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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God on this Lord's Day evening for our call to worship you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 93. Psalm 93 and I'll begin reading in verse 1. the Lord Reigns he is clothed with Majesty the Lord is clothed he has girded himself with strength surely the world is established so that it cannot be moved your throne is established from of old you are from Everlasting the floods have lifted up O Lord the floods have lifted up their voice the floods lift up their waves the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many Waters than the mighty waves of the sea your testimonies are very sure Holiness adorns your house O Lord forever amen well you can turn to Psalm 116. Psalm 116 see as in Charlie will stand as we sing together so 116 C m because of my soul my Christmas [Music] celebrations [Music] and hear my voice [Music] your voice [Music] refresh [Music] as we go to prayer this evening we'll remember Adrian bore he had surgery and came through well it was a kidney stone so we thank God for that and then we can remember to pray for Stephanie as her due date is quickly approaching God willing next time this week we'll see a little baby girl so we'll go ahead and pray and that's also rejoice in in God's kindness our brother mentioned it this morning but really was a blessing to see Chloe go to term and not have not the preemies are bad but not have to spend two months in the NICU with with that little one so we praise God for that so let us pray our blessed God and Holy Father we come again on this Lord's Day evening to praise and to worship and to glorify our great and awesome God we confess that you are most high we confess that you are Father Son and Holy Spirit one true and living God who exists eternally in three persons we praise you for your works of creation and Providence we see your wisdom and your power and your goodness displayed in both of these works as well we praise you for Redemption we see that goodness expanded we see grace and mercy and loving loving kindness expressed to unworthy people we praise you for the gospel of our salvation and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of All Those whom the father had given him we give praise to you for his life of perfect obedience to the law that death is a substitute and sacrifice on calvary's cross and that Resurrection again the third day we praise you for his current session now at the right hand of God the the father and we look forward to that returning Glory when he shall judge the living and the dead and may it be the case most high God that we would be ready that we would be forgiven that we would be clothed in that righteousness and ready to meet our our blessed savior we ask that you would be merciful to us tonight that you would increase our faith you would build us up in our Most Holy Faith she would cause us to reflect in a special way upon the death of our savior on our behalf we thank you for the supper and we know the bread and the wine they don't become something other but they certainly point us to the realities to the broken body and to the shed blood of Our Redeemer and certainly we see in him we see in his work the culmination of all that the Old Testament specified concerning sacrifice and approach to a holy God we see that Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and we Rejoice that you have made us partakers in those benefits we confess our sin to you even now we know that we are called to let our conduct be worthy of the gospel and yet we find God that there is that remaining corruption in us the good that we don't want the good that we wish to do we don't do and the evil we don't want to do we find ourselves doing we confess that now and pray for cleansing in the Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and for any and all who've come here tonight that are dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would awaken them the Holy Spirit would come and convict them and show forth the glory of Jesus and the fact that he saves to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto God through him and we pray that not for our only for our assembling here but for other churches in our community throughout this country and to the uttermost parts of the earth we know that Christ and his salvation is to be proclaimed to every tribe and tongue and people in Asia we know that you cause your face to shine upon the Nations and you'll let them be glad according to the psalmist so God bless gospel preaching May that word run swiftly and be glorified may it accomplish the purpose for which you sent it and may it be the case that many would come out of Darkness into Marvelous Light we praise you that you are God not just in the spiritual but in the the physical temporal as well we thank you that our brother came through surgery well we pray that he would recover that he would get the rest that he needs and that he'd be able to return to normal service unto you we also Rejoice Lord God in the kind provision of these little ones and the the lives of the families in this church we know that children are a gift we look at this culture we look at this world and it seems that the children are a curse it seems with the celebration of abortion and the various ways that that the family is targeted for Destruction we we see this as an evil manifestation or manifestation of great evil and wickedness that that is satanic in its origin we know that God most high is the author of Life The Giver of good gifts and we rejoice in your kindness to Micah and Chloe we Rejoice Lord God and the provision of this little one and we pray that that she would be healthy and well we also pray for Stephanie this week we just commend her to you and to the word of your grace and pray that all would go well in the birth of this little one give her grace and strength give Grace and strength and compassion to our brother Mack and may it be the case that there would be great rejoicing in their home as well God we pray for your blessing upon the other churches that we we love and hold fellowship with for the Saints and Surrey the Saints and Armstrong the Brethren and Dryden and there in Honduras we pray that your Rich blessings would be upon your people there that they would know The Nearness of God as their good and that they would see the power of the Gospel in their lives as well father look with favor upon the missionary Enterprise thank you for those that are out there laboring in the word and Doctrine those known only to you that are preaching Christ and am crucified and resurrected may you bless them may you prosper them and may you use them for the extension of the kingdom of God most high in this present evil age and Lord encourage us now help us as we sing help us