1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,500 I remember sitting at a conference many years ago and 2 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:12,600 attended a a meeting where new passes were ordained in the 3 00:00:12,607 --> 00:00:15,700 network of Ministries that were meeting together, and they were 4 00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:18,100 interviewing these new pastors. And one of them said something 5 00:00:18,100 --> 00:00:21,200 along the lines of the question was about, how do we reach this 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,400 generation and the topic of worship came up and this person 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,600 said, we can't be scaring. Our visitors. 8 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,700 When they come, we talk about things and sing about things 9 00:00:31,700 --> 00:00:37,800 like the blood of Jesus. And that person went on to 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,500 argue, why? That was the case. 11 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,700 And I thought to myself one, we don't gather to entertain the 12 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:48,500 world and to I'm not ashamed of the blood. 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,600 I'm not ashamed of the blood, I'm not ashamed of that Crimson 14 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,400 flow. That is the source of our 15 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,400 healing our Salvation. Our sanctification, our 16 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,500 stabilisation, we sing about the blood because that is where the 17 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:05,099 power of God lies, and it still has power today. 18 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:08,200 And I hope if you have not been cleansed by that blood, the 19 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,900 blood of Jesus Christ, that you would come to him and ask for 20 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:17,500 him to do just that his wounds are open and he's still willing 21 00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:20,800 to extend that healing and I hope that you would receive it. 22 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,700 If you don't know, Jesus Christ, this afternoon Meet Me In The 23 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:29,500 Gospel According to Mark in chapter three, Mark chapter 3. 24 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:33,200 And we come not together to verse 7. 25 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:47,900 And read down to verse 12. Jesus withdrew with his 26 00:01:47,900 --> 00:01:51,900 disciples to the sea and a great crowd, followed From Galilee and 27 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:55,800 Judea and Jerusalem. And I do Mia and from Beyond the 28 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,400 Jordan and from around tyre and sidon when the great crowd heard 29 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,700 all that he was doing, they came to him and he told his disciples 30 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:08,600 to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd less, they 31 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:13,300 crush him. Free at healed many so that all 32 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:16,000 who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 33 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,100 And whenever the unclean Spirit saw him, they fell down before 34 00:02:20,100 --> 00:02:25,200 him and cried out. You are the Son of God and he 35 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:31,200 strictly ordered them not to make him known the text before 36 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:35,900 us today is essentially a summary of the growing influence 37 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:39,300 of the ministry of Jesus Christ and it may seem like a 38 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:42,900 repetition of the themes that Have covered in depth already up 39 00:02:42,900 --> 00:02:45,700 to this point in the gospel of Mark, but this section of 40 00:02:45,700 --> 00:02:49,100 scripture has more to offer us than just a revision. 41 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,200 If you pay attention, you will see that. 42 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:58,400 This overview helps us zoom out from the on ground interactions 43 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,200 that Jesus had with many that we have already looked into and 44 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:06,500 gives us an aerial view of how the impact of Jesus is now, 45 00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:12,300 reaching new ground touching new regions and drawing more people. 46 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,600 But what makes what we just read here, even more special is when 47 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,900 you and I consider the backdrop, which this text is set on, 48 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,500 remember, how we ended last week and if you don't look at verse 49 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:31,400 6, the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with 50 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,100 the herodians against them, how to destroy him. 51 00:03:37,100 --> 00:03:41,600 You see, Jesus healed the man with a withered hand in the 52 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:47,900 sanctuary of the synagogue and the Pharisees upon that realized 53 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,100 and come to a place where they were convinced of what they were 54 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:54,700 going to do with Jesus. It wasn't to inquire more of 55 00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:56,600 him. It wasn't to say, we will 56 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,100 believe in him, it wasn't even close to we will follow him. 57 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:06,200 Instead we just heard that they will now try to destroy him. and 58 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,200 with this diabolical Mission, you have to understand that they 59 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,000 would not keep it to themselves, but instead they would go to 60 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,600 others and recruit them to join them on this campaign, to try to 61 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:23,600 maliciously attack, the son of God, So you when you see that 62 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,700 and you have that in mind and you come and you read something 63 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:29,000 like verse 7 and verse 12, that seems to be like an overview 64 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,100 that has no strong theme to work with. 65 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,500 We actually do have something to work with think about it. 66 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:40,800 The Pharisees and the herodians are now planning to put a stop 67 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,400 to this new movement, from this Rabbi from Nazareth. 68 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,800 They're trying to stop it, but the Crowds Are flocking to him. 69 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:51,400 And we see here, that these religious leaders are now 70 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,200 planning to go public with their rejection, and their accusation 71 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,400 against Jesus. And yet you have the demons, 72 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,000 that could not help, but submit to him. 73 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:03,200 And now we are beginning to see the hardening of the Jewish 74 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:07,900 people's heart against Jesus and we are also getting early hints 75 00:05:07,900 --> 00:05:10,600 that the Gentiles are opening their arms to him. 76 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:13,900 You see if you were reading this text by yourself and you didn't 77 00:05:13,900 --> 00:05:17,600 know what to take out of it, may I suggest this simple thought 78 00:05:17,900 --> 00:05:21,800 when you put all the pieces together it's very clear nothing 79 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,800 and no one can stop the Lord Jesus Christ from advancing his 80 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,700 purposes on the earth, nothing and no one ever. 81 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,400 And that's a glorious Truth for you. 82 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,900 And I to Baskin here in 22, especially in America, every 83 00:05:35,900 --> 00:05:41,300 mind America in this world. Because we are witnessing every 84 00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:48,100 institution shaking. And losing confidence and losing 85 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:50,400 the people's confidence and all the. 86 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,500 While you and I are part of this entity, the church, that is 87 00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:59,800 immovable and Unstoppable. You and I have something that 88 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:04,000 cannot be taken from us and ever since the early days of Jesus 89 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:08,600 ministry, there have been those evil men who have attempted to 90 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,700 try to put our faith to Extinction. 91 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,300 And they do that through physical intimidation and they 92 00:06:15,300 --> 00:06:20,000 also use philosophical Weaponry. But every single generation, 93 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:24,700 testifies that when men even Nations and governments have 94 00:06:24,700 --> 00:06:28,400 tried to bury the gospel, God finds a way to bury them. 95 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:35,900 Because no mind on this planet and no force from hell can 96 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:42,500 thwarts or extinguish any True Body of Jesus Christ, who 97 00:06:42,500 --> 00:06:46,900 preaches the true gospel ever and you and I praise God, are 98 00:06:46,900 --> 00:06:50,700 numbered among that Holy Embassy that Holy Embassy of people who 99 00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:54,000 have received a seal from above, that protects us, and preserves 100 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,700 us and empowers us when everything comes against us. 101 00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:01,900 Just in case you have forgotten ever. 102 00:07:01,900 --> 00:07:05,200 Since truth has been made known, ever since Jesus, laid the 103 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:10,800 foundation of his gospel on this Earth, there has been a hellish 104 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:17,800 mission to try to rid the Earth of our faith. 