Week of prayer with David Asscherick - HOPE CHANNEL 2

David was sharing with me this morning what he was going to be speaking about and and it just happened to connect with a song that Josie and I had just wrote and recorded on the prodigal son as the parable is me sharing about so that's where the song is coming from will you accept these filthy rags I offer them they're all mine to dare to touch my gaping source to take me could use to call me yours will you accept such a master right what I've lived for myself over there we could you better look on my you accept me as I come deceased and I so long nothing to offer just a product in the lab trash waste and try to hide my lingo disgrace Lola I'm so ashamed here seek your face make me work you all I can expose levy song stayin at chose I'm ashamed and there are no I'm running for God I'm tired of trying to heal myself Lord to cover my ranks with the guise of wealth dad I'm trying to live like I'm alive truth is I'm dying inside I come naked and exposed to the one who knows with every so stayin at shows and let you - aimed and broken there are no facade all right good morning everyone feeling very royal this morning I have to let you know life is filled with these wonderful little ironies this morning I needed to get a document printed that has this parable it'll become clear later in the presentation but I really needed to get it printed and rose and I were running around sort of trying to find the best place to get it printed and we were able to get it printed in bob heights office and so i went in there and introduced myself to him and he said oh you know nice to meet you been enjoying the week oppressor great you know so what do you do here I'm the president of Adventist Risk Management I said great I'm glad I have very little to do with you I know very little about what you do and hope to know even less and he said oh by the way he said were you skateboarding last night in the parking lot who's asking I said yeah actually I I was sort of skateboarding through your parking lot last night he said yeah I almost ran you over not kidding at all just going right in front just going really fast on Frank let me borrow his board last night just for a bit he makes these beautiful skateboards and sure enough this SUV comes in and and I was like oh I really hope I don't get run over and he didn't I mean he's a very capable driver I just want to emphasize the excellence of his superb Carmen ship but the irony that it would be the president of Adventist risk management almost running me over at the general conference headquarters while I'm on a skateboard in the middle of the night right so yeah and and then for the Lord to put that little thing together like why should I end up in his office this morning I don't know if it's Bob I don't know if that was for you or me I don't know what Jesus was doing there but something happening there it's been awesome to be here this week I have had the time of my life yesterday i single-handedly kept the widest state from accomplishing anything so I just I I just want you to know for those of you that to wonder you know if they show on their little worksheets if they have to do them you know this day was just a loss it was my fault I was down there and just totally occupied Jim's time then I occupied Tim's time then I occupied Darrell's time then I occupied Cindy's time so I feel kind of good about myself you know I just wandering place-to-place keeping people from their work there's a sort of sadistic satisfaction associated with that so what I'd like to do in this morning in our message this is just a message that I'm so excited about and it is not at all a diversion from what we've been discussing we've been looking at largely the Sermon on the Mount we sort of walked through the be attitudinal sequence yesterday and we did note yesterday that the kingdom that Jesus came to introduce the very first thing he said of course were was blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs what you know this blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven the kingdom Jesus was introducing we we just touched on this was radically different from the kingdom associations that the disciples would have had and we just mentioned that the kingdom language itself is probably liable to misunderstanding just by the nature of the language and we know that the disciples had both pre during and post Jesus walk with them and time with them significant misunderstandings about the kingdom it would only come after Jesus ascension and frankly after the stoning of Stephen that it would become increasingly clear to the disciples the nature of the kingdom that Jesus was advocating now in the book thoughts on the Mount of blessing which is a personal favorite I just want to thank Tim yesterday from the white of state there's a statement that I have been and many of us have these experiences where there's just a statement in the spirit of prophecy and we know it's there and we've heard it before and we might have even quoted but we can't find the reference and when you type it into the cd-rom you're using the wrong word or the wrong language and it's just eluded me for the longest time so I said to Tim yesterday I said Tim are you familiar with the statement where Ellen White says that the depth about he says oh yeah I mean the guy's a polymath he's an absolute oh yeah that's inaudible I just stood in awe it was like he just knew literally I mean I've been looking for this thing for years and he's like oh yeah of course that's a you know that I may know him page I think was 338 thank you okay amazing so here's an amazing statement this is one of the ones that I wanted to really bring to bear here she says of the poor in spirit Jesus says there's as the kingdom of heaven this kingdom is not as Christ here's had hoped so there's the expectations that we talked about Pharisees Sadducees Essenes and zealots this kingdom is not as Christ here's had hoped a temporal and earthly Dominion Christ was opening two men the spiritual Kingdom and then she gives three modifying words Christ was opening two men the the the spiritual Kingdom so what kind of a kingdom is it it's a spiritual Kingdom Matthew would say the Kingdom of Heaven that's an exclusively methane term we don't find that in Mark Luke or John and them it's the kingdom of God there's reasons for that which is kind of interesting but here she just calls it the spiritual Kingdom the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God most are going to tell you our sin they're interchangeable here so listen she gives three modifying words here Christ was opening two men the spiritual kingdom of his love his grace and his righteousness this is how she defines the spiritual kingdom three modifying words okay his love His grace and His righteousness okay so what are the three words what this kingdom of heaven that Jesus is advocating is his love his grace and his righteous does that sound anything like for example the Kingdom of the United States of America I mean this kingdom is founded on some fantastic principles some fantastic principles and as those principles are properly executed it can be a reasonably good kingdom for Earth as far as earthly kingdoms go we just had a whole parade a pageant here of various kingdoms that are set upon various principles various various governing systems various political systems various economic systems and social idiosyncrasies but but Jesus Kingdom is one of the three words said on his love his grace and his right what a strange seemingly strange thing to build a kingdom upon his love His grace and His righteousness no wonder Jesus had to employ such unusual metaphors to disabuse the Kingdom language of its necessary liabilities that the disciples would have associated it with they would have associated with Rome and power and strength and pew cincin and mites and even breadth and width and height and depth and Jesus says it's a little different than that it's like a mustard seed a what a mustard seed it's like yeast all right yeast we advocate the yeasty Kingdom it's like a net so Jesus employed this phrase over and over again the kingdom of heaven is like I find very few instances in Matthew Mark Luke or John where Jesus ever says the kingdom of heaven or in the other Gospels the kingdom of God is a thing is this thing he more often than not says the kingdom of heaven is like and he uses the most usual reference here we are in a very cosmopolitan and many of you are peripatetic we are we're all over the world and so we have an awareness of the breadth of the seventh-day Adventist Church many of us in this room of course we would expect that here at the General Conference World Headquarters you know I've not even been to India but this morning I'm dressed like a North Indian Prince but there's an appropriateness here because I love Indian food it is my very favorite food and there are several close seconds don't get me wrong but but the point here is basically this for many people who have not travelled much they begin to take on