WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 As much as we are from the land of Canada, we came back from the land of Nepal just recently. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:11.279 ! Just to crown my royal priest of this. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:15.120 ! 00:00:15.120 --> 00:00:16.800 This is what they wear. 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:24.160 Okay, just to start off, we want to do a trivia question. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:34.560 To win this beautiful scarf we have here. Oh, we also want to ask you guys, as you look at some of the pictures that are kind of cropped. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:42.000 But as you look at some of these pictures, we ask you kindly not to take any photos of these pictures as it's sensitive information. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:48.159 But the trivia question to win this beautiful scarf, these two scarves. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:54.399 First question is, so anyone can raise their hand to answer, what is the capital of Nepal? 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:55.519 Kathmandu. 00:00:55.519 --> 00:00:56.719 Kathmandu. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.399 Is this Mr. Liu? 00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.199 Oh, okay. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:02.000 Here you go, Zhao. Congratulations. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.840 And then second question, do you want to ask? 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.640 What is the largest religion in Nepal? 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.640 Hinduism. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:14.640 Hinduism. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:19.040 Give it up for Flo and Zhao. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:22.799 Okay, we want to see you wearing that forever. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:30.640 And so yeah, last week, Jojo and I, we were in Nepal with an organization called Faith Comes by Hearing. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:35.120 And so this is a Bible. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:38.480 This is a Bible I bought in 2013. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.719 It's the first Bible I really read seriously. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:50.040 It's a Bible I read when I was doubting Christianity, not sure about whether the things that happened in Genesis were true. 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:55.439 It was a Bible I read when the Spirit opened my eyes and I fell in love with Scripture and memorized Scripture. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:57.659 I cried over this Bible, laughed over this Bible. 00:01:59.240 --> 00:02:00.580 This is also a Bible. 00:02:00.800 --> 00:02:05.240 This is a Bible in the, this one is Eastern Magar language. 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.199 This one, this is only the New Testament. 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:12.199 It was just translated last year, finished translation 2025. 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:15.259 There's 7,000 copies of this. 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:20.620 But also what we want to share is, this is also a Bible. 00:02:21.299 --> 00:02:23.139 This is an audio Bible. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.979 And the organization Faith Comes by Hearing, 00:02:27.799 --> 00:02:32.900 a lot of the people groups now that don't have Bibles in their language, 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:37.099 that don't have access to Scripture, a good number of them are literate. 00:02:37.480 --> 00:02:38.340 They can't read. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.439 Or even if they can read, that's not how they really, they're oral cultures. 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:45.659 That's not how they prefer to receive information. 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:47.860 They might, it might hit their heads, but not their hearts. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.680 And so Faith Comes by Hearing, the mission is to record audio Bibles, 00:02:52.219 --> 00:02:56.560 distribute them in every language so that every people group can get the Word of God. 00:02:57.200 --> 00:02:58.980 The name comes from Romans 10. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:02.180 Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:04.180 How are they to call on Him? 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:06.360 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.260 How then are they to call on Him in whom they've not believed? 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:12.020 How are they to believe in Him of whom they've never heard? 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.819 How are they to hear without someone preaching? 00:03:15.760 --> 00:03:18.020 And then Faith Comes by Hearing, hearing through the Word of Christ. 00:03:19.600 --> 00:03:21.020 So that's really the mission. 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:25.960 If people can't read, like if I give them this Bible, but you can't read, what good is it? 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:31.960 Or some of you, you guys, we know there's oral learners, there's auditory learners, right? 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:32.620 Visual learners. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:33.960 Some people like to read. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:36.540 Some people prefer to listen. 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:40.680 So if you're having a hard time reading the Bible, just because you don't like reading, 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:42.819 yeah, you can try listening. 00:03:43.040 --> 00:03:43.780 Listening to the Word. 00:03:44.100 --> 00:03:46.219 That's what people have been doing for thousands of years. 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:53.979 And also, it's no good giving people the Word of God if you can't understand it. 00:03:54.020 --> 00:03:55.120 It's not a language you can understand. 00:03:55.579 --> 00:03:59.099 How many people here are fluent in Hebrew and Greek? 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:01.900 Any hands? 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:03.800 None of us. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:07.659 So that's why we need to translate the Word. 00:04:07.659 --> 00:04:11.280 And so now Faith Comes by Hearing is also translating Scripture. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:14.800 They've recorded 2,000-something languages. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:16.759 I think over 2,600 languages. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:20.600 There's another over 2,000 that need translation and recording. 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:23.160 So now we're doing the task of translating Scripture. 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:27.300 So that just as, yeah, we have so many English Bibles, 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:30.639 everyone will have access to Scripture in their heart language. 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:36.860 I just want to share some testimonies of the power of these audio Bibles. 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:41.480 One is actually about this monk over here. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:47.319 Not this specific monk, but there is a monk who started a monastery. 00:04:47.980 --> 00:04:52.060 And then he saw a pastor who had one of these proclaimer devices, 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:54.939 and he was just playing it, playing the audio Bible. 00:04:55.340 --> 00:04:59.480 And he asked if he can borrow it because he thought it was a radio. 00:04:59.819 --> 00:05:01.900 So he borrowed it, and he actually took it. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:07.459 And then he returned six months later, and he said, I know Jesus. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.000 And then he closed down the monastery, 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:15.939 and now he's wanting to turn it into a church building. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:18.199 So we can pray for that. 00:05:18.599 --> 00:05:22.759 The village people are really upset because they worshipped at the monastery, 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:24.959 but now they might turn it into a church. 00:05:25.099 --> 00:05:26.739 So please pray for them. 00:05:27.219 --> 00:05:31.319 But this just shows the power of the gospel, power of the audio Bible. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:35.819 So another one, you might want to brace your heart a little bit, 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:40.800 a little bit of a different story, interesting story. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:46.240 But there's a woman who moved from a small village into the city of Kathmandu to work. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:50.759 And then she met a taxi driver, fell in love with him, got married. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:54.899 And then she discovered he actually has another wife. 00:05:54.899 --> 00:06:02.439 And so one time, one day after, she was calling her husband and just wanting to see where he is, 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:03.799 and he wouldn't answer the phone. 00:06:04.179 --> 00:06:07.859 So she went to his house and knocked on the door. 00:06:08.179 --> 00:06:11.459 It wouldn't open, so she just kind of pried it open, kind of broke in. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:15.099 And then she found her husband dead on the floor. 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:20.860 And the police arrived just in time to arrest her. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:25.220 And then she got thrown into jail at the age of 17 years old, 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:31.280 which is kind of insane that maybe people who were sharing the story with us 00:06:31.280 --> 00:06:37.740 is that very likely the ex-wife maybe framed her. 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:42.000 So she spent many years in jail, and her health was deteriorating. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:46.500 And then she even wanted to commit suicide at her lowest point in life. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:50.660 However, she ended up hearing a voice in jail. 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:57.340 So she initially thought it was witchcraft, but actually it was this. 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:59.000 It was the audio Bible. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:03.920 And so as she was listening to this audio Bible that someone was playing around her, 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:08.480 she ended up becoming a Christian at her lowest point in life. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:14.360 And so she was convicted at the age of 17, but because she became a Christian, 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:18.040 and then there's Christians that advocated for her and realized, 00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:26.400 actually, this little girl was convicted, or this woman now was convicted younger than the legal age. 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:31.620 And so they actually fought for her, and then she was released at 26 years old. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:35.180 And then now she's a woman's leader in her church. 