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It's good to see everyone this evening.

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Let's begin with a word of prayer.

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Gracious Father in heaven, we come before you grateful for the day you've given to us, for
the blessings that you shower upon us, for the tender mercies and the kindness that you

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grant to us each and every day.

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We pray that as we strive diligently to grow in wisdom and in knowledge and understanding
of your will, that we might

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seek the things which are above that we might set our focus and our minds on eternity and
not on this earth.

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We pray that we might be able during this period of study to set aside the things of this
world to focus on spiritual matters and to grow in those matters.

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Lord, we pray that you will forgive us when we sin and fall short of your glory, all this
we pray and ask in Jesus' name, amen.

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In Mark chapter 9, we find in verse 33, he came to Capernaum and when he was in the house,
he asked them, what was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?

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But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the
greatest.

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Two weeks ago as we concluded this section and talked about this, we were talking about
what Jesus described as the thing that would be the nature of the person who is the

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greatest in the kingdom.

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And what did we say that attribute was?

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All right, be servant of all or

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Last of all, both of those terminologies are given.

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But let's spend a moment and think about the disciples' situation.

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What is it that they were contemplating, discussing, disputing about among themselves on
the road to Capernaum?

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All right, if one of them was better than the other, so uh in a kingdom, we'll just use,
you know, a kingdom called United States of America as an example.

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uh The person that's in the cabinet, does everybody have the same authority once you get
down from the president?

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No.

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Not only do they not have the same authority, they don't have the same position.

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if something happens to the president.

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There's certain positions on who would take control if the president dies.

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There's things and uh authorities that come with different positions.

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The secretary of interior may not have the same sway as the secretary of state.

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Matter of fact, they don't.

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All right?

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And the secretary of...

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uh

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No, no, name one, probably not in the same position as the Secretary of Defense.

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There's a difference in positions and in authority.

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And we remember there was the occasion where John and James's mother came to Jesus and
asked for the left and right hand of Jesus be given to her sons when he came into his

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authority.

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Jesus pointed out that this was not His to give, but all of this helps us to realize there
was still within the disciples, within the apostles, a fundamental incorrect view of the

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kingdom.

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How were they thinking of the kingdom?

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as an earthly kingdom.

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All right.

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Yep.

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So the promise had been made.

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Let's go back to 2 Samuel.

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Sagan's Amul, Chapter 7.

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Beginning in verse 5, the prophet comes to David and is told to go to David and deliver
this message.

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He says, go tell my servant David, thus says the Lord, would you build a house for me to
dwell in?

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For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up
from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.

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Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to
anyone of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why

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have you not built me a house of cedar?

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Now therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took
you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over

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Israel."

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And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from
before you, and have made you a great name like the name of the great men who are on the

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earth.

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Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them that they may
dwell in a place of their own and move no more.

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Nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them any more as previously.

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Since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel,

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and have caused you to rest from all your enemies.

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Also the Lord tells you that he will make you a house." What's the situation that's going
on here in this text?

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What is David desired to do?

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All right, build a permanent house for the Lord.

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Up until this time, where was the Lord's house?

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All right, it was in Tabernacle.

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What is a Tabernacle?

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It's a tent.

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It's a, as we would consider it, a non-permanent structure.

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How many years estimate had it been in a tent?

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Hmm?

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That's correct.

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Nearly 500 years from Moses to David.

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So after 500 years of it being in a tent, David thinks, well, here I am dwelling in a
house of, paneled house and a house of cedar and there's the Lord's house and it's a tent.

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Now, David wasn't looking at it

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from a perspective of, want the grandeur of building a house for God.

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David was thinking, I am of such insignificance by comparison to the Lord and yet here
this is my house and there's his house.

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This doesn't seem right.

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It seemed in David's mind to be the exact opposite of what it should be.

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But when he determines to do this and then says to the prophet, should I do this?

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And the prophet says, yeah, go ahead.

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God then appears to the prophet that night and says, I didn't say yes.

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Now you go back the very next morning and this is what you tell David.

