1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 We are on a journey this year. If you're brand new to us, if 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:04,760 you're watching online, hello, welcome to you. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:12,800 We spend time we being me in August away on the mountain of 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,080 the Lord, listening to the Father saying God. 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,160 What is your heart for Illuminate Church in the next 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,000 year? And last year when I went away, 7 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,920 I kept getting this reverberating sense that God was 8 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,400 saying of the church in general, which includes Illuminate 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,600 Church, that my. People are biblically 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,840 illiterate. And my people don't know My 11 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,920 word, that they don't know the power of My Word. 12 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,880 And if the people don't know my word, then they don't know the 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,320 truth of my word. And where the Spirit of the Lord 14 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,760 is, there is freedom, right? And when the Lord's truth is in 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,440 the room, his truth brings freedom. 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,240 Because this is what I mean. This is the Bible that I'm 17 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,600 speaking to you. Where the Spirit of the Lord 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,520 there is, where there is truth, there is. 19 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,320 And so if we don't know the truth and we're lacking. 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,440 Can you imagine the people who call themselves disciples of 21 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,879 Jesus Christ are the ones who are not free because we don't 22 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:08,960 know the power and the person of the word, instead deciding to 23 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:11,600 not be biblically illiterate and. 24 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,120 Armed with the Word of God, the power of God, the truth of God, 25 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,680 we are going to be a transformed, transformative 26 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,680 people meaning ourselves, transformed by the Word of God 27 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,680 into the likeness of Jesus Christ, and then ourselves 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,560 leading other people to the revolution of revelation that we 29 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,680 accept ourselves, have experienced. 30 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,320 Are you understanding? But there is no revelation for 31 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:39,800 somebody else if we don't have it ourselves to give to them. 32 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:42,800 How can they know unless somebody speaks? 33 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:44,600 And how can you speak it if you do not know the word? 34 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,640 So we've determined ourselves to become biblically literate. 35 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,040 In our last series, we Were in Faith Begins. 36 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,880 Which was our heritage or is our heritage? 37 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,840 It's the origin of our relationship with the Almighty 38 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,560 all loving God. It's the start of what's called 39 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,160 the meta narrative. 1 singular Crimson thread that binds the 40 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,480 entirety of scriptures. This is not a collection of 41 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,520 stories. It is one connected, purposeful, 42 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:18,760 singularly themed story that begins in Genesis. 43 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,760 And here's the theme, we've talked about it a lot last 44 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,320 series. God's intent is to dwell with 45 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,840 humanity. That's why he created, that's 46 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,080 why he does what he does. And everything that he does is 47 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,800 just to be near you, to spend time with you and you have the 48 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,640 benefit of also than spending time with him. 49 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:43,240 Imagine if your life mate, your travelling partner everywhere 50 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,760 you go is the source of all Lovejoy and peace of all life, 51 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,960 the one who's able easily to thwart the attacks of the enemy, 52 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,600 constantly with you, abiding with you. 53 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,240 That's his intent for you, and we are meeting him in that 54 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,200 intent. God in love came to dwell with 55 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,000 us. That's the story that begins in 56 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,680 Genesis. Now, as we move to the age of 57 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,160 Jesus and focus on his teaching, here's what we're going to find. 58 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,040 His Kingdom is being unveiled. This series is called The 59 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,080 Kingdom Unveiled, and his Kingdom is still advancing to 60 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:15,480 this day. Why everyone say? 61 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,760 Why? So that God can dwell with more 62 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,880 and more and more people, and so that more and more people can 63 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,800 dwell with God. His Kingdom advances on the 64 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,680 earth, the unveiled Kingdom. The question we must ask 65 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,200 ourselves as we approach the teachings of Jesus and 66 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,040 understand the meta narrative is how can I partner with God's 67 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,200 unveiled Kingdom right here on the earth today? 68 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,480 Good news is, this is exactly what the parables of Jesus teach 69 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,160 us. That we'll be looking at in the 70 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,600 series. No one gets excited about 71 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,440 parables, but you get excited about I get a partner with God 72 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:50,840 and the Kingdom advancing on the earth. 73 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,920 How do I do that? By understanding the parables, I 74 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,600 said this last week, let me just repeat it. 75 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,440 You'll see it on the screen. Jesus didn't just come to save 76 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,840 us to a future Kingdom, but to reveal the reality of the 77 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,960 present here on earth. Kingdom, somebody say Amen. 78 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,200 It's through the parables that we can understand another reason 79 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,520 why Jesus came in the flesh. Certainly, for God so loved the 80 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,080 world that He gave us one. And only son, that whoever 81 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:15,720 believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting 82 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:16,120 life. Amen. 83 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:16,600 Amen. Amen. 84 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:18,839 That's one reason he came in the flesh. 85 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,120 Another reason that he came in the flesh is to reveal the 86 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,560 Kingdom, not just for salvation, but for revelation. 87 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,920 And as we understand the revelation, we can see our. 88 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,000 Part that we play in the meta narrative. 89 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,400 All the history of the church has now landed on our shoulders. 90 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,240 What are we to do and how are we to do it? 91 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,440 The parables teach us. In this summer series, as we 92 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,360 study the parables, we must realize that we are not waiting 93 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,480 for a future in heaven. You get saved, then there's a 94 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,840 long. Time until you die and then you 95 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:55,520 go to heaven and that's where the fun begins. 96 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,320 What kind of relationship is that? 97 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,080 But heaven is what we are bringing to earth now. 98 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,640 It's what Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew chapter 6 verse 99 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,560 10, saying on earth as it is in heaven. 100 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,680 The fullness of the Kingdom of heaven on earth here and today, 101 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,560 right now, Believe it in the church age, what we're doing is 102 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,280 recreating the relationship that was started in the garden, 103 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,800 living in the light of the blood of Jesus Christ, the resurrected 104 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,440 Savior. Each of these parables unpacks 105 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,800 something very specific, but something essential for us, the 106 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,240 church, to replicate the Kingdom here on earth today. 