Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: SSH
Program Code: SSH021622A
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00:00 (MUSIC)
00:35 >>WELCOME TO SABBATH SCHOOL STUDY HOUR. 00:37 WE'RE SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE TUNING IN - JOINING US HERE AT 00:40 THE GRANITE BAY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH LOCATED IN THE 00:44 SACRAMENTO AREA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHICH IS THE CAPITAL 00:48 CITY OF CALIFORNIA. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE JOINING US 00:51 EVERY WEEK - WHETHER ON THE RADIO, WATCHING LIVE ON OUR 00:54 WEBSITE AT GRANITEBAYSDA.ORG , OR ON THE VARIOUS 00:58 TELEVISION NETWORKS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU 01:02 JOINING US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO STUDYING GOD'S WORD AND 01:05 SINGING PRAISES EVERY WEEK. SO IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME 01:08 AND YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN, AN EXTRA SPECIAL WELCOME. 01:12 THIS WEEK'S LESSON STUDY IS LESSON #9 - IDOLS OF THE SOUL 01:18 FROM THE BOOK OF MATTHEW. SO IT'S A QUARTERLY - IT'S 01:22 CALLED A QUARTERLY BECAUSE IT'S FOR THREE MONTHS - AND IF 01:25 YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OF THESE, YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL 01:27 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AND GET ONE AND YOU CAN 01:30 STUDY ALONG WITH US. BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR 01:33 LESSON STUDY, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE OUR SINGERS THIS WEEK TO 01:36 COME OUT AND JOIN US AND LEAD US IN SOME SONGS OF PRAISE. 01:41 (PIANO MUSIC) >>GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY SABBATH. 01:47 WE'RE GOING TO BE SINGING #500 - TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY . 01:52 PLEASE JOIN US. >>TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, SPEAK 02:00 OFT WITH THY LORD; ABIDE IN HIM ALWAYS, AND FEED ON HIS WORD; 02:11 MAKE FRIENDS OF GOD'S CHILDREN, HELP THOSE WHO ARE WEAK, 02:18 FORGETTING IN NOTHING HIS BLESSING TO SEEK. 02:26 TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, THE WORLD RUSHES ON; SPEND MUCH TIME IN 02:36 SECRET WITH JESUS ALONE; BY LOOKING TO JESUS, LIKE HIM THOU 02:47 SHALT BE; THY FRIENDS IN THY CONDUCT HIS LIKENESS SHALL SEE. 02:57 TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, LET HIM BE THY GUIDE, AND RUN NOT BEFORE 03:08 HIM, WHATEVER BETIDE; IN JOY OR IN SORROW, STILL FOLLOW THY 03:18 LORD, AND, LOOKING TO JESUS, STILL TRUST IN HIS WORD. 03:29 TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY, BE CALM IN THY SOUL, EACH THOUGHT AND EACH 03:38 MOTIVE BENEATH HIS CONTROL; THUS LED BY HIS SPIRIT TO FOUNTAINS 03:49 OF LOVE, THOU SOON SHALT BE FITTED FOR SERVICE ABOVE. 04:02 >>THE LORD IS COMING SOON. >>AMEN. 04:05 >>HE IS, AMEN. JOIN US IN SINGING #691 - LEAD 04:10 ME LORD - AND, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED THE LORD'S 04:13 LEADING, DON'T WE? AMEN. 04:16 (PIANO MUSIC) >>WE'LL SING IT TWICE THROUGH. 04:22 >>LEAD ME, LORD, LEAD ME IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS; MAKE THY WAY 04:35 PLAIN BEFORE MY FACE. FOR IT IS THOU, LORD. 04:48 THOU, LORD, ONLY THAT MAKEST ME DWELL IN SAFETY. 05:04 LEAD ME, LORD, LEAD ME IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS; MAKE THY WAY 05:19 PLAIN BEFORE MY FACE. FOR IT IS THOU, LORD. 05:33 THOU, LORD, ONLY THAT MAKEST ME DWELL IN SAFETY. 05:54 >>THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. 05:56 THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE OLD HYMNS IN THE HYMNAL. 05:59 THERE'S BEAUTIFUL NEW MUSIC, BUT THE WORDS AND THE MESSAGES THAT 06:03 YOU FIND IN THOSE OLD HYMNS ARE VERY DEEP AND THEY CAN REALLY 06:08 SPEAK TO YOUR HEART. THEY DO MINE. 06:11 BEFORE PASTOR DOUG BRINGS US OUR LESSON STUDY, I WANT TO TELL YOU 06:14 ABOUT THIS WEEK'S FREE OFFER - EVERY WEEK WE HAVE ONE AND THIS 06:17 ONE IS CALLED THE SURRENDER OF SELF - OFFER #153. 06:22 IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND READ THIS LOVELY LITTLE 06:26 BOOK BY JOE CREWS, YOU CAN CALL 866-788-3966 - 866-STUDY-MORE - 06:34 THE SURRENDER OF SELF . BEFORE PASTOR DOUG BRINGS US OUR 06:37 LESSON, LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR PRAYER. FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ASK 06:41 YOU TODAY TO LEAD US. LEAD US IN YOUR PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 06:46 LEAD US ALL THE WAY TO THE GATES OF HEAVEN. I PRAY THAT WE WILL 06:51 EACH SURRENDER OUR LIVES TO YOU TODAY EACH AND EVERY MOMENT SO 06:55 THAT WE CAN TRULY LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WILL AND WE 06:59 CAN TRULY SHOW THE WORLD WHAT TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE. 07:04 BE WITH US AS WE OPEN UP YOUR WORD - WE STUDY TOGETHER. 07:07 BE WITH OUR EXTENDED FAMILY AROUND THE WORLD - EACH AND 07:10 EVERY ONE OF THEM - AND MAY WE ALL RECEIVE THE BLESSING THAT 07:13 YOU HAVE FOR US TODAY AS WE STUDY ABOUT IDOLS OF THE SOUL . 07:18 SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. 07:22 AT THIS TIME OUR LESSON STUDY WILL BE BROUGHT TO US BY OUR 07:25 SENIOR PASTOR HERE AT THE GRANITE BAY SEVENTH-DAY 07:27 ADVENTIST CHURCH, PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR. 07:31 >>THERE THEY GO AGAIN, SENIOR PASTOR. 07:35 I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER LIKED THAT. 07:36 YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW IS THE CHURCHES ARE SAYING, 07:38 'LEAD PASTOR'. THAT SOUNDS BETTER. 07:41 THE OLDER YOU GET, THE LESS YOU APPRECIATE SENIOR PASTOR. 07:46 MORNING EVERYONE. >>MORNING. 07:47 >>HAPPY SABBATH. >>HAPPY SABBATH. 07:49 >>AND I WANT TO WELCOME OUR FRIENDS THAT ARE WATCHING BOTH 07:51 ONLINE AND VIA THE INTERNET - SOME ON SATELLITE - AND WE'RE 07:56 GLAD THAT YOU COULD JOIN US. AS DEBBIE MENTIONED, WE'RE 07:58 CONTINUING IN OUR STUDY IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW. 08:01 AND, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE EASY TO TAKE - I'M NOT EXAGGERATING - 08:04 YOU COULD TAKE TWO YEARS AND NOT COVER HALF OF IT. 08:06 MATTHEW IS A GREAT BOOK AND, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THESE 08:09 DIFFERENT CHAPTERS, I'M WANTING TO JUST TAKE MORE TIME ON EACH 08:13 SUBJECT SO I'LL HAVE TO REALLY PACE MYSELF TO GET THROUGH OUR 08:16 ASSIGNMENT TODAY. LESSON TITLE TODAY IS IDOLS OF 08:19 THE SOUL AND OTHER LESSONS FROM JESUS . AND I KNOW, WHOEVER WROTE 08:23 THE LESSON, THEY WERE PROBABLY REALLY LOOKING FOR A WAY TO 08:26 TITLE THIS LESSON BECAUSE THE CHAPTERS WE'RE COVERING - 08:29 CHAPTERS 18, 19, AND PART OF CHAPTER 20 - IN MATTHEW IS VERY 08:33 ECLECTIC - IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO FINDING A TITLE FOR 08:36 THAT WAS A CHALLENGE, I'M SURE. WE HAVE A MEMORY VERSE. 08:39 MEMORY VERSE IS FROM MATTHEW 18:1 AND HERE IT'S FROM THE NIV. 08:44 IF YOU'LL SAY THAT WITH ME - MATTHEW 18:1 - YOU READY? 08:48 "AT THAT TIME THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS AND ASKED, 'WHO, THEN, 08:53 IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?'" 08:56 NOW, WHEN THE DISCIPLES WERE ASKING THAT QUESTION 'WHO'S THE 08:59 GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?' 09:01 WHERE DID THEY THINK THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS? 09:04 DID THEY THINK IT WAS UP THERE OR DOWN HERE? 09:08 >>DOWN HERE. >>THEY WERE REALLY BELIEVING 09:10 THEY WERE GOING TO - THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS GOING TO 09:12 BE HERE ON EARTH TO BEGIN WITH AND IT IS, IN A SENSE, BECAUSE 09:17 WHEN JESUS STARTED PREACHING HE SAID, 'REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM 09:19 OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.' WHAT WAS CHRIST TALKING ABOUT, 09:22 UP THERE OR DOWN HERE? JESUS SAID, 'THE KINGDOM OF 09:26 HEAVEN IS WITHIN YOU.' IS THAT UP THERE OR DOWN HERE? 09:31 THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS WITHIN YOU. 09:33 THEY SAY, 'NEITHER HERE NOR THERE IS THE KINGDOM, BUT THE 09:36 KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS WITHIN YOU.' 09:37 AND SO, WHEN JESUS SAID THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS AT 09:39 HAND 2,000 YEARS AGO, IS IT STILL AT HAND TODAY? 