WEBVTT

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 Psalm 11 on page 548 in the Church Bibles.

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 In the Lord I take refuge.

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 How then can you say to me,

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 flee like a bird to your mountain?

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 For look, the wicked bend their bows.

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 They set their arrows against the strings

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 to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

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 When the foundations are being destroyed,

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 what can the righteous do?

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 The Lord is in his holy temple.

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 The Lord is on his heavenly throne.

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 He observes everyone on earth.

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 His eyes examine them.

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 The Lord examines the righteous,

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 but the wicked, those who love violence.

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 He hates with a passion.

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 On the wicked, he will rain fiery coals

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 and burning sulphur.

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 A scorching wind will be their lot.

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 For the Lord is righteous.

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 He loves justice.

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 The upright will see his face.

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 What's our brother ready to come and give us our message?

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 Thank you.

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 If you'd like to keep your Bibles open to page 548.

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 We're going to look at this psalm through together

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 and it would be useful if you could look down to it as we go along.

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 Let's pray first of all.

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 I'm very conscious that we need God's help to,

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 help me to be clear for one,

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 and help us all, myself and yourselves,

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 to understand and take to heart what God is saying to us today.

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 So let's pray.

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 Father, we thank you for your word.

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 We thank you for the blessing it is to read it together.

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 We thank you, Lord, for the great examples

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 and teaching that you give us of how to live our Christian lives.

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 So we do pray that you would speak to us now.

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 You would enable me, Lord, to be clear.

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 And, Lord, you would help us all to be obedient to your word.

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Here in Psalm 11, we've got two questions

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 from two different sources.

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 And each source asking that question

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 is seeing exactly the same situation

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 but drawing opposite conclusions.

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 And each question reveals the questioner's heart.

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 I don't know whether you caught that,

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 so I'm going to read it again

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 because it's quite dense.

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 I know what I've just read to you.

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 There are two questions

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 from two different sources in this psalm.

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 Each source, each person asking that question

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 sees exactly the same situation

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 but draws completely opposite conclusions.

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 Each question that's asked,

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 both questions that are asked,

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 reveal the questioner's heart.

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 Well, let's see if we can unpack a bit of that

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 as we go through.

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 The first question in this psalm

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 is in verse 3,

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 and it's a question posed by David's friends,

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 his advisors,

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 and it's this.

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 When the foundations are being destroyed,

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 what can the righteous do?

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 So this psalm was written about 3,000 years ago.

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 So in those times,

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 God's people were asking that kind of question,

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 and we still ask that question today,

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 but we might phrase it in a different way.

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 Today we might say something like,

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 when biblical principles,

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 which underpin our society,

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 when they're thrown away,

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 when they're forgotten,

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 what hope is there?

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 So whether it's politicians,

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 or sadly church leaders,

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 or society in general,

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 when those principles

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 of integrity, honesty, justice, fairness,

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 are no longer the bedrock of their actions,

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 what hope is there?

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 Well, David answers that question,

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 and I need to give you a bit of context here.

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 So this is the title of the psalm,

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 as I see it.

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 It's basically what it's about.

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 And we see that this question

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 is being asked by David's friends.

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 Notice, not his enemies,

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 being asked by his friends.

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 Why are they asking this question?

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 Well, the situation that David finds himself in

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 is that his enemies, in verse 2,

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 are trying to destroy him.

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 They're described as shooting Addo,

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 shooting arrows from the shadows.

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 So this is a,

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 we're not told a specific encounter,

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 but we know this is deadly opposition to David.

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 His enemies are out to literally,

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 physically destroy him,

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 to kill him.

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 His advisors then are telling him to give up,

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 to run.

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 And if you look down there at verses 1 to verse 3 in your Bibles,

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 you'll see what they say is in speech marks.

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 Can you see the speech marks there?

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 So in short,

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 what David's friends are saying to him is,

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 run.

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 There are people out to kill you.

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 You cannot cope with this situation.

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 All is lost.

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 Run.

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 And then they use this strange phrase,

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 flee like a bird to your mountain.

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 We could see this as saying something like this.

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 As birds fly up to safer ground when they're frightened,

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 so you should seek the safety of the mountains.

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 Escape while you can.

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 If you don't believe that's a fact,

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 that birds are scared by sudden noises,

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 then all the pigeons that sit on our roof,

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 if you stand in the car park,

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 and you make a car backfire,

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 or perhaps you just drop something heavy,

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 they all fly up,

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 and they fly up to what they think is safer ground.

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 Well, that's what David's friends are saying to him.

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 So a question for you, okay?

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 Assuming the situation was as bad as the advisors thought,

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 was this good advice they were giving,

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 or was it bad advice?

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 Should he run?

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 Should he hide?

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 Or should he stand his ground against an enemy he couldn't combat?

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 Well, from his advisor's point of view,

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 and from what they could see,

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 this was clearly good advice.

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 And they try and convince David of this,

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 in the words of this psalm.

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 In verse 2, they say,

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 can you see these words?

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 They say,

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 for look.

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 In other words,

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 look at the situation you are in.

