1 00:00:02,900 --> 00:00:05,800 What a wonderful time of Praise crown him. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,300 King forever. He will be king forever. 3 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:12,300 He is King now and has a brother said his dominion and his rule 4 00:00:12,300 --> 00:00:15,900 in his Reign shall be Everlasting and everlasting. 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,900 I'm eager to be in the word of God with you. 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,300 And so meet me in Mark, chapter 6 and let's come together, the 7 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:27,600 verse 14. As we discuss this afternoon. 8 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:35,700 The beheading of a man of God. The beheading of a man of God, a 9 00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:40,300 very graphic title for a message but the Bible is honest and 10 00:00:40,300 --> 00:00:44,200 direct and plain and there is Great Value in what we have 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:49,600 before us today. And so we come to verse 14 and 12 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,900 we've read these verses before, but let's revisit the ones that 13 00:00:52,900 --> 00:00:55,500 we covered and then explore the ones that follow it. 14 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,100 In verse 14 of Mark chapter 6, we read the King Herod heard of 15 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:03,500 it. For Jesus name had become known. 16 00:01:04,099 --> 00:01:07,400 Some said, John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. 17 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:11,700 That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. 18 00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:15,300 But others said he is Elijah and others said, he is a prophet, 19 00:01:15,300 --> 00:01:19,600 like one of the prophets of old. But when Herod heard of It. 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:27,600 He said, John whom I beheaded has been raised The human 21 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:32,100 conscience is one of the most obvious fingerprints, that 22 00:01:32,100 --> 00:01:37,500 testify of the reality of God, the universal impression and 23 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:42,900 experience that we all have with the conscience undeniably cause 24 00:01:43,100 --> 00:01:48,200 for a Divine designer. Who has determined, what is 25 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,900 right, what is wrong? And has deposited that moral 26 00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:58,000 awareness, in those that he has created in His image and you and 27 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,900 I looked into that we looked into the origin of the 28 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:03,600 conscience and we looked into the function of the conscience 29 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,900 and how it is. One of the many mercies that 30 00:02:05,900 --> 00:02:11,100 God, has established in this fractured world and more than 31 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:14,900 just a mercy to restrain evil. It has a Redemptive and 32 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:19,500 sanctifying On purpose, once that conscience has been, has 33 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:24,900 been met with the gospel and it is responded to correctly and we 34 00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:28,000 looked at that conscience and we looked at what God says about 35 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,700 it. And what we learned last week 36 00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:33,700 about the conscience was brought forth to us because in the 37 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:39,200 verses that we just read, we see a man's conscience powerfully at 38 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,600 work. That man has to be dealing with 39 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:48,400 something to be convinced that John the Baptist has come back 40 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:53,700 to life. and this is nothing more than a person who is 41 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:59,700 haunted by his guilt and he is dealing with a past sin and he 42 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:03,300 can't shake it off easily. And as we come to this text, we 43 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:07,700 realized that herod's conscience is is alive. 44 00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:10,400 There is a pulse scroll down quickly to verse 22. 45 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,200 Let me prove that to you. It says Universe 24 Herod 46 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:19,100 feared, John knowing that he was a righteous and holy man and he 47 00:03:19,100 --> 00:03:23,900 kept him safe. Herod knew that John was a 48 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:27,400 righteous and holy men he could make the distinction between 49 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,900 what was righteous. What was unrighteous? 50 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,400 What was wholly? What was Unholy? 51 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:38,700 And it's now here to accuse him. He is done something, 52 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:40,800 unrighteous. He has done something that is 53 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,700 Unholy. And so as unconverted as he was 54 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,600 there is some aspect of Hope in this man. 55 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,800 But why would he think, why would he think that Jesus was 56 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,600 John the Baptist? Well, you already heard it last 57 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,400 week and you heard it again and these verses because he did 58 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,000 something to this man. John the Baptist, he performed a 59 00:04:00,008 --> 00:04:04,400 great Injustice to this man. John the Baptist And in summary, 60 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,400 he killed him. For no justifiable reason. 61 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,600 He had him executed, he had his head removed from his shoulders. 62 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,500 And now day and night he remembers he remembers, he 63 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:20,000 remembers how it one command so quickly because of the pressure 64 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:25,500 of his surroundings he removed a holy servant of God and what he 65 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:30,400 lived with is this anxiety that perhaps this man could come back 66 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,600 and get me. I have the impression reading 67 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,500 about Herod that he always had this feeling that if he were to 68 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:40,800 do something to John the Baptist that there would be Dreadful 69 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,500 consequences that would follow. That's why he was hesitant to 70 00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:47,400 some degree to touch him, because he knew that he was a 71 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,800 different caliber. He was not like these Pharisees, 72 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:56,700 he special, he is sent by God. And so, he's riddled with fear. 73 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:02,300 And as we're about to learn in this very taxed, we're going to 74 00:05:02,300 --> 00:05:08,000 see that John the Baptist's death played a role in the 75 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,700 behavior of Herod here. And I look at this and I think 76 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:14,100 if you just scale through the verses with your own eyes, you 77 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:20,200 realize how much is given over to this men's martyrdom how much 78 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,200 of John, the Baptist execution is taking up real estate in our 79 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,800 Bibles. Now the Holy Spirit could have 80 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,900 summarized that he could have summarized that easily here in 81 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:34,100 verse 16 that John was beheaded and that he he did this Herod 82 00:05:34,100 --> 00:05:36,800 was The one who performed this, atrocious act. 83 00:05:36,900 --> 00:05:41,600 But instead we get this, elaborate detailed angle on how 84 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,400 it happened. Why it happened? 85 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,700 When I look at this, I realize here that this is one of the 86 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:53,500 most extensive accounts of a person apart, from Christ. 87 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,700 This is about chiefly John the Baptist in. 88 00:05:56,700 --> 00:06:01,100 It's one of the most drawn-out explanations of what happened to 89 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:03,700 somebody or about somebody apart from Jesus himself. 90 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:09,200 The Mark was moved by the spirit to patiently, pain, this story, 91 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,300 which tells me, at least one thing he doesn't want us to 92 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:16,200 glance over it. He doesn't want us to just 93 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:19,400 understand that John died and he was murdered and to move on from 94 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,600 there. Obviously there's something in 95 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,800 these texts in these verses that are for our benefit and that's 96 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,100 what we will seek to do. We will seek to try to 97 00:06:28,100 --> 00:06:31,100 understand what it is that God intended to say to us. 98 00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:33,900 And I think the best way to go about is not to hold on to a 99 00:06:33,907 --> 00:06:37,900 specific theme but to just pick up certain truths as we go and 100 00:06:37,900 --> 00:06:40,800 to see what it is that God would want to say through this. 101 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,700 This terrible experience in this terrible event. 