WEBVTT 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:28.160 Today's reading is from Matthew chapter thirteen, verses uh twenty-four to uh thirty and then thirty-six to forty-three. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:30.559 So starting at twenty-four. 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:38.799 He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:44.479 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:48.640 So when the plants came up and bore grain, the weeds appeared also. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:55.039 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:56.880 How then does it have weeds? 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:59.679 He said to them, An enemy has done this. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:06.000 So the servant said to him, Then you do Then do you want us to go and gather them? 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:12.319 But he said, No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:15.760 Let both grow together until the harvest. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:23.680 And at harvest time I will tell the reapers, gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:25.920 And then down to verse 36. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:37.519 Then he left the crowd and went into the house, and his disciples came to them, saying, Listen to us, explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.439 He answered, The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:45.359 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:50.000 The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:53.920 The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:59.280 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:09.919 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out the kingdom, all causes of sin and all lawbreakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:16.800 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, and the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:19.439 He who has ears, let him hear. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:37.039 Today is our second parable in this series of going through these parables. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:45.439 And as you will notice, and as I've just even said, that our text is split between a story and an explanation. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:50.719 And maybe it can be helpful for us to think about it like a map. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.599 You might not be into maps, that's okay, don't worry. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:03:00.000 Uh, someone like Lizzie, Lizzie's not here today, she loves maps, so she would have been excited, but she misses out. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:08.800 Um, but the thing you need to know about maps is when you look at them, when you study them, there's different symbols that you will notice on them. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.680 And you will wonder what they mean. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:14.639 But on a map, there is also a thing called a key. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:21.199 And the key simply lists those symbols and lets you know what they actually stand for, what they mean. 00:03:21.439 --> 00:03:24.719 And here, that is exactly what Jesus is doing. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:33.120 He gives a story, and then he gives us the key to be able to understand the meaning of what has been said. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:43.840 Because instead of seeing verse 24 to 30 as flowing into 36 to 43, or even side by side, we need to actually see them as overlapping. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:50.719 That actually, beneath this story, there is great depth to what Jesus is saying. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:04:00.080 And we need to draw from that to be able to understand what he means through these verses in verse 24 to 30. 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:08.400 So let me pray for us as we consider what the Lord God has to say to us through his word by his spirit. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:09.199 Let me pray. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:20.399 Loving Father, I thank you so much that we get to come here, that we get to have this moment, have this time with one another before you. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:44.879 And I just pray that as we come now, that you would do what only you can do, that you would give us eyes to see and ears to hear, that you would give us a true sense of your glory, that we might know and love you, that we might rejoice in the truth of your gospel, either for the first time or once again. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.319 That you might do this through your spirit. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:50.560 In your beautiful name I pray. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:51.519 Amen. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:56.720 As many of you know, uh, we welcomed Erin into our family. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:01.680 She's kind of getting to that size where she looks like she's probably eaten another baby. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:04.879 Um, but she's a wonderful gift, she's a joy. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:08.079 We love her, we are so grateful to the Lord for her. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:14.399 It's an immense privilege for me to be the father of both Ezra and Erin. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:17.040 No one else gets to do that. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:18.160 Only me. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.560 I get to be their father. 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:29.839 And there's moments where I just feel so overwhelmed with gratitude, with joy to the Lord for the blessings of my family. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:32.639 I don't deserve any of it. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.639 It is such a privilege. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:41.040 But I would love to say, I would love to stand here and be like, that's what it's like being a parent. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:42.879 Joy upon joy. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:47.040 There is no oh, it's just blessing upon blessing. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.040 But it's not. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:06:03.600 The reality is, though our children are amazing, they like any, unlike any other human being, can push you in ways that you didn't even know you could be pushed. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:08.879 And we wonder in those moments, why? 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:09.759 Why? 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:12.639 Why did we do this to ourselves? 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:13.600 Why? 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.240 Or at least I do. 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:18.319 Ezra, I love him. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:23.040 He's great, he's an amazing kid, but man, can he be defiant. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:25.279 We're there, we go upstairs. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:27.199 Ezra, come up the stairs. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.720 No, Ezra, you need to come up the stairs. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:32.160 No stairs. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:37.279 Ezra, you're gonna wet yourself unless you come up the stairs. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.639 No wee wee. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.600 He just digs in time and time again, and you feel like you're going crazy. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.800 But the fact is, Ezra can be as defiant as he wants. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:07:00.560 He can cry, he can fling himself on the ground, exclaiming no, but he won't actually get his way. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:04.079 He can't get his way. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:13.920 No matter how much he shouts, no matter how much he protests, that doesn't matter because ultimately it's not just of his capabilities are limited. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:18.480 But the fact is, more importantly, his authority is limited. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:22.800 He is under our authority, he's under our care. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.000 He can scream and shout, but that doesn't matter. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:31.920 It can be funny at times to see Ezra fighting against our authority. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:42.399 But the truth is he is under our authority, and the truth is that in fact we are all under authority. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.639 And I think this is something we need to see here. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:08:00.000 Whether you want to admit it or not, whether you want to accept it or fight it, the fact is, what we find in our passage today is a proclamation of the one who holds all authority. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:07.759 Jesus, in this very short yet decisive story, expresses his complete authority. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:15.600 For Matthew in this gospel, this is a theme that runs throughout, showing Jesus in this way. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:23.360 To proclaim to those in his day and in our day, all authority in heaven and earth are his. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:30.319 That is what we even said, what I even said earlier from the end of Matthew's gospel. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:37.759 The words that Jesus proclaims of himself, all authority in heaven and in earth, have been given to me. 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:46.000 Not some authority, not most authority, all authority. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:54.639 This parable is exposing to you and me the view of God over all things. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:05.919 That to him, he's not unsure of what is gone and what is coming, but rather he is the one who is the beginning and the end. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:09.279 He is the one who is over it all. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:16.480 The cry of Jesus here, the cry we need to hear is to see him rightly. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:21.039 As he proclaims, He who has ears, let him hear. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.720 So simply in our time, I want us to see Jesus together. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:34.960 The one who has authority to save, the one who has authority to rule, and the one who has authority to judge. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.240 The one who has authority to save. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:44.000 Jesus once again engages the crowd right at the beginning. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:48.559 He put another parable before them, and it is clear what he's doing. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:51.919 He states it in these opening few verses. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:56.000 He's encouraging them to understand what the kingdom of heaven is like. 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:03.679 Matthew, throughout the gospel, is drawing our attention to how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:11.600 It is a gospel that is packed with references from the Old Testament, pointing towards Jesus Himself. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:21.440 And as Jesus seeks to explain the kingdom, he in this moment is proclaiming what he is about. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:30.720 If you would look back at Matthew 4, you'd see Jesus declaring, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:37.759 What we need to see is the kingdom comes and the king comes with his kingdom. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:45.120 And as Jesus speaks, he declares for you and I to know that he is the king and his kingdom is at hand. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:50.960 He has established his kingdom, and nothing is gonna stop that. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.600 Nothing can get in the way of it. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:59.360 The picture we first see in this narrative is a farmer sowing seed. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:05.279 But we know that the one who is sowing is the Son of Man, Jesus Christ Himself. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:08.480 And what he sows is good seed. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:18.080 The work of his hand is men, women, young people, children who are children in his kingdom. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:23.120 That is what Jesus' work produces. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:25.440 People of faith. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:36.559 Because to per to be part of his kingdom is only possible because of him. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:47.120 When we miss that, when we when we misplace our trust, when we misunderstand the way of salvation, we're in serious trouble. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:55.360 There is a story that I've shared before, but I find it to be just so helpful. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:12:02.000 It was from a pastor who was on a trip in a different country, and he explained a conversation he was in. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:08.080 That he was in this country and he heard these two men and they were discussing faith and they believed different things. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:12.000 They had different perspectives in terms of what they believed. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:16.480 But after a while, he decided to step in and join the conversation. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:25.200 And he said to them, It sounds like you are kind of talking about your faiths as if we're all at the bottom of the mountain. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.240 And God is at the top of the mountain. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:32.320 And we are just all making our way up to God. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:39.360 You go that way and I go that way, but at the end of the day, we'll all end up on the top of the mountain. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.279 It is just as if we are going up via different routes. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:46.240 And the men respond and be like, Yes, that's it. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.559 That's exactly it. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:59.200 Yet what we see here in this passage, what Jesus' words proclaim, is that we need to realize there is only one way of salvation. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:12.559 There is not your way and their way, because we do not get to determine the means of salvation, but rather Jesus Himself, as the author of salvation, has determined the way of salvation. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:20.399 It is not us working our way up a mountain to God, but rather God has made his way down to us. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:31.840 Taking on the form of a baby, born into poverty, coming and making himself known, coming and declaring to you and I, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.720 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.679 Words that are definitive. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:48.159 I don't know how you feel about what Jesus is declaring here, but I believe the purpose in all of this is to root our confidence in Him. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:54.000 To help you to raise your eyes up and look to Him and not to yourself. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:14:00.720 To realize and understand that your salvation is not based upon your performance. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.440 It never has and it never will be. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:08.399 To grasp you cannot and will not be good enough. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:15.679 To appreciate the freedom of not having to strive for acceptance. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:18.159 We all struggle with that. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:26.559 To fall upon his grace toward you, to stand in awe of the one who saves you. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:39.759 Okay, yes, I know Jesus saved me, but man, I just need to work, I need to strive, I need to work up that. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:44.720 And I think moments where we muck up reveal this the most. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.080 When you muck up, what is your response? 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.320 What is your reaction? 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.879 You fall into some kind of sin. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:59.519 And in our heads, what I think we do is we create a spiritual point system. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.919 I was doing so well, racking up those points. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.360 Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:08.480 And we think, oh man, I was doing great. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:10.720 I had so many in the bank. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.559 I was consistent in church. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:16.960 I didn't really slip into any sin lately, any serious sin. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:21.279 I've been consistent somewhat in the word and prayer. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.279 And now I'm mucked up. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:25.679 And I need to just work my way up. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:30.240 I need to rack up those points again to get me back to where I was. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:37.039 Brother, sister in Christ, we need to see in every moment the one who truly saves. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:44.480 We don't go to strive our way back up, we go once again to Him. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:58.799 That His salvation is not something we move past, but it is His salvation that continues to redeem us, continues to sanctify us, to shape us into His image, His likeness. 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:06.080 It's so easy to begin to add to Jesus' salvific work for us. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.240 But the call of Jesus is to rest, not to work. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:14.720 The call of Jesus is to receive, not to give. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.320 The call of Jesus is to rejoice, not to wallow. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:30.240 If you're here and you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, maybe you've been told that it is about being a certain way, about being good, that you just need to be good. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.080 You need to act a certain way. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:36.320 The truth of the gospel is that Jesus does not wait for us. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:41.039 Because if he did, he'd be waiting a long, long, long time. 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:44.799 Because we are not good enough. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.360 We never have been, never will be. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:56.879 But God shows his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:02.559 Jesus calls you, calls me to come to him. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:12.400 Repentance and faith, accepting your need of him, accepting you don't have all the answers. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:16.240 Do not turn from the one who saves. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:20.880 Do not make excuses but hear his call. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:25.039 This is what we celebrate in baptism. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.799 This is why it's so good. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:38.640 This is why we rejoice, rejoicing in the life he gives, that he is enough, rejoicing that sin and death are done, are dealt with. 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:16.000 Find that hard, basically. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.400 That wasn't said very clearly, but you know what I mean. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.640 It's hard to appreciate it, okay? 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:25.039 Because we're not all farmers, you know, we're not farmers like Jenny. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:32.480 We're not farmers like Andrew, even though he's the most unfarmer type guy I know, and Jenny only cares about cows. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:37.279 But it is clear how bad this situation is. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:44.880 That if you're a farmer and you're sowing good seed, being diligent, working hard, it would have been heartbreaking. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:50.319 That someone's planted weeds after all the work, after all the effort. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.920 But as we know, this is a picture of the world. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:56.319 The field is the world. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:02.559 This is speaking to us, to our very existence. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:09.759 That we are not just separated from those who hate and reject Jesus. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:14.079 But we live, we work, we socialize with non-Christians all the time. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:21.359 Today you might be here and you're not a believer, and we're so thankful you are with us. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:28.799 What I think is key for us to know and understand is that Jesus makes clear the source of sin and evil here. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:35.920 As Christians, we need to be so careful that we do not attribute any evil, any bad to God. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:42.720 What we find here is the truth that Jesus rules the world. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:52.079 But what he declares about his field is that it is the enemy who kills and destroys. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.839 It is the enemy who brings evil and sin. 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:00.720 The devil himself, the enemy is the one who longs for people to hate Jesus. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:04.640 He longs for you to reject Jesus. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:10.960 He desires you to live a life that is just self-seeking. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:17.519 It's so easy for us to blame God at times for sin. 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:21.200 Blame God for the evil that is in our world. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:29.759 But the Bible is clear that He rules over it, and yet He is not the source of any evil or any sin. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:37.359 All sin, all evil is hated by God and hated far more than you hate it. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.519 He hates it. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:43.440 Why is his judgment so serious? 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:49.279 Because of his hatred of everything that is evil and broken and wrong. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:56.720 As we sit here, we need to know that we have all experienced the impact of this sin. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:02.640 We all experience it, and James 1 is clear in how we should see our own sin. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:06.960 Let no one say, when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:19.039 For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one, but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:30.559 Then desire it is ha when and when l then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:34.640 So important for us to consider these words. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:39.920 To grasp, to realize how sin works, how sin operates. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:48.640 That temptation is tempting because it is driving at your desires at your affections. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:54.480 It wouldn't be temptation if it was saying do something you hate. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.519 Obviously, it wouldn't be. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:22:03.920 We all know that to be true, but the fact Is it pulls strong in our very hearts. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:10.559 And the lie that tells you if you do this, you will be happy. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:16.880 Even when you know it is wrong, even when you know it is sinful, if you do this, you will feel good. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:20.000 If you do this, you will feel satisfied. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:22.559 That is what sin does. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:25.759 And the truth is, all sin leads to death. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:30.000 Sin always promises so much yet delivers so little. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:34.079 You might have a moment of happiness, a moment of joy. 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.440 You might. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:41.039 But understand you will certainly always experience spiritual death. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:49.359 The emptiness that comes, the numbness towards God, the distance from Him, the guilt and shame. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:53.599 Realizing, was it really worth it? 00:22:55.279 --> 00:23:02.960 Brother, sister, we need to be clear in the joy and freedom of our salvation, but we need to be clear in the dangers of sin. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:11.039 Because as we consider this passage, we need to understand we do not view the field like the master. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:15.359 He is the one who sees the good seed and the weeds. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:17.039 We don't. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:23.359 Our salvation is therefore something we need to realize day by day. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.599 Paul clearly speaks about this in Philippians. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:34.480 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:39.200 He does not take lightly the gift that he has received. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:48.160 The gift of salvation, the joy of his salvation is the very motivation that pursues him to pursue Christ. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:53.359 That he was like, no, that is what I need, that is what I need. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:56.559 I am going after that, after him. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.559 I am pressing toward the goal. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:08.079 If we are people who know God's grace towards us, then our lives will be shaped by him. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:23.680 Then we will see that there is no better joy in this life than him, than knowing and loving and living for him, resting in him in the most difficult seasons of life, knowing he truly does rule over it all. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:40.319 As his servants are worried, as his servants are unsure, he knows exactly what has happened and what to do. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:42.160 Look at 28. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:45.039 He said to them, An enemy has done this. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:49.920 So the servant said to him, Then do we you want us to go and gather them? 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:57.680 But he said, No, lest in gathering the weeds you up you root up the wheat along with them. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:16.160 You can imagine the shock, the panic of these servants as they see, as they're wondering what happened, how has this happened, running, wondering what they should do, worried and concerned for their master, worried and concerned about his reaction, and yet the master for Jesus Christ Himself, it is not a surprise. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.559 He's not shocked by it. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:22.559 He knows exactly what's happened. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:29.279 We need to see him for who he is. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:33.440 We can experience so much pain in this life. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:37.920 I don't know what you've gone through, but I know that you've experienced pain. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:41.440 Hurt, brokenness. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.759 Right now you might be feeling the weight of that. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:53.039 Feeling the brokenness in yourself, feeling the brokenness around you. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:26:00.160 Brother, sister in Christ, we need to learn and see and know the one who rules over it all. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:15.920 We may not understand completely, we may not fully understand why, but we can rest in him to truly appreciate that Jesus has not been caught by surprise. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:22.880 To see you and to know that he sees you and knows you in this moment. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:31.839 Though as hard as it is, though as painful as it is, it is going to be but a moment. 00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:34.799 It might not feel that way, but it is. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:41.839 When you lean and rest on him, he will lead you, he will be sufficient for you. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:49.279 Our Savior is not incompetent in his ruling and reigning, but he does it perfectly. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:54.559 And there will be a day when we will know that to be fully true. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:01.920 Hear how he comforts us in Hebrews 4. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:25.039 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with us in our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:37.359 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, to find grace and help in time of need. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:46.079 Those are some of the verses in Scripture that I cherish, that I need to hold on to. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:57.680 This is who you need, the Son of God, the one who has chosen to experience the worst and darkest day in human history, the one who calls and says to you to come. 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:03.440 Come as you are, come broken, come weak, come in need. 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:13.599 Come and find yourself, my mercy toward you, mercy that pours out grace upon you in time of need. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:19.200 That you will truly know his grace is sufficient for you. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:21.839 He will meet you in that place. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:26.799 What confidence we have, brother, sister. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:35.279 Not because of who we are, not because we're anything special, but because of who he is, the one who has authority to rule. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:48.799 In the text, we see how central Jesus knowledge is, his understanding of what everything is doing and what everything, all that is happening. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:51.440 As the one who has authority to judge. 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:56.000 Verse 30, let both grow together until harvest. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:02.799 When we consider the timings of God, we need to realize we are created beings. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:07.039 He knows what he is doing. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:10.000 He knows his timings. 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:16.480 The fact is actually his timing reveals his grace toward us. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:32.559 2 Peter 3 says, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:46.640 As Jesus proclaims in this passage, the coming judgment, we need to understand that the time that is given is because he is patient toward us. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:55.599 The time he gives is a heart that longs to see those who are his to not be destroyed, but to come to him. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:00.960 To come and experience his grace for themselves. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:06.319 As his people, we need to understand there is a harvest coming. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:11.039 Do you actually have that in your mind? 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:18.240 A day of judgment in which the true judge will display and proclaim his authority over all. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:23.519 We need to realize the call upon our lives. 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.319 We are not just bystanders. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:31.119 If you love and profess faith in Jesus Christ, you are not a bystander. 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:36.160 But rather participants. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:43.519 The call to all believers in light of his coming is to proclaim the gospel to the lost. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:48.640 To pray that they would be good seed. 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:57.279 That our God, our gracious God, would use our efforts for their good and his glory, that he would bring them to himself. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:00.160 Because judgment is real. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:05.680 It is not something to be joked about, it is not something to be treated lightly. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:12.480 You might wonder what is at the core of church planting. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.440 Why do we do it? 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:17.200 This is why. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:28.480 Because the truth is when I walk down my street with a hundred houses, the fact is, most of those people do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:32.880 Most of them have never heard the gospel. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:44.400 When I go to the local Costa where I sometimes go to work, those who serve me coffee, they do not know Jesus. 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:49.039 Those who I sit around do not know Jesus. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:32:05.599 When I think about Church Town specifically with over 10,000 people, when I think about the surrounding communities that link to church town over a hundred thousand people, probably the majority of them do not know Jesus. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:14.480 And if you are here and you know Jesus and you know this, what should that do for us? 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:21.119 Brother or sister in Christ, this should not sit comfortably with us. 00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:25.279 Our hearts should break. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:37.359 It should cause us to go to our knees and pray, to do anything we could to seek, to see others come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior because it is so serious. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:44.960 This is not just a game, these are people's souls. 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:49.759 Because the day is coming when all will stand before the judge. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:53.839 The day is coming when justice will reign. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:58.240 And we should never take our eyes off that day. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:03.920 If we are people shaped by our Savior, then we will be like him. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:11.200 Consider Jesus as he responds, as he gazes over Jerusalem and he weeps. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.240 Why does he weep? 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:14.160 He weeps for their souls. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.160 How lost they are. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:23.599 Consider Jesus on the cross as he's beaten, ridiculed, mocked, killed. 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:26.079 Father, forgive them. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:32.000 Where is your heart, brother or sister in Christ? 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:35.119 Do you feel the urgency? 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:41.759 I've just as I've been preparing, I just the overwhelming sense of how many people do not know him. 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:48.160 We should be gripped by compassion for the lost. 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:54.640 Let our hearts not become dull toward them. 00:33:55.119 --> 00:34:04.559 Do not allow yourself to just check out, to think, no, no, no, to share the gospel is for someone else other than me. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:08.880 That is so scary. 00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:11.039 And it can be scary. 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.599 Don't get me wrong, I get it. 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:18.960 It can be fearful, it can be scary to just, you know what, I just I'm just gonna do it. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.000 I'm gonna share. 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.760 I'm gonna tell them about Jesus. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.880 I get that. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:26.880 But firstly, know that you are never alone. 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:30.800 The Spirit of the living God dwells within you. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.960 He is with you. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:39.920 Secondly, know that his call toward you is faithfulness, not gifting. 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:44.880 You might think, oh, I'm not like John Paul over there, whoever John Paul is. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:46.960 I'm not as gifted as them. 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:51.119 I don't just I'm not as natural as them. 00:34:53.360 --> 00:35:00.000 God has shaped you in a unique way for his purposes, for his glory, he doesn't want you to be like them. 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:03.039 Be faithful where he has you. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:11.199 Love the people who are around you, care for them, seek opportunities to speak of Christ to them. 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:15.760 Thirdly, know how serious this is. 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:25.840 If you saw people in a burning building, if the floor above was on fire and you saw them and they didn't have a clue, what would you do? 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:27.199 How would you respond? 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:34.239 Would you not do everything you could to get them out of that building, to proclaim, to shout, to encourage them out? 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:48.480 How much more when these people are facing an eternal existence without Christ, eternal suffering, because that is the seriousness of what Jesus is proclaiming here. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:54.239 I can feel so incompetent at times. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.519 I really do. 00:35:57.039 --> 00:36:02.719 So lacking when I consider the desperate need in this country, in this land. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:10.320 Millions of people who do not know Jesus, and I love Jesus, and I love these people. 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:17.119 But the goodness is it's not about me, it is about him. 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:37.119 He is the one who is moving and working, he is the one who chooses to use the insignificant, who chooses to show himself in our weaknesses, knowing exactly what he is doing. 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:42.960 This text is centering us upon Jesus Himself. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:54.639 It is helping us to know that as we love him, as we seek to honor him, we can be filled with confidence in him. 00:36:56.159 --> 00:37:02.159 Knowing he is the one who saves, knowing he is the one who rules, he is the one who will judge. 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:05.440 We don't need to fear, we don't need to doubt. 00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:06.960 We look to him. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:12.639 Knowing the day is arriving in which we will all stand before him. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:19.519 The day is arriving in which we will fully be completely transformed. 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:30.480 The work will be complete, and we will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our father. 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:34.159 On that day, can you just imagine? 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:38.400 You're here right now, but can you just imagine? 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:41.599 Just looking around, seeing one another. 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:46.079 Oh, you're here, woo! You're here, amazing. 00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.280 You're here. 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:48.800 How did they get here? 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.880 On that day, just looking around. 00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.519 How? 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.039 How are we here? 00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:59.679 How did we make it to this day, this moment? 00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:02.000 How has any of this happened? 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:10.639 Not because we are good, not because we did anything to earn it, but because he did it all for us. 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:14.800 I long for that day. 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:21.039 May we not take our eyes off the one who is calling us home. 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:33.679 Thank you for listening to this week's sermon. 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:40.239 If you found this helpful or want to know more about City Church Dublin, please visit our website found at the link below.