1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,900 I greet you in the name of Lord. Jesus Christ. 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:08,500 The resurrected Lord, in the soon. 3 00:00:08,500 --> 00:00:12,800 Returning King, if you can meet me in your copy of God's word in 4 00:00:12,808 --> 00:00:16,100 the Book of Mark chapter 2. If you're visiting with us, 5 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:20,300 we've been going together as a family Through The Book of Mark 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,700 and week after week. As we hear from this word, we 7 00:00:25,700 --> 00:00:30,600 never cease to be amazed at just How Majestic and wonderful he 8 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,200 is. And that will only continue to 9 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,100 be true as we come to this text in verse 13 of Mark chapter 2 10 00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:41,800 and a very familiar passage. But we trust that the Holy 11 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,000 Spirit would Enlighten us to see fresh revelation. 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,600 That would benefit us in our sanctification and even benefit, 13 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,600 perhaps somebody in here who doesn't know Jesus. 14 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:55,400 And Mark 2 13. We read. 15 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,600 He went out again beside the sea and all the crowd was coming to 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,800 him and he was teaching them. And as you pass by, he saw Levi, 17 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:09,500 the son of alphaeus. Sitting at the tax booth and he 18 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:13,100 said to him, follow me and he rose and followed him. 19 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,000 And as you reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors 20 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,800 and sinners were reclining with Jesus. 21 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,100 And his disciples for there are many, who followed him. 22 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,400 And the scribes of the Pharisees when they saw that, he was 23 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,000 eating with, Sinners and tax collectors said to his 24 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,400 disciples. Why does he eat with tax 25 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:35,900 collectors, and Sinners? And when Jesus heard it, he said 26 00:01:35,900 --> 00:01:38,100 to them. Those who are, well, have no 27 00:01:38,100 --> 00:01:43,200 need of a physician but those who are sick, I came not to call 28 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:48,200 the righteous but sinners. Lord, we come before you with 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:54,600 this text in front of us. And Lord, you know the hearts of 30 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,500 all men. You know, the condition of our 31 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:01,800 hearts in this place, you know, exactly what we need to hear. 32 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,100 We trust Lord as this text. As this service has been prayed 33 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:09,400 over that you will indeed move in an obvious way. 34 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:14,800 Lord, we realize our weakness, our Frailty are inconsistent 35 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,800 habits below There is something in us because of your spirit 36 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,500 that desires to know you and be like you. 37 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,800 So, we ask father through this text would you Empower us to 38 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,700 obey? And would you draw us to Worship 39 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:32,700 You? Lord you see our generation, the 40 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:37,200 flood of distractions, the death, the destruction, the the 41 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,000 confusion Lord, we need an extra measure of your power. 42 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:44,900 Would you supply it in this place for the name of Jesus? 43 00:02:44,900 --> 00:02:47,700 Christ's sake? And In his name we pray. 44 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:55,600 Amen. After declaring and 45 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:01,600 demonstrating his authority to forgive sins, the Holy Spirit 46 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,400 takes us by the hand, and he brings us before the Lord, 47 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:13,900 Jesus, as he demonstrates that Grace, that ability to extend, 48 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:17,900 pardon to the undeserving in a very, very moving scene. 49 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,700 And this is accomplished as Mark, introduces us to a man by 50 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:28,000 the name of Levi, who was known as a collector of taxes in Jesus 51 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,200 day. Now, the significance of Levi's 52 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,100 occupation will be explained in a moment, but it's good for us 53 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:37,800 to know that the very same man that we are witnessing about 54 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:42,400 today is in fact, believed by the majority that he is the same 55 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,600 person as Matthew the tax collector that we read of, in 56 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,500 the Book of Matthew which is the Book in our new testament 57 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:51,900 library. And the reason why that is the 58 00:03:51,900 --> 00:03:55,800 consensus is, because there is an exact almost word-for-word 59 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:00,000 account of this conversion story, in the Book of Matthew, 60 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,200 and instead of the name, Levi being used, it's Matthew. 61 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,500 Now, you might be wondering why two names for the same person. 62 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,200 Culturally speaking, that was very common in Jesus day where 63 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,200 you would have somebody who was labeled or identify by more than 64 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,000 one name. One of the disciples actually 65 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,899 has three names in our Bibles. His name is Peter and in some 66 00:04:19,899 --> 00:04:22,000 places Simon and another's cephas. 67 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:24,600 So there's nothing to be confused about that and there's 68 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,900 nothing contradictory about it. What's more important is that 69 00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:31,700 the story of Levi's conversion is strategically placed right 70 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:36,200 after Jesus. Gibbs and heals a paralyzed man 71 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:41,100 and that is a spiritual thing because this emphasis is to tell 72 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:45,200 us that there is a greater Reach In Jesus forgiveness. 73 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,700 It goes to places that you would not fathom it touches, the 74 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:50,400 hearts that you would not believe. 75 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:53,800 And that is the case when we come here with Levi, but more 76 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,900 than that, the fact that it's told right after a miracle, 77 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,100 Indicates that this conversion in itself is a miracle. 78 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:07,600 It's even a greater Miracle than the one who had lifeless legs 79 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,900 was told to pick up his bed and go home. 80 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:15,600 And so we come here to see that Levi story is a miraculous 81 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,100 story. An old preacher said something 82 00:05:18,100 --> 00:05:20,100 that I love to repeat from time to time. 83 00:05:20,700 --> 00:05:23,600 He said the greatest Miss miracle that God can do today is 84 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,800 to take an Unholy man from an Unholy world and make them. 85 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,000 Holy then put them back in that Unholy world and keep him. 86 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,800 Holy and that is what we are going to witness today. 87 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:41,000 A very Unholy man who is then made holy and then giving us the 88 00:05:41,008 --> 00:05:42,900 inspiration that he can do the same today. 