WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.419 There has been a mild, a minor controversy, a mild and minor controversy in St. Albans 00:00:08.419 --> 00:00:11.040 for the last several months. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:16.379 And it's mild and minor because most of you probably have no idea what I'm going to say 00:00:16.379 --> 00:00:17.000 that it is. 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:23.460 But for a few people it's been a controversy and I've had to field a few phone calls and 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:24.480 a few conversations. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:30.699 Those of you who aren't guests and who have come to this church for several months or 00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:36.539 more might remember that behind me, right here, there used to be a statue of St. Albans. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:40.240 And it's not there now. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:43.000 And it hasn't been there for several months. 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:50.120 And this has caused, as I said, a minor controversy for some in St. Albans. 00:00:50.179 --> 00:00:52.900 I don't think anybody has left the church over it or anything. 00:00:52.899 --> 00:00:57.359 But I had never really intended to speak about it from the front. 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:03.280 But the second commandment or the second word, which is what we're going to look at today, 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:10.140 as soon as I read it on Monday, because I always start my sermon preparations on Monday by reading 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:14.620 the text and starting to really think about it, instantly I realized that I'd have to talk 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:20.759 about the statue because it's gone around in some segments of the congregation. 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:25.540 The reason that I removed the statue is because I thought that it was an idol, which isn't 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:26.000 the case. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:30.800 I don't think there was anybody in St. Albans that was worshipping the statue. 00:01:31.460 --> 00:01:35.640 In case I'm wrong, if you were doing that, you should stop, okay? 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:38.540 But I don't think anybody was doing that. 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:48.100 But this text this morning, given that it talks about idolatry and idolatry in worship, later 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:55.200 on in the sermon, I am going to share precisely why it was that I removed the statue. 00:01:55.200 --> 00:02:02.939 But in general, as we start to meditate and think about this temptation, or not this temptation, 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:07.560 as we start to think about this second commandment, I'd just like to warn all of us about a very 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:11.819 particular and powerful temptation that happens whenever we read the Bible. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:16.740 And the great temptation is that we always think that the Bible applies for somebody else. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:24.140 We may be even cheer, inwardly cheer, when we read parts of the Bible which seem to show 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:25.820 why other people are wrong. 00:02:26.600 --> 00:02:32.480 And if that becomes a habit within us, it is a very, very great sin. 00:02:32.640 --> 00:02:36.540 And even when it happens to us occasionally, it is a very, very great sin. 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:45.340 As we are warned by the words of Jesus, we are to come under God's word, willing and asking 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:49.920 God's Holy Spirit to move on our lives so that we might hear God's word to us. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:56.480 And sometimes, to our horror, God's word speaks to us in such a way that we realize 00:02:56.480 --> 00:02:59.879 that we might have to make very substantial changes in our life. 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:05.620 And so the question is, some of the people who talked to me about the statue and whether 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:09.379 in fact I was doing it out of reasons of idolatry, they said, for instance, that the 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:14.140 very same reasons for having the statue are the same reasons that we have the stained 00:03:14.139 --> 00:03:18.379 glass windows in the church, which I happen to think in most cases are very beautiful. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.979 But the question would be is this, is as we read these Ten Commandments, let's say that 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:29.239 as we read the Second Commandment, we come under conviction by God that he is telling us 00:03:29.239 --> 00:03:32.000 that we should not have something like stained glass windows. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:33.579 Are we willing to try to obey? 00:03:34.579 --> 00:03:36.419 I mean, that's a very, very important question. 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:40.539 It's easy to desire to obey when it's something trivial. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:45.639 It's easy to think, yes, I can obey when it's something that I already want to obey. 00:03:46.179 --> 00:03:53.680 It's always a great challenge to us when the word of God speaks about something that actually, 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:57.359 God, to be honest with you, we really quite like doing this. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:01.919 And it's going to greatly inconvenience my life if I have to change. 00:04:02.459 --> 00:04:04.539 That's always the test of obedience. 00:04:04.539 --> 00:04:11.079 So I invite you to take your pew Bibles or your own Bibles, those of you who brought your own Bibles from home. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:17.300 And Jill very wonderfully read the Ten Commandments as found in Deuteronomy. 00:04:17.420 --> 00:04:19.060 We're going to look at it in Exodus. 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:23.680 So if you're using the pew Bibles, please turn with me to page 65. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:30.500 And the second commandment or the second word, those of you who are guests this summer, 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:34.800 where last Sunday we began a summer-long series on the Ten Commandments, 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:38.740 each Sunday looking upon a new commandment every week. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.100 And so this week it's the second commandment. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:47.300 And the Ten Commandments are found in two places in the Bible, Exodus and Deuteronomy. 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:49.480 They are virtually identical. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:55.819 In this particular case, it is word-for-word identical, the Exodus reading and the Deuteronomy reading. 00:04:55.819 --> 00:05:00.740 But I'm just using the Exodus reading so you've become familiar with it, 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:03.019 and also because it's all on one page. 00:05:03.899 --> 00:05:09.459 But page 65, and let's listen as once again we hear the second word. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.600 Begins at verse 4 and goes to verse 6. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:18.980 You shall not make for yourself any carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:22.920 or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:25.840 You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:28.720 For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:35.640 visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 00:05:36.200 --> 00:05:40.879 but showing mercy to thousands to those who love me and keep my commandments. 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:48.439 And as I did last week, every time I read this, I'm going to say what the prayer book teaches me to say. 00:05:48.780 --> 00:05:52.620 Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law. 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:55.980 And if you want to join with me when I say that, 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:58.879 Lord, have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law, 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:01.740 feel completely and utterly free to do that. 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:07.160 The first thing that we see about this commandment or this word from God 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:14.020 is that we are to live and worship by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:26.659 Some of you might be really good with your Bible. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:31.899 And as soon as I say that summary statement, it might sound a little bit familiar to you. 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:36.919 In fact, you might even recognize it as being the response that Jesus gives 00:06:36.919 --> 00:06:39.659 when he's tempted in the wilderness by the devil. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:42.640 If you go back later on in reading your Bibles, 00:06:42.920 --> 00:06:47.000 in Matthew chapter 4, after Jesus has been baptized by John the Baptist, 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:50.120 the Holy Spirit drives him into the wilderness. 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:55.980 And in being driven into the wilderness, he spends 40 days in fasting and prayer. 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:59.280 And towards the end of that 40 days of fasting and prayer, 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.660 the devil comes to Jesus, 00:07:01.140 --> 00:07:05.000 and there is, in a sense, a spiritual struggle between Jesus and the devil. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:10.540 And the first temptation which the devil gives to Jesus is, 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:14.600 knowing that Jesus is hungry, the devil, in effect, says to Jesus, 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:18.079 Jesus, you have the power to deal with your hunger. 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:20.579 You can turn these stones into bread. 