Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.439
Well, please turn your attention now
to Matthew, Chapter Eleven, Verses Twenty
2
00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:09.470
five through thirty. Matthew Eleven and
these verses is pound found on page eight
3
00:00:09.509 --> 00:00:14.029
hundred and sixteen of the black bibles
from the cart if you have happen to
4
00:00:14.070 --> 00:00:17.710
have one of those. This,
I think, is the fourth sermon now
5
00:00:17.949 --> 00:00:22.179
on Christian Wisdom, and I'm actually
going to preach to the next one tonight.
6
00:00:22.739 --> 00:00:26.739
There's a little bit of overlap in
our theme and the passages. We've
7
00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:30.300
been looking at an EPHESIAN, so
I'd encourage you to come back for that
8
00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:34.979
if you're able to. But now
our attention is on Matthew, Matthew Eleven,
9
00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:43.490
a, twenty five through thirty.
At that time Jesus declared. I
10
00:00:43.729 --> 00:00:48.210
thank you, Father Lord of Heaven
and Earth, that you have hidden these
11
00:00:48.409 --> 00:00:56.439
things from the wise and understanding and
revealed them to children. Yes, father,
12
00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.200
for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to
13
00:01:00.280 --> 00:01:04.390
me by my father, and no
one knows the son except the father,
14
00:01:06.030 --> 00:01:08.989
and no one knows the father except
the son. And anyone to whom the
15
00:01:10.150 --> 00:01:15.549
son chooses to reveal him come to
me, all who labor and are heavy
16
00:01:15.590 --> 00:01:21.260
laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and
17
00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:26.060
learn from me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you
18
00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:32.379
will find rest for your souls,
for my yoke is easy and my burden
19
00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:38.170
is light. May Be seated.
So in the past few sermons we've been
20
00:01:38.450 --> 00:01:48.560
thinking about how wisdom begins and ends
with Christ. Remember that wisdom is in
21
00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:56.400
part knowledge. Wisdom is understanding,
it's a content, it's a certain amount
22
00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:59.640
of things or truths to be known, but it's it's more than that.
23
00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:05.109
Wisdom is more than knowledge. A
brief definition of wisdom might be knowledge applied
24
00:02:06.030 --> 00:02:09.710
right. Wisdom is as an ability, you might say, to walk in
25
00:02:09.870 --> 00:02:16.620
this world according to what is right, without making mistakes, without falling into
26
00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:23.419
traps. Achieving good ends by good
means, doing it in ways that are
27
00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:30.689
efficient. We're doing things in a
way that involve good stewardship. A wise
28
00:02:30.810 --> 00:02:35.889
choices in any aspect of your life
are choices that tend to be bring blessing,
29
00:02:36.610 --> 00:02:42.530
bring joy, bring peace, these
kinds of things. When you imp
30
00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:47.439
when you apply for a job,
one of the characteristics that employer might be
31
00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:53.120
looking for you is wisdom. Is
this person somebody who knows how to make
32
00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:58.000
good decisions. When applying for a
job, you might be asking of your
33
00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:02.830
future employer. Is this employer that
is wise? Do they know how to
34
00:03:02.949 --> 00:03:07.469
treat employees fairly? Do they know
how to manage their business? Is this
35
00:03:07.629 --> 00:03:14.099
something worth engaging in? This these
questions about wisdom apply to everything in our
36
00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:15.860
lives. But one of the things
that we've been seeing as we've been studying
37
00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:21.979
the scriptures, that the all of
these questions, even these mundane ordinary questions,
38
00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:25.819
have an ultimate, a light in
which we might, in which we
39
00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:30.370
might and we must see them in
light of so to say. As I
40
00:03:30.409 --> 00:03:36.689
said at the beginning, we've been
considering how wisdom ultimately begins and ends with
41
00:03:36.849 --> 00:03:43.400
Christ. He is like the Sun. By His light the truth about our
42
00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:49.280
world and the world to come is
revealed. We know wisdom in the things
43
00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:52.840
that have been made. We come
to know the wisdom of God as it
44
00:03:52.919 --> 00:04:00.750
has been made through him. He's
also like a map, maybe even a
45
00:04:00.830 --> 00:04:04.349
treasure map, a set of directions
in which we're made to understand, through
46
00:04:04.669 --> 00:04:09.389
what Jesus has done, what our
past is, what our present is,
47
00:04:09.509 --> 00:04:12.979
what our future is. Right.
