WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.080 When I was fresh out of college, I had the unique opportunity to go and teach English in Mexico for two years at a school down there. 00:00:10.580 --> 00:00:15.960 It was a wonderful experience. It was a great post-college experience, and I'm really glad I did it. 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:17.900 It shaped me and formed me in many ways. 00:00:18.620 --> 00:00:19.859 But it was also very challenging. 00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:22.960 It was not challenging at all because of the food. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:24.740 The food was delicious. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:27.960 I never got sick once. It was delightful. 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.960 It wasn't hard because of the people. 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:37.679 Mexican people are unbelievably generous, wonderful, welcoming, warm people. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.100 It wasn't because of the people. It wasn't really because I was homesick either. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:46.280 I wasn't missing my family incredibly, and I wasn't married at that point. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:49.679 It was a great time in my life to be adventuring abroad. 00:00:50.760 --> 00:00:56.200 But rather, what made that experience so difficult was feeling caught between two cultures. 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:16.719 You see, along with my luggage that I was bringing with me to Mexico, I was also loaded up with 22 years worth of American Midwest cultural values and habits and customs and expectations and just ways of doing things that I thought were normal. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:24.219 I had to learn a new normal in this new culture, painstakingly and often mistakenly. 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:27.579 I had to adjust my eating times, for example. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:30.879 I had to learn how to eat a second breakfast at 10 o'clock, which wasn't so bad. 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:31.680 I enjoyed that. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:39.400 I had to learn how to eat my big meal of the day at 3 o'clock, and I had to learn how to eat a snack for dinner at 9 o'clock. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:41.260 That's just the way the culture works down there. 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:46.340 I had to learn a whole set of communication differences. 00:01:47.300 --> 00:01:51.060 In Mexico, you don't say, you don't do this for, hang on a second, you do this. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:52.380 I had to learn that. 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:53.860 I was like, what are they doing this for? 00:01:54.660 --> 00:01:55.700 It means, hang on a second. 00:01:55.700 --> 00:02:04.320 But last but not least, I had to learn to kiss ladies on the cheek as an everyday greeting that wasn't romantic. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:10.640 That was pretty weird for a white guy of Scandinavian heritage from the Bible Belt. 00:02:12.580 --> 00:02:23.240 In other words, I had to ditch my old way of doing things in my old culture and embrace a new culture, a new way of doing things. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:24.500 It was a hard transition. 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:33.239 What happened to me in Mexico is basically what has to happen to Christians when they come into God's kingdom. 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:45.399 When we transfer our citizenship from the kingdom of self to the kingdom of Jesus, we have to learn a whole new way of life. 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:56.360 And what we've been seeing in the past few chapters in Matthew is Jesus has been making it very clear what kind of king he is and what kind of kingdom he is establishing. 00:02:57.300 --> 00:03:06.540 He is a king that has come not to be a victorious Messiah through military might, but through self-sacrifice. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:12.159 It is an upside down kingdom with upside down expectations. 00:03:14.359 --> 00:03:21.199 And he calls us to imitate him in his upside down way of doing things. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:38.099 And what we're going to find out from our text in Matthew 18 today, we're going to read the first 14 verses, is that this new way of being in God's kingdom must be governed by one essential upside down kingdom value. 00:03:38.739 --> 00:03:39.620 And that's humility. 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:49.700 Humility must govern the lives of Jesus' privileged kingdom citizens. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:52.200 But don't take my word for it. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:56.379 As we read through the text today, I want you to be looking for clues of humility. 00:03:57.020 --> 00:04:01.500 You're only going to see the word humble show up once, but humility is all over this passage. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:04.500 And so be looking for that as I read. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:08.020 Let's read the first 14 verses of chapter 18 in Matthew. 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:08.960 This is God's word. 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:16.420 At that time, the disciples came to Jesus saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:30.160 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:36.260 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:41.800 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:52.940 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:57.020 Woe to the world for temptations to sin. 00:04:57.019 --> 00:05:03.199 For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes. 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:10.560 And if your hand and your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, throw it away. 00:05:11.299 --> 00:05:18.319 It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands and two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:24.099 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:30.659 It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:37.019 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:42.959 For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:44.779 What do you think? 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:55.919 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 00:05:56.779 --> 00:06:04.039 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:11.640 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 00:06:14.660 --> 00:06:27.160 So in this text, Jesus is our guide and he is, as our teacher, he is going to do three things to help us learn and live out this essential kingdom value of humility. 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:31.480 In verses one to four, he is going to introduce us to somebody. 00:06:31.580 --> 00:06:32.400 He is going to make an introduction. 00:06:33.520 --> 00:06:37.160 In verses five to ten, he is going to give a stern warning. 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:43.060 And lastly, in verses ten through fourteen, he is going to tell a story. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:47.220 So he is going to make an introduction, give us a warning, and tell a story. 00:06:47.280 --> 00:06:52.360 And we will see how that helps us learn and live out this kingdom humility that we are being called to. 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:53.180 So let's jump in. 00:06:54.960 --> 00:06:57.500 Verses one to four, Jesus makes an introduction. 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:00.720 Jesus' disciples approach him. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:01.879 They ask him a question. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:04.580 Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:13.660 We shouldn't think that the disciples are doing some calm philosophical pondering as to the upper crust members of the kingdom of heaven. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:15.800 Rather, they are arguing. 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:21.639 We learn from Mark and Luke's account that this is a heated debate amongst themselves of who is the greatest. 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.500 Now, you might be wondering, why are they doing that? 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:26.340 Why are they thinking that? 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:33.900 Well, notice Matthew is kind of pointing us back a little bit into the previous couple of chapters by saying, at that time, at the beginning in verse one. 00:07:34.540 --> 00:07:43.960 So if we kind of take on some of the dynamic that has been happening in chapters 16 and 17, we might get a clue as to why the disciples might be thinking this question. 