September 1, 2024 • 48 mins
Does true honor come from our own ambitions, or is it something bestowed upon us through humility? Join us as we dissect the profound lessons of humility and generosity derived from Luke 14:1-11. We'll challenge you to examine the balance between pride, wealth, self-assurance, and humility in your life, and engage in a practical self-assessment exercise designed to reveal which traits resonate most with you.
In our exploration of the parable of choosing seats at a wedding feast, we underscore the significance of placing others before ourselves. Jesus’ teachings to His disciples about serving rather than seeking greatness are spotlighted, urging us to extend generosity without expectations.
Lastly, we delve into the spiritual invitation to God's table, stressing the importance of responding with humility and focusing on the deeper messages behind miraculous events. Reflect on the joyous and inclusive nature of God's grace, as we revisit the man with dropsy at the dinner party and the celebratory message of Nehemiah 8. Through this episode, we invite you to embrace humility, recognize the divine gifts in your life, and rejoice in the strength and joy that comes from understanding and living God's word.
If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Morning Midtree, good to see y'all.
Okay, we're going to be readingfrom Luke 14, 1-11 today, which
is page 873 in the Pew Bibles.
If you want to turn there, andif not you can just look up on
the screen.
Okay, join me in the reading ofGod's Word.
(00:21):
One Sabbath, when he went todine at the house of a ruler of
the Pharisees, they werewatching him carefully and
behold, there was a man beforehim who had dropsy.
And Jesus responded to thelawyers and Pharisees saying Is
it lawful to heal on the Sabbathor not?
But they remained silent.
Then he took him and healed himand sent him away.
(00:41):
And he said to them which ofyou having a son or an ox that
has fallen into a well on aSabbath day will not immediately
pull him out?
And they could not reply tothese things.
Now he told a parable to thosewho were invited when he noticed
how they chose the places ofhonor, saying to them when
you're invited by someone to awedding feast, do not sit down
(01:02):
in a place of honor lest someonemore distinguished than you be
invited by him.
And he who invited you bothwill come and say to you give
your place to this person, andthen you will begin with shame
to take the lowest place.
But when you are invited, goand sit in the lowest place so
that when your host comes he maysay to you friend, move up
higher.
(01:22):
Then you will be honored in thepresence of all who sit at
table with you.
For everyone who exalts himselfwill be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted.
This is the word of the Lord.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Amen, thanks, landry.
All right guys, as Lindsay andMitch just alluded to, I have a
couple of books to give away.
Here's the way this is going towork.
Let me just tell you what thisis.
I have a couple of books togive away.
Here's the way this is going towork.
Let me just tell you what thisis.
It is a book by Dustin Williscalled the Simplest Way to
Change the World.
I'm going to put one here andI'm going to put one there.
This is one of the simplest toread resources on how you could
(01:58):
become a little more missionalin your daily life.
What we just finished walkingthrough last month.
We worked through books of theBible.
We've been in Luke.
We took a month last month tojust focus on mission simple
mission, applicable mission.
How can we live out the GreatCommission?
If you are like man, I reallywant to take some steps in that.
Those are there for you.
(02:19):
Just come and grab them if youwant one before you head out Now
with that.
Here is where we left off.
Last week I sort of gave us achallenge for us to look at the
730 hours that we have in agiven month and if we were to
pick one of those hours and openup our homes, open up our table
or just say, hey, man, I don'tknow you, you don't know me, or
(02:43):
if you know me and I don't knowyou, this has become even more
awkward.
But I would love to grab a mealwith you just to hear about
your life.
We think about all of thehundreds or thousands of gospel
conversations that could flowout of just capturing that one
out of 730 hours.
Well, with that concept we areabout to dive into.
(03:03):
Well, with that concept we areabout to dive into Jesus being
invited to someone's house for ameal, and so I mean, this stuff
just lays out better than Icould have ever hoped for.
So let me kind of show you whatI mean.
If you're looking at Luke 14, 1through 24, I know you probably
can't read every word on thescreen.
I just want you to notice theyellow boxes, for I know you
(03:25):
probably can't read every wordon the screen.
I just want you to notice theyellow boxes, because I'm about
to challenge you and ask youwhich of these yellow boxes are
you most prone to be?
So it's going to open withsomebody who is humiliated, in
this case because of a physicalailment or disability.
Then the dinner party is goingto turn to the person who is
proud, to the person who iswealthy, to the person who is
self-assured.
Then it's going to turn to theperson who is proud, to the
person who is wealthy, to theperson who is self-assured.
(03:45):
Then it's going to wrap all theway back around to people who
are humiliated.
Now let me explain.
If you are alive, you have allfour of these people alive and
well in you.
Okay, all of us struggle insome way with pride, wealth or
riches.
Being self-assured, that wouldmean like self-important Life
(04:09):
has generally gone well for me,so it's probably just going to
generally keep going well for me.
Then you jump to humiliatedLife has not gone well for me.
It's hard for me to believethat anything is going to go
well.
How can God be good?
If so, these four are presentedto you and what I would like
for you to do is pick which ofthe four you are most prone to
(04:30):
be.
Now, there's no wrong answerhere.
That person, like I said, livesin all of us.
But, guys, will y'all flip overto my iPad for just a minute and
pull out your phones?
You're allowed to do that here,so long as you're doing
appropriate things on it.
This would be one of them.
You can either scan the QR codeor you can go to slidocom and
put that in Now.
(04:51):
Usually when I put this up, Iimmediately show you guys the
results of what you're pickingup, for I'm not gonna do that
yet.
I want you guys to have achance to put those things in as
Jesus gets us ready for adinner party.
And can I just tell you, out ofcuriosity, how many of you are
comfortable with awkwardsituations?
How many of you are like me?
(05:11):
You don't mind, yeah, goodstuff.
You don't even mind watchingpeople squirm One of the best
parts of your day, All right.
How many of you are more normaland you're like I'm not a big
fan of awkward situations?
Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, allright.
So you are about to engage insome of what I think is the most
biblical secondhand awkwardnessthat still hits 2 000 years
(05:32):
later in what we are about toread.
So do me a favor, go here withme, go in this tech.
Don't look, don't.
Let it just be sunday morning.
I'm taking a couple of notesand I'm sipping my coffee.
Give me something good,preacher.
No, like.
I want you to imagine sittingat this table with Jesus as this
is all happening.
(05:53):
One Sabbath, when he went todine at the house of a ruler of
the Pharisees they were watchinghim carefully, verse two and
behold, there was a man beforehim who had dropsy.
I've got that underlined.
Dropsy was a medical ailment.
Anybody want to tell me for 10points at the camp store what
Luke's profession was other thanbeing a disciple?
(06:16):
All right, can I just tell you.
Doctors write gospelsdifferently than tax collectors
do.
All right, and Dr Luke doesn'twant you to miss out on this Now
.
Dropsy is a physical ailmentwhere a part of the body retains
water.
It would lead to a leg or alimb or a part of the body being
swollen, probably painful, notvery usable and different than
(06:40):
today's day and age.
It would have affected themsocially the places that they
would have been invited to.
Not invited to.
Welcome or not welcome.
And behold, here there is atthis dinner party a man before
Jesus who had this ailment.
And Jesus responded to thelawyers Notice that third word,
because it doesn't seem likethey said anything.
But Jesus knows that this gigis going on.
(07:02):
He looks at the lawyers and thePharisees and he says is it
lawful to heal on the Sabbath ornot?
Now lawyers should know theanswer to a legal question.
But they remained silent.
Then he took him and healed himand sent him away.
(07:23):
And healed him and sent himaway Pop, pop, pop.
Hey, come here, buddy Healedhead on out.
That's how it plays out.
And he said to them like thefact that Jesus is just like and
done, now let's talk.
And he said to them which ofyou having a son or an ox, an
animal that's fallen into a wellon a Sabbath day, will not
(07:45):
immediately pull him out?
And I love this.
They could not reply to thesethings.
If I am a new believer, if I'mreading the Bible for the first
time, my response is what justhappened at dinner?
Like I've been to a lot ofdinners in my life, arguing at
(08:05):
the table is not uncommon.
Okay, did you do your chores?
Did you not do your chores?
Let's insert some politics.
How about a little bit ofreligion?
Anybody ever been toThanksgiving before?
Arguing at a table is notabnormal.
I'll tell you what I've neverdone.
I've never sat down, pulled acroissant roll or a pig in the
(08:27):
blanket out of the middle andall of a sudden, somebody who is
sick is healed, and thenthey're like deuces, y'all have
a great dinner, I'm out anddinner just goes on and it's
like, hey, what else can we talkabout?
They never talk about thismiracle.
This is one of the mostfascinating things of the entire
text.
A miracle happens in front ofthem and they have no response.
(08:49):
Do you know what this tells me?
This tells me that we need tobe very careful not to be
religiously stubborn to where weare going to God, going to
Jesus, going to church, going toscripture, going to prayer,
going to community, going tosmall group for such a focused,
self-built reason that God coulddo something amazing and we
would completely miss out on theentire thing.
(09:11):
Pharisees, people who are proud,wealthy to the point where they
do not need a lot in this world, self-assured, it takes an
awful lot and even a miracledoesn't move the needle in their
hearts.
I don't know if you are like me, but I can't tell you how many
times I was growing up in churchI said this to God Lord, if you
(09:34):
will just insert, then I willinsert.
Am I the only one who prayedprayers like that?
All I'm saying is God, ifyou'll do this miracle.
Hey, I'm yours and here he isdoing this miracle, and I want
you to notice what is absent.
Awe is absent, worship isabsent, praise is absent,
(09:58):
celebration is completely absent, because there may be 15, 16,
18 people at this dinner party,but there are really only four
types of people.
Let's see which ones we are.
Okay, guys, if y'all would goahead and flip back to the poll
and let's see oh yep, perfect,all right, that's how you guys
(10:21):
broke out.
By the way, I meant to tell you, if you don't know what to pick
, you should go withself-assured.
If you're like I don't know,proud, nah, wealthy, nah, I
don't know what that means,you're self-assured.
So I'm glad we were alreadythere.
No surprise that the wealthyaren't here on Labor Day weekend
.
