1 00:00:00,970 --> 00:00:03,590 Shall we turn in our Bibles now to 2 00:00:03,590 --> 00:00:07,910 the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 14. 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:16,160 The 14th chapter involves an invitation for Jesus 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:24,000 to come to a supper on the Sabbath 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,980 day, and of the things that transpired at 6 00:00:29,980 --> 00:00:38,800 that supper, and the subsequent exchange between Jesus 7 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,260 and the people as Jesus talked to them 8 00:00:44,580 --> 00:00:52,200 concerning etiquette and concerning the demands of the 9 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:52,620 kingdom. 10 00:00:54,940 --> 00:00:56,500 So it came to pass as he went 11 00:00:56,500 --> 00:00:58,340 into the house of one of the chief 12 00:00:58,340 --> 00:01:02,360 Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day 13 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:03,599 they watched him. 14 00:01:06,980 --> 00:01:09,480 It is interesting to me that Jesus accepted 15 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:10,320 the invitation. 16 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,220 He knew that they were out to get 17 00:01:14,220 --> 00:01:20,720 him, but it seems to me that Jesus 18 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,520 was always open to an invitation to eat. 19 00:01:31,020 --> 00:01:36,380 Going so far as inviting himself to Zacchaeus' 20 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:36,800 house. 21 00:01:37,020 --> 00:01:38,360 Come on down, Zacchaeus, I want to come 22 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:39,280 over to your house and eat. 23 00:01:41,930 --> 00:01:46,290 And finally in Revelation, standing at the door 24 00:01:46,290 --> 00:01:48,410 and knocking, waiting for anyone to open so 25 00:01:48,410 --> 00:01:49,550 he can come in and eat. 26 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:53,840 And if you will open the door, I 27 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,600 will come in and I'll eat supper with 28 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:55,860 you. 29 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:02,480 As we, this morning, were talking about the 30 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:08,300 significance of eating in that culture. 31 00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:10,900 Becoming one. 32 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,740 And how Jesus desires to be one with 33 00:02:16,740 --> 00:02:17,160 us. 34 00:02:18,500 --> 00:02:21,600 Now the Sabbath meal was different from other 35 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,860 meals, in that all of the food had 36 00:02:25,860 --> 00:02:28,540 to be prepared before the Sabbath. 37 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:37,510 And you weren't to kindle any fire, and 38 00:02:37,510 --> 00:02:39,170 so if you were to have anything that 39 00:02:39,170 --> 00:02:40,970 was hot, it had to be hot before 40 00:02:40,970 --> 00:02:41,570 the Sabbath. 41 00:02:42,150 --> 00:02:45,110 And somehow there had to be ways to 42 00:02:45,110 --> 00:02:46,570 maintain it being hot. 43 00:02:46,730 --> 00:02:49,670 Now in those days they had definite rules 44 00:02:49,670 --> 00:02:52,190 of things you could not do to keep 45 00:02:52,190 --> 00:02:54,450 food hot, and things that you could do 46 00:02:54,450 --> 00:02:55,290 to keep food hot. 47 00:02:55,330 --> 00:02:57,330 But there was a kosher way of keeping 48 00:02:57,330 --> 00:02:59,570 your food hot, even, that they had developed 49 00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:00,710 for Sabbath day. 50 00:03:02,070 --> 00:03:09,070 Today they plug in before the Sabbath begins. 51 00:03:11,030 --> 00:03:16,950 Their hot plates and their water for their 52 00:03:16,950 --> 00:03:17,410 coffee. 53 00:03:17,510 --> 00:03:19,290 They'll use instant coffee on the Sabbath day, 54 00:03:19,410 --> 00:03:20,330 but they have to plug it. 55 00:03:20,390 --> 00:03:22,530 You can't fill the pot once the Sabbath 56 00:03:22,530 --> 00:03:23,070 has come. 57 00:03:24,090 --> 00:03:26,070 But as long as it's plugged in, you 58 00:03:26,070 --> 00:03:27,230 can pour it out of the pot into 59 00:03:27,230 --> 00:03:28,930 your cup and make your instant coffee. 60 00:03:29,450 --> 00:03:32,070 That doesn't constitute work, but just don't pour 61 00:03:32,070 --> 00:03:34,190 any water into the pot to heat it 62 00:03:34,190 --> 00:03:34,930 on the Sabbath day. 63 00:03:35,030 --> 00:03:36,910 You've got to have it that going before 64 00:03:36,910 --> 00:03:38,750 the Sabbath day, and you can't turn the 65 00:03:38,750 --> 00:03:39,530 switches on. 66 00:03:39,930 --> 00:03:41,810 You just have to have it plugged in 67 00:03:41,810 --> 00:03:44,330 and going before the Sabbath day comes. 68 00:03:45,170 --> 00:03:48,490 And so they still have some interesting little 69 00:03:48,490 --> 00:03:51,050 rules for the Sabbath day. 70 00:03:51,710 --> 00:03:53,830 If you want to go out to eat, 71 00:03:54,890 --> 00:03:57,550 you cannot pay with cash, but you can 72 00:03:57,550 --> 00:04:02,220 pay with credit cards on the Sabbath day. 73 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,600 To pay with cash would violate the Sabbath, 74 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,100 but to pay with a credit card, they 75 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:12,520 have that unfortunate concept that so many people 76 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:13,460 have about credit cards. 77 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:14,880 You're really not paying. 78 00:04:18,540 --> 00:04:20,519 That's a dangerous thing. 79 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:30,580 So the Sabbath day meal was different, and 80 00:04:30,580 --> 00:04:32,300 they were watching Jesus. 81 00:04:33,180 --> 00:04:36,120 Now it seems that they were watching him 82 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:37,600 because there was a setup. 83 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,480 Behold, there was a certain man before him 84 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:48,540 which had the dropsy, and Jesus answering, spake 85 00:04:48,540 --> 00:04:49,420 the words of the lawyers. 86 00:04:49,620 --> 00:04:50,660 Answering what? 87 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:53,820 It doesn't say they ask him any question, 88 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,060 but realizing no doubt that this whole thing 89 00:04:58,060 --> 00:04:58,700 was a setup. 90 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,960 Invited to eat on the Sabbath day to 91 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:07,650 break bread with him, and here right before 92 00:05:07,650 --> 00:05:11,030 him they have set this man with this 93 00:05:11,030 --> 00:05:12,970 disease of dropsy. 94 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,900 And so Jesus answering them, realizing that it 95 00:05:21,900 --> 00:05:25,140 was a setup, spake to the lawyers and 96 00:05:25,140 --> 00:05:27,840 the Pharisees, and he said, is it lawful 97 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:29,920 to heal on the Sabbath day? 98 00:05:33,860 --> 00:05:35,400 And they held their peace. 99 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:36,560 They didn't answer him. 100 00:05:37,420 --> 00:05:40,600 And so he took and healed him and 101 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:41,380 let him go. 102 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:47,780 And he answered them saying, which of you 103 00:05:47,780 --> 00:05:50,160 shall have an ass or an ox that 104 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,200 has fallen into a pit and will not 105 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,700 immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day? 106 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:59,020 And they could not answer him again on 107 00:05:59,020 --> 00:05:59,620 these things. 108 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,420 Now, under the law, they did have a 109 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:08,400 provision that if your ox or if your 110 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,700 donkey would fall into a pit and they 111 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:14,060 did have many open wells. 112 00:06:14,340 --> 00:06:16,340 And so it wasn't at all uncommon for 113 00:06:16,340 --> 00:06:18,820 a donkey or an ox to fall into 114 00:06:18,820 --> 00:06:21,000 a pit, into one of these open wells. 115 00:06:21,420 --> 00:06:23,820 And if it happened on the Sabbath day, 116 00:06:24,020 --> 00:06:27,220 according to the law, they could pull it 117 00:06:27,220 --> 00:06:29,200 out on, though it was the Sabbath day. 118 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:35,220 And so Jesus brought up their own law 119 00:06:35,220 --> 00:06:38,660 to them and they could not answer him. 120 00:06:40,140 --> 00:06:45,800 So then he dealt with them concerning etiquette. 