Worship Gathering 8/2/20

actual starting verse 14 and when you find it in your copy of God's word. Would you stand with me out of reverence and respect for? the reading of God's word

Luke chapter 18 will start. the second half of verse 14 because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. But the one who humbles himself will be exalted. People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them Jesus however, invited them let the little children come to me and don't stop them because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these truly I tell you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. A ruler asked him good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life. Why do you call me? Good Jesus asking? No one is good. Except God alone, you know the Commandments do not commit adultery.

Do not murder.

Do not steal.

Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother. I kept all these from my youth. He said when Jesus heard this he told him you still like one thing sell all you have and distribute it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven then come follow me. After he heard this he became extremely sad. Cuz he was very rich. He became said Jesus said how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God for it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard this task then who can be saved? He replied what is impossible with man is possible with God.

Let's prank. Father we are reminded that the grass withers and the flowers fade. We are here today and we're gone tomorrow. Our fathers were here. Our grandfathers were here. Our great-grandfathers were here church history tells us that for thousands of years your church has prevailed but yet men come on the scene and they go off the scene. Everything is temporary it seems but they're at the center of the pulpit is your word the grass withers and the flowers fade, but your word will never perish.

So what I asked you to do is to plan it into the hearts of these people today.

That one day when their body is in the grave.

in their soul Is the word of God?

For your son's sake we pray. Amen, you may be seated.

This is a tricky part of scripture I believe. And I struggled with exactly how to preach it and let me tell you some of the options that you have if you ever want to preach it. Will you could preach? The account there where Jesus blesses the children. It stands by itself and it will. You can then go and preach a sermon on the Rich Young Ruler. You can stand by itself. Then you could go and preach about possessions in the Kingdom. It'll stand by itself. But I think after studying and prayerfully consider the best way to present the scripture to you is for us to focus our attention right there and verse 26 and 27. And then we'll go down to even 2:30, but I believe that right there is the key that will unlock everything around it. And what what is happening here is Luke book and what cross came to do? With who Christ came to save and listen close salvation is God's life-changing gift to the Unworthy Center. By the work of his son.

Salvation is God's life-changing gift to the Unworthy Center by the work of his son. We're getting really close to the end of this travel narrative. Jesus has months to live. I told you that for a year. Now. Jesus has only months to live and he's almost to Jerusalem. But now I'm telling you one more sermon and we're out of this section of scripture. The biggest part of Luke will be done and over with this this travel narrative from starting a chapter 9 going all the way to chapter 19 Luke focuses attention on Jesus teaching his disciples certain things. He does it by Parables. He doesn't buy object lessons. He does all these things.

But if you just look over it's not going to be long and we're going to be at the triumphal entry. And in the last week of Jesus's life.

He's talking a lot about the kingdom, isn't he? Do you notice that the word keeps coming back the kingdom the kingdom the kingdom and it's not language we use today, but let me let me make something very clear. Christ is the king and there is a real Kingdom. It's the kingdom of God now Matthews going to call it the kingdom of heaven. But the same thing there is a real Kingdom now look really close. You as a Christian or a part of the Kingdom? Just like mephibosheth wasn't our Old Testament reading brought into David's house into his kingdom into the safety of the king you and I as Believers in Jesus as Christians are brought into the safety of the Kingdom the kingdom come when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

This is the inauguration.

All beloved, but they'll be a consummation to you. See Jesus is coming back for his people. Can I get a Amen on that? I thought you fell asleep on me there for a minute no matter what happens in the world today. Guess what Jesus Is Still The King? And he's coming back for his people my question to you. Is this are you in the Kingdom? Because beloved if you're outside of the Kingdom you are not safe.

But it's inside the king's Kingdom inside the king's Palace inside the Kings dwelling at the king's table you and I are safe. So you mean to tell me Chris it that I'm safe from from viruses. I didn't say that you're so I did say no matter what virus you catch. He still King. And he is far more worried about your Holiness than he is your happiness. And he will get you through it. So guess what? You can trust me. How do I know this? Because he's the king. Did use a lot of King language is used on a kingdom language and their inverse 26 after the disciples hear about this rich man. They're standing there. Here's what they say. Those who heard this asked then who can be saved being saved as being in the kingdom of God say it with me being saved as being in the kingdom of God who can be saved. This is the first question. We must ask ourselves. This is a question we have to ask scripture can be saved.