as we turn our attention to the word of God and to the sacrament of the supper and be glorified in these things and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we can turn with me again in your hymn books to number 381 381 will stand as we sing together [Music] like me [Music] foreign [Music] let's see foreign [Music] with me in your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke for our meditation tonight before the supper Luke chapter 10 our Focus will be on verses 38 to 42 we have spent a significant amount of time with this family in Bethany over the last several Sunday mornings and as we've gone through John's Gospel of course John chapter 11 we see the death of Lazarus we see these two sisters mention we see Jesus speaking with them and then this morning in John chapter 12 the anointing at Bethany when it was Mary who took that very costly oil and poured it all over our Lord Jesus Christ anointing him with reference to the coming cross well I've alluded to this section in chapter 10 verses 38 to 42. I thought it might be helpful for us tonight to look at it so I will read the section and we'll pray and then we'll look at it in some detail now what happened as they went that he entered a certain Village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house and and she had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus feet and heard his word but Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached him and said Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone therefore tell her to help me and Jesus answered and said to her Martha Martha you are worried and troubled about many things but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her amen will let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you for your word we thank you for what we find In this passage and the emphasis upon hearing that word receiving that word demonstrating Devotion to our blessed Christ as he speaks prophetically to his people give us ears to hear and hearts to receive these things and again cleanse Us in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ guide us by the presence and the power of the holy spirit that that Spirit who gave us the word may he now illumine our hearts and Minds that we may receive it and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well as we come to this particular section as I said it focuses on this family in Bethany when it says in verse 8 verse 38. now it happened as they went that he entered a certain Village we know from those parallels that this is the town of Bethany it's about two miles from Jerusalem but this section or this passage does not happen in a vacuum it is connected to the larger context in Luke's gospel if you go back for just a moment to chapter eight in Luke chapter eight you have the parable of the sower some have referred to it as the parable of the soils the different ways that men here or men receive the word of the living and true God he gives the teaching of the parable in verses four to eight and then he gives the interpretation of that Parable in verses 11 to 15. notice in verse 11. now the parable is this the seed is the word of God those by the wayside are the ones who hear then the Devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts last they should be even be saved but the ones on the Rock are those who when they hear receive the word with joy and these have no root who believe for a while and in time of Temptation Fall Away now the ones that fell among Thorns are those who when they have heard go out and are choked with cares riches and pleasures of life and bring no fruit to maturity but the ones that fell on the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart keep it and bear fruit with patience and then drop down to verse 18 therefore take heed how you hear so what he teaches by way a parable he demonstrates by way of a normal ordinary life situation here with this family in Bethany but as well closer to home in the context of Luke Chapter 10. Luke chapter 10 prior to our particular passage notice in verse 25 and behold a certain lawyer stood up and tested him saying teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life he said to him what is written in the law what is your reading of it so we answered and said You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself and he said to him you have answered rightly do this and you will live but he wanting to justify himself said to Jesus and who is my neighbor and of course Jesus speaks concerning the Good Samaritan and I'm not sure that we received the proper instruction from what he says here I'm not convinced that all he wants us to do is go out and do good works I think he's showing this man that he's a wretch he is showing this man who's attempting to justify himself that there is no hope by the law you must have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ in order for acceptance with God but all that to say this lawyer represents what Jesus says notice back in chapter 10 at verse 21 where Jesus says I thank you Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent I think this lawyer is the wise and prudent that gospel truth is hidden from and then he goes on to say and have revealed them to babes Mary contrast with that lawyer is a babe Mary receives the word of God Mary is devoted to the word of Christ Mary assumes the posture of a humble listener before our blessed savior so as we look at this passage we'll notice first the difference between the sisters in verses 38 to 40 and then secondly the devotion commended by Christ in verses 41 and 42. so as I said these are the same sisters the same brother that we've met with in John 11 and then again in John 12. notice in the first place the devotion of Mary verse 39 well verse 38 rather it says uh and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house which again is a good thing that's absolutely an expression of one's love and devotion and care and concern for the sake Behavior there is a contrast here notice in verse 39 and she had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus feet and heard his word this was a normal posture this was a typical posture this underscores the reality that women are in fact Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ sitting at the feet of a rabbi sitting at the feet of a teacher sitting at the feet of one who had that ability to expound the word is absolutely consistent with what we know in terms of rabbinic learning in the first century so she assumes that posture that posture of Merit was common to disciples and her Devotion to Jesus is conspicuous again we don't want to treat Martha as if she's a nasty criminal but Martha does not have the same sort of devotion at least in this particular setting that Mary does and it's Mary that Christ commends in this particular passage