1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,800 Welcome everyone. I'm stoked that you could be with us for today's Beach Talk. 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:10,000 I want to help us understand every word of God that's in the Word of God because 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:15,760 we are disciples or followers of Jesus Christ. It's our responsibility as 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:22,560 disciples to understand God's Word and decide ahead of time that we're going to 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:28,120 do what it says. This is what it means to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. So 6 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:33,460 our objective is simple. It's disciples making disciples who plant churches that 7 00:00:33,460 --> 00:00:38,400 plant churches so the grassroots movement of Jesus can continue all over 8 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:44,600 the world. Now in 2020 we had four churches in two countries and in 2021 9 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:49,680 our vision is to have eight churches in four countries. So please agree with us 10 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,320 in prayer about this as this is the vision we have for this year because 11 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,200 it's not the number of people that we have in our church. It's the number of 12 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:03,200 churches that our people start. Now this is our key performance indicator, our KPI. 13 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,600 This is our driving metric for ocean water. So be praying about this and keep 14 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,560 this in front and center of your mind about what God might be talking to you 15 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,480 about. So today we're in Matthew chapter 17 verses 1 through 3. It says now after 16 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,320 six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother and led them on a high 17 00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:24,680 mountain by themselves and as he was transfigured before them his face shone 18 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:30,040 like the Sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Now Jesus was 19 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:37,240 transformed to show us that we can be transformed. This is what Jesus does. He 20 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:43,880 transforms people. He took Peter, James, and John. Jesus did not invite all the 21 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:48,800 disciples to this experience but only these three. Jesus did this to prevent 22 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:53,320 the account of this miracle being told before the time was right. Now others have 23 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,040 suggested that he did this because there were three needed, these three needed 24 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:03,200 closer supervision than the others, sort of the class clowns of the group. Now 25 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,000 Jesus led them on a high mountain and was transfigured before them. Now the word 26 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:12,080 transfigured speaks of a transformation not merely of a change in outward 27 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,560 appearance. The effect was extremely striking. Jesus became so bright in 28 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:22,960 appearance that he was even difficult to look at like the Sun, S-U-N. Now the verb 29 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:28,640 metamorphu here means transfigure or to change in form. It suggests a change of 30 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:33,240 the inmost nature that can be outwardly visible. Now essentially this was not a 31 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:37,640 new miracle but the temporary cessation of an ongoing one. The real miracle was 32 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:43,320 that Jesus most of the time could keep from displaying his glory. John said we 33 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:48,680 beheld his glory. Now Peter wrote we were witnesses of his majesty. Now his face 34 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,960 shown like the Sun in his clothes became as white as the light. It was his face 35 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,760 that did shine as the Sun. He wasn't transformed into another being with 36 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:04,320 another body. It was his own face that made this light. Jesus was showing us 37 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:09,520 that we can be transformed by God's power because this is what he does in 38 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:15,200 people's lives. Jesus had his disciples with him and he was not glorified 39 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:20,760 apart from them because we share in his glory just like we do in God's kingdom 40 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:25,200 work here on earth. Then Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. Now these two Old 41 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,840 Testament people appeared and spoke with Jesus. Moses lived 1400 years before, 42 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:35,060 Elijah 900 years before, but they become a part of this story in a miraculous way 43 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:40,880 maybe in like a resurrected or glorified state. Now they represented both the Old 44 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:46,040 Testament law, Moses, and the prophets, Elijah. The sum of the Old Testament 45 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:51,320 Revelation came to meet with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. We can say 46 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:57,320 that Moses and Elijah represent those who were caught up to God and defined 47 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,200 their experience up to that point. More specifically, Moses represents those who 48 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,360 die and go to glory and Elijah represents those who are caught up to 49 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:11,680 heaven without death as described in the rapture in 1st Thessalonians 4. Now in 50 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:17,720 verse 4 and 5, Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. 