00:07:21.420 --> 00:07:27.560 And Jesus' response is to quote Deuteronomy chapter 8 back to the devil. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:28.339 And he says, 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:33.259 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:39.240 And Jesus here is speaking a fundamental spiritual principle, 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:44.899 that we do not live by bread alone, or in a sense, by liturgy alone, or by singing alone. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:50.120 We live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:57.259 And this general spiritual principle is at the root of this second commandment. 00:07:57.659 --> 00:08:01.120 The first commandment commanded us that we are to have no other gods, 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:03.840 that we are to be loyal to God alone. 00:08:04.280 --> 00:08:08.959 The first commandment, in a sense, is very similar to what happens in a marriage service. 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:11.980 In about, I don't know, how many weeks is it? 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.800 Are Patrick and Crystal in five weeks or something like that? 00:08:14.840 --> 00:08:17.420 We're going to do a wedding ceremony for Patrick and Crystal. 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:19.980 And they're going to stand right there. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:28.939 And they are going to promise to me, representing, in a sense, God and the state and their family and everybody else, 00:08:29.400 --> 00:08:33.300 that they will forsake all others and cleave only on to the other. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:37.659 And then they will exchange solemn vows, saying right there in that spot, 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:40.080 they will turn and face each other. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:45.420 And they will say, Patrick will say that he forsakes everyone other than Crystal. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:48.860 I don't know if there's three billion women on the planet. 00:08:49.040 --> 00:08:58.400 He's saying, I'm forsaking two billion, 999 million, 999,999, and it's only you, Crystal. 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:05.879 And then Crystal is going to say the very same thing about Patrick. 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:11.340 And that, in a sense, is what the first of the commandments is calling us to do. 00:09:11.579 --> 00:09:18.360 Because the Ten Commandments are actually the key to Israel and all people who are Christ's. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.340 It is the principle of a covenant with God. 00:09:23.079 --> 00:09:27.840 And so it begins by saying, we, in a sense, are invited to say to God, 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.780 God, I will have no other God but you. 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:32.540 No matter how many gods people think there are, 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:37.399 no matter how many people claim to be gods or try to take the place of God in my life, 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:43.060 I will be loyal and I will cleave and obey and only be yours and no other. 00:09:43.680 --> 00:09:48.300 And the second commandment, then, is not, in a sense, duplicating the first. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:53.940 The second commandment is really answering the question, how do we worship? 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:56.140 How do we worship? 00:09:56.140 --> 00:10:03.280 How do we worship the only God whom we are to be solely and exclusively loyal to? 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:08.820 That we are to give not even the vaguest hint that we are loyal to any other God. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:14.960 That we are called by God to know Him alone, through Christ alone, by faith alone. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.380 That's the New Testament that teaches us how we come to know God. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:24.179 But God is to be alone in our affections as God. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:28.799 And how are we to worship, given that this is whom we are called to know? 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:35.899 The second word teaches us that God is spiritual, that He is non-physical, 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:39.639 that He is personal, and that He speaks. 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:44.860 And here's the key, that God is self-revealing. 00:10:45.819 --> 00:10:48.720 That God is self-revealing. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:53.319 That it's not, in a sense, a matter that, you know, to know God, 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:59.259 I sort of give 50% and God gives 50%, or I give 100% because I'm a seeker, 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:02.299 and God just is sort of waiting around for me to find Him. 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:06.959 The fact of the matter is that the Scripture time and time and time tells us 00:11:06.959 --> 00:11:11.919 that God is seeking us, that He desires us to be His children and His people, 00:11:12.079 --> 00:11:17.099 and that the primary posture and the primary call upon our lives is, in a sense, 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:26.219 finally be still and turn and face Him, and in a sense, you know, let Him come into our lives. 00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:30.459 Let Jesus be the Savior and the Lord of our life. 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:37.120 And so the text of Scripture here is emphasizing that God is self-revealing, 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:41.400 and that He reveals Himself through His Word. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:44.740 The heart of worship is to know God. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:50.780 By being open to His Word, Jesus, we know that as New Testament people, 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:56.040 but not only to be open to His Word, but also to be open to the Word of God, 00:11:56.039 --> 00:12:03.059 to fill ourselves with His Word, to fill our minds and our hearts and our wills, 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:09.279 to fill our souls, our very person, with His Word, and to learn to obey. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:13.620 Jesus, in John 14, verse 15, says, 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.039 If you love me, keep my commands. 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:20.959 You know, in a sense, with an idol, we can serve an idol, but you can't obey an idol. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:26.740 Obedience involves words, and love always involves obedience. 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:29.860 Love always involves obedience. 00:12:30.040 --> 00:12:31.680 There is no love without obedience. 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:35.160 And there can be obedience without love, 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:45.720 but there is no true love without a willingness to obey the Word and the will of the other to whom we love. 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:51.100 So, in a sense, the first commandment describes what our chief end is. 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:55.540 The Westminster Confession, originally designed by Anglicans, 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:58.139 although mainly used by non-Anglicans nowadays, 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:03.639 says that the human being's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. 00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:07.540 And that's, in a sense, expressing the first commandment. 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:12.700 And the second is describing the key means to that end, 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:17.500 that we are to trust in God's self-revealing power 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:21.020 by being completely and utterly open to His Word. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:23.860 And by being open to His words, 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:27.600 we are to see that this commandment tells us that all images, 00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:30.840 the use of images in worship, are forbidden. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:35.720 The second commandment is not about alternate gods, 00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:40.160 but about us trying to worship the true God 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:43.799 by the ways that we want to worship Him. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:48.939 In this particular case, in particular, by trying to draw an image of God. 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:53.199 And the commandment warns us that by trying to worship the true God 00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:56.600 according to our own means and our own power 00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:00.379 leads us to idolatry and a hatred of God. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:04.240 It's a very, very strong word of command. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:07.060 Now, here the question is, 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:10.120 are we willing to meditate upon the second commandment? 00:14:11.180 --> 00:14:13.240 Are we willing to let it form us 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.779 every time we think about a new change in church architecture, 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:19.799 every time we think about a change in worship? 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:26.299 Are we willing to meditate upon this second word from God? 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:30.620 Are we willing to have it be so deeply part of our life 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:32.339 that we're even aware of it 00:14:32.339 --> 00:14:34.259 when it comes time to think about worship? 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.359 Now, this gets me very briefly as an aside about the statue. 00:14:41.859 --> 00:14:45.339 Most Christians acknowledge that when it comes to worship, 00:14:45.479 --> 00:14:47.699 the incarnation changes things. 