WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.220 Could we turn our Bibles to Matthew 13? Looking 00:00:03.220 --> 00:00:06.440 forward to just the next few minutes together 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:09.619 as we look at this parable of the Kingdom of 00:00:09.619 --> 00:00:18.000 Heaven. Matthew 13. Just one verse today. If 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:22.640 you can handle one verse. Verse 44. Chapter 13, 00:00:22.739 --> 00:00:25.620 verse 44. By the way, I think I see all the children 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:28.579 have evacuated. We had the wrong message up there. 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:31.600 It said ages 5 through 9, but I think they got 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:36.020 the hint and left us anyway. So, see how it is? 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:43.140 Alright. Let's read together Matthew 13, verse 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:49.329 44. Jesus speaking. The kingdom of heaven is 00:00:49.329 --> 00:00:53.570 like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found 00:00:53.570 --> 00:00:57.609 it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went 00:00:57.609 --> 00:01:03.549 and sold all he had and bought that field. Boom. 00:01:03.630 --> 00:01:07.709 There you go. Extremely long passage today. Would 00:01:07.709 --> 00:01:10.969 it be okay if we just have a prayer of surrender? 00:01:11.150 --> 00:01:14.310 Surrendering our hearts to Jesus' words. Jesus, 00:01:14.430 --> 00:01:18.260 we thank You for this. verse, this passage that 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:23.819 You spoke, we surrender and we ask for a demonstration 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:27.180 of the Holy Spirit's power through Your Word 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:31.299 to create permanent, lasting change in our lives 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:34.719 so that Your kingdom would come and You would 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.859 be glorified in us. If you agree with that, would 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:41.400 you say amen this morning? Okay. The word amen 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.640 literally means let it be so. And when you say 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.180 it, you say, I agree. Let it be done in me. Alright, 00:01:48.260 --> 00:01:54.140 so today's message, I'm always... It's always 00:01:54.140 --> 00:01:58.359 like, do you even get to title a message because 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:02.000 it's God's Word? But if in humility we're going 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.500 to title the message, it would be Lessons About 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:07.340 the Kingdom of Heaven from the Parable of the 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:09.060 Treasure. Because that's what we're going to 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:12.080 do. lessons about the kingdom from the parable 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:17.080 of the treasure if you are just visiting or recently 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:20.960 coming back to the gathering we are in a journey 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:25.039 about of learning about the kingdom of heaven 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:28.039 and i would say it's been probably three four 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:31.800 five years now that we've we felt the lord really 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.539 focusing to learn about the kingdom and we've 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:38.060 put in a lot of time studying those things Getting 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:41.599 our identity that we are kingdom people filled 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.719 with the kingdom of heaven to be released on 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:46.639 the earth. And for those of you who were around 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.580 last year, we spent a good amount of time talking 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:52.879 about two topics. One, deeply loving one another 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.240 because if the church doesn't have love, it's 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.180 got nothing. It doesn't matter what we do. The 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:02.379 Apostle Paul said we can... Pray in the tongues 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:05.659 of angels. We can prophesy great things and do 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:08.379 great miracles if we don't love each other. We 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:12.840 have nothing. So, love. So, let me just remind 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:16.639 you, there's probably people in this room that 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:20.280 are going to be unlovable this week. Because 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:22.460 we're a family. We're going to go through struggles. 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:25.180 We're going to go through difficulties. We commit 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:27.360 to love one another deeply. That's what the Scripture 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:30.680 says. Love one another deeply because love covers 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:34.120 a multitude of offenses, trespasses, and sins. 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:36.740 And so last year we spent a good amount of time 00:03:36.740 --> 00:03:39.840 talking about that coupled with a commitment 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:44.020 to maturity. Going deeper in our maturity in 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:46.439 the Lord. Not being swayed by the things of the 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.169 world or the doctrines of men. but digging deep 00:03:51.169 --> 00:03:53.569 roots into the Scripture and biblical maturity 00:03:53.569 --> 00:03:56.610 and loving one another. And those two things 00:03:56.610 --> 00:03:59.889 we really focused on last year, building a foundation 00:03:59.889 --> 00:04:02.610 for what we feel like God's called us to do this 00:04:02.610 --> 00:04:06.969 year and in the years to come, which is to supernaturally 00:04:06.969 --> 00:04:10.430 expand the kingdom of heaven on the earth. How 00:04:10.430 --> 00:04:13.009 many of you know and believe the Scriptures? 00:04:13.530 --> 00:04:18.670 Jesus is coming back. Alright? It doesn't matter 00:04:18.670 --> 00:04:21.660 how we feel. It doesn't matter what we want. 00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:27.199 The reality is Jesus is returning. And He's returning 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:32.600 as the King. The judging King. Right? And so 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:35.980 in this season of the New Testament church, our 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:38.860 job is not just to be saved and try to be better 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:42.240 people. If the purpose of salvation was to just 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:44.300 get us to heaven, then we would ascend to heaven 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:47.899 once we're saved. But the purpose of the salvation 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:52.029 of mankind the genesis of the new testament church 00:04:52.029 --> 00:04:56.889 is that we have a job to do and our job is to 00:04:56.889 --> 00:04:59.930 know the kingdom of heaven on the earth inside 00:04:59.930 --> 00:05:03.589 of us jesus said that in luke 17 right that when 00:05:03.589 --> 00:05:05.389 people say there's the kingdom don't look here 00:05:05.389 --> 00:05:07.310 and there because the kingdom is inside of you 00:05:07.310 --> 00:05:09.850 you got to get it in you first you got to understand 00:05:09.850 --> 00:05:12.930 the kingdom of heaven is in you right everything 00:05:12.930 --> 00:05:16.490 you need god has placed in you by his spirit 00:05:16.490 --> 00:05:18.730 to advance the kingdom of heaven on the earth 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.920 When we talk about the kingdom of heaven, what 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:22.620 are we talking about? We're talking about the 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:26.740 reign of the King. Jesus. Jesus' reign and where 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:28.899 He reigns, there's righteousness, peace, and 00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:30.459 joy in the Holy Spirit. All the things we've 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:33.720 been talking about for years. And so we're in 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:36.519 this season in which God has called us as a church. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:40.120 It's time to supernaturally expand the kingdom 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:44.240 of heaven on the earth. Preparing the world for 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.360 the return of Jesus. Because as we've talked 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:52.220 about in the weeks past lately, for some of us, 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:55.339 we're pumped about the return of Jesus. We're 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:57.819 like, the Spirit and the Bride say, come, Lord 00:05:57.819 --> 00:06:01.620 Jesus, come. We want Jesus to come today. But 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:03.959 you have to understand, for all these people 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:06.259 and the millions like them in the world right 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:09.600 now that don't know the blood of Christ, the 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:15.379 coming of Jesus will not be a good day. You get 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:19.720 it, right? Perspective. And so our job is to 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:22.300 represent the King and advance the Kingdom of 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:24.819 Heaven so that these people in our lives say, 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:28.019 that is appealing. I want that. And they're drawn 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:30.839 to the King and His reign becomes real in their 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.759 life. They get saved. They get set free. They 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:36.040 get delivered. And then they start impacting 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:38.660 their spheres of influence. And then they, and 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:41.240 then they, and then they. And revival comes to 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.610 the world until Jesus comes. And that's our goal. 00:06:44.790 --> 00:06:47.449 That's our job. That's our world. That's our 00:06:47.449 --> 00:06:53.550 life. That's the purpose we exist. So, what are 00:06:53.550 --> 00:06:56.649 some things we can learn from the passage here? 00:06:56.870 --> 00:06:59.470 Number one, if you're taking notes, that's great. 00:06:59.790 --> 00:07:02.949 It's helpful. When you write things down, it 00:07:02.949 --> 00:07:05.269 helps you to remember them and you have a record, 00:07:05.350 --> 00:07:07.550 something to help somebody with in the coming 00:07:07.550 --> 00:07:10.939 week. Number one. The kingdom of heaven should 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:16.180 be viewed as a treasure chest full of unshakable 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:20.800 righteousness, peace, joy, and power provided 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.540 by the Holy Spirit. If that sounds familiar, 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:25.759 it's because it's just a direct quote of all 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:29.759 those passages underneath it. The kingdom of 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.410 heaven should be viewed as a treasure chest full 00:07:33.410 --> 00:07:37.529 of unshakable righteousness, peace, joy, and 00:07:37.529 --> 00:07:41.029 power provided by the Holy Spirit. You remember, 00:07:41.170 --> 00:07:43.930 Jesus is teaching these parables. Why? Because 00:07:43.930 --> 00:07:46.310 He's trying to teach His disciples what the kingdom 00:07:46.310 --> 00:07:49.230 of heaven is like. And so He's saying, what is 00:07:49.230 --> 00:07:51.509 the kingdom of heaven like? It's like this, and 00:07:51.509 --> 00:07:52.970 it's like this. We've been talking about these 00:07:52.970 --> 00:07:57.129 parables. And Jesus says, how can I help my disciples, 00:07:57.370 --> 00:08:00.350 my followers, understand what the kingdom of 00:08:00.350 --> 00:08:03.519 heaven is like? He's like, ah, I got it. The 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:07.699 kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:11.899 a field. Now, do we have that next slide for 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:15.560 treasure? When we look at this Greek word for 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:21.899 treasure, the sauros, the Greek word there, it's 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:25.680 not actually talking about the treasure, the 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:29.120 gold, the silver, the jewels. It's talking about 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.740 the receptacle you keep them in, which is interesting. 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:36.759 It's defined as the place in which goods and 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:40.659 precious things are collected and stored. A coffer. 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:44.960 A receptacle in which valuables are kept. So 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.220 Jesus is saying, how do I help my disciples understand 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:50.120 what the kingdom of heaven is like? He says, 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.980 the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure chest. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.000 Think about that. The kingdom of heaven is like 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.519 a coffer, like a receptacle that holds beautiful 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:05.659 and wonderful things. And when you and I are 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:10.519 looking and saying, Jesus, how can I expand the 00:09:10.519 --> 00:09:13.759 kingdom of heaven on the earth? We need to understand 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:16.460 that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:20.679 chest. Now, maybe it might be a little more helpful 00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:23.240 to think of it like this, because how many of 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:25.259 you are going to carry a treasure chest around? 00:09:26.420 --> 00:09:29.960 It's a little cumbersome. But maybe, did anybody 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:33.919 here grow up or your children grew up watching 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:38.059 Dora the Explorer? Alright, and she had the backpack 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:41.080 that had everything you ever needed in the backpack 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:44.539 and a lot of things you don't need. Maybe you 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:48.000 see it spiritually like that in that you are 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:55.029 carrying with you a treasure chest. Of everything 00:09:55.029 --> 00:10:00.309 that the kingdom provides. I have this picture. 