WEBVTT

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 Father, sometimes even the good things that you promise us

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 frighten us at least a little bit, and sometimes a lot.

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 We thank you, Father, that you know our hearts,

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 you know what we're really like,

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 and we thank and praise you that knowing what we're really like,

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 that you love us.

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 And so, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would move gently

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 but deeply and powerfully in each of our hearts,

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 that we might hear the words of the Scripture,

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 that those words of your Scripture, in light of the Gospel,

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 might enter deep into who we are.

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 And we give you permission, Father, for your word to speak

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 and rule and heal and lead and guide in our hearts.

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 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Saviour. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Amen.

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 So, this morning I might touch on some things

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 which are a bit painful for people emotionally,

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 so I ask that you sort of give me a little bit of grace,

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 given that some of the things I say might be a bit painful to some of us.

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 But we're beginning a new sermon series.

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 It's on the life of Abraham,

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 so we're going to be going from Genesis 12 to Genesis 22.

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 This week and over the 10 weeks that follow,

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 we'll finish, God willing, in the first Sunday of July.

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 And so, if you turn in your Bibles to Genesis 12, verse 1,

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 Genesis 12, verse 1,

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 we're going to look at a very, very simple text,

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 a very profound text,

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 and for many people, a very scary text.

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 And why is it scary?

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 Well, let's look at how it begins.

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 And actually, I'm just going to say one thing before we...

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 No, I'll read the text, then I'll read it again.

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 I'll make a bit of a comment about it.

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 Here's how it begins.

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 Now, the Lord said to Abram,

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 Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house

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 to the land that I will show you.

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 And I will make of you a great nation.

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 And I will bless you and make your name great,

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 so that you will be a blessing.

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 I will bless those who bless you,

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 and him who dishonors you I will curse.

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 And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

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 Now, just before this, in terms of the context of the book,

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 the first 11 chapters of Genesis,

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 in Genesis chapter 1 and 2,

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 you have the story of the creation of the world

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 and the first humans

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 and sort of basically setting up

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 the fundamental Christian understanding of creation

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 and what it means to be human

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 and what it means to flourish.

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 And God saw that everything was good.

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 And in Genesis chapter 3,

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 we have the profound turning point in the cosmos

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 and in human life,

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 where evil and brokenness and bentness,

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 so to speak,

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 enters into the world

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 when Adam and Eve choose to exalt themselves over God,

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 to not trust his word,

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 to exalt themselves over God.

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 And there's this rupture,

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 this break that happens in humanity

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 and in all of creation.

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 And then there's other things that happen,

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 which we're not going to go into

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 between that moment and the end of Genesis 11.

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 But here's sort of the point.

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 Up until this point in time,

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 there are three judgments by God.

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 And there are five times

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 where God pronounces a curse.

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 So between sort of the first few verses

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 of Genesis chapter 3

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 and the end of Genesis chapter 11,

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 you have these three times

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 where a judgment is issued by God

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 against human beings

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 and five times

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 where he curses things.

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 And I know that just even

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 for many of us listening to this,

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 the whole idea that God would pronounce a curse

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 is both sort of hokey

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 and childish

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 and also just somehow seems wrong.

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 And I'll explain in a moment

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 what that means.

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 But mindful of that,

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 what you're now going to see

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 is this turning point

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 in the rest of the Bible.

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 And in some ways,

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 what God says to Abram

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 in these three verses

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 sets the agenda,

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 the program,

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 for all of the rest of the Bible.

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 All of the rest of the Bible,

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 in a sense,

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 is going to try to unpack that

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 and develop that

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 and unearth that

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 and deepen that

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 and extend it

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 and fill it in.

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 So mindful of the three curses,

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 sorry,

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 the three judgments

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 and the five curses,

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 we now have this statement again.

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 Hear it again.

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 Now the Lord said to Abram,

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 go from your country

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 and your kindred

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 and your father's house

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 to the land that I will show you.

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 And I will make of you

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 a great nation

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 and I will bless you

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 and make your name great

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 so that you will be a blessing.

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 And I will bless those

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 who bless you

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 and him who dishonors you

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 I will curse.

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 And in you,

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 all the families of the earth

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 shall be blessed.

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 This,

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 in the original language,

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 five times the word blessing

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 in some form

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 is mentioned

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 in the original language.

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 Now what's the scary part of that?

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 The scary part of that

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 is the very first things

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 that God says to Abram.

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 Look again at verse one.

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 Now the Lord said to Abram,

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 go,

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 go from your country,

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 go from your kindred

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 and go from your father's house

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 to the land

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 that I will show you.

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 He's told to go

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 and leave behind his family,

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 his country

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 and his kindred,

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 in a sense,

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 the larger clan or tribe.

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 And he's told to go to a place

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 that he's not even told

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 where it's going to be.

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 He's just told to go.

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 And if you're watching this

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 and you're sort of a seeker

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 trying to figure out

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 what the Christian faith is

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 or you're maybe looking here

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 for more ammo

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 as to why you shouldn't be a Christian,

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 well, first of all,

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 welcome if you're here

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 and welcome if you're here.

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 I just want to share with you

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 that Christians find this idea

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 frightening as well

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 because part of what it means

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 to be human,

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 but not the best part

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 of what it means to be human,

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 is desire to have

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 a lot more control

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 over things.

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 And so one of the fears

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 is that

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 if you actually sort of

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 launch yourself

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 in the Christian faith,

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 that it's just going to be

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 this open-ended thing

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 and before you know it,

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 like you get weird

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 and you get weirder

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 and you get weirder

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 and you get weirder

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 and you get weirder

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 because God just gives you

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 this command just to go

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 and he doesn't even tell you

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 all the steps

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 that he's going to give you.

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 He doesn't tell you exactly

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 what it's going to look like

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 and that on one hand

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 is sort of very frightening

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 to people

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 and it's frightening

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 at different times

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 to Christians.

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 But what's actually,

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 I don't know if this

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 will make it easier

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 and this is where I might,

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 I need your grace

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 because I might touch

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 on a couple of things

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 which are very

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 uncomfortable for you.

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 Some of the things

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 which are most key

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 to human flourishing

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 involve the same type

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 of step

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 into the unknown.

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 Now,

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 just before I give you

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 these examples

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 and I know that there are

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 people in the room

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 who long to be married

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 and haven't been able

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 to be married

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 and I know there are

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 people in the room

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 and people watching

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 who have been married

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 and their marriage

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 is either in the process

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 of dissolution

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 or has broken up

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 and it's been very painful.

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 And I know there are

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 people in the room

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 who would desperately love

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 to be able to have children

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 or more children

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 and haven't been able

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 to have children.

