1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,120 We. Are now going to be in God's 2 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:11,640 Word right where we left off in Luke chapter 6. 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,200 We've been spending the summer weeks going through the sermon 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,720 on the plane, the the Luke version of Matthew's Sermon on 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,400 the Mount. And today we come to the second 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,840 part. Of what are called the 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,920 Beatitudes. So for the last four weeks we've 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,200 looked at all. Of these surprising or upside 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,240 down blessings for the people within God's Kingdom. 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,840 To expect a. Blessing that looks very 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,480 different than how? You would expect. 12 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:41,920 To be blessed in the ways. Of the world today, we'll look 13 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,280 at the opposite. Of the blessing, which is the 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,080 warnings. Wherever there is a blessing, 15 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:51,160 there is seemingly an equal and opposite warning for not living 16 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:53,000 the way. That Jesus describes. 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,080 And so to get our minds a picture. 18 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:57,760 Of what that? Looks like I'm mindful of this 19 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,400 cultural phrase. Maybe if you've heard it. 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,680 It's called. The script is. 21 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,360 Going to flip the idea that everything that we're doing 22 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,520 right now is going to turn on its head someday and that's 23 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:08,680 actually a. Cultural phrase. 24 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,200 Here's the. Definition when power dynamics. 25 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,480 Drastically shift. In the opposite direction, the 26 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,320 underdog. Becomes the hero and. 27 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:21,480 The one on top gets humbled. So I actually use this. 28 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:26,000 Very phrase in my household when I'm trying to console my 29 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,400 youngest. My youngest is our only son and 30 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:30,880 right now don't tell him I said this. 31 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,560 But he is the. Slowest and the weakest in our 32 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,040 whole family. And so there's times when he, 33 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,120 you know, he has to live in that reality and he's crying tears 34 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,360 of, you know, being the, the littlest and the slowest. 35 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,640 And I, I tell him, don't worry, you know, stay in there, hang in 36 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,080 there. Someday you're actually going to 37 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,200 be the fastest and the strongest. 38 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,200 So just be encouraged. And when that day comes, I want 39 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,800 you to use. Your power for good. 40 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,480 To use language he understands. I also. 41 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:03,040 Have to give a similar message at times to my oldest children 42 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,520 to remind them that in their current power dynamic they 43 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,960 should consider that it's not going to be. 44 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,040 That way forever. And so as sure as I have to 45 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,160 console the weakest, I also have to warn the strongest. 46 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,240 And I tell my oldest children, you know, there's coming today 47 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,120 when this little. Guy that you guys? 48 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:28,240 Pick on is going to be stronger and faster, so keep in mind. 49 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,560 That the script is. Going to flip and you might want 50 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,000 to start living according to what's coming and not just. 51 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,160 What is because? You know if. 52 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,320 If if he lives. Out in his flesh he may have 53 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:40,760 vengeance in his heart against you. 54 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:47,520 So be very mindful and, and, and with that in mind, this is in, 55 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,760 in a way, the message that Jesus is bringing to his people. 56 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,600 And some of you I know were encouraged. 57 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,360 To hear that your current. Lot in life is going to flip. 58 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,360 For for those of you who could. Relate to the sermon that said, 59 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,760 listen, if you're in a season of weeping, don't worry, that's 60 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,960 actually going to get turned into comfort. 61 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,520 If you're in a season of of hunger, desperation that that's 62 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,800 going to in the end, you're going to be filled. 63 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,000 And some of you may have heard those messages and thought 64 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,000 that's really not for me. I'm not really worried about 65 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,040 that. I'm in a season of actually I'm 66 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:21,720 pretty good. I come to church kind of 67 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,480 optional and I don't necessarily need any of this. 68 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,480 Well, for those of you who. Are so content in your current 69 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,640 lot, the message is not blessed. Are you? 70 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:35,400 It's be. Warned to not get too 71 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,320 comfortable in your current condition on this. 72 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,560 Earth, because there is. Coming a day when the current. 73 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,080 Lot that you live will be flipped. 74 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,840 Upside down. For better or worse. 75 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,000 And it is with that lens that you can understand the warnings. 76 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,600 And so today we'll look at a few of them. 77 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,960 And then next week we'll do the second part of the warnings. 78 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,320 So read along with me in Luke chapter 6. 79 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,680 We're now going to the. Woes of the Beatitudes. 80 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:05,120 Starting in verse 20. 4 But woe to you who are rich, for you 81 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,040 have received. Your consolation? 82 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,920 Woe to you who are full, for you shall. 