14 Blind Men and 3 Sons — Luke 18-19

0:00 Alright. So before we get started, okay, I have to settle debate. It may not have been a debate, but I made it a debate and now I'm settling it. Okay? So here's the first thing, alright?

0:11 Is that this... We're reading about the story of Zacchaeus today and there's debate that was he a little person or was he just short? Alright. And I'm saying, you know, as we look at a sycamore tree, an example of a sycamore tree, there's no way that he could have been a little person. Alright?

0:29 So it's settled, covered, done. Alright? Well there's my joke for the introduction, know, that's just what I do. Alright, well before we, before we pray, as we start in Luke 18 verse 31, we will we'll give thanks. So let's give thanks and pray.

0:52 Heavenly father, Lord, thank you for your son. Thank you for your your holy and precious word, Lord, that that you've given to us, Lord, and to reveal your son to us. And and we thank you for just the the amazing savior he is, Lord. And as we as the song said, lord, to come and behold him and to worship him lord, the the one and only god. We thank you for him and for everything that he's done for us and I ask you lord that as we open your word and read, Lord that only only that what you would have for the body would be presented before you Lord and that you would be glorified.

1:31 In Jesus name, amen. Alright. So the first passage that we're observing this morning, we have, as you saw in the title, 14 blind men and three sons. So the 14 blind men, we had the 12 blind disciples that we'll see here. We had the blind beggar and also blind Zacchaeus that he was too short to see over the crowd.

1:53 And so 14 blind men and three sons, we're observing the son of man, the son of Abraham, and the son of David. Okay and what these three things mean and what we can get out of the scripture here that the Lord has for us. And so starting off in verse 31 of chapter 18. So here we have, you know, the Lord Jesus, as John finished off the message last week, the rich young ruler, right, he turned away because he could not give up his goods. And so the Lord then took the 12 disciples aside and I don't know if this was exactly directly after this happened or it could have been later on and while they were traveling, but it says in verse 31, then he took the 12 disciples aside and said to them, behold we're going up to Jerusalem and all the things that are written by the prophets concerning the son of man will be accomplished.

2:44 For he will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge him and kill him and the third day he will rise again. But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them because they did not know the things which were spoken. And so we won't be addressing just yet the prophecies and the meaning of son of man, what Jesus is referring to here.

3:11 Right now we're going to focus on why did the 12 disciples not understand this. Jesus was not speaking in parables here like he did with the unbelieving Jews, but he was telling them plainly but they cannot see it. And the reason for that is because of these preconceived notions that the disciples, as we see in Daniel chapter seven, I'm sorry Daniel seven verse thirteen and fourteen. This was their idea of the son of man and they couldn't separate the son of man who is coming to to reign to the son of man who is now he's saying he's going to die on the cross, he's going to be rejected and spit upon and all these things. And so they thought we're going to come rule, like they're going to rule with Jesus.

3:51 They're going to rule with Jesus, they're going to reign with him, Jesus is going to establish his kingdom when he comes to Jerusalem. But this, so this is what they thought, right? And Daniel said it, I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him. Then to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.

4:16 His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. And so these thoughts that they had, it was blinding them because they couldn't they couldn't accept it. There's there's thought no way that Jesus was going... That this was going to happen to Jesus. And so what we can see here is the danger of preconceived notions.

4:37 And and this can happen to us as well regarding theology that when we come to the word of God, but we don't treat it as a word of God. We come to the word of God with a former belief or thought that that scripture has to say this. I believe this, so scripture has to say this. And so it's important to become to the word and and let the word of God be the word of God, First of all. And I see this so much regarding theology and my my friends at at...

5:04 My Muslim friends at Cleveland State. And there's a verse in the Quran that says they neither crucified him. They neither crucified him and he didn't die but it just seems so. Right? Regarding Disregarding all historical evidence that Jesus Christ is one of the most historically recorded figures in history and his crucifixion and resurrection is one of the most recorded events of his life.

5:28 But they have to completely ignore that because it's blinding them. And we see that with the Jews in second Corinthians chapter three. The Jews in the rejection of Jesus are every time they open the Old Testament right and read the Law of Moses, they're blinded. And so another practical application for us is that for example in the body life meeting where these preconceived notions they're poisonous and they can blind us. They can blind us in our relationships with spouse, with brothers and sisters, with brothers and sisters in Christ where we hold to a position and in refusing to look at anything any other way.

