00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:24 Political Climate and Voting Encouragement

02:38 Early Christmas Decorations

04:56 Church Fall Fest Announcement

06:54 Discussion on Luke 12 and 13

11:31 Encouragement in the Face of Suffering

12:03 The Parable of the Rich Fool

12:48 Materialism and Its Dangers

14:03 Battling Anxiety with Faith

16:06 Be Ready for Christ's Return

17:57 The Call to Repentance

19:10 Healing and Spiritual Warfare

21:45 The Narrow Way and Discipleship

24:10 Lament for Jerusalem

25:11 Concluding Prayer and Reflections

Hey, everybody.

2

Welcome to Saturday's edition

of the daily Bible podcast.

3

Hello.

4

Uh, did you hold on,

say, say something again.

5

Hello.

6

Hello, there, there he is.

7

He was muted everybody.

8

So, uh, When I'm not talking.

9

So.

10

I can drink and cough and do

all the things I need to do

11

without you hearing tap dance.

12

He wears tap shoes in

the office sometimes.

13

What are you doing?

14

On occasion.

15

I don't even know.

16

He actually doesn't I don't want to lie.

17

Um, yeah.

18

Uh, speaking of lying

political ads are almost over.

19

Thank God.

20

I had the election.

21

So over the 10 days, and

we will have an elected.

22

President.

23

Not in 10 days.

24

Well, we'll have an election in 10 days.

25

The general understandable.

26

No.

27

Who's in control.

28

We won't know that.

29

Yeah.

30

Yeah.

31

I mean, it's, it's crazy.

32

And it's enough that if you don't.

33

Have a confidence in a sovereign God,

it's enough to keep you up at night.

34

Yeah.

35

Um, yeah.

36

Yeah.

37

It's sleeping.

38

Yeah.

39

Yeah, same.

40

Um, yeah, it's, it's, uh, it's crazy

in, in, we'll see what happens.

41

What, what the result is, but

let me just encourage you.

42

If you're in earshot and you attend.

43

Couples Bible church in north

Texas, please go out and vote.

44

Uh, please don't throw this away

as, as it doesn't matter or anything

45

else, please get out there and do it.

46

And, uh, in Castroville.

47

It's a good thing for us to do.

48

Parents is a good thing for us, for

you to, to teach your kids about even,

49

to take your kids with you, to the

polls and have them watch you do this.

50

And explaining to them what this

is, and it's a teachable moment.

51

And.

52

Even a teachable moment to say,

look, our trust at the end of the day

53

is in God, not men, but, uh, right

now we live in a society where God

54

has placed us here and given us an

opportunity to have an influence.

55

Uh, as small as you may feel like that is.

56

On the turnout of who is

going to rule over our nation.

57

And so we're going to do our part on that.

58

And there's so much more than just

who sitting in the oval office.

59

I mean, locally, there are policies

there's there's proposals, there's things

60

on the, on the docket that are important

for us to wear weigh in on as Christians.

61

And so please.

62

Uh, please get out there and please vote.

63

It's important for us to do that.

64

And again, as we said before,

vote, according to the convictions

65

that you have as a Christian.

66

Vote, according to the

principles that you would.

67

Uh, own as a believer in Christ and

say, these are important things for

68

me to, to, uh, abide by and, and cast

your vote and feel good about it at

69

the end of the day when you do so.

70

Uh, there are no perfect candidates.

71

You're never going to God is the standard.

72

When you stand before Christ is not.

73

Hey, did you vote for the sinless one?

74

Um, because Jesus is not running for the

president of the United States, contrary

75

to the yard signs that we've seen in

some yards that say Jesus for president.

76

Um, that's not what he's here to do.

77

And, uh, we, we you're left with the

candidates that we have and we can cast a

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vote that we feel like is going to be best

for the gospel and best for the church

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and best for the protection of life.

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And then we can go home and feel

good about it at the end of the day.

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And trust that God's got a plan.

82

Yep.

83

One of the plans that got affected 2000

years ago, we're going to celebrate

84

in a couple months and my neighbors

are really eager to begin celebrating.

85

Do you know what I'm talking about?

86

Christmas?

87

Yes.

88

Do they have the lights up?

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They do.

90

Yep.

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As of, I mean, I think

last night was their.

92

First night.

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And just to be clear, we're recording

on October 24th, which means October 23.

