you
Well good evening everyone welcome to Mountain Baptist Church take your songbooks and turn to song number 63
Song number 63 in your songbooks
We're missing all of our musicians tonight praise the Lord
We'll sing what a day that will be if you would stand
We'll sing song number 63 there is coming
a day
when no heartache
shall come
No more clouds in the sky
No more tears to damn the eye
All is peace
forever more on that happy
Happy golden shore what a day
glorious day
that will be
What a day that will be
when my
Jesus I shall see and I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
when he takes
Me by the hand and leads me through the promised land what a day
glorious day
that will be
There'll be no sorrow there no more
burdens to bear
No more sickness
No pain
No more
Starting over there and forever
I will be
with the one
Who died for me?
What a day
glorious day
that will be
What a day that will be
Jesus I shall see and I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
when he takes
Me by the hand and leads me through the promised land
What a day
glorious day
that will be
Let's pray Heavenly Father Lord again
We just want to thank you God for a beautiful Wednesday night that we get to meet in your house and to hear your preached
I pray Lord now that you would just be with our pastor fulfill him with your power and spirit for it's in Jesus name
We ask all of it. Amen. Are you may be seated and take your song books and turn to song?
310
Song 310 we'll sing footprints of Jesus
Song 310
Sweetly Lord have we heard thee calling come follow me
And we see where thy footprints falling lead us to thee
For
Prince of Jesus
That make the pathway glow
We will follow the steps of Jesus where ere they go
Though they lead o'er the cold dark mountains seeking his sheep
O'er along by Solomon's fountains helping the weak
Footprints of Jesus that make the pathway glow
We will follow the steps of Jesus where ere they go
If they lead through the temple holy
Preaching the word
or in homes of the poor and lowly
Serving the Lord
For
Prince of Jesus
That make the pathway glow
We will follow the steps of Jesus where ere they go
Then and last when on high he sees us our
journey done
We will rest where the steps of Jesus end at his throne
For
Prince of Jesus
That make the pathway glow
We will follow the steps of Jesus where ere they go
Amen
Welcome out Baptist Church on this Wednesday evening, and I know we have some a lot that are out this evening. So
Yeah be in prayer for those. I know my kids are dealing with some sore throats kind of
Snotty type of stuff. So we're being cautious on that and I know others are dealing with that as well
So hopefully it's not that big vicious circle, but I think it kind of is to a certain extent with kids. So
Just being prayer there that everybody is feeling better. And so we have brother Matt's brother in town. So
Now where were you living at before California, I'm sorry
Time to get out of Dodge, right
So well welcome and so
And then obviously this Sunday we have a big service. I'm gonna be
Preaching at Faithful Word with Pastor Anderson's gonna be preaching here on Sunday. So
So be in your places for that
On the upcoming events there as far as the church service times though. I mean everything's gonna be normal
So everything should be the same. So just kind of look at it as a normal Sunday and just be a different preacher
And so obviously I have the utmost confidence of Pastor Anderson
I believe he's doing a series as he's going through this road trip on the minor prophets
So, I'm not sure if he's gonna do Hosea first
Considering we both preached the same exact sermon last year when we did this. He may pick a different minor prophet, but
But we both agreed that we're not gonna preach about a cake unturned
this year so but
Be a prayer for that and be a prayer for him. He's gonna be traveling but we're the first stop
So he's gonna be flying in at Pittsburgh
And then driving down and then he's going to be going down through South Carolina to visit some family and then going down to
Stronghold and then so on so forth going through the country with different churches
So just being prayer for him there be a prayer for me as I'm traveling and I'll be preaching both services out at Faithful Word
and
Then as far as the soul winning goes, we'll have the normal soul winning time at 1 p.m
And the regional sewing times on here as well. So and then
We will have the men's prayer meeting this Friday
And I know that there's some men that are wanting to preach do a men's preaching night
Which we kind of open that up any time. We have a men's prayer meeting
As long as I remember and don't forget when we're doing it, but I know that there's multiple men. So
If you want to do like a 10-minute sermon men, you guys are always welcome to during that time. So
So this Friday at 7 p.m
Be there if you can and then the women's prayer meeting will be that Saturday. So
Turns out that they're just back-to-back this month
Or this time anyway
And then on the list there obviously pastor ancients coming in this this Sunday, but then July 7th, so that's a Friday
We're gonna be doing fireworks. So we've done this past few years
Out at Robinson Ridge. So our I'm my brother live
And so we're gonna be doing that
Like I said when it comes to the fireworks
You just wanna make sure they're made all the parents are taking care of their kids making sure you're watching your kids
Both of the fireworks and just around the areas. We don't want kids getting lost in the woods and all that stuff
So but as far as food and everything all that stuff is going to be
Supplied meaning that just come there
We're gonna have food. We're gonna have drinks. We're off. We'll have all that stuff. If you want to bring something
We're not gonna deny it
So if you want to bring some kind of dessert or something like that, or if you want to bring
You know other food besides like hamburgers and hot dogs and stuff like that. Then that's welcome as well as long as it's not alcoholic
And you know like that that you know, obviously as long as it's a it's not bad
Stuff to be eating and drinking but
If you want to bring kombucha, that's different
But I'm talking about alcoholic stuff that you're gonna actually get drunk on so
And then on on the list well, we kind of have it penciled in but there's a baby shower that's planned for the 29th of July
so
Yeah with the ladies on that I think my wife and Miss Paula and others that are planning that
And so that'll be the 29th
And so they just want the ladies to RF VP it so they know
How many I guess how much refreshments you guys need so?
