1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,080 Man, Reggie and the team, just incredible time leading us before 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,720 the throne and singing and worship, lifting up the Lord today. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,880 Just thank you guys so much for what y' all do each and every 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,400 week. And by the way, worship doesn't end just because we've stopped 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,040 singing. Like, this whole time this morning that we're spending 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:20,400 together is a time of worship. Even as we've said to the Lord, great 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,600 are youe, Lord, there's none that compares to youo, God. Today 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,760 we surrender our all to youo, proclaiming great are you, Lord. 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,160 It's just a reminder. God brings blessings into our lives. 10 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,640 We need to surrender those to him as well. So I just want to remind 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,200 you, each time when we come into our church, we want to be faithful 12 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,920 in our giving to the Lord. Our voices, our bodies, our finances, 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,360 all that we are. You've been faithful this summer so far, giving 14 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,200 to the Lord. And thank you, church. Thank you for those of you 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,670 that are joining us online. By the way, you can give online real 16 00:00:53,670 --> 00:00:56,230 easy. You've heard us say this week after week, my family and I 17 00:00:56,230 --> 00:01:00,550 gives this way you can go to filter.org give or go to that same 18 00:01:00,550 --> 00:01:03,470 connect code we had earlier and there will be a place there you 19 00:01:03,470 --> 00:01:07,190 can select to give. But join us in furthering the gospel, the 20 00:01:07,190 --> 00:01:10,190 work of Jesus Christ. Our students are at camp right now. I 21 00:01:10,190 --> 00:01:12,430 told you that earlier. By the way, when you give to the general 22 00:01:12,430 --> 00:01:16,510 fund, it helps to support them to be able to go offsets the cost. 23 00:01:16,590 --> 00:01:19,430 We have people around the world right now sharing the goodness 24 00:01:19,430 --> 00:01:22,610 of the gospel. And. And it's because of your faithfulness in giving. 25 00:01:22,610 --> 00:01:26,610 So continue to give so that the Lord can do his work around the 26 00:01:26,610 --> 00:01:33,410 world. Okay, Are you tired? It's Sunday morning. Did any of you 27 00:01:33,410 --> 00:01:39,930 stay up way too late last night? Y' all are liars. Most everybody 28 00:01:39,930 --> 00:01:42,370 probably stayed up Saturday night longer than you were supposed 29 00:01:42,370 --> 00:01:45,210 to. Okay, two weeks ago, and I'll tell you a little bit more about 30 00:01:45,210 --> 00:01:48,820 this, our church went in on a trip to Columbia. And. And that's 31 00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:52,260 the country of Colombia, by the way. South America. So just to 32 00:01:52,260 --> 00:01:58,340 be clear, on the way back, the flight was from 12:30am to 6:30am 33 00:01:58,580 --> 00:02:02,780 to get here to Texas. Okay. I'm not young anymore. Like, there 34 00:02:02,780 --> 00:02:05,660 was a day where I could do that and then be right back up and 35 00:02:05,660 --> 00:02:09,620 be about things. But, man, I was tired from that. Like, it took 36 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:14,230 me. Well, today I fell back in order. Two weeks later. Did you stay 37 00:02:14,230 --> 00:02:17,190 up on social media? Some of you did video games. Some of you 38 00:02:17,190 --> 00:02:20,150 just said, I Was supposed to go to bed at 9, but then my movie 39 00:02:20,150 --> 00:02:24,910 came on. Whatever it was. You just feel tired, by the way. There's 40 00:02:24,910 --> 00:02:26,990 another kind of tired that a lot of us feel. It doesn't matter 41 00:02:26,990 --> 00:02:30,510 how much sleep you get, how much time you can spend in resting, 42 00:02:30,510 --> 00:02:34,150 but there's just weight that's always there, this pressure that 43 00:02:34,150 --> 00:02:38,190 you feel that you just can't seem to get over, like something's 44 00:02:38,190 --> 00:02:42,560 on your shoulders all the time. But this burden that just won't 45 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,640 let go, that's a different kind of tired. Jesus is actually 46 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:50,040 going to talk about that today in the passage that we're going to 47 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,400 study. We're in the book of Matthew. So if you have your Bibles 48 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,040 with you, take them out. Matthew, chapter 11. We're going 49 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,440 to start in verse 20. If you're just joining us, every week 50 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,880 we go through verse by verse, chapter by chapter. We're walking 51 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,720 through Matthew. So we're following up in chapter 11 here. 52 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,240 While you're looking that up, let me remind you a little bit of 53 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,720 the background from last week. So last week we learned that John 54 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,560 the Baptist actually questioned, is Jesus the Messiah? 55 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,360 He's trying to figure it out with all that's taking place. And 56 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,360 Jesus explains to him, look. Look at all the things I've done, 57 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,359 all the places I've been, all the miraculous work that has happened. 