1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,300 My heart is swelling with joy this afternoon and as you can 2 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:10,900 imagine there's so much that can be said about what the Lord has 3 00:00:10,900 --> 00:00:15,300 done over the past year but I'm going to restrain from doing 4 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:19,100 that and I'm going to keep that for our time of Fellowship where 5 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:22,900 I will share a few words. But for now I just want to trust 6 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:26,500 the process that we have been going through in the scriptures 7 00:00:26,500 --> 00:00:31,600 as we continue in our series within a series in Mark, chapter 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,800 4. As we study and continue to 9 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:40,100 survey the parable of the sower. And so this is going to be a 10 00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:46,100 strong word today, but I'm going to trust the Lord that the 11 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:49,200 people here today will benefit from it. 12 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:56,400 And that it will be a fruit. It will bear fruit. 13 00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:02,000 And so meet me in Mark chapter 4, and let's just look at one 14 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,300 verse together. In verse 7, Mark chapter 4, 15 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:12,200 verse 7. Other seed. 16 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:17,700 Fell among thorns. And the Thorns grew up. 17 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:24,000 And choked it. And it yielded no grain. 18 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:30,700 Other seed fell among thorns. And the Thorns grew up. 19 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:36,300 And choked it and it yielded no grain. 20 00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:43,700 Lord, this is your blessed word. Now, bless our hearts. as we 21 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:51,300 seek to understand your mind, your wisdom, your will We plead 22 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,800 with you Lord, that you would Grant the Special Touch from the 23 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:59,500 Holy Spirit. That there would be his power, 24 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,400 assisting the delivery of this word and his power breaking open 25 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,500 our hearts to receive it with joy. 26 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,800 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 27 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,100 You and I have now arrived at our third installment of our 28 00:02:18,100 --> 00:02:23,100 study in the parable, the sore and the value of our time in 29 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:24,900 this. And what the Lord Jesus has to 30 00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:29,900 teach us is incalculable. Its primary design is really to 31 00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:34,700 have listeners of the word of God to cautiously Ponder not 32 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:39,900 just what they are hearing but how they are hearing the truth. 33 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,700 In other words, this teaching that is so familiar to us, 34 00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:47,400 especially those who grew up in the church is a confirmation 35 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:52,100 from God, that any audience member from every generation 36 00:02:53,000 --> 00:03:00,000 Will be responsible for how they assess and how they apply God's 37 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,400 revealed will to them. If the sower is faithful in his 38 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,500 delivery of the seed, he will not be guilty for the 39 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:15,400 fruitlessness of his hearers. At the same time, the seed will 40 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:21,000 never be criticized for having an inability to produce life in 41 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,600 the soul. Even even though the audience 42 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,600 may be receptive, though. Unchanged. 43 00:03:29,300 --> 00:03:34,300 This Parable is important because the Lord Jesus points us 44 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:39,900 to the heart of a very complicated and debated matter. 45 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:46,800 Concerning the complex short-term and long-term 46 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:51,700 responses to the gospel. But this Parable unveils it and 47 00:03:51,708 --> 00:03:57,300 he really simplifies it for us, the explanation for the variety 48 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:02,600 of reactions. Is in the attitude of the here. 49 00:04:04,900 --> 00:04:11,500 That is where it all lies, the seed of truth will either Thrive 50 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:17,100 or it will die based on the condition of the inner man, 51 00:04:17,300 --> 00:04:20,300 which varies from person to person and we have already 52 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:26,600 discussed the hardened heart, the hearts, who hears the word 53 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:32,300 like you are hearing it today. But because of different reasons 54 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,300 they are totally unresponsive to the truth. 55 00:04:35,300 --> 00:04:38,500 And that truth ricochets off of them. 56 00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:42,700 Making it totally easy for Satan to grab that seed. 57 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:47,300 Lesson might have some impact in your life down the road and then 58 00:04:47,300 --> 00:04:51,500 we looked at the rocky soil, Different in. 59 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:55,500 In the sense that it was receptive. 60 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,900 Suddenly and excitingly receiving the truth. 61 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:06,400 Promising much fruit. Much Conformity to Christ like 62 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,100 this until the heat of persecution trials. 63 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:16,300 Discomfort blazed over it scorching it until it has no 64 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:20,100 life and no fruit to show. But today, the Lord has another 65 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:26,000 batch of soil to sift before us. and I believe, That this is a 66 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,800 class of professing Christians. That is unfortunately widespread 67 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:36,500 and Chris and them today. And the reason for that, the 68 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:39,000 reason why this category is so typical Even in our 69 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:46,400 congregations is I believe because what spoils the soil is 70 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:51,500 something that most of us generally tolerate Partly. 71 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:55,900 Because what Jesus, deems as soul damning is what our 72 00:05:55,900 --> 00:05:59,800 culture, boldly Advocates, as ambitious. 73 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,600 As wise as aspiring. I said my herbal. 74 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,400 How many professing Christians have bought into that same idea? 75 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:15,000 You might be shocked this afternoon to learn what the Holy 76 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:21,300 Spirit defines as thorns. But if you are among those lean 77 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:26,700 in, now lean in. Now, if you are among those who 78 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:31,800 are honest enough to admit that your spiritual life has not seen 79 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:36,400 growth since your apparent, confession of Jesus, then take 80 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,200 heed to the words of the author of life because it may rescue 81 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,600 you from the spiritual Suffocation that you are 82 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,800 suffering from. Listen. 83 00:06:49,300 --> 00:06:55,300 We are already at the verse. In the parable that tells us 84 00:06:55,300 --> 00:06:59,600 about this category of listeners, but let's go to Jesus 85 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,800 explanation of it in Mark, 4, 18. 86 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:08,100 Mark 4:18. And others are the ones sown 87 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:11,400 among Thorns. They are those who hear the 88 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,900 word, but the cares of the world. 