I'm going to give you two answers number one. Only the helpless can be saved.

Look with me and verse 15. People were bringing him infants bringing infants to him so that he might touch them. Now your translation might say child or a little child or whatever it is. This word here is actually infant. This is smaller than my boy back there Marty. Caesar Little X They're bringing these little infant children to so he might touch them. This is a common thing in this time. You would take us an infant child, but you would you take a small child to the rabbi for him to bless and put his hands on them and they were bringing these babies to Jesus and guess what happens the boys don't like it. Take it too much time. You see a baby has nothing to offer. You you go crazy over babies. Don't you? I see one right there. I see your face like you're trying to social distance and all that and it goes Plum out the door when you see a baby doesn't it? And then you're over there. The man list of me and his goo goo gaga and all that's right.

But you see in this culture in this time babies could not contribute anything. And so they were worthless a baby can't do anything for anyone the baby can't do anything for itself. If you don't believe me come to my house tonight about 2 a.m. And listen to the baby's house as they want milk. They can't go to the fridgerator get it herself. They can't put it in their mouth half the time and these are the ones who can be saved. They're arguing their rebuking the parents of the children in the end the Guardians as they come and bring them in they say no no, no don't bother Jesus with it. We got things we got to do we're going to go and we're going to set up this big Kingdom in Jesus. However, note to self Luke contrast the two Jesus is different than his disciples. You see it Jesus however invited them and here's what he says let the little children come to me and don't stop them. now we learn something here. We Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight. You see this is the character of God. God loves children and one day friend. There will be millions of babies in heaven because of the massacre in their mother's wounds. And I can say that with confidence. Heaven will be full of babies.

Why? How can you say that Chris? I I thought you believed in election. I do also believe in the character of God and he loves children. How do I know that cuz Jesus said let him come boys hush your mouth. Let the babies come to me and then he says because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these Now you got saying here that you have to act like a kid in order to be a Christian though. I know plenty of Christians and act like kids. What are you saying? Here is a child as humble. I don't know what child you been around.

And I don't know what kids are hanging out with the kids ain't humble kids are helpless.

Mommies and daddies you remember that kids are helpless and they need you no matter what they say to you. They need you. He says here the kingdom of God belongs to such as such as the help whoever does not receive the kingdom like a little child will never enter it. Oh. Babies are needy they're powerless their week. And that is how you are saved.

I did that I can't save myself.

There's not one thing I can do about my past. There's not one thing I can do about my prayers that there's not one thing I can do about my future. All these sins are our mounted up against me. I'm helpless I'm weak. Oh, I need a savior.

You see who can be saved the helpless can be saved. Doesn't this remind you of somebody that we just learned about reminds me of the tax collector. Doesn't you you see what Luke doing? He's this beside that so you understand this text or this this text electric is much like this little child, but he does something else to who can be save the helpless. And then look what he does inverse.

35 illustrates for you. What helpless looks like are you with me today? Verse 35 says as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing a great crowd passing by he inquired what was happening Jesus of Nazareth his passing by they told him he called out Jesus Son of David have mercy on me. Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more son of David have mercy on me and look what Jesus does brought to him. He can't even make it to Jesus. When he came closer you ask him. What do you want me to do for you Lord? He said I want to see. Receive your sight Jesus told him I listened your faith has saved you you see the blind beggar on the road to Jericho is the picture of one who is helpless. And these are the ones that Jesus say instantly he can see and he began to follow him glorifying God all the people when they thought they praise to God. And we can preach that for two weeks. Couldn't lie this blind beggar. He cries out. He can't get to anybody out his name and Jesus healed him and tell him you were faith is saved you not because you did this or because you did that because you believe it's always been that way. You should to help us or say because they're depending completely on the grace of God and not what they can do.

Who could be safe Chris? Well the help us to be safe. Just like the blind man on the road to Jericho. What are someone else?

