Watch out for...!
Series: Jesus' Authority
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 29th April 2012
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 Where's that come from?
00:00:11 --> 00:00:12 Vander?
00:00:13 --> 00:00:14 Prodigal son?
00:00:15 --> 00:00:15 Mary?
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 Prodigal son?
00:00:17 --> 00:00:18 Luke 15?
00:00:19 --> 00:00:23 All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:40 The story of the prodigal son, he's the brother that we often neglect, the one at the end of the story, the firstborn, who measures his relationship with his dad by how well he carries out his orders.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 Relationship based on performance.
00:00:46 --> 00:01:06 He knows all about duty and obligation and shoulds and oughts and outwardly he is the obedient son, he is the submissive man, he obeys his dad, he does his jobs, he does all the externals.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 And life for him has become slavery, not sonship.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:24 He relates to his dad like a slave, he treats his father like a grudging master and so he measures himself.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 And he's got this checklist of what a loving son looks like.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:38 And he doesn't even need to ask his dad what he thinks of him, he can self-assess because he knows that he's not a complete failure of a son like his brother.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:51 It's actually not that different from what we do in our church families when we measure our children's worth by their performance.
00:01:51 --> 00:02:04 Relationship based on performance.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:18 Relationship based on rule keeping.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:19 How we measure up.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:25 His dad offers him freedom and privilege and intimacy.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:31 But the son chooses to live with rules and obligations.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 He chooses to live like a slave.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 He's the opposite of his brother the prodigal.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:49 The younger brother has lost, he turns around, he comes to his senses,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:55 He turns back and he pursues his dad with absolutely nothing to offer.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:59 He's wasted wealth, he's wasted privilege, he's wasted opportunity.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:05 He is brought low and he returns to his father absolutely empty handed,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:11 prepared to face the music, prepared to live as a slave.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:19 He throws himself on his father's mercy and amazingly his father runs to meet him and welcomes him as a son.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 What is relationship with God like for you this morning?
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 Distant.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:37 Dutiful.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 Uncertain.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 A set of obligations.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:49 You live what you think is a Christian life because you think that's what God wants you to do.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 A master that you fear, one that you dutifully obey.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 You go to church, you attend your community group, you give your cash,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:03 you serve in kids' church or music ministry or you visit people in need,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:09 you get Bible training, you get ordained, you do all the externals and you still feel barren inside.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 And on the outside, everybody's applauding.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 And encouraging.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 And on the inside you feel empty and a fraud.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 All the right actions.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:38 Jesus speaks to our inner emptiness in the Bible passage that I'm preaching this morning.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 Have your Bibles open.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 Mark chapter 12.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:42 Mark chapter 12.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:42 Mark chapter 12.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:48 We've preached this short series of messages over the last three weeks from Mark chapter 11 and Mark chapter 12.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:54 We've seen that the religious leadership have determined that the easiest way to deal with Jesus,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 the Jesus problem, is to kill him.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:01 And so the religious elite have begun to confront Jesus in public,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 something they haven't had the guts to do before.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 Some ridicule his ministry.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 They try to discredit him in the eyes of the people.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 Others use all their evil intent to trap him in his words.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 They are trying to justify his execution.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 And Jesus confounds them with his answers.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 And in 1234 their questions dry up and it says,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:26 From then on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:31 But in Mark chapter 12 verse 28,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 a teacher in the law of the law questions Jesus.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:39 This is a man that doesn't seem to be part of the posse that's looking to trap him.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 He's overheard the debate.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 He has heard Jesus give an amazing answer to the Sadducees
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 and now he steps forward and he asks his own question.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:54 Teacher, of all the commandments, which is the most important?
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 Now that was a current issue.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:03 The teachers of the law had discerned that 613 laws in the scriptures,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:07 they'd taken the Bible apart, they'd found 613 commandments, laws,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 and it was pretty common for them to debate which were the light ones,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 which were the heavy ones, what were the big ones,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 what were the ones that took precedence over others.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 Sort them out for us, Jesus.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 Which is the most important?
