WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:47.160 Good morning. 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:51.040 Glad that you guys are here with us or joining us online. 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:54.340 If you've got your Bibles, go ahead and open up to Luke chapter 12. 00:00:55.040 --> 00:00:58.640 As you turn there, a couple of announcements I want to remind you guys of. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:03.020 We've got a couple of discovering classes that are going to be happening at Willow Ridge Church. 00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:04.180 Excited about those. 00:01:04.420 --> 00:01:07.420 The first one that you saw on the video, Discovering Willow. 00:01:07.520 --> 00:01:08.840 And so here's what that class is. 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:13.980 If you would like to become a member, or if you're just interested in getting more information 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:18.000 about Willow Ridge Church and who we are, Pastor Dave's going to be leading that class. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:19.820 And so there's a sign up for that in the lobby. 00:01:20.160 --> 00:01:22.020 I want to encourage you to go and be a part of that. 00:01:22.020 --> 00:01:26.560 Let's say you've been here worshiping with us for some time, and you know you want to make this your church home. 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:30.300 Then go to that class, and at the end of it, you'll have an opportunity to do that. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:35.920 Let's say you're visiting, and you just want to find out more about our church, who we are, what we do, why we do it. 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:37.140 Get some questions answered. 00:01:37.440 --> 00:01:41.040 That's a wonderful place for you to be able to go and to gain some information. 00:01:41.580 --> 00:01:42.720 We don't force anyone. 00:01:42.880 --> 00:01:47.260 We've had a lot of people say, hey, following the class, I want to go home and pray about becoming a member. 00:01:47.380 --> 00:01:50.360 And that is definitely welcomed and encouraged. 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:54.420 And so I want to give you that opportunity, but that's our Discovering Willow class. 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.800 The second Discovering class we've got is our Discovering Baptism. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:01:59.740 And so that's for anyone, right? 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:04.560 Any of our kids, of our students, of our adults who would like to get baptized. 00:02:04.740 --> 00:02:12.240 Pastor Dave is going to be leading a class on that, where we explain what baptism is, what this means, what you're saying is when you come forward. 00:02:12.320 --> 00:02:18.000 So let's say you're a believer in Christ, and you've never been baptized, and you know that that's what God has for you. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:19.960 We want to encourage you to take that class. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:21.360 Let's say you're unsure. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:30.600 Let's say you came from another faith, maybe even another denomination, and you want to understand baptism and why we do it the way that we do it and what this means. 00:02:30.600 --> 00:02:36.360 You can just sign up to be a part of that class as you continue to explore and see what God has for you, okay? 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:38.660 We'd love for you all to be a part of this. 00:02:38.880 --> 00:02:41.800 I will say this as we get ready to plan our next baptism. 00:02:42.040 --> 00:02:45.460 In order to be baptized, we do require that you go through the class. 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:50.840 We want to make sure that you know that baptism does not save you, that you were saved prior to being baptized. 00:02:51.320 --> 00:02:56.000 But it is a commandment from the Lord, and it's a profession of the faith that you are saved. 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:58.440 And so we'd love to have you go through that class. 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:04.160 Last announcement before we get in, you'll see, hopefully, you got the email this past week. 00:03:04.220 --> 00:03:09.240 If you didn't get the email this past week, you've got a piece of paper on the section of chairs where you're seated. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:14.240 That is the email introducing you to our new student minister, Moses Boyd. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:22.040 Just kind of share with you guys some of the details as we've gone through this process for coming up on around 17 months. 00:03:22.320 --> 00:03:26.800 When we went into this, pre-COVID, pre-everything, we thought, well, this will be easy. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:31.740 I had plans, thought this is what it would be like, and God threw the brakes on it for us. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:38.960 And it's been a wonderful time of transition for us as a church as we've gone through a different season of life. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:45.320 And I'm not talking about with COVID, just a different season as we've led our student ministry in different capacities. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.120 And as we would go through this, we would feel like we were getting somewhere with a candidate, 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:53.420 and then God would close the door and go with another candidate, and God would close the door. 00:03:53.720 --> 00:03:58.680 And then this past January, we got introduced to Moses and began the process with him. 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:07.480 And at each and every time that we spoke and that we had an opportunity to sit down across the table was just another confirmation that this is who God has for us. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:10.740 And so Moses will be moving down here this Thursday. 00:04:10.880 --> 00:04:13.180 We've got a small group that are going to go up there and help. 00:04:13.320 --> 00:04:13.960 It's wonderful. 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:20.320 A bachelor, so he doesn't own much, and first floor apartment, so we don't have to do stairs, all right? 00:04:20.320 --> 00:04:25.760 So we're going to go and move him from Rock Hill, where he lives now, and move him down to Lexington. 00:04:26.060 --> 00:04:30.180 And he will be here next Sunday, just as he starts. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:32.920 That will be his first day officially on staff. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:37.160 And so I want to encourage you all to get to meet him that day. 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:45.200 And then his fiancée, Christina, she will be graduating from Winthrop in May and then be moving down to Lexington later this summer. 00:04:45.200 --> 00:04:51.780 Now, I know some of you have done this already because I've been checking our mutual friends on Facebook, all right? 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.280 I had somebody ask me, hey, now that we know, can we go find him on Facebook? 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:57.380 Yes, you can. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:08.020 Go Facebook stalk him, friend him, comment on him, encourage him, welcome him here as they're excited about the transition that God is leading in their life. 00:05:08.340 --> 00:05:14.460 And I know that we're excited about the transition that God is bringing us through here at Willard Ridge as well. 00:05:14.460 --> 00:05:20.900 So just pray for them, pray for this process, and we look forward to what God has in store for us. 00:05:21.400 --> 00:05:23.520 Well, on to our message this morning. 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:25.000 So I want to kind of recap. 00:05:25.320 --> 00:05:34.140 We took about a month off with Easter and with Pastor Dustin sharing last week as he's playing in Hope Valley Church there in Utah. 00:05:34.380 --> 00:05:38.440 But we're back in our study of the Gospel of Luke. 00:05:38.440 --> 00:05:46.560 And I want to remind you that this is a section of what we've just kind of gotten into where Jesus and the disciples are approaching Jerusalem. 00:05:46.900 --> 00:05:56.500 There's kind of the first time, the first section of the Gospel of Luke is Jesus' early ministry out in Galilee, kind of in the rural parts of the area. 00:05:56.500 --> 00:06:01.280 But then the Bible tells us that Jesus turned his face to Jerusalem and they began to head that way. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:12.340 And that's significant because what Jesus is heading toward is his betrayal, his arrest, his trial, his crucifixion, his burial, and his resurrection. 00:06:12.940 --> 00:06:15.660 And this is where we find him in this time. 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:25.500 And so as he's headed there with his disciples, with his followers, right, most times in the earlier, there were kind of larger groups that had come out to the country to hear Jesus. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:33.240 But now for the most part, these are the smaller, more intimate, personal groups that Jesus is walking with. 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:43.320 And what Jesus is doing in 1235, okay, is he's preparing his disciples for the time when they will be without him. 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:45.000 And this is important for us. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:51.100 Jesus does a lot to prepare them for the crucifixion and the resurrection and the time in between. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:56.880 But when I say Jesus is preparing them for the time without him, it's not that time. 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:01.380 It's not the time that we just got done celebrating for Easter. 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:07.160 Jesus is preparing them for the time after he ascends into heaven. 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:14.800 So after the resurrection, Jesus came back and he ministered and walked amongst the disciples. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:18.160 And then we see in Acts chapter 1, he ascends into heaven. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:31.180 And so what Jesus is preparing them for is that day where he ascends into heaven and the time for when he goes to then when he returns to the earth. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:37.740 And that's an important part of our Christian faith that Jesus in Acts 1, he departs. 00:07:37.780 --> 00:07:42.380 And then what we see in Revelation is the telling of the return of Christ. 00:07:42.380 --> 00:07:45.960 And he says to them, this will happen. 