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:37.420 So this is just the power of the gospel. 00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:43.220 Even sharing today with my small group girls the story of Joseph being thrown in jail, 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.399 but this was not all the doing of the brothers. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:48.420 It was not the doing of the ex-wife. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.600 God actually has a sovereignty over her life, 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:54.680 and powerful testimony because of the word of God. 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:56.480 Thanks. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:00.759 And so, yeah, I just invite you to be praying for the ministry. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.039 There's other ways of supporting too financially. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:06.920 But, yeah, the work is not finished. 00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:09.099 We were going through Acts as a church. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.819 We have to go make disciples of all nations. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.519 That's the Great Commission, Matthew 28. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:18.980 And, yeah, I think in going to Nepal, Jojo and I are seeing that glimpse of Acts 29. 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:24.480 The church is still going out and being bold to share the word of God. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.000 And we are part of that. 00:08:27.099 --> 00:08:27.879 It's not just others. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:30.540 We are the church entrusted with this mission. 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:32.200 We are custodians of the good news. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:34.000 So thank you, Jojo. 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:34.500 Thank you. 00:08:35.939 --> 00:08:43.519 And, yeah, so aside from Nepal, also two years ago, or in, what, 2024, 2023, 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:47.580 I also went to West Papua, also with Faith Comes By Hearing. 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:51.759 And there I kept hearing this phrase. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:56.639 So they got the audio Bibles, the New Testament, I think, in 2021. 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:01.920 And you can see that community just really transformed, really loving the word of God. 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:05.220 But there was this phrase I kept hearing them say. 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:08.800 They kept saying, from Matthew to Revelation. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:13.579 From Matthew to Revelation, we can see God's faithfulness. 00:09:13.579 --> 00:09:18.519 From Matthew to Revelation, we've been transformed listening to God's word. 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:21.740 And that stood out to me, that phrase. 00:09:21.859 --> 00:09:28.740 Because when we talk about the Bible, when we talk about God's word, we say from Genesis to Revelation. 00:09:29.479 --> 00:09:32.240 The whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is God's word. 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:33.199 And that's when it hit me. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.839 They only have the New Testament, too. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:36.720 They don't have Genesis. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:38.720 They don't have this backstory. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:41.320 Everything leading up, building up to Christ. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:47.860 And so on this trip and the trip to West Papua, we were celebrating that people have access to God's word in the New Testament. 00:09:48.180 --> 00:09:50.780 But that was a reminder to me that the work isn't finished. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.820 They need the whole counsel of God. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:55.940 But for us, we have that privilege. 00:09:56.060 --> 00:09:56.800 We have this privilege. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:01.500 We have the privilege of being able to start from Genesis, the first book of the Bible. 00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:05.460 And we're in the middle of preaching through the book of Genesis. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:10.340 We read how in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:11.340 And it was good. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:14.000 And there was peace and order and wholeness. 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:17.920 And God created us, mankind, special, made in his image. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:21.460 And we were made for relationship with one another and with God. 00:10:22.280 --> 00:10:23.759 With creation, also. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.259 And last week, we saw the fall. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:27.660 We heard about the fall of man. 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:29.540 When Adam and Eve, they disobeyed God. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:33.840 They ate from the fruit of the tree of knowledge and good and evil, which God told them not to eat from. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:36.500 And that's where everything fell apart. 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:39.660 We'll continue this week in Genesis 4. 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:40.820 Cain and Abel. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:42.379 Story of Cain and Abel. 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:44.340 These are the first children. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.500 The firstborn of Eve, who is the mother of all living. 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:48.920 These are the first brothers. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:52.920 And we will read together to see what happens in Genesis 4. 00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:56.639 Or in fact, rather than reading together, I invite us all to listen. 00:10:57.300 --> 00:11:01.720 We're going to ask Josh to play the audio Bible, which is recorded by Faith Comes By Hearing. 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:05.100 Let's all stand together as we listen to the word of God together. 00:11:05.540 --> 00:11:09.820 And just to note, it is a dramaticized version, so don't be surprised when Eve starts talking. 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:10.080 Okay? 00:11:11.180 --> 00:11:12.660 Genesis 4. 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:20.439 Now Adam knew Eve, his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.480 I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord. 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:28.079 And again she bore his brother Abel. 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:33.819 Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:40.500 In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:47.120 And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:55.700 And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. 00:11:56.180 --> 00:11:59.860 So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:02.300 The Lord said to Cain, 00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:04.579 Why are you angry? 00:12:05.219 --> 00:12:06.979 And why has your face fallen? 00:12:07.839 --> 00:12:10.679 If you do well, will you not be accepted? 00:12:11.359 --> 00:12:15.519 And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. 00:12:16.359 --> 00:12:20.639 Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:24.179 Cain spoke to Abel, his brother. 00:12:24.819 --> 00:12:30.879 And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:35.519 Then the Lord said to Cain, 00:12:35.719 --> 00:12:38.079 Where is Abel, your brother? 00:12:38.719 --> 00:12:39.740 He said, 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:41.539 I do not know. 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:43.519 Am I my brother's keeper? 00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:45.599 And the Lord said, 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.699 What have you done? 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:51.040 The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:58.780 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:03.980 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:08.520 You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:12.079 Cain said to the Lord, 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.460 My punishment is greater than I can bear. 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:21.240 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. 00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:27.419 I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me. 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:29.759 Then the Lord said to him, 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.580 Not so. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:37.019 If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:43.600 And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:48.439 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:52.139 and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:57.700 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.700 Cain knew his wife, and she was born. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:04.820 When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:10.940 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mahujael, 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:16.720 and Mahujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 00:14:17.520 --> 00:14:19.580 And Lamech took two wives. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:24.200 The name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other, Zillah. 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:26.440 Ada bore Jabal. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:30.860 He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 00:14:31.640 --> 00:14:33.620 His brother's name was Jubal. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:37.960 He was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 00:14:39.020 --> 00:14:41.440 Zillah also bore Tubal-Cain. 00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:46.220 He was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. 00:14:46.900 --> 00:14:49.920 The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. 00:14:50.780 --> 00:14:52.420 Lamech said to his wives, 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:55.919 Ada and Zillah, hear my voice. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:59.159 You wives of Lamech, listen to what I say. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:03.779 I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 00:15:04.339 --> 00:15:09.819 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:17.200 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth. 00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:18.700 For she said, 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:26.160 God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him. 00:15:27.160 --> 00:15:31.800 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:37.059 At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:42.319 So last week in Genesis 3, we focused on this topic of sin. 00:15:42.959 --> 00:15:44.199 The tragedy of sin. 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:47.599 That Adam and Eve, they doubted God's goodness. 