102 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:48,100 And so let's read, let's read from verse 17 and see what it 103 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:49,400 is. That the spirit of God would say 104 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:55,600 to us for it was Herod who had sent and sees John and bound him 105 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,700 in prison for the sake of herodias, his brother Philips 106 00:06:58,700 --> 00:07:01,500 wife because he had married her for John. 107 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:06,300 Had been saying to Herod it is not lawful for you to have your 108 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:10,400 brother's wife. We get a flashback, we're 109 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,100 getting a flashback of what? What happened with John and why? 110 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:16,900 It is that Herod is feeling this disturbance that we read and we 111 00:07:16,900 --> 00:07:19,900 learned last week and the first thing that I want to bring to 112 00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:24,800 your attention in light of this. Truth is the Unseen work of 113 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:29,000 conviction. The Unseen work of conviction. 114 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:33,900 Notice that, although Herod could get rid of John, he could 115 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:37,900 not forget him, He could not easily dismiss him. 116 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,400 And what I love about this example, is that even after John 117 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,800 died, what we see here is that conviction was aggressively at 118 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:51,100 work in this man, this politician this King and for 119 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:54,300 some time Herod might have seemed calm and collected before 120 00:07:54,300 --> 00:07:56,800 his audience. But what was happening all along 121 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,900 was that there was this internal agitation because he heard a 122 00:08:01,900 --> 00:08:08,000 message from John and he did something to the ER, And I look 123 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,300 at that, I think I'm encouraged. I'm encouraged. 124 00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:12,900 I'm encouraged to some extent and if you're a servant of God 125 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:15,900 who cares about seeing people coming to God than you'll be 126 00:08:15,900 --> 00:08:20,500 encouraged by this as you look at it, consider it, consider it 127 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:22,800 further. If you are a person who wants to 128 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:27,200 see people surrendered their sin and embrace the Savior then 129 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:32,400 realize that herod's example proves to us, that sometimes 130 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,100 something is happening in some people's hearts and you're not 131 00:08:35,100 --> 00:08:40,000 aware of it. You may not perceive it, it may 132 00:08:40,008 --> 00:08:45,000 not be so obvious to you. I think about John and put 133 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,400 yourself in his shoes. There he is preaching and from 134 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,000 time to time Herod, would come to the one p.m. service. 135 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:54,500 And when Herod would come, he would be intrigued. 136 00:08:54,500 --> 00:08:57,200 He would pay attention. It says that he listened to him 137 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,400 with gladness. But no sign of change. 138 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,800 Moreover, he mercilessly handles them, he ultimately takes his 139 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,600 life. That would be discouraging 140 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,800 concerning the effectiveness of your message. and yet, even when 141 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:16,900 John, the Baptist is removed from the scene, The message of 142 00:09:16,900 --> 00:09:18,400 John. What happened to John? 143 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,700 John's submissiveness to the Providence of God at the hands 144 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:25,700 of Herod, is eating him up inside. 145 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:31,600 His keeping him up at night. This man, John might be dead, 146 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,600 but I'll tell you this, his message, and his martyrdom was 147 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,600 alive and active in the mind of this corrupt twisted and 148 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:43,600 cowardly ruler. And as Believers, you have to 149 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:47,600 understand something don't measure the impact of your life 150 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,200 of your message, the message that you love you. 151 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,100 Sing about, you hear about week after week, don't measure the 152 00:09:52,100 --> 00:09:56,800 impact of that based on somebody's apparent response, 153 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:01,000 based on their reaction based on their facial expression. 154 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,500 I see a lot of facial expressions week after week. 155 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,700 I'll tell you this. I've learned over time not to 156 00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:11,300 take any of it at face value. Look at this man. 157 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:16,000 Look, look at. Look at Herod riving, look at 158 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,200 him wondering, look at him, speculate him, look at him, 159 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,500 unable to shake off his encounter with John. 160 00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:27,800 And think about your life and people you've encountered in the 161 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,800 people that you want to see come to Christ. 162 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,400 Are you discouraged so easily are you moved to despair? 163 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:38,200 Here, we see here, the Unseen work of conviction. 164 00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:42,400 Let it build your faith, that truth and truth alone has the 165 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:47,200 power to deal with that soul. And you just have to give it and 166 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,500 give it consistently and live. It live. 167 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:51,400 It consistently by the grace of God. 168 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,200 I'll never forget how the Lord taught me. 169 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,400 This not just in his word but by Ants. 170 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:58,800 I remember many many years ago, beginning to preach. 171 00:11:00,500 --> 00:11:03,500 Speaking at one particular meaning, and that particular 172 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:06,700 meaning was about the coming judgment, the coming judgment 173 00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:08,700 for the world in the coming judgment, even for the 174 00:11:08,708 --> 00:11:11,500 Believers, the Judgment seat of Christ. 175 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:14,600 And after I had preached that message months had gone by and I 176 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,100 was at a different meeting in a different state altogether, 177 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:20,700 several months have gone by, since that original meaning and 178 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:23,200 there are was at some conference sitting in the lunch Hall, and I 179 00:11:23,208 --> 00:11:25,700 was sitting at a random Table and there was a young man beside 180 00:11:25,700 --> 00:11:28,500 me and after just talking to them would just, you know, 181 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:32,200 casual surface. All conversation, this young man 182 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,100 turned to me. And he says, do you remember me 183 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:37,000 This is honestly, I don't, I'm sorry. 184 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,800 And he named the conference that he was at and he named some 185 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,400 people that we might have known and he said I was at one of your 186 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,600 meetings. And I was sitting in the back 187 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,300 row and I have to apologize to me and my friends were laughing 188 00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:54,600 while you were preaching. As it to be honest, don't have 189 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,400 to apologize because I didn't even recognize any of it. 190 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:57,500 See, I didn't know you were there. 191 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,400 So, apology accepted, I guess. He says, no, you don't 192 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,900 understand. I wasn't really laughing. 193 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,100 We were laughing and we got up in the middle of your message 194 00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:13,400 and left. I was dying inside. 195 00:12:15,300 --> 00:12:18,100 You were talking about the Judgment, you were talking about 196 00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:21,800 the coming judgment. You were talking about hell, 197 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:23,900 you're talking about? Are you ready to meet with 198 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:24,800 Christ? And I have to tell you 199 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,800 something, I'm terrified. And I've been terrified since 200 00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:30,400 and the conviction was so strong. 