WEBVTT

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

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 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.

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 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us.

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 We are glad you're here, and we're glad you're here not because you are filling a seat this morning,

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 but because we are following after Jesus together as one community,

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 and we are convinced as we follow after Jesus that there is no one so good that they don't need God's grace,

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 and no one so bad that they can't have it.

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 And so God has something to say to everyone in his word, and everyone needs to hear what God has to say to us.

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 When I left off a few weeks ago, we had finished the season of Advent,

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 and as I said over and over, Advent's about two comings.

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 Jesus' first coming that we look back to, and Jesus' second coming that we look forward to.

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 And we're going to be starting a series in the book of Nehemiah, and Nehemiah is in the Old Testament.

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 And the simplest way to think about the Old Testament is that it is everything that happened before Jesus' first coming.

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 So previously, before Advent, we were in the book of Philippians, and that was a church.

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 That was a church that was a community in Philippi that existed after Jesus' first coming.

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 And now we're going to be looking at a community that is before Jesus' first coming.

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 And this book comes at a time in the history of the nation of Israel when they have previously been in exile.

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 If you were with us when we studied the book of Isaiah, you know that God had given his people a mission in the Old Testament.

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 They were meant to be a light to the nations around them.

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 They were meant to show everyone in the world what it was like to live according to God's ways,

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 that we could see God's goodness and his justice and his mercy and his love.

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 But the people of Israel had failed in that job.

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 And so God sent them into exile in Babylon.

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 They had to leave their home country, their home city of Jerusalem.

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 And they went into exile, finally in 586 B.C.

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 And they were there for a long time until they were freed from Babylonian captivity by the Persian Empire in 539.

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 And then in 538, they began returning.

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 And we're fast-forwarding all the way to 446 B.C.

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 And if all these dates are making you sleepy, the point is this.

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 Almost 100 years before this story, God had set his people free to return back to their land.

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 And yet we're going to meet a man who has still not returned to God's land.

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 We're going to find out that the city that they had left, that had been destroyed, is not fully rebuilt yet.

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 And so the reason that we are digging into the book of Nehemiah is that as we start a new year together,

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 and as we start a new chapter in the history of our church,

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 Nehemiah asks the big question of what does it look like for God's people to stay close to him?

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 What does it look like for God's people, if they have strayed far away from him, to return to him?

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 Or if you're someone who has questions or doubts or objections to God and his ways,

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 what does it look like to become close to God for the first time?

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 As we are starting out on a new chapter together as a church,

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 there is nothing that is more important for us than that we stay close to God.

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 And so Nehemiah is going to serve as an example, as a model for us,

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 of what it looks like for God's people to turn back to him.

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 And so that's going to be our simple question this morning.

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 What does it look like for God's people to return to him?

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 What does it look like for those who are with him to stay close to him?

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 And what does it look like for people who don't know God to know him for the first time?

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 And so we're going to begin here in the first chapter of Nehemiah.

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 It is in your worship guide near the very end, if you would like to turn there.

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 And remember that as we come to this, this is God's word.

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 And God tells us that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

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 In other words, God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark.

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 But instead, he's given us his word so that we would know the way to go.

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 And so that's why we're going to start now with Nehemiah chapter 1.

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 Please read with me.

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 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hekelia.

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 Now it happened in the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,

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 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah.

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 And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.

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 And they said to me,

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 The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame.

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 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.

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 Verse 4.

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 As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days.

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 And I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

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 And I said,

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 Verse 7.

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 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

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 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying,

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 If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.

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 But if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them,

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 though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven,

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 from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen,

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 to make my name dwell there.

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 Verse 10.

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 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

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 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants,

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 who delight to fear your name.

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 And give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.

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 Now, I was cupbearer to the king.

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 Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.

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 Dear Father in heaven, we confess that without you and your word, we would be stumbling in the dark.

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 Lord, we wouldn't know how to find our way to you.

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 We wouldn't know how to find our way in this world.

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 And so we thank you that you have given us a lamp and a light.

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 We ask that you would do that for us this morning, that you would speak to us,

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 that you would help us to hear you clearly,

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 and that you would give us light to see the path that you have for us.

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 We ask all these things not because any of us have earned them from you,

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 but because Jesus has earned them for us.

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 And so we ask it in his name.

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 Amen.

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 We immediately meet this man named Nehemiah,

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 and we find out right away that he has not returned with God's people to Jerusalem.

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 As I mentioned earlier, God's people had been in exile under the Babylonian Empire,

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 and then they had been freed later by the Persian Empire.

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 And the city that Nehemiah is in, the city of Susa,

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 is the place where the Persian king would spend his time in the winter.

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 And so this is probably November or December,

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 and Nehemiah receives a visit.

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 Now, it's unclear whether this man named Hanani is actually his brother

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 because the word brother in the Old Testament has a very broad range of meaning.

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 So this could be his biological brother.

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 It could also just be a family member, a relative.

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 But he comes and brings this news to Nehemiah that apparently is a surprise.

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 He asks them how people are doing,

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 how his people, the Jews, are doing in Jerusalem.

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 And he finds out that things are not going well.

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 They tell him in verse 3,

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 the remnant there in the province who survived the exile.

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 In other words, the people who had made it all the way back to Jerusalem.

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 When God had exiled his people, it was part of his testing of them,

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 and so there were some people who remained faithful to God in his ways,

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 and some people who fell away.

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 But this remnant, these people who are in Jerusalem,

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 these are God's people who have stayed,

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 the ones that he has preserved.

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 Because while they have not kept his mission,

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 they have not obeyed him and been a light to the nations.

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 God is so adamant and persistent in his mission to the world

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 that he always retains a people for himself.