00:07:45.080 --> 00:07:50.819 There's been a few distinctions made among the twelve disciples in the past couple of chapters. 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:55.240 Peter has kind of risen to prominence as a leader and a spokesperson. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:03.680 Then Jesus invites only three of the twelve up on the mountain to see his glory, Peter, James, and John. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:14.759 And then when he gets back with them from the mountain, he rebukes the remaining nine who were trying to cast out a demon from a boy and they couldn't do it. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.439 He rebukes them for the lack of faith. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:21.800 So there's kind of some distinctions that are happening among the twelve. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:27.579 And this might have been the reason that the disciples were arguing of who is the greatest. 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:35.100 Those who had been privileged with some leadership and some intimacy with Jesus might have gotten some swollen heads about it. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:39.439 And the others might have been feeling a little bit sore that they didn't get that kind of privilege. 00:08:40.059 --> 00:08:46.779 But regardless of why they were thinking that, Jesus answers their question, but he does it in a classic Jesus style. 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:49.539 He makes an introduction. 00:08:50.259 --> 00:08:52.240 He says, you want to know who the greatest is? 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.799 Let me introduce you to him. 00:08:53.799 --> 00:09:05.679 And he grabs a little boy, a child, probably takes him by the shoulders, and he puts him in the middle of a bunch of grown men who ironically are arguing like children. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:16.419 And he says, truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:23.000 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:28.319 Let's draw our attention first to the word turn in verse 3. 00:09:29.479 --> 00:09:39.000 In the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, there's a great scene where John Candy and Steve Martin are driving down the wrong direction on the interstate and they don't realize it. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:51.580 Another car on the right side of the same way, but on the right side of the interstate, rolls down their window and yells at them, you're going the wrong way. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:56.340 And it takes them several minutes to realize this while semi-trucks are coming at them. 00:09:56.340 --> 00:10:01.860 Jesus is saying, you're going the wrong way. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.820 You're going the wrong way with this kind of thinking. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:14.940 Positioning yourself to come out over against another one of your fellow kingdom citizens is not the way citizens of my kingdom think. 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:22.820 The way you're going, not only will you not be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, you're not even going to get there. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.100 And actually that verb in the original language is a passive verb. 00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:29.560 Be turned. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:31.880 Unless you are turned. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:37.980 Unless someone kind of grabs your head and turns you and helps you to see it, you're going the wrong way. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:41.379 Jesus is doing that for them. 00:10:41.800 --> 00:10:43.740 That's what God does to us very often. 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.220 But be turned and do what? 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.300 What is this turning going to do? 00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:54.080 Well, they need to turn and become like children. 00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:59.860 How does Jesus want his disciples to become like children? 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:02.120 He's not being sentimental. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.759 He's not saying, children are innocent. 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:05.720 You should be innocent. 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:11.180 Because I'm sure if any of you have interacted with any children at any point of time, you know that they are not innocent. 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.340 They are far from it. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.960 They're wonderful, but they're far from innocent. 00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:25.620 If we can get in the head of these first century Jewish men and kind of understand what they thought about children, that might help us understand what he's saying. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:35.100 In the ancient world, and in the first century Jewish world, there was no exception, children were insignificant. 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:39.660 In our culture, we tend to elevate children. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:43.920 We tend to value them and treasure them and even kind of arrange our lives around them. 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.540 Not so in the ancient world. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:50.620 They were a little bit more of a burden than anything else. 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:51.540 They were insignificant. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:52.800 They couldn't do anything. 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:54.660 They couldn't contribute to society. 00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:55.779 They couldn't make war. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.159 They couldn't lead nations. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.279 They couldn't build families. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.699 They couldn't get wealthy. 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:01.899 They couldn't climb the social ladder. 00:12:02.219 --> 00:12:03.539 They were just small. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:05.480 Unimportant. 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.259 And they knew it. 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:11.939 Children were also dependent and helpless. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.600 Especially the younger they are. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:17.159 God has blessed my wife and I with three children. 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.259 We got another one in the oven. 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:24.339 And every time one of them is born, I'm amazed at how helpless they are. 00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:27.179 Dressing a baby is really hard. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:28.699 They're wriggling around. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.299 You're trying to stick arms through holes of sleeves and it's really difficult. 00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:35.159 You have to do everything for them. 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.919 They are totally dependent. 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:54.240 So by holding children up as a model of humility, Jesus is telling his disciples that until their perception of themselves has shrunk to the size of an insignificant dependent child, 00:12:55.019 --> 00:13:00.839 they would not even be able to get into the kingdom, let alone be the greatest in the kingdom. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:14.840 So by introducing them to the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus is exposing how saturated his disciples were with the default thinking of the kingdom of self. 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:18.040 He's also doing that to us. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:28.100 He is exposing us through this of how saturated we can be with the kingdom of self kind of thinking. 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:36.460 In the kingdom of self, I am profoundly concerned about where I stand in comparison to others. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:40.000 My role and my place are very important. 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:43.720 How I am seen and perceived by those around me. 00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:49.120 In the kingdom of self, it is a first priority that the self be recognized. 