Sunday Service

The title of my message this morning is a Godly Ransom and we're going to be taking a look at the song 49 but said later on today Super Bowl 54 kicks off. It's the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. How many of you guys are planning to watch that game later on today anybody?

This will Mark the first time that these teams have ever met in the big game. It's been fifty years since the Chiefs last had a chance to Hoist the Lombardi trophy. The 49ers on the other hand have won five Super Bowls. I can still remember watching is a little kid is the 49ers a dynasty reign supreme in the 80s and 90s. I grew up in the Bay Area as you know, iconic players like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice Rodger Craig and and Ronnie Lott my best friend and I drew Victory signs with pages from our Coloring Book and Tape them to the back of cars in our neighborhood. We would sneak up to the houses and go to the driveways and take them on there. I don't know why we thought that was great when I only drool like three signs, but it felt like it was a You know, despite the Declaration to Victory. This year's game will be played in the Hard Rock stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Over 150 million people tuned in to watch the big game and AD will run you 5.6 million dollars for 30 seconds. That's 180 $6,666.66 per second. If you want to advertise your company or whatever you're doing on Super Bowl Sunday, the priciest tickets to Super Bowl won the first game which was played on January 15th, 1967 cost $12 adjusted for inflation. That's about $89 today. And even at that bargain-priced the event still didn't sell out if you're thinking about buying tickets for this year's event. And if you live leave after the service, you might be able to make it down there. You better bring your checkbook and be prepared to Shell out at least $2,300 per ticket and by now with the scalpers on Sure, that's in the multiple thousands of dollars. All the Super Bowl is big business, but it also tells us a great deal about our culture. Star athletes in Championship sports franchises embody the values that our society holds dear. Fortune and fame writ large as throngs of fan gather to bask in the glory or heartbreak of their favored team the professional athlete embodies success a claim in achievement. Their lifestyles are bigger than life their cultural icons defining a moment in time Joe Namath Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana John Elway Tom Brady all household names who in many ways Define their generation. And yet this week if you were paying attention to the news even as the world set its focus on the Super Bowl one of the brightest of those professional athletic Stars fell. Kobe Bryant one of the greatest and most Fame players in the NBA was tragically killed in a helicopter crash. Did you guys hear about that on the news eight others including Kobe's 13 year old daughter Gianna and two of her friends were tragically killed as they made their way to one of her games one of her basketball games where he was coaching. Although we don't focus a lot on professional sports at our house a few days after the crash at The Breakfast Table Brayden. Ask Dad. Did you hear that Kobe died? And the truth is Brayden doesn't even know who Kobe Bryant is nor has he ever heard of him before but the other boys at school. We're all talking about it even Brayden and Bryce had heard the news of this star's death and goes to show you the immense impact that these individuals have on our culture and on our households and on our families as illustrated by today's worldwide celebration. What Kobe was a five-time NBA champion? He played his entire 20 plus years for the Los Angeles Lakers. He took the court for the first time at 18 years old. He was in that uniform as the only uniform they ever wore in the NBA NBA 18 times and All Star to Olympic gold medals at the fourth time all-time leading scorer in NBA history and expected to be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. Kobe Bryant was killed in his helicopter. It was a well-known site in Los Angeles that Kobe as opposed to making his way for the to the Southern California traffic to practice into games would take his personal helicopter a 20 million dollar machine so that he hadn't have to waste any time on things that would distract him from his ultimate goal in his ultimate purpose in life. Well after the kids brought up Kobe's death at the dinner table. I sat down for my devotions that day and open the scriptures. Just to read through the things that I usually read through in Psalm 49 was set before me as I went through the scriptures and struck me in a in a in a unique way as we just talked about the loss of this great star athlete. You got a Bible with you take it out and open it up. I'd like you to read along so that you can follow what this song has to say Psalm 49. I'll read through it and then we'll take a look at what it means to us. Here's what this song missed rights?

