1 00:00:00,832 --> 00:00:02,338 Don't know what happened to the worship team 2 00:00:02,338 --> 00:00:04,557 that were supposed to, like, s off for 3 00:00:04,557 --> 00:00:04,794 you. 4 00:00:06,776 --> 00:00:07,276 But 5 00:00:07,663 --> 00:00:08,459 last Sunday, 6 00:00:09,413 --> 00:00:11,425 Janelle and I later in the afternoon 7 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:12,618 got a text 8 00:00:12,993 --> 00:00:13,709 from the die. 9 00:00:14,679 --> 00:00:17,468 That it was a little video that Audrey 10 00:00:17,627 --> 00:00:19,801 Die and Ash Die made 11 00:00:20,417 --> 00:00:21,931 for this sermon series. 12 00:00:22,583 --> 00:00:24,252 It's 53 seconds long. 13 00:00:24,888 --> 00:00:27,828 Here is their creation to be a sermon 14 00:00:27,828 --> 00:00:28,146 bumper. 15 00:01:34,963 --> 00:01:37,027 I don't know what it's funnier watching the 16 00:01:37,027 --> 00:01:39,568 video or watching Ash watch that just die 17 00:01:39,568 --> 00:01:40,698 in of over here. 18 00:01:41,736 --> 00:01:44,210 Very well done. I think Jane it could 19 00:01:44,210 --> 00:01:46,046 put you guys to good work for creating 20 00:01:46,046 --> 00:01:46,844 some of this stuff. 21 00:01:49,734 --> 00:01:51,655 Bob Cool in town. Bob's in the back 22 00:01:51,655 --> 00:01:53,994 of the room. Bob was founding 23 00:01:54,454 --> 00:01:56,215 per part of our church. We used to 24 00:01:56,215 --> 00:01:58,303 use his house for baptism. He had a 25 00:01:58,303 --> 00:01:58,940 pool and, 26 00:01:59,814 --> 00:02:03,496 Bob is now mostly living in Florida, but 27 00:02:03,791 --> 00:02:05,834 Christie, I've been wanting to introduce you guys 28 00:02:05,954 --> 00:02:08,911 because he's from Louisiana. You're from Louisiana. So 29 00:02:08,911 --> 00:02:11,309 you guys should meet. You're from the great 30 00:02:11,309 --> 00:02:12,528 state of Louisiana. 31 00:02:13,067 --> 00:02:15,398 Right? See I said it right there. Let 32 00:02:15,398 --> 00:02:18,187 me pray. Father thanks. For Jesus, thank you 33 00:02:18,187 --> 00:02:19,223 for the holy spirit. 34 00:02:21,056 --> 00:02:22,172 Thank you for 1 another. 35 00:02:23,459 --> 00:02:24,649 I thank you for this church. 36 00:02:26,315 --> 00:02:27,981 I thank you for the people that make 37 00:02:27,981 --> 00:02:28,536 this church. 38 00:02:32,759 --> 00:02:35,326 God, I pray this morning as we 39 00:02:36,257 --> 00:02:38,961 look into the scriptures that you'd give us 40 00:02:38,961 --> 00:02:39,676 ears to hear. 41 00:02:40,964 --> 00:02:42,636 What you're trying to say, and Lord as 42 00:02:42,715 --> 00:02:43,750 I pray weekly, 43 00:02:44,387 --> 00:02:46,139 we don't need to hear from Scott. We 44 00:02:46,139 --> 00:02:47,015 need to hear from you. 45 00:02:47,891 --> 00:02:48,868 So Lord, I 46 00:02:49,499 --> 00:02:52,530 humble myself before you and before my church 47 00:02:52,530 --> 00:02:52,928 family, 48 00:02:55,082 --> 00:02:57,235 I pray for the needs that are represented 49 00:02:57,235 --> 00:02:58,591 in this room and online, 50 00:03:00,363 --> 00:03:00,863 physically, 51 00:03:02,122 --> 00:03:02,601 emotionally, 52 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:04,380 materially, 53 00:03:05,079 --> 00:03:05,398 financially. 54 00:03:06,677 --> 00:03:08,116 Thank you for being our provider. 55 00:03:11,314 --> 00:03:13,140 Touch us this morning, holy spirit. 56 00:03:14,411 --> 00:03:15,761 Jesus name. Amen. 57 00:03:17,667 --> 00:03:18,064 Perspective, 58 00:03:19,430 --> 00:03:20,565 Perspective is 59 00:03:21,256 --> 00:03:22,392 someone's angle 60 00:03:22,765 --> 00:03:24,195 on a situation, 61 00:03:25,545 --> 00:03:27,872 a point of view. It's based on someone's 62 00:03:28,499 --> 00:03:31,312 experience. Right? We all have a perspective 63 00:03:31,849 --> 00:03:32,885 on different things. 64 00:03:33,523 --> 00:03:34,799 So I was reading this story, 65 00:03:36,155 --> 00:03:37,590 it's about perspective. 66 00:03:38,322 --> 00:03:41,107 Following World War 2, a general in his 67 00:03:41,107 --> 00:03:41,426 lieutenant, 68 00:03:41,983 --> 00:03:43,335 boarded a British train. 69 00:03:44,131 --> 00:03:46,955 They sat across from an attractive young lady 70 00:03:47,012 --> 00:03:47,910 and her grandmother. 71 00:03:48,605 --> 00:03:51,472 As the train departed, it entered a long 72 00:03:51,472 --> 00:03:51,791 tunnel, 73 00:03:52,508 --> 00:03:56,510 total darkness encompassed the train for approximately 30 74 00:03:56,510 --> 00:03:56,909 seconds. 75 00:03:57,947 --> 00:03:58,766 In the darkness 76 00:03:59,145 --> 00:04:02,258 of those moments, the passengers heard 2 things, 77 00:04:02,977 --> 00:04:03,456 a kiss. 78 00:04:05,065 --> 00:04:05,862 In a slap. 79 00:04:08,649 --> 00:04:10,821 Everyone on board had his or her own 80 00:04:10,958 --> 00:04:12,232 perspective of what happened. 81 00:04:13,205 --> 00:04:13,844 For example, 82 00:04:14,324 --> 00:04:16,245 the young lady assumed to herself, 83 00:04:16,725 --> 00:04:19,285 while I'm flattered the handsome lieutenant kiss me. 84 00:04:19,685 --> 00:04:22,165 I'm embarrassed that my grandmother slapped it. 85 00:04:23,378 --> 00:04:24,575 The grandmother supposed, 86 00:04:25,293 --> 00:04:27,527 I'm disappointed with the lieutenant, but I'm proud 87 00:04:27,527 --> 00:04:29,841 that my granddaughter had the courage to slap 88 00:04:29,841 --> 00:04:30,001 him. 89 00:04:31,294 --> 00:04:33,531 The general thought, what in the world? 90 00:04:34,171 --> 00:04:36,728 Why did my lieutenant kiss that civilian young 91 00:04:36,728 --> 00:04:39,605 lady and why did she slap me by 92 00:04:39,605 --> 00:04:39,845 mistake? 93 00:04:41,378 --> 00:04:43,456 The lieutenant was the only person on the 94 00:04:43,456 --> 00:04:43,956 train 95 00:04:44,334 --> 00:04:46,012 who really knew what happened. 96 00:04:46,652 --> 00:04:47,930 In that brief period, 97 00:04:48,743 --> 00:04:49,540 of darkness. 98 00:04:50,257 --> 00:04:52,727 He had the opportunity to kiss an attractive 99 00:04:52,727 --> 00:04:55,117 young lady as well as slap is general. 100 00:04:58,716 --> 00:04:59,114 Perspective. 101 00:04:59,750 --> 00:05:02,534 We're concluding our our series asked the rabbi, 102 00:05:03,330 --> 00:05:06,049 where we've been looking at different questions over 103 00:05:06,049 --> 00:05:07,959 the summer that were asked of Jesus? 104 00:05:08,436 --> 00:05:09,948 And what was his response? 105 00:05:10,744 --> 00:05:13,449 What what who was the person asking the 106 00:05:13,449 --> 00:05:13,846 question? 107 00:05:14,577 --> 00:05:17,440 And what's the context so that we can 108 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:17,940 learn 109 00:05:18,871 --> 00:05:19,769 important questions 110 00:05:20,144 --> 00:05:21,018 for us. Today, 111 00:05:21,734 --> 00:05:23,825 we're gonna look at a time when Jesus 112 00:05:24,294 --> 00:05:26,771 was asked by the disciples, who is the 113 00:05:26,771 --> 00:05:29,008 greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 114 00:05:29,887 --> 00:05:31,725 Who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 115 00:05:32,856 --> 00:05:34,949 And it got me to think about, 116 00:05:35,484 --> 00:05:37,657 you know, this acronym that we use 117 00:05:38,192 --> 00:05:40,501 in modern culture called who's the goat? 118 00:05:41,154 --> 00:05:44,264 The greatest of all time. It's acronym, greatest 119 00:05:44,264 --> 00:05:46,099 of all time. Who is the greatest of 120 00:05:46,099 --> 00:05:47,455 all time. So I have a couple here 121 00:05:47,455 --> 00:05:49,151 for you. I want some crowd 122 00:05:49,848 --> 00:05:52,035 participation. Alright? And who is 123 00:05:52,410 --> 00:05:54,796 in this kinda either or when I show 124 00:05:54,796 --> 00:05:57,897 you a series of 2 pictures, who's the 125 00:05:57,897 --> 00:06:00,362 greatest of all time. Start with this 1? 126 00:06:00,934 --> 00:06:02,689 Greatest quarterback of all time. Is it Tom 127 00:06:02,848 --> 00:06:03,167 Brady? 128 00:06:05,161 --> 00:06:05,879 How many has? 129 00:06:07,076 --> 00:06:08,033 Yeah. Alright. 