1 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,240 There is something. That all of you are. 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,760 Giving right now. That is actually. 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:17,240 Your most precious resource, I see some of you Bibles opened, 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:19,960 no doubt some of you. Have the. 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:25,000 Journal and the pen ready to give what everyone is after in 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,320 your life, and that is in fact your attention. 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,760 So I thank you. For the gift of your. 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,760 Attention that you've already given and I want to talk about 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,920 the importance. Of what you give your. 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,720 Attention to and the. Value that it is Listen to this. 11 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,480 Quote It struck me and it got my attention. 12 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:47,000 I hope it does for you the most valuable commodity of the 21st 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,720 century. Will. 14 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:55,680 Be undivided attention in an age of constant distraction. 15 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,000 Humans Human focus is the ultimate. 16 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:04,440 Scarce resource this. Attention economy means everyone 17 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:10,640 is competing to monetize your focus, making it more valuable 18 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,600 than oil or data. It's more valuable than anything 19 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:19,520 you have, because what you give your attention to does in fact. 20 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,040 Tell you what you give your life. 21 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,800 To and. The. 22 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,960 Design of what we're doing right now. 23 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:28,960 What the What the Bible has the power? 24 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:31,360 To do with the the teachings and the words. 25 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,920 Of Jesus have the power to do. Is to refocus your attention on 26 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,680 what really matters. So I want you to think about 27 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:40,680 just the. The last week of your life. 28 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,880 From last Sunday to now, what was something that. 29 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,560 Actually got a hold of your? Attention, everything was 30 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,920 competing and certainly you gave it away. 31 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,440 But will will this last week of your life? 32 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,640 Have anything? That shapes your life. 33 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,280 And as you think about your answer, I will tell you the 34 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,640 moment in my previous seven days that grabbed my attention. 35 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,160 I was just going about my day and my phone rang and it was a 36 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,640 name on my screen that I hadn't heard from in a long time. 37 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:15,320 And I thought, I wonder why they're calling me. 38 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:21,040 So I answered the phone and the voice on the other end simply. 39 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,200 Asked is this? Still your number. 40 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,000 And I said it sure is. And he goes OK, great. 41 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,880 At my age, it's time for me to go through my phone contacts 42 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:33,880 list and see who's still alive and who isn't. 43 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,440 And I'm at the tease so. It's good to hear your voice. 44 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,280 I said, my goodness, I'm glad I got the answer. 45 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,760 And then he said something that got my attention. 46 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,600 He said. Hope you make the most. 47 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,960 Of the rest of your time. Have a good night. 48 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,880 And I thought, that's a phone call that I'll remember for a 49 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,920 long time. It reminded me, it got my 50 00:02:56,920 --> 00:03:01,840 attention to remind me that my time is a resource that's 51 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,240 limited and I only have so much of it. 52 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,560 And there's coming a day when someone will call my phone and 53 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,000 it will ring and I won't answer. And that's. 54 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,120 True of your life as well. And the point. 55 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,240 Of all of that. Is we are going to. 56 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,240 Look at a story today. In the Gospel of Luke, where 57 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,840 Jesus is going to grab people's attention to refocus their 58 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,480 entire lives to answer the question, what are you truly 59 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,640 living for? Because there's coming a day 60 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,240 when your days. Will be over. 61 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,080 There's coming today when all of the things that grab your 62 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,040 attention that just turned into the routines of life and and 63 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,000 the. Days pass by so fast. 64 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,720 And they add up so quick and and you'll look back on a week and 65 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,560 you'll think, what did I give my life to? 66 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:47,720 And by the grace. Of God. 67 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,280 Every once in awhile something comes across the news feed or 68 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,280 something happens in your life where your attention is lifted 69 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,560 to the here and now and it's lifted to the then. 70 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,520 There's coming a day when you run out of time, and Jesus wants 71 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:08,680 all of our attention right now to help us think about our 72 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,680 destiny and all of this. What are? 73 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,880 We actually living for your attention determines your life 74 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:20,880 and your life is limited So with that in mind, this is our 75 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,600 journey to the. Cross with Jesus we're going to 76 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,280 look at. Another parable, another story. 77 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:27,680 Where Jesus? Is going to challenge his 78 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,600 audience, as he often does, getting their attention to 79 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:32,880 determine what they're living for. 80 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,200 So if you have your. Bibles open, if you're still 81 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,360 with me. Thus far, Luke chapter 16 is 82 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:43,640 where we're going to be, and we're going to jump right into a 83 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,640 story that Jesus is going to tell. 84 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,480 To help. People understand what really 85 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:52,200 matters and as always throughout this. 86 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,840 Series we've been. Studying the words of Jesus in 87 00:04:55,840 --> 00:04:57,120 ways that. Require your. 88 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:02,480 Attention, we are not looking at easy sayings or parables and 89 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,240 stories that you can just look at and move on. 90 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,400 Because they're so. Easy to understand once again. 