00:10:02.330 --> 00:10:06.909 Alright? This is a very young sergeant tunnel 00:10:06.909 --> 00:10:11.710 in 2003 on the left there. This is Major Bennett, 00:10:11.850 --> 00:10:16.070 our operations officer. My unit was in Iraq when 00:10:16.070 --> 00:10:18.870 Saddam Hussein was captured in a dirty little 00:10:18.870 --> 00:10:22.059 hole like the dirty little animal he was. And 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:27.200 inside that hole was this toolbox, spray -painted 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:32.159 green, and that is $750 ,000 U .S. cash in all 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.399 100s, right? And when they pulled them out of 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:38.340 the hole, that was my unit. I was not there. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.759 But it was my job in the first 24 hours to do 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:46.580 guard duty over the $750 ,000. And everybody 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:49.659 always asks. I didn't bring any home. It all 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:53.350 stayed right there. in that treasure chest, right? 00:10:53.929 --> 00:10:59.289 But the kingdom of heaven is like that green 00:10:59.289 --> 00:11:04.190 tool box that's holding all the treasure. Could 00:11:04.190 --> 00:11:09.090 we go back two slides to the verses? Hebrews 00:11:09.090 --> 00:11:14.230 12 .28 says the kingdom of heaven is unshakable. 00:11:16.009 --> 00:11:21.649 Yes? Romans 14 .17 says, the kingdom of heaven 00:11:21.649 --> 00:11:24.269 is not a matter of the flesh, of eating and drinking, 00:11:24.669 --> 00:11:29.309 but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy 00:11:29.309 --> 00:11:32.750 Spirit. 1 Corinthians 4 .20 says, the kingdom 00:11:32.750 --> 00:11:35.990 is not a matter of talking, but a matter of power. 00:11:36.850 --> 00:11:40.970 Matthew 12 .28, Jesus says, and when I cast out 00:11:40.970 --> 00:11:43.309 demons, you'll know that the kingdom of heaven 00:11:43.309 --> 00:11:48.129 has come. Luke 9 .2, Jesus sends out the disciples 00:11:48.129 --> 00:11:51.580 and says to them, Preach the message of the kingdom 00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:54.919 and heal the sick. The kingdom and the power 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:58.480 go together. And so when we're looking at what 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.700 can we learn from what Jesus is teaching us in 00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:03.200 the parable, we have to start viewing it this 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:06.639 way. The kingdom of heaven is this invaluable 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:10.179 treasure chest filled with every good thing that 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:14.440 we need in every moment for the purpose of the 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:23.200 kingdom. Do you understand? Unshakable righteousness. 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:26.500 What does that look like? What does unshakable 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:30.779 righteousness look like? Like many of you did 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:33.799 again today. Receiving the blood of Jesus as 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:39.139 an unshakable gift no matter how I feel. Unshakable 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:41.399 righteousness can also be demonstrated like we 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:44.919 talked about last week. In a very real way, is 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:48.440 that you ought to be the very best employee that 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:51.639 your employer has. Because righteousness, unshakable, 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.279 works out like integrity, like excellence in 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:59.279 what God has called you to do. What does unshakable 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:04.279 peace look like? I think you know. It looks like 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:06.960 many years ago when Jill and I were borrowing 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:12.899 an RV. Borrowing an RV. And the last thing the 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:16.120 person said to us is, I never let anybody borrow 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:18.539 this RV, but I'm going to let you borrow it. 00:13:18.809 --> 00:13:21.789 Haunting words. And when we were in Colorado, 00:13:22.110 --> 00:13:28.289 I ran the RV under a cover of a church, no less, 00:13:28.490 --> 00:13:31.210 and ripped the air conditioner off like a tin 00:13:31.210 --> 00:13:36.669 can. And it was snowing into our RV because there 00:13:36.669 --> 00:13:41.549 was such a huge hole in the roof. And I crumpled 00:13:41.549 --> 00:13:44.649 like a little baby under the weight of what I 00:13:44.649 --> 00:13:47.700 had just done. And the only person I knew there 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:50.639 was the pastor of the church that we had visited. 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:54.620 And I called him and I said, Pastor Al, I just 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:56.659 need help. I don't know what to do. I've never 00:13:56.659 --> 00:14:00.320 had an RV before this happened. He shows up as 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:05.620 a man of unshakable peace. Jill and I, how many 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:08.179 years ago was that? I don't know. Fifteen years 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:12.080 ago. And we'll still remember the moment he showed 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:16.460 up at that RV park filled with peace. And when 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:20.460 He came in, peace settled on us. Because the 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:22.840 kingdom of heaven brings an unshakable peace. 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:26.799 And that's ridiculous. That's an air conditioner 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:34.000 on an RV. But what about all the life -altering 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:37.080 incidents going on in the lives of people all 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:40.980 around us? And they're in chaos. They're in pain. 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:44.139 They're in confusion. It's unshakable peace. 00:14:46.090 --> 00:14:49.210 You have it in the kingdom of heaven. And it 00:14:49.210 --> 00:14:52.509 needs to be expanded. Right? Unshakable joy. 00:14:54.210 --> 00:14:58.190 Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy is 00:14:58.190 --> 00:15:03.330 rooted in who God is. Right? And we can walk 00:15:03.330 --> 00:15:07.730 through the worst days of our lives with an unshakable 00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:12.250 joy. And power. The word power literally in the 00:15:12.250 --> 00:15:15.549 Greek is dunamis where we get our word dynamite. 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:19.159 And it literally, literally in the Greek means 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:23.960 miracle working power. You and I have been given 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:28.059 by Christ who is our King reigning in His kingdom. 