They have other things to do.
Now I will argue with you.
(10:46):
Every one of you in this roomis all four of these people.
Okay, however, what I think isreally cool a lot of times,
service one and service two aredifferent in some way.
Y'all are almost exactly thesame.
About half of us are prettyself-assured.
A third, well, nope, somebody'sno longer humiliated.
That's great Already.
Oh Lord, isn't that great?
All right, a number of us dealwith, proud, some people a
(11:06):
little convicted and feelingmore wealthy.
They're like he's going to talkabout Kenya again, isn't he?
All right, I'll just put it inso as we recognize where we are.
The reason I want you to dothis is when we get to that
section of Scripture, I reallywant you to wrestle with it.
And so let's begin with thoseof us, the 26% of us in this
room, who may be today, 25%struggling with pride, verse 7.
(11:33):
At the same dinner party wherethis just happened, jesus told a
parable, a story with a lessonattached to those who were
invited, when he noticed howthey chose the places of honor.
So it's about to go moreawkward.
(11:56):
Jesus just healed, looks aroundand says hey, why don't we talk
about something divisive?
None of us train our childrenthis way.
No grandmother, grandfather,mother or dad ever said now,
young man, when you're invitedto somebody's house, here's what
I want you to do.
You go and as soon as anopportunity arises, you bring up
a device of topic.
Okay, that is loving, all right, if you've been invited, if
you're someone's guest, you justput something in the middle of
(12:17):
the table and, no matter whatanybody says, you just tell them
that you know how this issupposed to pan out.
And then what I want you to dois I want you to look at them
and tell them even the way youguys sit at a table is wrong.
Okay, none of us are trainedthis way, but when the creator
of the universe sits down at atable, he has some thoughts.
He looks at how they aresitting and he says, guys,
(12:38):
you've got it all wrong.
I don't know if you havetrouble finding a place to sit
at a table.
It is a little awkward ifyou're the first one with the
plate to the table that is emptyat 12 seats.
I can relate to this.
It's like I don't want the head, I don't want the foot either.
Here's how I always pick atable.
(12:58):
I look at it.
I'm like head, foot.
If it's in my house, I'll takehead, head, foot, not my house.
Middle is here.
I'm gonna split the gap andthat's where Will sits.
I'm still by enough peoplewhere I get a good conversation,
but I'm not in the middle noron the end where it's up to me
to carry the conversation.
That is my sweet spot.
Logan, we were talking aboutthis last week.
Logan's like just not here inthis dinner party.
(13:19):
Here, everybody is vying forthe best seat.
Verse eight when you are invitedby someone to a wedding feast,
for example, do not sit down ina place of honor.
Let someone more distinguishedthan you be invited by them.
And he who invited you bothwill have to come and say to you
(13:41):
give your place to this person.
And then you will begin withshame to take the lowest place.
But when you're invited, go andsit in the lowest place so that
when the host comes he may sayto you friend, move up higher.
Then you will be honored in thepresence of all who sit at
table with you, for everyone.
This is the point everybody whoexalts himself will be humbled
(14:03):
and he who humbles himself willbe exalted.
I want you to imagine for amoment that time passes and
we're here in a couple of monthsand it's the week of
Thanksgiving.
You've been thinking aboututilizing your one out of 730
hours in a month and you decidewhen I go to church over these
next few weeks, I'm gonna find afamily, I'm gonna find a couple
, I'm gonna find a soldier.
I'm going to find a soldier.
I'm going to find an impactcenter.
I'm going to find somebody whodoesn't have an opportunity to
(14:25):
see family at Thanksgiving andI'm going to invite them to my
house.
I think that's wonderful.
Christians do this well,midtree, you do this well.
But then I want you to imaginethis.
They come to your house andthey're making their plate.
They've got the right sweetpotatoes, you know what I'm
talking about.
They've got the mushrooms, themarshmallows on top.
No, we'll go marshmallows,marshmallows on top.
You've got your plate and thissweet couple that you invited
(14:48):
from church goes to find a seatat the table and they go to the
formal dining room and theydon't pause, they just walk
right on through because your 11and 12 year old have gone and
sat in the formal dining roomand this couple walks right by
at the little two foot high kidtable that's pushed off into the
corner and that table's likecovered with paints and stuff
like that and you don't reallycare because it's just for the
(15:10):
kids and they sit in a chairthat's too small for them.
You tell me what's going tohappen next.
I'm willing to bet you are notgoing to walk up to your 11 year
old and say, buddy, I am soproud of your confidence, like,
look at you just finding thebest seat at the table, right?
You don't even know what we'retalking about half the time, but
this is where you want to sit.
No, you're going to say, dude,no, not happening.
(15:32):
You go sit at the kids tableand this sweet couple, who I
barely know but want to knowbecause you're creating the
image of God and you areimportant, come sit with us at
the formal dining room.
I want to hear about your life,I want to hear about who you
are.
That is exactly what wouldhappen.
There is honor in startinghumble and being lifted up.
(15:54):
And, by the way, if you needproof of that, proverbs 29,
ezekiel 21, matthew 18, luke 18,james 4, 1 Peter 5, all of them
say almost the exact same thingthe humble will be lifted up.
If I really wanted to drive thepoint home, I would tell you
that Jesus had to remind hisdisciples, who were probably at
(16:17):
this dinner party or heard aboutthis dinner party, that a
number of days later they hadcompletely missed the point Luke
22, 24.
A dispute arose among thedisciples as to which of them
was regarded as the greatest,and Jesus said to them the kings
of Gentiles exercise lordshipover them and those in authority
over them are calledbenefactors, but not so with you
(16:40):
.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the youngest and
the leader, as one who servesVerse 22.
I cannot imagine how frustratedJesus must be at a dinner where
his disciples are arguing aboutwhich one of them is the
greatest.
He has to look at them and saydo you guys take notes at all,
like we have done this before?
(17:02):
You came to a dinner, youwatched this whole thing pan out
and you're arguing over whichone of you is the best.
But then look at Jesus's point.
You are those who have stayedwith me in my trials and I
assigned to you, as my fatherassigned to me, a kingdom
Christian, let me get your eyesfor a minute.
If you are trusting in Christ,do you realize that you are not
(17:24):
just inheriting, not hell, youare inheriting a kingdom, an
everlasting kingdom, a perfectkingdom.
And he looks at his disciplesand he says it is my desire that
you would eat and drink at mytable, which I prepared.
Be thinking communion, my table, which I prepared.
(17:44):
And you are going to sit onthrones judging the 12 tribes of
Israel.
If you would get out of yourearthly mindset needing to be
important today.
Do you not realize howimportant you are going to be?
If you would be humble today?
How much God would exalt ustomorrow.
Do you want to reward?
Do you want a reward fromsomebody here on earth or do you
(18:07):
want a reward from God?
I will choose God's rewardevery single time.
Now let's jump to the wealthyamong them.
Same dinner party, he said alsoto the man who had invited him
verse 12, when you give a dinneror a banquet, do not invite
your friends.
Time out.
How weird is this moment?
(18:29):
Now, it's not just odd for thepeople, the lawyers who were
sitting there.
Jesus looks at the host of theparty and he says hey guys, when
you have a party, don't inviteyour friends.
Now I would argue with you.
Everybody at the party is nowawkward or angry at Jesus.
(18:50):
Because who are they?
They are this guy's buddies.
Don't invite your friends, yourbrothers, your relatives or
rich neighbors, lest they alsoinvite you in return and you be
repaid.
Do you know what Jesus is doing?
He's looking at them and he'ssaying I know you guys are just
doing social algebra, the sameway we all did when we were
(19:12):
eight years old, making the listfor our birthday party.
That's what they're doing.
They're not thinking about whois the best person to be there,
who's gonna be the most fun tocelebrate with.
They're thinking who's gonnabring me the best gift?
Whose birthday party do I notwant to miss?
Okay, y'all are looking at melike you don't?
Was I just that much moresinful than y'all?
(19:34):
Or do you not know what I'mtalking about?
Neil Hong got an invitation toevery birthday party I ever had
because he brought a $50 giftand everybody at school knew it.
Am I the only one putting Neilon my birthday party list?
No, and so Jesus looks and hesays hey, if you're ever hosting
a party like this guy, don'tinvite all your friends like
(19:58):
these guys.
Who is this lesson even for?
It's for them, but it's alsoheld in all time in God's word
for us.
But verse 13, when you give afeast, let me translate.
When you have a party at yourhouse.
When you give a feast, let metranslate.
When you have a party at yourhouse, when you decide to do a
cookout, when you put together abig meal with some amount of
(20:19):
time invite the poor, invite thecrippled, invite the lame,
invite the blind, invite thosewho cannot repay you and notice
this word because you will beblessed, because they can't
repay you.
This is a mentality that onlyexists in the gospel, in the
(20:42):
good news of Jesus Christ.
This is a mentality that youcannot have if you are not
trusting in Jesus.
In fact, if you aren't trustingin Christ, it is going to be
abundantly impossible, becausethe only way to think this way
is to have an assurance thatheaven is absolutely real.
If you don't believe thatheaven is real, you cannot do
(21:05):
this.
Why would you?
There's no guarantee that Godis going to give you a reward
that echoes on into eternity.
So you may as well get todaywhat you can get today, but if
you do believe in Christ, if youbelieve heaven is real, you
cannot afford to not do this Tolook and say who is it who
couldn't possibly repay me?
(21:25):
Think about how we train ourkids I want you to do something,
expecting what?
Nothing in return.
Do you realize this text isactually a step beyond that?
We tell our kids do the rightthing without expecting
something in return.
This is do the right thingtowards someone who couldn't
(21:45):
possibly do something good foryou in return.
By God's grace, I grew up in thechurch.
My mom made sure that I wasthere every single Sunday.
I had incredible Sunday schoolteachers.
I got candy for memorizingscripture.
I was tucked into Bible studies.
I was even in the choir at onepoint.
We did Christmas plays.
(22:06):
You are looking at a church kid,and let me tell you why that
matters.
I have seen God's people be themost generous people on the
planet.
I have seen them be the mostpatient people on the planet.
I have seen them be kind and,by the way, you are those people
.