Hear this all people's ear all inhabitants of the world both low and high rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak wisdom the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle to the music of the liar. Why should I fear in times of trouble when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches. Truly no, man. Can Ransom another or give to God the price of his life for The Ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice that he should live on forever and never see the pit before he sees the even the wise die the fool than the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others their graves are there homes forever their Dwelling Places to all generations bill. They call Friends by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain he is like the beasts that perish this is the path of those who have foolish confidence get after them people approve of their boast. Like sheep, they are appointed for show old shall be their Shepherd and the upright shall rule over them in the morning there for him shall be consumed in Scholl with no place to dwell. But God will Ransom my soul from the power of sheol receive me. Be not Afraid when a man becomes rich when the glory of his house increases for when he dies He Will Carry nothing away his glory will not go down after him for the while he lives. He counts himself blessed and though you get praised when you do well for yourself. Is so we'll go down to the generation of his fathers who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. That may be that song struck you as forcefully as it struck me after me and the boys had just sat there and thought about this remarkable star of sports in our culture. Kobe Bryant was one of those athletes who achieved greatness who recognized not only in their sport but in the culture for all that, they've accomplished. In fact, just recently he won an Oscar for a short film that he produced about his passion and commitment and drive-in on the basketball court cuz I Was preparing for my message this morning. I was over at Starbucks and one of our neighbors from our block Scott Stakes who's an associate pastor it it's Four Oaks here in town and preaching this morning. I came over and said he what are you preaching on if you want me to look at Psalm 49 and talk a little bit about these different things and he said, well, you know, what's funny is my wife and I caught the Lakers game the day after Kobe's death and they gather around and then they began those fans in that stadium is stating that I've gone to to watch games in and they and they tried to figure out how to celebrate Kobe's life and how to move. His death and so one of the great singers of the generation of Usher came and he sang Amazing Grace, of course Usher is not a Christian he saying that song at the end of this song he cried out Lord. We need you Lord. We need you. And then they showed some clips of Kobe's professional career and different quotes from him. And then finally LeBron James who is the new King in the sense of basketball and culture came out before the game started and he shared his thoughts.

