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Lord, from the wicked enticements of this age,

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Lord, deliver them, Lord.

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We pray, God, have mercy.

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Don't let them, Lord, follow the strange gods

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that this culture are worshipping, Lord, the gods

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of money, the gods of materialism, the gods

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of self and self-preservation and the god

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of pride and thinking that we're the most

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important person in the world and the god

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of selfish ambition where we think that the

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purpose of our existence is to fulfill our

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own lusts and our own desires.

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Oh God, please, we beg You, Lord, for

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the sake of Your Son to preserve our

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children.

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And Lord, we ask that You'll forgive us

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for so many times modeling a lifestyle and

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an attitude that is less than holy in

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Your eyes.

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And then, Lord, we get upset with our

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children when in fact they're just imitating the

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worldly hearts that we have taught them.

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Give us the courage, Lord, to repent and

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acknowledge our sin.

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Give us the courage, Lord, to be transparent

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and to be willing to see the areas

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of our life that need to be readjusted

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and to be corrected.

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Give us the strength and faith, Lord, to

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make changes.

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Help us, Lord, to make changes, not to

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hear the Word and not be a doer

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of the Word.

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Deliver us from this snare, Lord, where we

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deceive ourselves.

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Now, Lord, we pray You'll just continue with

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the power of the Holy Spirit.

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We acknowledge, Lord, that our sufficiency is in

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God and not in ourself.

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We acknowledge, oh God, that any glory would

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go to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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We tremble at the thought of ever wanting

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the creature to be glorified, Lord.

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Any of us, Lord.

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We tremble at the thought of wanting to

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be bigger than the foot of the cross,

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Lord.

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We pray, God, You'll deliver us from these

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inherent tendencies to want to exalt ourself above

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our brother, above our sister, above our husband,

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above our wife.

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Oh, God, help us to realize that You

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alone are the Exalted One in Heaven.

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You alone.

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We just pray, God, that You'll be patient

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with us, Lord.

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We are a people of stubborn nature.

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We are a people, Lord, who go our

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own way.

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We are a people, Lord, who after hearing

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Your Word over and over again, seemingly, Lord,

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fall back into the sin of our own

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way and pride and arrogance.

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And we pray, God, that You'll be merciful,

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but yet firm, Lord.

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And chasten us, Lord.

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And correct us, Lord.

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And scourge us that we might be partakers

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of Your holiness, Lord.

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We just look to You, Lord.

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We look to Your sovereign Spirit who is

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reigning in our midst here, revealing the things

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of Christ to us.

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We love You and praise You, Father.

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In Jesus' mighty name.

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I would invite you, if you would please,

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to turn your Bibles to Luke 14.

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I encourage you, if you didn't get the

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tape last week, to get it.

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I believe it's called An Invitation.

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Gary's not here.

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This is going to be part two.

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Last week we received a clarion call from

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the Holy Spirit.

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A clarion call from the Holy Spirit who

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is speaking this Word not only to us,

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but He's speaking this Word throughout the entire

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body of Christ.

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Everywhere.

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There is no exemption.

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There is no place that is exempt.

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Wherever there is the slightest resemblance of the

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true candlestick, the true testimony of the Lord,

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the true presence of the Lord, wherever there's

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a gathering of believers, whether it is 200

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or 2,000 or 22,000, it doesn't

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matter.

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Wherever there is the resemblance of a true

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testimony of the Lord, the Holy Spirit has

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been faithfully sent from God the Father.

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And He's bringing this message as the true

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servant of the Lord, the true servant of

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God, the Holy Spirit is the faithful servant.

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And He's bringing this message.

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The banquet table is ready.

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The banquet table is ready.

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But time after time after time, when the

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Holy Spirit knocks at our heart and we

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sense, as we did this morning and as

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we have been for many, many months and

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we do when we're in our homes, we

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sense the Lord speaking to us.

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And whether we intentionally do it or not,

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whether it is a conscious thing or not,

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we find ourselves giving the Lord excuses as

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to why we cannot accept His invitation to

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follow Him, to receive His wealth, to lose

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our life, to lose our way, to lose

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our nature as Colette was talking about.

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Oftentimes, our own device is our set ways.

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We're so set.

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And the Lord loves us so much, but

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He must break us.

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He must break us.

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We must be broken vessels.

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You remember the way Gideon won the battle.

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Three hundred men.

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Vessels of clay.

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And inside those vessels of clay were candles.

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And it wasn't until the vessels of clay

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were broken that the brightness of the candle

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shone forth and that was the way in

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which God secured the victory for Gideon and

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his army against the enemy.

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And likewise, brothers and sisters, the Bible says

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in Corinthians that we have this treasure in

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earthen vessels.

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There is a treasure if you belong to

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Christ, if you are a believer.

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Dear brother, dear sister, Christ lives in you.

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Christ is with you.

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But there's very little that the Lord can

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get out of your life and out of

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my life if my vessel, my outer vessel,

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is hard and unbroken.

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Because when people touch me, they're not going

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to touch the treasure.

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They're going to touch the vessel, the nature,

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the attitudes, the strong opinions, the complaining spirit,

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the human wisdom, the human judgment, the human

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understanding, the nature.

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And every one of us have peculiar things

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in our nature that must be broken before

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the fullness of the light of Christ can

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have the liberty to shine forth and to

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touch people.

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And so we find that last week we

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heard the call of the Spirit of God

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telling us that a great supper has been

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prepared.

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That was chapter 14, verses 15 through 24.

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And yet each one began to make excuses.

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They began to make excuses.

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They began to say, oh, could you excuse

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me from this great supper?

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Listen, brothers and sisters, can you imagine such

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a thing?

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Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth,

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the One Who always was, had no beginning,

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will never have an end.

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Can you imagine the mystery of Almighty God

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creating human beings like you and I and

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then personally inviting us to a banquet, Norman,

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a banquet, where He Himself is going to

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feed us with heavenly food, with spiritual wealth

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and treasures, and He has His servant the

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Holy Spirit come and deposit these treasures into

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our spirit and give us glimpses of the

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wealth and the beauty and the fullness of

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the life that is lived unto God?

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Can you imagine?

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Can you imagine how the Holy Spirit can

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invite us to come and how we can

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actually make an excuse?

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Oh, the depths of sin.

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The depths of the rebellion within the heart

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of man.

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The depths of our selfishness.

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I mean, it's likely that none of us

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would even think twice about rejecting an invitation

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from a high dignitary to go out to

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lunch.

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We would probably be flattered.

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We would probably be flattered and call some

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of our friends and say, oh, guess who

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invited me?

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Guess who invited me?

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So-and-so invited me to lunch.

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And then us guys would tell our wives,

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please, clean my clothes.

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Could you iron that shirt?

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Could you shine my shoes?

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Oh, we wouldn't think twice of rejecting an

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invitation from a dignitary.

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But brothers and sisters, what about the invitation

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from Almighty God that's going forth?

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What are we doing with it?

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That was last week.

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Listen closely.

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The whole topic of the Great Supper started

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in verse 1 of chapter 14.

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Last week was an invitation.

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Beware of making excuses.

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Now, we're going to look at verses 1

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-14.

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And we're going to see how...

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Listen.

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Listen carefully.

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How to approach the banqueting table.

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How to approach the banqueting table.

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Brothers and sisters, there is a banqueting table

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that is prepared for us.

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Our Father in Heaven, whom Abraham was a

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type of, is a wealthy man full of

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treasure.

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Spiritual wealth, spiritual treasure.

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All the treasures are hid in Christ Jesus.

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He wants to fill our lives with treasure.

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Listen, He wants to wean the church from

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a taste for this world.

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And He wants to put in us a

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taste for the spiritual world that's in Christ

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Jesus.

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He wants us to see that there is

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no loss in losing everything for the sake

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of following Christ.

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He wants us to see that there is

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no loss in losing our own life if

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in fact we are gaining Him.

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He wants to deliver us from that perspective

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of perceiving that loss means sorrow.

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And in order for Him to do this,

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He brings a wonderful lesson here.

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So I want us to listen carefully.

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I want us to ask the Holy Spirit

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to speak to us.

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Brothers and sisters, ask the Holy Spirit to

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speak to you.

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If you have been invited by the Holy

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Spirit, either today or you've been invited in

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the past, and you know that God has

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called you and has spoken to you time

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and time again and is inviting you to

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the banquet feast where your life becomes an

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offering to God and where you are after

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God, your heart is after Him, you desire

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to find full satisfaction in Him alone.

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You desire to forsake all the idols of

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this world.

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You desire to be free from anything that

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would possess you.

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Perhaps not outwardly being free from possessions.

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That may or may not be a requirement.

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But God help us if we ever tell

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God that He can't do it.

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Don't put your hand on anything God has

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given you.

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It's not yours.

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Remember that.

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The big problem in the body today is

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the problem of ownership.

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We have supposed that the things that we

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have are ours.

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They're not yours.

275
00:13:19,330 --> 00:13:20,490
They belong to God.

276
00:13:20,550 --> 00:13:22,070
What happened to the Word of God?

277
00:13:23,350 --> 00:13:25,450
The Lord owns a cattle on a thousand

278
00:13:25,450 --> 00:13:25,870
hills.

279
00:13:26,270 --> 00:13:28,190
The Lord is the Creator of heaven and

280
00:13:28,190 --> 00:13:28,290
earth.

281
00:13:28,550 --> 00:13:30,750
The Lord owns the fullness of the earth.

282
00:13:30,970 --> 00:13:33,650
There is nothing that you currently possess that

283
00:13:33,650 --> 00:13:34,870
is actually yours.

284
00:13:36,110 --> 00:13:40,470
But why do we hold as if it

285
00:13:40,470 --> 00:13:41,010
is ours?

286
00:13:42,210 --> 00:13:44,510
Because our minds need to be washed.

287
00:13:46,650 --> 00:13:50,810
And so, maybe not outwardly, but brothers and

288
00:13:50,810 --> 00:13:53,010
sisters, the call of the Spirit of God

289
00:13:53,010 --> 00:13:54,770
to the Bride of Christ is this.

