Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / God Has Mercy For The Most Despised | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

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God Has Mercy For The Most Despised | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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I greet you in the name of Lord. Jesus Christ.
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The resurrected Lord, in the soon.
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Returning King, if you can meet me in your copy of God's word in
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the Book of Mark chapter 2. If you're visiting with us,
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we've been going together as a family Through The Book of Mark
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and week after week. As we hear from this word, we
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never cease to be amazed at just How Majestic and wonderful he
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is. And that will only continue to
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be true as we come to this text in verse 13 of Mark chapter 2
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and a very familiar passage. But we trust that the Holy
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Spirit would Enlighten us to see fresh revelation.
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That would benefit us in our sanctification and even benefit,
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perhaps somebody in here who doesn't know Jesus.
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And Mark 2 13. We read.
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He went out again beside the sea and all the crowd was coming to
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him and he was teaching them. And as you pass by, he saw Levi,
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the son of alphaeus. Sitting at the tax booth and he
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said to him, follow me and he rose and followed him.
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And as you reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors
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and sinners were reclining with Jesus.
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And his disciples for there are many, who followed him.
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And the scribes of the Pharisees when they saw that, he was
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eating with, Sinners and tax collectors said to his
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disciples. Why does he eat with tax
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collectors, and Sinners? And when Jesus heard it, he said
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to them. Those who are, well, have no
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need of a physician but those who are sick, I came not to call
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the righteous but sinners. Lord, we come before you with
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this text in front of us. And Lord, you know the hearts of
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all men. You know, the condition of our
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hearts in this place, you know, exactly what we need to hear.
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We trust Lord as this text. As this service has been prayed
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over that you will indeed move in an obvious way.
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Lord, we realize our weakness, our Frailty are inconsistent
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habits below There is something in us because of your spirit
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that desires to know you and be like you.
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So, we ask father through this text would you Empower us to
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obey? And would you draw us to Worship
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You? Lord you see our generation, the
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flood of distractions, the death, the destruction, the the
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confusion Lord, we need an extra measure of your power.
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Would you supply it in this place for the name of Jesus?
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Christ's sake? And In his name we pray.
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Amen. After declaring and
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demonstrating his authority to forgive sins, the Holy Spirit
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takes us by the hand, and he brings us before the Lord,
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Jesus, as he demonstrates that Grace, that ability to extend,
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pardon to the undeserving in a very, very moving scene.
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And this is accomplished as Mark, introduces us to a man by
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the name of Levi, who was known as a collector of taxes in Jesus
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day. Now, the significance of Levi's
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occupation will be explained in a moment, but it's good for us
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to know that the very same man that we are witnessing about
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today is in fact, believed by the majority that he is the same
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person as Matthew the tax collector that we read of, in
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the Book of Matthew which is the Book in our new testament
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library. And the reason why that is the
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consensus is, because there is an exact almost word-for-word
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account of this conversion story, in the Book of Matthew,
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and instead of the name, Levi being used, it's Matthew.
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Now, you might be wondering why two names for the same person.
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Culturally speaking, that was very common in Jesus day where
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you would have somebody who was labeled or identify by more than
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one name. One of the disciples actually
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has three names in our Bibles. His name is Peter and in some
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places Simon and another's cephas.
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So there's nothing to be confused about that and there's
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nothing contradictory about it. What's more important is that
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the story of Levi's conversion is strategically placed right
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after Jesus. Gibbs and heals a paralyzed man
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and that is a spiritual thing because this emphasis is to tell
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us that there is a greater Reach In Jesus forgiveness.
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It goes to places that you would not fathom it touches, the
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hearts that you would not believe.
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And that is the case when we come here with Levi, but more
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than that, the fact that it's told right after a miracle,
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Indicates that this conversion in itself is a miracle.
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It's even a greater Miracle than the one who had lifeless legs
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was told to pick up his bed and go home.
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And so we come here to see that Levi story is a miraculous
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story. An old preacher said something
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that I love to repeat from time to time.
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He said the greatest Miss miracle that God can do today is
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to take an Unholy man from an Unholy world and make them.
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Holy then put them back in that Unholy world and keep him.
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Holy and that is what we are going to witness today.
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A very Unholy man who is then made holy and then giving us the
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inspiration that he can do the same today.
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Levi's testimony. Is given to tell us that
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Redemption and healing in the soul is available to the most
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repugnant and repulsive of all. And that is certainly true of
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our world today. There are, if you're honest with
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yourself there is a category of Sinners perhaps in your heart
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that you perhaps deem as hopeless.