91 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,320 We'll look at a. Parable that requires some 92 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,080 thinking. What? 93 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,400 Is Jesus talking about the? Story. 94 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,880 Will start in verse 19. We'll go through it and at the 95 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:19,200 end. I I. 96 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,640 Hope to have your attention still so that we can. 97 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,640 Have Jesus. Remind us what's worth living 98 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,160 for. It starts in verse 19 when he 99 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:29,040 says. There was a. 100 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:33,200 Certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and 101 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,880 fared sumptuously. There's a nice word. 102 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:40,360 Every day but there was a. Certain beggar named. 103 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:45,160 Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, the. 104 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,360 Rich man's gate desiring to be fed with crumbs which fell from 105 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,160 the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and 106 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:53,960 licked. His sores. 107 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:55,200 Let's stop there. This is. 108 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,960 The the introduction of a very important story Scene 1 is 109 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:03,720 introducing 2 very extremely different lives. 110 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:09,360 We have a rich man and a beggar and he's going to give us 2 111 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,880 extremely different profiles starting with a rich man. 112 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,560 How do we know he's rich other than the fact? 113 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,600 That Jesus states it. Plainly, he also gives 3 very 114 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:21,280 clear indicators. Of the good life, there were 115 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:23,480 indicators that his. Audience would have understood 116 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:27,640 2000 years ago and nothing's really changed. 117 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,880 He tells us that the. Rich man had three things that 118 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,080 all of us measure the good life by. 119 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,080 He told us what the man wore, what the man ate and where the 120 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,800 man lived. So if you're scrolling social 121 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,200 media and your attention is drawn to the good life online, 122 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,080 you're going to. See the good life as. 123 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,400 Presented in What people wear, What they eat, and Where They 124 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:50,520 Live. And what did this man wear? 125 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,320 He says he wore clothes of purple. 126 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,640 And. Purple was a a an. 127 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:00,760 Indicator of someone who had great wealth. 128 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,520 Because it was a. Dye that was very expensive, 129 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,240 hard to come by and. Only people who could, really. 130 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:11,120 Afford such. A color could could wear purple. 131 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,520 And it says that he had linens underneath. 132 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:19,920 So both of these are examples of an outfit, an exterior that 133 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,320 anyone could look in and say, well, that man. 134 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,160 Has a good life. And again, not much has changed. 135 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,760 We have in our day as in all days. 136 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,120 Certain ways that you can. Present yourself and people can 137 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,880 size you up and look at you and say he must do well. 138 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,880 Someone might. Wear a a a a suit that says 139 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,600 Gucci somewhere. On it and there are other brands 140 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,280 that I don't know. Gucci is the extent of my 141 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,560 fashion knowledge, which tells you how much I know about. 142 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,800 The good life but. Certainly you go into the malls 143 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,480 of this world and you'll see all sorts of designer stores that. 144 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,560 Offer you a way to. Present yourself as well off and 145 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,840 it's. It tells us what he eats, says 146 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:06,040 that he. Fared sumptuously every day, 147 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,280 faring. Sumptuously is a a. 148 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,600 Description that we don't always use, but it essentially means 149 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,800 that he ate in luxury and the. Keyword to this is every. 150 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,800 Day, this will not be the first time that we can. 151 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,200 Look back at last week's study of the prodigal. 152 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,960 Son and see a direct contrast or a reference point. 153 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,480 This was a a contrast to the prodigal son's return. 154 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,680 They ate sumptuously. They threw a grand feast and it 155 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,559 was a once in a lifetime celebration. 156 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,440 When the lost or found you spare no expense you. 157 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,400 Kill the fatted calf you. Dress the sun in robes. 158 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,480 But it's not every day. That's what made it special. 159 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,840 This man eats. Sumptuously as his lifestyle. 160 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,240 And by very nature. Of the addresses that we. 161 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,080 All must live in to. Get to this part of the world, 162 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:57,840 we have pretty good diets. For most people looking from the 163 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,640 outside in. The the diet. 164 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,240 Of the modern American is somewhat sumptuous, so I hope 165 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:04,640 you're paying attention. And then it tells. 166 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,680 Us where he. Lives says in verse 20 there was 167 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:11,360 a certain beggar and we'll get to his profile, but notice where 168 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:12,800 the. Beggar was situated. 169 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,680 At the rich man's gate. So if you aren't tracking so 170 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:19,760 far, we now have maybe the best indicator that this man. 171 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,800 Had a life set apart as good because of his address. 172 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:29,160 This was a gate that would. Adorn a wealthy area or home. 173 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,200 The gate is used to separate the haves. 174 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,240 And the have nots even to this day. 175 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,640 Some of you might be blessed enough or or have enough 176 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,640 provision to. Provide yourself. 