00:07:46.320 --> 00:07:49.100 And so that you need to know that it will happen. 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:54.200 And then it should change your life that I'm going to return. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:58.140 The return of Christ should matter to them. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:03.760 And what we're going to see this morning is that the return of Christ should matter to us. 00:08:04.380 --> 00:08:15.700 Like the notion of end times should be more than just a science fiction approach that we take where bad movies and bad books are written about it, all right? 00:08:16.380 --> 00:08:21.300 That it should change the reality of your everyday life and my everyday life. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:26.400 That there's going to become a point in time when Jesus returns and then here's what's key. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:28.700 And we don't know when that will be. 00:08:29.700 --> 00:08:32.360 It'd be great if we could write it on the calendar. 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.980 It'd be wonderful if we knew the time in which it would happen. 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:43.420 But as we're going to see, Jesus tells the disciples that even the Son of Man doesn't know when it will happen. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:52.600 But that we live our life every single day and every single moment in the anticipation that Christ is going to come. 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:55.600 So we live for future events. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:00.120 And this should be something that we're comfortable with. 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:02.520 It should be something that we're good at. 00:09:02.520 --> 00:09:04.700 I read this this week and I loved it. 00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:05.420 It says this, 00:09:06.020 --> 00:09:13.480 Everyone plans their actions in the present based on what they believe the future is likely to hold. 00:09:14.280 --> 00:09:15.040 Let me read that again. 00:09:15.180 --> 00:09:35.200 So based off of what you believe tomorrow and the next week and the next year looks like is why you decide to live your day in the way that you do. 00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:36.500 It's why we have retirement accounts. 00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:37.500 It's why we have retirement accounts. 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:40.980 We're not promised tomorrow, but we look forward to a day. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:45.700 In a more practical speaking for all of us, we all did this today. 00:09:46.640 --> 00:09:47.400 Here's what we did. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:48.520 We woke up this morning. 00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:55.520 We got out our phone or we turned on the news and we checked the weather, right? 00:09:56.040 --> 00:10:03.860 We want to know what will the day hold in the future so that I know how to prepare in the right now. 00:10:04.400 --> 00:10:06.120 It determines the way that we dress. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.160 It determines the schedule of our day, what we're going to accomplish. 00:10:10.420 --> 00:10:13.580 And if you live in our house, it even determines what we eat. 00:10:13.920 --> 00:10:22.940 Nothing makes us happier in the wintertime than to find out that it's going to be a cold, rainy day come dinnertime because we know that's soup night and we love soup night, right? 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:26.480 So we live in our current situation. 00:10:27.020 --> 00:10:33.820 We plan our present actions based off of what we believe the future to hold. 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:46.920 And Jesus is going to tell us that based off of his return, it should impact and it should change and it should alter the way that you and I, the way that we live our everyday life. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:48.380 And so let's look at this. 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:51.980 Starting in verse 35, I'm sorry. 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:53.920 Jesus says, 00:10:53.920 --> 00:11:11.180 So that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:16.300 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:25.840 Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and he will come and serve them. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:33.820 If he comes in the second watch or in the third and finds them awake, blessed are those servants. 00:11:34.420 --> 00:11:40.500 So what Jesus does here is he paints this picture, as he tells this stories for his disciples, 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:51.220 is the reward of the servants who actively wait, that's important, who actively wait for the return of their master. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:57.800 Jesus says in scripture, it's not that they're just anticipating the day that he returns. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:02.760 It's that they're intentionally doing things in their life. 00:12:02.760 --> 00:12:13.120 They're changing a pattern from which they had before because they know at some point in time, the master is going to return. 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.920 They are actively waiting. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:21.500 Jesus says that they stayed dressed and they kept the lamps burning. 00:12:21.760 --> 00:12:22.520 Here's what this means. 00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:30.580 Their everyday attire of what they would do to work and to serve when the master would come, that's how they would look. 00:12:31.400 --> 00:12:37.960 That they would keep their lamps instead of saving and conserving the oil that it would take to burn them. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:45.940 They keep the lamps burning because they know at some point in time, he's going to be here and we want everything ready for them. 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:52.700 He says that even blessed are those that the master finds awake when he comes. 00:12:53.640 --> 00:13:02.020 That they wait on the second watch or the third watch and he finds them awake and blesses those servants. 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:09.300 So Jesus says, look, there's even some who decide they're not going to sleep because the master is going to return. 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:18.200 You see, it's not a picture of waiting on Jesus doesn't look like kicking our feet back in a recliner, spiritually speaking. 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:25.620 It's actively waiting, continuing to do what the master has called them to do. 00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:30.360 They had no reason to know when he would return. 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:35.980 Jesus says that the master could return at any moment. 00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:44.780 And based off of the readiness that they show, Jesus says, then that's how their reward is gained. 00:13:44.920 --> 00:13:46.440 And I think this is really interesting. 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:49.840 Jesus defines this, describes this reward. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.400 He says, look, the master is going to take their role. 00:13:53.520 --> 00:13:58.060 They're waiting for the master to return so that they could serve him. 00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.380 And then what happens? 00:13:59.380 --> 00:14:07.720 The master takes the role of the servant and seats them at the table and serves them. 00:14:07.800 --> 00:14:08.840 Look at verse 39. 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:15.380 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, 00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:17.880 he would not have left his house to be broken into. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:26.200 You also must be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.280 Here's the key. 00:14:27.280 --> 00:14:32.920 Jesus reminds them, you don't know when this will be, so be ready. 00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:34.080 Be ready. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:37.940 I remember there's an age in my life. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:40.740 I'm six years older than my sister. 00:14:41.880 --> 00:14:49.080 And at a point in time in my life, my parents determined that I was mature enough and responsible enough 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:56.300 to be left at home, but to also be the authority figure over my sister. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:03.500 Now, it wasn't at the age yet where they would leave for an overnight trip or for a weekend or for a vacation. 00:15:03.880 --> 00:15:11.560 But now they reached that point in life to me. 00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:18.180 We can go out and go to friends' houses and not have to bring them along with us and leave us at home. 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:24.980 And so my parents, because they know the idleness of my hands and my mind would get me in trouble in a lot of things, 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:27.540 they would leave me a list of things to do. 00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:29.220 Get your homework done. 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:32.280 Clean up after supper. 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:34.640 Get the clothes folded. 00:15:34.640 --> 00:15:35.800 Nothing crazy. 00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:42.420 And then they would always say, make sure all of these things are done before we return. 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:45.600 Well, 14-year-old Bo would follow that with a question. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.300 When are you going to be home? 00:15:48.420 --> 00:15:54.160 Because if you're leaving at 6 and you're not going to be home at 10, I don't have to start any of this until 9.55, right? 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:59.100 And at 9.55, I can get everything in order so that you walk in and I'm good. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:03.400 And my parents would say, we'll be home when we're home. 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:05.460 Right? 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.660 Yeah, I hear that from parents. 00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:07.100 Like, ooh. 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:09.500 Yeah, but y'all know y'all do that too, right? 