58 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:32,440 John, look at who I am. Jesus has healed the sick, raised the dead, 59 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:38,400 made the blind see, preach to those that needed hope. He is the 60 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,840 Messiah, and he's proved himself over and over and over. So 61 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,720 today, as we approach this scripture, Jesus has said, I'm it. 62 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,320 There is nobody else. I'm the Messiah. Look to me. And as the Messiah, 63 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,360 there's certain things that come along with Jesus. By the way, 64 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,240 you're going to discover today that he's a righteous judge as part 65 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,160 of being Messiah, but also as part of being Messiah, he wants to 66 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,320 show us the way to find healing and wholeness in God the 67 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,290 Father. He wants to point us to who God is in our life. So we're 68 00:04:11,290 --> 00:04:13,330 going to define that out in the passage that we're going to read 69 00:04:13,330 --> 00:04:17,890 this morning. Matthew, chapter 11. We'll start in verse 20. This 70 00:04:17,890 --> 00:04:24,289 is Jesus here. Then he began to announce the cities where most 71 00:04:24,289 --> 00:04:27,770 of his mighty works have been done. Remember, Jesus is now coming 72 00:04:27,770 --> 00:04:34,170 as judge because what they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin. 73 00:04:34,700 --> 00:04:37,700 Woe to you, Bethsaida. For if the mighty works done in you had 74 00:04:37,700 --> 00:04:40,580 been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented. Long ago 75 00:04:40,580 --> 00:04:45,140 in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable 76 00:04:45,140 --> 00:04:48,340 on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And 77 00:04:48,340 --> 00:04:52,140 you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven. You will be brought 78 00:04:52,140 --> 00:04:56,740 down to Hades, to hell. For if the mighty works done in you had 79 00:04:56,740 --> 00:05:00,190 been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But 80 00:05:00,190 --> 00:05:03,910 I tell you that it will be more tolerable on that Day of judgment 81 00:05:03,990 --> 00:05:09,430 for the land of Sodom than for you. Man, Jesus, like, he doesn't 82 00:05:09,430 --> 00:05:13,910 hold any punches back. Like, he goes after these cities, and there's 83 00:05:13,910 --> 00:05:16,790 a reason for that. And you may be going, man, Jesus, you're a little 84 00:05:16,790 --> 00:05:21,110 harsh here. What's the reason for it? So if you remember last week's 85 00:05:21,270 --> 00:05:23,870 message, Pastor Jared, by the way, brought the word last week, 86 00:05:23,870 --> 00:05:27,190 did a great job. And in case you're wondering past, Pastor Jason 87 00:05:27,190 --> 00:05:30,630 is still on his mission trip today, so I get the privilege of 88 00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:33,950 joining with you this morning, sharing God's word. Last week, Pastor 89 00:05:33,950 --> 00:05:39,750 Jared shared with us that to doubt is not the sin. To doubt is 90 00:05:39,750 --> 00:05:43,390 not the sin. It's what you do with that doubt. It either leads 91 00:05:43,390 --> 00:05:47,950 you to faith in Jesus Christ or it leads you away from faith in 92 00:05:47,950 --> 00:05:53,510 Jesus Christ. When it leads you away, that is the sin. Jesus 93 00:05:53,510 --> 00:05:57,270 is now coming to these cities, going, I'm trying to tell you there's 94 00:05:57,270 --> 00:06:00,950 something different in me. I am the Messiah. I've shown you a 95 00:06:00,950 --> 00:06:04,950 different way of life. And yet they have chosen, as this passage 96 00:06:04,950 --> 00:06:09,790 says, to not repent. What does repent mean? Some of you have heard 97 00:06:09,790 --> 00:06:12,990 this word before. You've come to church. It sounds like a churchy 98 00:06:12,990 --> 00:06:16,110 word. It literally means, if you're walking in one direction, 99 00:06:16,190 --> 00:06:19,540 this is my way. I'm heading down this path where when you repent, 100 00:06:19,700 --> 00:06:23,180 you turn completely in the opposite direction. I'm no longer 101 00:06:23,180 --> 00:06:28,460 going that way. But now Jesus life, I am following after you. That's 102 00:06:28,460 --> 00:06:32,260 what to repent means. And here you've got these cities that have 103 00:06:32,260 --> 00:06:35,540 seen Jesus do this work. They've seen him do miraculous things, 104 00:06:35,540 --> 00:06:39,460 and yet Jesus says specifically they did not repent. 105 00:06:39,700 --> 00:06:44,020 Two of them he lists up at the front, Chorazin and Beth. By the 106 00:06:44,020 --> 00:06:46,820 way, if you add Capernaum, some of the scholars would even call 107 00:06:46,820 --> 00:06:50,710 these kind of the gospel triad. Like, Jesus went to each of 108 00:06:50,710 --> 00:06:53,350 these cities to proclaim the gospel over and over again. These 109 00:06:53,350 --> 00:06:56,870 two, Chorazin and Betha, he compares to two other cities, Tyre 110 00:06:56,870 --> 00:06:59,550 and Sidon. Now, who in the world are those cities? I know you 111 00:06:59,550 --> 00:07:01,790 know these things Backwards and forwards. But just for those 112 00:07:01,790 --> 00:07:06,190 of you that don't, Tyre And Sidon are two cities that 600 years 113 00:07:06,190 --> 00:07:10,270 earlier, God Almighty destroyed them, wiped them off the 114 00:07:10,270 --> 00:07:13,190 face. They were Gentile cities, people who were not following 115 00:07:13,190 --> 00:07:15,710 after God. As a matter of fact, they worshiped a God named 116 00:07:15,710 --> 00:07:18,130 Bel. If, if any of you have read the Old Testament, you may have 117 00:07:18,130 --> 00:07:21,010 heard of that God before. These were the cities that worshiped 118 00:07:21,010 --> 00:07:24,330 other gods. And Jesus went to them to tell them about the good 119 00:07:24,410 --> 00:07:29,490 news of the kingdom of God. He did miracles in their cities. And 120 00:07:29,490 --> 00:07:34,050 then they still chose in the midst of all that to not follow after 121 00:07:34,050 --> 00:07:37,850 him or to repent. So Jesus says these words right off the bat, 122 00:07:37,850 --> 00:07:42,730 woe to you. Literally meaning warning of judgment and doom is coming 123 00:07:42,730 --> 00:07:47,150 upon you. Not just a word when you translate it literally from the 124 00:07:47,150 --> 00:07:49,790 Greek, it is a warning that Jesus says, you're going to face 125 00:07:49,790 --> 00:07:52,870 judgment, you're going to face destruction. It is coming to you 126 00:07:52,870 --> 00:07:55,990 because you have chosen not to repent. It's better for these other 127 00:07:55,990 --> 00:08:01,430 cities than it is even for you. Jesus wants to say two things 128 00:08:01,430 --> 00:08:04,190 as he's beginning to talk about these cities. The first one 129 00:08:04,190 --> 00:08:09,190 is what we've seen in Bethsaida and Chorazin. The unrepentant 130 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:14,300 are liable to judgment every single time. When you are unrepentant, 131 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:18,580 when you choose not to repent, when Jesus calls