00:15:47.979 --> 00:15:49.859 They had everything they wanted in the Garden of Eden. 00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:52.859 They could eat of every tree except for one. 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.619 They doubted God's word. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:57.480 They wanted to take control, sit in the driver's seat, 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:00.299 and so they took that fruit that God told them not to eat. 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:04.360 They ate it, and everything fell apart because of that. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:09.659 And we learned that at the heart of sin is a mistrust of God. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.980 Sin is a mistrust of God and of his word. 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:19.659 And through sin comes guilt, shame, pain, suffering, death. 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.860 Adam and Eve, they're cursed. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:26.100 They're cast out from the presence of God and from the Garden of Eden, from paradise. 00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.860 That is the curse of sin. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:31.200 Now, today in Genesis 4, we're going to stay here. 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:39.500 We're going to stay on the topic of sin because Genesis 4 is Genesis 3 continued, but just worse. 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:42.960 Genesis 4 is Genesis 3 plus 1. 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:45.720 Genesis 3 is the fall. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:49.399 Genesis 4 is the fallen falling even further. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:51.659 It's the same sin but worse. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:53.139 The same mistrust but worse. 00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:54.959 The same curse but worse. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.240 That's what we see in Genesis 4. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:02.779 Sin, one bite, leads to sin, leads to sin, leads to more sin. 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.139 Sin gets worse and worse and worse. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.879 Sin will kill you. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:13.399 And today we're presented with the same choice that the Lord gave Cain in verse 7 here. 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:15.500 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.579 Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it. 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:24.899 In other words, as John Owen said, be killing sin or sin will be killing you. 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:27.500 Kill sin or sin will kill you. 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:32.160 And now today as we celebrate Mother's Day, we see in verse 1, the first mother. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:34.799 Adam makes Eve a mother. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:40.400 Adam knew Eve, his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.039 And again she bore his brother Abel. 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:44.039 Eve is the first mother. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:47.000 She gives birth to Cain and Abel, the first brothers. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:50.480 And these brothers, they hold the first worship service. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:56.559 In verse 3, we see the first explicit act of worship in the Bible. 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.279 It says this, 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:01.220 In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:05.839 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock of their fat portions. 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:09.779 Their offering to God, the fruit of the ground, their flock. 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:13.539 And yeah, this is the first explicit act of worship in the Bible. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:24.359 Now, the shocking thing about this is that this first act of worship leads to one brother killing another. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:28.339 The first worship service ends with the first murder. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.740 Cain and Abel, each, they bring an offering to the Lord. 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:34.039 Cain was a farmer. 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.000 He worked the ground. 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.579 Abel was a shepherd. 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.240 Cain brought his crop. 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.559 He brought the fruit that he grew. 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:42.099 And Abel brought his animals. 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:44.359 But what does God think of it? 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.159 We read in verse 4. 00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:51.839 And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard. 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:55.619 So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 00:18:56.219 --> 00:19:00.359 The Lord was pleased with Abel's worship, but rejected Cain's. 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:01.399 Why is that? 00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:03.379 Look at what Abel offered. 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:09.199 Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. 00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:10.519 That's in verse 4. 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:15.680 In other words, Abel gave God his first and his best. 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:19.980 In giving the firstborn, Abel had faith that God would continue to provide more. 00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:25.240 In giving the fat portions, Abel gave to God the best that he had. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:28.779 And if you like to eat meat, you know that Abel gave God his best. 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.440 The fat is the tastiest part. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.599 If I'm eating a burger, I want a juicy burger. 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:35.379 I don't want 100% lean ground beef. 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:39.400 If I eat hot pot, give me some beef with marbling. 00:19:40.020 --> 00:19:41.360 I want some fat mixed in there. 00:19:41.760 --> 00:19:42.500 That's the good stuff. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:44.800 There's a reason why A5 Wagyu is so expensive. 00:19:45.560 --> 00:19:48.480 It's because the whole thing, the whole cow is just fat on four legs. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.720 So Abel gave God the fat portions. 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:54.020 He gave God his best. 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.680 Cain, on the other hand, what does Cain offer? 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:59.380 He offered the Lord something. 00:19:59.380 --> 00:19:59.940 Something. 00:20:01.020 --> 00:20:02.800 He gave God just something. 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:06.120 Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.620 That's all it says. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.980 The Bible is silent about what Cain offered. 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:12.140 But this silence is pretty loud. 00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:15.860 Imagine a manager writes two performance reviews. 00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:18.160 Abel is amazing, super hardworking. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:20.060 Everyone loves him, 10 out of 10 guy. 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.640 And then there's Cain. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.500 What should we say about Cain? 00:20:23.260 --> 00:20:24.980 It's great that he showed up to work, I guess. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:30.599 If that's the case, we can read between the lines on what that means. 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.480 Abel gave God his best. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:35.360 Cain just gave God the rest, his leftovers. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.000 Abel gave the cream of his crop. 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.880 But Cain just gave his crop. 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:44.220 So God was pleased with Abel, but rejected Cain. 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:49.400 And from this, we can see a bit about sin. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.940 We can see the source of sin. 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:57.080 The root of sin, the seed that germinates and bears fruit and kills you. 00:20:58.100 --> 00:21:00.940 The seed of sin is faulty worship. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.980 Defective worship. 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:07.160 We read last week, sin stems from a mistrust of God. 00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:08.720 And that's true. 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:11.420 Sin stems from a mistrust of God. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.340 But why does God punish sin? 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:15.160 Why does God punish sin? 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.480 Why is there a curse for sin? 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:20.519 In the fellowship, we just read, we're going through Romans now after we finish Genesis. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:27.160 We read Romans 1, which tells us this truth, that God has wrath for sin. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:31.720 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of men. 00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:33.879 God is love. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:38.079 And that love for his glory requires wrath. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:43.160 When Cain gave God his leftovers, it is an insult to God. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.279 It is defective worship. 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:49.500 A mistrust of God is faulty worship. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:53.480 It is valuing God, treasuring God as less than he is. 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:56.680 King of all, creator of all, giver of every good thing. 00:21:57.640 --> 00:22:01.039 You see, Adam and Eve valued what the serpent said. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:06.799 They trusted, they loved, they valued, treasured what the serpent said more than what God said. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:12.099 They loved what they saw with their eyes, that the fruit was good to eat. 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:16.180 They loved that more than they loved the promise of God. 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:23.259 Mistrusting God is also misworshiping, mistreasuring, misvaluing God. 00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:25.379 And today is Mother's Day. 