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:55.100 In the kingdom of self, I am the one who advances the position of self. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:14:03.080 And my relationships with others are tools or stepping stones to accomplish that advancement of self. 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:07.120 This is where we live, isn't it? 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.279 I don't know about you, but I tend to wake up this way. 00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:15.000 But this is not the way of the kingdom of heaven. 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:20.200 In the kingdom of heaven, we must become like little children. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:35.160 If God has his way with us, if he turns us to see our smallness and our dependence and our insignificance, not worthlessness, but our smallness. 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:41.160 Then all of a sudden, we start to live differently. 00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:45.940 In the kingdom of heaven, we recognize our need and our dependence on another. 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:52.420 In the kingdom of heaven, we humbly acknowledge the reality that I'm actually pretty small. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.840 That I'm needy. 00:14:54.020 --> 00:14:54.620 I'm broken. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.980 I'm full of failure. 00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:58.220 I need my nose wiped. 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.600 I need my shoes tied. 00:15:00.020 --> 00:15:00.840 Like children. 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:08.920 In the kingdom of heaven, self takes a back row seat to the one who meets the need of self. 00:15:09.660 --> 00:15:11.620 The one who has invited us into his kingdom. 00:15:12.780 --> 00:15:13.860 Self doesn't disappear. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.539 We don't become nothing. 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:18.019 But self retreats. 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:25.300 And it acknowledges the primary reason for its existence, which is to love God and to love others. 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:30.300 Brothers and sisters, this is the heart of humility. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:35.980 It's recognizing God for who he is as creator and redeemer. 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:46.159 And it's recognizing ourselves for who we are as creatures in need of sustaining and sinners in need of redeeming. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:16:02.680 It's also an emptying of self, of self-importance, of swollen self-perception, so that we can be filled with love for God and love and concern for others. 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:11.479 And this humility is a requirement to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:16.759 Not perfect, but a form of this humility is required. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:30.519 Jesus' kingdom is populated with people whose self-perception has shrunk and whose God perception has become much clearer and whose others' perception has been activated. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:38.179 Before we move on to the next section, let's not let this call to humility kind of float in our ears and out. 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:54.139 Jesus is saying that if we don't turn and become like little children, all of us, and we admit our smallness and our dependence and our insignificance, our inability to do anything about our eternal and spiritual condition, 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:58.279 then we will wind up very far away from the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.639 We're going the wrong way. 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:09.779 So ask yourself, am I exercising my right to self-rule instead of acknowledging my lowliness? 00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:18.660 Are my attitudes and thoughts more characterized by my realizing my smallness and my dependence upon God? 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:23.300 Or rather a bloated self-perception of myself as the center? 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:28.840 Am I constantly concerned about my status in comparison to others? 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:38.140 Let's let Jesus' call to humility beckon us to die to self-rule and to give up our right to ourself. 00:17:38.300 --> 00:17:42.740 And there is life and joy that awaits those who do that. 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:57.259 So with that introduction of the greatest citizen of the kingdom of heaven in our ears, let's give special attention to Jesus' stern warning in the next few verses. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:02.359 I'm just going to give you the warning up front, and then we're going to unpack it. 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:07.660 The warning Jesus gives in this next section, verses 5 through 10, is this. 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:29.200 If humility doesn't govern your relationships with fellow kingdom citizens, you are flirting with eternal judgment. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:38.019 So I want to read verse 5 and verse 10, kind of the opening and closing of this little section. 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:45.160 And I want to bring into your mind two contrasting ways of treating fellow Christians. 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:46.740 Verse 5. 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:53.380 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.420 Contrast that with verse 10. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:19:02.060 See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones. 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:07.759 Receiving on the one hand, despising on the other. 00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:18.940 So here, Jesus is bringing to our attention two ways of interacting with fellow kingdom citizens. 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:21.200 And ultimately, these are kind of the only two ways. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:30.559 There are different, there's a scale here, but either you are receiving and welcoming your fellow kingdom citizens with humble care, 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:34.600 or you are despising them in pride. 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:36.220 You are rejecting them. 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:40.640 That can be a passive rejecting, but a rejecting nonetheless. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:44.120 So let's unpack that a little bit. 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:51.980 Well, in verses 5 through 6, we see a lot of language of whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:55.380 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin. 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:58.020 Is Jesus talking about children here? 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.080 What's going on? 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.740 He's continuing his illustration from the previous section. 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:10.079 He's saying all those who have become little children in humility are part of the kingdom of heaven. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:12.019 He's saying, he's talking about Christians here. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:17.559 He's saying Christians, fellow believers, are the little ones, the children. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:25.099 So he's saying whoever receives one such fellow believer receives me. 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:33.959 Whatever causes one of these little believers in me to sin, then woe to you. 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:36.199 So he's not talking about children. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.679 He's talking about Christians. 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:40.379 And that's going to be the same through the rest of this passage. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.939 He's talking about Christians all the way through. 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:45.899 It doesn't mean that children can't become Christians, but he's talking about Christians. 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:48.240 So Jesus is turning a corner. 00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:52.279 He's not only urging his followers to humble yourselves and become like children, 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:59.799 but he's also saying make sure that humility bears fruit in humble care for all of your fellow little ones, 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.779 all of your fellow believers. 