The Holy Spirit
came at Pentecost
00:01:15.95\00:01:22.43
He came in mighty fullness then
00:01:22.46\00:01:28.43
His witness thru
believers won the lost
00:01:28.46\00:01:34.41
And multitudes were born again
00:01:34.44\00:01:40.39
The early Christians
scattered all over the world
00:01:40.42\00:01:46.08
They preached
the gospel fearlessly
00:01:46.11\00:01:52.00
Tho' some were
martyred and to lions hurled
00:01:52.03\00:01:57.66
They marched along in victory
00:01:57.69\00:02:03.24
Come Holy
Spirit dark is the hour
00:02:03.27\00:02:11.24
We need Your filling
00:02:14.60\00:02:19.75
Your love and Your mighty power
00:02:19.78\00:02:26.49
Move now among
us Stir us we pray
00:02:26.52\00:02:34.49
Come Holy Spirit
revive the church today
00:02:38.54\00:02:46.54
Then in an age when
darkness gripped the earth
00:02:52.73\00:02:58.80
The just shall live
by faith was learned
00:02:58.83\00:03:04.82
The Holy Spirit
gave the church new birth
00:03:04.85\00:03:10.69
As reformation fires burned
00:03:10.72\00:03:16.58
In later years the
great revivals came
00:03:16.61\00:03:22.61
When saints would
seek the Lord and pray
00:03:22.64\00:03:28.47
O once again we
need that holy flame
00:03:28.50\00:03:34.21
To meet the challenge of today
00:03:34.24\00:03:39.88
Come Holy
Spirit dark is the hour
00:03:39.91\00:03:47.88
We need Your filling
00:03:51.47\00:03:56.76
Your love and Your mighty power
00:03:56.79\00:04:03.21
Move now among
us Stir us we pray
00:04:03.24\00:04:11.21
Come Holy Spirit
Revive the church today
00:04:14.91\00:04:22.91
Revive the church
today Revive the church today
00:04:27.51\00:04:35.51
Hey, thank you,
man, that's good.
00:04:52.09\00:04:53.53
All right. Good
evening, everyone.
00:04:56.94\00:04:59.07
Good evening.
How's your day going?
00:04:59.10\00:05:01.73
Good. Did anyone had a good day?
00:05:01.76\00:05:08.00
Praise God. Okay, good.
00:05:08.03\00:05:11.94
And me too, I had a great
day, I went skateboarding.
00:05:11.97\00:05:16.70
Where are the kids that
I went skateboarding with?
00:05:16.73\00:05:18.69
Yeah, right there, those are
my skating buddies, right there.
00:05:18.72\00:05:21.41
Can I skateboard? Can I?
00:05:21.44\00:05:24.46
Tell them. I love
to go skateboarding.
00:05:24.49\00:05:30.09
You know, I
basically started skateboarding
00:05:30.12\00:05:32.25
when I was, oh, 11 years old.
00:05:32.28\00:05:34.73
My dad took me to a Kmart.
00:05:34.76\00:05:36.39
And he said, I
could buy anything
00:05:36.42\00:05:37.79
I wanted in the store up to $50.
00:05:37.82\00:05:40.22
And so I bought a skateboard
00:05:40.25\00:05:41.95
and I think he regretted that
day for the rest of his life.
00:05:41.98\00:05:45.52
And so basically I just
did the skateboarding thing
00:05:45.55\00:05:47.82
and I moved to California
when I was 18 years old
00:05:47.85\00:05:50.38
to become a professional
skateboarder, no joke.
00:05:50.41\00:05:54.21
And I was there for two years
00:05:54.24\00:05:55.72
and lived the
pro skateboarder life
00:05:55.75\00:05:57.99
and now of course, I
love the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:05:58.02\00:06:00.56
And that's the
direction that my life has gone.
00:06:00.59\00:06:02.65
But I still love to skate
00:06:02.68\00:06:04.05
and love to go to
the skateboard parks.
00:06:04.08\00:06:06.36
And just be cruising around
00:06:06.39\00:06:07.76
and having a good time
and introducing myself.
00:06:07.79\00:06:10.62
And invariably, you
know, I'm oldest person there.
00:06:10.65\00:06:15.10
And it'll come up, so you know,
00:06:15.13\00:06:16.74
people will like, how
long you've been skateboarding.
00:06:16.77\00:06:19.18
Like well, I suppose
the oldest one of you.
00:06:19.21\00:06:20.91
Who is the oldest of
you? How old are you Jeremy?
00:06:20.94\00:06:24.27
Okay, 14,
exactly that's my point.
00:06:24.30\00:06:26.41
So somebody will say,
"So like how old are you?"
00:06:26.44\00:06:28.14
Or no, they'll say, "How
long you've been skateboarding?"
00:06:28.17\00:06:29.93
That's what they say. And
I'll say, "like 21 years."
00:06:29.96\00:06:34.95
And as we sort of
have this conversation
00:06:37.28\00:06:39.65
then it'll come
up that I'm a pastor.
00:06:39.68\00:06:42.03
And it's really kind of funny.
00:06:42.06\00:06:43.43
You can just see the
word like spreading like,
00:06:43.46\00:06:47.39
people skateboarding around,
00:06:47.42\00:06:48.79
come up to the top of the ramp
like, "Are you really a priest?"
00:06:48.82\00:06:55.77
And so it's--no not a
priest, pastor, pastor.
00:06:55.80\00:07:03.07
At least not a priest
in the catholic sense.
00:07:03.10\00:07:05.61
So anyway, I had
a great day today,
00:07:05.64\00:07:07.01
I went skateboarding
00:07:07.04\00:07:08.41
and it's really nice to
be down here in Tennessee
00:07:08.44\00:07:11.89
where the weather is
warmer than where I am from.
00:07:11.92\00:07:14.57
In Michigan, it's been
kind of cold in Michigan.
00:07:14.60\00:07:16.72
Now I'm not from Michigan,
I'm actually from Wyoming.
00:07:16.75\00:07:20.22
And I don't lay
any claim to Michigan,
00:07:20.25\00:07:22.36
not that I don't love it there
but before I moved to Michigan,
00:07:22.39\00:07:24.69
my two favorite things
in the world were surfing.
00:07:24.72\00:07:27.08
That is to say as far
as recreational activities.
00:07:27.11\00:07:29.23
Surfing and rock climbing
00:07:29.26\00:07:31.64
and there are no
oceans in Michigan
00:07:31.67\00:07:34.07
and there are no
rocks in Michigan.
00:07:34.10\00:07:37.53
The rocks that they do
have in Michigan are the things
00:07:37.56\00:07:39.38
that they use to
pave their driveways with.
00:07:39.41\00:07:41.69
Right, you know,
00:07:41.72\00:07:43.09
in fact just the other day
we were driving through Michigan
00:07:43.12\00:07:44.97
with my two
boys, Landon and Jabel.
00:07:45.00\00:07:46.95
And there is this
little sledding hill.
00:07:46.98\00:07:48.73
And I said,
"Look boys a mountain."
00:07:48.76\00:07:50.43
Yeah, its like--
it's like 50 feet high.
00:07:50.46\00:07:53.89
So I'm just thrilled to be here.
00:07:53.92\00:07:56.15
It's a great
privilege for me to be here
00:07:56.18\00:07:57.59
at Southern Adventist University
00:07:57.62\00:07:58.99
and I have already met
several wonderful people
00:07:59.02\00:08:01.88
and been
introduced to many people.
00:08:01.91\00:08:03.70
And I want to thank you
for welcoming me so warmly.
00:08:03.73\00:08:07.69
And I'm looking forward
to this evening presentation.
00:08:07.72\00:08:10.05
It's entitled "What
wondrous love is this."
00:08:10.08\00:08:12.86
And that title of course,
comes from a well known hymn,
00:08:12.89\00:08:16.05
"What wondrous love
is this, O my soul?"
00:08:16.08\00:08:19.39
And it is I think may be my
current favorite presentation.
00:08:19.42\00:08:23.17
And I love to
give this presentation
00:08:23.20\00:08:25.34
because it ministers to my soul.
00:08:25.37\00:08:27.86
And when I began to pray, God,
what do You want me to preach?
00:08:27.89\00:08:31.40
God, what message do
You want me to deliver?
00:08:31.43\00:08:34.05
He made it very clear early
on that one of the presentations
00:08:34.08\00:08:38.14
that I had to present was
this one I'm going give tonight.
00:08:38.17\00:08:41.13
And I'm really
looking forward to it
00:08:41.16\00:08:42.67
and I know the Spirit of
God is going to move tonight.
00:08:42.70\00:08:44.34
Not because of this
man, but in spite of this man
00:08:44.37\00:08:47.63
and because of
the Holy Spirit, amen.
00:08:47.66\00:08:50.53
So let's begin
with a word of prayer
00:08:50.56\00:08:51.93
that's what I like to do.
00:08:51.96\00:08:53.40
And just ask God to be with us.
00:08:53.43\00:08:55.38
I think that's the
best way to go about
00:08:55.41\00:08:56.88
any meaningful
substantive Bible study.
00:08:56.91\00:08:59.74
And then we'll get
right into the Word of God.
00:08:59.77\00:09:01.52
Did you bring
your Bibles tonight?
00:09:01.55\00:09:02.92
Yes. Okay,
great, praise the Lord.
00:09:02.95\00:09:05.07
Okay let's begin
with the word of prayer.
00:09:05.10\00:09:08.74
Father in heaven we
come before You this evening.
00:09:08.77\00:09:11.66
We want to thank
You for Your goodness.
00:09:11.69\00:09:14.46
Father, we want to testify that
You're good and we're but dust.
00:09:14.49\00:09:19.67
And we glory in Your
marvelous condescension
00:09:19.70\00:09:22.57
and sending Your Son, Your only
begotten Son into the world,
00:09:22.60\00:09:26.90
to save sinners
of whom we're chief.
00:09:26.93\00:09:30.88
Father, tonight
as we open Your word,
00:09:30.91\00:09:32.72
we're going to ask that
00:09:32.75\00:09:34.12
something supernatural
will take place here,
00:09:34.15\00:09:35.97
that You'll give
us a supernatural
00:09:36.00\00:09:39.20
extraordinary
experience with Your spirit.
00:09:39.23\00:09:44.28
Father, I'm going
to do my best tonight.
00:09:44.31\00:09:47.27
You made my
mouth, You made my tongue
00:09:47.30\00:09:49.23
and so I pray that the
words will be eloquent.
00:09:49.26\00:09:51.68
I pray they will
be the right words,
00:09:51.71\00:09:53.40
the most piercing words.
00:09:53.43\00:09:55.18
But Father, at the end of
the day in the final analysis
00:09:55.21\00:09:58.78
we need Your spirit to be here,
00:09:58.81\00:10:01.69
to pierce
through hardened hearts,
00:10:01.72\00:10:04.02
to pierce through
indifferent hearts.
00:10:04.05\00:10:07.02
And Father, for
those hearts that are here,
00:10:07.05\00:10:09.05
that are receptive to give us
a stronger more grounded sense
00:10:09.08\00:10:15.37
of the love of God.
00:10:15.40\00:10:18.08
Father, be with us
tonight as we open Your word,
00:10:18.11\00:10:20.04
may You open our hearts
for we ask in the marvelous
00:10:20.07\00:10:23.95
mighty glorious name of
Jesus, let everyone say, amen.
00:10:23.98\00:10:31.31
Well, I think I might
have just mentioned this,
00:10:31.34\00:10:33.48
this morning prior
to becoming a Christian,
00:10:33.51\00:10:37.65
I was a punk rocker.
00:10:37.68\00:10:39.78
Now I got into
the punk rock thing
00:10:39.81\00:10:42.51
because friend of
mine named Timothy Johnson,
00:10:42.54\00:10:45.86
his dad was a
colonel at the air force base
00:10:45.89\00:10:48.73
that my father was
stationed at as well.
