1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,540 Some of you may have heard me tell this story before, 2 00:00:02,540 –> 00:00:04,700 but it’s one of my favorites and it gets 3 00:00:04,700 –> 00:00:08,780 to the heart of the series that we’re beginning today. 4 00:00:08,780 –> 00:00:12,940 The story is set in London, and it’s about a woman 5 00:00:12,940 –> 00:00:17,200 who at the end of a hard week’s work in the city 6 00:00:17,200 –> 00:00:19,740 was looking forward to spending the weekend 7 00:00:19,740 –> 00:00:22,180 with friends in the countryside. 8 00:00:23,059 –> 00:00:25,820 She came out from her office in the city, 9 00:00:25,820 –> 00:00:28,340 threw her bag into the back of her car, 10 00:00:28,340 –> 00:00:29,740 and proceeded to make her way 11 00:00:30,379 –> 00:00:34,320 through the London traffic towards the Open Road 12 00:00:34,320 –> 00:00:36,560 out into the country. 13 00:00:36,560 –> 00:00:38,500 The traffic was moving, of course, slowly 14 00:00:38,500 –> 00:00:41,880 as it tends to do at the beginning of a holiday weekend, 15 00:00:41,880 –> 00:00:44,540 and it was fully an hour later 16 00:00:44,540 –> 00:00:49,400 that she was ready to get onto the open road. 17 00:00:49,400 –> 00:00:52,380 She accelerated down the slip road 18 00:00:52,380 –> 00:00:55,340 and then a moment too late 19 00:00:55,340 –> 00:00:58,740 saw a moving black object. 20 00:00:58,740 –> 00:01:00,360 She tried to swerve, 21 00:01:00,360 –> 00:01:02,980 but there was a great thud under the wheel 22 00:01:02,980 –> 00:01:04,239 and she stopped. 23 00:01:04,239 –> 00:01:07,699 The car got out and there was a cat 24 00:01:07,699 –> 00:01:11,580 that had crossed the road for the tenth time. 25 00:01:13,419 –> 00:01:17,300 She laid this unfortunate creature 26 00:01:17,300 –> 00:01:18,519 at the side of the road, 27 00:01:18,519 –> 00:01:21,699 and then after a few moments recovering her composure 28 00:01:21,699 –> 00:01:23,139 from the upset of the incident, 29 00:01:23,139 –> 00:01:25,959 she returned to her car. 30 00:01:25,959 –> 00:01:27,779 Driving onto the motorway, 31 00:01:27,779 –> 00:01:30,080 she turned on the radio and tried to put behind 32 00:01:30,080 –> 00:01:31,660 her what had just happened. 33 00:01:32,580 –> 00:01:34,559 About a mile up the road, 34 00:01:34,559 –> 00:01:36,779 she became aware of headlamps 35 00:01:36,779 –> 00:01:39,739 that were flashing in her mirror. 36 00:01:39,739 –> 00:01:43,440 She tried to let the vehicle pass her, 37 00:01:43,440 –> 00:01:45,599 but the driver behind showed absolutely 38 00:01:45,599 –> 00:01:47,779 no interest in passing. 39 00:01:47,779 –> 00:01:49,839 The dazzle continued in her mirror 40 00:01:49,839 –> 00:01:52,000 and it began to make her feel uncomfortable, 41 00:01:52,000 –> 00:01:55,480 so she decided to speed up and put some distance 42 00:01:55,860 –> 00:01:57,959 between herself and the vehicle behind. 43 00:01:58,820 –> 00:02:01,559 It was a large black van 44 00:02:02,440 –> 00:02:05,059 and there seemed to be a young man at the wheel 45 00:02:05,059 –> 00:02:08,419 and he seemed to be pointing at her furiously. 46 00:02:09,660 –> 00:02:11,500 Ahead there was a roundabout. 47 00:02:11,500 –> 00:02:13,759 This is a British story, you understand, 48 00:02:13,759 –> 00:02:16,720 and cars were slowing up. 49 00:02:16,720 –> 00:02:20,039 She managed to slip lanes and to get over quickly 50 00:02:20,039 –> 00:02:22,160 and then settled back in relief 51 00:02:22,160 –> 00:02:24,080 that this was now behind her, 52 00:02:24,440 –> 00:02:26,639 but a few seconds later to her horror, 53 00:02:26,639 –> 00:02:28,720 the black van was in her mirror, 54 00:02:28,720 –> 00:02:33,179 now with its horn sounding and blaring behind her. 55 00:02:33,179 –> 00:02:37,559 She slowed down, the black van slowed down. 56 00:02:37,559 –> 00:02:41,000 She speeded up, the black van speeded up. 57 00:02:41,000 –> 00:02:42,660 She didn’t know what to do next. 58 00:02:43,880 –> 00:02:46,399 She moved into the outside lane 59 00:02:46,399 –> 00:02:49,639 and the black van followed so close to her bumper 60 00:02:49,639 –> 00:02:52,279 that if there had been any variation in her speed 61 00:02:52,320 –> 00:02:53,539 at that point she was certain 62 00:02:53,539 –> 00:02:54,960 there would have been an accident. 63 00:02:54,960 –> 00:02:57,520 She took the car to over 100 miles an hour. 64 00:02:57,520 –> 00:03:00,000 She simply couldn’t shake him off. 65 00:03:01,279 –> 00:03:04,279 She turned the headlights of our own car on full beam, 66 00:03:04,279 –> 00:03:06,020 began blaring her own horn. 67 00:03:06,020 –> 00:03:09,000 “‘If only the police would stop me for speeding now!’ 68 00:03:09,000 –> 00:03:12,759 she thought, “‘And come to my rescue!’ 69 00:03:12,759 –> 00:03:14,460 She swerved into the middle lane 70 00:03:14,460 –> 00:03:17,119 and as she did, the black van drew level with her 71 00:03:17,119 –> 00:03:20,399 and again it seemed that the man who was driving 72 00:03:20,419 –> 00:03:22,639 was pointing at her furiously. 73 00:03:25,279 –> 00:03:26,839 Then she remembered something that made her 74 00:03:26,839 –> 00:03:28,759 feel absolutely sick in her stomach. 75 00:03:30,279 –> 00:03:34,880 Some weeks earlier, there had been a murder 76 00:03:34,880 –> 00:03:38,000 that had taken place on that same stretch of road. 77 00:03:39,360 –> 00:03:41,279 A woman driver had been attacked 78 00:03:41,279 –> 00:03:43,779 and her body had been left by the roadside. 79 00:03:45,000 –> 00:03:47,960 There had been signs on the road asking for information 80 00:03:47,960 –> 00:03:49,419 to be given to the police. 81 00:03:50,940 –> 00:03:55,600 There were 10 miles to go until she reached the exit 82 00:03:55,600 –> 00:03:58,520 that was close to the farm where her friends lived. 83 00:03:59,520 –> 00:04:01,440 She decided that she would put her foot 84 00:04:01,440 –> 00:04:03,279 to the floor, as it were. 85 00:04:03,279 –> 00:04:05,220 She knew what she must do but it would take 86 00:04:05,220 –> 00:04:07,360 split-second timing. 