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 And I think it's an honest question.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 We looked at this in our small group the other night,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 the community group the other night,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 and I think some of us thought he was a bit condescending of Jesus,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 but I actually think it's an honest question.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 I think he is one teacher who is checking out another teacher.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 And he asks a really important question to figure out
00:06:39 --> 00:06:43 whether Jesus is a teacher who is worth paying any attention to.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 And it's like he addresses him as a peer.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 And Jesus answers his question with scripture.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 Verse 29.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 The most important one answered Jesus is this.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 and with all your mind and with all your strength.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 And the second is this.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 Love your neighbour as yourself.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 There is no commandment greater than these.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 The first part is a direct quote of Moses' words
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy, chapter 6.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 And he adds a command.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 The second command is one from Leviticus, chapter 19.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 It's God's command from Leviticus, chapter 19, verse 18.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:40 And Jesus pulls the two scriptures together
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 and he calls them the greatest command.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 There is no command greater than these.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 And he ties the love of God to the love of neighbour.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 He does not let us separate the two.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 You cannot say you love God
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 and hate your brother or sister in Christ.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 Absolutely incompatible.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:03 The Deuteronomy quote was never a command of God's.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 It's not a command.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 Love the Lord your God with all your heart
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 and with all your soul and with all your mind
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 and with all your strength.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 It's the climax of Moses' sermon.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 He's just reminded them of the Ten Commandments in particular
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 and he preaches with all the passion of a Billy Graham
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 and he says to the Israelites,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 Love him with your entire being,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 Now the Ten Commandments were given by God
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 to his people whom he had already redeemed.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 They have a history with God.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 He saved them out of slavery in Egypt.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:02 God revealed himself to them with his personal name, Yahweh.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 He's constantly provided for them
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 and he's protected them in the desert
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 and he's continued to involve himself in their lives
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 despite many moments when they have failed to trust him,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 disobeyed him.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:20 And so Moses calls, he exhorts people to walk in the relationship
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 that they already have with God.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 Love him.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 Love your neighbours like yourselves.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 Now I think love is a really tricky thing to define.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 It's not just a feeling
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 but it will involve feeling and emotion.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 It needs to have content.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 It will be seen in action.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 It's a great little play that's been acted out for us
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 with Kids Church a minute ago.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 No good having words without delivery
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 doesn't work in a marriage, does it?
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 We try.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 But I want to be very careful this morning
00:10:04 --> 00:10:09 not to reduce love to commandment keeping
00:10:09 --> 00:10:15 because as soon as we do that
00:10:15 --> 00:10:19 it all becomes about measurable performance.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:25 The New Testament does not hold up the commandments
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 as the attainable goal
00:10:27 --> 00:10:31 or the performance chart.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 Romans chapter 10
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 Romans chapter 7 verse 10
00:10:36 --> 00:10:41 says to us that the commandment
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 which was intended to bring life
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 brought death
00:10:44 --> 00:10:48 and the commandments themselves
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 show the depth of sin and evil
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 which was within us
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 when they are properly understood.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 Sin seized the commandment
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and brought death.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 So when you start measuring performance
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 it all becomes about externals
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 and not about the heart.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:12 I want to define love this morning
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 by saying that it pursues
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 and values a person.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 Love pursues
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and values a person.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 It chases after relationship.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 So in a family
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 God says
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 husbands love your wives
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 and the husband says
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 I do love you.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 I do.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 I love you.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 I bring home the bacon.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 I provide for you.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 I've set you up in this great house.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 I provide a wonderful standard of living.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 And I'm thinking from personal experience
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 it does not work.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 That's not enough.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 It's not good enough.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 See I can tell you
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 all the boxes
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 that I have ticked
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 from my point of view
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 in our marriage.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 But you ask Kerry
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 and you're not permitted to
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 but you ask Kerry
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 you get a different story.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 And my wonderful wife
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 said to me once
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 not that far back
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 a small number of years
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 you do all these things for me
00:12:27 --> 00:12:30 but I do not feel loved
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 by you.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 And that led to a process
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 of learning to listen
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 to her again.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 Learning what mattered for her.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 Learning what she thinks
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 and feels.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 And I think I'm standing here
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 this morning
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 I've got L plates on still.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 She was telling me something
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 the other day
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 and I stopped listening
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 in the middle of what she was saying
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 and I showed that I'd stopped listening
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 about what she was talking about
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 because I talked about something
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 completely different.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 And I didn't even notice.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 And a few minutes later
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 she said to me
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 what had happened
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 and said that she was hurt
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 and rightly so.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:24 And I've been arrogant enough
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 sometimes to presume
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 that I know
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 what goes on inside her
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 and even not to even care
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 about what goes on inside her.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 To care about her hurt.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 Or to feel too threatened
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to be criticised
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 for how I've treated her.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 So to not want to even
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 open up the conversation
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 and talk about it.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:48 And so her love of me
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 and mine of her
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 has meant listening
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 to the hurt
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 and owning
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 how I cause it.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 I hope that there's not
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 one wife
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 sitting here in church
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 this morning
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 who goes home
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 and says to hubby
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 I hope you were listening.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:19 But I hope husbands
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 will go home
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 and ask their wives
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 if they feel loved.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 And listen
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 without defending.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 And maybe doing things
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 that help to reinvigorate
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 relationships.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 I went to a 60th wedding
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 anniversary yesterday
