1 00:00:16,260 --> 00:00:17,500 All right. Good morning. 2 00:00:19,340 --> 00:00:21,380 Turn, if you will, to Luke, Chapter 10. 3 00:00:21,380 --> 00:00:22,260 That's where we're going to start. 4 00:00:22,260 --> 00:00:24,740 We got lots of passages I'm going to have you turn to this 5 00:00:24,740 --> 00:00:26,460 morning. But Luke, chapter 10 is where 6 00:00:26,460 --> 00:00:30,060 we're going to start. Does anybody need a Bible? 7 00:00:30,180 --> 00:00:32,780 We got some extra Bibles. You on the Bible, Kevin? 8 00:00:32,780 --> 00:00:36,540 Can you get a couple of those Bibles of the green and Brother 9 00:00:36,540 --> 00:00:39,660 Fleming here, if you don't mind. Thank you. 10 00:00:40,020 --> 00:00:41,140 Luke. Chapter 10. 11 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:46,980 Somebody tell me what we've been talking about here in this 12 00:00:46,980 --> 00:00:49,420 series. What in the Bible? 13 00:00:51,180 --> 00:00:54,820 Not allegories. Metaphors, metaphors. 14 00:00:54,820 --> 00:00:56,980 In the Bible, we've been talking about metaphors. 15 00:00:56,980 --> 00:01:00,900 And today I'm going to skip review just so I can get right 16 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:04,140 into this. But today we're going to talk 17 00:01:04,140 --> 00:01:09,270 about one that may not seem like it's necessarily a metaphor, but 18 00:01:09,270 --> 00:01:13,910 as we get into it, you'll you'll see we're going to talk about 19 00:01:13,910 --> 00:01:17,950 being a disciple of Christ. Now there's a whole sect, a 20 00:01:17,950 --> 00:01:21,790 whole religion called the disciples of Christ, but we are 21 00:01:21,790 --> 00:01:23,830 called to be disciples of Christ. 22 00:01:23,910 --> 00:01:26,310 And how is how is that a metaphor? 23 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:30,380 Do you remember what a metaphor is? 24 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:32,140 What's the? I'll give you the definition 25 00:01:32,140 --> 00:01:34,660 because it's kind of involved. But the definition of a 26 00:01:34,660 --> 00:01:39,140 metaphor, listen to this is a word or phrase applied to an 27 00:01:39,140 --> 00:01:43,860 object or action to which it is not literally applicable. 28 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:49,540 So are we literally disciples of Christ on this earth? 29 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:53,780 We can't be right? Because that That's my next 30 00:01:53,780 --> 00:01:55,940 question. What is a disciple? 31 00:01:57,780 --> 00:02:02,950 What is that? It's a follower, or it's the 32 00:02:03,070 --> 00:02:05,750 real definition. Is a learner or a pupil, not 33 00:02:05,750 --> 00:02:09,669 necessarily just a follower. So if we are learners or 34 00:02:09,669 --> 00:02:13,230 students of Christ, we are his disciples. 35 00:02:13,510 --> 00:02:17,390 And so it is a metaphor because we can't actually follow Christ 36 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:19,950 on this earth. So there were only how many 37 00:02:19,950 --> 00:02:25,070 disciples. It's a double trip. 38 00:02:25,070 --> 00:02:28,790 Question 13. But there's lots there's not. 39 00:02:28,790 --> 00:02:32,390 They were not only 12 or 13. Anybody that followed Christ 40 00:02:32,390 --> 00:02:34,270 while he was on this earth was called a disciple. 41 00:02:34,550 --> 00:02:38,030 And we see that in John chapter 8, verse 31, then said Jesus to 42 00:02:38,030 --> 00:02:39,910 those Jews which believed on him. 43 00:02:40,070 --> 00:02:42,510 If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples? 44 00:02:42,510 --> 00:02:44,270 Indeed. So it wasn't just the 12, even 45 00:02:44,270 --> 00:02:48,910 though we tend to call the 12 the 12 disciples, They were 46 00:02:48,910 --> 00:02:52,430 actually the apostles, but the Bible does refer to them as 47 00:02:52,430 --> 00:02:54,030 disciples. So that's where we get that 48 00:02:54,030 --> 00:02:55,980 from. So like I said it was a trick 49 00:02:55,980 --> 00:02:58,260 question. John chapter 13, verse 35 all 50 00:02:58,260 --> 00:03:02,940 says by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye 51 00:03:02,940 --> 00:03:06,180 have loved one to another, which then that means us. 52 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:09,860 If we have loved one to another even we can be his disciples. 53 00:03:10,060 --> 00:03:14,300 But it was it was anybody that followed Christ was his 54 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:18,660 disciple. Which leads to the next 55 00:03:18,660 --> 00:03:20,660 question. We're still in in introduction 56 00:03:20,660 --> 00:03:27,420 here, but how? Well, it's not necessarily a 57 00:03:27,420 --> 00:03:29,620 question. How rhetorical? 58 00:03:29,620 --> 00:03:34,100 How is a disciple of Christ? I think it's probably the most 59 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:36,940 important of all the metaphors we've looked at so far. 60 00:03:38,020 --> 00:03:41,540 Reason being is why are we trying to be a soldier? 61 00:03:42,180 --> 00:03:44,820 Why are we trying to be a student of God's word? 62 00:03:45,140 --> 00:03:47,940 Why are we trying to be salt and light? 63 00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:51,220 Why are we trying to be a farmer and spread the gospel? 64 00:03:51,220 --> 00:03:56,060 What are we doing that for? To make disciples and to be a 65 00:03:56,060 --> 00:03:58,740 better disciple of Christ. And we'll see that as we go in 66 00:03:59,460 --> 00:04:02,300 to this lesson, because of what a disciple is supposed to do. 67 00:04:02,620 --> 00:04:06,340 So it's very important metaphor. It's a very familiar topic. 68 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:09,260 But I'm going to, I'm going to get into this here in in a 69 00:04:09,260 --> 00:04:12,700 little bit. And I want to say this too. 70 00:04:13,220 --> 00:04:17,260 We don't necessarily have disciples today like they used 71 00:04:17,260 --> 00:04:19,899 to have back then. Remember Paul? 72 00:04:20,180 --> 00:04:22,060 Anybody know who he was? Who he sat under? 73 00:04:23,460 --> 00:04:26,580 Gamalia. He said I was I was a disciple 74 00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:29,460 of Gamalia. Well, a disciple wasn't just a 75 00:04:29,460 --> 00:04:32,660 student that came to classes for a few hours a day. 76 00:04:32,940 --> 00:04:37,380 They followed this guy around, which is why was not weird for 77 00:04:37,420 --> 00:04:40,860 Jesus to have 12 men following him around everywhere he went. 78 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,460 It was that was normal. John the Baptist said the same 79 00:04:43,460 --> 00:04:45,340 thing. Remember he sent some of his 80 00:04:45,340 --> 00:04:48,740 disciples to Christ to see if this is the Messiah. 81 00:04:49,460 --> 00:04:52,460 So it was not weird at all for these disciples to be following 82 00:04:52,460 --> 00:04:54,860 him around. For the for the 12 apostles. 83 00:04:55,060 --> 00:04:57,100 Gamalio had it and and it was very common. 84 00:04:57,260 --> 00:05:01,580 Now we today we still have that to a degree that we have mentors 85 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:06,580 and we have pastors, we have professors, but we don't follow 86 00:05:06,580 --> 00:05:09,860 them around like like they would have back then. 87 00:05:10,060 --> 00:05:13,780 So I already said this, but a disciple simply means a learner 88 00:05:14,020 --> 00:05:16,220 or a pupil. So if you are underneath a 89 00:05:16,220 --> 00:05:19,180 teacher, you are a disciple of that teacher. 