130 00:06:08,751 --> 00:06:09,809 Or is 131 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:12,759 John L the greatest of all time. 132 00:06:15,479 --> 00:06:17,720 We're all homer, but we got to watch 133 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,051 him play for so many years and do 134 00:06:20,051 --> 00:06:23,065 what he did, so I by far, think 135 00:06:23,065 --> 00:06:24,175 he's the greatest of all time. 136 00:06:25,445 --> 00:06:27,190 Said it on live Tv. 137 00:06:27,999 --> 00:06:29,436 Check on the Youtube tomorrow. 138 00:06:30,155 --> 00:06:30,314 Alright. 139 00:06:31,272 --> 00:06:34,226 Next, greatest of all time. Muhammad Ali. He 140 00:06:34,226 --> 00:06:36,222 said he was the greatest boxer of all 141 00:06:36,222 --> 00:06:37,340 time. How many think he is? 142 00:06:39,186 --> 00:06:40,539 Some of you're too young to know who 143 00:06:40,778 --> 00:06:42,449 Muhammad ali he is. Maybe you know who 144 00:06:42,449 --> 00:06:42,926 this is. 145 00:06:43,563 --> 00:06:44,358 Mike Tyson. 146 00:06:44,836 --> 00:06:45,950 This is Mike Tyson. 147 00:06:48,510 --> 00:06:49,464 Ali or Tyson. 148 00:06:50,975 --> 00:06:54,632 Tyson. Okay. Alright. Next, we'll go into the 149 00:06:54,632 --> 00:06:54,871 movies. 150 00:06:55,522 --> 00:06:56,579 Lord of the rings 151 00:06:58,387 --> 00:06:58,887 or 152 00:06:59,978 --> 00:07:00,456 Star Wars. 153 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,664 Alright. Let's go to music, music. Greatest of 154 00:07:08,664 --> 00:07:10,573 all time, the king Elvis. Right? 155 00:07:11,625 --> 00:07:12,125 Or 156 00:07:12,904 --> 00:07:14,204 the beatles. Yeah 157 00:07:15,544 --> 00:07:17,544 Beatles actually at the height of their fame 158 00:07:17,544 --> 00:07:19,704 said they were, more famous than God. 159 00:07:20,759 --> 00:07:21,079 Yeah. 160 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,959 Alright. Let's switch it over to food. 161 00:07:24,759 --> 00:07:25,639 Mexican food. 162 00:07:28,613 --> 00:07:29,113 Or 163 00:07:29,808 --> 00:07:30,127 pizza. 164 00:07:32,598 --> 00:07:33,714 How many mexican can food? 165 00:07:35,388 --> 00:07:36,265 How many pizza? 166 00:07:43,361 --> 00:07:44,475 We're all hungry now. 167 00:07:45,842 --> 00:07:46,637 How about this 1? 168 00:07:47,432 --> 00:07:47,932 Subway 169 00:07:49,180 --> 00:07:49,680 or 170 00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:51,485 Jimmy Jones. 171 00:07:52,996 --> 00:07:54,188 So which 1 subway? 172 00:07:56,355 --> 00:07:58,428 I go subway or Jimmy Jones. 173 00:08:00,343 --> 00:08:01,140 Or Jersey Mike's. 174 00:08:05,697 --> 00:08:06,333 This is fun. 175 00:08:08,636 --> 00:08:11,733 So what that either or who's the greatest? 176 00:08:11,892 --> 00:08:12,607 What's the greatest? 177 00:08:13,259 --> 00:08:13,759 Should 178 00:08:14,776 --> 00:08:17,011 bring out about us like... But but what 179 00:08:17,011 --> 00:08:18,709 about Joe Montana 180 00:08:19,805 --> 00:08:22,221 instead of these yeah, what about 181 00:08:23,409 --> 00:08:25,872 you're talking deep dish pizza thin crust, 182 00:08:26,825 --> 00:08:28,994 Chicago stuff... I mean, there's all these possibilities 183 00:08:29,606 --> 00:08:31,036 because of perspective. 184 00:08:31,529 --> 00:08:33,522 It boils down to perspective. 185 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:34,399 Now, 186 00:08:36,233 --> 00:08:38,784 there will always be debate on these kinds 187 00:08:38,784 --> 00:08:39,183 of things. 188 00:08:40,554 --> 00:08:41,913 But I'm here to tell you this morning, 189 00:08:42,072 --> 00:08:43,451 there is no debate 190 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:46,388 about who is the greatest in the kingdom 191 00:08:46,388 --> 00:08:46,867 of God. 192 00:08:47,746 --> 00:08:48,625 And that's Jesus. 193 00:08:50,075 --> 00:08:52,166 But what we're gonna see in the context 194 00:08:52,223 --> 00:08:54,371 of the question that has asked of Jesus, 195 00:08:54,609 --> 00:08:55,882 it's it's not about Jesus. 196 00:08:56,534 --> 00:08:59,326 It's about people who follow Jesus? Who is 197 00:08:59,326 --> 00:09:01,640 the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. What 198 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,076 does greatness look like? 199 00:09:03,729 --> 00:09:05,965 In the kingdom of heaven. The perspective of 200 00:09:05,965 --> 00:09:08,599 the king and his kingdom. So how does 201 00:09:08,599 --> 00:09:11,713 the world first define greatness. The world defines 202 00:09:11,713 --> 00:09:13,070 greatness says success. 203 00:09:13,803 --> 00:09:14,202 Power, 204 00:09:14,919 --> 00:09:15,318 money, 205 00:09:16,434 --> 00:09:18,507 stuff. Good looks, all of that, 206 00:09:19,145 --> 00:09:21,297 and those things have nothing to do with 207 00:09:21,297 --> 00:09:21,776 greatness, 208 00:09:22,348 --> 00:09:23,380 in the kingdom of God. 209 00:09:24,333 --> 00:09:26,476 In Matthew 18 verses 1 through 4. 210 00:09:28,064 --> 00:09:30,311 It was at this time that the disciples 211 00:09:30,446 --> 00:09:30,946 came 212 00:09:31,414 --> 00:09:32,152 to Jesus 213 00:09:32,604 --> 00:09:33,319 with the question. 214 00:09:33,874 --> 00:09:36,176 Who is really the greatest in the kingdom 215 00:09:36,176 --> 00:09:36,652 of heaven? 216 00:09:37,605 --> 00:09:40,010 Jesus called a little child to his side 217 00:09:40,399 --> 00:09:42,555 and set him on his feet in the 218 00:09:42,555 --> 00:09:43,752 middle of them all. 219 00:09:44,790 --> 00:09:45,828 Believe me, he said, 220 00:09:46,547 --> 00:09:49,761 unless you change your whole outlook or perspective 221 00:09:50,392 --> 00:09:53,173 and become like little children you will never 222 00:09:53,173 --> 00:09:54,286 enter the kingdom of heaven. 223 00:09:55,081 --> 00:09:56,988 It is the person who can be as 224 00:09:56,988 --> 00:09:58,680 humble as this little child 225 00:09:59,149 --> 00:10:01,377 who is the greatest in the kingdom of 226 00:10:01,377 --> 00:10:01,616 heaven. 227 00:10:02,491 --> 00:10:04,163 Now, if you read through the gospel, you 228 00:10:04,163 --> 00:10:07,346 you realize Jesus disciples were getting on the 229 00:10:07,346 --> 00:10:08,062 job training. 230 00:10:09,112 --> 00:10:09,989 For 3 years. 231 00:10:10,706 --> 00:10:13,415 And they had some serious blu along the 232 00:10:13,415 --> 00:10:13,973 way. Right? 233 00:10:15,567 --> 00:10:16,067 Peter 234 00:10:16,697 --> 00:10:18,929 You know, he's bold and and had a 235 00:10:18,929 --> 00:10:21,262 big talk, but he ended up denying Jesus 236 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:23,812 on the job training to make Peter 237 00:10:24,204 --> 00:10:27,474 the humble apostle that he ultimately became. James 238 00:10:27,474 --> 00:10:28,032 and John, 239 00:10:28,830 --> 00:10:30,904 come to Jesus, they have the audacity to 240 00:10:30,904 --> 00:10:32,579 come to Jesus and say, hey, when you 241 00:10:32,579 --> 00:10:33,616 enter into your kingdom, 242 00:10:34,426 --> 00:10:36,015 Can 1 of us sit on your right 243 00:10:36,015 --> 00:10:38,000 in your left hand? And can we be 244 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,645 the of a place of a very importance 245 00:10:40,860 --> 00:10:41,654 in your kingdom? 246 00:10:42,861 --> 00:10:45,009 So let's let's talk for a second and 247 00:10:45,009 --> 00:10:46,998 answer the question. What is the kingdom of 248 00:10:46,998 --> 00:10:47,316 heaven? 249 00:10:48,032 --> 00:10:48,827 And what does it like? 250 00:10:49,479 --> 00:10:50,996 What is the kingdom of heaven and what 251 00:10:50,996 --> 00:10:53,571 is it like? The kingdom of heaven is 252 00:10:54,029 --> 00:10:55,386 where Jesus is king. 253 00:10:56,265 --> 00:10:57,643 It's where he is 254 00:10:58,180 --> 00:10:59,392 recognized as king. 255 00:11:00,110 --> 00:11:01,407 It's the place where 256 00:11:02,342 --> 00:11:03,240 his will 257 00:11:03,936 --> 00:11:06,886 is done, where his will is always done. 258 00:11:07,939 --> 00:11:09,697 Jesus taught us to pray, our father in 259 00:11:09,777 --> 00:11:11,295 Heaven, Hall would be thy name. 260 00:11:12,015 --> 00:11:15,051 Your kingdom come, your will be done on 261 00:11:15,051 --> 00:11:16,490 the earth as it is in heaven. 