1 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:07,080 Sir, you can turn to Matthew chapter 18. 2 00:00:15,460 --> 00:00:18,940 So remember, Jesus is in the middle of a sermon. 3 00:00:19,220 --> 00:00:22,220 We've cut him off and we're just taking a, a chunk at a time. 4 00:00:23,460 --> 00:00:25,740 It all started with they were on the road. 5 00:00:25,980 --> 00:00:27,660 As we take different gospel accounts, we get the full 6 00:00:27,660 --> 00:00:28,740 picture. They were on the road. 7 00:00:28,740 --> 00:00:30,900 Jesus said, hey, what were you guys talking about earlier? 8 00:00:31,300 --> 00:00:34,660 Like, well, funny you should ask Jesus saying I'm going to die 9 00:00:34,660 --> 00:00:37,200 soon and they're already jockeying for position. 10 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,400 Who's the greatest? I mean, no, we're super sad 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,080 you're going to die, but who's the greatest? 12 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,200 Like in the Kingdom among us, you know, what's what's our 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,000 rank, what's our position? Where are we going to land? 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,840 Where are we going to stand? Jesus brings a little one, 15 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,120 probably a toddler into into the presence of everybody and starts 16 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,600 to say, I'll, I'll tell you who's the greatest guys, whoever 17 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,920 humbles themself like a little child, whoever can make 18 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:02,920 themselves this low. This was especially shocking for 19 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:04,680 these guys. This was especially shocking for 20 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,720 Matthew's Jewish readers because children don't have a place of 21 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,640 prominence in Jewish culture. And you know, they're not, 22 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,400 they're not thought a lot of. So for Jesus to emphasize them 23 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,400 to to call them in, it is a big deal. 24 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,640 And now he continues his points as he walks through the next 25 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,760 couple of verses. He says whoever humbles himself 26 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:23,680 like a child. And then he adds on top of it, 27 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,040 he says, don't you dare cause one of these little ones to sin. 28 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,520 So he makes a shift, and if we're just reading at the 29 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:31,520 surface level, we might not see it, but he's actually not 30 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,360 referencing exclusively children. 31 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,680 When he says the little ones the first time, he's talking about 32 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,080 the actual child in front of him. 33 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,080 But when he makes this shift, he begins to talk about believers 34 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,320 in general, Christians, whoever would cause one of my little 35 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:48,400 ones, one of my flock to sin. And he continues his point here 36 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,120 where we're picking up now in verse 10. 37 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,400 As I read this passage to you, I read from the ESV, in case 38 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,000 you're ever wondering, the translation that I use, there 39 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,200 are many faithful good Bible translations. 40 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,680 There's a couple that I would probably say you could do 41 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,520 better. But most, most of the time I'm 42 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,280 going to say it's fine. It's going to bless you. 43 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,800 It's going to be really, really, really accurate. 44 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,000 But as I read this passage, you're going to notice that I 45 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,040 skip over verse 11. So if you don't have in ESV, 46 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,240 you're going to say, why didn't he read verse 11? 47 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,400 And the reason there is not, not to cause you to stumble or 48 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,160 confuse you. But the ESV omits verse 11, not 49 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,600 because it wants to do away with the words of God, but because in 50 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,560 all the manuscripts that we have, all the historical 51 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,960 documents that we have that helped us to accumulate the 52 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,400 scriptures as we have them today, a lot of those did not 53 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,240 include what was written in verse 11. 54 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,960 So no big deal. We don't lose some massive 55 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,880 doctrine by omitting verse 11. There's no, there's nothing 56 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,000 sneaky going on here. It's just pretty simple stuff. 57 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,880 So just wanted you to see that as I, as I read through it. 58 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:58,200 Yeah, NIV omits it as well. NLT does as well. 59 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,680 NLT does as well. All right, so if you're, if you 60 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,800 got King James Version, you might say, hey, where was verse 61 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,760 11? But, but sounds like most folks, 62 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,120 it'll omit it. So we're picking up in verse 10. 63 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:16,560 See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell 64 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:21,280 you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father 65 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,440 who is in heaven. What do you think? 66 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,720 If a man has 100 sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he 67 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,760 not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of 68 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,080 the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say 69 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:38,920 to you, he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that never went 70 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,640 astray. So it is not the will of my 71 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,360 Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should 72 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:46,320 perish. Let's pray. 73 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,200 God, we thank you so much for your love, and we thank you for 74 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,080 the compassion that you have on us, the care that you've shown 75 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,160 us as you have come and you have sought us out. 76 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,400 And Lord, I pray that you would open the eyes of our hearts 77 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,840 today to see and build our affection for the Saints, for 78 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,880 the flock of God, for all the little ones that you love, the 79 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,520 old little ones and the young little ones. 80 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,000 They're all little ones in your hand. 81 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,000 They're all little ones in your sight and they're all little 82 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:12,360 ones that you hold close to your heart. 83 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,760 I pray that you would help us to honor one another, to cherish 84 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,279 one another and Jesus to obey your command to never despise or 85 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,360 look down on one another. Cut us to the heart this 86 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,240 morning. Tenderize us, keep us soft in 87 00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:36,840 Jesus name, Amen. The first thing we want to 88 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:39,280 clarify, like I said, is who are the little ones that He's 89 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:42,240 talking about? To give you some more context to 90 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,160 prove this point to you, in Matthew chapter 10 and verse 42, 91 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,160 he was talking about sending his disciples out. 92 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,640 And when he did that, he said whoever gives one of these 93 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,280 little ones even a cup of cold water, because He is my 94 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:57,520 disciple, truly, I say to you, He will by no means lose His 95 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,480 reward. So there's just another context, 96 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,760 an example for you where Jesus would use little ones to refer 97 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:04,400 to his disciples. So you say, guys, I'm sending 98 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:05,480 you out. It's going to be like this, It's 99 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,720 going to be like that. But if anyone gives a cup of 100 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,040 cold water to one of these little ones. 101 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,800 So it's just showing the tender heart of the Father to the 102 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,960 people that he loves so dearly. So he's saying you will not lose 103 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:16,920 your reward if you care well for his people. 