Repent or Perish: Two Alternatives from Jesus

April 16, 2023

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Scripture referenced 9 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Psalm 34 sung as an opening worship song, Taste and See

1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
15 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

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Psalm 23

read to encourage the congregation that God is with them as the good shepherd

1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

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1 Chronicles 16

sung during the offering, Give thanks to the Lord for He is good

1 They brought in God’s ark, and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

2 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in Yahweh’s name.

3 He gave to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before Yahweh’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:

5 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;

6 with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David first ordained to give thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.

8 Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.

9 Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.

10 Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.

11 Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.

12 Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,

13 you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is Yahweh our God. His judgments are in all the earth.

15 Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

16 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.

17 He confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18 saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance,”

19 when you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners were in it.

20 They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.

21 He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,

22 “Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”

23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.

24 Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.

25 For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.

27 Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.

28 Ascribe to Yahweh, you relatives of the peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

29 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.

30 Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns!”

32 Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!

33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.

34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.

35 Say, “Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.”

36 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.

37 So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;

38 and Obed-Edom with their brothers, sixty-eight; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;

39 and Zadok the priest, and his brothers the priests, before Yahweh’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon,

40 to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in Yahweh’s law, which he commanded to Israel;

41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his loving kindness endures forever;

42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God; and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.

43 All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

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Luke 12:1 - 13:9

the primary sermon text, one conversation of Jesus containing five warnings and two alternatives

Read Luke 12:1 - 13:9

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John 3:16

referenced as the fruit of Jesus speaking with Nicodemus in the dark, held up on signs at football games

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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John 15

Jesus calls his disciples friends, compared to the single Synoptic use in Luke 12

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.

2 Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.

9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17 “I command these things to you, that you may love one another.

18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

21 But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

23 He who hates me, hates my Father also.

24 If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father.

25 But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me.

27 You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

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Matthew 6

seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, paralleled with Luke 12 on not worrying

1 “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

3 But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

7 In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

8 Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;

18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

19 “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

25 Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

27 “Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?

31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

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Acts 7

Stephen's sermon cited as an example of the Holy Spirit teaching a disciple what to say in that very hour

1 The high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’

4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living.

5 He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child.

6 God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.

7 ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.’

8 He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

9 “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,

10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food.

12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time.

13 On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s race was revealed to Pharaoh.

14 Joseph sent, and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls.

15 Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, himself and our fathers,

16 and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.

17 “But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph.

19 The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive.

20 At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house.

21 When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son.

22 Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works.

23 But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.

25 He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.

26 “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’

27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

29 Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

30 “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him,

32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look.

33 The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground.

34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’

35 “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

36 This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

37 This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’

38 This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us,

39 to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,

40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’

41 They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.

42 But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen;

45 which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David,

46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him a house.

48 However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with…

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2 Peter 3:9

the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, patient not wanting anyone to perish but wanting all to come to repentance

9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

The pastor walked through Luke 12:1 through 13:9 as a single conversation Jesus had with His disciples in the middle of a massive crowd. The passage contains five warnings and closes with two alternatives, and the sermon traced each one in order, noting that every warning carries an encouragement tucked inside it.

What was said

Jesus opens by telling His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which He identifies as hypocrisy. The pastor pointed out that it does not take much hypocrisy to do serious damage, the way a small amount of yeast works through an entire loaf. What gets hidden will eventually be revealed, and he used Nicodemus as the positive side of that coin: a secret nighttime conversation became the most quoted verse in the history of the church.

The warning about fear and hypocrisy comes with a direct encouragement. Jesus calls His disciples friends, the only place in the Synoptics He uses that word, and tells them not to fear what people can do to a body. God counts the hairs on their heads and notices every sparrow. The one to fear is the one with authority over eternal things, and that same God has chosen to give the kingdom to His little flock.

Moving into the warning about greed, the pastor drew on a quote from the lexicon Danker Arndt and Gingrich: greed can never get enough, and worry is afraid it may not have enough. Jesus uses the rich man who tears down his barns to build bigger ones as the picture of someone whose life consists entirely in his possessions. The alternative He offers is to seek the kingdom first, trusting that God who clothes the grass and feeds the ravens will provide.

The warning about being unprepared for the Son of Man's coming flips an expected image. The master who returns and finds his servants alert does not accept their service; he seats them at the table and serves them. That generosity, though, sits alongside a sharp word: the servant who knew the master's will and ignored it receives the harsher punishment. Those entrusted with much are expected to act accordingly.

Jesus then says plainly that He has come not to bring peace on earth but division, and that households will split over Him. The pastor noted that the division Jesus describes is visible all around, and that the sharper concern is when that division works its way inside the church itself rather than remaining the line between those who know Jesus and those who do not yet.