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And two ugly in terms of sin and to horrendous in terms of
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actions and belief that you almost write them off as
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reprobates to the degree, that they will never have a chance to
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be saved. May I present to you, Levi, to
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give you the hope that perhaps somebody that you dearly love,
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that is so far out can actually come into contact with the grace
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of Jesus Christ and be saved because of it.
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Consider three things with me this afternoon the calling of
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Levi The conversion of Levi and the conflict around Levi, the
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calling of Levi, after being, told that Jesus was fulfilling
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what he was called to do, what he was sent to do at this point
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in his ministry to teach and preach the good news.
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We now see Jesus very briefly in motion.
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There is a transition, a physical one, because we read
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in, verse 14 as he passed by. So, here's Christ walking from
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one direction to the next we made, just right.
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Cut off as unimportant but it is extremely significant because in
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those brief seconds is a person on that same path who will
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forever have his life, altered because of Jesus Christ.
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Don't get distracted now. They're just people And so, what
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we see here is Jesus, passing by and in passing by meditate to
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realize what that means he passed by and he saw Levi
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sitting at the tax Booth, no, random detail.
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There is Matthew, and I'm going to use Levi, Matthew
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interchangeably. Same person.
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There is Matthew sitting in a tax Booth while Jesus is
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crossing him in that path. And this is important because
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you and I have to understand We how deplorable Tax Collectors
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were those of you who grew up in church?
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This is like common. You understand that?
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But just realized just how much they were hated as I explained.
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Who Tax Collectors were to the Jews, they were traitors, they
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worked for the Romans, the Romans oppressed the Jews of
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this time. And for you to volunteer to work
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for the Romans in the eyes of the Jews was disgusting.
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How dare you? You already seen that we are
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burdened by this. As people you already seen that,
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we don't have the freedom that we desire and here you are only
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strengthening their caused over us, but more than the fact that
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their position declared, a lack of faithfulness of fidelity to
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their people and even to their God, these Tax Collectors
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couldn't help it. They're a position of authority
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and power tempted him and they would give in to that temptation
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to make a profit for themselves. So they would cheat with the
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numbers. They wouldn't manipulate they
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would press and whatever extra they would get out of there
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oppressed brother. They would put it right into
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their pockets. Ancient Jewish commentaries and
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writings tell us that to the general public Tax.
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Collectors were no different than thieves and murderers.
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They were illegitimate Witnesses in a court setting.
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They were shunned to participate in the worship service at
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synagogues. And we even read here at one
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point in the mishnah, which is the oral traditions of the Jews
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in ancient times that a tax collector.
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Was so deplorable that even if he entered into someone's house,
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that house would be deemed as unclean. if they understand what
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they felt about these people, And that's amazing because in
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other words to the Jews that tax collectors were just as
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Despicable and worthy of social isolation as the leper.
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And you can almost say that these men were even more to be
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despised and the leper, because a leopard didn't have a choice
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in the matter, concerning his condition, but the tax collector
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did, You were so unfeeling about your reputation that you were
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willing to be a part of something that you knew would
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cause people to despise you. But they could care less and
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here's the beautiful thing. That this is where and when
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Jesus calls Matthew to himself, while he is sitting at the tax
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Booth, Levi wasn't attending the service and verse 13 by the Sea.
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He was an eagerly hearing the teachings of Jesus.
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He was right in the middle of his sin.
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He was sitting there, he was comfortable there and it was
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there where you heard the voice of the shepherd, calling him to
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himself, wanting him to himself, not even the Detailed word here
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in verse 14 as she passed by, he saw Levi.
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What did those eyes communicate? What I see there is that when
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Jesus saw Levi, he knew exactly who Levi was.
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He knew that he had a corrupt character.
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He knew that he was part of something that was dishonoring.
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He knew the burden that Levi placed on the fellow citizens
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who are innocent and already struggling.
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He knew of the of the stigma around his occupation, he saw
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all of it and yet still out of the same lips, he says, follow
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me. I want you while understanding
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full, well who lie, Levi was an agent of pain.
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And someone who lost all feeling concerning his own reputation, a
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spiritual leper, the Lord wanted him, and that same Mercy that he
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is displaying towards Levi's the same Mercy that is so
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powerfully. Drying Sinners today.
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Christ doesn't want you to meet him halfway listen, if you're a
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doubtful person concerning the grace of Jesus Christ, As you're
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there swimming in your sin? Yes, with Filthy Hands and even
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perhaps a perverted mind while you're listening to the sermon.
