1 00:00:03,303 --> 00:00:06,272 Matthew five, six and seven. 2 00:00:06,806 --> 00:00:08,375 We call this sermon on the Mount. 3 00:00:08,375 --> 00:00:11,811 It's the longest continuous message 4 00:00:11,811 --> 00:00:14,814 we have recorded of Jesus. 5 00:00:15,382 --> 00:00:18,385 And to teach it is, 6 00:00:19,352 --> 00:00:22,322 a daunting task. 7 00:00:22,922 --> 00:00:25,358 It comes with a great deal of fear and trepidation. 8 00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:28,194 So I appreciate Dennis's prayer, 9 00:00:28,194 --> 00:00:31,197 that God would help me as I teach this. 10 00:00:31,698 --> 00:00:34,701 You need God to help me teach this. 11 00:00:35,902 --> 00:00:38,905 It seems almost, 12 00:00:42,308 --> 00:00:44,778 arrogant 13 00:00:44,778 --> 00:00:48,114 to think that someone could elaborate and explain 14 00:00:48,114 --> 00:00:52,352 Jesus's words better than Jesus's words. 15 00:00:56,156 --> 00:00:58,825 And I wish 16 00:00:58,825 --> 00:01:01,061 that I didn't have to teach through 17 00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:04,064 Matthew five six and seven because, 18 00:01:04,064 --> 00:01:07,067 how does an ignorant person 19 00:01:07,967 --> 00:01:10,670 try to explain better what Jesus said himself? 20 00:01:10,670 --> 00:01:13,673 It just doesn't make sense to me. 21 00:01:13,807 --> 00:01:16,810 And so I, I've really struggled, especially this week 22 00:01:17,977 --> 00:01:22,082 in preparation for today, because Matthew seven 23 00:01:22,082 --> 00:01:25,652 is one of those chapters that most people have heard a lot of. 24 00:01:25,652 --> 00:01:26,719 What's in chapter seven, 25 00:01:27,687 --> 00:01:30,457 but most people do understand it. 26 00:01:30,457 --> 00:01:33,693 And so for me to try to explain what Jesus intended 27 00:01:33,693 --> 00:01:36,696 to say is, is, 28 00:01:37,831 --> 00:01:39,799 it's just I can't. 29 00:01:39,799 --> 00:01:42,769 Part of me just shudders to think that one day I'm going to have to stand 30 00:01:42,769 --> 00:01:46,606 before Jesus and give an account for how I explained what he said. 31 00:01:48,708 --> 00:01:49,676 That's not a position 32 00:01:49,676 --> 00:01:52,679 I want to be in, but here we go. 33 00:01:53,046 --> 00:01:55,415 Let me say this right up front about chapter seven. 34 00:01:55,415 --> 00:01:58,384 You're going to recognize a lot of what Jesus said. 35 00:01:58,384 --> 00:02:01,421 In this chapter, you're going to recognize a lot of it. But, 36 00:02:03,056 --> 00:02:06,259 I think there's a greater understanding we can have to it 37 00:02:06,259 --> 00:02:09,262 than probably what we have at this point. 38 00:02:09,896 --> 00:02:12,565 Let me say this also, that Jesus is less concerned 39 00:02:12,565 --> 00:02:15,635 about the claims we make, more about what we produce. 40 00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:20,073 Lip service is cheap. 41 00:02:20,073 --> 00:02:23,042 And so Jesus is going to deal with that. 42 00:02:23,042 --> 00:02:26,679 And the most dangerous place that you and I can be spiritually 43 00:02:27,413 --> 00:02:30,416 is close to Jesus, but not actually following him. 44 00:02:32,719 --> 00:02:35,588 Let me say that again. 45 00:02:35,588 --> 00:02:37,557 The most dangerous place that we can be 46 00:02:37,557 --> 00:02:40,560 spiritually is to be close to Jesus, but not following. 47 00:02:43,796 --> 00:02:45,098 And by the end of today, 48 00:02:45,098 --> 00:02:48,101 some of us are probably going to feel pretty uncomfortable. 49 00:02:49,736 --> 00:02:52,605 And that is probably because the Holy Spirit is doing his work. 50 00:02:52,605 --> 00:02:55,608 And that's good. 51 00:02:55,808 --> 00:02:58,811 As long as it leads us to confession, repentance, 52 00:02:59,279 --> 00:03:02,282 and communion with Christ. 53 00:03:02,582 --> 00:03:04,150 And so I don't usually put 54 00:03:04,150 --> 00:03:07,153 all the all the verses on the screen, 55 00:03:07,387 --> 00:03:10,390 because I expect you to have a Bible and bring one with you. 56 00:03:11,157 --> 00:03:12,392 And I still expect that. 57 00:03:13,860 --> 00:03:16,863 But this morning I'm going to put the verses up there because 58 00:03:17,130 --> 00:03:20,133 because, you need to see it. 59 00:03:20,833 --> 00:03:23,836 And we all need to be saying the same words. 60 00:03:24,270 --> 00:03:26,239 And so Matthew seven, let's just get 61 00:03:26,239 --> 00:03:27,440 and we're not going to go through a whole chapter. 62 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:28,641 We'll get through a lot of it. 63 00:03:28,641 --> 00:03:31,611 Matthew seven verses one and two. 64 00:03:31,611 --> 00:03:34,981 Judge not or YouTube, just any of you heard that before? 65 00:03:36,216 --> 00:03:39,219 Haven't we had that said to you before? 66 00:03:39,419 --> 00:03:41,454 Have you ever said that before? 67 00:03:41,454 --> 00:03:42,121 Judge not this. 68 00:03:42,121 --> 00:03:43,823 You be judged, 69 00:03:43,823 --> 00:03:45,091 right? 70 00:03:45,091 --> 00:03:47,126 Most people have heard that verse. 71 00:03:47,126 --> 00:03:50,129 Now, in fact, this is probably the thing that Jesus said 72 00:03:50,463 --> 00:03:53,433 that is most popular of all the things that he said, 73 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:57,270 though, most people don't understand what it means, 74 00:03:57,470 --> 00:03:59,439 for in the same way you judge others, 75 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:03,276 you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 76 00:04:05,511 --> 00:04:08,514 Judge not. 77 00:04:10,850 --> 00:04:12,852 The word judge that Jesus uses. 78 00:04:12,852 --> 00:04:15,855 Here's a Greek word carino, 79 00:04:15,888 --> 00:04:19,325 which can mean one of two things condemnation 80 00:04:19,892 --> 00:04:22,895 or inspection. 81 00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:25,565 Most people, when they hear the word judge not, 82 00:04:25,565 --> 00:04:28,568 they only view it in the terms of condemnation. 83 00:04:29,702 --> 00:04:32,372 So judge not, lest you be judged, 84 00:04:32,372 --> 00:04:37,710 but depending on the context, it means either condemnation or inspection. 85 00:04:37,710 --> 00:04:40,713 Slash identification. 86 00:04:46,152 --> 00:04:48,454 We have to be able and we. 87 00:04:48,454 --> 00:04:52,725 And it's a necessity for people to judge 88 00:04:52,725 --> 00:04:55,728 for inspection. 89 00:04:57,397 --> 00:05:00,400 Parents, if you have a daughter 90 00:05:01,034 --> 00:05:04,437 and you get wind of some little boy sniffing around your daughter, 91 00:05:05,104 --> 00:05:08,341 you better judge that boy by inspection. 92 00:05:09,676 --> 00:05:11,277 Do you understand? 93 00:05:11,277 --> 00:05:14,280 Do you understand? No. 94 00:05:14,580 --> 00:05:19,485 There better be a lot of judgment going on as far as inspection and identification. 95 00:05:19,619 --> 00:05:23,456 You need to identify what's the character of this young man. 96 00:05:25,725 --> 00:05:28,461 You need to inspect. 97 00:05:28,461 --> 00:05:30,663 What's the character in the course of his life? 98 00:05:30,663 --> 00:05:31,497 How's he treated? Other. 99 00:05:31,497 --> 00:05:34,100 How's he treat his mom? 100 00:05:34,100 --> 00:05:37,103 The way he treats his mom has gone to treat your little girl. 101 00:05:39,539 --> 00:05:42,442 You can't just sit back and say, well, judge not, lest she be judged. 102 00:05:42,442 --> 00:05:45,411 That's stupid. 103 00:05:45,411 --> 00:05:46,612 You understand? 104 00:05:46,612 --> 00:05:49,115 That's really. 105 00:05:49,115 --> 00:05:51,984 You got five girls. Four girls? 106 00:05:51,984 --> 00:05:54,987 That's a big yes out of yes. 107 00:05:55,722 --> 00:05:58,291 The most judgmental man in this church right there. 