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[0:00] As he's taking his steps to Jerusalem. And he's down to the point where he's about to turn that corner. We don't know exactly where he is.

[0:11] But we know within just a few verses he's going to be talking about Zacchaeus in Jericho. Jericho is just across the river. Well actually not just across.

[0:22] But it's at the base of the mountain. Where Jesus was about to ascend up into Jerusalem. So he's not very far probably. And as he comes closer and closer he's making sure that people understand.

[0:37] The importance of what it is a person needs to be able to be in the kingdom. He's talked about this Pharisee and this tax collector.

[0:49] And the tax collector or the Pharisee starting out saying. I'm this and I'm that and I don't do this and I don't do that. And I'm not as bad as this guy over here.

[1:00] And the tax collector won't even look up to heaven and says God be merciful to me. And Jesus speaks to them and teaches them how important it is for them to realize.

[1:12] They don't bring things to God. They must come as a sinner recognizing their need. And then he talks about children who had been coming to him.

[1:22] And he welcomes them. And talks about this idea of how we need to be people like children. Who realize our helplessness and then just accept what's provided for us.

[1:35] Accept it as if that's what the giver does. And so Jesus teaches for the people to come empty handed and simply accept salvation.

[1:49] We have now before us the account of the rich ruler. And he's teaching us a different lesson. And all these lessons are centered around this idea of getting into the kingdom.

[2:05] How can I know I'm going to heaven? How can I know I have the blessings of the future with Christ? And so Luke relates this situation.

[2:16] It's the situation that Jesus encounters. Some of these things we've talked about were parables. The Pharisee and the tax collector. That was a parable. The children of course were a real situation.

[2:28] And now we're falling upon another real situation. Where someone comes and asks. So let's read about the rich young ruler. And see what we learn of what God is doing.

[2:40] And how God is providing salvation. Let's read together Luke 18 starting in verse 18. A ruler asked him.

[2:52] Good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him. Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

[3:04] You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. And he said.

[3:15] All these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this. He said to him. One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have.

[3:28] And distribute to the poor. And you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me. When he had heard these things. He became very sad.

[3:39] For he was extremely rich. Jesus saying that he had become sad said. How difficult it is. For those who have wealth.

[3:51] To enter the kingdom of God. For it is easier. For a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Than for a rich person. To enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard it said.

[4:04] Then who can be saved. But he said. What is impossible with man. Is possible with God. And Peter said.

[4:16] See. We have left our homes. And followed you. And he said to them. Truly I say to you. There is no one who has left house.

[4:27] Or wife. Or brothers. Or parents. Or children. For the sake of the kingdom of God. Who will not receive many times more. In this life.

[4:38] And in the age to come. Let's pray together. Father. We come before you in need. We're always in need.

[4:50] But Father. As we come to your word. We confess again our need. We confess again. That we need the spirit's help. I need the spirit's help. In preaching. We together need the spirit's help.

[5:03] In hearing. And I pray that you would apply your word. To our hearts today. May. Those among us. Find.

[5:14] Clear direction. Clear instruction. I pray that you would be with us. That we would see. The wonder of. Following Christ.

[5:26] And I pray that you would help us. To be encouraged in that. This morning. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Well we have a scene.

[5:39] That apparently flows. Relatively quickly. Whether it happens right after. The situation with the children. Some say that it did. Some say that it doesn't. It doesn't matter. The situation is.

[5:50] That Jesus. Through Luke. Is teaching us something. About coming to the kingdom. And. These kids have come. And they just came willingly.

[6:00] And probably their parents brought them. And they just had no problem. They came to Jesus. But most people were not. Flocking up like that. A lot of people came to hear him.

[6:11] But they. Probably many of him. Them. Listened to him for a while. Before making a decision. Maybe this man did. Maybe he didn't. We have no idea. But this man has a hunger.

[6:25] He's called the rich man. The rich ruler. And he has a hunger. His hunger is for eternal life. And so he comes to Jesus.

[6:38] And says. Good teacher. What must I do to inherit eternal life? And I think. Right off the bat. I want us to see that. I believe this man's desire was genuine.

[6:51] You say. But no. He walked away. It wasn't genuine. I think his desire was genuine. Anyway. He asks. He asks.

[7:04] How do I get to heaven? What more do I have to do to get eternal life? He's asking someone he thinks knows. How to get to heaven.

[7:16] How to get to heaven. I think he knows. Jesus knows how to get to heaven. Because he calls him good master. There are some problems there. But this man.