90 00:05:19,580 --> 00:05:23,980 And it's also important to know you'll see with the disciples 91 00:05:23,980 --> 00:05:28,020 they often questioned Christ. There's nothing wrong with 92 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:34,740 questioning God to get a better understanding, and that's not 93 00:05:34,740 --> 00:05:38,300 necessarily a a point in our lesson today, but you'll just 94 00:05:38,300 --> 00:05:40,300 you'll see the disciples questioned him often. 95 00:05:40,580 --> 00:05:42,500 What does that mean? That's not bad. 96 00:05:42,620 --> 00:05:44,500 That's a good thing. They were learners. 97 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:47,260 They were trying to learn and understand, and Christ was 98 00:05:47,260 --> 00:05:50,620 trying to teach them because he knew better than they did. 99 00:05:50,620 --> 00:05:53,060 He was getting ready to leave. So y'all better. 100 00:05:53,060 --> 00:05:56,220 Get everything you can while I'm here because I'm going to leave. 101 00:05:56,620 --> 00:05:59,820 And what did he leave for them to be their guide? 102 00:06:01,500 --> 00:06:03,860 Or who did he leave for them? The Holy Ghost. 103 00:06:04,140 --> 00:06:06,580 And he told them that I'm going to leave the Holy Spirit here, 104 00:06:07,020 --> 00:06:09,540 but it's a little different. He's going to lead you. 105 00:06:09,540 --> 00:06:11,540 He's going to teach you all things and bring all things to 106 00:06:11,540 --> 00:06:13,820 your remembrance, but he's not going to be a teacher like 107 00:06:13,820 --> 00:06:16,510 Christ was to them. And so we're going to look at 108 00:06:16,510 --> 00:06:18,350 that this morning. Let's pray. 109 00:06:18,350 --> 00:06:20,230 And then we're going to get into Luke, chapter 10. 110 00:06:20,390 --> 00:06:22,070 I want to look at a passage there real quick. 111 00:06:22,590 --> 00:06:24,190 Father, I thank you for this day you've given us. 112 00:06:24,190 --> 00:06:28,190 Thank you for the opportunity we have to be followers of you, to 113 00:06:28,190 --> 00:06:33,870 be students of not just your word, but of of yours, God. 114 00:06:33,870 --> 00:06:35,910 And thank you for the Holy Spirit that leads us. 115 00:06:36,190 --> 00:06:39,950 I pray that we would listen and that we would obey, that we 116 00:06:39,950 --> 00:06:44,240 would never grieve or quench your your spirit in our lives. 117 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,480 God, I pray that you would help us to be as as good of followers 118 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,960 of you as we can be as we look at this lesson this morning and 119 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,280 we would understand how best that we can do that. 120 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,560 In Jesus name I pray. Amen. 121 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,040 Luke Chapter 10 if you're familiar. 122 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,480 No, this is the story or there This in here is the story of 123 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:06,480 Mary and Martha and these were two different types of disciples 124 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:08,280 of Christ. Remember we didn't just have the 125 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:10,600 12 disciples. These two were disciples of 126 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,950 Jesus Christ and Luke chapter 10 verse 41. 127 00:07:13,990 --> 00:07:20,190 I don't you to look at this real quick, but Martha well 39 And 128 00:07:20,190 --> 00:07:23,030 she had a sister called Mary. So Martha had a sister called 129 00:07:23,030 --> 00:07:27,070 Mary which also sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. 130 00:07:28,270 --> 00:07:31,470 But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him and 131 00:07:31,470 --> 00:07:34,390 said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to 132 00:07:34,390 --> 00:07:36,710 serve alone? Bid her therefore that she 133 00:07:36,710 --> 00:07:40,020 helped me. Verse 41 Jesus answered and said 134 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:43,260 unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about 135 00:07:43,260 --> 00:07:46,860 many things, but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen 136 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:50,180 that good part which shall not be taken away from her. 137 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:55,860 I don't think he was necessarily rebuking Martha here. 138 00:07:56,860 --> 00:07:59,860 Martha was a disciple of Jesus Christ and and what I'm what I'm 139 00:07:59,860 --> 00:08:03,220 looking at here is two different kinds of disciples or two 140 00:08:03,220 --> 00:08:05,660 different ways that we can be disciple. 141 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,320 Martha was busy. She was serving and we're called 142 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,560 to do that. But I think sometimes we get 143 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:18,400 caught up so much at times in service that we forget to just 144 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:23,840 sit at Jesus feet and learn. He tells Martha that he says I 145 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,000 weren't careful and troubled. He wasn't saying you're 146 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:33,360 distracted or you're too busy. He said, you're careful. 147 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,799 You're in trouble, you're you're busy with good things. 148 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,360 But she chose the one thing that's needful. 149 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,280 Mary hath chosen that good part which will not be taken away 150 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,360 from her. She's sitting at Jesus feet and 151 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,520 she's learning. And so we want we want to make 152 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,400 sure that we're doing that. We want to be busy. 153 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,560 But the Bible also still says be still and know that I'm God. 154 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,000 So there's a balance. Me and my wife talk about this 155 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,440 all the time. Everything we do there is a 156 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,520 balance. There's a balance And how busy 157 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:04,610 you should be at church and I don't think any of us are 158 00:09:04,610 --> 00:09:07,370 hitting that limit. So I'm not not giving you an 159 00:09:07,370 --> 00:09:09,250 excuse, but I think there's a balance. 160 00:09:09,250 --> 00:09:11,610 How busy we, a person, should be at church. 161 00:09:11,610 --> 00:09:14,690 We have our families, we have our our jobs. 162 00:09:16,170 --> 00:09:18,450 But I think there's also there's there's just a balance in life. 163 00:09:18,450 --> 00:09:21,370 And when it comes to being a disciple of Jesus Christ we 164 00:09:21,370 --> 00:09:24,690 should be busy about his work. But we should also take time, 165 00:09:25,570 --> 00:09:29,530 preferably in the morning or whenever your your job schedule 166 00:09:29,530 --> 00:09:33,330 allows you to sit at Jesus feet and learn what he has for us. 167 00:09:33,630 --> 00:09:36,710 So first thing, go ahead and turn to Matthew chapter 4. 168 00:09:36,710 --> 00:09:38,030 We're going to get there in just a second. 169 00:09:38,030 --> 00:09:42,270 The first thing I want to talk about is a disciple is called 170 00:09:44,470 --> 00:09:46,430 and I think it's a disciple is not. 171 00:09:47,310 --> 00:09:49,270 It's not that a disciple is called. 