Christ comes into the house and he uses the opportunity to speak truth Christ comes into the house and he uses the opportunity to good to do good to souls Christ highlights the main thing by his actions Matthew Henry says since Christ is forward to speak we should be swift to hear so he comes to the house he begins to teach the word of God and what does Mary do she assumes that position as a humble listener as a disciple that is faithful because she tends to or wants to attend to that word of Christ that comes from his mouth then notice the distraction of Martha according to verse 40. but Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached him and said Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone therefore tell her to help me so she was distracted with this survey again serving's not bad serving and and working and doing or commended by God these are good things but when we serve or when we do or when we get involved to the neglect of the word of God then there's a problem and that's what Jesus is going to address in this particular sock shot note the complaint of her heart it says that she was distracted with much serving and she approached him and said Lord do you not care that my sister has left me left me to serve alone therefore tell her to help me and I think this evidence is or indicates a few things that that are not all together perfect with her soul and it it always feels odd like it's me picking on her I'm not uh I've been distracted on many occasions I know what it's like to whine experientially I know what it's like to complain I know what it's like to Grumble uh unfortunately I know what that's like all too well so I I want to make sure you know I'm not picking on Martha I'm just trying to expound the text and give the meaning of it so that we can see what the sort of focus is of our blessed savior but all that to say we we do have to unpack what she says and what she said says Jesus does rebuke her he chides her he reproves her not in the way of get away from me you filthy sinner but rather in a way that he uses it or employs it as a teachable moment but in terms of this particular complaint there's four things I want to point out first she impugnes Christ with a lack of concern for her situation Lord do you not care imagine we we do that so I again not picking on Martha but we sort of impugn our thoughts on to God and suggest that there's some sort of problem or malady or insufficiency in the way that he is chosen providentially to rule the world and everything in it Lord do you not care we ought to be very careful about expressing such a thing to an infinitely holy and infinitely wise and an infinitely loving God God by definition is love God is his Perfections all that is in God is uh is God and so when it comes to this proposition first John 4 8 first John 4 16 God is love so to imply or to infer or to impute upon him that there's something he doesn't care about that there that it's something that he should care about is really ground that we ought to be very careful about treading when our service is for God we ought not to complain that we are doing it alone when our service is done for God we ought not to complain that we're doing it alone we ought not to say to God I want everybody else to drop what they're doing and help me I want everybody else to come alongside because after all what I'm doing is the number one priority and since it is the number one priority then all these other slobs ought to engage in this as well be very cautious about impuning Christ with a lack of concern about your particular situation notice secondly should demand she demands that Christ order Mary to help her therefore tell her to help me that will solve this problem that will Rectify this situation that will be the remedy for what I see as an imbalance Lord do you not care if you do care then tell her to get get up off of her off of her seat and come over here and help me with the dishes do we use prayer as a means of getting what it is that we want now I realize this isn't technically prayer she didn't close her eyes and fold her hands and go to her knees and and speak to the Lord in that fashion but it is the kind of speaking to God wherein we want something and oftentimes we use it in this particular manner do it do what I want you to do tell her to help me men might do this with their wives God please help my wife to be more like what I want in my fantasy land of the way wives should be wives might do this God tell my deadbeat husband to get up off the couch and to go mow the lawn God tell my husband to lead me better when it comes to spiritual things which again these aren't necessarily bad petitions but the way that we frame them and the way that we present them and the way that we sort of put as it were God into a corner and basically tell him he needs to deliver or we're not going to be happy Lord do you not care and then tell her to help me I would suggest thirdly that she mingles grumbling with her service to Christ this does not sound like a righteous Godly expression of exasperation it simply sounds like exasperation it sounds like she is mingling with her service to Christ grumbling look over at Philippians chapter 2 I mentioned this morning in first Thessalonians 4 a passage that we oftentimes under uh uh or we don't take notice of and first Thessalonians chapter four we're to mind our own business we're to work hard we're to do those things that that God calls us to without sort of being in everybody's business well notice in Philippians 2 we've got another passage like that and the backdrop is the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 but notice in 2 14 do all things without complaining and disputing imagine if we actually thought through that text all day long do all things without complaining and dispute it again I don't want to project my sin upon you but if you're like me this is a tough passage this is a challenging passage and when you look at Martha's response to the situation she finds herself in it sounds like that it sounds like she's whining it sounds like she's grumbling it sounds like she's complaining it sounds like she's not happy and then the fourth observation is she expresses self-pity and this is the the rotten Source where a lot of this stuff comes self-pity when she says or when she asks the question do you not care what do you think the next two words would be if we supplied them do you not care about me do you not care about my situation do you not care that I'm working my fingers to the Bone to make sure that you have good food do you not care that she's lazy and just sitting there and not doing a thing this is self-pity again this is a bad place for the people of God to come to if this is your disposition or if there is a predilection toward this in your life seek God's grace to fight against it do