1 00:07:13,136 --> 00:07:14,642 Four minutes off. 2 00:07:15,029 --> 00:07:15,931 Yeah. 3 00:07:21,048 --> 00:07:24,383 Well, maybe the atoms are moving slower today. 4 00:07:27,950 --> 00:07:31,368 uh Good evening. 5 00:07:34,168 --> 00:07:34,951 Ahem. 6 00:07:38,254 --> 00:07:43,379 Figure we'll start by my clock and end by that clock and I get an extra four and a half minutes. 7 00:07:43,379 --> 00:07:44,239 So 8 00:07:52,716 --> 00:07:56,566 Take your Bibles, if you will, and open them to Mark chapter 14. 9 00:07:59,884 --> 00:08:02,194 Mark chapter 14. 10 00:08:12,302 --> 00:08:16,313 Alright, we will begin with a word of prayer as we get into our study. 11 00:08:17,346 --> 00:08:28,411 Gracious Father in heaven, we bow before your throne, grateful for the day you've blessed us with, grateful for the opportunities that we have to serve you, to speak of your name, 12 00:08:28,411 --> 00:08:32,153 to speak of the things that you have placed in scripture for us. 13 00:08:32,153 --> 00:08:37,975 We are mindful of all that you do for us and pray that we might be diligent in our service to you. 14 00:08:38,016 --> 00:08:47,480 Lord, we pray that you be with those who are ailing and those who are sick, those who are going through the midst of uh recovery. 15 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,102 from difficulties or from surgeries. 16 00:08:50,102 --> 00:08:54,105 We also pray for Brother Michael as he prepares to have surgery tomorrow. 17 00:08:54,105 --> 00:09:02,891 We pray that your hand will be with each and every one of them, that they will be returned back to their desired health, and that they might be able to fully recover. 18 00:09:02,891 --> 00:09:07,033 Lord, we pray that you be with those who are traveling and those who are away from us. 19 00:09:07,033 --> 00:09:11,776 We pray that you allow them to reach their destination safely and return home as well. 20 00:09:11,957 --> 00:09:17,200 We pray for the lectureship that is coming up this next week at the Forest Hill Church of Christ. 21 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,100 to the Memphis School of Preaching. 22 00:09:19,100 --> 00:09:26,140 We pray that the people who will travel in and travel to attend it will do so safely. 23 00:09:26,220 --> 00:09:34,220 Pray that the lectures will be well attended and many will be encouraged, uplifted, and edified by the things which they hear. 24 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:40,400 Pray that we might be an encouragement to that congregation as they are involved in that good work. 25 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:47,200 Lord, we pray as we open your Word this evening that we might be mindful of what you would have for us to do. 26 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:53,731 that we might apply the things that we read to our lives and strive diligently to grow closer to you each and every day. 27 00:09:53,772 --> 00:09:57,137 All this we pray and ask in Jesus' name, amen. 28 00:09:59,638 --> 00:10:07,118 Mark chapter 14, we're down to around verse 31. 29 00:10:09,384 --> 00:10:21,706 As Jesus has told them that all of them will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written, and he gives the quotation we discussed last week. 30 00:10:21,967 --> 00:10:26,972 He says, But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. 31 00:10:26,972 --> 00:10:32,637 Peter said to him, Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be. 32 00:10:33,034 --> 00:10:45,982 Jesus said to him, Assuredly I say to you that today, even this night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times. 33 00:10:46,102 --> 00:10:53,887 But he spoke more vehemently, if I have to die with you, I will not deny you. 34 00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:57,209 And they all said likewise. 35 00:10:57,669 --> 00:10:59,190 One of the things that 36 00:10:59,230 --> 00:11:19,589 strikes me from both this account and the account of the denial is that quite often when someone speaks to us and tells us about something, they have what they meant, they have 37 00:11:19,589 --> 00:11:20,710 what they said. 38 00:11:20,710 --> 00:11:26,242 Now sometimes what people meant to say and what they said, two different things, right? 39 00:11:26,258 --> 00:11:32,161 Remember my dad preaching one time and he talked about as he was discussing Genesis chapter 6. 40 00:11:32,161 --> 00:11:40,105 He talked about Moses in the ark Well, he meant Noah in the ark, but wasn't Moses in an ark at one point? 41 00:11:40,186 --> 00:11:41,546 Ark of bulrushes, right? 42 00:11:41,546 --> 00:11:44,958 So Moses was still in an ark, but that was not what he was talking about. 43 00:11:44,958 --> 00:11:55,711 Alright, sometimes there's what you meant There's what you said and then there's what someone heard you to say and quite often 44 00:11:55,711 --> 00:11:59,572 What you said isn't what they heard. 45 00:12:00,353 --> 00:12:12,487 Not just that they didn't hear distinctly the words, but they understood it to mean one thing and you intended it to mean something else and what you said is possibly a 46 00:12:12,487 --> 00:12:15,338 completely different thing from both of those. 47 00:12:16,299 --> 00:12:22,261 Jesus always, being perfect, said what He meant. 48 00:12:22,701 --> 00:12:25,762 He always meant what He said. 49 00:12:26,104 --> 00:12:32,397 but that doesn't mean that what everyone heard was what he meant or what he said. 50 00:12:33,498 --> 00:12:45,385 So the disciples are going to be told by Jesus that they are going to be caused to stumble that very night and they insist not gonna happen. 51 00:12:46,346 --> 00:12:50,247 And Peter says, I will never deny you. 52 00:12:51,048 --> 00:12:54,570 I will die before I will deny you. 53 00:12:57,443 --> 00:13:06,248 Sometimes when somebody says, you're going to do X, we perhaps think of it, let's use Peter's example. 54 00:13:06,349 --> 00:13:19,277 If somebody told Peter, you're going to deny the Messiah, Peter might have thought, you mean I'm going to turn my back on the Messiah and never follow him again? 55 00:13:19,277 --> 00:13:20,598 Not a chance. 56 00:13:22,626 --> 00:13:34,210 but Peter might not have considered it to be a momentary denial of knowing who he is and knowing that he is his Lord. 57 00:13:35,011 --> 00:13:44,215 So you see the degree difference between turning back and following him never again and just simply not being willing to admit who he is. 58 00:13:45,015 --> 00:13:48,156 There's a pretty big separation between those two. 59 00:13:48,156 --> 00:13:52,399 I know a few people who've been willing to not admit that they know who I am. 60 00:13:52,399 --> 00:13:56,399 before, in spite of the fact they've known me their entire lives. 