WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.700 So today, our scripture reading comes from the book of Psalm, Psalm 50. 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:12.780 You can follow along the screen. The screen has the scripture or your own Bible. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:15.540 A Psalm of Asaph. 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:23.039 The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:28.280 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:31.980 Our God comes, he does not keep silence. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:34.679 Before him is a devouring fire. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:37.400 Around him, a mighty tempest. 00:00:38.260 --> 00:00:43.160 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth that he may judge his people. 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:49.060 Gather to me my faithful ones who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:54.579 The heavens declare his righteousness for God himself is judged. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:58.979 Hear all my people and I will speak. 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:02.739 Oh Israel, I will testify against you. 00:01:03.539 --> 00:01:05.679 I am God, your God. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:08.840 Not for your sacrifice do I rebuke you. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.780 Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:17.560 I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your foes. 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:20.760 For every beast of the forest is mine. 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:22.980 The cattle on the thousand hills. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:28.560 I know all the birds of the hills and all that moves in the field is mine. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:32.120 If I were hungry, I would not tell you. 00:01:32.460 --> 00:01:35.159 For the world and its fullness are mine. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.379 Do I eat the flesh of the bulls or drink the blood of goats? 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:42.520 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving. 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:45.719 And perform your vows to the most high. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:49.060 And call upon me in the day of trouble. 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:54.019 I will deliver you and you shall glorify me. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:58.239 But to the wicked, God says, 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:03.579 What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenants on your lips? 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:08.300 For you hate discipline and you cast my words behind you. 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:11.700 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.280 And you keep company with adulterers. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:17.760 You give your mouth free reign for evil. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:20.120 And your tongue frames deceit. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.760 You sit and speak against your brother. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:24.820 You slander your own mother's son. 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:28.460 These things you have done and I have been silent. 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:31.220 You thought that I was one like yourself. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:36.040 But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:40.679 Mark this then, you who forgot God. 00:02:41.579 --> 00:02:44.939 Lest I tear you apart and there be none to deliver. 00:02:45.659 --> 00:02:49.319 The one who offers thanksgiving as he sacrificed glorifies me. 00:02:50.019 --> 00:02:55.159 To one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:56.859 This is the word of God. 00:02:56.859 --> 00:02:56.919 Amen. 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:57.099 Great. 00:03:09.339 --> 00:03:10.899 Well, very good morning also from me. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:12.659 If you don't know me, my name is Niels. 00:03:12.780 --> 00:03:13.759 I'm part of the staff team. 00:03:14.359 --> 00:03:16.479 And it's my privilege to bring God's word. 00:03:16.679 --> 00:03:17.979 It's great that so I prayed. 00:03:18.579 --> 00:03:22.539 Why don't we all pray together now as we listen to God's word? 00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:28.560 Our Father, thank you we can come to you. 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:30.639 Thank you that we know you. 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:31.680 That you are our God. 00:03:32.459 --> 00:03:34.859 That we are your people. 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:36.239 We have a relationship with you. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:38.019 We pray that we would learn more about that. 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:39.199 Learn more about what you are like. 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:40.599 How we can relate to you. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.120 Please speak to each of our hearts. 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:43.639 Challenge us. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:44.780 Encourage us. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:47.579 Make us hear by your spirit what we need to hear. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:49.819 To your glory and praise. 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:50.919 In Jesus' name. 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:51.759 Amen. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:53.659 Great. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:59.859 Now, I don't know what you think of giving presents. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:01.239 It's a nice tradition. 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:03.219 You know, Christmas or someone's birthday. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:04.459 You give someone a present. 00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:08.099 But the thing that I always struggle with is what shall I give? 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:11.419 So here is one of my favorite examples. 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:13.739 Early on in our marriage, we were living in the UK. 00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:18.740 And yeah, EJ does most of the cooking because I can't cook and she's wonderful. 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:21.759 And she really said she really wanted to have a wok. 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:23.000 You know a wok, right? 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:25.939 This great pan for stir fries. 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:28.120 And she said she really wanted that. 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:29.639 So it was her birthday coming up. 00:04:29.740 --> 00:04:31.400 So I gave her a wok. 00:04:31.979 --> 00:04:32.959 Isn't that a great thing? 00:04:35.779 --> 00:04:38.319 Now, to me, that seems like the normal thing. 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:39.879 But no, she was very offended, right? 00:04:40.039 --> 00:04:41.560 Do you only care about my cooking? 00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:43.759 Now, I don't know what you guys think, right? 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:46.159 So I've mentioned this example to some people. 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:47.860 Some of the men think, yeah, totally. 00:04:48.019 --> 00:04:48.740 That's normal. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:51.240 And the women all, how dare you, right? 00:04:53.019 --> 00:04:54.420 What's the point of this example? 00:04:55.860 --> 00:05:01.099 You know, it is very hard to know how to relate to someone if they're different from you, right? 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:03.699 This is something maybe about men and women or East and West. 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:06.779 You know, what should I give to someone who's very different from me? 00:05:07.099 --> 00:05:09.000 I don't know, right? 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:11.839 Because, yeah, I'm not them. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:13.519 They need to actually tell me. 00:05:13.619 --> 00:05:17.259 So EJ told me what she thought, and I haven't given her a walk since, right? 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:19.339 That's the thing. 00:05:19.419 --> 00:05:20.279 We need to know. 00:05:21.139 --> 00:05:22.159 They need to tell us. 00:05:22.799 --> 00:05:24.139 I mean, it's a silly example, right? 00:05:24.159 --> 00:05:25.259 But we can relate to this. 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.919 But how much more than when it comes to God, right? 00:05:29.539 --> 00:05:30.299 You know, we're Christians. 00:05:30.679 --> 00:05:31.779 We know God. 00:05:31.859 --> 00:05:35.039 But actually, God is very, very different from us, right? 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:37.919 He is divine, and we are human, right? 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.539 And he is eternal, and we are not. 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:46.360 And he is omnipotent and all-knowing, and, you know, we are not. 00:05:46.840 --> 00:05:48.700 And how do you relate to such a God? 00:05:48.760 --> 00:05:49.600 What does he want? 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:53.020 Actually, we can't just guess, right? 00:05:53.080 --> 00:05:56.360 Maybe we try to guess, but then we may get it wrong, just like I got it wrong. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.780 No, actually, what if God just tells us what he's like? 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:02.720 What if he tells us how to relate to him? 00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:05.640 And in a way, that is so great about this series, right? 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.680 We're in the Psalms, and this is about the character of God. 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:12.699 We're getting to know God, and that is not just some information out there. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:17.959 You know, the wonderful thing about getting to know God is that we can relate to him, right? 00:06:17.979 --> 00:06:19.060 We can be his people. 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:25.560 And that is especially where this Psalm also is helpful, because it is, you know, God talking 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:28.740 to his people about how to relate rightly to him. 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:31.540 And that's what we are going to learn about. 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:35.660 Although, as you can see, it's not quite just sitting down on a date, right? 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:43.280 This is the Lord God Almighty, and so, yeah, he is calling us to account, calling his people 00:06:43.280 --> 00:06:43.939 to account. 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:45.379 What do we see in this Psalm? 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:50.420 Well, yeah, this great vision of God just showing up and talking to his people. 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:54.100 And, yeah, and it's awesome, right? 00:06:54.100 --> 00:07:02.000 It even starts with this pile of names, the Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:02.520 the earth. 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:04.360 This is the God, right? 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:10.220 He is God, the Mighty One, the Lord of the whole universe, but also, you know, the covenant 00:07:10.220 --> 00:07:11.640 God of Israel. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.820 He is here, and he's summoning the whole earth from east to west to come together. 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:21.960 He's majestic, and, you know, before him is a devouring fire. 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:24.379 There, around him, a mighty tempest. 00:07:24.799 --> 00:07:26.959 It almost reminds you of Mount Sinai, right? 00:07:26.979 --> 00:07:32.159 If you remember, the Israelites came out of Egypt, and God met them on the mountain with 00:07:32.159 --> 00:07:39.839 clouds and thunder and all his majesty, and the people, whoa, this is God, right? 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:41.500 And that is how we should feel here. 00:07:41.719 --> 00:07:43.359 It communicates who he is, right? 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:46.519 Because we need to know him if we want to relate rightly to him. 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:52.479 And we've seen in many Psalms that, you know, God is a judge, and we think of him judging 00:07:52.479 --> 00:07:53.000 the world. 00:07:53.899 --> 00:07:55.399 But actually, he's gathering here. 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:56.859 Who is he judging here? 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.959 It's not the world, right? 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.620 Verse 4, he calls to the heavens above and to the earth that he may judge his people. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.379 Now, judging here is not condemning. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.159 It is calling to account. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:12.519 It's kind of, hey, guys, how is our relationship? 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:15.399 Because who are these people? 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:17.459 Well, they are his covenant people, right? 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:23.659 Verse 5, gather to me my faithful ones who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:30.839 You know, there is a God, but as Christians, and also back then, as Jews, he's not just 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:35.360 a kind of a vague God out there with whom we have some kind of vague relationship, like 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.379 some person you see on the street or something, right? 00:08:37.939 --> 00:08:39.159 We have a relationship. 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:43.159 We are in a covenant, in a formal commitment. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.579 That's what they had done, right? 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:45.699 Getting circumcised. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:47.959 And, you know, we are one of God's people. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:52.939 And as Christians, you get baptized, you're committing, right, to God. 00:08:53.079 --> 00:08:57.759 You're, you know, you're in a formal, committed relationship, if I could put it like that. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:05.159 And with commitment comes accountability, that they keep their part of the relationship. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:11.159 I think the psalm originally, maybe it was some part of some kind of renewal ceremony, right? 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:12.659 You do that sometimes with a covenant. 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:18.879 We have a membership here at Watermark, and we have members meetings, and usually we discuss 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:20.740 some of our commitments, okay, right? 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.600 This is what it's like to be a member. 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.339 And we remind ourselves, oh, yeah. 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:26.899 And maybe this psalm was used for the people. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:29.579 Oh, yeah, this is what it's like to relate to God. 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:36.720 And, yeah, so probably it was spoken by some priests, but the way it's worded here, it's 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:39.680 very much, okay, this is not just a guy speaking, right? 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:40.840 This is God himself. 00:09:41.660 --> 00:09:43.639 God does not keep silence. 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:45.560 He speaks and summons the earth. 00:09:45.900 --> 00:09:47.480 Hear, my people, I will speak. 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:49.740 Israel, I will testify against you. 00:09:50.540 --> 00:09:52.879 God's the judge of his people. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:56.800 And so maybe it feels a bit like a performance review, right? 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:01.259 Maybe at work, once a year, you have this performance review, and you're not just sitting 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:02.559 down with someone from HR. 00:10:03.359 --> 00:10:09.679 This is the CEO of the billion-dollar company who lets you know what he is like and what 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:13.299 he expects and what he thinks of your work and those kind of things. 