your service for God alone do your service without whining grumbling and complaining do your service in such a way that the focus is off yourself and the focus is upon the kingdom of God as it ought to be turn to Luke 12 we see connection to more of Luke's gospel look at Luke chapter 12 specifically beginning in verse 22 and ending in verse 34. we see this in the Sermon on the Mount in in Matthew chapter six what is it it's a Prohibition against worry it's a Prohibition against carnal anxiety okay it's not a Prohibition against actually needing food needing drink needing clothes needing a tomorrow it's not a Prohibition against those things but rather it's a Prohibition about being consumed with those things because when we're consumed with those things we're not consumed with the kingdom of God when we're consumed with the kingdom of God As I said we'll render service as unto the Lord we will render our service without whining and grumbling and complaint and we'll render our service in such a way that it does not reveal self-pity and this idea that we've somehow been shorted by the true and living God now that brings us secondly to the devotion commended by Christ in verses 41 and 42. so she sets up the Lord Jesus with this statement in verse 40. Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone therefore tell her to help me I want to look at two things here the problem identified verse 41 and then the remedy prescribed in verse 42 notice his kindness verse 41 Jesus answered and said to her notice Jesus answered and said to her what did she want she wanted Jesus to answer and say to Mary get up and go help your sister get up and quit expressing that devotion and go serve some dishes get up and get in the kitchen where you belong so that you can function alongside of Martha that's what Martha wanted but that's not what Martha got sometimes when we pray incorrectly it's not that God doesn't answer it's that he answers in the manner that is consistent with his purposes and plans so again he's using this as a teaching moment for Martha's benefit Mary's already got this down when Jesus comes into the house and Jesus as it were opens his Bible and starts to expound about himself in the law and the prophets Mary sits down Mary assumes that posture Mary assumes that position so that she can engage in that one thing that is needful specifically Devotion to the Lord Jesus us so here Jesus answers and said to her again I think this is kindness there's that statement Revelation chapter 3 to the worst of the churches in the seven churches of Asia Minor the church in laodicea the church where they were neither hot nor cold now Jesus is not condemning or commending rather a cold atheism he's referring to the cities around laodicea colossae had had a medicinal uh healing hot springs and nearby actually that was heropolis colossae had cool refreshing water it was the lukewarm water it was that insipid that that that that that that kind of not there not not good uh in terms of heat and medicine and not good in terms of cold and refreshment so he threatens to spew them out of his mouth just like the land vomited out the inhabitants in the old Covenant Jesus promises to spew them out of his mouth but how does Jesus correct or rather how does Jesus approach this he doesn't the spirit of Love listen to Revelation 3 19 as many as I love I rebuke and Jason therefore be zealous and repent that's what I mean here by the kindness of Christ Martha was imbalanced Martha needed some correction Martha needed a bit of a tune-up and Jesus does that because Jesus is concerned Jesus does care Jesus is concerned and Jesus wants the proper response and the appropriate action in terms of Martha's service unto her blessed savior Matthew Henry said she expected Christ to have blamed Mary for not doing as she did but he blamed her for not doing his Mary did so those answers to prayer come to us those answers to prayer oftentimes not what we ask for not what we prayed for specifically but what we absolutely absolutely positively need he uses this to correct this imbalance notice the content of his rebuke here verse 41 Jesus answered and said to her Martha Martha one commentator points out he only uses the name Lazarus once when he calls him out of the Grave here he comes to correct Martha and he says it twice Martha Martha kind of an interesting concept isn't it one time Lazarus come forth Martha Martha she needs to be told what it is that he demands from his disciples so Martha Martha you are worried and troubled about many things as I said Luke chapter 12 verses 22 to 34 is a corresponding passage there the prohibition is against worry consumption with things that are not God a lack of focus lack of attention lack of uh uh of Devotion to that Kingdom look at the principle that's summarized there in in verse 31 and chapter 12 but seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you again he's not condemning food he's not condemning drink not condemning your life he's not condemning your need for clothing he's simply condemning the attitude or the mindset that puts that stuff before the kingdom of Christ so you see that's the problem it's not a condemnation of Martha's service it's not a condemnation of a nice meal it's not the condemnation of a clean house but it's rather the condemnation of putting those things before Devotion to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ she was condemned not for wanting to serve him she is reproved because her service kept her from his word she should have been with Mary at the feet of Jesus when he was engaged in Bible study the food can wait the dishes can wait the the laundry can wait now again don't let food rot don't let dishes Mount and don't let your laundry reek to high habit those things are necessary but it's a matter of priority and it's a matter of focus and that's the issue she is rebuked because her Trouble Over many things kept her from the one thing needful so it's not a condemnation of the many things per se but it's a condemnation that the many things obscured her pursuit of the one thing needful so not service per se but lack of focus and Direction JC Ryle makes the observation the fault of Martha should be a Perpetual warning to all Christians if we desire to grow in Grace and to enjoy Soul Prosperity we must be aware of the cares of this world this is just the reality I connected it to the parable of the sower or the parable of the soils in Luke Chapter 8. what what's Jesus doing in his Earthly Ministry Jesus is highlighting the importance of his word so rile goes on to say except we watch and pray they will insensibly eat up our spirituality and bring leanness on our souls it is not open sin or flagrant breaches of God's Commandments alone which lead man to Eternal ruin it is far more frequently an excessive attention to things in