87 00:04:07,360 –> 00:04:08,919 She remained in the outside lane 88 00:04:08,919 –> 00:04:10,600 until the last possible moment 89 00:04:10,600 –> 00:04:13,699 and then sweared violently across the road 90 00:04:13,699 –> 00:04:16,119 and onto the exit, up the exit 91 00:04:16,119 –> 00:04:17,559 and as she glanced in her mirror, 92 00:04:17,739 –> 00:04:19,359 she could see that sure enough the black van 93 00:04:19,359 –> 00:04:21,899 was ploughing across the grass verge 94 00:04:21,899 –> 00:04:24,380 and joining the exit to follow her. 95 00:04:25,459 –> 00:04:27,000 Clearly nothing was going to 96 00:04:27,000 –> 00:04:29,200 stop this man who was pursuing her 97 00:04:29,200 –> 00:04:31,059 and she realised that her only hope 98 00:04:31,059 –> 00:04:32,320 was to reach the farm. 99 00:04:32,320 –> 00:04:34,739 The farm was now a mile down this 100 00:04:34,739 –> 00:04:37,359 twisting country lane. 101 00:04:37,359 –> 00:04:39,279 She wasn’t used to driving at speed 102 00:04:39,279 –> 00:04:42,239 on such narrow roads but in fear for her life, 103 00:04:42,239 –> 00:04:43,820 she knew that she had no choice, 104 00:04:43,820 –> 00:04:46,279 “‘I have to make it to the farm,’ she thought 105 00:04:46,399 –> 00:04:47,600 and she steeled herself, 106 00:04:47,600 –> 00:04:49,339 “‘Come on, come on!’ 107 00:04:50,920 –> 00:04:52,480 but for all her speed, the black van 108 00:04:52,480 –> 00:04:54,700 was never more than a few yards behind 109 00:04:54,700 –> 00:04:56,279 and then a thought occurred to her. 110 00:04:56,279 –> 00:04:59,399 What if her friends weren’t home in the farmhouse? 111 00:05:00,279 –> 00:05:02,299 Then, she remembered that there was a 112 00:05:02,299 –> 00:05:05,880 wooden gate across the entrance to the farmhouse? 113 00:05:05,880 –> 00:05:09,140 What if the gate was closed? 114 00:05:10,720 –> 00:05:12,959 She continued towards the entrance 115 00:05:12,959 –> 00:05:14,760 and sure enough, as she arrived there, 116 00:05:14,760 –> 00:05:18,299 the five bar farm gate was closed. 117 00:05:18,299 –> 00:05:20,019 She put her foot on the break, 118 00:05:20,019 –> 00:05:22,200 she skidded through the gate, 119 00:05:22,200 –> 00:05:25,579 smashing it, coming onto the gravel the other side, 120 00:05:25,579 –> 00:05:27,859 the car eventually came to a stop. 121 00:05:27,859 –> 00:05:29,640 She immediately got out. 122 00:05:29,640 –> 00:05:31,500 She ran straight towards the farmhouse, 123 00:05:31,500 –> 00:05:33,559 but as she did, the black van swerved 124 00:05:33,559 –> 00:05:34,399 round behind her 125 00:05:34,399 –> 00:05:35,899 and also skidded to a halt 126 00:05:35,899 –> 00:05:37,079 and the young man came out 127 00:05:37,079 –> 00:05:38,600 and ran straight towards her. 128 00:05:38,600 –> 00:05:39,859 She screamed 129 00:05:41,940 –> 00:05:44,480 but he kept running past her. 130 00:05:45,660 –> 00:05:47,519 Towards her car. 131 00:05:48,440 –> 00:05:50,420 He’s in the car, he said! 132 00:05:50,420 –> 00:05:52,140 He’s in the car! 133 00:05:53,600 –> 00:05:56,160 And opening the back door of the car 134 00:05:57,600 –> 00:06:00,920 he pulled out from her car 135 00:06:00,920 –> 00:06:03,119 a man who was crouched there 136 00:06:04,140 –> 00:06:08,480 holding a long bladed knife. 137 00:06:10,940 –> 00:06:13,619 I saw him get in the car 138 00:06:13,739 –> 00:06:15,880 when you got out for the cat! 139 00:06:17,079 –> 00:06:17,920 Said the man. 140 00:06:20,619 –> 00:06:22,179 What could I do? 141 00:06:24,140 –> 00:06:27,959 You just wouldn’t pull over? 142 00:06:32,459 –> 00:06:36,739 Sometimes one piece of information 143 00:06:38,579 –> 00:06:40,899 can change your whole perspective. 144 00:06:41,640 –> 00:06:46,059 Some weeks ago, just when I was reading the Scriptures, 145 00:06:46,059 –> 00:06:48,339 a little phrase just popped out at me 146 00:06:48,339 –> 00:06:50,220 that I’d never quite noticed before. 147 00:06:52,440 –> 00:06:55,940 On several occasions Jesus used three words, 148 00:06:55,940 –> 00:06:59,239 if you knew, 149 00:07:00,380 –> 00:07:03,399 and then he gave a single piece of information 150 00:07:03,399 –> 00:07:07,179 making it very clear that if his hearers knew 151 00:07:07,179 –> 00:07:11,899 this one thing it would radically transform 152 00:07:11,899 –> 00:07:16,899 their whole way of thinking and their whole way of living, 153 00:07:19,559 –> 00:07:21,140 and I want us over these weeks 154 00:07:21,140 –> 00:07:25,859 to look at four truths from the words of Jesus 155 00:07:25,859 –> 00:07:27,459 that have the power 156 00:07:27,459 –> 00:07:32,459 to transform our whole perspective on life, 157 00:07:32,779 –> 00:07:35,720 and the first of these is this little word mercy, 158 00:07:35,720 –> 00:07:38,640 and we’ll see how Jesus taught it 159 00:07:38,640 –> 00:07:41,880 from Matthew’s Gospel and chapter 12 in a moment, 160 00:07:43,380 –> 00:07:44,880 but I want just to remind you 161 00:07:44,880 –> 00:07:46,799 that the Bible makes it very clear 162 00:07:46,799 –> 00:07:49,519 that what we believe about God 163 00:07:50,839 –> 00:07:54,119 will either draw us to him, 164 00:07:54,119 –> 00:07:56,540 or it will distance us from him. 165 00:07:57,480 –> 00:08:00,239 The things that you believe about God 166 00:08:00,420 –> 00:08:05,420 will be like a rudder on the boat of your life. 167 00:08:07,260 –> 00:08:10,579 What you believe deeply in your own heart about God 168 00:08:10,579 –> 00:08:12,920 will either, like the rudder on the boat, 169 00:08:12,920 –> 00:08:15,200 incline you towards him, 170 00:08:15,200 –> 00:08:19,200 or it will incline you away from him. 171 00:08:20,420 –> 00:08:23,880 That is why the Bible places such strong emphasis 172 00:08:23,880 –> 00:08:28,880 on our minds, on what we understand, on what we believe. 173 00:08:29,700 –> 00:08:32,400 Now, of course, very often, 174 00:08:32,400 –> 00:08:34,520 when we want to see change in our lives, 175 00:08:34,520 –> 00:08:36,880 our first day of thought is about our feelings 176 00:08:36,880 –> 00:08:39,559 or about our decisions or about our behavior, you know. 177 00:08:39,559 –> 00:08:41,059 Let’s change a few habits, 178 00:08:41,059 –> 00:08:42,840 let’s try and feel a little bit better 179 00:08:42,840 –> 00:08:44,820 in one way or another. 180 00:08:44,820 –> 00:08:46,440 But the Bible makes it very clear 181 00:08:46,440 –> 00:08:50,280 that if there is to be fundamental and lasting change 182 00:08:50,280 –> 00:08:53,919 in any person’s life, the beginning point 183 00:08:53,960 –> 00:08:58,960 of it will be a fundamental transformation 184 00:08:59,080 –> 00:09:02,419 in the way that you think. 