WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:11.620 --> 00:00:15.240 Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here with you this morning. 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:17.940 I invite you to turn your Bibles to Luke chapter 12. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:23.559 Now, I'm going to assume that the members of Southwood 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:30.259 are similar to almost all the other members in the Presbyterian Church in America, 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:35.899 that when Will mentions something like the Committee on Discipleship Ministries or Coordinator, 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:39.320 it's sort of like Charlie Brown's teacher, 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:41.219 wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:44.939 and you really don't know anything about that. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:47.420 What I find is I go to different churches, 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:51.439 and that's part of my job as Coordinator for the Committee on Discipleship Ministries, 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.199 or we call it PCA Discipleship Ministries, 00:00:54.559 --> 00:00:57.179 is I have to tell them who I am and what I do. 00:00:58.140 --> 00:00:59.579 This is the way I like to do it. 00:01:00.339 --> 00:01:03.060 Now, you're members of Southwood Presbyterian Church, 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:07.379 and you have a session, a group of elders that oversees that, 00:01:07.479 --> 00:01:10.019 but as you think about the ministry of Southwood, 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:13.159 the ministry of Southwood is done through committees. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:17.340 Most churches have a missions committee or a worship committee 00:01:17.340 --> 00:01:19.879 or education committee, discipleship committee. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:24.659 Well, that happens at the local church. 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:27.599 Then you have at the regional level the presbytery, 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:30.560 and Southwood is a member of Providence Presbytery, 00:01:30.679 --> 00:01:32.140 which is basically North Alabama. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:37.400 But then the highest level in our denomination is called the General Assembly, 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:40.420 and that's all the churches in the United States and Canada 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:43.000 that are part of the Presbyterian Church in America. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:48.000 So just as you do ministry through committees at the local level 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:49.879 and at the presbytery level, 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:54.579 you also do ministry through committees at the General Assembly level. 00:01:55.299 --> 00:01:58.200 And I am part of one of those committees. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:01.140 Now, what does Discipleship Ministries do? 00:02:02.240 --> 00:02:06.099 Many people in the PCA know about Mission to the World. 00:02:06.740 --> 00:02:08.000 That's one of our committees. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.759 It helps local churches do international missions. 00:02:12.020 --> 00:02:14.639 Others know about Mission to North America, 00:02:14.900 --> 00:02:17.460 which comes along, that's the committee of the General Assembly, 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:20.319 comes alongside a local church to do church planting 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:23.659 or mercy ministry or chaplaincy ministry. 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:32.419 And then I know you're a supporter of the committee that helps local churches do campus ministry. 00:02:32.419 --> 00:02:35.300 That's called Reform University Fellowship. 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:44.500 Which committee of the General Assembly helps the local church do discipleship within its walls? 00:02:46.859 --> 00:02:49.219 That's the Committee on Discipleship Ministries. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:53.900 So what we do is we help local churches do children's ministry, 00:02:54.219 --> 00:02:57.180 youth ministry, men's ministry, women's ministry, 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:00.780 older adult ministry, and leadership training and development. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:03.719 Now, you would think, oh, that's a lot of work. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:05.979 We only have 10 people in our office. 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:12.800 So the way we do it is by connecting people to people and people to resources. 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.699 In fact, we had two of your members come join us last weekend. 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:18.959 We had a women's leadership training. 00:03:19.079 --> 00:03:22.280 300 women from all around the PCA got together in Atlanta, 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:27.639 and we talked about this whole idea of passing on the faith from one generation to another, 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:29.699 particularly in women's ministries. 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:33.659 Because women's ministry is a part of what we do at CDM. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:37.519 Karen Hodge is our coordinator for women's ministry. 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:38.899 She's based out of Chicago. 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:44.280 It's a pleasure, as I serve as coordinator, 00:03:44.480 --> 00:03:47.120 to maintain contact with people in the local church. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:52.580 Will Spink is one of the young pastors that I contact to say, 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:54.640 tell me what's going on in the local church. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:59.159 Tell me how ministry in the PCA needs to work. 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.259 And I'm very thankful for Will. 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:05.299 It was a great pleasure to be on his reference list, 00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:09.419 and I am so excited for you as a congregation here at Southwood. 00:04:10.459 --> 00:04:15.799 God has given you a wonderful man, godly man, with a godly wife, 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.039 and I look forward to seeing what he's going to do with you in the years to come. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:24.620 This morning, I hope to be part of God's instrument, 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:27.860 and be one instrument in the hands of God to connect you with his word. 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:30.020 Again, we're looking at Luke chapter 12. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.120 Many of you, we know about sibling rivalries. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:37.040 Happens often in families. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:40.220 You know, you have the little children. 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:42.319 It's one of those things that they're in the car, 00:04:42.460 --> 00:04:43.340 maybe they're in the home, and say, 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.160 stop touching me, stop touching me. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:46.840 And here's the line, don't cross the line. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:50.259 You know, that sibling, or it can be, go the route of, 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:53.180 mommy likes me better than you. 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:58.720 And that happens with children, but you know, it can also happen with adults. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:01.900 Think about it. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:04.860 How many of you are Downton Abbey fans? 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:06.939 We have any, okay, we have a number of you. 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:08.840 If you're watching this final season, 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:11.379 there's a lot of sibling rivalry going on. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:12.920 It's actually been through the whole thing, 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.759 but it's now especially Lady Mary and Lady Edith, 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:17.800 and going back and forth on that. 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:19.780 But, you know, it happens in families, 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.740 but it also happens in church families. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.500 It also happens as we think about the broader culture, 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:29.300 how people deal with each other, 00:05:29.960 --> 00:05:32.280 this competition, this rivalry. 00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:38.400 The text shows us sibling rivalry with adults. 00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:42.420 Jesus, in Luke chapter 12, he's teaching on God's provision. 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:47.519 In verse 7, he talked about how you are more value than sparrows. 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:48.960 And then he goes on to say, 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:51.639 the Holy Spirit will give you what you need to say 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:53.660 if you're ever brought before the authorities. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:56.780 And then right after that, in verse 13, 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.920 here's this man, presumably a little brother. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:02.860 He makes a request. 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:05.120 Follow along with me as I read. 00:06:05.780 --> 00:06:08.980 Luke chapter 12, beginning in verse 13. 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:12.040 Someone in the crowd said to him, him being Jesus, 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:18.480 teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:27.220 But Jesus said to him, man, who made me a judge or arbiter over you? 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:34.879 He said to them, take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:38.620 for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:45.600 He told them a parable saying, the land of a rich man produced plentifully. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:51.240 And he thought to himself, what shall I do for I have nowhere to store my crops? 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:54.839 And he said, I will do this. 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:58.040 I will tear down my barns and build larger ones. 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:02.020 And there I will store all my grain and my goods. 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:08.620 And I will say to my soul, soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years. 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:13.540 Relax, eat, drink, be merry. 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:23.680 But God said to him, fool, this night your soul is required of you. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:28.600 And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:35.620 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:41.560 And he said to his disciples, therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:44.540 what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:51.579 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:53.859 Lord, pray with me. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:01.439 Father, this is your word. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:05.379 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but your word stands forever. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:13.699 We ask that you will open our eyes and soften our hearts. 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.240 That we may see the wonderful things you have for us. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:25.519 By your grace, show us Jesus. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:32.519 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:37.639 For you are our strength and our redeemer. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:39.539 Amen. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:39.680 Amen. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:39.739 Amen. 00:08:43.219 --> 00:08:48.339 This 2015 book called The Entitlement Cure, 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:56.939 John Townsend told the story of an energetic and extroverted young sales manager. 00:08:57.219 --> 00:08:59.199 She was in her late 30s. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:05.340 She had a situation where her sales figures were lagging. 00:09:05.420 --> 00:09:08.220 Not only hers individually, but also her sales team. 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:14.160 And so her boss brought John Townsend in to sort of deal with this as he worked with different people. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:19.620 And as he was talking to her, she replied this way. 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:19.940 She said, 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:24.300 My boss didn't make his expectations clear. 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:28.520 He didn't give me enough staff, nor did he give me enough data. 00:09:29.640 --> 00:09:32.760 That's why my sales figures weren't what they needed to be. 00:09:34.180 --> 00:09:38.060 Well, John Townsend had met with the boss before he met with the employee. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:48.839 And he knew from hard evidence that the boss had given him that what the hard evidence said contradicted what her thoughts were. 00:09:49.719 --> 00:09:51.119 And he replied to her. 00:09:51.219 --> 00:09:51.719 He said, 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:53.819 You're friendly. 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:55.359 You're warm. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:58.059 You work hard. 00:09:58.579 --> 00:10:00.179 And she interrupted him and said, 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:01.379 That's right. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.959 That should be enough. 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:04.399 I'm warm. 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.439 I'm caring. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:10.620 I hold this office together with my relational skills. 00:10:11.040 --> 00:10:16.320 I deserve to be appreciated for what I do. 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:21.220 Even if my sales figures lag, I deserve to be appreciated. 