107 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,080 So what we read in the parable is instruction from Jesus to 108 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,920 replicate in the church and in the earth today. 109 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,680 Somebody say I got it. Before we go any further, let's 110 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,360 talk about this weird word that we only use in the church, at 111 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,200 least as far as I know. Parables, everyone say parables. 112 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,280 Yeah, parables is not. Two bulls. 113 00:05:58,460 --> 00:06:00,820 This is what dad jokes do. They kind of rumble. 114 00:06:01,700 --> 00:06:03,780 If you want dad jokes, make sure you're for Father's Day. 115 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,040 We always have fun on Father's Day. 116 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,640 Amen. Yeah. 117 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:11,120 What is a parable? Parable we think of as a story. 118 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:16,440 But what parable literally means is to throw alongside to throw 119 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,800 something alongside something. A parable places a simple, 120 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:25,400 everyday human scenario right beside a deep, complex truth. 121 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,600 So the listener us, we can learn by comparison. 122 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,240 This is the deep mysterious truth. 123 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,040 And here's this easy to understand story. 124 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,200 Now I understand the deep truth. Are you following? 125 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,120 Say yes. Let me give you a parable. 126 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:43,600 Can I just give you a parable right here, right now? 127 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,120 Let's say that the deep truth I wanted to share with you is that 128 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:51,080 AI algorithms cannot decipher intent, nuance, or deception. 129 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,320 Like, OK, I think I understand what you're saying. 130 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:56,600 Can you give me something? More to help me understand what 131 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,440 you're saying. Well, suppose there was a man 132 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,600 who wanted to buy a new refrigerator that could help him 133 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,680 stay healthy. Wouldn't that be great? 134 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,840 So he buys an AI refrigerator and says, help me be healthy. 135 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,400 So the AI refrigerator, using all this algorithms and doing 136 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,960 what it does, orders the first batch of groceries. 137 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,960 They show up. The man grabs the groceries. 138 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:18,800 He puts them all the way, including this. 139 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,400 Vegetable that's come to life in the last 20 years? 140 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:25,000 I never heard of it until like 20 years ago maybe. 141 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:34,080 It's called kale. I mean, when I was a kid we had 142 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,680 tacos and meat. Meat. 143 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,160 What do you call those meat sandwiches, Man? 144 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,640 Witches. We didn't have no kale. 145 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,160 Did anyone hear of kale before 20 years ago? 146 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,040 You're blessed. You're blessed and you're lying. 147 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:54,000 OK, so the AI sees them to the kale in the fridge. 148 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,960 It's got everything in there. And the man's like, I don't like 149 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:57,920 kale. And he puts it in the back of 150 00:07:57,920 --> 00:07:59,840 the drawer so it's hidden. He's like, I don't want to eat 151 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:01,600 that. And back there it shrivels and 152 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,040 it kind of gets like. Wilty, you know what all these 153 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,360 leafy things do and the AI algorithm goes, oh the kale is 154 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,960 missing. This boy likes some kale, so the 155 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:13,520 AI algorithm says I'm going to get 2. 156 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,080 The next grocery show up, there's 2 bags of kale there. 157 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,080 The guy's like, I don't even. He puts them in the fridge and 158 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,400 he walks away. He's like, wait a second. 159 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,120 If I keep putting these things in my fridge, the algorithm is 160 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:23,720 going to think I like them. So he takes them out of the 161 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:26,240 fridge and throws them away, and the AI algorithm goes whoa. 162 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,400 He really loves some kale and the next grocery order there is 163 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,679 4 bags of kale. The guy's like, what, the kale? 164 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:42,679 And he puts them away careful. This is the end of my story. 165 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,280 Jesus teaches better parables, let's be honest. 166 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,840 But now you can understand a little bit better when I tell 167 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,480 you the deep truth that AI algorithms cannot decipher 168 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,040 intent, nuance, or deception. You understand it better because 169 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:02,520 I threw a story alongside it. And really, we do need to learn 170 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:05,080 a lot about AI. There are going to be kids born 171 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,480 very soon who will never live in a world without AI. 172 00:09:08,560 --> 00:09:09,760 Ain't that great? I mean, there's already kids 173 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,760 being born. They're like, what was it like 174 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,280 before AI? Like, great. 175 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,400 It was so awesome. Yeah. 176 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,200 Some people call a parable an earthly story with a heavenly 177 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,960 meaning. Now here's what's interesting 178 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,800 and a very important piece of knowledge for us to add to our 179 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,840 biblical literacy tool belt. Jesus didn't always use 180 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,320 parables. In fact, the first part of his 181 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:39,200 ministry he never used them. He spoke plainly and clearly. 182 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,040 Then right near the middle of his ministry, Jesus all of a 183 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,840 sudden starts to use parables in his ministry, if not as the only 184 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,680 teaching tool, the primary one. Why? 185 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:53,680 Why the switch? What does it mean all? 186 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:56,120 I'm glad to that you asked. I want to read together this 187 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:57,920 parable. It's in Matthew chapter 13, the 188 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:00,000 first of the parables. If you have a Bible, open it to 189 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,600 13 Matthew 13. If you need a Bible, raise your 190 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,320 hand and we will be be glad to bring you one. 191 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,200 If you're online, Matthew 13. It'll be floating above my head 192 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,680 all sorts of. Ways to see the Word of God 193 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:18,880 Matthew chapter 13 Jesus begins teaching in a parable verse. 194 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,640 One says that that same day Jesus went out of the house and 195 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,240 sat by the lake. Let's pause because I want you 196 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,680 to visualize this. All right. 197 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,200 Don't just hear the story, but but see it. 198 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,480 Jesus is in the house. He's got these stone built 199 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,320 houses. He walks out to the Sea of 200 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,080 Galilee, this incredibly beautiful and it's called the 201 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:41,200 sea, but it's a gigantic lake glistening in the sun. 202 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,240 He walks down and verse 2 says such large crowds gathered 203 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,840 around him, thousands would usually follow him, that he 204 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,280 leaves the shore and he himself goes out just a little bit and 205 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,160 he's sitting in a boat out there and they're all in the shore 206 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,200 like an amphitheater looking at Jesus. 207 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,320 Can you see it? Can you see it? 208 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:01,560 While all the people stood on the shore? 