94

I never.

95

Texas man.

96

There was a house.

97

Like Monday that had their lights up.

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No last week.

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Yeah.

100

I can not.

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I, this is so new to me.

102

I've never seen this in my life.

103

I mean a month and a half or

two months, two months before.

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The event, right.

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I just don't understand.

106

I mean, I think it's cool.

107

I I'm excited about it, but man,

I've never seen this before.

108

If it's done well.

109

The house that I'm thinking

about in my neighborhood.

110

They, they, they jumped the gun, they put

them up and they did this last year, too.

111

And here's the thing, man.

112

They, they pay somebody to do this.

113

Like they hire somebody

to come out and do this.

114

Yeah.

115

And it's like these, these warm,

very yellowy lights, they put up

116

around the perimeter of their house.

117

And then there, they've got

two trees in their yard.

118

One tree has the same warm yellow lights.

119

And then the, the one random,

just red literary in house.

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Red light.

121

And I, every time I drive by, I just

have to say you paid somebody to do that.

122

Like you.

123

Yeah.

124

Like, bro, we need a facility.

125

Like, yeah.

126

Hey, let me give you.

127

Yeah.

128

Tax write-off you don't get a

tax write off for your lights?

129

Well, my neighbor did it well.

130

I think he had.

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It's it's attractive, it's clean.

132

And in fairness, when I drove by last

night, coming home from student ministry.

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He already had his tree up.

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Okay.

135

His tree was in the window.

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Prominently displayed.

137

So he was, he was not joking.

138

This was a big deal for him.

139

Yeah.

140

And he, he made it happen.

141

So, yeah.

142

Good for him.

143

I've thought about it.

144

I don't know how much it costs.

145

It's probably expensive.

146

But what about the permanent lights?

147

How do you feel about that?

148

So my neighbors across

the street have that.

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And then you have lights all your long.

150

Yeah.

151

Whatever you want.

152

They don't use them all year long.

153

They sure.

154

They use them occasionally.

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Right.

156

It looks cool.

157

I think, yeah.

158

I think there's something

nostalgic about the bulbs though.

159

I don't know.

160

I mean, there's just that.

161

Let's get the app and just

change the colors and yeah.

162

Do cool patterns like on election

day, am I do red, white, and blue.

163

Yeah.

164

And there's a house in our

neighborhood that does that.

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The pastels.

166

You need to just do so many cool things

with Halloween, the purple and orange.

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Orange.

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The reformation day.

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There you go.

170

You know, one of those things.

171

So, I mean, I don't know, it's

probably, again, probably prohibitive,

172

prohibitively expensive, but I

didn't really like that idea.

173

Yeah.

174

Hey, speaking of, of, uh, Halloween

reformation day, everything all

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wrapped into that tomorrow is our

fall Fest as our church arrive.

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So tomorrow evening at our church,

which is fallen founders, classical

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academy there in Frisco, Texas.

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Um, from 47, I believe is the event.

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And, uh, this is going to be an

awesome time for candy to be.

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Uh, accumulated and mast for kiddos.

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But for us as a church, y'all.

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Uh, we, we, we often talk as

pastors about being on we'll.

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We'll talk about.

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There's not oftentimes when we're

not on, in other words, even if we're

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not the one preaching or teaching at

something, if we're there and we're

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pastor and it's a church event, like we

have to be quote-unquote on, not, not

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in a fake sense, but in the sense that

like, We need to be talking with people.

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Fellowshipping with people are

self-aware of what we're doing.

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Engage intentional with our time.

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Intentional.

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That's a good way to put it.

192

We're not going to sit in a chair in

the back of the room with our feet

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up and ignore everybody that's there.

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It's.

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Yeah.

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I told you that last time you did

that, I was like, did you shut it down?

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It's not a good look.

198

I never brought you in on chair.

199

I was surprised by that work.

200

I work hard at not.

201

Anyways church, if there's a, if there's

an event to be on at, for all of us,

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it's this, because we're going to have a

lot of people there that don't go to our

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church and this is an opportunity willing.

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Yeah.

205

God willing from what I've heard.

206

I think, you know, the, the plan is that

we're going to see quite a few visitors.

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It's an opportunity for us as a

church to put our best foot forward.

