1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,720 Good morning. Are you alive? 2 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:11,000 I'm barely alive, but I'm alive. So I praise God that we have 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:17,800 another day to be together. And I'm excited to open God's 4 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,400 word with you. I want to pray one more time, so 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,400 let's do that. Let's seek the Lord again. 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:29,350 Lord, we thank you that your word says in Psalm 3, the verse 7 00:00:29,350 --> 00:00:35,510 five, that David slept and he awoke because the Lord sustained 8 00:00:35,510 --> 00:00:37,270 him. Thank you, Lord, that you've 9 00:00:37,270 --> 00:00:40,750 sustained us through us sleep, that we are able to be here 10 00:00:40,750 --> 00:00:47,030 attentive, energized, and ready to receive the manner that you 11 00:00:47,030 --> 00:00:50,870 have prepared for us today. And so we come to glean from the 12 00:00:50,870 --> 00:00:54,870 do of your word and we pray that we would be nourished and 13 00:00:54,870 --> 00:00:59,490 strengthened from it. We give you glory, Lord, and 14 00:00:59,490 --> 00:01:01,330 honor and thanks. In Jesus name. 15 00:01:01,890 --> 00:01:03,010 Amen. Amen. 16 00:01:03,610 --> 00:01:07,050 Leave a Bible with you. If you don't have a Bible with 17 00:01:07,050 --> 00:01:08,690 you, why don't you have a Bible with you? 18 00:01:09,410 --> 00:01:10,770 I hope you have a Bible with you. 19 00:01:11,450 --> 00:01:14,850 I'm so thankful for the screen and the projection, but there's 20 00:01:14,850 --> 00:01:17,690 nothing like having a copy of God's Word in your hand. 21 00:01:17,690 --> 00:01:19,090 I know that we have phones and tablets. 22 00:01:19,090 --> 00:01:23,170 Whatever the means is, whatever you use to read God's Word, make 23 00:01:23,170 --> 00:01:26,320 it a habit to bring it with you to church, to familiarize 24 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:28,840 yourself with the sword of the spirit that you have. 25 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,600 It's very important. It's a testimony for others as 26 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,400 well. And I'm glad that we have God's 27 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,480 Word available. It's royalty to have God's Word. 28 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,720 You know that. You know, in the Old Testament, 29 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,160 it was the kings who were to have a copy of God's Word. 30 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,480 They were to write a copy of it approved by the Levitical 31 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,400 priest, and this says they're in Deuteronomy 17, that they were 32 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:55,060 to have that copy of God's Word with them at all times and read 33 00:01:55,060 --> 00:01:58,380 it all the time. So it was a royal thing to have 34 00:01:58,380 --> 00:02:02,300 a copy of God's Word. And we are royal priesthood and 35 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:04,900 we have been by God's Providence given access to divine 36 00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:07,300 revelation. And so if you have a copy of 37 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:10,900 God's Word, go with me to Matthew chapter 12 again, 38 00:02:11,940 --> 00:02:17,660 Matthew chapter 12 in verse 42, the verse that we have been 39 00:02:18,020 --> 00:02:22,180 addressing and dissecting together these past few 40 00:02:22,180 --> 00:02:27,480 sessions, when Jesus declared that something greater than 41 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,800 Solomon is Solomon is here. He did not. 42 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,400 He did not give an aimless assertion in one of his sermons. 43 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,800 When you look at the context, when Jesus said something 44 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,120 greater than Solomon is here, it was actually a rebuke. 45 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,240 It was a rebuke. And when you look here at 42, we 46 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,120 know this verse. But you scale back to verse 38 47 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,440 and you realize that it was the scribes and the Pharisees who 48 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,200 approached Jesus yet again and asked him to perform another 49 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:01,040 spectacular sign. And this was not an honest, 50 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,720 sincere inquiry. This was a veneer. 51 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:08,120 This was a facade of seemingly being interested in and 52 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,520 investigating the evidence of who Jesus really is. 53 00:03:12,410 --> 00:03:14,490 But Christ saw pass through that. 54 00:03:14,490 --> 00:03:20,410 This was just a way of many ways of attempting to trap Jesus and 55 00:03:20,410 --> 00:03:25,170 to try to discredit Jesus. And you can't fool Jesus. 56 00:03:25,810 --> 00:03:28,570 He can see through it all. And he did see it. 57 00:03:29,330 --> 00:03:32,770 And because he saw it, instead of giving them a supernatural 58 00:03:32,770 --> 00:03:35,850 sign on demand, despite all the signs that he had already done 59 00:03:36,130 --> 00:03:38,490 leading up to this point, the Pharisees were aware of the 60 00:03:38,490 --> 00:03:41,590 miracles. Instead of giving them a 61 00:03:41,590 --> 00:03:44,870 supernatural sign, he gives them a scathing rebuke. 62 00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:49,110 He gives them a rebuke. And one of those rebukes is what 63 00:03:49,110 --> 00:03:54,070 we see here in Matthew 1242. When Jesus says that he was 64 00:03:54,070 --> 00:03:57,590 greater than Solomon, he he did not only in that one breath 65 00:03:57,910 --> 00:04:00,030 declare his superiority to Solomon. 66 00:04:00,350 --> 00:04:06,230 He also linked himself to a person in the story of Solomon 67 00:04:06,470 --> 00:04:08,990 that we are going to look at in greater detail. 68 00:04:09,730 --> 00:04:12,490 So notice let's read it again in verse 42 of chapter 12. 69 00:04:12,890 --> 00:04:18,250 The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this 70 00:04:18,250 --> 00:04:23,210 generation and condemn it. For she came from the ends of 71 00:04:23,210 --> 00:04:25,570 the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 72 00:04:25,570 --> 00:04:29,410 And behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 73 00:04:31,010 --> 00:04:34,850 The Lord assured this unbelieving generation that on 74 00:04:34,850 --> 00:04:39,490 Judgment Day the Queen of the South will rise and stand and 75 00:04:39,490 --> 00:04:43,730 testify against this generation and actually condemn it for 76 00:04:43,730 --> 00:04:49,570 their lack of faith for failing to take heed to the opportunity 77 00:04:49,570 --> 00:04:52,290 that was before them in the person of Jesus Christ. 78 00:04:52,570 --> 00:04:59,050 There is a historic person that will be standing on trial and 79 00:04:59,050 --> 00:05:02,690 pointing her finger towards those who beheld the Incarnate 80 00:05:02,690 --> 00:05:05,730 Christ and and actually reprimanding them and rebuking 81 00:05:05,730 --> 00:05:10,530 them and will further and confirm the testimony of their 82 00:05:10,530 --> 00:05:12,650 worthiness to be judged for eternity. 83 00:05:13,730 --> 00:05:17,170 Who is this person? Who is the Queen of the South 84 00:05:17,410 --> 00:05:23,210 and why does the Lord highlight her as someone who will take the 85 00:05:23,210 --> 00:05:28,530 witness stand and bring about a report from her own testimony of 86 00:05:28,530 --> 00:05:32,290 why they deserve to be judged by God? 87 00:05:33,290 --> 00:05:35,930 You don't have to guess why the Lord chose this woman. 88 00:05:36,350 --> 00:05:38,750 You don't have to guess who she is because there's an entire 89 00:05:39,150 --> 00:05:42,590 half chapter dedicated in the Old Testament concerning her in 90 00:05:42,590 --> 00:05:46,030 First Kings chapter 10. And not only is she found there 91 00:05:46,030 --> 00:05:51,470 First Kings chapter 10, there was something about her attitude 92 00:05:52,390 --> 00:05:57,590 towards Solomon that Christ highly esteemed. 93 00:05:58,390 --> 00:06:02,310 There was something about how she approached Solomon that 94 00:06:02,310 --> 00:06:07,350 Christ highly esteemed, and not only did he highly esteem it, he 95 00:06:07,350 --> 00:06:12,110 set it as an example before the Jews of his day, and he also 96 00:06:12,110 --> 00:06:15,510 sets it as an example for people of all generations. 97 00:06:15,870 --> 00:06:21,030 Of how we ought to respond to the reports that we hear about 98 00:06:21,030 --> 00:06:25,590 Jesus Christ. Here is the main point of what 99 00:06:25,590 --> 00:06:32,080 Christ is getting at if this queen, if this woman was so 100 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:37,600 eager and so curious to go out of her way to discover the 101 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,160 things that she merely heard about this great king, how much 102 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,040 more should we pursue the one who is greater? 103 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:51,120 This is the main argument that Christ is making, and it sounds 104 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,200 like an inspirational illustration, but it's actually 105 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:58,520 a warning, right? It's not Just look at the Queen 106 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,440 of the South and how she sought King Solomon. 107 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,280 Now do something similar with Jesus Christ. 108 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:03,520 That's not really the whole point. 109 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,160 The whole point is Christ is actually telling this people 110 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:15,240 that to be apathetic and to be uninterested when you are 111 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:20,280 presented an opportunity and an invitation to discover what 112 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,640 Jesus Christ wants to make known to you is absolutely 113 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:29,570 inexcusable. To remain apathetic or 114 00:07:29,570 --> 00:07:33,370 uninterested when you have been given an opportunity to 115 00:07:33,370 --> 00:07:36,490 investigate and discover more of what Christ wants to make known 116 00:07:36,490 --> 00:07:40,130 to you, it's absolutely inexcusable. 117 00:07:41,170 --> 00:07:46,210 This is what Jesus is saying and there are 4 notable things about 118 00:07:46,210 --> 00:07:48,850 the Queen of Sheba that I would like to bring to our attention. 