WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.220 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:10.300 recent sermons and more. 00:00:10.860 --> 00:00:15.100 Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library if you'd like to automatically 00:00:15.100 --> 00:00:16.820 receive new episodes each week. 00:00:28.260 --> 00:00:29.680 Well, good morning again. 00:00:29.860 --> 00:00:34.180 If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Matthew 00:00:34.180 --> 00:00:40.700 11, and we're going to start this morning here in a little bit in verse 25. 00:00:41.120 --> 00:00:46.940 If you do not have a copy of the Bible, or if you have a different translation than we 00:00:46.940 --> 00:00:51.620 do, and you would like the same one that we use on Sunday mornings, we do have these Bibles 00:00:51.620 --> 00:00:52.460 that are available. 00:00:52.660 --> 00:00:55.160 They're available back here at our connections table. 00:00:55.160 --> 00:00:59.340 You could go there right now and get one if you would like, or you can wait until the end 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:02.120 of the service and grab one then. 00:01:02.660 --> 00:01:06.000 A couple of things for you guys to be praying through and praying for. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:12.760 First, our adult, young, our young adult missions team has been in New York City ministering, doing 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:14.900 a VBS over this past week. 00:01:15.160 --> 00:01:17.080 They will be returning home today. 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:22.720 So pray for the work that was done and the work that God will continue to do through the church 00:01:22.720 --> 00:01:25.780 there, and pray for them as they travel. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:30.860 I know we've got some storms and things, not quite exactly sure of their times, but I know 00:01:30.860 --> 00:01:32.300 delays are a possibility. 00:01:32.520 --> 00:01:36.540 And so we want to make sure that we're lifting them up as they travel as well. 00:01:36.800 --> 00:01:41.960 Also, I want to ask you to continue to pray for Micah Hood as he is serving with the IMB and 00:01:41.960 --> 00:01:43.640 BCM in Thailand. 00:01:44.180 --> 00:01:48.940 So pray for him, for his ministry, for his team, for his leaders, for the people there, 00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:55.180 all of what is happening, all of what God is doing there in Thailand and how God is using 00:01:55.180 --> 00:01:55.680 this group. 00:01:55.740 --> 00:02:02.940 If you're unfamiliar, BCM is a group of college students, and they are in Thailand ministering 00:02:02.940 --> 00:02:04.680 and sharing the gospel. 00:02:05.220 --> 00:02:09.560 I got a text message from the leader that was there, and he sent me a text message just saying 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:15.680 how excited and how proud he is to watch this team of students from USC boldly go out and 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:16.380 share the gospel. 00:02:16.380 --> 00:02:18.900 And so be praying for that work as well. 00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:22.540 So this morning, we are going to be in Matthew 11. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:30.100 We're going to be at the end of Matthew 11, starting here in just a moment in verse 25. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:35.600 Well, it doesn't mean that what happens in the previous verses in 1 through 24 is not important. 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:40.520 So what I would like to do, though, is spend a little bit of time and give us some context 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:48.140 of the first 24 verses, but we will largely focus on starting in verse 25 here in just a 00:02:48.140 --> 00:02:48.320 moment. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:49.680 So Jesus is there. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:51.300 He's sent the 12, right? 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:55.360 We talked about last week, like to give Jesus your yes, what it means when you give Jesus 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.160 your yes, like he doesn't hold back. 00:02:57.220 --> 00:02:58.180 He talks about the struggle. 00:02:58.460 --> 00:02:59.720 He talks about the difficulty. 00:02:59.720 --> 00:03:07.080 And then in Matthew chapter 11, what we see is Jesus has finished instructing the 12 of 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:12.660 what will happen, and he has sent them, and Jesus also continues to minister. 00:03:13.040 --> 00:03:19.620 Now, while Jesus is ministering, John the Baptist, this is important, who's imprisoned, very important 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:25.780 aspect of this, John the Baptist, who's imprisoned, sends two of his disciples to Jesus. 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:32.860 Now, John the Baptist is not in prison for nefarious illegal activity, but he's been in prison 00:03:32.860 --> 00:03:36.440 for his boldness, for the gospel, for what God has called him to do. 00:03:36.780 --> 00:03:41.440 John the Baptist, the one who baptizes Jesus, the one who proclaims who Jesus is. 00:03:41.640 --> 00:03:46.540 John the Baptist coming out of the wilderness, the precursor before Jesus, commanding that 00:03:46.540 --> 00:03:49.700 we repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, as he points to Jesus. 00:03:50.420 --> 00:03:58.280 This John the Baptist, I've never been imprisoned, especially imprisoned for my faith. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:03.000 In his obedience, he finds himself in jail. 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:08.200 By the way, his obedience will find himself executed as well. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.720 John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to Jesus, and they ask him this question. 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:14.260 They said, are you the one? 00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:16.120 Are you the one? 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:22.440 Now, there's a lot of debate about the motive behind the question. 00:04:23.700 --> 00:04:29.740 Some people think that John the Baptist is tired, he's frustrated, he's anxious, he's got 00:04:29.740 --> 00:04:29.940 worry. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:37.580 I could imagine all these things, and that he, in his lowest of lows, sends his disciples 00:04:37.580 --> 00:04:38.640 to ask this question. 00:04:40.380 --> 00:04:47.000 There are those who think that John the Baptist has been defending, and his faith is strong, 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:50.440 and set, and secure, and there's some of his disciples who are like, are you sure? 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:51.340 Are you sure? 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:53.260 Are you sure that Jesus is the one? 00:04:53.460 --> 00:04:54.920 And John's like, fine, go ask him yourself. 00:04:56.460 --> 00:05:04.660 Either way, we have an encounter where there are people of faith who have a point and moment 00:05:04.660 --> 00:05:13.000 where they're questioning what is happening in the world around them, and Christ's role 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:13.380 in it. 00:05:13.380 --> 00:05:22.340 Now, we can cast stones at that, or you can join me this morning and say, no, I've been 00:05:22.340 --> 00:05:22.560 there. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:24.720 I've been there. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:28.600 I put my faith, hope, and Jesus Christ. 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:29.660 He is my Lord. 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:30.560 He is my Savior. 00:05:30.880 --> 00:05:32.420 One day, I will be with him. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:39.100 Man, some of those days, I find myself in the hard spot and the difficulty of that. 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:40.500 It's difficult. 