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 and a wonderful couple
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 who had a
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 what you have to say
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 an absolutely steadfast
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 walk and love of Christ
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 for 50 of their 60 years
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 of marriage.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 And somebody said
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 they've had
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 a perfect marriage.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 And the husband
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 who's in his late 80s now
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 mid to late 80s
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 corrected them
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 and said
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 they haven't had
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 a perfect marriage
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 they've had
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 a good marriage.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 They have pursued
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 Christ together
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 since he first
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 laid his hands
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 on them.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 They have pursued
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 relationship
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 with Christ
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 and they have pursued
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 relationship
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 with one another.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 They have walked
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 through some
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 excruciating moments
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 in their marriage
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 bankrupted
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 by a close relative
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 late in life
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 huge health issues
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 pain with children
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 and their own
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 imperfections
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 a very good marriage
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 which began
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 with a blind date
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 and the blind date
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 grew to further
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 time together
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and now they have
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 a rich history
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 together
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 which is
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 longer
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 than 60 years.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:02 love of God
00:16:02 --> 00:16:17 will be seen
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 in pursuing
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 and valuing
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 God
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 over all things.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 So even the other day
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 there was something
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 I thought
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 God wanted me
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 to do
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 and I said
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 no
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 what did I say
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 in that moment?
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 I'm going to do
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 what I want to do.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 I don't care
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 what you want me
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 to do in that moment.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 I'm pursuing
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 my own self
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 my own objectives
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 and Moses here
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 is practically
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 screaming at the
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 people of Israel
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 when he gives this
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 in Deuteronomy
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 chapter 6
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 look at who God is.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Look at how
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 he has saved you.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 He is the only God
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 there is no other
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 love him with all
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 your heart
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 and soul
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 and mind
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 and strength.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 And the teacher
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 of the law
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 gets it
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 and he says
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 well said teacher
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 you are right
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 in saying
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 that God
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 is one
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 there is no other
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 to love him
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 with all your heart
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and all your
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 understanding
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and all your strength
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 and to love your
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 neighbour as yourself
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 it's more important
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 than all burnt
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 offerings
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 and sacrifices.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 He doesn't
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 actually quote
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 the commandment
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 back
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 he quotes
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 the intent
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 of it.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 He understands
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 that God
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 offers real
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 relationship
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 with himself
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 and he prizes
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 it above all
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 the religious
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 ritual
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 that they do
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 at the temple
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 there is something
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 greater than
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 temple sacrifices
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 and he says
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 to obey
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 is better
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 than sacrifices
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 he remembers
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 what Samuel
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 says to Saul
00:17:37 --> 00:17:41 the whole
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 temple ritual
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 pointed to
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 what a holy
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 God looked like
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 but the teacher
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 of the law
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 knew that
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 to know
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 and love
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 God
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 was far
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 better
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 than all
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 the stuff
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that pointed
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 to him.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:56 how absurd
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 some of the
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 things that we
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 argue about
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 at church
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 when we argue
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 about styles
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 of worship
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 and types
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 of music
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 and looks
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 of building
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 and we argue
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 about those
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 things as if
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 those things
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 in themselves
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 were ultimate
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 reality
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 and don't
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 think I'm
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 picking oldies
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 on this one
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 I'm picking
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 young ones
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 as well
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 the whole
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 lot of us
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 wherever we
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 sit
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 they are not
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 ultimate reality
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 the Lord
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 Jesus is
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 and we
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 fall out
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 over these
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 things at
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 peril
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 because Christ
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 calls us
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 to love
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 God
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 and to
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 love one
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 another
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 above all
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 those things
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 it's a
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 call to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 pursue
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 relationship
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 with God
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 and to
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 pursue
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 relationship
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 with one
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 another
00:18:37 --> 00:18:44 and Jesus
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 says something
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 which is
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 absolutely