185 00:09:02,419 –> 00:09:04,119 The apostle Paul makes this very clear 186 00:09:04,119 –> 00:09:06,700 in Romans chapter 12 and verse one. 187 00:09:06,700 –> 00:09:09,239 Be transformed, he says, 188 00:09:09,239 –> 00:09:10,780 this is the way you’re gonna be changed, 189 00:09:10,780 –> 00:09:15,780 be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 190 00:09:18,140 –> 00:09:22,500 Jesus put it this way, you will know the truth 191 00:09:22,520 –> 00:09:25,960 and the truth will set you free. 192 00:09:25,960 –> 00:09:27,799 In other words, there are certain things 193 00:09:27,799 –> 00:09:30,119 that God wants you to know. 194 00:09:30,119 –> 00:09:33,840 And if you can understand these fundamental things 195 00:09:33,840 –> 00:09:36,039 that God wants you to know, 196 00:09:36,039 –> 00:09:39,900 then like changing the angle of the rudder on the boat, 197 00:09:39,900 –> 00:09:43,380 they will change the orientation of your life. 198 00:09:43,380 –> 00:09:45,000 They will eventually work their way 199 00:09:45,000 –> 00:09:47,159 through to a difference in your experience 200 00:09:47,159 –> 00:09:48,940 and a difference in your behavior, 201 00:09:48,940 –> 00:09:52,880 but the transformation starts in the deep places 202 00:09:52,880 –> 00:09:57,640 of the mind where we cherish our thoughts about God. 203 00:10:00,419 –> 00:10:05,419 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 204 00:10:08,000 –> 00:10:10,299 That’s why the entrance of God’s Word 205 00:10:10,299 –> 00:10:11,659 into our minds is so important. 206 00:10:11,659 –> 00:10:13,979 That’s why we have the Bible being taught. 207 00:10:13,979 –> 00:10:16,520 That’s why we encourage the reading of the Bible, 208 00:10:17,000 –> 00:10:21,559 because the world is also bombarding my mind. 209 00:10:22,679 –> 00:10:24,179 And it’s bombarding my mind 210 00:10:24,179 –> 00:10:27,219 with an altogether different view of what life is about. 211 00:10:27,219 –> 00:10:31,780 And I’ll tell you, do you know the most subversive 212 00:10:31,780 –> 00:10:36,359 programming on television that I watch? 213 00:10:38,780 –> 00:10:41,460 The adverts, I really mean that. 214 00:10:41,659 –> 00:10:42,239 I really mean that. 215 00:10:44,239 –> 00:10:46,940 The adverts are constantly telling me 216 00:10:46,960 –> 00:10:49,400 that I’m the most important person in the world. 217 00:10:49,400 –> 00:10:52,140 Maybe they’ve told that to you as well. 218 00:10:52,140 –> 00:10:55,440 I kind of enjoy lampooning them. 219 00:10:55,440 –> 00:10:57,500 You know, we just, when we hear adverts 220 00:10:57,500 –> 00:10:59,340 we repeat lines that have just been said 221 00:10:59,340 –> 00:11:00,900 to show how ridiculous they are. 222 00:11:00,900 –> 00:11:04,440 Do you know, I’m worth it, dear, I say to my wife. 223 00:11:04,440 –> 00:11:07,299 Do you know that I deserve it. 224 00:11:09,239 –> 00:11:11,440 But of course if I believe 225 00:11:12,320 –> 00:11:14,419 that message and it goes deep into my mind 226 00:11:14,419 –> 00:11:16,280 that I’m the most important person in the world, 227 00:11:16,280 –> 00:11:19,239 it will be impossible for me to live a Christian life. 228 00:11:20,820 –> 00:11:23,580 Because the Christian life begins with the discovery 229 00:11:23,580 –> 00:11:26,739 that God is the most important person in the world 230 00:11:26,739 –> 00:11:28,840 and that I therefore must stop asking 231 00:11:28,840 –> 00:11:30,979 the fundamental question, what do I want to do, 232 00:11:30,979 –> 00:11:33,820 and start asking the question, what does he want me to do? 233 00:11:35,979 –> 00:11:40,979 Now transformation begins in the deep places of the mind. 234 00:11:41,059 –> 00:11:45,979 So let’s open our Bible in Matthew’s gospel and chapter 12 235 00:11:45,979 –> 00:11:48,099 and the story of this particular day 236 00:11:48,099 –> 00:11:50,659 in the life of Jesus was a very simple one. 237 00:11:50,659 –> 00:11:52,979 He had been walking through the cornfields 238 00:11:52,979 –> 00:11:54,940 with his disciples on the Sabbath day 239 00:11:54,940 –> 00:11:59,080 and the disciples had pulled some corn and eaten it. 240 00:11:59,080 –> 00:12:00,700 There was absolutely nothing wrong with that. 241 00:12:00,700 –> 00:12:02,539 In fact, the old testament law, by the way, 242 00:12:02,539 –> 00:12:05,299 actually preserved the right of an individual 243 00:12:05,299 –> 00:12:08,419 walking through fields to pull some ears of corn 244 00:12:08,419 –> 00:12:10,460 from the edge of them. 245 00:12:10,460 –> 00:12:13,219 The objection that the Pharisees had 246 00:12:13,219 –> 00:12:14,679 to what the disciples did was not 247 00:12:14,679 –> 00:12:16,520 that they ate some of the corn, 248 00:12:16,520 –> 00:12:21,219 but that they did it on the Sabbath day. 249 00:12:21,219 –> 00:12:22,580 Now, God’s fourth commandment, 250 00:12:22,580 –> 00:12:23,419 of course, says, 251 00:12:23,419 –> 00:12:26,260 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 252 00:12:26,260 –> 00:12:29,020 Six days, you shall do your labor and do all your work 253 00:12:29,020 –> 00:12:32,159 and on the seventh day, it’s a Sabbath day to the Lord 254 00:12:32,159 –> 00:12:35,280 and you shall not do any work. 255 00:12:35,280 –> 00:12:40,280 Now, the Pharisees felt that this law had to be defined 256 00:12:41,239 –> 00:12:45,940 and so they developed 39 basic activities 257 00:12:45,940 –> 00:12:48,200 that they classified as work. 258 00:12:48,200 –> 00:12:50,780 Which included reaping your fields, 259 00:12:50,780 –> 00:12:52,719 threshing your corn, 260 00:12:52,719 –> 00:12:55,940 winnowing and preparing a meal. 261 00:12:55,940 –> 00:12:59,200 They were among the 39 activities, 262 00:12:59,200 –> 00:13:01,619 but then even the activities themselves 263 00:13:01,619 –> 00:13:02,940 needed further definition. 264 00:13:02,940 –> 00:13:07,119 For example, you were not to carry a burden on the Sabbath. 265 00:13:07,119 –> 00:13:08,440 Well, what’s a burden? 266 00:13:08,440 –> 00:13:11,239 How heavy is a weight before it becomes a burden? 267 00:13:11,239 –> 00:13:12,880 Well, they defined it in this way. 268 00:13:12,880 –> 00:13:17,719 The weight of two dried figs. 269 00:13:17,719 –> 00:13:21,960 The pharisees included in their definition of work 270 00:13:21,960 –> 00:13:23,940 even thinking about work. 271 00:13:23,940 –> 00:13:25,539 So don’t even think about it. 272 00:13:28,320 –> 00:13:30,760 Don’t even plan your work. 273 00:13:32,119 –> 00:13:35,020 Now when the pharisees saw Jesus’ disciples 274 00:13:35,020 –> 00:13:36,599 pulling these ears of corn, 275 00:13:36,619 –> 00:13:38,359 they immediately realized that 276 00:13:38,359 –> 00:13:40,679 according to their particular interpretation, 277 00:13:40,679 –> 00:13:43,159 this was in fact reaping. 