83 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,840 Hunger and woe to you. Who? 84 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,480 Laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep, and then next week 85 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,360 we'll see woe to you when all men speak. 86 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,640 Well, of you, for so did their fathers to the false. 87 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,240 Prophets. These are completely and 88 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,000 perfectly mirroring every upside down blessing. 89 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,680 We now have an upside down warning using the word woe and 90 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,640 and for that word, not a. Word you you use. 91 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,320 Often, unless maybe you're you're in, you know, you train 92 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,680 horses or you ride horses. You might say woe is a way to 93 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:44,920 slow them down. I I I like. 94 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,600 What the new Living Translation says for this? 95 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,160 Word it says, what sorrow awaits you. 96 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,000 There's something that's happening in your current 97 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,520 comfort that's going to change and your comforts are going to 98 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:57,840 turn into sorrow. So we're. 99 00:04:57,840 --> 00:04:59,480 Going to look at. Three of them. 100 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,200 We're going to look at the rich, the full and the laughing. 101 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,000 And each one of them will. Serve as a. 102 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,000 Lesson to examine your current law Do you consider your current 103 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 lot a blessing or a warning? And so he. 104 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,040 Says woe to you who are rich. And here's why for. 105 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,680 You have. Received your consolation if you 106 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,920 are enjoying the. The earthly lot. 107 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:22,960 That you have and all of your wealth and your earthly 108 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,520 comforts. Jesus says that's a warning 109 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,880 because that's going to be a. Reward there will be what you. 110 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,600 Have now is. What you. 111 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:36,080 Get in the end and that is a warning and and it's not 112 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,800 necessarily a condemnation. So in in no ways is this going 113 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,720 to be a message to condemn your bank account this morning. 114 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,160 I like how AW Tozer puts it, he says. 115 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,160 It is not. That riches are evil. 116 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,640 But they are dangerous. Because they. 117 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:56,680 Fool you into thinking you don't need God. 118 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,080 And I think as we journey this Christian walk, it's good to 119 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,440 know the difference between the category of evil and dangerous. 120 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:06,360 Riches are in the category of dangerous. 121 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,680 They can tempt you into the most dangerous thing that can happen 122 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:12,720 to your life, which is taking your. 123 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,320 Heart's Worship. Off God and worshipping 124 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,560 something. Of this world. 125 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,600 And the word consolation there is essentially saying it's 126 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,840 dangerous because instead of seeing God. 127 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:27,400 As your great reward. Instead of seeing what God. 128 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:28,960 Has for. You as the thing that you're 129 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:30,360 living your life to be comforted. 130 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,680 By you're actually. Seeing all the things you 131 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,680 already. Possess as your reward. 132 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,360 For this, this is not a a theme that will be left untouched in 133 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:41,800 the. Gospel of Luke as. 134 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:45,120 Jesus continues to to. Teach to the people he will. 135 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,920 Touch on this theme again and and and and for later in the 136 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,280 gospel. Of Luke Luke chapter 12 he 137 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:52,400 actually. Is going to give it to us in 138 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,400 parable form, so I find it. Helpful so that we. 139 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,360 Would know where Jesus repeats himself. 140 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:58,480 We should. Probably give double. 141 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,040 Lesson or double listen, and this is in the context in Luke 142 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,320 chapter 12. You can turn there. 143 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,680 It's in the context. Of of two brothers. 144 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:10,040 Arguing over their earthly inheritance, they're trying to 145 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:11,280 figure out. Who gets what? 146 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:15,960 Because, as they say, where there is a will, there is a 147 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,840 relative. And so in Luke. 148 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,040 Chapter 12 he's. Going to give an answer to them 149 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,640 in verse 16, says then he spoke. To them a parable. 150 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:26,600 A. Earthly story to help. 151 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,000 Us understand the heavenly truth. 152 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,200 And saying this, the ground of a certain rich man yielded 153 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,120 plentifully, and I have to pause. 154 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,120 Right there, just because. Some of us need to hear this 155 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,520 message as an antidote. That will lead you. 156 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,480 To some humility, Jesus. Right out the gate. 157 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:43,800 Gives us something we all need to hear. 158 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:45,480 Notice he's going to give us a whole. 159 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,640 Story about a wealthy. And rich man. 160 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,080 And he gives a message as to where the wealth comes from. 161 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,160 He says the ground of a certain rich man yielded. 162 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:01,000 See, every person, whoever acquires any treasure on earth, 163 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:06,400 is borrowing from God's economy. It was not the rich man isolated 164 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,240 from any reliance on. The the grace of. 165 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,720 God in his life, everything you have the word says is a good and 166 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:14,960 perfect gift from God. Whether you realize. 