61 00:13:56,399 --> 00:14:00,699 Both of them happen to be my brothers, but anyway, are insidious. 62 00:14:00,699 --> 00:14:02,439 I don't know who that is. 63 00:14:02,439 --> 00:14:05,619 That's no, definitely not related to that. 64 00:14:07,159 --> 00:14:13,839 Now, as you look at the text, Jesus is saying, you're going to deny me. 65 00:14:14,119 --> 00:14:17,158 Peter is saying, I will never deny you. 66 00:14:20,492 --> 00:14:28,352 Maybe there's some separation between what Jesus is saying and what Peter had in mind and what Peter understood him to be saying. 67 00:14:29,354 --> 00:14:35,722 But Peter was insistent, I will never deny you. 68 00:14:38,186 --> 00:14:41,101 Bring that up because often... 69 00:14:43,072 --> 00:14:57,288 We look at things from a degree of extremes and we fail to realize the little actions that lead to the extreme. 70 00:14:58,959 --> 00:15:05,403 So let's look at another person who denied Jesus that same night, Judas. 71 00:15:06,644 --> 00:15:14,530 Judas, if he had been asked, probably would have said the same thing that all the other apostles did. 72 00:15:14,530 --> 00:15:18,712 No, I'll never deny and forsake you. 73 00:15:19,213 --> 00:15:27,398 I'll never turn my back on you entirely, but I will trade you for 30 pieces of silver one time. 74 00:15:29,772 --> 00:15:39,489 You see, the extreme, I firmly believe, Judas did not imagine that Christ was going to go to the cross. 75 00:15:40,291 --> 00:15:47,266 Judas did not imagine that his action was going to turn into Jesus being put to death. 76 00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:56,664 As a matter of fact, that is evident by Judas' actions when he comes and tries to return the money and throws it at the feet of the high priest. 77 00:15:56,664 --> 00:15:59,426 Judas had seen Jesus 78 00:15:59,566 --> 00:16:15,099 uh still the waves, feed 5,000, walk out of the midst of a mob that was trying to kill him, ride into Jerusalem on a donkey to the praise and the cry of Hosanna before all the 79 00:16:15,099 --> 00:16:16,040 people. 80 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:23,956 I'm firmly convinced Judas had no intention of leaving Jesus's presence as a disciple. 81 00:16:25,824 --> 00:16:35,678 and he was firmly convinced that he could do this, he could turn Jesus over, he could get paid, and Jesus would still continue his ministry. 82 00:16:36,839 --> 00:16:46,002 Now, he's looking at a small action, not seeing the large consequences. 83 00:16:46,763 --> 00:16:54,526 He's seeing a single payday, a pretty good payday for somebody in his line of work. 84 00:16:55,572 --> 00:16:58,965 and not seeing the ultimate results. 85 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:05,042 I think probably, again, my opinion, Peter's doing the opposite. 86 00:17:05,042 --> 00:17:15,318 Peter's looking at a denying Jesus and turning his back on him, and Jesus is talking about, you're just going to deny you even are part of my disciples. 87 00:17:16,972 --> 00:17:33,584 Now, had Peter taken the small point actions and turned it into a larger denial and from those three denials turned his back on Christ forever, he would have turned a mistake that 88 00:17:33,584 --> 00:17:35,826 could have easily been resolved. 89 00:17:37,898 --> 00:17:42,721 into a mistake that could have ultimately cost him his eternal soul. 90 00:17:43,702 --> 00:17:51,486 He could have denied him there in that courtyard and denied him again and then denied him again. 91 00:17:51,486 --> 00:18:04,254 And if he had continued in those single small point actions, he could have lost his soul eternally because the little things lead to the big things. 92 00:18:06,026 --> 00:18:12,514 Judas chose to go against Jesus in the little things. 93 00:18:14,752 --> 00:18:21,029 And when Judas realized the mistake that he made, did he repent and come back? 94 00:18:22,311 --> 00:18:23,192 No. 95 00:18:23,192 --> 00:18:24,334 He grieved. 96 00:18:24,334 --> 00:18:28,658 He cast the money before the high priest and he went out and hung himself. 97 00:18:30,605 --> 00:18:48,292 the difference between allowing the small actions to snowball into greater actions with greater consequences with greater results only to then deny God and Christ is exhibited in 98 00:18:48,292 --> 00:18:49,302 Judas. 99 00:18:51,970 --> 00:19:02,914 The temptation to deny Christ and doing so is exhibited in Peter, but the difference is when Peter realized his sin, what did he do? 100 00:19:05,164 --> 00:19:06,416 He repented. 101 00:19:07,541 --> 00:19:13,718 Yes, He went out and grieved immensely, but He turned back to Christ. 102 00:19:17,539 --> 00:19:29,989 bring all this up to point out that sometimes in our lives, we allow the little things to compound because we don't deal with them when they're little. 103 00:19:31,871 --> 00:19:35,313 We excuse them when they're little. 104 00:19:36,054 --> 00:19:39,597 We make excuses that it's just a little thing. 105 00:19:39,597 --> 00:19:41,288 It's a bad habit. 106 00:19:43,082 --> 00:19:49,331 until time goes by and now it's not a bad habit, it's a way of life. 107 00:19:50,253 --> 00:19:56,832 And now it's not a way of life, it's something we're not willing to get rid of even though we realize it is in opposition to God. 108 00:19:59,353 --> 00:20:03,906 You see, we have to be careful with the little things. 109 00:20:04,888 --> 00:20:16,097 Jesus will point out, be faithful in little and I will make you ruler over much. 110 00:20:17,079 --> 00:20:25,946 Jesus directs his disciples to pay attention to the little things. 111 00:20:27,535 --> 00:20:37,042 to concentrate on the little things so that they can be assured of the faithfulness in the big things. 112 00:20:38,023 --> 00:20:50,483 Jesus will point out in that very same context that it is the problem of the scribes and the Pharisees and the Sadducees and others that they want to be seen to be faithful in the 113 00:20:50,483 --> 00:20:51,764 minutia. 114 00:20:53,486 --> 00:20:56,666 They want to tithe of the mint and the cumin. 115 00:20:56,666 --> 00:21:04,546 They want to take the smallest of seeds and say, there's exactly 10 % for the Lord and there's 90 % for me. 116 00:21:07,010 --> 00:21:15,498 And says, they'll go to the lengths to do that, but when it comes to justice and mercy and judgment. 117 00:21:17,123 --> 00:21:18,706 They miss it entirely. 118 00:21:20,588 --> 00:21:25,951 because what they have done is they've taken the little things and they've made them all about themselves. 119 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:31,741 They've said, look, I did the little things, therefore I am so good. 120 00:21:33,921 --> 00:21:37,813 and they've ignored the greater and the weightier matters of the law. 121 00:21:38,814 --> 00:21:48,440 So as we look at this and go, wait a minute, okay, so I have to be faithful in the little things, but I can't allow the little things to allow me to be blind to the big things. 