themselves lawful and the being encumbered about much serving it seems so proper to attend to the duties of our station it is just here that our danger lies our families our business our daily callings our household Affairs our intercourse with Society all all may become snares to our hearts and may draw us away from God as I mentioned this morning the passage is not commending monkery it's not commending the monastic life where you go live out in the wilderness and you eat locusts and Wild Honey now that may come in the future in terms of these globalists that want us to eat locusts and wild honey but that's not what's commanded it's not the monastery life it's not the withdrawal from society but it's the proper balance and perspective that is very easy for us to lose sight of remember the wise man in the Book of Proverbs give me neither poverty nor riches why does he pray that because if I'm poor I might be tempted to go out and steal and bring dishonor to the Lord God most high but if I'm rich what's the tendency then the tendency is to forget God we are a people walking on a tightrope and we need to make sure we maintain balance and that's what this brief passage concerning Martha and Mary underscores for us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and then these things will be added unto yeah that's the takeaway message from this particular's passage so notice after he identifies the problem he prescribes the remedy in verse 42. he says but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her some suggest that when he says one thing is needed he's talking about one dash some commentators actually suggest that if it would have been just you know a plate of nachos then then that would be fine but you know bringing burritos and tacos and having all these all that's not what's in view here again the obvious implication is that in our service unto the Lord Jesus we're not supposed to forget devotion I've shared this illustration probably more times than you care to hear it but you can turn to Revelation chapter two Revelation chapter two this was a passage that I think I learned experientially in the trenches in our church many many years ago I'm not suggesting that I've somehow got some esoteric connection but always wondered about the the letter to the church in Ephesus they lost their first love or they left their first love that sounds really serious that sounds really bad doesn't it that sounds horrific you've left your first love well if that's the case just cut them off because they're reprobate but back up for just a moment to verse 1 in chapter two to the angel of the Church of Ephesus right these things says he who holds the Seven Stars in his right hand who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands I know your Works your labor your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil and you have tested those who say they are Apostles and are not and have found them liars and you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary that's a wonderful glowing commendation that's a great statement concerning the faithfulness of the church in Ephesus I mean look at that he piles it on in verses two and three I know your Works your labor your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil and you have tested those who say they are Apostles and are not and have found them liars and you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my namesake and have not become weary again a glowing Commendation of their Excellence as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ but if you focus in on verses two and three you got to ask the question is this easy is this natural is this the walk in the park that it sounds like no of course not you know faithfulness in your individual life is tough faithfulness in church life is tough faithfulness in terms of fighting the Lord's battles not being distracted not being taken off the the beaten path and the sorts of things that are involved here and the language that is is used shows that it was a difficult Slug it was a difficult process they mainstep maintained steadfastness in the midst of it they maintained dis perseverance in the midst of it but in the midst of it they left their first love notice in verse 4 the condemnation so Commendation verses two and three and then the condemnation in verse four nevertheless I have this against you that you have left your first love I don't think he means they become apostate I don't think he means they become reprobate I think he means they've gotten imbalanced they have been so busy testing Apostles or or persons who said they were Apostles and were not they were so busy in their labor they were so busy and maintaining doctrinal Fidelity they were so busy in keeping Heretics out of the pulpit that they weren't red hot in terms of their Devotion to the Lord Jesus in other words they were reading difficult theology day in and day out and they weren't warming the fires of their heart with some devotional stuff by CH virgin the leaving your first love is not defection or apostasy or reprobation they left their first love in terms of balance in terms of priority when you're fighting the Lord's battle it is important that you have a heart on fire for the lord of the battle in other words it's a both and deep theology fighting against Heretics but keeping the heart warm and nurtured by the word of God that's typically the issue in our lives we get imbalance we go astray not off the the beaten path entirely but in terms of balance back to our text the one thing is Devotion to Christ which was manifested by Mary in her hearing of the word of Christ Jesus commands her but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part verse 39 tells us what that is she had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus feet and heard his word so Jesus commends that devotion as a disciple listening to the word of Jesus Christ not to the neglect of everything around you but in terms of balance the one thing is not the only thing but it's the most necessary thing the one thing is not the only thing but it's the most necessary thing seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and then these things will be added unto you Geneva Bible says Christ cares not to be entertained delicately but to be heard diligently that is it which he especially requires that's what he is doing here it doesn't matter to Jesus if you serve five or ten dishes and they're all wonderful and they could be in magazines for award-winning recipes what is needful is that when he brings forth that word of Truth The Humble disciple receives that word of Truth the Commendation is clear it's upon Mary the condemnation not unto death or damnation or hell but sort of a gentle chide a gentle rebuke a gentle reproof is for and then notice the lasting benefit I mean you may be