Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / The Burden of Misapplying God’s Word | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

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The Burden of Misapplying God’s Word | 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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Christ is risen. I don't think we should say that
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once a year. He is risen, he is alive.
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He is our Lord and he is coming soon.
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If you have the Living Word in your hands, would you meet me in
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the Gospel According to Mark and chapter 2?
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Beginning in verse 23? And our brother prayed but we'll
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pray. Again, as we have God's word
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before us opened and ask him to help us as we seek to understand
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his word as will do. We thank you that you have been
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with us up to this point in the gospel of Mark and Lord You Have
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Not failed to show us the glory that is in your son and Lord.
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As we approach this text, we pray that your Holy Spirit would
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help us. See the beauty and Jesus again.
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And Lord we pray that as he is magnified that our hearts would
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also be magnified and love for him.
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And the Lord, he would receive greater worship.
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Greater devotion greater adoration as we realize that he
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is our substitute. He stood in our place, his
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righteousness is ours and we belong to him.
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We give you glory and thanks for this word in advance in Jesus
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name we pray. Amen.
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Mark 223. One Sabbath.
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He was going through the grain Fields And as they made their
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way, his disciples began to pluck, heads of grain, and the
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Pharisees were saying to him. Look, why are they doing?
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What is not lawful on the Sabbath?
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And he said to them, have you never read what David did when
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he was in need and was hungry? He and those who are with him,
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how he entered the house of God and the time of a be a thar, the
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high priest and ate the bread of the presence which is not lawful
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for any, but the priests to eat and also gave it to those who
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are with him. And he said to them, the Sabbath
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was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
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So the son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
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A careful reading of the gospels will show that one of the major
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controversies that centered around the person of Jesus
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Christ, was his behavior on a particular day of the week that
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day of the week may not have much relevance to us Gentiles
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but it is a day of the week that was and still is a trademark for
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the Jewish people that day. As you heard many times just in
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our reading is known as the Sabbath.
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Which in the Hebrew simply means to rest, or to cease, it was on
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the Sabbath which defines Friday Sunset to Saturday sunset.
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According to Jewish law, that some of the most memorable
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miracles of Jesus took place. But it was also on that same day
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that the ever-present Pharisees manifested, the depths of the
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cruelty and coldness of their heart, especially as it
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contrasted to the warm compassion of Jesus Christ
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toward people. It's so strange to think how a
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day that was divinely ordained by God.
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To cause reverential meditation and refreshment from work made
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these Pharisees. So intensely vexed and
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frustrated. And it is in this teaching that
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you will see why. Why was it that these Pharisees
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were so caught up and responding to something that was wholly and
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for the good of man. But instead became a burden, And
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something to be dreaded. And it's going to be a lesson
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for you and I to understand that we can take God's word and
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misapply it we can take God's word and reinvent the purpose of
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it, and bring harm to ourselves and to others.
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But more than that, it is the activity of Jesus on the Sabbath
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that will bring even greater support to his nature and
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character. It was on the Sabbath that the
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Pharisees wanted to flex their empty religion, their
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performance of piety, but it was also on the Sabbath and many
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occasions that Jesus proved that.
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He was who he said he was God In the Flesh.
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And as you as you behold, that this afternoon mate, pull on
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your heart to worship and adore him to a greater degree.
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But on this particular Sabbath that we just read the critical
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Pharisees vocalize, their unjustified concerns, not
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because Jesus performed a miracle.
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In fact, Jesus wasn't the direct object of their scorn.
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It was his disciples and what they did.
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And these disciples just ate some grain.
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But that was significant to the Pharisees.
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These pseudo spiritual spies were flustered by the sight of
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these men snacking on some grain as they walked along a path.
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And here's what you and I are going to do this afternoon.
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The same way that these disciples walked by specific
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path in order to nourish themselves by receiving, some
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kind of Strength from these little nuggets.
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You and I also as we glean through this passage are going
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to pluck. Some truths from these verses
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and receive nourishment for our souls.
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What do we see here in verse 23? Jesus was making his way to a
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certain destination and we are told that his disciples
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accompany them and as they accompanied him they were just
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pulling some grain as they pass by some fields.
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And Matthew is more specific with this exact scene by telling
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us that they were hungry, so they pluck the grain, so that
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they could eat, and I cannot help.
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But even at this point, draw a simple principle that will
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hopefully help you. And I, as we commit ourselves to
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following Jesus, these Apostles and training as they trailed
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behind their Rabbi show us that living for the Lord.
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Jesus, serving his purposes and his cause does not guarantee
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luxury, or Interrupted physical convenience.
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These disciples not too long ago.
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Were feasting, Matthew's house enjoying a banquet, just a few
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short hours later, few days. Perhaps here, they are taking
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some kernels, rubbing it in their hands and trying to make
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the most out of it. When we follow the lord, we have
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to understand that it is not always convenient to our flesh.
