1 00:00:02,969 --> 00:00:06,873 We're wrapping up Matthew 11 today, 2 00:00:06,873 --> 00:00:10,243 and there is a lot in these few verses 3 00:00:10,243 --> 00:00:13,246 that we're going to go over. 4 00:00:15,949 --> 00:00:18,051 And I'm going to tell you right now. 5 00:00:18,051 --> 00:00:20,020 This is a 6 00:00:20,020 --> 00:00:22,155 tough 7 00:00:22,155 --> 00:00:24,357 section of scripture, 8 00:00:24,357 --> 00:00:27,360 verses 20 through 30 of Matthew 11 9 00:00:27,527 --> 00:00:30,530 is not a section of Scripture. 10 00:00:31,498 --> 00:00:34,200 Pastors preach on on Sunday morning, 11 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,203 especially leading up to Easter. 12 00:00:38,671 --> 00:00:42,108 But one of the things that we value here 13 00:00:42,108 --> 00:00:45,412 at this church is God's infallible word 14 00:00:46,379 --> 00:00:49,249 that we believe it is breathed out by God, 15 00:00:49,249 --> 00:00:52,285 that is inspired, that's profitable 16 00:00:52,786 --> 00:00:56,089 for teaching and correcting, rebuking and training and righteousness. 17 00:00:56,823 --> 00:00:58,591 Every bit of it. 18 00:00:58,591 --> 00:01:03,063 And so we value it, we honor it and we teach it and we study it 19 00:01:03,730 --> 00:01:04,531 every bit of it. 20 00:01:04,531 --> 00:01:05,732 And one of the reasons 21 00:01:05,732 --> 00:01:09,536 why many of you are here, because you know that we don't bypass the tough stuff. 22 00:01:12,772 --> 00:01:15,775 I realize that we like some parts of Scripture on it's 23 00:01:15,809 --> 00:01:18,578 easy to preach to those who grab on those like John 1010, 24 00:01:18,578 --> 00:01:20,880 I came that you might have life and life in all its fullness. 25 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,650 Like, yeah, I love that Jesus. 26 00:01:23,650 --> 00:01:26,653 And there's other passages of Scripture you think, 27 00:01:28,455 --> 00:01:31,458 I don't know that I want to read this 28 00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:34,494 and let alone preach on it, 29 00:01:34,494 --> 00:01:36,096 but we value it. 30 00:01:36,096 --> 00:01:40,100 And so we go right through Scripture and we're in this section of, of Matthew 11. 31 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:42,001 It's going to be tough 32 00:01:42,001 --> 00:01:44,771 in verses one through 19 of this chapter. 33 00:01:44,771 --> 00:01:47,607 We looked at the doubting disciple, 34 00:01:47,607 --> 00:01:49,909 people who believed, people who had been faithful, 35 00:01:49,909 --> 00:01:53,079 but they got to a place in their life like John the Baptist was in prison, 36 00:01:53,079 --> 00:01:54,948 where you just start thinking, okay, your time out. 37 00:01:56,282 --> 00:01:57,717 Like everything that I thought 38 00:01:57,717 --> 00:02:00,186 I was going to get from God, none of it's panned out. 39 00:02:00,186 --> 00:02:03,189 I don't know if I got this thing wrong 40 00:02:03,590 --> 00:02:05,625 right? 41 00:02:05,625 --> 00:02:08,895 Like, I was hoping I would receive something different from God and 42 00:02:10,230 --> 00:02:13,233 and apparently my agenda, his agenda are two different things. 43 00:02:13,867 --> 00:02:16,536 Did I get it wrong? 44 00:02:16,536 --> 00:02:17,904 That's the first 19 verses. 45 00:02:17,904 --> 00:02:20,073 And now we come to these verses 20 through 30. 46 00:02:20,073 --> 00:02:22,175 And it's not about the doubting disciple. 47 00:02:22,175 --> 00:02:25,178 It's about the person of indifference. 48 00:02:26,679 --> 00:02:27,080 That I've. 49 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,182 I've heard the word, I've heard about Jesus. 50 00:02:29,182 --> 00:02:32,185 I've even seen God act in. 51 00:02:32,619 --> 00:02:35,622 I'm just indifferent at this point. 52 00:02:36,956 --> 00:02:37,590 Tell you right now 53 00:02:37,590 --> 00:02:40,560 that today is not going to be easy, but it's going to be good. 54 00:02:41,361 --> 00:02:43,196 Here's a big idea. 55 00:02:43,196 --> 00:02:45,064 Indifference is not neutrality. 56 00:02:46,232 --> 00:02:47,534 Indifference is subtle. 57 00:02:47,534 --> 00:02:50,537 Opposition and opposition is deadly. 58 00:02:51,604 --> 00:02:53,940 See, the fact that someone might just feel 59 00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:57,677 indifferent towards Christ haven't made up my mind. It. 60 00:02:57,677 --> 00:03:00,079 I'm not sure. 61 00:03:00,079 --> 00:03:03,082 That's not a neutral stance. 62 00:03:03,149 --> 00:03:05,685 According to Scripture. 63 00:03:05,685 --> 00:03:06,753 It's opposition. 64 00:03:06,753 --> 00:03:09,923 It might feel subtle in its opposition. 65 00:03:10,023 --> 00:03:12,992 Like I'm not outright cursing God. 66 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:16,663 I'm not outright rejecting Jesus. 67 00:03:16,996 --> 00:03:17,730 I'm just. 68 00:03:17,730 --> 00:03:19,766 I just I'm undecided. 69 00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:21,134 The Bible talks about that. 70 00:03:21,134 --> 00:03:22,502 That is opposition. 71 00:03:22,502 --> 00:03:24,571 And please understand Matthew 11. 72 00:03:24,571 --> 00:03:26,005 We're going to talk about it today. 73 00:03:26,005 --> 00:03:29,008 That opposition is deadly. 74 00:03:31,311 --> 00:03:33,613 Matthew 11 frames understand 75 00:03:33,613 --> 00:03:37,350 this frames opposition as inaction. 76 00:03:38,718 --> 00:03:41,721 When I receive from God. 77 00:03:43,022 --> 00:03:46,025 And I remain inactive towards God. 78 00:03:47,193 --> 00:03:49,195 Jesus frames out of Matthew 11 79 00:03:49,195 --> 00:03:52,198 as opposition to God. 80 00:03:54,801 --> 00:03:56,102 Let me just read this whole. 81 00:03:56,102 --> 00:03:58,638 Let me read the whole. Let me read the whole section. 82 00:03:59,973 --> 00:04:02,976 It'll be good just to get a broad view of 83 00:04:03,009 --> 00:04:06,012 of where we're going. 84 00:04:08,848 --> 00:04:10,917 Start in verse 20. 85 00:04:10,917 --> 00:04:13,953 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty 86 00:04:13,953 --> 00:04:17,190 works had been done, because they did not repent. 87 00:04:17,824 --> 00:04:20,827 Woe to you, cause in woe to you, Bethsaida! 88 00:04:21,261 --> 00:04:24,631 For if the mighty works done, and you had been in tire and Sidon, 89 00:04:24,631 --> 00:04:27,634 they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 90 00:04:28,368 --> 00:04:30,637 But I tell you, it will be more bearable 91 00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:33,640 on the day of judgment for Tire and Sidon than for you. 92 00:04:34,073 --> 00:04:37,710 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? 93 00:04:38,177 --> 00:04:40,680 No. You'll be brought down to Hades, 94 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,549 for the mighty works done in you have been done in Sodom. 95 00:04:43,549 --> 00:04:46,552 It would have remained until this day. Wow! 96 00:04:46,753 --> 00:04:49,722 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the Day of judgment 97 00:04:49,722 --> 00:04:51,257 for the land of Sodom than for you. 98 00:04:52,458 --> 00:04:52,792 At that 99 00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:55,795 time Jesus declared, I thank you, father, Lord of heaven and earth, 100 00:04:55,895 --> 00:04:56,763 that you have hidden 101 00:04:56,763 --> 00:05:00,300 these things from the wise understanding and revealed them to little children. 102 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,803 Yes, father, for such was your gracious will. 103 00:05:04,070 --> 00:05:06,839 All things have been handed over to me by my father. 104 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,509 And no one knows the son except the father. 105 00:05:09,509 --> 00:05:11,944 And no one knows the father except the son. 106 00:05:11,944 --> 00:05:15,048 And anyone to whom the soon son chooses to reveal him. 107 00:05:16,215 --> 00:05:16,983 Come to me. 108 00:05:16,983 --> 00:05:21,087 All who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 109 00:05:21,554 --> 00:05:24,190 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle 110 00:05:24,190 --> 00:05:27,193 and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 111 00:05:27,460 --> 00:05:30,263 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 112 00:05:31,964 --> 00:05:34,033 Jesus. 