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.840 You don't tell your kids what you're going to be home. 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:12.740 Catch them, right? 00:16:12.760 --> 00:16:13.360 That's what we do. 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.240 The joy of being a parent, right? 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:17.400 So that's what my parents would do. 00:16:17.640 --> 00:16:18.280 They'd say, no, no, no. 00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:22.280 Your obedience is in the fact that you're ready. 00:16:23.380 --> 00:16:27.700 Your obedience is not by based on when we're going to come home to catch you. 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:31.800 That the obedience that we're looking for is that you do what's right. 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:33.100 That you're prepared. 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:37.500 That you're ready for when we return. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:42.260 And that's what Jesus describes his servants that will receive this reward. 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:46.440 Verse 41, Peter's in the crowd of his followers. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.620 And he asks a question. 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:53.360 It says, Peter said, Lord, are you telling this parable for us? 00:16:53.380 --> 00:16:54.320 Or for us or for all? 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:55.660 This is important. 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.940 Peter draws a line of a moment of clarity. 00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:01.800 Jesus, is this for everyone or just for us? 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:04.960 Verse 42, and the Lord said, 00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:15.040 who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his master will set over his household to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:20.380 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:25.080 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all of his possessions. 00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:27.280 So Peter asks a question. 00:17:27.280 --> 00:17:30.240 Is this for us, right? 00:17:30.280 --> 00:17:41.600 This group of leaders, close disciples of Jesus that have been put in these positions of authority and are going to be put in greater positions of authority when Jesus leaves. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.780 Is this for us or is this for all? 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:49.180 And Jesus answers the question by saying, yes. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.400 It is for all. 00:17:52.440 --> 00:18:00.980 But it's a different level for those who are entrusted with Jesus' words with managing, but what we're going to call leadership. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:07.780 And that in that, within leadership, there's this greater reward that's there. 00:18:09.040 --> 00:18:15.920 And so we look at those of us who have been trusted in matters of teaching and authority and leadership within the body. 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:21.360 And Jesus says, look, there's a greater reward in your faithfulness. 00:18:22.780 --> 00:18:24.440 We don't know what it all means. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.000 I don't know what it all looks like. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:35.700 But I think it gives great clarity to what James writes in James 1, 3, where he says that those of you who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:39.560 Oftentimes we look at that verse and we look at the negative aspect of it. 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:43.700 And there is true, and we're going to see that in just a moment. 00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:47.040 But there's also the reward side of that. 00:18:48.020 --> 00:18:53.760 So for those of you in authority, those of you in leadership, those of you in teaching, and I want to clarify, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:19:00.960 sometimes people hear that, they think of authority above adults, teaching of adults. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.700 But we view it as within the body. 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:09.520 So the great value that we place on every age and the influence of them, 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:14.360 from our nursery to our preschool to our elementary school to our students to our adults, 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:17.800 at every age of life is a value in here. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.600 And that's what Jesus is pointing them to. 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:25.140 Yes, it's for them, but it's also for you. 00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:28.260 Be judged with greater strictness. 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:31.400 Jesus continues on in verse 45. 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:34.820 He's going to paint the other side of this for us. 00:19:35.760 --> 00:19:37.600 But if that servant says to himself, 00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:44.620 my master is delayed in coming and begins to beat the male and female servants 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:47.540 and to eat and drink and get drunk, 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:53.240 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.520 and at an hour he does not know, 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.540 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:07.580 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will 00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:10.000 will receive a severe beating. 00:20:10.800 --> 00:20:17.400 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:22.540 Everyone to whom much was given of him, much will be required. 00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:27.820 And from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:32.940 And so what we find here is it's not just about the reward, 00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:34.980 the other side of the coin, 00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:40.200 and Jesus wants us to understand that those who do not actively wait 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:44.020 in the manner by which the master had established 00:20:44.020 --> 00:20:48.540 will face the punishment of the judgment that is going to come. 00:20:49.540 --> 00:20:53.740 It's not just the exciting part that we get to see that this is the reward. 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:57.760 Jesus also says, well, here are the consequences to this. 00:20:57.760 --> 00:21:01.000 And just as there are two kinds of rewards that we see, 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:03.060 we're going to see that there's two kinds of punishments. 00:21:04.020 --> 00:21:07.480 And these punishments should cause us to look and to evaluate 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:12.820 and to assess our lives and our hearts of who we are. 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:17.040 I want to look at these two punishments, but in reverse order. 00:21:17.580 --> 00:21:19.220 So look at verse 48 with me again. 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:28.040 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. 00:21:28.540 --> 00:21:31.480 The one who didn't know the will of the master. 00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:36.620 The one who didn't know that the punishment would come. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:44.920 The one who didn't know the standard and who lived in counter to the standard will still receive a beating. 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:47.620 The ignorance is not an excuse. 00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:54.880 And what that should create in us, it's been our heart for so long at this church, 00:21:55.100 --> 00:22:02.240 is why it matters when we walk out of here knowing that there are men, women, and children 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:04.100 who do not know the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:08.600 That there are men, women, and children who do not have access to the gospel. 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:11.020 It should bother you. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:16.620 It should affect you that those in your life whom you deeply love don't know Jesus. 00:22:17.300 --> 00:22:23.420 And more importantly, how do you know that they've heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:30.360 One of the important takeaways that I hope you got last week with hearing Pastor Dustin come and share. 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:36.880 There are people in this world who have heard a lot about Jesus. 00:22:37.520 --> 00:22:43.840 But they've never been introduced to who he truly is. 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:48.540 And that should pull at our hearts. 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:59.080 To the point to where we're not isolating in ourselves, in this group of perceived self-holiness, 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:02.360 of pockets of the church excluded from the world, 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:08.560 but that you and I are intentionally diving into relationships with men and women who do not know Christ 00:23:08.560 --> 00:23:12.900 and who are far from him, with a hope for the opportunity to share the gospel with them. 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:19.140 That you and I take on a burden that it's not okay that men and women who speak different languages 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:23.080 and who live in different countries do not have access to the gospel. 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:26.440 And so we give and we go and we pray that that could happen. 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.960 This should matter to us. 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.820 Jesus' words are clear. 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:34.300 Let verse 48 tug at your heart. 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:41.340 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.240 The punishment is there. 00:23:44.780 --> 00:23:47.580 Now, verse 47 is the verse that keeps me awake. 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:57.580 And the servant that knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will 00:23:57.580 --> 00:24:00.080 will receive a severe beating. 