upon you, you recognize 132 00:08:18,580 --> 00:08:22,620 him and you don't repent. In that moment, you're saying, jesus, 133 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:28,700 I reject you, and there will be judgment that will come. Recognize 134 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:31,700 the warning that Jesus gives for those of you in your life. You 135 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:34,940 may have never chosen Jesus to follow after him. You've heard about 136 00:08:34,940 --> 00:08:36,980 him, you know about him. And Jesus is saying, just like these 137 00:08:36,980 --> 00:08:42,370 cities, be warned, there's judgment coming upon you as the Messiah, 138 00:08:43,170 --> 00:08:46,690 he sees that in your heart and knows that. There's this other city 139 00:08:46,690 --> 00:08:50,450 called Capernaum. Here. Capernaum they recognize as the place 140 00:08:50,450 --> 00:08:54,329 that Jesus did the most miracles of any city. It was the 141 00:08:54,329 --> 00:08:57,890 place that literally they were able to see the blind see again. 142 00:08:58,130 --> 00:09:02,330 They were able to see the paralytics get up and walk when he 143 00:09:02,330 --> 00:09:06,420 called out. They were able to hear the good news. The poor that 144 00:09:06,420 --> 00:09:08,820 didn't have any hope, they heard it from Jesus over and over 145 00:09:08,820 --> 00:09:13,180 again. And even the miracle of a resurrection took place in Capernaum. 146 00:09:13,820 --> 00:09:18,780 And yet Capernaum kept about their daily business, chose not to 147 00:09:18,780 --> 00:09:24,060 follow Jesus. And they had a different sin than unrepentance. 148 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:29,540 Theirs was indifference. They just didn't care. Jesus impacted 149 00:09:29,540 --> 00:09:36,210 a few, but they said With Jesus, I just don't need you. I know 150 00:09:36,290 --> 00:09:38,930 many of you. You come every single week. Praise the Lord. I know 151 00:09:38,930 --> 00:09:43,250 you're online every week. I know you. Most of you don't. You're 152 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:46,129 probably out and about on the other Sundays. By the way, on occasion 153 00:09:46,129 --> 00:09:49,090 we get to preach at different campuses. So I get to see like Sunday 154 00:09:49,090 --> 00:09:53,970 morning, 11 o', clock, what the rest of the world is like. You 155 00:09:53,970 --> 00:09:58,140 know, when you're not here, the world just keeps going. It is 156 00:09:58,140 --> 00:10:02,300 indifferent to Jesus Christ. There's no care, there's no worry, 157 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:08,020 there's no concern. The world keeps passing by. By the way, the 158 00:10:08,020 --> 00:10:11,980 warning that Jesus gives here to Capernaum, me and you, we often 159 00:10:11,980 --> 00:10:16,820 hear the United States called a Christian nation. We're more like 160 00:10:16,820 --> 00:10:22,790 Capernaum than we want to believe or realize. Jesus has revealed 161 00:10:22,790 --> 00:10:27,230 himself to us and we're just like Capernaum. Worse than Sodom, 162 00:10:27,230 --> 00:10:30,190 the city. Some of you have heard about that city. It was also 163 00:10:30,190 --> 00:10:33,350 destroyed completely by God Almighty. And Jesus is saying here, 164 00:10:33,350 --> 00:10:37,270 it would have been better for Sodom, who didn't hear of the gospel, 165 00:10:37,270 --> 00:10:41,510 than Capernaum that did. And then chose to just ignore Jesus. 166 00:10:42,070 --> 00:10:46,270 By the way, you can't ignore him. You can't be indifferent with 167 00:10:46,270 --> 00:10:50,060 Jesus. There's always a choice. There's always a reality 168 00:10:50,060 --> 00:10:52,860 to who Jesus is. And that'll bring me to the first truth that 169 00:10:52,860 --> 00:10:56,820 I want you to realize today. Jesus is saying to each of us, indifference 170 00:10:57,060 --> 00:11:03,540 towards Jesus is rejection of Jesus. Indifference towards Jesus 171 00:11:04,260 --> 00:11:08,420 literally means you're choosing to reject him. When you 172 00:11:08,420 --> 00:11:11,820 say, I can do this in my own ability and my own authority and 173 00:11:11,820 --> 00:11:14,900 my own power. I don't need you, Jesus, I'll get to you on Sunday. 174 00:11:16,210 --> 00:11:19,490 You're choosing to reject him. You're choosing to say, jesus, I'm 175 00:11:19,490 --> 00:11:24,450 going to stiff arm you. I can do things better on my own. That's 176 00:11:24,450 --> 00:11:27,250 exactly what the city of Capernaum was dealing with. And walking 177 00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:31,609 through that, they had become prideful that they had a desire to 178 00:11:31,609 --> 00:11:38,130 be independent. By the way, we do too. It's the American way. And 179 00:11:38,130 --> 00:11:42,170 Jesus is going, you've ignored me, you've missed me. The Messiah 180 00:11:42,170 --> 00:11:49,840 was in your presence and you still didn't choose me. Stark warning 181 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,960 from him hit me hard while we were in Columbia there, By the way, 182 00:11:54,960 --> 00:12:01,720 it's Third World poverty. It's homes that are sticks, literally. 183 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:06,920 You can see right through the walls, dirt floor, it's corrugated, 184 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:11,640 metal roofs, and there's no insulation. None of that, just survival. 185 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,480 The rich have their areas of the part of the country and they've 186 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,400 pushed away the poor into these parts of the country that are 187 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:23,200 just. It's just horrible. It's horrible to look at, to see what 188 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,079 they're living through. I went as a part of Compassion to go and 189 00:12:26,079 --> 00:12:28,720 meet one of our sponsored children. It's a boy there that we 190 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,920 sponsor. We sponsor other children too. But specifically while 191 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,200 I was there, I got to meet this boy again. I've written letters 192 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,820 to him and been able to spend time. I actually got to see him in 193 00:12:37,820 --> 00:12:43,100 2019. He was seven. Now he's 13. So like, you know, he's grown 194 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:46,460 up. It's big deal. I got to spend an incredible day with him, 195 00:12:46,460 --> 00:12:50,420 just getting as best I could and mi espanol, which is no good, 196 00:12:50,740 --> 00:12:53,380 trying to talk with him through translators the whole time 197 00:12:53,380 --> 00:12:57,020 