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.

00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:47.440
 Good morning.

00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:51.440
 Thank you so much for being here this morning.

00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:53.040
 Thank you for joining us online.

00:00:53.040 --> 00:00:56.740
 If you would, take your Bible, turn to Luke chapter 14.

00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:01.200
 We're in our series on the parables of Jesus.

00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:06.460
 We're going to be looking at this parable of the great banquet found in verses 12 through 24.

00:01:08.660 --> 00:01:13.660
 I want to ask you, though, before we get going, to be praying for our student mission team.

00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:19.240
 Actually, Pastor Bo and Aaron are actually already up in the Asheville area as they prep

00:01:19.240 --> 00:01:20.960
 to get ready for the students to come.

00:01:20.960 --> 00:01:25.200
 They're cooking for the week, so they need extra prayer on that.

00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:31.720
 Actually, Cal and Karina, our interim youth ministers, are leading the team of students and adults

00:01:31.720 --> 00:01:39.920
 as they're going to be ministering at the children's orphanage there in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:45.880
 So they've got a lot of different things planned for them up there, but I know they would love for you to be praying for them this week

00:01:45.880 --> 00:01:51.460
 as they have opportunities to share the gospel, as they have opportunities to be the hands and feet of God

00:01:51.460 --> 00:01:53.680
 as they minister in that area.

00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:59.460
 So please pray for them and join me, if you would, now as we pray for them as well.

00:02:00.320 --> 00:02:06.000
 Lord, we do thank you for the opportunity that our students and our adults have this coming week to serve you,

00:02:06.720 --> 00:02:10.580
 to serve you in the Black Mountain area, to serve you at the children's home.

00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:16.100
 Lord, we just pray that you would open doors of opportunities for them to share your gospel

00:02:16.100 --> 00:02:18.980
 with everyone they come in contact with.

00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:24.900
 Lord, be with them as they are your hands and feet, as they do work.

00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.180
 Lord, we are grateful to you that you allow them this opportunity to serve you

00:02:30.180 --> 00:02:32.840
 and to serve your people that you've created.

00:02:33.480 --> 00:02:36.620
 Lord, we thank you, and we ask this prayer in your name. Amen.

00:02:37.440 --> 00:02:41.440
 Well, let me set the scene for you, kind of like what the little cartoon did for us.

00:02:41.440 --> 00:02:49.200
 The beginning of chapter 14, we see that Jesus has been invited to the lead Pharisees' home on the Sabbath

00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:58.880
 for a meal, and so in this home are other adults in which this, other men in which this Pharisee has invited to the table.

00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:06.820
 Jesus knows that entering into such a scene means that they are looking for a way to trap him.

00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:13.740
 Anytime you had the Pharisees and Jesus in the same context, it was their way of looking for a way to trap Jesus,

00:03:14.340 --> 00:03:17.860
 find out anything they could on him, and it says in that scripture,

00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:22.940
 even to observe him, to be able to discount who he is.

00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:25.060
 Jesus had a large following.

00:03:25.320 --> 00:03:26.360
 They didn't like that.

00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:30.360
 Ultimately, that would be, give reasons to crucify Christ.

00:03:30.880 --> 00:03:34.300
 We know crucify him for the sacrifice of our sins,

00:03:34.640 --> 00:03:38.080
 but that was the whole slant of the Pharisees that trapped Jesus.

00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.180
 Jesus being who he is,

00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:47.420
 God in human form, in divine form, had the wisdom to see past what they were trying to do.

00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:54.120
 And so, he was able to present a question to them which he knew they couldn't answer.

00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:58.720
 And part of it dealt with the healing of a man who had dropsy.

00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:07.240
 And so, Jesus actually does heal him, but in the context of that, he avoids the trap in which they're trying to set up.

00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:11.300
 So, in the context of this, they're still sitting around this table together.

00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:18.540
 Jesus continues to point out to the leader in this home, the person of this home,

00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:21.300
 that, hey, your motives are not right.

00:04:22.020 --> 00:04:24.260
 Your intent is to invite only the rich.

00:04:24.340 --> 00:04:28.600
 Your intent is to only invite the close friends that you have into your home,

00:04:28.840 --> 00:04:31.780
 while you miss all the others in your community.

00:04:32.320 --> 00:04:36.680
 And so, that then leads us to the parable in which we're going to look at now.

00:04:37.380 --> 00:04:42.820
 Jesus is constantly trying to challenge not only everybody he comes in contact with,

00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:46.480
 like the Pharisees, but he's also challenging even his disciples

00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.860
 to have a shift in thinking, to have a shift in their attitude,

00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:56.220
 to have a shift in their character that represents God in their life.

00:04:56.640 --> 00:04:58.180
 So, if you would, take your Bible.

00:04:58.180 --> 00:05:01.400
 Let's look and pick up in verse 12.

00:05:02.320 --> 00:05:06.260
 In chapter 14, he said,

00:05:06.660 --> 00:05:19.660
 So, once again, he's telling this man of who not to invite.

00:05:20.880 --> 00:05:24.460
 At least they also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

00:05:24.460 --> 00:05:28.560
 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:31.580
 and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you,

00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:34.760
 for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:39.300
 When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things,

00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:39.980
 he said to him,

00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:43.740
 Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.

00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:45.540
 But he said to him,

00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.800
 A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.

00:05:49.520 --> 00:05:50.740
 And at the time for the banquet,

00:05:50.820 --> 00:05:53.780
 he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited,

00:05:53.960 --> 00:05:56.280
 Come, for everything is now ready.

00:05:56.880 --> 00:05:59.340
 But they all alike began to make excuses.

00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:00.420
 The first said to him,

00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:01.740
 I have bought a field.

00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.140
 I must go out and see it.

00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:05.000
 Please have me excused.

00:06:05.540 --> 00:06:06.340
 And another said,

00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:08.280
 I have bought five yoke of oxen,

00:06:08.320 --> 00:06:09.780
 and I go to examine them.

00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:11.740
 Please have me excused.

00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:13.000
 And another said,

00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:14.240
 I have married a wife,

00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.620
 and therefore I cannot come.

00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:19.280
 So the servant came and reported these things to his master.

00:06:19.340 --> 00:06:23.640
 And then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant,

00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:26.640
 Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city,

00:06:26.820 --> 00:06:30.100
 and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.

00:06:30.900 --> 00:06:31.760
 And the servant said,

00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:34.020
 Sir, what you have commanded has been done,

00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:35.720
 and still there is room.

00:06:36.280 --> 00:06:37.940
 And the master said to the servant,

00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:40.060
 Go out to the highways and hedges,

00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:41.520
 and compel people to come in,

00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:43.440
 that my house may be filled.

00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:44.700
 For I tell you,

00:06:45.140 --> 00:06:47.020
 none of those men who were invited

00:06:47.020 --> 00:06:49.060
 shall taste my banquet.

00:06:49.340 --> 00:06:54.780
 So Jesus here is telling us an earthly story,

00:06:55.320 --> 00:06:58.620
 a story that has practical application,

00:06:59.200 --> 00:07:01.800
 but at the same time in this parable,

00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:06.720
 we also see that it has an eternal application as well.

00:07:07.960 --> 00:07:10.980
 What kind of throws me off is the fact that the Pharisees,

00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:13.380
 not once do we see in this passage,

00:07:14.020 --> 00:07:18.400
 have a clue of who they are really sitting in the presence of.

00:07:19.080 --> 00:07:20.400
 Yes, they know he's Jesus.

00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:22.820
 Yes, at this point, they know that he's done miracles.

00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:24.580
 They know these things,

00:07:25.140 --> 00:07:29.440
 yet they truly don't understand that they sit in the presence of God.

00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.140
 And that just simply goes way above their head.

00:07:33.140 --> 00:07:36.920
 But Jesus begins, once again,

00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:38.800
 the second time around,

00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:41.040
 to press in on who they are,

00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:43.420
 to press in on their own belief systems,

00:07:44.020 --> 00:07:45.820
 to get them to realize

00:07:45.820 --> 00:07:47.860
 what is asked of them.

00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:50.080
 So let's break it down together.

00:07:50.200 --> 00:07:52.200
 Let's kind of pull back some things,

00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:54.900
 and let's look at some key words and phrases

00:07:54.900 --> 00:07:56.180
 that we see in this passage.

00:07:57.400 --> 00:07:58.800
 In verse 12, we see,

00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:01.760
 once again, he said also to the man who invited him,

00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:02.920
 Jesus is saying this,

00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:05.100
 when you give a dinner or a banquet,

00:08:05.580 --> 00:08:06.420
 do not invite.

00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:09.760
 He's telling him who he needs to invite.

00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:12.720
 Now this man's already invited rich folks.

00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:14.980
 He's already invited his closest friends.

00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:17.360
 Jesus is saying,

00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:18.680
 you've given the wrong invitation.

00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:21.820
 Your friends or your brothers or your relatives

00:08:21.820 --> 00:08:22.640
 or rich neighbors,

00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:25.200
 at least they also invite you in return,

00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:26.740
 and you be repaid.

00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:30.120
 You see, the whole idea of building their status was,

00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:32.020
 I invite you to a meal,

00:08:32.380 --> 00:08:34.500
 I expect you to invite me back to a meal.

00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.340
 That was the whole mindset.

00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:38.520
 If I take you to lunch,

00:08:38.520 --> 00:08:41.360
 well, next week I expect you to take me to lunch.

00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.900
 You see, their goal was to keep a certain status

00:08:45.900 --> 00:08:47.780
 in their culture, in their society.

00:08:48.660 --> 00:08:50.300
 And they played to that end.

00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:53.720
 Then in verse 13, it says,

00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:55.160
 but when you give a feast,

00:08:55.260 --> 00:08:56.360
 Jesus continues to say,

00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:57.660
 but when you give a feast,

00:08:58.460 --> 00:08:59.260
 invite the poor.

00:09:00.540 --> 00:09:02.220
 Change your invitee list.

00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:05.840
 Change who you bring around the table with you.

00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.520
 He says, invite the crippled, the lame, the blind,

00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:12.140
 the same group of people that he mentioned earlier

00:09:12.140 --> 00:09:14.420
 in the chapter.