the best servant that a house has ever had you're you know you could eat off your floors you could you know not that anybody would want to do that but just say you had that that sort of propensity I want to eat off my floor because it's it's so clean I'm so awesome at cleaning things I'm going to put my food on the floor you may have all that but that does not bring comfort in the time of distress when push comes to shove it's not your service to Christ that ultimately lifts you out of the doldrums it's Christ's service to you and so I want to go from scolding us all to putting the emphasis on where it ought to be Christ says that there is lasting benefit in receiving his word Christ says there is lasting benefit in attending to his means Christ says there is lasting benefit in not foregoing the Public House of God and going and doing any other thing today but be in the church be in the study be under the word of Truth why because that one thing that is needful has lasting and eternal benefit it pays Rich dividends to all those who receive that word you will not go wrong when you hear the word of Christ whether in private or public have you ever come away from a a just a halfway decent sermon and said man I'm the worst for that or have you you ever read a passage of Holy Scripture and you've got some nugget out of it you say man that that just made my life miserable what's typically the response from the people of God oh that my heart were more soft oh that I were more receptive oh that I opened up my arms more so to the word of God why because we've tried and proven Our God and know that his word is sure that it is in fact the bomb of Gilead that it is that which does bring us to that place of stability to that place of balance to that place wherein we know the comfort of God most high how many people throughout the ages of the church have been encouraged by Psalm 46 10. be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the Nations I will be exalted in the earth doesn't that bring stability to your needy Soul when you see instability all throughout this world when you see the chaos that actually obtains in the various cities on the face of the Earth today doesn't it calm you to read of the Book of Revelation chapters 21 and 22 that New Jerusalem that that City adorned for uh adorned as a bride coming down out of Heaven that blessed Place wherein righteousness dwells it is those sorts of things that the people of God need to encourage them along the pilgrim way you'll never regret spending time with Christ and you will never lose the spiritual benefit that Christ brings isn't that a blessing it's all he gives it and then takes it back you benefit from the word of God you benefit from a sermon you benefit from from fellowship with the Saints you benefit from these things and it proves lasting it proves forever it proves Eternal it stay it has staying power again rile says it the true Christian's portion as the grace of God the Christians portion as the grace of God is the only good thing which is substantial satisfying real and Lasting it is good in sickness and good in health good in Youth and good and age good and adversity and good and prosperity good in life and good and death good in time and good in eternity no circumstance and no position Can Be Imagined in which it is not good for man to have the grace of God that's obvious Brethren and that's what the passage sets forth Martha Martha you are worried and troubled about many things but one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her in other words follow Mary's example here Martha instead of me telling Mary to get up and serve me I'm telling you to sit down and serve me by listening to my word because that is what you need that is what is going to give you power that is what is going to give you that ability to function in this lower World in conclusion I would suggest first the passage does not commend mongering it does not command monastic life for those of you who don't know about the monastic life monasteries or monasticism or persons who are known as monks then I call it monkery those were people that withdrew that they withdrew from everything they would go live out in the wilderness and they'd read their Bibles and they would pray and they would fast and they would Chase in their flesh and they would do things such that it was Pious and righteous in the sight of God but Brethren that's imbalanced as I said this morning you've got you've got wives you've got husbands you've got kids you've got a need to make money those are all real life issues as my brother has often said we don't live on love and fresh air you don't just show up at Costco and they say well well it's you you go right ahead because it's you after all no you've got to have money in order to go to Costco got to have money in order to put food in the cupboard gotta have money to put food in the fridge so the Bible does not commend or hold forth the monastic life as something virtuous in and of itself in fact Calvin makes the observation on this passage he says nothing was farther from the design of Christ than to encourage his disciples to indulge in indolence that means laziness on the contrary we know that men were created for the express purpose of being employed in labor of various kinds and that no sacrifice is more pleasing to God than when every man applies diligently to his own calling and Endeavors to live in such a manner as to contribute to the general Advantage so don't think that what is in view here is that you need to grow up and go live in a hut somewhere and just read your Bible and pray no that's not what the passage demands but a bit of time in a hut with just your Bible and prayer probably wouldn't be the worst thing for any of us that Devotion to Christ that sitting at the feet of Jesus that posture of humble discipleship receiving the word of God that is the one thing needful secondly the passage commends the proper priority for the believer it commends the proper priority for the believer the devotion of Mary is the proper priority for every child of God to attend to the preaching of the word again go back to Luke chapter eight the emphasis on the parable of the sower actually you don't need to I need to because I have some Spurgeon notes written in my margin his his sermon on this particular passage specifically on Mark which is the parallel Mark 4 24. he makes this observation relative to receiving the word of God he says here it is your wisdom to know what God says Hear well God's teaching deserves the deepest attention it will repay the best uh consideration and then he says here often waste no Sabbath nor any one of its services use weekday lectures and prayer meetings and then he says hear better you will grow the Holier thereby you will find Heavenly Joy by hearing with faith so there's this emphasis