WEBVTT 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:02.540 Shall we just briefly pray? 00:00:05.419 --> 00:00:10.919 Father, we do pray that you would give us receptive hearts, make us good soil. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:14.700 ! This morning we pray as we hear your word. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:20.740 ! Help us to respond to your word in the way that Jesus expected people to respond to his words, 00:00:20.740 --> 00:00:25.280 with repentance and with faith, with obedience. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:28.620 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.380 Well, it's lovely to be here, and thank you for those words of introduction, Paul. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:46.340 I have to tell you that I haven't really preached to a congregation like this anyway for about 18 months. 00:00:46.539 --> 00:00:49.700 So I'm a bit out of practice, so I hope you'll bear that in mind. 00:00:50.019 --> 00:00:54.120 And I really feel dependent upon God this morning. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:01:02.140 And I hope that you'll pray for me, and I hope that you'll pray for our church in Kendall. 00:01:03.879 --> 00:01:06.140 We're actually meeting in the town hall this morning. 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:16.599 Since lockdown, we've been meeting as two congregations in our building, one at 9.30 and one at 11.15. 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:20.059 And both congregations are growing. 00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:26.019 And we'd love to continue to meet together as one congregation like we used to before lockdown. 00:01:26.019 --> 00:01:33.699 And one possible solution to this is to meet sometimes at least, even every week possibly, 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:41.819 in the town hall in Kendall, which is the only place we can think of that's any bigger than our church building. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:44.120 So they're meeting there this morning. 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:49.439 So please pray for guidance for the elders that they'll make the right decision about that. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:56.019 Okay, I want to speak this morning about this really important parable. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:03.099 It's an important parable because it occurs in all three of the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.420 And it's one of my favorite parables. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:09.579 I love these parables about sowing and reaping. 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:13.500 It's a picture that Jesus often used in his ministry. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:17.219 And it's about a sower. 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:21.000 And we were talking about this in Sunday school this morning. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:22.960 The boys and girls will remember it. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:25.819 It's about a sower who sows his seed. 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:30.159 And in those days, they didn't have nice cultivated fields like we do. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:31.939 Well, maybe you don't in the evening. 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:32.460 I don't know. 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:36.259 But we have nice cultivated fields in the Lake District. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:41.780 And nearly all the seed that's sown grows well. 00:02:42.419 --> 00:02:43.900 But there they would scatter the seed. 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:45.599 And some of the seed would fall on the path. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:52.319 Some of the seed would fall in shallow soil where there wasn't much depth of soil. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.620 And some of the seed would fall amongst the thistles and the thorns. 00:02:55.859 --> 00:02:56.959 And it would get choked. 00:02:57.459 --> 00:02:59.959 And it wouldn't bring forth fruit. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:07.159 And some seed would fall on really good, fertile soil and bring forth fruit. 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:18.280 So, I think that this parable has two ways, two applications, two ways we can think about it. 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.620 And the first is that it's an encouragement to preachers. 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:26.900 It's an encouragement to those who proclaim God's kingdom, who preach God's word. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:33.360 And the second, and the one I want to particularly stress this morning, in a little while, 00:03:33.700 --> 00:03:40.520 is there is a warning to those who hear the message of the kingdom, to those who hear the word of God. 00:03:41.700 --> 00:03:48.960 So, sowing the seed is a bit like preaching the word, proclaiming God's word. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:51.280 And Jesus was the great sower. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:55.200 And he began to preach. 00:03:55.260 --> 00:03:56.879 You can read about this in Mark chapter 1. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:59.180 And he began to preach. 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:03.040 And his message, right at the beginning, was the time has come. 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:10.439 The time that God's people have been waiting for for so long, all through the Old Testament period. 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:11.520 God's kingdom. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:13.100 That time has come. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:13.219 God's kingdom. 00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:15.819 The king is here. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:20.399 So, repent and believe the good news. 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:23.279 And that's the response he wanted. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.060 He wanted people to repent, which means to turn from everything that's wrong, 00:04:28.980 --> 00:04:33.000 everything that God doesn't like, everything that isn't like Jesus. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:35.000 He wants us to repent. 00:04:35.779 --> 00:04:39.219 And he wants us to believe the good news. 00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:41.339 I'm going to say more about that this evening. 00:04:41.339 --> 00:04:44.459 We're going to be looking at that this evening in more detail. 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:46.679 What it means to repent and believe. 00:04:47.019 --> 00:04:48.339 So, that was Jesus' message. 00:04:48.479 --> 00:04:51.339 That's the response that he wanted from the crowd. 00:04:51.679 --> 00:04:57.279 Like this crowd gathered on the beach by the Sea of Galilee when he first preached this parable. 00:04:58.039 --> 00:05:07.120 The response he wanted was repentance and faith in himself. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:17.240 And the parable shows us the different kinds of responses that were in that crowd. 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:21.180 And I've got no doubt at all that in this congregation this morning, 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:25.600 all four of these responses to God's word will be here. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.519 They will be present this morning as I'm preaching. 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:34.139 And you need to ask yourself, what kind of soil am I? 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.259 How am I responding to Jesus? 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:38.620 How am I responding to his word? 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:40.659 What kind of soil am I? 00:05:41.099 --> 00:05:44.680 So, as I've said, this is an encouragement, first of all, to proclaim, 00:05:46.579 --> 00:05:50.919 an encouragement to those who preach the kingdom of God, who preach God's word. 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:57.819 And Jesus wanted this response of repentance and faith. 00:05:58.020 --> 00:06:02.560 What response did Jesus, the great sower, get from the crowd? 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:07.020 Well, if you read through Mark, you get to chapter 2. 00:06:07.400 --> 00:06:13.639 As early as chapter 2, you find that there's opposition. 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:18.280 There's opposition from the scribes and the Pharisees to Jesus and his message. 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:23.359 By the time you get to chapter 3, they're plotting to kill him. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:27.699 Chapter 3, beginning of chapter 3, they're plotting to kill him. 00:06:28.539 --> 00:06:30.739 By the time you get further on in chapter 3, 00:06:31.159 --> 00:06:35.059 they're saying that he's possessed by Beelzebul, who was an evil spirit. 00:06:36.559 --> 00:06:41.439 Later on after that, Jesus' own family come and try to stop him preaching. 00:06:43.299 --> 00:06:44.679 They're embarrassed by it. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:53.259 He goes to the synagogue at Nazareth, his hometown, and he preaches there. 00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:57.920 And the response is, this is just the carpenter, the carpenter's son. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:06:59.439 We know his mother. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:00.780 We know his brothers. 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.220 We know his sister. 00:07:03.340 --> 00:07:04.720 And they were offended by it. 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:07.259 So, Jesus preached God's word. 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:08.560 Jesus preached the kingdom. 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.220 He wanted repentance. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:11.980 And he wanted faith. 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:13.040 And what did he get? 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:14.620 He got all kinds of responses. 00:07:14.780 --> 00:07:16.960 He got a negative response, as we've just seen. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:20.640 He got a shallow response from the crowd. 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:21.879 They followed him. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:26.040 As long as he was performing miracles, the crowd followed him. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:27.680 But he didn't last for very long. 00:07:28.320 --> 00:07:31.600 And then, very, very sadly, he would preach the word. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:34.300 And some people would claim to have become disciples. 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:41.259 And they would last a few months, a few weeks, a few months, maybe a year or two. 00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:44.759 And after that, they would stop following. 00:07:44.900 --> 00:07:48.480 I was reading earlier this week in John chapter 6. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:54.160 John chapter 6 starts with 5,000 people being fed by Jesus in the wilderness. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.680 He then goes on to the synagogue at Capernaum. 00:07:57.780 --> 00:07:58.860 There's a crowd in the synagogue. 00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:00.280 He's preaching there. 00:08:00.520 --> 00:08:15.139 And after the sermon in the synagogue, in John chapter 6, verse 66, it says that many, many of his disciples, that's the word that's used, many of his disciples no longer followed him. 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:20.879 Now, Jesus got all those responses that I've just been going through with you. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:30.199 And if Jesus, and he was the greatest preacher ever, he was by far the greatest ever preacher. 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:33.480 No one ever spoke like Jesus did. 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:35.539 No one ever spoke like this man. 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:37.980 He was the spirit-filled preacher. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:44.819 And when Jesus preached, those are the responses he got. 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:46.779 He got the hard response. 00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:49.799 Some people, no impression at all. 00:08:50.699 --> 00:08:52.120 He got the shallow response. 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:54.539 Some people followed him for a bit. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:55.759 The crowd. 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:58.620 He got the overcrowded response. 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:05.340 They claimed to be disciples, but other things came in and became more important than Jesus. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:07.620 And Jesus became less and less important. 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:09.059 And they gave it all up. 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:12.839 The word the Bible uses for that is apostasy. 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:14.699 They apostatized. 00:09:15.199 --> 00:09:18.379 They gave up the faith that they once professed. 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:22.879 And some seed fell on good soil. 00:09:22.959 --> 00:09:23.759 That's the good news. 00:09:24.059 --> 00:09:25.879 Not all the seed was lost. 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:28.519 Some of it fell on good soil. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:34.340 Now, if Jesus got the response like that. 00:09:34.439 --> 00:09:37.419 If those were the responses to God's word that Jesus got. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.439 The greatest preacher who ever lived. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.100 Then, it's the kind of response that we should expect as well. 00:09:45.300 --> 00:09:48.560 And I just want to encourage preachers this morning to keep on preaching. 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:54.360 And not to think that just because they're getting these different kinds of responses. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.400 They're not preaching properly. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.560 Jesus was the greatest preacher ever. 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:03.160 And this is the kind of response or non-response that he got. 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:07.059 Well, this is how people are going to respond to God's word. 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:08.719 But keep on preaching. 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:13.100 Because there's going to be some seed that falls on good soil. 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:15.919 And there's going to be seed that's fertile. 00:10:16.319 --> 00:10:18.139 There's going to be ground that's fertile. 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:21.279 And the seed is going to sprout in that ground. 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:22.539 And there's going to be a harvest. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:24.879 And it's not just going to be a little harvest. 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:29.699 There's another parable in Mark chapter 4 about the mustard seed. 