WEBVTT

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 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah,

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 which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

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 At that time, the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem,

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 and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah.

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 Verse 6, Jeremiah said,

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 The word of the Lord came to me. Behold, Hanamo, the son of Shalom, your uncle, will come to you and say,

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 By my field that is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.

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 Then Hanamo, my cousin, came to me in the court of the guard in accordance with the word of the Lord and said to me,

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 Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours.

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 Buy it for yourself.

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 Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

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 And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamo, my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.

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 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.

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 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy.

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 And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch, the son of Neriah, son of Masaiah, in the presence of Hanamo, my cousin,

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 in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase,

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 and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard.

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 I charged Baruch in their presence, saying,

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 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,

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 Take these deeds, both the sealed deed of purchase and this open deed,

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 and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last long for a long time.

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 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,

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 Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.

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 After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch, the son of Neriah,

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 I prayed to the Lord, saying,

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 Ah, Lord God, it is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm.

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 Nothing is too hard for you.

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 You show steadfast love to thousands,

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 but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them.

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 O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts,

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 great in counsel and mighty in deed,

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 whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man,

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 rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

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 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

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 and to this day in Israel and among all mankind,

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 and have made a name for yourself as at this day.

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 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders,

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 with a strong hand and outstretched arm,

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 and with great terror.

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 And you gave them this land,

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 which you swore to their fathers to give them,

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 a land flowing with milk and honey.

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 And they entered and took possession.

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 But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law.

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 They did nothing of all you commanded them to do.

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 Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them.

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 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it.

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 And because of sword and famine and pestilence,

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 the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it.

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 What you spoke has come to pass,

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 and behold, you see it.

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 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me,

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 Buy the field for money and get witnesses,

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 though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.

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 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.

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 Behold, I am the Lord,

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 the God of all flesh,

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 is anything too hard for me?

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 Now therefore, thus says the Lord,

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 the God of Israel,

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 concerning this city of which you say,

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 It is given into the land of the king of Babylon

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 by sword, by famine, and by pestilence.

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 Behold, I will gather them from all the countries

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 to which I drove them in my anger

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 and my wrath and in great indignation.

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 I will bring them back to this place

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 and I will make them dwell in safety.

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 And they shall be my people

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 and I will be their God.

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 I will give them one heart

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 and one way

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 that they may fear me forever

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 for their own good

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 and the good of their children after me,

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 after them.

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 I will make with them

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 an everlasting covenant

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 that I will not turn away

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 from doing good to them.

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 And I will put the fear of me

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 in their hearts

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 that they may not turn from me.

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 I will rejoice in doing them good.

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 I will plant them in this land

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 in faithfulness

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 with all my heart

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 and all my soul.

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 For thus says the Lord,

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 Just as I have brought all this great disaster

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 upon this people,

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 so I will bring upon them

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 all the good that I promised them.

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 Fields shall be bought in this land

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 of which you are saying,

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 It is desolation.

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 Without man or beast,

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 it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

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 Fields shall be bought for money

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 and deeds shall be signed

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 and sealed and witnessed.

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 In the land of Benjamin,

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 in the places about Jerusalem,

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 and in the cities of Judah,

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 in the cities of the hill country,

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 in the cities of Shefella,

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 and in the cities of the Negev.

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 And I will restore their fortunes,

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 declares the Lord.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Amen.

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 Great. Thanks, Jeremy.

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 So, we're going to take a little bit of a break

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 this morning from what we've been looking at

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 over the last few weeks

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 with the Missional Justice series,

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 so that we can kind of come back together

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 and do that really well

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 when we're gathering together.

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 So, just over these next couple of weeks,

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 we're going to have a little look

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 at a couple of passages

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 to really kind of refocus our minds

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 and our hearts at this time.

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 And so, today,

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 we're going to look at this passage

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 from Jeremiah 32,

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 which actually we were just looking at

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 in our staff retreat

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 just a few days ago.

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 And so, I want to give us

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 a little breakdown

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 of what is going on in this passage,

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 how then Jeremiah prays

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 in the context of what's going on

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 in the situation,

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 and then think about a few implications

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 for us as a church.

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 So, before we do that,

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 let me just pray for us

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 that God would really speak to us

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 through His Word.

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 Father, we just thank You

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 that everything else may collapse

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 everything else may fail,

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 but You don't.

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 Because You are the sovereign Lord.

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 You're the one who has been in control

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 from the beginning of history

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 to the end of history.

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 You're the one who holds our lives

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 in Your hands.

