WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.660 Eric, if you have your Bibles, turn to Luke chapter 10. 00:00:03.859 --> 00:00:04.740 Luke chapter 10. 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:08.900 I want to thank Lawrence Crenshaw for filling in for Brian. 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:13.179 Short notice like that when sickness came upon him. 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:21.120 And he's already learned the power of the methodical pause in the middle of reading Scripture 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:26.060 that only ministers and video tech guys know. 00:00:26.059 --> 00:00:37.379 Today I want to deal with a passage that talks about the greatest question that's ever been asked. 00:00:38.420 --> 00:00:40.259 It's asked a few times in Scripture. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:48.899 Once it is asked by Nicodemus who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness to find the answer. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:53.460 The rich young ruler wanted to know the same thing. 00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:57.299 And then we see it again in our passage today. 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:01.399 Although when it's asked today it's not a genuine question. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:02.299 It's not asked genuinely. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:03.480 It's like a set up question. 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:08.260 It's like when they asked the preacher who was Cain's wife. 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:08.879 You know. 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:11.700 It's just to test them. 00:01:12.260 --> 00:01:14.159 And they wanted to test Jesus. 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:19.280 And they didn't really want to know what he had to say. 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:20.900 They were just kind of needling him. 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:24.600 So this was intended to be a set up question. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:31.440 However, the way Jesus answered the question not only tested the listener. 00:01:32.580 --> 00:01:33.900 It tested all of us. 00:01:35.460 --> 00:01:36.740 He didn't set up Jesus. 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:42.500 Jesus kind of set us up to realize what it means to do real Christian ministry. 00:01:43.460 --> 00:01:46.560 Church, we do well to listen to Christ. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:47.560 Church, we do well to listen to Christ. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:49.620 Even when he challenges us. 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:52.180 Even when he shakes us up. 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:55.320 Especially when he shakes us up. 00:01:56.180 --> 00:01:58.799 And this morning's passage does exactly that. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:00.799 It's found in Luke chapter 10. 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:02.680 Luke chapter 10 verse 25. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:03.719 And it says, 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:33.699 Jesus said to him, 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:35.639 Correctly, do this and you will live. 00:02:36.539 --> 00:02:41.520 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:43.240 And who's my neighbor? 00:02:44.539 --> 00:02:45.620 And Jesus replied, 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:49.599 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:02:50.419 --> 00:02:52.259 And he fell among robbers. 00:02:52.419 --> 00:02:54.300 Who stripped him and beat him and departed. 00:02:55.020 --> 00:02:56.340 Leaving him half dead. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:03:00.300 Now, by chance, a priest was going down that road. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.460 And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:06.740 So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:08.740 passed by on the other side. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.539 But as Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:15.640 And when he saw him, he had compassion. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:21.000 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:25.219 Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:32.319 And the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:34.280 saying, Take care of him. 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:42.020 And whatever more you spend, I'll repay you when I come back. 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.460 Which of these three, Jesus asked, 00:03:47.420 --> 00:03:52.219 do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.120 And the man said, The one who showed him mercy. 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:00.659 And Jesus said, You go and do likewise. 00:04:00.659 --> 00:04:04.199 Now, you know that story, probably. 00:04:05.140 --> 00:04:06.599 It's a very familiar story. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:11.379 As a matter of fact, if you were using the curriculum that we were using in Sunday school last week, 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:12.479 you dealt with it last week, 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:15.099 and you think the preacher ain't even done his homework. 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:17.620 He's just doing the Sunday school lesson. 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:23.279 But I will tell you that the listener in the first audience, 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:26.079 the one Jesus was talking to that day, 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:30.199 heard this story with a little bit different light than we hear it. 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:39.300 And it always helps us to understand Scripture in the context that it's in. 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:43.000 That's why it's important to read Scripture around the Scripture that you're looking at. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:47.600 But also to understand the cultural context of when he speaks this story, 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:48.600 what it meant to them. 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:53.399 It helps us through that filter to understand how it speaks to us even more. 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:56.519 And so when the listener in the first audience heard this, 00:04:56.579 --> 00:04:59.199 they came up with some conclusions right off the bat. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:03.500 One of them was the victim deserved it. 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:05.399 He deserved it. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:06.839 I mean, don't get me wrong. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.339 It's not right to attack and rob a man, 00:05:09.479 --> 00:05:12.480 but I mean, what was he doing there? 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:18.599 Nobody with good sense travels the road to Jericho alone. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:22.120 The road has a dark reputation. 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:26.800 Josephus, a historian of that day, called it the bloody way. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:34.399 And if you go down from Jerusalem to Jericho, 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:35.920 you really go down. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:42.920 It is a 17-mile journey that drops rapidly from 2,800 feet above sea level 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:48.560 to 1,300 feet below sea level, almost a mile in depth. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:54.620 It is a mountainous trek of rough terrain with 300-foot drops, 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:58.920 limestone caves, massive boulders, 00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:01.980 all kinds of places for bandits to hide. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:02.660 And they did. 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:05.220 And that's why it was called the bloody way. 00:06:05.840 --> 00:06:09.379 In other words, it was a known danger. 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:13.500 Now, I didn't do this last week. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.480 Last week, I went to Mississippi and, praise God, 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:17.980 got a contract on a house, on my house. 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:18.980 Amen. 00:06:20.200 --> 00:06:20.640 Amen. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:23.400 Pray that it goes through and she gets a burden 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:25.300 and gives a little more than she committed to. 