00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.060
 Verse 14,

00:09:16.420 --> 00:09:17.420
 and you will be blessed.

00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:21.080
 You see, if you just take somebody out for a meal

00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.260
 or you invite them to your house for a meal

00:09:23.260 --> 00:09:24.520
 and they do that in return,

00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:26.400
 that's not really a blessing.

00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:29.120
 You're just putting on an expectation.

00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.100
 But Jesus says,

00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:33.920
 if you invite someone to your table

00:09:33.920 --> 00:09:36.440
 who can't invite you back,

00:09:37.280 --> 00:09:39.560
 then you're inviting out of compassion.

00:09:40.520 --> 00:09:42.040
 You're inviting out of a need.

00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.020
 And as a result of that,

00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:45.700
 you're going to receive my blessing.

00:09:46.660 --> 00:09:48.420
 A blessing is not going to come to you

00:09:48.420 --> 00:09:49.980
 in a monetary sense,

00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:51.820
 but the blessing is going to come to you

00:09:51.820 --> 00:09:54.460
 because you've done something for someone else.

00:09:54.900 --> 00:09:57.240
 And that's a problem that they had.

00:09:57.900 --> 00:09:59.520
 They were so caught up on their self,

00:09:59.660 --> 00:10:00.540
 exalting their self,

00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:01.880
 that we see earlier in the chapter,

00:10:02.300 --> 00:10:04.940
 that humility wasn't even in their vocabulary.

00:10:06.180 --> 00:10:08.220
 But Jesus continues to press in on them

00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:09.420
 to help them to realize

00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:12.420
 what he calls people to do.

00:10:13.640 --> 00:10:14.340
 And you will be blessed

00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.840
 because they cannot repay you,

00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:16.960
 for you will be repaid

00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.100
 at the resurrection of the just.

00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:21.680
 In several other translations,

00:10:22.040 --> 00:10:24.000
 that resurrection of the just

00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.380
 also reads rejection,

00:10:25.900 --> 00:10:26.640
 not rejection,

00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:29.180
 resurrection of the righteous.

00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.760
 Resurrection of the righteous

00:10:31.760 --> 00:10:34.300
 is resurrection for those who follow Christ,

00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:35.720
 who serve him,

00:10:35.800 --> 00:10:37.500
 who love him as their Lord and Savior.

00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.480
 That's what that reference is.

00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:41.000
 You see, you and I know

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:41.840
 that Jesus' goal

00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:43.340
 was to build relationships

00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:45.020
 with an invitation.

00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:48.540
 Not to build relationships

00:10:48.540 --> 00:10:50.180
 in hopes to get something back.

00:10:50.900 --> 00:10:52.020
 We also see in here

00:10:52.020 --> 00:10:53.580
 that there is an earthly blessing

00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:55.460
 by inviting someone

00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:56.640
 out of compassion

00:10:56.640 --> 00:10:57.460
 and out of humility,

00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:59.140
 but there's also

00:10:59.140 --> 00:11:00.740
 the eternal repayment

00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:03.720
 for doing what God calls you and I to do.

00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.460
 as his child.

00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:07.880
 You see, new friendships

00:11:07.880 --> 00:11:08.760
 are a blessing.

00:11:10.380 --> 00:11:11.540
 When you and I

00:11:11.540 --> 00:11:13.440
 get to know somebody

00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:14.460
 for the first time,

00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:17.000
 we begin a journey with them

00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:17.700
 and in turn,

00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:19.360
 it becomes a blessing to us.

00:11:20.260 --> 00:11:21.680
 I don't know how many times

00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:22.760
 in my own life

00:11:22.760 --> 00:11:25.180
 where I've prejudged someone

00:11:25.180 --> 00:11:27.220
 to thankfully learn

00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:28.460
 that they were far away

00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:29.240
 from what I thought.

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.320
 God began to open up a door

00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:33.580
 to open up clearly

00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:35.840
 what that person means.

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:38.480
 God clearly showed me

00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.500
 the investment that I can make

00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:41.040
 and the investment

00:11:41.040 --> 00:11:42.140
 that they can make in my life

00:11:42.140 --> 00:11:43.900
 to help me to be a person

00:11:43.900 --> 00:11:45.460
 that God desires for me to be.

00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:47.460
 God uses relationships

00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.720
 to refine us.

00:11:49.880 --> 00:11:51.200
 God uses relationships

00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:53.320
 to bring us closer to him

00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.000
 as they speak into our lives.

00:11:55.880 --> 00:11:57.380
 But when we only invite

00:11:57.380 --> 00:11:59.220
 a certain circle of friends,

00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:00.660
 we lose out

00:12:00.660 --> 00:12:01.860
 on all the other blessings

00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.680
 around us

00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:04.040
 that come in the form

00:12:04.040 --> 00:12:04.920
 of relationships.

00:12:05.800 --> 00:12:06.980
 And they couldn't see that.

00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.100
 But yet,

00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:09.100
 Jesus was trying

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:10.520
 to help them realize that.

00:12:11.520 --> 00:12:12.720
 When was the last time

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.040
 that you blessed somebody

00:12:14.040 --> 00:12:17.380
 simply by saying a kind word?

00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:19.760
 When was the last time

00:12:19.760 --> 00:12:20.700
 you blessed somebody

00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:22.120
 by simply acknowledging

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.920
 their presence?

00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:26.160
 Have you ever been surprised

00:12:26.160 --> 00:12:27.140
 when you're at Walmart

00:12:27.140 --> 00:12:28.080
 or Target

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.380
 or wherever you find yourself

00:12:29.380 --> 00:12:31.440
 and you simply extend

00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.200
 a kind gesture of hello?

00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:35.200
 How are you doing?

00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:36.900
 Are you having a good day?

00:12:38.020 --> 00:12:39.240
 There's been many times

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.560
 when I've said those phrases

00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:42.940
 that I get this look

00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:43.540
 of shock

00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:44.640
 in the person's face

00:12:44.640 --> 00:12:46.160
 because nobody

00:12:46.160 --> 00:12:47.340
 has said that to them.

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.040
 It's amazing

00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:50.000
 what you and I

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.960
 through the power of God

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.440
 can do

00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:53.060
 through a simple gesture

00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:53.760
 of kindness

00:12:53.760 --> 00:12:55.380
 by greeting someone

00:12:55.380 --> 00:12:56.340
 and acknowledging

00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:57.060
 that person

00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:59.460
 because too many times

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.380
 they go through their day

00:13:00.380 --> 00:13:01.580
 where nobody acknowledges

00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.260
 their existence.

00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.920
 And Jesus wanted help

00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:06.380
 to help these men

00:13:06.380 --> 00:13:07.100
 in this room

00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:07.820
 in this home

00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.020
 to realize

00:13:09.020 --> 00:13:09.800
 that they need

00:13:09.800 --> 00:13:10.420
 to acknowledge

00:13:10.420 --> 00:13:11.100
 those

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.080
 that they normally

00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:13.180
 don't acknowledge.

00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:16.280
 And the final point

00:13:16.280 --> 00:13:16.820
 of that verse

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.760
 says to you and I

00:13:17.760 --> 00:13:18.720
 as Christ followers

00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.180
 our repayment

00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:21.640
 comes at the resurrection.

00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:24.200
 We're not getting chips

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.300
 we're not getting coins

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:25.920
 we're not getting

00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.840
 anything like that

00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:27.240
 on earth

00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:27.860
 because God

00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.920
 doesn't work that way.

00:13:29.920 --> 00:13:30.880
 But what God does

00:13:30.880 --> 00:13:31.660
 for you and I

00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:32.980
 is at the resurrection

00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:33.660
 when we spend

00:13:33.660 --> 00:13:34.560
 eternity with him.

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:36.660
 In verse 15

00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:37.260
 as we go on

00:13:37.260 --> 00:13:37.800
 we see this

00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.600
 when one of those

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.560
 who reclined

00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:40.160
 at the table

00:13:40.160 --> 00:13:40.580
 with him

00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:41.520
 heard these things

00:13:41.520 --> 00:13:43.160
 he said to him

00:13:43.160 --> 00:13:44.300
 this man said

00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:44.980
 to Jesus

00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:47.620
 blessed is everyone

00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:48.660
 who will eat bread

00:13:48.660 --> 00:13:49.360
 in the kingdom

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.140
 of God.

00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:52.860
 Now we kind of

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.340
 get the idea

00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:53.960
 that maybe he's

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.400
 getting ahead

00:13:54.400 --> 00:13:54.980
 of himself.

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.200
 Now here's a Pharisee

00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:59.100
 who doesn't know

00:13:59.100 --> 00:13:59.900
 who is actually

00:13:59.900 --> 00:14:01.180
 sitting in his presence

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:02.040
 but yet

00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:02.920
 he is projecting

00:14:02.920 --> 00:14:03.360
 the fact

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:03.920
 that he's going

00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:04.680
 to be blessed

00:14:04.680 --> 00:14:05.680
 when he gets

00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.400
 into the kingdom

00:14:06.400 --> 00:14:06.980
 of God.

00:14:08.140 --> 00:14:08.900
 And I think

00:14:08.900 --> 00:14:09.840
 we realize

00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.460
 and we see

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.000
 in this passage

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.480
 of scripture

00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.380
 Jesus' approach

00:14:13.380 --> 00:14:14.340
 to his comment

00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.380
 by how Jesus

00:14:16.380 --> 00:14:17.360
 responds

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.180
 to his comment.

00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:20.000
 Truly

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.480
 he made

00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.540
 a true statement

00:14:21.540 --> 00:14:23.260
 but yet

00:14:23.260 --> 00:14:24.120
 his own life

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.880
 this Pharisee

00:14:24.880 --> 00:14:25.580
 his own life

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.700
 did not represent

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.460
 the statement

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.240
 that he made.