104 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,120 But now in this passage, he's bringing the warning about what 105 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,040 would happen if you treat his people poorly. 106 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,000 He's already given the warning about judgment. 107 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,600 He's already warned about it would be better to have a 108 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,680 millstone tied around your neck and to be thrown into the sea if 109 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,960 you cause one of my disciples to sin. 110 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:34,800 So the main thing that Jesus starts off with here is he's 111 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,520 saying don't look down on any believers. 112 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,000 This is the main thrust of this passage. 113 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,680 The parable he goes into next only serves to reemphasize that 114 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,440 point. What's the big take away today, 115 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,360 pastor? God's heart for the One should 116 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,320 reveal, should show you how much you should care for everyone 117 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,800 around you. God's heart for the One is so 118 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,560 big and so significant, it should move you to compassion 119 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,800 for everybody so that you never, ever despise so so that you 120 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,000 never, never devalue and you never, ever look down upon 121 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,640 anyone. Jesus doesn't want you to write 122 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:13,280 anybody off because everybody is valuable to the Father. 123 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,200 Jesus says don't you dare dismiss somebody that God loves 124 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,040 and somebody that God has chosen to set his affection on. 125 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,280 Who does this mean? Who does this include? 126 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,400 This means the person living in sin. 127 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,040 This means the person you just don't like the way they are and 128 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,560 they rub you the wrong way. This is the person who thinks 129 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,240 more highly of themselves than they ought. 130 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,120 This is the person who's just a hot mess and can't get their act 131 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,120 together. This is the person who just 132 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,000 won't do right like you've told them to. 133 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,400 This is the person who left the church and ignores you. 134 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,120 Don't write them off. Don't despise them. 135 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,640 Don't look down upon them. Can we judge all of those 136 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,400 things? I literally did just judge all 137 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:53,840 of those things. Of course we can. 138 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:56,680 Those things are objectively bad, and there's certain things 139 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,400 that are objectively good. And yet in calling the thing 140 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,040 objectively bad, I cannot despise the person made in the 141 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:08,080 image of God who Jesus loves, because Jesus loves the one, no 142 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:09,640 matter where they are, no matter what they're going through. 143 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,360 Well, I love them. When, when, what? 144 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,320 When they're perfect like you. When will you love them? 145 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,200 When will, when will enough be enough? 146 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,320 When will their progress? When will their sanctification 147 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:24,680 take them far enough? God loves them like he loves 148 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,560 you. Don't write them off, don't 149 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,080 despise them, don't count them out. 150 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:33,000 Do not show contempt for them. God loves them like God loves 151 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,120 you. And you must never devalue one 152 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,400 of the Father's children. He goes on to tell you why. 153 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,680 So again, verse 10, see to it that you do not despise one of 154 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,400 these little ones. So first it was don't cause them 155 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,520 to sin. If you did that, it's better for 156 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,480 you to be drowned in the sea. Let me go farther. 157 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,560 Don't you despise one of these little ones? 158 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,320 Why not Jesus? For I tell you that in heaven 159 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:01,760 their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 160 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,440 So this is the why the the argument that Jesus is making. 161 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,600 His logic here is you shouldn't despise them because they're so 162 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,800 cherished by God that they have angels in heaven who are always 163 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,320 seeing the face of my Father who is in heaven. 164 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,800 His point is that God loves them so much and that they are so 165 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,960 important to God that He has gone so far as to instruct 166 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,200 angels to work His will into their lives. 167 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,040 God has given them special attention and affection. 168 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,280 They're not forgotten. God is not the great clock maker 169 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,039 who set his clock and then turned away and forget it to let 170 00:08:33,039 --> 00:08:36,720 the thing run on its own. He is deeply involved, and He 171 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,480 has sent angels and He has assigned angels. 172 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,400 This verse is where some have assembled the idea that we all 173 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,680 have individual guardian angels, but we really don't see that 174 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:49,080 taught in Scripture. It's an idea that some have come 175 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,040 up with, but I don't see it anywhere in the Word. 176 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,560 It's a familiar thing among Christian circles, but I don't 177 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,120 see where we really have the argument for it. 178 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,720 The truth is even better though. We don't just have guardian 179 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,600 angels. The truth is that we have an 180 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,680 entire guard of angels. Jesus made the point that the 181 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:07,360 angels aren't watching over you and I. 182 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,600 The angels are looking up at the face of the Father, awaiting 183 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:12,760 instruction. That's where their assignment 184 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,920 is, what would please you, Father, and then the Father. 185 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,920 But Jesus said they're angels. That's your and my angels 186 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,800 collectively together. The body of Christ has angels 187 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,800 and these angelic beings, they have been created by God to 188 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,040 serve God and to serve his children. 189 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,640 So they are ministers to us. They are servants to us and they 190 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,680 they look to the face of the Father to see what it is that He 191 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:40,400 wants to accomplish. In Scripture, it's obvious. 