00:10:48.76\00:10:50.59
Okay, my dad
was in the air force
00:10:50.62\00:10:52.72
and we were
stationed in the same area
00:10:52.75\00:10:54.78
and he lived just down the
road and he was a punk rocker.
00:10:54.81\00:10:57.52
He was several
grades older than me.
00:10:57.55\00:10:59.07
I was probably 12
years old, 13 years old.
00:10:59.10\00:11:02.58
And he was probably 15 or 16
00:11:02.61\00:11:04.93
and he had blue
hair and yellow hair
00:11:04.96\00:11:07.69
and he would wear you know,
00:11:07.72\00:11:09.09
kind of raggedy
clothes and safety pins.
00:11:09.12\00:11:11.16
And I knew he
had plenty of money.
00:11:11.19\00:11:12.56
It wasn't the
matter of, you know,
00:11:12.59\00:11:13.96
they couldn't
afford these clothes.
00:11:13.99\00:11:15.36
That's just kind
of the way he dressed
00:11:15.39\00:11:16.76
and he lived just down the
road and so I became his friend.
00:11:16.79\00:11:18.50
And one time he
invited me to a show,
00:11:18.53\00:11:20.74
to go to a punk rock show.
00:11:20.77\00:11:22.14
I'd never been to a
punk rock show before.
00:11:22.17\00:11:23.54
I was a 13 year old kid.
00:11:23.57\00:11:24.94
Well, somehow I talked my
mother into letting me go.
00:11:24.97\00:11:27.43
And I came to this show
00:11:27.46\00:11:28.83
and I've never seen anything
like it in my whole life.
00:11:28.86\00:11:31.00
I mean there was
just crazy, radical,
00:11:31.03\00:11:33.67
amazing strange
people there, lots of them.
00:11:33.70\00:11:37.95
And they had
these bands up there.
00:11:37.98\00:11:40.82
And I remember
one particular girl
00:11:40.85\00:11:42.23
that I got to know very
well, her name was April.
00:11:42.26\00:11:43.98
She had like a 3
foot high punk Mohawk.
00:11:44.01\00:11:48.13
And she was the
singer for one of the bands--
00:11:48.16\00:11:50.47
social joke,
it's just ba, ba, ba.
00:11:50.50\00:11:52.42
Just singing and I was like,
wow, just taking it all in.
00:11:52.45\00:11:55.63
Well, anyway I
became a punk rocker somehow
00:11:55.66\00:11:58.63
in the course of events
and that was really what I was.
00:11:58.66\00:12:01.86
That was my persona.
00:12:01.89\00:12:03.63
And eventually I got involved
00:12:03.66\00:12:05.46
in punk rock bands
and started singing.
00:12:05.49\00:12:07.74
We didn't really
sing, we more screamed
00:12:07.77\00:12:09.86
but it was called singing.
00:12:09.89\00:12:11.82
And it was actually called music
which I think is debatable.
00:12:11.85\00:12:14.44
But I was in that
scene for a number of years.
00:12:14.47\00:12:17.55
In fact until I
became a Christian,
00:12:17.58\00:12:18.96
I was a full on punk rocker.
00:12:18.99\00:12:21.04
And when I first
became a Christian,
00:12:21.07\00:12:23.77
it was very
difficult for me to sing,
00:12:23.80\00:12:26.64
because I was so
accustomed to being in bands.
00:12:26.67\00:12:28.52
I was in bands
since I was 17 years old.
00:12:28.55\00:12:30.02
I was converted
when I was almost 24.
00:12:30.05\00:12:31.53
So for the
better part of 7 years,
00:12:31.56\00:12:33.59
I was like a screamer, right.
00:12:33.62\00:12:35.69
And when I first started
hearing Christian singing,
00:12:35.72\00:12:39.12
it was totally new to me.
00:12:39.15\00:12:40.52
I wasn't raised really
in a Christian context.
00:12:40.55\00:12:43.16
And I was taken by it.
00:12:43.19\00:12:45.05
I enjoyed the singing
00:12:45.08\00:12:46.45
and I wanted to
learn how to sing.
00:12:46.48\00:12:48.81
Well, I was working in
this vegetarian restaurant.
00:12:48.84\00:12:51.04
In fact it was the
very vegetarian restaurant
00:12:51.07\00:12:53.15
that I had gone into as a
vegan straightedge punk rocker.
00:12:53.18\00:12:56.72
I don't know if that
means anything to you.
00:12:56.75\00:12:58.12
But I was a crazy vegan
straightedge punk rocker
00:12:58.15\00:13:01.35
and I went into this
vegetarian restaurant.
00:13:01.38\00:13:03.58
And all the people there
00:13:03.61\00:13:05.02
called one and
other brother and sister.
00:13:05.05\00:13:08.05
And I thought that
was the strangest thing.
00:13:08.08\00:13:10.28
The ladies
generally wore dresses
00:13:10.31\00:13:12.16
and they were so
pleasant and so nice
00:13:12.19\00:13:14.07
and I was a
very abrasive person.
00:13:14.10\00:13:16.39
And it's funny because I would
go in there with blue hair,
00:13:16.42\00:13:18.67
pink hair, yellow hair,
red hair, no hair, long hair,
00:13:18.70\00:13:21.20
dreadlocked hair, crazy hair.
00:13:21.23\00:13:22.89
You know, piercing everywhere,
00:13:22.92\00:13:24.29
tattoos, dress
you know slovenly.
00:13:24.32\00:13:26.56
And I thought they were weird.
00:13:26.59\00:13:30.03
I thought these people
were the weirdest people
00:13:30.06\00:13:31.76
I have ever seen,
but they loved me.
00:13:31.79\00:13:33.43
And they treated
me like, you know,
00:13:33.46\00:13:34.97
they just treated me very well.
00:13:35.00\00:13:36.37
And all of my
friends that went in there
00:13:36.40\00:13:37.77
and anyway the long
and the short of it is,
00:13:37.80\00:13:40.20
is they gave me this book
called the 'Great Controversy.'
00:13:40.23\00:13:43.17
You've probably never
heard of it, It's an old book.
00:13:43.20\00:13:45.69
And, anyway, I ended
up reading that book.
00:13:45.72\00:13:48.67
And I can tell you that
I literally read that book
00:13:48.70\00:13:50.83
and in two weeks, God
changed my whole life.
00:13:50.86\00:13:55.27
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:13:55.30\00:13:56.67
I mean, my every
single part of my life,
00:13:56.70\00:13:59.50
every single
thing from my language,
00:13:59.53\00:14:02.11
to my
girlfriend, to my interest,
00:14:02.14\00:14:04.48
to my music, I mean
every single part of my life,
00:14:04.51\00:14:07.48
except my
dietary habits I guess.
00:14:07.51\00:14:09.50
Because I was a vegan before
and I was a vegan after, right.
00:14:09.53\00:14:12.36
And so everything changed
just literally overnight, right.
00:14:12.39\00:14:16.48
Well, I went to work
00:14:16.51\00:14:17.93
I was actually studying medicine
at the University of Wyoming.
00:14:17.96\00:14:20.35
That's what I wanted to
do, I wanted to be a doctor.
00:14:20.38\00:14:22.58
And you think a
punk rock doctor.
00:14:22.61\00:14:24.45
Well, sure. Why not?
00:14:24.48\00:14:26.72
So I decided to take a year off.
00:14:26.75\00:14:29.11
I told my dad, you know,
00:14:29.14\00:14:30.51
dad, I want to take
a year off of school.
00:14:30.54\00:14:32.90
And this was actually
my father's alma mater,
00:14:32.93\00:14:35.64
the University of Wyoming.
00:14:35.67\00:14:37.04
And he at the time
was the vice president
00:14:37.07\00:14:38.85
of the university,
very pro education.
00:14:38.88\00:14:42.07
And I was doing
very well in school,
00:14:42.10\00:14:43.92
A student, you
know, top of my class.
00:14:43.95\00:14:45.83
And so when I told my dad,
00:14:45.86\00:14:47.81
I wanted to drop out
of the premed program.
00:14:47.84\00:14:50.53
That would cause me
to loose my scholarships.
00:14:50.56\00:14:53.52
And just take a year
off to study the Bible.
00:14:53.55\00:14:57.71
He thought that
was a great idea.
00:14:57.74\00:14:59.34
He really
supported that decision.
00:14:59.37\00:15:01.25
Do you think? No, hardly.
00:15:01.28\00:15:04.14
And so what
ended up happening was,
00:15:04.17\00:15:05.71
I'd to move in, not
because my parents kick me out,
00:15:05.74\00:15:08.56
but because it was
such a tense environment.
00:15:08.59\00:15:10.61
I moved in with the people
00:15:10.64\00:15:12.01
that owned the
vegetarian restaurant
00:15:12.04\00:15:13.41
and I started working at this
vegetarian restaurant, right.
00:15:13.44\00:15:15.92
And so I'd be like in
the back washing lettuce.
00:15:15.95\00:15:18.53
And I wanted to
learn how to sing, right.
00:15:18.56\00:15:21.74
And so I loved the singing,
it just sounded so nice to me
00:15:21.77\00:15:24.68
and I wanted to learn how to
sing this song 'Amazing Grace.'
00:15:24.71\00:15:27.92
You've heard
the song, of course.
00:15:27.95\00:15:29.60
And I'd be in the
back there washing lettuce.
00:15:29.63\00:15:31.78
And I'd say, "Amazing
Grace." And I couldn't do it.
00:15:31.81\00:15:37.00
And lady that
own the restaurant,
00:15:37.03\00:15:38.48
who is just the
nicest women ever.
00:15:38.51\00:15:40.22
She could sing of
course like an angel
00:15:40.25\00:15:41.72
and she would comeback and she
do the very wrong thing to me.
00:15:41.75\00:15:45.41
She would laugh at me, right,
00:15:45.44\00:15:47.71
because she could
sing like an angel
00:15:47.74\00:15:49.11
and I couldn't even
carry a tune in a basket.
00:15:49.14\00:15:50.66
And so she would comeback
00:15:50.69\00:15:52.06
and she'd say,
"You'll learn to sing."
00:15:52.09\00:15:53.46
You know, she used
to kind of mock me.
00:15:53.49\00:15:54.86
And by the way, if
you're ever singing
00:15:54.89\00:15:56.26
next to someone in church
who sings like a frog like,
00:15:56.29\00:15:58.54
tell them they sound beautiful,
00:15:58.57\00:15:59.94
give them a little
encouragement, okay.
00:15:59.97\00:16:02.99
So I was back there
and I just couldn't sing
00:16:03.02\00:16:05.06
and I just couldn't sing
and I just couldn't sing,
00:16:05.09\00:16:06.85
and I kept trying
and trying and in my car,
00:16:06.88\00:16:08.68
you know, I just belt it
all day, 'Amazing Grace.'
00:16:08.71\00:16:13.50
And it just-- it
never quite came out right.
00:16:13.53\00:16:16.65
But overtime I learned to sing.
00:16:16.68\00:16:21.11
And one day I opened my mouth
and I said 'Amazing Grace.'
00:16:21.14\00:16:26.61
And I was like, wow.
00:16:26.64\00:16:29.83
I said "Mary,
Mary, listen to this."
00:16:29.86\00:16:31.75
You know, and I actually
was able to start singing.
00:16:31.78\00:16:33.97
And then I wanted to learn
the song, 'Blessed Assurance.'
00:16:34.00\00:16:35.96
And so I learned
to sing that song
00:16:35.99\00:16:37.76
and then I just
came to love singing
00:16:37.79\00:16:39.98
which by the way
I don't believe it
00:16:40.01\00:16:42.18
when people tell me
they can't learn to sing.
00:16:42.21\00:16:43.71
I think anybody
can learn to sing
00:16:43.74\00:16:45.11
if you really try and you are
willing to just be vulnerable
00:16:45.14\00:16:47.22
and just humble
yourself and try it, right.
