WEBVTT

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 Today we're going to kick off with a little bit of a different introduction.

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 We're going to have an interview with someone that's very dear to my heart.

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 But how dear, the evening that Alex and I got engaged, we went to a beach in Repulse Bay.

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 And we had this dear brother wait for us on the shore to get back at night.

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 And we took like three extra hours than we needed because we were stuck in the sea.

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 And we had our engagement dinner with this guy, Fred Wheeling, us.

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 That's how close we are.

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 As one and the only Uday, would you invite Uday up?

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 Many people don't know that story.

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 But I met Uday before he was a believer, before he was good looking, before he was a man, when he was a little boy, chubby little boy.

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 And before he had these guns, he had these little water pistols that he would carry around at HKU as a geeky, nerdy student.

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 And here he is.

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 Today we want to honor and celebrate him.

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 He recently got engaged to the lovely Cardia.

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 And we're going to invite Cardia up later.

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 We're going to just pray and bless them.

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 But I wanted the community here, actually, to hear a bit of his testimony, his story.

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 So I've got three quick questions to ask him.

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 But I want to ask Uday, just maybe share with us just kind of your story before coming to HKU, coming from Delhi.

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 Like what life was like?

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 What was your worldview like?

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 And how did God completely transform that?

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 You know, for you meeting Jay in the dorms and everything.

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 I mean, just a little bit of that.

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 Yeah, thank you, Joe.

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 Sometimes the way he introduces me, it's hard to believe he's actually my friend.

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 But yeah, let me pray first.

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 Dear Heavenly Father, this is your testimony, not mine.

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 So Lord, you speak.

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 Your servant is listening.

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 In Jesus' name I pray.

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 Amen.

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 So yeah, when I think about my life before I met Jesus and then after.

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 So I was not a believer for about 19 years of my life.

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 I'm 26 right now.

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 So in my entire time in India, I used to believe in Hinduism.

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 And when I think about my time before meeting Christ and then after, I think that initially I was disillusioned.

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 Then I was confused.

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 And finally, I was found by Christ.

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 I was disillusioned in high school because I thought there was only one way to have a successful life.

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 Everything around me told me that I needed to get into the engineering schools in India and get a very good job.

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 And without it, I would end up on the streets.

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 So it's either that or end up on the streets.

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 And then if you're on the streets, you're done for.

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 But then I got into HKU, which was not the Indian engineering schools.

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 And I got over here and everything was just like, I was just confused.

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 My whole worldview was shattered because clearly the school is really good.

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 But then this is not what I thought success was going to be like.

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 So I didn't really know what to follow.

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 So I was looking around and everyone was either getting new fates or losing their fates.

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 But none of it really seemed to make sense.

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 And then when I wasn't really looking for faith in any way possible, I met Jay, who introduced me to Jesus.

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 And as I got to know Jesus, I remember thinking back then, even then, that there are two things that need to be true about anyone who claims to be God.

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 One is love.

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 Because I knew that if my mother, who is not God, knows how to give me unconditional love, how much more should a God who has created me love me?

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 And each and every person that who he has created.

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 An unconditional love, not just because we pray to him and ask him for things.

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 And the second thing was that God should not be subject to the world.

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 All I had heard my entire life was, you pray to this God, you get this.

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 If this is not working out, you pray to this other God.

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 It's hard to not think about God even like that today.

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 But then when I found out about Jesus, that seemed to be very true.

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 Jesus is a person who walked the earth.

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 He died on the cross.

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 And he was not subject to the powers of the world despite being tempted.

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 Like each and every one of us are.

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 And in so many ways more.

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 So just thinking about these things is what eventually led me to saying yes to Jesus.

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 And what makes me say yes to him even today.

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 Thanks.

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 I think even that resonates with a lot of us here in Hong Kong, with those who aren't in the faith, who are different feng shui, sifu, different guun yam.

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 Like if this is not working, go to the next temple.

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 Go to the next temple.

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 Just constantly looking for that thing that gives us what we want, thinking what we need.

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 Thanks for that.

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 And you met Jay.

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 I remember Jay was someone I was walking with.

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 He was a student at the time.

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 And all I remember was Jay saying, hey, can you pray for my dorm mate?

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 There's an Indian student in my dorm.

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 I just feel like he's just got such a good heart.

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 I really want him to know Jesus.

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 And I would meet Jay every week.

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 And we would pray for him by name.

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 I had not met him for like a good year later.

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 And so, again, incredible just how God uses one roommate of yours who persistently prayed with a community behind him.

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 And here you are today.

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 Well, when you look back at your spiritual transition and becoming a Christian, maybe tell us a little bit.

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 How did you see God working through you and orchestrating these things and do immeasurably more than what you could even imagine and how your life has turned out here in Hong Kong?

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 Honestly, I feel like my life is more a testimony of just God moving through different parts.

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 I don't even feel like I actually have that much faith to move.

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 But God just is just bridging those gaps constantly.

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 My family is not a believer.

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 And often just having any source of conversations with them is difficult about faith.

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 And it is really hard for me to believe that one day they would become Christians as well.

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 So every time I see them, there is always this weird pressure that I need to evangelize to them.

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 But then this distance I feel because they see me in a completely different way having spent those 19 years of my life not being a Christian.

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 They see me grow up.

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 And now suddenly I'm this different person.

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 Which in some ways I am and I'm not.

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 So recently we went to India.

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 And this time was special because Kardia and her family went with me as well.

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 And we made this trip for my grandparents because they're getting really high up in age.

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 And the second time we had met my grandparents was really special because it was unplanned.

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 It was just me and Kardia with them.

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 And just as we were leaving, I felt that there was some work that was unfinished over there.

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 And I said to Kardia, hey, I feel like I should have prayed for my granddad.

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 Like he has a health condition and it's deteriorating over time.

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 And it's just hard because medicines are just not working.

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 And I told her that I just felt too embarrassed, like too scared to do it in front of them and in words.

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 So we just did it quietly.

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 But what she said to me was, if you go back, I'll stand with you.

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 So you went back.

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 And by the grace of God, what was extended in love was actually received in love by them as well.

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 They loved it.

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 They were so moved that we chose to walk back to their home just so we could pray for them.

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 And it's just God's timing that in that moment my mom was also on the phone with my grandmom.

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 And she was really moved by this as well.

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 And often my parents are wondering if I don't care about them anymore because I became a Christian.

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 And this was a moment where my mom was just so elated that you care so much about your grandparents that you would come back just to pray for them.

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 Because that is actually the best thing you can do in that moment.

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 And just, yeah.

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 So I'm just honesty and awe.

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 And I'm grateful for her of God just being there to bridge the gap where I did not have enough faith.

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 Wow.

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 Give me a round of applause.

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 Glory to God.

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 I mean, it's emotional.

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 Just hearing that.

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 And Cardia, I honor you to encourage your man to go back and stand with him.

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 That's what marriage, that's what relationship, that's the marriage that God's called you into.

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 And it's sometimes, Josh and many of us probably think the same.

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 Like sometimes when he's service leading here and we're like, Uday, your story, your journey, like none of it is explainable by human standards.

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 Only God, only Jesus.

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 Can he be standing here preaching to us?

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 And now you're praying to your grandparents?

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 Like that's God.

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 That's really powerful.

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 You've been through many transitions.

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 I know you joined a big bank, your dream job, and that bank got bought very quickly.

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 And you lost your, you had to transition very quickly.

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 It's so many different things.

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 Relationships.

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 Tell me, just encourage us all, because we're all going through different transitions as well and challenges.

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 How did you, even with your parents, I mean, talking about having both parents blessing your marriage, that's a miracle in itself.

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 Before these things worked out, there was a lot, a long time of prayer, wrestling, surrendering.

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 How did you get through that?

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 And what did God teach you through that?

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 Maybe encourage us a little bit.

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 I don't feel like we still are through the transition periods, because it's a battle every time I see my parents.

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 It's difficult to have certain conversations.

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 But I feel throughout all of this, what I've learned is to just persistently pray.

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 Even when it feels like my prayers are not feeling genuine, I just want to, even if it is as a discipline, just keep praying.

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 Just keep praying the same things over and over again.

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 I think about the parable of the unjust judge.

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 How much more would God listen to us?

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 Because he cares for us.

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 He loves us.

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 And in times where I've prayed for things that, for mountains, things that seem like mountains, especially for our relationship,

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 in the way that both of our families would accept us, in the way that my family would accept a Christian girl,

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 these things felt like mountains.

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 And just those persistent prayers, even sometimes without meaning, have made these mountains just fall down over time.

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 And I'm just so grateful to God for that.

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 How can we pray for you?

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 Yeah.

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 I mean, I'd love Cardia to come up as well.

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 And we'd love to pray for you, talking of that persistent prayer, persevering.

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 Maybe, Cardia, you can share.

00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:45.800
 Yeah.

00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:47.420
 Okay.

00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:49.139
 Hi, everyone.

00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:51.320
 Hi.

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 For those of you who don't know me, I'm Cardia.

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 I think for us, we're praying about how we could pour out together as a couple.

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 Like, we have personal journeys with the Lord for so long.

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 And, like, God has used us in different ministries in different places.

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 So we're just praying about transitioning into married life.

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 What would that look like together?

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 And does it, yeah.

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 And our heart is really for our communities as well and how God can use us together.

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 Yeah.

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 Anything?

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 Same.

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 All right.

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 Let's stretch out our hands and pray.

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 Father, we thank you.

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 We thank you for your clear fingerprints, your tangible love, and mark, both of them, and both

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 their journeys.

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 And this is just a snippet of what you've been doing in their lives.

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 And we give you all the glory.

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 God, we thank you for that moment that Cardia gets to stand with Ude as he prays for his grandparents,

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 two generations before, who don't know you in a place where you aren't so welcome.

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 But, God, we thank you that you are everywhere and that you are moving.

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 And, Lord, I pray even now in faith and boldness that Ude's family can be saved, that they come

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 to know and call upon the name of Jesus.

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 Yes.

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 And, God, I thank you for the marriage that they're about to embark on.

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 We thank you that above all, Lord, as I prayed earlier, that this marriage isn't just so that

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 they can be happy, just so that they can complete each other.

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 No, Lord.

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 They're already completed in you.

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 They already find deepness and fullness of life in you.

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 And they're simply running this race together so that they can be a witness and testimony

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 to their families, to their friends, to everyone that they meet.

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 And so, God, I encourage, bless them.

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 Even everyone here, whether we're on our journey, single, married, widowed, Lord, you are what

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 completes us.

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 And so, God, I just pray that, yeah, all of us, they're heading to that direction, to that

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 same destination, to see you face to face.

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 May we run with perseverance.

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 May we run that race marked out for us.

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 So, bless this couple.

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 May they run this race so well.

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 May they complete it together until they hear the words, good and faithful.

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 And I pray that continuously, Ude will, yeah, not just make Cardia happy, but their goal

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 is to make each other holy.

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 And in serving each other and making each other holy, they'll be infinitely, infinitely

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 more happy.

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 So, we bless them.

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 We pray this in Jesus' mighty name.

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 Amen.

00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:22.720
 All right.

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 Round of applause for the two of them.

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 Bless you.

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 And we bless.

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 We'll quickly pray for James as he comes up.

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 As he takes his hat off.

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 Everyone, put your sunglasses on.

00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.279
 Whoa, whoa, whoa.

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 Whoa, there's a heckler.

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 There's a heckler.

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 Lord, we let our words be for you.

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 We pray that today, your word will be preached and your name will be glorified.

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 In Jesus' name.

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:51.900
 Amen.

00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:53.320
 Thank you.

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:54.759
 Thank you, Joe.

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:56.500
 I'm going to give it a pass today.

00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:57.379
 Do you know why?

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 Because it's Joe's birthday today.

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:02.960
 Okay.

00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:08.639
 It's actually not just his birthday.

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:11.320
 It's actually his wedding anniversary as well.

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 So, that's beautiful.

00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:15.720
 It's actually not even just that.

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 It's a very special day for us.

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 It's because it's actually the day.

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 And we were just talking about it this morning as we were having breakfast as brothers.

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 Because the word anniversary is often used for positive things.

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 But it's actually for us also a source of pain.

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 It's also the day that our dad entered into heaven.

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 So, this day is a very special day for Joe.

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 So, because of that, I'm just going to be nice.

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 I'm just going to be nice.

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 And honestly, even the songs, even that, Christ is Enough.

00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:48.240
 Just a huge song of following Jesus.