105 00:07:18,500 --> 00:07:22,300 And I want to read to just a few quotes of thinkers from the past 106 00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:24,600 for you. To get an idea that there are 107 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,600 not just people in this world who have a different opinion 108 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,800 about who God is and what it means to be saved. 109 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,100 And what it means to live this life, there are those who have 110 00:07:34,100 --> 00:07:39,200 the ambition to see Jesus Christ, his name, his gospel, 111 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:45,700 his work destroyed, Destroyed because their ambition has been 112 00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:52,600 motivated by satanic influence and it bleeds into poetry it 113 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,300 bleeds into music at bleeds into philosophy and it bleeds even 114 00:07:56,300 --> 00:08:00,000 into our laws when I read these things to you realize that these 115 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:05,700 men hate Jesus Christ. And realized that these writings 116 00:08:05,700 --> 00:08:10,900 and these men are influencing schools and politicians and even 117 00:08:10,900 --> 00:08:14,600 God, help us pastors. In our time. 118 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,400 Have you heard of Frederick Nietzsche the German poet and 119 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,800 philosopher? Who was a prominent voice during 120 00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:24,200 the 1800s? Who is known for coining? 121 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:29,200 The phrase God is dead, God is dead, God remains dead, and we 122 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,299 have killed him. And what did he mean by that? 123 00:08:32,299 --> 00:08:37,799 He meant that the enlightenment era, the the explosion of Reason 124 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,400 replaced, this silly childish idea of Faith so he says God is 125 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,400 dead. It's over. 126 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,400 And what's amazing about Nietzsche is that he was a 127 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,700 staunch evolutionist. And he greatly inspired someone 128 00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:55,900 that you may know Hitler. Hitler was so stimulated by 129 00:08:55,900 --> 00:09:00,500 Nietzsche and it fueled his wrath and fury against those who 130 00:09:00,500 --> 00:09:04,600 are created in the image of God. Can I reach you a quote from 131 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,400 him? Quote, I called Christianity. 132 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:14,600 The one great curse. the one great intrinsic depravity and 133 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,700 the one great Instinct of Revenge for which no means are 134 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:23,200 venomous enough or secret, and small enough, I call it the one 135 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:29,400 Immortal blemish on the human race and quote, You want to know 136 00:09:29,408 --> 00:09:30,100 how Nietzsche? Died. 137 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:33,400 He died at the age of 44? He collapsed because of a 138 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,900 psychotic breakdown. This man was sent to a mental 139 00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:42,300 institution, in Switzerland, and a year later would die with his 140 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:49,200 mental condition in total ruin. How about Vault are Vault are 141 00:09:50,100 --> 00:09:53,300 the French philosopher during the alignment are in the 1700s. 142 00:09:53,900 --> 00:09:56,700 You can feel the absolute hate this man had. 143 00:09:56,700 --> 00:09:59,400 If you just read, just a couple of his quotes. 144 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:05,100 Here's one, quote, Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most 145 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:10,200 absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world. 146 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:16,500 And Vault are prophesied or at least try to, he predicted what 147 00:10:16,500 --> 00:10:20,600 was going to happen, just a few short years after his own death. 148 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:24,700 And this is what he said quote 100 years from my day. 149 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,400 There will be no Bible, not one on the earth except one that is 150 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,300 looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity Seeker. 151 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,500 In other words, the only place you're going to find a Bible is 152 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:40,000 in a museum 100 years from my day. 153 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,400 You know what's so funny? God's Providence has a touch of 154 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,800 humor in it from time to time. Vault are his house not many 155 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:49,500 years. After his death was purchased by 156 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:52,900 Christians and they turned his house into a printing, press for 157 00:10:52,900 --> 00:11:00,200 the Gospels. And this was so offensive to 158 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,100 atheists even to this day they try to deem that as a myth and 159 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:05,000 it's something that Christians have constructed. 160 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:07,800 If you really do the research it actually happened. 161 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,600 His house was purchased and it was storing gospel tracts and 162 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:17,500 bibles. Antonio gramsci, the Italian 163 00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:20,300 politician who founded the Italian Communist Party in the 164 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:26,600 early 1900's, quote said, socialism is precisely the 165 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:31,600 religion that must overwhelm Christianity in the New Order 166 00:11:32,300 --> 00:11:36,000 socialism. Socialism will Triumph by first 167 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,200 capturing the culture via infiltration of schools. 168 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:45,700 Universities churches. And the media by transforming 169 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:51,000 the consciousness of society. I must admit that g skis plan of 170 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,000 action is being implemented today. 171 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:56,000 Even today, we're seeing it happen here in our nation. 172 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:59,900 There is an infiltration in our schools, in our universities, 173 00:11:59,900 --> 00:12:04,100 and there is an attempt, even to pollute the Church of Jesus 174 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:06,800 Christ. But here's what I want to say. 175 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,200 This man clearly hasn't learned what God has done throughout 176 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:14,200 history. God's word promises and history 177 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,600 has already proven that the Living Word cannot be stopped. 178 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,000 It cannot be stopped. What a bold statement? 179 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,400 Socialism socialism socialism. I can't even say that's much. 180 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:29,600 I don't like it. Will Triumph will Triumph. 181 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,700 But here's what we have to understand and what we're going 182 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,800 to see in this text the Pharisees or philosophers or 183 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,600 politicians have tried to obliterate the gospel, God's 184 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:44,800 Providence always prevails and his truth will live on 185 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,100 effectually for the glory of his name. 186 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:51,800 Paul told Timothy during a time when he was arrested in second, 187 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,300 Timothy 2:8, and 9, you don't have to turn there. 188 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:59,800 He says, remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, The 189 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,000 Offspring of David, as preached and my gospel, for which I am 190 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,100 suffering bound with chains as a criminal. 191 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:09,100 But the word of God is not bound. 192 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,300 And what is he trying to say? I am God's spokesman and I am 193 00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:16,500 chained as I am writing these things to you, but God's voice 194 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,700 cannot be apprehended. The world can try to silence 195 00:13:20,700 --> 00:13:24,000 preachers, but God's word can never be muted. 196 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,800 It will always Captivate Hearts, it will find a way churches 197 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:31,100 might be shut down and burned by tyrannical government, but 198 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:33,300 understand that. The gospel will find a way to 199 00:13:33,308 --> 00:13:37,400 gain new territory and rescue new souls. 