192 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:45,080 We can see that angels are His servants and angels are our 193 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,920 servants. In Scripture, we see angels 194 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,600 bringing messages. We see angels protecting 195 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,120 believers. We see angels serving God's 196 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,840 people, and angels have a sincere interest and a sincere 197 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,760 love for you, God's children. They're watching over God's 198 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,160 people as God has instructed them to do so. 199 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:04,960 So you can see that throughout Scripture. 200 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,760 You can see them fighting battles with with demons and and 201 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,760 fallen angels. You can see them bringing 202 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,960 messages. You can see them bringing people 203 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:15,600 out of prison cells, kicking Peter. 204 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:16,880 Hey, wake up. I'm going to lead you out of 205 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,200 this jail cell. We can see them doing all kinds 206 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,160 of things. You don't see the Saints 207 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,840 commanding angels. You see the Saints going 208 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,800 directly to the father in prayer. 209 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,800 And then the Father assigns his angels so we can, we have 210 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:34,000 promises that he will set his angels to watch over us and we 211 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,320 can remind our Father of that promise and we can thank our 212 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,600 Father for that promise. But that's not where you and I, 213 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,240 you and I would not be instructing, instructing angels. 214 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,360 We would be praying to God, walking by faith. 215 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:46,480 And then the fall, the angels are looking to the face of the 216 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,080 Father. And the Father says, you're 217 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:49,880 distributed here, you're distributed there. 218 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:51,880 And the angels are excited about this work. 219 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,480 They long, they pour over our salvation. 220 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,000 They, they wonder at it because they are not all for the 221 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,200 salvation that you and I are. 1/3 of the angels turned against 222 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:04,240 God and it's game over forever. They will burn forever in in 223 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,600 hell with all of God's enemies because they, they just, they, 224 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,000 they turned against God in disobedience with the devil. 225 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,360 Whereas you and I were offered salvation, You and I are offered 226 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:15,840 grace. You and I are offered 227 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,760 forgiveness by the blood and by the name of Jesus. 228 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,720 So why are we supposed to not despise one another? 229 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,840 Why are we not supposed to look down on the little ones? 230 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,240 Because God doesn't, because his angels don't. 231 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,920 God is so patient, God is so merciful, so don't look down on 232 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,280 others because they have angels who are committed to fulfilling 233 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,920 the will of the Father in their lives. 234 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,280 Keep going here. In verse 12, Jesus says, what do 235 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:46,240 you think? If a man has 100 sheep and one 236 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,440 of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the 237 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,320 mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 238 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,680 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more 239 00:11:56,680 --> 00:11:59,280 than over the 99. They never went astray. 240 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,040 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one 241 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,000 of these little ones should perish. 242 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,120 It's so obvious to Jesus. He makes a point that everybody 243 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,880 would have understood. Shouldn't you be celebrating 244 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,960 over the 99 that you have? Well, they're secure. 245 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,600 They're already secure. So yes, you're blessed by that. 246 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,080 And yet, like, yes, you're thankful for that. 247 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,960 But one goes missing that changes everything. 248 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,920 All of a sudden, my, my heart has left my body. 249 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,120 This is this is my responsibility. 250 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,760 This is my charge, this is my care. 251 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,120 And now I'm concerned. If a father has five children 252 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,920 and he leads them out of a burning house, only to then 253 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,200 realize that one is missing, he immediately sprints back into 254 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,680 the house for the one without thought. 255 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,000 Oh, don't you? Aren't you thankful for your 4 256 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,520 kids? Well, yeah, they're safe though. 257 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:47,640 They're secure and they're together. 258 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,520 The idea isn't that the 99 are now being put at risk somehow. 259 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,400 No, they're secure, they're taken care of, they're fine. 260 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,560 But God cares about the one that's missing. 261 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,880 Every parent who's ever lost their child for 30 seconds in 262 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,600 some public space. And you thought, what's 263 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,760 happened? Your other kids are fine, but 264 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,280 now you have one focus your entire life his boil down to 265 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:10,960 this one moment. Nothing else matters. 266 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,680 You can't see anything else. You can't think about anything 267 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:15,200 else. Nothing else matters. 268 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,080 These kids might be Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. 269 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:18,600 Can I have candy? Can I have candy? 270 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,480 Your brother is missing. Nothing else matters right now. 271 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,760 This is the priority. This is the greatest need. 272 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,240 Does that remind you of us at all as Christians? 273 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,800 Me, me, me, and the Father's going. 274 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,160 I do love you and I do care for you and I will provide for you. 275 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,400 But don't forget about my mission. 276 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,400 Don't forget about the calling that I've given you to, and 277 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,640 don't forget that I love the whole world and it's not my will 278 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:48,840 that any should perish. Your heart is focused on the one 279 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:50,960 that you lose. Any parent can relate to this. 280 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,080 As a pastor, I can relate to this. 281 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,520 I am thankful for you and I love every single face that I see 282 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,240 this morning, But I'm always concerned for the faces that I 283 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:05,040 don't see automatically, automatically like and it it, it 284 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,600 can kind of drive you to some kind of pessimism also as a 285 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,960 pastor. And all good, all good shepherds 286 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,640 feel this thing because, you know, you leave and you're 287 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,760 thinking, where's so and so? Let me text so and so was so and 288 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:17,960 so there today. You know, what did you get to so 289 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,760 and so? And we're checking and we're 290 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:20,280 caring. Why? 291 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,960 Because you're caring for the one who you feel like is most on 292 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,280 the fray. You're always concerned for the 293 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,000 way you like. It seems like they're in the 294 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,440 flock, but it seems like they're wandering from the flock 295 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,160 slightly. And that's where my heart 296 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,320 latches on to. And some would say, well, that's 297 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,040 just pessimism. Like focus on the good thing 298 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:36,840 that you have. But that's not the heart of the 299 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,520 father. The heart of the father says, if 300 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,920 there's someone on the perimeter, I'm always looking. 