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 I know there are people

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 in the room

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 who have had miscarriages.

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 So I know that

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 this example

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 can be painful

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 to some.

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 But,

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 well,

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 I'll use a personal example.

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 When

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 I got to hold

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 Elizabeth,

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 my daughter,

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 my sixth child,

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 in my arms,

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 I didn't know

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 that five years later

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 I would spend

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 a couple of days

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 in the intensive care unit

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 of the children's hospital

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 watching her

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 fight for every breath

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 and not know

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 whether she was going

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 to live

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 or whether she was

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 going to die.

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 And I didn't know.

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 I mean,

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 she ends up surviving.

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 Those of you

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 who don't know me,

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 she survived.

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 Turned out she had

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 a very rare form

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 of pneumonia

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 that usually only

00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.759
 very elderly people get.

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 But somehow or another

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 it's very rare

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 for a five-year-old girl

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 to get this type

00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:08.399
 of pneumonia

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 that usually

00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:11.840
 only elderly people get.

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 And they were able

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 to treat it.

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 But, you know,

00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.879
 some 16, 17 years,

00:09:16.959 --> 00:09:17.840
 18 years later,

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 whatever,

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 I got to walk her

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 down the aisle

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 because she's going

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 to marry David.

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 And

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 just a couple of weeks ago

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 I got to hold

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 her fourth child

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 in my arms,

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 Levi,

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 the grandchild.

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 Now,

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 the point of all

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 of this is

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 that we all know

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 that there are areas

00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:40.379
 of human flourishing

00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:42.279
 that when you take

00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:43.320
 that first step

00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:43.960
 into it,

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 you have no idea

00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.180
 what's going to be

00:09:46.180 --> 00:09:46.840
 down the road.

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 And that's why

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 I shared

00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:51.539
 that in some ways

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 I know I'm touching

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 upon things here

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 which can be

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 very, very difficult.

00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:55.460
 So that one of the things

00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.320
 that's really important

00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.080
 for us to know

00:09:57.080 --> 00:09:58.460
 as Christians,

00:09:58.879 --> 00:09:59.519
 two of the things

00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:00.100
 which are very,

00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:01.180
 very, very wonderful,

00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:01.980
 profoundly,

00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:03.399
 emotionally important

00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.120
 for Christians.

00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:06.700
 From the outside

00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:08.120
 you might not realize it

00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:09.360
 but once the gospel

00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.060
 grips you

00:10:10.060 --> 00:10:11.120
 there are two things

00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:12.039
 about the gospel

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:13.060
 and the biblical narrative

00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:14.800
 that are of profound

00:10:14.800 --> 00:10:17.000
 emotional importance.

00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:18.120
 And the first one

00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:19.440
 is that our flourishing

00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:20.259
 as human beings

00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:21.139
 doesn't depend

00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.180
 upon being married

00:10:22.180 --> 00:10:23.620
 or upon having children

00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:25.139
 or upon having

00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:25.759
 certain types

00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.180
 of professional accreditation

00:10:27.180 --> 00:10:29.420
 or having a large family

00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.940
 or any family at all.

00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:31.960
 that one of the things

00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:33.000
 which is so profoundly

00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.180
 beautiful and important

00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.340
 about the Christian faith

00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:37.640
 is that every individual

00:10:37.640 --> 00:10:38.880
 just by the virtue

00:10:38.880 --> 00:10:39.920
 of them being born

00:10:39.920 --> 00:10:41.900
 and becoming God's children

00:10:41.900 --> 00:10:43.100
 by adoption and grace

00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:43.920
 the possibility

00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:44.680
 of flourishing

00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:45.340
 is there.

00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:47.800
 Like real flourishing.

00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:50.560
 Like real flourishing.

00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:50.980
 In fact,

00:10:51.520 --> 00:10:52.140
 one of the things

00:10:52.140 --> 00:10:53.700
 there's this wonderful book

00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:54.360
 if you get a chance

00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:54.700
 to read it

00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:55.360
 by a scholar

00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:55.880
 who taught

00:10:55.880 --> 00:10:56.820
 at University of Edinburgh

00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:57.500
 he died

00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:59.420
 just a couple of years ago.

00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.719
 he wrote two books

00:11:00.719 --> 00:11:01.639
 before he died

00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:03.159
 on how on earth it is

00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:03.699
 that anybody

00:11:03.699 --> 00:11:04.620
 in the ancient world

00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.059
 would have become

00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:05.579
 a Christian

00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:07.679
 given that it involved

00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:08.659
 such a profound break

00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:09.500
 from your culture.

00:11:10.719 --> 00:11:11.620
 The man's name

00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.620
 was Larry Hurtato

00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:14.659
 and both of the books

00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:16.059
 there's a more scholarly one

00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:18.539
 published by Oxford University Press

00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:19.159
 or something like that

00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:20.539
 and a bit of a more popular version.

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:21.839
 But you see,

00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.360
 one of the things

00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:24.299
 which was so profoundly important

00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:24.879
 to these

00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.559
 that the gospel brought

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.839
 is that slaves

00:11:27.839 --> 00:11:29.259
 despite the fact

00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:31.079
 that they were profoundly constrained

00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:33.379
 were fully loved by God

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:34.579
 and if you read

00:11:34.579 --> 00:11:35.299
 the New Testament

00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.159
 and you read it

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:36.979
 and see that there's

00:11:36.979 --> 00:11:38.019
 this profound message

00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:38.659
 that even though

00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:39.399
 they're constrained

00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:40.619
 even though they're slaves

00:11:40.619 --> 00:11:42.939
 that Jesus loved them enough

00:11:42.939 --> 00:11:43.899
 to die on the cross

00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:44.479
 for them

00:11:44.479 --> 00:11:45.719
 and that given

00:11:45.719 --> 00:11:47.099
 even their constraints

00:11:47.099 --> 00:11:48.279
 it's possible for them

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.619
 to flourish in that

00:11:49.619 --> 00:11:51.699
 and to be vehicles

00:11:51.699 --> 00:11:52.899
 by which the gospel

00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:53.739
 becomes known

00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.879
 and people are saved

00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.700
 and good is done

00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.240
 in the city

00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.840
 and God is praised

00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:00.100
 and women

00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:02.100
 who were profoundly powerless

00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.560
 in much of the ancient world

00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:05.379
 the gospel is profoundly

00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:07.659
 powerful to them

00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:08.980
 because they come to realize

00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:09.580
 that even though

00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:10.620
 there's all these limits

00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.940
 and from the outer view

00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:14.379
 they're unqualified

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:15.519
 they're unsuitable

00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.659
 it's unlikely

00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.740
 that God would use them