122 00:21:49,341 --> 00:21:55,205 At the same time, I can't look at the big things for so much that I ignore the little things. 123 00:21:55,205 --> 00:22:03,180 So Jesus says concerning the Pharisees and the scribes, he says, you ought to have done that. 124 00:22:03,180 --> 00:22:09,093 the tithing of the mint and the cumin, and these other things. 125 00:22:09,714 --> 00:22:20,840 You should observe the way your matters of law and not leave those things undone because little things compound, little things build up. 126 00:22:21,220 --> 00:22:27,744 Jesus is going to be told by Peter, if I have to die with you, I will not deny you. 127 00:22:27,744 --> 00:22:31,640 Peter's ready to sacrifice himself for the Lord. 128 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:37,054 He's just not willing to be criticized for the Lord. 129 00:22:43,854 --> 00:22:52,074 I will go before you to Galilee." So Jesus is telling them that they're gonna be restored even after denying him. 130 00:22:52,074 --> 00:22:54,034 I don't know whether they got it or not. 131 00:22:54,034 --> 00:22:56,114 Well I don't think they got the first part. 132 00:22:56,334 --> 00:22:59,154 So I'm pretty sure they didn't get the second part. 133 00:22:59,354 --> 00:23:04,554 But yes, he's going to indicate to them because bear in mind there's only the 11 present at the moment. 134 00:23:04,554 --> 00:23:08,594 Judas has already gone out to find the chief priests. 135 00:23:08,734 --> 00:23:13,454 But Jesus is going to indicate to all of them, you're going to get through this. 136 00:23:14,157 --> 00:23:25,790 And that's a reminder for us and especially for mature Christians is that there are going to be times that people are going to go through difficulties. 137 00:23:26,070 --> 00:23:34,072 People are going to go through phases where they're going to be more faithful and phases where they're going to be less faithful. 138 00:23:35,092 --> 00:23:41,954 And it is important upon those who are faithful to not give up on them when they're struggling. 139 00:23:41,954 --> 00:23:44,110 Turn to Galatians chapter 6. 140 00:23:46,338 --> 00:23:48,642 Galatians chapter 6. 141 00:23:58,095 --> 00:24:14,949 Paul will write to the churches of Galatia and he will write to them in chapter 6 verse 1, brethren, a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in 142 00:24:14,949 --> 00:24:21,353 a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 143 00:24:22,415 --> 00:24:27,018 He says, here's the spiritual person and here's the struggling person. 144 00:24:28,426 --> 00:24:33,565 and the person who struggling has been overtaken by the sin. 145 00:24:35,639 --> 00:24:37,104 Here's the spiritual person. 146 00:24:37,104 --> 00:24:42,521 What you do is you take a bazooka and you blast them with it so that they learn better, 147 00:24:44,622 --> 00:24:46,082 No. 148 00:24:46,922 --> 00:25:09,702 He says, you go restore them, you go, the idea there, build them back up into a spiritually mature person and set them on the right course, but you do it in a spirit of 149 00:25:09,702 --> 00:25:10,602 gentleness. 150 00:25:12,269 --> 00:25:25,481 not with a whip, not with a pen that's just going to describe how horrible they are as a person because they were overtaken by a sin. 151 00:25:27,544 --> 00:25:29,054 but with gentleness. 152 00:25:29,735 --> 00:25:40,969 And then he says, as you're doing it, by the way, I believe there's a whole lot of this considering yourself that looks right back to Matthew chapter seven, where Jesus says, 153 00:25:40,969 --> 00:25:49,842 judge not that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge, it shall be judged to you again. 154 00:25:51,660 --> 00:25:55,731 Now, in that passage, he is not telling people don't judge. 155 00:25:56,492 --> 00:26:08,336 He is saying you be assured that you better judge yourself according to God's before you start judging anybody according to your standard. 156 00:26:09,117 --> 00:26:11,978 Because your standard is gonna be held back to you. 157 00:26:13,602 --> 00:26:30,685 had the Pharisees held themselves to their own standard, they'd have been pretty good people because they held the people to an incredibly high standard of living, which most 158 00:26:30,685 --> 00:26:35,978 of them failed to meet, which is why the Pharisees thought themselves better than everybody else. 159 00:26:36,259 --> 00:26:41,222 Unfortunately, what the Pharisees didn't do is apply their own standard to themselves. 160 00:26:41,742 --> 00:26:52,251 That's why Jesus over and over and over over over again called them hypocrites because they would hold a standard against somebody else and say, you don't measure up. 161 00:26:52,712 --> 00:26:59,988 And then they'd be like, and you can't measure me by that standard because I'm not gonna let you. 162 00:27:02,868 --> 00:27:12,584 As Paul points out in chapter 6 verse 2, says, bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 163 00:27:13,585 --> 00:27:22,930 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 164 00:27:24,856 --> 00:27:32,382 Paul, as he tells these brethren, you go help the person who's struggling. 165 00:27:34,050 --> 00:27:49,392 but as you're doing it, you put the mirror of the word of God back on you and make sure that you're doing what you ought to be doing so that you're not also tempted with the sin 166 00:27:49,392 --> 00:27:50,983 that they're involved in. 167 00:27:51,444 --> 00:27:59,471 But then you further, you pick up their burden and you carry it for them. 168 00:27:59,471 --> 00:28:03,956 You take whatever is the struggle that's causing them to stumble 169 00:28:03,956 --> 00:28:07,569 and you lift it so they can be faithful. 170 00:28:08,430 --> 00:28:23,582 And then he says, if you think that when you've done all of this, you're now something really, really significant in the brotherhood, in the body of Christ, in the church, he 171 00:28:23,582 --> 00:28:25,163 said, you be careful. 172 00:28:26,144 --> 00:28:33,800 Because the person who thinks themselves to be something when in actuality they're nothing, they're just deceiving themselves. 173 00:28:36,696 --> 00:28:49,756 Paul will so often as he opens letters to churches write that he is a bond servant to Christ. 174 00:28:51,276 --> 00:28:58,192 He would emphasize to the congregations over and over and over again, I am nothing but a slave. 175 00:28:59,353 --> 00:29:09,722 And when I've done everything that I've been commanded to do, because this is what Jesus taught, when a servant has done everything that he is commanded to do, 176 00:29:11,512 --> 00:29:16,787 he should still say, I'm an unprofitable servant, I've only done that which I was commanded to do. 177 00:29:18,010 --> 00:29:19,430 I'm still nothing. 