Look with me. Those who heard the first 26 those who heard this asked then who can be saved. Blood of Jesus Saves the helpless and Jesus Saves the humbled. Look with me and verse 18. A ruler ask him that we not in my Bible. There's a heading over top of that. It says Rich Young Ruler. Is that what your says? Okay, I'm glad we're all reading the same thing. Missy doesn't tell us in a text. It's a rich young ruler. But all three of the synoptic gospels tells us that this ruler was rich Luke tells us that he was a ruler. He was a ruler in the synagogue. He was a he was a religious ruler and Matthew tells us that he was young so friendly three synoptic gospels, we get the picture that this is a rich young ruler and this ruler ask him good teacher what must I do to inherit Eternal wife and often I preached often. I thought that this was the problem that the problem was he thought he could do something but you have to remember these that he is in Judaism and in Judaism. It's all about your behavior. He makes the right question though. He says the right question. What does he say? What must I do to inherit eternal life the right question on the right basis for him. It's all about his behavior. because in Judaism there stands the wall.

And Jesus does something here that absolutely baffles me. Why do you call me? Good?

Will you are good?

Jesus says, why do you call me good? And then Jesus asking no one is good. Except God Alone. Do you know that Jesus is doing here? Check it out. He's directing. This man's attention off of himself. And over to God. Jesus is not denying his deity. He's not denying that he is good. Actually, he's affirming that he says only God is good. And Jesus is God's Amen to that. Anybody tells you that Jesus is not God is a heretic and you should just run the opposite direction. Jesus Is God but what he does he directs his attention off of himself and on to God and this is how you witness to people. Are you can go and talk to somebody all day long and no talk about themselves multi-layered if you don't if you can't find something.

Everybody likes.

Now some of you were guilty that too. We always talk about ourselves. This man was no different. He was a Rich Young Ruler. He was a religious leader and Jesus directs his attention from himself over to God. Look what he does. He brings the law in. This is what you do when you witness to somebody you take their eyes off of themselves and you take it over to the Perfection of God. And what better way to do that than to put God's Commandments right in front of me because the law teaches us how great God is rule number two. If you see or hear a preacher tell you that the law is no good. You should run away from that cat.

Cuz one he doesn't know his Bible into he's getting ready Shake You Down for your money.

I wasn't verse 20 he brings the Commandments and if you notice that when I read this earlier, I put a pause between so we all felt the weight of this do not commit adultery.

Jesus said if you look upon a woman with lust in your heart you committed adultery already. Do not murder. Jesus said that if you hate your brother, you are guilty of murder already. Do not steal if you ever stolen anything up in a paperclip a water.

Do not bear false witness if you always tell the truth.

even when you're telling the story back on a conversation that you had and honor your father and your mother, have you always done exactly what Mommy and Daddy said to do

Well, I can tell by looking at this crap. You haven't either.

I stand before you today as a man who has not.

And listen what this guy says, I've kept all of these from my youth. You delusional? He's arrogant. He's trusting in himself. He's overconfident and who does this sound like sounds like the Pharisee to me, doesn't you?

And then Jesus just gets to the heart of the matter cuz this is how Jesus Works Jesus is tired of playing games. And so we just going to go to it. When Jesus heard this he told him you still like one thing sell all you have distributed to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven then come follow me. listen

Jesus is not saying that by you selling your stuff your that's going to earn your salvation know. Jesus is going straight after this man's God. This man is a and idolatry. This man has a God and His goddess himself in his money and she's goes right after me after he heard this he became extremely sad because he was very rich. There is his Auto and his confidence in himself now turns to sadness.

1 translations has Jesus looks at him.

Seeing that he became sad Jesus said how hard is it? For those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God now listen close and then he says for it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Let me clear up one more thing.

How ridiculous is it that the largest mammal?

In Palestine go through the eye of a needle.

It's just about impossible, isn't it?

You see this man was confident. He was overconfident himself in his righteousness. He was overconfident and his riches God doesn't save men like that.

God Saves men who are humbled to the point where they do not trust in themselves or their riches any longer. God save the helpless and God Saves the humbled. So you mean to tell me a rich man? Can't be safe Chris. Is that what you're trying to tell me look at verse 1 of chapter 19 enter Jericho and was passing through there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector. He was rich he was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd since he was a short man a kid, you know that song. Zacchaeus Was a wee little man and a wee little man was he he climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord. He wanted to see and ask the Savior passed. That way. He looked up in that tree and he said Zacchaeus. You come down for I'm going to your house today.