121 00:06:47,780 --> 00:06:50,280 He put forth a parable to those which 122 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:53,520 have been bidden to the feast when he 123 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,040 marked how they chose out the chief rooms. 124 00:06:57,300 --> 00:07:06,270 Now, usually they had at these feasts 125 00:07:06,270 --> 00:07:12,870 a table with three pillows around it. 126 00:07:13,730 --> 00:07:17,070 They were called tricliniums. 127 00:07:18,250 --> 00:07:20,910 And they would usually sit the people three 128 00:07:20,910 --> 00:07:24,150 at a table and the middle pillow would 129 00:07:24,150 --> 00:07:26,790 be the place of honor at that table. 130 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,820 And say you were going to invite nine 131 00:07:31,820 --> 00:07:35,000 guests, you would have three tables set up 132 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,040 in this triclinium. 133 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,140 And at each of the tables, you'd have 134 00:07:40,140 --> 00:07:42,940 the center pillow for your guests of honor. 135 00:07:43,020 --> 00:07:44,520 And of course, they would sit and sort 136 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:45,340 of recline. 137 00:07:45,580 --> 00:07:47,220 And that's why they're called tricliniums. 138 00:07:47,460 --> 00:07:50,740 They would recline on these pillows and eat 139 00:07:50,740 --> 00:07:52,600 in sort of a reclining position. 140 00:07:55,180 --> 00:08:01,920 And so Jesus was watching how they were 141 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:07,620 jockeying for the best positions, for the places 142 00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:11,000 of honor, for the places of note. 143 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:16,460 How that, you know, business of trying to 144 00:08:16,460 --> 00:08:20,360 get into the place of prominence. 145 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,400 And so he said, when you are bidden 146 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,560 of any man to a wedding, don't sit 147 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,620 down in the highest room, lest a more 148 00:08:33,620 --> 00:08:39,340 honorable man than you has been bidden to 149 00:08:39,340 --> 00:08:40,039 the feast. 150 00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:44,460 And those that bade thee and him will 151 00:08:44,460 --> 00:08:47,840 come and say to you, give this man 152 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:48,940 your place. 153 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,860 And you with shame will have to go 154 00:08:52,860 --> 00:08:54,120 to the lowest room. 155 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:58,100 Embarrassing situation. 156 00:08:59,220 --> 00:09:01,220 You sat at the head table, but you 157 00:09:01,220 --> 00:09:02,320 don't belong there. 158 00:09:02,460 --> 00:09:04,200 And so they come up and say, we're 159 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,020 sorry, we don't have any place for you 160 00:09:06,020 --> 00:09:06,600 at this table. 161 00:09:06,980 --> 00:09:09,060 You better take a table in the back. 162 00:09:09,140 --> 00:09:11,360 And everybody sees you leave the head table 163 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,300 and head for the table in the back. 164 00:09:16,220 --> 00:09:20,080 But when you are bidden, go and sit 165 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:21,980 down in the lowest room. 166 00:09:23,380 --> 00:09:26,660 And when he that bade thee comes, he 167 00:09:26,660 --> 00:09:29,720 may say unto thee, friend, come on up 168 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,800 higher, and then you will have honor in 169 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,820 the presence of those that sit at meet 170 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:36,380 with thee. 171 00:09:37,380 --> 00:09:44,640 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and 172 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:49,080 he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 173 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:54,460 I think that one of the characteristics of 174 00:09:54,460 --> 00:09:55,780 greatness is humility. 175 00:10:01,430 --> 00:10:05,390 Some of the greatest people have been very 176 00:10:05,390 --> 00:10:06,330 humble people. 177 00:10:09,630 --> 00:10:11,770 I think that one of the most humbling 178 00:10:11,770 --> 00:10:15,550 thing is to have God use your life. 179 00:10:16,530 --> 00:10:18,330 For you know it is not you and 180 00:10:18,330 --> 00:10:19,550 you know you're not worthy. 181 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,720 But if you seek to exalt yourself, the 182 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,220 law of the Lord, you'll be abased. 183 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,740 But he that will humble himself, the Lord 184 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:34,500 will lift him up. 185 00:10:35,500 --> 00:10:38,780 Then he said also to him that had 186 00:10:38,780 --> 00:10:42,940 invited him, when you make a dinner or 187 00:10:42,940 --> 00:10:43,320 a supper. 188 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:44,680 Now he's turning on the host. 189 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,600 When you make a dinner or a supper, 190 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,300 don't call your friends and your brothers and 191 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:56,900 your family or your rich neighbors in order 192 00:10:56,900 --> 00:11:00,300 that they might bid you again and recompense 193 00:11:00,300 --> 00:11:01,480 you for the invitation. 194 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,220 But when you make a feast, call the 195 00:11:05,220 --> 00:11:07,760 poor and the maimed and the lame and 196 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,820 the blind, and you will be blessed. 197 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:16,960 For they cannot recompense thee, but you will 198 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,960 be recompensed in the resurrection of the just. 199 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:25,640 Interesting rules of the kingdom. 200 00:11:26,740 --> 00:11:28,580 And when one of them that sat at 201 00:11:28,580 --> 00:11:30,580 meat with him heard these things, he said 202 00:11:30,580 --> 00:11:32,880 unto him, Oh, blessed is he that shall 203 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:34,560 eat bread in the kingdom of God. 204 00:11:34,780 --> 00:11:37,360 I think that someone at the table got 205 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,320 the flash of light as Jesus began to 206 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,080 talk about how in the kingdom there's going 207 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:44,980 to be an equality. 208 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,420 There won't be the exalting of one man 209 00:11:47,420 --> 00:11:48,100 above another. 210 00:11:48,260 --> 00:11:51,900 There won't be important people and unimportant people, 211 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,080 but we are all one in Christ Jesus. 212 00:11:55,220 --> 00:11:57,900 And we'll all share together in the glory 213 00:11:57,900 --> 00:11:59,500 and in the honor in the kingdom. 214 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,340 And this man got a flash of light 215 00:12:03,340 --> 00:12:04,060 of the kingdom. 216 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,560 And he said, Oh, blessed is the man 217 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:11,360 that shall eat bread in the kingdom of 218 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:11,740 God. 219 00:12:13,540 --> 00:12:16,140 And then Jesus gave a parable unto them. 220 00:12:16,180 --> 00:12:18,060 And you see, all of these have to 221 00:12:18,060 --> 00:12:22,380 do with being invited to dinner, going to 222 00:12:22,380 --> 00:12:26,460 dinner because they're sitting at this dinner or 223 00:12:26,460 --> 00:12:28,780 at the Sabbath dinner with the Pharisee. 224 00:12:29,660 --> 00:12:34,240 And then he said unto him, there was 225 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,780 a certain man which made a great supper 226 00:12:36,780 --> 00:12:40,540 and he invited many and he sent his 227 00:12:40,540 --> 00:12:42,440 servant at supper time to say to those 228 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,320 that were invited, come for dinner is ready. 229 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,140 And they all with one consent began to 230 00:12:51,140 --> 00:12:52,080 make excuses. 231 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,600 The first said, Oh, I bought a piece 232 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:57,400 of ground and I better go see it. 233 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,700 I pray that you'll have me excused. 234 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,460 Another said, I bought five yoke of oxen 235 00:13:03,460 --> 00:13:04,860 and I need to prove them. 236 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:06,580 And so I pray that you'll have me 237 00:13:06,580 --> 00:13:07,640 excused. 