WEBVTT

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 Thank you, Ellen. Good morning, everyone.

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 Well, before I start, the topic today is a little bit somber, but it's a good week.

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 It's a good week. Those of you who are part of this community, you'll know that Alex and Joe

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! welcomed in baby number two, Liliana Joy. Round of applause for Alex. No epidural, just

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 powered through and managed to give birth to baby in record time. It was super fast.

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 Also, I guess round of applause for Joe. He also didn't need an epidural. He was okay.

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 He managed to survive through all of it. I was reflecting. I was like, oh, I wonder whether

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 I'll get to see Joe these next few weeks. I was counting. I was like, actually, he's the

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 eighth most useful adult in his family right now in terms of looking after the baby. You've got

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 his wife, you've got his mother-in-law and his father-in-law, and they've got an auntie

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 and they've got a doula and then they've got someone else's. I'm just like, oh, Joe, you

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 are, you know, I mean, nothing I didn't know, but really no contribution other than, but we're

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 overjoyed. And today is a very special day because Eden Jane, EJ, it's her birthday today.

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 She's going through lots of emotions as a big sister, three years old. So shower her. Why

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 don't we shower her with blessings when she comes out? And so just pour blessing out on

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 this family. When we were in the hospital and actually Joe said something that was interesting,

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 he said, well, what a special day that there's life here. But of course, in the hospital, whilst

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 there's one room that has life just beginning, it's 20 seconds down the corridor and you see

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 actually a life is ending as well. Such is life, right? That that's really what it is.

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 And I'm approaching a topic today that is a tricky one. And actually, even as we were singing

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 and I was praying, I was like, God, I think there's something that I'm supposed to say that

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 I haven't prepared yet. Because I look around the room and I look around the people that are

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 in this room. This question will have come up for you at some point. I bumped into a dear

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 friend yesterday and she came up to me and she said, James, you're still young. And I said,

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 thank you. I know I am still. You've got people around you who are still giving births.

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 And having getting married and all these things. And my friends are now all dying one by one.

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 And another one of my boss for young life was like, in this last two years, I've lost all

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 of my mentors. They they all they've all moved on to be with the Lord. And if you live long

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 enough, you will experience suffering. You will experience death. You will experience loss.

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 I mean, it's just baffling for me. It sounds really morbid. But every single person in this

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 room, as you look around, will pass. Christina and I, we were talking yesterday evening and she

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 was reminding me her favorite book is Ecclesiastes, where just everything is just vanity, just

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 meaningless. And there's moments where you're just like, what is the purpose of all this,

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 especially when it comes to suffering? So we're talking about this topic,

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 but I want to approach it as carefully and as cautiously as I possibly can, because I know

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 for sure that there are people in this room who are going through suffering right now.

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 That you have sickness in your family with a loved one right now. And you're asking God,

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 why aren't you helping that person? And you're asking God, do you even exist? Do you even care?

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 Yeah. And I want to approach that. I'm not here just to tell you, hey, chin up, just suck it up.

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 It's going to be fine. Everyone's going to die. Just get over it. That's not what I'm here to do.

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 I'm here to try and unpack with you what God says about suffering, what God says about death and

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 disease, what God says about all these things. And I want you to know that. I want you to know that

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 I may not know exactly what you're going through, but I want you to know that I know that you're going

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 through something. You know, the cheesy statement that behind every smile is someone standing with

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 a pool of tears next to them. I know. If we look back, as I'm even looking around the room right now,

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 I look at Kelly leading worship with a smile on her face, but I remember a time when she couldn't

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 really even open her mouth and she was suffering through that. I remember a time when we've gone

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 through things that we just wish, God, would you help us get through that now already? And yet we look

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 back now and we go, actually, there was good in that. There was things that he did through that.

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 And I hope today as we open up the word to talk about the issue of suffering, it'll be able to

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 bless you because we are surrounded by it on a micro, just individual, personal level. There's

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 things that you're going through. And of course, as you age and as the aging process continues,

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 the body just starts to break down. That's just what it does. It was a few years ago when I started

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 realizing I was getting injuries to my body and I didn't even realize where I was getting them.

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 I would just wake up and my back would hurt. Right? Jay knows that as well.

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 And then we look around and we see all these problems that are happening.

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 Yesterday, I was preaching in the Chinese side and we were talking about actually so much of

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 our faith often, whether we like to admit it or not, is about us being engrossed with basically,

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 God, can you bless us with health and wealth? If we're super honest with ourselves,

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 that's what we're really asking him. Can you give us a safe flight to this place? Can you give us

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 nice weather there? Can you give us a smooth running to get the job that we want, to get the project that

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 we want, so we can get the money that we want, so we can get the lifestyle that we want? We're always

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 thinking about that. And then the moment something doesn't go our way, we say, why God? Are you even

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 there? Do you even exist? I'm not going to embarrass you, but can I, can, if you've gone through something

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 tough in your life and you found yourself questioning whether God exists or not, at some point,

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 would you raise your hand just to show me that I'm not alone? And you're like, God, are you even here?

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 It's interesting because you get asked that a lot and people are like, well, I don't believe in God

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 because here's how the question goes. If God is here and he is all loving and all powerful,

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 why are, why is there still suffering? If we peel back that question, often it's actually,

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 why am I still suffering? Or why is the world around me that I can see, the people that I love,

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 why is there still pain? Why is there still hurt? Because God, if you are who you say you are,

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 can't you just deal with this? Can't you sort this out right now? Can't you remove this? Can't you stop

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 all the wars? Can't you stop all the poverty and all the famine? Can't you deal with all those things

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 so we can all have lives that are filled with health and wealth? Isn't that what you're here for,

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 God? When we created to flourish, to glorify you, why are we so far away from that? And people ask

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 that question regularly, but maybe just a few things, just I wanted to say. We're going to be

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 looking at the passage of Romans 8, where we'll talk a bit about this. But one thing I'll say to you is

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 this, and you know, I know Bob Marley sings it, that, hey, don't worry. Everything,

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 every little thing is going to be all right. But I'm also here to say that some of the things that

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 you're going through are just not good. They're just not right. Cancer is not good. There is nothing

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 good about cancer. There is nothing good about war. There is nothing good about famine.

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 What I'm going to present to you is, well, even those things are definitely not good.

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 God still somehow will use, will turn for good at some point. This van is going to keep flicking my

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 Bible. So I'm going to keep moving back. So that's where I'm going to be going. But I want to just

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 maybe address a couple of assumptions there. If you're there thinking, well, actually, I don't know

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 if I believe in God because there's so many bad things that are happening in the world. I want to

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 just kind of maybe address a couple of those quick assumptions before we jump into the word. And first

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 of all is this, what's good? You say, if there is a good God, then why are there bad things

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 happening? My question to you is, how are you measuring what's good? What's bad? If there was no God,

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 as I said last week, if there was no God, if we look at an absolute terrifying, devastating injustice,

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 a baby lying on the street dying, if there was no God, then why is that not good? Or why is that bad?

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 We have no frame of reference. There is no measuring stick to measure what is good and what it's not

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 because everything's random. Everyone says survival of the fittest. Baby, you're not fit, so you won't

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 survive. Why do we even think that is good or bad? Where is the measuring stick? Another question I'll have

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 for you is this. Well, okay, then let's deal with some of the bad that you're talking about. What's

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 some of the bad? What are some of the worst people that are around in this world? Let's start with

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 the terrorists. God, you're powerful, you're good. Why don't you get rid of evil? And let's start with

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 the terrorists because they're definitely evil. They're definitely bad. Let's get rid of them.

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 You get rid of the terrorists. You're like, okay, well, somehow the world still isn't good. There is still

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 suffering. Well, okay, that's because we haven't got rid of all the murderers. Let's get rid of the

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 murderers. Let's do them too. Let's get rid of them. And suddenly you realize, oh, okay,

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 got rid of all the murderers. And yet somehow the world still isn't fully perfect. And okay,

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 well, let's, well, maybe we need to stretch this out a little bit more. Maybe we need to address

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 more of these sinners. Let's go, let's go for the bankers. Let's get rid of the bankers. They are

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 part of the big problem in this world. Let's get rid of them because there's, there's greed,

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 there's selfishness, there's all these things that should be no poverty. Let's get rid of them.

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 Well, we get rid of them. And yet somehow there is still problem. Well, okay, maybe it's the

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 tax evaders. Maybe we get rid of them. And can you see where I'm getting at here? We can just keep

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 going down this list of all the people who we think are bad, who we think are responsible for

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 some of the evil and some of the suffering in this world. The problem is if we keep going down that

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 line and go, God, why don't you get rid of them? The question ends up, the final question will be,

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 must be, God, you also must get rid of me. Because I too, I'm bringing sin into this world. I too,

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 am filled with sin. I too am part of the problem. And so do you realize that actually if it's God,

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 it's a God of love, it's not as simple as just destroying all those who are bad. Because if

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 that was the case, there would be no people left. Where do you get your measuring stick from? What

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 is good? C.S. Lewis says this, God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can

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 go wrong or right. If a thing is free to be good, it is also free to be bad. If a thing is free to be

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 good, it is also free to be bad. That is why we have suffering, because we have choice. And you and

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 I both know we have made choices that have led to our own suffering and also to the suffering of those

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 whom love us and whom we love. So why is there still suffering? Because we still get to choose and

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 sadly we choose this way. Another point about that when it comes to suffering is actually when

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 we're talking about suffering, it assumes there is meaning and there are moral values that are in

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 place for human existence. Because if there wasn't, if God wasn't there to give us this framework,

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 to give us this meaning and purpose, then suffering doesn't really, isn't really a thing.