Here he is running ahead. He climbed up sycamore tree verse for to see Jesus as he was about to pass that way when Jesus came to the place. He looked up and said to me Zach you hurry and come down because today is necessary for me to stay at your house. So he quickly came down and welcomed him. Joyfully all who saw it began to complain. He's going to stay with a simple man, but Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord with fear. Lord I'll give half of my possessions to the poor. Lord if I have extorted anything from anyone I'll pay back four times as much and listen what Jesus says today salvation has come to this house Jesus told him because he too is a son of Abraham

you say beloved. What is impossible with man is possible with God? A rich man left to himself will never come to Christ. But when Christ passed that way and he looks up in the tree or he looks down in the hole what happens men women boys and girls are changed. See who can be saved the helpless and the humbled The Humble or say because they're depending completely on the grace of God and not on what they have.

Looking for 27. We're going to ask yourself. Another question. The first question was in 26. How can we be saved? Who can be saved? I'm sorry who can be safe? Well the helpless and the humble, but now as we look in verse 27, how can we be saved? Look what it says. He replied what is impossible with man is possible with God and look down at verse 31, then he took the 12 aside and told them see we're going up to Jerusalem.

Everything that is written through the prophets about the son of man will be accomplished. Well, let me tell you this to everything you read in your Bibles about Jesus.

A new Christian young Christian you don't have to worry about I need to stay on the right side of my Bible or or I should or even in the Old Testament. It's all about Jesus. You just read your Bible. He'll take care of the rest. Everything that is written for the prophets about the son of man will be accomplished. And listen what it says for he will be handed over to the Gentiles. Luke does something here that I think that it is worthy to note. Luke says Gentiles here, but look over in chapter 9 verse 22 really quick chapter 9 verse 22

Jesus predicts his death in verse 22 chapter 9 And here's what he says it's necessary that the son of man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders Chief priests and scribes be killed and raised be raised the third day. Do you notice who he lays the blame on their Elders Chief priests and scribes the religious people look over and verse 44 let these words sink in the son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. He then says about all humanity is responsible for his death.

And here in our texts, there's one more 1725 but first it is necessary that he suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Do you know what Luke's doing here Lucas painting a picture for his readers. Everyone is responsible for the death of Jesus. the Romans the Jews the religious leaders even his contemporaries. And beloved you and I are two. Everyone is guilty of the death of Christ because upon this endless one our sins were laid upon him. The Bible says that he tasted death for every man. And we all stand guilty.

We'll look what it says. They're in our texts.

He'll be mopped.

to be insulted he'll be spit on. And after they flogged him after they beat him to a pulp. They will kill him.

Randall aren't you glad there's a, they are stiff. I listen close.

By the hands of Lawless men this perfect sinless savior died. Haha, but he did not state it.

And I'm here to tell you today. He is alive. What does it say and he will rise on the third day and he did? raised for our justification raised as payment in full for the horrible sins that I've committed against him. Butter verse 34 and they understood none of these things the meaning of the Saints with hidden from them and they did not grasp. What was said they had no idea what was going on.

And sometimes ignorance is God's judgement on a man.

When you reject the plan of God. Sometimes he leaves you to yourself. I can understand it. Always ask ourselves to questions Heavenly who can be saved and we said the helpless and the humble and how can we be saved only by the work of Christ. You see this this prediction is everything that he's going to go through everything that he had to suffer. And this is how you and I are saved by the work by the Life by the death and by the resurrection of this man named Jesus and it's by believing in that. I've almost your attention. It's not time to break yet. Listen close. Beloved you can have your name on the church membership so long that it the ink starts to fade. That won't save you. You can come here and put on a show for me and it won't save you.

But it's my believing that Jesus has done what no, man could do that God came on behalf of man and reconciled redeemed restored forgave men through the death of his own son. That's what you must believe. It's what Abraham had to believe Abraham believed God and it was what counted to him as righteousness and you and I today or maybe by the grace of God when we put our trust in Jesus what he's done. What is he died? He was spent on it was marked. He was insulted beating and they killed him and then guess what the sins of his people were laid up on him and the father poured out his wrath so I could stand in front of you today and say bless God. My sins are gone there underneath the blood on the cross of Calvary as far removed as darkness is From Dawn and in the sea of God's forgiveness, that's good enough for me. Praise. God my Argan how can I say this?