89 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:22,100 And the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other 90 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:27,400 things, enter in and choke the word. 91 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:34,200 And it proves unfruitful before I get to the list of perils that 92 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,900 Jesus mentions in this allow me to make a comment of the 93 00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:40,200 uniqueness of the soil and comparison to the others. 94 00:07:40,900 --> 00:07:45,100 Like the rocky soil, the soil with thorns, looks good on the 95 00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:48,300 surface. But in reality, there are deadly 96 00:07:48,300 --> 00:07:53,300 elements within it. That's contained corrupting 97 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:59,500 faculties neighboring organisms like brambles and weeds are 98 00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:02,900 living there and they are prepared to accelerate and 99 00:08:02,900 --> 00:08:07,100 growth because there was not careful purging that took place 100 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:10,300 beforehand in the soil. And these components have no 101 00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:12,700 problem cohabitating with good seed. 102 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:18,100 They don't mind having good seed being their neighbors but they 103 00:08:18,100 --> 00:08:23,400 are always always threatening the growth of that seed and 104 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,000 anything that tries to develop in close proximity. 105 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:33,500 The reason that these weeds are viciously threatening The Good 106 00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:39,700 Seed is because they are selfish and they soak up the nutrients 107 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:44,300 and they steal the water and the light that is required for 108 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:48,400 development. And because of this, there is a 109 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:52,000 hindrance to the maturity of any competing Harvest. 110 00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:57,800 Even if it's good. By alluding to thorns and the 111 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,600 imagery of thorns. Jesus is brilliant. 112 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:06,800 He's brilliant. he's wonderful because in this, he is 113 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:13,200 communicating the pitfall and it is this embracing the gospel 114 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,800 while permitting polluted preoccupations to abide in the 115 00:09:16,808 --> 00:09:21,600 same heart. In Luke, 8, 7, and you don't 116 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:22,800 have to turn there. We are. 117 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:29,200 Told with a different detailed that this seed, Grew but the 118 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:33,500 Thorns grew up with the seed with it and then choked it. 119 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:37,700 This informs us, something very important. 120 00:09:37,700 --> 00:09:42,600 The main lesson about this part in the parable is to point out 121 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:48,300 the listener who thinks that they can receive the truth and 122 00:09:48,300 --> 00:09:53,300 accept the terms of the Gospel while allowing other aspirations 123 00:09:53,300 --> 00:09:58,700 to coexist. Well, the Lord is not saying is 124 00:09:58,700 --> 00:10:01,300 that there are people who because of their single-minded 125 00:10:01,300 --> 00:10:07,100 drive for riches and promotion and luxury and other desires and 126 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:09,600 pleasures of this life immediately reject the truth. 127 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,400 I'm not interested, don't sign me up. 128 00:10:11,500 --> 00:10:14,600 If you read carefully, these people are like the rocky soil 129 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:19,600 in that they welcome the seed. They accept the seed, they're 130 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:25,000 stirred by the seed, they're convinced by the seed, they 131 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,500 confessed Christ. They can articulate Theology and 132 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:34,300 Doctrine And they may make an appearance in the house of God 133 00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:37,500 from time to time. But here's the main thing, 134 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:43,300 ultimately ultimately, they lack genuine fruit. 135 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:49,100 Like the fig tree that Jesus cursed from a distance that tree 136 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:51,900 had leaves, it looked like it had life. 137 00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:55,600 It looked like it was the real thing, but upon close 138 00:10:55,900 --> 00:11:00,800 examination and evaluation Jesus realized that it was a fraud. 139 00:11:02,100 --> 00:11:07,700 And he cursed the fig tree, This is the type of plant that we are 140 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:09,700 dealing with. This is the type of professing 141 00:11:09,700 --> 00:11:11,500 Christian that Jesus is addressing. 142 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:15,100 And if that is the case, then at what point this apostasy occur 143 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:19,800 with the thorny heart and here's where it is unique because you 144 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,500 can point out with the first soil that it is immediate I 145 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:28,000 don't want this, I reject this, okay, you come to the rocky soil 146 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,600 and what the moment, things get hard, the moment there's a price 147 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,800 to be a Christian. The moment there is pressure 148 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,300 from family. They jumped ship that's the 149 00:11:36,308 --> 00:11:41,500 moment but when you come here to this soil, there is no 150 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:47,600 definitive moment. There is no clear, observable, 151 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:54,200 measurable Turning Point. Instead, this kind of falling 152 00:11:54,200 --> 00:12:00,000 away, is defined by a deception that makes the ensnared soul 153 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:04,800 generally, unaware of the seriousness of his spiritual 154 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:10,600 plight. In essence, it is a gradual 155 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:15,000 decay. That eventually leads to a 156 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,600 practical denial of discipleship. 157 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:20,500 Let me show that to you and Luke's version. 158 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:26,300 Go to Luke with me in chapter 8, In verse 14, Luke 8:14. 159 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:40,500 Luke 8:14 reads and as for what fell among the thorns. 160 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:47,300 There are those who hear but as they go on their way, they are 161 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:53,100 choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life. 162 00:12:53,400 --> 00:13:02,800 And their fruit does not mature as they go on their way. 163 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,900 Listen, don't get distracted. See how quick that can happen. 164 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:13,200 As they go on their way, is a striking phrase. 165 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:19,400 First, it means that the seed made some kind of impression on 166 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,600 the soil. There's something there or else 167 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:24,800 the weeds would have nothing to choke. 168 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:29,500 This shows that a person who has a thorny heart. 