Trascrizione completa di 182: Sheep Without a Shepherd (Walking with Jesus Series: #043: Matt. 9:18-38)

--> 00:03:13.919 They're under Roman dominance at this point. 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:16.400 And there's a curse upon the land. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:26.000 And God had warned them in the Mosaic Law that if you do not obey, I will send enemies, I will curse the land, so it's not prosperous. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:32.400 So instead of being blessed, the people are burdened down with sinful bondage that they've brought upon themselves. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:41.840 Physical sickness and death of individuals is representative of spiritual sickness and deadness of the nation. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:48.080 This moves Jesus to compassion because they are sheep without a shepherd. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:52.479 And that's what I've titled the message today, Sheep without a shepherd. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:58.319 Incidentally, that is not entirely because there is no one to lead them in righteousness. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:03.840 It's also because the people have chosen not to follow good shepherds. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:09.199 That's another angle of understanding this text that we're going to explore today. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:18.000 Stubborn sheep who refuse to follow good shepherds bring upon themselves spiritual sickness and spiritual deadness. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:19.839 And that grieves the heart of Jesus. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.720 That's what he's viewing, all these people around him who are spiritually wandering. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:36.399 And I believe it's correct to assume that in large measure it was the people rejecting the shepherds, because we know that Jesus is there and he's the good shepherd, and they've rejected him. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:38.639 John the Baptist is there. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:46.160 He's a shepherd of sorts, pointing people to Messiah, providing leadership and truth, and yet Israel rejected his message. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:50.720 Now, many did repent, but overall the nation did not. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:05:06.879 In fact, very soon Jesus is going to send out his twelve disciples as under-shepherds in chapter 10, and they're going to provide leadership and point people to Messiah, spiritual truth, but they're rejected in the same manner that Jesus has been rejected. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.759 So it's not just that there were no good shepherds. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:13.199 I mean, there was a blight of good leadership in the nation. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:21.040 But now that Jesus and John the Baptist are there as good shepherds, the problem became the people just didn't want to submit to good shepherds. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:33.040 In this chapter of Matthew chapter 9, we're going to find healings and an exorcism, and the spirit of the chapter is summed up well in verse 35. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:45.199 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.600 Why does he do this? 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:56.000 Is his ministry of healing physical maladies going to cure the nation of its bigger spiritual problems? 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:57.839 Well, no, of course not. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:05:59.920 Then why does he do these miracles? 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:12.879 Well, we must remember that miracles are signs, not merely for the purpose of confirming Christ's authority as the Son of God, though they certainly had that effect. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:20.560 The primary purpose of Christ's miracles is to signify something, to point the way. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:41.759 Simply put, the physical healings, the exorcisms, casting out of demons from individuals, signify something bigger, that spiritual healing and freedom from Satan's bondage are necessary for the nation to experience life and health once again. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:48.879 Thus Jesus has been proclaiming the message, repent, for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:56.879 And starting in chapter 10, his disciples are going to be going out preaching that same message all throughout the villages of Israel. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:04.319 My objective this morning in the message is to see in what sense the people of Israel are like sheep without a shepherd. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:08.560 I think we'll get a pretty good snapshot here in Matthew chapter 9. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:13.759 But let's first go to the parallel account in Mark chapter 5. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.439 I'm going to read verses 22 through 24. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.399 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:24.639 Actually it's pronounced Yairus. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:30.800 And when he saw him, he fell at his feet and begged him earnestly, saying, My little daughter lies at the point of death. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:35.839 Come, lay your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:41.519 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed him and thronged him. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:47.040 We first discover this ruler, Yris, who comes to Jesus. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:50.160 We're told that he's one of the rulers of the local synagogue. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:55.360 We could liken him to a pastor of sorts in that local congregation. 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:58.800 His daughter is near the point of death. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:02.720 From verse 42, we know she's twelve years old. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:10.879 And it's important to understand that the ruler of a synagogue is considered a dignified official in the Israelite community. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:13.360 I find a little irony here too. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:19.360 There's sheep without a shepherd, but there's a pastor of sorts introduced into the text. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:21.360 Presumably he was a good pastor. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:28.959 We don't know a lot about him, but

