WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from Micah chapter 6. Please follow along your bulletin or on the screen.

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 Hear what the Lord says.

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 Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

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 Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth.

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 For the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.

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 O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me.

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 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery,

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 and sent before you Moses, Aram, and Miriam.

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 O my people, remember what Balaam, king of Moab, devised,

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 and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him,

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 and what happened to Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.

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 With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?

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 Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

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 Would the Lord be pleased with the thousands of rams and ten thousands of rivers of oil?

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 Shall I give my firstborn to my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

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 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you,

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 but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Thank you. Sylvie?

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 We're not going to have an extended pastoral prayer today,

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 but let's just pray briefly as we come to God's word.

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 Heavenly Father, as we look at the scripture this morning,

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 as we've said so many times, we are not here merely to be inspired,

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 or merely encouraged, or entertained.

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 We are here to meet with you, the living God,

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 and we want to do that in your word.

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 And so, we pray, O God, that you will speak to us from your word.

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 We pray, Holy Spirit, take your words that are from your scripture,

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 and apply it to our hearts and our lives.

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 God, as we look at this topic this morning,

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 this theme of your love for justice and mercy,

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 we pray, God, that you transform our own hearts,

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 that we will become more like you.

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 And so, help us, we pray,

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 that your word come alive to us, God.

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 We pray that this won't just be the opinions of man,

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 but that really, God, we'll encounter you today in your word.

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 Come and lead and guide us, we pray.

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 In your powerful and your majestic name.

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 Amen.

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 If you've been coming to Watermark for a while,

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 you'll know we are working through this series called Watermark Essentials,

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 and we're coming to the end,

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 and we've been looking at our values as a church,

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 the foundations upon which we as a church are built.

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 And so, for four weeks, we looked at the gospel.

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 What is the gospel?

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 And the gospel really is the heart of Watermark Church.

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 You take away the gospel,

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 or if we start to drift from the gospel,

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 let's close the doors.

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 It's the reason why we exist.

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 It's the heart of our church.

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 And then we said,

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 okay, but the gospel makes us a kind of community.

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 And so, we looked at community for a couple of weeks,

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 and how the gospel shapes us as a community.

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 And then, over the last couple of weeks,

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 we've been saying,

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 yes, but God also calls us

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 to be on mission with Him.

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 That part of being part of the people of God

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 is to be part of the mission of God.

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 To be someone who follows Jesus

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 is to join Him in His redemption plan,

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 and what God is doing in the world.

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 And so, we've been saying that

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 mission is not something that the super Christians do.

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 It's not an optional extra.

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 It's not something that the pastors and the elders do.

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 It is part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus

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 is to join His redemption plan in the world.

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 But then the question is,

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 okay, but what does that mean?

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 What does it actually look like?

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 And so, last week, we answered that question one way

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 by saying,

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 to be part of God's plan for the world,

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 His redemption plan,

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 is to be agents of reconciliation.

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 And so, we said,

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 we are reconciled to bring reconciliation.

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 Today, I want to look at part two of that question.

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 What does it mean to be part of God's mission in the world?

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 And not only are we agents of reconciliation,

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 we are also God's agents of mercy and justice.

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 Okay?

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 So, that's where we're going today.

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 To be part of God's people

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 is to be part of His mission.

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 What does that look like?

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 It's to be His agents for mercy and justice in the world.

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 And we're going to do that

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 by looking at this very famous passage in Micah chapter 6.

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 Now, the background is this.

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 The book of Micah is written by this prophet called Micah.

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 You would never have guessed.

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 And he writes to the nation of Israel around 740 BC.

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 Now, at the time, Israel is not in a very good way.

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 Okay?

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 They've lost their way.

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 The nation is actually divided into two.

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 There's a northern kingdom and a southern kingdom,

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 and they don't really get along so well.

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 There is rampant wickedness and idolatry.

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 There's all sorts of craziness that is going on in the nation of Israel.

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 And God is bringing His judgment on the nation of Israel.

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 And the way that Micah is written,

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 it's written like a lawsuit.

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 God is bringing His charge or His indictment against His people.

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 And so, look at how it starts off.

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 He starts off in verse 1,

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 and He's calling His witnesses.

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 Okay?

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 So, it starts off,

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 and His witnesses is creation.

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 Look at what it says.

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 Arise.

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 Okay?

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 Remember, you've seen those scenes in the movies,

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 All Rise, the court is in session.

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 Okay?

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 He says,

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 Arise.

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 God, arise.

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 Plead your case before the mountains.

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 Let the hills hear your complaints.

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 Listen to the Lord's lawsuit,

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 you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,

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 because the Lord has a case against His people,

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 and He will argue it against Israel.

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 And so, God says,

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 I'm coming to bring my case and my lawsuit against you,

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 and He calls His witnesses to listen to His case.

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 Except, He doesn't, in the next verse,

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 lay out His case.

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 You think He's now going to say what the problem is,

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 but He doesn't actually read from the charge sheet,

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 as it were.

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 And the reason is,

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 because He's done that previously in the book of Micah,

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 chapter 2 and chapter 3.

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 God details the charges that He's bringing against His people.

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 And so, look at what He says here in chapter 3.

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 He says,

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 This is what the Lord says,

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 concerning the prophets,

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 those who lead my people astray.

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 Those who proclaim peace, peace,

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 when they have food to sink their teeth into,

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 but declare war against anyone

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 who puts nothing in their mouths.

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 Okay, so what's going on here?

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 The leaders of Israel,

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 when their bellies are full,

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 when their bank accounts are full,

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 when people are being generous and kind to them,

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 ah, peace, peace, everything's fine.

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 God bless you, brother.

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 Go on your way, as you were.

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 All's fine.

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 But as soon as things don't turn out the way that they want,

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 as soon as their bank accounts are getting a little empty,

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 or maybe somebody in the congregation

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 doesn't do what they want,

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 war!

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 God's not going to bless you.

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 If you don't do what I say,

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 well, you've got to be under God's judgment, right?

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 So when the people are doing what they want,

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 ah, peace, God bless you.

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 Go on your way.

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 But if not,

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 oh, well, God's going to be displeased with you.

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 Likewise, He goes on, verse 9.

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 Listen to this,

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 leaders of the house of Jacob,

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 you rulers of the house of Israel,

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 you who abhor justice,

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 or pervert justice,

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 and make crooked everything that's meant to be straight.

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 Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe.

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 Her priests teach for payment.

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 Her prophets practice divination for money and silver.

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 Okay, so corruption,

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 perversion of justice is taking place.

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 Maybe there's a dispute that's taking place in Israel.

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 Two people aren't getting along.

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 And they come to the leaders and say,

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 how should we deal with this?

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 And who do you think is going to get the favorable outcome?

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 The one that's going to pay the higher bribe, right?

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 Or maybe two friends,

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 or there's disagreement,

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 they come to the leaders,

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 and the leaders are always favorable towards their friends,

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 or to those that give the most money.

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 And so what happens in Israel

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 is the rich are getting richer,

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 the poor are getting poorer.