113 00:05:34,033 --> 00:05:37,036 In this passage, Jesus moves into this 114 00:05:37,770 --> 00:05:40,807 pronouncement of judgment and condemnation 115 00:05:41,841 --> 00:05:45,812 on some city, specifically carousing and Bethsaida. 116 00:05:46,145 --> 00:05:49,949 And he says, it's better for you if you never existed, 117 00:05:51,050 --> 00:05:53,753 because you saw the mighty works 118 00:05:53,753 --> 00:05:56,756 that I did there, and you didn't repent. 119 00:05:57,056 --> 00:05:59,492 Now we don't know what the mighty works were 120 00:05:59,492 --> 00:06:02,462 that Jesus did in causing it to say that we don't have record of it. 121 00:06:02,762 --> 00:06:05,732 It's not in the Bible, so we don't know. 122 00:06:05,798 --> 00:06:08,234 But apparently there were a lot. 123 00:06:08,234 --> 00:06:11,671 The the Gospel of John records at the end of that gospel. 124 00:06:11,871 --> 00:06:15,241 Jesus did many more works which are not recorded in this book. 125 00:06:15,241 --> 00:06:17,310 If they had been recorded, the world wouldn't have enough room 126 00:06:17,310 --> 00:06:19,979 to fill to hold all the all of those books. 127 00:06:19,979 --> 00:06:21,647 So apparently there were a lot. 128 00:06:23,783 --> 00:06:26,753 And Jesus says, woe to you, 129 00:06:26,753 --> 00:06:30,990 because if the what was done in you was done entire inside, 130 00:06:30,990 --> 00:06:34,560 and they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes, and you never repented. 131 00:06:35,395 --> 00:06:39,065 Now the fact that he compares them 132 00:06:39,866 --> 00:06:43,436 to tire and Sidon doesn't mean much to us, because we don't know 133 00:06:43,836 --> 00:06:46,672 much about tire and Sidon. 134 00:06:46,672 --> 00:06:48,674 And I want to explain to you a little bit 135 00:06:48,674 --> 00:06:51,677 about Tire and Sidon, because this will put it into perspective. 136 00:06:52,278 --> 00:06:55,314 Tire and Sidon were non Hebrew cities. 137 00:06:55,314 --> 00:06:56,449 There were non-Jewish cities. 138 00:06:56,449 --> 00:06:58,518 They were gentile. 139 00:06:58,518 --> 00:07:01,921 They weren't ordinary gentile cities, though. 140 00:07:02,822 --> 00:07:05,792 They were symbols of the arrogance 141 00:07:05,792 --> 00:07:09,962 behind wealth and idolatry, full of moral corruption. 142 00:07:10,696 --> 00:07:13,699 There were seaport cities on the Mediterranean. 143 00:07:16,569 --> 00:07:21,274 And and by the time Jesus gets to this reference of Tire 144 00:07:21,274 --> 00:07:25,077 and Sidon, that was a kind of shorthand 145 00:07:25,077 --> 00:07:28,781 lingo for extreme pagan wickedness. 146 00:07:29,515 --> 00:07:31,884 That's what every once you said tire and Sidon, you knew 147 00:07:31,884 --> 00:07:35,288 we were talking about extreme pagan wickedness. 148 00:07:37,056 --> 00:07:40,059 And as a seaport city, 149 00:07:40,927 --> 00:07:43,963 it comes with all of the degradation 150 00:07:44,797 --> 00:07:49,135 by traveling merchants and seaport cities. 151 00:07:49,168 --> 00:07:49,769 It was 152 00:07:49,769 --> 00:07:54,874 they had massive maritime trade routes that would pour into these ports and tire. 153 00:07:54,874 --> 00:07:56,809 And Sidon. 154 00:07:56,809 --> 00:08:01,013 They experienced extreme wealth and extreme luxury. 155 00:08:01,013 --> 00:08:05,051 And you know what happens when people have too much money and too much time? 156 00:08:07,019 --> 00:08:10,490 They were the places of worship and ashtaroth worship. 157 00:08:10,490 --> 00:08:11,190 And again, 158 00:08:11,190 --> 00:08:14,494 unless you understand what that means, you, that doesn't make much sense to you. 159 00:08:14,494 --> 00:08:15,795 But let me tell you what it means. 160 00:08:15,795 --> 00:08:18,698 It means temple prostitution 161 00:08:18,698 --> 00:08:20,967 of both men and women. 162 00:08:20,967 --> 00:08:23,970 Prostitutes. 163 00:08:24,804 --> 00:08:26,005 It meant sex 164 00:08:26,005 --> 00:08:29,575 trafficking and sex slavery in the name of religion. 165 00:08:31,677 --> 00:08:34,447 They participated in what we would 166 00:08:34,447 --> 00:08:38,050 nicely call fertility rituals religiously. 167 00:08:40,086 --> 00:08:42,021 It involved ritual drunkenness. 168 00:08:42,021 --> 00:08:45,024 And some of you were like, I knew I'd been religious my whole life. 169 00:08:45,057 --> 00:08:46,092 Now it's a different. 170 00:08:50,396 --> 00:08:51,297 It meant child 171 00:08:51,297 --> 00:08:54,300 sacrifice linked to the Phoenician religions. 172 00:08:55,067 --> 00:08:58,004 And I'll tell you more about that in a minute. 173 00:08:58,004 --> 00:09:01,607 And Sidon was the Old Testament home of Jezebel. 174 00:09:01,607 --> 00:09:03,442 If you know anything about Old Testament scripture. 175 00:09:03,442 --> 00:09:06,445 Jezebel was the worst of the worst. 176 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:08,714 Ezekiel 27 177 00:09:08,714 --> 00:09:11,717 notes of these places that they were 178 00:09:11,784 --> 00:09:16,856 symbols of luxury driven arrogance, that they believed that 179 00:09:16,856 --> 00:09:20,326 all of their wealth and money made them above the law and above morality. 180 00:09:22,361 --> 00:09:25,898 Joel three condemns them for slave trading 181 00:09:27,333 --> 00:09:30,036 like what we think of slave 182 00:09:30,036 --> 00:09:33,039 trading was way back then. 183 00:09:33,973 --> 00:09:35,608 The historical practices 184 00:09:35,608 --> 00:09:41,581 that are described by both Greek and Roman historians, not biblical writers, 185 00:09:41,581 --> 00:09:44,850 but extra biblical historical historians, 186 00:09:45,318 --> 00:09:48,321 Greek and Roman both tell us 187 00:09:48,821 --> 00:09:51,090 of the temple prostitution, forced 188 00:09:51,090 --> 00:09:54,594 sex, slavery, men and women, and of child sacrifice. 189 00:09:55,995 --> 00:09:58,564 The ancient writers 190 00:09:58,564 --> 00:10:01,567 School, US and Plutarch both describe 191 00:10:02,134 --> 00:10:06,339 this faux nation tire inside and child sacrifices 192 00:10:06,339 --> 00:10:10,443 to the gods of Bill and Molech, and archeological discoveries. 193 00:10:10,476 --> 00:10:12,979 We know this from archeology, 194 00:10:12,979 --> 00:10:15,982 have discovered burial sites 195 00:10:16,082 --> 00:10:20,586 full of cadaver containers of cremated 196 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,723 infants and babies 197 00:10:25,091 --> 00:10:28,194 that they were burned for these gods. 198 00:10:28,194 --> 00:10:30,062 Molek. 199 00:10:30,062 --> 00:10:31,931 And then there remains 200 00:10:31,931 --> 00:10:34,934 stored in these cadaver containers. 201 00:10:35,768 --> 00:10:38,771 It's pretty bad. 202 00:10:39,271 --> 00:10:40,840 But understand Jesus's message. 203 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,843 He's saying Tire and Sidon were wicked. 204 00:10:44,710 --> 00:10:47,780 But rejecting Christ is worse. 205 00:10:52,818 --> 00:10:53,486 We would. 206 00:10:53,486 --> 00:10:56,756 We in our economy would say, you know, 207 00:10:56,822 --> 00:10:59,892 there's a special place in hell for people like that, right? 208 00:11:00,793 --> 00:11:01,694 Right. 209 00:11:01,694 --> 00:11:04,697 There's a special place in hell. 210 00:11:05,464 --> 00:11:06,332 And Jesus would 211 00:11:06,332 --> 00:11:09,301 say, well, you're right, there is. 212 00:11:09,502 --> 00:11:11,871 But it's not for them. 213 00:11:11,871 --> 00:11:14,040 It's for people who remain indifferent towards me. 214 00:11:16,108 --> 00:11:18,944 Who have seen what I've done, 215 00:11:18,944 --> 00:11:21,547 who know the truth 216 00:11:21,547 --> 00:11:23,883 and reject me and remain indifferent. 217 00:11:23,883 --> 00:11:26,819 That's. 218 00:11:26,819 --> 00:11:29,255 The special place in hell. 219 00:11:29,255 --> 00:11:32,024 This is astonishing, 220 00:11:32,024 --> 00:11:35,027 isn't it? 221 00:11:38,030 --> 00:11:41,033 He says, if what you've seen 222 00:11:41,667 --> 00:11:43,502 causing a peseta, if that machine 223 00:11:43,502 --> 00:11:46,472 and this these evil places, they would have repented. 