167 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,080 It or not, this Wretch man needed God's dirt and rich men 168 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,360 that are in this sanctuary right now needed God's wisdom and 169 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,760 God's ingenuity in your brain. You needed God's opportunity, 170 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,240 and there's nothing that we. Have that should cause. 171 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:35,200 In us a self of self governance and this is the danger that 172 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,960 Jesus is pointing out. So he profits off. 173 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,960 God's ground, and he thinks to himself. 174 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,480 What shall I do? Since I have no room to store up 175 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,920 my crops. So he said I will do. 176 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:49,240 This I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I 177 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,720 will store all my crops and my goods. 178 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,600 Jesus is giving. The the the best picture of 179 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,760 wealth of his day. There there were no pantries and 180 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,760 bunkers filled with rice and ammo in that day. 181 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,400 So Jesus is is. Pointing out something that 182 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,680 would be obvious to his listeners. 183 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,560 This man has so much wealth in the form of. 184 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,240 Supply. And I and I only point that out, 185 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,000 lest we think that this message. Is for the select. 186 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,080 Few among us that would consider themselves the One percenters. 187 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,360 We are all. Blessed in the the day and era 188 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,800 that we live in that we don't even understand the. 189 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,680 Wealth that we have. And this is again, not to 190 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:29,320 condemn, but just to make us aware. 191 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:32,640 We have to be extra. Cautious of the temptation to 192 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,680 make. Our life about us. 193 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,520 And our things. So he's got crops and goods so 194 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,440 much that he needs to tear down 1 silo and put up one that can 195 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,200 handle more. Verse 19 says, and I will say to 196 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,680 my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. 197 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,320 Take your ease, eat, drink and be merry. 198 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,920 He's preaching the message to his own soul, praising his 199 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,360 condition in life and in this one little. 200 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,760 Phrase he says to his soul. You've got many years of. 201 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:04,800 Supplies laid up Eat. Drink and be merry. 202 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,560 We now have the. Woes that we've just discovered. 203 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,320 He's got enough wealth. To take off a couple years of 204 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,520 work. And he's just said, let's eat, 205 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,080 let's get full and let's be merry, let's laugh. 206 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,360 Here are all the. Woes in one parable, and for 207 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,600 this I will point out when we look at the the temptation to 208 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,200 love money. You have to ask yourself. 209 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:26,760 Why do people love money so much? 210 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,000 And one of the answers is seen in this little parable. 211 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,840 Money. Of all the things that you get 212 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,200 in your buying power, one of the most precious commodities. 213 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:40,040 That it offers you. Is time says, look, I've got so 214 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,800 much that. I've got years of. 215 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,120 Supply I can. Sit back for years. 216 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,640 And, and the temptation will come to you and say, man, 217 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,120 wouldn't it be nice? I had enough money where I could 218 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,320 just work a little less? Wouldn't that be? 219 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:51,920 I mean, we've all thought it and I don't think there's nothing 220 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,440 inherently wrong in it. But money does buy you time, and 221 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:56,800 it doesn't just. Buy you free. 222 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,640 Time. It buys you quality time, so not 223 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,560 only can you sit back and have your ease, you can do it at a 224 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:04,600 beach. Or for those of you who don't 225 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,040 like sand and ocean, you can go to the Arctic tundra. 226 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:08,960 I don't know why you would, but you can do some ice fishing. 227 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,720 Whatever. Your quality time looks like you 228 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,960 need money to get there and it can also Not only you did get 229 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,840 extra time quality time you get extended time. 230 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,280 Money is a great temptation because you know you just. 231 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,240 Look at all. The people who find themselves 232 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,240 with enough buying power to have it be disposable and they can 233 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,600 start buying back their youth, they can nip and tuck and pull 234 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:36,120 it all up and it's great for a time and you can even extend 235 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,120 your older years and you can afford. 236 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:42,160 The the the the best healthcare. With the best medicine, and this 237 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,760 is one of the reasons that it's such a dangerous trap, because 238 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,440 you're exchanging. The love of God for the love. 239 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:55,000 Of temporal time and surely no matter how much money you have, 240 00:11:55,560 --> 00:11:58,920 the time that you. Bought for yourself is. 241 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,520 Nothing but a vapor. In fact, this will be part of 242 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,600 the lesson that Jesus says in this story. 243 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:08,960 It says in verse 20, But God said to him, fool, he had all 244 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,400 this money to buy all this extra time, but tonight. 245 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:14,240 Your soul will be required of you. 246 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,080 And then whose will those things be which? 247 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:21,200 You have provided he's got. The time is gone in a blink of 248 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,760 an eye and the treasure belongs to somebody else. 249 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,600 And this is the only recorded time that Jesus calls someone a 250 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,440 fool. You would be a fool to look. 251 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,360 At an earthly comfort that riches can buy you and stake. 