169 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:33,000 Is someone who has an initial interest and attraction to 170 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:37,700 Jesus. Unlike the hardened soil that 171 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:43,200 has no desire. Secondly, it shows a trajectory 172 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,300 of the soil. The person's relationship with 173 00:13:47,300 --> 00:13:53,400 the truth is deteriorating. As time goes on, they 174 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:58,500 deteriorate. The more time that goes on over 175 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:02,500 time, it shows that there is something wrong on a 176 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:06,100 foundational level. And that's why Jesus says that 177 00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:10,900 they're fruit does not mature. Have you met a professing 178 00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:13,100 Christian who looked the same from the moment that they 179 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:16,100 apparently confessed Jesus? That's a scary place to be. 180 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:23,600 Lastly. It reveals that the smothering 181 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,400 of spiritual life happens, over an unspecified amount of time as 182 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:32,400 they go on their way. What happens here, is that at 183 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:37,400 some point at some point, such a person ends up looking as though 184 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,800 there is no see that entered into their heart even to begin 185 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:44,000 with. Here's the overarching statement 186 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,600 of what Jesus is trying to teach with this section of the 187 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:51,200 parable. One cannot know, cannot know the 188 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:56,300 true saving power of the Gospel unless he or she is willing to 189 00:14:56,300 --> 00:15:00,700 surrender every other priority, every other passion to the 190 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:06,800 lordship of Jesus Christ. You see the main issue about the 191 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:13,200 way, the thorny soil receives Christ is that he accepts him as 192 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:20,200 pay attention a priority A priority among other cherished 193 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:25,900 preferences. This is starting to sound a lot 194 00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:29,200 more like American Christianity, isn't it? 195 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:34,800 Instead of Christ becoming the preeminent purpose and pursuit 196 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:38,300 of a life. He is a shared conviction. 197 00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:44,400 He is a shared conviction that lives in the shadows of rival 198 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:48,200 objectives. And this is why. 199 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,500 Becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is increasingly 200 00:15:52,500 --> 00:15:55,400 becoming difficult in the west with all the freedoms that we 201 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:59,400 have so far. Because our culture is 202 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:05,000 constantly trying to sell us. So many means of contentment and 203 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:09,800 success and comfort. Always at the price at a true 204 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:16,000 commitment to Jesus always. and if you desire this afternoon to 205 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:20,200 know whether or not this soil speaks of you, all you have to 206 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:27,200 do really is be honest enough to reflect on your own heart as the 207 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,300 three things that Jesus mentions as Thorns are things that 208 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:33,300 determine the direction of your life. 209 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:37,000 Examine yourself and say, are the things that Jesus 210 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,300 illustrates as Thorns. Are these things, the true 211 00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:44,400 Masters Of My Life. But let me give a disclaimer 212 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,600 before I move on and this is an important disclaimer. 213 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:52,500 Here it is, it is totally possible to know the temptation 214 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:56,700 of one of these Thorns, even all of them at the same time and 215 00:16:56,700 --> 00:16:59,500 still be a true follower of Jesus Christ. 216 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:03,500 Jesus is not referring to being tempted by the cares of this 217 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:06,400 world being tempted by riches, being tempted by different 218 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,900 desires. It's easily proven just read the 219 00:17:10,900 --> 00:17:13,200 Epistles and what will you find? Whoa. 220 00:17:13,300 --> 00:17:17,300 Earnings to Trueblood bot. Christians about caring being 221 00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:22,099 anxious riches so it's there it's a possible Temptation for 222 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:26,000 the believer but what Christ is explaining here is something 223 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,600 different how worldly cares worldly desires, worldly riches 224 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:35,600 upon evaluation of the professing Christian is really 225 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:41,800 the Lord of their lives. It's it's it's the conflicting 226 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:50,000 desires that completely starve, the affection and the energy 227 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,900 that must be reserved for your relationship with Christ. 228 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:01,500 And so, I want you to just hear what these things are and then 229 00:18:01,500 --> 00:18:05,300 ask yourself, not am I tempted by these things? 230 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:12,700 But are these things truly more important, more demanding, more 231 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:18,200 lovely more cherished than Christ who is supposed to be my 232 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,500 Lord. And so Jesus begins in Mark 233 00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:25,800 chapter 4 by referencing the cares of this world. 234 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:32,900 Another way of saying it is the day-to-day worries in our life. 235 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,300 And these things are characterized by concerns that 236 00:18:37,300 --> 00:18:42,600 stem from life's stressful, demands and unpredictable 237 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,300 challenges. They're not necessarily fruitful 238 00:18:45,300 --> 00:18:47,100 by sinful by the way. They're not, they're not 239 00:18:47,100 --> 00:18:52,400 inherently evil but they can be idols and they can be Idols that 240 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,200 we excuse as you ready for this responsibilities. 241 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,500 They can be Idols that are decorated as. 242 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:10,900 Personal goals. when in reality, they're Thorns sticking in your 243 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:19,300 neck and your bleeding, and you can't even tell I will not list 244 00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:22,600 what these cares can be because they vary from person to person 245 00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:25,000 and there's always a danger when you get to specific 246 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,400 applications, right? The moment a preacher gets into 247 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,100 specific applications. He is walking on a razor thin 248 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:35,100 thread. And he can fall into legalism 249 00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:38,200 and he can fall into Liberty and sinful Liberty. 250 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,500 And so I will try to be as general as possible, especially 251 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:46,000 when it comes to these things. But however, major or minor 252 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:52,000 these cares might be to you the heart filled with, thorny weeds 253 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:56,900 and bushes, permits his relationship with Jesus Christ, 254 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:02,500 and his fellowship with his people to be rendered valueless 255 00:20:02,500 --> 00:20:07,300 because of them. To be rendered worthless in 256 00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:10,100 light of these other cares. All you would never admit it. 257 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:15,400 Remember you accepted the seed? It's their didn't disappear, 258 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,100 burden, and coming. Pluck it up. 259 00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:19,200 I know it's there and even from a distance, look at all that 260 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,100 green. And when you come closer, I like 261 00:20:22,100 --> 00:20:24,800 those weeds. Oh, so Thorns. 