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 But David could see that,

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 rather than being good advice,

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 this looking was the root of their problem.

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 They were judging the situation by just what they could see,

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 and no more.

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 So what was David's response?

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 His response here is the second question in the psalm,

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 was,

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 how can you say this?

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 He says there in verse 1,

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 In the Lord I take refuge.

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 How then can you say to me,

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 flee like a bird to your mountain?

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 I'm taking refuge in the Lord,

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 says David,

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 therefore I need not worry or fear.

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 David's response is what,

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 a similar response to what we read in 2 Corinthians 5, 7,

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 where it talks about the Christian,

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 God's person,

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 living by faith,

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 not by sight.

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 I was reading two chronicles in my Bible readings yesterday,

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 and I came across a really interesting verse,

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 which is very similar here to what the situation David faced.

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 But this is King Hezekiah years earlier,

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 sorry,

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 years after this,

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 saying a similar thing,

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 when the hordes of the Assyrian army were closing in on Jerusalem,

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 and again,

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 they were completely outnumbered by the Assyrians,

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 and people no doubt would have said to Hezekiah,

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 all is lost.

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 But Hezekiah said this,

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 I'll read them to you if you want to look them up,

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 you can on page 465,

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 but I'll read this to you.

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 Be strong and courageous.

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 This is what Hezekiah is saying to his people.

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 Be strong and courageous.

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 Do not be afraid or discouraged,

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 because the king of Assyria and the vast army with him,

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 for there is a greater power with us.

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 Literally,

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 greater power than us is,

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 there are more with us.

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 For there is more with us than with him.

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 With him is only the arm of flesh,

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 but with us is the Lord our God,

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 to help us and to fight our battles.

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 So those words there,

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 with him is only the arm of flesh,

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 but with us is the Lord our God.

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 That changes the dynamic,

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 that changes the situation entirely.

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 David's version of this,

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 of what Hezekiah said is,

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 the Lord is my refuge,

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 why should I fear?

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 And David spells out there in verses 4 to 7,

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 why he is not afraid,

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 why he doesn't think he should fear.

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 In verse 4,

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 he says that God is reigning in heaven,

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 that he sees all.

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 And in verses 4 and 5,

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 he sees the righteous and the wicked.

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 So he sees the situation.

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 Verse 6,

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 he will judge the wicked.

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 And verse 7,

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 he brings justice to the righteous.

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 We know that because he says,

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 they will see his face.

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 He doesn't say to his friends,

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 what you are seeing is wrong.

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 You must change your glasses,

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 if they had glasses in those days.

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 What you are seeing is wrong.

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 No, he can't say that,

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 because what they are seeing is true.

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 He can't say,

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 you are understanding this wrong.

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 No one is really out to get me,

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 because they could see it with their eyes.

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 But he does say,

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 God is bigger than this situation.

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 The Lord is in control.

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 He sees all that is going on.

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 And he will deliver the righteous.

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 And he will judge the wicked.

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 It's not just that he realises

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 that God is in control

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 and he need not fear.

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 But there's another element to this.

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 He refuses to run

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 and therefore be deflected

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 from what purposes God had for him.

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 whatever the opposition is

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 he was going to face.

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 So what does this psalm

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 have to say to us today?

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 We see from the title,

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 if you look back at your Bibles there,

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 just above verse one,

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 you see the title

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 for the director of music of David,

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 that this was a song,

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 this was written as a song,

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 and it's a song to be sung,

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 sent to the director of music.

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 And this psalm,

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 as well as other psalms,

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 was to be sung

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 by all of God's people.

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 This psalm was in the

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 Israelites' songbook,

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 if you like.

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 They used it in worship.

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 And why was it so important?

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 Why was it put here in Scripture,

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 not just for the Israelites to sing,

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 but for us to reflect on today?

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 Well, I think there are two truths here,

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 which is important for believers

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 of any generation,

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 for every one of us sitting here this morning.

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 The first is that whatever our circumstances

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 look like,

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 God is fully in control,

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 so we can fully trust him.

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 The second thing,

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 as David was seeing,

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 we must not be deflected

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 from God's purposes for us.

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 We're going to look at these

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 a little bit closer,

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 just these two points here.

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 God is in control.

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 In particular,

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 God's control is shown

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 by verses four to seven.

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 The fact that he sees,

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 and he doesn't just see,

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 but he has the power,

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 and the will,

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 and the purpose to act.

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 We're told that he sees the righteous,

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 and will save them.

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 He sees the wicked,

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 and will judge them.

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 So,

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 take time to think right now

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 that God

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 sees

00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:08.419
 and understands

00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:09.819
 you completely

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.980
 this morning.

00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:14.060
 He sees

00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.540
 maybe your anxiety

00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:16.400
 about your

00:14:16.400 --> 00:14:17.740
 present situation,

00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:19.900
 about work,

00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:21.220
 family problems,

00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.660
 financial hardships.

00:14:24.020 --> 00:14:25.020
 Maybe you have

00:14:25.020 --> 00:14:25.879
 housing issues,

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.940
 or maybe you suffer

00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.900
 with poor health.