00:16:47.25\00:16:49.96
It worked for me.
00:16:49.99\00:16:51.61
And so here's the thing,
ever since then I love to sing
00:16:51.64\00:16:54.59
and what I like to do
in my own personal devotion
00:16:54.62\00:16:56.54
is to spend time singing.
00:16:56.57\00:16:58.34
Right, I spend
sometime singing just myself.
00:16:58.37\00:17:00.35
You know, most of the time
people sing in a congregation,
00:17:00.38\00:17:03.24
but it's not very
personal, is it? Is it?
00:17:03.27\00:17:07.16
I mean, okay, think about
singing in a congregation.
00:17:07.19\00:17:09.05
You sing at the end
of the church service.
00:17:09.08\00:17:10.92
And you're singing because
everybody else is singing.
00:17:10.95\00:17:12.59
And you can have a
worshipful experience.
00:17:12.62\00:17:14.10
I'm not
suggesting that you can't.
00:17:14.13\00:17:15.59
But singing is truly
powerful and truly awesome,
00:17:15.62\00:17:18.97
when you're by
yourself singing to Jesus.
00:17:19.00\00:17:21.79
And it's just
incredible and so oh, I suppose
00:17:21.82\00:17:24.85
about six or
seven months ago now.
00:17:24.88\00:17:26.68
I was singing
through the hymnal,
00:17:26.71\00:17:28.08
because there's
many hymns I don't know.
00:17:28.11\00:17:29.48
But I like to sing
through the hymnal.
00:17:29.51\00:17:30.91
And I came to this
song 162 in the hymnal.
00:17:30.94\00:17:33.87
It's 'What
wondrous love is this?'
00:17:33.90\00:17:36.01
You know that song.
00:17:36.04\00:17:37.47
'What wondrous love
is this, O my soul.'
00:17:37.50\00:17:40.61
'What wondrous love
is this, O my soul.'
00:17:40.64\00:17:44.02
'What wondrous love
is this, O my soul.'
00:17:44.05\00:17:47.08
That would cause
the Lord of bliss,
00:17:47.11\00:17:50.85
to bear the
dreadful curse for my soul.
00:17:50.88\00:17:55.41
Now, as I was
singing through that,
00:17:55.44\00:17:56.94
it dawned on me that the
author of that hymn was struck
00:17:56.97\00:18:01.49
with what he perceived to be
a radical imbalance of exchange.
00:18:01.52\00:18:06.84
Here what he's saying?
00:18:06.87\00:18:08.24
He said what, what
wondrous love is this?
00:18:08.27\00:18:11.68
What wondrous love
is this, O my soul,
00:18:11.71\00:18:14.75
that would cause
the Lord of bliss
00:18:14.78\00:18:17.89
to bear the
dreadful curse for me.
00:18:17.92\00:18:22.49
And there in my devotions
as I was singing the song,
00:18:22.52\00:18:24.84
I got to thinking
about the idea of value.
00:18:24.87\00:18:28.74
The idea of
what everyone? Value.
00:18:28.77\00:18:30.52
Value, and also the
similar ideas of worth
00:18:30.55\00:18:34.59
and this idea of exchange
00:18:34.62\00:18:36.76
clearly that's what the
hymn writer was struck with.
00:18:36.79\00:18:38.63
It didn't appeared to
him to be a fair exchange.
00:18:38.66\00:18:41.47
I mean the Lord of bliss
bears the dreadful curse for me.
00:18:41.50\00:18:44.73
There seem to be an
imbalance of exchange there.
00:18:44.76\00:18:47.40
I got to
thinking about that idea.
00:18:47.43\00:18:49.41
And so what I do is
something that I love to do.
00:18:49.44\00:18:51.48
I went to the dictionary
and I looked up the word worth.
00:18:51.51\00:18:56.00
I loved the dictionary.
00:18:56.03\00:18:57.88
And I looked up the word
worth and this is what it says.
00:18:57.91\00:19:02.34
The value of something
especially in terms of money.
00:19:02.37\00:19:07.59
The amount of
something that can be bought
00:19:07.62\00:19:09.83
for a particular some of money
00:19:09.86\00:19:11.55
or that will last for a
particular length of time.
00:19:11.58\00:19:15.54
Worth, so really, the whole idea
00:19:15.57\00:19:18.86
behind this idea of
worth is the idea of exchange.
00:19:18.89\00:19:22.85
The idea of what everyone?
00:19:22.88\00:19:24.25
Exchange, so we might
use the word this way.
00:19:24.28\00:19:25.77
We might say, potentially
you're going to buy a car.
00:19:25.80\00:19:28.69
And you look at the car
00:19:28.72\00:19:30.09
and you'll say,
what's the price on the car?
00:19:30.12\00:19:31.52
And the person says,
"The price is $10,000."
00:19:31.55\00:19:33.52
You might say, "That car
is not worth $10,000 to me."
00:19:33.55\00:19:38.25
Basically, what
you're saying is,
00:19:38.28\00:19:39.65
I don't feel that I'm getting
00:19:39.68\00:19:41.05
enough bank for my
buck out of the car
00:19:41.08\00:19:42.71
to cause me to want
to spend $10,000, worth.
00:19:42.74\00:19:48.53
Another idea of worth is
not just in terms of money,
00:19:48.56\00:19:51.09
but in terms of time.
00:19:51.12\00:19:52.49
Someone might say,
"It's worth it for me
00:19:52.52\00:19:54.72
to finish my
postgraduate degree."
00:19:54.75\00:19:57.80
It's worth it for me to do that.
00:19:57.83\00:19:59.87
Or someone might
say, "This relationship
00:19:59.90\00:20:01.72
that I'm involved in,
this is a good use of my time."
00:20:01.75\00:20:04.75
It's worth it for me to be
involved in this relationship.
00:20:04.78\00:20:08.07
This idea of exchange,
00:20:08.10\00:20:09.84
I give something
and I get something
00:20:09.87\00:20:12.34
and if what I get back
00:20:12.37\00:20:13.74
is of sufficient
value, then it's worth it.
00:20:13.77\00:20:15.96
Are we all together
everyone, yes or no? Yes.
00:20:15.99\00:20:17.77
So the idea of worth
00:20:17.80\00:20:19.17
is the idea of
exchange and the idea of value.
00:20:19.20\00:20:23.06
Now, in
discussing the idea of worth,
00:20:23.09\00:20:25.71
it's important to
understand something
00:20:25.74\00:20:27.11
that is very, very central
00:20:27.14\00:20:28.88
to the concept of
worth and that is this.
00:20:28.91\00:20:31.13
Worth is subjective.
00:20:31.16\00:20:35.23
Worth is, what
did I say everyone?
00:20:35.26\00:20:37.04
Subjected, that is to say
that the worth of something
00:20:37.07\00:20:39.61
or the value of
something is determined
00:20:39.64\00:20:42.09
by the one who is willing to
pay the price for said object.
00:20:42.12\00:20:45.45
Is that makes sense
everyone, yes or no? Yes.
00:20:45.48\00:20:47.38
Okay, never was this clear to me
00:20:47.41\00:20:49.28
then in the days
just before my wedding.
00:20:49.31\00:20:51.79
And my wife is
sitting right over there.
00:20:51.82\00:20:53.73
She is the
prettiest girl in the whole--
00:20:53.76\00:20:55.13
why don't you stand up
so we can all look at you.
00:20:55.16\00:20:56.53
You just try it, come on.
00:20:56.56\00:20:57.93
There she is,
isn't she beautiful?
00:20:57.96\00:20:59.50
Absolutely beautiful.
00:20:59.53\00:21:02.18
And by the way, by the
way when I met my wife,
00:21:02.21\00:21:07.27
this is a true
story when I met my wife
00:21:07.30\00:21:08.90
I asked her to marry me
00:21:08.93\00:21:10.43
six weeks after
the day I met her.
00:21:10.46\00:21:14.28
And astonishingly she
said yes. It's a true story.
00:21:14.31\00:21:18.53
You know, it was--
anyway I knew she was the one?
00:21:18.56\00:21:21.90
I don't necessarily recommend
00:21:21.93\00:21:23.47
this course of
action to any of you.
00:21:23.50\00:21:27.09
But it can work that way
00:21:27.12\00:21:28.50
if you're fully surrendered
to the Lord Jesus Christ
00:21:28.53\00:21:30.43
and she was and I was and
we just wanted God's plan.
00:21:30.46\00:21:32.53
But anyway, here's the point.
00:21:32.56\00:21:34.08
After I asked her to
marry me and she said yes.
00:21:34.11\00:21:36.08
You know, I'm thinking like
in a couple of weeks, right.
00:21:36.11\00:21:40.66
I mean, I'd never
been married before.
00:21:40.69\00:21:42.06
So I didn't know that we
have to do this whole process.
00:21:42.09\00:21:44.48
And so what happens
is when you get married,
00:21:44.51\00:21:47.09
when you ask and she
says yes, then you're engaged.
00:21:47.12\00:21:51.11
Right, are you with me on this?
00:21:51.14\00:21:52.51
I'll give you a little lesson.
00:21:52.54\00:21:53.91
Okay. Then you are engaged.
00:21:53.94\00:21:55.31
And that process of
engagement can last for months.
00:21:55.34\00:22:01.19
I know it's hard to
believe, I mean months.
00:22:01.22\00:22:03.27
And so I asked her to marry me.
00:22:03.30\00:22:04.67
And we set a date that
was almost seven months later.
00:22:04.70\00:22:07.48
I couldn't believe, I mean
to me it was like seven months.
00:22:07.51\00:22:09.87
What do we do in the meantime?
00:22:09.90\00:22:14.02
So I was one of those guys
that just wanted to get married,
00:22:14.05\00:22:17.69
like I didn't
care about the details.
00:22:17.72\00:22:19.61
Ladies, I am sorry.
00:22:19.64\00:22:21.01
Like, I didn't care about
00:22:21.04\00:22:22.41
the color of the
bridesmaid's dresses.
00:22:22.44\00:22:23.87
I mean, nothing mattered to me.
00:22:23.90\00:22:25.34
You know, if we got
the little cutting device
00:22:25.37\00:22:27.00
that had her
name on it, you know.
00:22:27.03\00:22:28.87
what the cake was,
I cared about nothing.
00:22:28.90\00:22:31.69
All I cared about was
at the end of the day,
00:22:31.72\00:22:33.29
April 4th 1999, I was
married to that woman.
00:22:33.32\00:22:35.83
That was like, that was it,
00:22:35.86\00:22:37.23
that's the bottom
line for me, right.
00:22:37.26\00:22:39.07
So one of the
things that you've to do
00:22:39.10\00:22:40.49
when you're getting ready
00:22:40.52\00:22:41.89
for a wedding is
you've to rent tuxedos.
00:22:41.92\00:22:44.84
You're with me?
00:22:44.87\00:22:46.24
So my wife is from
Northern California,
00:22:46.27\00:22:48.09
Northern California.
00:22:48.12\00:22:49.78
And right in the
area where she lives,
00:22:49.81\00:22:51.40
there's a lot of sort
of wealthy affluent people,
00:22:51.43\00:22:54.82
there's vineyards, and there's
a lot of money in that area.
00:22:54.85\00:22:57.33
And she lives just down the road
from a town called St. Helena.
00:22:57.36\00:23:00.56
Has anybody here ever been to
St. Helena, California before?
00:23:00.59\00:23:02.61
Okay, so you know the
kind of town it is, okay.
00:23:02.64\00:23:04.73
You know, what
I'm talking about.
00:23:04.76\00:23:06.13
So it's kind of sophisticated,
posh you know, hip and--
00:23:06.16\00:23:10.27
So anyway we let went through
the little directory there,
00:23:10.30\00:23:13.02
Yellow Pages and we
called a clothing store
00:23:13.05\00:23:16.08
that rented
tuxedos in St. Helena
00:23:16.11\00:23:18.47
and so we went there and ordered
to rent the tuxedos, right.
