WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.540 I know a man who was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for a double murder. 00:00:08.700 --> 00:00:11.500 He murdered a mother and her baby. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:14.240 This was a number of years ago. 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:22.580 At one point, this man was placed in the same section of Long Bay Jail 00:00:22.579 --> 00:00:30.479 as the guys who were involved, who were convicted for murder in the Milpere Bicy Bicy massacre 00:00:30.479 --> 00:00:34.539 back in Father's Day in 1984, I think it was. 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:37.159 I'm a bit vague. I was pretty young at the time. 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:43.379 And in that massacre, I think six bikies were killed, 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:47.079 but they gunned down a 14-year-old girl in the crossfire, an innocent girl. 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:53.820 And so one day in Long Bay Jail, these bikies grabbed hold of this bloke that I know, 00:00:54.539 --> 00:00:59.539 beat him up really badly, poured boiling water all over him and put him in intensive care. 00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:09.879 And the reason they did that was because they considered him to be such a lowlife for having killed a baby. 00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:13.659 Now, I find it remarkable. 00:01:13.659 --> 00:01:18.719 It's a remarkable trait of the pride-driven human heart 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:23.120 that no matter where we are, no matter what we're guilty of, 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:28.859 we can always find someone who makes us feel morally superior. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:35.019 Even in a supermax prison, surrounded by the worst of the worst, 00:01:35.699 --> 00:01:39.140 you will always find someone who makes you feel better. 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:47.319 There will always be someone who will make our sinfulness and our lack of righteousness 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:52.439 look positively praiseworthy in our eyes. 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:59.079 Much like the Pharisee in the parable that was read out to us in Luke 18, 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:00.140 where he says, 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:03.680 God, I thank you that I'm not like other men. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:07.599 And especially that tax collector over there. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.360 What a scumbag. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.300 Jesus directed this parable, he says right at the beginning in verse 9, 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:22.539 to those who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else. 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:27.179 And the parable has a really tough ending. 00:02:27.659 --> 00:02:32.139 And the tough ending of this parable tells me that our core value of humble authenticity 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:35.620 that we're looking at tonight is a matter of life and death. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.000 This is how Jesus puts it. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:43.599 I tell you that this man, the tax collector, rather than the other, 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:45.939 went home justified before God, 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.800 for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:51.479 That is, God will humble them. 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:53.379 God will, in effect, crush them. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:57.340 And he who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:00.199 God will lift up the humbled. 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:06.159 So this issue of self-righteousness and humility is so crucial 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:10.699 because it is ultimately about life and death and eternal life and death. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:15.379 And there is a stark contrast between the Pharisee and the tax collector 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:19.079 and how they arrive at their self-evaluations. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:25.379 The Pharisee assesses his righteousness by looking at someone that he considers a scumbag. 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:27.199 His tax collector. 00:03:27.979 --> 00:03:33.439 The tax collector, humbled by his own sense of sin, 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:36.280 calls out to God. 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:37.479 He doesn't even look up to heaven. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:39.039 He doesn't even look at God. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:43.000 He is so crushed by his sin and he calls out to God. 00:03:43.620 --> 00:03:46.599 John Calvin, bloke from years ago, said, 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:52.180 It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:56.180 unless he has first looked upon God's face 00:03:56.180 --> 00:04:01.400 and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinizing himself. 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:09.240 For we always seem to ourselves righteous and upright and wise and holy. 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:12.500 This pride is innate in all of us. 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:19.439 Unless, by clear proofs, we can stand convinced of our own unrighteousness, 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:22.699 foulness, folly and impurity. 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:25.319 And so that's what we're going to do tonight. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:27.740 Take a leaf out of Calvin's book 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:32.800 and we are going to begin with contemplating God first 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:36.939 and having contemplated the majesty and holiness of God, 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:41.860 we'll get an assessment of ourselves as human beings. 00:04:42.719 --> 00:04:43.459 So let's have a look. 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:48.680 Isaiah invites us to share his vision of God in Isaiah 6, verses 1 to 4, 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:49.899 if you come with me on that one. 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:51.620 Isaiah 6, 1 to 4. 00:04:51.660 --> 00:04:53.560 And this is obviously just one glimpse of God, 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:56.659 but I think it'll be enough for us at least to start for tonight. 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:59.040 And then you can continue on from here, 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:00.680 studying the attributes of God. 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:02.439 One thing that I want to encourage you to do. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:07.319 Attributes of God and study your own human heart. 00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:09.379 Know your heart and know God. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:14.060 At least seven glimpses of God here in these first four verses. 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:19.060 Firstly, in verse 1, it says we see that God is alive. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:23.860 King Uzziah is dead, but God lives. 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:26.680 Psalm 90, verse 2 says, 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:39.600 That's two sermons ago I said that. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:44.000 God is ultimate reality because he existed before anything was made. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:48.439 God was the living God when this universe banged into existence. 00:05:48.579 --> 00:05:51.120 And that's not a sneaky reference to the Big Bang there. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:56.560 He was the living God in 1966 when Time magazine put on their front cover, 00:05:56.740 --> 00:05:57.920 God is dead. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:03.939 And he will be alive, living 10 trillion ages from now 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:10.360 when all the puny human pot shots at his existence have dropped into oblivion 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:13.120 like a pebble into the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:20.620 Over 54 million people die each year. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:22.899 But not God. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:28.639 In a brief 120 years, 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:35.139 this planet will be populated with at least 10 billion brand new people. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:41.220 And the 7.238 something or other billion of us right now 00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:43.560 will all be gone 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:46.199 off the face of the earth 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:49.579 just like King Uzziah. 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:52.899 But not God. 00:06:54.039 --> 00:06:57.859 He always has been and he always will be alive. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:00.460 Secondly, we see that God is authority. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:01.199 Verse 2. 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:03.340 Saw the Lord seated on a throne. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:05.900 God sits on his throne. 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:09.240 And that is the picture that you see consistently throughout the Bible. 00:07:09.340 --> 00:07:10.540 God sits on his throne. 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:11.620 He rules. 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:14.860 All is at peace and calm in his heavenly kingdom. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:18.560 You get no picture of God in the Bible at all, anywhere, 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:22.360 of God needing to cut the grass, pull the weeds out, load a truck, 00:07:22.840 --> 00:07:25.980 or direct traffic, or anything like that. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.780 He sits and he rules. 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:34.539 The throne is his right to rule the universe that he has created. 00:07:35.059 --> 00:07:38.519 He has authority over our lives, whether we like it or not. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:42.539 And after him there is nowhere else to appeal. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:45.019 There is nothing beyond him. 00:07:45.979 --> 00:07:47.639 Thirdly, we see that God is all-powerful. 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:51.159 The throne of his authority is not one among many thrones. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:51.779 It says, 00:07:51.979 --> 00:07:55.919 I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:57.639 That throne is, 00:07:58.419 --> 00:08:00.680 God's throne is high and exalted, 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:05.680 is that it signifies his superior power over every other throne, 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:08.699 every other authority. 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:13.900 No opposing authority can nullify God's decrees. 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:19.699 He always fulfills and accomplishes what he purposes. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:22.519 Nothing can get in his way. 00:08:23.780 --> 00:08:27.139 As God says a little later in Isaiah 46, verse 10, 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:30.360 I make known the end from the beginning, 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:32.240 from ancient times, 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:33.960 what is still to come, 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:36.779 I say my purpose will stand, 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:40.680 and I will do all that I please. 00:08:42.060 --> 00:08:47.240 And so to be gripped by the all-powerful sovereign God 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:48.980 is either marvellous, 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:50.980 because you know he's on your side, 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:53.379 or it is terrifying, 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:56.240 because you know that he is against you. 00:08:56.919 --> 00:09:00.519 I want to say indifference to the sovereignty of God, 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:03.139 and he's all-encompassing power, 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:04.919 means that you just haven't seen him. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:08.599 You can't be indifferent to the sovereignty of God, 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:09.899 and he's all-encompassing power, 00:09:09.959 --> 00:09:11.120 just means you haven't seen him. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.699 You haven't seen it for what it is. 00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:15.000 Let me tell you friends, 00:09:15.079 --> 00:09:19.139 if you're a person who trusts in the Lord Jesus, 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:23.419 in this world of chaos and instability and sin, 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:27.000 the sovereign authority of the living God 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:29.299 is a refuge full of joy. 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:33.439 It is a refuge full of joy. 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:34.960 It gets you out of bed in the morning. 00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:38.720 For me, the sovereignty of God is a matter of survival, 00:09:39.319 --> 00:09:40.080 day by day. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:43.440 Fourthly, we see that God is magnificent. 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:45.340 I saw the Lord seated on a throne, 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:46.139 high and exalted, 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:48.139 and the train of his robe filled the temple. 00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:50.759 Most of you, 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.040 a number of you, 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:53.820 weren't even alive when this happened. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:54.580 1981, 00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:57.020 Diana, Princess of Wales, 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:58.879 married Charles, 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:02.480 and the wedding day was televised, 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.259 it was live. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:05.060 I was a young kid at this point, 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:06.920 like I was 11 or something like that. 00:10:07.719 --> 00:10:09.419 And what happened was, 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:11.519 we had sort of like a wedding party. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:11.879 So, 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:13.279 that is not I did. 00:10:14.199 --> 00:10:15.679 A bunch of families got together, 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:17.439 watched it all on this little TV. 00:10:17.599 --> 00:10:19.039 They weren't flat screens back in those days. 00:10:19.099 --> 00:10:19.699 This little TV, 00:10:19.839 --> 00:10:20.740 we're all watching this stuff, 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.740 all the weddings happening. 00:10:22.219 --> 00:10:24.039 And I can remember it vividly 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:25.579 in this person's lounge room. 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.699 It's the middle of the night. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:28.740 And, 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:31.839 what are we doing here? 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:33.379 At a wedding, 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:34.219 for goodness sake. 00:10:34.599 --> 00:10:36.240 But the big moment was, 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.840 when Diana copped out of the carriage, 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:40.259 and started to walk up the steps of, 00:10:40.340 --> 00:10:41.740 of St Paul's Cathedral in London. 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:43.600 And as she got out of the carriage, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:45.500 the train of her dress, 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.539 just kept coming, 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.139 and kept coming, 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:47.740 and kept coming, 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:48.279 and kept coming. 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:51.039 It was eight metres long. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.820 And I didn't care, 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:55.039 but all the women in the room went, 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:56.100 oh, 00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:57.700 wow, 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.639 look at that. 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:00.779 And, 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:01.740 really? 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:03.360 That was my response, 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:04.180 as an 11 year old boy, 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:04.840 and frankly, 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:05.980 it still would be now. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:06.919 But, 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:10.419 what would it mean, 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:12.139 if the train of her dress, 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:13.320 not just filled the steps, 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:14.139 as a ball's cathedral, 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.779 but all inside cathedral, 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:16.560 all the pews, 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:16.940 and the, 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:17.740 the choir loft, 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:18.460 and the pulpit, 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:18.860 and the, 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:20.139 the balconies, 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:21.019 and the whole lot, 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:22.860 it was all made out of one piece of material. 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:23.919 I think the oohs, 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.399 and the ahs, 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:25.039 and the wows, 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.580 would be even more, 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:28.100 magnificent, 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.440 because that's the picture, 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:30.779 of the train, 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.480 of the robe, 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:32.419 of God's, 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:32.919 fills, 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:35.279 all of the heavenly realms. 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:36.039 It, 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:36.240 it, 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:36.419 it, 00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:37.399 the picture here, 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:40.220 is that God is incomparable, 00:11:40.439 --> 00:11:41.519 in his splendor. 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:44.259 The fullness of God's splendor, 00:11:44.339 --> 00:11:45.360 shows itself, 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.339 in thousands, 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.639 and millions of ways, 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.019 in what he has made, 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.580 from the heights of the galaxies, 00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:50.919 and, 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:51.720 you know, 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:51.919 like, 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.799 you go out there, 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:53.699 in the middle of the darkness, 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:54.939 I know you can't do it in Chatswood, 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:55.460 but you go out there, 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.179 in the middle of the darkness, 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:58.059 and you just see the galaxies, 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.699 and you just read the passages, 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:00.299 where God says, 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.319 I just placed that one there, 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:01.899 and that one there, 00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:02.480 and that one there, 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.059 and spoke them into existence, 00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:05.860 from the heights of the galaxies, 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:07.240 to the depths of the ocean, 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.379 right down in the darkest deeps, 00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:10.059 of the ocean, 00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:12.080 where there are strange little fish, 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.539 that have their own headlights, 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:15.620 and some of them have got these dangly lights, 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.200 on the front of them, 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.439 and some are attached to their chins, 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:18.760 and some are at the bottom of their eyes, 00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:19.760 and the noses glow, 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:22.260 and you can't even get your rod there, 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:22.960 and you go, 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:24.860 what are they there for? 00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:27.860 I don't know, 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:29.180 except, 00:12:30.260 --> 00:12:32.260 it's a display of the splendor, 00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:33.960 of God. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:36.320 You see, 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:41.000 God is lavish in his splendor, 00:12:41.140 --> 00:12:42.740 and his creative fullness, 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:44.040 spills over, 00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:46.860 spills over in excessive beauty, 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.480 and if that's the way the world is, 00:12:49.540 --> 00:12:50.000 in all its, 00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:52.080 intricate detail, 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:52.720 and beauty, 00:12:52.800 --> 00:12:53.440 and majesty, 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:56.000 how much more spectacular, 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.080 is the God who, 00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.620 thought it all up, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.080 and brought it all into existence? 00:13:03.260 --> 00:13:03.660 Fifthly, 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.600 God is revered, 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.780 above him, 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:07.300 were seraphs, 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.260 each with six wings, 00:13:08.380 --> 00:13:08.980 with two wings, 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:09.880 they cover their faces, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.080 with two they cover their feet, 00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:11.640 and with two, 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:12.900 they were flying. 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:16.720 For whatever is going on here, 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.399 these six strange winged creatures, 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:19.019 with feats, 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.779 and eyes, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.579 and intelligence, 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:22.980 they never appear in the Bible again, 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:23.360 at least, 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.059 not under the name of seraphim. 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:26.579 One thing is for sure, 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:28.500 given the grandeur, 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.579 of the, 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.199 the scene, 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:33.740 that we get a glimpse here, 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:34.699 of the heavenly realms, 00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:36.020 and the power, 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.780 of these angelic hosts, 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:39.560 it's best for us, 00:13:39.640 --> 00:13:40.500 not to picture, 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.920 chubby little babies, 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.500 with wings, 00:13:42.640 --> 00:13:44.040 flushing around the ears of God. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.759 That's not the picture here. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.240 These are awesome beings. 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:49.300 Verse four says, 00:13:49.400 --> 00:13:50.820 that when one of these dudes here, 00:13:50.900 --> 00:13:51.460 speak, 00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:52.440 the, 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.240 the foundations of the temple, 00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:55.680 the foundations of heaven, 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.740 shake. 00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:59.080 So there's no puny, 00:13:59.640 --> 00:14:01.300 silly little creatures in heaven, 00:14:01.540 --> 00:14:03.180 only magnificent one. 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:05.120 And even they, 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.500 these magnificent beings, 00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:08.500 as great and as good as they are, 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.120 as untainted by human sin, 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.399 as they are, 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.419 even they, 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.979 revere their maker, 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:17.259 with great humility. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:19.419 Two wings cover their face, 00:14:19.479 --> 00:14:22.259 they won't even look upon the Lord, 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.759 nor do they even feel worthy, 00:14:24.859 --> 00:14:26.439 to have their feet uncovered in his presence, 00:14:26.599 --> 00:14:28.459 two are covering their feet. 00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:31.819 How much more, 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:34.980 would we shudder and quake in his presence? 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:35.820 We, 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:38.540 who could not even bear to endure, 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:40.879 the presence of one of these seraphs. 00:14:42.400 --> 00:14:42.680 They, 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:42.800 they, 00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:44.180 they would freak us out. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:47.980 Six, 00:14:48.260 --> 00:14:49.080 God is holy, 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:49.740 verse three, 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.360 and they were calling to one another. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:52.640 This, 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.500 this is the seraphs, 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:54.540 the ones who speak, 00:14:54.640 --> 00:14:56.020 and the whole foundation shudder. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.299 Holy, 00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:58.779 holy, 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.220 holy, 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:00.379 holy, 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:02.439 is the Lord almighty. 00:15:04.439 --> 00:15:06.840 The possibility of language, 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.539 carries the meaning of God, 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.179 and eventually, 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:09.899 you get to a point, 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:10.779 where it just runs out. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.120 I mean, 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.860 what's left there to say? 00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.539 And the word holy, 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.919 carries us to the brink. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:17.620 This is, 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.980 this is kind of as far as we go. 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.120 And from there, 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:22.159 the experience of God, 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:22.620 is, 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.940 is beyond words for us. 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.419 And the reason I say that, 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:28.519 is every effort that you have, 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.740 in terms of trying to define, 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:31.259 what the holiness of God means, 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:33.320 it just keeps coming back around to say, 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.159 God is holy, 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:34.639 means, 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.620 God is God. 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.279 That's basically it. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.799 God is one of a kind, 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:42.820 in a class by himself. 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.639 In that sense, 00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.860 he is utterly holy, 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.539 but then you have just said nothing more, 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.360 than he's God. 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:51.000 God is absolute reality, 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.480 beyond which there is only more of God. 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.740 There's nothing beyond God. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:58.899 There's nothing else that he answers to. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:01.440 There's nothing else that he is separated from, 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:03.460 to make him distinct in his being. 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:07.759 He is incomparable. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:11.200 His holiness determines all that he is, 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.480 and all that he does, 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:15.320 and it's not determined by any person, 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.600 or anything. 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:19.879 The arrogance of human beings, 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.519 to think that we can determine, 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.759 what God is like. 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:27.340 His holiness is what he is as God, 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:28.840 which no one else will be. 00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:31.980 His holiness determines, 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.620 what it means is that, 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.540 he's not me, 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.920 and he's not you. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.820 He is other than us. 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:45.260 Then the seventh and final thing about God, 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.620 God is glorious. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.700 Verse 3, 00:16:47.780 --> 00:16:47.980 Holy, 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:48.220 holy, 00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:49.240 holy is the Lord God Almighty. 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:50.260 The whole earth, 00:16:50.260 --> 00:16:52.580 is full of his glory. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.260 And the best way to understand that, 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.300 in this context, 00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:56.300 is probably to say, 00:16:56.640 --> 00:16:58.040 the glory of God, 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:00.500 is the display, 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:01.940 or the exhibition, 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:03.180 of his holiness. 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.740 God's holiness, 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:08.059 is the incomparable perfection, 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.240 of his divine nature, 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:11.579 and his glory, 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.359 is when, 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:14.599 that divine nature, 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:16.079 is made public to us, 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:16.980 so that we can see it. 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.559 God is glorious, 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.200 means, 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.779 that his being, 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:26.000 has gone public, 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.880 so that we can understand, 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.839 what he's like. 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:31.720 In Leviticus 10 verse 3, 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.559 God says, 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.939 Among those who approach me, 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.299 I will show myself holy, 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:37.159 in the sight of all people, 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.240 I will be honoured, 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.119 or a better translation, 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.939 in the sight of all people, 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.399 I will be glorified. 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:42.759 When God, 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:44.399 shows himself to be holy, 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.299 what we see, 00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:46.059 is glory. 00:17:47.159 --> 00:17:48.539 And what we are meant to do, 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:49.500 when we see glory, 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.339 is worship. 00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.980 That's our response. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.799 And so when the seraphim say, 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:59.779 the whole earth is full of his glory, 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:01.019 what they're saying is, 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:02.119 the whole earth, 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:04.119 displays him. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.779 We're meant to make the connection. 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:11.460 And the seraphim can say that, 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.819 it's because from the heights of heaven, 00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:14.379 where they are in the throne room of God, 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.639 they get to glimpse, 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:17.319 all that God's made here, 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:17.700 and they go, 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:17.980 oh, 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.079 oh, 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.519 yeah, 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.279 I get that. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.419 I get the connection. 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.379 I can see how this God, 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.240 has made that. 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.259 And this is a reflection of this God. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.420 They see that. 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:36.559 The whole created order reflects something of the beauty, 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.519 and the character, 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.660 and the worth, 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.579 and the splendor, 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.900 and the holiness of God. 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.140 And so friends, 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:49.259 that is the necessary first step, 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:53.259 towards a life of humility. 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.779 It is seeing something of God, 00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:57.619 something of his glory. 