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:49.420 You see, whether which side you think historically is happening here, there's an aspect of whoever 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:56.720 the motive behind the question is, are you the one, was rooted out of a belief in who Jesus 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:05.400 was, but also hoping that Jesus was this political Messiah, hoping that Jesus, in all of what he would 00:06:05.400 --> 00:06:14.440 fulfill from Scripture, would also be the one to overthrow Rome and to bring peace politically 00:06:14.440 --> 00:06:23.320 to the region, a region of the world that has been marked by war and unrest for thousands 00:06:23.320 --> 00:06:25.540 of years until today. 00:06:28.140 --> 00:06:29.180 Jesus, are you the one? 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:32.720 Big question for Jesus to answer. 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:34.980 Are you the one? 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:37.420 He could have rebuked him. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.320 He could have said yes and go on. 00:06:42.280 --> 00:06:43.840 But Jesus begins to build a narrative. 00:06:45.280 --> 00:06:52.160 First, he speaks and he acknowledges who he is by speaking of his service miracles, the things 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.160 that he's been doing, right? 00:06:53.520 --> 00:07:00.600 The blind have seen, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, Jesus even says the 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:01.180 dead rise. 00:07:02.380 --> 00:07:03.160 He's done this. 00:07:03.640 --> 00:07:06.760 He speaks of his gospel ministry that Jesus preaches, right? 00:07:06.820 --> 00:07:09.380 Not a political ministry. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:12.500 Jesus is there to serve. 00:07:13.760 --> 00:07:14.600 Jesus is there to save. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:17.580 And then they leave. 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:19.140 They leave. 00:07:19.200 --> 00:07:23.640 And this moment could be over, but it opens for more. 00:07:24.760 --> 00:07:27.140 So the Bible tells us that they leave and Jesus turns to the crowd. 00:07:28.520 --> 00:07:29.380 I think this is important. 00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:31.320 I think this is important in this. 00:07:31.460 --> 00:07:35.120 If you're a person and you're like, man, there are just days that are hard. 00:07:35.260 --> 00:07:36.220 There are days that are difficult. 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:43.240 There are just days that my faith is weaker today than it was yesterday. 00:07:43.460 --> 00:07:44.780 And I'm needing something. 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:50.100 And here we see the grace and the kindness and the compassion of Jesus Christ that if 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:54.360 it was this from John the Baptist, if this is where John the Baptist found himself in 00:07:54.360 --> 00:08:01.040 this prison cell and has the thoughts of worry and anxiety and all the things, Jesus turns 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.140 and he says to the crowd the validity of who the John the Baptist is and is calling from God. 00:08:06.700 --> 00:08:11.820 Jesus doesn't use this as a time to belittle, but to speak of who John the Baptist is and is calling 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:12.240 from God. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.420 And then Jesus speaks to the new covenant and very specifically those who will receive it. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:19.500 Then he does rebuke. 00:08:20.880 --> 00:08:21.820 Jesus does rebuke. 00:08:21.820 --> 00:08:30.820 He rebukes those of his generation, of this generation of what Jesus calls, this cultural 00:08:30.820 --> 00:08:39.820 generation, this war-torn generation that he finds, for rejecting God's messengers. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:41.940 They've rejected John the Baptist. 00:08:42.060 --> 00:08:43.060 They reject Jesus. 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:45.760 They've rejected the messengers and the message. 00:08:47.280 --> 00:08:51.940 They've rejected the messengers and the message, right, like a lot, like in the world that we 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:52.440 live in today. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:55.540 They've rejected the message of Jesus Christ. 00:08:55.640 --> 00:09:00.000 They've rejected the messengers of Jesus Christ, not talking about preachers, but talking about 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.940 you as well, right, those that we go and we carry and we share and we testify to the truth 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:10.580 of the gospel and the power of the gospel and who Christ is and the saving work that Christ 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:14.800 came to do through the cross, the cross alone is through him and through him alone and the 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:21.080 power of the resurrection, they reject the messenger and they reject the message. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:28.340 I've heard it said sometime though, like, wouldn't it be neat if we lived during the time that 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:34.300 Jesus lived because then it would be harder for them to reject the messenger and the message 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:37.600 because there'd be the evidence of the miracles. 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:44.880 Well, the only problem though that we, that we see here with that is that there are the places where 00:09:44.880 --> 00:09:51.940 Jesus has gone and carried, the messenger has carried the message, but the messenger also does the 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:59.340 miracles and yet these places neglected the call to repentance. 00:10:00.680 --> 00:10:06.160 So you see the depravity of the heart of man is there that it will reject the evidence. 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:10.880 And sometimes we think, I mean, if I could just prove to you, if I could just figure out this 00:10:10.880 --> 00:10:18.880 biblical mathematical formula equation for you to go one plus one equals Jesus, then you could be good. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:34.080 But yet there are people who have seen the dead rise, they've seen the lame walk, they've seen lepers cleansed, they've seen the blind see the deaf hear, and yet they reject the message 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:38.060 and the messenger of Christ and the gospel. 00:10:38.900 --> 00:10:52.140 I read this, I read this this week, it says these cities did not attack Jesus Christ, they did not drive him from their gates, they did not seek to crucify him, they simply disregarded him. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:57.700 Neglect can kill as much as persecution can. 00:10:59.640 --> 00:11:01.120 And Jesus says, woe to you. 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:12.140 Jesus could have walked off, mic drop, I'm out, I'm done, this is where you people are. 00:11:13.400 --> 00:11:14.220 But he doesn't. 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:18.420 Jesus will offer an invitation. 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:21.600 Jesus will offer an invitation. 00:11:22.940 --> 00:11:27.780 An invitation of what it means to follow him. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:33.360 So let's pick up verse 25, we're going to read all the way, 25 through 30. 00:11:33.520 --> 00:11:35.120 I do want to say this as we get into this. 00:11:35.780 --> 00:11:44.320 Verses 28, 29, and 30 are probably those verses that are a little bit more known, that when we typically preach and teach and read from this, these are the verses we go to. 00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:49.180 But I think we miss a lot if we skip 25, 26, and 27, right? 