So winning marathon we have so many marathon the Philadelphia one has moved to this coming month on July 15th
So get with brother Charles. He'll be leading that up and
Then this one's gonna be
Around our church anniversary time. We usually go to Wheeling but we're kind of going outside around a little bit on different areas that we're
hitting but
We had a request
from the Clemens brothers
That have come down and visited and they were out there in Indiana
And to do a soul winning marathon up in the Akron Cleveland area
So this year we're gonna we're gonna try to plan that so that may be we were
talking with
their pastor the church that they're going to
And I think as of right now the 30th of September the pastor is good with us coming out there
We can meet up at the church building and all that stuff. Either way, we'll go
whether whether we have to meet up in there or not, but
By being prayer for that we're gonna try to get that set up, but that would be kind of like another
Kind of it's a little closer to Indiana though. So
It's it's about half probably half the distance
at least time anyway, so
So that's that's kind of on the the radar coming up
So be in prayer for that
chapter memory for the month is Malachi chapter 1 Proverbs 1 7 is our memory verse for the week and
Then be in prayer for all the ladies on the pregnancy list
Tiara
Amanda Jennifer Alyssa Anastasia and Tabby so
Be in prayer for all these ladies and
Offering boxes in the back
They're going to give Tyler offering the mother babies rooms for the mothers and babies only and I missed who was reading tonight
So brother Joseph's gonna be reading Luke chapter 18 for us after we do one more song
All right, so your song books and turn to song 315
315 we'll sing take my life and let it be
Song 315 take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to thee
Take my hands and let them move
at the
impulse of thy love
at the
impulse of thy love
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful
for the
Take my voice and let me see
Always only for my king always
only for
my king
Take my silver
and my gold
not a
might would I
withhold
Take my moments
and my days
Let them flow in
ceaseless praise
Let them flow in
ceaseless praise
Take my will and make it thine
It shall be no longer
mine
Take my heart
It is thine own
It shall be thy royal
Throne it shall be thy royal throne
All right, take your Bibles and turn to Luke chapter number 18 Luke 18 in your Bibles. I hope we'll have brother Joseph read that for us
Luke chapter 18
And if you found your place there say amen
And
He spake a parable unto them to this end that man ought always to pray and not to faint
Saying there was in a city a judge which feared not God neither regarded man
There was a widow in that city and she came unto him saying avenge me of mine adversary
And he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself
Though I fear not God nor regard man yet because this widow trouble with me
I will avenge her lest by her continual coming. She weary me
and the Lord said here here what the unjust judge saith and
Shall not God avenge his own elect which cried day and night unto him
Though he bear long with them. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily
Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh shall he find
faith on the earth
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others
Two men went up into the temple to pray the one a Pharisee and the other Republican
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God. I think thee I am NOT as the other men are
extortioners unjust
Adulters or even as this publican I fast twice in the week
I give tithes of all that I possess and the publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes
unto heaven but smote upon his breasts saying God be merciful unto
Merciful to me a sinner. I tell you this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other for everyone that exalted himself shall be abased and
He that humbled himself shall be exalted and they brought unto him also infants
That he would touch them. But when his
Disciples saw it they rebuked them
but Jesus called unto unto him and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for
But of such is the kingdom of God
Barely, I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall know wise enter therein
and a certain ruler
Ruler asked him saying good master. What shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus said unto him why callest thou me good. None is good save one that is God
Thou knowest the commandments do not commit adultery
Do not kill do not steal do not bear false witness honor thy father and thy mother
He said all these have I kept from my youth up
Now when Jesus heard these things he said unto him yet like us thou one thing
So all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor now shall have treasure in heaven and come follow me
When he heard this he was very sorrowful
Three was very rich and when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful. He said
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God?
Or it is easier for a camel to go through the
Needles eye then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God
And they that heard it said who then can be saved and he said the things which are impostor
Impossible with men are possible with God then Peter said lo. We have left all and
Followed thee he said unto them
Barely, I say unto you
There is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of Godson
Say who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the world to come life ever
everlasting
Then he took unto him the twelve and said unto them
Behold we go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully and treated and spit it on
And they shall scourge him and put him to death and the third day he shall rise again
They understood none of these things and this saying was hid from them. Neither knew they the things which were spoken
And it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto Jericho a certain blind man sat in by the way
Wayside begging and hearing the multitude multitude passed by he asked what it meant
And
They told him that Jesus of Nazareth passed by
And he cried saying Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me and they which went before rebuked him
That he should hold his peace
But he cried so much the more thou son of David have mercy on me and Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto
him
And when he was come near he asked him saying what wilt thou I should do unto thee
And he said Lord that I may receive my sight
Jesus said unto him receive thy sight thy faith has saved thee and immediately he received his sight and followed him
Glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gave praise unto God pray Lord Father. Thank you for this time
We're able to gather here midweek or to thank you for your pure Holy Word you've given to us
I ask you be a pastor Robinson edifies this afternoon this evening
Jesus name
Amen
So you're there in Luke chapter 18 and we are continuing our study through the book of Luke here and
First one here. We're actually dealing with a parable
What's very interesting about this parable or at least how it starts is how the narrator is?
Stating what the whole purpose of the parable is before you can get into it. I think that's interesting
Usually you'll see a parable and then later on it'll explain the details of it and all that
But notice what it says in verse 1 it says and he spake a parable unto them to this end
That men ought always to pray and not to faint. So before he even gets into the parable, we know what it's about
That's the end. That's the reason why he's saying it is so that you would that you would men would pray always and not faint
Basically that you would pray without ceasing and this is a commandment that's given throughout the Bible
But let's get into the parable to see what
What about the parable or what how's that applied to
praying but it says in verse 2 saying
There wasn't a city a judge which feared not God neither
Regarded man and there was a widow in that city and she came unto him saying avenge me of mine
Adversary and he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself though
I fear not God nor regard man yet because this widow
Troubleth me I will avenge her lest by her
continuing continual coming
she weary me and
The Lord said hear what the unjust judge said, right?
so the whole point here is that he's like I'm not gonna do this because I
For her sake or because I fear God, but basically I just want this woman to stop bugging me
I mean that's kind of like the modern way of looking modern vernacular of looking at this is that basically she's trouble with me
She's continually coming unto me and basically just because of that he's going to end up
Avenging her of her adversary and it says in verse 7 and shall not God
Avenge his own elect and I want you to think about this. God is a just judge
Right. So you think about this unjust judge and he's basically saying he'll do it just because you're just bothering him over and over and
Over again about it, but how much more would God who's a just judge who is about justice?
Do it and it says right here and shall not God avenge his own elect
And by the way, the elect are the saved those are believers
This is not reserved to to just some people of some descent
obviously, it's it's of Jew or Gentile whether you believe and
The election is not of works but of grace and it's it's whether you're Jew or Gentile and you believe on Christ
and so when it says elect here, it's talking about believers it says
Shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them
So it's kind of a rhetorical question. He's going to avenge them
You know if this unjust judge will do it
Then how much more is he going to do that for his elect that are crying night and day and it says in verse 8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. So there's your answer, right?
It's kind of rhetorical but at the same time like we got it
We got a good answer here that he'll do it speedily nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh
Shall he find faith on the earth now that phrase right there. Some people may say that seems out of place, right?
What are we talking about faith here?
but what you have to understand is that praying to God takes faith and
The fact that you believe that God will answer that and how praying and coupling that with faith are like hand and glove
If you don't ask in faith, you're not going to receive it
And if you don't have faith to ask then you're not going to ask. I mean the idea there is that
Are you going to have people that are at that time believing that God is able to answer those prayers when they cry?