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:31.700 He has authorized us with His authority and His 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:35.399 power to do great miracles in His name that His 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:38.259 kingdom would be expanded. Alright? So let's 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:41.580 just stop right there and let's just change the 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:44.789 way we think. The kingdom of heaven has very 00:15:44.789 --> 00:15:47.269 little if nothing to do about church and religion. 00:15:47.990 --> 00:15:51.029 It has everything to do about the presence of 00:15:51.029 --> 00:15:55.429 Jesus walking into horrible, crazy, dark, chaotic 00:15:55.429 --> 00:16:00.070 places. So let's just pause. If you need to repent, 00:16:00.169 --> 00:16:02.490 which means just change the way you think and 00:16:02.490 --> 00:16:06.470 align your thinking with Jesus, you just need 00:16:06.470 --> 00:16:10.029 to receive the treasure that is the kingdom. 00:16:20.649 --> 00:16:23.250 And Jesus, we commit to think like You think. 00:16:23.470 --> 00:16:26.149 And You told us to think this way. The Kingdom 00:16:26.149 --> 00:16:33.570 of Heaven is like a treasure chest. Help us to 00:16:33.570 --> 00:16:42.389 wear that backpack with confidence, Jesus. Amen. 00:16:44.230 --> 00:16:46.409 Number two, we're writing these things down. 00:16:47.429 --> 00:16:52.049 The Kingdom Person is actively and intentionally 00:16:52.049 --> 00:16:56.269 seeking the kingdom of heaven wherever God has 00:16:56.269 --> 00:17:00.429 placed them. The kingdom person is actively and 00:17:00.429 --> 00:17:04.190 intentionally seeking the kingdom of heaven where 00:17:04.190 --> 00:17:08.210 God has placed them. In Matthew 6 .33, he's talking 00:17:08.210 --> 00:17:10.529 about all the crazy situations of the world, 00:17:10.569 --> 00:17:13.390 all the things we worry about. He's teaching 00:17:13.390 --> 00:17:16.170 and he says, don't run after these things like 00:17:16.170 --> 00:17:21.599 the pagans do. But instead, what? Seek first 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:28.160 the kingdom of God and His righteousness. There's 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:31.779 a seeking that we do. The word seek literally 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:36.039 means to search out with effort, right? In this 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:39.240 passage, Jesus is saying, listen, the kingdom 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:43.099 of heaven, guys, is like a treasure that a man 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:47.720 found in a field. He says, in the passage says, 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:50.680 it's like a treasure that was hidden in a field 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.440 and a man found it. Let me ask you, how does 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:56.579 a man find something in a field that's hidden 00:17:56.579 --> 00:18:02.500 if he's not looking for it? He doesn't. If something 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:06.279 is hidden, you don't just find it in happenstance. 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:09.880 That's why Jesus said, I need you to seek first. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:12.519 I need you to pursue. I need you to search after 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:15.569 the Kingdom of Heaven. And part of that comes 00:18:15.569 --> 00:18:18.650 at salvation when we receive the blood of Jesus 00:18:18.650 --> 00:18:22.450 and our eyes are opened and we're covered in 00:18:22.450 --> 00:18:25.490 destiny and the kingdom of heaven becomes alive 00:18:25.490 --> 00:18:28.150 to us. And that's very important, but it's only 00:18:28.150 --> 00:18:31.069 the first step of many, many, many days ahead 00:18:31.069 --> 00:18:35.670 of us. And then from there on out, our job is 00:18:35.670 --> 00:18:38.549 to wherever God sends us to be looking for the 00:18:38.549 --> 00:18:45.440 kingdom. Where is the treasure today? As I go 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.440 into work, as I go into marriage relationship, 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:52.339 my relationship with my children, whatever season 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.339 that you're in, whatever sphere of influence 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:57.319 that God has given you, He has called you to 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:00.500 be a person who is intentionally and actively 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:06.799 looking for the kingdom. Do you do that? That's 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.819 what a kingdom person looks like. A kingdom person 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:11.180 looks like this. They wake up in the morning. 00:19:11.609 --> 00:19:13.950 They get fresh filling and anointing of the Holy 00:19:13.950 --> 00:19:16.730 Spirit. And they surrender and say, God, how 00:19:16.730 --> 00:19:21.650 can I expand Your kingdom today? Everywhere You 00:19:21.650 --> 00:19:25.450 send me today, give me eyes to see. Could you 00:19:25.450 --> 00:19:33.390 go to that next slide there? Okay. Exactly. I 00:19:33.390 --> 00:19:38.849 think we already said that. Let's look at this. 00:19:39.529 --> 00:19:41.509 Maybe I didn't put it up there. But in Matthew 00:19:41.509 --> 00:19:45.750 13, let's look at some verses that Jesus said 00:19:45.750 --> 00:19:53.869 prior to that. In verse 13 -17. Matthew 13, verse 00:19:53.869 --> 00:19:58.930 13 -17. He's still talking in parables. Verse 00:19:58.930 --> 00:20:03.369 13 says, This is why I speak to them in parables. 00:20:03.490 --> 00:20:06.890 Those seeing, they do not see. though hearing, 00:20:07.009 --> 00:20:10.470 they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled 00:20:10.470 --> 00:20:13.529 the prophecy of Isaiah, you will be ever hearing, 00:20:13.609 --> 00:20:16.009 but never understanding. You will be ever seeing, 00:20:16.150 --> 00:20:18.789 but never perceiving. For these people's heart 00:20:18.789 --> 00:20:21.950 has become calloused, and they hardly hear with 00:20:21.950 --> 00:20:24.150 their ears, and they have closed their eyes. 00:20:24.430 --> 00:20:27.109 Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear 00:20:27.109 --> 00:20:29.650 with their ears, understand with their hearts, 00:20:29.769 --> 00:20:32.309 and turn, and I would heal them. Alright? Pretty 00:20:32.309 --> 00:20:35.660 harsh judgment. But then listen to Jesus turning 00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:38.140 it in His revelation of the kingdom. He says, 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:42.980 but blessed are your eyes because they see, and 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:46.180 your ears because they hear. For I tell you the 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:49.400 truth, many prophets and righteous men longed 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:51.779 to see what you see, but did not see it, and 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:54.890 to hear what you hear. but did not hear it. What 00:20:54.890 --> 00:20:58.150 is Jesus doing? He's releasing a revelation in 00:20:58.150 --> 00:21:00.990 the earth that says these things used to be hidden 00:21:00.990 --> 00:21:04.109 by mankind, but in these days He's revealing 00:21:04.109 --> 00:21:07.009 it and now you have eyes to see and ears to hear. 00:21:07.130 --> 00:21:11.289 And you are blessed. You are blessed because 00:21:11.289 --> 00:21:13.509 there's been plenty of men and women in history 00:21:13.509 --> 00:21:16.970 that long to see, hear, and know the things you 00:21:16.970 --> 00:21:21.019 now see, hear, and know about the kingdom. And 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:24.000 so, what we're looking for are eyes and ears 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:29.119 that are ready to see and hear the kingdom anywhere 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:33.519 He sends us. Let me ask you this. Why was the 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:36.640 man in the field in the first place? Jesus said, 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:38.759 the kingdom's like this. It's like a treasure 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:42.319 chest that was hidden in a field and a man found 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:46.319 it. Why is he in the field in the first place? 