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 Those that have access to opportunities

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 get more access to opportunities.

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 Those that are disadvantaged

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 get more disadvantaged.

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 Those that are being tread on

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 or become more downtrodden,

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 because of the injustice that's happening in Israel.

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 Now, how should God's people respond?

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 God is saying there's a problem.

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 We've got to do something about it.

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 What should God's people do?

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 Well, God's people have some ideas.

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 Look at verse 6.

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 They say,

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 What shall we bring before the Lord

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 when I come and bow before the God on high?

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 What can I do to appease God

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 or to win back His favor?

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 Shall I come before Him

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 with burnt offerings

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 and year-old calves?

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 In the Old Testament,

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 a year-old calf is the choice offering.

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 So should I come with a choice offering?

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 That'll really please God.

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 Verse 7.

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 Would the Lord be pleased

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 with a thousand rams,

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 ten thousand streams of oil?

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 So pure olive oil,

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 very expensive,

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 but very important to the offering.

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 Is that what God wants?

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 Maybe I should bring

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 ten thousand streams of pure olive oil.

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 God will be pleased with me then.

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 Maybe rams and sheep,

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 a hundred rams,

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 a thousand rams.

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 Should I give my firstborn son

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 for my transgression,

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 the offspring of my body?

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 God, is that what you want?

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 God, what do you want from us?

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 Name what you want

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 and God will do it.

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 We'll bring it.

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 Will that earn your favor, O God?

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 Well, look what God's going to say.

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 What is it that God wants from His people?

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 Look at verse 8.

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 He says,

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 He has told you, O mankind,

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 what is good.

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 What does the Lord require of you?

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 To do justice,

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 to love mercy or kindness,

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 and to walk humbly with your God.

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 See, for the Israelites,

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 they knew that things weren't good.

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 God's bringing His charge against them.

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 And their response is,

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 Okay, fine.

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 God, name your price.

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 What is it that you want?

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 Do you want money?

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 We can give you money.

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 You want offerings?

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 We can give you offerings.

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 Let me write a check.

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 I can do that.

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 God, you want sacrifice?

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 How much do you want?

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 A hundred sheep?

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 A thousand sheep?

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 Ten thousand sheep?

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 God, what do you want from us?

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 And God's response is,

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 I don't want your stuff.

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 I don't want your religious piety.

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 I want your hearts.

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 I want your hearts.

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 Imagine a married couple.

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 Imagine a couple are married,

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 and the husband,

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 let's just say,

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 is,

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 something goes wrong.

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 And he is unfaithful to his wife.

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 And he comes back and he says,

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 Honey, I'm so sorry this has happened.

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 How can I put this right?

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 I'll tell you what,

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 I'll buy you a diamond ring.

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 You want an overseas holiday?

00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:40.560
 Let's go on an overseas holiday together.

00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:41.420
 Well, I don't know.

00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:42.600
 I'll buy you a new car.

00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:43.540
 Will that make you happy?

00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:45.379
 What's the wife going to say?

00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:45.600
 She says,

00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.480
 I don't want your stuff.

00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:47.560
 I want your heart.

00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:48.840
 Friends,

00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.560
 this is what God says to his people.

00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.019
 He has told you,

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:52.399
 a man,

00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:53.060
 what is good.

00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.780
 And what does the Lord require of you

00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:55.899
 but to do justice,

00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.340
 to love mercy,

00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:59.759
 and to walk humbly with your God?

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.000
 Now,

00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.740
 why is it that God requires this of them?

00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:06.280
 Of all the things that God could ask for his people,

00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:07.780
 why does he want this?

00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:11.000
 Why is this one of the pinnacle descriptions

00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.780
 of what it means to love and trust and follow God?

00:12:14.900 --> 00:12:15.920
 Throughout the scriptures,

00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:20.279
 these two things of loving and serving God

00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:21.759
 and loving and serving people

00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:24.459
 are always come together.

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:29.259
 These two things of acting with justice

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.639
 and mercy towards people

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:32.019
 and walking with God

00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:34.599
 are always found together.

00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:37.579
 As we work our way through scripture,

00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.839
 these two things are almost married to one another.

00:12:40.919 --> 00:12:42.019
 It's almost as if God says,

00:12:42.199 --> 00:12:43.939
 it's impossible for you to say,

00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.019
 you love me,

00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:47.960
 and yet have no regard for the people

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:49.419
 that I'm concerned about.

00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:51.519
 And so that's why I remember Jesus.

00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.860
 One day somebody comes to him,

00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:53.120
 says,

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:53.500
 Jesus,

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.519
 what is the greatest commandment?

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:57.559
 Out of all the laws in the Old Testament,

00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:58.639
 the hundreds of them,

00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.679
 narrow it down.

00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:02.379
 What's the greatest thing that we should do?

00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:03.939
 And what does Jesus say?

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.220
 I want you to love the Lord your God

00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.079
 with all your heart,

00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:07.720
 your soul,

00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.539
 your mind,

00:13:08.579 --> 00:13:09.059
 and your strength.

00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:09.539
 But then,

00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:11.319
 he quickly adds the second one.

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.759
 But don't forget the second one,

00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:14.139
 which is just like it.

00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:16.639
 To love your neighbor as yourself.

00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:17.639
 Now remember,

00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.199
 nobody comes to Jesus and says,

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:19.620
 Jesus,

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.840
 what are the two greatest commandments?

00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:22.179
 Just,

00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:22.620
 look,

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.539
 I know there's 600,

00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:24.759
 just give us the top two.

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.279
 Nobody does that.

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.480
 They come to him and say,

00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:27.779
 Jesus,

00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:29.039
 what's the greatest thing?

00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.039
 And he says,

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:30.879
 to love God.

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.340
 But,

00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:32.919
 there's another one,

00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.419
 which is just like it.

00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:35.939
 To love God,

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.199
 and to love your neighbor.

00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:39.340
 For on these two things,

00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.500
 hang all the law,

00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:41.740
 and the prophets.

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:41.899
 Friends,

00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.700
 to love God,

00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.620
 and to love others.

00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.799
 To serve God,

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.759
 and to serve others.

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:49.320
 To walk humbly with God,

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.980
 and to walk righteously with others.

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.480
 These two things,

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.940
 are actually two sides,

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.840
 of the same coin.

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.919
 Do you know that phrase?

00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.580
 Two sides of the same coin.

00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.560
 You've got a coin,

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.220
 and you look at,

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:00.779
 you can't say,

00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:00.940
 well,

00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:01.799
 I like this side,

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.659
 but the other side,

00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.840
 I think I'm just going to throw it away.

00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:04.139
 Right?

00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.480
 If you've got a coin,

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.460
 it's got two sides,

00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:07.759
 but they join together,

00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.419
 they married.

00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:10.319
 And what God has joined together,

00:14:10.479 --> 00:14:11.759
 let no man separate.

00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:12.419
 Right?