6:09 Now I'm not married yet, okay? I'm not married yet, but I know that if I held to something, held to this position disregarding truth and other things that that would probably not be very good for my relationship with my spouse. And it probably wouldn't be a good thing with anyone regardless. But, and so the thing is like I want to encourage the body as we did have our Body Life meeting last week, thought it was very encouraging that the unity and the one mindedness. Now we had different opinions and thoughts right regarding the meeting of like staying or leaving, remodel the building, things like that right.

6:46 But the thing is that if we can be of one mind and to seek the Lord and be of one mind in that, because a mind that is already made up can't receive, won't receive anything from God. And so that's just an encouragement to everyone that that I have, I personally have been encouraged by that and and maybe continue to seek the Lord in that. Going on now in verse 35, that it says here, then it happened as he was coming near Jericho. So I'm a picture person. I need I need references.

7:37 And Matthew 19 also says that Jesus went, you know, to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Now whenever beyond the Jordan is referenced in the Bible, it's it's typically referring to this area East of of the Jordan where where John was baptizing for example. And so it's possible very likely that that Jesus was was traveling along here and this is where he passed Jericho going down to Jerusalem. So this is just a little synopsis or visual of where Jesus was, what he was doing, where he was traveling. And something that I really thought was very cool because the book of John records about three or four or five instances during Jesus' ministry of him in Jerusalem.

8:22 But the book of Luke records when he was 12 years old and now when we saw in Luke chapter nine that Jesus turned his face to Jerusalem and we see the one journey that was highlighted in the book of Luke is his crucifixion and resurrection. That's his journey to Jerusalem there. And just pointing to once again this mission statement as we read later that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. So let's read verses 35 through 43 of the blind man. Then it happened as he was coming near Jericho that a certain blind man sat by the road begging and hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.

9:02 So they took him, so they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by and he cried out saying, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet but he cried out all the more, son of David, have mercy on me. So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he had come near, he asked him saying, what do you want me to do for you? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

9:30 Then Jesus said to him, receive your sight. Your faith has made you well. And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw it gave praise to God. I think this passage here is also a commentary of of this persistent widow.

9:48 This blind man by the road begging and and when he heard Jesus he said Jesus son of David have mercy on me. People were trying to quiet him and he kept on repeating it, repeating it. Jesus son of David have mercy on me. And I think this is a great example of of just the simplicity that God desires in our prayer. That that first of all this blind beggar, he says Jesus son of David.

10:13 Now we're recognizing here that this term son of David is a term given to to the divine. The Jews were looking for their Messiah, the one who the one who who is God, right, to be worshipped as God. And this son of David is prophesied that that that the Messiah was going to come through the lineage of David. And so the blind man first recognized that Jesus Christ is God. That he is the son of David.

10:38 He is the chosen and anointed one. It says in second Samuel seven sixteen, just one example of a prophecy here, Your house and kingdom will endure forever before me and your throne will be established forever. This was the Lord talking, the promise given to David. And the next recognition, the other recognition that he had was that the blind man recognized his hopeless state. He just simply said have mercy on me.

11:06 Because he recognized I can't can't do it. Right? I'm not in control, I can't do it. And the Lord brought him before him and he what do you want me to do for you? And I just think it's so cool the request of the blind beggar just pointing to that God desires God sized prayers.

11:27 No one else could restore his sight. No one else could save him. And so the blind man said my sight may be restored. I think a good example of a picture of this, William McDonald in a Disciples manual devotional gave a picture of just praying God sized prayers that God desires those things. He gave a picture of Alexander the Great that a farmer who was marrying off his daughter, a farmer went to Alexander the Great and made these requests, I want this land, I want all this money, this land, all these things.

12:00 And Alexander the Great gave it to him and his servants were like well what the heck, why'd you give him, like he asked for so much, why'd you do that? And Alexander the Great responded, he gave a request fitting for a king. And so that's what we can do in our prayers to give requests fitting for a king. And then finally when it comes to prayer and our prayer life and and to rejoice and remember, the blind man rejoiced and said that he received his sight, followed him, glorifying god, and all the people when they saw it, gave praise to god. And so we just see here that that when it comes to our own prayers, when it comes to answered prayers, God doing just amazing things in our lives to share that with people, and and to to be a witness because for example I think of things like Mr.