252 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,520 All of your reward. On the here and now. 253 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,000 Jesus says so is. Anyone who lays up. 254 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,520 Treasure for. Himself and is not. 255 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:52,560 Rich towards God riches. Aren't evil, they are dangerous. 256 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,560 They give you this. Temptation that you can live a 257 00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:58,760 good and healthy and productive. Life. 258 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,360 Apart from the only thing you were actually. 259 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,440 Created to do which is to. Seek and love God with 260 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:09,840 everything you have. Woe to you who are rich for. 261 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,920 What you have now is your only reward, and it will be gone in a 262 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,680 vapor, and the treasures will belong to someone else. 263 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,200 And now we look at the next. Category of full. 264 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:21,240 Verse 25. The second part? 265 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,560 Woe. To you who are full for you. 266 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:31,040 Shall hunger, You know, there's certainly a an element to this, 267 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,000 that Speaking of physical hunger, physical hunger. 268 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:41,680 Is a great spiritual teacher because this is just obviously 269 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:43,240 true. In the. 270 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,720 Everyday way that we all have to wrestle. 271 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,600 With the hunger pains of life, you guys are second service, so 272 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,200 you might be feeling them right now. 273 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,840 Every one of us. No matter how much you eat after 274 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:54,480 church. No matter. 275 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,680 What your fill is Whatever buffet. 276 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:59,680 Then all you can eat can you can go to after church. 277 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,040 All of us by tomorrow are going to hunger again you. 278 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:10,840 Your earthly and physical hunger is a reminder that you will not 279 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:12,040 be. Satisfied. 280 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,280 In the end, and physical hunger is a great. 281 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:20,040 Spiritual Teacher. In fact, the Apostle Paul will 282 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:24,720 will warn people of those who make their whole pursuit on on 283 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,560 this side of heaven. Earthly. 284 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,360 Appetites, and he actually uses physical hunger as a. 285 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:30,720 Picture of this look what he says. 286 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,440 To the church in in. Philippi Chapter 3 verse. 18 He 287 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,480 says for many walk, of whom I've told you often and now tell you, 288 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,360 even weeping, that they are the enemies of the. 289 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,280 Cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction? 290 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,320 Whose? God is their belly. 291 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:53,480 And whose glory is their shame? Who set their mind on earthly 292 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:57,920 things? Thomas Watson said. 293 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:02,440 The belly makes a terrible. God, it's always. 294 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:07,960 Hungry and never satisfied. And the Apostle Paul. 295 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,880 Says there are those. Who are the enemies of Christ? 296 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,120 That are so. Set on earthly things. 297 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,640 That they're just. Living for the earthly appetites 298 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,200 and one of the great challenges to the Christian walk to 299 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:24,280 following Jesus will be to come into a season of your life. 300 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:28,760 Where you try to. Be satisfied and filled by an 301 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:33,640 earthly appetite. It is clearly seen in the 302 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,640 culture that we must. Preach the gospel to that we 303 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,320 have a. Culture that is looking. 304 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,680 To be filled. For an appetite of earth, I just 305 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:45,800 I, I, I. Could give a whole. 306 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,760 Series on earthly appetites and what we see in culture. 307 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,280 But for the purpose of. This morning. 308 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,000 Let's just talk about two categories that we all have. 309 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,400 To wrestle with and we can all. See, our culture is. 310 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,840 Dying to be filled in that is simply pleasure and 311 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:04,680 entertainment. They are both pictures of what 312 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,760 it would look. Like to be tempted to just find 313 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,240 your fill in those two categories, and they're both 314 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:15,360 clearly the warning that you cannot find satisfaction by 315 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:22,000 filling up on pleasure, sex and entertainment starting with. 316 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,200 With pleasure we have. Right now a generation that are 317 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:29,080 giving us the returns on the. Lie that was preached 40 or 50 318 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,920 years ago. When a message went out that. 319 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,040 Said have your fill. Remove all boundaries for 320 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,840 pleasure seeking in. What God had. 321 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,480 Designed for sex between a man and a woman in a covenant 322 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,200 relationship called marriage and our. 323 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,720 Culture said well, what if we. Could just have as much as we 324 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,440 wanted with whoever we wanted for whenever we wanted and the 325 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,920 only real sin would be to tell someone else they're doing it 326 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,040 wrong. Sound sound like a 327 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,960 representation of the culture we live in. 328 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,760 And yet woe to them who? Try to be full. 329 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:06,960 From that or think they are. Great sorrow awaits. 330 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:13,640 Because we now see the return on that lie and we are watching a 331 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,720 generation. That has tried. 