262 00:11:17,303 --> 00:11:20,018 God's will is always done in the kingdom 263 00:11:20,018 --> 00:11:22,253 of heaven. And we should be praying that 264 00:11:22,253 --> 00:11:24,009 his will is done on the earth. It's 265 00:11:24,009 --> 00:11:25,765 not always done on the earth. If we 266 00:11:25,765 --> 00:11:27,929 wreck that. Right? It's not. 267 00:11:28,964 --> 00:11:30,896 So the kingdom of heaven is both 268 00:11:31,271 --> 00:11:31,771 now 269 00:11:32,226 --> 00:11:33,261 and also future. 270 00:11:34,073 --> 00:11:36,069 We are get... We get glimpse of the 271 00:11:36,069 --> 00:11:37,607 kingdom as we 272 00:11:38,145 --> 00:11:41,099 follow and submit to Jesus and want to 273 00:11:41,099 --> 00:11:43,507 do his will, the kingdom of heaven is 274 00:11:43,507 --> 00:11:45,891 within us, and we're demonstrating that to the 275 00:11:45,891 --> 00:11:47,424 world around us. Physically, 276 00:11:48,117 --> 00:11:51,058 literally, 1 day when Jesus returns and at 277 00:11:51,058 --> 00:11:52,114 the resurrection 278 00:11:52,424 --> 00:11:53,883 and when he renew 279 00:11:54,263 --> 00:11:55,301 the heavens and the earth, 280 00:11:55,941 --> 00:11:58,978 all things will be perfect, and his will 281 00:11:58,978 --> 00:12:01,455 will be perfectly done. We're not there yet. 282 00:12:03,067 --> 00:12:05,241 So let's look at some things that maybe 283 00:12:05,538 --> 00:12:06,038 describe 284 00:12:07,770 --> 00:12:09,285 the kingdom of heaven or first of all, 285 00:12:09,365 --> 00:12:11,454 what is the kingdom of heaven like? The 286 00:12:11,454 --> 00:12:12,752 king of the kingdom 287 00:12:14,088 --> 00:12:15,685 of heaven is a humble king. 288 00:12:16,882 --> 00:12:19,298 Our king is a humble 289 00:12:19,756 --> 00:12:19,996 king. 290 00:12:20,888 --> 00:12:21,707 Think about 291 00:12:22,641 --> 00:12:25,032 the son of God, God the son, the 292 00:12:25,032 --> 00:12:26,545 second member of the Trinity, 293 00:12:27,183 --> 00:12:29,653 who is eternal, the eternal living word of 294 00:12:29,812 --> 00:12:30,312 God 295 00:12:30,782 --> 00:12:32,312 He came to this earth 296 00:12:32,842 --> 00:12:35,139 in humility, he humbled himself, 297 00:12:36,328 --> 00:12:37,730 and the the 298 00:12:38,089 --> 00:12:40,350 God became 1 of us. He entered 299 00:12:41,129 --> 00:12:43,209 into our life into this world, 300 00:12:43,769 --> 00:12:44,970 into this broken world. 301 00:12:45,543 --> 00:12:48,095 And he took on an additional nature to 302 00:12:48,095 --> 00:12:50,885 forever be the god man. He will always 303 00:12:50,885 --> 00:12:53,676 be perfectly a hundred percent God, perfectly a 304 00:12:53,676 --> 00:12:54,129 hundred 305 00:12:54,569 --> 00:12:55,208 percent human. 306 00:12:55,768 --> 00:12:58,484 And he's perfect at both. But but when 307 00:12:58,484 --> 00:13:00,562 we read about how Jesus came into the 308 00:13:00,562 --> 00:13:02,420 world, he came very humbly 309 00:13:02,893 --> 00:13:05,859 He didn't come into a family of power 310 00:13:05,995 --> 00:13:08,700 or wealth. He came into a very blue 311 00:13:08,700 --> 00:13:09,200 collar 312 00:13:10,068 --> 00:13:10,387 parents, 313 00:13:11,105 --> 00:13:11,844 blue collar 314 00:13:12,222 --> 00:13:14,694 situation, born, you know, in a manger and 315 00:13:14,694 --> 00:13:17,007 a stable and all of that. He he 316 00:13:17,007 --> 00:13:19,023 could have come in pom in circumstances. 317 00:13:19,813 --> 00:13:21,586 But the king of the kingdom of heaven 318 00:13:21,881 --> 00:13:22,676 is a humble king. 319 00:13:23,471 --> 00:13:24,766 The apostle Paul writes 320 00:13:25,221 --> 00:13:26,652 to the Philippians church. 321 00:13:27,288 --> 00:13:29,220 He says have this attitude 322 00:13:30,323 --> 00:13:31,196 in yourselves, 323 00:13:31,672 --> 00:13:33,417 which was also in Christ Jesus, 324 00:13:34,370 --> 00:13:36,988 who as he already existed in the form 325 00:13:36,988 --> 00:13:37,543 of God, 326 00:13:38,353 --> 00:13:41,060 did not consider equality with God something to 327 00:13:41,060 --> 00:13:41,697 be grasped, 328 00:13:42,494 --> 00:13:45,520 but emptied himself by taking the form of 329 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:46,396 a bond servant. 330 00:13:46,967 --> 00:13:49,293 And being born in the likeness of men 331 00:13:49,587 --> 00:13:51,730 and being found in appearance as a man, 332 00:13:52,047 --> 00:13:53,420 he humbled himself 333 00:13:53,794 --> 00:13:55,143 by becoming obedient. 334 00:13:55,952 --> 00:13:58,175 To the point of death, death on a 335 00:13:58,175 --> 00:13:58,572 cross. 336 00:13:59,445 --> 00:14:03,097 For this reason, also god highly exalted him. 337 00:14:03,589 --> 00:14:05,579 And be bestowed on him, the name, which 338 00:14:05,579 --> 00:14:06,853 is above every name. 339 00:14:07,490 --> 00:14:09,241 So that at the name of Jesus, 340 00:14:09,798 --> 00:14:11,072 every knee will bow, 341 00:14:11,723 --> 00:14:13,627 of those who are in heaven and on 342 00:14:13,627 --> 00:14:16,324 earth and under the earth, and that every 343 00:14:16,324 --> 00:14:19,521 tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord 344 00:14:19,988 --> 00:14:21,732 to the glory of God, the father. 345 00:14:22,921 --> 00:14:23,634 Did you catch that? 346 00:14:24,427 --> 00:14:26,671 Our humble king humbled himself 347 00:14:28,014 --> 00:14:29,472 And in his humility, 348 00:14:30,411 --> 00:14:31,150 the father 349 00:14:31,689 --> 00:14:34,405 exalted him to the place place of highest 350 00:14:34,405 --> 00:14:34,725 glory. 351 00:14:35,379 --> 00:14:36,495 He humbled himself. 352 00:14:37,453 --> 00:14:39,628 The king of the kingdom is a humble 353 00:14:40,325 --> 00:14:41,681 king. I was thinking about this, 354 00:14:43,365 --> 00:14:46,300 the king always sets the tone for the 355 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:46,696 kingdom, 356 00:14:47,886 --> 00:14:48,442 just like, 357 00:14:49,489 --> 00:14:50,846 You know, if you own a business, 358 00:14:51,565 --> 00:14:54,119 you set the tone for your employees. 359 00:14:54,997 --> 00:14:57,094 In a family, you set the tone 360 00:14:57,472 --> 00:14:58,350 for your family. 361 00:14:59,241 --> 00:15:02,027 Leaders set the tone for the people that 362 00:15:02,027 --> 00:15:04,654 they are overseeing. If you're a manager of 363 00:15:04,654 --> 00:15:07,201 any type in your work, you set the 364 00:15:07,201 --> 00:15:07,701 tone 365 00:15:08,569 --> 00:15:09,682 for what it's gonna be like. 366 00:15:10,397 --> 00:15:11,136 Arch king 367 00:15:11,590 --> 00:15:13,895 set the tone as humility. And he actually 368 00:15:13,895 --> 00:15:14,134 did it, 369 00:15:14,928 --> 00:15:17,575 showed us and set the tone in 370 00:15:18,124 --> 00:15:20,202 the upper room on the night of his 371 00:15:20,202 --> 00:15:22,439 betrayal in John 13, 372 00:15:24,118 --> 00:15:26,435 Jesus takes the place of a servant. 373 00:15:27,645 --> 00:15:29,949 And he washes the disciples feet. 374 00:15:30,903 --> 00:15:32,572 He got, you know, put a towel around 375 00:15:32,572 --> 00:15:34,003 them him and he wash their feet. 376 00:15:34,813 --> 00:15:37,522 And if if we're not careful, we'll go 377 00:15:37,522 --> 00:15:39,695 too fast beyond that 378 00:15:40,072 --> 00:15:41,028 demonstration of humility. 379 00:15:42,159 --> 00:15:44,876 Think think about the disciples feet. 380 00:15:45,755 --> 00:15:48,152 First of all, their men's feet. That's pretty 381 00:15:48,152 --> 00:15:50,070 gross to start with. Right? Men's feet are 382 00:15:50,070 --> 00:15:51,996 not, something very attractive. 383 00:15:53,348 --> 00:15:53,848 But 384 00:15:54,461 --> 00:15:55,359 that sandals, 385 00:15:56,052 --> 00:15:56,290 dirt, 386 00:15:57,245 --> 00:15:58,438 no paved roads, 387 00:16:00,041 --> 00:16:02,978 animal waste because of the animals being the 388 00:16:02,978 --> 00:16:03,637 mode of 389 00:16:04,010 --> 00:16:04,248 transportation. 