262 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,100 Where's the fruit? But you accepted it, right? 263 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,700 You would never say that. Jesus is my all. 264 00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:35,600 He's my everything. And yet in practice there is 265 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,900 concern. For such people. 266 00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:43,300 There is no such thing as private devotion. 267 00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:48,300 Private, what? Day after day goes by mourning 268 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:51,600 tonight, mourning tonight and not one. 269 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,600 Heavenly thought has traveled through the corridor of your 270 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,300 meditations. Oh, not even a whisper to the 271 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:01,500 Lord that you apparently profess. 272 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,300 And more than that, the gathering with the local church 273 00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:11,500 is a matter of personal convenience, personal 274 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:15,200 convenience. I'm not speaking about 275 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,800 emergencies, I'm not speaking about irregular events. 276 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,800 I'm speaking about priorities and so is Jesus. 277 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,700 And guess what? For the thorny hearted 278 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:28,300 professing. Christian, the local church. 279 00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:32,800 Ain't one of them. Meeting with the Saints on the 280 00:21:32,808 --> 00:21:36,900 Lord's days and afterthought. Simply because there are other 281 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:40,000 things that I got to do, man. Come on preacher. 282 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:42,800 Understand where I'm coming from. 283 00:21:43,700 --> 00:21:45,300 Oh they can be easily done on Saturday. 284 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:47,900 But who's going to really give up a Saturday? 285 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,500 We can always have church the skip right to hours on a Sunday 286 00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:55,300 but we can skip it. What about Saturday afternoon 287 00:21:55,300 --> 00:21:56,100 on? Oh no. 288 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,900 That's Girl's Day. That's this, that's that that's 289 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:05,200 that. I'm reminded of the words of 290 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,000 Jesus and another Parable that I believe accurately reflects the 291 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,900 mindset of those who have this kind of a heart, it's another 292 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:15,300 Parable. The parable of the great banquet 293 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,600 where the king sends his servant with an invitation and his hands 294 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:25,600 to bring a specific audience into his presence. and when the 295 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:29,400 servant goes out, he realizes that as he extends his gracious 296 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:34,400 and merciful invitation It has responded to, in the following 297 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:41,400 way and Luke 14 17, Luke 14 17. And at the time for the banquet, 298 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,000 he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited. 299 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,700 Come for everything is now ready. 300 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,700 But they all began to make excuses. 301 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,200 They all began to make excuses the first set them. 302 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,800 I have bought a field and I must go out and see it. 303 00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:07,600 Please have me excused. and another said, I have bought five 304 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:15,200 yoke of oxen and I go to examine them, please have me excused And 305 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:19,000 another said, I have married a wife and therefore I cannot 306 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:24,200 come. You know what this Parable is 307 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:29,400 about, primarily procrastination with salvation. 308 00:23:30,900 --> 00:23:35,700 Excuses to why you won't come to Jesus, but I have to admit, it's 309 00:23:35,700 --> 00:23:39,700 not difficult to see how similar excuses are made by some when it 310 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:43,000 comes to their willful neglect of personal discipleship. 311 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:49,200 Did you notice how none of these reasons were inherently wrong? 312 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:55,300 I just bought a field. I just got new oxen, new cars. 313 00:23:56,900 --> 00:24:00,800 I just married, I just married somebody that I'm madly in love 314 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:05,200 with. J.c. 315 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:11,200 Ryle. Quote says infidelity and 316 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,900 immorality. No doubt slay their thousands 317 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:24,000 but decent plausible smooth spoken excuses slay their tens 318 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:31,900 of thousands. you know, as I notice from this They're pretty 319 00:24:31,900 --> 00:24:35,300 polite. But you notice that please have 320 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:40,300 me excused, please have me excused Except the one with the 321 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:44,300 wife, I'm serious read it. I'm not making it up when it 322 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:47,000 came to the field. Please have me excused when it 323 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:48,500 came to the ox. Please have me excused when it 324 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:54,700 came to the marriage now. Alright coming, that's by 325 00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:56,400 Design. You know why? 326 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:58,600 Because I believe it's meant to show. 327 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:03,300 How there are some who she purposely justify Their 328 00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:06,700 unwillingness to submit to the words of the king and then there 329 00:25:06,700 --> 00:25:08,500 are others. You ready for this who are 330 00:25:08,500 --> 00:25:11,800 outright offended when the servant of the king comes and 331 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,500 tells you about making the king's bidding a priority. 332 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:22,800 You see what I got going on here? 333 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:32,900 I'll come when I'm ready. Properties work, fashion food 334 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,200 and romantic relationships were stumbling blocks then to 335 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,300 fruitful faith and they're still there today. 336 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,700 They're still there today and I know what some of you may be 337 00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:48,500 thinking I can feel it. Right, what kind of world do you 338 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:52,500 think we're living in preacher? What kind of world do you think 339 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:55,900 we're living in this being a Christian mean, we ignore other 340 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:59,800 responsibilities and duties, I got food to put on my table. 341 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:06,800 I got bills to pay. I got relationships to nurture. 342 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,300 I have an ill mother-in-law who needs constant attention and 343 00:26:12,300 --> 00:26:14,000 supervision? What is this? 344 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,900 Legalism that you're proposing and let me clarify by saying 345 00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:20,900 this that nowhere in the Bible. Nowhere in discipleship. 