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 Does that make sense to you? The fact that we are even appealing to this higher just concept that

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 actually humans and animals and creation should be flourishing already says that we're assuming that

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 there is meaning. There is an external meaning that is applied onto our existence. So we can't

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 actually say suffering basically disproves God, because if anything, suffering actually proves

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 there is something out there that is giving us meaning. We know that something is wrong. Well,

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 why do we know that something is wrong? Because a creator has told us what his purpose for creation

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 is, and we realize we are falling short of it. It's funny, another famous apologeticist guy said this,

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 and he traveled the world doing a lot of talks about apologetics and fielding this question. And he

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 would say this, do you know the question of suffering is really only exclusive to the modern

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 Western world? He only hears this question in the modern Western world, where people are basically

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 born and grown and taught to be entitled to comfort and to be entitled to health and wealth. And that's

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 the only place he hears this in the modern Western world, because if he goes to all the other parts of

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 the world, everyone knows that suffering is a part of human existence. But for some reason, the Western

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 individualism we have pursued and gone away, where it's like, no, we can have a human existence that is

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 apart from suffering, that we don't need to have suffering. But actually, the rest of the world knows that

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 that is not true. It is part of it. Just have a think about that for a second. Actually, you've got even the

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 classical Greek thinkers, who will actually know? Suffering is inevitable, it will happen. What is

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 important is how we respond and how we react to it. It's only now when we are, when something bad

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 happens to us, and we're like, I am outraged, God, this is ridiculous. Why is this happening to me?

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 The question really is, well, why not?

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 Why not? There are so many, so many terrible things that are happening in this world right now.

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 Why weren't you born in a place that is war-ridden? Why weren't you starving? Why did you make it out of

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 your mother's womb alive, with all four limbs intact? Why? Why you? Why not? Can you see, even our

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 questions of suffering, we have assumptions, we have things that we don't even realize, we have

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 entitlement that we don't even realize when we're asking that question. God, if you are so just and

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 loving, why don't you sort out all these things? Well, you are part of that thing that he is trying

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 to sort out. So we're going to try and unpack that through a little bit of scripture. Again, C.S. Lewis

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 talks a lot about this. If you are interested, his book, The Problem of Pain is a big one, and

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 actually afterwards, later in his life, he writes this book, and when he loses his wife,

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 it's called A Grief Observed, which is another fantastic one, where he really dives into this.

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 And I would say, we as Christians, we need to get acquainted with suffering. We need to get

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 acquainted with what it is, and actually, if you look at scripture, if you look at this book,

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 our friend Francis Chan noted one time, he said, if you look at every book in the New Testament,

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 every single book talks about suffering. Every single book, you will find it. He said,

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 the only one that may not is Philemon, but if you think, if you know the context of where

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 that letter was written, suffering. For some reason, even though every book in the New Testament

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 talks about suffering, for some reason, we are still outraged when we don't get the job

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 that we want. For some reason, we are still just heartbroken when we are turned away by that

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 person we're pursuing, and we question God's existence. We are still heartbroken when someone

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 we know or love, or even ourselves, we're going through a sickness. We're like, God, why?

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 Why do I have this? And somehow, we've misread the Bible. Somehow, we've misinterpreted, and we think

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 God is invested only, exclusively, in our health and wealth and comfort on this side of heaven.

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 But if we read it properly, we'll realize that is actually not the case. If I look at my own life,

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 people tell me that, okay, well, I can tell you, I'm 39 years old. Some people are shocked by that.

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 They're like, oh, I thought you were much older. And they say it in such a kind way, like they're

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 complimenting me, and as my heart just continues to cry, as they tell me that, I was like, I think it's

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 because I'm a tired 39-year-old. I've experienced different things that, again, it's all relative

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 in some ways. But I've experienced things that have maybe fast-tracked me on the journey of aging.

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 It does that to you when you lose your father at 17. It does that to you when shortly after,

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 you have to explain to his parents that they've lost their son. And then I'm actually not telling

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 them at all. Losing your hair at 25 does that to you. I still remember the day as a teacher,

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 I was walking down the stairs in the school with my colleagues behind me at 25, still just,

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 literally, I think, prime James 25, prime James, like NBA. That was the year I would have been

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 drafted were it not for my hair loss. And I'm walking down the stairs, and my colleague behind me

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 shouts, I go, James, you're losing hair. And if you knew how vain I was, oh my goodness,

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:11.979
 my whole world came crashing down in that moment because there was something happening at the top

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 that I couldn't control. And trust me, I tried. When you have that, it happens to you. You start

00:16:19.739 --> 00:16:24.599
 aging and you start realizing, oh, life is not that easy. It happens to you when you end up in hospital

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 yourself. Me, stayed there for a month not eating anything. And then fast forward when I have kids,

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 one of my children, at the moment they are born into this world, need operation. We stay in the

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 hospital for a whole month. And I've told you these stories before. And I sit on them now, and I'm like,

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 oh, these were such precious stories. And these are times that I would never, ever swap and take away

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 because those were the times that I felt the most human. Those were the times that I grew the most.

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 Suffering does that to you. And C.S. Lewis says this, he, God whispers to us in our pleasures,

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 speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

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 I have no cheap answers for you why you're suffering. I don't have that. If I did,

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 you shouldn't believe me because I'd be pretending to be God and I'm not. But I will say this,

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 I look at this book and I see Jesus promises many things. And one of those things is John 16,

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 33, he says, in this world, you will have trouble. You will. But take heart for I have overcome the

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 world. Peter in 1 Peter 4 says, don't be surprised when you're facing fiery trials because that's how

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 you're going to grow. The apostle James in chapter one says, count these trials, these various different

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:47.019
 trials and basically face them with joy because they're going to be the thing that molds you.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:55.180
 resistance, suffering. What is Uday doing when he's going into the gym? He's causing his body,

00:17:55.299 --> 00:18:00.539
 his muscle fibers to suffer, to break, as I said last week, so I think he can come back stronger.

00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:09.299
 Life is the gym that we're in and God is using that. And maybe the most famous passage of all

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:14.599
 about this that you see on Fridge Magnus all the time is Romans chapter eight, verse 28.

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:21.039
 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:26.179
 according to his purpose. Have you heard that passage before? People look at you when things

00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:32.859
 are going bad and say, don't worry, God will use all things for good. I want us to dive into this

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:36.619
 passage because I think we're missing a part of that. I think we actually are misunderstanding what

00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:40.459
 that passage actually means. And we take it and we think, God, everything should be good.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:44.400
 When actually that is really not the case. I'm going to invite you. We're going to look at,

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:48.759
 we're going to fly through the, the, be at the preceding verses in chapter eight. And I think

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:52.759
 we'll get a better idea of why God allows suffering. Can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord?

00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:57.480
 I'm going to ask Queenie, senior counsel Queenie to read us Romans chapter eight, verse 18 to 30.

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.819
 Thanks.

00:18:58.819 --> 00:19:04.679
 Romans chapter eight, verses 18 to 30.

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:12.099
 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is

00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:18.720
 to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

00:19:19.419 --> 00:19:25.639
 For the creation was subjected to fertility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it,

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:32.640
 in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:38.960
 of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:46.380
 in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:53.800
 fruits of the spirit grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

00:19:53.799 --> 00:20:02.079
 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:06.720
 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:14.200
 Likewise, the spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:19.619
 but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:27.419
 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit, because the spirit intercedes for the saints

00:20:27.419 --> 00:20:35.259
 according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good.

00:20:35.739 --> 00:20:43.179
 For those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be

00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:49.200
 conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:56.060
 And those who he predestined, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified.

00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:00.360
 And those whom he justified, he also glorified.

00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:04.199
 This is the word of the Lord. Thank you, Queenie.

00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.159
 Now take a seat.

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:14.619
 Maybe before I jump into this passage, as I said, I know that all of us have got some kind of suffering in our lives,

00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:17.179
 whether it's in our own lives or whether it's someone that we know.

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:23.439
 Why don't we just, as I go through this passage, I invite you to have those things in mind, those people in mind.

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:28.420
 And it's not to explain those things away necessarily, but it's going, God, why is this here?

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.660
 And what are you trying to show? And what are you trying to do?

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:33.680
 That's really the purpose of it. So that fridge magnet passage,

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:36.200
 and we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good.

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:39.940
 You sit there and you think, okay, that is Bob Marley singing three little birds over me.

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:43.080
 That is saying, don't worry, be happy. Every little thing is going to be all right.

00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:45.460
 And is that it? Is that all it is?

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:48.799
 That is just this blind faith and hope that when we are faced with cancer,

00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:50.740
 when we are seeing all these things happening in the world,

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:54.980
 we just close our eyes and just don't worry, be happy, because every little thing is going to be all right.

00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:59.519
 Is that all we're doing? Is that how we as Christians should face suffering?

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.859
 And the answer is no, there is so much more to it.

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:04.099
 We need to first understand why the suffering comes about.

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:06.420
 And that's why Romans 8, we have to take the whole passage,

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:09.420
 because if we just take verse 28, then yes, let the good times roll.

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:12.900
 But sadly, you and I know the good times don't always roll.

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.420
 In fact, they rarely ever come.

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:18.900
 Highlights are highlights for a reason, because there's a whole nother life,

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:21.140
 there's a whole nother real that you don't want to show,

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:23.920
 that there is so much suffering that is going on in your own life,

00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:26.220
 in your own mind, in your own heart, and in your own families,

00:22:26.300 --> 00:22:28.200
 and in your own workplace, and in your own world.