00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.379
 It's a defining song for me.

00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:58.379
 Because eight years ago when I came to Hong Kong, actually, whilst this heckler was interviewing me for a role in the church.

00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.980
 And this was the song I was leading.

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.899
 And I was in tears.

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.459
 I was in tears.

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.259
 And I could not sing this song.

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.199
 I'm not a great singer anyway.

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.300
 But it was bad.

00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:09.200
 Because it was like, wait.

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.879
 Jesus, I believe you.

00:15:11.800 --> 00:15:12.840
 I kind of trust you.

00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:13.980
 Wait, but I've got to follow you.

00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:16.440
 And I can't turn back.

00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.200
 Oof.

00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:19.720
 That's tough.

00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:21.680
 So, I mean, that interview, I'm sure you remember.

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.740
 I was just, I was all over the place.

00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:25.540
 And then he came to hug me afterwards.

00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.300
 And he says, it's okay.

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.360
 And I'm like, it's not okay.

00:15:27.640 --> 00:15:28.440
 It's not okay.

00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.620
 It's a tough one.

00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:34.460
 And just to hear this as well.

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:37.040
 Oode, Kardia, just so, so special.

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.820
 I think about Jay.

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:40.460
 I think about Josh, who's been in your life.

00:15:40.540 --> 00:15:46.139
 I think about you leading, you know, serving in your group with Nathan and just all the people that have been surrounding you.

00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:49.700
 You are by far our favorite Indian in this church.

00:15:49.700 --> 00:16:00.940
 In fact, so much so that our son, Micah, for many, many years in his two-year-old life, any person from India, he calls Oode.

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.300
 It's just, he's just, that's it.

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.379
 It's just you forever.

00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:07.840
 So, thank you.

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:12.860
 I'm struggling because there's so much I want to share about.

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:16.960
 Even as he was sharing, I was like, I'm going to change my message because there's something else.

00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:20.280
 But actually, let's submit ourselves under the word of God here.

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.480
 God is who we are here for.

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:24.279
 And we pray that we'll hear from him.

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:30.740
 And I've invited Sarah, actually, to come and bless us with ministering to us by reading the word of God to us.

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:33.740
 So, can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord?

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:37.940
 We will be going through Genesis, chapter 32.

00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.460
 Okay, let's read.

00:16:49.180 --> 00:16:50.060
 Verse 22.

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:58.039
 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his 11 children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

00:16:58.419 --> 00:17:03.139
 He took them and sent them across the stream and everything else that he had.

00:17:03.979 --> 00:17:05.279
 And Jacob was left alone.

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:08.819
 And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:14.179
 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket.

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:17.879
 And Jacob's hip was put out of his joint as he wrestled with him.

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:21.780
 Then he said, let me go, for the day has broken.

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:26.120
 But Jacob said, I will not let you go unless you bless me.

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:29.120
 And he said to him, what is your name?

00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:31.500
 And he said, Jacob.

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:36.420
 Then he said, your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel.

00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:39.900
 For you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:43.840
 Then Jacob asked him, please tell me your name.

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:47.560
 But he said, why is it that you ask my name?

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.640
 And there he blessed him.

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:58.040
 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, for I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.

00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:03.619
 The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip.

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:09.559
 Therefore, to this day, the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket,

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:14.000
 because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of his thigh.

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:17.519
 This is the word of the Lord.

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.420
 Thank you, Sarah.

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.180
 Please take a seat.

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:29.599
 Before we jump in, let's just spend the moment just to rest in his word.

00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.700
 Jesus, your word gives life.

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.759
 And is living and active.

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:47.859
 Capable of piercing us right through into the very depths of our souls.

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:52.660
 So we invite you today to do just that.

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.000
 You are the great physician.

00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.220
 Do as you please.

00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:58.140
 Speak as you please.

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.339
 Your servants are listening.

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:02.920
 Thank you.

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.160
 In your name we pray.

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.480
 Amen.

00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.220
 It's a big chapter.

00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:09.980
 It's a big day today.

00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:10.279
 Why?

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:12.160
 Because Jacob is becoming a Christian.

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:14.460
 Let me tell you why I think that.

00:19:14.820 --> 00:19:17.519
 He has been a believer of sorts.

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:19.500
 He grew up in a pretty significant household.

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:23.040
 The patriarch, the covenants family, you could call.

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.380
 So he grew up there.

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.720
 He knows the deal.

00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:29.420
 But up until this point, I would argue that he's probably not an actual Christian yet.

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:32.240
 He might be a believer, but he's definitely not a follower of Christ.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:35.859
 So this moment is his coming of age party.

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:41.039
 This is where he becomes a Christian, where he goes from, I'm going to believe in you from far off.

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:41.799
 You are my dad's God.

00:19:41.859 --> 00:19:42.700
 You are my granddad's God.

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:44.859
 But today you are going to be the God of Jacob.

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.039
 And how?

00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:47.319
 He meets him face to face.

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:49.440
 But more so, he wrestles with him.

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.140
 And so that's what we're going to go through today.

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:53.799
 But maybe just a little bit of a recap, just to rewind your mind.

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:56.059
 Previously in Genesis, this is what happens.

00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.120
 He's going home.

00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.079
 He's going home.

00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:59.319
 He's going back to the promised land.

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.259
 He's finally going back.

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.519
 It's been 20 years.

00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:07.339
 Remember the last time he left the promised land, his brother Esau, hairy red Esau, said, I'm going to kill you.

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:09.319
 And that was pretty much his final words.

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.240
 And then he leaves.

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:16.240
 And then his mom, Rebecca, says, hey, don't come back until I send for you.

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.160
 Okay?

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:23.619
 20 years later, two wives, 12 children later, still nothing from mom.

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:26.220
 But now he thinks it's time to go home.

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:32.480
 I just want to help us understand the context of the story as he heads back into the promised land.

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:35.140
 So verse one, Jacob went on his way.

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:41.819
 And again, I don't want to pass over this too casually, but actually we're going to focus on his interaction with his brother Esau next week.

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.640
 Gabe's going to do that.

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.940
 But he's on his way.

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.920
 And the angels of God met him.

00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:48.819
 Don't we want to just see those kinds of things?

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:55.279
 Just to be reminded that we don't live in a world that is just what we see here, but there's something that we don't understand.

00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:57.419
 And so he goes back into the promised land.

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.200
 The first thing he sees are the angels.

00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.799
 When was the last time he saw the angels?

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.079
 Yes, you're correct.

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:04.960
 Four chapters ago when he left the promised land.

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:08.619
 Remember when he left, when he stole the blessing and his brother said, I'm going to kill you.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.960
 And then he goes and then it's dark.

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.319
 So then he finds a rock to sleep on.

00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:12.439
 And then he has a dream.

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.419
 And then there's the ladder.

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:15.159
 And he sees the angels going up and down.

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:19.279
 That was the last time, four chapters ago for us, 20 years ago for him.

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:22.940
 So he goes back to that same place and he sees angels.

00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:24.860
 And straight away, he's like, this is God's count.

00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:26.100
 I mean, how cool would that be?

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:28.160
 He hadn't seen these guys for 20 years.

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:30.060
 And now you're like, oh, something's up here.

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.680
 I'm on the right track.

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.180
 I'm heading in the right direction.

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.019
 Remember, there was no high speed rail.

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.120
 There was no Uber.

00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:38.420
 This is him wandering in the wilderness.

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:42.040
 He left with one man, as one man, with a staff.

00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:44.620
 And he comes back with a huge, huge tribe.

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:46.380
 And so he comes in.

00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.600
 He sees the angels.

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.860
 But he's scared.

00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:53.700
 Because those words, I'm going to kill you, are still ringing in his ear.

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:56.080
 And he's like, what's Esau going to be like?

00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:56.880
 What's he going to do?

00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.900
 Let me do what I always do, which is scheme.

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:05.519
 Let me do what I always do, which is basically rely on my own tactics.

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.120
 Let me do what I always do.

00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:11.960
 Let me send a messenger ahead of me so that at least they can die first and not me.

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:14.160
 And I'll find out a little bit more as I go.

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.380
 He sends a few messengers.

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.840
 The messengers go forward.

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.800
 And then what happens after that is they come back.

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.240
 And they said, yeah, we saw Esau.

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:24.060
 He's got 400 men with him.

00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:25.580
 That's all they said.

00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:31.019
 I don't want to spoil because actually next week is where we're going to talk about this interaction.

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:33.440
 But 400 men coming at you.

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:36.660
 This is not a housewarming hospitality kind of party vibe.

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.160
 400 men.

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:46.619
 If you remember rightly, many chapters ago, their granddad Abraham stormed and defeated five kingdoms with 318 men.

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:51.579
 So 400 men coming towards him is no small thing.

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:56.599
 So Jacob's probably thinking words that I can't share here.

00:22:57.739 --> 00:22:58.799
 And he's probably terrified.

00:22:59.959 --> 00:23:01.799
 And his messages come back and that's all they say.

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.159
 And then what happens is, okay, so verse 6.

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:07.480
 And the message returned to Jacob saying, we came to your brother Esau and he is coming to meet you.

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.859
 And there are 400 men with him.

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:11.139
 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:14.919
 He divided the people who were with him and the flocks and the herds and camels into two camps,

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:18.819
 thinking if Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.839
 He's got so much money.

00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.440
 He's so wealthy.

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.500
 He has such a big family now.

00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:23.079
 He's like, look, I don't want to lose all of us.

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.039
 How about we do this?

00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:26.539
 Pragmatically speaking, why don't we split into two camps?

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:28.839
 And then our chances of surviving are now much better.

00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:31.920
 At least one half of us will survive is what he's saying.

00:23:32.159 --> 00:23:34.180
 And then he does the first thing that he's ever done.

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.859
 He prays.

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:41.359
 Finally, he talks to God for the very first time.

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.279
 And then he says this.

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:45.960
 Oh, God of my father, Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac,

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:49.659
 Oh, Lord, who said to me, return to your country and to your kindred that I may do you good.

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:55.180
 I'm not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant.

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:58.180
 For with only my staff, I crossed this Jordan and now I've become two camps.

00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:01.200
 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him,

00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:03.100
 that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children.

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:06.519
 But you said, I will surely do you good and make your offspring as the sand of the sea,

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.279
 which cannot be numbered for multitude.

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:11.019
 His very first prayer to the Lord is this.

00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:14.600
 For those of you who struggle with praying and wondering what's a good way to pray?

00:24:14.820 --> 00:24:15.560
 And what does it look like?

00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.560
 Is it, when's it me?

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.259
 When's it the flesh?

00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:17.860
 When's it the spirit?

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.039
 It's all here.

00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.539
 This is his first prayer.

00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:22.140
 And I think it's actually, he's just confused.

00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:24.840
 So some scholars think this is so encouraging.

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:27.579
 This is such a great moment for Jacob because he's finally praying to God.

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:30.240
 And it's such a prayer of just faithfulness and promise.

00:24:30.439 --> 00:24:32.379
 And I'm like, no, I think he's actually really confused.

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:38.259
 Because he's like, God, God of granddad, God of dad, not God of me.

00:24:39.439 --> 00:24:41.240
 You told me to come back.

00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:44.019
 You better help me, is what he's saying.

00:24:44.179 --> 00:24:44.919
 Because I'm terrified.

00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:47.039
 And I came on my own and that was okay.

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.799
 But now I've got family.

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.399
 I've got wives and children to feed and to look after.

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.199
 Help me.

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.680
 You brought me here, God.

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.980
 Protect me, is what he's saying.

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.759
 Don't we all have those kind of prayers?

00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.220
 What are they called?

00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.440
 They're just called desperation prayers.

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.940
 Like, I don't even know what to do.

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:03.500
 I'm so, it's so out of my hands.

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:07.180
 So I'm going to pray this prayer and pretend and make myself believe that I trust you.

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.420
 But in reality, I don't really trust you.

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:12.740
 I'm still going to rely on my own schemes and my own ways is what he does.

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:16.059
 And we see that straight after from verse 13 to verse 21.

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.460
 This is exactly what he does.

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.440
 The messengers go.

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.059
 They come back.

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:21.980
 They said, 400 men are coming towards us.

00:25:22.320 --> 00:25:30.539
 So then the next thing that he does is send three different parties of people, three waves of messengers and gifts.

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:32.779
 What is he trying to say to Esau, his brother?

00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:34.680
 He's like, look, I'm really rich now.

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.360
 I can share all this with you.

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:38.200
 Here, take these rams.