119 00:07:48,970 --> 00:07:52,810 There are 4 notable things. The first thing is the position 120 00:07:52,810 --> 00:07:56,680 that she had. The second thing is the distance 121 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:01,120 that she made. The third thing is the king that 122 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,760 she sought. And the last thing is that the 123 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,720 reward she received. Let's turn to 1st Kings chapter 124 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,800 10 together. Let's turn to 1st Kings chapter 125 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,520 10 beginning in verse one. This is the same woman that 126 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,240 Jesus refers to in Matthew chapter 12. 127 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:24,940 It's such a beautiful story. I'm going to read the 1st 5 128 00:08:24,940 --> 00:08:29,860 verses and just envision it. And 1st Kings chapter 10 verse 129 00:08:29,860 --> 00:08:34,100 one we read now when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of 130 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:38,740 Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test them 131 00:08:38,740 --> 00:08:41,900 with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a 132 00:08:41,900 --> 00:08:45,940 very great retinue with camels bearing spices and very much 133 00:08:45,940 --> 00:08:49,820 gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, 134 00:08:49,820 --> 00:08:54,700 she told them all that was on her mind, and Solomon answered 135 00:08:54,700 --> 00:08:56,820 her all her heart, all her questions. 136 00:08:56,820 --> 00:09:00,420 Rather, there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not 137 00:09:00,420 --> 00:09:04,140 explain to her. And when the Queen of Sheba had 138 00:09:04,140 --> 00:09:07,420 seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the 139 00:09:07,420 --> 00:09:10,740 food of his table, the seating of his officials and the 140 00:09:10,740 --> 00:09:13,860 attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cup bearers 141 00:09:14,020 --> 00:09:16,460 and his burn offerings that he offered at the House of the 142 00:09:16,460 --> 00:09:19,540 Lord, there was no more breath in her. 143 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:24,310 Literally her breath was taken from her breathless. 144 00:09:24,310 --> 00:09:30,990 Wow. 4 notable things. The first thing I want you to 145 00:09:30,990 --> 00:09:34,670 understand concerning Jesus's words of why she will stand at 146 00:09:34,670 --> 00:09:38,310 the judgment is because of the positions that she had when he 147 00:09:38,310 --> 00:09:41,070 said the Queen of the South. She was a queen. 148 00:09:42,030 --> 00:09:45,030 This was not somebody who was just a curious woman from a 149 00:09:45,030 --> 00:09:47,670 foreign land. She was royalty. 150 00:09:48,230 --> 00:09:49,990 She was a woman of great dignity. 151 00:09:50,420 --> 00:09:55,220 She was a woman of great power, affluence, influence, prestige. 152 00:09:56,260 --> 00:09:59,140 This was somebody very important at this time in history. 153 00:10:00,140 --> 00:10:04,100 And Jesus highlights this because most scholars believe 154 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:08,420 that Sheba is modern day Yemen, South of Saudi Arabia. 155 00:10:08,420 --> 00:10:10,660 And we're going to talk about the location and how significant 156 00:10:10,660 --> 00:10:13,620 that is because Jesus highlights how far she came to meet with 157 00:10:13,620 --> 00:10:15,740 Solomon. But before they just consider 158 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:19,620 her position, What what she did, who she was, the 159 00:10:19,620 --> 00:10:23,260 responsibilities she had, the authority that she possessed. 160 00:10:23,980 --> 00:10:26,900 This is not just anybody. This is somebody who had status. 161 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:29,140 This is somebody who was very significant, someone who was 162 00:10:29,140 --> 00:10:32,620 feared and revered, who herself was sought after to some degree. 163 00:10:33,660 --> 00:10:35,660 And so she had a responsibility over a nation. 164 00:10:35,660 --> 00:10:38,180 And yet with all the subjects that she had, all the servants, 165 00:10:38,180 --> 00:10:41,660 all the supplies, all the success, the impression that you 166 00:10:41,660 --> 00:10:46,020 get here from verse one is that this queen was longing for 167 00:10:46,020 --> 00:10:50,290 something more. She was longing for something 168 00:10:50,290 --> 00:10:51,970 more. How does she hear about Solomon? 169 00:10:51,970 --> 00:10:54,970 Well, Shirley, traitors came in and out of her land. 170 00:10:55,690 --> 00:10:58,290 And people who had visited Solomon or passed through 171 00:10:58,290 --> 00:11:02,610 Jerusalem and Israel also witnessed the majesty of this 172 00:11:02,610 --> 00:11:04,770 king, what he was able to do in such a short amount of time. 173 00:11:04,970 --> 00:11:08,010 And so she heard from time to time about this King Solomon 174 00:11:08,010 --> 00:11:10,370 from Jerusalem. And she gathered the pieces 175 00:11:10,370 --> 00:11:13,850 together, and something sparked inside of her heart. 176 00:11:14,730 --> 00:11:19,140 I'm hearing about the Solomon all the time now. 177 00:11:19,140 --> 00:11:21,180 She was not somebody who had nothing to do. 178 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:24,940 She she was not a spoiled queen who lounged around and thought 179 00:11:24,940 --> 00:11:27,980 this will be a nice vacation. Nor is she somebody who thought 180 00:11:27,980 --> 00:11:30,180 that this would be a good alliance to make with a 181 00:11:30,180 --> 00:11:32,460 brilliant man. We can really work together and 182 00:11:32,460 --> 00:11:35,100 do something awesome together. That's not what's happening 183 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:36,980 here. Read verse one carefully again 184 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:41,020 and you'll see the essence of her desire to discover who King 185 00:11:41,020 --> 00:11:42,580 Solomon is. First kings, 10 one. 186 00:11:42,990 --> 00:11:45,990 Now when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, it 187 00:11:45,990 --> 00:11:47,910 stopped. If it stopped there, then we we 188 00:11:47,910 --> 00:11:51,350 can say it's about Solomon. But it says concerning the name 189 00:11:51,350 --> 00:11:56,430 of the Lord. Concerning the name of the Lord. 190 00:11:57,030 --> 00:11:59,390 She came to test them with hard questions. 191 00:11:59,870 --> 00:12:02,030 It was more than Solomon's abilities. 192 00:12:02,030 --> 00:12:04,150 It was more than Solomon's achievements. 193 00:12:04,590 --> 00:12:09,900 There was something about Solomon's knowledge of God, and 194 00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:12,620 there was something about Solomon doing things in honor of 195 00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:14,340 God. There was something about people 196 00:12:14,460 --> 00:12:17,940 linked the favor Solomon had with God. 197 00:12:17,940 --> 00:12:22,180 And so the main here, main thing here for this queen is the Lord, 198 00:12:23,460 --> 00:12:25,980 the Lord that Solomon represented, the the Lord that 199 00:12:25,980 --> 00:12:30,820 Solomon served. This was the heartbeat of this 200 00:12:30,820 --> 00:12:35,340 trip that she's about to make. And this is what we need to 201 00:12:35,340 --> 00:12:37,140 learn from this woman and never forget it. 202 00:12:38,770 --> 00:12:45,170 You were created for more than positions of authority, then 203 00:12:45,170 --> 00:12:49,770 personal luxury, then extravagance, then achievements, 204 00:12:50,210 --> 00:12:53,090 then you accomplishing projects, whether they're small or great, 205 00:12:53,490 --> 00:12:56,370 then you crafting your gift. Or it's more than that. 206 00:12:56,610 --> 00:13:01,570 Your heart was created to know your maker, to walk with your 207 00:13:01,570 --> 00:13:06,450 God, to understand him and to experience him and to know who 208 00:13:06,450 --> 00:13:10,220 he is and to know who he is concerning yourself and how he 209 00:13:10,220 --> 00:13:13,540 relates to you. You see this woman here, She has 210 00:13:13,540 --> 00:13:15,780 this, this longing that's been birthed. 211 00:13:15,780 --> 00:13:18,860 Maybe it was always there and and the lid was removed once 212 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:21,580 everybody start talking about the Lord of Solomon, not just 213 00:13:21,580 --> 00:13:25,220 Solomon. And so this woman here is 214 00:13:25,220 --> 00:13:29,060 testifying something about the human heart, that the human 215 00:13:29,060 --> 00:13:32,380 heart, though it is depraved and wicked evil it is, it is capable 216 00:13:32,380 --> 00:13:34,700 of understanding that there is something more. 217 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:39,580 And I wonder if your heart today testifies to that reality or are 218 00:13:39,580 --> 00:13:42,900 you still mesmerized by the little toys of this world? 219 00:13:45,580 --> 00:13:49,260 This woman had it all. And I wonder for those who have 220 00:13:49,260 --> 00:13:52,820 made their lives about the things that she enjoyed, the 221 00:13:52,820 --> 00:13:55,700 things that she probably pursued to arrive where she was at. 222 00:13:55,940 --> 00:13:58,700 Are you not challenged this morning that there was a queen 223 00:13:58,980 --> 00:14:04,420 who left her throne to discover a truth about the true God? 224 00:14:06,090 --> 00:14:10,250 She left her throne, and she desired to get answers. 225 00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:13,450 Not just answers about her life, but answers about God. 226 00:14:13,450 --> 00:14:17,050 I'm sure she heard the fame of Solomon concerning the Lord. 227 00:14:17,410 --> 00:14:19,170 I got to find out what this is all about. 228 00:14:21,930 --> 00:14:23,690 So you see that this woman had all these things. 229 00:14:23,690 --> 00:14:25,610 And guess what? These things did not satisfy, 230 00:14:25,650 --> 00:14:29,210 satisfy the cries of her heart. They didn't. 231 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,760 And unfortunately, you have so many people today who, in the 232 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,720 name of pursuing such things and enjoying such things, live all 233 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,200 of their lives, if not most of their lives, neglecting the 234 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,360 person of Jesus Christ, ignoring the rumors. 235 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,840 They're not rumors. They're true reports about who 236 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,360 he is. For vanity. 237 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,480 For transient things. For things that will disappear. 238 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,640 For things that will rot. For things that can be taken 239 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,960 from you. And here's this woman who has 240 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:03,920 her priorities right. And remember, when Jesus gave 241 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,160 this rebuke, He gave it to a specific audience. 242 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:10,800 He gave it to the religious leaders of his time, these men 243 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,080 who also wanted to protect their positions and their influence. 