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 You're the one who enters into history

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 to bring us and rescue us

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 out of darkness

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 and bring us into light.

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 You're the one who knows us.

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 You're the one who cares for us.

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 You're the one who wants to bring

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 Your Word to us even today.

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 And Lord, we just pray

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 that You would be with us

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 as Your church.

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 We pray that we would be

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 the people that You've called us

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 to be at this time.

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 We pray where there is fear

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 in our hearts, Lord.

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 We pray You would be

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 the Prince of Peace to us.

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 We pray, Lord,

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 where there is doubt and anxiety.

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 We pray that You would come

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 and reassure and rest our hearts in You.

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 We pray where we're tempted

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 to turn in on ourselves, Lord,

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 that You would lift our eyes up to You

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 and lift our eyes out

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 to other people around us, Lord.

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 Show us what it means

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 to be a light at this time

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 because of the great hope

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 we have in You.

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 And Father, we just pray

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 for our city

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 and for the world

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 with everything that's going on

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 at the moment.

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 There's many people, Lord,

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 who are going to be struggling,

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 whether it's with jobs,

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 with finances,

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 with health.

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 Lord, we pray for the medics, Lord.

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 We pray for Graham,

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 who's going to be going

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 into the coronavirus wards.

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 We pray, Lord,

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 Your protection over him.

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 We pray, Lord,

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 for him and all the believers

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 who are going into the city

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 from our church

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 and the churches around this city

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 that we would be

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 just an incredible hope

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 for this city.

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 We would bring Your light.

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 We would bring Your joy.

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 We would have this confidence

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 which would cause others to ask

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 what the hope that we have is.

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 Lord, please work in this situation,

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 we pray,

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 because You want to get glory

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 even when we have no idea

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 what You're up to.

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 So show us Your play.

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 Show us Your plans.

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 Speak to us this morning, I pray.

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 In Jesus' mighty name.

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 Amen.

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 So the situation in Jeremiah 32 is this.

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 It's desperate.

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 The Babylonian army,

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 the most powerful,

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 the most fearsome army

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 in the entire world,

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 is besieging the city of Jerusalem.

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 And they have been there for a while.

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 And it's only a matter of time

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 before the defenses come down

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 and they rampage through

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 and they destroy everything.

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 Inside the city,

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 if you can imagine a siege time,

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 famine has hit.

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 There's no food on the shelves any longer.

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 And when famine hits,

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 malnutrition starts to rise

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 and disease starts to spread.

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 And everyone inside the city

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 will see the bodies lying on the streets

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 of people who,

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 one by one,

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 are dying in the midst

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 of this terrible situation.

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 And in this,

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 Jeremiah,

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 who God has used to speak to the people,

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 telling them again and again

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 to turn back to God,

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 who has prophesied

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 the arrival of the Babylonians

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 and the destruction of Jerusalem,

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 he's been put in prison

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 because he's been speaking God's word.

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 And he cannot escape at all.

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 So the situation is dire.

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 It's terrible.

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 But then in the midst of this,

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 God gives Jeremiah

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 this crazy command.

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 He says to Jeremiah,

00:11:17.599 --> 00:11:18.839
 buy a field.

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 And his cousin then comes to him.

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 And basically in the Old Testament,

00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:25.980
 people wanted to keep property

00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:26.940
 within the family

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 for the inheritance.

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 So he was either next in line

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 or he was one of the people

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 down the line

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 who,

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 this guy,

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 cousin,

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 who presumably

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 is finding it difficult

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 to make ends meet.

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 He needs the money.

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 So he comes to Jeremiah,

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 buy this field.

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 But this is the craziest investment ever

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 because at that moment,

00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.700
 property is worthless

00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.980
 because the Babylonians

00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.680
 are just about to overrun everything

00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:51.459
 and take everything

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 from themselves.

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 And Jeremiah,

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 at this time,

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.539
 even though this investment

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 is worthless,

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 he cannot even go out

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 and see these fields

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 because he's in prison.

00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.139
 So he doesn't know

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 anything about

00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:07.839
 what this field is like

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 and yet the word of God

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 comes to him

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 and he's just got to obey

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 and got to trust God

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 in what he says.

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 Because you know,

00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:15.859
 sometimes God will speak things

00:12:15.859 --> 00:12:17.179
 which to our own minds

00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:18.459
 don't seem to make sense

00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:19.579
 in our human wisdom.