00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:38.940
 Take these goats.

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.779
 Take everything.

00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:41.120
 Take all these things.

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.920
 Please don't be mad at me.

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.140
 Please don't kill me.

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:47.900
 I know I stole your blessing and I know I stole your birthright and you're probably still angry at me.

00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:48.780
 How's mom doing?

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:50.860
 I've not heard from her because she was supposed to give me a heads up.

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:52.500
 But she's now, I've not messaged.

00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.440
 I've not heard from her at all.

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:55.820
 Please take all these gifts is what he's saying.

00:25:56.040 --> 00:26:01.240
 So even after that prayer, he then spends these three waves sending people ahead of him.

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:08.640
 I'm going to stop there when it comes to the interaction with him and Esau because that will be next week.

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.519
 The question I want to ask you is this.

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:20.720
 When you are faced with uncertainty, when you are faced with not quite knowing what will happen tomorrow or next week, how are you reacting?

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.960
 What emotions are you having?

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:27.940
 Is there an internal turmoil that you've got going on inside you as you wait?

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:33.380
 As you wait for that difficult conversation with the boss, you know, that terrifying statement that the boss says, hey, I need to speak to you.

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.940
 Can you come to my office?

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:38.840
 And those next few hours as you wait for that time, how are you feeling?

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:42.059
 When you're waiting for that exam result to come in, how are you feeling?

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.340
 It's funny.

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:48.140
 We actually hate those moments of uncertainty because we like to be in control.

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:50.180
 We like to know exactly what's going to happen tomorrow.

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:53.340
 But the reality is we rarely know what's going to happen.

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:55.120
 I've shared this often.

00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:59.200
 November 1st is the day Dad passed away for us and it came all of a sudden.

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:04.519
 We were just having dinner at the table as a family, celebrating Joe's birthday.

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:08.019
 And that moment, the lights went off and he fell off his chair and that was it.

00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:11.920
 From that moment, I picked up my first idol, which is the idol of control.

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:15.740
 Because I was like, I want to always be in control now.

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.660
 I never want to be taken by surprise.

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:20.079
 I want dinners to go as smoothly as they possibly can.

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:24.299
 And from that moment, I'm always wrestling with that very thing.

00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:31.759
 But the reason why I have no hair is because of the stress I've accumulated these years since then,

00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:34.079
 where first I was ending up.

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:37.359
 I ended up in hospital as a young man where I had to stay there for a whole month,

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:39.919
 not eating anything, nil by mouth is what it was.

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:43.960
 I had two operations, which is on my stomach here,

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:46.559
 which is how I explained to my wife why I can't have a six-pack.

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:49.799
 That is medically proven.

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:54.240
 And so I remember that month in the hospital.

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.500
 I'm like, when am I ever going to get out?

00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.400
 Am I going to get out?

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.880
 Fast forward a few years, we get married and then we have Alicia.

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:04.740
 Five days into her life, she has to have a surgery

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:07.620
 and we're in the neonatal ICU for another month, waiting.

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.460
 Are we going to get out?

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.160
 When are we going to get out?

00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.860
 How are we going to get out?

00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.700
 What's it going to be like?

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:16.519
 When we first heard about a potential role here in Hong Kong,

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:19.400
 that we had to go, wait, Christina and I went on walks

00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:22.500
 pretty much every night in the beautiful British summer evening,

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.279
 cool weather.

00:28:23.840 --> 00:28:26.860
 And we would walk and we would wrestle with God going,

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.240
 do you want us to do this?

00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.100
 Is this really a thing?

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.799
 I hate uncertainty.

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:34.500
 I like to know exactly what's going to happen tomorrow.

00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:37.700
 I like to know exactly what's going to happen next week.

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:41.240
 And yet the reality is we never know at all.

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:45.840
 And all of life is an exercise to build our trust in him.

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:50.799
 Often I ask God, can you just remove this tension from me?

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.400
 I just want to know.

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:54.039
 I want to know why my boss is angry at me.

00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:56.779
 I want to know what my result for this exam is going to be.

00:28:57.319 --> 00:29:00.180
 But it's often in those moments of uncertainty, God speaks.

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:04.180
 It's in those moments of uncertainty that we must wrestle.

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:06.340
 Corrie ten Boom says this,

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:11.320
 never be afraid to entrust your unknown future to a known God.

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:15.120
 Never be afraid to entrust your unknown future to a known God.

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:17.539
 When you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow,

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:20.880
 you cling on to the things that you know about God,

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.759
 is what she's saying.

00:29:25.580 --> 00:29:27.080
 It's that fridge magnet quote,

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:29.160
 I don't know what tomorrow holds,

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:31.500
 but I know who holds my tomorrow.

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:37.220
 That's what we're trying to grow here is our faith.

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.900
 Charles Spurgeon was the one who said,

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:42.079
 if you cannot trace God's hand,

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.880
 you must trust his heart.

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:46.759
 You can't see what God's doing in your life,

00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.259
 the masterpiece he's drawing, fine.

00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:50.059
 You can't just trace his hand, fine.

00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:52.839
 But you must trust his heart.

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:55.599
 And what does trusting his heart mean?

00:29:55.960 --> 00:30:00.420
 Trusting his heart means you actually have to wrestle with him.

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:03.660
 Verse 22 is where Sarah read for us.

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.740
 The same night.

00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:06.480
 So he sends the two camps away.

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:08.620
 He sends three waves of gifts over.

00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:11.100
 The same night he arose and took his two wives,

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:13.340
 his two female servants and his 11 children

00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:14.920
 and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.880
 He took them and sent them across the stream

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:18.019
 and everything else that he had.

00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:20.120
 And Jacob was left alone.

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:23.460
 What's the prerequisite of facing this uncertainty

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.640
 in wrestling with God?

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:28.660
 Is to do it alone in the dark of the night.

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:33.800
 When was the last time you spent time alone?

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.320
 Is my question to you.

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:39.140
 I've been reading a book with a friend of mine.

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:41.700
 It's John Mark Coburn's new book called Into the Quiet.

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:44.380
 And his premise is talking about how we are just,

00:30:44.800 --> 00:30:46.759
 our lives are just saturated with noise.

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:50.020
 And actually C.S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters says,

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.700
 noise is the sound of hell.

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:55.460
 He said, we've lost our relationship with silence.

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:58.039
 We've lost our relationship with stillness.

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.819
 We can live.

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.099
 I can live in this city

00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:05.660
 and completely banish silence and stillness from my life.

00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:09.119
 We keep saying we want to hear from God,

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:12.660
 but did we know that his voice is often a still small voice?

00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:15.920
 And guess how you need to change yourself

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.059
 to hear a still small voice?

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:19.039
 You have to become still and small yourself.

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.279
 But we don't do that.

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:23.160
 I put my noise cancelling AirPods on

00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:25.660
 and I blast my Ed Sheeran mix.

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:28.779
 And then I ask God, why aren't you speaking to me?

00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:30.660
 He's like, I can't.

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.839
 Ed's speaking to you.

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:37.859
 When was the last time you did business with God

00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.819
 in the silence?

00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.559
 One of my favourite quotes of all time

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:42.339
 was this French philosopher, Blaise Pascal,

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:44.680
 who said, all of humanity's problems

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:48.339
 stem from man's inability to sit alone in a room

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.559
 on his own.

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:52.819
 I'm paraphrasing by the way.

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:56.440
 All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:58.720
 to sit alone in a room quietly.

00:31:58.879 --> 00:31:59.079
 Why?

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:01.079
 What do you do when you're alone, quiet?

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:03.940
 You're doing business with your creator.

00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.900
 You're doing business with yourself.

00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:09.079
 How is your relationship with yourself?

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:13.179
 So often we distract ourselves, hang out with all these people.

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.500
 Some of us are cultural Christians.

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.119
 Why are you a Christian?

00:32:15.179 --> 00:32:17.399
 I'm a Christian because my grandparents went to church

00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:19.759
 and then my parents went to church

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:21.339
 and then actually church is a really cool place,

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.980
 really good place to hang out, do sports,

00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.679
 meet people, meet girlfriends.

00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:28.000
 You're a cultural Christian.

00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:30.619
 Take away all the people.

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.140
 Are you still a follower of Christ?

00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:34.039
 Is the question here.

00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.740
 Jacob sends everyone away.

00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:36.599
 There's no one else now.

00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:37.220
 It's dark.

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:37.799
 He's on his own.

00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:38.920
 And what does he have to do?

00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:41.960
 He has to do business with God.

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:46.259
 I remember watching the movie Oppenheimer a few years ago

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:48.460
 and the whole battle is about the atomic bomb, right?

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:50.900
 Both sides just worrying about the other side.

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:53.299
 And that quote came up in my mind.

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.140
 I was like, if only,

00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:56.980
 if only either side of these people

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.960
 would just sit alone with their thoughts,

00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:02.940
 confront their own fears and insecurities and their pride,

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:05.120
 maybe we wouldn't have got to where we were at.

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:10.140
 All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability

00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:11.680
 to sit alone in a room.

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:14.160
 Jacob finally sits alone in a room.

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:16.100
 He finally comes to the end of himself

00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:17.319
 and he's just like,

00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:21.779
 this is the night before he meets his brother.

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.160
 Can you imagine his feelings?

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.440
 Have I achieved that,

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.980
 that you can understand how he's feeling now?

00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:29.880
 And guess what happens as he sat alone?

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:31.860
 A man comes to wrestle with him.

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:34.559
 This is a really confusing passage in scripture,

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:34.980
 by the way.

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.960
 You might sit here and go,

00:33:36.100 --> 00:33:37.160
 what on earth is happening here?

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.240
 Let me encourage you.

00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:39.200
 You're not the only one.

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.319
 The great Martin Luther,

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:42.139
 who translated the whole Bible,

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.359
 he actually said,

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:45.399
 this is the most confusing passage in the Bible to him.

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:47.379
 It's hard to understand

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.720
 because Jacob sat alone

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:50.779
 and suddenly some man,

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:52.119
 some guy comes and wrestles with him.

00:33:52.159 --> 00:33:52.879
 I don't know what he's thinking.

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.359
 It's dark.

00:33:53.439 --> 00:33:53.779
 It's night.

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.299
 Okay.

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.519
 Okay.

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.639
 So there's no light.

00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.419
 There's no light bulbs around.

00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.240
 So he must think,

00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:58.480
 could this be Esau?

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.099
 Did Esau sneak up on me?

00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:01.740
 Thankfully,

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.819
 I've sent all my wife,

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.279
 my wives and children away now.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.119
 So then he wrestles

00:34:06.119 --> 00:34:08.059
 and he wrestles for a long time.

00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.599
 And a man wrestled with him

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:11.739
 until the breaking of the day.

00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:14.800
 Who knows what he's thinking?

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:16.219
 But at some point,

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.059
 something clicks.

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:17.539
 Why?

00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:18.699
 Because even though this man

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:20.360
 was wrestling with Jacob

00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:22.199
 and Jacob couldn't overpower him,

00:34:22.279 --> 00:34:24.340
 but actually the man also couldn't overpower Jacob,

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.920
 it's just a wrestling match

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.719
 that's been going on for a long time.

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.900
 Who does BJJ here?

00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:31.139
 Put your hand up if you do BJJ.

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:33.400
 Missing Cubon was the guy that I missed.

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.619
 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:34.960
 No one?

00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.380
 Did you do it?

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:35.759
 No, you did.

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:39.460
 From what I hear,

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:42.340
 10 minutes of BJJ is exhausting already.

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:46.640
 A whole night of wrestling

00:34:46.640 --> 00:34:48.640
 must have been absolutely exhausting.

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:50.019
 Not knowing who this guy was.

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.559
 And yet this is what happens.

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.559
 And then what happens after that,

00:34:54.640 --> 00:34:55.579
 there is a moment where

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.019
 the light bulb does click.

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.460
 And a man wrestled with him

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.360
 until the breaking of the day

00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.300
 when the man saw

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:01.660
 that he did not prevail against Jacob.

00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.300
 So the man actually

00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:03.420
 couldn't overpower him either.

00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.660
 He touched his hip socket.

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.539
 Wait, that was it.

00:35:07.600 --> 00:35:08.720
 He touched his hip socket

00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:10.100
 and Jacob's hip was put out of joint

00:35:10.100 --> 00:35:11.400
 as he wrestled with him.

00:35:12.600 --> 00:35:13.320
 That was it.

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:15.280
 Is Lusander here today?