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:53.740 So we're going to dive in, we're going to look at all this passage in the context that God's word gives us. 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.500 It says, 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:54.700 It says, 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:56.520 All things have been handed over to me by my father. 00:11:56.520 --> 00:12:09.100 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:16.400 Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:21.640 All things have been handed over to me by my father. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:34.500 And no one knows the son except the son and anyone to whom the son chooses to reveal him. 00:12:35.880 --> 00:12:39.460 Then this is the part that most of us have memorized. 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:48.660 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.600 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:13:00.880 For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you, you will find rest for your souls. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:07.520 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:11.460 Jesus extends an invitation. 00:13:12.380 --> 00:13:18.340 And the invitation there in the moment is an invitation and a call to rest. 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:26.900 Without taking a whole morning and spending the entire time going through different passages of scripture, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, 00:13:27.300 --> 00:13:32.200 God, when Israel is in the desert, will oftentimes refer to their rest of what they need. 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:35.620 And we see the prophets will talk about the future rest of what's there. 00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:38.220 We see Jesus give an invitation to rest. 00:13:38.420 --> 00:13:45.020 And what we see throughout our biblical understanding of this word rest, that a call to rest is a call to salvation. 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:48.140 Jesus is there. 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:49.040 He's with a crowd. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:57.940 The conflict that is residing within their hearts is what do they want versus what do they need. 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:01.960 They want Jesus to be a political savior. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:09.240 They want Jesus to follow their definition of what they expect of him and demand from him. 00:14:09.380 --> 00:14:12.740 But Jesus comes first for their heart. 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:15.860 Jesus comes to provide a means for the eternity. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:18.040 And here's what is remarkable about this. 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:25.720 As Jesus establishes his kingdom, which if you're a follower of Jesus, you are a follower, I mean, you are part of his kingdom. 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:30.400 That there will come a time, because we've read the end of the book, we know the fullness of the story. 00:14:30.660 --> 00:14:32.000 Well, Jesus will return. 00:14:32.260 --> 00:14:33.180 He will come again. 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:36.720 He will establish his kingdom in the new heaven and the new earth. 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:43.940 And there will be a time where we no longer have earthly monarchs, presidents, dictators, elections, debates, and divisions. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.220 But Jesus will return. 00:14:46.220 --> 00:15:03.380 But you and I have to decide on this side of eternity, what do I do with Jesus? 00:15:04.060 --> 00:15:14.100 You and I have to decide on this side of eternity, what do I do with this invitation that he is calling me to? 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:17.200 This call to rest. 00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:21.800 The rest that Jesus provides. 00:15:23.140 --> 00:15:25.940 And so this morning's message is a message for you. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:40.000 If you're not a believer, if you're not a follower of Jesus Christ, the call and the message to you is to come to Christ in him and him alone for salvation that only he can provide, that you can't work for, that you can't earn, that's found in him. 00:15:40.040 --> 00:15:44.340 And the work that he did on the cross and the power of the resurrection will be the power that you walk in. 00:15:45.640 --> 00:15:56.400 And it is a call for you, but it is also a call for our rest, for those of us who were followers of Jesus. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.460 God offers us rest. 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:03.500 Rest that comes from our salvation. 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.540 Rest that's a part of his plan. 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.480 Rest that's a part of him. 00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:13.060 John 10.10, the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:18.960 And Jesus says, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:24.400 That Jesus came not to just save you for your tomorrow, but to save you for your today. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:40.760 That we, that you and I, in the difficulty and the grind of this world, can find our rest in him and live in an abundant life. 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:47.120 So maybe this morning, you feel like John the Baptist. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:50.600 And if that's you, there's grace. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:53.400 If that's you, there's compassion. 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.840 If that's you, there's ministry. 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:07.420 But Jesus offers you the rest that he and only he can provide. 00:17:08.300 --> 00:17:10.520 So here's Jesus' invitation. 00:17:11.340 --> 00:17:13.760 Would you respond in him, respond to him? 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:20.260 The first, the first invitation that Jesus gives is dependence on him. 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.280 Dependence on him. 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:25.660 Would you respond and depend on Christ? 00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:27.580 We'll get back at verse 25. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:46.720 This is at that time, Jesus declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:55.240 Jesus draws a line, the line between those who will get it and those who will not get it. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:58.780 Those who are missing it and those who are clinging to it. 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:05.200 Those who are rejecting the gospel call and those who are responding to it. 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:10.520 He said those who are apart from it, whose dependence is not on Christ. 00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:14.000 Jesus classifies as those who are the wise. 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.660 Who is Jesus speaking of? 00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:24.220 They are the ones who follow themselves, who follow their own understanding, who follow their works, who follow their deeds. 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:26.340 This is those who lack humility. 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:33.100 Coming to Jesus is not of our own doing or not in our own standing, but of his doing and of his standing. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:40.900 It's the rich young ruler who says that I want the benefits of Jesus, but I don't really want to follow you in the day-to-day part of my life. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:19:01.020 It's those of us who are rejecting and depending on ourselves for works, waiting until we achieve a level of theological intelligence so that our mind can fully acknowledge and receive and accept and fully believe, understand who Jesus is instead of coming to him in faith. 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:09.560 That he continues to reveal, to instruct, to show, to transform, and to reveal. 00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:10.960 Jesus says the wise miss it. 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:13.240 The wise miss it. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:20.900 It's those of us in here this morning who say I'm going to trust Jesus for my salvation, but I'm going to trust me for relationships. 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.260 I'm going to trust me for love. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.740 I'm going to trust me for purpose. 00:19:25.020 --> 00:19:26.340 I'm going to trust me for goals. 00:19:28.820 --> 00:19:32.580 And in there, we miss Jesus. 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:35.300 So Jesus draws a line. 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:40.160 And he says, but this is what it looks like in dependence on me. 00:19:40.820 --> 00:19:43.960 He says there are those who do receive the gospel. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:51.040 In the translation that we just read, Jesus refers to these individuals as little children. 00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:58.480 So does this mean in order to have faith that you must come to faith as a young age child? 00:19:58.760 --> 00:20:01.180 No, that's not what Jesus is saying. 00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:13.400 But Jesus is saying that you do have to come to him in dependence like a little child. 00:20:14.260 --> 00:20:18.140 In fact, when we really look at this word in its original context. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:24.240 Well, I don't know about you, but when I think of a little child, I probably think of like four, five, six, seven years old. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:35.400 But this word that Jesus uses here actually carries with it the word that would be used to describe a nursing baby. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:39.200 A nursing baby. 00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.580 So now think about it. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.260 Jesus says, don't come to me like you're the wise. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.920 Come to me like a nursing baby. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.240 So let's look at this. 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:56.460 For those of us, all of us, whether it's your child, your baby or not, has been around a nursing baby. 00:20:57.360 --> 00:21:03.140 So let me ask you, what can a nursing baby do by themselves? 00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:08.200 Now, I thought a lot. 00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:10.140 Right? 00:21:10.260 --> 00:21:11.000 But not really. 00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:12.640 So let me explain. 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:17.100 First thing I thought of was like, what nursing baby can sleep, right? 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.140 Yeah, right. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.100 I got a, yeah, right. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.340 Yeah. 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:20.940 Good one. 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:21.260 Yeah. 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:21.720 Nope. 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:24.420 They can't, my baby sleeps all the time. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.560 Yeah, but can I tell you how your baby, why your baby sleeps? 00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:30.600 Because you rocked them or you're one of these like shakers, you know what I mean? 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:35.080 Or you're like the patter, you know, like you're singing songs, you're doing all the things that you can. 00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:40.800 Like you do the hokey pokey for five hours in order so that your kid will finally fall asleep. 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.440 Right? 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:43.080 They can't even sleep on their own. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:48.540 And then if you step on a board that creaks in your house, they wake up like it's a Metallica concert going on in there. 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:48.760 Right? 00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:52.800 It's been 18 years, but I'm still a little triggered by some of this. 00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:55.040 Well, they can eat. 00:21:55.780 --> 00:21:56.260 Well, can they? 00:21:57.080 --> 00:21:57.820 Can they really? 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:05.300 Like, like take a steak and put it before a nursing baby. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.780 And they can't do nothing with that. 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.460 Even the bottle, right? 00:22:09.520 --> 00:22:11.360 There's a point in time where they can't. 00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:14.300 Like literally in the picture of what we're getting, right? 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:17.700 It needs the mother to feed it. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:18.600 Right? 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:24.060 So a baby is so dependent that the baby needs to be fed. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.360 Right? 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:25.960 Okay? 00:22:26.060 --> 00:22:26.520 Number three. 00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:28.780 Can a baby go to the bathroom? 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.000 Yep, it does. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.060 It does. 00:22:34.020 --> 00:22:39.040 But like my dad used to say, son, you're good at starting a job, but you're not good at finishing it. 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:39.240 Right? 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.400 He used to tell me that growing up. 00:22:40.760 --> 00:22:41.740 Can a baby go to the bathroom? 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.960 Yes, they can. 00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:44.140 Can they finish it? 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:44.800 No. 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.020 Why? 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.980 Because we got to clean it. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.980 We got to clean it. 00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:53.420 Of all of that beauty that we find in there, right? 00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:55.100 So they can't sleep. 00:22:55.780 --> 00:22:56.800 They can't eat. 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.660 They can't go to the bathroom. 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:03.820 Well, maybe a baby can be happy. 00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:07.420 You hear people say, like, I got such a happy baby. 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.180 No, you don't. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.580 You have an entertained baby. 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:15.480 Some babies are just easier to entertain than others, you know? 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.060 We were traveling. 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:23.540 We were going to Edisto on a beach trip one time, a family vacation. 