a very parochial and even sometimes a myopic view of the world I remember one time I was in Michigan I had the privilege of working in Michigan for seven years great conference great leadership great people and but there is a sort of insularity in Michigan that people will say things like this I'll give you good example I was out fly-fishing one day on a the asaba River I met this guy and we got to discussing and I said oh where are you from and he says in classical Michigan Ian you know way he says oh I'm I'm I lived all over Oh I said where he says all I've lived in the Grand Rapids I was like oh yeah he says we paddle Creek that's like yeah he says I've been up in Mackinac how's that go okay so so for my friend there on the river that's a fly fishing he has lived all over I mean he's lived all over and if he ever got to the you know Ohio border or you know heaven forbid the Wisconsin border over on the other side of the U P it's like the earth just ends right it just ends for those of us who don't have quite as an arrow of view of the world and who have seen other things for the culture that we grow up in the culture that were accustomed to for me that would be sort of you know Middle America I'm from Wyoming a little town and shine I was born in Cheyenne Wyoming anybody here been to Cheyenne Wyoming whoa I am at the General Conference okay has anyone here been to Laramie Wyoming oh man I am at the General Conference okay so I was born in Cheyenne Wyoming and I was born again in Laramie Wyoming I am a son of Wyoming it's just my heart and soul everything is really wrapped up with Wyoming so for me the life that I have the the things that I am associated with the things that you were associated with when we travel to another culture to another place that's radically different from what we are accustomed to particularly for the first second or third time when we then go back to the culture that we're accustomed to it can be difficult problematic to describe to them what that place is like does that make sense how many of us here been to Mongolia okay a few of us I went to Mongolia had the privilege of going there about four years ago maybe it was five years ago and when you go to Mongolia it's not like going to a place it's like going back in time about a thousand years there are no roads in that country outside of you on guitar I mean there it's just a great big swath of land about the size I think of the state of Texas and there are no roads there are very few fences it was just people if you if you went to most people and said okay you can have a brand-new SUV landcruiser you know inline six-cylinder diesel or you can have this beautiful horse ought to take the horse of course because the horse you don't have to put gas in it it eats the grass which is absolutely ubiquitous there and then it produces the most wonderful drink a dog you know fermented mares milk let me tell you so apparently it's the last horse didn't try it by the way couldn't bring myself to do it and I'm sure it's excellent if there's any Mongolians here no offense but the point is this last horse based society in the world so when I came back from Mongolia and people said what was it like it was unlike anything in our country because what happens is is that the more disparate the the the greater the difference between what you're accustomed to and what you have been exposed to the harder it is to find reference points of attachment between cultures does that make sense it can be difficult now think of Jesus Jesus comes from heaven he wasn't from he wasn't from Nazareth he was incarnate there and he lived there and he breathed there but he was from heaven and Jesus comes from heaven and in the kingdom of heaven what were those three things the kingdom the spiritual Kingdom is based on his love His grace and His righteousness and he comes down to these people who have these expectations of a kingdom and all of their reference for Kingdom and Kingdom language and Kingdom ideas and Kingdom concepts are going to be based upon earthly ideas and earthly concepts you see Jesus didn't just go to Mongolia or to India or to some other place that was separated by geography he went to a place that was separated in so many ways not just geographically graphically not just in terms of distance but in terms of the basic way that heaven works versus the way that earth works and he came and he wanted to try and explain to us this is how heaven operates heaven is totally different than what you're accustomed to the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed and then he has to explain what an unusual referent for a kingdom the kingdom of heaven is like the net what an unusual referent for a kingdom the kingdom of heaven is like yeast what an unusual we find this all throughout the Gospel of Matthew I think he employs some seven or eight might even be more might it might be approaching ten the kingdom of heaven is like parables what I'd like to do this morning is walk you through what I think is the most difficult of those the most difficult of those the kingdom of heaven is like and it's found in Matthew chapter 20 so if you join me there in the a chapter of the Gospel of Matthew this is very much in keeping with our theme on the kingdom of heaven in your life today now Matthew chapter what chapter we're going to everyone 20 and in order to understand Matthew chapter 20 which begins of course let's look at those words beginning in verse 1 what are the first what's the first phrase there for the kingdom of heaven is what what phrase are we expecting like for the kingdom of heaven is like and he goes on to give the parable that were going to look at in just a moment but before we get into Matthew chapter 20 we're going to do something very responsible and just very commonsensical we're going to look at the context we're gonna look at the what everyone so we're gonna go back to Matthew chapter 19 because there are two events that set this parable up to events that set this parable up and they are remarkable in their similarity the first of course is Jesus encounter with the rich young lot ruling now we don't know his names we're just gonna call him rich okay so Jesus encounter with rich well pick it up in verse 16 it says now behold one came and said to him good teacher what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life so a simple question here as rich approaches Jesus what is he after what's he what does he want based on that text what does he want he wants to turn alive okay so he approaches a Hey good teacher good master Hey in your opinion from your perspective from your rabbinical perspective what do I have to do to attain to have eternal life Jesus response is probably not a response that the rich young ruler was anticipating verse 17 why do you call me good he puts it on the horns here of a real dilemma why do you call me good no one is good but one and that is God but if you want to enter into life keep the commandments the rich young ruler is now totally confused but he manages to ask a question which ones which hey the teacher good master I'm just wondering from your rabbinical perspective what do I have to do to have eternal life he says you know I'm just a quick question here before we get into the conversation why are you calling me good are you flattering me why do you call me good only one is good and that is God I suppose if you are calling me good then effectively calling me God but that's another conversation keep the commandments all right which ones watch what Jesus does stroke of pastoral brilliance here he begins with you shall not murder now he's quoting here directly from the Ten Commandments you shall not murder which number in terms of the the commandments is that you shall not murder we should know this that's number six very good and then you shall not commit adultery as number seven you shall not steal his number you shall not bear false witnesses number now what would you expect to come next right what commandments how do I enter into eternal life keep the commandments and then he basically says which ones and he says oh six seven eight nine what would you just expect we didn't know the next verse and you had to guess remember those those little things that we used to have to do when we were young you know follow the pattern the pattern is 1 3 5 7 9 right yet it is so what would you expect here 6 7 8 9 what would you expect 10 and what is the tenth commandment thou shalt not covet and covetousness is what what does it have to do it that's as to do his stuff right has to do with greed an inordinate desire for material things so you would expect Jesus to say oh 6 7 8 9 10 but he does something totally wonderful here radical he skips 10 swings back to five and then summarizes the commandment from Leviticus verse 19 honor your father and your mother which commandment is that five and you shall love your neighbor as yourself and then he's quiet I mean this is awesome the rich young ruler who is we're going to discover who's what was his struggle in a word in a sentence what was the struggle