00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.240
 Is Dr. Lusander here?

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:17.680
 Can I see Dr. Lusander?

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:18.519
 No, she's not here.

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.960
 Dr. Kalo is here.

00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.300
 Congratulations, Dr. Kalo,

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:23.100
 for passing a very important exam

00:35:23.100 --> 00:35:24.960
 as an orthopedic doctor.

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.780
 I went over to ask him

00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:29.420
 just before service.

00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:31.140
 Say, what's so important about the hip?

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.559
 The hip's a very important one

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.140
 because you need it.

00:35:34.620 --> 00:35:35.559
 You need it to walk.

00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:37.820
 You need it to fight.

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:40.660
 It is a very, very,

00:35:40.720 --> 00:35:42.800
 it's the primary load-bearing joint

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.260
 in the body.

00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:44.860
 And this guy,

00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:45.740
 this mysterious guy

00:35:45.740 --> 00:35:46.800
 is wrestling with Jacob.

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.039
 Jacob doesn't know who he is.

00:35:48.240 --> 00:35:49.200
 It's just spending the whole night

00:35:49.200 --> 00:35:49.559
 doing this

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.940
 and suddenly the guy's like,

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.720
 you know what, it's time.

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.039
 Why?

00:35:52.220 --> 00:35:53.240
 Because the sun's coming up.

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.120
 So Jacob's like, wait,

00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:55.059
 what's the sun got anything

00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.680
 to do with this?

00:35:56.080 --> 00:35:56.920
 Okay, so Jacob's head

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:57.860
 is actually starting to turn.

00:35:58.120 --> 00:35:59.420
 Wait, you're worried about this?

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.580
 You're worried about the sun coming up?

00:36:01.240 --> 00:36:01.780
 Who are you?

00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:05.000
 Ooh, could you be the one

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:06.440
 that we can't actually look at

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.720
 if we actually saw that we would die

00:36:07.720 --> 00:36:08.580
 if we came face to face?

00:36:08.640 --> 00:36:09.920
 Could you be that person?

00:36:11.080 --> 00:36:11.980
 Maybe you're not Esau.

00:36:12.220 --> 00:36:13.460
 Esau wouldn't be scared of the sun.

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.700
 Okay, anyway, never mind.

00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:16.560
 Keep wrestling, keep wrestling,

00:36:16.660 --> 00:36:18.800
 keep it, boom, touch, hip, gone.

00:36:20.200 --> 00:36:21.340
 Jacob realizes who he is.

00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:22.940
 This man who has been fighting

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:24.760
 and withholding his strength

00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.960
 the whole night

00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.980
 suddenly decides

00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.140
 it's time to finish this

00:36:28.140 --> 00:36:30.800
 and he pops his hip joint.

00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:32.600
 Jacob now can't walk.

00:36:32.700 --> 00:36:34.780
 He knows that he can't move that anymore

00:36:34.780 --> 00:36:35.920
 but what can he still do?

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:37.440
 He can still keep him in a hold.

00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:39.519
 So he keeps him in a hold

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.240
 and this is what happens.

00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.600
 Verse 26,

00:36:41.860 --> 00:36:43.140
 let me go for the day has broken

00:36:43.140 --> 00:36:43.920
 is what the guy says,

00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.780
 this mysterious man.

00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.740
 But Jacob said,

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:47.140
 I will not let you go

00:36:47.140 --> 00:36:49.340
 unless you bless me.

00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:52.700
 He's like, I know who you are now.

00:36:53.180 --> 00:36:54.100
 You don't want me to see you

00:36:54.100 --> 00:36:55.340
 when the sun comes up

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:58.519
 because you're dangerous.

00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.720
 That's what C.S. Lewis says.

00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:02.080
 About Aslan.

00:37:02.720 --> 00:37:04.400
 Oh, no one said he was safe.

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.160
 He's powerful.

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.280
 No one said he was safe.

00:37:07.660 --> 00:37:08.180
 He's dangerous.

00:37:10.120 --> 00:37:11.420
 I will not let you go

00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:13.460
 unless you bless me.

00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:15.080
 Here's the problem for Jacob.

00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:16.519
 This evening

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.440
 is basically a microcosm

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:19.140
 of his whole life.

00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.280
 This guy has been wrestling

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.340
 his whole life.

00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.180
 From the moment he was

00:37:22.180 --> 00:37:23.000
 in his mother's womb,

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.900
 he was wrestling

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.940
 with his twin brother.

00:37:25.940 --> 00:37:26.940
 He's been stressing

00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.480
 and straining

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.000
 and striving

00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.019
 for the whole of his life.

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:31.400
 He comes out

00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:32.220
 into the earth.

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.639
 His brother's stronger than him.

00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:35.200
 So his brother's a jock.

00:37:35.260 --> 00:37:35.659
 He decides,

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.440
 well, if you're going to be a jock,

00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:36.980
 I'll be a nerd.

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:37.980
 And so he spends all the time

00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:38.360
 at home.

00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:40.019
 But he's smart,

00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:41.220
 way smarter than his brother.

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.840
 So he schemes

00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:44.019
 and wrestles

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.559
 and struggles

00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:45.840
 his way into a blessing

00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.599
 and into a birthright.

00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.200
 He goes to Laban,

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.360
 his future father-in-law,

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.099
 and he schemes

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.780
 and struggles

00:37:50.780 --> 00:37:51.460
 and wrestles

00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:52.720
 and finally has the wife

00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.160
 that he wants.

00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.599
 He sees his whole household

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.740
 stressing and struggling

00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.660
 and wrestling.

00:37:58.500 --> 00:37:59.820
 This is Jacob's life.

00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:02.000
 And this is the climax of it.

00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.880
 And this is what God

00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:03.880
 is here to change.

00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.660
 He and I

00:38:05.660 --> 00:38:06.800
 are not that different.

00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:08.500
 I also feel

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.260
 like I'm stressing,

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:09.800
 struggling.

00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:12.720
 Career,

00:38:13.059 --> 00:38:13.360
 family.

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.559
 I feel like I'm

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:16.500
 constantly trying to wrestle

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:18.300
 to have things my way.

00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:19.820
 What about you?

00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:21.860
 I think Joe

00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.360
 as he was praying

00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:22.660
 he was like,

00:38:22.760 --> 00:38:23.660
 we're just so tired of it.

00:38:23.740 --> 00:38:24.320
 Are you not tired of it?

00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:24.920
 I'm tired of it.

00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.560
 I'm tired of not relying

00:38:27.560 --> 00:38:30.280
 on the once and for all work

00:38:30.280 --> 00:38:31.320
 of what Jesus did

00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:31.740
 on the cross.

00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:33.200
 I'm tired of trying

00:38:33.200 --> 00:38:34.080
 to figure this out myself.

00:38:35.240 --> 00:38:36.180
 Jacob's been wrestling

00:38:36.180 --> 00:38:36.800
 this whole life.

00:38:37.100 --> 00:38:38.340
 And this man comes

00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:38.980
 right at the point

00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:39.680
 where he's wondering,

00:38:40.220 --> 00:38:41.100
 will Esau kill me

00:38:41.100 --> 00:38:41.880
 and not just kill me,

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.740
 kill my whole family.

00:38:44.140 --> 00:38:44.960
 So God's got him

00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:45.760
 right where he wants him.

00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:47.120
 Here's what I'm saying.

00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:49.199
 And then Jacob

00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:50.039
 asks for a blessing.

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.099
 Don't you just admire

00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.279
 Jacob's persistence?

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:52.779
 He's like,

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.699
 all I've wanted

00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:54.579
 all my life is blessing.

00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:56.539
 Henry Nowen,

00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.400
 one of my favorite authors,

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:57.799
 says this,

00:38:57.839 --> 00:38:58.719
 the moment we leave

00:38:58.719 --> 00:38:59.339
 our mother's womb,

00:38:59.400 --> 00:38:59.980
 we are stressing

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.500
 and struggling

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.500
 and just,

00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:02.480
 we are grieving

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.539
 the loss of connection

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.859
 because we were very happy

00:39:04.859 --> 00:39:05.400
 in the womb.

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.619
 And so what happens

00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.460
 when a baby comes out?

00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.319
 What's the first thing they do?

00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:09.039
 They cry.

00:39:10.739 --> 00:39:11.759
 And from that moment,

00:39:11.839 --> 00:39:12.819
 we're craving connection.

00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:14.940
 We're craving blessing.

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:16.500
 We're craving to be known

00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:17.019
 and to be loved.

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:19.019
 Jacob knows that too.

00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.679
 And he's asking for this blessing.

00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:20.880
 He's like,

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.700
 I'm not going to let you go.

00:39:21.820 --> 00:39:22.639
 I can't move anymore.

00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:23.900
 I can't walk anymore,

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:25.320
 but I can still get you

00:39:25.320 --> 00:39:25.800
 with this hold.

00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:27.220
 And it's a good hold.

00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:29.579
 I will not let you go

00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:30.280
 until you bless me.

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:32.579
 And then the man

00:39:32.579 --> 00:39:33.980
 who we now can reveal is God,

00:39:34.099 --> 00:39:34.720
 he said to him,

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.820
 what is your name?

00:39:35.820 --> 00:39:38.920
 This mysterious man

00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:40.720
 who was withholding his strength,

00:39:41.200 --> 00:39:41.960
 who knew exactly

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:43.080
 who Jacob was,

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:45.220
 asked him for his name.

00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:45.760
 Why?

00:39:48.780 --> 00:39:49.940
 He's getting a confession

00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:51.380
 out of Jacob.

00:39:51.700 --> 00:39:52.559
 When was the last time

00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.440
 Jacob got a blessing?

00:39:55.220 --> 00:39:55.960
 What is that Isaac?

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:57.840
 What did he do?

00:39:58.320 --> 00:39:59.720
 He said someone else's name.

00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.400
 He said,

00:40:01.600 --> 00:40:02.240
 I am Esau.

00:40:02.860 --> 00:40:03.880
 You're not Esau, mate.

00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:04.420
 You're Jacob.

00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:04.500
 Jacob.

00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:08.119
 This mysterious man

00:40:08.119 --> 00:40:08.760
 now forces

00:40:08.760 --> 00:40:10.420
 or nudges him gently,

00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:11.960
 wrestles him to the ground.

00:40:12.619 --> 00:40:13.280
 To what?

00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:14.860
 To get a confession out of him.

00:40:15.139 --> 00:40:15.300
 What?

00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:16.180
 Just to make him feel bad?

00:40:16.240 --> 00:40:16.400
 No.

00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:17.720
 The book of James says,

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:19.019
 when you confess your sins,

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:19.840
 you can be healed.

00:40:20.880 --> 00:40:21.980
 You can be restored.

00:40:23.240 --> 00:40:24.019
 So this man

00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.920
 willingly put himself

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:26.119
 in the lock of Jacob,

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:26.720
 says,

00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:27.340
 what is your name?

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:29.059
 Can you imagine

00:40:29.059 --> 00:40:29.760
 the flashbacks

00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:31.079
 that Jacob is having right now?

00:40:31.300 --> 00:40:32.320
 He wants this blessing

00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:32.880
 so bad.

00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:33.500
 He's been struggling

00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.679
 for it so bad

00:40:34.679 --> 00:40:35.739
 to the point

00:40:35.739 --> 00:40:36.340
 where he would lie

00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:37.000
 about who he is

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:37.739
 to his own dad.

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:39.519
 Now he's forced

00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:40.519
 to come face to face

00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:41.760
 with the one

00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:42.500
 who knows his name

00:40:42.500 --> 00:40:43.900
 and he needs to say

00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:45.460
 what his actual name is.

00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:46.199
 How many of us

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:47.000
 have gone through life

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:48.079
 living as an imposter?

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:49.460
 How many of you

00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:49.960
 feel as though

00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:50.860
 you're in your workplace

00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.860
 and you feel like

00:40:51.860 --> 00:40:52.780
 an imposter,

00:40:52.880 --> 00:40:53.619
 that you don't deserve

00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.119
 to be here,

00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:55.019
 that everything that you have

00:40:55.019 --> 00:40:56.019
 you don't deserve to have?

00:40:58.119 --> 00:40:58.820
 Jacob no doubt

00:40:58.820 --> 00:40:59.400
 would have gone through

00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:00.039
 all of those things.

00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:00.559
 I've been blessed.

00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:01.400
 I'm so rich now.

00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:02.519
 I came with just one staff

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.099
 and now I have

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:03.840
 this whole tribe

00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:05.019
 but I don't know.