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:11.619 So in verse 5, he paints a picture of the fruit of humility of receiving a fellow kingdom citizen in Jesus' name. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:21.019 The idea is of welcoming, of warmly embracing, of accepting, fully incorporating them into the kingdom community, 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:23.240 leaning toward them in love. 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:26.519 And did you notice the basis for accepting them? 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:30.839 Whoever receives one such child in my name. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:35.460 In other words, he's saying we don't just accept them because they're little ones. 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:38.460 We accept them because they are Jesus' little ones. 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:43.160 We accept fellow believers because they're fellow believers in Jesus. 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:47.540 And did you notice what happens when we do that? 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:53.060 When we warmly embrace fellow believers because they belong to Jesus? 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:57.880 When we welcome them, we welcome Jesus. 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:02.840 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:12.179 Is that called a mind, Matthew chapter 25, when Jesus is saying the sheep are on one hand, the goats are on the other. 00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:14.319 The sheep are those who belong to Jesus. 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.879 The goats are those who have rejected Jesus. 00:22:16.459 --> 00:22:21.059 And he berates the goats for, he said, I was in prison. 00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:21.919 You didn't visit me. 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:24.279 I was hungry and you didn't give me food to eat. 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.039 I was thirsty. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.019 You didn't give me anything to drink. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.740 I was naked. 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.500 You didn't clothe me. 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:31.140 And like, when did we see you hungry and naked in prison? 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:33.180 And when did we see you like that? 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:40.799 And he said, the fact that you haven't done that to any of my brothers, of those who believe in me, you haven't done it to me. 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:45.859 And he commends the sheep for the opposite reason, that you saw me in prison and you visited me. 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:48.980 I was hungry and you fed me, et cetera, et cetera. 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:51.619 Like, Lord, we never saw you like this. 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:53.680 And he said, if you did it to my brothers, you did it to me. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:23:09.039 The way that we treat fellow kingdom citizens is a reflection of our love and devotion to their master and ours, or the lack thereof. 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:22.500 So this is a strong, strong argument about the way we ought to treat fellow kingdom citizens. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.740 And the opposite is also true. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.539 Look at verse 10. 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.120 See that command? 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:29.799 See. 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:32.180 That's a strong command. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:32.980 Beware. 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:37.620 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:47.500 Don't treat your fellow believers with any attitude or action that is rooted in pride, in exalting self over them. 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:50.740 He unpacks that in verse 6. 00:23:50.740 --> 00:24:02.359 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:16.200 There's a scary pronouncement of judgment on those whose treatment of fellow believers is consistently characterized by proud rejection and not by humble care. 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:23.900 But maybe you notice the connection between rejecting and causing them to sin. 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:34.900 So if we turn our back on a fellow believer actively or passively, then we're potentially causing them to sin. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.720 How can that be? 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:41.720 Well, have you ever been treated poorly by a fellow believer? 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:45.400 I imagine that's probably happened to a few of you. 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:50.380 It can tend to affect the way that you relate to God. 00:24:50.380 --> 00:25:03.880 If a fellow believer or a church rejects another believer in some way, whether passively or actively, treating them proudly and not warmly, 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:15.680 it can cause them to leave the church, to stray from the truth, to wander around alone without any fellowship with other believers, 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:23.080 without any spiritual health attending to them, it can cause them to sin toward discouragement, toward unbelief. 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:29.440 And in verse 7, Jesus emphasizes that unfortunately that's the way the world is. 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:31.420 Temptation just happens in the world. 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.259 There are stumbling blocks. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.480 There are causes to sin. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:40.259 But he says, woe to you if you're the cause of someone's cause to sin. 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:45.140 If you are the cause, woe to you. 00:25:46.379 --> 00:25:56.640 There are some strong words of judgment because Jesus is telling us that we are responsible in some way for the spiritual well-being of our fellow brothers and sisters. 00:25:57.400 --> 00:26:06.420 And that stems from whether we are treating them humbly, lovingly, warmly, or we're giving them the cold shoulder. 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:17.500 And the other, a more frightening reason for this judgment, not only were we potentially causing them to sin, we are rejecting Jesus. 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:25.180 Those who despise and reject Jesus' little ones out of pride, they're rejecting Jesus. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:31.460 Now, it doesn't mean we should have a victim mentality about this. 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:38.259 If you've been hurt by a fellow believer, you shouldn't view this as kind of an excuse to say, I'm a victim. 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:42.220 And you're responsible to respond to that humbly as well. 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:50.220 But this is a strong, strong warning that we ought to care for all of God's little ones that he puts in our path, 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:54.600 especially on a Sunday morning, the way that we want to treat Jesus. 00:26:56.660 --> 00:27:03.500 And that is why Jesus is so extreme with his warning to avoid this kind of pride in verses 8 and 9. 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:09.200 He's talking about chopping off hands and feet and plucking out eyes if that's causing you to sin. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:19.440 He's saying, be vicious, be radical in your fight against pride and lack of warm care for your brothers and sisters. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:26.960 Normally, when we hear this language of cutting off hands and feet, we associate with fighting the sin of lust, 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:29.539 because that's what Jesus is talking about back in chapter 5. 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:38.759 But here, he's saying, viciously deal with whatever is causing you to act in pride toward your brothers and sisters. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:42.440 Deal with that attitude viciously. 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:44.879 Cut it off. 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.599 Distance yourself from it. 