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.660 It's not his field. Because the passage later 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:53.980 tells us that he sold everything to buy it. So 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:56.680 why is he in the field? Is he just traveling 00:21:56.680 --> 00:22:00.880 through? Possible. Is he a hired worker working 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:04.859 somebody else's field? Possible. Both of them 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:08.859 are highly applicable. Whether we're traveling 00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:11.119 through what we feel like is a situation that 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:13.240 we don't even think has a whole lot of purpose. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:15.339 Anybody ever felt that way? You're just kind 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:17.119 of getting up, going through the day, going to 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.980 bed. You feel like, man, this is a dry season 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:21.740 of my life. I feel like there's not a lot of 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:23.440 purpose. I feel like I'm just traveling through 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:29.079 life. It's a lie from the enemy. You are in the 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:32.019 kingdom. The kingdom is in you. And you need 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:36.859 to have eyes and ears ready to see and hear where 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:41.880 the kingdom needs to be expanded. Was he working 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:44.039 in somebody else's field? I don't know. Possible. 00:22:44.769 --> 00:22:48.210 also applicable. It doesn't matter what you're 00:22:48.210 --> 00:22:50.329 doing. It doesn't matter who you're working for. 00:22:50.430 --> 00:22:52.390 It doesn't matter what your job is or why you're 00:22:52.390 --> 00:22:55.730 in the field, why you're in the world. Your greater 00:22:55.730 --> 00:22:58.470 purpose is the kingdom of heaven on the earth. 00:23:00.230 --> 00:23:03.509 You've got to be looking for it. I told you just 00:23:03.509 --> 00:23:06.069 last week. I did it again this week. Worked a 00:23:06.069 --> 00:23:09.329 couple of shifts at the PD. Right over the door 00:23:09.329 --> 00:23:12.769 handle. Big postcard says, RTK, release the kingdom 00:23:12.769 --> 00:23:15.630 duct taped. So every time I open the door of 00:23:15.630 --> 00:23:17.890 the patrol unit, I have to lift up the release 00:23:17.890 --> 00:23:20.089 of the kingdom paper to be able to get out of 00:23:20.089 --> 00:23:23.849 the vehicle. Because I want a mentality that 00:23:23.849 --> 00:23:28.250 God didn't send me on this shift today for any 00:23:28.250 --> 00:23:32.589 other reason than to expand His kingdom. And 00:23:32.589 --> 00:23:35.809 that goes for you and what you're doing and where 00:23:35.809 --> 00:23:38.089 God has put you and the people He's given you. 00:23:38.170 --> 00:23:42.089 Are you seeing it? Do you have eyes to see it? 00:23:44.069 --> 00:23:49.430 Well, Jesse, I didn't realize any situation this 00:23:49.430 --> 00:23:54.490 week. You missed it. But praise God that He's 00:23:54.490 --> 00:23:57.609 merciful. I did it again this week. You know 00:23:57.609 --> 00:24:00.769 how many shifts or situations that I get out 00:24:00.769 --> 00:24:04.789 of and the next day I'm like, you idiot. It was 00:24:04.789 --> 00:24:07.650 like a perfect opportunity to release the kingdom 00:24:07.650 --> 00:24:10.269 and you totally missed it. So what do you do? 00:24:10.390 --> 00:24:13.250 I'm sorry, Lord. I'm sorry I missed it. Would 00:24:13.250 --> 00:24:15.349 you help me not to miss another opportunity? 00:24:15.970 --> 00:24:19.670 I don't want to miss one opportunity. Because 00:24:19.670 --> 00:24:23.170 this life isn't about me. It's about your kingdom 00:24:23.170 --> 00:24:26.930 in the earth. We're going to have all kinds of 00:24:26.930 --> 00:24:28.769 situations this week. We're going to run into 00:24:28.769 --> 00:24:32.130 all kinds of people. Just yesterday was Palapino 00:24:32.130 --> 00:24:34.549 County County Cleanup Day in which they open 00:24:34.549 --> 00:24:36.829 all the dumpsters for free and you can bring 00:24:36.829 --> 00:24:39.829 all your trash. on the one day of the year you 00:24:39.829 --> 00:24:41.789 can bring everything you want to throw away for 00:24:41.789 --> 00:24:45.309 free and uh jill was like hey we really need 00:24:45.309 --> 00:24:47.529 to do this i was being lazy he's like i don't 00:24:47.529 --> 00:24:50.730 want to do that today waited to the last minute 00:24:50.730 --> 00:24:53.609 we loaded up the trailer we go down to uh the 00:24:53.609 --> 00:24:55.670 county cleanup he says pull up to this dumpster 00:24:55.670 --> 00:24:58.109 we unload everything we're about to pull up and 00:24:58.109 --> 00:25:00.910 we see an elderly lady pull up in a pickup by 00:25:00.910 --> 00:25:04.049 herself and she has an entire demolished back 00:25:04.049 --> 00:25:09.299 porch just stacked boards and so I say to Jill, 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:11.819 hey, let's help this lady out. She's like, okay. 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:14.420 So we get over there, put our gloves on. We spend, 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:17.240 you know, what is it? Five, seven minutes, but 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:20.640 would have taken her a really long time to unload 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:24.559 this into a tall dumpster by herself. And we 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:27.160 get done and she says, thank you so much. And 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:29.640 we're like, yeah, absolutely. No problem. I think 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:34.240 Jill said, hey, God love you. And last night, 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:39.869 last night, I thought to myself, You are an idiot. 00:25:41.029 --> 00:25:44.910 Because that was the perfect opportunity to say, 00:25:44.930 --> 00:25:47.410 you know what? I feel like God brought us here 00:25:47.410 --> 00:25:50.329 together so we could help you. Is there anything 00:25:50.329 --> 00:25:53.609 I can pray for you about? Do you know who Jesus 00:25:53.609 --> 00:25:56.009 is? Do you know how much He loves you? The only 00:25:56.009 --> 00:25:58.069 reason why we were stopped to help is because 00:25:58.069 --> 00:26:02.630 of the love He's shown. It was like heaven opened 00:26:02.630 --> 00:26:06.019 up. with the perfect opportunity. And I'm like, 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:14.519 I'm hungry. Does anybody else feel that way or 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:17.960 is it just me? Okay, thank you for those of you 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.980 who just lied to make me feel better. Thank you. 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:26.680 It's non -stop opportunities. God, just give 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:31.400 us eyes to see. Could we just stop right here? 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:38.259 And allow God to move in our hearts. If you need 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:41.619 to repent because maybe you have been living 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:45.180 your life and it's about you and your kingdom 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:48.200 and your progress and your pleasure. I understand. 