00:41:05.180 --> 00:41:06.059
 Did I trick my way

00:41:06.059 --> 00:41:06.720
 into all of this?

00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:08.059
 Was it supposed to be mine?

00:41:08.200 --> 00:41:09.139
 Does God really love me?

00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.059
 The God of Abraham

00:41:10.059 --> 00:41:10.720
 and the God of Isaac,

00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:11.820
 is he really the God of Jacob?

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.660
 I don't know.

00:41:14.019 --> 00:41:14.900
 I don't think he did

00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:16.139
 and I think because of that

00:41:16.139 --> 00:41:16.960
 he always kept God

00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.599
 at arm's length.

00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:18.300
 I think because of that

00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.480
 he stopped at being a believer

00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:20.420
 but he didn't go into

00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:21.480
 being a follower of Christ

00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:22.960
 until today.

00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:24.320
 He's nearly ready.

00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.460
 He's nearly ready

00:41:25.460 --> 00:41:26.139
 to sing the bridge

00:41:26.139 --> 00:41:26.980
 of Christ is enough.

00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:28.240
 Nearly.

00:41:30.200 --> 00:41:31.420
 But not quite yet.

00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:33.800
 He has to confess his name.

00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:34.460
 And what's his name?

00:41:34.660 --> 00:41:34.940
 Jacob.

00:41:35.280 --> 00:41:35.920
 What does his name,

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.480
 Jacob, mean?

00:41:36.780 --> 00:41:37.280
 Heel grabber.

00:41:37.820 --> 00:41:39.420
 He actually has to confess

00:41:39.420 --> 00:41:41.280
 the thing that he's been doing.

00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:43.360
 He's been grabbing heels,

00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:44.980
 taking things

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:46.060
 that don't belong to him,

00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:47.580
 stressing and struggling

00:41:47.580 --> 00:41:48.320
 and taking matters

00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:49.060
 into his own hand.

00:41:49.120 --> 00:41:51.140
 He has to come to the living God

00:41:51.140 --> 00:41:52.120
 and confess

00:41:52.120 --> 00:41:53.360
 that he's been grabbing

00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:54.040
 onto heels.

00:41:56.160 --> 00:41:57.260
 And the moment he does,

00:41:57.380 --> 00:41:58.400
 the moment he surrenders

00:41:58.400 --> 00:41:59.360
 his identity issue,

00:42:00.560 --> 00:42:01.220
 God blesses him.

00:42:01.240 --> 00:42:02.040
 What does he bless him with?

00:42:02.440 --> 00:42:02.940
 And he said,

00:42:04.180 --> 00:42:05.080
 your name shall no longer

00:42:05.080 --> 00:42:05.760
 be called Jacob,

00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:06.600
 but Israel,

00:42:06.800 --> 00:42:07.460
 for you have striven

00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:08.700
 with God and with men

00:42:08.700 --> 00:42:10.300
 and you have prevailed.

00:42:11.720 --> 00:42:12.840
 It's this beautiful moment

00:42:12.840 --> 00:42:14.320
 where he gives him

00:42:14.320 --> 00:42:15.200
 a new name, Israel.

00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:17.540
 Meaning that you've strived

00:42:17.540 --> 00:42:17.980
 with God

00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:18.700
 and you've prevailed.

00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:22.100
 It's actually really beautiful

00:42:22.100 --> 00:42:22.840
 and really poetic.

00:42:22.940 --> 00:42:23.760
 If you see it in a movie,

00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.860
 I can imagine seeing it

00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:25.220
 in a movie.

00:42:26.420 --> 00:42:27.640
 Because straight after that,

00:42:27.700 --> 00:42:28.580
 he gives him his new name.

00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:29.620
 Well, Jacob does something

00:42:29.620 --> 00:42:30.040
 really silly.

00:42:30.160 --> 00:42:30.400
 He goes,

00:42:31.560 --> 00:42:31.880
 oh, well,

00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:32.600
 please tell me your name.

00:42:33.500 --> 00:42:35.200
 And then God says,

00:42:35.380 --> 00:42:38.019
 and then just moves on.

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:38.800
 He says,

00:42:38.900 --> 00:42:39.960
 why do you ask my name?

00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:40.900
 You obviously know who I am.

00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:42.340
 And so then leaves.

00:42:42.660 --> 00:42:43.580
 And then Jacob says,

00:42:43.660 --> 00:42:44.920
 for I have seen God face to face,

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.180
 yet my life has been delivered.

00:42:46.380 --> 00:42:48.100
 Why is this episode here?

00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:50.100
 He's just about to enter

00:42:50.100 --> 00:42:51.140
 into probably the biggest

00:42:51.140 --> 00:42:52.280
 confrontation of his life.

00:42:52.340 --> 00:42:53.340
 He had a little one with Laban,

00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:54.360
 but he's about to head

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:55.100
 into the biggest one

00:42:55.100 --> 00:42:55.640
 with his brother,

00:42:55.720 --> 00:42:56.380
 with his long,

00:42:56.680 --> 00:42:57.320
 longest rival,

00:42:57.480 --> 00:42:58.000
 longest enemy,

00:42:58.220 --> 00:42:59.200
 the one who about to kill him,

00:42:59.360 --> 00:43:00.080
 the one who has the power

00:43:00.080 --> 00:43:00.620
 to kill him,

00:43:00.660 --> 00:43:01.500
 and he's wrestling

00:43:01.500 --> 00:43:02.360
 with someone else.

00:43:02.740 --> 00:43:03.060
 Why?

00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:04.620
 Because the truth is,

00:43:04.680 --> 00:43:05.320
 in our lives,

00:43:05.660 --> 00:43:06.360
 we keep thinking

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:06.900
 that we're wrestling

00:43:06.900 --> 00:43:07.760
 with all these other things

00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:08.560
 and all these other people,

00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:09.460
 but the true wrestle

00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:09.920
 that we have

00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:10.739
 is actually with God.

00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:12.559
 All the fears

00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:12.960
 that we have

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:13.480
 of other people,

00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:14.559
 all the fears

00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:15.480
 we have about our jobs

00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:16.139
 and our insecurities

00:43:16.139 --> 00:43:17.259
 and our money

00:43:17.259 --> 00:43:17.840
 and our finances,

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:18.679
 all these other things

00:43:18.679 --> 00:43:19.440
 that we think

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:20.059
 we're wrestling with,

00:43:20.219 --> 00:43:20.679
 that we think

00:43:20.679 --> 00:43:21.320
 we're anxious about,

00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:22.019
 the truth is,

00:43:22.059 --> 00:43:22.840
 we're not actually wrestling

00:43:22.840 --> 00:43:23.460
 with those people

00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:24.059
 and those things.

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:24.840
 The truth is,

00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:25.659
 we're actually wrestling

00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:26.480
 with our mistrust

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:27.219
 of God himself.

00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.019
 So God,

00:43:29.500 --> 00:43:30.239
 on the eve

00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:31.320
 of his biggest battle,

00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:31.639
 says,

00:43:31.739 --> 00:43:32.019
 actually,

00:43:32.179 --> 00:43:32.860
 it's not Esau

00:43:32.860 --> 00:43:33.739
 you're most afraid of.

00:43:33.940 --> 00:43:35.079
 You're most afraid of me.

00:43:35.860 --> 00:43:36.639
 You're most afraid

00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:38.259
 that I won't provide for you.

00:43:38.840 --> 00:43:39.679
 You're most afraid

00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:40.880
 that I don't love you.

00:43:41.159 --> 00:43:41.880
 You're most afraid

00:43:41.880 --> 00:43:42.699
 that that blessing

00:43:42.699 --> 00:43:43.759
 doesn't belong to you.

00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:44.759
 You're most afraid

00:43:44.759 --> 00:43:46.860
 that I disapprove of you.

00:43:47.840 --> 00:43:48.019
 Whew.

00:43:49.380 --> 00:43:50.739
 So God comes to wrestle

00:43:50.739 --> 00:43:52.519
 with Jacob

00:43:52.519 --> 00:43:54.659
 to show him

00:43:54.659 --> 00:43:55.539
 that it's not really

00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:56.099
 about Esau.

00:43:57.579 --> 00:43:57.920
 And actually,

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:58.880
 Jacob is elated

00:43:58.880 --> 00:43:59.420
 because he's like,

00:43:59.519 --> 00:43:59.679
 look,

00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:01.139
 I've seen God face to face

00:44:01.139 --> 00:44:01.799
 and yet my life

00:44:01.799 --> 00:44:02.440
 has been delivered.

00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:04.460
 He's in a good place.

00:44:04.460 --> 00:44:05.360
 And actually,

00:44:05.420 --> 00:44:06.199
 what's beautiful is this,

00:44:06.260 --> 00:44:06.760
 verse 31,

00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:07.940
 the sun rose upon him

00:44:07.940 --> 00:44:09.780
 as he passed Penel.

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.000
 Rewind

00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:13.820
 to when he left

00:44:13.820 --> 00:44:14.440
 the promised land

00:44:14.440 --> 00:44:15.599
 having stole the blessing.

00:44:16.519 --> 00:44:17.220
 It's dark,

00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:17.940
 so dark

00:44:17.940 --> 00:44:18.760
 that he can't move on

00:44:18.760 --> 00:44:19.340
 so he has to find

00:44:19.340 --> 00:44:20.099
 a rock to sleep on.

00:44:20.760 --> 00:44:21.320
 Can you just imagine

00:44:21.320 --> 00:44:23.260
 the poetic beauty

00:44:23.260 --> 00:44:24.240
 of this?

00:44:24.300 --> 00:44:25.380
 When he left this place,

00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:26.659
 it was dark

00:44:26.659 --> 00:44:27.599
 and lonely

00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:29.260
 and when he comes back

00:44:29.260 --> 00:44:30.119
 and he's got the blessing

00:44:30.119 --> 00:44:31.119
 that actually belongs

00:44:31.119 --> 00:44:31.619
 to him

00:44:31.619 --> 00:44:33.059
 followed by his own

00:44:33.059 --> 00:44:33.699
 true confession

00:44:33.699 --> 00:44:34.380
 of who he is,

00:44:34.460 --> 00:44:35.659
 the sun shines on him

00:44:35.659 --> 00:44:36.260
 and he walks

00:44:36.260 --> 00:44:37.199
 into the promised land.

00:44:37.579 --> 00:44:38.099
 Oh, correction,

00:44:38.240 --> 00:44:39.159
 he doesn't walk anymore.

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:40.539
 He limps

00:44:40.539 --> 00:44:42.199
 into the promised land.

00:44:42.900 --> 00:44:43.320
 Why?

00:44:43.920 --> 00:44:44.619
 Because he's come

00:44:44.619 --> 00:44:45.400
 to the end of himself.

00:44:45.500 --> 00:44:46.539
 He no longer can rely

00:44:46.539 --> 00:44:47.340
 on his own strength

00:44:47.340 --> 00:44:47.740
 to walk.

00:44:48.380 --> 00:44:49.380
 He will limp

00:44:49.380 --> 00:44:50.360
 for the rest of his life

00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:51.199
 but he will limp

00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:51.619
 joyfully

00:44:51.619 --> 00:44:52.460
 because he now

00:44:52.460 --> 00:44:53.260
 finally knows

00:44:53.260 --> 00:44:54.440
 that the only way

00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:55.199
 to get the blessing

00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:56.159
 is to

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:58.199
 lose himself.

00:44:58.199 --> 00:45:00.659
 and he will now

00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:01.379
 limp for the rest

00:45:01.379 --> 00:45:01.799
 of his life

00:45:01.799 --> 00:45:02.699
 in this promised land,

00:45:02.839 --> 00:45:03.719
 continue to receive

00:45:03.719 --> 00:45:04.179
 all the blessings

00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.899
 but the limp

00:45:04.899 --> 00:45:05.519
 will be there

00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:06.980
 as a beautiful reminder

00:45:06.980 --> 00:45:07.939
 of humility

00:45:07.939 --> 00:45:08.619
 that nothing

00:45:08.619 --> 00:45:10.439
 is there

00:45:10.439 --> 00:45:11.539
 because of what he did.

00:45:11.539 --> 00:45:13.960
 we all

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:14.840
 in some ways

00:45:14.840 --> 00:45:15.480
 limp now

00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:16.500
 as we head

00:45:16.500 --> 00:45:16.980
 into

00:45:16.980 --> 00:45:18.800
 our everyday

00:45:18.800 --> 00:45:19.779
 and it's not

00:45:19.779 --> 00:45:20.279
 a bad thing.