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 And so Nehemiah asks about them and finds out the terrible news.

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 This remnant is in great trouble and shame.

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 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down,

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 and its gates are destroyed by fire.

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 In other words, the city that God had set to be a light to the nations,

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 to show everyone in the world what the world would be like

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 if people lived according to God and his ways.

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 is not a light to the nations,

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 but instead it's an embarrassment.

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 And God's people who've remained faithful to him

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 are not strong and protected,

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 but instead they're incredibly vulnerable

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 to anyone who would come and attack them.

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 So what does Nehemiah do?

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 Did you notice his very first response?

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 When Nehemiah understands how bad it is,

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 the very first thing he does here in verse 4

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 is he sits down and weeps and mourns for days.

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 It says,

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 Nehemiah is so moved and impacted by the reality of the destruction

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 that he's heard,

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 that he has no other choice

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 but to pray and fast and grieve.

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 And so what does it look like for God's people to return to him?

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 How do we stay close to God?

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 There is no way we can stay close to God

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 without doing what Nehemiah does here,

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 and that is understanding and seeing

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 the ruin and consequences of sin.

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 We have to understand and see and grieve

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 the ruin and destruction that sin has caused

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 not just in the world,

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 but in our lives as well.

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 And unless we do that,

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 we cannot understand the bad news of the gospel

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 that I spoke about earlier

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 that leads to the good news.

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 We will not repent.

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 We will not return to God.

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 We will not stay close to God

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 unless we see the ruin,

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 unless we understand

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 how much has been destroyed and lost by sin.

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 And you know,

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 everyone in this world agrees that there are ruins.

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 We can look around.

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 We don't have to look far to see destruction in our world.

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 We don't have to look far to see the consequences

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 of sin,

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 whether it is the increasing political polarization

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 that we see as people who believe different things

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 are having a harder and harder time

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 talking to each other.

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 It could be the pollution that we see in our world

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 as we've taken the good earth

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 that God has given to us

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 and failed to steward it as he wanted.

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 It could be the political turmoil

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 that we watch every day in the news.

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 It could be refugees coming in

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 with nowhere else to live.

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 It could be the reality of human trafficking.

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 But everyone in this world agrees

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 that there's a ruin.

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 What everyone in the world does not agree about

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 is what role we have in the ruin.

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 And so what we have to do

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 to return to God,

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 to stay close to him,

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 is do what Nehemiah does here.

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 He doesn't just see the ruin around him,

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 but he also sees the ruin in him.

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 He doesn't just see the ruin around him,

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 but he also sees the ruin in him.

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 We're gonna see this in a second

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 in verse six when he says,

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 even mine, my father's house, have sinned.

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 But let's pause here for a second.

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 Where is the ruin in our lives?

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 Where is the destruction?

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 Because if we cannot see the ruin

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 and the destruction of sin in our lives,

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 there is no way

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 that we will be able to turn back to God,

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 and there is no way

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 we'll be able to stay close to him.

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 It could be the ruin of

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 treating people harshly for a long time,

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 and then suddenly in a moment,

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 in a day,

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 like Nehemiah here,

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 seeing the ruin,

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 realizing the damage that it's done,

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 and that it's not gonna be

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 something easy or small

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 to come back from.

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 It could be having broken

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 your parents' trust over and over,

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 and then suddenly realizing

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 that your freedoms are more limited

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 than you ever thought.

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 It could be the ruin of pure laziness.

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 You did whatever you wanted to do

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 for as long as you wanted,

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 and now you look around

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 and you realize your house

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 and your life is falling apart.

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 Maybe you've even lost your job

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 as a result.

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 And so finally, suddenly,

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 the ruin comes into complete relief.

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 Maybe it's the ruin

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 of choosing everything

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 over your children,

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 and now you finally realize

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 and see that they are deciding

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 to choose everything over you.

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 Maybe it's the ruin

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 of refusing to trust God

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 and other people,

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 thinking that it will make you safe.

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 And then you wake up one day

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 and realize it hasn't made you safe.

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 It's just made you very alone.

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 Maybe it's the ruin

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 of not being able

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 to get the grades that you want.

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 And so one day,

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 you realize that it's a lot easier

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 than you thought.

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 All you have to do

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 is just start cheating a little bit.

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 And it works well

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 and your grades are good

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 until you get to the point

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 where you've skipped so many things

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 and forgotten so many things

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 that you come to a point

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 where you can't go any further

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 because there's so much

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 that you don't know.

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 Whatever it is,

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 it's the ruin

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 that pushes us to God.

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 It's the ruin

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 that allows God's people

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 to stay close to him

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 and return to him

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 because as we saw

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 in our confession of faith

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 this morning,

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 it is repentance

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.159
 that leads unto life.

00:15:20.099 --> 00:15:20.959
 And so we cannot

00:15:20.959 --> 00:15:22.319
 stay close to God.

00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.439
 We cannot be his people

00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.299
 following with him

00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:24.839
 on his mission

00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:25.799
 unless we understand

00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:26.799
 the ruin

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.199
 that is all around us.

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:31.700
 But when we see the ruin,

00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:33.860
 when we understand the ruin,

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.940
 that is when repentance

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.879
 is our great hope.

00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:39.840
 And so that's where

00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.080
 Nehemiah turns next.

00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:43.060
 First, we see, of course,

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.540
 that he weeps and mourns here

00:15:44.540 --> 00:15:45.340
 over his sin,

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.340
 over the destruction

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.040
 that he sees.

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:47.920
 By the way,

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.340
 this is a long-term destruction.

00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.580
 This is not something

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.660
 that's happened in a day

00:15:53.660 --> 00:15:54.960
 or a week, right?