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:52.360 In other words, as part of God's self-revealing power, 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:55.379 not only has God revealed the Word of God 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.860 and spoken the Word of God, 00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:59.440 but that God sent the Word 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.240 and the Word was made flesh 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:05.379 and walked amongst us in the words of John 1, verse 1. 00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:07.160 The Word became flesh 00:15:07.160 --> 00:15:10.400 and walked amongst us, dwelt amongst us. 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:14.340 And that Jesus is the perfect revelation of God. 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:17.720 He is the one who narrates God and interprets God. 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:20.780 He is the one that not only reveals God, 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:24.920 but opens truly for us human beings the door to heaven 00:15:24.920 --> 00:15:28.160 so that we can actually come into God's presence 00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:32.060 and become His adopted children by grace. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.340 And so Christians throughout the ages 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.860 have differed a little bit 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:42.680 about how the incarnation relates to the second commandment. 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:48.019 I think that it's completely acceptable 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.459 in Sunday school material 00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:51.000 to have pictures of Jesus 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.519 and pictures of Bible stories. 00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:56.519 I think it's completely acceptable in a church 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:59.500 to have a window like we have at the front of our church, 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:02.959 which in a sense is only pointing to Jesus, 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.039 whom you can see, 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:08.219 could have seen if we were able to go back in time, 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.500 we'd be able to see Jesus, 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:13.039 and points us to the biblical testimony 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.759 and the biblical witness 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.779 and the great act of salvation 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:18.440 which Jesus won for us. 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:22.379 I think it's completely acceptable 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:24.080 to have pictures like that 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.539 that completely and utterly focus us 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:29.720 and in a sense serve the Word of God 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.919 by helping us to think about the Word of God 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.620 and be led by the Word of God 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:37.940 to God's saving act in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:43.160 The statue was removed 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:45.060 not because I thought that it was an idol 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.880 and not because I thought 00:16:46.880 --> 00:16:47.980 that there's anything wrong 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:49.300 with occasionally drawing 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:51.920 or representing some saint 00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:52.880 or some Christian 00:16:52.880 --> 00:16:54.440 who'd lived a noteworthy life 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:57.580 as a way of reminding us of their life. 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.660 I'm not a huge fan of biography, 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:02.020 but I'm a small fan of biography, 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:05.680 and the autobiography of C.S. Lewis 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.579 has been a powerful thing in my life. 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:11.019 I loved to read the biography of Simeon. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:14.299 I've loved to read the biography of John Stott, 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.839 and biographies can be a powerful means 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.000 by which we can be drawn close to Christ, 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:21.819 and from that I don't inherently see anything wrong 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:24.259 with drawing pictures of these people. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.920 The statue, just so you know, 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.839 of St. Albans was removed 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:30.299 because of our vision statement. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:34.159 And in our vision statement, 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:36.539 by an overwhelming majority, 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:40.019 we said that we believe 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.039 that God is calling us 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:43.579 to be an evangelical Anglican church, 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:45.199 which evangelizes, 00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.859 and on and on and on and on. 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:48.000 That's what we said, 00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:51.259 that we see God calling us to be. 00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:53.259 In a sense, it could be, 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.419 and it should be, 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.879 that St. Albans will be 00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:57.340 an evangelical Anglican church 00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:58.420 which believes the Bible, 00:17:58.600 --> 00:17:59.560 which evangelizes, 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.660 which builds community, 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.620 which worships in traditional 00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.780 and contemporary forms, 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.580 and on and on. 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:05.680 It's at the very, very front 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:08.380 of your bulletin. 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.300 So throughout the years, 00:18:10.300 --> 00:18:11.700 I've had a variety of complaints 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.640 about the statue, 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.100 but I have felt uncomfortable 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.080 in removing it 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:16.780 in terms of any type of authority 00:18:16.780 --> 00:18:17.460 that I have. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.900 But I can say this about the statue. 00:18:20.020 --> 00:18:20.600 First of all, 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:23.240 statues are very, very rare 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.380 in Anglican churches. 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:27.180 And that's because Anglican churches 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:29.060 are originally a creature 00:18:29.060 --> 00:18:30.200 of the English Reformation. 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.180 In other words, 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:34.660 being reformed by the teaching of Calvin 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:38.300 and by the other early English reformers. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:41.760 Statues in a church, 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:42.840 an Anglican church, 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.620 tends to communicate to people 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.260 who come in 00:18:45.260 --> 00:18:47.640 that it's an Anglo-Catholic church. 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.560 Well, how can we have it? 00:18:49.560 --> 00:18:50.980 It almost be like having a big sign 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.720 at the front of the church 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:51.980 that says, 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.480 we are an Anglo-Catholic church, 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:54.740 while our vision statement says 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.420 we're an evangelical Anglican church. 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.160 That type of inconsistency 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.200 has to be dealt with. 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.579 And thirdly, 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:02.940 why is it that virtually no, 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:04.319 in fact, I would say no, 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:06.420 reformed church 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:08.140 ever has a statue in it? 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:10.279 And that's because historically, 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:12.460 churches with statues in them 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.700 are churches that believe 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.880 in praying to the saints. 00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:17.860 That's just historically the case. 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:20.559 And so to see a statue in a church 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:22.240 implies that this is a church 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.399 which believes in praying to the saints 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:25.899 and asking for the saints 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.439 to intercede for us. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.879 And, I mean, 00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:31.219 I don't think necessarily anybody 00:19:31.219 --> 00:19:33.039 in St. Albans was doing any of this, 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:35.379 but that's what the statue communicates, 00:19:35.639 --> 00:19:38.000 that we are a church that believes this. 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:40.599 And so my hope is 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.919 that the statue can have, 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.459 I mean, 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.740 I think it's appropriate for us 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.979 to remember our past, 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:47.240 to remember that our past 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.480 is sometimes very different 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.140 than the present 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:50.500 and to have ways of remembering 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.519 and honoring that. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.420 And I think there should be 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.420 some place like that 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.200 for St. Albans 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.099 as we remember 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:58.299 the heritage of this church. 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:01.500 But it seems to me, 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.660 apart from the Second Commandment, 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:05.059 although from the Second Commandment 00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.839 we could maybe have 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.660 discussions about that as well, 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:09.120 that it was appropriate 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:10.360 to remove the statue 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:12.160 because of our vision statement. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.140 So for those of you who are wondering, 00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.460 no, I didn't think it was an idol. 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.640 And I didn't think 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.600 that it had to be removed 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:19.120 because people were worshipping it. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.120 But I do think 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:21.120 it had to be removed 00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:22.800 because of our vision statement. 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.140 And the Second Commandment 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.120 would also require 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:27.600 sober second thought 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:30.100 and conversation around it. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.780 About the windows, 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.180 you know, once again, 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.860 you know, 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:37.680 the question is always, 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:39.160 if in fact, 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.820 every time from now on 00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:42.820 we consider a change in the church, 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.659 every time we consider 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.679 a change in worship, 00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:47.379 it's really appropriate 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.220 for people to say, 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.779 George, how does this fit in 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.839 with the Second Commandment? 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:52.179 And for us to get on our knees 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:52.819 and pray 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:54.279 and ask that God, 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.879 that everything that we do 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:56.720 is in keeping 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.220 with what God desires us 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:00.119 because this scripture, 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.099 this word from God 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.039 is telling us 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.240 that God, 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:06.220 that we are to live 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.679 and worship 00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:08.139 by every word 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:09.240 that proceeds 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.939 from the mouth of God. 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.980 That's how we are to live. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.660 We are to live 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.059 and worship 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.200 by every word 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:15.860 that proceeds 00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:17.160 from the mouth of God 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:18.140 because God 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:20.380 is a self-revealing God 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.960 who reveals himself 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:24.059 as he speaks to us 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.380 and he invites us 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:26.380 to hear his word 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.240 and obey. 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:29.900 Lord, have mercy upon us 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:31.420 and incline our hearts 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:32.519 to keep this law. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.380 Very briefly, 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.860 just a couple of final things 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:37.080 because I don't want 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:37.799 to make you think 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.620 that I'm sort of, 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.519 that I'm ignoring 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.319 the other parts 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.400 of this word. 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.740 It has not only 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.639 a prohibition 00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.700 about images 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:46.700 used in worshiping God 00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:48.599 but has some very powerful things 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.500 to say about God. 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:51.359 Just read with me, 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.359 I'm going to read again 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.619 the full second word 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.700 or second commandment. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:57.019 You shall not make 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.559 for yourself 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.799 any carved image 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.759 or any likeness 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.259 of anything 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.460 that is in heaven above 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:03.139 or that is in the earth beneath 00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:04.339 or that is in the water 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.099 under the earth. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.660 You shall not bow down 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.099 to them 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:09.200 nor shall you serve them. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.920 For I, the Lord your God, 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.980 am a jealous God, 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.379 visiting the iniquity 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.079 of the fathers 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.839 on the children 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.539 to the third 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.619 and fourth generations 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.740 of those who hate me 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.059 but showing mercy 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.720 to thousands 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.579 to those 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.579 who love me 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.019 and keep my commandments. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.680 Lord, have mercy upon us 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.039 and incline our hearts 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.099 to keep this law. 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.720 Very briefly, 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.180 this commandment 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.940 tells us 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.920 of the deep, 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.379 deep love 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.119 of God 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.319 towards his people. 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.539 That's why the word 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.420 jealousy is there. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.519 It tells us 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.279 of the deep, 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.480 deep love 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.279 of God 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.639 to his people. 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:46.059 We are called 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.039 to a person, 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.039 not a law. 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.259 We are called 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.259 to a person, 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.440 not a principle. 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.659 We are called 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:53.639 to a person, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.079 not an abstraction. 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.440 We are called 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.420 to a person 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.279 and not 00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.279 an inexorable 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.720 and unstoppable 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.399 process. 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.779 We are called 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.720 to a person, 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:04.639 the person 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:05.759 of almighty God 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.279 and this God 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.279 who truly 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:09.099 does exist 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.359 has a deep, 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.480 deep love 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.460 of his people 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:14.359 and he calls us 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.720 into a covenant 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.640 with him. 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.759 And jealousy 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.779 in this text 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.519 points 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:22.200 to proper love. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.200 You know, 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.339 maybe some of us 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.059 have met people 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.900 who have a problem 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.559 with jealousy. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.640 They imagine 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:31.740 slights to love. 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.480 They just imagine 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.319 them constantly 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.319 and often 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:36.940 when we hear 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.779 the word jealousy, 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.880 we instantly think 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.700 of people 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.640 who have a problem 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.539 with imagining 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.680 slights to love 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.839 that don't exist 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:45.940 and people 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.140 who by imagining 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:47.960 slights to love 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.940 don't exist 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:51.460 fly off the handle 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.920 and one of the things 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:54.059 that the devil does 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.599 to in a sense 00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.279 pervert us 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.400 from hearing God's word 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.799 is to instantly think 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.279 of such a bad example. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.059 But there's in fact 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:02.039 a godly jealousy. 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.839 My kids don't always 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.500 know this 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:07.899 but my wife and I 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.519 and my wife 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.379 is the real guardian 00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:09.859 of this. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.940 We worry 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:12.220 sometimes about 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.859 who the kids 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.299 will be starting 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.059 to have as friends. 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.139 You know, 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.980 we see that they want 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.899 to start to be friends 00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.839 with a certain person 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.539 and we, you know, 00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:19.180 Louise and I 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.279 will start to notice it 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:22.139 and we talk about it 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.619 and, you know, 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.899 it'll be part of her prayers 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:24.680 and my prayers 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.759 because, you know, 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.859 we only want our children 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:28.559 to have friends 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.559 that are going 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.319 to be good for them. 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.639 You know, 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.339 we don't want them 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.039 to have friends 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.379 that are going 00:24:33.379 --> 00:24:34.359 to lead them astray, 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.819 lead them into evil, 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.039 lead them into danger 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.539 and if we started 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.379 to sense 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:41.099 that they were developing 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.659 friendships 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:42.579 or attachments 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:44.159 that would lead them, 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.259 you know, 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.220 into evil 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:47.179 or lead them 00:24:47.179 --> 00:24:48.240 into great trouble 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.220 or distress, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.200 we would be jealous 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:53.099 in a sense 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.419 for the children. 00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:56.039 We would be passionate 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.539 for our children. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:59.819 We would be thinking 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.960 about all that we could 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.779 possibly do 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.920 to steer them away 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:04.220 from such a bad friendship 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.259 and lead them 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.559 to that friendship 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.420 and relationship 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.180 which will only build them up 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.319 and will only be good 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.899 for them. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:11.960 And so, 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.720 the jealousy language 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.000 here in this prayer, 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:16.319 in this commandment, 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.759 is expressing God's 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.759 deep love 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:20.200 towards his children 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:22.440 and the way he feels 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:24.019 when he sees 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.519 and what he thinks 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.879 when he sees us 00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:28.379 engaging in practices 00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:29.819 that if they reach 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.180 their proper conclusion 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.480 will lead us 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.480 to hate him. 