12:53 Gonzales and the Mexico missions. I think the most recent example where I was just awestruck by that God answers prayers and God guides and does amazing things is last year Mr. Gonzales was looking to go to Mexico but, and he's been going for twenty years by the way, right? Almost twenty years? And he said that he was just having this, he was praying about it and having these uneasy feelings.

13:18 Then God, it was really God telling him like not to go. He decided not to go and during the time that they would have been in Mexico, there was a terrible storm, mudslides, and it totally ruined every form of transportation. They would have been stuck there And it's just an amazing example of God answering prayers and what that does for us when we share the great things of the Lord together. That for example it encourages me to go before the throne of grace, right? When I hear these amazing things done it ensures me that God answers prayers, that God is powerful, He is so capable.

14:20 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there is a man named Zacchaeus who is a chief tax collector and he was rich. So a little background about Zacchaeus is that Zacchaeus being a tax collector, so tax collectors at this time as most of us know that these were people who had basically betrayed the Jews. The Romans, you know they were practicing where they were kind of hands off in their form of government at times and so they allowed the Jews to govern themselves in this way to have tax collectors. They hired Jews to be tax collectors.

14:56 Well this is a very dishonest way of living because what the tax collectors would do is that they would you know have the tax for the Romans but then they would tax additionally their own people. And so these people were looked upon as the greatest of sinners and so Zacchaeus is to be recognized as a chief tax collector and he was rich. And so he was despised, completely despised by the community. And I like us to keep in mind as we read the former passages in Luke 18 that the rich young ruler who cannot, he refused to give up his wealth right. It was his God who was keeping him from coming to the Lord and people thought you know if the rich can't be saved who can?

15:41 Right and I think it's the Holy Spirit putting including this in scripture that that the rich can be saved but they first have to be made poor. They first have to recognize their lack and their need before God. And we see just that as we see going into verse four, so he ran ahead climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was going to pass that way. So I like to look at the current condition of his heart. I think that Zacchaeus' heart here was a condition of good soil.

16:18 When we think about the parable of the soils right, we have the rocky soil, the soil and thorns, the soil by the wayside, but then the good soil, the cultivated soil that's ready to receive the word of God. And that was Zacchaeus. He ran ahead and climbed into a tree. And so a question I have is is what what could have brought about his curiosity? As we see here, Zacchaeus said that he wanted to see who Jesus was.

16:50 So he never he never met Jesus, never seen him personally. He wanted to find out more. And so what made him what made him want to find out more? You made this a little interactive here. What do you think made Zacchaeus want to find out more about who Jesus is?

17:06 Miracles. I Heard about wonder, sometimes I wonder if he heard, as we saw in Luke 18, the Pharisee and the tax collector, right? Where you know, I mean we don't know, right? But it could have been very cool if Zacchaeus heard about the tax slaughtering and thought that's me, like I'm a tax collector. Yeah.

17:32 When we think about on top of that the compassion of Jesus, the testimony of Jesus that that I think that it melted his heart right? He saw he saw what Jesus had to offer and and that made him recognize his own need. And for this for this the application to us could be that that the testimony of Jesus, our testimony amongst the world, amongst the unbelievers and and things like that, the way we conduct ourselves and and the good works that we do can melt hearts of those that are in unbelief. To recognize their lack. As Peter says to always be ready to give reason for the hope that is within you.

18:16 Because when we are living out our lives for the Lord that people are gonna see that that we're different, that there's there's something about that person and many times it's those people can recognize there's something about that person that I don't have. There's a peace about that person, there's a love about that person that I don't have and that I'm missing. And that can cause people to desire to seek the Lord in that. Titus chapter three verse eight says, This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

18:54 And so maintaining a good testimony, being diligent and intentional about good works because these good works and it's commonly said that that no one is going to care, you know largely most people are not going to care unless you show them you care. And so Zacchaeus hearing about Jesus, hearing about the compassion, the miracles, all these things he was doing, he recognized that Jesus truly does care and so and that he would come to him. And going on into verse five, and when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said to him Zacchaeus, make haste and come down for today I must stay at your house. And I just think it's a beautiful beautiful picture of that when we truly seek after Jesus that he's not going to pass us by and that a time spent with Jesus, time looking after and seeking him that he will not he will not let go. And so Jesus found him and said I must stay at your house.