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:29.120 Imagine for the last month, you've been spoiling yourself. 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:32.440 You've been eating out, getting nice meals with your friends. 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:37.480 Or maybe you just bought a new iPhone because people keep hating on your Android phone. 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:38.140 Imagine that. 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:45.900 But then you wake up, you come today for worship this morning and you realize, oh no, it's Mother's Day. 00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:48.940 You totally forgot about your lunch plans with your mom. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:52.020 And also you forgot to buy her a gift. 00:22:52.800 --> 00:22:57.180 Well, good thing you guys have a brand new EFCC Conflict water bottle that you can give your mom. 00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.880 The Lord provides. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:04.800 But if not, maybe you're just going to rush over to Minnesota and grab like a plushie or whatever the first thing you see. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:09.740 Now, like God, most moms are very gracious. 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.300 God is also very gracious. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:16.500 You know, your mom, she's probably still going to smile and just be happy that you showed up and showed some care. 00:23:16.840 --> 00:23:18.540 And God also, he knows our hearts. 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:20.640 He shows us grace when we fall short. 00:23:21.260 --> 00:23:23.760 But also there's a big difference between God and our moms. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:27.940 When you buy your mom a gift, it's something, you know, it may make you feel good. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:30.420 It's something that you do for your mom, right? 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:36.920 But when you offer to God our best worship, when we love and treasure God above everything else, 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:41.140 that is actually also the best thing that we can do for ourselves. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:45.220 Worshiping God is the best thing that we can do for ourselves. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:50.460 You see, God doesn't demand our first and our best because he's insecure. 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.559 He needs our stuff. 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.500 He needs anything. 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.779 It all belongs to him anyways. 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.519 He's the one who created it all in the beginning. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:59.639 He demands our best because he is king. 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.400 He is Lord. 00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:03.980 And he knows exactly how he wired and created us. 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:09.819 You and I were created, as C.S. Lewis said, with a God-shaped hole in our hearts. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.440 We were made to worship. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:14.279 We are made to be satisfied in God alone. 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:19.519 And we are only truly satisfied when we are worshiping him with our first and our best. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:23.460 And now this is more clear as we read on in verse 5, where it says, 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.660 For Cain and his offering he had no regard. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.859 So God had no regard for Cain and his offering. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:31.839 So Cain was very angry and his face fell. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.160 Cain was very angry. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:37.539 God rejected Cain's offering and Cain got angry. 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.099 Now notice this. 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:42.220 We listened to this. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:45.180 Cain, he later kills Abel. 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:48.980 But who is Cain angry at here in verse 5? 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.740 It says, Cain was very angry. 00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.600 Verse 5 doesn't say. 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.880 It doesn't say who Cain's angry at. 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:58.980 But it seems like Cain is angry at God. 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:02.620 He's angry at God for being rejected by God. 00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:07.620 He's angry that God judged and disapproved of his defective worship. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:10.100 He thought, I gave God my offering. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.980 I gave my offering. 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:13.420 And God, so you owe me a blessing. 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.500 You owe me something. 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:17.460 Why did you not accept this half-hearted offering? 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.140 Cain was angry. 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:21.660 And he ended up killing Abel. 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:24.700 But really, Cain killed the wrong person. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.779 Cain killed the wrong person. 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.259 Cain should have killed God. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.279 That's what he wanted to do. 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:36.859 He was angry because God didn't validate his defective worship. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:38.420 That's who he wanted to kill. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:43.119 You see, there's this contradiction in Cain's heart. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:46.039 That is, which is sad to see. 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:51.639 On one hand, Cain craves acceptance from God. 00:25:52.439 --> 00:25:54.859 He wants to be accepted by God. 00:25:55.679 --> 00:26:00.500 But on the other hand, he's angry with God and pushes him away. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.420 He mistrusts God. 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:03.519 He doesn't worship God. 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:06.400 There's this contradiction within him. 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.039 He wants God. 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:07.859 He doesn't want God. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.740 He's hot and he's cold. 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:09.779 He's yes and he's no. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:14.140 And it's the same for us also. 00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:18.080 We were made to know God and enjoy him. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:23.020 As Augustine said, our hearts are restless until we find our rest in him. 00:26:23.020 --> 00:26:28.759 Without God, we have emptiness, restlessness, dissatisfaction, just like Cain. 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:31.460 But at the same time, we also sin. 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:33.240 We devalue God. 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:36.440 We mistrust God. 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.579 We misvalue God. 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.940 Alienate God and drive ourselves further and further away from him. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.879 The one that we need most. 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:47.500 Think again of the big idols of Hong Kong. 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.839 We talk about this all the time. 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:50.579 Career, money, grades. 00:26:51.179 --> 00:27:00.059 We trust that if we get good grades, get into good university, find a good job, make good money, we'll be comfortable, fulfilled, happy. 00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:02.460 That's the lie we believe. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.220 That's what we believe. 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:06.379 That we need money more than we need God. 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:09.240 That grades and jobs will make us happy more than God. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:11.539 We mistrust God and misvalue God that way. 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:20.940 And as we worship these idols, do you notice maybe that we find ourselves also more distant and distant from God? 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:24.859 It's a busy season studying for IBs and APs. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:28.119 I'm too busy for church and for time with God. 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:37.899 But at the same time, that leaves us more anxious and anxious, more worried about our grades, more worried about our future, more worried about our finances. 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.279 Do you notice that? 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:43.599 We live the same contradiction as with Cain. 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:46.299 On the one hand, needing God, craving God. 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:51.559 But on the other hand, ridiculing God by worshiping other things, worshiping idols. 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:59.440 And these things always leave us empty and broken because they weren't meant to bear the full weight of all our expectations. 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.980 They weren't made for us to worship them. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:04.599 We were made to worship and trust God alone. 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:13.219 And so the point is, sin is mistrust, but more than that, a misvaluing of God, mistreasuring, misworship of God. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.719 It is defective worship. 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.399 Cain killed the wrong person. 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:17.839 Cain killed Abel. 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.459 He should have killed God. 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:23.519 Cain killed the wrong person. 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.219 He also killed the wrong thing. 00:28:26.179 --> 00:28:29.259 Cain killed Abel when he should have killed his sin. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:31.440 He should have killed his sin. 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.660 We saw the source of sin. 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:37.500 And now we're faced with this choice, the choice of sin. 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.400 Let's read from verse 6. 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:41.599 The Lord said to Cain, 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.039 Why are you angry? 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.920 And why has your face fallen? 