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.920
 God's people returned

00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:57.660
 in 538

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.919
 and this is 446.

00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:01.980
 So almost 100 years

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:03.980
 since God has set

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:04.799
 his people free

00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.559
 through the Persian Empire.

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.519
 This has been something

00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.480
 that's not been in the making

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:11.259
 for days or weeks

00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.019
 but for years.

00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:15.000
 And so it's not a small problem

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.799
 but a big problem.

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.139
 There are some people

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.639
 in this world

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.519
 that will say that

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:21.699
 the only people

00:16:21.699 --> 00:16:22.679
 who can solve our problems

00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.179
 is us.

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:26.259
 And that's great advice

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.240
 for certain things in life.

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.460
 It's great to take responsibility.

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.340
 It's great to

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:31.220
 take the things

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.220
 that are before you

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.340
 and be responsible for them

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.100
 and in charge of them.

00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:35.680
 But what we see here

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.259
 in God's word

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:36.680
 is that

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:38.399
 we are not the only people

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.419
 who can fix our problems

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:41.200
 because our problems

00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:42.620
 are so much bigger than us.

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.580
 The reality of sin

00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:45.399
 is so powerful

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.120
 and destructive

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.840
 that only God himself

00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.159
 can come and help us

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.060
 and save us.

00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:52.019
 And so when we see

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.539
 the destruction,

00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:54.320
 repentance is our great hope.

00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.360
 And that's where we see

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.760
 Nehemiah go next.

00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.200
 After he's done

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.960
 weeping and mourning

00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.100
 and fasting and praying,

00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:02.160
 we then hear his prayer here.

00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:04.200
 And based on what we know

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.840
 from this book,

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.519
 of course it says

00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.519
 he prays day and night.

00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:07.620
 He did this for days.

00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:09.080
 We were going to find out

00:17:09.080 --> 00:17:09.820
 in chapter 2

00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:11.400
 that it's multiple months later

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.400
 that he takes any action.

00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.440
 And so what we see here

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.340
 is Nehemiah's prayer

00:17:14.340 --> 00:17:15.320
 that has been truncated.

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.720
 It's been put down

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.900
 as this is a summary

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.759
 of what Nehemiah

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.120
 prayed to God for months.

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:22.339
 And his prayer here

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.519
 is one of repentance.

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.459
 See in verse 6

00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:28.019
 he asks God to hear

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.739
 because he's confessing

00:17:29.739 --> 00:17:30.779
 the sins of the people

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.319
 of Israel

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.919
 which we have sinned

00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:33.399
 against you.

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.319
 Even I and my father's house

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.259
 have sinned.

00:17:38.479 --> 00:17:39.919
 And so staying close to God

00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:41.779
 is not just seeing the ruin.

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.399
 Because if all we see

00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:44.639
 is the ruin around us

00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.919
 it will lead us to despair.

00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.539
 But instead

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.459
 seeing the ruin

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.140
 and then turning

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:50.319
 in repentance to God.

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.819
 Nehemiah here repents

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.779
 on behalf of the people.

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.759
 He's a leader.

00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.740
 He's going to become a leader.

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.319
 And so he repents

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.299
 for all of their sins

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.220
 but he also acknowledges

00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.220
 his own role in it.

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.559
 It's not just a problem

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.220
 that other people

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.039
 out there have caused

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:05.620
 but Nehemiah and his family

00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:07.360
 are implicated as well.

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.420
 They're implicated

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.220
 in the fact that Israel

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.840
 has failed to be

00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:11.660
 a light to the nations.

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.880
 They were supposed to

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.420
 remember the poor

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.400
 and worship God.

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:16.759
 And instead

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:18.220
 they've forgotten the poor

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.600
 and chased after other gods.

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.279
 They were supposed

00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.319
 to build their families

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:22.980
 and said they'd have

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.680
 destroyed them.

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.039
 And so Nehemiah repents.

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.720
 He sees the ruin

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.880
 but instead of saying

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.600
 this is a problem

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:32.600
 only I can fix

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.920
 he realizes

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.779
 that this is a problem

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.900
 only God can fix.

00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.440
 And so as we turn back

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.799
 to God

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.779
 and stay close to him

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.900
 and follow after him

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.980
 it means that day by day

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.500
 we have to do

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.440
 what Martin Luther said

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.559
 which is we live a life

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.480
 of faith and repentance.

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.099
 we look at our sins

00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:51.620
 we see the destruction

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:53.880
 but then we turn back

00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.460
 to God

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:56.240
 tell him our sins

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.079
 and confess to them

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.960
 knowing that he will

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.620
 forgive us

00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.819
 that his faithfulness

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.819
 is for everyone

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:03.319
 who turns back to him.

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.960
 So Nehemiah confesses

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.160
 not just other people's sins

00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.539
 but his as well.

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:12.359
 You may remember

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:13.460
 the story

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:15.539
 now almost a decade ago

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.859
 in 2009

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.740
 the former

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.519
 South Carolina governor

00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.539
 Mark Sanford

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:22.379
 had an unfortunate end

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.039
 to his career

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.819
 in June of 2009

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.480
 he went missing

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.819
 and no one knew

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.500
 where he was.