108 00:05:58,291 --> 00:06:00,259 And you should be. 109 00:06:00,259 --> 00:06:03,262 You should be. 110 00:06:04,597 --> 00:06:07,233 But it's confusing 111 00:06:07,233 --> 00:06:11,170 because none of us want to be judgmental, right? 112 00:06:12,004 --> 00:06:15,007 But we all need to be discerning. 113 00:06:15,541 --> 00:06:18,311 So Jesus is talking about. 114 00:06:18,311 --> 00:06:22,615 But even when you read Scripture, you read stuff like, you know, in John 317 115 00:06:22,648 --> 00:06:26,719 after John 316, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, 116 00:06:26,719 --> 00:06:29,522 that whoever believe in him not have not perish, but have eternal life. 117 00:06:29,522 --> 00:06:33,659 And then John 17 says, for I did not come to judge the world. 118 00:06:35,928 --> 00:06:37,797 However, 119 00:06:37,797 --> 00:06:40,733 two chapters later in John 939, he says, 120 00:06:40,733 --> 00:06:43,736 I have come for judgment. 121 00:06:45,004 --> 00:06:47,874 Was Jesus confused? 122 00:06:47,874 --> 00:06:49,942 Not at all. 123 00:06:49,942 --> 00:06:52,912 He said, look, I didn't come to condemn the world. 124 00:06:52,912 --> 00:06:55,348 I came to save it. 125 00:06:55,348 --> 00:06:58,751 If you stand condemned just because you've rejected me, 126 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:02,989 but I have come for judgment, 127 00:07:02,989 --> 00:07:06,125 because I will judge the fruit of your life. 128 00:07:08,094 --> 00:07:10,029 And so there is no contradiction. 129 00:07:10,029 --> 00:07:13,299 We just have to understand what Jesus is saying in Matthew 130 00:07:13,299 --> 00:07:16,302 seven about judging. 131 00:07:16,436 --> 00:07:18,337 Think about like this. 132 00:07:18,337 --> 00:07:20,473 A doctor judges 133 00:07:20,473 --> 00:07:23,476 and looks for symptoms that he might heal. 134 00:07:24,110 --> 00:07:27,647 Judge looks for evidence that he might condemn. 135 00:07:29,315 --> 00:07:32,985 And Jesus is saying you are not the judge and the jury. 136 00:07:33,085 --> 00:07:36,088 You do not condemn. 137 00:07:36,856 --> 00:07:40,493 But other later in this very book, Jesus will look at the 138 00:07:40,526 --> 00:07:43,896 the scribes and the religious people and say, you're a bunch of snakes. 139 00:07:45,331 --> 00:07:47,467 Was he judging? 140 00:07:47,467 --> 00:07:48,501 100% he was. 141 00:07:48,501 --> 00:07:50,236 He was identifying. 142 00:07:50,236 --> 00:07:52,405 There was identification there. 143 00:07:52,405 --> 00:07:53,339 There was discernment. 144 00:07:53,339 --> 00:07:55,708 There. 145 00:07:55,708 --> 00:07:57,510 Now, whether they condemn before 146 00:07:57,510 --> 00:08:00,513 the father was up to them and what they did with Jesus, 147 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,283 but it was absolutely judging for identification. 148 00:08:06,819 --> 00:08:07,286 And so he's 149 00:08:07,286 --> 00:08:10,456 not saying don't judge for identification. 150 00:08:11,157 --> 00:08:14,160 He's saying don't judge for condemnation. 151 00:08:14,260 --> 00:08:16,162 Do you follow? Yes. 152 00:08:16,162 --> 00:08:20,766 So the Bible wills will say that those of us who claim the name of Christ 153 00:08:22,101 --> 00:08:27,039 should expect and anticipate that others who claim the name of Christ 154 00:08:27,406 --> 00:08:31,310 have the right and the responsibility to judge the fruit of my life. 155 00:08:32,745 --> 00:08:36,916 And if I claim the name of Jesus and you claim the name of Jesus, 156 00:08:36,916 --> 00:08:40,820 I have the right and responsibility to judge the fruit of your life. 157 00:08:44,790 --> 00:08:47,126 To get it? Yes. 158 00:08:47,126 --> 00:08:50,129 Okay. 159 00:08:52,365 --> 00:08:55,001 So the Bible says no to condemnation, 160 00:08:55,001 --> 00:08:58,004 but yes to inspection. 161 00:08:58,905 --> 00:09:01,474 We have to judge 162 00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:04,477 in discernment for identification, 163 00:09:05,111 --> 00:09:08,114 but not for condemnation. 164 00:09:10,883 --> 00:09:11,684 For the measure 165 00:09:11,684 --> 00:09:15,154 that you used to judge, you will be judged. 166 00:09:16,322 --> 00:09:17,189 Judged by whom? 167 00:09:17,189 --> 00:09:19,125 By God? 168 00:09:19,125 --> 00:09:19,592 Yeah. 169 00:09:19,592 --> 00:09:20,493 By other people? 170 00:09:20,493 --> 00:09:23,462 Yeah. 171 00:09:24,630 --> 00:09:26,365 The rabbis used to teach this. 172 00:09:26,365 --> 00:09:27,633 That God has two hands. 173 00:09:27,633 --> 00:09:30,603 A hand of justice. In hand of mercy. 174 00:09:30,603 --> 00:09:33,573 And so which hand do you want leveled against you? 175 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:35,675 Mercy. 176 00:09:35,675 --> 00:09:38,811 So you better level your hand of mercy against others, not judgment 177 00:09:39,378 --> 00:09:41,981 as in condemnation, 178 00:09:41,981 --> 00:09:45,418 even when it's a judgment of identification, is still merciful. 179 00:09:47,119 --> 00:09:49,355 You follow? Yes. 180 00:09:49,355 --> 00:09:49,922 Here's the. 181 00:09:49,922 --> 00:09:50,823 Here's our problem. 182 00:09:50,823 --> 00:09:53,259 We judge others based on their actions. 183 00:09:53,259 --> 00:09:56,262 We judge ourselves based on our intentions. 184 00:09:58,164 --> 00:10:00,800 And we want mercy for us, but judgment for others. 185 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:01,267 We do 186 00:10:02,935 --> 00:10:03,869 drive down a highway. 187 00:10:03,869 --> 00:10:06,472 Let someone cut you off and speed past you. 188 00:10:06,472 --> 00:10:09,308 And like, wears a cup when you need one. 189 00:10:09,308 --> 00:10:11,811 But the moment you're kneeling, you're like, 190 00:10:11,811 --> 00:10:14,814 oh please Lord, no sirens, no sirens, right? 191 00:10:19,018 --> 00:10:22,021 The measure you use to be used against you, 192 00:10:22,588 --> 00:10:25,825 I think in the Old Testament, the story in the book of Esther, 193 00:10:26,192 --> 00:10:27,460 of Mordecai and name. 194 00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:28,828 And Mordecai was a Jew. 195 00:10:28,828 --> 00:10:30,463 Naaman was not a name. 196 00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:33,966 And wanted to kill Mordecai, and then thereby the rest of the Jews. 197 00:10:33,966 --> 00:10:38,304 And so Mordecai our Naaman built this huge, huge gallows to hang, 198 00:10:38,504 --> 00:10:41,307 hanging Mordecai on in front of everybody. 199 00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:44,110 And God flipped the script, 200 00:10:44,110 --> 00:10:47,246 and Naaman was hung on the gallows that he intended for Mordecai. 201 00:10:47,279 --> 00:10:50,516 You'll be judged by the same manner you judge. 202 00:10:50,549 --> 00:10:51,717 I was thinking the Old Testament. 203 00:10:51,717 --> 00:10:54,286 The King is name is out tonight. 204 00:10:54,286 --> 00:10:56,622 Back, and he was captured. 205 00:10:56,622 --> 00:11:01,661 And the Bible says that his captors cut off his his thumbs and his big toes. 206 00:11:02,695 --> 00:11:03,362 You know why? 207 00:11:03,362 --> 00:11:05,731 Because you can't hold a sword with no thumbs. 208 00:11:05,731 --> 00:11:08,734 And they're not very mobile with no toes. 209 00:11:08,834 --> 00:11:11,837 And his response to that sentence was this 210 00:11:13,205 --> 00:11:14,940 I understand 211 00:11:14,940 --> 00:11:18,277 because of 70 kings, I've cut off their thumbs 212 00:11:18,277 --> 00:11:21,280 and big toes and had them eat the crumbs under my table. 213 00:11:21,380 --> 00:11:24,383 This is God's repayment. 214 00:11:24,984 --> 00:11:27,987 The manner you judge will be used to judge. 215 00:11:28,621 --> 00:11:31,524 So make sure it's with mercy. 216 00:11:31,524 --> 00:11:32,558 Be discerning. 217 00:11:32,558 --> 00:11:35,561 Judge. Fruit. Don't condemn. 218 00:11:35,561 --> 00:11:38,297 But even the fruit inspection. 219 00:11:38,297 --> 00:11:39,965 Make sure it's merciful. 