WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.240 He wanted to surprise his dad by washing his car for him. 00:00:04.060 --> 00:00:06.879 He told his mom about it and his mom told him just to make sure 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:10.880 ! that he used a sponge. And about halfway through the job, his dad 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:15.280 came out and was surprised. His biggest surprise was to find out 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:17.719 that his son didn't know the difference in a sponge and a 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:23.600 Brillo pad. The boy had good intentions, but it didn't come 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.879 out right. Well, I thought about that when I read this passage 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.099 about the disciples, the disciples are like that little 00:00:31.099 --> 00:00:36.019 boy. They mean well, but they're trying to take care of Jesus, but 00:00:36.019 --> 00:00:44.159 they just didn't get it right. And their mistake led to a couple 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:50.879 of valuable spiritual lessons taught by, of all people, children 00:00:50.879 --> 00:00:56.599 along with Jesus. It's found in Mark chapter 10, beginning in 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:01.219 verse 13. And it says this, and they were bringing children to 00:01:01.219 --> 00:01:06.340 him that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked him. But 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:10.379 when Jesus saw it, he was indignant. And he said to them, let 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:15.379 the children come to me. Do not hinder them, for to such belongs 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:20.680 the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:26.180 the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And he took 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:31.600 them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:37.600 Let's pray together. Lord Jesus, I am thankful for the lessons 00:01:37.600 --> 00:01:43.600 that you allow us to learn through your word, especially when 00:01:43.600 --> 00:01:47.360 it comes to approaching Christ and the things of Christ. And 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:56.079 God, I pray right now that Lord, you will make clear in our hearts 00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:04.099 and lives how we need to be open to you. Whatever that may mean 00:02:04.099 --> 00:02:09.759 for each one of us individually, I pray that your Holy Spirit will 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:14.520 make that clear today through a convicting power that you'll give 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:20.159 us the wisdom and the strength and the obedience to follow as you 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:24.219 lead. In Jesus' precious name. Amen. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:30.980 When it comes to Jesus, we need to have open arms. 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:38.560 Sometimes people that love Jesus dearly, they love Jesus dearly, 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:42.960 but they can become obstacles to others who are trying to get close 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.920 to Jesus. And that's what the disciples did here. I mean, they 00:02:45.920 --> 00:02:50.620 meant well. They're following Jesus. They're learning from 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:55.480 Jesus. They're watching people's lives change by the touch of the 00:02:55.480 --> 00:02:59.200 Lord. They're trying to help him along the way. And sometimes 00:02:59.200 --> 00:03:02.520 they're successful in that. And sometimes they're not successful 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:06.520 in that. And in this passage, people are bringing their children 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:14.600 to Jesus. And I don't know if the disciples were jealous, were 00:03:14.600 --> 00:03:19.160 protective, or simply trying to help him move on to what they 00:03:19.160 --> 00:03:24.180 thought were more important things. But whatever the reason, they 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:29.860 were trying to keep kids from Jesus. And they were wrong. They 00:03:29.860 --> 00:03:35.760 didn't decide who could come to Jesus. And we can't decide who 00:03:35.760 --> 00:03:41.380 should come to Jesus. As a matter of fact, Jesus says, let them 00:03:41.380 --> 00:03:50.620 come. Don't hinder them. And he calls them out. Friend, listen, if 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:56.880 we hinder people from coming to Christ, we're doing what made 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:03.719 Christ, the Scripture says, indignant. In other words, it made 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:09.259 him very angry. It should be the desire of God's people to welcome 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:13.740 with open arms those who are interested in approaching Christ. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:19.120 We should want them to know of him. We should want them to hear 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.839 from him. We should want them to follow him. We should want them to 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:31.459 know him personally, to obey him, to serve him, to love him, to grow 00:04:31.459 --> 00:04:36.759 in him, and to grow with his people. And we're not to hinder anyone 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:44.039 from coming to Christ, especially children. We ought to guide 00:04:44.039 --> 00:04:50.839 children to Christ. And I believe we ought to do all that we can to 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:59.039 to welcome them to hear of Jesus, to experience Jesus, to protect 00:04:59.039 --> 00:05:04.859 them from anything that would hinder them from coming to him. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:09.459 And I'll just tell you, that's why I believe the event that we do 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:14.419 on October 31st is so important, that it really has to do not so 00:05:14.419 --> 00:05:19.039 much with us giving back to our community of sorts, although I hope 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:25.720 that it does that. It really has to do with allowing people to feel 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:32.900 welcome to hear of Jesus, to experience Jesus, to protect them 00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:36.180 from anything that may hinder them from coming to him. 00:05:37.700 --> 00:05:41.780 In a previous church that I pastored, our children's choir had a singing 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:50.659 Christmas tree. And it was quite a venture. We would change the whole 00:05:50.659 --> 00:05:55.679 choir loft and build a stair-step Christmas tree that covered up most of 00:05:55.679 --> 00:06:01.939 the baptismal pool. Sunday before Thanksgiving, we would come in that 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:07.959 afternoon and take out of a warehouse huge pieces of wood that were built 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:12.180 and put together and like puzzle pieces put together. And then we would 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:16.899 have our Thanksgiving meal together. But the guys knew that, and a lot of 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:20.899 the ladies that did the decorating, they knew that you better enjoy your meal 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:24.299 and you better hurry up because we got work to do and we ain't leaving 00:06:24.299 --> 00:06:29.479 until it's done. And by the time, just a couple of days later, the thing would 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:35.939 have all kinds of lights that went along with the music and tasks. I mean, it was 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:42.060 quite an enterprise. It would be up for a couple of weeks for the kids to be 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:48.840 able to practice in and to be able to do their performances in. And the fourth and 00:06:48.840 --> 00:06:54.759 fifth and sixth graders, the terrorist group would get up in that tree and God 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:59.360 knows what all went on up in that tree. It's all under the blood if they'll confess 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:04.120 it. But the first, second, and third graders and the preschoolers would be on 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:07.860 the floor down below that tree. I mean, it was quite an enterprise. It was the big 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:12.800 Christmas presentation in that church each year. And as most children's 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:17.699 prayers, it was absolute chaos until right at the last moment. And then God has a 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:23.000 way of putting those things together. A couple of weeks later, it would be taken 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:28.980 down and then the Christmas decorations would come up. The trees would be placed and 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:33.420 all that kind of stuff. Now listen, if you've been in a Baptist church for a while, you know 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:38.200 what I just said. If you haven't been in a Baptist church for a while, don't listen to 00:07:38.200 --> 00:07:44.680 this part, okay? But you have two different parties doing two different things in the 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:51.800 same space in a tight window. And both are very passionate about what they're doing. 00:07:52.580 --> 00:07:56.800 It's a wonderful outreach. Throughout the year, that Christmas tree was a wonderful 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:00.660 outreach. We picked up kids from school and brought them to church on Wednesday 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:06.400 afternoons and kept them too long that day. To prepare for all of that throughout the 00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:14.259 school year is a wonderful ministry. But they loved to also decorate the sides of the 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:20.460 stage with poinsettias, those that you give in honor and memory of those that you love. 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:30.459 And I remember suggesting to the main flower lady one day, we might want to wait until the 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:36.919 terrorists leave before we put the flowers out. Because you're going to practice with the 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:43.919 core team on Thursday night. On Friday night, you got the mayhem of the real dress rehearsal 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:49.519 practice. On Saturday night, they do a presentation. On Sunday night, they do a presentation. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:54.399 There's a lot of little hands going around a lot of little flowers. And you might just be best to 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:59.240 hold off on putting those out before that. That was not her plan. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:09.699 And she got mad and said, it's always about the children. Why does it always have to be about the 00:09:09.699 --> 00:09:19.500 children? And she walked out. And I thought, hmm, some people don't like children. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:35.840 Don't be like some people. Don't be. Whether you love children or not, Jesus said, you better not 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:45.299 hinder them from coming to Jesus. He opened his arms to them. And we ought to do everything we can 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:49.859 do to help children get to him. Now, how do we do that? 00:09:50.479 --> 00:09:57.899 Well, we talk about Jesus. And I use this passage a lot. I don't apologize for that. I think it's a key 00:09:57.899 --> 00:10:03.319 passage. I know the Jews did. In Deuteronomy chapter 6, it tells us that we ought to talk about Jesus when 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:09.760 we get up, when we walk at the house, when we're in the car, when we're in our outings, when we're 00:10:09.760 --> 00:10:18.200 settling in in the evening as we lay down at night. We ought to talk about Jesus. We ought to show them 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:24.180 Jesus. We have kids worship during this hour. And when we set that up to do that each week, 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:30.019 I ask that it would be to prepare them for them to come to what they call big church. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:38.179 Let's teach them what to listen for. Let's teach them why we do what we do. Let's teach them what 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:43.879 it means to respond to Christ. We prepare them. Not only that, but we point them to Jesus. 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:51.059 I want to be clear. We don't do the saving. I've never saved anybody. Only Christ does the saving. 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:58.200 The Spirit of God draws them, causes the interest to come. We put the truth before them, 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:08.440 and God does the work. Jesus compared it to fishing. He said, bait them, let God lead them to bite, 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:15.900 and when they do, you bring them in. But He's the Lord of the harvest. He compared it to farming. 