and enjoying my time with him. There was a moment that his dad came 198 00:12:57,020 --> 00:13:00,180 to pick him up and I got to, as a pastor, just talk with his dad, 199 00:13:00,180 --> 00:13:03,850 just tell him I'd love to pray for him. I'd just given some gifts 200 00:13:03,850 --> 00:13:07,130 to this boy and you know, it's a backpack, a toothbrush, which, 201 00:13:07,130 --> 00:13:11,570 you know, 13 year old, so excited over. I did give him an American 202 00:13:11,570 --> 00:13:15,530 football, by the way, and he had never, and even the adults never 203 00:13:15,530 --> 00:13:18,369 thrown an American football. So it was fun showing them how to 204 00:13:18,369 --> 00:13:20,330 do that. Gave him a soccer ball, a few other things. And here 205 00:13:20,330 --> 00:13:22,930 this dad's seen that. I'm talking to his dad and his dad's 206 00:13:22,930 --> 00:13:25,930 going, you know, I was trained as a butcher growing up, but there 207 00:13:25,930 --> 00:13:30,420 is nothing here for me to do. I have no work, I have nothing. I 208 00:13:30,420 --> 00:13:34,900 have a one room house. And I'd love to add on another room just 209 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:37,460 so we could have a separate place for a bed versus a kitchen 210 00:13:37,460 --> 00:13:41,500 or other things. But I have no money, I have nothing. I have no 211 00:13:41,900 --> 00:13:45,700 hope, no place. And he's desperate. And as a dad, I'm listening 212 00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:48,540 to him tell about the things that he wants to do, how he wants 213 00:13:48,540 --> 00:13:51,460 to step in, and man, my heart just begins to break. And the more 214 00:13:51,460 --> 00:13:54,300 we talk, all of a sudden big tears just start rolling down his 215 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:56,860 eyes as he's looking at his son. He's thinking about his family, 216 00:13:57,310 --> 00:14:01,350 how he could provide for them. Just like a knife, man, the Holy 217 00:14:01,350 --> 00:14:05,670 Spirit begins to speak to me. Jim, you see the desperation that 218 00:14:05,670 --> 00:14:10,670 this man has back in America, where you live, back here, you've 219 00:14:10,670 --> 00:14:16,070 got it all figured out, by the way. I do. I can get in my car, I 220 00:14:16,070 --> 00:14:19,950 can press the on button now. I can get the car rolling. It's got 221 00:14:19,950 --> 00:14:23,070 gas in it air conditioning. Praise the Lord. Right now in Texas, 222 00:14:23,490 --> 00:14:25,970 I go to a house, I pull in the garage. I walk in and I can open 223 00:14:25,970 --> 00:14:28,890 a refrigerator. I can pull out food and eat the worst thing. You 224 00:14:28,890 --> 00:14:32,010 know, a washing machine breaks. It's like the devastation 225 00:14:32,010 --> 00:14:35,330 day. Oh, the washing machine breaks. I have a washing machine. 226 00:14:36,050 --> 00:14:42,090 I have a roof over my head. I have a floor that's not dirt. When 227 00:14:42,090 --> 00:14:45,250 things break, you know what I do? I don't ask the Lord about it. 228 00:14:45,570 --> 00:14:48,810 I go to YouTube and try to figure it out. Any y' all do that, 229 00:14:48,810 --> 00:14:51,450 too? A few of you, like, if I can get it fixed, I'll take care 230 00:14:51,450 --> 00:14:54,460 of it. I don't want to pay somebody. That's because I know how 231 00:14:54,460 --> 00:14:57,740 to do all this stuff. I know how to take care of things. And Jesus, 232 00:14:57,740 --> 00:15:00,100 in that moment, as I'm sitting there with that dad, watching him 233 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:03,900 in desperation, knowing he had nowhere else to turn, God began to 234 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:09,220 speak to me and say, when have you been desperate for me? You got 235 00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:12,980 it all figured out. Have you been indifferent towards me? Have 236 00:15:12,980 --> 00:15:19,430 you ignored me instead of coming to me? And he's right. I have 237 00:15:19,430 --> 00:15:22,870 been. And I'm a pastor. I can't imagine for you guys that are 238 00:15:22,870 --> 00:15:25,230 on the daily life, you're trying to figure out life every single 239 00:15:25,230 --> 00:15:28,350 day, and you're figuring out how to do it on your own. And Jesus 240 00:15:28,350 --> 00:15:34,030 is going, you're forgetting about me. Warning, come back. I'm 241 00:15:34,030 --> 00:15:37,590 trying to call you back again. Remember, he's a righteous judge 242 00:15:37,590 --> 00:15:40,870 as Messiah. And he knows your heart. He knows what you're going 243 00:15:40,870 --> 00:15:47,520 through. He knows you. Jesus is trying to tell us today, Stop 244 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:53,840 your prideful arrogance. Let it go. Come before him. He wants 245 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:58,080 to point us to God Almighty, the Father Himself, to show us there's 246 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,080 a better way of living. And that pathway points to Jesus every 247 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:06,480 single time. Let's continue. Matthew 11, starting back in verse 248 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,400 25. And Jesus will tell us about what this means, to take a 249 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,210 next step with God and who he is. At that time, verse 25, Jesus 250 00:16:13,210 --> 00:16:16,210 declared, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you 251 00:16:16,210 --> 00:16:21,130 have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and you've 252 00:16:21,130 --> 00:16:24,570 revealed them to little children. Yes, Father. For such was 253 00:16:24,570 --> 00:16:28,730 your gracious will, all things have been handed over to me by my 254 00:16:28,730 --> 00:16:32,770 Father. And no one knows the Father except the no one knows the 255 00:16:32,770 --> 00:16:35,930 Son except the Father. And no one knows the Father except the Son 256 00:16:35,930 --> 00:16:40,070 and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. So what's 257 00:16:40,070 --> 00:16:43,110 Jesus talking about? This is a little confusing. I mean, do we know 258 00:16:43,110 --> 00:16:46,830 Jesus or Don't we? Because here it says, only the Father knows 259 00:16:46,830 --> 00:16:50,150 the Son and only the Son knows the Father. What Jesus is explaining 260 00:16:50,150 --> 00:16:54,269 here is they have a unique relationship. Jesus and the Father 261 00:16:54,269 --> 00:17:00,270 are one. So my wife and I, by the way, she's at camp this week 262 00:17:00,670 --> 00:17:03,510 helping out with the students there. So praise the Lord. I'm so 263 00:17:03,510 --> 00:17:06,989 thankful. Love you, honey. You might watch this later. Keep going. 