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:28.140 As Townsend reflected on the conversation, he said, basically her argument was, 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.720 I am owed special treatment. 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:38.620 That there's that internal voice within her saying, 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:42.200 You deserve more. 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:48.000 And that's the voice of entitlement. 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:52.340 The voice of discontent. 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:55.300 That discontent. 00:10:55.300 --> 00:10:58.259 It's part of all of our lives. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:02.399 Because it flows out of our fallen nature. 00:11:03.300 --> 00:11:08.160 We see it here in the text as Jesus is dealing with this man in the crowd. 00:11:08.280 --> 00:11:09.379 He's teaching the crowd. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:13.139 And this man comes to him bringing this family squabble. 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:17.600 But Jesus refuses to join in with the family disagreement. 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:25.259 Rather, he addresses the deeper issue with a warning and a parable. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:29.679 We see the basic issue there in verse 15. 00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:32.639 As Jesus says, covetousness is the problem. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:33.759 Covetousness. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.939 You could call it greed or desire for more. 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.039 It's what the 10th commandment talks about. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:39.080 Thou shalt not covet. 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:45.240 It's that wanting something that doesn't belong to you because it's just this driving force 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:51.700 where you aren't happy because you don't have. 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:59.920 And so this message here is beware this insatiable hunger for more because that leads to discontent. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:04.320 Brothers and sisters, think about our current political environment. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:10.879 And the messages that are being presented by candidates on both sides of the aisle. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:16.060 It's coming to the people of the United States and saying, 00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:18.320 you deserve more. 00:12:18.520 --> 00:12:20.000 You are discontent. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.379 And it's stirring it. 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.660 And all of us can fall prey to it. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:31.159 In the wider culture and in our world, even in the church. 00:12:31.459 --> 00:12:34.980 What it is, it's a situation where God is not central. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:40.459 And so God is pushed aside and something else comes onto the throne of our lives. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:43.079 God is replaced by a worldly thing. 00:12:43.959 --> 00:12:47.539 And often that worldly thing is ourselves. 00:12:48.199 --> 00:12:49.159 Our desires. 00:12:49.459 --> 00:12:50.319 Our needs. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:50.659 Our... 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.159 Just us. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:53.860 And it leads to vanity. 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.939 To use the image that Will used earlier. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:00.480 We try to live our lives with that fork or that slotted spoon. 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:03.360 Getting things out of life. 00:13:04.579 --> 00:13:07.259 And it just leads to more and more discontent. 00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:14.259 The antidote for discontent as we're being presented here in this text is to pursue something. 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:20.819 To pursue and embrace the treasure of a God-centered life. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:28.500 This call to live with God at the center is necessary because of our fallen condition. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:30.339 That with which we struggle. 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:36.419 It's also this call because worldliness affects us in so many ways. 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:45.959 But then also this call for a God-centered life flows because of the greatness of the alternative that God provides. 00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:48.740 So we think through this. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.419 Note something right here at the beginning. 00:13:51.479 --> 00:13:52.279 Who is the audience? 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:52.500 The audience. 00:13:54.339 --> 00:13:59.399 Now many people when they read this text, they sort of take a surface view and say, 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:02.919 Well, the primary audience for this text... 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:04.839 These people need to hear it. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:06.879 It's the rich people that need to hear. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:13.519 The interesting thing about life and humans is we always think that others are rich and we're not so rich. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.559 We always see ourselves as below somebody else. 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:19.699 That's just mankind's human nature. 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:28.220 But what's being presented here is a refining of our view because nowhere Jesus' words are directed. 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:32.800 Verse 14, he addresses the man who had the question. 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:35.660 And that man felt like he was being put out. 00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:38.640 He was poor and so that's why he was coming to Jesus. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.340 But then verse 15, note what it says. 00:14:41.400 --> 00:14:41.740 It says, 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:43.020 Said to them. 00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:45.480 It's the wider crowd. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:53.279 And then you have verse 22 where it says it speaks to the disciples, those who were followers of Jesus. 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:55.220 Now, what's the message in all this? 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.500 The message is this. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.779 All of us struggle with this. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:03.940 All of us have that fallen nature and we're struggling with this discontent, 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:08.480 wanting to remove God and place something else in the center of our lives. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:15.259 And it's because of that bent of our fallen nature we must embrace the treasure of a God-centered life. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.779 Verse 13, the man wants to inherit. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.420 He wants his inheritance. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.639 Now, understand the background here. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:28.600 In Deuteronomy chapter 21, we see about how the Jewish culture was to deal with inheritance. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:34.740 And that is the older brother was to receive a double portion. 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.560 It's found in Deuteronomy chapter 21. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:44.300 Now, we don't know what exactly the problem was in this particular case. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.159 We don't know. 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:50.440 Maybe the older brother wasn't even going to give him his smaller portion. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:53.139 Or it may be the younger brother just wanted equal. 00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:54.779 We don't know. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.899 The text doesn't tell us. 00:15:55.899 --> 00:16:00.539 But what we do know is the younger brother or this brother wasn't happy. 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:09.659 In verse 14, Jesus refuses to serve as the judge in this particular case. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:22.000 But yet, at the same time, in his response, Jesus does render a judgment on the man's situation. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.039 And then he broadens the application. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:35.159 In verse 15, Jesus implicitly states that the man is covetous. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.480 The man is greedy. 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:47.639 Verse 21, he brings up the idea of guilty of misplaced priorities, which leads to the parable of the fool. 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:50.360 But understand something. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:57.039 As Jesus is addressing this one man, he's also addressing everybody else, including us. 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.919 Here's something we need to keep in mind. 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:06.139 Oftentimes, we view our culture and we see people. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:11.500 We say, well, that person's, they're just discontent or they're struggling with a sense of entitlement. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:17.380 When we see it in others, we have to watch out. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:21.700 Because it's never far from any of us. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:32.019 And we must be watching and avoid thinking, I'm above that. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:39.599 Because that mentality, that covetousness, it flows out of our fallen nature. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:44.819 And we must acknowledge our nature with which we still struggle. 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:47.480 Even though we're redeemed, we still struggle with it. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:52.759 And so we repent and seek God to be the center. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:18:03.539 As we go on and analyze Jesus' response, we also see symptoms of worldliness, where it can creep into our lives, 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:09.799 which make it necessary for us to be intentional in seeking a God-centered way of life. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:11.519 Really, you could put it this way. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:16.220 What Jesus points out is the vanity of a self-centered life. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:22.759 Verse 13, we see man's attempt to use Jesus as leverage. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:24.079 That's what he's trying to do. 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.759 He's saying, Jesus, you make the decision. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:39.600 And what happens is, the worldly view means it sort of pushes us to seek to gather influential allies. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:43.400 We want this person to support our cause. 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:46.460 We want these authors to support our point. 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:55.640 We look for those types of things as trying to use them to gain leverage against somebody else. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.200 Years ago, I heard the testimony of a businessman. 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:01.640 He was a very successful businessman. 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:11.900 He came to a point where he had these years of making connections in his business. 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:14.540 He knew some very powerful people. 00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:20.880 In fact, he was a big golfer, and he had met many of the people on the professional golf tour. 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:27.900 And so, he was sort of in that whole lifestyle where he would, knew the celebrity friends, 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:34.500 and he would have all of these invitations to go to this party or this meeting or this conference and all of that. 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:40.960 And another thing about him, though, is he had trouble sleeping at night. 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:47.140 And he remembers he was on a trip or actually coming back from a trip. 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:52.980 And in that trip, it just hit him. 00:19:54.660 --> 00:20:03.480 He was sitting in his first class seat, and he had just left a golf tournament with many of the very well-known professional golfers. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:16.279 And as he was sitting there on the plane, it just hit him how much he was in bondage to pride in the pursuit of influence. 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:20.160 And he remembers saying to himself, 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:23.680 I hate this. 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.120 I must decrease. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:33.200 And Christ must increase. 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.380 Now, I'll be honest with you. 00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:43.580 When I heard him tell that story, there was something in me that said, 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:47.580 Yeah, but I would like to have all that influence and know all those people. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.920 But I was deaf to what he was saying. 00:20:54.040 --> 00:20:55.720 He said, I had it. 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.380 And it didn't satisfy. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.500 Because God was not at the center. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.240 We'll go on down to verse 15. 00:21:09.800 --> 00:21:13.500 In verse 23, there's another aspect where worldliness grabs us, 00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:16.779 and that's in a life that's defined by possessions. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:21.539 Now, a lot of this we think of money or something like that, 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:29.359 but it could also be influence or anything that we have or that we control. 