And this is very well linked or I guess, you know very much parallel to a story
We already read in Luke go back go to Luke chapter 11 Luke chapter 11
Luke chapter 11 starts off about prayer
In this case Luke 11 his
Jesus disciples are actually asking him to teach them to pray or teach them
You know basically like John taught his disciples, right?
It says in verse 1 it says and it came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place
When he ceased one of his disciples said unto him Lord teach us to pray as John
also taught his disciples and then he gives the model prayer of
You know what we would call the Lord's Prayer and you'll find that in Matthew chapter 6 and also in this passage as well
Which is not to be chanted or vain repetitions, but it's just giving you okay
Here's things to pray about you know, give us to stay our daily bread or give us a trespasses
You know going down the line that these are things that we should be praying for but in this story
Jesus gives an example
Of a man that's asleep and his friend comes to his house
Asking for bread and
I don't want to re-preach this whole passage, but I want you to look down verse 8 there
It says I say unto you though. He will not rise and give him because he is his friend
Yet because of his importunity
He will rise and give him as many as he needs. You know, my my my children are in bed with me
They must be you he must have young children
Because that is the case, you know, there's always one
Yeah, there may be more
There may be all of them
but
You know when you have the little kids
I mean that that passage I mean when I was single and didn't have kids that passage didn't mean I was just like that's it
Interesting, you know back then they must have been poured and have a lot of how a lot of beds
You know big family community bed and then you realize
It doesn't matter if your kids had a king-size bed
They're still coming into your bed
So, but it's just the state of affairs and you know
But all I have to say is that the importunity is dealing with that continual persistent coming to him
And so we're not to be using vain repetitions like our father which art in heaven. How would be thy name?
And then you just say that over and over and over and over and over again. That's the Catholic Church
You go into confession and then you tell them like all your sins
That you would dare to tell them I guess but and then he says all right go out there and do five our fathers and
five Hail Mary's
My problem was I never knew the whole Hail Mary
So anytime he told me that I'm like I knew the our father
But the Hail Mary one I could only get that halfway through and then I forget it
So and I never learned I still to this day don't know it and I'm not sad about it
But that's vain repetitions, right?
To do that the idea though is a continual prayer meaning this is that every day you're praying for that thing
It could be more than once a day
But at the same time let's say you did Monday or you did it
I'm sorry
You did the the morning and then you did evening and there's like morning and evening morning and evening morning and evening
Day and night day and night day and night you're praying for this certain thing now that could be daily bread
that could be
Safety
For your family that could you could you could put in a lot of different things in there
That you could be asking the Lord for but that continual prayer
Listen, if an unjust judge will be like, hey, all right
I'm gonna do it just so you stop bothering me and if a friend that's in bed
It doesn't feel like getting out of bed just so you stop knocking on my door and stop keeping me awake
I'm gonna go give you some bread. I'll give you some extra bread. Just take it
So I go to sleep, right?
How much more will God our Heavenly Father
You know if we are which are evil
Give know how to give good gifts to our children how much more
Shall our Heavenly Father give unto them that ask him right and that's what you're really dealing with here in prayer
And I think it's very interesting to that in Luke chapter 18
It talks about God avenging his elect right this whole passage in Luke 18 is talking about being avenged of an adversary
So we're not we're not necessarily talking about like any bread like the friend that's coming over we're talking about vengeance
Vengeance is mine. Set the Lord I will repay
So when you think about this, this is actually a passage talking about believers praying for God to
Avenge them
this is what you would call an
imprecatory prayer
In the New Testament and this is an imprecatory prayer basically saying avenge me of my adversary and
And you know what the Bible it's not like Jesus is saying here like how dare you
Ask for me to avenge your blood, right? Well, let me show you a passage where it where there are people in heaven
That are crying and saying this prayer so I believe there's still prayers being made in heaven to God
About being avenged and go to Revelation chapter 6 and verse 9 Revelation chapter 6 and verse 9
The Bible says this in James chapter 5 the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much
There's a lot in there right the effectual
fervent
prayer, right
So meaning that it's fervent you can think about the idea being like the importunity of it the the persistence of it the continual coming
with it
the idea of praying always and not fainting
but also of a righteous man because
We have the confidence that if we ask anything according to his will he heareth us
But then we also have the confidence that if we are keeping his commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in his sight
We you know
He's he'll answer our prayers and this isn't a whole sermon on prayer
But those elements are in there as far as being a righteous being righteous
Obviously being saved is being you know, you're righteous inwardly, but we're talking about
You know living a wholly separated life physically as well and having those prayers answered
But in Revelation chapter 6 and verse 9 here
It says in verse 9 and when he had opened this fifth seal
I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held
So we're dealing with those that have already died
and their souls are in heaven and
They're under the altar and they're crying notice what it says in verse 10 and they cried with a loud voice saying how long Oh
Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth
That's like almost like verbatim. What's being said in Luke chapter 18?
But I believe that you have people down here like at this time because at this time Jesus hasn't come back yet. He's about to
But
At this time you have the great tribulation such as the world has never seen
And you're gonna have people down here praying that you're gonna have people that are being killed
that are still praying that when they're up in heaven and
It says in verse 11 and white robes were given unto every one of them and it was said unto them that they should rest
Yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should should be fulfilled
So you imagine they're like in the midst of this, right?
There's people that have already been killed and they're crying to the Lord saying how long until you judge right until you avenge our blood
but he's basically saying we got to wait until the others are killed as well like you were and
And the interesting thing about that too, is that the first thing that's that's cast out to the earth and God's judgment is
Fire and brimstone, but it's mingled with the incense that comes from the incense altar
Which is the sensor that has the prayers of the Saints
And how those prayers those cries that have gone up. I believe from the foundation of the world up into that point are
being
thrown down to the earth with all with God's wrath and that's how you know when it says that in his
the day of the Lord and how it's gonna be with fire and brimstone and all that that that is how everything starts and so
The the thing is is that yes, he's gonna avenge them
Speedily, right the Bible said, you know that many times it talks about it says behold I come quickly
And we're not talking about soon
We're talking about the speed in which he comes the Bible talks about him
Jesus coming as lightning that goes from one end of heaven to the other and so
But moving on in chapter 18 in verse 9 there
verse 9
So I believe Luke 11 and Luke 18 are great passages
To show us well, not only how to pray, you know as far as are what we should pray for but how to pray meaning
This is that being persistent
Not vain repetitions, but being persistent on a daily basis or on a nightly basis that you're praying
for
things that you want and and the Bible talks about the fact of
You know, obviously you have not because you ask not and in that idea of if you're not asking for it
You can't complain if you don't get it
Now notice what it says in verse 9 here. So Luke 18 in verse 9
It says and he spake this parable unto unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised
others
So this this parable that he's gonna that he's gonna state here is to a certain group of people
I mean you're dealing with people that are basically thinking they're righteous and
Basically justifying themselves now notice what says in verse 10 here
Two men went up into the temple to pray the one a Pharisee and the other a publican the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself
God, I thank thee that I am NOT as other men are
extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this publican
So I want you to think about that. I mean, he doesn't know this guy from Adam, right?