264 00:17:07,469 --> 00:17:11,509 Get some sleep, please. I know you know it. Yeah. So my wife is 265 00:17:11,509 --> 00:17:15,869 there helping. We've been married in August. 33 years. 33 years, 266 00:17:16,109 --> 00:17:23,149 dude. It's okay. Please. Somehow she survived me. I don't 267 00:17:23,149 --> 00:17:25,669 know, you know, it's like she made it through, so praise the Lord 268 00:17:25,669 --> 00:17:29,869 for that. But 33 years. So I've actually lived with my wife, 269 00:17:29,869 --> 00:17:33,990 married longer than I have been by myself, growing up with my 270 00:17:33,990 --> 00:17:38,030 parents. 18 years at home, 4 years in college, 22 years. My wife 271 00:17:38,030 --> 00:17:40,390 and I got married right at the end of college. So I have actually 272 00:17:40,390 --> 00:17:44,350 been with her. You think I know her? I actually know her better 273 00:17:44,350 --> 00:17:48,870 than anybody else. And you know what? She knows me. We've poured 274 00:17:48,870 --> 00:17:51,990 into each other's lives. We walked each other together through 275 00:17:51,990 --> 00:17:56,750 ups and downs, all of life's journeys. And now imagine Jesus Christ. 276 00:17:57,580 --> 00:18:00,220 There's an eternal side to Jesus, and there's an earthly side 277 00:18:00,220 --> 00:18:03,820 to Jesus. The eternal side. Jesus has been with the Father since 278 00:18:03,820 --> 00:18:09,260 the beginning of time. Jesus and the Father are one. You don't 279 00:18:09,260 --> 00:18:11,940 think that Jesus knows the Father better than anyone else and 280 00:18:11,940 --> 00:18:15,540 that the Father knows Jesus better than anyone else? They have 281 00:18:15,540 --> 00:18:19,420 a relationship that is more intimate, more unique, more special 282 00:18:19,420 --> 00:18:23,420 than any relationship we could ever define. Like, you and I know 283 00:18:24,070 --> 00:18:25,870 that's the kind of relationship that he's talking about 284 00:18:25,870 --> 00:18:31,230 here. And then Jesus reminds us, look, God gave him Jesus all 285 00:18:31,230 --> 00:18:36,390 authority, all power. The same power that God Almighty has. Jesus 286 00:18:36,550 --> 00:18:40,470 has. Praise the Lord for that. Their relationship is that close. 287 00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:45,230 The book of John reminds us of this. You don't have to turn there, 288 00:18:45,230 --> 00:18:48,150 but in John 1, if you ever want to read it, it's a powerful 289 00:18:48,150 --> 00:18:51,870 statement about the journey of seeing Jesus come to this earth. 290 00:18:52,030 --> 00:18:56,310 The first part of it says, in the beginning was the Word. It's 291 00:18:56,310 --> 00:18:59,750 referring to Jesus there. And the Word was with God, and the Word 292 00:18:59,750 --> 00:19:03,950 was God, it says. And then a few verses later, it says, and then 293 00:19:04,190 --> 00:19:09,910 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. That passage is reminding 294 00:19:09,910 --> 00:19:14,910 us Jesus and the Father are one. They think the same. They know 295 00:19:14,910 --> 00:19:19,110 each other so well. And Jesus is saying here, if anybody can reveal 296 00:19:19,110 --> 00:19:22,690 you to the Father, it's me. I'M the only one. I know the Father 297 00:19:22,690 --> 00:19:27,650 better than anyone else. And if you notice, the passage says, 298 00:19:27,650 --> 00:19:33,610 whom Jesus chooses to reveal the Father. So who does Jesus reveal 299 00:19:33,610 --> 00:19:37,850 the Father to? Well, praise the Lord. He wants to reveal him 300 00:19:37,850 --> 00:19:40,930 to everybody. He wants you to know the goodness of who God is, 301 00:19:41,090 --> 00:19:44,450 the gospel story. He wants you to know the grace that is given by 302 00:19:44,450 --> 00:19:50,930 God. He wants you to know the Father. See, when we sin, the relationship 303 00:19:50,930 --> 00:19:55,170 with a holy God, God the Father, when we choose to rebel against 304 00:19:55,170 --> 00:20:00,130 Jesus, that sin separates us from a holy God. And Jesus has come 305 00:20:00,130 --> 00:20:03,970 to say, I can right that relationship. I have come to show 306 00:20:03,970 --> 00:20:07,250 you how to live a life that can honor God Almighty. If you would 307 00:20:07,250 --> 00:20:15,300 just put your faith and your trust in me. Only those who want 308 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:19,340 to know the Father, who desire to pursue him, Jesus says, that's 309 00:20:19,340 --> 00:20:21,860 the kind of person that I'll reveal things to. As a matter of 310 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:25,620 fact, in verse 25, Jesus praises God Almighty from hiding 311 00:20:25,620 --> 00:20:28,020 these things from the wise and understanding because he knows what 312 00:20:28,020 --> 00:20:31,700 we do. We try to figure it out. We will try to build our way 313 00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:38,020 up to make things right with God on our own. And we can't. You're 314 00:20:38,020 --> 00:20:43,120 not perfect, I'm not perfect. We can't encounter a holy God. Jesus 315 00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:46,560 says, come like a child now, it doesn't mean you have to become 316 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,200 eight years old again. Some of you are eight years old. You can 317 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,560 come to know Jesus if you are. Praise the Lord. It's not about birth, 318 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,560 age, it's about a heart attitude. Before Jesus, it is saying, 319 00:20:55,560 --> 00:21:00,280 God, I come with open arms, all that I have. Jesus, I choose 320 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:05,840 you. I believe in you with all my heart. I give everything I have 321 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:11,530 to you. Jesus, I surrender my all to you. And just like a child 322 00:21:11,770 --> 00:21:17,290 coming to a father, Jesus is saying, if you'll come to him humble, 323 00:21:17,610 --> 00:21:21,530 you come to him with open arms, surrendering all. You will 324 00:21:21,530 --> 00:21:27,370 find God in your life. Jesus tries to remind us of that in this 325 00:21:27,370 --> 00:21:29,410 passage. As a matter of fact, that's the next truth that I want 326 00:21:29,410 --> 00:21:34,890 you to recognize today that Jesus refills the Father to the humble, 327 00:21:35,050 --> 00:21:40,140 not the self reliant. Jesus reveals the Father to the humble, 328 00:21:40,140 --> 00:21:45,100 not the self reliant. The heart is this. Come before Jesus 329 00:21:45,180 --> 00:21:49,060 with open hands and open arms. When you go on your own, you try 330 00:21:49,060 --> 00:21:52,739 to do things on your own. That's when Jesus will say, I see 331 00:21:52,739 --> 00:21:56,620 it, I know it, and you're choosing to reject me. You're choosing 332 00:21:56,620 --> 00:22:01,580 your own way. You're choosing your wisdom, your understanding, 333 00:22:02,390 --> 00:22:06,870 and that will never get you there. Jesus knows what Each of us 334 00:22:06,870 --> 00:22:10,110 needs and how we can pursue the Father. You see, we like things 335 00:22:10,110 --> 00:22:13,710 being independent. We like things being self made. We like to 336 00:22:13,710 --> 00:22:18,390 do things on our own. That's who we are. I thought about the some 337 00:22:18,390 --> 00:22:21,750 years ago the army came out with a slogan. It said be all that 338 00:22:21,750 --> 00:22:27,710 you can. Yeah, in the army. Well, if you heard that slogan, that 339 00:22:27,710 --> 00:22:30,830 that's our fault. It's. I get what the army is trying to say. We 340 00:22:30,830 --> 00:22:34,180 want to help you to be a better person, do these things. We 341 00:22:34,180 --> 00:22:37,580 can train you, we can teach you. You can be a better person. 