224 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,443 And you experienced it. 225 00:11:50,976 --> 00:11:53,979 And you remain unrepentant and indifferent. 226 00:11:57,516 --> 00:11:58,484 And he says, Capernaum, 227 00:11:58,484 --> 00:12:01,954 if the mighty works that were done in you were done in Sodom, 228 00:12:03,422 --> 00:12:06,392 Sodom would still be around. 229 00:12:06,459 --> 00:12:08,728 This is significant because Capernaum would 230 00:12:08,728 --> 00:12:11,731 Jesus's hometown. 231 00:12:11,764 --> 00:12:14,166 And all of this, all the miracles. 232 00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:18,938 And in the Gospels, 70% of them were done in Capernaum. 233 00:12:18,938 --> 00:12:21,941 And the surrounding area, 70%. 234 00:12:22,908 --> 00:12:25,911 Everything that we've seen in Matthew eight and nine, 235 00:12:26,045 --> 00:12:29,048 for all done in Capernaum. 236 00:12:29,582 --> 00:12:31,350 Jesus healed a leper. 237 00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:34,353 Never been done before. Like this. 238 00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:39,258 The faith this centurion raised, you know, healed the healed a servant. 239 00:12:39,658 --> 00:12:40,893 And then there's this section. 240 00:12:40,893 --> 00:12:42,261 He just healed a lot of people. 241 00:12:42,261 --> 00:12:44,063 Like everybody came from the whole town to be healed. 242 00:12:44,063 --> 00:12:45,431 They all got something from it. 243 00:12:46,398 --> 00:12:48,300 Who healed Peter's mom? 244 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:50,302 It calms a storm. 245 00:12:50,302 --> 00:12:53,572 He heals two men who were possessed by a demon. 246 00:12:53,572 --> 00:12:57,810 Heals a paralyzed guy restored to life. 247 00:12:57,810 --> 00:13:03,015 A someone who was dead, healed a woman healed, two blind men 248 00:13:03,282 --> 00:13:06,352 healed, someone who was unable to speak like he did all of this, 249 00:13:06,585 --> 00:13:07,887 and they all saw it. 250 00:13:07,887 --> 00:13:12,057 And they received from him, and they remained indifferent towards him. 251 00:13:13,259 --> 00:13:17,163 And Jesus says, if what was done, if if Sodom had seen all that 252 00:13:17,930 --> 00:13:21,400 they had or repented, and it'd still be around. 253 00:13:25,304 --> 00:13:28,274 You're worse off than Sodom. 254 00:13:28,274 --> 00:13:30,910 Not because you're evil, 255 00:13:30,910 --> 00:13:33,913 but because you're indifferent. 256 00:13:34,113 --> 00:13:37,082 And indifference is opposition. 257 00:13:46,058 --> 00:13:47,626 I don't know who chooses to preach 258 00:13:47,626 --> 00:13:50,629 on Matthew 11 leading up to Easter. 259 00:13:50,696 --> 00:13:53,699 Why would. 260 00:13:54,166 --> 00:13:55,301 And most people, 261 00:13:55,301 --> 00:13:58,470 if they teach on Matthew 11, they go right to verse 28, so come to me, 262 00:13:58,470 --> 00:14:01,440 all who are rude and heavy laden, I'll give you rest. Like that's the happy part. 263 00:14:02,641 --> 00:14:05,644 This stuff. 264 00:14:07,079 --> 00:14:09,481 Is inspired by God. 265 00:14:09,481 --> 00:14:12,484 It's the very words of Christ himself. 266 00:14:14,253 --> 00:14:15,054 The point is this 267 00:14:15,054 --> 00:14:19,124 the more I experience Jesus's work in my life, the more I know, 268 00:14:19,592 --> 00:14:22,561 the more I've seen, the more I've experienced, 269 00:14:23,162 --> 00:14:26,565 the more responsible I am to live a life of repentance 270 00:14:26,899 --> 00:14:30,369 and allegiance to Christ and His kingdom. 271 00:14:33,105 --> 00:14:36,108 With greater revelation comes greater responsibility 272 00:14:36,242 --> 00:14:39,211 and more severe judgment. 273 00:14:41,780 --> 00:14:44,783 Do you understand? 274 00:14:47,386 --> 00:14:50,389 This is one reason, 275 00:14:51,824 --> 00:14:54,193 like when you asked me to pray for you. 276 00:14:54,193 --> 00:14:55,995 And I do 277 00:14:55,995 --> 00:14:58,564 by name every morning. 278 00:14:58,564 --> 00:15:01,066 Not just because it's my job. 279 00:15:01,066 --> 00:15:03,002 I mean, it is my job. 280 00:15:03,002 --> 00:15:06,939 I take very seriously the example of the apostles in the First Testament church. 281 00:15:07,573 --> 00:15:10,509 They said, look, it's not right for me to neglect, to neglect 282 00:15:10,509 --> 00:15:13,512 what God's called us to do, to take care of the business of the church. 283 00:15:13,512 --> 00:15:18,050 Our job is the study of the doctrine of God and prayer. 284 00:15:18,050 --> 00:15:20,920 So that's that's my job description right there. 285 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,622 So I pray over you, especially if you asked me 286 00:15:23,622 --> 00:15:26,692 to pray for you every literally every morning. 287 00:15:28,961 --> 00:15:29,395 But I 288 00:15:29,395 --> 00:15:32,398 want you to understand what my prayer is. 289 00:15:33,165 --> 00:15:35,100 And you ask me to pray 290 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:38,070 for God's move, for God's answer, for God's healing. 291 00:15:38,871 --> 00:15:42,374 I do, but I pray it according to Scripture. 292 00:15:42,374 --> 00:15:47,012 Father, move, touch, heal 293 00:15:47,012 --> 00:15:50,015 so that they'll repent 294 00:15:50,182 --> 00:15:53,185 and live a life of allegiance to you. 295 00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:56,422 My prayer is that God 296 00:15:56,422 --> 00:15:59,491 will move, show that you will repent 297 00:16:00,392 --> 00:16:04,296 and give your allegiance to Christ, because for you to be healed 298 00:16:04,296 --> 00:16:08,968 or for God to move in life without repentance is deadly. 299 00:16:11,503 --> 00:16:14,206 So I don't pray for you 300 00:16:14,206 --> 00:16:17,242 apart from your repentance. 301 00:16:20,012 --> 00:16:22,047 Because I don't want you to suffer severe. 302 00:16:22,047 --> 00:16:25,050 Do you understand? 303 00:16:28,153 --> 00:16:31,557 So Jesus condemns them because they saw the power of God. 304 00:16:32,057 --> 00:16:35,494 They saw him and yet remained unrepentant. 305 00:16:36,595 --> 00:16:39,932 They were indifferent to the revelations that they had received about Christ. 306 00:16:41,767 --> 00:16:43,502 And that indifference is opposition. 307 00:16:43,502 --> 00:16:46,205 Opposition is deadly. 308 00:16:46,205 --> 00:16:47,706 So here's here's how. 309 00:16:47,706 --> 00:16:50,242 Here's how I say it. 310 00:16:50,242 --> 00:16:53,245 Go to the next slide. 311 00:16:54,213 --> 00:16:56,749 Wanting good from God's hand 312 00:16:56,749 --> 00:16:59,651 without repentance and allegiance is the attitude 313 00:16:59,651 --> 00:17:02,654 that brings condemnation. 314 00:17:04,423 --> 00:17:07,426 You understand? 315 00:17:08,761 --> 00:17:10,863 No. Let me just, like, 316 00:17:10,863 --> 00:17:13,866 blow your mind for a little bit. 317 00:17:14,333 --> 00:17:17,336 Jesus followed that up with verse 24. 318 00:17:17,736 --> 00:17:19,872 I tell you that it would be more tolerable 319 00:17:19,872 --> 00:17:22,875 on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. 320 00:17:24,343 --> 00:17:25,711 So just stick with me. 321 00:17:25,711 --> 00:17:27,813 I'm gonna explain this, but just stick with me. 322 00:17:27,813 --> 00:17:31,316 Apparently, there are degrees of anguish 323 00:17:33,185 --> 00:17:35,454 in hell, 324 00:17:35,454 --> 00:17:38,457 and some of those are worse 325 00:17:38,624 --> 00:17:41,493 for some than others. 326 00:17:41,493 --> 00:17:43,629 There's degrees and levels of anguish 327 00:17:43,629 --> 00:17:46,632 and hell. 328 00:17:46,832 --> 00:17:49,201 Let me again just help you understand. 329 00:17:49,201 --> 00:17:50,269 Hell. There's this. 330 00:17:50,269 --> 00:17:53,138 This isn't like most people don't preach on this stuff, 331 00:17:54,473 --> 00:17:54,840 but this 332 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,843 part of the biblical record is part of. 333 00:17:58,877 --> 00:18:00,512 It's part of the reality. 