He didn't read from the car that was written but spoke from the heart and and wrestled with the loss of this Superstar. I can only think in many ways he saw on Kobe's life a reflection of his own men who have everything that the world has to offer. Did Avicii the Pinnacle of success in their given field that have fortune and fame in fandom the world over? And yet one day their life will come to an end. Too often with these great Sports icons. They live on with us. In fact, I was watching is Shaquille O'Neal on one of the broadcast talked about the fact that all the great sport Stars the basketball stars that his father had pointed to all of them were still alive today and he was able to go and meet them and talk with them and and through his tears. She regretted the fact that the Kobe had been lost to this generation. And so as I opened up Psalm 49 and read through it that morning. I was struck at the word that God brings to us. I don't know Kobe and I don't know if he knew the Lord or not. It's not a commentary about who he is, but it's a commentary of the Lord on the lives of men on the earth and its commentary that particularly in the culture and way in which we live in the power. It has to shape our own values and our own thinking is exceedingly important for us to reflect upon especially like a day on a day like today. Light we see from the song Misty brings about a a great question as he opens up the the stanzas of this song. Why should I fear inverse spy. Right in times of trouble when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches here. You have the the cries of a person who is pursuing the things of God in the world that does not value those things who's feeling the tension of seeking to serve God in this life while the culture in the force. Is it work or driving and an entirely different direction? What are the interesting things about this song is that he opens it with a call for all the world to hear? This is not simply a message that God provides to his people alone here this verse 1 All Peoples give ear all the inhabitants of the world both low and high both rich and poor. And then the song is speaks inspired words that the Lord would speak into the midst of any and every culture that wrestles with what to value in the lives of men and women. He asked that great question and he provides this quick snapshot of an answer for 7 truly. No, man. Can Ransom another or give it to God the price of his life? And it almost an instant the psalmist draws for sweats at the very heart of the challenge of this life. No matter how much wealth or fortune or fame. We accumulate for ourselves. It will not be enough to Ransom our own Souls. Jesus Christ, it appears had this very Psalm in mind as he told the story a parable to the crowds. We studied it just this past week in our men's group. It's found in the Gospel of Luke in for some reason. I didn't write down the the reference here. I think it might be luke 12, but just listen to it the parable goes like this someone in the crowd said to Jesus teacher. Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me to man who was disturbed about the fact that his parent Fortune had not been equally split between him and between his brother. Perhaps his brother was the older in was allotted a greater portion of the inheritance. But he's asking Jesus to make things right to give him the fortune that is his due. Jesus said to him. Man who made me a judge or arbitrator over you had him take care and be on your guard against all covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions and he told them the parable saying the land of a rich man produced plentifully any thought to himself what shall I do if I have nowhere to store my crops and he said I will do this. I will tear down my Barns and build larger ones and there I will store all my grain and my goods and I will say to my soul. So you have ample Goods laid up for many years relaxed eat drink be merry But God said to him this night your soul is required of you and the things you have prepared. Whose will they be so he's the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. Was only a few years ago that Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA having achieved all the goals that he possibly could have had in and went into what I'm certain. He believed would be a productive life for the next 40 years or so. And yet here just in this week and a tragic event. God brought his life to close. The riches and wealth that we have do not distance us. from death did not provide us any type of security and yet so often it tricks us into believing that we have a security that we simply don't have here in this Parable Jesus brings up the story of a man who had had great success in his life so much that he had to build great Barnes to hold his well, and he thought everything was good from that point forward. Get an instant God called him from Earth into a Heavenly accountability and all that this man had stored up with set aside. God said to him verse 20 this night your soul is required of you and the things you have prepared. Who's will they be? I'm not sure if you know I had to learn it myself but the Bible especially the the wisdom literature in the Psalms the Proverbs will often speak of the fool. Have you guys ever read passages that talk about a fool at least in my experience growing up a fool was just someone who wasn't all that smart and did dumb things and get the scriptures speak of a fool in a very different way Psalm 14:1 gives us probably the essential definition biblically speaking of who will fool is when it writes the fool says in his heart there is no God. Biblically speaking a fool is not just someone who is dumb or unable to do things that are smart, but it is someone who says in their heart. There is no God and lives their life in that way. Hit someone who pursues their own wealth and riches their own purpose their own values, they're driven singularly by a commitment to themselves and themselves alone and the scriptures call that person a fool. Great and wise and powerful men can be fools the greatest and most gifted individual in a given profession or sport can be a fool men to the entire culture looks up to even two Nations boat in the office can be a fool if they don't set God first in their life. And so too we can be foolish in the way that we live until Christ says here in this Parable has the Lord speaking to this rich man this night your soul is required of you and the things had you have prepared who's will they be? Similar Parable that Jesus tells digs in on this same topic and Luke chapter 16 verse 19. Jesus gives an account of a story in a moment ago. I call bit of parable but it actually isn't a parable. It seems to be a story that Jesus tells about two men lived historically and then died. This has the language of an actual event that Jesus was privy to here's what he told his disciples. There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen can't help but think of the yellow and purple that marks the uniform of the Los Angeles Lakers who feasted sumptuously every day and at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus covered with sores who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table over even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried and in Hades being in torment. He lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side and he called out Father Abraham have mercy on me since I was raised to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I'm in anguish in this Flame. But Abraham said child remember that you in your lifetime received your good things and Lazarus in like manner bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish and besides all this between us and you a great Chasm has been fixed in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able and none may cross from there to us. And the man said that I beg you father to send him to my father's house for I have five brothers to the he may warn them lest. They also come into this place of Torment. But Abraham said they have Moses and the prophets let them listen to them and he said no Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead they will repent. He said to him even if they do not hear Moses and the prophets neither. Will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead? daddy says I said a teaching of Jesus that appears not to be a parable but to be a story about two actual men and it's quite interesting story the story of one man Lazarus who appears obviously to have been a Believer and though in this life to its suffered greatly to be impoverished and not just financially impoverished covered in sores with sickness and illness who bagged each and every day of his life just to make it through another day and another man who had achieved greatness in his day who had everything that he needed, but who was biblically speaking a fool Who could care less about the things of God in his life on Earth and one day of both men their lives came to an end and they found themselves in the other side giving an account for their lives. The rich man realizing that all of his wealth had brought him not begs that Abraham would send someone back to his family to warn them that they might understand what reality is really like. And yet Abraham tells them the prophets are there speaking the truth of God's word each and every day and if they intend they can listen to them. The parable that we look at or the song that we look at this morning captures. These very issues were told in verse 10 Psalm 4910. He sees that even the wise died the fool in the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others verse 11 their graves. Are there homeless forever their Dwelling Places to all generations, but they called lands by their names man. This pump will not remain he is like the beasts that perish this is the path of those who have foolish confidence get after them people approve of their boast. Hewn Stone 49 eternity breaks in to this world. And it shifts the focus. of men and women on the things that have value A few years ago. I started trying to figure out how to make a cameras work and kind of fancy or cameras. Not just the ones that are on your cell phone. And the thing about the really fancy cameras are the lenses that come with them. And the reason why those fancy cameras cost so much is that those lenses are able to focus in on whatever they intend to focus in on from any possible distance away. Some lenses are built to focus far far away and others are built to focus on super close type of small items. How do I learn very quickly as I was studying those cameras and trying to figure out how they worked was just the slightest turn of of the wheel of the camera and the lens would be completely out of focus. The more powerful the lens the quicker that would happen in head. One thing that was in a crystal clear Focus just a few inches away. Another thing that was only two or three in behind would be completely out of focus so that you couldn't see anything and I tried to fit tank figure out how to take pictures of the boys every now and then for for a family get-together or whatever I snap a shot. I snap a bunch of when we get home and realize that the twins had focused on something that was only a foot behind them. And so that their faces were completely out of focus and all the pictures were shot. And yet here in Psalm 49 we're told. Then why do paternity the things of this world must be reset in their focus? As I watch that celebration of Kobe's life. I watch the video actually before church today after my neighbor talked about it. I listen to the crowd calling out Kobe's name. They would chat Kobe Kobe and they played the images on the the great Jumbotron. And apparently the NBA's going to celebrate his life for next year. And in the cries of the crowd almost deafening as they cheer for the life of this individual the focus of this world. This is on things of this world and it's so easy to be swept up in The Passion of the world and focus your own life on the things of this world. And yet the focus of the Lord in light of Eternity is on completely different things. Are great challenges Christians who love the Lord and seek to serve him. It's a not let our Focus be reset by the values of this world and it's not very easy to do all the power and Prestige of our culture is pushing Us in different generation in a different direction driving us toward different values in different commitments that we might focus our life on the things of this age of this time of this generation of this life. It's sew in Psalm 49. We hear the voice of God a warning to all people low and high rich and poor. It is you look at your life. Make sure that your focus is set on eternity and not of the things of Here and Now. Because one day these things the accolades the success no matter how remarkable will all Fade to dust and we will stand before the Lord and give an account for our lives based upon the things that he values. Not based upon the things that the crowds cry out for. It's a very different. It's a very difficult life to lead as the culture pulls you in a different direction and you've got to reset your focus time and time again on the things that God has called you to in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul writes these words a powerful witness to this very truth. He says do not conform to the pattern of this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