I have never once seen thisscripture.
Just letting you know.
(22:27):
I have never once seen somebodyput on a party, put on a
cookout, and refuse to invitetheir friends, refuse to invite
anyone who is family, refuse toinvite someone who could some
ways socially pay them back.
I have never seen this and tome it became a challenge.
(22:47):
So I was working through thisscripture with a group of people
.
You've heard me say this amillion times.
I won't quit saying it Readyour Bible with others whenever
possible.
It just makes it richer.
It is a community text.
And as I was reading this, Iasked the group of people have
you ever seen this?
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope,nope Once and I was like do tell
(23:08):
about this.
One time they said, well, thereis a guy who does this.
And I said okay.
And they said you know him.
And I was like okay, who is it?
They gave me his name.
I shot him a text message.
Hey, man, just want to let youknow.
Working through Luke 14 in acouple of weeks, I need a good
story.
Somebody told me you haveactually done this.
Just created a meal and invitedpeople you didn't know and who
(23:31):
could not possibly pay you back.
And then he got me and I'lltell you how he got me.
If you cheat a little bit andyou keep reading in the text,
what you're going to find ispeople who are invited to
something and they make allkinds of excuses to not go.
All right, here's what he saysto me.
Hey, I know that you want astory.
Why don't you just come hangout with me for a couple of
(23:53):
hours and get a story of yourown?
And I was like dadgummit, can'tyou just give me a story?
I can't tell you.
No, I know where this text isgoing.
I can't refuse this offer.
I got kids, I got family, I'mbusy.
My calendar is absolutely chockfull.
I can't make it.
But all of those things justlive in my head and in my heart
because I can't say them outloud, because I have to preach
this to you a week later.
(24:14):
And so I text a guy and I'mlike I would love to come.
Thank you, send.
And yesterday at five o'clock Ishowed up at his house and I
said okay, man, so what are wedoing?
He said I don't know.
We're going to pray and we'regoing to go.
We're just going to walkthrough the neighborhood and
we're going to pray.
And I'm like, okay, I've doneevangelism through translators.
(24:38):
I've spoken to very largegroups of people.
I've been doing this gig for along time.
I even like awkward situations.
That was about to be an awkward90 minutes to two hours.
We sat on this couch, we talkedfor a little bit.
He said okay, let's go, we'rejust going to pray for a minute
and we're going to walk.
We start walking through aneighborhood which is the hood,
and as we're walking he saidWill you know what always trips
(25:00):
me out?
I talk to folks at church allthe time who say to me stuff
like I just wish church was likeAndy Griffith, I wish the world
operated like that where youcan just say hey to your
neighbors, and your neighborsknow your name and you know
their name.
What's going on in their life?
You just catch conversation.
He said well, if you're in thehood, it's like that every
single day.
(25:21):
It's just a lot of Christiansneed to get out of their comfort
zone and that's exactly wherewe were out of our comfort zone,
we start walking bump into aguy named Steve.
Hey man, can we pray for you?
Yeah, absolutely.
How can we pray for you?
Well, I had meningitis.
I wasn't expected to survive.
I did, but I had to learn howto walk again.
(25:41):
While I was learning how towalk, the floor of my house
rotted out while I was at thehospital.
The pastor down the street hascome and he's helped us move all
of this stuff out.
But now my wife is sick and theone who helped me learn how to
walk again now she can't walk.
Would you pray that I would bethe kind of man who can support
her the way that she supportedme?
(26:02):
Yeah, I'll pray for that.
Walk down five street, not fivestreets, five front doors.
Lady sitting in a truck hername's Candace.
Hey, we're just walking throughthe neighborhood praying for
folks, can we pray for you?
None of these people could do athing for me.
Just so you know, while we'rewalking, these two boys just
(26:23):
start walking with us and theguy that I'm with is like watch
out, buddy, you're in Crocs andthat's a used needle.
Come this way, like that's thearea we're walking in.
And we walk up to Candace.
We say, can we pray for you?
And she's like nope, I wannapray for you.
And I'm like well, this isunusual, I'm the pastor, I'm
always asked to pray, send it.
She starts praying scripture,scripture, scripture, scripture,
(26:45):
scripture.
Can't stop talking about thegoodness of God in her life.
I grew up on these streets,doing drugs on these streets.
I was a prostitute on thesestreets for so many years and
two and a half years ago Godstepped into my life, rescued me
from sin.
I'm now running my own businessand setting an example for my
19, 18 and 17 year old that I amguessing are from the previous
(27:07):
life, and she's saying the onlyway that I have made it is from
the Lord.
So did Steve.
The only way that I have madeit is from the Lord, these two
young guys being discipled.
The only way they are making itis from the Lord.
Can I just tell you the bestpart of the story?
The best part of the story iswe get back to the house and I'm
like, okay, I need to rememberthese stories, I want to
remember these names so that Ican share it.
(27:29):
Because how good is God when weput ourselves in a position
where somebody can't repay us todo incredible things, because
heaven is real.
And I'm about to start takingnotes and the guy says would you
just do me one favor, will?
And I'm like yeah, he saiddon't use my name.
I was like why?
Like, people at ourcongregation know you?
(27:49):
And he said I know, and that'sthe problem.
He said my pride would not dealwith that.
Well, I would download thesermon just to hear my name
praised in front of people thatI look up to.
And that, to me, was when thelight bulb went off.
So many of us in this room hearthat story and we say I don't
think that could be me.
I'm telling you, this guy isyou, was you?
(28:13):
And one day decided to spendone out of his 730 hours just
looking at the face of peoplethat we assume want nothing to
do with us and saying can I knowyou?
Can I pray for you?
This is what it looks like forus to seek someone who could not
give us anything back and in sodoing, put on display that we
(28:35):
believe that heaven is real.
We move to the third person atthe party, luke 14, 15, the
self-assured.
When one of those who reclinedat table with him heard these
things super awkward moment, hesaid to him hey, jesus, blessed
is everyone who will eat breadin the kingdom of God.
Make that awkward.
(28:57):
It's what I think is like inthe subtext, in parentheses.
Like this is Revelation 22, bythe way, hadn't been written yet
, but it would be written.
And so here this guy is.
How can Jesus do anything withthat to make this party awkward?
I can just imagine this guy.
Yeah, yeah, parties and friendsand pride and wealth.
But guys, can't we all agree?
(29:17):
It's going to be great inheaven one day.
Now when the Bible uses theword but following a sentence,
it's saying what you just heardis about to be refuted.
If it says and it's what youjust heard is about to be
supported, jesus could have goneon in the Bible said and he
said to him yes, friend, andthis is not what happens.
(29:39):
But he said to him hey, I hearwhat you're saying about a great
banquet in heaven, but you needto make sure you're going to be
there.
A man once gave a great banquetand invited many Sound familiar
people at the table and the timefor the banquet, at the time
for the banquet, he sent hisservant to say to those who had
(30:02):
been invited come, everything isnow ready.
But they all began makingexcuses.
This is where I had to goyesterday at five o'clock,
because I knew I was going topreach this to you.
Excuse number one I've bought afield and I must go out and see
it.
I've started a new business.
I wasn't expecting this, butI've got to run real quick.
You get it.
Work is important, youunderstand.
Excuse number two anotherperson said I've bought five
(30:26):
yoke of oxen and I go to examinethem Now.
I doubt any of you guys havebought oxen.
There's probably one or two ofyou who are gonna come up to me
and say actually, I grew up on afarm and my grandfather bought
oxen all the time.
Great, let's talk about otherthings.
If that's you, wonderful.
But most of us can't relate tothis.
However, this is somebody whohas a new thing, a new tractor,
a new car, a new something, car,a new something.
(30:48):
And they're so excited abouttheir new thing that they're
like you get it, man.
I know that you spent all thistime and energy and money to put
this sort of table banquettogether, but you get it.
I just bought this car onFacebook.
I got to swing to Montgomeryreal quick and pick it up.
I'll see you at the next party.
The third one I'll be honest, Isort of get this one and another
(31:09):
said I have married a wife andtherefore I cannot come.
I'm giving this guy the tiltNow.
I don't know why commentariesdon't dig too deep into this.
It could be honeymoon time.
To which tip of the hat to yourfriend, like take all the time
you need, and I can back that upbiblically.
By the way, they used to take ayear off to enjoy marriage.
(31:30):
So when we're like high-fivingpeople taking a seven-day
honeymoon, just know God hadbigger plans.
Nonetheless, it could also bethat he's saying it like this
I've married a wife and I toldher we'd go antiquing and she's
got plans for Target andStarbucks.
You get it.
I'm not going to make it to theparty.
(31:51):
I don't know which way he'sgoing, but I can see both of
them playing out pretty well.
What we see in this third andthe first one is work life.
What we see in the second oneis sort of like the comings and
goings of new things life.
And what we see in the thirdone is just life life.
This is just living life andgiving an excuse.
Now it's important that youunderstand this for the point
(32:13):
that I'm about to make.
These people were not invited tothis banquet spur of the moment
.
The reason the servant is sentout to invite them in is because
they have already received anRSVP in the mail.
They've already gotten a textmessage that said will you be
there?
They have already said yes.
There is a table with theirname on a name card, there is
(32:35):
drink that has been bought forthem, food that has been bought
for them, a DJ that is playingmusic for them, and they have
decided not to show up.
What these three excuses makevery clear to us is that
busyness can prevent blessingjust as much as sin can,
especially if we are too busyfor the one who has spent all of
his time, all of his energy,his greatest value and his
(32:58):
greatest sacrifice to create forus a space to pursue the Father
.
Busyness compared to the thingsof Christ is sin, because it is
idolatry.
But here's what's happening.
All of us make mistakes, all ofus hurt others, all of us let
somebody down and don't show upwhen we say we're going to be
there.
(33:18):
The issue is if you guys can goback to the scripture.
For me I'd appreciate it.
The issue is the attitude inwhich they do it.
They're not apologetic, they'reself-assuming, they are
self-important.
You understand God.
You understand that what I'mdoing is important, that what
I'm doing is very busy, thatwhat I'm doing makes sense to me
, and if it makes sense to me,it must make sense to you.