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:29.599
 The now famous story

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.220
 that his office

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.700
 told people

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.440
 is that he was hiking

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.579
 on the Appalachian Trail

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:35.200
 turned out he was very far

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.139
 from the Appalachian Trail

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.220
 he was actually in Argentina

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.940
 and he was in Argentina

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.720
 with a mistress

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.059
 a woman he was not married to

00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:43.400
 and the media

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.440
 finally caught up with him

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.660
 and so when he came back

00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:48.660
 he had a press conference

00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.940
 filled with tears

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:52.319
 and he said this

00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.619
 I have spent the last

00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:56.079
 five days of my life

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.779
 crying in Argentina

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.679
 I am committed

00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.399
 to trying to get

00:20:00.399 --> 00:20:01.079
 my heart right

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:03.399
 what I did was wrong

00:20:03.399 --> 00:20:04.399
 period

00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:06.139
 end of story

00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:08.399
 and then he spent

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:09.259
 the next several years

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.439
 apologizing to

00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:11.539
 the people that he had hurt

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.659
 the groups that he had hurt

00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:14.720
 the political associations

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.679
 that he had let down

00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:18.399
 and he had a real ruin

00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:20.480
 Mark Sanford

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.339
 lost his marriage

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:23.279
 he was supposed to be

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.160
 a presidential hopeful

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.460
 which immediately died

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.960
 that day

00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:29.279
 he continued to have struggles

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.700
 he ended up divorcing

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:33.519
 he didn't continue

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.500
 on a perfect path

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.900
 and whether you agree

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:37.200
 with his politics or not

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:39.319
 I think what we can all

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.120
 agree about is this

00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:41.339
 what Mark did is rare

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.559
 for both Republicans

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.740
 and Democrats

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:45.860
 which is that he had

00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:46.539
 real repentance

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:48.680
 he didn't cover over

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.180
 his sins

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:50.060
 and find someone else

00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:50.960
 to blame for it

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.100
 Nehemiah doesn't find

00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:52.680
 someone who's going to

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.600
 take the blame for him

00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:53.799
 here

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.580
 he doesn't just say

00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:55.799
 the people of Israel

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.480
 it's their fault

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.000
 but he says

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.140
 me and my family

00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:01.320
 and so Mark Sanford's

00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:02.600
 repentance was imperfect

00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:04.299
 it didn't happen

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.220
 until it was caught

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.080
 but it did happen

00:21:07.080 --> 00:21:09.519
 and so he models here

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.380
 what Nehemiah also

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:11.160
 models for us

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:11.720
 that when we see

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.620
 the ruin and destruction

00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.120
 of sin

00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:15.060
 we don't minimize it

00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:16.860
 we don't cover it up

00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.819
 we don't try harder

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.219
 just to make up

00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:19.979
 for what's lost

00:21:19.979 --> 00:21:21.379
 but we come

00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:21.919
 and we repent

00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:22.539
 to other people

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:22.879
 we say

00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:24.059
 what I did was wrong

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:26.279
 I'm sorry

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:28.619
 please forgive me

00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:30.779
 and this is a problem

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.959
 bigger than I can solve

00:21:31.959 --> 00:21:32.299
 it's something

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.240
 that I need God himself

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.679
 to come and fix

00:21:34.679 --> 00:21:36.899
 remember when we talked

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:38.000
 about the apostle Peter

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.299
 in Matthew chapter 26

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:41.319
 I reminded you

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.039
 that our tears

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.339
 are a sign

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.279
 of spiritual life

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:46.000
 when we're weeping

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.799
 over our sin

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.440
 it's a reminder

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.319
 that God is still

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.359
 at work in our lives

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.079
 because it's possible

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:52.299
 to see the ruin

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.099
 and not repent

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.920
 there are many people

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.960
 who see the ruin

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.660
 in their lives

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:58.200
 and instead

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.339
 they try to hide

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.180
 or minimize it

00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.779
 maybe they try

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.500
 to work harder

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:04.420
 maybe they just

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.720
 feel shame

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:08.180
 or maybe we just

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.299
 refuse to see

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.099
 the ruin

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:12.259
 but here

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.139
 Nehemiah shows us

00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.700
 a different way

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.220
 he shows us

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:15.080
 God's way

00:22:15.080 --> 00:22:15.880
 for his people

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:17.460
 he doesn't just

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.000
 see the ruin

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.860
 but he repents

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.819
 he turns back

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.559
 to God

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.960
 as I have

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.900
 spent

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:27.480
 several decades

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.259
 now in the church

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.900
 I have met

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.720
 many people

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.340
 who want to be

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:32.460
 great spiritually

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:34.840
 I've met many people

00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:35.440
 who want to be

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.220
 big men

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.200
 or big women

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.960
 spiritually

00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.819
 and that's not

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.700
 a wrong desire

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:42.039
 it's not wrong

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.700
 to want to be

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.660
 great spiritually

00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:45.160
 the problem

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.980
 is that God's

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.920
 definition of greatness

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.960
 and our definition

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.400
 of greatness

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.420
 are not the same

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:52.540
 if you're a child

00:22:52.540 --> 00:22:53.300
 if you're a youth

00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:54.800
 being great

00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.480
 spiritually

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.320
 does not mean

00:22:57.320 --> 00:22:57.980
 that you get all

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.860
 the answers right

00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.779
 in Sunday school

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:03.120
 if you are a parent

00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:04.779
 being great

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.560
 spiritually

00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:07.240
 does not mean

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.880
 that no one

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.600
 ever sees

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.140
 your children

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.820
 misbehave

00:23:09.820 --> 00:23:13.940
 if you

00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:15.460
 are a Christian

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.320
 trying to follow

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:16.900
 after Jesus

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.740
 being great

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.520
 spiritually

00:23:18.520 --> 00:23:20.000
 does not mean

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.660
 you have a better

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.360
 quiet time

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.080
 than other people

00:23:22.080 --> 00:23:23.200
 or a more

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.280
 comprehensive knowledge