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.060
 Because listen

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:30.580
 to what Jesus

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.040
 says

00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:32.980
 but he

00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:33.320
 Jesus

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.240
 said to him

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.340
 a man once

00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.480
 gave a great banquet

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:39.040
 so he's beginning

00:14:39.040 --> 00:14:39.800
 to unfold

00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:40.340
 a story

00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.100
 for this man

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.700
 to help him

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.540
 see a truth

00:14:43.540 --> 00:14:44.540
 that he's not

00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.620
 seeing any other way.

00:14:46.520 --> 00:14:47.080
 A man once

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:48.080
 gave a great banquet

00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.120
 and invited many.

00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:50.980
 Now you and I

00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:51.980
 got to realize

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.620
 as followers

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.260
 of Christ

00:14:53.260 --> 00:14:55.020
 in our relationship

00:14:55.020 --> 00:14:55.580
 with God

00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.160
 and God's

00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:56.640
 relationship

00:14:56.640 --> 00:14:57.440
 with the world

00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.240
 it's not about

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.700
 a few

00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.560
 it's about

00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:00.980
 the many.

00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:02.740
 It's about

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.800
 his message

00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.460
 of the gospel

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.720
 reaching everybody

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.760
 in this world

00:15:06.760 --> 00:15:07.780
 that he has created

00:15:07.780 --> 00:15:08.940
 and he's created

00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:09.640
 everyone.

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.140
 So when we see

00:15:12.140 --> 00:15:12.700
 there that

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:14.060
 this man

00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:15.720
 when we look

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.120
 at it from

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.700
 an eternal

00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:17.380
 perspective

00:15:17.380 --> 00:15:18.440
 of this parable

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.460
 this man

00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:20.500
 is representing

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.120
 God.

00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:22.920
 Not just

00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:24.040
 an ordinary man

00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:25.160
 there's two

00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:26.980
 stories going on

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.200
 here.

00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.040
 There's the

00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:28.720
 earthly story

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.320
 the practical

00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:29.940
 side of it

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.320
 but there's

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.540
 also the

00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:32.460
 spiritual side

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:32.700
 of it

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.200
 there's the

00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:33.980
 eternal side

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.260
 of it

00:15:34.260 --> 00:15:34.740
 that God

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.160
 is pointing

00:15:35.160 --> 00:15:35.520
 out.

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.420
 A man once

00:15:37.420 --> 00:15:37.920
 gave a great

00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:38.260
 banquet

00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:38.680
 and invited

00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:39.020
 many

00:15:39.020 --> 00:15:39.860
 and at the

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.540
 time for

00:15:40.540 --> 00:15:41.060
 the banquet

00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:41.880
 he sent

00:15:41.880 --> 00:15:42.360
 his servant

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:42.940
 to say

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:43.600
 to those

00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.060
 who had

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.760
 been invited

00:15:44.760 --> 00:15:45.640
 come

00:15:45.640 --> 00:15:46.260
 for everything

00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:46.760
 is now

00:15:46.760 --> 00:15:47.100
 ready.

00:15:47.880 --> 00:15:48.460
 It was a

00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.000
 custom of

00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:49.580
 that day

00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.620
 to send

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.060
 out two

00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:52.120
 invitations.

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.380
 It kind

00:15:53.380 --> 00:15:53.820
 of reminded

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.220
 me as I

00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.540
 read that

00:15:54.540 --> 00:15:54.800
 it kind

00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.180
 of reminded

00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:55.460
 me of

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:55.760
 you know

00:15:55.760 --> 00:15:56.580
 if you get

00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:56.960
 one of those

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.500
 cards in

00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:57.800
 the mail

00:15:57.800 --> 00:15:58.140
 that says

00:15:58.140 --> 00:15:58.640
 save the

00:15:58.640 --> 00:15:58.920
 date

00:15:58.920 --> 00:15:59.440
 you know

00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.220
 mark this

00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.780
 date on

00:16:00.780 --> 00:16:01.440
 because here's

00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.140
 our celebration

00:16:02.140 --> 00:16:02.780
 coming whether

00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:04.000
 it be marriage

00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.520
 whether it be

00:16:04.520 --> 00:16:05.220
 some other type

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.860
 of announcement

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:07.520
 but in that

00:16:07.520 --> 00:16:08.340
 day and time

00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:09.780
 two invitations

00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:10.420
 went out.

00:16:10.900 --> 00:16:11.700
 The first

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.560
 invitation was

00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.180
 to find out

00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:13.920
 who is actually

00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.840
 going to come

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.940
 to the banquet.

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.480
 They got the

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.120
 yes or they

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:18.780
 got the no

00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:20.720
 and so they

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.380
 would come back

00:16:21.380 --> 00:16:21.960
 based on the

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.500
 yes and they

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.200
 would plan and

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:23.820
 they would prep

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.520
 for that

00:16:24.520 --> 00:16:24.920
 banquet.

00:16:25.280 --> 00:16:25.720
 Everything

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.200
 that was

00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:27.000
 involved, all

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:27.440
 the food

00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:27.760
 that was

00:16:27.760 --> 00:16:28.880
 involved, all

00:16:28.880 --> 00:16:29.400
 the extra

00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.340
 special things

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:30.600
 that were

00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:31.160
 involved in

00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:31.700
 setting up

00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.300
 this banquet

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:33.360
 that was

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:33.800
 the first

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.400
 invitation.

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.020
 But then

00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:36.880
 when the

00:16:36.880 --> 00:16:37.380
 person who

00:16:37.380 --> 00:16:37.940
 put on the

00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:38.700
 banquet or

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.480
 put on the

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.880
 gathering had

00:16:40.880 --> 00:16:41.960
 everything ready

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.940
 everything was

00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.960
 prepared and

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.900
 prepped and

00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:46.860
 ready to serve

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.880
 then he would

00:16:47.880 --> 00:16:48.360
 send that

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.400
 servant back out

00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:49.980
 to those who

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:51.360
 said yes to

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.200
 say now is

00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:52.640
 the time.

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:53.960
 So it's not

00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.420
 like you get

00:16:54.420 --> 00:16:55.000
 an invitation

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:55.560
 in the mail

00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:56.020
 and it says

00:16:56.020 --> 00:16:57.980
 on July 21st

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.340
 at 7pm

00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.200
 show up at

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.740
 my house.

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:02.280
 When the

00:17:02.280 --> 00:17:02.700
 food was

00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.320
 ready that's

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:03.760
 when you got

00:17:03.760 --> 00:17:04.220
 the second

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.780
 invitation.

00:17:05.260 --> 00:17:05.520
 When the

00:17:05.520 --> 00:17:06.040
 banquet was

00:17:06.040 --> 00:17:06.600
 ready that's

00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:07.000
 when you got

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.440
 the second

00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:07.960
 invitation.

00:17:08.520 --> 00:17:08.840
 So the

00:17:08.840 --> 00:17:09.440
 servant goes

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:11.140
 out and

00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:11.720
 invites and

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.480
 tells everybody

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.200
 come for

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.580
 everything is

00:17:14.580 --> 00:17:14.940
 ready.

00:17:15.800 --> 00:17:16.340
 Now again

00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:18.100
 the second

00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:19.020
 part of this

00:17:19.020 --> 00:17:20.200
 parable is

00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:20.860
 talking about

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.380
 eternity.

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.900
 And as I

00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:23.560
 read this

00:17:23.560 --> 00:17:24.400
 part there's

00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.120
 another thing

00:17:25.120 --> 00:17:26.140
 in scripture

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.700
 that talks

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.460
 about eternity.

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:28.900
 Jesus is

00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:29.420
 talking to

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.060
 his disciples

00:17:30.060 --> 00:17:30.600
 in John

00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:31.480
 chapter 14.

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:32.720
 And so

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.220
 when I read

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.060
 this my mind

00:17:34.060 --> 00:17:34.800
 also went to

00:17:34.800 --> 00:17:35.520
 this passage

00:17:35.520 --> 00:17:36.900
 because it

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.640
 helps us see

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.420
 the mind of

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.780
 God and

00:17:39.780 --> 00:17:40.340
 how God

00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:41.120
 prepares for

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:41.720
 his people

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.300
 who love

00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:42.640
 him, who

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.160
 serve him,

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.680
 who obey

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.520
 him, who

00:17:44.520 --> 00:17:45.180
 call him

00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:45.740
 father.

00:17:46.540 --> 00:17:47.420
 John 14

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.460
 2-3 says

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.200
 in my

00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.700
 father's

00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.380
 house are

00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:50.660
 many

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.220
 rooms.

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.580
 Once again

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.280
 we get that

00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:53.900
 word, that

00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.640
 concept of

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.260
 many, not

00:17:55.260 --> 00:17:55.680
 a few.

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.760
 God has

00:17:56.760 --> 00:17:57.480
 plans for

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.300
 everyone,

00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.040
 everyone who

00:18:00.040 --> 00:18:00.400
 will call

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:00.660
 on his

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.020
 name.

00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:01.940
 He goes

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.260
 on to

00:18:02.260 --> 00:18:02.480
 say,

00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:03.020
 if it

00:18:03.020 --> 00:18:03.340
 were not

00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:03.880
 so, would

00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.160
 I have

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.580
 told you

00:18:04.580 --> 00:18:04.900
 that I

00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:06.200
 go to

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.340
 prepare a

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.460
 place for

00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:08.800
 you.

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.440
 In

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:10.680
 Jesus'

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.480
 story, in

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.360
 parable, he

00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.840
 talks about

00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.500
 preparing a

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:13.800
 meal.

00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:14.700
 In this

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.400
 message to the

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.360
 disciples, he

00:18:16.360 --> 00:18:16.880
 talks about

00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.460
 preparing a

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:17.860
 place.

00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:19.700
 And if I

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:19.980
 go and

00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.360
 prepare a

00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:20.800
 place for

00:18:20.800 --> 00:18:21.060
 you, I

00:18:21.060 --> 00:18:21.360
 will come

00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:21.860
 again and

00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.240
 will take

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.520
 you to

00:18:22.520 --> 00:18:23.580
 myself, that

00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:24.220
 where I

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.840
 am, you

00:18:24.840 --> 00:18:25.340
 may be

00:18:25.340 --> 00:18:25.880
 also.