on receiving the word of God that our passage commands as well the distraction of Mary over many things is a potential problem for every child of God now I've been a pastor for a bit of time and it's not usually people that you know I just all I ever do is read my Bible and pray you know it's like the job interview tell me your tell me your strength or your weakness oh my weakness is that I worked too hard and I care too much okay you just don't meet people who yeah I just you know I I I I'm really struggling with you know doing my work I'm really struggling with loving my family I'm really I'm really struggling because all I'm ever doing is reading my Bible and prayer that's usually not the imbalance that that we face today in the 21st century just gonna head us off at the past here the the imbalance is is that I don't read my Bible and I don't pray I I don't spend time at the feet of Jesus again I don't want to lecture I don't want to scold now tomorrow read 18 chapters and and fast all day and and then you'll be super whole I don't want to do that I think that's legalistic I think it's angular I think it's unhealthy for the people of God but I do want to encourage us and I do want to suggest that we get a view of Mary in this particular passage and if we have come up short and if we're lacking and sitting at the feet of Jesus as humble Learners to hear and receive that word of God then then we need to we need to put that into practice and it's interesting because sermons like this people will do that well I got to read more Bible I gotta I gotta I gotta read my my you know ten just pick it up read read that much just just you know how do you eat an elephant one one bite at a time it's not an All or Nothing proposition I've met those people too none of you obviously but people in the past you know I'm really struggling with reading my Bible and praying you know what the answer to that is read your Bible and pray pretty simple I think it goes like this for Christians I I need to pray more so I'm going to read aw Pink's Book on a guide to effective prayer which again read aw Pink's guide to effective prayer but there's no substitute for actually praying I need to read through the Bible in a year and because I don't do that I'm not going to do anything just pick it up and read sit at the feet of Jesus be a humble disciple be a humble listener and receive with Thanksgiving that word if as I've suggested Luke 12 12 22-34 and that emphasis on not worrying is what we find consistent with this passage this idea of worrying in the passage in Luke 12 it's about your life your food your body your clothes those are not sinful things those things are not sinful in and of themselves there's nothing wrong with your life I mean there's probably a lot of things wrong with it but you living you having been created by God being a carbon-based life form and and breathing and oxygen and expelling it that's not a sin that's not bad to to think about your life your food as I said if you don't eat you're gonna die there's nothing wrong with food there's nothing wrong with cloves in fact it's wise that you wear that these are not sinful things in themselves they are necessary things but the problem is the problem of focus the problem is the problem of priority the worry betrays a lack of focus with reference to the kingdom of God worry paralyzes the individual in terms of growth in the kingdom of God worry shifts the focus from the Eternal to the temporal we're not supposed to worry Jesus says we're not supposed to be encumbered we're not supposed to be weighed down with all this busyness of life to the neglect of our blessed savior worry reduces us to fearful doubting tormented Souls instead of bold faithful Earnest subjects of God's Kingdom look at the history of our world over the last few years Brethren a good dose of Kingdom priority would have gone a long way to help the Churches of Christ in a very difficult season as well this worry fixates on self rather than on Christ it's about what we wear it's about what we eat it's about what my tomorrow looks like again not always sinful to be concerned about those things but sinful when you're concerned about those things to the neglect of the one thing needful to the neglect of the word of God to the neglect of the the Blessed Christ who we serve and of course the discovery of the kindness of God is a helpful antidote for every child of God look again at Luke 12. and look at what Jesus says in verse 32 so the prohibition is against worry someone has said that 365 times in the Bible I saw this on Facebook I'm not this wasn't my diligent research and I took my concordance out I think I saw it on Facebook once in a while I go on my wife's Facebook and and it said there are 365 times that we're told not to fear in the Bible okay that that seems legit I know we're told not to fear a lot in the Bible like I said I've never counted them all out but that makes sense and of course the application 365 days of the year right so for every day of the year you're told by God not to fear you're told by God not to worry and so in the passage where Jesus condemns worry or carnal anxiety notice what he says in verse 32 do not fear little flock for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom he's not a harsh task master he's not an ogre he's not against you he's not trying to ruin your life but rather it is his good pleasure to bestow upon you the very kingdom of God most high receive it with a welcome hand and then the final observation is that the passage commends the contemplation of the altogether loving Christ if monkery is unbiblical and it is so is a lack of contemplation we can learn that much from the monks go get a part by yourself for a while read your scriptures uh pray to God and enjoy that secret communion or fellowship with him Dale Ralph Davis in his commentary on Luke had a particular application for pastors that sort of resonated with me he says there is a specific application here for Christian pastors how often one bumps into that expression and book advertisements or plugs for Ministry resources that it is just what the busy Pastor needs the the busy pastor he says it's accessible or brief or dumbed down or whatever the busy Pastor obviously doesn't have time to ponder or think or read or listen because he is well a busy pastor he says believe me I know something of the Lord a pastor carries but I repudiate the busy Pastor model I don't think that there should be any busy pastors ministerial busyness May fulfill our egos but it empties the soul many of us need to join Mary at Jesus feet if we are to be equipped for our labor I think that's a good application not just obviously for pastors but for all of us life is busy there are a lot of Demands on our time there are a lot of hands on our time to quote a famous drummer we often think