342 00:22:37,740 --> 00:22:44,700 Be everything that you can be. God says, that's not my way. My way 343 00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:51,620 is be everything Jesus can call you to be. There's so much more 344 00:22:51,620 --> 00:22:55,100 power. There's so much more life. When you surrender to Jesus 345 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:58,540 and let him work in your life, the things that were once possible 346 00:22:58,780 --> 00:23:02,790 will with God, all things are possible is what the scripture tells 347 00:23:02,790 --> 00:23:07,990 us. Choose Jesus in your journey instead of your own abilities 348 00:23:07,990 --> 00:23:14,190 and your own authority of your life. No hard work, not in strength, 349 00:23:14,350 --> 00:23:18,830 not in your own power. Simply getting to a place that you say I 350 00:23:18,830 --> 00:23:22,270 surrender. So if you're in that place like I was referring to 351 00:23:22,510 --> 00:23:25,990 earlier, you just feel that weight in your life. You know, I'm 352 00:23:25,990 --> 00:23:28,830 carrying some things that I can't just get off my shoulders. 353 00:23:28,830 --> 00:23:32,690 No matter how much I try and do. That's a sign that you're starting 354 00:23:32,690 --> 00:23:35,210 to become self reliant. You're trying to do it on your own. And 355 00:23:35,210 --> 00:23:38,370 Jesus is calling you to something different. He actually 356 00:23:38,530 --> 00:23:41,730 then addresses one of the most famous passages. Many of you know 357 00:23:41,730 --> 00:23:45,330 this, starting in verse 28 of Matthew, would you look there with 358 00:23:45,330 --> 00:23:53,290 me? Jesus says these powerful words to us. Come to me, come to 359 00:23:53,290 --> 00:23:56,690 me. He says, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give 360 00:23:56,690 --> 00:24:01,730 you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn from me. For I am gentle 361 00:24:01,730 --> 00:24:05,970 and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For 362 00:24:05,970 --> 00:24:11,690 my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Most powerful words that 363 00:24:11,690 --> 00:24:14,690 Jesus could have said. He didn't say, go out and do a bunch 364 00:24:14,690 --> 00:24:18,370 of work. He didn't say you have to learn a bunch of stuff. He 365 00:24:18,370 --> 00:24:22,690 says, come to me. Different than any other religion out there, 366 00:24:22,930 --> 00:24:28,160 all the other religions. You have to work order to gain glory. 367 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:34,840 Jesus says, no, I've already done it. Come to me, find rest in 368 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:39,480 me. Let me show you. I can point you to the Father. I can bring 369 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,560 all of this power and authority that I've been given and 370 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:46,840 pour it into your life if you would just simply come to me. And 371 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,480 then he says, I will give you rest. Not just physical rest, but 372 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:56,460 rest for. For your soul. He can remove those burdens and he can 373 00:24:56,460 --> 00:25:00,580 place it on his own shoulders. As a matter of fact, he's trying 374 00:25:00,580 --> 00:25:04,140 to say, you know, come at this time into my life. Come to me. And 375 00:25:04,140 --> 00:25:06,620 you may be going, hey, you know, these cities, they actually 376 00:25:06,620 --> 00:25:09,180 saw Jesus walk through. So what. What does it mean to actually 377 00:25:09,180 --> 00:25:13,340 come to Jesus? How do I come to him when he's calling? Well, like 378 00:25:13,340 --> 00:25:16,700 I told you earlier, come with open arms and say, jesus, I choose 379 00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:21,490 to give you my all. I choose to surrender everything. I'm laying 380 00:25:21,490 --> 00:25:25,850 my life down before you. But also Jesus says, come and take my 381 00:25:25,850 --> 00:25:28,930 yoke upon you. Now, this is not yolk. It's spelled differently 382 00:25:28,930 --> 00:25:31,850 than an egg. This is a different kind of yolk. I know we're 383 00:25:31,850 --> 00:25:34,770 in Texas. Some of you may know what a yoke is like. But just in 384 00:25:34,770 --> 00:25:37,210 case, let me show you a picture of what Jesus is talking 385 00:25:37,210 --> 00:25:43,450 about. This is a yoke. It's right now put between two cattle. 386 00:25:43,450 --> 00:25:48,220 Sometimes they'd use oxen. It was a place to be able to see power 387 00:25:48,220 --> 00:25:52,580 and strength beyond just what one could do. So plowing a field, 388 00:25:52,980 --> 00:25:56,260 pulling a cart. The people at the time knew exactly what Jesus 389 00:25:56,260 --> 00:25:58,500 was talking about when he talked about a yoke. Now, here's 390 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:01,300 the thing you may not realize, because they could pull together 391 00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:04,500 stronger, There was usually one of the animals that was stronger 392 00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:08,540 than the other. That stronger was the lead. They would put another 393 00:26:08,540 --> 00:26:13,000 animal with them that was not as strong. And when they yoked together, 394 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,560 the two of them could carry more than the one by themselves. 395 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:20,360 The stronger, by the way, would know the Master's voice. The 396 00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:23,800 stronger knew the Master's commands. The stronger knew how to 397 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,359 go to the places that he would say go and how to stop when it was 398 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:31,720 time to stay still and time to move. And you get the illustration 399 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:35,800 here. That stronger carrying the load alongside the weaker that's 400 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,970 coming along. Jesus is saying to us, take, take my yoke upon you. 401 00:26:40,290 --> 00:26:45,170 Let me be the stronger in your life. Let me carry those burdens. 