[7:27] I think is genuine. I think he's been trying. To get to heaven. I think he's been. Consciously. Trying to keep the. The law.

[7:38] All his life. I think he really did want to get there. And. Not to give away any part of the story.

[7:49] But if you. And I don't. You don't need to. But if you look at verse 23. You see. When he finds out what he has to do. He's sad. So I think he.

[8:00] He really wanted it. Now he had problems. And we'll look at those. But I think he really wanted it. He was earnestly coming. Seeking. But something kept him.

[8:13] From finding. Something kept him. Something kept him. From gaining. Inheriting. Eternal life. So I believe.

[8:25] He's genuine. And he is. Truly. Trying to earn. Or inherit. Eternal life. Now. He says inherit. It. I think. I think this points to the idea.

[8:36] And we've already mentioned. That he's been keeping. The commandments. Probably since his bar mitzvah. At age 12. Before that. People were not considered liable. For their sins.

[8:46] The father was. Of the child. Was liable. For the sins. Of those under 12. In the Jewish thinking. And then once they became. Bar mitzvah. Then the son.

[8:57] Supposedly. Understood the law. Well enough. That he could take. His own responsibility. And I think. What this man is saying. Is that since 12 years old. He's been keeping. The law.

[9:08] And so he's been. Working. Working. Trying. To inherit. Heaven. He really wants it. But he's been pursuing it.

[9:19] This way. He's been trying. To keep the law. And so. He comes to Jesus. And he begins. By addressing Jesus.

[9:30] As good master. Now that is not. The way people. Addressed rabbis. In that area. It's not a common address. Or a salutation.

[9:42] To a rabbi. Most people feel. That this. Simply appears. To be flattery. He sees Jesus.

[9:52] As an important teacher. And so he calls him. Good teacher. And it seems. To be flattery. And Jesus. Responds him. In a way. That. If you've never.

[10:03] Read through this passage. But you've trusted Christ. You would look at it. And say. Wow. Why did Jesus. Say this. Jesus says.

[10:14] Why do you call me good. There is no one. Good. Except God. Now. First of all. And if you've ever. Argued with anyone. About the deity of Christ.

[10:25] This is one of the verses. They'll bring you to. And say. See. Jesus. Doesn't even believe. He was God. That's not what Jesus. Is doing here. Remember.

[10:36] That Jesus. Is ministering. To this man. He's trying. To get this man. To see. His situation. He is. Not denying. His deity. He is not denying.

[10:47] His sinlessness. He simply says. True. Goodness. Is an attribute. Of God. And so.

[11:00] In a sense. I believe. What he's doing. Is he's challenging. This man. Don't call me good. Only God is good. He's challenging. This man.

[11:11] To say. But you must be God. Because you are good. But the man. Doesn't do that. The man. Doesn't do that at all. He just lets it go by. As we get into.

[11:24] Verses. 20. And 21. Jesus. Points out. That this man. Needs. To be perfect. To inherit. The kingdom of God.

[11:35] He does that. By simply using. The phrase. You know. The commandments. He's appealing. To what the guy. Has. Has tried to live by. All along. You know. The commandments. And so.

[11:50] At this point. Jesus lists. Five. Of the six. Commandments. Of the second. Table of the law. Table of the law. First. Four commandments. Are about. A person's.

[12:01] Responsibility. To God. And the last. Six. Are about. A person's. Responsibility. To others. Before God. And so.

[12:12] He lists. Five. Of the six. Of the last. Commandment. Or of the commandments. Of the second. Table. Those commandments. That deal. With how. We are. To interact.

[12:23] With one another. I believe. It's because. Jesus knew. This man's heart. Jesus listed. Commandments. That I think. Jesus looked.

[12:33] At this man. And thought. This man. Thinks. He's keeping. These commandments. It wasn't unusual. For a. Holy. Jewish person.

[12:44] To feel. As though. They kept. These five commandments. Now they would say. They kept all of them. But they would. Certainly. Keep. Those. Five commandments. You know.

[12:56] The commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear. False witness. And honor. Your father and mother. Now. We know.

[13:06] From Matthew. Or. Jesus is teaching. In the sermon. On the mouth. That's most evident. In Matthew. That there's much more. Involved. In those. Commandments. Than. What people. Often.

[13:17] See there. They see. This. Outward frame. And they think. Of the. Outward things. That they can do. And they think. They can keep. These commandments. commandments. But.

[13:28] Really. When it gets down to them. They can't. None of us can. We break. All of the commandments. All of us. In some way. Shape or form. During our whole life.