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Does not guarantee that everything will be brought
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before us on a silver platter. And that we will have no
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discomfort or no test or no concern.
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At least immediately. What I see here with these
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disciples is a perfect example of quiet.
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Contentment in Jesus Christ. No complaints.
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No squeaks no squeals here they are walking along with Jesus and
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just enjoying what has been provided for them in the
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natural. And there are some days where we
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will know feasts and there's some days where we will know
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some fast and Fast that we did not intend to explore willingly.
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But look at these disciples. I love the fact that there is
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silence on their part. There are no complaints from
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them because their rations look, much more different than it was
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just a few days ago. The celebration that they
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enjoyed a Matthews home and here's how I take it as long as
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crisis with us, it doesn't matter what is before us, as
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long as Christ is our portion, it is a matter.
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What kind of portion we have in the natural, any portion is a
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full portion when Christ is our true portion, And so there's
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such a plainness about this scene here.
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They are just gazing and grazing while they walk in the shadow of
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their Savior. And the Simplicity is so
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beautiful. Because what we look here and
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see is that the Lord and following him does not mean that
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we will experience a series of Supernatural events continually.
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Be encouraged that the same way the Lord was in the presence of
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his disciples in the grain Fields.
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So is he with you? And I, when we are going through
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seasons of what may be ordinary or mundane, You see, Jesus knew
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that his servants were hungry. He can see it.
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Despite the fact he was a mission, he could see it.
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And Jesus doesn't take it upon himself to perform some kind of
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a miracle instead. He allows his followers. to
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pluck some grain to silence their grumbling bellies, and he
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was just as present with them, then as he would be, when he
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would feed the 5,000, And so Christ is with us.
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If I can use this word in are snacking, just as much as in our
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serving, That his watchful eye is strong, even what seems to be
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normal routine mundane just as much as it would be when we see
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him do miracles in our lives. And may we not Reserve our
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praise to him. Only when we are promoted in an
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unusual way or only, when we seem to have this Supernatural
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opportunity, open for us in our favor because his grace spreads
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out And extends far beyond the undeniable interventions that he
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provides for us. See what these disciples are
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doing is what any ordinary Jew would do.
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It was a common practice but even though this this is
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something that we would dismiss as just going to the gas station
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to pick up a little thing because you're hungry and your
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commute was a little longer than you.
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Thought it was. These disciples are experiencing
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in our recipients of the goodness of God, even in the
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plucking of the grain. Just feeling the baskets after a
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miraculous provision of just a few pieces of bread and fish
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into feeding the multitudes even in that.
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And the reason is because what these men are doing was only
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possible because God made it possible.
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He actually made it law. He actually codified it through
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Moses. So you're going to have to hear
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this verse and understand that understanding, this verse helps
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us see and understand the rest of the text in Deuteronomy 23.
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25 God gave instructions to the Israelites and he said an
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interesting thing in this verse. If you go into your neighbor's
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standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you
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shall not put a sickle to your neighbor standing grain.
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So he actually created a law that these men were fulfilling,
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their, they were walking in faithfully and this was just one
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facet of The welfare system in Israel, not a system that makes
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you lazy, but one, that gives means to strengthen the Hungry
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Traveler while at the same time, not significantly, stripping
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somebody's hard-earned Prophet away from them.
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And though no law exists like this for you.
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And I in the New Covenant does not this verse show us and give
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us a glimpse of the mindfulness of God for you and me that he
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actually cares about going from point A to point B and making
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sure that your belly is full. And so he creates this law that
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is fair and just and it shows his love for the Israelites just
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as much as when he rained Manna From Heaven for 40 years, a
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Miracle Day by Day. His love is just a strong in
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this lies. It was in the miracle.
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And what am I trying to propose to you?
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And I met we loved him in the natural not just in the
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Supernatural. May we praise him and credit him
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for his goodness. And what seems to be something
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that his fingerprints are not on when?
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In fact he is the supplier of all our good.
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He is the permitter of all the things that we enjoy.
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And so I am refreshed by this visual of Jesus.
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Walking I don't know how it looked was at one line where
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they spread a across the field, there's Jesus walking in his
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disciples plucking and maybe one disciple is trying to jokingly.
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Take the grain out of the other hand of another disciple.
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But something happens because what's so beautiful in this
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scene, what showcases, the goodness of God and even
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encourages us to know, silent satisfaction, as we follow
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Jesus. No matter what's in our hand was
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something that was totally different in the sight of these
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Pharisees. A sharp accusation arose in
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those fields, I don't know where they were, I don't know, they
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were in the field spying, it's pretty pathetic sight, but this
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group of religious Elite thought that they found something that
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would disqualify The credibility of Jesus closest students.
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And so they say, look Why are they doing?
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What is not lawful on the Sabbath?
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Well, you and I just heard it in Deuteronomy, what they are
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doing, is lawful it was permitted.
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It was granted there was a green light but their issue is not so
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much of the plucking and the eating per se, as much as it was
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that they were doing this on the Sabbath.