238 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:11,240 And another said, I have married a wife 239 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,000 and therefore I cannot come. 240 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,820 So that servant came and showed his Lord 241 00:13:19,820 --> 00:13:20,860 these things. 242 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,860 Then the master of the house being angry 243 00:13:23,860 --> 00:13:26,080 said to his servant, go out quickly into 244 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:27,840 the streets and the lanes of the city 245 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,020 and bring in here the poor, the main, 246 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:31,080 the halt and the blind. 247 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,600 These are the ones that Jesus told the 248 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:35,040 fellow he should have invited anyhow. 249 00:13:35,780 --> 00:13:37,900 And the servant said, Lord, it is done 250 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:39,120 as you have commanded. 251 00:13:39,260 --> 00:13:40,840 And still we've got more room. 252 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:43,800 And so the Lord said unto his servant, 253 00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:46,180 go out into the highways and the hedges 254 00:13:46,180 --> 00:13:49,140 and compel them to come in that my 255 00:13:49,140 --> 00:13:50,520 house may be filled. 256 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,700 For I say unto you that none of 257 00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:55,380 those men which were bid and shall taste 258 00:13:55,380 --> 00:13:56,960 of my supper. 259 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:04,000 In this parable, I believe that the one 260 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,920 who has made the invitation and inviting to 261 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,220 the supper is really none other than God. 262 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:12,680 And the reference is to the marriage supper 263 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:19,950 of the lamb and the excuses that people 264 00:14:19,950 --> 00:14:26,450 give for not coming to Jesus Christ. 265 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,720 The first man's excuse was sort of a 266 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:32,680 commercial excuse. 267 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:33,700 I bought a house. 268 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,140 I need to go take a look at 269 00:14:37,140 --> 00:14:37,500 it. 270 00:14:38,780 --> 00:14:40,680 Pray tell what kind of a fool buys 271 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,480 a house without looking at it. 272 00:14:50,580 --> 00:14:51,940 But I'm busy in commerce. 273 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,320 The second man, I'm busy in my labors. 274 00:14:58,100 --> 00:15:00,040 It takes precedence over the kingdom. 275 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,840 I bought five yoke and I need to 276 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:03,620 prove them again. 277 00:15:03,940 --> 00:15:06,100 What men would what man would buy five 278 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:08,680 yoke of oxen without first testing them? 279 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:13,460 Which of you would buy a car without 280 00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:14,660 driving it around the block? 281 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,100 And then the third said, well, I've just 282 00:15:21,100 --> 00:15:22,600 married a wife and I can't come. 283 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:25,580 Why didn't he bring his wife? 284 00:15:29,130 --> 00:15:30,870 Notice they all began to make excuse. 285 00:15:31,170 --> 00:15:36,650 And there's a difference between excuses and reasons. 286 00:15:41,730 --> 00:15:43,650 Sometimes you can make an excuse when you 287 00:15:43,650 --> 00:15:45,370 don't have any real reason for it. 288 00:15:46,930 --> 00:15:50,130 But I would warn you, as Benjamin Franklin 289 00:15:50,130 --> 00:15:53,050 said, the man who is good at making 290 00:15:53,050 --> 00:15:56,930 excuses is seldom good for anything else. 291 00:16:01,230 --> 00:16:05,330 They began to make excuses, different reasons. 292 00:16:07,550 --> 00:16:09,990 And so the Lord said, go out in 293 00:16:09,990 --> 00:16:12,090 the highways or go out and bring in 294 00:16:12,090 --> 00:16:13,390 the poor, the main, the halt. 295 00:16:13,950 --> 00:16:17,470 And remember to Jesus, he fulfilled the prophecy 296 00:16:17,470 --> 00:16:18,290 to the poor. 297 00:16:18,510 --> 00:16:23,080 The gospel is being preached and still there 298 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:23,700 was room. 299 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:25,240 And so go out in the highways and 300 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,660 hedges and compel them to come in and 301 00:16:27,660 --> 00:16:35,020 the gospel being preached, compelling men to come 302 00:16:35,020 --> 00:16:37,440 into the kingdom of God. 303 00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:45,600 Now, at this point, he probably left the 304 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:50,330 supper where we read and there went great 305 00:16:50,330 --> 00:16:51,910 multitudes with him. 306 00:16:52,850 --> 00:16:56,430 And he turned and said to them, having 307 00:16:56,430 --> 00:16:58,990 left the house, the people were outside waiting 308 00:16:58,990 --> 00:16:59,690 for him. 309 00:17:00,790 --> 00:17:03,770 And at this point, great multitudes of people 310 00:17:03,770 --> 00:17:06,430 were attracted to him and were following him 311 00:17:06,430 --> 00:17:07,750 and listening to him. 312 00:17:09,089 --> 00:17:11,670 And he is on his way towards Jerusalem, 313 00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:16,990 but they think that he is on his 314 00:17:16,990 --> 00:17:21,050 way towards Jerusalem in order to overthrow the 315 00:17:21,050 --> 00:17:24,250 Roman government and to establish and set up 316 00:17:24,250 --> 00:17:24,829 his kingdom. 317 00:17:28,250 --> 00:17:29,930 And that's why they're being attracted. 318 00:17:31,290 --> 00:17:32,670 That's why the multitude is coming. 319 00:17:32,990 --> 00:17:35,270 They think that the kingdom is going to 320 00:17:35,270 --> 00:17:36,950 come now immediately. 321 00:17:37,330 --> 00:17:39,850 And James and John are saying, Lord, can 322 00:17:39,850 --> 00:17:41,090 I sit on the right hand, the left 323 00:17:41,090 --> 00:17:42,730 hand, you know, and, and all of this 324 00:17:42,730 --> 00:17:49,760 jockeying for position, but they don't understand. 325 00:17:51,260 --> 00:17:54,500 He's not going to Jerusalem to overthrow the 326 00:17:54,500 --> 00:17:55,340 Roman government. 327 00:17:55,740 --> 00:17:57,920 He's going to Jerusalem to be put on 328 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:58,520 a cross. 329 00:18:03,090 --> 00:18:06,070 And you cannot follow Christ just because it's 330 00:18:06,070 --> 00:18:07,490 a popular movement. 331 00:18:10,470 --> 00:18:15,150 There is a shallowness and a danger to 332 00:18:15,150 --> 00:18:17,210 popular spiritual movements. 333 00:18:20,540 --> 00:18:30,220 The Jesus movement was sadly weakened by the 334 00:18:30,220 --> 00:18:33,900 endeavors to commercialize the thing and to popularize 335 00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:34,440 the thing. 336 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:45,200 And the Jesus movement parades and banners and 337 00:18:47,340 --> 00:18:49,720 fad aspects. 338 00:18:55,940 --> 00:18:57,900 In following Christ, you just don't get on 339 00:18:57,900 --> 00:18:58,740 the bandwagon. 340 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,120 It's not just joining because everybody's doing it. 341 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,340 It's the thing, the in thing to do. 342 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:12,500 And there was just, this was at that 343 00:19:12,500 --> 00:19:13,620 time, the in thing. 344 00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:15,520 Multitudes were following him. 345 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,700 And because there is a danger in this, 346 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:24,480 he turns to the multitudes and he becomes 347 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:30,160 extremely severe in his words, really more severe 348 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:31,520 than I would like him to be. 349 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,300 For he said, if any man come to 350 00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:40,980 me and hate not his father and mother 351 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:44,020 and wife and children and brethren and sisters, 352 00:19:44,260 --> 00:19:47,140 yes, his own life also, he cannot be 353 00:19:47,140 --> 00:19:48,020 my disciple. 354 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:57,140 I'm not going to a popular being acclaimed 355 00:19:57,140 --> 00:19:57,680 as King. 356 00:19:57,740 --> 00:19:58,900 I'm going to be crucified. 