00:11:16.640 --> 00:11:24.640 Prepare the soil. Sow the seed. Water it. And even with all of that, we can't control the seed. 00:11:25.280 --> 00:11:31.020 The germination that's taking place in a heart to bring them to Christ, to allow them to bud out 00:11:31.020 --> 00:11:37.960 in their faith, that is God working in little hearts. However, we pray for the harvest, and when God 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:46.060 brings the harvest, we gather it. And our text tells us that we do that with open arms, folks. 00:11:49.680 --> 00:11:57.259 This ain't our church. It's God's church, and He's allowed us to be a part of it. 00:11:57.920 --> 00:12:06.120 We must have open arms to let people come to Christ. But not only that, but it also speaks of open hearts. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:13.900 I want you to notice that Jesus not only welcomed the children, but He said we need to learn from them. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:21.220 He says in verse 15, He says, truly I say to you, and when He says truly there, what that means is, 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:31.960 A, listen. That's what that means. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:42.840 God like a child shall not enter it. You must come like these children do and receive the kingdom. 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:51.460 Now, how does a child receive? Well, there's a variety of ways that he could have been speaking of. 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:57.980 And I want to share two traits that children have that we need to have spiritually. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:13:04.320 For one, children have a humble dependence. 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:15.560 Until we have taught them differently, children come without a concern about status. 00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:17.840 They're dependent. 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:20.500 They know they're dependent. 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:23.779 And they don't try to prove their qualifications. 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:27.679 And they don't look at their record. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:36.320 They don't have a resume, spiritually or otherwise. 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:37.779 They just come as they are. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:43.059 And as we grow older, we fight for independence. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:48.399 We go through those middle school years when everything in life is changing. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:53.259 On everybody that we're around, the body is changing. 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:55.579 The stair steps of status become important. 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:59.860 The effort to control one's world. 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:03.620 And then high school comes and brings on more responsibility. 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:06.379 It brings on some more independence. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:11.899 Students are still dependent, but they ain't dare going to admit it. 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:21.240 And then sometimes, sometime after those days in college or when we begin a career, full independence arrives. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:31.059 And over time, as we do adulting, we become callous to the things of God. 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:41.459 It is much more difficult for an adult to acknowledge his or her need for the Lord than it is for a child. 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:44.519 That is until crisis comes. 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:48.979 Crisis often brings a change. 00:14:49.199 --> 00:14:50.959 Or maybe it's difficulty comes. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:58.300 Or maybe there's just this mature realization that, you know what? 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.300 I'm not enough. 00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:01.259 I'm really not. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:04.480 Now, that's not easy to admit. 00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:07.980 It's not easy to admit that we need something. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:12.840 Children know they need your help, and they know they need what you have to offer. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:15.080 And they're not afraid to take it. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.400 And we can learn from them. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:22.360 They also have a trusting receptivity. 00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:29.019 And what I mean by that is, not only are children empty-handed with nothing to offer, 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:32.240 but they also are willing to receive what we offer them. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:38.159 And their willingness to receive is a distinctive difference between children and adults. 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:42.439 Even when adults know that they don't have all they need, 00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:46.159 even when they see their deficiencies in their lives, 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:51.399 it can be so difficult to be willing to receive what others may offer. 00:15:52.219 --> 00:15:53.600 Because we have our pride. 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.480 Because we have our status. 00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:59.519 Because we have our accomplishments. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.339 Because we have our skepticism. 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:12.319 I got an email last night that said that I had a $51.23 credit 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.960 from a company that I hadn't even bought anything from. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:20.600 And that it was only good if I hit this particular link. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.160 Well, I didn't hit the link. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.660 But if you tell a kid you'll give them $50, son, they'll hit a link. 00:16:31.640 --> 00:16:32.640 I promise you that. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:35.059 I walked across the parking lot the other day and Dawn looked down and said, 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.620 there's a $5 bill. 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:39.240 And I reached down and picked it up. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.919 And she said, you probably shouldn't touch that. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.139 And I said, well, honey, it's been touched. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.199 It has. 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.759 If this takes me out, well, whatever. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:52.879 And then I passed it on to the waitress that we went to the restaurant. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:58.559 I hope she's all right. 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:04.059 We have our skepticism. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:10.660 We have our sense of obligation. 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:13.539 I mean, is anything truly free? 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.299 There always seems to be a hook. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:23.259 What will I offer someone if I take what they offer? 00:17:23.399 --> 00:17:26.139 What am I going to owe them if I take what they offer? 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.779 But a child comes humbly. 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:31.299 He comes dependently. 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:36.359 She comes trustfully, openheartedly to Christ. 00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:42.940 It's something that the rest of us must learn from. 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:45.619 But I want you to pick up on what the passage says. 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:51.359 The passage did not say that the children came to Jesus. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:57.659 It says that people brought the children to Jesus. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.619 And that's key. 00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:03.539 I want you to see one more aspect. 00:18:04.479 --> 00:18:05.679 It's in the following verses. 00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.779 It's in verse 17. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.739 It may look disconnected, but it's not at all, quite honestly. 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:14.539 It says in Mark 10, verse 17, it says, 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:18.180 And as he was setting out on his journey, speaking of Christ, 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:21.759 a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:24.700 Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:28.259 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:31.480 No one's good except God alone. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.740 You know the commandments. 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.740 Do not murder. 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:35.899 Do not commit adultery. 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.539 Do not steal. 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.619 Do not bear false witness. 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.299 Do not be fraud. 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.799 Honor your father and mother. 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:45.220 And he said to him, Teacher, all these I've kept for my youth. 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:49.460 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.000 You lack one thing. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:55.359 Go sell all that you have and give to the poor, 00:18:55.919 --> 00:18:58.180 and you'll have treasure in heaven. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.839 And come and follow me. 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:13.159 Disheartened by the saying, He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:24.399 These may seem to be two accounts that just bump into each other. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:32.360 But in reality, what Mark wants us to see, I believe, is it's all about being open to Jesus. 00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:41.280 This man walked away from Christ because he had great wealth. 00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:46.420 He walked away because it would cost him too much. 00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:53.560 And Christ commanded him to do something that he commanded no one else to ever do in Scripture. 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:58.840 So why did he ask so much from this man? 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.279 I'll tell you why. 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:03.860 Because he knew the man had to make a choice. 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:07.940 He was the kind of man that could not have both. 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:16.680 To open his hands to Christ means that he has to let go of what meant the most to him. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:22.420 And although not the same, there are similar conversations that take place in Scripture. 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:30.820 In Genesis chapter 22, the Lord told Abraham to take his only son and take him up on the mountain, 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:32.440 offer him as a burnt sacrifice. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.740 And he took his son up there. 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:36.200 But did he lose his son? 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.860 In a sense, he did. 00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:41.319 But yet he didn't at all. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:46.299 Because in one sense, God provided the ram and the thicket and they came down together. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:51.340 But in another sense, when they came down, Isaac was no longer Abraham's. 00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:53.340 Isaac's was God's. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.660 But Abraham never lost him. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:04.500 When Zacchaeus, the wee little man of Luke chapter 19, 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:09.240 came out of the tree to come to Jesus, he gave half of what he had to the poor. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:12.700 There's no indication that Christ ever told him to do that. 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:17.759 And he said that if he had taken too much from somebody, that he would pay them back four times the amount. 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:23.660 Even with the great wealth of Zacchaeus, he had never forgotten. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.700 He had never found happiness in all that. 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:31.340 But with Christ, he found contentment with significantly less financially. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:37.140 We so often believe that happiness can come through what we have to hold on to. 