00:10:14.219 --> 00:10:15.079 But it's good. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:19.059 It's good to know because it's good to know what our God is like. 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.579 So, again, we can relate to him. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:26.779 And he addresses two groups, probably one a subset of the other, and talks about, yeah, 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:28.539 some ways that they are going wrong. 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.279 And there are especially religious things, right? 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:34.139 Because that is what it's like to relate to God. 00:10:34.199 --> 00:10:35.100 It's kind of a religion. 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:36.879 It's actually helpful. 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:40.860 Maybe you're here, you're not a Christian, and you think, you know, Christianity is a 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.899 religion, and then this is what I think about it. 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:47.220 Actually, this tells you a bit about what God thinks about religion. 00:10:47.319 --> 00:10:48.000 That's very helpful. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.839 But let's look. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.639 What does God want from his people? 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:56.899 And the first thing he says, what he really wants is dependence. 00:10:57.920 --> 00:11:00.980 God wants dependence, that we depend on him. 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:04.560 And he starts talking about their sacrifices. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:07.019 He complains about their sacrifices. 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:09.960 Now, in some places of the Bible, they're not offering sacrifices. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:10.600 That's a problem. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.639 But here, it's almost, there's too many of them, right? 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:17.419 Verse 8, not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:20.799 Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:25.179 I will not accept the bull from your house or goats from your fields. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:26.860 All these sacrifices. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.439 Now, of course, God has commanded sacrifices. 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.419 It's not a bad thing. 00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:33.299 But, of course, what's their heart behind it? 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:35.240 Why are they doing this? 00:11:36.439 --> 00:11:40.699 And it seemed that their problem was that they actually thought God needed these. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:43.059 That they were doing God a favor. 00:11:43.699 --> 00:11:46.659 That he was hungry and he needs sacrifices. 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.240 That's what he says in verse 12. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:51.659 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.699 Verse 13, do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.399 Do you think I need this? 00:11:58.359 --> 00:12:00.740 Because that is what a lot of people think, right? 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:02.419 That is the world they lived in. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:03.939 I mean, it's even now the world, right? 00:12:03.979 --> 00:12:06.039 Here in Hong Kong, we have the Hungry Ghost Festival. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.879 What's the Hungry Ghost Festival? 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:14.740 Yeah, you put out food for the spirits so that they don't mess up your life. 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:16.519 Because they're hungry. 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:18.039 They need something from you. 00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:23.559 And actually, back then, that was what the world around them believed. 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:34.059 I think my favorite example, something called the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is kind of Babylonian literature from around the same time, Babylonian myths. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:36.879 And actually, they have a story just like the flood. 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:38.919 You know, the flood in the Bible? 00:12:39.579 --> 00:12:41.259 That's not just in the Bible. 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:45.740 Actually, in lots of places in the world, they have a myth about a great flood. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.939 It seems to be a real thing. 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:49.279 It's just that the story is very different. 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.220 And what happens here? 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:53.200 Well, the gods, actually, it's not about people's sin. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.379 It's just humans are too noisy. 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:58.139 And so all the gods, they really hate the noise. 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:01.100 So they decide to wipe out humanity with a flood. 00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:06.080 And, yeah, the thing that they do, how does someone get saved? 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:10.139 So one of the gods likes some of the humans and warns them, hey, there's a flood coming. 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:10.940 Please build a boat. 00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.460 But what happens? 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:18.360 Here are the gods, and they do this in the flood, and they wipe out humanity. 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:19.980 And what do they realize? 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.960 No more sacrifices. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.340 Because they eat sacrifices. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:25.460 They need sacrifices. 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:32.160 And so they all go hungry, and all the gods are starving because humanity is gone, and no one is offering a sacrifice anymore. 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:34.100 And it's so pathetic, right? 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:41.860 And then, finally, the flood is gone, and this guy, who they didn't know about, steps off the ark, and he offers a sacrifice. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.000 And all the gods, ooh, yeah. 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:46.680 And, like, flies, they circle around. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.820 It's such a silly story. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.700 But that is what people believed. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:54.500 Gods need sacrifices. 00:13:54.500 --> 00:14:01.299 And so, you know, that's why we give sacrifices, to get the gods on our side, to kind of give us what we need. 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:05.179 Yeah, so we give them what they need, and then they give us what we need. 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:06.279 Isn't that a great deal? 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:10.399 Well, God says, I'm not like that. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.440 That's pagan, right? 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:14.519 I am the creator. 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.240 I don't get hungry. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.179 Verses 10 to 12. 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:21.159 For every beast of the forest is mine. 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:23.399 The cattle on a thousand hills. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:27.959 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.039 If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you. 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:32.699 For the world and all its fullness are mine. 