09:43 IT MEANS AT HAND - WITHIN REACH. THAT'S WHAT JOHN 09:45 THE BAPTIST SAID. BUT THEY WERE THINKING 09:47 ABOUT A PHYSICAL KINGDOM. WE KNOW THERE'S A 09:50 SPIRITUAL KINGDOM. THERE'S A PHYSICAL KINGDOM. 09:53 SPIRITUAL KINGDOM IS AT HAND NOW. 09:55 PHYSICAL KINGDOM, WHEN CHRIST COMES DOWN AND REIGNS AS KING ON 09:58 THIS WORLD, THAT'S STILL IN THE FUTURE. 10:00 SO - AND WE'LL GET INTO THEIR BIG QUESTION OF WHO'S THE 10:04 GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE BEGIN. 10:07 SO TAKE YOUR BIBLES, TURN WITH ME TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 18, AND 10:11 WE'RE GOING TO START THERE AND, GOD WILLING, WE'LL GET 10:14 THROUGH AT LEAST CHAPTER 19. AND AT THAT TIME - VERSE 1 - "AT 10:20 THAT TIME THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS, SAYING, 'WHO THEN IS 10:24 GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?' THEN JESUS CALLED A 10:27 LITTLE CHILD TO HIM, SET HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM, AND SAID, 10:31 'ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU ARE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS 10:37 LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER THE KINGDOM OF 10:40 HEAVEN. THEREFORE WHOEVER HUMBLES 10:43 HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD IS THE GREATEST IN THE 10:46 KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE LITTLE 10:49 CHILD LIKE THIS IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME. 10:53 WHOEVER CAUSES ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN ME TO 10:57 SIN, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM IF A MILLSTONE WERE HUNG AROUND 11:00 HIS NECK, AND HE WERE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA.'" NOW, 11:06 JESUS ACTUALLY USED A CHILD, A PARTICULAR CHILD, AND YOU OFTEN 11:10 WONDER, 'WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT CHILD LATER IN LIFE? 11:12 DID HE GROW UP AND DO SOMETHING GREAT?' 11:15 BUT JESUS SAT HIM IN THE MIDST AND USED HIM AS AN OBJECT 11:17 LESSON. HE SAID, 'IF YOU OFFEND ANYONE 11:19 LIKE THIS CHILD' - AND THAT ACTUALLY HELPS ME BECAUSE WHEN 11:23 JESUS SAID, 'UNLESS YOU BECOME CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE A 11:26 LITTLE CHILD, YOU CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 11:30 WHAT ABOUT A CHILD MUST WE IMITATE? 11:34 HOW DO WE BECOME CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN. 11:38 WELL, TO PICK OUT SOME WORDS, HOW IS IT THAT WE BECOME LIKE A 11:41 CHILD? WELL, ARE THEY TEACHABLE? >>YES. 11:47 >>YEAH. ARE THEY HUMBLE? SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW, BACK IN - 11:53 THIS IS MAYBE JUST A THEORY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN BACK IN 11:57 THE DAYS OF JESUS WERE A LITTLE MORE PLIABLE AND HUMBLE. 12:00 PART OF THE REASON IS PARENTAL AUTHORITY WAS MORE RESPECTED. 12:05 AND SO, WHEN THEY ARE TOLD FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO HONOR YOUR 12:09 FATHER AND MOTHER AND THE WORD OF YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER WAS 12:12 LAW, I MEAN, YOU JUST THINK ABOUT IT. 12:16 A LITTLE LATER TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HANNAH. 12:19 HANNAH AND ELKANAH MAKE A DECISION THAT SAMUEL IS GOING TO 12:25 SPEND HIS LIFE IN THE TEMPLE AND SAMUEL DOES WHAT HIS PARENTS 12:29 TELL HIM TO DO. ISAAC IS 40 YEARS OLD AND 12:33 ABRAHAM SAYS, 'I'M GOING TO GO PICK YOU A WIFE.' HOW MANY OF 12:36 YOU 40-YEAR-OLDS WOULD GO FOR THAT TODAY? 12:41 SO WHEN PARENTS SAID SOMETHING - BACK THEN THEY WERE RAISED WITH 12:44 A LOT MORE SUBMISSION. ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE ADAGE 12:49 'CHILDREN SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD'? 12:53 KIDS WERE TOLD TO SIT QUIETLY IN CHURCH AND THEY USED TO MAKE THE 12:56 CHILDREN SIT UP FRONT AND THE DEACONS - PART OF THE JOB OF THE 13:00 DEACONS - THEY DIDN'T JUST COLLECT OFFERINGS, THE DEACONS 13:02 USED TO HAVE A SWITCH. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF 13:05 YOUR GRANDPARENTS EVER TOLD YOU ABOUT THOSE DAYS IN CHURCH. 13:09 AND IF THE KIDS WERE MAKING NOISE IN CHURCH - AND SO, WHEN 13:12 JESUS SAID, 'UNLESS YOU BECOME CONVERTED AND BECOME AS A LITTLE 13:14 CHILD' - THEY WERE - THEY BELIEVED EVERYTHING THAT THEIR 13:18 PARENTS SAID, THEY HAD FAITH, THEY WERE HUMBLE. 13:20 CHILDREN BRING JOY. WE SHOULD BRING JOY. CHILDREN HAVE HUNGRY 13:30 MINDS. WE SHOULD HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 13:35 CHILDREN ARE UNINHIBITED. THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO 13:39 SHARE WHAT THEY BELIEVE. SOMETIMES IT SCARES YOU THAT 13:43 CHILDREN AREN'T AFRAID TO SHARE WHAT THEY'RE THINKING. 13:47 IT'S KIND OF LIKE I HEARD THAT STORY NOT TOO LONG AGO ABOUT A 13:51 LITTLE CHILD WAS WITH HIS GRANDPA IN THE CHECKOUT LINE AT 13:55 SOME STORE AND, IN THE LINE AHEAD OF THEM WAS A VERY LARGE 14:00 MAN AND THE BOY SAID, 'GRANDPA, LOOK AT THAT MAN' - LOUD ENOUGH 14:05 FOR THE MAN TO HEAR - 'HE IS SO BIG. 14:10 I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN SUCH A BIG MAN.' (LAUGHTER) AND 14:13 GRANDPA SAID, 'SHHHHHH' - KIDS SAY WHATEVER THEY'RE THINKING. 14:17 HE SAID, 'WHY, HE'S AS BIG AS A MOUNTAIN.' AND THIS TIME THE 14:22 CLERK, YOU KNOW, IS GIGGLING AND THE MAN'S LOOKING - AND THEN THE 14:25 MAN'S PHONE WENT OFF AND THE LITTLE BOY SAID, 'WATCH OUT 14:27 GRANDPA, HE'S BACKING UP!' (LAUGHTER) THE KIDS SAY 14:33 WHATEVER THEY THINK. I REMEMBER I WAS IN LINE WITH - 14:36 I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS NATHAN OR DANIEL - ONE OF THE KIDS ONE 14:39 TIME - AND THERE WAS A PREGNANT WOMAN IN LINE AND, 'WOW, DAD, 14:49 SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE HER BABY ANY DAY NOW.' 14:51 (LAUGHTER) THEY'RE JUST UNINHIBITED. 14:55 BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE GUILTY CONSCIENCES SO, YOU KNOW, 14:58 THEY JUST SAY WHAT THEY THINK. THEY'RE INNOCENT. 15:01 AND JESUS WANTS US TO BE CONVERTED. 15:04 HE SAID - MATTER OF FACT, HE DIDN'T SAY IT'S A - IT'S AN 15:07 OPTION, JESUS SAID, 'UNLESS YOU'RE CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE 15:12 LITTLE CHILDREN YOU WILL IN NO WAY ENTER THE KINGDOM OF 15:15 HEAVEN.' AND PART OF WHAT THE LORD IS TALKING ABOUT THERE IS 15:19 HUMILITY BECAUSE THE DISCIPLES WERE STRUGGLING WITH PRIDE. 15:25 CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE USUALLY SHORTER THAN ADULTS AND 15:30 THEY KNOW IT AND THEY ACT LIKE THERE'S A HUMILITY THERE. 15:35 AS YOU GROW UP, WE START THINKING WE'RE BIGGER THAN WE 15:37 ARE. SO, YOU READ IN MATTHEW 18, THE 15:43 DISCIPLES WANT TO KNOW 'WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?' 15:47 WHY DO THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT? BECAUSE THEY WERE ARGUING AMONG 15:52 THEMSELVES FREQUENTLY ABOUT WHO WAS THE GREATEST. 15:56 WHEN THEY THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS' KINGDOM, THEY THOUGHT ABOUT HE 15:59 WAS GOING TO BE A NEW PRESIDENT - A NEW KING - AND HE WOULD 16:02 APPOINT A NEW CABINET AND SOMEONE WOULD BE THE GENERAL AND 16:06 SOMEONE WOULD BE THE SCRIBE AND HE'D HAVE PERSONAL ADVISORS AND 16:11 A SECURITY DETAIL AND SOMONE'D BE THE TREASURER, BUT EVERYONE 16:14 THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE JUDAS - THAT HE'D BE GREAT AT THAT - AND 16:18 THEY WERE ALL WONDERING WHAT THEIR POSITION WAS. 16:20 YOU REMEMBER LATER THAT PETER AND JOHN - THIS IS LATER IN OUR 16:23 STUDY - THEY COME TO JESUS - THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO 16:25 SIT ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT HAND. 16:27 SO THEY'RE STRIVING FOR THE GREATEST PLACE. 16:33 HE SAID, 'UNLESS YOU BECOME CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE 16:36 CHILDREN, YOU WILL IN NO WAY ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.' 16:38 SOMEONE IS GOING TO READ A VERSE FOR ME AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO 16:42 BE MATTHEW 23:11. YOU'LL HAVE THAT IN A MOMENT, HAFDIS? 16:45 I'LL READ MARK 10:13, "THEN THEY BROUGHT LITTLE CHILDREN TO HIM, 16:49 THAT HE MIGHT TOUCH THEM; BUT THE DISCIPLES REBUKED THOSE WHO 16:53 BROUGHT THEM." WHY DID THEY REBUKE THEM? 16:57 JESUS IS BUSY. I MEAN, HE'S TEACHING. 