(33:39):
They are assuming on the graceof God, and here what God wants
to make very clear to us is thatthe kingdom of heaven is filled
with people who actually wantto be there.
It's not people who arebegrudging.
There's no one in heaven who islike well, I guess I'm kind of
glad I made it.
You know, no, heaven is filledwith people who have longed to
(34:02):
see the face of the Jesus thatthey have heard all of these
stories about.
Heaven is filled with peoplewho wanna see and experience and
figure out how they get to knowthe one who created the cosmos,
created the world around themand even created their own
selves.
It's people who have longed tosee bad turn into good and good
turn into great and great turninto excellent, turn into
(34:25):
perfect and never deviate fromperfection.
That is what heaven is filledwith, but these people act as
though they can come and go asthey please.
They are assuming that they arein good standing with God, and
(34:45):
this is why it ends with thepeople who have been humiliated.
The last group, verse 21.
So the servant came andreported these things to his
master.
Then the master of the housebecame please don't miss this.
Angry.
And wouldn't you be?
Wouldn't you be angry if youhad spent time and energy and
(35:10):
effort to prepare a place, toprepare food, to prepare drink,
and no one show up?
Have you ever been to an eventwhere there was way too much
time and energy put in for thenumber of people who showed up
and you felt the awkwardness forthe host?
I've stood here many timesbefore and I've said this Thank
you guys so much for coming tothe wedding.
(35:31):
Friends and family, thank y'allfor being here.
It's an honor to the bride.
It's an honor to the groom.
Did this not too terriblyrecently?
As you go, they're going to takesome pictures.
Right through those doubledoors is a reception prepared
for you Music, food and drink.
Head that way, enjoy yourselfand after their pictures they
(35:52):
will be in there with you.
Can I just tell you I've saidthat more times than I can count
and I've been to weddings whereyou walk into the reception and
there are 11 tables preparedwith name cards on them and
three empty tables and everybodyin the room feels the
awkwardness.
Empty tables and everybody inthe room feels the awkwardness.
(36:16):
You go to a fundraiser and 50%of the tables are empty and you
feel the awkwardness.
If you are the one putting thaton, if you are hosting it, it
gets you to your gut and yourbones.
This is why God becomes angry.
Have I not prepared a room foryou and yet you're telling me
that what you have going on istoo angry?
Have I not prepared a room foryou, and yet you're telling me
that what you have going on istoo important?
Have I not prepared a meal foryou in my flesh?
(36:37):
Have I not prepared drink foryou in my blood?
Are we not going to come to atable that is spiritually built
by God and you would just comeand go as you please, so
self-assuming that I'm justsitting around waiting to serve
you some piping hot food andchilled drink, that I am just
going to wait on you.
(36:57):
That is a capital G God, thatyou have sliced out and made a
lowercase g God so that you canbe a capital G God.
That is somebody who is sayingto them things have basically
worked out pretty well for me onearth, so they're probably
basically going to work outpretty well for me in eternity.
And God is saying no, do notassume on yourself that you are
(37:21):
in Receive.
Respond to the invitation.
God is not graced with yourpresence today.
It is by grace that you candraw into his presence today,
and it's important for us, asChristians who do the Sunday
morning thing, to remember thatfact.
Now let me take a breath here,because I can get real hot on
(37:43):
that.
In a minute we're going toreceive communion.
In a moment we're going to pray, and whether it is pride,
wealth or self-assurance,whoever it is that meets with me
, we are going to be prayingover us and over all of the
people in your little circles ofinfluence that God would move
us here to people who arerightly humiliated.
(38:09):
Drop all the way down to verse22.
And the servant said, sir, whatyou commanded has been done,
and still there is room.
And the master said to theservant go out to the highways
and the hedges compel people tocome in, that my house may be
filled.
For I tell you, none of thosemen, none of those self-assuming
(38:31):
life has worked out pretty good, so the afterlife is gonna work
out pretty good.
None of them shall get onetaste of my banquet.
This is God saying I've put infar too much time, energy and
sacrifice to have one empty seat.
And I will just tell you, Idon't know how to respond to
this little phrase when it saysand still there is room.
(38:54):
Is that a good thing or is it abad thing?
Is it a bad thing that God hasmade a call that so few have
responded to, or is it a goodthing that God is still calling
that in this day, he is stillinviting people who have been
proud or leaned on their wealthor their self-assurance.
He's saying come to the table.
Do you not realize how greatthis is?
(39:16):
Now, what I want to close withis what I think is the most
confusing, dark piece of thisentire thing.
If I'm a new Christian, if I ama first timer to the Bible, I
just saw somebody get healed andall we have talked about is
wealth and pride andself-assurance and I would say,
(39:39):
yeah, but wouldn't we spend thewhole evening talking about this
guy getting healed, like wetalked about?
We've all seen arguments.
We haven't seen miracles.
Here is why I think this may bethe most interesting piece of
this scripture.
That man with dropsy was one oftwo things, and commentators
argue over which one it was.
He was either a plant or he wasa pawn.
(40:00):
Let me explain to you what Imean.
If you guys can go all the wayback to that verse where I've
got dropsy underlined, he couldhave been a pawn.
I've got dropsy underline, hecould have been a pawn.
Why is it that a man who has anailment is invited to this
table of proud, wealthy,self-assuming people?
Why is it that the text saysbehold, there was a man before
(40:21):
Jesus?
This means, by the way, jesuswas not sat in a place of honor
at the table.
He was put where the guy withthe malady would have sat and
right in front of him is thisman.
He's a pawn to be used, thesePharisees just bringing him in
to put him in front of Jesus, tolean back, not caring about the
man, who he is or his life,just saying, hey, you're broken,
(40:45):
so you'll do.
Come and sit at my table.
It's probably been a long timesince you had a good meal.
Why don't you just grab a seatand we're going to see what
Jesus does?
But there's another option here.
He might not be a pawn, hemight be a plant.
He might be on board with whatthey're trying to do.
He might be a Pharisee himselfthat has this malady and he has
(41:07):
volunteered to come to thisparty to sit right in front of
Jesus, just to try to capturehim, using his brokenness not to
find hope in Christ, butinstead to find a way to attack
him.
Why do we think this?
Verse 4, they remained silent.
He took him, healed him andsent him away.
(41:29):
There is no praise in this.
There is no repentance in this.
There is no thanks in this.
It looks as though Jesus hassaid I know why you're here.
I know what your job is to getme in trouble, so that I end up
there.
I'm still gonna heal you, butyou have now done your job.
(41:49):
Off you go, and in this, jesusputs on display for us the
entire part of this textabsolute sacrifice and humility,
even in the face of those hecreated.
Now, in the event that you feelbeat down by this, in the event
(42:12):
that you're like I have way toomuch pride.
I rely far too much on mywealth.
I am so self-assured that Itreat God as though he is lucky
to have me around.
May I give you the greatestnews.
Here is what the dinner partyactually looks like when Jesus
(42:33):
is the host.
Nehemiah 8.
Guys, if you guys wanna come onin to get us ready for
communion, and Stokes, if youwanna come up.
That's a rough way to end adinner party, so let me show you
how Jesus will end his dinnerparty.
And Nehemiah, who was thegovernor, and Ezra, the priest
and scribe, and the Levites, whotaught the people.
Usually I leave that part outand I just jump to the meat of
(42:55):
the text.
There's a reason I'm readingthis.
Why is it that the text wantsyou to know that the people in
charge, that the priests and thepastors, are there?
Because they have a veryimportant role to play at this.
This day is holy to the Lord,your God.
Do mourn or weep.
If you are feeling beat up andbroken down and you're wrestling
with this, here is what I thinkis the best news for you do not
(43:16):
mourn or weep.
Why were people weeping?
All the people wept as theyheard the words of the law.
They have listened to God'sword and they have been cut to
the core.
I am too self-assured.
I have too much pride.
I am like leaning on the wealththat I have.
No, no, no, no, no.
For all.
The people wept as they heardthe words of the Lord and he
said to them go your way.
(43:37):
Here's what I want you to doEat the fat, the best food that
is at the table.
Drink sweet wine.
Come to a party that lastsforever and send portions to
anyone who has nothing ready Forlast forever, and send portions
to anyone who has nothing readyfor.
This day is holy to the Lord.
What made this day holy?
Do not be grieved, for the joyof the Lord is your strength.
So the Levites calmed all thepeople.
(44:06):
This is my job.
If you feel broken up becauseof your self-assurance or
anything else that I've said,take a breath.
God has not closed the doors tothe table that he has prepared.
What he is offering is forthose of us who will move to a
place of humility, those of uswho can be humiliated because
we're created things that actlike we have our life together.
(44:27):
God says I want you to have joy.
We quote this thing wrong allthe time.
I'm having a bad day.
The joy of the Lord is mystrength.
The joy of the Lord is mystrength.
That's how we use this, likesome mantra.
No, where does this joy comefrom?
Verse 11, the Levites calmed allthe people.
Here's what they said Be quiet,this day is holy, do not be
grieved.
And all the people went theirway to eat and drink and to send
(44:51):
portions.
And here it is.
They go from weeping to greatrejoicing because they had
understood the words that weredeclared to them.
I don't care how you walked inthis room, I don't care what you
selected in that little quiz onthe screen.
Here's all I care about.
(45:12):
All of us should be humiliatedthat we would pick anything
other than capital G.
God, jesus Christ is King.
24, seven.
I deserve nothing, so anythingthat I have is worthy of great
rejoicing.
And the priests and the pastorscalm the folks down.
They say yes and amen.
You have heard the word of God,you are responding to the word
(45:35):
of God.
So we will leave this placerejoicing because this is what
God has prepared A people wholeave that world behind with a
vision of heaven in front ofthem, and they run to that table
.
So join me in running to atable.
(45:55):
This is a meal that is notgoing to fill your stomach, it
is not going to quench yourthirst, but it is a reminder
that God will do everything tosatisfy your soul.
Come to him laying down yoursin.
This table is open to all whoare trusting in Christ, and if
you're beginning to trust inChrist, or if you need to come
(46:17):
and see me or someone else youknow to be a believer, stand
with me, if you would.
Father, as we get ready to cometo this table.