00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:29.040
 Well,

00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:30.580
 God sees those things,

00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:33.360
 and according to this psalm,

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.360
 he will save you.

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.600
 Though he may not

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.940
 take the issue away,

00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:40.220
 his promise

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:41.240
 is to be with you

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.920
 through it,

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.640
 and to be

00:14:43.640 --> 00:14:44.780
 your refuge,

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.420
 as he was to David.

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.260
 This word refuge

00:14:48.260 --> 00:14:49.900
 comes repeatedly

00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:51.020
 through the psalms.

00:14:51.760 --> 00:14:52.440
 I wouldn't do

00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:53.220
 a count of it.

00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:54.860
 I'd need more fingers

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.460
 than I could

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.440
 count on.

00:14:56.780 --> 00:14:58.340
 It comes time and time again

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.240
 in the psalms,

00:14:59.300 --> 00:15:00.140
 this idea of

00:15:00.140 --> 00:15:02.040
 God being our refuge.

00:15:02.640 --> 00:15:03.740
 And it's describing

00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:04.560
 a place

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.540
 of safety.

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:08.120
 If you've trusted

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.679
 Christ,

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.319
 then you are

00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:10.799
 in the safest place

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.620
 you can possibly be.

00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.379
 You're in his shelter.

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.620
 You're under

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.879
 his protection.

00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:23.039
 A story

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.399
 in Genesis chapter 6,

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.899
 it's the truth,

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:26.539
 it's history,

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:29.480
 is Noah's Ark,

00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:30.759
 where Noah,

00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.399
 you remember

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.860
 from your Sunday school days,

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:35.039
 brought the animals

00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:35.860
 into the ark.

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.639
 And

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.320
 this is an illustration

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.919
 here,

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.960
 the ark is an illustration

00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:43.519
 of what David's

00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:43.899
 saying,

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:44.620
 that in the Lord

00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.700
 he takes refuge.

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.460
 If you've taken

00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.639
 refuge in God,

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.519
 you're safe

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.340
 no matter what

00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.080
 floods,

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.120
 what trials

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.600
 you may face.

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.460
 He faces them

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:56.980
 with you.

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.580
 But if you haven't

00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.960
 taken refuge in Christ,

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:01.980
 not only

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.400
 do you have

00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:03.040
 to face

00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:04.500
 life's trials

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.280
 alone,

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.060
 but you also

00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:07.800
 have to face

00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:08.700
 God's judgment

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.639
 alone.

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:13.620
 But God

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.240
 has provided

00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:14.780
 a way

00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:15.660
 that we can

00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.360
 take refuge

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:16.860
 in him.

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:17.639
 So God

00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.700
 sees his people,

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:19.940
 but God

00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:20.879
 also sees

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.379
 those

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.160
 who are wicked.

00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.780
 In this psalm,

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.480
 they're described

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.240
 as those

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.759
 who love

00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.540
 violence.

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:27.759
 That's how

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.720
 they're typified

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.940
 there in verse 5.

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.480
 But the word

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:31.820
 wicked

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:33.060
 also describes

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:34.100
 those who are

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:35.300
 quite content

00:16:35.300 --> 00:16:35.920
 to live their

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:36.720
 lives with

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.700
 little reference

00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:38.220
 to God

00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.280
 or with no

00:16:39.280 --> 00:16:40.160
 reference to God.

00:16:41.400 --> 00:16:42.340
 Those of us

00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:42.940
 who insist

00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.540
 on living

00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:44.740
 apart from him.

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.980
 The warning

00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.940
 to us today

00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:49.759
 and the fearful

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.740
 thing is that

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:52.060
 God will grant

00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:53.000
 those people

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.480
 the desire

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.540
 of their heart,

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.500
 but they will

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.220
 come under

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.300
 his judgment

00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:00.259
 as we read

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.820
 there in

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.500
 verse 6.

00:17:03.160 --> 00:17:03.680
 God is in

00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.180
 control.

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.579
 God is bigger

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:05.960
 than our

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.720
 situation.

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.279
 He sees

00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.860
 and he acts

00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:10.880
 to save the

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.279
 believer

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.940
 and judge

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.100
 the unbeliever.

00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.099
 God is bigger

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:18.899
 than our

00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.339
 God.

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:21.359
 The next thing

00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.399
 that I think

00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:23.159
 this psalm mainly

00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.319
 says to us is,

00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.339
 don't be deflected

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:25.500
 from the purposes

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.959
 God has for you.

00:17:27.959 --> 00:17:28.759
 I'll take you back

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.399
 now to another

00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.480
 Old Testament story,

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.459
 the story of Jonah.

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.379
 God had a mission

00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:33.879
 for him,

00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:34.379
 didn't he?

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:34.939
 Do you remember

00:17:34.939 --> 00:17:35.619
 what that was?

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.459
 It was the preach

00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:38.000
 to the people

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.559
 of Nineveh.

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.039
 Jonah.