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:26.820
 God's

00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.480
 desire for

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.200
 you, God's

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:28.760
 desire for

00:18:28.760 --> 00:18:29.360
 me, God's

00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:29.920
 desire for

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.820
 all creation

00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:32.440
 is that we

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.040
 live in

00:18:33.040 --> 00:18:33.740
 eternity in

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.140
 the presence

00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:34.620
 of God.

00:18:35.760 --> 00:18:36.240
 And that

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:36.880
 is a part

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.320
 of what

00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:38.340
 this parable

00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:38.900
 is about.

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:40.740
 We go on

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.140
 to see,

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.340
 but they

00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.240
 all alike

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.040
 began to

00:18:44.040 --> 00:18:44.440
 make

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.500
 excuses.

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.240
 not just

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.700
 one of

00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:47.940
 them that

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.560
 said yes,

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.620
 not just

00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:50.060
 two of

00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:50.300
 them that

00:18:50.300 --> 00:18:50.960
 said yes,

00:18:51.540 --> 00:18:52.280
 but every

00:18:52.280 --> 00:18:53.600
 one of

00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.620
 the invitees

00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:55.280
 who said

00:18:55.280 --> 00:18:55.960
 yes to

00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.440
 coming to

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:56.940
 the banquet

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:58.160
 came up

00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.480
 with an

00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.060
 excuse for

00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:00.480
 why they

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:00.860
 couldn't.

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.720
 The first

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.060
 said to

00:19:03.060 --> 00:19:03.700
 him, I

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.040
 have bought

00:19:04.040 --> 00:19:04.480
 a field

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.760
 and I

00:19:04.760 --> 00:19:05.160
 must go

00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.640
 out and

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.060
 see it.

00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:06.860
 Please

00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:07.260
 have me

00:19:07.260 --> 00:19:07.960
 excused.

00:19:08.760 --> 00:19:09.180
 And another

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.560
 said, I

00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:09.900
 have bought

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.740
 five yoke of

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.500
 oxen and I

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:11.960
 go to

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.760
 examine them.

00:19:13.540 --> 00:19:13.760
 Please

00:19:13.760 --> 00:19:14.180
 have me

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.900
 excused.

00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:16.960
 So in

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.840
 this case,

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.420
 these two

00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.400
 have possessions

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.620
 that are

00:19:20.620 --> 00:19:21.300
 more important

00:19:21.300 --> 00:19:21.800
 than coming

00:19:21.800 --> 00:19:22.220
 to this

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.580
 banquet.

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.700
 Now this

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.520
 is the

00:19:24.520 --> 00:19:24.960
 banquet.

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.160
 This is

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.700
 the most

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.140
 important

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:27.700
 banquet of

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.300
 their life.

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.040
 This is

00:19:30.040 --> 00:19:30.500
 God's

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:30.860
 banquet.

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.520
 And yet

00:19:32.520 --> 00:19:32.960
 they have

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.140
 excuses for

00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:34.540
 why they

00:19:34.540 --> 00:19:34.920
 can't.

00:19:35.520 --> 00:19:35.720
 Their

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.320
 possessions

00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:37.180
 became more

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.820
 important to

00:19:37.820 --> 00:19:38.820
 them than

00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:39.380
 becoming a

00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:39.820
 part of the

00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.300
 banquet that

00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:40.700
 God was

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:40.980
 throwing,

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.840
 that this

00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:42.420
 man was

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:42.720
 throwing.

00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:44.600
 It goes

00:19:44.600 --> 00:19:45.180
 on to say

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.600
 there, it

00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:45.940
 says, and

00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.780
 another said, I

00:19:46.780 --> 00:19:47.340
 have married a

00:19:47.340 --> 00:19:47.820
 wife and

00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.780
 therefore I

00:19:48.780 --> 00:19:49.500
 cannot come.

00:19:50.020 --> 00:19:50.440
 Now he's

00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:50.940
 blaming his

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.400
 spouse.

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.200
 He's blaming

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.420
 his wife for

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.080
 why he can't

00:19:54.080 --> 00:19:54.340
 come.

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.560
 There are

00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:58.440
 times in a

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.320
 person's life

00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:01.020
 that relationships

00:20:01.020 --> 00:20:03.180
 become more

00:20:03.180 --> 00:20:04.920
 important than

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.380
 what God

00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.000
 desires.

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.480
 In this

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.580
 scenario, the

00:20:08.580 --> 00:20:09.660
 relationship with

00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.380
 the spouse was

00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.520
 more important at

00:20:11.520 --> 00:20:12.100
 that moment.

00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.340
 Can all these

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:13.880
 things that

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:14.340
 they brought

00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.120
 up happen

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.560
 at another

00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:15.860
 time?

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.280
 Of course

00:20:16.280 --> 00:20:16.780
 they can.

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.100
 Can this

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:18.660
 person, this

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.300
 man go and

00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:19.720
 see his

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.140
 property?

00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:20.700
 Yes, he

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.020
 can.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.140
 Can this

00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:22.840
 man go and

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.280
 see the

00:20:23.280 --> 00:20:23.860
 oxen that

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.720
 he's purchased?

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.480
 Of course

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:25.960
 he can.

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.620
 Can he

00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.280
 take one

00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:27.960
 moment and

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.860
 not be with

00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:29.360
 his wife?

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:29.840
 Of course

00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.340
 he can.

00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.740
 But they

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.280
 chose the

00:20:33.280 --> 00:20:34.660
 excuse over

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.360
 the presence

00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:36.760
 of the man

00:20:36.760 --> 00:20:37.160
 throwing the

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.460
 banquet.

00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.120
 They chose

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:39.960
 an excuse

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:41.400
 over the

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.200
 opportunity to be

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.400
 in the

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.840
 presence of

00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:43.100
 God.

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.060
 Which causes

00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:46.660
 me to ask

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.380
 myself a

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:47.780
 question.

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.420
 When do

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.140
 I allow

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.860
 possessions and

00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:56.940
 relationships to

00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.840
 get in the way

00:20:57.840 --> 00:20:58.260
 of my

00:20:58.260 --> 00:20:59.040
 relationship with

00:20:59.040 --> 00:20:59.360
 God?

00:21:00.520 --> 00:21:01.680
 Not only when

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.520
 do I, but

00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:03.580
 when have I

00:21:03.580 --> 00:21:04.740
 allowed

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:06.200
 possessions and

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:08.600
 relationships to

00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:09.520
 get in between

00:21:09.520 --> 00:21:10.160
 my relationship

00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:10.500
 with God?

00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:11.020
 Because it

00:21:11.020 --> 00:21:11.560
 happens.

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.380
 God speaks

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.400
 about possessions.

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.200
 God speaks

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.580
 about relationships

00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:17.680
 all throughout

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.220
 his word.

00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:18.740
 And the whole

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.880
 point is for

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.640
 you and I to

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.480
 have relationship

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.160
 with God.

00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:23.360
 Everything else

00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:24.400
 filters itself

00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:24.880
 out.

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.480
 Why did God

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.880
 say in the

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.580
 Ten Commandments,

00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.180
 do not have

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:29.860
 any other God

00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.680
 before me?

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.860
 Because God

00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.740
 desires our

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.280
 attention.

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:36.540
 God desires our

00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:37.480
 full focus.

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.420
 It's not that

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:38.980
 he doesn't want

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.520
 us to have

00:21:39.520 --> 00:21:39.940
 possessions.

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.520
 It's not that

00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:41.140
 he doesn't want

00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.640
 us to have

00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.880
 relationships.

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:46.080
 But he does

00:21:46.080 --> 00:21:46.500
 want to have

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.060
 our attention.

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.700
 He does want

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.240
 to have our

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.480
 relationship with

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:49.740
 him.

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.760
 And it's

00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:52.260
 actually a

00:21:52.260 --> 00:21:52.840
 question that I

00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.440
 got to continue

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.380
 to ask myself

00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:54.980
 and to continue

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.620
 to evaluate

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.540
 myself to make

00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:57.880
 sure possessions

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:59.040
 don't supersede

00:21:59.040 --> 00:21:59.840
 my relationship

00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.960
 with God.

00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.320
 To make sure

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:02.640
 that my

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.240
 relationship with

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.800
 my wife,

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.360
 my relationship

00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.200
 with my sons,

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.340
 my relationship

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.320
 with my friends

00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:07.880
 and the people

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.540
 that I minister

00:22:08.540 --> 00:22:09.260
 with and minister

00:22:09.260 --> 00:22:10.400
 to do not

00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.780
 become the top

00:22:11.780 --> 00:22:14.160
 priority and

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.880
 supersede my

00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.600
 relationship with

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:15.960
 the Lord.

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:18.280
 Jesus goes on

00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:18.860
 to continue to

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.440
 tell the parable.

00:22:19.580 --> 00:22:19.880
 He says,

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:20.860
 so the servant

00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.820
 came and reported

00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:22.580
 these things to

00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.160
 his master.

00:22:23.800 --> 00:22:24.260
 And then the

00:22:24.260 --> 00:22:24.780
 master of the

00:22:24.780 --> 00:22:25.380
 house became

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.220
 angry and said

00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.900
 to his servant,

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:29.360
 go out quickly

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.120
 to the streets.

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.080
 Here's one of

00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:32.500
 those turning

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.320
 point moments

00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:35.840
 for this man

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:36.280
 throwing this

00:22:36.280 --> 00:22:36.620
 banquet.

00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:38.260
 He could have

00:22:38.260 --> 00:22:39.200
 easily scattered

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.660
 everything.

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.180
 He could have

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.900
 easily thrown

00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:41.620
 out all the

00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.160
 preparation,

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.100
 all the food,

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.620
 just disregarded

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.480
 it whatsoever.

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.520
 But yet he

00:22:47.520 --> 00:22:48.740
 chose to take a

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.700
 negative situation

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:51.760
 and to make

00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:52.340
 something good

00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.760
 out of it.

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.760
 He chose to

00:22:55.760 --> 00:22:56.680
 bring others

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.540
 into his home

00:22:57.540 --> 00:22:58.220
 that normally

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.940
 he would not

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.360
 have.