He's just like I'm glad I'm not like this guy. I
Mean, it's one thing to be like hey Lord. I'm so glad that I'm not
Some you know horrible person, you know, I'm not like these people over here. I mean
It's just the the the audacity of this person that kind of had this mentality
even if this person was a lot more righteous as far as like his lifestyle and how he's doing things they had that attitude and
that mindset is is
Messed up. It says in verse 12. I fast twice in the week. I get tired of all that I possess
so
What do you do, you know like okay
But if you think about this, this is what most people are trying to do to get to heaven when you go
When you ask people, you know, what must I do to be saved or how do you go to heaven?
It's like well, you know, I'm not like this publican over here
I'm not like I'm not a murderer. I'm not this or that you know, I do this I give to the church
I do all these things. I mean how many different things that people said like I'm doing this this and this and that's why
You know, I'm going to heaven but yet
You know what this parable is against them because it's this parable is stating that he's speaking this the people that are trusting in themselves
They trusted in themselves that they were righteous, but the Bible says there's none righteous. No, not one
There's none that do it good. No, not one
And it's interesting because this is gonna go right into this rich young ruler
Later on in the fact of someone who thinks that they're good
and
justifying themselves thinking that they've kept the law and
so this is very much going in line with what's being said and
so but then the public in those who says in verse 13 and the publican standing far off would not lift up so much as
His eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner. I
Tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for everyone that exalted themselves shall be abased and he that humbles
Himself shall be exalted
Now this is a lesson dealing with salvation, right?
But it can also be just be dealing with a Christian in general
I mean you think about to save people being there and one trying to justify himself and say hey look at me
I'm doing everything I should be doing and
having this high
You know exalted type of attitude
Compared to a Christian that is really thinking hey, you know
I'm just I'm just glad to be here and not having that we should have a humble attitude. But obviously when it comes to
Salvation it is true that God resisted the proud and give the grace unto the humble
Meaning that if you want salvation, you have to humble yourself. You have to humble yourself to say. Hey, I'm not righteous
That's the first step. That's why we go for all of sinning. I'm sure the glory of God
And that's the first step is realize. Hey, we've all sinned
We all come short
None of us can make it and therefore we need we need help and it takes humility to get to that point
But the Bible teaches humble yourselves inside of the Lord and he shall lift you up
That can also apply
To a Christian in our lives, you know as far as being humble and not being high-minded not being haughty not having pride
I was just thinking about this verse and dealing with salvation, but that verse where it says
Where it says the just shall live by faith comes from Habakkuk and Habakkuk chapter 2 and bear with me. I
Was just thinking about we usually think about that the just a little bit by
His faith actually says in this passage, but I just want to read to you another portion of that
In verse
Yeah, the verse that it's in I want you to think about this in the light of what we're talking about event being humble
Not being proud
So it's Habakkuk 2.4. It says behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him
But the just shall live by his faith
Isn't that like literally like what we're dealing with in this passage?
You're dealing with one person that their souls lifted up in themselves. They're exalting themselves. They're proud
But the just shall live by his faith
But yet you have this publican who's saying be merciful unto me a sinner like realizing he can't do anything to save himself
Because not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us
And until someone realizes that it's only by his mercy and grace that that you're saved and it's not by your own merit
It's not by your own works. Then you're not going to go home justified
So this great passage and I know I I think a lot of cases some of these passages can be used for both
cases of salvation right you can think about this this obviously this
this
Pharisee
Unsaved proud thinks he's righteous not going he's not saved right and then this publican
Saved or get saved and you know goes goes home justified because he's humble
but you also think about this as far as believers being upright in themselves and the idea of
You know being proud and haughty and all that because we as believers can still be that even as believers because you can still walk
in the flesh
obviously your new man your inner man is saved and
All that but so it is a lesson to us as well that we need to not be high-minded
If any man think himself to be something when he is nothing he'd see with his own self the Bible says
You know don't think too highly of yourself now. Don't be like these these repentance guys that are just like I'm vile
I'm this wretched animal
I
Am like the scum that's on the backside of that window
It's like come on man that the idea here is that?
Obviously, I realize that our flesh is sinful and all that but I'm a child of God
I've been saved by the blood of the Lamb and the Bible says that he has created me unto good works
And that we are to be you know good vessels
sanctified for the Masters use
Obviously, I should have a mindset of being knowing that hey me and myself
I'm nothing, but I can do all things through Christ, but strengthens me
so and that self that that complete self deprecation is
Honestly a way of glorifying themselves
Did you know what they're doing?
Look at how spiritual I am because of how much I degrade myself
I
Mean just look at how much I'm willing to put myself down
And it turns into this over spirituality
like how about you just
just go out and serve the Lord and stop being about you and
So sometimes it can go too far even if it even if it's like being down on yourself, okay?
So sometimes you got to just stop and just say hey
I'm gonna go serve the Lord and I am what I am you know I'm gonna try to fix things that I can
but
there in Luke chapter 18
We we see a passage here
Which I love this passage because this passage is in other chapters as well specifically Matt Matthew 18
But the thing that that's interesting about it is in this passage when it's talking about little children
It actually uses it talks about infants, okay, so notice what it says here in verse 15
It says and they brought unto him also
infants
That he would touch them, but when his disciples saw it they rebuked them
but Jesus called them unto him saying suffer little children to come unto me and
forbid them not for of such as the kingdom of God
Verily I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein
I don't think it's any marvel that we just got done talking about being humble and going away righteous and
the idea of children
Being
Humble and the idea of becoming as a child it doesn't say you have to become a child
It's like you know going do I have to become a child all right Nicodemus?
You you don't have to become a child you don't have to go into your mother's womb a second time
The idea is obviously we're talking about the spiritual matter here about becoming a child
spiritually as far as the idea of the humility and the faith of a child and
I love that it uses
Infants in Luke 18 because it really shows you that when we're talking about children. It's not yes
We have a family integrated church, which means we allow all the children in here and that includes infants
That includes I mean straight up you have a newborn
Bring them in the service now obviously if you have to feed or if you need to take them out for whatever
That's why we have them out of the baby room, but if everything you know all things being equal. I mean everybody's in here and
And even in there you can hear it the service is going on there not just passing them off to some nursery worker, okay?
and
So when people are trying to say well, you know you know should we really have all the kids in the service?