177 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:44,160 With an address inside the gate and for the rest of us, we're on 178 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,320 the outside looking in. And if you can't relate to the. 179 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:50,000 The address that lives. Beyond the gate, If any of you 180 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,960 have ever travelled and coached, then you saw the curtain that. 181 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,680 Closed to separate the. Haves and the have nots. 182 00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:59,800 The first class. From the the economy class and I 183 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,120 long for even sometimes just to peek beyond the first class 184 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:03,880 just. To see what they're. 185 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,640 They're eating in there. It's it's a representation that 186 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,080 our world can be divided at times between rich and poor. 187 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:12,280 And that's what Jesus is presenting us. 188 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,360 I want you. To see a portrait of. 189 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:21,400 Extremely good living. And now he's going to give us a 190 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,280 portrait of the other extreme, verse 20. 191 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,640 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus. 192 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,320 Full of sores who was laid in his gate. 193 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,480 So in this we have not only a measure. 194 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,200 Of a good life. We also have a measure of a 195 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,160 burdened life, a man that where does. 196 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,160 Where's his address at the gate? On the outside looking in. 197 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,600 He's a beggar, the. Opposite of rich is someone who 198 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,960 has to ask for handouts and what does he wear? 199 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,640 What is the the attire that he's known by? 200 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,040 Just as sure as you can see someone's Gucci and see they're 201 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,600 rich, you can also see someone's outer sores and just the burden 202 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,600 of their broken body and see that they are in troubled state. 203 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,840 Jesus is. Clearly giving us a portrait of 204 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:09,640 two extreme lives. And then it says. 205 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,640 That he was. Desiring to be fed with crumbs, 206 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,960 one man has a feed that could be seen by all that is eating at 207 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,440 the five star restaurants and feasting every day. 208 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,720 And another man. Just waits for the scraps that 209 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:28,720 are leftover. Hoping that maybe the rich man's 210 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,200 trash becomes his treasure. Because even what the rich man 211 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,520 throws away. This beggar would accept as. 212 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:40,000 Better than anything that he has and goes on to say. 213 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,720 Moreover, the dogs came and licked his. 214 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:48,280 Sores as if the portrait of two. Extreme lives is not clear 215 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,920 enough. We now have a man that is so 216 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,600 downtrodden in such a horrible earthly. 217 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,320 State that the best. Comfort he can get comes from 218 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,840 animals and this is a. Storytelling device that we've 219 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:02,840 seen. Previously the prodigal son at 220 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,840 his lowest point before the turn of the story. 221 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,920 Where was he? He was in the pigsty feeding 222 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:14,600 pigs and hoping just to have some of the share of the meal of 223 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,640 the pigs and no one gave him anything. 224 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,880 We have the portrait. Of the lowest of life. 225 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,240 And the portrait. Of the highest of life. 226 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:28,600 And yet there is one thing this. Poor beggar. 227 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,120 Has that the rich man doesn't and it will be an indicator 228 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,360 that. Jesus is asking. 229 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:38,240 For your attention to see things differently than you normally 230 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,360 do. The one thing the beggar has is 231 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:47,640 a name. The rich man is adorned in 232 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,800 riches and he's completely anonymous. 233 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:54,320 And one of the themes of the Bible is one thing we long for 234 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:58,440 in our in our wealth in our in our human ingenuity and all of 235 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,880 our of our our human feats is to make a name that would reach the 236 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:06,640 heavens. And yet this man is anonymous 237 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,240 and the the man at the very bottom is named Lazarus. 238 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,240 Now the name that Jesus chose chose is interesting because 239 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:17,200 Lazarus translated means. God. 240 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,000 Is my help and this is. Where Jesus is asking. 241 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:22,520 For the attention of his audience. 242 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,680 Because if the story stops here. This would be a. 243 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:31,240 Wild. Person, to name God, is my help 244 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:37,200 in all of our perspective and views on who's blessed and who 245 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,360 isn't. What we normally think of as the 246 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,600 person that God is helping is the person that clearly has some 247 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,560 earthly success. We're used to the. 248 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:49,760 Person standing on stage receiving the their reward and 249 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,280 their accolades and saying all glory to God and we're like, 250 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,120 that's awesome. We're used to the athlete. 251 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:59,320 Giving the post game interview saying it's all the the. 252 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,160 This is all. Because of God's goodness in my 253 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:02,440 life. And we think, Yep, he's so 254 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:04,240 blessed. We're not used to. 255 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,400 We don't have a reference point for the homeless man receiving a 256 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,960 small piece of bread and then giving a speech that says. 257 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:11,800 All glory to God. God is my help, we think. 258 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,720 OK, Pray for this man. He's delusional. 259 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,560 If God was your help, why would your life be like this? 260 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:25,120 And this is where Jesus is going to teach us to have an attention 261 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:30,200 that goes beyond earth. This could be one of the most 262 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,080 important moments in some of your. 263 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,320 Lives if. All you can see is. 264 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,200 Earth. The story stops here. 265 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,600 And it's no doubt who you want to be in the story. 