00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:29.660 And you know that road where you turn off Highway 17, and then you have that stretch of road that feels like it will never end? 00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.900 Emma woke up when we turned. 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.740 And when she woke up, she started crying. 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:38.220 And when we got there, she stopped. 00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:43.020 But in order for that to happen through that whole long road, right, we had to sing to her. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.960 We had to sing to her. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.680 We had to sing to her. 00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:47.380 And as long as we'd sing, she'd smile. 00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:49.840 And then we'd stop singing, and she'd cry, right? 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:52.520 She's no different than any other baby, right? 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.480 Babies can't be happy. 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:54.440 Babies need to be entertained. 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:58.040 So here is what it comes down to. 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:02.880 What is the one thing that a baby can do? 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.540 Cry. 00:24:06.780 --> 00:24:07.100 Cry. 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:09.340 I've been a baby. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.840 I've never been in the mind of a baby. 00:24:11.540 --> 00:24:15.080 But here's why I think babies cry. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:18.420 Because they realize they can't do anything. 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:23.760 They got to go to the bathroom, but they can't clean themselves. 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:28.140 They're hungry, but they can't feed themselves. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:31.500 They're tired, but they can't put themselves to sleep. 00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:36.900 They want to be happy, but they can't get there in and of themselves. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.980 So what do they do? 00:24:39.780 --> 00:24:44.380 They cry out for the one who can give them these things. 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:51.260 You can't find rest apart from Christ. 00:24:51.260 --> 00:25:01.920 You can't feed yourself the spiritual things of God's word apart from Christ. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:14.140 I don't mean to be crude, but if your sin is the filth that you cover yourself in, 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:19.640 you can't clean yourself apart from Christ. 00:25:22.260 --> 00:25:28.660 You can try to fool yourself in believing that you're happy, 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:35.000 but true happiness and joy is never found apart from Christ. 00:25:36.300 --> 00:25:44.800 The only thing that you and I can do apart from Christ is cry out in our desperation to him. 00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:52.860 And Jesus says, that's what I want. 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.280 That's what I want. 00:25:56.280 --> 00:26:04.320 So the first invitation that he gives us is, would you be dependent on him? 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:07.240 We've got some smart people in this room. 00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:09.800 We've got some wise people in this room. 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:13.420 Your intelligence and your wisdom is not going to save you. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:17.960 We've got some hard work and good moral people in this room. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:20.400 It's not going to save you. 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:26.440 Would you come as a nursing child to Jesus? 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:34.940 The second invitation that he gives, number two, is belief in him. 00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:37.540 Belief in him. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:40.080 Look back with me, verses 26 through 27. 00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:46.520 He says, yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:54.240 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, 00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:57.120 and no one knows the Father except the Son, 00:26:57.700 --> 00:27:04.640 and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:09.760 So let's deal really quickly with what Jesus is talking about here, 00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:13.100 and then let's give the implications of this. 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:21.920 The call, the gospel call, is a call for you to make a choice to follow Jesus or not. 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:28.680 What Jesus speaks to here in verse 26 and 27, 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:32.060 and he will speak elsewhere to this as well. 00:27:33.300 --> 00:27:36.760 Paul will testify this in 1 Corinthians and in other places, 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:42.080 is that the gospel call is always, 00:27:42.800 --> 00:27:45.320 always a spiritual work. 00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.780 Always a spiritual work. 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:57.400 That the call to come to Jesus never happens apart from the sovereign hand of God. 00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:00.520 John 6, 44. 00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:03.160 This is Jesus' words. 00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:08.900 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:16.740 and I will raise him up on the last day. 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.380 Right? 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:23.860 We can't, we can't remove ourselves in the choice that Jesus, 00:28:24.040 --> 00:28:26.520 Jesus is calling people to respond. 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:29.520 We'll see this time and time again. 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.480 Come and follow me. 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.400 Come and follow me. 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.520 Go out and proclaim. 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.760 See who will come. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.840 See who will be right here. 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:39.780 But we can't neglect the choice of the calling in that 00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:44.980 away from the spiritual work and the spiritual hand of God in the moment. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.980 Now let me be clear and candid. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.460 I can't explain it all. 00:28:48.780 --> 00:28:50.340 I don't understand it all. 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:53.760 I don't know how these things come together and work, but they do. 00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:57.800 And here's, if you're disagreeing a little bit with what we're seeing in this passage, 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:00.600 or you're disagreeing a little bit with what I'm saying, 00:29:00.780 --> 00:29:05.040 let me tell you, you may in your mind disagree with it if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:07.240 but in your heart, practically, you believe it. 00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.580 And here's how I know that. 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:11.540 Because you pray that lost people will get saved. 