244 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:20,400 Remember when Jesus was on trial, Pilot discerned that 245 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,520 these Pharisees were delivering up to this trial because of 246 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,380 envy. They saw the people that Christ 247 00:15:28,380 --> 00:15:30,620 was pulling away from them. They saw how there was a shift 248 00:15:30,620 --> 00:15:33,300 happening in the spiritual climate because of this one man, 249 00:15:33,300 --> 00:15:38,900 a new movement was arising and out of envy they sought Christ 250 00:15:38,900 --> 00:15:42,220 to be put to death. But not only that, that's not 251 00:15:42,220 --> 00:15:45,140 the only mark of a Pharisee. We tend to we tend to summarize 252 00:15:45,140 --> 00:15:47,780 a Pharisee to be somebody who is legalistic or self-righteous. 253 00:15:47,780 --> 00:15:49,780 And that is true. That is the essence of being a 254 00:15:49,780 --> 00:15:51,100 Pharisee. But there are different 255 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:53,780 ingredients that make a Pharisee A Pharisee, and there are 256 00:15:53,780 --> 00:15:58,500 different components that made the Pharisees unable to 257 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:02,620 surrender to at least honestly inquire of the person of Jesus 258 00:16:02,620 --> 00:16:05,420 Christ instead of making a Public Enemy number one from the 259 00:16:05,420 --> 00:16:08,460 get go. Here's one of the marks of a 260 00:16:08,460 --> 00:16:13,180 Pharisee in Luke 1614. We are told that the Pharisees 261 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:15,620 who heard Jesus just preached a certain sermon. 262 00:16:16,140 --> 00:16:17,820 And then we're given a description about those 263 00:16:17,820 --> 00:16:21,340 Pharisees in Luke 16, four who were lovers of money. 264 00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:26,040 They loved money. They live for money. 265 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:30,000 They twisted the promises and the commands of God for the 266 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,520 accumulation of personal gain. They were lovers of money. 267 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:35,960 Now why is the Holy Spirit telling us that they are lovers 268 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,440 of money? Why is that significant? 269 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,800 It's not telling us that they were very ambitious or they were 270 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,040 manipulative. No, because right before this, 271 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,520 in in verse 13 Jesus says something important. 272 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,560 In Luke 1613 he says you cannot serve 2 masters. 273 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:57,100 You cannot serve God and money. And then in verse 14 we were 274 00:16:57,100 --> 00:16:59,620 told the Pharisees who were lovers of money. 275 00:17:02,620 --> 00:17:05,420 If they were lovers of money, then do you think it's very easy 276 00:17:05,420 --> 00:17:07,819 to become lovers of money today, especially in the West? 277 00:17:08,579 --> 00:17:12,660 You'd be amazed to know how many people, even in churches, bear 278 00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:16,140 the name of Christianity, really serve money. 279 00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:21,780 Money is their God. Is it wrong to work? 280 00:17:21,819 --> 00:17:23,060 No. Is it wrong to save? 281 00:17:23,060 --> 00:17:25,190 No. Is it wrong to enjoy things with 282 00:17:25,190 --> 00:17:26,150 your money? No. 283 00:17:27,869 --> 00:17:33,710 But when you begin to make your life more about the acquiring of 284 00:17:33,710 --> 00:17:35,790 wealth, when that's your ambition, when that's where your 285 00:17:35,790 --> 00:17:39,430 affections lie, when that is what you talk about more, When 286 00:17:39,430 --> 00:17:42,550 that is what your meditations are on whether you want to 287 00:17:42,550 --> 00:17:45,430 acknowledge or not. Jesus is not your God. 288 00:17:45,710 --> 00:17:52,320 Money is your God. Money is your God and there will 289 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,320 be many, many people who will not have eternal life because 290 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,080 they've lived their lives serving the dollar bill. 291 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,320 The Pharisees. Yes, they were self-righteous, 292 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:06,440 but there was another obstacle in their hearts. 293 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,360 They loved money. They loved money. 294 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:13,280 And that is I believe one of the major idols in in the West. 295 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,680 Be careful young person. I know you're ambitious. 296 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,240 I know you have a lot to look forward to in life. 297 00:18:19,890 --> 00:18:22,370 I know that you're looking out to the world and all the things 298 00:18:22,370 --> 00:18:25,170 that are being said and all the doom and gloom of these 299 00:18:25,170 --> 00:18:29,290 podcasts, of all these these guys, these selfmotivation guys. 300 00:18:29,290 --> 00:18:33,530 You know those guys. I get bothered when I see what 301 00:18:33,530 --> 00:18:39,650 goes viral on the Internet. Be careful, because there's a 302 00:18:39,650 --> 00:18:45,770 fine line between wanting to be responsible and wanting to be 303 00:18:45,770 --> 00:18:50,700 safe and wanting to save up, and you end up serving money instead 304 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:53,220 of serving Jesus. Very fine line. 305 00:18:55,140 --> 00:18:57,660 The Pharisees. They love money and they 306 00:18:57,660 --> 00:18:59,860 couldn't love Christ. At least that's one of the 307 00:18:59,860 --> 00:19:01,180 reasons. What about the rich young ruler? 308 00:19:02,180 --> 00:19:04,580 Remember the rich? He came to Jesus and he seemed 309 00:19:04,580 --> 00:19:08,500 to be desperate to be saved. And Jesus says something 310 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:10,460 incredible about the rich young ruler. 311 00:19:10,660 --> 00:19:14,100 And Jesus is so discerning. He he, he sees through it all 312 00:19:14,830 --> 00:19:17,190 and the words of Jesus to the rich young ruler and Mark. 313 00:19:17,190 --> 00:19:19,270 And so for us at America, the Bible church, we're going to see 314 00:19:19,270 --> 00:19:21,670 this in a in a couple of chapters, but it's good to see 315 00:19:21,670 --> 00:19:23,350 it. Now in light of this message, if 316 00:19:23,350 --> 00:19:25,710 you go to Mark, I want you to see this in your bibles and Mark 317 00:19:25,710 --> 00:19:31,390 chapter 10, verse 18 and 19. So many people then and so many 318 00:19:31,390 --> 00:19:37,870 people today will not know eternal life because they 319 00:19:37,870 --> 00:19:42,630 cherish and valued things that they shouldn't have more than 320 00:19:42,710 --> 00:19:45,030 Jesus. Mark 10/18. 321 00:19:45,630 --> 00:19:46,790 So here's this. Rich, young, grueling. 322 00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:49,390 He asked What must I do to inherit eternal life? 323 00:19:49,830 --> 00:19:51,790 Good teacher Jesus, why do you call me good? 324 00:19:52,350 --> 00:19:54,630 Verse 18 Jesus said to him, why do you call me good? 325 00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:57,870 No one is good except God alone. The enemies of Jesus, the 326 00:19:57,870 --> 00:20:00,390 enemies of the gospel, love to use his verse to try to say that 327 00:20:00,390 --> 00:20:06,190 he is not God, when in fact he is probing the heart of this 328 00:20:06,190 --> 00:20:08,070 rich, young, grueling. Hey, you're calling me good. 329 00:20:08,110 --> 00:20:10,350 You know God is good alone. Do the math. 330 00:20:11,390 --> 00:20:13,190 That's what Jesus is saying. Not. 331 00:20:13,190 --> 00:20:14,510 I'm not God. Only God is good. 332 00:20:14,510 --> 00:20:15,950 That's that's not what he's saying at all. 333 00:20:17,070 --> 00:20:19,430 Look what he says in verse 19. You know the commandments. 334 00:20:20,110 --> 00:20:22,270 You know the commandments. Do not murder. 335 00:20:22,430 --> 00:20:24,390 Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. 336 00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:26,470 Do not bear fault witness. Do not defraud. 337 00:20:26,470 --> 00:20:28,870 Honor your father and mother. Where do you find those 338 00:20:28,870 --> 00:20:31,790 commitments? Where do you find those 339 00:20:31,790 --> 00:20:35,190 commandments? The Old Testament, sure. 340 00:20:35,190 --> 00:20:35,830 But what? Where? 341 00:20:36,310 --> 00:20:38,270 Where are they? The law. 342 00:20:38,270 --> 00:20:41,190 The law. Not just the law, but what the 343 00:20:41,190 --> 00:20:43,230 10 commandments, they're not all 10, right? 344 00:20:43,990 --> 00:20:46,870 The first few concerning our vertical relationship with God 345 00:20:46,870 --> 00:20:48,710 are omitted in Jesus's explanation. 346 00:20:48,710 --> 00:20:51,630 Here He's dealing with the last few that deal with your 347 00:20:51,630 --> 00:20:53,870 horizontal relationship with those who are created in the 348 00:20:53,870 --> 00:20:55,110 image of God. Right. 349 00:20:55,430 --> 00:20:58,470 And so you see these things in the Decalogue that the big 10 350 00:20:58,470 --> 00:21:02,630 laws, right? Right. 351 00:21:04,630 --> 00:21:07,430 Yeah. Read it carefully. 352 00:21:08,870 --> 00:21:10,870 I'm so curious. I was very close of asking 353 00:21:10,870 --> 00:21:12,430 someone to name all 10 commandments. 354 00:21:13,070 --> 00:21:15,270 I won't. But look at this. 355 00:21:15,430 --> 00:21:18,390 Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. 356 00:21:18,990 --> 00:21:21,990 Do not steal. Do not bear fault witness. 357 00:21:22,390 --> 00:21:25,590 Do not defraud. Honor your father and mother 10 358 00:21:25,590 --> 00:21:30,430 commandments. Who's who's the careful student? 359 00:21:30,430 --> 00:21:32,990 What's standing out to you? Good. 360 00:21:34,190 --> 00:21:39,480 Do not defraud is not in the Big 10 and you have all these 361 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,120 academics and these scholars. Jesus didn't know the 10 362 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:45,280 commandments. Jesus slip Jesus for God. 363 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,080 Jesus added Jesus. No Jesus knows what he's doing. 364 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,120 Why would he say do not defraud, That's in the law. 365 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,480 By the way, there are laws in the old covenant. 366 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:00,520 I deal with paying people their dues and not cheating people. 367 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,160 Do not defraud. Let's not make it complicated 368 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,180 what Jesus is doing. He's discerning the main problem 369 00:22:07,180 --> 00:22:09,900 of this rich young ruler. He was rich. 370 00:22:10,340 --> 00:22:13,300 Could it be that Jesus knew how he accumulated his wealth? 371 00:22:15,620 --> 00:22:17,660 You defrauded people to get your money. 372 00:22:18,940 --> 00:22:22,620 You cheated people, You manipulated, you played games 373 00:22:22,620 --> 00:22:25,580 with people. And So what Christ is doing by 374 00:22:25,580 --> 00:22:28,100 naming the commitments, He's not just listening to commitments. 