200 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:43,100 And for anyone to ever think that they can try to bury burn. 201 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:46,400 Bring this world to ashes is just as foolish as to believe 202 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:50,300 that you can tie God's hands behind. and his back and tell 203 00:13:50,300 --> 00:13:54,000 him to stay put the word of God is not bound. 204 00:13:55,700 --> 00:14:00,200 But the central theme of this of this section of scripture has 205 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,500 sub points to it, there are things that are told here that 206 00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:06,600 deserve our careful consideration and these thoughts 207 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,300 are somewhat connected to that dominating idea that you just 208 00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:11,800 heard. Because as much as you and I 209 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,400 should believe that God's word, the gospel has been and will 210 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,400 continue to forge ahead. There are sometimes even in our 211 00:14:19,408 --> 00:14:21,300 own day where it doesn't seem so obvious. 212 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,300 The building of God's kingdom has known. 213 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:28,000 Its challenges has known obstacles and disappointments. 214 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,700 And if we're going to be honest, we have to confess that moving 215 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:34,500 forward, there will be periods of Darkness, that will make us 216 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:37,400 doubt. If we're not careful of, whether 217 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,000 or not what we have, and what we believe is effective. 218 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,500 And my point of this message is as you hear what we have to say 219 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:46,800 from this text, you will be encouraged. 220 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:51,100 You will not lose, hope you will trust and understand that this 221 00:14:51,300 --> 00:14:54,900 this word God's Mission. His purpose on the earth will 222 00:14:54,900 --> 00:15:00,300 prevail and that Jesus himself, even as he was Faithfully, 223 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:03,300 fulfilling the ministry and eternal purposes of God in his 224 00:15:03,300 --> 00:15:08,800 time. New some restrictions and new 225 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:14,300 some resistances. That we can take comfort in 226 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,500 because we know that we are not alone and we have an example for 227 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:20,700 us in Jesus to know how to move forward. 228 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,900 And the way I want you to understand this together is to 229 00:15:24,900 --> 00:15:29,500 see that there are three parties three parties in this text. 230 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,900 That we are going to experience in our lifetime. 231 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,600 And these things have we're not careful can cause us to be 232 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:42,400 grieved or to doubt or to question what we stand for what 233 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,000 we hold to and the power behind it. 234 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,400 The first group I want to mention are the herodians, you 235 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,200 heard it in verse 6, the Pharisees went out and 236 00:15:52,208 --> 00:15:55,600 immediately held counsel with the herodians against them, how 237 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,500 to destroy him. Now, we know who the Pharisees 238 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:01,000 are, we've heard enough about them, but who are the herodians? 239 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,100 We don't have much to work with the data and scripture is not 240 00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:06,300 vast. But we have Clues and enough 241 00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:10,200 Clues to gather together to get a general idea of what this 242 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:13,500 party was all about. And when you put the pieces 243 00:16:13,500 --> 00:16:16,200 together, though, they're only mentioned in Mark and Matthew, 244 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,600 you will understand that the herodians were secular Jews. 245 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:24,400 These men were secular Jews who sympathize with Herod and were 246 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,100 there for supporters strong supporters of Rome. 247 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,100 They were a religious there are politically minded, they were 248 00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:34,600 influential but they were not concerned. 249 00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:37,000 And about the prophesied Messiah in the scriptures, like the 250 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:41,100 Pharisees were no. In fact, if there is any Messiah 251 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:45,000 figure in their life, in their reason, in their belief system, 252 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,900 it was actually Herod and his dynasty. 253 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:52,500 They look to Rome as their hope for stability prosperity and 254 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:54,700 peace. And so, they were Defenders of 255 00:16:54,700 --> 00:16:57,400 Herod. There are promoters of Herod. 256 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,400 And they were even known as the herodians. 257 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:05,599 They could not be more opposite than the Pharisees and to the 258 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:08,400 Pharisees completely different ideas. 259 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,700 And yet, we read here that they find Common Ground, they find 260 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:18,000 common ground and on what basis the basis of seeing Jesus as a 261 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,900 threat to their separate, agendas to the Pharisees, they 262 00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:25,900 have learned very quickly that Jesus is capable of exposing and 263 00:17:25,900 --> 00:17:29,400 dismantling their oppressive legalistic system. 264 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,700 And the hair and the herodians understood. 265 00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:38,300 That this man has enough power to sway the population and to 266 00:17:38,300 --> 00:17:41,800 persuade them to pledge, their allegiance to him instead of the 267 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,600 standing government. And so they come into 268 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,800 partnership together, and they say, we got to stop this man. 269 00:17:48,300 --> 00:17:50,600 Let's just forget our differences, and let's just work 270 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,400 in this common goal. He's a threat to both of us. 271 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:58,100 And if you, if you read the famous scene, where Jesus was 272 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:00,800 put in a dilemma with that question about paying taxes to 273 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,200 Caesar, it was actually the herodians and the Pharisees who 274 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,100 combined forces to try to Corner Jesus and they failed as we 275 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:12,300 know. But what's amazing is that Jesus 276 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:15,000 did not just see the herodians. We're not just told in the 277 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,000 scriptures that they were in opposition, only in his day and 278 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,800 of his time. Oh no Jesus saw the herodians as 279 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,700 a threat to his disciples and not just his disciples then but 280 00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:29,600 his disciples today you and I turn with me to mark 8:15. 281 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:47,700 Mark 8:15, Jesus. Cautions them saying, watch out. 282 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:54,700 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of 283 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:57,600 Herod Levin. Little bit of yeast in bread 284 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,800 that makes it rise. It's an influential force and we 285 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,800 know what the leaven of the Pharisees we don't have to guess 286 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,400 because in Luke 12:1 Jesus tells us that the leaven of the 287 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:10,000 Pharisees is hypocrisy and it's more. 288 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,600 It's more than just a symbol of the subtle effect. 289 00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:16,800 A false teaching we know that Levin. 290 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,600 Also speaks of the shaping effect of a, of a practice, a 291 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,200 particular practice that Christians can adopt even though 292 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,400 it contradicts what we stand for and our testimony. 293 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,800 And so it's not just the wrong teaching, it's a wrong way of 294 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,300 thinking that leads to wrong, way of Behaving. 295 00:19:33,500 --> 00:19:36,500 And Jesus says, don't just beware of hypocrisy. 