The passage closes with two alternatives Jesus draws from the news of the day: Galileans killed by Pilate at the temple, and eighteen people killed when a tower in Siloam fell. He refuses to say those victims were worse sinners than anyone else, and then makes the point directly: unless you repent, you will likewise perish. The parable of the fig tree follows immediately, and the pastor sat with it long enough to ask whether the church is more concerned with what it receives than with what the people outside it need. The vineyard keeper asking for one more year, a little more digging, a little more care, is the picture he left the congregation with.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Pastor Carl warned that it does not take much hypocrisy to do a lot of damage, comparing it to leaven working through a whole lump of dough. Where do you think the temptation toward religious play-acting is hardest to resist, and why?
Jesus told his disciples not to fear what people could do to them, but to have a right relationship with God who holds ultimate authority. What does it look like practically to live with that kind of God-centered courage rather than people-pleasing fear?

and 3 more questions in the guide

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Speaker 2Good morning, everybody. How are we doing? It's beautiful out. We're here together. We can worship together.

People of God singing the praises of God, in the presence of God. So would you stand and we'll sing Psalm 34, Taste and See.

Speaker 3And and see.

Speaker 2And let us bless the Lord. Let's sing this together.

Speaker 3And let us bless the Lord every day and ending praise.

Speaker 1Can you hear me now? Okay. So as far as announcements go, there are some.

Speaker 2Night happening tomorrow. I'll send you a message. And Scotty was planning on doing French dip sandwiches. And we are in Mark 10 where Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce and and also blessing the children. And there's just so many good takeaways from Mark 10 tomorrow.

So know that it's a worship service we have down the hall, Monday night, 06:00. And at the same time and here is

Speaker 1Awana. Awana is happening. It's here starting at six tomorrow night. You see the game circle on the floor. So it starts out in here and spreads all over the church.

We're pouring scripture and just loving the kids too. But pouring scripture into their minds to reach their hearts. It'll be something that stays with them for the rest of their lives. It can I get a witness on that? Anybody agree with that?

Awana's amazing. It's really, really, really good. We also last week had that. That was April 12. Typically, that's the first Wednesday of the month at 06:30 a.

M. It was happened this Wednesday, on the second Wednesday this time.

Speaker 2Which was great, by the way, and I can testify to that. And there was some testimony time, and breakfast is great, fellowship with the guys. And so, no, again, that's something else that we do that it's it's worthwhile

Speaker 1to There's a ladies fellowship on Thursday evenings at 6PM in the Fellowship Hall. That's always a good time. All ages are welcome and it's a ladies fellowship. They eat together and they pray together and they study the word together. We have some Christian life and witness courses coming up here in May, the fourth, eleventh and eighteenth in the evening, so seven and 9PM.

This is an anticipation of a big event that's coming to Idaho Falls in September. But it's a good course whether you're going to go to that or not. It's a great Christian life and witness course. In September, there'll be a kids' fest the day before and then musical guest is Crowder Band at that look up tour. That's Will Graham, so from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

So we have been praying together, thirty days of prayer for Muslims. And tonight, April 16, from six to seven here at First Bee, we'll be gathering to pray corporately for Muslims around the world and how we can most effectively minister. The way that the format looks is just come find out. Six to seven tonight, missions committee will be kind of leading that. There is going to be a collective groan, I expect.

There's a potluck dinner that is the sending celebration extravaganza for the Eon family. That's happened in April 22. That is happening. So, that's soon actually. The twenty second is next Saturday, 05:30 in the Fellowship Hall but their last Sunday is going be on up into June, right?

June 4. First week of June is their last week here but if you would like to come and just enjoy and celebrate with us the ministry that they have had while they're here and hear a bit about where how they will be working things out in Romania, please come. That's next Saturday night, 05:30 in the Fellowship Hall. And I will say that last line down there, they have have some a lot of one time support, but they still could use monthly or quarterly or yearly supporters. If you would like to do that, please let us know, and we would we'd love to help you help them.

And this thing's not clicking anymore, Blake. So, it's done.

Speaker 2That's the

Speaker 1last announcement. Did I miss anything? No? Would you stand up and let's praise God together then morning by morning.

Speaker 2And there's power. Let's sing. Amen. I think I really needed to hear that song today. Anybody else?

And and this is what's so encouraging about it. Check out Psalm 23. And you've heard this Psalm before, but would let's hear it again. It says, even though I walk through the darkest valley and maybe some of you are you're going through the valley right now. But it says, you're with me.

Isn't that just right there? Like, we could just pause right there. You are with me. God is with us. He is the good shepherd.

He's leading us. He's guiding us. He's caring for us. He is for us. Your rod, your staff, they comfort.