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Your mind is Twisted. Hear what I have to say.
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Jesus, doesn't want you to prove yourself to be worthy to come to
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him. He wants to rescue you exactly
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where you are. And he calls from the shore.
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For you to reach out your hand. And his arm is long enough and
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strong enough to pull you out of muck and mire.
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And that's exactly what he is doing and wanting to do.
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Even in this place. Today, there is an invitation,
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ringing out loud because the very essence of that invitation
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is, it has the power to change you.
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You don't change yourself so you can come to Christ, you come to
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Christ, so he can change you. And he longs to change a, he
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longs to receive all glory and changing you.
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And he here is seeing Levi in his sin and he says, I want you
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now. Right there, you'd be amazed to
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know the skepticism. You'd be amazed to know that
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hesitation of people coming. Oh I just don't know if I'm if
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I'm worthy. I don't know if I'm a candidate
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know. You are a candidate.
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You are exactly the person that Jesus is looking for, as we re
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later on that, he comes for the sick of physician is drawn to
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those who need the physician not to those who think they have no
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need of him. I want to, I want you to see
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something quickly, turn your Bibles quickly with me, Romans
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chapter 5. and look at these amazing statements about, Who
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Jesus comes for. Three verses.
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Romans 5:6. First.
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Look at these words. For while we were still weak at
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the right time Christ died for the ungodly weak, unable to
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fulfill the law. Unable to prove yourself unable
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to be obedient and remain obedient while we were still
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weak, Romans 5:8, but God shows his love for us in that while we
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were still sinners. So, not just even attempting a
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righteousness, but being weak at it.
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But while you are sinning and comfortably doing it, disobeying
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living for your passions and your pleasures while we were
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still sinners. Christ died for us.
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It doesn't end there. Yeah, while you were a week
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while you're still Sinners, Romans 5:10 for while we were
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enemies. For while we were still weak
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verse 6 for y, we were still Sinners verse a verse 10.
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For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the
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death of his son. Much more that we are
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reconciled. Shall we be saved by his life
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enemies? Open Rebellion to God.
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Sticking your nose to the heavens and raising your fist
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and saying, I know what I'm doing and I'm gonna do it.
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Gladly, it's one thing for one man to die for a friend or for a
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child, but it's another thing to die for an enemy.
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It's one thing to die for somebody who's trying to get,
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right? But they don't have the power to
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get, right? But for somebody who turns their
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back, And knows exactly the kind of blasphemy.
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They are performing. And yet still Christ, says I
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still want you. I'm coming for the blasphemer.
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I'm coming for the one who hates me.
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I'm coming for the one who despises my law and Mike are G
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coming for them too. For while we were weak while we
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were still Sinners, while we were enemies while he was
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sitting at the tax booth. Jesus says, I want you, I want
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you to follow me. And Levi was called.
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Yes, while sitting there. But Levi was called for a
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limited time frame verse 14. And as he passed by, As glorious
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as this grace is, you have to understand that it has a window
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of time and leave. I only had so much time to work
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with. Jesus did not rent a room across
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from the tax poles, so that he can have a few weeks of a
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one-on-one campaign to convince Levi that he needed to surrender
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his life. He was passing by, It was a
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short opportunity. And Eve, I had to leave.
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I had to respond to that because the physical picture here
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provides a Biblical illustration of the urgency of salvation You
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don't really hear the word hell anymore in church, right?
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It's kind of a rare word. I remember somebody told me once
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after I preached on it, I don't believe that you should use hell
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to try to convince Sinners to come to Christ.
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Oh, really? So, what do you tell Jesus?
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Then? You have a problem with Jesus
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evangelism. If you have a problem with me.
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There is no doubt in my mind that many will be in Hell who
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knew exactly how to be saved. They can even tell you how that
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what the gospel is. The problem is not their lack of
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the knowledge of the Gospel. The problem is their hesitation
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or unwillingness to surrender to the call of the Gospel.
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Let me take it further. I believe there will be many in
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Hell, who would even say in admit, that they were even at
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one point interested or eager to repent and believe.
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But as they reflect on their life at on Earth, they remember
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they push it off until tomorrow and wants tomorrow came, They
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delayed it until next week and then once next week came that
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conviction that once. So sharply cut their hearts and
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brought an Awakening to their conscience was ultimately dulled
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until it essentially disappeared until they wished away into
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eternity. Many will understand that their
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place in judgment was not because they didn't hear was
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because they didn't say yes when they had the chance to.