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:52.859 I do that all the time. Just repent. Repent right 00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:58.579 now. Change the way you think. Align your thinking 00:26:58.579 --> 00:27:07.990 with Jesus. And if you're interested in receiving 00:27:07.990 --> 00:27:11.589 greater sight, greater hearing for kingdom purposes, 00:27:11.990 --> 00:27:15.289 and you'd like to, let's just put our hands out 00:27:15.289 --> 00:27:17.490 in front of us in a receiving posture. You don't 00:27:17.490 --> 00:27:19.369 have to. I'm just inviting you if you want to. 00:27:21.190 --> 00:27:25.210 Lord Jesus, we know that our purpose on this 00:27:25.210 --> 00:27:28.690 earth is Your kingdom. And we're tired of missing 00:27:28.690 --> 00:27:32.210 opportunities that You set up for us. And thank 00:27:32.210 --> 00:27:34.970 You for Your kindness, Your mercy. Thank You 00:27:34.970 --> 00:27:37.809 for... The ones that we've missed, you've got 00:27:37.809 --> 00:27:40.769 a plan to bless them in other ways. We understand 00:27:40.769 --> 00:27:44.230 that, but we don't want to miss it. So we're 00:27:44.230 --> 00:27:46.869 asking You right now, take the scales off our 00:27:46.869 --> 00:27:52.589 eyes. Unplug our ears that we would be sensitive 00:27:52.589 --> 00:27:56.230 when Your Spirit prompts us. In Jesus' name, 00:27:56.309 --> 00:28:00.410 do you receive that? Amen. Alright, let's close 00:28:00.410 --> 00:28:03.839 with this one. Number three. Number one, the 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:05.420 kingdom of heaven should be viewed as a treasure 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:09.019 chest. Number two, the kingdom person is actively 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:13.259 and intentionally seeking the kingdom. And thirdly, 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:17.900 the kingdom person is marked by joyful sacrifice 00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:21.940 to put the kingdom and the glory of their King 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:26.880 as primary in their life. The kingdom person 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:31.430 is marked by joyful sacrifice. Can those two 00:28:31.430 --> 00:28:36.609 words go together? They can in the kingdom. Joyful 00:28:36.609 --> 00:28:39.930 in sacrifice. Let's read again what Jesus said. 00:28:39.990 --> 00:28:42.170 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden 00:28:42.170 --> 00:28:47.349 in a field. And when a man found it, he hid it 00:28:47.349 --> 00:28:52.109 again, and then in his joy, went and sold all 00:28:52.109 --> 00:28:59.089 he had and bought that field. You've got to love 00:28:59.089 --> 00:29:01.710 it. You've got to love because Jesus is saying, 00:29:01.849 --> 00:29:06.910 man, guys, this kingdom is so great. It's like 00:29:06.910 --> 00:29:11.089 this. This guy finds a hidden treasure chest 00:29:11.089 --> 00:29:14.430 full of the glories of the kingdom. And with 00:29:14.430 --> 00:29:16.829 joy in his heart, he goes and sells everything 00:29:16.829 --> 00:29:27.730 he has so he can have that treasure. Joyful. 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:34.319 Sacrifice. The word joy in the Greek, the word 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:40.900 kara, it's listed here as cheerfulness, calm 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:48.700 delight, gladness, and exceeding joy. Jesus said 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:53.940 it was His joy to sell everything He had because 00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:59.839 He so valued the kingdom. begrudgingly. It wasn't 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:04.240 something Jesus made him do. It was his joy. 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:10.299 The sacrifice to be a part of the kingdom. Could 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:14.759 we just meditate on this for a second? Joyful 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:19.640 plus sacrifice. I genuinely believe that a true 00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:23.259 kingdom man, woman, child, person, their life 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:25.440 is going to be marked by these two characteristics. 00:30:26.430 --> 00:30:30.170 Yes, it will be costly at times, but even in 00:30:30.170 --> 00:30:32.890 the moments of cost, even in the moments of hardship, 00:30:33.349 --> 00:30:39.210 they will be people of joy. This is why we spent 00:30:39.210 --> 00:30:41.710 so much time looking at maturity in the faith 00:30:41.710 --> 00:30:45.769 last year. Because so much of maturity is built 00:30:45.769 --> 00:30:50.490 by hardship. And we want to and are going to 00:30:50.490 --> 00:30:53.970 be people's lives that are marked with joyful 00:30:53.970 --> 00:30:57.359 sacrifice. Because there are a lot of people 00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:00.759 that live joyful lives because their lives are 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:03.400 all about pleasing them. Right? Anybody ever 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:10.380 live that way? I had a pastor tell me when I 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:12.880 was young, he was like, if you're not enjoying 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:18.039 sin, you're trying the wrong sin. Because how 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:20.599 many of you know sin is enjoyable for a season? 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:24.440 It gives birth to death, but in the moment, it 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:26.519 feels good. If it didn't feel good, nobody would 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:30.079 do it and we wouldn't have an issue. And so, 00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:32.420 there's plenty of people who live these happy, 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:35.539 joyful lives because their world revolves around 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:37.880 them and they're consumed with their own pleasures 00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:41.319 and they're having a blast. And then you've got 00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:46.660 people who are sacrificial people and they're 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:49.500 big crybabies about it. And they're angry and 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:51.259 they're bitter and they're resentful because 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:53.700 of the sacrifices. that they have to make. And 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:56.559 a lot of Christians live in that camp. Oh, woe 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:59.759 is me. I have to die to myself. I don't get to 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:02.440 do what I want to do. If I live with Jesus, I 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:04.839 have to give up everything I wanted to do. And 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:07.400 there's this issue of sacrifice with no joy. 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:11.380 But in maturity, it comes to this place that 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:15.420 we are people of joyful sacrifice. We're people 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:17.519 that aren't living for ourselves. We've laid 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:20.970 down our lives. We no longer belong to ourselves. 00:32:21.089 --> 00:32:24.589 We've been bought. We are slaves. We are servants. 00:32:24.609 --> 00:32:33.869 And we're happy about it. Yes? I was thinking... 00:32:33.869 --> 00:32:41.670 Let me see if I can do this correctly without 00:32:41.670 --> 00:32:47.240 getting in a lot of trouble. Alright. Jill and 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:51.299 I, we've been married for 25 years. Glorious 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:56.759 25 years. And looking forward to at least 25 00:32:56.759 --> 00:33:06.319 more. Let me see. I think this is an honest statement. 