296 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,500 Don't just beware of a legalistic mindset, Beware of 297 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:43,600 the leaven of Herod. Now, what can that be? 298 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:49,800 And I believe it includes what you and I just heard it would 299 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:54,800 not be a stretch to say that the leaven of Herod touches on the 300 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:59,100 possibility of believers who like the herodians have their 301 00:19:59,100 --> 00:20:02,700 interests and their convictions and spired by politics. 302 00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:07,400 More than the word of God, more than the things of God. 303 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,000 That's a very real problem. Today is a knot. 304 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,700 Churchgoers who are consumed with the political sphere, more 305 00:20:15,700 --> 00:20:19,300 than the Great Commission. Christians who have their 306 00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:24,600 security and their hope in the temporal policies promised by 307 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:28,700 candidate That clouds their thinking from setting their 308 00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:33,100 minds on things above. Christians who are greater 309 00:20:33,100 --> 00:20:35,900 evangelist for their preferred party. 310 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:41,400 Then the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the true solution for 311 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:46,400 all the chaos that we are seeing around us. if I am a believer, 312 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:54,000 who is more excited to discuss or defend politics laws, Then 313 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,600 the hope. Then the promise. 314 00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:02,300 And the grace found in Jesus, then I may very well have a 315 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:05,600 little bit of this Levin living inside of me, that is not to say 316 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,100 that Christians should not speak about politics or get involved 317 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:09,700 in politics. I'm not talking about that. 318 00:21:09,900 --> 00:21:11,400 I'm talking about where your hope lies. 319 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:14,900 I'm talking about what your joy is determined by. 320 00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:20,300 Talking about what you think the solution to the depravity of 321 00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:23,000 mankind? Is that's what I'm talking 322 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,600 about. The herodians had no interest, 323 00:21:26,700 --> 00:21:31,300 no care? No, no hope, no idea about what 324 00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:33,700 the Messiah could do. They saw it in Herod. 325 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,800 They saw that a man and the strength of the Flesh in the 326 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:42,300 wisdom of this world. And that is a dangerous Levin to 327 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:45,000 entertain. But that is not even the central 328 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:49,500 idea of the leaven of Herod because you and I if we want 329 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:52,000 understand what Jesus was concerned about, all we have to 330 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,500 do is study who Herod was in the in the gospel and and look at 331 00:21:55,500 --> 00:21:59,400 what he was all about, to get a closer look, and come to a 332 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,100 closer conclusion of what this Levin was all about. 333 00:22:02,100 --> 00:22:05,100 And I believe one of the most striking observations about the 334 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:08,800 man Herod is found in the very same gospel that we are warned 335 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:13,200 about his Levin. It's a Mark chapter 6 and turn 336 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:24,200 there with me and verse 19. we will go there very quickly, will 337 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:28,700 not very quickly, but We're coming to this chapter soon and 338 00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:31,300 this chapter really discusses the death of John, the Baptist 339 00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:32,800 and here's what we read in verse 19. 340 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,800 To Mark chapter 6 and herodias had a grudge against him, being 341 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,500 John the Baptist and wanted to put him to death, but she could 342 00:22:40,500 --> 00:22:44,700 not for Herod feared John, meaning he revered him. 343 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:48,800 He respected him knowing that he was a righteous and holy man and 344 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:54,700 he kept him safe. When he Herod heard him John, he 345 00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:57,600 was greatly perplexed and yet. He heard him. 346 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,500 Gladly, if you read these two verses in isolation without 347 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:04,100 honoring, the context you would you might make the conclusion at 348 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:07,400 Harrods, a great guy. I mean, look, he respected, 349 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,800 John, even protected, John to a certain extent, and even enjoyed 350 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:16,500 listening to what John had to say, but it's not until you read 351 00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:18,400 the following text to understand. 352 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:22,900 Just how twisted this man was Because immediately after this, 353 00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:26,500 we read of Herod celebration for his birthday with his 354 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:29,800 distinguished guests and nobleman, there's nothing wrong 355 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:31,800 with birthdays. But at this birthday, there's 356 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,400 something extremely concerning. Because at some point of the 357 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,200 night, you had herod's stepdaughter, come into the 358 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,800 room. And we are told that she danced 359 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:45,800 before him and his fellow men and the word, therefore dance is 360 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,200 not speaking about some cultural display, or exhibition. 361 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,200 We're talking about something erotic Inappropriate 362 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,400 provocative. And here she is putting on a 363 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:03,100 show for her stepdad and for these other men and Herod was so 364 00:24:03,100 --> 00:24:07,200 consumed with his lust and so drunk with his pride, that his 365 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,800 response to being aroused in this way, was to say whatever 366 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,200 you want. I will give it to you. 367 00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:19,500 And this young girl looks over her shoulder and sees her 368 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:22,200 mother. And so she runs to her and says, 369 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,100 what should I ask him for and herodias? 370 00:24:26,900 --> 00:24:32,700 Adjustable like woman, Wicked saw this as an opportunity to 371 00:24:32,700 --> 00:24:36,600 satisfy her Grudge and said, ask for John's head. 372 00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:42,100 So that young lady ran back to her stepfather and asked for 373 00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:44,700 John to be beheaded and he did it. 374 00:24:46,500 --> 00:24:52,700 Well, makes this especially disturbing is that Herod was 375 00:24:52,700 --> 00:24:57,700 able to do this after we were told that he would frequently 376 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:01,000 come to John, the Baptist meetings and listen to his 377 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:07,100 sermons. That is the Herod and that is 378 00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:10,400 the leaven that Jesus is warning about. 379 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:16,300 It's a type of worldliness that is extremely dangerous because 380 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:21,100 it encourages people not just to tolerate the truth but even 381 00:25:21,100 --> 00:25:27,400 entertain and enjoy it. And yet at the same time, even 382 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:31,000 if the preacher is preaching against the very sin that you 383 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,000 are indulging. In just like Herod. 384 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:36,500 The reason why John was decapitated was because he would 385 00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:40,200 frequently tell Herod, you can't have your brother's wife. 386 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,900 So this is very confrontational preaching. 387 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:47,300 This is very in your face and yet Herod heard it and he heard 388 00:25:47,300 --> 00:25:51,200 it. Gladly And yet he can leave the 389 00:25:51,208 --> 00:25:56,500 meeting go home and indulge in the very same sin. 390 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,700 That was preached against just a few hours before. 391 00:26:02,300 --> 00:26:04,200 It's a very deceiving type of lovin. 392 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:09,300 It's a numbing type of Levin. And I have to tell you, there 393 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,100 are some people who are infected with this Levin and think that 394 00:26:12,100 --> 00:26:16,300 they are followers of Jesus Christ, because they Revere 395 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:21,100 ministers and they even, they even go about and share how 396 00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:23,500 their messages are filled with sound, Doctrine and 397 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:31,200 uncompromising delivery. but all the while, They are infected 398 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,900 with this Levin and I have to tell you. 399 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:36,500 There are many people who think they are Christian. 