Speaker 1: 0:13

Great job. Thank you, show of hands. Anyone ever been judged before, you're in the right place. Welcome to Northgate.

Speaker 1: 0:25

I would suspect, even as I say that word judge or judgment is that there's probably some sort of a visceral reaction. You're like oh, I don't like that at all. But judgment isn't actually always negative. It can be positive. Sometimes, too, you can have a good judgment for you.

Speaker 1: 0:40

I was in college. I got a parking ticket but it was because there was a city tree that had grown over the no parking sign that was there. So I went back and I took pictures and I went to the judge and went to the court and he said that you're innocent and I was so happy because I got my $45 back and as a college student, that's like a million and a half dollars and they make you pay it up front. You're like why did you do that to me? So judgment isn't always a bad thing, it's not negative. Only, in fact, judgment. It says it like this. It says the ability. Judgment is the ability to make a considered decision or come to a sensible consequence. Now, in most cases, the problem isn't the judgment, it's that it's so final, like I don't mind the judgment, but it's like final, it's so like forever and ever. So then, as we're going to be talking about in the scripture that you heard today, we're talking about judgment. So, again, welcome to Northgate. But what if, as we talk about judgment and it's gonna be kind of broken up this week and next week what if we talk as we talk about judgment, as we look at Jesus's final parable, which a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning? So Jesus is using a story to get us to understand heavenly concepts that are played out here on earth. What if it wasn't a picture of a vengeful and hateful God who was looking to just catch you and it was actually more looking at a God who is kind and generous and, in fact, looking and trusting in a God who has the ability to make a considered decision and come to a sensible conclusion, or come to a sensible consequence based on an already communicated expectation. So good morning everyone.

Speaker 1: 2:21

My name is Jeff Bachman. I'm one of the pastors here on staff. I get the privilege of being up here and teaching. If you're new to Northgate, welcome. I'll just say this to some of the room I'm aware of playoff games. We will not delay our time here. We will take good use of all of it and we'll be done by like three or four. So it's gonna be awesome.

Speaker 1: 2:42

If you're new to Northgate, we have been preaching faithfully through Matthew. We are at Matthew 25. And so we're wrapping up. It's exciting because we are actually the way it's timed is that we're gonna end Matthew at Easter, which is at the end of Matthew, so we're gonna preach Easter on Easter and then the next week we're going to start right back over Matthew 1. Here we go no, just kidding, but it's going to be good. So that's why and I like that in the sense that, as we lay this out, you go, this week we're going to play the ball as it lies and this is what we look at. God's word is true. It has something for us today, and so we're going to look at that and that's what we're going to do. Excuse me Just to give you a little background for this.

Speaker 1: 3:22

We're looking at Matthew 25, 31 through 40. But in this it's actually a part of a bigger passage of 25, chapter 25, verse 31 through 46. We're saving 41 through 46 for next week, but you can't understand 41 through 46 without teaching the context of 31 through 40. And then even for that is that none of this makes sense if you don't understand the nature and character of God, which I think is oftentimes when you talk about judgment, and you have that feeling and we sit here and give God this terminology of being an evil and bad judge. I think it's because it's oftentimes done out of context, and so we're going to establish some of that this week and then, based on Jesus's expectations and what he's being communicated in this parable, we get to then see who God is and actually what he loves and what he's about.

Speaker 1: 4:09

This is an interesting parable because oftentimes the parable is about something, somebody, that is clearly different, but in this parable it seems very much like Jesus is kind of talking about himself. Right, it's like, you know, if I was like I'm gonna tell you a story and it's about a middle-aged white guy with weird hair who drives a 2003 Buick Century, you're like I think I know that guy. That doesn't feel like a story. That's you and this one you go. It's a parable, but this, this sounds like what you're gonna. Jesus is this you, and he's like I don't know, maybe. So that's what we're looking at this week and then next week we determine that there's also the other side of this, but we'll get to that next week.