[13:39] But he knew. These were commandments. I think. That he felt. This man felt. He could keep. So he lists those. And the ruler. Responds. Thinking. Or saying.

[13:50] I've done all these things. From my youth. I'm good at. I'm good. Had he. Well. Jesus knew.

[14:00] That he hadn't. And didn't. But Jesus. Didn't refute it. Jesus. Could have. As the son of God.

[14:11] As God. Could have said. Rich ruler. When you were 14. You did this. When you were 16. You did that. Or he could take. Just today. And start at the beginning.

[14:21] Of the day. And say. How he had broken. This or that. Or even of just. These five commandments. Jesus knew all that. But he didn't. Address it. He went for this man's heart.

[14:37] And Jesus. Then. Speaks. In such a way. As to lay bare. This man's treasure. Verses.

[14:48] 22. And 23. When Jesus. Heard this. He said to him. One thing you lack. You can almost guess that. That tongue in cheek. Jesus knows.

[14:58] That he's broken all of them. And he has. Great need. But for this man. To see his treasure. For this man. To see. What he needs. To see of himself.

[15:09] He says. You lack one thing. He says. So all you have. And distribute. To the poor. And you will have. Treasure in heaven. And come follow me.

[15:23] One thing you lack. He's not. Jesus is not saying. This man had kept the law perfectly. But needed to add. Just this one thing. No. He was bypassing.

[15:33] All the ways. He thought he had kept the law. To strike at the very heart. Of this man's trouble. The very seed. Of what. Drove. Not all. But most. Of his offenses.

[15:44] Of the breaking. Of God's law. Jesus. Knowing this man's heart. Goes after the one thing. He worships. And is the center.

[15:55] Of much. Of his sin. He says to him. Sell everything you have. Distribute it to the poor. And follow me. What does Jesus do?

[16:12] To show this man. His sin. Jesus. Applies. The law. Now. He's already mentioned the law. Yes. He has.

[16:22] But now. He's applying the law. He's telling this man. How to work out the law. In such a way. So that he knows. What's really going on.

[16:34] To show this man. His sin. He tells him. To sell everything. He has. Distribute it to the poor. And come follow him. And this man.

[16:47] Had a hard time. He was rich. He was exceedingly rich. You.

[16:57] Want me. To sell. Everything. I have. And give it all away. You want me. To leave my house. And my family.

[17:10] You want me. To leave all of that behind. And follow you. You could just. See. The color raising. In his face.

[17:20] It isn't that he gets angry. He gets sad. But Jesus. Is striking. It really. What's going on here. This man. Has broken. The tenth.

[17:31] Commandment. He's coveted. All this. I want it. For me. If he wasn't. Covetous. He would have seen.

[17:42] The needs of the poor. According to the commands. Of the old testament. He would have seen. That he had a responsibility. To give to the poor. He would have. Seen his responsibility. To love his neighbor. As himself.

[17:53] But no. This is my money. I'm keeping it. In fact. What Jesus here.

[18:04] Shows that this man. Broke. A summation. Of the whole. Second table. Of the law. Not covetous.

[18:16] Willing to give up. What he has. According to God's direction. He's kept it for himself. He doesn't care. About loving other people.

[18:28] He only loves himself. And he's. Laid bare this man's sin. But he's not. Not just there. He's thrown one more in. Now he doesn't mention it.

[18:38] But it's obvious. Because. God calls him. Jesus. God calls him. To give away. Everything he has. And.

[18:49] And. Or. Sell it. And distribute it to the poor. And follow him. Because God calls him. To do that. And he doesn't. Answer. God. Yes.

[18:59] I'll do this. He doesn't. Obey. He has not only broken. Six commandments. Of the second table. Of the law. Now. He's broken.

[19:10] The first table. Of the law. He has put. His money. In front of God. He has worshipped. Himself. And his money.

[19:21] More than God. God. Remember. The law. The law. Has. Three uses. It's to point out. Our sin. It's a restraint.

[19:31] On society. And it's to show Christians. How we should live. This is. A first use. Of the law. Jesus uses this law. To point out. This man's sin. Jesus said.

[19:43] You know the law. And he lists these off. And this guy says. I've done this. And I've done this. And I've done this. And I've done this. All my life. The purpose of the law.

[19:55] Was never. Ever. Then. Nor now. Will it ever be. To earn your salvation. That was all lost with Adam. The only person.