178 00:29:19,450 --> 00:29:23,335 I only did that which was expected of me as a servant. 179 00:29:23,882 --> 00:29:26,038 And that's Paul's position. 180 00:29:26,139 --> 00:29:29,502 So we turn back to Mark chapter 14. 181 00:29:40,472 --> 00:29:49,987 So Mark 14, verse 32, then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane. 182 00:29:50,787 --> 00:29:54,969 And he said to his disciples, sit here while I pray. 183 00:29:55,990 --> 00:29:59,752 And he took Peter, James and John with him. 184 00:30:00,132 --> 00:30:04,414 And he began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 185 00:30:05,186 --> 00:30:14,031 Then he said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death, stay here and watch. 186 00:30:14,452 --> 00:30:24,448 He went little further and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 187 00:30:27,026 --> 00:30:34,733 as Jesus is nearing the time where this is going to occur. 188 00:30:35,875 --> 00:30:50,729 As He is nearing and approaching the point at which His betrayal is going to occur and that event is going to basically domino event after event after event after event leading 189 00:30:50,729 --> 00:30:52,050 to the crucifixion. 190 00:30:53,930 --> 00:30:59,178 Jesus is anticipating what's coming. 191 00:31:01,322 --> 00:31:11,934 And would you describe his admitted statements here as he was looking forward to it? 192 00:31:15,830 --> 00:31:25,639 Jesus had been telling his disciples for months, I'm going to Jerusalem to be put to death. 193 00:31:26,460 --> 00:31:31,124 I'm going to be betrayed to the chief priests and the elders. 194 00:31:31,705 --> 00:31:33,136 I'm going to die. 195 00:31:33,136 --> 00:31:37,330 And they have missed it and missed it and missed it. 196 00:31:40,898 --> 00:31:58,034 Sometimes as parents, as you're trying to instruct your children and you've told them the same thing again and again and again and again and again and for some reason after 1800 197 00:31:58,034 --> 00:32:06,912 times of telling them the same thing, they are still completely unaware that they are supposed to do that thing. 198 00:32:07,670 --> 00:32:11,560 Anybody familiar with this or am I the only one who has children like that? 199 00:32:13,346 --> 00:32:17,718 Can you imagine that's got to be how Jesus felt with the apostles at times? 200 00:32:21,858 --> 00:32:37,838 was trying to get them to a point of being spiritually mature, that he was trying to get them to a point of being ready for this to occur, and they're still, as of that very 201 00:32:37,838 --> 00:32:39,670 night, oblivious. 202 00:32:41,198 --> 00:32:45,086 to everything that's Mary Magdalene wasn't. 203 00:32:47,202 --> 00:32:52,364 Mary the sister of Lazarus wasn't, but the apostles are. 204 00:32:56,120 --> 00:33:14,035 So as they go out into the garden to Gethsemane, he tells the eleven, stay here, except for three, Peter, James, and John, that of that core group from among the eleven that if 205 00:33:14,035 --> 00:33:25,868 you pay attention through the text of Mark and Matthew, Luke, and John, those seem to be the three that are the closest to Jesus in some of these unique scenarios. 206 00:33:27,180 --> 00:33:31,804 They go with him a little bit further than he tells them to remain behind. 207 00:33:36,502 --> 00:33:44,412 and he tells them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death. 208 00:33:48,076 --> 00:33:56,392 Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I think in that you see there's some things you can tell some people that everyone else isn't ready to hear. 209 00:33:59,522 --> 00:34:08,308 There were things Jesus could tell Peter, James, and John that the other apostles would not have been able to hear. 210 00:34:10,636 --> 00:34:12,867 And that's kind of normal for life. 211 00:34:13,507 --> 00:34:18,549 You're going to have people at different levels of maturity around you. 212 00:34:19,130 --> 00:34:25,352 You're going to have people who have had different experiences in life around you. 213 00:34:26,893 --> 00:34:40,468 Some things we know about Peter, James, and John, they were all, by all indications of scripture, already disciples of John the Baptist before Jesus started his ministry. 214 00:34:41,334 --> 00:34:47,809 They're already from the earliest point in John chapter 1, they are looking for the Messiah. 215 00:34:47,809 --> 00:34:50,151 They are looking for the prophesied one. 216 00:34:50,151 --> 00:34:55,366 They are aware that the time for that to occur is at hand. 217 00:34:55,366 --> 00:35:06,164 They're looking actively because Andrew's going to come to Simon Peter, his brother, and he say, we found the one we've been looking for. 218 00:35:08,322 --> 00:35:13,384 These three individual, now why Andrew's not on the list, I don't know. 219 00:35:14,224 --> 00:35:16,705 Why he wasn't part of the core three, I don't know. 220 00:35:16,705 --> 00:35:23,768 ah We don't really know a lot about Andrew after some of those few interactions. 221 00:35:24,149 --> 00:35:28,710 But Peter's going to be kind of that signal individual. 222 00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:35,603 James and John together, the sons of thunder, are going to stand forward as that. 223 00:35:35,603 --> 00:35:37,506 And then of course, James is going to be 224 00:35:37,506 --> 00:35:40,168 the very first of the apostles to be killed. 225 00:35:42,242 --> 00:35:50,502 But you look at this and Jesus is going to tell them something that he hasn't even yet told the other of the 11. 226 00:35:51,426 --> 00:35:56,929 And that is his great sorrow, even to death. 227 00:35:57,149 --> 00:35:59,880 Turn over to Hebrews chapter 12 for a moment. 228 00:36:01,474 --> 00:36:03,270 Hebrews chapter 12. 229 00:36:15,544 --> 00:36:28,998 In Hebrews chapter 12 and in verse 1 we read, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so 230 00:36:28,998 --> 00:36:44,662 easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, 231 00:36:45,194 --> 00:36:54,222 endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 232 00:36:54,743 --> 00:37:07,404 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you also become weary and discouraged in your souls." 233 00:37:09,794 --> 00:37:20,281 The Hebrew writer, as he is writing to these Christians, will tell them, you look at Jesus. 234 00:37:21,322 --> 00:37:30,247 You fix your eyes on Christ because he set the example. 235 00:37:31,349 --> 00:37:39,674 You'll notice he says, looking at Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. 236 00:37:40,974 --> 00:37:46,934 Now, you go, wait a minute, I don't remember Jesus mentioning joy back here in Mark chapter 14. 237 00:37:46,934 --> 00:37:50,754 I remember him saying he was exceedingly sorrowful. 