301 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,280 That's what good leadership does. 302 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,480 Good leadership is always finding whatever is, is it most 303 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,600 at risk? And then it's saying, well, let 304 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,480 me solve that. Let me go to work and make sure 305 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,800 that that thing is most covered. The father loves the one that's 306 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,640 most at risk, the one that's most far gone, the one that's 307 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,600 farthest out of his presence. That's the one where his 308 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,840 attention is. And when that one returns, he 309 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,440 rejoices. He rejoices more. 310 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:09,040 You got 1 sheep, you got 1. You had 99 of them. 311 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:10,480 Why weren't you throwing a party for them? 312 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,000 Because they weren't lost. But this was lost. 313 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,360 And now I've got them back. And now it's 'cause for 314 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,160 rejoicing. It's 'cause for celebration. 315 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,120 So in the same way we're to care for and rejoice over one 316 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,000 another, you are to develop the heart of a shepherd. 317 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,160 You are to develop the heart of the Father, because that's who 318 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,360 Jesus is. To look around and see people 319 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,080 that way and feel about people that way, so that you rejoice 320 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,520 over people in the same way you go, I'm so glad that they're 321 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,480 walking with the Lord. And when you've got somebody on 322 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,320 your heart and you've been praying for somebody, you reach 323 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,680 out to them and you send them that text message. 324 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,520 Hey, how are you? You've been on my heart. 325 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,120 I love you. I miss you. 326 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:59,280 Or you know for sure that they're walking in sin now and 327 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,200 you knock on their door and go, hey, I know things are difficult 328 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,000 for you right now. I'd love to be with you. 329 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,560 I'd love to see you encouraged. I'd love to see you restored. 330 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,120 I'd love to see you walking in the light. 331 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,480 That shepherding work. What if they don't want that? 332 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,840 Well, you still want it. The Father still wants it. 333 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,800 They'll get to cast their vote for sure, but make sure you cast 334 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:19,840 yours. That's so bad. 335 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:24,360 Make sure you've officially cast your vote in your prayer closet, 336 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,840 of course, but also in their life, in that relationship. 337 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,880 Make sure there's a heavenly record that says I plainly cast 338 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,000 my vote of compassion. I plainly cast my vote of love 339 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:38,120 and encouragement and blessing, seeking to restore, seeking to 340 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,400 bless. My heart rejoices over you. 341 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,720 Your heart should rejoice in the same way or in the same way that 342 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,360 our Father's heart rejoiced over all of us when we turn from our 343 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:52,680 sin and trusted in His name. Whenever I see you, just so you 344 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,480 know, as a pastor, if you've been gone and you come back, I 345 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,240 never, ever feel anything other than delight. 346 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,360 It warms my heart and blesses me. 347 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,560 Satan accuses everybody and he accuses the brethren, and it 348 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,440 tells you, well, I've been gone and now I'm going to feel 349 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,119 ashamed to come back. That's the lie of the devil. 350 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:15,119 The devil is a liar. All I feel is affection. 351 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,640 All I feel is delight. All I feel is Hallelujah. 352 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,760 Thank you, God. What a joy, what a blessing. 353 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:23,560 This is the heart of the Father for you. 354 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,000 This is the heart of your pastor for you. 355 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,760 And this is what we all want to keep cultivating so that we go 356 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,840 and set up back again. Gone tomorrow. 357 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:32,880 No, no, no, no, no. That's despising. 358 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,000 Don't you dare do that. Don't despise anyone. 359 00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:40,560 Don't write anybody off. Compassionate love, care and 360 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,000 affection. This is the love that the Lord 361 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,480 has shown to you and I. This is the love that we must 362 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,000 show to one another in Second Samuel. 363 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,880 We've got a beautiful example of the Lord's compassion, of His 364 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,120 kindness, of his goodness. Second Samuel, Chapter 9. 365 00:17:56,120 --> 00:18:00,840 Turn there with me. You got First and Second Samuel 366 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,040 in your Old Testament, First and 2nd Kings, First and Second 367 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:15,530 Chronicles, Second Samuel, Chapter 9. 368 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,120 So remember Saul and his son Jonathan, they've been killed in 369 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:29,440 battle. And whenever they were killed in 370 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:34,680 battle, the the typical thing that would happen whenever your 371 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,040 enemy king has been killed in battle, what you're going to now 372 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,640 do is you're going to go kill all of his descendants to make 373 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,760 sure nobody else can ever rise up someday and take the throne. 374 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,840 Well, David didn't do that, and instead we're going to see 375 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,360 something glorious that the Lord does and something gracious the 376 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:51,400 Lord does through David. But in Second Samuel, we have 377 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,760 this beautiful example of what the Lord has done for us. 378 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:59,040 And it's in the in the story is the man's name is Mephibosheth. 379 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:04,840 It's fun to say Mephibosheth. So when Mephibosheth was five 380 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,040 years old, Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle. 381 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,840 Word comes all the way back to where Mephibosheth has been 382 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,440 cared for. So Mephibosheth is Jonathan's 383 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,120 son. So he's being cared for by his 384 00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:18,560 nurse. And they get word that the king 385 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,600 and his son have died. So panic strikes because they 386 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,960 go, I guess David's coming to kill us all now, like, so they, 387 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,840 they need to evacuate and they do it now. 388 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,360 He's five years old. His nurse, his nurse picks him 389 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:29,880 up. She begins running. 