208

So that means talking with people,

uh, who you don't know, who you don't

209

recognize getting outside of our

comfort zone a little bit saying, Hey.

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Uh, glad to have you guys tonight,

you know, we're, we're so happy to

211

have you here comes Bible church.

212

We'd love for you to

join us again on Sunday.

213

Do you have a church that you go to?

214

I'm Amanda burner, right questions.

215

Um, I'm the pastor's wife, right?

216

Yeah, not.

217

If you make that mistake,

I'd give you a thumbs up.

218

Uh, at least the thumbs up, maybe

even a high five, because that

219

means you're going out of your way.

220

Right?

221

You should probably know who Amanda

is, but if you did it and you did

222

that to her, she'd be proud of you.

223

I know who my wife is, so yeah.

224

Yeah, but all that to say, church,

come ready to plug in and connect.

225

Is this for you guys?

226

Yeah.

227

It's for you guys.

228

But at the same time, kind of,

not for everybody in the church.

229

Yeah.

230

It's kind of, not for

everybody in the church.

231

It's an outreach event.

232

And so come with that mentality

and you will have an awesome time.

233

I promise you.

234

So, all right, let's jump

into our text, Luke 12 and 13.

235

Luke 12, a one through three.

236

It's interesting here because he hits

on some similar themes that the 11.

237

Uh, of the fair seat.

238

He talked about that with the

disciples when they got in the boat,

239

after the feeding of the 5,000.

240

Right.

241

And they're like, oh

no, he's mad at us then.

242

That we didn't bring any bread.

243

He's like, you guys don't get it.

244

And so he's, he's bringing

that back up here.

245

And then he says these interesting

things chilling in verses two and three.

246

He can, he's talking about the

hypocrisy of the fear sees here.

247

And so he's saying.

248

Uh, they're not who they seem to be.

249

And he says, that's going to be revealed.

250

Nothing is covered.

251

Verse two, that will not

be revealed or hidden.

252

That will not be known.

253

Therefore, whatever you've said in

the dark shall be heard in the light,

254

whatever you've whispered in private

rooms, she'll be proclaimed on the house.

255

Tops, pastor, rod.

256

Are we before we get into heaven?

257

Yes.

258

Can I have a.

259

Audio recap of our lives, where it's

going to be broadcast, everything that

260

we said to everyone that's in heaven are

the, is there going to be like a voyeur?

261

Moment of our judgment that people are

going to be listening to what we've said.

262

I think that I would qualify it

as a, I'd say a qualified yes.

263

In that I think because

God wants to commend us.

264

There will be rewards and

commendation from him.

265

There would be at a boys and girls.

266

I think there will be a way in which yes,

there is a publication of here's what,

267

here's, what pastor PJ did with his life.

268

Here are the things that, you know, he

did by my spirit, by my power for it.

269

Gloria, my name.

270

So I think that is going to be included.

271

Um, the things that are secret

that are to be revealed later

272

that are the sinful areas.

273

That one, I would have a slightly

more nuanced answer with.

274

I think there would be a

sense of our loss of a reward.

275

But not in the sense of feeling that,

that, that shame or regret that comes

276

with that because we're in heaven.

277

I don't, I don't think that

that would fit or be appropriate

278

there, but for the unbeliever.

279

I think their deeds would be, will

be, I don't know how the, I would

280

publicize if it's on your head or if

there's a projector screen somewhere.

281

I, I think that's going to be

revealed, but to what degree

282

and how he communicates it.

283

I don't know.

284

But I think for Christians,

yes, commendation, so people

285

will know what you did.

286

Yeah.

287

It's, it's.

288

It's frightening here.

289

I mean, the, the, the takeaway, the

sanctifying takeaway from this as

290

men, we need to be people of integrity

because we don't get away with sin.

291

There's no such thing as

getting away with sin.

292

Uh, long-term at least it's either

going to be revealed in life

293

or revealed in judgment and a.

294

Loss for the believer as far as loss

of reward or, you know, Punishment

295

in hell for the unbeliever.

296

Um, So, yeah, he's confronting

the hypocrisy there.

297

The Pharisees.

298

But can you solve that as

somebody who they're not talk

299

about why it's important though?

300

I mean, Uh, it's.

301

Why would God do that?

302

Oh, I would have God deliberately

say I'm going to expose the sin.

303

Here's what you, here's the

things that you committed and

304

here's the result of those things.