00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:24.900
 of the Bible

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:27.360
 but spiritual

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.900
 greatness

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:29.780
 is found

00:23:29.780 --> 00:23:30.740
 in one thing

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:33.400
 if you want

00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:34.440
 to be a big

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.120
 man

00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.839
 spiritually

00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.779
 if you want

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.640
 to be a big

00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.160
 woman

00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:39.900
 spiritually

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.500
 there is only

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.240
 one path

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.880
 and that path

00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.539
 is the path

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.200
 of repentance

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.980
 in our New Testament

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.579
 reading this morning

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.480
 we read from Paul

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.519
 one of the greatest

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.519
 men spiritually

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.880
 and as he

00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.400
 nears

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:55.339
 the end of his life

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.359
 what he tells people

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:57.099
 is that he has

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.519
 discovered

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.079
 that he

00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.019
 is the greatest

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.579
 of sinners

00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:01.519
 the secret

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.179
 of Paul's

00:24:02.179 --> 00:24:02.579
 greatness

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.159
 spiritually

00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:03.699
 is that he

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.399
 understands

00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:05.000
 his sin

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.720
 and he's

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.199
 repenting

00:24:06.199 --> 00:24:06.859
 of it

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:08.579
 Nehemiah

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:08.980
 we're going

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.339
 to see

00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.119
 is a great

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.720
 man

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.279
 spiritually

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:13.099
 and he's

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.500
 a great

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:13.779
 man

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.220
 because he

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:14.879
 sees his

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.139
 sin

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.460
 here

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.279
 and repents

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:16.559
 of it

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.899
 when I

00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:19.159
 was

00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:20.419
 in college

00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.960
 I went

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.439
 to a

00:24:22.439 --> 00:24:23.159
 mentor

00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:23.559
 at one

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:23.879
 point

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.319
 and I

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.639
 asked him

00:24:24.639 --> 00:24:25.019
 a question

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.419
 I said

00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:26.299
 you know

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.799
 I hear

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.740
 people

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.339
 talk

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:28.660
 all the

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:28.960
 time

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.339
 about

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.079
 leading

00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.339
 their

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:30.779
 families

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.920
 and how

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.220
 important

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:32.440
 it is

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:32.880
 for men

00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.240
 to lead

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.400
 their

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:33.799
 families

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.539
 and you

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:34.599
 know

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:34.819
 I don't

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.279
 really know

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.599
 what that

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.039
 means

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:38.039
 you know

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.559
 you're older

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.079
 and wiser

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.819
 what does

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.480
 that mean

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.359
 what does

00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:41.779
 it mean

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.259
 to lead

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.799
 your family

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.599
 this man

00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:44.819
 was a

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.099
 pastor

00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:45.359
 and he

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:45.559
 said

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:45.799
 you know

00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.099
 I'll tell

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.279
 you what

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.660
 it doesn't

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:46.900
 mean

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.819
 it doesn't

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.019
 mean

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.380
 that I

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.420
 pull my

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.000
 wife aside

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.259
 and I

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.599
 point her

00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.059
 to passages

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.380
 in the

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:52.640
 Bible

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:52.980
 and say

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.140
 honey

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.480
 you need

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:53.759
 to know

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:53.980
 this

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.319
 and learn

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.579
 this

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.099
 because she

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.380
 listens

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:55.640
 to me

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:57.960
 as it

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.680
 is

00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:00.279
 but Matthew

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.599
 I'll tell

00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.140
 you a story

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.460
 about what

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:01.799
 it means

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.019
 for me

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.380
 to lead

00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:03.039
 my family

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.579
 spiritually

00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:06.180
 recently

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.720
 I was

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.339
 driving

00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.720
 my

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.120
 elementary

00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:08.460
 daughter

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:08.960
 to school

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.420
 and as

00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:11.680
 I was

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:11.980
 driving

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.500
 she was

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.640
 fussing

00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:13.900
 and I

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.240
 just got

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.620
 more and

00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.160
 more frustrated

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.579
 with her

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:17.279
 and as

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.839
 I dropped

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.099
 her off

00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.440
 at school

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:18.920
 I finally

00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.400
 lost it

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.620
 and I

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.039
 just started

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.299
 yelling

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.660
 at her

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.819
 I was

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.420
 so done

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.759
 and so

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.240
 frustrated

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:25.339
 he said

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.940
 it impacted

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.680
 her very

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.079
 deeply

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:28.980
 shortly

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.500
 after that

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:29.939
 she began

00:25:29.939 --> 00:25:30.279
 having

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.779
 night

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.240
 terrors

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.480
 and difficulty

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:32.960
 sleeping

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:35.460
 he said

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:35.720
 the way

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:35.980
 that I

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.399
 lead my

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:36.740
 family

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.259
 spiritually

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.399
 is I

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.679
 repent

00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.139
 to them

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:40.740
 I tell

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.220
 my daughter

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.039
 how wrong

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.460
 it was

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.740
 for me

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.039
 to do

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.319
 that

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:45.339
 that I'm

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:45.779
 sorry

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:47.720
 that her

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.199
 father

00:25:48.199 --> 00:25:48.819
 needs

00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.399
 Jesus

00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:51.799
 and so

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.339
 I lead

00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.659
 them by

00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.139