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.559
 But instead,

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.659
 he ran away

00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:42.579
 to Tarshish

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.599
 in the opposite

00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.179
 direction.

00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:45.179
 He did the opposite

00:17:45.179 --> 00:17:45.940
 to what David

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.500
 was doing.

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.980
 David would not

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.119
 let his circumstances

00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.619
 or those around

00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.419
 him deflect him

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:51.940
 from God's

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:52.460
 purpose,

00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:54.259
 but Jonah

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:54.639
 did.

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.859
 David's purpose

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.139
 here was to

00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.859
 be king

00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.839
 and to lead

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.379
 his people.

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.079
 We've been seeing

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.700
 that through

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.619
 2 Samuel,

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.179
 haven't we?

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.500
 David was God's

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:04.960
 anointed.

00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.059
 It was God's

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:07.919
 purpose for him

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.880
 to be a good

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.240
 king,

00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:10.259
 to lead his

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:10.660
 people.

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.900
 How can he do

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.759
 this if he runs

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.140
 away?

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.380
 So it's important

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.120
 that he stands

00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:16.700
 his ground

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.140
 and he fulfills

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:18.900
 God's purpose

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.519
 for him.

00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:21.019
 But for us

00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.660
 sitting here

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.259
 or standing

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.080
 here this morning,

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.840
 what is God's

00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:24.900
 purpose for us?

00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.560
 What does God

00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.460
 call us to?

00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:28.940
 Well,

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.480
 personally,

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.940
 what has God

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:32.279
 called you to?

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.759
 Maybe you

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.360
 haven't thought

00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:36.480
 of this in

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.539
 quite those terms

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:37.899
 that God

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.639
 has a purpose

00:18:38.639 --> 00:18:39.319
 for you.

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.539
 But he does

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.159
 and he has

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.639
 called you

00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.440
 to be faithful

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.139
 to that.

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.240
 Now,

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:46.759
 if you're not

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.220
 a Christian

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.920
 this morning,

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.420
 the Bible

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.299
 says that the

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.859
 first thing

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.180
 that God

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.720
 calls you

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.940
 to is

00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:53.659
 repentance

00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:55.319
 so that you

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.799
 may know

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.500
 his forgiveness

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.379
 and that you

00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.339
 may come

00:18:59.339 --> 00:18:59.779
 into his

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.180
 family.

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.440
 Jesus said

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.159
 in Mark

00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:04.059
 chapter 1,

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.639
 the time

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.180
 has come,

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.200
 the kingdom

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.840
 of God

00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:07.259
 has come

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.640
 near,

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.500
 repent

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:10.720
 and believe

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.100
 the good

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:11.580
 news.

00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:13.160
 That's

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.200
 everyone's

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.039
 starting point.

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.180
 It's my

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.060
 starting point

00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:18.779
 when I was

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.240
 a kid of

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.740
 13,

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:20.600
 and God,

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.100
 I opened

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:21.660
 my eyes

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.140
 to this.

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.100
 We need

00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:24.720
 to repent

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.480
 and put

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:25.880
 ourselves

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.360
 right with

00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:26.700
 God.

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.640
 But if you

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:27.980
 are a

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.340
 Christian,

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:29.940
 I wonder

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.360
 what you

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:30.960
 think God

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.480
 has called

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.099
 you too.

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.880
 There are

00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:35.360
 generally

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:36.099
 things that

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:36.420
 God has

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.900
 called us

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.140
 to.

00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.059
 Matthew 5

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.980
 tells us

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.279
 that we're

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.819
 to shine

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.480
 as lights,

00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:40.880
 we're to

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:42.920
 live a good

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.640
 life so that

00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:43.960
 God is

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.740
 glorified.

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.200
 2 Corinthians

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.019
 chapter 2

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.680
 tells us

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.319
 that if

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.660
 we're a

00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.039
 Christian,

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.440
 we're to

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:49.860
 be the

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.660
 aroma of

00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.700
 Christ to

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.299
 those around

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:52.779
 us.

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.539
 Or chapter

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.400
 5 of 2

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.900
 Corinthians,

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.400
 we're to

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.880
 be reconcilers,

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.299
 to call

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.160
 other people

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.220
 to be

00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.100
 reconciled

00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:02.640
 to God.

00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:04.480
 But in

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.120
 Psalm 11,

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.240
 I think

00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.060
 what God

00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:08.779
 is primarily

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.460
 calling us

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.700
 to is

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.980
 to persevere,

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.820
 to endure,

00:20:14.080 --> 00:20:14.480
 to keep

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.100
 the faith,

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.320
 not to

00:20:16.320 --> 00:20:16.779
 give up.

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.759
 If you

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.360
 have your

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:22.759
 Bibles,

00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.300
 if you'd

00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:23.620
 like to

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.040
 turn to

00:20:24.040 --> 00:20:24.420
 page

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.660
 1180,

00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:26.820
 you'll

00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:27.220
 find that

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.480
 that's

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.120
 Philippians

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.060
 chapter 3

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.339
 and there's

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.000
 four verses

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.539
 there that

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:31.980
 I'd like

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.740
 us to

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.119
 read.