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:00.980
 Go out quickly

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.680
 to the streets

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.240
 and lanes of

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.780
 the city and

00:23:02.780 --> 00:23:03.260
 bring in the

00:23:03.260 --> 00:23:03.840
 poor and the

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.800
 crippled and

00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:05.400
 the blind in

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:05.780
 the lame.

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:06.500
 Once again,

00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:08.280
 Jesus is pressing

00:23:08.280 --> 00:23:09.480
 into these men

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.260
 around the table.

00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:11.860
 These are the

00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:12.480
 people that you

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.380
 need to look for.

00:23:14.520 --> 00:23:15.520
 Quit always

00:23:15.520 --> 00:23:16.320
 looking at the

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.520
 same ones.

00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:19.660
 Invite those

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.280
 that you normally

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:21.200
 do not invite.

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.620
 And the servant

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.040
 said,

00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:24.900
 Sir, what you

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.500
 commanded,

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:27.300
 I love this,

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.680
 Sir, what you

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.260
 have commanded

00:23:29.260 --> 00:23:30.480
 has been done.

00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.260
 I followed

00:23:32.260 --> 00:23:32.760
 through with

00:23:32.760 --> 00:23:33.160
 what your

00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:34.360
 request was.

00:23:35.260 --> 00:23:35.840
 But then he

00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.760
 says, and

00:23:36.760 --> 00:23:38.160
 still there is

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.460
 room.

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.740
 There's still a

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.160
 place for

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.980
 somebody else.

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.400
 There's still a

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.160
 place for more

00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:44.880
 people to come

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.160
 in.

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.320
 And then listen

00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:47.200
 to what Jesus

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.840
 says of the

00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.740
 master's response

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.040
 was.

00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:49.620
 And the master

00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.240
 said to the

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.540
 servant, go out

00:23:51.540 --> 00:23:52.260
 to the highways

00:23:52.260 --> 00:23:53.000
 and the hedges.

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.980
 And listen

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.400
 to this.

00:23:55.520 --> 00:23:56.120
 I think this

00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.860
 word is so

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.540
 important right

00:23:57.540 --> 00:23:57.780
 here.

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.840
 And compel.

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.780
 He didn't say

00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:01.300
 and go out to

00:24:01.300 --> 00:24:02.320
 the highways and

00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:03.200
 the hedges and

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.900
 get people to

00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.300
 come in.

00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:04.900
 He said, no,

00:24:05.280 --> 00:24:06.080
 go out to the

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:06.800
 highway and the

00:24:06.800 --> 00:24:07.440
 hedges and

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.280
 compel people to

00:24:09.280 --> 00:24:09.800
 come in.

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.720
 Aggressively

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.800
 encourage them to

00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.660
 come into my

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.880
 home and sit at

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.480
 my table.

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.520
 Don't be

00:24:16.520 --> 00:24:17.100
 passive.

00:24:17.800 --> 00:24:18.440
 Don't settle

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.320
 for one

00:24:19.320 --> 00:24:20.540
 response but

00:24:20.540 --> 00:24:21.260
 do it until

00:24:21.260 --> 00:24:22.060
 you convince

00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:22.480
 them to

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:22.940
 come into

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.740
 my house

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.740
 because I

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.460
 know how

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.280
 important this

00:24:26.280 --> 00:24:27.540
 meal is for

00:24:27.540 --> 00:24:27.860
 them.

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.800
 Compel them

00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.460
 to come in.

00:24:33.560 --> 00:24:34.060
 When's the

00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:34.880
 last time I

00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.480
 compelled

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.740
 somebody to

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.480
 be a part of

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.340
 what God is

00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:39.720
 about?

00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.380
 When is the

00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:42.980
 last time I

00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.940
 pressed in,

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.220
 pressed in,

00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:45.840
 and pressed

00:24:45.840 --> 00:24:47.860
 in instead

00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:48.620
 of gave in

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.280
 to a simple

00:24:49.280 --> 00:24:49.800
 no?

00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:52.960
 Compel people

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.680
 to come in

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.040
 that my

00:24:54.040 --> 00:24:55.280
 house, once

00:24:55.280 --> 00:24:56.860
 again, Jesus'

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.580
 word, the

00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.300
 reflection of

00:24:58.300 --> 00:24:58.700
 God the

00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.240
 Father, my

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.640
 house may be

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.120
 filled.

00:25:03.540 --> 00:25:04.560
 I just don't

00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:05.040
 want a few

00:25:05.040 --> 00:25:05.680
 people in the

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:05.940
 room.

00:25:06.780 --> 00:25:07.480
 I want them

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.180
 falling out the

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.560
 windows.

00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:09.940
 I want them

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.680
 falling out the

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:10.980
 doors.

00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:12.300
 I want to see a

00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:13.040
 line of people

00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:13.720
 trying to get

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.100
 through the door

00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:16.100
 to get to

00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:16.720
 the feast

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.580
 because that's

00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.380
 what satisfies

00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:19.820
 me.

00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:21.120
 That's what

00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:21.880
 brings glory

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.360
 to me.

00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.720
 And then the

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.920
 last verse of

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.640
 this parable

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:30.660
 is just one of

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.220
 those things

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.760
 that you can

00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:32.460
 call it a gut

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.120
 punch, you can

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:33.920
 call it a slap

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.980
 upside the head,

00:25:35.760 --> 00:25:36.660
 however you want

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.400
 to label it.

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.660
 And Jesus

00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.320
 says,

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:43.120
 for I tell

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:43.540
 you.

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.220
 He's gone

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.860
 now from

00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.460
 telling a

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.840
 parable,

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.440
 telling a

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.940
 story,

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.540
 to now

00:25:49.540 --> 00:25:50.100
 making a

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.500
 statement.

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.120
 For I

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.820
 tell you,

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.760
 none of

00:25:54.760 --> 00:25:55.720
 those men

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.200
 who were

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:57.760
 invited,

00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.620
 talking about

00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.260
 the men who

00:26:00.260 --> 00:26:00.920
 came up with

00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.600
 the excuses,

00:26:02.800 --> 00:26:03.360
 none of

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:03.980
 those men

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.280
 who were

00:26:04.280 --> 00:26:04.740
 invited

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:06.280
 shall taste,

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.680
 very important

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.160
 word,

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.260
 my.

00:26:10.760 --> 00:26:11.460
 None of

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.100
 those men

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.480
 who were

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.220
 invited shall

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.560
 taste my

00:26:14.560 --> 00:26:15.540
 banquet.

00:26:17.260 --> 00:26:17.540
 None of

00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:18.100
 those men

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:18.420
 who were

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.840
 invited shall

00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.140
 see my

00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.120
 eternity.

00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:23.580
 None of

00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:24.080
 those men

00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:24.420
 who were

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.020
 invited shall

00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:27.240
 be in my

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.520
 presence for

00:26:28.520 --> 00:26:29.000
 eternity.

00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.180
 See,

00:26:32.040 --> 00:26:33.080
 Jesus knew

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:33.840
 the heart of

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.620
 that Pharisee

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.100
 who said,

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:36.740
 blessed is the

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.700
 one who eats

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.280
 in the kingdom

00:26:38.280 --> 00:26:38.840
 of God.

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:40.660
 He already

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.080
 knew the

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:41.660
 man's heart.

00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.480
 He knew the

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:43.920
 number of

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.580
 excuses that

00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.500
 man had

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:45.960
 come up

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.940
 with and

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.620
 would continue

00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.240
 to come up

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.560
 with.

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.260
 And right

00:26:50.260 --> 00:26:50.700
 then and

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.020
 there,

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.320
 he said to

00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:52.620
 him,

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:53.820
 it's not

00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.280
 going to be

00:26:54.280 --> 00:26:54.580
 you.

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.500
 And all

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.200
 you who are

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.860
 also sitting

00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:58.500
 at the table,

00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.460
 it's not

00:26:59.460 --> 00:26:59.860
 going to be

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.400
 you either.

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.800
 That's a

00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:04.700
 strong statement.

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.060
 Because you

00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:07.540
 being a

00:27:07.540 --> 00:27:07.840
 Hebrew,

00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.600
 you've kind

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:09.100
 of got this

00:27:09.100 --> 00:27:09.900
 idea that,

00:27:10.060 --> 00:27:10.160
 yeah,

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.480
 it's going

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.020
 to be me

00:27:11.020 --> 00:27:11.400
 because I'm

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.800
 a Hebrew.

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.800
 You be a

00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:14.260
 Pharisee,

00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:14.580
 you've got

00:27:14.580 --> 00:27:15.200
 this idea,

00:27:15.320 --> 00:27:15.460
 yeah,

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.840
 it's going

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.440
 to be me

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.020
 because I'm

00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:17.740
 a Pharisee.

00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.440
 And Jesus

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:18.740
 says,

00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:18.960
 no,

00:27:19.040 --> 00:27:19.360
 you're not

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.760
 listening.

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.060
 You have

00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.360
 ears,

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:21.700
 but you're

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.220
 not hearing

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.460
 me.

00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.780
 You have

00:27:23.780 --> 00:27:24.100
 eyes,

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.420
 but you're

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.020
 not seeing

00:27:25.020 --> 00:27:25.420
 what I'm

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.760
 doing.

00:27:29.280 --> 00:27:29.800
 And he

00:27:29.800 --> 00:27:30.220
 calls them

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.460
 on the

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:30.760
 table.

00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:32.620
 You see,

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.000
 the kingdom

00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.720
 of God is

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.160
 not an

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.820
 entitlement.

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:38.220
 just because

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.760
 I'm a

00:27:38.760 --> 00:27:39.120
 Baptist,

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.340
 just because

00:27:41.340 --> 00:27:43.640
 I have a

00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.000
 Christian

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.660
 faith,

00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.840
 it's not

00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.300
 about

00:27:47.300 --> 00:27:48.020
 entitlement,

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.520
 it's about

00:27:48.520 --> 00:27:49.660
 saying yes

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.920
 in my

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.600
 faith to

00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:53.160
 God as

00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:53.800
 my Lord

00:27:53.800 --> 00:27:54.500
 and as

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.240
 my Savior.