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:31.500 Which is a tiny little seed. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:34.240 And yet, it grows into a big garden shrub. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:39.059 In which the birds of the air can roost at night time. 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.320 Build their nests and so on. 00:10:40.700 --> 00:10:43.240 And that's Jesus' picture of the growth of the kingdom. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.259 And it is growing. 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.679 It's growing all over the world. 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:50.399 It's wonderful to hear about the work here amongst the Japanese people. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:54.179 It's wonderful to see people from other countries as well. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.820 It's the same in Kendall. 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:59.960 I mean, nobody comes to Kendall from abroad. 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:04.660 But we're getting more and more Eastern Europeans in our congregation. 00:11:04.920 --> 00:11:09.160 We're getting people from Russia. 00:11:09.660 --> 00:11:11.320 We're getting people from the Ukraine. 00:11:11.560 --> 00:11:13.620 We're getting people from Poland, Romania. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:16.300 Coming to church on Sunday. 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:18.720 It's wonderful what God is doing in this world. 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:20.180 There is going to be a harvest. 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:21.060 There is a harvest. 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:21.680 It's coming. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:24.160 It's developing even now as we speak. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:27.100 Yes, there are terrible, terribly hard places like Britain. 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.620 Really, really hard ground. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:33.360 But some of the seed will always fall on good soil. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.159 So keep preaching. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:39.919 You're going to get exactly the same kind of response that Jesus got. 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:42.259 There are going to be people who oppose you. 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:45.100 There are going to be people who reject what you say. 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.639 We're not going to listen to you. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:51.019 There are going to be people who you're quite encouraged about. 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:54.840 And then you're terribly disappointed by. 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:58.480 Your heart breaks because they walk out on Jesus. 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:00.639 They walk out on the church. 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:02.159 You don't see them again. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.039 They give it all up. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.740 It's going to happen. 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:06.480 It happened to Jesus, as we've just seen. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.480 And it's going to happen to you. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.899 But don't give up. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.399 Keep on sowing that seed. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:16.139 It's the only way that God's kingdom will grow. 00:12:16.699 --> 00:12:19.220 Through the preaching of God's word. 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:22.019 So if you stop preaching, that kingdom won't grow. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.840 And if you preach it, will. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.980 So keep on preaching. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:28.559 That's my first message for this morning. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:28.980 Okay? 00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:31.000 Have you got that? 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:32.559 Good, good, great. 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:35.899 So that's the first point. 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:36.919 There's only two points. 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:40.039 Second point, this is an encouragement. 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:45.360 This is a warning to those who hear the message of God's kingdom. 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:50.599 The point of the parable of the sower is there in verse 9. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.679 If you look at verse 9. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:52.659 Jesus said, 00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:00.039 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:05.319 This is a parable about hearing the word of God. 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:09.360 Now, I've just been explaining that when Jesus preached, 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:12.000 he expected repentance and faith, 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:14.860 or he wanted repentance and faith, 00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:17.000 leading to a life of obedience. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:24.560 And yet, he warns us here that there are those who hear his words 00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:27.520 who will never understand it. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.280 That's in verse 12. 00:13:29.760 --> 00:13:32.420 People who hear and who never understand. 00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:35.179 That doesn't mean they don't understand it with their minds. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:37.240 They understand it with their minds, 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:41.839 but they don't understand it in the sense that they don't stand under it. 00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:44.860 That's what the word understand means here. 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:48.979 They don't stand under what they hear. 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:55.639 You can hear the word of Jesus without really hearing it. 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:58.559 And this is the message of this parable. 00:14:01.819 --> 00:14:04.699 It's possible to hear the words of Jesus, 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.620 and it's possible to hear the words that's preached here every week, 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.100 to be here, 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:12.799 and for the sound to impinge upon our eardrums, 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.539 and even into our brains, 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.580 but never to really hear 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:19.860 what's being said. 00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:22.439 Never to stand under it. 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:24.460 Never to understand it. 00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:24.480 Never to understand it. 00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:26.360 To stand under it. 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:32.200 And these different soils represent different ways 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.300 in which we can hear without hearing. 00:14:35.880 --> 00:14:37.360 When Jesus preached, 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:40.640 he expected us to hear and to heed, 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:42.900 to listen to what he was saying, 00:14:43.380 --> 00:14:46.020 and to act on what we heard. 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:49.460 In the Second World War, 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:51.840 there was a lot of bombing of cities 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:52.679 in this country, 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.379 in Germany, 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.019 in Japan. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.779 Bombing of cities. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:58.899 And there were air raid warnings. 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.600 The siren would go off. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.399 And people, 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.939 when they heard that siren, 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:08.399 they wouldn't just stand there 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.079 or sit there. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.500 They'd find the nearest 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.120 air raid shelter. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.519 If they were in London, 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.779 some of them would go down 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.940 into the tube station 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:19.159 for the night. 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:21.139 They didn't just say, 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:21.659 ah, yeah, 00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:22.919 an air raid shelter. 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:25.519 They didn't just say, 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:25.799 ah, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.419 an air raid. 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.360 They would find a shelter. 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.879 That's when they really heard 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.159 the warning, 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.279 the siren. 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.379 They would find a shelter. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.500 They'd do something about it. 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.659 They would respond. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.579 And, 00:15:43.579 --> 00:15:46.879 there may have been people, 00:15:46.939 --> 00:15:47.740 I'm sure there were, 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:49.199 who heard the siren 00:15:49.199 --> 00:15:50.399 and they thought, 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:50.579 well, 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.439 I've heard that before. 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:53.519 I won't bother to do anything 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.519 about that this time. 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.860 Nothing much happened last time. 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:59.279 And they don't do anything about it 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.579 or they didn't do anything about it. 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.959 And the result was disaster for them. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.980 You should listen to Jesus 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:10.920 like people listened to air raid warnings 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:14.240 during the Second World War. 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.899 When Jesus speaks, 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:18.560 you should really listen. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.740 You must listen to Jesus. 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:25.779 You know, 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:27.259 there's a verse in Chapter 6 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.000 of Mark 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.700 about Herod, 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.480 King Herod. 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.120 And, 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.720 he had 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.919 John the Baptist 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:33.620 in prison. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.259 And, 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.220 he was very reluctant 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.659 to execute 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.320 John the Baptist. 00:16:38.560 --> 00:16:38.879 Why? 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.299 Well, 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:40.799 Mark says, 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.700 he liked 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:43.060 to listen 00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:44.980 to John the Baptist. 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.980 King Herod 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.879 liked 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:49.120 to listen 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.080 to John the Baptist. 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:52.120 He liked 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.820 his sermon. 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.379 He liked 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:54.840 his preaching. 00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:55.200 I don't know 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:55.740 what he liked 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.240 about them. 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.280 But, 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:57.820 there was something 00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.000 about John the Baptist's 00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.420 sermons 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:00.580 that attracted 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.420 King Herod. 00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:02.540 But, 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.200 he never 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.160 really 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:04.960 listened. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.299 And, 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.360 when he came to it, 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.360 when he had to choose 00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:08.759 between 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.160 his wife, 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.220 his wife's will, 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:13.799 and 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.180 John the Baptist, 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.519 he chose 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.160 to obey 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.500 his wife. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.220 But, 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.700 he liked 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.380 to listen 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.060 to Jesus. 