 repenting

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:53.559
 because I

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.139
 show them

00:25:54.139 --> 00:25:54.960
 my need

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.579
 for Jesus

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:57.000
 to help

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.179
 them

00:25:57.179 --> 00:25:57.720
 understand

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.839
 their

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.079
 need

00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.579
 as well

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:05.259
 leadership

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.679
 is

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:06.119
 repentance

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:07.839
 and repentance

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.579
 is leadership

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.779
 and if we

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.399
 want to be

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:10.859
 great

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.679
 spiritually

00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.460
 then we

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.919
 must

00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:13.659
 repent

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:17.180
 if you

00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:17.700
 spend any

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.220
 time in

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.759
 the mountains

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.840
 here in

00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:20.160
 Colorado

00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.680
 you know

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.560
 that as

00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:21.940
 the tree

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.240
 line

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.920
 goes up

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:25.980
 suddenly the

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.400
 trees start

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:26.940
 to disappear

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.460
 the higher

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:27.759
 and higher

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.080
 you get

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:28.279
 on the

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.500
 mountain

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.779
 right

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:30.120
 the closer

00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.519
 you get

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:30.820
 to the

00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.140
 ridge

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.880
 the less

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.220
 there is

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.420
 that's

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.660
 growing

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.000
 now that's

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.940
 for several

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.300
 reasons

00:26:35.300 --> 00:26:35.860
 one is the

00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:36.400
 wind is so

00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:36.779
 high it's

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.060
 hard for

00:26:37.060 --> 00:26:37.440
 anything to

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.700
 grow

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:39.440
 but the

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.900
 other reason

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.220
 is that

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.620
 there's not

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.259
 much oxygen

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.759
 up there

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.339
 and so as

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.720
 you head up

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.119
 the mountain

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.940
 plants start

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.519
 to disappear

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:45.920
 they start

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.299
 to drop

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.660
 off

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.079
 because they

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.920
 simply can't

00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.319
 breathe

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.879
 there's no

00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:51.480
 ability or

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.200
 opportunity for

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.960
 them to

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.319
 grow

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:57.039
 repentance

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.099
 is the

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.759
 spiritual

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.400
 oxygen

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.519
 of our

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:01.920
 lives

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:04.440
 we cannot

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.000
 expect

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.420
 anything

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.039
 great or

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.500
 good to

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.960
 happen in

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.519
 our church

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.059
 in our

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.559
 families

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.279
 and in our

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.019
 lives without

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.460
 repentance

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:13.380
 and so if

00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.100
 we want to

00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:14.860
 be great

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:16.620
 if we want

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.779
 to see new

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.980
 and exciting

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.840
 spiritual fruit

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.740
 pop up in

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.279
 our lives

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.100
 in our

00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:22.640
 families and

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:22.880
 in our

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.259
 church

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.579
 we want as

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.279
 much oxygen

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.740
 as we can

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.000
 get

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.420
 if we want

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:28.980
 to see a

00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.880
 beautiful forest

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:31.880
 then we have

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.660
 to provide the

00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.420
 oxygen of

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.840
 repentance

00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:35.140
 to the people

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:35.799
 around us

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:38.720
 it's easy

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.160
 to

00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:41.120
 tell people

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.799
 that no

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.259
 one is so

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.979
 good that

00:27:43.979 --> 00:27:44.679
 they don't

00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:45.219
 need God's

00:27:45.219 --> 00:27:45.519
 grace

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:48.939
 but it's

00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:49.459
 also easy

00:27:49.459 --> 00:27:50.099
 to live like

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.399
 we don't

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:50.899
 believe it

00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:53.059
 if we say

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.719
 that we need

00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.399
 God's grace

00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:57.000
 but refuse to

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.599
 repent of the

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.199
 ruin that we're

00:27:58.199 --> 00:27:58.779
 telling people

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.259
 that by our

00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.899
 lives that we

00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.899
 don't

00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:03.059
 there's nothing

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.779
 that we need

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.619
 from God

00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:08.019
 and so we

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.959
 stay close to

00:28:08.959 --> 00:28:09.319
 God we

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:09.879
 return to

00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:11.379
 him by

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:11.899
 seeing the

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.159
 ruin

00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:14.719
 we return

00:28:14.719 --> 00:28:15.199
 to him

00:28:15.199 --> 00:28:16.799
 by repenting

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:19.259
 but finally

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.759
 we have to

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.079
 see the

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.899
 great hope

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:22.039
 that God

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.699
 has for

00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:23.399
 everyone who

00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:23.919
 turns back

00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.299
 to him

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:26.179
 if all we

00:28:26.179 --> 00:28:26.599
 could see

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:26.899
 is the

00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:27.379
 destruction

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.939
 if all

00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:29.519
 Nehemiah

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.039
 knew is that

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.479
 the walls

00:28:30.479 --> 00:28:30.919
 were broken

00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.479
 down and

00:28:31.479 --> 00:28:32.119
 shame and

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.439
 trouble

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:35.100
 then it

00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:35.500
 would lead

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.980
 simply to

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.380
 him being

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:36.920
 overwhelmed

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.140
 or it

00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.460
 could lead

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.039
 to his

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.940
 self-righteousness

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.220
 here

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:44.240
 we skipped

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.740
 over verse

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.180
 five

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.299
 do you notice

00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.880
 what Nehemiah

00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.480
 said there

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:50.759
 repenting

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.240
 wasn't actually

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.660
 the first

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.059
 thing he

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.320
 did

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:55.220
 he addresses

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:55.740
 God and

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.200
 says oh

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.840
 Lord God

00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:57.240
 of heaven

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.920
 the great