00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:19.700
 but God uses women

00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:20.840
 he blesses women

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:23.879
 and they're able to flourish

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.160
 even in the midst

00:12:25.160 --> 00:12:26.460
 of constrained situations

00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:27.580
 and so one of the things

00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:28.639
 which is very powerful

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.379
 about the Bible

00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:31.220
 is this profound message

00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:33.280
 that you are not

00:12:33.280 --> 00:12:34.860
 of more worth or value

00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:35.560
 if you're married

00:12:35.560 --> 00:12:36.379
 than if you're single

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.139
 or of more worth or value

00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:38.980
 if you have children

00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:40.340
 than you don't have children

00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:42.080
 that there's this profound

00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.379
 flourishing

00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:45.160
 and gift of blessing

00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:46.400
 which every human being

00:12:46.400 --> 00:12:47.379
 in Christ gets

00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:49.940
 and they just get it

00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:53.140
 but at the same time

00:12:53.140 --> 00:12:54.400
 we acknowledge

00:12:54.400 --> 00:12:57.140
 well that

00:12:57.140 --> 00:12:58.820
 there are things

00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:00.320
 like marriage

00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:04.080
 that we embark on

00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.300
 and some of us

00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:05.800
 in the room

00:13:05.800 --> 00:13:06.580
 know the pain

00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:07.200
 of the marriage

00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:09.040
 that doesn't work out

00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:12.940
 and we know

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.540
 that there are

00:13:13.540 --> 00:13:14.620
 I know that there are

00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:15.180
 people here

00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:16.540
 whose moms and dads

00:13:16.540 --> 00:13:17.500
 rather than loving them

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.280
 abuse them

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:21.000
 some in quite horrendous ways

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:23.720
 but we all

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.360
 if you think about it

00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:25.779
 for a second

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.360
 if you think about it

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:26.899
 for a second

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.419
 if you were to meet

00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:29.159
 a human being

00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.059
 and they decided

00:13:31.059 --> 00:13:32.339
 that because of the fact

00:13:32.339 --> 00:13:33.459
 that there is a possibility

00:13:33.459 --> 00:13:34.220
 of pain

00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.819
 in a certain path

00:13:35.819 --> 00:13:37.360
 that they weren't

00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:37.939
 going to take

00:13:37.939 --> 00:13:39.199
 any path at all

00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:41.159
 and maybe they just spent

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.019
 the rest of their life

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:42.759
 because they had

00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:43.620
 a little bit of money

00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.559
 that having Uber

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.879
 deliver food to them

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:47.059
 and they never go outside

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:48.340
 they never talk to anybody

00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:49.399
 they never engage

00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:49.779
 in anything

00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.200
 they never try anything

00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.960
 and by doing

00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.899
 all of those things

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:54.519
 they never give

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.759
 their heart to anything

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.399
 and by doing all of that

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.039
 they in a sense

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.399
 they protect their heart

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.659
 from any type

00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.519
 of being broken

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.779
 but we would not

00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:03.519
 look at anybody

00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.200
 like that

00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:04.720
 and say that

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.679
 they were flourishing

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:13.259
 and so for many people

00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:13.939
 in our culture

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:15.599
 who desperately

00:14:15.599 --> 00:14:16.859
 would love to have

00:14:16.859 --> 00:14:17.679
 a person they could spend

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.939
 the rest of their lives with

00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:21.699
 but maybe they themselves

00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:22.559
 have been

00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.000
 you know

00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.539
 divorced

00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:25.359
 or their parents

00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:26.000
 were divorced

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.279
 maybe multiple times

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.379
 and there's a lot of

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.500
 just

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:31.939
 I mean

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:33.159
 at the end of the day

00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:34.419
 the bottom line is

00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:36.599
 that the step

00:14:36.599 --> 00:14:38.479
 that will lead

00:14:38.479 --> 00:14:39.219
 to flourishing

00:14:39.219 --> 00:14:40.019
 involves

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:40.979
 a step

00:14:40.979 --> 00:14:41.699
 in a sense

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:43.379
 it's not a leap of faith

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.039
 it's a step

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.899
 into the darkness

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:47.519
 at least it's darkness

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.979
 because you can't see

00:14:48.979 --> 00:14:50.219
 what's beyond

00:14:50.219 --> 00:14:51.120
 that next step

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.500
 or two

00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:55.199
 and part of what

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:55.899
 we learn

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:57.159
 actually

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:58.099
 is that while you

00:14:58.099 --> 00:14:59.539
 step into that darkness

00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:03.019
 in things

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.799
 which really are

00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:04.699
 connected to human

00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.360
 flourishing

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.599
 what looks like

00:15:06.599 --> 00:15:07.839
 darkness on the outside

00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:09.000
 when you step into it

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.599
 is actually

00:15:09.599 --> 00:15:10.360
 bright

00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:12.299
 but there's still

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.299
 that next darkness

00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.599
 before the next step

00:15:14.599 --> 00:15:15.819
 that you need to step into

00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:16.639
 and you step into

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.500
 and you step into

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.559
 so in the Bible here

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:21.279
 when we see the Lord

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.360
 calling Abram

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.240
 to leave behind

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.019
 his family

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.639
 his kindred

00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.219
 his nation

00:15:26.219 --> 00:15:27.379
 and to go in a place

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.279
 where I don't know

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:29.879
 on one hand

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.659
 that's the exact same thing

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.279
 that's required

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:33.700
 for all human flourishing

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:39.419
 and it's the exact same

00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:40.200
 type of thing

00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:41.500
 of being bound

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:42.460
 to in a sense

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.759
 to a path

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.899
 that is also

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:47.200
 key to flourishing

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:49.519
 just as we don't

00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.320
 really think

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:50.960
 that the person

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.639
 who flourishes

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.399
 is the person

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.179
 who has a different

00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:54.440
 girlfriend every night

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:57.320
 I mean I know

00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.100
 that goes against

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.400
 the playboy philosophy

00:15:59.400 --> 00:16:01.000
 and I know it goes

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.920
 against how most

00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:02.900
 of Hollywood

00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:03.980
 presents things

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.140
 where the hero

00:16:05.140 --> 00:16:05.879
 or the heroine

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.460
 has a different

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.520
 boyfriend or girlfriend

00:16:07.520 --> 00:16:08.600
 every show

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.840
 and they never show

00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.900
 any type of remorse

00:16:10.900 --> 00:16:11.480
 they never have

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:11.980
 any type of

00:16:11.980 --> 00:16:13.020
 emotional breakdown

00:16:13.020 --> 00:16:13.740
 any type of

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.820
 emotional wounding

00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.740
 any type of

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.860
 hollowing out

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.560
 or deadening

00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.360
 or anything like that