of the rich young ruler it was greed it was covetousness it was for money and so he approached a what do I have to do to get oh you know why do you call me good keep the commandments which ones oh six seven eight nine five how is the rich young ruler feeling right now of course he would have known the law every bit as good as I'm probably better than any of us in this room he still manages the strength to affirm what Jesus has said here but you notice that he's under conviction in verse 20 the young man said to him well all these I have kept from my youth but look at this question he betrays the condition of his heart what do I still lack he knew he was missing something Jesus had not unintentionally or or neglectful II missed the tenth commandment is is there anything I'm missing jesus says Oh wonderful wonderful have a proposition for you if you want to be perfect go and what does he say to him verse 21 go and sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come and follow me now this invitation to follow me is an invitation to discipleship and Ellen White confirms this this is not just any ordinary run-of-the-mill invitation follow me is the same invitation to 2 Peter James and John on the shores of the Sea of Galilee follow me and I will make you fishers of men now why does Jesus say follow me and I will make you fishers of men 2 Peter James and John why does he say that because they were fishermen now who is the rich young ruler well we don't know much about him but he was obviously entrepreneurially minded he's a businessman he's a businessman and so Jesus doesn't say to the businessman follow me and I'll make you a Fisher of men because that's not his language when he speaks to the businessman he says oh follow me and you will have what what what is the language of a businessman its money its commerce it's it's it's it's exchange he says follow me and you will have what treasure in heaven and there is a brilliant little pastoral lesson in this and that is that we have to actually speak the language of the people if we are saying and we might be preaching the truth we might be preaching the Adventist message but if people's language in the the fluidity of language has so changed that what made fantastic sense linguistically 30 years ago if we preach those same messages today we might not be saying something that people are even hearing this is why the Adventist truth is non-negotiable the the Bible message is non-negotiable but the packaging of that message has to change so that we can be sure we're saying what we want the people to hear are we together and said to me this is just common sense if we stand up and we use evangelistic methods and methodologies and and ministerial approaches from the 1950s and 60s and people aren't resonating with it we shouldn't try to do that more and throw more money at evangelistic enterprises that are 40 years old we should ask ourselves the question what is the language that people are speaking today how would we communicate the biblical message in today's language and Jesus he communicates this he speaks to fishermen follow me I'll make you fishers of men he's speaking to a wealthy man follow me I'll have treasures in heaven everything and Jesus is speaking to the woman at the well I will get either drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst she's thirsty he's speaking the language of the people hey men bow to me okay close parenthesis just a little pastoral lesson there now this is quite fascinating he says all you do you like a single thing sell all that you have eight you can be my disciple now watch what happens but when the rich when the young man when rich heard this verse 22 he heard this saying he went away sorrowful because he had what he went away sorrowful he walks away now get this picture in your minds on here goes the rich young ruler turning away forlornly walking away and jesus as the rich young ruler is walking away Jesus has something to say because he senses that the disciples are apprehensive about what he has done the disciples once again frankly think that Jesus has blown it we look at the sky Jesus look at the resources here we could use this guy so the disciples are convinced that Jesus has made a mistake Jesus anticipates this and so as the rich young ruler is walking away Jesus says surely he eat I'm telling you absolutely it is hard for a rich man to enter here we go here's our phrase the kingdom of heaven again I say to you it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven wait a minute in first-century context what Jesus has just said here is absurd totally absurd Jesus just said it's hard for a healthy wealthy Jew to be saved are you kidding first of all he's a Jew so he's in right relationship with God because genealogical relationship to Abraham then he's healthy which is proof positive that he's under the favor of God and he happens to be wealthy which is doubly proof positive that he's under the favor of God so Jesus just said in the hearing of his disciples it's hard who it's tough for a healthy wealthy Jew to be saved and the disciples are perfectly incredulous Peter in classic Peter in fashion speaks up on behalf of everyone else look at what he says verse 25 the disciples when they heard this they were what does your Bible say they were they were they weren't just astonished no no no no no no they were what greatly astonished you could just like what they're looking at the rich young ruler walk away and what are they thinking if it's hard for a healthy wealthy Jew to be saved well I got the healthy part and I got the Jewish part but I don't got the wealthy part so then they turn to Jesus and they ask it with great insecurity who then could be saved do you see the nature of their question if it's hard for a healthy wealthy do to be saved who then could be saved and then Jesus says in verse 26 Jesus looked at them and said to them with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible we throw this verse around everywhere we just throw it around we say oh I had a flat tire and right on the side of the road it magically filled up with air it's a miracle from God with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible we just take this verse and we allocate it you know I the toaster wasn't even plugged in and the Lord so wanted me to be on time that my toast came up and listen maybe God did toast your toast I don't know but but that's not this verse is saying look at it here it says with men this is impossible and in context what is this the salvation of a man unto me this is another profound articulation of the great truth of righteousness by faith no man can save himself with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible are we together everyone now look at this here we go then Peter answered and said to him here we go classic pendulous Peter een articulation here here we go then Peter answered and said to him see I love this see he's inviting the omniscient one to observe something see he says Jesus perhaps something had escaped your notice see see we have left all and followed you and then here's the critical word the operative word therefore on the basis of this is what that word means we look at Jesus they're greatly disturbed by what they've seen with the walking away of rich and so they turn to Jesus and they say because they're insecure right now they know that they're Jews and they know that they're healthy but this wealthy thing has really got them stirred up and Jesus just said it's hard for a healthy wealthy to to be saved and so in their great insecurity they turn to Jesus or Peter turns to Jesus and says see look at this boat Jesus I mean it was I mean it wasn't the latest and greatest model but I mean I couldn't afford the leather seats but at least it's got the cloth I mean look at this I left it behind there for and this is the operative word because he's basically saying I have done this what do you do in response therefore what shall we have do you see the significance of this everyone yes or no do you see it now here's the amazing amazing point Matt could I just borrow you very quickly just you if you could just run up here um I need something that water bottled be great I'll be right back sorry just props you know you need these things okay so check this out that's Jesus okay Jesus has access to something that the rich young ruler believes Jesus has access to eternal life okay so we're gonna use the water ball that'll represent I'm gonna turn ruler icon and I look great the rich young ruler says essentially you have access to something that I want how do I get that thing I want that thing and the rich young ruler being a businessman being entrepreneurial minded believes that this is going to work like any business transaction what do I do what service do I provide what do I say how much do I pay what do i render to you so that you give me that right so let's just say it's this will just say this represents something that I'm giving and so look at this it's very simple you see that this is capitalism in right you see that so I'm giving