00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.859
 I'll read

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.240
 it to

00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:34.539
 you.

00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:35.919
 And this

00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:36.500
 is key

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.099
 to this

00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:38.500
 idea of

00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:39.419
 endurance,

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.879
 perseverance.

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:43.700
 Philippians

00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:44.539
 chapter 3

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.379
 verse 12

00:20:45.379 --> 00:20:47.000
 and this

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.240
 is the

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.919
 apostle Paul

00:20:47.919 --> 00:20:48.419
 speaking.

00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.420
 verse 13

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.420
 verse 13

00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:50.539
 I press

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.259
 on to

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.000
 take hold

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.560
 of that

00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:53.420
 for which

00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:53.860
 Christ

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.279
 Jesus

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.920
 took hold

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.400
 of me.

00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:57.279
 Brothers

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.940
 and sisters,

00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.060
 I do not

00:20:59.060 --> 00:20:59.960
 consider myself

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.539
 yet to have

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.100
 taken hold

00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:01.519
 of it,

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:03.000
 but one

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.900
 thing I do,

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.019
 forgetting what

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.600
 is behind

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.460
 and straining

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.840
 forward to

00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:09.200
 what is

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.680
 ahead,

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.300
 I press

00:21:11.300 --> 00:21:11.940
 on toward

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.960
 the goal

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.000
 to win

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.759
 the prize

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.740
 for which

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.779
 God has

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.500
 called me

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.379
 heavenward

00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.079
 in Christ

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:19.640
 Jesus.

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.519
 So what's

00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.019
 the goal

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.700
 that Paul

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.299
 is talking

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.019
 about here

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.460
 in Philippians

00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.299
 chapter 3?

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:26.920
 Well the

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.619
 earlier part

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.420
 of the

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:28.839
 chapter,

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:31.019
 Paul describes

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.559
 it as

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.579
 knowing Christ

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.440
 better and

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.519
 better in

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.220
 this life.

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:35.940
 That was

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.460
 his goal,

00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:36.879
 that was

00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.339
 his aim,

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:37.680
 that was

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.220
 his great

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.900
 purpose.

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.200
 So even

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.099
 more than

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:43.359
 being the

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.759
 great apostle

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.159
 that he

00:21:45.159 --> 00:21:46.240
 was and

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.859
 preaching to

00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:47.779
 the Gentiles,

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.379
 his greatest

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.339
 goal was to

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.500
 know Christ

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.179
 better.

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.000
 Now if

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.759
 anyone knew

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.439
 Christ,

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:56.839
 you would

00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.179
 think it

00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:57.419
 was the

00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.079
 apostle Paul.

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.619
 Jesus had

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.759
 revealed himself

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.419
 to him on

00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:02.899
 the road to

00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.500
 Damascus,

00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.279
 as we know,

00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.000
 and he was

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.779
 the foremost

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.279
 of the

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.959
 apostles as

00:22:08.959 --> 00:22:09.779
 we see him

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.139
 now.

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.459
 But his

00:22:11.459 --> 00:22:11.859
 goal,

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.479
 he wasn't

00:22:12.479 --> 00:22:13.199
 satisfied

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.680
 until he

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.160
 could know

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.700
 Christ

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:16.480
 better and

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.819
 better.

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.799
 I wonder

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.740
 whether that

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.100
 is our

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:19.620
 goal this

00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.000
 morning.

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.759
 What is

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.259
 this heavenly

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.580
 prize Paul

00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.000
 is looking

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.720
 forward to

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.460
 in Philippians

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:26.840
 3?

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.559
 Well it's

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.080
 Christ.

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:30.700
 There's no

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.039
 other,

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.080
 more than

00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:34.460
 wanting the

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:34.860
 goal of

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.200
 heaven,

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.319
 more than

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:36.860
 wanting

00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:38.220
 anything he

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.640
 could hope

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:38.980
 for.

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.319
 It was to

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.600
 have Christ,

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:43.179
 to see

00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:43.719
 him face

00:22:43.719 --> 00:22:44.339
 to face.

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.539
 David says

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:46.939
 a similar

00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:47.359
 thing at

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:47.679
 the end

00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.819
 of Psalm

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.199
 11,

00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:50.000
 verse 7.

00:22:50.719 --> 00:22:51.059
 He says,

00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.419
 for the

00:22:51.419 --> 00:22:51.859
 Lord is

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.240
 righteous,

00:22:52.439 --> 00:22:52.799
 he loves

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.439
 justice,

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.740
 the upright

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.719
 will see

00:22:55.719 --> 00:22:56.779
 his face.

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:56.920
 death.

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.019
 So if

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.539
 Jesus is

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:03.980
 the centre

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.379
 of all

00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:04.740
 this,

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.980
 we ask

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.339
 ourselves

00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:06.980
 a question,

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.619
 how was

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.339
 Jesus the

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.099
 fulfilment

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.680
 of this

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.160
 psalm?