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:50.379 And run to humbly care for your brothers and sisters. 00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:55.180 Now, here are two ways in which we can do this. 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.799 There's multiple ways in which we can do this. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:05.119 But in James chapter 2, the apostle James just lambasts the church that he's writing to because they're showing favoritism. 00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:07.579 They're showing partiality. 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:19.740 They're showing a distinction between the higher class citizens in their mind, those who are rich, who look good, they're sophisticated, 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.839 and they come into a Sunday morning meeting. 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:23.779 They're treated well. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:29.339 But those who don't look so good, those who aren't as attractive, they're treated poorly. 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:36.980 If someone's outward appearance influences your heart to be partial toward them or against them, 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:39.000 then that's a fruit of pride. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:42.379 And it's harshly condemned by Jesus. 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:48.539 You're flirting with eternal judgment by proudly rejecting one whom Jesus has welcomed. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:50.460 You're going the wrong way. 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:54.639 If you recognize that in yourself, put it to death. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:59.899 Another way is a lot like this, but it's more subtle. 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:05.259 And it's no less despising. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.859 This might hit a little closer to home. 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:16.359 Generally, I'm speaking very generally here, we tend to, as people, as social beings, we tend to categorize other people into two groups. 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:19.899 These people right here, they're like me. 00:29:20.459 --> 00:29:22.500 And we have stuff in common. 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:24.259 And it's easy for me to be around them. 00:29:24.459 --> 00:29:25.519 Easy for me to talk to them. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:28.119 I naturally gravitate toward these kind of people. 00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:33.039 And then these people over here, I don't have a lot in common with them. 00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:37.859 They kind of put me off a little bit, the way they talk, the way they dress. 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.419 They're not like me. 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:41.179 They're harder for me to be with. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.899 They cost me more energy. 00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:47.859 I'm speaking very broadly, but for the most part, that tends to be true of us. 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.000 It tends to be true of me. 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:55.159 Let me give you a little diagnostic test for this. 00:29:55.160 --> 00:30:00.640 On a Sunday morning, any given Sunday morning, you walk into Christ the King Church. 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:12.600 And from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, 99.9% of your interactions, 99.9% of the Sundays you attend church are with the people in this category. 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.560 People that are like you. 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:17.440 The people that you gravitate toward. 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.640 People that make you feel good. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.940 People that are easy for you to be around. 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:30.539 You might be in danger of passively, but nonetheless still despising the people in this category. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:36.320 Who are your brothers and sisters, who Christ has welcomed and whose Christ has shed his blood for them. 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:43.220 Do not despise even one of his little ones. 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.380 Even passively. 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:48.540 So church, let's act radically here. 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:52.740 Let's chop off hands and feet and pluck out eyes if we need to. 00:30:53.520 --> 00:31:01.000 To make sure that we, Christ the King Church, are a church that is defined by universal humble care for our brothers and sisters. 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:07.580 Now it doesn't mean that chopping off a hand here means that you can't talk to people that you like to be around. 00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.580 I'm not saying that. 00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:11.040 Praise God for those relationships. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:15.579 Continue your humble care in those relationships for those people. 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:24.940 But it does mean that we need to actively pursue those people who cost us more energy to be around. 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:35.399 It means that we need to consider inviting people that we wouldn't normally consider inviting over to lunch or for dinner. 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:43.140 It might mean that we make considerable effort to pray for people who are not like us. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:45.660 Who we don't have much in common with, but we know who are in need. 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:50.400 This should shape our Sunday morning gatherings. 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.840 This should shape our conversations. 00:31:53.560 --> 00:31:54.840 This should shape our life groups. 00:31:55.300 --> 00:31:58.100 This should shape the way that we interact with one another throughout the week. 00:31:58.099 --> 00:32:06.879 We need to seek out all of God's little ones that he has put in our path and seek their good. 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.480 And guess what? 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:12.500 If we do that, if we humbly care for every single little one, 00:32:13.639 --> 00:32:15.959 and we welcome them warmly, 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:18.339 then we do it unto Jesus. 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.459 Jesus. 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:23.759 So Jesus has introduced us to the greatest kingdom citizen, 00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:27.319 and he's given us a very stern warning of how we are, 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:30.740 as humble kingdom citizens, 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:32.879 to treat other humble kingdom citizens. 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:35.379 And now he's about to tell us a story. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:39.099 And the point of this story is to illustrate 00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:45.980 God's fierce love for all of his little ones. 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:50.720 And that fierce love for all of his little ones 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:55.420 should be the very thing that invigorates our kingdom humility 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:58.319 and our humble care for others. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.059 So let's look at verses 10 through 14. 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:07.500 Jesus prefaces this story with an interesting statement at the end of verse 10. 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.660 I'll get a running start here. 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:11.720 See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:18.019 for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:22.680 Now scholars go back and forth as to exactly what Jesus means 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:25.000 by the angels of these little ones. 00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:31.500 Either it can refer to angels whom God has assigned to care for his little ones, 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:35.819 or it can refer to the spirits of dead Christians 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:40.700 who have already died and are beholding the Father's glory in heaven. 