apparently the people in the nation, overall at least, were rejecting truth. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.240 Whether they rejected this man as their pastor, we don't know. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:34.879 But I just find it somewhat ironic. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:42.480 This man is dignified, but he throws aside all pomp and circumstance because his daughter is dying. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:45.679 Wouldn't you, in desperation, do about all you could? 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:54.480 Throw aside any haughtiness or pridefulness for the sake of your child if you knew Jesus was there and could heal her? 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.600 Will he fall before Jesus were told? 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:02.080 And Matthew's gospel actually says he worships Jesus. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:10.000 This man must surely believe that Jesus can heal his daughter, or he would never condescend in this way. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:12.960 So he lowers himself. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:21.279 He humbles himself, a dignified ruler in Israel, gets on his face before Jesus. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:28.799 And as we would expect, Jesus, in his heart of compassion and love for people, follows this man to his house. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.720 Along the way, he has an encounter with a sick woman. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.200 But we're going to get to that story in just a moment. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.200 Let's first finish this story about Yarus' daughter. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:41.600 Look at Mark 5.35. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:52.240 While he was still speaking, the he being Jesus, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, Your daughter is dead. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.759 Why trouble the teacher any further? 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.480 Oh no, this is terrible news. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:04.000 Servants come from Yaris's house to report she's already dead, don't bother him anymore. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.480 They've obviously lost all hope. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:12.159 They encourage Iris to leave Jesus alone, come home, attend to the matter at hand. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.879 But notice Christ's response in verse 36. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:22.960 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid, only believe. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:23.759 Wow. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:25.600 Words of great hope. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:31.120 Now, how would you respond if this were your child? 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.200 You wonder what's going through this man's mind? 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:38.159 Would you believe Jesus? 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:40.799 Look at verses 37 and 38. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:46.559 And he, Jesus, permitted no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:54.320 Then he came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and he saw a tumult, and those who wept and wailed loudly. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.279 So they arrive at the man's house. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.559 They find a tumult, a loud commotion. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:04.080 And it's loud wailing because the girl has already died. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:15.840 Now in the first century, Jewish families would cry out loud vociferously when a loved one died, and oftentimes they would hire others to wail along with them. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.320 Sometimes the whole community, if it was small, would come out and wail on behalf of the family. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.159 And it was tumult. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:23.200 It was confusing. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.200 It was loud, it was noisy. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:28.399 And they even do this in parts of the Middle East today. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.279 That's the tumult of which we read here. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:34.720 When Jesus arrives, it's rather hopeless. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.960 The girl is dead. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.480 People are grieving. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.039 Already wailing, as we said. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.279 Look at verse 39. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:47.440 When he came in, he said to them, Why make this commotion and weep? 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.960 The child is not dead, but sleeping. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:54.480 Interesting use of words here. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:12:01.360 Jesus doesn't view people as dead and gone, but sleeping until the resurrection. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.360 How does the crowd respond? 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.519 They ridiculed him. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:08.480 The parallel text says they laughed at him. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.720 Does this stop Jesus? 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.360 No. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:16.879 Look at the latter half of verse 40 of Mark 5 and all the way down into verse 42. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:26.639 But when he had put them all outside, he took the father and the mother of the child and those who were with him, Peter, James, and John, and he entered where the child was lying. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:33.519 Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, Talathakumi, which is translated, Little Girl, I say to you, Arise. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:41.519 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age, and they were overcome with great amazement. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.919 Boy, can you imagine the buzz in that community? 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.879 The newspapers get a hold of that one. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.519 This dead girl is resurrected. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.240 Her life is restored. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:59.279 What does this miracle signify? 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:05.679 Merely that Jesus can raise the dead and that he is therefore the powerful Son of God? 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:10.320 Well, that's significant, but it's not merely that. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:21.679 Most commentators point out that this miracle demonstrates that Jesus is Lord over life, and the next miracle demonstrates that he is Lord over health.