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Were they right? Where the disciples breaking the
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law, were they working on a day that was calling for rest.
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The short answer. No. no, you and I should be
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acquainted with the Pharisees enough to understand that they
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were Masters and notorious for taking man-made tradition and
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elevating it to the degree that it would eclipse the Simplicity
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and the clarity of God's word and if this is saying anything
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it is showing how their tradition mangled it absolutely
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tampered with something as holy as the Sabbath until it became
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Unrecognizable until it lost all its life, giving value until it
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was Martin to something that was hideous, instead of something
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that was wholly legalism tends to do that.
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You see if there is something that these Pharisees were doing
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on the Sabbath is that they utilized it as a weekly platform
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to pump their pride. and so week after week, these men would not
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only impose their regulations and their rituals that were out
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of bounds of the Bible, but they would, they would use this time
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to also police the population and too Criticize and to point
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out that to disqualify, men standing with God based on the
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fact that they are not adhering to their own rules.
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And so you can imagine how this day was generally dreaded by the
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Israelite, we don't want the Sabbath to come because outcome
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the Cockroaches here, come the Pharisees sniffing and looking.
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And we see us a snippet of it even here.
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I mean here's Jesus traveling with his disciples and up come
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to these Pharisees popping their head out of the grains and say
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ha ha, ha look! Look what Doing write it down.
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and instead of it being a day of rest for God's people, under the
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old Covenant, it was a day of unrealistic expectations in the
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name of righteousness quotation marks.
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This is a sad thing. All these rules, all these
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ideas, conjured up by men, who think they are Pious?
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Do we have a glimpse? Do we have any idea of what kind
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of these rules look like? Yes, we do the mishnah, which is
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really just a historical book of a collection of the Jewish oral
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Traditions. Shows us actually.
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Just some of the rules that were implemented on this day.
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The mission is not a Divine book, it's a historical book and
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they have a Sure on the Sabbath and it is through that that we
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can see what it was that the Pharisees were trying to
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implement so strongly. So on that list, there are 39
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works that were prohibited forbidden that would violate
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their idea of the Sabbath. And there are some things there
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that were obvious types of Labor like hunting or plowing.
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But then, as you read on, you realize that the category of
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work included hard to believe practices.
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For example, a legal work. Would constitute writing more
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than one letter on a page? Or God forbid, you are race to
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letters. It would mean tying a knot,
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untying a knot sewing more than one stitch.
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Cleaning clothes walking a certain amount of steps.
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And other paralyzing practices. So with that in view, it's no
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wonder that the Pharisees were shaken by the sight of the fact
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that these disciples were plucking grain because it's
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highly possible that in this one scene alone, what they estimated
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was that these disciples were breaking the law because they
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were traveling too far. And they were working.
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Yes, this is work. According to the Pharisees, the
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plucking, the removing of the shell, the blowing of the chaff,
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equated harvesting and threshing.
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And when towing, And so they said you're working.
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You're working sounds ridiculous.
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There's a not may I propose to you that in this day today The
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Same Spirit is at work and many Ministries.
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That might be foreign to you. But just just look out into the
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Horizon stay in this thing long enough.
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Open your networks and Converse with others who are part of
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different denominations or different network of churches.
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And what you'll realize is, there are some Churches who have
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required specific measurements of clothing.
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Not not modesty. I mean here comes the ruler and
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let's see how long the sleeve is.
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Let's see how far down the dress goes.
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The same. People will condemn the
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application of Cosmetics on a woman's face or on a woman's
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body who demand limited technology and each family's
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home. And who exalt these rules, which
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have zero benefits to True sanctification.
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And the sad part is people eat this stuff up.
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It's attractive to some to some the Temptation is lawlessness.
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I believe that's the greater issue with American Christianity
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but to others. It is legalism.
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And what you have is people who live their life in this way.
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And who adopt these strict observance has to these rigid
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rituals because they think this is what pleases God.
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This is what puts a smile on his face.
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Would you like to know how the Holy Spirit saw these Pharisees?
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Would you like to know what he perceived would you like to know
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what concerns him? The same Pharisees, who seemed
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so disciplined, who seems so devoted to the cause of God.
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On one of the teachings of Jesus were the Pharisees were in
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attendance. He taught about money and the
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holy spirit. Gives us a commentary on
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something hidden. Apart from this, we would not
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have known, we would have probably assumed but the Holy
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Spirit exposes the same men who ran around bullying people with
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their standards. Turn with me to Luke chapter 16
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and look at this short verse with me.
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In Luke 16, 14 to 15. We are told.
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The Pharisees. Who were lovers of money.
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Heard all these things and they ridiculed him and he said to
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them, you are those who justify yourselves before men but God
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knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men?
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Is an abomination in the sight of God.
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Beneath the rituals, under the holy garments, in quotation
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marks, the public prayers, the constant fasting the nagging
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criticism and the fault-finding, and the name of Holiness was a
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burning infatuation. For money.