00:23:18.50\00:23:21.47
We called the head, they
said, "Yeah, we rent tuxedos,
00:23:21.50\00:23:23.38
you have to come in
and look at the catalogs.
00:23:23.41\00:23:24.78
Okay, so we went down there.
00:23:24.81\00:23:26.18
We parked our Honda Accord
00:23:26.21\00:23:27.58
between the
Mercedes and BMW, right.
00:23:27.61\00:23:30.56
And so we go inside and the
lady meets us there at the door
00:23:30.59\00:23:34.30
and Violeta goes with her
over to look at the catalog.
00:23:34.33\00:23:37.21
Now by the way, this wasn't
just any old clothing store.
00:23:37.24\00:23:40.17
This is a Clothia. You
know, what a Clothia is?
00:23:40.20\00:23:45.81
It's a clothing store.
00:23:45.84\00:23:48.28
But it just has kind of a
funny name, it's a Clothia.
00:23:48.31\00:23:51.20
So we went to this
Clothia to rent tuxedos
00:23:51.23\00:23:53.75
and when we got in there,
00:23:53.78\00:23:55.15
Violeta go over
to the counter there
00:23:55.18\00:23:56.55
to spend time with the person
to sort of look and decide
00:23:56.58\00:23:59.24
you know, what
color is the cummerbund
00:23:59.27\00:24:00.69
and the tie and how
long, all of that stuff.
00:24:00.72\00:24:02.61
I could careless.
00:24:02.64\00:24:04.08
So I just start
looking around, right.
00:24:04.11\00:24:06.52
I'm just in this clothing store
and I start looking around.
00:24:06.55\00:24:09.12
And right off the back, I spot,
there's some jackets there,
00:24:09.15\00:24:11.85
cause it was a men's
clothing store, Clothia.
00:24:11.88\00:24:13.70
There was some blazers there,
kind of an English looking
00:24:13.73\00:24:18.27
like a tweed,
almost a herringbone style
00:24:18.30\00:24:21.20
with a little
leather patches on the elbow.
00:24:21.23\00:24:22.96
Are you with me?
And that looked okay.
00:24:22.99\00:24:25.55
I mean it really
just looked all right.
00:24:25.58\00:24:26.96
I was, you know, I
was interested in it.
00:24:26.99\00:24:29.10
And the way that
I shopped by the way
00:24:29.13\00:24:31.10
is I figured out
what something costs
00:24:31.13\00:24:33.17
before I decide if I like it.
00:24:33.20\00:24:37.33
Are you with me? Yeah.
00:24:37.36\00:24:39.04
Like all the
ladies didn't get that.
00:24:39.07\00:24:40.44
She is like, what did he say?
00:24:40.47\00:24:43.90
No, no, no, so if I'm
walking along in the mall
00:24:43.93\00:24:48.24
and I look
through a store there.
00:24:48.27\00:24:50.48
And I see a pair of shoes,
00:24:50.51\00:24:52.29
here's the thought
process I go through.
00:24:52.32\00:24:54.10
I see the shoes
and I think to my--
00:24:54.13\00:24:55.50
I think I might be interested in
that pair of shoes, I might be.
00:24:55.53\00:24:59.73
There is the potential
that I could be interested,
00:24:59.76\00:25:01.72
so I will go in
and see what they cost.
00:25:01.75\00:25:03.43
And so I go in and I
turn the shoe upside down
00:25:03.46\00:25:05.49
and if it says $150, I
don't like them, right.
00:25:05.52\00:25:09.11
Oh, those are the
ugly shoes I've ever seen.
00:25:09.14\00:25:10.90
But if it says $29.95
then I might like them.
00:25:10.93\00:25:15.49
Then I can make the decision.
00:25:15.52\00:25:16.89
See, so first, I know the cost
00:25:16.92\00:25:18.29
and then I
decide if I like them.
00:25:18.32\00:25:19.69
So, so that's
just the just the very
00:25:19.72\00:25:21.09
intelligent way of
shopping by the way.
00:25:21.12\00:25:22.60
I'd recommend you try it.
00:25:22.63\00:25:24.02
So I go into this
clothing store there.
00:25:24.05\00:25:26.16
And there's all of these
blazers hanging in a row there.
00:25:26.19\00:25:29.74
My wife is up
front talking to the lady
00:25:29.77\00:25:31.18
and I look at the
blazer and I think well,
00:25:31.21\00:25:32.89
I might be interested
in liking this, I might.
00:25:32.92\00:25:35.05
So I look at the
tag on the little sleeve
00:25:35.08\00:25:38.09
and I look at that and I think.
00:25:38.12\00:25:40.24
There's a
misprint. It's a misprint.
00:25:40.27\00:25:43.40
So I look at the one
behind it, same thing.
00:25:43.43\00:25:46.24
And I'm thinking two misprints.
00:25:46.27\00:25:47.74
Look at the
third one, same thing.
00:25:47.77\00:25:49.96
So I look at the
back of the jacket
00:25:49.99\00:25:51.40
to see if there's like
a jetpack or something.
00:25:51.43\00:25:55.49
You know, see if there's maybe
00:25:55.52\00:25:56.89
like some Kevlar reinforcement.
00:25:56.92\00:25:58.88
Nothing, just a wool jacket.
00:25:58.91\00:26:02.58
$5,000. Oh.
00:26:02.61\00:26:05.96
And i was like, wasn't
even that nice looking.
00:26:05.99\00:26:10.08
And immediately I knew we were
not going to buy our tuxedos.
00:26:10.11\00:26:14.03
We were not going to rent
our tuxedos from this place.
00:26:14.06\00:26:16.08
So I thought,
well, this will be fun,
00:26:16.11\00:26:17.48
you know,
obviously my wife has not got
00:26:17.51\00:26:18.88
to the bottom
line with this lady.
00:26:18.91\00:26:20.28
So I'm just going to
wander around the store
00:26:20.31\00:26:21.68
and just have little fun.
00:26:21.71\00:26:23.08
So I go over to the shirts.
00:26:23.11\00:26:24.48
White cotton button-up shirt,
00:26:24.51\00:26:26.08
just like the one
I'm wearing here today.
00:26:26.11\00:26:27.48
That I think I paid $14
for it at Ross Dress for Less.
00:26:27.51\00:26:30.16
Amen, come on.
00:26:33.01\00:26:40.87
$600. Oh.
00:26:40.90\00:26:44.41
Belts, $500, shoes,
just off the charts.
00:26:44.44\00:26:49.26
So I was beginning to wonder
00:26:49.29\00:26:50.66
if there's anything in the
store I could actually afford.
00:26:50.69\00:26:53.14
And I went over there and there
was this little wicker basket
00:26:53.17\00:26:56.86
and there were socks in it.
00:26:56.89\00:26:59.53
And it wasn't the
three-pack, it was the one-pack.
00:26:59.56\00:27:02.99
$72. Oh.
00:27:03.02\00:27:07.05
Now while I'm
sort of having this,
00:27:07.08\00:27:09.85
you know, this little exercise
here in just absolute amazement.
00:27:09.88\00:27:14.85
It daunts on me. I have
this here eureka moment.
00:27:14.88\00:27:18.14
Wait a minute, this
place is open for business.
00:27:18.17\00:27:23.39
Are you with me,
see if you follow it?
00:27:23.42\00:27:24.79
I thought wait a
minute. People must shop here.
00:27:24.82\00:27:29.56
Right, doesn't that make sense?
00:27:29.59\00:27:31.36
I mean, people must shop here.
00:27:31.39\00:27:33.08
Otherwise, they
wouldn't be open for business.
00:27:33.11\00:27:34.53
Which much mean
then that somebody else
00:27:34.56\00:27:37.03
not me, maybe one of you.
00:27:37.06\00:27:38.97
Somebody else would
go into that same store
00:27:39.00\00:27:41.54
they would see
those same jackets
00:27:41.57\00:27:43.93
and they would look
at that same price tag.
00:27:43.96\00:27:45.73
And they would
see that same price
00:27:45.76\00:27:47.45
and they'll think
ah, what a great jacket
00:27:47.48\00:27:51.09
and its only $5,000.
00:27:51.12\00:27:53.70
So they'll try it on, you know,
00:27:53.73\00:27:55.68
and stand in front
of the three way mirror
00:27:55.71\00:27:57.45
and you'll say, "Sweetie,
what do you think of these?"
00:27:57.48\00:27:58.85
Oh, that looks really nice,
that go well with your khakis
00:27:58.88\00:28:01.59
and it's only $5,000.
00:28:01.62\00:28:03.21
You know, we'll take two, right.
00:28:03.24\00:28:05.68
And we'll pick up a
few shirts and a belt
00:28:05.71\00:28:07.36
and some socks
right out of there.
00:28:07.39\00:28:08.76
I mean there must be people
00:28:08.79\00:28:10.26
that spend that kind
of money for those things.
00:28:10.29\00:28:13.45
Now, listen carefully here.
00:28:13.48\00:28:15.30
To me no blazer is worth $5,000.
00:28:15.33\00:28:21.17
Are you with me?
It's not worth it.
00:28:21.20\00:28:25.18
Let's say that
together. It's not worth it.
00:28:25.21\00:28:28.28
But is it worth
it to somebody else?
00:28:28.31\00:28:30.45
Yeah. And that's the point.
00:28:30.48\00:28:32.48
So the whole
concept of worth and value,
00:28:32.51\00:28:35.47
the central
component in worth and value
00:28:35.50\00:28:38.18
is that it is subjective,
that's point number one.
00:28:38.21\00:28:40.72
It's only two points tonight,
00:28:40.75\00:28:42.12
so you'll get it,
its piece of cake.
00:28:42.15\00:28:43.80
Okay, so worth is subjective.
Let's say that together.
00:28:43.83\00:28:47.38
Worth is
subjective. Worth is subjective.
00:28:47.41\00:28:49.38
Another way of
saying that is this.
00:28:49.41\00:28:50.79
The one who is
willing to pay the price
00:28:50.82\00:28:52.61
for an item
determines its worth.
00:28:52.64\00:28:55.99
So far, so good. So
to me it's not worth it.
00:28:56.02\00:28:58.66
But if somebody else
looks at the same jacket
00:28:58.69\00:29:00.07
and says its worth
it to them, it's a deal.
00:29:00.10\00:29:02.40
The one who is
willing to pay the price
00:29:02.43\00:29:03.80
determines the value
or worth of an object.
00:29:03.83\00:29:06.48
Now with this backdrop in
mind remember the hymn writer,
00:29:06.51\00:29:09.42
'What wondrous love
is this, O my soul'.
00:29:09.45\00:29:11.47
'What wondrous
love is this, O my soul
00:29:11.50\00:29:13.04
that it would
cost the Lord of bliss
00:29:13.07\00:29:14.47
to bear the dreadful
curse for me, for me.'
00:29:14.50\00:29:19.10
With that imbalance of
exchange and this idea of worth,
00:29:19.13\00:29:22.38
this context of
worth in our mind,
00:29:22.41\00:29:23.99
let's open our Bibles
now to the Gospel of Matthew.
00:29:24.02\00:29:28.08
Matthew 13, now that's the
first book of the New Testament.
00:29:28.11\00:29:31.46
Matthew 13, you'll find it.
00:29:31.49\00:29:34.46
And Jesus here is
speaking in a parable.
00:29:34.49\00:29:36.80
He's speaking in
a what, everyone?
00:29:36.83\00:29:38.36
A parable. A parable.
00:29:38.39\00:29:39.76
Now Jesus
frequently spoke in parables
00:29:39.79\00:29:41.73
and people wonder why
Jesus spoke in parables.
00:29:41.76\00:29:43.45
Why didn't He just
say it straight out?
00:29:43.48\00:29:44.85
Well, one of the reasons
that Jesus spoke in parables is
00:29:44.88\00:29:47.17
He had the impossibly
difficult task of communicating
00:29:47.20\00:29:51.12
a world that was so totally
radically different from our own
00:29:51.15\00:29:55.71
to people who'd never
seen anything like it before.