209 00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:04,520 It says then verse 3, then he told them many things in 210 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,560 parables, saying here's the first one. 211 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,400 A farmer went out to sow a seed. As he was scattering the seeds, 212 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,080 some fell along the path. The birds came and ate it up. 213 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,160 Some fell on rocky places where it did not have much soil. 214 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,160 It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow, but when the 215 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,360 sun came up the plants were scorched, and they were withered 216 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,120 because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns 217 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,960 which grew up and choked the plants, but still other seed 218 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,880 fell on good soil, where it produced a crop 100 a 60 or 30 219 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:39,280 times what was sown then. Verse 9 Whoever has ears, let 220 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,880 them hear. OK, let's start with this last 221 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:48,480 line first. Whoever has ears, let them hear. 222 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,280 Can you see the disciples faces? I just picture Peter. 223 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,200 He's he's on the shore with everyone else and he's like, 224 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:02,880 what did Jesus just say? Whoever has ears, he's looking 225 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,920 around at everyone's noggins like. 226 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:10,880 Hey, Jesus, As far as I can tell, everybody here has ears 227 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,080 and you're just right there in the boat. 228 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:22,120 I'm pretty sure that everybody here, everybody heard you like, 229 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,560 unless I'm. Mistaken and these. 230 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:27,360 Wrinkly flappy things on our head aren't meant to be failed 231 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,360 wings, but actually Soundwave collecting devices, and I have 232 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,960 gigantic ones. Don't stare. 233 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:42,320 Everybody heard this. No, nobody missed what you said. 234 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,120 You know, Jesus says whoever has ears, let them hear Jesus. 235 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:51,560 In the Speaking of this parable and even this line, whoever has 236 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:56,440 ears, let them hear has just made a strategic pivot. 237 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,360 He's never said this phrase before. 238 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,120 Whoever has ears, let them hear. Not after he called his first 239 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,400 disciples. Not after the Sermon on the 240 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,760 Mount, the best sermon ever preached, Matthew chapter 5, six 241 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,040 and seven. Not after he heals the sick. 242 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,200 Not after he casts out demons. Not after he raises the dead. 243 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,880 Not after he sends out the disciples in the ministry. 244 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,000 Jesus has never said these words, and he's done all of that 245 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:26,440 up to this point. Whoever has ears to hear, let 246 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:27,600 them hear. Why the pivot? 247 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,560 Why is he moving from plain teaching to parables? 248 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:33,200 You're not the only one wondering. 249 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,080 The disciples also wondered look at verse 10 the disciples came 250 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,080 to them and asked, why do you speak to the people in parables? 251 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:45,240 Why are you talking gibberish? Jesus verse 11, he replied. 252 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:46,640 Because the knowledge of the secrets of the. 253 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,160 Kingdom of Heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 254 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,600 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. 255 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,040 Whoever does not have even what they have will be taken. 256 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,280 From them. This is why I speak to them in 257 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,120 parables. Those seeing, they do not see, 258 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,120 though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 259 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:06,400 And them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. 260 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,840 You will be ever hearing, but never understanding. 261 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,080 You will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 262 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:13,760 For this people's heart has become callous. 263 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,800 They hardly hear with their ears and have closed their eyes. 264 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,360 Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their 265 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,440 ears, understand with their hearts, and turn. 266 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:26,360 And I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, 267 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,520 because they see. And your ears, because they 268 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,480 hear. For truly, I tell you, many 269 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,760 prophets and righteous people long to see what you see but did 270 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:38,560 not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 271 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,520 Everybody had the opportunity to hear. 272 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:46,920 Some did and some didn't. And those that heard, perceived, 273 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,920 understood, heard more. And those who were unwilling to 274 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:55,760 see and to. Hear understood less this is a 275 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,760 pivot. There's a catalyst. 276 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,120 Incident that happens that causes the pivot that I want to 277 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:04,040 draw your attention to in the. Chapters that directly precede 278 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:09,080 this shift, such as specifically Matthew chapter 12, the 279 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,440 Pharisees and the scribes, have started to become part of the 280 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,720 people listening to Jesus. When Jesus starts his ministry, 281 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,400 he's preaching in front of people have no idea who he is. 282 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,440 They don't know his stories, haven't seen his miracles, and 283 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,640 he starts garnering all sorts of popularity and crowds are 284 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,720 gathering, seekers of truth are gathering. 285 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:36,080 And then suddenly, as we can progress in the story, we get 286 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:41,960 peppered in. These new fellas to the crowd, 287 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,240 Pharisees and Sadducees describes These are the 288 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:50,280 religious elite, the leaders of the temple, the Temple practices 289 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,680 in Israel. They're the elite. 290 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,160 They're the big hogs, but these guys, they come and they witness 291 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,480 Jesus's miracles and instead of worshiping or seeking him, they 292 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,960 formally accuse him of operating under the power of Satan. 293 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,200 And I say it with judgement in my voice, but I wonder what I 294 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,840 what I've done the same thing like I'm seeing these miracles 295 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,000 and what I credit Jesus as to operating under the power of the 296 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,680 Spirit of God or what I say, man, this guy's, he's working 297 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,600 with Biizabob. He's working with Satan. 298 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:32,240 He's been followed by many who are seeking him for life. 299 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,960 And now to the crowd we're adding those who are seeking to 300 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,640 invalidate and refute and eventually to put him to death. 301 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,880 Some are coming for life, some are coming for death. 302 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:49,360 And Jesus notices, and he pivots, and when he. 303 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,840 Pivots. We get the first parable right 304 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,760 after this definitive rejection. Jesus walks out of the house. 305 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,840 He sits on a boat in the Sea of Galilee and delivers what we 306 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,760 have here today, the parable of the sower. 307 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,000 This is the very first in a massive way of a consecutive 308 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,200 parables. Before this point, I just 309 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,000 reemphasize this. His teaching was direct and 310 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,480 clear. Go look at the sermon out of 311 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:15,520 their mouth, He says plainly. Don't judge, he says Finally. 312 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,880 Don't worry. He says plainly to forgive. 313 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,040 He plainly teaches them how to pray. 314 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,200 The Lord's Prayer is in the Sermon on the Mount. 