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:12.879
 We've seen

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.200
 in the

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.680
 psalm that

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.539
 God saves

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.119
 his people

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.259
 and he

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.500
 brings

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.940
 judgment

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.379
 on the

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:17.599
 wicked.

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.199
 When we

00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:20.519
 look at

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:20.959
 the death

00:23:20.959 --> 00:23:21.259
 and the

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.719
 resurrection

00:23:21.719 --> 00:23:22.359
 of Jesus,

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.119
 we see

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.699
 there both

00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:25.619
 God saving

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:27.459
 people and

00:23:27.459 --> 00:23:28.079
 God bringing

00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.759
 his judgment.

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.539
 This time,

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.139
 not on the

00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:31.399
 wicked,

00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:32.639
 but on the

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.539
 perfect son

00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.019
 of God.

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.000
 You're

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.399
 probably

00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.659
 familiar with

00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.639
 Isaiah chapter

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.339
 53,

00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:41.879
 verse 5

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:42.519
 says this,

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:42.959
 he was

00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:44.240
 pierced for

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.439
 our transgressions,

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:47.100
 he was

00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:47.799
 crushed for

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.740
 our iniquities,

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.660
 the punishment

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.240
 that brought

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.880
 us peace

00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.299
 was on

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.680
 him,

00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:54.440
 and by

00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.259
 his wounds

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.140
 we are

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.539
 healed.

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.240
 So the

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.920
 cross wasn't

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.519
 a dreadful

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.000
 accident,

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.740
 it wasn't

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.220
 that Jesus

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.960
 couldn't help

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.460
 himself,

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.440
 but as he

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:08.960
 was hanging

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.480
 there on

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:09.980
 the cross,

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:10.940
 he was in

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.759
 our place,

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.279
 bearing the

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.900
 judgment of

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.400
 God on

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.039
 our sin,

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.880
 so that

00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.460
 we can be

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:19.120
 forgiven and

00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:19.960
 saved from

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.580
 the judgment

00:24:20.580 --> 00:24:21.220
 that we

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.940
 deserve

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.640
 ourselves.

00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.220
 So his

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.580
 death and

00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.120
 resurrection

00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:27.680
 shows us

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.440
 the salvation

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.400
 and the

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:29.980
 judgment of

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.279
 God,

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.019
 both at the

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.660
 same time.

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.019
 But secondly,

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.080
 Jesus is the

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:36.820
 fulfillment of

00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:37.299
 this psalm

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:37.740
 because we

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.340
 see in

00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.860
 Jesus the

00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.940
 perfect example

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.620
 of one who

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.240
 would not be

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:43.880
 deflected from

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.900
 God's purpose

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.900
 for him,

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.120
 his father's

00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:47.660
 calling on

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.240
 his life.

00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:49.980
 And we

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.400
 see what

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.160
 that was

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.600
 exactly in

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:52.960
 Matthew

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.360
 chapter 20

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.300
 verse 28,

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.800
 the son of

00:24:56.800 --> 00:24:57.259
 man did

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.040
 not come to

00:24:58.040 --> 00:24:59.580
 be served,

00:25:00.580 --> 00:25:01.080
 but to

00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:02.580
 serve and

00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.160
 to give his

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:05.320
 life as a

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.000
 ransom for

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.300
 many.

00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:07.980
 That was

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.900
 Christ's

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.700
 calling,

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:10.799
 man,

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.400
 that was

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:11.960
 to do

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.720
 his father's

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.799
 will and

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.120
 to give

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:14.580
 his life

00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.080
 a ransom

00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:15.640
 for many.

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.480
 And we

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.400
 see in

00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:18.819
 the life

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.360
 of Jesus

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:21.380
 that he

00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:21.960
 was tempted

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.400
 and he

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.220
 suffered far

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.600
 more than

00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.160
 we are

00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:25.620
 to give

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:25.880
 up.

00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:29.759
 It's

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.319
 strange to

00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:30.720
 think that

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.100
 in a way,

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.420
 isn't it?

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.100
 Because Jesus

00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.900
 the perfect

00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.160
 God-man,

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:36.519
 we know

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:36.820
 he was

00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:37.220
 tempted,

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:37.779
 but he

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.259
 was also

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.620
 tempted to

00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.100
 give up

00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:40.840
 the cross.

00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:43.759
 When the

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.380
 devil tempted

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.779
 him in

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.040
 Matthew

00:25:45.040 --> 00:25:46.080
 chapter 4,

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.800
 he was

00:25:49.800 --> 00:25:50.320
 given three

00:25:50.320 --> 00:25:51.120
 temptations,

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.560
 wasn't he?

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.100
 The first

00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.680
 was to

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.840
 turn stone

00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:55.860
 into bread,

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.560
 but all

00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:57.960
 three

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:59.140
 temptations

00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.779
 was temptation

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.480
 to go

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.680
 against what

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.380
 God wanted

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.019
 for him.

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.220
 And therefore

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.900
 to sin.

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.920
 If Jesus

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.940
 had sinned,

00:26:09.800 --> 00:26:10.860
 his substitution

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.720
 on the cross

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.240
 would be no

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.019
 use for us

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.480
 because he

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:13.980
 wouldn't be

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.019
 the perfect

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.420
 man.