89 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:50,500 Levi's testimony. Is given to tell us that 90 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:55,400 Redemption and healing in the soul is available to the most 91 00:05:55,400 --> 00:06:00,000 repugnant and repulsive of all. And that is certainly true of 92 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,400 our world today. There are, if you're honest with 93 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,600 yourself there is a category of Sinners perhaps in your heart 94 00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:08,500 that you perhaps deem as hopeless. 95 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,600 And two ugly in terms of sin and to horrendous in terms of 96 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,900 actions and belief that you almost write them off as 97 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:19,700 reprobates to the degree, that they will never have a chance to 98 00:06:19,700 --> 00:06:23,300 be saved. May I present to you, Levi, to 99 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:26,600 give you the hope that perhaps somebody that you dearly love, 100 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,600 that is so far out can actually come into contact with the grace 101 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,700 of Jesus Christ and be saved because of it. 102 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,800 Consider three things with me this afternoon the calling of 103 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:44,300 Levi The conversion of Levi and the conflict around Levi, the 104 00:06:44,300 --> 00:06:47,500 calling of Levi, after being, told that Jesus was fulfilling 105 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:50,100 what he was called to do, what he was sent to do at this point 106 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:52,500 in his ministry to teach and preach the good news. 107 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:55,500 We now see Jesus very briefly in motion. 108 00:06:56,500 --> 00:07:00,200 There is a transition, a physical one, because we read 109 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:05,900 in, verse 14 as he passed by. So, here's Christ walking from 110 00:07:05,900 --> 00:07:08,000 one direction to the next we made, just right. 111 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,000 Cut off as unimportant but it is extremely significant because in 112 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,300 those brief seconds is a person on that same path who will 113 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:19,800 forever have his life, altered because of Jesus Christ. 114 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:24,700 Don't get distracted now. They're just people And so, what 115 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:30,600 we see here is Jesus, passing by and in passing by meditate to 116 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:35,800 realize what that means he passed by and he saw Levi 117 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,400 sitting at the tax Booth, no, random detail. 118 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:42,100 There is Matthew, and I'm going to use Levi, Matthew 119 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:43,700 interchangeably. Same person. 120 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,900 There is Matthew sitting in a tax Booth while Jesus is 121 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:51,800 crossing him in that path. And this is important because 122 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,100 you and I have to understand We how deplorable Tax Collectors 123 00:07:56,100 --> 00:07:58,000 were those of you who grew up in church? 124 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,100 This is like common. You understand that? 125 00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:04,500 But just realized just how much they were hated as I explained. 126 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:09,000 Who Tax Collectors were to the Jews, they were traitors, they 127 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,500 worked for the Romans, the Romans oppressed the Jews of 128 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:15,800 this time. And for you to volunteer to work 129 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,400 for the Romans in the eyes of the Jews was disgusting. 130 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,100 How dare you? You already seen that we are 131 00:08:23,100 --> 00:08:25,100 burdened by this. As people you already seen that, 132 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:28,000 we don't have the freedom that we desire and here you are only 133 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,200 strengthening their caused over us, but more than the fact that 134 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,600 their position declared, a lack of faithfulness of fidelity to 135 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,400 their people and even to their God, these Tax Collectors 136 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,400 couldn't help it. They're a position of authority 137 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,300 and power tempted him and they would give in to that temptation 138 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:48,700 to make a profit for themselves. So they would cheat with the 139 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:49,900 numbers. They wouldn't manipulate they 140 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:53,100 would press and whatever extra they would get out of there 141 00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:55,200 oppressed brother. They would put it right into 142 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,300 their pockets. Ancient Jewish commentaries and 143 00:08:59,300 --> 00:09:02,300 writings tell us that to the general public Tax. 144 00:09:02,300 --> 00:09:05,200 Collectors were no different than thieves and murderers. 145 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,800 They were illegitimate Witnesses in a court setting. 146 00:09:09,900 --> 00:09:13,300 They were shunned to participate in the worship service at 147 00:09:13,300 --> 00:09:16,700 synagogues. And we even read here at one 148 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:19,300 point in the mishnah, which is the oral traditions of the Jews 149 00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:22,200 in ancient times that a tax collector. 150 00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:28,600 Was so deplorable that even if he entered into someone's house, 151 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,200 that house would be deemed as unclean. if they understand what 152 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:37,300 they felt about these people, And that's amazing because in 153 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:39,700 other words to the Jews that tax collectors were just as 154 00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:43,400 Despicable and worthy of social isolation as the leper. 155 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:47,600 And you can almost say that these men were even more to be 156 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,100 despised and the leper, because a leopard didn't have a choice 157 00:09:50,100 --> 00:09:53,200 in the matter, concerning his condition, but the tax collector 158 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:58,700 did, You were so unfeeling about your reputation that you were 159 00:09:58,700 --> 00:10:01,500 willing to be a part of something that you knew would 160 00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:05,800 cause people to despise you. But they could care less and 161 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,400 here's the beautiful thing. That this is where and when 162 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:15,300 Jesus calls Matthew to himself, while he is sitting at the tax 163 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:21,100 Booth, Levi wasn't attending the service and verse 13 by the Sea. 164 00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:24,100 He was an eagerly hearing the teachings of Jesus. 165 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,100 He was right in the middle of his sin. 166 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,500 He was sitting there, he was comfortable there and it was 167 00:10:30,500 --> 00:10:33,000 there where you heard the voice of the shepherd, calling him to 168 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:38,900 himself, wanting him to himself, not even the Detailed word here 169 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:43,000 in verse 14 as she passed by, he saw Levi. 170 00:10:43,900 --> 00:10:48,300 What did those eyes communicate? What I see there is that when 171 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:52,200 Jesus saw Levi, he knew exactly who Levi was. 172 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,200 He knew that he had a corrupt character. 173 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,900 He knew that he was part of something that was dishonoring. 174 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:03,700 He knew the burden that Levi placed on the fellow citizens 175 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:05,400 who are innocent and already struggling. 