220 00:11:39,965 --> 00:11:42,435 Do you follow? Yes. 221 00:11:42,435 --> 00:11:46,305 And then Jesus goes on, and and and he. 222 00:11:46,338 --> 00:11:48,941 And he says this in verses three, four and five. 223 00:11:48,941 --> 00:11:52,178 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye 224 00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:56,382 and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 225 00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:59,251 Have you ever heard that? They're looking at him. 226 00:11:59,251 --> 00:11:59,852 Yeah. 227 00:11:59,852 --> 00:12:04,123 How can you say to your brother, let me take the plank out of your eye 228 00:12:04,123 --> 00:12:04,990 all the time. 229 00:12:04,990 --> 00:12:07,593 There's a plank in your own. Or take the speck of your eye all the time. 230 00:12:07,593 --> 00:12:09,695 There's a plank in your own eye. You hypocrite! 231 00:12:10,896 --> 00:12:13,532 First take the plank out of your own eye. 232 00:12:13,532 --> 00:12:16,535 Then you'll see clearly to remove the spec from your brother's eye. 233 00:12:16,836 --> 00:12:19,538 Now, Jesus knows this kind of pressing in a little bit 234 00:12:19,538 --> 00:12:21,540 with this whole judgment thing. 235 00:12:21,540 --> 00:12:23,876 And so, so this little passage 236 00:12:23,876 --> 00:12:26,879 here, this is Hebrew humor. 237 00:12:26,979 --> 00:12:28,681 This is funny. 238 00:12:28,681 --> 00:12:32,651 Hebrew Hebrew humor is exaggeration. 239 00:12:33,486 --> 00:12:38,424 So when Jesus is talking about a piece of sawdust and a plank, that's exaggeration. 240 00:12:39,091 --> 00:12:42,094 So it's like, look, a little. 241 00:12:42,394 --> 00:12:43,496 Like there's this guy, right? 242 00:12:43,496 --> 00:12:45,931 He's got a big two by four in his face, 243 00:12:45,931 --> 00:12:48,934 and it's just like, oh, dude, you're so funny. 244 00:12:49,301 --> 00:12:51,103 That's like, he he knows. Is he? 245 00:12:51,103 --> 00:12:53,839 Yeah. Like, you got to give people time to breathe, everyone. 246 00:12:53,839 --> 00:12:55,975 You're all where you're pressing in a whole bunch, you know? 247 00:12:55,975 --> 00:12:58,644 And so this is humor. I bet you didn't know that. That this is humor, 248 00:12:59,678 --> 00:13:01,814 but it's poignant 249 00:13:01,814 --> 00:13:03,082 because it's so look. So. 250 00:13:03,082 --> 00:13:06,685 So while you are judging for inspection, realize 251 00:13:07,253 --> 00:13:11,390 that however you're doing that, you probably have something in your own life 252 00:13:11,891 --> 00:13:15,261 that's probably bigger than you got it. 253 00:13:23,502 --> 00:13:26,505 So lawyer. 254 00:13:28,607 --> 00:13:31,610 Looks like you got something in your eye. 255 00:13:32,211 --> 00:13:33,946 Let me help you out with that. 256 00:13:33,946 --> 00:13:36,482 I don't think that'd be ridiculous. 257 00:13:36,482 --> 00:13:36,816 It's like. 258 00:13:36,816 --> 00:13:39,819 Look, look, look, look, let me. 259 00:13:42,154 --> 00:13:43,689 My depth perception is all lost, 260 00:13:43,689 --> 00:13:46,692 so I don't exactly know how close I am, but. 261 00:13:47,626 --> 00:13:50,563 But seriously, it looks like you got a little something. 262 00:13:50,563 --> 00:13:51,597 Okay. 263 00:13:51,597 --> 00:13:52,998 Does that make any sense at all? 264 00:13:52,998 --> 00:13:53,999 No. No. 265 00:13:53,999 --> 00:13:54,533 So can I. 266 00:13:54,533 --> 00:13:57,336 Can I just can I can I help you with that? 267 00:13:57,336 --> 00:13:59,405 What you got going on 268 00:13:59,405 --> 00:14:01,774 just was like, why do you do this? 269 00:14:01,774 --> 00:14:05,010 Like, I realize that you're inspecting, but you gotta realize 270 00:14:05,444 --> 00:14:07,079 that you got something 271 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,083 right. 272 00:14:11,851 --> 00:14:14,053 The interesting thing that the 273 00:14:14,053 --> 00:14:17,923 the plank in the spect, it's the same. 274 00:14:18,724 --> 00:14:21,727 It's the same substance in Greek. 275 00:14:22,561 --> 00:14:25,664 So whatever I see in you, I got the same substance 276 00:14:26,732 --> 00:14:28,901 in me. 277 00:14:28,901 --> 00:14:32,872 And so we got to be real careful about the judging thing. 278 00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:34,173 Not that we don't. 279 00:14:34,173 --> 00:14:36,542 We have a responsibility to. 280 00:14:36,542 --> 00:14:40,412 But. But this whole thing resides on self-reflection. 281 00:14:40,412 --> 00:14:41,881 First. 282 00:14:41,881 --> 00:14:44,884 Like, I got to take care of my stuff, 283 00:14:45,751 --> 00:14:48,787 like, like, don't don't start inspecting my relationships 284 00:14:48,787 --> 00:14:51,790 with people when you can't even keep your own family. 285 00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:55,294 You understand, 286 00:14:55,294 --> 00:14:58,297 like the. 287 00:15:02,101 --> 00:15:04,169 So be discerning, but deal with your own stuff. 288 00:15:04,169 --> 00:15:07,172 First is what he's saying. 289 00:15:07,740 --> 00:15:10,509 And then and and then verse six. 290 00:15:10,509 --> 00:15:13,512 And it just seems to come out of nowhere. 291 00:15:13,779 --> 00:15:16,682 Don't give dogs what is sacred. 292 00:15:16,682 --> 00:15:19,685 Don't throw your pearls to the pigs. 293 00:15:19,785 --> 00:15:22,121 If you do them a trample under, 294 00:15:22,121 --> 00:15:25,925 they may trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces. 295 00:15:26,191 --> 00:15:29,194 Then there seem to come out of left field like. 296 00:15:29,194 --> 00:15:29,995 Like you're okay. 297 00:15:29,995 --> 00:15:30,362 Hold on. 298 00:15:30,362 --> 00:15:33,632 You're talking about judging and inspecting and condemning 299 00:15:33,632 --> 00:15:36,802 and plank and speck and now dogs and pigs. 300 00:15:37,536 --> 00:15:38,070 What are you. 301 00:15:39,204 --> 00:15:40,940 Because we don't understand the. 302 00:15:40,940 --> 00:15:45,144 And we don't understand the context of the sermon Jesus has spent 303 00:15:45,144 --> 00:15:48,314 in, in the way it's recorded for us, like two chapters 304 00:15:50,149 --> 00:15:53,152 talking about the Kingdom of God. 305 00:15:53,419 --> 00:15:55,587 What are we relationship is 306 00:15:55,587 --> 00:15:58,590 that it's just not religious behavior and duty. 307 00:15:58,657 --> 00:15:59,358 There's a 308 00:15:59,358 --> 00:16:03,929 there's there's an internal transformation because of the mercy 309 00:16:03,929 --> 00:16:06,932 and grace of God, because of what Jesus has done on the cross. 310 00:16:06,932 --> 00:16:10,069 Like he's invited us into this and commanded us. 311 00:16:10,069 --> 00:16:14,173 And it's beautiful and it's it's perfect, and it revives the soul and. 312 00:16:16,875 --> 00:16:18,744 And then he says, so 313 00:16:18,744 --> 00:16:24,183 don't give to dogs what's holy and throw pearls to pigs. 314 00:16:24,183 --> 00:16:27,619 All they're going to do is trample on it 315 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,491 and nasty it up, and then they're just going to turn on you. 316 00:16:32,524 --> 00:16:34,693 We we have to understand what he's saying. 317 00:16:39,031 --> 00:16:42,034 Pigs don't care about pearls. 318 00:16:43,736 --> 00:16:46,905 Everything that Jesus has been talking right here, it's. 319 00:16:46,905 --> 00:16:49,908 This is like pearls of the kingdom. 320 00:16:50,242 --> 00:16:53,245 This is precious stuff. 321 00:16:54,179 --> 00:16:56,982 This is something that has to be treasured. 322 00:16:56,982 --> 00:17:01,420 He says you don't give that to those who are only going to berate 323 00:17:01,420 --> 00:17:05,224 it, defame it, ridicule it, and trample on it. 324 00:17:05,224 --> 00:17:09,428 They're pigs who have no concern for pearls. 325 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:14,133 That's tough. 