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And there are so many sobering illustrations of this in the
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Bible. And one of the strongest
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illustrations is with a man named Felix and acts 24 who had
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Paul as a prisoner before him and Felix was hearing his case
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because the Jews accused them of all these weird things,
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including treason. And so Felix was going to hear
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him, but Felix was Interested in more than just what the Jews had
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to say in Acts 24, 24, Felix, and his wife, Drusilla, we read
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after Sunday's Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who is a
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Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in
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Christ Jesus, we don't know if it was Felix or his wife, who is
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Jewish. That wanted to hear what Paul
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had to say concerning Jesus Christ.
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Despite the fact Paul gladly with those chains came before
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and says, let me tell you about the law.
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Jesus Christ. And so he preaches and so he
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teaches and Felix's there, I'm sure on some kind of a throne
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with his hand on his chin, listening intently and then
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something happens in verse 25. And as he reason Paul about
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righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix
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was alarmed. And said go away for the
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present. When I get an opportunity, I
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will summon you. Here's the sad part.
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Felix says, I will fetch for you when I'm ready.
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And there is never a recorded moment where he ever asked for
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that opportunity again. And I am just so impressed by
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Paul's gospel presentation, because the way he spoke and
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what he spoke about clearly Disturbed Felix, not that we
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intend to disturb or offend, but the Bible tells us.
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So clearly what he said that shook Felix, he mentioned
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righteousness, he mentioned self-control, he mentioned
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judgment to come. Now, let's just be honest today.
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How much do we hear of that in our gospel presentation?
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How much do we hear of God's holiness?
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How much do we hear of the repentance that is needed to
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self-control? They're speaking of the
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repentance that is needed to say, yes.
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How much do we hear of the judgment to come if you refuse
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to surrender, to Jesus Christ, who delivers you from the
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righteous standard of God? If we want to know how to
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preach, let's go to the preachers and the Bible.
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And we see here that he presents these things and it clearly had
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this man shook because the guilty condition of his soul was
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brought before him and he wanted to Shake It Off.
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And so he says depart from me I will come for you in a more
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convenient time, but listen to me there is never more of a
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convenient time to surrender than Christ then today because
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the more you resist and maybe you're in this place and you
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have resisted you've heard week after week the gospel.
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Listen to what I have to say. The more you resist today, the
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harder it is to say yes, tomorrow.
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You don't believe me, do you? Well, look at Felix and acts
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24:27. Do you want to know how long
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Felix had Paul in his presence and at his disposal and acts
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24:27 we read when two years had elapsed?
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Two years, two years, Felix was succeeded by pork is Festus, and
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designed to do the Jews of favor, Felix left Paul in prison
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to Ole years. And he wasn't saved, then it
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call for Paul to explain the gospel.
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Again, didn't ask, for more details than ask him, to be led
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to the, to the Jesus that say, Paul two years.
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And that's why the holy spirit says.
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Today as the holy spirit, says, if you hear his voice, do not
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Harden your hearts, you have an ability to harden your own
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heart. And you can make it much more
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callous than it was yesterday. And it can come to the point
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where you were so hardened that now, you were just coming week
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after week, and nothing moves. You nothing.
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Listen to me, I'm being very, very serious.
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You can come to the point where God can warn you once just once
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and you will never feel the urgency of that warning again
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after one time and God is completely justified in all of
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that. We have this strange concept as
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though, we're doing Jesus a favor and he has to wait on our
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terms. And when we're ready, we'll come
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to him today. And if it comes today and you
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don't answer today, who says you're going to answer tomorrow?
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Felix didn't Owen, Moses told Pharaoh about the plague to
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stop, you know what Pharaoh said?
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Concerning the frogs Moses is one.
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Do you want at? And he goes tomorrow tomorrow,
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you can have it today. Yeah.
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But for some reason I want to wait till tomorrow.
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We are strange creatures Sons and Daughters of Adam confused
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in. So many ways.
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We see here, that Felix waited till tomorrow.
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So what was holding him back? Would you like to know verse 26?
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It says you're at the same time he hoped that money would be
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given him by Paul so he sent for him often and conversed with
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him. Money.
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Rich's the only reason why he kept Paul closes because he
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thought that there would be some bribe to have him released.
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And so he kept them close and so he was hoping that one day Paul
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would even say look the high really want to get out of here.