00:22:28.560 --> 00:22:30.940
 So we look at this, and we look at Romans 8, and we see it from the beginning.

00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:34.140
 He says, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:37.420
 If you go down a little bit, verse 6, this is all setting the scene.

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:41.220
 Of course, this whole chapter is just majestic and covers so much here.

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:43.640
 But maybe the first one that I want to point out is verse 6.

00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:48.019
 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace.

00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:52.579
 The reason why we have suffering, the reason why we have these things that are not flourishing,

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:56.759
 life that is not flourishing, is because we as a creation, we as human beings,

00:22:56.940 --> 00:23:00.599
 we didn't do what God created us to do, which was to basically glorify Him.

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:03.160
 We were made in His image, that we would glorify Him,

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:05.420
 and cause basically a whole creation to flourish.

00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.420
 We didn't do that.

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:08.119
 We set our minds on ourselves.

00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:13.759
 When we set our minds on ourselves, when we make decisions that are based on our own preferences,

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:18.940
 flesh, we end up leading down a path that ultimately leads to death.

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:24.079
 That is, that He's setting the scene here as to what we're actually doing and why we feel this way.

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.559
 So if you go down, verse 12,

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:29.960
 So then, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.960
 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:35.559
 But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:40.919
 So He's saying, okay, we, you and I, we set our minds on the flesh.

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:42.940
 That leads us down a path of destruction.

00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:43.700
 It is not good.

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:47.799
 Creation, the world, is basically caving in on itself.

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:50.740
 You look at just the temperatures that we're all experiencing in Asia,

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.000
 you're like, oh, this world is changing.

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:56.299
 Because we have basically had our own desires as priority.

00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:58.539
 And then He says, we are all debtors.

00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.399
 We are all debtors.

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.519
 Romans 3 talks about this.

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:02.240
 We are all fall short of the glory of God.

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:05.599
 Romans 5 says, we are still sinners, but yet while we are still sinners,

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.640
 He died for us.

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:10.539
 And so then He launches His rescue mission is what He's saying here.

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.900
 And 18 to 22,

00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:15.920
 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.740
 with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:21.620
 So He looks and He considers and He calculates these sufferings.

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:24.259
 And He says, okay, these sufferings are significant,

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:28.480
 but they're nothing compared to the eternal weight of glory.

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.380
 What awaits us in heaven is something that will far outweigh this.

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.360
 Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 4,

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:36.480
 where he says, actually, this whole world is wasting away.

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.000
 Our bodies are wasting away.

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:41.380
 But we take heart because these light momentary afflictions are nothing

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:44.480
 when compared to the eternal weight of glory.

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:46.980
 The sufferings that we're going through are like a feather

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:50.339
 when compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits us.

00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:52.980
 That's why we do not lose heart.

00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.920
 So you see this.

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.460
 For the creation, verse 19,

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:58.779
 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.500
 Creation itself, all of us,

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:04.700
 we're all just groaning and waiting for us as children of God

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.340
 to realize who we actually are.

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:09.059
 Do you know those epic Hollywood movies

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.920
 where you've got someone who was an orphan,

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.980
 and then they fight, and there's battles,

00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:15.480
 and there's a story that they have to kind of follow through

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.680
 because it's a two-hour movie,

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.240
 and then eventually you get to the end,

00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.600
 and they realize who they are,

00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:26.419
 and they're revealed as basically the son of the Most High.

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:30.079
 All creation is waiting for that,

00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:32.139
 for the creation was subject to futility.

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.439
 Why?

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.759
 Because of our own decisions,

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.779
 because we chose the flesh,

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.259
 but because of him who subjected it

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:38.179
 in hope that the creation itself will be set free.

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.219
 That's God's plan.

00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:40.480
 That's God's plan.

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.339
 The creation itself will be set free,

00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:43.679
 that there will be no more suffering,

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.000
 there will be no more bondage,

00:25:45.199 --> 00:25:46.019
 no more corruption,

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:48.279
 and we will all have the freedom of the glory

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.299
 of the children of God.

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:52.039
 Verse 22, this was especially applicable

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:54.960
 to Joe and my family this week,

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:56.220
 for we know that the whole creation

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.160
 has been growing together

00:25:57.160 --> 00:26:00.400
 in the pains of childbirth until now.

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:05.759
 Those who have given birth to a child

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.619
 will know there is utmost pain,

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:10.980
 there is almost just anguish.

00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:15.000
 Really, that's the stage that we're in right now,

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:17.539
 as humanity in this world.

00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.319
 We're just waiting,

00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:18.940
 we're just groaning,

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:22.059
 God, can you just reveal yourself?

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.980
 Just like a mother would say,

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:26.339
 baby, can you just reveal yourself?

00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:28.519
 And of course, the beauty and the joy is,

00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.960
 the sorrow is followed very quickly by joy.

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.619
 I've been told,

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.839
 I've been told,

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.359
 not first-hand experience,

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:38.539
 that after all the pain of childbirth,

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.559
 once you see the baby,

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.440
 for some reason,

00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:42.279
 the pain and the memory of the pain

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.500
 just disappears,

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.920
 is what I'm told.

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.539
 But I guess it's the same here,

00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.380
 we're just waiting.

00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:50.000
 We're waiting.

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.339
 In pain, as we look around,

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:53.380
 if you look at the news

00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:55.640
 and you have a soft heart,

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.160
 you'll be like,

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.759
 this world is just falling apart.

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.539
 The stories that we hear,

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:02.099
 again, we only read them as news articles

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:04.299
 and titles and subtitles and that's it,

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.500
 but these are all real stories

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:07.240
 of real people going through real suffering.

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:10.740
 Our hearts should break for these things.

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:13.019
 creation is waiting and groaning

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.519
 like childbirth

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:16.099
 until the moment God

00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:18.339
 basically deals with it all.

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.120
 Verse later,

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.240
 verse 26,

00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.140
 likewise,

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.480
 the Spirit helps us in our weakness,

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.720
 for we do not know what to pray for

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.079
 as we all,

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.900
 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:27.380
 with groanings too deep for words.

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:29.000
 And he who searches hearts

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.640
 knows what is in the mind of the Spirit,

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:32.180
 because the Spirit intercedes for the saints

00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:33.700
 according to the will of God.

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.720
 So he's saying,

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.940
 we chose flesh.

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.240
 It leads us to death.

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.759
 We are now debtors.

00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:40.559
 Because of that,

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:42.039
 creation itself is groaning

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:43.299
 and waiting for God

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.779
 to reveal himself again.

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.779
 And now the Spirit knows

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.400
 we don't know what we really want.

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.960
 The Spirit knows

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.360
 that we can't help ourselves

00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:51.880
 in some ways,

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:53.420
 so the Spirit intercedes for us

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.299
 and prays for us

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.640
 because he knows what we want

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:57.980
 and because he searches

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.799
 our hearts and minds.

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:01.000
 It's only after all that context

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.140
 do we get verse 28.

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:04.420
 And we know

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:06.060
 that in all things,

00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:07.500
 God works for the good

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.200
 of those who love him

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.340
 according to his purpose.

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.800
 Can you see that the context there

00:28:10.800 --> 00:28:11.740
 is so much more

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.860
 than just that one passage?

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:15.040
 Oh, God wants me to be well.

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.200
 It is way more than that.

00:28:17.820 --> 00:28:18.600
 The project,

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.340
 the rescue mission

00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:20.240
 is so much bigger

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.500
 than just you being happy

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:23.480
 in life in this season

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.259
 with your job.

00:28:25.780 --> 00:28:26.600
 So much bigger.

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.980
 And what does it actually mean

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.200
 then if we go through that

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.800
 a little bit,

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:32.759
 just word by word almost,

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.059
 verse 28,

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.839
 and we know that

00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:36.740
 for those who love God,

00:28:37.399 --> 00:28:38.919
 this tells me one thing,

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.799
 that actually this promise

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.500
 isn't for everyone.

00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:42.159
 This promise is for those

00:28:42.159 --> 00:28:43.299
 who actually love God,

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.379
 who choose to trust him,

00:28:44.419 --> 00:28:45.299
 who choose to follow him,

00:28:45.659 --> 00:28:47.139
 who don't have their identity

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:49.220
 set in this side of eternity.

00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.240
 It's not for everyone.

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:51.960
 Why?

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.879
 Because it's for those

00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.879
 who actually understand

00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:54.680
 that their security

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.879
 is not on earth,

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.539
 their security

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.859
 is in heaven.

00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:59.259
 It's those who have

00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.219
 had a new perspective,

00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.240
 those who have decided,

00:29:01.399 --> 00:29:02.299
 I'm not going to choose

00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:02.639
 the flesh,

00:29:02.719 --> 00:29:03.439
 I'm going to allow

00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:04.659
 the spirit to guide me

00:29:04.659 --> 00:29:05.979
 for those who are led

00:29:05.979 --> 00:29:07.359
 by the spirit of God,

00:29:07.459 --> 00:29:08.179
 our sons of God.

00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.359
 It's for those people,

00:29:09.439 --> 00:29:10.139
 it's for those who have

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.740
 actively,

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.939
 intentionally chosen

00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:12.240
 and say,

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.559
 Jesus,

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.679
 I trust you.

00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:16.859
 My comfort,

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.339
 my destination is in heaven

00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:20.079
 and isn't in the things

00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.700
 of this world.

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.000
 It's for those people.

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.679
 So before we take this verse

00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:24.960
 and go,

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.279
 hey, well,

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.359
 God wants me to be happy,

00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.559
 that's not what it's saying.