00:17:23.060 --> 00:17:23.540 And, 00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:26.340 Jesus 00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.320 ends his 00:17:27.320 --> 00:17:27.860 sermon on the 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:28.140 mount 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.320 with a 00:17:30.320 --> 00:17:30.660 parable 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.420 about two 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.180 men, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.700 a foolish 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.140 man 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:33.860 and a wise 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.160 man. 00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:34.400 And, 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.180 the wise 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:35.740 man builds 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.240 his house 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.980 on a rock. 00:17:37.540 --> 00:17:37.640 And, 00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:38.100 the rain 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:38.660 comes, 00:17:38.780 --> 00:17:39.360 and the floods 00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.560 ascend. 00:17:41.780 --> 00:17:42.260 And, 00:17:42.340 --> 00:17:42.980 the wind 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.560 blows 00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.320 against the 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:44.740 house he 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.080 builds, 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.460 but it's 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.000 built on a 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.240 rock, 00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:46.800 so it 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.220 stands, 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.000 it's secure. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.819 there's a 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.380 foolish man, 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:50.819 he builds 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.220 his house 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.119 on sand, 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:52.759 and the 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.839 same winds 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.259 blow, 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.160 and the 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.859 same rain 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.420 falls, 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.359 and the 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.200 same floods 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.619 come, 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.019 and his 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.480 house 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.839 falls 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.720 down. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.720 Some of you 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.380 children probably 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:06.880 know a song 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.460 about that. 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:08.720 The wise man 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.119 built his 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.720 house upon a 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:09.920 rock, 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.000 the foolish 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.500 man built 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:11.859 his house 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.259 upon the 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:12.720 sand, 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.539 and the rain 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:13.960 came, 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:14.759 and the floods 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.119 came, 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.659 and the 00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:16.359 house on 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:17.079 the sand 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.539 fell flat. 00:18:18.979 --> 00:18:19.699 You've heard 00:18:19.699 --> 00:18:19.979 that one. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:20.659 Is it just me? 00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:22.539 You do think 00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:22.919 it sometimes, 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.159 yes. 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:24.639 And, 00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:25.279 Jesus said, 00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:26.619 the foolish 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:28.039 man is a 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:28.439 man who 00:18:28.439 --> 00:18:29.159 listens to 00:18:29.159 --> 00:18:29.579 his word, 00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.059 who hears 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.619 his word, 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.259 and doesn't 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.579 do anything 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.699 about it. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.799 It's possible 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.699 to hear the 00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.339 words of 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:37.679 Jesus, 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:39.679 and not do 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:40.519 anything 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.619 about it. 00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.339 James says 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:43.779 in his 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.139 letter, 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.779 that we 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.239 should be 00:18:46.239 --> 00:18:46.879 doers of 00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:47.339 the word, 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:49.019 not hearers 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.739 only, 00:18:50.239 --> 00:18:51.179 and if that 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:51.699 isn't true 00:18:51.699 --> 00:18:52.139 of us, 00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:52.939 if we just 00:18:52.939 --> 00:18:54.000 hear the 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.339 word, 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.079 and don't 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:55.559 do it, 00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:56.839 James says 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.339 we are 00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:58.059 deceiving 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.779 ourselves. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:00.859 We're 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.219 actually 00:19:01.219 --> 00:19:01.859 deceiving 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:02.359 ourselves. 00:19:03.219 --> 00:19:03.639 We may 00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.239 be good 00:19:04.239 --> 00:19:04.879 attenders 00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.479 of church, 00:19:06.159 --> 00:19:06.979 we may 00:19:06.979 --> 00:19:08.059 listen to 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.579 good 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.099 sermon, 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:10.619 but if we 00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.299 don't actually 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.639 do anything, 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.759 James says, 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.299 we are 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.519 deceiving 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.720 ourselves. 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:20.279 Jesus took 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.859 three of his 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.579 disciples onto 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:22.079 a mountain, 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.599 and on that 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.119 mountain he 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.920 was transfigured 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.500 before them. 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.099 His appearance 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:26.660 changed. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.359 They saw a 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.039 glimpse of his 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.339 future glory, 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.460 and a cloud 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.839 came, and he 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.339 was joined 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:35.440 by Elijah, 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:36.480 the prophet, 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.900 and by Moses, 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.680 the lawgiver, 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:39.960 two representatives 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.619 of the Old 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:41.319 Testament, the 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:42.000 law and the 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.279 prophet. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.740 Moses and 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.220 Elijah, the 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:46.920 Old Testament, 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.920 the law and 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:48.319 the prophet. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:49.799 Peter said, 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.279 let's build 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:53.220 three huts, 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:55.480 or dens, 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.500 you would call 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:56.960 them boys and 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:58.059 girls, let's 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.519 build three 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:58.940 dens. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.259 One for 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:02.099 Jesus, one 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.599 for Abraham, 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.160 and one for 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.420 Isaac. 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.259 And there 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.859 was a voice 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.440 from heaven 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.539 that Moses 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:09.160 and Elijah 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.759 disappeared. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.500 And there 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:10.960 was a voice 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.440 from heaven, 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.200 and the 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:12.620 voice from 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.259 heaven said, 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:15.759 this is my 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.360 son whom I 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:17.980 love. 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.279 Listen. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.960 Listen to 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.240 him. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.259 You must 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.980 listen to 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.420 Jesus. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.360 And if you 00:20:27.360 --> 00:20:28.759 hear sermons 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.740 and even read 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.360 the gospel and 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.259 don't do anything 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.980 about it, 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.960 you are 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.259 deceiving 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.539 yourselves. 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:40.319 so you 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:40.779 must listen 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:41.240 to Jesus. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.159 And these 00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:44.879 four soils 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:46.399 are different 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.099 ways in 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.460 which we 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.299 can listen 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.920 or not 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.980 listen to 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.339 Jesus. 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.519 I'm dealing 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.159 particularly with 00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:52.539 the first 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:52.960 three. 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.599 This morning 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.259 and then this 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.779 evening I want 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.200 to look at the 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.940 last one, the 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.019 good soil, in 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.980 more detail. 00:20:59.539 --> 00:20:59.980 Some of the 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:01.240 seed falls on 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.899 the footpath, 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.539 on the path, 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.240 behind the 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:06.019 soil, and 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.579 it's trodden 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.139 underfoot. 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:08.980 Or it's 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.539 gobbled up 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.420 immediately by 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.059 the birds. 