315 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,680 All of it's clear and plain. But after this point, he spoke 316 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,120 to the public almost exclusively in parables. 317 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:33,360 Why parables? What if I told you that the 318 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:37,320 greatest history, the greatest teacher in history, deliberately 319 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,160 sabotaged his own public approval ratings? 320 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,680 Right at the peak of his popularity, when thousands were 321 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,880 hanging on his every word. Jesus suddenly stopped speaking 322 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,720 clearly and it wasn't because he lost his mind. 323 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,920 Like oh, what happened to Jesus? I'm going to give you 3 reasons 324 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:03,040 that I believe the scripture shows us that Jesus makes the 325 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,640 pivot to parables. The first is this strategic 326 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:10,680 silence is both the shield of mercy and a weapon of timing the 327 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,800 parables. Are heard by some, but for 328 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:15,520 others it's silence. They don't understand it. 329 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,800 And for those it is a shield of mercy and a weapon of timing. 330 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:23,440 When Jesus wraps these explosive realities in the coded languages 331 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,520 of parables, 2 things happen. Number one, this is amazing. 332 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,440 It protects the hostile critics from the crushing weight of the 333 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,600 spiritual liability. In other words, Jesus is saying, 334 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,480 the more I tell you, the more you will be accountable for. 335 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:39,960 So in mercy I've switched to parables. 336 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,000 Jesus used parables to protect even his own detractors from the 337 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,760 very truth that they came to here but couldn't. 338 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,800 Or rather, we should say they came to here but they wouldn't 339 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,600 hear it. They had the opportunity to hear 340 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,440 it, but they had closed up their hearts. 341 00:18:55,640 --> 00:19:00,640 To the message of the Kingdom, the messianic move of God, and 342 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:06,120 they wouldn't hear it. At the same time, Jesus is using 343 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:10,840 this coded language to those that are willing to hear it, to 344 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,040 say something's coming, but it's not ready yet. 345 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,360 And I'm preparing you for what's coming. 346 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,040 I'm preparing you for the Kingdom that is unveiled through 347 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,720 my blood and resurrection. I'm speaking it this way because 348 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,480 it's not time yet, but those of you that want to get it will get 349 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:30,400 it. Strategic silence is both the 350 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:31,680 shield of mercy and a weapon of time. 351 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,040 And it's also this. Mysteries are reserved for 352 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:39,200 seekers, not spectators. The deep insight of a parable 353 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:43,120 was an exclusive invitation that would naturally sift the 354 00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:45,800 audience. Think about this. 355 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,400 It's happening right here in this room right now. 356 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:55,080 Jesus would speak a parable as an invitation to all, and it 357 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:56,280 would sift the people, those that. 358 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:00,320 Wanted to receive the invitation and those that didn't, those 359 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:04,480 that were humble and wanted to lean in and listen and hear more 360 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,000 and understand more. Jesus just told us those who 361 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,040 want more or get more. So if you're Lent, Lent in one 362 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,360 of the disciples of sitting there, or fisherman, or just 363 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:16,760 some random woman just listening to Jesus and our heart has 364 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,160 leaned in, she's going to receive the relevant revelation. 365 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:20,600 But there were those who were there. 366 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,800 And they were leaning in based on pride and arrogance to 367 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,000 protect their status. Or maybe they're just casual 368 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,680 observers and it's like it went right over their head. 369 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,400 I remember sitting in church so many times, unengaged, 370 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:41,120 disengaged guys appear flapping his lips for 45 minutes and I'm 371 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:43,840 thinking about. I wonder if the bucks aren't 372 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:48,400 going to stink this afternoon. I wonder what we're having for 373 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,800 lunch. I wonder if my buddies want to 374 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,600 go build a Fort. I would sit in church and count 375 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,120 things. One light, 2 light, three light, 376 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:01,440 4 light. One choir member, 2 choir 377 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,560 member, three choir member. Anyone remember choirs? 378 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,960 I love choirs. Disengaged. 379 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,240 And so I left completely unchanged. 380 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,240 But occasionally I would lean in and open my heart to the 381 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,720 teaching and what God was trying to bring to me and suddenly I 382 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:21,800 would leave. Like wow, that actually made a 383 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:26,320 difference in my life. And the issue was not the word 384 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:28,040 of God. The issue was the receiver of 385 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:32,440 the Word of God. And I would go to church as a 386 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:35,280 spectator and not a seeker. And as a spectator, I got 387 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:36,600 nothing. But as a seeker, I got 388 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,360 everything. It's happening right here in 389 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:42,800 this room right now. I pray all of you are seekers, 390 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,240 but in a room this big with this many people, this many people 391 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,160 watching online, they're spectators here. 392 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,200 And I don't say that as a division thing. 393 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,480 I say that as an invitation thing. 394 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,840 Maybe you feel all of a sudden like, Oh my goodness, he's 395 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,520 talking to me. I am a spectator. 396 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,240 And I don't want to be that way. And so God in his mercy is 397 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,640 revealing that to you so that you might switch from I'm just 398 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:06,680 here as a casual observer to I'm leaned in and I want to hear 399 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:13,800 because I got, I got ears #3 Parables are a prophetic time 400 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,200 capsule, both backwards and forwards. 401 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,200 You know what a time capsule is? You dig up the ground, you stick 402 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:20,320 something in there and you hide it there. 403 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,920 And then people come find it later and like, oh, this is what 404 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:24,760 that was like. You know what I'm talking about. 405 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:33,280 Like, oh, look at the 1980s. What is an Atari One joystick 406 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:41,760 with one button? When Jesus spoke a parable, he 407 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:46,920 was digging up a time capsule. It's it's a miracle. 408 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,920 By speaking in these riddles, this master teacher, Jesus, he's 409 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,080 fulfills the ancient promise that we find. 410 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,480 In Psalm 78, verse one and two, my people hear my teaching, 411 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,480 listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a 412 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,680 parable. I will utter hidden things, 413 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,240 things from of old. Jesus has just told us in 414 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,480 speaking. The parable explaining the 415 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:15,440 parable to them, that he's revealing to them the knowledge. 