I pray that you would remind usof the sacrifice that went in,
that we would be able to respondto this rightly.
I pray that you would remind usof the sacrifice that went in,
that we would be able to respondto this rightly.
I pray that we will have beenexamining ourselves and, if we
haven't been that we would beginexamining ourselves now.
Whatever it is that is ahindrance to us.
(46:38):
Thank you that your word isholy enough to cause us to
wrestle with it, to put us in ahumble place.
We come to this table humblybecause Christ lived humbly
before us that we would followhis example, Amen.
Morning Midtree, good to see y'all.
Okay, we're going to be readingfrom Luke 14, 1-11 today, which
is page 873 in the Pew Bibles.
If you want to turn there, andif not you can just look up on
the screen.
Okay, join me in the reading ofGod's Word.
(00:21):
One Sabbath, when he went todine at the house of a ruler of
the Pharisees, they werewatching him carefully and
behold, there was a man beforehim who had dropsy.
And Jesus responded to thelawyers and Pharisees saying Is
it lawful to heal on the Sabbathor not?
But they remained silent.
Then he took him and healed himand sent him away.
(00:41):
And he said to them which ofyou having a son or an ox that
has fallen into a well on aSabbath day will not immediately
pull him out?
And they could not reply tothese things.
Now he told a parable to thosewho were invited when he noticed
how they chose the places ofhonor, saying to them when
you're invited by someone to awedding feast, do not sit down
(01:02):
in a place of honor lest someonemore distinguished than you be
invited by him.
And he who invited you bothwill come and say to you give
your place to this person, andthen you will begin with shame
to take the lowest place.
But when you are invited, goand sit in the lowest place so
that when your host comes he maysay to you friend, move up
higher.
(01:22):
Then you will be honored in thepresence of all who sit at
table with you.
For everyone who exalts himselfwill be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted.
This is the word of the Lord.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Amen, thanks, landry.
All right guys, as Lindsay andMitch just alluded to, I have a
couple of books to give away.
Here's the way this is going towork.
Let me just tell you what thisis.
I have a couple of books togive away.
Here's the way this is going towork.
Let me just tell you what thisis.
It is a book by Dustin Williscalled the Simplest Way to
Change the World.
I'm going to put one here andI'm going to put one there.
This is one of the simplest toread resources on how you could
(01:58):
become a little more missionalin your daily life.
What we just finished walkingthrough last month.
We worked through books of theBible.
We've been in Luke.
We took a month last month tojust focus on mission simple
mission, applicable mission.
How can we live out the GreatCommission?
If you are like man, I reallywant to take some steps in that.
Those are there for you.
(02:19):
Just come and grab them if youwant one before you head out Now
with that.
Here is where we left off.
Last week I sort of gave us achallenge for us to look at the
730 hours that we have in agiven month and if we were to
pick one of those hours and openup our homes, open up our table
or just say, hey, man, I don'tknow you, you don't know me, or
(02:43):
if you know me and I don't knowyou, this has become even more
awkward.
But I would love to grab a mealwith you just to hear about
your life.
We think about all of thehundreds or thousands of gospel
conversations that could flowout of just capturing that one
out of 730 hours.
Well, with that concept we areabout to dive into.
(03:03):
Well, with that concept we areabout to dive into Jesus being
invited to someone's house for ameal, and so I mean, this stuff
just lays out better than Icould have ever hoped for.
So let me kind of show you whatI mean.
If you're looking at Luke 14, 1through 24, I know you probably
can't read every word on thescreen.
I just want you to notice theyellow boxes, for I know you
(03:25):
probably can't read every wordon the screen.
I just want you to notice theyellow boxes, because I'm about
to challenge you and ask youwhich of these yellow boxes are
you most prone to be?
So it's going to open withsomebody who is humiliated, in
this case because of a physicalailment or disability.
Then the dinner party is goingto turn to the person who is
proud, to the person who iswealthy, to the person who is
self-assured.
Then it's going to turn to theperson who is proud, to the
person who is wealthy, to theperson who is self-assured.
(03:45):
Then it's going to wrap all theway back around to people who
are humiliated.
Now let me explain.
If you are alive, you have allfour of these people alive and
well in you.
Okay, all of us struggle insome way with pride, wealth or
riches.
Being self-assured, that wouldmean like self-important Life
(04:09):
has generally gone well for me,so it's probably just going to
generally keep going well for me.
Then you jump to humiliatedLife has not gone well for me.
It's hard for me to believethat anything is going to go
well.
How can God be good?
If so, these four are presentedto you and what I would like
for you to do is pick which ofthe four you are most prone to
(04:30):
be.
Now, there's no wrong answerhere.
That person, like I said, livesin all of us.
But, guys, will y'all flip overto my iPad for just a minute and
pull out your phones?
You're allowed to do that here,so long as you're doing
appropriate things on it.
This would be one of them.
You can either scan the QR codeor you can go to slidocom and
put that in Now.
(04:51):
Usually when I put this up, Iimmediately show you guys the
results of what you're pickingup, for I'm not gonna do that
yet.
I want you guys to have achance to put those things in as
Jesus gets us ready for adinner party.
And can I just tell you, out ofcuriosity, how many of you are
comfortable with awkwardsituations?
How many of you are like me?
(05:11):
You don't mind, yeah, goodstuff.
You don't even mind watchingpeople squirm One of the best
parts of your day, All right.
How many of you are more normaland you're like I'm not a big
fan of awkward situations?
Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, allright.
So you are about to engage insome of what I think is the most
biblical secondhand awkwardnessthat still hits 2 000 years
(05:32):
later in what we are about toread.
So do me a favor, go here withme, go in this tech.
Don't look, don't.
Let it just be sunday morning.
I'm taking a couple of notesand I'm sipping my coffee.
Give me something good,preacher.
No, like.
I want you to imagine sittingat this table with Jesus as this
is all happening.
(05:53):
One Sabbath, when he went todine at the house of a ruler of
the Pharisees they were watchinghim carefully, verse two and
behold, there was a man beforehim who had dropsy.
I've got that underlined.
Dropsy was a medical ailment.
Anybody want to tell me for 10points at the camp store what
Luke's profession was other thanbeing a disciple?
(06:16):
All right, can I just tell you.
Doctors write gospelsdifferently than tax collectors
do.
All right, and Dr Luke doesn'twant you to miss out on this Now
.
Dropsy is a physical ailmentwhere a part of the body retains
water.
It would lead to a leg or alimb or a part of the body being
swollen, probably painful, notvery usable and different than
(06:40):
today's day and age.
It would have affected themsocially the places that they
would have been invited to.
Not invited to.
Welcome or not welcome.
And behold, here there is atthis dinner party a man before
Jesus who had this ailment.
And Jesus responded to thelawyers Notice that third word,
because it doesn't seem likethey said anything.
But Jesus knows that this gigis going on.
(07:02):
He looks at the lawyers and thePharisees and he says is it
lawful to heal on the Sabbath ornot?
Now lawyers should know theanswer to a legal question.
But they remained silent.
Then he took him and healed himand sent him away.
(07:23):
And healed him and sent himaway Pop, pop, pop.
Hey, come here, buddy Healedhead on out.
That's how it plays out.
And he said to them like thefact that Jesus is just like and
done, now let's talk.
And he said to them which ofyou having a son or an ox, an
animal that's fallen into a wellon a Sabbath day, will not
(07:45):
immediately pull him out?
And I love this.
They could not reply to thesethings.
If I am a new believer, if I'mreading the Bible for the first
time, my response is what justhappened at dinner?
Like I've been to a lot ofdinners in my life, arguing at
(08:05):
the table is not uncommon.
Okay, did you do your chores?
Did you not do your chores?
Let's insert some politics.
How about a little bit ofreligion?
Anybody ever been toThanksgiving before?
Arguing at a table is notabnormal.
I'll tell you what I've neverdone.
I've never sat down, pulled acroissant roll or a pig in the
(08:27):
blanket out of the middle andall of a sudden, somebody who is
sick is healed, and thenthey're like deuces, y'all have
a great dinner, I'm out anddinner just goes on and it's
like, hey, what else can we talkabout?
They never talk about thismiracle.
This is one of the mostfascinating things of the entire
text.
A miracle happens in front ofthem and they have no response.
(08:49):
Do you know what this tells me?
This tells me that we need tobe very careful not to be
religiously stubborn to where weare going to God, going to
Jesus, going to church, going toscripture, going to prayer,
going to community, going tosmall group for such a focused,
self-built reason that God coulddo something amazing and we
would completely miss out on theentire thing.
(09:11):
Pharisees, people who are proud,wealthy to the point where they
do not need a lot in this world, self-assured, it takes an
awful lot and even a miracledoesn't move the needle in their
hearts.
I don't know if you are like me, but I can't tell you how many
times I was growing up in churchI said this to God Lord, if you
(09:34):
will just insert, then I willinsert.
Am I the only one who prayedprayers like that?
All I'm saying is God, ifyou'll do this miracle.
Hey, I'm yours and here he isdoing this miracle, and I want
you to notice what is absent.
Awe is absent, worship isabsent, praise is absent,
(09:58):
celebration is completely absent, because there may be 15, 16,
18 people at this dinner party,but there are really only four
types of people.
Let's see which ones we are.
Okay, guys, if y'all would goahead and flip back to the poll
and let's see oh yep, perfect,all right, that's how you guys
(10:21):
broke out.
By the way, I meant to tell you, if you don't know what to pick
, you should go withself-assured.
If you're like I don't know,proud, nah, wealthy, nah, I
don't know what that means,you're self-assured.
So I'm glad we were alreadythere.
No surprise that the wealthyaren't here on Labor Day weekend
.
They have other things to do.
Now I will argue with you.
(10:46):
Every one of you in this roomis all four of these people.
Okay, however, what I think isreally cool a lot of times,
service one and service two aredifferent in some way.
Y'all are almost exactly thesame.
About half of us are prettyself-assured.
A third, well, nope, somebody'sno longer humiliated.
That's great Already.
Oh Lord, isn't that great?
All right, a number of us dealwith, proud, some people a
(11:06):
little convicted and feelingmore wealthy.
They're like he's going to talkabout Kenya again, isn't he?