390 00:16:05,121 --> 00:16:07,423 So maybe we could equate that almost to 391 00:16:07,423 --> 00:16:10,631 like, cleaning a really gross toilet or something 392 00:16:10,631 --> 00:16:13,049 on behalf of somebody. It's a place of 393 00:16:13,268 --> 00:16:16,065 complete servant hood of what Jesus did, 394 00:16:16,638 --> 00:16:18,467 And he told them afterwards, he said for 395 00:16:18,547 --> 00:16:21,331 I gave you an example that you also 396 00:16:21,331 --> 00:16:22,683 should do as I did to you. 397 00:16:23,733 --> 00:16:25,805 So our king is a humble king. Therefore 398 00:16:25,805 --> 00:16:26,703 it's a humble 399 00:16:27,159 --> 00:16:27,558 kingdom. 400 00:16:30,187 --> 00:16:32,418 Secondly, the kingdom of heaven is an upside 401 00:16:32,418 --> 00:16:33,055 down kingdom. 402 00:16:34,745 --> 00:16:36,578 It's an upside down kingdom. 403 00:16:38,173 --> 00:16:40,246 It's the opposite of the way of the 404 00:16:40,246 --> 00:16:41,920 world. It's counter cultural. 405 00:16:42,253 --> 00:16:42,991 It's counterintuitive 406 00:16:43,841 --> 00:16:46,224 to the ways of the world. In Matthew, 407 00:16:47,018 --> 00:16:49,560 5 through 7, it's the lengthy version of 408 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:50,910 the sermon on the mount. 409 00:16:51,878 --> 00:16:54,366 And in the sermon on the mount, Jesus 410 00:16:54,741 --> 00:16:56,728 says several times. He says you've heard it 411 00:16:56,728 --> 00:16:57,705 said in the old 412 00:16:58,478 --> 00:16:59,273 or in the law. 413 00:17:00,563 --> 00:17:02,558 That it's I for an eye tooth for 414 00:17:02,558 --> 00:17:03,037 a tooth. 415 00:17:03,835 --> 00:17:05,910 But I say to you, love your enemies. 416 00:17:06,629 --> 00:17:09,510 Bless those who per you. It's a complete 417 00:17:09,510 --> 00:17:10,010 flipping 418 00:17:10,383 --> 00:17:11,597 of our normal 419 00:17:12,049 --> 00:17:12,549 reaction 420 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:13,660 intuitive 421 00:17:14,192 --> 00:17:16,175 to take revenge to fight back. 422 00:17:16,984 --> 00:17:19,719 And he says, no. Love those who per 423 00:17:19,857 --> 00:17:20,176 you. 424 00:17:23,687 --> 00:17:26,747 That the kingdom of Jesus doesn't come through 425 00:17:27,437 --> 00:17:28,151 military force. 426 00:17:28,865 --> 00:17:30,396 It doesn't come through 427 00:17:30,768 --> 00:17:33,723 national borders or tanks or Any of that, 428 00:17:33,883 --> 00:17:36,999 the kingdom of Jesus is within us in 429 00:17:36,999 --> 00:17:39,795 the body of Christ, the body of believers. 430 00:17:41,005 --> 00:17:41,721 Then thirdly, 431 00:17:42,278 --> 00:17:44,744 the kingdom of heaven is for the humble. 432 00:17:45,857 --> 00:17:46,653 It's for the humble. 433 00:17:48,738 --> 00:17:50,888 Jesus as I read earlier, believe me, he 434 00:17:50,888 --> 00:17:51,127 said, 435 00:17:51,844 --> 00:17:55,109 unless you change your whole outlook or perspective 436 00:17:55,109 --> 00:17:55,826 on greatness. 437 00:17:57,357 --> 00:17:59,751 And become like little children you'll never enter 438 00:17:59,751 --> 00:18:01,348 the kingdom of heaven. 439 00:18:02,385 --> 00:18:04,621 It's a humble kingdom. It's upside down. 440 00:18:05,194 --> 00:18:07,100 And it's for those who are willing to 441 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:07,974 humble themselves. 442 00:18:08,848 --> 00:18:11,231 You humble yourself when you say Jesus, I 443 00:18:11,231 --> 00:18:11,946 agree with you. 444 00:18:12,759 --> 00:18:14,759 You are the supreme authority. 445 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,240 You are the creator and sustain of all 446 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,720 things. I'm not my own boss. I don't 447 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:20,279 get to call. 448 00:18:21,014 --> 00:18:23,174 My own shots. I want to follow you. 449 00:18:24,054 --> 00:18:24,554 That 450 00:18:25,254 --> 00:18:27,095 submission to our humble king, 451 00:18:28,308 --> 00:18:30,697 it helps gets us to enter into the 452 00:18:30,697 --> 00:18:33,006 kingdom and say, Lord, you're the savior. You 453 00:18:33,006 --> 00:18:33,643 died for me. 454 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:36,373 You rose for me. I wanna live 455 00:18:36,922 --> 00:18:37,397 for you. 456 00:18:39,616 --> 00:18:42,230 Let's switch gears. How does the kingdom of 457 00:18:42,230 --> 00:18:43,577 heaven measure greatness? 458 00:18:45,101 --> 00:18:48,122 Complete opposite of the way the world measures, 459 00:18:48,678 --> 00:18:49,155 greatness. 460 00:18:49,632 --> 00:18:52,535 Now it's okay to have championships 461 00:18:52,994 --> 00:18:54,835 and do well and and all of that. 462 00:18:54,994 --> 00:18:56,755 There's nothing wrong with any of those things. 463 00:18:56,994 --> 00:18:59,575 We were we were born with competitiveness. 464 00:19:00,609 --> 00:19:01,508 We were born 465 00:19:01,886 --> 00:19:03,721 to to be achieve. 466 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,116 It's just we gotta make sure our hearts 467 00:19:06,116 --> 00:19:07,872 are always in the right place when it 468 00:19:07,872 --> 00:19:10,363 comes to that. And real and and stay 469 00:19:10,363 --> 00:19:11,981 humble. A humble champion 470 00:19:12,679 --> 00:19:14,676 is the best kind of champion. Right? When 471 00:19:14,676 --> 00:19:17,085 you see someone who is humble when they 472 00:19:17,085 --> 00:19:19,794 win something great or do something great or 473 00:19:19,794 --> 00:19:21,865 they give credit to the Lord or they 474 00:19:21,865 --> 00:19:24,254 give credit to mom or they give credit 475 00:19:24,254 --> 00:19:27,462 to somebody else, that humility is attractive. 476 00:19:28,820 --> 00:19:30,258 So how does the kingdom of heaven and 477 00:19:30,258 --> 00:19:31,217 measure greatness? 478 00:19:32,016 --> 00:19:33,155 First of all, it's 479 00:19:33,789 --> 00:19:34,908 humility over pride. 480 00:19:37,545 --> 00:19:38,744 Humility over pride. 481 00:19:39,783 --> 00:19:40,523 I was thinking 482 00:19:41,142 --> 00:19:42,840 about my dad, and 483 00:19:43,474 --> 00:19:45,730 My dad was he played 484 00:19:46,188 --> 00:19:48,104 baseball for the University of Georgia, 485 00:19:48,742 --> 00:19:50,658 and then he played a couple years of 486 00:19:50,658 --> 00:19:52,196 minor league Baseball and 487 00:19:52,509 --> 00:19:52,749 the 488 00:19:53,947 --> 00:19:54,847 Pittsburgh Pirates 489 00:19:55,226 --> 00:19:57,063 organization and the old Washington senators. 490 00:19:58,342 --> 00:19:58,821 And he said, 491 00:20:00,193 --> 00:20:01,169 there was a game 492 00:20:01,622 --> 00:20:02,598 that his team 493 00:20:03,051 --> 00:20:04,480 got killed. Like, 494 00:20:05,512 --> 00:20:07,600 like, the other day, the Rockies won 495 00:20:08,069 --> 00:20:10,407 be the Red sox 20 to 7 496 00:20:10,786 --> 00:20:13,503 for you football people. That's like, winning 75 497 00:20:13,503 --> 00:20:15,661 to 10 or something. I mean, 20 runs 498 00:20:15,661 --> 00:20:16,300 is a lot. 499 00:20:16,954 --> 00:20:19,107 Of of of runs and a game. So 500 00:20:19,107 --> 00:20:20,703 it was a game like that where my 501 00:20:20,703 --> 00:20:22,059 dad was on the losing team. 502 00:20:23,016 --> 00:20:25,010 And he said, he's in the locker room, 503 00:20:25,249 --> 00:20:26,467 and he was showering 504 00:20:27,417 --> 00:20:29,252 and he's kinda happy because he went 3... 505 00:20:29,491 --> 00:20:31,804 Like, 3 for 4 with a home run 506 00:20:31,804 --> 00:20:32,601 and 2 doubles. 