00:24:01.780 --> 00:24:08.220 You know, my heart and my fear in this, when I read this verse, 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:14.200 is there are men and women who were filling churches all over this world 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:19.700 who have bought into a cultural Christianity that they've become a part of 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.300 but who were far from the gospel. 00:24:22.260 --> 00:24:23.440 They know the gospel. 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.620 They could tell you the gospel. 00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:30.940 They've tweaked and modified some behaviors to trick you for the gospel. 00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:36.300 But the truth is of who they are is reflective of what happens when the master leaves. 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:41.800 Who they are is reflective of not what takes place in moments of worship, 00:24:41.800 --> 00:24:46.140 of not what takes place in confidentiality of a small group, 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:49.760 but it's who they are in their mind and their heart the rest of the time. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:54.120 And let's be honest, who they are in their mind and their heart when they're gathering for worship, 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:57.220 when they're gathering for small group, that this is who they are. 00:24:57.320 --> 00:25:03.020 People who know the will of the master but still choose to act according to their own will 00:25:03.020 --> 00:25:04.820 because they're still their own master. 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:07.500 And they're still their own authority. 00:25:08.800 --> 00:25:10.460 And notice, Jesus says, 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:16.100 those who don't know will receive a light beating. 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:21.140 But those who do and still reject, 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:25.560 they will receive a severe beating. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:29.060 We've got to let that resonate within us. 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:32.400 We've got to allow that to capture ourselves. 00:25:33.260 --> 00:25:40.460 What frightens me the most about verse 47 was that for so much of my life, that was me. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.820 I had them tricked. 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:44.620 I had them fooled. 00:25:44.760 --> 00:25:46.540 I had myself convinced. 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:51.560 But who I was at my heart was far from God. 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.720 I knew the things of God. 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:56.340 I knew the behaviors that God wanted. 00:25:57.060 --> 00:26:01.880 But if the transformation of what God wanted me to be was far from that. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:07.540 And I fully believe that until that day when Jesus saved me, 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:11.920 in spite of the spiritual resume that I could have built before, 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:17.940 if I would have passed, verse 47 would have rang true in my life. 00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:21.640 So this story has a simple point. 00:26:22.800 --> 00:26:23.280 Be ready. 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:24.980 Be ready. 00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:28.980 He could return at any point in any time. 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:30.520 Be ready. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.960 What does that mean, though? 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.840 When my parents would leave me, 00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:37.920 be ready for when we return home. 00:26:38.520 --> 00:26:39.580 I knew what that meant. 00:26:40.520 --> 00:26:41.140 Be ready. 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.440 There was a list that was there. 00:26:42.540 --> 00:26:44.000 There were things that I could do. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:47.300 Well, when we look at Luke 12 this morning, 00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:50.680 I want us to see Jesus gives us some details of what this could be. 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:53.460 Now, there's two things I want to be mindful of. 00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:54.940 And what does it mean to be ready? 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:58.060 Number one, I don't think that this is an exhaustive list 00:26:58.060 --> 00:27:00.480 of what a life with Christ looks like. 00:27:00.800 --> 00:27:03.040 But I do believe there is reason 00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:06.220 that Jesus brought these two things together 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:08.820 in Luke chapter 12 for us. 00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:12.060 So I don't want it to create a list like I did with my parents. 00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:13.900 All right, homework, checked. 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.600 Dishes done, checked. 00:27:15.760 --> 00:27:17.420 My sister in bed, checked. 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.740 I don't want to create that. 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:21.380 But what I do want for you to do 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:24.180 is to be able to examine your heart and your life 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:26.940 and begin to search for and ask yourself, 00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:29.080 who am I? 00:27:30.280 --> 00:27:32.300 And am I ready? 00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:35.980 The first thing that Jesus is going to point us to 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.780 is fear the Lord. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:41.540 Luke 12, 5 says, 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:44.000 But I will warn you whom to fear. 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:47.760 Fear him who, after he is killed, 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:50.520 has authority to cast into hell. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:54.200 Yes, I tell you, fear him. 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:57.240 And Jesus is pointing to a time in their culture 00:27:57.240 --> 00:28:00.120 where people are afraid of things 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:01.280 they need to be afraid of. 00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:03.440 They're afraid of the authorities. 00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:04.820 They're afraid of persecution. 00:28:04.820 --> 00:28:07.600 They're afraid of what life may roll out at him. 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:09.880 But their fear of God is removed. 00:28:10.780 --> 00:28:13.040 And I feel like you and I can find ourselves 00:28:13.040 --> 00:28:14.120 in that same manner. 00:28:15.260 --> 00:28:17.860 Was it this just week that the fear of UFOs 00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:19.120 was all over the news, right? 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:23.920 But I tell you, fear the Lord. 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:26.040 And here's what this means. 00:28:27.300 --> 00:28:28.640 Normally when we fear things, 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.480 we hide from them and we get away from them. 00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:32.480 That's not what the fear of the Lord means. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:35.480 But to fear the Lord is to live your life 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:38.880 in reverence and awe of who he is. 00:28:40.260 --> 00:28:41.860 Because of his holiness 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:45.100 and our depth in knowing them. 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:50.520 So what we do is God is so good 00:28:50.520 --> 00:28:52.980 and loving and approachable. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:57.640 And what we have to do is approach God 00:28:57.640 --> 00:29:00.940 in the way that he reveals himself to us 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:03.960 but also in a manner that acknowledges that he is holy. 00:29:05.020 --> 00:29:08.900 He is God the Father who hears you, 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.420 who loves you, 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:13.660 who pursues you and saves you. 00:29:13.760 --> 00:29:15.580 But there's a holiness about him 00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:18.600 that the more that I dive into understanding his love, 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:22.440 the more I dive into understanding my reverence 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.840 in response to him. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:28.060 The second thing that Jesus is going to tell us 00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:29.520 is to be bold. 00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.300 To be bold. 00:29:32.540 --> 00:29:33.840 Luke 12, 8 through 9. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.260 And I tell you, 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:37.700 everyone who acknowledges me before men, 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:40.340 the Son of Man also will acknowledge 00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.720 before the angels of God. 00:29:41.820 --> 00:29:44.300 But the one who denies me before men 00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:47.440 will be denied before the angels of God. 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.760 What I want us to point to 00:29:49.760 --> 00:29:50.900 is to be bold, 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.540 to be confident 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:54.440 in your faith 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:57.400 and who you are in Christ. 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.800 If you're here last week, 00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:01.300 I told Dustin I was going to steal this from him 00:30:01.300 --> 00:30:03.180 as he's telling us 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:04.320 of what it looks like 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:06.100 to go and plant a church 00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:08.600 in the Salt Lake City area of Utah 00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.840 where he lives. 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.820 He said this, 00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:12.220 we share the gospel, 00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:13.560 we're not there to argue. 