238 00:37:53,006 --> 00:37:55,229 The answer is, he's both. 239 00:37:57,794 --> 00:38:01,517 The joy wasn't the experience of the cross. 240 00:38:02,558 --> 00:38:09,663 The joy was what the cross accomplished in the salvation of mankind. 241 00:38:10,905 --> 00:38:23,435 Notice it said looking at Jesus, the author, that is the originator, the originator, the author and, I lost the other word, what's the other word? 242 00:38:23,435 --> 00:38:27,475 Finisher, the originator and the finisher of 243 00:38:27,475 --> 00:38:29,331 our faith. 244 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:40,442 He went to the cross to complete the work He was sent to do. 245 00:38:40,783 --> 00:38:48,153 And it was a joy to Him to do the work the Father had sent Him to do. 246 00:38:50,350 --> 00:38:59,740 So it was a joy, but it also was an exceedingly sorrowful burden even to death. 247 00:39:02,508 --> 00:39:14,280 that he asked if there be any other way for this to occur than him to go to the cross, let that happen. 248 00:39:17,166 --> 00:39:20,159 And we're reminded, at least we should be. 249 00:39:23,106 --> 00:39:26,684 that everything that's good isn't always pleasant. 250 00:39:28,682 --> 00:39:35,712 If we in life only do what is pleasant and enjoyable, we will often fail to do what is good. 251 00:39:37,848 --> 00:39:49,752 for the greatest thing that Jesus came to accomplish as He came to this life and came to this earth so that we might have salvation could only be accomplished by that which is 252 00:39:49,752 --> 00:39:54,998 incredibly unpleasant, to use the mildest of terms. 253 00:39:58,136 --> 00:40:07,074 The Hebrew writer said he despised the shame, but he endured the cross. 254 00:40:08,684 --> 00:40:10,456 And he did so for us. 255 00:40:11,718 --> 00:40:20,981 Now, as we look at ourselves, as we look at the things that we have to do, as we look at the challenges that we face, there are going to be times where we are going to look at 256 00:40:20,981 --> 00:40:26,218 something that is entirely unpleasant, but is good. 257 00:40:29,858 --> 00:40:36,374 And we're going to have to look at that and go, well, if I'm following the example of Christ... 258 00:40:38,027 --> 00:40:39,165 I know what I'm 259 00:40:41,336 --> 00:40:49,269 So the Hebrew writers telling those Hebrew brethren, says, you haven't even if you go to verse five, he says, you haven't even suffered to the shedding of blood. 260 00:40:51,446 --> 00:40:57,224 None of you have even been beaten with stripes and bled for this yet. 261 00:40:58,712 --> 00:41:01,066 So what are you complaining about? 262 00:41:02,290 --> 00:41:10,856 When your Lord and your master and your savior who authored your salvation went to the cross and died for you. 263 00:41:15,572 --> 00:41:17,950 as Jesus goes into the garden. 264 00:41:21,420 --> 00:41:33,121 He goes and He prays and He said, verse 36, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. 265 00:41:34,063 --> 00:41:36,325 Take this cup away from me. 266 00:41:36,325 --> 00:41:42,260 Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will. 267 00:41:45,388 --> 00:42:01,652 Jesus exemplifies for us that there can often be a separation between what we would desire to be true, what we would desire to have to do, and what we have to do. 268 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:08,070 what we would want to have to go through and what we actually have to go through. 269 00:42:10,018 --> 00:42:22,163 few of the mothers in the room might be able to express that they would desire to painlessly, easily, in a day or so, bring children into the world and then be done with 270 00:42:22,163 --> 00:42:23,143 all the labor. 271 00:42:23,143 --> 00:42:25,624 Like, just one done. 272 00:42:25,945 --> 00:42:35,368 There was one comedian who said that he thought maybe Polaroid was gonna figure it out where, you you could just kiss and then just about a few seconds later, if you shook the 273 00:42:35,368 --> 00:42:36,939 baby, you know, there they were. 274 00:42:36,939 --> 00:42:39,734 All right, it'd be a whole lot easier than labor. 275 00:42:39,734 --> 00:42:40,614 Right? 276 00:42:41,216 --> 00:42:42,447 Seems like a good idea. 277 00:42:42,447 --> 00:42:45,079 It'll just pop them out. 278 00:42:45,601 --> 00:42:51,667 But the reality is that there's a difficulty that you have to go through. 279 00:42:52,068 --> 00:42:53,890 It doesn't happen overnight. 280 00:42:53,890 --> 00:42:57,704 There's labor and pain involved. 281 00:43:00,394 --> 00:43:09,965 Jesus is going to look at what He had to do and He's going to ask for the cup to be removed. 282 00:43:10,787 --> 00:43:19,998 He's going to ask for the burden to be removed and at the same time acknowledge that it won't be. 283 00:43:24,450 --> 00:43:37,554 He knew what had to be done while He had a desire to not go through it, while He simultaneously knew it was the Father's will. 284 00:43:41,550 --> 00:43:43,517 We're complex human beings. 285 00:43:44,788 --> 00:43:45,769 So was he. 286 00:43:48,962 --> 00:43:55,465 fact that the Romans, they wouldn't even crucify a Roman citizen because it was so horrible. 287 00:43:55,465 --> 00:44:00,888 ah That was only for the other nations. 288 00:44:00,888 --> 00:44:06,150 uh 289 00:44:12,238 --> 00:44:14,117 this to me. 290 00:44:17,656 --> 00:44:18,793 He came. 291 00:44:27,214 --> 00:44:37,754 is going to do, you know, because He's God, knows, you know, and please, if you could take it away from me, you know, that's just the... 292 00:44:37,754 --> 00:44:49,654 I think there's an interesting contrast as well, leaving off of that point, and that is the contrast between the false bravery of the Apostles who said, we will never deny you, 293 00:44:49,654 --> 00:44:56,414 Peter who said, I will die before I will deny you, and Jesus who knows He has to die. 294 00:44:57,262 --> 00:44:58,326 for Peter. 295 00:45:02,986 --> 00:45:06,768 and yet Jesus' bravery wasn't false. 296 00:45:07,890 --> 00:45:14,254 Jesus' understanding of the situation was perfect. 297 00:45:16,404 --> 00:45:20,061 and Jesus is going to say, I'll do it anyway. 298 00:45:22,006 --> 00:45:26,849 and then notice He came to them, verse 37, and He found them sleeping. 299 00:45:27,590 --> 00:45:40,918 Now, if you go through some of the historical events and some of the things that are going on, give the disciples a little bit of leeway here. 300 00:45:40,918 --> 00:45:44,380 They'd probably been up for 22 or 23 hours at this point. 301 00:45:45,421 --> 00:45:47,072 They'd had a long day. 302 00:45:47,522 --> 00:45:49,883 They had gone through the entire Feast of Passover. 303 00:45:49,883 --> 00:45:51,784 They had gone through all of these things. 304 00:45:51,784 --> 00:45:55,026 They had gone through an extended discussion. 