How can you make a good decision about,
48
00:04:12.979 --> 00:04:16.699
let's say, buying a car without
taking into certain an account to certain
49
00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:19.860
things. How much, how long
of life can I expect to get out
50
00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:25.170
of this car? Are Right?
What is the value, or anticipated value
51
00:04:25.290 --> 00:04:28.250
to come right? These are the
kinds of things we consider. What is
52
00:04:28.329 --> 00:04:30.529
that in the past history of this
car? Is this a car that has
53
00:04:30.569 --> 00:04:35.290
been recalled multi, multiple times?
Is this a car that has a bad
54
00:04:35.449 --> 00:04:39.199
title on it? Right, we
consider it's past, we look at its
55
00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:43.800
present. We had try to anticipate
its future. All these decisions go into
56
00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:46.040
a question. How do you buy
a car? Well, if we're willing
57
00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:50.120
to think in these terms and in
these ways on just the mundane level,
58
00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:54.990
are we all? Are we all? Are we going to ignore how all
59
00:04:55.110 --> 00:05:00.189
these things fit into an ultimate perspective
about past, present in future? Think
60
00:05:00.189 --> 00:05:05.750
about buying a car again, something
very mundane and ordinary. Jesus says,
61
00:05:06.139 --> 00:05:12.860
don't lay up your treasures here on
earth, where moth and rust and destroy,
62
00:05:12.860 --> 00:05:15.939
where thieves take away right, you
see how these why is that?
63
00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:21.050
Because ultimately, the things of heaven
are things that are lasting. So we
64
00:05:21.129 --> 00:05:24.050
have to when you buy a car, you have to buy a car,
65
00:05:24.170 --> 00:05:27.290
but you don't put your heart into
it, you don't put your soul into
66
00:05:27.290 --> 00:05:30.050
it. You don't trust it with
everything that you have, because might get
67
00:05:30.050 --> 00:05:34.720
an accident so we might take it
away from you. So this is why
68
00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:41.519
Jesus is important, even for simple
decisions, every day decisions. He tells
69
00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.560
us where our treasures ought to be, and it's to be in him.
70
00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:48.360
He teaches us about our past,
our present. Are Few future in him,
71
00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:54.870
and he does that here in this
passage. Come to me, all
72
00:05:54.990 --> 00:05:59.310
who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
73
00:06:00.629 --> 00:06:04.019
That's an amazing promise. Is there
anyone here who wouldn't raise their hand and
74
00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:09.540
say I labor and am heavy laden? Is there anyone here who could say,
75
00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:12.980
yeah, you know, that's not
really me. Everything's good for me,
76
00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:19.569
I have achieved perfect rest right anxiety
and loneliness, struggle and strife,
77
00:06:19.649 --> 00:06:26.810
these are the marks of our world, in our lives. Jesus calls out
78
00:06:26.810 --> 00:06:30.290
to the world here, when he
calls out to us, I will give
79
00:06:30.329 --> 00:06:34.079
you rest. Take your yoke upon
me and learn. Learn from me,
80
00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:39.480
like wisdom language there, for I
am gentle and lowly heart, and you
81
00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:44.759
will find rest in your souls.
So in a way this passage teaches us
82
00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:48.029
more about wisdom, because it tells
us what wisdom that we when we gain
83
00:06:48.110 --> 00:06:51.670
it through Christ, when we receive
him and the gifts that he offers.
84
00:06:53.389 --> 00:06:57.990
What are some of the blessings that
we enjoy as a result of this kind
85
00:06:58.110 --> 00:07:04.660
of wisdom? Wisdom from God,
wisdom through his son, and all,
86
00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:10.060
what we find is that all lasting
treasures are found in him. You want
87
00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:14.259
peace, it's in Jesus. You
want joy, it's in Jesus. Love,
88
00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:18.209
justice, secure, purity. It's
all in him, and these truths
89
00:07:18.250 --> 00:07:26.730
are emphasized for us here. Want
to begin by just noting the first half
90
00:07:26.769 --> 00:07:30.199
of this section and pointing out what
it talks about in terms of revelation.