[20:06] Who could perfectly walk. Righteous before God. And earn a salvation. For human beings. Was this. Good master.

[20:18] That this man. Was supposed to give up. Everything for. And follow. But that. Law. God used. To show him.

[20:29] That he was sinful. It was never meant. To earn his salvation. Now let me ask you. Answer this question. Does this mean.

[20:39] That Jesus wants me. To sell everything. Everything. I have. To follow him. Do I have to become. A man. Who sells everything.

[20:50] Walks around. In a hair coat. You know what a hair coat is. It's made of hair. Very uncomfortable to wear. It itches all the time. It's meant to make you suffer. Am I supposed to sell everything.

[21:02] Walk around in a hair coat. To follow Christ. No. That's not what. What's going on here. Jesus. Is not necessarily. Telling you. That you must. Get rid of everything.

[21:12] To be able to be a Christian. The problem was. This man. Worshipped money. It was his God. This man's riches.

[21:27] Were what he wanted. More than anything. And so it showed. Who he. Was worshiping. What he was worshiping. He was worshiping himself.

[21:37] He was worshiping his money. A person. Who truly desires. Salvation. Wants. Salvation. More than. Anything else.

[21:48] Because they know. That there is. Nothing else. That can provide them. Salvation. Jesus. Has already mentioned this. Several times.

[21:59] In the gospel. A person. Willing. A person. Following Christ. Is a person. Who's willing. To give up. Everything. And anything. To have his need met.

[22:11] I could take you. I had a long list. Of verses. But I'm just going to take you. To a couple. Matthew 13. 44 to 46. The kingdom of heaven. Is like a treasure.

[22:23] Hidden in a field. Which. A man found. And covered up. Then. In his joy. He goes. And sells. All that he has. And buys. That field.

[22:35] Next verse. Again. The kingdom of heaven. Is like. A merchant. In search of fine pearls. Who on finding. One pearl. Of great value. Went and sold. All that he had.

[22:46] And bought it. This man's riches. Stood between him. And Christ. Now. Now. Christ did resist him. But he couldn't come to Christ.

[22:58] Through his riches. He had to come to Christ. For who he was. He had to come to Christ. Knowing he had a need. He had to come to Christ. Knowing that Christ. Was the only one. Could meet that need.

[23:09] And the money. He had stacked up. The property. He had stacked up. Could do nothing. For his soul. It needed to be moved. Out of the way. Do we need to give.

[23:19] Everything away. No. We don't need to. Necessarily give. Everything away. But we need. To want. And need. Christ. More than anything. Paul taught this lesson.

[23:32] In Philippians 3. Verses 4 through 9. He was boasting. But. But. He gave this example. And so good. It follows this. Very well. Philippians 3.

[23:42] 4 through 9. Though I myself. Have reason for confidence. In the flesh. Also. If anyone else. Thinks he has reason. For confidence. In the flesh. I have more.

[23:54] Circumcised on the eighth day. Of the people of Israel. Of the tribe of Benjamin. A Hebrew of the Hebrews. As to the law. A Pharisee. That means kept it. In their minds. Perfectly.

[24:04] As to the law. A Pharisee. As to zeal. A persecutor of the church. As to righteousness. Under the law. Blameless. He would have answered. Jesus' question. The same way.

[24:15] I have kept this. From my youth. As to righteousness. Under the law. Blameless. But whatever gain I had. I counted as loss. For the sake of Christ.

[24:27] Indeed. I count everything. As loss. Because of the surpassing. Worth. Of knowing Christ. Knowing Christ.

[24:37] Jesus my Lord. For his sake. I have suffered the loss. Of all things. And count them. As rubbish. In order that I may. Gain Christ. And be found in him.

[24:48] Not having a righteousness. As my own. But what comes from the law. Not a righteousness of my own. That comes from the law. But that which comes through. Faith in Christ. The righteousness.

[25:00] From God. Depends on faith. That's what. Jesus was showing this man. Your riches. Stand in the way.

[25:12] Of you coming to me. You worship them. You don't think. You need me. More than everything. Or anything. You think. You're better off.

[25:24] With a hundred billion dollars. In your bank account. And owning. Tens of millions of acres. In Israel. But the man saw it.

[25:38] He saw that the law. Pointed him out. As a covetous man. He saw that the law. Pointed him out. As an idolater. He saw that the law. Said.

[25:48] I serve. Money. More than God. He saw all of it. It was not. That he was.

[26:00] Mindlessly walking. He made a choice. He was sad. And he walked away.