346 00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:26,200 Nowhere in instructions of practical Christian Living, are 347 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:29,200 we told to abandon wholesome activities and or 348 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,100 responsibilities and let me add to that by saying that as a 349 00:26:33,108 --> 00:26:36,400 Ministry. Our goal is not to keep you in a 350 00:26:36,408 --> 00:26:39,400 church building as many days in the week as possible. 351 00:26:40,500 --> 00:26:42,700 That's not our goal. I praise God, that we have 352 00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:44,600 Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, my desire. 353 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,000 I wish I can see you more than that because I cherish your 354 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,800 fellowship and I cherish you, but I understand we understand 355 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:52,500 there's a world out there to engage with. 356 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,500 And there are responsible, there are dealings, there are things 357 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:56,700 that happen. That is not what I am speaking 358 00:26:56,700 --> 00:27:02,400 about, and neither is Jesus. There's a world to engage with. 359 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:08,500 But if you can easily brush off your basic duties as a disciple 360 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:13,900 of Jesus and point two reasons that we all have to deal with in 361 00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:18,800 life by the way. Would you check your heart and 362 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,700 see if there's any prickly Thorns there? 363 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,700 Being a Christian does not erase the cares of life. 364 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,700 Might even add some to it. Being a Christian is all about 365 00:27:33,700 --> 00:27:39,200 how the gospel enters in. Sits on the throne of your heart 366 00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:44,300 and then by God's good grace and love teaches you how to handle 367 00:27:44,300 --> 00:27:49,800 those cares. Remember what we conclude about 368 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,900 the rocky soil? Remember how they rejected 369 00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:56,600 Christ so quickly When Trials, came we learned from that that a 370 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:00,700 true follower of Jesus Christ does not renounce, his faith. 371 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:04,900 When it gets hard, those things actually bring him closer to his 372 00:28:04,900 --> 00:28:07,100 God. And guess what? 373 00:28:07,500 --> 00:28:10,300 It is, no different with the Christian and his worries. 374 00:28:15,900 --> 00:28:18,300 Let me give you just a glimpse. Let me just let just peek a 375 00:28:18,308 --> 00:28:22,500 little bit to get an idea of how a Christian deals with the cares 376 00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:28,200 of this world, James 5:13, is anyone among you suffering, let 377 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,600 him pray. Huh, has anyone among you 378 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:32,800 suffering? Let him pray. 379 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:35,700 Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 380 00:28:36,100 --> 00:28:38,800 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the Elders of 381 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:40,600 the church and let them pray over him. 382 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:42,500 Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 383 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,200 Two out of those three things are negative. 384 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,900 Are you suffering in any way? Are you sick and body? 385 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,500 Well, if you're suffering, then pray cast all your anxieties on 386 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:57,700 him because he cares for you, lay it all there. 387 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,500 She when you give your heart all to the gospel, God gives all his 388 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:03,900 promises and his Comforts and his mercies to you. 389 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:09,600 The worst thing to do is to embrace Jesus half-heartedly and 390 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,200 then be consumed by cares. The best thing to do is give 391 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,700 yourself to him and watch what he does with your cares. 392 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,000 So if you're suffering, what is the Christian do? 393 00:29:18,700 --> 00:29:22,200 He comes to his God? Lord, I need you. 394 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:24,600 I am. And I don't know where to go 395 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,800 from here. This is overwhelming. 396 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,100 I'm tired. I remember being in college 397 00:29:28,100 --> 00:29:32,000 overwhelmed with my schedule overwhelmed internship didn't 398 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,400 have a car that the commute was so terrible. 399 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,800 I made a vow. I will never take public transit 400 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:38,900 transportation again. That's how bad it was. 401 00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:44,600 And I remember, I would walk home in the cold February 402 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:49,700 weather stepping foot into my apartment exhausted. 403 00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:51,400 And you know what would come out of my mouth? 404 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,700 The moment I have to enter in and make my terrible excuse of a 405 00:29:54,708 --> 00:29:58,900 meal as a college student. Lord, I missed you, this is 406 00:29:58,900 --> 00:30:02,100 hard, this is not easy. Well, I don't have much to give 407 00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:03,900 you but I'll give you what I can. 408 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:11,900 I'll give you what I can. Among you sick like even Satan 409 00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:14,900 knew when you touch somebody's body, they really reconsider the 410 00:30:14,900 --> 00:30:18,000 goodness of God touch his stuff, that's one thing, touch his body 411 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,300 and watch out he'll squeal. But as anyone you sick, what do 412 00:30:21,308 --> 00:30:22,200 you do? If you're sick? 413 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:24,400 You don't run away from the church. 414 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,000 You call the church. You call the pastor's all 415 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:29,800 pastors, pray for me. I'm suffering here. 416 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:31,400 Pray for me, I'm Ill. Pray for me. 417 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:32,600 The doctor's report was not good. 418 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,800 Have the church pray for me. Do you see what happens? 419 00:30:36,300 --> 00:30:38,700 You see what happens to the heart that has good soil when 420 00:30:38,700 --> 00:30:41,200 they do experience the cares and worries of life? 421 00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:43,400 It doesn't pull them away from their Master. 422 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,700 There's a pull them away from the church, it pushes them 423 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:48,200 towards them. This is what happens. 424 00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:53,600 Oh, but the heart filled with thorns is driven by cares. 425 00:30:54,600 --> 00:31:00,300 Driven by cares at the expense of totally ignoring what Jesus 426 00:31:00,300 --> 00:31:04,400 Christ. As Lord asks of him, But 427 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:07,900 strangely there are some who when they advance in life and 428 00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:12,900 experience its various promotions and blessings. their 429 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:18,600 faith and service to Jesus seems to only evaporate more and more 430 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:26,000 As they go on their way. See, jokes them. 431 00:31:28,100 --> 00:31:31,400 The cares of this world and Jesus goes to the second 432 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:36,700 component and deals with the deceitfulness of riches money, 433 00:31:37,500 --> 00:31:43,300 money money. Jesus famously said, in Matthew 434 00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:47,700 6:24. You cannot serve God and money. 