All right, I'll just put it inso as we recognize where we are.
The reason I want you to dothis is when we get to that
section of Scripture, I reallywant you to wrestle with it.
And so let's begin with thoseof us, the 26% of us in this
room, who may be today, 25%struggling with pride, verse 7.
(11:33):
At the same dinner party wherethis just happened, jesus told a
parable, a story with a lessonattached to those who were
invited, when he noticed howthey chose the places of honor.
So it's about to go moreawkward.
(11:56):
Jesus just healed, looks aroundand says hey, why don't we talk
about something divisive?
None of us train our childrenthis way.
No grandmother, grandfather,mother or dad ever said now,
young man, when you're invitedto somebody's house, here's what
I want you to do.
You go and as soon as anopportunity arises, you bring up
a device of topic.
Okay, that is loving, all right, if you've been invited, if
you're someone's guest, you justput something in the middle of
(12:17):
the table and, no matter whatanybody says, you just tell them
that you know how this issupposed to pan out.
And then what I want you to dois I want you to look at them
and tell them even the way youguys sit at a table is wrong.
Okay, none of us are trainedthis way, but when the creator
of the universe sits down at atable, he has some thoughts.
He looks at how they aresitting and he says, guys,
(12:38):
you've got it all wrong.
I don't know if you havetrouble finding a place to sit
at a table.
It is a little awkward ifyou're the first one with the
plate to the table that is emptyat 12 seats.
I can relate to this.
It's like I don't want the head, I don't want the foot either.
Here's how I always pick atable.
(12:58):
I look at it.
I'm like head, foot.
If it's in my house, I'll takehead, head, foot, not my house.
Middle is here.
I'm gonna split the gap andthat's where Will sits.
I'm still by enough peoplewhere I get a good conversation,
but I'm not in the middle noron the end where it's up to me
to carry the conversation.
That is my sweet spot.
Logan, we were talking aboutthis last week.
Logan's like just not here inthis dinner party.
(13:19):
Here, everybody is vying forthe best seat.
Verse eight when you are invitedby someone to a wedding feast,
for example, do not sit down ina place of honor.
Let someone more distinguishedthan you be invited by them.
And he who invited you bothwill have to come and say to you
(13:41):
give your place to this person.
And then you will begin withshame to take the lowest place.
But when you're invited, go andsit in the lowest place so that
when the host comes he may sayto you friend, move up higher.
Then you will be honored in thepresence of all who sit at
table with you, for everyone.
This is the point everybody whoexalts himself will be humbled
(14:03):
and he who humbles himself willbe exalted.
I want you to imagine for amoment that time passes and
we're here in a couple of monthsand it's the week of
Thanksgiving.
You've been thinking aboututilizing your one out of 730
hours in a month and you decidewhen I go to church over these
next few weeks, I'm gonna find afamily, I'm gonna find a couple
, I'm gonna find a soldier.
I'm going to find a soldier.
I'm going to find an impactcenter.
I'm going to find somebody whodoesn't have an opportunity to
(14:25):
see family at Thanksgiving andI'm going to invite them to my
house.
I think that's wonderful.
Christians do this well,midtree, you do this well.
But then I want you to imaginethis.
They come to your house andthey're making their plate.
They've got the right sweetpotatoes, you know what I'm
talking about.
They've got the mushrooms, themarshmallows on top.
No, we'll go marshmallows,marshmallows on top.
You've got your plate and thissweet couple that you invited
(14:48):
from church goes to find a seatat the table and they go to the
formal dining room and theydon't pause, they just walk
right on through because your 11and 12 year old have gone and
sat in the formal dining roomand this couple walks right by
at the little two foot high kidtable that's pushed off into the
corner and that table's likecovered with paints and stuff
like that and you don't reallycare because it's just for the
(15:10):
kids and they sit in a chairthat's too small for them.
You tell me what's going tohappen next.
I'm willing to bet you are notgoing to walk up to your 11 year
old and say, buddy, I am soproud of your confidence, like,
look at you just finding thebest seat at the table, right?
You don't even know what we'retalking about half the time, but
this is where you want to sit.
No, you're going to say, dude,no, not happening.
(15:32):
You go sit at the kids tableand this sweet couple, who I
barely know but want to knowbecause you're creating the
image of God and you areimportant, come sit with us at
the formal dining room.
I want to hear about your life,I want to hear about who you
are.
That is exactly what wouldhappen.
There is honor in startinghumble and being lifted up.
(15:54):
And, by the way, if you needproof of that, proverbs 29,
ezekiel 21, matthew 18, luke 18,james 4, 1 Peter 5, all of them
say almost the exact same thingthe humble will be lifted up.
If I really wanted to drive thepoint home, I would tell you
that Jesus had to remind hisdisciples, who were probably at
(16:17):
this dinner party or heard aboutthis dinner party, that a
number of days later they hadcompletely missed the point Luke
22, 24.
A dispute arose among thedisciples as to which of them
was regarded as the greatest,and Jesus said to them the kings
of Gentiles exercise lordshipover them and those in authority
over them are calledbenefactors, but not so with you
(16:40):
.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the youngest and
the leader, as one who servesVerse 22.
I cannot imagine how frustratedJesus must be at a dinner where
his disciples are arguing aboutwhich one of them is the
greatest.
He has to look at them and saydo you guys take notes at all,
like we have done this before?
(17:02):
You came to a dinner, youwatched this whole thing pan out
and you're arguing over whichone of you is the best.
But then look at Jesus's point.
You are those who have stayedwith me in my trials and I
assigned to you, as my fatherassigned to me, a kingdom
Christian, let me get your eyesfor a minute.
If you are trusting in Christ,do you realize that you are not
(17:24):
just inheriting, not hell, youare inheriting a kingdom, an
everlasting kingdom, a perfectkingdom.
And he looks at his disciplesand he says it is my desire that
you would eat and drink at mytable, which I prepared.
Be thinking communion, my table, which I prepared.
(17:44):
And you are going to sit onthrones judging the 12 tribes of
Israel.
If you would get out of yourearthly mindset needing to be
important today.
Do you not realize howimportant you are going to be?
If you would be humble today?
How much God would exalt ustomorrow.
Do you want to reward?
Do you want a reward fromsomebody here on earth or do you
(18:07):
want a reward from God?
I will choose God's rewardevery single time.
Now let's jump to the wealthyamong them.
Same dinner party, he said alsoto the man who had invited him
verse 12, when you give a dinneror a banquet, do not invite
your friends.
Time out.
How weird is this moment?
(18:29):
Now, it's not just odd for thepeople, the lawyers who were
sitting there.
Jesus looks at the host of theparty and he says hey guys, when
you have a party, don't inviteyour friends.
Now I would argue with you.
Everybody at the party is nowawkward or angry at Jesus.
(18:50):
Because who are they?
They are this guy's buddies.
Don't invite your friends, yourbrothers, your relatives or
rich neighbors, lest they alsoinvite you in return and you be
repaid.
Do you know what Jesus is doing?
He's looking at them and he'ssaying I know you guys are just
doing social algebra, the sameway we all did when we were
(19:12):
eight years old, making the listfor our birthday party.
That's what they're doing.
They're not thinking about whois the best person to be there,
who's gonna be the most fun tocelebrate with.
They're thinking who's gonnabring me the best gift?
Whose birthday party do I notwant to miss?
Okay, y'all are looking at melike you don't?
Was I just that much moresinful than y'all?
(19:34):
Or do you not know what I'mtalking about?
Neil Hong got an invitation toevery birthday party I ever had
because he brought a $50 giftand everybody at school knew it.
Am I the only one putting Neilon my birthday party list?
No, and so Jesus looks and hesays hey, if you're ever hosting
a party like this guy, don'tinvite all your friends like
(19:58):
these guys.
Who is this lesson even for?
It's for them, but it's alsoheld in all time in God's word
for us.
But verse 13, when you give afeast, let me translate.
When you have a party at yourhouse.
When you give a feast, let metranslate.
When you have a party at yourhouse, when you decide to do a
cookout, when you put together abig meal with some amount of
(20:19):
time invite the poor, invite thecrippled, invite the lame,
invite the blind, invite thosewho cannot repay you and notice
this word because you will beblessed, because they can't
repay you.
This is a mentality that onlyexists in the gospel, in the
(20:42):
good news of Jesus Christ.
This is a mentality that youcannot have if you are not
trusting in Jesus.
In fact, if you aren't trustingin Christ, it is going to be
abundantly impossible, becausethe only way to think this way
is to have an assurance thatheaven is absolutely real.
If you don't believe thatheaven is real, you cannot do
(21:05):
this.
Why would you?
There's no guarantee that Godis going to give you a reward
that echoes on into eternity.
So you may as well get todaywhat you can get today, but if
you do believe in Christ, if youbelieve heaven is real, you
cannot afford to not do this Tolook and say who is it who
couldn't possibly repay me?
(21:25):
Think about how we train ourkids I want you to do something,
expecting what?
Nothing in return.
Do you realize this text isactually a step beyond that?
We tell our kids do the rightthing without expecting
something in return.
This is do the right thingtowards someone who couldn't
(21:45):
possibly do something good foryou in return.
By God's grace, I grew up in thechurch.
My mom made sure that I wasthere every single Sunday.
I had incredible Sunday schoolteachers.
I got candy for memorizingscripture.
I was tucked into Bible studies.
I was even in the choir at onepoint.
We did Christmas plays.
(22:06):
You are looking at a church kid,and let me tell you why that
matters.
I have seen God's people be themost generous people on the
planet.
I have seen them be the mostpatient people on the planet.
I have seen them be kind and,by the way, you are those people
.
I have never once seen thisscripture.
Just letting you know.
(22:27):
I have never once seen somebodyput on a party, put on a
cookout, and refuse to invitetheir friends, refuse to invite
anyone who is family, refuse toinvite someone who could some
ways socially pay them back.
I have never seen this and tome it became a challenge.
(22:47):
So I was working through thisscripture with a group of people
.
You've heard me say this amillion times.
I won't quit saying it Readyour Bible with others whenever
possible.
It just makes it richer.
It is a community text.