00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.740
 It's saying

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.360
 yes to

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:58.000
 his provision

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.400
 of his

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.840
 son for

00:27:58.840 --> 00:27:59.440
 the forgiveness

00:27:59.440 --> 00:27:59.960
 of my

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.540
 sins.

00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:02.440
 that's

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.220
 what allows

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.580
 me to

00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:03.900
 sit at

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.380
 the table.

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.760
 That's

00:28:05.760 --> 00:28:06.320
 what allows

00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:06.660
 me to

00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.160
 come into

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.660
 the banquet

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.800
 room that

00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.600
 God has.

00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.640
 All through

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.740
 this parable

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.280
 that Pastor

00:28:13.280 --> 00:28:13.760
 Bo's been

00:28:13.760 --> 00:28:14.280
 leading us

00:28:14.280 --> 00:28:14.760
 through this

00:28:14.760 --> 00:28:15.180
 series,

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.600
 he's asked

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:16.900
 us to

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.360
 think about

00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:18.260
 three questions.

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.400
 What does

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.960
 this parable

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.500
 teach me

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.120
 about God?

00:28:23.260 --> 00:28:24.000
 Where do

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.360
 I see

00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:25.080
 myself in

00:28:25.080 --> 00:28:25.680
 this parable?

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.260
 And then

00:28:27.260 --> 00:28:27.660
 lastly,

00:28:27.800 --> 00:28:28.200
 how does

00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.840
 this change

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.340
 the way I

00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.760
 view the

00:28:29.760 --> 00:28:30.920
 world and

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.420
 the way I

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:31.800
 live?

00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:33.920
 So here

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.120
 are the

00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:34.540
 things that

00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:34.940
 stood out

00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.500
 for me as

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.900
 I think

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.320
 about those

00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:36.780
 questions.

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.180
 One,

00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:38.960
 God's

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.700
 invitation is

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.340
 for everyone.

00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:41.740
 God's

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.520
 invitation into

00:28:42.520 --> 00:28:43.200
 a relationship

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.380
 with him is

00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.040
 not limited

00:28:45.040 --> 00:28:45.660
 by our

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.280
 status.

00:28:47.040 --> 00:28:47.500
 It's not

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.100
 limited whether

00:28:48.100 --> 00:28:48.840
 we're rich or

00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.280
 whether we're

00:28:49.280 --> 00:28:49.640
 poor.

00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.620
 It's not

00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.240
 limited whether

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.880
 we're on the

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:53.300
 invite list or

00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:54.080
 the uninvited

00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:54.520
 list.

00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:57.800
 We are

00:28:57.800 --> 00:28:58.560
 invited by

00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:59.640
 God because

00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.240
 we are

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.000
 created by

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.840
 God from

00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:02.180
 the very

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.580
 beginning.

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.300
 We all

00:29:04.300 --> 00:29:04.640
 have the

00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.440
 opportunity to

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.240
 either accept

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.060
 or reject

00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:08.500
 that invitation.

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.800
 But God's

00:29:09.800 --> 00:29:10.560
 invitation is

00:29:10.560 --> 00:29:11.220
 for everyone.

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.520
 Excuses will

00:29:13.520 --> 00:29:14.080
 keep you from

00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:14.700
 the presence of

00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.000
 God.

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.380
 I've had

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.140
 excuses in

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.920
 my life where

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.620
 God through

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.020
 his Holy

00:29:20.020 --> 00:29:20.620
 Spirit has

00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.400
 prompted me

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.580
 to speak,

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.440
 to say,

00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.140
 to do.

00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:25.540
 And I

00:29:25.540 --> 00:29:26.060
 came up with

00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:26.780
 an excuse.

00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:27.880
 And you

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.160
 know what

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.500
 happened?

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.720
 I missed

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.500
 the blessing

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.680
 that would

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.180
 have happened

00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:34.180
 if I would

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.540
 have said

00:29:34.540 --> 00:29:34.960
 yes.

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.680
 By saying

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.440
 no to a

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.640
 simple word

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.320
 or expression

00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:41.120
 from God,

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.620
 I didn't

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.320
 get to receive

00:29:43.320 --> 00:29:43.860
 the blessing.

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.020
 See,

00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:47.060
 excuses keep

00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:47.540
 us out of

00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:48.040
 the presence

00:29:48.040 --> 00:29:48.520
 of God.

00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.500
 Excuses

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.300
 keep us

00:29:50.300 --> 00:29:50.860
 from joining

00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.380
 God in

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.880
 what God

00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.420
 is doing.

00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:53.900
 God is

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.560
 always at

00:29:54.560 --> 00:29:55.100
 work around

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.400
 us.

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.380
 It doesn't

00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:56.960
 matter what's

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.420
 going on.

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.120
 God is

00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.700
 always at

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:58.980
 work.

00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:01.220
 my wife

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.660
 and I

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.420
 went out

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:02.680
 and got

00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.160
 something to

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.520
 eat the

00:30:03.520 --> 00:30:04.000
 other night

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.260
 and we

00:30:04.260 --> 00:30:04.680
 sat at

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.240
 this table

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.200
 and we

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.460
 were like,

00:30:06.540 --> 00:30:07.160
 oh man,

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.640
 ain't no

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.540
 practice going

00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:09.120
 on here.

00:30:09.260 --> 00:30:09.580
 And man,

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.240
 I felt like

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.080
 claustrophobic

00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:12.100
 even if it

00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:13.140
 was no

00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:13.520
 COVID.

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.120
 And hearing

00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:15.940
 this conversation

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.660
 going on at

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:16.980
 the table

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.500
 behind me,

00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:17.820
 I'm like,

00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:18.460
 wow.

00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:20.740
 And then

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.280
 Trish and I

00:30:21.280 --> 00:30:21.660
 were having

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.440
 a conversation

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.800
 about,

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.080
 you know,

00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:23.440
 what does

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.120
 God call

00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.660
 us to do

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.260
 in moments

00:30:25.260 --> 00:30:26.120
 like this?

00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:27.540
 And then

00:30:27.540 --> 00:30:27.880
 all of

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.080
 a sudden

00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:28.320
 that

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.040
 conversation

00:30:29.040 --> 00:30:30.680
 took a

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.040
 turn.

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.320
 And it

00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:32.720
 went from

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.640
 an earthly

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:35.840
 mindset to

00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:36.180
 all of a

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.840
 sudden God

00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.440
 entered into

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.300
 the conversation.

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.140
 And one

00:30:40.140 --> 00:30:40.780
 person at the

00:30:40.780 --> 00:30:41.420
 table was

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.900
 asking him,

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.420
 when's the last

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:42.800
 time you've

00:30:42.800 --> 00:30:43.080
 been to

00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:43.480
 church?

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.640
 And that

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.100
 opened the

00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:45.800
 door to

00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:48.140
 that person's

00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.580
 thought of

00:30:48.580 --> 00:30:49.020
 God,

00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:50.080
 that person's

00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.480
 thought of

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:50.840
 Jesus.

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.260
 And it

00:30:51.260 --> 00:30:52.240
 was on and

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.780
 on and

00:30:52.780 --> 00:30:53.140
 on.

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:53.920
 And I

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.240
 was like,

00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:54.880
 wow,

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.420
 that took

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:55.860
 a turn.

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.800
 But in

00:30:57.800 --> 00:30:58.300
 that moment,

00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:58.860
 Trish and I

00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.320
 were saying,

00:30:59.440 --> 00:30:59.760
 what do we

00:30:59.760 --> 00:31:00.100
 do?

00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.300
 And in

00:31:01.300 --> 00:31:01.700
 that moment,

00:31:01.780 --> 00:31:02.260
 God says,

00:31:02.320 --> 00:31:02.620
 I'm going to

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.060
 change this

00:31:03.060 --> 00:31:03.760
 conversation.

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.080
 And I'm

00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:05.840
 going to give

00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:06.060
 you an

00:31:06.060 --> 00:31:06.660
 opportunity to

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.180
 do something.

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.060
 And I'll

00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:08.500
 be honest

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:08.920
 with you.

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.000
 In all my

00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.600
 life as a

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.060
 Christian and

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:12.540
 a minister,

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.420
 I have never

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.200
 done this.

00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:15.860
 I wrote

00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:17.480
 my name and

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.820
 my church and

00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:19.400
 my phone

00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.360
 number on

00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:21.080
 my receipt.

00:31:22.340 --> 00:31:22.940
 And I

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.440
 went to

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:23.940
 their table

00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.380
 when I

00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:24.880
 left and

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.280
 I said,

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:25.580
 hey,

00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.540
 don't mean

00:31:26.540 --> 00:31:27.280
 to eavesdrop.

00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.200
 They started

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.940
 to laugh because

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.580
 they knew the

00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.400
 conversation was

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.100
 pretty loud.

00:31:32.040 --> 00:31:32.900
 And the person

00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.360
 says,

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:33.820
 you just

00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:34.160
 happened to

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:34.580
 be sitting

00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:34.940
 near a

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.720
 pastor tonight.

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.560
 And that

00:31:36.560 --> 00:31:37.220
 guy started

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:37.880
 to laugh.

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.040
 And I

00:31:39.040 --> 00:31:39.400
 heard him

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:40.120
 laugh as I

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:40.520
 laid that

00:31:40.520 --> 00:31:41.040
 paper down

00:31:41.040 --> 00:31:41.420
 and walked

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:41.800
 away.

00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:43.500
 But God

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.080
 spoke pretty

00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:44.460
 clearly.

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.360
 He spoke

00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:46.860
 even clearly

00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.200
 through my

00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:47.440
 wife.

00:31:47.520 --> 00:31:47.620
 He said,

00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:47.920
 what are you

00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.180
 going to

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.420
 do?

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:51.700
 But God

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:51.980
 was in

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.140
 that

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.560
 moment

00:31:52.560 --> 00:31:53.180
 and I

00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:53.520
 stepped

00:31:53.520 --> 00:31:53.980
 forward.

00:31:55.060 --> 00:31:55.500
 What's

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:55.700
 going to

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.100
 come of

00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.220
 it?

00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:56.700
 I have

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.220
 no idea.