176 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:10,300 He knew of the of the stigma around his occupation, he saw 177 00:11:10,300 --> 00:11:14,000 all of it and yet still out of the same lips, he says, follow 178 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:19,400 me. I want you while understanding 179 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,900 full, well who lie, Levi was an agent of pain. 180 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,300 And someone who lost all feeling concerning his own reputation, a 181 00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:31,800 spiritual leper, the Lord wanted him, and that same Mercy that he 182 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,500 is displaying towards Levi's the same Mercy that is so 183 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:36,600 powerfully. Drying Sinners today. 184 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:42,400 Christ doesn't want you to meet him halfway listen, if you're a 185 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:47,800 doubtful person concerning the grace of Jesus Christ, As you're 186 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,400 there swimming in your sin? Yes, with Filthy Hands and even 187 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,800 perhaps a perverted mind while you're listening to the sermon. 188 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:54,900 Your mind is Twisted. Hear what I have to say. 189 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,100 Jesus, doesn't want you to prove yourself to be worthy to come to 190 00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,700 him. He wants to rescue you exactly 191 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:05,700 where you are. And he calls from the shore. 192 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:09,900 For you to reach out your hand. And his arm is long enough and 193 00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:12,700 strong enough to pull you out of muck and mire. 194 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:15,900 And that's exactly what he is doing and wanting to do. 195 00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:18,400 Even in this place. Today, there is an invitation, 196 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,500 ringing out loud because the very essence of that invitation 197 00:12:21,500 --> 00:12:23,700 is, it has the power to change you. 198 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:27,300 You don't change yourself so you can come to Christ, you come to 199 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:31,800 Christ, so he can change you. And he longs to change a, he 200 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:33,800 longs to receive all glory and changing you. 201 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,700 And he here is seeing Levi in his sin and he says, I want you 202 00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:41,100 now. Right there, you'd be amazed to 203 00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:43,300 know the skepticism. You'd be amazed to know that 204 00:12:43,300 --> 00:12:46,600 hesitation of people coming. Oh I just don't know if I'm if 205 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,400 I'm worthy. I don't know if I'm a candidate 206 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:49,800 know. You are a candidate. 207 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,600 You are exactly the person that Jesus is looking for, as we re 208 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,100 later on that, he comes for the sick of physician is drawn to 209 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:59,600 those who need the physician not to those who think they have no 210 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,400 need of him. I want to, I want you to see 211 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,300 something quickly, turn your Bibles quickly with me, Romans 212 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:14,000 chapter 5. and look at these amazing statements about, Who 213 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,800 Jesus comes for. Three verses. 214 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:22,900 Romans 5:6. First. 215 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:27,500 Look at these words. For while we were still weak at 216 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:31,800 the right time Christ died for the ungodly weak, unable to 217 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,200 fulfill the law. Unable to prove yourself unable 218 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,700 to be obedient and remain obedient while we were still 219 00:13:38,700 --> 00:13:44,100 weak, Romans 5:8, but God shows his love for us in that while we 220 00:13:44,100 --> 00:13:48,800 were still sinners. So, not just even attempting a 221 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,000 righteousness, but being weak at it. 222 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,900 But while you are sinning and comfortably doing it, disobeying 223 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,700 living for your passions and your pleasures while we were 224 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:01,500 still sinners. Christ died for us. 225 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:03,900 It doesn't end there. Yeah, while you were a week 226 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:07,600 while you're still Sinners, Romans 5:10 for while we were 227 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,400 enemies. For while we were still weak 228 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,800 verse 6 for y, we were still Sinners verse a verse 10. 229 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,400 For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the 230 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,800 death of his son. Much more that we are 231 00:14:19,808 --> 00:14:22,500 reconciled. Shall we be saved by his life 232 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,100 enemies? Open Rebellion to God. 233 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,000 Sticking your nose to the heavens and raising your fist 234 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,100 and saying, I know what I'm doing and I'm gonna do it. 235 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:36,400 Gladly, it's one thing for one man to die for a friend or for a 236 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,500 child, but it's another thing to die for an enemy. 237 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:43,100 It's one thing to die for somebody who's trying to get, 238 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:44,200 right? But they don't have the power to 239 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:45,700 get, right? But for somebody who turns their 240 00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:51,000 back, And knows exactly the kind of blasphemy. 241 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,400 They are performing. And yet still Christ, says I 242 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:56,000 still want you. I'm coming for the blasphemer. 243 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:57,800 I'm coming for the one who hates me. 244 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,800 I'm coming for the one who despises my law and Mike are G 245 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,300 coming for them too. For while we were weak while we 246 00:15:04,300 --> 00:15:06,500 were still Sinners, while we were enemies while he was 247 00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:12,300 sitting at the tax booth. Jesus says, I want you, I want 248 00:15:12,300 --> 00:15:15,300 you to follow me. And Levi was called. 249 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:17,600 Yes, while sitting there. But Levi was called for a 250 00:15:17,608 --> 00:15:24,800 limited time frame verse 14. And as he passed by, As glorious 251 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,600 as this grace is, you have to understand that it has a window 252 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,600 of time and leave. I only had so much time to work 253 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,100 with. Jesus did not rent a room across 254 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:40,500 from the tax poles, so that he can have a few weeks of a 255 00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:43,700 one-on-one campaign to convince Levi that he needed to surrender 256 00:15:43,700 --> 00:15:48,400 his life. He was passing by, It was a 257 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,400 short opportunity. And Eve, I had to leave. 258 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,700 I had to respond to that because the physical picture here 259 00:15:54,700 --> 00:15:59,700 provides a Biblical illustration of the urgency of salvation You 260 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:02,100 don't really hear the word hell anymore in church, right? 261 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,400 It's kind of a rare word. I remember somebody told me once 262 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,900 after I preached on it, I don't believe that you should use hell 263 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:12,100 to try to convince Sinners to come to Christ. 264 00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:15,000 Oh, really? So, what do you tell Jesus? 