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Have a missionary in a journey to fulfill here take some money
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or his friends would come and provide some kind of extra cash.
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The thing that was weighing down Felix, at least one thing was
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the love of the world, the love for things, the love for gain.
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it's very possible that there are some who have been sitting
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here for weeks and months and your heart is only getting
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harder and harder because you refuse to say, yes, for what
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money Your little Empire. Your cute boyfriend.
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Girlfriend. Fear for your family.
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Whatever the case may be, would you sense the warning from
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Felix's life? And if you have that feeling of
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warning be encouraged by Matthew.
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When the Lord asked him to leave, when he asks him to
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follow him, he did not reply. What saying can you just let me
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finish my shift? I'm in the middle of my work
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here. I got a couple more hours, maybe
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I'll talk to you in my break time.
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Not say Lord. I mean I'm a I'm a very affluent
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man. I have high position here.
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I would like to retire in a respectable way.
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Can you just give me a couple weeks while I put in my notice?
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And then I can follow you. Nothing of the sort.
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He sensed the urgency of the moment.
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It's either now or never. And I'm going to say, yes, now.
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And he did, and to the human understanding, this might have
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been an inconvenient time. Jesus, why did you call him
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while he was sitting at the tax Booth.
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But let me tell you something, over the ways of the Lord, the
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call to Salvation. And even after you're saved the
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call to obedience is oftentimes unfavorable to the flesh.
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It's very rare, your flesh is going to say.
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Yeah, let's do it. I'm in agreement.
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I think this is the perfect time.
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Oh, you can find a man broken enough, who's desperate enough,
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but it is rarely the case. In America, you have people
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here. Who tend to give Jesus terms,
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can I tell you my own growing up?
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In a Christian home, I actually gave Jesus an age.
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Lord. When I'm 30 years old, I will
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follow you and that nice. 19 18 years old knowing knowing full
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well that this Jesus fellow is real.
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He is indeed God. But I have a life to live, man.
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I got things to do Jesus. You might get in the way.
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So, Lord, when I'm 30, hopefully, I'll be married.
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I'll bring my wife to even if she doesn't believe in you, 30
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years old. How does that sound?
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What kind of agreement are you making with Jesus?
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Want to wait till you finish school till you get serious with
25:22
Jesus. You want to explore a little bit
25:24
of the world. A dangerous dangerous game to
25:28
play Russian roulette with your soul.
25:31
So what is your excuse? There is no better time to serve
25:34
Jesus than today. There's no better time to be
25:36
saved by Jesus than today, because anything else that is
25:40
delayed as only wasted time when it could have been invested into
25:43
Eternal reward and joy at this present moment, leave I heard.
25:49
He realized that even in his physical predicament, you're
25:52
actually calling me a tax collector to come and follow
25:56
you. I will do it.
25:59
And perhaps, the reason why people do not sense their
26:01
urgencies, because they don't realize how horrendous their sin
26:04
is. I'm telling you, I've talked to
26:07
enough people to come to this conclusion.
26:09
Many, many people think that God is just a little bit better than
26:12
us just a little bit. Many, many people in America,
26:15
which is like, the Disneyland of the world.
26:17
Think that heaven is a little bit better than where we're at
26:19
today. That's why are people saying you
26:21
know, I don't know. I want to do this and do that
26:23
before he comes and brings his kingdom.
26:25
I'm telling you, the people and living in huts and communist,
26:28
China are not thinking the same thing.
26:30
They're desperate for the return of Jesus Christ, because they
26:33
don't have this concept that it's a little bit better than
26:35
what we have going on here. I'll tell you that very soon.
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We're not going to be thinking that anymore here in America,
26:41
the call for Levi to be saved, but concern, the conversion of
26:45
Levi, we can easily expand in great detail.
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What was proven in his change with Jesus, despite the fact
26:52
that he left something that was profitable, something that
26:54
secured his future and just threw it all away to say.
26:57
Lord, I will go wherever you want me to go consider the
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celebration that Levi has, because of this occurrence.
27:04
As you reclined at table in his house, many Tax collectors and
27:08
sinners were reclining with Jesus.
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And his disciples for there are many who followed him.
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This is not just Matthew trying to honor Jesus.
27:15
This is Matthew trying to introduce Jesus in this man who
27:19
could not comprehend, how someone like him can actually be
27:23
called by someone like him could not keep that Grace to himself.
27:28
But goes to Great Lengths to make sure that others can have
27:30
the same chance that he had. And so it is with the person who
27:34
has been truly, transformed by Jesus.