305 00:45:55,026 --> 00:45:59,668 They had gone through the uh washing of the disciples' feet. 306 00:45:59,668 --> 00:46:01,949 They had gone through all of the things at the meal. 307 00:46:01,949 --> 00:46:03,719 They had gone through three chapters. 308 00:46:03,719 --> 00:46:09,672 If you read John 14, 15, and 16, the things that Jesus had told them about the Comforter coming. 309 00:46:09,672 --> 00:46:14,418 They had gone through the uh prayer in John chapter 17. 310 00:46:14,418 --> 00:46:17,456 They had gone through all of these events and now it is 311 00:46:17,456 --> 00:46:22,947 in the middle of the night and they are out in the middle of a garden. 312 00:46:24,172 --> 00:46:27,397 And Jesus will tell them... 313 00:46:29,986 --> 00:46:34,628 to stay here and watch. 314 00:46:36,802 --> 00:46:39,499 and they got the stay here part right. 315 00:46:42,530 --> 00:46:46,592 But the watch part, they didn't get that one. 316 00:46:47,553 --> 00:47:00,380 As he comes back and they're asleep, he said to Peter, the one who said, will deny, I will never deny you, I will die, but I will not deny you. 317 00:47:00,941 --> 00:47:05,643 And he asked Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? 318 00:47:06,864 --> 00:47:11,026 Could you not watch one hour? 319 00:47:14,776 --> 00:47:17,968 So let's go back to the point about little things. 320 00:47:22,946 --> 00:47:25,993 the stay and watch? 321 00:47:27,926 --> 00:47:29,579 wasn't a little thing. 322 00:47:31,508 --> 00:47:34,720 It seemed like a little thing. 323 00:47:36,702 --> 00:47:43,091 It was little to them because they didn't understand what was going on. 324 00:47:44,273 --> 00:47:49,560 But it was really not little to Jesus. 325 00:47:51,003 --> 00:47:53,505 So he comes back and he asks Peter, 326 00:47:55,294 --> 00:48:02,590 I've literally just told you my soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death and you couldn't even stay awake. 327 00:48:10,348 --> 00:48:13,544 He then says, verse 38, watch and pray. 328 00:48:14,245 --> 00:48:20,298 Lest you enter into temptation, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 329 00:48:22,144 --> 00:48:35,402 Jesus having observed that they were failing in the little thing of staying and watching will admonish Peter to watch and pray. 330 00:48:37,676 --> 00:48:44,872 because he's already told Peter, Satan has a target on your back. 331 00:48:45,233 --> 00:48:46,574 He wants you. 332 00:48:47,875 --> 00:48:59,366 And now to directly to Simon, according to Mark's record, Jesus says, watch and pray that you don't enter into temptation. 333 00:48:59,366 --> 00:49:00,907 Now notice this, okay? 334 00:49:00,907 --> 00:49:04,480 So Jesus has told him, you're going to stumble. 335 00:49:05,292 --> 00:49:08,266 Jesus has told him, you're going to deny me. 336 00:49:08,447 --> 00:49:10,630 Peter has denied it. 337 00:49:10,630 --> 00:49:21,924 And now Jesus is instructing him on what he could do to be ready for the moment so he doesn't deny him. 338 00:49:26,828 --> 00:49:29,399 Watch how the little things compound. 339 00:49:30,501 --> 00:49:35,125 First, Peter didn't comprehend the prophecy. 340 00:49:35,986 --> 00:49:41,590 Second, Peter denied what Jesus told him was true. 341 00:49:41,751 --> 00:49:48,537 Third, Peter insisted he was going to succeed. 342 00:49:48,537 --> 00:49:54,101 Fourth, Peter failed to stay and watch. 343 00:49:54,101 --> 00:49:55,222 Fifth, 344 00:49:55,288 --> 00:50:02,027 Peter is going to be told to watch and pray and he'll be asleep again. 345 00:50:03,650 --> 00:50:09,630 little thing, little thing, little thing, little thing, little thing, little thing, little giant failure. 346 00:50:12,110 --> 00:50:13,918 You see the little things compound. 347 00:50:15,714 --> 00:50:18,396 The little mistakes matter. 348 00:50:19,838 --> 00:50:22,620 Even when we don't understand the big picture. 349 00:50:23,700 --> 00:50:29,726 And Jesus is going to be emphasizing to Peter, go do the little thing. 350 00:50:31,764 --> 00:50:33,659 One passage as we close. 351 00:50:34,845 --> 00:50:36,870 Revelation chapter 2. 352 00:50:40,494 --> 00:50:44,377 This is to the angel of the church of Ephesus right. 353 00:50:44,377 --> 00:50:54,475 These things says, he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you 354 00:50:54,475 --> 00:50:57,007 cannot bear with those who are evil. 355 00:50:57,408 --> 00:51:03,472 And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars. 356 00:51:03,873 --> 00:51:10,316 And you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my namesake and have not 357 00:51:10,316 --> 00:51:12,732 become weary. 358 00:51:14,648 --> 00:51:19,742 Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you've left your first love. 359 00:51:20,424 --> 00:51:25,888 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent. 360 00:51:26,178 --> 00:51:27,840 And what's the next phrase? 361 00:51:29,430 --> 00:51:44,110 and do the first works." He says, "'Repent, therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from 362 00:51:44,110 --> 00:51:47,634 its place unless you repent.'" 363 00:51:49,570 --> 00:51:52,321 Jesus will say to the church at Ephesus, 364 00:51:54,434 --> 00:51:56,103 You go do the little thing. 365 00:51:57,635 --> 00:52:04,166 You've done all these grand things and I commend you for it. 366 00:52:06,840 --> 00:52:09,639 Somewhere along the way, you forgot the basics. 367 00:52:11,714 --> 00:52:15,839 you forgot to do the first works. 368 00:52:17,528 --> 00:52:24,343 So turn around, recall where you came from and go back. 369 00:52:25,345 --> 00:52:35,338 Now do you think Jesus is saying, and you know what, I don't really care about the whole patience thing, I don't care about the labor thing, I don't care about the persevering, or 370 00:52:35,338 --> 00:52:42,340 I certainly don't care about you standing up against those false apostles, I don't care about any of that, just go do the little things. 371 00:52:42,340 --> 00:52:43,721 You think that's what he meant? 372 00:52:44,202 --> 00:52:45,062 No. 373 00:52:46,774 --> 00:52:51,250 He said, you turn around and you go do the little things and you don't leave these things undone. 374 00:52:53,538 --> 00:52:57,383 Go be faithful. 375 00:52:58,126 --> 00:52:59,829 That's what he calls all of us to do. 376 00:52:59,829 --> 00:53:01,170 Thank you for your attention. 377 01:00:02,990 --> 01:00:03,974 you 378 01:00:05,624 --> 01:00:11,581 want to welcome everyone to the Wednesday night devotional for the Collierville Church of Christ. 379 01:00:11,742 --> 01:00:19,892 By way of announcements, uh our sympathies extended to Seomi and her family and the loss of her brother Clayton Glass. 380 01:00:19,892 --> 01:00:25,177 He passed away Monday, so keep the Glass family and the Shanks family in your prayers. 