91
00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:34.839
Right, so, in order to
in order to make a wise decision about
92
00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:40.480
something, you have to know something. Right a wisdom requires a certain kind
93
00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:44.910
of knowledge, and if we will
need knowledge of ultimate things. What is
94
00:07:45.069 --> 00:07:47.990
true, what is good, what
is beautiful, what is lasting and permanent,
95
00:07:48.110 --> 00:07:54.310
eternal? Well, these are things
that can only be really be revealed
96
00:07:54.629 --> 00:08:00.259
through God. But what Jesus says
here is that there's a very particular relationship
97
00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:09.060
between him and the father. Here
we are reminded that God is tri personal,
98
00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:13.329
that he is three persons, one
God in three persons, Father,
99
00:08:13.569 --> 00:08:20.689
son and Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks
of this relationship between him and the father.
100
00:08:20.730 --> 00:08:24.290
Here he says, in a prayer
to his father, Lord of Heaven
101
00:08:24.290 --> 00:08:28.199
and Earth, I thank you that
you have hidden these things from the wise
102
00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:35.440
and understanding and revealed them to little
children. Then he says, in Verse
103
00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:39.799
Twenty Seven, the All things that
belong to the father have also been given
104
00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:45.350
to him. That's why, but
one reason why, we worship Jesus as
105
00:08:45.509 --> 00:08:48.470
God. He says no one knows
the son except the father, and no
106
00:08:48.590 --> 00:08:54.429
one knows the father except the son
and anyone whom the sun chooses to reveal
107
00:08:54.470 --> 00:08:58.179
him. Then he says, come
to me, all who are labor and
108
00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:03.139
here heavy laden. So, in
other words, in order to come to
109
00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:07.940
Jesus, we have to know something
about him, but that is something that
110
00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:11.570
is revealed to us, and it's
revealed to us only by God's gracious will.
111
00:09:13.129 --> 00:09:16.570
He, Jesus, doesn't mention it
here, but I'll point out that
112
00:09:16.970 --> 00:09:20.490
Isaiah tells us that the spirit is
involved in this as well. We read
113
00:09:20.570 --> 00:09:24.120
in Isaiah Eleven, verse two,
and the spirit of the Lord shall rest
114
00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:30.240
upon him, that is Jesus,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
115
00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:33.080
spirit of counsel and might, the
spirit of knowledge and the fear of the
116
00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:37.320
Lord. So I want you to
hold you hold those things in your mind
117
00:09:37.750 --> 00:09:41.070
for a moment and think just a
little bit about the nature of wisdom and
118
00:09:41.309 --> 00:09:48.309
peace, how wisdom brings peace.
Have you ever been in a situation where
119
00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:52.139
you've said something like, I don't
really care what happens, I just want
120
00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:58.299
to know right maybe you have a
diagnosis that's coming up and you're waiting for
121
00:09:58.460 --> 00:10:01.220
test results and you say I just
want to know. If I could just
122
00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:07.769
know what the diagnosis would be,
I could rest. Have you ever been
123
00:10:07.809 --> 00:10:13.490
in this kind of situation? Or
maybe so? In this way, knowledge
124
00:10:13.889 --> 00:10:18.649
has a way of bringing peace,
calming down our anxiety to know and to
125
00:10:18.730 --> 00:10:22.080
have certain things that are predictable,
and, of course, the application of
126
00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:28.240
knowledge and wisdom is also a peaceful
kind of thing. Consider the way words
127
00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:33.039
are used. Proverbs eleven says to
make an apt answer is a joy to
128
00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:37.909
a man, a word in season, how good it is. Have you
129
00:10:37.950 --> 00:10:43.830
ever had a question or a trouble
or some conflict and you go to someone
130
00:10:43.870 --> 00:10:48.789
seeking advice and they tell you I
don't really know, or they give you
131
00:10:48.870 --> 00:10:50.340
this advice that doesn't make sense.
Do you walk away from that and go
132
00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:56.019
I feel better? Of course not. Like I'm still in the same position
133
00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:58.980
I was. That was frustrating.
I didn't gain wisdom, I'm not at
134
00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:03.019
rest. But what about the opposite, which is described here in this proverb?
135
00:11:03.570 --> 00:11:07.330
To make an apt answer is a
joy to a man. Have you
136
00:11:07.370 --> 00:11:11.850
ever gone to someone worried and troubled, trying to figure out what to do,
137
00:11:11.450 --> 00:11:16.169
and then maybe it's a parent or
a mentor or friend, maybe even
138
00:11:16.210 --> 00:11:20.960
someone surprising, says to you?
Have you tried this? Have you thought
139
00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:26.279
about this? Have you seen this
website? You should talk to my friend,
140
00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:30.399
whatever it is, and you realize
instantly that it's the answer you need.