265 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,000 Then? You have a problem with Jesus 266 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,400 evangelism. If you have a problem with me. 267 00:16:22,700 --> 00:16:25,300 There is no doubt in my mind that many will be in Hell who 268 00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:29,500 knew exactly how to be saved. They can even tell you how that 269 00:16:29,500 --> 00:16:32,900 what the gospel is. The problem is not their lack of 270 00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:35,500 the knowledge of the Gospel. The problem is their hesitation 271 00:16:35,500 --> 00:16:39,200 or unwillingness to surrender to the call of the Gospel. 272 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,200 Let me take it further. I believe there will be many in 273 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:46,200 Hell, who would even say in admit, that they were even at 274 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,700 one point interested or eager to repent and believe. 275 00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:55,600 But as they reflect on their life at on Earth, they remember 276 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,200 they push it off until tomorrow and wants tomorrow came, They 277 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,600 delayed it until next week and then once next week came that 278 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:07,099 conviction that once. So sharply cut their hearts and 279 00:17:07,099 --> 00:17:10,500 brought an Awakening to their conscience was ultimately dulled 280 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:14,800 until it essentially disappeared until they wished away into 281 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:20,599 eternity. Many will understand that their 282 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:23,900 place in judgment was not because they didn't hear was 283 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:26,599 because they didn't say yes when they had the chance to. 284 00:17:26,900 --> 00:17:29,500 And there are so many sobering illustrations of this in the 285 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:31,100 Bible. And one of the strongest 286 00:17:31,100 --> 00:17:36,800 illustrations is with a man named Felix and acts 24 who had 287 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:41,600 Paul as a prisoner before him and Felix was hearing his case 288 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,100 because the Jews accused them of all these weird things, 289 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:46,500 including treason. And so Felix was going to hear 290 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:50,100 him, but Felix was Interested in more than just what the Jews had 291 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:56,200 to say in Acts 24, 24, Felix, and his wife, Drusilla, we read 292 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,100 after Sunday's Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who is a 293 00:17:59,100 --> 00:18:05,100 Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in 294 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:08,000 Christ Jesus, we don't know if it was Felix or his wife, who is 295 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,200 Jewish. That wanted to hear what Paul 296 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,800 had to say concerning Jesus Christ. 297 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:16,400 Despite the fact Paul gladly with those chains came before 298 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:17,900 and says, let me tell you about the law. 299 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,600 Jesus Christ. And so he preaches and so he 300 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,700 teaches and Felix's there, I'm sure on some kind of a throne 301 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:27,500 with his hand on his chin, listening intently and then 302 00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:32,000 something happens in verse 25. And as he reason Paul about 303 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,300 righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix 304 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:40,100 was alarmed. And said go away for the 305 00:18:40,100 --> 00:18:43,800 present. When I get an opportunity, I 306 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,000 will summon you. Here's the sad part. 307 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,600 Felix says, I will fetch for you when I'm ready. 308 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,600 And there is never a recorded moment where he ever asked for 309 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:59,400 that opportunity again. And I am just so impressed by 310 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,200 Paul's gospel presentation, because the way he spoke and 311 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,100 what he spoke about clearly Disturbed Felix, not that we 312 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:10,500 intend to disturb or offend, but the Bible tells us. 313 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:14,600 So clearly what he said that shook Felix, he mentioned 314 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:19,200 righteousness, he mentioned self-control, he mentioned 315 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,200 judgment to come. Now, let's just be honest today. 316 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,500 How much do we hear of that in our gospel presentation? 317 00:19:26,300 --> 00:19:28,200 How much do we hear of God's holiness? 318 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,900 How much do we hear of the repentance that is needed to 319 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:32,300 self-control? They're speaking of the 320 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,300 repentance that is needed to say, yes. 321 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,900 How much do we hear of the judgment to come if you refuse 322 00:19:38,500 --> 00:19:41,600 to surrender, to Jesus Christ, who delivers you from the 323 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,000 righteous standard of God? If we want to know how to 324 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:46,900 preach, let's go to the preachers and the Bible. 325 00:19:47,700 --> 00:19:51,300 And we see here that he presents these things and it clearly had 326 00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:55,300 this man shook because the guilty condition of his soul was 327 00:19:55,300 --> 00:19:58,000 brought before him and he wanted to Shake It Off. 328 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,000 And so he says depart from me I will come for you in a more 329 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,500 convenient time, but listen to me there is never more of a 330 00:20:06,500 --> 00:20:10,800 convenient time to surrender than Christ then today because 331 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,800 the more you resist and maybe you're in this place and you 332 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,400 have resisted you've heard week after week the gospel. 333 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,500 Listen to what I have to say. The more you resist today, the 334 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:23,500 harder it is to say yes, tomorrow. 335 00:20:25,900 --> 00:20:30,900 You don't believe me, do you? Well, look at Felix and acts 336 00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:33,200 24:27. Do you want to know how long 337 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:38,100 Felix had Paul in his presence and at his disposal and acts 338 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:41,800 24:27 we read when two years had elapsed? 339 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:49,200 Two years, two years, Felix was succeeded by pork is Festus, and 340 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,300 designed to do the Jews of favor, Felix left Paul in prison 341 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:58,800 to Ole years. And he wasn't saved, then it 342 00:20:58,808 --> 00:21:00,600 call for Paul to explain the gospel. 343 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,700 Again, didn't ask, for more details than ask him, to be led 344 00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:06,800 to the, to the Jesus that say, Paul two years. 345 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:09,500 And that's why the holy spirit says. 346 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,300 Today as the holy spirit, says, if you hear his voice, do not 347 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:17,400 Harden your hearts, you have an ability to harden your own 348 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:21,400 heart. And you can make it much more 349 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,100 callous than it was yesterday. And it can come to the point 350 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:27,900 where you were so hardened that now, you were just coming week 351 00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:31,100 after week, and nothing moves. You nothing. 352 00:21:32,100 --> 00:21:33,700 Listen to me, I'm being very, very serious. 