What about the infants?
Well how about Luke 18
Jesus had suffered a little children to come on to me and that includes infants
So this is why we have a family integrated church because you know what Jesus didn't forbid them
And it's interesting the people that are forbidding them. I don't think are bad people. They're the disciples, right?
But the idea here is that we have churches that are forbidding children from coming into the service
And
It's just like black and white to me. You know it's like black and white you're looking at like no
I'm not gonna forbid them to come in. They're like well. We're not forbidding them. Okay, then let them in
But yet, I've been in you know I've been to churches where it it's
Extreme they will either not let you do it or that they frown upon it, and they make you feel bad about it
They like shame you for having your children in the service they make a sound they're just like
I'm gonna use brother Anthony as an example be like I'll just stop talking
Get right son yeah, but
But you know
Why though I
understand that that obviously
Children can get too loud to where it's a distraction
That's why obviously the parents realize okay. My kids acting up. I need to take them out or whatever right and I
Don't know about you, but it doesn't bother me. I to a fault right where sometimes. I should be like hey
You know do you mind you mind taking them out real quick?
Sometimes we when we have visitors or something like that and to the point where it is kind of distracting
But I'm like in the zone up here. I don't care. I just go through it whether you can hear me or not
I'm saying something you know or I'm preaching but
You know the Bible I believe is very clear on this
But the thing that's interesting about this passage is the fact that it just got done talking about this Pharisee in the public in
one being proud
One being humble in the idea of unless you you're converted as a little child
Or you receive the kingdom of God as a little child you're not going to enter in
Go to Matthew chapter 18 because I want you to see here that
This idea of being like a little child is not just
For salvation, it's not just an idea that to grasp on for salvation
it definitely applies to that and
Specifically in this passage in Luke 18 is
Specifically talking about that so that's why you know personally
I believe that parable is
More so centered on someone getting saved and it also shows you too that God's not wrapped up in what you say when you ask
For salvation as far as like you know there's some special words to say
You know I mean be merciful to me a sinner
I believe you can say Lord save me
You know like it doesn't have to be anything like specific or anything like that the idea is that you're coming to him in faith
and I'll get to the calling on the name Lord at the end of the chapter here, but
In Matthew chapter 18 of verse 3 here it says and said barely I say unto you except you be converted and become
His little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, so that's very similar to what said in Luke chapter 18, right?
it's very similar and
But then it goes on in
Verse 4 says whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven
So notice that there's two different things that are stated there now the reason that I believe this is brought up is because they literally
Asked the Lord who's gonna be greatest in the kingdom of heaven right so
It's kind of like this the prerequisite to being the greatest in heaven is first being saved
That make sense
Like first you got to get saved you got to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
but now if you want to be the greatest in heaven then you need to also humble yourself as a child and
the idea of not being ministered unto but the minister right the idea of humbling yourself and
then being exalted
You want you want to be exalted in the life to come then humble yourself now?
That's
The idea and
So you can see that that type of idea of this applies to get saved, but this can also apply to a believer
But it's not the same. It's not like well. You need to continually do this so that you'll go to heaven
It's just the idea that no you want to be the greatest though in
The kingdom of heaven you want to go you want to enter the kingdom of heaven you need to humble yourself as a child you
need to have the faith of a child
You want to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven then you need to be humble like one of these children
and
you can understand why you know obviously God puts a
harsh punishment on anybody that would offend one of these little ones that believe because when you think about it
Children are the most humble when it comes to
Believers I mean obviously you have children that are innocent and aren't believers yet and stuff like that
But then you have children that get saved at the young age and just that idea of that humble
little believer there
But also that unstable
Soul right that that kind of volatile. They're humble, and they're there the reliever, but they're very volatile. They're very
you know very much need protected if that makes sense and so
But as a believer as an adult we need to try to emulate that humility
Emulate that dependency right as a child is dependent on the parent. We need to be dependent on God
And we need to try to tap into that type of dependency that our children have for us
That we have for our Heavenly Father and so that if you want to be the greatest in kingdom of heaven
That's the route to go now go to Luke chapter 18 verse 18
Luke chapter 18 verse 18, and we're going to get the rich young ruler
Now a lot of times you hear these things or people called this right and you're like is it true. He's a rich young ruler
because in some places
It will actually this is the only place that I that I know of in this story that that he's called a ruler
Now it kind of goes without saying that
That he's rich right because the whole story here is about this guy being rich and the fact that he had great possessions
but
Notice what it says here in verse 18 and a certain ruler asked him saying good master
What shall I do to inherit eternal life now, I love this passage and the thing is is that
This is a great
Example of a soul winning experience here of like how to deal with someone that's unsaved or something when someone asks a question and
Jesus is the greatest person obviously to look at when it comes to
how to win somebody or how to deal with a certain question and
I want you to think about this. There's one question that's asked here
It is
Good master. What shall I do to inherit eternal life and notice what Jesus does with this one thing that's asked
It says in verse 19 and Jesus said unto him why callest thou me good
None is good save one that is God
And notice what he says there, right? He's like, why are you calling me good?
There's only one that's good. That's God. That means there's none. That's good. There's none to do with good. No, not one
There's not none righteous. No, not one. He's already unpacking that like there's none that are good. So why you call me good
Unless he's God, right? So in one sentence, he's stating I'm God and you're not good
Right in one sentence. He's stating that based off of what he said, right?
He led with something that the guy already said which is a great way a great tactic if you will
Because when you grab something they say and say oh, okay. Yeah what you said right there. Let me expound on that
You know
for example when I was out so we were out soul winning in Indiana and
You got the win this this husband and wife the Lord is great, but the wife came out
after I won the husband and she was talking about
how
Basically she had kind of grown up with all these different religions from Islam to Catholicism to all these different things
And she's basically saying, you know, they all kind of say the same thing
You know basically and I said, well, what do you think it takes to get to heaven?