about we have too much time on our hands that's usually not our problem we've got a lot of hands on our time and as a result of that the tendency to imbalance as demonstrated in Martha is a real one so again don't want to lecture don't want to scold but want to encourage all of us to sit at the feet of Jesus and to receive his word and bless God for the provision of Jesus as that one alone in whom there is salvation his life of perfect obedience to the law his death is a sacrifice an atonement on Calvary his resurrection again the third day it is as a result of that we have peace with God God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ so let us contemplate let us receive it and May and indeed encourage us to be steadfast and persevering always abounding in the work for the Lord for his glory and for his honor well let us pray Our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for this one thing needful and we pray that you would help us to seize upon this help us not to be neglectful when it comes to the word and prayer help us as well not to beat ourselves up though give us Grace and wisdom to pursue these things in a manner that is well pleasing in your sight and thank you for the sacrament of the supper thank you for this Bread and Wine it's not about our doing it's not about our devotion it's not about us serving or anything like that but it's about the service of Christ the provision of God and the Son of God who live for us who died for us and it was raised again for us we bless you and we praise you and we pray in Jesus holy name amen we can turn over to Matthew chapter 26 as we read the section concerning the supper while we turn there just a few reminders the ordinance of the supper is for believers only if you're not a Believer we simply ask that you do not participate in taking the Bread and Wine it's not a converting ordinance it's not something that's going to impose or bring or facilitate any blessing to your soul it is for the believer as a time of special memory of what Jesus has done on our behalf do this in remembrance of me he says and for those who are unbelievers they don't have a saving interest in him so the antidote to that is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to look unto him in faith and to see that he is all together lovely and chief among ten thousand and that he receives to himself needy Sinners the ordinances as well for believers who are dealing with their sin it's not for perfect people or it would never be participated in it is however for those who are seeking to deal with their sin as we see there in First Corinthians chapter 11 and then the ordinance is in fact a means of Grace but the elements stay the same the bread does not become the body of Jesus the wine or grape juice does not actually become the blood of Jesus they represent they symbolize they are emblems they are tangible things for tangible beings so that we can have a connection to the spiritual truth conveyed by these elements and of course the ordinance points us to our Lord Jesus Christ it's a time obviously to reflect from moment to repent of our sins to be sure but to be preoccupied with the Savior do this in remembrance of me the Lord Jesus says well if the brothers will come and pass out the bread while they do that we will sit and sing number 283 after the completion of that hymn I'll read the appropriate section in Matthew 26 we'll pray and then we'll take the bread together so number 283 please remain seated foreign [Music] please don't worry yourself yes yes [Music] three three causes forever [Music] today's foreign [Music] forever [Music] 26 we read in verse 26 and as they were eating Jesus Took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat this is my body well let us pray our gracious God and Father we thank you for the gospel of our Salvation we thank you for what Christ accomplishes on behalf of his people we see it as the Fulfillment of that sacrificial system in the Old Testament we see it as the Fulfillment of all the promises of God they are yea and amen in our Lord Jesus Christ and we thank you that you have given us an interest in this you've given us Faith to lay hold of the the Lord Jesus Christ and all of the benefits that he has purchased for his people we Rejoice that you have blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus so be glorified now bless this time and we pray through Christ Our Lord amen will take together you can turn to 336. again please remain seated and if you're inclined the juice is in the outer ring if you take the wine the wine is in the inner part the juice non-alcoholic juices in the outside ring so number 283 [Music] secretary now thank you [Music] again [Music] foreign [Music] because [Music] I hear our God [Music] Grace foreign [Music] I should thy name is [Music] continue reading in verse 27 then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins but I say to you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's Kingdom and when they had sung A Hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives well let us pray God we thank you for that provision of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we know that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness no remission for sin we learn that in that old Covenant system as they approach God through a bloody knife and a burning altar we see the same approach in the new New Covenant through our Lord Jesus Christ we give praise to you for that blood that does cleanse us from all sin all transgression all unrighteousness and we thank you and we praise you for giving us a saving interest in your son and we pray in his Most Blessed name amen will take together well you can turn in your hymn books to number 352 352 will stand as we sing to God [Music] this is [Music] and now let's see [Music] your heart [Music] is [Music] like Mustang make up us [Music] not the same God [Music] now may the God of Peace who brought up our lord Jesus from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you complete and every good work to do his will working in you what is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever amen father thank you for this wonderful Lord's day thank you for the Fellowship of the Saints thank you for the corporate means of Grace and thank you that you have been with us we thank you for that Vision we have in the Book of Revelation where Christ is in the midst of his lamp stands and we rejoice in that may it be the case that each and every Lord's day we would be glad they said unto us let us go to the house of the Lord we ask that you would go with us now that you would bless us that you would keep us that you would cause your face to shine upon us and may we know your grace daily and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we may be seated for a brief time of meditation