of you said this every week this year? 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:07.880 If I can just get through this week, it's going to get, we got some time. 00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.819 Do we not say that? 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.839 And you found the same thing out. 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.740 It seems to never clear up. 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:16.779 Life seems to just keep marching on. 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.819 And we just came, hey, I'm just going to do that. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:21.279 And I just want to remind us and what Jesus reminded us. 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:23.019 That's not how the kingdom works. 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:28.779 Following Jesus is not a video game where we can pause it over here and go do something else and then come back. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.259 No, we're to be all in wherever God calls us. 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.579 All the time. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.859 See, the kingdom of God doesn't wait for convenience. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:39.879 It moves forward at the pace of obedience. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:45.420 You know what one of the greatest tools the devil uses in our lives? 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:48.660 He doesn't use wicked, awful, sinful things. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.319 Here's what he does. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.240 Procrastination. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:53.920 Any procrastinators in here? 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:56.779 My fellow procrastinators, raise your hand. 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.799 There's always tomorrow for us, right? 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:03.200 Don't look at me like that. 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:05.660 I got some honeydew things that have been on the list for a while. 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.319 When it slows down, okay? 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:14.740 I mean, but when you really look at maybe your life, you look at people in the Bible, you look at others, 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:17.759 procrastination has always been one of Satan's most subtle weapons. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:23.619 Because we got a lot of good people here this morning, a lot of good Christian people. 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:26.720 We would never say, I'm denying Jesus Christ. 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:34.980 He doesn't want to, he's not saying, you know, he wants you to come here on a Sunday morning, come here on a Sunday night, come here on a Wednesday, get plugged in a little bit. 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:37.539 But he doesn't want to make us outright reject Jesus. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:41.440 He just needs to convince us, right now is not a good time to go all in. 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:46.000 Right now is just not a good time for, it just doesn't fit my schedule really well. 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:48.099 Once the kids get out of the house, once this, once that. 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.660 Jesus said in John 9, 4, 00:28:49.660 --> 00:29:01.460 See, in other words, there is a window of opportunity to serve God that's not going to last forever. 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:05.120 There's an urgency to his mission. 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:09.100 The man wanted discipleship that could wait. 00:29:10.060 --> 00:29:11.420 Jesus says, that's not how it works. 00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:14.019 It's time to go in. 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:21.759 And before we move on, I just want to, I just want to speak to you maybe this morning, if you're struggling, you don't even really kind of know what you're looking for. 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:23.799 And you're thinking, is this Jesus thing real? 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.559 Jesus is real. 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.940 And he is God. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.039 And he came for you. 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.740 And he loved you. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:32.000 And don't delay your decision to give your life to him. 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:35.160 2 Corinthians chapter 6 says, 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:37.519 Behold, now is the accepted time. 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.920 Behold, now is the day of salvation. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:43.460 Maybe God has been calling you and calling you not to be a better person. 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:46.779 Not to come to church more, but to give your life to him. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.660 That's why he died on the cross. 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.620 To die for our sins. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.779 We've all sinned and come short of the glory of God. 00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:55.140 And what we deserve for that is death. 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:57.180 But Jesus came that we might have life. 00:29:58.319 --> 00:30:01.140 Abundantly and freely and eternally with him. 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.680 Don't delay. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.039 Maybe you're here and you know Christ is your Savior. 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:09.600 I'd encourage you, stop saying, one day. 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:12.539 One day I'm really going to get into my Bible. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:15.500 One day I'm really going to get plugged into church. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:17.700 One day I'm going to share my faith with that person. 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:20.359 Sometimes, here's the truth, one day never comes. 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:23.000 Because we keep just rolling that over. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.819 We keep just pushing it forward. 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:29.759 See, the same Jesus who said, follow me then, is the same one that's saying, follow me now. 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:32.619 How many hit snooze on your alarm this morning? 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.799 Like, not me, I'm super spiritual. 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:36.859 I did. 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:38.959 You know what? 00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:43.059 God has maybe been calling some of you to get involved and to do something and get plugged in. 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.799 And here's what you're saying. 00:30:44.719 --> 00:30:45.879 Nine more minutes is okay. 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:47.959 Next week's okay. 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:50.939 I mean, I'll be at church, but no. 00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:55.519 And we just keep snoozing Jesus and snoozing Jesus and snoozing Jesus. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.559 It's not that we don't love him. 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:59.319 I mean, we know eventually we've got to get up at some point. 00:30:59.459 --> 00:31:00.899 You know, thankfully he got up and came. 00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.700 Eventually we're going to serve him. 00:31:02.780 --> 00:31:04.960 But that's not what, Jesus doesn't call for delayed obedience. 00:31:05.100 --> 00:31:06.880 He calls for decisive obedience. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.220 He calls now. 00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:13.840 As we hasten to a close, we see the first man struggle with comfort, wherever. 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.480 The second struggle with timing. 00:31:16.100 --> 00:31:17.840 Now the third struggles with priority. 00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:23.759 See, the Lord, if Jesus is truly Lord, there can be no but first, Lord. 00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:27.320 We see the whatever, the test of priority. 