One of the most remarkable statements in this song is a question that strikes us all that is so clear. And so true that not even the greatest men of our day would question it. In verse 7. He asked the question truly. No, man. Can Ransom another or give to God the price of his life for The Ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice that he should live on forever and never see the pit. It was striking to see some of the most powerful and prestigious men in our culture LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal and all the stars that Mark the headlines of our day completely impotent in the face of death. Their wealth in their riches cannot Ransom the life, even the life of our friends and yet the good news is this psalmist cease down to the future. Is it though men? Cannot Ransom themselves from the pit. God can Jesus Christ declared to the crowds one day to his disciples the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. The price that we cannot pay with Earthly riches was paid by the person of Jesus Christ that they are not the Christ are there at the cross on Calvary Jesus laid down the wealth of a kingdom that was his as the Son of God and he Chi militi and in poverty and shame and nakedness. He laid down his life, but our debt of sin might be paid that are sitting might be forgiven and then our relationship with the father might be redeemed. The goal of this life is not wealth or riches or fortune or fame. The goal of this life is submitting yourself to Jesus Christ as your lord and your savior and your God. And if you were able to do that by the power of His Holy Spirit and by the grace and mercy that he's shown Us in the gospel. In life looks very different. I know we struggle to focus our mind on the things of Christ in this life. We can be confident in the good times and in the bad times that we are loved by a God who has ransomed our life from the pit and he will never let us go. This morning as we celebrate communion. We are reminded of the fact that salvation may be free, but it was very costly for the son of God. All the riches in the world could be a mast at this table of all the stars of every culture that has ever lived. They would fill this room and far beyond it and yet they would be completely ineffective to do. What this bread in this wine in the body and blood of Jesus Christ has done for those even a man like Lazarus who's Mark was life with poverty and sickness. What the worth of the life of the Son of God has done for those who put their trust in him? Jesus Christ came with a purpose and its purpose was not to be served but to serve and to lay down his life as a ransom for you in a ransom for me. Lord Jesus on the night. He was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way after supper. He took the cup. Think this cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me? For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again.