507 00:20:33,478 --> 00:20:35,073 He wasn't really worried about the fact that 508 00:20:35,073 --> 00:20:36,762 they lost. He was, like, I had a 509 00:20:36,762 --> 00:20:38,591 pretty good game in spite of this loss. 510 00:20:39,307 --> 00:20:40,660 He said he was in the shower and 511 00:20:40,660 --> 00:20:41,319 he was 512 00:20:42,012 --> 00:20:42,910 he was singing 513 00:20:43,523 --> 00:20:44,262 and w. 514 00:20:45,288 --> 00:20:46,106 And the manager 515 00:20:46,481 --> 00:20:48,550 overheard that. And the manager came in. 516 00:20:49,186 --> 00:20:50,936 He was like Apple gate. It's all this 517 00:20:50,936 --> 00:20:51,891 singing and w. 518 00:20:52,944 --> 00:20:54,464 I'm taking you out of the lineup up 519 00:20:54,464 --> 00:20:56,865 tomorrow. We got our butts handed to us 520 00:20:56,865 --> 00:20:59,044 today, and you're over here Wi and singing 521 00:20:59,424 --> 00:21:01,830 about yourself. And not the team, and he 522 00:21:01,830 --> 00:21:04,136 sets some very more colorful things. My dad 523 00:21:04,136 --> 00:21:04,613 said to him. 524 00:21:05,488 --> 00:21:05,988 But 525 00:21:06,601 --> 00:21:10,154 humility over pride. Right? Humility always gives us 526 00:21:10,274 --> 00:21:11,550 the right perspective. 527 00:21:12,029 --> 00:21:13,784 Pride is the idol tree of self. 528 00:21:15,140 --> 00:21:17,532 It is putting too much stock into ourselves, 529 00:21:17,692 --> 00:21:19,925 making too much out of ourselves. 530 00:21:22,641 --> 00:21:25,024 Again, Jesus said, it is the man or 531 00:21:25,024 --> 00:21:27,010 person who can be as humble as this 532 00:21:27,010 --> 00:21:27,883 little child. 533 00:21:28,534 --> 00:21:30,449 Who is the greatest in the kingdom of 534 00:21:30,449 --> 00:21:30,688 heaven. 535 00:21:31,326 --> 00:21:32,761 I had the privilege of being part of 536 00:21:32,761 --> 00:21:35,415 the V this last week and be around 537 00:21:35,553 --> 00:21:37,467 these kids and watching what was going on 538 00:21:37,467 --> 00:21:37,967 and 539 00:21:38,599 --> 00:21:41,550 made me think about little kids, like, children 540 00:21:41,550 --> 00:21:43,964 up to a certain age. They are the 541 00:21:44,102 --> 00:21:45,639 definition of the humility 542 00:21:46,017 --> 00:21:47,452 that Jesus is talking about. 543 00:21:48,823 --> 00:21:51,375 Children are dependent upon their parents, 544 00:21:52,013 --> 00:21:54,406 whoever's watching them. To a certain age, they 545 00:21:54,406 --> 00:21:57,597 can't do things for themselves. They are dependent. 546 00:21:58,648 --> 00:22:01,451 We are dependent upon God. They trust 547 00:22:01,825 --> 00:22:03,414 until their parents give them a reason, not 548 00:22:03,414 --> 00:22:06,353 to trust, children trust, and they don't worry. 549 00:22:07,003 --> 00:22:08,829 They're not worried about if the bills are 550 00:22:08,829 --> 00:22:10,575 gonna get paid or am I gonna get 551 00:22:10,575 --> 00:22:13,036 fed. They they just expect that. 552 00:22:13,830 --> 00:22:15,576 That's what it means to be humble like 553 00:22:15,576 --> 00:22:17,738 it. Child before God. 554 00:22:18,772 --> 00:22:21,795 Jesus said, people who make themselves great will 555 00:22:21,795 --> 00:22:22,352 be humbled. 556 00:22:22,923 --> 00:22:25,539 And people who humble themselves will become great. 557 00:22:26,411 --> 00:22:28,471 The kingdom of heaven measures greatness, 558 00:22:28,947 --> 00:22:31,509 humility over pride, 1 of my favorite authors 559 00:22:31,670 --> 00:22:32,470 John S. 560 00:22:33,269 --> 00:22:35,769 He said at every stage of our Christian 561 00:22:35,830 --> 00:22:36,330 development 562 00:22:36,710 --> 00:22:39,349 and in every sphere of our disciples ship, 563 00:22:40,163 --> 00:22:42,179 Pride is the greatest enemy 564 00:22:42,875 --> 00:22:45,107 and humility is our greatest friend. 565 00:22:46,064 --> 00:22:46,463 Pride, 566 00:22:47,340 --> 00:22:48,457 that's our greatest enemy. 567 00:22:50,302 --> 00:22:50,802 Humility 568 00:22:51,177 --> 00:22:52,051 our great friend. 569 00:22:54,357 --> 00:22:56,186 This 1 guy said, he said, 570 00:22:56,902 --> 00:22:58,356 I'd really like to be humble 571 00:22:59,144 --> 00:23:00,343 What will anybody notice? 572 00:23:04,019 --> 00:23:04,978 It was supposed to be funny? 573 00:23:06,576 --> 00:23:07,855 Will anybody notice? 574 00:23:08,829 --> 00:23:10,429 That's that tug of war. I wanna be 575 00:23:10,429 --> 00:23:10,669 humble, 576 00:23:11,230 --> 00:23:13,309 but will somebody recognize my humility. 577 00:23:13,789 --> 00:23:15,950 And when when that's where we're at, we've 578 00:23:15,950 --> 00:23:17,801 kinda lost what it means. To be humble. 579 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,630 We've all been there. I... I'm there all 580 00:23:19,630 --> 00:23:20,107 the time. 581 00:23:22,175 --> 00:23:26,390 Humility is a right assessment of ourselves before 582 00:23:26,549 --> 00:23:26,867 God, 583 00:23:27,679 --> 00:23:28,640 and before each other. 584 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:30,900 Humility 585 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:31,859 is 586 00:23:32,319 --> 00:23:33,619 a full dependence 587 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,079 upon our creator and our savior. 588 00:23:37,689 --> 00:23:39,781 Pride is the dependence upon self 589 00:23:40,396 --> 00:23:43,103 and thinking we can do things that only 590 00:23:43,263 --> 00:23:44,957 God can do for us 591 00:23:45,349 --> 00:23:46,388 like save ourself, 592 00:23:47,027 --> 00:23:49,605 like and provide and all of that. So 593 00:23:50,064 --> 00:23:50,564 humility 594 00:23:51,023 --> 00:23:51,342 pride. 595 00:23:52,062 --> 00:23:53,101 Second way, 596 00:23:54,232 --> 00:23:57,116 The kingdom of heaven measures greatness is serving 597 00:23:57,330 --> 00:23:58,522 over being served. 598 00:24:01,223 --> 00:24:02,891 Serving over being served. 599 00:24:04,335 --> 00:24:06,081 There's a I'm gonna read this here in 600 00:24:06,081 --> 00:24:09,017 a second a Mark 10. The disciples were 601 00:24:09,017 --> 00:24:10,762 arguing amongst themselves, 602 00:24:11,493 --> 00:24:13,086 about who is gonna be... Who's the greatest 603 00:24:13,086 --> 00:24:13,644 of the 12. 604 00:24:14,361 --> 00:24:16,113 Imagine these guys, sometimes you just... 605 00:24:16,910 --> 00:24:18,264 But we all would have been there doing 606 00:24:18,264 --> 00:24:19,300 the exact same thing. 607 00:24:20,669 --> 00:24:23,221 And he Jesus overheard that. It says Jesus 608 00:24:23,221 --> 00:24:24,577 called them to him. 609 00:24:26,093 --> 00:24:27,528 And he said, you know how it is 610 00:24:27,528 --> 00:24:29,602 in the in the pagan nations or the 611 00:24:29,602 --> 00:24:30,102 gentile. 612 00:24:30,733 --> 00:24:32,029 He said, think 613 00:24:32,643 --> 00:24:35,983 how their so called rulers act. They lord 614 00:24:35,983 --> 00:24:37,177 it over their subjects. 615 00:24:37,909 --> 00:24:40,307 The high and mighty ones boss the rest 616 00:24:40,307 --> 00:24:40,706 around, 617 00:24:41,185 --> 00:24:43,023 but that's not how it's going to be 618 00:24:43,023 --> 00:24:43,423 with you. 619 00:24:44,382 --> 00:24:46,060 Anyone who wants to be great among you, 620 00:24:46,874 --> 00:24:49,191 you must be become must become your servant. 621 00:24:49,990 --> 00:24:51,987 Anyone who wants to be first must be 622 00:24:51,987 --> 00:24:52,627 everyone's slave. 623 00:24:53,266 --> 00:24:56,074 Don't you see? The son of man didn't 624 00:24:56,074 --> 00:24:58,387 come to be waited on. He came to 625 00:24:58,387 --> 00:25:01,019 be the servant to give his life as 626 00:25:01,019 --> 00:25:01,679 a ransom 627 00:25:02,216 --> 00:25:02,774 for many. 628 00:25:05,891 --> 00:25:07,319 Jesus led by example. 629 00:25:08,509 --> 00:25:09,009 Jesus 630 00:25:10,096 --> 00:25:13,125 never asks anything of you and I. That 631 00:25:13,125 --> 00:25:15,264 he didn't do or wasn't willing to do 632 00:25:15,264 --> 00:25:15,502 himself. 633 00:25:16,453 --> 00:25:17,825 Jesus is the ultimate 634 00:25:18,196 --> 00:25:19,409 servant leader 635 00:25:20,272 --> 00:25:22,495 And in the kingdom of heaven, leadership is 636 00:25:22,495 --> 00:25:23,289 about serving. 637 00:25:24,163 --> 00:25:25,695 My job as a pastor 638 00:25:26,624 --> 00:25:27,498 is to serve. 639 00:25:28,149 --> 00:25:29,825 To be lead servant, if you will. 640 00:25:30,544 --> 00:25:31,442 And and 641 00:25:31,900 --> 00:25:34,055 anybody in a place of leadership as you 642 00:25:34,055 --> 00:25:36,471 follow Jesus, it is to serve 643 00:25:36,784 --> 00:25:37,683 not to be 644 00:25:38,061 --> 00:25:38,381 served. 