00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:21.420
 but he wants us

00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:22.900
 to learn how to trust him

00:12:22.900 --> 00:12:24.639
 because he's up to something.

00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.240
 And for Jeremiah,

00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:27.900
 this is the time of famine

00:12:27.900 --> 00:12:29.300
 and when you're in famine,

00:12:29.400 --> 00:12:29.980
 you want to keep

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:30.980
 all the money you can

00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:32.480
 because prices inflate

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:34.500
 and yet,

00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:36.139
 he's paying

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.139
 all this money

00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.180
 for what seems to be

00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:39.920
 a worthless piece of paper

00:12:39.920 --> 00:12:42.379
 and yet God says,

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.160
 buy this field

00:12:44.160 --> 00:12:45.780
 as a sign

00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:47.879
 that out of death

00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:49.379
 life will come.

00:12:49.699 --> 00:12:50.939
 That this won't last,

00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.579
 that there will be

00:12:51.579 --> 00:12:52.899
 property investments again.

00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.100
 There will be restoration

00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:55.899
 in my people.

00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.000
 And so that's kind of

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.860
 the background

00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:00.419
 to there where I want to focus

00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:01.879
 on the prayer of Jeremiah

00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.919
 from verse 16.

00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:05.139
 And normally

00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.299
 when your back's against a wall,

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.459
 in this kind of terrible situation,

00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:10.740
 you see no way out.

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:12.940
 We normally kind of pray,

00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:14.299
 God, get me out of here.

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.759
 We give him the laundry list

00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.340
 of all the things

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.779
 that we want him to do for us.

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.519
 But Jeremiah doesn't start there.

00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.680
 Jeremiah starts

00:13:20.680 --> 00:13:22.720
 with great theology,

00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.180
 with a perspective

00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:25.259
 of who God is

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.060
 in this situation.

00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:27.799
 So let's just kind of

00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:28.460
 run through this

00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:29.580
 and here's what he says.

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:29.960
 He says,

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.180
 Our Lord God,

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.200
 it is you

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.340
 who have made the heavens

00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.200
 and the earth

00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.440
 by your great power

00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:38.200
 and your outstretched arm.

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:40.419
 Nothing is too hard

00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:40.939
 for you.

00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:42.199
 What he's doing,

00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:42.519
 he's saying,

00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.079
 God, you are the creator

00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:45.439
 of the universe.

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.579
 From the asteroid belt

00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:49.399
 beyond Pluto

00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:50.620
 to the gecko

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.959
 in my prison cell

00:13:51.959 --> 00:13:53.339
 and all the bacteria

00:13:53.339 --> 00:13:55.740
 and all the atoms

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.559
 and molecules

00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.319
 in between,

00:13:57.719 --> 00:13:59.279
 everything of existence

00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:01.319
 has come to be there

00:14:01.319 --> 00:14:02.139
 because of you.

00:14:02.599 --> 00:14:03.599
 That's power.

00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:04.699
 That means,

00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.339
 I know that

00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:06.219
 if you can do that,

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:07.039
 then there's nothing

00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:08.360
 that's too difficult for you.

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:11.139
 That's great theology.

00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:13.220
 That's what every Christian

00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.399
 should believe

00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:16.379
 because that's who our God is.

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.720
 God can do anything.

00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.000
 And then he goes on.

00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:20.480
 He says,

00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.120
 You show steadfast love

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.019
 to thousands

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:26.440
 but repay the guilt of fathers

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:28.480
 to their children after them.

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.539
 So what is he saying?

00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:30.940
 He's saying,

00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:31.980
 You're a great lover

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.639
 and you're a great judge.

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:36.340
 God shows hesed.

00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:36.939
 That's the word

00:14:36.939 --> 00:14:37.759
 Kevin talked about

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.340
 the other week.

00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.620
 That means unflinching,

00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.840
 unshakable,

00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.539
 unmovable love.

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:46.120
 He is utterly devoted

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.080
 to his people.

00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:48.899
 You know,

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:50.299
 many people these days

00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.519
 have commitment phobia.

00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:52.840
 We're always looking

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.840
 for a better option.

00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:55.639
 God doesn't look

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.600
 for a better option.

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.120
 His love is a relentless

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:01.799
 pursuit of his people

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:03.799
 and nothing throws him off.

00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:05.560
 But,

00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:07.100
 what he's also saying here

00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.639
 is he's a great lover

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.919
 but he's also a great judge.

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.360
 His love isn't soft.

00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.360
 He takes sin seriously

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.840
 which is why the Israelites

00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:17.019
 are in the situation

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:18.620
 they are right now.