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The god that most people worship today.
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These Pharisees might have been able to fool others and they
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might have thought and believed that they were fooling God.
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But this verse proves listen to me this afternoon, my people, my
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brethren my sisters, my fellow followers of Christ, What this
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proves is that the Lord looks past our daily and weekly
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performances and the only thing he considers, as what lives and
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the deepest chambers of your heart and mind. what a scathing
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statement Jesus makes For what is exalted among men is an
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abomination in the sight of God, can you imagine?
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He's speaking about their empty religion.
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This might not Shock you until you do a comprehensive study in
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the word of God, to see what is under the category of
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abomination, like pervert, sexual practices.
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And yet there is a high spot for NT religion, under that
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condemning category. And imagine imagine doing all
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these things for the sake of people, seeing how spiritual you
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are. And God sees it as a Abstention
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smell. I cannot help but move past this
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text without considering the thought.
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Not just not just for those who might be fair, say achill.
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Who have magnified tradition, a magnified outward behavior, and
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not what God puts weightier emphasis on.
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But even for us, in our performances, in our service to
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God, what does it matter? What benefit is that?
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If there's no spirit-inspired pulse behind it?
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God forbid that we would go through the mechanics of
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Christianity with hollowness with emptiness with no
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connection to this pleasing. My Lord from a position of being
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saved by his grace. Yes.
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And I can't help. But look at this verse.
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And this is what came to mind. When reading it, O Lord, you saw
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their hearts, you saw their loves, you didn't see the length
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of their beards and their garments.
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You didn't see the length of the prayers.
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You didn't see the length of their fasting.
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You saw what they loved and this is what you look for.
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Oh God, were to come into your heart.
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And pull it out in the open. What kind of love?
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Would he find there? What would he see in that heart?
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What would he discover Pastor all the practices and all the
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performance of God were to come just to see the pulse of your
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heart? What would he see?
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Is there a love for him? Are we just empty performers?
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Convincing ourselves and others that we're okay.
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Everything is fine. What do our affections beat for?
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What? Directions are a heart set
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toward who is it? That we are the most captivated
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by and who is it that we are the most fearful of disappointing in
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grieving oh what'd he see the reflection of his own face when
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he pulls out that heart And looks at it to see what kind of
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loves we have in this life. It may he by his grace keep that
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love alive for him until this heart is transformed in the
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resurrection, only by his grace, able to perfectly love him for
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all of eternity. And so we come back to our tax
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and Mark 2. To see, Jesus answer to the
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allegation made by the Pharisees, and he would do.
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So by masterfully, referencing a scripture, you want to deal with
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legalistic people, go to the Bible, you want to deal with
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people who love tradition, go to the Bible and we read it, but we
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can read it again and verse 25 and he said to them have you
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never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry?
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He and those who are with them, how he entered the house of God,
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and the time of a be a star, the high priests and ate the bread
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of the presence. She is not lawful for any but
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the priests to eat and also gave it to those who are with him.
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It's a very simple story. If you were with us on Fridays,
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we cover this in first Samuel, we're in second Samuel.
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Now it's a story of David who had to flee his home, his work,
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his family because of a sudden Exile, because salt turned on
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him and was ready to kill him and because he had no time to
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prepare, he comes to the house of God and he handed.
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And he seeks something to eat because he is hungry him.
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And his men who accompanied him And so he asked the priest if
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there's anything for him and the priest said, there's nothing
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here but the holy bread the holy bread was something designated
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for the priest alone to eat. It was to be there on the table
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of showbread and once they would recycle the bread with fresh hot
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bread every week, they would eat the old bread.
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That's what David was looking for and it was granted to him.
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Now, that's simple story, may seem straightforward.
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But the question is, why is Jesus alluding to it out of all
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the things, why this story and let me give you what?
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Perhaps you grew up, understanding it to mean, if you
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grew up in the church, let me give you the most popular
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interpretation. It seems that people think that
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Jesus is by pointing to David. Providing an illustration to
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promote A principle of Mercy. Meaning what after the Pharisees
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can, then the disciples. The Lord points to David to
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teach that under certain circumstances God is willing for
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ceremonial laws for rules to be set aside for the sake of
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meeting. A human need, it's a lesson on
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compassion. The idea here is that observing
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regulations is not more important than providing
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assistance in emergency situations.
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Like David was in Even if our help means that we need to bend
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the commands of God a little bit, then let's bring it about.
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So you can imagine how a text like this is often referred to
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to support the notion of situational ethics All that
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means is that under unique situations, it would be
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acceptable to commit. If we're honest, what would be
27:40
known as a sin in order to promote a greater good.
27:46
So that's what Jesus is teaching.
27:48
Look, David did what was wrong. He wasn't punished for it
27:51
because there was a need. So why are you Pharisees getting
27:54
all flustered? When the disciples here are just
27:57
doing the same thing, they're eating, okay?
27:59
If it confuses, what it means to be, not working on the Sabbath.