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So the Lord sends the prophet back with the message.

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Nathan delivers the message to David.

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And God says, when did I ask for a house?

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When in all the time from the judges all the way until now did I ever instruct any of the
people who have shepherded my people that could be Moses, that could be Joshua, that could

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be Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, any of them, when did I ask any of the judges, when did I ask
Samuel to build me a house?

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Did I ask King Saul?

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He reigned for 40 years.

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Did I ask him to build me a house?

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No.

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God's point is you have misunderstood my role.

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His significance in this message is God is pointing out, I don't need a house.

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I didn't need a house.

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I don't have a tabernacle because I need a tabernacle.

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I have a tabernacle because Israel needs me.

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And David, you have a house because I gave it to you.

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You have a house because I caused you to go from being a shepherd following the sheep to
king in the nation.

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as you consider

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what God is telling David.

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God is making it clear to David, you're in the position that you're in, you're in the
scenario that you're in, you're in the environment that you're in, because I let you be

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there and because I put you there.

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Now, he continues and he says, verse 12, when your days are fulfilled and you rest with
your fathers, I will set up your seed after you who will come from your body and I will

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establish his kingdom.

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Now, question, was David's kingdom physical or spiritual?

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Physical.

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And when the prophecy comes of the coming King from the line of David, God specifically
gives the prophecy as someone who would be born from His line, which would indicate the

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individual is A, physical, or B, spiritual.

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Physical.

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God didn't say I'm going to have some angel reign over your kingdom.

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He says it's going to be somebody who's a human.

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Flesh and blood comes from your line.

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Alright, now notice what else.

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He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever.

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I will be his father, and he shall be my son.

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If he commits iniquity, I will chase in him with the rod of men and with the blows of the
sons of men.

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But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before
you.

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And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you."

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Your throne shall be established forever.

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based upon the prophecy, the understanding of the Jews was that because of disobedience
there was a period of time where the throne had been taken away from Israel, but God was

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going to restore it.

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God was going to put a king back on that throne, and it was going to be a king from the
line of David.

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And that ultimately the throne in Jerusalem was going to last forever.

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Now was it David's direct son who would build the house for God?

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Yes, it was Solomon.

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But was it David's direct son that would have the throne that remained forever?

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No, as a matter of fact.

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Ten of the tribes are going to be ripped away from Solomon because of his lack of
faithfulness to God.

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And only because of this prophecy do the other two remain.

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But as you move forward, you have in this perception among the Jews that there's a throne
that's going to be in Israel, that's going to be in Jerusalem, and it's going to be

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David's throne, and the seed of David is going to reign on that throne forever.

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go to Acts chapter two.

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In Acts chapter 2

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Peter in that sermon on the day of Pentecost will discuss David because of other
prophecies connected between David and the Messiah.

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And we read in verse 22, Men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man
attested by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did through him in your

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midst, as you yourselves also know.

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him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God you have taken by
lawless hands have crucified and put to death whom God raised up having loosed the pains

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of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it for David says
concerning him I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is at my right hand that I

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may not be shaken

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Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad.

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Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope, for you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor
will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.

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You have made known to me the ways of life and you will make me full of joy in your
presence.

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Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the Patriarch David, that he is both dead
and buried and his tomb is with us to this day.

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Peter says, here's this prophecy from David about his flesh not seeing corruption, and
yet, Peter points out, his tomb's right here.

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You can go down the road and see David's tomb.

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His body is still with us.

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So clearly, as Peter's pointing out, the prophecy is not about David.

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It's about someone else.

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So then notice what he says.

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He says, therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit

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on his throne.

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Now, where's that prophecy?

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Second Samuel chapter 7.

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Peter is telling these Israelites, know about the prophecy of the throne.

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I know about the prophecy of the physical descendant after the flesh, after the lineage of
David.

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But notice what he says.

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He says, David being a prophet, verse 30, foresaw this, verse 31, spoke concerning the
resurrection of Christ.