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.060
 they just go from

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:19.600
 one to one

00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.260
 to one to one

00:16:20.260 --> 00:16:21.180
 as if there's

00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:22.600
 no consequence to that

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.020
 but in real life

00:16:24.020 --> 00:16:25.820
 if we were to meet

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.420
 a person who had

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.139
 a different girlfriend

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.799
 every night

00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:28.240
 and they'd been

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.259
 doing that for 20 years

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.139
 we would not use

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.439
 view them as an example

00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:32.399
 of human flourishing

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.279
 most people wouldn't

00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:37.459
 the part of flourishing

00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:38.319
 is some types

00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:39.019
 of commitments

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:41.099
 into darkness

00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:43.839
 which as you walk

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:46.199
 turns to be light

00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:51.079
 and that's what

00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:53.039
 the Lord calls

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:54.159
 Abram to here

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:57.600
 he says

00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:00.059
 go from your country

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.740
 and your kindred

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.539
 and your father's house

00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.319
 well he can't go

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.019
 if he has them

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.379
 with him

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:03.759
 can he

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.519
 he has to leave

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.139
 them behind

00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:07.859
 and he doesn't know

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.299
 where it's going

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:08.899
 to take him

00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:09.859
 God doesn't tell him

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:10.220
 where he's going

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.819
 to take him

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.480
 so on one hand

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.299
 it's very frightening

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.099
 and part of the

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:15.920
 frighteningness

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.859
 is because it reveals

00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:17.319
 a little bit

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:17.879
 about the fact

00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:18.259
 that we have

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:18.639
 a deep

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:21.319
 not fear of God

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:21.680
 in a way

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.379
 that's healthy

00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:23.560
 but a type of fear

00:17:23.560 --> 00:17:24.000
 of God

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.600
 of the fact

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.300
 that when we

00:17:25.300 --> 00:17:26.960
 at the end of the day

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.720
 if it's God

00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.400
 that we're dealing

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:28.840
 with

00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:30.960
 there's no way

00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.400
 getting around

00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:32.900
 the fact

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.440
 that you lose

00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.040
 control

00:17:34.040 --> 00:17:37.320
 I mean in a sense

00:17:37.320 --> 00:17:38.180
 all relationships

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.700
 is going to mean

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.820
 you lose some control

00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:44.140
 I mean even parents

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.880
 with little kids

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.940
 you know you might

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.020
 think you have control

00:17:48.020 --> 00:17:48.720
 but they poop

00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.160
 when they're going

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:49.600
 to poop

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:51.319
 they throw up

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:51.679
 when they're going

00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:52.259
 to throw up

00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.000
 they cry

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.419
 when they're going

00:17:53.419 --> 00:17:53.919
 to cry

00:17:53.919 --> 00:17:55.500
 they do all those

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.000
 things whenever

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.399
 they're going

00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:56.839
 to do it

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.519
 and you just

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:57.980
 have to deal

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.539
 with it

00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:00.099
 it's your commitment

00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:00.500
 to them

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:00.939
 and your love

00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:01.359
 to them

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:03.019
 and it's part

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.919
 of human flourishing

00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:06.740
 and that's actually

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.299
 even here seen

00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:07.899
 in the text

00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.919
 and the thing

00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:09.859
 which we should

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.719
 really jump out

00:18:10.719 --> 00:18:11.679
 at the text

00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:12.439
 is not the problem

00:18:12.439 --> 00:18:13.039
 with cursing

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.759
 which I'll explain

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.339
 in a moment

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.799
 but the fact

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:17.559
 that it's so

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.000
 and use a big word

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.000
 asymmetric

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:22.000
 it's so unbalanced

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.919
 God merely asked

00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:24.639
 Abram to do

00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:25.500
 on one hand

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.700
 it's a very simple

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.119
 thing

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.779
 it's a very scary

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.299
 thing

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.740
 but it's a very

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.500
 small thing

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.240
 on one level

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.419
 compared to all

00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.740
 of the good

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:36.019
 that comes to it

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.179
 that God does

00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:38.579
 look at it again

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:40.319
 go from your country

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.940
 verse 1

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.679
 and your kindred

00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:42.379
 and your father's

00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:43.200
 house to the land

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.220
 that I will show you

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:47.200
 and I will make

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.079
 of you

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.579
 a great nation

00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:52.079
 and I will bless

00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.539
 you

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.880
 and make your name

00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.259
 great

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.480
 how is it

00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.180
 he's going to make

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:56.980
 your name great

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.620
 how is he going to

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:57.819
 bless

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.200
 he's going to

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.759
 bless us

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.640
 so that we're

00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:00.100
 a blessing

00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:02.400
 it's an image

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.019
 in a sense

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.500
 of that

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.160
 it's like

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.019
 an image

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.720
 of where

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:07.940
 not only

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.839
 does God's blessing

00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.360
 going to come

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.240
 into his life

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.160
 to bless him

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:12.420
 but that it

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.880
 doesn't just

00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.680
 sort of become

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.519
 he doesn't become

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:14.940
 like a big

00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.940
 bloated blessing

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.460
 you know

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:16.799
 as if

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.039
 you know

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.799
 in those cartoons

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.440
 where the hose

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.380
 goes into a person

00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:19.860
 they just get

00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:20.640
 fatter and fatter

00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.100
 and fatter

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.539
 you know

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:24.519
 or the air hose

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.259
 goes into a person

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.880
 they get fatter

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.259
 and fatter

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.539
 and fatter

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.019
 and they eventually

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.539
 float away

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:29.400
 that's in a sense

00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.779
 I mean

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.860
 if anything like that

00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.539
 actually happened

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.220
 it would be a form

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.680
 of torture

00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.440
 to kill you

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.120
 so it's not

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:35.759
 as if the blessing

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.380
 just comes in

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.039
 and you just become

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.840
 like this dam

00:19:37.840 --> 00:19:38.640
 this reservoir

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:40.120
 this dead sea

00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:43.220
 this dead sea

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:46.319
 of blessing

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.360
 but he blesses you

00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:48.860
 so that it will

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.339
 flow out

00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:49.779
 that you

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.660
 are a blessing

00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.660
 to others

00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:54.519
 and verse 3

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.360
 and I will bless

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:56.559
 those who bless you

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:59.319
 and him who dishonors

00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.240
 you I will curse

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.019
 and in you all

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.640
 of the families

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.220
 of the earth

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.360
 shall be blessed

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:03.940
 you see this

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:05.180
 piling on a blessing