00:18:58.900 --> 00:18:59.740 And can I say, 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:02.940 it is a continual process of seeing his glory. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.759 And as I said in the first sermon on this series, 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:09.039 in Christ-centered Bible saturation, 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.519 the ability to see God, 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:14.720 is the gracious work of God in our lives. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.500 And without his help, 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:22.140 we are blind to the facts about God. 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:23.079 No, 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:23.900 that's not what I said. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.920 What did I say? 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.799 Two Sundays ago. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:29.940 We're not blind to the facts about Christ. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.740 We're blind to the glory. 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:35.039 We can't see glory. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:35.859 We can't, 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.180 therefore, 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:38.359 we cannot see God. 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.279 Because glory is what he's revealed. 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.819 Without his help, 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.619 we are blind to his glory. 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:49.899 We can't even see God by our own strength, 00:19:50.179 --> 00:19:52.159 and that is humbling. 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.839 But know this, 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:57.979 when God graciously allows us to see him, 00:19:58.119 --> 00:20:00.779 when he reveals his glory to us, 00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:03.299 we actually, 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.519 correspondingly, 00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:06.679 at the same time, 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:10.239 we see our sin, 00:20:11.219 --> 00:20:13.319 our lack of glory. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:15.559 Isaiah 6, 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.019 5, 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:18.099 Woe to me, 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:18.919 I cried, 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.480 I am ruined. 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:24.019 For I am a man of unclean lips, 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:26.059 and I live among a people of unclean lips, 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:27.740 and my eyes have seen the King, 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.399 the Lord Almighty. 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:31.539 So to quote John Calvin again, 00:20:31.659 --> 00:20:33.419 Isaiah sees in this moment 00:20:33.419 --> 00:20:34.319 his unrighteousness, 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.000 foulness, 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:36.879 folly, 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.319 and impurity. 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:37.839 Impurity. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:40.119 And it's the same experience that Peter had 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:41.720 when he'd been out fishing all night. 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.939 Remember the occasion, 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.960 he's fishing out all night, 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:45.619 doesn't catch anything, 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.720 so he kind of is about as good of a fisherman 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.460 as what I am. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.359 And then Jesus comes along 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.619 and says to him, 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:53.460 cast your net on the other side of the boat. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.059 And he's like, 00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:55.399 really? 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:57.059 And so he does, 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.899 and he gets this huge haul of fish, 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.839 tries to bring it on the boat, 00:21:00.939 --> 00:21:01.859 huge haul of fish. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.939 And what happens in that moment? 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.879 Peter goes, 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.679 my goodness, 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.559 look at all these fish. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.859 Retirement plan. 00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.719 This is fantastic. 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.059 No, he doesn't. 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:15.240 This is how Luke records his response. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.099 When Simon Peter saw this, 00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:19.659 he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.319 go away from me, Lord. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:23.439 I am a sinful man. 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:24.879 You see, 00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:28.119 Peter had been walking with Jesus 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.939 and talking with him 00:21:28.939 --> 00:21:30.759 and eating food with him for some time, 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:33.319 and then in this moment, 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:36.420 God allows him to see glory. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.799 And the immediate response is, 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:41.460 I'm a sinful man. 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:45.799 God allowed Peter to see his glory 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:47.599 in the face of Christ in that moment. 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:49.339 And when that happens, 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:51.440 your own lack of glory, 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:54.180 your own sinfulness is what's exposed. 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.720 And Peter's experience 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.379 is the same as Isaiah's experience 00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:58.960 because both of them got the same glimpse 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.819 of the same God. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:02.639 John 12, 41 says, 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.259 Isaiah said this 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:06.919 because he saw Jesus' glory 00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:08.500 and spoke about him. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.379 That's a reference to Isaiah, 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.879 chapter 6, verses 1 to 4. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:16.960 When God allows us to see his glory, 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:19.779 we also see how far short 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.279 we have fallen of that glory. 00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.419 Romans 3, 23, 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:24.039 for all have sinned 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.819 and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:28.899 The Bible diagnoses sin 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:31.659 as a universal deformity of human nature 00:22:31.659 --> 00:22:33.700 which is found at every point 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:35.599 in every person. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.419 The phrase that gets brandished around 00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:41.519 is total depravity. 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.639 And it's commonly used 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:45.000 to make explicit 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:48.179 the implication of sin in our lives. 00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:50.179 It means that there is a corruption 00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:52.539 of our moral and spiritual nature 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.799 which is total. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.519 Not in the sense 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:58.059 that we are all as bad 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.000 as we could be 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.759 because none of us, 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.059 none of us 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:04.639 are as bad 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:06.639 as we could possibly be. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.119 Not one of us. 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:11.000 God graciously 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.599 restrains 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:14.000 our wickedness. 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:15.959 If he did not, 00:23:16.739 --> 00:23:17.739 no two of us 00:23:17.739 --> 00:23:18.399 could be left 00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.259 in the same room 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.179 at the same time. 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:24.059 We would destroy each other. 00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:25.859 That's kind of a glimpse 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.819 of hell 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.839 when God takes his hands away. 00:23:31.199 --> 00:23:32.399 The only reason 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:33.539 you are sitting here today 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.939 or I'm standing here today 00:23:34.939 --> 00:23:36.539 and not in a prison cell 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:39.079 is the gracious hand of God. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:39.899 My friends, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.599 that is humbling. 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.700 Total depravity means 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.920 that no part of us 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.059 is untouched by sin. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.759 There is no action of ours 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.420 that is good 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:51.019 as it could possibly be. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:53.119 Even the good things we do 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.519 are tainted by sin. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.799 I mentioned this morning 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.639 at church this morning 00:23:56.639 --> 00:23:59.079 that a month or two ago, 00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.859 I can't remember exactly 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.519 what it was, 00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:02.259 there was an elderly lady, 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.500 she was up reading the Bible 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.940 and then stepping down 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.960 off the stage, 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.240 I was up to preach 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.820 and I grabbed, 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.840 I put my hand out, 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.400 she grabbed my hand 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.680 and I helped her down the stairs, 00:24:10.840 --> 00:24:11.039 you know, 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:12.019 help an old lady thing, 00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:12.240 you know, 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.940 one good deed sort of stuff. 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.519 And in that moment, 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:17.160 when I saw her coming down 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.480 and realizing that she needed to help, 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.680 it was no problem for me 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.340 to stick my hand out 00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:20.840 and help her. 