332 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,760 And been attempting to. Fill up with pleasure. 333 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,839 Turn and say we're depressed, we're lonely, and we're empty. 334 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,920 Listen to this from the book Tech Wise Family by Andy. 335 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,160 Crouch Our culture has separated sex. 336 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,800 From intimacy and commitment, and in doing so, we've created 337 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,480 an experience of connection. That leaves us. 338 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:43,920 Lonelier and emptier than ever. As I said, some need to hear the 339 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,880 woe. If you think you come to church 340 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:50,120 and you need no repentance or reform from the way you're 341 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:51,760 living, your. Life because it all. 342 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,080 Seems to be working out if you are living in the cultures 343 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:59,360 definition of what God's design is for when it comes. 344 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:03,640 To sex great sorrow awaits. That is a great warning just 345 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,800 hanging over the sanctuary and some of you know. 346 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,960 That all too well. And and have experienced God's 347 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,320 grace on the other side of that. What about the? 348 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:16,560 Appetite for entertainment a belly makes. 349 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,200 A horrible God. Always hungry, never satisfied. 350 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:24,080 You know I'm old enough now to say I'm old enough to remember. 351 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,080 You know, now that I'm 45I, I can live out some looking back 352 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:33,000 to the way things used to be. I'm old enough to remember when 353 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,760 a family only had a small collection of movies, and 354 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:39,400 that's. All you could watch. 355 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,280 And I remember our little collection, it was like, well, 356 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:46,040 we got about 20. I felt pretty rich back then. 357 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,520 And if we wanted to watch a movie, we chose from those 20. 358 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,960 And if if we didn't want to watch them, then we went 359 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,480 outside. And you just compare to the 360 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:59,600 offering the world lives in now. You can watch any movie at any 361 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:04,040 time at the push of a button. And the same with television. 362 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,080 I'm old enough to remember when around midnight, the thing just 363 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,800 stopped working. They didn't keep programs 20. 364 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,200 I mean, I remember I'd watch and then it would just scramble. 365 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,040 It was like, go to bed. Now there's nothing else to 366 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:19,560 watch. And now it's just this infinite 367 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,440 loop of entertainment. The same with sports. 368 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,480 There used to be. Seasons now every sport is year 369 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:29,720 round and what is the return? The return is we feel less 370 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,640 entertained than ever, more bored and more dissatisfied and 371 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,640 more empty in all of our consumption. 372 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:40,040 We were told we'd be filled. And we are now empty. 373 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,560 There's actually a an actual kind of definition for this. 374 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:46,680 It's. Called post pleasure void. 375 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,320 Maybe you've experienced it a. Phrase used to describe the 376 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,440 hollow. Sinking feeling after an over 377 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,120 indulging in things like pornography. 378 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,880 Food. Online shopping and scrolling on 379 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,200 your phone. Have any of you experienced the 380 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,240 post? Pleasure, Void, all of these 381 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:09,000 ways to be filled up. And we have a generation that 382 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,760 feels empty. Woe to you who are. 383 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,160 Full now. Great sorrow awaits. 384 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:21,000 This is not a cultural problem. This is a spiritual problem. 385 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,320 There is nothing new under the sun. 386 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,280 There's actually an entire. Book of the Bible. 387 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,240 That is wrestling with the earthly appetites, not working. 388 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,840 Ecclesiastes chapter 2 written by Solomon, the the wealthiest 389 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,400 man in the world. He had his fill. 390 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,280 And the lesson is the world could not. 391 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:41,600 Fill his soul. Says in chapter 2, whatever my 392 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,000 eyes desired, I did not keep from them. 393 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,840 I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. 394 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,640 My heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my. 395 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:53,240 Reward. I looked. 396 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,880 At all my works and all that I'd done and all that I'd toiled, 397 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:03,320 and indeed all was vanity. It was like grasping at the 398 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:10,280 wind. You cannot fill your heart and 399 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,160 your mind with anything. That will satisfy you. 400 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:18,840 Apart from the love and the pursuit of God and His perfect. 401 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:22,320 Will for your life. Which brings us to the final 402 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:23,960 warning or woe, which is laughing. 403 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:24,880 Woe to. You who? 404 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,400 Laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 405 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,680 It's a reversal of those who. Weep in the Kingdom of God, 406 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,120 trusting God. With their heart. 407 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,880 They're going to be comforted. But there are those who look at 408 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,320 the the state of the world and the state of their life. 409 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:44,120 And they use laughter as a medicine to distract them from 410 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:45,920 the deeper. Truths of God, Jesus. 411 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,680 Is not anti laughter. Jesus has a great. 