00:29:55.74\00:29:58.69
Have you ever
visited another country
00:29:58.72\00:30:00.48
or a just a,
yeah, another country
00:30:00.51\00:30:01.88
that's a good illustration.
00:30:01.91\00:30:03.28
You've never been to before
00:30:03.31\00:30:04.68
and you'd culture
shock you're like wow,
00:30:04.71\00:30:06.08
I've never seen
anything like this before.
00:30:06.11\00:30:07.48
Anybody here who ever
had that experience, okay.
00:30:07.51\00:30:09.60
So then when you go back
and try to explain that country
00:30:09.63\00:30:12.95
the ambience of that country,
00:30:12.98\00:30:14.35
the ethos of that country
00:30:14.38\00:30:16.01
to someone who
has never been there.
00:30:16.04\00:30:17.41
Is that easy or difficult?
00:30:17.44\00:30:19.13
It's very difficult because
how do you describe the smells
00:30:19.16\00:30:22.14
and the taste in the way that
the people carry themselves.
00:30:22.17\00:30:24.84
Well, think of Jesus.
00:30:24.87\00:30:26.24
Jesus has lived in
a non-fallen universe.
00:30:26.27\00:30:30.53
That is to say in
a sinless universe
00:30:30.56\00:30:33.14
and here He comes to
explain to these stiff necked
00:30:33.17\00:30:37.14
obstinate hardhearted,
hardheaded disciples
00:30:37.17\00:30:40.28
the glories of an
un-fallen universe
00:30:40.31\00:30:43.31
and they have nothing
with which to compare it.
00:30:43.34\00:30:45.77
Where they've no
context to understand
00:30:45.80\00:30:47.76
a universe without sin,
00:30:47.79\00:30:49.16
a universe without
pain, death, disease.
00:30:49.19\00:30:51.37
I mean how you're
going to explain that.
00:30:51.40\00:30:54.79
Jesus had a significantly
difficult task here.
00:30:54.82\00:30:57.52
Didn't He, yes or no?
00:30:57.55\00:30:58.92
And so He frequently
would speak in parables.
00:30:58.95\00:31:01.40
You'd find Him
saying the strangest things.
00:31:01.43\00:31:03.18
He'd say things like this.
00:31:03.21\00:31:04.58
He'd say, "The
kingdom of heaven is like"--
00:31:04.61\00:31:09.61
the disciples are all
waiting with bated breath.
00:31:09.64\00:31:12.69
And he would say, "The
kingdom of heaven is like,
00:31:12.72\00:31:15.31
it's like, ah, a mustard seed."
00:31:15.34\00:31:23.25
And the disciples
would say what did He, what?
00:31:23.28\00:31:26.86
Did He say like a mustard seed?
00:31:26.89\00:31:28.83
Ye, ye, ye, and
Jesus is on a roll now.
00:31:28.86\00:31:30.53
It's like a mustard seed.
00:31:30.56\00:31:32.31
And He would just
start to explain it.
00:31:32.34\00:31:34.52
And the
disciples are just like--
00:31:34.55\00:31:37.65
No kingdom on earth
is like a mustard seed.
00:31:37.68\00:31:40.99
So Jesus had this
difficulty of explaining
00:31:41.02\00:31:43.61
the celestial
realities to people
00:31:43.64\00:31:45.51
that have
nothing to compare with.
00:31:45.54\00:31:47.60
Nothing, no referent
and so He would frequently
00:31:47.63\00:31:50.34
begin His parables
by saying things like
00:31:50.37\00:31:52.27
the kingdom of heaven is like.
00:31:52.30\00:31:55.32
Now look at
Matthew 13, Mathew 13,
00:31:55.35\00:31:57.96
now Jesus sometimes
told very long parables.
00:31:57.99\00:32:00.06
Like in Luke 15 you
have just 3 parables
00:32:00.09\00:32:02.09
in the whole chapter.
00:32:02.12\00:32:03.49
Very long parables like
00:32:03.52\00:32:04.89
the 'Parable of
the Prodigal Son.'
00:32:04.92\00:32:06.29
But some of Jesus'
parables were very short.
00:32:06.32\00:32:07.69
And here in just 3
verses we have 2 parables.
00:32:07.72\00:32:10.85
Three verses 2 whole parables,
the first one is in verse 44.
00:32:10.88\00:32:13.76
Matthew 13:44,
look at the language.
00:32:13.79\00:32:16.31
"Again the kingdom
of heaven" is what.
00:32:16.34\00:32:20.29
"The kingdom of heaven is" what?
00:32:20.32\00:32:22.17
"Like" ye, ye, ye
"The kingdom of heaven
00:32:22.20\00:32:24.94
is like a treasure hidden
in the field which a man found
00:32:24.97\00:32:28.17
and hid and for joy over he goes
00:32:28.20\00:32:30.48
and sells all that has
and he buys that field."
00:32:30.51\00:32:32.71
One parable, one verse, verse 45
00:32:32.74\00:32:36.05
"Again the kingdom of
heaven is" what everyone?
00:32:36.08\00:32:38.83
"Like a merchant man
seeking beautiful pearls"
00:32:38.86\00:32:40.69
Soon when he had found
one pearl of great price.
00:32:40.72\00:32:42.86
"He went and
sold all that he had
00:32:42.89\00:32:45.33
and he bought it."
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.84
The kingdom of
heaven is like this guy.
00:32:47.87\00:32:50.44
And he's walking
through and out of the way field
00:32:50.47\00:32:52.32
and as He's strolling through
this out of the way field,
00:32:52.35\00:32:54.27
He stubs His toe on something.
00:32:54.30\00:32:56.40
And it doesn't
feel quite like a rock.
00:32:56.43\00:32:57.97
It doesn't feel
quite like a tree root.
00:32:58.00\00:32:59.37
And so He looks
down to investigate it
00:32:59.40\00:33:01.12
and it looks unusual.
00:33:01.15\00:33:02.52
Something about that
it grabs His attention.
00:33:02.55\00:33:03.92
And He begins to
sort of excavate there
00:33:03.95\00:33:05.32
and as He digs apart,
00:33:05.35\00:33:06.72
He realizes it's
something manmade.
00:33:06.75\00:33:08.89
It may be a box or a
sack, and as He pulls it up
00:33:08.92\00:33:11.30
He finds a treasure.
00:33:11.33\00:33:14.20
Now this was not
uncommon in the days of Jesus.
00:33:14.23\00:33:16.17
Jesus is
describing something here
00:33:16.20\00:33:17.57
that could have
happened reasonably
00:33:17.60\00:33:18.99
routinely in His days.
00:33:19.02\00:33:20.39
Because today if
you had a treasure,
00:33:20.42\00:33:21.79
you'd put it in a bank or
you put in a stock market.
00:33:21.82\00:33:23.56
You likely would not
go hid it in a field.
00:33:23.59\00:33:25.77
But in those days
Jesus Himself said,
00:33:25.80\00:33:27.28
"Hey don't put your
treasures down here on earth,
00:33:27.31\00:33:28.91
because a thief could
take it or it could be rusted
00:33:28.94\00:33:31.14
or a moth could eat it up.
00:33:31.17\00:33:32.54
And so if people had something
that they wanted to keep secret.
00:33:32.57\00:33:35.36
They didn't want
thieves to be able to get it.
00:33:35.39\00:33:36.81
They go and not uncommonly
to out of the way field,
00:33:36.84\00:33:40.50
they bury it and that will be
like their safety deposit box.
00:33:40.53\00:33:42.80
And it would remain there until
they either went retreat it.
00:33:42.83\00:33:46.07
But what happened if something
happened to them and they die.
00:33:46.10\00:33:49.27
So the treasure is still there.
00:33:49.30\00:33:50.78
And so it was not at all
uncommon in the days of Jesus
00:33:50.81\00:33:52.99
for someone to find
someone else's treasure.
00:33:53.02\00:33:55.39
And Jesus says, hey, the
kingdom of heaven is like a man
00:33:55.42\00:33:58.56
walking through
in out of a way field
00:33:58.59\00:34:00.06
who stubs his toe on something,
looks down and finds a treasure,
00:34:00.09\00:34:03.64
then goes home, he tells
his family and his friends.
00:34:03.67\00:34:06.21
He's going to
liquidate all of his assets
00:34:06.24\00:34:08.04
so he can buy that one field.
00:34:08.07\00:34:10.77
Now let me ask you a question.
00:34:10.80\00:34:12.38
How do you think that looks?
00:34:12.41\00:34:14.46
How do you think the
liquidating of all of his assets
00:34:14.49\00:34:16.52
to buy one piece of property?
00:34:16.55\00:34:18.51
How does that look to
those who were not there
00:34:18.54\00:34:21.10
to see the treasure?
00:34:21.13\00:34:22.93
Wise financial
decision or unwise?
00:34:22.96\00:34:25.56
Probably, unwise right?
00:34:25.59\00:34:26.96
They'd say oh, you
did the poor choice.
00:34:26.99\00:34:28.44
You need to diversify
your stock portfolio, right.
00:34:28.47\00:34:31.96
Now don't put all
your eggs in one basket,
00:34:31.99\00:34:33.36
but he could try to
explain to them what he'd found.
00:34:33.39\00:34:36.04
But they might
try to discourage him
00:34:36.07\00:34:37.58
and dissuade him
from making that decision.
00:34:37.61\00:34:39.38
Now what does this parable mean?
00:34:39.41\00:34:42.94
Well, I think it's
pretty simple really.
00:34:42.97\00:34:45.88
When we walking
through this field
00:34:45.91\00:34:48.62
called life
encounter the gospel,
00:34:48.65\00:34:51.65
when we run into Jesus,
00:34:51.68\00:34:53.97
we are willing to
liquidate all of our assets,
00:34:54.00\00:34:56.47
so that we can obtain Jesus.
00:34:56.50\00:34:58.53
Can someone say, amen.
00:34:58.56\00:35:00.29
I mean listen, Jesus has a way
00:35:00.32\00:35:02.29
of turning your
whole life upside down.
00:35:02.32\00:35:04.95
Someone say, amen. Amen.
00:35:04.98\00:35:06.38
Jesus is not
like a little caboose
00:35:06.41\00:35:08.43
that you nicely neatly add
00:35:08.46\00:35:10.19
to the end of the
rest to your life.
00:35:10.22\00:35:12.24
If you truly want a
radical relationship with Jesus,
00:35:12.27\00:35:15.07
it changes everything.
00:35:15.10\00:35:16.82
Yes or no. Yes.
00:35:16.85\00:35:18.54
And so when you encounter Christ
00:35:18.57\00:35:20.96
everything,
everything is on the table.
00:35:20.99\00:35:23.05
Everything is up for grabs,
00:35:23.08\00:35:24.45
I mean you are willing
to do whatever you feel
00:35:24.48\00:35:26.95
God is calling you to do.
00:35:26.98\00:35:28.52
And that can look
very irrational to people
00:35:28.55\00:35:31.87
who have not seen the
treasure that you've seen.
00:35:31.90\00:35:34.13
Yes or no.
00:35:34.16\00:35:35.53
Okay, so I already described you
00:35:35.56\00:35:36.93
that I was in
the punk rock world
00:35:36.96\00:35:38.48
and etcetera, etcetera
and now in my community
00:35:38.51\00:35:42.06
rather you
could've been anything
00:35:42.09\00:35:43.46
and people would
have accepted it.
00:35:43.49\00:35:45.01
You could have
been transvestite,
00:35:45.04\00:35:47.63
you could have
been a homosexual,
00:35:47.66\00:35:49.42
you could have been anything
00:35:49.45\00:35:51.67
and people would
have accepted you.
00:35:51.70\00:35:53.07
But in my community if
you became a Christian,
00:35:53.10\00:35:55.09
this was like the
highest form of treason.