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:43.960 Scholars aren't sure exactly what to make of that phrase. 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:46.539 But regardless of the interpretation, 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.960 Jesus' point remains the same. 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:52.559 It is that there is an intimate connection 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:56.559 between these little ones and our Father in heaven. 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:59.419 So if you take the guardian angel interpretation, 00:34:00.419 --> 00:34:04.279 Jesus is saying that the Father keeps close tabs on his little ones. 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:08.480 He's always getting reports and giving instructions about them. 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:12.159 Or, if you take the spirits of dead Christians interpretation, 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:15.840 the emphasis is on our eternal destination 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:19.119 to be in intimate communion with our Heavenly Father, 00:34:19.279 --> 00:34:21.800 beholding his delicious glory forever. 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:24.420 So either way, Jesus is saying this, 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:26.199 these aren't just my little ones, 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:27.960 they are my Father's little ones, 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:30.639 and he cares for them fiercely. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:35.279 And then comes the illustration of this fierce love 00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:39.059 in a beautiful mini parable in verses 12 through 14. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.619 Jesus says, 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:41.299 What do you think? 00:34:41.819 --> 00:34:44.000 If a man is a hundred sheep and one of them, 00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:46.199 just one, has gone astray, 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:49.319 does he not leave the 99 on the mountains 00:34:49.319 --> 00:34:51.779 and go in search of the one that went astray? 00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:53.480 And if he finds it, 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.259 truly, I say to you, 00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:58.079 he rejoices over it more than over the 99 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:59.440 that never went astray. 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:02.659 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:05.940 that one of these little ones should perish. 00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:09.480 I'm sure many of you have heard this parable before, 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.980 but we've heard it probably more often 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:14.940 from Luke's version of it. 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:18.139 Jesus probably used this little story 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.659 on multiple different occasions 00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:21.000 to illustrate the point, 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:23.019 but with a different emphasis 00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:24.239 depending on the context. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:27.059 In Luke, the emphasis is on a lost sheep 00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:28.480 that is a sinner 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:31.119 who is brought into the kingdom for the first time, 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.260 and there is much rejoicing 00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:34.780 in God's active pursuit of each sinner. 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.039 But here in Matthew 18, 00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:37.139 the context is different. 00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.900 The lost sheep in this context 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.820 is a Christian who has gone astray. 00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:44.480 He's talking about little ones, 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.980 kingdom little ones, Christians. 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:47.960 And specifically, 00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:49.320 given the emphasis 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:52.320 on humble Christian relationships 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.380 and the warning against pride 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:56.199 and causing other little ones to sin, 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:58.980 this sheep could have possibly gone astray 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:01.659 because of being caused to sin 00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:03.619 through poor treatment 00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:04.780 by other Christians. 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:08.119 Now this might hit home with some of you. 00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:11.780 This lost sheep might hit home 00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:13.740 either because you're hurting, 00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:17.319 because you've been dealt some wounds 00:36:17.319 --> 00:36:18.619 by fellow Christians, 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:21.359 perhaps even caused to sin 00:36:21.359 --> 00:36:22.819 by fellow Christians, 00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:25.599 perhaps even gone astray 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:27.179 because of the way Christians 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.919 have treated you. 00:36:29.319 --> 00:36:29.879 Again, that doesn't mean 00:36:29.879 --> 00:36:30.939 you should have a victim mentality, 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:32.139 but that's real. 00:36:33.319 --> 00:36:35.019 Or this might hit home 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.659 because you're hearing 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:37.000 the language of lost sheep 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:38.019 and you're thinking, 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.559 I think that's me. 00:36:40.259 --> 00:36:41.699 I'm just kind of wondering. 00:36:42.399 --> 00:36:43.039 I'm astray. 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.259 I'm not in the fold. 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:47.199 I think I belong to God. 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.259 I think I've got faith, 00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.920 but I'm not where I should be. 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:53.079 Well, let's notice this shepherd. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.599 First, notice that he's counting the sheep. 00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:58.139 He's got 100. 00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.900 He realizes he has 99. 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:01.119 He's not counting them 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:02.000 because he can't sleep. 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:03.440 He's counting them 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:04.199 because he wants to know 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.460 that his entire flock 00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.900 down to the last woolly tail 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:07.539 is safe. 00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.519 There's one missing. 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:13.340 Notice he doesn't say, 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.900 I got most of them. 00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:16.019 That was a rough trip 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:16.840 across the mountains. 00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:19.159 You win some, you lose some. 00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:19.820 No biggie. 00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:22.179 No, he goes. 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.759 He searches. 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:26.159 He leaves the 99, 00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:27.840 assumingly entrusting them 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:29.280 to care of other shepherds, 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:31.139 and he actively pursues 00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:32.860 the one, just one, 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.820 that was led astray. 