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.600 Well, that's true, but it just doesn't go far enough. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:33.840 This miracle signifies that Israel, the nation, is spiritually sick and will soon die. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.279 How so? 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:37.679 Well, AD 70 is coming. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:49.039 John the Baptist has already warned them the axe is going to be laid to the root of the tree, Israelites, if you don't wake up and repent of your sins and get right with Jehovah. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.399 What did he mean by that? 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:57.759 The Romans were going to come and destroy Jerusalem, and they did in AD 70, as you know. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:04.559 Completely wiped out the city, killed a million Jews, and destroyed the temple, raised it completely to the ground. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:10.879 The nation will need to be resurrected before it can be blessed by the messianic rule. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.360 That's what this miracle teaches. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.600 The nation is sick. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.799 The nation is on the pathway of destruction. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:24.639 The nation needs to be resurrected before the messianic rule. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:31.200 This is an Old Testament prophecy signified in the form of a miracle. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:40.960 Now I'd like to share with you some of the Old Testament prophecies, and there's a whole lot more in the Old Testament we could look at, but for sake of time we'll limit it to just a few. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.320 Ezekiel 37, twelve through fourteen. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:54.559 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, O my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:01.279 Then you shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up from your graves. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:05.759 I will put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:11.039 Then you shall know that I the Lord have spoken it and performed it, says the Lord. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:20.240 Because of national Israel's spiritual sickness, the nation will be judged by God, and that will result in death. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:29.360 But the nation will later be resurrected to new life, and that's what this miracle signifies in miniature form. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:38.240 To add a little icing on the cake, Mark tells us that the name of the ruler of the synagogue there is Iris. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:52.879 That's Greek, but the Hebrew equivalent is Yair, found in several places in the Old Testament, meaning one who enlightens or one who awakens and gives light. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.240 Now, why would Mark bother to tell us this? 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:09.200 Perhaps because it is through the raising of Yair's daughter that Israel is enlightened about the nation's present

sickness leading to death and future resurrection leading to life. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:14.480 We don't know, but it seems like a subtle little hint here in the text. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.720 Because miracles do signify things. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.039 They're called signs frequently. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:29.679 We come now to the second miracle in our text, and it happens while Jesus is on the way to Jairus' house, and we're going to read Mark 5, 24 through 34. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:33.679 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed him and thronged him. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:39.600 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:43.200 She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.840 What a dismal situation, poor woman. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:50.720 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:55.919 Verse twenty eight for she said, If only I may touch his clothes, I shall be made well. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:01.840 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:09.519 And Jesus immediately, knowing in himself that power had gone out of him, turned around in the crowd and said, Who touched my clothes? 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:14.720 But his disciples said to him, You see the multitude thronging you, and you say, Who touched me? 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:18.240 And he looked around to see her who had done this thing. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:25.039 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.680 And he said to her, Daughter, your faith hath made you well. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:34.240 Go in peace and be healed of your affliction. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:41.039 Well, this woman has some type of incurable hemorrhaging disease that has caused her much suffering through the years. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:44.079 The doctors have not been able to help, she's desperate. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:53.119 So she covertly touches Christ's garment amidst all the throngs of people because she knows that Jesus can heal her. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:58.799 The garment may be a reference to the tassels that were attached to a rabbi's clothes. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:03.839 Jesus instantly knows the healing power that's gone forth from him. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:09.599 This woman has grabbed his garment, probably one of these tassels, many commentators point out, and she's healed. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.359 How remarkable. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:26.799 Hebert, the commentator, said Jesus perceived in himself without any external suggestion the significance of the woman's touch, and actively willing to honor her faith, he was immediately conscious

of his healing power going toward her. 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:31.039 His power was always under the control of his conscious volition. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:41.119 His consciousness of that power going forth from him suggests that his healing ministries cost Jesus much spiritual energy. 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:52.079 It would explain why he found it necessary at times to escape the crowds to find time for refreshing through fellowship with the Father, end quote. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:55.359 I find it interesting that he says this, but it makes sense. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:19:04.400 He was in a human body, had the constraints of humanness, though he never ceased to be God, but he chose to function as a man on earth. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:09.759 So when this spiritual power emanates from him, he probably gets a little worn out. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:12.079 That's what the commentator is suggesting. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.759 And maybe that's why Jesus needs time alone with the Father. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:20.880 Well, Jesus wants to know who has touched him, and the woman is revealed. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:28.000 But she falls down before Jesus, fearful and trembling as if she's done something wrong, and she tells him the whole story. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.680 Does he rebuke her? 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.279 Not hardly. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.759 I love what he says to her in verse 34. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:37.279 Daughter, your faith has made you well. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:40.160 Go in peace and be healed of your affliction. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.680 What's his point? 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:48.640 It's not your touch per se that made you whole, it's that faith in your heart and mind. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.880 That's what made you whole. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:56.559 And because of her faith, she's instantly healed and cleansed of her uncleanness. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:03.119 Now I want to park here for just a moment and point out something rather significant. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:14.559 In the previous miracles, Jesus touches a dead body, and in this miracle, he allows himself to be touched by a woman with an issue of blood. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:22.400 In both cases, through both of these associations, he's made unclean according to the Jewish law. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:32.799 Jewish laws regarding uncleanness were likely given, at least in part, for purposes of hygiene, to keep the Israelites protected from disease. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:48.880 But I think also it ties to the spiritual message that the life of the flesh is in the blood, and that life-giving force in this case is being shed forth from this woman, an indication of dying or deadness. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:51.599 And of course, the other person is dead. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:21:02.559 The Israelites would be unclean if they were to touch a dead body, or if there were some type of bodily omission, bodily fluids, and so on, Leviticus, Numbers. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:11.839 And all of these laws on uncleanness were, in large measure, probably for the protection of the people, but they also symbolized, as I said, a spiritual aspect. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:28.319 There's no doubt that at times Israelites in the normal course of living would experience these things, and other related bodily emissions that would make them unclean, and also make unclean any who touched that person or their bed or their clothing, etc. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:37.599 And so they did their best from becoming unclean for the waiting time, and the ritual to become clean again was burdensome. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.960 We're not going to go into the details. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.359 You can read about that in Leviticus and Numbers. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:48.000 But they had to be kept from public contact for a brief time, including public worship. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.920 They had to do a ritual cleansing. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:55.119 In some cases, they had to go to the temple and offer sacrifice. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:58.480 Not for the more routine things, but for some of the things. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.759 Again, it appears God was using. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:08.079 Using these laws to keep his people, at least in part, from contracting disease and spreading it, like maybe a mini quarantine of sorts. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:15.680 But notice in our text that Jesus does not avoid touching the dead body or the woman with the blood issue, as most Jews would have done. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.960 You know, the man had been beaten up, he was bloodied, left for dead. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:36.880 He was still living, but he was left for dead by the criminals in that area stealing from him. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:41.200 Well, the priest comes by, the Levite comes by, they look at him, but they won't touch him. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.000 Why? 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.920 Well, maybe they don't want to become unclean. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:47.440 That's something we don't normally think about in the text. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:52.880 But Jesus rushes into help like a spiritual paramedic. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:57.920 And in so doing, he becomes unclean through contact with these unclean people. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.680 Now, why would he do this? 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:08.000 In order to signify the nation's sickness and uncleanness and need to be made whole again. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.960 That's the big picture in all of this. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:26.960 Whenever you see healings, exorcisms, the blind getting back their sight, the deaf getting back their hearing, and so on, it was because Jesus was working to signify something bigger to the nation overall. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:32.559 Now, obviously, he wanted to help those individuals, but it was a bigger picture, as I said. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:37.440 I want you to see what God said in the Old Testament about Israel's

spiritual condition. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:39.680 We're going to look at a couple places in the prophets. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:49.440 Isaiah 1, verse 4, Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:55.759 They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:24:08.799 Now, granted, this was during Isaiah's day, and was referring to Judah, which had become idolatrous, and God was warning them of the Babylonian captivity that was coming. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:12.799 Now I realize that at the time of Jesus the people are not idolatrous. 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:18.720 God had largely cured them of that through the Babylonian captivity, but they had plenty of other sins. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:26.319 And John the Baptist had warned them of judgment coming because of their sins. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:28.720 Like in Isaiah's day, it was Babylon. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:32.960 In Christ's day, they were warning of Rome. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:38.799 Well, they didn't specifically name the nation, but we know from our historical vantage point it was Rome. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:51.920 And I wonder, too, could this not also apply, at least in principle, to the Israel of the coming tribulation era when God brings judgment upon the nation for its disobedience? 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.720 That's going to be a big deal yet to come. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:59.039 Later in Isaiah 1, God tells Israel what they need to do. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:06.880 Verse 16, wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:08.640 Cease to do evil. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:12.079 Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord. 