334 00:18:00,512 --> 00:18:02,948 Jesus talks about it. We're going to talk about it. 335 00:18:02,948 --> 00:18:04,550 Hell, 336 00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:06,718 the Old Testament word for hell 337 00:18:06,718 --> 00:18:09,721 in general terms is the Hebrew word Sheol. 338 00:18:10,122 --> 00:18:12,224 Everybody say Sheol. 339 00:18:12,224 --> 00:18:15,227 It just means the place of the dead. 340 00:18:15,761 --> 00:18:17,963 The Greek word is Hades. 341 00:18:17,963 --> 00:18:19,898 Ever say Hades? 342 00:18:19,898 --> 00:18:23,368 And there are times in the New Testament written in Greek 343 00:18:23,602 --> 00:18:27,206 that Hades refers to the place of the dead. 344 00:18:27,639 --> 00:18:30,976 But there are other times where Hades refers 345 00:18:30,976 --> 00:18:36,882 to the holding place of the wicked until the final judgment 346 00:18:37,082 --> 00:18:40,052 that we read about in revelation chapter 20, 347 00:18:40,686 --> 00:18:43,856 which is when God takes death and Hades 348 00:18:43,856 --> 00:18:47,126 and throws it into the lake of fire. 349 00:18:49,228 --> 00:18:50,062 The lake of fire. 350 00:18:50,062 --> 00:18:51,930 That judgment, the great right field of judgment. 351 00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:53,031 When when God takes death 352 00:18:53,031 --> 00:18:56,902 and Hades, the holding place of the wicked and throws it into Lake of fire. 353 00:18:57,903 --> 00:18:58,770 Revelation 20. 354 00:18:58,770 --> 00:19:01,773 That's also called the second death. 355 00:19:01,773 --> 00:19:05,043 Every person will experience the first death, the death of the body, 356 00:19:05,744 --> 00:19:07,112 but the second death. 357 00:19:07,112 --> 00:19:11,216 For those who have lived and died and rejection of Christ 358 00:19:11,917 --> 00:19:14,920 and are thrown into the lake of fire. 359 00:19:17,356 --> 00:19:19,892 The lake of fire. 360 00:19:19,892 --> 00:19:22,127 Another word for that is called Gahanna. 361 00:19:22,127 --> 00:19:27,633 Everybody say Gahanna, and Gahanna is the moniker 362 00:19:27,633 --> 00:19:30,769 that is used to describe to name 363 00:19:31,003 --> 00:19:34,006 the place that you and I think of as hell. 364 00:19:34,706 --> 00:19:37,709 The, you know, devil in a fire and all that stuff. 365 00:19:38,310 --> 00:19:40,012 That's the moniker that we used 366 00:19:40,012 --> 00:19:43,015 to that's used to describe that place. 367 00:19:43,048 --> 00:19:47,419 And the word Gahanna comes from the valley of Hinnom. 368 00:19:48,554 --> 00:19:51,990 Gahanna, the valley of Hinnom and the valley of Hinnom 369 00:19:51,990 --> 00:19:57,796 was a geographical place as dried outside what is the city of Jerusalem. 370 00:19:57,796 --> 00:20:01,934 And in Old Testament times, that was the place where King Ahaz 371 00:20:02,701 --> 00:20:05,270 worshiped the god Molek. 372 00:20:05,270 --> 00:20:06,972 In Child sacrifice, 373 00:20:06,972 --> 00:20:11,476 and burned two of his own sons to the god Molech in the valley of Hinnom. 374 00:20:12,945 --> 00:20:13,745 God pronounces 375 00:20:13,745 --> 00:20:17,115 judgment over that area, condemned it, 376 00:20:17,950 --> 00:20:21,887 and through a series of historical events, that place was completely destroyed 377 00:20:22,087 --> 00:20:25,090 and existed in Jesus's time outside the city. 378 00:20:25,290 --> 00:20:29,161 As a 24 hour a day burn heap. 379 00:20:29,795 --> 00:20:32,364 It's where all the refuse and trash of the city and the surrounding 380 00:20:32,364 --> 00:20:35,734 communities through their trash, and it just burn 24 hours a day. 381 00:20:36,735 --> 00:20:38,770 And that was the understanding. 382 00:20:38,770 --> 00:20:41,306 That's hell. 383 00:20:41,306 --> 00:20:43,475 It was full of flames and disease 384 00:20:43,475 --> 00:20:46,845 and and and and and it's it wreaked. 385 00:20:48,213 --> 00:20:50,983 And so that's that is the valley of Hinnom. 386 00:20:50,983 --> 00:20:54,019 That is what was referred to like in people's mind. 387 00:20:54,019 --> 00:20:54,253 Okay. 388 00:20:54,253 --> 00:20:57,256 That's hell, that's Gahanna. 389 00:20:58,590 --> 00:21:01,593 And so those who die in rejection of Jesus. 390 00:21:03,762 --> 00:21:07,165 Hades and eventually death and Hades 391 00:21:07,165 --> 00:21:11,470 will be thrown into the lake of fire or Gahanna. 392 00:21:14,539 --> 00:21:15,107 The Bible 393 00:21:15,107 --> 00:21:18,110 constantly teaches two things at the same time. 394 00:21:19,011 --> 00:21:21,947 Hell is real 395 00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:25,584 and terrible for everyone who rejects God and death rejects God. 396 00:21:26,285 --> 00:21:28,687 Everyone. 397 00:21:28,687 --> 00:21:30,989 But the second thing is that the judgment 398 00:21:30,989 --> 00:21:33,992 in hell is not identical for everyone. 399 00:21:34,159 --> 00:21:37,829 Their degrees and severity of that judgment, 400 00:21:38,697 --> 00:21:42,434 based on knowledge and the rejection of that knowledge. 401 00:21:44,069 --> 00:21:46,238 And that second point is oftentimes overlooked, 402 00:21:46,238 --> 00:21:49,241 but it's repeated all throughout Jesus's teaching. 403 00:21:50,342 --> 00:21:53,312 All who reject Christ are judged. 404 00:21:55,314 --> 00:21:58,116 But the severity of that judgment corresponds 405 00:21:58,116 --> 00:22:01,420 directly to the light they've rejected and the evil they've practiced. 406 00:22:03,422 --> 00:22:04,089 It's all hell. 407 00:22:04,089 --> 00:22:06,358 But there are 408 00:22:06,358 --> 00:22:09,361 special places. 409 00:22:10,195 --> 00:22:12,531 Luke 12 verses 47 through 48. 410 00:22:12,531 --> 00:22:15,534 You might want to read this sometime. 411 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,570 That servant who knew his master's will 412 00:22:18,570 --> 00:22:24,643 and did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 413 00:22:25,811 --> 00:22:26,178 But the 414 00:22:26,178 --> 00:22:29,948 one who did know Will, who did not know, will receive a light. 415 00:22:29,948 --> 00:22:32,551 Beat them, both of them going to get beat. 416 00:22:32,551 --> 00:22:35,187 There's judgment for both, 417 00:22:35,187 --> 00:22:39,157 but one of them is going to be more severe than the other because they had more 418 00:22:39,157 --> 00:22:42,527 light, more revelation, more experience, and still rejected. 419 00:22:47,566 --> 00:22:49,334 The principle as this with greater 420 00:22:49,334 --> 00:22:52,337 knowledge comes greater responsibility 421 00:22:53,338 --> 00:22:56,341 and more severe consequences. 422 00:22:57,943 --> 00:22:59,044 Hell is not. 423 00:22:59,044 --> 00:23:00,145 Please understand. 424 00:23:00,145 --> 00:23:03,148 Hell is not random punishment. 425 00:23:03,181 --> 00:23:05,283 It's perfectly calibrated. 426 00:23:05,283 --> 00:23:08,286 Justice. 427 00:23:09,454 --> 00:23:12,457 To understand. 428 00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:14,493 This is the one unforgivable sin. 429 00:23:14,493 --> 00:23:17,162 It's a blasphemy against the spirit 430 00:23:17,162 --> 00:23:19,931 to know the truth of the gospel, the truth of Jesus, 431 00:23:19,931 --> 00:23:22,934 and live in rejection of it. 432 00:23:23,101 --> 00:23:26,371 In Matthew 11 that what we just read, everybody was judged. 433 00:23:27,205 --> 00:23:29,741 Some receive worse judgment than others, 434 00:23:31,076 --> 00:23:32,377 and rejecting greater 435 00:23:32,377 --> 00:23:35,380 revelation increases guilt 436 00:23:36,248 --> 00:23:37,549 for sure. 437 00:23:37,549 --> 00:23:40,552 Sodom was wicked, no doubt, 438 00:23:40,919 --> 00:23:43,922 but Capernaum saw Jesus himself, 439 00:23:45,524 --> 00:23:48,527 and that rejection is more wicked. 440 00:23:50,996 --> 00:23:53,498 Hebrews 1029. 441 00:23:53,498 --> 00:23:56,701 How much worse punishment will be deserved 442 00:23:56,701 --> 00:24:00,071 by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, 443 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:04,543 to know who Christ is? 444 00:24:04,543 --> 00:24:08,613 His claims the truth of Scripture, and to live in rejection 445 00:24:08,980 --> 00:24:13,018 or opposition or simple indifference is trampling 446 00:24:13,018 --> 00:24:16,021 underfoot the Son of God. 447 00:24:17,456 --> 00:24:20,192 Any discussion of hell reveals two things. 