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:15.240 You pray that lost people will get saved. 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.540 And how do you pray that they'll get saved? 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:22.220 God, I just pray, God, would you save my lost friends and family? 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:25.320 Like, that's the prayer of the heartbeat of a Christian. 00:29:26.280 --> 00:29:34.000 That God and his sovereignty will do a work in the hearts of the depravity-filled lost men, 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:37.440 women, and children of this world, that they'll respond to him. 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:40.740 And so Jesus calls us to that. 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:44.620 So Jesus is teaching this to them. 00:29:45.320 --> 00:29:50.320 But here's why I talk about this being the invitation for belief in Jesus. 00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:51.880 Let's look at two things that he says. 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:56.240 Number one, Jesus says that the Father has given to him what? 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.580 All things. 00:29:58.600 --> 00:30:00.540 In Matthew 28, the Great Commission, 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:03.220 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:06.160 Oh boy, this is big. 00:30:07.040 --> 00:30:09.840 These are the words that get Jesus nailed to the cross. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.400 Jesus is saying, I'm God. 00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:16.720 I'm God. 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:25.140 Jesus is displaying his divinity in the work of the Father. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:28.520 And what he also talks to is the work of the Son. 00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.900 It's belief in Jesus. 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.640 Belief in Jesus. 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:34.280 So what does it mean to believe in Jesus? 00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:36.540 Is it belief in our understanding? 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:39.060 Is it belief in our, what we want him to be? 00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:41.500 Is it believing in our narrative or our pieces? 00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:43.680 Is it believing in our political Jesus? 00:30:44.040 --> 00:30:47.620 Is it believing in some whatever Jesus that the culture has defined? 00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:50.000 Is it believing of a lot of things in Jesus? 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.380 All of that is garbage. 00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:52.080 It's Jesus. 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.960 And it's this Jesus that we believe. 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.540 It's this Jesus. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:00.100 It's the Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.820 It's the Jesus that we find. 00:31:02.820 --> 00:31:05.000 It might not understand it all. 00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:08.860 It might not even be the Jesus that we prefer in the moment. 00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:13.480 But this is the Jesus that we believe in. 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:17.320 This is the Jesus that we put our faith in. 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:25.420 The second, third, I'm sorry, the third invitation that Jesus gives is forgiveness from him. 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:27.120 Forgiveness from him. 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.820 Look at verse 28. 00:31:29.820 --> 00:31:41.040 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:43.920 So, a couple of things in here. 00:31:46.020 --> 00:31:48.920 It's the invitation to find rest. 00:31:49.840 --> 00:31:51.580 We talked about rest as salvation. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:59.920 And it is for those who find themselves in a state of labor and heavy laden. 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:01.720 So, what is this? 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:06.920 Is Jesus giving a call of relaxation? 00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:14.840 No, Jesus is giving a call of rest that is different than the rest that you and I can provide for ourselves. 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:20.180 For the last two days, I've made some poor choices. 00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:25.500 I've worked outside in the yard. 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:31.060 We're about six hours on Friday. 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:35.540 And if you're someone who works outside all day long, bless you. 00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:36.740 I'm not built for that, all right? 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:41.740 Wore us about six hours on Friday, about eight hours yesterday. 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:46.060 It rained really hard at our house for about five to ten minutes. 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:48.640 And then it just was a light rain. 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:50.440 Man, I worked outside on that, and I loved it. 00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.700 Let me tell you what it was like. 00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.380 It was the heat. 00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:54.180 It was the dirt. 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:56.180 It was the lifting. 00:32:57.100 --> 00:33:00.760 It was the frustration when things didn't go as planned. 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:06.980 It was the being exhausted because I hadn't drank enough water. 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:11.040 Not only being outside, but in the days leading up to that. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:14.640 In fact, Damien walked up to me this morning. 00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:17.000 He said, Bo, you look tired. 00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.920 I said, thank you, Damien. 00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:20.340 I am, buddy. 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.480 I am. 00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:23.760 But here's the deal. 00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:26.220 Yesterday, I was wore slap out. 00:33:27.260 --> 00:33:30.560 I didn't have another moment of work. 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:35.720 When I got done with my project, I found myself inside. 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:41.620 I fixed a big, tall, let me repent and apologize for that. 00:33:42.040 --> 00:33:45.200 Aaron fixed me a big, tall glass of water. 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:47.340 I sat down at the table. 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.480 I dirtied up the kitchen. 00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:50.100 And then I got up. 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:50.780 I went upstairs. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:53.020 I took a good, cold shower. 00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:55.200 I ate a good meal. 00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:58.540 I relaxed on the couch. 00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:01.180 I went to sleep last night. 00:34:02.360 --> 00:34:06.020 And in spite of the bag still under my eyes, I am ready for today. 00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:10.720 There was some rest that I worked out for myself. 00:34:12.100 --> 00:34:13.940 Jesus is there with a crowd of people. 