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:36.559 By the way, 00:37:36.640 --> 00:37:37.519 I'm not sure if you noticed, 00:37:37.700 --> 00:37:39.000 but the word one 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:40.580 pops up in the original language 00:37:40.580 --> 00:37:41.420 five times 00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:42.940 throughout this passage. 00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:43.980 In verse five, 00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:45.260 one such child. 00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:45.880 Verse six, 00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:47.640 one of these little ones. 00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:48.640 Verse 10, 00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:50.300 one of these little ones. 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:51.640 Verse 12, 00:37:52.100 --> 00:37:53.600 one of them goes astray. 00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:54.460 Verse 14, 00:37:55.180 --> 00:37:56.280 that one of these little ones 00:37:56.280 --> 00:37:56.700 should perish. 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:57.460 Do you see the emphasis 00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.940 on the individual sheep? 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:03.179 God cares for individuals, 00:38:03.579 --> 00:38:05.760 especially his individuals 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.860 that are his own. 00:38:08.260 --> 00:38:10.159 Each individual believer, 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:14.340 you are infinitely valuable to God. 00:38:15.720 --> 00:38:16.740 And if this is true, 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:20.320 how dare we pridefully reject, 00:38:20.820 --> 00:38:21.920 neglect to welcome, 00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:24.059 or neglect to humbly care 00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:26.960 for any one of God's sheep 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:29.019 that he would chase down 00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:30.420 if it's gone astray. 00:38:31.900 --> 00:38:32.740 And on the flip side, 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.539 we should never think, 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:36.860 God doesn't care about me. 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:40.000 I understand why we think that. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:41.119 I think that sometimes, 00:38:41.220 --> 00:38:42.400 but we should never think it 00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:44.760 if this is the heart of our Father. 00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:47.699 Not only does he pursue the one, 00:38:47.780 --> 00:38:49.179 but when he finds the one, 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:51.280 his joy over finding 00:38:51.280 --> 00:38:53.119 that one lost sheep 00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:55.880 is greater than his joy 00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.800 of knowing that the other 00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:57.840 99 are safe. 00:38:58.720 --> 00:39:00.960 He doesn't want any of his own, 00:39:01.060 --> 00:39:02.740 not one, to perish. 00:39:03.120 --> 00:39:04.420 Our God is a pursuing, 00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:07.700 seeking, saving God. 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:13.000 God's love for just one of his own 00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:15.300 is extremely fierce. 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:18.180 Your God's love for you, 00:39:19.060 --> 00:39:20.440 if you are one of his own, 00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.860 if you belong to Jesus, 00:39:22.060 --> 00:39:23.580 no matter how messy you are, 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:25.500 no matter how awkward you are, 00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:27.179 no matter how dense, 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:29.039 no matter how shame-ridden, 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:31.780 your God pursues you. 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:34.420 You personally, 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:35.639 you individually, 00:39:35.860 --> 00:39:37.019 because you're his. 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:40.659 and his joy, 00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:42.599 when you return in repentance 00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:43.219 and faith, 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:44.559 is over the moon. 00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:47.579 What kind of God 00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:49.460 has that kind 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:51.900 of unearned grace 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.860 that would actively seek out 00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:55.179 a straying soul 00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:57.360 with that kind of intensity? 00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:59.539 What kind of God 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:01.500 is so full of holy love 00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.599 that when you mess 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:03.780 with one of his own, 00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:05.860 his wrath burns hot? 00:40:08.860 --> 00:40:10.140 This kind of God 00:40:10.140 --> 00:40:12.320 ought to invigorate 00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:14.360 our kingdom humility, 00:40:14.360 --> 00:40:16.840 not because he demands it, 00:40:17.740 --> 00:40:18.280 but because 00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:20.340 when you're loved like that, 00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:22.500 you can't help but be humble. 00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:25.559 And because when you realize 00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:26.659 your fellow little ones 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:27.800 are loved like that too, 00:40:29.059 --> 00:40:29.900 how dare you treat them 00:40:29.900 --> 00:40:30.500 with anything else 00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.079 but humility? 00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:33.900 You can't help but treat others 00:40:33.900 --> 00:40:34.880 with the same kind of 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:36.619 loyal, tender care 00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.639 that your God 00:40:37.639 --> 00:40:38.320 has shown you. 00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:40.239 You wouldn't dream 00:40:40.239 --> 00:40:41.400 of exalting yourself 00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:42.960 over against somebody else 00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.739 when you grasp 00:40:43.739 --> 00:40:44.820 the massive good 00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:46.320 that God has done to you 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:47.320 through his son, Jesus. 00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:50.400 You're going to be eager 00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:51.519 to welcome 00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:53.000 the smelliest, 00:40:53.680 --> 00:40:54.539 awkwardest, 00:40:55.260 --> 00:40:56.480 messiest fellow believer 00:40:56.480 --> 00:40:57.720 that God puts in your path 00:40:57.720 --> 00:41:00.180 because God in Christ 00:41:00.180 --> 00:41:00.800 has welcomed 00:41:00.800 --> 00:41:02.320 and pursued someone like you. 00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:07.460 Brothers and sisters, 00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:09.820 God's word stings sometimes. 00:41:10.620 --> 00:41:11.980 I've been stung this week 00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:12.960 preparing for this. 00:41:14.180 --> 00:41:15.640 It always stings 00:41:15.640 --> 00:41:16.500 when you realize 00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:18.320 that you're more sinful, 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.900 you're more proud, 00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:21.719 you're more prone 00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:23.260 to being ruled by self 00:41:23.260 --> 00:41:24.059 than you realize. 00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:26.579 If you're feeling that, 00:41:27.239 --> 00:41:28.119 that's a good thing. 