Speaker 1: 4:44

For this passage. This is judgment for all people, all nations. This is for up to this point, he's been really specific about talking to religious leaders or different people, groups, but this is for everyone and, as I mentioned, judgment day isn't only good or only bad. It's just that people they get very uncomfortable when we talk about judgment because it's final. That's where people get nervous. The reality is, for the innocent, judgment day is wonderful. It's about time they're vindicated, they go. I've been waiting for this day and we now finally get this. Is that all that was wrong is now made right. For the guilty, there's a little bit more trepidation Like what do you know and what am I going to actually get in trouble for?

Speaker 1: 5:29

We live in a culture where judging is bad. Right, people don't. Hey, you do you, man, as long as it doesn't hurt me. You do you because judging is bad. I mean, I grew up in an era, if you're anything like me, where only I mean. Tupac told me that only God can judge me. Right? Is that anybody else? Just me. And if we're here and now for the younger ones today, we listen and we, that's right. We listen and we don't judge. So you can say anything, you don't get to judge, because why Judgment's bad? In fact, if I want to judge somebody, I don't say judgment, I say, hey, are you open to some feedback? Because I've judged you no, so that's how you'll know if you're getting judgment from me Like hey, you open to some feedback, like that wasn the sense Judgment's bad, which is in and of itself that's judgment, that you've determined that it's bad.

Speaker 1: 6:23

And here's what I found when we talk about this idea of judgment we don't like judgment because we don't know the character of the judge, right, right. And so the more that, in our context, as we get to see the heart and the nature of Jesus and the heart and the nature of God, then we go oh, I may not fully understand your decisions or judgments, but I can trust it because I trust the character of the one who is doing the judging. We don't like judgment because we don't fully understand the judge. And so Jesus is declaring what is central to God's heart and how we then get to respond to that invitation. And by we I mean we. We get to respond to that, and that's not just present company included, that is, those who are made in the image of God. We and he's saying it to all nations. We know that because the translation is a word, it's ta ethna, and that word ta ethna or ethna, means all nations, all ethnicities. So that's the root of that word, ta ethna. And so this isn't just the Jews, it's not just the Gentiles and, it's for sure, not just the religious leaders.

Speaker 1: 7:26

What we will see here is I'm gonna read Matthew 24, as it's actually to a very specific group. Look at this. It says Jesus left the temple and was walking away when the disciples came up to him and call his attention to its building. And then jump to three. And it says this as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, came to him privately, tell us. They said what is happening.

Speaker 1: 7:48

And then, after that, matthew 24, all the way to the end of Matthew 25, which is where we're at right now is one long teaching. And here's what's interesting about the things. He covers a lot of stuff, but in this long teaching and it's more private than it is it's out in the public, but it's to a specific group of people. He covers a few things. He covers his end time, like there on earth then, which, by the way, he foretold it and it happened. He also talks about the end of the temple, which happened, and yet then there's also these parts that are in the end times that haven't happened yet how we are to be prepared for when Jesus will return, how we are to not waste our life, the day and the hour which we don't know. So there's this interesting sense of already happened and also not yet, and that we are continuing to wait for that. And so he's speaking to his disciples, as it says, privately Based on Matthew.

Speaker 1: 8:38

What we see in here is that this is actually his last public teaching, and most scholars believe that this is somewhere around Tuesday afternoon, as far as in the context of the last week of his earthly life. So on Tuesday afternoon, it's Matthew 25 and then John 12, that he wraps up his ministry and then he transitions to. He continues to teach, but it's more as he's interacting with guards in the final supper and different things like that, is that he's interacting in a different way, and so everything past this event in Matthew is him teaching in a much different context, which then leads me to believe this, because here's, I think, there's a reason that they put the word privately in there, and here's why this is heavy stuff that we're talking about today. And he didn't stand on a street corner and let everyone know that if you don't say yes to Jesus, that there's going to be eternal consequences. Though that may be true, there's a lot of true things that we don't declare to everyone all at once at one time, right. And so then I look at this and I say it's interesting that he's delivering very heavy and delicate information to people that he's now spent three years with and has a depth of relationship, so he's earned the right to have that sort of a communication. Now, it's a truth for all of us, but he's giving it to them in a sense that it's like this is true, I need you to go, start to live this out. So then, if you look at this and you go, man, this feels hard. I would say you're in good company. We all think that.