51 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:23,760 If you wish, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, 52 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,080 and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking, behold a bright cloud 53 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:33,240 overshadowed them and suddenly a voice came out of the clouds saying, this is my 54 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:40,280 beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. Hear him. Jesus is establishing his 55 00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:46,440 supremacy. Is he supreme in your life? Is he number one for you? This is a 56 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:53,880 rhetorical question meant to make you think. Think about that. Is Jesus supreme in 57 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:59,160 your life? Now those said without careful thought, the effect of these words put 58 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:04,240 Jesus on an equal level with Moses and Elijah building equal shrines for each 59 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,760 of them. This is not what was intended. Peter sort of didn't know what he was 60 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:12,240 talking about. Now this is the cloud of God's glory called the Shekinah in the 61 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,360 Old Testament. From this cloud of glory, God the Father spoke. This is kind of the 62 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,560 experience that they were having here. He said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm 63 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,960 well pleased. Hear him. The Father from heaven rebuked Peter's attempt to put 64 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,480 Jesus on an equal footing with Moses and Elijah and while he was still speaking, 65 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:34,240 it was important to interrupt Peter so that all would know that 66 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:40,960 Jesus is unique and the beloved Son of God. He deserves our special attention so 67 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:46,480 we need to hear him. This is another development as well in the theme of the 68 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:52,520 conflict between Jesus and the religious people. For these words from heaven, God 69 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:58,400 the Father clearly said Jesus above the law and the prophets. He's not to be seen 70 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:04,560 as merely another lawgiver or a prophet. Jesus is the Son of God. Now hear him. If 71 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,720 we should listen to anyone, we should listen to Jesus. One would think that a 72 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:13,040 voice from heaven would say, listen to me, but the Father said, hear him. 73 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:19,360 Everything points us to Jesus. Charles Spurgeon said, if Peter is our master, let 74 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:24,680 us call him that. If Calvin is our master, let us call him that. Or if John Wesley 75 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,000 is our master, let him let us call him that. But if we are disciples of Jesus, 76 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:35,640 then let us follow Jesus and follow him with other men only so far as we 77 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,960 perceived that they followed Christ. Now verses 6 and 8, and when the disciples 78 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,020 heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid, but Jesus came and 79 00:06:45,020 --> 00:06:49,880 touched them and said, arise and do not be afraid, for when they had lifted up 80 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:55,760 their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now the disciples 81 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:01,760 reacted with fear like we sometimes do. They didn't fall on their faces when they 82 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:06,680 saw Jesus transfigured, not when his face shone like the Sun, not when his clothes 83 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:11,760 became as white as the light, not when Moses and Elijah appeared with him, not 84 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:16,920 when Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus, and not even when the cloud of glory 85 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:21,840 appeared or overshadowed them, but when the disciples heard the voice from 86 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:27,240 heaven, they fell on their faces and they were afraid. You see, sometimes when God 87 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:32,400 talks to us, it can shake us up. When God really starts speaking to you, 88 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,760 sometimes we can fall on our face in fear. Now the disciples were once again 89 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,760 uniquely in awe of Jesus. This helps explain the purpose of the 90 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,480 transfiguration, to reassure the disciples that Jesus was the Messiah, 91 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:49,880 even if he would indeed be crucified as he had so surprisingly 92 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,360 revealed. Now note the context, Jesus just revealed his humiliation and 93 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:59,980 sufferings to them. It makes sense that they received another divine testimony to 94 00:07:59,980 --> 00:08:05,480 Jesus' status as the Son of God at this time. When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but 95 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:11,480 Jesus only. It's significant that their entire focus was forced upon Jesus once 96 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:18,040 again. Now the cloud was gone, Moses had left, and Elijah had disappeared. It might 97 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:23,880 have been that after the events of the transfiguration, no one remained for the 98 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,480 disciples. Theoretically, when the experience was over, there would have 99 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:32,240 been no more Moses, no more Elijah, no Jesus. This is exactly the experience of 100 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:37,000 many. They have some spiritual experience, or receive a little bit of the Holy 101 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:43,400 Spirit. When it's over, it's done and gone. Nothing remains. We are to make sure 102 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:49,600 that Jesus remains in our life. This is why we need Jesus and his Word. It might 103 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:54,120 have been that after the events of the transfiguration, only Moses remained for 104 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,960 the disciples. Now theoretically, when