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.519 And these 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.279 are people who 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.700 hear the 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.379 word of God 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.720 and it 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.559 makes no 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.879 real impression 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.460 on them 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.220 at all. 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.200 They don't 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.480 stand under 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.180 it. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.599 They may 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.299 reject it. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.440 They may 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.339 say they 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:27.940 don't believe 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.139 it. 00:21:30.139 --> 00:21:30.720 They're 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.440 hostile to 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.480 it sometimes. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:35.860 but they 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:36.460 may not be 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.160 hostile to 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.360 it. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.799 They may 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.200 actually, in 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:40.660 a sense, 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.539 believe it, 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.059 i.e. 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.819 believe that 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.440 it's true. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.480 But they 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.360 don't really 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:46.860 listen. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.940 They're just 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.539 sermon 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:50.299 tasters. 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:52.980 It's 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.480 possible to 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.839 be a 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.180 sermon 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.779 taster. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:56.920 It's 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.400 possible to 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:58.039 get used 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.700 to hearing 00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.440 sermons. 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.319 You may 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.019 even like 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.599 a good 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.079 preacher. 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:03.779 You may 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.099 be a 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.900 connoisseur 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.460 of sermon. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.119 You may 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:08.519 be able to 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.420 give preachers 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.720 points. 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.079 Eight out 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.639 of ten for 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.160 content. 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.740 Seven out 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.240 of ten for 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.859 presentation. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.019 And go 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.859 away and 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.559 not do a 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.680 thing about 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.379 what you've 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:22.700 heard. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.200 You're just 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.279 a sermon 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.480 taster. 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:26.920 I think 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.339 this is a 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:28.180 real danger 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.900 in churches 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.920 where there's 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.379 an emphasis 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:31.820 on the 00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:32.280 preaching of 00:22:32.280 --> 00:22:32.620 the word 00:22:32.620 --> 00:22:33.100 of God 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:33.800 as there 00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:34.280 should be 00:22:34.280 --> 00:22:35.100 in every 00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:35.720 decent 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.480 church. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.120 The real 00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:38.780 danger is 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:39.240 that people 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:41.300 get used 00:22:41.300 --> 00:22:42.460 to hearing 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.200 people who 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.220 handle the 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.020 Bible well 00:22:45.020 --> 00:22:47.460 and familiarity 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:49.040 breeds contempt. 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:50.600 And they 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.300 just, it's a 00:22:51.300 --> 00:22:52.080 habit they get 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:52.620 into of 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.300 listening to 00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:54.020 good sermons. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.320 And do you 00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:54.660 know what they 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.100 do when they 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.180 go on holiday? 00:22:57.020 --> 00:22:57.580 They go to 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.359 Kesech for 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.079 more sermons. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.359 Or they go 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:01.779 to Word 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.419 Alive for 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.079 more sermons. 00:23:04.199 --> 00:23:04.439 They may 00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:04.960 even go to 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.619 both if 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.159 they're really, 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:06.960 really keen. 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.319 Their whole 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.000 life is 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.759 listening to 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.079 sermons. 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:10.539 How many 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.359 sermons have 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.359 you heard in 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:13.019 your lifetime? 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:14.500 How many 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.099 sermons have I 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.319 heard? 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.659 How many 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.279 sermons have I 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:18.659 preached in 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:19.279 my lifetime? 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:21.879 Hundreds and 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.559 hundreds, not 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.379 just heard, but 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:23.859 preached. 00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:24.220 I've actually 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.000 probably preached 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.940 more than I 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.299 heard. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.660 And yet it's 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.440 possible to 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.759 do that and 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.599 never really to 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.559 listen to 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.940 Jesus. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.500 Never really to 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:34.960 repent. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.119 Never really to 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.599 believe. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.119 And James 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:42.779 says that if 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.539 that is true of 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:45.359 us, we are 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.940 deceived people. 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.700 We may be 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.440 well-informed 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:52.599 people, but we 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.140 are deceived 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.160 people. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.720 And I've no 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.180 doubt there are 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.819 people like that 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.240 here this 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.539 morning. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.720 This soil would 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.140 have been in 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:00.779 that crowd on 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.339 the beach at 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:03.019 Galilee, and I've 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.640 no doubt that 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.240 it's here this 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.579 morning. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.319 There are people 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:07.400 who are familiar 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.700 with God's 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:08.980 word. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.920 They are familiar 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:10.720 with Jesus. 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.900 They're familiar 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.700 with the gospel, 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.700 but it has never 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.740 actually made much 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.619 of a difference 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.920 to their lives. 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:19.819 They're not 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:21.059 living lives of 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.680 repentance, 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.660 turning from 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:25.040 everything that 00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:25.759 is against what 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.340 Jesus is like, 00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:28.600 or what Jesus 00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.060 taught. 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.980 And lives of 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.100 faith and trust 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:33.560 in him, and 00:24:33.560 --> 00:24:34.680 humble obedience 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.980 to him, out of 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:37.100 love for what 00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:37.680 he's done for 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:37.920 us. 00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.200 I wonder if 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.640 there's anybody 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.700 like that here 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.620 this morning. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.140 I'm sure there 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.340 is people like 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:45.560 that here this 00:24:45.560 --> 00:24:45.900 morning. 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.519 And it's Satan, 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.640 you know, who 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.420 snatches the word 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:49.759 away. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.539 it's the 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.279 activity of 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.819 Satan that 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.619 causes us to 00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.299 hear God's 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.059 word and not 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.599 do anything 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.180 about it. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.240 And then 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.559 there's the 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.220 shallow soil. 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.700 The shallow 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:04.400 soil is soil 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.079 that's over 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:06.000 hard rock, 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.879 limestone or 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.140 something. 