141
00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:35.190
What happens in your heart? This
sense of peace right the way wisdom,
142
00:11:35.230 --> 00:11:41.029
an apt answer and answer that is
correct and given in the right time
143
00:11:41.190 --> 00:11:43.909
and given in the right way.
It brings peace to us, it brings
144
00:11:43.950 --> 00:11:48.620
joy to us. I'm sorry,
that was proverbs fifteen twenty three, a
145
00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:54.659
similarly proverbs two thousand five hundred and
eleven. I'm says a word, fitly
146
00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:58.700
spoken, is like apples of gold
in a setting of silver's just a beautiful,
147
00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:05.090
valuable thing to know people, to
know and to have knowledge applied in
148
00:12:05.169 --> 00:12:09.610
your life is a is a great
thing. Have you ever maybe been given
149
00:12:09.809 --> 00:12:16.080
the inside track into a job or
a medical appointment or something like like that?
150
00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.840
Someone says you know the person you
should really talk to is this.
151
00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:22.279
You Go and you talk to that
person and it all sort of falls out
152
00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:28.360
wonderful, right. It's wonderful when
these kinds of things happen. Of course,
153
00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:31.110
we know the opposite, how stressful
and that the bad decision can be,
154
00:12:31.629 --> 00:12:37.590
how lack of wisdom and a need
for wisdom can be anxiety producing.
155
00:12:37.389 --> 00:12:41.789
How many of you want to raise
your hands and say living in a life
156
00:12:41.830 --> 00:12:48.779
of chaos is ideal or fun?
It's frustrating, it's terrifying, never knowing
157
00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:52.740
what's going to happen next. And
you know, we might choose to go
158
00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:58.210
on a ride, roller coaster or
something to have some unpredictability for a time,
159
00:13:00.090 --> 00:13:03.409
but there's some peace and knowing that
it's going to end right. We
160
00:13:03.490 --> 00:13:05.649
even who's that metaphor in our life? I feel like I'm on a roller
161
00:13:05.690 --> 00:13:11.330
coaster and I can't get off right. That sort of unpredictability of twisting,
162
00:13:11.450 --> 00:13:18.039
the turning, an unability to stay
steady and to feel safe. What the
163
00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:24.519
scriptures are teaching us, however,
is that any decision, apart from Christ
164
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:28.789
can never really bring us true rest. No ultimate rest, no final rest,
165
00:13:28.909 --> 00:13:39.029
no permanence. Why? Because anything
that's truly wise will be connected to
166
00:13:39.870 --> 00:13:45.379
a final thing. Right. If, going back to the car example,
167
00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:50.740
if I say hey, this is
a great car and it will only increase
168
00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:52.860
in value year after year after year, and you say, but it's a
169
00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:56.409
beat up hoond the civic, you
said no, no, trust me,
170
00:13:56.490 --> 00:14:01.009
it's going to just make you very
wealthy. Just keep hanging on to it.
171
00:14:01.690 --> 00:14:05.889
Right, it's not the the truth
that the lie here in this case
172
00:14:07.049 --> 00:14:13.320
is not connected to its final result. How much more for truly ultimate things?
173
00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.720
Right, if I tell you you
against the words of Jesu, if
174
00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:22.360
I say you know what, this
life is all there is. Store up
175
00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:28.149
everything here, treasure everything here,
make mountains of wealth, and you'll be
176
00:14:28.309 --> 00:14:31.149
okay then, because, you know
what, when you die you get to
177
00:14:31.230 --> 00:14:35.950
take all of it with you.
You get to keep it and enjoy it
178
00:14:35.149 --> 00:14:41.059
forever and ever. You get to
enjoy every potted plant you ever bought,
179
00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:48.419
every every used car you ever purchased, hopefully, in hearing those things,
180
00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:52.929
you sense an emptiness in those words
because you know it's not true. You
181
00:14:52.049 --> 00:14:56.250
know that these things that I'm sort
of saying in the hypothetical aren't connected to
182
00:14:56.370 --> 00:15:03.330
what is true. Well, what
is true, what is ultimate? Well,
183
00:15:03.450 --> 00:15:07.799
only God, only in connecting our
lives with him, can we have
184
00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:16.440
permanence, true truth, true beauty, ultimate glory and all of the things
185
00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:22.110
that we were made to desire and
to want. And true wisdom, ultimate
186
00:15:22.350 --> 00:15:28.789
life and blessing can only come from
God and being in fellowship with him.