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.000
 It's the judgment of God

00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.720
 is upon them.

00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.320
 And then finally he says,

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:25.759
 verse 19,

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.139
 he says,

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:29.040
 Your eyes are open

00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:30.519
 to all the ways

00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.540
 of the children of man,

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.840
 rewarding each one

00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.820
 according to his ways

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.779
 and according to the fruit

00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.460
 of his deeds.

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.920
 What he's saying is

00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:40.759
 God sees everyone right now.

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.279
 So,

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.000
 he knows what Donald Trump,

00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:44.700
 Xi Jinping,

00:15:45.040 --> 00:15:45.620
 Carrie Lam

00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.519
 are thinking,

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:47.360
 feeling,

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.080
 desiring,

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:48.720
 and doing

00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.620
 right at this moment.

00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.200
 He also knows

00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.179
 how the beggar

00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:53.740
 in the slum in Mumbai

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.820
 is thinking,

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.340
 feeling,

00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:55.960
 desiring,

00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.679
 doing right at this moment.

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.080
 He also knows

00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.320
 what you are thinking,

00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:00.899
 fearing,

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.580
 desiring,

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:03.440
 feeling

00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.700
 right at this moment.

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.060
 No one escapes

00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:08.879
 his eyesight.

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:11.740
 And your future reward

00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:13.500
 and my future reward

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:15.139
 rest with him.

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.799
 Not with your investments,

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.600
 not with your MPF,

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.720
 not with your career,

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.919
 not with your health policy.

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:26.220
 Our entire future

00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.560
 rests in him.

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:31.560
 That's a biblical view of God.

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.220
 That's great theology

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:35.840
 that Jeremiah starts with

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.840
 in this situation.

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.000
 He wants us to start

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.740
 with perspective.

00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.259
 But then he goes on

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.139
 and he says,

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.240
 it's not just theology.

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:43.919
 He's also,

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.480
 this is a God of history

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:47.399
 who works in reality.

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.500
 So he goes through

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.600
 the story of the Exodus.

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.539
 And he says,

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.980
 Israel's great moment

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.579
 of redemption

00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.959
 shows that God's power

00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:55.100
 is not just in creation.

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.939
 God's power is in history.

00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:58.759
 We've seen his love

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.840
 and his judgment

00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.959
 and his justice

00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:02.600
 in delivering us

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.259
 from slavery.

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.200
 He's taken us

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.500
 from the worst circumstances

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.039
 before.

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.400
 And it says,

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.660
 even to this day,

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.299
 even right up till now,

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.539
 this is the kind of God

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.799
 we know he has provided for us.

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.579
 He has done everything for us

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.839
 again and again and again.

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.039
 And as Christians,

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:20.779
 we might say,

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.680
 we'll look back to the death

00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.200
 and resurrection of Jesus

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.579
 and say,

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:26.079
 we have seen God's power

00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:27.259
 in our lives

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.059
 through forgiveness,

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.599
 through his provision,

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.480
 through his power,

00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.159
 through his love

00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:32.079
 and through his justice.

00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.980
 And if you are a Christian

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:35.259
 and you've been walking with him

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.980
 and seeking to put your faith in him,

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.879
 then you will have stories

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.380
 of seeing how God

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:42.320
 has been continually faithful to you.

00:17:42.540 --> 00:17:44.300
 You've seen his provision.

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.700
 You've seen his grace.

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:46.860
 You've seen his love

00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:47.680
 in your life.

00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:50.920
 And so Jeremiah

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:52.620
 starts with theology

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:54.820
 and then God in history

00:17:54.820 --> 00:17:58.020
 to show that actually

00:17:58.020 --> 00:18:00.100
 this God is not just theoretical.

00:18:00.780 --> 00:18:02.040
 But then he brings it down

00:18:02.040 --> 00:18:03.780
 to the reality.

00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:06.000
 The reality of the people

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.060
 here.

00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.860
 Because there's a problem.

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.360
 The people of Israel,

00:18:10.760 --> 00:18:12.340
 why are they in this mess?

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.880
 Because Jeremiah says,

00:18:15.800 --> 00:18:17.300
 we've just disobeyed.

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.060
 We've been like a stubborn,

00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:19.880
 rebellious,

00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:22.180
 spoilt teenager.

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.300
 We did not obey your voice.

00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:25.780
 We did nothing of all

00:18:25.780 --> 00:18:27.060
 that you commanded us to do.