17:00 HE'S GOING TO BE - HE'S THE MESSIAH - HE'S GOING TO SIT ON 17:02 THE THRONE OF DAVID AND HE'S GOT SO MUCH HE'S DOING AND THESE 17:05 MOTHERS SAY, 'CAN YOU BLESS MY CHILDREN? 17:07 JUST PLACE YOUR HANDS ON THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM.' AND THE 17:10 DISCIPLES ARE SAYING, 'OH, THESE KIDS. 17:11 YOU KNOW, CHILDREN ARE TO BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD AND WE'RE 17:14 BUSY. DON'T BOTHER HIM.' HOW DID JESUS FEEL ABOUT THAT? 17:19 YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, MARK, WHEN HE TELLS THIS STORY, 17:22 HE EMPHASIZES - IT SAYS, 'JESUS WAS GREATLY DISPLEASED WHEN HE 17:27 HEARD THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE SHOOING AWAY THE MOTHERS AND THE 17:31 CHILDREN.' WAS HE JUST DISPLEASED OR HE WAS GREATLY 17:35 DISPLEASED? WHY? "LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO 17:40 ME, AND DO NOT FORBID THEM; FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD." 17:45 AND THEN HE REPEATS WHAT YOU FIND IN MATTHEW, "ASSUREDLY, I 17:48 SAY TO YOU, WHOEVER DOES NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A 17:52 LITTLE CHILD WILL BY NO MEANS ENTER IT." 17:55 YOU KNOW, ANOTHER WAY THAT WE NEED TO IMITATE CHILDREN? 17:59 CHILDREN HAVE A SIMPLE FAITH. I REMEMBER - I KNEW A GIRL AND 18:05 SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE, AFTER A RAINY DAY 18:08 WALKING DOWN THE STREET, SHE SAW THE REFLECTION OF THE SKY IN THE 18:13 PUDDLES AND HER FATHER SAID, 'DON'T STEP IN THE PUDDLES OR 18:18 YOU'LL FALL INTO THE SKY.' AND SHE BELIEVED HIM. 18:24 I'M SURE SHE GREW OUT OF THAT BUT WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE LIKE 18:28 THAT SHE WAS SO SCARED SHE WAS GOING TO STEP IN ONE OF THESE 18:30 PUDDLES AND FALL INTO THE SKY BECAUSE CHILDREN BELIEVE THEIR 18:35 PARENTS. NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL AS 18:37 PARENTS WHAT YOU TELL YOUR KIDS BECAUSE IF YOU TEACH THEM 18:40 NOT TO TRUST YOU, LATER THEY'LL HAVE PROBLEMS TRUSTING GOD, 18:43 THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER. AND SO, GOD WANTS US TO 18:47 HAVE A CHILD-LIKE FAITH. WHEN THE LORD SAYS 18:50 SOMETHING I BELIEVE IT. IT'S LIKE THAT ROMAN CENTURION: 18:54 WHEN HE SAID, 'LORD, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO COME TO MY HOUSE. 18:59 I BELIEVE YOU - SPEAK THE WORD AND YOU'LL HEAL MY CHILD.' 19:03 AND JESUS STOPPED AND HE MARVELED. 19:04 HE SAID, 'I'VE NOT SEEN FAITH LIKE THIS IN ALL OF ISRAEL.' AND 19:07 HE TOLD THIS OTHER WOMAN, HE SAID, 'GO HOME, YOUR DAUGHTER IS 19:11 HEALED. SHE DIDN'T ARGUE. SHE BELIEVED IT. AND SO THE LORD 19:15 WANTS US TO HAVE A SIMPLE FAITH. I KNOW THAT, IN SOME WAYS, I 19:21 THINK EARLIER IN MY CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE MY FAITH WAS 19:25 STRONGER. ONCE I STARTED BELIEVING IN GOD, I'D READ 19:29 SOMETHING IN THE BIBLE, I'D TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. 19:32 AND I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS LIVING ON THE STREETS AND PANHANDLING, 19:35 ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I PRAYED AND I SAID, 'LORD, I HAVE 19:41 NOTHING TO EAT.' AND 'I HAVE NO FOOD. 19:45 I HAVE NO MONEY, BUT YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD THAT IF A FATHER HAS A 19:50 SON AND HE ASKS FOR BREAD, HE WON'T GIVE HIM A STONE.' I SAID, 19:54 'LORD, GIVE ME THIS DAY MY DAILY BREAD. HELP ME FIND FOOD.' 19:57 I HAD NOTHING. AND I COULD JUST TELL YOU STORY 20:00 AFTER STORY OF MIRACLES THAT HAPPENED. 20:02 ONE PERSON JUST OFFERED TO BUY ME FOOD IN A RESTAURANT. 20:06 AND ANOTHER TIME I PRAYED AND I SAID, 'LORD, I HAVE NOTHING TO 20:09 EAT.' AND I WAS PLAYING THE FLUTE AND I SAID, 'PLEASE SEND 20:11 SOMEBODY BY AND I NEED AN EXACT AMOUNT' - I WAS ACTUALLY WITH A 20:14 FRIEND - I SAID, 'LET ME SHOW YOU. 20:16 JESUS'LL ANSWER OUR PRAYERS.' HE SAID, 'WELL, I BELIEVE IN GOD 20:19 BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN JESUS.' HIS NAME WAS DOUG ALSO. 20:22 AND SO HE PLAYED THE GUITAR AND I PLAYED THE FLUTE. 20:24 I SAID, 'WATCH THIS.' I SAID I'LL PRAY, 'HOW MUCH DO YOU 20:26 THINK WE NEED?' HE SAID, 'WELL, IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF, 20:28 INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE MARKET, WE COULD EAT OUT. SO, IF WE HAD 20:31 TWO DOLLARS APIECE' - YOU COULD BUY A NICE BREAKFAST IN PALM 20:33 SPRINGS FOR TWO DOLLARS BACK THEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. 20:36 AND I SAID, 'LET'S PRAY FOR FOUR DOLLARS.' I SAID, 'I'LL SHOW YOU 20:41 JESUS IS REAL.' SO WE PRAYED AND SAID, 'JESUS, SHOW DOUG THAT 20:44 YOU'RE REAL.' AND SO WE SAW A LADY WALKING UP THE STREET AND 20:48 WE STARTED - HE PLAYED THE GUITAR, I PLAYED THE FLUTE - SHE 20:50 STOPPED AND SHE LISTENED FOR A MINUTE AND WE SAID, 'WOULD YOU 20:52 HAVE ANY SPARE CHANGE SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING TO EAT?' 20:55 AND SHE WAS TAKEN BACK BY THAT A LITTLE BIT. 20:59 SHE WAS A DIGNIFIED-LOOKING LADY AND SHE SAID, 'WELL, NORMALLY I 21:02 WOULDN'T DO THIS, BUT TODAY'S MY SON'S BIRTHDAY' - AND SHE STARTS 21:07 FISHING AROUND IN HER PURSE AND SHE PULLS OUT FOUR DOLLARS. 21:10 SHE WALKS AWAY AND DOUG WAS SITTING THERE. 21:13 I SAID, 'SEE, YOU JUST ASK JESUS.' I HAD THIS CHILD-LIKE 21:16 FAITH AND ALL THESE THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENED TO ME. 21:19 I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS HITCHHIKING AND I DIDN'T HAVE A 21:22 SLEEPING BAG AND IT WAS NIGHT AND I SAID, 'LORD, I PRAY YOU'LL 21:24 GIVE ME A RIDE WITH SOMEBODY THAT'LL BUY ME A HOTEL ROOM.' 21:28 GUESS WHAT HAPPENED. SOMEONE PICKED ME UP AND 21:30 SAID, 'IT'S GETTING LATE. LET'S GET A HOTEL ROOM.' AND 21:33 THEY SHARED A ROOM WITH ME AND GAVE ME MY OWN BED. 21:36 I WAS PRAYING AND I SAID, 'LORD, I NEED A SHOWER.' I DON'T WANT 21:40 TO - 'IT'S RAINING, I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK OUT ON THE ROAD.' IT 21:43 JUST - I COULD GO STORY AFTER STORY. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS, I 21:45 THINK THE LORD, WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG IN YOUR FAITH, HE WORKS 21:49 MIRACLES FOR YOU AT A GREATER DEGREE TO HELP ROOT YOUR FAITH. 21:57 BUT IF YOU'VE GOT THAT CHILD-LIKE FAITH - ANY OF YOU 21:59 EVER READ ANY BOOKS ABOUT GEORGE MUELLER? 22:02 HE RAN AN ORPHANAGE THERE IN ENGLAND FOR MANY YEARS AND HE 22:05 JUST PRAYED AND GOD SUPPLIED MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLE. 22:09 HE SUPPLIED THE FOOD THEY NEEDED FROM DAY TO DAY, THE CLOTHES 22:11 THEY NEEDED FOR THE KIDS, THE MONEY FOR THE BILLS - AND HE 22:14 WOULD PRAY. HE DIDN'T SEND OUT APPEAL 22:16 LETTERS, HE WOULD JUST PRAY. AND PEOPLE WOULD COME AND 22:20 SOMETIMES THERE'D BE NO BREAKFAST AND HE'D TELL ALL THE 22:23 CHILDREN, 'LET'S PRAY.' AND WHILE THEY'RE PRAYING, A 22:26 TRUCK PULLS UP WITH BREAD. I MEAN, JUST WONDERFUL STORIES. 22:30 AND I THINK THE LORD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE CHILD-LIKE 22:33 FAITH WHERE WE PRAY SIMPLE PRAYERS AND EVEN PRAY FOR BIG 22:37 THINGS AND GOD'LL ANSWER THOSE PRAYERS. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT? 22:41 ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD. READ FOR US OUR NEXT VERSE. 22:43 >>"BUT HE WHO IS GREATEST AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT AND 22:47 WHOEVER EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED AND HE WHO 22:51 HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED." 22:55 >>YEAH, SO THIS IS A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE OF HUMILITY AND PRIDE. 22:59 IN THE BIBLE, YOU HAVE TWO PRINCIPLE CHARACTERS THAT ARE 23:03 THE ANTITHESIS OF EACH OTHER - JESUS AND LUCIFER. 23:08 GOD IS LOVE AND JESUS IS MEEK. HE IS HUMBLE. 23:14 HE HUMBLED HIMSELF EVEN TO THE POINT OF THE CROSS. 23:18 HE WAS WILLING TO LEAVE THE THRONE AND, NOT ONLY TAKE ON THE 23:21 FORM OF A MAN, BUT TO SUFFER FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD. 23:27 THE DEVIL, WHO IS A CREATION, WANTS TO BE THE CREATOR. 23:31 THE DEVIL WANTS THE THRONE OF GOD, EVEN IF IT MEANS HE NEEDS 23:34 TO KILL GOD TO GET IT. THE DEVIL IS ALL ABOUT HIMSELF. 