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.759
 that's very

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.640
 incommensurate

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.620
 so what does

00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:08.400
 blessing mean

00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:10.900
 blessing very simply

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:11.539
 in the bible

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.019
 is this

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.599
 at least in this

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.420
 particular type

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.259
 of a context

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.440
 a blessing

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.399
 is that

00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:18.920
 it's the power

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.720
 and the presence

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.319
 of god

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.059
 to flourish

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:23.319
 that's what it means

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.920
 it's the power

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.740
 and presence

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.399
 of god

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.299
 to flourish

00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.319
 and to thrive

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.399
 and it

00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.639
 and in the bible

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.379
 it either

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.700
 refers to physical

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.220
 things

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.399
 creational things

00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:36.720
 or to spiritual

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.220
 things

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.920
 and spiritual

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.559
 things are also

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.000
 created

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.460
 but they're not

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.039
 of this created

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.440
 order

00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:41.400
 and it can

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.960
 either be

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.740
 creational

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.600
 just like physical

00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:44.920
 or very just

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.200
 merely human

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.759
 so to speak

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.519
 it can also be

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:47.940
 spiritual

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.759
 it can be both

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:50.480
 and it's in a sense

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.799
 a coming from god

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.819
 of a type of presence

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.600
 and a power

00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.880
 into your life

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.600
 that causes you

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:56.360
 to thrive

00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:57.759
 or to flourish

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.720
 some of you get

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.720
 emails from me

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.860
 and I often

00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.319
 end them

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.860
 I hope you're

00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.960
 thriving in jesus

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.120
 and when I say that

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.660
 I'm in a sense

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.079
 saying I hope

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.840
 you're being blessed

00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:07.459
 to be a blessing

00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:09.779
 because that's what

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.799
 blessing in a sense

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.079
 means

00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:13.119
 what does cursing

00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:13.459
 mean

00:21:13.459 --> 00:21:14.559
 well cursing

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.220
 is the opposite

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.619
 of it

00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:17.539
 and fundamentally

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.220
 in the bible

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.279
 I mean it's in a sense

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.819
 a decision

00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:21.039
 that's made by god

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.319
 but fundamentally

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.119
 what it usually

00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:23.579
 means

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.279
 is it means

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.879
 in a sense

00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:26.039
 a removal

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.000
 of presence

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.839
 and power

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.119
 that leads

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:31.279
 to your diminishment