375 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:30,220 He's also dealing with the heart of the matter. 376 00:22:30,220 --> 00:22:34,220 In this young man, you've defrauded people and he's being 377 00:22:34,220 --> 00:22:36,140 so wise. He's not just calling it out 378 00:22:36,140 --> 00:22:37,820 right away. He wants the young man to 379 00:22:37,820 --> 00:22:41,780 acknowledge it for himself. Now it makes more sense when 380 00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:43,740 Jesus goes sell everything and give it to the poor. 381 00:22:45,620 --> 00:22:47,740 In other words, go give back what you defrauded people from. 382 00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:52,980 So here's here's here's Jesus saying do not defraud. 383 00:22:53,060 --> 00:22:54,780 What Did this young man get saved? 384 00:22:56,220 --> 00:22:57,260 No, he walked away. Why? 385 00:22:57,540 --> 00:23:01,500 Because he loved money, he couldn't imagine giving what he 386 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:04,780 was able to acquire over those short young years of his life. 387 00:23:04,780 --> 00:23:08,340 He became so successful so soon. And here's this Jesus now asking 388 00:23:08,340 --> 00:23:13,140 me to surrender this oh, there's going to be so many people. 389 00:23:15,100 --> 00:23:18,300 Unlike the Queen of Sheba, who is willing to not just get up 390 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:21,820 from her throne to meet King Solomon, but come with caravans 391 00:23:21,820 --> 00:23:26,580 of gold and spices to lay before this king and say, tell me what 392 00:23:26,580 --> 00:23:31,350 you know about the Lord. Consider the position that she 393 00:23:31,350 --> 00:23:32,630 had. She was a queen. 394 00:23:33,270 --> 00:23:35,710 You know why some people don't want to hear God's word 395 00:23:37,430 --> 00:23:39,070 consistently come to the House of God? 396 00:23:39,070 --> 00:23:43,190 Because they're busy. You know why some people don't 397 00:23:43,190 --> 00:23:44,550 want to surrender their lives through Christ? 398 00:23:44,550 --> 00:23:45,950 Because they're young. How do I know this? 399 00:23:45,950 --> 00:23:47,350 I know this because I grew up in the church. 400 00:23:47,350 --> 00:23:50,430 And when I was in my late teens, I made a deal with God. 401 00:23:50,430 --> 00:23:52,470 Because I heard about God, I couldn't deny his existence. 402 00:23:52,670 --> 00:23:54,150 So I made somewhat of a deal with him. 403 00:23:54,350 --> 00:23:55,990 Lord, let me finish college. Let me get married. 404 00:23:55,990 --> 00:23:58,750 Let me get myself established and then I'll come to your house 405 00:23:58,750 --> 00:24:01,110 and I'll serve you And I'll. I'll do what you asked me to do. 406 00:24:01,230 --> 00:24:04,990 Isn't that cute? Making a deal with God. 407 00:24:04,990 --> 00:24:07,310 But we do that. We don't say it to God, we say 408 00:24:07,310 --> 00:24:10,510 it to ourselves. Let me figure things out. 409 00:24:10,670 --> 00:24:14,950 God is worthy of honor in all seasons, whether you have the 410 00:24:14,950 --> 00:24:17,840 money or not. Have the money whether you're 411 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:19,840 prepared or not prepared. He's worthy to be worshiped 412 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:20,960 today. I mean, that's the call of 413 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:22,640 discipleship. You had so many of those people 414 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:24,600 saying I'll follow you. Jesus saying follow me. 415 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,000 And they try to come up with these deals. 416 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,840 Let me just go bury my father. For let the dead bury the dead. 417 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:34,000 Let the dead bury the dead. Now you have to follow. 418 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,680 You heard it. Now come follow me now I'll take 419 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:36,720 care of you. Watch. 420 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:39,640 Watch how Supply all your needs. Watch how I'll be good to you. 421 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,880 Watch how I'll bless you. Here's this queen. 422 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,000 She heard the reports and she says, OK, we're going, we're 423 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,400 going to Jerusalem, Which brings us to the notable point #2. 424 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,240 The distance that she made, We read here in verse one, the 425 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,280 Queen of Sheba. You heard earlier that this is 426 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,360 modern day Yemen. Most scholars believe some 427 00:24:56,360 --> 00:25:00,720 debate and say that it's Ethiopia, but we're not going to 428 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,400 get into the reasons why. There is strong evidence for 429 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,600 Yemen. And then we we see that she's, 430 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:09,640 she's willing to go, but we don't consider the great length. 431 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,520 And what's so significant is that in Jesus and Matthew 1242, 432 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,780 the thing that he highlights about the Queen of the South is 433 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:19,700 that he used the words she came from the ends of the earth. 434 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:24,020 So what moved the heart of Christ was what she was willing 435 00:25:24,020 --> 00:25:29,100 to do in terms of travel to sit before the wisdom of Solomon. 436 00:25:29,460 --> 00:25:33,260 It is believed that where she was from was 1500 miles. 437 00:25:34,020 --> 00:25:37,900 She didn't catch a flight, she didn't ride first class. 438 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:45,110 It was several grueling weeks, dangerous terrain, frequent 439 00:25:45,110 --> 00:25:50,670 stops in order to just arrive, to have a face to face encounter 440 00:25:50,670 --> 00:25:53,110 with this king. It was not an easy trip. 441 00:25:53,270 --> 00:25:56,110 As much as she was a queen and she would have been assisted, it 442 00:25:56,110 --> 00:25:59,150 was still very difficult. And Jesus again emphasizes that 443 00:25:59,150 --> 00:26:02,230 point about this queen. She came from the ends of the 444 00:26:02,310 --> 00:26:04,830 earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 445 00:26:06,710 --> 00:26:10,430 And I wonder if this queen, because I was thinking about 446 00:26:10,430 --> 00:26:12,390 this message and I thought, well, she's going to rise up at 447 00:26:12,390 --> 00:26:13,870 judgment, what is she going to say? 448 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,680 That's what I was trying to imagine. 449 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:20,560 What is that queen going to say to this generation and even to 450 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,200 to all generations Because the principals live on. 451 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,480 What will she say? And I wonder if this is one of 452 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,960 the things that she'll say. When I heard about the reports 453 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:34,720 of Solomon, who is inferior to King Jesus, I was willing to go 454 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,480 pack up my bags, paws and everything else and make it an 455 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:39,680 absolute priority to meet with this king. 456 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,600 I was willing to go to distance. I was willing to endure the 457 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:46,800 desert nights, the desert heat, the robbers along the way, 458 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,120 potential assassination. I was willing to do all of that 459 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:53,000 just to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 460 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:57,640 And yet your God didn't ask you to go to heaven to speak to him. 461 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:01,800 He came to you, and you still didn't seek him. 462 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,240 I'm wondering, Lord, are you? Is that what she's going to say? 463 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,680 Your God left his throne. I left my throne. 464 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,200 Your God left his throne, and he came down to you. 465 00:27:14,580 --> 00:27:21,340 He took on flesh born among men. He subjected himself to the 466 00:27:21,340 --> 00:27:24,620 things that we know as humans except for sin. 467 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:30,580 And he walked among you, and he sat with you, and he ate with 468 00:27:30,580 --> 00:27:33,340 you, and he delivered many of you, and he healed many of you. 469 00:27:33,340 --> 00:27:38,270 And yet you still had this pompous, audacious attitude to 470 00:27:38,270 --> 00:27:42,270 not humbly and with holy curiosity, ask of who Christ is, 471 00:27:42,470 --> 00:27:45,870 but to accuse him and reject him, and to ignore him and to be 472 00:27:45,870 --> 00:27:47,230 apathetic towards him. How? 473 00:27:47,230 --> 00:27:49,630 How are you guys able to do it? Do you realize what I did for 474 00:27:49,630 --> 00:27:53,150 Solomon? I wonder if she's going to say 475 00:27:53,150 --> 00:27:57,830 something like that. And we see here that although 476 00:27:57,830 --> 00:28:00,830 this generation will be indicted specifically because the 477 00:28:00,830 --> 00:28:05,020 Incarnate Christ came, that principle still is true for a 478 00:28:05,020 --> 00:28:07,980 post resurrected post ascended Jesus Christ. 479 00:28:08,540 --> 00:28:11,620 Paul preach a very amazing sermon in Acts chapter 17 and he 480 00:28:11,620 --> 00:28:16,380 gave an insight to these gentiles who had a had a shrine 481 00:28:16,380 --> 00:28:18,700 for something called the unknown God. 482 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:22,100 They believed in so many gods and most of the gods that they 483 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:24,740 believed in were distant and indifferent and didn't care to 484 00:28:24,740 --> 00:28:26,820 interfere with the affairs of man. 485 00:28:27,060 --> 00:28:30,540 And Paul comes on the scene, and he presents the true God in that 486 00:28:30,540 --> 00:28:33,140 sermon. And when he speaks to these 487 00:28:33,140 --> 00:28:37,300 people, he presents a point that is so glorious even in light of 488 00:28:37,300 --> 00:28:39,180 this. We're thinking of the distance 489 00:28:39,180 --> 00:28:41,460 that she made. But I want to present to you the 490 00:28:41,460 --> 00:28:45,780 distance that God that God made. Look at this in act 17. 491 00:28:45,780 --> 00:28:48,660 You can turn there in your Bibles in verse 26 and 27. 