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 wonderful
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 he says
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 you are
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 not far
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 from the
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 kingdom
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 of God
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 what a
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 wonderful
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 thing to
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 hear from
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 the mouth
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 of the
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 Lord
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 Jesus
00:18:52 --> 00:18:55 and I
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 think the
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 understanding
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 that he
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 still requires
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 is explained
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 in the next
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 verses that
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 Jesus is
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 the Christ
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 see verse
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 35 while
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 Jesus was
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 teaching in
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 the temple
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 courts he
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 asked his
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 own question
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 how is it
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 that the
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 teachers of
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 the law
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 say that
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 the Christ
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 is the
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 son of
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 David
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 and the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 teachers in
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 Jesus day
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 they're teaching
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 about the
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 coming king
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 the messiah
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 who will be
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 David's son
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 David is the
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 great hero
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 of the past
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 he beat all
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 the enemies
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 of God
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 he brought
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 about peace
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 and they
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 look back to
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 him as this
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 great one
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 in the past
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 and they're
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 viewing the
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 king as
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 somebody who
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 will be like
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 him maybe
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 not as great
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 as him but
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 he will defeat
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 their enemies
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 he will kick
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 the Romans
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 out he will
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 restore their
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 glory
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 it's a little
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 bit like
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Australians
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 with the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 great
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 it's not
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 just
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 Australians
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 it's the
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 world cricket
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 community
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 when they
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 look at
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 the Australian
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 batsman
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 Donald
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 Bradman
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 every
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 cricketer in
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 the world
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 gets measured
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 against
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 Bradman's
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 achievements
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 it's
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 inconceivable
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 that anybody
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 could ever be
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 as good as
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 him
00:19:54 --> 00:19:57 and so
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 Jesus quotes
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 this is how
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 people thought
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 about David
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 it's almost
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 inconceivable
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 that anybody
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 could be as
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 good as
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 David
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 but Jesus
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 quotes Psalm
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 110 and he
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 asks a riddle
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 which is designed
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 to turn their
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 traditional
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 understandings on
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 their head
00:20:10 --> 00:20:13 he says
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 David himself
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 speaking by the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Holy Spirit
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 declared the
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 Lord said to
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 my Lord
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 sit at my
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 right hand
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 until I put
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 your enemies
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 under your
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 feet
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 David himself
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 calls him
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 Lord
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 how then can
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 he be his
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 son
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 and the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 crowd
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 listened to
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 him
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 with delight
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 they loved
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 him
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 ripping
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 into
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 them
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 he quotes
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 David
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 the great
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 one
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 himself
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 David
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 recognized
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 the son
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 who would
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 be greater
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 than him
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Bradman
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 will have
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 a descendant
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 who smashes
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 his records
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and will be
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 greater than
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 him
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 a king
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 is coming
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 who is much
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 bigger than
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 David
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 he is
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 David's
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Lord
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 he will
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 sit at
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 the right
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 hand of
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 God
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 in heaven
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 and all
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 of God's
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 enemies
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 will be
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 subject
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 to him
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 and so
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 Jesus is
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 not just
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 a peer
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 to this
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 teacher of
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 the law
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 he is
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 God's
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 king
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 who will
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 achieve
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 God's
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 end time
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 purposes
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 and then
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Jesus rounds
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 off this
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 body of
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 teaching
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 by showing
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 what love
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 of God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 doesn't
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 look like
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 and then
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 what it
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 does
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 look like
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 watch out
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 for the
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 teachers
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 of the
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 law
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 they like
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 to walk