00:45:22.019 --> 00:45:23.159
 We all must

00:45:23.159 --> 00:45:24.380
 take ourselves

00:45:24.380 --> 00:45:25.099
 into the dark

00:45:25.099 --> 00:45:25.719
 lonely place

00:45:25.719 --> 00:45:26.380
 to do business

00:45:26.380 --> 00:45:26.759
 with God

00:45:26.759 --> 00:45:27.639
 where we remove

00:45:27.639 --> 00:45:28.119
 all the noise

00:45:28.119 --> 00:45:29.019
 where we remove

00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:29.699
 all the distractions

00:45:29.699 --> 00:45:30.259
 most of all

00:45:30.259 --> 00:45:30.759
 we remove

00:45:30.759 --> 00:45:31.539
 all the excuses

00:45:31.539 --> 00:45:32.259
 and all the other

00:45:32.259 --> 00:45:32.739
 things that we

00:45:32.739 --> 00:45:33.599
 project our fears

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:33.880
 onto

00:45:33.880 --> 00:45:35.239
 and we just

00:45:35.239 --> 00:45:36.039
 surrender ourselves

00:45:36.039 --> 00:45:36.779
 to the living God

00:45:36.780 --> 00:45:38.760
 with a limp

00:45:38.760 --> 00:45:40.240
 knowing that

00:45:40.240 --> 00:45:41.360
 we can only walk

00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:43.960
 because he allows us to.

00:45:44.540 --> 00:45:45.760
 We only live

00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:47.740
 because he allows us to.

00:45:50.120 --> 00:45:50.840
 Makes me think

00:45:50.840 --> 00:45:51.640
 as we conclude here

00:45:51.640 --> 00:45:52.900
 what is the uncertainty

00:45:52.900 --> 00:45:53.540
 that you've got

00:45:53.540 --> 00:45:54.600
 going on right now?

00:45:55.120 --> 00:45:55.920
 What's that thing

00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:56.820
 that you're waiting for?

00:45:56.880 --> 00:45:57.019
 You're like

00:45:57.019 --> 00:45:58.140
 oh if only I had that

00:45:58.140 --> 00:45:58.680
 if I could only

00:45:58.680 --> 00:45:59.519
 pass that test

00:45:59.519 --> 00:46:00.180
 if I could only

00:46:00.180 --> 00:46:00.900
 have that person

00:46:00.900 --> 00:46:02.000
 if I could only do this

00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:02.920
 I will feel so good

00:46:02.920 --> 00:46:03.460
 about my life

00:46:03.460 --> 00:46:03.960
 and I'll be good

00:46:03.960 --> 00:46:04.660
 and I'll be marching

00:46:04.660 --> 00:46:05.060
 and running

00:46:05.060 --> 00:46:05.480
 and hopping

00:46:05.480 --> 00:46:06.360
 into the promised land.

00:46:06.780 --> 00:46:07.480
 That's not the goal

00:46:07.480 --> 00:46:09.579
 that's not God's

00:46:09.579 --> 00:46:11.000
 hope for your life.

00:46:12.519 --> 00:46:13.640
 God hopes that you

00:46:13.640 --> 00:46:16.440
 would walk

00:46:16.440 --> 00:46:17.280
 into the promised land

00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:18.320
 with a profound

00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:19.400
 trust in him

00:46:19.400 --> 00:46:22.460
 and if he needs

00:46:22.460 --> 00:46:23.079
 to give you a limp

00:46:23.079 --> 00:46:23.380
 he will.

00:46:26.440 --> 00:46:27.480
 That's the wrestling match

00:46:27.480 --> 00:46:28.700
 that we have going on.

00:46:29.940 --> 00:46:30.720
 How's God trying

00:46:30.720 --> 00:46:31.519
 to get your attention?

00:46:31.700 --> 00:46:32.400
 Andy Stanley says

00:46:32.400 --> 00:46:33.420
 when you feel tension

00:46:33.420 --> 00:46:33.900
 in your life

00:46:33.900 --> 00:46:34.640
 when you have uncertainty

00:46:34.640 --> 00:46:35.260
 in your life

00:46:35.260 --> 00:46:35.920
 the next thing

00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:36.360
 the best thing

00:46:36.360 --> 00:46:36.840
 that you should do

00:46:36.840 --> 00:46:37.980
 is lean into that

00:46:37.980 --> 00:46:38.639
 uncertainty

00:46:38.639 --> 00:46:39.920
 lean into that tension

00:46:39.920 --> 00:46:40.260
 and go

00:46:40.260 --> 00:46:41.400
 why do I feel that way?

00:46:41.599 --> 00:46:42.460
 Why am I so worried

00:46:42.460 --> 00:46:43.300
 about what that person

00:46:43.300 --> 00:46:44.159
 is going to say about me?

00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:45.579
 Why am I so worried

00:46:45.579 --> 00:46:46.519
 about whether this job

00:46:46.519 --> 00:46:47.079
 at work is going

00:46:47.079 --> 00:46:47.740
 to come through or not?

00:46:47.960 --> 00:46:48.740
 Why am I so worried

00:46:48.740 --> 00:46:49.440
 about this project?

00:46:49.720 --> 00:46:50.280
 And some of it

00:46:50.280 --> 00:46:50.599
 is just

00:46:50.599 --> 00:46:52.079
 we want things to go well

00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:53.139
 but so much of it

00:46:53.139 --> 00:46:54.059
 if we keep peeling

00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:54.940
 back and back

00:46:54.940 --> 00:46:55.320
 and back

00:46:55.320 --> 00:46:56.159
 is actually

00:46:56.159 --> 00:46:56.980
 God do you

00:46:56.980 --> 00:46:58.200
 love me?

00:46:58.760 --> 00:46:59.539
 Do you know me

00:46:59.539 --> 00:47:00.539
 and can I trust you?

00:47:00.539 --> 00:47:02.940
 I don't know

00:47:02.940 --> 00:47:03.500
 what battles

00:47:03.500 --> 00:47:04.119
 you have going

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:04.599
 in your life

00:47:04.599 --> 00:47:04.940
 I don't know

00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:05.539
 what Esau

00:47:05.539 --> 00:47:06.619
 you have coming up

00:47:06.619 --> 00:47:08.219
 my encouragement

00:47:08.219 --> 00:47:08.719
 to you

00:47:08.719 --> 00:47:09.900
 is wrestle

00:47:09.900 --> 00:47:11.179
 not with Esau

00:47:11.179 --> 00:47:12.779
 but wrestle with God

00:47:12.779 --> 00:47:16.099
 and there's still

00:47:16.099 --> 00:47:17.019
 so many questions here

00:47:17.019 --> 00:47:17.179
 right?

00:47:17.900 --> 00:47:18.440
 This is still

00:47:18.440 --> 00:47:19.440
 a confusing passage

00:47:19.440 --> 00:47:21.279
 one of my confusing

00:47:21.279 --> 00:47:21.659
 things is

00:47:21.659 --> 00:47:22.380
 why did God

00:47:22.380 --> 00:47:23.500
 withhold his strength?

00:47:24.579 --> 00:47:24.960
 Why did he

00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:25.539
 I mean he could have

00:47:25.539 --> 00:47:25.800
 done it

00:47:25.800 --> 00:47:26.219
 he could have said

00:47:26.219 --> 00:47:26.500
 hey

00:47:26.500 --> 00:47:28.099
 Jacob I'm God

00:47:28.099 --> 00:47:28.559
 you're about to have

00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:29.279
 a really bad guy

00:47:29.279 --> 00:47:29.619
 that you're going

00:47:29.619 --> 00:47:30.179
 to meet tomorrow

00:47:30.179 --> 00:47:31.259
 but just

00:47:31.259 --> 00:47:32.340
 just to let you know

00:47:32.340 --> 00:47:32.980
 you're going to be okay

00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:34.940
 your hip done

00:47:34.940 --> 00:47:35.579
 we're moving on

00:47:35.579 --> 00:47:36.679
 but he doesn't do that

00:47:36.679 --> 00:47:37.380
 he wrestles with him

00:47:37.380 --> 00:47:38.320
 for the whole night

00:47:38.320 --> 00:47:39.320
 withholding his strength

00:47:39.320 --> 00:47:39.860
 why?

00:47:41.139 --> 00:47:41.920
 My only conclusion

00:47:41.920 --> 00:47:44.360
 is the same reason

00:47:44.360 --> 00:47:45.420
 why I like wrestling

00:47:45.420 --> 00:47:46.279
 with Reuben

00:47:46.279 --> 00:47:48.360
 which we did

00:47:48.360 --> 00:47:49.079
 just before we left

00:47:49.079 --> 00:47:50.019
 church this morning

00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:52.860
 and it's the only reason

00:47:52.860 --> 00:47:53.679
 why I love wrestling

00:47:53.679 --> 00:47:54.299
 with Micah

00:47:54.299 --> 00:47:57.340
 it's because I just

00:47:57.340 --> 00:47:58.039
 love the wrestle

00:47:58.039 --> 00:47:59.219
 I just love

00:47:59.219 --> 00:47:59.860
 the ongoing

00:47:59.860 --> 00:48:00.860
 relationship

00:48:00.860 --> 00:48:02.159
 together

00:48:02.159 --> 00:48:03.400
 I don't like

00:48:03.400 --> 00:48:04.039
 wrestling with Christina

00:48:04.039 --> 00:48:04.559
 because she's a lot

00:48:04.559 --> 00:48:05.079
 stronger than I

00:48:05.079 --> 00:48:11.400
 God deliberately

00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:12.039
 comes in

00:48:12.039 --> 00:48:13.340
 withholds his strength

00:48:13.340 --> 00:48:13.920
 I think

00:48:13.920 --> 00:48:14.619
 because he just

00:48:14.619 --> 00:48:15.599
 desires the

00:48:15.599 --> 00:48:16.840
 ongoing wrestle

00:48:16.840 --> 00:48:17.639
 that he has with us

00:48:17.639 --> 00:48:18.579
 some of you are like

00:48:18.579 --> 00:48:19.279
 I'm so afraid

00:48:19.279 --> 00:48:19.840
 of that thing

00:48:19.840 --> 00:48:20.599
 but I won't come

00:48:20.599 --> 00:48:21.079
 to you God

00:48:21.079 --> 00:48:21.639
 because actually

00:48:21.639 --> 00:48:23.000
 it's not about you

00:48:23.000 --> 00:48:23.699
 it's about this thing

00:48:23.699 --> 00:48:24.259
 God's like

00:48:24.259 --> 00:48:24.719
 no no no

00:48:24.719 --> 00:48:25.599
 all of it is about me

00:48:25.599 --> 00:48:26.519
 if you knew who I was

00:48:26.519 --> 00:48:26.880
 and if you knew

00:48:26.880 --> 00:48:27.559
 how much I loved you

00:48:27.559 --> 00:48:28.259
 if you knew how

00:48:28.259 --> 00:48:29.239
 powerful I am

00:48:29.239 --> 00:48:30.579
 Esau is nothing

00:48:30.579 --> 00:48:31.820
 compared to me

00:48:31.820 --> 00:48:33.179
 all I want is you

00:48:33.179 --> 00:48:35.960
 would we come to God

00:48:35.960 --> 00:48:37.119
 in our wrestling

00:48:37.119 --> 00:48:39.159
 and he is so gentle

00:48:39.159 --> 00:48:40.320
 and he deliberately

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:41.320
 withholds his strength

00:48:41.320 --> 00:48:43.519
 and we can see it here

00:48:43.519 --> 00:48:44.299
 in Genesis 32

00:48:44.299 --> 00:48:45.119
 he deliberately

00:48:45.119 --> 00:48:46.039
 withholds his strength

00:48:46.039 --> 00:48:46.759
 and we know

00:48:46.759 --> 00:48:48.239
 we are sat here

00:48:48.239 --> 00:48:49.179
 because we know

00:48:49.179 --> 00:48:50.000
 this was not

00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:50.759
 the last time

00:48:50.759 --> 00:48:51.420
 that he does it

00:48:51.420 --> 00:48:53.480
 but many years later

00:48:53.480 --> 00:48:55.719
 the king of heaven

00:48:55.719 --> 00:48:56.619
 himself would come

00:48:56.619 --> 00:48:57.740
 into the earth

00:48:57.740 --> 00:48:58.599
 in human form

00:48:58.599 --> 00:48:59.940
 and limit himself

00:48:59.940 --> 00:49:01.440
 in just the same way

00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:02.599
 he could have destroyed

00:49:02.599 --> 00:49:03.699
 anything and everything

00:49:03.699 --> 00:49:04.679
 in his path

00:49:04.679 --> 00:49:05.719
 but what did he decide

00:49:05.719 --> 00:49:06.000
 to do

00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:07.400
 he decided to wrestle

00:49:07.400 --> 00:49:08.539
 he decided to wrestle

00:49:08.539 --> 00:49:09.039
 with mankind

00:49:09.039 --> 00:49:10.000
 he decided to wrestle

00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:10.579
 for mankind

00:49:10.579 --> 00:49:11.639
 and he did it all

00:49:11.639 --> 00:49:12.179
 in the garden

00:49:12.179 --> 00:49:13.219
 why?