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.320
 So the

00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:18.880
 devil tried

00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.460
 to deflect

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:19.940
 him from

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.500
 this by

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:22.240
 making him

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.580
 sin,

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:22.920
 but he

00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.519
 would not

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.700
 yield to

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:24.980
 those

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.720
 temptations.

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.300
 The temptation

00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:27.820
 to jump

00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:28.180
 off the

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.940
 temple roof.

00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:30.560
 What would

00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.100
 have happened

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.740
 if Jesus

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.180
 would have

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.460
 said,

00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:32.720
 well,

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.040
 sure,

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.440
 I will

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.100
 be safe,

00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.019
 let me

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:36.920
 just do

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.440
 this one

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.800
 thing.

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.759
 What would

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.120
 have happened

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.920
 if he had

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.400
 done that?

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.600
 Well,

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.140
 he probably

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.540
 would have

00:26:42.540 --> 00:26:42.860
 had the

00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.480
 adulation

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:43.900
 of the

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.340
 crowd.

00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.140
 He would

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.420
 have been

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.019
 put forward

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:46.500
 as some

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.019
 kind of

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.880
 the true

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.440
 Messiah,

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.060
 the true

00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:52.320
 one sent

00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:52.779
 from God.

00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:53.220
 Of course

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.880
 he was,

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.340
 but he

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:55.779
 wouldn't have

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.460
 been allowed

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.040
 to go to

00:26:57.040 --> 00:26:57.620
 the cross.

00:26:58.340 --> 00:26:58.860
 He wouldn't

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.380
 have suffered

00:26:59.380 --> 00:26:59.759
 in our

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.259
 place.

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:01.759
 So

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.099
 throughout

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.500
 Jesus'

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.119
 life,

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.500
 there were

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.079
 things that

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.559
 would throw

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.180
 him off

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:07.400
 his mission

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:07.759
 to the

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.140
 cross.

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.059
 Even his

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.160
 close friend

00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.759
 and disciple

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.259
 Peter,

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.660
 Matthew

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.559
 chapter 16,

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.180
 when Jesus

00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:14.859
 told him

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.160
 that he

00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:15.539
 was going

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.279
 to suffer

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:17.640
 and be

00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.079
 killed,

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.119
 what did

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.779
 Peter say?

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.700
 Never,

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.200
 Lord,

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.440
 this shall

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.000
 never happen

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.519
 to you.

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.519
 Do you

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:25.799
 remember

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.440
 what Jesus

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.960
 said to

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.240
 Peter?

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.639
 Get behind

00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:29.879
 me,

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.240
 Satan,

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:30.920
 you are a

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.299
 stumbling

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.119
 block to

00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:32.420
 me.

00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.720
 Peter was

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.319
 a stumbling

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:36.180
 block because

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:37.440
 he was

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:39.259
 inadvertently,

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:39.720
 he didn't

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.680
 really understand

00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.119
 the full

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.759
 impact of

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.099
 this,

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:42.920
 but he

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:45.160
 was distracting

00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.720
 Jesus,

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.379
 he was

00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:47.579
 deflecting

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:47.900
 him off

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.440
 of God's

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.259
 path for

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.539
 him.

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:50.660
 Jesus had

00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.019
 to go

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.559
 through to

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.119
 the cross.

00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:55.939
 Luke 9

00:27:55.939 --> 00:27:56.479
 51,

00:27:58.199 --> 00:27:59.639
 and this

00:27:59.639 --> 00:27:59.919
 is the

00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:01.079
 last verse

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.500
 in this

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:01.899
 section,

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.599
 and we're

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.000
 coming to

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.399
 a close

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:03.679
 now.

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.119
 We read

00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:06.439
 this,

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:06.839
 as the

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.539
 time approached

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:07.859
 for him

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.139
 to be

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.619
 taken up

00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.079
 to heaven,

00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.859
 Jesus

00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.579
 resolutely

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.259
 set out

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.979
 for Jerusalem.

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.679
 So when

00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:16.079
 he knew

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.679
 his death

00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:17.599
 was imminent,

00:28:19.479 --> 00:28:20.119
 he didn't

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:20.479
 run,

00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:21.759
 he set

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.279
 out to

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.799
 the place

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.220
 of his

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.839
 execution.

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.500
 Why was

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.160
 he resolute?

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:27.879
 Why would

00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:28.359
 he not be

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.019
 deflected?

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.440
 Well,

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.859
 because he

00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:31.220
 was doing

00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:31.879
 his father's

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.160
 will,

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.200
 and in

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.879
 doing that

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.359
 he could

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:35.819
 bear the

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.200
 judgment

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:37.079
 that the

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.359
 wicked

00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:38.619
 deserve,

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.779
 as it's

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.200
 set out

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.599
 there in

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.220
 verse 6

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.180
 of Psalm

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.559
 11.