353 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:38,100 You can come to the point where God can warn you once just once 354 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,200 and you will never feel the urgency of that warning again 355 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,900 after one time and God is completely justified in all of 356 00:21:44,900 --> 00:21:47,800 that. We have this strange concept as 357 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,100 though, we're doing Jesus a favor and he has to wait on our 358 00:21:50,100 --> 00:21:51,700 terms. And when we're ready, we'll come 359 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:54,400 to him today. And if it comes today and you 360 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:57,500 don't answer today, who says you're going to answer tomorrow? 361 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:03,600 Felix didn't Owen, Moses told Pharaoh about the plague to 362 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:04,900 stop, you know what Pharaoh said? 363 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:07,200 Concerning the frogs Moses is one. 364 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,400 Do you want at? And he goes tomorrow tomorrow, 365 00:22:10,500 --> 00:22:11,600 you can have it today. Yeah. 366 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,400 But for some reason I want to wait till tomorrow. 367 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,300 We are strange creatures Sons and Daughters of Adam confused 368 00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:19,400 in. So many ways. 369 00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:23,000 We see here, that Felix waited till tomorrow. 370 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:27,400 So what was holding him back? Would you like to know verse 26? 371 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,200 It says you're at the same time he hoped that money would be 372 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,300 given him by Paul so he sent for him often and conversed with 373 00:22:35,300 --> 00:22:38,400 him. Money. 374 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:44,400 Rich's the only reason why he kept Paul closes because he 375 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,000 thought that there would be some bribe to have him released. 376 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,300 And so he kept them close and so he was hoping that one day Paul 377 00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:52,100 would even say look the high really want to get out of here. 378 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:54,900 Have a missionary in a journey to fulfill here take some money 379 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:58,100 or his friends would come and provide some kind of extra cash. 380 00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:03,400 The thing that was weighing down Felix, at least one thing was 381 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:08,800 the love of the world, the love for things, the love for gain. 382 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,900 it's very possible that there are some who have been sitting 383 00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:17,400 here for weeks and months and your heart is only getting 384 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,100 harder and harder because you refuse to say, yes, for what 385 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:28,300 money Your little Empire. Your cute boyfriend. 386 00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:32,600 Girlfriend. Fear for your family. 387 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,500 Whatever the case may be, would you sense the warning from 388 00:23:37,500 --> 00:23:40,300 Felix's life? And if you have that feeling of 389 00:23:40,300 --> 00:23:42,100 warning be encouraged by Matthew. 390 00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:44,600 When the Lord asked him to leave, when he asks him to 391 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,300 follow him, he did not reply. What saying can you just let me 392 00:23:47,300 --> 00:23:49,100 finish my shift? I'm in the middle of my work 393 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:52,200 here. I got a couple more hours, maybe 394 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:53,500 I'll talk to you in my break time. 395 00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:56,800 Not say Lord. I mean I'm a I'm a very affluent 396 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:58,300 man. I have high position here. 397 00:23:59,300 --> 00:24:01,400 I would like to retire in a respectable way. 398 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,600 Can you just give me a couple weeks while I put in my notice? 399 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,100 And then I can follow you. Nothing of the sort. 400 00:24:06,100 --> 00:24:08,200 He sensed the urgency of the moment. 401 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:12,000 It's either now or never. And I'm going to say, yes, now. 402 00:24:13,700 --> 00:24:17,000 And he did, and to the human understanding, this might have 403 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,500 been an inconvenient time. Jesus, why did you call him 404 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,500 while he was sitting at the tax Booth. 405 00:24:21,500 --> 00:24:24,000 But let me tell you something, over the ways of the Lord, the 406 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,200 call to Salvation. And even after you're saved the 407 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,600 call to obedience is oftentimes unfavorable to the flesh. 408 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,700 It's very rare, your flesh is going to say. 409 00:24:32,900 --> 00:24:35,700 Yeah, let's do it. I'm in agreement. 410 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:37,200 I think this is the perfect time. 411 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,300 Oh, you can find a man broken enough, who's desperate enough, 412 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:44,500 but it is rarely the case. In America, you have people 413 00:24:44,500 --> 00:24:47,100 here. Who tend to give Jesus terms, 414 00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:48,500 can I tell you my own growing up? 415 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:51,000 In a Christian home, I actually gave Jesus an age. 416 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:54,300 Lord. When I'm 30 years old, I will 417 00:24:54,300 --> 00:25:01,400 follow you and that nice. 19 18 years old knowing knowing full 418 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,500 well that this Jesus fellow is real. 419 00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:07,000 He is indeed God. But I have a life to live, man. 420 00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:09,400 I got things to do Jesus. You might get in the way. 421 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:11,300 So, Lord, when I'm 30, hopefully, I'll be married. 422 00:25:11,300 --> 00:25:14,000 I'll bring my wife to even if she doesn't believe in you, 30 423 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,500 years old. How does that sound? 424 00:25:16,900 --> 00:25:18,900 What kind of agreement are you making with Jesus? 425 00:25:20,500 --> 00:25:22,400 Want to wait till you finish school till you get serious with 426 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,500 Jesus. You want to explore a little bit 427 00:25:24,500 --> 00:25:28,000 of the world. A dangerous dangerous game to 428 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:29,800 play Russian roulette with your soul. 429 00:25:31,500 --> 00:25:34,700 So what is your excuse? There is no better time to serve 430 00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:36,400 Jesus than today. There's no better time to be 431 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:40,300 saved by Jesus than today, because anything else that is 432 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:43,300 delayed as only wasted time when it could have been invested into 433 00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:48,700 Eternal reward and joy at this present moment, leave I heard. 434 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,800 He realized that even in his physical predicament, you're 435 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:56,500 actually calling me a tax collector to come and follow 436 00:25:56,500 --> 00:25:58,400 you. I will do it. 437 00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:01,400 And perhaps, the reason why people do not sense their 438 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,600 urgencies, because they don't realize how horrendous their sin 439 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,000 is. I'm telling you, I've talked to 440 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,200 enough people to come to this conclusion. 441 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,200 Many, many people think that God is just a little bit better than 442 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,800 us just a little bit. Many, many people in America, 443 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,400 which is like, the Disneyland of the world. 444 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,900 Think that heaven is a little bit better than where we're at 445 00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:21,300 today. That's why are people saying you 446 00:26:21,308 --> 00:26:23,500 know, I don't know. I want to do this and do that 447 00:26:23,500 --> 00:26:25,200 before he comes and brings his kingdom. 