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 around in
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 flowing robes
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 and be
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 greeted in
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 the market
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 places
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 they have
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 the most
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 important
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 seats in
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 the synagogue
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 and the
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 places of
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 honour at
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 banquets
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 they devour
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 widows
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 houses
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 and for a
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 show they
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 make lengthy
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 prayers
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 such men
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 will be
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 punished
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 most severely
00:21:32 --> 00:21:38 I've been
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 in Christian
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 ministry long
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 enough to
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 know what it
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 feels like to be
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 put on a
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 pedestal and
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 sometimes it
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 feels great
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 because of the
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 perks that come
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 with it and
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 sometimes it
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 feels absolutely
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 lousy because
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 you've been put
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 in a place you
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 should never be
00:21:50 --> 00:21:56 the religious
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 elite have
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 lost their
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 heart for
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 God
00:21:58 --> 00:22:01 they enjoy
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 the perks
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 of office
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 they are
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 great and
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 important men
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 and women
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 in their
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 community
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 they are
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 prominent
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 they are
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 privileged
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 they stand
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 head and
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 shoulders
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 over everybody
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 else and
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 they delight
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 in it
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 and Jesus
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 says watch
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 out for them
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 literally turn
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 your backs
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 on them
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 their destiny
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 is God's
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 severe punishment
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 and the
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 contrast there
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 they've got
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 all this stuff
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 for themselves
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 but they
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 devour
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 widows houses
00:22:24 --> 00:22:27 and then he
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 turns and
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 tells us a
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 story about
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 a widow
00:22:30 --> 00:22:37 he's watching
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 people outside
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 the treasury
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 putting in
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 their donations
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 clang clang
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 clang go the
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 big donors
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 lots of
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 money
00:22:44 --> 00:22:49 and the
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 poor widow
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 comes along
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 and she
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 puts two
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 small copper
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 coins into
00:22:53 --> 00:22:56 the treasury
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 chest
00:22:56 --> 00:23:00 unnoticed
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 probably by
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 everybody
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 except Jesus
00:23:02 --> 00:23:07 and he
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 draws attention
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 to her
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 and he
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 draws it
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 out and he
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 says I
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 tell you the
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 truth that
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 this poor
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 widow
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 has put
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 more into
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the treasury
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 than all
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 the others
00:23:16 --> 00:23:19 they all
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 gave out of
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 their wealth
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 but she
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 out of
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 her poverty
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 put in
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 everything
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 all that
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 she had
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 to live
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 on
00:23:25 --> 00:23:28 I've only
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 ever preached
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 these words
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 before in
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 isolation
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 and not in
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 context
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 we can say
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 lots of
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 things about
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 them with
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 regard to
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 giving and
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 money
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 and attitude
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 of heart
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 that goes
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 with it
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 we can
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 even say
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 things like
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 there could
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 have been
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 another
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 widow
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 there
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 who put
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 in two
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 small copper
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 coins that
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 was right
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 beside the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 first one
00:23:44 --> 00:23:48 and as she
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 put them in
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 her heart
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 just grumbled
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 and complained
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 about what
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 she was
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 doing
00:23:51 --> 00:23:54 that's not
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 true
00:23:54 --> 00:23:58 but what I'm
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 trying to draw
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 out is the
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 notion that
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 Jesus noticed
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 her and
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 Jesus as
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 distinct from
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 everybody else
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 knew something
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 that was going
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 on in her
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 heart
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 her heart
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 in giving
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 was a
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 heartfelt
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 response
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 to God
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 and she
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 gave
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 everything
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 love the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 Lord your
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 God with
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 all your
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 heart and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 soul and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 mind and
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 strength
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 everything
00:24:24 --> 00:24:28 not noticed
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 but everything
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 she gives
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 all to
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 Jesus
00:24:33 --> 00:24:42 and she's
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 such a
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 contrast to
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 the religious
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 leaders whose
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 love is all
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 about themselves
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 and self
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 indulgence
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 and self
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 love
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 and self
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 satisfaction
00:24:53 --> 00:25:00 God knows
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 our heart