23:40 HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED. 23:42 HE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED. 23:44 WHO HUMBLED HIMSELF THE MOST? JESUS DID. 23:49 WHO WILL BE EXALTED THE MOST? >>JESUS. 23:51 >>JESUS WILL. WHO EXALTED HIMSELF THE MOST? 23:55 SATAN. WHO IS GOING TO BE HUMBLED THE MOST? 23:58 IT SAYS HE'LL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PIT - TO THE LOWEST PARTS OF 24:01 SHEOL. AND IT'S STILL TRUE. 24:04 THOSE THAT LIFT THEMSELVES UP WILL BE PUT DOWN AND THOSE THAT 24:07 PUT THEMSELVES DOWN WILL BE LIFTED UP. 24:10 AND SO, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE AND 24:15 ESPECIALLY IN THE STORY OF THE KINGS. 24:17 WHO WAS ONE OF THE MEEKEST OF THE KINGS? 24:21 DAVID. YOU TAKE HIM - HE'S A SHEPHERD - 24:24 HE WASN'T EVEN INVITED - AND GOD MAKES HIM A GREAT KING. 24:28 BUT WHEN THE KING STARTED TO BE PROUD OF HIS POSITION - CAN YOU 24:32 THINK OF SOME KINGS THAT GOT INTO TROUBLE BECAUSE WITH THE 24:34 POWER CAME PRIDE? >>SAUL. 24:37 >>KING SAUL WAS DESTROYED. WHEN HE WAS HUMBLE IN HIS 24:40 OWN EYES GOD USED HIM. HE WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 24:43 BUT THEN HE BECAME PROUD AND REBELLIOUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT 24:46 LEFT HIM AND A DEMONIC SPIRIT CAME IN. 24:48 ANOTHER KING. >>UZZIAH. 24:50 >>UZZIAH - KING UZZIAH - GOOD KING. 24:53 GOD WAS WITH HIM. BUILT UP THE KINGDOM, BECAME 24:56 PROUD, AND SAID, 'WHY CAN'T I DO WHAT THE PRIESTS DO?' 24:58 AND HE WENT INTO THE TEMPLE TO BURN INCENSE THAT ONLY THE 25:01 PRIESTS WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND HE WAS CURSED WITH LEPROSY. 25:05 HOW ABOUT HEZEKIAH? GOOD KING, BUT THEN AFTER GOD 25:10 HEALED HIM AND WORKED A MIRACLE FOR HIM, HE THOUGHT, 'YEAH, THE 25:13 LORD AND I, WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP. 25:15 I'M CLOSER TO GOD THAN ANYBODY. IT WAS RELIGIOUS PRIDE. 25:19 AND WHEN THE AMBASSADORS CAME FROM BABYLON, HE BEGAN TO BOAST 25:22 AND SAY, 'HERE'S MY ARMORY AND HERE'S MY SPICES AND HERE'S MY 25:26 TREASURE AND HERE'S MY PALACE AND HERE'S' - HE SHOWED THEM 25:30 EVERYTHING IN HIS HOUSE AND HE NEVER TALKED TO THEM ABOUT GOD. 25:33 AND, BECAUSE OF HIS PRIDE, ISAIAH SAID 'THE LORD'S GOING TO 25:37 TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU SHOWED TO BABYLON.' 25:40 NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAD THAT DREAM OF THE TREE. 25:45 DANIEL SAID, 'I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO BREAK OFF YOUR SINS BY 25:48 RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT IT MIGHT BE THE LENGTHENING OF YOUR 25:50 TRANQUILITY.' AND HE BEHAVED HIMSELF FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT 25:54 THEN HE BECAME FILLED WITH PRIDE AGAIN - AND IT WAS A MAGNIFICENT 25:56 KINGDOM. YOU KNOW, I THINK ANY OF US, IF 25:59 WE WERE KING OF BABYLON, WE'D HAVE TROUBLE. 26:01 IT WAS A GOLDEN KINGDOM - JUST A - I MEAN, YOU READ WHAT THE 26:05 HISTORIANS SAY ABOUT BABYLON - WALLS 56 MILES AROUND THE CITY - 26:10 14 MILES EACH SIDE - 200 FEET HIGH - GOLD EVERYWHERE. 26:16 I MEAN, HE HAD ENOUGH GOLD TO MAKE A STATUE - WHAT, 60-FEET 26:19 HIGH BY 6 FEET WIDE BY 6 FEET - 6X6X6 - OH THAT'S CUBITS - SORRY 26:25 - THAT'S EVEN MORE. THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD. WEALTHY KINGDOM - 26:29 SPLENDID - HANGING GARDENS - CONQUERED THE WORLD. 26:32 HE'S WALKING ON HIS PALACE - 'IS NOT THIS THE GREAT BABYLON THAT 26:36 I HAVE MADE?' WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? 26:38 HE THAT EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED. 26:42 HE WENT FROM BEING THIS BRILLIANT KING TO A GROVELING 26:46 BEAST, IN A MOMENT. THAT'S SOMETHING TO REMIND US 26:50 THAT WHEN WE EXALT OURSELVES, WE CAN BE HUMBLED. 26:57 AND THIS WAS A PRINCIPLE THAT JESUS WAS TRYING TO TEACH THE 27:00 DISCIPLES. YOU PROBABLY HEARD THAT STORY 27:05 ONE TIME ABOUT THIS MAN IN A TOWN AND HE WAS SUCH A HUMBLE 27:09 MAN AND EVERYBODY WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH HIS HUMILITY THEY 27:13 GAVE HIM A MEDAL FOR BEING THE HUMBLEST MAN IN THE TOWN. 27:17 BUT THEN THEY TOOK THE MEDAL AWAY BECAUSE HE HAD THE PRIDE TO 27:19 WEAR IT. CHRIST'S OBJECT LESSONS 27:24 P. 154, "THE EVIL THAT LED TO PETER'S FALL AND THAT SHUT THE 27:30 PHARISEE FROM COMMUNION WITH GOD, IS PROVING THE RUIN OF 27:33 THOUSANDS TODAY. THERE IS NOTHING SO OFFENSIVE TO 27:37 GOD OR SO DANGEROUS TO THE HUMAN SOUL AS PRIDE AND 27:41 SELF-SUFFICIENCY. OF ALL THE SINS, IT IS THE MOST 27:45 HOPELESS - THE MOST INCURABLE." IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN 27:49 JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY IT'S NOT JUST THE PRIDE OF THE WORLD. 27:52 YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL PLAYERS GET A TOUCHDOWN AND THEN THEY DO THIS 27:56 VICTORY DANCE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE GLOATING AND BOASTING, ISN'T IT? 28:01 IT'S LIKE A ROOSTER STRUTTING. IT'S PRIDE. 28:05 IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE PRIDE OF THE WORLD THAT JESUS WAS 28:07 CONCERNED ABOUT, IT WAS PRIDE IN THE CHURCH - RELIGIOUS PRIDE. 28:11 IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO PRAY, NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO 28:15 TALK TO GOD, BUT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH 28:17 THEIR PRAYERS? DID JESUS ADDRESS PHARISEES THAT PRAY TO BE SEEN? 28:23 IS IT POSSIBLE TO GIVE, NOT BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD OR 28:26 CARE FOR THE POOR, BUT YOU WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE 28:29 GENEROUS? THAT'S PRIDE - SPIRITUAL PRIDE. 28:34 AND SOMEONE MIGHT FAST AND THEY GO AROUND AND THEY TRY TO LOOK 28:36 PIOUS SO THEY, YOU KNOW, DRAW OUT THEIR FACE, BUT THEY'RE 28:41 FASTING TO BE SEEN OF MEN. 28:42 SO PRAYING TO BE SEEN, GIVING TO BE SEEN, FASTING TO BE SEEN - 28:46 AND THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF 28:48 THINGS A PERSON CAN DO AND THEY'RE DOING - I THINK IT'S 28:52 GREAT TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE AND IT'S WONDERFUL. 28:57 I THINK WE OUGHT TO BRING THE KIDS UP SOMETIMES AND WHEN THEY 29:00 MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE - THAT THEY SHARE WITH EVERYONE AND YOU 29:02 ENCOURAGE THEM AND IT'S OKAY TO BE A PROUD PARENT. 29:04 BUT WHEN YOU WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH 29:07 SCRIPTURE YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE DEVIL 29:10 PROBABLY KNOWS MORE THAN YOU DO AND IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE HIM. 29:14 AND SO THERE'S RELIGIOUS PRIDE AND WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL 29:17 ABOUT THAT. ALRIGHT, SO LET'S GO ON NOW TO 29:21 THE NEXT SECTION, WHICH IS THE GREATNESS OF FORGIVENESS . 29:26 NOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE IN MATTHEW 18, BUT WE'RE GOING TO 29:28 JUMP DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A PARABLE - WELL, LET'S START 29:32 WITH VERSE 21. PETER COMES TO HIM AND HE SAYS, 29:38 "LORD, HOW OFTEN SHALL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST 29:41 ME, AND I FORGIVE HIM? UP TO SEVEN TIMES?" 29:46 NOW, HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU FORGIVE SOMEBODY? 29:51 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER THAT QUESTION? 29:54 HE SAID, "I DO NOT SAY TO YOU, UP TO SEVEN TIMES, BUT UP TO 29:58 SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN." NOW, BEFORE WE GET TO THIS 30:01 PARABLE HERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 18, VERSE 21, HE SAYS SOMETHING 30:06 ELSE ABOUT FORGIVENESS IN MATTHEW 18:15, "IF YOUR BROTHER 30:10 SINS AGAINST YOU, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN 30:14 YOU AND HIM ALONE." THIS IS A PRINCIPLE FOR 30:15 RECONCILIATION WITH RELATIONSHIPS. 30:18 "IF HE HEARS YOU, YOU'VE GAINED YOUR BROTHER." 30:20 OF COURSE, IT'S BROTHER OR SISTER, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 30:22 "BUT IF HE WILL NOT HEAR, TAKE WITH YOU ONE OR TWO MORE, THAT 30:27 'BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE 30:30 ESTABLISHED.'" - BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU'LL HAVE, 'WELL, HE 30:31 SAID/SHE SAID' AND YOU SAY, 'NO, WE HAD WITNESSES. 