[26:11] This is a man. Who wanted to be saved. He wanted to know. How to be in heaven. He longed for it. He had worked. All his life for it. But when Jesus said.

[26:24] It has to be. Me only. He walked away. Because he didn't want. To give up his riches. Jesus had showed him.

[26:39] His sin. And how he was guilty. And showed him. That he. Was unable. To save himself. But at that point.

[26:50] Knowing. All that truth. He chose. To walk away. And so that rich.

[27:00] Ruler. Lacked salvation. Because he was. Unwilling. To repent. Of worshiping. His riches. He was.

[27:11] Unwilling. To repent. Of trusting. In his riches. And turn. To follow Christ. Treasuring. His treasure. Kept him. From the kingdom.

[27:25] Friend. The law. Shows. Us. All. To be a sinner. Do you want. The only hope.

[27:36] Of salvation. Do you want it. More than anything. In your life. Do you want. What Christ. Has provided. More than anything.

[27:46] In your life. Do you want it. More than your sin. Do you want it. More than what you treasure. Something you may even think. Is a good thing. Oh I could use my money. For this. For that. And for the other thing. But the only thing is.

[27:58] You don't. Want to serve Christ. You want. To serve yourself. And look like. You're serving Christ. If you do not. Want. Or need. Christ.

[28:08] More than anything. In your life. You will walk away. Sad. Informed. But disobedient.

[28:22] Walking away. Sad. And this. Just kind of. Blew the disciples. Away. It's like. They. Been. Gut punched.

[28:34] He walks away. And they're like. Whoa. This is hard. Verse 24. He says. Jesus.

[28:45] Seeing that. He had become sad. Said. How difficult. It is for those. Who have wealth. To enter the kingdom. Of God. For it is. Easier. For a camel. To go through.

[28:56] The eye. Of a needle. Than for a rich person. To enter the kingdom. Of God. Those who. Heard it. Said. And who. Can be saved.

[29:09] How difficult. It is. With those. For those. With riches. To enter the kingdom. Of God. It's because. That's the savior. They enjoy. They enjoy. And because.

[29:22] That's the savior. They enjoy. They also. Give themselves. To many other things. That they enjoy. That would. Be in opposition. To the law of God.

[29:34] Jesus says. It's harder. For a camel. To go through. The eye of a needle. Than for a rich man. To enter the kingdom. Now. I want you to know.

[29:45] That. The needle's eye. Is not the name of a gate. In Jerusalem. It is not. That is not. What he's saying here.

[29:55] He's using. A proverbial phrase. He's not saying. It's hard. But a camel. Can. If he takes his. His. His pack off.

[30:07] And he starves himself. For weeks. And holds his breath. As he goes through. That he'll make it. It is not that. It is a proverb. That teaches. The exact opposite.

[30:20] In Palestine. The camel. Was the biggest. Animal they knew. In Palestine. A needle. Was the smallest hole. Anything could go through.

[30:33] And no camel. Would want to be. Put through a hole. Of a needle. Because they'd be this. Hundred mile long. Stretch of goo. It is impossible.

[30:48] For a camel. To go through the eye. Of a needle. It is impossible. For a rich man. Man. It is difficult. It is impossible.

[30:59] With man. It is difficult. For a rich man. To come. To Christ. And the. And the disciples.

[31:10] Hear Jesus. See this. And they saw. What happened. They saw this man. Who looked. He looked like. He was close. He looked like. If there was. Anybody.

[31:21] That could be in heaven. I mean. The thing is. People in that day. Thought that the rich people. We tend to be. Suspicious of rich people. Unless it's our riches. But.

[31:33] Rich people in that day. Because. The old testament. Talked about. Blessing those. Who. Obeyed him. They looked at rich people. And said. These are the people.

[31:44] Who. God's displaying. That they must be. The closest to God. That anyone can be. So. When he says. What must I do.

[31:56] These disciples. Would have expected. Jesus to say. You're almost there. Just a couple. Little things. And instead.

[32:06] What Jesus did. In using the law. To lay open his treasure. Showed that this man. Was not close. He was. Bazillions of light years away. Because he wouldn't give up.

[32:19] What he served. To serve Christ. And these people. These disciples. Who were standing there. And Peter's their spokesman. They're looking at this situation.

[32:30] And it's like. They've been gut punched. And they think. If a rich man. Can't make it. If a person. We think. Is most blessed. By God. Can't make it.

[32:41] What hope is there. From us. They had a kind of. A prosperity gospel. Kind of thing. Going on here. How is there hope.