00:35:55.12\00:35:58.09
So when I became a Christian,
00:35:58.12\00:36:00.35
my friends ceased to
have an interest in me.
00:36:00.38\00:36:04.32
Are you with me
everyone, yes or no.
00:36:04.35\00:36:05.97
okay, now when I
became a Christian
00:36:06.00\00:36:08.01
even the direction of my
vocation started to change
00:36:08.04\00:36:11.17
and I started to thinking
that maybe God was leading me
00:36:11.20\00:36:12.93
into different direction.
00:36:12.96\00:36:14.33
Everything was on the table.
00:36:14.36\00:36:16.32
My friends thought I was crazy.
00:36:16.35\00:36:18.93
In fact my friends used to say,
don't talk to David Asscherick
00:36:18.96\00:36:21.38
to some of my other friends,
don't talk to David Asscherick,
00:36:21.41\00:36:23.14
he's been brainwashed
00:36:23.17\00:36:25.08
to which I would always
respond invariably respond.
00:36:25.11\00:36:27.84
My brain could
use a good washing.
00:36:27.87\00:36:31.22
Are you with me?
00:36:31.25\00:36:32.62
But all my friends they didn't--
they could not understand,
00:36:32.65\00:36:34.74
because they hadn't seen
the treasure that I've seen.
00:36:34.77\00:36:36.14
My father couldn't understand,
00:36:36.17\00:36:37.56
my own brothers and
sisters couldn't understand
00:36:37.59\00:36:39.39
and so to with you.
00:36:39.42\00:36:40.79
If you really make a radical
hard commitment to Jesus,
00:36:40.82\00:36:43.63
there is a very good chance
00:36:43.66\00:36:45.21
that people around you
are not going to understand
00:36:45.24\00:36:47.27
the decisions
that you're making.
00:36:47.30\00:36:48.67
Someone say, amen. Amen.
00:36:48.70\00:36:50.07
But you're so smitten,
so taken with the treasure.
00:36:50.10\00:36:53.92
You let it all on the line.
00:36:53.95\00:36:55.70
Isn't that right?
00:36:55.73\00:36:57.10
So I think that's what
the parable is teaching.
00:36:57.13\00:36:58.75
I think when we
encounter Christ?
00:36:58.78\00:37:00.52
When we encounter
the gospel in the field,
00:37:00.55\00:37:02.43
we say it's all on the table.
00:37:02.46\00:37:04.79
My career is on the table.
00:37:04.82\00:37:06.34
My education is on the table.
00:37:06.37\00:37:07.86
My relationships
are on the table.
00:37:07.89\00:37:09.46
My enjoyments,
recreations are on the table.
00:37:09.49\00:37:11.67
Everything is on the table.
00:37:11.70\00:37:14.10
Jesus what do you want me to do?
00:37:14.13\00:37:18.92
I believe that is exactly
what the parable is teaching.
00:37:18.95\00:37:21.96
But I also believe
that this does not exhaust
00:37:21.99\00:37:26.42
the interpretive possibilities.
00:37:26.45\00:37:29.66
Apparently for this man,
the treasure was worth it.
00:37:29.69\00:37:34.81
Was what everyone? Worth it.
00:37:34.84\00:37:36.52
Because notice the Bible says,
he goes and sells it for joy.
00:37:36.55\00:37:41.10
In other words we're not
supposed to feel sorry for him.
00:37:41.13\00:37:42.76
We're not supposed to
say, oh, too bad for that guy.
00:37:42.79\00:37:44.93
He liquidated all his assets
just to buy that one field.
00:37:44.96\00:37:47.33
He's happy about it.
00:37:47.36\00:37:48.73
He cannot wait to do it
even though people around him
00:37:48.76\00:37:50.98
may or may not understood.
00:37:51.01\00:37:52.38
Are we all together, yes or no?
00:37:52.41\00:37:53.78
Now with this framework in mind,
00:37:53.81\00:37:55.31
take one of these
ribbons if you have it.
00:37:55.34\00:37:56.77
Put it right here or a pen
00:37:56.80\00:37:58.17
or a finger or
whatever you have.
00:37:58.20\00:37:59.57
Put it right here and go
with me to 2 Corinthians 4.
00:37:59.60\00:38:02.63
Remember I told you
there were two basic principles
00:38:02.66\00:38:04.67
in this
presentation, you've got one.
00:38:04.70\00:38:06.30
Now let's go look at
the other 2 Corinthians 4.
00:38:06.33\00:38:09.82
First principle is
that worth is subjective
00:38:09.85\00:38:12.26
that the one who is
willing to pay a price
00:38:12.29\00:38:14.15
for an object determines
its worth and its value.
00:38:14.18\00:38:17.25
And if that make
sense say, amen. Amen.
00:38:17.28\00:38:19.12
Okay, now check this
out, second principle.
00:38:19.15\00:38:23.12
It is nearly always the case,
00:38:23.15\00:38:26.55
it is nearly always the case
that the contents of something
00:38:26.58\00:38:31.87
is worth more than
the container that is in.
00:38:31.90\00:38:35.94
Are you with me?
00:38:35.97\00:38:37.34
It is nearly always the case
that the contents of something
00:38:37.37\00:38:39.98
is worth more than
the container, okay.
00:38:40.01\00:38:43.48
So think about this. A bank.
00:38:43.51\00:38:46.20
Why do people rob banks?
00:38:46.23\00:38:48.73
Right, not because of the
superior architecture, right.
00:38:48.76\00:38:52.83
People rob banks because
there is money in there, right?
00:38:52.86\00:38:55.26
And so what makes
the bank valuable.
00:38:55.29\00:38:57.58
What's on the outside
or what's on the inside?
00:38:57.61\00:38:59.54
It's on the inside,
that's exactly right.
00:38:59.57\00:39:00.98
Think of--think
of a coffin, right.
00:39:01.01\00:39:04.35
What's more valuable
the outside or the inside?
00:39:04.38\00:39:06.58
Yeah, well what's
on the inside, right?
00:39:06.61\00:39:07.98
That person--
there's a person in there.
00:39:08.01\00:39:09.45
How about a box of candy?
00:39:09.48\00:39:11.88
Now I love to say that one
00:39:11.91\00:39:13.28
because like all
the health reformers
00:39:13.31\00:39:14.68
are like the box, you know.
00:39:14.71\00:39:17.41
But for the rest of us, we
would say the candy, right.
00:39:21.39\00:39:26.55
You go right down the list
and it is nearly always the case
00:39:26.58\00:39:31.49
that the contents of something
00:39:31.52\00:39:33.26
is worth more than the
container than it's in.
00:39:33.29\00:39:34.94
If that make sense say, amen.
00:39:34.97\00:39:36.52
Okay, so follow this analogy.
00:39:36.55\00:39:37.92
In 2 Corinthians
4, 2 Corinthians 4
00:39:37.95\00:39:40.63
and notice with me verse 6.
00:39:40.66\00:39:42.32
2 Corinthian 4, I mean
what verse everyone? Verse 6.
00:39:42.35\00:39:45.65
"For God, who
commanded the light
00:39:45.68\00:39:47.35
to shine out of darkness, has
shone in our." Where? "Hearts."
00:39:47.38\00:39:51.36
"Hearts to give us the light
of the knowledge of glory of God
00:39:51.39\00:39:53.71
in the face of Jesus Christ."
00:39:53.74\00:39:55.22
Verse 7 "But we have this
treasure in earthen vessels
00:39:55.25\00:40:00.39
that the excellence of the power
maybe of God and not of us."
00:40:00.42\00:40:04.13
Simple analogy.
00:40:04.16\00:40:06.75
Paul says, the same God
who in the beginning said,
00:40:06.78\00:40:09.83
let there be light
and there was light.
00:40:09.86\00:40:11.28
The same God who in
the very beginning said,
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.48
let there be light
and boom light flooded
00:40:13.51\00:40:15.58
the then dark universe, has
now spoken into an equally dark,
00:40:15.61\00:40:19.26
equally voided,
equally vacuous location,
00:40:19.29\00:40:22.35
except now he's not
speaking literal light,
00:40:22.38\00:40:24.54
he's speaking the
light of the knowledge
00:40:24.57\00:40:27.24
of the glory of God. Where?
00:40:27.27\00:40:29.02
Into the sinned hardened,
00:40:29.05\00:40:31.01
sinned darkened
heart of mankind.
00:40:31.04\00:40:33.77
Are you with me everyone?
00:40:33.80\00:40:35.17
So he says, "For God
who commanded the light
00:40:35.20\00:40:36.97
to shine at the darkness
that's shone in our hearts
00:40:37.00\00:40:38.49
to give us the
light of the knowledge
00:40:38.52\00:40:40.15
of the glory of
God." Where, where is it?
00:40:40.18\00:40:41.55
What's God like?
00:40:41.58\00:40:42.95
How can we know
what He's really like?
00:40:42.98\00:40:44.35
In the face of Jesus?
00:40:44.38\00:40:45.75
And then he says and
we have this treasure.
00:40:45.78\00:40:48.01
What treasure
Paul, well, of course,
00:40:48.04\00:40:49.41
the treasure in context
00:40:49.44\00:40:50.81
is"the light of the
knowledge of who God is."
00:40:50.84\00:40:53.63
And we have it
in this jar of clay.
00:40:53.66\00:40:57.27
Paul obviously is referring
to himself as the vessel.
00:40:57.30\00:41:01.36
We have "the light of
the knowledge of who God is."
00:41:01.39\00:41:03.78
Do you realize how
totally privileged you are
00:41:03.81\00:41:06.02
to know who God
is? Can you say, amen?
00:41:06.05\00:41:09.74
I mean there are
people in this world
00:41:09.77\00:41:11.46
who are absolutely blinded
by the darkness of superstition
00:41:11.49\00:41:15.01
and all kinds of paganism.
00:41:15.04\00:41:17.01
They think that God is
00:41:17.04\00:41:18.41
some austere
vindictive exacting creditor.
00:41:18.44\00:41:21.15
We know who God is.
00:41:21.18\00:41:22.55
Is that
something important to know
00:41:22.58\00:41:23.95
in this great enterprise
called life, yes or no?
00:41:23.98\00:41:26.38
That's the most important thing,
the most important thing is
00:41:26.41\00:41:29.05
who is God and second most
important thing is who am I?
00:41:29.08\00:41:32.35
You know, who God is and
Paul was basically rejoicing.
00:41:32.38\00:41:34.73
He says, "We have the
light of the knowledge
00:41:34.76\00:41:36.32
of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus."
00:41:36.35\00:41:38.45
And we have it in
earthen vessels in ourselves.
00:41:38.48\00:41:43.11
That the Excellency
maybe of God and not of us.
00:41:43.14\00:41:45.17
So here is a good illustration,
let me grab this thing.
00:41:45.20\00:41:49.10
All right, so here
is juice container.
00:41:49.13\00:41:50.69
This would work really nice.
00:41:50.72\00:41:53.70
I have to hold it like this
00:41:53.73\00:41:55.10
I think so they can't
tell what brand it is.
00:41:55.13\00:41:56.50
Okay, so basically here is
the analogy, here's the analogy.
00:41:56.53\00:42:01.85
We're like this juice container
00:42:01.88\00:42:03.72
but what's
inside of the container
00:42:03.75\00:42:05.47
is the knowledge
of who God really is.
00:42:05.50\00:42:07.91
The light of the
knowledge of the glory of God.
00:42:07.94\00:42:09.49
God's character in his essence.
00:42:09.52\00:42:10.89
Can you say, amen?
00:42:10.92\00:42:12.29
Okay, and so what
would be more important then,
00:42:12.32\00:42:14.89
the juice or the container.
00:42:14.92\00:42:17.29
And of course, the
juice would be more valuable.
00:42:17.32\00:42:18.78
And so to so to in this
scenario, you would think.