492 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:53,420 Act 17 reads in verse 26. And he made from one man every 493 00:28:53,420 --> 00:28:56,780 nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having 494 00:28:56,780 --> 00:28:59,980 determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling 495 00:28:59,980 --> 00:29:01,930 place. And not an exciting verse from 496 00:29:01,930 --> 00:29:03,850 one man. He made the whole world, the 497 00:29:03,850 --> 00:29:08,250 nations of every tribe and tongue of all mankind, to live 498 00:29:08,250 --> 00:29:10,970 in all the face of the earth. And look at this he having 499 00:29:10,970 --> 00:29:13,770 determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling 500 00:29:13,770 --> 00:29:15,890 place. Where were you born? 501 00:29:15,890 --> 00:29:17,490 Were you born here? Were you born in the Middle 502 00:29:17,490 --> 00:29:18,570 East? Wherever you were born, God 503 00:29:18,570 --> 00:29:20,090 determined that you would be born there. 504 00:29:20,090 --> 00:29:23,810 Isn't that wonderful? I love to use this verse as well 505 00:29:23,810 --> 00:29:26,690 to to comfort my soul, to know that God will determine where I 506 00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:30,010 will be. You don't know where you're 507 00:29:30,010 --> 00:29:31,090 going to live. You don't know what house you're 508 00:29:31,090 --> 00:29:32,450 going to get. We were looking for a house for 509 00:29:32,450 --> 00:29:34,090 the past year in this crazy market. 510 00:29:34,330 --> 00:29:35,770 And I often would go to this risk. 511 00:29:35,770 --> 00:29:38,610 Lord, you determine the boundaries of my dwelling place. 512 00:29:38,610 --> 00:29:40,210 You're going to tell me where you're going to buy your 513 00:29:40,210 --> 00:29:41,530 Providence. Leave me where I'm supposed to 514 00:29:41,530 --> 00:29:44,650 be. But God, in creating the world, 515 00:29:44,650 --> 00:29:48,490 creating the nation's, creating from one man, mankind. 516 00:29:48,530 --> 00:29:51,370 What's the purpose of him creating to distance himself to 517 00:29:51,370 --> 00:29:54,170 put it in motion and just watch. No. 518 00:29:54,170 --> 00:29:57,890 We see here in verse 27 exactly what it is that he did it form 519 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:04,120 that they should seek God. That they should seek God in the 520 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,680 hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. 521 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,640 Here's what I take out of this No matter where you were born, 522 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,360 no matter where you were raised, no matter what culture you're 523 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,360 from, no matter what ethnicity you were created for one 524 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:21,480 purpose, to know God. You were created to seek God, to 525 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:24,640 feel your way toward him and find him. 526 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:28,360 Which means in order for you to find God, you got to determine 527 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:32,800 to seek God, right? Feel their way toward him and 528 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:34,120 find him. And here's the one that, here's 529 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:36,680 the phrase that I want to point out to yet he is actually not 530 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:40,960 far from each one of us. No matter where you are in all 531 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:47,840 of the globe, God had made himself accessible matter where? 532 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,760 So where's the excuse? He's not far from each one of 533 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,040 us. So. 534 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:58,770 So God's not closer here than he is in your room or in your car. 535 00:30:58,770 --> 00:31:01,250 He's everywhere. You can seek him at any place, 536 00:31:01,250 --> 00:31:03,890 at any time because we are assured here that he's not an 537 00:31:03,890 --> 00:31:04,890 unknown God. He's a God. 538 00:31:04,890 --> 00:31:10,970 That's very noble, very noble. So, so this even adds more 539 00:31:11,050 --> 00:31:13,570 seriousness to the reality of who God is. 540 00:31:14,010 --> 00:31:17,210 You can't make excuses concerning discovering him and 541 00:31:17,210 --> 00:31:22,380 realizing who he is in his realness and his love and his 542 00:31:22,380 --> 00:31:25,060 personal care for you, because he's not far if you just but 543 00:31:25,060 --> 00:31:26,860 seek him, he will make himself known. 544 00:31:26,860 --> 00:31:29,620 How does he make himself? He'll make himself known to the 545 00:31:29,620 --> 00:31:31,620 degree that he needs to make himself known to you for you to 546 00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:35,300 realize that he could be known. It's wonderful. 547 00:31:36,620 --> 00:31:40,580 And we see that this woman here, she's willing to seek after 548 00:31:40,580 --> 00:31:46,260 Solomon, and when she seeks after Solomon, Christ is 549 00:31:46,260 --> 00:31:47,260 greater. You know why? 550 00:31:48,510 --> 00:31:50,830 You look at this verse in First Kings and you realize she didn't 551 00:31:50,830 --> 00:31:53,470 get an invitation from Solomon? Did she? 552 00:31:55,030 --> 00:31:58,470 Did a royal delegation come with a nice envelope on a gold 553 00:31:58,470 --> 00:32:02,070 platter? Solomon is asking for you, oh 554 00:32:02,070 --> 00:32:06,270 Queen of Sheba, to be his audience. 555 00:32:06,990 --> 00:32:09,550 None of that. No invitation. 556 00:32:09,550 --> 00:32:13,070 Not even no invitation. No guarantee that if she went 557 00:32:13,070 --> 00:32:14,550 that she would be received by Solomon. 558 00:32:15,990 --> 00:32:19,470 This is just all speculation. This is just a hopeful desire, 559 00:32:19,470 --> 00:32:21,990 OK? Crisis greater than Solomon. 560 00:32:21,990 --> 00:32:23,950 You know why? Think about all the invitations 561 00:32:23,950 --> 00:32:27,630 you have from him. Not only all the invitations. 562 00:32:27,630 --> 00:32:30,790 Think about all the guarantees and all the promises that he 563 00:32:30,790 --> 00:32:34,750 gives when you do come to him. What are you saying? 564 00:32:34,750 --> 00:32:37,510 That brilliant sermon? And John, Chapter 6, verse 37. 565 00:32:37,510 --> 00:32:39,310 All that the Father gives me will come to me. 566 00:32:39,510 --> 00:32:42,110 And whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 567 00:32:43,430 --> 00:32:47,340 I will never cast out. So you come to him. 568 00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:49,100 You should. You know I've met many people 569 00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:50,340 who feel this way. I can't come to him. 570 00:32:50,340 --> 00:32:51,300 I don't know if he'll receive me. 571 00:32:51,300 --> 00:32:52,740 Well, here's the word from Christ himself. 572 00:32:53,180 --> 00:32:55,980 I will never cast out. I'll never push you away. 573 00:32:55,980 --> 00:32:57,980 I'll never reject you. I'll never deny you. 574 00:32:57,980 --> 00:33:01,140 When you humbly come before me and inquire of me. 575 00:33:01,740 --> 00:33:04,300 I will never cast out. Queen Sheba didn't have that 576 00:33:04,300 --> 00:33:06,940 assurance. Queen Sheba didn't have that 577 00:33:06,940 --> 00:33:10,060 guarantee. She was going with blind faith. 578 00:33:10,060 --> 00:33:12,370 Really. She was willing to do all of 579 00:33:12,370 --> 00:33:15,170 that for someone who did not even extend the hand to her. 580 00:33:15,170 --> 00:33:17,530 And yet, here's Christ, who didn't just make the distance 581 00:33:17,530 --> 00:33:20,250 very short, but he guarantees you if you just make that small 582 00:33:20,250 --> 00:33:21,610 step of faith. I'm ready for you. 583 00:33:22,770 --> 00:33:25,690 I'm right here for you. I will receive you. 584 00:33:25,690 --> 00:33:29,010 And not only will I receive you, I will change you and transform 585 00:33:29,010 --> 00:33:31,010 you. And you'll never leave the same. 586 00:33:31,410 --> 00:33:34,210 I'll never cast you out. This is the distance that she 587 00:33:34,210 --> 00:33:36,490 was willing to make. I'm sure that this will be a 588 00:33:36,490 --> 00:33:39,050 part of the reason why she will indict this generation. 589 00:33:40,410 --> 00:33:41,970 You know what's so fascinating about Queen Sheba? 590 00:33:41,970 --> 00:33:45,450 We read it in verse two, right? She came to Jerusalem with with 591 00:33:45,450 --> 00:33:48,410 camels bearing spices, very much gold and precious stones. 592 00:33:48,770 --> 00:33:52,170 She felt that it was absolutely necessary that if she was to 593 00:33:52,170 --> 00:33:54,770 have an audience with Solomon, that she could not come empty 594 00:33:54,770 --> 00:33:56,410 handed. That she had to bring these 595 00:33:56,410 --> 00:33:59,530 precious treasures and jewels and things that were unique to 596 00:33:59,530 --> 00:34:04,410 her country to to maybe persuade him to please him. 597 00:34:04,490 --> 00:34:07,450 Maybe just merely out of respect, does your God ask you 598 00:34:07,450 --> 00:34:09,889 to bring things to him when you come to him? 599 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:13,920 He does. He actually does. 600 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:16,520 You know what it is. Not gold, not spices, not 601 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,920 jewels, not your righteousness, your burdens. 602 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:22,400 That's why he's greater than Solomon. 603 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,880 He asked you to come to him, and he asked you to come with all 604 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:28,960 your sins, to lay at his feet with all your worries, cast all 605 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:30,880 your anxieties, and for he cares for you. 606 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:36,080 Solomon, naturally, speaking from a political standpoint, it 607 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:36,760 was. It was. 608 00:34:37,550 --> 00:34:39,310 It was protocol for you. Bring these things. 609 00:34:39,310 --> 00:34:42,550 King Jesus is different. If he wants you to bring 610 00:34:42,550 --> 00:34:45,110 anything, it's not your perfect record. 611 00:34:45,949 --> 00:34:48,790 It's not the best year you had in terms of your holiness. 612 00:34:49,230 --> 00:34:52,989 It's your brokenness. So think about how he's greater. 613 00:34:53,030 --> 00:34:54,550 The distance has been made very short. 614 00:34:54,590 --> 00:34:57,030 What's the distance between you and the living God, The King of 615 00:34:57,030 --> 00:34:58,230 Kings? Faith. 616 00:34:59,470 --> 00:35:01,350 Faith. The assurance that he'll never 617 00:35:01,350 --> 00:35:03,750 cast you out. She did not receive such 618 00:35:03,750 --> 00:35:07,950 assurance. And she came with a caravan of 619 00:35:07,950 --> 00:35:10,590 treasures. You come with the load of your 620 00:35:10,590 --> 00:35:12,790 sin. Is he not greater? 621 00:35:13,510 --> 00:35:16,990 He is far greater. The distance that she made to 622 00:35:16,990 --> 00:35:19,110 meet with Solomon will be something. 623 00:35:19,310 --> 00:35:22,910 But consider the king that she sought, the king that she 624 00:35:22,910 --> 00:35:24,710 sought. When the Lord said that the 625 00:35:24,710 --> 00:35:27,110 Queen of Sheba, the queen of the South, went from the ends of the 626 00:35:27,110 --> 00:35:29,270 earth, we're told for why? Reason. 