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.120 You know, everything is mine. 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:35.939 I've made it all. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:38.419 So, I don't need you. 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.539 I don't need your sacrifices. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.039 I mean, it is obvious, right? 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:42.819 If God is the creator. 00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:45.740 So, then for all eternity, he didn't have sacrifices. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:48.279 And for all eternity, he was perfectly happy. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.860 He didn't spend eternity starving. 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:50.639 Right? 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.579 God doesn't need sacrifices. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:57.579 If you can create a universe out of nothing, you don't need anything. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:58.139 Right? 00:14:58.139 --> 00:15:01.819 I mean, if I could create stuff out of nothing, I wouldn't need money. 00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.799 I wouldn't need shopping or cooking. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.019 Right? 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.799 I could just... 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:04.899 Right? 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:06.939 God doesn't need anything. 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.240 He made everything. 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:09.360 He owns everything. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:14.500 Even when you give God a bull, you're just giving him what is his anyway. 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:14.720 Right? 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.480 Because he made it. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:17.879 It's a bit like Christmas. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.059 I mean, it's really nice. 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:22.000 The children, they want to give me a Christmas present. 00:15:22.479 --> 00:15:23.139 It's really lovely. 00:15:23.239 --> 00:15:24.799 But in a way, I pay for it. 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:24.959 Right? 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:29.739 Because I give them an allowance and then they use that to give me my Christmas present. 00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:31.059 And it's really sweet. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.059 But I'm not really getting anything. 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.299 Right? 00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:36.239 And that's the same thing with God. 00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:42.000 You know, when you offer anything to God, you know, it's his anyway because he made it. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.839 Everything you have comes from him. 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.939 And so, yeah. 00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:46.980 Yeah. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:49.100 He doesn't need you. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:52.320 Instead, God says, it's the other way around. 00:15:52.760 --> 00:15:53.820 You need me. 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.680 We need God. 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.040 We are dependent on him. 00:15:58.560 --> 00:16:00.060 Look at verses 14 and 15. 00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:01.540 This is what God really wants. 00:16:03.160 --> 00:16:08.940 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the Most High. 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:11.380 God wants thanksgiving. 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:13.100 Now, what is the point of thanksgiving? 00:16:13.280 --> 00:16:14.180 It's a response. 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:14.560 Right? 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:19.500 It's God giving you everything you need and you saying, wow, thank you. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.399 Thanksgiving is a response. 00:16:21.839 --> 00:16:21.959 Right? 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:23.399 It's not what we do for God. 00:16:23.479 --> 00:16:25.179 It's a response to what he's done for us. 00:16:25.839 --> 00:16:26.879 Same with vows. 00:16:27.079 --> 00:16:30.059 Vows are, again, a response that people did at the time. 00:16:30.119 --> 00:16:30.239 Right? 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.159 So, you're going on a journey. 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:34.500 God, if you bring me safely home, I will build an altar. 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.439 Those kind of things. 00:16:36.099 --> 00:16:36.279 Right? 00:16:36.719 --> 00:16:37.500 But it's a... 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:39.539 And so, well, God says, well, perform your vows. 00:16:39.619 --> 00:16:40.799 You know, I've done this for you. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:43.000 Now, do what you said. 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.299 Right? 00:16:43.339 --> 00:16:45.519 It's, again, a response to what God has done. 00:16:46.479 --> 00:16:48.079 Looking back, what God has done. 00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:50.059 And the next part, looking forward. 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:50.799 Verse 15. 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:53.219 Call upon me in the day of trouble. 00:16:54.339 --> 00:16:56.859 Well, that is, again, how we need God. 00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:57.620 Right? 00:16:57.659 --> 00:17:01.679 When we're in trouble and we can't solve it, we ask God for help. 00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:04.240 It's about us needing him. 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.720 And then what will God do? 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.819 Well, I will deliver you. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.000 I will rescue you. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:11.319 And you will glorify me in response. 00:17:12.179 --> 00:17:13.919 Because we can't get out of it ourselves. 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:16.779 All these things is about our dependence on God. 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:19.519 And we give thanks for what he gives us. 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:21.220 We respond to what he gives us. 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:23.579 We ask him to give us things. 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.539 Because we need him. 00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:27.039 And he doesn't need us. 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.659 That's the thing here. 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:31.480 And it's not about God having a savior complex. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.759 That he needs to be needed. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.800 That he needs words of affirmation or something. 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:37.820 This is just reality. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.600 This is us knowing who we are. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.920 That he is God. 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.600 And we are his creatures. 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.820 We are dependent on him. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:52.080 That is so basic, fundamental, you know, to knowing God. 00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:53.800 That, you know, we need him. 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.880 And he doesn't need us. 00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:58.740 And, yeah, is that our hearts? 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:01.480 I mean, how can we be like this? 00:18:01.540 --> 00:18:03.820 It's easy to see sacrifices. 00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:05.660 And we think of this worship service here. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.900 It was a good question from then. 00:18:07.060 --> 00:18:08.540 Why did we come here? 