It's basically like believe in God and keep his commandments, you know, or do be good and I'm like, you're right
That is what everybody believes, isn't it? That's like what every religion teaches
And then I showed her I said but the Bible says something different and the truth is gonna stand out from every other thing that's
out there and
Just kind of using that but guess who I learned that from
Jesus right. I learned that from this passage here where you take what they say and
You use it
for how you explain, you know how someone's saved right and
It does two things one
You know, obviously that's a great thing to bring up right it's kind of like I'm glad you mentioned that you know what I mean
Because but it also does this is that it shows that you actually care about what they asked you or what they said to you
Right, you're not just blowing them off completely. It'd be like I don't care what you have to say. Listen to me
ultimately
We want to get the gospel out and it doesn't really matter
What they believe because it's all the same but ultimately they need to know that you care
Hey, I'm listening to what you're telling me
I'm not just just like it went in one ear out the other when you when you take what they say and then you use that
They feel like I'm actually in a conversation
I'm not just being preached to as far as I'm not just being like, you know commanded here's what it is
And don't get me wrong some people that's just the way it is. There's not a whole bunch of back and forth
I'm just saying that that's a hell that's a
Those type of conversations when you're done with it. They're like
You feel confident that person has it they feel confident they agree with you
Because if you just give them the gospel and they're just like, yep. Yep. Yep. Yep, and then they pray with you
I'm not saying that he ain't saved but you know as well as I do that that doesn't feel as confident
Then if the person is just like back and forth saying I've never seen it that way before that makes perfect sense
Yeah, I was wrong about that. Do you see how the difference is in that conversation on how you're just like?
Yeah, that person got it
And again
that's in one sentence that Jesus says to him and
Basically establishing that Jesus is God and that this guy isn't good
But then he answers the question. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Right? All right
So if you're gonna inherit it, here's what you got to do now
Notice the commandments do not commit adultery. Do not kill do not steal
Do not bear false witness honor thy father and thy mother and he said all these have I kept from my youth up
Now do you believe that for one second?
I mean the Bible says that if you if you keep the whole law and offend at one point you're guilty of all
Meaning this is that your transgressor the law
I mean the idea that this this guy would think that he hasn't broken any
Commandment that you never not honored your father and your mother
the Bible I mean
And the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says if you have if you lust after a woman in your heart
You've committed adultery already in your heart, right?
The thought of foolishness to sin there's secret faults that we have that we don't even realize that we're doing
I mean how foolish is it to say that you've never sinned that you've kept it all
I've kept all these from my youth up. Give me a break
We come forth from the womb speaking lies the Bible says and to come out and say like I've never done anything. I've never sinned
So he says that and then keep reading there
Now when Jesus heard these things he said said unto him yet lackest thou one thing
So he's kind of going along with them, right?
But he says okay, you know yet lackest thou one thing sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor and thou shalt
Notice this he doesn't say thou shalt enter in the kingdom of heaven have eternal life
Thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come follow me
So notice that Jesus isn't saying that you have to basically give all your stuff to the poor to get eternal life does he
Basically here's the thing if you never sinned and kept all the commandments then of course you'd live forever because the wages of sin is death
You would inherit eternal life if you kept all the law and never sinned
Now we know that's not true. We know that that's not possible. Okay, I should say not it is true. It's just not possible
and so
Then he states, okay
Well, if you if you're perfect and another another passage where it's the same passage, it says well if thou will be perfect
Then you need to do all this on top of that, right? It's like, okay
Well now if you want treasure in heaven, then you do this this and this
So notice that you're talking about. Okay inheriting eternal life. Okay. Well if you're good
You never sin then keep all the commandments
And
If you're perfect and you've kept all the commandments then hey
You know sell everything you have and then get to the poor and you'll have treasures in heaven
and when he heard this he was very sorrowful for he was very rich and
the Bible talks about
The fact in other passages that he went away now in March or Matthew chapter 19. It calls him a young man
This is where you get that rich young ruler. So he's a young man. He's a ruler
Obviously he's rich because the whole passage about the fact that he has great riches and possessions
And so he goes away sorrowful and notice that Jesus just leaves it at that
Sometimes when it comes to people if listen if someone will not admit that they're a sinner
You leave them with condemnation
That's the lesson that I get from this is that you don't say hey
Just so you know if you ever realize that you're a sinner
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and that's by faith alone
No, it's it's more like okay. You can't go anywhere from that
I mean it listen if you're if you're giving someone the gospel and they're just like I'm not a sinner
Where can you go with that?
Okay. I mean, why would you even go to talking about hell because they're not a sinner so they wouldn't go there
And then if they don't good to get to that point then why are we talking about Jesus because they don't need saved
So
If someone doesn't come to that point, you know what Jesus just leaves it at that
Now hopefully that guy that went away sorrowful
Hopefully he got saved later on and maybe that stuff sunk in they're like, hey, I can't keep all the law. I'm not perfect and
Maybe he we don't know. Okay
But notice what is stated here and when Jesus saw in verse 24 that he was very
Saw that he was very sorrowful
I'm sorry, and when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful
he said how hardly shall they that have riches enters in the kingdom of God for it is easier for a camel to go through and
Needles I then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God and they that heard it said who then can be saved
And he said the thing which which the things which are impossible with with men are possible with God
So I've heard people say well see the disciples didn't even understand them
You know how someone's safe now, I want you to think about this in a saved mind
Okay, you know, it's by faith not by works and he's telling this guy has to keep all the commandments
Wouldn't you be like well who's gonna be saved then and here's the answer it would be impossible that way
Is it true that if someone kept all the commandments never sinned they would have eternal life. Yes, not possible though
Not possible because everybody's already sinned
So therefore it's not possible. But with God all things are possible because it says in Mark chapter 9
It says if thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believe it
It's interesting that Mark 9 it says that and then in Mark 10 is where you have the passage about the the rich young ruler
Saying it's not possible with men
but with with God all things are possible because all things are possible to him that believe it and
So when it comes to this you can understand from a safe point of view why they're saying who then could be saved
But then you realize okay, it's impossible to go the route of the law
Keeping the law. It's impossible
But the only way that's possible is by faith
Now by the way when it says that it's easier for a man to go through or for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle
Let me let me let me just dispose some some stupid doctrine that's out there
This is not talking about some small little gate that they would shove camels through
For every passage there's some stupid doctrine out there and
There's like some doctrine out there just like listen
There was there was a gate called the camel's eye or no the needle's eye
There's the eye of the needle, okay
There's this gate called the eye of a needle and they would literally have to put their camels on their knees and like crawl through
this gate
I'm like that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. There's no proof of that at all
He's literally talking about a camel and the knee the eye of an actual needle that you would thread
You know that you would sew on a button with
The Bible's a big book why do we need to start making up stuff
like that
To the point where you're just like yeah, they had to like take everything off the camel and shove it through the hole
Why would you ever make a gate that way
Who made that gate?