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You cannot keep Keep it to yourself.
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You want to do what you can and you have here.
27:40
Levi opening his home Lord come over and I will bring as many
27:44
people as possible. How true is that Zeal?
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When we first come to know? Jesus Christ, Luke tells us
27:49
something more detailed. Luke says, in 529 of his book
27:54
and Levi, made him a great feast, made him a great feast in
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his house and there was a large company of tax collectors and
28:01
others reclining at table with him.
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So he celebrates Jesus, reclines.
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He's comfortable and people are coming to converse with them and
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hear him and perhaps be saved from him.
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And by him. We see here that Levi, had a
28:18
great change immediately Evangelistic Zeal, but it's even
28:22
greater than that. I want you to see how Levi, we
28:27
see his actions, but we don't see his words.
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There's not one moment in any of the gospels where you have a
28:31
recorded speech given by this disciple, but I want to prove to
28:34
you in a subtle way, how Levi, actually proves the depth of his
28:38
salvation and what he doesn't say, Remember how Mark describes
28:44
the celebration? We are told clearly and verse
28:47
15. And as he Jesus, reclined at
28:49
table in his house, being the house of Levi.
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You heard it from Luke 529 that Levi held a great feast in his
28:58
house and a large company was there that tells me that this
29:02
man was wealthy. He could host a great feasts and
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he can host a great number of people in his home.
29:07
This guy had money. This guy was wealthy But have
29:11
you ever considered how Matthew himself writes of his own
29:14
testimony? Have you ever looked at Matthews
29:18
version of his conversion? And what he says, he does for
29:22
Jesus, after he was saved, would you like to see it and Matthew
29:26
9:9, you will see it and it is very, very revealing of the
29:30
character of this man though inspired by the spirit.
29:35
In Matthew 9. Verse 9.
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As Jesus passed on from there. He saw a man called Matthew
29:45
sitting at the tax booth and he said to him, follow me and he
29:49
rose and followed him. Pause.
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Matthew is writing this. So you can imagine what's going
29:57
through his mind as he's coming to this point in the gospel
29:59
writing about his own story, about how Jesus met him and
30:03
saved him and change them. And so he says it almost word
30:07
for word. As Mark does almost word for
30:09
word as Luke does, and then you come to verse 10 and as Jesus,
30:13
reclined at table in the house, behold many tax collectors and
30:19
sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples
30:23
Mark, they all went to Levis house, Luke Levi, had a great
30:28
feasts, and he had a large company of people there.
30:31
Matthew Jesus was reclining at table at the house.
30:38
What are you doing there? Matthew.
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I'm trying to conceal myself. I want to Avail my hospitality
30:46
and my generosity. I'm not really interested in
30:51
making my works for Jesus known. And so with some kind of
30:56
subtleness and with a strategic uncleanness, he wants to he
31:02
wants to teach people through his writings.
31:04
Yes Jesus sits and dines with Sinners and tax collectors but I
31:08
don't really want to mention how big the party was.
31:11
I don't really want to mention that it was my house and that I
31:12
held a great feast. I'm not sure how far along
31:17
Matthews life. Was when he wrote this gospel.
31:21
Surely after the Resurrection, the Ascension of Jesus But one
31:25
thing I can assess by this observation, he was mature in
31:29
his faith. And he had a wisdom and
31:33
humility. And the Holy Spirit.
31:38
Honored that and translated that in the scriptures.
31:41
So that when you compare Mark and Luke and Matthew writing
31:44
himself, you would see. Wow, Matthew What are you trying
31:48
to do there? I wonder if this verse ran
31:50
through Matthews mind, and Proverbs 27, to let another
31:54
praise you and not your own mouth.
31:58
A stranger and not your own lips.
32:02
Can I tell you something about the power of this gospel?
32:05
It really changes you in a fine-tuned way, doesn't just
32:10
give you some confidence that you're going to go to heaven.
32:13
It chisels you And the Holy Spirit, after you say yes to the
32:17
Lord Jesus enters into your life.
32:19
We sang it. He's alive in me and he commits
32:22
himself to conforming you into the image of the very one who
32:27
saved you. And so we see here, even with
32:31
Matthew don't know. Recorded word is given and his
32:33
own writing. He is silent about his own
32:36
Works. He would not dare to try to put
32:38
any Spotlight on himself, but on Christ and Christ Alone. and I
32:43
think that is so encouraging because I look at this day today
32:46
and I can't think of Of a more self, loving self centered, self
32:52
praising self, advertising generation.