412 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,440 Sense of humor and he gives. Joy to, to us to to. 413 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,920 Enjoy life with the warning is that if. 414 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,040 You are so focused. On finding all. 415 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,240 Everyday your life's. Joy and happiness, no matter 416 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:05,680 what, that God could never break your. 417 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,400 Heart for what breaks his. That you could never hear a 418 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,600 message about repentance and actually have a softened heart 419 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,320 to turn God with weeping. Tears. 420 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,080 Great sorrow weights. There's so much of, you know, 421 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,720 pastoral ministry. That I get to. 422 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,360 See this happen on this side of heaven. 423 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,520 There's so many things that you know, I hope you've experienced 424 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,400 in your ministering to one another or even the comfort you 425 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,320 found in the body of Christ, so many of the tears in the 426 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:36,800 pastoral ministry that I comfort. 427 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,960 Started with laughter. You know, if I could categorize 428 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,600 some pastoral ministry. It would be the category. 429 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,800 Of just heartbreak when relationships fall apart. 430 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,040 The category of. Addiction when when something 431 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,240 you go down a road that you cannot break free from, you 432 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:55,120 become a slave to a substance. The category of life. 433 00:22:55,120 --> 00:22:59,120 Crisis, financial crisis, and so many times where you're 434 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:00,560 ministering to tears, you hear a. 435 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:04,040 Story that started with the world. 436 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:05,520 Offering a little bit of laughter. 437 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,680 Nobody walks into a relationship to get their heart broke. 438 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:10,920 It starts with. The the throes of pleasure. 439 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,880 Nobody goes to a party and and and says yes to something that 440 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,760 God says no to thinking they're going to get. 441 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:17,560 Addicted. They're there for. 442 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:22,240 The fun and nobody's spending, you know, money and, and, and 443 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,680 going out on on a limb financially thinking that 444 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,680 they're actually going to go into some great debt and the 445 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,280 bill is going to come. It turns into tears. 446 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:31,440 But it starts as. Laughter. 447 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,400 I think of, you know, one of the very first mission trips I got 448 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,800 to go on. We actually went to Amsterdam, 449 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:40,120 which is famous for its red light. 450 00:23:40,120 --> 00:23:42,400 District. And we stayed there long enough 451 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,600 to try to form real and meaningful relationships with 452 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,240 some of the prostitutes and some of them. 453 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:48,520 We did. We had. 454 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,960 Real friendship and and real times to eat together. 455 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:55,280 It was not just window dressing and there was there was one 456 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,640 woman in particular that became kind of a friend of our group 457 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:02,160 and and she told us the journey because it's so challenging to 458 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,760 try to bring the. Gospel to a life. 459 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:06,680 That you can see is so broken and yet they still. 460 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,120 Reject the love of. God and she said, you know when 461 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:12,320 you first start out. Every one of these. 462 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,280 Girls came from a country that was so. 463 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,120 Poor a life. Circumstance that was so broken 464 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:18,760 that when they first. Start out. 465 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,280 They actually love it. It's actually. 466 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,240 Filled with more money than they've ever made, more people 467 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:25,560 giving them attention than they've ever. 468 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,840 Received they can be. Helpful to family sending money 469 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:30,360 back. It starts with laughter. 470 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,440 But it ends in tears and it's such an extreme example, but 471 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,080 that is my message. To all of us. 472 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:42,880 When we hear the seriousness of sin in our lives, it will come 473 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:44,560 to you in the form of laughter. But. 474 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:49,640 Great sorrow awaits. I was last week we did. 475 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,680 Blessed are the rejected. And so. 476 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,240 Right the the last. Blessing before today was. 477 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,400 Blessed are those who are hated so as I was. 478 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,360 Praying through that message. I decided to go. 479 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:02,800 For a midnight walk on Saturday night to downtown Boise. 480 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,440 So I could just. See, you know the the, the, the 481 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,960 world that we live in and the. The world, that is. 482 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,000 Downtown and partying and having fun. 483 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:14,280 It was so interesting because I actually came across a street. 484 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,120 Preacher. Midnight. 485 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:19,520 Boise, ID you got. Everybody going to party and 486 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:20,600 there was. A street preacher. 487 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:25,480 And he came with a message to say very simply, I am here to 488 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,040 let you know. That God loves you. 489 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,040 He loves you too much to say dead in your sins. 490 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,720 He loves you too much to pursue things that won't satisfy you. 491 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:37,000 He he came with this message where you're going will not end 492 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,080 well. And it it. 493 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:41,040 It was so. Striking to me how? 494 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:42,880 Real it is. So often. 495 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,440 That is, I just sit back stood. Back and watched the majority of 496 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,480 the reaction some. Hatred. 