627 00:35:29,270 --> 00:35:33,110 The reason, the objection, the objective rather to hear the 628 00:35:33,110 --> 00:35:37,610 wisdom of Solomon, to hear what this man had to say. 629 00:35:39,890 --> 00:35:43,810 Jesus highlights this because when she comes to meet with 630 00:35:43,810 --> 00:35:46,090 Solomon, we get her response. You read in verse 5, but let's 631 00:35:46,090 --> 00:35:47,770 go back to First Kings 10 in verse 6. 632 00:35:48,250 --> 00:35:53,730 And she said to the king, the report was true, that I heard in 633 00:35:53,730 --> 00:35:57,730 my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not 634 00:35:57,730 --> 00:36:01,730 believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. 635 00:36:02,650 --> 00:36:04,130 I love these words. These are one of my favorite 636 00:36:04,130 --> 00:36:07,280 words from this whole story. And behold, the half was not 637 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,440 told me. The half was not told me. 638 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:15,440 Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard 639 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:21,160 surpasses what I heard. I heard so much about you, but 640 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,240 now that my eyes have seen you, you exceeded my expectation. 641 00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:28,160 Isn't it true for Christ too? You can hear from Spurgeon 642 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:30,880 himself, and what Spurgeon has to give concerning the person of 643 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:33,440 Christ falls very short of his brilliance and beauty. 644 00:36:35,330 --> 00:36:37,410 You can hear so many testimonies from people, and those are 645 00:36:37,410 --> 00:36:38,650 wonderful testimonies. They can move you. 646 00:36:38,650 --> 00:36:41,410 But until you taste and see that the Lord is good for yourself, 647 00:36:43,450 --> 00:36:46,690 there's something about you coming to that knowledge of him, 648 00:36:46,890 --> 00:36:49,930 one-on-one that is so absolutely necessary. 649 00:36:51,570 --> 00:36:53,490 And so, so many people are riding on the faith in the 650 00:36:53,490 --> 00:36:56,130 reports merely of their parents, of their siblings, of their 651 00:36:56,130 --> 00:36:58,410 pastor, and they're just taking their word for it. 652 00:37:00,490 --> 00:37:03,770 What about your story? What's your what have you seen 653 00:37:04,570 --> 00:37:05,450 concerning Christ? What? 654 00:37:05,450 --> 00:37:08,410 What's your story? What's your testimony? 655 00:37:08,730 --> 00:37:13,850 You yourself, Queen of Sheba. She had her own testimony. 656 00:37:13,850 --> 00:37:16,170 She didn't. She was not satisfied relying on 657 00:37:16,170 --> 00:37:20,050 the testimony of others. I need my own testimony here. 658 00:37:20,890 --> 00:37:24,330 I want to know this for myself. And so she does. 659 00:37:24,370 --> 00:37:27,210 And she's breathless. She's moved to the core. 660 00:37:28,010 --> 00:37:29,850 And here's what's amazing. I love this, she says. 661 00:37:29,850 --> 00:37:33,330 When I heard the reports of you, I actually didn't believe them. 662 00:37:34,890 --> 00:37:38,130 I didn't believe them. It's like many people who grew 663 00:37:38,130 --> 00:37:41,410 up in the church. They're saturated with reports, 664 00:37:41,410 --> 00:37:44,450 Sunday school reports, youth meeting reports. 665 00:37:44,730 --> 00:37:47,690 Then you go to the the main meeting reports and you hear the 666 00:37:47,690 --> 00:37:51,090 sermons and reports of reports of reports about Jesus Christ, 667 00:37:51,570 --> 00:37:53,610 and you're a skeptic. I've met people like that. 668 00:37:53,890 --> 00:37:55,810 They come to conferences and they're skeptics. 669 00:37:57,010 --> 00:37:59,930 They doubt they don't have true saving faith, and they even know 670 00:37:59,930 --> 00:38:03,850 it themselves. You know, what's the difference 671 00:38:03,850 --> 00:38:05,810 between you and Queen Sheba? Though the Queen of Sheba 672 00:38:05,810 --> 00:38:08,330 questioned her unbelief. You're content in it. 673 00:38:09,570 --> 00:38:12,090 There's a big difference. You're satisfied in your 674 00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:15,490 skepticism. She wasn't because she knew I 675 00:38:15,490 --> 00:38:18,130 could be wrong in my estimation here. 676 00:38:18,210 --> 00:38:22,010 And I'm not willing to live my life thinking, what if I'm not 677 00:38:22,010 --> 00:38:24,930 willing to do that? And so I'm going to do my own 678 00:38:24,930 --> 00:38:28,250 homework, and I'm going to make an ambition of mine to see these 679 00:38:28,250 --> 00:38:30,970 reports of true. If if they're not true, then I 680 00:38:30,970 --> 00:38:33,410 was right all along. I had every reason not to 681 00:38:33,410 --> 00:38:36,050 believe. But if they are true and I 682 00:38:36,050 --> 00:38:40,330 didn't investigate, shame on me. I will not live with that 683 00:38:40,330 --> 00:38:42,730 possibility. I will discover this for myself. 684 00:38:42,930 --> 00:38:45,210 And when she went on that journey to discover it for 685 00:38:45,210 --> 00:38:49,450 herself, she was never the same. She was never the same. 686 00:38:50,010 --> 00:38:52,490 We know testimonies of famous authors and writers who have 687 00:38:52,490 --> 00:38:53,890 done this. They go to the Bible to try to 688 00:38:53,890 --> 00:38:56,450 disprove the resurrection and they have getting resurrected. 689 00:39:00,260 --> 00:39:02,580 So when you come with that sincerity, that transparency, 690 00:39:02,580 --> 00:39:05,660 that humility, and Christ sees your honest desire to know the 691 00:39:05,660 --> 00:39:07,900 truth, you will be changed by the truth. 692 00:39:08,820 --> 00:39:10,780 But but don't. But don't cross your arms and 693 00:39:10,780 --> 00:39:11,900 look at God and say prove it to me. 694 00:39:11,900 --> 00:39:13,660 That's that wasn't the attitude of the Queen of Sheba. 695 00:39:14,580 --> 00:39:16,460 I will go, I will do what I need to do. 696 00:39:16,460 --> 00:39:18,940 I will open this word. I will talk to people who say 697 00:39:19,100 --> 00:39:21,700 that they have met and seen this greater than Solomon for 698 00:39:21,700 --> 00:39:23,340 himself. I need to know this king. 699 00:39:23,780 --> 00:39:27,100 I want to know if this is true. Is this psychological tricks? 700 00:39:27,260 --> 00:39:29,860 Is this, is this the the effects of brainwashing? 701 00:39:29,860 --> 00:39:32,260 Is this what happens when you grow up in a certain environment 702 00:39:32,260 --> 00:39:33,740 that you're just subject to believe these things? 703 00:39:33,740 --> 00:39:35,860 Because that's what you're just known for and that's what you 704 00:39:35,860 --> 00:39:37,700 know. I need to know. 705 00:39:37,820 --> 00:39:41,940 I need to know. And the queen will look at this 706 00:39:41,940 --> 00:39:43,700 generation, say you did not do that. 707 00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:45,740 You immediately had your guard up. 708 00:39:45,740 --> 00:39:49,460 You Pharisees, you try to disprove Christ instead of 709 00:39:49,460 --> 00:39:53,500 giving him the opportunity and listening carefully to see how 710 00:39:53,500 --> 00:39:56,350 he is the Christ. And so you did not have the 711 00:39:56,350 --> 00:39:58,430 humility that I had concerning King Solomon. 712 00:39:58,430 --> 00:40:00,030 Here. You have a greater than Solomon 713 00:40:00,030 --> 00:40:04,710 in your midst, and you blew it. I'm sure she'll say something 714 00:40:04,710 --> 00:40:08,230 along those lines. She sought this King Solomon for 715 00:40:08,230 --> 00:40:09,910 his wisdom. He did have wisdom. 716 00:40:09,910 --> 00:40:12,830 It was a wisdom given from God. But Christ has greater wisdom. 717 00:40:13,870 --> 00:40:16,750 Guess what Scripture says. Christ is the wisdom of God. 718 00:40:17,830 --> 00:40:20,150 He didn't just have wisdom. He is wisdom. 719 00:40:21,670 --> 00:40:25,030 Not only that, he is the wisdom for this life. 720 00:40:25,510 --> 00:40:27,950 And he is the wisdom of God unto the most important thing of your 721 00:40:27,950 --> 00:40:32,030 life, unto salvation. And he is the one who gave 722 00:40:32,030 --> 00:40:34,990 Solomon the wisdom that he was able to exercise and implement 723 00:40:34,990 --> 00:40:37,830 to begin with. This is Christ. 724 00:40:38,670 --> 00:40:41,710 And she comes, and she asks these hard questions, and he 725 00:40:41,710 --> 00:40:44,030 answers, and she's just blown away. 726 00:40:44,030 --> 00:40:47,110 I would love to see her eyes every time she present this 727 00:40:47,110 --> 00:40:51,500 Riddle or this concept or this philosophical thing, this 728 00:40:51,500 --> 00:40:53,860 pretzel of thoughts. And here's Solomon just 729 00:40:53,860 --> 00:40:56,740 effortlessly saying, yeah, because of this, yeah, because 730 00:40:56,740 --> 00:40:59,020 of that. And just perhaps those one, 731 00:40:59,020 --> 00:41:01,420 like, proverb like statements, one after the next. 732 00:41:01,620 --> 00:41:05,380 And here's they're just getting just moved, just eyes opening 733 00:41:05,380 --> 00:41:06,140 up. Wow. 734 00:41:08,720 --> 00:41:10,800 You know, the thing about Jesus is that when you come to me and 735 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:12,960 you see His wisdom, when you see the wisdom of the cross, the 736 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:15,680 wisdom of the gospel, the wisdom of his sayings, the wisdom of 737 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:18,040 his parables, the wisdom and his dealings with people, it does 738 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:20,280 move you, does stir you. But Christ goes beyond that. 739 00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:22,800 Christ is able to do something that Solomon could not give, and 740 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,280 here's what He can do. He not only moves you with his 741 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:28,600 wisdom, he not only displays the perfection of his wisdom, he's 742 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:30,440 willing to impart his wisdom into you. 743 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:35,510 He's willing to give you his wisdom. 744 00:41:35,630 --> 00:41:37,750 Solomon couldn't do that. Yeah, you can learn from 745 00:41:37,750 --> 00:41:43,270 Solomon, but the supernaturally impart the wisdom of God into 746 00:41:43,270 --> 00:41:46,030 you. Only Christ can do that. 747 00:41:47,070 --> 00:41:50,070 Here's an amazing verse. I mean, you can put this in your 748 00:41:50,070 --> 00:41:52,710 mouth and just let it sit there for the rest of it and just 749 00:41:52,710 --> 00:41:55,790 enjoy the sweetness of this one verse in First Corinthians 216. 750 00:41:55,790 --> 00:41:59,070 Look what Paul says concerning this truth and 1st Corinthians 751 00:41:59,070 --> 00:42:02,950 216 about what Christ can do. What Christ does do for the 752 00:42:02,950 --> 00:42:04,430 believer when he does come to him. 753 00:42:05,810 --> 00:42:09,010 For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct 754 00:42:09,010 --> 00:42:11,250 him? But we have the mind of Christ. 755 00:42:12,410 --> 00:42:16,650 We have the mind of Christ. Isn't that fascinating, You 756 00:42:16,770 --> 00:42:19,050 believer? Yes, you have the mind of 757 00:42:19,050 --> 00:42:21,250 Christ. What does that mean? 758 00:42:22,010 --> 00:42:23,930 What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? 