266 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,920 There's no doubt who someone who does not have a. 267 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,640 Perspective for life that goes. Beyond life. 268 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,720 Would choose if you were. Picking the life. 269 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:53,120 That you were allotted. And yet Jesus says Lazarus is 270 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:54,560 named. God is my help. 271 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,560 And it only makes sense if the story continues. 272 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:01,880 So let us proceed into the next verse. 22 Scene 2. 273 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:04,160 Scene 1. Introduction of two men with two 274 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,320 extremely different lives. Scene 2. 275 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,080 Same men, 2 extremely different deaths. 276 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:16,080 So it was that the beggar died. And was carried by the angels to 277 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,920 Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was 278 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:24,920 buried and being in torments in. Hades, he lifted up his. 279 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:30,240 Eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. 280 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:37,040 Jesus, once again, is going to, if you will, allow him. 281 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:39,960 Take your. Presuppositions and your 282 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,040 perspectives and completely turn them on their head. 283 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,720 We have two men. Who will face what we all? 284 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:53,320 Face the attention of the morning is to remind you to do 285 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,040 the best with the time you have left and God knows the appointed 286 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,640 day when your days will end and death. 287 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,320 Will be the great. Equalizer of this whole 288 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,960 sanctuary, every one of us. No matter what's in your bank 289 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,560 account, no matter what ailment you deal with. 290 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:09,960 Death. Will equalize all of us the. 291 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,480 Story will then continue into what? 292 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,040 Eternity says about your earthly life. 293 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,600 And according to this story, what people may have been 294 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,600 assuming. About how people will be 295 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:28,400 rewarded. As it completely is told, on 296 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,240 Earth is going to be flipped upside down. 297 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,600 He's speaking to an audience that assumed that God blesses on 298 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:40,240 earth as a preview to heaven, and yet it is the poor man who 299 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,520 is carried away by angels into Abraham's bosom. 300 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,560 I want you to just hold that question that you have. 301 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,760 What does that mean? Jesus is once again telling a 302 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,960 story about a feast. Abraham is the. 303 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,320 Host of this feast. And the seat of honor. 304 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,800 The place. Where someone could sit so. 305 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,280 Close. To Abraham that they're leaned 306 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:07,680 against his chest goes to a man that was once licked by dogs and 307 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:16,440 the man who was rich purple linens address food and feast is 308 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:23,160 now afar off and it says his position is not of feasting he's 309 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:30,440 in torment he's in utter misery of the life that is now being 310 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:37,640 sealed from time into eternity and in this we now. 311 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:42,760 Have a story? That will turn into not only 312 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:48,360 different deaths, but different destinies your life. 313 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,800 Has a. Destiny, the decisions you make 314 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,880 on Earth. Will be held. 315 00:17:54,960 --> 00:18:00,960 From time into eternity and the story will continue. 316 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,000 To get. All of our attention there's 317 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,240 coming a day when. Your life will be. 318 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,400 Cemented based off the decisions that you made. 319 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,680 And we know this because in his torment, in his misery, in his. 320 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,960 Frustration that his life. Has been flipped upside down. 321 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:25,520 Look what he says in verse 24. Father Abraham, have mercy, Send 322 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,560 Lazarus that he may. Dip the tip of his. 323 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,000 Finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in 324 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,280 this flame. He, he is. 325 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,760 Working under the presupposition that life in eternity is like 326 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,720 life on earth, he once gave. Orders to beggars. 327 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,480 He once had servants that would bring him food and now he looks 328 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,400 at Lazarus and says send him to bring me some water. 329 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:53,600 But that's not how eternity is going to play out. 330 00:18:56,280 --> 00:19:00,160 There's so many people that can be removed from the success of 331 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,840 life and can't unwire their precisions of success. 332 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,360 You can remove the king from the throne, but you cannot remove 333 00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:13,920 the throne from the heart of a self willed king. 334 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,720 God may bring you to your knees and humble you and all you can 335 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,760 think about is rebuilding your previous empire. 336 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:30,200 And now the lesson of eternity. The the the answer that Abraham 337 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,400 will give him verse 25 Abraham said son, remember that in your 338 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:39,880 lifetime you received your good things and likewise Lazarus evil 339 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:46,840 things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 340 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:54,600 Now the script has been flipped. Notice what father Abraham says 341 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,520 to the rich man. He says son. 342 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,080 It's. Almost as if we have an 343 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,680 alternative ending. To the. 344 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:09,240 Feast of the Prodigal Son The prodigal son represented an 345 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:10,400 earthly. Feast. 346 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,560 With an invitation for those who are on the outside to come back 347 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,440 in The prodigal son. Gave us a picture of a father. 