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:39.319 And sometimes that's things. 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.140 Sometimes it's not things. 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:44.279 Sometimes it's compromising choices. 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:48.500 I mean, there's parts of our life that we're just holding on to. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:54.299 And the reality is the only way the Lord can be the Lord of our life is for us to let go of those things. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.960 To have open hands. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.700 To give those things over to God. 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:02.019 It could be our status. 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:08.039 Harold Krushner wrote a book called Who Needs God? 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:14.220 And he wrote about a very bright, driven pre-med student at a very competitive college. 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:20.799 And while this student was traveling in the East during a summer before his junior year, 00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:24.619 he met a guru who said to him, 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:30.180 Don't you see you're poisoning your soul with this success-oriented way of life? 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:35.019 I mean, your idea of happiness is to stay up all night studying for an exam 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:37.799 so you can get a better grade than your best friend. 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:43.099 Your idea of a good marriage is not to find the woman who matches your soul, 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:45.440 but to win the girl everybody else wants. 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:48.720 And that's not how people are supposed to live. 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:52.019 And as only a guru could say, 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:58.180 Why don't you come join us in an atmosphere where we all share and love one another? 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:02.599 Well, this wore-out pre-med student was ripe for that man. 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:07.119 And he called his parents and he told them he was dropping out of school. 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:11.240 And he was going to live in an ashram with other spiritual hermits. 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:15.759 And six months later, they received a letter from him. 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.899 And it said this, Dear Mom and Dad, 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:23.620 I know you weren't happy about my decision, but I want to tell you it's changed me. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:27.060 For the first time in my life, I have peace. 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:29.180 Here there's no competing. 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:32.080 There's no trying to get ahead of anyone. 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:37.460 The way of life is so at harmony with my inner soul 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:42.340 that it only took me six months to become the number two disciple in the entire community. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.620 And I think I'll be number one by June. 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:49.980 Friend, status is in us. 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:58.039 Being number one, having what we want, reaching a social level or a level of ease, 00:23:58.140 --> 00:24:00.160 that will saturate us. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.540 We'll compromise ourself for that. 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.460 I mean, we cling to it. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.779 And too many times it's in us. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:10.540 It's so thick within us that we just cling to it. 00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:14.860 And sometimes it leaves us walking away sad. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.440 Why just settle? 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:24.100 Larry Walker wasn't willing to settle. 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:32.480 He had always wanted to fly, but he had poor eyesight that would not allow him to, 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.639 so he had an idea. 00:24:35.699 --> 00:24:40.219 He tied 45 helium-filled weather balloons to his lawn chair. 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:47.339 He strapped himself in with sandwiches, a pellet gun, and a six-pack of light beer. 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:50.959 That tells us a fair amount about Larry right there. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:59.160 His plan was to hover for about 30 feet above his backyard for just a few hours. 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:02.900 Then he was just going to shoot enough balloons down to come on down. 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:12.140 But 45 weather balloons holding 33 cubic feet of helium apiece don't settle at 30 feet. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:21.200 When his friends cut the cord anchoring his lawn chair to the ground, Larry didn't level off at 30 feet. 00:25:22.020 --> 00:25:24.280 He didn't level off at 100 feet. 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.800 He didn't level off at 1,000 feet. 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:32.160 He stopped climbing at 16,000 feet. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:36.960 And at this height, he was reluctant to shoot anything. 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:45.980 He just drifted with his beer and his sandwiches into the airspace of LAX. 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:51.540 And pilots could be heard over the radio saying, you're not going to believe this. 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:58.619 But after several hours, Larry decided to risk shooting a few balloons. 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:05.700 And eventually, he descended enough to get tangled up in some power lines where he was rescued. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:14.119 And the FAA spokesman said, we know he broke some part of the Federal Aviation Act. 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:18.039 And as soon as we figure out which part it is, we'll charge him with it. 00:26:19.239 --> 00:26:24.899 As they led Larry away in handcuffs, a reporter asked him, why did you do it? 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:29.639 And Larry replied, a man can't just sit there. 