326 00:17:16,502 --> 00:17:19,138 And there's no conversation that you can have 327 00:17:19,138 --> 00:17:22,141 that would convince a pig of the value of pearls. 328 00:17:24,309 --> 00:17:27,312 That's what he's saying. 329 00:17:27,746 --> 00:17:30,449 So does that mean we don't talk about the kingdom of God? 330 00:17:30,449 --> 00:17:31,417 That people that don't believe. 331 00:17:31,417 --> 00:17:34,019 No, not at all. 332 00:17:34,019 --> 00:17:35,587 We preach to all people. 333 00:17:35,587 --> 00:17:38,590 Matthew 1615 334 00:17:38,757 --> 00:17:42,961 but also we understand the principle of Scripture of Matthew 1014. 335 00:17:43,328 --> 00:17:45,397 If they don't listen to you, Jesus told his disciples, 336 00:17:45,397 --> 00:17:48,434 shake the dust off your feet and move on, because they want nothing 337 00:17:48,434 --> 00:17:49,401 to do with the kingdom. 338 00:17:50,636 --> 00:17:53,639 So don't waste your time. 339 00:17:55,941 --> 00:17:58,944 Unfortunately, there are so many well-meaning 340 00:17:59,011 --> 00:18:02,548 Christians that get involved in the online debates 341 00:18:02,548 --> 00:18:06,085 and forums and this and that and this and that and arguing people about stuff. 342 00:18:06,251 --> 00:18:09,254 It just is so worthless 343 00:18:10,155 --> 00:18:14,026 because there are some people and some segments of our culture 344 00:18:14,259 --> 00:18:15,427 that want nothing 345 00:18:15,427 --> 00:18:19,531 to do with the truth of the gospel, with God's mercy and his grace. 346 00:18:19,531 --> 00:18:24,736 And all they want to do is condemn it and ridicule it and defame it and dirty it. 347 00:18:25,771 --> 00:18:28,140 And Jesus says, there will be people like that. 348 00:18:28,140 --> 00:18:31,443 Don't take the pearls of the kingdom and. 349 00:18:34,413 --> 00:18:36,181 Move on to people who are receptive. 350 00:18:36,181 --> 00:18:39,084 That's what you're saying. 351 00:18:39,084 --> 00:18:42,087 It's that tough to hear. 352 00:18:43,422 --> 00:18:45,257 And so we have to be very discerning. 353 00:18:45,257 --> 00:18:48,260 But we got to understand that, that that 354 00:18:48,527 --> 00:18:51,196 these idioms were used in other places of Scripture, too. 355 00:18:51,196 --> 00:18:54,766 And I don't think I have the passages listed, but in Proverbs 356 00:18:54,766 --> 00:18:57,769 2611, let me just read it for you. 357 00:18:58,137 --> 00:18:59,471 Proverbs 2611. 358 00:19:03,909 --> 00:19:06,912 Parviz 2611 says this. 359 00:19:07,412 --> 00:19:08,580 Like a dog 360 00:19:08,580 --> 00:19:12,985 that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. 361 00:19:13,051 --> 00:19:15,954 Doesn't matter how many pearls you give him, 362 00:19:15,954 --> 00:19:18,957 he's going to go back to his own vomit. 363 00:19:20,225 --> 00:19:22,327 Second Peter 222 is another one. 364 00:19:22,327 --> 00:19:25,330 Second Peter 222. 365 00:19:26,732 --> 00:19:29,701 Second Peter 222 says this. 366 00:19:31,637 --> 00:19:32,938 When the truth 367 00:19:32,938 --> 00:19:37,176 when the truth for what the true proverb says has happened to them. 368 00:19:37,176 --> 00:19:39,611 So you're saying the farmer said, and this happened to him. 369 00:19:39,611 --> 00:19:42,247 The dog returned to its own vomit, and the sour, 370 00:19:42,247 --> 00:19:45,250 after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire. 371 00:19:46,885 --> 00:19:49,121 There are dogs and pigs that all they want to do 372 00:19:49,121 --> 00:19:52,791 is defame and dirty up the pearl of the gospel. 373 00:19:53,592 --> 00:19:56,595 The mercy and grace of God and just say, don't. 374 00:19:56,762 --> 00:19:57,229 Don't. 375 00:19:58,830 --> 00:20:01,500 Unfortunately, they have 376 00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:04,503 chosen for themselves the way of destruction. 377 00:20:06,371 --> 00:20:08,840 Someone said this. 378 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,843 Don't ever fight with a pig in the mud 379 00:20:12,411 --> 00:20:15,147 because you both will get dirty, but only the pig will 380 00:20:15,147 --> 00:20:18,150 enjoy it. 381 00:20:19,952 --> 00:20:20,285 You know 382 00:20:20,285 --> 00:20:23,288 how much grief we could save ourselves, 383 00:20:23,522 --> 00:20:26,692 how much peace we would gain if we quit 384 00:20:27,259 --> 00:20:30,262 fighting with pigs in the mud. 385 00:20:39,137 --> 00:20:41,173 Let's move on. 386 00:20:41,173 --> 00:20:41,640 Seven. Eight. 387 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,875 Nine. Ten. 11. 12. 388 00:20:43,875 --> 00:20:45,978 Ask and it will be given to you. 389 00:20:45,978 --> 00:20:47,746 Seek and you will find. 390 00:20:47,746 --> 00:20:49,381 Knock and the door will be opened to you. 391 00:20:49,381 --> 00:20:50,449 For everyone who asks. 392 00:20:50,449 --> 00:20:52,251 Receives the one who seeks finds. 393 00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:54,519 And the one who knocks the door will be open. 394 00:20:54,519 --> 00:20:57,589 Which of you, if your son asked for 395 00:20:57,589 --> 00:21:00,592 bread, would give him a stone? 396 00:21:00,792 --> 00:21:03,128 It's ridiculous. 397 00:21:03,128 --> 00:21:05,230 Or if you ask for a fish or give him a snake. 398 00:21:06,765 --> 00:21:07,332 If you. 399 00:21:07,332 --> 00:21:09,601 Even though you're evil, 400 00:21:09,601 --> 00:21:11,670 know how to give good gifts to your children. 401 00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:14,506 How much more I love that three word phrase. 402 00:21:14,506 --> 00:21:17,943 How much more you need to underline that circle and highlight 403 00:21:17,943 --> 00:21:21,713 how much more God is the God of how much more. 404 00:21:21,913 --> 00:21:24,783 If you're this good, how much more good is God? 405 00:21:24,783 --> 00:21:27,719 It's a beautiful little three lane, three word phrase. 406 00:21:27,719 --> 00:21:31,690 How much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him 407 00:21:32,557 --> 00:21:33,792 so in everything. 408 00:21:33,792 --> 00:21:36,061 Do to others what you would have them do for you. 409 00:21:36,061 --> 00:21:38,196 For this sums up the law of prophets. 410 00:21:38,196 --> 00:21:40,766 This is everything there is. 411 00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:44,269 How many of you have heard this idea of ask and you receive, seek. 412 00:21:44,269 --> 00:21:46,605 You know find. Knock. There will be opened. Yeah. 413 00:21:47,606 --> 00:21:50,409 Here's here's what Jesus is talking about. 414 00:21:50,409 --> 00:21:51,843 Prayer. 415 00:21:51,843 --> 00:21:54,212 And it's interesting to me 416 00:21:54,212 --> 00:21:57,316 in the sermon on the Mount, Jesus has already dealt with prayer 417 00:21:57,716 --> 00:22:00,452 when he taught his disciples to pray. 418 00:22:00,452 --> 00:22:03,422 Then he came back to prayer a couple verses after that. 419 00:22:03,922 --> 00:22:07,559 Now, for a third time, he deals with the topic of prayer. Why? 420 00:22:07,626 --> 00:22:10,529 Because prayer is vital. 421 00:22:10,529 --> 00:22:11,997 He says, I want you to understand and do this. 422 00:22:11,997 --> 00:22:15,934 So when you pray, ask, seek, and knock. 423 00:22:16,601 --> 00:22:21,173 Those three are verbs and they're commands that come with a promise. 424 00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:24,076 But they're 425 00:22:24,076 --> 00:22:25,711 they are 426 00:22:25,711 --> 00:22:30,415 present, active, imperative verbs, which means they're ongoing. 427 00:22:30,449 --> 00:22:31,216 They don't stop. 428 00:22:31,216 --> 00:22:33,852 It's not one and done. Well, I already asked. 429 00:22:33,852 --> 00:22:35,053 It's continuing. 430 00:22:35,053 --> 00:22:39,157 Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. 431 00:22:39,558 --> 00:22:41,960 And those three commands come with a promise. 432 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:42,828 Each one of them. 433 00:22:43,862 --> 00:22:46,531 Keep asking and you'll receive. 