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:31.300 But what if I told you instead that I took my family, 00:06:31.400 --> 00:06:34.500 after we watched some crime sitcom on TV, 00:06:34.700 --> 00:06:38.800 that I decided to take them to a notoriously dangerous place 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:42.240 in a downtown major city in Atlanta, 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:44.140 excuse me, in America. 00:06:44.140 --> 00:06:45.780 I drove to Atlanta yesterday. 00:06:45.900 --> 00:06:46.400 Good example. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:51.399 But anyway, a major city in America to see the real crime scenes, 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:53.199 just like we watch on TV. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:57.039 And when we went down in that dark alley at night, 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:59.199 I got hit in the head and robbed, 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:00.839 and I barely made it out alive. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:05.399 Now, I know you. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:07.000 You are a gracious people. 00:07:08.099 --> 00:07:09.099 You're kind. 00:07:09.100 --> 00:07:13.760 You've been gracious to us as we've come into a new congregation. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.920 I'm telling you, Ralph Carter told me they're appreciative people, 00:07:17.960 --> 00:07:18.500 and he's right. 00:07:19.020 --> 00:07:20.280 And I appreciate that. 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:22.000 You'd be nice to me. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.080 But when you went home, 00:07:25.080 --> 00:07:26.320 you'd have me for dinner. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:32.360 The preacher has lost his mind. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:34.379 He deserved it. 00:07:34.599 --> 00:07:36.459 And his precious wife and his precious, 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:37.779 how in the world could he? 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:39.540 The old boy deserved it. 00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:42.420 We ought to knock another knot upside his head. 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:46.459 Because remember, we help those who help themselves. 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:50.120 I mean, if you don't have any better sense than that, 00:07:50.739 --> 00:07:53.060 then just leave him by the side of the road. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.799 That's what the first century audience would have said. 00:07:57.819 --> 00:07:59.819 Tell you another thing the first century audience would have said. 00:08:00.299 --> 00:08:03.240 They would have said the clergy did exactly what they were expected to do. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:05.439 Now, I know we look at them and go, 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:07.439 sorry, old preachers. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:10.659 But the reality is they did exactly what was expected. 00:08:10.659 --> 00:08:15.699 Numbers 1911 and Leviticus 21.1, 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:20.399 tells us that if something is dead and is touched, 00:08:20.979 --> 00:08:23.379 you are made ceremonially unclean. 00:08:24.479 --> 00:08:28.339 And Jericho was a town of 12,000 priests. 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:33.179 And they were on their way to perform religious ceremonies. 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:36.879 They better not stop and get their hands dirty in the matter. 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:38.819 And these men didn't. 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:43.120 They made a point to go around him on the opposite side of the road 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.960 because in case he died, 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:47.900 and they got sidetracked, 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:50.940 they were like, don't look, just keep walking. 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.440 Because if they came in contact with dead, 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.820 it would not allow them to be a part of that process. 00:08:57.800 --> 00:08:59.519 The ceremonies that they were going to. 00:09:00.180 --> 00:09:02.080 Now, they knew the law, 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.800 and there's a lot of other passages that tell them to help, 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:08.040 but that's not the ones that they chose at the time. 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:11.599 Sometimes we have a tendency to pick the ones we want to pick too. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.779 Therefore, they did exactly what was expected, 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.319 and the first audience would have expected them to do just what they did. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.019 I'll tell you what else they would have expected. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.819 When they thought of this story, 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:27.459 the first century audience would have said 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:32.200 the Samaritan was not supposed to help anybody. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:39.440 This guy needed help bad. 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:41.940 He didn't only get robbed. 00:09:42.040 --> 00:09:42.620 He got beat. 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:43.280 He got stripped. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.379 He got left for dead. 00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:47.740 Don't expect a Samaritan to help 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:50.540 because Jews hated Samaritans. 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:52.980 They called them mixed dogs, 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:54.379 and I'll tell you why they called them that. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:59.559 Because Samaria is the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:02.600 and when the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom, 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:05.399 they exiled 27,000, 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:07.419 and they only left a remnant behind. 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:12.740 Assyrian captives from other places also settled there, 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:15.539 and for those that remained, 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:21.379 they intermarried with the Assyrians that came into that area. 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:25.460 So Jews with Gentiles, 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:29.120 and then they adopted into a lot of the foreign gods 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:32.639 that came into that melting pot of an atmosphere. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:36.039 And by the time the Jews returned to Jerusalem, 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.899 they had a hatred toward the Samaritans. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:42.000 All of them, not just the guilty ones, 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:44.740 because they all compromised, the whole people. 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:46.940 No longer were they pure. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:48.799 They were mixed. 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:50.120 They had mixed with the world. 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:52.139 Listen, racism is not a new thing, 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:54.539 and it was very real there. 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:58.259 Therefore, when Jesus used a Samaritan 00:10:58.259 --> 00:11:00.659 to do the right thing in the story, 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:02.360 he hit a nerve. 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:03.460 It was a shocker. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:06.100 Samaritans don't do good things. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.940 It'd be like making a Jew a hero 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:11.620 to an audience of Nazis, 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:15.360 or making a member of the Taliban a hero. 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:18.019 We just don't want to hear that kind of thing. 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:18.679 It's unheard of. 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.779 It's controversial even to suggest it. 00:11:21.439 --> 00:11:22.740 And John's Gospel tells us 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:24.120 that the Jewish leaders thought 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:26.299 that Jesus was a Samaritan 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:29.000 with a demon after hearing this story. 