20:03 And then going on, in verse six he said, so he made haste and came down and received him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained saying he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, look Lord, I give half my goods to the poor and I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation. I restore fourfold. So we see here between verse seven and verse eight, there is a...

20:31 The door essentially closes. Jesus goes to dine with Zacchaeus. We don't know what happens. We don't know exactly, but we know the result of it. That Zacchaeus came out a changed person and he came out a son of Abraham as we'll read here in a bit.

20:47 But first Zacchaeus, he said look Lord I give half my goods to the poor. The law required you know 10%. The old covenant law required 10% of goods right? But Zacchaeus going above and beyond that I give half my goods to the poor. It's a declaration that this is the change now in my life.

21:05 And if I've taken anything from anyone by false accusation I restore fourfold. I think this is a practical application of when we're saved we've made peace with God. But now it's time to make peace also with men. In Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 it says pursue peace with all people. A great example of this is my professor, I have a calculus professor and he told us his testimony.

21:35 We you know, went out to lunch with him, he told us his testimony and that when he got saved, he got saved around 20 years old, and when he got saved he said he was a delinquent and disrespectful, disobedient to his parents when he was a teenager because his parents they were going through a divorce and things like that. And so after he got saved he brought his parents together he took them and he apologized for all the wrongs that he had done all the terrible things that he had done as a teenager and the result of that that as his parents saw that, they saw that in him that they restored their vows and his parents came back together and came back to the Lord through that. And so it's just an amazing thing of just making restitutions, making peace with men. And now we're going to look at what does it mean to be a son of Abraham. As we read in verse nine it says, And Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham.

22:59 No? We'll work on it. Galatians three verse seven says this, therefore know only that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. Simple as that. Turn with me to Romans chapter four.

23:27 And I think it's very fitting this morning that that we are talking about Abraham because we're gonna we're gonna talk about Abraham and Isaac and and Abraham sacrificing his son in a bit here. Because Abraham, we see in verses three through five of Romans four it says, for what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the works are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

24:03 Going on into verse 16 it says, therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace so the promise might be sure to all the seed not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all As it as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations. And so that's what it means to be a son of Abraham, to be a spiritual son saved by grace, saved through faith, right? Because it's important to, on surface level this passage here, it seems Jesus is responding to Zacchaeus' desire to I'm gonna do these good works and so then Jesus says salvation has come. Right, that these works are coming before salvation. But that's not the truth as we know that.

24:49 But there is a relationship between works and faith, and we're gonna read that in James two. An example of Abraham is brought up so please turn with me to James chapter two of what this relationship between faith and works is. Because it's not by faith, it's not by works that we're saved. Not at all. And so why did Jesus make this make this claim that salvation has come to this house?

25:24 I was at the sing the song, know, when I'm when I'm turning Hebrews and then James, Peter, John, James. Gotta sing that every once in a while. So in James chapter two, we won't read the whole passage of of, the relationship between faith and works, But we'll start in verse 21. It says, Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect?

25:54 The scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God and was accounted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. Likewise was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as a body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. And so here's what we need to recognize in the passage when we look at Abraham, the faith of Abraham and the works working together with his faith.

26:26 That if we look in in Genesis 15 as we're reading in Genesis 22 this morning. Genesis 15, Abraham believed God and was accounted to him as righteousness. Right? That was previous to going up on the mountain and obeying God to sacrifice Isaac on the alt on on the mountain. And so Abraham, his heart was known to God.

26:47 Right? That Abraham believed God and he was accounted as righteousness. But for us, the faith of Abraham was justified before men as we saw it work out. That this faith, that genuine real faith shows shows itself in works. That that faith, that good works are an outward manifestation or revealing of an inward reality.

27:11 And so Zacchaeus, Jesus made this this declaration that yes, today salvation has come to this house because he saw and Jesus already knew the heart of Zacchaeus and I think Jesus said this for our sake that based on the evidence of these good works of this changed heart of Zacchaeus who was the most reviled of sinners beforehand. And this changed heart that yes, he truly is saved. And then going on to finish off the chapter or the passage of scripture, return with me to Luke 19. We're gonna see the essentially it's a mission statement of the Lord. And it's funny that the disciples still didn't understand this because after Jesus made this statement here in Luke nineteen ten, the disciples thought that in verse 11 you see they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

28:12 So disciples still didn't get it. They get it now. They got it they got it later, but they didn't get it here. But Luke nineteen ten, For the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. And so this journey that Jesus is making to Jerusalem and all these things that he's doing along the way is coming to this this claim here that he has that he has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

29:17 We want to break down just a few messianic prophecies of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ because as mister Morris's book, I highly recommend his book. I only have a few qualms with the author. No, I'm just kidding. But but his book, he records a 194 messianic prophecies. And so we're only gonna look at a couple of them.