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:47.019 If you do well, will you not be accepted? 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:50.299 And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:53.400 Its desire is for you and you must rule over it. 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:56.840 This is God's warning to Cain. 00:28:57.820 --> 00:28:58.519 You're in danger. 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:01.100 You're on a cliff's edge. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.680 You are so close to disaster. 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:08.060 Kill sin or sin will kill you. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:11.680 That warning is for us also. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.420 We also have a choice. 00:29:14.300 --> 00:29:16.460 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:27.319 The image here is of this, of an animal, a wild animal, maybe even a snake, creeping, hiding, waiting at the door of our hearts. 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:31.420 Waiting to jump in and attack us. 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:40.840 Waiting for any crack, any small opening to just rush into the door and attack us. 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.319 And when we read, 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:45.039 Its desire is for you and you must rule over it. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:49.420 This sounds similar to what we read last week in chapter 3, verse 16. 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.119 What God says to the woman. 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:55.700 Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you. 00:29:56.299 --> 00:30:04.559 One study Bible says that this means that sin wishes to be as intimate with humanity as a woman is with her husband. 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:11.700 Sin is waiting for us as soon as we so much as crack open the door one centimeter. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:14.299 It's waiting to pounce on us and kill us. 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.519 That's the warning to us. 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.779 Don't think you can manage your sin. 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:21.839 Sin isn't this little puppy that you can care for and domesticate. 00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:24.099 It's a wild animal waiting to kill you. 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.859 Don't think you can control sin. 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:29.319 Kill sin or sin will kill you. 00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:32.259 Because sin leads to sin, leads to sin, leads to more sin. 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.220 It's a slippery slope. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:36.079 Sin always gets worse and worse and worse. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:40.899 There's no such thing as a manageable level of sin or an acceptable amount of sin. 00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:46.639 Take, for example, in 2 Samuel chapter 11, David and Bathsheba. 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:50.359 David was king of Israel. 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:54.899 And this whole thing, it started off so small, so simple. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:31:00.139 King David was on his roof enjoying his rooftop garden or whatever it is. 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:06.500 And he looks out at his kingdom and he sees a woman bathing over there. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:12.180 And I'm sure at first he just glances and then looks away embarrassed. 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:14.420 Because, you know, after all, he's a good guy. 00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.740 He's a man after God's own heart. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.600 He's a godly man. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:21.200 But sin is crouching at the door. 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.040 And there's this thought. 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.960 What's her IG? 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:27.799 Let me look again. 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.740 I'm in control. 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:32.880 Let me scroll a little bit more. 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:35.319 I'll click one link further. 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.420 It's okay. 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.539 I can manage this. 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:43.180 And so, David takes Uriah's wife. 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.440 She's a married woman. 00:31:44.840 --> 00:31:47.440 And then sleeps with her and gets her pregnant. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.440 She's a married woman. 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:52.120 Imagine the scandal if people found out. 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:54.039 But David thinks once again. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:55.559 It's okay. 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.399 I can manage this. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.619 I'll just lie and cover it up. 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.180 And so, he hatches this plan. 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.980 David hatches a plan. 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:09.259 Why not just get Uriah back with his wife and just pretend that this whole thing is Uriah's child all along. 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:10.059 No one's going to know. 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.940 No one will know. 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:13.159 At work, the numbers don't line up. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.680 That's okay. 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.099 If we're in a hole, we'll keep digging. 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:16.000 We'll cover it up more. 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:18.000 And that's what David does. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.379 But Uriah doesn't bite. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.099 He doesn't fall for it. 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.339 Because he's a good guy. 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:24.539 He's a soldier in David's army. 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.599 He's loyal. 00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:28.559 And so, David thinks, well, I'm king. 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:31.079 I can do whatever I want. 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:34.939 I can just kill Uriah and then marry his wife. 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:36.259 Then so what if she's pregnant? 00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:37.859 Everything's fine. 00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:39.000 It's okay. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.619 I can manage this. 00:32:41.699 --> 00:32:43.219 And it's the perfect plan. 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.979 No one would know. 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.459 He'd get away with it. 00:32:46.899 --> 00:32:48.699 He would have gotten away with it. 00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:50.500 Except for one problem. 00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:54.000 One problem that he completely overlooked this whole time. 00:32:54.479 --> 00:32:56.339 One problem standing against him. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:59.819 And unfortunately, that problem has a name. 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:03.480 That problem is called the Lord. 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.399 The Lord God Almighty. 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.519 The righteous one. 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:08.240 The Lord of angel armies. 00:33:09.419 --> 00:33:12.759 And when the Lord is your problem, you've really got a problem. 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:17.460 Because the Lord sees your sin and he will bring justice. 00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.399 He will make it right. 00:33:19.679 --> 00:33:20.460 Do you see what happened? 00:33:21.419 --> 00:33:23.819 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:37.460 For one glance leads to one night, leads to one lie, leads to one murder, leads to God's judgment upon David, which leads his one son dead, another son raping his daughter, and David fleeing for his life from his other son Absalom. 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.919 All from one glance. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:40.720 One look. 00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:41.779 It's not okay. 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:43.119 You can't control sin. 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.200 We can't manage it. 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.779 You can't manage your sin. 00:33:45.939 --> 00:33:48.919 Kill sin or sin will kill you. 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:51.500 And that's the choice offered to us. 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.480 It's the choice offered to Cain. 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:56.000 And Cain made the wrong choice. 00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.559 He should have killed sin. 00:33:58.039 --> 00:34:00.400 But instead, he kills his brother. 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.660 And notice this. 00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:03.680 We'll read a bit from verse 8. 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:06.740 Cain spoke to Abel, his brother. 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:12.519 And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:15.659 Then the Lord said to Cain, where is Abel, your brother? 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:17.320 Cain said, I do not know. 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:19.239 Am I my brother's keeper? 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:21.099 The Lord said, what have you done? 00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:25.139 The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:31.059 And now you're cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 00:34:31.839 --> 00:34:34.559 Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother, brother, brother. 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:37.099 Your brother's blood cries out against you, Cain. 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:40.179 Sin leads to sin leads to more sin. 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:41.619 That's what we see in Genesis 4. 00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:43.480 It's 3 plus 1. 00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.980 Genesis 3, but worse. 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:49.779 And Adam and Eve, they start off thinking, what's the harm in a quick snack? 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:52.580 A piece of fruit never killed anyone. 00:34:53.540 --> 00:34:59.700 But look how quickly one bite becomes her first son killing her second son. 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:02.680 One brother killing your other brother. 