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:16.960 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:20.960 Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:30.960 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:38.079 That applied in Isaiah's day, that applied in Christ's day, that will apply in the coming tribulation era. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:46.799 Thankfully our merciful God does not only give these words of warning for disobedience, he also gives words of hope for deliverance. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.119 Jeremiah 3 22. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:54.400 Return you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:26:02.480 Jeremiah 30, verse 17, for I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:11.759 Jeremiah 33, verse 6, Behold, I will bring it health and healing, I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:25.279 And then Jeremiah 33, verse 8, I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against me. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:31.519 Hosea chapter six, verse one, come, the people say, and let us return to the Lord. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:35.519 For he has torn, but he will heal us. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:39.440 He has stricken, but he will bind us up. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:51.359 And God's response, Hosea fourteen, four, I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.920 Wow, beautiful words of hope. 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.759 Our God is merciful. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:27:06.480 These words, and a whole lot more that we could have shared from the prophets, were spoken hundreds of years before Jesus ever came on the scene. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:11.839 And yet in Christ's day the nation was just as sick and in need of healing. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:26.960 Is it any wonder then that Jesus performs many signs to admonish the people to look around, see all this sickness and spiritual deadness, while encouraging them with the promise that healing and restoration are coming? 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:31.839 What is it that will bring this healing to national Israel? 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.920 Well, it's faith. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:50.480 And repentance of sins, of course, just as the woman's faith, Yarus' faith in Jesus, brought that healing and restoration, so Israel will one day believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the one they crucified. 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:54.079 Zechariah 12 says, they will weep for him and mourn for him. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:28:01.039 When he comes the second time, splits them out of olives in two, they will weep for him and they will embrace him at that time. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:03.839 That's yet future at the end of the tribulation. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:07.920 And then 2 Chronicles 7 14 will be fulfilled. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:22.640 If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:26.480 That leads me now to the next miracle in our text. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:30.559 We're going to go to Matthew 9, 27 through thirty. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:32.400 Look at verse twenty-seven. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:40.559 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:46.960 And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:49.119 They said to him, Yes, Lord. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:53.359 Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, let it be to

you. 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:58.400 And their eyes were opened, and Jesus sternly warned them, saying, See that no one knows it. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:00.960 Here we have two blind men that come to Jesus. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.480 They refer to him as son of David. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.000 That's a messianic title. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:06.480 So they must believe that he's the Messiah. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:09.359 And they're seeking for God's mercy upon them. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:14.880 Jesus asks if they believe that he can give them sight, and they say, Yes, we do. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:20.160 Jesus gives these men sight according to their faith. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:23.839 In other words, I'm giving you sight because you believe. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:27.920 Verse 30 says, and their eyes were opened. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.400 Now, why are there two men? 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.920 You ever wonder about that? 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:41.440 Well, I can't say dogmatically, but it seems to me that the two represent the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:48.720 Now, before we see the significance of the miracle, let's see the next one. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:51.200 Matthew 9, 32 through 34. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:55.440 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a man mute and demon-possessed. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:30:04.960 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke, and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never seen like this in Israel. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:09.359 But the Pharisees said, He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:12.079 Those lovely Pharisees. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:37.920 This man is demon-possessed, the demon has stolen from him speech, and we know his ability to talk, and presumably hearing, because the Greek word translated mute in verse 32, it's the word dumb in the King James Version, but it refers to the deaf, the mute, and those who are both deaf and mute, as presumably this man was. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:44.799 Jesus exercises the demon, casts it out, and immediately the man speaks again, and everyone marvels. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:52.160 But of course the Pharisees are there to pour cold water on the occasion by attributing the supernatural healing to the devil's work. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:54.000 Jesus dealt with that earlier on. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.519 We looked at that in another message. 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:57.279 But here's what I want you to notice. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.519 Once again, these healings are a sign. 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:01.039 A sign of what? 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:15.119 A sign of Israel's present at that time, blindness and deafness to truth, and need for future healing in order to see and hear and understand the truth of God's word. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:20.559 What a sign! The nation was definitely blind and deaf to truth. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:24.160 Now listen to these words from the