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.119 And God, 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.759 because he loves us 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.619 deeply, 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.599 is jealous 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.920 for us, 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.079 desiring 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.160 that we will only 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:44.160 cleave to him 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.619 and that we will 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.740 forswear 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.599 and abandon 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.240 anything 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.299 that would lead us 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.099 to turn our back 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.379 on God. 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:53.620 Once again, 00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:55.200 you shall not 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.040 make for yourself 00:25:56.040 --> 00:25:57.080 any carved image 00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.840 or any likeness 00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:58.300 of anything 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:59.280 that is in heaven above 00:25:59.280 --> 00:26:00.600 or that is in the earth beneath 00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.720 or that is in the water 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.400 under the earth. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.300 You shall not 00:26:03.300 --> 00:26:04.260 bow down to them 00:26:04.260 --> 00:26:05.400 nor serve them. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.220 Lord, 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:07.540 have mercy upon us 00:26:07.540 --> 00:26:08.960 and incline our hearts 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.040 to keep this law. 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:12.000 This text as well 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.900 invites us 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.740 to understand 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:15.240 that we are not doomed, 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.060 that today 00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:18.040 can be the day 00:26:18.040 --> 00:26:19.260 that you enter 00:26:19.260 --> 00:26:20.540 a new destiny 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.639 and legacy. 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:25.659 You know, 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.240 when I was, 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.000 it's, 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.879 listen again 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:30.579 to this sort of 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.659 troublesome language 00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.579 for many people. 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.659 The end of verse 5 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.220 and 6, 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.319 visiting the iniquity 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.019 of the fathers 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.720 on the children 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.299 to the third 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.299 and fourth generations 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.500 of those who hate me, 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.980 but showing mercy 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.680 to thousands 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.980 to those who love me 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:45.599 and keep my commandments. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:48.619 You know, 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.599 when I was young, 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.119 when I was 20, 00:26:52.219 --> 00:26:53.519 I'm approaching 50. 00:26:54.219 --> 00:26:56.099 When I was young, 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.179 it was impossible 00:26:57.179 --> 00:26:58.599 for me to even imagine 00:26:58.599 --> 00:27:00.559 that some of my decisions 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:02.319 could have consequences 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:03.339 for generations. 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:06.279 Now that I'm approaching 50, 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:09.259 and you know what, 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:10.899 sometimes parents 00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.920 can do things 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.639 and it affects 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.339 the children 00:27:14.339 --> 00:27:15.639 and the grandchildren 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.899 and the great-grandchildren. 00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:18.339 We can make decisions 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:20.379 when we are young people 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:21.940 and old people 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:24.259 that have a consequence 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.879 that goes on, 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.980 literally echoes 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.920 into time 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.079 for a considerable 00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:30.139 length of time. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.539 And that's just 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.700 the way the world is. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:34.940 many of us struggle 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.980 with parents 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.380 who are alcoholics 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:39.080 and can maybe even point 00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.700 to parents 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:40.539 who are alcoholics, 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.019 grandparents 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:42.120 who are alcoholics, 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.140 great-grandparents 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.920 of alcoholics. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.319 Many of us struggle 00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.460 with the issue 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:48.120 of sexual abuse 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:51.960 or just real sexual fallenness 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.000 in our past. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.660 Many of us struggle 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:56.660 with the enduring consequences 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:58.180 of maybe parents 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.980 or grandparents 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.259 who have been involved 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.100 in the occult. 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:03.179 And I could just tell you 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.819 that it's a regular feature 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.419 of counseling 00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:06.480 to deal with people 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.379 who are dealing 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.939 with generational issues. 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.719 The fact of the matter 00:28:10.719 --> 00:28:12.139 is that evil 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:13.679 can echo on 00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:14.619 in our lives. 00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:16.519 And this text of Scripture 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:18.000 is not in a sense 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.299 telling us of something 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.219 that God is going to 00:28:20.219 --> 00:28:20.599 in a sense 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.859 inflict upon us. 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.759 It is just describing 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.199 the real consequence 00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:27.359 of us choosing evil. 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:29.679 But the wonderful thing 00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.659 about this text, 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.340 the text, 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.140 the commandment 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.320 doesn't tell us this 00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:34.840 so that we can feel 00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:36.519 inevitably doomed. 00:28:37.060 --> 00:28:38.279 It doesn't tell us this 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.080 so we can say, 00:28:39.300 --> 00:28:39.720 oh no, 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:42.920 my parents were raging alcoholics 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.500 and therefore not only 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.279 am I doomed, 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:47.000 but my children are doomed 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.160 and potentially even 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.700 my grandchildren are doomed. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.660 The text is not telling us 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.580 that we are doomed. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.940 The text is telling us 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.860 that we deal with a God 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:57.759 who loves us 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:00.660 and that we can choose 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:02.700 to enter into covenant 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.480 with the God 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.359 who loves us, 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.720 to worship him 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.460 and know him 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.480 in such a way 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:09.140 that our destiny 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:11.059 is not harm 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:12.619 for future generations, 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:14.539 but that our destiny 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:17.359 is by that obeying him 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.859 and loving him 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:20.140 that literally 00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:21.859 thousands of generations 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.660 will be blessed. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:24.519 It is in a sense 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.720 setting before us 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.860 the seriousness 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.920 of our choices 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:29.540 and the possibility 00:29:29.540 --> 00:29:30.500 of entering into 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.800 a covenant with God 00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:33.380 and learning to obey 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.560 his word 00:29:34.560 --> 00:29:36.019 so that literally, 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.080 literally, 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:39.060 thousands of generations 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:39.860 after us 00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.540 can be blessed. 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.660 The text 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:43.540 not only talks to us 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:44.400 about forgiveness, 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.940 but tells us 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.080 about providence 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:48.180 and of hope. 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:49.860 It says to us 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:51.779 that even if we come here 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.240 and maybe we are 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.560 80 years old 00:29:54.560 --> 00:29:55.460 and our lives 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.340 have been lives 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:57.860 of, in a sense, 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.560 being outside 00:29:58.560 --> 00:29:59.320 of a covenant 00:29:59.320 --> 00:30:00.200 and a relationship 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.960 with God 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.980 and maybe we have made 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.019 a huge mess 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.039 of our lives 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.039 and with our families. 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.200 Maybe we come here 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.500 as single people 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.500 without any children. 00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:10.680 The text actually 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:12.340 has no definite articles 00:30:12.340 --> 00:30:12.980 of the father 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.640 and of the son. 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.400 It's just basically 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.220 talking about this 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:17.279 process of continuing on 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:19.099 and the text tells us 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:20.319 that even now 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.480 at this point in time 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.579 no matter what we have 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.639 done with our lives 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.759 and what we have made 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.539 with our lives 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.680 or whether we have 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.200 any physical generation 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:29.319 that comes after us 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:29.839 or not 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:31.200 is that we have 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.079 an invitation 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.279 from Almighty God 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.139 that we can come 00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:35.220 into a relationship 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.500 of love and obedience 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.279 with him 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.879 and that as we enter 00:30:38.879 --> 00:30:40.059 into this relationship 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.920 of love and obedience 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.359 with him 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:42.500 and try to be faithful 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:45.000 that God can give us 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:47.700 an enduring legacy 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.099 that will stretch 00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:50.980 to a thousand generations. 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.380 Many of you have heard 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:54.859 of the power 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.940 of a woman 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.839 by the name of Diane 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:58.299 in my life 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.180 who was, 00:30:59.579 --> 00:30:59.720 you know, 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.779 when I met her 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.440 just towards the last year 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.059 and a year and a half 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.640 of her life 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.259 she was in 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.460 St. Vincent's Hospital. 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.079 She was completely 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:08.079 and utterly bedridden. 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.740 The disease 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.720 that afflicted her 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.640 had so removed 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:12.759 her power of speech 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.220 and movement 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.860 that I could only 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:15.640 understand every second word 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:17.220 and I had to go 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.019 to visit her 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:20.039 and the first few times 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.700 I visited her 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.600 I was terrified 00:31:21.600 --> 00:31:22.839 of going to visit her 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.920 and then I started 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.420 to realize 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.140 that I was going 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.720 to visit her 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.559 not so I could 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.339 minister to her 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:28.539 but so she could 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.900 minister healing to me. 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:34.559 And this precious one 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:35.960 who had come to faith 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.160 in Jesus Christ 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:39.120 in a sense 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.440 her faithfulness 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.259 and her witness 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.539 and her prayers 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:44.740 without any children 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:46.159 so to speak 00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:47.839 can have a power 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.799 over my life 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.779 and by me sharing 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.559 this with you 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.700 with other lives 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.720 it just goes on 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.480 and on and on. 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.180 I think of the power 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.720 of Hugh 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.579 in my life 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:58.319 that when I met Hugh 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.099 he was a grumpy guy 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:01.279 in many ways. 