435 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:53,100 but this group of people believe you can The heart filled with 436 00:31:53,100 --> 00:31:56,600 thorns, believe you can. And that's why Jesus 437 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:01,000 specifically said that they are. Choked by the deceitfulness of 438 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:05,500 riches. Not just riches the deceit 439 00:32:05,900 --> 00:32:10,500 behind those riches. and these group of professing, Christians 440 00:32:10,500 --> 00:32:13,900 believe that a Christian can live with the same goals that 441 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:22,000 almost every other ungodly person in this world has What 442 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:26,000 happens? Lord didn't say you can't have 443 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,400 God and money. He just said, you can't serve 444 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:32,100 both of them at the same time, but the thorny heart hears, the 445 00:32:32,100 --> 00:32:36,500 gospel and become a disciple by name and then they plan. 446 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:40,700 And they prioritize his today and his tomorrow's with one 447 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:42,300 goal. You want to know the goal, I 448 00:32:42,300 --> 00:32:45,300 want to get rich, that's what I want. 449 00:32:46,300 --> 00:32:52,700 I want riches, I want Financial Independence. 450 00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:56,600 I want things at the snap of my finger, I want to get to the 451 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,300 point in life, where no matter what I spend or what I invested, 452 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:03,400 it would not even affect my day-to-day, even by the 453 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:09,900 slightest, And if time in the word, check this out. 454 00:33:09,900 --> 00:33:12,300 If serving in the Church of worshiping Christ with God's 455 00:33:12,300 --> 00:33:14,600 people are investing in the advancement of the Gospel gets 456 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,900 in the way of that Pursuit. Well, guess what, those things 457 00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:22,700 are going to have to suffer How do I know if money is my master, 458 00:33:23,500 --> 00:33:26,000 it's not hard. What do you more happy to have 459 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:30,700 cash or Christ? What do you more worried about 460 00:33:30,700 --> 00:33:33,800 losing material, blessing, or spiritual Treasures? 461 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:37,400 What dominates your long-term goals. 462 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,600 Financial Independence or fruitfulness for the kingdom of 463 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:48,200 God. The thorny heart would answer 464 00:33:48,300 --> 00:33:52,400 internally, I know what the Christian answer is, but look, 465 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:58,200 I'm honest here, I want more. I want more and I won't be 466 00:33:58,200 --> 00:33:59,800 content, too late until I get it. 467 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:06,100 So be it. So many examples in the Bible. 468 00:34:07,300 --> 00:34:10,000 So many examples. But one of the strongest 469 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:11,900 examples that came to mind when I was reflecting on. 470 00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:17,800 This was a man in the Old Testament who who's told to be a 471 00:34:17,808 --> 00:34:21,400 lover of money in the New Testament? 472 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,199 His name was Balaam. Remember Balaam, Balaam is an 473 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:27,300 interesting figure in the Bible because when you read about him 474 00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:30,800 in numbers, there's debate about whether or not he is a good 475 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:34,900 profit that went bad or if he was a fraud to begin with. 476 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:38,100 And it's not until you go to the New Testament. 477 00:34:38,100 --> 00:34:40,699 We see that Balaam is mentioned by name three times and each 478 00:34:40,699 --> 00:34:44,199 time it's to condemn him as an apostate as a false teacher. 479 00:34:45,100 --> 00:34:47,699 And he actually becomes a prototype for false teachers 480 00:34:47,699 --> 00:34:50,400 today. Again, when you read about 481 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:53,600 bailing The Numbers 22, when you're introduced to them, you 482 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,500 get this sense that maybe he's a real prophet, he calls the Lord, 483 00:34:57,500 --> 00:35:03,100 his God balak, send some people to hire him to put a curse on 484 00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:06,100 the nation of Israel and he says, let me inquire of God and 485 00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:09,200 he inquires of God, God tells him, no, My People Israel, their 486 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,600 bless you can't curse them. So he comes back and he says, 487 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:13,200 look, I can't help you here. God said, no. 488 00:35:14,100 --> 00:35:17,500 They go back to balak and Bailey says up the ante. 489 00:35:18,900 --> 00:35:24,800 More honor more blessing go. So they come back and there's 490 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:28,400 bail them again, and they said, look, paraphrasing, he's willing 491 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,100 to give you more. And here's what Bailey does or 492 00:35:31,100 --> 00:35:34,100 Bailon does. Let me inquire got again. 493 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:38,500 God already told you what the answer was wasn't up for 494 00:35:38,500 --> 00:35:41,400 negotiation, but let me go to God again. 495 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:44,100 Maybe I can work something out. So he goes it's comes before 496 00:35:44,100 --> 00:35:46,100 God. And the Lord saw, what was 497 00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:48,200 really in his heart. You want to go, okay. 498 00:35:49,900 --> 00:35:54,100 He allows them to go. So Balaam is ready to go and 499 00:35:54,100 --> 00:35:56,500 curse that which God has blessed. 500 00:35:57,100 --> 00:36:00,300 He's ready to defy, what God had originally said. 501 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:04,100 For one thing, the Price Is Right? 502 00:36:05,100 --> 00:36:10,200 The Price is Right. For this kind of thorny soil if 503 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:15,300 the price is right. It's nice. 504 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:17,200 Knowing you. Marry not the Bible Church? 505 00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:24,200 So, I reach you from numbers, 2222. if you want to turn their, 506 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:28,100 you're welcome to Numbers. 22 22. 507 00:36:28,100 --> 00:36:33,500 Very easy reference. but God's anger was kindled because he 508 00:36:33,500 --> 00:36:43,500 went and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his 509 00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:47,600 adversary. That's a terrifying thing. 510 00:36:50,900 --> 00:36:53,500 I think some people consider me their enemies, I don't 511 00:36:53,500 --> 00:36:57,100 personally have any enemies but I rather have the world as my 512 00:36:57,100 --> 00:37:00,100 enemy, then have the angel of the Lord, as my enemy just 513 00:37:00,100 --> 00:37:05,500 saying, Now, he was riding on the donkey and his two servants 514 00:37:05,500 --> 00:37:10,400 were with him. And the donkey saw, the angel of 515 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:15,200 the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. 516 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:19,800 And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the 517 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:24,200 field and Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the 518 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:27,800 road. The irony of this passage the 519 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:30,500 irony of this passage is just oozing. 520 00:37:31,300 --> 00:37:37,100 Balaam is hired to be a prophet who has apparently unusual 521 00:37:37,100 --> 00:37:40,400 insight and access into the spiritual world. 522 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:44,000 But he cannot see the angel of the Lord who is standing before 523 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:45,700 him. You know, who does the donkey 524 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:51,300 The donkey does. The donkey sees the angel of the 525 00:37:51,300 --> 00:37:53,800 Lord and here's this man who claims to have eyes into the 526 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:57,600 Unseen World and he can't he can't see the donkey. 527 00:37:57,600 --> 00:37:58,700 You know, what, I take from this. 528 00:37:59,700 --> 00:38:02,200 Maybe you see it to, to some degree. 