497 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,240 And a lot of laughter. What a fool. 498 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,640 All these people are going to have fun. 499 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:58,760 They're going to meet new friends and enjoy pleasure and 500 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:00,320 spend the money they worked hard to make. 501 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,000 They're going to laugh. He was weeping. 502 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,600 And the question that divides this sermon in your. 503 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,200 Life. Who's the fool? 504 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,000 Who is the fool? In that picture the way you 505 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,200 answer that question. Is actually the way you? 506 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:24,280 Answer the question of eternity. Because the Apostle Paul says 507 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:26,200 if. Christ has not risen. 508 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:33,160 If death is the end, if there is no life beyond this life, then 509 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:34,600 the fool. Is the street preacher. 510 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,680 Eat, drink, be merry, go out on Saturday nights and have fun. 511 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,440 I saw some of you doing that. I won't say who, I'm just 512 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:43,440 kidding. Something like is it me? 513 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,920 Eat, drink and be merry. The the question is. 514 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:54,600 What do you believe? Is the final reward if there is 515 00:26:54,760 --> 00:27:02,080 no resurrection, if there is no eternal reward to preach a 516 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:03,800 message with? Tears that, people. 517 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:05,720 Are wasting their life. He's the fool. 518 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:10,800 And yet. The Apostle Paul says you. 519 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:12,080 Sing with your. Worship. 520 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:15,280 Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, singing to Jesus, because He's 521 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:17,960 in our presence with the faith of those who don't. 522 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:19,880 Believe, but look forward to the future day. 523 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:24,120 You believe in the power of the rest of the resurrection, which 524 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:27,480 means. That the actual fool. 525 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,880 Is the one who's living their life for the here and now. 526 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:33,680 The. Actual fool is living. 527 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,640 As though this is the reward of life. 528 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,840 Go make money so you can spend money and find some pleasure and 529 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:43,280 take. Your ease because this is all 530 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,160 you have. Another quote from Thomas 531 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:47,440 Watson. It's not that riches. 532 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:48,600 Food or laughter are. Evil. 533 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:51,680 It's when they replace the dependence on God, they become 534 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:56,520 dangerous, eternally dangerous. Jesus is warning against 535 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:02,000 building a life on temporary comfort and reward, with no 536 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:06,360 regard for eternal reality and final reward. 537 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,280 The. Blessings only work in light of 538 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:17,600 eternity, and the woes are only dangerous if eternity is real. 539 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,840 So really the only question that this sermon. 540 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:27,640 Forces us to ask is what? Reward motivates your life. 541 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,520 What? Is the reward that you will 542 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:39,120 stake your life? On Is it to find some money to 543 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,680 have enough pleasure so that you can laugh through the pain? 544 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:47,320 Or is it to press? On to the final reward of 545 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,600 eternal riches. Eternal. 546 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,960 Joy. And eternal laughter? 547 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:57,240 What? Sorrow awaits we already. 548 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,880 Referenced Paul's message to the church in Philippi when he 549 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:04,680 talked about those who are not living for. 550 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:06,200 Jesus, really just. Living for. 551 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,880 The God of the belly, but he also. 552 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,920 Says in that same passage, Brethren, I do not count myself 553 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,560 to have apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those 554 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,920 things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things 555 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,040 which are ahead, I press towards the. 556 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,200 Goal of the Prize of the Upward. Call of God in. 557 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:28,400 Christ Jesus he was. Determined that there was no 558 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,560 money that could buy him from stopping the mission of. 559 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,680 The Gospel of Christ. There was no comfort that was 560 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,280 going to get him away from pushing. 561 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:43,880 Forward for what Christ laid. Hands on him to do and I will. 562 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,560 Say the greatest. Challenge of our journey with. 563 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,040 Jesus. The greatest challenge of what 564 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,720 we're doing right now is to remember that we have not 565 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,960 arrived. We have not arrived. 566 00:29:56,760 --> 00:30:00,840 This is not heaven, as great as it is to be in church and to 567 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:03,280 fellowship with one another and and love God. 568 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:07,880 Together. We must press on and reject all. 569 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,040 Comforts both religious. And worldly. 570 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,920 That the world will throw at us for those of you who are 571 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:17,520 stirred. By this message and you think 572 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:20,840 man, I don't want to fall into a warning, I want to stay in the 573 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:22,760 blessing. I just want to get very 574 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:26,000 practical with some things that maybe you can offer the Lord. 575 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,440 To give you. To give him your heart and your 576 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:35,840 mind in these matters when it comes to the warning against 577 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,320 earthly. Riches, there's actually a 578 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:42,440 great. Spiritual practice that can keep 579 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,160 us from falling into that pit. That you would. 