something and I am getting something proportionate to what I've given does that make sense okay now you think oh of course he's the rich young girl he's trying to ease essentially taking a business perspective the approaches Jesus but the Peter does the same thing now I'm Peter now I'm Peter and Peter just saw rich walk away and he says well I don't have the Cadillac Escalade but I have this votes see see we have left all and followed you what do we get he didn't expect to get as much as the rich young ruler he just wanted to know what would he would get based on what he was giving because he believed that his reward would be proportionate to what he'd given this makes sense so both the rich young ruler and gee both the rich young ruler and Peter have an essentially economic view of salvation or at least an economic view to be very precise of how God interacts with humanity I will give you something you will respond in kind are we together everyone here now thank you so much math it is in this context that Jesus then says in Matthew chapter 20 and now we're at Matthew chapter 20 is in this context that Jesus says fellas let me tell you what the kingdom of heaven is like for the kingdom of heaven I'm in verse one is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard now when he had agreed with the labourers for a Denarius today he sent him into his vineyard and he went out about the third hour that's nine o'clock and he saw others standing idle in the marketplace and he said to them you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right I will give you so they went again he went out about the sixth hour that's noon and the ninth hour that's 3:00 and did likewise at about the eleventh hour that's five o'clock he went out and found others standing idle and he said to them why have you been here idle all day and they said to him up because no one has hired us he said to them you also go into the vineyard and whatever is right you will receive so when evening had come the owner of the vineyard said to his steward call the labourers and give them their wages beginning with the last to the first okay so this is an easy parable to understand okay so Jesus says fellas let me tell you what the kingdom of heaven is like the kingdom of heaven is like a guy of an employer who went out into the market and he hired people at 6 o'clock in the morning okay and then he said hey you guys want a job oh yeah we're really looking for job great this is my vineyard go work in my vineyard and then he went out three hours later at nine o'clock and he said hey you guys looking for a job you looking for some work got up a little late didn't show yeah but we'd really like some work great go work in my vineyard so he sends him out to work at his Inn then he goes out at noon hey some of you are here on lunch break but is anybody looking for a job oh you guys look over to go work in my vineyard he goes out at 3:00 and he goes out at 5:00 this is where we get the phrase 11th hour worker from he goes out at 5:00 and so he has he has these these employees have been working various times in the day and the Bible says that the kingdom of heaven is analogous to this Jesus says that this is this is an analogy for the kingdom of heaven now as the work day comes to a conclusion he says to his steward hey everybody but line them up in reverse order of how I had hired them okay so now they're lined up one our workers three our workers six our workers nine our workers twelve our workers we together everyone so they start getting paid okay now watch what happens here first thing it says our verse eight so when evening had come the owner of the vineyard said to his steward call the labourers and be call the laborers and give them their wages beginning with the last to the first okay so here you are imagine you are standing at the front of the line you've worked an hour you don't even have time to get your run and get your work clothes on okay you're in your tie and you know whatever you're in your bizarre hanging out in the bizarre clothes so you're standing there and the person behind the the steward hands you a day's wage hey thanks so much I think you know I think there's a little confusion here because you recognize this as a Denarius we only worked an hour thank you so much for your work we really appreciate the hard work that you put in looks like you almost broke a sweat here's your paise here's your day's wage oh you know thank you oh that's really sweet of you I'd love to be able to take that but maybe you didn't hear me we worked an hour this is a Denarius thank you so much god bless you you need a joke okay be a little early tomorrow here's your pay all right right okay so they get and now now put yourself at the back of the line now you're at the back of the line did you see that man now you're thinking one of two possible things the one thing you might be thinking is this guy's got money to burn he just paid those Jokers ooh who just got into the field an hour ago a Denarius yeah what are we gonna get that's what you're thinking that's what the Bible says supposing they would receive more so yeah this guy's got money to burn or another possible response would have been what a bit of an indignation but you choose to just wait and see how things pan out so here come the three our workers and a little bit of sweat on the brow and so you step up and the steward says here you go thank you so much hands you a Denarius oh thank you thank you for that would love to be able to take that but only work for three hours today so I'm gonna give that back to you and I just need a fourth of that thank you so much for your work today and maybe we'll see you tomorrow here's your day's wage you sure yep see ya okay so now you're out of there now the six our workers Denarius nine our workers Denarius now here you come right being many of us capitalists right Americans meritocracy right how do we feel how are we feeling right now how are we feeling what's up right we're not happy are we happy huh no no no no no we are unhappy because we just saw people I mean this is the this is like oh I better not say hey this is unlike our economic system one our days wage three our days wage six our days wage nine our days wage and here we aren't we've actually worked today and thank you so much for your hard work did it well looks like you tore your jeans there thank you here thank you so much we were here's your day's wage can we talk to the guy that hired us we're uh we're not happy with this we were going to file a complaint with the Union we are so so watch what happens verse nine but when those who were hired about the eleventh hour they each received a Denarius verse ten but when the first came those are the people that worked all day look at what it says they and what does your Bible say what's the next word in your Bible they suppose now give me some synonyms here for what they what they they expected they thought by the way it's absolutely analogous to what Peter said when Peter said we have left all and followed you therefore I suppose that we should get xxxxxx they they have expectations of how this transaction works and so it says they supposed they believed they thought they reasoned they reishi that they rationalized they supposed that they would receive what does your Bible say they would receive more but of course of course in classic capitalist economics I mean these this is a meritocracy here they suppose that they would receive more that each received a Denarius verse 11 and when they had received it they what do they do they complained against the landowner saying these last are you joking these last minute worked only one hour and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden in the heat of the day and frankly we resonate with this complaint don't you resonate with this complaint I do I I see myself at the back of the line and I'm not happy about this i resonate with this basic complaint and I think that there's very few of us in this room that wouldn't resonate similar we wouldn't have been very similar in our response should this have been an actual situation and not of in fact anyway I won't get into that don't want to step on toes here so first well I do but not those toes out there's other specific toes I'm looking for and we're heading to those toes we're gonna pass that that one we're gonna come to this one verse 13 but he answered and said to them now this is the landowner who had hired them in the morning look at his language what's the first word out of his mouth oh friend I love that it's just so disarming Oh friend friend I am doing you no wrong remind me of our agreement this morning I've had a busy day did you not agree with me for a Denarius uh well yeah take what is yours and go your way now watch this I wish I desire it brings me pleasure I wish to give to this last man the same as to you and a question is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things or and here's a Jewish idiom is your eye evil because I am good and you find that's an idiomatic expression you go back in the Old