416 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:16,840 Of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven. 417 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,440 It's been given to you and later many prophets and righteous 418 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:24,000 people long to see what you see but did not see it and hear and 419 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,960 to hear what you hear but did not hear but you are hearing it. 420 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:35,560 By cracking open these parables, Jesus is like turning the dial 421 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:41,080 and opening the vault to reveal to us foundational, eternal 422 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,200 secrets that have been intentionally held since the 423 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,040 foundation of the world until Jesus's arrival. 424 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:51,200 And Jesus is saying, I've come to now make this revelation and 425 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:56,560 I'm doing it through parables. Let those who have ears hear it. 426 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,640 I'm opening this time castle. But Jesus is also depositing a 427 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:03,560 time capsule and all of his listeners going forward. 428 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,760 Here is my teaching. I want you to take this with you 429 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:10,120 when you go. And so he uses stories. 430 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,280 I study communication. Maybe you do too. 431 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:14,080 What you learn about communication if you just 432 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:15,880 speaking facts. Let's say we're having a little 433 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,280 bit of a disagreement, having a conversation. 434 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,680 Me and Jason down here, we're in different right, right, right, 435 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:24,360 right, right, right. If I speaks my facts. 436 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:26,800 To him, he's not going to be listening to me. 437 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,960 He's just going to be making up in his mind his refutation of my 438 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:31,720 facts. I'm going to fight facts with 439 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:33,600 facts. We see this on social media. 440 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,800 They got these people with. Cameras and microphones, They 441 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,120 walk into a hostile environment and they speak their facts and 442 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:42,040 the other person on the other side never agrees with them. 443 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,520 Do you see this? Yep. 444 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:44,360 Yep. You're an idiot. 445 00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:45,520 I hate you. You're an idiot too. 446 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:46,480 I hate you. Right. 447 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,680 And that's, I mean, I don't know why they, I mean, maybe it's 448 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,000 helping in some way. It's just, to me, like you're 449 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,120 just going toe to toe with somebody who's never going to 450 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:55,320 believe what you're speaking to them. 451 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,640 And Jesus recognizes this. He's like, if I just tell my 452 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:00,680 facts to the Pharisees, they're going to think of all their laws 453 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,440 in their head, of all the reasons that I'm wrong and so. 454 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:07,680 Jesus pivots to storytelling. Here's what happens when you 455 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,680 tell a story. The brain focuses. 456 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,200 On a story, I don't know if you've ever been in a sermon 457 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,440 like you are right now, pastors going blah, blah, blah, blah. 458 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:18,440 Then he starts telling a story and all of a sudden you're like, 459 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:24,560 you lock in anybody want to testify it, it happens. 460 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:26,240 Your brains like new information. 461 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,400 Never heard this before. I can't wait to hear the end. 462 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,520 And so when you're telling a story with somebody you're in a 463 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:33,800 disagreement with, they're not thinking of the refutation. 464 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,960 They're just receiving your story and they want to hear the 465 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,400 truth of the story and they get to the end. 466 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,840 And even if they disagree with you, they might not remember 467 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,080 your facts, but they're going to remember your story. 468 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,720 And so Jesus makes a pivot. It's a tactical move. 469 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:52,760 I'm not going to fight you fact for fact, although I could. 470 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:54,520 You're just going to bow up against me. 471 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,880 Instead. I'm going to tell you a story. 472 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:57,720 And even if you don't believe, it's going to be tucked in there 473 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:00,280 and one day a Pharisee is going to be in his home with his kids 474 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:07,920 and be like, Jesus was right. I remember the story and now it 475 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:09,800 makes sense. Y'all with me? 476 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,040 Let me summarize this. Every master communicator knows 477 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,360 how to capture an audience. All you got to do is drop a rope 478 00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:23,600 from the ceiling. If you missed it last week, you 479 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,120 miss. We'll just call it something. 480 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,880 But I forgot to tell you it was Illuminate Church's official 481 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,680 rope drop. It only makes sense in a theme 482 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:32,680 park world. OK, good. 483 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:38,280 Yeah, but only a master strategist like Jesus knows how 484 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,040 to hide A revolution in plain sight. 485 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,160 So today what we're looking at is a tactical pivot in 486 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:47,480 communication history. I love this. 487 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:51,440 The moment public teaching became a secret intelligence 488 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,080 operation which was designed to bypass the critics but at the 489 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,880 same time preserve the message that would change the world. 490 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,240 Jesus did it like easy, let me teach you in parables. 491 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,640 So today, let's not be spectators, let's be seekers and 492 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:13,480 understand this parable. Matthew 13 verse 18. 493 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:19,520 Jesus explains it for us. Listen then to what the parable 494 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,680 of the sower means. When anyone hears the message 495 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,080 about the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil 1 comes 496 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,000 and snatches away what was sown in their heart. 497 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:29,440 This is the seed sown along the path. 498 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,280 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the 499 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:34,200 word at once, and it once receives it with joy. 500 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,360 Woo. But since they have no root that 501 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:40,600 only lasts a short time, when trouble or persecution comes 502 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,640 because of the word, they quickly fall away. 503 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,720 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who 504 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:48,840 hears the word. But the worries of this life and 505 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:52,360 the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it 506 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:55,520 unfruitful. But the seed falling on good 507 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,920 soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. 508 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:04,520 This is the one who produces A crop yielding 160 or 30 times 509 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:09,360 what was sown. I mean, it's again. 510 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,880 This parable will sift the audience. 511 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:18,880 Where are you? Which kind of soil? 512 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,240 Is the seed even that we're preaching today that Jesus's 513 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:23,760 words are bringing forth? What? 514 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,960 What's it falling on? Jesus is simply teaching us this 515 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,040 The condition of your heart determines the condition of your 516 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:32,720 outcomes. When the seed of God is 517 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,200 implanted on your heart, the condition of your heart is going 518 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,000 to determine the outcomes that follow. 519 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,360 I believe we want a kind of church that when the seed of 520 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,200 God, the Kingdom of God is implanted in somebody's heart, 521 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,880 at the very least it does thirtyfold, which is incredible. 