759 00:42:25,170 --> 00:42:28,010 I think Paul gives another hint to what it does include. 760 00:42:28,010 --> 00:42:31,170 Includes many things. Remember when he says in 761 00:42:31,170 --> 00:42:35,420 Philippians 2/5 to 11 when he talks about Jesus condescending, 762 00:42:35,420 --> 00:42:38,940 emptying himself, took on the form of a servant and that he 763 00:42:38,940 --> 00:42:41,140 was willing to go to death, even death on the cross? 764 00:42:41,260 --> 00:42:43,060 We love that verse, right? We love those verses. 765 00:42:43,380 --> 00:42:45,820 It just shouts the humility of Jesus Christ. 766 00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:52,300 But what he says in Philippians 2/5 to begin that awesome saying 767 00:42:52,340 --> 00:42:54,740 is have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in 768 00:42:54,740 --> 00:42:58,740 Christ Jesus, which is yours in Christ Jesus. 769 00:43:00,100 --> 00:43:02,960 So what's Paul saying there? You know when Christ left his 770 00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:06,680 glory and he subjected himself and he served God, and he was 771 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:09,120 willing to serve God, even to the point of an excruciating 772 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:12,120 death. All of that is to communicate 773 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:15,880 the great humility of Christ. And he says that humility that 774 00:43:15,920 --> 00:43:20,040 Jesus had is not just something you and I worship and adore and 775 00:43:20,040 --> 00:43:22,360 love about Christ. He says it's to be imitated. 776 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:25,560 And you can think the way Jesus thought because you can have 777 00:43:25,560 --> 00:43:29,560 this mind in yourselves to have the mind of Christ. 778 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:33,590 That includes having the humility of Christ, the 779 00:43:33,590 --> 00:43:36,030 dedication and the devotion to serve the Father. 780 00:43:36,510 --> 00:43:38,990 They're willing to be humiliated for his name's sake. 781 00:43:39,150 --> 00:43:42,230 This is what is included having the mind of Christ. 782 00:43:42,390 --> 00:43:44,550 You can do a whole conference on the mind of Christ, right? 783 00:43:45,430 --> 00:43:48,310 The mind of Christ. So when she came to King 784 00:43:48,310 --> 00:43:51,710 Solomon, she was able to be impressed by the mind of 785 00:43:51,710 --> 00:43:53,590 Solomon. When you come to King Jesus, 786 00:43:53,750 --> 00:43:56,350 he's able to take his mind and put it into your mind. 787 00:43:56,910 --> 00:43:58,390 Wow. He is greater indeed. 788 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:03,520 I went to King Solomon, and I was impressed by him. 789 00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:07,080 You have a king who's willing to share his power, and you didn't 790 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:10,920 go to him. He's willing to impart his 791 00:44:10,920 --> 00:44:14,400 virtue to you. He's able to empower you to 792 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:17,560 reflect his moral majesty. And you didn't go to him. 793 00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:22,040 How you're not moved to seek him. 794 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:24,720 How you're not moved to depend on how. 795 00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:26,360 How are you guys able to? I just. 796 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:28,760 I'm wondering if we're going to see the Queen of Sheba speak on 797 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,230 that day. She just said she's going to be 798 00:44:31,230 --> 00:44:38,190 there, the king that she sought. Lastly, the reward that she 799 00:44:38,190 --> 00:44:41,390 received, the reward that. So you read an inverse too. 800 00:44:41,390 --> 00:44:46,750 She came with this, this great banquet of lovely things, right? 801 00:44:46,990 --> 00:44:49,990 But then you come here at the end of her story in verse 13 of 802 00:44:49,990 --> 00:44:52,670 chapter 10, and look what Solomon does for her. 803 00:44:55,310 --> 00:44:58,590 And King Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all that she 804 00:44:58,590 --> 00:45:03,700 desired, whatever she asked, besides what was given her by 805 00:45:03,700 --> 00:45:07,380 the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to 806 00:45:07,380 --> 00:45:13,340 her own land with her servants. So she came impressed to give to 807 00:45:13,340 --> 00:45:16,140 Solomon, and rightfully so. And when Solomon, at the end of 808 00:45:16,140 --> 00:45:19,100 their encounter, was ready to send her off when we she was 809 00:45:19,100 --> 00:45:22,260 ready to return, he not only gave her something in return, he 810 00:45:22,260 --> 00:45:23,740 gave her more than what she gave. 811 00:45:23,740 --> 00:45:27,500 And when we talked about people coming to Christ, we often say 812 00:45:27,500 --> 00:45:31,060 surrender your life, empty yourself, give it all to him. 813 00:45:31,060 --> 00:45:34,580 That's all true. But don't have the impression 814 00:45:34,580 --> 00:45:37,700 that when you come to Christ, you give your things up and then 815 00:45:37,700 --> 00:45:39,940 you leave empty. That's a wrong view of 816 00:45:39,940 --> 00:45:41,820 surrendering to Christ. You give those things up so that 817 00:45:41,820 --> 00:45:45,700 he can give you better and give you His will and give you that 818 00:45:45,700 --> 00:45:47,660 what your heart truly needs and longs for. 819 00:45:49,140 --> 00:45:53,220 And no matter what sacrifice you do make for Christ, you are 820 00:45:53,220 --> 00:45:55,460 always going to leave more rewarded and more blessed than 821 00:45:55,460 --> 00:45:56,900 if you had just held on to your life. 822 00:45:58,910 --> 00:46:00,630 Here's this woman that she goes the great distance. 823 00:46:00,630 --> 00:46:03,510 She gives all these things up. In essence, she empties her bank 824 00:46:03,510 --> 00:46:05,030 account a little bit more than she could have. 825 00:46:06,230 --> 00:46:07,270 She could have kept those things. 826 00:46:07,270 --> 00:46:08,630 She could have kept and saved her energy. 827 00:46:08,630 --> 00:46:10,110 She could have just been in her own little world. 828 00:46:10,110 --> 00:46:12,630 But instead she goes, and Solomon says, I recognize what 829 00:46:12,630 --> 00:46:15,750 you did. Here's more, here's more. 830 00:46:17,030 --> 00:46:20,670 And Jesus said similar words that whoever leaves land, 831 00:46:20,670 --> 00:46:24,230 whoever leaves family, mother, father, husband, wife, for my 832 00:46:24,230 --> 00:46:25,630 sake. And the gospel sakes will 833 00:46:25,790 --> 00:46:28,270 receive 100 times more in this life and in the life to come. 834 00:46:29,900 --> 00:46:33,380 It's amazing when somebody has to leave their family. 835 00:46:33,380 --> 00:46:35,180 This is, this is so true for so many Muslims. 836 00:46:36,100 --> 00:46:40,540 They they are disowned by their family, they lose their mother, 837 00:46:40,540 --> 00:46:42,220 they lose their father. But what do they get? 838 00:46:42,220 --> 00:46:47,780 They get 10,000 mothers in the church, they get thousands of 839 00:46:47,780 --> 00:46:51,140 siblings. Isn't it not true that if your 840 00:46:51,140 --> 00:46:53,300 family is not in the faith, you feel closer to Christians in 841 00:46:53,300 --> 00:46:56,140 your own family because there's something deeper than blood. 842 00:46:56,140 --> 00:47:00,230 It's called spirit. So Christ's words are true. 843 00:47:00,430 --> 00:47:03,310 They are true. How He takes care of you, He He 844 00:47:03,310 --> 00:47:05,670 does not overlook the sacrifice that you make. 845 00:47:05,910 --> 00:47:09,030 Though we are not worthy of to receive anything, He is worthy 846 00:47:09,030 --> 00:47:13,070 of our sacrifice with no return. And yet the goodness of this 847 00:47:13,070 --> 00:47:15,270 king is I want to reward you still. 848 00:47:16,150 --> 00:47:17,790 It just blows my mind every single time. 849 00:47:18,030 --> 00:47:19,470 Here's the thing. So you get safe. 850 00:47:20,070 --> 00:47:23,390 He unveils and unpacks the gifts that he has for you in the 851 00:47:23,390 --> 00:47:27,160 Spirit to serve him, and they are energized by him. 852 00:47:27,160 --> 00:47:30,080 They are empowered by him. He receives all the glory for 853 00:47:30,080 --> 00:47:31,160 them. And then at the end of the day, 854 00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:33,240 he's going to crown you for things that He gave you needed 855 00:47:33,240 --> 00:47:38,240 through you. I think we're all going to be 856 00:47:38,240 --> 00:47:41,280 broken on the Judgment day when we stand before the beam, a seed 857 00:47:41,280 --> 00:47:43,120 of Christ, I think. I think we're going to be so 858 00:47:43,120 --> 00:47:46,000 overwhelmed, not just by his beauty, His Holiness, but by the 859 00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:49,480 humility, even as he is exalted today, we're going to be blown 860 00:47:49,480 --> 00:47:50,880 away. Like, what is this? 861 00:47:53,580 --> 00:47:56,300 We are to crown you. And here he is crowning our 862 00:47:56,540 --> 00:48:01,100 brows. And then I realized why that's 863 00:48:01,100 --> 00:48:02,500 important. I had somebody once say to me, 864 00:48:02,660 --> 00:48:04,900 what if I just want to serve the I don't want any crowns. 865 00:48:04,900 --> 00:48:05,980 I don't. I'm like, I don't know if you 866 00:48:05,980 --> 00:48:08,260 want to say that. I just want to get in. 867 00:48:08,260 --> 00:48:09,300 I just want to. I just want to serve. 868 00:48:09,300 --> 00:48:10,660 I don't want anything. I'm like, guys that sounds 869 00:48:10,660 --> 00:48:12,500 humble and I get it. I'm not trying to criticize you, 870 00:48:12,660 --> 00:48:14,860 but you realize what the one purpose of crowns are in heaven. 871 00:48:14,860 --> 00:48:17,300 Who knows to lay them at his feet. 872 00:48:18,790 --> 00:48:20,910 So my whole perspective on that change saying, Lord, crown me 873 00:48:20,910 --> 00:48:23,030 with as many crowns as you can so that I have something worthy 874 00:48:23,030 --> 00:48:24,510 to bring to your feet when I worship you. 875 00:48:28,310 --> 00:48:32,310 The reward that she received, King Solomon bountifully blessed 876 00:48:32,310 --> 00:48:34,030 her. But King Solomon wasn't 877 00:48:34,030 --> 00:48:38,070 consistent with his rewards. He wasn't in some cases like 878 00:48:38,070 --> 00:48:40,110 this. It's very moving to see him 879 00:48:40,110 --> 00:48:43,150 willing to do this, especially for a king, especially for 880 00:48:43,150 --> 00:48:46,870 somebody who was sought after. But King Solomon didn't always 881 00:48:47,070 --> 00:48:50,850 do the best, and we we had it at the Bible quiz. 882 00:48:50,850 --> 00:48:52,530 We had one of the questions, and I want you to see it. 883 00:48:52,530 --> 00:48:56,490 It's in the chapter before this in in First Kings nine and First 884 00:48:56,490 --> 00:49:00,370 Kings Nine. You read something about King 885 00:49:00,370 --> 00:49:06,810 Hiram and this king here. He helps Solomon build the 886 00:49:06,810 --> 00:49:10,010 temple of the Lord and he helps Solomon build his own house. 887 00:49:10,010 --> 00:49:12,090 So let's do review. How long did it take to build 888 00:49:12,090 --> 00:49:15,210 the temple of the Lord? I heard like 6 different 889 00:49:15,210 --> 00:49:16,090 answers. What happened? 