448 00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:28,300 I'm telling you, the people and living in huts and communist, 449 00:26:28,300 --> 00:26:29,800 China are not thinking the same thing. 450 00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:33,200 They're desperate for the return of Jesus Christ, because they 451 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,000 don't have this concept that it's a little bit better than 452 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,200 what we have going on here. I'll tell you that very soon. 453 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,300 We're not going to be thinking that anymore here in America, 454 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:45,900 the call for Levi to be saved, but concern, the conversion of 455 00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:48,600 Levi, we can easily expand in great detail. 456 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:52,200 What was proven in his change with Jesus, despite the fact 457 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,500 that he left something that was profitable, something that 458 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:57,400 secured his future and just threw it all away to say. 459 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,200 Lord, I will go wherever you want me to go consider the 460 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:04,500 celebration that Levi has, because of this occurrence. 461 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,400 As you reclined at table in his house, many Tax collectors and 462 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:10,100 sinners were reclining with Jesus. 463 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:12,700 And his disciples for there are many who followed him. 464 00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:15,800 This is not just Matthew trying to honor Jesus. 465 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,900 This is Matthew trying to introduce Jesus in this man who 466 00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:23,600 could not comprehend, how someone like him can actually be 467 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:28,000 called by someone like him could not keep that Grace to himself. 468 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,700 But goes to Great Lengths to make sure that others can have 469 00:27:30,700 --> 00:27:34,500 the same chance that he had. And so it is with the person who 470 00:27:34,500 --> 00:27:36,200 has been truly, transformed by Jesus. 471 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:38,000 You cannot keep Keep it to yourself. 472 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,600 You want to do what you can and you have here. 473 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,000 Levi opening his home Lord come over and I will bring as many 474 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,100 people as possible. How true is that Zeal? 475 00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:49,800 When we first come to know? Jesus Christ, Luke tells us 476 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,700 something more detailed. Luke says, in 529 of his book 477 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:58,700 and Levi, made him a great feast, made him a great feast in 478 00:27:58,700 --> 00:28:01,800 his house and there was a large company of tax collectors and 479 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:03,500 others reclining at table with him. 480 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,800 So he celebrates Jesus, reclines. 481 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,900 He's comfortable and people are coming to converse with them and 482 00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:13,600 hear him and perhaps be saved from him. 483 00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:18,500 And by him. We see here that Levi, had a 484 00:28:18,500 --> 00:28:22,300 great change immediately Evangelistic Zeal, but it's even 485 00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:27,600 greater than that. I want you to see how Levi, we 486 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:29,100 see his actions, but we don't see his words. 487 00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:31,300 There's not one moment in any of the gospels where you have a 488 00:28:31,300 --> 00:28:34,700 recorded speech given by this disciple, but I want to prove to 489 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:38,000 you in a subtle way, how Levi, actually proves the depth of his 490 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:44,000 salvation and what he doesn't say, Remember how Mark describes 491 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,000 the celebration? We are told clearly and verse 492 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,900 15. And as he Jesus, reclined at 493 00:28:49,900 --> 00:28:53,300 table in his house, being the house of Levi. 494 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:58,500 You heard it from Luke 529 that Levi held a great feast in his 495 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:02,100 house and a large company was there that tells me that this 496 00:29:02,100 --> 00:29:05,000 man was wealthy. He could host a great feasts and 497 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,400 he can host a great number of people in his home. 498 00:29:07,500 --> 00:29:11,200 This guy had money. This guy was wealthy But have 499 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,300 you ever considered how Matthew himself writes of his own 500 00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:18,200 testimony? Have you ever looked at Matthews 501 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,200 version of his conversion? And what he says, he does for 502 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:26,200 Jesus, after he was saved, would you like to see it and Matthew 503 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:30,100 9:9, you will see it and it is very, very revealing of the 504 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:33,000 character of this man though inspired by the spirit. 505 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:38,700 In Matthew 9. Verse 9. 506 00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:45,400 As Jesus passed on from there. He saw a man called Matthew 507 00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:49,800 sitting at the tax booth and he said to him, follow me and he 508 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,600 rose and followed him. Pause. 509 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:57,100 Matthew is writing this. So you can imagine what's going 510 00:29:57,100 --> 00:29:59,400 through his mind as he's coming to this point in the gospel 511 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:03,800 writing about his own story, about how Jesus met him and 512 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:07,200 saved him and change them. And so he says it almost word 513 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:09,700 for word. As Mark does almost word for 514 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:13,200 word as Luke does, and then you come to verse 10 and as Jesus, 515 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:19,100 reclined at table in the house, behold many tax collectors and 516 00:30:19,100 --> 00:30:22,200 sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples 517 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:28,800 Mark, they all went to Levis house, Luke Levi, had a great 518 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,200 feasts, and he had a large company of people there. 519 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:35,100 Matthew Jesus was reclining at table at the house. 520 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:39,700 What are you doing there? Matthew. 521 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:46,500 I'm trying to conceal myself. I want to Avail my hospitality 522 00:30:46,500 --> 00:30:51,400 and my generosity. I'm not really interested in 523 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:56,800 making my works for Jesus known. And so with some kind of 524 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:02,100 subtleness and with a strategic uncleanness, he wants to he 525 00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:04,400 wants to teach people through his writings. 526 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:08,200 Yes Jesus sits and dines with Sinners and tax collectors but I 527 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,000 don't really want to mention how big the party was. 528 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:12,900 I don't really want to mention that it was my house and that I 529 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:17,800 held a great feast. I'm not sure how far along 530 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:21,600 Matthews life. Was when he wrote this gospel. 531 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,700 Surely after the Resurrection, the Ascension of Jesus But one 532 00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:29,500 thing I can assess by this observation, he was mature in 533 00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:33,300 his faith. And he had a wisdom and 534 00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:37,400 humility. And the Holy Spirit. 535 00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:41,300 Honored that and translated that in the scriptures. 