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.860
 and awesome

00:28:58.860 --> 00:28:59.320
 God

00:28:59.320 --> 00:29:01.000
 who keeps

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.720
 covenant and

00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.240
 steadfastness

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.259
 love with

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.660
 those who

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.180
 love him

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.600
 and keep

00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:04.799
 his

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.220
 commandments

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.660
 this

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.299
 steadfast

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:07.779
 love is

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.360
 the same

00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.000
 phrase that

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.519
 we saw in

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:09.740
 the book

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.180
 of Ruth

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:11.580
 and it's

00:29:11.580 --> 00:29:11.980
 the same

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.400
 phrase that

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.059
 we saw in

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.660
 December in

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.259
 the Psalms

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.960
 it is God's

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.820
 never stopping

00:29:16.820 --> 00:29:18.080
 never giving

00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:18.440
 up

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.400
 unbreaking

00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.640
 always and

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.420
 forever love

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:26.440
 God's people

00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:27.000
 have failed

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.240
 him

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.920
 they've created

00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.440
 a ruin

00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.460
 they've had

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.080
 almost a hundred

00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:30.880
 years to rebuild

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.600
 the city and

00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.299
 yet they haven't

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:34.059
 but we see

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.059
 in verse 9

00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:35.819
 what this

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.919
 steadfast love

00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:37.859
 looks like

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:41.019
 starting in

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.500
 verse 8

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.039
 remember the

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.519
 word that you

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.059
 commanded your

00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.639
 servant Moses

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.259
 saying if you

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.159
 are unfaithful I

00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:45.940
 will scatter you

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.279
 among the

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.720
 peoples but

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.619
 if you return

00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:49.220
 to me and

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.700
 keep my

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.399
 commandments and

00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:50.799
 do them

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.500
 though your

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.440
 outcasts are in

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.960
 the uttermost

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.659
 parts of heaven

00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:55.139
 from there I

00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:55.680
 will gather

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.519
 them and bring

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:56.960
 them to the

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.480
 place that I

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:57.940
 have chosen

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.279
 to make my

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.119
 name dwell there

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:02.419
 in other words

00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.399
 Nehemiah is

00:30:03.399 --> 00:30:03.879
 able to

00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.479
 repent he's

00:30:04.479 --> 00:30:04.859
 able to

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.479
 confess his

00:30:05.479 --> 00:30:06.279
 sin because

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:08.059
 he knows how

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.019
 great and

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:10.259
 awesome God's

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:13.019
 love is and

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.519
 he knows that

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.519
 God offers his

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.859
 grace and his

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:16.759
 forgiveness for

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.439
 anyone who

00:30:18.439 --> 00:30:19.179
 returns and

00:30:19.179 --> 00:30:19.819
 turns back to

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:22.039
 him and so as

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.779
 he looks out

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.659
 over a hundred

00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:25.359
 plus years of

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:28.259
 ruin Nehemiah is

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.920
 not without

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:31.900
 hope as he

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.279
 looks at

00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:32.740
 something that

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:34.559
 has been

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.200
 caused by

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.059
 decades of

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.619
 sin and

00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.180
 destruction

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:39.519
 Nehemiah knows

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.400
 that God is

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.259
 still faithful

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:43.799
 and so the

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.619
 same is true

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.259
 of us as

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:47.200
 well whether

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.900
 we are looking

00:30:47.900 --> 00:30:49.140
 back on five

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:50.279
 decades of

00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.619
 mistakes or

00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:52.539
 seven decades

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.859
 if we are

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:55.299
 still alive and

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.119
 breathing here

00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:57.059
 today in this

00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.859
 room God has

00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:00.039
 hope for us

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:02.159
 his steadfast

00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.279
 love is still

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:05.019
 for us and

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.700
 the offer of

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.659
 verse nine is

00:31:06.659 --> 00:31:07.879
 still for us

00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:09.579
 if we return

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:11.139
 to him he

00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.659
 will gather

00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:12.720
 us and bring

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.259
 us back

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:15.579
 so then we

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.059
 hear in verse

00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.839
 10 they are

00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:17.379
 your servants

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:18.059
 and your people

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.599
 whom you have

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.179
 redeemed by

00:31:19.179 --> 00:31:19.639
 your great

00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.659
 power and

00:31:20.659 --> 00:31:21.139
 your strong

00:31:21.139 --> 00:31:21.559
 hand

00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:24.599
 while Nehemiah

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.379
 starts with

00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:27.039
 crying we're

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.339
 going to see

00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:27.559
 that he

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:27.960
 doesn't end

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:29.240
 there because

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.139
 he knows how

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.339
 powerful God's

00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:33.779
 grace is and

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.859
 so as we return

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.700
 to God and

00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.500
 stay close to

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:38.420
 God if we

00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.379
 only see the

00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:40.740
 ruin and our

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.359
 repentance it

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.119
 will crush us

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:46.220
 but God's

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.279
 redemption is

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:49.940
 real his hope

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:51.799
 is real and

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.659
 his offer of

00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:53.920
 grace is real

00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.500
 for anyone and

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.539
 everyone who

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.360
 turns back to

00:31:57.360 --> 00:32:00.240
 him and the

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.140
 reason his

00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:02.220
 grace is real

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:04.279
 is because

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:06.440
 later there's

00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.060
 going to come

00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:08.480
 another son of

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:11.100
 Israel his name

00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:11.960
 is going to be

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.840
 Jesus we

00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:14.519
 celebrated his

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.400
 first coming in

00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:17.220
 advent and he

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.180
 is going to come

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.019
 and take the

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:20.300
 penalty for the

00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.819
 sins of Nehemiah

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:24.019
 of his people

00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:25.079
 and of everyone

00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:26.139
 else who turns

00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:26.740
 back to him

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:29.639
 Jesus is going

00:32:29.639 --> 00:32:30.940
 to tell a story

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.379
 in Matthew

00:32:31.379 --> 00:32:33.000
 chapter 18 about

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.960
 his people that

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.799
 he refers to as

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:37.220
 sheep and he

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.980
 says this what

00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:40.019
 do you think if a