348 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,760 Pleading with a son. All that I have is. 349 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,560 Yours don't be angry that I've given a feast to the one that 350 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:23,800 was lost. Come in and. 351 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:28,320 Enjoy while there's still. Time come in and enjoy and you 352 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,280 read a chapter ahead and we have another father pleading with a 353 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,560 son and this time he says in your lifetime you had everything 354 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:41,080 that was good. In your lifetime, you made your 355 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:45,600 decision to make your wealth. Your reward? 356 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:51,720 And in your lifetime, you have cemented time into eternity. 357 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:54,960 And this is. Why? 358 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,840 Jesus rightfully said in Luke chapter 6. 359 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,840 Woe to you who are rich, for you have received. 360 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:06,920 Your consolation. Maybe the NLT says it with more 361 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:08,240 strength. Woe. 362 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,560 What sorrow? Awaits you who are rich, for you 363 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,760 have your. Only happiness. 364 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,880 Now this message is not to condemn riches. 365 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,720 How can I say that? Because Father Abraham is. 366 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,840 Lauded as the guest or the host of the feast. 367 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,920 Abraham was the Daddy Warbucks of the Old Testament. 368 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,920 He was blessed beyond measure, and he used his blessing to step 369 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:37,120 into the promises of God by. Faith This is a. 370 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:42,160 Warning of not living by the faith of Abraham, but by living 371 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,320 of the promises and the rewards of. 372 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:50,040 Earth alone. That's why Jesus says careful, 373 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:55,960 woe sorrow to you who are rich. Now and enjoy it because this. 374 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:02,200 Will be your reward. If your only attention if your 375 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,120 only. Focus is for Earth. 376 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:11,520 Enjoy, enjoy the time that you. Have left. 377 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:16,240 If all you can think through is receiving what you have and 378 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,240 enjoying it and using it, all for your comfort and all for 379 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:23,040 your feast and all for your own delight, and you can pay no 380 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:24,960 attention to those. Outside the gate. 381 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,960 And you'd have no view. Of how all of that. 382 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:33,200 Is going to honor God for eternity enjoy it because 383 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,160 there's coming a day when time will be cemented into eternity 384 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,480 and your reward will. Be that you had. 385 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:43,400 Some joy and pleasure and comfort in a little window of 386 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,360 time that you were a king on earth. 387 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:51,080 And I'll remind you, he says. Not only did the rich man have 388 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,120 his comfort on earth. But Lazarus suffered evil. 389 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,320 What an interesting thing to say about. 390 00:22:58,320 --> 00:22:59,640 Lazarus. The one who? 391 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,560 Was helped by God, he said. Lazarus. 392 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,800 Went through all of the sufferings of earth and endured. 393 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:08,840 And some of you need to hear that message. 394 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:14,360 No doubt some of you relate more to Lazarus, a position where you 395 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:15,160 feel. Like you're just. 396 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,120 Needing the provisions of God, and your hand is open and you're 397 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:22,600 hoping that God provides. You've got the sores of earth, 398 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,680 the afflictions, the trials, the difficulties. 399 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:28,840 And I'll remind you the great hope that. 400 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,080 We have. For the person of Lazarus, he 401 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,160 said he was tormented on Earth and now? 402 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,480 He is greatly. Comforted, hear the words of. 403 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,360 Jesus. This is not a fire and brim, 404 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:43,320 some message of doom. It is a message. 405 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:47,280 To say there is. Nothing that this Earth can 406 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,400 throw at you that eternity will not outweigh. 407 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:55,560 With glory there's there's no sore or difficulty or earthly 408 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,960 address that is so poor or or so outside of the. 409 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,800 Popular halves and and the ones on the in crowd. 410 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,480 There's no position on earth that you cannot endure that will 411 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,000 not be completely flipped on its head in heaven. 412 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:15,400 And so he says as a reminder to us all. 413 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,160 He says, Jesus says, I hope I have your. 414 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:24,200 Attention now because I want you to use the time you have to make 415 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,080 the decision you can about eternity. 416 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:33,880 Before it arrives, look what? Abraham goes on to say, Besides 417 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:38,560 all this, between US and you, Abraham saying, between me and 418 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:40,800 Lazarus and you, rich man, there is a. 419 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:45,960 Great gulf that is fixed there. There's a, There's a. 420 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,440 Canyon between life and death in the. 421 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:55,280 Afterlife there, there's a. Canyon between joy and torment. 422 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:02,400 And it's fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you 423 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,680 cannot, nor can those from there. 424 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:13,720 Pass to us he. Says time has been cemented into 425 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,800 eternity. Ecclesiastes says it's better to 426 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,400 go. Into a House of mourning than 427 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:26,840 than that of feasting, because death is the end of us all, and 428 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,040 the living can. Still take it to heart. 429 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,160 The psalmist says teach us to number our days. 430 00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:37,440 May I have attention on the clock of my life? 431 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,760 Because the way I live. Determines my destiny and 432 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:44,880 there's coming a day where you will be out of time. 433 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:51,280 And so now the rich man hearing the message. 