278 00:13:43,159 –> 00:13:44,280 They pulled the corn. 279 00:13:44,280 –> 00:13:45,640 They were reaping it. 280 00:13:45,640 –> 00:13:47,880 And then, my goodness, they rubbed it in their hands. 281 00:13:47,880 –> 00:13:48,719 What’s that? 282 00:13:48,719 –> 00:13:50,159 Well, that’s threshing it, isn’t it? 283 00:13:50,159 –> 00:13:52,820 Then they threw away the chaff. 284 00:13:52,820 –> 00:13:54,320 Well, that’s winnowing it. 285 00:13:54,320 –> 00:13:55,599 And then they ate it. 286 00:13:55,599 –> 00:13:58,440 Well, that’s, by definition, preparing meal, obviously. 287 00:14:00,280 –> 00:14:03,059 And they did the whole thing on the sabbath. 288 00:14:03,059 –> 00:14:04,460 So they say, verse two, 289 00:14:04,500 –> 00:14:07,340 look, Jesus, your disciples are doing 290 00:14:07,340 –> 00:14:12,039 what is unlawful on the sabbath. 291 00:14:12,039 –> 00:14:15,500 Now, by the way, it is all of us, 292 00:14:15,500 –> 00:14:18,320 as we try and relate this to our one day and seven. 293 00:14:19,340 –> 00:14:21,739 All of us have to make decisions about what we will 294 00:14:21,739 –> 00:14:25,059 and what we won’t do on the Lord’s day. 295 00:14:26,260 –> 00:14:28,979 The great, great error of the Pharisees 296 00:14:28,979 –> 00:14:30,859 was that they turned 297 00:14:31,859 –> 00:14:35,859 their particular commentary on the Law of God 298 00:14:35,859 –> 00:14:37,299 into the Law of God. 299 00:14:38,140 –> 00:14:41,719 In other words, they confused their own personal opinions 300 00:14:42,979 –> 00:14:44,580 with what God had actually said, 301 00:14:44,580 –> 00:14:46,340 they couldn’t distinguish the two. 302 00:14:47,460 –> 00:14:49,020 In our congregation here this morning, 303 00:14:49,020 –> 00:14:50,619 people will have very different views 304 00:14:50,619 –> 00:14:55,619 about what is appropriate on the Lord’s Day. 305 00:14:55,659 –> 00:15:00,239 And we’re talking here about an area of personal conscience 306 00:15:00,340 –> 00:15:01,799 and individual liberty. 307 00:15:01,799 –> 00:15:03,559 And if we ever change that, 308 00:15:03,559 –> 00:15:05,679 if we ever have a position where from the pulpit 309 00:15:05,679 –> 00:15:08,979 there is some dictum that is put out 310 00:15:08,979 –> 00:15:11,119 as to what are can and can’t do on a Sunday, 311 00:15:11,119 –> 00:15:12,700 we get back into Pharisaism, 312 00:15:13,820 –> 00:15:17,320 which confuses an individual’s personal opinion 313 00:15:18,539 –> 00:15:19,960 with the Law of God. 314 00:15:19,960 –> 00:15:21,320 That was what the Pharisees did. 315 00:15:21,320 –> 00:15:23,280 And they were the kind of people who felt 316 00:15:23,280 –> 00:15:27,400 that they almost had to be imposing their particular line, 317 00:15:27,400 –> 00:15:30,000 their particular spin on things, 318 00:15:30,119 –> 00:15:34,280 their particular applications on everybody else. 319 00:15:35,320 –> 00:15:37,400 Well, Jesus answered them with five words 320 00:15:37,400 –> 00:15:38,599 from the Old Testament, 321 00:15:38,599 –> 00:15:40,799 and you’ll notice them there in verse 7. 322 00:15:40,799 –> 00:15:44,820 They’re a quotation from Hosea, chapter six and verse six, 323 00:15:46,159 –> 00:15:51,159 I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 324 00:15:52,000 –> 00:15:54,419 Five very important words, 325 00:15:54,419 –> 00:15:58,919 I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 326 00:15:59,799 –> 00:16:02,840 But notice what Jesus says around these words in verse seven. 327 00:16:04,239 –> 00:16:06,900 If you knew, 328 00:16:08,619 –> 00:16:13,619 if you had known what these words mean, 329 00:16:14,780 –> 00:16:17,099 if you’d understood this truth, 330 00:16:17,099 –> 00:16:20,659 that God says, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 331 00:16:20,659 –> 00:16:23,200 you would be wholly different people. 332 00:16:24,159 –> 00:16:27,780 You would not have condemned the innocent. 333 00:16:28,679 –> 00:16:31,340 If you could grasp this one simple truth 334 00:16:31,340 –> 00:16:34,840 contained in these five words, that God says, 335 00:16:34,840 –> 00:16:37,000 I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 336 00:16:37,000 –> 00:16:38,679 you would be a completely different, 337 00:16:38,679 –> 00:16:43,099 much gentler and much kinder kind of a person altogether. 338 00:16:45,380 –> 00:16:47,340 Now it seems to me that these five words, 339 00:16:47,340 –> 00:16:49,059 I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 340 00:16:49,059 –> 00:16:52,239 must have been a favorite quotation of Jesus 341 00:16:52,239 –> 00:16:54,340 from the Old Testament scriptures. 342 00:16:54,340 –> 00:16:55,440 In fact, just out of interest, 343 00:16:55,479 –> 00:16:58,159 if you turn back just one page in your Bible 344 00:16:58,159 –> 00:17:02,000 to Matthew’s Gospel chapter nine and verse 13, 345 00:17:02,000 –> 00:17:04,060 you’ll find that Jesus quotes exactly 346 00:17:04,060 –> 00:17:06,699 the same five words another time. 347 00:17:06,699 –> 00:17:09,280 This was the occasion when a man by the name of Matthew 348 00:17:09,280 –> 00:17:11,300 had been called to be a disciple of Jesus. 349 00:17:11,300 –> 00:17:12,680 He threw a party. 350 00:17:12,680 –> 00:17:15,000 The Pharisees were complaining about the company 351 00:17:15,000 –> 00:17:16,900 Jesus was socializing with. 352 00:17:16,900 –> 00:17:21,160 And Jesus said to them, go learn what this means. 353 00:17:21,160 –> 00:17:25,180 I desire mercy not sacrifice. 354 00:17:26,040 –> 00:17:30,540 So Jesus evidently regarded this as a life-changing truth. 355 00:17:30,540 –> 00:17:33,500 If you know what God means by these words, 356 00:17:33,500 –> 00:17:35,319 I desire mercy not sacrifice, 357 00:17:35,319 –> 00:17:37,939 you will not be condemning innocent people. 358 00:17:37,939 –> 00:17:39,540 And if you understood this, 359 00:17:39,540 –> 00:17:42,380 therefore your whole attitude towards others 360 00:17:42,380 –> 00:17:43,739 would be completely different 361 00:17:43,739 –> 00:17:46,280 if only you knew what this meant. 362 00:17:48,020 –> 00:17:52,619 I desire mercy not sacrifice. 363 00:17:53,359 –> 00:17:56,280 Let’s reflect for a few moments 364 00:17:56,280 –> 00:17:58,000 on these life-changing words. 365 00:17:58,000 –> 00:18:04,979 God’s great desire is to show you mercy. 366 00:18:04,979 –> 00:18:12,319 God’s great desire is to show you mercy. 