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:29.920 Verse 61, and another also said, Lord, 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.360 I will follow thee. 00:31:31.800 --> 00:31:36.460 But let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:39.440 Once again, this man seems reasonable. 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:43.900 His request seems like, hey, you know, he just wants to tell his family by. 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:50.180 But these words, these words, but let me first really reveal his heart. 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:54.120 He had priorities that were in front of the Lord. 00:31:55.300 --> 00:31:57.019 The Lord, listen, it doesn't matter what you do. 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:58.700 He's our number one priority. 00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:00.980 That's where he deserves to be. 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:05.960 But sometimes, Lord, Lord, I love you, but I have all these other things I have to finish first. 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:10.319 When me comes before the Lord, something is out of order. 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.900 And Jesus responds that way. 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:19.779 He said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:32:21.840 --> 00:32:23.440 A plowman must look forward. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:26.680 If he looks back, it's not going to turn out well. 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.440 It's going to get all crooked. 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.600 It's going to be all out of line. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:31.880 You know, when you're driving your car, hopefully you're looking forward. 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:34.960 You know, if you're from Oklahoma, you might be looking all over the place. 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.320 I don't know. 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.140 Sorry, Brother David. 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.759 It's not directed at you. 00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:38.620 They know who they are. 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:42.939 But if you're going somewhere, you need to look where you're going. 00:32:43.979 --> 00:32:49.239 And Jesus is saying, you can't say, I'm all in, but you're distracted and over here, and you're going and doing all these things. 00:32:49.939 --> 00:32:51.079 No, it's time to go all in. 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:51.819 There's no plan B. 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.679 There's no turning back. 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:56.700 One of my favorite biblical examples is when Elijah called Elisha. 00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.299 1 Kings 19. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.360 He said, Elisha, come on. 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:00.880 It's time to go. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.799 He said, I know I need to do this, and I've got to do that. 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.500 He said, no, no, it's time to go. 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.180 You know what Elisha did? 00:33:05.320 --> 00:33:06.200 He took his oxen. 00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:10.380 He took everything that was kind of his fail safe, and he burned it. 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.980 And he had a barbecue. 00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.200 He said, see you guys. 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:13.799 I'm out of here. 00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:16.160 And he went and he followed Elijah. 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:20.799 See, that's the type of surrender Jesus calls for. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:28.319 The one thing we refuse to release to him often becomes the idol that replaces him. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:31.419 That's what Jesus is reminding us. 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:34.579 Because there may be something you're holding on to, and he said, well, what about that? 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.919 Are you willing to let go of that? 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:40.859 Well, but first I need to, but first I need to, that's what Jesus is addressing. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.919 For some, it's relationships. 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:45.440 We crave approval more than obedience to God. 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:47.039 For others, it might be possessions. 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:49.879 We love the comfort more than the cause. 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:51.140 For others, it's control. 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:54.540 We trust our plans more than we trust what he's going to do with our life. 00:33:55.760 --> 00:33:58.600 And whatever it is, Jesus asked, what about that? 00:34:00.280 --> 00:34:06.460 See, discipleship means nothing before Christ, nothing instead of Christ, and nothing apart from Christ. 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:14.519 See, these three encounters, they teach us one truth, that Jesus requires surrender in every direction of our life. 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:16.539 That's what he's looking for. 00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:21.599 His mission is too great to follow halfway. 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:25.619 The gospel deserves more than partial commitment. 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:27.880 It calls for total devotion. 00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:29.599 And that's what Jesus is saying. 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:34.639 It's time to decide, am I just a fan when things are going well, or am I all in? 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.920 Whatever, and whenever, and wherever. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:47.539 As we close, I love the story that history tells of Hernan Cortes, who sailed to the New World in 1519. 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:50.639 And he got there, and his men began to get kind of frustrated. 00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.460 And they got scared. 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:53.700 And he heard whispers of retreat. 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:56.579 And to turn back, and this is not for us. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:59.840 And so he ordered the command, burn the ships. 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:02.800 Because he said, we're not going back. 00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.920 This is what we're here for. 00:35:04.920 --> 00:35:09.579 And that's the same call that Jesus says, maybe there's some ships in your life. 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:11.480 And here's what Jesus says this morning, burn them. 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:14.280 It's time to go all in. 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:21.139 See, Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem because he was on a mission to save sinners and glorify the Father. 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:27.159 And if you claim his name, and you call him your Savior, the question that he asks you today, are you willing to go there? 00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.820 Are you willing to go now? 00:35:29.200 --> 00:35:31.119 Are you willing to go whatever that might be? 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:39.119 And if you're here and you're still not sure about Christ, let me just remind you, he was going to Jerusalem for you. 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:41.980 He was marching towards that cross. 00:35:42.359 --> 00:35:43.500 Jesus wasn't a martyr. 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:50.259 No, he laid down his life willingly for you, for me. 00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:52.239 That we might know him. 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:54.519 That we might have a life worth living. 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:57.339 That we might have a mission to live for. 00:35:57.340 --> 00:36:01.200 So are you a true follower of Christ? 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:04.900 Wherever, whenever, with whatever. 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:06.539 Would you stand with your heads bowed?