390 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:32,720 I don't remember if it was a staircase. 391 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:34,880 If I remember correctly, I think it was stairs. 392 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,600 She stumbles and falls and drops Mephibosheth. 393 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,400 They both fall down the stairs and he is paralysed from the 394 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,160 waist down. He's lame in his feet for the 395 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:44,840 rest of his life, as the scripture says. 396 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,960 So at least from his waist down it seems because it says both 397 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,480 feet are lame. So this happened when he was 398 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:55,240 five years old and now we pick up, he's probably 20 to 25 years 399 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:59,680 old here in Chapter 9. And David said, Is there still 400 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,600 anyone in the House of Saul that I may show him kindness for 401 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:06,520 Jonathan's sake? So remember, Jonathan was a 402 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:08,680 close, close, loving friend of David. 403 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,320 Now there was a servant in the House of Saul whose name was 404 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,240 Zeba, and they called him to David. 405 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:14,840 And the king said to him, Are you Zeba? 406 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,480 And he said, I am your servant. And the king said, is there not 407 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,200 someone in the House of Saul that I may show the kindness of 408 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,000 God to him? Zeba said to the king, There is 409 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,880 still a son of Jonathan. He has crippled in his feet. 410 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:28,640 The king said to him, Where is he? 411 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,120 And Zeba said to the king, He is in the House of Mekir the son of 412 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:36,360 Emil ET Laudibar, the King David. 413 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,200 Then King David sent and brought him from the House of Mekir the 414 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,640 son of Emil at Laudibar. And Mephibosheth the son of 415 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:50,360 Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell on his face, and 416 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:53,880 paid homage. And David said Mephibosheth. 417 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,040 And he answered, Behold, I am your servant. 418 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:58,960 And David said to him, do not fear. 419 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,000 Why is he fearing? Because he's figuring out. 420 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,720 David finally found me. I was hiding in load a bar, 421 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,280 which means the place of no pasture. 422 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,880 So he's in a barren place. This sound familiar? 423 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:12,000 If you need a mirror, there's one. 424 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,480 It's us. You and I are Mephibosheth, 425 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:18,880 lonely, isolated, broken. And now the king is calling him. 426 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,800 David said to him, do not fear, I will show you kindness for the 427 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,680 sake of your father Jonathan and I will restore to you all of the 428 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:32,520 land of soul your father and you shall eat at my table always. 429 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,040 What an upgrade, what a day from Mephibosheth. 430 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,000 King David wants to see you. Well, I knew this day was 431 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,600 coming. And then he gets into the 432 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:45,360 presence of it falls on his face and he says, I'm so happy to see 433 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:47,240 you. Your father and I were best 434 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,080 friends and I'm going to show you such love and kindness for 435 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:54,240 your Father's sake. This is how God the Father sees 436 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,400 you, church. This is how he loves you. 437 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,800 For Jesus sake, you and I get all the blessings of Christ. 438 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,240 You and I get the restoration of the inheritance. 439 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,520 Mephibosheth, you're going to eat at my table from now on. 440 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,760 You'll eat what I eat and you'll sit with me. 441 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:09,880 And also I'm going to restore to you all the lands. 442 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:13,880 Mephibosheth went from poverty to great wealth instantly at the 443 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:19,880 word of the King. You shall eat at my table 444 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,080 always. And he paid homage and said, 445 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:26,040 what is your servant? That you should show regard for 446 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:32,280 a dead dog such as I. So here we have the heartbeat of 447 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:36,440 God underneath all this, just showing that God loves people so 448 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,600 much, He loves you so much. You are Mephibosheth, I am 449 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,560 Mephibosheth, and the person in beside you and behind you and 450 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,400 around you is Mephibosheth. And Jesus is the greater King 451 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,320 David. He is the great King who 452 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,640 restores us and who gives us the inheritance. 453 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,640 Divine love is what God is looking for in his church. 454 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:03,320 Back in Matthew chapter 18. We have much that we're going to 455 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,040 continue to look at as we go through this passage in the next 456 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:10,640 couple of weeks. It's an important chapter for 457 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,720 our entire New Testament. I told you because there's so 458 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,440 much here to help shape what's supposed to happen in the 459 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,800 household of God, but primarily He wants love. 460 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,720 This is how people will know that we are the disciples of 461 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,200 Christ by the love we have for one another. 462 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,640 Divine love is the freshwater that flushes out all kinds of 463 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:34,720 toxins, like pride, like jealousy, like rage, like lust, 464 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,840 like greed, like gossip, like cruelty and all forms of 465 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:41,000 disobedience. What does it do? 466 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,800 It protects us from despising or looking down on anyone. 467 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,120 Why is that such a big deal? It seems like there's worse 468 00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:49,080 sins. Well, the greatest command is to 469 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,880 love God and to love others. So we have no business. 470 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,200 We have no right despising or looking down on anyone. 471 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,040 The Lord is wanting to share his heart with us. 472 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:00,360 Honor everyone in the Kingdom community. 473 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:01,680 This is what Jesus is looking for. 474 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:05,640 Everyone who gets honored in the Kingdom community, the in the 475 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:07,560 Kingdom community. We are not a meritocracy. 476 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,760 It is not what you've accomplished get you privilege 477 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:13,040 in the Kingdom. Jesus said just the opposite. 478 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,120 It hasn't about what you've accomplished, it's about what 479 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:17,960 Jesus has accomplished. This is the story. 480 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,680 This is the message. Do we have roles? 