434 00:22:46,531 --> 00:22:48,667 Keep seeking and you'll find. But watch this. 435 00:22:48,667 --> 00:22:51,002 Keep knocking 436 00:22:51,002 --> 00:22:54,005 and you'll have the presence of God. 437 00:22:54,740 --> 00:22:57,242 It's not just about receiving. 438 00:22:57,242 --> 00:23:00,946 When you knock on the door and it's open now you're in the presence of. 439 00:23:00,979 --> 00:23:02,247 Does that make sense? 440 00:23:02,247 --> 00:23:02,614 Yeah. 441 00:23:02,614 --> 00:23:06,651 So there's teaching on prayer is both persistent and progressive. 442 00:23:07,719 --> 00:23:10,622 And there's a, there's there's an increasing there's 443 00:23:10,622 --> 00:23:13,592 an increasing passion that comes with it with with each 444 00:23:14,426 --> 00:23:17,863 hour seek and knock this the passion behind each 445 00:23:18,764 --> 00:23:21,767 the the investment of each gets bigger and bigger and bigger. 446 00:23:22,167 --> 00:23:25,170 Like if I'm thirsty, I'm thinking in. 447 00:23:26,071 --> 00:23:28,306 Can someone get me lots of water? 448 00:23:28,306 --> 00:23:30,876 Then the well, I asked, 449 00:23:30,876 --> 00:23:33,845 but then when I get really thirsty I'm like, okay, wait, I gotta get one myself. 450 00:23:33,845 --> 00:23:36,915 Like, where is the where's the water thing? 451 00:23:37,549 --> 00:23:39,684 I gotta, I gotta find this thing. I'm so. 452 00:23:41,153 --> 00:23:42,120 And that doesn't work. 453 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:44,823 Then I'm like, I'm like, oh, well, Heather's in charge of the water thing. 454 00:23:44,823 --> 00:23:45,824 Heather's back in the room. 455 00:23:45,824 --> 00:23:48,827 Heather, give me some water. 456 00:23:49,461 --> 00:23:52,197 Now. There's presence. 457 00:23:52,197 --> 00:23:54,065 Do you understand? 458 00:23:54,065 --> 00:23:55,000 And so there's teaching on. 459 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,003 Prayer is ongoing, and it's progressive. 460 00:23:58,904 --> 00:24:02,340 And the reason why Jesus ends with knock on the door is because of the doors. 461 00:24:02,340 --> 00:24:04,443 What? 462 00:24:04,443 --> 00:24:06,812 Shut? 463 00:24:06,812 --> 00:24:09,581 And what Jesus is saying is, look, there's going to be some times 464 00:24:09,581 --> 00:24:12,484 when the door is shut, 465 00:24:12,484 --> 00:24:15,120 keep knocking, 466 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:18,123 you're going to come upon some closed doors, 467 00:24:18,623 --> 00:24:19,291 keep knocking. 468 00:24:19,291 --> 00:24:20,492 Why would Jesus? 469 00:24:20,492 --> 00:24:23,762 Earlier, Jesus told us that the father already knows our need. 470 00:24:23,895 --> 00:24:26,398 Why wouldn't he just give us what we need? 471 00:24:26,398 --> 00:24:27,899 Have you ever thought that? 472 00:24:27,899 --> 00:24:30,268 Well, God, if you know, why don't you just do it? 473 00:24:32,571 --> 00:24:33,271 He doesn't. 474 00:24:33,271 --> 00:24:35,941 He says, I want you to keep asking, and I want you to keep saying. 475 00:24:35,941 --> 00:24:38,910 And I want you to keep knocking. Here's why. 476 00:24:38,910 --> 00:24:44,282 Continual prayer is not to convince God of something or to earn God's 477 00:24:44,282 --> 00:24:50,121 hand is to keep us in a position of continually reliance upon him 478 00:24:51,356 --> 00:24:54,125 and continued expectation 479 00:24:54,125 --> 00:24:57,562 that the hand of a loving father is going to move on our behalf. 480 00:24:59,130 --> 00:25:01,500 If God just gave us all we needed 481 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:04,503 without us seeking him, we would never 482 00:25:04,569 --> 00:25:07,239 seek him. 483 00:25:07,239 --> 00:25:09,908 He says, listen, I know, I know who you people are. 484 00:25:09,908 --> 00:25:11,977 I know how you are. 485 00:25:11,977 --> 00:25:14,980 The only way I get your attention 486 00:25:15,447 --> 00:25:18,450 is to keep you in dependance on me. 487 00:25:20,752 --> 00:25:23,288 See, our job is to understand what is good 488 00:25:23,288 --> 00:25:26,892 so that we ask, seek and knock for that which is good. 489 00:25:28,026 --> 00:25:32,397 And so the twofold purpose of prayer. One. 490 00:25:33,398 --> 00:25:38,069 Increase our understanding of what God calls good God. 491 00:25:38,069 --> 00:25:41,206 I have been asking, seeking and knocking and nothing. 492 00:25:42,007 --> 00:25:44,342 What else is behind this that you have 493 00:25:44,342 --> 00:25:47,345 determined is good for me that I don't understand yet. 494 00:25:48,046 --> 00:25:49,781 The second thing behind prayer is 495 00:25:49,781 --> 00:25:52,784 to cultivate our desire for what is good. 496 00:25:53,351 --> 00:25:54,853 See the natural mind. 497 00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:56,521 It doesn't understand this. 498 00:25:56,521 --> 00:25:58,557 We don't get this on our own. 499 00:25:58,557 --> 00:26:02,360 We think we know what's good and we ask, seeking not for that. 500 00:26:03,595 --> 00:26:06,364 We have to understand what God has determined. 501 00:26:06,364 --> 00:26:07,532 That's good. 502 00:26:07,532 --> 00:26:10,335 And ask. Seek not for that. 503 00:26:10,335 --> 00:26:11,403 How do you do it? 504 00:26:11,403 --> 00:26:12,871 Well, thank you for asking. 505 00:26:12,871 --> 00:26:15,707 Romans 12 506 00:26:15,707 --> 00:26:16,708 I appeal to you. 507 00:26:16,708 --> 00:26:19,144 Therefore, in light of all that God has done, his mercy, in his grace 508 00:26:20,312 --> 00:26:23,348 by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living 509 00:26:23,348 --> 00:26:27,152 sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. 510 00:26:27,285 --> 00:26:29,087 Father, 511 00:26:29,087 --> 00:26:33,592 I worship you by placing my life and my agenda 512 00:26:33,959 --> 00:26:36,962 and my prayer requests on the altar. 513 00:26:37,762 --> 00:26:40,765 I give myself on the altar 514 00:26:40,999 --> 00:26:43,501 and that means I sacrifice it all. 515 00:26:43,501 --> 00:26:48,573 Everything that I am, every desire, every hope, every dream is on the altar. 516 00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:49,841 Sacrifice to you. 517 00:26:49,841 --> 00:26:52,844 I worship you. 518 00:26:53,178 --> 00:26:56,381 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 519 00:26:56,414 --> 00:26:59,884 Father, I thought I knew, and I think I still know 520 00:26:59,884 --> 00:27:02,887 what's best, and that's my request. 521 00:27:02,954 --> 00:27:04,923 But I want you to renew my mind. 522 00:27:04,923 --> 00:27:07,826 So my thoughts are your thoughts. 523 00:27:07,826 --> 00:27:10,562 That by the testing you may discern what is. 524 00:27:10,562 --> 00:27:14,432 The will of God is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 525 00:27:14,432 --> 00:27:18,937 Father, I place myself on the altar my hopes, my dreams, my prayer requests. 526 00:27:21,573 --> 00:27:23,441 I don't want to have my own mind about this. 527 00:27:23,441 --> 00:27:26,311 I want to have your mind about this. 528 00:27:26,311 --> 00:27:29,781 And as I sacrifice myself and my prayers and my, my, my hopes 529 00:27:29,781 --> 00:27:33,184 and my dreams and my agenda, tell me what your good, pleasing and perfect will is. 530 00:27:33,184 --> 00:27:35,587 That's what I want to pray for. 531 00:27:35,587 --> 00:27:37,389 Renew my mind. 532 00:27:37,389 --> 00:27:39,524 You follow. 533 00:27:39,524 --> 00:27:42,961 And the only way that happens is by our continual 534 00:27:43,995 --> 00:27:45,363 asking, seeking and knocking. 535 00:27:45,363 --> 00:27:48,366 Not just for his answer, but for his presence. 536 00:27:51,102 --> 00:27:53,371 Revelation 320 Jesus kind of reverses it. 537 00:27:53,371 --> 00:27:54,539 I stand at the door knocking. 