00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.280 And I took that 00:30:15.280 --> 00:30:17.120 and began to really think through that 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:18.640 in our life 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.100 of what it looks like 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:22.040 to not try to argue the gospel 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:23.400 into someone's brain. 00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:24.220 Here's one thing 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:26.160 that I've become to understand 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.920 more and more 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.940 in our day 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.940 and in our time. 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.880 An argument hardly ever changes 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.540 anyone's mind. 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.880 We can argue 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:35.980 till we're blue in the face. 00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:38.300 And that's what we do. 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.480 We come at it with a fight. 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.960 But Jesus calls us 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:43.660 to live in a boldness 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.820 with where we share. 00:30:45.560 --> 00:30:47.520 Now, if I were to say to you, 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:49.720 have you ever shared your faith? 00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:52.380 Most of the church hasn't. 00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.340 And we haven't 00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:55.600 because of a fear. 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:58.180 And what I want to do this morning 00:30:58.180 --> 00:31:01.080 is I want to take away your fear. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.260 Here's what you're afraid of. 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.560 You're afraid of, 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.680 I don't know enough. 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.800 What if they ask a question 00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:08.660 I can't answer? 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:12.220 What if there's something 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.280 that I leave out? 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.500 What if I mess this up? 00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:15.740 What if I get a word wrong? 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.340 I don't know enough scripture. 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.440 What if they bring up 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.800 a point that confuses me? 00:31:20.020 --> 00:31:21.480 And all of this is legitimate 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:23.720 if your point is to argue. 00:31:25.020 --> 00:31:26.760 But if your point is just to share 00:31:26.760 --> 00:31:28.460 who Jesus is, 00:31:29.320 --> 00:31:30.840 let me take this away from you 00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:33.100 with a silly example, okay? 00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:36.200 I love, 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.540 deeply love 00:31:39.540 --> 00:31:42.060 creme brulee. 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.380 All right? 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.740 Anybody else there with me? 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:46.780 Raise your hand. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.740 It is goodness, right? 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:51.600 God gives that to me 00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:52.820 to show me that he is good 00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:53.640 and that he loves me. 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.500 That's what I believe 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:56.020 about creme brulee, all right? 00:31:56.260 --> 00:31:57.600 If I go to a restaurant 00:31:57.600 --> 00:31:59.020 and creme brulee's on the menu, 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.900 I'm ordering creme brulee. 00:32:01.560 --> 00:32:02.760 One time Erin and I 00:32:02.760 --> 00:32:03.540 were at a restaurant 00:32:03.540 --> 00:32:04.840 and I ordered creme brulee. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:05.740 And she said, 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.180 oh great, 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.020 we could share that. 00:32:07.020 --> 00:32:09.060 I called the waiter back. 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:11.260 We're going to need two of those, 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:11.720 all right? 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.100 She said, 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.360 well, 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:15.100 I only want half of it though. 00:32:15.260 --> 00:32:15.880 And I said, 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.280 great, 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.420 that means that 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:19.420 I have more creme brulee. 00:32:19.600 --> 00:32:21.520 I love creme brulee, 00:32:21.560 --> 00:32:21.840 all right? 00:32:22.040 --> 00:32:22.900 Here's what I'll tell you, 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.220 okay? 00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:23.940 I love it. 00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:26.500 I eat it every chance 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.000 that I get. 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.360 Number one, 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.520 I don't know what's in it. 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.660 I have no clue. 00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.900 Number two, 00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:35.020 I don't know the history 00:32:35.020 --> 00:32:36.100 of creme brulee. 00:32:37.040 --> 00:32:38.540 I don't know who created it. 00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:40.460 I don't know who invented it. 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.320 I have no clue. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.380 Number three, 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:45.320 I don't know how to cook it. 00:32:46.040 --> 00:32:47.080 If you were to tell me today, 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.680 go home without the internet 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:50.000 and make creme brulee 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.880 will give you all the ingredients. 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:53.440 You've lost me at that. 00:32:53.640 --> 00:32:54.520 I don't know. 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.520 Here's what I know. 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:57.160 I know how to eat creme brulee, 00:32:57.780 --> 00:32:58.060 all right? 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.000 That's what I know. 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.000 Here's what I can tell you 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.720 about creme brulee. 00:33:02.580 --> 00:33:03.740 I can tell you that I love it. 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.880 I can tell you the restaurants 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.480 that have it. 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.840 I can tell you what it tastes like. 00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:13.500 And as weird as this may sound, 00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:16.540 I know the sensation that I get 00:33:16.540 --> 00:33:18.140 when I eat creme brulee 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.600 because it is good. 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.380 Why? 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.840 Because I've tasted it. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.740 I've experienced it. 00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.920 I know the goodness 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.860 that comes from it. 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.660 And so I can stand here today 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:36.140 and tell you my experience 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:36.960 with creme brulee. 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.960 Psalm 34 tells us, 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:44.640 taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:47.820 You know, when we look at 00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:51.020 sharing our experience with Jesus, 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:54.640 when we look at sharing our faith, 00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:57.820 I believe there's more of Psalm 34 00:33:57.820 --> 00:33:59.360 that we need to share 00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:01.160 and not so much worry about 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:02.920 arguing our theological points. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:05.280 There's a point in time 00:34:05.280 --> 00:34:06.780 that we can do those things, 00:34:07.280 --> 00:34:09.120 but your neighbor 00:34:09.120 --> 00:34:11.180 does not care 00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:13.660 about your view of end of times. 00:34:15.100 --> 00:34:16.100 Your neighbor does not care 00:34:16.100 --> 00:34:18.260 does not care about your perspective 00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.840 of speaking in tongues 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:20.860 or the difference 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.800 between Islam and Christianity. 00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:25.040 Your neighbor needs to know 00:34:25.040 --> 00:34:26.720 who Jesus is 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:28.280 and the best way 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.580 that you can do that 00:34:29.580 --> 00:34:31.040 is because you've tasted 00:34:31.040 --> 00:34:32.320 and you've seen 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:33.540 that the Lord is good. 