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.720 And it's 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.240 only a thin 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.759 layer of 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.019 soil. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.779 And so the 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.140 shoots emerge 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.799 very quickly. 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.519 And they 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.160 emerge quickly 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.619 because there's 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:17.339 no depth of 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:19.220 root underneath. 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.220 there's nothing 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.759 underneath. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.819 It's all 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.319 surface. 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:23.759 Nothing 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.240 underneath. 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.600 And then 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.259 when there's a 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.100 dry period, 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.440 it shrivels 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:31.700 up. 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.360 It shrivels 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.000 up as quickly 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.839 as it shoots 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.120 up. 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:37.200 And Jesus 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.759 says these are 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.000 the people on 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.700 whom God's 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.860 word seems to 00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.759 make initially 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.140 some impression. 00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.460 It says here 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.079 that they 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.079 receive the 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.940 word with 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.519 joy. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:51.980 They receive 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.559 the word 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.380 with joy. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:54.960 Now in the 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.660 book of Acts, 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.500 that word 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.080 receiving, 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.220 that phrase 00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:00.240 receiving the 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.059 word means 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:02.500 that they 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.279 became Christian. 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.220 I don't think 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.660 it means that 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:04.940 here. 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.200 But in the 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.880 book of Acts, 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.299 they would have 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.840 been welcomed 00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.380 into the 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:08.680 church, 00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:09.080 they would have 00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.600 been baptized, 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.440 they would have 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:10.920 been welcomed 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.380 into the 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:11.580 church, 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.559 they'd receive 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.140 the word. 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.019 And Luke 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.640 says in Acts 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.140 chapter 2, 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.680 those who 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.860 received the 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.680 word were 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.880 baptized and 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.940 added to 00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.880 the church. 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.840 So these 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.340 people look 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:24.019 like Christians. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.840 They probably 00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.500 think they're 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.140 Christians to 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:27.680 begin with, 00:26:28.060 --> 00:26:28.380 and other 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.060 people think 00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:29.680 they're Christians 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.480 to begin with. 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:34.319 And then the 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.079 tests come. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:36.779 Then the 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.259 persecution 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.059 comes, 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.640 that's Jesus. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.099 The difficulties, 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.839 the pressures, 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:44.240 persecution on 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.000 account of the 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.920 word, trouble 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.240 on account of 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.700 the word. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.660 So these are 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.640 professing believers. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.279 But when 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.559 they're 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.220 persecuted, 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.960 the persecution 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.480 reveals that 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:57.880 there's no 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:59.019 depth at all. 00:26:59.420 --> 00:26:59.620 They're 00:26:59.620 --> 00:26:59.980 shallow. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.059 They're 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.680 superficial. 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.160 And after 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.799 that promising 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:05.620 start, they 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.200 drop out. 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.019 So what is 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.680 one of God's 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:11.559 purposes in 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.059 persecution? 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:12.759 Why does he 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.660 allow Christians 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.440 to be persecuted? 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:14.880 We've been 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.519 praying for them 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.360 this morning, 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.039 all over the 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.400 world, 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.339 increasingly. 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:21.220 Persecution is 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.880 a fact for 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.339 Christians. 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:24.860 And the 00:27:24.860 --> 00:27:25.259 New Testament 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.960 says it will 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.180 be. 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:27.740 The New 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.420 Testament says 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.019 it's part of 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.559 the package. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.799 unto us it 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.160 has been 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.759 given on 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.279 behalf of 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.559 Christ, 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.360 not only to 00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:34.940 believe in 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.140 him, 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.160 but also to 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.839 be persecuted 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.460 for his 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:37.759 sake. 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.079 That's just 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.400 it. 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.539 It's part of 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:40.980 the package. 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.279 If you become 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.640 a Christian, 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.019 you're going to 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.720 be persecuted. 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.880 We've done 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.460 very well in 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:45.980 this country. 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.099 We haven't 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.660 been persecuted 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:49.180 properly for a 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.880 long time. 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.579 That means we 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.059 haven't been 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.620 tested. 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:55.059 We haven't been 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.860 tested by 00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:56.500 persecution. 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.079 one of the 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.039 reasons that 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.720 God allows 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.680 his church to 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.519 be persecuted 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:03.619 is to test 00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:04.559 the depth 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.960 of their 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:07.400 faith in 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:07.779 Jesus, 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.740 the reality 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.759 of their 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.539 faith in 00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:10.839 Jesus. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.259 Now, the 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.799 problem with 00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.299 becoming a 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.339 Christian in 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.400 Britain is 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.180 that it 00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:17.519 actually starts 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:17.920 you off, 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.319 gets you 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.039 started on 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.140 quite a nice 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.779 life really, 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.299 doesn't it? 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.279 And church is 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.819 quite a nice 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.660 place, isn't it? 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.600 And you 00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.060 quite like 00:28:26.060 --> 00:28:26.620 coming here, 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.000 don't you? 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.340 It's quite a 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:29.019 nice place to 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.420 come on a 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.019 Sunday morning. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.500 Nice people. 00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:33.380 Nice people from 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:33.880 all over the 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.120 world. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.540 I bet the 00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:34.800 coffee, 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.660 Josh said that. 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.440 I should 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.000 imagine that 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.140 the coffee is 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:38.800 quite good as 00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:39.019 well. 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:40.180 I'm not even 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.620 sure that you 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.519 have coffee on 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.759 the Sunday 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:41.940 morning. 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.519 I'm sure the 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.200 coffee is good 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.700 as well. 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.100 It's a nice 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:46.920 place to be. 