529 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:07,200 Balaam could not see what was spiritual because he was blinded 530 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:14,300 by his love for money. He was blinded by his love for 531 00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:18,500 money. When a person loves money, one 532 00:38:18,500 --> 00:38:22,300 of the dangers that he invites into his life, is that he does 533 00:38:22,300 --> 00:38:27,000 not have the right perception of reality, especially when it 534 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:32,100 comes to perceiving the riches that are in Christ Jesus. 535 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:36,700 I've talked to people who love money when you it just like are 536 00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:37,900 you serious? Like what are we doing right 537 00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:42,000 now? They don't have the right 538 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:44,100 evaluation, they don't have the right estimation. 539 00:38:44,100 --> 00:38:46,600 They don't have the right understanding, that's what 540 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:49,100 they're suffering with. And what do they do? 541 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:50,500 What do people who love money do? 542 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,300 Well, they put their security, they put their value, they put 543 00:38:53,300 --> 00:38:57,500 their worth, they put their joy in that, which will fail him, 544 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:04,100 that which will harm him. And I admit at this point. 545 00:39:04,900 --> 00:39:09,800 The donkey has more spiritual Insight than Balaam and I rather 546 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:13,300 be living the quality of life like this. 547 00:39:13,300 --> 00:39:17,700 Poor beast but see the angel of the Lord who is Christ, then be 548 00:39:17,700 --> 00:39:22,600 a guy like Balaam and he couldn't That's very offensive, 549 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,100 isn't it? It's offensive to a lot of 550 00:39:25,100 --> 00:39:30,300 people. yeah, let me be a servant like this donkey but let 551 00:39:30,300 --> 00:39:35,900 me see Christ as I walk instead of being like Balaam who had so 552 00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:40,900 much already and wanted more but could not see the angel of the 553 00:39:40,900 --> 00:39:45,000 Lord. The True Believer will confess 554 00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:49,400 that he rather have that. The True Believer will confess 555 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:53,200 that he rather have the eyes of his heart opened so that he can 556 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:59,400 explore the Deep Riches of God's grace and intimacy and love than 557 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:03,300 to know more and more and more and more of this world. 558 00:40:06,100 --> 00:40:09,400 Does God say you can't have money and God no you can't have. 559 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:11,200 Both are there. Very successful. 560 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:15,000 Spiritual men in this life. You better believe it, but they 561 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:16,600 have money. Money doesn't have them. 562 00:40:18,900 --> 00:40:20,400 And you don't have to be rich to love money. 563 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:26,200 You can be poor and still be riddled with this cancerous 564 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:31,100 desire. It's so easy, isn't it? 565 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:35,200 The deceitfulness of riches come in and suffocate. 566 00:40:36,700 --> 00:40:43,200 Maturity in Christ. And Jesus masterfully ends with 567 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:47,600 a final Thorn when he says not just the cares of this world, 568 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:50,400 not just the deceitfulness of riches. 569 00:40:51,900 --> 00:40:54,100 But also the desires for other things. 570 00:40:54,300 --> 00:40:57,500 You know why that is so masterful because our immediate 571 00:40:57,500 --> 00:40:59,400 reaction to that might be well, huh. 572 00:40:59,700 --> 00:41:01,300 Okay? What things Jesus? 573 00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:06,600 Lord, this very general. Can you, can you tell me the 574 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:11,600 list of things that have the power to choke out fruitful 575 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:12,900 faith? I would like to know so I can 576 00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:17,400 avoid those things. And Jesus wasn't being General, 577 00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:20,300 because he was being careless. Jesus was being General because 578 00:41:20,300 --> 00:41:24,900 he was being strategic, because when he says that the desires 579 00:41:24,900 --> 00:41:29,700 for other things, what he means is other things are anything 580 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:37,500 Anything not just some things, anything that is inferior to the 581 00:41:37,500 --> 00:41:39,600 worth and value. That is found in. 582 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:46,600 Jesus Christ is capable of choking faith and guess what? 583 00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:52,400 Is inferior to Jesus Christ. Everything Anything and 584 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:58,100 everything that has primary devotion and places, God, even 585 00:41:58,100 --> 00:42:04,100 in second place is capable of choking your religion. 586 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:11,700 To the heroes who are honest today, please listen carefully. 587 00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:14,300 Listen carefully. Now I'm almost done. 588 00:42:16,100 --> 00:42:20,100 When we present the gospel and we call you to say yes to his 589 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:24,600 unbelievable Mercy. And you choose to say, yes, keep 590 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:29,300 in mind that at the same time you are also confessing that 591 00:42:29,300 --> 00:42:33,700 Jesus Christ is more precious, more glorious, more lovely, more 592 00:42:33,700 --> 00:42:39,700 desirable, more honorable, more brilliant, and infinitely more 593 00:42:39,700 --> 00:42:41,900 worthy than anything else in this life. 594 00:42:43,100 --> 00:42:46,800 That's the gospel that we preach, and that's the gospel 595 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:50,400 that we hope and pray. People would accept not a gospel 596 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:53,400 that says I will plant you right here on the bed of my life, with 597 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:55,600 all these other plants around you Jesus. 598 00:42:56,900 --> 00:43:01,000 Because Christ will not be a roommate in your heart. 599 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:05,500 He wants all of it. He wants you to give the title 600 00:43:05,500 --> 00:43:08,100 deed of your life. He wants you to surrender 601 00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:12,000 everything from top to bottom from east to west from all that 602 00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:14,800 you have and all that, you know, and all that you aspire to, he 603 00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:18,400 wants you to surrender it at his feet when you come to the foot 604 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:25,100 of that cross, nothing less. And any confession that is less 605 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:30,200 than that reality. Will like the rocky soil, prove 606 00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:34,000 itself, eventually, to be fraudulent because it will be 607 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:38,600 fruitless. I'll say this in closing. 608 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:41,900 I think it's amazing how the thorn is the metaphor that Jesus 609 00:43:41,900 --> 00:43:45,400 chooses to describe cares riches and pleasures of this world. 610 00:43:46,400 --> 00:43:49,300 Why do you think that is? Have you ever had a thorn 611 00:43:49,300 --> 00:43:53,400 sticking to your hand? That little device can be 612 00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:57,500 torturous? And putting a bandaid on it, 613 00:43:57,500 --> 00:44:01,000 isn't going to help. Icing, it won't be numb it for 614 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:06,300 so long until the pulsing ache and irritation revisits. 615 00:44:06,300 --> 00:44:14,200 You And Jesus said cares to live for cares and to satisfy your 616 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:18,700 cares where you push out, God deceitfulness of riches. 617 00:44:22,900 --> 00:44:25,200 The desires for other things, it can be anything. 618 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,800 I heard of a man who lost his ministry because he got caught 619 00:44:29,800 --> 00:44:32,100 up into his collection of stamps. 