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:36.040 And if you've tasted God, 00:34:36.520 --> 00:34:38.540 if you've experienced Christ, 00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:40.380 you know what that looks like 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.180 in your life. 00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:42.700 You can't explain 00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:44.360 every verse of Scripture, 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.340 but you know 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.700 the goodness of the Lord. 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:48.360 And so when we say share it, 00:34:48.540 --> 00:34:49.000 you can. 00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:50.220 Now here's the question. 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.880 Or can you? 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.900 Well, I can't tell them 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.720 those things. 00:34:58.760 --> 00:35:00.500 I haven't experienced 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.280 those things. 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.380 If that's where your heart 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.100 is this morning, 00:35:06.120 --> 00:35:08.020 if I'm saying to you, 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:09.720 share your experience with God 00:35:09.720 --> 00:35:11.480 and you can't, 00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.980 my question for you 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:17.180 is what is your heart telling you? 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:20.620 Why can't you? 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.360 Third thing, 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.680 live generously. 00:35:27.560 --> 00:35:27.880 It says, 00:35:28.120 --> 00:35:28.820 sell your possessions, 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.820 Luke 12, 33. 00:35:30.020 --> 00:35:30.840 Sell your possessions 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:31.860 and give to the needy. 00:35:33.020 --> 00:35:33.800 Provide yourselves 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.680 with money bags 00:35:34.680 --> 00:35:35.840 that do not grow old, 00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:37.380 with a treasure in heavens 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.380 that does not fail, 00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:40.260 where no thief approaches 00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:42.260 and no moth destroys. 00:35:42.700 --> 00:35:44.240 Live your life generously. 00:35:44.600 --> 00:35:46.560 Make kingdom investments. 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:49.440 So important for us to see 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:49.980 and to realize 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.380 that the gospel calls ourselves 00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:53.900 to see us second. 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.920 Jesus says, 00:35:56.140 --> 00:35:57.300 love the Lord your God 00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.100 and others. 00:35:58.740 --> 00:35:58.900 Right? 00:35:59.080 --> 00:36:00.280 That's what we're to look at. 00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:03.320 And then we fall second 00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:04.220 in that list. 00:36:05.040 --> 00:36:06.140 And what does that look like 00:36:06.140 --> 00:36:07.420 in your life and mine? 00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.520 It means to live generously. 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:11.360 I love the words of Jesus. 00:36:11.580 --> 00:36:12.740 He doesn't hide them there. 00:36:13.020 --> 00:36:14.500 He's pretty confident 00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.720 with what he's saying 00:36:15.720 --> 00:36:16.540 and we can be confident 00:36:16.540 --> 00:36:17.100 in what he means. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.540 Sell your possessions 00:36:18.540 --> 00:36:20.020 and give to the needy. 00:36:20.640 --> 00:36:21.500 So what does it mean 00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.220 to live generously? 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.660 Give to the needy. 00:36:24.220 --> 00:36:25.500 When we see needs, 00:36:25.600 --> 00:36:26.620 we give to them. 00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:27.820 We don't accumulate. 00:36:28.140 --> 00:36:28.940 We give away. 00:36:29.740 --> 00:36:31.020 We don't worry about 00:36:31.020 --> 00:36:32.620 what they're going to do with it. 00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:33.540 We worry about 00:36:33.540 --> 00:36:34.760 what we're doing with it. 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.800 Let God sort out 00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:37.820 the things of God. 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.100 That's the whole point 00:36:39.100 --> 00:36:40.520 of Luke chapter 12 00:36:40.520 --> 00:36:42.180 of what Jesus is talking about. 00:36:42.180 --> 00:36:43.960 Let me worry 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.920 and define 00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:45.800 which servant 00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:46.860 obeyed the master 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:49.280 and what servant didn't. 00:36:49.620 --> 00:36:51.080 Financial shrewdness 00:36:51.080 --> 00:36:52.500 is not necessarily 00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:53.960 what we're looking for 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:55.840 but it's living in generosity. 00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:56.940 Now it doesn't mean 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.500 that we should be 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.720 financially smart 00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.740 because of what God 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:01.240 can take and bless and do. 00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:03.620 But don't overthink 00:37:03.620 --> 00:37:05.360 a handful of change 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.620 to someone that's hurting. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:09.240 Don't overthink 00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:11.720 an extra combo meal 00:37:11.720 --> 00:37:13.080 at McDonald's 00:37:13.080 --> 00:37:14.260 for the man standing 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.360 on the side of the road 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:16.780 holding a paper sign. 00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:19.380 Don't overthink it. 00:37:20.600 --> 00:37:21.380 Give it away. 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.940 Let God sort it out. 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.540 But be faithful. 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.460 And then Jesus says 00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:30.160 invest in the kingdom work. 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.340 Invest in the work 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:33.040 that's being done. 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.960 We can go 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.920 and we can give 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:37.780 and we can do both. 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.520 And are you? 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:42.180 Do your finances 00:37:42.180 --> 00:37:43.140 reflect 00:37:43.140 --> 00:37:44.800 your relationship 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:45.420 with the Lord? 00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:47.860 I would argue they do. 00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:51.400 What do they look like? 00:37:52.740 --> 00:37:53.480 The fourth 00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:54.880 obey. 00:37:55.640 --> 00:37:56.500 Simply put obey. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.380 Luke 12 47 00:37:58.380 --> 00:38:00.240 and that the servant 00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.520 who knew the master's will 00:38:01.520 --> 00:38:02.540 but did not get ready 00:38:02.540 --> 00:38:03.300 or act according 00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:04.080 to his will 00:38:04.080 --> 00:38:04.680 will receive 00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:05.800 a severe beating. 00:38:06.580 --> 00:38:07.440 Jesus says 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.180 just obey. 00:38:09.140 --> 00:38:10.280 We have to move 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:10.860 in faith. 00:38:11.040 --> 00:38:11.340 If we are 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:13.500 being ready 00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.400 for the return 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:15.220 of Christ 00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:16.700 we must live 00:38:16.700 --> 00:38:17.540 our life 00:38:17.540 --> 00:38:18.540 not in a 00:38:18.540 --> 00:38:19.660 have to mindset 00:38:19.660 --> 00:38:21.420 but in a get to mindset. 00:38:22.580 --> 00:38:23.340 They actively 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:23.860 waited 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:24.780 in anticipation 00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:26.080 for the return 00:38:26.080 --> 00:38:26.800 of the master 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:28.060 and in everything 00:38:28.060 --> 00:38:29.520 and in every hope 00:38:29.520 --> 00:38:30.160 they had 00:38:30.160 --> 00:38:31.180 as he came 00:38:31.180 --> 00:38:32.280 it was fulfilled. 