God, thank you for your comfort, thank you for your encouragement. Lord, if we're we're in all we're coming from all different places and all different kinds of situations in this room right now, and I pray that you'd meet us right where right where we're at. Thank you for being our good shepherd. Thank you for your care. You can have a seat here for a moment.

This is the the worship through giving part of the service, and I'll invite the ushers to come on forward. We're gonna sing gratitude from first chronicles 16. It's give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever. Before we sing, Ray, would you pray?

Speaker 1Sheep of your pastor, lord. We're listening for your voice. Lord, we need direction. We want direction. We know from last week, lord, just looking at the power of the resurrection and hearing in scripture that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is active and at work in us.

Lord, what we need is direction. We don't lack power. Would you show us the way that you would have us walk out the good old gospel message? Show us, lord, how to live. Show us how to teach others to obey all that you have commanded us by actually obeying what you've commanded us.

In Jesus name, lord, we come to you collectively right now. We ask your blessing on this offering that you would do your will and your way here among us lord. Whatever goes into these plates financially and whatever goes into these plates metaphorically in our hearts and our mental ascent, lord, that we would give you our lives. I pray lord that you'd multiply the impact that each of us have and that we do have collectively. Praying for all of the churches of this valley, lord, that we would be a light to the nations.

In Jesus name, amen.

Speaker 3I've got one response. I've got just one ring with my

Speaker 1It's time for Children's Church downstairs. And there they go. Oh, let them come to me. Jesus says, let them come to me. Bring them bring them on.

Bring the children on. Don't don't hush them. Don't shush him. Bring him on. Look at that.

Oh my goodness. Luke twelve one through thirteen nine. Yes, last week when I started off, actually in the second service, I remembered. I said, you know, the shortest text that I've used since I've been here is Jesus wept, two words, but the longest one was four chapters in Acts. Two words is probably a little too little, and this is probably too long.

Four chapters of Acts was definitely too long. But this is one conversation that Jesus had. It's just one at one time. I know that our attention spans have changed a little bit over the years, and we read articles about it all the time. But I want you to pay attention.

It flows. It's Jesus, and he's speaking. And Luke sending this letter to Theophilus. He's trying to make an accurate account of everything that happened and in this section of the harmony of the gospels, Luke is speaking about this alone. It sounds just like stuff that he said in Matthew and in Mark but we're going to see it at one time right here together.

I feel like this is the opening and the closing of one kind of a conversation that Jesus was having with people. So, that's Luke twelve one through thirteen nine, all of chapter 12. There are five warnings. Warning. There are five warnings.

But there are also, at the end, are two alternatives. And Jesus presents them, five warnings and these two alternatives. And I'm going to use just the headings that are in Thomas and Gundry's Harmony of the Gospels. We've been doing a study that is, the Synoptics, Matthew, Mark and Luke primarily. But I'm using Thomas and Gundry's Harmony of the Gospels as kind of a jumping off point.

So I'm using their headings, and these are they. The following sections are presented to the disciples, but amongst the larger crowd. So he starts off by saying that there are thousands present. Lots and lots and lots of people are there, But he's speaking to his disciples, first of all. So it's a warning specifically to the disciples, the people who are claiming Jesus and following Jesus.

He's a warning to them about hypocrisy, a warning about greed and trust in wealth. It's not against wealth, but about greed and trusting in that wealth, and a warning against being unprepared for the son of man's coming. That one is a little tricky because we read this and we think the second coming, but what would they have thought sitting in the presence of the Son of Man? Well, he's warning about some coming division, which I think we've seen year after year since then. And warning and expel you to discern the present time.

That's a lot of warning. Then he closes with two alternatives. That's what I'm going to do. The more text there is, the less preaching there is. Okay?

So take this. I pray. I've been sitting with it for a couple of weeks now. I pray that it'll it will accomplish its work. When Carl was praying this morning, said, do what you do, spirit of God.

You convict us of our own sin. You convince us of your righteousness. It also says that you will illumine scripture. So Holy Spirit, would you accompany your word as it's proclaimed this morning? That it would have found really fertile soil, and it would make a difference in the way that we live life individually, but also collectively.

Amen. So here we go. Warning the disciples about hypocrisy. Under these circumstances, and this is why I say it's one conversation. Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another.

You ever been in a crowd where you're pressed and stepping on one another? That's the way it was. He began saying to his disciples, first of all. So it's a message for the disciples. It's a message for everybody.

But the ones who had already committed and said, I'm with you. He says, beware of the leaven of the pharisees. How many of y'all make bread? There are like three people, four, five. Just a few people in here.

At the time, pretty much everybody made bread. So the analogy for them is probably more real than it is to us. But you put just a little bit of yeast, a little bit of leaven in the bread, and it'll leaven the whole lump. And then before long, that bread can be used to leaven other bread. Right?