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.960
 Jeremiah's been preaching

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:32.180
 for 40 years

00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:33.500
 the same message,

00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:35.300
 calling people back to God.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.980
 And for 40 years,

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:39.940
 they have not listened to a single word

00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.700
 that he said.

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:41.319
 I mean,

00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:42.039
 just imagine

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.319
 preaching a sermon

00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:44.200
 for 40 years

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.460
 and never having anyone

00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.240
 listen to you.

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.839
 In fact,

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.279
 it's not just they don't listen to him.

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.539
 They've thrown him in prison

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.960
 and have tried to kill him

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.940
 multiple times.

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.519
 He's not on Israel's

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.819
 top 10 preacher list.

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:58.839
 And the reality is

00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:00.379
 because of their hearts,

00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:02.319
 the shelves are empty.

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.079
 The equivalent of ISIS

00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:05.179
 is about to enter

00:19:05.179 --> 00:19:06.019
 into the city.

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.059
 The devastation is total.

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.579
 There's a virus going around.

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.000
 And Jeremiah says,

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.259
 God,

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.460
 I know that you're in this.

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.759
 I know you've promised judgment.

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:17.819
 But then you've told me

00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:19.119
 to go and buy a field.

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:22.140
 That is insane,

00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.579
 God.

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.160
 Like,

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:25.240
 I don't know if you

00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.299
 have ever

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.640
 done something

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.619
 that God calls you to do

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:29.879
 and then had second thoughts

00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:30.359
 about it.

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.640
 You start getting doubts.

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.559
 But Jeremiah,

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.359
 he's got all this great theology.

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.140
 He's got this history

00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:38.000
 that he knows of God

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.660
 in his life

00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:39.200
 and God in

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.900
 the people of God.

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:42.180
 And yet,

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.060
 right now,

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.800
 he's facing a situation

00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:45.519
 where he's going,

00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:48.519
 is that really real?

00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.620
 Right now,

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:52.000
 it's the test for him

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.700
 whether what he knows

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.259
 in his head,

00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:54.960
 what he's known

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.820
 in his experience

00:19:55.820 --> 00:19:56.900
 is actually

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.840
 whether he's going to

00:19:57.840 --> 00:19:59.040
 bank his life on it

00:19:59.040 --> 00:19:59.720
 right now

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.740
 in the reality

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.320
 in the present circumstances

00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:03.060
 that he's facing.

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.060
 You see,

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.920
 faith in God

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:07.280
 often remains in your head

00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:08.220
 until it's tested,

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.540
 until it costs you something.

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:12.980
 Until you have to rely on it.

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.420
 I don't know if you ever saw,

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.440
 a few years ago,

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.500
 Jean-Claude Van Damme,

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.940
 the Belgian actor,

00:20:22.540 --> 00:20:23.500
 did an advert

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.259
 for Volvo trucks.

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.720
 I don't know if you ever saw that.

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.820
 Volvo's claim

00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:28.820
 was that they had

00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:30.160
 the most incredible

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.620
 precision steering

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.640
 on their trucks.

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.120
 So to prove it,

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.019
 what they had were

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.920
 two trucks

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.800
 were going to reverse

00:20:36.800 --> 00:20:38.580
 backwards side by side,

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.720
 and Van Damme

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.159
 was going to

00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:41.519
 have his feet

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.439
 on the wing mirrors

00:20:42.439 --> 00:20:43.460
 of either truck

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.379
 and then the trucks

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.579
 were going to move apart

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.539
 until finally

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.740
 Van Damme was going to

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.599
 do the splits

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.659
 in the middle of them

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.740
 as they moved backwards.

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.859
 And you see

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:54.279
 the kind of

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.359
 the making of this

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.379
 and you see

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.379
 the Volvo mechanic

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:59.339
 explaining how amazing

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.599
 the Volvo system is.

00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.960
 The precision is incredible.

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.680
 And at one point,

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.500
 Van Damme goes,

00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.840
 but, you know,

00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:08.440
 if you move slightly aside,

00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:10.000
 I'm going to fall, right?

00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:13.160
 And the guy says,

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:15.039
 listen, you've got to trust us

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:16.259
 because our drivers

00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.039
 are the best.

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.380
 And for Van Damme

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.059
 at that moment,

00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.660
 Faith wasn't going,

00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:23.440
 oh, okay, yeah,

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:23.980
 I believe you,

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.539
 but I don't think

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.960
 I'm going to go

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.559
 on the truck.