the experience was over, there would have 105 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:02,480 been only Moses, though Moses was a great man compared to Jesus. He was like the 106 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,880 moon is to the sun. It would be sad to exchange the grace and truth that came 107 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:13,920 by Jesus for the law that came by Moses. But there are those sad ones who only 108 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:19,520 see Moses in his law, not Jesus. Now it might have been that after the events of the 109 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:24,920 transfiguration, only Elijah remained for the disciples. When the experience was 110 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:31,000 over, there would have only been Elijah. Elijah was a man great for the power of 111 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,640 his Word and the boldness of his national reforms. Yet all this doesn't 112 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:39,840 compare to the person and work of Jesus. Does that sound familiar? Not national 113 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:45,000 reform, but personal reform. Now verses 9 through 13, now as they came down from 114 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,080 the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, tell the vision to no one until the Son 115 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:53,880 of Man is risen from the dead. And his disciples asked him saying, why then do 116 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:58,880 the scribes say that Elijah must come first? Jesus answered and said to them, 117 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,880 indeed Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that 118 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,500 Elijah has come already and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they 119 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:13,840 wished. Likewise, the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands. Then the 120 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:21,360 disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist. So Jesus told 121 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,440 the disciples not to speak of the transfiguration until after his 122 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:29,560 resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus was the final confirmation of his 123 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:35,200 ministry in glory. Until then, reports of the transfiguration would be more likely 124 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,120 to test the faith of those who did not see it, rather than strengthen their faith. 125 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:45,360 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, yet there was also a sense in 126 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:51,240 which Jesus could rightly say, Elijah has come already. Elijah had arrived in the 127 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:56,760 work of John the Baptist, who ministered in Elijah's spirit and power, 128 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:02,560 according to Luke 1. You see, this is evident from a comparison of the life of 129 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:07,600 both Elijah and John the Baptist. There were some similarities. Elijah was 130 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:13,160 noted as being full of zeal for God, so was John the Baptist. Elijah boldly 131 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:20,800 rebuked sin in high places, so did John the Baptist. Elijah called sinners and 132 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:27,400 compromisers to a decision of repentance, and so did John the Baptist. Elijah 133 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:32,800 attracted multitudes in his ministry, so did John the Baptist. Elijah attracted 134 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:37,800 the attention and fury of a king and his wife, so did John the Baptist. In fact, 135 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:44,280 that ultimately cost him his life. Elijah was a wise man, and so was John the 136 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:50,960 Baptist. Elijah fled to the wilderness. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. 137 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:56,240 Elijah lived in a corrupt time and was used to restore a failing spiritual 138 00:11:56,240 --> 00:12:02,360 life, and this was also true of John the Baptist. Now look at verses 14 through 16. 139 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:07,440 It says, and when they had come to the multitude, a man came to him kneeling 140 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:13,000 down to him and saying, Lord have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and 141 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,600 suffers severely, for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 142 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:24,000 So I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him. This particular 143 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:31,240 boy's epileptic symptoms were demonic in origin, though not epileptic symptoms are 144 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:35,480 demonic in origin, but they are in this story. The narrative tells us that the 145 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:43,480 boy was made deaf and dumb by this demon. Jesus can heal, but he doesn't always 146 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:50,520 heal. In this story, he heals and he eliminates the devil. He says they brought 147 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,240 him to his disciples, but they could not cure him. Sometimes Jesus' followers fail, 148 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:58,880 but Jesus never does. The man was wise for going straight to Jesus when his 149 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:04,080 followers failed. On previous occasions, the disciple did not cast out demons, yet 150 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,800 here they could not cure him. This is because there are ranks of demonic 151 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:12,120 powers, according to Ephesians 6, and evidently some demons are stronger or 152 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,120 more stubborn than others. Since the disciples have been given the authority 153 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:20,960 to cast out demons before Matthew 10, apparently this demon was more difficult 154 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,040 than most. So Jesus takes care of it. Their failure was in fact good for them, 155 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:30,480 just like failure is good for us, because