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.319
 It's for those,

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:29.679
 for those who love him,

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.399
 who trust him.

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.899
 All things work together

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.579
 for good.

00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:34.700
 Again,

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.359
 quick things here.

00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.319
 He does not say

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.200
 all things are good.

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.220
 That is not what he's saying.

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:42.660
 He's saying he will use

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.860
 all things for good.

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.460
 That's the difference.

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:47.440
 You look at Genesis chapter 50

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:49.059
 when Joseph was sold

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.900
 by his brothers

00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.460
 into slavery

00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.660
 and he goes through this life

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.220
 and he's in prison

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.980
 for many, many years

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.799
 and he comes out

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.960
 and finally he has the moment

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.900
 where he can basically

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.539
 take revenge

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.559
 and what does he say?

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.900
 Hey, it's okay.

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.360
 What you meant for evil,

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.440
 God turned for good.

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.339
 All the bad things

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.420
 that happen in our lives,

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.120
 all the prevailing darkness

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:08.019
 that we're surrounded by,

00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:10.200
 God will turn for good.

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.920
 We have to recognize

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.799
 that when you look

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.420
 at the news

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:13.920
 or when you look

00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.360
 at your life

00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.059
 and things that are

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.740
 not going well

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.160
 and you're like,

00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:18.019
 man, that really sucks.

00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.319
 Why?

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:20.079
 Because Ephesians 2 explains it.

00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:20.279
 It says,

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:21.240
 and actually currently,

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.720
 the power of force

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.839
 in this world right now

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.299
 is the spirit of disobedience.

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.180
 Darkness is ruling.

00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.220
 There is a prince

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.799
 of this world

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.079
 that is causing people

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.059
 to go astray.

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.660
 So don't be surprised

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:33.160
 at that.

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.039
 These trials are coming.

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.160
 Don't be shocked

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.000
 when bad things

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.720
 are happening.

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:40.920
 God will turn it

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.480
 for good.

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.120
 He is in control

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:43.759
 of all things.

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.740
 You might be sat there

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.039
 going, okay,

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.660
 I've gone through

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.680
 some really tough things.

00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:47.740
 James, actually,

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.440
 there are some things

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.200
 that I'm going through

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.880
 right now.

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.259
 There are thoughts

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.860
 that I'm thinking

00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.640
 right now

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:54.160
 that would terrify you

00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.559
 if you got to read my mind.

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.500
 Surely God cannot use

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.140
 those things.

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.779
 And I'm here to say,

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.360
 respectfully,

00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.640
 I disagree.

00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:04.900
 God isn't afraid

00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.900
 of those deepest

00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.700
 darkest corners

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.420
 that you have.

00:31:08.300 --> 00:31:08.740
 In fact,

00:31:09.040 --> 00:31:09.780
 those moments

00:31:09.780 --> 00:31:10.600
 where you are walking

00:31:10.600 --> 00:31:11.360
 through the valley,

00:31:12.360 --> 00:31:13.820
 he is still with you.

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.900
 And actually,

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.460
 those moments

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.100
 he will use.

00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.500
 He will use

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.320
 for good.

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.340
 And again,

00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:20.880
 what's good?

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.220
 The good isn't

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:23.640
 that you get

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.280
 the perfect job

00:31:24.280 --> 00:31:24.980
 and the perfect life

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.380
 that you have.

00:31:25.560 --> 00:31:26.759
 There is a present good,

00:31:27.040 --> 00:31:27.740
 but there is this

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.980
 already but not yet

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.860
 dynamic when it comes

00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.220
 to the kingdom

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.540
 of heaven

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:32.099
 whereas it is going

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.039
 to be good here.

00:31:33.139 --> 00:31:33.619
 You will live

00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.680
 an abundant life here,

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.759
 but you will also

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.539
 have one

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.839
 that comes in eternity.

00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.139
 Something far bigger.

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.099
 Something much better.

00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.980
 That's what is good.

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.859
 There is an eternal good.

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:45.339
 Now,

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.899
 it carries on.

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.220
 Actually,

00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:47.460
 it's for those of us

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:47.859
 who are really

00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.460
 just wanting God

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:48.940
 just to kind of

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.539
 give us our wishes

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.019
 and grant us

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.420
 what we want.

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.139
 Actually,

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.879
 it just gets worse

00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:52.440
 and worse for you.

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.099
 So it carries on.

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.159
 And we know

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.700
 that for those

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.159
 who love God,

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.980
 all things work together

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.440
 for good.

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.720
 For those who are called

00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.059
 according to his

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.980
 purpose.

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.879
 So it's good

00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.960
 according to his

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.440
 purpose for your life.

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:08.000
 It's not what you

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.819
 want for your life.

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.619
 That's the difference.

00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:11.740
 I think that's why

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.440
 when we come at

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.259
 the topic of suffering,

00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:14.200
 we are coming at it

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.179
 from our own perspective.

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.720
 We're coming at it

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.799
 from what do I want

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.059
 to do?

00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:17.980
 What do I think

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.399
 is fair?

00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.200
 What do I think

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.559
 is good?

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.440
 And God's saying,

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:20.839
 no, no, no.

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:21.779
 Love me.

00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:22.319
 Trust me.

00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.059
 Follow me.

00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.099
 I will mold

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.859
 all these things

00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.359
 that are happening,

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.759
 even something like cancer,

00:32:27.399 --> 00:32:28.319
 and I will mold it

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.240
 and I will use it

00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:29.859
 for good

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:31.439
 according to my purpose.

00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.099
 So ultimately,

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.059
 what is his purpose?

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:33.839
 I think his purpose

00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.859
 is to liberate

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.539
 all of creation,

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.460
 to allow creation

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.659
 to flourish once again.

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.720
 That is why

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.339
 he is here.

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.539
 That is why

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:42.519
 he is coming back again,

00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.419
 to wipe away

00:32:43.419 --> 00:32:43.859
 every tear,

00:32:43.919 --> 00:32:45.179
 to remove every pain,

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.220
 to remove every sickness,

00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:47.339
 to even remove

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.439
 death itself.

00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:49.319
 And how is he going

00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:49.799
 to do that?

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.039
 And how is he going

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:51.339
 to do that?

00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:52.039
 And that's where

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:53.099
 the final pie is

00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:54.279
 because another temptation

00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:54.779
 when we're reading

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.599
 scripture is we take

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.159
 verse 28.

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.740
 We love it.

00:32:56.939 --> 00:32:57.959
 God, you're invested

00:32:57.959 --> 00:32:58.599
 in my happiness

00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:58.959
 so you're going

00:32:58.959 --> 00:32:59.419
 to turn everything

00:32:59.419 --> 00:32:59.819
 for good.

00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:00.699
 Great things.

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.819
 I'll be happy

00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.719
 and I won't worry

00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.619
 because every little thing

00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.819
 is going to be all right.

00:33:04.959 --> 00:33:05.980
 And then it carries on.

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.619
 There's a verse 29.

00:33:08.219 --> 00:33:09.039
 So just when you thought,

00:33:09.199 --> 00:33:09.619
 okay, well,

00:33:09.659 --> 00:33:10.339
 maybe that's it.

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:11.139
 Maybe God is going

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.639
 to be just purposely

00:33:12.639 --> 00:33:13.599
 involved in my,

00:33:13.719 --> 00:33:14.480
 invested in my happiness.

00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.139
 He says this,

00:33:15.399 --> 00:33:16.500
 for those whom he foreknew,

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.659
 he also predestined

00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.539
 to be conformed,

00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:19.619
 conformed,

00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:21.719
 conformed to the image

00:33:21.719 --> 00:33:22.199
 of his son

00:33:22.199 --> 00:33:23.279
 in order that he might

00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:23.980
 be the firstborn

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.719
 among many brothers

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.920
 and those whom he predestined,

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.640
 he also called

00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.920
 and those whom he called,

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.700
 he also justified

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:30.120
 and those whom he justified,

00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:31.079
 he also glorified.

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.500
 I get it.

00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.180
 When you read that,

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.319
 that second bit,

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:37.680
 that is utter Christianese.

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.819
 If you've grown up

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.380
 in the church,

00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.720
 you're like justified,

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:42.360
 sanctified, glorified.

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:43.680
 I get it.

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.319
 These are all great,

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:44.839
 great words.

00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.860
 Something's happening to me.

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.220
 God's purpose.

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.920
 How is God going

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:52.980
 to liberate creation?

00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.579
 How is he going

00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.319
 to allow creation

00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:54.859
 to flourish?

00:33:55.419 --> 00:33:56.439
 He's going to conform

00:33:56.439 --> 00:33:57.500
 you and I

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:59.139
 to look like Jesus.

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.299
 We are going to be

00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:02.079
 the agents

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.799
 of that liberation.

00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.559
 And he's going

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.519
 to use suffering

00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:08.079
 to mold us,

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.880
 to conform us,

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.699
 to look like Jesus.

00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.679
 I don't know about you,

00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:13.340
 but that gives me

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:13.940
 some comfort,

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.059
 but that gives me

00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:15.500
 more terror.

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.199
 I'm just like,

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.400
 I don't want

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.579
 to be conformed.

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:21.860
 I don't want

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:23.420
 to go through

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.039
 this hardship.

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.000
 There's a video

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.139
 that I saw many years ago

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:27.519
 by a Christian comedian

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.099
 who was kind of like,

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.659
 it was a video

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:30.319
 of him being

00:34:30.319 --> 00:34:30.659
 like,

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.699
 imaginary chiseled

00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.199
 away,

00:34:32.319 --> 00:34:33.819
 just like a sculpture.