536 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:44,900 So that when you compare Mark and Luke and Matthew writing 537 00:31:44,900 --> 00:31:48,200 himself, you would see. Wow, Matthew What are you trying 538 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,900 to do there? I wonder if this verse ran 539 00:31:50,900 --> 00:31:54,500 through Matthews mind, and Proverbs 27, to let another 540 00:31:54,500 --> 00:31:56,500 praise you and not your own mouth. 541 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,500 A stranger and not your own lips. 542 00:32:02,100 --> 00:32:04,600 Can I tell you something about the power of this gospel? 543 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:10,500 It really changes you in a fine-tuned way, doesn't just 544 00:32:10,500 --> 00:32:12,900 give you some confidence that you're going to go to heaven. 545 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:17,900 It chisels you And the Holy Spirit, after you say yes to the 546 00:32:17,900 --> 00:32:19,800 Lord Jesus enters into your life. 547 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,800 We sang it. He's alive in me and he commits 548 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:27,900 himself to conforming you into the image of the very one who 549 00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:31,600 saved you. And so we see here, even with 550 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:33,900 Matthew don't know. Recorded word is given and his 551 00:32:33,900 --> 00:32:36,100 own writing. He is silent about his own 552 00:32:36,100 --> 00:32:38,600 Works. He would not dare to try to put 553 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:43,000 any Spotlight on himself, but on Christ and Christ Alone. and I 554 00:32:43,008 --> 00:32:46,400 think that is so encouraging because I look at this day today 555 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:52,900 and I can't think of Of a more self, loving self centered, self 556 00:32:52,900 --> 00:32:55,300 praising self, advertising generation. 557 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:00,500 The good thing about our generation is that anybody can 558 00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:02,400 have a platform. The bad thing about this 559 00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:07,400 generation is that anybody can have a platform People who do 560 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:09,300 not deserve a platform are getting platform. 561 00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:11,700 And here's the worst thing, they're the most viral some of 562 00:33:11,708 --> 00:33:14,800 the things I look at. This is viral and I get money 563 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,600 for it on top of it. But I will tell you a cure to 564 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,700 the sickness of this culture. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ 565 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,100 because when you realize the humility of Jesus Christ, and 566 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:28,300 when you let his power enter into your life, the same 567 00:33:28,300 --> 00:33:31,800 fragrance of Christ is adorned upon you. 568 00:33:33,100 --> 00:33:36,700 And Jesus now comes in and he will do things in you that you 569 00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:37,800 never thought he would be able to do. 570 00:33:37,900 --> 00:33:40,100 Not only will he change the way you think and speak about 571 00:33:40,100 --> 00:33:41,600 others? He will change the way you think 572 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:46,500 and speak about yourself. This is the power of the gospel 573 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:50,500 and it's available to you. It can break shackles break 574 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:54,100 habits, and it can transform you to such a degree that you will 575 00:33:54,100 --> 00:33:55,900 not even be able to recognize yourself. 576 00:33:57,500 --> 00:34:00,500 And so we see here that the conversion of Matthews so sweet. 577 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:05,700 And so obviously working in him even ways that we might have not 578 00:34:05,700 --> 00:34:09,400 immediately perceived, look at the conflict around Levi. 579 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:12,800 Let me briefly mention about the issues. 580 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,900 We see here in verse 16, the scribes of the Pharisees when 581 00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:19,699 they saw that, he was eating with Sinners and tax collectors 582 00:34:19,699 --> 00:34:22,100 said to his disciples. Why does he eat with tax 583 00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:24,900 collectors and sinners? Why would this bother you? 584 00:34:25,699 --> 00:34:27,500 Why is this offending you so much? 585 00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:32,900 Because this religious group We're known to separate 586 00:34:32,900 --> 00:34:36,500 themselves from Common People. The very word Pharisee means 587 00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:41,300 separate one Pharisees. We are separated where the 588 00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:46,000 separate ones. And the idea of being associated 589 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:51,199 or coming into contact with a sinner, Was completely foreign 590 00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:56,699 to the school of thought. These men would have nothing to 591 00:34:56,699 --> 00:34:59,000 do with somebody that did not hold to their Traditions or 592 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,700 their impeccable, observance of those Traditions. 593 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:05,600 They were repulsed they were disgusted. 594 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:08,800 They would show that just even by their associations and the 595 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,400 sight of these Pharisees looking upon a holy man, who obviously 596 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:18,100 perform miracles to have dinner and to express one of the most 597 00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:22,600 intimate ways of being related to somebody Was jarring. 598 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:28,800 And so they asked in a subtle accusatory way, what is he 599 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:30,700 doing? Having dinner with these kind of 600 00:35:30,700 --> 00:35:35,100 people And he says it to the disciples, but Jesus hears and I 601 00:35:35,100 --> 00:35:40,300 love that he hears everything. So Jesus answers and he says in 602 00:35:40,300 --> 00:35:44,500 a paraphrase fashion. I'm a spiritual doctor. 603 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:50,100 I go to the spiritually sick. That's what I do. 604 00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:53,700 That's who I go for. That's who I associate with. 605 00:35:53,700 --> 00:35:55,900 That is my mission. That is my heart. 606 00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:02,000 Amazingly, these men. Couldn't understand it. 607 00:36:04,100 --> 00:36:09,100 These are the type of doctors who avoid sick people and 608 00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:10,900 distance himself from the diseased. 609 00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:13,200 You know what, kind of a doctor that is a useless one. 610 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,200 And that's what legalism is. It is useless religion. 611 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,600 Legalism that says we are pure and holy by not associate or not 612 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,700 believing that God can change or not going to Great Lengths to 613 00:36:24,700 --> 00:36:27,100 show compassion and understanding the people who are 614 00:36:27,100 --> 00:36:30,500 warped and their mind, you are just like a doctor who. 615 00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:36,400 When they see a sick people run, the other direction useless But 616 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:41,800 Jesus is the great physician. He's drawn to the broken, even 617 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:44,600 the broken in the mind, broken and heartbroken in their 618 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:47,900 actions, broken in their vocabulary and he wants to heal 619 00:36:47,900 --> 00:36:50,400 them. And so he comes to do just that 620 00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:55,000 Now, I am fully aware that this Fair say Urkel. 621 00:36:56,200 --> 00:37:00,600 Commentary has been turned into license for unwarranted Liberty. 622 00:37:01,500 --> 00:37:03,300 So you have people, usually Christians. 623 00:37:03,300 --> 00:37:06,500 I try to be cool, and they want to hang out with Sinners, and 624 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:08,900 they're not just hanging out with Sinners, their sinning with 625 00:37:08,900 --> 00:37:13,000 the sinners. Jesus ate with Sinners, Jesus, 626 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:16,600 ate with tax collectors. Yeah, he ate with them. 627 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,700 Not to be like them, but to heal them. 628 00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:21,200 That's all I'm gonna say about it. 629 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:24,000 That's it. He came to them to heal them, 630 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,300 not to enjoy their company and their sin. 631 00:37:29,500 --> 00:37:32,500 And so we see here, that as much as Jesus is rebuking them, it 632 00:37:32,500 --> 00:37:34,800 goes even further and Matthews version. 