You can have a sourdough starter that goes on for generations. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. And and he says what it is. The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy. It doesn't take much hypocrisy to do a lot of damage.

Oh, that place is just full of hypocrites. You hear people say that. Like, one more won't matter. Come on. Go with us.

Beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy. It is play acting. It is acting like you are something that you are not. So beware of that, disciples. Beware of the leaven of the pharisees.

I I actually have heard before, we can't let that sin get into our church. We can't let that sin beware of the leaven. It's just a little bit of sin that corrupts everything. But when Jesus said beware of the leaven, what he said is beware of the leaven of the pharisees. It was religiosity more than and that is a sin.

But it's more than some overt sin that we can see easier. Because a good hypocrite can hide it pretty well. It's hard to fake sincerity, but it can be done. Beware of that. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Y'all know what it is. Leaven of the Pharisees is equal to hypocrisy. But there's nothing covered up that will not be revealed. There is nothing hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark, it'll be heard in the light.

Now when you hear this, this might give you one of those moments like, oh, I don't want anybody to know that. I don't want anybody to hear that. Well, confess that to God. Let him throw it as far as the east is from the West. But also, I want to take a positive spin on this one, considering that he's speaking to his disciples among a larger group where Pharisees are present.

Consider Nicodemus right here. Consider Nicodemus. There's nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. We've got the New Testament. Who was Jesus speaking to in John three?

Speaking to Nicodemus. Whatever you have said in the dark, he came to him at night. Right? This has happened previous to this. I don't know that he was there.

But just think about Nicodemus here in this rather than, oh, I'm kinda scared that they'll find out that I'm this, that, or the other thing. Nicodemus came to him at night and said, We know that you're from God. You can't be from God. You can't not be from God and get the results that you're getting. We I want to know more.

Are you this great teacher of Israel? You must be born again. Whatever you have said in the dark, it'll be heard in the light. We've been telling the story of Nicodemus two thousand years. At football games, people hold up posters.

Right? John three sixteen. That was a conversation with Jesus and this one guy at night. I like that. It is everything.

There's nothing that's going to be covered up that won't be revealed, hidden that won't be known. Accordingly, whatever you said in the dark will be heard and light. Whatever you've whispered in the inner rooms, oh, I hear the whispering in the inner rooms in the New Testament too. And the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the scribes and the chief priests got together, and they conspired against him. And we're telling that story still.

It's proclaimed from the housetops. It's a part of the gospel story that he was rejected by his own. Right? What you've whispered in other rooms will be proclaimed from the housetop. Now I say to you, my friends, in the Synoptics, this is the only place that Jesus says, you're my friends in the Synoptics, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

And John, he says it in John 15. I don't call you I don't call you servants, call you friends. Now I say to you, friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body. After that, have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear.

Fear the one who after he has killed someone has the power to throw that person into hell. Yes. I tell you, fear him. Gehenna is the word for hell instead of Hades here, and it's emphasizing punishment. He's saying, be careful about how you interact with God who is above all.

Be careful with that relationship. Yes. There are things that you can say or do that will get you into some hot water and trouble politically. And there are some things that you can say or do that will get you thrown in jail. And there are some things that you can do that might even get you killed.

But I'm saying don't be concerned about what man can do to you. Be more concerned about how your heart is in good standing with God. Are not five sparrows are five sparrows not sold for two aceria? It's funny in Matthew, it says that a sparrow is sold sorry, two sparrows are sold for an aceria. And in Luke it says, five sparrows are sold for two aceria.

That's interesting, the fifth one's free. Are not five sparrows sold for two aceria? And yet none of them has gone unnoticed in the sight of God. He knows every single one of them. But even the hairs of your head are all counted.

God knows things about us we don't even know about us. I know there's some bald headed people that know or think they know. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't fear. You are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

Friends? Jesus is calling them friends. God will take care of you. It sounds like that warning came with an encouragement. Actually, all the warnings come with a little encouraging.

I didn't mention that in the opening, five warnings and two alternatives. The warnings are real. The warnings are there. And since it is a mixed crowd, there are those who are absolutely sold out for them and still keep on putting their foot in their mouth. We see that from a lot of the disciples.

Don't fear. You're more valuable than a great number of sparrows. God knows your plight. Now I say to you, to you friends, to you disciples, first of all, Everyone who confesses me before people, the son of man will confess him before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God.

It really matters where you stand, and it matters that you're truthful about where you stand. It's possible to be a hypocrite in the other direction. We don't think about that very often. It's possible to believe in Jesus and then outwardly not act like it. Maybe you hadn't thought about it since middle school or high school.

It's possible, right? He's saying, Don't be afraid to show who you are. A humble servant of God. Somebody who does not know all the answers, but trusts that God has the answers. He knows things I don't even know about myself.