172 00:09:51,630 --> 00:09:54,470 This is where. This is where we get into some 173 00:09:54,630 --> 00:09:57,710 Calvinism and you have to be very, very careful with that. 174 00:09:58,070 --> 00:10:02,840 But predestinated, if you look at that passage, it's saying 175 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,800 there these, there were people that are predestinated to what 176 00:10:06,560 --> 00:10:08,960 we'll get there. It's not predestinated to 177 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,840 salvation. And I know that's a really, 178 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,920 really popular thing right now. God knew who would be saved. 179 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:17,760 I think we can all agree on that. 180 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,000 But he did not predestinate some to be saved and some not to, 181 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,920 because there's so many verses in the Bible that talk about 182 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,480 everyone whosoever. I mean the most common verse in 183 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,280 the Bible, John 316, is whosoever. 184 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:35,760 That doesn't mean only a select few can be saved, but a disciple 185 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:41,520 now is called specifically by Jesus Christ to be that Matthew 186 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,280 chapter 4, verse 18. Let's look at that. 187 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,760 Matthew chapter 4, verse 18. And Jesus, walking by the sea of 188 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,560 Galilee, saw two Brethrens, Simon called Peter and Andrew 189 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:51,360 his brother, casting a net into the sea. 190 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,720 For they were fishers. And he said unto them, Follow 191 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,130 me, and I will make you fishers of men. 192 00:10:56,410 --> 00:10:58,930 And what did they do in verse 20? 193 00:10:59,050 --> 00:11:02,090 And they straightway left their Nets, and followed him. 194 00:11:02,770 --> 00:11:05,210 And going on from thence he saw other two brethren, James, the 195 00:11:05,210 --> 00:11:08,210 son of Zebede, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebede, 196 00:11:08,250 --> 00:11:10,170 their father, mending their Nets. 197 00:11:10,170 --> 00:11:13,090 And he called them. And they immediately left the 198 00:11:13,090 --> 00:11:15,330 ship and their father, and followed him. 199 00:11:16,730 --> 00:11:21,530 He's specifically calling these men to come be his followers, to 200 00:11:21,530 --> 00:11:23,850 be his disciples, to be his students. 201 00:11:24,370 --> 00:11:29,650 And may I ask you this, do you think they had a choice in 202 00:11:29,650 --> 00:11:32,010 following him? Absolutely. 203 00:11:32,090 --> 00:11:35,250 I shook my head to tricky He they absolutely had a choice. 204 00:11:37,210 --> 00:11:41,330 They could have said Nah, because you see, Peter, after 205 00:11:42,570 --> 00:11:44,530 Christ dies, he goes back to fishing. 206 00:11:44,930 --> 00:11:47,730 And what did all the other disciples do we go for? 207 00:11:47,810 --> 00:11:49,970 We're going with you. They all went back to fishing. 208 00:11:50,210 --> 00:11:53,000 Why? They had a choice and whether or 209 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:57,680 not they were going to follow Christ, but but Jesus called 210 00:11:57,680 --> 00:12:00,240 them to be his disciples, but he didn't force them. 211 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:04,320 They were not pre. They were not ordained from the 212 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,680 beginning of time that they had to do that. 213 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,160 He gives us a free will and I don't want to get bogged down in 214 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,160 that. But he calls his disciples and 215 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:15,920 what does he call us to do to be with him? 216 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,780 Look at Romans chapter 8. And we talked a little bit about 217 00:12:20,780 --> 00:12:23,780 this last week, with the Holy Spirit being our guide. 218 00:12:23,980 --> 00:12:25,780 But Romans chapter 8 and verse 9 says this. 219 00:12:25,780 --> 00:12:27,740 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. 220 00:12:28,180 --> 00:12:30,940 If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. 221 00:12:31,180 --> 00:12:33,820 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of 222 00:12:33,820 --> 00:12:36,980 his verse. 11. But if the Spirit of him that 223 00:12:36,980 --> 00:12:40,420 raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up 224 00:12:40,420 --> 00:12:43,340 Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by 225 00:12:43,340 --> 00:12:49,230 his Spirit that dwelleth in you. So we are not necessarily with 226 00:12:49,230 --> 00:12:52,990 Christ any longer, but Christ left the third person of the 227 00:12:52,990 --> 00:12:57,070 Trinity to be with us. So we are followers of the Lord 228 00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:59,550 Jesus Christ and and and this is not. 229 00:12:59,550 --> 00:13:01,790 I'm not trying to confuse you. I hope it's not. 230 00:13:01,910 --> 00:13:06,030 I'm just trying to show you that we are called to be with him. 231 00:13:06,030 --> 00:13:09,150 Think about the disciples when he called them here in Matthew 232 00:13:09,150 --> 00:13:13,190 chapter four, he was calling them to witness some pretty 233 00:13:13,190 --> 00:13:15,390 amazing things. Think about the miracles that 234 00:13:15,390 --> 00:13:18,050 they got to see. Nobody else. 235 00:13:18,370 --> 00:13:20,930 I shouldn't say nobody else. Others got to see it, but very 236 00:13:20,930 --> 00:13:23,290 few. He, he. 237 00:13:23,330 --> 00:13:25,930 They got to see him heal the sick. 238 00:13:26,370 --> 00:13:28,850 They got to see him feed the multis, not just see him feed. 239 00:13:28,850 --> 00:13:31,690 They got to be a part of breaking that bread and passing 240 00:13:31,690 --> 00:13:34,330 it out. They got to see him calm the the 241 00:13:34,330 --> 00:13:37,290 seat. Nobody else saw that except his 242 00:13:37,290 --> 00:13:39,330 disciples. That was one thing nobody else 243 00:13:39,410 --> 00:13:42,570 saw. He saw them restore the dead to 244 00:13:42,570 --> 00:13:43,650 life. Think of Lazarus. 245 00:13:44,650 --> 00:13:46,650 He's they got to see him do these things. 246 00:13:46,650 --> 00:13:48,690 Very few got to see these things. 247 00:13:49,210 --> 00:13:54,450 And if, well, I'll, I'll give you an example and it's 248 00:13:54,450 --> 00:13:57,050 somewhere later in my notes but I'm going to jump to it right 249 00:13:57,050 --> 00:14:02,370 now. When Jesus rose from the dead 250 00:14:02,490 --> 00:14:05,330 and and showed himself back to his disciples, right. 251 00:14:05,490 --> 00:14:08,610 Remember he came through the upper room, literally came 252 00:14:08,610 --> 00:14:10,650 through. It didn't open the door, but he 253 00:14:10,650 --> 00:14:13,970 came into the upper room. Who was not there. 254 00:14:15,470 --> 00:14:18,590 Thomas. Thomas was said he's dead, I'm 255 00:14:18,590 --> 00:14:22,510 gone. And by not being with Christ 256 00:14:22,510 --> 00:14:25,630 where he was supposed to be, he missed out on that first. 