32:57
The good thing about our generation is that anybody can
33:00
have a platform. The bad thing about this
33:02
generation is that anybody can have a platform People who do
33:07
not deserve a platform are getting platform.
33:09
And here's the worst thing, they're the most viral some of
33:11
the things I look at. This is viral and I get money
33:14
for it on top of it. But I will tell you a cure to
33:18
the sickness of this culture. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ
33:22
because when you realize the humility of Jesus Christ, and
33:25
when you let his power enter into your life, the same
33:28
fragrance of Christ is adorned upon you.
33:33
And Jesus now comes in and he will do things in you that you
33:36
never thought he would be able to do.
33:37
Not only will he change the way you think and speak about
33:40
others? He will change the way you think
33:41
and speak about yourself. This is the power of the gospel
33:46
and it's available to you. It can break shackles break
33:50
habits, and it can transform you to such a degree that you will
33:54
not even be able to recognize yourself.
33:57
And so we see here that the conversion of Matthews so sweet.
34:01
And so obviously working in him even ways that we might have not
34:05
immediately perceived, look at the conflict around Levi.
34:10
Let me briefly mention about the issues.
34:14
We see here in verse 16, the scribes of the Pharisees when
34:16
they saw that, he was eating with Sinners and tax collectors
34:19
said to his disciples. Why does he eat with tax
34:22
collectors and sinners? Why would this bother you?
34:25
Why is this offending you so much?
34:28
Because this religious group We're known to separate
34:32
themselves from Common People. The very word Pharisee means
34:36
separate one Pharisees. We are separated where the
34:41
separate ones. And the idea of being associated
34:46
or coming into contact with a sinner, Was completely foreign
34:51
to the school of thought. These men would have nothing to
34:56
do with somebody that did not hold to their Traditions or
34:59
their impeccable, observance of those Traditions.
35:03
They were repulsed they were disgusted.
35:05
They would show that just even by their associations and the
35:08
sight of these Pharisees looking upon a holy man, who obviously
35:12
perform miracles to have dinner and to express one of the most
35:18
intimate ways of being related to somebody Was jarring.
35:24
And so they asked in a subtle accusatory way, what is he
35:28
doing? Having dinner with these kind of
35:30
people And he says it to the disciples, but Jesus hears and I
35:35
love that he hears everything. So Jesus answers and he says in
35:40
a paraphrase fashion. I'm a spiritual doctor.
35:45
I go to the spiritually sick. That's what I do.
35:51
That's who I go for. That's who I associate with.
35:53
That is my mission. That is my heart.
35:57
Amazingly, these men. Couldn't understand it.
36:04
These are the type of doctors who avoid sick people and
36:09
distance himself from the diseased.
36:11
You know what, kind of a doctor that is a useless one.
36:14
And that's what legalism is. It is useless religion.
36:19
Legalism that says we are pure and holy by not associate or not
36:22
believing that God can change or not going to Great Lengths to
36:24
show compassion and understanding the people who are
36:27
warped and their mind, you are just like a doctor who.
36:30
When they see a sick people run, the other direction useless But
36:36
Jesus is the great physician. He's drawn to the broken, even
36:41
the broken in the mind, broken and heartbroken in their
36:44
actions, broken in their vocabulary and he wants to heal
36:47
them. And so he comes to do just that
36:51
Now, I am fully aware that this Fair say Urkel.
36:56
Commentary has been turned into license for unwarranted Liberty.
37:01
So you have people, usually Christians.
37:03
I try to be cool, and they want to hang out with Sinners, and
37:07
they're not just hanging out with Sinners, their sinning with
37:08
the sinners. Jesus ate with Sinners, Jesus,
37:13
ate with tax collectors. Yeah, he ate with them.
37:16
Not to be like them, but to heal them.
37:20
That's all I'm gonna say about it.
37:21
That's it. He came to them to heal them,
37:24
not to enjoy their company and their sin.
37:29
And so we see here, that as much as Jesus is rebuking them, it
37:32
goes even further and Matthews version.
37:35
And we're going to end here in this Evangelistic message this
37:37
afternoon to understand, Jesus has wisdom, and designed for his
37:42
people, and for any person who engages with this word, and I
37:46
pray, that's every single one of you Matthew chapter 9 And verse
37:50
12 and 13. Matthew chapter 9, verse 12 and
37:54
13. but when he heard it, when Jesus heard the criticism of
38:02
This crowd. He said those who are well, have
38:07
no need of a physician but those who are sick, Go and learn what
38:12
this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice
38:17
for. I came not to call the
38:19
righteous, but Sinners. Do you see the added phrase?