201 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,500 I couldn't sit there anymore. I had to leave and had to laugh 202 00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:35,100 it off. Try to save face. 203 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,600 And I looked at him, I says, well, are you still scared? 204 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:44,400 Said, I am. So we put down our pudding and 205 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,900 we left that lunch Hall. We had an hour-long conversation 206 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:50,400 about the condition of his soul I don't know where that young 207 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,000 man is, but I learned something valuable. 208 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:57,000 Even when a man is laughing while you're preaching, he could 209 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,400 be cutting and his own heart bleeding with, conviction 210 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,700 wondering. If there is a wound that could 211 00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:06,300 be healed. I remember another time, one of 212 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:08,500 my brothers were there for this, so they can testify to it. 213 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:09,900 You'd have to figure out which one it was. 214 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,500 We're at a meeting different state, different place. 215 00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:18,500 A message was preached, people lingered around, and I saw two 216 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:20,900 men sitting in one of the pews and one of them looked visibly 217 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:24,400 Disturbed, and the other ones seemed normal, we approached 218 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,900 them and we greeted, the, my brother was with me, and when 219 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:31,100 you saw these two sitting beside each other, you could easily 220 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:36,400 assume and see which one was Disturbed and which ones seem to 221 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,200 have just gone through the motions of that night. 222 00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:42,500 And as we begin to speak to one who is opening up his heart and 223 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:44,900 distresses of life and where he's brought himself and what's 224 00:13:44,900 --> 00:13:47,000 in has done to him. He'd even in that moment, 225 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,600 expressed how he wants Jesus. And he heard about Jesus and he 226 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,600 wants to, what does it mean to surrender the Jesus? 227 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,700 Can he deal with the situation in my life? 228 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:56,800 And why was conversing with this man? 229 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,000 I looked at the other one and he was Stone Cold. 230 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:01,200 He didn't just look disinterested. 231 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,700 He looked upset. And he just stared off into the 232 00:14:04,700 --> 00:14:07,000 distance and so I try to include it from time to time and all 233 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,500 would get back is one word answer. 234 00:14:08,500 --> 00:14:12,100 So I thought to myself, okay, if there's a parable of the surahs 235 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:14,400 with the for, I can guess which one this one is and I can guess 236 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,000 which one this one is. So we just dealt with the one 237 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,800 individual who seem to be more open obviously And there was 238 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,300 tears, and there was a voice cracking. 239 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:25,800 And here's his friend here on move like a statue. 240 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,400 We prayed and we moved on Weeks Later months later we reconvene 241 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,800 with that, same group. And I realized something the man 242 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,600 in that moment who poured out his heart and was expressing his 243 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,100 need and his desire was nowhere to be found. 244 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,200 In fact, he was back into his old ways and guess who got 245 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:50,300 baptized and guess who plugged into the local church and guess 246 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:52,600 who is serving consistently with that place. 247 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:58,000 The guy that I thought, no, I don't know if his heart is open. 248 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,700 The Unseen work of conviction, you don't know what's happening 249 00:15:04,700 --> 00:15:07,400 in that heart. You don't know what's happening 250 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,300 in their thoughts. You don't know what's keeping 251 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:10,800 them up at night. You don't know what they're 252 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,100 thinking about through the day. And there's another example of 253 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:15,400 this. In the scriptures come with me 254 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,100 to Matthew 21 and notice what Jesus says in a parable in verse 255 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:32,800 28 of Matthew 21. Matthew 21, 28 Jesus says, What 256 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,300 do you think? A man had two sons. 257 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:42,400 And he went to the first and said, Son, go and work in the 258 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:49,100 vineyard today and he answered, I will not. but afterward, he 259 00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:53,600 changed his mind and went and he went to the other side and said 260 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,700 the same and he answered, I go sir but did not go which of the 261 00:15:57,700 --> 00:16:00,200 two did the will of the of his father. 262 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,600 They said the first Jesus said to them. 263 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,900 Truly I say to you the tax collectors and the prostitutes 264 00:16:05,900 --> 00:16:10,000 go into the kingdom of God before you Here's Jesus, 265 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:14,800 addressing the religious Elite. And he is massively bringing 266 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,700 them to a conclusion on their own, about their own indictment, 267 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:21,400 their own condemnation of how they're dealing with the gospel 268 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,700 that's been presented to them. But what I love about this, is 269 00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:26,700 this Parable provides a principle. 270 00:16:26,900 --> 00:16:30,400 A principle beyond the obvious notice that the two sons that 271 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,500 Jesus presents gave an immediate response. 272 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:39,500 They both did they both said something to the wishes of their 273 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:42,900 father? Once said, I will not the other 274 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:45,500 said I go sir. Now let me ask you between the 275 00:16:45,500 --> 00:16:50,000 two who seemed more respectful. The second one he didn't just 276 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:55,600 say I go he says I go sir. So the other one was even a 277 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,500 little bit more rude than the second one. 278 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:01,500 And so you have these two reactions, you have these two 279 00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:07,500 responses you have these two apparent decisions But what 280 00:17:07,500 --> 00:17:11,099 happens? We see that there is a different 281 00:17:11,099 --> 00:17:12,700 outcome. Now, if you were in the presence 282 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:15,099 of this interaction between the father and two sons, what would 283 00:17:15,099 --> 00:17:18,400 you esteem about the relationship from the second 284 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:19,800 one? And the relationship between the 285 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,500 first one. I'll surely this one loves his 286 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:24,200 father. Surely this one will obey his 287 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,400 father. Surely this one Revere's, his 288 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,700 father and the first one, there's no hope what kind of 289 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:32,900 attitude is a son have like this to the wishes of his own, his 290 00:17:32,900 --> 00:17:35,700 own dad? And if you would say that, the 291 00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:37,800 second one was walking in obedience and pleasing the 292 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:41,000 father, you would be wrong, you would be wrong. 293 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:46,700 Even with all the presentation of politeness and obedience, you 294 00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:49,500 would be wrong. And what Jesus is teaching here, 295 00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:51,800 is that actions are more important than words. 296 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,300 Actions are more important than words. 297 00:17:54,300 --> 00:17:56,100 You said it. But did you do it? 298 00:17:56,100 --> 00:17:58,600 This is what is valuable to Jesus Christ. 