00:34:34.299 --> 00:34:34.900
 And God's just

00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.599
 going around him,

00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:36.199
 just basically,

00:34:36.319 --> 00:34:37.619
 just going at him.

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.579
 And the pain

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.179
 that that would cause,

00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:39.759
 but ultimately,

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:41.099
 a beautiful sculpture

00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.719
 was created.

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:43.360
 That's what God's

00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:43.920
 trying to do,

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:45.720
 even through the suffering,

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:47.039
 to conform us

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.579
 to the image

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.039
 of his son.

00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:49.099
 Because if we can

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.760
 look like his son,

00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.360
 then we go back

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:51.460
 to Genesis 1.26,

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.460
 we will look like him.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.139
 We will be made

00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.360
 in their image

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.579
 and then creation

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:56.079
 will flourish.

00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:56.920
 Those around us

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.320
 will flourish

00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.940
 because we look

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.400
 like Jesus,

00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.079
 because whatever

00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.680
 he touches,

00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:01.099
 wherever he goes,

00:35:01.700 --> 00:35:02.559
 people are liberated.

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.300
 People are healed.

00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:05.860
 That's what he's

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.440
 trying to do.

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:09.200
 That takes a bit

00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:10.260
 of time for my mind

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:10.760
 sometimes.

00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:11.740
 When bad things

00:35:11.740 --> 00:35:12.340
 happen to me,

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:12.760
 like God,

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.639
 why would you allow

00:35:13.639 --> 00:35:14.699
 me to go through this?

00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.859
 And he'll tell me,

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.500
 James,

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.079
 you don't see

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.699
 what I see

00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:19.319
 in your life.

00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:20.779
 You want me

00:35:20.779 --> 00:35:21.779
 to make this year

00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.500
 good for you.

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.900
 But I want to prepare

00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:25.839
 you for eternity.

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.539
 So I'm going to use

00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.179
 all these things

00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:29.000
 and this is going

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.920
 to be short-term pain.

00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:30.519
 I get it.

00:35:30.799 --> 00:35:31.480
 It's going to be hard.

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.500
 Every parent knows this.

00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.699
 It's going to be hard,

00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.159
 but you're going to

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.079
 have to go through this

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:36.639
 because it will prepare you.

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.420
 It will mold you

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.599
 for what is to come.

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.440
 C.S. Lewis says this,

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.460
 God isn't a grandfather.

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:44.720
 He is a father in heaven.

00:35:44.820 --> 00:35:45.699
 He is not your grandfather

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:46.400
 in heaven.

00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:47.400
 I have a few friends

00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:48.599
 who have the joy

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.559
 of just being grandparents

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.659
 and they told me

00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:51.440
 and I love the way,

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.440
 I just love hearing

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.679
 grandparents talk about this

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:54.740
 and actually I hear

00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:55.579
 Vincent talk about,

00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.340
 talk like this

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.159
 all the time

00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:57.900
 when it comes to EJ

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.679
 and what he feeds her.

00:35:59.400 --> 00:35:59.920
 He's like,

00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:01.039
 I'm not the parent,

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.240
 I'm the grandparent.

00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.559
 My job is just

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.179
 to spoil them.

00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:05.039
 Whatever you want,

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.480
 ice cream at nine o'clock,

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:06.840
 sure.

00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:09.199
 You can't sleep,

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.000
 not my problem.

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:12.019
 I am your grandfather

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.679
 because I am here

00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:14.519
 just to shower you

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.980
 with whatever you want

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:18.039
 and that's it.

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.619
 You can be naughty,

00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.340
 you can be naughty,

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:20.360
 you can climb a pad,

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:20.659
 sure.

00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:24.820
 That's what grandparents do.

00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.420
 Well, maybe especially

00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.239
 Western grandparents,

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.139
 Chinese ones maybe,

00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:28.679
 less so.

00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:31.679
 But God isn't a grandparent.

00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:33.460
 God is a father.

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.320
 God is a father

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:36.440
 who does allow

00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.719
 for suffering to happen

00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.899
 because he's using it

00:36:38.899 --> 00:36:39.419
 for a purpose

00:36:39.419 --> 00:36:40.199
 to prepare you,

00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:40.899
 to mold you,

00:36:41.139 --> 00:36:41.799
 to conform you

00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:43.000
 to the image of Jesus.

00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:45.859
 That's why he's allowing

00:36:45.859 --> 00:36:46.699
 these things to happen.

00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:50.039
 And so we need to get over

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:50.599
 that mindset

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.299
 that God is here

00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:53.099
 just for my comfort

00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:54.500
 and my health and wealth

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.339
 right now.

00:36:56.959 --> 00:36:57.659
 Because then

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:58.919
 he can really

00:36:58.919 --> 00:36:59.899
 just fulfill his purpose

00:36:59.899 --> 00:37:00.299
 through us

00:37:00.299 --> 00:37:01.779
 once we surrender

00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:02.579
 that.

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:04.399
 His goal is to make us

00:37:04.399 --> 00:37:05.279
 more like Jesus.

00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.280
 So that's really

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:08.120
 the final part.

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.120
 Does God care

00:37:09.120 --> 00:37:09.800
 about my suffering?

00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:11.640
 The answer is yes.

00:37:12.660 --> 00:37:13.640
 How do you know

00:37:13.640 --> 00:37:14.760
 he cares about your suffering?

00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.920
 Because this is a God

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:17.780
 that launches

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.600
 a rescue mission

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:19.460
 for creation.

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.820
 Knowing that it is

00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:21.320
 in bondage,

00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:22.360
 knowing that it is groaning

00:37:22.360 --> 00:37:23.700
 and his mission

00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:25.360
 is Jesus.

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:27.420
 And who is Jesus?

00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:28.760
 He is the suffering servant

00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:29.420
 as it says

00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:30.720
 in Isaiah 53.

00:37:31.040 --> 00:37:32.040
 When you ask,

00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:32.840
 does God care

00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:33.580
 about my suffering?

00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:35.040
 And you just need

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:35.639
 to look to Jesus

00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.000
 and go,

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:37.179
 he does care

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.779
 about my suffering

00:37:37.779 --> 00:37:38.679
 because he's right there

00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:39.139
 with me

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:41.320
 in my suffering.

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.400
 You look at the scars

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.400
 on Jesus' hands

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.159
 and you realize

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:46.279
 he cares just as much

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:47.099
 about the sickness

00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.960
 that's around you

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:49.199
 as you do.

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:50.719
 That's why he came

00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:52.199
 to redeem creation.

00:37:52.759 --> 00:37:53.840
 That's why he's here.

00:37:54.259 --> 00:37:54.960
 And those of us

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.579
 who have gone through

00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.320
 some deep,

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.400
 sharp suffering

00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:57.820
 will know

00:37:57.820 --> 00:37:59.000
 those are the moments

00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.599
 when you feel

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:00.759
 the closest to Jesus

00:38:00.759 --> 00:38:03.279
 because you know

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:04.219
 that he is right there

00:38:04.219 --> 00:38:04.899
 with you.

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.839
 You see that Jesus

00:38:05.839 --> 00:38:06.539
 weeps

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:08.199
 in John 11

00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:09.459
 when his friends die.

00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:10.779
 And he weeps

00:38:10.779 --> 00:38:11.759
 and I've said this before,

00:38:11.859 --> 00:38:13.019
 it's just the most weird

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:14.939
 scenario,

00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:16.000
 event that happens

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:16.339
 for me

00:38:16.339 --> 00:38:17.099
 because Jesus

00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:17.719
 is just about

00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:18.500
 to blow the minds

00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.159
 of all the people

00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:19.679
 in that room

00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:21.819
 because he's going

00:38:21.819 --> 00:38:22.480
 to bring Lazarus

00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.139
 back to life.

00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:25.480
 So why would he cry?

00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:27.159
 And it says it three times

00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:28.279
 and he's deeply distressed

00:38:28.279 --> 00:38:28.859
 and he's moved.

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:30.059
 Why does he cry?

00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:32.000
 He cries because I think,

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.960
 because he's upset,

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.679
 because he's angry,

00:38:33.780 --> 00:38:34.599
 because this is not

00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:35.679
 how it's supposed to be,

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:36.780
 because he's angry

00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:37.420
 at the suffering

00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:38.179
 because it wasn't

00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:39.099
 what was designed.

00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:40.480
 Yet we as mankind

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:41.780
 chose to set our minds

00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.699
 on the things of the flesh

00:38:42.699 --> 00:38:43.380
 and it leads down

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:43.860
 to this death

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:44.940
 and he hates it

00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:46.260
 and he hates the suffering

00:38:46.260 --> 00:38:46.920
 that we're going through

00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:48.219
 and he hates the suffering

00:38:48.219 --> 00:38:49.019
 that is surrounding

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:49.519
 in this world.

00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.960
 That is why he came back

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:51.760
 into the world

00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:52.739
 to save it.

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:54.960
 So,

00:38:55.739 --> 00:38:57.539
 for me,

00:38:57.780 --> 00:38:58.940
 that's why suffering,

00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.679
 if anything,

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.300
 reminds me that God

00:39:01.300 --> 00:39:02.019
 is very real.

00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.539
 It doesn't disprove

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.220
 God's existence

00:39:04.220 --> 00:39:05.720
 for me at all.

00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.059
 Why?

00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:07.480
 Because of Jesus.

00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.820
 Paul Tripp says this,

00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.380
 when you suffer,

00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.480
 you realize you aren't alone.