38:23
Go and learn any quotes from Hosea 6:6.
38:27
I desire mercy and not sacrifice.
38:31
You know, it's so amazing here. Jesus tells the religious Elite
38:37
who are known for their apparent expertise in the law to go and
38:44
learn. Talk about a sting.
38:48
Hey you you Seminary professors, come over here, go and learn
38:52
what this verse says, excuse me. Talking to men who have
38:57
memorized large portions, even books of the law.
39:01
And Jesus has the boldness to looking them in the eye and says
39:05
you clearly have an honor Sir with this verse means.
39:07
So go back into your little office, pull out the book and
39:11
look at this verse and understand what I mean by it, Go
39:15
and learn, and that's, that's very instructive insightful,
39:19
isn't it? Because what I see from this is
39:21
that God's word was designed so that it would be learned in a
39:25
way that would transform your perception and your practice.
39:29
That's what true learning is when it comes to your
39:32
involvement in the scriptures. When knowledge of the word of
39:35
God is acquired but not applied. Our relationship with the word
39:40
of God is extremely flawed. As in Need for reform, it needs
39:47
to be totally altered because the very Pharisees who knew
39:51
these scriptures clearly did not learn be scriptures even though
39:56
it was stuffed in their brains and that they could quote it
39:58
offhand. Jesus still looks at them as
40:01
unlearned men go back and learn that tells me what true learning
40:08
is of the When I come to, this is to truly learn so I can truly
40:11
change. And in this case, the lack of
40:15
compassion of the Pharisees and the coldness and their hearts
40:18
towards other people was a clear sign that you did not allow the
40:21
word of God to have its way in you the way it was designed to
40:24
have its way in you and so when I look at people who are
40:27
extremely sophisticated and well taught and well-spoken but then
40:31
I look at the character and how they treat others.
40:34
I know one thing despite the knowledge they have not learned
40:37
they haven't They have not learned the way Jesus said
40:41
you're supposed to learn, may God help us to truly learn.
40:45
He says, those who are sick down, those are the ones I've
40:48
come for and those who call themselves righteous.
40:51
I did not come for, you know what that means?
40:55
Jesus cannot save a person who does not see their need to be
40:58
saved. Jesus cannot heal.
41:01
Anybody who does not see their sickness when he says I came not
41:06
to call the righteous. He's talking about those who
41:08
believe they are righteous when they are not.
41:12
So do you want to know how you can disqualify yourself from
41:15
salvation? Believe that you don't need
41:17
salvation? We had a question.
41:20
What is the unforgivable sin? What is the blasphemy of the
41:23
Holy Spirit on Friday? And we tried to explain it.
41:27
But, let me tell you the unforgivable sin today, it's a
41:30
sin. That's not repented of The sin
41:35
that Jesus will not forgive his ass in that you will not choose
41:37
to acknowledge, and say no to and embrace the forgiveness for
41:40
that sin. So the worst kind of people to
41:44
evangelize to, and to convince of the Gospel, are people who
41:47
think they are good. The most difficult man.
41:52
Because like a person who doesn't see the cancer and
41:55
refuses to acknowledge that they are in fact affected by some
41:59
illness and doesn't go to a doctor, it's the same way for a
42:03
person who does not need salvation.
42:04
They look at themselves and they go, I'm fine.
42:08
I'm very limited on my vocabulary.
42:11
I'm very limited and my thought process I can only really say so
42:15
much before. Some of you start falling asleep
42:16
and maybe some of you already on your way there.
42:20
But what I've said, I hope will touch the heart of the person
42:23
who came in here thinking they were good.
42:26
But came to the realization that they are not good.
42:29
And Jesus is willing to save you exactly where you are.
42:33
Lord, we thank you for this brief message.
42:38
And we ask Lord that as we reflect at your table of what
42:41
you've done for us. That the saint.
42:48
Would have a renewing joy, and their Salvation, And The Sinner
42:53
would be broken. Broken, but they would recognize
42:57
it as a blessed Brokenness, because you were right here,
43:00
waiting to heal them. Thank you for being the one who
43:05
came for us while we were weak, while we were Sinners while we
43:09
were enemies. If we become numb to that truth,
43:12
awaken Us by the spirit, to see how good that is in Jesus name,
43:17
amen.