00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:14.899
 Jesus says,

00:14:14.979 --> 00:14:15.799
 to love God,

00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.419
 and to love others,

00:14:17.479 --> 00:14:18.539
 is what he's all about.

00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.639
 And so that's why God says to his Israelites,

00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:22.159
 mankind,

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.079
 he has told you what is good,

00:14:24.319 --> 00:14:25.979
 and what does the Lord require of you?

00:14:26.099 --> 00:14:26.759
 Now you might say,

00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:28.360
 but when did God say this?

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.299
 When did he tell them?

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.279
 I mean,

00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.679
 what verse is there,

00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:32.639
 that he told them,

00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.519
 this is what he requires of you?

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:35.659
 Friends,

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:37.059
 this is what God has always said.

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:39.539
 This is what the entire scriptures are all about.

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.219
 In many ways,

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:43.199
 this is what the entire Old Testament is about.

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:45.360
 Remember the Ten Commandments,

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:47.079
 we're going to look at them in a few weeks time,

00:14:47.219 --> 00:14:47.480
 we're going to,

00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:48.219
 in two weeks time,

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.959
 we're going to start preaching through the Ten Commandments.

00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.959
 The first four commandments are all about

00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:53.899
 what it means to walk humbly with God,

00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.379
 to have no other gods,

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.179
 no other idols,

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.919
 to honor God's name,

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.740
 and honor his Sabbath.

00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:01.579
 The next six are what it means to do justice,

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.319
 and righteousness,

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.939
 and mercy in the world,

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:06.260
 to honor your wedding vows,

00:15:06.380 --> 00:15:07.420
 to honor your parents,

00:15:07.640 --> 00:15:10.020
 to honor your words from your mouth,

00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:11.920
 to not take from others.

00:15:12.020 --> 00:15:14.780
 This has always been God's instruction to his people.

00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.360
 This is what it means to be part of the people of God.

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.620
 And so in Jeremiah chapter 9,

00:15:19.780 --> 00:15:20.780
 God says this,

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.060
 listen to this amazing verse.

00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:22.920
 He says,

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:24.160
 this is what the Lord says,

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:28.039
 let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,

00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:31.819
 let not the strong man boast in his strength,

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:35.319
 let not the rich person boast in his riches,

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:37.799
 but if you're going to boast in something,

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.719
 boast in this,

00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:41.620
 that you understand and know me.

00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:42.860
 And what does that mean?

00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.480
 Who am I?

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:46.759
 That I am the Lord who practices mercy,

00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:48.240
 and justice,

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.379
 and righteousness on the earth.

00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:53.159
 For in these things I delight.

00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:56.100
 He has told you a man what is good,

00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:58.179
 and what does the Lord require of you,

00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.220
 but to do justice,

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.679
 to love mercy,

00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.799
 and to walk humbly with your God.

00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:03.939
 Now,

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.320
 we need to define our terms here.

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.659
 What does that actually mean?

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:09.439
 What is justice and mercy?

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:11.379
 What does it mean to do these things?

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.080
 Well,

00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.100
 are you getting ready?

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.320
 This is going to be a little theoretical

00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.559
 for a few seconds,

00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:15.860
 okay?

00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:18.720
 You're going to have to have your game on.

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.800
 In the Bible,

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:22.600
 the word justice is the Hebrew word mishpat.

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:25.820
 And mishpat is a very common word

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.420
 in the Old Testament.

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.399
 It's translated in many different ways.

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:31.000
 But the broader sense is

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.820
 for things that are wrong

00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:35.000
 or out of sync with God's order,

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:37.379
 for those things to be put right again.

00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:39.639
 Or it can mean for things to operate

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:42.759
 as God intended in His created order.

00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:43.600
 Now,

00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.000
 of course,

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:46.259
 one of the ways that things can be put right

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:48.100
 is through punitive justice.

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.820
 So,

00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.060
 somebody does something wrong

00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:51.440
 and they commit a crime

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.180
 and they've got to pay for their crime.

00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:55.040
 Things are put right that way.

00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:56.340
 But in the Bible,

00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.560
 justice,

00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:58.220
 mishpat,

00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.019
 often means more than that.

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.200
 It means restorative justice.

00:17:02.800 --> 00:17:04.099
 It means to go out

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.900
 and seek

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:07.259
 things that are wrong in the world

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.700
 and to restore them

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.860
 or to put them right

00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:11.319
 as God originally intended.

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:13.079
 It means specifically

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.880
 looking out for people

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.079
 that are disadvantaged,

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.660
 that are vulnerable,

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.180
 people that are powerless,

00:17:19.800 --> 00:17:21.800
 those that are taken advantage of,

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.000
 those that are pushed

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.060
 on the outskirts

00:17:24.060 --> 00:17:25.660
 or the margins of society,

00:17:26.300 --> 00:17:27.620
 and to restore them

00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:28.820
 to a place of dignity

00:17:28.820 --> 00:17:29.720
 and equity

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.019
 and fairness.

00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:31.860
 And so,

00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:32.560
 that's why the Bible

00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:33.700
 so often talks about

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.480
 these four things,

00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:35.200
 the widows,

00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:36.320
 the orphans,

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.420
 the immigrants,

00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:38.460
 or the fatherless.

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.500
 These people

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.660
 that are most likely

00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:42.259
 to be taken advantage of,

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:42.980
 God says,

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.279
 go out and find them,

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:45.480
 go and seek them

00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:46.839
 and restore them

00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.920
 to a place of dignity

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.660
 and equity

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.799
 and equality

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.599
 in society.

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:51.660
 And so,

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.140
 for instance,

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:53.460
 in Zechariah 7,

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.259
 God says this,

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:56.319
 this is what the Lord Almighty says,

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:58.319
 administer justice,

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:58.599
 okay,

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.180
 there's our word,

00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.640
 mishpat,

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.119
 show mercy

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.819
 and compassion

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.579
 to one another.

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.859
 Do not oppress

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.359
 the widow,

00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:05.680
 the orphan,

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:06.960
 the immigrant,

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.500
 or the poor.

00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:09.839
 This is what God

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.079
 calls His people to do,

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.779
 to pursue justice,

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.880
 to pursue mishpat,

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.079
 to go out and seek

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:15.940
 those that are treated

00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.240
 less than image bearers

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.619
 of God

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.819
 and to restore them

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.240
 to things that are right.

00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:20.839
 Okay?

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:21.160
 So,

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.799
 that's our first word.

00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:22.880
 Second word

00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:25.019
 is the word mercy

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.039
 or loving kindness

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.319
 and it's the Hebrew word

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.960
 chesed.

00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:29.299
 Is that right,

00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:29.559
 Eric?

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.299
 Eric Amir

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.119
 is going to correct

00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:32.599
 my Hebrew

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.660
 later on.

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.460
 And in the Bible,

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.680
 this word mercy

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.500
 or loving justice

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.599
 doesn't speak so much

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.359
 about our actions,

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:39.980
 what we do,

00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.880
 it talks about

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.819
 our hard attitudes.