400 00:26:36,500 --> 00:26:40,300 When really, they're herodian the herodians. 401 00:26:40,900 --> 00:26:43,000 Now don't don't lift your hand, don't make any reaction. 402 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,600 But isn't it interesting? That the leaven of Herod is not 403 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:48,000 talked about much in churches today? 404 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,400 I wonder why? I wonder why? 405 00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:56,800 According To Jesus words, if you and I can comfortably be in the 406 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:01,000 world on Saturday night, And then come into the house of God. 407 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:05,600 The next day and then leave that same place, only to plan to 408 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,600 expose my heart, my eyes, my hands to that, which Grieves the 409 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,700 spirit of God, then I may very well be a herodian. 410 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:20,700 And not a Christian. By God's grace as its Ministry, 411 00:27:20,700 --> 00:27:24,000 moves forward and proclaim the truth and living the truth. 412 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,900 I have to tell you in advance that you and I might come into 413 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:30,900 contact with some herodians. They might even be sitting in 414 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:36,100 our midst. and that can be discouraging especially if it 415 00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:40,100 causes us to doubt whether or not we and what we do and what 416 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:43,600 we Proclaim and what we teach is really effective because 417 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:48,400 preacher Nobody's getting convicted like they should be 418 00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:51,600 and I've had people over the years, thank God. 419 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,100 Some who have been approached me with loving concern knowing 420 00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:57,800 herodians in their own life. That might have come here and 421 00:27:57,800 --> 00:27:59,800 there and says, I just don't get it. 422 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:06,000 How is it that you can preach? So clearly and so strongly and 423 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,700 so precisely and it doesn't even seem to move their hearts an 424 00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:12,200 inch there seems to be no conviction. 425 00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:15,000 They could just walk right on out and do the very thing that 426 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,400 you said To do and that Grieves, the heart of God. 427 00:28:21,100 --> 00:28:22,600 And I have to be honest at times. 428 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:27,300 That would discourage me. What is it that I need to do? 429 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:33,100 What is it that I'm missing? But then I come to the word and 430 00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:37,300 I look at the example found in my Lord and more specifically 431 00:28:37,300 --> 00:28:40,000 the servant of the Lord in John the Baptist, you know what, John 432 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,200 the Baptist did when he knew that there was someone in 433 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,800 attendance who can hear him gladly and then go to the strip 434 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:51,900 club the next week and go to the club the next week and come back 435 00:28:51,900 --> 00:28:55,200 and hear him again and go get drunk that same week and go 436 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,200 sleep around with their girlfriend or their boyfriend 437 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,200 that same week. You know what, John did. 438 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:04,400 He kept preaching? He kept preaching, he kept 439 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:08,200 Faithfully serving the lord, he kept declaring the word of God. 440 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,000 And there are other people who would be touch other people who 441 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,100 would be saved other people who would repent and he was 442 00:29:14,100 --> 00:29:16,700 immovable. And he was steadfast, and he was 443 00:29:16,700 --> 00:29:19,700 committed because his Joy was knowing that he was doing the 444 00:29:19,700 --> 00:29:23,000 bridegroom's will as the friend of the bridegroom. 445 00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:25,800 If there's going to be a Herod, let there be a hair that's 446 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:30,500 between them and God, but this word is powerful and this word, 447 00:29:30,500 --> 00:29:33,600 cancer. Save and this word can convict. 448 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:39,500 And so we see here that the herodians who oppose Jesus of 449 00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:43,000 his time. Pose somewhat of a threat even 450 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,100 today. A threat to the encouragement of 451 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:48,600 the people of God, a threat to the testimony of the people of 452 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,800 God because you have some who like Herod. 453 00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:54,300 And one instance can be in a holy atmosphere in the very next 454 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,600 be in a place that indulges the flesh. 455 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:02,800 Don't lose hope. Don't question your calling. 456 00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:09,400 Continue to serve and believe that God can and will have a 457 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:13,400 Remnant in his name. The herodians, the leaven of 458 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:16,400 Herod. Be careful of it, be careful of 459 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,100 it if you want to know, you have it. 460 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:21,800 Nothing is touching you right now. 461 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,300 And not just that but you are planning to send this very 462 00:30:26,300 --> 00:30:31,800 afternoon, just giving you a heads up. but then we come back 463 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:36,000 to this scripture, we noticed that there is another Another 464 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:41,200 obstacle and disguise. Another way of discouragement as 465 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:45,700 the kingdom of God is moving. Jesus withdrew verse 7, with his 466 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:48,300 disciples, to the sea and a great crowd, followed From 467 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:51,200 Galilee and Judea, and we read the other regions and which 468 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,200 they're coming from. And as mentioned, from the 469 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:55,600 beginning of this message, these verses highlight the widest 470 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,500 scope of Jesus influence. And the mention of these regions 471 00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:04,100 want to tell us how the news of Jesus ministry is now, even 472 00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:09,900 going Beyond Gentile borders and Gentile occupied cities. 473 00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:14,400 And despite the antagonism of the Pharisees and the Herodians 474 00:31:14,500 --> 00:31:17,900 what you see here is that there are fresh waves of people who 475 00:31:17,900 --> 00:31:21,600 are making their way toward Jesus, some walking many many 476 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,100 Wiles energized by the hope that they will see what their ears 477 00:31:25,100 --> 00:31:29,000 only have heard and maybe get a touch from him, maybe received 478 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,200 something from him. And so you have these crowds 479 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:36,200 coming and surrounding and not just surrounding, but so 480 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:40,700 desperate that they are crushing Jesus or at least they try to To 481 00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:43,500 such a degree that he had to move into the water standing on 482 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:45,600 a boat so that nobody would overwhelm him. 483 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:48,100 Isn't it? Exciting site isn't it? 484 00:31:48,100 --> 00:31:52,300 Something that is riveting. Swarming. 485 00:31:52,300 --> 00:31:55,000 Sea of people who are demonstrating a desperation for 486 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,800 the truth and there is no denying that Jesus took 487 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,100 advantage of this moment to preach the truth, right? 488 00:32:00,100 --> 00:32:02,800 Because as we just heard, he got on the boat and he separate 489 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,800 himself, that seemed to be a strategy of Jesus when he wanted 490 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,500 to declare the gospel. Because when you go to mark for 491 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:10,000 one, you'll see that he does the same thing. 492 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,000 He steps into a boat, he pushes himself out and he's there, 493 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:17,600 preaching the truth. This is glorious, this is great. 