28:03
What's the big deal? Personally, I do not believe
28:07
that's what Jesus teaching. And I may have stepped on some
28:12
toes, but would you bear with me?
28:15
Because I've heard this from many people myself and as I
28:19
looked further into it, I realized that perhaps that is
28:21
not Jesus main point. Maybe that's not even his point
28:24
at all. Because this would make sense,
28:30
this message would fit if the disciples actually broke the
28:36
law. But they didn't, they were
28:40
Guiltless. But look how Jesus speaks about
28:44
David in verse 26, how he entered the house of God in the
28:48
time of a Bea, Arthur the high priest and ate the bread of the
28:51
presence, which is not lawful for any, but the priest to eat
28:59
So what David did was a clear violation of God's law.
29:03
He did break it. It's undeniable that alone
29:07
should cause us to, at least question the popular
29:10
understanding and interpretation of this passage.
29:14
Why would Jesus use a guilty man to justify those who are
29:19
Guiltless? Definitely not to promote
29:23
situational ethics, but I present to you.
29:28
The possibility and the strongest understanding that he
29:31
is calling out the inconsistency of the Pharisees.
29:35
In other words, think about it this way, as Jesus brings about
29:40
David, he is not justifying David's trespass.
29:45
He is not justifying an idea that God winked at this whole
29:48
thing and turned back because David was hungry and you know,
29:50
okay if we have the ignore the law for him to be fed then we'll
29:52
do that. That's not what's happening
29:54
here. This is Jesus.
29:55
Using the story of David to Corner the Receives in their
29:58
hypocrisy. Here's how the argument goes.
30:03
Are you willing to overlook? What David did and how he broke
30:08
the law. While you at the same time are
30:11
condemning my disciples for breaking your human tradition.
30:15
Do you see? It helps to go to Matthews
30:18
version to see this expounded. So, go to Matthew chapter 12,
30:22
and look with me here, And verse 5.
30:29
And the verse is proceeding. He says the same thing that he
30:32
does here in Mark to he brings up David.
30:35
When we come to Matthew 12, he builds on that point and he
30:38
brings up another example. And so in Matthew 12, 5 notice
30:42
what Jesus says, Have you not read in the law?
30:47
How the Sabbath on the Sabbath? The priests in the temple,
30:51
profane, the Sabbath and are Guiltless.
30:54
So what is he saying here? Even the strictest Pharisee
30:57
wouldn't see the priest guilty. On the Sabbath for performing
31:03
more work than any other day of the week for killing the
31:05
animals. Preparing the sacrifices
31:07
performing their duties but according to their laws, the
31:11
priests should be guilty. The priest should be hey
31:15
according to your standards, the priests themselves should be
31:19
indicted and yet they are quick to come to the disciples and
31:23
their modest grain picking and to criticize them and condemned
31:27
them something that took much less effort and work than what
31:31
the priest did on the Sabbath. Now some might protest those who
31:36
know their Bibles well and know the story.
31:38
Well, who might have used this story to justify certain things
31:41
and so the protest says brother Jesus quotes Hosea and chapter
31:46
12 of Matthew verse 7. And what do we see in Matthew 12
31:50
7 Jesus says and if you had known what this means I desire
31:55
mercy and not sacrifice. You would not have condemned the
31:59
Guiltless. You see God is trying to show us
32:03
that. Sometimes the most compassionate
32:04
thing to do is to meet a need. Even though we ignore the law,
32:08
that my Ender, that Mercy from being extended you see God is
32:12
promoting Mercy, Mercy. So great that it exceeds above
32:17
law, keeping and Rule, observing But is that how Jesus is
32:22
applying Hosea? Is that is it again?
32:26
Is that what Jesus is doing here?
32:27
Is he trying to make a case for situational ethics?
32:33
All you have to do is read the verse again in verse 7, very
32:35
carefully to see. No, he is not, that's not his
32:37
point look again. And if you had known what this
32:40
means, I desire. Mercy and not sacrifice, you
32:44
would not have condemned the Guiltless.
32:47
That's the main point. That's what he's trying to drive
32:50
at. You are condemning the
32:54
Guiltless. and by quoting Hosea, he's actually exposing how
33:00
merciless their Traditions are And so he says here.
33:07
I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you're condemning the
33:11
Guiltless. That's how we know the disciples
33:12
were Guiltless and you're doing this with your supposed
33:15
justification. That your, your observance, your
33:19
strict standards are some kind of a sacrifice to God.
33:26
When in fact, they are merciless, you are merciless.
33:28
God desires Mercy. but as we heard, Lovelace spiritual
33:37
sacrifice, especially when it violates and contradicts his
33:40
word is an abomination. So I understand, let me say this
33:45
again. Jesus is using David as an
33:48
argument to expose the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who are willing
33:51
to run around with their traditions and hit people over
33:54
the head. When they would not dare do that
33:55
to the priest who work just as hard if not twice as hard on
33:59
that day. And David, their beloved hero
34:02
who actually broke God's law. We pause and say this.