00:11:30.259 --> 00:11:31.639 What in the world's going on? 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:34.019 And that's why this story challenged everything. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.460 It crossed social barriers. 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:36.759 It was uncomfortable. 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:38.100 It was challenging. 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:40.340 And the truth is, 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:41.440 when you get to the heart of it, 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:42.320 it still is. 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:46.779 But Jesus taught it that day for a reason, 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.920 and through the power and the inspiration 00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:51.139 of the Holy Spirit of God, 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:53.100 it applies to us as well today 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:54.460 to teach us. 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:55.980 And it teaches us a few things. 00:11:57.540 --> 00:12:01.080 One of them is that real ministry is not easy. 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.120 Real ministry is not easy. 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:07.360 This lawyer is really just trying to goad Jesus. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.820 He asked him a hard question 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:10.060 and provoke him 00:12:10.060 --> 00:12:12.000 and get him to say the wrong thing. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:15.200 Religious folks often do that kind of thing to Jesus. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.279 And it didn't work. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.360 Jesus saw it coming. 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:22.220 He didn't get mad about it. 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.899 He didn't get in a debate about it. 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.759 No, as my grandpa said, 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:26.960 he killed him with kindness. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:30.060 He surprised him with his answer. 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:34.039 The lawyer wanted a formula for religion. 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:37.259 Tell me what I have to do. 00:12:38.459 --> 00:12:42.480 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:44.179 That's not Christianity, folks. 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:48.240 You can't do anything to earn your salvation. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:50.319 Eternal life cannot be earned. 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:54.279 Christianity is surrendering your have-tos to God. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.139 In other words, 00:12:56.579 --> 00:12:59.319 you don't have to attend church to be saved. 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:01.780 But you will if it's real. 00:13:02.760 --> 00:13:05.440 There will be a drawing there if it's real. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:10.640 You don't have to reach out to others if you're saved. 00:13:12.400 --> 00:13:14.560 But if Christ has touched your life, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.800 you're going to want to tell others about it. 00:13:18.300 --> 00:13:21.120 You don't have to tithe your money to the church 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.700 and be a Christian. 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:26.580 But if you are a Christian 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:29.420 and you realize how much God has done for you, 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.980 you realize everything that you have 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.640 has been entrusted to you 00:13:33.640 --> 00:13:35.560 and it's not yours anyway, it's God's. 00:13:35.920 --> 00:13:37.420 So why not give him back the portion 00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:38.820 that he tells us to? 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:41.379 You don't have to pray 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:43.540 to be a Christian. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:45.080 But the reality is, 00:13:45.160 --> 00:13:47.460 if you are a Christian, you will pray. 00:13:48.140 --> 00:13:50.520 You don't have to care about others 00:13:50.520 --> 00:13:51.440 to be a Christian. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:52.940 But if you are a Christian, 00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:54.100 you will care about others. 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:57.480 The reality is, 00:13:57.540 --> 00:13:59.220 real ministry is not just loving 00:13:59.220 --> 00:14:00.460 those who are our own. 00:14:00.900 --> 00:14:03.040 It's not just loving folks that are like me. 00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:05.500 It's not just loving those 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.840 that we think deserve it. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.320 Real ministry is when you sweat, 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.640 when it stings, 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.760 when you sacrifice, 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:11.960 when it's tough. 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:13.940 Not only did the Samaritan 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:15.880 reach out to this guy, 00:14:17.020 --> 00:14:18.780 but he reached out to one 00:14:18.780 --> 00:14:20.820 that should have known better. 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:23.920 He reached out to one 00:14:23.920 --> 00:14:24.260 who was, 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:26.240 he reached out to one 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.360 and took a risk 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.520 when he reached out to him. 00:14:28.640 --> 00:14:28.920 I mean, 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:30.920 this could have been a trap 00:14:30.920 --> 00:14:31.980 to bait somebody. 00:14:33.300 --> 00:14:34.600 There could have been fentanyl 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.480 on that dollar bill. 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:35.880 I mean, you know, 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.980 I was going to touch it, you know. 00:14:37.520 --> 00:14:38.320 Leave him alone. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.300 By the way, 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.220 me and Mama found a 20 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:42.500 at Dollar General the other day. 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.360 We took our chances, 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:43.820 but anyway. 00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:43.920 Anyway. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:49.740 Those are the things 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.860 that we would say today, 00:14:51.979 --> 00:14:53.360 and it ain't even affected, 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:53.740 you know. 00:14:54.219 --> 00:14:56.059 But that's no different 00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:57.599 than that day 00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:58.299 is what I'm saying. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.219 Remember, 00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:00.899 this is the bloody way. 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.639 Notice as well, 00:15:03.719 --> 00:15:05.839 it was not just spot ministry. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:09.240 He didn't buy the meal 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.379 of the guy behind him 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.179 in the drive-thru. 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.419 It was ongoing. 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:16.960 He spotted a beaten stranger 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.659 even after he was gone, 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.019 and he supported him 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.539 and took care of him. 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.159 Not endless support. 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.000 Don't misunderstand me. 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.759 Not endless support, 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:27.080 but he helped him get up 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.340 and get back on his feet, 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.220 and you know what? 