494 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:21,200 This is inspiring. But when you and I really take 495 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,200 the time to investigate what is happening in examining this 496 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,700 moment. Verse 10, suggest that what 497 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:30,100 these people were chiefly concerned about was receiving 498 00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:34,200 healing for their bodies. Look at verse 10 for. 499 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:38,400 He had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around 500 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:43,300 him to touch him. The gospels are honest enough to 501 00:32:43,300 --> 00:32:47,100 tell us that many instances when crowds came to Jesus, there is a 502 00:32:47,100 --> 00:32:56,200 mixture of motive in the masses. and I believe that this is for 503 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,900 instruction, Many of these people who came initially 504 00:32:59,900 --> 00:33:02,700 interested about Jesus or excited about Jesus. 505 00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:07,600 When he was doing quickly disappeared some sooner than 506 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:10,100 others. Never to be seen again. 507 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,200 Never coming to True Discipleship. 508 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,400 Once they heard what it meant to actually follow Jesus, they 509 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,300 distance themselves from Jesus. They got what they wanted. 510 00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:23,800 And they're happy. You. 511 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,900 And I have to understand that one of the Apostles of Jesus who 512 00:33:26,900 --> 00:33:30,100 witnessed this during those three years on many occasions 513 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:34,000 and who wrote about in his own Gospel account sought to 514 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,300 minister to a church post-resurrection post, Jesus 515 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:41,500 Ascension to try to clarify, why? 516 00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:43,600 It was that even in their own churches? 517 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:47,500 They were seeing people do the same, you know, the scripture. 518 00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:53,400 But if you don't come with me to First John 2, And verse 19, the 519 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,800 same beloved John, who wrote the Gospel of John and in a very 520 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:01,800 powerful chapter in John 6. when Jesus talked about being the 521 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:07,300 bread from heaven, That offended the crowds and they left him and 522 00:34:07,300 --> 00:34:10,500 stop following him that Saint John writes to this group of 523 00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:16,400 Christians and 2:19. And he says to them first John 524 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:24,400 2:19 they went out from us but they were not of us for a if 525 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:29,000 they had been of us, they would have continued with us but they 526 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,900 went out that they might become playing that they are all not. 527 00:34:33,699 --> 00:34:36,500 Of us. Why is John saying this? 528 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,600 Because the people who he was writing to were obviously 529 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,500 disturbed about how summon the fellowship deserted them. 530 00:34:45,900 --> 00:34:48,400 And this is not speaking about people who are part of one 531 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,100 church and then leave to another fellowship. 532 00:34:50,100 --> 00:34:52,900 This is not speaking about those who have been serving in a 533 00:34:52,900 --> 00:34:56,000 certain Ministry and they feel like the Lord is leading them to 534 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:00,500 another congregation that. That's not what they're all 535 00:35:00,700 --> 00:35:03,800 caught up in. What John is addressing are 536 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:07,000 those who have left the church altogether and by extension the 537 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:12,100 faith They've abandoned walking and serving the lord Jesus 538 00:35:12,100 --> 00:35:16,800 Christ and that they here in verse 19, if you read Verse 18, 539 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,900 that they are actually identified as the Antichrist 540 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,600 plural. Other. 541 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:27,500 In other words, those anti who are opposed to Christ. 542 00:35:27,500 --> 00:35:31,400 That's who they are. And somehow some way they found 543 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:35,100 themselves to be for a significant period of time in 544 00:35:35,100 --> 00:35:38,500 fellowship with the true followers of Jesus Christ. 545 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:43,600 And at one point perhaps not being able to tolerate the truth 546 00:35:43,700 --> 00:35:46,900 or understand what obedience really is and seeing genuine 547 00:35:46,900 --> 00:35:50,600 Believers around them packed their bags and walked on out and 548 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:54,000 this cause confusion for the Believers. 549 00:35:55,100 --> 00:35:57,600 And it's a confusion that some experience today. 550 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,700 How is it that? So and so was able to sit there 551 00:36:01,900 --> 00:36:05,900 and sing and do ministry even and now they're just immersed in 552 00:36:05,900 --> 00:36:08,900 the world. How is it that they got? 553 00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:13,300 Baptized and gave testimony. And now they are adhering to a 554 00:36:13,300 --> 00:36:20,000 false teaching How is it that that I saw when they made that 555 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,800 confession and now they just deny him altogether. 556 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:26,400 How can that be? And John's answered by the 557 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,800 spirit is very clear but very comforting if we understand it 558 00:36:30,100 --> 00:36:34,300 it's because from the beginning, they were not truly of us From 559 00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:36,400 the start, they were not really of us. 560 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,400 They might have been in the company but they were not really 561 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:44,200 born from above and that might Shake us a little bit because 562 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,300 like these people, they see so much activity. 563 00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:51,300 They see so much confession. They see so much involvement. 564 00:36:51,700 --> 00:36:55,700 And after maybe even months or years, they can just they can 565 00:36:55,700 --> 00:36:58,900 just stop. And Jesus has an entire parable 566 00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:02,100 about how this can be the case. And what John is saying, is 567 00:37:02,100 --> 00:37:04,800 important for us to understand that one of the most important 568 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:07,200 tests to know. The genuineness of somebody's 569 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,200 faith is the test of perseverance. 570 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:15,100 Sometimes the only way you will know if somebody's the real deal 571 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,500 is, when you just give it time, just give it time. 572 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:21,000 And see what they do through suffering. 573 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:24,400 See what they do through persecution, see what they do 574 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:30,000 when the excitement. And when the joy at least in the 575 00:37:30,100 --> 00:37:34,600 emotional sense, Wears off, where will they go? 576 00:37:35,300 --> 00:37:38,200 And then you will know and the reason why I'm bringing this to 577 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:40,900 our attention this afternoon is because even in the days of 578 00:37:40,900 --> 00:37:44,700 Jesus ministry and even in the early days of a post Pentecost 579 00:37:44,700 --> 00:37:48,100 Church, the body of Christ has known disappointments like this. 580 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:54,700 And it can dishearten us, it can cause us again to question, but 581 00:37:54,700 --> 00:37:58,700 realize that the Bible predicts, this for us in order for us to 582 00:37:58,700 --> 00:38:02,400 be prepared in order for us to continue to press on and 583 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:05,600 understand that as you and I press on and God allows people 584 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:08,400 to come into our lives. Some of those people might at 585 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:11,700 one point. Stop turn their back and go the 586 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:17,500 other direction. And that is not for us to doubt 587 00:38:17,500 --> 00:38:20,200 the power of the Gospel or question, how the Holy Spirit 588 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:25,400 can truly save someone, right? I mean, how is it that? 589 00:38:25,500 --> 00:38:28,200 So many who we see confess and be emotionally even in their 590 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:31,200 confession, they just walk out. Many of us have seen that and 591 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:33,900 just they just go back to how, what's not? 592 00:38:33,900 --> 00:38:37,600 Because there is a deficiency in our truth, it's because his the 593 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:41,700 condition of the soil, their hearts, And you, and I have to 594 00:38:41,700 --> 00:38:43,800 know that what John says, here is so important. 595 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:46,600 They were never truly saved from the start. 596 00:38:47,900 --> 00:38:51,900 Even if they had a surface layer veneer of spirituality. 597 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,200 So, the crowd, the questionable crowd. 598 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,900 Yes. Crowds came to Jesus, and that 599 00:38:57,900 --> 00:39:01,100 is a sign of success. But even in that crowd, I mean, 600 00:39:01,100 --> 00:39:04,300 who really became true disciple out of this crowd. 