00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.860
 Faith was actually saying,

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.920
 okay, I will basically

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.300
 bank my life

00:21:31.300 --> 00:21:33.080
 on you guys

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:34.420
 because I can trust

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.720
 that you are reliable.

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.360
 That's what faith does.

00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:39.640
 And, you know,

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.519
 afterwards,

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:42.200
 when he gets off the truck

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.400
 and he's still in one piece,

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.440
 his faith in those drivers

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.820
 would have gone from

00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:48.300
 just being a theoretical faith

00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.500
 to now he knows.

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.900
 Now he knows.

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.960
 And Jeremiah,

00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:56.560
 he's bought this field,

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.640
 he's wondering,

00:21:57.860 --> 00:21:58.779
 am I stupid

00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.079
 for trusting God?

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:02.279
 This makes no sense.

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.920
 And God comes to him

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.639
 and says,

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.960
 I am Yahweh,

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.819
 that God

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.680
 that you've just been

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.599
 praying about,

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.879
 God of all flesh,

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.279
 the God of the Babylonians,

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.639
 the God of the Israelites

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.200
 you've been trying

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.920
 to preach to.

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.579
 Your God

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:20.740
 is anything

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.559
 too hard for me.

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.379
 Like,

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.299
 is even

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.680
 this situation,

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.600
 is your theology

00:22:27.600 --> 00:22:29.080
 enough for this situation

00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:29.600
 to know that

00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:30.060
 me,

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:30.880
 God,

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.060
 right now,

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.840
 I am that same

00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.680
 God of creation,

00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.400
 that same God

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:35.960
 of history.

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.840
 And God's just

00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:39.799
 got real with Jeremiah.

00:22:42.080 --> 00:22:42.880
 And he says,

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.000
 it's going to get worse

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.960
 before it gets better.

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:45.759
 That's not the news

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.600
 you always want to hear.

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:47.980
 But he says,

00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:48.240
 no,

00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:49.000
 the Babylonians,

00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:49.920
 like I've been promising,

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.860
 are going to come in.

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.000
 But I want you to know

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.500
 that I'm doing

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.279
 something bigger

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.219
 than you realize

00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:57.159
 right through this.

00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:58.539
 In 70 years,

00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.099
 I'm going to bring

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.779
 the people back

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.500
 to the land.

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.500
 But in 600 years,

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.259
 through Jesus,

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.139
 I'm going to bring

00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.559
 in an everlasting covenant.

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.699
 And I'm going to

00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:08.139
 change people's hearts.

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:09.039
 I'm going to do

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.719
 miracles

00:23:09.719 --> 00:23:11.079
 in your life.

00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.819
 This moment

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.699
 right now

00:23:13.699 --> 00:23:15.299
 is a little moment

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:17.439
 in the whole history

00:23:17.439 --> 00:23:18.619
 of what I'm up to.

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.359
 Will you trust me?

00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:23.019
 So that's kind of

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.659
 the story

00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.639
 of what's going on.

00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:25.399
 That's his prayer.

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.819
 That's how God answers him.

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.599
 So now,

00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:28.439
 I just want to bring

00:23:28.439 --> 00:23:29.419
 this down to us

00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:29.939
 and think,

00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:30.919
 how does this really

00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:32.779
 engage with us

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.599
 in times of trial

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.719
 and testing

00:23:35.719 --> 00:23:36.639
 when we go through?

00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:37.159
 And I think

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:38.099
 there's three things

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.399
 that I think

00:23:39.399 --> 00:23:39.839
 this passage

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:41.799
 draws out for us.

00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:43.099
 One,

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.819
 when we face

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:47.199
 challenging trials

00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:47.959
 and crises,

00:23:47.959 --> 00:23:48.939
 we see it as

00:23:48.939 --> 00:23:50.019
 an opportunity

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.319
 to grow

00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.139
 in faith

00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:52.819
 and love.

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.000
 You know,

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.359
 people,

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.279
 these days,

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:55.779
 they love talking

00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.799
 about the Chinese

00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.119
 word for crisis.

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:58.960
 I think it's

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.639
 ngai gei

00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:01.139
 and the ngai

00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:01.879
 from ngai him

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.720
 meaning danger

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.460
 and gei from gei wui

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.660
 meaning opportunity.

00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:06.960
 So people say,

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:09.099
 danger is an opportunity.

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:11.359
 But what normally

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:12.400
 happens in crisis

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.420
 is we turn in

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.059
 on ourselves

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.900
 and we just get

00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:17.200
 focused on our own issues.