620 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:39,400 He forsook the ministry for sick, prayer for sick, 621 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:44,700 preaching. These things if you live for 622 00:44:44,700 --> 00:44:52,100 them like a thorn in your flesh. Will bring no goodness, only 623 00:44:52,100 --> 00:44:56,100 burden only frustration, only irritation. 624 00:44:57,400 --> 00:45:02,100 And the only solution to being liberated from the pangs of 625 00:45:02,100 --> 00:45:05,400 these things. Is to remove it completely. 626 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:10,100 Is there any complete when a thorn goes into my hand? 627 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:12,000 And I've had it coming to my foot. 628 00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:14,700 I don't do anything with one. Just happened in the history of 629 00:45:14,707 --> 00:45:18,000 my life. I have one thing in mind when I 630 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,600 realized it. I don't want to go shopping. 631 00:45:20,700 --> 00:45:23,200 I don't want to take a nap. I don't want to even eat a meal. 632 00:45:23,300 --> 00:45:24,700 I need to get this thing out of me. 633 00:45:26,500 --> 00:45:30,100 See what you think you're wearing around your neck, is a 634 00:45:30,100 --> 00:45:32,300 necklace that beautifies your life. 635 00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:35,700 It's actually caller, that's choking you. 636 00:45:37,500 --> 00:45:39,600 And doesn't matter what you paint in there, how you decorate 637 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:46,200 it in the end, that thing is just a thorn and it has one 638 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:50,500 intention when you misplace its value in your life and that is 639 00:45:50,500 --> 00:45:54,500 to take your life. Oh yeah, outwardly you're good 640 00:45:54,700 --> 00:46:00,000 but spiritually, you're dying. You're already dead. 641 00:46:02,700 --> 00:46:07,200 You know I listen to something this past week of a very wealthy 642 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:13,400 man and he said something that was so true yet so simple and 643 00:46:13,400 --> 00:46:16,200 people who are still pursuing riches and the deceitfulness of 644 00:46:16,207 --> 00:46:20,000 riches, don't get it. This man says, I've reached a 645 00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:23,800 point in my life where I can spend anything and I can buy 646 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:26,900 anything and it doesn't affect me one bit. 647 00:46:28,200 --> 00:46:30,900 And he said, you know, there are days when out when I was poor. 648 00:46:31,500 --> 00:46:35,100 And I thought to myself, when I become rich when I become 649 00:46:35,100 --> 00:46:37,400 wealthy, I'm going to buy this. Something about that, by this 650 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:39,900 money by that. Is once I got there, I realized 651 00:46:39,900 --> 00:46:41,600 there's not so much things that you can buy. 652 00:46:42,500 --> 00:46:43,700 I mean, what can you really buy anyway? 653 00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:47,000 Okay, you buy a nice house. Then you buy okay you buy more 654 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:49,000 cars. Okay you buy the fancy watch you 655 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:52,700 buy 10 of them, okay, you fill your closet with clothes, then 656 00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:54,900 what? Then what? 657 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:57,400 Tell me, what else don't actually tell me. 658 00:46:57,400 --> 00:47:00,200 People do sometimes. Don't What? 659 00:47:00,200 --> 00:47:00,700 What? What? 660 00:47:00,700 --> 00:47:02,000 Tell me, what else you going to get, huh. 661 00:47:03,900 --> 00:47:05,400 And that's why you look on the TV. 662 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:09,100 You look on the social media and what do you see when you're 663 00:47:09,100 --> 00:47:11,700 unregenerate and you are extremely wealthy. 664 00:47:11,700 --> 00:47:13,300 The only thing that you have to live for us? 665 00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:15,000 Well, I got this well, so I have power. 666 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:18,000 Let me exercise this power because they're sinful. 667 00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:23,800 It gets ugly. Let me save you the trouble. 668 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:28,400 There's nothing worth living for a part from the one who gave you 669 00:47:28,400 --> 00:47:34,500 life Christ himself and letting him fill your heart with his 670 00:47:34,500 --> 00:47:37,700 goodness and day-by-day presenting to you. 671 00:47:37,700 --> 00:47:43,300 A Feast that will keep you satisfied and steady an 672 00:47:43,300 --> 00:47:46,500 immovable and no matter what you have on your back, no matter 673 00:47:46,500 --> 00:47:50,100 what brand the thing is no matter what you acquire in this 674 00:47:50,100 --> 00:47:54,900 world, you will be glad you will be glad upon one condition. 675 00:47:55,000 --> 00:48:00,700 To die to yourself. Let the Holy Spirit come in and 676 00:48:00,700 --> 00:48:03,500 let him dig up. All those other routes, let him 677 00:48:03,500 --> 00:48:06,200 remove the Thorns. Let him remove all those silly 678 00:48:06,200 --> 00:48:08,900 things that were worried about and we're willing to ignore 679 00:48:08,900 --> 00:48:11,900 Christ for all the things that were willing to put energy and 680 00:48:11,900 --> 00:48:15,000 effort and time and investment. Let him do that work. 681 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:16,900 And then let him have your heart. 682 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:21,400 And you'll be satisfied. And you will know. 683 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:26,600 What we're going to discover next week that when the heart is 684 00:48:26,600 --> 00:48:31,400 good and it understands all that Christ is and what he demands, 685 00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:36,200 you will know fruit upon fruit, you will know fragrance upon 686 00:48:36,200 --> 00:48:39,300 fragrance, you will know life upon life. 687 00:48:40,300 --> 00:48:58,800 Pray with me. Lord, we are reminded again. 688 00:49:01,500 --> 00:49:07,500 That you alone are worthy. And we gladly confess a fresh, 689 00:49:08,300 --> 00:49:13,300 you are truly Lord Of Our Lives. Lord, we know that even as 690 00:49:13,300 --> 00:49:17,600 children of God, the cares of the world, knock on the doors of 691 00:49:17,600 --> 00:49:19,300 our hearts. We know that the riches of this 692 00:49:19,300 --> 00:49:21,800 world persuade us and promise satisfaction. 693 00:49:21,800 --> 00:49:26,400 We know that there are things in this life that have no problem. 694 00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:33,300 Kicking Christ out to have our dominant desires. so we ask that 695 00:49:33,300 --> 00:49:36,600 you help us Lord and protect us from these things, but for the 696 00:49:36,600 --> 00:49:41,800 person who initially receive Christ on the wrong premise, And 697 00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:44,100 thought that he can just fit one compartment. 698 00:49:45,900 --> 00:49:48,100 Do we pray that today would be the turning point? 699 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:53,400 For you have given us this Parable, not just merely for 700 00:49:53,400 --> 00:49:56,400 reflection, but also for reflection, that leads to change 701 00:49:56,400 --> 00:50:00,100 if necessary. And so for the heart that can 702 00:50:00,100 --> 00:50:05,200 honestly say, since I said yes, to Jesus, there was no growth. 703 00:50:05,800 --> 00:50:09,100 There is no fruit in my life. There is nothing in me. 704 00:50:09,100 --> 00:50:11,500 That loves Jesus. I love 10 things. 705 00:50:11,500 --> 00:50:13,800 Before I love Christ, I love even one thing. 706 00:50:13,800 --> 00:50:17,700 More than Christ. Lord, may you have mercy? 707 00:50:18,600 --> 00:50:22,300 And save that soul from such deception. 708 00:50:25,700 --> 00:50:27,300 Thank you, Lord. That when we give up on 709 00:50:27,300 --> 00:50:29,000 everything else, we don't lose anything. 710 00:50:29,700 --> 00:50:32,600 We gain everything. And we asked, oh, Lord, that, 711 00:50:32,600 --> 00:50:36,600 that would be true for every person who does truly know you. 712 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:38,900 They can say, all I have is Christ. 713 00:50:40,100 --> 00:50:42,800 And All I Need Is Christ. And yes, there are things I got 714 00:50:42,800 --> 00:50:46,300 to do in this life and I will enjoy the riches of 715 00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:50,900 relationships and marriage and food and vacations, but Christ 716 00:50:50,900 --> 00:50:54,300 has more than all of these things put together and because 717 00:50:54,300 --> 00:50:56,200 of Christ, all these things are possible. 718 00:50:56,400 --> 00:50:59,700 And even enjoyable, Lord may that be the theme of Our Lives. 719 00:51:00,800 --> 00:51:04,100 So we surrender to you and we sing to you and we worship you, 720 00:51:04,100 --> 00:51:06,100 Lord, you are worthy of everything. 721 00:51:06,900 --> 00:51:08,800 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 722 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:12,500 Hallelujah. Indeed, let's stand and Worship 723 00:51:12,500 --> 00:51:13,000 the Lord.