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.960 And once she was down safely, 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.640 she walked off 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:25.400 and I started to ascend the stairs 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:26.880 and before I even got 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.640 to the lectern, 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.220 the thought in my mind was, 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:30.140 I wonder how many people 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.920 saw me do that. 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:34.300 Just like that, 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.180 just happened like that. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.740 Everything that we do 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.240 is tainted by sin. 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.420 You know, 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.279 I don't just need 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.240 the blood of Christ 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:43.680 to cover the wrong things I do, 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.779 I need the blood of Christ 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:46.360 to cover even the good things I do 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.720 because there's no such thing 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.039 as a perfect performance. 00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.539 I don't ever get anything 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.440 perfectly right. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.480 Nothing in us or about us 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.380 ever will match 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.460 God's perfect standards. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:00.200 Everything is tainted by sin. 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.400 And like Isaiah, 00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.500 we are ruined 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.480 unless something is done for us. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.800 And there is only one solution. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.840 Isaiah 6.6 00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:10.740 says that one of the seraphs 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.720 flew to Isaiah 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.720 with a live coal 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.960 and touched his unclean lips. 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:15.759 See, 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.580 this has touched your lips, 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:19.560 your guilt is taken away 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:21.460 and your sin is atoned for. 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:24.680 The seraph came from God 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:26.360 to Isaiah 00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:28.900 to deal with Isaiah's sinfulness. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:32.800 God atoning for our sin 00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:34.420 is our only hope. 00:25:35.560 --> 00:25:36.960 The seraph and the live coal 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.759 coming to Isaiah 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.420 is simply a forerunner 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:41.720 to God himself 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.720 coming to us 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.380 in the person of Jesus Christ 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:46.240 to deal with our sin. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.200 1 John 4.10 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.820 This is love. 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.800 Not that we love God 00:25:49.800 --> 00:25:50.720 but that he loved us 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.680 and sent his son 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.360 as an atoning sacrifice 00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:54.860 for our sins. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.519 1 John 2.1-2 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:58.019 makes it explicit. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.819 Jesus Christ, 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.680 the righteous one, 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.980 the only one who's not sinned, 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.680 he is the atoning sacrifice 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.779 for our sins 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.279 and not only for ours 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.779 but also for the sins 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.519 of the whole world. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:11.599 We are only saved 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.299 from our sin 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:15.720 by the action of God. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.039 It is all of God 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:19.279 from first to last. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.160 And so Christianity 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.879 is not about good people 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.539 getting better. 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:26.859 It's not about good people 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.440 getting better. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.420 If anything, 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.440 it is good news 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:31.220 for bad people 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.359 coping with their failure 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.379 to do anything good. 00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.859 Winston Churchill. 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.139 He was the master 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:41.559 of the clever put-down. 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:44.180 He once described 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.539 a political opponent 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.859 as a modest little man 00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.619 who had a great deal 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.480 to be modest about. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.640 But the Bible 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:53.120 consistently leads me 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.620 to believe 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.680 that I've got a great deal 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.500 to be modest about. 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.680 I've got every reason 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.360 to be humble. 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.279 I'm finite, 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.019 I'm weak, 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.539 I'm limited, 00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.279 I'm sinful, 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.259 I'm inept, 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:02.920 I'm flawed, 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.640 I have a beginning, 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.640 I will have an end. 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.480 And yet, 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:09.059 the deceitfulness 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.940 of sin 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.920 means that I am not 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.019 immune from the 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.400 logic-defying effects 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.240 of pride. 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:18.819 When I first heard 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.799 about that incident, 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.380 about, 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.819 a number of years ago, 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.940 that incident about 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:24.720 those guys 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.880 in Long Bay Jail 00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:26.839 and what they did, 00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:29.220 I was amazed 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:32.779 how self-righteous 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:34.380 they were. 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:38.079 What right do murderers 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.799 have to judge 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.620 another murderer? 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:42.059 What makes them think 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.620 they're any better? 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:42.900 You know, 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.620 those guys, 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:43.940 I mean, 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.620 my goodness, 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.139 filth, 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.199 scumbag of the earth, 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.779 you gunned down 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.000 an innocent 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.500 14-year-old girl, 00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:50.739 who gives you 00:27:50.739 --> 00:27:52.319 the right to say 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.219 this guy, 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.319 because he killed a baby, 00:27:54.439 --> 00:27:56.139 is worse than we are? 00:27:58.699 --> 00:27:59.459 And yet, 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.619 when I say that, 00:28:02.739 --> 00:28:04.099 I actually elevate 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.839 myself over them 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:08.099 as if they're worse 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.679 than I am. 00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.579 How easy it is 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.500 to put ourselves 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.359 into this parable 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:13.899 of the Pharisee 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.659 and the tax collector 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:15.479 and know 00:28:15.479 --> 00:28:16.399 and know 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.159 and know 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:18.519 that I must be 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.240 the tax collector 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.759 in order to be 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.699 right with God 00:28:20.699 --> 00:28:21.979 and read this 00:28:21.979 --> 00:28:23.059 parable 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.599 and go, 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.019 God, 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:26.199 I thank you 00:28:26.199 --> 00:28:27.879 that I am not 00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:28.659 like that 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:30.159 self-righteous Pharisee. 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:33.199 The irony 00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:34.319 of sneering 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.979 at the one 00:28:34.979 --> 00:28:35.899 who sneers. 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:41.700 is so entangled 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.840 in our hearts. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.759 It's so easy 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.200 for us 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:46.660 to move 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.519 from dependency 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.240 in Jesus 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.840 back into 00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.820 self-dependency. 