And he loves me and says that I'm valuable. Don't be afraid to believe that or say that. And everyone who speaks a word against the son of man, it'll be forgiven him. Yeah. It'll be forgiven him.

Matthew, we've gone through this in Matthew. But the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, like Carl said in his prayer and I mentioned at the beginning of this, the Holy Spirit is actively convicting people of their sin who don't even know God yet. Okay? He's actively convicting people of their sin.

And he is urging them to be convinced of God's goodness and righteousness. He's actively working. And he's illumining scripture. And you can reject that. You can see scripture and see that that's good, but how can I believe that?

And you can reject it. And that is the sin that cannot be forgiven. It's a rejection of God's salvation, which is presented as a free gift. And if you reject that right up until death, that is it. You speak against Jesus.

There are people who hadn't made up their mind in this crowd about Jesus. They're coming to see. And he's going through this time and saying, yeah, I get that. But rejecting the Holy Spirit's urging is dangerous for your soul. It's dangerous.

So that's blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I spent a week in recently with someone who was afraid that they had blasphemed the Holy Spirit and it was an unforgivable sin. And he was hell bound and there's nothing he could do about it. But he's still drawing breath. He was convicted of the sin of rejecting God when he had the opportunity.

And God always answers the call of faith. Always. And so if you're still drawing breath, you have not ultimately blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Okay? You can say, Lord, forgive me for rejecting you.

Lord, forgive me, and He will. It's after the fact where it becomes unforgivable, right? There is a time that a man will in earthly settings will die and then after that, the judgment. That's what all five of these warnings are about. Man, it's a quiet room today.

It's been quiet in my office for the last couple weeks too. Now when they bring you before the synagogues and the officials and the authorities Synagogues is the religious assembly. Officials can be either religious or governmental, and authorities can be both also. When they bring you, disciples, because they're going to, before the synagogues and officials and authorities, don't worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense. Don't worry about it.

Don't be concerned about it or what you are to say for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. You remember Stephen in Acts seven? Woah. What a sermon. And he hadn't really thought about it at the time, I don't guess.

He was told not to right here. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. That doesn't mean that you'll be protected. That doesn't mean you won't be killed for what you say. It doesn't mean that you'll win your case and that you'll be acquitted rather than indicted.

When you come before the synagogues and officials and authorities, don't worry about what you're to speak in your defense or what you are to say. I'm building my church. The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. So that warning came with an encouragement too. Isn't it nice to know you don't have to be have your finals already finished in your head?

Right? You have the oral exam already memorized and you just are waiting for opportunity to say it? No. He says different situations require different words from God and he knows exactly what to say. Trust him to speak through you.

That's good. Worrying about greed and trust and wealth. Here we are in Jackson, Wyoming. Now someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to defy the family inheritance with me. But he said to him, you there, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?

Who appointed me judge over this? Now, it's a common thing to go to a rabbi and say, don't you think that my brother should give me this much of this land? Don't you think? That's still kind of a common thing. I hear this every once in a while myself.

Don't you think it would be right if they would give me more than I'm getting currently? Well, Jesus is like, who put me in charge of this? Wait a second. But he said to them, not just to that one person that said in the crowd, he said to them, y'all beware. This is a warning.

Beware and be on your guard. When I said a few weeks ago the word that was to keep something, to guard it, to hold onto it, to obey it, to be on guard against something, it's the same word here. It's a different form but it's the same word. He said to him, Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed for not even when one is affluent does his life consist in his possessions. That's not what it's about.

And it's tempting to believe that that's what it's about. It's also tempting to believe that if I just had a little more, I would be alright. And he told him a parable saying, the land of a rich man was very productive. Is that a blessing of God if you have a productive piece of land? It is.

And he began thinking to himself saying, What shall I do since I have no place to store my crops that are so bountiful? And he said, This is what I'll do. I'll tear down those little barns. I'll build larger ones and I'll store all my grain and all my goods in there. And I'll say to myself, you have many goods stored up for many years to come.

Is he trusting in wealth? Sounds like it. Relax. Eat. Drink.

And enjoy yourself. You've got this covered. But God says to him, you fool. Oh, there's a great Martin Luther King sermon, when Jesus called a man a fool. It's pretty good.

God said to him, you fool. This very night your soul is demanded of you. And as for all that you have prepared, who's going to own it now? Your kids are going to be fighting over it, like the guy who asked the question to begin with. Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich in relation to God.

He's asking for his disciples to be rich in relation to God. It's possible to be rich in your relationship to God and still be blessed financially. I do believe that that's possible. But he's saying beware of greed. Beware of it because it is so seductive and it is so insidious and it sneaks up on you.