580 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,560 Live for earthly things in your own lot and in the treasures 581 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:50,000 that you can build. Up for yourself. 582 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:55,720 And that is to simply practice generosity, to practice using 583 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,520 the resources and the time and the possessions and the money 584 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:01,840 that God has given you from the increase of the ground that you 585 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,720 stand on when you practice generosity. 586 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:09,120 It is a discipline to say, my real treasure isn't this stuff 587 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:10,920 so I can give it to people who need it. 588 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,240 Practicing generosity is one way to continually. 589 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:19,640 Cultivate a heart that. Stays in the blessing and for 590 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:21,600 the warning against being too. Full. 591 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:23,480 I think. All of us. 592 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:26,760 Maybe. Felt a little bit of holy. 593 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:28,960 Spirit Nerve. We talked about the 594 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:30,400 entertainment culture we live in. 595 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:32,880 We've. Probably all had our moments 596 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,560 where we felt the void of scrolling our phone too long, or 597 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:39,880 staring at a screen for too long, or being passionate about 598 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:41,440 sports more than we are about the Kingdom. 599 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:46,960 There's a spiritual practice for that as well, Jesus says. 600 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,160 Win you. Fast. 601 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:52,160 He doesn't say if you. Fast, he says. 602 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,560 When you do it, when you when you take part in this exercise 603 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,560 to continually practice removing yourself from the appetite. 604 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,840 Of this earth so. Fasting can be from food and 605 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,000 you, you say, OK, I'm going to skip lunch and dinner and just 606 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,080 reorientate, reorientate my appetite to spiritual things. 607 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:11,360 I want to read the word. I'm going to spend time in 608 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:14,640 prayer over a lunch break. And you can also spend dedicated 609 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:20,600 time away from your phone in your screen and you can turn off 610 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,120 the radio and you can just. Reset. 611 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:27,080 The engines on your pursuit of God, and then it says. 612 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,720 Woe to those who laugh, Great sorrow awaits. 613 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:34,280 Well, we talked about this. In the sermon on weeping for 614 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,920 those of us who want to. Have that healthy. 615 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,760 Weeping heart we can continue to pray the prayer God break my 616 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,200 heart for what breaks yours and Noah already mentioned it, but 617 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,920 we send out. Prayer requests as a church body 618 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:51,200 daily. And one of the. 619 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,480 Great ways that. You can overcome the the 620 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:56,200 temptation to just make this whole. 621 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,840 Life. An antidote on laughing so you 622 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:01,760 never. Feel is to. 623 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:05,760 Learn the power of intercessory prayer because when you when you 624 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:08,480 look at the prayer requests that will come in starting tomorrow 625 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:11,600 all throughout the week, you'll find that there's not a lot. 626 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,640 To laugh about. There's a lot to pray about. 627 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:18,480 There's a lot to trust God over. There's a lot to hope for. 628 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,000 But if we can just take a moment to be reverent and say, God, 629 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:23,920 these are your people and we're going to present them to you 630 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,960 because we know that you. Have the power to. 631 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:31,720 Heal and to provide. And the fervent prayer. 632 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,760 Of the righteous. Will avail much and you will be. 633 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:36,120 Free. From getting sucked into. 634 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:41,400 The the perspective that this. Whole thing is fun and games, so 635 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:43,960 you can practice generosity, you can practice fasting, you can 636 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:51,080 practice intercessory prayer, and I'll just end with a final 637 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:54,240 word. For all of us to just refocus. 638 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:58,200 How we answer the question What motivates your life? 639 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:01,920 What? Reward Are you living for for 640 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:05,800 the here and now, or for the eternal promise Paul will end? 641 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:08,639 That that. Portion of scripture to the 642 00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:10,719 church in Philippi when he says. Our. 643 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,360 Citizenship is in heaven, from which? 644 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,159 We also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 645 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,120 Listen to this reward who will transform our. 646 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:24,600 Loadly body. That it may be conformed. 647 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,920 To his glorious body. According to the work, the 648 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,360 working by which he is able to even subdue all things to 649 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:37,480 himself, He's going to transform our weakness into glory. 650 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:41,080 He's going to subdue all things to himself. 651 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:46,679 In other words, the Kingdom of heaven, it's going to come in 652 00:34:46,679 --> 00:34:49,760 such a way that the power dynamics and the struggles and 653 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:54,800 the suffering are going to be flipped upside down, and the 654 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:58,280 ultimate script is going to flip. 655 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:01,920 Amen. Let us pursue. 656 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:06,560 God in such. A way this week that we pursue 657 00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:10,080 that reward. Thanks for joining us today. 658 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,120 If you would like to watch the full service, check out the link 659 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:15,960 in the description. For next steps and to learn 660 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,200 more, visit calvaryboise.com.