00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:11.639
 Jesus didn't come

00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.780
 to explain away pain

00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:13.320
 or remove it.

00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:14.440
 He came to fill it

00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.820
 with his presence.

00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:18.240
 John Stott says this,

00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:19.320
 I could never myself

00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:20.059
 believe in God

00:39:20.059 --> 00:39:21.159
 if it were not for the cross.

00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:22.579
 In the real world of pain,

00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:23.539
 how could one worship

00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.579
 a God who was immune

00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:25.500
 to it?

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:27.480
 We realize that in Jesus,

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:29.500
 he is not a far away God

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.059
 who doesn't care

00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:30.740
 about your suffering,

00:39:30.840 --> 00:39:31.980
 that he is right there

00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:33.119
 with you,

00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:35.000
 weeping with you,

00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:37.320
 lamenting with you.

00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:38.420
 I want to encourage you

00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:38.920
 with that.

00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.920
 If you're going through suffering,

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:40.860
 if you're seeing a loved one

00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.500
 going through suffering

00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:41.960
 right now,

00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:43.320
 just the image

00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:44.719
 that this God is close

00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:46.559
 with scars on his hands,

00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:47.460
 having dealt

00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:49.059
 with the very thing

00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:50.079
 that we are just

00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:50.980
 so angry,

00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:51.579
 so upset,

00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:53.240
 so worried about.

00:39:53.239 --> 00:39:56.259
 Look at the scars

00:39:56.259 --> 00:39:56.919
 on his hands

00:39:56.919 --> 00:39:57.579
 and feet

00:39:57.579 --> 00:39:58.339
 and you see

00:39:58.339 --> 00:40:00.159
 that he dealt with it

00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:00.919
 once and for all.

00:40:02.419 --> 00:40:03.819
 That's why 1 Thessalonians 4,

00:40:03.879 --> 00:40:04.119
 it says,

00:40:04.279 --> 00:40:04.839
 we as Christians,

00:40:04.959 --> 00:40:05.719
 we don't grieve

00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.639
 as those who have no hope.

00:40:06.699 --> 00:40:07.719
 We can still grieve

00:40:07.719 --> 00:40:08.979
 and we talked about this,

00:40:08.979 --> 00:40:09.659
 I remember talking about this

00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.259
 with Queenie.

00:40:11.179 --> 00:40:12.879
 But we grieve

00:40:12.879 --> 00:40:14.019
 with hope.

00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.959
 We feel the loss

00:40:16.959 --> 00:40:17.679
 of the things

00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:18.239
 that we love

00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:19.199
 but we grieve

00:40:19.199 --> 00:40:20.019
 with hope

00:40:20.019 --> 00:40:21.099
 because we know

00:40:21.099 --> 00:40:22.379
 that actually he came

00:40:22.380 --> 00:40:23.760
 and that he will come again

00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:24.640
 and he will wipe away

00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:25.180
 every tear.

00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:27.099
 I think that's what

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.780
 we're supposed to do

00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:29.019
 when we go and meet people

00:40:29.019 --> 00:40:30.260
 who are suffering.

00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:32.260
 We sit there,

00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:33.000
 we bring the tissues

00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:33.880
 and we wipe their tears

00:40:33.880 --> 00:40:34.740
 and we wipe our tears

00:40:34.740 --> 00:40:35.059
 and we go,

00:40:35.140 --> 00:40:35.599
 this sucks,

00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:36.840
 I am with you.

00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:38.059
 This sucks.

00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.539
 But I want to tell you

00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:42.200
 about the creator

00:40:42.200 --> 00:40:42.680
 who launched

00:40:42.680 --> 00:40:43.760
 this rescue mission for us.

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:45.180
 I want to tell you

00:40:45.180 --> 00:40:46.039
 why there is still hope

00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.180
 and it might not be

00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:48.019
 on this side of heaven.

00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:49.760
 We need to redefine

00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:50.519
 in our minds

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.960
 what a good life is.

00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.920
 What is good?

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.660
 What is success?

00:40:55.200 --> 00:40:55.840
 You look at it

00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:57.180
 from the vantage point

00:40:57.180 --> 00:40:57.519
 of God

00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:58.079
 and you realize

00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:58.760
 he is interested

00:40:58.760 --> 00:41:00.440
 in far much more.

00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:01.740
 But how can he

00:41:01.740 --> 00:41:02.720
 who didn't spare

00:41:02.720 --> 00:41:03.360
 his own son

00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:04.500
 not graciously give us

00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:05.079
 all that we need?

00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:07.240
 That's what happens

00:41:07.240 --> 00:41:08.800
 later in Romans 8.

00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:09.539
 He said,

00:41:09.640 --> 00:41:10.740
 despite all this suffering

00:41:10.740 --> 00:41:13.140
 we hold on to hope.

00:41:13.200 --> 00:41:13.340
 Why?

00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:14.240
 Because God is for us.

00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:14.940
 He's not against us.

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:15.599
 He's with us.

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:17.280
 And he gave us his son.

00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:18.079
 So why do you think

00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:18.860
 he's holding out

00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:19.680
 on you

00:41:19.680 --> 00:41:21.059
 regarding that promotion?

00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:23.779
 He gave you his son.

00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:25.820
 Would you stop worrying?

00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:28.779
 His rescue mission

00:41:28.779 --> 00:41:29.820
 was to bring us back

00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:30.840
 to be connected

00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:32.219
 with him.

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.239
 And he is coming

00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:35.079
 to restore

00:41:35.079 --> 00:41:36.119
 all things

00:41:36.119 --> 00:41:36.860
 and he will bring

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.539
 to completion

00:41:37.539 --> 00:41:38.219
 what he started.

00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:39.119
 Can we take

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:39.799
 that suffering

00:41:39.799 --> 00:41:40.420
 to him

00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.659
 and have joy

00:41:41.659 --> 00:41:42.420
 and have faith?

00:41:42.420 --> 00:41:44.980
 but can we also

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:46.460
 stand beside

00:41:46.460 --> 00:41:47.139
 those who are

00:41:47.139 --> 00:41:47.639
 really,

00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:48.579
 really suffering?

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:51.700
 Can we be

00:41:51.700 --> 00:41:52.240
 like Jesus

00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:53.220
 to them?

00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:55.099
 N.T. Wright

00:41:55.099 --> 00:41:55.480
 says this

00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:55.920
 and this is where

00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.280
 I'll finish.

00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:57.760
 The question isn't

00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.680
 why is there suffering

00:41:58.680 --> 00:42:00.180
 and what is God

00:42:00.180 --> 00:42:00.880
 doing about it?

00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:02.619
 The answer

00:42:02.619 --> 00:42:05.340
 is he launched

00:42:05.340 --> 00:42:06.099
 the rescue mission

00:42:06.099 --> 00:42:06.619
 in Jesus.

00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:07.599
 Only Christianity

00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:08.639
 gives suffering meaning.

00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:09.940
 It is temporary,

00:42:10.180 --> 00:42:10.659
 transformative

00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:12.119
 and redeemable.

00:42:14.139 --> 00:42:14.859
 Can we hold

00:42:14.859 --> 00:42:15.319
 on to that?

00:42:16.599 --> 00:42:17.379
 Kelly and the team

00:42:17.379 --> 00:42:18.179
 are going to lead us

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:18.579
 in a song.

00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:19.279
 It's one of our

00:42:19.279 --> 00:42:20.019
 favorite songs

00:42:20.019 --> 00:42:21.480
 because if there's one,

00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:22.699
 if we were to distill

00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:23.119
 everything,

00:42:23.259 --> 00:42:23.839
 even those three

00:42:23.839 --> 00:42:24.500
 mission statements

00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:25.359
 saying why do we

00:42:25.359 --> 00:42:25.940
 gather here?

00:42:26.420 --> 00:42:27.319
 What is it to do?

00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:28.599
 It is to point us

00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:30.119
 to heaven.

00:42:30.899 --> 00:42:31.799
 It is to point us

00:42:31.799 --> 00:42:32.460
 to the place

00:42:32.460 --> 00:42:33.440
 where it's described

00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:34.440
 in Revelation 21

00:42:34.440 --> 00:42:35.019
 where there is

00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:35.759
 no more pain,

00:42:35.839 --> 00:42:36.359
 no more death,

00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:38.899
 no more fear,

00:42:38.900 --> 00:42:43.260
 if we can

00:42:43.260 --> 00:42:44.019
 understand that,

00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:45.079
 that he works

00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:45.460
 for the good

00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.200
 of those who love him

00:42:46.200 --> 00:42:47.079
 according to his purpose

00:42:47.079 --> 00:42:48.039
 by conforming us

00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:48.660
 to the image

00:42:48.660 --> 00:42:49.400
 of his son,

00:42:50.260 --> 00:42:51.220
 then we will have

00:42:51.220 --> 00:42:52.000
 what we need.

00:42:52.700 --> 00:42:53.420
 We will have

00:42:53.420 --> 00:42:54.059
 who we need

00:42:54.059 --> 00:42:55.400
 to face suffering.

00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:57.760
 Before we sing though,

00:42:57.800 --> 00:42:58.420
 I'd love for us

00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:59.039
 to spend a little bit

00:42:59.039 --> 00:42:59.320
 of time.