402 00:26:45,170 --> 00:26:49,650 And notice this with you. Sometimes we think when Jesus says, 403 00:26:49,650 --> 00:26:53,010 come and lay the burdens upon him, that all the burdens go away. 404 00:26:53,010 --> 00:26:56,330 That's not what he says here. He actually says he's going to make 405 00:26:56,330 --> 00:26:59,490 your burdens lighter. It doesn't mean you're not going to 406 00:26:59,490 --> 00:27:02,530 have hard times. If you're a Christ follower, you already know 407 00:27:02,530 --> 00:27:06,580 that's true. If you're not a Christ follower, even more so. The 408 00:27:06,580 --> 00:27:09,900 Struggles that you face day after day after day keep piling up. 409 00:27:09,900 --> 00:27:13,500 And Jesus is going, come to me. Let me take those burdens from 410 00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:19,820 you. Take my yoke upon you. Jesus reminders to us is simply saying, 411 00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:23,460 let me be the stronger in your life. I can carry you through, I 412 00:27:23,460 --> 00:27:27,660 can get you through this. I am the way. And when you surrender to 413 00:27:27,660 --> 00:27:32,410 me, your life will be forever changed. You need to realize in this 414 00:27:32,410 --> 00:27:36,210 moment, he's talking to Sadduce. People that have been like 415 00:27:36,210 --> 00:27:39,490 harped upon by these folks called Sadducees and Pharisees. These 416 00:27:39,490 --> 00:27:43,290 were people that owned the law of the day, the religious leaders 417 00:27:43,290 --> 00:27:46,170 of the time. And more and more, these religious leaders knew 418 00:27:46,170 --> 00:27:49,210 the laws of God. They knew the commandments that had been laid out 419 00:27:49,210 --> 00:27:52,010 by him. And they actually added more laws on top of that to 420 00:27:52,010 --> 00:27:55,930 try to keep you from failing in these laws. The more laws they 421 00:27:55,930 --> 00:27:59,290 added, they had to add more and more and more and more until 422 00:27:59,290 --> 00:28:02,960 where the people, there was no way they could ever fulfill the laws. 423 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:06,600 The sad thing, Jesus rails against the Sadducees and Pharisees. 424 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,640 You've got just a quick moment. You can Turn to Matthew 23 425 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:12,840 talking about what the Sadducees and Pharisees do. These 426 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,600 people that have put all these laws on the people. He says, the 427 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:20,160 scribes and the pharisees in verse 2 sit on Moses seat. So do 428 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,360 and observe what they tell you, but not the works they do. For 429 00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:25,880 they preach but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, 430 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,210 hard to bear, and they lay them on people's shoulders, but they 431 00:28:29,210 --> 00:28:35,050 themselves are not willing to move with their fingers. Jesus knows 432 00:28:35,050 --> 00:28:37,930 that these religious leaders have been pouring burdens over and 433 00:28:37,930 --> 00:28:43,250 over again and knows that the people can't fulfill the law. There's 434 00:28:43,250 --> 00:28:48,450 no way too many to carry. And Jesus is saying, you know what? Only 435 00:28:48,450 --> 00:28:53,050 one could fulfill the law and fulfill it perfectly. And that's 436 00:28:53,050 --> 00:28:58,580 me. Jesus is trying to say to each of us, he's the only perfect 437 00:28:58,580 --> 00:29:02,660 one, the perfect Son of God, the Lamb of God that came to take 438 00:29:02,660 --> 00:29:06,060 away the sins of the world. And sins are when we break those 439 00:29:06,060 --> 00:29:11,140 laws. Jesus is trying to point us to him just to be reminded of 440 00:29:11,140 --> 00:29:15,020 what we deserve. And we deserve judgment. Any of you tried 441 00:29:15,020 --> 00:29:17,660 to memorize the Sermon on the Mount with us? We went through it 442 00:29:17,660 --> 00:29:23,380 several weeks ago. Matthew 5, 7 Matthew 5. Jesus turns the tables. 443 00:29:23,380 --> 00:29:25,980 It's not just the law. It's actually if you think it or you believe 444 00:29:25,980 --> 00:29:29,700 it in your heart, whether you actually do it or not. Jesus says 445 00:29:29,700 --> 00:29:32,380 the fact that your heart believes it you still have sinned 446 00:29:32,380 --> 00:29:36,619 in the same way. And in Matthew 5, it tells us that you deserve 447 00:29:36,619 --> 00:29:41,020 judgment being brought before the council. Even the hell of fire 448 00:29:41,020 --> 00:29:44,700 itself is what you and I deserve because we can't fulfill 449 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:50,790 that law. Jesus is the only one. Jesus is saying here, come to 450 00:29:50,790 --> 00:29:55,110 me, no one else. I'm the only one that can relate that relationship 451 00:29:55,270 --> 00:29:58,590 with God the Father. So you've tried it. You've tried to do things 452 00:29:58,590 --> 00:30:02,710 on your own. You've tried to say to Jesus, I got this. And all 453 00:30:02,710 --> 00:30:05,430 we keep doing is rejecting him over and over. And this is the last 454 00:30:05,430 --> 00:30:09,350 truth that I want you to remember today. Jesus calls us away 455 00:30:09,350 --> 00:30:14,980 from dependence on our own work to rest in his work. He's already 456 00:30:14,980 --> 00:30:18,980 done it. He's already gone to the cross for you and for me. He's 457 00:30:18,980 --> 00:30:23,420 already died for our sins. He has come. He shared the good news 458 00:30:23,420 --> 00:30:27,140 of the gospel with you and with me to be able to tell us Jesus 459 00:30:27,140 --> 00:30:33,700 is the way, the truth and the life come to him today. Jesus has 460 00:30:33,700 --> 00:30:39,190 done the work for each and every one of us. Praise the Lord. 461 00:30:39,190 --> 00:30:41,390 That's actually the good news of the gospel for you and for me. 462 00:30:42,590 --> 00:30:46,110 When we try to take this life and do it on our own, you're right, 463 00:30:46,190 --> 00:30:49,030 you get worn out, you get tired. You won't be able to make 464 00:30:49,030 --> 00:30:54,110 it. Jesus is the one saying, stop that. Come to me, all you are 465 00:30:54,190 --> 00:30:58,550 weary, heavy laden and burdened. And I will give you rest 466 00:30:58,550 --> 00:31:03,110 when you choose me. You see, when we get Jesus, we get all that 467 00:31:03,110 --> 00:31:06,810 God Almighty gave to him. So right righteousness. We get through 468 00:31:06,810 --> 00:31:10,570 Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God, we get through Jesus Christ. 