290
00:13:55,170 --> 00:13:57,690
Nothing, nothing can possess you.

291
00:13:58,210 --> 00:13:59,710
You may have possessions.

292
00:14:00,130 --> 00:14:01,770
You may not have possessions.

293
00:14:02,370 --> 00:14:03,850
You may have a lot.

294
00:14:03,970 --> 00:14:04,930
You may have a little.

295
00:14:05,850 --> 00:14:07,510
It ought not to matter to us.

296
00:14:09,070 --> 00:14:11,890
What ought to matter is that our hearts

297
00:14:11,890 --> 00:14:14,410
ought to be so broken before God that

298
00:14:14,410 --> 00:14:16,930
we ought to say, Oh dear God, may

299
00:14:16,930 --> 00:14:19,930
it be that nothing possesses me but a

300
00:14:19,930 --> 00:14:23,190
love and a passion and a desire for

301
00:14:23,190 --> 00:14:24,270
You and You alone.

302
00:14:24,970 --> 00:14:29,010
Oh God, deliver this heart from grasping anything

303
00:14:29,010 --> 00:14:29,810
of earth.

304
00:14:29,810 --> 00:14:32,030
Because nothing can possess me but God.

305
00:14:32,750 --> 00:14:36,430
We were created to be possessed by God

306
00:14:36,430 --> 00:14:38,470
and to possess God alone.

307
00:14:38,890 --> 00:14:40,210
That's why we were created.

308
00:14:40,550 --> 00:14:43,750
That's why God created the church and placed

309
00:14:43,750 --> 00:14:45,850
it on the earth so that the church

310
00:14:45,850 --> 00:14:51,760
could demonstrate to the world what it is

311
00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:54,980
to be a redeemed people in whom God

312
00:14:54,980 --> 00:14:55,900
is the King.

313
00:14:58,950 --> 00:15:01,490
And oh how we have fallen from this

314
00:15:01,490 --> 00:15:02,010
testimony.

315
00:15:02,010 --> 00:15:05,550
And now we want acceptance from the world.

316
00:15:06,610 --> 00:15:08,710
We want approval from the world.

317
00:15:10,210 --> 00:15:12,210
We want to act like the world.

318
00:15:12,890 --> 00:15:15,210
We want to laugh at the things the

319
00:15:15,210 --> 00:15:17,550
world laughs at when we ought to be

320
00:15:17,550 --> 00:15:18,030
weeping.

321
00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,260
We want the same entertainment as the world.

322
00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,700
God delivers us out of the world that

323
00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:34,980
we might be a peculiar people, a peculiar

324
00:15:34,980 --> 00:15:35,700
treasure.

325
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,540
That we might show forth the praises of

326
00:15:39,540 --> 00:15:41,920
Him who called us out of darkness into

327
00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:43,300
His marvelous light.

328
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,760
God wants us to be a peculiar treasure

329
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:47,800
unto Himself.

330
00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,000
But it's impossible.

331
00:15:54,680 --> 00:16:01,180
It's impossible to be free from the entanglements

332
00:16:01,180 --> 00:16:04,540
and allurements of the world if God is

333
00:16:04,540 --> 00:16:06,980
not our satisfaction and pleasure.

334
00:16:09,630 --> 00:16:12,950
And this is why in fact Christianity has

335
00:16:12,950 --> 00:16:20,520
created a system of religion that enables the

336
00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,260
believer to profess I've left the world and

337
00:16:24,260 --> 00:16:25,780
then they get the whole world back in

338
00:16:25,780 --> 00:16:26,700
their Christian life.

339
00:16:30,490 --> 00:16:31,570
Same idols.

340
00:16:32,490 --> 00:16:34,950
Same idols, but now it's a different name.

341
00:16:35,050 --> 00:16:35,850
It's Christian now.

342
00:16:36,370 --> 00:16:37,030
It's Christian.

343
00:16:50,220 --> 00:16:51,500
Chapter 14.

344
00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,080
How to come to the banquet table.

345
00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:56,840
How to come to the banquet table.

346
00:16:59,740 --> 00:17:02,160
And it came to pass as He went

347
00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:03,780
into the house of one of the chief

348
00:17:03,780 --> 00:17:05,960
Pharisees to eat bread.

349
00:17:07,020 --> 00:17:09,520
Now notice the phrase, eat bread.

350
00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,440
Jesus is going to take this whole scenario

351
00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,020
of eating bread in the house of a

352
00:17:19,020 --> 00:17:20,859
Pharisee and He's going to do what He

353
00:17:20,859 --> 00:17:22,260
does so many times.

354
00:17:22,540 --> 00:17:24,460
He's going to take what He's doing and

355
00:17:24,460 --> 00:17:26,660
He's going to bring it into another realm.

356
00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,460
He's going to bring it into a spiritual

357
00:17:29,460 --> 00:17:30,020
realm.

358
00:17:30,260 --> 00:17:32,200
And that's what He's doing right now.

359
00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:36,800
And the fullness of this is seen in

360
00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:37,940
verse number 15.

361
00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,160
And then Jesus takes it and runs with

362
00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:46,300
it.

363
00:17:46,340 --> 00:17:47,400
But watch now.

364
00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,300
There's people eating bread on the Sabbath.

365
00:17:58,340 --> 00:18:01,760
If we're going to sit at the table

366
00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,980
that is spread before us and feast on

367
00:18:05,980 --> 00:18:09,580
the Word of God, feast on the truth

368
00:18:09,580 --> 00:18:11,560
that is in the Word of God that

369
00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,240
the Holy Spirit can bring to us, if

370
00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,520
we're going to enjoy love feasts one with

371
00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,140
another, not carnal love feasts, but spiritual love

372
00:18:20,140 --> 00:18:23,600
feasts, at which time we get together one

373
00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,720
with another in homes and we wait on

374
00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,920
the Lord and we let the Holy Spirit

375
00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,680
reveal the treasure and the wealth and the

376
00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,940
beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ one to

377
00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:34,320
another.

378
00:18:35,140 --> 00:18:35,820
Listen, listen.

379
00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:37,280
I want to take a detour for a

380
00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:37,560
second.

381
00:18:38,340 --> 00:18:39,760
I want to take a detour.

382
00:18:39,860 --> 00:18:40,620
Please listen.

383
00:18:41,180 --> 00:18:42,180
We're going to go back here.

384
00:18:42,860 --> 00:18:44,180
The Lord is grieved.

385
00:18:44,820 --> 00:18:47,780
The Lord is very grieved as He looks

386
00:18:47,780 --> 00:18:50,680
at the church because there's not a real

387
00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:54,720
intense desire within the hearts of believers to

388
00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,220
gather together one with another.

389
00:18:57,020 --> 00:19:00,040
Now, we're not talking about a setting where

390
00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:01,460
there's a religious agenda.

391
00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:08,020
We're talking about the simple joy of making

392
00:19:08,020 --> 00:19:15,470
time where you are before the Lord and

393
00:19:15,470 --> 00:19:17,910
God knits your hearts to a few other

394
00:19:17,910 --> 00:19:24,730
believers and you often gather together with anticipation

395
00:19:24,730 --> 00:19:29,830
and expectation that as you gather together in

396
00:19:29,830 --> 00:19:31,670
the name of the Lord, He will move

397
00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:32,330
in your midst.

398
00:19:33,540 --> 00:19:34,850
He will speak to you.

399
00:19:35,170 --> 00:19:36,210
Words of encouragement.

400
00:19:36,430 --> 00:19:37,370
Words of correction.

401
00:19:37,750 --> 00:19:38,730
Words of instruction.

402
00:19:39,150 --> 00:19:42,850
The whole reality of the joy and anticipation

403
00:19:42,850 --> 00:19:45,610
of gathering together with a few like-minded

404
00:19:45,610 --> 00:19:48,590
believers is fizzling out of the minds of

405
00:19:48,590 --> 00:19:50,690
believers because they're too busy.

406
00:19:50,810 --> 00:19:51,590
They're too busy.

407
00:19:51,710 --> 00:19:52,650
They don't have time.

408
00:19:53,930 --> 00:19:55,770
That's neglecting the house of God.

409
00:19:55,910 --> 00:19:57,770
How is the house of God built up?

410
00:19:59,250 --> 00:20:02,310
The house of God is built up as

411
00:20:02,310 --> 00:20:06,390
Christ has communicated one to another through living

412
00:20:06,390 --> 00:20:06,910
members.

413
00:20:07,050 --> 00:20:08,630
We are all ministers.

414
00:20:09,650 --> 00:20:11,290
Yes, there's different calls.

415
00:20:11,490 --> 00:20:12,350
Are all apostles?

416
00:20:12,570 --> 00:20:12,770
No.

417
00:20:12,950 --> 00:20:13,910
Are all prophets?

418
00:20:14,130 --> 00:20:14,410
No.

419
00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:16,210
Are all pastor-teachers?

420
00:20:16,290 --> 00:20:16,750
No.

421
00:20:17,310 --> 00:20:19,790
But we're all ministers of the new covenant.

422
00:20:19,970 --> 00:20:22,010
That is, we are vessels in whom the

423
00:20:22,010 --> 00:20:23,950
ministry of life should be flowing.

424
00:20:24,790 --> 00:20:26,670
Brothers and sisters, there is a blessing.

425
00:20:26,670 --> 00:20:30,250
There is a blessing that comes that cannot

426
00:20:30,250 --> 00:20:35,070
come any other way when believers have been

427
00:20:35,070 --> 00:20:38,870
stirred by God and respond to God and

428
00:20:38,870 --> 00:20:46,580
make time to gather with other believers.

429
00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:50,380
Not talking about a religious gathering where there's

430
00:20:50,380 --> 00:20:52,420
an agenda, where there's programs.

431
00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,080
I'm talking about a pure, simple love feast.

432
00:20:58,140 --> 00:20:58,900
Think about it.

433
00:20:58,900 --> 00:20:59,960
Think about it.

434
00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:01,740
You've got seven days in a week.

435
00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:08,080
You've got seven nights.