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 even we
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 can't judge
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 one another's
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 hearts
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 we see a
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 brother or
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 sister do
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 something and
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 we may well
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 be really
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 encouraged by
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 it and it's
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 great that we
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 are and it's
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 great that we
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 act in such a
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 way that people
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 might be
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 encouraged
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 but we really
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 do not know
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 one another's
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 hearts and when
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 we judge one
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 another's hearts
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 we may be
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 making a
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 grave mistake
00:25:26 --> 00:25:29 there are
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 certain things
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 that we see
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 and judge that
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 we ought to
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 be warned
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 about but in
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 terms of
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 motive God
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 is the one
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 who knows
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 the motives
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 of our
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 hearts
00:25:39 --> 00:25:45 I love the
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 core values
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 that have
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 been that
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 are the core
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 values of our
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 church family
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 I don't know
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 if you know
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 them all yet
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 we talk about
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 them reasonably
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 often but we
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 talk about
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 things like
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 devotion to
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 prayer we
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 talk about
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 Christ-centered
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 bible saturation
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 we talk about
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 humble authenticity
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 treasuring Jesus
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 together servant
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 leadership radical
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 generosity and
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 local and global
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 impact I love
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 them because
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 they're relational
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 and they are
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 driven by a
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 heart which
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 loves God
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 through his
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 son the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Lord Jesus
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 Christ
00:26:24 --> 00:26:30 they're about
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 pursuing God
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 with all our
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 heart and soul
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 and mind and
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 strength
00:26:35 --> 00:26:40 there's a
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 wrong way of
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 holding them
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 the wrong way
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 of holding
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 them is to
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 turn them
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 into another
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 set of
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 laws
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 you prayed
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 today you
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 read your
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 bible today
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 you've been
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 honest in your
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 dealings with
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 people you've
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 been to church
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 on Sunday
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 were at your
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 community group
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59 have you done
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 your duty with
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 kids church or
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 music or whatever
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 it is how much
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 money have you
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 given lately
00:27:04 --> 00:27:08 that's the wrong
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 way
00:27:08 --> 00:27:12 but these are
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 very good
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 principles because
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 they can be
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 held the right
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 way they can be
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 held by a heart
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 that treasures
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Jesus and is
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 hungry for Jesus
00:27:20 --> 00:27:23 that loves to
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 speak to Jesus
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 in prayer that
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 earnestly desires
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 to be in the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 word of God so
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 that they might
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 know more about
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 what Jesus and
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 God is like that
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 they might know
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 him
00:27:32 --> 00:27:35 a heart that
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 is not proud
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 and prepared
00:27:37 --> 00:27:39 to humble
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 themselves and
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 acknowledge their
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 own failures and
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 their mistakes with
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 their brothers and
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 sisters a heart
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 that treasures being
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 together in a
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 gathering like this
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 when we gather on
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 Sunday when we
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 meet in our small
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 groups our community
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 groups through the
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 week a heart that
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 bleeds for those who
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 aren't amongst us
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 and wonders where
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 they are and
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 expresses love and
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 concern doesn't just
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 say I notice they're
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 missing but who
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 goes to them and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 says how are you
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 brother or sister
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 how can I
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 encourage you in
00:28:05 --> 00:28:08 Christ a heart
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 that leads as a
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 servant not about
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 who I am but how
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 can I honour the
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 Lord Jesus in the
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 way that I relate to
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 you and serve this
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 church family a
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 heart that gives
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 generously who sees
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 what we that the
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 earthly possessions
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 that we have our
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 money our possessions
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 whatever it is as
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 given to us as
00:28:24 --> 00:28:27 entrusted by to us by
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 God in the first
00:28:28 --> 00:28:31 place a heart that
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 cries out to see
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 the gospel of the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 Lord Jesus Christ
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 transform men and
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 women and boys and
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 girls in this
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 community in this
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 church family and in
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 the world beyond
00:28:41 --> 00:28:44 there is a really
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 good way to hold
00:28:46 --> 00:28:49 the core values of
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 St Paul's
00:28:49 --> 00:28:53 brothers and
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 sisters the Lord
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 our God the Lord
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 is one he has
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 revealed himself to
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 us in the person
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 of the Lord Jesus
00:29:02 --> 00:29:05 Christ love the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 Lord your God with
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 all your heart and
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 all your soul with
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 all your mind with
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 all your strength
00:29:14 --> 00:29:17 pursue him and love
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 your neighbour as
00:29:18 --> 00:29:21 yourself pursue one
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 another in Christ
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 Amen
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 Amen
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25