Speaker 1: 9:56

So then let's look at this. We're going to jump into it. We're going to start in Matthew 25, 31. It says it like this when the son of man comes in glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. There's this immediate promise that is made in this parable, because it's not if he returns, it's when he returns. The promise of his return is then in response, actually, to a declaration that Jesus made back in Matthew 11.

Speaker 1: 10:22

The disciples asked him in Matthew 11, they said Jesus, are you the one, are you the Messiah? Are you the promised one? Are you the foretold one who was going to come and do what you said you were going to do? Jesus responded by doing two things. He said well, let me tell you about my ministry. And then Jesus responded by doing two things. He said well, let me tell you about my ministry and then let me tell you about the miracles I've done. So then you tell me if I'm the one. Based on that, you know your scripture, I've done the things that you said. And it was kind of like. He kind of did it like this. It was like look, if it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, it's probably a duck, right, but he's not going to go so far as to actually say it. He's like look, this is my ministry and this is what I've done, but it's not yet time to make that declaration. So he just goes and says it.

Speaker 1: 10:59

Now it goes on from there and he makes, he finishes the declaration with this very popular phrase, or a popular scripture that they use, and it's Matthew 11, or Matthew 11, verses 28 through 30. And he says it like this he says come to me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest. Yeah, but then he goes on and he continues. That's the part that we all know. But then he says take my yoke up on you. It is easy, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. You get the sense. So this isn't just, it's about Sabbathing, it's about resting, it's about finding comfort in Jesus. But it's more than that, because he's saying this yoke, which was used for work, he says take my yoke, it is easy and my burden is light.

Speaker 1: 11:38

You are going to live and move and breathe and work in rhythm, just like I do. There's another translation of this that talks about the unforced rhythms of grace, and so, while this isn't just about a holy nap, that's a part of it, but it's Jesus saying you are going to live as I live. You're going to move as I move. You are going to live as I live. You're going to move as I move, you are going to be like me. So then, what we know from that? If that's how we're supposed to live there, then you go all the way to Matthew 25.

Speaker 1: 12:04

And he continues to talk about that. The people who are going to be entered into his kingdom are the ones who are living and moving and being just like Jesus. Do you get that? And so then we're identified with him because of how we have lived, not because what we have done. What we do is important and we'll get there, but it's because of how we have lived and who we have lived with. So then, when I, jesus, return, I will no longer just be a suffering servant and a lamb. I will both be lion and lamb. And you get to be about all of that, not just the first part anymore. I am not just gentle and lowly, as translations say. He is now both gentle and lowly and also a conquering king. So then, when I return, I will be seated upon a glorious throne, which just think in your brain.

Speaker 1: 12:48

I want you to think for a moment about the idea of Jesus returning in that glorious sort of a manner. Like think about that when I think of the word glorious. For me, the word glorious brings about sunsets, and I don't know, it could be mountains, for you, could be fishing, could be a football game. Sorry to remind you one more time, but for me it's sunsets. And in fact, we used to live in Orange County and we'd drive up and down the coast and one of my favorite things as we were driving my youngest daughter at about four years old, she would look out the window and she'd see sunsets like that and she'd go dad, look what God made, all right, and I'm like, and so and I look at sunsets and go.

Speaker 1: 13:25

When we talk about this idea of glorious in any sort of a context, but in this one I'm saying this idea of glorious that is then the posture in which Jesus will then take his throne, the rightful place of a king to sit, and it will be glorious Matthew 25, 32 through 33. All the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate the people from one another as the shepherd separates the sheep from his goats. He will put the sheep on the right and the goats on the left. If you've been with us for a while, pastor Lawrence talked about this concept of that. As God created this earth, he actually brought heaven down and that we were to coexist.

Speaker 1: 14:07

Genesis 2 talks about the. Adam and God walked in the garden in the cool of the day. You get the sense almost similar and parallel to Matthew 11, that they were living and moving and breathing. This isn't what scripture says, but this is my interpretation. Adam was experiencing the unforced rhythms of grace with God, and so then, all of a sudden, we said no to God, and so it literally was that we introduced to a holy God.