436
00:21:10,740 --> 00:21:13,440
Everyone's got a few hours at night where

437
00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:14,160
they chill.

438
00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:19,320
What do you do?

439
00:21:20,380 --> 00:21:20,900
Play.

440
00:21:22,140 --> 00:21:23,180
That's what most people do.

441
00:21:23,260 --> 00:21:24,100
They play games.

442
00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:28,360
And the house of God is neglected.

443
00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,880
The house of God is neglected because we're

444
00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:34,700
playing games.

445
00:21:38,220 --> 00:21:44,940
Not concerned about the building of the house.

446
00:21:46,140 --> 00:21:48,900
About imparting Christ to our brother and letting

447
00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:51,180
what our brother or sister has impart his

448
00:21:51,180 --> 00:21:52,640
life to us.

449
00:21:58,200 --> 00:21:59,500
And the Lord's grieved.

450
00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:04,460
So what do you do?

451
00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:06,320
Do you make a law?

452
00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:07,400
Do you legislate it?

453
00:22:07,820 --> 00:22:08,800
Do you get together and say, all right,

454
00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:10,060
now this is what we've got to do

455
00:22:10,060 --> 00:22:10,300
now.

456
00:22:10,740 --> 00:22:11,420
It won't work.

457
00:22:12,260 --> 00:22:13,180
It won't work.

458
00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:19,280
We've got to keep weeping and praying until

459
00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:23,700
we wake up and see what we're missing.

460
00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,480
Why do you think Paul says in Ephesians,

461
00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:31,600
redeem the time?

462
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,220
What does it mean to redeem the time?

463
00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:35,340
Buy it back.

464
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:37,220
The word redeem means to purchase.

465
00:22:37,660 --> 00:22:38,260
Buy it back.

466
00:22:38,740 --> 00:22:40,560
Listen, your time.

467
00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,840
Everyone has been given the same amount of

468
00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:43,180
time.

469
00:22:44,140 --> 00:22:46,500
But you know what we as Christians need

470
00:22:46,500 --> 00:22:46,860
to do?

471
00:22:47,180 --> 00:22:49,420
We need to buy it back and give

472
00:22:49,420 --> 00:22:50,220
it to the Lord.

473
00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,700
We take our time and we use it

474
00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:54,160
for who?

475
00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:55,880
Ourself.

476
00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,840
Listen, brothers and sisters, it's time to take

477
00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:01,880
the pampers off.

478
00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,060
It's time to take the bottle out of

479
00:23:04,060 --> 00:23:04,500
the mouth.

480
00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,320
It's time to grow up.

481
00:23:07,540 --> 00:23:10,380
The house of God is lying in ruin.

482
00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,300
And the answer is not for a charismatic

483
00:23:19,300 --> 00:23:23,020
leader to arise and say, okay now, brothers

484
00:23:23,020 --> 00:23:24,720
and sisters, this is the plan.

485
00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:26,060
This is what we're going to do.

486
00:23:26,340 --> 00:23:27,840
This is how we're going to build the

487
00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,160
church and put a bunch of things together.

488
00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,400
Now, I want some hands here.

489
00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:33,960
Who's going to volunteer to do this and

490
00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:35,640
that and get things moving?

491
00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,500
That's not the answer in the heart of

492
00:23:38,500 --> 00:23:38,920
the Lord.

493
00:23:41,290 --> 00:23:44,630
The answer is for every individual member of

494
00:23:44,630 --> 00:23:46,810
the body of Christ to recognize they are

495
00:23:46,810 --> 00:23:50,430
called with responsibility before God.

496
00:23:50,990 --> 00:23:53,110
You know what a true elder is in

497
00:23:53,110 --> 00:23:54,550
the midst of the body of Christ?

498
00:23:54,890 --> 00:23:57,390
Someone whose heart is broken because the house

499
00:23:57,390 --> 00:23:58,670
of God lies in ruin.

500
00:23:59,390 --> 00:24:02,650
Not somebody who has got a plan and

501
00:24:02,650 --> 00:24:05,050
to try and sell their plan to people.

502
00:24:05,390 --> 00:24:06,870
That's not what an elder is.

503
00:24:06,930 --> 00:24:08,810
Someone who's got an agenda for the body

504
00:24:08,810 --> 00:24:10,610
of Christ, that's not an elder.

505
00:24:10,890 --> 00:24:13,190
Someone who wants your money, that's not an

506
00:24:13,190 --> 00:24:13,510
elder.

507
00:24:13,510 --> 00:24:17,090
An elder is someone who is broken because

508
00:24:17,090 --> 00:24:20,270
they've touched the heart of Christ and they

509
00:24:20,270 --> 00:24:23,150
see the house of God in ruin and

510
00:24:23,150 --> 00:24:25,890
their heart is broken and they pray, Oh

511
00:24:25,890 --> 00:24:29,770
God, Oh God, Oh God, help us together

512
00:24:29,770 --> 00:24:32,950
to lay aside our own desires, our own

513
00:24:32,950 --> 00:24:33,410
ways.

514
00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:35,510
Help us to take the time we do

515
00:24:35,510 --> 00:24:38,270
have and dedicate it to You and begin

516
00:24:38,270 --> 00:24:43,970
to pray and travail so that there's ministry

517
00:24:43,970 --> 00:24:45,470
within the body.

518
00:24:46,190 --> 00:24:48,310
It becomes a priority.

519
00:24:49,150 --> 00:24:50,550
A priority.

520
00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:54,230
Listen, there's great lack in our life because

521
00:24:54,230 --> 00:24:56,190
we never receive from anyone.

522
00:24:57,390 --> 00:24:59,170
We're islands to ourselves.

523
00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:08,880
See?

524
00:25:09,420 --> 00:25:10,820
We're islands to ourselves.

525
00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:13,700
Every home should be a church.

526
00:25:14,540 --> 00:25:19,080
Every home should be experiencing body life.

527
00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:19,900
Every home.

528
00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,660
You don't have to have hundreds of people

529
00:25:22,660 --> 00:25:23,100
over.

530
00:25:24,820 --> 00:25:25,840
Just a few.

531
00:25:29,250 --> 00:25:31,170
But you remember months and months ago there's

532
00:25:31,170 --> 00:25:32,650
three words that come with this.

533
00:25:32,910 --> 00:25:34,290
People are afraid of these words.

534
00:25:35,450 --> 00:25:39,390
Accountability, transparency, and vulnerability.

535
00:25:41,050 --> 00:25:42,970
See, that's what happens when you say yes

536
00:25:42,970 --> 00:25:44,190
to the call of the Spirit.

537
00:25:45,910 --> 00:25:47,950
Suddenly you become accountable to God.

538
00:25:49,010 --> 00:25:52,370
Suddenly you become accountable to your brothers and

539
00:25:52,370 --> 00:25:52,810
sisters.

540
00:25:55,820 --> 00:25:57,640
Because if you know the Lord wants you

541
00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,600
to gather on Tuesday and you have a

542
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,080
bad attitude, what are you going to do?

543
00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,540
Say you had a fight with your wife.

544
00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,240
But you know the brothers want to get

545
00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:09,280
together on Tuesday.

546
00:26:09,660 --> 00:26:10,660
What are you going to do?

547
00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:13,640
Get in your car and take off?

548
00:26:16,570 --> 00:26:18,070
That's why the house of God is in

549
00:26:18,070 --> 00:26:18,350
ruin.

550
00:26:20,610 --> 00:26:21,630
Don't have time.

551
00:26:23,630 --> 00:26:24,030
See?

552
00:26:25,170 --> 00:26:25,570
Vulnerability.

553
00:26:25,690 --> 00:26:26,970
We have to become vulnerable.

554
00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:31,720
And transparent.

555
00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:33,040
We have to be transparent.

556
00:26:34,460 --> 00:26:37,060
These are the qualities necessary in our heart

557
00:26:37,060 --> 00:26:38,620
in order for the house of God to

558
00:26:38,620 --> 00:26:39,020
be built.

559
00:26:39,260 --> 00:26:40,680
What does it mean for the house of

560
00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:41,400
God to be built?

561
00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:43,280
Does it mean that numbers are added?

562
00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:43,720
No.

563
00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:45,740
No, it's not that at all.

564
00:26:45,740 --> 00:26:47,100
It's not numerical.

565
00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:50,480
The house of God is built as Christ

566
00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,300
increases in our lives.

567
00:26:53,060 --> 00:26:56,480
As the virtues and perfections of Jesus Christ

568
00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,140
are more and more evident in our life

569
00:26:59,140 --> 00:27:01,080
individually and as we come together.

570
00:27:02,060 --> 00:27:04,520
That's the building of the house of God.

571
00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,680
The building of the house of God.

572
00:27:07,340 --> 00:27:08,420
Till we all what?

573
00:27:08,740 --> 00:27:10,340
Ephesians 4, till we all what?

574
00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,920
Come to the unity of faith, to the

575
00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:15,600
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a

576
00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,760
perfect man, a spiritual man.

577
00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:21,540
Until we all come together to the place

578
00:27:21,540 --> 00:27:26,160
where the full manhood of Jesus Christ is

579
00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,440
being seen corporately through the body of Christ.

580
00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:32,440
That's not going to happen through magic.

581
00:27:33,260 --> 00:27:35,620
That's not going to just happen through osmosis.

582
00:27:35,860 --> 00:27:37,860
Nor is it going to happen through charismatic

583
00:27:37,860 --> 00:27:42,380
leaders taking captive groups of people and laying

584
00:27:42,380 --> 00:27:44,080
out an agenda for their life.

585
00:27:46,250 --> 00:27:47,630
And building kingdoms.

586
00:27:47,830 --> 00:27:49,290
That's not how it's going to happen.

587
00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,620
It's going to happen when all the stones

588
00:27:54,620 --> 00:27:57,980
in the body realize their responsibility before God

589
00:27:57,980 --> 00:27:59,060
and their calling.

590
00:28:01,980 --> 00:28:03,720
And hear the call of God to take

591
00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:05,500
up the cross and die to self.

592
00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:09,100
And die to living lives like the world.