And he said to his disciples, for this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life. Don't worry about it. He's already told him not to worry one time before, a little quote that I wanted to share. And I left my glasses at home. I might have to have a child read it to you.

Seek the kingdom. There it is. Greed can never get enough, and worry is afraid it may not have enough. Isn't that good? The guy who did the lexicon that probably the lexicon, Danker Arndt and Gingrich Arndt is the guy who said that.

Greed can never get enough, and worry is afraid it will not have enough. And those are both what Jesus is warning against. For this reason, I tell you, don't worry about your life as to what you're going to eat or what for your body as to what you're going to wear. Life is more than food. The body is more than clothing.

Consider the ravens. Ravens. Ravens. They neither sow nor reap. They have no storeroom, no barn, yet God feeds them.

How much more valuable you are than the birds? He's already mentioned sparrows and now it's ravens. Which of you by worrying can add a day to his lifespan? The Greek there, it's saying can add even a cubit, tip of your finger to your elbow, to your stature. That would be a really tall person if you could, right?

But it's probably talking about time like this. How can which of you by worrying can add a day to his lifespan? None of you can. Therefore, if you cannot do even a very little thing, for God that's nothing, that's no big deal, why do you worry about the other things? God is in control.

You actually it says right there, Consider the lilies, how they grow, they neither labor nor spend. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Now if God so closed the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow it's thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you? You, you disciples, you of little faith. Trust him.

Don't seek what you are to eat and what you're to drink, and don't keep worrying for all these things or what the nations of the world eagerly seek, and your father knows that you need these things. But this is the way to be living. Seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Seek after his kingdom first. This is a Matthew six moment too.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Throw yourself into service to God your king. Throw yourself into obedient and humble action when he gives direction and he'll provide for you. Don't be afraid little flock.

I just heard somebody four H's started up and there are lots of lambs that are being cared for by kids in this church right now, like 16 or 17 showed up in South Park Ranches yesterday. Don't be afraid little flock because your father has chosen to give you the kingdom. Think about that. He didn't have to, but he chose to make it available to you. And he chose to give it to you.

He likes to. This is remember the teaching about the you know, even if you who start out as evil will give good things to your kids, God has chosen to give you the whole kingdom. Seek it. You will find it. So that warning came with an encouragement too.

Don't be afraid little flock because your father has chosen to give you the kingdom. How far are we in? Think we're three warnings in. Sell your possessions, give to charity, make yourself money belts that don't wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven where no thief comes near nor does a moth destroy. The market goes up and the market goes down, but there's an investment and an incorruptible hope that will last forever.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Amen. Amen. There's nothing like having skin in the game, is there? You might not care who wins a game until you bet on one side.

And then it gets to be all important that they win that game. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I think that that's interesting too grammatically. Where your treasure is, that's where your heart is going to be. Does that make sense?

It's present and future. Where you are invested is where your heart is going to be. Warning against being unprepared for the son of man's coming. Be prepared. Keep your lamps lit.

You're also to be like the people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and he knocks. Those are servants, slaves, and the master's out and about. And be like this. Be about the master's business. Blessed are those slaves or servants whom the master will find on the alert.

When he comes, truly I say to you that he'll prepare himself to serve. That's a switch. That's a switch. The master says he will prepare himself to serve. That's unexpected.

I mean, we've read the Bible a lot of times probably by now and we see it and go, well, makes sense. Jesus washed the disciples' feet. He served them. He served them by dying on the cross. Yes.

But that's not the normal way that the world works. When the master gets home and they're waiting for him by the door that he doesn't go, oh, that's great. Here, sit down. Let me get you a sandwich. That's not normal.

But this is Jesus' story. He'll prepare himself to serve and have them recline at the table. And he'll come up and serve them whenever he comes. Whether he comes in the second watch or even the third watch and finds them so blessed are those slaves. That's cool.

But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he's mixing his metaphors here, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Now, if we're the ones that have been left in charge of Christ's Church and the thief is attempting to break in. It's like Jesus is saying, I can handle him. And when he says to Paul or Saul, he says, why are you persecuting me? We are the continuing body of Christ on earth.

That that we should be filled with humility in even thinking that. We are to be protecting God's gospel, His good news, His invitation, free gift. You too, you all be ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Peter said, Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone else as well? Is this just for us?

Just for the 12? Or is this a bigger well, it's being said among thousands. And it's being read by millions, billions even. Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone else as well? And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and sensible steward whom his master will put in charge of his servants and to give them their rations at the proper time to take care of one another.

Relationship is important. Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Blessed is the one who is about oh, sorry. This is a bumper sticker. Jesus is coming.

Look busy. Actually, I think I'm going change that. Be about His business. Jesus is coming. You believe that.