305

Why is that important?

306

I think it's important in the

short term and then in the now

307

for again, sanctification, because

it's, it is a sanctifying thought.

308

It helps us fear.

309

God.

310

Right.

311

And stay on the straight and

narrow because of that as best

312

we can, none of us are going to

be perfect, but as best we can.

313

To do that.

314

And then I think in the end, it

also points to the justice of God

315

that it's, it's part of what it

means that there is nothing that's

316

going to go on a count of four.

317

Right.

318

Romans two five is storing up wrath

for themselves on the day of judgment.

319

Uh, th that is going to be dealt

out for those that are lost

320

in that, that moment there.

321

And then that'll be vindicated.

322

And I think that's a big part of it is

justice is going to be put on display,

323

which again, contributes to his glory.

324

And as people will celebrate that and no

one in hell is going to look at each other

325

and say, you didn't deserve to be here.

326

Oh, why are you here?

327

Right.

328

Everyone's going to look around

and say, oh, I see why you're here.

329

The Lord is just he's righteous.

330

No one can say otherwise.

331

And I think that's going to be part of,

for us as Christians who are glorified

332

in our thinking, we're going to see that.

333

I don't know to what degree or how

that will look, but we'll see it.

334

And we're not going to say

God is wrong to do that.

335

Yeah.

336

Oh, that's a hard thought,

but a helpful one.

337

Yeah.

338

Yeah.

339

And that, that leads and transitions into

this next section, which makes sense.

340

This idea of fearing God, not men.

341

And that's verses four through

12 here in Luke, chapter 12.

342

Um, similar to Matthew 10, 28 through 31.

343

Uh, Luke 12 five fear, the one

who can cast into hell don't fear.

344

Those that can just show her the body.

345

And after that, they've got

nothing more than they can do that.

346

That's a, that's a statement.

347

That's don't fear.

348

Somebody who can kill you, like.

349

That's easy to say.

350

Um, that's, that's hard for us to live.

351

But the reason why not is because then

you get to go be with the Lord in heaven.

352

There's there's comfort after death.

353

If you're right with God, if you're

not right with God, he says that you

354

need to fear the one who, after he is

killed, has authority to cast in hell.

355

That's the terrifying thing.

356

If you're not right with God.

357

I mean, then the person that

ends your temporal life launches

358

you into an eternal life.

359

That's marked by intense

suffering without relief ever.

360

And so that's why he says, you

know, fear, God don't fear the

361

one that can just take the body.

362

Um, Um, versus, uh, 11 and 12.

363

Th there's a parallel again in,

in Matthew chapter 10 there.

364

And this is specifically the parallel

of Matthew chapter 10, where he's

365

talking about those that are sent

out and he's encouraging them.

366

He's saying you don't need to be

afraid even in the face of suffering.

367

Uh, if you acknowledge me

before men are, I'm going to

368

acknowledge you before the father.

369

And he says the holy spirit is going

to teach you in that very hour.

370

What you ought to say when you're brought

before situations to bear witness to

371

the Lord, we talked to think in Matthew

10, About the fact that that could be

372

pointing towards even the suffering

that's going to be endured by the, by

373

Israel, during the tribulation period.

374

Uh, not necessarily the suffering of the

early church or even the disciples in the

375

short-term, as he's saying these things.

376

After this, he gets to one who,

uh, who misses the point by

377

telling a story of the rich fool.

378

Uh, this is not the rich young

ruler, but the rich fool who

379

built barns filled up his barns.

380

And then rather than being generous

or rather than saying, okay,

381

look, how can I use this for good.

382

He sent a material, these barns

down and built bigger barns.

383

And, and here's an example of the Lord

pressing in, on an area that was a, an

384

area of, of a problem for some people.

385

And that is their, their

faith was in their riches.

386

Their faith was in their wealth.

387

They thought I don't need to worry

about judgment because right now my life

388

looks great right now I'm comfortable.

389

And so that's what he's saying, man.

390

You don't know when your

life is going to end.

391

And so don't pursue the idol of comfort

and success and everything else here now.

392

But fear the one who can destroy

in hell and get right with him

393

now, because you don't know when

your soul will be required for you.

394

Similar to what happens with this

man in Luke 12, 13 through 21.