Old Testament that signified this. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.680 Ezekiel 12, 2. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:35.119 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear, but does not hear, for they are a rebellious house. 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:42.000 So the same thing that was happening during the time of the Babylonian captivity is happening again spiritually at the time of Christ. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.079 The people are living in sinfulness. 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:55.359 Again, it's not idolatry per se, but it's sinfulness, legalism with the Pharisees, licentiousness with the publicans and harlots, and others who were sinning in other ways in Israel. 00:31:55.839 --> 00:32:01.680 So they're deaf to truth, blind to truth, even at the time of Christ. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:12.640 Isaiah 6, verse 10 Make the heart of this people dull and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed. 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:14.319 So there you have it. 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:26.720 The nation at least two times in their history, and we could look at other times, like at the wilderness wandering generation, when Israel was blind and deaf to truth due to their disobedience. 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:33.759 And is not the nation presently blind and deaf to truth and living in unbelief? 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:40.079 But one day all will be healed when Jesus returns the second time. 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:43.440 The nation's eyes will be opened, their ears will be unstopped. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:48.079 Now listen to these glorious messianic texts, Isaiah 29, 18. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:53.680 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:55.200 So there's hope for Israel. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:33:04.079 Isaiah 35, 5 and 6, and the eyes of the blind shall be open, the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, and the lame shall leap like a deer, the tongue of the dumb sing. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:09.599 For water shall burst forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:15.039 Beautiful verses about the Messianic rule, the millennial reign. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:22.480 Let's drop back now and review the four miracles that Jesus performs in this text. 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:29.839 First, the daughter of Iris is quite sick, she dies, but Jesus raises her from the dead. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:35.920 The miracle signifies that Israel is spiritually sick unto death. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:43.359 And because of the nation's deplorable spiritual condition, the nation will now face God's judgment and be put to death. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:46.240 And again, we know that happened in AD 70. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:50.240 However, God will raise Israel from the dead and give her new life. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.599 Ezekiel 37. 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.359 That's coming in the future. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:59.279 Secondly, the woman with a hemorrhaging condition is raised back to full health because of her faith. 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:08.000 So Israel as a nation is hemorrhaging spiritually, but will be healed when Messiah comes again and the nation turns to him in faith. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:11.519 And that wasn't just true in Christ's day, it's true today as well. 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:15.280 The two blind men are given eyesight. 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:24.639 Obvious meaning there, and then the deaf, mute man is given hearing and speech once the demon is exorcised. 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:36.960 The obvious application: Israel is presently blind and deaf to spiritual truth, and will not receive Jesus or believe the truth of the kingdom inheritance message. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:49.920 Ah, but one day future, when he returns, as I said, the nation will be given spiritual sight, spiritual healing, and the people will return to the Lord, believing on Jesus and repenting of all their disobedience. 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:52.639 What a joy to think of Israel's bright future. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:56.079 You know, there are those who believe in replacement theology. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.360 We do not. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:05.119 Replacement theology was held by the reformers and has spread to the Protestant churches predominantly. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:07.599 Roman Catholicism holds it too. 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:16.400 But it basically teaches that the church is spiritual Israel and God has no future plan for national Israel. 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:19.119 We reject that as unscriptural. 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:25.440 The Bible teaches that God has a plan for the nation of Israel. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:31.920 Once they repent, and he will use seven years of tribulation to bring the nation to repentance. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.480 But they will repent when he comes the second time. 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:39.440 And he will continue with his nation on earth in the millennial reign. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:41.199 That's joyful to think about. 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:49.760 But at the time that Jesus is speaking to the people, they are sick unto death, they are hemorrhaging, they are blind and deaf, so to speak. 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:53.199 So we read in 935 of Matthew. 00:35:53.360 --> 00:36:02.960 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:05.760 Notice the message he preaches. 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:08.239 It's the gospel of the kingdom. 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:15.679 That's not the same, as you know, from last week's message, as the gospel of the grace of God by which we are saved. 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:18.719 Israel was already a believing nation.

00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:20.639 They were believing in Jehovah. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:28.719 They were offering Passover lambs, signifying that they were a saved nation, acknowledging their salvation on the basis of blood. 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:46.480 So Jesus comes in because they're disobedient believers, and he proclaims the gospel of the kingdom, which is a message of repenting and getting right with God, so you can inherit a place in the future heavenly kingdom, the New Jerusalem. 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:50.559 Well, Jesus proclaims that gospel so the nation will get right with God. 00:36:50.800 --> 00:37:00.639 He heals all manner of sickness and disease to provide these signs to the nation so they can see their present spiritual condition and their future prospects. 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:09.039 But we're told here that Jesus has compassion on the people, for they're weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:13.679 Now, this could mean, as I said earlier, that they have bad leaders, and they did. 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:17.039 The Sadducees and the Pharisees were a complete mess. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:29.119 But I tend to think it could also mean something else, and this is the angle I'm looking at the passage from today, from the angle that the people are just too stubborn to follow good leadership. 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:34.960 We must remember that Jesus and John the Baptist are there, and they've been preaching this gospel of the kingdom. 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:41.519 Soon the disciples will join in the effort, and yet the people are still like sheep without a shepherd. 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:46.239 I tend to think this means they refuse to follow a good shepherd. 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:50.960 Why don't the Israelites follow Jesus and John the Baptist? 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.239 They're good shepherds. 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:54.800 Well, some do, of course, we know that. 00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:57.039 But the nation overall does not. 00:37:57.199 --> 00:38:01.760 That's a tragedy, for that means they're refusing to follow. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:04.800 What does a good shepherd do for the sheep? 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:06.159 Well, several things. 00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:09.119 He makes sure they're fed nourishing food. 00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:12.079 He heals their maladies and diseases. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:14.239 He protects them from predators. 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:16.800 He goes after them when they are lost. 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.599 But Israel is not following good shepherds. 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:24.880 Consequently, the people are malnourished, sickly, weak, and ravaged by predators. 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:26.800 And we're speaking spiritually here. 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:33.280 The end result of their refusal to follow good shepherds is tragic sickness, death, destruction. 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:38.800 Thus Jesus says that we should pray for laborers to go into the harvest. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:39.760 Let me read these verses. 00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:47.920 Matthew 9, 37 and 38, then he said to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. 00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:52.559 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:57.920 Now I've always heard this preached and taught and applied in an evangelistic sense. 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:59.599 You probably have too. 00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:03.039 But that's not how Jesus intends this. 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:10.400 In the context, he's not intending this message to be interpreted or applied in a salvation sense. 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:14.960 As I said, the nation is already believing, believing in Jehovah God. 00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:22.960 This is a sanctification text, and the gospel of the kingdom is a sanctification message. 00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:28.880 That clearly fits the context of the gospels if you read them in their context. 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:36.159 Jesus wants believers who understand this message to proclaim it to other believers who need to hear it. 00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:40.800 Believers who are living in disobedience are like sheep without a shepherd. 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:44.719 By the way, why would unbelievers follow him? 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:47.199 He's not their shepherd. 00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:51.039 But for believers, Jesus is their shepherd. 00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:52.000 They need to follow him. 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:56.559 And if they don't, well, it's because of their own stubbornness and disobedience. 00:39:56.880 --> 00:40:04.400 He wants children of God to prepare to meet him at the judgment seat and be rewarded rather than suffer loss. 00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:10.559 What is the equivalent of sheep without a shepherd in our day? 00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:15.599 Well, it certainly would include churches where the pastor is not a good shepherd. 00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:28.239 Either he does not preach the whole truth of the word of God so that the sheep are malnourished, or he lords it over the flock, acting more like a totalitarian driver rather than a spirit-filled leader. 00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:36.079 Doesn't care for the sheep, doesn't care about their spiritual condition, doesn't care to help heal them spiritually from the word of God and so on. 00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:47.840 As a result, those under his spiritual care are getting weaker and sicker and facing the prospect of spiritual deadness if they haven't already arrived at that point. 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:59.199 And frankly, I fear this is happening widespread throughout Christianity in churches all across our land, even those that claim to hold to the fundamentals of the faith. 00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:11.199 I've been exposed to many churches in my lifetime of 62 years, been around the block a few times, we might say, and boy, I have seen some tyrants who are pastors. 00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:15.360 They had some kind of

personal agenda, I don't know what it was. 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:19.599 But they drove the sheep instead of leading them. 00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:22.880 But that's not the only problem today. 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:25.679 We could speak a whole message or series of messages on that. 00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:28.480 And the Old Testament deals with that pretty seriously. 00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:30.079 We'll look at it another time. 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:33.679 But another big problem is just bad sheep. 00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:35.360 I mean, they're believers. 00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:40.559 But many are sheep without a shepherd because they refuse to submit to a shepherd. 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:45.199 They do not want to be accountable to a church, a pastor, or a congregation. 00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:50.239 I'll tell you what, through 30 years of pastoring, I faced this many times through the years. 00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:54.559 These believers are independent and march to the beat of their own drum. 00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:56.400 They refuse to receive correction. 00:41:56.559 --> 00:42:00.400 Oh boy, you try to correct them gently, even from the scriptures. 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:02.880 I'm very gentle in working with people. 00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:10.960 In fact, I usually bite my tongue probably more than I should and not say things that I probably should just because I'm fearful of their response. 00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:13.360 You know what the response typically is? 00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:14.960 I'm out of here. 