522 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:52,040 60s a bonus 100 is amazing. If one of you in here receives 523 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,920 the Kingdom of God and goes out and makes 30 more disciples, is 524 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,120 that not amazing? Is that not amazing? 525 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,000 But if our soil is not right, we're like on Sunday, then 526 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,760 Monday we're like, I'm out. We don't literally say. 527 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:08,760 I'm out, but our lives say I'm out. 528 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:13,240 We would do well to learn from the parable. 529 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:16,360 The following three things put down deep roots in our faith. 530 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:19,400 Everyone say roots. Yeah. 531 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:25,120 Can I tell you another parable? Suppose there's a family that 532 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,840 says, you know what? We want to plant a tree in our 533 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,920 yard. So they go to Lowe's and buy a 534 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:30,640 tree, and they planted in the front yard. 535 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:33,880 And there they leave it for an hour. 536 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,920 Then they dig it up and they put it back in the house. 537 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:43,440 And leave it there for a week the following Sunday to like, 538 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:47,240 remember that. Tree we bought, Yeah, let let's 539 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,800 go plant in the yard again. They're walking over to plant in 540 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:51,520 the yard. And the youngest sons like, but 541 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,480 I'd rather go to the beach, you know, like that's a good idea. 542 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,400 Let's go to the beach. So they go to the beach. 543 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:00,800 And the next week they're going out to the car, it's a Friday 544 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:05,000 and they're flying to Oshkosh, WI because somebody's getting 545 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,480 married. And they see the tree like, oh, 546 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:09,880 we were supposed to plant you again on Sunday, but we're busy 547 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,320 this Sunday. We'll see you next week. 548 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:17,160 And then they go away again. And then the following week it's 549 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:19,720 Sunday and they're thinking about going to the theme park. 550 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:21,280 But the dad sees the tree in the corners. 551 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:22,320 Like man, we need to. Really. 552 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,720 I feel guilty that we haven't planted this tree in three 553 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,840 weeks. We better go plant the tree, 554 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,960 check the box, make sure we get into heaven. 555 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:34,160 So I'm going to plant the tree in the yard and I'm going to 556 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:38,280 nurture it for an hour. I'm going to fertilize in 557 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:39,600 sunlight. We're going to speak. 558 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:42,640 To it for an hour or maybe hour 15 depending on who's preaching 559 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,120 you know how it. Goes then we're going to dig it 560 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:50,080 up again and then put it back into the into the garage. 561 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:56,640 I've just shared with you the average church attendance of 562 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,000 Americans, which is once or twice a month, and the other 563 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:05,600 weeks are optional. And I've come to say that if you 564 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:10,800 want to be rooted and established in the Lord, once or 565 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,040 twice a month ain't going to cut it. 566 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:16,200 Here's here's what's happened in America. 567 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:19,280 We've made church obstinal when Jesus Christ is not optional. 568 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,560 He is the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to 569 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,480 the Father but by him. So he's the only option. 570 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:30,280 But we make church optional. Am I preaching too hard? 571 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,360 And so if you want to put your your deep root, if you want to 572 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:41,440 put down the deep roots of faith, I got a suggestion for 573 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,120 you. Commit to being part of the 574 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:45,440 body. Though terminology we use around 575 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,920 here is more than Sunday, more than one hour. 576 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:49,800 Do I take the tree out and fertilize Instead? 577 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,920 It's constantly out of the yard, a part of my daily ritual to 578 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:58,080 feed and to nourish this tree. Not just an hour on Sunday. 579 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:00,240 If you're not sure where to begin, let me invite you to 580 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,160 something we call life Step one. Yep. 581 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,240 I know hundreds of people who started their journey in faith 582 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,240 in life step one, and it's absolutely radically changed 583 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:12,520 their life. People who are on our staff who 584 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:15,840 had kind of mediocre faith, but they went to life step one and 585 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:17,680 all of a sudden things are blowing up in their life and 586 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:20,640 eventually they end up on staff. It starts in life step one. 587 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:24,640 Want to put down deep roots? Be a part of the body more than 588 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:27,080 Sunday. Get to Lifestep one to start #2 589 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,080 avoid being consumed by the cares of the world. 590 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:32,080 Depression and anxiety trying to choke out our faith. 591 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,760 Where can I learn about the love and the peace and the 592 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,120 establishment? The firmament of my face so 593 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:42,880 they're not shook. My tree doesn't tremble and tip 594 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,200 over with every deception of the enemy. 595 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,600 I'll tell you where more than Sunday. 596 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:51,200 Commit to being a part of the body. 597 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,720 Get in the dream team, get in the D group, get in life. 598 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,800 Step one. Have I ever said that before? 599 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:02,760 I am going to do it one more time. 600 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,440 Here's the third thing. Guard against the deceitfulness 601 00:33:06,440 --> 00:33:12,640 of riches. Wealth chokes out the gospel, 602 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,280 and when I'm Speaking of wealth, I'm not talking about finances 603 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:20,200 only, and I'm not saying that it's impossible to follow Jesus 604 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,000 if you have a lot of money. Here's what I'm saying is that 605 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,600 we've taken money and we've used it for evil. 606 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:28,080 We've taken sexuality, which is a blessing, and God's given it 607 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,240 to us, and wealth, and we've turned it to evil. 608 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,040 We've taken alcohol, which God has given us. 609 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,520 We just had communion. They didn't drink grape juice, 610 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,880 they drink wine, and we've turned it to evil. 611 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:46,760 Everything that's given on the earth is good and then we take 612 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:50,560 it and make it methamphetamine. Those are things that God put on 613 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:56,600 the earth that we've taken and making them making them the 614 00:33:56,600 --> 00:34:00,040 riches we keep misusing. If you want to stop misusing the 615 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,960 riches of the earth and the blessings of God, I got a 616 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,440 suggestion for you more than Sunday. 617 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,400 Be committed to the life of the church and if you're not sure 618 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,600 where to start, start at life step one. 619 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,920 Look at you never say life step one now say when you going. 620 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:21,880 Been there, done that. Go again. 621 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:24,120 Take somebody with you. Come on. 622 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:28,000 I've been through it. So many times. 623 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:33,719 Our role as disciples of Jesus is to prepare our hearts so that 624 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:37,000 the Kingdom can take root in US and multiply through. 