395

And then as the time of the word for

us, all, we all feel the pull of saying,

396

man, I'm materialism is the way to go.

397

It's all around us.

398

It's the water that we swim in.

399

And so for most of us, I think we

would, as Christians probably say,

400

I don't think I'm materialistic.

401

I don't think I'm buying into.

402

More stuff means more happiness, but if

I could gently push back, I would say

403

we live in a culture of materialism.

404

This is the air that we breathe.

405

It's the water we swim in.

406

I mean.

407

Amazon is making bajillions

of dollars hand over fist.

408

Not because we're so conservative

with our money and because we,

409

we invest in kingdom purposes

because they're wildly successful.

410

At getting us to say, oh, click

to buy oh one click purchase.

411

Thank you very much.

412

I want it.

413

And do I get it in a day?

414

Great.

415

Or two hours?

416

Fantastic.

417

It's got to be careful with that.

418

We just have to be aware that our cultural

moment is one of easy materialism.

419

It's encouraged.

420

It's it.

421

And in many ways it's a good thing.

422

Like I order my groceries now, bro.

423

I never go shopping.

424

I have them delivered to

my door and I love that.

425

And that's not a bad thing, obviously

that's not materialism that's by

426

necessity, but it could turn into that.

427

So just be careful, you live

in a culture of materialism.

428

It's the, it's the, the

zeitgeists that we live in.

429

And so you have to hear Jesus'

words carefully and say,

430

man, I want to be careful.

431

That I'm not just trying to build my

earthly kingdom to the exclusion of

432

contributing to the eternal kingdom.

433

Yeah.

434

And, uh, then we, we transition

from there to, to verses 22 through

435

34, him talking about being anxious

and, uh, This follows out of that.

436

I think we trust our, our resources.

437

We trust in a lot of times in materialism

to take care of our needs, that we don't

438

feel anxious about things, but anxiousness

and anxiety is, are women just came back

439

from a retreat on not too long ago and

they seem remarkably unanxious they're.

440

They're so peaceful.

441

Good job Kelly.

442

Floating knocked it out

of the park on that one.

443

Um, But here he talks

about battling anxiety.

444

And so he's picked up on this in

Matthew six sermon on the Mount.

445

He talked about this as well.

446

A couple of notes here.

447

Who by being anxious can add

a single hour to his life.

448

I think that's always a sobering thought.

449

It's like, what good is all

of your worry and fear doing?

450

Um, God knows what you need.

451

You can trust him.

452

And in response rather than, than

being worried about all these

453

things seek first, his kingdom.

454

How do I do that?

455

Versus 32 through 34 by storing up

treasure there in the kingdom where

456

it's not going to rust, corrode, fail.

457

You.

458

Uh, when no one's gonna be

able to steal it from you.

459

Eh, because in the end where your treasure

is there, your heart will be also.

460

So Jesus is saying battle anxiety

by, by focusing on kingdom things.

461

Trusting that in the meantime, God's

going to take care of what you need here.

462

And now I find that so powerful.

463

What an incredible thought.

464

So.

465

Perhaps for a lot of people, the

council is going to be, look, if you're

466

anxious, just stop thinking about

the thing that makes you anxious.

467

Um, go, go for a walk or go do

this other thing, but Jesus,

468

in his wisdom says lift don't.

469

Don't just not think about anxiety.

470

It's like saying don't think

about the white elephant, right?

471

He fills the vacuum with a thing

that ought to occupy your mind space.

472

And it's not like,

where am I going to eat?

473

Where am I going to draw all those

things that we could naturally think of?

474

Those are important questions too.

475

Like, what am I going to wear?

476

Like, that's, that's a neat.

477

He instead focuses our attention

on what's going to matter most.

478

And, and has he not proven himself

faithful over and over again?

479

So I guess the idea, I love

that seeking the kingdom first.

480

Occupy your Headspace with what matters

most don't get caught up in the here and

481

the now all, I want you to be so powerful

because it's right in front of us.

482

I of course I'm anxious about that.

483

I need that thing.

484

I need to eat.

485

I need to wear clothes.

486

I need my kids to have to

have clothes to go to school.

487

Yeah, man.

488

We can get so caught up with that, that

we, we just lose sight of the big picture.

489

Yeah.

490

Yeah.

491

From here in verses 35 to 56, he

points to a reality that that disciples

492

will understand more later, but

that is that he is going to return.