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that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

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This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses, therefore being exalted to
the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,

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he poured out this which you now see and hear.

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For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, the Lord said to my Lord,

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sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.

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Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you
crucified both Lord and Christ.

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Peter as he is drawing their attention to what happened to Jesus not 50 days prior in
Jerusalem and how he was crucified and how he was resurrected and how he has now ascended

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up into heaven.

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says David didn't ascend into heaven.

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David's not sitting at the right hand of God.

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But Jesus was resurrected.

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And notice that the significance of the fact that Jesus was resurrected was proof and
evidence that He ascended.

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How many people witnessed Jesus' ascension?

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based upon what we know from the text.

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I would go with 11.

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Judas was no longer there.

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So, the disciples, the apostles were there.

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We're not told of any others that were present, though after he ascends there are two men.

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They're described as the same type of description that usually angels are described as.

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So, two individuals come to them and say, why are you standing here staring up into
heaven?

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He's coming back the same way you saw him go.

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But the point is this, all the people of Jerusalem didn't see it.

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and yet there were enough witnesses to his resurrection to stand as evidence of his
ascension.

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Nobody said, well, I think maybe he just got on a donkey and headed to Egypt.

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That's why he's not here anymore.

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But what would that have proved?

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That he was resurrected.

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His enemies couldn't argue with his ascension because that would mean they'd have to agree
with his resurrection.

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But by nature of the fact that it was clearly evident he had been resurrected, his tomb
was empty.

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The soldiers that were around the tomb had no explanation.

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Other than they were awake one minute, they were not the next.

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And there were 500 plus witnesses in the city of Jerusalem all saying, I have seen him in
person.

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This is all going on.

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All these people have been present because the majority of these people would have been
there for Passover.

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They would, if they were from outside of the region, they would have traveled in for
Passover.

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They would have stayed from Passover until Pentecost.

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So they were there when all the events occurred.

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They've been around the city waiting for Pentecost to occur and had nothing better to do
than to discuss this whole thing that's going on with this Jesus of Nazareth who was

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supposed to be dead and was supposed to be buried.

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But now he's walking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

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And now he's being seen and seen and seen and seen and seen.

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And now Peter's saying not only was he resurrected, but he's ascended.

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And he's sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.

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that statement together with the accusation that their wicked hands had put to death the
Son of God is what prompted the response, men and brethren, what shall we do?

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It is so fundamental to the Israelite perspective of the kingdom that they had been
waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting for a thousand years from David to Jesus.

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They were waiting for the Messiah.

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They were waiting for the kingdom.

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And then they had heard John.

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That period of time where John the Baptist was preaching?

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Who went out to hear John?

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All is real.

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All Israel went out to hear John.

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And what did John preach?

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kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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It is nigh.

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It is around the corner.

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It is about to come to pass.

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And then Jesus shows on the scene.

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Starts performing these miracles and doing these signs and these wonders.

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And no one can comprehend the authority and the power that he has.

213
00:22:56,474 --> 00:23:05,438
Even the apostles are astounded time and time again because of the authority that Jesus
has by speaking a word.

214
00:23:10,412 --> 00:23:11,868
and they still kill him.

215
00:23:15,256 --> 00:23:19,989
They still put him to death, not days before.

216
00:23:22,380 --> 00:23:25,965
They had been laying down their coats and their cloaks.

217
00:23:28,140 --> 00:23:36,138
And Paul leaves crying out, Hosanna to the highest, as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

218
00:23:38,582 --> 00:23:42,037
And seven days later, they're crying, crucify Him.

219
00:23:42,483 --> 00:23:43,686
Crucify Him.

220
00:23:46,722 --> 00:23:47,706
Why?

221
00:23:51,446 --> 00:23:56,990
because what they thought they were getting.

222
00:23:58,498 --> 00:24:00,028
wasn't what they were getting.

223
00:24:01,602 --> 00:24:08,542
because what they had been waiting for all this time was never what God had promised.

224
00:24:11,604 --> 00:24:16,328
You cannot overestimate.