601 00:39:05,700 --> 00:39:09,000 You will have people coming in wanting something, from Jesus, 602 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:14,400 wanting some relief, wanting some superficial hope for their 603 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:16,700 troubles, and once they get it, they're gone. 604 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,500 Don't let that discourage you. Lastly, we have their last group 605 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:25,200 of people and they're not really people, they're demons. 606 00:39:27,100 --> 00:39:29,900 Verse 11. And whenever the unclean 607 00:39:29,900 --> 00:39:33,300 spirits, saw him, they fell down before him and cried out. 608 00:39:33,300 --> 00:39:39,800 You are The son of God. And he strictly ordered them not 609 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:44,400 to make him known. We saw the display of Jesus 610 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:48,000 healing power and that only continues in a recurrent display 611 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:49,900 of his dominion over demons, right. 612 00:39:49,900 --> 00:39:52,200 We've studied this already. We've seen all of this already 613 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:55,800 but if we're not careful, the familiarity of this could cause 614 00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:58,200 us to overlook a detail that Mark mentions and it's an 615 00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:02,400 important detail. It's found in verse 12 and he 616 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:06,400 strictly ordered them not to make him known. 617 00:40:07,900 --> 00:40:11,200 I have to be honest, when I read this, for the first time coming 618 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:14,000 to the gospels, I questioned it for years. 619 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:17,700 Why would Jesus silence free publicity? 620 00:40:19,700 --> 00:40:26,700 Why would he try to push away? The very thing that is declaring 621 00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:28,300 his glory. And His Majesty. 622 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:31,400 Why would he try to mute that? Why would he try to do something 623 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:33,300 about that? Wouldn't he invite? 624 00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:36,800 That would not help his cause when in that bring a greater 625 00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:43,300 confirmation to his identity. So he silences demons frequently 626 00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:47,800 whenever they begin to speak about who he is and they're not 627 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:50,100 rebuking him, they're not blaspheme him. 628 00:40:50,100 --> 00:40:54,300 They're saying what is true? And the Lord would not have it. 629 00:40:55,500 --> 00:40:58,600 Silence. Quiet. 630 00:41:00,300 --> 00:41:02,800 And I'm maybe from my advertising background thing. 631 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,300 Lord. This is promotion. 632 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:10,900 It's free, it's good. I mean what can be more powerful 633 00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:14,500 than than invisible spirits that have been tormenting people to 634 00:41:14,500 --> 00:41:18,100 say you are the Son of God, I would receive it. 635 00:41:18,700 --> 00:41:22,700 I receive it. But I'm not the Lord, and in his 636 00:41:22,700 --> 00:41:27,300 mind, he saw this actually as a Potential Threat to do just the 637 00:41:27,300 --> 00:41:31,000 opposite. If you've ever wondered the same 638 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:35,600 about this whole scene, the know that the Lord had no desire to 639 00:41:35,600 --> 00:41:41,500 receive any kind of publicity from evil spirits, any attempt 640 00:41:41,500 --> 00:41:44,300 from an unclean source that would try to testify of his 641 00:41:44,300 --> 00:41:47,300 person. Was denied. 642 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:51,900 Why? Because it would shed a level of 643 00:41:51,900 --> 00:41:57,700 Suspicion on him. Jesus did not want the 644 00:41:57,700 --> 00:42:00,500 affirmation of demons to confuse the people. 645 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:06,700 Because it would encourage the possibility of people 646 00:42:06,700 --> 00:42:10,400 entertaining the false, Assumption of there, being some 647 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:15,200 kind of connection between Jesus and his kingdom and the kingdom 648 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:19,900 of darkness. And if you want to know how this 649 00:42:19,900 --> 00:42:24,300 is not a stretch of interpretation, all we're going 650 00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:26,100 to do is fast forward, a few verses. 651 00:42:26,100 --> 00:42:28,200 We're going to be in this chapter in a few weeks. 652 00:42:29,300 --> 00:42:36,100 And look at verse 22 just to get an idea of what this is possibly 653 00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:39,200 connected to. And the scribes who came down 654 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:42,200 from Jerusalem were saying, he is possessed by Bells Isabel, 655 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:48,300 and by the prince of demons, he casts out the demons, you see, I 656 00:42:48,300 --> 00:42:51,400 wonder if the Pharisees got that idea from hearing, the demons 657 00:42:51,700 --> 00:42:56,700 affirming who Jesus was and then coming up with a conspiracy that 658 00:42:56,700 --> 00:43:01,800 this Jesus is in League with the The kingdom of Satan, the Lord 659 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:05,900 would have none of it. And so he would silence them. 660 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:09,900 And the enemies of Christ. Took advantage of it. 661 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:16,600 Trying to convince people that Jesus power is the same demons 662 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:21,100 look, they know each other they affirm him, they Praise Him. 663 00:43:22,700 --> 00:43:25,900 And the Lord is so wise. I don't think the unclean 664 00:43:25,900 --> 00:43:29,600 spirits were shrieking this out with the strategy of that coming 665 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:31,000 about. I just believe those who are 666 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,200 twisted Minds. Took advantage of it yet at the 667 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,000 same time. During one Paul was in Philippi. 668 00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:39,100 And there was this woman, this young little girl who was 669 00:43:39,100 --> 00:43:42,200 demon-possessed, who was a fortune-teller and four days. 670 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,500 She was following him and Silas and proclaiming that they were 671 00:43:45,500 --> 00:43:47,900 Servants of the most high God. You remember that? 672 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:52,600 And after a few days, we were told Paul was annoyed. 673 00:43:53,900 --> 00:43:55,900 It's wonderful to know that you can walk in righteousness and be 674 00:43:55,900 --> 00:44:01,500 annoyed at times. Annoyed with evil turns around 675 00:44:01,500 --> 00:44:04,600 says stop it. Cast The Devil out of her. 676 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:10,700 And that again, I wonder why would this girl who has these 677 00:44:10,700 --> 00:44:14,200 demon living inside of her Proclaim, Proclaim that these 678 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:15,600 men were Servants of the most high God? 679 00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:17,400 For the same reason, I just proposed earlier. 680 00:44:19,100 --> 00:44:21,700 To cast suspicion on them and their Ministry. 681 00:44:22,300 --> 00:44:26,400 To try to muddy their testimony by causing people to say. 682 00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:30,500 Well, what's going on here? And I think there's something 683 00:44:30,500 --> 00:44:32,300 here for our instruction, as well. 684 00:44:33,100 --> 00:44:36,600 I wonder if that is a subtle strategy that Satan uses in our 685 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:39,400 day saying, what are you talking about? 686 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:45,500 you know, when I hear of a celebrity Or prominent figure. 687 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:49,400 Give testimony to Jesus. I get nervous. 688 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:54,300 I get nervous. And the reason why I get nervous 689 00:44:54,300 --> 00:44:56,700 is because if they're not truly born again, then their 690 00:44:56,700 --> 00:44:59,800 affiliation with the truth can actually confuse people more 691 00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:07,000 than confirm the truth. And like these unclean spirits, 692 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,500 that Jesus silenced. It makes you wonder if it is 693 00:45:10,500 --> 00:45:12,900 better for those who have not truly been regenerated by the 694 00:45:12,900 --> 00:45:14,700 Holy Spirit to never mention Jesus at all. 695 00:45:15,900 --> 00:45:19,000 Just don't don't talk about him. Don't claim that you follow him 696 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:21,700 because there are people out there and that's the majority 697 00:45:21,700 --> 00:45:25,400 who do not exercise reason or discernment, who can easily 698 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:31,000 understand that this confession is in line with this compromise. 699 00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:37,100 And so you have those who claim to be Christians and you have 700 00:45:37,100 --> 00:45:41,100 Christians believing it and they can they can have a concert in 701 00:45:41,100 --> 00:45:44,100 Jesus name and in the next music video going to talk about how 702 00:45:44,100 --> 00:45:46,200 you can get high and you can sleep with multiple women. 703 00:45:46,700 --> 00:45:49,800 But he's a Christian he said he was Christian. 704 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:52,000 He has a Bible verse on his Instagram. 705 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:57,300 He posted this, he did not. He did this and it does the very 706 00:45:57,300 --> 00:45:59,800 same thing that Jesus was concerned about. 707 00:46:02,100 --> 00:46:06,900 It creates confusion. And sometimes I look out into 708 00:46:06,900 --> 00:46:09,600 this world and not just in the world, I look at Christian 709 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:15,200 television or YouTube channels and I think to myself, man, why 710 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:17,600 is it the most popular ones are the ones who are giving a bad 711 00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:21,100 name to Our Gospel. Why can't it be the faithful 712 00:46:21,100 --> 00:46:24,400 anointed? Sound God-fearing? 