00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:30.400 God uses his word 00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:31.820 like a surgeon's scalpel 00:41:31.820 --> 00:41:33.599 to cut out the cancer 00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:34.159 of pride 00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:34.820 and it hurts. 00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:36.659 But God's word 00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:37.480 does more than that. 00:41:37.960 --> 00:41:38.800 It doesn't just hurt, 00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:39.360 it heals. 00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:42.320 He cuts us open, 00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.920 reveals our desperate need 00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:45.400 for him, 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:48.000 but then he sews us back up 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.639 with the sutures 00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:49.260 of the gospel. 00:41:51.180 --> 00:41:52.039 He shows us 00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:53.400 that he has not rejected 00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:54.320 people like us 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:55.500 but he has warmly 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:57.079 welcomed people 00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:58.160 like us 00:41:58.160 --> 00:41:59.240 through the gospel. 00:41:59.400 --> 00:42:00.160 The good news 00:42:00.160 --> 00:42:01.559 that Jesus 00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:04.019 was humble, 00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:05.940 that Jesus 00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:07.340 emptied himself 00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:08.860 out of humble care 00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:12.059 and that he came 00:42:12.059 --> 00:42:13.039 to find us. 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:16.079 And he pursued us 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:16.620 all the way 00:42:16.620 --> 00:42:17.640 to the cross 00:42:17.640 --> 00:42:18.840 and back from the grave 00:42:18.840 --> 00:42:20.380 to make sure 00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:21.280 that we would be welcomed. 00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:24.320 And now we get to live out 00:42:24.320 --> 00:42:25.380 that beautiful story 00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:26.099 together 00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:27.380 by laying down 00:42:27.380 --> 00:42:28.240 our lives 00:42:28.240 --> 00:42:29.559 in humble care 00:42:29.559 --> 00:42:30.640 and warm welcome 00:42:30.640 --> 00:42:33.120 for every single 00:42:33.120 --> 00:42:34.099 little one 00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:35.039 that God puts 00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:36.240 in our path. 00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:38.219 regardless of human 00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:38.719 differences, 00:42:39.939 --> 00:42:40.759 regardless of social 00:42:40.759 --> 00:42:41.319 status 00:42:41.319 --> 00:42:42.199 or class 00:42:42.199 --> 00:42:43.599 or skin color, 00:42:44.579 --> 00:42:45.219 white collar 00:42:45.219 --> 00:42:46.099 or blue collar, 00:42:46.959 --> 00:42:47.879 people like us, 00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:49.179 people not like us. 00:42:50.479 --> 00:42:51.899 Because all of us 00:42:51.899 --> 00:42:52.839 who believe 00:42:52.839 --> 00:42:53.779 and trust 00:42:53.779 --> 00:42:54.719 in Jesus, 00:42:55.399 --> 00:42:56.879 we get to 00:42:56.879 --> 00:42:58.099 do this life 00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:59.119 together in the kingdom 00:42:59.119 --> 00:42:59.699 forever. 00:42:59.839 --> 00:43:00.979 So let's do this now. 00:43:01.379 --> 00:43:01.959 Let's start now. 00:43:01.960 --> 00:43:04.500 After I pray 00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:05.360 and while the worship 00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:06.240 team is getting ready 00:43:06.240 --> 00:43:07.059 to lead us 00:43:07.059 --> 00:43:08.380 in a closing song, 00:43:09.220 --> 00:43:09.840 can I just encourage 00:43:09.840 --> 00:43:10.380 you to do some 00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:11.119 business with God? 00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:14.480 Let him deal with you 00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:15.159 by his spirit. 00:43:16.340 --> 00:43:17.199 Let him soften 00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:17.740 your heart 00:43:17.740 --> 00:43:18.880 toward him 00:43:18.880 --> 00:43:19.980 and toward your 00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:20.500 fellow brothers 00:43:20.500 --> 00:43:21.019 and sisters. 00:43:22.579 --> 00:43:23.500 If someone's been 00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.500 popping into your mind 00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:25.240 that you need to go 00:43:25.240 --> 00:43:26.079 and ask forgiveness 00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:28.159 for the way that you've 00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:28.639 treated them 00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:29.139 and pride, 00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:30.699 even if it was passive, 00:43:30.699 --> 00:43:32.159 if God's spirit's 00:43:32.159 --> 00:43:32.699 working on you, 00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:33.799 don't hesitate. 00:43:34.139 --> 00:43:34.879 After service, 00:43:35.079 --> 00:43:35.299 go, 00:43:36.259 --> 00:43:36.559 obey, 00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:38.399 act in faith. 00:43:39.819 --> 00:43:40.960 If you've been hurt 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.219 by a fellow Christian, 00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.179 if you've been tempted 00:43:44.179 --> 00:43:45.119 to sin or stray 00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:45.939 because of that, 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:47.639 pastors and elders 00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:48.399 will be down here 00:43:48.399 --> 00:43:49.299 in front to pray 00:43:49.299 --> 00:43:49.719 with you. 00:43:51.019 --> 00:43:52.239 Our Father's pursuing you. 00:43:53.879 --> 00:43:55.299 So let's act in faith 00:43:55.299 --> 00:43:56.219 and obedience 00:43:56.219 --> 00:43:57.079 to God's word. 00:43:57.219 --> 00:43:58.000 Let's be a body 00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:59.099 of little ones 00:43:59.099 --> 00:44:00.139 who realize 00:44:00.139 --> 00:44:01.199 that we're little ones 00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:03.039 and seek to imitate 00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:04.079 our Father's heart 00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:05.019 toward all of his 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.759 little ones 00:44:05.759 --> 00:44:07.519 to the glory of Jesus. 00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:09.239 Let's pray. 00:44:13.319 --> 00:44:13.799 Father, 00:44:13.920 --> 00:44:14.380 thank you 00:44:14.380 --> 00:44:15.860 that you have 00:44:15.860 --> 00:44:16.519 in grace 00:44:16.519 --> 00:44:17.159 pursued 00:44:17.159 --> 00:44:19.159 people like us. 00:44:19.299 --> 00:44:19.599 You've 00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:20.900 grabbed our heads 00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:22.819 and turned our eyes 00:44:22.819 --> 00:44:24.619 to see 00:44:24.619 --> 00:44:25.319 our need 00:44:25.319 --> 00:44:26.219 for Jesus. 00:44:26.219 --> 00:44:28.319 for those 00:44:28.319 --> 00:44:29.219 who have not. 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:31.859 Pray for those 00:44:31.859 --> 00:44:33.019 who need 00:44:33.019 --> 00:44:33.839 to humble themselves 00:44:33.839 --> 00:44:34.500 before you. 00:44:35.319 --> 00:44:35.579 I pray, 00:44:35.719 --> 00:44:35.819 God, 00:44:35.859 --> 00:44:36.279 that you 00:44:36.279 --> 00:44:37.239 would do it. 00:44:38.759 --> 00:44:39.480 That you would 00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:40.259 gain entrance, 00:44:41.099 --> 00:44:41.599 that you give them 00:44:41.599 --> 00:44:42.579 entrance into your kingdom. 00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:44.980 Pray that you would 00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.459 deal with us 00:44:45.459 --> 00:44:46.439 according to your word 00:44:46.439 --> 00:44:47.179 by your spirit. 00:44:48.259 --> 00:44:49.179 Make us a body 00:44:49.179 --> 00:44:51.159 that warmly welcomes 00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:51.779 all 00:44:51.779 --> 00:44:53.699 of your little ones. 00:44:54.219 --> 00:44:54.939 In Jesus' name, 00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:55.480 Amen. 00:44:55.480 --> 00:44:55.579 Amen.