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:43.099
 It's an attitude

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.420
 of having compassion

00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.759
 and kindness

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:47.099
 towards those around us.

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.359
 It's actually the word

00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.220
 that most often

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:51.059
 describes God's

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.180
 steadfast love

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.799
 to His people.

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:53.779
 And so,

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.099
 in Micah 6 verse 8,

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.880
 it talks about this.

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:56.200
 It says,

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.980
 I want you to do justice,

00:18:58.119 --> 00:18:59.140
 I want you to go out

00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:00.140
 and find those

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.859
 that are oppressed,

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.299
 but I want you to do it

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.200
 with an attitude

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.200
 of compassion

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.140
 and kindness

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:05.859
 in your hearts.

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:06.619
 So,

00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:07.400
 Tim Keller says

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.019
 it like this.

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:08.940
 At first,

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.580
 we may think

00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:10.860
 acting justly

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.280
 and loving mercy

00:19:12.280 --> 00:19:13.540
 are two different things,

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.720
 but they're actually not.

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.440
 Acting justly

00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.580
 is the action

00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:18.519
 what we must do,

00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.400
 but being full of mercy

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.259
 and compassion

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.680
 describes the attitude

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.880
 or the motive

00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.800
 behind that action.

00:19:25.280 --> 00:19:25.440
 So,

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.120
 think about this.

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.000
 You can say,

00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:27.300
 okay,

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:27.740
 yes,

00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:28.060
 yes,

00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:29.000
 I must do justice,

00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:29.280
 right?

00:19:29.540 --> 00:19:30.380
 We must go out

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.040
 to the marginalized

00:19:31.040 --> 00:19:31.640
 and the poor,

00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:32.780
 and you can go

00:19:32.780 --> 00:19:33.580
 and do that,

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.620
 but you can do it

00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:36.079
 with an attitude

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.199
 of arrogance

00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:38.759
 or superiority

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.719
 like,

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:39.919
 oh,

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.719
 these guys,

00:19:41.219 --> 00:19:41.819
 they're so lucky

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.279
 to have me

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.859
 in their life.

00:19:43.459 --> 00:19:44.199
 They're so lucky

00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:46.159
 that I'm such a kind person.

00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.919
 I'm giving of my time.

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.179
 All we can do

00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:50.459
 is with a savior complex,

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:50.719
 right?

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:50.959
 Like,

00:19:51.239 --> 00:19:52.099
 I will come

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.539
 and save the world.

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.699
 Thank goodness

00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:55.479
 that Hong Kong

00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:56.039
 has a church

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.759
 like Watermark.

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.799
 Here we are.

00:19:58.299 --> 00:19:59.039
 Welcome us.

00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:00.059
 No,

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.200
 no,

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.259
 no,

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:00.419
 no.

00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:01.139
 Friends,

00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.700
 God says,

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.700
 I want you

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.759
 to do justice,

00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:05.139
 but do it

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.339
 with mercy,

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.559
 do it with compassion,

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.039
 with steadfast love

00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.539
 in your hearts.

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.319
 Then there's a third word

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.539
 that the Bible uses

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:16.200
 to describe God's heart,

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:18.000
 and it's the word

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.940
 tzedekah,

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:19.960
 or in English,

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.740
 righteousness.

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:22.799
 When you think

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.759
 of someone being righteous,

00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:24.919
 we can often think

00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.259
 of someone

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.819
 who is morally superior

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.659
 or very religious,

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.519
 right?

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.599
 But in the Bible,

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:33.159
 the word righteous

00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:34.200
 actually has to do

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.539
 with the way

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.940
 we handle our relationships,

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.000
 both with God

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.079
 and with one another.

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.319
 Alec Mottier

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:41.079
 is an Old Testament scholar,

00:20:41.419 --> 00:20:42.259
 and he said

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.399
 that those that are righteous

00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:44.919
 are those who are right

00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:45.639
 with God

00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:47.539
 and therefore committed

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:49.539
 to putting all other

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.960
 relationships in life

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.759
 right as well.

00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:52.879
 And so,

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.079
 according to scriptures,

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.519
 to be righteous

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.319
 is not

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:58.740
 a private standard

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.460
 of morality

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:01.059
 like being honest

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:02.100
 and not being greedy

00:21:02.100 --> 00:21:03.680
 and being sexually pure.

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.360
 Okay?

00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.880
 According to scriptures,

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.700
 being righteous

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.740
 is inherently social.

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:10.019
 It's communal.

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.240
 It's the way

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.079
 that we treat

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.100
 other people

00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:14.400
 with dignity

00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.380
 and equity

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.680
 and respect.

00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:17.720
 And so,

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.920
 look at God's call

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.779
 to his people

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.140
 to practice righteousness

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.860
 and justice.

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.779
 It's all over the Bible.

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.240
 Look at Proverbs 31.

00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:24.940
 He says this,

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.620
 Speak up,

00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:27.039
 judge righteously.

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.359
 Now,

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.079
 what does that mean?

00:21:28.659 --> 00:21:29.339
 What does it mean

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.799
 to be those

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.779
 that judge righteously?

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.240
 He says,

00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.539
 Speak up for those

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.500
 that have no voice.

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.019
 Pursue justice

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:36.000
 for the oppressed

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.079
 and the dispossessed.

00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.799
 Defend the cause

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.599
 of the oppressed

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.519
 and the needy.

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:40.720
 Or,

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.680
 Jeremiah 22,

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.619
 this is what the Lord says.

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.259
 Administer justice

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.059
 and righteousness.

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.259
 Rescue the victim

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:47.859
 of robbery

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.899
 from his oppressor.

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.119
 Don't exploit

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.480
 or brutalize

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.099
 the immigrant,

00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:52.859
 the orphan,

00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:54.159
 or the widow.

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.200
 And so,

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.040
 throughout the scripture,

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.279
 God constantly says,

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.400
 this is what it means

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.779
 to be the people of God,

00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.220
 is to love

00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.800
 and practice justice,

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.120
 to find those

00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.700
 that are oppressed

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.800
 and to raise them up,

00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:07.660
 to do so with mercy

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.900
 and compassion in our hearts

00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:10.440
 and to practice righteousness

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:12.519
 towards those around us.

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.840
 Old Testament scholar,

00:22:15.040 --> 00:22:15.980
 Jane Oswald,

00:22:16.060 --> 00:22:16.900
 says it like this,

00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:18.380
 When God called

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.540
 the rulers of his people

00:22:19.540 --> 00:22:20.640
 to do justice

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.420
 and righteousness

00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.580
 for his people,

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.879
 this didn't mean

00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:25.299
 enforcing some abstract

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.659
 law code

00:22:26.659 --> 00:22:27.859
 or to ensure

00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:29.819
 the rights of his subjects.