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.000
 you know

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.859
 it would be

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.359
 as if

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:36.420
 you know

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:36.779
 to give you

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.299
 an example

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:37.839
 some of you

00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.259
 maybe have

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.960
 known elderly

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.599
 couples

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.319
 and while

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.759
 the couple

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.420
 is still alive

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:43.879
 they seem

00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.399
 to thrive

00:21:44.399 --> 00:21:44.740
 and then

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.160
 the wife

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.680
 dies

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.839
 and all

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.240
 of a sudden

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.579
 you see

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.259
 that the man's

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.819
 life starts

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.440
 to completely

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:49.839
 and utterly

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.539
 fall apart

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:52.139
 you know

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:52.579
 because maybe

00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.180
 it's because

00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.960
 of his wife's

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.539
 involvement

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.240
 in his life

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.759
 that the house

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.279
 is tidy

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.740
 that there's

00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.259
 food in the

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.660
 fridge

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.519
 eats his

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.119
 vegetables

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:02.119
 there's a whole

00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:02.799
 pile of things

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.219
 that allows

00:22:03.219 --> 00:22:04.019
 him to thrive

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.919
 but his wife's

00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.559
 absence

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.959
 means that

00:22:06.959 --> 00:22:08.279
 the natural

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.979
 tendencies

00:22:08.979 --> 00:22:09.819
 towards being

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.799
 slovenly

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.779
 to being lazy

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:13.119
 to just eating

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.959
 fast food

00:22:13.959 --> 00:22:14.839
 those natural

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.359
 tendencies

00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:15.759
 of his

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.439
 just come out

00:22:16.439 --> 00:22:16.919
 and what you

00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:17.299
 see

00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.079
 is his

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.759
 diminishment

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.599
 not his

00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.099
 thriving

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.259
 just a bit

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.759
 of an aside

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.239
 I think

00:22:22.239 --> 00:22:23.059
 it's still

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.479
 the case

00:22:23.479 --> 00:22:23.919
 I don't know

00:22:23.919 --> 00:22:24.339
 how COVID

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:24.779
 has affected

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.559
 it

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.619
 married

00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:27.079
 I think

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.559
 something like

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.119
 a man

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.859
 who's married

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.559
 lives

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.079
 I don't know

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.579
 10 years

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:30.919
 longer

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.439
 20 years

00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:31.699
 longer

00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:32.019
 something

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.579
 crazy

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.379
 it makes

00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:33.980
 no difference

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.500
 to the length

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.859
 of time

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.339
 the wife

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.220
 lives

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.439
 but it makes

00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:38.099
 a big difference

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.699
 to the man

00:22:38.699 --> 00:22:40.079
 I can see

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.579
 from myself

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.079
 I eat way

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.720
 more vegetables

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.279
 because I'm

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.659
 married to

00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:42.899
 Louise

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:43.519
 and I probably

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.220
 would naturally

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.119
 all by myself

00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.179
 and my diet

00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:46.859
 is definitely

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.559
 more healthy

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.240
 and I'm more

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.879
 likely to actually

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.779
 go see a doctor

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.859
 all those types

00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:51.319
 of things

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:52.259
 but you can see

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.699
 that in that

00:22:52.699 --> 00:22:53.079
 example

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.519
 a little bit

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:53.899
 of what is

00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:54.179
 meant

00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:54.960
 it's not so

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.619
 much that God

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.579
 all of a sudden

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.359
 starts throwing

00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:58.059
 things at you

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.699
 to make things

00:22:58.699 --> 00:22:59.859
 bad happen to you

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.279
 but by

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.019
 in a sense

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.979
 a slight

00:23:01.979 --> 00:23:02.699
 withdrawal

00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:04.139
 the natural

00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:04.839
 tendencies

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.539
 of you

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.059
 towards

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.719
 diminishment

00:23:06.719 --> 00:23:07.699
 and destruction

00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:11.379
 begin to have

00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:12.079
 some type of

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.539
 current

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.359
 and weight

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:14.519
 one of the

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.379
 ideas which is

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.139
 presented in the

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:16.619
 New Testament

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.359
 about the same

00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:17.899
 line is

00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.399
 it's almost

00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.240
 as if grace

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.459
 is the rope

00:23:20.459 --> 00:23:21.319
 that binds

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.619
 the boat

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:24.119
 to the dock

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:26.219
 there's a dock

00:23:26.219 --> 00:23:26.699
 on a river

00:23:26.699 --> 00:23:27.059
 and there's

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.500
 current

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.419
 and there's

00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:28.819
 a rope

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.419
 that binds

00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:30.419
 the boat

00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:31.139
 to the dock

00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:31.859
 and what

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.719
 happens is

00:23:32.719 --> 00:23:33.299
 it's almost

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.759
 as if

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.879
 the cursing

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.299
 is where

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.919
 God in a

00:23:35.919 --> 00:23:36.539
 sense begins

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.219
 to let the

00:23:37.219 --> 00:23:37.519
 rope

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.759
 loose

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:40.239
 where it

00:23:40.239 --> 00:23:40.799
 has play

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.199
 and the

00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:41.619
 natural

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.239
 current

00:23:42.239 --> 00:23:42.859
 starts to

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.199
 take the

00:23:43.199 --> 00:23:43.639
 boat away

00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:44.459
 and that's

00:23:44.459 --> 00:23:45.099
 what's behind

00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:45.779
 this idea

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.759
 and you see

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.339
 at the heart

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:49.839
 of it is

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.619
 if what has

00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.279
 caused us

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.819
 to be

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.119
 fallen

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.859
 creatures

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:55.119
 is our

00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.679
 separation

00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:56.619
 from God

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:58.179
 then ultimately

00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:59.099
 true blessing

00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:00.339
 has to involve

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.500
 reconnecting

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.339
 to his presence

00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.119
 and his person

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:05.000
 and to be

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.659
 connected to his

00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:06.299
 presence and his

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:06.959
 person is also

00:24:06.959 --> 00:24:07.599
 to be connected

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.459
 to his power

00:24:08.459 --> 00:24:10.699
 for us to

00:24:10.699 --> 00:24:11.099
 thrive

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.579
 whether it's

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.039
 in physical

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.579
 things

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.119
 or whether

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.519
 it's in

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:13.919
 spiritual

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:14.519
 things

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:16.220
 and even

00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.879
 if you look

00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:17.259
 at it

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.879
 it's a very

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.539
 subtle thing

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:18.959
 which you

00:24:18.959 --> 00:24:19.579
 can't actually

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:21.119
 see in

00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:21.559
 English

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.980
 very very

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.759
 well

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.699
 but when it

00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:25.980
 says to him

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.759
 who dishonors

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.259
 you I will

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.839
 curse

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.319
 sorry I will

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.339
 bless those

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.139
 who bless you

00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:31.639
 plural

00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.519
 to him

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.099
 singular

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.779
 who dishonors

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.220
 you I will

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.699
 curse

00:24:34.699 --> 00:24:35.980
 it's a

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.899
 very simple

00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:37.879
 level at the

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.480
 in the

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.220
 in the original

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:39.980
 language to

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.799
 emphasize that

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.699
 God's fundamental

00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.619
 heart is to

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.000
 bless

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.500
 that the

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.480
 blessing in a

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.139
 sense has the

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:47.079
 greater weight

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.579
 and the greater

00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.319
 distance

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.480
 and that it's

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.259
 not his heart

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.740
 to curse

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.119
 that his

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.500
 fundamental

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.599
 heart towards

00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:53.059
 you is to

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.519
 bless you

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.639
 it's why

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.559
 I think it's

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:55.899
 in the book

00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:56.480
 of Ezekiel

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.159
 three different

00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:57.839
 times

00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:00.059
 that it has

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.619
 this idea

00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:01.200
 and those of

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.519
 you who do

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:01.980
 morning and

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.759
 evening prayer

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.559
 from the book

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:03.980
 of common

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.339
 prayer

00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.500
 you'll get

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.220
 this phrase

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.659
 that God

00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:07.179
 takes no

00:25:07.179 --> 00:25:07.759
 delight in the

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.099
 death of

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.319
 God takes no

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.059
 delight in the

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.539
 death of a

00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:10.960
 sinner but

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.559
 rather that he

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.240
 will turn from

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.859
 his wickedness

00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.339
 and live

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.960
 and that captures

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.879
 perfectly this

00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:16.500
 idea of the

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.179
 blessing and the

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.360
 cursing that his

00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:19.779
 heart is to

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.519
 bless you his

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.640
 heart is to

00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.360
 know you his

00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:23.720
 heart is to

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.680
 have you receive

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.660
 his presence into

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.660
 his life his

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:28.180
 heart is that you

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.180
 will trust him to

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.340
 leave and to go

00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:31.759
 and to trust him

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.980
 as he leaves as he

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.640
 leads you and

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.580
 takes you that you

00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:36.320
 will trust him and

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:37.220
 it doesn't mean in

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.779
 your life that you

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.640
 will never have bad

00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.539
 things or hard

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.539
 things happen to

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:42.420
 you but because

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.259
 you know it isn't

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.440
 as if blessing means

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.259
 that you'll never be

00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.080
 stretched you'll

00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:47.160
 never be tested you'll

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.960
 never have just

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.100
 very very hard

00:25:49.100 --> 00:25:49.700
 things happen to

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.320
 you but it means

00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:51.080
 that as you as

00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:51.840
 you come to these

00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.620
 things you have his

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:54.300
 fundamental promise to

00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:55.620
 help you you have his

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.360
 presence and his

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:58.019
 power to help you

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.740
 face those things and

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.779
 deal with those things

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.500
 which are very very

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.440
 hard and very very

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:04.320
 difficult and so in a

00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:04.920
 sense what you're

00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.620
 seeing here remember

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:07.180
 what you're seeing

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.000
 here in a sense the

00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.340
 pattern of the rest of

00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:10.580
 the Bible the program

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.360
 of the rest of the

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.480
 Bible the promise of

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.420
 the rest of the Bible

00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:15.060
 these are all things

00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:16.300
 are unknown Abraham

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:17.599
 doesn't realize of

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:19.419
 course that him

00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:20.579
 taking these small

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:21.759
 steps of faith will

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:24.220
 down the ages culminate

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.659
 in him becoming a

00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:27.200
 mighty nation becoming

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.240
 the people of Israel

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.299
 that the Torah and the

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.599
 prophets would all be

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:33.259
 revealed to his

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.680
 offspring through the

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.339
 years and that

00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.599
 eventually because

00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:37.799
 salvation comes from

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.559
 the Jews that the

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:40.680
 actual Messiah who will

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.919
 be the person who is

00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.980
 the profound blessing

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.039
 for the present the

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.220
 future and the past

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.660
 Abraham is going to

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.920
 give birth to the one

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.420
 who gives birth to the

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.319
 one who gives birth to