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:14.060 I mean, some people, they come here because they think, you know, God needs this. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.960 God, you know, he needs our praise. 00:18:16.020 --> 00:18:16.900 And we all stand up. 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.520 And we clap. 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.400 And he feels kind of appreciated. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:23.360 God doesn't need us. 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:27.480 Instead, in a way, we almost come for ourselves. 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.980 God has done all these things for us. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.000 And we want to give thanks. 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:31.000 We want to praise. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.700 It's just our response. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.420 And coming here to receive, right? 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:37.460 To receive God's life-giving truth. 00:18:37.820 --> 00:18:42.000 Or come for each other to, you know, to, because we need each other. 00:18:42.580 --> 00:18:43.800 But God doesn't need us. 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:47.240 We don't come to offer him something that he lacks. 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:53.240 We come here to receive and to respond in praise and thanksgiving, right? 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.539 There's a lot of response here. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:56.819 Thanksgiving, glorify me. 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.299 But that's why we come. 00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:00.259 And to pray, to call for help. 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:05.500 Of course, we wouldn't say that we come here because we think God needs us. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:08.359 But so often our hearts think that, right? 00:19:08.919 --> 00:19:12.379 You know, you read your Bible and you come to church and you give money. 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:15.800 And you think, okay, I've done my thing for God. 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:18.260 And now I've given God what he needs. 00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:19.420 And now he's happy with me. 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:22.720 Or even just being a Christian, right? 00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:24.460 God loves us so much. 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:30.320 You know, he's so desperate for a relationship with us that we almost do him a favor by being a Christian. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:34.720 No, God doesn't need us, you know? 00:19:35.260 --> 00:19:36.600 He really loves us. 00:19:37.020 --> 00:19:38.880 But that's only because he is love. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:44.400 You know, he's like this overflowing fountain of love who just loves and loves. 00:19:44.540 --> 00:19:46.860 But it's not because he needs us. 00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:50.980 You know, God spent all eternity without you and he was perfectly happy. 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.640 You know, the Father's got the Son and the Spirit. 00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:55.800 I don't think you have much to add to that. 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.340 God doesn't need you, but he loves you anyway because he is love. 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:04.119 I mean, how do we know if we're doing that? 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:09.139 I think one good way is basically when we think it's like a deal, right? 00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:15.459 We give God what he wants and then he, well, we expect him to give us what we want, right? 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:20.480 So we give him our church attendance and our Bible reading and our prayers. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.680 And then he gives us a good life, right? 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:29.480 He gives us good exam results and a good job and a beautiful spouse and all those things, right? 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:31.319 That is our deal. 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.539 And then what if God doesn't? 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.319 Do we feel grumpy? 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:36.579 Do we feel that, hey, God, I've scratched your back. 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.920 Now you need to scratch mine. 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.360 That's sometimes how we think, right? 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:45.860 You know, if things don't go your way, how do you respond and why? 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:51.399 If you think God owes you something, then no, no, he's the creator. 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.699 We don't owe him anything. 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:53.899 I mean, he's wonderful. 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.399 He's our good and gracious king. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.619 He doesn't owe us anything. 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:01.279 Now we need to cultivate dependence. 00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:04.000 Actually, always see ourselves. 00:21:04.179 --> 00:21:06.359 We are so indebted to God. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.519 You know, thanksgiving. 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:10.779 That was this old kind of thing, count your blessings. 00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:15.679 Isn't it a really good exercise to just make a list of all the things God has done for you? 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.799 And just give thanks for each one of them. 00:21:18.419 --> 00:21:20.639 And think about what if I didn't have this in my life? 00:21:20.979 --> 00:21:26.519 All these things, the spiritual blessings, material blessings, family, just everything in your life. 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.439 And just keep writing. 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:35.059 Write a hundred things until you are really deeply thankful and you really think, wow, God, you do everything. 00:21:35.679 --> 00:21:36.279 I do nothing. 00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:38.339 And that is such a good exercise. 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:41.719 Or call on me in a day of trouble. 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:44.000 Let's be prayerful, right? 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:46.500 That is such a great way to depend. 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:49.160 God asked us here, come to me with your trouble. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.839 I mean, I am very independent. 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.640 I want to solve all my problems myself. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.259 I do not want to bother people. 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:57.279 God says, bother me. 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:57.960 Okay? 00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:00.740 Come to me with your trouble because you need me. 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.480 And I want to help you. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.839 And this coming Thursday is our monthly prayer meeting. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:08.139 Let's go and pray. 00:22:08.419 --> 00:22:11.519 Let's ask God's help in the day of trouble. 00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:14.359 That is what we need, right? 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:17.199 If we think we don't need to pray, do we think we can do it ourselves? 00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:18.500 That we don't need God? 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:22.000 That we do God a favor by, you know, running the church for him? 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:22.720 No. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.740 We need his help. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.799 Let's pray. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:28.720 But then there's this second group. 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.019 And that's another religious error. 00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:38.379 And God says here in verses, yeah, 16 to 23, he wants authenticity. 00:22:39.659 --> 00:22:43.159 Because he then takes a, the psalm takes a bit of a terrifying turn, right? 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:46.460 Verse 16, but to the wicked, God says. 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:49.919 And you hear the wicked and you think of the people out there, right? 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:51.740 From Psalm 11 and those kind of things. 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:54.859 But these are people who are not out there. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.480 What does God say? 00:22:56.599 --> 00:23:02.099 What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.880 So these are people who claim to be God's people. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:07.000 They claim to be in relationship with God. 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:09.660 That, hey, we were part of the covenant community. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.599 But they have no place for God's word. 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:18.339 Verse 17, for you hate discipline and you cast my words behind you. 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:22.019 Hey, you're dismissing everything I say. 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:25.339 And that leads, of course, to a life of sin, right? 00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:26.519 Verses 18 to 20. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.799 If you see a thief, you're pleased with him. 00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:31.119 You keep company with adulterers. 00:23:31.419 --> 00:23:35.859 You give your mouth free reign for evil and your tongue frames deceit. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:40.619 You sit and speak against your brother, your slander, your own mother's son. 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:43.159 Here are some of the Ten Commandments, right? 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:45.639 Adultery, stealing, false witness. 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:48.840 These are people, yeah, they say all the right things. 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.320 And yet, look at their life. 00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:52.300 Look at how they live. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:54.460 Look at what they say, right? 00:23:54.520 --> 00:23:58.080 The deceit, the slander, the gossip, all those things. 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:01.120 They had no problems with it. 00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:03.200 But we hate it, right? 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.500 We hate hypocrisy. 00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:07.520 We really hate it when people, they are so fake. 00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:10.840 They are one thing in church and something else than at home. 00:24:11.820 --> 00:24:13.220 Here, they are wonderful people. 00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.440 And at home, they're terrible. 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:16.440 And maybe you're here. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.860 You're not a Christian. 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.180 That's something that puts you off, right? 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:21.700 You see so many religious people who are hypocrites. 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:24.140 It's good to know God thinks the same thing. 00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:26.320 God thinks hypocrisy is terrible. 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:30.360 Or is it even hypocrisy? 00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.640 I'm not even sure. 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:33.259 I mean, why do these people do it? 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.480 Verse 21. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:38.839 These things you have done, and I have been silent. 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:41.299 You thought that I was like yourself. 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.860 I was one like yourself. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.680 You know, you thought I was just like you. 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.779 You'd live like this. 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:49.299 Because partly because, you know, God didn't do anything, right? 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:51.279 He didn't send a lightning bolt. 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:53.299 He didn't, you know, say something. 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:55.619 And so they thought, well, clearly all this sin is okay. 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:59.220 I don't think they really thought that God liked sinning. 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:02.279 Probably just he doesn't care. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:04.639 And maybe that's kind of religion, right? 00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:08.299 What God really wants is our prayers. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:10.680 What he really wants is that we come to church. 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.940 And he doesn't really care about the rest of our life, right? 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.700 And that's what they wanted. 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:18.140 Maybe that's what God wanted, right? 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.960 I just want some religion to feel good. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:23.039 And God wants us to do some religion. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.980 And he feels good. 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:26.660 And then the rest of our life doesn't matter. 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:31.220 Now, how wrong they were, right? 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:33.400 God, he doesn't care about their religion. 00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.340 He doesn't need that. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.680 He doesn't need their sacrifices. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:37.980 What he wants is their hearts. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:42.559 What he wants is their whole life for him, all right? 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:43.799 Authenticity. 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:48.019 That their religion is not just a religious thing, but it's something real. 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:49.539 Something their whole life. 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:54.599 And, yeah, he says, yeah, you thought I've been silent. 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:57.240 And you thought I was one like yourself. 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:00.559 But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. 00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:02.319 I know what you're doing. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:05.019 He knows and sees everything. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:09.539 He knows that our faith here, whether it's the same the rest of our lives. 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:12.359 And then there's a severe warning, right? 00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:18.859 Verse 22, mark this then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart and there be none to deliver. 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:24.539 Tearing you apart if you, yeah, you know, think of a lion. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:34.059 You see them chilling, sunbathing, and they look very nice and fluffy until the gazelle comes and they pounce, right? 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:35.079 And there's none to deliver. 00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:36.179 That's the imagery here. 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:38.519 Tearing you apart with none to deliver. 