257 00:14:27,310 --> 00:14:30,430 That the the first time that the disciples got to see him after 258 00:14:30,430 --> 00:14:34,550 his death and later he got to see Jesus again and and but 259 00:14:36,990 --> 00:14:40,030 think about that one act. We what else did Thomas do in 260 00:14:40,030 --> 00:14:42,950 the Bible there? There's other recorded stories 261 00:14:42,950 --> 00:14:44,990 of Thomas being there. There's things that Thomas did. 262 00:14:44,990 --> 00:14:51,830 But what what do we know him as doubting Thomas And I'm going to 263 00:14:51,830 --> 00:14:54,190 get to that later. But the the actions, the things 264 00:14:54,190 --> 00:14:57,910 that we do as disciples of Christ, it it, it definitely 265 00:14:58,150 --> 00:15:01,830 builds A reputation for us that's going to follow us. 266 00:15:02,070 --> 00:15:05,110 But doubting Thomas, that's all we know about him, or that's the 267 00:15:05,110 --> 00:15:08,070 first thing that comes to mind when we hear his name because of 268 00:15:08,070 --> 00:15:12,270 his lack of being with Jesus. We're called to be with him. 269 00:15:13,710 --> 00:15:16,230 Go to Matthew chapter 26, and we're going to, we're going to 270 00:15:16,230 --> 00:15:24,230 look at this passage for a little while because I think 271 00:15:25,230 --> 00:15:29,670 often we have no problem following Christ. 272 00:15:30,620 --> 00:15:33,100 It's a good thing to do. And I think even the world would 273 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:34,700 say, yeah, yeah, religion's good. 274 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:38,220 But what happens when it starts to get tough? 275 00:15:38,860 --> 00:15:41,380 This is what we're going to see in Matthew chapter 26. 276 00:15:42,060 --> 00:15:45,740 We literally had the disciples. We had Peter telling him, I 277 00:15:45,740 --> 00:15:47,820 don't care what happens, I'll follow you to the death. 278 00:15:49,180 --> 00:15:54,140 And as soon as that it came time to prove that Peter Bales, he 279 00:15:54,140 --> 00:15:57,620 was not with Christ, but Matthew Chapter 26. 280 00:15:58,550 --> 00:16:04,950 And let's start in verse 21. I have the chapter 6, verse 21. 281 00:16:05,590 --> 00:16:10,110 And as they did eat, he said, verily, I say unto you, that one 282 00:16:10,110 --> 00:16:13,150 of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding 283 00:16:13,150 --> 00:16:15,030 sorrowful. And began every one of them to 284 00:16:15,030 --> 00:16:18,790 say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He 285 00:16:18,790 --> 00:16:21,510 that dip his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me, 286 00:16:21,510 --> 00:16:25,270 which is very interesting that Jesus tells them whoever dips 287 00:16:25,270 --> 00:16:27,750 their hand in there with me is going to be the one that betrays 288 00:16:27,750 --> 00:16:29,490 me. Certainly they would have seen 289 00:16:29,490 --> 00:16:33,210 Judas do that, so I don't know why they were still so confused. 290 00:16:33,810 --> 00:16:37,730 But anyways, And then verse 25 Judas, which betrayed him, 291 00:16:37,730 --> 00:16:39,210 answered and said, Master, is it I? 292 00:16:39,610 --> 00:16:43,010 And he said unto him, Thou hast said, And as they were eating, 293 00:16:43,050 --> 00:16:46,330 Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and break it, and and so on. 294 00:16:46,330 --> 00:16:52,050 But they Jesus says you're going to betray me. 295 00:16:53,150 --> 00:16:54,950 All of them are saying it's not going to be me. 296 00:16:54,990 --> 00:16:57,830 There's no way it can't be me. And I don't think at this time 297 00:16:58,030 --> 00:17:01,110 even Judas was going, it's going to be me. 298 00:17:01,910 --> 00:17:04,550 I don't think his heart was there at this time because he 299 00:17:04,550 --> 00:17:09,670 even asks Jesus, is it is it me? Which is interesting that they 300 00:17:09,670 --> 00:17:13,230 were all asking him that I think they had at this time. 301 00:17:13,230 --> 00:17:17,230 Maybe still some doubt as to whether they were capable of 302 00:17:17,230 --> 00:17:21,430 what Jesus was asking them to do or capable of of of following 303 00:17:21,430 --> 00:17:27,510 him to the to the full extent. But anyways, so Jesus goes to 304 00:17:27,510 --> 00:17:30,470 the garden of Yosemite, he has his three disciples with him 305 00:17:30,470 --> 00:17:36,390 there verse let's see 37 And he took with him Peter and the two 306 00:17:36,390 --> 00:17:40,630 sons of Zebity and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 307 00:17:41,030 --> 00:17:44,190 Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto 308 00:17:44,190 --> 00:17:46,990 death. Terry, he Terry hee here and 309 00:17:46,990 --> 00:17:49,270 watch with me. And he went a little further and 310 00:17:49,270 --> 00:17:52,570 fell on his face and prayed, saying, Oh my father, if it be 311 00:17:52,570 --> 00:17:55,650 possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will, 312 00:17:55,890 --> 00:17:58,330 but as thou wilt. Verse 40 He comes to the 313 00:17:58,330 --> 00:18:02,010 disciples and finds them asleep, and say it then to Peter, What 314 00:18:02,010 --> 00:18:05,890 could you not watch with me? One hour, Jesus, I believe right 315 00:18:05,890 --> 00:18:09,730 here is testing their faith. Just seeing. 316 00:18:10,290 --> 00:18:12,930 I don't think they understood what was, what was getting ready 317 00:18:12,930 --> 00:18:15,930 to happen. Which is why Peter was so 318 00:18:15,930 --> 00:18:18,730 surprised when the when the soldiers show up and he whips 319 00:18:18,730 --> 00:18:20,810 his sword out and and goes to swinging. 320 00:18:21,420 --> 00:18:25,380 But all he was asking them to do is pray with me. 321 00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:30,700 And I read this this little quote that I don't know who it's 322 00:18:30,700 --> 00:18:33,940 from so I can't give credit, but it says a faith that cannot be 323 00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:39,220 tested cannot be trusted. It's not a faith that isn't 324 00:18:39,220 --> 00:18:41,900 tested, can't be trusted, even though I think that's kind of 325 00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:48,090 kind of accurate as well. We do that with tools at work. 326 00:18:48,090 --> 00:18:50,530 They'll they'll pilot them for months and months and months to 327 00:18:50,530 --> 00:18:53,650 make sure that this tool that they are wanting to bring into 328 00:18:53,650 --> 00:18:57,730 the to the workforce is going to be what we need before they buy 329 00:18:58,050 --> 00:19:02,290 a hundred of them, you know. But I think that's what God does 330 00:19:02,290 --> 00:19:04,250 for us. Jesus Christ does this for us. 331 00:19:04,250 --> 00:19:07,210 He tests our faith and tests our faith and tests our faith 332 00:19:07,450 --> 00:19:11,090 because if we don't pass these tests he cannot put the big 333 00:19:11,090 --> 00:19:13,690 things on us that he that he needs us to do. 334 00:19:14,390 --> 00:19:18,190 A faith that can't be tested, can't be trusted. 335 00:19:19,390 --> 00:19:22,390 And in the in the disciples lives here this test was about 336 00:19:22,390 --> 00:19:25,390 to come. I mean think about what the 337 00:19:25,390 --> 00:19:27,470 disciples had been through at this point. 338 00:19:28,310 --> 00:19:30,710 Not a whole lot. I mean they had, they had, they 339 00:19:30,710 --> 00:19:35,270 had some pushback on on spreading the gospel, but they 340 00:19:35,270 --> 00:19:37,070 really hadn't been through a whole lot. 341 00:19:38,350 --> 00:19:42,270 I mean they're with Jesus. Jesus is performing miracles. 342 00:19:42,270 --> 00:19:44,780 The people love him for the most part. 343 00:19:45,420 --> 00:19:48,980 He's feeding 5000 men with their wives and children. 