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.899 I bet that was a pattern 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.379 for the Samaritan, 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.720 and the reason why 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.759 is because the innkeeper 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.460 trusted him. 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:41.439 And when folks 00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:42.100 are coming back 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.019 to pay cash, 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:45.220 you don't trust them 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:47.080 unless they've come back before. 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.580 It wasn't spot ministry. 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.039 It was ongoing ministry. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.840 Spot ministry. 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.639 Let's be plain. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.779 Spot ministry is easy. 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.980 Real ministry is not easy. 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:01.539 It also teaches us this, 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:04.659 that real Christianity 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.419 is fruitful. 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:09.440 Real Christianity is fruitful. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.480 We like to talk about 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:11.520 the gifts of the Spirit 00:16:11.520 --> 00:16:12.680 and what we're gifted at 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.980 and those unique gifts 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.940 and abilities that God 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.660 has given us 00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.720 to enable us 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.800 to do the work of the church, 00:16:18.040 --> 00:16:19.420 the gift of evangelism, 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.180 the gift of proclaiming, 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.560 the gift of teaching, 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:23.620 the gift of faith, 00:16:23.880 --> 00:16:25.020 the gift of discernment, 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.500 the gift of showing mercy, 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.560 the gift of leadership. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.260 Man, if you give folks 00:16:32.260 --> 00:16:32.980 the opportunity 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:35.940 to take a spiritual gifts test, 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.040 which basically asks them 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.219 what they think they're good at, 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.699 they'll fill it up. 00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:41.899 You know, 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.299 they're multi-gifted. 00:16:43.339 --> 00:16:43.980 Just ask them. 00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:45.099 I mean, 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.719 we like to know 00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:46.639 about that kind of stuff. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.579 What's our gifts? 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.980 But what about the fruit? 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.740 I mean, 00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.860 the fruit's what really matters. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.179 If you have the gifts 00:16:58.179 --> 00:16:58.980 but no fruit, 00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:00.379 you're unfit for the kingdom. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:03.019 And what am I talking about? 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:03.659 When I say fruit, 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.119 it's Galatians 5, 22 and 23. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.039 When the apostle Paul said, 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.160 the fruit of the spirit 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:13.180 is love, joy, peace, patience, 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.460 kindness, goodness, 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.440 faithfulness, gentleness, 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:17.779 self-control. 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.500 You want to know 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.579 what the Christian life's about? 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:23.019 The fruit's where it's at, folks. 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:25.240 If you want to live out your faith 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.259 for the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.420 the fruit's where it's at. 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:29.680 And I promise you 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.980 that if you pray over those matters 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.900 in your life every day, 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.940 the Holy Spirit of God 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:34.360 will not only beat you up 00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:35.240 but he'll show you 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.180 how to improve in those areas. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.279 Because that's where the growth is. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.720 Without fruit, 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.480 you're not effective 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.600 no matter what gifts you have. 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:46.300 And if you have fruit without gifts, 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.480 well, you don't. 00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:48.620 But even if you could, 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.800 you'd still change lives 00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:51.220 because that kind of stuff 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.340 gets people's attention. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.620 It matters. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:57.879 Jesus teaches us 00:17:57.879 --> 00:18:00.159 it's not about what you got. 00:18:00.419 --> 00:18:02.019 It's about what you do with it. 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.019 And so be fruitful. 00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:07.079 He also teaches us this. 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:11.439 Real Christians don't make excuses. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.619 Real Christians don't make excuses. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:17.139 The Samaritan didn't say, 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:20.519 oh, no, I'm just a Samaritan. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.319 What are people going to think? 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:25.119 I'm not even qualified to do that. 00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:27.079 He didn't say, 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.859 he didn't say I didn't do it 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:32.259 because I didn't know what to say. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.559 How many times are Christians 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:40.379 sidetracked from doing 00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:43.519 what God's burdened them to do? 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.179 Because they don't know what to say. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.099 By the way, 00:18:49.179 --> 00:18:50.439 if you don't know what to say, 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:52.259 don't say it. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.860 Just be there. 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.640 People who try to defend 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.440 the role of God 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.460 in the midst of tragedy 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:04.920 usually cause tragedy to be worse. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.460 And your presence means 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.759 more than your words. 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:13.640 And if I walk in a heavy room 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:15.440 and stand on the wall 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.160 and say nothing, 00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:17.200 it's because I don't know 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:17.980 what to say. 