And as I was reading this, Iasked the group of people have
you ever seen this?
Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope,nope Once and I was like do tell
(23:08):
about this.
One time they said, well, thereis a guy who does this.
And I said okay.
And they said you know him.
And I was like okay, who is it?
They gave me his name.
I shot him a text message.
Hey, man, just want to let youknow.
Working through Luke 14 in acouple of weeks, I need a good
story.
Somebody told me you haveactually done this.
Just created a meal and invitedpeople you didn't know and who
(23:31):
could not possibly pay you back.
And then he got me and I'lltell you how he got me.
If you cheat a little bit andyou keep reading in the text,
what you're going to find ispeople who are invited to
something and they make allkinds of excuses to not go.
All right, here's what he saysto me.
Hey, I know that you want astory.
Why don't you just come hangout with me for a couple of
(23:53):
hours and get a story of yourown?
And I was like dadgummit, can'tyou just give me a story?
I can't tell you.
No, I know where this text isgoing.
I can't refuse this offer.
I got kids, I got family, I'mbusy.
My calendar is absolutely chockfull.
I can't make it.
But all of those things justlive in my head and in my heart
because I can't say them outloud, because I have to preach
this to you a week later.
(24:14):
And so I text a guy and I'mlike I would love to come.
Thank you, send.
And yesterday at five o'clock Ishowed up at his house and I
said okay, man, so what are wedoing?
He said I don't know.
We're going to pray and we'regoing to go.
We're just going to walkthrough the neighborhood and
we're going to pray.
And I'm like, okay, I've doneevangelism through translators.
(24:38):
I've spoken to very largegroups of people.
I've been doing this gig for along time.
I even like awkward situations.
That was about to be an awkward90 minutes to two hours.
We sat on this couch, we talkedfor a little bit.
He said okay, let's go, we'rejust going to pray for a minute
and we're going to walk.
We start walking through aneighborhood which is the hood,
and as we're walking he saidWill you know what always trips
(25:00):
me out?
I talk to folks at church allthe time who say to me stuff
like I just wish church was likeAndy Griffith, I wish the world
operated like that where youcan just say hey to your
neighbors, and your neighborsknow your name and you know
their name.
What's going on in their life?
You just catch conversation.
He said well, if you're in thehood, it's like that every
single day.
(25:21):
It's just a lot of Christiansneed to get out of their comfort
zone and that's exactly wherewe were out of our comfort zone,
we start walking bump into aguy named Steve.
Hey man, can we pray for you?
Yeah, absolutely.
How can we pray for you?
Well, I had meningitis.
I wasn't expected to survive.
I did, but I had to learn howto walk again.
(25:41):
While I was learning how towalk, the floor of my house
rotted out while I was at thehospital.
The pastor down the street hascome and he's helped us move all
of this stuff out.
But now my wife is sick and theone who helped me learn how to
walk again now she can't walk.
Would you pray that I would bethe kind of man who can support
her the way that she supportedme?
(26:02):
Yeah, I'll pray for that.
Walk down five street, not fivestreets, five front doors.
Lady sitting in a truck hername's Candace.
Hey, we're just walking throughthe neighborhood praying for
folks, can we pray for you?
None of these people could do athing for me.
Just so you know, while we'rewalking, these two boys just
(26:23):
start walking with us and theguy that I'm with is like watch
out, buddy, you're in Crocs andthat's a used needle.
Come this way, like that's thearea we're walking in.
And we walk up to Candace.
We say, can we pray for you?
And she's like nope, I wannapray for you.
And I'm like well, this isunusual, I'm the pastor, I'm
always asked to pray, send it.
She starts praying scripture,scripture, scripture, scripture,
(26:45):
scripture.
Can't stop talking about thegoodness of God in her life.
I grew up on these streets,doing drugs on these streets.
I was a prostitute on thesestreets for so many years and
two and a half years ago Godstepped into my life, rescued me
from sin.
I'm now running my own businessand setting an example for my
19, 18 and 17 year old that I amguessing are from the previous
(27:07):
life, and she's saying the onlyway that I have made it is from
the Lord.
So did Steve.
The only way that I have madeit is from the Lord, these two
young guys being discipled.
The only way they are making itis from the Lord.
Can I just tell you the bestpart of the story?
The best part of the story iswe get back to the house and I'm
like, okay, I need to rememberthese stories, I want to
remember these names so that Ican share it.
(27:29):
Because how good is God when weput ourselves in a position
where somebody can't repay us todo incredible things, because
heaven is real.
And I'm about to start takingnotes and the guy says would you
just do me one favor, will?
And I'm like yeah, he saiddon't use my name.
I was like why?
Like, people at ourcongregation know you?
(27:49):
And he said I know, and that'sthe problem.
He said my pride would not dealwith that.
Well, I would download thesermon just to hear my name
praised in front of people thatI look up to.
And that, to me, was when thelight bulb went off.
So many of us in this room hearthat story and we say I don't
think that could be me.
I'm telling you, this guy isyou, was you?
(28:13):
And one day decided to spendone out of his 730 hours just
looking at the face of peoplethat we assume want nothing to
do with us and saying can I knowyou?
Can I pray for you?
This is what it looks like forus to seek someone who could not
give us anything back and in sodoing, put on display that we
(28:35):
believe that heaven is real.
We move to the third person atthe party, luke 14, 15, the
self-assured.
When one of those who reclinedat table with him heard these
things super awkward moment, hesaid to him hey, jesus, blessed
is everyone who will eat breadin the kingdom of God.
Make that awkward.
(28:57):
It's what I think is like inthe subtext, in parentheses.
Like this is Revelation 22, bythe way, hadn't been written yet
, but it would be written.
And so here this guy is.
How can Jesus do anything withthat to make this party awkward?
I can just imagine this guy.
Yeah, yeah, parties and friendsand pride and wealth.
But guys, can't we all agree?
(29:17):
It's going to be great inheaven one day.
Now when the Bible uses theword but following a sentence,
it's saying what you just heardis about to be refuted.
If it says and it's what youjust heard is about to be
supported, jesus could have goneon in the Bible said and he
said to him yes, friend, andthis is not what happens.
(29:39):
But he said to him hey, I hearwhat you're saying about a great
banquet in heaven, but you needto make sure you're going to be
there.
A man once gave a great banquetand invited many Sound familiar
people at the table and the timefor the banquet, at the time
for the banquet, he sent hisservant to say to those who had
(30:02):
been invited come, everything isnow ready.
But they all began makingexcuses.
This is where I had to goyesterday at five o'clock,
because I knew I was going topreach this to you.
Excuse number one I've bought afield and I must go out and see
it.
I've started a new business.
I wasn't expecting this, butI've got to run real quick.
You get it.
Work is important, youunderstand.
Excuse number two anotherperson said I've bought five
(30:26):
yoke of oxen and I go to examinethem Now.
I doubt any of you guys havebought oxen.
There's probably one or two ofyou who are gonna come up to me
and say actually, I grew up on afarm and my grandfather bought
oxen all the time.
Great, let's talk about otherthings.
If that's you, wonderful.
But most of us can't relate tothis.
However, this is somebody whohas a new thing, a new tractor,
a new car, a new something, car,a new something.
(30:48):
And they're so excited abouttheir new thing that they're
like you get it, man.
I know that you spent all thistime and energy and money to put
this sort of table banquettogether, but you get it.
I just bought this car onFacebook.
I got to swing to Montgomeryreal quick and pick it up.
I'll see you at the next party.
The third one I'll be honest, Isort of get this one and another
(31:09):
said I have married a wife andtherefore I cannot come.
I'm giving this guy the tiltNow.
I don't know why commentariesdon't dig too deep into this.
It could be honeymoon time.
To which tip of the hat to yourfriend, like take all the time
you need, and I can back that upbiblically.
By the way, they used to take ayear off to enjoy marriage.
(31:30):
So when we're like high-fivingpeople taking a seven-day
honeymoon, just know God hadbigger plans.
Nonetheless, it could also bethat he's saying it like this
I've married a wife and I toldher we'd go antiquing and she's
got plans for Target andStarbucks.
You get it.
I'm not going to make it to theparty.
(31:51):
I don't know which way he'sgoing, but I can see both of
them playing out pretty well.
What we see in this third andthe first one is work life.
What we see in the second oneis sort of like the comings and
goings of new things life.
And what we see in the thirdone is just life life.
This is just living life andgiving an excuse.
Now it's important that youunderstand this for the point
(32:13):
that I'm about to make.
These people were not invited tothis banquet spur of the moment
.
The reason the servant is sentout to invite them in is because
they have already received anRSVP in the mail.
They've already gotten a textmessage that said will you be
there?
They have already said yes.
There is a table with theirname on a name card, there is
(32:35):
drink that has been bought forthem, food that has been bought
for them, a DJ that is playingmusic for them, and they have
decided not to show up.
What these three excuses makevery clear to us is that
busyness can prevent blessingjust as much as sin can,
especially if we are too busyfor the one who has spent all of
his time, all of his energy,his greatest value and his
(32:58):
greatest sacrifice to create forus a space to pursue the Father
.
Busyness compared to the thingsof Christ is sin, because it is
idolatry.
But here's what's happening.
All of us make mistakes, all ofus hurt others, all of us let
somebody down and don't show upwhen we say we're going to be
there.
(33:18):
The issue is if you guys can goback to the scripture.
For me I'd appreciate it.
The issue is the attitude inwhich they do it.
They're not apologetic, they'reself-assuming, they are
self-important.
You understand God.
You understand that what I'mdoing is important, that what
I'm doing is very busy, thatwhat I'm doing makes sense to me
, and if it makes sense to me,it must make sense to you.
(33:39):
They are assuming on the graceof God, and here what God wants
to make very clear to us is thatthe kingdom of heaven is filled
with people who actually wantto be there.
It's not people who arebegrudging.
There's no one in heaven who islike well, I guess I'm kind of
glad I made it.
You know, no, heaven is filledwith people who have longed to
(34:02):
see the face of the Jesus thatthey have heard all of these
stories about.
Heaven is filled with peoplewho wanna see and experience and
figure out how they get to knowthe one who created the cosmos,
created the world around themand even created their own
selves.