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:40.839
 man has a hundred

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.819
 sheep and one of

00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.919
 them has gone

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:45.059
 astray does he

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.779
 not leave the

00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.740
 ninety-nine on the

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.599
 mountains and go in

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.359
 search of the one

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:49.059
 that went astray

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:51.339
 and if he finds

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.419
 it truly I say to

00:32:52.419 --> 00:32:53.439
 you he rejoices

00:32:53.439 --> 00:32:54.519
 over it more than

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.559
 over the ninety-nine

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.279
 that never went

00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:59.759
 astray God will

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.819
 leave the ninety-nine

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:02.659
 sheep to pursue

00:33:02.659 --> 00:33:04.439
 the one so that he

00:33:04.439 --> 00:33:05.439
 will return to him

00:33:05.439 --> 00:33:08.979
 and so the same

00:33:08.979 --> 00:33:10.559
 grace that is here

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.500
 for Nehemiah is

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:13.439
 for us and we get

00:33:13.439 --> 00:33:14.259
 a hint of it here

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:17.000
 at the end the very

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:19.640
 last verse Nehemiah

00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.200
 has looked at the

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:23.240
 destruction he has

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:25.200
 seen what has

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:25.799
 happened from

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.900
 unfaithfulness for

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:29.240
 centuries what seems

00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.319
 insurmountable and

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:32.640
 impossible he repents

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.559
 and he cries out to

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.799
 God in this moment

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:38.680
 for God's help and

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.500
 what do we find out

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.619
 as the chapter closes

00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:44.859
 God's steadfast love

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:47.079
 is real because as

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.419
 Nehemiah repents and

00:33:48.419 --> 00:33:49.479
 turns back to God

00:33:49.479 --> 00:33:52.539
 God has placed him in

00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:53.719
 the very right place

00:33:53.719 --> 00:33:55.979
 he is cut bearer to

00:33:55.979 --> 00:33:58.599
 the king in other

00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:01.359
 words Nehemiah by no

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.439
 accident but because

00:34:02.439 --> 00:34:03.519
 of God's faithfulness

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.639
 and his steadfast love

00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:05.679
 is one of the most

00:34:05.679 --> 00:34:07.539
 powerful people in the

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:10.739
 Persian Empire and so

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.779
 God is already at

00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:15.380
 work bringing back

00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.920
 the one he's already

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.779
 at work with his

00:34:18.779 --> 00:34:19.719
 steadfast love and so

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.500
 we're going to see as

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:22.259
 Nehemiah continues that

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.699
 God is going to stay

00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.860
 true to everything that

00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:28.019
 we hear here he's

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.820
 going to meet those who

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.719
 repent and help them

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:31.719
 return he's going to be

00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:32.559
 faithful to his

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:34.400
 promises and even

00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.039
 though they have

00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:37.039
 created a ruin it is

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:39.079
 going to be God who

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.940
 is going to lead them

00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:40.239
 out

00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:46.519
 famous story is told

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.699
 about the English

00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.820
 writer G.K.

00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:51.019
 Chesterton at one

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:52.039
 point in his life he

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:53.579
 saw an advertisement in

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:55.820
 the newspaper asking

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:57.259
 for people to write in

00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.159
 letters responding to

00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:59.259
 one question the

00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:02.860
 question was this what

00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.920
 is wrong with the

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:06.940
 world G.K.

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:08.500
 Chesterton wrote back a

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.539
 very short response

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:13.480
 says this dear sir

00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:15.880
 regarding your article

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:17.619
 what's wrong with the

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:22.559
 world I am yours truly

00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.599
 G.K.

00:35:23.659 --> 00:35:28.000
 Chesterton it's when we

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:30.940
 understand that the ruin

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:32.159
 is not just around us but

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:35.099
 in us and we turn back to

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:36.539
 God in repentance and say

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.279
 the problem with the

00:35:37.279 --> 00:35:40.400
 world is me that God

00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:42.699
 meets us with his love

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:45.179
 and his grace no matter

00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:46.980
 how much we've messed up

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:48.819
 no matter how many

00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:50.339
 decades or centuries of

00:35:50.339 --> 00:35:52.920
 ruin there is because it

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:54.420
 is his joy and his delight

00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:57.579
 to leave the 99 to find

00:35:57.579 --> 00:36:00.319
 the one and so because

00:36:00.319 --> 00:36:02.319
 that's God's heart and his

00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:04.160
 desire we can pray to him

00:36:04.160 --> 00:36:06.000
 and cry out to him and so

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.820
 let's do that now

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:11.780
 dear father in heaven we

00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:13.559
 thank you so much that you

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.760
 have called us to yourself

00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:16.200
 you've made us your people

00:36:16.200 --> 00:36:19.059
 we confess that the

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:20.740
 problems around us are not

00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:22.039
 just around us but in us

00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:23.940
 and so we ask that you

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:25.840
 would help us you'd send

00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:27.080
 your spirit to give us soft

00:36:27.080 --> 00:36:28.260
 and tender hearts that we'd

00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:29.460
 see the destruction of sin

00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:32.159
 we ask that you would

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:33.679
 cause us to return to you

00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:36.000
 in repentance but most of

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.940
 all that you would show us

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:39.519
 that there is hope there is

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.960
 hope in you and your grace

00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:42.679
 because Jesus was willing to

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:45.079
 take the full punishment for

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:47.519
 our sins and so we put our

00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.559
 trust and our hope in him

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.639
 knowing that you hear our

00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:51.320
 prayers not because we have

00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:52.260
 done anything but because

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:54.480
 Jesus has and so we ask it

00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:56.159
 in his name amen

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:59.799
 please stand for our closing

00:36:59.799 --> 00:37:00.219
 song

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:07.919
ip.com

00:37:07.919 --> 00:37:08.480
 nope

00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:10.819
 independence

00:37:10.819 --> 00:37:12.659
 you

00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:16.739
 you