30:34 WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID.' AND IF HE REFUSES TO HEAR 30:37 THEM, TELL IT TO THE CHURCH. THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME 30:42 COURT - THE HIGHEST COUNCIL. BUT IF HE REFUSES TO HEAR THE 30:46 CHURCH, LET HIM BE TO YOU LIKE A HEATHEN AND A TAX COLLECTOR." 30:50 THIS PERSON HAS A PROBLEM WITH PRIDE - THEY WON'T FORGIVE - SO 30:52 YOU'VE GOT A BROTHER AND A SISTER AND THEY'VE GOT A 30:55 DISPUTE. AND IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT 30:56 ONE OF THEM BACKS INTO THE OTHER AND THE CHRISTIAN - I GUESS 31:03 THEY'RE BOTH SUPPOSED TO BE CHRISTIANS, THEY'RE IN THE 31:05 CHURCH PARKING LOT. AND ONE OF THEM WHOSE CAR WAS 31:09 HIT, HE GOES TO HIS BROTHER AND HE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, YOU HIT MY 31:13 CAR. YOU DON'T MIND PAYING FOR THE DAMAGES?' HE SAID, 'NO, IT 31:15 HAPPENED IN THE CHURCH.' HE SAYS, 'I'M ABSOLVED HERE. 31:18 IF IT'S IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. IT DOESN'T MATTER.' 31:20 'WAIT A SECOND. NO, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO HELP 31:21 COVER THE COST OF THIS.' 'OH, YOU'VE GOT INSURANCE.' AND 31:24 THERE'S A DISPUTE AND HE WON'T LISTEN TO YOU. 31:28 FIRST, JUST TALK TO HIM AND THEN SAY, 'LOOK, MAYBE I'LL TAKE AN 31:32 ELDER OR DEACON AND SAY, 'LOOK, YOU MADE THIS MISTAKE. 31:35 YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT.' 'NO, I DON'T HAVE TO.' - I'M 31:38 PICKING SOMETHING TRIVIAL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE 31:42 THINGS I COULD PICK AS ILLUSTRATIONS WOULD BE PRETTY 31:43 SENSITIVE. YOU MIGHT THINK I'M TALKING TO YOU. 31:48 AND SO - AND THEN YOU TAKE IT TO A LARGER BODY. 31:51 SO FIRST - THE WHOLE IDEA IS IF THERE'S A DISPUTE - WHATEVER 31:54 THAT DISPUTE IS - THAT YOU TRY TO APPROACH THEM ONE ON ONE. 31:59 YOU DON'T WANT TO SPREAD IT IN THE STREETS, YOU WANT TO TRY AND 32:02 PRIVATELY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? 32:06 GO TO THEM. SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST COMPLAIN 32:09 ABOUT WHAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS DONE. 32:10 THEY DON'T COMPLAIN - THEY DON'T EVER TRY TO RESOLVE IT, THEY 32:12 JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT THEY'RE NO GOOD. 32:15 THAT'S NOT RIGHT. GO TO THEM. BE RECONCILED. 32:17 WORK IT OUT. COMMUNICATE. NINETY PERCENT OF THE PROBLEMS 32:21 THAT EXIST BETWEEN BRETHREN COULD BE RESOLVED IF THEY TALK 32:25 TO EACH OTHER HONESTLY, IN A LOVING SPIRIT. 32:30 AND THE WORD 'REBUKE' IN THE BIBLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE 32:33 HARD ON A PERSON, IT MEANS THAT YOU CONFRONT THEM IN A LOVING, 32:37 CHRISTIAN WAY AND SAY, 'LOOK, WE'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM WE NEED 32:39 TO ADDRESS.' IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HUMILIATE THEM. 32:42 AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, YOU TAKE A WITNESS WITH YOU AND SAY, 32:47 'LOOK, WE NEED TO WORK THIS OUT.' AND THEY TRY TO MEDIATE. 32:50 IF THAT DOESN'T WORK THEN YOU MIGHT NEED TO BRING IT TO THE 32:52 LARGER AND FINAL ARBITRATION, WHICH IS THE CHURCH. 32:56 AND SO, THIS IS THE WAY THINGS OUGHT TO BE WORKED OUT. 32:59 SOMETIMES THERE'S A DISPUTE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND SOMEONE PUTS 33:02 IT ONLINE AND THEY'VE NEVER TRIED TO WORK IT OUT OR GO TO 33:04 THEM DIRECTLY AND THAT'S NOT THE BIBLICAL WAY TO DO IT. 33:09 SO GOING BACK TO MATTHEW. HOW OFTEN - MATTHEW 18, VERSE 33:14 21 - HOW OFTEN SHALL I FORGIVE? JESUS SAID, "I DO NOT SAY TO 33:17 YOU, UP TO SEVEN TIMES, BUT UP TO SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN." 33:21 WHY DID HE SAY SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN? 33:25 WHAT DOES SEVEN REPRESENT? >>THE PERFECT NUMBER. 33:30 >>SEVEN CAN OFTEN BE AN ILLUSTRATION IN THE BIBLE OF 33:34 FORGIVENESS AND EVEN FOR JUDGMENT, BUT OFTEN FOR 33:37 FORGIVENESS. FOR EXAMPLE - NOW SOMEONE'S 33:40 GOING TO READ A VERSE FOR ME IN A MINUTE. YOU'VE GOT EPHESIANS 33:43 4:32 - YOU'LL HAVE THAT? OKAY, BUT FIRST I WANT TO READ - 33:48 IT SAYS "JESUS APPEARED FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE OUT OF WHOM 33:50 HE CAST SEVEN DEVILS." SEVEN - FORGIVENESS. 33:56 PROVERBS 24:16, "A RIGHTEOUS MAN MAY FALL SEVEN TIMES AND RISE 34:01 AGAIN, BUT THE WICKED WILL FALL BY CALAMITY." 34:05 JOB 5:19, "HE WILL DELIVER YOU IN SIX TROUBLES, YES, IN SEVEN 34:10 NO EVIL SHALL TOUCH YOU." BUT STILL, JESUS SAID 34:13 SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN. WHERE ELSE DO YOU FIND 34:16 70 TIMES 7 IN THE BIBLE? >>DANIEL 9. 34:21 >>IT'S A PROPHECY IN DANIEL 9 - SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED 34:25 UPON THY PEOPLE. WELL, HOW MANY DAYS IN A WEEK? 34:29 >>SO YOU'VE GOT SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN, RIGHT? 34:32 WHAT IS DANIEL PRAYING ABOUT? HE'S WANTING TO KNOW WHEN 34:36 WILL THE MESSIAH COME. HOW LONG WILL YOU CONTINUE TO 34:39 EXTEND MERCY TO YOUR STUBBORN PEOPLE? AND SO IT'S EVEN - IT'S 34:44 TALKING ABOUT MERCY. HE SAID, 'I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE 34:45 THEM SEVEN MORE YEARS OF MERCY, I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM SEVENTY 34:48 TIMES SEVEN - FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY YEARS OF MERCY.' 34:51 AND THAT WENT UNTIL THE STONING OF STEPHEN. 34:55 THAT WAS SORT OF THE LAST STRAW WHEN GOD BEGAN TO WITHDRAW HIS 34:59 SPIRIT FROM THE NATION - NOT FROM INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE MANY 35:02 JEWS WERE STILL CONVERTED BEYOND THAT, BUT PROBATION HAD SORT OF 35:05 CLOSED FOR THE NATION AT THAT POINT. 35:08 AND WHEN THE SUPREME COURT PLUGGED THEIR EARS AT THE 35:10 PREACHING OF STEPHEN - AND IT'S INTERESTING, PAUL IS CONVERTED 35:13 AND BECOMES THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES RIGHT AFTER THAT EVENT. 35:19 SO IT WAS SORT OF A TURNING POINT. 35:21 BUT SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN - CHRIST IS POINT BACK TO THAT. 35:24 NOW, HOW ARE WE TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER? 35:29 GOD IS ASKING US TO DO SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL. 35:32 GO AHEAD, READ FOR US EPHESIANS 4:32. 35:35 >>"AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE 35:39 ANOTHER EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU." 35:43 >>HOW ARE WE TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER? AS CHRIST FORGAVE US. 35:48 NOW THAT'S A PRETTY BIG ORDER BUT LET ME READ IT TO YOU AGAIN 35:51 - ANOTHER VERSE - COLOSSIANS 3:12 - "THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT 35:55 OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, PUT ON TENDER MERCIES, KINDNESS, 36:01 HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING, BEARING WITH ONE 36:05 ANOTHER, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER. IF ANY HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST 36:10 ANOTHER, EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU, SO YOU MUST DO." 36:16 NOW, IT DOES SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR BROTHER COMES TO YOU IN A 36:18 DAY AND SAYS 'I REPENT' YOU SHOULD FORGIVE HIM. 36:22 AND WE SHOULD FORGIVE AS JESUS FORGAVE. IS THAT EASY? 36:26 HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD FIND IT EASY TO PRAY, 'FATHER, FORGIVE 36:29 THEM' IF SOMEONE WAS CRUCIFYING YOU? 36:32 OR TO PRAY FOR EVEN THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO SHOULD 36:35 HAVE KNOWN BETTER? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE ROMAN 36:37 SOLDIERS CARRYING OUT ORDERS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS 36:39 GOING ON, BUT WHEN JESUS SAID, 'FATHER, FORGIVE THEM. 36:43 THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.' THAT'D BE HARD. 36:48 YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME TO FORGIVE? 36:52 I MEAN, I'M JUST ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE LIKE I AM AND THAT YOU 36:57 HAVE BEEN HURT OR YOU FELT LIKE SOMEBODY MISTREATED YOU OR TOOK 37:00 ADVANTAGE OF YOU OR JUST WAS NOT APPRECIATIVE OR WHATEVER IT IS 37:04 THAT YOU'RE OFFENDED, AND INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON IT OR 37:07 LETTING IT BOTHER YOU, IT HELPS ME TO REMEMBER IT IS NORMAL FOR 37:12 SINNERS TO BE SELFISH. THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED. 37:18 YOU ARE EITHER GOING TO BEHAVE LIKE JESUS AND, IF YOU'RE NOT 37:21 THOROUGHLY CONVERTED, YOU'RE GOING TO BEHAVE LIKE THE DEVIL. 