225
00:24:17,964 --> 00:24:30,220
the reaction from people when they have been manipulated and taught incorrectly for
generations.

226
00:24:31,896 --> 00:24:39,178
where they have been lied to and convinced that something that had never been promised was
what was coming.

227
00:24:41,112 --> 00:24:49,406
and that their glory and their grandeur and their return of their prominence and power was
at hand.

228
00:24:52,555 --> 00:24:54,090
only to realize.

229
00:24:55,874 --> 00:24:57,062
That wasn't happening.

230
00:24:58,796 --> 00:25:09,138
You cannot overestimate the reaction that people will have when they are firmly convinced
that things will turn out one way and then they don't.

231
00:25:15,111 --> 00:25:18,750
and Jesus

232
00:25:20,494 --> 00:25:23,616
keeps pushing the disciples.

233
00:25:25,838 --> 00:25:29,161
time after time after time.

234
00:25:30,968 --> 00:25:34,301
to get them to realize their thinking is wrong.

235
00:25:37,004 --> 00:25:45,406
What did Jesus say when they were in the boat and there was only one loaf of bread?

236
00:25:48,568 --> 00:25:55,342
Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

237
00:25:56,243 --> 00:26:00,926
And they're going, oh man, he must be upset because we didn't bring any food.

238
00:26:03,510 --> 00:26:04,591
No!

239
00:26:05,493 --> 00:26:11,279
He's trying to get them to get off of the physical plane of thinking.

240
00:26:12,301 --> 00:26:20,299
To stop thinking about this world as if it's all that matters.

241
00:26:21,976 --> 00:26:31,198
to stop looking at the Scriptures as if the Scriptures were about this world.

242
00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:40,502
and start thinking about eternity.

243
00:26:45,602 --> 00:26:49,896
They're disputing who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom.

244
00:26:51,724 --> 00:26:59,560
and Jesus gives them the explanation that does not work in a physical kingdom.

245
00:27:01,854 --> 00:27:07,842
I get that you can and should teach, even in the business world, servant leadership.

246
00:27:07,842 --> 00:27:11,928
It's a great principle and methodology for leadership.

247
00:27:11,928 --> 00:27:20,318
But you don't get to be the greatest in this physical world, in physical kingdoms, by
being the servant of all.

248
00:27:22,616 --> 00:27:30,388
Going to say that usually that means you end up the servant in the kingdom, not the
greatest.

249
00:27:32,802 --> 00:27:35,571
what Jesus is talking to them about.

250
00:27:37,164 --> 00:27:42,418
is that he was never going to teach them how to be the greatest in a physical kingdom.

251
00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:52,148
because their view of what a kingdom was, was wrong.

252
00:27:54,252 --> 00:28:01,310
He was going to teach them how to be the greatest in a spiritual kingdom.

253
00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:09,322
where all the equations are upside down from all the kingdoms that they had ever known.

254
00:28:11,416 --> 00:28:16,842
Do you think Caesar got to be Caesar because he was the servant of all?

255
00:28:20,736 --> 00:28:21,606
No.

256
00:28:22,188 --> 00:28:30,757
As a matter of fact, Jesus will point out that there's a method to how the Gentile kings
reign.

257
00:28:31,778 --> 00:28:38,966
That is, they take authority and power that is not theirs and they cause others to serve
them.

258
00:28:44,066 --> 00:28:54,089
But then we read verse 36, then he took a little child and he set him in the midst of
them.

259
00:28:54,089 --> 00:29:05,392
And when he had taken him in his arms, he said to them, whoever receives one of these
little children in my name receives me.

260
00:29:05,972 --> 00:29:12,384
And whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me.

261
00:29:13,976 --> 00:29:15,853
Who's the Him who sent me?

262
00:29:17,082 --> 00:29:18,366
God the Father.

263
00:29:20,204 --> 00:29:27,066
Jesus says, when you receive one of these little ones, you receive me.

264
00:29:27,789 --> 00:29:30,974
When you receive me, you receive the Father.