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:09.119 It doesn't matter how good your marriage is, 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:13.640 it's a lifestyle of sacrifice. I got the best 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:20.950 wife in the world by far. By far. Glorious. And 00:33:20.950 --> 00:33:24.230 it's still a laying down my life relationship 00:33:24.230 --> 00:33:29.609 to be married to her. And her to me. But you 00:33:29.609 --> 00:33:39.230 know what? I love my marriage. My wife is my 00:33:39.230 --> 00:33:43.430 best friend. I love sharing the beautiful times 00:33:43.430 --> 00:33:45.869 in my life with her. I love weeping together. 00:33:45.910 --> 00:33:49.250 All of it. It is wonderful. And even though, 00:33:49.250 --> 00:33:52.630 yes, it is sacrificial. Yes, the time is hard. 00:33:52.710 --> 00:33:55.730 Yes, I have to continually say no to myself because 00:33:55.730 --> 00:33:59.609 my job is to honor the king and honor her. I 00:33:59.609 --> 00:34:02.210 don't sit around and begrudgingly count all those 00:34:02.210 --> 00:34:06.349 costs because of the joy that's in my life for 00:34:06.349 --> 00:34:09.960 getting to be her husband. And here's what I 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:12.579 want to say. If you're struggling with joyful 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:17.739 sacrifice, could it be that you're operating 00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:20.460 in a religious system and not one of intimate 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:24.900 love? Because as long as your sacrifice for Jesus 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:29.119 is a religious system or a checklist, it's going 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:31.280 to be really hard for you to be joyful about 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:33.519 all the sacrifices you're going to make. But 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:39.590 if it's a bridegroom whom you adore, then all 00:34:39.590 --> 00:34:43.989 the sacrifices are no sacrifice at all to get 00:34:43.989 --> 00:34:48.190 to be with Him. It's like kids. It's like having 00:34:48.190 --> 00:34:52.349 kids. If you were to logically and analytically 00:34:52.349 --> 00:34:55.670 list out how much they're going to cost, how 00:34:55.670 --> 00:34:58.389 much sleep they're going to cause you to lose, 00:34:58.489 --> 00:35:01.170 how much fear and anxiety they're going to potentially 00:35:01.170 --> 00:35:04.690 cause, and you list out all the things of why 00:35:04.690 --> 00:35:07.820 it's not a good idea to have children. You would 00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:14.179 never have any. It makes no human sense why you 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:16.940 would ever choose to have children on the books. 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:26.820 Right? But then, you hold them. And it's cheek 00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:30.380 to cheek. And you watch them run to you at the 00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:33.199 end of the work day and embrace you. And you 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:35.679 go fishing with them and you go hiking with them. 00:35:36.269 --> 00:35:41.230 And never once do you count how many dollars 00:35:41.230 --> 00:35:45.650 you spent to raise that kid. Or how many hours 00:35:45.650 --> 00:35:48.210 of sleep you lost. You never once think about 00:35:48.210 --> 00:35:52.889 it. Because the joy of being their parent outweighs 00:35:52.889 --> 00:35:56.429 all the sacrifice that went in to have them. 00:35:57.570 --> 00:36:00.409 And that's what I'm talking about in our relationship 00:36:00.409 --> 00:36:04.760 with Jesus. It has to be one birth out of intimate 00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:08.260 relationship. Listen, if Jesus isn't your friend, 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:10.960 good luck living a life of sacrifice and not 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:13.360 being a bitter, old, resentful person about it. 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:15.980 Because it's a duty you're going to have to do 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:18.960 tomorrow and the next day and the next day, and 00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:21.159 that's going to get old when it's a religion. 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:27.760 But if He's a man that you're madly in love with, 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:37.460 That you adore? That you cherish? My aunt had 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:42.159 this debilitating disease. As a young teenager, 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:44.420 she began to lose her balance and fall down a 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:46.860 lot and that progressed until I think she died 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:52.400 at 36 or 37. She slowly lost her legs and the 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:56.269 bottom half of her body and upper torso. was 00:36:56.269 --> 00:36:58.829 a paraplegic, no arms, but could use her hands, 00:36:58.889 --> 00:37:01.389 lost hands, but could still talk, lost talk. 00:37:01.909 --> 00:37:04.809 And eventually, the end of her life, all she 00:37:04.809 --> 00:37:08.250 could do was blink to communicate until she died. 00:37:09.130 --> 00:37:13.050 And my grandmother took care of her her whole 00:37:13.050 --> 00:37:17.010 life. And you know, some of you have been caregivers 00:37:17.010 --> 00:37:20.010 in a really difficult situation, but we're talking 00:37:20.010 --> 00:37:24.400 about 24 -7 and she never hired out care. That 00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:26.219 was kind of in the days before you did that. 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:31.079 24 -7, she lived. And when my aunt died, I'll 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:34.559 never forget my grandmother standing up at her 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:37.300 funeral and she said, for all those that have 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:40.400 been thanking me for my sacrifice, I wanted to 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:43.260 go on record and say it was never a sacrifice 00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:52.420 to me. Right? Because when you love someone, 00:37:54.250 --> 00:37:58.690 The hardship, the cost is so outweighed by the 00:37:58.690 --> 00:38:01.630 joy and the beauty of getting to be with them. 00:38:02.309 --> 00:38:06.769 And we are invited to partner with the King of 00:38:06.769 --> 00:38:13.670 Kings. And not just to advance His kingdom, but 00:38:13.670 --> 00:38:24.750 to be His friend. Hardship. What hardship? It's 00:38:24.750 --> 00:38:35.170 eclipsed by the joy of being called His. It's 00:38:35.170 --> 00:38:38.889 all about perspective. Because let's be real. 00:38:39.289 --> 00:38:43.349 That's a good sermon, bro. I like that. That 00:38:43.349 --> 00:38:48.789 was good. But tomorrow my job is crappy. And 00:38:48.789 --> 00:38:51.130 I work with people that get on my nerves. Or 00:38:51.130 --> 00:38:53.599 maybe tomorrow you wake up. And your marriage 00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:55.920 is crappy. You're like, Jesse, good for you. 00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:59.400 Love that 25 years. Or maybe your marriage is 00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:02.639 over. And you're struggling with what's left 00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:05.940 of that. It doesn't matter what the difficulty 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:08.920 is. It's great. Rah, rah, rah. Let's preach a 00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:11.320 good sermon anointed. Yeah, let's all cheer. 