493

And if that means, if he's

going to return, that means at

494

some point he's going to leave.

495

Uh, but.

496

Uh, in, in light of that,

they need to be ready.

497

They need to be ready for the

return because the, the son of

498

man Christ is coming at an hour.

499

We don't expect, we're not

going to know exactly now.

500

They're going to be signs and we can

expect it imminently in the sense that

501

we know the last thing on the prophetic.

502

Uh, timeline has been accomplished.

503

He rose from the dead to

send it back to heaven.

504

The next thing, the next thing

is going to be the rapture.

505

Um, and John says we're in the

last hour in, in first, John and

506

there's other illusions to those so

that we need to, to, to be watching

507

because it could come at any time.

508

But he's going to have, it's going

to come and they're not going to

509

be something that's going to go.

510

Okay.

511

I know for sure.

512

He's going to come seven days from now.

513

I know for sure.

514

He's going to come.

515

Uh, next year.

516

I know for sure.

517

He's going to come at

this date at this time.

518

And that's why date sending

is such a, uh, foolish errand.

519

And it's, it's a foolish Aaron for us

to fall prey to those that set dates

520

and to say, oh, well, this guy said

Jesus is going to come back here.

521

So.

522

I need to be ready then, and either

fear that or think, you know what?

523

I don't need to worry about

his return because he's not

524

going to come back until then.

525

So we need to be ready at all times.

526

And he tells the parable of the

servant, who's doing what the master

527

wanted him to do when he comes.

528

And that's the one that's

going to be blessed.

529

And that's where our mindset needs to be.

530

As well as the church has, we

await the return of Christ.

531

The chapter ends then

verses 57 through 59.

532

Uh, with the illustration of

the court of law, similar idea.

533

Ideology here.

534

He says, Hey, if, if you're going

to a judge and you know that there's

535

conflict between you and somebody

else, rather than waiting for the

536

judge to decide, do everything that

you can to reconcile with the person

537

that has an offense against you now.

538

Before it gets to the judge, because

you're going to have a better chance

539

with them than you are with the judge.

540

The judge is going to

be more harsh with you.

541

And so he compares that to our

idea of, we need to get right with

542

God through Christ before we stand

before him in judgment in the end.

543

Chapter 13 then opens up in verses one

through five with a call to repent.

544

And you've got the situation where

these two tragedies that took

545

place and the disciples say, Hey.

546

We did where they worse sinners, that,

that, that, that they, this be fell him.

547

And Jesus is saying, it's not that at all.

548

Rather everyone needs to repent because

the problem that everyone faces is sin.

549

And so if you don't, you're gonna have

an even worse fate than this because of.

550

Again, not fearing the loss of physical

life, but the loss of eternal life and

551

suffering in hell under the wrath of God.

552

Amen.

553

Versus versus 69, then the fig tree.

554

Uh, similar, I think.

555

At least in my thought, pastor,

rod, your thoughts on this too.

556

The metaphor from Isaiah five.

557

Um, here in, in, uh, in with the victory.

558

Yes.

559

I agree.

560

The vine analogy of Israel back in

Isaiah chapter five, the fishery,

561

everything was done for it.

562

And yet it didn't produce fix.

563

Yeah.

564

Well, he's still being patient though.

565

And I think that's, uh,

I think that's important.

566

Even though Israel has, is currently

pushing back and projecting him.

567

He's still saying, look,

let's give it time here.

568

Yes, sir.

569

Let it alone this year also.

570

And.

571

I'll dig around.

572

I'll try to continue he's patient with us.

573

And I think that's, uh,

that's important to say.

574

In fact, I think his patients still

extends toward Israel, even though.

575

And a national sense.

576

They missed our opportunity here.

577

He's not done with them yet.

578

Yeah.

579

Verses 10 through 17.

580

Jesus heals a woman here.

581

Now, pastor, rod, your thoughts on this,

she used described as somebody who Satan

582

had bound as disabled for 18 years.

583

So.

584

All people with

disabilities bound by state.

585

Yes.

586

Yes, 1000%.

587

Of course I'm joking.

588

That's not what I believe at all.

589

But this is where I start to

wonder I, some of the things that,

590

because we're so westerly minded,

Instead of scripturally minded.

591

I think my first go-to was like, oh, got.