Is it even imaginable that the most important thing in this life is found here at this table? It's not achieved by your greatness or by your accomplishments. In fact, your greatness and your accomplishments frankly can do nothing but distance yourself from the truth. And the truth is that we are impoverished and we have needs that we cannot meet ourselves. but our greatest need is to be ransomed and then in Jesus Christ we have been Here at covenant, we practice and open communion. Which means if you put your faith in Jesus Christ, then celebrate what Christ has done. The thing that struck me the most about the memorial for Kobe that the Lakers put on was in the silent portions when people didn't know what to do. They just chanted Kobe Kobe Kobe, isn't it? Great news. That is Believers. We don't chant the name of a man who cannot save but we chant the name of Jesus Christ the one who lived and died and rose again that we might be around some from sin and death if you put your faith in Christ and celebrate with us this morning, if you not yet put your faith in Jesus Christ, but you're trusting in your riches or your success or your efforts that I would encourage you to put those things down today for on your dying day. You will put them down. And grab hold of the only thing in this life that will make it from here and do we turn it to me and that's the life that's found in Jesus Christ alone as our ushers come forward. Let's have a word of Prayer. gracious and holy God

We Gather before you celebrating what you have done for us

For those who were desperate? For those two accomplishments and Achievements not set them apart from the crowd. For those who had no possible means of saving themselves. are out of your great love for us that you would lay down your life ransoming us from the gray from shul from Death itself that we might know life not simply in this world, but even in the world to come Are we thank you for your great sacrifice the endurance of Shame and pain that you faced on the cross. The rich one the Son of God who made all things laid everything aside that he might pay our debts and redeem us from our sin. Where does we celebrate communion this morning as we take the the body and the blood the bread and the wine or by your spirit impressed upon us and knew the depth of your love for us. And in these moments Lord refocus our vision of fresh. I miss the pressures of this world that we might set our sights again Upon Jesus in the midst of this life that we might focus on what matters and not be distracted by what this not that we might be faithful and truthful servants who have been ransomed from Death to life because of what you've done in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

shenpai Christ broken for you