34:06
At this point, this is an example for us to remember
34:08
something. So crucial and it is to rightly
34:11
divide the word of God. To rightly divide the word of
34:15
God. Lest we be found guilty
34:16
promoting legalism like these Pharisees or less.
34:19
We make the mistake of making some room for lawlessness by
34:23
misunderstanding the teachings of Jesus Christ.
34:28
And legalism and lawlessness thrive on the same malpractice,
34:34
if you want to know how these things grow and how they become
34:36
strong, and how they make way in people's lives and Ministries,
34:39
it's actually found in Matthew 12.
34:41
Jesus into different verses in the same.
34:45
Confrontation with these Pharisees says in verse 3 and
34:48
verse 5, have you not read Have you not read?
34:54
Have you not read? What the law says?
34:55
Have you not read? What is this?
34:58
This is an accusation of ignorance.
35:02
You don't know your Bible and if you know about it you have
35:07
misapplied it and this malpractice is what breeds
35:12
either legalism or lawlessness in our lives.
35:15
What is extremely needed? As a careful interaction with
35:18
the scriptures less? We open a door for a world of
35:22
Sorrow to flood the lives of naive people.
35:28
And so Jesus here says, have you not read what another scathing
35:31
statement to Pharisees? Were apparently Experts of the
35:33
law. You clearly didn't read you,
35:35
clearly didn't see it. Listen much of the division and
35:39
are Evangelical circles. Can be solved if we just really
35:42
get to the Bible and stick with the Bible, I'm on any extreme on
35:48
any doctrine of this is what we should do or this is what we
35:50
should or should not do, praise God.
35:52
That most of those feuds are secondary issues but I want to
35:56
be as close to the truth as possible.
35:58
That's what I want. I want every facet of the will
36:02
of God to be in line with the truth in my life.
36:06
And you want to know how we can solve most of these issues
36:08
between Brethren who love Christ.
36:10
Just to stick with the word. I'm not concerned about your
36:13
denominational tradition. I really am not.
36:16
I'm not even concerned about what the ancient fathers.
36:18
Believe they're not my authority.
36:20
Have you not read? Have you not read?
36:25
Jesus. Is my example in yours?
36:28
I hope and if you think that the Pharisees were rattled by what
36:32
he just said you would be right, I would love to see the sight of
36:35
these Eyes offer son becoming silent because Jesus wields, the
36:39
sword of the spirit. I remember I was on a walk, not
36:42
too far from you, and it was on a midday morning and from a,
36:47
from a distance. I saw what you cannot deny to be
36:51
to Mormons. The bicycles, gave it away.
36:55
Bicycles in the white dress shirts.
36:56
I don't mean to be, I'm not trying to mock them but I'm just
36:59
being honest, that's how I recognize them.
37:01
And so I just walked and walked and walked in there was sitting
37:03
there and I thought, you know what, let me just pull up beside
37:05
him and they were young. I knew that they were on
37:07
Mission, you know, Mormons. If you don't know this Mormons,
37:10
dedicate their serious Mormons, two years of their life.
37:12
They pause on everything in life to do Mission.
37:14
They go to a different country, they raise their own funds, they
37:18
move away from home and they preach a false gospel for two
37:21
years of their lives. And most of them do Matt the
37:24
younger years of their lives. So I sat beside them and hearing
37:28
their idea of the gospel and hearing what heaven is all
37:30
about. And it's amazing if you study
37:32
Cults, all cults really have a Fascination for sexuality, study
37:37
called very carefully and you'll realize that there is this
37:39
emphasis on sex. Look at Islam Mormons.
37:44
What's the what's the Pinnacle of Glory?
37:46
You having a Celestial wife and populating planets?
37:51
And so we talked about that, we talked about their understanding
37:53
of Heaven. Well, there's no real.
37:54
Hell, there's three tiers of heaven, and if you were good
37:57
enough, you can get to the top tier if you don't, you're in
37:59
this lower compartment. And so we really want to get to
38:01
the top and idea of the top is and their language enjoying
38:04
family and having your loved ones and you dig deep, it's much
38:08
more than that. And here's where the argument
38:12
ended and there is different arguments.
38:13
But this is this is all that put a stop to any idea being
38:17
proposed on their part. Have you not read?
38:22
And I looked at me says, have you not read what Jesus said to
38:24
the Sadducees who try to make a case against the resurrection?
38:28
That one woman had several wives, whose husband will be
38:32
hers in the resurrection? And Jesus says, you do not know
38:36
the scriptures or the power of God, those who will be
38:40
resurrected on to life will be like the angels of God.
38:43
So you guys are you're motivated for your works here because you
38:47
want to get to the top tier of Heaven which the main theme of
38:49
it is populating and having a family and Jesus himself said,
38:53
you ain't gonna get married, have you not read all would we
38:58
know our Bibles so that we can be free from false doctrines.