00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:05.460 That's not how we want to celebrate Mother's Day. 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:10.720 The serpent tempted Eve and talked her into sin. 00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:12.379 Now look here. 00:35:12.459 --> 00:35:13.459 No one tempted Cain. 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:16.719 This thought, it came from his own heart. 00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.459 And he sinned. 00:35:18.859 --> 00:35:23.099 He continued with it even when God tried to talk him out of it. 00:35:23.439 --> 00:35:24.459 No one talked him into it. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:27.539 He sinned even when God tried to talk him out of it. 00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:33.399 Also, Adam felt shame after he ate and covered up. 00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:37.180 Adam confessed and admitted to his sin. 00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:40.660 Even if he did try to deflect the blame, he admitted it. 00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:41.660 That he did eat. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:44.160 But Cain, he lies. 00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:45.519 He's totally unremorseful. 00:35:45.660 --> 00:35:48.880 We see in verse 9, God asks him, where is your brother? 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:52.139 And Cain replies, I don't know. 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.220 I do not know. 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.180 What happened? 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.700 Did he forget which hole he buried him in? 00:35:57.780 --> 00:36:00.119 And Cain even gives God attitude. 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:02.119 He says, am I my brother's keeper? 00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:04.400 Do I have an air tag on him? 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:05.759 Let me check my find my. 00:36:05.859 --> 00:36:06.099 Okay. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:08.000 He's all snark. 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:08.940 No repentance. 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:11.299 And Cain, he goes for it. 00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:13.079 He even complains about his punishment. 00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.839 He complains in verse 13. 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:17.679 My punishment is greater than I can bear. 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.059 Whoever finds me will kill me. 00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:22.739 The sheer audacity of this guy. 00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:23.139 Look at him. 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.579 He never apologized. 00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.920 He never owns up. 00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:29.119 He never even confesses he sinned before a holy God. 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:31.839 His brother's blood's not even dried up. 00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:34.400 And he has the guts to complain. 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:36.219 Someone will kill me. 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.699 Oh, boohoo. 00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:38.380 Poor Cain. 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.179 Here's a tissue. 00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:43.239 As Rihanna said, don't tell me you're sorry because you're not. 00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:46.000 Maybe when I know you're only sorry you got caught. 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.480 That's Cain. 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:51.719 But don't we all have Cain in us, a bit of Cain in us, 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:53.719 as we live in a fallen world, 00:36:54.439 --> 00:36:56.679 and we're so quick to complain to God. 00:36:57.399 --> 00:37:00.000 How could you allow this to happen to me? 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.919 How could this happen? 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:04.739 That we fail to see the sin in us, 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:08.519 the blood of Abel crying out against us for justice. 00:37:09.359 --> 00:37:11.579 Cain is calloused and unrepentant. 00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:13.319 He has no remorse for his sin, 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:15.959 and he's only concerned about the punishment, 00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:18.579 not his offense against the holy God. 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:21.659 And so as a result, the punishment is worse. 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:23.400 When Adam sinned, 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:26.219 the curse was that his work would be frustrating. 00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.099 It'd be difficult. 00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:27.880 It'd be hard. 00:37:28.219 --> 00:37:30.619 But still, from the sweat of your brow, 00:37:31.299 --> 00:37:32.539 the ground will provide for him. 00:37:34.219 --> 00:37:36.799 The ground would bring forth thorns and thistles, 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:38.360 but it would still bring forth fruit. 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:40.420 But for Cain, we see in verse 12, 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.440 when you work the ground, 00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:44.819 it shall no longer yield to you its strength. 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:47.579 What that means, God's telling Cain, 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:50.099 Cain, you can work all you want now, 00:37:50.259 --> 00:37:52.920 but you'll get absolutely nothing. 00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:54.500 Not just frustration. 00:37:54.759 --> 00:37:55.699 You won't even get frustration. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:56.519 You'll get nothing. 00:37:57.500 --> 00:38:00.719 And that's a special curse that God put on Cain in particular. 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:05.099 Also, Adam was kicked out of the Garden of Eden 00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:06.519 at the end of chapter 3. 00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:07.659 Last verse there. 00:38:07.759 --> 00:38:09.799 God drove out the man, 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:12.199 and at the east of the Garden of Eden, 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:14.900 he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword. 00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:16.400 Now we say, 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.920 Cain moves even further away, 00:38:19.180 --> 00:38:21.220 even further east in verse 16. 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:23.720 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord 00:38:23.720 --> 00:38:25.800 and settled in the land of Nod, 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.940 east of Eden, 00:38:27.320 --> 00:38:30.019 east, further away from the presence of God 00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:30.900 and from paradise. 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:36.860 Genesis 4 is the fallen falling even further. 00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:38.900 Falling even further. 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.900 Sin gets worse and worse and worse, 00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:43.820 and we'll see that continue even more 00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:46.840 as we read on in chapter 4 in Cain's descendants. 00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:49.260 Cain had a son, Enoch, 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.539 who fathered Irad, 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:51.500 then Mehujael, 00:38:51.740 --> 00:38:52.660 then Methusheel, 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.519 then Lamech. 00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:55.840 By the seventh generation, 00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:57.700 Lamech, 00:38:57.840 --> 00:39:00.900 this guy is the definition of toxic masculinity. 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.720 In verse 19, 00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:05.400 he's the first one in the Bible to take two wives, 00:39:05.720 --> 00:39:08.860 which also is against God's design for marriage in the beginning, 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:11.579 which is one man, one woman for life, 00:39:12.180 --> 00:39:13.519 not two women, one man. 00:39:14.220 --> 00:39:16.000 Polygamy is in the Bible. 00:39:17.120 --> 00:39:18.880 There's examples of it in the Bible, 00:39:19.260 --> 00:39:20.620 but it's never endorsed, 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:22.820 and it only ever causes problems. 00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:24.099 We'll see that later in Genesis. 00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:25.920 This only ever causes problems 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:27.140 when we stray from God's design. 00:39:28.300 --> 00:39:28.680 And Lamech, 00:39:28.740 --> 00:39:30.599 he goes on in verse 23 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:31.700 to say to his wives, 00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:33.380 Ada and Zillah, 00:39:33.640 --> 00:39:34.360 hear my voice, 00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:36.380 you wives of Lamech. 00:39:36.380 --> 00:39:38.099 Listen to what I say. 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:41.260 I have killed a man for wounding me, 00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:43.680 a young man for striking me. 00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:45.880 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.539 then Lamech's is 77fold. 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:51.900 Do you see how far we've fallen? 00:39:53.180 --> 00:39:54.440 Adam was ashamed. 00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:55.840 He was ashamed, 00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:56.480 he was naked, 00:39:56.640 --> 00:39:57.059 he hid. 00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:59.800 Cain was hard-hearted. 00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:01.140 He denied it. 00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.119 But Lamech, 00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:04.660 he's proud. 00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:06.379 He says, 00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.219 where's my brother? 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:08.339 I killed him. 00:40:08.739 --> 00:40:09.779 I'm gonna sing about it. 00:40:10.420 --> 00:40:11.960 He's not ashamed of his sin. 00:40:12.399 --> 00:40:13.199 He's proud. 00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:14.399 He boasts. 00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:16.159 I imagine this guy with roid rage, 00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:17.039 a crazy laugh, 00:40:17.139 --> 00:40:18.779 he's got blood dripping from his mouth, 00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:19.679 and he boasts, 00:40:19.779 --> 00:40:20.779 he sings a song 00:40:20.779 --> 00:40:22.019 about his vengeance, 00:40:22.299 --> 00:40:22.799 his murder. 