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:30.839
 Rather,

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.480
 it meant to be

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.359
 so in tune

00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.639
 with the sovereign God

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:34.279
 of creation,

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:36.299
 to walk with the author

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.939
 of life,

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.099
 so in tune

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.019
 with his character

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.079
 and his desires

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.759
 and his wishes,

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.960
 that his rightness,

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.740
 his order for life,

00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.460
 would be made

00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.879
 to prevail in the nation

00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:49.179
 with the inevitable result

00:22:49.179 --> 00:22:50.259
 that the good,

00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:51.359
 which is inherent

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.119
 in the creation

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.119
 of the good God,

00:22:53.479 --> 00:22:54.719
 will be unleashed

00:22:54.719 --> 00:22:56.899
 upon the earth.

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.699
 See what he's saying there?

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.819
 He's saying

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.859
 the people of God

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:03.079
 are meant to so walk

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.679
 with God

00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:05.059
 that God's heart

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.799
 of compassion

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.459
 for the poor

00:23:06.459 --> 00:23:07.179
 and the marginalized

00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:08.399
 becomes our heart.

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:10.619
 That God's desire

00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:11.939
 for those that are oppressed

00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:13.099
 becomes our desire.

00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.939
 That we so walk

00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.359
 with God

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:17.199
 that becoming like him

00:23:17.199 --> 00:23:18.699
 changes the world

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:19.319
 and the city

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.740
 in which we live.

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.960
 And so that's why

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.299
 Jesus gets so upset

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.299
 with the religious leaders

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.859
 of his day.

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.120
 Remember at one point

00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:27.440
 he says to religious leaders,

00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:27.880
 he says,

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.160
 you guys have got

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:31.059
 the technicalities down.

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:33.500
 You tithe on everything,

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.839
 even your pot plants

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.420
 in your garden.

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.259
 You know,

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.680
 you've got a mint bush

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.259
 in your garden

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.339
 and you work out,

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:39.539
 okay,

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.779
 nine leaves for me,

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.200
 one leaf for God.

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.880
 You've got some herbs

00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.519
 and spices,

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.140
 you've got,

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.359
 okay,

00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.420
 nine pots for me,

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.160
 one pot for God.

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.940
 You've worked it out

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.400
 technically,

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.519
 but you've forgotten

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.460
 and what God's

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.759
 really concerned about

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.300
 is justice

00:23:54.300 --> 00:23:55.720
 and mercy

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.400
 and righteousness.

00:23:58.800 --> 00:23:59.340
 These,

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.019
 Jesus says,

00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:01.200
 you should have abandoned,

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.300
 you should have pursued

00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:05.180
 without abandoning

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:06.640
 the first things.

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.840
 Friends,

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.160
 God's call for his people

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.759
 to be those

00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:12.019
 who practice righteousness

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.860
 and justice

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.560
 and mercy

00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:15.259
 is all over the Bible.

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:17.160
 almost every book

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.879
 in the Old Testament,

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.940
 there's this call

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.980
 to be his people

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:21.700
 that administer justice,

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:24.079
 to pursue righteousness

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.879
 and mercy.

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.640
 And it's all over the place

00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.619
 and God's call

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.160
 for his people

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.759
 is not just to be nice people,

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.839
 it's not just to be kind-hearted

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.940
 and certainly not just

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.740
 to write a check

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.960
 to ease our conscience.

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:36.420
 God calls us

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.940
 to be those

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.519
 that seek out

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.140
 the vulnerable,

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.740
 that pursue

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.879
 the disadvantaged,

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.480
 who go after

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.660
 those that are susceptible

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.540
 to abuse

00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:46.779
 and to stand with them,

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:48.120
 to speak up

00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:48.480
 for those

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.360
 that have no voice

00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.120
 in society

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:51.160
 because they've got

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.000
 no authority

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.720
 in society,

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:54.019
 to come alongside

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.580
 those that are downtrodden

00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.300
 or forgotten

00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:57.660
 and to give them

00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.980
 dignity and honor

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.120
 where society

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.680
 gives them

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.759
 no dignity and honor

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:03.240
 because they are made

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.300
 in the image of God,

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.759
 because they inherently

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.800
 have dignity

00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:09.060
 as his people.

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.340
 Now,

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:12.480
 as we come to a close,

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.880
 let's ask the question,

00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.700
 why?

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:17.460
 Why should we do this?

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.800
 Friends,

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.280
 why is it that as a church

00:25:20.280 --> 00:25:22.200
 we must be those

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.180
 that are agents

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.660
 not only of reconciliation

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:26.580
 but agents of justice

00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.280
 and mercy

00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:28.540
 in our city?

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.100
 There are about

00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:32.940
 2,700 reasons

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.000
 and we'll just

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.260
 look at a bunch of them.

00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:35.680
 Okay?

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.340
 It's all over the scripture.

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.880
 Let me just give us

00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.260
 a couple.

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.760
 One of the first reasons

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.259
 is this.

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:44.279
 Because God identifies

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:45.079
 with the poor

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.779
 and the vulnerable.

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.259
 Do you know what I mean

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:47.839
 when I say,

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.799
 when I talk about

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.519
 name dropping?

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.900
 Do you know that phrase?

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.279
 Name dropping

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.160
 is when you are

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.579
 in a conversation

00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.339
 with your friends

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:57.680
 and you drop the name

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.619
 in the conversation

00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.319
 of somebody

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.299
 really important

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.039
 or famous

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:02.500
 so that other people

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:04.259
 will associate you

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.420
 with that famous person.

00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:05.740
 Right?

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.940
 So for instance,

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:07.460
 you may be

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.519
 with your friends

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.799
 and you just casually say,

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.500
 I was talking to my friend

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.539
 Jack Ma this week

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.339
 and we were just

00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.660
 talking about

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:15.259
 investment stuff

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:17.059
 and suddenly people say,

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.700
 you know Jack Ma?

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:20.319
 And your status

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.240
 in their eyes

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.220
 gets increased.

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:22.839
 Okay?

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.720
 Or you say,

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.059
 I was just emailing

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.160
 this guy John Piper

00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.339
 and we were just discussing

00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.539
 Micah 6

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:30.000
 and talking about it

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.799
 and suddenly people say,

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.400
 you know John Piper?

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.380
 Wow, okay,

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.079
 you must be

00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:34.919
 really somebody.

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:35.779
 Well, you know,

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.559
 I was talking to my friend

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.199
 Brett Iliad

00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:38.679
 and you know Brett?

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.399
 Wow, okay,

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.779
 something like that.

00:26:43.699 --> 00:26:44.679
 In the Bible,

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:48.899
 God constantly

00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:51.259
 stands with

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.259
 or associates

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:54.159
 with a certain group

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:54.740
 of people.

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.379
 But it's not the kind

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.379
 of people you'd think

00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.879
 he does.

00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:00.079
 God constantly

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.019
 identifies

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.939
 or takes his stand

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:04.700
 with the outcasts

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.620
 and the marginalized

00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.740
 and the poor

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.820
 of society.

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.620
 The downtrodden

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.920
 and those that society

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.440
 don't look

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.480
 very well upon.

00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.200
 In Psalm 68,

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.440
 God says this,

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.620
 he introduces himself,

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.279
 think about this,

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.940
 think about how you

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.759
 introduce yourself.