367 00:18:12,319 –> 00:18:16,000 God is merciful. 368 00:18:16,000 –> 00:18:20,319 He does not treat any of us here 369 00:18:20,319 –> 00:18:21,439 as our sins deserve. 370 00:18:21,439 –> 00:18:26,619 If God kept a record of our wrongs, 371 00:18:26,619 –> 00:18:29,119 not one of us could stand in his presence. 372 00:18:29,119 –> 00:18:35,219 Now, the whole point of the sacrifices in the Old Testament 373 00:18:35,219 –> 00:18:38,040 was, of course, that this was how God’s mercy 374 00:18:38,040 –> 00:18:40,319 came to his people. 375 00:18:40,319 –> 00:18:45,780 They experienced the mercy of God through the sacrifices. 376 00:18:45,780 –> 00:18:49,319 To understand that, you just need to remember the story 377 00:18:49,339 –> 00:18:52,239 of how the sacrifices were first instituted 378 00:18:52,239 –> 00:18:53,619 in the Old Testament. 379 00:18:53,619 –> 00:18:55,380 Remember Moses had gone up the mountain 380 00:18:55,380 –> 00:18:57,680 and was receiving the commandments of God, 381 00:18:57,680 –> 00:19:02,199 and at that very time, God’s people turned to idols, 382 00:19:02,199 –> 00:19:07,099 sinned against him, and indulged in an orgy of activity 383 00:19:07,099 –> 00:19:10,560 around a golden calf in the valley below. 384 00:19:10,560 –> 00:19:13,140 And because of this, God said that his presence 385 00:19:13,140 –> 00:19:16,260 would be removed from them, that they could go up 386 00:19:16,260 –> 00:19:19,079 into the land of Canaan and of all of the joys of prosperity 387 00:19:19,160 –> 00:19:21,319 and of freedom, but God’s presence 388 00:19:21,319 –> 00:19:22,680 would be removed from them. 389 00:19:23,599 –> 00:19:25,520 And the people, because they knew something 390 00:19:25,520 –> 00:19:29,760 about the goodness of God, they mourned, the Bible says. 391 00:19:29,760 –> 00:19:31,619 Because of that, it cut them to the heart. 392 00:19:31,619 –> 00:19:33,520 They longed to have the presence 393 00:19:33,520 –> 00:19:35,359 and the blessing of God upon them. 394 00:19:36,500 –> 00:19:39,099 So God said, here is what you do. 395 00:19:39,099 –> 00:19:43,280 You build a tabernacle, appoint some priests, 396 00:19:43,280 –> 00:19:46,579 and you make a sacrifice and we have followed in the past 397 00:19:46,579 –> 00:19:48,599 the story of how they did this, 398 00:19:49,060 –> 00:19:51,099 and then when the first sacrifice was made 399 00:19:51,099 –> 00:19:54,920 in that tabernacle that God had instructed them to build, 400 00:19:54,920 –> 00:19:59,400 the cloud of God’s presence came back to His people again, 401 00:19:59,400 –> 00:20:01,339 and the Bible records in the book of Leviticus 402 00:20:01,339 –> 00:20:03,380 the great joy of God’s people. 403 00:20:03,380 –> 00:20:04,599 They rejoiced. 404 00:20:04,599 –> 00:20:08,160 God’s back, our sins are forgiven. 405 00:20:08,160 –> 00:20:10,520 We’re living under the mercy of God 406 00:20:10,520 –> 00:20:15,079 and it’s all come to us through this sacrifice. 407 00:20:16,060 –> 00:20:19,359 Now they must have thought, therefore, 408 00:20:19,359 –> 00:20:21,500 that this mercy of God in which they lived 409 00:20:21,500 –> 00:20:23,239 was the most marvelous thing 410 00:20:25,439 –> 00:20:27,040 and of course God’s commandments 411 00:20:27,040 –> 00:20:29,839 also were evidences of his mercy. 412 00:20:31,119 –> 00:20:33,719 Why does God give us the 10 Commandments? 413 00:20:33,719 –> 00:20:35,739 God is saying to us, now look, 414 00:20:35,739 –> 00:20:39,479 I don’t want you to live under the burden 415 00:20:39,479 –> 00:20:44,119 of worshiping some false God 416 00:20:44,760 –> 00:20:49,760 who is unable to do anything for you or for your nation. 417 00:20:52,540 –> 00:20:54,359 So whatever you do, don’t make an idol. 418 00:20:54,359 –> 00:20:57,040 That’s a merciful command of God, isn’t it? 419 00:20:58,680 –> 00:21:03,680 I want in your countries that families should be secure 420 00:21:03,839 –> 00:21:05,939 but whatever you do, don’t commit adultery. 421 00:21:09,199 –> 00:21:11,400 You folks work terribly hard 422 00:21:12,380 –> 00:21:15,520 and I don’t want you to be the kind of folks 423 00:21:15,520 –> 00:21:18,020 who never rest so, 424 00:21:18,020 –> 00:21:22,599 take one day in seven and make it holy, special. 425 00:21:23,439 –> 00:21:25,239 Do your work in six days. 426 00:21:25,239 –> 00:21:27,219 That’s a merciful command of God. 427 00:21:28,839 –> 00:21:30,979 So God’s sacrifices, God’s commandments 428 00:21:30,979 –> 00:21:33,439 are all evidences of His mercy. 429 00:21:33,439 –> 00:21:36,099 They are good, they are not burdensome. 430 00:21:36,199 –> 00:21:37,040 Whosoever. 431 00:21:40,239 –> 00:21:42,839 I desire mercy. 432 00:21:42,839 –> 00:21:43,680 It’s who God is. 433 00:21:46,140 –> 00:21:49,060 Now if you grasp this truth, 434 00:21:49,060 –> 00:21:51,500 Jesus is saying it will transform you in many ways. 435 00:21:51,500 –> 00:21:53,280 Let’s try and identify some of them. 436 00:21:54,839 –> 00:21:57,020 If you knew that God was merciful, 437 00:21:57,020 –> 00:21:59,239 that He desired mercy, not sacrifice, 438 00:21:59,239 –> 00:22:04,239 first, you would have great joy in worship. 439 00:22:05,040 –> 00:22:07,119 Great joy in worship. 440 00:22:07,119 –> 00:22:09,979 You see, on the first day when the sacrifice was offered 441 00:22:09,979 –> 00:22:11,599 back in the desert there, 442 00:22:11,599 –> 00:22:14,439 and God’s presence came back among His people, 443 00:22:14,439 –> 00:22:17,079 and they embraced His mercy, 444 00:22:17,079 –> 00:22:19,160 their joy was unspeakable. 445 00:22:21,920 –> 00:22:24,400 But of course, over the course of years, 446 00:22:24,400 –> 00:22:26,640 what happened as you follow the Bible’s story 447 00:22:26,640 –> 00:22:30,560 is that instead of enjoying and delighting 448 00:22:30,560 –> 00:22:32,060 in the mercy of God, 449 00:22:32,319 –> 00:22:36,540 His people began to regard worship 450 00:22:36,540 –> 00:22:40,439 as another chore that needed to be done. 451 00:22:42,040 –> 00:22:43,380 You know the sort of thing. 452 00:22:44,420 –> 00:22:46,680 Pay the mortgage, 453 00:22:46,680 –> 00:22:49,680 service the car, 454 00:22:49,680 –> 00:22:52,040 mow the lawn, 455 00:22:52,040 –> 00:22:55,099 file your tax return, 456 00:22:55,099 –> 00:22:57,939 offer a sacrifice to God. 457 00:22:58,979 –> 00:23:00,219 And instead of saying, 458 00:23:00,219 –> 00:23:03,099 in the mercy and goodness of God, 459 00:23:03,099 –> 00:23:04,880 I am brought into his blessing 460 00:23:04,880 –> 00:23:06,160 and into his presence, 461 00:23:06,160 –> 00:23:08,239 in which I rejoice, 462 00:23:09,239 –> 00:23:10,520 people began to say, 463 00:23:12,260 –> 00:23:14,479 better go and offer God his sacrifice. 