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:20.320 And I can only imagine the looks on their faces. 00:34:22.080 --> 00:34:23.220 Worse than mine. 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:25.860 More wore out than me. 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:30.160 But Jesus doesn't just speak to the circumstances. 00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:33.200 Jesus speaks to their heart. 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:42.640 The call to those who labor and heavy laden is not a call to those who are tired of work, 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:45.200 the elements, or situational oppression of this world. 00:34:45.600 --> 00:34:54.940 Jesus' call to rest is a rest that a nap, a vacation, a sabbatical, or even a retirement cannot provide. 00:34:55.880 --> 00:35:06.480 Jesus' rest is a call to your soul that can be experienced every single day. 00:35:07.160 --> 00:35:18.620 As he calls us to receive forgiveness from his work on the cross. 00:35:18.620 --> 00:35:21.180 And his work on the cross forgives all of it. 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:34.820 And in that, there's no work to be done, there's no more guilt, there's no more shame, there's no more worry, because Jesus has taken care of it. 00:35:35.060 --> 00:35:39.520 Would you come to him and receive forgiveness? 00:35:39.520 --> 00:35:47.940 Maybe you're here and you're like, Bo, but you don't understand the things that I've done. 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.320 You're right. 00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:52.400 You're absolutely correct. 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:56.560 I might not understand them, but Jesus does. 00:35:58.040 --> 00:36:03.460 And he died on the cross to forgive you of all of it. 00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:06.720 Of as wicked as it could be. 00:36:07.660 --> 00:36:09.260 As evil as it could be. 00:36:10.020 --> 00:36:11.980 As depravity filled as it could be. 00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:15.120 He died on the cross for that. 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:20.180 Now, if you're here, and you're a follower of Jesus, here's what I found. 00:36:21.060 --> 00:36:29.400 That a lot of followers of Jesus will have that moment where they experience the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:38.760 And then for whatever backwards way, we begin to feel that that forgiveness no longer is granted to us. 00:36:40.540 --> 00:36:49.360 And so we don't live in confession and repentance on a day-by-day, moment-by-moment relationship with him. 00:36:50.540 --> 00:36:54.960 Jesus forgave since past, since present, since future. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:59.600 And he's big enough in the moment to forgive. 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:09.000 So we have been set free from shame and from guilt to walk in the newness of life. 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:11.440 So we see his invitation. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:16.080 We see his invitation of dependence on him. 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:19.520 Of belief in him. 00:37:20.180 --> 00:37:23.120 Of forgiveness from him. 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:25.540 And so here's the question for you. 00:37:26.160 --> 00:37:30.000 Would you put your faith in him? 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:33.560 Would you put your faith in him? 00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:35.180 Last verses. 00:37:37.120 --> 00:37:38.400 Verse 29 through 30. 00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:44.620 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:49.880 For I am gentle and lowly in heart. 00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:53.180 And there you find rest for your souls. 00:37:54.380 --> 00:38:02.220 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:06.500 I'm going to ask the worship team if they'll come join me on stage. 00:38:06.580 --> 00:38:10.760 And if the prayer team will get ready on either side of our auditorium. 00:38:12.520 --> 00:38:18.320 Now you can come in here this morning and say, yep, no, I just need to depend on Jesus. 00:38:19.120 --> 00:38:20.380 I need to depend on him. 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:26.160 I can make an intellectual decision here this morning to give up my way and depend on his way. 00:38:27.500 --> 00:38:37.260 You can make an intellectual decision to say, you know what, man, those things Bo said this morning about Jesus and who Jesus is and he's the son of God and this is the work and the work that the father has. 00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:39.620 He gives to the son and this is the work that the son does. 00:38:39.680 --> 00:38:41.460 Yep, I believe that Jesus. 00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:55.740 You can come here this morning and you can say to yourself, yep, yep, in through all of it, like I get it, I know, I understand that there's the forgiveness from him, that I can't earn it, I can't forgive myself, I can't do all the things. 00:38:55.740 --> 00:39:03.560 It's the spiritual work that has to happen, that has to come from God, and miss it, and miss it. 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:12.540 And so the question I have for you this morning is would you put your faith in him? 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:22.420 In these last two verses, Jesus talks about a yoke, a yoke. 00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:39.440 In ancient Jewish culture, the idea in religious settings of the yoke was that there was a yoke of the kingdom. 00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:56.000 But then there was a yoke of the law, there was the yoke of the command, there was the yoke of the repentance, there was the yoke of faith, and then there was a general, in case we've left everything out, yoke of God. 00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:06.660 And so you're sitting there every single day and you're trying to figure out, all right, today, today I've got to please God. 00:40:07.160 --> 00:40:11.160 So what yoke do I take and what moment do I take it? 00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:15.320 And I've got to fulfill it and I've got to do it. 00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:32.460 I've got to walk a certain way and I've got to talk a certain way and I've got to sacrifice a certain way and I've got to give a certain way and I've got to do all of these things so that God will look at me in my works and what I've done and be pleased. 00:40:36.720 --> 00:40:40.040 But Jesus says, ha ha, there's one yoke. 00:40:41.060 --> 00:40:41.980 There's just one. 00:40:43.160 --> 00:40:43.960 There's one. 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:46.520 Come take my yoke 00:40:46.520 --> 00:40:49.420 upon you 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:52.920 and learn from me. 00:40:54.660 --> 00:40:56.120 See, Jesus has been laying out 00:40:56.120 --> 00:40:58.240 the spiritual work 00:40:58.240 --> 00:41:00.460 that God does in salvation. 00:41:03.040 --> 00:41:05.260 that when you take his, his yoke 00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:07.460 when we receive that 00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:09.360 through putting our faith in Jesus Christ 00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:11.460 as Lord and Savior 00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:15.160 that in taking he gives us 00:41:15.160 --> 00:41:17.580 a yoke, a new way, a new covenant 00:41:17.580 --> 00:41:19.740 a new covenant in his blood 00:41:19.740 --> 00:41:22.560 and gives us the Holy Spirit 00:41:22.560 --> 00:41:24.920 who lives in us 00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:26.600 and changes us 00:41:26.600 --> 00:41:28.300 and works in us 00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:30.320 to work through us. 00:41:32.300 --> 00:41:32.580 Jesus, 00:41:32.740 --> 00:41:34.720 you can take my yoke 00:41:34.720 --> 00:41:37.320 because my yoke 00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:38.660 it's easy. 00:41:39.820 --> 00:41:40.420 My burden 00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.460 is light 00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:42.980 because 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.400 I bore it for you 00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:45.040 on the cross 00:41:45.040 --> 00:41:47.800 and I bear it with you 00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:49.180 every single day 00:41:49.180 --> 00:41:50.840 because he says 00:41:50.840 --> 00:41:51.800 he'll never leave us 00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:53.820 or forsake us. 00:41:55.260 --> 00:41:56.480 If you try to bear this 00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:57.040 on your own 00:41:57.040 --> 00:41:59.040 it's unbearable. 