593
00:28:09,580 --> 00:28:11,540
And being in love with Jesus and full

594
00:28:11,540 --> 00:28:12,480
of the Holy Ghost.

595
00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:14,740
And just pouring our lives out one for

596
00:28:14,740 --> 00:28:15,140
another.

597
00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:18,660
And the house of God is going to

598
00:28:18,660 --> 00:28:19,480
be built then.

599
00:28:20,500 --> 00:28:21,840
And true ministry.

600
00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:22,600
Ministry.

601
00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,500
The ministry called in the church to minister

602
00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:27,520
to the church.

603
00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:29,060
True ministry.

604
00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:35,620
The ministry that builds up the church.

605
00:28:37,300 --> 00:28:39,100
The apostolic ministry.

606
00:28:39,220 --> 00:28:40,260
The prophetic ministry.

607
00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:41,760
The pastor-teacher ministry.

608
00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,860
True ministry.

609
00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:46,940
Will never take captive the people of God.

610
00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:49,720
They will never set an agenda for the

611
00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:50,580
people of God.

612
00:28:50,980 --> 00:28:53,020
But they will do nothing but what the

613
00:28:53,020 --> 00:28:53,800
servant did.

614
00:28:54,380 --> 00:28:57,600
Who was sent, Eliezer, from Abraham to find

615
00:28:57,600 --> 00:28:57,920
Rebekah.

616
00:28:57,960 --> 00:28:58,580
What did he do?

617
00:28:58,620 --> 00:29:01,260
He spoke of nothing but Abraham.

618
00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,740
And what did he give Rebekah?

619
00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:05,140
Did he sit down with Rebekah and have

620
00:29:05,140 --> 00:29:06,780
a little private conversation with her?

621
00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:08,280
Hey, I want you to get to know

622
00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:08,500
me.

623
00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:09,820
I'm really a nice guy.

624
00:29:09,820 --> 00:29:13,240
Hey, Rebekah, you've got beautiful eyes.

625
00:29:13,420 --> 00:29:15,920
He didn't want himself to be seen or

626
00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:16,200
heard.

627
00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:18,120
All he did was give them the treasures

628
00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:19,120
that belonged to who?

629
00:29:21,140 --> 00:29:22,840
His master, Norman.

630
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,400
And a true ministry raised up by God

631
00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,720
will give God's people nothing but the treasure

632
00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:32,540
of Christ.

633
00:29:34,010 --> 00:29:34,760
Plus nothing.

634
00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:38,200
They will not build a kingdom for themselves.

635
00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:48,440
They won't seek to create a codependent relationship.

636
00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:53,480
They will hide behind the cross and faithfully

637
00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:55,820
minister the Word of God and tell the

638
00:29:55,820 --> 00:29:56,240
truth.

639
00:29:57,780 --> 00:30:03,200
And the effects will be God's people will

640
00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:05,220
become hungry for more of Jesus.

641
00:30:06,060 --> 00:30:07,460
Hungry for God's Word.

642
00:30:16,860 --> 00:30:18,340
That's the detour.

643
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:20,520
Now let's get back on.

644
00:30:23,780 --> 00:30:25,500
He's at a Pharisee's house.

645
00:30:26,740 --> 00:30:28,680
And behold, there was a certain man before

646
00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,020
him which had dropsy.

647
00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:31,920
He was paralyzed.

648
00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:33,300
He was a paralytic.

649
00:30:34,340 --> 00:30:37,380
And Jesus answering spoke unto the lawyers and

650
00:30:37,380 --> 00:30:39,820
the Pharisees saying, Is it lawful to heal

651
00:30:39,820 --> 00:30:40,840
on the Sabbath day?

652
00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:43,260
And they held their peace.

653
00:30:44,220 --> 00:30:45,920
And He took him and healed him and

654
00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:46,500
let him go.

655
00:30:46,860 --> 00:30:47,700
Listen carefully.

656
00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,920
And answering them saying, Which of you shall

657
00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:55,700
have a donkey or an ox fallen into

658
00:30:55,700 --> 00:30:58,080
a pit and will not straightway pull him

659
00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,280
out on the Sabbath day?

660
00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,180
And they could not answer him again to

661
00:31:03,180 --> 00:31:03,820
these things.

662
00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:06,940
Now listen, Jesus is starting to address heart

663
00:31:06,940 --> 00:31:07,380
issues.

664
00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:09,120
He's eating bread.

665
00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,440
And now what He's doing is He's teaching

666
00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:16,340
them He's teaching them the requirements the heart

667
00:31:16,340 --> 00:31:19,060
requirements necessary if we're to sit at the

668
00:31:19,060 --> 00:31:20,500
banqueting table of the Lord.

669
00:31:20,860 --> 00:31:22,160
Now examine yourself.

670
00:31:22,380 --> 00:31:23,980
Examine yourself now.

671
00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:25,720
Say, Lord, help me.

672
00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,560
Because listen, brothers and sisters, you can get

673
00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:31,260
an invitation to this banqueting table and we've

674
00:31:31,260 --> 00:31:33,320
already learned what the banqueting table is.

675
00:31:33,420 --> 00:31:37,020
It's feasting on Jesus and His Word.

676
00:31:37,660 --> 00:31:39,480
It's being radical for Him.

677
00:31:40,020 --> 00:31:41,260
Not lukewarm.

678
00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,320
Not a casual Christian.

679
00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:44,760
But radical.

680
00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:47,220
A passionate lover for Christ.

681
00:31:50,810 --> 00:31:53,130
First thing He deals with is the spirit

682
00:31:53,130 --> 00:31:55,790
of Phariseeism and religion.

683
00:31:57,510 --> 00:31:59,110
Phariseeism and religion.

684
00:32:01,910 --> 00:32:06,090
Phariseeism and religion has to do with creating

685
00:32:06,090 --> 00:32:11,070
rules and regulations that give the appearance that

686
00:32:11,070 --> 00:32:13,210
one is holy or that one is close

687
00:32:13,210 --> 00:32:13,770
to God.

688
00:32:13,970 --> 00:32:16,730
But they are void of a true relationship

689
00:32:16,730 --> 00:32:17,390
with God.

690
00:32:18,270 --> 00:32:21,050
And they are contrary to the Word of

691
00:32:21,050 --> 00:32:21,350
God.

692
00:32:21,770 --> 00:32:23,050
I'll say that again.

693
00:32:24,590 --> 00:32:27,110
If you're going to come to the banqueting

694
00:32:27,110 --> 00:32:30,030
table and feast on the Word of God

695
00:32:30,030 --> 00:32:32,690
and feast in the presence of Jesus Christ

696
00:32:33,070 --> 00:32:36,810
and enjoy the love feasts that we ought

697
00:32:36,810 --> 00:32:38,750
to be enjoying one with another on a

698
00:32:38,750 --> 00:32:43,030
daily basis, the spirit of religion and Phariseeism

699
00:32:43,030 --> 00:32:45,530
must be uprooted out of our life.

700
00:32:48,890 --> 00:32:53,650
Following rules and regulations that give you the

701
00:32:53,650 --> 00:32:56,470
appearance of being a holy spiritual person.

702
00:32:58,670 --> 00:33:02,650
Any root of that is an enemy to

703
00:33:02,650 --> 00:33:07,170
God and makes you unable to feast at

704
00:33:07,170 --> 00:33:08,870
the banqueting table of the Lord.

705
00:33:09,210 --> 00:33:11,670
The Lord doesn't entertain Pharisees.

706
00:33:12,350 --> 00:33:15,250
The Lord's table has nothing for a Pharisaic

707
00:33:15,250 --> 00:33:16,430
religious spirit.

708
00:33:18,150 --> 00:33:20,070
What do you do to try to impress

709
00:33:20,070 --> 00:33:20,870
your friends?

710
00:33:21,430 --> 00:33:22,890
What do you do to try to impress

711
00:33:22,890 --> 00:33:25,230
yourself, your husband, your wife, your children?

712
00:33:26,050 --> 00:33:27,410
What goes on?

713
00:33:28,270 --> 00:33:30,330
What kind of rules and regulations are you

714
00:33:30,330 --> 00:33:36,110
following as substitutes for a passionate relationship with

715
00:33:36,110 --> 00:33:36,970
Jesus Christ?

716
00:33:39,030 --> 00:33:40,750
They're going to have to be put aside.

717
00:33:42,450 --> 00:33:45,490
Because they will keep you from hearing the

718
00:33:45,490 --> 00:33:46,210
Word of the Lord.

719
00:33:46,210 --> 00:33:49,730
They'll keep you from fellowship and communion with

720
00:33:49,730 --> 00:33:50,990
the Lord Jesus Christ.

721
00:33:55,530 --> 00:33:57,690
Next, verse number 7.

722
00:33:58,430 --> 00:34:00,270
And he put forth a parable to those

723
00:34:00,270 --> 00:34:01,010
which were bidden.

724
00:34:01,810 --> 00:34:03,070
See what he's doing here?

725
00:34:05,590 --> 00:34:07,570
He's speaking parables now.

726
00:34:07,810 --> 00:34:14,050
Listen, a parable is an earthly story communicating

727
00:34:14,050 --> 00:34:15,130
heavenly truth.

728
00:34:15,889 --> 00:34:17,030
Say that again.

729
00:34:17,409 --> 00:34:20,630
A parable is an earthly story which communicates

730
00:34:20,630 --> 00:34:21,489
heavenly truth.

731
00:34:22,350 --> 00:34:24,270
Jesus is a master teacher, isn't He?

732
00:34:26,530 --> 00:34:28,010
Now here's the second issue.

733
00:34:28,810 --> 00:34:30,750
The first is the heart of a Pharisee

734
00:34:30,750 --> 00:34:34,989
has to be taken out of us.

735
00:34:35,670 --> 00:34:41,030
Secondly, He created a parable here when He

736
00:34:41,030 --> 00:34:44,409
marked how they chose out the chief rooms,

737
00:34:45,389 --> 00:34:49,290
saying unto them, When you are bidden to

738
00:34:49,290 --> 00:34:52,670
a wedding, sit not down in the highest

739
00:34:52,670 --> 00:34:56,190
room, lest a more honorable man than you

740
00:34:56,190 --> 00:34:57,030
be bidden.