00:43:00.059 --> 00:43:00.880
 If the Lord

00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:02.119
 has reminded of you

00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:03.760
 of someone suffering

00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:05.360
 or some kind

00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:05.860
 of suffering,

00:43:06.660 --> 00:43:07.300
 whether it's

00:43:07.300 --> 00:43:08.180
 like what Ellen prayed,

00:43:08.260 --> 00:43:08.640
 whether it's

00:43:08.640 --> 00:43:09.240
 for the world

00:43:09.240 --> 00:43:12.820
 or whether it's

00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:14.060
 actually just

00:43:14.060 --> 00:43:14.860
 something in your own

00:43:14.860 --> 00:43:15.700
 life that you've

00:43:15.700 --> 00:43:16.440
 been wrestling with

00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:17.940
 and you've been

00:43:17.940 --> 00:43:18.780
 asking that question,

00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:20.539
 God, I don't know

00:43:20.539 --> 00:43:21.440
 if you're even here,

00:43:21.660 --> 00:43:22.200
 let alone whether

00:43:22.200 --> 00:43:22.980
 you care or not.

00:43:23.680 --> 00:43:24.680
 I'm here to tell you

00:43:24.680 --> 00:43:25.519
 he does care.

00:43:26.580 --> 00:43:27.680
 He is right here.

00:43:28.060 --> 00:43:28.700
 He is the suffering

00:43:28.700 --> 00:43:29.039
 servant.

00:43:29.140 --> 00:43:30.039
 He is the servant king.

00:43:30.220 --> 00:43:30.940
 He will lift you

00:43:30.940 --> 00:43:31.320
 out of this.

00:43:31.400 --> 00:43:32.060
 He will be the one

00:43:32.060 --> 00:43:32.660
 who saves you.

00:43:32.880 --> 00:43:33.519
 He will be the one

00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:34.260
 who comforts you.

00:43:34.620 --> 00:43:36.039
 He is near to you.

00:43:36.039 --> 00:43:37.159
 He is near to those

00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:38.119
 who are brokenhearted.

00:43:39.300 --> 00:43:40.159
 So he has never

00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:40.659
 left you.

00:43:43.639 --> 00:43:44.599
 He is your shepherd

00:43:44.599 --> 00:43:45.300
 because of that

00:43:45.300 --> 00:43:46.420
 you will lack nothing.

00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:47.320
 You lack nothing

00:43:47.320 --> 00:43:48.019
 right now.

00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:50.679
 And he leads you

00:43:50.679 --> 00:43:51.539
 on the right path

00:43:51.539 --> 00:43:52.239
 and sometimes

00:43:52.239 --> 00:43:53.400
 that path will lead

00:43:53.400 --> 00:43:53.960
 you to the valley

00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:54.759
 of the shadow of death.

00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:56.279
 But don't fear.

00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:57.860
 His rod and staff,

00:43:58.019 --> 00:43:58.519
 they are right there

00:43:58.519 --> 00:43:58.900
 with you.

00:43:59.420 --> 00:44:00.279
 He prepares a table

00:44:00.279 --> 00:44:01.420
 in the presence

00:44:01.420 --> 00:44:02.079
 of your enemies

00:44:02.079 --> 00:44:02.779
 and your suffering

00:44:02.779 --> 00:44:03.259
 and he says,

00:44:03.340 --> 00:44:04.579
 come sit with me.

00:44:04.579 --> 00:44:06.719
 It's going to be okay.

00:44:07.739 --> 00:44:08.480
 I'm not sure

00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:09.519
 if Bob Marley knew him

00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:10.340
 but he was right.

00:44:10.619 --> 00:44:11.400
 Every little thing

00:44:11.400 --> 00:44:14.059
 will be all okay

00:44:14.059 --> 00:44:16.099
 because of him.

00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:19.940
 If you forget everything

00:44:19.940 --> 00:44:21.679
 that I've said today,

00:44:22.199 --> 00:44:23.940
 he's here

00:44:23.940 --> 00:44:27.099
 and he cares

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:30.840
 and he will fix.

00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:33.460
 that's it.

00:44:36.280 --> 00:44:36.900
 He's here.

00:44:38.800 --> 00:44:39.539
 He cares

00:44:39.539 --> 00:44:42.280
 and he will fix.

00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:45.559
 I'll spend a moment now

00:44:45.559 --> 00:44:47.620
 and respond to him.

00:44:47.619 --> 00:45:00.500
 I think I realized

00:45:00.500 --> 00:45:01.039
 what I was supposed

00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:01.980
 to say as we finished.

00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:05.019
 And it was a gem

00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:05.480
 that again,

00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:06.319
 it was actually my wife.

00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:07.779
 She talked to me

00:45:07.779 --> 00:45:08.139
 last night

00:45:08.139 --> 00:45:08.900
 about Ecclesiastes.

00:45:09.940 --> 00:45:10.599
 She's learned,

00:45:10.779 --> 00:45:12.159
 teach me to pay more attention

00:45:12.159 --> 00:45:13.039
 to what my wife says.

00:45:13.839 --> 00:45:14.460
 She finished

00:45:14.460 --> 00:45:15.299
 by talking about Hebrews.

00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:16.400
 She wasn't preaching

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:16.940
 to me by the way,

00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:17.740
 this is just a conversation

00:45:17.740 --> 00:45:18.340
 we were having

00:45:18.340 --> 00:45:19.800
 during a foot massage.

00:45:21.240 --> 00:45:24.000
 But she was like,

00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:24.659
 Hebrews 11.

00:45:25.340 --> 00:45:25.619
 I was like,

00:45:25.659 --> 00:45:25.820
 all right,

00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:26.980
 let's talk about Hebrews 11.

00:45:27.460 --> 00:45:29.400
 And if you know,

00:45:29.480 --> 00:45:30.700
 that song just reminded me,

00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:31.340
 so thank you Kelly

00:45:31.340 --> 00:45:31.940
 for choosing it.

00:45:32.260 --> 00:45:33.780
 There's just this hall of fame

00:45:33.780 --> 00:45:35.559
 of all these greats

00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:37.159
 in scripture

00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:39.519
 who just follow God

00:45:39.519 --> 00:45:40.820
 and just do these

00:45:40.820 --> 00:45:41.980
 amazing things, right?

00:45:44.079 --> 00:45:44.920
 But there's this,

00:45:45.179 --> 00:45:46.000
 if you go towards

00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:46.900
 the end of the chapter,

00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:49.079
 it gets really messy.

00:45:49.920 --> 00:45:50.699
 You've got Abraham,

00:45:50.920 --> 00:45:51.460
 you've got Moses,

00:45:51.760 --> 00:45:52.380
 you've got Joseph,

00:45:52.460 --> 00:45:52.860
 like Joseph,

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:53.719
 these are all greats,

00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:54.500
 they follow God

00:45:54.500 --> 00:45:55.739
 and great things happen.

00:45:59.300 --> 00:46:00.420
 Let me just read to you.

00:46:00.980 --> 00:46:02.019
 Hebrews chapter 11,

00:46:02.519 --> 00:46:06.420
 verse 32.

00:46:06.420 --> 00:46:07.420
 And what more shall I say?

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:08.420
 For time would fail me

00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:09.340
 to tell of Gideon,

00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:10.099
 Barak,

00:46:10.300 --> 00:46:10.720
 Samson,

00:46:10.860 --> 00:46:11.159
 Jephah,

00:46:11.220 --> 00:46:12.119
 of David and Samuel

00:46:12.119 --> 00:46:12.700
 and the prophets

00:46:12.700 --> 00:46:14.559
 who through faith

00:46:14.559 --> 00:46:15.360
 conquered kingdoms

00:46:15.360 --> 00:46:16.680
 and enforced justice,

00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:17.579
 obtained promises,

00:46:17.820 --> 00:46:19.079
 stopped the mouths of lions,

00:46:19.240 --> 00:46:20.340
 quenched the power of fire,

00:46:20.619 --> 00:46:21.800
 escaped the edge of the sword,

00:46:21.880 --> 00:46:23.019
 were made strong out of weakness,

00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:24.079
 became mighty in war,

00:46:24.340 --> 00:46:25.639
 put foreign armies to flight.

00:46:26.340 --> 00:46:27.039
 Great things,

00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:28.659
 things that maybe you and I

00:46:28.659 --> 00:46:29.680
 will never get a chance to do.

00:46:30.559 --> 00:46:31.239
 But then it says,

00:46:31.940 --> 00:46:33.099
 women also received back

00:46:33.099 --> 00:46:35.099
 their debt by resurrection.

00:46:35.319 --> 00:46:36.019
 Some were tortured,

00:46:36.879 --> 00:46:38.179
 refusing to accept release

00:46:38.179 --> 00:46:39.579
 so that they might rise again

00:46:39.579 --> 00:46:40.379
 to a better life.

00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:41.940
 Others suffered,

00:46:43.179 --> 00:46:44.419
 mocking and flogging.

00:46:47.719 --> 00:46:49.799
 And even chains in imprisonment,

00:46:50.199 --> 00:46:51.039
 they were stoned,

00:46:51.699 --> 00:46:53.039
 they were sawn in two.

00:46:54.779 --> 00:46:55.940
 Did you ever realize that?

00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:56.819
 That in the Hall of Fame

00:46:56.819 --> 00:46:57.319
 there were people

00:46:57.319 --> 00:46:58.460
 who were sawn in two.

00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:01.379
 who had to return their dead,

00:47:01.799 --> 00:47:03.879
 who refused to go back to freedom

00:47:03.879 --> 00:47:05.059
 but would rather die

00:47:05.059 --> 00:47:06.079
 for their Christ.