Testament if somebody had an evil eye I'll give you one instance in the book of Deuteronomy the Bible says if you're wealthy and you want a bunch of vineyards and and you have you have harvested your vineyards and yeah and others go through a poor people go through and they glean what you have last if left if you throw them out and you have an evil eye toward them and they pray to me he basically says I'll answer their prayer an evil eye this is a Jewish idiom for being ungenerous he says is your eye evil because I am good now don't miss the basic point Jesus says here in the parable what Jesus is saying is that what the people received in this in this the kingdom of heaven is like parable the one our workers the three our workers the six our workers the nine our workers in the all day workers that they did not receive what they deserved they did not receive the reward of labor but the reward of grace by the way that is exactly the title of the chapter in crashed object lessons the reward of grace they did not get paid because their work was so good but because the owner was so good and Jesus says and fellas that's what the kingdom of heaven is like because the rich young ruler had approached Jesus thinking I do for you you do for me hey I scratch your back you scratch mine it's proportional Peter had said hey you know we didn't leave everything that you asked the rich I'm rude I leave frankly because we didn't have it the we did leave something and what do we get in return because the expectation is is that God will reward us proportionate to what we put into the equation and Jesus says let me tell you it's nothing like that you are not rewarded because you are so good you are rewarded because God is so good and that's what the kingdom of heaven is like it's not a kingdom based on Kinsey neck anomic sore capitalism or democracy it's a it's a kingdom based on what were three things on love grace and righteousness and this parable is the perfect articulation of grace and love and righteousness you don't get what you deserve you get what Jesus deserves amen and Jesus says this is what the kingdom of heaven is like now just another word on this another brief pastoral application we need to be very clear here I want to push the boundaries but I don't want to get in trouble too much there are people at the front of the line beloved and those of us that are further back in the line need not despise those people who need a little more grace than us and this can manifest itself in a variety of ways right there are some of us that are at the front of the line because of maybe the the genetic inheritance that we receive from our parents or our cultural idiosyncrasies or maybe our family heritage whatever it might be there are some of us that have some how shall we say flat sides and rough edges some of us have been out and we have gone out and have earned you know so to speak we've paid our debts to the street so to speak and we have earned some bad habits and we hate those habits we've earned some ways of relating to people and responding to people we have some flat sides we got issues some of us because we didn't have a great example to be me and my wife my wife doesn't have the experience and I had my wife was raised god bless her in a third generation sever the heaviness home she's never had a bite of meat in her life she whenever we play these various trivia games and it as anything to do with the television or a movie star or sports she's like I don't know she says it's just like she doesn't even know who was her who played Indiana Jones what's Indiana Jones that's my wife she doesn't she doesn't know Harrison Ford she has permission she has no context for understanding so my wife she might be sort of here and some of us are like you know the son of a pastor's pastors pastors some of us are like wait we're like we're like Adventists royalty at the back of the line and every one of us needs grace we all need grace and the person at the front of line maybe he doesn't have your exact experience there there where there would be an inclination to be prejudiced toward this person because he maybe didn't follow the exact ministerial track that you followed who I could get off on that maybe he didn't go exactly the way you went maybe he doesn't believe exactly like you believe maybe he has a few little idiosyncratic things maybe he is annoying but give him grace if God is accepted and why shouldn't you accept him I think God's standard is mildly large a higher and more robust than yours and so the point is basically this these people need grace but so do these and so do these and so do these and you might be thinking what about the 12 hour that the people that worked all through home hours they didn't get grace they got what they deserve to know because they still got hired the orders are under no obligation to hire them the point is this everybody gets grace some need more some less and this is exactly what Ellen was talking about when she says the cultivated and inherited tendencies to evil some of us because of our genetic inheritance and because of the legacy of our families we're closer to the front of the line and we are asking those of you who are further back in the line to have mercy on us have mercy on our various idiosyncrasies in other words to begin to view people as God views and this is what we talked about yesterday in sin Corinthians chapter 5 Paul says we no longer regard any man according to the flesh we're not going to see them as we're inclined to see them as our flesh would want to see them we're going to see them as God sees them because everybody needs grace and everybody gets the same this is bordering on socialism I'm sorry this is everybody gets the same this is the anti America everybody gets the same well at what used to be the anti America I'm sorry stop stop grace grace grace grace grace Jesus says fellas this is what the kingdom of heaven is like the rich young ruler thought he would receive proportionate to what he had given Peter thought he would receive proportionate to what he had given and Jesus says you don't receive what you deserve you don't receive because you're so good you receive because I'm so good and my father is so good now we've got to close this but we're gonna close it in an unusual way can you think of another story in scripture where the the somebody was treated with tremendous grace and somebody else was not happy about it yeah yeah what's the answer what's the answer here Oh so go to Luke 15 now I know I know I know I know you learned this before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye I know this some of you you know follow me to the parable of the prodigal son and and see if it's not possible that for many of us in this room we had missed the central feature of the parable of the prodigal son I know that's a bold thing to say in a room of theologians but just just just suffer it to be so for now okay just try me go to Luke 15 go to Luke 15 now I'm not going to go through the whole thing but as you know it many of you know it Luke 15 a man has how many sons how many sons does he have he has two sons and one son goes away to Vegas right one son goes away to Vegas and he's he's a dad I'm tired of this place I'm tired of living on an organic farm you know here 25 miles outside of the city in an outpost center I hate this place I'm tired of dressing like this I want to live I want to I want to go out I want to see Vegas I want to and so the father reluctantly but willingly he gives his son the the portion of his inheritance that was his and he goes off and he just lives wildly he just goes off and he does his thing we don't know how for long but you get the feeling that there's a significant brevity here that it just sort of the money just evaporates reasonably quickly and in the parable of the story the other son we don't know much about him yet but we he must have stayed home because Jesus is basically silent about him so here's this guy goes off to Vegas these partying is doing that some of us went to Vegas anybody in this room it went to Vegas do we have any we'll call them Randy's how many Randy's do we have here oh come on any Randy's here okay I know Randy there's like I'm a Randy okay well say Randy went off to Vegas so now we're dealing with rich Randy we're gonna say the guy that stay back is Ronald so I'm a Randy and some of us went to Vegas some of us went there and and we we made mistakes and and we made big mistakes and and then we came to ourselves this Randy finds himself one day and he's feeding the pigs he's he's he's feeding pigs this would be the lowest most menial you know Jesus is very intentional about his language here and the Bible says that while he's feeding the pigs he comes to himself he has an epiphany he has an awareness and the awareness goes something like this look at how I'm living in squalor and and there are servants in my father's house who are living better than I will live I will return to my father now so far you think God we know this is parable I've heard it 100 times but watch Jesus here is