741
00:34:58,830 --> 00:35:02,970
And he that bade thee and him come

742
00:35:02,970 --> 00:35:05,550
and say to you, Give this man place.

743
00:35:05,550 --> 00:35:08,930
And you begin with shame to take the

744
00:35:08,930 --> 00:35:09,910
lowest room.

745
00:35:11,370 --> 00:35:13,650
But when you are bidden, go and sit

746
00:35:13,650 --> 00:35:15,170
down in the lowest room.

747
00:35:16,070 --> 00:35:17,730
Does this sound like Rebecca?

748
00:35:18,650 --> 00:35:21,090
Does this sound like Rebecca in the story

749
00:35:21,090 --> 00:35:22,170
that Colette was sharing?

750
00:35:23,110 --> 00:35:25,410
When Eleazar came and asked for a drink

751
00:35:25,410 --> 00:35:26,670
of water, what did she say?

752
00:35:27,070 --> 00:35:30,210
Oh sir, I not only will give you

753
00:35:30,210 --> 00:35:31,970
water, but I'll water your camels.

754
00:35:32,170 --> 00:35:33,650
I'll take the lower seat.

755
00:35:33,650 --> 00:35:35,290
I'll serve you.

756
00:35:36,390 --> 00:35:39,990
Brothers and sisters, Jesus here is emphatically speaking

757
00:35:39,990 --> 00:35:40,550
to us.

758
00:35:40,890 --> 00:35:42,510
And I pray that we have ears to

759
00:35:42,510 --> 00:35:44,250
hear what the Holy Spirit is saying.

760
00:35:44,630 --> 00:35:47,450
There will be none who will sit at

761
00:35:47,450 --> 00:35:50,250
the banqueting table of Christ and feast on

762
00:35:50,250 --> 00:35:52,830
His Word and feast in His presence or

763
00:35:52,830 --> 00:35:55,430
feast at love feasts and know the joy

764
00:35:55,430 --> 00:35:57,830
of being able to gather with other believers

765
00:35:57,830 --> 00:36:00,590
and have the Lord move and have hearts

766
00:36:00,590 --> 00:36:02,910
burn because the Lord is revealing Himself.

767
00:36:03,630 --> 00:36:05,930
There will be none who will sit at

768
00:36:05,930 --> 00:36:11,070
His table who have any hint of wanting

769
00:36:11,070 --> 00:36:12,390
a higher place.

770
00:36:17,110 --> 00:36:24,070
Any hint of wanting a higher place than

771
00:36:24,070 --> 00:36:26,750
your brother or your sister.

772
00:36:27,650 --> 00:36:33,010
Any hint of feeling that you're deserving of

773
00:36:33,010 --> 00:36:36,610
something better than, something greater than a mere

774
00:36:36,610 --> 00:36:37,110
servant.

775
00:36:37,710 --> 00:36:42,330
Every husband here needs to realize that he

776
00:36:42,330 --> 00:36:43,170
is a servant.

777
00:36:43,430 --> 00:36:45,450
Every wife here is a servant.

778
00:36:45,730 --> 00:36:47,970
Every teenager here is a servant.

779
00:36:48,270 --> 00:36:49,990
We are called to be servants.

780
00:36:52,070 --> 00:36:54,550
And Jesus had taken note, listen, He had

781
00:36:54,550 --> 00:36:57,230
taken note how those who were invited to

782
00:36:57,230 --> 00:36:59,450
the banquet were looking for what?

783
00:36:59,450 --> 00:37:01,010
Places of importance.

784
00:37:02,270 --> 00:37:05,070
Do you know why we get angry in

785
00:37:05,070 --> 00:37:06,010
our real lives?

786
00:37:06,530 --> 00:37:08,190
Come on, let's come back down where we

787
00:37:08,190 --> 00:37:08,450
live.

788
00:37:08,550 --> 00:37:10,430
Do you know why we get angry at

789
00:37:10,430 --> 00:37:10,810
things?

790
00:37:11,010 --> 00:37:14,090
Because the root of it is we feel

791
00:37:14,090 --> 00:37:17,030
that we don't deserve what is happening.

792
00:37:18,170 --> 00:37:20,850
The root of that is we're better than

793
00:37:20,850 --> 00:37:21,270
this.

794
00:37:22,310 --> 00:37:26,110
But servants aren't deserving of any rights.

795
00:37:30,110 --> 00:37:32,370
This is where marriage problems come.

796
00:37:33,330 --> 00:37:35,150
All the couples that I've ever talked to

797
00:37:35,150 --> 00:37:39,030
over the years, and there's been quite many

798
00:37:39,030 --> 00:37:44,710
of them, the root cause of all the

799
00:37:44,710 --> 00:37:54,320
conflicts that have been communicated, sometimes resulting in

800
00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:59,060
divorce, sometimes resulting in people living together because

801
00:37:59,060 --> 00:38:01,720
they just can't accept the fact that divorce

802
00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:02,840
is an alternative.

803
00:38:03,140 --> 00:38:05,040
But they live together, but they're really not

804
00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:05,460
together.

805
00:38:05,860 --> 00:38:08,720
They just accept mutual existence one with another.

806
00:38:09,060 --> 00:38:11,440
One does his thing, she does her thing,

807
00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:13,420
and they try and avoid each other as

808
00:38:13,420 --> 00:38:14,260
much as possible.

809
00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:16,520
Some marriages are in that condition.

810
00:38:17,340 --> 00:38:18,280
Christian marriages.

811
00:38:21,020 --> 00:38:21,920
There's no healing.

812
00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:24,760
There's no unity of spirit.

813
00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:26,700
There's no passionate love.

814
00:38:26,700 --> 00:38:30,640
And people say, why, why, why?

815
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:35,340
The root cause of this is because somebody

816
00:38:35,340 --> 00:38:37,960
is in that marriage looking for a higher

817
00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:38,640
place.

818
00:38:39,860 --> 00:38:42,300
Someone is looking for a higher place.

819
00:38:42,780 --> 00:38:47,080
Someone doesn't feel they deserve to be low.

820
00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:49,980
Someone feels they don't deserve.

821
00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:53,320
And that becomes a stumbling block.

822
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,580
When we feel that we deserve something better,

823
00:39:00,210 --> 00:39:04,070
we get into conflict because we're asserting rights

824
00:39:04,070 --> 00:39:04,390
then.

825
00:39:05,170 --> 00:39:05,890
Rights.

826
00:39:06,610 --> 00:39:09,210
And this is inherent within the human heart.

827
00:39:09,610 --> 00:39:12,030
Without the grace of God, we get all

828
00:39:12,030 --> 00:39:13,050
mad, don't we?

829
00:39:13,230 --> 00:39:14,410
We get furious.

830
00:39:15,030 --> 00:39:18,510
We can let loose the moment we begin

831
00:39:18,510 --> 00:39:22,230
to see ourselves as something better than a

832
00:39:22,230 --> 00:39:22,490
servant.

833
00:39:24,150 --> 00:39:25,550
Is anybody hearing?

834
00:39:30,930 --> 00:39:32,710
You want to sit at the banqueting table

835
00:39:32,710 --> 00:39:35,310
and feast on the Lord Jesus Christ?

836
00:39:35,750 --> 00:39:36,930
Do you want to know what it is

837
00:39:36,930 --> 00:39:39,730
to have meaningful fellowship with other believers?

838
00:39:40,110 --> 00:39:42,130
Know what it is to come together and

839
00:39:42,130 --> 00:39:43,170
enjoy a love feast?

840
00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:46,090
Know what it is to begin to experience

841
00:39:46,090 --> 00:39:48,890
the input of other believers in your life?

842
00:39:50,630 --> 00:39:53,490
Pray God deliver you from a Pharisee spirit.

843
00:39:53,490 --> 00:39:56,570
Number two, pray that God deliver you from

844
00:39:56,570 --> 00:39:59,110
pride, wanting to exalt yourself.

845
00:40:00,690 --> 00:40:05,070
Listen, the fear of being vulnerable, transparent, or

846
00:40:05,070 --> 00:40:06,690
accountable is rooted in what?

847
00:40:07,410 --> 00:40:07,930
Pride.

848
00:40:08,590 --> 00:40:10,330
I don't want pride to see the way

849
00:40:10,330 --> 00:40:11,150
I really am.

850
00:40:11,790 --> 00:40:14,150
Oh, so what I'm basically saying is I

851
00:40:14,150 --> 00:40:15,030
want to wear a mask.

852
00:40:15,270 --> 00:40:16,330
I want to be a hypocrite.

853
00:40:16,950 --> 00:40:18,130
Is that what a hypocrite is?

854
00:40:18,390 --> 00:40:19,230
An actor.

855
00:40:20,750 --> 00:40:22,030
What's the root of that?

856
00:40:22,030 --> 00:40:22,550
Pride.

857
00:40:22,870 --> 00:40:25,190
I want to be something better than I

858
00:40:25,190 --> 00:40:25,830
really am.

859
00:40:26,150 --> 00:40:28,470
See, what I really am is a horrible

860
00:40:28,470 --> 00:40:30,290
sinner apart from the grace of God.

861
00:40:30,930 --> 00:40:33,290
And if I am a good man and

862
00:40:33,290 --> 00:40:35,370
I am able to love my wife and

863
00:40:35,370 --> 00:40:37,070
I am able to serve my brothers and

864
00:40:37,070 --> 00:40:40,190
sisters, and it's above reproach, it's only because

865
00:40:40,190 --> 00:40:41,990
the Lord's got a place in my life.

866
00:40:42,230 --> 00:40:42,870
It's the Lord.

867
00:40:43,270 --> 00:40:45,190
But if I step out from that place

868
00:40:45,190 --> 00:40:48,310
of abiding and get cocky and haughty and

869
00:40:48,310 --> 00:40:50,250
think for some reason now I've got it

870
00:40:50,250 --> 00:40:53,250
together, watch out, watch out, I'm going to

871
00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:55,610
fall as fast as I would if I

872
00:40:55,610 --> 00:40:56,610
jumped off a building.