469 00:31:10,970 --> 00:31:17,970 We get pardons for sin, we get peace from Jesus, all that power 470 00:31:17,970 --> 00:31:24,250 and authority that God gave, Jesus himself has. Jesus also says, 471 00:31:24,410 --> 00:31:27,170 there's a part of this that you need to learn from me. Learn 472 00:31:27,170 --> 00:31:31,130 the way that I lived. Learn the way that I walked with my Father. 473 00:31:31,700 --> 00:31:34,980 That word learn that Jesus used here is the same word as disciple. 474 00:31:35,460 --> 00:31:39,060 In Matthew 28, where Jesus says, go make disciples, it's the 475 00:31:39,060 --> 00:31:42,940 same word, learn from me, Jesus says, and I will show you how 476 00:31:42,940 --> 00:31:49,020 to find rest. So my question to you today is, I know you've been 477 00:31:49,020 --> 00:31:51,900 working hard. I know you've been trying to keep up with everything 478 00:31:51,900 --> 00:31:55,940 there is to do. I know you're pursuing the things that make you 479 00:31:55,940 --> 00:32:02,590 happy. Where is Jesus in that picture? Who are you dependent on? 480 00:32:03,070 --> 00:32:07,110 Are you dependent on yourself? Are you dependent on Jesus? And just 481 00:32:07,110 --> 00:32:09,710 like we learned about earlier when we saw those cities that Jesus 482 00:32:09,710 --> 00:32:13,109 came against, if you're Dependent on yourself. You're rejecting 483 00:32:13,109 --> 00:32:18,710 Jesus. If you're dependent on him, you're surrendering in humility 484 00:32:18,710 --> 00:32:23,600 before him. Search your heart this morning. Have you gotten to 485 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,640 a place that you've gotten so comfortable in the way you can do 486 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,960 things on your own? So tired, so worn out, with no other place 487 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,680 to turn, no hope to find. Jesus is speaking to you now, saying, 488 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:41,280 come to me. Would you lay it before me? Would you let me take 489 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:45,560 you and be the stronger in your life? Prayer is a powerful way 490 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:49,410 of turning that over to Jesus. I know many of you will come forward. 491 00:32:49,810 --> 00:32:52,770 You come week after week seeking the Lord. Some of you, though, 492 00:32:52,770 --> 00:32:55,730 choose not to even come, saying, I got this. Remember, Lord, 493 00:32:55,730 --> 00:33:00,010 I could take care of this on my own. Prayer is a sign of dependence 494 00:33:00,010 --> 00:33:03,210 on the Lord. It's. It's not saying some famous words that you 495 00:33:03,210 --> 00:33:05,730 get things right. It's coming to Jesus saying, I have nothing. 496 00:33:06,290 --> 00:33:12,330 I need you, Lord. Would you choose him today? For those of you 497 00:33:12,330 --> 00:33:15,220 that have known Jesus, maybe he's reminding you you've gotten 498 00:33:15,220 --> 00:33:20,300 off that course and you're trying to live it on your own. You've 499 00:33:20,300 --> 00:33:25,620 become dependent on yourself instead of dependent on Jesus. This 500 00:33:25,620 --> 00:33:30,060 Independence Day, would you choose dependence on Jesus? Just 501 00:33:30,060 --> 00:33:33,620 a moment. Our pastors will be down front. The altar will be open. 502 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,420 Maybe you just need some time to say Jesus, I've tried it too long. 503 00:33:37,060 --> 00:33:43,380 Please, please, Lord, today, take it from me. Would you want to 504 00:33:43,380 --> 00:33:46,500 come in just a moment to do that? Have others to join you in 505 00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:48,700 prayer to say, I need to turn it over to you. And then there's 506 00:33:48,700 --> 00:33:51,700 some of you today that you have never chosen Jesus in your life. 507 00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:54,940 You've rejected him all along the way. You've never had that moment 508 00:33:54,940 --> 00:33:58,180 to say, jesus, just like a child, I come before you and I surrender 509 00:33:58,180 --> 00:34:02,700 all. You choose to surrender all to him today. It is the beginning 510 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:07,460 of a new life for you. Jesus takes those burdens and he will guide 511 00:34:07,460 --> 00:34:11,380 you and show you how to live a life that is honoring to God Almighty. 512 00:34:11,380 --> 00:34:14,740 And your life will never be the same again. Again. Are you ready 513 00:34:14,740 --> 00:34:18,220 for that today? Same way these pastors will be here ready to talk 514 00:34:18,220 --> 00:34:21,100 with you, a prayer team will be here ready to talk with you and 515 00:34:21,100 --> 00:34:23,620 share with you the goodness. By the way, have you noticed what 516 00:34:23,620 --> 00:34:26,660 the words are when we have baptism at the end of our service? 517 00:34:26,820 --> 00:34:31,949 It's exactly what Jesus was teaching. Jesus in my place. Place. 518 00:34:31,949 --> 00:34:37,109 That's what he's saying here. Come to me. If you come today and 519 00:34:37,109 --> 00:34:41,429 you surrender, the baptism is ready right now. It's a testimony 520 00:34:41,429 --> 00:34:43,749 of what God would do in that change of heart that you'll have 521 00:34:43,749 --> 00:34:47,468 in just a moment, giving your life to Jesus. We have a shirt ready 522 00:34:47,468 --> 00:34:50,909 for you. We have shorts ready for you. You can come and be baptized 523 00:34:50,909 --> 00:34:54,989 today and surrender your all to Him. The heavens will rejoice 524 00:34:54,989 --> 00:34:59,360 and we will rejoice with you. Is it time to surrender? Time to 525 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:06,600 let go? Time to let Jesus take that for you. Pastors are coming 526 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:10,800 now. Prayer teams are coming now. Ask the Lord, who am I dependent 527 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:16,600 on today? God? Am I ready to lay it all down before you? Stand 528 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:22,520 with me. Let's join together. You come and seek the Lord this morning. 529 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:26,670 Come, lay it down before him. Come, say Jesus. I give it all to 530 00:35:26,670 --> 00:35:33,470 you. I surrender everything simply in Christ alone. I give it 531 00:35:33,470 --> 00:35:34,110 all to you.