645 00:25:39,179 --> 00:25:39,999 I love this 646 00:25:41,814 --> 00:25:43,112 picture somebody made 647 00:25:43,730 --> 00:25:45,806 about the difference between being a boss or 648 00:25:45,806 --> 00:25:46,285 a leader. 649 00:25:47,496 --> 00:25:50,049 The boss is, you know, there's another 1 650 00:25:50,049 --> 00:25:51,484 where it's like on a chariot. 651 00:25:52,043 --> 00:25:54,755 And he's telling his employees go, get me 652 00:25:54,755 --> 00:25:55,791 to where I need to be. 653 00:25:57,084 --> 00:26:00,220 The leader is out front with the business 654 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,995 or the church or the organization saying, let's 655 00:26:02,995 --> 00:26:03,450 go 656 00:26:03,807 --> 00:26:06,192 and is the first 1 taken the charge. 657 00:26:07,147 --> 00:26:09,532 That's what a leader does. You serve. 658 00:26:10,486 --> 00:26:12,871 Leaders serve. Serve over being served. 659 00:26:14,557 --> 00:26:15,375 Another measure 660 00:26:16,227 --> 00:26:18,932 of greatness in the kingdom of heaven is 661 00:26:18,932 --> 00:26:19,909 self denial 662 00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:21,200 over selfish. 663 00:26:22,140 --> 00:26:23,920 Self denial over selfish. 664 00:26:26,619 --> 00:26:28,220 Selfish is at the root of a haul 665 00:26:28,220 --> 00:26:28,860 our problems, 666 00:26:29,594 --> 00:26:30,713 it's at the root of sin. 667 00:26:32,311 --> 00:26:33,770 Selfish ness ruins 668 00:26:35,347 --> 00:26:37,446 relationships, it ruins marriages 669 00:26:38,237 --> 00:26:38,737 ruins 670 00:26:39,110 --> 00:26:40,459 churches at ruins families. 671 00:26:42,046 --> 00:26:43,181 In Matthew 16, 672 00:26:44,110 --> 00:26:46,490 Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone wishes... 673 00:26:46,744 --> 00:26:47,697 To come after me, 674 00:26:48,412 --> 00:26:50,715 he must deny himself and take up his 675 00:26:50,715 --> 00:26:51,986 cross and follow me. 676 00:26:53,098 --> 00:26:55,720 For whoever wishes to save his life will 677 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,437 lose it. But whoever loses his life for 678 00:26:58,437 --> 00:26:59,255 my sake 679 00:26:59,948 --> 00:27:00,584 will find it. 680 00:27:02,491 --> 00:27:04,581 The context of that very 681 00:27:05,194 --> 00:27:05,694 quoted 682 00:27:06,163 --> 00:27:07,141 often quoted 683 00:27:07,834 --> 00:27:09,504 scripture. Let me give you the context. 684 00:27:11,254 --> 00:27:11,754 Jesus 685 00:27:13,179 --> 00:27:14,400 takes his disciples 686 00:27:14,779 --> 00:27:17,440 to a place called Caesar Philip. 687 00:27:18,460 --> 00:27:21,119 In the old testament, it was called Bash, 688 00:27:22,154 --> 00:27:24,229 and it was at the the foot of 689 00:27:24,229 --> 00:27:25,048 mount Hu 690 00:27:25,985 --> 00:27:27,342 in northern Israel. 691 00:27:28,699 --> 00:27:29,199 And 692 00:27:29,816 --> 00:27:30,316 the 693 00:27:31,029 --> 00:27:33,986 Romans changed the name from Bash to Caesar 694 00:27:34,146 --> 00:27:34,625 Phillip, 695 00:27:35,744 --> 00:27:39,180 But Caesar F was a place of great 696 00:27:39,180 --> 00:27:39,420 evil. 697 00:27:39,992 --> 00:27:41,925 It's where they worship demons, 698 00:27:42,538 --> 00:27:44,311 and they they did sacrifices 699 00:27:44,687 --> 00:27:45,982 and child sacrifices. 700 00:27:47,089 --> 00:27:48,386 And most 701 00:27:48,762 --> 00:27:51,950 scholars believe that what happened, the d disparity 702 00:27:51,950 --> 00:27:54,101 that happened in Genesis chapter 6. 703 00:27:55,073 --> 00:27:57,704 With the sons of God, these spiritual beings 704 00:27:57,704 --> 00:28:01,212 come down and and and pro create with 705 00:28:01,212 --> 00:28:03,067 beautiful women and create this 706 00:28:03,778 --> 00:28:05,604 off, you know, offs shoot, 707 00:28:06,398 --> 00:28:09,177 you know, of of humanity, off race or 708 00:28:09,177 --> 00:28:09,574 whatever, 709 00:28:10,050 --> 00:28:11,242 this corrupt race, 710 00:28:11,734 --> 00:28:13,967 that that's what brought in the flood and 711 00:28:13,967 --> 00:28:15,743 why god flooded the earth, but 712 00:28:17,476 --> 00:28:20,028 the that that happened on the top of 713 00:28:20,028 --> 00:28:20,746 mount her own. 714 00:28:21,718 --> 00:28:22,594 So at Caesar, 715 00:28:23,232 --> 00:28:24,210 there was a place 716 00:28:24,985 --> 00:28:26,658 called the gates of Hell. 717 00:28:27,535 --> 00:28:29,304 Those of us who went to Israel in 718 00:28:29,304 --> 00:28:30,341 2019, 719 00:28:30,501 --> 00:28:31,937 and I'm not gonna say it. Those of 720 00:28:31,937 --> 00:28:34,252 us that went to Israel in 2019, 721 00:28:34,651 --> 00:28:37,858 we went to Caesar phillip pie. Oh And 722 00:28:37,858 --> 00:28:38,497 you go there, 723 00:28:39,135 --> 00:28:40,992 and there are 3 little areas 724 00:28:41,371 --> 00:28:41,871 that 725 00:28:42,808 --> 00:28:44,404 there... 1 of them is a pool of 726 00:28:44,404 --> 00:28:46,001 water still active today. 727 00:28:46,973 --> 00:28:49,042 And they called that pool of water, the 728 00:28:49,042 --> 00:28:50,179 gates of hell 729 00:28:50,554 --> 00:28:52,782 or the gates of hades. They believed at 730 00:28:52,782 --> 00:28:53,919 that pool of water 731 00:28:54,294 --> 00:28:55,590 led right to 732 00:28:56,380 --> 00:28:58,220 the get... That 2 hades, the ab boat 733 00:28:58,220 --> 00:28:58,860 of the dead. 734 00:29:00,220 --> 00:29:01,580 And if you re remember, 735 00:29:02,220 --> 00:29:03,759 Jesus takes them to this 736 00:29:04,059 --> 00:29:05,119 evil area 737 00:29:05,914 --> 00:29:07,827 and he says... Because he's got a object 738 00:29:07,827 --> 00:29:08,943 lesson in mind for them. 739 00:29:09,660 --> 00:29:11,653 And he says, who do the people say 740 00:29:11,653 --> 00:29:13,885 that I am. Remember the disciples say, oh, 741 00:29:14,219 --> 00:29:15,676 your elijah, you're Jeremiah, 742 00:29:16,213 --> 00:29:17,808 1 of the prophets come back maybe even 743 00:29:17,968 --> 00:29:18,685 John the Baptist. 744 00:29:19,802 --> 00:29:22,355 Jesus turns the question on to them directly 745 00:29:22,355 --> 00:29:24,363 and he says, who do you guys? Say 746 00:29:24,443 --> 00:29:24,762 I am. 747 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:26,357 You remember Peter. 748 00:29:27,315 --> 00:29:29,548 He gets the revelation. And he says, well, 749 00:29:29,627 --> 00:29:32,260 you're the Christ. You're the messiah, you're the 750 00:29:32,260 --> 00:29:33,456 son of the living God. 751 00:29:34,188 --> 00:29:36,813 Not the son of all these dead gods 752 00:29:36,813 --> 00:29:38,165 around us, but you're the son of the 753 00:29:38,165 --> 00:29:38,801 living God. 754 00:29:40,233 --> 00:29:41,903 And Jesus says you're right. 755 00:29:42,875 --> 00:29:43,275 Simon. 756 00:29:44,075 --> 00:29:44,554 He says, 757 00:29:45,275 --> 00:29:47,275 flesh and blood did not reveal this to 758 00:29:47,275 --> 00:29:49,994 you, but my father in heaven revealed this 759 00:29:49,994 --> 00:29:50,394 to you. 760 00:29:50,967 --> 00:29:53,268 And he said upon this revelation, I'm gonna 761 00:29:53,268 --> 00:29:55,909 build my church and the gates of hell 762 00:29:56,123 --> 00:29:57,472 will not stand against it. 763 00:29:58,282 --> 00:30:00,191 Gates are a defensive thing. 764 00:30:00,828 --> 00:30:02,817 And he says those the gates that guard 765 00:30:02,817 --> 00:30:04,806 hell in Hades were going in. 766 00:30:05,458 --> 00:30:07,609 We're going in with this truth that I'm 767 00:30:07,609 --> 00:30:10,478 the son of God. I'm the messiah, the 768 00:30:10,478 --> 00:30:11,594 son of the living God. 769 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,766 And changes his name to Peter, the rock 770 00:30:15,822 --> 00:30:17,014 from Simon to Peter. 771 00:30:19,159 --> 00:30:19,397 Well, 772 00:30:19,969 --> 00:30:23,152 a couple paragraphs later. Jesus tells his disciples. 773 00:30:24,027 --> 00:30:25,460 I'm gonna have to suffer and die at 774 00:30:25,460 --> 00:30:27,449 the hands of sinful men, but I'm gonna 775 00:30:27,449 --> 00:30:28,484 rise on the third day. 776 00:30:29,613 --> 00:30:32,000 Peter says not on my watch. No way 777 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:32,795 is that happening. 