It's people who have longed tosee bad turn into good and good
turn into great and great turninto excellent, turn into
(34:25):
perfect and never deviate fromperfection.
That is what heaven is filledwith, but these people act as
though they can come and go asthey please.
They are assuming that they arein good standing with God, and
(34:45):
this is why it ends with thepeople who have been humiliated.
The last group, verse 21.
So the servant came andreported these things to his
master.
Then the master of the housebecame please don't miss this.
Angry.
And wouldn't you be?
Wouldn't you be angry if youhad spent time and energy and
(35:10):
effort to prepare a place, toprepare food, to prepare drink,
and no one show up?
Have you ever been to an eventwhere there was way too much
time and energy put in for thenumber of people who showed up
and you felt the awkwardness forthe host?
I've stood here many timesbefore and I've said this Thank
you guys so much for coming tothe wedding.
(35:31):
Friends and family, thank y'allfor being here.
It's an honor to the bride.
It's an honor to the groom.
Did this not too terriblyrecently?
As you go, they're going to takesome pictures.
Right through those doubledoors is a reception prepared
for you Music, food and drink.
Head that way, enjoy yourselfand after their pictures they
(35:52):
will be in there with you.
Can I just tell you I've saidthat more times than I can count
and I've been to weddings whereyou walk into the reception and
there are 11 tables preparedwith name cards on them and
three empty tables and everybodyin the room feels the
awkwardness.
Empty tables and everybody inthe room feels the awkwardness.
(36:16):
You go to a fundraiser and 50%of the tables are empty and you
feel the awkwardness.
If you are the one putting thaton, if you are hosting it, it
gets you to your gut and yourbones.
This is why God becomes angry.
Have I not prepared a room foryou and yet you're telling me
that what you have going on istoo angry?
Have I not prepared a room foryou, and yet you're telling me
that what you have going on istoo important?
Have I not prepared a meal foryou in my flesh?
(36:37):
Have I not prepared drink foryou in my blood?
Are we not going to come to atable that is spiritually built
by God and you would just comeand go as you please, so
self-assuming that I'm justsitting around waiting to serve
you some piping hot food andchilled drink, that I am just
going to wait on you.
(36:57):
That is a capital G God, thatyou have sliced out and made a
lowercase g God so that you canbe a capital G God.
That is somebody who is sayingto them things have basically
worked out pretty well for me onearth, so they're probably
basically going to work outpretty well for me in eternity.
And God is saying no, do notassume on yourself that you are
(37:21):
in Receive.
Respond to the invitation.
God is not graced with yourpresence today.
It is by grace that you candraw into his presence today,
and it's important for us, asChristians who do the Sunday
morning thing, to remember thatfact.
Now let me take a breath here,because I can get real hot on
(37:43):
that.
In a minute we're going toreceive communion.
In a moment we're going to pray, and whether it is pride,
wealth or self-assurance,whoever it is that meets with me
, we are going to be prayingover us and over all of the
people in your little circles ofinfluence that God would move
us here to people who arerightly humiliated.
(38:09):
Drop all the way down to verse22.
And the servant said, sir, whatyou commanded has been done,
and still there is room.
And the master said to theservant go out to the highways
and the hedges compel people tocome in, that my house may be
filled.
For I tell you, none of thosemen, none of those self-assuming
(38:31):
life has worked out pretty good, so the afterlife is gonna work
out pretty good.
None of them shall get onetaste of my banquet.
This is God saying I've put infar too much time, energy and
sacrifice to have one empty seat.
And I will just tell you, Idon't know how to respond to
this little phrase when it saysand still there is room.
(38:54):
Is that a good thing or is it abad thing?
Is it a bad thing that God hasmade a call that so few have
responded to, or is it a goodthing that God is still calling
that in this day, he is stillinviting people who have been
proud or leaned on their wealthor their self-assurance.
He's saying come to the table.
Do you not realize how greatthis is?
(39:16):
Now, what I want to close withis what I think is the most
confusing, dark piece of thisentire thing.
If I'm a new Christian, if I ama first timer to the Bible, I
just saw somebody get healed andall we have talked about is
wealth and pride andself-assurance and I would say,
(39:39):
yeah, but wouldn't we spend thewhole evening talking about this
guy getting healed, like wetalked about?
We've all seen arguments.
We haven't seen miracles.
Here is why I think this may bethe most interesting piece of
this scripture.
That man with dropsy was one oftwo things, and commentators
argue over which one it was.
He was either a plant or he wasa pawn.
(40:00):
Let me explain to you what Imean.
If you guys can go all the wayback to that verse where I've
got dropsy underlined, he couldhave been a pawn.
I've got dropsy underline, hecould have been a pawn.
Why is it that a man who has anailment is invited to this
table of proud, wealthy,self-assuming people?
Why is it that the text saysbehold, there was a man before
(40:21):
Jesus?
This means, by the way, jesuswas not sat in a place of honor
at the table.
He was put where the guy withthe malady would have sat and
right in front of him is thisman.
He's a pawn to be used, thesePharisees just bringing him in
to put him in front of Jesus, tolean back, not caring about the
man, who he is or his life,just saying, hey, you're broken,
(40:45):
so you'll do.
Come and sit at my table.
It's probably been a long timesince you had a good meal.
Why don't you just grab a seatand we're going to see what
Jesus does?
But there's another option here.
He might not be a pawn, hemight be a plant.
He might be on board with whatthey're trying to do.
He might be a Pharisee himselfthat has this malady and he has
(41:07):
volunteered to come to thisparty to sit right in front of
Jesus, just to try to capturehim, using his brokenness not to
find hope in Christ, butinstead to find a way to attack
him.
Why do we think this?
Verse 4, they remained silent.
He took him, healed him andsent him away.
(41:29):
There is no praise in this.
There is no repentance in this.
There is no thanks in this.
It looks as though Jesus hassaid I know why you're here.
I know what your job is to getme in trouble, so that I end up
there.
I'm still gonna heal you, butyou have now done your job.
(41:49):
Off you go, and in this, jesusputs on display for us the
entire part of this textabsolute sacrifice and humility,
even in the face of those hecreated.
Now, in the event that you feelbeat down by this, in the event
(42:12):
that you're like I have way toomuch pride.
I rely far too much on mywealth.
I am so self-assured that Itreat God as though he is lucky
to have me around.
May I give you the greatestnews.
Here is what the dinner partyactually looks like when Jesus
(42:33):
is the host.
Nehemiah 8.
Guys, if you guys wanna come onin to get us ready for
communion, and Stokes, if youwanna come up.
That's a rough way to end adinner party, so let me show you
how Jesus will end his dinnerparty.
And Nehemiah, who was thegovernor, and Ezra, the priest
and scribe, and the Levites, whotaught the people.
Usually I leave that part outand I just jump to the meat of
(42:55):
the text.
There's a reason I'm readingthis.
Why is it that the text wantsyou to know that the people in
charge, that the priests and thepastors, are there?
Because they have a veryimportant role to play at this.
This day is holy to the Lord,your God.
Do mourn or weep.
If you are feeling beat up andbroken down and you're wrestling
with this, here is what I thinkis the best news for you do not
(43:16):
mourn or weep.
Why were people weeping?
All the people wept as theyheard the words of the law.
They have listened to God'sword and they have been cut to
the core.
I am too self-assured.
I have too much pride.
I am like leaning on the wealththat I have.
No, no, no, no, no.
For all.
The people wept as they heardthe words of the Lord and he
said to them go your way.
(43:37):
Here's what I want you to doEat the fat, the best food that
is at the table.
Drink sweet wine.
Come to a party that lastsforever and send portions to
anyone who has nothing ready Forlast forever, and send portions
to anyone who has nothing readyfor.
This day is holy to the Lord.
What made this day holy?
Do not be grieved, for the joyof the Lord is your strength.
So the Levites calmed all thepeople.
(44:06):
This is my job.
If you feel broken up becauseof your self-assurance or
anything else that I've said,take a breath.
God has not closed the doors tothe table that he has prepared.
What he is offering is forthose of us who will move to a
place of humility, those of uswho can be humiliated because
we're created things that actlike we have our life together.
(44:27):
God says I want you to have joy.
We quote this thing wrong allthe time.
I'm having a bad day.
The joy of the Lord is mystrength.
The joy of the Lord is mystrength.
That's how we use this, likesome mantra.
No, where does this joy comefrom?
Verse 11, the Levites calmed allthe people.
Here's what they said Be quiet,this day is holy, do not be
grieved.
And all the people went theirway to eat and drink and to send
(44:51):
portions.
And here it is.
They go from weeping to greatrejoicing because they had
understood the words that weredeclared to them.
I don't care how you walked inthis room, I don't care what you
selected in that little quiz onthe screen.
Here's all I care about.
(45:12):
All of us should be humiliatedthat we would pick anything
other than capital G.
God, jesus Christ is King.
24, seven.
I deserve nothing, so anythingthat I have is worthy of great
rejoicing.
And the priests and the pastorscalm the folks down.
They say yes and amen.
You have heard the word of God,you are responding to the word
(45:35):
of God.
So we will leave this placerejoicing because this is what
God has prepared A people wholeave that world behind with a
vision of heaven in front ofthem, and they run to that table
.
So join me in running to atable.
(45:55):
This is a meal that is notgoing to fill your stomach, it
is not going to quench yourthirst, but it is a reminder
that God will do everything tosatisfy your soul.
Come to him laying down yoursin.
This table is open to all whoare trusting in Christ, and if
you're beginning to trust inChrist, or if you need to come
(46:17):
and see me or someone else youknow to be a believer, stand
with me, if you would.
Father, as we get ready to cometo this table.
I pray that you would remind usof the sacrifice that went in,
that we would be able to respondto this rightly.
I pray that you would remind usof the sacrifice that went in,
that we would be able to respondto this rightly.
I pray that we will have beenexamining ourselves and, if we
haven't been that we would beginexamining ourselves now.
Whatever it is that is ahindrance to us.
(46:38):
Thank you that your word isholy enough to cause us to
wrestle with it, to put us in ahumble place.
We come to this table humblybecause Christ lived humbly
before us that we would followhis example, Amen.
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