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.940 Nice people. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.019 And you 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.380 become part of 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:51.320 a kind of 00:28:51.320 --> 00:28:52.500 evangelical 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.759 subculture 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.900 enjoyable 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.640 meetings, 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.339 somewhere to 00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:56.819 go. 00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.819 So our 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.460 life after 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.220 conversion is 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.160 probably in 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.940 some ways 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.900 better than 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.839 it was before. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.359 Easier than 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.099 it was before. 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.299 And it's 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.819 never been 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.339 tested. 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.640 Will we 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.859 still choose 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:19.099 Jesus when 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.640 the storm 00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.000 comes? 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:20.779 Will our 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.579 house stand 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.079 when the 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:23.240 storm comes? 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:25.660 You know, 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.099 when I was 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.960 a child, 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.759 my dad 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.220 and mum 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:32.119 used to 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.539 like listening 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.180 to George 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.599 Beverly 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.039 Shea, 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.640 America's 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.400 beloved gospel 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:36.779 singer. 00:29:37.879 --> 00:29:38.700 He died 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.599 two or three 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.079 years ago, 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.519 aged about 00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.140 103. 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.680 I think he 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.059 was still 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:42.460 singing. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.460 And he 00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.039 sang a 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.379 hymn 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:49.180 called, 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.480 I'd 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.019 Rather Have 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.460 Jesus 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:52.059 Than 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:52.759 Silver or 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.119 Gold. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.420 I'd 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:54.859 rather be 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.359 his than 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:55.539 have 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:55.900 riches 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.819 untold. 00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.119 I'd 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:57.579 rather have 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:57.879 Jesus 00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.119 than 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:58.500 houses 00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:58.799 or 00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.220 lands. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:29:59.819 I'd 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.240 rather be 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.740 led by 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.319 his nail 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:01.799 pierced 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.220 hands 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.879 than to 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.180 be the 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.700 king of 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.220 a vast 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.740 domain 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.779 and be 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.359 held in 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.980 sin's 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.779 dread sway. 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.660 I'd 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.180 rather have 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:09.599 Jesus 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:09.900 than 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.400 anything 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.119 this 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.579 world 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.460 affords 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.279 today. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.480 great. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.779 Great. 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.660 Great. 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.639 But let 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:19.960 me ask you 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.359 a question. 00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:22.079 How do 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.460 you know? 00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.899 How do 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.420 you know? 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.099 If you've 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.619 got Jesus 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.639 and silver 00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.160 and gold, 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.059 if you've 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.559 got Jesus 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.539 and houses 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.180 and land, 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.119 if you've 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.619 got Jesus 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.259 and the 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.579 wolves 00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.119 applaud, 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:39.059 how do 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.479 you actually 00:30:39.479 --> 00:30:39.959 know that 00:30:39.959 --> 00:30:40.579 you'd rather 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.339 have Jesus 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:41.759 than any 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.079 of those 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.639 other things? 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:43.879 Unless 00:30:43.879 --> 00:30:44.639 the point 00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.139 comes, 00:30:45.219 --> 00:30:45.659 the time 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.079 comes, 00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:46.739 when you 00:30:46.739 --> 00:30:47.139 have to 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.639 choose 00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:48.479 between 00:30:48.479 --> 00:30:49.339 the two. 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.599 And all 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:52.919 over the 00:30:52.919 --> 00:30:53.459 world today 00:30:53.459 --> 00:30:53.779 there are 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.059 Christians 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.319 who are 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.739 having to 00:30:54.739 --> 00:30:55.099 choose 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:55.479 between 00:30:55.479 --> 00:30:55.899 the two. 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:57.679 If you 00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:58.079 become a 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.379 Christian 00:30:58.379 --> 00:30:58.959 in, 00:30:59.739 --> 00:31:00.299 let's say, 00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.079 Egypt 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.899 or Pakistan, 00:31:02.719 --> 00:31:03.079 just your 00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:03.899 ordinary big 00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:05.039 Muslim 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.579 country, 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:07.240 you'll be 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.740 treated as 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.139 a second 00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:09.079 class citizen. 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:09.539 You will 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.119 almost certainly 00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.720 not get a 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.460 decent job. 00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.579 You may 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.099 end up 00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.079 working on 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.559 the brick 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.559 kilns in 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.519 Pakistan for 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:17.919 the rest of 00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.339 your life. 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:19.980 And you'll 00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:20.399 never get 00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:20.919 out of them. 00:31:24.179 --> 00:31:24.740 Would you 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.079 be happy 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:25.559 with that? 00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.179 If you 00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:26.480 had to 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.000 choose either 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.439 that or 00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:28.139 Jesus Christ? 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:29.379 What would 00:31:29.379 --> 00:31:29.759 you choose? 00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.339 Your children 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.759 were probably 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.460 not going 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.079 to university. 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.000 You'd never 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.379 have been to 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:35.900 university 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.400 yourself. 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.020 There are 00:31:40.020 --> 00:31:40.800 increasingly, 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.040 an increasing 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:42.540 number of 00:31:42.540 --> 00:31:43.040 places in 00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:43.380 the world 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:44.140 today where 00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.560 you have to 00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:45.180 choose between 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.900 Christ and 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.500 prosperity. 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.320 Christ and 00:31:48.320 --> 00:31:48.940 your freedom. 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.740 Christ and 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.520 your popularity. 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:53.200 And 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.820 increasingly, 00:31:54.280 --> 00:31:55.400 even, as in 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.320 Nigeria, as we've 00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:56.960 been praying this 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:58.180 morning, Christ 00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.980 and life 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.480 itself. 00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:02.080 Will you 00:32:02.080 --> 00:32:02.400 choose 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:02.740 Jesus? 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.540 One reason 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:04.980 why God 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.720 allows 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.940 persecution 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.559 like that 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:09.420 is as a 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:11.460 test to 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:13.059 know whether 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.700 you really 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.319 would rather 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:14.980 have Jesus 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:16.500 than anything 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.059 this world 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.480 affords 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:17.899 today. 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.039 That's why 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.639 God allows 00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.359 persecution. 00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:23.700 So there's the 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.339 shallow soil. 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.319 Then there's the 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.299 overcrowded soil. 