434 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,640 That the Gulf is the. Chasm is too wide, he says. 435 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:59,120 Well, wait a minute. I have 5 brothers. 436 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,160 And they're walking towards the same Canyon. 437 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,400 Verse 27 The rich man. Says I beg you therefore. 438 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,200 Father talking to Abraham, that you would send him to my. 439 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,960 Father's house I have 5 brothers that he. 440 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,600 Lazarus may testify to them, lest they also come to this 441 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:21,040 place of torment. Abraham said to him, They have 442 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:25,320 Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. 443 00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:31,760 Jesus is making it very clear that what can be known of God's 444 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,840 plan of redemption? The heart and the character. 445 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:36,480 Of God. The great commandment to love. 446 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,120 God and love people has. Been. 447 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,080 Revealed through scripture. Why would anything change? 448 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,040 The rich man says in verse 30? No, father Abraham, if if one 449 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:52,360 goes to them from the dead, they will repent, Abraham said. 450 00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:55,520 If they do not hear Moses and the prophets neither. 451 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:59,600 That will they be persuaded? The one rise from the dead. 452 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,880 Do you see that? Prophetic vision that Jesus has. 453 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:06,680 For those who would still. Reject him. 454 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,800 He tells the story of a man that thought it wasn't enough that 455 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,640 God gave his word and he fulfilled his. 456 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:19,080 Promises that the law. And the prophets all pointed to 457 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:23,960 the coming Messiah. That wasn't enough. 458 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:27,880 But what would be enough would be another miracle if one could 459 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:29,680 come back from the grave and warn people. 460 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:35,440 And the sad reality is one has come back from the grave. 461 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,240 It's a great reality, It's the most joyful reality that the. 462 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,600 The Son of God has been declared by the. 463 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,760 Power of the resurrection. That the resurrection. 464 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:50,480 Has opened your eyes and given you revelation to who? 465 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,440 God is. And yet here we sit. 466 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:59,560 Like 5 brothers dead. In their merriment, feasting, 467 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,240 enjoying the pleasures of earth. And there's nothing that a 468 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,120 miracle can do to open their eyes. 469 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,320 Jesus is trying to grab your attention so that you would. 470 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:17,200 See the truth of what is worth. Living for And so I told you to 471 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,720 hold on to your theological questions, because this is. 472 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,040 Of course, a story that gives us a. 473 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,360 Vision of the. Afterlife that stirs. 474 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:29,880 In US lots of wonderings that we've probably all. 475 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:33,160 Thought. And of course, if anyone had 476 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,000 details of the mechanics of life. 477 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,400 After death, it would be. Christ, the King of. 478 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:40,360 Glory, the Lord of. Heaven and earth. 479 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:45,640 But before we do a breakout. Session about everything that 480 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,840 could be known about heaven from this parable. 481 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,280 Let me just say the point of the parable is not to give us a math 482 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,080 equation on what happens in the details in the seconds. 483 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:01,640 After you die, it's. Plain that as he's telling these 484 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,400 stories, there's something much more important than the 485 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,480 mechanics and the. Logic that we so. 486 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:11,960 Often get distracted by in the plain story in the truth that's 487 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,520 being offered. So questions that may be 488 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:17,880 stirring. What does he mean by Abraham's 489 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:19,560 bosom? Is that something that still 490 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,920 happens? Is that Old Testament vision and 491 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:23,920 and now we have New Testament theology. 492 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:25,320 What is? Is there a? 493 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,440 Pool where someone can actually share water from beyond the 494 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,320 grave. Can you actually see heaven from 495 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:32,760 hell? These are things that could come 496 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:36,640 up as questions in this story and let me give you my answer. 497 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:44,600 I don't know. I'm interested in much more 498 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:49,120 important questions while I have your attention. 499 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:57,280 That will stir in you a much more important focus for your 500 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:02,760 life now. So here are things that are 501 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:07,240 plainly being shared. By Jesus, so that we. 502 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,960 Don't minor in the majors, but look at the plain things as the 503 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:13,800 main things. And here's something that if we 504 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,600 want to. Study the Gospel of Luke. 505 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:17,240 And look at the hard sayings of Jesus. 506 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,720 As to reject a cultural Jesus that is is just. 507 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,960 Telling everyone to just be nice and do whatever they want. 508 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:28,280 He's just one of many voices We we have a very important lesson 509 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:32,560 from this story. Jesus himself is teaching a 510 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:37,600 story where he is telling us that heaven and hell. 511 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:44,240 Are real, there is life. Beyond this earthly existence 512 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:50,360 and there are two destinations. There is a heavenly feast, Jesus 513 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,480 time and time again without getting into the Technicolor of 514 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,560 what heaven is actually going to look like. 515 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,040 He says it's like the biggest feast you could ever. 516 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,760 Imagine and the most unlikely. People will be there by God's 517 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:06,360 grace. And there's a tormenting fire. 518 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,480 And without getting into the details, we can see that it is 519 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,000 misery. Jesus. 