299 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,900 Words are important, absolutely. But he's trying to stay here. 300 00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:05,700 Is that actions speak louder? But more than that, here's what 301 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:10,700 you need to understand initial response is not the indicator. 302 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,200 Of the condition of the heart. Both of them said something. 303 00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:20,800 One of them changed his mind. The other said, something, and 304 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,200 he was hypocritical, you didn't understand what he was agreeing 305 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:24,900 to. He didn't intend to actually 306 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,200 hold his word, you don't know what's happening in. 307 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:32,500 Someone's heart. Why am I presenting that truth? 308 00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:34,800 You all? Would you be relieved? 309 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,600 Would you be arrest? Would you just like that 310 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,600 Parable? We heard many weeks ago, plant 311 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,000 the seed and go to sleep. And just believe that truth has 312 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,200 the ability to deal with a man Even though like John, you may 313 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,000 not even be here anymore, you may be gone altogether. 314 00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:55,300 And there are certainly many men who are dead, but still speak. 315 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:01,900 John was one of those men. The Unseen work of conviction. 316 00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:05,700 But let's move forward here and seeing these verses the 317 00:19:05,700 --> 00:19:10,500 consistency of the Baptist for it was Herod who had sent and 318 00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:13,700 sees John and bound him in prison for the sake of herodias, 319 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,000 his brother Philips wife because he had married her for John. 320 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,500 Had been saying to Herod it is not lawful for you to have your 321 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:24,200 brother's wife. Okay, we look here. 322 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:28,500 And we realize that Herod was obviously convicted of inciting 323 00:19:28,500 --> 00:19:32,200 an illegitimate marriage and there's a lot of history that 324 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,400 can tell you exactly how this happened. 325 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,700 But if you just come from a purely, scriptural standpoint, 326 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:41,300 you'll see that all you have here is that he had his 327 00:19:41,300 --> 00:19:45,400 brother's wife somewhere. Along the line Herod must have 328 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:50,900 convinced herodias to divorce his brother and to be with him 329 00:19:50,900 --> 00:19:54,500 instead. And if that is the case, then 330 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:57,300 according to the law, you know, that this is an invalid and an 331 00:19:57,300 --> 00:20:01,300 adulterous relationship and it could be that Herod did this 332 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,100 during the time. And during the ministry of John 333 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:09,100 the Baptist and at outrage, the Prophet this was like a scandal 334 00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:12,800 in the headlines. And John would not keep quiet 335 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:14,900 about it. He had a public platform, this 336 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:18,300 was a public sin and he realized that this man was in a place of 337 00:20:18,300 --> 00:20:20,300 authority and he could have influence others. 338 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:24,200 And so what does he do? He confronts the unrepentant, 339 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,100 man. With this message. 340 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:29,400 It is not lawful for you to have this. 341 00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:33,200 What you did was illegal, what you did broke God's law. 342 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,900 Now we can turn this into a teaching of divorce but just 343 00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:38,700 wait a few months. There's going to come that 344 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:41,700 teaching and Matthew Mark chapter 10 rather but instead, I 345 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:44,500 want you to consider something inspiring about this man of God. 346 00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:48,300 This is the inspiring thing about him that regardless of 347 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:52,500 whom stood before him. He was a man who did not waver 348 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,100 He would speak the Kings the same way, he spoke to the common 349 00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:01,400 folk of Israel. He would speak to Men of power 350 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,600 and he would speak to poor man. He would speak to Men of 351 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,000 prestige and he would speak to pathetic people. 352 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,700 This was a man who did not change. 353 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:11,700 This was a man who was constant. This was a man who was Fearless. 354 00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:14,000 This was a man who had courage God help us. 355 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:19,900 We need a few John, the Baptist in America. and what I love 356 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:22,400 about this and the reason why I bring this to your attention is 357 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:26,000 because he was the same person with the same message, whether 358 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,600 he was addressing, whoever and this is the quality that Jesus 359 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:37,500 Christ, praise about John Those disciples came from the prison 360 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:41,800 and told Jesus about the doubts that John, the Baptist had, they 361 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,300 went back with the message that Jesus gave them and then Jesus 362 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:48,400 looks to the crowd that he was teaching that day and he begins 363 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,300 to commend John and to speak of his praises. 364 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,700 And he says, one thing that I love in light of this truth that 365 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:59,300 we see here in Matthew 11 7. He says, what did you go out to 366 00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:03,300 see when speaking about John, what did you go out to see a 367 00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:08,300 reed shaken by the wind? and a reed shaken by the wind 368 00:22:08,300 --> 00:22:12,400 and the obvious answer is no, what is a read is like a tall, 369 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:16,200 slender grass like plant, you see them by Riverbanks, you see 370 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:18,000 them sometimes in the countryside as you're driving 371 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:22,300 along the freeway and those reeds are so sensitive that any 372 00:22:22,300 --> 00:22:25,600 direction of the wind, they would dance to it, they would 373 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:30,600 dance to it, Forward backwards side to side, whatever the 374 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:35,700 breeze was, They Bend, they bend it to wherever the breeze said 375 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:38,800 to do. And what he is saying here is 376 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:44,200 unlike the read that is influenced by the elements 377 00:22:44,500 --> 00:22:47,900 outside of it. John was constant? 378 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:51,100 John was not pressured. John was not influence. 379 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:56,400 John did not waver, John did not move a wink, despite of all the 380 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,300 things that might be happening around him. 381 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,400 He was an oak of righteousness who stood firm. 382 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:05,900 And despite the environment you found the same guy, the same 383 00:23:05,900 --> 00:23:08,200 guy. I read that and I thought to 384 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,500 myself, this is what Jesus loved the but John he loved that he 385 00:23:12,508 --> 00:23:14,500 was not a reed shaken by the wind. 386 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,800 He loved that no matter where John found himself and who was 387 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:21,400 around him, you had the same John whether he was in a palace 388 00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:23,300 or whether he was in the wilderness on some rocks, 389 00:23:23,300 --> 00:23:25,200 screaming his head off towards a bunch of people. 390 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,600 The same guy with the same convictions, the same attitude. 