00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:13.940
 out of love

00:49:13.940 --> 00:49:14.480
 for us

00:49:14.480 --> 00:49:15.219
 he limited

00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:17.119
 his own strength

00:49:17.119 --> 00:49:18.300
 he emptied himself

00:49:18.300 --> 00:49:19.219
 even though he was

00:49:19.219 --> 00:49:20.000
 equal with God

00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:20.820
 he came

00:49:20.820 --> 00:49:21.720
 to wrestle

00:49:21.720 --> 00:49:23.260
 if that doesn't

00:49:23.260 --> 00:49:24.019
 fill you with faith

00:49:24.019 --> 00:49:24.620
 I want you to

00:49:24.620 --> 00:49:25.180
 I ask you

00:49:25.180 --> 00:49:26.440
 take that into the dark

00:49:26.440 --> 00:49:27.600
 take that into the quiet

00:49:27.600 --> 00:49:28.280
 and go

00:49:28.280 --> 00:49:30.000
 God loves me so much

00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:30.840
 that he

00:49:30.840 --> 00:49:32.780
 limited his own strength

00:49:32.780 --> 00:49:35.240
 to come and meet me

00:49:35.240 --> 00:49:37.340
 and wrestle with me

00:49:37.340 --> 00:49:39.120
 to bless me

00:49:39.120 --> 00:49:41.519
 of whom

00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:42.260
 shall I fear?

00:49:42.920 --> 00:49:44.300
 the Lord is the stronghold

00:49:44.300 --> 00:49:45.620
 of my life

00:49:45.620 --> 00:49:46.700
 of whom

00:49:46.700 --> 00:49:47.360
 shall I be

00:49:47.360 --> 00:49:48.480
 afraid?

00:49:49.860 --> 00:49:50.680
 only God

00:49:50.679 --> 00:49:52.399
 only God

00:49:52.399 --> 00:49:53.659
 is the answer

00:49:53.659 --> 00:49:56.259
 our goal

00:49:56.259 --> 00:49:57.619
 is to simply surrender

00:49:57.619 --> 00:49:59.519
 actually

00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:00.519
 to also engage

00:50:00.519 --> 00:50:01.000
 in the wrestle

00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:03.119
 God's not afraid

00:50:03.119 --> 00:50:03.639
 of our wrestling

00:50:03.639 --> 00:50:04.039
 we're not going to

00:50:04.039 --> 00:50:04.460
 beat God

00:50:04.460 --> 00:50:06.899
 he just wants you

00:50:06.899 --> 00:50:07.299
 to be there

00:50:07.299 --> 00:50:08.139
 with him

00:50:08.139 --> 00:50:10.000
 so I'm so touched

00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:10.819
 by even what

00:50:10.819 --> 00:50:11.339
 Cardia said

00:50:11.339 --> 00:50:12.579
 hey go back there

00:50:12.579 --> 00:50:12.960
 and I'll just

00:50:12.960 --> 00:50:13.719
 stand with you

00:50:13.719 --> 00:50:16.139
 isn't that what

00:50:16.139 --> 00:50:16.960
 God says to us?

00:50:18.159 --> 00:50:18.799
 go and face

00:50:18.799 --> 00:50:19.379
 whatever it is

00:50:19.379 --> 00:50:19.940
 that you're facing

00:50:19.940 --> 00:50:21.340
 go find Esau

00:50:21.340 --> 00:50:23.700
 it's going to be

00:50:23.700 --> 00:50:23.920
 different

00:50:23.920 --> 00:50:24.200
 why?