00:31:58.880 --> 00:31:59.420
 But in

00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.840
 that moment

00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:00.160
 whatever

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.840
 seed that

00:32:00.840 --> 00:32:01.440
 God called

00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.720
 me to

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.040
 do,

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.700
 I did.

00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.860
 Thankfully

00:32:03.860 --> 00:32:04.300
 I didn't

00:32:04.300 --> 00:32:04.720
 come up

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.040
 with an

00:32:05.040 --> 00:32:05.820
 excuse that

00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.160
 I needed

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.420
 to get

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.660
 out of

00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:06.780
 the

00:32:06.780 --> 00:32:07.160
 restaurant.

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.060
 But I

00:32:09.060 --> 00:32:09.640
 enjoyed an

00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.320
 opportunity to

00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:10.700
 be in the

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.160
 presence of

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:11.480
 God,

00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:12.540
 however God

00:32:12.540 --> 00:32:13.160
 chooses to

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.640
 use that

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:13.980
 moment.

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:15.940
 but most

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.480
 importantly

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:18.400
 constant

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.320
 excuses

00:32:19.320 --> 00:32:21.500
 will lead

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:21.800
 you to

00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:22.360
 an eternity

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:22.760
 without

00:32:22.760 --> 00:32:23.240
 God.

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.340
 Hear me

00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:25.740
 out now.

00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:26.840
 Constant

00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:28.080
 excuses

00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:30.000
 will leave

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.740
 you in

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.400
 an eternity

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.260
 without

00:32:32.260 --> 00:32:32.820
 God.

00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:34.280
 Because there

00:32:34.280 --> 00:32:34.820
 will come a

00:32:34.820 --> 00:32:35.520
 day when you

00:32:35.520 --> 00:32:36.300
 say no,

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.380
 when you

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:38.940
 come up with

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.980
 another excuse

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.680
 will be the

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.500
 last opportunity

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.160
 you have.

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:44.420
 You and I

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.060
 do not know

00:32:45.060 --> 00:32:45.600
 the day or

00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.300
 the time in

00:32:46.300 --> 00:32:46.860
 which we're

00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.500
 called to

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.640
 our eternal

00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.480
 existence.

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.620
 That existence

00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:52.200
 is either in

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:52.880
 the presence of

00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.440
 God as we

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.540
 see scripture

00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.120
 talk about

00:32:55.120 --> 00:32:55.460
 heaven,

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:59.180
 or it is in

00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.580
 an eternal

00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:02.000
 existence away

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.560
 from God,

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.200
 apart from

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.600
 God,

00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.760
 what we see

00:33:04.760 --> 00:33:05.160
 in scripture

00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:05.620
 is called

00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:05.940
 hell.

00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:08.020
 We don't

00:33:08.020 --> 00:33:08.540
 know the

00:33:08.540 --> 00:33:09.300
 day or the

00:33:09.300 --> 00:33:09.780
 time,

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.200
 but our

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:11.960
 opportunity for

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.800
 excuses will

00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:13.320
 run out by

00:33:13.320 --> 00:33:13.860
 our opportunity

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.220
 to be able

00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:14.500
 to say

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.580
 yes and

00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:16.060
 to step

00:33:16.060 --> 00:33:16.540
 into a

00:33:16.540 --> 00:33:17.140
 relationship

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:18.040
 with the

00:33:18.040 --> 00:33:19.100
 Lord who

00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:19.880
 created you

00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.160
 and who

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:20.880
 loves you.

00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.580
 We don't

00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:22.920
 know how

00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:23.220
 long that

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.580
 will be.

00:33:24.760 --> 00:33:25.440
 The other

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:25.940
 thing that I

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:27.120
 see here is

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:27.940
 God doesn't

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.700
 have limited

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.100
 seating.

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.060
 God's invitation

00:33:31.060 --> 00:33:31.900
 is for everyone,

00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:33.240
 but also God

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:33.760
 doesn't have

00:33:33.760 --> 00:33:34.440
 limited seating.

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.260
 There's always

00:33:36.260 --> 00:33:37.360
 a chair at

00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:37.760
 the table.

00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:39.540
 Somebody fills

00:33:39.540 --> 00:33:40.080
 up that chair,

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.560
 guess what?

00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:41.020
 Another one's

00:33:41.020 --> 00:33:41.480
 going to pop

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:41.720
 up.

00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:42.760
 There's

00:33:42.760 --> 00:33:43.280
 always a

00:33:43.280 --> 00:33:43.620
 seat at

00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.080
 the table

00:33:44.080 --> 00:33:45.020
 with God

00:33:45.020 --> 00:33:45.780
 in the

00:33:45.780 --> 00:33:46.300
 presence of

00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:46.580
 God.

00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:47.800
 And that

00:33:47.800 --> 00:33:48.160
 is the

00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:48.720
 beauty of

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.120
 having a

00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:49.540
 relationship

00:33:49.540 --> 00:33:50.040
 with God.

00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:50.760
 That is

00:33:50.760 --> 00:33:51.280
 the beauty

00:33:51.280 --> 00:33:51.960
 of you

00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.240
 and I

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.780
 as believers.

00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:53.800
 We have

00:33:53.800 --> 00:33:54.460
 the opportunity

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.100
 not only to

00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:56.520
 receive the

00:33:56.520 --> 00:33:57.020
 invitation,

00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:58.320
 but to also

00:33:58.320 --> 00:33:59.240
 extend the

00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.960
 invitation to

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.320
 others.

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.700
 We have the

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.540
 opportunity to

00:34:02.540 --> 00:34:03.160
 allow God

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.980
 to be spoken

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.400
 of.

00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:06.200
 The church I

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.860
 grew up in,

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.560
 I was a

00:34:07.560 --> 00:34:08.220
 student ministry

00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:09.000
 intern, me and

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.040
 another guy.

00:34:10.220 --> 00:34:10.540
 And each

00:34:10.540 --> 00:34:11.060
 week we had

00:34:11.060 --> 00:34:11.680
 to sit with

00:34:11.680 --> 00:34:12.520
 our youth

00:34:12.520 --> 00:34:13.240
 pastor, our

00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:14.660
 boss, and

00:34:14.660 --> 00:34:15.180
 basically it was

00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:15.760
 a time of

00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.840
 discipleship where

00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.580
 he poured into

00:34:17.580 --> 00:34:18.160
 us and he

00:34:18.160 --> 00:34:18.940
 challenged us.

00:34:19.060 --> 00:34:19.660
 And we

00:34:19.660 --> 00:34:20.180
 happened to be

00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:20.720
 talking about

00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.280
 sharing our

00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:21.980
 faith that day

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.000
 and he simply

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.520
 looked at me

00:34:23.520 --> 00:34:23.900
 and he said,

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.340
 David, you

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:24.600
 know what

00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:25.100
 your problem

00:34:25.100 --> 00:34:25.480
 is?

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.440
 He said,

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.180
 you think you've

00:34:28.180 --> 00:34:28.820
 got to begin

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.640
 the conversation

00:34:29.640 --> 00:34:31.140
 of salvation and

00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:31.640
 you've got to

00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.560
 finish it at the

00:34:32.560 --> 00:34:33.900
 finish line and

00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:34.940
 see that person

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.500
 come to know

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:35.820
 the Lord.

00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.180
 He said,

00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:37.020
 that becomes a

00:34:37.020 --> 00:34:37.640
 stumbling block

00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:38.140
 for you.

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:39.580
 He says,

00:34:39.620 --> 00:34:40.260
 Dave, you've

00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:41.020
 got to look for

00:34:41.020 --> 00:34:41.620
 an opportunity

00:34:41.620 --> 00:34:42.340
 and a way just

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.280
 to bring God

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:43.940
 up in the

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.280
 conversation and

00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:46.320
 let God do

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.940
 the rest.

00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:49.160
 And over 30

00:34:49.160 --> 00:34:50.080
 plus years that

00:34:50.080 --> 00:34:50.740
 has stuck with

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.000
 me.

00:34:52.080 --> 00:34:52.840
 That God just

00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:53.340
 wants me to

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.160
 drop a seed.

00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:55.940
 God just wants

00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.680
 me to bring his

00:34:56.680 --> 00:34:57.440
 name up in the

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.040
 conversation,

00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:59.020
 however that can

00:34:59.020 --> 00:34:59.340
 happen.

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.120
 You're having a

00:35:01.120 --> 00:35:01.980
 conversation with

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.660
 a friend and

00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:03.660
 maybe they're

00:35:03.660 --> 00:35:04.100
 going through

00:35:04.100 --> 00:35:04.860
 something and you

00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:05.440
 simply say,

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.440
 I'm going to

00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.260
 pray for you.

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.160
 Most people know

00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:09.660
 that when you're

00:35:09.660 --> 00:35:10.100
 talking about

00:35:10.100 --> 00:35:11.060
 prayer, you're

00:35:11.060 --> 00:35:11.440
 talking about

00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.340
 going to God

00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.740
 regardless of

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.380
 who they are in

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:14.960
 their faith and

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.580
 their walk or

00:35:15.580 --> 00:35:16.060
 what they know

00:35:16.060 --> 00:35:16.440
 of God or

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:16.600
 not.

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:17.460
 When you say

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.280
 prayer, they

00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:18.920
 kind of have an

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.620
 idea of what

00:35:19.620 --> 00:35:20.060
 you're talking

00:35:20.060 --> 00:35:20.360
 about.

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.640
 You and I

00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:24.460
 look for ways

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:25.140
 and opportunities

00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:25.960
 to bring God

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.360
 up in the

00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:26.960
 conversation.

00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:27.900
 You know,

00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:28.300
 one of the

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.080
 simplest things

00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:29.780
 for you and I

00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:31.000
 to do as

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:33.120
 believers is to

00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:33.900
 invite somebody

00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:34.440
 to worship.

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:35.480
 It's really

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.100
 that simple.

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.080
 Hey, you

00:35:38.080 --> 00:35:38.580
 come worship

00:35:38.580 --> 00:35:39.000
 with me?

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:39.980
 Let God do

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.440
 the rest.