And why would you choose to go through that gate is my question right like we were like hey
I can go through this gate or I can go through this massive gate over here
I'm gonna choose the one that I'm gonna have to shove my camel through
So
The illustration here, and I don't know if it's just they want to believe like
That it's a easy it's possible for a rich man to listen
It's possible to get a camel through the eye of a needle that camels not gonna be alive when you do it
But it's possible to shove the matter of a camel through the eye of a needle
But you know what?
That shows you how hard it is for a rich man to get saved because the Bible says
How hard is it for them that trust in riches? It's not that you're rich
The reason that you're not going to heaven is because you're trusting in your riches and you're too proud and
You're not humble enough to come to the knowledge of the truth and to realize you need a savior and that you need someone to help
you
Talk about
Straining out of that and swallowing a camel when it comes to these weird doctrines that people have
Why don't we just read it for what it is?
It literally says the eye of a needle talking about a camel going through it a little kid can understand
That would be hard
That would be hard to shove a camel through the eye of a needle. Okay now
Go to Luke chapter 18 verse 20 28 here
And we see here that Peter's talking about
You know basically following him. So it says then then Peter said lo we have left all and follow these so
It's kind of like that second portion was like well if you want treasure in heaven
Then you need to follow me you need to give to the poor and all this right and Peter's basically asking this question, okay
well
You know we've left all and follow thee and basically another passage
He'll say what shall we have and it says and he said unto them barely I say unto you
There is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake
Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and that's something that always stands out to me is that
It's not like we just have to wait until the world to come
To get all these things added to us think about this when you got saved
You may have lost family members as far as like fellowship or people that you're around
But how much more have you gained in the family of God?
When you got saved
Right and just the idea of not this isn't a prosperity type of preaching
But this idea of listen I have I have way closer friends in
In the the realm of believers than I ever had when I was unsaved and had friends outside the world
And I had some close friends that were unsaved and in that that world and it's not like
You know I didn't like them or anything like that or we weren't kind of close, but listen the friends I have now
I
mean it's a lot better now and
There the Bible talks about there's a friend that stick it closer than a brother
And you can think about that friendship and just how much how much greater of a friendship can you have with a believer?
That's that you're in the family of God with and so how much more in this present time
And this is in the world to come life everlasting, and it's not I don't this isn't saying like okay
Well if you follow me, then you're gonna have everlasting life, okay?
But what I believe this is more so dealing with is that it's talking about how you're gonna have in verse 30
He's talking about having it manifold Lee or kind of more abundantly
In this time and in the life to come
Meaning this is that Jesus says this in John to kind of make sense of what's being said here
Is that he says I am come that they might have life
and
That they might have it more abundantly
And if you know our series that we're doing on second Peter is the fact that you can enter into the
Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or you can have an abundant entrance and
the whole premise here is that you're following him and you're you're his disciple and all that and the idea of
Having manifold in this time and in the life to come in that everlasting life having that life more abundantly
Having a resurrection
Okay, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ having a better resurrection
right and that idea of
Okay, I can have something more or I can have something higher up than just being a believer
Just being saved, you know
And so hopefully that makes sense when it comes to this is that there is a reward
There's a reward to follow him if you give up things in this life. Listen, he will reward you
And he'll never I don't believe it will ever put that on your account for salvation because then it wouldn't be a gift
The if you do anything for him, he'll reward you for it go to Luke 18 verse 31
Now this is very interesting
is
What stated here?
Luke 18 verse 31 it says then he he took unto him the twelve and said unto them behold
We go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets considering the Son of Man shall be accomplished
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully entreated and spit it on and they shall
Scourge him and put him to death and the third day he shall rise again
So notice how he leads off with stating that all the prophets are basically the whole Old Testament is writing about this event
And
I'm not going to go through I mean obviously the whole sermons on all the places in the Old Testament
Pointing to this event of Jesus coming and dying on the cross
but
The thing that's interesting about this is the what it says in verse 34
it says and they understood none of these things and
These and this saying was hid from them
Neither knew they the things which were spoken
Now
You could say well why
It's a good question, isn't it?
And I'm not here to preach you why I'm just to tell you that it's facts
God hid that from his disciples for what reason
You know that maybe that's another sermon for another day
you know and I and I I
Don't want to say I'm humble because that kind of takes away from the hum being humble, right?
But I would say that I'm not proud
I'm not too proud to admit that I don't know all the answers as far as why things are done
I just I'll say to you that they are the way they are
But I'll say this is that the Bible says that it was hid from them. It's not that they
Refuse to believe it
Right, it's like oh, well, they just hard-hearted that they wouldn't believe it back. No, it was literally hid from their
Understanding and I believe God hid that from that for a certain reason
I'm not sure, you know, maybe you could look at it as far as like well for these events to take place
For you know for his disciples, you know, whatever the case may be
This information that he kept saying to them over and over again that he's gonna die
He's gonna rise again the third day and it says they did not know what that meant
And I don't think that they're idiots, okay, I don't think they're just like
What does it mean to rise again? You know, like I think they just did not understand
They thought he was speaking some kind of parable
There's some spiritual meaning to this and they just weren't
Grasping and it was being hid from their eyes and from their minds as far as what this actually meant
But the thing that I want to point out is that they were believers before he rose from the dead
Okay, go to John chapter 2 John chapter 2
So I want to point out something here
Actually put your finger in John 2, but I wanted to Luke chapter 24
Luke chapter 24
This is after the resurrection. Okay, Luke chapter 24 in verse 44. It says and he said unto them
These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled
Which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and the Psalms concerning me
It was kind of like the same thing that he's stating in Luke chapter 18 before he goes to the cross
Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures
so notice that was hid before and now he's opened it up for them and
It says and he said unto them thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ suffer and to rise from the dead the third
Day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem
so notice how it was hid, but then it was revealed it was open to them after the resurrection and
notice what says in John chapter 2 and verse 11
And by the way in John chapter 1 the Daniel is stated to be a believer
Because he's I mean Jesus says I saw the end of the victory and he says Rabbi thou art the Son of God thou art
The king of Israel said because I said I saw the end of the victory believeth thou
Because Nathaniel was a believer before he even came to Jesus because he's walking to Jesus and he says behold an Israelite indeed in whom
Is no guile. That's what Jesus said about Nathaniel because in his spirit is no guile like in Psalm 32
But in John 2 and verse 11, and by the way, this is the narrator
Okay, so we know that the narrator is right
Narrators always right. It says this beginning of miracles that Jesus and Cain of Galilee and manifested forth his glory and his disciples
believed on him
Now that's the narrator speaking
Now obviously we know that it's manifest that Judas is not one of those right because in John chapter 6
It says that he knew from the beginning who would not believe on him and who should betray him, right?