our failure can teach us not to get into 156 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:38,440 a rut of just doing things. It can teach us the superiority of Jesus. When we are 157 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:43,680 weak, he is strong. It can help us to wish for the presence of Jesus and long for 158 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:47,960 it. It can help us to come to Jesus with more problems, which is what we're 159 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,480 supposed to do. And Jesus takes care of this problem, because Jesus has 160 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,600 authority over everything. Now look at verse 17 through 21. He says, 161 00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:00,760 So faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? Shall I bear with you? 162 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:05,480 Bring him here to me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the 163 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:10,120 child was cured at that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and 164 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:14,600 said, Why could we not cast it out? So Jesus said to them, Because of your 165 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:19,720 unbelief, for assuredly I say to you, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you 166 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:25,280 will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. And nothing 167 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:31,160 will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and 168 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,160 fasting. Now what is he teaching us here? Now there's a sense that Jesus is 169 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,640 frustrated with his disciples. His season of ministry before the cross was 170 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:44,240 coming to an end, and perhaps he felt frustrated that his disciples did not 171 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,600 have more faith, and they should have been able to take care of this 172 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:51,840 themselves. Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him. Jesus delivered the 173 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:57,680 demon-possessed boy instantly. What was too hard for the disciples was not too 174 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:03,360 hard for Jesus. Jesus laid the inability of the disciples to cast out the demon 175 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,720 at their unbelief. To be successful in a battle against demons, there must be 176 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:13,720 trust in the Lord God who has complete authority over the demons. There are 177 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:18,480 some things which are obtained by a stronger faith and by more fervent and 178 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:25,720 opportunity prayers than others are. A mercy sometimes seems to 179 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:32,120 come to the hand of God more easily for those who were wrestling with him. There 180 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,940 was no point in blaming the boy or his father for the demon, though the demon 181 00:15:35,940 --> 00:15:41,160 was strong and had been there long before. The fault lay in the disciples. If 182 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:47,080 you have faith as a mustard seed, the faith that must have has more to do with 183 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:52,200 what kind of faith it is than how much there is. A small amount of faith, as 184 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:57,880 small as a mustard seed, a very small seed, can accomplish great things or 185 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:04,560 huge things if that small amount of faith is placed in God. What an 186 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:10,900 encouragement that God can do a lot with a little bit. Little faith can 187 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:15,920 accomplish great things, but great faith can accomplish even greater things. What 188 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:22,000 matters most is what our faith is in, the object of our faith. Jesus here in 189 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:27,240 effect calls faith an uprooter of mountains, a phrase current in the Jewish 190 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:34,040 schools for a rabbi distinguished by through personal experience. This kind 191 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,120 does not go out except by prayer and fasting. We show our faith in and a 192 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,400 reliance on God through prayer and fasting. It displays an occupation with 193 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:49,600 and dependence on Jesus. Great prayer and fasting will display an earnestness 194 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:55,240 before God that brings answer to prayer. We often pray dispassionately, almost 195 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:00,400 asking God to care about things we care little or nothing about. Prayer and 196 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:04,960 fasting demonstrate a willingness to identify with the afflicted person and 197 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:11,880 understanding of the strength of the demonic world, a dependence upon God 100%, 198 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:17,880 a desire to fight and sacrifice for the sake of deliverance. In verses 22 and 23, 199 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,880 now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, the Son of Man is 200 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,840 about to be betrayed into the hands of men and they will kill him and on the 201 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:32,400 third day he will be raised up. And they were exceedingly sorrowful. Though they 202 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:38,320 were frequent, these reminders about Jesus's suffering and resurrection were 203 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:43,800 disbelieved and forgotten by the disciples until after his resurrection. 