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.940
 the one who gives

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.700
 birth to the one that

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.779
 eventually will bring

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.940
 about the Savior that

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.940
 Abraham needs himself to

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:57.180
 be made right with God

00:26:57.180 --> 00:27:02.420
 that this on one level

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:05.440
 small step away from his

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:07.279
 family his friends his

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:09.720
 country in obedience and

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:11.220
 trusting that God who has

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:13.940
 called him to do this it

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:15.559
 culminates in these

00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.700
 profound blessings down

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.920
 the world down the road

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:26.380
 so what happens in the

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:28.059
 rest of the text the main

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.900
 thing about it is you

00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.759
 wonder is there something

00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:34.519
 special about Abram well

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:35.000
 that's sort of the

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.720
 question is there

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:37.140
 something special about

00:27:37.140 --> 00:27:39.259
 Abram well the rest of the

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.620
 story these next 17

00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:41.779
 verses will help to make

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:43.539
 that far more clear let's

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.439
 look and see what happens

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:47.039
 verse 4 so Abram went as

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.639
 the Lord had told him and

00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:51.379
 Lot went with him Abram

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:53.679
 Lot is his nephew Abram

00:27:53.679 --> 00:27:55.459
 was 75 years old when he

00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:57.519
 departed from Haran and

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:59.479
 Abram took Sarai his wife

00:27:59.479 --> 00:28:00.879
 and Lot his brother's son and

00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:01.979
 all their possessions that

00:28:01.979 --> 00:28:02.919
 they had gathered and the

00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:03.679
 people that they had

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:05.619
 acquired in Haran and they

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.619
 set out to go to the land

00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.739
 of Canaan when they came to

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:10.160
 the land of Canaan Abram

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.620
 passed through the land to

00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:13.200
 the place at Shechem to the

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:16.240
 oak of Moreh at that time

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.720
 the Canaanites were in the

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:19.700
 land then the Lord appeared

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:21.099
 to Abram and said so he's

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.539
 appearing to him at the oak

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:24.700
 or the terebinth tree of

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:27.579
 Moreh in Shechem and the

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.799
 Lord appeared to Abram verse

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.839
 seven and said to your

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:31.120
 offspring I will give this

00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:33.420
 land so Abram built there an

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:34.519
 altar to the Lord who had

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:36.480
 appeared to them let's sort of

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:38.380
 pause here one of the things

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.299
 which are very important

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:40.220
 about the Old Testament

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.660
 stories which is why it's

00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.680
 important for us to read

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:45.480
 them is that stories prepare

00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:49.180
 our imagination and sort of

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:53.140
 our our mind to receive

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:57.839
 abstract ideas it in a sense

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.220
 that it prepares us to

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.299
 receive these things it's one

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:02.019
 of the reasons why I know

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:03.940
 that parents of children you

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:05.860
 I mean obviously the kids are

00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.619
 going to watch different

00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:07.719
 things on TV and other

00:29:07.719 --> 00:29:10.219
 places you know we've all

00:29:10.219 --> 00:29:11.279
 seen over the last little

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.299
 while that you have to be

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.979
 very careful about that what

00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:15.359
 you let your kids watch but

00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.199
 one of the most important

00:29:16.199 --> 00:29:17.240
 things that parents can do

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.240
 for their children is to read

00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:21.059
 Bible stories to them like if

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.319
 you're if your children are

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:25.019
 just getting a diet of purely

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:28.159
 Disney type stories and never

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.639
 hearing Bible stories they're

00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.859
 going to be deeply impoverished

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.619
 and it's going to be hard for

00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:34.859
 them to understand different

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:37.419
 things in the Bible and here in

00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:39.919
 this very simple story God has

00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:41.799
 taken Abram to the very center

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:44.319
 of the promised land to a place

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.359
 where paganism is celebrated and

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:49.240
 taught because more means teaching

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:51.059
 so right in the very center where

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:53.079
 Canaanite religion is celebrated and

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:57.359
 taught in a sense pagan you is right

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:59.240
 there and right in the center right

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:02.920
 In the face of it God says I don't

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:05.299
 care if if all those gods that are

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:07.120
 being worshiped believe they control

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:10.000
 and own the land in a sense today he

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:12.299
 says I don't care if Apple thinks

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:14.039
 they own everything I don't care if

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:16.140
 Google thinks they own everything I

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:18.279
 don't care if Disney thinks they own

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.900
 everything I don't care if the

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.779
 Supreme Court thinks they own

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:23.740
 everything I don't care if Trudeau

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.599
 thinks he owns everything I don't

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:32.419
 care if the CBC thinks they own everything. I own everything. I'm giving you the land.

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:41.019
 The land is yours. You see, in a very simple way, it's preparing us for this idea of God being

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:45.519
 almighty and owning the whole, all of the earth, that he would lead Abram to the center of the

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:50.959
 promised land where it's ruled by other people and paganism is celebrated. And God says,

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:58.120
 disregard these gods. I am the true God. The land is going to be given to you because it's mine to

00:30:58.120 --> 00:31:04.000
 give, not theirs. But is Abram special? That was a bit of an aside. Look at verse eight.

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:09.079
 From there, he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:13.980
 with Bethel on the west and A on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called

00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:18.319
 upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negev. And Abram sounds

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:24.220
 like just a very, very faith-filled, special type of guy. In fact, some of us might be saying,

00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:30.279
 well, George, the problem I have is that I'm not Abram. I don't have that type of faith. I don't

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:36.619
 have that type of self-possession. My life is more fits and starts with more fits than starts.

00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:42.579
 I'm more the type of guy that I can take three steps forward. Yeah, but then I end up taking seven

00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:48.019
 steps back. I'm the type of guy that if you play snakes and ladders, I'm always getting the thing

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:53.000
 that sends me backwards and very rarely climbing up. And so I can't relate to Abram. But we'll look

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:58.879
 what immediately happens right afterwards in verse 10. Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went

00:31:58.879 --> 00:32:05.200
 down to Egypt to sojourn there for the famine was severe in the land. When he was about to enter Egypt,

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:11.900
 just one moment, one moment. God has just given the promised land. Abram's having a hard time.

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:17.700
 Abram says, I'm just going to trust my reasoning and thinking abilities to sort this out for myself.

00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:20.400
 Abram says, I'm just going to trust my life. And he leaves the promised land.

00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:32.079
 He gets frightened by his circumstances. And it gets worse. Verse 11, when he was about to enter

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:39.980
 Egypt, he said to Sarai, his wife, I know that you are a beautiful woman in appearance. And when the

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:47.480
 Egyptians see you, they will say, hmm, this is his wife. Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:55.059
 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared

00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:59.640
 for your sake. Now just pause. This is never good advice.