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:36.019 Job, awards, social status, causes. 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:44.839 That can come into our lives, and we put God aside so that can have center stage. 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:48.079 Again, I heard a testimony of a missionary. 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:54.720 And he was preaching a sermon, and he talked about that for 20 years, 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:59.399 he had been one of those missionaries that was in one of those really dangerous parts of the world 00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:04.480 where you have to say, I can't tell you where I'm ministering because it would be very dangerous for me. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:09.440 He served there for many, many years, very high risk, 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:15.700 but because after 20 years, the people who oversaw the mission agency said, 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:22.000 we need somebody like you with your experience to come help us teach the new missionaries going out. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:25.940 So they pulled him off the field and put him in the home office. 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:34.500 And after he had been there a few years, he said, I hate being at the bottom. 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:40.720 And what he meant by that is that he noticed that in the Christian community, 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:43.299 we have this sort of unspoken pecking order. 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:47.519 If you want to know who the really holy people are, those are the missionary. 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.779 First of all, you're a missionary. 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:53.859 And if you're a missionary in a hard place, then you're really holy. 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:58.500 So you have the really holy missionaries, the sort of run-of-the-mill holy missionaries. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:05.480 Then you have pastors, then you have other believers, and then you have home office people. 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:11.799 And he says, I hate being at the bottom. 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:14.359 But what he did, as he was thinking through that, 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:23.500 he realized that his identity had been wrapped up in his work and in his position 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:28.380 rather than identity defined by God. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:34.180 And he said it was a symptom of the worldliness that was shaping him. 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:43.980 So another thing there in verse 17 through 19, that's a me-centeredness. 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:47.720 It's an interesting characteristic of this parable that Jesus tells. 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:57.720 In those five verses, the word I or me is used 12 times. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:02.579 Basically, the man in the parable has this view. 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.400 I have a problem. 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.519 I will fix it. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.500 I will enjoy. 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:12.839 And Jesus is addressing this. 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:17.259 Jesus did that very intentionally because that's what we do. 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:22.940 We have a me-centeredness as we think about our lives. 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:27.619 It's a sign of worldliness pulling us away. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:34.440 And you have in verse 19 this enjoyment, this sensual pursuit of pleasure, 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:39.960 what some have said the credo of the hedonist, relax, eat, drink, and be merry. 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:42.860 But think about our life and our culture today. 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:46.059 What is the highest thing that you can achieve? 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:50.360 Retire early and do what you want to. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.860 Think about the marketing. 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.600 It's a major theme in marketing. 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.779 You deserve this type of car. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.620 You deserve this type of vacation. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:59.259 You deserve this type of thing. 00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:01.039 It's all this idea. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:06.180 Sometimes it just has the idea of hang on until Friday because you deserve this kind of weekend. 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:12.120 And so the good life is good food, good drink, and do nothing. 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:16.860 Well, there's nothing wrong with good food and good drink and good do nothing. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.039 Well, you need to do something because we're created to work. 00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:25.759 But the idea is sometimes those things, that leisure, can be what we pursue 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:33.120 rather than the Sabbath which God had designed. 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:44.480 As we think about our lives, enjoyment can sometimes take center stage. 00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:48.440 But then there's another thing in verse 22, another symptom, 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:50.900 and that is anxiety about our lives. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:54.779 Even the basic, where we worry about food, we worry about clothing, 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:56.299 we worry about this and that. 00:25:56.759 --> 00:26:00.519 All of that Jesus is presenting, those are hooks of the world that are in you. 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:04.200 But then the most tragic symptom, and perhaps the most common, 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:06.079 is the one that's seen in the parable. 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:14.180 And that is a dullness to God or a dullness to spiritual reality. 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:21.740 You see, with the parable, Jesus says, the land produced plenty. 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:27.720 Now, understand that in the Jewish mindset, particularly we see this in Psalm 104, 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:31.079 it is God who brings the bounty. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:35.980 But note the mindset of the man. 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:41.000 In the man's mind, it's just something that happened. 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.759 What luck! 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:45.279 I've got all of this wonderful blessing and all this great thing. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.360 There's no acknowledgement of God. 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.920 There's no giving of thanks. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:52.720 There's no concept of an accountability or a stewardship. 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.900 And so what does God say? 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:58.860 God addresses the man, and what is he calling? 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:00.660 Fool. 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:06.680 Now, when it says fool there, it's not talking about an intellectual deficiency. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.700 It's a moral term. 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:18.980 A fool, according to Scripture, is someone who lives with no acknowledgement of God. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:24.839 It's as if God's not there. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.819 Or sometimes you hear it put this way. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:29.380 They are practical atheists. 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:37.299 And brothers and sisters, we struggle with that many times throughout the day. 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:41.480 Where we live as fools. 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:45.339 As if God does not exist. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:48.579 And is not caring for us. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:55.980 What happened in this man in the parable's life is something that happens to us as well. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:28:00.779 Where reality becomes something that we can see. 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.519 Something that we can touch. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.700 Or something that we can manage. 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:11.799 And it's a sign that worldliness has grabbed us. 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:20.380 And it's because of the way the worldliness colors our lives that we must pursue this God-centered life. 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:27.400 When we see the symptoms, our tendency is to downplay it or rationalize it away. 00:28:27.580 --> 00:28:29.160 It's not really that bad. 00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:31.799 Or I have a reason for doing this. 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:37.319 Because a God-centered life is honest. 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:43.159 There's this frequent self-examination in a repentance. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:48.019 Lord, I live as if you don't exist. 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:55.599 I live trying to put myself or other things in the center of my life. 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:59.059 We have to ask the question. 00:28:59.059 --> 00:29:03.279 Where do the chains of the world bind us? 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:07.259 And when we see it, we say, 00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:09.919 Lord, deliver me. 00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:19.099 Let the salvation that is bondage, that's broken by Jesus Christ, be real in my life today. 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:27.059 You know, the irony of this whole situation is this man came to Jesus wanting Jesus to improve his life. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:30.279 And Jesus wanted the same thing. 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.919 But the man had said, 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:43.679 My life will be improved in ways that I define because he was defining good in a worldly sense. 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.359 And that's what we do as well. 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:48.179 But Jesus wanted more. 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:55.159 And it's because of the fullness of the alternative that God offers that we must embrace this God-centered life. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:56.240 Verse 14. 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:59.519 Jesus is more than just a problem solver. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:05.320 Because the context of Luke 12 goes all the way back to Luke 9, verse 51, 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:11.560 where Jesus, it's very clear, Luke records that Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:17.340 He knew he was going to Jerusalem to make the sacrifice for all the brokenness of mankind. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:20.980 And so everything that happens after that Luke 9, verse 51, 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:26.879 must be seen in the light of Jesus knowing he's going to the cross. 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:34.379 And that Jesus was going to die for all the pettiness, all the self-centeredness, 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:36.599 all the disregard for God. 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:41.299 That Jesus was going to be the fulfillment of what Isaiah the prophet had said, 00:30:41.419 --> 00:30:44.579 that by his wounds we are healed. 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:50.899 And part of that healing is contentment. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:55.659 You remember what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4? 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:58.039 Apostle Paul was in jail, 00:30:58.419 --> 00:31:02.619 and the whole book of Philippians is full of rejoice, rejoice, rejoice. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.539 But he says in Philippians 4, he says, 00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.659 I have learned. 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.579 I know what it is to have plenty. 00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:09.980 I know what it is to have want. 00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:11.559 I know what it is to be free. 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:13.919 I know what it is to be in jail. 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:17.119 And he said, 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:24.599 I can do all things through him who gives me strength. 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:33.500 Do you see the secret of a contented life? 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:38.500 It's having Jesus, 00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:41.759 and knowing he has freed you, 00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:45.460 and then trusting him to give you strength, 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.299 whatever the circumstances may be. 00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:51.660 Note the grace of the passage that is seen here. 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.380 Jesus is not harsh with this man. 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.660 He's direct with him. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.019 But in the warning of verse 15, 00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:58.920 or the rebuke of verse 20, 00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:01.180 Jesus is revealing the heart of God. 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:05.880 God warns us so that man will change. 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:11.640 God never abandons us to the chains of worldliness, 00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:15.740 and so our task, our calling, our response, 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:18.220 is to heed the warning. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:19.259 It's interesting. 00:32:19.580 --> 00:32:21.660 The end of the parable is uncertain. 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:27.799 We don't know what the man in the parable did. 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:30.700 Now, we assume that he died that night, 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:32.019 and he died apart from God. 00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:33.559 Many people assume that. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:37.519 But another thing is, 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:40.139 we don't know 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:44.859 what happened to the man who brought the question. 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:50.139 The message of verse 20 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:53.279 is that the business decision 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:55.479 you thought was so great, 00:32:55.699 --> 00:32:56.899 Mr. Man in the parable, 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.199 is really worthless. 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.719 Rather, in verse 21, 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:01.539 you're to seek the riches of God. 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:03.839 And then you consider the man 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:05.399 who brought the request. 00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:09.140 We don't know what happened to him. 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:13.019 And that's important 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:16.000 because that leads to an even more relevant question. 00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:19.180 What will you do 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:23.240 as you read through the parable? 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:28.640 In what area of your life 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:30.900 are you thinking, 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:34.539 you know, I deserve more? 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:39.079 It's in that area 00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:42.440 that you need to look for discontent. 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:47.700 And heed the warning that Jesus gives. 00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:51.620 This parable calls us to put self aside, 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:54.619 to put worldliness aside, 00:33:55.179 --> 00:33:59.000 to put aside laying up treasures for ourselves, 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:04.000 and to seek the treasure of God, 00:34:05.219 --> 00:34:09.599 the treasure that's found only in Jesus Christ. 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.519 Let me tell you about David. 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:17.880 My first memory of David 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:22.700 was finding out he was a custodian 00:34:22.700 --> 00:34:25.079 at Covenant Theological Seminary. 00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:28.119 David was an older man, 00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:30.760 probably in his 60s. 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:35.039 Very rich, deep voice. 00:34:37.180 --> 00:34:38.980 And I remember thinking something 00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.900 along the lines of, 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.579 poor guy. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.640 I wonder what happened to him 00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:45.960 that brought him to this place in his life 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.980 where here he is at seminary 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:51.679 and he's a custodian at the seminary, 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:54.780 doing menial jobs, 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:57.240 piecemealing his master divinity together. 00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:01.119 You can imagine my surprise 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:03.300 when not too long after that, 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:05.179 I found out 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:07.019 he had a law degree 00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:08.720 from Vanderbilt University. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:12.419 And for 20 years, 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:15.319 he had been a music copyright 00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:16.919 and contract lawyer, 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:21.599 deeply involved in the Nashville music scene. 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:25.879 His wife and three kids 00:35:25.879 --> 00:35:27.439 had seminary degrees 00:35:27.439 --> 00:35:29.980 and he was president of a mission agency. 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:32.000 A mission agency 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.319 that provided theological training 00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:38.519 for people in the former Soviet bloc countries. 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:39.579 But yet, 00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.519 as he was doing, 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.779 he had all that background 00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:43.819 and he had all that current ministry, 00:35:44.259 --> 00:35:45.779 he continued his work 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:47.319 as a church custodian. 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:50.119 Because as he was working there 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:51.480 on the seminary campus, 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.459 taking classes 00:35:52.459 --> 00:35:54.379 and cleaning bathrooms, 00:35:55.159 --> 00:35:57.099 he looked for seminary students 00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.980 to encourage and mentor. 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.859 And every now and then, 00:36:00.939 --> 00:36:02.339 he would fly overseas 00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:03.500 to teach classes. 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:06.880 And the amazing thing about David 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:08.420 is David knew well 00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:10.019 the glories of the world. 00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:10.900 He knew well 00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:11.420 what it meant 00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.960 to have influence and success, 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:14.199 but he also knew 00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:14.719 the darkness 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:16.519 of his own fallen nature. 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:18.500 And he saw the many ways 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.300 that worldliness ensnared him. 00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:21.159 And so, 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:23.300 as he brought Jesus 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:24.840 into the picture, 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:27.360 he realized 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:33.180 what true worth was. 00:36:34.620 --> 00:36:35.640 And he pursued a life 00:36:35.640 --> 00:36:36.300 of humility 00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:38.340 and repentance. 