890 00:49:17,140 --> 00:49:18,300 Seven years? Yes. 891 00:49:18,820 --> 00:49:21,020 Seven years to build the temple of the Lord. 892 00:49:21,940 --> 00:49:24,180 How many years did it take to build his own house? 893 00:49:24,500 --> 00:49:25,900 13 years. Very good. 894 00:49:27,820 --> 00:49:30,260 Make this a debate in your time at lunch, do you think it was a 895 00:49:30,260 --> 00:49:32,660 bad thing or a good thing that Solomon took more time to build 896 00:49:32,660 --> 00:49:36,740 his house than God's house? And here's another thing to add 897 00:49:36,740 --> 00:49:39,140 to the debate. Which house did he build first? 898 00:49:42,280 --> 00:49:43,960 OK, so you have to go in your Bibles and figure that out and 899 00:49:43,960 --> 00:49:46,120 then debate it out. Which house did he build 1st? 900 00:49:46,120 --> 00:49:49,120 And that might make it a little bit more of a complicated 901 00:49:49,120 --> 00:49:51,400 argument and debate. But for the sake here of this 902 00:49:51,560 --> 00:49:59,880 point, Solomon partners with the king of tire and he was supplied 903 00:49:59,880 --> 00:50:04,520 with the with the timber from up north and the Cypress trees from 904 00:50:04,520 --> 00:50:06,080 Lebanon. And he was able to build the 905 00:50:06,080 --> 00:50:09,160 House of the Lord. And so now after 20 years, he 906 00:50:09,160 --> 00:50:13,600 longs to reward his friend, his partner in this great endeavor. 907 00:50:14,200 --> 00:50:17,320 And we're told what is one of the things that he was able to 908 00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:22,200 give to Hiram here in verse 10 at First Kings Chapter 9. 909 00:50:22,200 --> 00:50:25,200 Are you there with me? We see here that at the end of 910 00:50:25,200 --> 00:50:30,000 20 years in which Solomon had built the two houses, the House 911 00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:31,200 of the Lord and the King's house. 912 00:50:31,600 --> 00:50:35,600 And Hiram, king of tire, had supplied Solomon with cedar and 913 00:50:35,600 --> 00:50:38,080 Cypress, timber and gold as much as he desired. 914 00:50:38,080 --> 00:50:43,260 King Solomon gave to Hiram 20 cities in the land of Galilee. 915 00:50:43,260 --> 00:50:46,100 Now pause there. 20 cities. Sounds pretty good, right? 916 00:50:46,460 --> 00:50:50,060 You give me one city, that's a big deal. 20 cities. 917 00:50:51,700 --> 00:50:55,500 Side note, as much as this is a noble thing for Solomon to do, 918 00:50:55,500 --> 00:50:59,940 was it the right thing to do? Can I tell you why it's not the 919 00:50:59,940 --> 00:51:02,900 right thing to do? Because you're not supposed to 920 00:51:02,900 --> 00:51:05,980 give what the Lord gave you in the promised land to Gentiles. 921 00:51:06,940 --> 00:51:08,580 That's, that's for the people of God. 922 00:51:09,690 --> 00:51:12,170 So giving parts of the inheritance of the Lord to other 923 00:51:12,170 --> 00:51:14,210 outsiders, that's not a that's not a good move. 924 00:51:14,210 --> 00:51:17,650 Solomon, just a side note. So he gives 20 cities from the 925 00:51:17,650 --> 00:51:20,650 land of Galilee. He would think, wow, 20 cities. 926 00:51:20,650 --> 00:51:23,810 So Hiram, here's our friend Solomon has rewarded us with 20 927 00:51:23,810 --> 00:51:25,530 cities. And so they make their way to 928 00:51:25,530 --> 00:51:27,490 this region, this neighborhood of 20 cities. 929 00:51:27,730 --> 00:51:29,130 And look at the response in verse 12. 930 00:51:29,130 --> 00:51:32,770 But when Hiram came from tire to see the cities that Psalm had 931 00:51:32,770 --> 00:51:34,490 given him, they did not please him. 932 00:51:36,850 --> 00:51:40,420 They did not please him. Therefore, he said, what kind of 933 00:51:40,420 --> 00:51:42,860 cities are these that you have given me, my brother. 934 00:51:45,340 --> 00:51:46,980 So they are called the land of Kabul. 935 00:51:46,980 --> 00:51:50,180 To this day, some believe the word Kabul means good for 936 00:51:50,180 --> 00:51:53,980 nothing, the land of good for nothing. 937 00:51:56,340 --> 00:51:59,620 So Sears Solomon's attempt to reward a man who was willing to 938 00:51:59,620 --> 00:52:03,300 give so much and willing to serve the purposes of God and 939 00:52:03,300 --> 00:52:06,420 building a house for God. And when it came to a time of 940 00:52:07,010 --> 00:52:10,810 being recompensed, he comes to these cities and he goes, this 941 00:52:10,810 --> 00:52:14,930 place is a dump. This is the best that you can 942 00:52:14,930 --> 00:52:18,170 do. And he just kind of jokingly 943 00:52:18,170 --> 00:52:19,290 writes it up. He's like, he's a king. 944 00:52:19,290 --> 00:52:20,690 He's like, this is good for nothing, right? 945 00:52:21,330 --> 00:52:22,690 He didn't cause issues with Solomon. 946 00:52:22,690 --> 00:52:26,450 He was just disappointed. When Jesus rewards you, you will 947 00:52:26,450 --> 00:52:31,090 not be disappointed when you surrender your life and choose 948 00:52:31,090 --> 00:52:34,690 to live for Him and partner for the purposes of His Kingdom 949 00:52:34,690 --> 00:52:37,910 being advanced in this life. If you truly serve him and walk 950 00:52:37,910 --> 00:52:40,190 with Him and understand how He works in your life, there won't 951 00:52:40,190 --> 00:52:42,310 be a day in your life where you say, what is this? 952 00:52:43,870 --> 00:52:45,910 You might be tempted to do so, but you'll always be wrong. 953 00:52:47,150 --> 00:52:49,470 And when you endure the trials and those seasons where you feel 954 00:52:49,470 --> 00:52:52,190 like what what, where am I, you will come through and you will 955 00:52:52,190 --> 00:52:54,790 see God's beauty and brilliance even more. 956 00:52:55,510 --> 00:52:58,110 And one thing is for certain, at the end of the road, when we do 957 00:52:58,110 --> 00:53:02,310 stand in glory. When we do stand in glory, I am 958 00:53:02,310 --> 00:53:05,550 confident that none of us will say what is this? 959 00:53:08,480 --> 00:53:11,600 But we will be breathless and amazed. 960 00:53:12,920 --> 00:53:16,520 And I'm sure we will be even more moved to say, oh, if I only 961 00:53:16,520 --> 00:53:23,640 sacrifice more, if I only dedicated my life more for the 962 00:53:23,640 --> 00:53:25,840 glory of God. I can't believe this is it. 963 00:53:26,320 --> 00:53:30,370 The half has not been told me all the reports, even the 964 00:53:30,370 --> 00:53:33,170 reports of the scripture as as divine, as infalible as they 965 00:53:33,170 --> 00:53:34,810 are. Scripture tells us we see 966 00:53:34,810 --> 00:53:38,730 through a glass dimly. There's a time where that glass 967 00:53:38,730 --> 00:53:42,170 will be made clear and clean and we will see all that it is and 968 00:53:42,170 --> 00:53:44,010 we will be moved. Do you think you'll be. 969 00:53:44,090 --> 00:53:47,450 You know you go to these places Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon. 970 00:53:47,850 --> 00:53:49,610 And I remember the first time I saw Niagara Falls. 971 00:53:49,610 --> 00:53:51,010 I'm Canadian. It took my breath away. 972 00:53:51,210 --> 00:53:53,970 But then you you, you take people there and after the 8th, 973 00:53:53,970 --> 00:53:56,530 10th time you're used to it, right. 974 00:53:57,370 --> 00:54:00,360 You walk up to it and and it it doesn't move you like it first 975 00:54:00,360 --> 00:54:01,760 did. And you know, you have some 976 00:54:01,760 --> 00:54:03,440 people who believe that that's what's heaven's going to be 977 00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:04,920 like. Like for the 1st 10 years you're 978 00:54:04,920 --> 00:54:05,960 going to be like, this is awesome. 979 00:54:06,320 --> 00:54:07,200 It's amazing. Wow. 980 00:54:07,200 --> 00:54:10,640 And then after year 150, you're going to get used to it. 981 00:54:12,440 --> 00:54:17,240 No, think about this. The glory in that place is so 982 00:54:17,240 --> 00:54:21,320 intense, so inexhaustible, that after a million years you will 983 00:54:21,320 --> 00:54:24,680 still be in awe as you were when you stepped foot on the shore of 984 00:54:24,680 --> 00:54:28,400 eternity. And after another million years 985 00:54:28,400 --> 00:54:33,680 go by, you will be even more amazed than the 1st 10,000 years 986 00:54:33,680 --> 00:54:37,960 you were there, basking in the absolute glory of Jesus Christ. 987 00:54:39,400 --> 00:54:43,760 You will be breathless for eternity, for eternity. 988 00:54:44,000 --> 00:54:47,360 I can't wait to go home. I can't wait to go home. 989 00:54:47,880 --> 00:54:50,880 I hope you will go home. I hope you will find your home 990 00:54:50,880 --> 00:54:55,160 in heaven. I hope that not one person in 991 00:54:55,160 --> 00:55:00,770 here will be on the guilty side when the Queen of Sheba stands 992 00:55:00,770 --> 00:55:05,330 up to speak. Your apathy and your 993 00:55:05,330 --> 00:55:09,890 indifference in seeking the greater than Solomon is 994 00:55:09,890 --> 00:55:13,010 inexcusable. He came to you. 995 00:55:14,530 --> 00:55:17,610 He'll never deny you. His rewards are beyond. 996 00:55:19,230 --> 00:55:21,150 He promised that you will know a piece. 997 00:55:21,150 --> 00:55:22,470 He promised that you will know a joy. 998 00:55:22,470 --> 00:55:25,590 The wealth of Christ is far greater than the wealth of 999 00:55:25,590 --> 00:55:27,390 Solomon. There's spiritual riches. 1000 00:55:29,870 --> 00:55:32,030 And yeah, you were still willing to overlook all of that and 1001 00:55:32,030 --> 00:55:34,510 choose to go your own way. I left my throne. 1002 00:55:34,510 --> 00:55:39,190 Your God left his throne instead. 1003 00:55:39,190 --> 00:55:47,190 May we be on that side where we can look Christ in the face and 1004 00:55:47,190 --> 00:55:51,580 thank Him for saving us and showing us how awesome He is, 1005 00:55:52,420 --> 00:55:54,260 even when we didn't see all that he is. 1006 00:55:55,020 --> 00:56:14,830 Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for what 1007 00:56:14,830 --> 00:56:19,550 you've spoken to us. Thank you that you use one woman 1008 00:56:19,550 --> 00:56:26,390 in a chapter of First Kings to encourage us, convict us, warn 1009 00:56:26,390 --> 00:56:28,870 us. And so Lord, we just pray that 1010 00:56:28,870 --> 00:56:36,350 if anyone feels these obstacles towards Jesus, may the Queen of 1011 00:56:36,350 --> 00:56:40,950 Sheba stand as a testimony that no matter how great you are, no 1012 00:56:40,950 --> 00:56:43,270 matter what greatness you were trying to achieve in this world, 1013 00:56:45,790 --> 00:56:49,830 they are not an excuse to come to Jesus and realize his 1014 00:56:49,830 --> 00:56:52,350 greatness and be changed by that greatness. 1015 00:56:53,630 --> 00:56:56,810 Thank you, Lord, that we can come to you and not just behold 1016 00:56:56,810 --> 00:56:58,290 your wisdom, but receive your wisdom. 1017 00:56:59,650 --> 00:57:03,530 Wisdom to be saved, wisdom to live as of the saved. 1018 00:57:05,210 --> 00:57:08,610 And so, Lord, we want to leave here in awe of you this 1019 00:57:08,610 --> 00:57:12,850 afternoon and give you glory. Thank you that you are greater. 1020 00:57:13,890 --> 00:57:16,130 Thank you Lord, that you have opened our eyes so that we would 1021 00:57:16,130 --> 00:57:20,610 not be faced with the judgment of this Queen who will speak up 1022 00:57:20,650 --> 00:57:25,410 with boldness against those who have failed to see the glamour 1023 00:57:25,410 --> 00:57:27,530 and the splendor of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1024 00:57:27,970 --> 00:57:33,050 Rescue us from such a crime and keep us in all of you in Jesus 1025 00:57:33,050 --> 00:57:34,170 name. Amen. 1026 00:57:34,570 --> 00:57:34,770 Amen.