713 00:46:24,800 --> 00:46:28,800 Who take up the prominent place and the leadership role in the 714 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:32,700 voice of the culture. And you might have thought what 715 00:46:32,700 --> 00:46:34,600 I've thought? Why doesn't God just silence 716 00:46:34,600 --> 00:46:37,700 them? Why doesn't he just do what he 717 00:46:37,700 --> 00:46:40,700 did with these demons. And there are many reasons for 718 00:46:40,700 --> 00:46:43,800 that, many reasons for that, but I want to propose something to 719 00:46:43,808 --> 00:46:46,900 you that perhaps you have not considered of why it is that. 720 00:46:46,900 --> 00:46:51,900 There are people who present a false Jesus or the true Jesus in 721 00:46:51,900 --> 00:46:55,200 Doctrine, but in practice are proven that they don't really 722 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:58,300 know him at all and all these teachers who claim to believe 723 00:46:58,300 --> 00:47:01,700 the Bible, the preacher, a false teaching all these why are they 724 00:47:01,700 --> 00:47:04,600 everywhere? Why doesn't the Lord just rid 725 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:09,300 them of the Earth or at least keep him quiet until he returns. 726 00:47:10,400 --> 00:47:12,200 You might have different things running through your head. 727 00:47:13,300 --> 00:47:15,900 Let me give you one. It's in the Old Testament and 728 00:47:15,900 --> 00:47:23,600 Deuteronomy chapter 13. Verse 1 of Deuteronomy 13. 729 00:47:37,300 --> 00:47:40,100 Deuteronomy 13, 1. If a prophet or a dreamer of 730 00:47:40,100 --> 00:47:44,200 Dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder and 731 00:47:44,200 --> 00:47:48,400 the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he 732 00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:52,100 says, let us go after other gods, which you have not known 733 00:47:52,100 --> 00:47:55,900 and let us serve them. You shall not listen to the 734 00:47:55,900 --> 00:47:58,500 words of that Prophet, or that dreamer of Dreams. 735 00:47:58,500 --> 00:48:01,900 Pause, he's warning his people. As they go into the land of 736 00:48:01,900 --> 00:48:03,900 Canaan. Once you get established, I'm 737 00:48:03,900 --> 00:48:05,500 giving you a heads up. There's going to be false 738 00:48:05,500 --> 00:48:07,800 prophets, they're going to arise, they're going to even 739 00:48:07,800 --> 00:48:10,300 perform signs and wonders are going to tell you skew things 740 00:48:10,300 --> 00:48:11,600 about me. My law. 741 00:48:11,700 --> 00:48:14,000 They might even introduce false gods, all together who are 742 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,200 completely unrelated to the truth and my truth. 743 00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:22,500 The only truth beware And instead of saying don't worry, I 744 00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:25,500 will, I will send hailstones from heaven and I will eliminate 745 00:48:25,500 --> 00:48:31,200 them or he he says the following for the Lord your God is testing 746 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:36,500 you. to know whether you love the Lord, your God with all your 747 00:48:36,500 --> 00:48:40,200 heart and with all your soul, Do you want to know why? 748 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:45,000 God allows these voices to remain and even have powerful 749 00:48:45,000 --> 00:48:49,500 Authority? And even powerful ability. 750 00:48:51,300 --> 00:48:53,600 Because he wants to test who really loves me. 751 00:48:55,000 --> 00:48:59,200 Will you believe that will you follow them or will you 752 00:48:59,200 --> 00:49:01,900 investigate? Will you come to my word and say 753 00:49:01,900 --> 00:49:04,000 this is the truth and I will follow you. 754 00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:08,600 Do you not want to know why? The culmination of this will be 755 00:49:08,600 --> 00:49:10,900 the Antichrist capital, A coming to this world? 756 00:49:11,000 --> 00:49:14,900 He's going to test the world. I've given my truth. 757 00:49:16,100 --> 00:49:18,100 I'm going to cover the globe with the gospel and then I'm 758 00:49:18,107 --> 00:49:20,800 going to leave you with the choice and see, who do you want? 759 00:49:20,800 --> 00:49:24,100 Do you want the truth? You want me, or do you want the 760 00:49:24,100 --> 00:49:28,000 one who can impress you and the one that you admire and look up 761 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:30,400 to. So when I hear these people, 762 00:49:30,400 --> 00:49:33,200 speaking on behalf of Jesus Christ and I hear of some 763 00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:35,300 Christians who can easily swallow it up. 764 00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:39,900 And who allow celebrities or politicians, or prominent 765 00:49:39,900 --> 00:49:43,000 figures to be the standard of their faith and not the word. 766 00:49:43,500 --> 00:49:46,100 I realized that the Lord and some measures testing Our 767 00:49:46,100 --> 00:49:50,400 Generation who will love me, who would love my truth, whether 768 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:54,200 it's popular unpopular who will abide in the shadow of the 769 00:49:54,207 --> 00:49:58,400 Almighty. But let me end on an encouraging 770 00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:04,300 note. Because in verse 13, Even though 771 00:50:04,300 --> 00:50:08,700 there were herodians even though there are what a questionable 772 00:50:08,700 --> 00:50:11,700 crowd with mixed motives and even though they were demons, 773 00:50:11,900 --> 00:50:15,100 and even to this day, unclean vessels, who try to represent, 774 00:50:15,100 --> 00:50:19,800 Jesus Christ, only creating at least in their minds, whether 775 00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:22,100 knowingly, or unknowingly discrediting the gospel. 776 00:50:22,800 --> 00:50:26,700 Oh, he's going to choose 12. And they're going to change the 777 00:50:26,700 --> 00:50:30,100 world. And what I so appreciate is. 778 00:50:30,100 --> 00:50:32,600 Look at the language of verse 12 again and he strictly ordered 779 00:50:32,600 --> 00:50:37,700 them not to make him known. These Wicked vile despicable 780 00:50:37,700 --> 00:50:39,900 things called demons. Had no? 781 00:50:39,900 --> 00:50:42,200 Right to utter the name of Jesus Christ. 782 00:50:42,600 --> 00:50:44,100 And this is what ran through my mind late. 783 00:50:44,100 --> 00:50:47,900 Last night as I Was preparing and meditating for today, I 784 00:50:47,900 --> 00:50:51,300 served at one point and so did you the kingdom of darkness? 785 00:50:53,600 --> 00:50:57,900 I followed in the paths of the prince of the power of the air. 786 00:50:57,900 --> 00:51:02,300 I was one open to the spirit of the Antichrist who stirred 787 00:51:02,300 --> 00:51:05,900 Within Me Disobedience and rebellion and even hatred 788 00:51:05,900 --> 00:51:08,500 towards God. I blasphemed the name of Jesus, 789 00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:12,800 I took his name in vain and yet in his great love. 790 00:51:14,200 --> 00:51:16,800 Instead of silencing, me and silencing you for all of 791 00:51:16,808 --> 00:51:20,300 eternity. He redeems us, then he cleanses 792 00:51:20,300 --> 00:51:22,500 us, then he fills us with the Holy Spirit. 793 00:51:22,500 --> 00:51:24,200 And you know what? He says the exact opposite of 794 00:51:24,200 --> 00:51:28,000 what he says to these demons go and make me known go and declare 795 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:31,600 my gospel go and be ambassador of Jesus Christ. 796 00:51:31,900 --> 00:51:36,200 Go and share my lighting, go and share my love and you are now a 797 00:51:36,200 --> 00:51:42,200 trophy of my grace and you are display case of my Mercy, go and 798 00:51:42,200 --> 00:51:46,700 speak forth his name It is through Us in perfect often, 799 00:51:46,700 --> 00:51:51,500 stumbling often doubting that God will use to advance his 800 00:51:51,500 --> 00:51:54,500 purposes in this twisted and corrupted age. 801 00:51:55,200 --> 00:51:57,500 And for me, as I look at this, I say O Lord. 802 00:51:57,500 --> 00:52:00,800 You did not die for Angels you did not die for demons. 803 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:05,100 You died for me and this very thing causes angels and Heaven 804 00:52:05,100 --> 00:52:09,100 to bend down from the balcony of heaven and look and say how is 805 00:52:09,100 --> 00:52:11,900 it that he is willing to forgive and redeem and beyond that even 806 00:52:11,900 --> 00:52:15,600 use to fill. And to send into the world. 807 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:17,700 You and I have a privilege that Angels. 808 00:52:17,700 --> 00:52:21,700 Do not, you know what it is to proclaim the gospel. 809 00:52:23,700 --> 00:52:27,300 You and I have the honor of representing our King and 810 00:52:27,300 --> 00:52:30,200 listen, let me end it here. There will be Pharisees, there 811 00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:33,400 will be herodians, there will be people coming in and out. 812 00:52:33,900 --> 00:52:37,100 There will be those who might even miss misrepresent what we 813 00:52:37,100 --> 00:52:40,400 believe and we wish that they would just stop. 814 00:52:40,400 --> 00:52:42,000 And there will be false teachers. 815 00:52:43,100 --> 00:52:46,200 But the truth will prevail the gospel will go forth. 816 00:52:46,600 --> 00:52:49,000 Jesus Christ will return. He will reign. 817 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:52,600 He will rule and knee will have the final say. 818 00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:53,900 Praise God. God. 819 00:52:59,900 --> 00:53:04,000 Louis, thank you that you've given us a glimpse of Hope in 820 00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:08,500 this gospel account. In this portrait of truth that 821 00:53:08,500 --> 00:53:11,300 though. They try to destroy you, you 822 00:53:11,300 --> 00:53:14,900 drew men to you. Thank you for drawing us. 823 00:53:15,200 --> 00:53:18,700 Thank you for saving us. Thank you for redeeming us. 824 00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:22,700 Thank you for using us. Lord with all that we've heard. 825 00:53:24,100 --> 00:53:26,800 We will do what Hebrews says that is to give. 826 00:53:26,800 --> 00:53:29,200 Thanks for. We are a part of a kingdom that 827 00:53:29,200 --> 00:53:32,600 cannot be shaken and slow received this worship. 828 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:38,900 Receive honor and glory and praise from a sincere heart of 829 00:53:38,900 --> 00:53:42,400 gratitude filled with gladness in Jesus name. 830 00:53:42,700 --> 00:53:44,400 Amen, let's stand and worship.