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:21.319 And if you don't know 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.900 what to say, 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:24.559 please don't say it. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:29.360 This Samaritan could have easily said, 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.420 I don't have time for this. 00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.740 He also did not look 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:35.220 at the situation logically. 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.779 Like the lawyer 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.980 that asked the question 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.240 would have expected 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.319 somebody to look at something 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.460 because that's what they look at 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:43.940 is logic. 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:46.339 And logic does not always work. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.000 Let me tell you about this, 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.279 oh boy. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:48.799 I heard of a man 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.319 who decided to get married 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.319 based on logic 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:53.819 and scientific principles. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.500 He was 30 years old, 00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:59.400 logical age to consider 00:19:59.400 --> 00:19:59.980 getting married. 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.819 And so he made a list of, 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.519 in black ink, by the way, 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.440 of, 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.660 on quality paper, 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.420 good paper, 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.579 because he's logical 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:12.200 and it's important. 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.880 And he made two columns. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:18.059 One column 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:20.420 was why he should get married. 00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:21.900 The other column 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:23.680 was why he shouldn't get married. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.740 And when he wrote down 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.180 those things, 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.600 marriage outweighed 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.400 not getting married. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.720 And so he got out 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.240 another piece 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.660 of good quality paper 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.500 with his black ink 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:36.740 and wrote down 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.359 eligible, 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.220 good quality 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.140 young ladies. 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:43.460 And he got out 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.279 index cards 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:46.460 and he put their names 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.119 on them 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.460 and he listed reasons 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.460 why he ought to marry 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.079 each one. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:52.339 And he soon found one 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:52.599 that 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:55.000 he thought logically 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.960 should be his wife. 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.759 And he asked her 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.380 to marry him 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:00.080 and she said, 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.680 yes. 00:21:01.540 --> 00:21:02.580 And the marriage 00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:03.540 was a disaster 00:21:03.540 --> 00:21:07.460 because love 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.600 don't wait on logic 00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:11.000 and logic 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:12.740 does not lead 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.740 to love. 00:21:17.520 --> 00:21:18.600 When the woman 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.540 anointed the feet 00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:20.080 of Jesus, 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.080 as I mentioned 00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:21.860 last week, 00:21:22.300 --> 00:21:24.580 it was not logical. 00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:27.520 It was love. 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.080 The Samaritan 00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:31.220 did not act 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.000 logically. 00:21:33.260 --> 00:21:34.140 He acted 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:35.360 lovingly. 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:37.160 He acted 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.700 when he had 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.560 the opportunity 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:40.380 to walk 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:41.180 by the victim. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.760 He would have 00:21:42.760 --> 00:21:43.820 missed that opportunity. 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.480 The priest 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.140 and the Levite 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.500 asked, 00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:48.060 they responded 00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:48.600 logically. 00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:49.560 I mean, 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:50.180 a dead body 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:50.500 would have 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.100 sidelined them 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:51.620 for a week. 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:52.400 The very thing 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:52.760 that they were 00:21:52.760 --> 00:21:53.420 going to do, 00:21:53.520 --> 00:21:54.100 they would not 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:54.740 be able to do 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.220 if this fellow 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.820 didn't make it. 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:57.240 And it's much easier 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:57.520 to say, 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.220 I don't have time 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:58.799 for this. 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:00.839 Because the reality 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.299 is, 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.880 we only have time 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.539 for the things 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.120 that are important 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.680 to us. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.660 So the question 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.079 is, 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:12.079 what's important 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.579 to us? 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:18.639 we've pledged 00:22:18.639 --> 00:22:19.019 our life 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.639 to Christ. 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:22.819 We've pledged 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.179 our life 00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:23.879 to serve him. 