357 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:01,920 There's a real cost. 358 00:20:01,980 --> 00:20:04,720 If you're going to come after me, you 359 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:05,760 better count the cost. 360 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:06,800 You better measure it. 361 00:20:10,370 --> 00:20:19,970 Now, don't misunderstand Jesus and think that I've 362 00:20:19,970 --> 00:20:22,070 got to hate my father and hate my 363 00:20:22,070 --> 00:20:24,610 mother because that's just the opposite of what 364 00:20:24,610 --> 00:20:25,750 the gospel teaches. 365 00:20:27,310 --> 00:20:28,830 The fruit of the Spirit is love. 366 00:20:30,210 --> 00:20:32,050 And if I say I love God and 367 00:20:32,050 --> 00:20:33,390 hate my brother, I'm a liar. 368 00:20:34,690 --> 00:20:35,890 The truth isn't in me. 369 00:20:35,970 --> 00:20:37,610 How can I love God whom I haven't 370 00:20:37,610 --> 00:20:39,690 seen and hate my brother who I have 371 00:20:39,690 --> 00:20:40,090 seen? 372 00:20:41,350 --> 00:20:43,890 Then what does Jesus mean unless you hate 373 00:20:43,890 --> 00:20:45,930 your father, mother, brothers and so forth? 374 00:20:46,490 --> 00:20:51,230 That is in the language a comparative. 375 00:20:54,140 --> 00:20:57,880 Your love for Jesus Christ must be supreme. 376 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,780 It must be greater than your love for 377 00:21:01,780 --> 00:21:05,220 your family, your home or yourself, because it 378 00:21:05,220 --> 00:21:07,740 may cost you all of these things to 379 00:21:07,740 --> 00:21:09,100 follow Jesus Christ. 380 00:21:09,340 --> 00:21:11,660 And for many of those people, it did 381 00:21:11,660 --> 00:21:13,820 cost all those things. 382 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,300 To follow Christ did cost some of them 383 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:22,820 their families, their family relationships, for they were 384 00:21:22,820 --> 00:21:26,360 ostracized by their families when they made their 385 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:27,780 commitment to Jesus Christ. 386 00:21:27,980 --> 00:21:29,680 And the same is true today. 387 00:21:32,250 --> 00:21:34,790 Many people have found it quite costly to 388 00:21:34,790 --> 00:21:36,110 follow Jesus Christ. 389 00:21:36,450 --> 00:21:40,290 It cost them their family relationships. 390 00:21:41,530 --> 00:21:43,890 But Jesus said, if you're not willing to 391 00:21:43,890 --> 00:21:46,890 give up these family relationships, you can't really 392 00:21:46,890 --> 00:21:47,890 be my disciple. 393 00:21:48,330 --> 00:21:51,270 You've got to love me more than you 394 00:21:51,270 --> 00:21:54,350 love any other relationship that you have. 395 00:21:54,570 --> 00:21:57,130 Your love for me must be supreme and 396 00:21:57,130 --> 00:22:00,330 every other love must be subservient to your 397 00:22:00,330 --> 00:22:01,150 love for me. 398 00:22:04,750 --> 00:22:05,950 And then he went on to say, and 399 00:22:05,950 --> 00:22:10,630 whosoever doth not bear his cross and come 400 00:22:10,630 --> 00:22:12,750 after me cannot be my disciple. 401 00:22:14,790 --> 00:22:18,830 I'm not going to be crowned as king 402 00:22:18,830 --> 00:22:20,330 of the world. 403 00:22:21,170 --> 00:22:22,790 I'm going to bear a cross. 404 00:22:23,010 --> 00:22:24,110 I'm going to be crucified. 405 00:22:24,510 --> 00:22:26,590 And if you're not willing to take up 406 00:22:26,590 --> 00:22:31,160 your cross, you can't really be my disciple. 407 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:32,100 You want to follow me? 408 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:33,180 You want to be my disciple? 409 00:22:33,540 --> 00:22:36,180 It can involve a cross and you better 410 00:22:36,180 --> 00:22:37,500 consider that. 411 00:22:39,470 --> 00:22:43,510 And Jesus is deliberately laying out the terms 412 00:22:43,510 --> 00:22:47,990 for discipleship, and they are not soft, easy, 413 00:22:48,430 --> 00:22:49,490 comfortable terms. 414 00:22:49,790 --> 00:22:50,790 They are harsh. 415 00:22:50,950 --> 00:22:51,810 They are severe. 416 00:22:52,170 --> 00:22:54,690 And it's important that you count the cost, 417 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,460 the cost of discipleship. 418 00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:07,790 And then Jesus gives a couple of parables 419 00:23:08,950 --> 00:23:13,750 in which there is that emphasis of counting 420 00:23:13,750 --> 00:23:14,550 the cost. 421 00:23:15,590 --> 00:23:18,950 For which of you who intends to build 422 00:23:18,950 --> 00:23:22,090 a tower, and this is probably one of 423 00:23:22,090 --> 00:23:24,330 those towers that they built out in the 424 00:23:24,330 --> 00:23:26,970 middle of their vineyards, which are so common 425 00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:29,490 even to the present day in that country. 426 00:23:30,790 --> 00:23:33,790 The people generally lived in the cities, but 427 00:23:33,790 --> 00:23:36,610 they had their farms in the countries. 428 00:23:37,630 --> 00:23:43,050 And during the spring, summer and fall seasons, 429 00:23:43,050 --> 00:23:45,490 they would move out of the cities and 430 00:23:45,490 --> 00:23:48,690 into these towers that were built in the 431 00:23:48,690 --> 00:23:51,370 middle of their orchards or vineyards. 432 00:23:52,110 --> 00:23:54,990 And these towers have the living quarters in 433 00:23:54,990 --> 00:23:57,870 the first level, but then you can go 434 00:23:57,870 --> 00:23:59,850 up into the upper level and from the 435 00:23:59,850 --> 00:24:03,630 tower, you can look over and watch the 436 00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:06,710 vineyard to make sure that no one's coming 437 00:24:06,710 --> 00:24:08,050 in and ripping you off. 438 00:24:08,130 --> 00:24:10,830 And they're just towers for protections for the 439 00:24:10,830 --> 00:24:11,210 vineyards. 440 00:24:11,310 --> 00:24:13,670 And so he's probably referring to one of 441 00:24:13,670 --> 00:24:14,670 these vineyard towers. 442 00:24:14,830 --> 00:24:18,310 And which man of you who intends to 443 00:24:18,310 --> 00:24:21,350 build a tower doesn't sit down first and 444 00:24:21,350 --> 00:24:24,690 counts the cost, whether or not you'll have 445 00:24:24,690 --> 00:24:26,450 sufficient to finish it. 446 00:24:27,530 --> 00:24:30,370 Lest, happily, after he has laid the foundation, 447 00:24:30,650 --> 00:24:32,990 he's not able to finish it and all 448 00:24:32,990 --> 00:24:35,150 those that see it begin to mock him, 449 00:24:35,590 --> 00:24:38,250 saying, this man began to build, but he 450 00:24:38,250 --> 00:24:39,350 wasn't able to finish. 451 00:24:40,470 --> 00:24:41,710 Count the cost. 452 00:24:43,730 --> 00:24:44,390 It's important. 453 00:24:44,750 --> 00:24:45,810 Don't just jump in. 454 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:53,280 He's not really seeking to create a popular 455 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:53,800 movement. 456 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:57,700 He's really seeking to thin the crowds of 457 00:24:57,700 --> 00:24:58,760 those that were following. 458 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:03,480 Count the cost. 459 00:25:04,580 --> 00:25:08,360 What king going to make war against another 460 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:12,620 king doesn't sit down first and consults whether 461 00:25:12,620 --> 00:25:15,080 he is able with 10,000 to meet 462 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,240 him who was coming against him with 20 463 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,360 ,000, or else while the other is still 464 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:21,460 a great way off, he sends his ambassadors 465 00:25:21,460 --> 00:25:24,400 and desires conditions of peace. 466 00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:29,520 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that 467 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:33,120 forsaketh not all that he has cannot be 468 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:33,820 my disciple. 469 00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:35,680 Now you count the cost. 470 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,120 Unless you're willing to forsake everything, you can't 471 00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:41,260 really be my disciple. 472 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:43,820 Unless you're willing to take up your cross, 473 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,100 you can't be my disciple. 474 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,980 Unless you love me supremely, you cannot be 475 00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:49,820 my disciple. 476 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,980 The terms of discipleship are harsh. 477 00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:56,080 They are severe, and it is wrong when 478 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,900 people tell you just accept Jesus and you're 479 00:25:58,900 --> 00:26:00,480 not going to have any more problems. 480 00:26:00,580 --> 00:26:02,140 My all your problems will be over. 481 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,280 All your problems stems because you don't know 482 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:04,600 Jesus. 