538 00:27:54,539 --> 00:27:55,740 If you open the door, all come in 539 00:27:55,740 --> 00:27:57,809 because this is the presence with you that I want. 540 00:27:57,809 --> 00:28:00,311 That should be the source of our prayers. 541 00:28:00,311 --> 00:28:01,780 I'm knocking, knocking, knocking. 542 00:28:01,780 --> 00:28:04,883 Not just because I want your hand in a response, because I want your presence. 543 00:28:09,187 --> 00:28:10,288 See, part of living by 544 00:28:10,288 --> 00:28:13,291 faith is submitting that God's plan is best 545 00:28:14,459 --> 00:28:15,727 and that he is sovereign. 546 00:28:15,727 --> 00:28:18,763 One of the most important prayers that you and I can pray here it is. 547 00:28:19,931 --> 00:28:22,033 Teach me to love you above all else 548 00:28:22,033 --> 00:28:24,736 and cause me to want what you want. 549 00:28:24,736 --> 00:28:25,503 It's a biblical prayer. 550 00:28:25,503 --> 00:28:26,738 Teach me to love you above all else. 551 00:28:26,738 --> 00:28:29,674 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, street. 552 00:28:29,674 --> 00:28:30,909 Cause me to want what you want. 553 00:28:30,909 --> 00:28:31,576 Your will be done. 554 00:28:31,576 --> 00:28:33,945 Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. 555 00:28:33,945 --> 00:28:36,948 One of the most important prayers anybody could pray right there. 556 00:28:39,050 --> 00:28:40,251 Sometimes what God wants 557 00:28:40,251 --> 00:28:43,254 is pleasant, right and good, 558 00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:46,558 and sometimes what God wants is difficult. 559 00:28:46,825 --> 00:28:48,960 And the question is, can we still pray your kingdom come, 560 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:50,195 your will be done was difficult. 561 00:28:52,464 --> 00:28:54,199 I was thinking how to boil this down a little. 562 00:28:54,199 --> 00:28:55,667 Phrases. So this is what I came up with. 563 00:28:55,667 --> 00:28:57,635 God's best is greater than your request. 564 00:28:57,635 --> 00:29:00,638 That's pretty good, That's pretty good. 565 00:29:01,106 --> 00:29:03,308 I got another one. 566 00:29:03,308 --> 00:29:04,075 God's best. 567 00:29:04,075 --> 00:29:05,877 Beat your request. 568 00:29:05,877 --> 00:29:08,546 That's pretty good. Do 569 00:29:08,546 --> 00:29:11,049 I got another one? 570 00:29:11,049 --> 00:29:13,118 If you need a yes to have peace. 571 00:29:13,118 --> 00:29:16,121 You don't trust God yet? Ooh. 572 00:29:16,755 --> 00:29:19,758 That one's done. Bit. 573 00:29:20,125 --> 00:29:22,393 I got another one. 574 00:29:22,393 --> 00:29:23,895 You don't need God to agree. 575 00:29:23,895 --> 00:29:26,898 You need God to lead. 576 00:29:27,699 --> 00:29:30,702 That's the best one. 577 00:29:32,837 --> 00:29:35,840 And he says, verse 12. 578 00:29:37,008 --> 00:29:40,011 So whatever you wish others to do for, 579 00:29:40,245 --> 00:29:43,848 so whatever you wish that others would do for you, do also to them. 580 00:29:44,282 --> 00:29:46,785 For this is law and the prophets. 581 00:29:46,785 --> 00:29:48,586 This is not new to Jesus. 582 00:29:48,586 --> 00:29:49,387 This phrase, 583 00:29:50,355 --> 00:29:50,922 the idea of 584 00:29:50,922 --> 00:29:53,925 this phrase, every world religion before Jesus and after 585 00:29:53,958 --> 00:29:58,563 has had this same exact phrase, phrasing before Jesus. 586 00:29:58,963 --> 00:29:59,964 But it was different. 587 00:29:59,964 --> 00:30:01,833 The idea was different, but it was different. 588 00:30:01,833 --> 00:30:05,336 Every world religion don't care what religion you talk about Hinduism, 589 00:30:05,336 --> 00:30:10,108 Buddhism, Islam, Zoroastrianism like it doesn't matter. 590 00:30:10,508 --> 00:30:14,312 They all had this, this idea, but every one of them was in the negative. 591 00:30:14,312 --> 00:30:17,282 What you don't want someone to do if you don't do this, someone else, 592 00:30:17,749 --> 00:30:20,451 the every, every religion, 593 00:30:20,451 --> 00:30:23,254 what you don't want done to you don't do. 594 00:30:23,254 --> 00:30:25,456 Here's the problem with that. 595 00:30:25,456 --> 00:30:28,459 That means I don't have to do nothing to nobody. 596 00:30:29,460 --> 00:30:31,229 That's horrible. 597 00:30:31,229 --> 00:30:32,697 So Jesus comes along. 598 00:30:32,697 --> 00:30:36,100 He says, you might have heard, don't do to someone what you don't want done to you. 599 00:30:36,267 --> 00:30:39,871 This is actually taught by Hillel, one of the greatest Jewish rabbis ever. 600 00:30:40,605 --> 00:30:42,874 Jesus comes along and says, that's not what it's about. 601 00:30:42,874 --> 00:30:47,412 What you want done to you, do to others. 602 00:30:48,546 --> 00:30:50,882 He made it active. 603 00:30:50,882 --> 00:30:52,417 Do you understand? 604 00:30:52,417 --> 00:30:53,351 He made it active. 605 00:30:53,351 --> 00:30:56,054 He meant engaging. 606 00:30:56,054 --> 00:31:00,058 Now I understand we all get a little bit hurt and and frustrated in our feelings. 607 00:31:00,058 --> 00:31:04,429 Hurt a little bit, like nobody ever and just said, what do I do for others? 608 00:31:05,864 --> 00:31:09,868 Because he just said, the manner you do for others will be done to you. 609 00:31:11,402 --> 00:31:14,372 Dinner stand. 610 00:31:14,372 --> 00:31:15,340 It's revolutionary. 611 00:31:15,340 --> 00:31:18,243 But nobody ever thought that before. 612 00:31:18,243 --> 00:31:21,246 Verses 1314 I realize where I am and I want to get to verse 20. 613 00:31:21,279 --> 00:31:22,447 We got seven minutes. 614 00:31:22,447 --> 00:31:25,383 Enter through the narrow gate for why does the gate and broad is the road 615 00:31:25,383 --> 00:31:27,318 that leads to destruction and many enter through it. 616 00:31:27,318 --> 00:31:30,889 But small is the gate, and narrow is the road that leads to life, 617 00:31:31,022 --> 00:31:32,624 and only a few find it. 618 00:31:32,624 --> 00:31:35,026 That is what you're saying. The goal is not the gate. 619 00:31:35,026 --> 00:31:36,361 The goal is the path. 620 00:31:36,361 --> 00:31:38,296 The gate gets us to the path. 621 00:31:38,296 --> 00:31:39,931 The path is the way of life 622 00:31:41,432 --> 00:31:44,035 and the way of life 623 00:31:44,035 --> 00:31:47,038 that leads to life is a narrow gate, 624 00:31:47,872 --> 00:31:51,910 and the way to the path that is destructive is a wide gate. 625 00:31:51,910 --> 00:31:53,912 But here it's not about. 626 00:31:53,912 --> 00:31:58,149 It's not about the narrow road is a hard road 627 00:31:58,182 --> 00:32:01,185 to walk. 628 00:32:01,219 --> 00:32:05,556 And the and it's the, it's the that's the hard road of obedience. 629 00:32:05,556 --> 00:32:08,626 And the wide road is the easy road of disobedience. 630 00:32:08,626 --> 00:32:13,298 That's not what he's saying in the context of the sermon on the Mount. 631 00:32:14,499 --> 00:32:17,502 What he's saying is that religious observance, 632 00:32:17,602 --> 00:32:23,574 without the intent of an act of love, is the wide road that will destroy you. 633 00:32:23,574 --> 00:32:26,577 Because it's nothing about religious other than religious activity. 634 00:32:28,246 --> 00:32:30,848 So when he said, listen, we need to understand this. 635 00:32:30,848 --> 00:32:33,851 Following Jesus is not difficult. 636 00:32:33,885 --> 00:32:36,120 If you've made it difficult, you're doing it wrong. 637 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:37,021 I don't know how to say it. 638 00:32:38,056 --> 00:32:38,923 It's not difficult. 639 00:32:38,923 --> 00:32:43,161 Jesus says himself in Matthew 11, my yoke is easy. 640 00:32:43,161 --> 00:32:45,296 My burden is light. 641 00:32:45,296 --> 00:32:47,999 He didn't say, I want you to follow me because it's going to be grueling. 642 00:32:47,999 --> 00:32:50,435 It's not what he said. 643 00:32:50,435 --> 00:32:51,402 He said to follow him. 644 00:32:51,402 --> 00:32:53,938 My yoke, my burden, it's light. 