391 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:35,500 I thought it was Jesus. If you commend John because of 392 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:39,300 this then, would you find the same characteristic in me? 393 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:43,600 In me all? Would you give me the grace not 394 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:45,900 to be a read? That is shaken by the wind. 395 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:49,100 Oh Lord, would I not be different in my living room that 396 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:52,000 I am on the pulpit than I am in the classroom that I am in the 397 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,400 workplace. When I am at the outing Lord. 398 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,700 Let me be the same. If this is what you look down 399 00:23:57,700 --> 00:24:00,800 on, you say, ah, this is a reed who is not shaken by the wind 400 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,500 and this is what you adore and praise and love them. 401 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:07,300 You find it in me. Can he find it in? 402 00:24:07,300 --> 00:24:11,100 You, are you a reed, shaken by the wind? 403 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,000 Do they elements outside of you, the external factors Bend you 404 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:19,500 are you pliable. Are your conviction stronger in 405 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:24,400 some settings than others. Are you willing to confront sin 406 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:25,800 and others? But when it comes to people who 407 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:30,100 have some business relation to you or who give a certain amount 408 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,800 to your ministry, are you more hesitant to speak up and say it 409 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,500 is not lawful for you to do this. 410 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,600 Oh, that you would be like an olive tree in the house of God. 411 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,000 Oh, that you would be immovable because of your Devotion to 412 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,700 Christ. Oh, that you would have the ever 413 00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:51,700 present awareness of Jesus walking with you living in you. 414 00:24:52,700 --> 00:24:56,000 Ever protecting you ever supervising you so that you can 415 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,400 stand before Harrods. And you can say the same thing, 416 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,600 you would tell some poor soul who comes whimpering to you. 417 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,300 This is how you are saved. This is why you need to repent. 418 00:25:08,300 --> 00:25:10,300 This is why you need to come to Christ. 419 00:25:12,100 --> 00:25:14,400 See the consistency of this man of God. 420 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:20,000 He was not influenced, he was the same and if you want to win 421 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,600 the Commendation of Christ, I encourage you to ask him for the 422 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:27,500 grace to not be like a reed shaken by the wind. 423 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,500 But we see something else here when we move on. 424 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:34,600 He had been saying it is not lawful for you to have your 425 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,400 brother's wife. But then in verse 19 we realized 426 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,200 something else happens, it herodias had a grudge against 427 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,900 him. And wanted to put him to death 428 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:51,800 but she could not for Herod feared John knowing that he was 429 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:56,400 a righteous and holy man and he kept him safe. 430 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:01,600 When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed and yet he 431 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,500 heard him. Gladly Unfortunately, what you 432 00:26:05,500 --> 00:26:09,200 can say about John, you could not say about Herod here. 433 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,900 We find this. Man, although confronted about 434 00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:15,900 his sin 0 though, dealt with concerning his conscience, 435 00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:20,300 although his wife would nag about him every night at dinner 436 00:26:20,500 --> 00:26:24,500 because he shamed their relationship with all of those 437 00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:30,700 things. We are told that he gladly heard 438 00:26:30,700 --> 00:26:36,700 John that he intentionally sat under his preaching even more. 439 00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:41,800 This is this is weird. This is a little strange to me 440 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,500 and yet it is so common. We are told that he heard him, 441 00:26:45,500 --> 00:26:49,700 gladly the word there is with pleasure with pleasure. 442 00:26:50,100 --> 00:26:53,900 John was not an ordinary preacher you know that He was 443 00:26:53,900 --> 00:27:00,200 not like, these cold. Pharisee phds that had no 444 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:04,100 unction that had no urgency. That had no Authority. 445 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,300 No. When he preached, there was 446 00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:09,900 fire. When he preached, it was plain 447 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:13,900 when he preached. It was direct when he preached. 448 00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:18,400 It was about Jesus. Oh yeah, John John Behold the 449 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:20,700 Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 450 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,600 I'm sure Herod heard it. I'm sure you heard something of 451 00:27:24,608 --> 00:27:27,200 the coming of the Messiah. The coming of the kingdom of God 452 00:27:28,300 --> 00:27:31,800 and now only did Herod tolerate that preaching. 453 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,800 He was Charmed by it. He was fascinated, he was 454 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:42,500 mesmerised, he was Spellbound. He was, he was drawn to this 455 00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:44,800 immense confidence and his Consecration. 456 00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:48,300 And he gladly, he gladly heard him. 457 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,200 This is disturbing. You know, why come to verse 22? 458 00:27:55,700 --> 00:27:59,200 For when herodias is daughter, came in this is later another 459 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,000 scene at his birthday for when herodias. 460 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:09,000 His daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod And his guests 461 00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:13,400 and the King said to the girl asked me for whatever you wish 462 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:17,200 and I will give it to you. Okay, this type of dancing is 463 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:21,300 not a professional performance. It's not an interpretive kind of 464 00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:25,200 dance of some sort. This is provocative, dancing. 465 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:32,600 This is seductive dancing and this is the entertainment of the 466 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,600 night for his birthday. And we are told that the same 467 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:42,800 Herod who experienced pleasure sitting under the messages of 468 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:47,400 John. Also knew a pleasure as he had a 469 00:28:47,408 --> 00:28:51,500 young lady in his home, erratically, dancing before him 470 00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:56,000 and his guests. Isn't that strange? 471 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,900 A great preacher. Once said that Herod was a man 472 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:05,100 who wanted heaven, but loved the road to hell. 473 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:10,200 Herod was a man who wanted heaven but he loved the road to 474 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,300 hell. And we see it plainly here. 475 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:20,300 He could genuinely appreciate a sound well-crafted passionately, 476 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:26,700 presented truth and yet applaud our young lady very likely 477 00:29:26,700 --> 00:29:30,800 stripping before him His stepdaughter. 478 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:37,100 How can this be? How is the soul and yet 479 00:29:37,100 --> 00:29:40,700 unfortunately there's a principle here that is too 480 00:29:40,700 --> 00:29:43,400 common. I meditated on this 481 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:47,400 contradictory way of life and here's what came to mind that 482 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:52,700 delighting in the ministry of holy men and enjoying the 483 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:58,100 presence of holy people is not sufficient evidence that such a 484 00:29:58,108 --> 00:30:01,600 person is a yoked with Christ. Delighting. 485 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:04,900 To sit under the ministry of holy men and enjoying the 486 00:30:04,900 --> 00:30:08,600 presence of holy people is not sufficient evidence that such a 487 00:30:08,608 --> 00:30:13,600 person is yoked to Christ. and I can say that confidently about 488 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:16,200 Herod here, because regardless of the reasons for his 489 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:20,300 admiration about John, Regardless of what it is, that 490 00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:23,100 was pulling on his heartstrings. I know this one thing about 491 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:26,300 Herod, I know, one thing was true about this, man. 492 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,100 Whatever he was enjoying. It wasn't because of Jesus. 493 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,500 It wasn't because of Christ saying. 