WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:01.600 Well, you may be seated. 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:09.599 So we are two weeks away from ending our series that we've been working through for a few months, going through the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:22.320 So we started this series, this book before Lent, and then we went through Lent, that season leading up to Easter, and then we've been finishing it up here the last few weeks, and we have this week, and then we have next week, and we'll be finished up with it. 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:27.440 So last week we had our church picnic and a kickball game. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:43.439 And so we just walked down the block here and we picnicked, and a bunch of old guys relived our dreams on the kickball field, and I'm 38 at this point, and I'm kicking the ball like it's the most important thing in my life. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:50.320 You know, uh whether there's hip issues later in my life, I can't walk with my grandchildren, none of that matters. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:01:05.920 All that matters at this point last week at Sunday, on Sunday, was how far can I kick this kickball and impress all these other guys who we were all trying to kick the kickball as hard as we possibly could, and our right legs were sore for the entire week. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:10.799 And so my second time up, I catch that ball square. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:17.200 I mean, I admit it was like I was back at Bethesda Elementary in fourth grade. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:18.879 I catch that thing square. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:20.319 It takes off. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.879 It was a beautiful kick. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.079 It was so beautiful. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.359 I didn't want to start running fast right away because I wanted to watch it for a while. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:33.519 And so I just kind of just start a light jog and I hit first base, it lands between two outfielders. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:35.120 I mean, it was close to the back fits. 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:35.840 It was beautiful. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:40.159 And so then coming around first, I decide, you know, I might have a chance at this. 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:41.519 And so I start to speed up. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:44.400 Like I'm really as fast as I can run at this point. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:48.560 And mind you, I haven't sprinted maybe in years. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:49.439 I don't know. 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:53.840 It's been a very, very, very long time since I sprinted. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:02:04.640 Then somewhere coming around second base, my left hamstring lets me know it would be wise, it would be wise to slow up a little bit. 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:12.080 And so I just start to slow up, and I think everybody thinks I'm playing it cool and I'm a high stepman and I'm being a little bit of a hot dog here. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:12.719 And I'm not. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:15.759 It's just my left hamstring is throbbing. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:21.280 And so I come around third, and at this point, the glory hero in me, I'm not stopping. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:22.000 I'm not. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.120 I'm not gonna stop. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:26.639 That ball is coming in, it's around second, but I'm coming around third. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.879 I'm thinking they're not gonna make a perfect throw. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:30.000 What are the chances? 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:32.719 Matt Hooper's right there on home base. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:37.039 Now, it would be wisdom for me to stop at third. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:42.000 It would have been wisdom for me to have warmed up or stretched, right? 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:43.840 Like that would have been why. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:44.800 None of us did that. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:45.599 None of us. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:47.039 I didn't see anybody stretch. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:51.199 Not until we were hurting, and then we're like stretching, and I don't think it works that way. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:03:01.360 So I round third and I'm headed in to get the glory story inside the park church kickball game home run. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:08.479 Really important, really important to a 38-year-old man is a inside the park kickball home run on a Sunday afternoon. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:10.400 Big deal to my identity and ego. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:12.479 So I I round, I'm coming down. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:14.879 I can't run, I'm not running very fast, to be honest. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.800 Because I can't, because my left hamstring is not allowing me. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:22.080 And it and I see that ball coming in, and it was a perfect throw. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.120 I don't know who threw it. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:31.680 I don't remember who threw it from second base into Matt Hooper, but Matt Hooper, that horrible church member, he catches, he catches that ball perfectly. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:36.719 And I mean, it is just as my foot is about to get all the glory. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:38.639 He just pegs me. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.280 He meet the pastor, he pegs the pastor. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:42.080 Right? 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:43.759 I mean, a horrible church member. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:44.879 And I am out. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:45.919 I'm out. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:51.520 And I'm out because I'm a glory hog, and I'm out because I'm a moron. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:55.439 I'm out because wisdom could have prevented all of this. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:56.080 Right? 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:00.080 Wisdom could have stayed on third, would have been fine on third. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:08.879 Or could have warmed up and stretched, and I probably would have gotten the home run had I done that because I wouldn't have been running at half speed the entire way around. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:12.319 See, wisdom makes us, helps us make good decisions. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:14.000 Doesn't make us make good decisions. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:16.000 We know it doesn't do that, but it helps us. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:18.560 It helps us not wreck our lives. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:19.279 Right? 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:21.120 It's those guardrails. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:25.199 Wisdom helps us to know what's important and know what's not important. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:29.519 And Solomon, this guy, we've been reading about his story and his life. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:32.079 This is the book of Ecclesiastes, his journal. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:37.680 I mean, it's just him rambling and saying some good stuff and working his way to conclusions at times. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:40.319 And he wrote a book on wisdom called Proverbs. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:42.959 I mean, this guy knows wisdom. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:49.680 And what's interesting with him is at times he says, Wisdom is the best thing in life. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:52.160 I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:05:00.160 And then at other times he says, Wisdom is vanity and vapor, and it just disappears on us. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:02.000 So first, first, first. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.079 First, he loves wisdom. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.920 So that's what Britney read, Ecclesiastes 9, 13 through 18. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:11.439 I'll reread 16 through 18 just for us to hear it again. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:14.399 But I say that wisdom is better than might. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:18.160 Though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:23.519 The words of the wise heard and quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:29.120 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:33.680 So, point number one, wisdom is four points, I think four points. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:35.040 I can't really remember the truth. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.000 19 points. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:36.800 No, just kidding. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:37.920 Four points, I think. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:42.079 Uh number one, wisdom is better than might. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:51.759 How often have you thought my life would be so much better if I just had power over that part of my life? 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:56.480 If I just had power over my job a little bit more, like more control? 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:06.959 If I just had power over that person a little bit, if I just had a little bit more power, a little more might, then my life would be better. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:08.879 And he says, no, no, no, no, no. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:15.360 Like wisdom, like wisdom is the thing that will help your life be great. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:17.839 It'll be the thing that helps your life work. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.560 Wisdom helps your life work. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:21.759 Right? 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:22.560 That's point number two. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:24.720 Wisdom helps us succeed. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.839 Verses uh chapter 10, verses 12 through 15. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:33.279 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.720 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is evil madness. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:45.279 A fool multiplies words, no, no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:50.399 The toil of a fool wearies him, but he does not know the way to the city. 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:56.639 So foolishness, the opposite of wisdom, is just no guardrails. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:57.279 Right? 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:59.040 Like I'll just I'll do whatever. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:00.560 It'll always work out. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:02.079 No, it won't always work out. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:03.360 It doesn't always work out. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:09.759 You make certain decisions against the way that life works, and you can continue to ruin your life. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.160 It can become more and more dysfunctional. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:13.040 It happens. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.959 We see it, maybe you've experienced it, maybe you're in it. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:22.160 Yesterday I officiated my cousin's wedding in Memphis. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:31.759 So we were in Memphis yesterday, and our girls, our little girls, were flower girls, and we did the wedding, and uh it was in this beautiful garden. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:43.839 We finished, we pack in the car to drive home, we head down into Mississippi and then cut over to Birmingham, and then through Birmingham, just on the other side of Birmingham, we see a billboard that says uh Talladega. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.519 You know what today is? 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.680 Like three of you do, not all of us. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:48.800 It's Talladega. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.399 Today is Talladega, by the way. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:54.160 It says Talladega Raceway, NASCAR race, May 7th. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:08:06.879 And we're like, oh my gosh, we have driven by these 2,000 acres of emptiness so many times in between Atlanta and Birmingham, we have never seen them full. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:13.040 And we are about to see the glory of Talladega as we drive by at night. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:16.240 Talladega nights, we're going to see this. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:22.560 And we're getting more and more excited about this because if we drive, so we drive by it was awesome. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:23.680 2,000 acres. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.879 I mean, we're flying by, mind you, but you can see it all if you've driven. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:34.960 It's just 2,000 acres and then a massive you know race stadium out in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:37.360 And there's just RVs, just everywhere. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:45.519 RVs, look like Shantytown, just I mean, just thousands, thousands, thousands, thousands of RVs and bonfires and concerts. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:48.320 There was a blue neon cross. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:51.200 I mean, you're like, this is this is southern culture. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:09:00.080 We got bonf, we got fires and RVs and Jesus, and it's all mixed up with a like a race car, you know, race. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.240 I mean, this is incredible. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:06.000 I don't know my I don't know anything about racing. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:07.679 I I know nothing about racing. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.720 I know they drive in a circle. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:09.519 I don't know any laps. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.559 I don't know any laps. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.679 I don't know any of the rules. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.679 I don't I don't even know if there's like strategy. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:14.960 I I know nothing. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.759 I don't I might be able to I don't even know if I can name any racers. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:20.000 I don't know if you call them a racer or a driver. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.159 I know nothing about this. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:28.799 I do know I'd like to go to that at some point because that look like a lot of fun and a lot of good people watching, I'll tell you that much. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:31.360 I do know this about the race. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:34.799 There is a wall because I've watched Talladega Nights. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:41.039 There is a wall at the top of that track, and it goes around the track. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:41.840 Right? 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:47.360 And and the wall exists to keep the cars on the track. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:48.399 Right? 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:50.879 This is this is wisdom. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:52.480 Keep you on the track. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.480 Just keep you on the track. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.960 Help you succeed at some things. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.879 This is what wisdom is. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:05.279 You know, you go, how does my how does my marriage, how how can how can my marriage be a little bit better? 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.159 How can I deal with this person? 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.279 How can I deal with my boss? 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.039 How can I how can I invest some money? 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.039 Or how can I get out of debt? 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.759 How do I study? 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.720 How do I study? 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.399 I've never had to study, all of a sudden I have to study. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:17.679 How do I study? 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.919 I mean, these are the points in my life. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:21.120 I don't know how to do these things. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.799 These are the points I call people. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:23.840 I just call people. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.519 We meet with two different couples. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:28.879 One couple, they have teenagers, we meet with them about once a quarter. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.440 We're like, tell us about having teenagers. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:32.320 We don't know. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:36.159 Give us your wisdom because we don't want to be in total dysfunction. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:39.679 We'll be in some moderate dysfunction, but we want to limit it as much as possible. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.240 We want some walls around this thing. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:46.879 And then we have some other friends that are that are even older than that, and their kids are grown. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.159 And they're in the empty nest stuff, and we're like, hey, tell us about that. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:51.840 What would how would you raise your kids differently? 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:52.639 What's going on now? 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:54.159 Tell us about marriage long term. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.320 Tell us about give us wisdom. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.519 Give us some guardrails, tell us what you've learned. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.679 That's what wisdom is. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:05.279 Wisdom helps us succeed at things. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:08.639 Foolishness, foolishness is the opposite of that. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:13.279 And what Solomon says, it always catches up to you. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.320 And it is weariness. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:33.759 And yet, here's the thing if you've been around for a few months, if you remember chapter one, Solomon says, back then, wisdom, so great, so good, better than might, so wonderful. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.759 He says, uh, yeah, wisdom is vanity. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.120 All right, so he loves it and then he also hates it. 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.879 So let me reread this in chapter one. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:45.600 We're gonna make some sense of it as we have to reconcile this. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.320 Uh, chapter one, verses 13 through 18. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:53.440 And I applied my heart to seek wisdom and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:59.039 It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:04.399 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and is striving after wind. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:08.720 Maybe he's maybe he's a little depressed, maybe he's exaggerating, but this is still some truth. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.840 He's saying, he's saying, seeking wisdom endlessly. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.759 There's no end to it, is what he's saying. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:18.000 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:31.679 I said in my heart, I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge, and I applied my heart to know wisdom and to no madness and folly. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:36.960 I perceive that this is also a striving after wind. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:44.720 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases in knowledge increases sorrow. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:47.120 So we look at all this. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:51.279 Wisdom is great, wisdom is better than might, wisdom will help you succeed. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:54.639 Wisdom is the guardrails along the highway of life. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:57.039 And then also, wisdom's vapor. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:02.000 Like it's there for a little bit, and then it goes away and is an unhappy business. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:13.200 So, point number three, after those other points, which are true, we have to hold on to them, we can't lose them, but and yet, point number three is that wisdom's helpful, but it has its limits. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.320 Because it's never ending. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:25.120 You can't use it to try to make yourself perfect, or to be whole, or to be forgiven. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:29.039 You can't work your way out of a sense of shame. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.759 You'll never feel valued because of wisdom. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:37.600 Life wisdom can't love you. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.399 It doesn't have that ability. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:46.080 So if you're using wisdom for that, it's an unhappy business. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.639 It can't accept you when you're hurting. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:50.879 It can't accept you when you're broken. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:54.240 It can't accept you when you're sinful. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:10.320 Now, 1 Corinthians 1 21 through 23 says this for since in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what was preached to save those who believe. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:25.679 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:29.759 So point number four there's life wisdom. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.960 It's good. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:32.159 Use it. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:33.279 We love it. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.440 There's life wisdom. 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:37.840 And then there's gospel wisdom. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:41.039 Life wisdom are directions, helpful tips. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.039 It's the wall around Talladega. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.399 Keep us on track. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.360 That's life wisdom. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.240 It's good advice. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.039 Good advice. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:53.679 Gospel wisdom is an announcement to you, given to you, about who you are. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.440 It is good news. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:14.559 So it's news about something that's already done that God Himself, because you can't use all the wisdom in the world to earn your value, to earn your justification, justification before God, you can't use all the wisdom in the world to be redeemed before God or to feel valued as a person. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.200 And he said, I will step into that. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:19.519 I will pursue you on the cross. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.919 I will take all of your sin and your self-salvation projects upon myself. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.000 I will give to you my righteousness. 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:34.960 And this is the great historical picture of his love for us, the redeeming work of Christ for us, that you are loved before you perform. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:41.120 You are loved no matter how well you're doing before all of life's wisdom, you are loved. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:46.480 You're loved while you're unimaginably weak. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:50.480 In Luke chapter 5, there's some young guys out fishing. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:56.159 And this would have meant in the in the Jewish system, we've talked about this maybe three or four years ago, we talked about this. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:59.759 So this would have meant in Luke chapter 5, these young guys are out fishing. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:03.200 This would have meant that they did not have what it took. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:12.639 Meaning in the Jewish system of education, if you were back on a trade, if you were fishing, it meant you didn't keep progressing through the education to get to follow a rabbi. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:23.759 And so they're maybe mid-teenager, maybe they're 15, 16, maybe somewhere through there, maybe a little bit later, but they're they're teenagers and they're fishing, which meant you don't have what it takes. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.960 This is the system speaking to them, they're fishing. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:34.879 And yet Jesus shows up to them in chapter 5 and he comes to them as they're fishing and he says, Follow me. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:37.840 Drop your nets, drop your nuts, follow me. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:45.840 See, Jesus is calling, giving them an announcement in that moment, and he's saying to them, You're enough. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.960 Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.559 I know you didn't make it. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:54.960 Yeah, I know you already heard another announcement about yourself, and I know now you're fishing. 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.320 I know that. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:00.399 But I am declaring to you, you are enough. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.039 And so these guys, they they leave this old system. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:06.880 They leave the nets, they leave the fishing. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:12.880 You know so often we we hear this text in Luke 5 preach, and we go, oh, we're so impressed with the disciples leaving their fishing. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.960 Yeah, of course they left their nets. 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.720 This is a rabbi calling them. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:19.279 Somebody has declared them worthy. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.119 Yeah, they dropped the nets immediately. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.319 They're like, I'm out of here. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.240 I'm not fishing anymore. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:28.480 This guy has made an announcement to me of my worth and value. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.839 And Jesus did this. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:32.640 He did it before they performed. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.960 See, this is so different than the world system of merit and performance. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:46.640 It's not life wisdom, this moment of Jesus showing up and saying, drop your nuts and follow me. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.519 That's not life wisdom. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.319 It's not helpful tips. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:53.440 You didn't show up and say, Hey, let me give you a few tips on how you're gonna follow me, and then if let me do a little test run and see how you do. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.599 They never did really well, anyways. 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.720 This is gospel wisdom to them in this moment. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:06.640 It's an announcement about who they are at the core of who they are, and it's given to them even though they're not perfect. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.400 It's a great rescue. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:11.039 This is a great rescue to broken people. 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:26.559 And so they leave their nets, they make this just huge shift in their life to being governed by grace and defined by grace, justified by Jesus rather than governed and defined and justified by their own selves and production. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.880 And you would think that'd be the end of the story. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:32.480 But you know it's not the end of the story, it's not the end of your story, it's not the end of my story. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:36.319 Because Jesus is crucified, they all bail, they're back fishing again. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.599 Like it doesn't take long. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.799 And this is about more than just this this is about a shift in the system. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:46.319 This is a huge, beautiful metaphor for us of how quickly we return to an old system. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.319 They just they bail on him. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.880 Jesus dies, like, ah, you know, guess it didn't work out. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:56.000 I guess this whole thing about this guy and what he was preaching and telling, I guess it wasn't true. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:04.000 And how beautiful is it that again after the resurrection, Jesus goes and he finds them again. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.960 And for me, I just love this. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:10.640 Not because I need to become a child of God, like again and again and again. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.759 I mean I'm already in the family. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:13.839 If you're in the family, you're in the family. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:18.480 But I really need Jesus to pursue me again and again and again. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:23.839 I need to hear again and again and again, I declare you enough. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:27.440 I need to hear that from God to me. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.079 The message of grace and mercy. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:40.160 I was thinking about all of this yesterday throughout the day while we were in Memphis, and I conducted uh this wedding with my cousin Elizabeth and her now husband Jonathan. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:54.240 And at first, she wasn't, uh he wasn't her type, and she was she was working in an office, and he he knew her boss, and he'd come into the office, and he was he was interested in her, and he was like working through his friend the boss, and like you know, was she seen anybody? 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.880 She was seeing somebody, but she was also not interested in him. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.599 But he kept coming around, coming around, and coming around. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:01.440 Like, you know, a few of you did this. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.559 I did this with Christy. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.240 You just keep on working it. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:10.000 You just work a little magic over time, and eventually you just wear them down, just wear them down, and then they're yours. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:12.240 And in time he he won her over. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:14.000 In time he won her over. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.839 And I mean, and that's a that's a beautiful picture. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.319 That's an unbelievable picture. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:29.839 You know, here is this guy, this just good, honorable guy who wants to love her. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.920 And at first he's like, no, thanks. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.960 And he just stays at it, and stays at it, and stays at it, and stays at it. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:44.640 I mean, you that's why the scriptures say marriage is the best picture for us to understand the gospel, right? 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:50.640 Jesus the groom just staying at it, staying at it, staying at it, staying at it. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:58.160 You're enough, I love you, you're redeemed by my word, you're enough, I love you, you're redeemed by my word. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:02.240 And so I'm officiating this wedding and we're standing there. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:07.759 And you know, the vows of the groom always come before the vows of the bride. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.880 And I think this matters. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:16.079 Because in the scriptures, Jesus is the groom and we are the bride. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.319 See, the groom vows first. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:30.720 And he says to her, I will love you, I will love you without reservation, I will cherish you, I will honor you, I will grow with your mind and spirit, I will love you always. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:34.799 I mean he's saying to saying to her, I declare you're enough for me. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:38.400 And I know you're not perfect, and I declare, I declare you're enough. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:44.079 This is why the groom vows first, and then the bride responds with her vows. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.160 What a picture. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.599 That's the picture. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:51.599 And I don't know where you've been, I don't know what you've done, I don't know where you've been this week. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:22:01.759 I don't know if you feel like you're that worthy bride or you're the really unworthy bride, but I do know the great grace of God speaking over you. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.079 And he is vowing to you. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:12.079 He has already vowed to you that he loves you, and it's by his work and his vow to you that you are redeemed. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.680 Your vow to him is in response to that great love. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:18.960 So he gives you life wisdom. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:21.519 That rail around Talladega. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:28.319 He gives you life wisdom to keep you on the track, not derail you. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:35.039 But more importantly, he gives you gospel wisdom to endear you to himself. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:38.880 So, my brothers and sisters, may you heed life wisdom. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:43.759 But may you rest and live by the freedom of the gospel wisdom. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.440 Let's pray together. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.279 God, thank you for your great love for us. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:55.039 That you are the great groom in this perfect image. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:00.240 That we are your bride that has not always been perfect. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:06.480 None of us feel like we are perfectly white and pure. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:09.680 And yet you clothe us with your righteousness. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:26.400 You declare us pure and righteous by your love for us, the great redeeming work of Christ on the cross, absolution, redemption, righteousness, justification, forgiveness, the relief of our shame, all by your work, not by ours. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.920 May our vows only be a response to yours. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:31.039 In Jesus' name. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.839 Amen.