344 00:19:49,180 --> 00:19:52,260 The people love that. Nobody's complaining about that 345 00:19:52,260 --> 00:19:54,820 except the Pharisees, but everybody else loves it. 346 00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:59,660 So the disciples, at this point, I don't think they did 347 00:19:59,660 --> 00:20:02,340 understand when Jesus is saying that I'm going to die, they're 348 00:20:02,340 --> 00:20:06,140 going, I'm going to be crucified and raised three days later. 349 00:20:06,140 --> 00:20:08,980 I they didn't understand that because how can that happen to 350 00:20:08,980 --> 00:20:13,130 somebody who's so popular? But their test, their faith, is 351 00:20:13,130 --> 00:20:18,050 about to be tested so that when Christ was gone, they could be 352 00:20:18,050 --> 00:20:21,570 entrusted with the church that was going to need to be built. 353 00:20:22,570 --> 00:20:26,850 And so we see that in verse 41 you couldn't even watch and pray 354 00:20:26,850 --> 00:20:28,770 with me three times. That happens. 355 00:20:29,810 --> 00:20:33,850 But then in verse 56, Look at verse 56. 356 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:40,120 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might 357 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:44,120 be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook 358 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:47,320 him and fled. And we're still under the point 359 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,680 to be with him, right? A disciple is called to be with 360 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:55,440 Christ. This, this was probably the the 361 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:58,560 most trying hour so far in Christ's ministry. 362 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:00,360 Well, I should say probably it was. 363 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,560 He's about to be crucified, and he knows that He's in the garden 364 00:21:05,090 --> 00:21:07,810 begging his Father to let this cup pass from him. 365 00:21:09,210 --> 00:21:11,370 This is where he sweats drops of blood. 366 00:21:11,370 --> 00:21:18,410 He's in such distress and in in such heavy prayer He needs his 367 00:21:18,410 --> 00:21:22,930 disciples to be with him, and they all forsook him and fled. 368 00:21:23,370 --> 00:21:26,410 And they that had laid hold on Jesus let him away to Caiaphas 369 00:21:26,410 --> 00:21:28,170 the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were 370 00:21:28,170 --> 00:21:30,330 assembled. What's Peter do? 371 00:21:31,210 --> 00:21:36,320 Verse 58. Peter followed him far off onto 372 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,680 the high priest palace and went in and sat with the servants to 373 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:43,880 see the end. He doesn't just call us to be to 374 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:49,760 be following him, God Jesus calls us to be with him and and 375 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,400 I think that if Peter had stayed with Christ they they probably 376 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:55,840 it's very likely they would have killed him or at least thrown 377 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,480 him in prison or something else. But he follows a far off of 378 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:05,460 verse 58 to see what the end of Christ is going to be anyways. 379 00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:12,500 And then in verse 69 of Matthew, chapter 26, Peter follows at a 380 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:14,220 safe distance. And this is, this is my point. 381 00:22:14,220 --> 00:22:17,660 I think a lot of Christians are fine with following Christ as 382 00:22:17,660 --> 00:22:22,940 long as everything's going good. But as soon as it gets tough and 383 00:22:22,940 --> 00:22:25,420 this is what pastor talks about persecution is good for the 384 00:22:25,420 --> 00:22:30,140 church because we get to see. And it's not just, oh, he was 385 00:22:30,140 --> 00:22:32,940 fake. It's a we get to see who is 386 00:22:33,530 --> 00:22:35,690 actually a follower of Christ and who is not. 387 00:22:35,690 --> 00:22:39,210 When the time when it gets tough and they start saying, OK, who's 388 00:22:39,210 --> 00:22:42,530 a Christian because you're going to prison or whatever else. 389 00:22:42,530 --> 00:22:44,130 And we'll see that in in verse 69. 390 00:22:45,210 --> 00:22:47,530 Oh no, no, no, no, no. I mean I went to church, but 391 00:22:47,530 --> 00:22:50,290 I'm, I don't, I don't identify with Christ, I don't follow him. 392 00:22:50,530 --> 00:22:52,330 That's what Peter does here, verse 69. 393 00:22:53,170 --> 00:22:56,010 Now Peter sat without in the palace, and a damsel came unto 394 00:22:56,010 --> 00:22:58,690 him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 395 00:22:58,890 --> 00:23:01,410 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou 396 00:23:01,410 --> 00:23:03,210 says. When he was going out into the 397 00:23:03,210 --> 00:23:06,890 porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were with 398 00:23:06,890 --> 00:23:08,890 him. This fellow was also with Jesus 399 00:23:08,890 --> 00:23:12,930 of Nazareth, And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the 400 00:23:12,930 --> 00:23:15,490 man. For 73 And after a while came 401 00:23:15,490 --> 00:23:18,690 unto him, They that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou 402 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:22,930 are also art one of them, For thy speech bereath or betrayeth 403 00:23:22,930 --> 00:23:26,010 thee. Then began he took curse, and to 404 00:23:26,010 --> 00:23:29,570 swear, saying, I know not the man, and immediately the cock 405 00:23:29,570 --> 00:23:31,050 crew. And we know what that means. 406 00:23:32,180 --> 00:23:36,300 But think about what Peter does not just as follow it up at a 407 00:23:36,300 --> 00:23:40,740 distance. Now he curses to prove, oh, my 408 00:23:40,740 --> 00:23:42,740 speech betrays me that I've been with Christ. 409 00:23:43,380 --> 00:23:46,900 Then I'm going to curse to show I I I'm not with Christ. 410 00:23:48,020 --> 00:23:53,100 But I think the lesson here is when Peter Peter's denial of 411 00:23:53,100 --> 00:23:56,140 Christ did not, did not happen. Just starting in verse 69 412 00:23:56,140 --> 00:23:59,790 Peter's denial of Christ happened when he's he backed up 413 00:23:59,790 --> 00:24:03,470 and started following a far off. He was not with Christ. 414 00:24:03,830 --> 00:24:08,270 And I think the the I I don't think we understand or we are 415 00:24:08,270 --> 00:24:14,670 aware of how low we can go when we start to backslide tons and 416 00:24:14,670 --> 00:24:18,510 tons and tons of examples of of people that I know or whatever 417 00:24:18,510 --> 00:24:19,950 else. I won't even, I won't even give 418 00:24:19,950 --> 00:24:23,790 any examples. But when we backslide from being 419 00:24:23,790 --> 00:24:28,200 with Christ, when we backslide from spending time in His word 420 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:33,480 and in prayer to him and with him and that fellowship, there's 421 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:35,120 no telling how far back we can go. 422 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,640 And you know, people in your life that how could they, how 423 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,680 could they have done that? They stopped following Christ. 