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.700
 we try and protect

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.340
 ourselves.

00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.900
 In Jeremiah's day,

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.819
 it's no different.

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.080
 We don't know

00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:23.900
 why his cousin

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:25.059
 came to Jeremiah

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:26.000
 to sell his field

00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.100
 but it could be

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:28.039
 that other relatives

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.740
 were not willing

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.880
 to take their responsibility

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.819
 because,

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.660
 man,

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.539
 it's a worthless investment.

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.019
 You can understand it.

00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:35.880
 When times are hard,

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.620
 you try and batten

00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.539
 down the hatches.

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.200
 Right now,

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.620
 in Hong Kong

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.799
 and globally,

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.720
 people are afraid.

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:46.579
 we feel the crisis.

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:48.019
 We feel the economy.

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.759
 We feel

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.660
 whether it's the virus,

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.680
 whether it's the stock market,

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.960
 whether it's the loss of jobs,

00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:55.000
 whether it's the frustration

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.900
 with our kids

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.860
 of what to do with them

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.900
 for the next few months,

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.160
 whether it's the loneliness

00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.100
 of isolation.

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.240
 We can tend to turn in

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.980
 on ourselves.

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.180
 But I wonder whether

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:07.519
 you see this moment

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:09.579
 as an incredible opportunity

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:11.619
 that this is what

00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:13.000
 scripture calls a test,

00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:14.379
 an opportunity

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.279
 for our faith

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.299
 to get real.

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:17.720
 You know,

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.679
 we've been talking about

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:20.639
 being part of God's people

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.439
 means being part

00:25:21.439 --> 00:25:22.199
 of his mission.

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.740
 But how does that go

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.379
 from being just

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.220
 a head knowledge

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.960
 to actually being real

00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:29.059
 right now

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:30.839
 in the present circumstances?

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.819
 Well,

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.779
 let's take our love offering.

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.519
 Some of you

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.500
 may have planned

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:39.200
 to give based on

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.759
 your current financial position.

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:42.240
 You've got it all planned out.

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.779
 And now,

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.980
 your plans are ruined.

00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:48.240
 Your investments have collapsed.

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:50.059
 And we're still asking you

00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.740
 to consider giving

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.519
 a love offering.

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.220
 And maybe you're going,

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:54.839
 yeah, but,

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.380
 okay,

00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.220
 I would have done that

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.160
 like a couple of weeks ago,

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.920
 but it's insane now.

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.160
 Not at this time.

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.960
 And God will say,

00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.779
 will you trust me?

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.579
 Buy the field.

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.299
 Buy the field.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.519
 Do you believe

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:10.480
 nothing is too hard for me?

00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.160
 Put your money

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:15.079
 where your faith is,

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.660
 where your doctrine is,

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:18.240
 where your theology is,

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:20.119
 because then you will see

00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:21.400
 whether I'm truly trustworthy.

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.359
 Maybe it's not money.

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.460
 Maybe it's sharing the gospel.

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.279
 You've been so worried

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:27.799
 about everything

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.599
 that's going on,

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.000
 you haven't even thought

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.019
 about the lost people

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.640
 around you.

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.619
 We so often just

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.599
 get wrapped up

00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.480
 with how we're feeling.

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.759
 But God's word

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.859
 comes to you today

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.399
 and says,

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:42.179
 buy the field.

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.099
 And what that means is,

00:26:44.199 --> 00:26:44.839
 this week,

00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:45.480
 you're going to have

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:47.059
 conversations about the virus.

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.079
 You're going to have

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.679
 conversations about the economy,

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.359
 about investments,

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.539
 about people's fears.

00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:55.219
 And instead of just going,

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:55.980
 yeah,

00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.759
 it's really crazy

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.240
 at the moment,

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:59.920
 I want us as a church

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.480
 to actually seize the moment

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.500
 and say,

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:02.920
 God,

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.039
 give me grace

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.180
 for this.

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:06.940
 But,

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.660
 to reply

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.759
 in those moments

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.400
 when they're going to

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.420
 come up this week

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.019
 to go,

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.480
 hey, listen,

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:12.680
 yeah,

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.500
 I know it's been crazy

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.000
 at the moment.

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:16.180
 But one thing I've realized

00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:17.099
 through this time

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:19.039
 is that my security

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.720
 has never been

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.519
 in my investments.

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.920
 My security

00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.140
 has never been

00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.700
 in just whether

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.779
 everything's working out

00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.460
 because this is

00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.500
 an insecure world.