633 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:37,800 And we're going to end here in this Evangelistic message this 634 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:42,200 afternoon to understand, Jesus has wisdom, and designed for his 635 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:46,200 people, and for any person who engages with this word, and I 636 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:50,900 pray, that's every single one of you Matthew chapter 9 And verse 637 00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:54,700 12 and 13. Matthew chapter 9, verse 12 and 638 00:37:54,700 --> 00:38:01,400 13. but when he heard it, when Jesus heard the criticism of 639 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:07,000 This crowd. He said those who are well, have 640 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:12,900 no need of a physician but those who are sick, Go and learn what 641 00:38:12,900 --> 00:38:16,700 this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice 642 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:19,200 for. I came not to call the 643 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,500 righteous, but Sinners. Do you see the added phrase? 644 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:26,900 Go and learn any quotes from Hosea 6:6. 645 00:38:27,500 --> 00:38:30,200 I desire mercy and not sacrifice. 646 00:38:31,900 --> 00:38:37,600 You know, it's so amazing here. Jesus tells the religious Elite 647 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:44,000 who are known for their apparent expertise in the law to go and 648 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,200 learn. Talk about a sting. 649 00:38:48,100 --> 00:38:52,300 Hey you you Seminary professors, come over here, go and learn 650 00:38:52,300 --> 00:38:57,800 what this verse says, excuse me. Talking to men who have 651 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,500 memorized large portions, even books of the law. 652 00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:04,600 And Jesus has the boldness to looking them in the eye and says 653 00:39:05,500 --> 00:39:07,300 you clearly have an honor Sir with this verse means. 654 00:39:07,300 --> 00:39:11,100 So go back into your little office, pull out the book and 655 00:39:11,100 --> 00:39:15,200 look at this verse and understand what I mean by it, Go 656 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:19,000 and learn, and that's, that's very instructive insightful, 657 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,300 isn't it? Because what I see from this is 658 00:39:21,300 --> 00:39:25,400 that God's word was designed so that it would be learned in a 659 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:28,500 way that would transform your perception and your practice. 660 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,200 That's what true learning is when it comes to your 661 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,600 involvement in the scriptures. When knowledge of the word of 662 00:39:35,607 --> 00:39:40,600 God is acquired but not applied. Our relationship with the word 663 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:47,500 of God is extremely flawed. As in Need for reform, it needs 664 00:39:47,500 --> 00:39:51,600 to be totally altered because the very Pharisees who knew 665 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:56,200 these scriptures clearly did not learn be scriptures even though 666 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:58,800 it was stuffed in their brains and that they could quote it 667 00:39:58,808 --> 00:40:01,400 offhand. Jesus still looks at them as 668 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:08,000 unlearned men go back and learn that tells me what true learning 669 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:11,900 is of the When I come to, this is to truly learn so I can truly 670 00:40:11,900 --> 00:40:15,200 change. And in this case, the lack of 671 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:18,100 compassion of the Pharisees and the coldness and their hearts 672 00:40:18,300 --> 00:40:21,700 towards other people was a clear sign that you did not allow the 673 00:40:21,700 --> 00:40:24,000 word of God to have its way in you the way it was designed to 674 00:40:24,008 --> 00:40:27,900 have its way in you and so when I look at people who are 675 00:40:27,900 --> 00:40:31,900 extremely sophisticated and well taught and well-spoken but then 676 00:40:31,900 --> 00:40:34,000 I look at the character and how they treat others. 677 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:37,000 I know one thing despite the knowledge they have not learned 678 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:41,300 they haven't They have not learned the way Jesus said 679 00:40:41,300 --> 00:40:43,800 you're supposed to learn, may God help us to truly learn. 680 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:48,400 He says, those who are sick down, those are the ones I've 681 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:51,000 come for and those who call themselves righteous. 682 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,800 I did not come for, you know what that means? 683 00:40:55,300 --> 00:40:58,800 Jesus cannot save a person who does not see their need to be 684 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,600 saved. Jesus cannot heal. 685 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:06,400 Anybody who does not see their sickness when he says I came not 686 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:08,300 to call the righteous. He's talking about those who 687 00:41:08,300 --> 00:41:10,300 believe they are righteous when they are not. 688 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:15,000 So do you want to know how you can disqualify yourself from 689 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:17,700 salvation? Believe that you don't need 690 00:41:17,700 --> 00:41:20,800 salvation? We had a question. 691 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:23,800 What is the unforgivable sin? What is the blasphemy of the 692 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,100 Holy Spirit on Friday? And we tried to explain it. 693 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:30,100 But, let me tell you the unforgivable sin today, it's a 694 00:41:30,107 --> 00:41:35,200 sin. That's not repented of The sin 695 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:37,400 that Jesus will not forgive his ass in that you will not choose 696 00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:40,300 to acknowledge, and say no to and embrace the forgiveness for 697 00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:44,800 that sin. So the worst kind of people to 698 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:47,600 evangelize to, and to convince of the Gospel, are people who 699 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:50,700 think they are good. The most difficult man. 700 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:55,900 Because like a person who doesn't see the cancer and 701 00:41:55,900 --> 00:41:59,600 refuses to acknowledge that they are in fact affected by some 702 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:03,000 illness and doesn't go to a doctor, it's the same way for a 703 00:42:03,008 --> 00:42:04,400 person who does not need salvation. 704 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:06,400 They look at themselves and they go, I'm fine. 705 00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:10,500 I'm very limited on my vocabulary. 706 00:42:11,700 --> 00:42:15,100 I'm very limited and my thought process I can only really say so 707 00:42:15,100 --> 00:42:16,800 much before. Some of you start falling asleep 708 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:18,500 and maybe some of you already on your way there. 709 00:42:20,500 --> 00:42:23,200 But what I've said, I hope will touch the heart of the person 710 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:25,200 who came in here thinking they were good. 711 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:29,000 But came to the realization that they are not good. 712 00:42:29,700 --> 00:42:32,500 And Jesus is willing to save you exactly where you are. 713 00:42:33,300 --> 00:42:35,200 Lord, we thank you for this brief message. 714 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:41,600 And we ask Lord that as we reflect at your table of what 715 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:46,800 you've done for us. That the saint. 716 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:52,400 Would have a renewing joy, and their Salvation, And The Sinner 717 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:57,400 would be broken. Broken, but they would recognize 718 00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:00,600 it as a blessed Brokenness, because you were right here, 719 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:05,000 waiting to heal them. Thank you for being the one who 720 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:09,500 came for us while we were weak, while we were Sinners while we 721 00:43:09,500 --> 00:43:12,900 were enemies. If we become numb to that truth, 722 00:43:12,900 --> 00:43:17,200 awaken Us by the spirit, to see how good that is in Jesus name, 723 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:18,300 amen.