absolutely a stroke of storytelling brilliance watch what he does so he's letting you know how the young man was thinking as he was preparing to go back to his father and Jesus rehearses what the man was thinking the boy was thinking so pick it up here in verse 17 he's letting you into the mind of the little boy of the young man but when he had come to myself verse 17 he said how many of my father's hired servants have bread enough to spare and I perish with hunger I will arise you can just see him getting the idea I will arise I'll go back to my dad's house and I will say to him now he's rehearsing what he'll say Jesus is letting you in he's opening up the mind of the prodigal and he's this is what I will say father two parts how many parts everyone two parts let's pay attention to both of them father I have sinned against heaven and before you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son yeah that's how I'll start that's good I like that yeah father I have sinned against heaven and against you yeah I like that I am no longer worthy to be called your son but there's something missing I can't just go back and call him dad Oh be part here's the B part make me like one of your hired servants yeah make me like one of your hired servants okay so the a part is I've sinned against heaven and against you I'm no longer worthy to be called your son be part is make me like one of your hired servants so then the Bible says he returns he goes back and there's the father sitting on the porch swing right there's the father and he's he sees the familiar gait of his son we all have a gate right we all have a way that we walk my friends are always saying David stand up straight I don't know what it is I just want to get close to you ah I don't know what it is I just it's hard for me it doesn't feel natural but I'm working on it I'm working on my posture I stand up against the wall my neck starts to kill me but anyway have mercy on me I get my wife a hard time because I tell her that she walks like a duck you know she needs to put her toes together because she she just walks like this I mean that's how she stands that is so uncomfortable to me I just saw a guy yesterday in this very building who has the opposite situation he's got this going on which is cool right you walk like this and some of us walk you know more quickly and some of us sort of walk more slow we all have a way about us just a way and the father sees this he sees that his and his eyes can't believe it for just a moment looks like my boy continues his reconnaissance and sure enough it's it's Randy without hesitation the Bible says that he runs he runs which is there's significance here but he runs to meet his his boy and when he gets to the boy watch this he gets to the boy we'll pick it up here in verse 20 and he arose and he came to his father and when he was still a great way off his father saw him and he had compassion and he ran and he fell on his neck and kissed him I don't know how you were raised but I was raised in a hugging home I was raised in a hugging home that's my dad just raised me as a hugger and you know it's like my you know it's like well good to see you boy I love that about my my father just a very hugging person some of you aren't raised that way and I always get a kick out of the the the in the Adventist churches you know depending on the churches you go to but in many of the angle of churches the hugs are so disingenuous there were there what I call the a-frame and what is that what is that and you don't know you know I'm not saying you have to give the person the dip but you know it's like I don't understand that or we go for this you know this is another one the site the bumper cars like a good to see you it was like bumping people in the foyer nice to see you how are you good what is that but then but then you go to the Hispanic churches right Oh beneath oh right I mean it's true isn't it isn't it and so I was raised and a very physical you know touching it you know the love language is saying what - physical touch right like like 99% of other males - physical touch and and so so that's my I can just see this in my mind's eye the father he just embraces the son we're gonna come back to that he just embraces and he holds and because sometimes sometimes there are things that are ineffable there are things that cannot be said sometimes language just fails and you just need to be held come on ladies yeah me too I've listened I'm totally comfortable in my masculinity I can admit there's some times I'll just say to my wife and sweetie just hold me something about just being held the Father the Bible says wraps Minnie's up arms and he falls on his neck the imagery here is so rich but the Sun look at the Sun he's being and here's the Sun father I am no longer worthy to be called your son right I'm the longer whether be called your son mmm now watch this watch this I have sinned against heaven and before you now this is the point don't least this is one of the points look at this verse 21 father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and I am no longer worthy to be called your son verse 22 but the father said to his servants bring out the best robe and put it on him and bring a ring and put it on his hand and sandals on his feet and bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry for my son was dead and is alive he was lost and is found and everyone began to be merry do you notice that he doesn't get the B part out do you notice that he doesn't get the B part out the speech consisted of two parts what were the two parts I have sinned against heaven and against you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son it was the B part the B part was make me like one of you are he never says it why does Jesus go into that point why does Jesus make that point why does Jesus include this psychological detail if he never actually says it because he wants you to know the mentality that the young boy was returning with the young boy thought he was going to return on his own terms dad dad dad what just with the hug a second just hold on I've put together some terms here and and I've sinned against heaven and against you and I'm no longer worthy to be called your son but perhaps you could make me like one of your hired servants and I work in the beginning I'll be I'll be willing to stay in the servants quarters and I will work hard yet and I will show to you that I'm a very good son and and I'm sorry for what I've done and and over time I'm not suggesting soon I don't want to infer that dad but I and I know you're upset but over time I will work and I will become increasingly worthy of your respect and honor and I will show you that I am worthy to be called your son I want to come on as a hired servant well you know son you've greatly disappointed your mother and I and I'm going to have to do you have a proposal can I see it thank you why don't you pitch a tent on the far Hill and your mother and I will take a look at this we'll have our legal team examine it and we will see if the terms of your return are are workable so thank you so much I'll I'll text you later today and write there's none of this there's no negotiation he never even gets to say it he never even gets to introduce the concept of of working returning on my terms he is grabbed and embraced now the party's going on and the party and here comes Ronald sweating just like that just like these guys at the back of the line and he hears the sound by Joshua and Moses hears the sound it sounds like a party my birthday's not for another six months right so the Bible says he calls one of his servants he calls the servants over and I'll watch this because this is the point don't miss this hang in here just you've been so gracious just hang in here virtually sexually called one of his servants and he said he asked what these things meant oh you're not gonna believe this Ronald you're not gonna believe this your brother has come because he has received him safe and said he looks terrible I mean don't get me wrong he looks terrible but but he's safe and he's sound and your father has killed the fatted calf oh it's awesome it's Randy's home verse 28 but he was angry and he would not go in there for his father came out and pleaded with him can you see him I'm not going in there he's mad he's a pouty pathetic excuse for an older brother he won't go in no no no Ronald it's Randy the servant says it's Randy and dad and the party I'm not going in there go tell Dad I'm mad Randy it's ready remember fishing Randy sledding it's your brother I'm not going in there so the servant goes in and he goes to the dad the this loud you know and everybody's dancing and it's a joyful time he says hey Ronald you're all great Ronald's here and he's outside and he's he's mad oh we're all glad it's great no he's mad he won't come in well why not I don't know he's mad it sounds like okay so the dad goes out he says hey hey Ronald how are you doing what's what's wrong here now look at this look at the dialogue here and don't miss this he pleaded with him it's it's