778 00:30:33,591 --> 00:30:35,978 And Jesus says, get behind me, Satan. 779 00:30:36,947 --> 00:30:38,614 You do not have in mind the things 780 00:30:38,614 --> 00:30:40,202 of God, but the things of men. 781 00:30:41,313 --> 00:30:41,869 He went from, 782 00:30:42,663 --> 00:30:45,301 Peter, you're the rock. To get behind me, 783 00:30:45,460 --> 00:30:46,656 Satan pretty quick. 784 00:30:49,126 --> 00:30:51,597 What this means about denying ourself. 785 00:30:52,408 --> 00:30:54,658 Is self denial over selfish, 786 00:30:55,431 --> 00:30:56,329 is Peter 787 00:30:56,704 --> 00:30:58,692 had an agenda for Jesus. 788 00:30:59,424 --> 00:31:01,179 That was not god's agenda. 789 00:31:01,896 --> 00:31:03,433 He had this agenda 790 00:31:03,891 --> 00:31:05,028 that through Jesus 791 00:31:05,645 --> 00:31:08,198 that that Israel was gonna become a great 792 00:31:08,198 --> 00:31:09,969 nation again, and they were gonna... He was 793 00:31:09,969 --> 00:31:13,005 gonna overthrow Rome and free them from all 794 00:31:13,005 --> 00:31:15,561 the tyranny of that. Jesus didn't come for 795 00:31:15,561 --> 00:31:17,893 that. He came to defeat. We're the enemies 796 00:31:17,893 --> 00:31:20,206 of sand death and the evil 1, and 797 00:31:20,206 --> 00:31:22,222 he did it through his life death and 798 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,167 resurrection. He's coming back 1 day, in the 799 00:31:25,167 --> 00:31:27,155 all the world is his anyway, but he's 800 00:31:27,155 --> 00:31:29,542 gonna set up his kingdom in the new 801 00:31:29,542 --> 00:31:30,497 heavens and the new Earth. 802 00:31:31,530 --> 00:31:32,326 So for us, 803 00:31:34,173 --> 00:31:35,630 to be great in the kingdom 804 00:31:36,326 --> 00:31:38,320 is to not have our own agenda for 805 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:38,980 our lives 806 00:31:39,915 --> 00:31:42,308 is to take our life as a blank 807 00:31:42,308 --> 00:31:43,026 piece of paper. 808 00:31:43,916 --> 00:31:45,902 Say Lord, I'm just gonna sign my name 809 00:31:45,902 --> 00:31:47,967 on the bottom. You tell me what do 810 00:31:47,967 --> 00:31:49,794 you wanna do with my life? How do 811 00:31:49,794 --> 00:31:51,223 you want me to live my life? 812 00:31:52,193 --> 00:31:54,368 It's making his agenda, the priority 813 00:31:54,745 --> 00:31:55,383 of our life. 814 00:31:57,456 --> 00:31:59,870 And then greatness in the kingdom is last 815 00:32:00,167 --> 00:32:00,805 over first. 816 00:32:03,765 --> 00:32:04,799 Last over first. 817 00:32:05,834 --> 00:32:07,982 Jesus said, but many who are first will 818 00:32:07,982 --> 00:32:08,721 be last 819 00:32:09,255 --> 00:32:10,074 in the last 820 00:32:10,543 --> 00:32:10,781 first. 821 00:32:12,369 --> 00:32:14,458 The new testament for everyone 822 00:32:14,910 --> 00:32:17,451 puts it this way, But many at the 823 00:32:17,451 --> 00:32:20,086 front will find themselves at the back, and 824 00:32:20,086 --> 00:32:21,832 the back ones at the front. 825 00:32:23,418 --> 00:32:25,108 Think about the people we elevate 826 00:32:25,481 --> 00:32:26,353 in society, 827 00:32:27,482 --> 00:32:29,872 This person's great. This person's a rock star, 828 00:32:30,031 --> 00:32:33,298 this person's successful, and we elevate and put 829 00:32:33,298 --> 00:32:35,847 them first. We even do this in the 830 00:32:35,847 --> 00:32:36,086 church. 831 00:32:36,740 --> 00:32:39,220 The people who we think play such an 832 00:32:39,220 --> 00:32:40,119 important role 833 00:32:40,579 --> 00:32:41,960 in the kingdom of heaven 834 00:32:42,259 --> 00:32:43,640 because they have a title 835 00:32:44,099 --> 00:32:46,609 or they're out front or they're a missionary 836 00:32:46,745 --> 00:32:47,937 or whatever. No. 837 00:32:48,573 --> 00:32:50,003 It's it's us. It's you. 838 00:32:51,593 --> 00:32:52,093 Greatness 839 00:32:53,199 --> 00:32:55,196 in in in the kingdom of god is 840 00:32:55,196 --> 00:32:55,696 faithfulness. 841 00:32:56,714 --> 00:32:58,413 And sometimes it's it's faithfulness 842 00:32:58,951 --> 00:33:00,171 when nobody sees 843 00:33:01,278 --> 00:33:02,333 Nobody sees 844 00:33:02,785 --> 00:33:05,404 your prayers. Nobody sees you inner inter seating. 845 00:33:05,642 --> 00:33:07,308 Nobody sees you being faithful. 846 00:33:07,879 --> 00:33:10,106 In the little things, faithful in the small 847 00:33:10,106 --> 00:33:10,345 things. 848 00:33:11,140 --> 00:33:13,606 That's greatness in the kingdom of god, 849 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:16,575 in I think we have this idea that 850 00:33:16,575 --> 00:33:17,875 when we go to heaven 851 00:33:18,255 --> 00:33:19,795 that just people who 852 00:33:20,255 --> 00:33:21,474 were vocational 853 00:33:21,934 --> 00:33:23,934 pastors or whatever, no way. 854 00:33:24,667 --> 00:33:26,201 It's the people who are faithful 855 00:33:26,815 --> 00:33:27,451 without titles, 856 00:33:27,929 --> 00:33:28,724 without any of that. 857 00:33:29,519 --> 00:33:30,576 Do you know that 858 00:33:31,269 --> 00:33:32,383 Jesus and Paul, 859 00:33:33,194 --> 00:33:35,828 talk a lot about rewards in the life 860 00:33:35,828 --> 00:33:36,227 to come, 861 00:33:37,265 --> 00:33:39,500 that we will be rewarded in the life 862 00:33:39,500 --> 00:33:41,496 to come for our faithfulness and how we 863 00:33:41,496 --> 00:33:43,670 lived our life. Jesus talks about this and 864 00:33:43,670 --> 00:33:45,269 the parable of the talents. Right? 865 00:33:46,230 --> 00:33:47,589 How did... What did we do with our 866 00:33:47,589 --> 00:33:48,789 time, talent and treasure? 867 00:33:49,603 --> 00:33:51,513 Did we invest in the kingdom of god? 868 00:33:51,592 --> 00:33:53,104 Or did we invest in our own little 869 00:33:53,104 --> 00:33:54,854 kingdom or the kingdoms of this world? 870 00:33:56,858 --> 00:33:59,742 And then Paul, in first Corinthians talks about 871 00:34:00,275 --> 00:34:03,000 at this this... It's an award ceremony 872 00:34:03,373 --> 00:34:04,883 when when you think about it there... You 873 00:34:04,883 --> 00:34:06,813 you go to a football banquet at the 874 00:34:06,813 --> 00:34:08,651 end of the year or school or whatever. 875 00:34:08,971 --> 00:34:09,710 You're celebrating 876 00:34:10,169 --> 00:34:13,525 people's accomplishments. Right? Paul talks about this, 877 00:34:14,419 --> 00:34:16,038 award ceremony where, 878 00:34:16,896 --> 00:34:19,235 you know, he says things that are done 879 00:34:19,614 --> 00:34:21,771 in the right motives for the right reasons. 880 00:34:22,011 --> 00:34:23,630 He said those things will be 881 00:34:24,263 --> 00:34:26,255 rewarded and that that we all be tried 882 00:34:26,255 --> 00:34:27,609 by by this fire. 883 00:34:28,326 --> 00:34:29,942 And that the things that I did 884 00:34:30,318 --> 00:34:32,240 in the power of Christ and for the 885 00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:34,304 glory of Christ, and when I was faithful 886 00:34:34,304 --> 00:34:36,128 when I didn't feel like being faithful. 887 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:39,302 He said those things when tried by fire, 888 00:34:39,713 --> 00:34:42,170 Are gonna be like rub and gold and 889 00:34:42,170 --> 00:34:44,652 precious stones that the fire won't 890 00:34:45,023 --> 00:34:45,499 ex. 891 00:34:46,371 --> 00:34:48,449 But he said he's saying things that I 892 00:34:48,449 --> 00:34:51,147 did for my sake and if for myself, 893 00:34:51,226 --> 00:34:53,131 or my own glory, those are gonna be 894 00:34:53,131 --> 00:34:55,471 like, wood, hay and stubble. And they just 895 00:34:55,526 --> 00:34:56,240 don't melt away. 896 00:34:57,191 --> 00:34:59,752 But he's gonna reward you for faithfulness, 897 00:35:00,204 --> 00:35:02,320 when you don't feel like being faithful, and 898 00:35:02,598 --> 00:35:04,988 when you forgive people who you don't feel 899 00:35:04,988 --> 00:35:07,617 like forgiving. When you love the un unbelievable. 