481 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,560 Do we have assignments? Do we have authority? 482 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:24,640 We certainly do. All those things are true. 483 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:26,560 But do we have equal value and worth? 484 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:31,480 Absolutely equal value, equal. Equal worth, equal to be 485 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,120 cherished, equal to be loved, equal to be cared for. 486 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:39,960 Honor everyone in the Kingdom community. 487 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,800 Next week we're going to see where Jesus teaches us how to 488 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:46,760 deal with sin in his family. But first he deals with the sin 489 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:51,720 of despising one another. So do not despise anyone who's 490 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,680 not gifted in the way that you are, who doesn't think the way 491 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,640 that you think. Don't look down on them because 492 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,560 of their maturity or their immaturity. 493 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:02,920 They are valuable to God because they are God's children. 494 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,640 Jesus sees the smoldering Wick. It's just barely flickering. 495 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:10,280 He doesn't extinguish it. He doesn't go, well, that's not 496 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,680 providing enough light, enough of it. 497 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,520 He sees the bruised Reed that's bent and bowed over and he goes, 498 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:18,640 well, that one doesn't look strong like the others, so go 499 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,920 ahead and cut it down. It's not his attitude towards 500 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:23,920 you. His attitude towards you is one 501 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:25,960 of patience. It's one of mercy. 502 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:28,760 It's one of kindness. You and I have all been the 503 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,960 smoldering Wick. You and I have all been the 504 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,560 bruised and broken Reed. And Jesus says, well I'll come 505 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:37,200 bind it up, I'll come heal you, I'll come restore you, I'll come 506 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:38,640 make you new. This is the good news of the 507 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,560 gospel. We're not disposed of and we're 508 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,200 not cast aside. The weaker parts are in fact 509 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:48,440 cared for more lovingly. The so-called little ones. 510 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:53,080 You and I are cherished and we don't even have anyone other 511 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:54,720 than little ones in the Kingdom of God. 512 00:25:55,360 --> 00:25:58,040 This is his point. If you're in the Kingdom of God, 513 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,840 it's because you are a little one and if you're not in the 514 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,480 Kingdom of God it's because you are not a little. 1 You won't 515 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,840 make yourself low. Remember, you cannot even enter 516 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:09,080 the Kingdom of God. Disciples arguing about hey, 517 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,600 who's going to be the greatest? Hey guys, I need to rewind you. 518 00:26:12,360 --> 00:26:14,720 I need to take you back. Forget being the greatest. 519 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,080 You won't even be in it at all unless you make yourselves 520 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,720 humble like little children. That's step one. 521 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,040 Then you want to get in and then you want to be the greatest 522 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:23,840 also. Just be humble like little 523 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:25,640 children. That's what pleases me. 524 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,240 Why does God talk this way? Because God is so humble. 525 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:33,080 God who became man, God who sacrifices himself, has no 526 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:36,960 tolerance for us being prideful and especially with one another. 527 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:42,760 Keep going here in verse 14. So it is not the will of my 528 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:46,720 Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should 529 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,480 perish. Look what God doesn't do. 530 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:53,120 He does not just cut his losses and protect what remains. 531 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:57,560 Whenever he says I got well, at least I got 99 sheep. 532 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,680 I lost one. I'll do better next time. 533 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,560 I'll pay closer attention. I'll make sure the wolves and 534 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,560 the bears don't carry any more off. 535 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,080 The Good Shepherd cares about every single person. 536 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,800 This is why he launched the greatest rescue mission in the 537 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,280 history of the world when he came. 538 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,400 It's not his will that anybody perishes. 539 00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:19,520 How is your heart affected by this? 540 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,240 How's your heart affected by your brothers and by your 541 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:22,680 sisters? Are you paying attention to 542 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,120 them? Are you watching? 543 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:27,160 Do you care? Have you noticed anybody else? 544 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:29,600 Or are you only thinking about yourself? 545 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:31,960 Where's my walk with the Lord? Where's my walk with the Lord? 546 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,680 Where's my walk with the Lord? Where's their walk with the 547 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,760 Lord? Who have you encouraged? 548 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:39,320 Who have you blessed? Who have you looked out for? 549 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,200 Who have you watched over? Who have you been your brother's 550 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,800 keeper for? Jesus is the Good Shepherd who 551 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,120 goes out to find the lost sheep. He's the Good Shepherd who left 552 00:27:49,120 --> 00:27:52,840 the glory of heaven to seek and save those who were lost. 553 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:58,360 He did it for you, He and He's also doing it through you. 554 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:01,680 So this is the two pronged message of the gospel. 555 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,920 You were saved. And also go out now with the 556 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:09,560 shepherd's heart. Go out now with the Lord's will. 557 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:13,040 Go out now with the Lord's desire and see people the way 558 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,520 God sees people. You have the mission of God 559 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,520 assigned to your life that you would rescue others as you have 560 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,800 been rescued. You are so loved and we're 561 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:28,400 closing. God has angels to watch the 562 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,920 Father's instruction for you. Jesus has come for you. 563 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,800 Trust Jesus. Be strengthened by Jesus, but be 564 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,560 sent out by Jesus. What about me? 565 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:39,080 What about me? You're loved. 566 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,000 What more do you want to know? I could go on and on and on 567 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,480 about the love of the Father for you, and I'm happy to. 568 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:46,760 What about me, Pastor? You're loved. 569 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:48,800 That's what I can tell you about you. 570 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,640 You're cherished. You are cared for. 571 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,560 It would be nice if somebody chased me down. 572 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,600 If you were lost, we would. If you were lost, he would. 573 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,040 But now that you're in the fold, now that you're in the 574 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,240 household, you can enjoy everything the father has 575 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:08,920 belongs to you. The prodigal son, wasteful goes 576 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:15,080 off, spends everything he has on sinful, wicked living and 577 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:17,840 finally comes back and says, I'll just I'm ashamed. 