424 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,800 They, they got away from him and started looking at a distance to 425 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,320 see what's the end going to be like for for that church man. 426 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,600 They took a stand. I'm going to back up a little 427 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,320 bit and see what happens. And sometimes God blesses that 428 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,990 and with growth and then those people come back. 429 00:24:57,990 --> 00:25:00,710 Well, I'm going to jump in now. But when they when we back up 430 00:25:00,710 --> 00:25:05,390 and just see what's it going to be like, that's when we start to 431 00:25:05,390 --> 00:25:08,070 backslide. So we're called to be with him, 432 00:25:08,070 --> 00:25:10,190 but we're also called to be like him. 433 00:25:10,430 --> 00:25:13,390 Moving on very quickly, we're called to be like him. 434 00:25:16,110 --> 00:25:18,550 First Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 49. 435 00:25:18,910 --> 00:25:21,670 As we have borne the image of the earthy. 436 00:25:21,670 --> 00:25:24,230 And if you look at this passage, it's several verses long. 437 00:25:24,230 --> 00:25:27,490 But this is this is the point. As we have borne the image of 438 00:25:27,490 --> 00:25:30,650 the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 439 00:25:30,650 --> 00:25:34,170 What is that talking about? It's it's literally talking 440 00:25:34,170 --> 00:25:39,290 about we have fathers that we were born to, and we bear the 441 00:25:39,290 --> 00:25:42,930 image of those earthly fathers. This is very this is not 442 00:25:42,930 --> 00:25:45,370 something we have to explain. We know that you can see a 443 00:25:45,370 --> 00:25:48,290 father and his son standing next to each other, especially once 444 00:25:48,290 --> 00:25:50,850 they get a little bit older and go man, they're related. 445 00:25:53,810 --> 00:25:56,090 We're called to be like Christ as his disciples. 446 00:25:56,130 --> 00:25:59,930 Does somebody see you standing there and go, they got to be a 447 00:25:59,930 --> 00:26:05,250 Christian because they resemble their Heavenly Father so well. 448 00:26:06,090 --> 00:26:09,850 They're they're the image of the Heavenly Father. 449 00:26:10,250 --> 00:26:13,090 That's all I'm going to say about that, except there is a 450 00:26:13,090 --> 00:26:15,930 hymn that we sing oh, to be like the blessed Redeemer. 451 00:26:16,170 --> 00:26:19,770 This is my constant longing and prayer to be like the. 452 00:26:20,970 --> 00:26:23,880 Not just to be a follower. To be like the This is my 453 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,320 constant longing and prayer. Gladly I'll forfeit all of her 454 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:28,800 treasures. Treasures. 455 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,360 Jesus, thy perfect likeness to wear. 456 00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:34,160 Is that a prayer that we have? I'll forfeit everything I have 457 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,760 to be like thee, oh, to be like thee. 458 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,440 Oh, to be like thee. Blessed Redeemer, pure as thou 459 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,400 art. Come in thy sweetness, come in 460 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,200 thy fullness. And the last line says stamp 461 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,600 thine own image. Deep on my heart, we're called 462 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:54,900 to be like Christ. And that's there's so much more 463 00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:57,660 to that than just claiming the name of Christian. 464 00:26:58,060 --> 00:27:02,420 Be a disciple, be like him. Second thing is a disciple is 465 00:27:02,420 --> 00:27:05,100 criticized. And so we're called and we're 466 00:27:05,100 --> 00:27:09,740 also we're criticized. And Christ was criticized 467 00:27:09,740 --> 00:27:13,460 constantly by the Pharisees. Every time he turned around, he 468 00:27:13,460 --> 00:27:15,740 was getting attacked by the Pharisees, and he always had an 469 00:27:15,740 --> 00:27:19,220 answer for them, but they never stopped criticizing him. 470 00:27:19,220 --> 00:27:22,820 So it shouldn't be a surprise to us that even religious people 471 00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:27,020 will criticize us. But disciples of Christ are are 472 00:27:27,020 --> 00:27:30,620 criticized often corporately. I'll give you an example of that 473 00:27:30,620 --> 00:27:32,460 corporately meaning as a group right. 474 00:27:32,460 --> 00:27:35,900 We get a name. Oh he's a fundamentalist right. 475 00:27:38,140 --> 00:27:40,220 And pastor did a whole lesson on this fundamental is just 476 00:27:40,220 --> 00:27:43,340 somebody who follows the fundamentals, the basics of what 477 00:27:43,340 --> 00:27:46,500 the Bible tells us to do. But have you. 478 00:27:46,540 --> 00:27:50,140 And I'm not saying there never has been, but it's very popular 479 00:27:50,380 --> 00:27:54,160 for somebody running for office to say there are what, I'm a 480 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,040 Christian? Yeah, I'm a Christian. 481 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,160 Yeah, My faith is very important to me, you know. 482 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:03,800 But when it comes down to attending church regularly, 483 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,480 reading your Bible regularly, praying and not being, not being 484 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:12,160 ashamed of that tithing, doing the, the actual practices that 485 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,720 the Bible commands us to do, is that happening? 486 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:17,560 No, I'm going to, I'm going to claim that Christian because 487 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,600 it's popular. But when it comes down to 488 00:28:21,180 --> 00:28:25,300 actually following Christ, Christians are are corporately 489 00:28:25,940 --> 00:28:27,820 criticized. We're actually, you know, we're 490 00:28:27,820 --> 00:28:30,620 called fanatics and crazy and everything else when we actually 491 00:28:30,620 --> 00:28:34,780 adhere to what the Bible says, perfect example, abortion. 492 00:28:36,340 --> 00:28:38,540 You have people in office claiming to be Christian. 493 00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:42,620 I'm a Christian, but I'm for abortion because that's popular 494 00:28:42,620 --> 00:28:44,420 too. What does the Bible say? 495 00:28:44,820 --> 00:28:49,060 You're a friend of the world. You're an enemy of God. 496 00:28:49,950 --> 00:28:51,590 You're a friend of the world. You're an enemy of God. 497 00:28:52,030 --> 00:28:57,270 But I got some examples of this. I I remember knocking on doors 498 00:28:57,270 --> 00:29:01,750 when I was in Indiana and when you said, hey, my name is Brian. 499 00:29:01,750 --> 00:29:02,910 I'm from Fair Haven. Nope. 500 00:29:03,270 --> 00:29:05,230 No thanks. It was nothing I did. 501 00:29:05,350 --> 00:29:08,710 I didn't do anything. But corporately our church was 502 00:29:08,710 --> 00:29:10,670 criticized and and that's common. 503 00:29:10,950 --> 00:29:14,430 Don't be discouraged by that. I think. 504 00:29:14,470 --> 00:29:18,270 I think I I because I am. I'm discouraged by that. 505 00:29:18,690 --> 00:29:20,570 You say the name of your church and they shut the door in your 506 00:29:20,570 --> 00:29:24,570 face. I I get mad why you can't even 507 00:29:24,570 --> 00:29:28,970 stand there and talk to me. Plan on that, on that criticism, 508 00:29:29,010 --> 00:29:32,650 on that, just because of who you associate with. 509 00:29:32,810 --> 00:29:35,490 But we also get individual criticism. 