00:42:18.81\00:42:23.18
Now remember that I
said that is usually the case
00:42:23.21\00:42:26.09
that the contents
of something is worth
00:42:26.12\00:42:27.77
more than the container.
00:42:27.80\00:42:30.12
But I actually said that
one time when I was preaching,
00:42:30.15\00:42:32.16
I made that mistake
as a preacher of saying.
00:42:32.19\00:42:34.77
It's always the case.
00:42:34.80\00:42:37.43
Right, as a preacher
you learn to never say,
00:42:37.46\00:42:39.45
never or always,
because somebody invariably
00:42:39.48\00:42:42.32
is going to take
you to task, right.
00:42:42.35\00:42:44.26
And so I got this guy
that comes to my church.
00:42:44.29\00:42:46.14
He is a doctor,
he is a neurologist,
00:42:46.17\00:42:48.23
very intelligent man
that thinks about things
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.24
in a different kind of way.
00:42:50.27\00:42:52.48
And he's a great guy I love
him very much, Dr, David Gaston.
00:42:52.51\00:42:56.15
And so anyway Dr.
Gaston, he always,
00:42:56.18\00:42:58.09
you know, when he comes out,
00:42:58.12\00:42:59.49
he's got some little
pithy thing to say to me.
00:42:59.52\00:43:01.27
You know, about
the sermon some little,
00:43:01.30\00:43:03.44
you know anecdote the sort of,
00:43:03.47\00:43:04.93
you know, stick it
to me a little bit.
00:43:04.96\00:43:06.33
And so I had said the first time
I ever preach this presentation,
00:43:06.36\00:43:08.84
I said it's always
the case that the contents
00:43:08.87\00:43:10.81
is worth more
than the container.
00:43:10.84\00:43:12.21
It's always the case.
00:43:12.24\00:43:13.61
So here comes Dr.
Gaston, he says, "Pastor,
00:43:13.64\00:43:15.01
I thought of an example
of where the container is
00:43:15.04\00:43:18.91
worth more than the contents."
00:43:18.94\00:43:20.31
And I thought,
okay, well here we go,
00:43:20.34\00:43:21.71
every Sabbath,
something every Sabbath.
00:43:21.74\00:43:23.58
So I said, "Okay,
Dr. Gaston what is it?"
00:43:23.61\00:43:25.43
And he's a doctor,
he's a neurologists.
00:43:25.46\00:43:27.19
He thinks very intelligently
but very differently.
00:43:27.22\00:43:30.06
And he said, "Your bladder."
00:43:30.09\00:43:33.21
Are you with me?
00:43:39.15\00:43:41.63
And I was like--
I'll give you that one.
00:43:41.66\00:43:47.82
Okay, so now what I say
is, it's usually the case.
00:43:47.85\00:43:52.58
Okay, now watch
this, watch this.
00:43:52.61\00:43:56.54
The light of the
knowledge of the glory of God,
00:43:56.57\00:43:58.02
that is who God is.
00:43:58.05\00:44:01.38
My Bible says, "God is love."
00:44:01.41\00:44:07.25
What was the love of God?
00:44:07.28\00:44:09.37
Best shone, most epitomized.
00:44:09.40\00:44:12.87
I'm hearing it on
the cross, that's right.
00:44:12.90\00:44:16.09
If you wanted to
distil the essence
00:44:16.12\00:44:17.64
of the Christian faith
down to a single event,
00:44:17.67\00:44:19.34
it would be cross. Amen.
00:44:19.37\00:44:22.68
What is the
message of the cross?
00:44:22.71\00:44:24.88
In a sentence this is
the message of the cross.
00:44:24.91\00:44:27.04
God valued sinful humanity
more than His own existence.
00:44:27.07\00:44:33.90
That is the
message of the cross.
00:44:33.93\00:44:35.30
When Jesus cried on the cross
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani."
00:44:35.33\00:44:39.02
From Jesus perspective
this was a terminal event.
00:44:39.05\00:44:43.20
As Ellen White says
in that marvelous volume
00:44:43.23\00:44:44.78
there in Desire of Ages.
00:44:44.81\00:44:46.18
She said that
Jesus could not see
00:44:46.21\00:44:47.58
through the portals of the tomb.
00:44:47.61\00:44:49.47
For Jesus this
was a terminal event.
00:44:49.50\00:44:51.14
He said, my God, my God,
why have you forsaken me.
00:44:51.17\00:44:53.66
The message of the cross is
that God valued sinful humanity
00:44:53.69\00:44:57.11
more than His own existence.
00:44:57.14\00:45:00.49
I want to put it in another way.
00:45:00.52\00:45:02.01
God would rather
go to hell for you
00:45:02.04\00:45:04.80
than live in heaven without you.
00:45:04.83\00:45:09.83
Paul says, "We
have this treasure."
00:45:09.86\00:45:12.99
The light of the knowledge
of the glory of who God is,
00:45:13.02\00:45:15.06
the essence of who God is
00:45:15.09\00:45:16.68
and that is best
exemplified there on the cross.
00:45:16.71\00:45:19.26
He said, "We have
this in a jar of clay."
00:45:19.29\00:45:22.71
Where the jar of clay is?
00:45:22.74\00:45:24.11
You just think about that.
00:45:24.14\00:45:25.51
Now remember what I told you.
00:45:25.54\00:45:26.91
It is nearly always the case
that the contents of something
00:45:26.94\00:45:28.93
worth more than the container.
00:45:28.96\00:45:30.33
But the message of the cross is
that God valued this container
00:45:30.36\00:45:34.12
more than what's in it.
00:45:34.15\00:45:35.52
What's in it is
the character of God.
00:45:35.55\00:45:37.60
The very essence of who God is.
00:45:37.63\00:45:40.05
The message of the cross
00:45:40.08\00:45:41.45
is that God valued the
jar of clay more than Himself.
00:45:41.48\00:45:46.39
Are you with me?
00:45:46.42\00:45:51.99
So I guess
that's another example.
00:45:52.02\00:45:55.65
Where according to God at least,
00:45:55.68\00:45:59.83
the container is worth
more than the contents.
00:45:59.86\00:46:07.32
Now with that in
mind, go back to Matthew 13.
00:46:07.35\00:46:12.89
Let's go back to Matthew 13.
00:46:12.92\00:46:16.58
And let's look at
that parable again.
00:46:16.61\00:46:17.98
Let's just check it out again.
00:46:18.01\00:46:19.48
Let's see if we couldn't
find another gem in here.
00:46:19.51\00:46:23.17
I think there is one.
00:46:23.20\00:46:26.98
We've already discussed
the man is walking to the field
00:46:27.01\00:46:28.87
then he stubs
his toe on a treasure
00:46:28.90\00:46:30.31
and he looks down and he says.
00:46:30.34\00:46:31.71
What is the treasure?
00:46:31.74\00:46:33.11
He excavates, its some
incredible awesome treasure.
00:46:33.14\00:46:35.17
So much so that he
is willing to liquidate
00:46:35.20\00:46:36.66
all of his assets to
obtain that one thing.
00:46:36.69\00:46:38.39
We're all on the same
page every one, yes or no.
00:46:38.42\00:46:40.20
And we say, "Oh, what
was this amazing treasure?"
00:46:40.23\00:46:41.69
It's the gospel, it's
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:46:41.72\00:46:43.45
And when we find Jesus,
we're willing to give up
00:46:43.48\00:46:45.35
everything for the Lord Jesus.
00:46:45.38\00:46:46.75
Can someone say, amen? Amen.
00:46:46.78\00:46:48.53
But what if that's not
all the parable is teaching.
00:46:48.56\00:46:53.21
What if there's
something even better.
00:46:53.24\00:46:55.62
What if there's something deeper
that undergirds this parable,
00:46:55.65\00:46:57.98
that's even more profound.
00:46:58.01\00:47:02.40
Let's look at it again
verse 44, Matthew 13:44
00:47:02.43\00:47:04.75
"Again the
kingdom of heaven is like
00:47:04.78\00:47:06.15
a treasure hidden in the field.
00:47:06.18\00:47:07.79
Which a man found and hid
and for joy over he goes himself
00:47:07.82\00:47:11.15
all that he has
and he buys that field.
00:47:11.18\00:47:13.70
Again the
kingdom of heaven is like
00:47:13.73\00:47:15.52
a merchant man
seeking beautiful pearls.
00:47:15.55\00:47:17.46
Who when he had found
the one pearl of great price,
00:47:17.49\00:47:20.16
he went and sold all
that he had and he bought it."
00:47:20.19\00:47:22.10
Something about that pearl,
00:47:22.13\00:47:23.97
something about that
treasure caught his eye.
00:47:24.00\00:47:28.26
Never seen
anything like it before.
00:47:28.29\00:47:29.83
It's unique.
00:47:29.86\00:47:32.97
So I'm reading through this book
called Christ Object Lessons.
00:47:33.00\00:47:38.04
It's an old book, you've
probably never heard of it.
00:47:38.07\00:47:41.61
And I'm reading on
page 118, listen to this.
00:47:41.64\00:47:47.87
The parable of the merchant
man seeking goodly pearls
00:47:47.90\00:47:50.30
has a double significance.
00:47:50.33\00:47:53.02
Oh, really, I'm all ears.
00:47:53.05\00:47:55.69
A double significance.
00:47:55.72\00:47:57.09
What kind of significance?
What does double mean?
00:47:57.12\00:47:59.45
Also it has two significances.
00:47:59.48\00:48:01.95
Okay, it applies not only to men
00:48:01.98\00:48:05.18
as seeking the
kingdom of heaven,
00:48:05.21\00:48:06.58
that's what we've already said.
00:48:06.61\00:48:08.36
"But to Christ as
seeking his lost inheritance.
00:48:08.39\00:48:13.27
Christ the heavenly merchant
man seeking goodly pearls
00:48:13.30\00:48:15.69
saw in lost humanity the
pearl of great price in man
00:48:15.72\00:48:20.15
in David defiled
and ruling by sin.
00:48:20.18\00:48:22.47
He saw the
possibilities of redemption.
00:48:22.50\00:48:24.44
Hearts that have
been battleground
00:48:24.47\00:48:25.84
of the conflict with
Satan and that have been rescued
00:48:25.87\00:48:28.41
by the power of his love are
more precious to the redeemer
00:48:28.44\00:48:30.95
than those than are
those who have never fallen."
00:48:30.98\00:48:34.85
I could go as far as to
add here if you'd allow me that
00:48:34.88\00:48:39.06
"those who have been redeemed
00:48:39.09\00:48:40.46
and rescued by
the power of His love
00:48:40.49\00:48:41.86
are more precious to
the redeemer than himself."
00:48:41.89\00:48:46.12
Now this parable
gets a lot more awesome.
00:48:46.15\00:48:49.54
Because the
essence of this parable
00:48:49.57\00:48:52.41
like I got a
little secret for you.
00:48:52.44\00:48:53.98
The essence of the gospel
00:48:54.01\00:48:56.06
is not primarily
about what you give up.
00:48:56.09\00:48:59.74
It's about what Jesus gave up.
00:48:59.77\00:49:02.32
Well, that is paradigm shift.
00:49:02.35\00:49:05.15
What, what, what?
00:49:05.18\00:49:06.55
So the centre of religion
00:49:06.58\00:49:08.13
is not about my
sacrifice but His sacrifice.
00:49:08.16\00:49:12.11
So here is Jesus
and Jesus is the man
00:49:12.14\00:49:15.40
walking through the field.
00:49:15.43\00:49:16.80
Jesus is the man
looking for that goodly pearl.
00:49:16.83\00:49:19.51
Jesus walks through the field
00:49:19.54\00:49:20.91
and He stubs His
toe and He looks down.
00:49:20.94\00:49:26.48
It's not a rock.
00:49:26.51\00:49:29.49
It's not a tree.
00:49:29.52\00:49:31.05
It's not a root.
00:49:31.08\00:49:32.64
Does a little excavation.