578 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,440 He comes back rehearsing his I'm so sorry speech. 579 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,720 I'll be a slave in your house. Speech and the father's 580 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,240 rejoicing. Throw a party. 581 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:29,760 Get the best robe. Get the gold ring. 582 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,720 Kill the fatted calf. Why am I celebrating? 583 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,200 Because my son was dead. And now he's alive. 584 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:36,360 He was lost. And now he's found. 585 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,120 But the older brother, he won't even come inside. 586 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:41,120 He refused to come into the house. 587 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:43,840 I've. I've been obedient to you for 588 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,960 years, Father. I never got to a big festival 589 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:48,360 like this. I never got a party. 590 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:51,280 And the father comes outside. Son, I love you. 591 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,840 I love you. Everything I have is always 592 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,200 yours, buddy. But your brother's back. 593 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:00,800 So this is cause for celebration. 594 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,720 Love your brother. Don't. 595 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,120 Didn't you miss your brother? Don't you see that we've gained 596 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,480 something that we didn't have? Son, I love you. 597 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,520 And I've always had you. But if you were lost, I'd come 598 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,880 for you. But your brother's back. 599 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:20,200 Saints, let's not be the older brother, the angry brother who's 600 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:21,120 going. What about me? 601 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:24,640 You're loved. Everything you want, everything 602 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:26,320 you need is provided by your father. 603 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:28,920 Now, do you see your other brother? 604 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,600 Are you happy for him? Are you rejoicing over him? 605 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,280 Do you care? Are you, are you thankful that 606 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,840 she's come back? Are you thankful that she's 607 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,920 getting attention and that she's getting love and that she's 608 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,440 getting congratulations and encouragement? 609 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,560 She needs it. Well, I don't get that kind of 610 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,600 attention. If I if we knew you needed it, 611 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,720 we'd we'd pour it on. If you were crying out for 612 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,360 attention, I'd give you nothing but attention. 613 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,440 You can have all the attention you want because you're loved. 614 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:00,600 There's no competition among us. It's just identifying. 615 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,760 Where is the pain? Where is the injury? 616 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,360 When you stub your pinky toe in your house in the middle of the 617 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:10,200 night, the whole body reacts to 1 little toe. 618 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,720 The head, the back, the hands, everybody. 619 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,280 Then the shoulder doesn't go. What about me? 620 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:19,240 What about me? Nobody cares about me. 621 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,120 What shoulder? You're OK, but pinky toe is 622 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,760 struggling right now. And pinky toe makes the whole 623 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:28,400 body hurt. We all feel the whole body is 624 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,720 seized up. If one of us hurts, we're all 625 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,040 hurt. That's how a body works because 626 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:37,360 we're we're connected. We're not to be individuals. 627 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:40,880 We're to be a body with Jesus as the head. 628 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:43,360 So the head says, don't despise one another. 629 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:48,840 Well, I'm the hand. Praise God for the role that he 630 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:52,640 gave you. I'm the, I'm the ear. 631 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:57,840 Praise the Lord for the position he put you in. 632 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:05,320 Well, I'm the eyes. Praise God for the position he 633 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:09,520 assigned to you. Well, I'm just this Praise God 634 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:13,160 for the position he put you in. I'm just, I'm just, I'm just 635 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:14,600 pleased to be in the body of Christ. 636 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:16,840 I'm just thankful that's enough for me. 637 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:19,160 Easy for you to say. You're a pastor. 638 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,600 I'm happy to be a nobody. I could vanish and never be 639 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:26,360 heard from again if it pleases the Lord, whatever he wants. 640 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:28,640 Amen. That's a blessing. 641 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:30,240 As long as I get to be with the Saints. 642 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:32,160 As long as I get to be with the people of God. 643 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:34,040 Are you kidding me? What a joy. 644 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,600 What a gift. So rejoice over one another. 645 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,760 We want to go so much far past. This is like step one. 646 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:45,520 Don't despise one another, OK? Just don't look down on anybody. 647 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:47,920 Of course, our New Testament goes on and continues to build 648 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,800 the case. Honor one another, honor one 649 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,520 another, outdo one another in showing honor for one another. 650 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:56,800 Those are the high levels of love. 651 00:32:57,320 --> 00:32:59,320 How can I care for them? How can I bless them? 652 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,240 How can I elevate them and build them up? 653 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:06,400 You are a sheep who was found, but now you're also a shepherd 654 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,000 in the search party. We're going to take the last 655 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,320 couple minutes here together to just pray, and we're going to 656 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:16,280 raise our voices together to pray for one another, to pray 657 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:19,600 for those who aren't yet in the Father's house. 658 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:23,040 In this passage, Jesus is referencing all of God's 659 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,480 children who are in his house but maybe have wandered. 660 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:28,280 But we're going to, we're going to take this time as a church to 661 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,960 pray for whoever would come on your heart. 