510 00:29:36,170 --> 00:29:37,650 Second Timothy, Chapter 3, verse 12. 511 00:29:37,650 --> 00:29:39,930 Yay. And all that will live godly in 512 00:29:39,930 --> 00:29:45,730 Christ shall suffer persecution. We're going to be individually 513 00:29:47,370 --> 00:29:52,730 persecuted, criticized. And I think it's important that 514 00:29:52,730 --> 00:29:55,970 we to not try to blend in with the world. 515 00:29:56,010 --> 00:29:59,210 And and I won't say any names, but I have, there's a couple 516 00:29:59,210 --> 00:30:02,810 guys at work that I mean, they they find out you go to church. 517 00:30:02,890 --> 00:30:04,170 Oh, man, I go to church. Yeah. 518 00:30:04,170 --> 00:30:05,650 I'm a Christian too. Yeah, that's great. 519 00:30:06,290 --> 00:30:07,770 Yeah. And then you hear them talking. 520 00:30:09,210 --> 00:30:13,170 I thought you were a Christian. It's to blend in because I don't 521 00:30:13,170 --> 00:30:16,360 want the criticism of being a Christian what I want to claim 522 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,760 to be a Christian. We cannot be like the world to 523 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:23,880 avoid that criticism all. What does the Second Timothy 524 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:25,800 say? All that will live godly in 525 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:29,240 Christ shall suffer persecution. Plan on it coming If you're 526 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:33,480 living godly and then moving on to our last point, disciple is 527 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,360 called, a disciple is criticized, but a disciple is 528 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:38,080 commissioned. And we know this. 529 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,920 They probably know where I'm going with this, but not We're 530 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,960 not just commissioned to tell others. 531 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:46,170 We're commissioned to learn. Go to Mark chapter 4. 532 00:30:46,170 --> 00:30:47,610 You shouldn't be too far from there. 533 00:30:48,810 --> 00:30:56,130 Mark chapter 4, verse 33. And this is where the disciples 534 00:30:56,130 --> 00:31:00,250 had a huge advantage, man. They were with Christ and Christ 535 00:31:00,250 --> 00:31:03,850 is speaking in parables and and all the rest and and he did it 536 00:31:03,850 --> 00:31:05,770 on purpose. The Bible says so that the 537 00:31:05,770 --> 00:31:08,090 Pharisees wouldn't understand what he was trying to say. 538 00:31:09,050 --> 00:31:12,590 You remember that he the disciples asked him why you 539 00:31:12,590 --> 00:31:15,030 always speaking parables. And he said so that they can't 540 00:31:15,030 --> 00:31:18,150 understand what I'm trying to say because the lost sheep they 541 00:31:18,150 --> 00:31:20,270 will. But these guys are are too, I 542 00:31:20,270 --> 00:31:22,190 don't know deep or too full of themselves. 543 00:31:22,190 --> 00:31:24,950 They're not going to understand. But Mark chapter 33, four, verse 544 00:31:24,950 --> 00:31:28,550 33 says, And with many such parables spake he the word unto 545 00:31:28,550 --> 00:31:30,230 them as they were able to hear it. 546 00:31:30,430 --> 00:31:32,830 But without a parable spake he not unto them. 547 00:31:33,750 --> 00:31:36,030 So you're talking about the 12 disciples. 548 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:38,640 He spoke everything in parables to them. 549 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,720 In verse 34 it says without a parable spake he not unto them. 550 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,560 And when they were alone he expounded all things to his 551 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,000 disciples. The disciples wanted to learn. 552 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,360 They craved it. If you remember who was it that 553 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:56,320 asked who was it? I was talking to Jesus right 554 00:31:56,320 --> 00:32:01,960 before we have the model prayer. He was talking to his disciples. 555 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:03,480 They said, can you teach us to pray? 556 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:09,640 They wanted to learn and mark Chapter 9, verse 31 and 32 says, 557 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,040 For he taught his disciples and said unto them them, the Son of 558 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,800 man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, 559 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,520 and after that he is killed he shall arise the third day. 560 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,160 But they understood not that saying. 561 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:24,360 And the last phrase says, And they were afraid to ask him, I 562 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:25,840 don't know. I don't think they were afraid 563 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,840 because he would be mad. I think they were afraid to ask. 564 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:33,160 He'll be delivered into the hands of men and they shall 565 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:36,070 kill, kill him. I don't even want to know what 566 00:32:36,070 --> 00:32:38,110 that means. But the disciples for the most 567 00:32:38,110 --> 00:32:41,950 part were eager to learn, and I hope that we are that. 568 00:32:41,950 --> 00:32:43,670 We already talked about that when we talked about the 569 00:32:43,670 --> 00:32:46,870 metaphor of the student. But I hope we're lifelong 570 00:32:46,870 --> 00:32:53,230 learners of not just the Bible but but what God has for us in 571 00:32:53,230 --> 00:32:57,190 our lives. Because you can learn the Bible 572 00:32:58,030 --> 00:33:02,710 and be less spiritual than than the children in in a Sunday 573 00:33:02,710 --> 00:33:04,190 school. You really can't. 574 00:33:04,790 --> 00:33:08,030 Think about the Pharisees. They knew the law back and forth 575 00:33:08,710 --> 00:33:12,910 and they were lost because they didn't want to learn what Jesus 576 00:33:12,910 --> 00:33:14,990 had for them. So we're commissioned to learn. 577 00:33:15,310 --> 00:33:19,590 And then secondly, and and probably knew this was coming, 578 00:33:19,590 --> 00:33:23,390 we're commissioned to tell others Luke Chapter 9, and I 579 00:33:23,390 --> 00:33:26,430 want to read this passage. So Luke, Chapter 9 versus one 580 00:33:26,430 --> 00:33:28,630 through 6, And we're almost done. 581 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:34,640 But it says this. Then he called his 12 disciples 582 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:37,200 together, and gave them power and authority over all the 583 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:41,000 devils to and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the 584 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,480 Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 585 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,320 And he said unto them, Take nothing up for your journey, 586 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:48,960 neither staves nor script, neither bread, neither money, 587 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:52,160 neither to have two coats apiece whatsoever house you enter in 588 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,640 there, abide and thence depart, and whosoever will not receive 589 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,320 you when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust 590 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,200 from your feet for a testimony against them. 591 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:04,340 And they departed and went through the towns preaching the 592 00:34:04,340 --> 00:34:07,260 gospel and healing everywhere. They were commissioned to go 593 00:34:07,260 --> 00:34:10,380 tell and that's what they did. And and that is that is our job. 594 00:34:10,580 --> 00:34:12,340 And we see that in Matthew chapter 28. 