Be about His business. Be doing the things that he did. Empowered by the same spirit that raised him from the dead. Getting direction from the same one that it says throughout Acts, they were hindered by the spirit from going to this place, but they were led to this place. Live your life like that, being led of God and allowing him to hinder you in some places instead of just ramrod.

Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, my master's going to take a long time to come. And then he begins to beat up the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and to get drunk and to take his authority and let it go to his head. Then the master of that slave will come on a day that he doesn't expect, at an hour he does not know, and cut him in two and assign him a place with the unbelievers. Woah.

And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready for it or act in accordance with his will, he'll receive many blows. But the one who didn't know it and committed acts deserving of a beating will receive only a few blows. Jesus is consistent when he is rebuking that the religious folks get a harsher rebuke. It's consistent. Hypocrisy and pride.

Taking authority where we don't really have authority. The one who did not know it and committed acts deserving of being will receive only a few blows from everyone who's been given much. Much will be demanded. And to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. If you've got this word, if you've been taught it from way, way back, God's entrusted you with much.

And he's expectant that you will be humbled before it and acting in accordance with it. So that's quite a warning. But it did come with an encouragement. It was front loaded. This one was front loaded.

Blessed are those who, when the master will find on the alert when he comes, truly I say to you that he will prepare himself to serve, and he's done that. And have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them. Recognition that God is the one who is providing for you is part of this, recognizing that he is taking care of us. Here it is, warning about the coming division. I've come to cast fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled.

Wait. Wait a minute, Jesus. But I have a baptism to undergo and how distressed I am until it's accomplished. From Luke nine fifty one where Jesus sets his face like flint heading towards Jerusalem towards the cross until last week's message of Easter hanging on the cross, speaking those seven statements from the cross. Jesus is intent about getting there.

And it says right here that he's distressed until it's accomplished because there's so much that rides on it. Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? Now for Christians, we might just go, Well, yeah. I mean, you offer peace. Yeah, but not everybody is going to accept it.

Are there people that you have been praying for for years who have just rejected the gospel out of hand? Do you feel enmity with them? Kind of. If you don't, they do towards you. It's not peace.

Right? Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? I tell you what. It's going to be division. There are going to be folks who side with me, and I won't reject them before God.

And there will be folks who side against me. And that will make the eternal difference for those people. And it's not a peaceable thing. Yeah, it's peaceable for us who have accepted. Boy, from now on, Jesus says, so matter of factly, five members in one household will be divided.

There'll be three against two, two against three. They'll be divided. Father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. It's just going to be the way that it is. And he moves on.

I don't know that that's encouraging. But what do you see? Do you see the world at peace? No. You see division.

And honestly, if we take a good look, we're at times, we fight among ourselves. We who have the greatest chance of unity in the body of Christ allow the enemy in and allow division to exist. The division should be those who know Jesus and are acting like it, and those who don't yet know Jesus and long for it. Warning against failing to discern the present time. He was also saying to the crowds, whenever you see a cloud rising in the West, you immediately say, showers coming.

And so it turns out. Whenever you feel a South wind blowing, you say it's going to be hot today. And it turns out that way. Hypocrites. You act like you know what you're talking about.

You're reading the signs. You see what's going on. It's not just a guess. You're paying attention, but you act like you've got some secret. You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth in the sky, but how is it that you don't know how to analyze this present time?

Do you not see what's going on? Why do you not even judge by yourselves what's right? For when you're going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, Magistrate is the authority, it's the judge, and he's saying, If you know that you're headed towards a judgment there are five warnings. They're all about judgment. If you know you're headed towards judgment when you're going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate on the way, make an effort to settle with him so that he doesn't drag you before the judge and the judge hands you over to the officer and the officer throws you into prison.

We do have an accuser. We do have an enemy. And he knows the charges against us. This is speaking of Jesus' division that he's speaking of and then walking right into this. He's saying that there is a defense attorney.

There is a defense attorney. He has made the payment. The punishment has already been had. It's already taken on. Will you not make the effort in this time when you know you're headed for judgment to make a deal?

Judge hand you over to officer, officer, or you're in prison, I tell you, you'll not get out of there until you pay the very last leptime, $11.20 eighth of a denarius. Jesus is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He is the way that God has offered.

In humility, accept the offer, and you miss the punishment. Warning is real. So then Jesus closes with two alternatives. Here they are. The two alternatives.

Now on that very occasion, still the same conversation. There were some present who reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Now there are people argue over whether we have a record of this anywhere in history or not. There's definitely one from twenty years earlier and they could have just brought it up and said, what about this? But there could have been one earlier than that.

I mean, could have been one later than that. There was fresh news, who knows? But on that very occasion, there were some present who reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. This is pretty clear that these folks had come to the temple and as they were making their sacrifices, they were killed by Pilate. Pretty evil guy, fits his character.