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.639 He's right about one thing. 00:26:36.739 --> 00:26:37.879 Don't just sit there. 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:42.379 Be open to Jesus. 00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:49.659 Open your arms to receive people that are trying to make a connection with the Lord. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:53.559 As they ask you questions. 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:57.179 As they walk through these doors. 00:26:58.699 --> 00:27:02.759 As God ventures them across your path in life. 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:07.359 Remember the children were brought to Jesus. 00:27:09.459 --> 00:27:12.619 Bring folks to Jesus. 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:17.299 Open your arms and welcome others to Jesus. 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:22.959 Open your hearts and come to Christ with a humble dependence. 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.759 Depend upon him daily. 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.739 Trust his word. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:31.779 Be receptive to hear what he'd have to say to you. 00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:34.439 And open your hands. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:40.759 Whatever it is that you're clinging to today. 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.799 That's outside of Christ. 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.100 Release your grip. 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:55.519 Quit holding on so tight to what matters to you. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.680 But it's contrary to what God has for you. 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:04.140 I like the way the old hymn writer put it. 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:07.560 It said, nothing in my hand I bring. 00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:10.960 Simply to the cross I cling. 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.940 Rock of ages. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.000 Cleft for me. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:17.860 Let me hide myself in thee. 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:23.899 Are you open today to Jesus? 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:27.240 Whenever he had bowed and whenever I closed. 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.539 I'm going to ask you this morning. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:35.679 If there's ever been a time when you become open to the Lord Jesus. 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:43.320 Jesus, you've ever confessed that you're a sinner and asked him to cleanse you and to come into your life and to save you. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:49.680 I'm thankful today that because of what Christ did on the cross for us, we can come as we are. 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:57.920 And say, Lord, I need you to forgive me. 00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:01.180 I need you to cleanse me. 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:06.860 I need you to empower me and strengthen me to live for you. 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:11.200 And from this day forward, I commit my life to live for your cause. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:18.900 If you've never been saved, I encourage you today to be open to the Lord Jesus. 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:20.960 You come. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.539 We'll guide you in that process. 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:27.140 Maybe there's things in your life that you're clinging to. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:30.120 And you're a Christian, but the reality is your life is not reflected. 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.859 At least in some areas. 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:36.059 And you need to give those things over to God. 00:29:38.119 --> 00:29:39.939 You need to open that tight grip. 00:29:42.239 --> 00:29:46.719 And let God have his will and his way in your heart and life. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:50.720 I don't know what that may be. 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.600 But I know he does. 00:29:53.980 --> 00:30:05.180 And I've asked him before I ever came in this place today to speak individually to each one of us and help us to know what it is that we may be holding on to too tight. 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:08.080 That we need to let go of. 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:10.299 To let God have his will and his way. 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:17.220 Maybe today you need to be open to follow a commitment that God is telling you to do. 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:20.759 Maybe that's making a commitment for salvation. 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:27.100 Maybe that's making a commitment to publicly profess that through baptism. 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:32.139 It might be that God's leading you to be a part of Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:30:35.219 --> 00:30:36.359 Don't cling any longer. 00:30:37.719 --> 00:30:41.039 Open up to follow the Lord Jesus and what he'd have you to do. 00:30:41.199 --> 00:30:44.859 And if when we stand in just a moment and sing, if you'll come down this aisle and say, 00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:47.539 Pastor, this is what God's leading me to do. 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:49.199 I'll be happy to guide you in that. 00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:53.119 Maybe you need to lay something at this altar today. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:57.319 You need to lay a burden down before him. 00:30:58.959 --> 00:31:01.779 You need to open your hands to things that you're clinging to. 00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:04.199 Lay them down before him. 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:08.819 Whatever it is that God would have you to do, I encourage you to just follow him. 00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:09.739 Just trust him. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.199 He'll never leave you astray. 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:18.719 Lord Jesus, I love you and I thank you for the love that you have for us. 00:31:18.719 --> 00:31:22.819 And I ask right now that you'll lead us to do exactly what you'd have us to do. 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:24.159 Nothing more, nothing less. 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:26.759 In Jesus' precious name, amen.