yours it's your brother Randy verse 29 so he said to his father and watch this this is amazing lo these many years I have been what does your Bible say that's right serving dad these many years I've been serving you and I never transgressed your commandment at anytime and you never gave me a young goat that I might make merry with my friends but as soon as this not my brother as soon as this son of yours it does such disdain and revulsion for his son he can't even bring himself to call him his brother as soon as this son of you're this pathetic son of yours has come who devoured your livelihood translation my inheritance with harlots you killed the fatted calf for him now look at the astonishment of the father but now listen listen as the son ends his diya tribe the father looks at him and says son is that you son did I hear you say that you've been serving me son you are always with me and everything that I have is yours do you mean you were working for a small goat this place is yours man son it is right that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found we thought that Ronald and Randy were totally different they're the same in the way that they related to their father they're the same and that's why I'm totally convinced that's why Jesus included that little psychological window made me like one of your hired servants you see both Randy and Ronald had a servant master relationship with their father all these years I've been a vegan and let me tell you it wasn't always easy all these years I have been keeping the Sabbath let me tell you that wasn't always easy in all these years I have been reading the writings of Ellen White all of these years I never went to a movie theater once except when march of the Penguins came out and that was a Sunday matinee all these years I have been serving you beloved don't miss the point I don't want to be unnecessarily because you're smart you'll make the application both Randy and Ronald were exactly like Peter and exactly like the rich young ruler and let's just quickly review the rich young ruler you have something I want I'll do for you you reward me and it'll be proportional Peter hey we didn't leave everything he left but we'll leave the boats and what do we get in proportional return exactly and then Jesus says what's now like that in fact the 1 the 3 the 6 the 9 and the 12 all get the same because you're not rewarded because you're so good but because God is so good god is rewarding everybody the same it's the reward of grace it's what we learned yesterday blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven and then we mourn that condition we have an attitude of meekness we hunger in thirst for righteousness we have the experience of Mercy our heart becomes purified as we reach out to other people come peacemakers blessed are those that are persecuted for theirs is what same thing it doesn't matter if you're nailed to a tree or you being persecuted because you're so spirit filled you get the same reward and in the parable of the prodigal son the son believes that he is going to work his way back it's going to be proportionate why does Jesus include that psychological detail because he wants you to know that both Randy and Ronald had the same basic attitude toward their dad and that was I will work and you will reward me accordingly it's proportionate so there's this parable that scholars say and I'm not somebody to know this but this is in several places I've read this parable that suggests that this scholar this this parable I'm gonna read you right now was contemporaneous with the days of Jesus contemporaneous with the days of Jesus it was a rabbinical parable now the question is is was the parable reactionary to what Jesus said or was what Jesus said a response to the parable and most believed the ones that I read said Jesus parable in Matthew chapter 20 about the people that all get paid the same was a response to this rabbinical parable I'm gonna read you right now tell me if you hear the similarities a king hired workmen to work in his vineyard one of the men worked skillfully and the king took him by the hand and spent most of the day talking with him and when the laborers were paid this man received the same as the others do you hear these similarities azide is it identical basically this man received the same as the others but they grumbled and said we have toiled all the day whereas this man toiled for two hours and yet the King has given him his full wage the King said to them now this is the Rabbinical parable that Jesus parable in Matthew chapter 20 was probably a response to listen to listen to the Rabbinical parable the king said to them what cause do you have for grumbling why are you grumbling and complaining this man in two hours did more good work than you did in the whole day do you see these radically fundamentally different systems of understanding how God works here the Jewish parable tells the classic meritocracy this guy accomplished more in two hours and you accomplished in 12 that's why I paid him better because he's a better worker he's done more for me and I rewarded him accordingly stop your grumbling Jesus says well let me tell it's not like that at all you don't get rewarded because you are so skillful and you are such a crafty artisan and because you are so sanctified because you whatever it is you don't get rewarded because you are so good Jesus parable says you get rewarded because God is so good it's God who is so good and beloved if this is the case and I hope and pray that it I believe that it is at least that's what the the several commentaries that I was able to get access to said that this Jesus tells us parable to purposely undercut this basic rabbinical understanding of how salvation works how a relationship works between God and man it's not economical it's not capitalist we are accepted by God because of who Christ is and because of who God is and what we bring to the table is a pittance some of us bring some of us bring nothing we are we working for a measly hour we get the same some of us are further back in the line and hallelujah I hope that that is the case for you second third fourth generation Adventist on-fire spirit-filled preaching with Bob Falkenberg all over the world and baptized I hope that is you but in the event that it's not and you're at the front of the line you're at 11th hour worker you don't get what you deserve it's the reward of grace there are two possible response to three possible responses today one is the response of the prodigal I went to Vegas and I'm coming back I'm going to prove that I'm worthy of being in your house Oh God the second response is I never left and I've been serving you all of these years the randi response and the Ranald response the third response is the biblical response it's the gospel response it's the response of a kingdom built on grace and love and righteousness it's we come to God just as we are I'm gonna go out on a limb I'm just gonna email my good friend bill not he's been having some pain so he's it's not here and I just said bill I just need I just just help me out just guide me here what do I preach I don't feel comfortable standing up in front of these dear people and casting a vision for the world Church David's vision for the church I barely can tie my shoes in the morning I'm glad that God has called you I have ideas some of them good some of them you might not think not so good but I did I said bill I don't feel comfortable standing up in front of these men many of and women many of whom are my seniors in ministry by years and and and educating them and coming in and he said preach to them they're just ordinary people with the various struggles and and and vicissitudes and and and weaknesses and temptations that every church member preached and I love what he said god bless you bill I hope you don't mind me saying this he said preach them just like he would preach to a church and say Omaha and you'll be perfectly fine so Nebraskans this is what I would preach I'm I'm gonna suggest I'm gonna go out on a limb here as a preacher somebody who's been in full-time ministry now for 15 years okay I'm gonna go out on a limb because I know myself and I'm going to imagine that it's possible that there are other people here who have been in ministry or who have been associated with ministry for years who still need the grace of Jesus Christ in the most fundamental way I'm going to suggest that there might even be some prodigal is here I think that's possible I think it's absolutely possible to be working at the General Conference and have your heart be in Vegas I think it's possible I told you I was gonna make an appeal so you knew it was coming so don't even don't don't do that I've got a text I've got to go you can't it's don't leave now this is the time you're gonna listen when Ellen White tells this in Christ object lessons when she tells these three parables lost sheep lost coin lost son check me on this lost sheep lost coin lost son she does something very interesting I never noticed it before I just read it on the plane