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.080
 Maybe you're going to

00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:22.660
 give a talk

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.640
 at an evening

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:25.039
 and someone says,

00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.759
 this is, you know,

00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:27.480
 Reverend Dr.

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.860
 Chris Thornton.

00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.259
 Okay?

00:27:30.479 --> 00:27:31.659
 Or this is

00:27:31.659 --> 00:27:32.319
 Dr.

00:27:33.459 --> 00:27:33.899
 Samson,

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.839
 you know,

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.719
 whatever it is.

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.859
 Look at how God

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.939
 introduces himself.

00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.459
 I am the father

00:27:39.459 --> 00:27:40.500
 to the fatherless,

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.379
 the defender

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.359
 of the widows.

00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.539
 Some killer

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.240
 comments on this

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.699
 and he says,

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.539
 this is one of the

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.439
 main things that God

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.259
 is doing in the world.

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.459
 He identifies

00:27:48.459 --> 00:27:49.439
 with the powerless

00:27:49.439 --> 00:27:50.419
 and he takes up

00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.039
 their cause.

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.159
 In the ancient world,

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:54.099
 this was absolutely

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.779
 scandalous.

00:27:55.479 --> 00:27:56.019
 The gods

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.859
 and the deities

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.619
 of the day

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.900
 were always

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.579
 associated

00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:02.599
 with society's

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.099
 elites,

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.480
 with the captains

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.259
 and the commanders

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.980
 of armies,

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.160
 with the leaders

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.879
 and the generals,

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.599
 with the kings

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.200
 and the rulers

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.819
 of the world.

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.339
 The priests

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.019
 were always those

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.779
 that were associated

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:14.299
 with cultural elites.

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.960
 But here God,

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:17.000
 the God of the Bible,

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.619
 chooses to associate,

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.960
 to identify,

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.500
 to name drop

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.799
 the outcasts

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.680
 and the vulnerable

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.980
 and the abused

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.940
 and the poor

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.660
 of society.

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:28.400
 God takes a stand

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.180
 with the widows

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.120
 and the orphans

00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.140
 and the evangrists

00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.880
 and the powerless.

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:32.960
 Those that are

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.900
 most vulnerable,

00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.960
 most likely to be abused,

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:37.220
 have a special place

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.000
 in God's heart.

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.180
 And therefore,

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:39.779
 dear friends,

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.339
 they must have

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.039
 a special place

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:42.000
 in our hearts as well.

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.759
 Okay?

00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:44.779
 That's one reason.

00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:46.440
 God identifies

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.140
 with the poor

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.620
 and the vulnerable.

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.279
 Second reason is this.

00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.940
 Every human being

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.000
 is made in the image

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.440
 of God.

00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:54.059
 If you think about it,

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:55.339
 sometimes in a city

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:55.960
 like this,

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.559
 we can treat our animals

00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.460
 better than we can

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.500
 treat human beings.

00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:02.019
 That wasn't meant

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.460
 to be funny.

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:02.899
 I'm sorry.

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.440
 It was.

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.500
 We really can, right?

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:08.240
 But every human being,

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.779
 whether they are

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:11.579
 mentally challenged,

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.259
 whether they are crippled,

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.379
 whether they live

00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:15.779
 in a cage home,

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.359
 whether they are

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.480
 multi-billionaires,

00:29:17.879 --> 00:29:18.980
 every human being

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.919
 was knit together

00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:20.899
 in their mother's womb.

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.099
 And inherently

00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.099
 has a dignity

00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.159
 and an equality

00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:25.919
 and something beautiful

00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:26.740
 about them

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.959
 because they are made

00:29:27.959 --> 00:29:28.779
 in the image of God.

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.119
 Every human being

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.179
 Jesus Christ

00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:32.339
 hung on the cross for

00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.240
 and said,

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.019
 it is finished.

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.699
 Every human being

00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.579
 Jesus poured out

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.199
 his life for.

00:29:37.679 --> 00:29:38.259
 And therefore,

00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.759
 there is no human being

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.759
 on the planet

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.959
 that does not deserve

00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:43.199
 the dignity

00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:44.119
 and the respect

00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:45.039
 and the equality

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.319
 that every other

00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:46.980
 human being

00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:48.099
 deserves

00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:49.859
 and is expected of.

00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.459
 fundamentally,

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.539
 our dignity

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:54.559
 and our identity

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.279
 as people

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.179
 is not found

00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:57.179
 in our bank accounts

00:29:57.179 --> 00:29:58.099
 or where we live

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.159
 but in the fact

00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.799
 that we are made

00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.599
 in the image of God

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:02.419
 and carry his fingerprint,

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.159
 his thumbprint

00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:03.939
 upon us.

00:30:05.479 --> 00:30:06.799
 Here is one last reason.

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:09.399
 Why is it imperative

00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:10.479
 that as a church

00:30:10.479 --> 00:30:11.639
 we become agents

00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:12.779
 of mercy and justice

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.339
 in our city?

00:30:13.959 --> 00:30:14.819
 One of the reasons

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.639
 is because it will

00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:16.759
 show us the gospel.

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:19.539
 about 200 years ago

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.099
 there was this

00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.940
 Scottish preacher

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:22.279
 called Robert Murray

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.019
 McShane.

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:24.539
 It is a strange name.

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:27.240
 He died as a young man.

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.440
 He was 29 years old

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.039
 when he died.

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.019
 He was only a pastor

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.740
 for 8 years

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.920
 and yet God used him

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:34.119
 really powerfully

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:34.700
 in Scotland.

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.879
 He was trying to

00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:38.059
 urge his congregation

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.980
 to be those

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.519
 that give generously

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.480
 of their finances

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.019
 to the marginalized

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.960
 and the vulnerable

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.579
 in their city.

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.019
 But as he did this

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.960
 he found that people

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.700
 were coming back

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.920
 to him and saying

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:50.440
 but the people

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.279
 are not thankful

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.879
 or the people

00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:53.299
 in our city

00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.440
 they don't deserve it

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.500
 or when we give

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.039
 of our money

00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:57.299
 to the poor

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.160
 and the marginalized

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:58.759
 they are just

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.519
 going to abuse it.

00:30:59.619 --> 00:30:59.879
 They are going to

00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.879
 go and buy alcohol

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.339
 or they are not

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:03.099
 going to take care

00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:03.720
 of themselves.

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.759
 When we are generous

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.700
 people abuse

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.319
 our kindness

00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.859
 and they are not

00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.539
 even thankful.

00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:11.019
 Why should we do this?

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.980
 Listen to how

00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.539
 Robert Murray

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.039
 McShane

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.720
 answered them.

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.700
 He says

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.339
 some of us

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.039
 might say

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:19.359
 but my money

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.019
 is mine.

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.019
 I worked hard

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.480
 for it.

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.779
 I studied hard

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.059
 for it.

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.000
 I labored for it.

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.799
 It's my money.

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.059
 Friends

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:27.579
 might not Jesus Christ

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:28.319
 have said the same

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:28.660
 thing.