873
00:40:58,110 --> 00:40:58,750
See?

874
00:40:59,470 --> 00:41:01,230
So that's who I really am.

875
00:41:02,370 --> 00:41:05,730
Are you trying to portray anything differently to

876
00:41:05,730 --> 00:41:06,770
your brothers and sisters?

877
00:41:09,490 --> 00:41:12,310
If so, I smell a Pharisee.

878
00:41:13,210 --> 00:41:15,130
And Pharisees can't go to the table.

879
00:41:16,350 --> 00:41:17,470
But you know what?

880
00:41:17,610 --> 00:41:19,350
Pharisees have a really good religion.

881
00:41:20,010 --> 00:41:20,470
Don't they?

882
00:41:21,510 --> 00:41:24,010
Pharisees can put together a religion, Norman, and

883
00:41:24,010 --> 00:41:24,790
it looks good.

884
00:41:25,110 --> 00:41:26,130
But you know what it is?

885
00:41:26,290 --> 00:41:27,910
An abomination to God.

886
00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:34,680
Okay.

887
00:41:39,230 --> 00:41:39,910
Verse 10.

888
00:41:40,370 --> 00:41:42,190
But when you are bidden, go and sit

889
00:41:42,190 --> 00:41:43,350
down in the lowest room.

890
00:41:43,790 --> 00:41:44,750
Take what?

891
00:41:45,030 --> 00:41:46,330
Take the place of a servant.

892
00:41:48,980 --> 00:41:49,820
Now listen.

893
00:41:50,100 --> 00:41:52,960
What is it that is the true test

894
00:41:52,960 --> 00:41:54,180
to reveal what's in our heart?

895
00:41:56,380 --> 00:41:56,900
Life.

896
00:41:58,120 --> 00:41:59,140
What we're going through.

897
00:41:59,140 --> 00:42:00,840
Just like Colette was saying.

898
00:42:03,940 --> 00:42:06,140
It's not what you look like when you

899
00:42:06,140 --> 00:42:06,600
come here.

900
00:42:07,060 --> 00:42:08,680
Everyone's got on their best smile.

901
00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:13,060
It's just the nature of a public gathering.

902
00:42:16,140 --> 00:42:17,640
You know, I might be walking out the

903
00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:18,600
door and Alan's walking.

904
00:42:18,700 --> 00:42:19,480
I say, go ahead, brother.

905
00:42:19,980 --> 00:42:21,460
Oh, that looks so good, doesn't it?

906
00:42:22,060 --> 00:42:23,260
What am I doing at home?

907
00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:27,120
Get out of my seat.

908
00:42:28,620 --> 00:42:29,860
That's where I sit.

909
00:42:31,220 --> 00:42:32,480
Get away from me.

910
00:42:32,940 --> 00:42:34,040
So what about...

911
00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:34,960
Oh, Alan, go ahead, brother.

912
00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:35,500
What's that?

913
00:42:38,020 --> 00:42:38,980
That's what it is.

914
00:42:39,100 --> 00:42:39,600
It's phony.

915
00:42:39,820 --> 00:42:40,360
It's being a phony.

916
00:42:40,940 --> 00:42:42,760
Not that I couldn't be gracious to Alan.

917
00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:45,200
But what it is, is I've let the

918
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:45,760
Lord...

919
00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,160
See, this is something that I remember preaching

920
00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:50,280
on years and years ago.

921
00:42:50,500 --> 00:42:51,380
Selective crosses.

922
00:42:52,060 --> 00:42:52,640
Remember that?

923
00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:55,080
That brought a lot of trouble in our

924
00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:55,420
life.

925
00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:57,100
That word from the Lord.

926
00:42:57,380 --> 00:42:58,240
Selective crosses.

927
00:42:59,180 --> 00:43:00,960
We choose where we're going to let the

928
00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:02,500
Lord establish His reign.

929
00:43:02,740 --> 00:43:03,760
Certain areas of our life.

930
00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:05,480
Then other areas of our life, the Lord

931
00:43:05,480 --> 00:43:06,320
doesn't have any part.

932
00:43:06,820 --> 00:43:07,440
We select.

933
00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:10,520
Everybody wants the Lord to reign when they're

934
00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:10,980
in public.

935
00:43:11,160 --> 00:43:12,440
So they learn how to put on their

936
00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:13,180
good smile.

937
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,020
They're gracious to their wife in public.

938
00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:18,080
Oh, come on, sweetheart.

939
00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:18,980
Then we're home.

940
00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:20,360
What are you doing?

941
00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:21,880
Get out of my face, you!

942
00:43:25,050 --> 00:43:27,250
Usually it's the home where the Lord is

943
00:43:27,250 --> 00:43:27,890
least welcome.

944
00:43:29,630 --> 00:43:30,530
And you know why?

945
00:43:31,090 --> 00:43:32,570
Because we bought into the lie.

946
00:43:33,530 --> 00:43:34,950
Just like the Gentiles.

947
00:43:35,230 --> 00:43:37,110
What is the home to the Gentile?

948
00:43:37,790 --> 00:43:39,510
It's the place where they set up their

949
00:43:39,510 --> 00:43:42,030
shrine, worship their gods, and they sit as

950
00:43:42,030 --> 00:43:42,310
king.

951
00:43:42,770 --> 00:43:44,870
But what should the home of the believer

952
00:43:44,870 --> 00:43:45,210
be?

953
00:43:47,150 --> 00:43:48,110
The church!

954
00:43:48,270 --> 00:43:49,030
Thank you, brother!

955
00:43:49,990 --> 00:43:51,250
It should be the church!

956
00:43:51,510 --> 00:43:53,110
And who reigns in the church?

957
00:43:54,950 --> 00:43:56,110
Who said Christ?

958
00:43:56,530 --> 00:43:57,690
That's the right answer.

959
00:43:59,190 --> 00:43:59,890
That's it.

960
00:44:00,050 --> 00:44:00,190
See?

961
00:44:00,510 --> 00:44:02,210
But you see how much we're like the

962
00:44:02,210 --> 00:44:02,950
Gentiles.

963
00:44:03,770 --> 00:44:04,810
It's my home.

964
00:44:04,970 --> 00:44:05,930
I do my thing.

965
00:44:10,260 --> 00:44:12,060
And that's why there's great lack.

966
00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:14,620
Let me tell you, you'll never become the

967
00:44:14,620 --> 00:44:16,520
person God wants you to be all by

968
00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:17,800
your little lonesome self.

969
00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:21,180
There's a place to seek the Lord.

970
00:44:21,540 --> 00:44:24,140
There's a place to pray and set yourself

971
00:44:24,140 --> 00:44:25,940
aside and hear God for yourself.

972
00:44:26,380 --> 00:44:28,700
But the other side of the coin is

973
00:44:28,700 --> 00:44:31,140
you need the input of the church in

974
00:44:31,140 --> 00:44:31,640
your life.

975
00:44:33,560 --> 00:44:36,020
Part of that is a gathering like this

976
00:44:36,020 --> 00:44:37,800
where the Word of the Lord is preached

977
00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:38,420
and taught.

978
00:44:39,100 --> 00:44:43,020
This is an equipping time and it's essential

979
00:44:43,020 --> 00:44:43,820
for the church.

980
00:44:44,260 --> 00:44:46,440
But this is not all of it.

981
00:44:47,780 --> 00:44:54,020
Equally, equally, equally we need the input of

982
00:44:54,020 --> 00:44:56,660
our brothers and sisters on a daily basis.

983
00:44:59,460 --> 00:45:03,160
And those who have set their homes up

984
00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:07,920
as their castle very seldomly have the grace

985
00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:11,540
in their life that comes when people become

986
00:45:11,540 --> 00:45:13,640
vulnerable and transparent to other believers.

987
00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:15,360
You could tell the difference.

988
00:45:16,860 --> 00:45:18,640
Oh, they might hear God from time to

989
00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:18,980
time.

990
00:45:19,380 --> 00:45:20,100
Lone rangers.

991
00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:24,680
They might have a degree of being spiritual

992
00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:27,580
but there's a lack of grace in their

993
00:45:27,580 --> 00:45:27,960
life.

994
00:45:27,960 --> 00:45:31,820
It's a grace that can only come when

995
00:45:31,820 --> 00:45:34,620
we open our homes and our hearts and

996
00:45:34,620 --> 00:45:37,720
we go home and we cast out the

997
00:45:37,720 --> 00:45:38,080
devil.

998
00:45:38,900 --> 00:45:40,880
We cast out the kingdom mentality.

999
00:45:40,960 --> 00:45:41,960
This is my house.

1000
00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:43,200
Bless God.

1001
00:45:43,260 --> 00:45:44,640
I do what I want in my house.

1002
00:45:46,980 --> 00:45:49,720
We teach our kids that horrible lie.

1003
00:45:50,620 --> 00:45:52,680
And then we wonder why from generation to

1004
00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:55,440
generation the lie of religion is passed down.

1005
00:45:55,500 --> 00:45:56,200
We wonder why.

1006
00:45:56,540 --> 00:45:58,300
Because we pass it down to our kids.

1007
00:46:01,050 --> 00:46:02,890
We wonder how many people want to buy

1008
00:46:02,890 --> 00:46:04,470
a home with the motive.

1009
00:46:04,970 --> 00:46:05,610
With the motive.

1010
00:46:06,590 --> 00:46:07,470
Oh, God.

1011
00:46:08,630 --> 00:46:10,790
That I might have a place where believers

1012
00:46:10,790 --> 00:46:13,170
can come and I can lay my life

1013
00:46:13,170 --> 00:46:13,550
down.

1014
00:46:14,470 --> 00:46:16,490
Or, we start out that way.

1015
00:46:17,090 --> 00:46:18,790
That's our motive to begin with and then

1016
00:46:18,790 --> 00:46:20,330
six months later, what happens?

1017
00:46:21,190 --> 00:46:21,950
It's gone.

1018
00:46:34,550 --> 00:46:36,110
Everything is different than what you planned.