448 00:24:20,192 --> 00:24:23,161 Please understand any discussion or of hell reveals two things one. 449 00:24:23,662 --> 00:24:26,665 God's judgment is perfectly fair. 450 00:24:27,933 --> 00:24:30,035 But secondly, 451 00:24:30,035 --> 00:24:32,904 his mercy in Christ is unbelievably 452 00:24:32,904 --> 00:24:35,907 generous. 453 00:24:36,174 --> 00:24:39,211 Though hell may be what we all deserve. 454 00:24:39,211 --> 00:24:42,080 It's not what we all receive, 455 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,083 and we don't receive it because we've been good. 456 00:24:45,283 --> 00:24:49,254 He doesn't ask us to perform for him so that we can avoid hell. 457 00:24:51,423 --> 00:24:54,192 He has taken all of the judgment and condemnation 458 00:24:54,192 --> 00:24:58,263 that we deserve in hell, and placed it on His Son on the cross, 459 00:24:59,965 --> 00:25:03,368 that by his mercy and grace we can believe by faith 460 00:25:03,368 --> 00:25:06,905 that Jesus is the final penalty for all that 461 00:25:06,905 --> 00:25:11,409 I deserve in hell and of hell, and he's taken that all. 462 00:25:11,409 --> 00:25:14,813 So in my faith in Christ, not in my behavior, 463 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:18,049 not in my religiosity, but my faith in Christ. 464 00:25:19,951 --> 00:25:22,921 Now there's no condemnation. 465 00:25:23,788 --> 00:25:26,791 Do you understand? 466 00:25:26,892 --> 00:25:29,261 Having heard that, 467 00:25:29,261 --> 00:25:32,264 in rejecting that, in indifference 468 00:25:33,164 --> 00:25:36,167 is worse than the most vile evil. 469 00:25:37,202 --> 00:25:40,171 That's what Jesus is saying. 470 00:25:40,272 --> 00:25:43,275 That's pretty tough, Yes. 471 00:25:46,878 --> 00:25:48,380 All Scripture inspired by God. 472 00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:51,383 Profitable for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and righteousness. 473 00:25:57,455 --> 00:25:58,823 I wonder, 474 00:25:58,823 --> 00:26:01,826 I wonder what other parts of the world Christians are. 475 00:26:02,093 --> 00:26:04,396 I wonder what they would do with all that we've been given. 476 00:26:06,364 --> 00:26:09,367 It's so easy for us to become indifferent 477 00:26:10,302 --> 00:26:13,305 and apathetic to all that God has allowed us to see 478 00:26:13,305 --> 00:26:17,375 and experience and enjoy the freedoms we have, 479 00:26:19,210 --> 00:26:22,213 the wealth that we have. 480 00:26:23,582 --> 00:26:23,949 The way 481 00:26:23,949 --> 00:26:27,185 we kind of treat it with just indifference and blasé. 482 00:26:27,519 --> 00:26:30,522 I wonder what other parts of the world how they would respond. 483 00:26:32,557 --> 00:26:35,560 And actually, I want to share with you 484 00:26:36,027 --> 00:26:38,330 I got this from 485 00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:41,800 my friend only on who runs our ministry in Cuba, our church planning in Cuba. 486 00:26:42,133 --> 00:26:45,136 Over 120 churches we planted there through him. 487 00:26:46,304 --> 00:26:48,573 This is what he sent me on March 8th. 488 00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:50,141 Hello my beloved brothers and sisters. 489 00:26:50,141 --> 00:26:55,480 We thank God we are well seeing his hand each day, sustaining us, watching over us 490 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,483 and blessing us in the midst of this great crisis we're experiencing. 491 00:26:58,750 --> 00:27:00,919 The price of food continues to rise daily. 492 00:27:00,919 --> 00:27:06,091 Rice used to cost for 2 pounds, $12.60. 493 00:27:07,592 --> 00:27:09,928 Now for 2 pounds. 494 00:27:09,928 --> 00:27:12,931 Rice cost us $26.90 495 00:27:13,365 --> 00:27:15,934 for 2 pounds of rice, 496 00:27:15,934 --> 00:27:18,937 and all the other food items have gone up to gasoline 497 00:27:19,371 --> 00:27:22,741 used to cost us between 26 and $30 a gallon. 498 00:27:26,611 --> 00:27:27,946 And on the black market, 499 00:27:27,946 --> 00:27:30,949 it cost $112 a gallon. 500 00:27:31,916 --> 00:27:34,419 The average monthly income for a man 501 00:27:34,419 --> 00:27:37,422 in Cuba is $20. 502 00:27:40,291 --> 00:27:41,159 Between Wednesday 503 00:27:41,159 --> 00:27:44,162 and Thursday, this was March 4th and fifth. 504 00:27:44,162 --> 00:27:48,466 There was a 31 hour power outage here where we live in places. 505 00:27:48,466 --> 00:27:49,501 That was worse. 506 00:27:49,501 --> 00:27:53,505 You can imagine how blessed my family and I are because with your health help. 507 00:27:53,538 --> 00:27:58,043 The flip side, we have a photovoltaic system of solar panels 508 00:27:58,209 --> 00:27:59,811 and we don't lack electricity. 509 00:27:59,811 --> 00:28:02,313 The brothers and sisters and our neighbors from all over 510 00:28:02,313 --> 00:28:05,383 the community were at our house to charge their cell phones 511 00:28:05,383 --> 00:28:09,020 and their light rechargeable lamps and all kinds of devices to plug in and charge. 512 00:28:09,020 --> 00:28:10,622 That fills us with gratitude, 513 00:28:11,756 --> 00:28:14,759 joy for being able to serve others. 514 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,063 I wonder what they would do with our freedom 515 00:28:18,063 --> 00:28:21,066 and wealth. 516 00:28:21,633 --> 00:28:23,068 He says, 517 00:28:23,068 --> 00:28:25,603 our local churches continue to expand and grow. 518 00:28:25,603 --> 00:28:29,240 Our daughter churches are going to hold another baptism of their new converts, 519 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,843 our bread of Life ministry continues to help the most vulnerable 520 00:28:31,843 --> 00:28:34,713 in our community to the best of our ability and resources. 521 00:28:34,713 --> 00:28:38,883 Something that fills me with joy is my mother's work three months ago. 522 00:28:38,883 --> 00:28:42,520 She spent many days in bed due to the virus that affected all of Cuba, 523 00:28:42,754 --> 00:28:46,291 and after several weeks, she was almost unable to walk because of severe pain. 524 00:28:46,424 --> 00:28:49,327 And two weeks ago, she started a breakfast program 525 00:28:49,327 --> 00:28:52,330 at her home, providing breakfast to 12 children in need. 526 00:28:53,098 --> 00:28:55,033 This was a dream of hers and she's fulfilling it. 527 00:28:56,134 --> 00:28:59,404 We eagerly are awaiting the arrival of our granddaughter, Aurora. 528 00:28:59,471 --> 00:29:00,305 We're excited, 529 00:29:00,305 --> 00:29:01,473 but we're nervous 530 00:29:01,473 --> 00:29:04,476 because of the poor conditions and lack of resources in the hospitals. 531 00:29:04,476 --> 00:29:08,546 But watch this when he says we trust in our good God. 532 00:29:09,414 --> 00:29:11,483 In the midst of all that, 533 00:29:11,483 --> 00:29:13,952 please continue to pray for us and for Cuba. 534 00:29:13,952 --> 00:29:15,186 Thank you for your unconditional support. 535 00:29:15,186 --> 00:29:18,189 I wonder what they would do. 536 00:29:19,157 --> 00:29:22,293 With all the blessings we received last Sunday of sitting 537 00:29:22,293 --> 00:29:25,296 right down there on that last year, and I got this email from O'Neill. 538 00:29:26,097 --> 00:29:28,900 Said thank you for your email for all your support, especially your prayers. 539 00:29:28,900 --> 00:29:30,001 We can feel your support. 540 00:29:30,001 --> 00:29:33,571 Thank God we are well, but the situation remains very difficult and tense. 541 00:29:33,571 --> 00:29:35,106 Two nights ago in my room. 542 00:29:35,106 --> 00:29:36,641 Some of you saw this on the news. 543 00:29:36,641 --> 00:29:40,178 They stormed the Communist Party building and made a bonfire in front, 544 00:29:40,178 --> 00:29:41,312 with propaganda posters 545 00:29:41,312 --> 00:29:44,883 and several pieces of furniture and tables that they threw out of the windows. 546 00:29:45,617 --> 00:29:48,486 It's expected that very soon there will be a complete shutdown. 547 00:29:48,486 --> 00:29:51,790 Meaning no electricity, no water, no transportation, no services. 