Speaker 1: 14:33

Unholiness. It was sin and us saying no, and so then that sin actually put separation, we pushed heaven out, which I can't even believe. Sin is so strong that we have the capacity to eradicate heaven from an area temporarily, temporally, and so it has been pushed out, literally bringing hell to earth, and so we see glimpses and shadows of that. There are people who, as they have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, and that we see God continuing to live and move and be sorry, january, am I right? But as we see God continue to administer his grace, and it goes like this Jesus is then saying when I return in glory with my angels, I will then also reestablish.

Speaker 1: 15:20

Most theologians believe what he's talking about is the start of a millennial kingdom, which is where Jesus returns and that he will establish as king his kingdom here on earth for a thousand years, literally pushing hell out now. So now heaven comes back in and then it's Jesus establishing all the things that are not a part of that kingdom, which, for us, you know and you look in verses 41 through 46, the wording that he uses is even depart from me, which I think is interesting because that can even seem strong, but it's just saying, it's saying anything that's not a part of my kingdom needs to go because it doesn't belong here, and that includes those who have then not even who have not chosen to trust in Jesus as king. And then the description goes on that as the good shepherd, he assembles his sheep and that he separates the sheep and the goats. Interesting I found out that goats can oftentimes lead sheep astray. Hmm, more next week.

Speaker 1: 16:13

Okay, matthew 25, 34 through 36. It says it like this. Then the king will say to those on the right come, you who are blessed to my father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came and visited me God's kingdom.

Speaker 1: 16:43

The best working definition I have of kingdom is this, and in the context of scripture, it is God's people in a place that God created experiencing the presence of God. Let me say that one more time God's people in a place that God created experiencing the presence of God. And again, you'll see shadows of that. But that's not what we are living in right now, and I think that that's even why Jesus goes as far as to say the kingdom of God is here and it's not yet, because we are seeing shadows of some of those very things, but it's not fully lived out yet because Jesus has not yet returned. And so that is. We will know that Jesus has returned when we are God's people in a place that God created experiencing the presence of God. And they then inherit the kingdom. Notice, when they even say inherit the kingdom, they're talking about what the person inherits before they declare who in the kingdom it's for. And here's what's interesting is that the qualifications for you to be in the kingdom, to be blessed by God and that term blessed in here when you translate that it's talking about blessing in a state or a proximity to something have you ever said like, almost sarcastically, you're like, oh, you've blessed us with your presence, that's where that comes from is saying that we are blessed when we are closest to Jesus, and I'm not talking like a scavenger hunt or a hide and seek, but it's just as Jesus returns, if we are those who have submitted our lives to Jesus, we are close to him and we experience his blessing because we are in a state of proximity to them. And then what's waiting for those sheep? Inheritance, prepared before the foundation of the world, and a kingdom.

Speaker 1: 18:23

I want an inheritance, don't you? I mean, yes, the spiritual one. I want an inheritance, don't you? I mean, yes, the spiritual one, I want an inheritance right now. Anybody ever got an inheritance You're not going to tell me. Maybe a little one, something like that.

Speaker 1: 18:33

I had a friend who inherited. It was a. Really it was an interesting story. He inherited from a guy who never had any kids, but he kind of befriended him and he was an older gentleman who got sick, and so he got sick, he sick, and so he got sick. He went to the hospital, lived in the hospital or a nursing care facility for two years and then died. They read the will and a friend of mine inherited this like broken down Texas mansion and like a ranch, and so he asked me to go out and help him and we cleaned this place out. So it was an abandoned house for like two years. So all there was was like hopes and dreams and ghosts and rats and things like that. It was just like everything had overgrown and you're like, wow, so we had to clean this out and he was able to have it, but he didn't do anything to earn it. In fact, for that one he wasn't even blood, he just inherited it because he was there and the gentleman saw fit.