Because the sinless Savior died. Now my sinful soul is counted free for God the Justice satisfied. To look on him and pardon me.

How is this done? by faith alone You can't earn it and you can't keep it. But it's by believing in Jesus.

Who can be saved to help with the humble? How can you be saved? Simply by believing. Let me stay one more cuz I'm getting ready to get all wound up again.

What does it look like to be saved?

This is where we're going to fall out probably.

What does it look like to be in the kingdom of God?

Let me ask you a question wheeler tried that earlier about mephibosheth. Do you think that mephibosheth at the feet of the king who is brought him into the palace said, you know what king? I really need to go back and get some stuff.

You know, I got some brownies and crackers back there that think I'll go back and eat while you eat at the table.

No, he falls at his feet. And from then on it doesn't say there's any lapse of time Sean from then on he eat at the king's table. What does it look like to be a Christian is it look like to be in the Kingdom what it looks like to be ransomed in saved and forgiven? Live with me verse 28 then Peter said look, we've left we have left what we had and follow you.

That's what it looks like to be a Christian.

Leaving it all behind. For the sake of Christ Liberty says, so he said to them Jesus says to his disciples truly. I tell you there is no one who has left the house.

A wife or a brother or sisters parents are children because of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in heaven.

Is that what it says? But who is this who will not receive many times more at this time everything inside of you says if I'm a Christian if I put my trust in Jesus and if I followed Jesus then I'm going to lose all these things. Let me tell you something. Jesus is the pearl of great price that when you find the Pearl you sell all that you have to obtain it. It's the treasure hidden the field as you walk along and you can trip over and you look one in the world. Can you open it up? And there's this great treasure all of your stuff looks like dirty rags compared to this one treasure and I'll sell my dirty rags. I'll give them away, never go back again. As long as I can have this treasure. This is what it looks like to follow Jesus not happy and not eating bunnies and low tomorrow and then sitting at the king's table is eating at the king's table everyday. And it's forsaking all I put my trust in him.

Many times more at this time. The Christian life is not a life of misery. I didn't hear you.

The Christian Life is a life of contentment. Why is that? Cuz I serve a risen savior Because He Lives I Can Face tomorrow because he lives all fear is gone. This is what you need church. This is what I need. I need someone to remind me that I'm not supposed to go through life with my lip hanging down. No, he's gave me more than I could ever even think of. And if it's a if everything's taken away your thinking about money. I think about positions Take It All Away.

if I have him even if he's more than but it's not just this life. No. No. For the Christian there is something better than this world. How many of you are so tired of hearing all this garbage about whatever they're going on about on social media in the news raise your hand. Beloved they'll come a day when they'll be no more social media. They'll be no more news and he is the light that lights the whole place. They'll be no more viruses. Don't be no more differing opinions and we have something waiting for us when the king comes back and gets his people. All they'll be a new Heaven and a new Earth. You put your money on that. There's more to life than what you see here. Well who can be save the helpless in the humble. How can we be saved by the work and death and resurrection of Jesus and what does being saved look like? It just means going leaving everything else behind. And following him knowing that he will supply everything you need.

I left one first day out. Set up Pearl Street Mall close at 10 with chapter 19.

For the son of man has come to seek and to save the Lost.

You're not here by chance. Jesus has your number and he's come to save you. How's that possible? by putting your trust in him This is the news Sammons family. Sean this is the news. Randall this is the news Courtney and Aaron. This is the news that everyone you have ever met needs who can be saved. How is it happening? How's that possible? And what does it look like to be Christian?

Salvation is God's life changing gift to the Unworthy Center by the work of his scent. trust in him today He has come to seek and to save the lost. Let us pray. father we ask you to use this

write it on our hearts ever before our minds. Give us opportunities this week father to tell someone that they can be safe.

By and only by believing in your son repenting of their sins putting all their trust in him. And following him for the rest of their lives.

Father remind us those those troops that were so foundational to the Protestant church by faith alone.

In Christ alone. It's by his grace alone. We found this in scripture alone. for the glory of God Alone May you save some that's here today, but you saved him from hell.

And may you give us opportunities this week to tell people?

But you're all that I need.

Bless our time father and your son's name. Amen. I'd like for you to keep.

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