00:50:24.380 --> 00:50:25.079
 because I'm with you

00:50:25.079 --> 00:50:25.860
 and yeah

00:50:25.860 --> 00:50:27.240
 you're limping back

00:50:27.240 --> 00:50:27.940
 into the promised land

00:50:27.940 --> 00:50:28.260
 and you're getting

00:50:28.260 --> 00:50:29.059
 flashbacks of all the

00:50:29.059 --> 00:50:29.659
 stuff that you did

00:50:29.659 --> 00:50:30.380
 that was wrong

00:50:30.380 --> 00:50:32.539
 but now you've

00:50:32.539 --> 00:50:33.179
 wrestled with me

00:50:33.179 --> 00:50:34.099
 and you've survived

00:50:34.099 --> 00:50:36.440
 you can do anything

00:50:36.440 --> 00:50:39.019
 through me

00:50:39.019 --> 00:50:40.119
 is what he says

00:50:40.119 --> 00:50:40.519
 to you

00:50:40.519 --> 00:50:42.980
 we're going to

00:50:42.980 --> 00:50:43.739
 take communion

00:50:43.739 --> 00:50:44.119
 now

00:50:44.119 --> 00:50:47.539
 and I want to

00:50:47.539 --> 00:50:47.940
 ask you

00:50:47.940 --> 00:50:50.280
 you're sat here

00:50:50.280 --> 00:50:51.139
 so the likelihood

00:50:51.139 --> 00:50:51.659
 is that you're

00:50:51.659 --> 00:50:52.340
 probably a Christian

00:50:52.340 --> 00:50:55.340
 what we have to

00:50:55.340 --> 00:50:55.920
 define here

00:50:55.920 --> 00:50:56.559
 well and you

00:50:56.559 --> 00:50:56.960
 might not be

00:50:56.960 --> 00:50:57.280
 and if you're

00:50:57.280 --> 00:50:57.699
 not welcome

00:50:57.699 --> 00:50:58.840
 you're probably

00:50:58.840 --> 00:50:59.340
 seeking and

00:50:59.340 --> 00:50:59.639
 looking for

00:50:59.639 --> 00:50:59.900
 something

00:50:59.900 --> 00:51:02.239
 if you profess

00:51:02.239 --> 00:51:02.860
 to be a Christian

00:51:02.860 --> 00:51:05.199
 which would be

00:51:05.199 --> 00:51:05.659
 my guess

00:51:05.659 --> 00:51:07.000
 my next query

00:51:07.000 --> 00:51:07.420
 and my next

00:51:07.420 --> 00:51:07.980
 question to you

00:51:07.980 --> 00:51:08.400
 is are you a

00:51:08.400 --> 00:51:08.920
 believer or a

00:51:08.920 --> 00:51:09.139
 follower

00:51:09.139 --> 00:51:10.519
 do you say

00:51:10.519 --> 00:51:10.900
 that you just

00:51:10.900 --> 00:51:11.420
 believe in him

00:51:11.420 --> 00:51:11.980
 why because

00:51:11.980 --> 00:51:12.440
 your granddad

00:51:12.440 --> 00:51:12.860
 did because

00:51:12.860 --> 00:51:13.180
 your dad

00:51:13.180 --> 00:51:14.320
 did your

00:51:14.320 --> 00:51:14.619
 grandmother

00:51:14.619 --> 00:51:15.639
 did your

00:51:15.639 --> 00:51:16.119
 friends did

00:51:16.119 --> 00:51:17.460
 but you've

00:51:17.460 --> 00:51:17.820
 actually not

00:51:17.820 --> 00:51:18.340
 gone into the

00:51:18.340 --> 00:51:19.139
 dark deep

00:51:19.139 --> 00:51:20.059
 woods to

00:51:20.059 --> 00:51:21.200
 figure this

00:51:21.200 --> 00:51:21.440
 one out

00:51:21.440 --> 00:51:21.840
 yourself

00:51:21.840 --> 00:51:23.900
 you've not

00:51:23.900 --> 00:51:25.000
 crossed that

00:51:25.000 --> 00:51:25.639
 border from

00:51:25.639 --> 00:51:26.840
 believer into

00:51:26.840 --> 00:51:27.420
 follower you've

00:51:27.420 --> 00:51:27.940
 not wrestled

00:51:27.940 --> 00:51:28.220
 with God

00:51:28.220 --> 00:51:28.460
 you've not

00:51:28.460 --> 00:51:28.960
 done business

00:51:28.960 --> 00:51:29.220
 with him

00:51:29.220 --> 00:51:29.780
 I encourage

00:51:29.780 --> 00:51:30.940
 you maybe

00:51:30.940 --> 00:51:31.300
 this is a

00:51:31.300 --> 00:51:31.659
 good moment

00:51:31.659 --> 00:51:32.079
 to start

00:51:32.079 --> 00:51:33.099
 and if you

00:51:33.099 --> 00:51:33.340
 don't know

00:51:33.340 --> 00:51:33.780
 how let me

00:51:33.780 --> 00:51:35.500
 just suggest

00:51:35.500 --> 00:51:36.659
 God are you

00:51:36.659 --> 00:51:36.880
 here

00:51:36.880 --> 00:51:39.920
 are you

00:51:39.920 --> 00:51:40.099
 here

00:51:40.099 --> 00:51:40.420
 are you

00:51:40.420 --> 00:51:42.140
 are you

00:51:42.140 --> 00:51:42.559
 wanting my

00:51:42.559 --> 00:51:42.880
 attention

00:51:42.880 --> 00:51:44.640
 I'm going

00:51:44.640 --> 00:51:44.980
 through this

00:51:44.980 --> 00:51:45.380
 thing and

00:51:45.380 --> 00:51:46.059
 you've got

00:51:46.059 --> 00:51:46.519
 my attention

00:51:46.519 --> 00:51:47.720
 what do you

00:51:47.720 --> 00:51:47.960
 want to

00:51:47.960 --> 00:51:48.160
 say

00:51:48.160 --> 00:51:53.019
 we sit

00:51:53.019 --> 00:51:53.360
 here and

00:51:53.360 --> 00:51:54.599
 we do

00:51:54.599 --> 00:51:54.960
 communion

00:51:54.960 --> 00:51:55.420
 together

00:51:55.420 --> 00:51:57.760
 almost in

00:51:57.760 --> 00:51:58.119
 remembrance

00:51:58.119 --> 00:51:59.440
 of the struggle

00:51:59.440 --> 00:51:59.920
 that he had

00:51:59.920 --> 00:52:02.240
 the wrestle

00:52:02.240 --> 00:52:02.980
 that he had

00:52:02.980 --> 00:52:04.059
 in Gethsemane

00:52:04.059 --> 00:52:05.579
 and he wrestled

00:52:05.579 --> 00:52:06.019
 and he struggled

00:52:06.019 --> 00:52:06.500
 all the way to

00:52:06.500 --> 00:52:06.860
 the cross

00:52:06.860 --> 00:52:08.340
 kept saying

00:52:08.340 --> 00:52:09.559
 is this the

00:52:09.559 --> 00:52:09.980
 only way

00:52:09.980 --> 00:52:13.660
 is this the

00:52:13.660 --> 00:52:14.160
 only way to

00:52:14.160 --> 00:52:14.539
 save this

00:52:14.539 --> 00:52:14.800
 group

00:52:14.800 --> 00:52:18.420
 it seems

00:52:18.420 --> 00:52:18.740
 so

00:52:18.740 --> 00:52:21.200
 they're so

00:52:21.200 --> 00:52:21.800
 entangled by

00:52:21.800 --> 00:52:22.280
 the things of

00:52:22.280 --> 00:52:22.680
 this world

00:52:22.680 --> 00:52:26.220
 they're fighting

00:52:26.220 --> 00:52:26.720
 shadows

00:52:26.720 --> 00:52:31.140
 let me wrestle

00:52:31.140 --> 00:52:32.099
 on their

00:52:32.099 --> 00:52:32.519
 behalf

00:52:32.519 --> 00:52:36.320
 and on the

00:52:36.320 --> 00:52:36.579
 night he

00:52:36.579 --> 00:52:37.039
 was betrayed

00:52:37.039 --> 00:52:37.460
 he took

00:52:37.460 --> 00:52:38.500
 bread

00:52:38.500 --> 00:52:38.719
 when he

00:52:38.719 --> 00:52:38.960
 sat

00:52:38.960 --> 00:52:39.179
 around

00:52:39.179 --> 00:52:39.360
 his

00:52:39.360 --> 00:52:39.599
 family

00:52:39.599 --> 00:52:39.840
 his

00:52:39.840 --> 00:52:40.239
 friends

00:52:40.239 --> 00:52:44.280
 and he

00:52:44.280 --> 00:52:44.400
 said

00:52:44.400 --> 00:52:44.579
 you don't

00:52:44.579 --> 00:52:44.759
 have to

00:52:44.759 --> 00:52:44.980
 struggle

00:52:44.980 --> 00:52:45.300
 anymore

00:52:45.300 --> 00:52:47.039
 I'm the

00:52:47.039 --> 00:52:47.460
 high priest

00:52:47.460 --> 00:52:47.759
 that has

00:52:47.759 --> 00:52:48.059
 made the

00:52:48.059 --> 00:52:48.500
 sacrifice

00:52:48.500 --> 00:52:48.800
 that will

00:52:48.800 --> 00:52:49.099
 make the

00:52:49.099 --> 00:52:49.460
 sacrifice

00:52:49.460 --> 00:52:49.940
 once and

00:52:49.940 --> 00:52:50.300
 for all

00:52:50.300 --> 00:52:52.300
 his

00:52:52.300 --> 00:52:54.560
 struggle

00:52:54.560 --> 00:52:55.060
 is now

00:52:55.060 --> 00:52:55.400
 not with

00:52:55.400 --> 00:52:55.600
 those

00:52:55.600 --> 00:52:55.820
 things

00:52:55.820 --> 00:52:56.080
 that you're

00:52:56.080 --> 00:52:56.340
 facing

00:52:56.340 --> 00:52:56.500
 your

00:52:56.500 --> 00:52:56.740
 struggle

00:52:56.740 --> 00:52:57.220
 is with

00:52:57.220 --> 00:52:57.400
 me

00:52:57.400 --> 00:52:59.820
 and if

00:52:59.820 --> 00:53:00.120
 you believe

00:53:00.120 --> 00:53:00.320
 me

00:53:00.320 --> 00:53:00.980
 if you

00:53:00.980 --> 00:53:01.360
 believe in

00:53:01.360 --> 00:53:01.580
 me

00:53:01.580 --> 00:53:03.539
 and you

00:53:03.539 --> 00:53:03.980
 follow me

00:53:03.980 --> 00:53:04.580
 you will not

00:53:04.580 --> 00:53:05.160
 perish and you'll

00:53:05.160 --> 00:53:05.600
 have eternal

00:53:05.600 --> 00:53:05.940
 life

00:53:05.940 --> 00:53:07.599
 he says

00:53:07.599 --> 00:53:08.000
 this is my

00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:08.260
 body

00:53:08.260 --> 00:53:09.900
 broken for

00:53:09.900 --> 00:53:10.780
 you

00:53:10.780 --> 00:53:13.659
 surrender

00:53:13.659 --> 00:53:14.119
 all your

00:53:14.119 --> 00:53:14.300
 other

00:53:14.300 --> 00:53:14.639
 struggles

00:53:14.639 --> 00:53:17.059
 and come

00:53:17.059 --> 00:53:17.579
 wrestle with

00:53:17.579 --> 00:53:18.200
 me

00:53:18.200 --> 00:53:20.519
 let us

00:53:20.519 --> 00:53:20.800
 take

00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:22.900
 the bread

00:53:22.900 --> 00:53:24.760
 in remembrance

00:53:24.760 --> 00:53:25.179
 of what he

00:53:25.179 --> 00:53:25.639
 did for us

00:53:35.940 --> 00:53:48.320
 then he took

00:53:48.320 --> 00:53:48.639
 the cup

00:53:48.639 --> 00:53:50.539
 and he

00:53:50.539 --> 00:53:50.940
 said this is

00:53:50.940 --> 00:53:51.220
 the new

00:53:51.220 --> 00:53:51.500
 covenant

00:53:51.500 --> 00:53:53.179
 you guys

00:53:53.179 --> 00:53:53.519
 broke the

00:53:53.519 --> 00:53:53.960
 old covenant

00:53:53.960 --> 00:53:55.240
 the thing I

00:53:55.240 --> 00:53:55.480
 had with

00:53:55.480 --> 00:53:55.860
 Abraham

00:53:55.860 --> 00:53:56.340
 the thing I

00:53:56.340 --> 00:53:56.559
 had with

00:53:56.559 --> 00:53:56.820
 Isaac

00:53:56.820 --> 00:53:58.000
 you guys

00:53:58.000 --> 00:53:58.280
 just kept

00:53:58.280 --> 00:53:58.579
 failing

00:53:58.579 --> 00:53:59.460
 the law

00:53:59.460 --> 00:53:59.860
 was weakened

00:53:59.860 --> 00:54:00.159
 by the

00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:00.400
 flesh

00:54:00.400 --> 00:54:01.039
 you could

00:54:01.039 --> 00:54:01.420
 not fulfill

00:54:01.420 --> 00:54:01.880
 it yourself

00:54:01.880 --> 00:54:02.840
 but here's

00:54:02.840 --> 00:54:03.039
 a new

00:54:03.039 --> 00:54:03.280
 one

00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:06.240
 I am the

00:54:06.240 --> 00:54:06.660
 high priest

00:54:06.660 --> 00:54:07.900
 is what he

00:54:07.900 --> 00:54:08.140
 says

00:54:08.140 --> 00:54:09.480
 I pour out

00:54:09.480 --> 00:54:10.200
 my blood

00:54:10.200 --> 00:54:11.640
 and it will

00:54:11.640 --> 00:54:12.040
 be a symbol

00:54:12.040 --> 00:54:12.460
 of the new

00:54:12.460 --> 00:54:12.740
 covenant

00:54:12.740 --> 00:54:13.900
 that will

00:54:13.900 --> 00:54:14.380
 not be based

00:54:14.380 --> 00:54:14.700
 on your

00:54:14.700 --> 00:54:15.220
 own works

00:54:15.220 --> 00:54:17.140
 but it will

00:54:17.140 --> 00:54:17.420
 be based

00:54:17.420 --> 00:54:17.740
 on mine

00:54:17.740 --> 00:54:19.900
 trust it

00:54:19.900 --> 00:54:21.560
 come to

00:54:21.560 --> 00:54:21.760
 me

00:54:21.760 --> 00:54:22.340
 all who

00:54:22.340 --> 00:54:22.660
 are weary

00:54:22.660 --> 00:54:23.740
 and I will

00:54:23.740 --> 00:54:24.000
 give you

00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:24.320
 rest

00:54:24.320 --> 00:54:27.460
 so we

00:54:27.460 --> 00:54:27.940
 take this

00:54:27.940 --> 00:54:28.180
 cup

00:54:28.180 --> 00:54:30.160
 in remembrance

00:54:30.160 --> 00:54:30.980
 of the new

00:54:30.980 --> 00:54:31.380
 covenant that

00:54:31.380 --> 00:54:31.720
 we have in

00:54:31.720 --> 00:54:31.920
 him

00:54:31.920 --> 00:54:41.639
 God we

00:54:41.639 --> 00:54:42.019
 come to

00:54:42.019 --> 00:54:42.260
 you

00:54:42.260 --> 00:54:47.240
 you are

00:54:47.240 --> 00:54:47.519
 the God

00:54:47.519 --> 00:54:48.159
 of Abraham

00:54:48.159 --> 00:54:50.920
 you are

00:54:50.920 --> 00:54:51.139
 the God

00:54:51.139 --> 00:54:51.559
 of Isaac

00:54:51.559 --> 00:54:54.780
 today we

00:54:54.780 --> 00:54:55.260
 see you

00:54:55.260 --> 00:54:55.720
 have become

00:54:55.720 --> 00:54:56.039
 the God

00:54:56.039 --> 00:54:56.500
 of Jacob

00:54:56.500 --> 00:55:01.280
 you are

00:55:01.280 --> 00:55:01.539
 the God

00:55:01.539 --> 00:55:01.880
 of Joe

00:55:01.880 --> 00:55:06.780
 you are the

00:55:06.780 --> 00:55:06.920
 God

00:55:06.920 --> 00:55:07.380
 of Veronica

00:55:07.380 --> 00:55:10.099
 you are the

00:55:10.099 --> 00:55:10.640
 God of Caleb

00:55:10.640 --> 00:55:16.160
 you are the

00:55:16.160 --> 00:55:16.700
 God of Tim

00:55:16.700 --> 00:55:22.599
 you are the

00:55:22.599 --> 00:55:23.140
 God of Wes

00:55:23.139 --> 00:55:28.039
 you are the

00:55:28.039 --> 00:55:28.619
 God of Sarah

00:55:28.619 --> 00:55:32.359
 you are

00:55:32.359 --> 00:55:34.379
 our God

00:55:34.379 --> 00:55:40.839
 the same God

00:55:40.839 --> 00:55:41.359
 that chooses

00:55:41.359 --> 00:55:42.779
 to come to

00:55:42.779 --> 00:55:43.079
 us

00:55:43.079 --> 00:55:45.819
 to wrestle

00:55:45.820 --> 00:55:55.800
 let me

00:55:55.800 --> 00:55:56.120
 let me finish

00:55:56.120 --> 00:55:56.539
 with this

00:55:56.539 --> 00:55:56.800
 quote

00:55:56.800 --> 00:55:59.780
 Henry

00:55:59.780 --> 00:56:00.100
 now and

00:56:00.100 --> 00:56:00.300
 says

00:56:00.300 --> 00:56:00.740
 wrestling

00:56:00.740 --> 00:56:01.380
 with God

00:56:01.380 --> 00:56:01.820
 means

00:56:01.820 --> 00:56:03.280
 staying in

00:56:03.280 --> 00:56:03.700
 the struggle

00:56:03.700 --> 00:56:04.700
 until the

00:56:04.700 --> 00:56:05.280
 light comes

00:56:05.280 --> 00:56:07.460
 it is not

00:56:07.460 --> 00:56:08.080
 a fight

00:56:08.080 --> 00:56:09.100
 of hostility

00:56:09.100 --> 00:56:10.980
 but a

00:56:10.980 --> 00:56:11.440
 desperate

00:56:11.440 --> 00:56:12.220
 embrace

00:56:12.220 --> 00:56:13.160
 of love

00:56:13.159 --> 00:56:14.480
 that refuses

00:56:14.480 --> 00:56:14.920
 to let

00:56:14.920 --> 00:56:15.219
 go

00:56:15.219 --> 00:56:16.739
 until the

00:56:16.739 --> 00:56:17.059
 blessing

00:56:17.059 --> 00:56:18.159
 is given

00:56:18.159 --> 00:56:21.119
 it is not

00:56:21.119 --> 00:56:21.480
 a fight

00:56:21.480 --> 00:56:22.279
 of hostility

00:56:22.279 --> 00:56:23.099
 but it is a

00:56:23.099 --> 00:56:23.440
 desperate

00:56:23.440 --> 00:56:23.980
 embrace

00:56:23.980 --> 00:56:24.440
 of love

00:56:24.440 --> 00:56:25.099
 that refuses

00:56:25.099 --> 00:56:25.480
 to let

00:56:25.480 --> 00:56:25.699
 go

00:56:25.699 --> 00:56:26.219
 until the

00:56:26.219 --> 00:56:26.539
 blessing

00:56:26.539 --> 00:56:27.659
 is given

00:56:27.659 --> 00:56:30.420
 God of

00:56:30.420 --> 00:56:30.679
 Jacob

00:56:30.679 --> 00:56:31.039
 we

00:56:31.039 --> 00:56:33.019
 entrust

00:56:33.019 --> 00:56:33.759
 ourselves

00:56:33.759 --> 00:56:34.119
 into

00:56:34.119 --> 00:56:34.579
 your

00:56:34.579 --> 00:56:35.299
 loving

00:56:35.299 --> 00:56:35.599
 arms

00:56:35.599 --> 00:56:35.759
 and

00:56:35.759 --> 00:56:36.099
 choose

00:56:36.099 --> 00:56:36.259
 to

00:56:36.259 --> 00:56:36.500
 wrestle

00:56:36.500 --> 00:56:36.819
 with

00:56:36.819 --> 00:56:37.039
 you

00:56:37.039 --> 00:56:37.940
 today