187
00:15:30.190 --> 00:15:33.029
The problem, of course, is
that we are born into a situation in
188
00:15:33.309 --> 00:15:37.379
which our sins keep us from God. Just as Adam and Eve were sent
189
00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:43.139
out of the garden and flaming fire
was set up with angels blocking the way
190
00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:48.539
into communion with God because of their
sin, when we are born into sin,
191
00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:52.929
into sinfulness, it's the same thing
for us. God does not want,
192
00:15:54.289 --> 00:15:58.929
cannot have unholy things near him.
We are not true and beautiful and
193
00:16:00.090 --> 00:16:06.600
glorious like he is, and so
there's a distance between us. Sin Keeps
194
00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:11.679
US away from God, which means
then every decision we make, everything we
195
00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:17.559
do, even our best decisions,
never arrive at ultimate things. They never
196
00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:23.629
arrive at God and we're constantly away
from him. So then the question is,
197
00:16:23.789 --> 00:16:27.549
how can we have this communion with
God? How can we have the
198
00:16:29.029 --> 00:16:33.620
blessedness of living a life that is
orderly and in accord with ultimate and Inter
199
00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:44.259
eternal things? It's impossible unless,
of course, God himself descends to us
200
00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:51.370
and solves our problem for us right
without him, we continue to spin in
201
00:16:51.450 --> 00:16:56.129
the chaos, we continue to spin
in foolishness and sinfulness, we continue to
202
00:16:56.250 --> 00:17:03.079
spin in ignorance and lack of knowledge. What we need as sinners, as
203
00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:10.599
foolish people, is a savior who
can overcome the curse of ignorance, who
204
00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.829
can overcome the curse of foolishness,
who can make life out of death,
205
00:17:15.309 --> 00:17:23.670
blessing out of curse, order out
of chaos. And this can't happen with
206
00:17:23.829 --> 00:17:32.500
just a really clever person. We
need God. Only God, who is
207
00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:38.180
all wise, can bring us from
death and foolishness and sin to life.
208
00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:47.329
And that's what's amazing about what Jesus
says here. He says no one knows
209
00:17:47.490 --> 00:17:53.410
God. How can they? But
the sun knows the father, and of
210
00:17:53.529 --> 00:18:02.720
course so does everyone else whom the
Sun reveals at the very beginning of the
211
00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:08.599
world. We read in Genesis and
God's word the world was without form and
212
00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:15.390
void. There was a kind of
chaos, of nothingness, or it's hard
213
00:18:15.430 --> 00:18:19.869
to describe, I don't know,
but it was out of that that God
214
00:18:21.069 --> 00:18:25.349
said, that God spoke a word
and said, let there be light.
215
00:18:26.509 --> 00:18:30.539
You know, the Bible says right, it says and there was light and
216
00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:33.900
it was good and God separated the
light from the darkness and so on and
217
00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:38.099
so forth all the way through creation
until we have this world that he has
218
00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:48.289
made. Jesus, when he becomes
incarnate and comes into this world, is
219
00:18:48.410 --> 00:18:53.170
doing a similar thing, except he
is beginning the work of new creation,
220
00:18:55.410 --> 00:19:00.839
and except this time it's out of
a chaos that is sinful and wretched and
221
00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:10.150
cursed and doomed to hell. So
what does Jesus do? The father sends
222
00:19:10.190 --> 00:19:14.670
the son into this world equipped with
that spirit of wisdom and knowledge and insight
223
00:19:15.190 --> 00:19:18.509
to speak this word, this word
of the Gospel and this word of the
224
00:19:18.589 --> 00:19:23.579
cross, in which Jesus is the
good news of our salvation, in which
225
00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:29.180
Jesus goes to the Cross and he
takes all of our foolishness, all of
226
00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:33.460
our pride, all of our blindness, all of our hopelessness, our chaos,
227
00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:38.690
our poverty, our dishonor, our
shame, and he bears it all
228
00:19:38.930 --> 00:19:44.890
in his own flesh. All that
we deserved and all that we have been
229
00:19:44.930 --> 00:19:52.089
experiencing since we fell with Adam into
sin. All of the wrath of God
230
00:19:52.329 --> 00:19:57.640
that was deserved for us was poured
out on him. You know what happened?