625 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:41,520 US. If we're not rooted, if we're 626 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:47,480 not established, if we're not pure, then the 160 and 30 times 627 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:54,920 song will be gone tomorrow. However, I want to tell you that 628 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:57,120 everything I just taught you only speaks about us. 629 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,080 I'll make a pivot myself. Remember what I told you at the 630 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:02,760 beginning. Jesus is telling us these 631 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,120 parables that we might understand the Kingdom unveiled. 632 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:12,760 Which means. That the star of every parable 633 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:18,760 is God and his Kingdom, not us. But when we read the parables, 634 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,600 and often when we read any part of the Bible, we do it through 635 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:26,040 the lens of what does this tell me about me and my journey? 636 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:33,040 Want to talk about me? Remember, I mean, it's not a bad 637 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,880 question. It's a fantastic question to ask 638 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:37,600 yourself when you're reading the scriptures. 639 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:39,920 What does this reveal about myself? 640 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,640 It is a mirror that holds up the the truth, the standard. 641 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:45,640 And then we look at ourselves as I don't match the standard, I'm 642 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,680 going to change because the standard is not right. 643 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:53,360 So it's a good question to ask, but it is not a complete reading 644 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:55,960 of the scriptures and specifically today of the 645 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:59,120 parables. It's not just about you, it's 646 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,000 about His Kingdom. When it comes to the parables, 647 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:04,080 the main point is to understand the Kingdom. 648 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:07,400 It's why nearly every parable begins with Jesus saying these 649 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:09,800 words. The Kingdom of heaven is like. 650 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:17,800 Jesus in the parables is revealing the reality that He 651 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:22,200 already knows as a blessing to us, that we might join Him in 652 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:26,800 that reality right here and right now. 653 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:30,040 Those who have ears, may they hear it if you look in your 654 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:33,760 Bible. It's way different than when it 655 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:36,880 was written. When it was written, it was just 656 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:39,400 a long letter. Like you don't break up your 657 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:43,080 letters to your friends with chapters and verses, do you? 658 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,520 Chapter 1, tomorrow I'd like to go to Universal with you. 659 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:50,240 Verse 2. And we can ride something that's 660 00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:53,160 going to make us puke. Chapter 3, right? 661 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:58,840 No, but somewhere along the way, it's actually in the 1200s, a 662 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:03,240 guy named Steve, look it up, divided all of the books into 663 00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:06,560 chapters. And then in the 1500s, a French 664 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:09,960 dude who, I don't know his name, he was a printing press guy. 665 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:13,400 He added all the verses to the Bible. 666 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:15,120 So then we have chapter and verses. 667 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:17,840 And somewhere along the way, other scholars gave little 668 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:20,960 subheadings to all of our scriptures. 669 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:24,520 These aren't holy and inspired, they're just helpful to us as 670 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:26,200 reference. For instance, Genesis chapter 671 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,840 one, verse one, it's written the beginning. 672 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:32,160 That's not holy and inspired words. 673 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,200 It's just a helpful little reference point. 674 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:38,640 Luke chapter 2, the subheading is called the birth of Jesus, 675 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,600 right? If you look in your Bibles in 676 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:45,400 Matthew chapter 13 and in Luke and in Mark, the three gospels 677 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,560 where we find the story, this parable is not known as the 678 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:52,160 parable of the four soils, which makes it about you and me. 679 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:55,160 And Jesus even calls it something different to the 680 00:37:55,160 --> 00:38:00,760 subheading, says the parable of the the parable of the Yeah. 681 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:03,880 It's known as the parable of the sower. 682 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:06,760 It's not so much about our soil as it is about the sower. 683 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,600 So if we're looking at this parable to tell us something 684 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:11,920 about the Kingdom, it's telling us about the sower. 685 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,400 And what do we learn about the sower in this parable, the 686 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:17,280 Kingdom reality? Is this the? 687 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:24,720 Sower is persistently generous, and that is what the Kingdom of 688 00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:27,840 Heaven is like. Persistently generous. 689 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:30,680 And every time that we read what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, 690 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,080 we should think to ourselves, if that's what the Kingdom of 691 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:35,400 Heaven is like, then that's what I should be like too. 692 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:41,920 And now we have the standard, the mirror, and us, the Kingdom 693 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:45,960 of heaven that is on the earth now, the Kingdom unveiled, now 694 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:48,160 operates with persistent generosity. 695 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:52,680 Am I like that if I want to bring the Kingdom of heaven more 696 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:55,400 to earth as I pray on earth as is in the heaven Jesus like yes 697 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,480 on earth as it is in heaven. So you're going to bring it on 698 00:38:58,480 --> 00:38:59,800 earth as it is in heaven, by the way, that. 699 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:05,080 You live by the way that you do. Are you persistently generous as 700 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:10,520 the Father was faithfully distributing the love of God, 701 00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:13,960 and here's how God did it. He looked at the soils. 702 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:15,560 He said this one's not going to receive it. 703 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:17,280 That one's not going to receive it, That one's not going to 704 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:18,800 receive it. So let me just scatter it over 705 00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:23,120 here to the good people. Is that what he did? 706 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:25,160 Is that what he did? Church. 707 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:29,760 God did not care about the condition of the soil, He just 708 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:32,720 scattered it and loved to everybody in the hopes that 709 00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:35,280 anybody will receive his message. 710 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:39,480 I find that we are generous to those that it's going to have a 711 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:45,200 little bit of payback for us on We say we're altruistic. 712 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:48,200 Meaning it's it's not about me, it's just, but man, if I'm going 713 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:50,280 to give to somebody, I certainly want a little bit of kickback in 714 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:51,760 my heart. I want to feel good about it. 715 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:53,040 I want something great to happen. 716 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:55,400 And so I'm choosy about my generosity. 717 00:39:56,480 --> 00:39:58,640 Maybe I should? I'm the only one who does this, 718 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:04,800 by the way. But the sower doesn't do that, 719 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:09,800 and the Kingdom of heaven is not choosy faithfully distributing 720 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:11,760 the love of God. Which means I don't choose 721 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,880 whether or not to share the love of God based on the worth of the 722 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:19,600 person, but based on the worth of the message and the worst of 723 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:23,440 the one who wrote the message. That's what the Kingdom of God 724 00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:25,920 is like. Generous to a fault, extravagant 725 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,240 in love at all times, the Kingdom advances because the 726 00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:33,040 Father faithfully shows His Word and His love in every 727 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:37,640 generation. So just ask yourself, is that 728 00:40:37,640 --> 00:40:43,160 what you're like? Are you a sower or are you a 729 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:49,280 taker? If you want to be part of the 730 00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:53,160 Kingdom here as it is in heaven, then be a sower and start right 731 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,520 now. I want you to put everything 732 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:58,200 away. Your bibles, your journals, your 733 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:08,320 phones, your stray thoughts. Make yourself comfortable and I 734 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:13,960 want you to put on your ears meaning I want you to tune your 735 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:16,320 heart to the work of the Holy Spirit who is alive. 