Speaker 1: 19:20

And then, as far as the king of the kingdom, I like when I was starting to look at like kind of characteristics of a king and I actually I asked my wife about that because she, my wife, loves any British period piece about royalty, like, and I don't, I hear a British accent on the TV I'm like, well, I'm going to take out the garbage. That's what's happening right now. And so I said I said hey, tell me what is, what's your understanding of a king? And so she said a couple of things. She said kings. Hey, tell me what's your understanding of a king? And so she said a couple things. She said kings oftentimes are asked to be submitted to and to have people believe in. They rule over all. If they're a good king, they restore things, they protect things, and it's usually and when you have a good king, it's of the good pleasure of the people serving that king to submit to them and serve them. And then she followed up and she goes. Interestingly enough, most kings that you see through history either started bad or got there at some point that they were wicked. You just go, man.

Speaker 1: 20:16

So then it's hard for us to even have a full concept of who Jesus is as an all good, all the time sort of a king. And there's that free gift that the king offers of his kingdom to all who declare Jesus to be king and he invites us in to experience that, and it's not deserved and it's not earned, but it's available to all. And then here's what I love is that the ways that you can know if you are a part of that kingdom is if you're doing the things that please the king, not to earn your way in, but as a response to and we'll get to that here in a second but he's inviting us in to be kingdom workers and kingdom builders. We are literally building God's kingdom today with our generosity, with our living out the very things that were said in here, and it helps us to, as we belong and as we respond, then we get to know our identity with those actions, not earn it. It's the other way around.

Speaker 1: 21:16

Now there's a direct correlation between faith and works. We see it in James, in fact James 2, but jump with me on the slides to James 2, 17. We're just gonna read this, where it says In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Saying, I can talk all day long about my belief and the things that matter to me, but if we haven't actually lived it out, if we haven't also said we believe something but I'm living it out, then you go. Well, then, really, what do you believe in at all? Which then takes us some time to actually contemplate and consider and actually consider our motives and things like that. Matthew 25, 37 through 39 says this Interestingly enough at the start of it it says righteous will answer that even in the terminology of the people of righteous, he invites them into a kingdom, and they're not that In Romans Romans 3, 9 through 11, it says it like this what shall we conclude then?

Speaker 1: 22:29

Do we have any advantage? Even those who have declared Jesus as king? Do we have any advantage? Not at all, for we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written, there is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. So then, how in the world is Jesus calling us and declaring those who he's ushering into his kingdom as righteous? It has absolutely nothing to do with us, which then also then means that all of the things that he has declared that got them in there. It was more of an indication, it was a response to our citizenship to the kingdom, not an earning it into.

Speaker 1: 23:08

Romans 5, one and two says, therefore since we have been justified to be made just or right or righteous through faith, that's it. We're right, we're righteous through faith. We have peace with God through our Lord, jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. It's the idea of imputed righteousness In that it's nothing that we've earned. We're renters. We're renters of everything, even the things that we think that we own. You're just borrowing it, this bag of skin that holds my bones it's just on loan for a little bit and that God sees fit to then give it to me and I'm able to take ownership, and then I'm inviting, I get the privilege of then inviting other people into that as an heir of God what scripture says and as a co-heir with Jesus. That why in the world he would invite me in to partner with him, I don't know, but it's by God's grace that I am, then, a co-heir with Jesus.

Speaker 1: 24:06

And they didn't even know it. They're like we didn't even know. Are you kidding me? We were just doing stuff. It's almost as if that was just a part of their response of being in the kingdom. So then, the food and the drink and the clothing and the compassion and the general care, it's just things that you go. That's a response. When you're in the kingdom, you just do those things. So then go back to kingdom, god's people in a place that God created, experiencing the presence of God.

Speaker 1: 24:38

The only other place that I can fully understand this idea of kingdom is in a kingdom that you and I know very well. It's the magic kingdom. Right Now, I don't want to be a heretic here, but I'm going to change one of the words in my definition and you may be able to understand. It's Walt's people in a place that Walt created, experiencing the presence of Walt. Okay, I know sounds weird, but think about it. There's a lot of things that outside of the magic kingdom that I think are ridiculous. And then you get inside and all of a sudden it starts to make sense.