381 01:00:25,442 --> 01:00:27,903 Keep Michael Stax in your prayers. 382 01:00:27,903 --> 01:00:32,045 As we already mentioned, he is headed uh in the morning for surgery. 383 01:00:32,045 --> 01:00:34,526 His surgery is supposed to start about seven in the morning. 384 01:00:34,526 --> 01:00:40,129 uh On doctor's time, that's kind of like 11.30, I think, but anyway. 385 01:00:40,749 --> 01:00:45,231 Potter's Children's Home Pantry item for March is individual drink packets. 386 01:00:45,271 --> 01:00:50,914 March 28th at 9.30 a.m., the Forest Hill Youth Day is occurring. 387 01:00:50,914 --> 01:00:55,376 So encourage anyone with youth to encourage your youth to be there. 388 01:00:55,376 --> 01:01:03,602 uh March 29th through uh April 5th, we have the, uh sorry, let me read this the right way. 389 01:01:03,602 --> 01:01:08,705 March 29th, we have the fifth Sunday potluck and singing. 390 01:01:08,705 --> 01:01:14,729 uh Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board for the singing and for the potluck. 391 01:01:14,729 --> 01:01:23,455 So if you would like to sign up for what you're going to bring, please plan to stay for lunch that day, as that is a whole congregational potluck. 392 01:01:23,455 --> 01:01:25,306 um 393 01:01:25,306 --> 01:01:35,845 March 29th through April 2nd, we have the Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship occurring, and we encourage you to be in attendance for that as much as you can. 394 01:01:36,834 --> 01:01:46,699 April 1st, Memphis School of Preaching Cakes, we've been asked to provide 20 cakes for the MSOP lectures like we do each year. 395 01:01:46,699 --> 01:01:49,290 Sign up sheet is also on the bulletin board. 396 01:01:49,290 --> 01:01:55,143 So uh Sunday potluck, singing, and cakes for the lectureship. 397 01:01:55,143 --> 01:01:56,523 Those are all on the bulletin board. 398 01:01:56,523 --> 01:02:04,147 If you're willing to help as a volunteer during voting in 2026, please sign up on the bulletin board. 399 01:02:04,227 --> 01:02:06,518 There will be a mass exodus straight out the 400 01:02:06,518 --> 01:02:15,044 door to the bulletin board as soon as we're ah No, but in all seriousness, if you'd be interested in volunteering, uh the volunteering would look like this. 401 01:02:15,044 --> 01:02:25,681 It will be just helping the people who are coming in, making them aware where the bathrooms, answering questions they may ask, ah if there's an elderly person or somebody 402 01:02:25,681 --> 01:02:31,935 who's handicapped or has some disability, making sure that they can easily get inside to vote. 403 01:02:31,935 --> 01:02:36,368 So it's more so just being here and being a smiling face and a warming 404 01:02:36,368 --> 01:02:37,409 welcome person. 405 01:02:37,409 --> 01:02:47,395 uh But the reason why we need the sign up sheet is because we're going to get shirts that say volunteer so that we're not being confused for being with the people campaigning or 406 01:02:47,395 --> 01:02:48,496 other things like that. 407 01:02:48,496 --> 01:02:54,140 uh So we'd like to make sure everybody has a shirt in their size that is going to be involved in that. 408 01:02:54,140 --> 01:02:57,462 So please sign the bulletin board if you're interested. 409 01:02:57,462 --> 01:03:04,477 Ladies, there are uh there's a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for our ladies day, May 16th. 410 01:03:04,477 --> 01:03:06,338 Please see Eddie Kozort or Rebecca 411 01:03:06,338 --> 01:03:09,328 a rush more with any questions. 412 01:03:09,328 --> 01:03:11,783 All right, that's enough discussion of the bulletin board. 413 01:03:11,783 --> 01:03:14,188 Now we will begin our devotional. 414 01:03:29,294 --> 01:03:30,674 In his time. 415 01:03:32,574 --> 01:03:35,474 In his time 839. 416 01:03:43,164 --> 01:03:45,354 in his time. 417 01:03:48,590 --> 01:03:50,541 If it's time 418 01:03:54,388 --> 01:03:58,283 He makes all things beautiful 419 01:04:00,662 --> 01:04:05,987 in His time. 420 01:04:06,167 --> 01:04:26,405 Lord, please show me every day as you're teaching me your way, that you do just what you say in your time. 421 01:04:30,269 --> 01:04:32,541 In your town 422 01:04:35,964 --> 01:04:38,010 In your time 423 01:04:41,334 --> 01:04:48,407 You make all things beautiful in your time. 424 01:04:59,156 --> 01:05:07,264 It takes long I have to see be to you 425 01:05:11,216 --> 01:05:13,422 In your time 426 01:05:21,646 --> 01:05:22,791 the imitations. 427 01:05:27,246 --> 01:05:30,526 988 is the song of invitation. 428 01:05:30,726 --> 01:05:32,586 9-8-8. 429 01:05:35,104 --> 01:05:38,292 If for a moment you would turn to Acts chapter 7 430 01:05:48,012 --> 01:05:49,778 in Acts chapter seven. 431 01:05:51,822 --> 01:05:54,083 Stephen has been arrested. 432 01:05:54,703 --> 01:05:58,205 He has been taken and put before the council. 433 01:05:59,446 --> 01:06:09,490 As he stands before the council and as they look at him, they see his face and it is shining as the face of an angel. 434 01:06:11,446 --> 01:06:13,984 and Stephen begins to speak. 435 01:06:16,258 --> 01:06:23,021 The high priest said, Are these things so, the things that have been accused towards him? 436 01:06:23,922 --> 01:06:28,824 And Stephen replies, verse two, Brethren and fathers, listen. 437 01:06:29,804 --> 01:06:42,540 The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Haran and said to him, Get out of your country. 438 01:06:42,740 --> 01:06:48,414 and from your relatives and come to a land that I will show you. 439 01:06:49,075 --> 01:07:01,503 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran, and from there when his father was dead, he moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 440 01:07:02,164 --> 01:07:11,870 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. 441 01:07:12,834 --> 01:07:23,284 But even when Abraham had no child, he promised to give it to him for a possession and to his descendants after him. 442 01:07:24,306 --> 01:07:37,296 But God spoke in this way that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them for 100 years. 443 01:07:38,944 --> 01:07:51,701 and the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge said God and after that they shall come out and serve me in this place. 444 01:07:52,321 --> 01:08:04,288 Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day and Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs and the 445 01:08:04,288 --> 01:08:08,130 patriarchs becoming envious sold Joseph into Egypt but 446 01:08:08,130 --> 01:08:19,508 God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and made him governor over Egypt and all his 447 01:08:19,508 --> 01:08:20,118 house. 448 01:08:20,118 --> 01:08:27,022 Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan and our fathers found no sustenance. 