00:31:29.139 --> 00:31:30.259
 My blood is my own.

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:32.000
 My life is my own.

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:32.920
 Friends

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.799
 if Jesus had said

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.460
 that to us

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.000
 where would we

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.339
 have been?

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.639
 Some of us

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.059
 might say

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:38.240
 yeah but the poor

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.039
 and the destitute

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:40.400
 they are undeserving.

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:41.759
 Friends

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:43.299
 might not Christ

00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:44.000
 have said that

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.599
 about us.

00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:46.059
 Jesus might

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.640
 have looked at us

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:46.940
 and said

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.660
 but they're wicked.

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:48.700
 They rebel

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.680
 against my father.

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.160
 Shall I lay down

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:51.799
 my life

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.880
 for these undeserving

00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:53.279
 sinners?

00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.099
 No

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.839
 I'll give my life

00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.920
 for the good angels.

00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.519
 Dear friends

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.500
 he gave his blood

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.400
 for the undeserving

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.519
 for you

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.240
 and for me.

00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.400
 Some of us

00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:02.819
 might say

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.740
 but the poor

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.460
 will abuse

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.079
 our kindness.

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.059
 They'll take advantage

00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:06.980
 of our generosity.

00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.599
 Dear friend

00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.859
 might not Christ

00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.579
 have said the same

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.019
 of us

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.900
 and with far

00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.720
 greater truth.

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:13.839
 Christ knew

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.519
 that thousands

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.200
 would trample

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.779
 his blood

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:17.180
 under their feet.

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.539
 That most of us

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.379
 would despise

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:19.839
 his death

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.420
 on the cross

00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.519
 and that many

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:21.839
 of us

00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.480
 would use

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.240
 his mercy

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.099
 and his grace

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:24.980
 as an excuse

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.440
 to sin even more.

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.660
 And yet

00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.680
 he went to the cross

00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.500
 for us still.

00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.139
 Oh dear brother

00:32:31.139 --> 00:32:32.099
 if you would be

00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.779
 like Christ

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.940
 give much

00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:35.200
 give often

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.400
 give freely

00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.960
 to the outcasts

00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:38.579
 to the poor

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.879
 to the thankless

00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.600
 to those

00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.100
 who seem

00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:41.720
 undeserving

00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:43.300
 Christ is glorious

00:32:43.300 --> 00:32:44.120
 and he's happy

00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:45.580
 and so will you be.

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:47.020
 It's not your money

00:32:47.020 --> 00:32:47.560
 I want

00:32:47.560 --> 00:32:49.000
 it's your happiness.

00:32:49.780 --> 00:32:50.060
 Remember

00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:51.400
 Christ's own words

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.640
 it is more blessed

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.420
 to give

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:55.000
 than to receive.

00:32:57.040 --> 00:32:57.560
 Friends

00:32:57.560 --> 00:32:57.980
 as we

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:59.300
 come to a close

00:32:59.300 --> 00:32:59.920
 I want us to

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:00.920
 look at one last

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.640
 verse in Micah

00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.280
 chapter 6.

00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:02.800
 I wonder if you

00:33:02.800 --> 00:33:03.500
 picked up on it

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.420
 when we read it earlier.

00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:06.460
 The people of Israel

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:08.220
 they are convinced

00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.020
 that they are in the wrong.

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.559
 Things have not

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.779
 they are wicked

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:13.420
 they are unjust

00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:15.019
 things are going wrong

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.400
 and they are saying

00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.180
 what should we do?

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.279
 How can we put this

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:17.980
 right again?

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.240
 Should we bring

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:19.740
 an offering?

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.839
 Should we bring

00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:22.059
 gold and silver?

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.200
 Should we bring

00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:24.180
 a thousand rams?

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.079
 What should we do?

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.740
 And then in verse 7

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:28.000
 there is this amazing line

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.700
 should we offer up

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.259
 our offspring?

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:31.720
 Should we give

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.680
 our own son

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.839
 to please

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.539
 the gods?

00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.059
 Friends

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:37.119
 in the ancient world

00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:39.779
 that's what you did.

00:33:39.959 --> 00:33:40.459
 If you wanted

00:33:40.459 --> 00:33:41.579
 to please the gods

00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:43.439
 you burnt your children

00:33:43.439 --> 00:33:44.099
 in the fire

00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:44.899
 as an offering

00:33:44.899 --> 00:33:45.579
 to the gods

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.500
 to earn their favor.

00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:48.000
 Friends

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.599
 in the gospel

00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.639
 we have a God

00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.119
 who doesn't require

00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:51.779
 that of us

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:53.439
 but he did that himself.

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:54.559
 Friends

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.139
 in the gospel

00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:56.279
 we have a God

00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:56.899
 who knew

00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:57.859
 that we were lost

00:33:57.859 --> 00:33:58.859
 who knew

00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.559
 the wickedness

00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.139
 in our hearts

00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:00.839
 that knew

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.679
 that we deserved

00:34:01.679 --> 00:34:02.379
 his judgment

00:34:02.379 --> 00:34:03.359
 and rather than

00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:04.619
 requiring that of us

00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:05.619
 he gave

00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:06.399
 of himself.

00:34:06.979 --> 00:34:07.459
 He sent

00:34:07.459 --> 00:34:08.400
 his own son.

00:34:08.859 --> 00:34:09.259
 He sent

00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:09.739
 Jesus

00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:10.339
 to die

00:34:10.339 --> 00:34:10.819
 on the cross

00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:11.839
 in our place

00:34:11.839 --> 00:34:13.279
 rather than saying

00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:14.400
 what will you give

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:14.779
 of me

00:34:14.779 --> 00:34:15.819
 to be reconciled?

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:17.259
 Here we have a God

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:17.859
 that came

00:34:17.859 --> 00:34:19.019
 to the outcasts

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.059
 to the unjust

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.319
 to the undeserving

00:34:21.319 --> 00:34:22.219
 to the lost

00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:22.819
 and the broken

00:34:22.819 --> 00:34:23.380
 and he said

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.359
 I will give

00:34:24.359 --> 00:34:24.920
 you

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:26.099
 my son

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.219
 that you

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:28.119
 can be included

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.159
 in my family.

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.339
 Friends

00:34:30.339 --> 00:34:30.880
 in the gospel

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.539
 we have a God

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.759
 that doesn't require

00:34:32.759 --> 00:34:33.339
 that of us

00:34:33.339 --> 00:34:34.079
 but he gave

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.779
 of himself.

00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:36.060
 Friends

00:34:36.060 --> 00:34:37.280
 as we be those

00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.019
 that go out

00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:38.840
 to be agents

00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.480
 of mercy

00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.120
 and justice

00:34:40.120 --> 00:34:41.480
 as we join

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:41.860
 God

00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.620
 what he's doing

00:34:42.620 --> 00:34:43.260
 in the world

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:43.980
 friends

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.920
 let us never

00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.340
 forget

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.280
 that the basis

00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:47.200
 for any

00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:48.700
 mercy and justice

00:34:48.700 --> 00:34:49.519
 any grace

00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.040
 that we give

00:34:50.040 --> 00:34:50.680
 to our city

00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.960
 is the great

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.980
 mercy and grace

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.420
 that we have

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.300
 received in God.