37:24 AND THE DEVIL IS SELFISH. JESUS CAME TO SAVE DEVILS. 37:31 WHAT I MEAN BY THAT - NOT FALLEN ANGELS. 37:33 JESUS CAME TO SAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAPTIVE OF THE DEVIL AND 37:39 THEY ACT IN DIABOLICAL WAYS. I WAS JUST LISTENING THIS 37:44 MORNING, ON MY WAY TO CHURCH, TO THE CONVERSION OF PAUL. 37:48 AND HERE HE IS, PARTICIPATING IN THE MURDER OF STEPHEN AND 37:53 STEPHEN IS PRAYING, 'FATHER, LAY NOT THAT SIN TO THEIR CHARGE.' 37:58 STEPHEN - IS STEPHEN GOING TO BE HAPPY WHEN HE GETS TO HEAVEN AND 38:00 SEES PAUL THERE? >>YES. 38:02 >>THE LAST GLIMPSE THAT STEPHEN HAD OF SAUL/PAUL - SAME PERSON - 38:08 IS HE'S PARTICIPATING IN HIS EXECUTION AND HE PRAYED FOR HIM 38:15 AND GOD ANSWERED HIS PRAYER AFTER HE WAS GONE. 38:17 BY THE WAY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PARENTS, GOD OFTEN ANSWERS 38:19 PRAYERS THAT ARE STORED UP, AFTER YOU'RE GONE. 38:23 AND SO, WHEN YOU ARE FORGIVING THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU - YOU 38:29 HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF - 'THEY'VE HURT ME. 38:31 I KIND OF WANT SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO THEM.' AND YOU'LL 38:34 ACTUALLY FIND PSALMS IN THE BIBLE, IF YOU LOOK FOR THEM, 38:37 WHERE DAVID PRAYS FOR VENGEANCE ON HIS ENEMIES. 38:39 SO IF YOU WANT TO PRAY THOSE, THAT'S OKAY. IT'S NOT THE RIGHT 38:42 SPIRIT, I THINK. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PRAY THAT GOD 38:46 BLESS - DIDN'T JESUS SAY 'BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU. 38:49 PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DESPITEFULLY USE YOU.' IT'S NORMAL TO PRAY 38:54 FOR BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO DO BAD THINGS TO YOU, 38:57 BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE SUPERNATURAL CHILDREN OF GOD, 39:00 PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU. 39:03 AND HE SAYS, 'REJOICE, WHEN YOU'RE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHT.' 39:06 THAT'S SO ODD. IT'S SO AGAINST OUR NATURE. 39:10 YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN GET OVER ANGER AGAINST 39:13 THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNKIND TO YOU OR PERSECUTED YOU OR - IS 39:17 PRAY FOR THEM. NOW, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS 39:20 BEFORE AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AFTER THE SERVICE AND 39:23 THEY SAID, 'PASTOR DOUG, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.' I SAY, 39:26 'WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?' 'THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD. 39:28 I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A RELATIVE FOR YEARS. 39:33 YOU WANT ME TO PRAY FOR THEM?' I SAID, 'YEAH.' I SAID, 'IT'S 39:37 NOT SOMETHING I'M TELLING YOU TO DO. 39:39 IT'S SOMETHING GOD IS TELLING YOU TO DO.' 'I CAN'T DO THAT.' I 39:43 SAID, 'NO, I KNOW YOU CAN'T, BUT IF YOU ASK FOR CHRIST TO COME IN 39:47 YOU AND YOU SAY YOU ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT PERSON THROUGH 39:50 JESUS' EYES.' DO YOU KNOW YOU MAY GET TO HEAVEN AND FIND A 39:54 PERSON NAMED MANASSEH? MANASSEH OFFERED HIS CHILDREN TO PAGAN 40:00 GODS AND MADE THEM PASS THROUGH THE FIRE. HOW COULD ANYONE LIKE 40:05 THAT BE FORGIVEN? I MEAN, THERE'S SCARCELY A SIN 40:09 YOU CAN NAME, OTHER THAN THE UNPARDONABLE SIN, THAT GOD 40:14 DOESN'T FORGIVE IN THE BIBLE. TREACHERY IS FORGIVEN. 40:19 IT'S PRETTY TREACHEROUS FOR DAVID TO TELL URIAH TO GO TO THE 40:25 FRONT OF THE WORST BATTLE AND THEN HAVE THE SUPPORT WITHDRAWN 40:28 SO HE'S KILLED - AND HE WAS A LOYAL SOLDIER. THAT'S A 40:32 TREACHEROUS THING TO DO. ADULTERY - SAME STORY - WITH 40:36 BATHSHEBA. MURDER - MOSES AND DAVID. YEAH, DAVID HAD 40:40 TREACHERY, ADULTERY, MURDER - AND GOD FORGAVE HIM. 40:44 DENYING CHRIST, LIKE PETER - AND YOU CAN GO THROUGH A LITANY OF 40:50 DIFFERENT CHARACTERS IN THE BIBLE AND YOU'LL FIND GOD 40:52 FORGIVES ALL KINDS OF THINGS. LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAYS IN - IS 40:56 IT 2 CORINTHIANS? HE SAYS, 'SOME OF YOU WERE DRUNKARDS AND 41:00 ADULTERERS AND HOMOSEXUALS AND THIEVES - AND HE GOES THROUGH 41:03 ALL THE TERRIBLE, DESPICABLE SINS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF AND 41:06 HE SAYS, 'BUT GOD FORGAVE YOU.' AND THEN THE LORD SAYS, 'AS GOD 41:11 HAS FORGIVEN YOU, SO YOU SHOULD FORGIVE EACH OTHER. BECAUSE WHEN 41:16 A PERSON IS FORGIVEN, ARE THEY BORN AGAIN? 41:20 IF A PERSON ACCEPTS CHRIST ARE THEY BORN AGAIN? 41:22 >>YES. >>ARE THEY A DIFFERENT PERSON? 41:24 OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY, HOW MANY THINGS ARE MADE NEW? 41:27 >>ALL. >>SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO 41:29 FORGIVE THAT OLD PERSON, THEY'RE A NEW PERSON NOW. 41:34 SO BY YOUR PRAYING FOR YOUR ENEMIES, YOU CAN TRANSFORM THEM 41:37 SO THAT THEY'RE NOT YOUR ENEMIES ANYMORE, THEY'RE A DIFFERENT 41:39 PERSON. I KNOW, IT'S GETTING KIND OF 41:43 DEEP BECAUSE YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE BEYOND MERCY. 41:48 GOD IS THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO DECIDE THAT. YOU AND I CAN'T 41:52 READ PEOPLE'S HEARTS SO, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, WE FORGIVE. 41:55 NOW, WHEN I TALK ABOUT FORGIVENESS, JESUS SHARES THIS 41:58 PARABLE WHERE SOMEONE OWES TEN THOUSAND TALENTS - THIS 42:03 UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. THE KING FORGIVES HIM. 42:07 HE GOES AND HE FINDS A FELLOW SERVANT THAT OWES HIM, YOU KNOW, 42:10 FORTY TALENTS - TAKES HIM BY THE THROAT, PUTS HIM IN PRISON, 42:15 HAS HIM TORMENTED FOR JUST A HANDFUL, WHERE HERE, HE WAS 42:19 FORGIVEN THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT. BUT GOD FORGAVE - GOD FORGIVES 42:26 THIS GUY 10,000 TALENTS. YOU KNOW, IN TODAY'S MONEY, 42:31 10,000 TALENTS IS A MASSIVE AMOUNT. 42:34 IT'S JUST A MOUNTAIN - IT'S LIKE 50 MILLION DOLLARS OR SOMETHING. 42:39 AND HE WOULD NOT FORGIVE TWO WEEK'S WAGES TO SOMEBODY ELSE. 42:42 SOMEONE PUT IT THIS WAY, 'GOD IS WILLING TO FORGIVE YOU AND I THE 42:46 DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE SUN - 93 MILLION MILES - BUT 42:50 WE SOMETIMES WILL NOT FORGIVE EACH OTHER ARM'S LENGTHS. 42:55 THIS IS A COMPARISON THAT'S MADE BETWEEN HOW MUCH GOD FORGIVES 42:58 YOU. NOW IS GOD SAYING, 'YOU GO OUT AND FORGIVE EVERYBODY AND 43:03 THEN I'LL FORGIVE YOU'? NO? SEE IN THAT PARABLE - YOU GO TO 43:07 THE END OF MATTHEW 18 - AND IT SAYS, 'SO 43:11 WHEN HIS FELLOW SERVANTS SAW WHAT THIS UNMERCIFUL SERVANT HAD 43:15 DONE, THEY WERE GRIEVED AND THEY CAME AND TOLD THEIR MASTER AND 43:19 THE MASTER CALLED HIM AND SAID, 'YOU WICKED SERVANT, I FORGAVE 43:22 YOU ALL THAT DEBT BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME. SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE HAD 43:26 COMPASSION ON YOUR FELLOW SERVANT AS I HAD PITY ON YOU?' 43:29 HOW DOES GOD WANT US TO FORGIVE? 'AS I HAD PITY ON YOU.' 'AND THE 43:33 MASTER WAS ANGRY AND DELIVERED HIM TO THE TORMENTERS - THE 43:36 TORTURERS - UNTIL HE SHOULD PAY ALL THAT WAS DUE HIM. 43:40 SO MY HEAVENLY FATHER ALSO WILL DO TO YOU IF EACH OF YOU, FROM 43:44 HIS HEART, DOES NOT FORGIVE HIS BROTHER HIS TRESPASSES.' YOU 43:49 KNOW, THE LORD MAKES ONE COMMENT ON THE LORD'S PRAYER - WHEN YOU 43:52 PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER - IT SAYS, 'FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS 43:55 WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS' AND THEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE LORD'S 43:58 PRAYER, JESUS GOES BACK AND HE MAKES ONE COMMENT. 44:00 THE ONE COMMENT JESUS MAKES ON THE LORD'S PRAYER IS 'IF YOU DO 44:04 NOT FORGIVE EACH MAN HIS BROTHER HIS TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL 44:08 YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOU.' NOW THIS IS VERY 44:11 IMPORTANT. IS THE LORD SAYING, 'YOU GO OUT 44:16 AND FORGIVE EVERYBODY, COME TO ME AND THEN I'LL FORGIVE YOU'? 