520 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,160 Taught that heaven and. Hell were real. 521 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:23,040 Destinations for the human soul and let me just share with you 522 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:31,720 that that is great news because right now I can preach good news 523 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:38,280 that not if but when you suffer not if but when you go through 524 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:40,040 the. Trials of Earth that shake you 525 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:43,760 to your core. And you live in close proximity. 526 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,760 Who? Someone who goes beyond this 527 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,680 earthly existence. There is a theology. 528 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:52,680 Given us to, given to. Us by the word. 529 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:58,000 Become flesh. That says there's hope, David. 530 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,760 Says in the Psalms. I would have lost hope. 531 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,040 If I didn't believe. That I would see the. 532 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,440 Goodness of God in the land of the living. 533 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:14,640 Paul says that my light and momentary afflictions, my bodily 534 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:22,040 sores, my heartache, my tears are light and they're momentary 535 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:26,120 because they're time bound and they don't compare. 536 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:29,640 To the weight of eternal glory. Which is unending. 537 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,080 There is no hope without a heaven, but because there is a 538 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:38,360 heaven there. Is eternal hope that this story. 539 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:43,200 Is not the end. The real. 540 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:49,960 Question that this should stir in us the questions that would 541 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,480 would not be a waste of time to consider with the. 542 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:58,800 Focus that you have. On your life right now, Why did 543 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:01,920 one person go towards torment and the other go towards 544 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,760 feasting? This is. 545 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:08,040 This is the. Question that Jesus stirs in US 546 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:13,360 and the first answer I think that we can see from this story 547 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:17,440 and from the collection of stories that Jesus has been time 548 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:21,240 and time again telling on this road to Jerusalem to to the. 549 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:29,640 Cross is that unless God? Is your primary devotion. 550 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:37,920 You actually won't want the Kingdom of God, and unless the 551 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:40,760 greatest commandment is fulfilled in your heart and your 552 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:44,120 mind to love God above everything else, the Kingdom of 553 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:48,560 heaven will not be worth sitting on the outside. 554 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,480 Of the gate. With an open hand like. 555 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:56,000 A beggar Jesus says the. Kingdom belongs to the poor in 556 00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,680 spirit in this same chapter. The lead up to Jesus. 557 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:02,120 Telling this. Parable, which is always. 558 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:03,520 Giving us. Clues as to what he's. 559 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:08,560 Getting at he says in verse 13, no servant can serve 2 masters. 560 00:34:09,679 --> 00:34:11,560 For either he will hate. The one or love? 561 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,840 The other or else he will be loyal to the. 562 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:17,520 One and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 563 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:22,600 And again, doesn't mean you can't have money, doesn't mean 564 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:23,920 God can't bless. You to. 565 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:26,480 Use your money to. Care for people that are outside 566 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:30,960 the gate. Abraham, as a vision of this, 567 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,760 had plenty of money. This is not a condemnation 568 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:39,080 against money, but he is saying if money becomes your God, enjoy 569 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:44,840 it because you can't serve the Kingdom and your Kingdom. 570 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:51,199 So one of the lessons that we're going to continually get stirred 571 00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:52,560 in US is. Where? 572 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:57,640 Does your attention lie? Is your attention fully devoted 573 00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:59,280 to the kingdoms of Earth? Or. 574 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:02,440 When time gets tough, or when the blessings come and there's 575 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:04,320 abundance. Or do you have such a vision for 576 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,800 heaven that nothing is actually yours on earth? 577 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:15,120 The other lesson that seems to be coming from this not only 578 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,120 will we be. Judged by our love for God. 579 00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:21,080 But we will be judged. In the second commandment. 580 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,320 Which is just like it, our love for people. 581 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:28,560 Jesus says the. Greatest commandment, what he's 582 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,200 come to fulfill in the Law and the Prophets. 583 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:35,840 Is that we would love God with. Everything in US and the second, 584 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:39,080 which is like it. We would love our neighbor as 585 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:43,360 our self. And with that lens you can 586 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,320 understand the. Parables with that. 587 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,320 Lens, we understand the Good Samaritan. 588 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:52,960 He loved this Samaritan, this this man who was beaten. 589 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:57,760 As though he loved himself. With that lens, we can 590 00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,760 understand why. Jesus says don't just. 591 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:02,480 Invite your friends to a feast, but invite all of the maimed and 592 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:04,960 the blind and the broken. I want you to love your 593 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:06,480 neighbor. Just like you'd love yourself. 594 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:09,840 And with that lens, we can understand what. 595 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:12,600 Jesus was. Doing by putting Lazarus right 596 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:17,160 at the gate. The rich man wanted mercy in the 597 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:20,360 afterlife and he never extended it on Earth. 598 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,640 Which means if you really. Do love God if He really 599 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:27,160 captures your heart. If he really gives you new life 600 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:31,720 with new lens, you can't walk over people on the way to 601 00:36:31,720 --> 00:36:36,320 heaven. I was moved by this quote. 602 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,560 By Alistair Begg he says how? Can I see my brother in need and 603 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:42,880 claim that I love God and yet do nothing? 604 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,520 If God's heart is for the. Poor and the downtrodden and the 605 00:36:47,520 --> 00:36:48,920 blind and the beaten and the broken. 