592

To go to get the surgery.

593

Let's go get the diagnosis.

594

Oh, you've got spina bifida.

595

Let's make, I mean, there's, there's a

lot of things that have physical impact.

596

And of course this woman, I'm sure

she had a bed back and she couldn't

597

stand up straight and, and maybe the

doctors of her day would have said, oh,

598

you've got this thing or that thing.

599

And.

600

It probably wouldn't have been untrue.

601

But this is where I, I sometimes

just scratch my head and say,

602

well, what am I working with here?

603

And how do I know that this is

strictly only a physical malady

604

apart from a spiritual one?

605

That's the more interesting

question to me that I don't

606

really have a great answer to.

607

Yeah.

608

Do you have any thoughts on that?

609

I don't other than, you know, I think

there are probably more opportunities

610

for us to pray for people than we

do in, in physical situations and to

611

pray differently, not just to pray.

612

Hey God.

613

Uh, help the doctors to have the

right treatment for this, but maybe

614

it is to pray more of econ Satan.

615

Well, And we laugh about that, but

maybe it is to pray more of God.

616

If this is something spiritual, there's

something demonic that's going on here.

617

We want to pray that that would be

brought to light and we would know.

618

What that looks like for, for this

person to, to be freed from that.

619

And, and to ask for that, I think.

620

As, as Christians, we don't believe

that a Christian can be possessed

621

by a demon, but we do believe that

there is spiritual oppression.

622

And sometimes that's brought about

by a Christian zone doing, and

623

sometimes that's just simply spiritual

warfare happening to the person.

624

Um, and so, yeah, I think we can be

more mindful of the fact that we might

625

be doing in, in waters that are deeper

than just the physical sometimes.

626

Yeah, we should pray for those things.

627

You know, it's, it's often you're right

in our circles, thinking about Satan and

628

being bound or loosed or all those things.

629

It's such a it's it's comical.

630

But I wonder if that's part of his

strategy to make himself look so silly

631

and foolish that we, as high-minded

Bible people are like, well, we don't,

632

we don't think about that today, but

we probably should do more of that.

633

And that would look like a cautious.

634

Um, and careful per request, it asks God

to say, Lord, please make it evident.

635

If this is a spiritual thing, please

help us to see that so that we

636

can deal with it according to its

spiritual, a spiritual source, as

637

opposed to merely a physical thing.

638

Yeah.

639

I agree.

640

Yep.

641

From here in verses 18 through 21,

he deals with the mustard in 11.

642

Um, we've seen these parables

before the smallness.

643

Uh, of the mustard seed that

the little bit 11 that spreads

644

throughout the entire lump.

645

Just pointing to the growth

of the kingdom there.

646

Um, the weight of the kingdom is

the narrow way verses 22 through 30.

647

He responds to this question,

will those who are saved?

648

Be few.

649

Uh, his response is, Hey, you know what?

650

It is strive to enter by the

narrow waist drive work at that.

651

Make sure that you're pursuing that.

652

And as Christians, we would

say you are placed upon the

653

narrow way by an act of God.

654

God takes you as somebody who's

lost redeems, you saves you.

655

Regenerates you gives you the faith to

believe places you on the narrow way.

656

And then Philippians two, 12 and 13,

you strive to stay on that narrow

657

way, which is you working out your

salvation with fear and trembling.

658

And yet it's the same time.

659

It's God.

660

Who's at work within you both the

will to work for his good pleasure.

661

Uh, we're going to talk a little bit

about this, not this per se, but about

662

the Spirit's presence in her life.

663

We're talking about that tomorrow

during church and, uh, in how the spirit

664

plays a role in helping us to grow in

Christ likeness and, and is therefore

665

part of keeping us on the narrow path.

666

Um, and so one of the signs of being

a believer is that you will stay on

667

the narrow path for the long haul.

668

And it's not to say that you don't

step off from time to time and face

669

sin and have to battle sin, but.

670

But by and large the trajectory of

your life, you're not, you're not

671

doing a U-turn and you're heading

back on Broadway at any time.

672

No, and I think that's a,

that's an important factor.

673

We, we love preaching.

674

God's grace and salvation

has grace and justification.

675

That man, we can't under undersell

the call of discipleship.

676

We are constantly to be

pushing and striving.