464 00:23:18,739 –> 00:23:20,560 And the delight became a duty. 465 00:23:21,739 –> 00:23:26,140 And the gift of grace became a payment of dues. 466 00:23:28,020 –> 00:23:28,859 Ever heard this? 467 00:23:31,119 –> 00:23:35,239 Dad, do we have to go to church today? 468 00:23:36,719 –> 00:23:38,180 Yes. 469 00:23:39,400 –> 00:23:41,560 But it’s Memorial Day weekend. 470 00:23:42,640 –> 00:23:43,760 Do we have to? 471 00:23:45,979 –> 00:23:48,199 It’s just for an hour. 472 00:23:48,199 –> 00:23:50,839 An hour and 10 minutes, 15 seconds. 473 00:23:50,839 –> 00:23:54,859 Why do we have to go, Dad? 474 00:23:56,479 –> 00:23:57,819 Well, 475 00:23:57,880 –> 00:24:01,819 Well, it’s what we do on Sunday. 476 00:24:04,160 –> 00:24:05,640 Well, I don’t suppose it was any different 477 00:24:05,640 –> 00:24:07,199 than the Old Testament, do you? 478 00:24:08,319 –> 00:24:11,260 Now look, son, get one of these goats, 479 00:24:11,260 –> 00:24:13,859 we’re going to offer a sacrifice at the temple. 480 00:24:13,859 –> 00:24:17,020 Let’s go early and we’ll get back in time for the game. 481 00:24:17,020 –> 00:24:22,739 And the delight of enjoying the presence 482 00:24:22,739 –> 00:24:27,300 of God was replaced by premonition. 483 00:24:27,300 –> 00:24:31,020 It was replaced by the dull routine 484 00:24:31,020 –> 00:24:32,859 of a religious duty. 485 00:24:33,979 –> 00:24:35,939 And instead of experiencing joy 486 00:24:35,939 –> 00:24:37,020 in the presence of God, 487 00:24:37,020 –> 00:24:39,560 here are people who come to the place of worship 488 00:24:39,560 –> 00:24:41,579 with no thanksgiving, no repentance, 489 00:24:41,579 –> 00:24:43,859 no faith, not any confessions, 490 00:24:43,859 –> 00:24:45,800 no encounter with God, 491 00:24:45,800 –> 00:24:48,739 and no discovery of mercy. 492 00:24:50,739 –> 00:24:54,599 And that’s why, if you want to read Psalm 50 later, 493 00:24:54,640 –> 00:24:59,540 God speaks to His people in astonishing words. 494 00:24:59,540 –> 00:25:01,199 He says this, 495 00:25:01,199 –> 00:25:04,900 I don’t need the bulls from your stall 496 00:25:04,900 –> 00:25:06,579 or the goats from your pen 497 00:25:07,660 –> 00:25:09,819 because every animal in the forest is mine 498 00:25:09,819 –> 00:25:11,780 and I have the cattle on a thousand hills, 499 00:25:11,780 –> 00:25:13,199 I have every bird in the mountain 500 00:25:13,199 –> 00:25:15,420 and every creature in the field, they’re all mine, 501 00:25:15,420 –> 00:25:18,260 and if I were hungry, God says, 502 00:25:18,260 –> 00:25:19,640 I wouldn’t tell you 503 00:25:20,719 –> 00:25:22,619 because the world is mine 504 00:25:22,619 –> 00:25:24,180 and all that is in it, 505 00:25:24,180 –> 00:25:26,560 and anyway do I eat the flesh of bulls 506 00:25:26,560 –> 00:25:27,739 and drink the blood of goats, 507 00:25:27,739 –> 00:25:29,400 do you really think 508 00:25:31,400 –> 00:25:34,000 that I need a bull or a goat from you? 509 00:25:35,780 –> 00:25:38,900 Do you really think that the God who created 510 00:25:38,900 –> 00:25:41,280 the moon and the stars sits in heaven and says, 511 00:25:41,280 –> 00:25:45,540 I really need 15 minutes a day and one hour a week, 512 00:25:46,839 –> 00:25:49,939 do you think He has angels with clipboards keeping the score? 513 00:25:50,459 –> 00:25:55,040 I desire, mercy. 514 00:25:57,219 –> 00:26:02,219 How many of us have got the idea that God is looking 515 00:26:02,619 –> 00:26:06,020 for us to do something to make him happy 516 00:26:07,699 –> 00:26:10,420 when the very heart of the Bible messages 517 00:26:10,420 –> 00:26:13,819 that he longs to do something for us 518 00:26:13,819 –> 00:26:18,819 and that something is to pour his mercy into our lives? 519 00:26:19,319 –> 00:26:24,319 And if you knew that, you would have joy in worship. 520 00:26:24,420 –> 00:26:26,680 That’s what Jesus is saying. 521 00:26:26,680 –> 00:26:28,660 If you knew that, it would transform you 522 00:26:28,660 –> 00:26:30,979 from the inside out. 523 00:26:30,979 –> 00:26:33,020 You would get away from this sense of saying 524 00:26:33,020 –> 00:26:34,939 that religion is some kind of routine 525 00:26:34,939 –> 00:26:37,060 that we do on a Sunday and it would become 526 00:26:37,060 –> 00:26:39,500 for you a living thing in which 527 00:26:39,500 –> 00:26:42,099 you experience joy in his presence 528 00:26:42,099 –> 00:26:44,500 because you knew that through the sacrifice 529 00:26:44,500 –> 00:26:47,619 of Jesus Christ you are covered in his mercy 530 00:26:47,719 –> 00:26:50,359 and what could be greater in all the world? 531 00:26:56,260 –> 00:27:01,060 If you knew this, you’d have joy in worship. 532 00:27:04,780 –> 00:27:06,319 And if you knew this, 533 00:27:07,859 –> 00:27:09,359 you would be a blessing, 534 00:27:11,140 –> 00:27:14,479 not a burden, to other people. 535 00:27:16,260 –> 00:27:17,540 It’s very significant, isn’t it, 536 00:27:17,540 –> 00:27:20,339 that Jesus in Matthew in chapter 12 537 00:27:20,339 –> 00:27:25,339 applies these words particularly to spiritual leaders. 538 00:27:29,180 –> 00:27:33,699 And what God is saying in these words is very clear. 539 00:27:35,239 –> 00:27:37,739 God is saying that He is not impressed 540 00:27:37,739 –> 00:27:39,359 by religious activity. 541 00:27:41,020 –> 00:27:43,819 He’s saying in the words of Jesus to the Pharisees, 542 00:27:43,880 –> 00:27:45,359 I know about your prayers. 543 00:27:46,619 –> 00:27:49,599 Know about your lighting candles and incense. 544 00:27:50,959 –> 00:27:52,959 Know about your studies. 545 00:27:54,260 –> 00:27:56,079 Know all your religious activity 546 00:27:56,079 –> 00:27:57,979 that’s done in the name of God. 547 00:28:00,900 –> 00:28:02,099 But of course the thing that God 548 00:28:02,099 –> 00:28:06,060 is primarily interested in is what are you doing 549 00:28:07,479 –> 00:28:11,060 about the orphan, about the widow, 550 00:28:11,479 –> 00:28:13,160 about the fatherless. 551 00:28:15,119 –> 00:28:20,040 If you want that teaching expounded most powerfully, 552 00:28:20,040 –> 00:28:22,920 just read Isaiah in chapter one when you go home, 553 00:28:24,119 –> 00:28:27,699 where God talks about the multiplicity of sacrifices. 