548 00:29:52,557 --> 00:29:54,559 Please continue to pray for us and for Cuba. 549 00:29:54,559 --> 00:29:55,560 Our government. 550 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:59,497 It was pitched to us as if their grid went down and everything was shut off. 551 00:29:59,531 --> 00:30:02,100 It wasn't their grid. It was their government. 552 00:30:05,303 --> 00:30:06,404 Please continue praying for us 553 00:30:06,404 --> 00:30:10,642 while we continue to proclaim Christ as the solution for Cuba and the world. 554 00:30:10,642 --> 00:30:11,342 Watch this. 555 00:30:11,342 --> 00:30:15,046 Today we didn't have room to accommodate any more people in our church. 556 00:30:16,381 --> 00:30:19,184 When we go out to distribute food, many people accept the gospel 557 00:30:19,184 --> 00:30:21,186 and give their lives to Christ. 558 00:30:21,186 --> 00:30:23,087 And then he says this. 559 00:30:23,087 --> 00:30:26,090 If you would like to send us some funds, we would accept them. 560 00:30:29,060 --> 00:30:30,628 I love that. 561 00:30:30,628 --> 00:30:33,298 So yeah, we'll take the money. 562 00:30:33,298 --> 00:30:36,267 Some of you need to do that. 563 00:30:36,267 --> 00:30:38,236 We'll help you do that. 564 00:30:38,236 --> 00:30:41,439 I know you've been more than generous with us, but food has become very expensive. 565 00:30:41,439 --> 00:30:42,707 And I would like to fix up the kitchen 566 00:30:42,707 --> 00:30:44,742 where the brothers and sisters and the Bread of Life 567 00:30:44,742 --> 00:30:47,378 ministry prepare the food they're cooking with over charcoal. 568 00:30:47,378 --> 00:30:50,048 Fire in the sun. They don't have a roof. Summer's coming. 569 00:30:50,048 --> 00:30:51,449 It's very high temperatures. 570 00:30:51,449 --> 00:30:52,483 They are my heroes. 571 00:30:52,483 --> 00:30:55,486 And today we talked about creating a minimum conditions for their work. 572 00:30:56,154 --> 00:30:58,957 Thank you so much for everything, my friend and mentor. 573 00:30:58,957 --> 00:30:59,624 God bless you. 574 00:31:00,925 --> 00:31:02,460 And then he followed up with this. 575 00:31:02,460 --> 00:31:05,463 If you did want to support. 576 00:31:07,565 --> 00:31:10,301 They feed 15 children right now, 577 00:31:10,301 --> 00:31:12,837 and to feed 15 children for a month 578 00:31:12,837 --> 00:31:15,840 would cost them $16 a kid. 579 00:31:18,810 --> 00:31:19,410 And they do it 580 00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:22,480 dinner for 50 dinners three times a week. 581 00:31:23,581 --> 00:31:25,650 And to pay for all those dinners and to pay 582 00:31:25,650 --> 00:31:28,653 for the children's breakfast. 583 00:31:29,654 --> 00:31:32,657 It would cost us $1,140 a month 584 00:31:33,658 --> 00:31:36,661 to feed all those people. 585 00:31:38,129 --> 00:31:41,132 I wonder what they would do with our freedom 586 00:31:41,966 --> 00:31:44,969 and ability and dollars. 587 00:31:45,870 --> 00:31:48,873 Do you get it? 588 00:31:53,878 --> 00:31:56,714 God's been so good. 589 00:31:56,714 --> 00:31:59,984 And please understand, his goodness is meant to lead us to repentance. 590 00:32:00,084 --> 00:32:02,854 Also, Romans two four says, 591 00:32:02,854 --> 00:32:03,955 God's loving kindness. 592 00:32:03,955 --> 00:32:07,592 Goodness is meant to lead us not to comfort, 593 00:32:08,693 --> 00:32:11,696 but to repentance. 594 00:32:13,097 --> 00:32:14,799 I want us to be motivated 595 00:32:14,799 --> 00:32:17,802 to steward God's blessings well. 596 00:32:17,835 --> 00:32:20,038 I don't want us to feel guilty for God's blessings. 597 00:32:20,038 --> 00:32:23,441 I want us to steward it well, but we will be guilty if we don't steward it well. 598 00:32:24,842 --> 00:32:28,579 To understand. Yes. 599 00:32:33,885 --> 00:32:36,888 We moved to verse 25. 600 00:32:37,655 --> 00:32:40,892 At that time Jesus declared, I thank you, father, Lord of heaven and earth, 601 00:32:41,059 --> 00:32:42,961 that you have hidden these things from the wise 602 00:32:42,961 --> 00:32:44,963 and understanding and revealed them to little children. 603 00:32:44,963 --> 00:32:47,565 Yes, father, for such was your gracious will. 604 00:32:47,565 --> 00:32:49,767 All these, 605 00:32:49,767 --> 00:32:51,869 all things have been handed over to me 606 00:32:51,869 --> 00:32:54,872 by my father, and no one knows the son except the father. 607 00:32:54,973 --> 00:32:57,008 And no one knows the father except the son. 608 00:32:57,008 --> 00:33:00,011 And anyone to whom the son chooses to reveal him. 609 00:33:00,345 --> 00:33:03,481 He says, I'm glad this God's given this to little children. 610 00:33:03,481 --> 00:33:05,683 What he means by that is this one. 611 00:33:05,683 --> 00:33:08,653 When we accept Christ, we're just babes in the faith. 612 00:33:08,653 --> 00:33:10,121 We're just learning. 613 00:33:10,121 --> 00:33:12,357 We learn to walk by faith, not by sight. 614 00:33:12,357 --> 00:33:14,959 And you seen a little kid learn to walk. 615 00:33:14,959 --> 00:33:16,260 That's who we are. 616 00:33:16,260 --> 00:33:19,230 When we first come to faith, we're just babes. 617 00:33:19,230 --> 00:33:22,233 But he's also saying you're children in the fact. 618 00:33:22,300 --> 00:33:25,236 God didn't reveal this to all the intellectual, 619 00:33:25,236 --> 00:33:28,239 high and mighty people who think they know all the answers already. 620 00:33:28,573 --> 00:33:31,476 He revealed this to people who understand 621 00:33:31,476 --> 00:33:35,313 the faith is young, and I'm just like, I believe it 622 00:33:35,313 --> 00:33:39,417 because God said it like a child and that's who can receive this. 623 00:33:39,550 --> 00:33:42,987 But he says this to he said, did you notice 624 00:33:44,288 --> 00:33:47,291 who is the father revealed to 625 00:33:47,625 --> 00:33:51,162 those to whom the son reveals the father to him? 626 00:33:51,262 --> 00:33:52,830 Here's what we have to understand. 627 00:33:52,830 --> 00:33:56,401 We can't know the father without knowing the son. 628 00:33:57,502 --> 00:34:00,405 We can't get close to the father 629 00:34:00,405 --> 00:34:03,408 without first drawing near to Christ. 630 00:34:03,841 --> 00:34:06,444 The only way to the father is through the son. 631 00:34:06,444 --> 00:34:10,214 Jesus said it himself, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 632 00:34:10,281 --> 00:34:12,450 Nobody comes to the father but through me. 633 00:34:12,450 --> 00:34:15,920 I hear people tell me all the time, I believe in God and I tell him 634 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:18,890 I don't care. 635 00:34:18,890 --> 00:34:20,058 Like even the Bible says, 636 00:34:20,058 --> 00:34:23,327 even the demons believe in God and they're scared to death. 637 00:34:24,295 --> 00:34:28,399 Tell me what you believe about Christ, about Jesus. 638 00:34:29,367 --> 00:34:31,536 Because you can't know the father without 639 00:34:31,536 --> 00:34:35,273 Jesus. To understand. 640 00:34:37,642 --> 00:34:39,143 And the more you learn about 641 00:34:39,143 --> 00:34:42,980 Jesus, the more responsible you are to repent 642 00:34:44,248 --> 00:34:47,251 and give allegiance to. 643 00:34:49,654 --> 00:34:52,156 In verse 28 through 30. 644 00:34:52,156 --> 00:34:55,660 He says, come to me, all you who, all who labor and are heavy laden, 645 00:34:55,660 --> 00:34:57,361 and I will give you rest. 646 00:34:57,361 --> 00:35:00,665 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 647 00:35:00,665 --> 00:35:02,366 and you will find rest for your souls. 648 00:35:02,366 --> 00:35:05,436 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 649 00:35:05,503 --> 00:35:06,204 He says he's. 650 00:35:06,204 --> 00:35:09,207 He's addressing people who are religiously exhausted. 651 00:35:10,241 --> 00:35:12,043 He's addressing people like, I know who 652 00:35:12,043 --> 00:35:15,046 who can do this? 653 00:35:16,047 --> 00:35:18,116 Like, you're telling me that 654 00:35:18,116 --> 00:35:21,185 even if I'm a good person, like I, 655 00:35:22,086 --> 00:35:25,089 I might not make it. 656 00:35:27,325 --> 00:35:30,328 Like, how do I know if I. 657 00:35:31,329 --> 00:35:33,731 All of religion tells me to be a good person. 