00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:42.440 He wanted to be 00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:43.200 a man 00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:46.059 who every day 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:49.260 was a pursuit of Jesus 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:51.740 who had wiped away 00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.539 the stains 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:54.360 and the vanity 00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.239 of his past. 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.699 David 00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:02.940 contracted 00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:04.259 Parkinson's disease. 00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:07.400 And as the disease 00:37:07.400 --> 00:37:08.239 began to 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:09.639 take over his body, 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.659 it hindered his speech 00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:13.880 and hindered his motion, 00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:17.420 but he still served. 00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.179 In fact, 00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:19.639 he and his wife 00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:21.659 moved from St. Louis 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:23.500 move out to Utah 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.299 to work 00:37:24.299 --> 00:37:26.539 in a PCA church plant 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:28.960 that was reaching out 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:30.719 to the Mormon population 00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:31.420 in Utah. 00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:37.039 In September of 2013, 00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:40.519 Jesus called David home 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.099 to glory. 00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:45.159 Jesus called David home 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:46.460 to enjoy fully 00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:48.179 the divine riches 00:37:48.179 --> 00:37:49.519 that he had tasted 00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:50.379 on earth. 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:52.800 Jesus called David home 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:54.960 so that he could hear, 00:37:55.900 --> 00:37:57.059 well done. 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:03.700 A former seminary student 00:38:03.700 --> 00:38:05.880 summarized well 00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:06.559 the impact 00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:07.780 of David's ministry 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:08.920 in the example 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.140 of his life. 00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:12.800 A seminary student 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.440 wrote this, 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:14.700 David taught me 00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:16.840 what it means 00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:18.660 to live out 00:38:18.660 --> 00:38:19.640 my theology 00:38:19.640 --> 00:38:22.260 and challenge 00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:23.240 my idols 00:38:23.240 --> 00:38:25.100 of comfort 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:27.360 and prestige. 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:31.519 Brothers and sisters, 00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:32.680 that's the essence 00:38:32.680 --> 00:38:34.579 of a life 00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:36.260 that is centered 00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:36.940 on God. 00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:40.420 But even more than that, 00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.680 that's the life 00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:43.799 that Jesus gives 00:38:43.799 --> 00:38:45.859 to all 00:38:45.859 --> 00:38:47.019 who put their trust 00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.559 in him. 00:38:49.399 --> 00:38:50.719 For no longer 00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:51.980 is it 00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:54.079 I deserve more, 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.619 but Jesus, 00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:59.539 you deserve more. 00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:03.359 May he work 00:39:03.359 --> 00:39:04.480 that grace in us 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:06.299 today. 00:39:06.300 --> 00:39:09.180 Let's pray. 00:39:12.120 --> 00:39:12.600 Father, 00:39:12.680 --> 00:39:13.180 all of us 00:39:13.180 --> 00:39:13.539 struggle 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:16.519 with this nature 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.780 of selfishness. 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.260 And oh Lord, 00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.220 we pursue 00:39:22.220 --> 00:39:23.220 so 00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:25.200 energetically 00:39:25.200 --> 00:39:26.700 the things 00:39:26.700 --> 00:39:27.380 of this world. 00:39:30.100 --> 00:39:30.560 Lord, 00:39:30.640 --> 00:39:30.940 thank you 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:32.019 that Jesus Christ 00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.360 has freed us 00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:34.180 from our sin, 00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.180 freed us 00:39:35.179 --> 00:39:36.059 from the bondage 00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:37.639 of our idolatry. 00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.399 Oh Lord, 00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:42.259 deliver us. 00:39:43.859 --> 00:39:44.379 Make us 00:39:44.379 --> 00:39:45.139 quick to 00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:46.659 examine and repent, 00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:48.980 knowing that 00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:50.419 you don't desire 00:39:50.419 --> 00:39:51.419 us to wallow 00:39:51.419 --> 00:39:51.980 in guilt, 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:54.139 but rather 00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:54.819 to live 00:39:54.819 --> 00:39:55.599 in the freedom 00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:57.399 that Christ 00:39:57.399 --> 00:39:58.480 provides. 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.319 Oh Lord Jesus, 00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.339 do that work, 00:40:02.419 --> 00:40:03.500 for we pray 00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:04.139 in your name. 00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:05.460 Amen. 00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:10.659 For more information, 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.960 visit us online 00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:13.259 at southwood.org.