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:42.000
 God never

00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:42.340
 said he

00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:42.660
 wouldn't.

00:35:43.540 --> 00:35:44.120
 God just

00:35:44.120 --> 00:35:44.580
 wants you and

00:35:44.580 --> 00:35:44.940
 I to be

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:45.360
 obedient.

00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.420
 He's going to

00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.000
 do the rest.

00:35:48.060 --> 00:35:48.520
 What about

00:35:48.520 --> 00:35:49.360
 inviting somebody

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.020
 to your small

00:35:50.020 --> 00:35:50.280
 group?

00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.700
 Hey, we're

00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:52.300
 getting together.

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:52.940
 Please come.

00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:53.800
 You know, we

00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.400
 do this Bible

00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:54.820
 study together.

00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:55.320
 Come check it

00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:55.520
 out.

00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.020
 There's no

00:35:57.020 --> 00:35:57.700
 pressure there.

00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:58.940
 If they

00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.360
 don't come,

00:35:59.440 --> 00:35:59.680
 they don't

00:35:59.680 --> 00:36:00.060
 come.

00:36:01.160 --> 00:36:01.580
 But if they

00:36:01.580 --> 00:36:04.300
 do, it has a

00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:05.900
 high probability

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:07.300
 of being a

00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:08.000
 moment in their

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:09.860
 life that they

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.420
 come to know

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.160
 the Lord or

00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:11.840
 begin the

00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.480
 process of

00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.120
 becoming to

00:36:13.120 --> 00:36:13.640
 know the Lord

00:36:13.640 --> 00:36:13.880
 as their

00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.460
 personal Lord

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:14.900
 and Savior

00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:16.660
 by a simple

00:36:16.660 --> 00:36:17.580
 invitation.

00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:19.820
 What are you

00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:20.200
 going to do

00:36:20.200 --> 00:36:20.480
 with your

00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:20.940
 invitation?

00:36:22.140 --> 00:36:23.140
 What have you

00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:23.880
 done with your

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.700
 invitation to

00:36:24.700 --> 00:36:25.260
 come to know

00:36:25.260 --> 00:36:25.900
 the Lord as

00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:27.140
 your Lord and

00:36:27.140 --> 00:36:27.380
 Savior?

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.380
 I look around

00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:28.880
 this room and

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.420
 I know several

00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:29.960
 of you have

00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:30.700
 stepped through

00:36:30.700 --> 00:36:31.900
 and said yes

00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:32.340
 to Jesus'

00:36:32.520 --> 00:36:33.100
 invitation to

00:36:33.100 --> 00:36:33.540
 coming to

00:36:33.540 --> 00:36:34.120
 know him as

00:36:34.120 --> 00:36:34.620
 your Lord and

00:36:34.620 --> 00:36:34.920
 Savior.

00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.340
 Others, I do

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:36.840
 not know that

00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:37.500
 answer for you.

00:36:38.780 --> 00:36:39.340
 What are you

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:39.840
 going to do

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.180
 with that

00:36:40.180 --> 00:36:40.680
 invitation?

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:42.880
 You see, the

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.500
 Pharisees at

00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.080
 lunch believed

00:36:44.080 --> 00:36:44.680
 because of

00:36:44.680 --> 00:36:45.160
 their Hebrew

00:36:45.160 --> 00:36:46.880
 DNA, they

00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.380
 would be in

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:47.700
 the kingdom

00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:48.160
 of God.

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.380
 There's many

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.180
 who think today

00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:50.960
 because of their

00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.840
 religious or

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:53.420
 denominational

00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:54.720
 affiliation that

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.240
 they're granted

00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:56.540
 into the

00:36:56.540 --> 00:36:57.020
 kingdom of

00:36:57.020 --> 00:36:57.480
 God, but

00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:57.920
 none of that

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.320
 is true.

00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.420
 We only get

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.320
 to experience

00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:02.920
 eternity with

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:04.360
 God when we

00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:05.060
 say yes to

00:37:05.060 --> 00:37:05.860
 God's invitation

00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:06.480
 to come into

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.380
 relationship with

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:08.540
 him through the

00:37:08.540 --> 00:37:09.160
 forgiveness of

00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:10.380
 our sins and

00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.160
 saying yes to

00:37:11.160 --> 00:37:11.620
 him as our

00:37:11.620 --> 00:37:12.300
 Lord and Savior.

00:37:13.560 --> 00:37:14.580
 God's invitation

00:37:14.580 --> 00:37:15.780
 is into a

00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:17.880
 relationship with

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:19.500
 him, nothing

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:19.920
 else.

00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:21.980
 a relationship

00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.640
 with God

00:37:22.640 --> 00:37:23.560
 the Father.

00:37:24.080 --> 00:37:24.540
 What will

00:37:24.540 --> 00:37:25.020
 you do with

00:37:25.020 --> 00:37:25.660
 your invitation

00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.120
 that God

00:37:26.120 --> 00:37:26.600
 gives you?

00:37:28.300 --> 00:37:28.940
 Lord, thank

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.460
 you so much

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.780
 for your

00:37:29.780 --> 00:37:30.040
 word.

00:37:31.220 --> 00:37:31.800
 It is a

00:37:31.800 --> 00:37:33.600
 constant of

00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:33.900
 how you

00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:34.500
 press into

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.080
 our life.

00:37:35.180 --> 00:37:35.420
 It is a

00:37:35.420 --> 00:37:35.940
 constant in

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:36.220
 how you

00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:36.880
 challenge us.

00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:37.220
 It is a

00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:37.820
 constant in

00:37:37.820 --> 00:37:38.220
 how you

00:37:38.220 --> 00:37:40.240
 lead us to

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:40.740
 shift our

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.640
 mindset, to

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:42.220
 shift our

00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:42.780
 attitude and

00:37:42.780 --> 00:37:43.280
 our character.

00:37:45.120 --> 00:37:45.700
 Lord, any

00:37:45.700 --> 00:37:46.280
 time we open

00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:46.560
 up your

00:37:46.560 --> 00:37:47.160
 word, may

00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:48.260
 it not go

00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:50.420
 void in

00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:50.780
 how it

00:37:50.780 --> 00:37:51.440
 applies to

00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:53.260
 us, in

00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:53.780
 how you

00:37:53.780 --> 00:37:54.900
 desire for

00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.180
 us to

00:37:55.180 --> 00:37:55.460
 live it

00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:55.700
 out.

00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.520
 Lord, whoever

00:37:58.520 --> 00:37:59.180
 we need to

00:37:59.180 --> 00:37:59.720
 extend an

00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:00.740
 invitation into

00:38:00.740 --> 00:38:01.460
 relationship with

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.720
 you, Lord,

00:38:03.600 --> 00:38:04.260
 give us the

00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:04.880
 strength to do

00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:05.200
 that.

00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:07.320
 Lord, remove

00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:08.220
 any barriers

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.000
 that may be in

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.540
 the way from

00:38:09.540 --> 00:38:10.420
 us doing that,

00:38:10.520 --> 00:38:10.960
 whatever the

00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:11.660
 case might be,

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:11.960
 Lord.

00:38:13.100 --> 00:38:13.720
 Lord, help

00:38:13.720 --> 00:38:14.060
 us to be

00:38:14.060 --> 00:38:14.760
 obedient to

00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:16.080
 you in

00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:16.740
 what we say

00:38:16.740 --> 00:38:17.200
 and how we

00:38:17.200 --> 00:38:17.600
 live.

00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.520
 Lord, thank

00:38:19.520 --> 00:38:19.800
 you for

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.520
 loving us.

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:22.380
 Thank you

00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:22.940
 that when we

00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:23.440
 step into

00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:24.100
 relationship with

00:38:24.100 --> 00:38:24.580
 you, that

00:38:24.580 --> 00:38:25.300
 you restore

00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:27.400
 us and set

00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.120
 our life on

00:38:28.120 --> 00:38:28.880
 a course where

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:29.360
 we get to

00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:29.780
 know you

00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:30.240
 more and

00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:30.600
 more and

00:38:30.600 --> 00:38:30.860
 where we

00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:32.160
 become who

00:38:32.160 --> 00:38:32.700
 you desire

00:38:32.700 --> 00:38:33.220
 for us to

00:38:33.220 --> 00:38:33.460
 be.

00:38:34.600 --> 00:38:34.960
 Lord, we

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.400
 thank you.

00:38:35.720 --> 00:38:36.140
 We ask this

00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:36.540
 prayer in your

00:38:36.540 --> 00:38:36.780
 name.

00:38:37.100 --> 00:38:37.360
 Amen.

00:38:43.100 --> 00:38:54.620
 Thanks again

00:38:54.620 --> 00:38:55.120
 for listening

00:38:55.120 --> 00:38:55.500
 to the

00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:55.920
 Willow Ridge

00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:56.640
 Church weekly

00:38:56.640 --> 00:38:57.060
 podcast.

00:38:57.600 --> 00:38:58.140
 We hope that

00:38:58.140 --> 00:38:58.580
 you enjoyed

00:38:58.580 --> 00:38:59.080
 listening to

00:38:59.080 --> 00:38:59.520
 this week's

00:38:59.520 --> 00:38:59.880
 message.

00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:00.780
 If you'd

00:39:00.780 --> 00:39:01.200
 like to learn

00:39:01.200 --> 00:39:01.700
 more about

00:39:01.700 --> 00:39:02.260
 who we are

00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:02.940
 or explore

00:39:02.940 --> 00:39:03.340
 additional

00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:03.880
 resources,

00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:04.880
 visit us

00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:05.680
 online at

00:39:05.680 --> 00:39:08.920
 www.willowridgechurch.com

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:10.140
 or by searching

00:39:10.140 --> 00:39:10.800
 for Willow Ridge

00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:11.420
 Church on

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.120
 Facebook and

00:39:12.120 --> 00:39:12.480
 Instagram.

00:39:13.100 --> 00:39:15.700
 www.willowridgechurch.com

00:39:15.700 --> 00:39:17.900
 www.willowridgechurch.com

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:19.900
 www.willowridgechurch.com

00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.900
 www.willowridgechurch.com

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.740
 Thank you.