265
00:29:32,792 --> 00:29:39,190
Does that mean that all you have to do in order to be saved is help little kids?

266
00:29:41,164 --> 00:29:42,035
No.

267
00:29:43,121 --> 00:29:46,250
So we're talking about a different sort of receive, aren't we?

268
00:29:48,224 --> 00:29:54,187
What is Jesus' emphasis about the child?

269
00:29:56,398 --> 00:29:58,922
Okay, childlike faith, that's part of it.

270
00:30:00,126 --> 00:30:02,280
It's not what's highlighted here in Mark, though.

271
00:30:03,854 --> 00:30:05,862
What's the idea of receive here?

272
00:30:10,168 --> 00:30:10,789
to welcome.

273
00:30:10,789 --> 00:30:23,102
Alright, we'll spin things back, just a few verses, and ask what are they talking and
arguing about?

274
00:30:25,538 --> 00:30:27,319
Who's the greatest in the kingdom?

275
00:30:28,261 --> 00:30:42,504
When you are in a position of authority and when you are a governor and a magistrate and
you get to sit in authority over others, you get to decide who comes to talk to you.

276
00:30:44,386 --> 00:30:47,154
Go back in your mind to the days of Joseph.

277
00:30:47,517 --> 00:30:50,485
Is Joseph the leader of all the nation?

278
00:30:52,802 --> 00:30:54,824
when he's put in authority by Pharaoh?

279
00:30:54,824 --> 00:30:56,765
Is he the very top guy?

280
00:30:57,126 --> 00:30:57,476
No.

281
00:30:57,476 --> 00:30:59,027
Who's the very top guy?

282
00:30:59,188 --> 00:31:00,528
Pharaoh is.

283
00:31:01,029 --> 00:31:07,154
So he is not the greatest in the kingdom, but he is one step down.

284
00:31:08,275 --> 00:31:21,546
Now if you pay attention to the account of Joseph's brothers coming, they're always having
to have permission just to appear before the one who makes the decisions.

285
00:31:23,234 --> 00:31:36,787
He has to receive them because there's person after person after person in the way to
gatekeep anyone from going into His presence.

286
00:31:36,787 --> 00:31:37,177
Why?

287
00:31:37,177 --> 00:31:40,270
He's second in the kingdom.

288
00:31:40,731 --> 00:31:44,374
He is in a position of authority.

289
00:31:46,178 --> 00:31:56,261
So as you examine this physical discussion of who's going to be the greatest, who's going
to be the number two guy, who's going to be the number three guy, who's going to be the

290
00:31:56,261 --> 00:32:10,705
number four guy, you have in their mind, there are going to be kings and counselors and
ambassadors and all the really important people.

291
00:32:11,945 --> 00:32:15,176
They're going to come talk to us because we're going to be second in the kingdom.

292
00:32:16,706 --> 00:32:18,286
We're gonna be third in the kingdom.

293
00:32:19,068 --> 00:32:22,630
I wonder what house I'm gonna live in, in Jerusalem.

294
00:32:23,431 --> 00:32:28,384
I wonder what little knoll I'm gonna live on top of where I overlook all the people
underneath me.

295
00:32:30,314 --> 00:32:36,917
Oh absolutely there's a competitive sense there because that's why they were arguing with
one another about it.

296
00:32:36,997 --> 00:32:39,438
That's why they were disputing over it.

297
00:32:39,438 --> 00:32:47,572
That's why the other disciples were so angry with James and John when their mother asked
for the position in the kingdom.

298
00:32:50,168 --> 00:32:53,388
It's because they're going, what?

299
00:32:54,777 --> 00:32:56,712
How are you jumping in that seat?

300
00:33:00,212 --> 00:33:01,660
And Jesus...

301
00:33:03,990 --> 00:33:05,843
takes the little child.

302
00:33:07,512 --> 00:33:09,633
brings them into their midst.

303
00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:21,628
sits down and says, the one who receives one of these little ones.