44:18 OR IS THE LORD SAYING, 'COME TO ME. 44:21 I WILL FORGIVE YOU AND THEN AFTER I FORGIVE YOU, PASS THAT 44:24 FORGIVENESS ON.' IN THE PARABLE, WHO DOES THE FIRST FORGIVING? 44:31 >>KING. >>THE KING. 44:32 THIS MAN WHO OWES TEN THOUSAND TALENTS COMES TO THE KING AND HE 44:37 FORGIVES HIM. AND THEN HE SAYS, 'NOW, AS I'VE FORGIVEN YOU, YOU 44:42 GO FORGIVE OTHERS. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY AND 44:45 SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO CONFESS TO 44:47 THE LORD, 'I DON'T FEEL LIKE FORGIVING THEM. 44:50 I DON'T LIKE THEM VERY MUCH. IN MY HEART I KIND OF WISH BAD 44:52 THINGS WOULD HAPPEN TO THEM. BUT YOU'VE TOLD ME TO LOVE AND 44:57 FORGIVE THEM AND I'M GOING TO CHOOSE TO FORGIVE THEM. 45:00 HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MEMORIES FROM COMING BACK? 45:02 THE LORD DOESN'T SAY THEY WON'T COME BACK. 45:05 NOW GOD TAKES OUR SINS AND CASTS THEM IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA 45:08 AND GOD HAS MORE SELF-CONTROL THAN WE DO. 45:11 HE DOESN'T THINK ABOUT THEM. BUT YOU AND I, WE STILL 45:14 HAVE PAINFUL MEMORIES. SO AFTER YOU HAVE FORGIVEN A 45:16 PERSON, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE, DOES THAT MEAN 45:22 YOU HAVEN'T FORGIVEN THEM? NO, JUST DON'T DWELL ON IT. 45:27 IT'S LIKE THAT OLD EXPRESSION: 'YOU CAN'T KEEP THE BIRDS FROM 45:31 FLYING OVER YOUR HEAD, BUT YOU CAN PREVENT THEM FROM MAKING A 45:34 NEST IN YOUR HAIR. YOU MIGHT HAVE A FLEETING MEMORY 45:38 OF WHAT THIS PERSON DID TO YOU BUT CHOOSE TO FORGET ABOUT IT. 45:41 FORGIVE THEM AND DON'T KEEP REMINDING THEM THAT YOU FORGAVE 45:45 THEM BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF NOT FORGETTING ABOUT IT. 45:49 YOU EVER HAVE ANYONE DO YOU A FAVOR? 45:50 IT'S LIKE YOU OWE THEM SOME MONEY AND THEY FORGIVE YOU AND 45:52 THEY KEEP REMINDING YOU THAT THEY FORGAVE YOU. 45:54 AND PRETTY SOON IT TAKES IT AWAY. 46:00 AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, FORGIVE AND FORGET. 46:04 THAT MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO CHOOSE TO FORGET ON AN ONGOING 46:07 BASIS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? 46:11 YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT IS IF YOU'VE GOT A 46:14 MARRIAGE AND SOMEBODY IN THAT MARRIAGE IS UNFAITHFUL. 46:19 NOW, UNFAITHFULNESS CAN TAKE ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS. 46:22 IT DOESN'T JUST MEAN, BUT IT CERTAINLY WOULD INCLUDE 46:25 INFIDELITY WITH ANOTHER PERSON. SOMETIMES IT CAN MEAN MAYBE THEY 46:30 WERE SQUANDERING MONEY OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE SO THERE'S 46:33 A REAL LACK OF TRUST. THERE'S A BETRAYAL IN THE 46:35 WAY THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT. OR THERE'S LYING THAT'S GOING 46:38 ON OR JUST - WHATEVER IT IS. SOMETIMES THERE'S ARGUMENTS IN 46:41 MARRIAGE AND TERRIBLE CUTTING THINGS ARE SAID IN THE HEAT 46:44 OF ANGER AND THE PERSON SAYS, FINALLY, 'OKAY, WE'RE 46:47 GOING TO COUNSELING. I FORGIVE YOU. 46:49 I FORGIVE YOU.' BUT THEY KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT. 46:53 YOU MIGHT NEED TO GO TO THE LORD AND SAY, 'LORD, I REMEMBER, NOW, 46:57 AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS, HOW MUCH YOU FORGAVE ME.' YOU HAVE 47:00 NO RIGHT TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING 47:04 THAT ANYONE HAS DONE TO YOU THAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SIN AGAINST GOD 47:10 LESS SIGNIFICANT. DID THAT MAKE SENSE? 47:13 YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? COMPARED TO WHAT ANYBODY HAS 47:16 DONE TO YOU, WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO JESUS - GO TO THE CROSS AND 47:20 LOOK AT WHAT HE SUFFERED FOR US - IS PRETTY SMALL BY COMPARISON. 47:25 AND SO, THAT, SOMETIMES, MAKES IT EASIER TO SAY, 'LORD, HELP ME 47:28 TO JUST FORGIVE THIS PERSON AND TO LOOK AT THEM THE WAY YOU DO 47:33 AND TO LOVE THEM AND FORGIVE THEM. 47:35 ALRIGHT, JESUS - YOU KNOW, IN THE FOUR GOSPELS, JESUS SAYS 47:38 MORE ABOUT FORGIVENESS IN MATTHEW THAN ANY OTHER BOOK. 47:41 IT SAYS MORE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS IN MATTHEW. 47:44 AND I WONDER IF IT'S BECAUSE MATTHEW WAS A TAX COLLECTOR AND 47:47 THE OTHER APOSTLES MAYBE HAD TROUBLE TRUSTING HIM. 47:51 BUT ANYWAY, HE ADDRESSES THAT QUITE A BIT. 47:55 ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO IDOLS OF THE SOUL. 47:58 AND THIS - NOW WE'RE JUMPING OVER TO MATTHEW 18. 48:00 THAT PARABLE IN MATTHEW 18 GOES TO THE END - TO 19. 48:04 NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK IN MATTHEW 19 AND YOU'VE GOT THE 48:06 STORY OF THE RICH YOUNG RULER. AND IT SAYS THAT OH, LET ME SEE 48:13 HERE, LET'S GO TO - HE BLESSES THE LITTLE CHILDREN - TALKING, 48:18 AGAIN, ABOUT JESUS' LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN, PUTS HIS HAND ON THEM 48:21 - HE PRAYS FOR THEM - AND A YOUNG MAN IS WATCHING THIS. 48:26 AND, AS JESUS WALKED AWAY, HIS HEART IS STIRRED. 48:28 HE WAS A GOOD MAN, BUT HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS MISSING. 48:31 THIS IS MATTHEW 19:16, "NOW BEHOLD, ONE CAME AND SAID TO 48:36 HIM, 'GOOD TEACHER, WHAT GOOD THING SHALL I DO THAT I MAY HAVE 48:40 ETERNAL LIFE?' SO HE SAID TO HIM, 'WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD? 48:43 NO ONE IS GOOD BUT ONE, THAT IS, GOD.'" - NOW, WHY DID JESUS SAY 48:46 THAT? 'WHY DO YOU CALL ME GOOD?' 48:48 IS THAT BECAUSE JESUS WASN'T GOOD? 48:50 WAS HE TRYING TO GET THIS YOUNG MAN TO SEE JESUS WAS NOT JUST 48:54 GOOD, HE WAS GOD? NO ONE IS TRULY GOOD BUT GOD. 48:58 "BUT IF YOU WANT TO ENTER INTO LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS." 49:02 THAT ALWAYS AMAZES ME. PEOPLE THINK THAT IN THE NEW 49:07 TESTAMENT JESUS THREW OUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 49:11 YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT JESUS 49:13 RATIFIES AND REINFORCES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? 49:17 HE SAID, 'KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.' AND THIS MAN GOES 49:19 ON - AND HE'S VERY CLEAR - VERSE 18 - "WHICH ONES?" 49:22 WHY DID HE SAY, 'WHICH ONES'? BECAUSE THERE WERE A 49:24 LOT OF JEWISH LAWS. THEY HAD CEREMONIAL LAWS - THEY 49:27 HAD TORAH - THERE WERE CIVIL LAWS, THERE WERE RABBINICAL LAWS 49:30 - AND JESUS GETS RIGHT TO THE CORE AND HE STARTS TO QUOTE 49:33 FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. CHRIST IS PRINCIPALLY QUOTING 49:36 FROM THE SECOND TABLE OF THE DECALOGUE. 49:40 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 49:43 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' 49:47 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' 'LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS 49:50 YOURSELF.' - THAT'S INTERESTING. WHY DIDN'T HE QUOTE ANYTHING 49:54 FROM THE FIRST FOUR COMMANDMENTS? 49:57 BECAUSE THIS MAN HAD ANOTHER GOD THAT ECLIPSED THE OTHER PROBLEM. 50:04 AND HE SAYS, 'LORD, MASTER, I'VE KEPT ALL THESE FROM MY YOUTH.' 50:08 AND HE PROBABLY WAS A MORAL UPSTANDING YOUNG MAN. 50:12 AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK IT SAYS, 'JESUS, LOOKING AT 50:15 HIM, LOVED HIM.' AND HE SAID, "'IF YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT, GO, 50:21 SELL WHAT YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE 50:24 TREASURE IN HEAVEN; AND COME, FOLLOW ME.' BUT WHEN THE YOUNG 50:29 MAN HEARD THAT SAYING, HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL, FOR HE HAD GREAT 50:33 POSSESSIONS." NOW, WAS JESUS SAYING THIS MAN 50:37 WAS ALMOST PERFECT AND ALL HE NEEDED TO DO WAS MAKE ONE FINAL 50:40 DONATION AND HE WILL HAVE ARRIVED AT PERFECTION? 50:43 OR WAS HE SAYING THAT HE REALLY WAS SINCERE, BUT HE HAD ONE 50:46 THING THAT WAS COMING BETWEEN HIM AND GOD AND THAT WAS HIS 50:48 MONEY. HIS MONEY WAS A GOD. 50:51 IT HAD BECOME HIS TREASURE. IT HAD BECOME AN IDOL. 50:54 THESE ARE SOME OF THE IDOLS OF THE SOUL THE LESSON TALKS ABOUT. 50:57 AND IT SAYS, 'WHEN HE HEARD THIS, HE WAS SAD AND HE WENT 51:02 AWAY SORROWFUL, FOR HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS.' IT ALWAYS STRIKES 51:06 ME AS STRANGE. JESUS SAYS, 'FOLLOW ME. YOU'LL HAVE TREASURE 51:08 IN HEAVEN.' THAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY. BUT, INSTEAD, HE SAID, 'I 51:11 WANT TREASURE ON EARTH' AND HE WENT AWAY SAD. 51:13 DOES THE EARTHLY TREASURE BRING LASTING HAPPINESS? 