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.159 He's totally unrepentant. 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:25.079 He is proud. 00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:27.000 And that's the last stage of sin, 00:40:27.299 --> 00:40:28.940 when we've gotten so used to it, 00:40:29.159 --> 00:40:30.440 so hardened our hearts, 00:40:30.539 --> 00:40:31.279 so calloused, 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:33.139 and we don't feel shame anymore, 00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:35.839 only pride in how far we have fallen. 00:40:37.279 --> 00:40:38.699 Sin gets worse and worse and worse, 00:40:38.799 --> 00:40:39.980 and we have a choice here. 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:42.579 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:43.239 Kill sin, 00:40:43.319 --> 00:40:44.679 or sin will kill you. 00:40:45.900 --> 00:40:47.719 And as we look at Cain and his seed, 00:40:47.819 --> 00:40:48.339 his offspring, 00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:49.699 it looks like here, 00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:50.440 sin won. 00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:52.659 Sin's got the upper hand. 00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:54.599 Cain killed Abel, 00:40:56.339 --> 00:40:56.619 sin, 00:40:57.019 --> 00:40:58.000 Cain killed Abel, 00:40:58.279 --> 00:40:59.359 but sin killed Cain. 00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:01.579 And that's the end of the story. 00:41:01.740 --> 00:41:02.280 We'll finish here. 00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:02.599 That's all. 00:41:02.680 --> 00:41:03.000 Let's pray. 00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:05.740 No, 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.780 but if that really is it, 00:41:07.920 --> 00:41:08.800 we're really done 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:09.579 if that's the final word. 00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:11.220 We are really done 00:41:11.220 --> 00:41:12.059 if that's the final word. 00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:13.900 Because that can't be 00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:14.760 all there is to it. 00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:16.200 We're hopeless 00:41:16.200 --> 00:41:17.380 if that's the last word. 00:41:17.720 --> 00:41:18.440 And that's the point 00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.160 of Genesis 4, 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.579 that as we live 00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:21.700 in this fallen world, 00:41:21.760 --> 00:41:22.960 as we see suffering, 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:24.780 when we see the futility 00:41:24.780 --> 00:41:25.559 of our work, 00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:26.840 when we pop our ACL 00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:27.900 and it hurts, 00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:28.940 when the voice 00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:30.140 of the poor and oppressed 00:41:30.140 --> 00:41:31.300 go unheard, 00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:33.019 when brother raises 00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:34.300 fist against brother, 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:35.360 husband against wife, 00:41:35.600 --> 00:41:36.700 country against country, 00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:37.760 when we look inward 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:38.539 at ourselves 00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:40.039 and we know deep down 00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:41.500 sin has gripped our hearts, 00:41:41.740 --> 00:41:42.579 that we have the desire 00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:43.660 to do what is right, 00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:44.740 but not the ability 00:41:44.740 --> 00:41:45.720 to carry it out. 00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:47.600 When we see all this, 00:41:47.660 --> 00:41:49.360 the point for us to know, 00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:51.480 we ought to know 00:41:51.480 --> 00:41:53.039 that this world is broken. 00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:54.500 This world is broken. 00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:55.300 I'm broken. 00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:56.200 I need help. 00:41:56.199 --> 00:41:57.759 Wretched man that I am, 00:41:57.879 --> 00:41:58.899 who will deliver me 00:41:58.899 --> 00:42:00.039 from this body of death? 00:42:00.379 --> 00:42:01.739 The point is for us 00:42:01.739 --> 00:42:02.579 to see all this, 00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.219 this degeneration 00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:04.639 and for us to cry out, 00:42:04.960 --> 00:42:06.239 I need a savior. 00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.960 That's the point 00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:08.859 of Genesis 4. 00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.179 Help me. 00:42:11.339 --> 00:42:12.159 And now thankfully, 00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:13.759 that is not the end 00:42:13.759 --> 00:42:14.219 of the story. 00:42:14.319 --> 00:42:15.460 The story isn't finished 00:42:15.460 --> 00:42:16.859 because there is good news 00:42:16.859 --> 00:42:17.319 in here. 00:42:17.799 --> 00:42:18.500 Because Genesis 00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:19.799 and in fact, 00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:21.159 the whole Bible 00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:22.199 tells us 00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:23.259 there is good news. 00:42:23.260 --> 00:42:26.080 God is good 00:42:26.080 --> 00:42:27.900 even when we're not. 00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:29.800 God shows grace 00:42:29.800 --> 00:42:30.640 to sinners. 00:42:31.620 --> 00:42:32.580 We see that starting 00:42:32.580 --> 00:42:34.080 from Cain's faulty worship. 00:42:35.120 --> 00:42:35.980 See, God doesn't punish 00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.580 him immediately. 00:42:37.100 --> 00:42:37.720 He's patient 00:42:37.720 --> 00:42:38.840 and warned Cain's gently. 00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:40.820 Turn away from your sin. 00:42:41.640 --> 00:42:42.300 Sin is crouching 00:42:42.300 --> 00:42:42.620 on the door. 00:42:42.720 --> 00:42:43.300 Turn away. 00:42:43.880 --> 00:42:44.960 And he warns us also. 00:42:45.380 --> 00:42:45.780 Repent 00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:47.080 while you still have 00:42:47.080 --> 00:42:47.500 the chance. 00:42:47.500 --> 00:42:50.280 God is also merciful 00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:50.980 in his judgment. 00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:52.980 Cain killed his brother 00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:54.280 and Cain deserves to die. 00:42:54.900 --> 00:42:55.659 But just as Cain 00:42:55.659 --> 00:42:57.639 covered up Adam and Eve's 00:42:57.639 --> 00:42:59.099 shame with animal cloths, 00:42:59.219 --> 00:43:00.159 here in verse 15, 00:43:00.500 --> 00:43:01.480 the Lord put a mark 00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:01.960 on Cain 00:43:01.960 --> 00:43:03.579 lest any who found him 00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:04.380 should attack him. 00:43:05.559 --> 00:43:06.539 This is mercy. 00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:07.500 Like, 00:43:07.619 --> 00:43:09.440 why should it not be 00:43:09.440 --> 00:43:10.360 open hunting season 00:43:10.360 --> 00:43:10.760 on Cain? 00:43:11.400 --> 00:43:12.300 The soul who sins 00:43:12.300 --> 00:43:12.840 shall die. 00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:15.000 But yet God protects him. 00:43:15.619 --> 00:43:16.500 That's mercy. 00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:18.659 And lastly, 00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:20.079 we see that God provides 00:43:20.079 --> 00:43:21.679 another offspring 00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:22.699 in verse 25. 00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:24.280 And Adam knew his wife again 00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:25.340 and she bore a son 00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:26.280 and called his name Seth. 00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:27.039 For she said, 00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:28.460 God has appointed for me 00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.219 another offspring 00:43:29.219 --> 00:43:30.019 instead of Abel 00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.119 for Cain killed him. 00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:32.739 To Seth also, 00:43:33.260 --> 00:43:33.860 a son was born 00:43:33.860 --> 00:43:35.400 and he called his name Enosh. 00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:36.139 At that time, 00:43:36.219 --> 00:43:37.420 people began to call upon 00:43:37.420 --> 00:43:38.420 the name of the Lord. 00:43:39.739 --> 00:43:40.420 God provides 00:43:40.420 --> 00:43:41.280 another offspring 00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.420 who stands 00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:43.219 as a substitute 00:43:43.219 --> 00:43:43.940 for Abel. 00:43:44.300 --> 00:43:45.119 This is the offspring 00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:46.320 promised in chapter 3 00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:47.380 who will crush 00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:48.420 the head of the serpent. 00:43:49.559 --> 00:43:50.460 This is the offspring. 00:43:50.900 --> 00:43:51.600 This offspring 00:43:51.600 --> 00:43:52.320 is descended 00:43:52.320 --> 00:43:53.500 from the line of Seth, 00:43:53.580 --> 00:43:54.500 not from Cain. 00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:55.660 This offspring, 00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:56.660 his name is Jesus. 00:43:57.200 --> 00:43:58.460 He is the promised offspring 00:43:58.460 --> 00:43:59.640 who will redeem us, 00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.700 reverse the curse, 00:44:00.940 --> 00:44:01.820 and save us 00:44:01.820 --> 00:44:02.680 from this broken world. 00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:04.680 You see, 00:44:04.780 --> 00:44:05.140 Jesus, 00:44:05.660 --> 00:44:06.900 Jesus let the serpent 00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:07.460 strike him 00:44:07.460 --> 00:44:08.400 and bruise his heel. 00:44:08.940 --> 00:44:10.240 He died on the cross 00:44:10.240 --> 00:44:11.880 bearing our sins. 00:44:12.340 --> 00:44:13.200 He died the death 00:44:13.200 --> 00:44:13.940 that we deserve. 00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:16.159 And in doing so, 00:44:16.280 --> 00:44:17.079 Jesus crushed 00:44:17.079 --> 00:44:18.099 the head of the serpent 00:44:18.099 --> 00:44:19.179 when he rose from the dead. 00:44:19.639 --> 00:44:20.420 Death no longer 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:21.720 has dominion on you. 00:44:22.659 --> 00:44:24.119 We can try to kill sin 00:44:24.119 --> 00:44:24.760 all we want, 00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:26.099 but we will fail. 00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:27.179 We can try to 00:44:27.179 --> 00:44:28.780 take away our guilt, 00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:29.460 but we will fail. 00:44:30.220 --> 00:44:30.880 Lady Macbeth 00:44:30.880 --> 00:44:31.760 can wash her hands 00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:32.440 all she wants, 00:44:32.519 --> 00:44:33.019 but that blood 00:44:33.019 --> 00:44:33.599 won't come off. 00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:34.179 Abel's blood 00:44:34.179 --> 00:44:34.659 is still there. 