00:47:08.139 --> 00:47:09.440
 They went about in skins

00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:10.500
 of sheep and goats,

00:47:10.659 --> 00:47:11.179
 destitute,

00:47:11.319 --> 00:47:12.000
 afflicted,

00:47:12.339 --> 00:47:12.899
 mistreated,

00:47:13.199 --> 00:47:15.199
 of whom the world

00:47:15.199 --> 00:47:15.819
 was not worthy,

00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:16.599
 wandering about

00:47:16.599 --> 00:47:17.639
 in deserts and mountains

00:47:17.639 --> 00:47:18.259
 and in dens

00:47:18.259 --> 00:47:19.480
 and caves of the earth.

00:47:20.480 --> 00:47:21.440
 These people made

00:47:21.440 --> 00:47:22.179
 the Hall of Fame.

00:47:23.779 --> 00:47:25.059
 And we go around going,

00:47:25.159 --> 00:47:26.379
 God, why does my job suck?

00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:32.219
 And then it says

00:47:32.219 --> 00:47:32.899
 at the very end,

00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:33.500
 and all these,

00:47:33.719 --> 00:47:34.239
 though commended

00:47:34.239 --> 00:47:34.859
 through their faith,

00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:35.719
 did not receive

00:47:35.719 --> 00:47:36.460
 what was promised

00:47:36.460 --> 00:47:38.159
 since God had provided

00:47:38.159 --> 00:47:39.559
 something better for us

00:47:39.559 --> 00:47:42.319
 that apart from us

00:47:42.319 --> 00:47:44.279
 they should not be made perfect.

00:47:45.779 --> 00:47:46.699
 Can you see that?

00:47:47.819 --> 00:47:48.819
 Those greats

00:47:48.819 --> 00:47:50.019
 followed by those

00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:51.119
 who were sawn in half,

00:47:51.119 --> 00:47:54.679
 they saw something better.

00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:56.559
 They didn't see

00:47:56.559 --> 00:47:57.099
 health and wealth

00:47:57.099 --> 00:47:57.619
 in this world.

00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:00.579
 They saw something

00:48:00.579 --> 00:48:01.819
 far beyond anything

00:48:01.819 --> 00:48:03.239
 that they could experience

00:48:03.239 --> 00:48:03.900
 here in this world.

00:48:05.579 --> 00:48:06.299
 The key,

00:48:06.619 --> 00:48:07.559
 the final part of this

00:48:07.559 --> 00:48:08.579
 that really hammers home

00:48:08.579 --> 00:48:08.920
 for me,

00:48:09.299 --> 00:48:10.279
 the final verse

00:48:10.279 --> 00:48:11.079
 of this famous chapter,

00:48:11.219 --> 00:48:12.059
 since God had provided

00:48:12.059 --> 00:48:13.059
 something better for us

00:48:13.059 --> 00:48:14.259
 that apart from us

00:48:14.259 --> 00:48:15.259
 they should not

00:48:15.259 --> 00:48:16.460
 be made perfect.

00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:18.199
 That whole list,

00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:19.239
 that whole roster

00:48:19.239 --> 00:48:21.559
 of giants of the faith

00:48:21.559 --> 00:48:22.839
 would not be complete

00:48:22.839 --> 00:48:23.799
 without us.

00:48:25.779 --> 00:48:26.579
 Without you.

00:48:27.019 --> 00:48:27.699
 Without you, Bill.

00:48:33.159 --> 00:48:34.479
 We are part of this

00:48:34.479 --> 00:48:35.599
 Hall of Fame list.

00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:38.699
 We are to suffer

00:48:38.699 --> 00:48:40.379
 in the same way

00:48:40.379 --> 00:48:41.659
 or not.

00:48:44.479 --> 00:48:45.579
 But to point people

00:48:45.579 --> 00:48:46.339
 to a better country.

00:48:46.340 --> 00:48:49.480
 I think we finish now

00:48:49.480 --> 00:48:51.860
 by asking you,

00:48:52.280 --> 00:48:54.200
 who do you need

00:48:54.200 --> 00:48:55.460
 to carry this message to?

00:48:57.300 --> 00:48:58.039
 Is there someone

00:48:58.039 --> 00:48:58.460
 in your life

00:48:58.460 --> 00:48:59.240
 that is really suffering

00:48:59.240 --> 00:49:00.059
 with terminalness

00:49:00.059 --> 00:49:00.600
 that is just

00:49:00.600 --> 00:49:02.340
 grieving

00:49:02.340 --> 00:49:03.320
 and destitute?

00:49:04.100 --> 00:49:05.019
 Can you bring hope

00:49:05.019 --> 00:49:06.019
 for that person?

00:49:07.059 --> 00:49:08.000
 Maybe you do have

00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:08.800
 someone who is actually

00:49:08.800 --> 00:49:10.200
 facing something

00:49:10.200 --> 00:49:11.120
 that in your eyes

00:49:11.120 --> 00:49:11.519
 is trivial.

00:49:11.740 --> 00:49:12.780
 Maybe it is a relationship

00:49:12.780 --> 00:49:13.940
 that has gone wrong.

00:49:14.019 --> 00:49:14.760
 Maybe it is something

00:49:14.760 --> 00:49:15.560
 that is not going well.

00:49:15.860 --> 00:49:16.900
 Can you be that person

00:49:16.900 --> 00:49:18.540
 that carries this message

00:49:18.540 --> 00:49:19.800
 to them and says,

00:49:19.940 --> 00:49:20.760
 it is okay.

00:49:21.900 --> 00:49:22.580
 There is hope.

00:49:25.480 --> 00:49:26.480
 Hebrews 11 flows

00:49:26.480 --> 00:49:27.300
 into Hebrews 12.

00:49:27.400 --> 00:49:27.620
 Therefore,

00:49:27.780 --> 00:49:28.620
 since we are surrounded

00:49:28.620 --> 00:49:29.360
 by so great

00:49:29.360 --> 00:49:30.080
 a cloud of witnesses

00:49:30.080 --> 00:49:31.620
 that also laid aside

00:49:31.620 --> 00:49:32.200
 every weight

00:49:32.200 --> 00:49:33.140
 and sin which clings

00:49:33.140 --> 00:49:33.700
 so closely

00:49:33.700 --> 00:49:34.220
 that has run

00:49:34.220 --> 00:49:34.740
 with the endurance,

00:49:35.160 --> 00:49:35.880
 the race that is set

00:49:35.880 --> 00:49:36.320
 before us,

00:49:36.400 --> 00:49:37.140
 looking to Jesus,

00:49:37.260 --> 00:49:37.720
 the founder

00:49:37.720 --> 00:49:38.460
 and perfecter

00:49:38.460 --> 00:49:39.440
 of our faith,

00:49:39.740 --> 00:49:40.400
 who for the joy

00:49:40.400 --> 00:49:41.300
 that was set before him

00:49:41.300 --> 00:49:42.840
 enjoyed the cross,

00:49:43.300 --> 00:49:44.140
 despising the shame

00:49:44.139 --> 00:49:44.739
 and is seated

00:49:44.739 --> 00:49:45.559
 at the right hand

00:49:45.559 --> 00:49:46.599
 of the throne of God.

00:49:47.079 --> 00:49:47.719
 That's actually

00:49:47.719 --> 00:49:50.039
 how Hebrews 11 finishes.

00:49:51.799 --> 00:49:53.000
 Can we be part

00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:53.980
 of this group of people

00:49:53.980 --> 00:49:54.739
 that points people

00:49:54.739 --> 00:49:55.559
 to a better country?

00:49:56.219 --> 00:49:57.159
 To sit with them

00:49:57.159 --> 00:49:57.699
 in their suffering,

00:49:57.819 --> 00:49:58.579
 to be prepared

00:49:58.579 --> 00:49:59.599
 for suffering ourselves.

00:50:00.659 --> 00:50:01.739
 How dare we

00:50:01.739 --> 00:50:03.799
 profess to follow someone

00:50:03.799 --> 00:50:05.119
 who was crucified

00:50:05.119 --> 00:50:07.940
 and then not expect

00:50:07.940 --> 00:50:09.420
 any trial

00:50:09.420 --> 00:50:10.019
 and tribulation

00:50:10.019 --> 00:50:10.420
 ourselves?

00:50:11.859 --> 00:50:12.699
 We too are part

00:50:12.699 --> 00:50:13.400
 of this hall of fame.

00:50:14.139 --> 00:50:16.119
 Let's hold on to that

00:50:16.119 --> 00:50:17.500
 and have a think.

00:50:17.859 --> 00:50:18.799
 Have a think who it is

00:50:18.799 --> 00:50:20.059
 that we need to share

00:50:20.059 --> 00:50:21.219
 this message of hope with.

00:50:22.900 --> 00:50:25.219
 Suffering is a part,

00:50:26.079 --> 00:50:26.940
 an essential part,

00:50:27.139 --> 00:50:27.980
 a crucial part

00:50:27.980 --> 00:50:29.500
 of the human existence

00:50:29.500 --> 00:50:30.539
 but it is temporary.

00:50:32.879 --> 00:50:33.879
 May the Lord bless you

00:50:33.879 --> 00:50:34.659
 and keep you

00:50:34.659 --> 00:50:35.960
 as you go from here.

00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:37.940
 Please take this message

00:50:37.940 --> 00:50:39.059
 to those who need

00:50:39.059 --> 00:50:39.599
 to hear it

00:50:39.599 --> 00:50:41.519
 that are in your spheres

00:50:41.519 --> 00:50:42.519
 of influence.

00:50:42.519 --> 00:50:43.119
 Bless you

00:50:43.119 --> 00:50:43.579
 and we'll see you

00:50:43.579 --> 00:50:43.940
 next week.

00:50:43.940 --> 00:51:13.920
 Thank you.