304
00:33:23,820 --> 00:33:25,085
receives me.

305
00:33:26,894 --> 00:33:29,146
So let's play that through.

306
00:33:31,554 --> 00:33:33,555
You're a person of authority.

307
00:33:34,176 --> 00:33:36,196
You're second in the kingdom.

308
00:33:36,518 --> 00:33:40,761
When you say to do something, it's done.

309
00:33:41,222 --> 00:33:47,646
When you say so and so isn't allowed to come in those doors, so and so is not allowed to
come in those doors.

310
00:33:49,154 --> 00:33:57,890
When you get a high-ranking official from a far-off country, they're going to come in and
they're going to show you honor and respect.

311
00:33:59,133 --> 00:34:02,088
They're going to bring you gifts and tribute.

312
00:34:04,888 --> 00:34:06,877
What does a little child have to offer you?

313
00:34:08,685 --> 00:34:09,542
Nothing.

314
00:34:11,074 --> 00:34:13,225
Not a thing.

315
00:34:15,404 --> 00:34:22,761
They have no position, no authority, no prominence.

316
00:34:22,862 --> 00:34:26,886
It's just a child.

317
00:34:30,444 --> 00:34:32,728
And yet, Jesus says...

318
00:34:36,152 --> 00:34:37,863
who's the greatest in the kingdom.

319
00:34:40,674 --> 00:34:42,095
You're right, I am.

320
00:34:43,098 --> 00:34:51,910
And when you accept that little child, when you receive that little child, when you
receive a little child, you receive me.

321
00:34:54,274 --> 00:34:55,695
What's he just done?

322
00:34:56,577 --> 00:34:59,500
He just flipped the whole power structure on his head.

323
00:35:00,362 --> 00:35:13,538
Now power prominence position mean nothing because the little child has the same access to
the greatest ones in the kingdom that the ambassador does.

324
00:35:16,278 --> 00:35:19,020
Now position doesn't mean anything.

325
00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,782
Prominence doesn't mean anything.

326
00:35:22,803 --> 00:35:31,400
As a matter of fact, it actually is a negative because the child has none of that.

327
00:35:32,918 --> 00:35:36,764
and yet they represent the greatest in the kingdom.

328
00:35:38,282 --> 00:35:53,377
It is worth our time and consideration to think about these situations where Jesus says
these things and just mull over in your head what is the implication of what He just said.

329
00:35:54,579 --> 00:35:58,472
It's more than just have a childlike heart.

330
00:36:00,148 --> 00:36:03,901
It's more than having the faith of a little child.

331
00:36:04,823 --> 00:36:11,720
Jesus is saying your fundamental concept of everything that you think matters is wrong.

332
00:36:17,036 --> 00:36:29,842
When you drive by the great big houses sitting way off from the road with the fence you
can't hardly see over.

333
00:36:33,550 --> 00:36:40,150
And you think, man, what must it be like to live there?

334
00:36:40,870 --> 00:36:43,782
Two people, 20,000 square feet.

335
00:36:46,557 --> 00:36:47,871
It's just a house.

336
00:36:49,474 --> 00:36:57,534
But when you think that that is not even rich in this world's comparisons.

337
00:37:00,812 --> 00:37:15,953
And then you realize all the people and all the prominence and all the opulence that
exists in the world, Jesus says there is a greater connection to me with that little child

338
00:37:15,953 --> 00:37:17,854
than there is to that king.

339
00:37:19,608 --> 00:37:30,595
to that governor, to that ambassador, to that person of prominence, to that wealthy
person, to that person of influence, there is a greater connection between that child and

340
00:37:30,595 --> 00:37:33,118
me than there is any of them.

341
00:37:35,318 --> 00:37:44,338
and he didn't cite their politics and he didn't cite their positions and he didn't cite
their actions as having anything to do with it.

342
00:37:49,964 --> 00:37:52,988
Jesus is emphasizing to His disciples.

343
00:37:54,958 --> 00:37:59,942
Everything you think you know is wrong.