658 00:35:33,731 --> 00:35:35,500 And you're saying that that's not enough? 659 00:35:39,337 --> 00:35:42,473 I can't even live up to my own standards, let alone your standards. 660 00:35:42,473 --> 00:35:45,476 God. Right. Like. 661 00:35:45,543 --> 00:35:47,612 And I hear all these rules you're supposed to obey 662 00:35:47,612 --> 00:35:49,247 and all this stuff you're supposed to do, 663 00:35:49,247 --> 00:35:51,215 and not all the stuff you're supposed to not do. 664 00:35:51,215 --> 00:35:53,351 And the stuff I'm not supposed to do is I really want to do. 665 00:35:53,351 --> 00:35:54,552 Because that's the fun stuff. 666 00:35:54,552 --> 00:35:57,555 And I can't even, you know. 667 00:35:57,922 --> 00:36:00,458 It's exhausting. 668 00:36:00,458 --> 00:36:03,461 And so Jesus says, come to me, 669 00:36:03,861 --> 00:36:06,864 all you who labor and are heavy laden. 670 00:36:09,267 --> 00:36:11,769 When he says, come to me, all you who labor. 671 00:36:11,769 --> 00:36:14,372 He's talking about the religious responsibility and duties 672 00:36:14,372 --> 00:36:17,341 that we put on ourself that God has been asked of us. 673 00:36:17,341 --> 00:36:21,279 It's all the religious baggage that we bring to the table 674 00:36:21,279 --> 00:36:22,647 of what it means to follow Jesus. 675 00:36:22,647 --> 00:36:26,484 It's all the expectations that we think we're supposed to live up to. 676 00:36:26,684 --> 00:36:30,922 Jesus hasn't asked it of us, but we bring some stuff to the table. 677 00:36:30,922 --> 00:36:33,024 Think, okay, now that I'm a Jesus follower, 678 00:36:33,024 --> 00:36:34,959 I gotta do this, this, this, this and this. 679 00:36:34,959 --> 00:36:37,261 God hasn't asked any of that. 680 00:36:37,261 --> 00:36:40,331 And he said, some of you are laboring 681 00:36:41,132 --> 00:36:44,602 and it's your own fault because I haven't asked enough of you. 682 00:36:45,269 --> 00:36:47,605 You're making it more difficult than what it is. 683 00:36:47,605 --> 00:36:51,809 And when he says those of who who are heavy laden, that he's 684 00:36:51,809 --> 00:36:55,213 talking about religious rules and duties that are put on us by other people, 685 00:36:56,347 --> 00:36:58,983 all the rules and regulations and stipulations 686 00:36:58,983 --> 00:37:02,220 that all of everybody else is religious says, you got to do this. 687 00:37:02,720 --> 00:37:04,288 Somebody says, okay, now you're something you use. 688 00:37:04,288 --> 00:37:05,923 Okay, now you got to do this. You gotta do this. 689 00:37:05,923 --> 00:37:07,959 You got to this, got to this, got to this. 690 00:37:07,959 --> 00:37:11,529 And Jesus is saying, there's going to be religious people who are going to put 691 00:37:12,530 --> 00:37:15,933 who are going to heavy laden me with this stuff that I've never asked of you. 692 00:37:15,933 --> 00:37:18,035 And some of you are experiencing both of these, 693 00:37:18,035 --> 00:37:21,072 and you're worn out and exhausted and you just don't want to try anymore. 694 00:37:21,072 --> 00:37:24,075 And Jesus says, come to me. 695 00:37:25,743 --> 00:37:27,645 Learn from me. 696 00:37:27,645 --> 00:37:28,980 I'm gentle. 697 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:32,049 I'm lowly of heart, and you'll find rest. 698 00:37:32,083 --> 00:37:34,118 He says, take my yoke, because my yoke is easy. 699 00:37:36,487 --> 00:37:37,989 And when, when Jesus talks 700 00:37:37,989 --> 00:37:40,992 about a yoke, there are two ways that they understand the yoke, 701 00:37:41,125 --> 00:37:45,329 and one of them is the farming way you need to plow a field to get to oxen. 702 00:37:45,496 --> 00:37:48,499 You yoke them together by the big one thing 703 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,002 and and typically what they would do if they took 704 00:37:51,002 --> 00:37:53,971 a young ox and an old ox, 705 00:37:54,372 --> 00:37:58,509 and the old ox knew how to plow, where to plow, 706 00:37:58,876 --> 00:38:01,712 and would carry the load and do most of the work, 707 00:38:01,712 --> 00:38:07,118 the young ox would just be yoked to that ox and would learn how do I walk? 708 00:38:07,118 --> 00:38:07,985 How do I plow? 709 00:38:07,985 --> 00:38:10,988 And I'm going to build my strength so I can start carrying some load. 710 00:38:11,322 --> 00:38:13,991 And Jesus saying I'm the old ox. 711 00:38:13,991 --> 00:38:17,328 I know how to do this and I'll carry the load. 712 00:38:17,361 --> 00:38:19,030 Just link yourself to me. 713 00:38:20,231 --> 00:38:21,799 That's what he's saying. 714 00:38:21,799 --> 00:38:24,268 And that's light. 715 00:38:24,268 --> 00:38:26,370 But the other yoke is this. 716 00:38:26,370 --> 00:38:28,539 Every rabbi 717 00:38:28,539 --> 00:38:33,878 had their interpretation of God's law, and their interpretation of how to apply. 718 00:38:33,878 --> 00:38:36,881 God's law was called the rabbi's yoke. 719 00:38:37,114 --> 00:38:40,117 And so the rabbis had a yoke, 720 00:38:40,351 --> 00:38:43,387 and the rabbis developed the yoke of the Ten Commandments 721 00:38:43,387 --> 00:38:46,657 to 613 additional laws, 722 00:38:47,792 --> 00:38:51,062 248 of them were positive laws 723 00:38:51,696 --> 00:38:54,965 and commands, and 365 of them were negative. 724 00:38:56,033 --> 00:38:58,936 Can you imagine trying to obey all 613 725 00:38:58,936 --> 00:39:01,939 every day of your life? 726 00:39:02,073 --> 00:39:04,475 That's a heavy yoke. 727 00:39:04,475 --> 00:39:05,810 And Jesus says, come to me. 728 00:39:05,810 --> 00:39:07,645 You're tired of that. Ridiculous. 729 00:39:07,645 --> 00:39:10,414 I got a light one for you. 730 00:39:10,414 --> 00:39:12,583 God started with a yoke of ten. 731 00:39:12,583 --> 00:39:15,319 The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. 732 00:39:15,319 --> 00:39:18,589 By the time we get to Micah, it's down to three. 733 00:39:18,589 --> 00:39:20,224 Micah six eight. 734 00:39:20,224 --> 00:39:22,960 What's the law required of you? Oh, man. 735 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:26,063 To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. 736 00:39:26,130 --> 00:39:28,265 By the time Jesus he says, I got to 737 00:39:29,467 --> 00:39:32,103 Matthew 2237 through 40, 738 00:39:32,103 --> 00:39:34,772 love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind, 739 00:39:34,772 --> 00:39:36,173 and love your neighbor as yourself. 740 00:39:36,173 --> 00:39:39,176 That's my yoke. 741 00:39:39,176 --> 00:39:40,911 It's so light, 742 00:39:40,911 --> 00:39:43,914 not because it's inconsequential, 743 00:39:44,115 --> 00:39:46,350 but because it's perfect. 744 00:39:46,350 --> 00:39:48,886 Reviving the soul. Do you understand? 745 00:39:48,886 --> 00:39:51,889 It fits perfectly. 746 00:39:52,189 --> 00:39:55,192 And so, in wrapping this up, 747 00:39:55,626 --> 00:39:57,995 Matthew 11, 748 00:39:57,995 --> 00:40:00,998 where you and I go from here is this repent 749 00:40:02,166 --> 00:40:04,902 the goodness of God that you know that you've heard, 750 00:40:04,902 --> 00:40:08,672 that you've seen, that you've experienced, is intended to lead you to repentance, 751 00:40:08,672 --> 00:40:11,842 not to your comfort, not to your but to repentance. 752 00:40:14,612 --> 00:40:16,147 And pledging your allegiance 753 00:40:16,147 --> 00:40:19,150 to Christ and Christ alone because of how good he's been. 754 00:40:20,484 --> 00:40:23,187 Repent. 755 00:40:23,187 --> 00:40:26,190 Some of you have been so indifferent toward Christ in the gospel. 756 00:40:27,458 --> 00:40:31,295 You need to realize that that indifference is opposition, a hostility towards him, 757 00:40:33,164 --> 00:40:36,167 and there's a judgment to incur. 758 00:40:36,901 --> 00:40:39,904 Unless you repent. 759 00:40:40,104 --> 00:40:41,672 And secondly, 760 00:40:41,672 --> 00:40:44,642 take up the easy yoke of Jesus. 761 00:40:44,909 --> 00:40:47,912 Quit trying to good your way into heaven. 762 00:40:48,679 --> 00:40:51,515 It's not going to work. 763 00:40:51,515 --> 00:40:53,484 His yoke is easy. His burden is light. 