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:27.339 soil. 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.180 And this 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.700 seems even 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.399 more promising 00:32:30.399 --> 00:32:30.839 than the 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:31.480 shallow soil. 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.899 It seems to 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.519 take root. 00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.519 It lasts 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.119 longer than 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.839 the seed that 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.579 has been 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.180 sown in that 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:39.799 thin soil. 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.240 It begins to 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.299 grow, seems to 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.899 grow, and 00:32:43.899 --> 00:32:45.059 gradually the 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.759 thorns and the 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.940 thistles that 00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.839 share the soil 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:50.240 take over and 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.839 they choke 00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:52.859 the seed. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.059 And Jesus 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:56.339 identifies these 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:56.899 thorns and 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.859 thistles with 00:32:57.859 --> 00:33:00.099 the worries or 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:01.099 the anxieties of 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:03.859 this life and 00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:05.039 he mentions this 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.699 specifically, the 00:33:06.699 --> 00:33:08.959 deceitfulness of 00:33:08.959 --> 00:33:10.799 wealth, the 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.099 deceitfulness of 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.480 riches. 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:15.159 So it's the 00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:18.179 distractions linked 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:20.039 with wealth and 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.720 success. 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.340 And the 00:33:22.340 --> 00:33:23.299 anxieties, the 00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.000 worries that 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.580 wealth, pursuing 00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:26.180 wealth and 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.460 success bring. 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.200 If you read 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:29.220 chapter 6 of 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.220 Matthew in the 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.640 Sermon on the 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:31.420 Mount, there's a 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.019 link between 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.759 wealth and 00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.740 worry, wealth 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.539 and anxiety. 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.440 Jesus talks about 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:38.340 laying treasure up 00:33:38.340 --> 00:33:40.060 in heaven, not 00:33:40.060 --> 00:33:40.759 on earth. 00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:41.480 And then he 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.380 talks about people 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:43.519 who are crippled 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:45.160 by anxiety, by 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.200 worry, about what 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.900 to eat and what 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.799 to drink and what 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.299 to wear. 00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:51.899 And the 00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.740 pursuit of 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.819 wealth, and 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.639 Jesus calls it 00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.579 the deceitfulness, 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:57.200 the deceitfulness 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:59.139 of wealth, is 00:33:59.139 --> 00:33:59.599 one of the 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:01.039 thorns that 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.500 chokes the 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:02.819 seed. 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.440 Spurgeon is 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.019 supposed to have 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.480 said this. 00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:12.759 I hope he did 00:34:12.759 --> 00:34:13.199 say it. 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:14.239 I sometimes 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:14.659 think that 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.259 Spurgeon is a 00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:15.599 bit like 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.019 Churchill. 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.219 he's always 00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:17.840 been quoted 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.539 as having 00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.119 said this. 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.059 And I can't 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.559 believe that he 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.099 said all these 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:21.920 things that he's 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.500 supposed to have 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:22.639 said. 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.340 But he's 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.000 supposed to have 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.340 said, 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:27.400 persecution has 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.179 slain its 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:28.619 thousands. 00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:32.840 Prosperity has 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:34.000 slain its tens 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.539 of thousands. 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.559 been 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:34.599 done. 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:37.059 And I think I 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.559 know more 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:39.320 people who 00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:39.699 have given 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.179 up the 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.219 Christian faith 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:42.199 that they 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:43.779 once professed 00:34:43.779 --> 00:34:44.480 because of 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.099 prosperity 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:47.900 than because of 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.800 any persecution 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:50.380 that has 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:50.960 threatened them. 00:34:53.159 --> 00:34:55.219 Prosperity is 00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:56.159 as big a test 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:56.900 of the reality 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.759 of your faith 00:34:57.759 --> 00:34:58.880 than 00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.539 persecution. 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.360 as persecution. 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.599 We pray for 00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.360 the persecuted 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.159 church and 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:05.320 rightly so. 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:07.659 Do we pray for 00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:08.300 the prosperous 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:08.820 church? 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.259 Because I'm 00:35:10.259 --> 00:35:11.039 telling you this, 00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.199 there are 00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:12.900 thousands and 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.519 thousands of 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.360 Christians who 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:14.960 are nowhere 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.099 today who 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.940 once professed 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.279 Christ. 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.619 Well, I'm 00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.059 calling them 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.199 Christians because 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.980 they profess to 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.480 be Christians. 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:21.840 There are 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.759 thousands of 00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.659 people today who 00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:24.739 once professed 00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:26.619 Christ and who 00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.139 are nowhere 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:28.320 spiritually today 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:29.720 because the 00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:30.600 pursuit of 00:35:30.600 --> 00:35:32.039 prosperity and 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.500 success and 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.320 all the other 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.700 things that 00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.860 they want in 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:38.059 their lives have 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:39.200 choked the 00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:40.680 seed of God's 00:35:40.680 --> 00:35:41.280 word. 00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:41.940 It can be all 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.640 kinds of things. 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:43.280 The other 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:44.780 things can be all 00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.539 kinds of things. 00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.440 It can be a 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.400 relationship with 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:47.820 somebody. 00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:50.019 It takes over. 00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:54.080 It can be a 00:35:54.080 --> 00:35:54.840 sport, a 00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:55.460 pastime, an 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:55.900 activity. 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:57.380 I know a 00:35:57.380 --> 00:35:57.820 number of 00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:58.140 people. 00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.440 who used to 00:35:59.440 --> 00:35:59.720 go to 00:35:59.720 --> 00:35:59.960 church. 00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.420 I can think 00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:00.680 of one 00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:01.140 person in 00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:01.700 particular in 00:36:01.700 --> 00:36:01.980 Kendall, 00:36:02.080 --> 00:36:02.800 actually, who 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.460 used to go 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:05.539 to church and 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.280 who stopped 00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:06.740 coming to 00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:07.460 church because 00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:08.460 they did a 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:08.720 lot of 00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.800 mountain running 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.360 and that sort 00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:10.660 of thing. 00:36:11.140 --> 00:36:11.559 And all 00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:12.039 these runs 00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:12.400 were on a 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:12.700 Sunday. 00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.240 So they 00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:14.519 would go 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.920 running instead 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:16.380 of going to 00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:16.680 church. 00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:18.539 And it 00:36:18.539 --> 00:36:19.320 begins with 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.220 maybe one 00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:21.840 Sunday and 00:36:21.840 --> 00:36:22.400 then maybe 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:24.120 twice a month 00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:25.720 and gradually 00:36:25.720 --> 00:36:26.480 it takes over. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:29.960 all that 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:30.659 running, which 00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.039 is probably 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:33.039 just ruining 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.539 their knees 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:33.840 probably. 00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:35.820 All that 00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:36.900 running up 00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:37.260 and down 00:36:37.260 --> 00:36:37.719 mountains, 00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.559 wonderful, 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.000 isn't it? 00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:40.199 But it's not 00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:40.659 as good as 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.300 Jesus, I'm 00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:41.760 telling you. 