344
00:38:02,894 --> 00:38:07,762
Everything you think is important is wrong.

345
00:38:10,538 --> 00:38:21,852
until you begin to open your mind to looking at things the way God speaks of them.

346
00:38:26,006 --> 00:38:39,786
What value did Joseph have to Egypt when he arrived as a slave sold to Ishmaelites?

347
00:38:42,488 --> 00:38:43,345
Zero.

348
00:38:45,580 --> 00:38:47,709
best case the price of his life.

349
00:38:51,500 --> 00:38:58,038
What value did he have to Potiphar after Potiphar had put everything in his control?

350
00:39:01,055 --> 00:39:02,216
immense.

351
00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:14,718
So much so that everything that Joseph touched, a slave, didn't even have his own freedom,
everything he touched.

352
00:39:16,248 --> 00:39:17,169
went well.

353
00:39:19,054 --> 00:39:21,650
to the point that Potiphar didn't even know he had anymore.

354
00:39:23,650 --> 00:39:35,284
that tells you that Potiphar had become so wealthy that he could no longer look at what he
once had and what he currently has and do the math to figure out how he got there.

355
00:39:39,968 --> 00:39:43,073
and then through the course of events.

356
00:39:44,844 --> 00:39:49,492
Joseph goes back into jail or goes into jail, goes back into imprisonment.

357
00:39:53,196 --> 00:40:00,424
And how long did it take him to work his way up the ladder to get to second in the
kingdom?

358
00:40:03,694 --> 00:40:09,694
Well, he was in charge in the prison for a period of time, even as a prisoner.

359
00:40:11,034 --> 00:40:15,046
Guard's like, as long as Joseph's in charge, I don't have anything to worry about.

360
00:40:17,972 --> 00:40:22,131
and then interacts with the servants of Pharaoh.

361
00:40:23,756 --> 00:40:26,154
then spends two more years in prison.

362
00:40:29,646 --> 00:40:35,568
And how long did it take him to climb the ladder from prisoner and slave to second in the
kingdom?

363
00:40:35,568 --> 00:40:37,832
The answer is one meeting.

364
00:40:44,780 --> 00:40:53,386
God doesn't care about human power structures.

365
00:40:55,884 --> 00:40:58,716
God sees no significance in them.

366
00:41:00,628 --> 00:41:05,790
other than as a resource to enact his will.

367
00:41:08,824 --> 00:41:14,496
So can God take the most wicked person on the planet and make them a king?

368
00:41:19,638 --> 00:41:23,657
I mean, kinda did that with Nebuchadnezzar.

369
00:41:25,590 --> 00:41:28,138
Mavikanezer was not a good guy.

370
00:41:30,785 --> 00:41:32,019
Neither was Caesar.

371
00:41:33,867 --> 00:41:34,854
any of them.

372
00:41:37,376 --> 00:41:43,284
Neither were a whole host of other individuals in Old Testament history.

373
00:41:45,366 --> 00:41:51,178
And yet every single one of them played a part in enacting God's will.

374
00:41:54,092 --> 00:41:57,653
because all of the power that exists in this world.

375
00:42:00,038 --> 00:42:04,326
all of the power structures that humanity dreams up.

376
00:42:07,490 --> 00:42:08,903
don't mean anything to God.

377
00:42:11,714 --> 00:42:15,752
They are entirely insignificant.

378
00:42:17,292 --> 00:42:23,260
by comparison to the authority that exists within his kingdom.

379
00:42:25,834 --> 00:42:34,846
And Jesus is trying to get his disciples to stop thinking about physical power.

380
00:42:36,748 --> 00:42:42,312
Because the reality is their physical power was without value.

381
00:42:44,502 --> 00:43:03,909
That the authority they would have by showing kindness, by showing humility, by showing
meekness, had greater power than armies.

382
00:43:04,369 --> 00:43:06,260
Turn to Matthew 5 as we close.

383
00:43:16,268 --> 00:43:23,723
Matthew chapter five, verse three, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.