449 01:08:27,083 --> 01:08:32,490 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 450 01:08:32,490 --> 01:08:39,373 And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. 451 01:08:39,653 --> 01:08:45,766 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. 452 01:08:45,766 --> 01:08:48,858 So Jacob went down to Egypt and he died. 453 01:08:48,858 --> 01:08:59,132 He and our fathers and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for the sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. 454 01:08:59,746 --> 01:09:10,185 When you keep reading down the text, you go through the whole chapter, and the whole chapter is a sermon from Stephen to the Council of the Israelites about things every 455 01:09:10,185 --> 01:09:13,260 single one of them already knew. 456 01:09:17,174 --> 01:09:18,771 and already agreed with. 457 01:09:22,647 --> 01:09:23,751 except 458 01:09:25,346 --> 01:09:28,001 when Stephen drew the conclusion. 459 01:09:29,954 --> 01:09:32,690 that they had killed the very Son of God. 460 01:09:34,882 --> 01:09:41,088 from all of the things that they already knew and they already agreed with. 461 01:09:43,990 --> 01:09:45,707 And as a result... 462 01:09:47,628 --> 01:09:50,588 They will turn and kill Stephen. 463 01:09:52,300 --> 01:09:58,555 because He told them things they already knew and they already agreed with. 464 01:09:59,817 --> 01:10:06,502 But those things demanded that the thing that they didn't want to hear was true. 465 01:10:07,704 --> 01:10:13,288 And that is that Jesus Christ is Lord, Savior. 466 01:10:14,330 --> 01:10:16,031 He is not dead. 467 01:10:16,452 --> 01:10:19,634 He is risen and He is reigning. 468 01:10:21,206 --> 01:10:31,252 As you look at your life, and sometimes as you sit down and you study the Word of God, you're going to read things you already know. 469 01:10:32,112 --> 01:10:35,294 You're going to read things that you've known for a long time. 470 01:10:36,930 --> 01:10:46,687 There will be times that the scripture will make obvious to you that there are things that you are not doing that you ought to be doing and you have to determine whether or not 471 01:10:46,687 --> 01:10:54,122 you're going to accept that change and conform to God's will or you're going to reject it. 472 01:10:56,696 --> 01:10:59,859 Stephen's going to tell them of their own history. 473 01:11:01,762 --> 01:11:11,772 But as he does so, he's going to accuse them of making the same mistakes their fathers made in rebelling against God. 474 01:11:13,472 --> 01:11:17,202 when we are faced with the truth. 475 01:11:19,156 --> 01:11:23,048 It is then necessary for us to choose. 476 01:11:23,968 --> 01:11:26,249 Will we be obedient to the truth? 477 01:11:26,990 --> 01:11:29,731 Will we do what God says? 478 01:11:30,992 --> 01:11:36,043 Or will we comfort ourselves in our knowledge of the past, 479 01:11:37,888 --> 01:11:41,611 and act as though the command doesn't apply to us. 480 01:11:43,160 --> 01:11:58,811 Too many times in the religious world someone will say, Aaron, I know I'm saved because my grandmother believed the same thing that I do and she was the most saintly woman I've ever 481 01:11:58,811 --> 01:12:00,232 met in my life. 482 01:12:03,308 --> 01:12:06,160 And with all regard to anyone's grandmother. 483 01:12:07,161 --> 01:12:15,666 On the day of judgment you will not stand before your grandmother and give an account for whether or not you are obedient to God. 484 01:12:16,928 --> 01:12:18,969 You will stand before God. 485 01:12:20,190 --> 01:12:28,355 Jesus said in John chapter 12 and verse 48, by my words you will be judged. 486 01:12:29,136 --> 01:12:32,288 If you're here this evening and you're outside the body of Christ, 487 01:12:33,346 --> 01:12:34,646 Don't stay there. 488 01:12:35,747 --> 01:12:47,800 If you're here this evening and you are firmly convinced you know a lot about the Word of God and you know that your salvation is assured, but you couldn't open the Word of God and 489 01:12:47,800 --> 01:12:54,012 show why, maybe ask for a Bible study. 490 01:12:54,492 --> 01:13:02,664 Maybe talk to one of us here and say, you know what, I'd like to be able to open the Bible and know why I'm saved. 491 01:13:04,108 --> 01:13:05,821 and we can help you with that. 492 01:13:05,821 --> 01:13:12,429 If you have need of the invitation for any reason, why not come forward now as we stand and as we sing. 493 01:13:17,890 --> 01:13:23,203 When the Savior calls, I will answer. 494 01:13:23,203 --> 01:13:28,825 When He calls for me, I will hear. 495 01:13:28,825 --> 01:13:34,772 When the Savior calls, I will answer. 496 01:13:34,772 --> 01:13:40,187 I'll be somewhere listening for my name. 497 01:13:40,187 --> 01:13:43,060 I'll be somewhere listening. 498 01:13:43,060 --> 01:13:45,852 I'll be somewhere listening. 499 01:13:45,852 --> 01:13:51,478 I'll be somewhere listening for my name. 500 01:13:51,478 --> 01:13:54,380 I'll be somewhere listening. 501 01:13:54,380 --> 01:13:56,426 I'll be somewhere listening. 502 01:13:56,426 --> 01:14:18,309 If my robe is white when he calls me If my robe is white I will hear If my robe is white when he calls 503 01:14:19,476 --> 01:14:26,096 I'll be somewhere listening for my name. 504 01:14:26,096 --> 01:14:36,550 uh 505 01:14:39,550 --> 01:14:49,014 I'll be somewhere, listening, be somewhere, listening for my needs. 506 01:15:00,142 --> 01:15:01,182 Let us pray. 507 01:15:02,404 --> 01:15:11,410 Dear Lord, our Almighty God, we come to Thee prayer at this time, thanking You so very much for the lessons that were given us tonight and the devotional as well that we can 508 01:15:11,410 --> 01:15:15,012 hopefully partake of and apply to our daily walks of life. 509 01:15:15,132 --> 01:15:20,335 Lord, we know that there are many things in Your book that so many of us in here agree with. 510 01:15:20,696 --> 01:15:26,660 If there's anything that we do not agree with, in Your Word, Lord God, may we tune our hearts so that we do agree. 511 01:15:26,660 --> 01:15:29,762 For we know that You are far more knowledgeable 512 01:15:29,964 --> 01:15:34,238 beyond any knowledge that could ever be had in this universe. 513 01:15:34,238 --> 01:15:39,964 You are all knowing, you are all patient, you are all kind, you are all loving, and you are all powerful. 514 01:15:39,964 --> 01:15:52,327 Lord God, may we always strive to serve you in every capacity that we possibly can, not to do the mere minimum of what we can, but to do the maximum, because that's the minimum of 515 01:15:52,327 --> 01:15:53,557 what we could do. 516 01:15:54,050 --> 01:15:56,990 Lord God, please be with us as we go throughout our daily walks of life. 517 01:15:56,990 --> 01:15:58,626 Guard, guard and direct us all. 518 01:15:58,626 --> 01:16:01,292 And so we pray to you in Jesus' name, amen.