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:42.940 There are 00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:44.639 people for 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.219 whom something 00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:50.000 is unimportant 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.079 as running, 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:51.559 although I 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:51.920 know some 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:52.239 of you think 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:52.559 it's really 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:52.920 important. 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:54.840 And your 00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:56.400 pastor actually 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:57.059 did the park 00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:58.340 run yesterday 00:36:58.340 --> 00:36:59.679 with his 00:36:59.679 --> 00:36:59.900 children. 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:00.400 So I must be 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.039 careful what I 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.219 say. 00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:01.980 Running is 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.559 important, but 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.079 he doesn't do 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:03.539 it on a 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:03.960 Sunday. 00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:05.599 At least I 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:05.980 don't think 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.400 he does. 00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:09.980 And he 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.340 must be 00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:10.780 careful and 00:37:10.780 --> 00:37:11.300 you must be 00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:11.940 careful not to 00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.780 allow anything 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:14.079 to become more 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:14.900 important than 00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:17.019 Jesus, more 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.739 important than 00:37:17.739 --> 00:37:19.579 church in 00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:21.279 your life. 00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:23.259 Okay, so 00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.579 there are 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.039 these people 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:25.579 who seem to 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:26.239 be doing well 00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:26.559 and then 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:28.159 heartbreakingly 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:29.759 there comes a 00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:30.639 time when you 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.239 don't see them 00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:31.679 anymore. 00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.079 And there'll be 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:34.179 people like that 00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:34.479 in this 00:37:34.479 --> 00:37:35.039 congregation. 00:37:36.919 --> 00:37:37.319 Some of you 00:37:37.319 --> 00:37:38.019 young people in 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:38.459 particular, 00:37:39.779 --> 00:37:40.279 brought up in 00:37:40.279 --> 00:37:40.959 Christian home. 00:37:42.739 --> 00:37:43.379 You're here 00:37:43.379 --> 00:37:43.759 now. 00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:44.639 Will you be 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.359 here in 20, 00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:46.159 30 years' 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:46.539 time? 00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:48.159 I hope so. 00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:50.320 But I'm sure 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:50.820 that there will 00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:51.940 be people who 00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.840 hear God's 00:37:52.840 --> 00:37:53.579 word regularly, 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.800 week by week, 00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.639 from Paul here 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.340 and from 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:56.619 others. 00:37:57.840 --> 00:38:00.360 And 20 or 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:01.059 30 years from 00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:01.920 now, you may 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.860 not profess to 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:03.400 be a Christian. 00:38:04.340 --> 00:38:04.940 Be very, very 00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:05.400 careful. 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:07.300 Jesus wants us 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:08.119 to hear God's 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:09.300 word with 00:38:09.300 --> 00:38:11.199 repentance and 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:11.980 with faith. 00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:12.659 He wants us 00:38:12.659 --> 00:38:13.179 to be good 00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:13.619 soil. 00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:14.920 And the good 00:38:14.920 --> 00:38:16.519 soil are those 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.300 who hear his 00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:18.659 word with 00:38:18.659 --> 00:38:20.679 repentance and 00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:21.739 with faith. 00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:24.500 They hear 00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:24.920 Jesus' 00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:26.519 words and 00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.139 they realize 00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:27.800 that they're 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.340 going in the 00:38:28.340 --> 00:38:29.059 wrong direction 00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:30.619 and they turn 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.000 around. 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.259 They turn 00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:33.259 around really, 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:33.940 really, 00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:35.940 in their hearts, 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:37.000 they turn to 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.380 Jesus. 00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:38.079 That's what 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:38.900 repentance means. 00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:40.940 and they 00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.579 believe, 00:38:42.180 --> 00:38:42.599 which means 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:43.380 they trust, 00:38:44.160 --> 00:38:44.860 they depend 00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.139 on, 00:38:45.220 --> 00:38:45.760 they rely 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:46.539 on totally 00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:47.619 on Jesus. 00:38:48.200 --> 00:38:48.940 They repent 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:50.039 and they 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.500 believe. 00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.420 And that 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.480 gives rise to 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.559 a life of 00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:55.300 obedience to 00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:55.619 Jesus. 00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.320 If you don't 00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:58.019 live a life of 00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.880 obedience to 00:38:58.880 --> 00:38:59.840 Jesus after 00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:01.139 you've repented 00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:01.840 and believed, 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:02.820 well, you've 00:39:02.820 --> 00:39:03.820 stopped repenting 00:39:03.820 --> 00:39:04.160 and you've 00:39:04.160 --> 00:39:04.980 stopped believing. 00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:06.980 repentance and 00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.940 faith are not 00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:08.619 something you do 00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:09.139 just at the 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:10.079 beginning of the 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.860 Christian life 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.340 and say, 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:11.780 yeah, well, 00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:12.360 I've done that. 00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:12.940 That's the 00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:13.699 repentance and 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.019 faith. 00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:16.119 Repentance and 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.860 faith get you 00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:17.820 started on a 00:39:17.820 --> 00:39:18.420 life of 00:39:18.420 --> 00:39:19.300 repentance and 00:39:19.300 --> 00:39:19.639 faith. 00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:20.800 And if you're 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:21.460 not obeying 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.860 Jesus, you've 00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.960 stopped repenting 00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:26.139 and you've 00:39:26.139 --> 00:39:26.860 stopped believing. 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.840 Repentance and 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:30.179 faith. 00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:32.320 Trusting Jesus. 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:34.139 Trusting that 00:39:34.139 --> 00:39:34.839 he died for 00:39:34.839 --> 00:39:35.339 your sins. 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:37.059 Trusting his 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.539 words. 00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:38.319 Trusting his 00:39:38.319 --> 00:39:38.699 wonderful 00:39:38.699 --> 00:39:39.440 invitation. 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:40.779 Come unto me, 00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:41.819 all you who 00:39:41.819 --> 00:39:42.739 weary and 00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.400 heavy laden, 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.099 burdened, and 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:45.159 I will give 00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:46.559 you rest. 00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:48.900 This is the 00:39:48.900 --> 00:39:49.359 cup of the 00:39:49.359 --> 00:39:49.799 covenant. 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.440 Shed for 00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:51.759 many. 00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:52.980 For the 00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:54.440 forgiveness of 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:54.759 sins. 00:39:54.859 --> 00:39:55.440 What wonderful 00:39:55.440 --> 00:39:56.099 things Jesus 00:39:56.099 --> 00:39:56.440 said. 00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.059 It isn't all 00:39:57.059 --> 00:39:58.819 just moral 00:39:58.819 --> 00:40:00.299 instruction. 00:40:01.400 --> 00:40:02.119 It's gospel. 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:04.039 It is 00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:05.239 wonderful 00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:06.019 invitation. 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:07.239 Wonderful 00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:07.840 promises. 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.099 And when we 00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:11.159 believe, we 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:11.960 believe the 00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:13.380 promises of 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.259 Jesus and we 00:40:14.259 --> 00:40:14.860 accept the 00:40:14.860 --> 00:40:15.860 invitations of 00:40:15.860 --> 00:40:16.159 Jesus. 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:16.960 And we also 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.519 heed the 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:18.699 warnings of 00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:19.619 Jesus and we 00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:20.199 follow the 00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:21.380 teachings of 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:21.779 Jesus. 00:40:22.219 --> 00:40:22.639 That's what it 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:22.960 means to 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:24.179 believe in 00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:25.079 Jesus. 00:40:25.259 --> 00:40:26.779 Repent and 00:40:26.779 --> 00:40:27.820 believe. 00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:29.360 Every person in 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:30.099 this congregation 00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:31.320 fits into one of 00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:32.080 these categories 00:40:32.080 --> 00:40:32.940 this morning. 00:40:33.720 --> 00:40:34.220 Hard, 00:40:35.140 --> 00:40:35.480 shallow, 00:40:36.519 --> 00:40:37.260 overcrowded, 00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:38.900 or fertile. 00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:40.500 Which one are 00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:40.680 you? 00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:41.820 I'll be saying 00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:42.680 more about the 00:40:42.680 --> 00:40:44.559 fourth category 00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:45.720 this evening. 00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:46.260 So I hope you'll 00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:47.360 come along and 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:48.000 hear more about 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:49.340 repenting and 00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:49.740 believing. 00:40:50.740 --> 00:40:51.400 God bless you. 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:52.900 God bless you. 00:40:52.900 --> 00:40:53.519 God bless you. 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.519