00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:16.239 But tomorrow, tomorrow, what's going to sustain 00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:21.719 you in joyful sacrifice? You have to remain. 00:39:22.699 --> 00:39:26.500 with Him. That's what Jesus said. If you want 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:29.599 to bear much fruit, you've got to stay. Stay 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:34.559 attached to the vine. Remain. Dwell. Stay. Endure. 00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:41.699 It's the only way that the kingdom person is 00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:43.659 going to be able to say, I will sell everything 00:39:43.659 --> 00:39:52.239 I own to buy that treasure. It's got to start 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:55.380 with relationship and it's got to be maintained 00:39:55.380 --> 00:40:04.940 by relationship. It's all about your perspective. 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:12.179 People ask me all the time, how's the PD or how's 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:16.400 the church going? And I'm sure I've responded 00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:18.780 to you. You've heard me in this way. I tell people 00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:20.780 all the time, I've got the best two jobs in the 00:40:20.780 --> 00:40:24.179 world. I've got the best two jobs in the world. 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:27.340 To get to pastor and preach the Gospel and wear 00:40:27.340 --> 00:40:29.460 a gun and have lights and a siren, it's like 00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:33.900 the two best jobs in the world. I mean, honestly, 00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:39.519 I go, really, this is my life? But guess what? 00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:43.760 There's a whole lot of crappy things about being 00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:45.980 a pastor. I don't know if you've ever been around 00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:50.469 one closely. But there's a lot of really crappy 00:40:50.469 --> 00:40:52.230 things. Just like there's a lot of really crappy 00:40:52.230 --> 00:40:55.349 things about your job. There's a lot of ones 00:40:55.349 --> 00:40:59.489 that make me want to quit all the time. Being 00:40:59.489 --> 00:41:03.469 a cop is so fun. About 30 minutes out of a 12 00:41:03.469 --> 00:41:08.829 -hour shift. And the rest... I had a DWI this 00:41:08.829 --> 00:41:10.769 week with a person that didn't speak English. 00:41:10.809 --> 00:41:14.809 So it went from a 3 -hour call to a 5 -hour call. 00:41:14.929 --> 00:41:22.440 And I was just like... But when you ask me, I'm 00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:25.800 not lying. When you say, how's the church? I 00:41:25.800 --> 00:41:28.199 say, I've got the best two jobs in the world. 00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:31.139 It's not like I'm lying. It's because I have 00:41:31.139 --> 00:41:34.440 the perspective that yes, those things involve 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:38.119 sacrifice, hardship, but it's the joy of my life 00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:40.440 to be able to serve the Lord in these two ways. 00:41:41.260 --> 00:41:44.320 And it doesn't matter how crappy my job is for 00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:47.320 the week, I try that always as my response because 00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:50.380 it reminds me. This isn't something you have 00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:53.199 to do. This is something you are blessed to get 00:41:53.199 --> 00:42:01.000 to do for the King. Perspective. Kingdom perspective. 00:42:02.500 --> 00:42:07.880 Joy in the sacrifice. Does that make sense? Alright, 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:09.480 could we close in this way? Do you mind if we 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:12.239 all stand together? Just stand one more time 00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:15.860 for me. Visitors are like, man, this guy asked 00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:21.559 us to do all kinds of stuff. I had someone tell 00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:24.440 me this past week, we saw a visitor come into 00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:27.159 service the other day and we said, just give 00:42:27.159 --> 00:42:30.539 us at least three times to try us. She said they 00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:32.699 left during worship and that was it. So I don't 00:42:32.699 --> 00:42:40.239 know. So if you're a visitor, maybe one more 00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:46.340 time. I don't know. We want to be the kind of 00:42:46.340 --> 00:42:49.780 people, right, that are operating out of an... 00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:52.880 unshakable joy because of an intimate relationship 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:56.579 we have with the Lord. And so, could we just 00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:59.539 pause for a moment as we close? And would you 00:42:59.539 --> 00:43:02.480 just talk to Him and tell Him, I'm sorry I've 00:43:02.480 --> 00:43:08.239 been living as a bitter, angry person. I'm sorry 00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:11.739 that I've been begrudgingly doing the duty of 00:43:11.739 --> 00:43:18.260 Christianity. And Jesus, I'd really like to fall 00:43:18.260 --> 00:43:23.059 in love with You again. Jesus said to the church, 00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:25.019 hey, I see you're doing all kinds of great things, 00:43:25.139 --> 00:43:28.519 but this one thing I have against you, you lost 00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:33.039 your first love. I feel like that's some of us 00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:39.139 today. Somehow it morphed into a religious duty 00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:49.679 and we lost the intimacy. Come back home. He's 00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:54.059 not mad. He wants you back more than you want 00:43:54.059 --> 00:44:03.219 Him. Proven by His blood. Alright, and then can 00:44:03.219 --> 00:44:08.460 we take a moment and just commit, Lord, we're 00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:10.440 going to live sacrificial lives and we're going 00:44:10.440 --> 00:44:19.739 to do it with joy. It will cost you to advance 00:44:19.739 --> 00:44:25.030 the kingdom. Don't be mistaken. It will cost 00:44:25.030 --> 00:44:30.889 you to live a kingdom -first lifestyle. But it 00:44:30.889 --> 00:44:34.909 pales in comparison to the reward. And His name 00:44:34.909 --> 00:44:39.730 is Jesus. So Lord, here are Your sons and daughters. 00:44:39.829 --> 00:44:41.969 We've really messed this thing up in a lot of 00:44:41.969 --> 00:44:44.230 ways. Thank You for Your mercy and Your grace. 00:44:44.349 --> 00:44:47.489 We receive it. And we're committing to be kingdom 00:44:47.489 --> 00:44:50.489 people. Being willing to sacrifice anything. 00:44:51.230 --> 00:44:54.449 to have You and Your kingdom purpose in our lives. 00:44:54.949 --> 00:44:57.369 Would You please give us eyes and ears to see 00:44:57.369 --> 00:45:00.449 every opportunity. I pray for us this week, not 00:45:00.449 --> 00:45:05.909 one missed kingdom opportunity. Not one. By Your 00:45:05.909 --> 00:45:08.710 grace, Lord. Would You bless my friends today 00:45:08.710 --> 00:45:11.230 with wonderful encounters with You that their 00:45:11.230 --> 00:45:14.269 hearts would be welded to Yours this week through 00:45:14.269 --> 00:45:17.250 the Word, through worship, through walks, all 00:45:17.250 --> 00:45:20.090 of it. Just encounters with You. Would You protect 00:45:20.090 --> 00:45:23.530 their marriages, their lives, their bodies until 00:45:23.530 --> 00:45:26.530 we meet again? I ask in Jesus' powerful name, 00:45:26.670 --> 00:45:27.269 Amen.