900 00:35:08,413 --> 00:35:10,563 When you do the hard things in the 901 00:35:10,563 --> 00:35:10,962 kingdom, 902 00:35:12,250 --> 00:35:12,885 of heaven. 903 00:35:15,666 --> 00:35:16,699 It's not perfection. 904 00:35:17,732 --> 00:35:19,559 Lord knows it's not perfection. 905 00:35:20,530 --> 00:35:21,349 It is 906 00:35:21,730 --> 00:35:22,230 faithfulness. 907 00:35:22,610 --> 00:35:23,650 It's when you fail, 908 00:35:24,130 --> 00:35:26,150 you get back up, and you 909 00:35:26,449 --> 00:35:27,489 continue being faithful. 910 00:35:28,222 --> 00:35:29,335 Repentance and faithfulness, 911 00:35:29,733 --> 00:35:30,789 repentance and faithfulness. 912 00:35:32,357 --> 00:35:35,378 And then lastly, the kingdom of heaven measures 913 00:35:35,378 --> 00:35:37,309 greatness by action 914 00:35:37,699 --> 00:35:38,496 over apa. 915 00:35:40,010 --> 00:35:41,205 Action over apa. 916 00:35:42,002 --> 00:35:43,596 Brian did an amazing job, 917 00:35:44,233 --> 00:35:47,197 last Sunday. In his message, answering the question 918 00:35:47,197 --> 00:35:49,748 on who is my neighbor. I'm grateful for 919 00:35:49,828 --> 00:35:50,943 Brian and his teaching. 920 00:35:54,786 --> 00:35:57,818 It was excellent. And he talked about that 921 00:35:57,818 --> 00:35:59,972 question of what must I do to inherit 922 00:35:59,972 --> 00:36:00,905 eternal life and 923 00:36:01,501 --> 00:36:02,239 the the 924 00:36:02,693 --> 00:36:04,624 guy that was the person of the law 925 00:36:04,681 --> 00:36:06,509 says what must I do to inherit eternal 926 00:36:06,509 --> 00:36:07,383 life and he says, 927 00:36:09,148 --> 00:36:10,739 Well, he... What are the commands read. And 928 00:36:10,739 --> 00:36:13,045 he says, well, love god heart soul mind 929 00:36:13,045 --> 00:36:14,875 and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. 930 00:36:15,352 --> 00:36:17,262 Jesus says, good. Do that and you'll live. 931 00:36:17,833 --> 00:36:19,821 The guy wanted to justify himself and he 932 00:36:19,821 --> 00:36:21,014 said, well, who's my neighbor? 933 00:36:22,127 --> 00:36:23,478 Wrong. Bad question. 934 00:36:24,035 --> 00:36:25,784 Because then he gives him this parable about 935 00:36:25,784 --> 00:36:26,738 the good samaritan. 936 00:36:27,789 --> 00:36:30,430 That there was a fellow jew who was 937 00:36:30,430 --> 00:36:31,489 beaten and robbed 938 00:36:32,030 --> 00:36:33,869 and left for dead on the side of 939 00:36:33,869 --> 00:36:34,349 the road. 940 00:36:35,230 --> 00:36:36,289 And that a priest 941 00:36:36,923 --> 00:36:38,672 walks by and didn't have time for him. 942 00:36:38,831 --> 00:36:40,977 A levi walks by and didn't have time 943 00:36:40,977 --> 00:36:41,295 for him. 944 00:36:43,123 --> 00:36:46,119 And yet this Samaritan did. He took at 945 00:36:46,319 --> 00:36:46,478 action. 946 00:36:47,355 --> 00:36:50,063 On behalf of this man, samaritan were completely 947 00:36:50,063 --> 00:36:50,563 hated 948 00:36:50,940 --> 00:36:51,975 by the Jewish people. 949 00:36:53,170 --> 00:36:54,844 And yet this guy who is hated by 950 00:36:54,844 --> 00:36:55,583 the Jews 951 00:36:55,973 --> 00:36:57,804 took care of this Jewish man. 952 00:36:58,838 --> 00:37:01,226 It was action over apa, the Levi and 953 00:37:01,226 --> 00:37:02,840 the priest had... Where were 954 00:37:05,452 --> 00:37:06,483 He was the good neighbor. 955 00:37:07,197 --> 00:37:08,069 Jesus talks about, 956 00:37:08,942 --> 00:37:10,765 when we do things for the least of 957 00:37:10,765 --> 00:37:11,083 these, 958 00:37:11,734 --> 00:37:12,850 we've done it onto him, 959 00:37:13,568 --> 00:37:15,163 the poor, the broken, 960 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:16,438 the prisoner, 961 00:37:18,273 --> 00:37:19,012 the thirsty, 962 00:37:19,628 --> 00:37:20,367 the naked 963 00:37:20,998 --> 00:37:22,114 when you do it for him, 964 00:37:23,390 --> 00:37:24,745 when you do it for them, you do 965 00:37:24,745 --> 00:37:25,382 it for him, 966 00:37:27,057 --> 00:37:28,492 action over apa. 967 00:37:30,578 --> 00:37:32,250 Who are the least of these in our 968 00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:34,242 midst? Who are the least of these in 969 00:37:34,242 --> 00:37:34,958 our community? 970 00:37:36,711 --> 00:37:38,715 Well, you're doing some of it when you 971 00:37:38,715 --> 00:37:39,351 take a backpack, 972 00:37:39,986 --> 00:37:41,415 and you fill it for a family who 973 00:37:41,415 --> 00:37:43,321 does not have money for school supplies, 974 00:37:44,433 --> 00:37:46,911 or when you just look out for 1 975 00:37:46,911 --> 00:37:48,898 another. When we look out for 1 another, 976 00:37:49,136 --> 00:37:51,601 that's action over apa. Maybe there's an area 977 00:37:51,601 --> 00:37:53,270 in your life, you go, I don't wanna 978 00:37:53,270 --> 00:37:55,337 be or. I wanna take action. 979 00:37:56,227 --> 00:37:58,856 Pray about it. Pray about it. Because when 980 00:37:58,856 --> 00:37:59,971 we take action, 981 00:38:00,847 --> 00:38:03,099 we demonstrate the kingdom of heaven 982 00:38:03,635 --> 00:38:04,511 to a broken world. 983 00:38:05,162 --> 00:38:07,622 We demonstrated demonstrate it. So they can they 984 00:38:07,622 --> 00:38:09,685 can see what the kingdom of heaven is 985 00:38:09,685 --> 00:38:09,844 like. 986 00:38:10,954 --> 00:38:11,669 We stand with me. 987 00:38:26,434 --> 00:38:27,789 We just put your hands out in front 988 00:38:27,789 --> 00:38:29,643 of you in a way of receiving 989 00:38:30,179 --> 00:38:30,657 this morning. 990 00:38:36,656 --> 00:38:38,034 May the holy spirit 991 00:38:39,864 --> 00:38:42,025 fill you, fresh and new this morning. 992 00:38:44,824 --> 00:38:47,385 May you know the love of God the 993 00:38:47,385 --> 00:38:49,199 father, the eternal love 994 00:38:50,278 --> 00:38:52,536 that he is set upon you and demonstrated 995 00:38:53,155 --> 00:38:53,875 in his son. 996 00:38:57,630 --> 00:38:58,370 May you 997 00:39:00,987 --> 00:39:03,686 Push push push aside shame, 998 00:39:05,353 --> 00:39:06,091 and walk 999 00:39:06,638 --> 00:39:08,940 in your new identity in Jesus. 1000 00:39:11,242 --> 00:39:12,139 May you live 1001 00:39:12,830 --> 00:39:13,727 in this world 1002 00:39:14,750 --> 00:39:15,250 that 1003 00:39:15,860 --> 00:39:19,137 pushes a different set of priorities and greatness 1004 00:39:19,747 --> 00:39:22,310 in a way that is salt and light 1005 00:39:22,539 --> 00:39:23,650 to the people around you. 1006 00:39:24,681 --> 00:39:26,372 May God give you 1007 00:39:27,856 --> 00:39:28,356 courageous 1008 00:39:29,047 --> 00:39:29,364 faith. 1009 00:39:31,128 --> 00:39:32,582 May he open your eyes 1010 00:39:33,514 --> 00:39:37,251 to people in situations around you where you 1011 00:39:37,251 --> 00:39:38,126 need to take action. 1012 00:39:39,016 --> 00:39:41,266 And may you experience the joy 1013 00:39:42,436 --> 00:39:43,311 of obedience? 1014 00:39:45,791 --> 00:39:48,969 The experience of experiencing the love of God 1015 00:39:48,969 --> 00:39:51,034 and passing that on to others. 1016 00:39:54,212 --> 00:39:54,609 And Lord, 1017 00:39:56,136 --> 00:39:58,209 I think of the the verse where it 1018 00:39:58,209 --> 00:40:00,361 says that you oppose the proud, but you 1019 00:40:00,361 --> 00:40:02,753 give grace to the humble. We humble ourselves 1020 00:40:02,753 --> 00:40:03,152 before you. 1021 00:40:04,045 --> 00:40:05,885 We don't wanna be in opposition to you. 1022 00:40:08,204 --> 00:40:11,105 We humble ourselves and realize it's a hundred 1023 00:40:11,164 --> 00:40:11,885 percent grace. 1024 00:40:13,498 --> 00:40:15,253 But it's through that grace. You've called us 1025 00:40:15,253 --> 00:40:17,726 to participate in in your world and what 1026 00:40:17,726 --> 00:40:18,285 you're doing. 1027 00:40:20,374 --> 00:40:22,761 So thank you for a fresh perspective today, 1028 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,546 Jesus on what it means to be great 1029 00:40:25,546 --> 00:40:28,331 in your kingdom. It's for your glory, and 1030 00:40:28,331 --> 00:40:29,286 in your name, we pray. 1031 00:40:30,017 --> 00:40:30,256 Amen.