00:38:33.080 --> 00:38:33.840 And so for you 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.500 and I 00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:35.220 it's not 00:38:35.220 --> 00:38:35.220 it's not 00:38:35.220 --> 00:38:35.640 that we 00:38:35.640 --> 00:38:36.680 have to 00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:37.660 the mindset 00:38:37.660 --> 00:38:38.140 that we have 00:38:38.140 --> 00:38:38.580 to have 00:38:38.580 --> 00:38:39.300 is I get 00:38:39.300 --> 00:38:39.820 to obey. 00:38:40.060 --> 00:38:41.100 Jesus in John 14 00:38:41.100 --> 00:38:41.740 is pretty clear 00:38:41.740 --> 00:38:42.340 with his words 00:38:42.340 --> 00:38:43.980 if anyone loves me 00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:45.240 they will keep 00:38:45.240 --> 00:38:46.580 my commandments 00:38:46.580 --> 00:38:47.800 is what he says. 00:38:48.660 --> 00:38:49.920 If anyone loves me 00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:50.840 not they may 00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:52.260 Jesus says 00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:53.060 they will. 00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:54.800 I want to be careful 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:55.580 this is not 00:38:55.580 --> 00:38:56.600 works gospel 00:38:56.600 --> 00:38:57.920 it is grace 00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:58.700 through faith 00:38:58.700 --> 00:38:59.880 that saves us 00:38:59.880 --> 00:39:00.820 but the gospel 00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:01.540 does a work 00:39:01.540 --> 00:39:01.940 and those 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.240 who are 00:39:02.240 --> 00:39:03.300 truly saved 00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:04.380 that a transformation 00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:05.940 begins to happen 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:07.140 and they desire 00:39:07.140 --> 00:39:07.860 to do 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:09.100 the will of God 00:39:09.100 --> 00:39:10.340 and it's what we see 00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:11.160 as the fruit 00:39:11.160 --> 00:39:11.940 of our salvation. 00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.680 So at a point 00:39:13.680 --> 00:39:14.200 in time 00:39:14.200 --> 00:39:14.820 in our life 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.400 I'm going to tell you 00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:15.500 this 00:39:15.500 --> 00:39:16.100 this is something 00:39:16.100 --> 00:39:16.800 recently 00:39:16.800 --> 00:39:17.480 that God 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.200 has brought me 00:39:18.200 --> 00:39:19.380 into in my life 00:39:19.380 --> 00:39:20.440 that I'm starting 00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:21.880 to have a heart 00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.740 that is transforming 00:39:22.740 --> 00:39:23.480 more and more 00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:24.140 to like his 00:39:24.140 --> 00:39:25.140 to here's where 00:39:25.140 --> 00:39:26.260 here's the weirdness 00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:26.860 of where I am 00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:27.420 with the gospel 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:27.980 right now 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:28.600 that when 00:39:28.600 --> 00:39:29.980 the Holy Spirit 00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.760 or someone 00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:31.400 the Holy Spirit 00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.340 puts in my life 00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:33.640 points out a sin 00:39:33.640 --> 00:39:34.420 in my life 00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:35.880 I get kind of excited 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:37.840 and here's why 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:39.140 because I get 00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:40.980 the joyful process 00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:42.740 of seeing that sin 00:39:42.740 --> 00:39:44.180 removed from my life 00:39:44.180 --> 00:39:44.940 and the victory 00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:45.460 of Jesus 00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:46.220 found in me 00:39:46.220 --> 00:39:48.080 and that's obedience 00:39:48.080 --> 00:39:50.360 I'm not perfect 00:39:50.360 --> 00:39:51.780 hang out with me 00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:52.460 for an afternoon 00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:54.240 right 00:39:54.240 --> 00:39:57.340 it's not perfection 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:58.060 it's obedience 00:39:58.060 --> 00:40:00.540 of what he's calling us to 00:40:00.540 --> 00:40:02.840 and then lastly 00:40:02.840 --> 00:40:03.360 and we'll close 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:03.940 with this 00:40:03.940 --> 00:40:06.420 most important one 00:40:06.420 --> 00:40:07.180 that we're going to see 00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:07.800 but you got to jump 00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:08.880 forward to Luke 13 00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:11.240 it's repent 00:40:11.240 --> 00:40:13.460 repent 00:40:13.460 --> 00:40:16.020 chapter 13 00:40:16.020 --> 00:40:17.140 verse 1 through 5 00:40:17.140 --> 00:40:18.520 there were some 00:40:18.520 --> 00:40:19.220 present at that 00:40:19.220 --> 00:40:19.860 very time 00:40:19.860 --> 00:40:20.400 who told him 00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:21.380 about the Galileans 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:21.960 whose blood 00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:23.000 Pilate had mingled 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.980 with their sacrifices 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.880 and he answered them 00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:26.520 do you think 00:40:26.520 --> 00:40:27.380 that these Galileans 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:28.480 were worse sinners 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.480 than all the other 00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:30.060 the Galileans 00:40:30.060 --> 00:40:30.860 because they suffered 00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:31.480 in this way 00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.700 verse 3 00:40:32.700 --> 00:40:33.300 it's important 00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:34.220 verse 3 and 5 00:40:34.220 --> 00:40:35.240 I want to hang on to these 00:40:35.240 --> 00:40:36.540 no I tell you 00:40:36.540 --> 00:40:38.200 but unless you repent 00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:40.220 you will all likewise perish 00:40:40.220 --> 00:40:41.040 verse 4 00:40:41.040 --> 00:40:41.980 are those 18 00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:43.740 on whom the tower of Siloam 00:40:43.740 --> 00:40:44.880 fell and killed them 00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:45.640 do you think 00:40:45.640 --> 00:40:47.040 that they were worse offenders 00:40:47.040 --> 00:40:48.580 than all the others 00:40:48.580 --> 00:40:49.680 who lived in Jerusalem 00:40:49.680 --> 00:40:50.580 verse 5 00:40:50.580 --> 00:40:51.540 no I tell you 00:40:51.540 --> 00:40:52.800 but unless you repent 00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:54.520 you will all likewise perish 00:40:54.520 --> 00:40:56.160 the conflict of what Jesus 00:40:56.160 --> 00:40:56.900 is dealing with 00:40:56.900 --> 00:40:57.980 is there are some individuals 00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.620 who experienced 00:40:58.620 --> 00:40:59.560 some horrific deaths 00:40:59.560 --> 00:41:00.880 and like are their sins 00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:02.040 worse than others 00:41:02.040 --> 00:41:02.980 and Jesus is like 00:41:02.980 --> 00:41:04.140 that's not the point 00:41:04.140 --> 00:41:05.500 the point is verse 3 00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:06.820 the point is verse 5 00:41:06.820 --> 00:41:08.100 no I tell you 00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:09.540 but unless you repent 00:41:09.540 --> 00:41:12.180 you will all likewise perish 00:41:12.180 --> 00:41:13.680 here's the truth of us 00:41:13.680 --> 00:41:14.660 for us this morning 00:41:14.660 --> 00:41:15.940 death is coming 00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:18.400 and it shows no favoritism 00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:21.560 death's coming for you 00:41:21.560 --> 00:41:24.140 death's coming for me 00:41:24.140 --> 00:41:26.120 and death doesn't care 00:41:26.120 --> 00:41:27.300 how much money you make 00:41:27.300 --> 00:41:29.040 how much education you have 00:41:29.040 --> 00:41:30.800 how well liked you are 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:32.560 death is coming 00:41:32.560 --> 00:41:35.040 and it shows no favoritism 00:41:35.040 --> 00:41:39.120 and we as believers in Christ 00:41:39.120 --> 00:41:43.000 aren't freed from the physical reality of death 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:45.960 but we are free 00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:47.840 from the punishment 00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:50.140 and Jesus says 00:41:50.140 --> 00:41:50.780 here's the key 00:41:50.780 --> 00:41:52.420 repent 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:54.000 repent 00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:54.080 repent 00:41:54.080 --> 00:41:55.080 repent 00:41:55.080 --> 00:41:58.020 and somewhere along the lines 00:41:58.020 --> 00:42:00.800 we've changed repentance 00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:02.960 into just saying I'm sorry 00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:05.600 I'm sorry 00:42:05.600 --> 00:42:07.740 the truth is 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:09.360 that's a part of repentance 00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:11.260 but to repent 00:42:11.260 --> 00:42:13.460 means to change 00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:15.580 your mind 00:42:15.580 --> 00:42:17.900 that's a hard thing 00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:18.260 to do 00:42:18.260 --> 00:42:20.620 I'm going to change 00:42:20.620 --> 00:42:21.440 my mind 00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:23.140 about a history 00:42:23.140 --> 00:42:23.840 of behaviors 00:42:23.840 --> 00:42:24.580 in my life 00:42:24.580 --> 00:42:26.080 I'm going to change 00:42:26.080 --> 00:42:26.900 my mind 00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:28.380 about who I am 00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:29.460 in my life 00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:30.300 I'm going to change 00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:31.120 my mind 00:42:31.120 --> 00:42:32.620 on the perceived image 00:42:32.620 --> 00:42:33.280 that I portray 00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:33.760 to people 00:42:33.760 --> 00:42:35.360 I'm going to change 00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:36.220 my mind 00:42:36.220 --> 00:42:37.540 of who I am 00:42:37.540 --> 00:42:39.220 and what's going 00:42:39.220 --> 00:42:40.560 to come from this 00:42:40.560 --> 00:42:42.500 power of the gospel 00:42:42.500 --> 00:42:43.620 Acts 26 00:42:43.620 --> 00:42:44.340 Paul says 00:42:44.340 --> 00:42:46.020 I preached 00:42:46.020 --> 00:42:47.900 that they should repent 00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:49.320 and turn to God 00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:50.580 and demonstrate 00:42:50.580 --> 00:42:51.700 their repentance 00:42:51.700 --> 