736 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:24,040 He is the presence of God on the earth today I want you to be 737 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:28,080 ready to receive a prompt from the Holy Spirit, not from any 738 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:32,960 man or woman, just God speaking to you. 739 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:36,480 I'm. Going to ask you 3 questions and 740 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:40,280 as I ask these questions, I pray that one, two or three. 741 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:45,520 Names or faces will appear in your heart or in your mind's eye 742 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:48,280 like that. And I. 743 00:41:48,280 --> 00:41:51,160 Believe that sometimes I'm going to say one of these things and 744 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:53,320 you're going to see a face or hear a name like no, no, not 745 00:41:53,320 --> 00:41:58,920 that person and. That's exactly the person that 746 00:41:58,920 --> 00:42:00,360 the Holy Spirit is prompting you for. 747 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:01,520 Are you ready? Say yes. 748 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:09,320 Bow your heads. close your eyes. 3 categories underneath this 749 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:12,240 banner. Who do you need to sow into 750 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:15,240 today? Who do you need to be 751 00:42:15,240 --> 00:42:19,240 persistently generous and to bring the Kingdom of heaven to 752 00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:24,600 earth by your actions today? Number one. 753 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:26,800 Is there anyone you need to sow forgiveness to? 754 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:39,200 A name just pops in your mind. A face, somebody, you say I 755 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:41,760 forgive him, but maybe you still hold ill in your heart. 756 00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:45,840 There's still work to do. There's still seed to scatter. 757 00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:50,400 Don't do it based on them, do it based on him. 758 00:42:54,440 --> 00:42:57,360 Is there anyone you need to sow into financially today? 759 00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:06,040 God has resourced you, even if it's 10 bucks to somebody in 760 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:10,880 need, maybe somebody, a friend of you, yours, you know has huge 761 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:14,640 medical bills, or they're going through a crisis and just need 762 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:18,080 somebody to show it with lunch. Or maybe they have a dream in 763 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:20,560 their heart, a vision from the Lord, but it's not funded yet. 764 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:27,400 And God's put it on your heart to be a resource to them or 1000 765 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:31,680 other opportunities for you to release what belongs to him to 766 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:35,400 somebody else. Here's the last one. 767 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:37,880 Is there anyone in your life? Get ready for a name or a face 768 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:43,280 to pop up that the Lord has put you in their life because he 769 00:43:43,280 --> 00:43:45,160 wants you to share the gospel with them. 770 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:53,040 The story of Jesus and his grace and forgiveness. 771 00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:59,680 I'm going to count to 3. And if you got 1, two or three 772 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:02,800 names, it doesn't matter if you got just one name, I want you 773 00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:07,080 just to raise your hand and hold it up while I pray for you. 123 774 00:44:08,520 --> 00:44:12,240 All right. Do not be merely hearers of the 775 00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:15,680 word, but doers of the word. James teaches us. 776 00:44:15,920 --> 00:44:18,280 Father, I pray for every hand up because it represents a person, 777 00:44:18,280 --> 00:44:22,320 a person that you love, that you died for, a person that you care 778 00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:24,760 about so much that you've put this other person who has their 779 00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:29,160 hand up in their life. Lord, I pray for reconciliation, 780 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:34,720 complete and total utter reconciliation to the power of 781 00:44:34,720 --> 00:44:38,440 the forgiveness of Jesus given to us that we now translate to 782 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:41,680 other people. I pray for financial gifts that 783 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:43,400 are going to go forward. I pray that you will multiply 784 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:48,400 and $10 becomes $10,000 and 10,000 becomes 10 million in 785 00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:52,560 your Kingdom economy. A financial seed sown in faith 786 00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:57,040 to another person in need. And finally, I pray for those 787 00:44:57,040 --> 00:45:01,040 hands that are up who are ready to go and declare the gospel to 788 00:45:01,040 --> 00:45:04,160 a friend, a Co worker, a family member, a neighbor, somebody who 789 00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:08,600 has yet to know the matchless. Love of the King, our King 790 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:10,880 Jesus. We pray in faith that there will 791 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:16,240 be a harvest of Kingdom goodness based on the faithfulness of 792 00:45:16,240 --> 00:45:19,720 these people who raised their hands to walk in obedience to 793 00:45:19,720 --> 00:45:22,200 your parable. Persistently generous. 794 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:24,200 You can put your hands down. Keep praying with me, though. 795 00:45:25,680 --> 00:45:29,120 It would not surprise me that if there are this many people in 796 00:45:29,120 --> 00:45:31,480 this room today or anybody watching online, that somebody 797 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:35,240 in here, the seed of the gospel is falling on your heart for the 798 00:45:35,240 --> 00:45:37,440 first time today, even though this isn't really a gospel 799 00:45:37,440 --> 00:45:42,720 message. But the persistent, generous 800 00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:45,880 Father keeps wanting to reveal his love to you that says you're 801 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:51,480 not too far gone, you haven't seen too much, you're not 802 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:54,600 forgotten, you're not unloved, you're not unseen. 803 00:45:55,240 --> 00:45:58,320 But Jesus, in his mercy and in his love, came to the earth to 804 00:45:58,320 --> 00:46:01,400 die in your place, that you might have the forgiveness of 805 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:04,280 sins, that you might have an eternity spent with the Father. 806 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:08,520 That begins today when you say yes to the invitation of Jesus 807 00:46:08,520 --> 00:46:12,160 and believe by faith. The Bible says that if you 808 00:46:12,160 --> 00:46:15,160 confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus 809 00:46:15,160 --> 00:46:20,040 is Lord, then you will be saved. And so let's pray this prayer 810 00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:22,400 together to give you an opportunity to do both those 811 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:24,440 things. Everybody, every voice in the 812 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:27,000 room, those of you watching online, let's pray this together 813 00:46:27,000 --> 00:46:30,680 saying Father. In the name of Jesus, I 814 00:46:30,680 --> 00:46:35,200 recognize that I am a Sinner in need of a Savior. 815 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:42,920 And today I confess and I believe that Jesus is Lord, that 816 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:47,920 He is my Savior, and I receive Him into my heart to live in my 817 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:53,040 life. For the rest of my life, praise 818 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:56,720 the Lord, if you're making that prayer today, just make it 819 00:46:56,720 --> 00:46:57,880 personal. Make it yours. 820 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:01,400 Receive Jesus, receive his invitation, receive his love. 821 00:47:02,520 --> 00:47:04,800 And just as I had the folks do earlier, I'm going to count to 822 00:47:04,800 --> 00:47:06,680 3. And I want you believing in 823 00:47:06,680 --> 00:47:09,680 Jesus today to raise your hand as high as it will go and hold 824 00:47:09,680 --> 00:47:12,160 it there for just a moment. Have something very important I 825 00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:14,080 want to put in your hands or Usher will bring it to you. 826 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:18,720 Those of you believing today, on the count of 3123, anyone today 827 00:47:19,040 --> 00:47:21,280 nice and high. We're moving towards you. 828 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:23,440 We see you, we're coming. Come on. 829 00:47:24,440 --> 00:47:28,280 Thank you, Jesus, We bless you. It's going to take a minute. 830 00:47:28,280 --> 00:47:29,920 Hallelujah. We're coming. 831 00:47:29,920 --> 00:47:32,720 You see it right there. We need help over here in this 832 00:47:32,720 --> 00:47:35,640 section. Jim, anyone in the balcony? 833 00:47:35,640 --> 00:47:41,000 Mezzanine. Bezzanine Malcony anyone? 834 00:47:42,720 --> 00:47:45,000 If you're receiving Jesus online, you can just type in the 835 00:47:45,000 --> 00:47:48,120 comments. I am putting my faith in Jesus. 836 00:47:52,520 --> 00:47:55,200 Father, we thank you for the blessing of being a house where 837 00:47:55,200 --> 00:48:01,880 you come and you save people just like me, just like us, and 838 00:48:01,880 --> 00:48:03,240 we want to give you thanks and praise. 839 00:48:03,240 --> 00:48:05,640 So when I say Amen, the church is going to go nuts in Jesus 840 00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:08,120 name, Amen. Amen.