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.139 If today 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:28.199 you're a 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.579 professed 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:28.939 Christian, 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.259 so 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:34.159 what's important 00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:34.679 to us? 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.079 And you may 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.359 say, 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.659 well, 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.220 to do 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:41.160 such as this 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.600 would be 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.360 fanatical. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.220 To put 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.819 yourself out 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.480 like this? 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.759 Now look, 00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.079 preacher, 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:51.700 I mean, 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.059 you know, 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.819 I love the Lord 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.339 and the church 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:54.900 and all that, 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.400 but I'm not 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:55.720 going to get 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.380 fanatical about 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:56.819 this thing. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.740 So let me get 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.240 this straight. 00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:03.079 Christ left 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.600 the glories 00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.039 of heaven 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:06.099 to be born 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.799 on earth 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.379 in a cattle 00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:07.859 stall. 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.619 To face 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.639 every temptation 00:23:11.639 --> 00:23:12.339 that we would 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:12.960 ever face, 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.379 what scripture 00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:13.799 says, 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.559 and to endure 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.279 all of it 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:16.879 sinlessly, 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.680 only to be 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.460 opposed by 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.039 the church 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.059 of that day 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.420 and endure 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:21.940 the worst 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.460 torture 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:23.480 and the worst 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.240 execution 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:26.099 known to man 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:27.200 studied by 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.019 the Roman 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.019 Empire to know 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:30.039 exactly the best 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.700 way to torture 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.279 a man before 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.859 you kill him. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:35.279 so that you 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:35.940 and I 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:37.740 who fall 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.779 to too many 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.619 temptations 00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.059 will have 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.779 the opportunity 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.240 to have 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.879 our many sins 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.359 forgiven 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:43.940 and go to 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.440 heaven when 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.159 we die, 00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:47.639 but he 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.299 didn't mean 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.940 for us 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.379 to get 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:50.240 fanatical 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.879 about our 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.240 faith, 00:23:52.399 --> 00:23:53.680 yet we're 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:53.960 to follow 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.539 his example. 00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:57.059 Let the church 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.559 sit on their 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:57.879 tough, 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.579 proclaim their 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.319 way is right, 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.339 and dare the 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:00.960 world to join 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.279 them. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.240 Or let's 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.720 get outside 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.519 the walls 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:08.039 and make a 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.519 difference for 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:08.980 Christ. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:13.200 Because Jesus 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.759 said, 00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:17.819 this is what 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:19.159 it means to 00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:19.599 have eternal 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.019 life. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.500 So how do we 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:22.980 do that? 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.519 We follow 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.659 the example 00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:30.039 of who, 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.759 of what? 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:36.720 a Samaritan. 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.700 I heard 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.079 about a 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.099 PGA golfer, 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.640 don't know 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.240 who it is, 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.519 that won 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.599 $48,000 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.660 one weekend, 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.519 rough weekend 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.059 in PGA. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.420 He won 00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:54.319 $48,000, 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:54.920 and when he 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.440 had the check 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:55.960 in his hand, 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.680 a lady came 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.140 to him 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:57.680 with a baby 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.440 in her hands 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.640 and said, 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.299 my baby 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.180 is deathly 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:03.000 ill and 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.900 needs surgery, 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.940 and it is 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.080 $25,000, 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:09.000 and I don't 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.680 have the money. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.700 And the man 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.539 took the check, 00:25:16.080 --> 00:25:16.680 endorsed the 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.360 back of it, 00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:19.059 and handed 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.620 it to her. 00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.380 The next 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:22.820 day, 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.480 he got a 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:24.880 call. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.880 from an 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.240 official 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.940 with PGA 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:31.360 and said, 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:31.740 you've been 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.280 fleeced. 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:35.900 He said, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.080 what, 00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:36.520 is the baby 00:25:36.520 --> 00:25:36.900 all right? 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.420 He said, 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:38.600 yeah, 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:38.940 the baby's 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.200 all right. 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.020 He said, 00:25:40.040 --> 00:25:40.320 the woman 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.800 was messing 00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:41.100 with you. 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.500 She took 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:41.940 your money. 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.060 You've been 00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:43.600 fleeced. 00:25:45.560 --> 00:25:46.100 He said, 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.600 is the baby 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.100 all right? 00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.340 He said, 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.480 yeah, 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.880 the baby's 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.240 fine. 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.360 He said, 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:52.700 good. 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:54.779 That's 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.220 all that 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:55.680 matters. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.000 With every 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.620 head bowed, 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.340 and every 00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:04.039 eye closed, 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.640 I think 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.279 God leads 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.039 us to do 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.660 what really 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.200 matters. 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.340 And I'll 00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:16.640 tell you what 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.240 really matters 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:20.660 is if you 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.039 are here 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.680 this morning 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:23.900 and there's 00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.440 never been a 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.900 time in your 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.660 life when you've 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.220 given your heart 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.840 and life to the 00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.279 Lord Jesus 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.680 Christ, 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.460 I am thankful 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.640 today that 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.240 today is the 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.039 day of salvation. 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.340 That Jesus is 00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:34.259 the same yesterday, 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.620 today, 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.180 and forever, 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.400 and the offer 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.100 that he makes 00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:37.779 to those that he 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.519 comes in contact 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.220 with in the first 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.799 century is the 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.440 same offer that 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.000 he makes to you 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.360 today. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.100 That if you'll 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.740 come and say, 00:26:43.820 --> 00:26:44.039 Lord, 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.400 I come as I am. 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.700 I know I'm a 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:46.860 sinner. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.460 I know I've done 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:47.759 wrong, 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.440 and I ask you to 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:48.960 forgive me, 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.960 to cleanse me, 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.560 to come into my 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:50.900 life, 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:51.460 and to change 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:51.700 me, 00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:52.400 and from this 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:52.820 day forward, 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.360 I commit my 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:53.920 life to follow 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.259 you. 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.840 If you've never 00:26:57.840 --> 00:26:58.280 done that, 00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:58.800 or you're willing 00:26:58.800 --> 00:27:00.380 to surrender your 00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:01.019 life to the Lord 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.920 Jesus like that, 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.680 we're going to 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.300 stand in just a 00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:03.460 moment, 00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:03.840 and we're going 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.140 to sing, 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.560 and we're doing 00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:05.140 it for you, 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.840 to give you the 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:07.640 opportunity to come. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.500 If you come, 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.220 I'll make sure 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.040 someone talks to 00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:13.100 you about what it 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:13.759 means to give your 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.420 heart and life to 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.940 the Lord Jesus 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.360 Christ. 