Wanted to quash any kind of rebellion. The one example that we know of that was a little earlier than this was of a guy who said, We are God's people. We don't need to be paying taxes to Rome. Pilate said, we'll take care of this. It was rebellion against the authority over them, and Pilate did.

But Jesus doesn't go into that. He kind of avoids the question if they were saying, what do you believe about this? Should we pay taxes or not? They've already asked him that question. He's already said yes.

Render to Caesar, right? Jesus responded and said to them, do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they suffered this fate? Do you think they were really any worse than everybody else? The human condition is a human condition. We find ourselves in a similar condition.

So are they? Were they any worse? Because of this tragic end, were they any worse sinners? That was the equation at the time. And I tell you what, primitive religion is very sticky.

I still hear from time to time when I'll say, Look at what happened right here. And I said, Man, you must be living right. Really? Or I can't believe I've got to go do this again. Doctor said such and such.

Man, you've to clean up your act. You've done something to deserve this. Now, Jesus is saying, no. Do you think there were any worse than any of y'all? I I tell you what, unless you repent, you will also likewise perish.

Those are the two alternatives. Repent or perish. That's a hard word from Jesus. But they are the two alternatives. If he's bringing division, those who repent have peace with God.

Those who, in their pride, hold on to their sin perish. This is talking Actually, goes on, Or do you think that those 18 on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them? News of the day. Tower falls and kills 18 people. That's a horrible thing.

If we were to think back just in the news of past couple of weeks, we could think of example after example and go, wow, why? Why did that happen? And Jesus is using one of those. Do you think that the people, those 18 that the tower fell on and killed them, you think they were worse offenders than all the other people who lived in Jerusalem? No.

No. That's obvious in the way it's prose. No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you also will likewise perish. It's going to be a surprise to you if you're not repentant. And he began telling this parable.

Man had a fig tree. Oh my goodness. We mentioned the fig tree a couple weeks ago. Here it is. You remember Jesus cursing the fig tree?

He he in Matthew and in Mark, we saw it two weeks ago. It's Palm Sunday. It's actually on Monday after Palm Sunday. And he saw that the fig tree had no fruit on it and he says, No longer shall there be any fruit from you. And that fig tree withered.

Look at this. He said to the vineyard keeper, Look, for three years now, I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Jesus is in his the last part of his third year of ministry. Look, for three years, I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down.

Why does it even use up the ground? But he answered and said to him, Sir, leave it alone for this year. Leave it alone. Give it a little more time. Leave it alone for this year until I dig around and I put in some fertilizer, I take care of it.

And if it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, actually it says you cut it down right there. I worry a little bit. Well, do not worry is one of the things right here, but let me rephrase. I am concerned a little bit.

I'm concerned a little bit that as the church, we're more concerned about what we get than with what they get. Does that make sense? Like, I like the story of that fig tree of it's not producing any fruit. How can you expect it to? Right?

If there is a division and there are those who know Jesus and there are those who don't yet, and we know him and we know we don't deserve it, Doesn't it just make sense to say, hey, we don't deserve this but this is the message and it's good. And you can have peace with God. And it's good. It's really, really, really good. And just a little more time, instead of saying, Come Lord Jesus, right now.

Right now. Rescue us out of the evil generation. I think our prayer should be, Lord God Almighty, change our hearts so that they will see how you are and who you are through the way we treat one another and them. May it not be a division that way, Lord. May we be bringing people in.

You say the gates of hell won't prevail against it. Lord, show us your way. Allow us the direction and the power to walk in it so that they will know who you are and the nations will praise God. Would you stand with me? I'm going invite the band back up.

We're gonna sing Evidence. There is no theological arguments. There's no theological argument against a changed life. If Jesus has changed you, and you see the evidence of his presence in your life, the transforming power of Jesus, that you're different now than you were, I pray that you would be able to articulate that at the proper time. Don't worry about it.

The Holy Spirit will give you the words. Be ready to say, Amen. I started to include it in the text of the of the of the sermon. But think about this. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise.

He's not slack, one version. He's not slack. He's gonna do what he's promised to do. The Lord's not slack in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Think about that master being on that trip, and it feels like, man, he's been gone a long time.

The temptation is to doubt that he'll ever come back. The Lord's not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you. He's patient with you not wanting for anyone to perish. He's patient with you, Christians, not wanting anyone around you to perish.

But he wants for everyone to come to repentance because the two options are repent or perish. God, would you use us doing your will and your way? Lord, would you show us where we are lacking? And then, Lord, would you patch that up? Transform our lives.

We ask for your glory and for our good. Amen.

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Division In Families Fear Of Judgment Holy Spirit Blasphemy Hypocrisy Repentance Worry And Wealth

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