1019
00:46:37,670 --> 00:46:40,230
You know, that's the scenario oftentimes with the

1020
00:46:40,230 --> 00:46:42,470
desire for home businesses.

1021
00:46:47,100 --> 00:46:48,980
I've talked to people over the years.

1022
00:46:49,600 --> 00:46:51,500
Oh, I can't stand going to work.

1023
00:46:51,560 --> 00:46:52,960
I don't have any time for the Lord.

1024
00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:55,140
Or I don't have any time for the

1025
00:46:55,140 --> 00:46:55,540
church.

1026
00:46:55,860 --> 00:46:57,400
If I can only work at home.

1027
00:47:00,060 --> 00:47:01,860
And they pray, oh God, oh God.

1028
00:47:02,080 --> 00:47:03,460
And the Lord gives them the desire.

1029
00:47:03,540 --> 00:47:04,240
And then what happens?

1030
00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:08,200
No time.

1031
00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:11,980
Less.

1032
00:47:15,600 --> 00:47:16,080
What's that?

1033
00:47:18,360 --> 00:47:19,720
They brought the work home.

1034
00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:21,280
That's the last thing you want to do,

1035
00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:21,500
right?

1036
00:47:21,960 --> 00:47:22,340
No, wait.

1037
00:47:22,420 --> 00:47:22,980
Can you hear this?

1038
00:47:23,260 --> 00:47:25,300
Do you understand the spirit of this?

1039
00:47:26,240 --> 00:47:27,240
This isn't law.

1040
00:47:28,860 --> 00:47:31,440
This isn't condemnation.

1041
00:47:31,620 --> 00:47:32,360
This is life.

1042
00:47:33,140 --> 00:47:33,520
Do you see?

1043
00:47:33,940 --> 00:47:35,020
Do you see what happens here?

1044
00:47:35,600 --> 00:47:36,840
See why we have to be careful?

1045
00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:40,680
Some of us here, some of us here

1046
00:47:41,540 --> 00:47:42,800
have wanted something.

1047
00:47:43,480 --> 00:47:44,780
And the Lord has given it to us.

1048
00:47:44,780 --> 00:47:48,520
And our original desire for it was commendable

1049
00:47:48,520 --> 00:47:49,380
in the eyes of the Lord.

1050
00:47:49,460 --> 00:47:50,580
But we've let it slip.

1051
00:47:51,360 --> 00:47:52,480
We've let it slip.

1052
00:47:55,720 --> 00:47:56,200
See?

1053
00:47:56,980 --> 00:47:58,300
So we have to be careful.

1054
00:47:58,460 --> 00:48:00,860
We have to guard against these things.

1055
00:48:03,680 --> 00:48:04,980
Okay, let's move on.

1056
00:48:06,060 --> 00:48:07,700
I hope we're hearing the Holy Spirit.

1057
00:48:08,420 --> 00:48:10,900
Very clear, very clear word from the Lord

1058
00:48:10,900 --> 00:48:12,480
these past several weeks.

1059
00:48:12,600 --> 00:48:13,980
The Lord is after us.

1060
00:48:14,540 --> 00:48:16,520
Number one, Phariseeism.

1061
00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:18,280
Relationship.

1062
00:48:18,860 --> 00:48:20,500
Religion without relationship.

1063
00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:21,680
Outward holiness.

1064
00:48:22,740 --> 00:48:23,800
God's against it.

1065
00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:25,800
And you'll not sit at His banqueting table.

1066
00:48:26,060 --> 00:48:27,860
This book will be a dead book to

1067
00:48:27,860 --> 00:48:29,400
you if you've got a heart of a

1068
00:48:29,400 --> 00:48:29,780
Pharisee.

1069
00:48:29,840 --> 00:48:33,860
Number two, the heart of an arrogant man

1070
00:48:33,860 --> 00:48:36,140
wanting to be something better than just a

1071
00:48:36,140 --> 00:48:36,780
mere servant.

1072
00:48:37,420 --> 00:48:39,180
You'll never sit at the table of the

1073
00:48:39,180 --> 00:48:40,440
Lord and feast from His Word.

1074
00:48:40,660 --> 00:48:42,240
You'll never enjoy real fellowship.

1075
00:48:43,040 --> 00:48:44,180
Alright, next.

1076
00:48:46,740 --> 00:48:49,560
Now, let's finish this off.

1077
00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:50,120
Verse 11.

1078
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:51,880
Whoever exalts himself...

1079
00:48:51,880 --> 00:48:54,240
That word exalt is in the present tense.

1080
00:48:54,680 --> 00:48:56,460
That is, whoever keeps exalting himself.

1081
00:48:56,820 --> 00:48:59,640
Whoever lives a life demanding that they are

1082
00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:05,520
something better than a servant, you're going to

1083
00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:05,960
be humbled.

1084
00:49:07,260 --> 00:49:09,060
And don't think God can't do it.

1085
00:49:09,880 --> 00:49:11,680
God has a way of humbling, doesn't He?

1086
00:49:12,080 --> 00:49:13,840
He knows how to bring us down, doesn't

1087
00:49:13,840 --> 00:49:14,000
He?

1088
00:49:14,740 --> 00:49:15,620
Oh, He knows how.

1089
00:49:16,420 --> 00:49:18,420
If you don't think so, then you just

1090
00:49:18,420 --> 00:49:19,920
read the story of Nebuchadnezzar.

1091
00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:22,160
Huh?

1092
00:49:23,120 --> 00:49:24,680
He was a man...

1093
00:49:24,680 --> 00:49:26,940
Oh, look at the great kingdom God's given

1094
00:49:26,940 --> 00:49:27,180
me.

1095
00:49:28,080 --> 00:49:29,540
Look at what I've done.

1096
00:49:30,420 --> 00:49:32,040
And God humbled him for seven years.

1097
00:49:32,280 --> 00:49:33,740
He walked around like a dog.

1098
00:49:34,520 --> 00:49:35,500
He barked.

1099
00:49:36,040 --> 00:49:38,100
His fingernails grew a foot long.

1100
00:49:39,720 --> 00:49:41,280
And he lost his mind.

1101
00:49:42,440 --> 00:49:44,300
And really what God showed him was the

1102
00:49:44,300 --> 00:49:47,460
true nature of his wisdom.

1103
00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:49,500
That's his best right there.

1104
00:49:49,780 --> 00:49:51,400
That's what you and I are without the

1105
00:49:51,400 --> 00:49:52,040
grace of God.

1106
00:49:52,720 --> 00:49:53,060
Alright.

1107
00:49:53,900 --> 00:49:56,360
Number 12, 13, and 14.

1108
00:49:57,920 --> 00:50:01,400
This is a stumbling block in the body

1109
00:50:01,400 --> 00:50:01,920
of Christ.

1110
00:50:02,140 --> 00:50:04,600
And that's why there's a famine of the

1111
00:50:04,600 --> 00:50:05,460
true word of God.

1112
00:50:06,020 --> 00:50:06,820
There's a famine.

1113
00:50:06,960 --> 00:50:08,880
There's no love feast going on because of

1114
00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:09,900
this next section here.

1115
00:50:10,160 --> 00:50:11,940
Oh, Jesus is such a great teacher.

1116
00:50:11,940 --> 00:50:14,520
He's got such beautiful things in his word.

1117
00:50:14,780 --> 00:50:16,580
Then he said also to them that bade

1118
00:50:16,580 --> 00:50:20,020
him, When thou makest a dinner or a

1119
00:50:20,020 --> 00:50:26,920
supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren,

1120
00:50:28,240 --> 00:50:31,860
neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors.

1121
00:50:33,140 --> 00:50:34,880
Now, the key is this next verse.

1122
00:50:35,180 --> 00:50:35,380
Listen.

1123
00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:39,360
Lest they also bid thee again and a

1124
00:50:39,360 --> 00:50:41,340
recompense be made to thee.

1125
00:50:43,250 --> 00:50:47,910
But when thou makest a feast, call the

1126
00:50:47,910 --> 00:50:51,930
poor, the lame, and the blind, and thou

1127
00:50:51,930 --> 00:50:53,070
shalt be blessed.

1128
00:50:53,130 --> 00:50:53,730
Here it is.

1129
00:50:54,210 --> 00:50:54,830
Here it is.

1130
00:50:55,310 --> 00:50:58,810
For they cannot reward thee.

1131
00:51:01,810 --> 00:51:02,690
Number three.

1132
00:51:03,050 --> 00:51:04,330
Oh, God, help us.

1133
00:51:09,950 --> 00:51:15,550
Motive in our service toward the Lord and

1134
00:51:15,550 --> 00:51:16,410
toward one other.

1135
00:51:18,430 --> 00:51:20,090
If the motive, listen carefully.

1136
00:51:20,670 --> 00:51:23,210
If the motive of our service is this.

1137
00:51:23,570 --> 00:51:27,270
I serve my brother and now he owes

1138
00:51:27,270 --> 00:51:27,890
me something.

1139
00:51:30,530 --> 00:51:33,010
We cannot come to the banqueting table of

1140
00:51:33,010 --> 00:51:33,330
the Lord.

1141
00:51:40,280 --> 00:51:43,380
That kind of service is not love.

1142
00:51:44,300 --> 00:51:46,300
Because love does not what?

1143
00:51:46,520 --> 00:51:47,600
Seek its own.

1144
00:51:48,300 --> 00:51:50,920
Love does not serve with the motive of

1145
00:51:50,920 --> 00:51:52,760
now you owe me.

1146
00:51:53,300 --> 00:51:57,480
Love pours out and out and out and

1147
00:51:57,480 --> 00:51:59,460
out with no desire for reward.

1148
00:52:00,240 --> 00:52:04,620
Again, every single marriage that can get a

1149
00:52:04,620 --> 00:52:06,820
hold of this would be healed of all

1150
00:52:06,820 --> 00:52:08,820
the horrible things that go on in marriages.

1151
00:52:09,840 --> 00:52:12,240
Why are there so many problems in marriages?

1152
00:52:12,600 --> 00:52:15,600
Because we can't serve selflessly.