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.619
 So just

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.299
 in conclusion

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:50.740
 now,

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:52.680
 God sees

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.579
 and understands

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.039
 whatever

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.680
 difficulties

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.120
 we're

00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:55.620
 facing,

00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:56.440
 whatever

00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.059
 difficulties

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.799
 you're

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.220
 facing

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.559
 at the

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:58.940
 moment,

00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:01.120
 and he

00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:01.859
 also sees

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.140
 those

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.660
 difficulties

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.220
 that you

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.039
 can't see

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.359
 that are

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:04.599
 going to

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.160
 happen to

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.759
 us in

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.880
 2025.

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.660
 But as

00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.200
 we step

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.640
 into that

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.200
 new year

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.160
 very soon,

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:13.599
 let's

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.019
 remember

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.819
 that everything

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.980
 is in

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.720
 his care

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.079
 and under

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.880
 his control.

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.420
 No matter

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.100
 how frightening

00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:21.720
 it may seem

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.240
 to us,

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.000
 no matter

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.640
 how out

00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.180
 of control

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:24.680
 we may

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.180
 seem,

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.220
 everything

00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.720
 is under

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.480
 his care

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.380
 and under

00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.039
 his control.

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.480
 We need

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.160
 not fear.

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:34.980
 walk that

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.540
 road with

00:29:35.540 --> 00:29:36.080
 Christ,

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.720
 press on

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.300
 to trust

00:29:38.300 --> 00:29:39.100
 him more

00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:39.740
 and more

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.700
 and to

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.080
 know him

00:29:41.080 --> 00:29:41.480
 better.

00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:43.680
 In other

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.060
 words,

00:29:44.320 --> 00:29:44.920
 persevere.

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:47.420
 if you

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:47.740
 have your

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.160
 Bibles,

00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.080
 the last

00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:49.720
 reading we're

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.080
 going to

00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.660
 have is

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.740
 on page

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:53.120
 1210,

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:55.279
 1210.

00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.100
 It's

00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:56.420
 Hebrews

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.420
 chapter 12

00:29:57.420 --> 00:30:00.519
 and I'm

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:00.820
 just going

00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:01.220
 to read

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.519
 to you

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.220
 two verses

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.460
 and the

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.060
 reason we're

00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:04.759
 closing with

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.120
 this is

00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:06.060
 because it

00:30:06.060 --> 00:30:06.660
 speaks of

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.400
 perseverance

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.920
 on the

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.320
 journey

00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:11.080
 and it

00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:11.820
 tells us

00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:12.539
 that our

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.180
 encouragement

00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.039
 won't be

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.680
 from things

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.360
 going well

00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:16.000
 for us

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.340
 but our

00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:17.920
 encouragement

00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:18.640
 will be

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.759
 from looking

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.519
 to Christ.

00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.980
 Verse 1

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.920
 Hebrews 12

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:25.820
 Therefore,

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.740
 since we are

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.519
 surrounded by

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.220
 such a great

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.759
 cloud of

00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.160
 witnesses,

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.620
 let us

00:30:30.620 --> 00:30:31.299
 throw off

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.860
 everything

00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.680
 that hinders

00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.940
 and the

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.600
 sin so

00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:35.080
 easily

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.880
 entangles

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:36.960
 and let us

00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.640
 run with

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.460
 perseverance

00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.980
 the race

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.880
 marked out

00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.779
 for us.

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.200
 Fixing

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.680
 our eyes

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.299
 on Jesus

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:46.220
 the pioneer

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:48.279
 and perfecter

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.359
 of faith

00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:51.419
 for the joy

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.259
 set before

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.579
 him

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.879
 he endured

00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.579
 the cross

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:56.359
 scorning

00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:56.980
 in shame

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.659
 and sat

00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.299
 down at the

00:30:59.299 --> 00:30:59.980
 right hand

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.599
 of the throne

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.159
 of God

00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:03.279
 consider him

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.759
 who endured

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.839
 such opposition

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.700
 from sinners

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:08.319
 so that you

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.859
 will not

00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.539
 grow weary

00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.960
 and lose

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.460
 heart

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:13.920
 let's pray

00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:21.259
 father we do

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.019
 thank you for

00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.460
 our lord

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.359
 jesus christ

00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.159
 we thank you

00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:24.539
 that he's

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.119
 made a way

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:25.740
 for us

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.980
 to be right

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.519
 with you

00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:29.980
 thank you

00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.599
 father that

00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:30.940
 you have

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.500
 called us

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.000
 to look

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.500
 to him

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:34.160
 to persevere

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:34.740
 to keep

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.180
 going

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.680
 and we

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.339
 pray that

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:38.599
 as we

00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:39.519
 face this

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.220
 coming week

00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:40.619
 and as we

00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.940
 face 2025

00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:44.059
 that lord

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.379
 you would

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.000
 help us

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.259
 to persevere

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.180
 to keep

00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:47.720
 looking to

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.259
 jesus

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:49.480
 the author

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.339
 and perfecter

00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:50.639
 of our

00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:51.059
 faith

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:52.099
 in his

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.539
 name we

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:52.859
 pray

00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.700
 amen