494 00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:40,200 Prove it preacher, gladly Think about the hours just before the 495 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,400 crucifixion and in those concluding chapters of the 496 00:30:43,408 --> 00:30:48,100 Gospel of Luke, we have an encounter between Jesus and who 497 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,200 Herod. And do you remember what Herod 498 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,700 did with Jesus? Let me remind you and Luke 23, 499 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:57,300 verse 11, and Herod with his soldiers, treated him with 500 00:30:57,300 --> 00:31:01,400 contempt, and mocked him. That I rang him in Splendid 501 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:03,800 clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 502 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:08,500 The same man who can sit under the teaching and preaching of 503 00:31:08,500 --> 00:31:13,300 John who surely presented Jesus when it came to a face-to-face. 504 00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:17,200 Visit an appointment with the same Christ that he heard about 505 00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:22,500 treated him with contempt. Mocked and scorned him and 506 00:31:22,500 --> 00:31:25,600 despised him. How well, let me tell you this 507 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:26,700 one thing. Do you remember last week's 508 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:29,700 message on the conscience? Do you remember how the more you 509 00:31:29,700 --> 00:31:31,600 ignore your conscience? The more you silence, your 510 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,600 conscience, the worst say gets the quieter, it gets the debtor, 511 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,600 it gets and the more danger you invite your life. 512 00:31:37,700 --> 00:31:40,800 I believe that's what's happening here after quieting, 513 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,400 it and silencing. And in suppressing it the same 514 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:47,200 men who feared to touch. John can now come and openly 515 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,600 mocked Jesus Christ. How did that happen? 516 00:31:50,300 --> 00:31:53,800 Because between John's message and Jesus encounter, he did 517 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:57,200 something with those thoughts. He buried them, he's subdued 518 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,100 them, he ignored them. And what happened? 519 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:04,000 Can more, and more seared More and more seared. 520 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:10,100 But there's something else here. Could it be the how John Rather 521 00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:12,000 hair it is? Treating Jesus. 522 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,400 At this point, is revealing something that was in him all 523 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:19,900 along? And if that is true that think 524 00:32:19,900 --> 00:32:26,800 about this Herod Herod, being able to love sermons, it's 525 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:30,100 possible to love sermons and treat Jesus with contempt at the 526 00:32:30,108 --> 00:32:34,500 same time. That's a terrifying thought. 527 00:32:35,900 --> 00:32:39,600 That's possible. This man proves it, I ask you 528 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,800 today to look beyond your respect for the minister. 529 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:46,900 I ask you today to look beyond your enjoyment of The Fellowship 530 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:50,800 of the Saints, Being in a place with people who are kind and 531 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,400 nice and have conservative values, look beyond that. 532 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,200 Look beyond all of that. That might be justifying 533 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,700 something that is actually deceiving and ask yourself this 534 00:32:58,700 --> 00:33:00,300 one question. This afternoon, I beg of you. 535 00:33:00,308 --> 00:33:02,100 Please ask yourself this question. 536 00:33:02,100 --> 00:33:06,600 I beg of you who is the person of Jesus to you the person of 537 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:11,000 Jesus, not messages about him, not the people who claim him who 538 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:16,700 is Jesus to you personally. What is your face to face 539 00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:19,600 relationship like with Jesus? Is it like Herod? 540 00:33:19,900 --> 00:33:24,300 Is it like Herod? I hope not, I pray not. 541 00:33:24,300 --> 00:33:27,400 I hope that everything that you hear, no matter how practical or 542 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:31,800 deep the message is it would stir Your Heart for Jesus for 543 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:35,400 Christ to love him. An adornment crown him and Obey 544 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:38,100 him. This was not the case for Herod, 545 00:33:38,700 --> 00:33:43,200 he can digest and and receive, and contemplating be perplexed. 546 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:47,100 And even be convicted yet when it came to the person of Christ, 547 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:49,400 Not only was there no connection. 548 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:53,300 There was contempt. There's some who openly show 549 00:33:53,300 --> 00:33:58,200 content and others who indirectly show contempt to 550 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,900 Christ. But I see something else about 551 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:02,900 Herod here. His puzzling relationship with 552 00:34:02,900 --> 00:34:06,800 the truth shows shows the danger of being in a setting like this 553 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,000 and being able to praise bold Proclamation. 554 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,199 At the same time be shriveled up in your soul. 555 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:15,300 Concerning the person of Christ, but there's more to this even 556 00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:16,300 more. Could you believe it? 557 00:34:16,300 --> 00:34:20,199 Yes. What we see here is that even 558 00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:23,100 Herod sitting under the ministry of John, holy men. 559 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:28,100 Like John also proves that you are not guaranteed Freedom From 560 00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:36,900 The Bondage that you're in. Back at verse 21 of Mark 6, but 561 00:34:36,900 --> 00:34:39,400 an opportunity came. When Herod on his birthday. 562 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:43,400 Give a banquet for his Nobles and Military commanders and the 563 00:34:43,408 --> 00:34:46,699 Leading Men of Galilee from when herodias his daughter came and 564 00:34:46,699 --> 00:34:48,100 danced. She pleased Herod and his 565 00:34:48,100 --> 00:34:49,699 guests. And the King said to the girl 566 00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:52,400 asked me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. 567 00:34:53,300 --> 00:34:56,000 You're told about that. You're given this scene 568 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,000 immediately. After being informed that Herod 569 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:08,600 heard John gladly, Meaning that even being under the truth 570 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:13,200 accurately and powerfully proclaimed does not guarantee 571 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:17,200 liberation. And transformation. 572 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:22,100 This same man can come and listen to this and then go home 573 00:35:22,100 --> 00:35:25,300 and have such a birthday. Do you think that happens on 574 00:35:25,300 --> 00:35:30,200 Sundays? Think so possible. 575 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:34,500 Is it because truth wasn't being preached not necessarily so you 576 00:35:34,500 --> 00:35:37,800 can have John Baptist come up here and preach and still have 577 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:42,900 people act like Herod how Well it's just like me giving you a 578 00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:45,400 recipe and you hearing every ingredient, me spelling out. 579 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,100 The instructions of how to go about it and you understand it 580 00:35:48,100 --> 00:35:49,900 and you might amen. And you might be even excited 581 00:35:49,900 --> 00:35:51,900 about what that recipe will look like and you go home and you 582 00:35:51,900 --> 00:35:53,700 don't you don't honor the recipe. 583 00:35:54,900 --> 00:35:57,500 It's like me giving you a directions to a desired location 584 00:35:57,500 --> 00:35:59,600 and you understand everything and all the turns and all the 585 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:01,600 warnings and you're excited because you want to go to this 586 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:03,500 place that you heard about, but you never get in your car. 587 00:36:03,500 --> 00:36:05,200 You never turn it on and you never go. 588 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,000 You can hear all about Jesus, how wonderful he is. 589 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,300 How glorious is, how you can know how you can grow and him. 590 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,800 Embrace it nod your head to it, maybe even get excited about it 591 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:16,200 and go home and have a birthday like Herod. 592 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:22,900 It's true. It's not like people to hear but 593 00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:26,000 it's true. And look at this attitude that 594 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,700 Herod has in the king said, to the girl asked me for whatever 595 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:30,600 you wish, and I will give it to you. 596 00:36:31,900 --> 00:36:35,600 What's wrong with you, man? You're willing to give half your 597 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:40,400 kingdom to a girl, a teenager I present to you the intoxicating 598 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:44,500 influence of lust, Not just alcohol, I'm sure there was 599 00:36:44,500 --> 00:36:46,400 alcohol. But lust lust has the ability to 600 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,500 inebriate you and to cause you to make misjudgments at the 601 00:36:49,500 --> 00:36:52,100 cause you to evaluate certain things more great than they are 602 00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:56,700 and, and see the great things as less as what they truly are men. 603 00:36:56,700 --> 00:37:00,000 If you can conquer lust, you can conquer so much if you can 604 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,600 conquer the appetites of the flesh, you can conquer so much 605 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,600 in life. And here is a man who is so 606 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:07,500 stirred. So aroused. 