606 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:56,440 Then my indifference doesn't work and this is the true danger 607 00:36:56,440 --> 00:37:00,840 for my soul in a sterilized, self satisfied, evangelical, 608 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:03,720 cliche ridden American. Subculture that offers worship 609 00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:04,520 without. Mercy. 610 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:09,960 As long as we hang around with one another long enough, we can 611 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:12,520 convince one another that we're all in good standing by the 612 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:16,800 nature of our standing worship. After all, 1500 people together 613 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,320 on a Sunday couldn't all be wrong. 614 00:37:19,240 --> 00:37:22,720 Oh yeah, we can. We could. 615 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:28,000 All fall into the category of someone who enjoyed their status 616 00:37:28,240 --> 00:37:32,720 and their comfort and their wealth and their food and their 617 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:35,160 addresses and their clothes so much. 618 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:41,960 That we've lost sight of. A Kingdom that's worth dying 619 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:48,880 for. And so the, the encouragement, 620 00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:55,600 there's encouragement for us now I want all of you to know. 621 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:05,200 Where your. Destiny is, and here's. 622 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:09,600 The The Joy of the. Morning is that he told him. 623 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,400 You know, even if someone rose from the grave, some people 624 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:13,840 wouldn't. Believe if they reject. 625 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:19,000 The Law and the Prophets. I know that some people, maybe 626 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:21,240 even someone I'm talking to right now. 627 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:24,720 Is is. Holding back from fully devoting 628 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:28,800 to God because he just hasn't quite proved himself to you 629 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,960 enough. If you just saw. 630 00:38:33,720 --> 00:38:36,280 A radical miracle? If you could get a. 631 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:39,600 Vision of a burning. Bush if you had a. 632 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:43,120 Loved one that has gone before you, that could come and speak 633 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,000 to you in a dream and tell you to go to church, then you would 634 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:46,680 go. No, you wouldn't. 635 00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:50,480 Because you have. Everything you need for the 636 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:57,600 answers of life in your hand. What can be known of God is 637 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:01,600 found in his living word in the beginning was the. 638 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:04,080 Word. And the Word was with God, and 639 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:07,480 the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. 640 00:39:07,720 --> 00:39:10,760 It all points us to Jesus. And you can have a living 641 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:14,120 relationship with him if you would give him your attention. 642 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:17,000 It's the most. Valuable resource that. 643 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:20,240 You can offer him earlier you saying you. 644 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:23,760 Deserve it all, will you? Give him your attention. 645 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:28,720 Will you devote your life to a relationship with the? 646 00:39:28,720 --> 00:39:34,440 Living God now in time, so that in eternity it is the. 647 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:37,320 Joy of the feast. And not the torment of the fire. 648 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:43,480 I know many of you already believe and I just encourage you 649 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:45,840 to. Get a joy of the. 650 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:49,640 Feast. Now I'll end you with a 651 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:53,320 summarized quote from a book that any of you who are 652 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:56,720 interested in this topic with further reading can read called. 653 00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:00,960 The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. And, and one of the profound 654 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,560 moments of the book is when you. Realize that there are two. 655 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:08,560 Destinations and for those who long for heaven. 656 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:10,440 As they look. Back in the life of. 657 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:12,040 Earth, they realize that they were. 658 00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:16,480 Living towards heaven the whole time, and those who were 659 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:19,240 destined for hell, they look back and they realize that it 660 00:40:19,240 --> 00:40:22,320 was ever present. Every day of their. 661 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:24,960 Lives. And haven't you ever felt that 662 00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:27,520 when you're in a moment of worship and you're praising God 663 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:29,760 and you're looking around and you think, Oh my goodness, this 664 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:33,880 is what heaven's going to be? Like this is a preview of the 665 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:38,600 eternal worship with all the. Saints of Heaven and. 666 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:41,160 Sadly, you've probably had a. Preview in the other direction 667 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:47,560 when someone has hurt you or someone has become so unworthy 668 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:50,720 of forgiveness that you write them off and you hope you never 669 00:40:50,720 --> 00:40:53,240 see them again and you are walking in the. 670 00:40:53,240 --> 00:40:59,720 Preview of what hell? Will be so to make the most of 671 00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:04,120 the time you have left, take your most valuable resource 672 00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:07,800 which is attention and look for previews of heaven. 673 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,160 Everywhere you go, get a preview of heaven. 674 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:13,000 As you open the word, get a preview of heaven. 675 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:16,920 As you bless those who God loves, who will be at the feast? 676 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:26,200 If your time ran out. Today, where are you going? 677 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:31,440 This is the question I'll leave. You with as we. 678 00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:36,920 Sing one last song of worship. And of course, as we sing this 679 00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:40,160 song of worship, we are in fact preparing our hearts to give our 680 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:44,080 attention and our. Refocus to the the joy of the 681 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:45,840 story. That one did come back from the 682 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,960 grave and, and those of you who believe, believe in that, that 683 00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:55,840 sin and death and affliction and sores and, and the lowly have 684 00:41:55,840 --> 00:42:01,400 hope in heaven because the grave has been conquered, That we can 685 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:04,360 enter into the feast, not because of our standing or our 686 00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:09,160 wealth, but because of the blessing of the forgiveness of 687 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:11,200 sin freely offered in the cross. Of Christ. 688 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,680 Thanks for joining us today. If you would like to watch the 689 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:18,200 full service, check out the link in the description. 690 00:42:18,560 --> 00:42:22,440 For next steps and to learn more, visit calvaryboise.com.