00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.140 The key 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.500 to living 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.460 the Christian life 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.320 is to never 00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:54.780 get up 00:28:54.780 --> 00:28:55.200 from the foot 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.720 of the cross. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:59.080 You came 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:01.119 to Jesus 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.559 as an open 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.299 handed 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.259 beggar 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:07.579 and nothing 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.379 ever changes. 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:12.659 Nothing 00:29:12.659 --> 00:29:13.299 ever changes. 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.720 When I see 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.480 beggars in the street 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.240 I used to think 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.159 get a job. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:24.720 now I think 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.980 that's me. 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.700 I might be 00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.200 wearing different 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.500 clothes 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:30.920 and I might be 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.300 showered 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:32.840 but that's me. 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.420 You came 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.259 as an open 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.840 handed beggar 00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:41.200 and nothing 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.820 ever changes. 00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:44.100 I rediscovered 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:44.740 this a fair bit 00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.200 recently 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.120 in the last 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.740 number of years 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.940 in the life 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.420 of Charles 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:48.880 Simeon. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.560 he was a 00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:51.180 Christian minister 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.040 suffered greatly 00:29:52.040 --> 00:29:52.800 and after 00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:53.000 you've been 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.420 a Christian 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.620 for 40 years 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:55.520 he wrote 00:29:55.520 --> 00:29:55.960 this 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:57.240 there are 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.060 two objects 00:29:58.060 --> 00:29:58.520 that I've 00:29:58.520 --> 00:29:59.380 ever desired 00:29:59.380 --> 00:29:59.860 for these 00:29:59.860 --> 00:30:00.420 40 years 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.040 to behold. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.160 The one 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:03.040 is my own 00:30:03.040 --> 00:30:03.700 vileness 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.180 he means 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:04.620 his own 00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.140 sinfulness 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.420 and the 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:06.820 other 00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:07.680 is the 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.260 glory of 00:30:08.260 --> 00:30:08.600 God 00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.040 in the 00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:09.380 face 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:10.140 of Christ 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:11.060 and I've 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.700 always 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.160 thought 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.860 that they 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:13.460 should be 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.100 viewed 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.880 together. 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.620 You want 00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:16.960 to get a 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.700 bigger 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.060 bigger 00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:18.400 bigger 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:18.820 picture 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:20.139 of 00:30:20.139 --> 00:30:20.879 God 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.839 and his 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.279 glory 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.439 what will 00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:24.079 happen is 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:24.439 you'll 00:30:24.439 --> 00:30:24.839 discover 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.359 your own 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.639 lack 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:25.819 of 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.159 glory 00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:27.279 and to 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.559 mine 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:27.740 the 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.000 depths 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.159 of 00:30:28.159 --> 00:30:28.319 your 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:28.559 own 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:28.819 lack 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:29.000 of 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.359 glory 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:29.619 and 00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:29.779 your 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.000 own 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:30.439 sinfulness 00:30:30.439 --> 00:30:31.519 you need 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.159 to cling to the 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.539 cross 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.119 you go 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:33.519 together. 00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:35.500 He actually 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.460 labored to know 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:37.200 his true 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.839 sinfulness. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.839 heart 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.839 heart 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.759 He wrote 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.299 the tender 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:41.839 heart 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.919 the broken 00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.759 and contrite 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.220 spirit 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.799 are to 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.039 me 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.799 far above 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.379 all these 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.059 joys that I 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.439 could ever 00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:48.019 hope for 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.720 in this 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.299 veil of 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:49.679 tears. 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.519 I long 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.059 to be 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.500 in my 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.839 proper 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.399 place 00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:52.939 my 00:30:52.939 --> 00:30:53.359 hand 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.759 on my 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.119 mouth 00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.539 and my 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:54.919 mouth 00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.339 in the 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.759 dust. 00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:57.259 I feel 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.799 that this 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.359 is safe 00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:58.799 ground 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.799 here I 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.259 cannot 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.699 err 00:31:00.699 --> 00:31:01.339 for I'm 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:01.740 sure that 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.059 whatever 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.959 God may 00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:03.639 despise 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.300 he will 00:31:04.300 --> 00:31:04.700 not 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.380 despise 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:05.600 the 00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:06.140 broken 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.540 and 00:31:06.540 --> 00:31:07.320 contrite 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:08.180 heart. 00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.160 To 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.780 paraphrase 00:31:09.780 --> 00:31:10.060 him a 00:31:10.060 --> 00:31:10.200 little 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.460 bit 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:10.860 I 00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.160 think 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:11.320 what 00:31:11.320 --> 00:31:11.520 he's 00:31:11.520 --> 00:31:11.860 saying 00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.420 is that 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:12.540 the 00:31:12.540 --> 00:31:12.940 safest 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.440 place 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:13.960 in the 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.300 world 00:31:14.300 --> 00:31:14.840 is at 00:31:14.840 --> 00:31:15.000 the 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.240 foot 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:15.340 of 00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:15.480 the 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:15.740 cross 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:15.900 of 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.200 Christ 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.400 with 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:16.540 your 00:31:16.540 --> 00:31:16.900 face 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.040 in 00:31:17.040 --> 00:31:17.140 the 00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:17.400 dust 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:17.540 in 00:31:17.540 --> 00:31:17.800 humble 00:31:17.800 --> 00:31:18.300 submission 00:31:18.300 --> 00:31:18.780 in 00:31:18.780 --> 00:31:19.080 total 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:19.560 dependency 00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:19.920 upon 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.259 him. 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.080 Clinging 00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.560 to his 00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:23.460 righteousness 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.700 not 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.240 yours. 