So when we saying his disciples believed on him we're talking about
Everybody but Judas, right?
But it says in verse 19 notice this
So verse 11 comes before 19
It says in verse 19. It says Jesus answered and said unto them destroy this temple and in three days, I'll raise it up
Then said the Jews forty and six years was his temple and building wilt I rear it up in three days
But he spake of the temple of his body
When therefore he was risen from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them and
They believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had said so notice that I mean even in John 2 he's alluding to the fact
That hey, I'm going to die and I'm gonna rising in a third day and then later on
He's like he's kind of restating this over and over again, but they didn't understand it. It keeps saying they don't understand it
They don't understand it don't understand it
But Luke 18 gives us this I it literally states to us that it was hid from them
That it's not that they lacked
Intelligence to understand it. It's not that they lacked faith to believe it now after the resurrection
He did berate them, you know, right?
Because they were they were just like they were they saw him, you know
Like people were telling him that he was from then and then they're still not believing at that point
Obviously, he's he's getting on their case about it
But you see that that's very interesting, isn't it that hey this was hid from from their eyes
You know that they were there with them. He's stating it
He's just stating it in black and white saying I'm going to die
And even Peters like no, I'll die before you do that, right?
And then he had to say get thee behind me Satan, right? I mean, it's not like they didn't hear him say it
It's not that they didn't even necessarily understand kind of what he was saying, but it's just like it wasn't clicking with them
It was hid from there like that doctrine or that idea of the operation in which he was going to save them from their sins
which is kind of hid from their eyes and
You know for what that's worth, you know that that's that's clearly stated and we see that manifest throughout the Gospels
But I just think it's interesting that Luke just explicitly states it
That I believe God hid that from their eyes just as much as when they're on the road to Emmaus
He hid himself from his disciples from even recognizing them for a little bit and you say why did you do that ask Jesus?
Okay, there's sometimes in the Bible where you're not gonna know the why necessarily
But you're gonna know that it happened. You're gonna know that it's true and maybe later on we'll understand the why
So and ending the chapter here in Luke chapter 18
We have this blind beggar
It says in verse 35 it says and it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto Jericho a certain blind man sat
by the wayside begging and
hearing the multitude pass by he asked what it meant and they told him that
Jesus of Nazareth passed by and he cried saying Jesus thou son of God or thou son of David have mercy on me
And they which went before rebuked him then he he that he should hold his peace
But he cried so much the more thou son of David have mercy on me
The and Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto him and when he was come here
He asked him saying what wilt thou that I should do unto thee now that isn't that an interesting question, right? He's blind
and he's saying what do you want me to do for you and
Listen Jesus already know Jesus knows this guy's blind
He knows that this guy wants to receive his sight, but the thing that you have to understand is that
You have not because you ask not and even though God knows what we need before we ask it
He wants us to ask
So he wants this guy to ask for his sight and notice what it says here
and he said Lord that I may receive my sight and
Jesus said unto him receive thy sight thy faith have saved thee
so notice it's the faith that saving him it's not any works and
He receives his sight but the thing that's interesting about that is verse 43 where it says and immediately
He received his sight the moment you believe it's immediately yourself. You're saved
It's not a process
Now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation
The moment you believe you're passed from death unto life. You have everlasting life. You shall not go into condemnation
You are a new creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new spiritually and it's immediate and by the way
It's by faith
It's the faith that saves him
It's the faith that gives him his sight
But he's asking he wants us to ask him and it says it says
He received a sight and followed him glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gave praise unto God
And this gets into you know, the Lord's Prayer and people are always knocking at the Lord's Prayer
knocking
knocking the Lord's Prayer
Meaning that they're they're like, oh, you know
Saying a prayer that's works
Well, he says he wants this guy to ask him what he wants and
Does he say your prayer your work saved you here? I
Mean people are so dense that they literally think that believing is a work because it takes kinetic energy in their mind to believe
And I don't even know what to say to people like that, you know what why don't you just become a Calvinist
And start having these philosophical arguments about what technical work is
Right, I understand kinetic and
Energy and I understand passive and active pressures and all these different things and I and you know what we can get it and get
Into that and use it as definitions, but we're talking about the Bible and the Bible says that it's not work
That if you ask then he'll give you a gift
If thou knewest the gift of God and who it was that said unto thee
Give me the drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water. Well, that's works
It's not a gift anymore
It's like all right. Well, then just put the Bible on its head and then your philosophy is what matters then
Your mental acrobats and philosophy is what matters the Bible is just nothing
You know what? I'm gonna take what God says is what's a gift
I'm gonna take what God says is what's faith and what's not works and I'm gonna use that as my definition and
Praying to God for salvation is not works
And listen, I understand that people can get saved without repeating a prayer in front of you, but
Don't tell me that someone gets saved and they don't communicate with God at all
That's ludicrous
To think that you're standing there just like I believe that but I'm not going to talk to God about it
I'm not going to communicate to him at all
Unbelievable, it's unbelievable to think that obviously someone can get saved by calling on name Lord in their heart
They don't have to say it out loud
Right, but at the same time to just take out that idea of calling on name Lord. There's so much scripture on that. I
Don't have time to go through it, but
No, this is that he wants you to ask and really if you don't if you're saying I'm not gonna ask
I'm just gonna believe it in my heart
one that's pride
You don't want to talk to God about it you don't want to ask God for it you too proud to ask him for that
gift
And what that shows me is that well, do you really believe it?
If you're not willing to just ask him for it and say Lord I want that Lord save me be merciful unto me a sinner
That's too much and why don't you join that Pharisee
That's just saying well, I'm too good for that
But let's end with a word prayer the only father we think today thank you for your word
Thank you for Luke chapter 18 and Lord. Thank you for all these passages and Lord just thank you for salvation
Thank you for eternal life. Thank you that you made it so easy to be saved and
We just pray that you'd help us to spread that good news to others and would help us to win many souls for you
And Lord prayed you give safe travels and bring us back at the point of time in Jesus Christ's name
Amen, so but they will come and sing one more song and then we'll be dismissed
I
Write take your song books and turn to song 316
Song 316 in your song books
We'll sing I have decided to follow Jesus you would stand we'll sing song 316. I have decided
To follow
Jesus I have
Decided
to follow
Jesus I have decided
To follow Jesus
No turning back
Though none go with me still I will follow
No turning back
The world behind me the cross before me the world behind me
The cross before me the world behind me the cross before me
No turning back