607 00:37:07,500 --> 00:37:13,000 So moved by this site that he makes this silly vow your what 608 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:15,100 whatever half the kingdom and I'll give it to you. 609 00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:17,600 It's Herod. Do you realize that Rome is your 610 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,000 supervisor. Do you realize that? 611 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:23,600 If you even if you do, if you do get this request for half the 612 00:37:23,607 --> 00:37:25,100 kingdom. Because he's a man who obviously 613 00:37:25,100 --> 00:37:27,100 kept his word, we're about to find out. 614 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:30,000 You're gonna get in big trouble, you're gonna get in serious 615 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,400 trouble. But this is, this is a picture 616 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,200 here of how sin makes us foolish. 617 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,600 It makes a stupid. I mean, look at it. 618 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,100 What he's willing to throw away? Just for a moment of 619 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:46,500 Satisfaction, Just because he's been exhilarated In the Flesh, 620 00:37:46,500 --> 00:37:47,700 look what he's willing to give up. 621 00:37:47,700 --> 00:37:50,600 And I think about Sinners today, that throw away so much not 622 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:55,300 herod's Kingdom, God's Kingdom. His purpose is his plans. 623 00:37:55,300 --> 00:37:58,300 His love his satisfaction. They're willing to just just 624 00:37:58,300 --> 00:38:01,700 waste it and throw it away for, what, for something. 625 00:38:01,700 --> 00:38:03,900 So, trivial for something, so silly for something. 626 00:38:03,900 --> 00:38:08,500 So there is a perverted Yes, yes, Sinners makes foolish 627 00:38:08,500 --> 00:38:11,300 decisions. They make rash vows and make 628 00:38:11,300 --> 00:38:14,800 rash decisions, and they're willing to give up so much for 629 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:17,400 something that is so trivial. And so temporary. 630 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:23,700 But here's a man who would leave unchanged after being under 631 00:38:23,700 --> 00:38:27,000 John. How do you change then? 632 00:38:27,700 --> 00:38:30,700 How do you change will go beyond appreciation? 633 00:38:30,700 --> 00:38:35,500 Go beyond being perplexed, and stirred and challenged and come 634 00:38:35,500 --> 00:38:38,600 to him. Come to Jesus. 635 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:42,400 Come to the Lord. He's real. 636 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:46,500 He's there he's available. I remember the early days of 637 00:38:46,500 --> 00:38:49,100 walking with the Lord sitting under a young, adults Ministry 638 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:53,800 and the Lord was so fresh to me. So real to me, still is but in 639 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:57,000 that time the the you know, the first moments and I always use 640 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:58,700 this example as a joke. But I remember there was a 641 00:38:58,707 --> 00:39:01,400 particular Sunday night. We had a Sunday night service 642 00:39:01,700 --> 00:39:05,300 and the preacher got up there and he shared about Elijah. 643 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,500 When those young kids came out says go up. 644 00:39:08,500 --> 00:39:10,700 You bald head go Up you bald head? 645 00:39:12,300 --> 00:39:15,300 And Elijah turns around with the authority of God, calls a curse 646 00:39:15,300 --> 00:39:16,000 upon him. And two. 647 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:20,000 She bears come out and Mall 40-something of those kids to 648 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,400 tragic story but it's deeper than how it sounds. 649 00:39:23,500 --> 00:39:25,700 And I remember sitting there hearing that story a story that 650 00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:28,100 would cause the skeptic to say how can a good god do such a 651 00:39:28,107 --> 00:39:30,000 thing. How can the true God that, you 652 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:30,900 know, what? I was feeling in my heart. 653 00:39:30,900 --> 00:39:34,100 Oh, Lord, you're amazing, you're beautiful. 654 00:39:34,100 --> 00:39:36,100 Lord. I want to spend time with you, 655 00:39:36,100 --> 00:39:38,700 your glorious Lord. Look at the authority. 656 00:39:38,700 --> 00:39:41,200 Look at the Holiness of God, look at the faithfulness of God, 657 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:42,900 look at his protection over his servant. 658 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,400 Look at how this was actually fulfillment of a warning in The 659 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,500 Vedic is that if you were to continue to reject God and his 660 00:39:48,500 --> 00:39:51,100 purpose is that your children would suffer by wild animals, 661 00:39:51,100 --> 00:39:54,400 that's what it was. Oh, Look how deep your word is 662 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:55,800 a. I just want to spend time with 663 00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:59,400 Jesus. After hearing about the Bears. 664 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:00,800 Mauling children. Yes. 665 00:40:01,900 --> 00:40:04,900 Because it's God's word and it reveals God. 666 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,300 Oh, come to him. Everything in this text even 667 00:40:08,300 --> 00:40:11,600 hearing about even hearing about John the Baptist being beheaded, 668 00:40:11,900 --> 00:40:15,600 let your heart be stirred and hear the wisdom of Christ and 669 00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:20,300 let it pull you to his person. I love this verse in Acts 17 670 00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:22,400 when Paul preached there to these Gentiles. 671 00:40:23,500 --> 00:40:29,300 And he said in Acts 17 27, that they should seek God talking 672 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:33,200 about how God created the world and how he put different people 673 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:35,500 in different parts of the world and he has determined the 674 00:40:35,500 --> 00:40:38,300 boundaries of their dwelling place for what purpose. 675 00:40:38,700 --> 00:40:41,900 And he says here in verse 27 and acts 17, that they should seek 676 00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:47,800 God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. 677 00:40:50,200 --> 00:40:53,700 And then he says this in verse the second part of the verse and 678 00:40:53,700 --> 00:40:55,900 he's actually not far from each one of us. 679 00:40:57,900 --> 00:41:00,200 That they should seek on and perhaps feel their way toward 680 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:03,100 him and find him. God created you so that you 681 00:41:03,107 --> 00:41:07,800 would find him. And then he goes on to say, he's 682 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,200 actually not far from each one of us. 683 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:14,200 And he confirms it in the following verse for in him. 684 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:19,900 We live and move and have our being he is here, he's always 685 00:41:19,900 --> 00:41:23,600 around you, he's One Call Away. He is the City of Refuge that 686 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:26,500 has been established at a distance where you can go and 687 00:41:26,500 --> 00:41:29,200 find safety. That's Christ. 688 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,300 Also, even in A Moment Like This Before, a message, even ends you 689 00:41:33,300 --> 00:41:36,900 can call upon Christ, Lord, I've been far from you, but now I 690 00:41:36,908 --> 00:41:39,100 want to come to you, Lord. I don't want to leave this 691 00:41:39,100 --> 00:41:42,200 message Shackled In my sin anymore, Or how I want to be 692 00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:43,900 free. I want these chains to fall down 693 00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:48,500 at my feet, Christ can do it, he can do it. 694 00:41:49,700 --> 00:41:52,800 And we see here. Paul says, he's right there, you 695 00:41:52,800 --> 00:41:55,100 don't have to jump through hoops, you don't have to stand 696 00:41:55,100 --> 00:41:56,900 on your head. You don't have to climb some 697 00:41:56,900 --> 00:41:58,500 Mountain. You don't have to spend some 698 00:41:58,500 --> 00:42:03,200 weeks with monks, he's right here, Jesus, the son of the 699 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:05,500 Living. God the resurrected, Lord. 700 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:08,500 The one who conquered the grave, the one who will return again. 701 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:13,200 He's here and he's always here. We preach a Christ. 702 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:17,300 Who can save and set free. This is the Jesus whom I bear 703 00:42:17,300 --> 00:42:19,900 witness. This is the Jesus who 704 00:42:19,900 --> 00:42:23,700 commission's us to preach this truth, not the one who just 705 00:42:23,700 --> 00:42:25,500 saved. But one who satisfies one, who 706 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:31,000 delivers one who sets free. And Herod heard it, I'm sure 707 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:35,700 John preached it. But he couldn't let go of that 708 00:42:35,700 --> 00:42:43,800 once in he couldn't he couldn't get away from that claw. that 709 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:47,400 was around his neck herodias, is her name a New Testament kind of 710 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:53,000 Jezebel couldn't. He feared her, he feared the men 711 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:58,200 that he invited over for his birthday more than God and it 712 00:42:58,200 --> 00:43:02,300 would cost him. I can say so much more, but I'm 713 00:43:02,300 --> 00:43:05,900 going to scroll down here. We see what happens next. 714 00:43:06,300 --> 00:43:09,100 He vows us to her the little girl goes to his mother. 