204 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:49,360 Jesus rarely told his disciples about his coming death without also telling 205 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:53,360 them about the coming resurrection. We know that the disciples really didn't 206 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:56,920 comprehend the triumph of the resurrection because they were so sad 207 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:02,560 about it. We easily get overwhelmed by our circumstances. Sometimes grief can 208 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:07,760 can overshadow our success. Now verse 24 through 26, when they'd come to 209 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,920 Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, does your 210 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,880 teacher not pay the temple tax? And he said yes and when he had come into the 211 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,600 house Jesus anticipated him saying, what do you think Simon, for whom do the 212 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:26,440 kings of the earth take customs or taxes? Their sons or strangers? Peter said to 213 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,360 him from strangers and Jesus said to him, then the sons are free and does your 214 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:36,320 teacher not pay the temple tax? This was a normal tax or a fee applied to every 215 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:41,240 Jewish person. Faithful Jewish men paid this obligation. Others sought to escape 216 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:47,320 the responsibility. Just like today, some people pay their taxes and others people 217 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:53,000 try to not pay their taxes. We're supposed to pay our taxes and you as and 218 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:59,840 get out of as many taxes as long as it's legal. Now verse 27 he says, and when you 219 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,400 and go down to the fish and when it's open its mouth you will find a piece of 220 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:09,520 money take that and give it to them give to them for me and you. Jesus was not 221 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:13,720 obligated to pay this tax under the principle he had just discussed with 222 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:19,600 Peter. That as a son not as a servant. He did not have to pay this temple tax yet 223 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:24,960 Jesus also recognized the importance of avoiding controversy. So he paid his 224 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,720 taxes just like we're supposed to and so was willing to pay the tax just as not 225 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:36,080 to offend those who question. Now the use of the Greek word scandalizine leads 226 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:42,680 us to think that Jesus was saying we must pay so as not to set a bad example 227 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:47,640 for others. We're not meant only to do our duty we must be go let's go beyond 228 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:53,920 our duty in order that we may show others the right way to be. Now Peter was 229 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,480 a professional fisherman who used nets not a hook in the line. It must have 230 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:04,320 humbled Peter to fish in this manner and we can imagine that he had hoped none of 231 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,880 his other fishermen friends saw him trying to catch one fish at a time. He 232 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:13,400 had much more pride than that. Jesus trusted in the miraculous provision of 233 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:18,840 God. It's not every day or any day that someone catches a fish and takes a coin 234 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:24,320 out of its mouth to pay his taxes but Jesus used this provision to pay his 235 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:29,360 taxes. Now we don't know why Jesus didn't tell Peter to provide enough to 236 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:36,600 pay for all of the disciples. Perhaps it was implied or understood that at this 237 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:41,360 time Jesus it was only required of Jesus and Peter because it was the collection 238 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:45,560 from the city of Capernaum and only Peter and Jesus were at this time 239 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:52,880 residents of Capernaum. So this wraps up our time today looking at Matthew chapter 17. 240 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:58,400 Now I love it when God speaks to us through his word. God always speaks to us 241 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:04,320 every time we hear his word. Now what was God speaking to you about today? Let's 242 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:08,480 talk to God about that. Let's pray about that together. Maybe you've never prayed 243 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:13,400 before. Prayer is just talking to God. Maybe you need to hit reset in your life 244 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,960 or get a fresh start or maybe you need to stop doing some things in your life 245 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:22,640 and start doing some new things. You know we can always pray and ask for God's 246 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:28,040 help. Let's pray together right now. Just say God help me to change my life. Hit 247 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:33,280 the reset button on my life. Give me a fresh start. Help me to stop the things I 248 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:38,240 know I need to stop and help me to start the things I know I need to start. Help 249 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:45,480 me to follow you in Jesus name. Amen. Now I want us to take our offering the Bible 250 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,280 teaches us to give as part of our worship. Christians have been practicing 251 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:55,360 this for thousands of years. I didn't invent giving. God did. The Bible teaches 252 00:21:55,360 --> 00:22:00,400 the concept of giving 10% of our incomes to support God's work in the world 253 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:06,040 through the local church. That's what we teach. That's what we want to be a part 254 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:11,760 of. We want to use the resources that come in to bless the world. In our case 255 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:17,160 helping people get their water out of the ocean for free. And God is helping us 256 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:23,400 do that. Be faithful today in the giving that God puts in your heart. Now if you 257 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:28,440 would like to do that how to give you can go to Oceanwater.com and do your 258 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:34,440 giving there. We are all set up for that. I pray God's blessing on you and have a 259 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:47,720 beautiful day.