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:26.880 And 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.060 I 00:31:27.060 --> 00:31:27.580 think 00:31:27.580 --> 00:31:28.200 that 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.700 he 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.080 also 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:29.480 gets 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:29.759 that 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:29.960 from 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.380 Isaiah 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:30.940 66 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.460 2 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.100 that 00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.660 tells 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.060 us 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.619 what 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.259 actually 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.879 draws 00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:35.139 the 00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:35.639 approval 00:31:35.639 --> 00:31:35.879 of 00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:36.299 God. 00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:37.440 Not 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.179 our 00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:38.720 ministry 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.139 budgets 00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:39.359 not 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:39.539 our 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:39.799 building 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.259 program 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.460 not 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.720 how many 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:40.980 people 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.119 are 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:41.319 sitting 00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.519 here 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.679 in 00:31:41.679 --> 00:31:42.000 church 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.359 not 00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:42.559 what 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:42.740 sort 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:42.859 of 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:43.019 good 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:43.259 deeds 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.359 you 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:43.500 do 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:43.579 or 00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:43.679 what 00:31:43.679 --> 00:31:44.039 money 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.179 you 00:31:44.179 --> 00:31:44.299 give 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:44.440 in 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:44.659 church 00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.359 this 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:45.759 is 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:45.940 what 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.500 gets 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:46.859 God's 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.440 attention. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.099 He 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.639 who 00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:50.799 is 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.220 humble 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.720 and 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.279 contrite 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:52.539 in 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:52.980 spirit 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.899 and 00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:54.299 trembles 00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:54.419 at 00:31:54.419 --> 00:31:54.599 my 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:54.919 word. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.659 I 00:31:58.659 --> 00:31:58.799 am 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.119 thoroughly 00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.599 convinced 00:31:59.599 --> 00:31:59.799 that 00:31:59.799 --> 00:31:59.940 there 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.119 can 00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:00.240 be 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.440 no 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:00.799 effective 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.339 life 00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:02.119 Christian 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:02.599 growth 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:02.819 or 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.199 ministry 00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:03.419 or 00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:03.719 mission 00:32:03.719 --> 00:32:04.019 without 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.299 the 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:04.879 cultivation 00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:05.119 of 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:05.459 humiliation 00:32:05.459 --> 00:32:05.659 in the 00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:05.980 heart 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.539 and the 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:06.879 weakening 00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.319 of pride 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:07.559 in the 00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:07.959 life. 00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:08.839 Living 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:12.179 living 00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:12.519 out 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.539 humbly 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:13.720 in 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.199 authentic 00:32:14.199 --> 00:32:14.779 way 00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.279 will 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.579 look 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:15.980 sort 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.099 of 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:16.359 like 00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:16.899 this. 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:17.879 When 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:18.119 you're 00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.619 confronted 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.319 with 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.899 the sin 00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.379 and the 00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:20.759 failure 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.039 of 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.359 another 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:21.980 person 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.659 you'll 00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:23.819 be 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:24.159 more 00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:24.659 aware 00:32:24.659 --> 00:32:25.019 the 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.299 humble 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:25.779 person 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:25.959 will 00:32:25.959 --> 00:32:26.099 be 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:26.439 more 00:32:26.439 --> 00:32:26.919 aware 00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:27.699 of 00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:27.899 their 00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:28.259 own 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.659 sin 00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.199 and 00:32:29.199 --> 00:32:29.399 their 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:29.740 own 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.079 failure 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.539 towards 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:30.980 God 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.439 than 00:32:32.439 --> 00:32:32.899 another 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.439 person's 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:33.720 sin and 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.000 failure 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.419 towards 00:32:34.419 --> 00:32:34.699 them. 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.279 That's 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:36.679 humility. 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.919 you'll 00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.259 be more 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.659 aware of 00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:40.799 your 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.139 own 00:32:41.139 --> 00:32:41.619 failure 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:42.279 than 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:42.559 another 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.079 person's 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:43.459 failure. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.559 Therefore 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:45.799 you'll 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.079 be less 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.779 judgmental 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.879 and less 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.279 critical. 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.059 You'll 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.319 also 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:51.939 mean that 00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:52.259 you won't 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.659 try and 00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.599 smooth over 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:54.359 your sin 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:55.659 to excuse 00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.059 it, make 00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.419 it less 00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:56.759 than what 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.220 it is. 00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:58.139 You'll 00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:58.439 be real 00:32:58.439 --> 00:32:58.959 about it. 00:32:59.619 --> 00:32:59.919 I'll be 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:00.339 frank with 00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:00.500 you. 00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:01.639 I'm 00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:01.919 standing 00:33:01.919 --> 00:33:02.359 here looking 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:02.659 at all 00:33:02.659 --> 00:33:03.079 you right 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.539 tonight and 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:03.740 I think 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:03.980 you're a 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.299 bunch of 00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:04.539 rotten 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:04.799 sinners. 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.220 That is 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:06.419 my 00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:06.899 assumption. 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.039 My 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.439 assumption 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.100 with every 00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:09.380 single 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:09.960 person sitting 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.440 here right 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:12.000 now is 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.500 that you 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.460 all have 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.420 skeletons in 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:14.960 the closet 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.860 that you 00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:16.460 would be 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.380 absolutely 00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:19.000 mortified if 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.480 we jammed 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:19.820 them up there 00:33:19.820 --> 00:33:20.039 on the 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:20.580 screen right 00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:20.920 now. 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.480 The reason 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:23.940 I know it's 00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:25.279 true is 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.720 because that's 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.580 me as well. 00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:29.900 I work on 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.539 the assumption 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:32.220 that you're 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.880 all human 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.759 and you've 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.220 all fallen 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.700 short of the 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.100 glory of 00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:35.440 God. 