483 00:26:04,660 --> 00:26:07,120 Listen, many times when you accept Jesus, your 484 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:08,320 problems are just beginning. 485 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:11,160 It's not easy. 486 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,460 It's not going to be easy. 487 00:26:12,540 --> 00:26:14,420 The Lord doesn't say it's going to be 488 00:26:14,420 --> 00:26:14,720 easy. 489 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:16,420 He said it's going to be tough and 490 00:26:16,420 --> 00:26:18,380 you better sit down first and count the 491 00:26:18,380 --> 00:26:18,800 cost. 492 00:26:21,150 --> 00:26:22,910 Better not that you get started in it 493 00:26:22,910 --> 00:26:24,370 if you can't finish it, if you're not 494 00:26:24,370 --> 00:26:25,290 willing to finish it. 495 00:26:25,350 --> 00:26:28,190 You make an accounting here and determine whether 496 00:26:28,190 --> 00:26:30,550 or not you're really willing to pay the 497 00:26:30,550 --> 00:26:33,030 price to go all the way through. 498 00:26:34,390 --> 00:26:37,170 Because unless you're willing to forsake everything, really 499 00:26:37,170 --> 00:26:39,130 you can't be my disciple. 500 00:26:41,110 --> 00:26:43,110 Heavy, hard words. 501 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:50,030 And then he said salt is good, but 502 00:26:50,030 --> 00:26:54,960 if the salt has lost its tang, who 503 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:56,420 will use it for seasoning? 504 00:26:57,980 --> 00:27:00,920 It is neither fit for the land nor 505 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:04,280 for the dunghill, but men will cast it 506 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:04,640 out. 507 00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:08,380 He that hath ears to hear, let him 508 00:27:08,380 --> 00:27:08,660 hear. 509 00:27:10,660 --> 00:27:13,400 In those days, salt was used for three 510 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:14,560 basic things. 511 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:18,500 Salt was used, number one, as a preservative. 512 00:27:20,860 --> 00:27:25,500 When they would butcher, they would roast the 513 00:27:25,500 --> 00:27:29,140 meat right away, that meat that they didn't 514 00:27:29,140 --> 00:27:31,940 roast, they would salt because they did not 515 00:27:31,940 --> 00:27:33,100 have refrigeration. 516 00:27:34,420 --> 00:27:40,220 And the salt has an antiseptic type of 517 00:27:40,220 --> 00:27:40,720 an effect. 518 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,700 It kills the bacteria on the surface of 519 00:27:43,700 --> 00:27:45,500 the meat and preserves the meat. 520 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,380 Salt was used as a seasoning to flavor 521 00:27:51,380 --> 00:27:54,940 the food like we use salt today, to 522 00:27:54,940 --> 00:27:56,740 add a little zing to the food, to 523 00:27:56,740 --> 00:27:57,380 the taste. 524 00:27:58,740 --> 00:28:01,200 Oats without salt are flat. 525 00:28:05,710 --> 00:28:09,530 Just a little salt really makes a difference. 526 00:28:11,070 --> 00:28:12,050 Every once in a while when we were 527 00:28:12,050 --> 00:28:13,950 kids, mom would forget to put the salt 528 00:28:13,950 --> 00:28:14,170 in. 529 00:28:14,670 --> 00:28:16,030 Oh man, was that flat. 530 00:28:18,090 --> 00:28:23,290 Potatoes without salt, mashed potatoes, flat. 531 00:28:26,150 --> 00:28:27,670 Amazing what a little salt will do for 532 00:28:27,670 --> 00:28:28,370 mashed potatoes. 533 00:28:31,870 --> 00:28:32,630 You're the salt. 534 00:28:34,210 --> 00:28:37,770 Salt is good, but if it's lost its 535 00:28:37,770 --> 00:28:38,890 savor, it's not good. 536 00:28:42,820 --> 00:28:45,220 Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount talked 537 00:28:45,220 --> 00:28:47,240 about salt in an earlier part of his 538 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:47,660 ministry. 539 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:49,080 You're the salt of the earth. 540 00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:51,120 Again, talking about if the salt is lost 541 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:52,900 its savor, wherewith will it be salted? 542 00:28:53,460 --> 00:28:55,060 Sends forth good for nothing but to be 543 00:28:55,060 --> 00:28:56,980 cast out and trodden under the foot of 544 00:28:56,980 --> 00:28:57,300 man. 545 00:28:58,980 --> 00:29:02,540 Salt is good if it's tangy. 546 00:29:03,100 --> 00:29:04,680 If it isn't, it's worthless. 547 00:29:04,940 --> 00:29:06,840 The third purpose for salt was to put 548 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,420 it on the paths to kill the vegetation 549 00:29:09,420 --> 00:29:14,160 so that they would keep the paths cleared 550 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,200 from vegetation by just putting salt on it 551 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,840 and the salt destroys the vegetation from growing 552 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:19,460 on the pathway. 553 00:29:19,580 --> 00:29:20,500 So it's a weed killer. 554 00:29:30,230 --> 00:29:31,850 You as a child of God should have 555 00:29:31,850 --> 00:29:37,810 a preserving effect in the society in which 556 00:29:37,810 --> 00:29:38,290 you live. 557 00:29:41,260 --> 00:29:49,820 Our rotten society testifies against the church, bears 558 00:29:49,820 --> 00:29:51,400 witness against the church. 559 00:29:56,530 --> 00:30:02,970 But you should have sort of a, what 560 00:30:02,970 --> 00:30:05,750 should you say, a zingy effect wherever you 561 00:30:05,750 --> 00:30:06,070 go. 562 00:30:07,310 --> 00:30:11,210 You should add zest and flavor because of 563 00:30:11,210 --> 00:30:12,950 your walk with Jesus Christ. 564 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,680 Salt has another capacity of making people thirsty 565 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:25,760 and you should be creating a thirst in 566 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:26,220 people. 567 00:30:29,090 --> 00:30:33,770 Then drew near to him all of the 568 00:30:33,770 --> 00:30:36,010 publicans and sinners to hear him. 569 00:30:37,250 --> 00:30:40,110 And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured saying, 570 00:30:40,710 --> 00:30:43,110 this man receives sinners and he eats with 571 00:30:43,110 --> 00:30:43,390 them. 572 00:30:45,490 --> 00:30:50,070 Notice the four groups that had gathered divided 573 00:30:50,070 --> 00:30:51,570 into two categories. 574 00:30:53,980 --> 00:30:56,680 First of all, the publicans and sinners, publicans 575 00:30:56,680 --> 00:31:00,940 were the tax collectors, the outcast of that 576 00:31:00,940 --> 00:31:01,680 society. 577 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:05,320 One of the most hated persons in the 578 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:05,780 community. 579 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,060 They were considered by the Jews to be 580 00:31:08,060 --> 00:31:10,460 traitors and quislings. 581 00:31:14,860 --> 00:31:17,280 And they were always classified with sinners. 582 00:31:19,020 --> 00:31:21,560 And so the publicans and the sinners had 583 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,740 gathered to hear Jesus. 584 00:31:23,940 --> 00:31:26,720 It's amazing that many of the publicans were 585 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:27,920 attracted to Jesus. 586 00:31:28,580 --> 00:31:32,280 Matthew was a publican called to be a 587 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:32,800 disciple. 588 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:36,040 He left his receipt of customs and he 589 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:36,940 followed Jesus. 590 00:31:38,260 --> 00:31:40,080 Zacchaeus was a publican. 591 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:48,180 And after his encounter with Jesus, he said, 592 00:31:48,260 --> 00:31:50,620 hold, I'll take half of my goods. 593 00:31:50,700 --> 00:31:52,160 They were always wealthy people. 594 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:55,540 I'll take half of my goods and give 595 00:31:55,540 --> 00:31:56,280 it to the poor. 596 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,780 And if I have taken fraudulently from many 597 00:31:58,780 --> 00:32:00,980 men, I'll restore to him twofold. 598 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:07,820 Jesus said, ah, today salvation has come to 599 00:32:07,820 --> 00:32:08,420 this house. 600 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:14,900 Obviously, the publicans were attracted to Jesus as 601 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:16,760 were the sinners because he had a message 602 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:17,700 of hope for them. 603 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:19,920 They gathered to hear. 604 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,060 But the others, the Pharisees and the scribes, 605 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:26,720 they gathered to find fault. 