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:01.040 It's unbearable. 00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:02.940 But with Jesus 00:42:02.940 --> 00:42:05.060 with Jesus 00:42:05.060 --> 00:42:06.880 it can be easy. 00:42:09.680 --> 00:42:11.100 Whether you know it or not 00:42:11.100 --> 00:42:13.380 every single day 00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:14.180 you pick up a yoke. 00:42:15.800 --> 00:42:16.740 Every single day. 00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:20.200 You pick up a yoke 00:42:20.200 --> 00:42:21.680 of doubt. 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:24.640 You pick up a yoke 00:42:24.640 --> 00:42:28.520 of works. 00:42:30.220 --> 00:42:31.320 You pick up a yoke 00:42:31.320 --> 00:42:32.600 of anxiety. 00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:34.980 You pick up a yoke 00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:36.120 of status. 00:42:37.380 --> 00:42:38.460 You pick up a yoke 00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:40.300 and Jesus 00:42:40.300 --> 00:42:42.320 Jesus said like 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:43.680 pick up mine. 00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:45.680 Pick up mine. 00:42:48.600 --> 00:42:49.760 And I'll do it for you. 00:42:51.300 --> 00:42:52.220 I'll do it for you. 00:42:53.260 --> 00:42:53.620 Today 00:42:53.620 --> 00:42:55.740 today 00:42:55.740 --> 00:42:58.260 don't 00:42:58.260 --> 00:42:59.660 be 00:42:59.660 --> 00:43:01.020 like 00:43:01.020 --> 00:43:02.340 the others. 00:43:05.060 --> 00:43:05.880 Don't miss 00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:08.020 the invitation 00:43:08.020 --> 00:43:10.100 that Jesus 00:43:10.100 --> 00:43:12.100 is offering. 00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:16.220 In just a moment 00:43:16.220 --> 00:43:16.960 Pastor Dave 00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:17.720 is going to come up 00:43:17.720 --> 00:43:20.340 and talk to us 00:43:20.340 --> 00:43:22.340 about responses. 00:43:23.800 --> 00:43:24.780 I want to lay this out. 00:43:24.820 --> 00:43:25.120 We talk 00:43:25.120 --> 00:43:26.240 in here 00:43:26.240 --> 00:43:28.040 about praying 00:43:28.040 --> 00:43:28.880 for lost people. 00:43:37.260 --> 00:43:46.060 man what if 00:43:46.060 --> 00:43:46.560 your response 00:43:46.560 --> 00:43:46.980 today 00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:49.060 God's calling you 00:43:49.060 --> 00:43:49.580 pray for them. 00:43:51.060 --> 00:43:51.540 Pray for them. 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:53.360 Pray that they 00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:54.080 would respond. 00:43:54.400 --> 00:43:54.740 Pray that God 00:43:54.740 --> 00:43:55.240 would work. 00:43:55.480 --> 00:43:55.800 Pray that God 00:43:55.800 --> 00:43:56.380 would send. 00:43:56.720 --> 00:43:57.020 Pray that you 00:43:57.020 --> 00:43:57.400 would go. 00:43:59.040 --> 00:43:59.360 What if you 00:43:59.360 --> 00:43:59.900 prayed for them? 00:44:01.300 --> 00:44:01.760 You can come 00:44:01.760 --> 00:44:02.300 down front. 00:44:03.820 --> 00:44:04.460 You can kneel 00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:04.960 down front. 00:44:05.060 --> 00:44:05.520 You can sit 00:44:05.520 --> 00:44:06.140 where you are. 00:44:06.260 --> 00:44:06.880 You can stand 00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:07.180 and pray. 00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:07.460 You can do 00:44:07.460 --> 00:44:07.780 whatever you 00:44:07.780 --> 00:44:08.080 want to. 00:44:08.180 --> 00:44:09.600 But what if 00:44:09.600 --> 00:44:10.040 you responded? 00:44:14.040 --> 00:44:14.660 What if 00:44:14.660 --> 00:44:15.020 today 00:44:15.020 --> 00:44:16.960 whether this 00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:17.240 is your 00:44:17.240 --> 00:44:18.040 first time 00:44:18.040 --> 00:44:19.540 or your 00:44:19.540 --> 00:44:20.360 thousandth time 00:44:20.360 --> 00:44:22.700 and you've 00:44:22.700 --> 00:44:23.160 put on the 00:44:23.160 --> 00:44:23.760 facade 00:44:23.760 --> 00:44:25.560 of religion 00:44:25.560 --> 00:44:27.640 but what if 00:44:27.640 --> 00:44:28.040 today 00:44:28.040 --> 00:44:30.120 the sweet 00:44:30.120 --> 00:44:31.440 soft 00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:32.540 voice 00:44:32.540 --> 00:44:33.820 of Jesus 00:44:33.820 --> 00:44:36.700 speaking to 00:44:36.700 --> 00:44:37.140 your heart 00:44:37.140 --> 00:44:40.060 take my 00:44:40.060 --> 00:44:40.400 yoke 00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:42.100 take it 00:44:42.100 --> 00:44:43.400 please 00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:44.600 take it 00:44:44.600 --> 00:44:45.520 it's here 00:44:45.520 --> 00:44:48.180 it's here 00:44:48.180 --> 00:44:48.780 for you 00:44:48.780 --> 00:44:50.520 I died 00:44:50.520 --> 00:44:51.000 for you 00:44:51.000 --> 00:44:52.500 I love 00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:52.800 you 00:44:52.800 --> 00:44:54.520 would you 00:44:54.520 --> 00:44:55.260 respond 00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:56.720 to Christ 00:44:56.720 --> 00:44:59.540 God I 00:44:59.540 --> 00:45:00.000 thank you 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:05.920 thank you 00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:06.180 that you 00:45:06.180 --> 00:45:07.220 save sinners 00:45:07.220 --> 00:45:09.460 like me 00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:11.680 none of us 00:45:11.680 --> 00:45:12.980 are worthy 00:45:12.980 --> 00:45:14.820 none of us 00:45:14.820 --> 00:45:16.260 are deserving 00:45:16.260 --> 00:45:18.140 but you 00:45:18.140 --> 00:45:18.640 and you 00:45:18.640 --> 00:45:19.120 alone 00:45:19.120 --> 00:45:20.820 save us 00:45:20.820 --> 00:45:23.440 God draw 00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:24.080 the hearts 00:45:24.080 --> 00:45:26.220 of those 00:45:26.220 --> 00:45:26.740 who are here 00:45:26.740 --> 00:45:27.180 today 00:45:27.180 --> 00:45:29.640 may we 00:45:29.640 --> 00:45:30.040 come 00:45:30.040 --> 00:45:32.220 and respond 00:45:32.220 --> 00:45:35.560 that's it 00:45:35.560 --> 00:45:35.920 for this 00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:36.280 week's 00:45:36.280 --> 00:45:36.680 message 00:45:36.680 --> 00:45:37.480 be sure 00:45:37.480 --> 00:45:37.800 to check 00:45:37.800 --> 00:45:38.400 back next 00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:38.800 week for 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:39.060 a new 00:45:39.060 --> 00:45:39.480 episode 00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:40.260 and in 00:45:40.260 --> 00:45:40.700 the meantime 00:45:40.700 --> 00:45:41.320 you can 00:45:41.320 --> 00:45:41.740 visit us 00:45:41.740 --> 00:45:42.600 online at 00:45:42.600 --> 00:45:44.240 willowridgechurch.org 00:45:44.240 --> 00:45:45.300 or by searching 00:45:45.300 --> 00:45:45.980 for Willow Ridge 00:45:45.980 --> 00:45:46.660 Church on 00:45:46.660 --> 00:45:47.220 Facebook 00:45:47.220 --> 00:45:47.860 Instagram 00:45:47.860 --> 00:45:48.680 and YouTube 00:45:48.680 --> 00:45:49.620 thanks again 00:45:49.620 --> 00:45:50.100 for listening 00:45:50.100 --> 00:46:02.160 and I'll see you next time