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.660 reality 00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.660 and I 00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.360 believe 00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:42.240 that 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:43.759 reality 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.240 ought to 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:45.740 be evident 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.140 more and 00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:46.340 more in 00:33:46.340 --> 00:33:46.720 the church. 00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:47.200 When we 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.880 present that 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:49.340 we've got it 00:33:49.340 --> 00:33:49.900 all together 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:51.440 and we 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:51.980 present that 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.860 to the 00:33:52.860 --> 00:33:53.279 world, 00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.279 it is 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.480 anti-gospel. 00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.220 Let me 00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.799 give you an 00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.660 example of 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.620 authenticity. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.779 One episode 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.279 of the TV 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.700 show The 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.220 Simpsons, 00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.539 Homer Simpson 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.440 is being 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:06.940 interviewed 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:08.579 for a job 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.159 at the 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.800 nuclear power 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.059 plant, 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.440 Springfield 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:10.920 nuclear power 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.179 plant. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.000 There's two 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.279 jobs, 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:12.779 three blokes 00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.139 going for 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:13.480 an interview. 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:15.980 The three 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.259 of them 00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:16.699 were asked 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.239 the question, 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:17.860 what would 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.460 each of you 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.079 say is 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.599 your worst 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.039 quality? 00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.199 The first 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:22.059 guy says, 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:22.659 well, 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:23.199 I'm a 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.820 workaholic. 00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.360 The second 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.500 guy says, 00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:28.199 he responds 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:28.860 in a similar 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.279 kind of 00:34:29.279 --> 00:34:30.400 self-righteous, 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:31.500 not really a 00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:31.779 weakness, 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.460 more like a 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.059 strength kind 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.420 of way. 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.820 He says, 00:34:35.019 --> 00:34:35.539 I push 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.200 myself too 00:34:36.200 --> 00:34:36.639 hard. 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.039 Homer Simpson 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.599 on the other 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:39.260 hand answers, 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:39.519 well, 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.159 it takes me a 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.700 long time to 00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:41.260 learn anything. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:42.639 I'm kind of a 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:44.200 goof off and 00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:45.820 things start to 00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:46.579 disappear from 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.360 the workplace. 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.180 And he 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:50.599 starts going on 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.079 and the 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.440 interviewer, 00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:51.980 that's enough, 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.619 that's enough. 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:54.900 Somehow he got 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.260 the job. 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:55.500 Now, 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.099 I want to say 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.420 to you, 00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:56.820 I don't 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.440 recommend it 00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:57.780 as an 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.039 interview 00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:58.639 technique. 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.820 But the 00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:01.940 honesty is 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.400 refreshing. 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:05.960 His 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.880 authenticity 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:07.960 is appealing 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:09.159 especially 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:09.920 against the 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.940 self-righteous 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:12.440 false humility 00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.500 of the other 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:13.860 two. 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.980 Because that's 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.460 what false 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.360 humility is. 00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.360 It's actually 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.460 pride in 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.119 disguise. 00:35:21.720 --> 00:35:22.500 Designed to 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.240 extract 00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:24.380 praise. 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.900 My friends, 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.519 we start the 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.300 Christian life as 00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:29.840 beggars at the 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:30.180 foot of the 00:35:30.180 --> 00:35:31.019 cross and we 00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:32.460 finish the 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.659 Christian life as 00:35:33.659 --> 00:35:34.420 beggars at the 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:34.760 foot of the 00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:35.000 cross. 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.119 As we sing, 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.820 nothing in my 00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.619 hand I bring, 00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:39.780 only to the 00:35:39.780 --> 00:35:40.760 cross I cling. 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:41.220 It never 00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:41.699 changes. 00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:44.840 We must 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.679 labor to lay 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.480 aside any 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.260 remnant of 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.119 self-righteousness 00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:48.679 that lurks in 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.599 our hearts and it 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.220 lurks there in 00:35:50.220 --> 00:35:51.059 every dark 00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:51.699 corner. 00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:54.079 At the cross is 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.619 where we must 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:55.760 begin and end 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.199 if we have 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:56.900 experienced the 00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:58.639 daily joy of 00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.659 living by God's 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.539 transforming grace. 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.579 grace. 00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:01.039 We need the 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:01.539 spirit of God 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.159 to help us to 00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.800 see our total 00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.759 spiritual bankruptcy 00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:06.199 and also to 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.099 drink deeply 00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:08.360 from God's 00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:09.519 infinite grace 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.920 to us in the 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:11.480 Lord Jesus. 00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.779 May we experience 00:36:12.779 --> 00:36:14.139 both deep 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:16.400 humiliation for 00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:17.719 our sin and 00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:19.199 deep joy in 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:20.719 Christ at the 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.400 same time. 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.880 And then in 00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.639 deep awareness 00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:26.340 of what we have 00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:27.039 received, 00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:28.340 looking only to 00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:28.920 Jesus and 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.420 only having 00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:30.100 our comparison 00:36:30.100 --> 00:36:30.660 with him, 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.519 may we extend 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.519 that same 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.920 spirit of 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.760 grace to 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.880 others as we 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.920 authentically live 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.980 out who we 00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.720 are, beggars, 00:36:41.620 --> 00:36:43.160 in daily need 00:36:43.160 --> 00:36:44.360 of grace. 00:36:45.200 --> 00:36:45.559 Amen.