677

I mean, scripture talks about us

like farmers who, the hardworking

678

farmer, the focus soldier, um,

he uses imagery and symbols and

679

signs that help us to understand

that the Christian life is work.

680

Yup.

681

It's work we're made for this.

682

This is how he's designed us.

683

And so to accept anything less than

that is to miss the whole point.

684

It doesn't put your

justification at risk, per se.

685

You're always saved by, by grace,

do faith in Christ, but he says for

686

those who are saved by grace through

faith, they're going to show and

687

understanding that discipleship is

forward progress in the interfaith growth.

688

And that's going to be hard work.

689

Yeah.

690

Yeah, absolutely.

691

It is.

692

Uh, notice here the appeal of the

crowds that he turns away similar

693

to Matthew seven, but different in

the sense that in Matthew seven, the

694

crowds are appealing to their work.

695

So they're saying, look,

all we've done for you.

696

Let us into heaven.

697

I hear the crowd is saying,

look at how close to you.

698

We were, we were with you.

699

We were present with you.

700

We heard your teaching.

701

So this is those that are appealing

to Christ in their proximity to

702

him for entrance into the kingdom.

703

And he says to both groups, whether

you're trusting in your works or

704

you're just trusting simply in

being close enough because you

705

attended church your whole life.

706

Hey, depart for me.

707

I never knew you.

708

It's about a genuine

repentance and faith in Christ.

709

Luke 1329, by the way, pastor,

rod there's, the Gentiles were,

710

were back on the scene there.

711

People will come, come back east in

the west and north and the south.

712

Good to be here, man.

713

I appreciate that.

714

Finally, he talks in, in the chapter about

Jerusalem verses 31 through 35 and a jury.

715

At first, somebody comes up

to him and says, Hey, you

716

need to run away from Herod.

717

Cause Herod wants to kill you.

718

Um, and, and Jesus says, look,

Here's not going to do anything.

719

Go tell that Fox.

720

This, that, and the other thing,

behold, I cast out demons for four

721

performed cures today and tomorrow.

722

Oh, that's what he's saying

is my course is not yet done.

723

It's not my hour.

724

I'm not worried about

what Herod's going to do.

725

He knows his time.

726

And so instead what he's doing is

he's lamenting for the city that

727

he's being encouraged to flee.

728

He saying, man, Jerusalem.

729

You, you kill the profits and you

stone, those who were sent to it,

730

I would have gathered your children

as a hen, gathers her brood under

731

her wings and you were not willing.

732

And so here he says, your

house is for seeking.

733

He's talking to Israel here.

734

He's saying, look, Israel.

735

You had your opportunity, the

Messiah came for you and you, you

736

did not receive him as John says.

737

And so now in, in, not in the media,

but in the Nazi distant future.

738

Yeah, and he's turning to the Gentiles.

739

So we're going to talk about,

I think it tomorrow's episode.

740

He's going to start to invite others

to the wedding feast because the

741

ones that he initially invited,

they, they didn't want to show up.

742

And so, uh, that's how

Luke chapter 13 ends.

743

Oh.

744

This is good.

745

Let's pray.

746

And then we'll wrap up this episode.

747

God, we thank you for your word.

748

We thank you for, um, your,

your plan in our life.

749

We want to be sensitive to things

like when, uh, there might be

750

spiritual oppression taking place

in the life of a family member or

751

friend, somebody in the church.

752

We don't want to see a demon behind every.

753

Every corner or behind every obstacle

that we face, but we do want to not

754

be blind to the fact that there is

spiritual warfare that takes place.

755

So help us to find that,

that, that, uh, that groove.

756

Uh, to know how to go about that, to

know how to not over spiritualize things,

757

but also to avoid the danger of under

spiritualizing things and just looking

758

to our intellect and medicine and in

all of those things, God, we want to.

759

To be effective for you in the way that

we approach things, the way that we pray,

760

the way that we think about this life.

761

So give us.

762

The, as you call him that even that

the spirit of wisdom increase our

763

wisdom through your spirit and dwelling

within us to be able to, to navigate

764

the world that you have before to

be able to stay on the narrow path.

765

As we walk this life.

766

And so we ask this in Christ's name.

767

Amen.

768

Amen.

769

I'll keep her in your Bibles tune in

again tomorrow for another episode of

770

the daily Bible podcast, get to D but.