645 00:32:53,938 --> 00:32:57,942 Now listen, getting to that point through the narrow gate is hard, 646 00:32:59,277 --> 00:33:02,280 but the path is not hard. 647 00:33:02,647 --> 00:33:04,415 But getting to that gate is. 648 00:33:04,415 --> 00:33:09,587 And so when Jesus uses that word hard, it's a Greek word called flee, bow. 649 00:33:09,887 --> 00:33:12,590 And it means narrow, or the gate 650 00:33:12,590 --> 00:33:15,593 of affliction or the gate of trouble. 651 00:33:15,727 --> 00:33:17,762 So to get through the narrow gate 652 00:33:17,762 --> 00:33:22,100 that leads to the narrow path of life that is light and easy, 653 00:33:22,233 --> 00:33:27,505 you go through the difficult, hard gate of affliction and trouble. 654 00:33:27,805 --> 00:33:31,442 It's going to be costly to say yes to Jesus and no to everybody else, 655 00:33:31,442 --> 00:33:33,111 and everything else. 656 00:33:33,111 --> 00:33:34,212 And it's going to be. 657 00:33:34,212 --> 00:33:37,849 That's going to be hard to turn your back on yourself 658 00:33:37,849 --> 00:33:41,119 and put yourself on the altar to take up your cross every day. 659 00:33:42,420 --> 00:33:43,588 The gate 660 00:33:43,588 --> 00:33:46,724 might be and it is a gate up, and it's just not narrow. 661 00:33:46,724 --> 00:33:49,394 It's affliction and trouble. 662 00:33:49,394 --> 00:33:53,431 Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble, but take heart. 663 00:33:53,431 --> 00:33:56,434 I have overcome the world. 664 00:34:00,104 --> 00:34:02,073 And so it's hard to choose this gate. 665 00:34:02,073 --> 00:34:05,143 But when we walk with Jesus, we walk as an overcomer, 666 00:34:06,611 --> 00:34:09,614 which is not burdensome. 667 00:34:10,181 --> 00:34:11,783 This is that wide path, 668 00:34:11,783 --> 00:34:15,887 that wide road is when you choose for yourself, 669 00:34:15,887 --> 00:34:20,491 even religiously, what is important and not important. 670 00:34:20,491 --> 00:34:23,761 When you choose for yourself what commands you will obey 671 00:34:23,761 --> 00:34:26,731 and what commands you will ignore, 672 00:34:27,532 --> 00:34:30,301 and that will lead you to destruction. 673 00:34:30,301 --> 00:34:32,737 The narrow road 674 00:34:32,737 --> 00:34:35,706 is the intentional prayer and meditation 675 00:34:35,706 --> 00:34:38,709 and scripture reading and obedience. 676 00:34:38,776 --> 00:34:42,180 When you desire God in His Spirit to penetrate your heart. 677 00:34:45,016 --> 00:34:48,019 And only a few find it. 678 00:34:49,854 --> 00:34:52,857 15 through 20. 679 00:34:53,257 --> 00:34:55,159 Beware of false prophets who come to you 680 00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:58,162 in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 681 00:34:58,329 --> 00:35:00,064 You'll recognize them by their fruits. 682 00:35:00,064 --> 00:35:03,067 That's judgment. 683 00:35:03,901 --> 00:35:05,069 Remember, don't judge us. 684 00:35:05,069 --> 00:35:07,538 You'll be judged by the same energy. You judge. You'll be judged. 685 00:35:07,538 --> 00:35:09,841 Jesus is judging 686 00:35:09,841 --> 00:35:12,844 not for condemnation, but for. 687 00:35:14,312 --> 00:35:15,046 Inspection. 688 00:35:15,046 --> 00:35:18,049 Don't. Don't forget this stuff. Now 689 00:35:18,549 --> 00:35:20,985 there you're recognized by the fruit. 690 00:35:20,985 --> 00:35:24,288 Our grapes gather from thorn bushes or face from thistles. 691 00:35:24,755 --> 00:35:27,492 So every healthy tree bears good fruit. 692 00:35:27,492 --> 00:35:30,394 But the disease tree bears bad fruit. 693 00:35:30,394 --> 00:35:33,331 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, 694 00:35:33,331 --> 00:35:36,300 nor can a disease tree bear good fruit. 695 00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:40,805 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 696 00:35:41,005 --> 00:35:43,774 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Judgment 697 00:35:44,809 --> 00:35:47,812 for identification. 698 00:35:50,648 --> 00:35:53,651 I want you to realize something. 699 00:35:56,787 --> 00:35:59,790 You'll recognize them by their fruit. 700 00:36:01,292 --> 00:36:03,628 We must judge for identification 701 00:36:03,628 --> 00:36:06,631 and discernment 702 00:36:06,697 --> 00:36:09,700 by looking at the fruit of what the life has produced. 703 00:36:10,868 --> 00:36:13,437 And every word and every action that comes from 704 00:36:13,437 --> 00:36:16,440 our lives is fruit from our heart. 705 00:36:16,474 --> 00:36:20,211 And Jesus says, A good tree will not produce bad fruit. 706 00:36:20,244 --> 00:36:23,247 That battery cannot produce good fruit. 707 00:36:26,250 --> 00:36:27,752 And so you inspect 708 00:36:27,752 --> 00:36:30,721 and judge the fruit of the life. 709 00:36:31,322 --> 00:36:33,424 And if it's bad fruit, guess what? 710 00:36:33,424 --> 00:36:35,993 There's bad root. 711 00:36:35,993 --> 00:36:38,663 And if there's good fruit, guess what? 712 00:36:38,663 --> 00:36:41,666 There's good fruit. 713 00:36:43,768 --> 00:36:46,571 And when we repent of sin and receive 714 00:36:46,571 --> 00:36:50,341 Jesus, he gives us the Holy Spirit and changes our hearts. 715 00:36:50,341 --> 00:36:53,244 Second Corinthians 517 716 00:36:53,244 --> 00:36:54,979 and then gradually 717 00:36:54,979 --> 00:36:57,982 we begin to produce good fruit. 718 00:36:58,382 --> 00:37:01,018 Galatians 522 and 23. 719 00:37:01,018 --> 00:37:03,387 How do you know what good fruit is? 720 00:37:03,387 --> 00:37:05,623 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, joy, 721 00:37:05,623 --> 00:37:07,158 and self-control. The fruit of the spirit. 722 00:37:08,192 --> 00:37:09,026 Those are inward 723 00:37:09,026 --> 00:37:12,263 characteristics that show themselves outwardly. 724 00:37:13,364 --> 00:37:14,832 Ephesians two. 725 00:37:14,832 --> 00:37:18,236 You were created in advance to do good works that God created 726 00:37:18,236 --> 00:37:19,437 for you to do in advance. So. 727 00:37:19,437 --> 00:37:22,440 So there is good work that we're supposed to produce 728 00:37:23,140 --> 00:37:26,143 because of a change of a heart 729 00:37:26,344 --> 00:37:29,547 to produce fruit in line that is, that is in tune 730 00:37:29,547 --> 00:37:33,150 with God, is to walk the narrow path. 731 00:37:33,784 --> 00:37:36,120 Because when my heart changes, my fruit changes. 732 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:39,123 You understand? 733 00:37:39,323 --> 00:37:41,826 Yeah. 734 00:37:41,826 --> 00:37:44,662 There are some religious groups that teach that people have to be baptized, 735 00:37:44,662 --> 00:37:47,131 confirmed, have Holy communion, confession, confirmation, 736 00:37:47,131 --> 00:37:49,066 all that stuff has ways to ensure that there 737 00:37:49,066 --> 00:37:51,602 they go to heaven and they're right before God. 738 00:37:51,602 --> 00:37:54,171 But other than those obligated religious practices, 739 00:37:54,171 --> 00:37:56,874 their own personal lives look nothing different than culture. 740 00:37:56,874 --> 00:37:57,808 You judge the fruit. 741 00:38:01,879 --> 00:38:04,882 The fact is, every one of us stumbles. 742 00:38:06,584 --> 00:38:09,754 And we go through seasons of not bearing any fruit. 743 00:38:09,754 --> 00:38:10,921 I get I've been there. 744 00:38:10,921 --> 00:38:13,691 I've had those seasons far too many. 745 00:38:13,691 --> 00:38:17,161 But first, John three, four through ten makes it very clear that those who know 746 00:38:17,161 --> 00:38:20,331 God don't continue in a lifestyle of bad fruit. 747 00:38:22,733 --> 00:38:26,003 Might have a season or so, but there's repentance. 748 00:38:26,003 --> 00:38:29,006 Confession by the mercy and grace of God. 749 00:38:30,141 --> 00:38:31,642 The most frightful verse 750 00:38:31,642 --> 00:38:34,845 in that section of verse 19, every tree that does not bear 751 00:38:34,879 --> 00:38:37,048 good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 752 00:38:37,048 --> 00:38:40,318 Apparently a life of no fruit is the same as a life of bad 753 00:38:40,318 --> 00:38:43,321 fruit. 