29:44 Alright. So we're gonna do some some sword drills here. Alright. Someone. Alright.

29:50 Sword drill. Psalm two verses one through three. Whoever gets it first, stand up and read it please. And then. Any age restrictions?

29:59 No. No age restrictions. So Jesus here is once again stating he's gonna be delivered to the Gentiles And he also, it's prophesied of the way that he's gonna be delivered as we saw as in Psalm forty one nine says that the man who I broke bread with has turned his heel against me. I might be butchering that quote. Mister Spry, did I butcher it?

30:34 Close. Close to butchering or close to correct? Close to correct. Okay. Good.

30:41 That Judas Iscariot, that Jesus knew all along that Judas Iscariot was gonna betray them and this was prophesied from a thousand years ago. That that prophecy there, that that that Psalm written was from a thousand years ago. And going on being mocked and insulted. We're gonna turn to Psalm 22 and also Isaiah 53. Psalm 22 verses seven and eight says this, all those who see me, and this is Jesus on the cross, all those who see me ridicule me.

31:23 They shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying he trusted in the Lord. Let him rescue him. Let him deliver him since he delights in him. And then we can go on into verse seventeen and eighteen. It says or 16 through 18, for dogs have surrounded me, the congregation of the wicked has enclosed me.

31:44 They pierce my hands and my feet, I can count all my bones. They look and stare at me, they divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots. All these things were fulfilled at the cross and it's so interesting to see that or it's amazing to see obviously because it's the Holy Spirit, it's God working through David. David's saying, they pierced my hands and my feet. Oh I need to drink water, I'm sorry.

32:08 They pierced my hands and my feet. And this was before was before crucifixion was even a thing. Once again, a thousand years ago. Going on, we can read in Isaiah 50 verses five through six of scourge him and kill him. I realize I'm starting to lose my voice a little bit because I lost my voice earlier last last week and it came back but it's leaving me again.

32:44 Maybe I should recognize I have a microphone I shouldn't be yelling into the mic. So Isaiah 50 verses five through six says this, the Lord God has opened my ear and I was not rebellious nor did I turn away. I gave my back to those who struck me and my cheeks to those who plucked out the beard. I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. And we know in Isaiah 53 it says that that he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities and the chastisement of our peace was upon him and going on that by his stripes we are healed.

33:20 That Jesus was whipped, right? 39 lashes, correct? Because the Jews 41 was too much and so they went 39 just in case they miscounted. So 39 lashes that Jesus took on himself for us. And finally he rose again.

33:38 Psalm sixteen eight through 11, I'll just paraphrase a little bit of it, it says that that Jesus, it says, you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption. Now once again that Jesus predicting and stating that he will rise again. And so what was the point what was the whole point of going through all these all these prophecies and things like that because you know, we've heard them before. Right? We know them but it's once again to hammer home that like this is real.

34:10 Like that Jesus Christ, the son of God who's equal with God really came and died and rose again. That someone who someone who claimed all these things thousands of years ago are pointing to me. And then he says, I will I will die this death and I will rise again, and he did it. I don't think there's anyone else in the world who's been able to claim that, has there? I don't think so.

34:35 And so when Jesus claims that once again, and and now the the future prophecies have yet to be fulfilled, right, that that he's going to take us, he's gonna take us, right, as as mister, as Doug Torak calls the capture, not the rapture. The capture that we're gonna be taken up. That's the next promise. We're gonna be taken up and then he's gonna return with his saints and he says, I go to prepare a place for you and someone who has claimed to die, that he will die and rise again and does it. We can take comfort in the fact that he will do what's coming next.

35:43 One moment as I turn there. There we go. For the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. And so not only did Jesus Christ not only did Jesus Christ save, but he came to seek. And we look at the blind beggar and we look at Zacchaeus that the blind beggar, a blind man on the road despised, well I wouldn't say he was despised but just overlooked by society.