[32:54] For anyone. To be saved. If we're all lawbreakers. Who won't turn. From our sin. Now the rich man.

[33:05] Jesus talks about. These people. Who love riches. That's a big thing. For them. But rich people. Are not the only people. That is hard. To be saved. You can be poor. As dirt.

[33:16] Want riches. And be in the same boat. You can be. A person. Who is poor. And cares. Nothing for riches. And be in the same boat.

[33:28] That it's hard. For people. To get to heaven. Why? Ephesians 2. Says why. And you were dead. In the trespasses.

[33:40] And sins. In which he once walked. Following the course. Of this world. Following the prince. Of the power of the air. The spirit. That is now. At work. In the sons. Of disobedience. Among whom.

[33:51] We all once lived. In the passions. Of our flesh. Carrying out. The desires. Of the flesh. And the mind. And were by nature. Children. Of. Wrath.

[34:02] Like the rest. Of mankind. It's not hard. It's impossible. Because dead people.

[34:13] Don't do anything. They don't respond. God. And Jesus. Jesus gives them hope. He alludes to.

[34:25] A phrase. That his mother said. He wasn't. Born yet. He alludes to a phrase. His mother said. Who used.

[34:36] A form of the phrase. That Sarah. Abraham's wife said. It's impossible. But anything's possible. With God. And Jesus says.

[34:47] It's impossible. With man. But with God. God. Can. Save. A rich man. God. Can save. Those who are just as desperate.

[34:58] A poor man. God. Can do it. And so. As these disciples. Had been stunned. By this situation.

[35:13] Peter speaks up. And not only says. Who then can be saved. but Peter goes on to say see we have left our homes and followed you it's like is this going to work for us we don't look to be as close to God as this man did you turned him away because he wouldn't give up stuff we've given up stuff are we alright and Jesus answers truly I say to you there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in this life and in the age to come is it worth it to give up everything for Christ is it worth it to throw a multi-billion dollar inheritance in money and landownings up for Christ Jesus oh yes it's worth it you may give up money you may give up family we don't think about this in America but you go to Iran you go to Iraq you go to Saudi Arabia you go to northern Africa and you profess the name of Christ and see what happens in your family you're going to lose your job your mom and your dad if they don't know Christ they're never going to talk to you your brothers and sisters your own wife will divorce you it will cost you everything here doesn't seem so much now that's a blessing but it's a blessing we shouldn't abuse or take for granted it still costs to serve Christ here but is it worth it you ask that man from Iraq or North Africa was it worth it my sins are forgiven

[37:09] I have peace in my heart I know where I'm going to be but Jesus says is it worth it you're going to receive more in this life now this is not a health wealth and prosperity gospel you will receive more in this life and in the life to come yes it is worth it 1 Corinthians 2 9 but as it is written what no eye hath seen nor ear heard nor the heart of man imagined God has prepared for those who love him to be a follower of Christ means that nothing can stand in the way not who you are not what you have now who you're related to nothing is it worth it it is beyond words worth it

[38:13] Paul says I had all this stuff and I thought of it as dung if I could just be known by having Christ's righteousness if you see yourself as a sinner and you want that sin paid for and you truly want that sin paid for and God works in your heart you are willing to give everything up for having that peace for having that sins cleansed and in America I'm curious I'm not doubting the word of God I'm not saying it's not sufficient it is sufficient it's easy in many respects to claim that you're a Christian doesn't cost you anything but right now if it cost you your life is it worth it if it cost you your home is it worth it oh yes yes it's worth it what if he took it

[39:33] I challenge you we're not losing out to follow Christ we're gaining everything we have to let the things of this world go I'm not saying we live in a hair coat or anything like that but our lives need to be tuned towards him he's our desire willing to give up anything give up anything for Christ would you have gone away sad it's worth it live for him let's pray thank you father for your word and I thank you for your obvious love for this man you weren't just liking to blow him out of the water thank you that this call to him was genuine as genuine as the call to all people who hear the gospel come to me and live and I pray that it is our hearts cry

[40:47]  I want Christ more than anything I need Christ more than anything I will live for Christ and it all can be taken away I pray that you would work in our hearts and draw us to yourself and father if there's one here who's genuinely been seeking to know how they get to heaven you said it's possible with God for the camel to go through the eye of the needle and there are many of us who can give testimony to the fact you opened our eyes when we did not want you at all be gracious and bring camels through needles today and may your name be exalted and glorified in Jesus name amen