1153
00:52:15,980 --> 00:52:18,600
There's got to be this idea of you

1154
00:52:18,600 --> 00:52:19,260
owe me this.

1155
00:52:19,260 --> 00:52:20,620
You owe me this.

1156
00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:21,800
You owe me this.

1157
00:52:22,200 --> 00:52:23,940
How about the body of Christ?

1158
00:52:26,620 --> 00:52:28,680
So many broken relationships.

1159
00:52:28,900 --> 00:52:31,240
Why are there so many broken relationships in

1160
00:52:31,240 --> 00:52:32,140
the body of Christ?

1161
00:52:33,400 --> 00:52:35,780
Because when we seek to reach out to

1162
00:52:35,780 --> 00:52:39,760
someone, we feel that they're in debt to

1163
00:52:39,760 --> 00:52:40,020
us.

1164
00:52:40,520 --> 00:52:42,820
And if they don't recompense, if they don't

1165
00:52:42,820 --> 00:52:48,580
reward us, if they don't somehow acknowledge or

1166
00:52:48,580 --> 00:52:51,340
do something nice for us, we get mad.

1167
00:52:51,640 --> 00:52:52,700
We close our heart to them.

1168
00:52:54,080 --> 00:52:55,480
And there's a breach.

1169
00:52:56,060 --> 00:52:56,720
Why?

1170
00:52:58,140 --> 00:53:01,800
Because our motive has to be cleansed.

1171
00:53:02,480 --> 00:53:05,360
Ask yourself this question as we begin to

1172
00:53:05,360 --> 00:53:05,760
close.

1173
00:53:06,620 --> 00:53:08,140
Ask yourself this question.

1174
00:53:13,640 --> 00:53:17,880
Where has the Lord shown you that your

1175
00:53:17,880 --> 00:53:21,740
service toward him or your service toward someone

1176
00:53:21,740 --> 00:53:26,300
else is connected to a motive in your

1177
00:53:26,300 --> 00:53:28,360
heart where you expect some kind of a

1178
00:53:28,360 --> 00:53:28,780
reward?

1179
00:53:33,570 --> 00:53:34,670
Well, guess what?

1180
00:53:36,710 --> 00:53:39,870
As long as that is there, you're going

1181
00:53:39,870 --> 00:53:41,270
to find it hard to come to the

1182
00:53:41,270 --> 00:53:42,650
banqueting table of the Lord.

1183
00:53:52,520 --> 00:53:54,860
Verse 14, the latter part.

1184
00:53:56,460 --> 00:53:58,900
When we get to the place where God

1185
00:53:58,900 --> 00:54:04,320
cleanses our motive, and we can serve him

1186
00:54:04,320 --> 00:54:08,920
and one another without expecting to be repaid,

1187
00:54:09,020 --> 00:54:11,100
here's what our hopes are set on then.

1188
00:54:12,580 --> 00:54:15,940
For thou shalt be rewarded at the resurrection

1189
00:54:15,940 --> 00:54:17,840
of the just.

1190
00:54:18,540 --> 00:54:20,540
There's our reward, brothers and sisters.

1191
00:54:21,040 --> 00:54:23,080
The resurrection of the just.

1192
00:54:23,160 --> 00:54:24,940
Let's bow our hearts if we could, please.

1193
00:54:30,670 --> 00:54:34,630
Father, we thank you for the table that

1194
00:54:34,630 --> 00:54:36,070
you have spread before us.

1195
00:54:38,460 --> 00:54:40,400
We thank you for calling us.

1196
00:54:46,120 --> 00:54:53,350
We thank you, Lord, for making us see

1197
00:54:53,350 --> 00:54:58,180
so clearly that you have great treasures and

1198
00:54:58,180 --> 00:54:59,900
wealth for us in your Son.

1199
00:55:01,400 --> 00:55:04,520
And now, Lord, we pray that you will

1200
00:55:04,520 --> 00:55:10,580
very firmly and lovingly deal with us and

1201
00:55:10,580 --> 00:55:12,960
free us from all these things that hinder

1202
00:55:12,960 --> 00:55:15,020
us from coming to your banquet.

1203
00:55:15,480 --> 00:55:17,620
Free us from the Pharisee spirit.

1204
00:55:18,040 --> 00:55:21,160
Free us from pride and thinking that we're

1205
00:55:21,160 --> 00:55:24,280
deserving of something more than just being a

1206
00:55:24,280 --> 00:55:24,580
servant.

1207
00:55:25,780 --> 00:55:28,480
And free us, O God, from the motive

1208
00:55:28,480 --> 00:55:31,740
of wanting a reward for what we do

1209
00:55:31,740 --> 00:55:32,800
on earth.

1210
00:55:38,810 --> 00:55:41,390
God, please keep us from making excuses.

1211
00:55:42,810 --> 00:55:44,350
Excuses, excuses, excuses.

1212
00:55:45,570 --> 00:55:47,790
Help us to surrender our life to you

1213
00:55:47,790 --> 00:55:50,790
today and be changed by your power.

1214
00:55:51,790 --> 00:55:54,030
Okay, the healing of the Lord is present.

1215
00:55:54,650 --> 00:55:57,010
As we sing this one song, I want

1216
00:55:57,010 --> 00:55:58,090
to just make an invitation.

1217
00:55:59,230 --> 00:56:02,670
Anyone here, you've heard the Lord.

1218
00:56:04,090 --> 00:56:05,450
He has spoken to you.

1219
00:56:10,270 --> 00:56:12,890
And you want Him to touch you and

1220
00:56:12,890 --> 00:56:15,770
heal you and do something in your life

1221
00:56:15,770 --> 00:56:16,670
that only He can do.

1222
00:56:17,130 --> 00:56:19,210
I want to invite you right now in

1223
00:56:19,210 --> 00:56:22,570
your seat to simply cry out to Him

1224
00:56:22,570 --> 00:56:25,470
and say, Jesus, here I am.

1225
00:56:26,350 --> 00:56:29,070
Do the work that you must do.

1226
00:56:30,990 --> 00:56:35,770
If you want special prayer, come forward and

1227
00:56:35,770 --> 00:56:37,610
we'll get together and pray with you as

1228
00:56:37,610 --> 00:56:38,530
we sing this song.

1229
00:58:59,340 --> 00:59:01,140
Father, we look to You today.

1230
00:59:01,300 --> 00:59:02,900
Do the work in our hearts.

1231
00:59:03,340 --> 00:59:05,120
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit.

1232
00:59:05,760 --> 00:59:07,800
I pray, Lord, for every person here who

1233
00:59:07,800 --> 00:59:11,620
in their heart, just now, in the privacy

1234
00:59:11,620 --> 00:59:14,420
of their own heart, Lord, they cried out

1235
00:59:14,420 --> 00:59:16,720
to You and they said, Lord, You've spoken

1236
00:59:16,720 --> 00:59:19,320
to me through Your Word and I need

1237
00:59:19,320 --> 00:59:19,580
help.

1238
00:59:19,640 --> 00:59:22,480
I pray for those people today, Lord, by

1239
00:59:22,480 --> 00:59:24,320
the power of the Holy Spirit and the

1240
00:59:24,320 --> 00:59:27,120
name of Jesus, You would create faith in

1241
00:59:27,120 --> 00:59:27,540
their heart.

1242
00:59:27,680 --> 00:59:30,400
Enable them to believe that You have heard

1243
00:59:30,400 --> 00:59:33,080
their cry and that You will answer their

1244
00:59:33,080 --> 00:59:34,380
prayer in Your timing.

1245
00:59:35,600 --> 00:59:38,560
Help them, Lord, not to get discouraged or

1246
00:59:38,560 --> 00:59:39,120
give up.

1247
00:59:39,900 --> 00:59:43,360
Help them, Lord, not to become despondent, but

1248
00:59:43,360 --> 00:59:45,840
to patiently wait for Your timing.

1249
00:59:46,200 --> 00:59:48,280
That You'll make all things new.

1250
00:59:49,080 --> 00:59:51,640
That the winter months in the Spirit will

1251
00:59:51,640 --> 00:59:54,680
pass and the day of spring will come

1252
00:59:54,680 --> 00:59:56,860
and the sound of birds will be heard

1253
00:59:56,860 --> 01:00:00,160
once again and the smell of the beautiful

1254
01:00:00,160 --> 01:00:04,240
spring flowers will once again flood your life.

1255
01:00:04,760 --> 01:00:05,840
It will happen.

1256
01:00:06,420 --> 01:00:08,760
Just be patient and wait.

1257
01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:10,460
God will do it.

1258
01:00:11,020 --> 01:00:14,160
He loves you with an everlasting love.

1259
01:00:15,020 --> 01:00:16,600
He said, I'll never leave you.

1260
01:00:16,840 --> 01:00:18,700
I'll never forsake you.

1261
01:00:19,260 --> 01:00:21,900
Lo, I am with you always, even to

1262
01:00:21,900 --> 01:00:23,680
the end of the age.

1263
01:00:24,140 --> 01:00:27,040
That's what He's saying to someone here today.

1264
01:00:27,760 --> 01:00:28,800
And He loves you.

1265
01:00:29,240 --> 01:00:30,000
God bless you.

1266
01:00:30,060 --> 01:00:31,580
We have to move on.

1267
01:00:32,260 --> 01:00:34,860
Unfortunately, we're under time constraint, but God be

1268
01:00:34,860 --> 01:00:35,300
with you.

1269
01:00:35,360 --> 01:00:36,160
God bless you.

1270
01:00:37,020 --> 01:00:38,660
And let's lay hold of what the Lord

1271
01:00:38,660 --> 01:00:40,560
is doing and believe Him to do it.

1272
01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:41,820
Jesus' love.

1273
01:00:41,940 --> 01:00:42,120
Amen.

1274
01:02:19,860 --> 01:03:10,660
Oh, Lord, I

1275
01:03:10,660 --> 01:03:11,400
receive.

1276
01:03:21,370 --> 01:03:22,430
Receive.

1277
01:03:34,970 --> 01:03:35,650
Beautiful.