554 00:28:29,119 –> 00:28:32,800 The endless round of religious activities 555 00:28:33,699 –> 00:28:35,540 in which his people are engaged. 556 00:28:37,500 –> 00:28:38,719 And they’re all good, 557 00:28:39,000 –> 00:28:42,560 but they’re not the thing in which God 558 00:28:42,560 –> 00:28:44,199 is primarily interested. 559 00:28:44,199 –> 00:28:46,239 They are means to an end. 560 00:28:47,719 –> 00:28:50,079 The end that will glorify God he says, 561 00:28:50,079 –> 00:28:52,979 in Isaiah, in chapter one, is that you pursue justice, 562 00:28:52,979 –> 00:28:56,219 that you defend the cause of the widow and the fatherless, 563 00:28:56,219 –> 00:28:59,180 that instead of being a burden to people who are around you, 564 00:28:59,180 –> 00:29:04,180 you become a means of God’s blessing into a broken world. 565 00:29:04,739 –> 00:29:08,380 And of course, the tragedy of the Pharisees 566 00:29:08,380 –> 00:29:10,579 to whom Jesus spoke is that for all 567 00:29:10,579 –> 00:29:12,339 their religious activity, they were actually 568 00:29:12,339 –> 00:29:14,680 a great burden to ordinary people around them. 569 00:29:15,719 –> 00:29:18,359 Instead of opening the way up into the mercy of God, 570 00:29:18,359 –> 00:29:21,219 they actually became a blockage on the path. 571 00:29:21,219 –> 00:29:25,119 They made it hard for people to see that God is merciful. 572 00:29:28,719 –> 00:29:31,459 And they weren’t the first, and they’re not the last. 573 00:29:32,400 –> 00:29:35,699 You remember Eli the priest was a godly man 574 00:29:35,699 –> 00:29:38,119 in the Old Testament but he had two sons, 575 00:29:38,119 –> 00:29:42,880 Hoffni and Phinehas, who were wicked men. 576 00:29:42,880 –> 00:29:46,280 The Bible says that in 1Samuel 2 in verse 12. 577 00:29:46,280 –> 00:29:50,180 They were wicked men and they had no regard for the Lord. 578 00:29:50,180 –> 00:29:54,199 In other words, they were involved in religious activity, 579 00:29:54,199 –> 00:29:56,140 but at the very core, they were wicked. 580 00:29:57,319 –> 00:29:59,359 And they were offering sacrifices. 581 00:30:00,280 –> 00:30:02,420 And the Bible tells us that at the same time 582 00:30:02,420 –> 00:30:04,079 as they offered sacrifices, 583 00:30:04,079 –> 00:30:08,900 they slept with the women who kept the door of the temple, 584 00:30:08,900 –> 00:30:11,060 in other words, the ushers and the greeters. 585 00:30:12,300 –> 00:30:15,640 They were abusing Hoffni and Phinehas, 586 00:30:15,640 –> 00:30:20,640 the positions of privilege in which they were placed, 587 00:30:22,199 –> 00:30:26,000 and people who had been put in a position of trust 588 00:30:26,859 –> 00:30:31,359 where they were to be a means of the blessing of God 589 00:30:31,359 –> 00:30:34,359 to other vulnerable people around them 590 00:30:34,359 –> 00:30:37,859 became an obstacle to that blessing. 591 00:30:40,160 –> 00:30:41,760 And the Scriptures reserve some 592 00:30:41,760 –> 00:30:45,079 of the strongest words of condemnation 593 00:30:46,660 –> 00:30:51,000 for those who engage in religious activity 594 00:30:52,000 –> 00:30:55,760 and cause harm to those who are vulnerable. 595 00:30:59,160 –> 00:31:01,119 And there can not be a Christian here today 596 00:31:01,119 –> 00:31:05,660 who does not feel a depth of pain and sorrow 597 00:31:05,660 –> 00:31:09,300 at the news of priests in our own time 598 00:31:09,300 –> 00:31:13,459 who have abused positions of privilege and of trust. 599 00:31:15,260 –> 00:31:17,119 Those who teach, the Bible says, 600 00:31:17,400 –> 00:31:21,579 will be judged more strictly. 601 00:31:23,560 –> 00:31:25,280 “‘It would be better,’ said Jesus, 602 00:31:25,280 –> 00:31:30,280 for someone to have a millstone hung round their neck 603 00:31:31,579 –> 00:31:34,079 and be drowned in the depths of the sea 604 00:31:35,560 –> 00:31:39,880 than to be a stumbling block to one of these little ones.’” 605 00:31:41,000 –> 00:31:42,959 And one of the greatest tragedies 606 00:31:42,959 –> 00:31:47,939 that periodically has emerged 607 00:31:48,880 –> 00:31:51,859 within the history of God’s work in the world 608 00:31:53,000 –> 00:31:57,439 is the appalling evil of some who have been put 609 00:31:57,439 –> 00:31:59,199 in a position of privilege, 610 00:32:00,119 –> 00:32:02,459 and like Hofne and Phineas, 611 00:32:03,359 –> 00:32:05,640 have obscured the mercy of God 612 00:32:06,859 –> 00:32:08,780 and in great wickedness and evil 613 00:32:09,839 –> 00:32:11,599 become a stumbling block to others. 614 00:32:11,760 –> 00:32:13,560 Let’s listen to how the Apostle Paul put it. 615 00:32:13,560 –> 00:32:17,000 This is Philippians chapter 3 and verse 18. 616 00:32:18,339 –> 00:32:21,719 “‘I’ve said it many times before,’ says Paul, 617 00:32:21,719 –> 00:32:24,180 “‘and I say it again now 618 00:32:25,140 –> 00:32:28,239 “‘with tears,’ with tears.” 619 00:32:28,239 –> 00:32:29,880 Now we need to take that seriously. 620 00:32:29,880 –> 00:32:34,560 The apostle Paul wept on the paper 621 00:32:34,560 –> 00:32:35,560 as he wrote this. 622 00:32:36,500 –> 00:32:41,500 Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 623 00:32:45,739 –> 00:32:50,739 Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 624 00:32:51,540 –> 00:32:54,180 And by that, he meant one simple thing, 625 00:32:54,180 –> 00:32:57,140 that even in the religious world, 626 00:32:57,140 –> 00:33:00,280 there are some wicked people 627 00:33:00,280 –> 00:33:05,280 who obscure the path of the mercy of Christ 628 00:33:06,119 –> 00:33:06,959 of God. 629 00:33:07,819 –> 00:33:09,359 And I say this for this reason. 630 00:33:11,119 –> 00:33:13,199 There may be some even here today. 631 00:33:15,699 –> 00:33:16,560 And if it is not you, 632 00:33:16,560 –> 00:33:18,939 you may know of someone else in this position. 633 00:33:20,640 –> 00:33:25,339 You would love to find the mercy of God. 634 00:33:27,359 –> 00:33:29,920 But there is a stumbling block in your way. 635 00:33:31,760 –> 00:33:35,040 And the stumbling block is a spiritual leader 636 00:33:35,040 –> 00:33:36,760 or someone you respected 637 00:33:37,900 –> 00:33:40,140 who should have been a blessing to you 638 00:33:41,239 –> 00:33:43,239 but actually became a burden. 639 00:33:44,719 –> 00:33:48,380 Someone who should have pointed you to God’s mercy 640 00:33:49,520 –> 00:33:53,479 but they actually obscured it from your view. 641 00:33:55,079 –> 00:33:57,040 And I want to say just one thing to you 642 00:33:58,119 –> 00:34:01,339 because God will deal with the perpetrators of evil. 643 00:34:02,219 –> 00:34:05,619 The greatest concern is those who have been injured. 