754 00:38:48,993 --> 00:38:50,127 Being right with God 755 00:38:50,127 --> 00:38:54,198 is the work that God does in us through Jesus by faith. 756 00:38:54,198 --> 00:38:55,099 Because of his grace. 757 00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:57,501 And then we do 758 00:38:57,501 --> 00:39:00,504 the work to cultivate good works 759 00:39:01,238 --> 00:39:04,241 that show that my life and my heart have been changed. 760 00:39:06,911 --> 00:39:10,047 So if you're in a lifestyle of bad fruit right now, 761 00:39:11,215 --> 00:39:13,217 repent. 762 00:39:13,217 --> 00:39:16,187 Allow God to change your heart 763 00:39:16,187 --> 00:39:19,190 and enter into this through the narrow gate 764 00:39:19,657 --> 00:39:22,660 of self-denial. 765 00:39:24,295 --> 00:39:27,298 And if you're in a lifestyle of no fruit, 766 00:39:27,465 --> 00:39:29,500 repent 767 00:39:29,500 --> 00:39:32,103 and consider what fertilizer is. 768 00:39:32,103 --> 00:39:35,072 Fertilize in your heart and get better fertilizer. 769 00:39:41,011 --> 00:39:43,414 You wrap up with this I got two questions. 770 00:39:43,414 --> 00:39:45,716 Two questions that kind of pull this whole thing, 771 00:39:45,716 --> 00:39:50,221 this first 20 versus a seven together, two questions, two application questions. 772 00:39:50,654 --> 00:39:53,657 You ready? 773 00:39:53,924 --> 00:39:56,427 If only one of you is ready I got to start this all over again. 774 00:39:56,427 --> 00:39:58,129 We're going to be we're going to miss a football game. 775 00:39:59,964 --> 00:40:01,198 You ready? 776 00:40:01,198 --> 00:40:03,367 Yeah. Like you on with it. 777 00:40:03,367 --> 00:40:06,003 Two questions. 778 00:40:06,003 --> 00:40:08,906 What sin am I quick to point out in others 779 00:40:08,906 --> 00:40:11,909 that I'm slow to repent of myself? 780 00:40:21,952 --> 00:40:24,221 If my life were a tree, what fruit would people 781 00:40:24,221 --> 00:40:27,224 actually be able to taste? 782 00:40:30,961 --> 00:40:33,330 Matthew seven one through 20 application. 783 00:40:33,330 --> 00:40:36,300 Right there. 784 00:40:41,238 --> 00:40:42,573 Jesus did not say that 785 00:40:42,573 --> 00:40:45,709 we would be known by our opinions or our social media posts, 786 00:40:46,877 --> 00:40:47,311 he said. 787 00:40:47,311 --> 00:40:50,314 We would be known by our fruit. 788 00:40:52,616 --> 00:40:55,619 The most dangerous place for us to be 789 00:40:56,687 --> 00:40:58,722 is outside the kingdom, but 790 00:40:58,722 --> 00:41:01,725 convinced we're inside it 791 00:41:02,326 --> 00:41:05,329 while living an unchanged life. 792 00:41:08,632 --> 00:41:10,634 You finish with this. 793 00:41:10,634 --> 00:41:13,337 Self-deception is the most dangerous sin 794 00:41:13,337 --> 00:41:16,340 in this room right now. 795 00:41:25,883 --> 00:41:26,784 Don't you pray with me, father. 796 00:41:26,784 --> 00:41:29,787 Thank you. 797 00:41:30,488 --> 00:41:33,657 Thank you that you love us so much 798 00:41:34,358 --> 00:41:37,261 that you sent your son to die for us. 799 00:41:37,261 --> 00:41:39,263 That we don't have to die eternally. 800 00:41:40,531 --> 00:41:41,866 And thank you that you love us so much. 801 00:41:41,866 --> 00:41:44,869 You've told us the truth. 802 00:41:45,135 --> 00:41:48,138 And Holy Spirit, I pray that you would 803 00:41:48,172 --> 00:41:50,641 convict us, 804 00:41:50,641 --> 00:41:52,142 and that in conviction, father, 805 00:41:52,142 --> 00:41:55,112 that we would repent. 806 00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:57,915 That we would be too quick 807 00:41:57,915 --> 00:42:01,385 to recognize the sin in our own life and repent of that and in repentance. 808 00:42:01,385 --> 00:42:03,420 Give us all that your grace would allow. God. 809 00:42:03,420 --> 00:42:06,390 Thank you. 810 00:42:06,724 --> 00:42:10,461 Give us the desire to produce good fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, 811 00:42:10,461 --> 00:42:13,464 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, 812 00:42:14,131 --> 00:42:17,101 and to do the good work that you created for us to do. 813 00:42:18,936 --> 00:42:20,971 That people would taste of our lives. 814 00:42:20,971 --> 00:42:24,475 That which is sweet and Bountiful and beautiful. 815 00:42:30,614 --> 00:42:32,883 Friends, I want to suggest this prayer to you. 816 00:42:32,883 --> 00:42:35,619 It's real simple. 817 00:42:35,619 --> 00:42:37,121 I would suggest this for you. 818 00:42:37,121 --> 00:42:39,757 For me. God, here I give myself to you. 819 00:42:41,125 --> 00:42:44,128 I choose to walk the narrow road, 820 00:42:44,228 --> 00:42:47,231 rework my heart, 821 00:42:47,364 --> 00:42:50,367 help me produce good fruit. 822 00:42:51,001 --> 00:42:51,902 Would you be brave enough 823 00:42:51,902 --> 00:42:54,905 to pray that prayer? 824 00:42:55,105 --> 00:42:57,575 God, I give myself to you. 825 00:42:57,575 --> 00:43:00,377 I choose to walk the narrow road. 826 00:43:00,377 --> 00:43:02,746 Rework my heart 827 00:43:02,746 --> 00:43:05,749 and help me produce good fruit. 828 00:43:06,050 --> 00:43:08,085 Father, that's our prayer. 829 00:43:08,085 --> 00:43:11,088 And for those of us who pray that, grant it 830 00:43:11,922 --> 00:43:12,423 for asking. 831 00:43:12,423 --> 00:43:14,758 We're seeking or knocking. 832 00:43:14,758 --> 00:43:15,893 Granted, in your name I pray. 833 00:43:15,893 --> 00:43:18,262 Amen. 834 00:43:18,262 --> 00:43:19,830 Man, I'm so proud of you. 835 00:43:19,830 --> 00:43:21,732 I'm so proud of you. 836 00:43:21,732 --> 00:43:26,303 You have you have abided by very inadequate 837 00:43:26,303 --> 00:43:28,872 teaching through this whole series. 838 00:43:28,872 --> 00:43:31,208 Thank you. 839 00:43:31,208 --> 00:43:35,045 You've heard some tough stuff from the Lord's word. 840 00:43:35,913 --> 00:43:37,014 It's healthy for us. 841 00:43:37,014 --> 00:43:40,017 It's good as long as we apply it. 842 00:43:40,050 --> 00:43:41,218 We're not done, though. 843 00:43:41,218 --> 00:43:43,287 We got a little bit more in Matthew seven to go through. 844 00:43:44,254 --> 00:43:45,756 And let me tell you, 845 00:43:45,756 --> 00:43:48,759 it's going to get terrifying next week. 846 00:43:48,993 --> 00:43:52,596 It's going to get terrifying because Jesus is going to say this. 847 00:43:53,530 --> 00:43:56,533 Not everyone who calls him Lord really know him. 848 00:43:58,836 --> 00:44:01,238 And he's going to say, for some of you who have called on me 849 00:44:01,238 --> 00:44:04,241 as Lord, I'm going to tell you to get out because I don't know you. 850 00:44:04,341 --> 00:44:07,077 It's terrifying. 851 00:44:07,077 --> 00:44:10,514 And we're going to look at this idea when faith is tested by pressure 852 00:44:10,781 --> 00:44:13,584 and suffering and loss, does 853 00:44:13,584 --> 00:44:16,587 it stand or does it fall? 854 00:44:17,755 --> 00:44:20,057 And Jesus is going to ask us, 855 00:44:20,057 --> 00:44:23,060 is your faith really built a last? 856 00:44:23,594 --> 00:44:25,696 And that's how he's going to wrap up the sermon on the Mount. 857 00:44:25,696 --> 00:44:27,998 And it's beautiful and it's hard 858 00:44:27,998 --> 00:44:31,769 and it's terrifying and it's gorgeous and it's full of mercy and grace. 859 00:44:33,270 --> 00:44:34,905 And so let's wrap it up next week. 860 00:44:34,905 --> 00:44:36,640 You understand 861 00:44:36,640 --> 00:44:38,709 I love you. I'm proud of you. 862 00:44:38,709 --> 00:44:39,810 Let's sing one more song. 863 00:44:39,810 --> 00:44:41,545 If any of you want to pray with anybody, 864 00:44:41,545 --> 00:44:43,280 please look for those with those prayer lanyards. 865 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:44,848 They'd be happy to pray with you. Let's sing.