00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.320
 Friends

00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.100
 let us remember

00:34:56.100 --> 00:34:56.960
 that we were dead

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.560
 in our sins

00:34:57.560 --> 00:34:58.320
 and God sent

00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:58.800
 his son.

00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.680
 He came to find us

00:35:00.680 --> 00:35:01.720
 he came to hang

00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.280
 on the cross

00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:03.120
 to pour out

00:35:03.120 --> 00:35:03.780
 his life for us

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.540
 to give us

00:35:04.540 --> 00:35:05.019
 new lives

00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:05.480
 that we can

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.380
 be reconciled.

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.100
 Friends

00:35:07.100 --> 00:35:07.519
 if God

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.220
 had left us

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:08.820
 where we were

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.740
 where would we be?

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:10.740
 Friends

00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:11.100
 if God

00:35:11.100 --> 00:35:11.840
 had treated us

00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.500
 as we deserve

00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.140
 what would our

00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:14.000
 future look like?

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:14.620
 Friends

00:35:14.620 --> 00:35:15.080
 if God

00:35:15.080 --> 00:35:16.080
 had only loved

00:35:16.080 --> 00:35:16.640
 and served

00:35:16.640 --> 00:35:17.200
 the worthy

00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:18.080
 who of us

00:35:18.080 --> 00:35:18.840
 would be saved?

00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.260
 No dear friends

00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:21.900
 Christ came

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.480
 from the lost

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.040
 and the broken

00:35:23.040 --> 00:35:24.260
 he came to

00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:25.120
 pour out his life

00:35:25.120 --> 00:35:25.720
 as an offering

00:35:25.720 --> 00:35:27.100
 he came to

00:35:27.100 --> 00:35:27.900
 rescue and to

00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:28.320
 save us

00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:28.840
 that we might

00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:29.600
 have hope in him

00:35:29.600 --> 00:35:31.200
 out of the overflow

00:35:31.200 --> 00:35:31.920
 of the mercy

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.560
 and the justice

00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.420
 we have received

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.980
 let us be agents

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.480
 of mercy

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.019
 and justice

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.440
 in our world.

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.719
 He has shown you

00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:39.139
 a man

00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.779
 what is good

00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.980
 and what is it

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.440
 that the Lord

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.380
 requires of us?

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:44.079
 To act justly

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:45.920
 to love mercy

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.759
 and kindness

00:35:46.759 --> 00:35:47.900
 and to walk

00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.239
 humbly

00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.019
 with our God.

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.299
 Let's pray together.

00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:56.079
 Heavenly Father

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.619
 good and gracious God

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:59.779
 God

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.239
 when we look

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:01.119
 at your word

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:06.480
 Father God

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.259
 what should we say?

00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.119
 God

00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.960
 when we read

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:12.059
 your word

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.079
 we like the nation

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.739
 of Israel

00:36:13.739 --> 00:36:16.960
 have to get on

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.299
 our knees

00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:17.599
 and say

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.559
 guilty as charged.

00:36:20.359 --> 00:36:20.759
 Father

00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:21.199
 we are

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.799
 not that different

00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:23.259
 from them.

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.699
 We are not that

00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.279
 different from the

00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:27.159
 Pharisees God.

00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:29.059
 In our lives

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:29.739
 we come and we

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.380
 do our religious

00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.219
 thing but God

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:31.839
 in our hearts

00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:32.859
 so often we are

00:36:32.859 --> 00:36:33.659
 living for ourselves.

00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.500
 Oh Father

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.259
 be gracious

00:36:35.259 --> 00:36:35.960
 towards us.

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.039
 Father

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.940
 be merciful

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.859
 towards us.

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:41.019
 Oh great God

00:36:41.019 --> 00:36:41.859
 do not give us

00:36:41.859 --> 00:36:42.599
 what we deserve

00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.139
 we pray.

00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:46.000
 Father

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.539
 we pray

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:47.039
 that as your

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.679
 gospel gets

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:48.539
 into our hearts

00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.239
 that you will

00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:50.659
 not only save us

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:51.039
 but you will

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.000
 transform us.

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:53.719
 And we pray

00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:54.559
 that we as a church

00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.219
 will be those

00:36:55.219 --> 00:36:56.339
 that are so moved

00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:57.059
 by the gospel

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:59.059
 so changed

00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.500
 by your

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.100
 incredible

00:37:00.100 --> 00:37:00.780
 faithfulness

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.260
 to us

00:37:01.260 --> 00:37:02.800
 that God

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.500
 it will soften

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.180
 our hearts

00:37:04.180 --> 00:37:04.920
 towards our

00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.480
 brothers and

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.340
 sisters in the

00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:06.960
 city and in

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.480
 this world.

00:37:08.620 --> 00:37:09.460
 God we pray

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:10.100
 that you really

00:37:10.100 --> 00:37:10.860
 will use us

00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:11.500
 as a church.

00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:14.700
 God use us

00:37:14.700 --> 00:37:15.579
 disproportionately.

00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.539
 Help us God

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.420
 to be those

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.900
 that do

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:21.559
 love and act

00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.320
 justly in our

00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:22.900
 city God.

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:24.440
 that do so

00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:25.039
 with mercy

00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:25.820
 and compassion

00:37:25.820 --> 00:37:26.880
 and steadfast

00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.460
 love in our

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.840
 hearts

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:29.400
 because we are

00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:29.880
 those that are

00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:30.539
 walking humbly

00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.000
 with you.

00:37:32.160 --> 00:37:32.960
 Father we give

00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.539
 you permission

00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.800
 to wreck our

00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.400
 lives God

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.139
 where our lives

00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:36.800
 are comfortable

00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:37.619
 and convenient

00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:38.940
 God where our

00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:40.240
 lives are tame

00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:41.340
 we pray God

00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:42.320
 come and help us

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:43.240
 to walk with you

00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:44.440
 and God that

00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.360
 will mean changes

00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.460
 we acknowledge that

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.320
 Christ come and

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:47.740
 have your way

00:37:47.740 --> 00:37:48.320
 in our life.

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:50.559
 come and have

00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.380
 your way God.

00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:52.960
 Christ come and

00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.500
 have your way in

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.300
 our church Lord.

00:37:55.180 --> 00:37:55.820
 Christ come and

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:56.360
 have your way in

00:37:56.360 --> 00:37:56.800
 our city.

00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.860
 Lord we pray that

00:37:58.860 --> 00:37:59.440
 it will be in

00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.280
 Hong Kong as it

00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:00.840
 is in heaven.

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:03.360
 Use us we pray

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:05.840
 in your powerful

00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:06.860
 and majestic name.

00:38:08.240 --> 00:38:08.600
 Amen.

00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:09.720
 Amen.