Speaker 1: 25:07

It's almost this idea of assimilation by association, like there's no other place. I have not one day in my life woken up and said you know what I'm going to have for breakfast? Turkey leg. That would be great. Listen, if there's Disney adults in here, you're welcome. There's place for everyone here in God's kingdom. That's not what I'm saying. But there's not places that I sit there and wear Disney shirts. But I get into Disney and I'm like I want one of those jerseys, one of those things that says Disneyland on the back. That thing's awesome. I want one of those. Never in my life did I go. I can't wait for another parade, right? But you get there and all of a sudden you start to go. It just makes sense.

Speaker 1: 25:45

It's a byproduct of being around Walt and the things that he's created, and for our context, then, it's the same that we, as we spend time with God and as we spend time then in conjunction, spending time with other people also seeking after that same kingdom, we become and we look more like Jesus. It's that assimilation by association. And then, secondary to that, is the fact that we need to fight for and seek community with other people. Hebrews 10 says it like this Don't forsake the gathering of the saints, as some have been seen fit to do, but that we continue to aim our lives encouraging one another on towards love and good deeds, all the more as the day of Jesus's return is getting closer. Every day that we sit here, we are closer to when Jesus is going to come back. When's it going to happen? I'm not sure, but we should probably pack our bags right, and I'm also going to let you in on this. Every generation thinks that we're in the last days, so I am underwhelmed with the news of the day, thinking that it's any more or less I can say with assurance it's closer and that's it.

Speaker 1: 26:49

But if we subscribe to the general belief that every one of us, everybody in here and out there, is created in the image of God, then we have a responsibility and an obligation and a response to being in God's kingdom to then care for the thing that seems to break Jesus's heart. Psalm 139 says that we are knitted together in our mother's womb. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and, god, I know your works. They are wonderful. I know that full well. We are doing that in the name of Jesus, because we are serving the people that Jesus loves. That's what we get to do.

Speaker 1: 27:23

Matthew 25, 40 then says the king will reply truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of me, the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. They're like when do we do it? Do we do it? Do we do what you want? And he's like yep, did it, didn't even know it. Have you guys ever thought about that? Have you ever thought about like breathing? You ever think about breathing Kind of freaks me out, like if you think I breathe all day long and yet all of a sudden you start thinking about it.

Speaker 1: 27:52

You're like breathe in and then breathe out, and then, because I'm thinking about it, I'm like you better breathe in again, or else you're gonna. I'm like you better breathe in again, or else you're going to Now. In about 30 seconds, when I start thinking about anything else, I'm going to go back to just normally breathing. But I think the same thing is true in here. Where you just go, it's just who you are. You love Jesus. So then you're going to care for people. And here's the harshest thing I'm going to say If you aren't caring for other people, then maybe you don't love Jesus. I, I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene. I must wash him and tend to him. I wasn't feeding people to care for Jesus. I was feeding Jesus.

Speaker 1: 28:37

And the least of these, that adjective where it says the least of these brothers and sisters, that least of these is the definition of small people, so it's a terminology for undernourished people, the young which Jesus seems to care very strongly about, and then also the people who have actual the least. And then it doesn't say brothers and sisters, it says my brothers and sisters, which I look at that and I go man that possession. There's not a lot of stuff I own. I already bragged about the fact that I own a 2003 Buick Century. I know not everybody, but there's not much that I own and, honestly, if my kids get an inheritance, I'm so sorry, it's not much, it's just not much. But the things that are mine my family, my kids, my wife family, my kids, my wife and, to be clear, not like my wife, like she's a possession, like cattle, like I am hers and she is mine, but mine. I'll protect that and I'll fight for it. It's mine and that's the mind that I see that God says you are mine, I made you, I created you and there is a place for you if you so choose, but it's submitting your life to Jesus and I invite you into that.