715 00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:11,700 Her mother. What should I ask? 716 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:16,800 What should I ask him? I want you to give me at once 717 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:18,500 the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 718 00:43:20,300 --> 00:43:23,400 And Herod was sorry, exceedingly. 719 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:25,500 Sorry, not sorry for what you would think. 720 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:29,300 He's not convicted, he's worried about what kind of consequences 721 00:43:29,300 --> 00:43:32,000 this will breed and he's in this place of tension. 722 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:33,800 If I say no, these men will mock me. 723 00:43:33,800 --> 00:43:37,200 I'm not a man of my word. If I say yes, the people they 724 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,800 prize John, we can cause some kind of upheaval here. 725 00:43:41,500 --> 00:43:42,900 But his pride got the best of him. 726 00:43:42,900 --> 00:43:45,400 He could not deny his oath, even though his oath was for evil, 727 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:50,700 and he submits to the request of his, which of a wife, And it 728 00:43:50,700 --> 00:43:53,700 says, in verse 27, immediately the king sent, an executioner 729 00:43:53,700 --> 00:43:55,800 with orders to bring John's head. 730 00:43:55,900 --> 00:44:00,400 He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a 731 00:44:00,408 --> 00:44:03,000 platter and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her 732 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:05,000 mother. They couldn't even wait for the 733 00:44:05,100 --> 00:44:09,700 birthday to end. Wonder what kind of Silence was 734 00:44:09,700 --> 00:44:12,900 in that room? I wonder what kind of feeling 735 00:44:12,900 --> 00:44:17,800 came over them as that Grizzly, man's head laid on that platter 736 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:25,900 perhaps with his eyes opened. I don't just look at Herod as a 737 00:44:25,908 --> 00:44:27,300 coward. I look at these men who knew 738 00:44:27,300 --> 00:44:31,100 very well, John the Baptist as cowards just, as much, not being 739 00:44:31,100 --> 00:44:33,600 able to speak up to stop this evil. 740 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:37,800 And here, they are with this decision, irreversible, 741 00:44:37,900 --> 00:44:43,300 determined done, and something happens in verse 29, when his 742 00:44:43,300 --> 00:44:47,800 disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in 743 00:44:47,800 --> 00:44:52,600 a tomb. These brave men, they came to 744 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,100 that place. They retrieve the body, 745 00:44:56,200 --> 00:45:01,600 headless, their love teacher. The preacher that they learn so 746 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:05,100 much from his way of life, that inspired them to be ready for 747 00:45:05,100 --> 00:45:09,600 the coming of the Messiah. Is no longer alive. 748 00:45:11,300 --> 00:45:14,100 Put him away with dignity and honor. 749 00:45:15,100 --> 00:45:17,800 But what I love about this verse is how Matthew adds a detail to 750 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:20,400 it, and I want to show you that detail and clothes and go to 751 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:31,900 Matthew 14 verse 12. Matthew 14:12 it says and his 752 00:45:31,900 --> 00:45:36,500 disciples came and took the body and buried it and they went and 753 00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:41,200 told Jesus. They went and told Jesus. 754 00:45:42,500 --> 00:45:47,200 Wise men. I don't know what was going on 755 00:45:47,200 --> 00:45:49,900 through their minds if they go tell Jesus to warn Jesus. 756 00:45:52,700 --> 00:45:54,400 Do you think John was afraid of Herod? 757 00:45:55,300 --> 00:45:59,600 Not if you preach like this, Cave, John wasn't afraid. 758 00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:01,400 Do you think Jesus was afraid of Jesus? 759 00:46:02,100 --> 00:46:04,900 Jesus was afraid of Herod know. When he was told another time 760 00:46:04,900 --> 00:46:07,000 about Harry's is go, tell that fox. 761 00:46:07,300 --> 00:46:10,800 Remember those words go tell that fox, doesn't sound like a 762 00:46:10,808 --> 00:46:12,700 man who was afraid about what Herod could do it then? 763 00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:16,600 They come and tell Jesus, I'm sure to inform them, but I'm 764 00:46:16,600 --> 00:46:18,700 under this persuasion, you could disagree with me. 765 00:46:19,500 --> 00:46:20,400 You would have to disagree with me. 766 00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:25,700 And Matthew Henry though. That they did more than report, 767 00:46:25,700 --> 00:46:29,100 what happened? They sought comfort from Jesus. 768 00:46:32,200 --> 00:46:36,300 Jesus, John is gone. Lord. 769 00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:42,700 The 4Runner, he's no longer here and they opened their hearts to 770 00:46:42,700 --> 00:46:46,900 him, they brought this tragedy to him, they brought their 771 00:46:46,900 --> 00:46:50,000 sorrows their Heavy Hearts to to the perfect person. 772 00:46:51,400 --> 00:46:56,900 So yes. He is so close to the sinner as 773 00:46:56,900 --> 00:47:01,500 Paul preached in Acts 17. If he is not so far from them, 774 00:47:01,500 --> 00:47:06,100 how much closer Is He To You. Beloved child of God, how 775 00:47:06,100 --> 00:47:10,500 available is he to you? That you can come to him. 776 00:47:11,700 --> 00:47:14,400 Once you are holding your arms, something that you can't fathom 777 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:17,800 and comprehend and trust that. As you do come to him, he can 778 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:24,000 console you and pour his love and his presence heal, you and 779 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:29,100 strengthen you I look at this and I think to myself, Lord, 780 00:47:29,100 --> 00:47:33,400 don't only teach me how to be like, John, Who was not like a 781 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:36,400 reed easily shaken, by the wind, teach me to be like John's 782 00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:41,100 disciples, who knew, who to go to when even their counselor, 783 00:47:41,300 --> 00:47:45,100 their Mentor, their father in the faith was no longer 784 00:47:45,100 --> 00:47:49,000 available, you know, who you can go to when the most spiritual 785 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:52,500 man, you know, of is no longer there, the one who called him 786 00:47:52,500 --> 00:47:55,900 and made him the one who used him to bless your life. 787 00:47:55,900 --> 00:47:59,200 The Source, the mouth of the river of all the blessings that 788 00:47:59,200 --> 00:48:03,700 you enjoyed through him or through her go to Christ and sit 789 00:48:03,700 --> 00:48:05,700 at his feet and pour your heart out. 790 00:48:05,700 --> 00:48:08,800 But trust that men and women of God will come and go. 791 00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:13,100 But Christ will remain forever. He's there and he's a friend and 792 00:48:13,100 --> 00:48:16,200 he's the ever-present mentor. He's the one who's given all 793 00:48:16,200 --> 00:48:17,800 those things. All those things through those 794 00:48:17,800 --> 00:48:20,000 people to you. Does he not have an abundance 795 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:23,100 himself? Does he not have all the things 796 00:48:23,100 --> 00:48:25,900 that you need himself? He does. 797 00:48:26,100 --> 00:48:29,200 He surely dies all. There's so much more I can say, 798 00:48:29,500 --> 00:48:31,600 and maybe we'll say more next week, but for now, I think 799 00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:33,100 that's a perfect. Place to end. 800 00:48:34,600 --> 00:48:38,200 Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus with your sorrow. 801 00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:41,400 Come to Jesus for salvation. He is closed. 802 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:54,600 Lord this afternoon. We magnify Your Great Name. 803 00:48:56,100 --> 00:48:57,800 With the Simplicity of these truths. 804 00:48:57,800 --> 00:49:00,300 Lord, we are reminded of things perhaps that we have known. 805 00:49:02,200 --> 00:49:06,800 But Lord, we ask that at this time, we would not be like Herod 806 00:49:07,700 --> 00:49:12,500 far from it. Lord that what we heard today 807 00:49:12,500 --> 00:49:17,000 would draw us closer to you and which stir us to say, oh I want 808 00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:20,000 to be with him. I want to walk closer to him. 809 00:49:22,100 --> 00:49:28,000 Lord, we pray that You would make us like pillars in your 810 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:31,200 house not like reads but pillars. 811 00:49:32,500 --> 00:49:36,300 And Lord you would also help us as we go out into this world and 812 00:49:36,300 --> 00:49:39,400 try to be faithful and effective that we would believe in the 813 00:49:39,400 --> 00:49:42,600 power of your truth. And that like Herod we don't 814 00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:46,600 know what's occupying a heart when it has come into contact 815 00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:49,500 with who you are. Help us believe that you are in 816 00:49:49,500 --> 00:49:53,300 control of all things and help us be like John who was faithful 817 00:49:53,300 --> 00:49:57,500 until the end though, he could not perceive the great extent of 818 00:49:57,500 --> 00:50:01,800 his efforts and a man as hardened and difficult. 819 00:50:01,800 --> 00:50:04,300 And Herded and deviant, as Herod. 820 00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:08,400 Well, we know that there are people like Herod who will be 821 00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:10,800 convicted but never changed but oh help us. 822 00:50:10,800 --> 00:50:14,600 Oh God, believe that there can be people like the parable that 823 00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:18,300 Jesus taught that can say, I will not but will later change 824 00:50:18,300 --> 00:50:22,900 their minds and submit to your will And Lord, if there is that 825 00:50:22,900 --> 00:50:26,000 person in this place, who has many times that I will not, I 826 00:50:26,000 --> 00:50:29,900 will not May today be the day where they say, I will. 827 00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:36,400 I won't walk away anymore. Not only you can do it. 828 00:50:37,300 --> 00:50:39,400 We bless you. Jesus name. 829 00:50:39,900 --> 00:50:40,400 Amen.