36:05 Right? He was he was lesser. He had no home. He had nothing and Jesus Christ it says it says, he stood still. That Jesus Christ halted his journey for this blind man and brought him to him.

36:20 And we look at Zacchaeus who being treated, being looked upon as we see in verse seven of Luke 19. But when they saw it, they all complained saying he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner. These people deemed him unworthy. Right? Unworthy of the attention of Jesus, the presence of Jesus.

36:41 But Jesus, now this is the only time recorded in scripture in the gospels that Jesus Christ invited himself over to someone's house. And so Jesus Christ invited himself over to Zacchaeus, the chief, like the chief tax collector. What? And so once again, I'd like to encourage everyone to see people the way that Jesus sees them. Looking at the passage right, they try to quiet the blind beggar.

37:11 They complained that Jesus spent time with the sinner. But Jesus we see here doesn't overlook them and that he has compassion for them and he seeks them. To seek and to save. That Jesus Christ is the only one that that can save. I like the shirts that, you know the shirts that say Jesus saves.

37:35 I wish the shirts would say only Jesus saves because people trust in in things, you know, apart from the Lord, apart from God, apart from the power of the cross, the finishing work of the cross. And that's what we need to proclaim. Because it says in in second Corinthians five that we are ambassadors for Christ and that God is pleading through through us. God's chosen to to plead through us to be reconciled to God. And so I just think in in my own in my own life where you know, we may not be looking at people, overlooking people in the sense of the blind beggar, and we may not be thinking people like someone is just, you know, that person's not worthy to be saved.

38:19 But I know that I get caught into this in the just the mundane monotony of life that it can be so easy to just walk through life without without thinking about the loss, without seeing peep... Seeing so much of the world and so many people surrounded by us that that they're going to hell. Like they're right now on their way to spend eternity in hell and away from the Lord. And we have this hope within us. We have we have this this peace with God.

38:48 And so often I find myself, find my heart to be cold. That I just truly, sometimes I just don't care. I just don't care about, I just don't care about people. And so I encourage you that if you're feeling that way also to to look to the Lord and ask him to change your heart. To help you to see people the way God sees, the way Jesus sees them.

39:13 Because Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. So the rich, the poor, the cold hearted sinners, they all have this thing, the same thing in common is that they need the savior and they're so dearly wanted by God. And we need that that we need to have that same heart attitude for others. In closing, we can turn to Acts four twelve. And then Galatians two twenty.

39:51 It says in Acts four twelve, just simply as this, nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. And in Galatians two twenty, we don't need to turn there but Paul says that as he says that he has been crucified with Christ is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And and the life I now live in the flesh, this is probably correcting me yesterday when I quoted it. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. And this is the thing that God...

40:26 And we can all say this about ourselves personally, that God loved me and gave himself for me. And so God doesn't want any to perish. He wills on none to perish, but that all should come to repentance. And he desires all to come to him. And as Jesus says, come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest for your souls.

40:49 And so Jesus Christ dearly loves you and and we also need to dearly love the lost and seek after them because this is our message now. This is our message, Luke nineteen ten, that we tell... That we can tell people that the son of man has come to seek and to save the lost. And if that's you today, that God is... God loves you.

41:14 Right? It's as simple as that. And as Paul said to the jailer, he says Paul and Silas say to the jailer after a massive earthquake came, I was reading it this morning, a massive earthquake and this jailer was about to kill himself because he, you know, the chains of Paul and Silas were undone, same with all the prisoners. All the doors were open, the chains were undone, but everyone stayed in their cells. And the jailer was about to kill himself and Paul and Silas stopped him.

41:44 And once again, this good works melting hearts, right? This jailer upon that upon that happening said, what must I do to be saved? And Paul said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. It's as simple as that. The gospel is so simple.

42:34 Lord that you have, you are the one that has saved us, that have, provided everything Lord and and you continue to sustain us and you continue to empower us and equip us Lord. We're so honored Lord that you have chosen us to to bring the gospel to the lost, to use us Lord as imperfect and pathetic as we may be sometimes Lord but with you Lord we are are strong and we are powerful and so Lord we just thank you for your son, thank you for your word that he came to seek and to save the lost and we all at one time are lost Lord and desperately needing a savior. And so, Lord, you were... You've just done all things well. And so we praise you.

43:15 We thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.