in each parable she concludes it with different language and that the conclusion is is that the individual the sheep the coin and the prodigal is wrapped in the arms of its finder that's the language she uses she says the Sheep bruised and injured is wrapped in the arms of the shepherd the coin that is found is held to the bosom of the woman and the prodigal that is recovered is wrapped in the arms of the father and he falls on his neck and kisses him in each instant she closes with being held by God now because I don't want to be perfectly precise because sometimes precision we were like okay I could respond now I could respond now I okay that doesn't apply to me I don't have to go forward whew I'm gonna keep it nice and broad here some of us are Randy's elements of Vegas still in the heart I'll clean that up tomorrow some of us are Ronald's some of us have The Prodigal perspective some of us have the pathetic pouty older brother perspective some of us have the pea-green perspective some of us have the Richard young rich young ruler perspective Richard's perspective but all of us all of these fundamentally are the same that at some level the reward I get is proportionate and what I do at the end of the day is what matters so all those who have a deep a sense of their deep soul poverty or in spirit all who have a sense of their deep soul poverty who feel that they have nothing good in themselves may find righteousness and strength by looking unto Jesus today we're talking about righteousness tomorrow about strength come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden he bids you exchange your poverty for his riches of grace we are not worthy of God's love but Christ our surety is worthy and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto him now listen to this language whatever may have been your past experience oh thank you Jesus some of us just need to hear that this morning by the way the past is as early as yesterday I want to say that again the past is as early as yesterday whatever may have been your past experience the language whatever communicates anything oh man there's some hearts in here that need to hear that I just sense what ever may have been your past experience listen to the words of Jesus this morning however discouraging your present circumstances if you will come to Jesus just as you are you can't come to Jesus as you aren't you can only come as you are because he knows whatever your past experience however discouraging your present circumstances if you will come to Jesus just as you are weak do you have any weak people here this one weak helpless and despairing I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that there might be some people in this very room who are in the midst of despair in their own spiritual experience I believe that that is absolutely possible even in the bosom of the GC weak helpless and despairing look at this our compassionate Savior will meet you a great way off he sees you walking and here it comes he will throw about you look at this his arms of love and his robe of righteousness he presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of his own character he pleads before God on our behalf saying I have taken the sinner's place look not upon this wayward child but look on me and then Ellen White asked the question does Satan plead loudly against our souls accusing of sin and claiming us as his prey when I asked you that question this morning the satan plead loudly against your small soul accusing you of sin and claiming you as his prey the blood of jesus she says please with greater power some of us this morning the riches the ronald's and the randy's and the Peters have something in our lives that we just need to be held this morning by the arms of Jesus and you know what it is I told you I mentioned just yesterday and I'm not gonna get into details about three months ago I went through a period of what can only be described as a spiritual malaise the spiritual funk I can say this the nature of this malaise was such that if you knew the details I would be totally embarrassed to stand in your presence Jesus has rescued me from that that wasn't the first time by the way that that's and I hope it was the last but I'm just gonna beg you today if this message has resonated with you the Randy's the Ronald's the riches or the Peters and there's something and you thought you know what that that is scratching right where I'm itching the Spirit of God has spoken to you today secretary security General Conference president General Conference vice president nad worker advil worker AWR doesn't matter today today we're all just sons and daughters of God and sometimes even the preachers just need to be held so the appeal this morning is if the Spirit of God has spoken to you and you have something very specific in your life that you need to surrender some perspective some attitude and any of these elements apply to you and this morning you need to research the the reassurance it's not the reassurance of a pastor or of an emotion it's the biblical reassurance but the arms of Christ are thrown around you the arms of the Father are thrown around you and those safe in play loud please loudly against your soul this morning you just need to be held in the arms of Jesus and you need to cling to that truth but the blood of Jesus pleads with greater power as matthew sings this beautiful song I'm gonna invite those of you to who want to respond to that to come forward and receive as it were the embrace of God this would be the time to love does not love does matter love will sustain love will provide love will not cease at the end of time love will protect love always we my heart weed I can't turn back love love love Father in heaven it is our great privilege to call you Father it is our great privilege to be held this morning in the embrace of grace father I want to pray for the 12 hour workers for those that have been faithful stood with you and for you and in you and by you uphold them with your righteous right arm father keep them strong as Daniel Shadrach Meshach and Abednego of old buoy them in the various departments father give us pillars and men and women of principle strength integrity and compassion give them skill give them vision give them organization give them courage give them awareness give them discernment father I pray for our 12 hour workers among us today we've all been 12-hour workers at one time the father today I also pray for the one hour workers I want to pray for that person who only barely got out of bed this morning father I know they're here I saw some of them yesterday in the office I want to pray for that person who's struggling but the tear-stained Sheikh who has been receiving the brunt of the attacks of the enemy the person this morning who woke up feeling unworthy of your love father help the one our worker this morning to receive the Denarius of grace from your hand father to receive the embrace and the robe of the righteousness of Christ help them to return as son and daughter father for everyone in between those of us who are a mix of the principled and the prodigal those of us who have allowed perhaps some laziness some laksa days ago nests some recklessness father those of us who have not guarded every door we've guarded most of the doors but that one door was left open father I pray for everybody in between the three the six the nine we stand before you today an assembly of Richards and Ronaldson randy's of Peterson Father today we have heard the words of Christ the kingdom of heaven was built on different principles love and righteousness grace when a pray father for that person today who is tempted to utter discouragement and despair I want to pray for that person against whom Satan is pleading loudly and claiming him or her as his pray father today they have come may they hear the words that have been spoken directly to their soul into their situation the blood of Jesus pleads with greater power the blood of Jesus pleads with greater power let's say that together the blood of Jesus with greater power father we believe that today and in our recitation we claim that promise by faith pray for all of the prodigal zhh and all of the POW Dee's in this building father make us better than that save us we received today by faith the robe of righteousness father we also received today the ring of standing we believe that we stand not as we should but as we do in Christ put us to work not to gain or to earn but to serve and to love and revive us father that's what we need in the embrace of the Father and in the embrace of the son revive us to live for you in Jesus name let all of the Randy's the Roberts the Ronald's and the Peters say amen amen turn to the brother or sister next to you just give him a word of encouragement tell them Jesus loves them

Channel: Normandie Ave SDA Church

Views: 12,051

Rating: 4.884058 out of 5

Keywords: David, Asscherick, HOPE, CHANNEL, Prayer, SDA, Seventh, Day, Adventist, Christian, Sermon

Id: bjD5sz7Bopo

Length: 85min 56sec (5156 seconds)

Published: Fri Mar 18 2011