00:42:54.120 by their deeds 00:42:54.120 --> 00:42:57.540 it's not just about saying you're sorry 00:42:57.540 --> 00:42:59.040 it's what you've done with it 00:42:59.040 --> 00:43:01.180 and so for Jesus 00:43:01.180 --> 00:43:02.860 he says 00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:03.080 look 00:43:03.080 --> 00:43:04.080 death's coming 00:43:04.080 --> 00:43:05.160 it's going to happen 00:43:05.160 --> 00:43:06.880 it's not about who dies 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:08.200 it's about when you die 00:43:08.200 --> 00:43:09.580 and what you've done before it 00:43:09.580 --> 00:43:12.340 and here's the key 00:43:12.340 --> 00:43:14.100 we're all guilty 00:43:14.100 --> 00:43:16.380 but we all 00:43:16.380 --> 00:43:17.380 have the opportunity 00:43:17.380 --> 00:43:18.780 to repent 00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:20.620 to repent 00:43:20.620 --> 00:43:21.440 in the sense of 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:22.960 biblical terms 00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:24.840 is to change your mind 00:43:24.840 --> 00:43:25.700 about your sin 00:43:25.700 --> 00:43:27.000 to change your mind 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:28.060 about who you are 00:43:28.060 --> 00:43:29.200 to change your mind 00:43:29.200 --> 00:43:30.180 about what you've done 00:43:30.180 --> 00:43:31.560 but also to change your mind 00:43:31.560 --> 00:43:32.200 about Jesus 00:43:32.200 --> 00:43:34.920 that Jesus is no longer 00:43:34.920 --> 00:43:36.080 a person to be used 00:43:36.080 --> 00:43:36.720 and manipulated 00:43:36.720 --> 00:43:38.340 but he's the one 00:43:38.340 --> 00:43:39.620 and true son of God 00:43:39.620 --> 00:43:40.900 he's the savior 00:43:40.900 --> 00:43:41.660 of the world 00:43:41.660 --> 00:43:42.260 he's the one 00:43:42.260 --> 00:43:43.200 who paid the price 00:43:43.200 --> 00:43:43.980 for your sins 00:43:43.980 --> 00:43:45.320 he is the king of kings 00:43:45.320 --> 00:43:46.140 the lord of lords 00:43:46.140 --> 00:43:47.880 and that's who he is 00:43:47.880 --> 00:43:50.040 and that we acknowledge 00:43:50.040 --> 00:43:51.440 that that's who he is 00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:54.500 but I change my mind 00:43:54.500 --> 00:43:56.540 and I am no longer 00:43:56.540 --> 00:43:57.940 those things in my life 00:43:57.940 --> 00:43:59.300 it is no longer 00:43:59.300 --> 00:43:59.880 my will 00:43:59.880 --> 00:44:00.680 in my life 00:44:00.680 --> 00:44:01.940 but it's his 00:44:01.940 --> 00:44:04.120 here's the question 00:44:04.120 --> 00:44:04.680 I have for you 00:44:04.680 --> 00:44:05.140 this morning 00:44:05.140 --> 00:44:09.080 have you repented 00:44:09.080 --> 00:44:11.000 have you 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:13.560 have you changed your mind 00:44:13.560 --> 00:44:15.160 who you are 00:44:15.160 --> 00:44:16.920 and do you see 00:44:16.920 --> 00:44:18.960 as Paul says 00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:21.460 the representation 00:44:21.460 --> 00:44:23.040 of their repentance 00:44:23.040 --> 00:44:24.040 is seen 00:44:24.040 --> 00:44:25.300 by their deeds 00:44:25.300 --> 00:44:27.380 of who they truly are 00:44:27.380 --> 00:44:28.860 let's pray 00:44:28.860 --> 00:44:36.640 God we come to you 00:44:36.640 --> 00:44:37.180 this morning 00:44:37.180 --> 00:44:39.000 and Jesus 00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:39.640 we thank you 00:44:39.640 --> 00:44:40.540 for this opportunity 00:44:40.540 --> 00:44:41.600 that you give us 00:44:41.600 --> 00:44:42.720 to gather together 00:44:42.720 --> 00:44:45.480 Lord I pray 00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:46.040 that we would 00:44:46.040 --> 00:44:46.780 stay dressed 00:44:46.780 --> 00:44:48.620 that we would 00:44:48.620 --> 00:44:49.780 keep our lamps burning 00:44:49.780 --> 00:44:51.900 that we would 00:44:51.900 --> 00:44:53.300 actively wait 00:44:53.300 --> 00:44:54.100 for the return 00:44:54.100 --> 00:44:55.000 of the master 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:56.080 and live our lives 00:44:56.080 --> 00:44:56.860 in such a way 00:44:56.860 --> 00:44:57.560 that are reflective 00:44:57.560 --> 00:44:58.080 of that 00:44:58.080 --> 00:45:00.420 Lord but I pray 00:45:00.420 --> 00:45:01.140 that this morning 00:45:01.140 --> 00:45:02.260 that if we're here 00:45:02.260 --> 00:45:03.980 if we're hearing 00:45:03.980 --> 00:45:04.940 this message 00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:06.780 Lord there's still 00:45:06.780 --> 00:45:08.180 time to evaluate 00:45:08.180 --> 00:45:09.320 to look 00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:09.960 and to see 00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:12.420 Lord what does 00:45:12.420 --> 00:45:13.560 obedience look like 00:45:13.560 --> 00:45:14.040 for us 00:45:14.040 --> 00:45:14.520 what does 00:45:14.520 --> 00:45:15.880 generosity 00:45:15.880 --> 00:45:16.940 look like 00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:17.460 for us 00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:17.800 what does 00:45:17.800 --> 00:45:18.780 our boldness 00:45:18.780 --> 00:45:19.340 look like 00:45:19.340 --> 00:45:19.520 Lord 00:45:19.520 --> 00:45:20.620 what does fear 00:45:20.620 --> 00:45:21.300 before you 00:45:21.300 --> 00:45:21.960 look like 00:45:21.960 --> 00:45:24.120 Lord as we stand 00:45:24.120 --> 00:45:24.860 before you 00:45:24.860 --> 00:45:25.400 Lord as the 00:45:25.400 --> 00:45:26.200 as the teller 00:45:26.200 --> 00:45:27.300 of who we are 00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:28.380 Lord that you see 00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:29.060 and you know 00:45:29.060 --> 00:45:30.780 Lord we don't 00:45:30.780 --> 00:45:31.320 know when you 00:45:31.320 --> 00:45:31.800 return 00:45:31.800 --> 00:45:32.900 but when you 00:45:32.900 --> 00:45:33.340 do 00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:35.160 whether it's 00:45:35.160 --> 00:45:36.040 in this moment 00:45:36.040 --> 00:45:37.940 or a thousand 00:45:37.940 --> 00:45:38.960 years from now 00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:40.980 Lord have we 00:45:40.980 --> 00:45:41.560 been ready 00:45:41.560 --> 00:45:43.640 Lord and if 00:45:43.640 --> 00:45:44.200 we're not 00:45:44.200 --> 00:45:45.900 Lord my prayer 00:45:45.900 --> 00:45:46.640 for us this 00:45:46.640 --> 00:45:47.040 morning 00:45:47.040 --> 00:45:48.800 is those very 00:45:48.800 --> 00:45:49.660 simple words 00:45:49.660 --> 00:45:50.320 that you gave 00:45:50.320 --> 00:45:50.840 us in verse 00:45:50.840 --> 00:45:51.360 three and 00:45:51.360 --> 00:45:51.880 verse five 00:45:51.880 --> 00:45:53.720 repent 00:45:53.720 --> 00:45:55.760 unless you 00:45:55.760 --> 00:45:56.140 repent 00:45:56.140 --> 00:45:56.480 you will 00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:56.920 perish 00:45:56.920 --> 00:45:57.540 unless you 00:45:57.540 --> 00:45:58.260 repent 00:45:58.260 --> 00:45:58.780 you will 00:45:58.780 --> 00:45:59.640 perish 00:45:59.640 --> 00:46:03.660 Lord may we 00:46:03.660 --> 00:46:04.380 stop saying 00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:05.200 we're sorry 00:46:05.200 --> 00:46:06.520 and then we 00:46:06.520 --> 00:46:07.140 start changing 00:46:07.140 --> 00:46:07.800 our mind 00:46:07.800 --> 00:46:11.360 and we view 00:46:11.360 --> 00:46:11.980 ourselves 00:46:11.980 --> 00:46:13.480 through the 00:46:13.480 --> 00:46:15.440 lens of the 00:46:15.440 --> 00:46:15.880 gospel 00:46:15.880 --> 00:46:18.400 may we see 00:46:18.400 --> 00:46:19.000 how desperately 00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:19.540 we need to 00:46:19.540 --> 00:46:20.680 be for you 00:46:20.680 --> 00:46:24.080 Lord we 00:46:24.080 --> 00:46:24.580 can't argue 00:46:24.580 --> 00:46:24.880 with one 00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:25.140 another 00:46:25.140 --> 00:46:25.460 we just 00:46:25.460 --> 00:46:25.660 got to 00:46:25.660 --> 00:46:25.980 share 00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:28.200 and it's 00:46:28.200 --> 00:46:28.760 my prayer 00:46:28.760 --> 00:46:29.340 that hearts 00:46:29.340 --> 00:46:29.660 that need 00:46:29.660 --> 00:46:30.040 to repent 00:46:30.040 --> 00:46:30.640 this morning 00:46:30.640 --> 00:46:31.840 will repent 00:46:31.840 --> 00:46:33.800 Lord they'll 00:46:33.800 --> 00:46:34.360 move from 00:46:34.360 --> 00:46:34.900 from death 00:46:34.900 --> 00:46:35.480 to life 00:46:35.480 --> 00:46:37.920 Lord they'll 00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:38.720 see themselves 00:46:38.720 --> 00:46:39.560 of who they 00:46:39.560 --> 00:46:41.300 are before 00:46:41.300 --> 00:46:41.960 return of the 00:46:41.960 --> 00:46:42.380 master 00:46:42.380 --> 00:46:44.920 and that we 00:46:44.920 --> 00:46:45.480 will go 00:46:45.480 --> 00:46:47.200 and actively 00:46:47.200 --> 00:46:48.120 live every 00:46:48.120 --> 00:46:48.820 single moment 00:46:48.820 --> 00:46:50.840 Jesus is if 00:46:50.840 --> 00:46:51.260 you're about 00:46:51.260 --> 00:46:51.800 to return 00:46:51.800 --> 00:46:53.660 not because 00:46:53.660 --> 00:46:54.320 we have to 00:46:54.320 --> 00:46:56.020 but because 00:46:56.020 --> 00:46:56.560 we get to 00:46:56.560 --> 00:46:58.020 it's in 00:46:58.020 --> 00:46:58.240 Jesus 00:46:58.240 --> 00:46:58.500 name we 00:46:58.500 --> 00:46:58.800 pray 00:46:58.800 --> 00:46:59.820 amen 00:46:59.820 --> 00:47:01.640 are you 00:47:01.640 --> 00:47:01.940 ready 00:47:01.940 --> 00:47:04.380 are you 00:47:04.380 --> 00:47:04.620 ready 00:47:04.620 --> 00:47:06.040 I pray that 00:47:06.040 --> 00:47:06.460 you are 00:47:06.460 --> 00:47:07.640 would you 00:47:07.640 --> 00:47:08.120 stand as we 00:47:08.120 --> 00:47:08.360 worship 00:47:08.360 --> 00:47:26.080 thanks again 00:47:26.080 --> 00:47:26.600 for listening 00:47:26.600 --> 00:47:26.960 to the 00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:27.400 Willow Ridge 00:47:27.400 --> 00:47:27.740 Church 00:47:27.740 --> 00:47:28.540 weekly podcast 00:47:28.540 --> 00:47:29.480 we hope 00:47:29.480 --> 00:47:29.720 that you 00:47:29.720 --> 00:47:30.060 enjoyed 00:47:30.060 --> 00:47:30.560 listening to 00:47:30.560 --> 00:47:31.000 this week's 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:31.360 message 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:32.240 if you'd 00:47:32.240 --> 00:47:32.520 like to 00:47:32.520 --> 00:47:32.900 learn more 00:47:32.900 --> 00:47:33.340 about who 00:47:33.340 --> 00:47:33.740 we are 00:47:33.740 --> 00:47:34.400 or explore 00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:34.820 additional 00:47:34.820 --> 00:47:35.340 resources 00:47:35.340 --> 00:47:36.360 visit us 00:47:36.360 --> 00:47:37.140 online at 00:47:37.140 --> 00:47:40.420 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:47:40.420 --> 00:47:41.620 or by searching 00:47:41.620 --> 00:47:42.280 for Willow Ridge 00:47:42.280 --> 00:47:42.900 Church on 00:47:42.900 --> 00:47:43.600 Facebook and 00:47:43.600 --> 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