00:49:32.67\00:49:34.43
It's a treasure, treasure.
00:49:34.46\00:49:37.76
He lifts it up.
00:49:37.79\00:49:40.89
So He's looking
at this treasure.
00:49:40.92\00:49:42.66
And to you--
00:49:51.06\00:49:52.43
He knows that treasure
will cost him everything.
00:49:57.45\00:50:01.49
Jesus is the man
walking through the market.
00:50:04.44\00:50:08.41
Comes upon a man selling pearls.
00:50:08.44\00:50:10.50
So let me see
your pearl collections.
00:50:10.53\00:50:11.90
He's looking to the
pearl, well, those are nice.
00:50:11.93\00:50:13.65
Let me see that one.
00:50:13.68\00:50:16.10
Oh, Jesus this is a
very expensive pearl.
00:50:16.13\00:50:19.35
No I would like
to see that pearl.
00:50:19.38\00:50:20.75
Can I please see that pearl?
00:50:20.78\00:50:22.15
Jesus, this is a
very expensive pearl.
00:50:22.18\00:50:23.55
Oh, what's the
cost on that pearl?
00:50:23.58\00:50:25.01
The cost on that
pearl, Jesus is everything.
00:50:25.04\00:50:27.25
Now that'll cost you everything,
including your life for Jesus.
00:50:27.28\00:50:31.25
I like-- there's
something about it.
00:50:31.28\00:50:32.65
Can I see that pearl?
00:50:32.68\00:50:34.05
Okay, takes that pearl.
00:50:34.08\00:50:36.63
It's to you.
00:50:41.05\00:50:44.88
Cost me
everything, ah, everything.
00:50:44.91\00:50:47.85
He says, "I'll take it.
00:50:50.95\00:50:53.92
I'll take it."
00:50:53.95\00:50:57.21
What if the
essence of the gospel
00:50:57.24\00:50:59.52
is not about what you give up?
00:50:59.55\00:51:02.90
But about what
Jesus has given up.
00:51:02.93\00:51:06.55
Jesus found you.
00:51:06.58\00:51:11.07
Jesus paid an
infinite price for you.
00:51:11.10\00:51:13.04
If Jesus paid an
infinite price for you.
00:51:13.07\00:51:15.12
Then it must follow that
you're worth an infinite amount.
00:51:15.15\00:51:19.67
Oh, oh, but you protest.
00:51:19.70\00:51:21.50
No, not me, you don't know me.
00:51:21.53\00:51:24.62
You don't know
everything about me.
00:51:24.65\00:51:26.14
I'm not worth that.
00:51:26.17\00:51:27.59
But wait a minute, wait
a minute, wait a minute,
00:51:27.62\00:51:29.21
value is determined by the one
00:51:29.24\00:51:30.79
who is willing to
pay the what? Price.
00:51:30.82\00:51:34.29
You're not the determiner
00:51:34.32\00:51:36.17
and arbiter of
your value, God is.
00:51:36.20\00:51:38.89
God has
determined what you're worth
00:51:38.92\00:51:40.82
and God looks
at you and he says,
00:51:40.85\00:51:42.95
he, she is worth an
infinite everything to me.
00:51:42.98\00:51:47.91
Now we live in a society
that tells you that you're worth
00:51:47.94\00:51:50.45
such and such based on a
variety of external things.
00:51:50.48\00:51:53.83
And for you ladies if
you look just striking,
00:51:53.86\00:51:55.58
you've the certain
figure and blah, blah, blah
00:51:55.61\00:51:57.88
then you're worth more than
those who perhaps don't, right.
00:51:57.91\00:52:00.57
This is society.
00:52:00.60\00:52:02.19
And the guys, you
know, you're worth,
00:52:02.22\00:52:03.90
you're
accomplishments and your career
00:52:03.93\00:52:05.77
and what car you drive?
00:52:05.80\00:52:07.17
You can actually add to your
value, you can add to your worth
00:52:07.20\00:52:09.90
and if you don't have the things
00:52:09.93\00:52:11.30
that our society deems
as important and as central,
00:52:11.33\00:52:14.90
then you don't posses the same
kind of worth as those who do.
00:52:14.93\00:52:18.36
But God looks at you,
just as you are and he says,
00:52:18.39\00:52:22.00
he is worth everything to me.
00:52:22.03\00:52:23.76
She's worth
everything to me. Amen.
00:52:23.79\00:52:27.25
I determine her
value, I set her value
00:52:27.28\00:52:30.08
and I'm willing
to pay it all. Amen.
00:52:30.11\00:52:36.22
Have you ever bought a lemon?
00:52:36.25\00:52:39.79
Has anyone here ever
bought a lemon before?
00:52:39.82\00:52:42.29
Not the citrus fruit.
00:52:42.32\00:52:44.98
A lemon, you know a
car that broke down.
00:52:45.01\00:52:47.34
Anyone or something
else you bought a computer
00:52:47.37\00:52:49.76
and it was a piece of junk.
00:52:49.79\00:52:51.16
He bought it on
eBay, you thought
00:52:51.19\00:52:52.56
you were getting
a deal of a lifetime
00:52:52.59\00:52:53.96
and it was a piece of junk.
00:52:53.99\00:52:55.36
Go ahead raise your hands.
00:52:55.39\00:52:56.76
You consumer reports reader,
00:52:56.79\00:52:58.16
you know you've
been gypped before.
00:52:58.19\00:53:00.41
Now do you know
why you bought a lemon?
00:53:00.44\00:53:05.82
You bought a
lemon for one reason,
00:53:05.85\00:53:10.58
you didn't know, you
didn't know what was the lemon,
00:53:10.61\00:53:13.69
that's why you bought it.
00:53:13.72\00:53:15.09
On the dealership
lot it looks so good,
00:53:15.12\00:53:17.13
you drove it out, it
looks so good on eBay,
00:53:17.16\00:53:19.06
when you got it.
00:53:19.09\00:53:20.50
And then when you actually
had it in hand, it broke down.
00:53:20.53\00:53:24.51
You bought a lemon
because you didn't know.
00:53:24.54\00:53:27.68
But wait a minute.
00:53:27.71\00:53:29.96
God knows, God knows.
00:53:29.99\00:53:36.74
When God paid an infinitely
high price for you beloved,
00:53:36.77\00:53:39.68
He knew exactly
what He was getting.
00:53:39.71\00:53:46.09
He knew you were a lemon.
00:53:46.12\00:53:48.80
And He bought you anyway.
00:53:48.83\00:53:53.91
You are worth
the very life of God.
00:53:53.94\00:54:00.80
That's the gospel.
00:54:00.83\00:54:04.44
God valued you more
than His own existence.
00:54:04.47\00:54:10.10
That's the gospel.
00:54:10.13\00:54:13.03
Don't try to add to it.
00:54:13.06\00:54:15.36
Just accept it.
00:54:15.39\00:54:19.73
What do we're
going to say to that?
00:54:19.76\00:54:22.61
You know, what I
think we're going to say.
00:54:22.64\00:54:24.53
I think we're going to
say, what wondrous love is this.
00:54:24.56\00:54:32.53
Ah, what wondrous love is this?
00:54:34.20\00:54:39.05
What wondrous love is this,
00:54:39.08\00:54:41.15
that would cause
the Lord of bliss
00:54:41.18\00:54:43.90
to bear the
dreadful curse for my soul,
00:54:43.93\00:54:50.68
for me with all of
my faults and fumbles,
00:54:50.71\00:54:54.45
failures,
hypocrisy, shortcomings.
00:54:54.48\00:54:59.10
What wondrous love is this?
00:54:59.13\00:55:06.61
In closing,
there's a person here today
00:55:06.64\00:55:13.47
who has never
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ
00:55:13.50\00:55:18.84
as their personal savior.
00:55:18.87\00:55:23.29
There's a person here today
at least one probably more,
00:55:23.32\00:55:27.89
who have never in
their hearts of hearts,
00:55:27.92\00:55:29.91
in the innermost core
of their being understood
00:55:29.94\00:55:33.41
the price that
was paid for them.
00:55:33.44\00:55:35.20
And that they can't add to it.
00:55:35.23\00:55:36.79
They can only accept it.
00:55:36.82\00:55:40.48
That God knows you're a lemon,
00:55:40.51\00:55:41.96
He bought you
when you're a lemon,
00:55:41.99\00:55:43.38
He knew what He was
getting and He did it anyway.
00:55:43.41\00:55:45.79
Stop trying to be what you're
not and become a child of God.
00:55:45.82\00:55:51.76
'Cause God want to take you
as He want to transform you.
00:55:51.79\00:55:53.63
Does He want you to be obedient?
00:55:53.66\00:55:55.03
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
00:55:55.06\00:55:56.43
But all of that comes
00:55:56.46\00:55:57.83
after you have a
radical encounter with Jesus
00:55:57.86\00:56:00.47
and you realize,
He laid it all down
00:56:00.50\00:56:03.13
for that treasure
He found in the field.
00:56:03.16\00:56:06.43
And that treasure is you.
00:56:06.46\00:56:11.00
So where is that person?
00:56:11.03\00:56:13.61
So where is that person
who wants to say tonight?
00:56:13.64\00:56:18.17
Jesus, I accept the infinite
price that You paid for me.
00:56:18.20\00:56:26.17
I don't add to it.
I can't explain it.
00:56:26.20\00:56:30.59
But tonight I accept it.
00:56:30.62\00:56:33.72
Where's that
person, would stand for me?
00:56:33.75\00:56:36.25
Where's that person now.
00:56:36.28\00:56:37.82
I know you're here
because I prayed about it.
00:56:37.85\00:56:40.31
There you are.
There you are sister.
00:56:40.34\00:56:42.86
Where is that
person? There you are.
00:56:42.89\00:56:46.69
Stand up that you
know you're that person.
00:56:46.72\00:56:48.52
This would be
the time to standup.
00:56:48.55\00:56:50.70
God bless you sister.
00:56:55.76\00:56:58.55
God bless you sister.
00:56:58.58\00:57:01.24
Who else stand up
right now, you accept it?
00:57:01.27\00:57:04.74
Infinite price paid for you.
00:57:04.77\00:57:09.96
Somebody else?
God bless you sister.
00:57:09.99\00:57:13.47
What wondrous
love is this? Amen.
00:57:26.52\00:57:29.69
Let's pray, Father in heaven,
00:57:31.95\00:57:38.42
we can't explain
it, but we believe it.
00:57:38.45\00:57:45.35
And we accept it.
00:57:45.38\00:57:47.57
For those who have stood afresh,
00:57:47.60\00:57:54.08
new, real,
tangible, realization,
00:57:54.11\00:58:01.99
that their value is not
wrapped up in what they do
00:58:02.02\00:58:07.06
and what they
have and don't have,
00:58:07.09\00:58:08.73
their value is wrapped up
00:58:08.76\00:58:10.13
and the price
that was paid for them.
00:58:10.16\00:58:11.53
And that price is
the very life of God.
00:58:11.56\00:58:15.07
Father, we marvel
that we stand back
00:58:18.66\00:58:23.86
and we say, what wondrous
love is this, oh, Father.
00:58:23.89\00:58:31.86
Thank You, Thank You.
00:58:31.89\00:58:37.18
We're lemons and You knew it.
00:58:37.21\00:58:42.23
And You desire to make
us into something more,
00:58:42.26\00:58:44.12
and something
better, something grandeur.
00:58:44.15\00:58:48.99
But Father help
us to stay grounded
00:58:49.02\00:58:52.07
in the great fact of the
infinite price paid for us.
00:58:52.10\00:58:57.99
When as Paul says,
we were still sinners.
00:58:58.02\00:59:05.82
In the mighty,
marvelous, amazing,
00:59:05.85\00:59:11.95
wondrous name of Jesus
00:59:11.98\00:59:15.94
that all of
God's lemons say amen.
00:59:15.97\00:59:21.48