764 00:40:53,484 --> 00:40:55,653 Lord, help me to love you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. 765 00:40:55,653 --> 00:40:58,622 And help me love other people to. 766 00:40:58,722 --> 00:41:01,592 And then just follow. 767 00:41:01,592 --> 00:41:04,428 Today. 768 00:41:04,428 --> 00:41:07,898 I want all of us saved from hell. 769 00:41:12,002 --> 00:41:15,539 And saved from weary religious duty. 770 00:41:17,341 --> 00:41:19,710 Admit your sin. 771 00:41:19,710 --> 00:41:22,513 And that you've lived according to your way. 772 00:41:22,513 --> 00:41:26,050 And your rules and indifference 773 00:41:26,417 --> 00:41:29,220 and opposition to Christ. 774 00:41:29,220 --> 00:41:31,055 Believe that Jesus died 775 00:41:31,055 --> 00:41:34,058 for your sin and rose again. 776 00:41:34,492 --> 00:41:37,495 And in that belief, accept the forgiveness he's offered. 777 00:41:38,462 --> 00:41:41,432 Commit to turning from your sin 778 00:41:42,132 --> 00:41:44,702 and dedicate your life and your allegiance to Christ. 779 00:41:48,405 --> 00:41:51,408 It's a beautiful way to live. 780 00:41:53,310 --> 00:41:56,280 I want you to pray with me. 781 00:41:58,382 --> 00:42:01,151 First, my friends, 782 00:42:01,151 --> 00:42:04,154 the way to the fathers through the son. 783 00:42:05,456 --> 00:42:06,891 And I want to invite you in this morning. 784 00:42:06,891 --> 00:42:10,361 If you've never done this to admit your sin, father, I admit it. 785 00:42:11,161 --> 00:42:13,764 I'm a sinner. I've gone my own way. 786 00:42:13,764 --> 00:42:16,934 I've lived according to my rules and rejection of you. 787 00:42:18,536 --> 00:42:21,639 I've been indifferent to your commands. 788 00:42:24,408 --> 00:42:27,411 I'm sorry. 789 00:42:27,678 --> 00:42:28,145 Jesus. 790 00:42:28,145 --> 00:42:31,148 I believe that you died for my sin and rose again. 791 00:42:31,815 --> 00:42:34,818 And I accept your forgiveness. 792 00:42:35,886 --> 00:42:38,889 I commit to turning from my sin. 793 00:42:40,457 --> 00:42:41,926 And I dedicate my life 794 00:42:41,926 --> 00:42:44,929 and my allegiance to you and you alone. 795 00:42:46,263 --> 00:42:47,932 Help me love you with my whole heart 796 00:42:47,932 --> 00:42:51,669 and soul and mind and strength, without delay and without hesitation. 797 00:42:54,171 --> 00:42:57,174 Today I'm yours. 798 00:42:57,541 --> 00:43:00,511 And I pledge myself to you. 799 00:43:05,783 --> 00:43:06,050 Friends, 800 00:43:06,050 --> 00:43:09,053 I want you to just stay in this moment for 801 00:43:09,286 --> 00:43:12,289 I want to encourage you to take a step 802 00:43:12,690 --> 00:43:15,693 of commitment. 803 00:43:16,527 --> 00:43:17,628 Not something weird. 804 00:43:17,628 --> 00:43:18,462 Just simply. 805 00:43:18,462 --> 00:43:21,465 If that was your prayer. 806 00:43:22,299 --> 00:43:25,603 I want to pray over you specifically, and I want to give you some next steps. 807 00:43:25,603 --> 00:43:27,738 Would you just slip your hand up right now? 808 00:43:27,738 --> 00:43:28,772 Just slip your hand up. Good. 809 00:43:28,772 --> 00:43:31,609 Thank you, thank you, thank you. Good. Thank you, thank you. 810 00:43:31,609 --> 00:43:32,142 Good for you. 811 00:43:32,142 --> 00:43:33,811 I see those all those in the back. 812 00:43:33,811 --> 00:43:35,279 Good. Thank you. 813 00:43:35,279 --> 00:43:38,015 Good good good good. There you go. 814 00:43:38,015 --> 00:43:40,084 There you go. Good 815 00:43:40,084 --> 00:43:41,085 good good good. 816 00:43:41,085 --> 00:43:42,953 Yeah. Praise God. 817 00:43:42,953 --> 00:43:43,821 Praise God. 818 00:43:43,821 --> 00:43:44,822 Let me pray over you, father. 819 00:43:44,822 --> 00:43:47,791 Thank you for these, especially these who are 820 00:43:48,359 --> 00:43:51,128 who are saying again right now with me for the first time, God. 821 00:43:53,397 --> 00:43:54,698 I confess my sin. 822 00:43:54,698 --> 00:43:57,334 I've lived in 823 00:43:57,334 --> 00:43:58,802 in opposition and difference. 824 00:43:58,802 --> 00:44:00,838 I don't want to do that anymore. I'm yours. 825 00:44:00,838 --> 00:44:02,272 I accept what Jesus did on the cross. 826 00:44:02,272 --> 00:44:05,042 I thank you, I thank you for their hearts. 827 00:44:05,042 --> 00:44:06,810 I thank you for the decisions to follow you. 828 00:44:06,810 --> 00:44:09,813 I thank you for their commitment to live. 829 00:44:11,849 --> 00:44:13,217 To live for your kingdom sake. 830 00:44:13,217 --> 00:44:14,218 They give their allegiance to you. 831 00:44:14,218 --> 00:44:17,221 I pray in the name of Jesus that you come upon them, 832 00:44:17,321 --> 00:44:20,124 that you grant them your spirit within them, 833 00:44:20,124 --> 00:44:22,693 that you walk before them. 834 00:44:22,693 --> 00:44:25,629 Father, for you protect them from the evil one 835 00:44:25,629 --> 00:44:28,432 and the salt that will happen upon their lives, 836 00:44:28,432 --> 00:44:29,967 especially when they leave this place 837 00:44:29,967 --> 00:44:33,871 that will try to make them doubt and and back away and back off. 838 00:44:34,138 --> 00:44:35,372 I pray they don't do that. 839 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:39,243 I pray that their eyes stay fixed on you. 840 00:44:39,243 --> 00:44:42,246 Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, 841 00:44:43,013 --> 00:44:45,482 that you would encourage them and strengthen them to follow you 842 00:44:45,482 --> 00:44:48,752 with their whole life, that you would allow them to love you 843 00:44:48,752 --> 00:44:52,022 with their whole heart and soul and mind and strength, and love other people too. 844 00:44:53,057 --> 00:44:56,060 I pray your protection over them. God, 845 00:44:56,093 --> 00:44:57,227 your mighty hand with them. 846 00:44:57,227 --> 00:45:00,230 I pray that as they live in repentance, 847 00:45:00,764 --> 00:45:03,834 that you would allow them all that your grace is capable of. 848 00:45:04,401 --> 00:45:06,870 That's so good. 849 00:45:06,870 --> 00:45:09,273 Thank you Lord. 850 00:45:09,273 --> 00:45:11,675 In your name I pray, Amen. 851 00:45:11,675 --> 00:45:13,711 If you made some decision, or you were one of those 852 00:45:13,711 --> 00:45:15,646 that raise your hands, or you just want some more information 853 00:45:15,646 --> 00:45:17,681 about what it means to follow Jesus, what we believe, 854 00:45:17,681 --> 00:45:19,349 and how to grow in your relationship with him. 855 00:45:19,349 --> 00:45:22,686 I wrote two foundation books there in the in the Welcome Center. 856 00:45:22,686 --> 00:45:24,221 Feel free to pick those up. 857 00:45:24,221 --> 00:45:25,622 They're just free for you. 858 00:45:25,622 --> 00:45:27,558 I want to help you grow. 859 00:45:27,558 --> 00:45:28,125 Pick them up. 860 00:45:28,125 --> 00:45:29,393 If you know someone you want to give them 861 00:45:29,393 --> 00:45:31,328 to pick them up for a friend, pass them to people. 862 00:45:32,996 --> 00:45:33,664 Friends, I love you. 863 00:45:33,664 --> 00:45:34,865 You did a great job. 864 00:45:34,865 --> 00:45:37,868 Matthew 11 stuff, 865 00:45:38,435 --> 00:45:40,904 Yeah, you did a great job. 866 00:45:40,904 --> 00:45:43,907 The next two weeks we're going through Matthew 12 and get ready for Easter. 867 00:45:44,208 --> 00:45:47,778 So make sure you pick up those in because they're out in the little entryway there. 868 00:45:47,778 --> 00:45:50,147 They're package attend their little square cards, 869 00:45:50,147 --> 00:45:52,750 pick them up and start inviting people to Easter. 870 00:45:52,750 --> 00:45:55,452 There's a QR code they can follow to take them to give them all 871 00:45:55,452 --> 00:45:56,220 the info they need. 872 00:45:56,220 --> 00:45:58,689 Pick up these yard signs you only got a few left. 873 00:45:58,689 --> 00:46:01,859 Listen, in this community, we all know who's running for supervisor. 874 00:46:01,859 --> 00:46:05,863 I don't think everybody know who's or where Easter is, so just make sure 875 00:46:05,863 --> 00:46:08,866 that we're at least at that level of our supervisor. 876 00:46:08,932 --> 00:46:10,200 You got it? 877 00:46:10,200 --> 00:46:12,903 Yeah, I love you. I'm proud of you. 878 00:46:12,903 --> 00:46:13,904 Let's sing one more song.