644 00:34:07,680 –> 00:34:12,679 Don’t ever let an enemy of the cross of Christ 645 00:34:13,280 –> 00:34:15,500 keep you from discovering the mercy of God. 646 00:34:17,219 –> 00:34:22,219 Don’t ever let an enemy of the cross of Christ 647 00:34:22,760 –> 00:34:27,760 keep you from discovering the mercy of God. 648 00:34:28,699 –> 00:34:31,959 And you know, God speaks 649 00:34:31,959 –> 00:34:33,760 about this issue very specifically, 650 00:34:33,760 –> 00:34:35,419 and again, if you want to follow this through 651 00:34:35,419 –> 00:34:37,080 you might like to read from Ezekiel 652 00:34:37,080 –> 00:34:39,080 in chapter 34 when you go home. 653 00:34:40,300 –> 00:34:43,679 But God speaks there about shepherds 654 00:34:43,679 –> 00:34:47,100 who have simply failed the responsibility 655 00:34:47,100 –> 00:34:50,580 that God gave them, who have not cared 656 00:34:50,580 –> 00:34:54,159 for the flock, and the result of their ministry 657 00:34:54,159 –> 00:34:56,120 has not been blessing to God’s people, 658 00:34:56,120 –> 00:34:58,520 but terrible, terrible burdens 659 00:34:58,520 –> 00:35:00,120 that have been placed upon them. 660 00:35:02,199 –> 00:35:03,899 And God speaks about what He will do 661 00:35:03,899 –> 00:35:05,600 about such shepherds, that’s one thing, 662 00:35:05,600 –> 00:35:08,439 but I want to focus on the more important thing 663 00:35:08,439 –> 00:35:11,040 that God says, which is what He’ll do 664 00:35:11,040 –> 00:35:12,179 for the injured people. 665 00:35:14,560 –> 00:35:15,719 God says this. 666 00:35:17,820 –> 00:35:22,820 I will Myself become their shepherd. 667 00:35:26,399 –> 00:35:31,399 I will Myself become their shepherd. 668 00:35:34,760 –> 00:35:36,719 And of course, this is why Jesus Christ 669 00:35:36,719 –> 00:35:37,979 came into the world. 670 00:35:39,679 –> 00:35:42,580 God desires mercy, not sacrifice. 671 00:35:42,580 –> 00:35:46,280 So God says in His Son Jesus Christ, 672 00:35:46,280 –> 00:35:47,580 here’s what I’m gonna do. 673 00:35:49,360 –> 00:35:51,239 I’m going to go into the world 674 00:35:51,239 –> 00:35:55,179 and I’m going to offer the sacrifice Myself. 675 00:35:56,479 –> 00:36:00,199 I, myself, am going to become the sacrifice 676 00:36:00,199 –> 00:36:02,600 through which My mercy 677 00:36:04,360 –> 00:36:05,679 will be released 678 00:36:05,679 –> 00:36:08,399 in such a way that any of the wounded 679 00:36:08,399 –> 00:36:10,320 may come and receive of it 680 00:36:10,320 –> 00:36:12,540 directly from Me. 681 00:36:15,000 –> 00:36:18,540 I’m not gonna have priests in the way anymore. 682 00:36:18,540 –> 00:36:19,459 I’m not gonna say to people, 683 00:36:19,459 –> 00:36:21,800 you have to come through certain religious individuals, 684 00:36:21,800 –> 00:36:25,439 I’m gonna open the way right up 685 00:36:25,439 –> 00:36:27,860 so that an individual, whatever their background, 686 00:36:27,860 –> 00:36:30,959 whatever their hurts, can come straight to Me 687 00:36:32,239 –> 00:36:36,040 in simple faith and receive the mercy 688 00:36:36,040 –> 00:36:38,159 that is broken open for them 689 00:36:38,159 –> 00:36:42,800 by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. 690 00:36:42,800 –> 00:36:45,719 And the reason I’ll do this is because God says, 691 00:36:45,719 –> 00:36:47,780 I desire mercy, 692 00:36:51,040 –> 00:36:52,340 not sacrifice. 693 00:36:52,340 –> 00:36:55,000 That’s why Jesus says, come to Me. 694 00:36:56,560 –> 00:36:59,100 Come to me, all you who are weary, 695 00:36:59,100 –> 00:37:01,760 all you who are burdened, 696 00:37:02,699 –> 00:37:06,239 all you who are heavy-laden, you come to Me. 697 00:37:08,020 –> 00:37:11,080 You don’t have to go to some religious individual. 698 00:37:11,080 –> 00:37:12,239 You come to Me. 699 00:37:13,360 –> 00:37:18,560 Come to Me and I will give you rest. 700 00:37:18,560 –> 00:37:21,000 My yoke is easy. 701 00:37:22,520 –> 00:37:26,899 And unlike the Pharisees, my burden is light. 702 00:37:32,840 –> 00:37:34,260 And if you knew the mercy of God, 703 00:37:34,260 –> 00:37:35,820 you would come to Jesus Christ. 704 00:37:35,820 –> 00:37:38,280 There’s absolutely no doubt about it. 705 00:37:38,280 –> 00:37:42,040 The moment you are persuaded that God is merciful 706 00:37:42,040 –> 00:37:44,540 in Jesus Christ, you will come to Him. 707 00:37:44,719 –> 00:37:46,120 It’s for the good. 708 00:37:49,239 –> 00:37:50,939 The problem for some of us is that 709 00:37:50,939 –> 00:37:53,179 like the lady driving the car, 710 00:37:53,179 –> 00:37:58,080 we think that the God who pursues us is out to get us, 711 00:37:59,379 –> 00:38:01,320 when actually, in Jesus Christ, 712 00:38:02,659 –> 00:38:04,020 He’s come to save us. 713 00:38:07,179 –> 00:38:08,479 If you knew what God means 714 00:38:08,479 –> 00:38:11,139 when He says, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, 715 00:38:11,139 –> 00:38:15,020 you’d be a whole different person. 716 00:38:16,939 –> 00:38:17,939 Let’s pray together. 717 00:38:18,959 –> 00:38:21,600 Thank you that you are not the God 718 00:38:21,600 –> 00:38:24,340 who looks for a sacrifice from us, 719 00:38:26,479 –> 00:38:29,100 that you’re the God who offers a sacrifice to us 720 00:38:31,280 –> 00:38:32,979 so that through that sacrifice, 721 00:38:32,979 –> 00:38:35,199 your mercy may stream into a broken world. 722 00:38:35,199 –> 00:38:40,199 Your mercy is our delight. 723 00:38:43,820 –> 00:38:46,419 Our great desire is that being transformed by it, 724 00:38:46,419 –> 00:38:48,120 we may not be a burden to others, 725 00:38:48,120 –> 00:38:49,919 but rather a means of your blessing. 726 00:38:52,600 –> 00:38:55,260 Thank you that no person who has ever wounded us 727 00:38:55,260 –> 00:38:57,080 in any way in life can ever stand 728 00:38:57,080 –> 00:38:58,600 in our way of coming to you, 729 00:39:00,459 –> 00:39:03,379 but that you have opened up that direct access 730 00:39:03,479 –> 00:39:06,679 through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 731 00:39:06,679 –> 00:39:08,699 and believing it and knowing it. 732 00:39:10,040 –> 00:39:13,320 Gladly, we come in simple faith, 733 00:39:14,560 –> 00:39:19,560 rejoicing in the mercy of God. 734 00:39:21,780 –> 00:39:24,719 Hear our prayers in Jesus’ name. 735 00:39:26,739 –> 00:39:27,580 Amen.