39:03
So we come to Jesus, where was I?
39:07
And there are talking to him about these disciples.
39:13
And the rattled. What is Jesus going to do?
39:16
Apologize for being too strong. No, he's gonna he's gonna up the
39:23
ante if you think they're mad. Now he's about to make them very
39:26
mad and he's going to do. So with two statements, we're
39:30
going to stay in Matthew since we're already there.
39:32
Two of these statements are in Matthew, one of them has shared
39:35
with Mark, almost word for word. And so, here's what he says in
39:38
verse 6, after he talks about the priests, And Matthew brings
39:43
up something in verse 6, I tell you something greater than the
39:46
temple is here. Why does it Mark?
39:49
Bring that up? Well if you understand Matthews
39:51
main audience, they were Jews. This would mean a lot more to
39:54
the Jew than the Gentiles that Mark was writing to.
39:56
So he brings up the temple. He brings up the that prize
40:01
building for the Jewish people and he says something
40:04
astounding. I mean, he could have stopped at
40:06
bring up David in the priests and they could have moved on.
40:09
But like with Jesus loves to do is bring up further truth using
40:13
these opportunities to amplify his person I tell Something
40:19
greater than the temple is here. This is after he spoke about the
40:24
priest who work in the temple, even on the Sabbath.
40:27
Jesus means that he is greater than Temple, which is what he is
40:30
saying the what an astounding claim this is because this is
40:34
what he is conveying if the priests of the physical Temple,
40:36
pay attention to this. If the priests of the physical
40:39
Temple, we're allowed to be dismissed.
40:43
From The Binding regulations of the Sabbath because the nature
40:46
of their work was divinely ordained.
40:48
How much more should these Disciples of mine be exempt?
40:55
because they're eating as a result of their service to what
40:59
the temple is pointing to you see if you're willing to
41:04
overlook the priests because of their sacrificial service in the
41:08
physical House of God, do you not realize that these men are
41:12
working because they have been serving The one who is greater
41:16
than the temple. And he's here greater than the
41:23
temple. Who does this man?
41:26
Think he is. I tell you who he is.
41:31
He is the true Ark of the Covenant God's presence dwelling
41:36
with man. He is the sacrifice that
41:38
fulfills all the Shadows of the ceremonies and the ordinances he
41:43
is the priest who does not continually stand to perform
41:47
sacrifices. But now is seated at the right
41:49
hand of God because his shed blood suffice has the standard
41:54
of God's righteousness. He is are omnipresent access to
41:58
the father. That veil has been torn and at
42:02
any time and any place in the name of Jesus we can come boldly
42:06
to the throne of grace. He is to be worthy of all praise
42:11
and reverence and adoration for his Beauty, outshines Solomon's
42:15
designs and herod's expansion to that design.
42:19
He is greater than the temple and he is our Temple.
42:23
Jesus Christ. Think he stopped there.
42:30
I mean, it's possible for these Pharisees to have misunderstood
42:34
what he said. They did that many times.
42:36
Maybe he did register but Jesus is about to say in his second
42:40
statement, shared my Matthew and Mark would be clear as day
42:43
because how he ends this whole discourse, how he ends this
42:47
dialogue with these men as by saying.
42:50
So the son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
42:57
Mark says it almost word for word.
42:59
Here's a translation and it's a beautiful translation.
43:03
He looks at these Pharisees who were running around Jerusalem in
43:06
a different streets, and if it's of Israel to try to try to find
43:10
people who are breaking their law and he says, you don't get
43:15
to make the rules about the Sabbath.
43:20
I do, I am the lord of the Sabbath.
43:24
I'm the one who has authority over it.
43:27
I created it. I instituted it.
43:31
I declared it and I alone determine what happens on it.
43:36
I mean to see their faces, these men who made so much about who
43:44
they were around the Sabbath and here's Jesus, looking at them
43:47
and saying I'm the lord of the Sabbath even.
43:50
I yes, Am Lord over the Sabbath up to this point in Mark, we've
43:53
seen him Lord over so many things.
43:56
The Lord over Temptation, Lord over sin, Lord over demons,
44:00
Lord, over disease. And here he is.
44:03
Now saying I'm Lord even of the Sabbath.
44:08
I want to end here. Because again, we could be
44:12
tempted to just look at that as an observation that admire the
44:16
Insight, not realize how it has direct instruction for our
44:20
lives. We get into a lot of trouble in
44:24
our spiritual Endeavor. Is when we feel confident like
44:26
the Pharisees to add or remove rules or interpretations to the
44:31
things that God has made clear in his word.
44:35
We get into a lot of trouble. But what kind of blessing and
44:39
Purity comes and is assessed and is maintained in every believer.
44:46
Especially leaders in the church who would live in light of the
44:50
lordship of Jesus Christ in all things.
44:54
Who really believe that as Jesus highlights the Sabbath.
44:58
He says, yes, I'm even lord of the Sabbath.