606 00:32:28,820 --> 00:32:34,660 They were looking for things by which they 607 00:32:34,660 --> 00:32:39,120 might accuse Jesus, waiting for a slip up, 608 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,560 waiting for some mistake so that they could 609 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,060 pounce upon it and accuse him. 610 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:54,640 And so they began to say, murmuring, he 611 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,700 receives sinners and eats with them. 612 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,680 They thought that they were saying something horrible 613 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:09,460 in condemning him. 614 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,340 But in reality, they were proclaiming a glorious 615 00:33:13,340 --> 00:33:14,000 gospel. 616 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,120 Jesus receives sinners. 617 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:23,260 And you can become one with him. 618 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:27,720 John wrote and said that which we have 619 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:29,760 seen and heard declare we unto you that 620 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,520 you might have fellowship with us. 621 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,920 And truly, our fellowship is with the Father 622 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,920 and his Son, Jesus Christ. 623 00:33:38,980 --> 00:33:42,300 He receives sinners and he eats with them. 624 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:43,920 He becomes one with them. 625 00:33:44,180 --> 00:33:46,520 He dips in the same sop with them. 626 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:48,700 He eats the same bread with them. 627 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:53,000 He's identifying with them. 628 00:33:54,500 --> 00:33:55,540 Yes, he does. 629 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:58,000 Thank God he does. 630 00:33:58,820 --> 00:34:01,040 And because he does, there's hope for every 631 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:01,760 one of us. 632 00:34:04,010 --> 00:34:06,270 And so there were those that were hearing 633 00:34:06,270 --> 00:34:09,090 him, desiring to hear him. 634 00:34:09,270 --> 00:34:12,389 And there were those who were seeking to 635 00:34:12,389 --> 00:34:18,610 find fault with him, looking for something to 636 00:34:18,610 --> 00:34:19,070 condemn. 637 00:34:21,810 --> 00:34:26,449 Now, what should have been if they were 638 00:34:26,449 --> 00:34:31,590 truly righteous men, the Pharisees and the Gentiles? 639 00:34:31,590 --> 00:34:35,409 If they were truly righteous men, what should 640 00:34:35,409 --> 00:34:42,650 be their attitude when sinners were responding to 641 00:34:42,650 --> 00:34:43,170 the gospel? 642 00:34:46,969 --> 00:34:51,889 What should be the reaction if we see 643 00:34:51,889 --> 00:34:52,790 sinners saved? 644 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:05,420 I oftentimes hear people criticize Billy Graham and 645 00:35:05,420 --> 00:35:06,360 his campaigns. 646 00:35:09,180 --> 00:35:14,040 And you see hundreds of people flowing forward 647 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:15,480 to accept Jesus Christ. 648 00:35:16,220 --> 00:35:20,680 And they say, yes, but a lot of 649 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:21,640 them don't stick. 650 00:35:23,740 --> 00:35:25,680 You know, and it's sour apples. 651 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:30,020 Rather than saying, oh, bless God, you know, 652 00:35:30,100 --> 00:35:31,360 look at that. 653 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:34,420 Praise the Lord, you know, and rejoicing that 654 00:35:34,420 --> 00:35:36,040 all these people are accepting the Lord. 655 00:35:37,720 --> 00:35:40,820 There's just, you know, they're looking for something 656 00:35:40,820 --> 00:35:41,620 to find fault. 657 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:44,120 Oh, you know, he preaches a cheap gospel 658 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:44,460 or something. 659 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:49,360 And when the hippies were coming to Jesus 660 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:56,550 by the hundreds, as I was going across 661 00:35:56,550 --> 00:35:58,250 the country, I'd have pastors come up to 662 00:35:58,250 --> 00:36:00,710 me and say, I saw pictures of your 663 00:36:00,710 --> 00:36:02,870 baptism at Corona del Mar, but when are 664 00:36:02,870 --> 00:36:04,170 they going to cut their hair? 665 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:09,760 You know, rather than saying, I saw the 666 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,460 pictures in my a thousand young people being 667 00:36:12,460 --> 00:36:12,720 baptized. 668 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:13,880 How glorious. 669 00:36:14,100 --> 00:36:15,320 Oh, bless God. 670 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:16,320 That's glorious. 671 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:17,460 That's thrilling. 672 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,020 You know, they've got to pick on something 673 00:36:23,020 --> 00:36:28,060 and can't really rejoice that the Lord receives 674 00:36:28,060 --> 00:36:35,280 sinners, but there's sour apples over it. 675 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:37,780 Jealous or whatever. 676 00:36:41,350 --> 00:36:44,950 And so Jesus spoke this parable unto them, 677 00:36:45,050 --> 00:36:45,550 unto who? 678 00:36:45,710 --> 00:36:53,670 Unto the Pharisees, the scribes, because of their 679 00:36:53,670 --> 00:36:54,950 sour apple remark. 680 00:36:57,900 --> 00:37:01,540 And he said, what man of you, if 681 00:37:01,540 --> 00:37:05,180 you have a hundred sheep and you lose 682 00:37:05,180 --> 00:37:08,280 one of them, will you not leave the 683 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:13,380 99 in the wilderness and go after that 684 00:37:13,380 --> 00:37:15,660 which is lost until you find it? 685 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:19,180 And when you have found it, you laid 686 00:37:19,180 --> 00:37:21,380 upon your shoulders rejoicing. 687 00:37:22,220 --> 00:37:24,960 And when he comes home, he calls together 688 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:26,620 his friends and his neighbors. 689 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,260 And he says unto them, rejoice with me 690 00:37:29,260 --> 00:37:33,000 for I have found my lost sheep, my 691 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:34,620 sheep that was lost. 692 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:40,080 So when you find the lost sheep, there 693 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:41,400 is the rejoicing. 694 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:43,580 There's the rejoicing in the neighborhood. 695 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:46,980 Rejoice, I've found the lost sheep. 696 00:37:48,380 --> 00:37:51,140 And then Jesus said unto you, I say 697 00:37:51,140 --> 00:37:56,480 unto you that likewise joy shall be in 698 00:37:56,480 --> 00:38:00,860 heaven over one sinner that repents. 699 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,900 More than 99 just persons who don't need 700 00:38:04,900 --> 00:38:05,540 to repent. 701 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,440 So while the guys down here are saying 702 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:11,460 when they're going to cut their hair, the 703 00:38:11,460 --> 00:38:15,060 angels are up having a whoopee time rejoicing 704 00:38:15,060 --> 00:38:17,160 that the lost has been found. 705 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:21,520 Joy in heaven. 706 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:26,480 And either what woman who has 10 pieces 707 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:34,280 of silver, if she loses one piece, does 708 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,660 not light a candle and sweep the house 709 00:38:36,660 --> 00:38:38,980 and seek diligently until she find it. 710 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:42,020 And when she had found it, she called 711 00:38:42,020 --> 00:38:44,720 her friends and her neighbors together saying, rejoice 712 00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:46,840 with me for I have found the piece 713 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:48,040 that was lost. 714 00:38:49,240 --> 00:38:52,760 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy 715 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:54,820 in the presence of the angels of God 716 00:38:54,820 --> 00:38:58,640 over one sinner that repents again. 717 00:39:00,140 --> 00:39:04,320 The natural response to finding that which is 718 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:05,720 lost is rejoicing. 719 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:08,600 And the Lord said there's joy in heaven 720 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:10,980 over just one sinner who repents. 721 00:39:13,450 --> 00:39:15,630 And then he said a certain man had 722 00:39:15,630 --> 00:39:20,020 two sons and the younger of them said 723 00:39:20,020 --> 00:39:23,540 to his father, father, give me the portion 724 00:39:23,540 --> 00:39:26,200 of goods that falleth to me. 725 00:39:27,060 --> 00:39:29,480 And so he divided unto him his living. 