Speaker 1: 29:45

Northgate exists to help unchurched people become wholehearted followers of Jesus and so, while it may feel daunting, to begin to love the things that Jesus loves, care for the people that Jesus cares for. Do you know where we're going through this with Pastor Megan, our care pastor? Northgate has ministries and I can brag about this because I started none of them and I don't oversee them, but we have ministries that actually do every one of these things. Hungry and thirsty, we got the food pantry Stranger. We do funerals and community events and Christmas Eve services. If you don't have clothes, we have a ministry called the Stitchers and they do what's called dress a girl. If you are sick, we do hospital visitation. If you're in prison, we support the Ebenezer ministry.

Speaker 1: 30:26

So if you're overwhelmed by this idea of what it looks like to begin to respond to God's kingdom, pick up a shovel. There's plenty to do and, man, it's also because of your generosity that we then get to live out these very things. So continue to participate in the works and the things of God. There's a sense that belonging and being a part of this is way more than owning the T-shirt or seeing the band. Every part of this passage speaks to a wholehearted inheritance and an adoption by a God who has invited you and I, unworthy citizens of this kingdom, to participate in it and live in it, and not because of anything we've done. It's the other way around. It's a free gift, and so then we get to learn in kind, and then the king for those who attempt to enter at some point will answer and it changes.

Speaker 1: 31:19

Here's what's interesting, and this is what we'll get to next week the king will change and it will change how he's talking to people, his citizens, those who have submitted their lives to Jesus, and the others. In this passage, he refers to himself as king, he refers to his people as righteous and then, all of a sudden, it switches in 41 through 46, where he starts referring to himself as he, where he's like I'm not your king, and it's not like taking it away. He's like you've lived so many years on this life and never called me your king, so I'm not your king, which, frankly, for me I look at that and I go that might be one of the most benevolent things that a king could do Is saying if you choose not to submit to me as king, then I'm gonna give you exactly what you wanted, not that you're kicked out, but you don't wanna have any part of this, so depart from me. So then, for us, I would say this the invitation is yours, we have air in our lungs, we're on this side of the dirt. We still have time to consider what it looks like to submit our lives to Jesus as God and king, what it looks like to submit our lives to Jesus as God and King. That inheritance is available for all people and it's extended to you. God loves you so much, so much that he saw fit to not forsake and, as we look at it all throughout scripture, he continues to graciously give times to call his people back, and that's what he's doing now.

Speaker 1: 32:48

So the first one is this the invitation is yours, so we invite you to that. The second is this this is a time for personal examination and again, it's not in the sense of like judgment has never in what I see in scripture. It's not like a superstition where you're like you stepped on a crack, you break your mom's back and you go to hell, like that's not what this is. But it's for you to then personally examine and consider your motives as you are serving and caring for your people. Are you doing it for the least of these? What is your life representing and representing to other people? I've found in my life I've done a lot of really good things and it's been for the wrong reason, and there's been a lot of times that I say that I love Jesus and I'm not doing much of anything. So we have an opportunity to step into that invitation to personally consider our motives, because I'll tell you this we can declare everything that we want, but our lives are going to be a pretty strict declaration of who we actually love, serve and call king. I tell anybody that I work with if they're sitting here saying man, I wanna get on the stage, I wanna teach, I wanna do this and that and I go great.

Speaker 1: 34:01

Your sermon starts today. How'd you handle that barista that you talked to that gave you your coffee late and cold again? Now it was $7, but how did you care for the sick? How'd you clothe those who were naked? How'd you treat a stranger who didn't know that you were a Christian? Your sermon starts today. So if you want to declare it, just start by living it, and if it's worth listening to, other people will pay attention.

Speaker 1: 34:36

And then the third part would be this is we have an opportunity to find a community and do this with other people. It was never a single person sport, and we are right in the middle of a season. Pastor Aaron's going to come out and he'll tell you all about it, but we are in the middle of a season where we would love the privilege of building God's kingdom together. One will change life at a time and allowing us to spur one another on towards love and good deeds. For the least of these. In the name of Jesus, let me pray for us. So, father, you are king, you are good. Thank you for your son, thank you for Jesus, thank you for his glorious return. God, we trust in that, as we continue to consider our own lives, may we align with the heart of Jesus and may we today look more like the king that we serve, that we are citizens of the kingdom. In your name, we pray Amen.