662 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,920 Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus, and we 663 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,920 thank you for your compassion and for your care. 664 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:40,080 And we lift up one another right now. 665 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,720 We pray for the Saints, We pray for the believers, the little 666 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,560 ones who are close to you and the little ones who have stepped 667 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:51,080 away from the warmth, who have stepped away from the fire, and 668 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:54,920 who are who are in a dangerous place, who are walking in sin, 669 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,080 who are being tempted by the enemy, who are discouraged, who 670 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,520 are being accused, who are being overwhelmed, who are being beat 671 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:03,120 down. God, we ask that you would raise 672 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:04,600 them up and that you would strengthen them. 673 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:07,440 Lord, I pray for every single one that's being laid on the 674 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,440 hearts of the Saints right now, that the Saints would also reach 675 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:14,360 out, that the Saints would have Holy Spirit wisdom, Holy Spirit 676 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,760 love, Holy Spirit conviction to to reach out and to snatch those 677 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:22,480 loved ones from the fire, hating even the clothing that is Saint 678 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:26,120 stained by sinful flesh, but dearly and deeply loving and not 679 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,800 despising the one that Jesus came to save. 680 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:33,679 God help us in our own hearts, drive out any older brother 681 00:34:33,679 --> 00:34:38,120 attitude where we would have a a despising attitude, a selfish 682 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,400 attitude or a prideful attitude for any who are wandering, for 683 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,360 any who are lost. God, I pray for any in here this 684 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:47,080 morning, this moment, or even listening under the sound of my 685 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:49,600 voice. If they are far from you, if 686 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:51,520 they know that they are the one far away. 687 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:53,960 I just want to tell you right now that the Father is searching 688 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,760 for you. He is coming for you. 689 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:58,240 He has come for you even through this sermon. 690 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:02,320 He has come for you through the name and through the blood of 691 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:06,280 Jesus, and he eagerly welcomes you back. 692 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:11,120 The Father is looking for the slightest, the slightest act of 693 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:14,160 repentance on your part. And He's eager to throw a party. 694 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,680 He's eager to rejoice. And as the body of Christ, we 695 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,520 are eager to rejoice alongside. We're eager, eager to rejoice 696 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:23,000 and see you restored and strengthened. 697 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,240 How many times? 70 * 7 We'll do it over and over 698 00:35:27,240 --> 00:35:30,560 and over again. God, continue to cultivate our 699 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:34,240 heart to make it look more like the heart of Jesus. 700 00:35:35,720 --> 00:35:39,640 Give us wisdom, give us strength, give us care, give us 701 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,360 compassion. Open the eyes of our hearts for 702 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:45,520 the lost world around us. Come on, sayings, pray for those 703 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:49,800 loved ones, those friends, those family members, those enemies. 704 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,400 God, help us to love them. Help us to love them. 705 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,600 You commanded us, Jesus, even to love our enemies, so they might 706 00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,720 be an enemy to us. But let it be said that we are 707 00:35:59,720 --> 00:36:03,120 still a friend to them. Let it be said, God, that we 708 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,920 still want what's best for that person, that we still want good 709 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,400 outcomes for them, that we would not rejoice at their demise, but 710 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:11,720 they were. That we grieve over it. 711 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:14,960 God save them from hell. Rescue them from hell. 712 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:18,120 Those people who spoke those evil words about us, those 713 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:21,320 people who lied about us, those people who deliberately harmed 714 00:36:21,320 --> 00:36:24,840 us, Jesus, they didn't crucify us. 715 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:26,960 They didn't hang us up on a cross. 716 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:30,480 And we didn't ask you to forgive them for that like you did for 717 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,200 your enemies, Lord, as you prayed to the Father. 718 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,680 Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do. 719 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,320 Lord, if you could do it, how much more can we forgive all 720 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:41,520 these lesser and lower things that have been committed against 721 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:47,400 us? God cultivates such a sweetness 722 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:51,720 in this church and I pray that it would begin with me. 723 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:56,200 Not that I would get the any credit for it, but just God. 724 00:36:56,200 --> 00:37:02,000 That I know I'm so guilty. I know I'm so guilty of 725 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:06,720 despising my enemies. I know I'm so guilty of harsh 726 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:11,720 and and unredemptive judgement. And I confess my sins before you 727 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:19,720 and before your people. I humble myself, knowing that I 728 00:37:19,720 --> 00:37:23,160 need the the cleansing of the blood and knowing that I need 729 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:27,280 more of the heart of the Father, more compassion, more 730 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:36,440 tenderness. Yes, give me more of your 731 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:37,840 tenderness. God give, give us a heart like 732 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:42,040 David, who was eager to restore Mephibosheth, excited to to give 733 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:44,800 that blessing, excited to give that shrink to the one who 734 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:48,440 thought he was so unworthy, to the one who was so discouraged. 735 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:54,280 A broken man, a lonely man to be restored, to come into the 736 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:56,920 throne room of the king, to feast at the King's table. 737 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:01,600 That is what you've done for us. You brought us resurrection. 738 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:05,040 You brought us life. You gave us an inheritance, all 739 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:09,080 because of the affection that you have for your son Jesus to 740 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:13,760 glorify his name and to give him the nations as his inheritance. 741 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:21,400 Father, fulfill your promise to Jesus to bring him all the 742 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:25,480 nations as His inheritance and do it in our lives. 743 00:38:26,080 --> 00:38:27,760 We're part of His inheritance, God. 744 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:31,560 And now send us out as other shepherds, as friends, as 745 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:39,280 family, as loved ones, as the powerful anointed church, the 746 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:44,440 hope of God and the earth. God, as we approach our 4th 747 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:48,800 birthday, I pray that we would redouble our efforts as disciple 748 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:57,960 makers, not sermon listeners. The Word of God obeying, Holy 749 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:02,000 Spirit filled disciple making Saints who walk in a deep love 750 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,520 and a deep care. Lord, as we prayed Wednesday 751 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:12,720 night together, we pray again now that we commit and we we set 752 00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:14,240 apart the next four years for you. 753 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:18,840 We devote it to you, God. We ask you would make us more 754 00:39:18,840 --> 00:39:20,880 obedient. We ask you would help us to walk 755 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:26,760 more in step with Your spirit in the next 4 years, that it would 756 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:28,440 be more fruitful by your judgment. 757 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:30,720 That it would be more faithful by your judgment. 758 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:33,560 That it would be more filled with Your presence. 759 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:35,640 We want more of you and we need more of you. 760 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:40,280 We love you, Lord. I plead the blood of Jesus over 761 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:43,960 your people. We thank you for forgiving us 762 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:48,760 and for strengthening us. We thank you for one another. 763 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:54,440 Thank you for the gifts of the body we submit together under 764 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:57,360 the head. In Jesus name we thank you and 765 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:01,000 now the Lord bless you and keep you. 766 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:05,960 The Lord make his face Shinedown upon you and be gracious to you. 767 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:10,080 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you great 768 00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:13,120 peace in Jesus name. Amen. 769 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:13,480 Amen.