595 00:34:12,340 --> 00:34:16,820 We see that in the Mark chapter 16 verse 15. 596 00:34:17,100 --> 00:34:20,739 We're we are commissioned to go and tell others. 597 00:34:20,739 --> 00:34:24,060 And this in case you misunderstand that was only for 598 00:34:24,060 --> 00:34:27,940 the 12 disciples. It wasn't because we see in John 599 00:34:27,940 --> 00:34:31,020 chapter 4, the woman at the Well, what did Jesus tell her to 600 00:34:31,020 --> 00:34:34,750 do? He tells her everything about 601 00:34:34,750 --> 00:34:37,469 herself, right? And then he says, Yep, go tell 602 00:34:37,469 --> 00:34:40,909 him, go tell the go tell them all what I told you and what I 603 00:34:40,909 --> 00:34:44,510 did for you. The maniac of Gudara Mark 604 00:34:44,510 --> 00:34:46,830 chapter 5, what did Jesus tell him to do? 605 00:34:47,469 --> 00:34:50,989 There were times when Jesus told people don't say anything but 606 00:34:51,230 --> 00:34:55,550 but for the most part the maniac of Gudara wanted to follow 607 00:34:55,670 --> 00:34:57,670 Jesus. He said, Can I come with you? 608 00:34:57,670 --> 00:35:01,030 And what did Jesus tell him? So stay here and you tell 609 00:35:01,030 --> 00:35:02,710 everybody you know what I did for you. 610 00:35:03,550 --> 00:35:06,950 The men on the road to Emmaus or the disciples on the road to 611 00:35:06,950 --> 00:35:08,270 Emmaus. Luke chapter 24. 612 00:35:08,390 --> 00:35:11,870 He told them to go tell people what I did for you. 613 00:35:11,870 --> 00:35:14,230 Tell them that you saw me. Tell them I'm alive. 614 00:35:14,990 --> 00:35:18,670 So we're commissioned to tell the word confess. 615 00:35:18,910 --> 00:35:20,910 Matthew chapter 10. Whosoever therefore shall 616 00:35:20,910 --> 00:35:24,510 confess me before men. This is a very interesting verse 617 00:35:24,910 --> 00:35:26,310 if you want to write this passage down. 618 00:35:26,310 --> 00:35:30,660 Matthew chapter 10, verse 32 and 33 Whosoever therefore shall 619 00:35:30,660 --> 00:35:33,900 confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father 620 00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:36,340 which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me 621 00:35:36,340 --> 00:35:40,100 before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in 622 00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:43,420 heaven. Confess means to declare openly. 623 00:35:43,420 --> 00:35:45,180 That's what the Greek word means. 624 00:35:46,060 --> 00:35:50,620 And it Jesus tells us, if we are willing to confess, to declare 625 00:35:50,620 --> 00:35:55,420 openly before men, he will declare openly us before his 626 00:35:55,420 --> 00:35:58,200 Father in heaven. Pretty interesting passage but 627 00:35:58,440 --> 00:35:59,640 we're going to bring this to a close. 628 00:36:04,240 --> 00:36:06,400 Never. There's never a time where 629 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:09,240 Jesus, Jesus never turned people away. 630 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:11,880 Think about think about it And and naturally. 631 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:17,600 But the disciples did in in March, chapter 10, verse 13 and 632 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,480 they brought the young children to him that he should touch 633 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:22,440 them. And the disciples rebuke those 634 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,240 that brought them take them away. 635 00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:27,120 We we got too much going on. Take the take these kids away. 636 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:28,940 It's too much. And what did Jesus say? 637 00:36:29,780 --> 00:36:32,500 He told no, no, no, no, no stuff for the little children to come 638 00:36:32,820 --> 00:36:35,220 to me and he brought them to him. 639 00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:38,900 But there should never be. And I know sometimes different 640 00:36:38,900 --> 00:36:43,860 circumstances we get into. We just don't have time to run 641 00:36:43,860 --> 00:36:45,180 certain ministries and things like that. 642 00:36:45,180 --> 00:36:50,380 But we should never view people as an inconvenience to our 643 00:36:50,380 --> 00:36:53,100 church. We are bringing people to 644 00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:55,300 Christ. We are telling them about 645 00:36:55,300 --> 00:36:57,900 Christ. That is our job as disciples. 646 00:36:57,900 --> 00:37:02,500 So review. We're called, we're criticized, 647 00:37:02,820 --> 00:37:06,580 and we're commissioned. But the Bible tells us that if 648 00:37:06,580 --> 00:37:10,420 we're disciple of Christ, it brings much rejoicing, it brings 649 00:37:10,420 --> 00:37:18,260 much fruit to our account. So I I hope that as disciples, 650 00:37:18,340 --> 00:37:19,540 we're not. Just. 651 00:37:19,540 --> 00:37:23,540 That does not just mean study or claim the name of Christ. 652 00:37:23,860 --> 00:37:27,620 It means to no matter how tough it gets think about Peter 653 00:37:28,340 --> 00:37:30,940 following a far off man. These guys they're going to kill 654 00:37:30,940 --> 00:37:36,740 him following a far off be with him and and sit at his feet like 655 00:37:36,820 --> 00:37:39,020 like Mary did. That's what he calls us to do. 656 00:37:39,180 --> 00:37:42,980 So disciples of Christ that's that's the metaphor for this 657 00:37:42,980 --> 00:37:45,380 morning. But it's very very applicable 658 00:37:46,140 --> 00:37:48,660 not it's not just a oh that's a neat story. 659 00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:53,070 We are to be disciples. God calls us to be disciples of 660 00:37:53,070 --> 00:37:55,310 his. Let's pray and we'll get ready 661 00:37:55,430 --> 00:37:57,270 for the next service. Father, I thank you for the stay 662 00:37:57,270 --> 00:38:00,390 you've given us, and I thank you for your word, God, I pray that 663 00:38:01,150 --> 00:38:04,470 everything that we learn here in in this Sunday School class, in 664 00:38:04,470 --> 00:38:07,350 this series, God, I pray that we would take it to heart. 665 00:38:07,350 --> 00:38:10,070 There's so much here that we can go back and look on for 666 00:38:10,070 --> 00:38:14,190 ourselves and study out. But God, I pray that we would 667 00:38:14,710 --> 00:38:17,830 just make sure that we're doing everything we can to sit and to 668 00:38:17,830 --> 00:38:21,550 learn and to understand what you have for us to do in our lives. 669 00:38:22,050 --> 00:38:24,970 And God, That we'd be as useful as as we can be for you. 670 00:38:25,050 --> 00:38:29,650 That we would be busy about your work, but always ready to sit 671 00:38:29,650 --> 00:38:30,930 and listen to what you have for us. 672 00:38:31,170 --> 00:38:33,170 Pray that you'll be with this next hour, that you'd feed us, 673 00:38:33,450 --> 00:38:35,770 give us exactly what we need. In Jesus name, I pray. 674 00:38:36,370 --> 00:38:36,650 Amen.