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:04.860
 Like don't...

00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:16.399
 So Abram thinks he's going to solve this by his ability to deceive people. And in the process,

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:22.079
 he wants to pretend he's not married to his wife. But one moment, how's God going to make a mighty

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:26.899
 nation if he's not married? Like all of these promises, all of them just flee from his mind.

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:31.779
 He doesn't consult God. He just depends upon his natural human reasoning.

00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:38.619
 And look at verse 14, and when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very

00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:43.879
 beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was

00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:48.200
 taken into the Pharaoh's house, which means his harem. Well, how is this plan going to end well

00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:56.839
 for Abram? Like we might say, what were you thinking? I mean, actually, what were you not thinking?

00:33:56.839 --> 00:34:00.220
 Like, how did you actually think any of this was going to work out?

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:08.119
 And for her sake, he dealt well with Abram. And he had sheep and oxen, male donkeys, male servants,

00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:13.579
 female servants, female donkeys, and camels. So Abram, with the consent of his wife, Sarah,

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:19.219
 the two of them come up with this plan. It ends up that Abram gets very rich, but she ends up in the

00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:25.799
 Pharaoh's harem, and they're not in the promised land. But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house

00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:32.859
 with great plagues because of Sarah, Abram's wife. The Lord intervenes. So Pharaoh called Abram and said,

00:34:32.939 --> 00:34:38.279
 what is this you have done to me? Why did you tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say

00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:43.919
 she is my sister, so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go.

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:50.880
 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning Abram, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:57.599
 Now, here's the thing. One of the things that you don't know in this text, and you know it from

00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:03.539
 archaeology, in the Hebrew, if you go back to the bit just before chapter 12, and you look at the names,

00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:07.360
 you can see that there's a connection to the moon god in all of them.

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:16.019
 God only blesses the unlikely, the unsuitable, and the unworthy.

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:28.400
 Abram was a moon god worshiper when God called him. A moon god worshiper. He wasn't like some profound,

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:37.340
 it wasn't as if God looked around and said, gosh, look at Abram. He's so spiritual, he's so profound,

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:44.599
 you know, he's so deep, you know, I just gotta have him on my team. No, it's not like that.

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:49.240
 The thing about it is, and see, one of the persistent problems for us as Christians is,

00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:57.000
 it's very hard for us to accept that Jesus knows the worst about us, and dies for us knowing the

00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:02.340
 worst about us. But that's, remember, that's what we looked at last week. He died for our sins in

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:06.700
 accordance with the scriptures. In other words, he looked at me, and he looked at you, he saw the worst in us,

00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:15.079
 and seen the worst in us, what it elicits out of him is love, and the love is not merited,

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:22.699
 it's not worthy, it's a pure, complete, and utter gift, and God, purely and utterly, out of his mercy

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:31.839
 and love and desire to give, he pours his love and his grace upon the unlikely, the unsuitable,

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:36.720
 and the unworthy. And that's what Abram's revealed to be. He's a worshiper of the moon when God calls

00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:44.120
 him. He's a guy who's going to try to pretend that he's not married to his wife. He's a guy who's

00:36:44.120 --> 00:36:47.539
 going to try to figure out, to pretend that he's not married to his wife, they're going to work it

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:52.559
 out together so they can make money, and they can be protected, and it's, and he's not listening to

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:57.860
 God, he's not consulting God. He's not particular, and this is all, like, not, why is he, I mean,

00:36:57.860 --> 00:37:02.740
 the other thing about it is, as if we didn't talk about it beforehand, but it's in the part before

00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:08.820
 this, is that Abram's old, his wife, they've been married for many, many years, his wife is old,

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:14.400
 they haven't been able to have kids, they worship the moon, by their very nature that he's going to

00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:19.140
 try to think of ways to lie and deceive, to get himself out of problems, he's going to forget what

00:37:19.140 --> 00:37:25.059
 God has said, he's going to do it, he is completely and utterly unlikely, unsuitable, and unworthy of God's

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:38.079
 grace, as am I, and as are you. God never gives his grace to the suitable, the likely, or the worthy.

00:37:39.320 --> 00:37:46.079
 He only gives his grace to the unsuitable, the unlikely, and the unworthy, of which I am one.

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:56.259
 And so we see the very, very pattern of the rest of the scripture and the very gospel itself is set

00:37:56.259 --> 00:38:03.159
 before us here in these very early words of the scriptures. I'd like you to stand.

00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:11.739
 Let's bow our heads in prayer.

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:20.920
 Father, we confess before you that we who are Christians, that we very, very quickly forget

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:28.440
 your scripture, and we imagine that there are things about us that are really worthy, that

00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:35.440
 make you sort of need or have to give us grace, or have us on your team, or have us have you as your

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:40.800
 child, that there's just things within us, Father, that sort of just compel that, or that somehow,

00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:45.980
 Father, that we easily fall into thinking that we've done some things for you that now put you in our

00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:52.240
 debt, and then you need to reciprocate and give us some blessing. And Father, we confess that there's

00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:57.820
 something deep within us after you have blessed us by giving us saving faith, that that's still there.

00:38:58.440 --> 00:39:07.920
 And we ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would gobsmack us with just the graciousness of grace,

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:16.780
 the depth of grace, the depth of your love, that you never are in our debt, that you never weigh our

00:39:16.780 --> 00:39:27.579
 merits, that you are never in need, that we are always in need, that we are always in need of your love,

00:39:27.579 --> 00:39:30.519
 we are always in need of your grace, we are always in need of your mercy.

00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:38.519
 And that to be your child is to learn to be on life support from you for the rest of our life,

00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:46.960
 and that this is a good thing. Father, we ask that you bring home to us our profound need for grace.

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:54.659
 And we ask, Lord, that you bring home to us ever more deeply our need to respond to what you are offering us,

00:39:54.659 --> 00:40:06.960
 that you would help us respond, respond in a way that accepts your grace, that trusts you, that trusts you with our future, our present, our future.

00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:10.960
 And we give you thanks and praise for all that Jesus has done for us.

00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:19.539
 We thank you for the way that Abraham has been used by you to be that first step that would lead to Christ, that would lead to us receiving grace.

00:40:19.539 --> 00:40:37.639
 And we ask that you make us deeply grateful and to trust you more and more, whether it's with our money, our sexuality, our time, our career, our past, our future, our place in culture, that you would help us to trust you.

00:40:37.639 --> 00:40:44.259
 That Jesus is our Savior and our Lord, that he is our hope of glory.

00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:48.980
 And we ask all these things in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.