726 00:39:32,580 --> 00:39:39,080 Now, under the law, when there were two 727 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:42,120 sons, the older son received two thirds of 728 00:39:42,120 --> 00:39:45,100 the inheritance and the younger son received one 729 00:39:45,100 --> 00:39:46,800 third of the inheritance. 730 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:48,000 That was just the law. 731 00:39:50,180 --> 00:39:52,460 And many times if a father wanted to 732 00:39:52,460 --> 00:39:56,300 retire, he would divide the inheritance to the 733 00:39:56,300 --> 00:39:59,220 sons before his death. 734 00:40:02,710 --> 00:40:06,410 It would automatically belong to the son after 735 00:40:06,410 --> 00:40:07,670 the death of the father. 736 00:40:09,370 --> 00:40:11,830 But this boy had the audacity to come 737 00:40:11,830 --> 00:40:13,330 to his dad and say, dad, I'd like 738 00:40:13,330 --> 00:40:14,490 my inheritance now. 739 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:21,800 And so the father divided the inheritance and 740 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:26,260 not many days after the younger son had 741 00:40:26,260 --> 00:40:28,900 gathered everything together, he took his journey into 742 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:32,680 a far country and there he wasted his 743 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:35,440 substance with riotous living. 744 00:40:37,180 --> 00:40:41,120 And when he had spent everything, there arose 745 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:43,140 a mighty famine in that land and he 746 00:40:43,140 --> 00:40:44,800 began to be in want. 747 00:40:46,220 --> 00:40:48,620 And he went and joined himself to a 748 00:40:48,620 --> 00:40:51,320 citizen of that country and he sent him 749 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:53,920 into the fields to feed the swine, which 750 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:56,840 was, of course, a job that was forbidden 751 00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:58,040 to the Jews. 752 00:40:58,220 --> 00:41:00,280 Cursed is the man that feeds the swine. 753 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:05,460 And he fain would have filled his belly 754 00:41:05,460 --> 00:41:08,000 with the husk that the swine did eat. 755 00:41:09,240 --> 00:41:11,960 And no man would give to him. 756 00:41:13,780 --> 00:41:18,130 And so when he came to himself, he 757 00:41:18,130 --> 00:41:23,010 said, how many hired servants of my father's 758 00:41:23,010 --> 00:41:26,070 have enough bread that they can spare? 759 00:41:26,690 --> 00:41:29,330 And yet I'm dying with hunger. 760 00:41:30,210 --> 00:41:32,610 I will arise and go to my father 761 00:41:32,610 --> 00:41:35,030 and will say to him, father, I have 762 00:41:35,030 --> 00:41:36,790 sinned against heaven and before thee. 763 00:41:37,450 --> 00:41:39,570 I'm no more worthy to be called your 764 00:41:39,570 --> 00:41:41,790 son, but make me as one of your 765 00:41:41,790 --> 00:41:42,790 hired servants. 766 00:41:43,810 --> 00:41:46,070 And he arose and he came to his 767 00:41:46,070 --> 00:41:46,490 father. 768 00:41:46,650 --> 00:41:48,090 But when he was yet a great way 769 00:41:48,090 --> 00:41:51,510 off, his father saw him and had compassion 770 00:41:51,510 --> 00:41:54,350 and ran and fell on his neck and 771 00:41:54,350 --> 00:41:55,250 kissed him. 772 00:41:56,650 --> 00:41:59,430 And the son said unto him, father, I 773 00:41:59,430 --> 00:42:01,710 have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, 774 00:42:01,910 --> 00:42:03,830 I'm no more worthy to be called thy 775 00:42:03,830 --> 00:42:04,170 son. 776 00:42:04,310 --> 00:42:07,950 But the father said to his servants, bring 777 00:42:07,950 --> 00:42:11,190 forth the best robe, put it on him, 778 00:42:12,150 --> 00:42:19,430 put a ring on him, family signet ring 779 00:42:19,430 --> 00:42:23,150 and put shoes on his feet. 780 00:42:24,430 --> 00:42:27,290 Shoes on the feet were significant because the 781 00:42:27,290 --> 00:42:31,450 slaves were never given shoes, only the family 782 00:42:31,450 --> 00:42:33,650 members, only the son. 783 00:42:34,390 --> 00:42:36,650 The slaves were never given shoes by their 784 00:42:36,650 --> 00:42:37,110 masters. 785 00:42:38,110 --> 00:42:45,880 That's why in that old Negro spiritual that 786 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:48,020 came out of the slave days. 787 00:42:51,140 --> 00:42:53,140 You got a shoes, I got a shoes, 788 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:55,020 all God's children got shoes when we get 789 00:42:55,020 --> 00:42:56,420 to heaven, going to put on a shoes, 790 00:42:59,850 --> 00:43:01,270 not going to be a slave anymore. 791 00:43:01,670 --> 00:43:03,430 I'm a son, I'm a child of God. 792 00:43:04,730 --> 00:43:07,410 And and that that him look forward to 793 00:43:07,410 --> 00:43:10,190 that day when they would have shoes, they 794 00:43:10,190 --> 00:43:12,170 would be acclaimed the sons of God in 795 00:43:12,170 --> 00:43:13,190 that heavenly kingdom. 796 00:43:14,010 --> 00:43:16,030 Because that was just one thing about slavery. 797 00:43:16,110 --> 00:43:18,070 You never gave your slave a pair of 798 00:43:18,070 --> 00:43:18,450 shoes. 799 00:43:19,630 --> 00:43:21,650 So the son said, hey, I'm not worthy 800 00:43:21,650 --> 00:43:24,450 to be, you know, called your son just 801 00:43:24,450 --> 00:43:24,890 a servant. 802 00:43:24,970 --> 00:43:26,750 The dad didn't even let him finish his 803 00:43:26,750 --> 00:43:27,070 speech. 804 00:43:27,090 --> 00:43:31,340 He said, put the shoes on him and 805 00:43:31,340 --> 00:43:34,120 bring hither the fatted calf and kill it 806 00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:37,180 and let us eat and let's be merry 807 00:43:37,180 --> 00:43:38,860 for this. 808 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:41,700 My son was dead and is alive again. 809 00:43:42,420 --> 00:43:44,200 He was lost and is found. 810 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:47,080 And they began to be merry. 811 00:43:48,740 --> 00:43:52,200 Now, his elder son was in the field. 812 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:55,420 And as he came and drew night to 813 00:43:55,420 --> 00:43:56,840 the house, he heard the music. 814 00:43:56,840 --> 00:44:01,060 He saw the dancing and he called one 815 00:44:01,060 --> 00:44:02,560 of the servants and he said, what's going 816 00:44:02,560 --> 00:44:02,960 on? 817 00:44:04,100 --> 00:44:06,780 And he said to him, your brothers come 818 00:44:06,780 --> 00:44:09,380 home and your father has killed the fatted 819 00:44:09,380 --> 00:44:11,760 calf because he has received him safe and 820 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:12,280 sound. 821 00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:16,100 And he was angry and would not go 822 00:44:16,100 --> 00:44:16,560 in. 823 00:44:17,300 --> 00:44:20,500 And therefore, his father came out and entreated 824 00:44:20,500 --> 00:44:20,940 him. 825 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:25,720 And he answering said to his father, lo, 826 00:44:26,080 --> 00:44:28,860 these many years I have served thee and 827 00:44:28,860 --> 00:44:32,680 I didn't transgress at any time your commandment. 828 00:44:33,020 --> 00:44:34,920 And yet you never gave me a kid 829 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:36,740 that I might have a party with my 830 00:44:36,740 --> 00:44:37,340 friends. 831 00:44:38,100 --> 00:44:40,420 But as soon as this, your son was 832 00:44:40,420 --> 00:44:44,160 come who has devoured your living with prostitutes. 833 00:44:45,240 --> 00:44:47,920 You've killed for him the fatted calf. 834 00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:56,520 Now, here is really the real point of 835 00:44:56,520 --> 00:45:03,690 the parable, though it may teach many things. 836 00:45:04,810 --> 00:45:08,430 The parable was intended against the Pharisees. 837 00:45:08,510 --> 00:45:11,310 All three were actually, but he's building up 838 00:45:13,140 --> 00:45:14,920 in the parables. 839 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:20,840 In each of them, there is something lost 840 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:23,640 that was found. 841 00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:28,640 And the result of finding that which was 842 00:45:28,640 --> 00:45:32,500 lost was rejoicing, happiness. 843 00:45:35,840 --> 00:45:41,080 Jesus receives sinners that shouldn't be said in 844 00:45:41,080 --> 00:45:44,720 a derogatory sense that should be set said 845 00:45:44,720 --> 00:45:46,620 in a rejoicing sentence. 846 00:45:47,580 --> 00:45:49,080 Jesus received sinners. 847 00:45:49,260 --> 00:45:52,180 There's hope friend rejoice. 848 00:45:52,520 --> 00:45:54,100 Jesus received sinners. 849 00:45:54,460 --> 00:45:56,360 And yet they were not saying it with 850 00:45:56,360 --> 00:45:59,880 that inflection, but they were saying it in 851 00:45:59,880 --> 00:46:01,200 a derogatory sense. 852 00:46:01,440 --> 00:46:03,940 He receives sinners and eats with them. 853 00:46:08,370 --> 00:46:13,150 And so where the natural reaction to finding 854 00:46:13,150 --> 00:46:16,270 something that is lost should be rejoicing. 