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:41.420 Just to say that this is a gracious warning, right? 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.000 God hasn't done that yet. 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:43.980 He's warning them. 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.759 He's telling them to repent. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.859 Just like in a performance review. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:51.400 If you're not doing well, they don't fire you straight away. 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.059 They just say, hey, you need to change this. 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:55.160 That is what he's calling them to. 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.960 He's calling them to change. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:59.579 So, how should we respond? 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:02.960 I mean, certainly, it's good to look at our lives. 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.860 How authentic are we, right? 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:07.899 How seriously do we take God's word and what he says? 00:27:07.959 --> 00:27:11.839 Not just on Sundays, but, you know, back at work, back at home? 00:27:13.719 --> 00:27:19.079 I think for most of us here, yeah, we're, I don't think there's many real fakes here. 00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:22.959 You know, we, I mean, from what I know, we were a good church, right? 00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:25.179 People who really tried to live for God. 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.679 But then again, what is the standard? 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:33.220 I mean, I know in my life, yeah, I'm doing my best. 00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:36.860 But to be honest, often enough, I cast God's word behind my back, right? 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:40.740 I know what he wants me to do, and still, I don't want to do it, right? 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:44.759 I need to have things to repent of when I see this. 00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:50.980 Now, if we're honest, if we really picture ourselves before this God, 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:54.860 and we know what he thinks of our lives and what he wants, 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:59.319 actually, our response would be Psalm 51, the next Psalm. 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:02.359 I mean, most of us, we have our favorite Psalms, right? 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:03.240 There's Psalms that we know. 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:05.039 Maybe you didn't know Psalm 50. 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:08.899 Most of us know Psalm 51, David's confession. 00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:12.559 And, you know, it's not an accident that those two are next to each other. 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.240 The Psalms, they're in a certain order. 00:28:16.199 --> 00:28:21.959 And, you know, what is your response when you read Psalm 51, verse 1? 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:24.379 Have mercy on me, O God. 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:28.799 According to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy, 00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:30.279 blot out my transgressions. 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:34.479 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:36.459 Now, here's David. 00:28:37.439 --> 00:28:38.319 And he was circumcised. 00:28:39.179 --> 00:28:40.240 And he went to the temple. 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.319 And he did his sacrifices. 00:28:42.219 --> 00:28:43.899 And he was a man after God's heart. 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:46.139 And he was the best king Israel ever had. 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:50.080 But ultimately, he didn't match up, right? 00:28:50.560 --> 00:28:53.500 Ultimately, he fell into sin and committed adultery. 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:58.720 And, yeah, before this holy God, he confesses his sin. 00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:02.000 That is, yeah, that is where we should be. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:04.220 With God ready to tear us apart. 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:07.319 And it sounds like a terrible place to be. 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:13.059 And yet, in God's plan, it's the right place to be. 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:16.039 Why is it the right place to be? 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:18.120 To see our sin. 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:22.199 Why is it good to know that you're a helpless sinner? 00:29:23.479 --> 00:29:26.799 Well, it brings us back to that second point of dependence. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.879 What was the problem? 00:29:30.699 --> 00:29:31.839 We think we're independent. 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:34.179 The problem is that we are creatures. 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:38.419 But actually, we think we don't need God, right? 00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:40.339 We think we can live without him. 00:29:41.179 --> 00:29:42.939 We think we can do God a favor. 00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:47.559 God wants us to be back, you know, in relationship with him. 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:49.439 And that means being dependent. 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:53.339 And when we see our sin, when we see our needs, 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:57.559 when we see that we face a judgment that we can't do anything about, 00:29:58.279 --> 00:30:02.459 that's when we will cry out in our trouble for help. 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:05.579 That is when we will pray. 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.599 That is when we will see our needs, right? 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.740 That is the thing. 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:10.779 When we see that we have nothing to offer to God, 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:13.599 that all our righteous acts are just filthy rags, 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.660 when we have nothing to offer. 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:18.559 That is actually, that's the right heart attitude. 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.319 And that is what God wants. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:25.500 You know, we think of God creating and saving as two different things. 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:29.160 Actually, creation and salvation are exactly the same. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.180 Why? 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:32.640 Well, creation is all God's work. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:35.500 And we do nothing because we didn't exist. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.559 Salvation is the same thing. 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:43.480 When God does everything, we do nothing because we are just helpless, total sinners. 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:49.160 And when we realize that, yeah, that is when we will depend on God. 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:51.099 That is, and that is where we should be. 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:53.599 It doesn't mean that sin doesn't matter. 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.640 Of course it does. 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:57.279 You know, God needs a perfect sacrifice. 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.240 But he did that himself, right? 00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:04.019 When Jesus came down and died for us on the cross for our sins. 00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:07.240 But, but he took care of it, right? 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:10.160 That's what he said on the quote behind me, right? 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:13.519 The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:16.680 Jesus didn't come because he needed us. 