384
00:43:24,204 --> 00:43:29,827
Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.

385
00:43:30,188 --> 00:43:36,232
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

386
00:43:36,852 --> 00:43:37,773
Wait a minute.

387
00:43:37,773 --> 00:43:43,717
I thought kings and rich people and prominent people of great power inherited the earth.

388
00:43:44,018 --> 00:43:45,288
Jesus said, nope.

389
00:43:45,782 --> 00:43:48,183
No, you got the wrong people.

390
00:43:48,664 --> 00:43:49,865
It's the meek.

391
00:43:50,546 --> 00:43:51,866
You go on.

392
00:43:51,866 --> 00:43:59,582
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

393
00:43:59,582 --> 00:44:06,347
I thought it was the rich people who had the ability to fare sumptuously every day.

394
00:44:06,347 --> 00:44:10,820
He said, no, no, no, you got it wrong.

395
00:44:11,661 --> 00:44:14,182
It's those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

396
00:44:15,118 --> 00:44:16,338
He goes on.

397
00:44:16,338 --> 00:44:21,878
He says, are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

398
00:44:22,558 --> 00:44:23,378
No, no, no, no.

399
00:44:23,378 --> 00:44:37,258
I thought it was the judges and the rulers and the kings who could arbitrarily grant mercy
at a whim to their friends and could bring judgment against their enemies that would get

400
00:44:37,258 --> 00:44:43,178
mercy, because it's not after all whether you're right or wrong or

401
00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:46,813
Innocent or guilty, it's do you know the judge well enough?

402
00:44:48,418 --> 00:44:49,680
Jesus said, no.

403
00:44:50,726 --> 00:44:52,680
No, it's whether or not you're merciful.

404
00:44:54,188 --> 00:45:01,405
He goes on and he says, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

405
00:45:01,405 --> 00:45:05,408
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

406
00:45:05,408 --> 00:45:12,104
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.

407
00:45:15,934 --> 00:45:25,226
You don't get to be in prominence and power and be persecuted for righteousness sake at
the same time.

408
00:45:26,892 --> 00:45:30,307
persecution that's dealt with here comes from above you.

409
00:45:31,089 --> 00:45:32,491
You're not in power.

410
00:45:32,872 --> 00:45:34,324
You're not in authority.

411
00:45:36,788 --> 00:45:45,782
And yet, he says, those, those are the ones who belong to my kingdom, not these.

412
00:45:47,660 --> 00:45:51,691
We so desperately, even today.

413
00:45:53,524 --> 00:45:59,836
need to remember and to realize, yes, we know it's a spiritual kingdom.

414
00:46:02,508 --> 00:46:05,170
But are we living like it's a spiritual kingdom?

415
00:46:07,342 --> 00:46:11,622
Or are we entrapped again and again and again?

416
00:46:13,664 --> 00:46:23,742
in being fascinated by the world and all of its fake authority and power.

417
00:46:25,954 --> 00:46:33,276
when at the end of the day, God has been very clear, none of it matters.

418
00:46:35,020 --> 00:46:39,113
What matters is, see that little child over there?

419
00:46:40,055 --> 00:46:42,357
Did you receive them as if they were me?

420
00:46:43,518 --> 00:46:46,280
You see the least in the nation?

421
00:46:46,902 --> 00:46:54,348
Who has no authority, who's poor, who's destitute, who can't do anything for you, did you
receive them as if they're me?

422
00:46:55,610 --> 00:47:00,404
Do you remember that when you receive me, you receive him who sent me?

423
00:47:02,380 --> 00:47:07,658
Those are the things we need to spend more time understanding.

424
00:47:09,230 --> 00:47:20,500
Because when we do, we'll start understanding why the apostles made such a fundamental
difference in the first century church.

425
00:47:22,220 --> 00:47:25,675
because they finally understood.

426
00:47:27,512 --> 00:47:31,226
come the day of Pentecost, what it all actually meant.

427
00:47:31,226 --> 00:47:34,226
All right, thank you for your attention.