855 00:46:16,670 --> 00:46:21,540 The Pharisees are angry. 856 00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:24,100 They're condemning. 857 00:46:25,260 --> 00:46:27,340 They're sitting back and judging. 858 00:46:29,320 --> 00:46:31,840 And so the story was given. 859 00:46:32,180 --> 00:46:37,720 And in the third story, Jesus adds the 860 00:46:37,720 --> 00:46:43,400 older brother and his attitude towards the rejoicing 861 00:46:43,400 --> 00:46:47,320 because the father receives sinners. 862 00:46:49,120 --> 00:46:53,060 And here he is out there sulking, angry, 863 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:54,120 upset. 864 00:46:54,460 --> 00:46:56,100 I'm not going to join in. 865 00:46:57,360 --> 00:46:59,420 You've never done anything like this for me. 866 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:05,660 And his sulking attitude because the father received 867 00:47:05,660 --> 00:47:06,800 the sinner. 868 00:47:09,330 --> 00:47:11,430 He went out and spent everything he had 869 00:47:11,430 --> 00:47:12,550 on prostitutes. 870 00:47:13,570 --> 00:47:14,350 He's a sinner. 871 00:47:15,070 --> 00:47:16,770 Yet you have a big party because he 872 00:47:16,770 --> 00:47:17,330 comes home. 873 00:47:20,140 --> 00:47:22,480 The same attitude that the Pharisees were expressed 874 00:47:23,520 --> 00:47:27,040 expressing to me. 875 00:47:27,120 --> 00:47:29,020 It is interesting that the father said, son, 876 00:47:30,520 --> 00:47:31,920 you are ever with me. 877 00:47:32,900 --> 00:47:34,960 And all that I have is yours. 878 00:47:35,080 --> 00:47:37,180 You see, the younger son had taken his 879 00:47:37,180 --> 00:47:37,640 inheritance. 880 00:47:38,760 --> 00:47:40,900 So everything that was left belonged to the 881 00:47:40,900 --> 00:47:41,440 older son. 882 00:47:42,340 --> 00:47:44,140 All that I have is yours. 883 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:47,820 And it was necessary that we should have 884 00:47:47,820 --> 00:47:49,800 this party and be glad for this. 885 00:47:49,900 --> 00:47:51,880 Your brother was dead and is alive again. 886 00:47:52,240 --> 00:47:55,940 He was lost and is found because the 887 00:47:55,940 --> 00:47:59,240 Lord receives sinners and eats with them. 888 00:48:00,540 --> 00:48:02,260 The lost is found. 889 00:48:03,300 --> 00:48:06,500 Jesus said, I've come to seek and to 890 00:48:06,500 --> 00:48:08,760 save that which was lost. 891 00:48:09,560 --> 00:48:18,270 And so we so often hear marvelous sermons 892 00:48:18,270 --> 00:48:21,310 preached from the parable of the prodigal son. 893 00:48:23,380 --> 00:48:26,300 But rarely do we ever hear a message 894 00:48:26,300 --> 00:48:30,300 that really gives the true meaning of the 895 00:48:30,300 --> 00:48:33,780 parable or the real reason for the parable. 896 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:39,240 The reason wasn't just to show the father 897 00:48:40,750 --> 00:48:44,910 receiving with joy a son that was lost. 898 00:48:46,110 --> 00:48:49,470 But the parable was used to show the 899 00:48:49,470 --> 00:48:54,770 Pharisees how wrong was their condemnation of him 900 00:48:54,770 --> 00:48:58,890 when they said he receives sinners and eats 901 00:48:58,890 --> 00:48:59,410 with them. 902 00:49:00,610 --> 00:49:03,350 They should have been rejoicing over it rather 903 00:49:03,350 --> 00:49:05,290 than griping over it. 904 00:49:06,150 --> 00:49:11,240 May God help us that we will not 905 00:49:11,240 --> 00:49:16,420 have a pharisaical attitude towards the work of 906 00:49:16,420 --> 00:49:20,360 God in receiving sinners. 907 00:49:21,480 --> 00:49:24,380 Because maybe he is receiving them at some 908 00:49:24,380 --> 00:49:26,780 other church in the county rather than here. 909 00:49:30,100 --> 00:49:32,720 It doesn't matter where he receives them. 910 00:49:32,840 --> 00:49:35,180 Let's rejoice he is receiving them. 911 00:49:38,340 --> 00:49:41,460 Let's pray that God will send a great 912 00:49:41,460 --> 00:49:45,500 spiritual awakening throughout the county in every church. 913 00:49:47,650 --> 00:49:50,110 Let's not be so short-sighted or narrow 914 00:49:50,110 --> 00:49:53,310 -minded that we're only praying for God's blessing 915 00:49:53,310 --> 00:50:02,420 upon Calvary Chapel because God knows we can't 916 00:50:02,420 --> 00:50:03,300 house them all. 917 00:50:06,340 --> 00:50:10,880 But let us begin to really pray that 918 00:50:10,880 --> 00:50:15,780 God will revive his church throughout this entire 919 00:50:15,780 --> 00:50:16,280 county. 920 00:50:17,400 --> 00:50:21,340 And that sinners will be brought to Christ. 921 00:50:21,780 --> 00:50:26,340 That the Lord might receive sinners anywhere, everywhere. 922 00:50:28,360 --> 00:50:31,240 That there'll be revival in the Baptist church, 923 00:50:31,340 --> 00:50:34,120 in the Methodist church, in the Lutheran churches, 924 00:50:34,120 --> 00:50:35,740 in the Presbyterian churches. 925 00:50:36,080 --> 00:50:39,520 Oh, let's just pray that God might be 926 00:50:39,520 --> 00:50:42,320 able to receive sinners in all of these 927 00:50:42,320 --> 00:50:42,760 churches. 928 00:50:44,240 --> 00:50:46,600 That there will be a real move of 929 00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:49,540 God's Spirit throughout the whole area. 930 00:50:50,740 --> 00:50:54,600 And if we hear of revival somewhere, let's 931 00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:59,120 not go and try and find the faults 932 00:50:59,120 --> 00:51:02,020 that may exist in their doctrines or their 933 00:51:02,020 --> 00:51:03,060 doctrinal positions. 934 00:51:03,280 --> 00:51:05,720 Well, they, Lord, didn't follow us and so 935 00:51:05,720 --> 00:51:07,320 we told them not to do it. 936 00:51:08,100 --> 00:51:10,220 And Jesus said, you shouldn't have done that. 937 00:51:17,300 --> 00:51:19,500 You know, if they're out there doing it 938 00:51:19,500 --> 00:51:21,140 in my name, they can't very well be 939 00:51:21,140 --> 00:51:22,000 against us. 940 00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:23,840 Don't stop them. 941 00:51:27,970 --> 00:51:33,050 God delivers from narrow sectarianism, from an attitude 942 00:51:33,050 --> 00:51:37,920 of the Pharisee, but to the same heart 943 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:43,940 of Jesus and rejoice that the Lord receives 944 00:51:43,940 --> 00:51:45,120 sinners and eats with them. 945 00:51:46,300 --> 00:51:47,200 So, we pray. 946 00:51:48,080 --> 00:51:51,640 Father, we thank you that you have received 947 00:51:51,640 --> 00:51:56,240 us and we've had that glorious joy of 948 00:51:56,240 --> 00:52:02,630 eating with you, sitting down, Lord, and partaking 949 00:52:02,630 --> 00:52:05,830 of thee, the bread of life. 950 00:52:09,780 --> 00:52:16,460 Lord, we pray that today our hearts will 951 00:52:16,460 --> 00:52:17,980 be united with yours. 952 00:52:19,000 --> 00:52:23,540 Our visions will be united with yours. 953 00:52:24,660 --> 00:52:28,200 And that we, Lord, might come to that 954 00:52:28,200 --> 00:52:33,440 place of rejoicing in thy work wherever it 955 00:52:33,440 --> 00:52:39,690 is being done and by whomever it is 956 00:52:39,690 --> 00:52:40,410 being done. 957 00:52:44,240 --> 00:52:49,800 Lord, keep us from that narrowness that would 958 00:52:49,800 --> 00:52:54,720 seek to restrict your work only in our 959 00:52:54,720 --> 00:52:59,180 midst, that would seek to restrict your blessings 960 00:52:59,180 --> 00:53:01,300 only to our fellowship. 961 00:53:04,570 --> 00:53:06,250 And Lord, may we seek and pray for 962 00:53:06,250 --> 00:53:10,130 your blessings upon all who call upon your 963 00:53:10,130 --> 00:53:11,070 name in truth. 964 00:53:12,630 --> 00:53:14,450 In Jesus' name we pray. 965 00:53:15,790 --> 00:53:16,510 Amen. 966 00:53:18,010 --> 00:53:23,010 Next week, chapters 16 and 17. 967 00:53:24,710 --> 00:53:32,920 Next week in chapter 16, tremendously interesting discussion 968 00:53:32,920 --> 00:53:37,000 by Jesus on the subject of Hades. 969 00:53:38,120 --> 00:53:40,760 That place that is in the center of 970 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:41,280 the earth. 971 00:53:43,930 --> 00:53:46,690 And so, we'll be looking at this subject 972 00:53:46,690 --> 00:53:50,690 of Hades next Sunday evening and what Jesus 973 00:53:50,690 --> 00:53:54,370 has to say about it in contrast to 974 00:53:54,370 --> 00:53:56,990 what the Jehovah Witnesses have to say about 975 00:53:56,990 --> 00:53:57,250 it. 976 00:54:00,380 --> 00:54:02,380 And you'll have to determine whether or not 977 00:54:02,380 --> 00:54:05,740 you want to believe Jesus or the Jehovah 978 00:54:05,740 --> 00:54:06,640 Witnesses. 979 00:54:07,800 --> 00:54:10,080 I've already made my mind up. 980 00:54:15,100 --> 00:54:16,800 May the Lord be with you now and 981 00:54:16,800 --> 00:54:19,900 go before you this week and bless you 982 00:54:19,900 --> 00:54:22,780 with his blessings and with his love. 983 00:54:22,920 --> 00:54:24,540 May he keep his hand upon you and 984 00:54:24,540 --> 00:54:26,500 may he guide you in each of the 985 00:54:26,500 --> 00:54:28,340 decisions that you'll have to make. 986 00:54:29,680 --> 00:54:31,280 That you might be led of the Lord 987 00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:32,160 in all things. 988 00:54:33,580 --> 00:54:35,820 May the good hand of our Lord be 989 00:54:35,820 --> 00:54:36,560 upon you. 990 00:54:38,100 --> 00:54:39,280 In Jesus' name.