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:19.099 He didn't come so that we could serve him. 00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.480 No, he came to serve us. 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:23.859 He came to do the work that we couldn't do. 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:26.099 Because we needed it. 00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:31.079 And so, again, this brings us to how we should live, right? 00:31:31.139 --> 00:31:33.199 As Christians, we live out of dependence. 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:37.259 We live, well, verse 15, right? 00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:38.819 Verse 14 and 15. 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:42.279 Call upon me in a day of trouble. 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:44.559 I will deliver you and you will glorify me. 00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.740 Isn't that the Christian life? 00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:48.619 That we saw our needs, we saw our sin. 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:51.220 And we cried out for help. 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.799 And we saw Jesus on the cross. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.240 And we're delivered. 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:56.139 Isn't that the gospel? 00:31:56.879 --> 00:32:00.099 And doesn't that make you want to respond with a sacrifice? 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.059 Yeah, with thanksgiving. 00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:04.779 With vowing to live for Jesus because all he did for us. 00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:06.319 Every day of our lives. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:12.039 And, you know, if you say you're a Christian, what is the thing that really motivates you? 00:32:12.419 --> 00:32:14.419 What is the thing that gets you out of bed to pray? 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:16.700 What is the thing that motivates you to come here? 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:19.480 I mean, it's good to live God's way. 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:22.279 And it's good to want to do something for God. 00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:25.980 But ultimately, the thing that should drive us, right, it's the gospel. 00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:29.259 It is that we were in such desperate need. 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:31.019 And Jesus did everything. 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:34.059 And we depend only on him. 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:36.720 That is what brings you to church. 00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.980 That's what gets you out of bed. 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:40.079 Out of thankfulness. 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.599 Out of response. 00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:43.759 Of thanksgiving. 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:44.480 Right? 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:47.899 And not just with others present, but our whole life, right? 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:51.259 Every moment we realize we need Jesus. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:54.339 And the only way we can be with God is through Jesus. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.919 Every moment we remember. 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:58.480 We totally only depend on him. 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:01.700 Isn't that what we need? 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:03.200 Isn't that what we need to realize? 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:03.980 Right? 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:05.000 How much he has done. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.700 And that we can do nothing. 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.160 That should be our hard attitude. 00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:12.319 And if you don't feel that yet, you know, again, spend time reflecting. 00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:14.779 You know, see God as he is here. 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.120 See your life. 00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:18.140 See your sin. 00:33:19.040 --> 00:33:21.820 And the only thing that you can offer to God is basically your sin, right? 00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.460 And that will just condemn you. 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.300 No. 00:33:25.580 --> 00:33:28.920 If we really see the gospel, that will change us. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.960 That will motivate us. 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:35.920 And so as we relate to God, as we want to know God, as we want to relate to him, this is the heart of it. 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.280 Dependence. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.940 Dependence on Jesus. 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.880 Dependence on his sacrifice. 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.420 Dependence on everything. 00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:42.539 Dependence on everything. 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:45.480 So why don't we pray for that? 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:50.220 Or actually, here's a few questions. 00:33:51.800 --> 00:33:56.000 Maybe think of that as we give you a minute to reflect and then we go into prayer. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:00.120 And just think, do you feel your life is marked by dependence and authenticity? 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:02.220 Is there anything you need to repent of? 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:06.480 And then how does the gospel help you relate rightly to God? 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.820 So let's think about that for a minute. 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.840 And then we'll pray together. 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:42.400 Thank you. 00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.420 Thank you. 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.420 Thank you. 00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:29.920 Let's pray together. 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:34.639 Our Father, we totally depend on you. 00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.800 You're the creator. 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.840 We are your creatures. 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:40.539 We have nothing that doesn't come from you. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:46.420 There's nothing that we have that we did not receive from you, our gracious, generous God. 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:50.360 Particularly, we confess our sin. 00:35:51.180 --> 00:35:55.220 We confess that without Jesus we could not stand before you. 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.360 But with you there is forgiveness. 00:35:57.740 --> 00:36:01.280 With you there is forgiveness in your great son and his love on the cross. 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:03.360 Lord, help us to live out of that. 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.480 Would it change us? 00:36:04.540 --> 00:36:05.680 Would it transform us? 00:36:06.100 --> 00:36:10.980 Would it melt our hearts in thankfulness and make us want to live for you? 00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:16.260 Lord, for each of us, would this be a reality deep in our hearts? 00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:21.320 You know how we're often busy and often cold and often just go through the motions. 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:27.980 But so deep inside, we want to have a heart of thankfulness for everything you've done. 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:30.940 So please do that work in us by your spirit. 00:36:31.060 --> 00:36:32.100 Only you can change us. 00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:36.960 We depend on you even to respond to you in the right way. 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:38.400 Everything comes from you. 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.639 And we thank you. 00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:40.639 Amen.