231
00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:07.430
He died. He died the death
that we deserved. But unlike Adam,
232
00:20:08.430 --> 00:20:14.109
because Jesus was not only man but
also God, he rose from the
233
00:20:14.150 --> 00:20:21.859
dead victorious over chaos and foolishness and
dishonor and shame and guilt and sin and
234
00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:27.140
all the rest. He rose from
the dead and he took the curse which
235
00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:34.619
captures all of Adams chaos and he
makes it like nothing. He puts death
236
00:20:34.809 --> 00:20:41.049
to death. He brings order out
of chaos, life out of death,
237
00:20:41.170 --> 00:20:45.210
and he ascends into heaven and then
he ascends his spirit on all who call
238
00:20:45.329 --> 00:20:51.440
on his name. He reveals himself
in this world and he says to the
239
00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:56.119
world, come to me, all
who are heavy laid and all who labor
240
00:20:56.200 --> 00:21:00.400
and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest all the things that
241
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:04.309
you are striving for all the things
that you want, for the peace that
242
00:21:04.430 --> 00:21:11.029
you want in your life. I
will give it to you and it is
243
00:21:11.150 --> 00:21:15.950
not hard. You don't have to
scramble and climb and work your way out
244
00:21:15.990 --> 00:21:21.339
of the curse. You don't have
to prove yourself to God as being a
245
00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:27.980
great conqueror and victorious over death.
Know, his burden is easy, his
246
00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:36.450
yoke is light, because he's gentle, because he's lowly in heart, because
247
00:21:36.490 --> 00:21:44.529
he has descended to us because we
could not ascend to him. He says,
248
00:21:45.970 --> 00:21:52.039
come to me, learn from me
and you will find rest for your
249
00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:59.279
souls. We cannot have this communion
with God apart from him, but how
250
00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:04.789
easily we can have it in him. The fool says, the proverbs tells
251
00:22:04.829 --> 00:22:08.470
us. The fool says in his
heart there is no god. The fool
252
00:22:08.509 --> 00:22:17.220
attaches himself to himself and makes him
self God and relies on his corrupt nature
253
00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:22.339
and the cursed world and in permanence
and vanity and chaos to see him through
254
00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:26.460
this life. Right, a foolish
thing. The wise man, however,
255
00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:32.289
I tell you, the wise man
builds his life, builds his house on
256
00:22:32.369 --> 00:22:38.410
the very words of God and he
lives in that house safely, securely,
257
00:22:40.369 --> 00:22:51.000
and it rest because the foundation is
Jesus, Christ himself. We all experience
258
00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:56.160
life under the son of this world, the frustrating vanity of it. Right
259
00:22:56.279 --> 00:23:02.390
you work really hard to build up, you know, an emergency savings fund,
260
00:23:02.430 --> 00:23:07.829
and then all of a sudden it's
gone. You you work really hard
261
00:23:07.910 --> 00:23:11.069
all your life to build up maybe
even a great inheritance, and you pass
262
00:23:11.069 --> 00:23:18.220
it on to your children and then
they squander it. You beat cancer,
263
00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:22.700
you work really hard, you spent
all kinds of money, you sacrifice all
264
00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:26.180
kinds of things. You're finally free
of it and then it comes back.
265
00:23:27.329 --> 00:23:32.769
You learn a truth, but it's
too late. The examples pile up more
266
00:23:32.849 --> 00:23:37.170
and more, again and again.
Go read Ecclesiastes if you want some comfort
267
00:23:37.289 --> 00:23:41.759
in knowing what this life is,
is like, and that your experience of
268
00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:48.200
it is is not unique. Those
who build their lives on the things of
269
00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:56.269
this world, on the vanity and
curse of this world, will find frustration.
270
00:23:57.109 --> 00:24:00.549
But those who build their lives on
the foundation of Christ will find something
271
00:24:00.630 --> 00:24:07.069
that is strong. You will find
something that is eternal. If you come
272
00:24:07.109 --> 00:24:11.019
unto Jesus, if you learn from
him, if you live your life from
273
00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:18.740
him. He will give you rest. Psalm one hundred and sixteen. I'll
274
00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:25.170
finish with this verse from some one
Sixteen Eight. The Salma says, for
275
00:24:25.289 --> 00:24:32.730
you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet
276
00:24:33.049 --> 00:24:37.450
from stumbling. I will walk before
the Lord in the land of the living.
277
00:24:37.529 --> 00:24:40.279
Let us pray