51:17 HE STILL HAD HIS EARTHLY TREASURE, BUT HE KNEW IT WAS 51:19 TEMPORARY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE HEAVENLY TREASURE, SO HE WENT 51:22 AWAY SAD. "THEN JESUS SAID TO HIS 51:26 DISCIPLES, 'ASSUREDLY I SAY TO YOU THAT IT IS HARD FOR A RICH 51:29 MAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 51:32 AND AGAIN I SAY TO YOU, IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH 51:36 THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF 51:39 GOD.' WHEN HIS DISCIPLES HEARD IT, THEY WERE GREATLY 51:44 ASTONISHED, SAYING, 'WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?'" 51:48 NOW THE REASON THEY SAID THIS - THEY'RE ASTONISHED - IS 51:51 BECAUSE - NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN TODAY, BUT MANY RELIGIOUS 51:55 LEADERS WERE TEACHING THAT IF YOU'RE BLESSED OF GOD, YOU'LL BE 51:59 RICH. AND THEY'RE THINKING, 'ABRAHAM WAS RICH. 52:03 ISAAC WAS RICH. JACOB WAS RICH. JOSEPH BECAME RICH. JOB WAS 52:08 RICH. AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING IT'S HARD 52:11 FOR A RICH MAN TO GET TO THE KINGDOM. IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO 52:14 MAKE IT, NOBODY'S GOING TO MAKE IT. WHO CAN BE SAVED?' 52:16 AND HE WASN'T SAYING THAT THOSE PATRIARCHS WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE 52:20 IT, HE WAS SAYING THAT IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES BECAUSE 52:23 FOUNDATIONAL TO SALVATION IS A TRUST IN GOD. 52:27 PEOPLE, OFTEN, WHO ARE AMASSING MONEY AS SECURITY, ARE USING IT 52:32 AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR TRUSTING GOD. THEIR TRUST IS IN THE BANK 52:37 ACCOUNT. THEIR TRUST IS NOT IN GOD. 52:39 PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR ARE PRAYING, LITERALLY, FOR DAILY BREAD - 52:43 'GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD' - BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW 52:44 WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO EAT FROM DAY TO DAY, RIGHT? 52:47 BUT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A LOT, THEY STOP TRUSTING GOD FOR THE BASICS 52:51 OF EVERY DAY. AND IT'S HARD. 52:54 NOW, WHEN JESUS SAID, 'IT'S EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH 52:57 THE EYE OF A NEEDLE', I'VE HEARD SOME ARGUMENTS MADE, AND I THINK 53:02 IT COULD BE ARGUED, THAT SHEPHERDS IN THE BIBLE TIMES, 53:05 WHEN THEY COUNTED THEIR SHEEP, YOU WANT TO COUNT THEM ONE BY 53:07 ONE, THE SHEEP HAD TO PASS THROUGH A VERY NARROW CHANNEL 53:11 WHERE ONLY ONE SHEEP COULD GO THROUGH AND THEY CALLED IT 'THE 53:14 EYE OF THE NEEDLE' AND IT WAS A NARROW SPOT. 53:17 IT ALSO HAD A BAR ACROSS THE TOP AND WHEN JESUS SAID IT'S EASIER 53:21 FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE, HE WAS 53:23 REFERRING TO ONE OF THESE SHEEP CHANNELS WHERE THE FENCE IS - 53:28 WHERE IT NARROWS - AND THEY COUNT THE SHEEP. 53:32 AND, THEORETICALLY, A CAMEL COULD GET THROUGH ONE OF THOSE, 53:34 BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO GET ON ITS KNEES AND IT CAN'T CARRY ALL ITS 53:37 BAGGAGE. CAMELS WERE USUALLY LOADED 53:39 DOWN WITH CARAVAN BAGGAGE. AND SO, THE FIGURE IS THAT THAT 53:44 CAMEL'S GOING TO GET THE - OF COURSE A SHEEP IS A CLEAN 53:47 ANIMAL, CAMEL'S AN UNCLEAN ANIMAL. 53:49 IF THAT CAMEL'S GOING TO GET THROUGH, IT HAD TO UNLOAD AND 53:52 GET ON ITS KNEES AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY A RICH MAN CAN BE 53:56 SAVED. AND THEY'RE SAYING, 'SO WHO CAN BE SAVED?' 53:58 NOW IT'S INTERESTING IN THE STORY OF LUKE WHERE YOU FIND THE 54:00 SAME THING AND JESUS SAID 'IT'S HARD FOR A RICH MAN TO GET INTO 54:03 THE KINGDOM.' AND THEY SAY, 'WHO CAN BE SAVED?' 54:05 YOU GO IN THE NEXT CHAPTER IT TALKS ABOUT ZACCHEUS, WHO IT 54:09 SAYS WAS VERY RICH. AND DOES HE END 54:11 UP GETTING SAVED? CHRIST SAID, 'SALVATION HAS COME 54:15 TO THIS HOUSE.' ZACCHEUS IS SAVED. 54:17 VERY RICH MAN BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS? THE RICH YOUNG RULER, 54:20 HE SAYS 'NO' TO JESUS. HE WALKS AWAY SAD. 54:23 ZACCHEUS INVITES JESUS TO HIS HOUSE AND HE, WITHOUT EVEN BEING 54:26 ASKED, HE SAYS, 'HALF OF MY GOODS I GIVE TO THE POOR AND IF 54:31 I'VE TAKEN ANYTHING FROM ANY MAN BY FALSE ACCUSATION, I RESTORE 54:35 HIM FOUR-FOLD.' ZACCHEUS, SUDDENLY HIS HEART IS TOUCHED. 54:38 HE BECOMES VERY GENEROUS. HE DOES THE THING THAT JESUS HAD 54:41 ASKED THE OTHER MAN TO DO THAT HE WOULDN'T DO. NOW IS THE LORD 54:45 ASKING ALL OF US TO LIQUIDATE AND GIVE EVERYTHING TO THE POOR? 54:49 NOT NECESSARILY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR 54:53 YOU, BUT THE REASON THE LORD SAID IT TO THIS YOUNG MAN - 54:58 'SELL ALL YOU HAVE AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR, YOU'LL HAVE 55:00 TREASURE IN HEAVEN' - HE WAS ASKING HIM TO BE AN APOSTLE. 55:03 HE SAID, 'TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.' THE SAME THING HE 55:07 SAID TO PETER AND IT SAYS 'THEY FORSOOK EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED 55:10 HIM.' SAME THING THAT HE SAID TO MATTHEW. 55:13 HE LEFT HIS CASH REGISTER AND FOLLOWED HIM. 55:15 THEY LEFT EVERYTHING AND THEY FOLLOWED HIM. 55:17 HE WAS INVITING HIM TO BE AN APOSTLE. 55:19 NOW, IF YOU'RE INVITED TO FULL-TIME MINISTRY LIKE THAT - 55:22 HE MIGHT BE ASKING YOU TO, I DON'T KNOW - BUT ANYWAY, THE 55:28 LORD REALLY DOES ASK EVERYBODY TO GIVE EVERYTHING. 55:32 'WHOSOEVER IS NOT WILLING TO FORSAKE ALL CANNOT BE MY 55:34 DISCIPLE.' IT'S LIKE THAT MAN THAT FINDS THE TREASURE IN A 55:37 FIELD. HE SELLS EVERYTHING HE HAS TO GET THAT TREASURE. 55:41 OKAY, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I'VE STILL GOT SOME LESSON 55:43 LEFT. SOMEONE WAS GOING TO READ FOR ME 55:46 MATTHEW 13:22 - YOU'LL HAVE THAT ONE? 55:50 AND IN JUST A SECOND I'M GOING TO READ PROVERBS 23, VERSES 4 55:53 AND 5, "DO NOT OVERWORK TO BE RICH; BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN 55:59 UNDERSTANDING, CEASE! WILL YOU SET YOUR EYES 56:02 ON THAT WHICH IS NOT? FOR RICHES CERTAINLY MAKE 56:05 THEMSELVES WINGS; THEY FLY AWAY LIKE AN EAGLE TOWARD HEAVEN." 56:09 ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD, READ FOR US - AGAIN, MATTHEW 13:22. 56:14 >>"NOW HE WHO RECEIVED SEED AMONG THE THORNS IS HE WHO HEARS 56:17 THE WORD, AND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF 56:21 RICHES CHOKE THE WORD, AND HE BECOMES UNFRUITFUL." 56:26 >>YOU CAN SEE WHAT ONE OF THE DANGERS IS: EVEN THE GOOD SEED 56:29 SOWN IN THAT GROUND WITH THE THORNS, IT CHOKED THE WORD. 56:32 IT BECAME DISTRACTED WITH THE CARES OF THIS LIFE. 56:34 THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES - 1 TIMOTHY 6 - "COMMAND" - AND THIS 56:40 IS VERSE 17 - "COMMAND THOSE WHO ARE RICH IN THIS PRESENT AGE NOT 56:43 TO BE HAUGHTY, NOR TO TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES BUT IN THE 56:46 LIVING GOD, WHO GIVES US RICHLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY. 56:50 LET THEM DO GOOD, THAT THEY BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO 56:53 GIVE, WILLING TO SHARE, STORING UP FOR THEMSELVES A GOOD 56:56 FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME TO COME, THAT THEY MAY LAY HOLD ON 57:00 ETERNAL LIFE." AND, OF COURSE, PAUL SAYS, JOB SAYS, SOLOMON 57:08 SAYS - ALL THREE OF THEM SAY, 'NAKED I CAME INTO THIS WORLD, 57:11 NAKED I GO OUT.' AND WE TAKE NOTHING IN OUR HAND - THEY WORD 57:16 IT DIFFERENTLY AND SO, WHEN GOD GIVES US ANYTHING, IT'S FOR US 57:20 TO USE AS STEWARDS TO INVEST IN THIS LIFE - IN SHARING THE 57:24 GOSPEL. NOW, USUALLY I DO BETTER THAN 57:26 THIS, BUT I LEFT OUT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE LESSON. 57:30 I HOPE THAT YOU'LL FORGIVE ME. BUT ANYWAY, I WANT TO REMIND OUR 57:33 FRIENDS WHO ARE WATCHING - YEAH, FINISH READING, OF COURSE, 57:36 MATTHEW 18 AND 19 AND WE DO HAVE A FREE OFFER. 57:41 AND WE'LL SEND YOU THAT FREE OFFER - IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY 57:43 GOOD BOOK - SURRENDER OF SELF - CALL 866-788-3966 AND OFFER 57:50 #153. GOD BLESS YOU. 57:51 THE LORD WILLING, WE'LL STUDY TOGETHER AGAIN NEXT WEEK. 57:56 >>FOR LIFE-CHANGING CHRISTIAN RESOURCES, VISIT AFBOOKSTORE.COM 58:00 OR CALL 1-800-538-7275. (MUSIC) |
Revised 2016-05-24