45:01
What do we, what do we know? What would we know if we believe
45:07
that Christ is Lord over? Yes, everything even fill in the
45:12
blank. Lord.
45:16
You have the final say you are the Lord of what we preach at
45:21
this church. You have complete lordship over
45:25
what we sing, how we deal with one another, how we build our
45:29
lives in your name. Teach us to see that your way is
45:34
the only way. And it is the best way to teach
45:37
us to understand your word that we may apply it.
45:39
So that you may be maximally glorified a, we may be maximally
45:43
blessed teach us to Understand that your decrees were designed
45:47
to be adored to certain degree for you are our Lord.
45:51
Yes. The Lord of everything.
45:54
Do you want to know what happens when you?
45:56
And I make our own rules and I bump into a lot of Christians
45:59
who do about what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.
46:03
You want to know what happens when we come up with our own
46:06
convictions and standards that contradict this book that
46:11
violate the clear teachings of Jesus.
46:12
We get exactly what the Pharisees produced by promoting
46:17
their rules burdens. Burdens.
46:25
Legalism clear burden. It's obvious.
46:30
Miserable people miserable Ministries?
46:34
No joy. No freedom.
46:35
And it does, he even it doesn't even heal you.
46:40
Some of the most heinous people come from legalistic
46:44
backgrounds. But lawlessness being loose and
46:49
light with God's word, that also brings burden into our lives.
46:53
It does have a guilty conscience.
46:58
Of the natural repercussions of sin.
47:02
Rob of the blessing of God's face shining Upon Us robbed of
47:06
the assurance that our lives are not open to Satan and his
47:10
schemes. Robbed of fellowship with God
47:15
burdens, when we come up with our own rules, when we come up
47:19
with our own ideas of what it means to be a True Believer, all
47:21
we open our lives to burdens when Jesus said, come to me.
47:28
Come to me all who are weary and are heavy laden.
47:33
When he says, take my yoke upon. You know what he's saying there?
47:35
Take my burden upon you, roll off the burden of your own ideas
47:40
of what it means to please. God of what it means to live
47:42
free in this life and take my yoke upon you. it's light, its
47:49
life giving It was such a free. I want to ask you today. for
47:57
those who are visiting, especially, Is your relationship
48:04
with God. According to this book, Are you
48:09
burdened? Are you burdened by sin?
48:13
Are you burdened by trying to strive your way to please God.
48:19
Are you burden with the sense of purposelessness where you just
48:22
floating around in this life, you're just a number.
48:26
Come to Jesus. And trust.
48:30
That is he lays upon you his word?
48:33
It will be the most freeing thing you've ever experienced.
48:36
He made you, he created you. And when he did, he gave us the
48:43
option to continue in fellowship with him or to have our own way.
48:48
And when we made our own way, we turned our back on him and we
48:51
walked as fast as we can. Some are running in the other
48:54
direction, but because he loves you, he dies for you and he
48:59
calls for you to come back to him.
49:02
He paid a price, the price that separates you from him.
49:06
And he wants you to know, the life that only he can offer
49:09
because he is the author of life.
49:12
He is the author of life. So, stop running.
49:17
Stop making up your own idea and rules about what life is come to
49:23
the one who created you and who died for you.
49:27
And you will know, not just life according to the words of Jesus
49:29
about life abundantly and that's not waiting for us in heaven.
49:33
Oh no, you can bubble up with that join life today.
49:36
Even in this chaotic world you can do a deep-seated joy that no
49:40
one can rob from you and he paid a high price for that to be
49:43
real. Would you give up?
49:44
You know what repentance simply means.
49:47
Up stop fall at his feet and as you're there, look at those feet
49:53
and realize that they were pierced for you.
49:56
He was nailed to a piece of wood so that you can know freedom.
50:00
And I pray that you would be safe today.
50:03
And for those who are saved, would we prepare our hearts to
50:06
partake on the truth? That Jesus took our place and
50:09
that we have life in him alone. Let's do that.
50:34
Lord, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
50:40
That you are a good God. You were not like Pharaoh, you
50:45
do not make. Our Lives of Burden.
50:55
You do not call us to make bricks without straw.
50:58
Oh, Lord, Even in our obedience to your word, you Empower us and
51:03
you forgive us when we fail. And you do not give up on us
51:07
because your love is patient. Thank you.
51:11
And Lord, as we partake of this meal, we pray that our eyes
51:16
would be on the grace of God. In the person of Jesus Christ,
51:20
that all that we hear about do's and don'ts come from the
51:23
position of being forgiven freely, because of the Lord,
51:29
Jesus Lord. May this have a sanctifying
51:32
effect on this congregation, we want to be in your will.
51:36
We want to, please you, we want to love you, Lord, look into our
51:40
hearts and would you see a For you a true love for you.
51:43
An imperfect love yes but a love nonetheless we adore you Lord
51:49
for the cold heart, the cold heart that will walk up to this
51:52
table by faith made this revive them.