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:03.180 He was an angular 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.740 and cantankerous guy 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.339 but he'd spent 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.819 50 years on the street 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.759 50 years 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.659 as a street person 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:09.819 before he came to faith 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.720 in Jesus Christ 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.960 and for the first 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.519 couple of years 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.360 I came to church 00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:14.079 every Sunday 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:15.319 he'd be at the back pew 00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.920 right where John O's sitting 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:19.400 and he was just 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.420 this strong guy 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.480 who would pray for me 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:23.339 and he taught me 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:23.980 so much about 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.559 how to minister 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.299 to the poor 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.579 and how to deal 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.559 with certain things 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:29.140 and he has no 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:30.079 physical children 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.960 that could be passed 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.140 on any type of legacy 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.000 but his faithfulness 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:36.599 his faithfulness 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.500 can have 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.200 an effect 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.859 that goes 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.740 from generation 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.660 to generation 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.480 to generation 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.299 to generation 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.960 and so even 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.420 in the midst 00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:45.579 of this second commandment 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.359 what God is saying 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:46.859 to you and me 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.359 is this 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:49.380 failure isn't final 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:51.160 doom isn't final 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:52.619 a legacy 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:54.099 of whatever 00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:54.799 we've done 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.619 with our lives 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.539 if we've done things 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:56.880 that have been 00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:58.779 unbelievably horrible 00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.480 in our lives 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.619 that does not 00:33:00.619 --> 00:33:01.079 have to be 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:01.980 the final word 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.619 about you 00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:03.759 and the final word 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.279 about me 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.779 there is a God 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.459 who loves you 00:33:06.459 --> 00:33:07.379 there is a God 00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:08.059 who loves me 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:09.679 he wants us 00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:10.219 to come into 00:33:10.219 --> 00:33:10.919 a relationship 00:33:10.919 --> 00:33:11.479 with him 00:33:11.479 --> 00:33:12.899 and when we say 00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:13.439 yes to that 00:33:13.439 --> 00:33:14.019 relationship 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:15.000 and learn to obey 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:20.179 even if we do this 00:33:20.179 --> 00:33:22.059 at a late date 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.839 in our lives 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:24.139 the legacy 00:33:24.139 --> 00:33:25.139 that can flow 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:26.479 in our lives 00:33:26.479 --> 00:33:27.559 and the lives 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.039 of others 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.679 can flow 00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:29.500 for a thousand 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.139 generations 00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:31.519 so there is 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.279 no better time 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:32.779 than today 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.879 to choose 00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:34.579 to know God 00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.539 through the person 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.440 of Jesus Christ 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.720 let's bow our heads 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.180 in prayer 00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:56.299 father we give you 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.139 thanks and praise 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.879 that you are not 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.279 the God 00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:59.519 of a second chance 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:01.379 you are the God 00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:03.099 of unending chances 00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:04.559 we give you 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:05.500 thanks and praise 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.480 that you are a God 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.200 who loves us 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.179 unfailingly 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.900 and unstoppably 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.679 we give you 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.719 thanks and praise 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:13.900 that no matter 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.780 what we have done 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:15.559 in our lives 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:18.300 that you desire 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.119 to have us 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.099 as your children 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:21.980 as your child 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.280 as your precious 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:23.860 possession 00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.699 and treasure 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:26.179 we give you 00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:27.019 thanks and praise 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.460 father 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.220 that we can 00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:29.340 get off the path 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:30.300 of three or four 00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.920 generations 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:32.119 of echoing evil 00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:34.559 and that by faith 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.179 in Christ 00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:36.760 and in obedience 00:34:36.760 --> 00:34:37.500 to your word 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.019 and command 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.579 we can enter 00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.119 a legacy 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.880 that will lead 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.400 to blessing 00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.119 for a thousand 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.800 generations 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:44.579 we acknowledge 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.599 before you father 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.199 that it is not 00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:47.320 because of our power 00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:48.340 or our righteousness 00:34:48.340 --> 00:34:49.240 that such a thing 00:34:49.240 --> 00:34:49.780 can happen 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:51.220 but purely 00:34:51.220 --> 00:34:52.679 because of your providence 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:54.019 purely because 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.840 of your power 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:56.640 loving father 00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.340 we ask that you 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:57.880 would help us 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.780 to come to you 00:34:58.780 --> 00:35:00.460 through your son 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.320 Jesus Christ 00:35:01.320 --> 00:35:02.500 help us to be 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.559 open to your word 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.740 and teach us 00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:05.240 to love 00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:05.960 and to obey 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.940 your commandments 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:08.680 in Jesus' name 00:35:08.680 --> 00:35:09.160 we pray 00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:10.300 amen