00:44:35.099 --> 00:44:35.599 We're sinners. 00:44:35.800 --> 00:44:36.380 We're guilty. 00:44:36.720 --> 00:44:37.380 Our only hope 00:44:37.380 --> 00:44:38.579 is that we have Jesus 00:44:38.579 --> 00:44:40.440 and that God 00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:41.539 gave us Jesus. 00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.539 That's our hope 00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:43.759 as it says in Hebrews 12. 00:44:44.380 --> 00:44:45.900 We have come to Jesus, 00:44:46.300 --> 00:44:46.920 the mediator 00:44:46.920 --> 00:44:47.679 of a new covenant 00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:49.239 and to the sprinkled blood 00:44:49.239 --> 00:44:51.039 that speaks a better word 00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:52.380 than the blood of Abel. 00:44:52.739 --> 00:44:53.320 Hebrews 12. 00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:54.719 We're all sinners. 00:44:54.980 --> 00:44:55.940 That blood of Abel 00:44:55.940 --> 00:44:56.900 cries out against us 00:44:56.900 --> 00:44:57.960 and it cries out loud. 00:44:58.360 --> 00:44:59.440 It cries against us. 00:44:59.920 --> 00:45:00.300 Guilty, 00:45:01.019 --> 00:45:01.300 wicked, 00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:02.380 murderer, 00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:03.639 greedy, 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:04.960 pervert, 00:45:05.579 --> 00:45:06.279 unfaithful, 00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:07.199 lazy, 00:45:07.960 --> 00:45:08.380 failure, 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:09.340 broken, 00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:10.279 shameful, 00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:11.160 hopeless, 00:45:11.840 --> 00:45:12.160 dirty. 00:45:13.420 --> 00:45:14.140 Abel's blood 00:45:14.140 --> 00:45:15.480 cries out to condemn. 00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:18.019 But Jesus' shed blood 00:45:18.019 --> 00:45:19.440 dripping from the cross 00:45:19.440 --> 00:45:20.940 speaks a better word. 00:45:21.040 --> 00:45:22.080 That's our only hope. 00:45:22.620 --> 00:45:23.760 That when Abel's blood 00:45:23.760 --> 00:45:25.000 cries sinner, 00:45:26.040 --> 00:45:26.740 Christ's blood 00:45:26.740 --> 00:45:28.820 cries justified. 00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.980 When Abel's blood 00:45:30.980 --> 00:45:31.920 cries unclean, 00:45:32.860 --> 00:45:33.440 Christ's blood 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:35.180 cries spotless. 00:45:35.980 --> 00:45:37.160 When Abel's blood 00:45:37.160 --> 00:45:37.920 cries worthless, 00:45:39.060 --> 00:45:39.600 Christ's blood 00:45:39.599 --> 00:45:41.139 cries beloved. 00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:43.380 Jesus' blood 00:45:43.380 --> 00:45:44.639 speaks a better word 00:45:44.639 --> 00:45:45.519 than the blood of Abel 00:45:45.519 --> 00:45:46.319 and it cries out 00:45:46.319 --> 00:45:47.839 against all our condemnation. 00:45:48.259 --> 00:45:48.759 My people 00:45:48.759 --> 00:45:49.940 are fully forgiven, 00:45:50.420 --> 00:45:51.059 fully redeemed, 00:45:51.480 --> 00:45:52.059 fully loved, 00:45:52.360 --> 00:45:53.699 fully and unchangeably, 00:45:53.819 --> 00:45:54.480 irrevocably 00:45:54.480 --> 00:45:55.339 children of God 00:45:55.339 --> 00:45:56.360 with all its rights 00:45:56.360 --> 00:45:56.940 and privileges. 00:45:57.239 --> 00:45:57.980 That's what the blood 00:45:57.980 --> 00:45:59.380 of Christ cries out 00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:00.119 for us. 00:46:00.219 --> 00:46:01.139 It is finished. 00:46:02.139 --> 00:46:03.219 And we have come 00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:03.900 to Jesus, 00:46:04.400 --> 00:46:05.119 the mediator 00:46:05.119 --> 00:46:06.139 of a new covenant 00:46:06.139 --> 00:46:07.500 to the sprinkled blood 00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:08.900 that speaks a better word 00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:09.900 than the blood of Abel. 00:46:10.420 --> 00:46:10.840 And today, 00:46:10.980 --> 00:46:11.599 Jesus' blood 00:46:11.599 --> 00:46:12.660 speaks for you. 00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:13.860 God is for you. 00:46:13.940 --> 00:46:15.420 If only you believe in him, 00:46:15.660 --> 00:46:16.180 trust him, 00:46:16.460 --> 00:46:17.320 rely on his blood, 00:46:17.480 --> 00:46:18.220 worship him, 00:46:19.680 --> 00:46:20.260 trust him, 00:46:20.599 --> 00:46:21.220 value him, 00:46:22.139 --> 00:46:23.019 rely on his blood 00:46:23.019 --> 00:46:24.320 to kill your sin 00:46:24.320 --> 00:46:25.519 and give you new life. 00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:28.780 And so what should we do? 00:46:29.360 --> 00:46:30.780 We'll actually end here today. 00:46:30.840 --> 00:46:31.820 This is the final word. 00:46:33.500 --> 00:46:33.940 Remember, 00:46:34.719 --> 00:46:36.500 sin comes from 00:46:36.500 --> 00:46:37.800 a mistrust of God 00:46:37.800 --> 00:46:39.519 and a misvaluing of God. 00:46:40.219 --> 00:46:41.239 The root of sin 00:46:41.239 --> 00:46:42.519 is defective worship. 00:46:43.860 --> 00:46:44.659 So for us, 00:46:44.780 --> 00:46:45.880 is God our treasure, 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:47.820 the one who can truly 00:46:47.820 --> 00:46:48.880 satisfy our souls? 00:46:50.159 --> 00:46:51.019 What do we love 00:46:51.019 --> 00:46:51.900 more than we love God? 00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:53.699 What are we holding back 00:46:53.699 --> 00:46:54.179 from God? 00:46:54.179 --> 00:46:55.259 That's one way to test. 00:46:55.779 --> 00:46:57.339 How does that show, 00:46:57.460 --> 00:46:58.419 how does our love for God 00:46:58.419 --> 00:46:59.899 show in our time, 00:46:59.960 --> 00:47:00.619 our priorities, 00:47:01.019 --> 00:47:02.059 how we use our money, 00:47:02.279 --> 00:47:03.319 how we love one another? 00:47:03.419 --> 00:47:04.339 What are we holding back 00:47:04.339 --> 00:47:04.739 from him, 00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:06.239 from worshiping him with? 00:47:07.099 --> 00:47:07.859 Remember also, 00:47:08.460 --> 00:47:09.619 sin deceives. 00:47:10.279 --> 00:47:11.159 It deceives us. 00:47:11.500 --> 00:47:12.000 Sin promises. 00:47:12.259 --> 00:47:12.879 If you do this, 00:47:12.919 --> 00:47:13.559 you will be happy. 00:47:14.539 --> 00:47:16.279 But sin will kill you. 00:47:16.759 --> 00:47:18.019 Sin is crouching at the door. 00:47:18.139 --> 00:47:19.480 Sin isn't a cute puppy 00:47:19.480 --> 00:47:20.899 you can tame and manage. 00:47:20.900 --> 00:47:22.160 It's a wild animal 00:47:22.160 --> 00:47:23.260 waiting to attack. 00:47:23.639 --> 00:47:24.720 One look at the Sheba 00:47:24.720 --> 00:47:25.639 is all that it takes. 00:47:25.840 --> 00:47:27.019 Don't think we can open 00:47:27.019 --> 00:47:28.480 the door just a crack. 00:47:28.840 --> 00:47:29.720 There's no manageable 00:47:29.720 --> 00:47:30.420 amount of sin. 00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:31.099 Kill sin 00:47:31.099 --> 00:47:32.320 or sin will kill you. 00:47:33.200 --> 00:47:33.820 And finally, 00:47:34.639 --> 00:47:35.300 remember that 00:47:35.300 --> 00:47:36.639 this is all possible 00:47:36.639 --> 00:47:37.619 only through that 00:47:37.619 --> 00:47:38.360 sprinkled blood 00:47:38.360 --> 00:47:39.380 that speaks a better word, 00:47:39.460 --> 00:47:39.900 through Jesus. 00:47:40.500 --> 00:47:41.619 Today we have a choice. 00:47:42.180 --> 00:47:43.039 There's two knocks 00:47:43.039 --> 00:47:44.180 at the door of our hearts. 00:47:44.900 --> 00:47:45.780 Sin is crouching, 00:47:45.880 --> 00:47:46.880 waiting to destroy us. 00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:48.559 But Jesus is knocking, 00:47:48.820 --> 00:47:50.260 eager to restore you. 00:47:51.079 --> 00:47:53.539 And he says in Revelation 3, 00:47:53.619 --> 00:47:54.840 I stand at the door and knock 00:47:54.840 --> 00:47:55.760 and when we open to him, 00:47:57.820 --> 00:47:58.460 he comes in. 00:47:58.559 --> 00:48:00.500 The Holy Spirit enters our hearts, 00:48:00.860 --> 00:48:02.300 fills that God-shaped hole 00:48:02.300 --> 00:48:03.000 in our hearts 00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:05.280 so that we can truly worship God 00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:05.880 and live. 00:48:06.220 --> 00:48:07.019 That's what life is, 00:48:07.059 --> 00:48:07.619 to know God, 00:48:07.720 --> 00:48:08.160 enjoy him, 00:48:08.280 --> 00:48:08.900 glorify him. 00:48:10.039 --> 00:48:11.340 The Spirit also strikes 00:48:11.340 --> 00:48:12.480 at the root of our sin 00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:13.380 to set us free. 00:48:14.180 --> 00:48:14.579 Jesus, 00:48:14.740 --> 00:48:15.559 he killed sin, 00:48:15.559 --> 00:48:17.940 so sin cannot kill us. 00:48:18.679 --> 00:48:19.059 And today, 00:48:19.179 --> 00:48:20.699 I just want to leave us 00:48:20.699 --> 00:48:22.199 with an encouragement 00:48:22.199 --> 00:48:23.099 from Romans 6, 00:48:23.500 --> 00:48:24.259 which says this, 00:48:25.320 --> 00:48:26.960 now if we have died with Christ, 00:48:27.239 --> 00:48:28.519 we believe that we will 00:48:28.519 --> 00:48:29.360 also live with him. 00:48:29.820 --> 00:48:30.739 We know that Christ, 00:48:31.079 --> 00:48:32.099 being raised from the dead, 00:48:32.299 --> 00:48:33.299 will never die again. 00:48:33.559 --> 00:48:34.360 Death no longer 00:48:34.360 --> 00:48:35.860 has dominion over him. 00:48:36.039 --> 00:48:37.139 For the death he died, 00:48:37.299 --> 00:48:37.960 he died to sin, 00:48:38.059 --> 00:48:38.840 once for all. 00:48:39.299 --> 00:48:40.400 But the life he lives, 00:48:40.619 --> 00:48:41.400 he lives to God. 00:48:41.799 --> 00:48:42.779 So you also 00:48:42.779 --> 00:48:44.159 must consider yourselves 00:48:44.159 --> 00:48:44.860 dead to sin 00:48:44.860 --> 00:48:46.099 and alive to God 00:48:46.099 --> 00:48:46.920 in Christ Jesus. 00:48:47.640 --> 00:48:48.360 Let us pray. 00:48:51.039 --> 00:48:51.579 Thank you, 00:48:51.700 --> 00:48:51.880 Father, 00:48:52.340 --> 00:48:53.079 that you show 00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:53.880 your love 00:48:53.880 --> 00:48:55.039 in that while we were 00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:55.640 still sinners, 00:48:55.800 --> 00:48:56.740 Christ died for us. 00:48:58.059 --> 00:48:59.200 See what kind of love 00:48:59.200 --> 00:49:00.019 that we are called 00:49:00.019 --> 00:49:00.780 children of God 00:49:00.780 --> 00:49:01.500 and so we are. 00:49:02.440 --> 00:49:02.840 Thank you, 00:49:02.880 --> 00:49:03.120 Jesus, 00:49:03.360 --> 00:49:04.200 that your blood 00:49:04.200 --> 00:49:05.539 speaks a better word 00:49:05.539 --> 00:49:07.680 than Abel's blood, 00:49:07.740 --> 00:49:08.500 our condemnation. 00:49:08.720 --> 00:49:09.920 By single sacrifice, 00:49:10.019 --> 00:49:10.700 you have perfected 00:49:10.700 --> 00:49:11.539 for all time 00:49:11.539 --> 00:49:12.579 those who are being 00:49:12.579 --> 00:49:13.180 sanctified. 00:49:13.179 --> 00:49:14.359 and thank you, 00:49:14.519 --> 00:49:14.739 Spirit, 00:49:14.899 --> 00:49:16.379 that you testify 00:49:16.379 --> 00:49:17.019 with us 00:49:17.019 --> 00:49:17.460 that we are 00:49:17.460 --> 00:49:18.259 children of God. 00:49:18.799 --> 00:49:19.079 Abba, 00:49:19.139 --> 00:49:19.440 Father, 00:49:19.980 --> 00:49:20.679 we know this 00:49:20.679 --> 00:49:21.199 in our hearts. 00:49:21.539 --> 00:49:22.099 You help us 00:49:22.099 --> 00:49:22.739 to kill sin 00:49:22.739 --> 00:49:23.519 when we walk 00:49:23.519 --> 00:49:24.059 by the Spirit. 00:49:24.859 --> 00:49:25.799 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:49:26.279 --> 00:49:26.500 Amen.