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:17.360 And I've heard that several times. 00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:24.480 Just because people aren't humble and can't receive basic correction that they desperately need, I'm out of here. 00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.840 You never see them again. 00:42:26.079 --> 00:42:26.960 Dreadful. 00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:34.079 They're weak because they resist being shepherded, running off to what they consider greener pastors. 00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:39.679 In fact, they become church hoppers, many of them. 00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:42.480 Often carried about with every wind of doctrine. 00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:46.800 We had a little experience with this for a few years in our church in Pennsylvania. 00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:54.000 There was an area there where people were just not happy with their church, would leave it, typically over things like this. 00:42:54.159 --> 00:42:55.599 They weren't willing to submit. 00:42:55.840 --> 00:43:03.039 It's not that there were bad pastors necessarily, but they'd get in a huff, you know, and they'd leave. 00:43:03.280 --> 00:43:05.519 And then they'd end up at our church. 00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:08.480 Well, those aren't the kind of people I want in my church. 00:43:08.719 --> 00:43:11.039 Because guess what's going to happen all over again? 00:43:11.199 --> 00:43:12.239 You know what they need to do? 00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:18.800 Go back and apologize, make things right in the church they left, and submit to that pastor's leadership. 00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:22.400 And many don't even go to any church at all. 00:43:22.719 --> 00:43:27.840 They get their doctrine from YouTube or television. 00:43:28.559 --> 00:43:32.559 Where there are some good Bible teachers, granted, but there are a lot of bad ones. 00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:41.360 And unfortunately, independent sheep are not usually the most discerning people to know the good ones from the bad ones. 00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:50.800 Not to mention those talking heads on the internet are not shepherds in the biblical sense of the word, because there's no accountability to them. 00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:53.840 There's no personal interaction with them. 00:43:54.079 --> 00:43:57.519 There's no mending of you by that pastor. 00:43:57.840 --> 00:43:59.519 They don't even know you. 00:44:02.239 --> 00:44:05.920 And yet, that's a big percentage of Christianity today. 00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:09.840 People that just stay home and think I'll just watch the preacher on television. 00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:16.480 Do you realize what a big component of your spiritual life you're missing when you do that? 00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:21.119 God has designed the local church. 00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:24.480 And for us to be accountable to the leadership of the local church. 00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:29.679 Obviously, you need to find a good church so that there's good local leadership, but when you do, stick with it. 00:44:29.840 --> 00:44:34.880 And if they have to correct you from time to time, be humble and say, Lord, is that really true about me? 00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:37.440 Do I have this glaring error in my life? 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:39.199 If so, I want to fix it before you. 00:44:39.360 --> 00:44:42.400 Have that kind of humble spirit rather than I'm out of here. 00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:43.599 Hmm. 00:44:43.920 --> 00:44:45.519 Breaks my heart. 00:44:47.119 --> 00:44:55.679 What happened to the God-ordained local church with its God-ordained shepherd to lead those sheep under his care? 00:44:56.480 --> 00:45:02.239 Oh, by the way, it's not just the pastor that's important in a local church, it's all the other church members. 00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:06.480 Vital to our growth spiritually in fellowship. 00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:09.760 We interact with other believers and there's accountability there. 00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:11.840 The whole church participates in this. 00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:14.000 It's not just the pastor, of course. 00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:24.880 But good churches are starting to fade away as more and more independent sheep attend to get their spiritual nutrition from the internet and it's just not working. 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:30.079 You'll grow only to a certain point, then you'll just plateau the rest of your life. 00:45:30.239 --> 00:45:32.079 You think that pleases the Lord? 00:45:33.119 --> 00:45:42.000 And so these independent sheep are sickly, but not because the shepherd is unwilling to mend them, but because they refuse to be mended. 00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:51.760 They refuse to be shepherded, they're headed for self-destruction, just like Israel in our text, the way of transgressors is hard, Solomon said. 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:54.559 They sow to the flesh and they reap corruption. 00:45:54.639 --> 00:45:57.440 They have a carnal mind that is enmity with God. 00:45:57.599 --> 00:46:03.360 And sin when it is finished, brings forth death, spiritual deadness. 00:46:03.679 --> 00:46:11.679 Like the sheep in the opening illustration, you remember in Turkey where they were jumping over the cliff, just following one another. 00:46:12.159 --> 00:46:14.960 That's what Christians today are doing spiritually. 00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:23.760 They're barreling over cliffs of their own choosing, ignoring shepherds and their influence in their lives and destroying their lives. 00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:26.960 This is one of the heavy burdens I bear as a pastor. 00:46:27.119 --> 00:46:36.960 Because I've seen it so often, all through the years, and I've seen many sheep come and go, primarily because they didn't want to follow a biblical shepherd. 00:46:37.199 --> 00:46:38.480 Now I'm not perfect. 00:46:38.639 --> 00:46:39.360 I know that. 00:46:39.519 --> 00:46:42.079 My wife tells me that about every day. 00:46:45.280 --> 00:46:49.840 But I believe I can honestly say before the Lord, I've been a good pastor. 00:46:50.239 --> 00:46:52.320 I'm one who doesn't lord it over the flock. 00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:54.239 I'm one who really cares for the people. 00:46:54.480 --> 00:46:54.960 I do. 00:46:55.119 --> 00:46:56.000 You know my heart. 00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:57.840 I don't have to convince you. 00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:00.000 You're either convinced or you're not. 00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:06.480 But it burdens my heart when people just take off in a huff because they got upset. 00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:08.320 Blazing their own path. 00:47:08.480 --> 00:47:14.880 Proverbs 14, 12 says, There's a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. 00:47:15.199 --> 00:47:20.400 And so I ask you this morning in closing are you a sheep without a shepherd? 00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:24.480 Well, you say, I'm here today, that's great, but what's your mentality? 00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:26.400 Are you a sheep without a shepherd? 00:47:26.559 --> 00:47:29.920 If so, Jesus is burdened for you, and I am too.