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.100 Maybe you're here, 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:17.780 and you have done 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.899 that, but as you 00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.700 watch those people 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.480 go through baptism 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.460 waters today, you 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.259 realize that you've 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.039 never publicly 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.879 professed that 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:26.440 private faith in a 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.980 way that is in 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.799 obedience to the 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.980 Lord, and as I tell 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.599 many baptism 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.639 candidates, the 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.740 reality is that is a 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.339 hindrance and a 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.859 hurdle in your 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.559 Christian walk. 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.000 Until you obey God 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.940 in that first step of 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.720 obedience that not 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.799 only Christ showed us 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.259 by example, but also 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.279 impelled us to do, 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:42.279 unless we do that, 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.779 there's a hindrance 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.200 there. 00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.640 So maybe you want 00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:46.259 to come this morning 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.299 and say, preacher, I 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.200 have given my heart 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.640 and life to the 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.319 Lord Jesus Christ, but 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.740 I've never been 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.620 baptized as a believer, 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.940 and today I want to 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:55.140 come just the way 00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:56.160 Christ showed us to 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:56.360 come. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.019 Maybe God's drawing 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.740 you to be a part of 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.519 this congregation. 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.559 God's blessed us in 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.660 recent days with many 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:05.059 who have felt led to 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.920 come and join us 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.799 along this journey. 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.480 We're not perfect, 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:10.000 nor are you, and so 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.700 man, we get along 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.059 great. 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:13.700 So you come as God 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.880 leads, and we'll 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.080 happily guide you 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:17.299 through that. 00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.720 You have questions 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.539 about that and wonder 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:21.019 about that, my phone 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.840 number, I'm easy to 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.160 contact. 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.120 It's all over the 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:23.580 bulletin. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.819 You let me know. 00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:26.920 I'd love to talk to 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.460 you about that. 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.960 And then I sit among 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:35.620 a lot of priests, 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.880 Levites, good old 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.380 church folk. 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.240 We believe the right 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.620 thing. 00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.720 We're sitting in the 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.680 right place today. 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.600 Seemingly doing the 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.160 right thing. 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.680 God says, are we 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.240 doing what really 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.620 matters? 00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:53.340 Are we staking out 00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:54.240 our life to follow 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.180 his will and his way 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.759 in our heart and 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.019 life? 00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:57.819 I don't know how 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.500 God's leading you. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.440 I don't pretend to 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.200 know that, but I know 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.980 that you'll never be 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.779 satisfied until you 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.240 follow him. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.660 And so you come as 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.360 God leads you. 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.559 Maybe you'll make a 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.200 decision for the Lord 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:06.779 where you are. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.799 Maybe you'll make a 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.539 decision for the Lord 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.940 privately at this altar 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.400 praying. 00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.480 Maybe you want 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.120 somebody to pray with 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.199 you. 00:29:12.219 --> 00:29:12.599 I'm here. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:14.139 Just obey God. 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:16.199 Let's not hinder the 00:29:16.199 --> 00:29:18.079 Holy Spirit by not 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.839 doing what he tells 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.119 us. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.219 Lord Jesus, I love 00:29:21.219 --> 00:29:21.359 you. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.219 Thank you for the 00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:23.079 privilege and opportunity 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:23.859 you give us today. 00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:25.599 Lead us right now, oh 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:27.259 God, I pray in Jesus' 00:29:27.439 --> 00:29:28.079 precious name. 00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:28.679 Amen. 00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:28.779 Amen. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.539 Amen. 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.660 Amen. 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:31.940 Amen. 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.059 Amen. 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:32.759 Amen. 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:32.859 Amen. 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.099 Amen. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.420 Amen. 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:33.859 Amen. 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:36.039 Amen. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.740 Amen. 00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:58.000 Amen. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.779 Amen.