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.619
 but I've discovered

00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.799
 something that's more secure

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.720
 than any of those things

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.519
 and that's Jesus.

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.460
 Can I tell you about him?

00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.640
 I challenge

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.700
 every one of us

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.339
 this week,

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.079
 be praying

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.319
 because there will be

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.980
 opportunities

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.740
 and God's saying to us,

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.599
 by the field,

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.700
 trust me,

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.119
 the people's response

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:44.619
 may be,

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.759
 you're insane.

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.559
 Your own thoughts may be,

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:49.140
 that feels insane.

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.079
 But will you trust him?

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.500
 By the field,

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.000
 let's see what I'll do.

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.480
 It's the first thing.

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.519
 See the opportunities.

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.779
 Second thing,

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:01.279
 God plays the long game.

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.920
 Jeremiah would never

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:06.299
 actually get to see

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:07.000
 his field.

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.880
 The Babylonians

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.779
 retreated briefly.

00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:11.099
 He tried to go out

00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:11.839
 to see the field

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.259
 while there was

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.339
 a bit of a gap.

00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.940
 But then he got arrested

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.400
 on the way

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.119
 because people thought

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.759
 he was going to go

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:18.259
 and defect to the other side

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.940
 and he gets put back

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.700
 in prison again.

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.539
 And then he gets dragged

00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.359
 off to Egypt,

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.759
 never sees the field.

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:26.859
 I find this really challenging

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:29.240
 because we tend to think

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:31.099
 the world revolves around us.

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.319
 We tend to think that

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:35.259
 if I'm trusting God,

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:37.500
 then it should all work out

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.539
 for me,

00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.319
 in blessings for me

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.920
 and for my interests.

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:44.700
 But what if we trusted God

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.559
 right now

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:47.819
 and it wasn't us

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:49.140
 who benefited from it,

00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:50.720
 but there were others

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.540
 down the line

00:28:51.540 --> 00:28:52.380
 who were the recipients

00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:53.280
 of that blessing?

00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:54.720
 What if it was

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:56.660
 generations down the line

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.900
 that the fruit

00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:59.500
 of our faithfulness now

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.980
 was experienced?

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:01.920
 You know,

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.620
 when we first started

00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.160
 Watermark,

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.560
 there was this phrase

00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.500
 that we kept using

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.380
 which was,

00:29:06.780 --> 00:29:08.380
 one plants the seed,

00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.680
 the next generation

00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.759
 enjoys the shade.

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.759
 What if we planted

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.060
 the seed of the gospel

00:29:14.060 --> 00:29:15.380
 through our words

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.720
 or in our finances

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.820
 but somebody else

00:29:17.820 --> 00:29:18.740
 reaped the harvest?

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.980
 You know,

00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:23.340
 faithfulness to God

00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:25.820
 resounds into eternity.

00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.280
 Babylon

00:29:27.280 --> 00:29:29.960
 is a pile of dust

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.180
 in the Iraqi desert

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:31.680
 right now.

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.759
 They couldn't even find it

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.720
 until a few years ago.

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.380
 Jerusalem still exists

00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:38.320
 with a property market

00:29:38.320 --> 00:29:39.060
 that's thriving.

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:42.500
 Many of us,

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.420
 and even today,

00:29:44.780 --> 00:29:46.259
 we're still reading Jeremiah

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:48.640
 2,600 years later

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:52.080
 what if in 2,000 years time

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:53.120
 if God allows that?

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.220
 Hong Kong

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.680
 is a bunch of mountains.

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.180
 Beijing

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.420
 is a pile of dust.

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:59.020
 But our faithfulness

00:29:59.020 --> 00:29:59.400
 to God

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.380
 is still bearing fruit

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.160
 because He

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.060
 is making

00:30:02.060 --> 00:30:03.360
 something much

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.180
 greater happen.

00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:06.340
 God plays

00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:07.520
 a much bigger game

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:10.579
 and He calls us

00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.339
 to be part of it

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.240
 where we trust Him.

00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.539
 Thirdly

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.400
 and finally,

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:18.639
 so He doesn't just

00:30:18.639 --> 00:30:19.500
 want us to see

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.180
 as an opportunity.

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:20.980
 He just doesn't want

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.420
 to see us

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:21.940
 that actually

00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:22.599
 there's a much

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.619
 broader perspective.

00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.700
 He also is more

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:26.680
 concerned about our hearts

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.299
 than just our fields.

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:29.879
 You know,

00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:31.000
 God makes a promise

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.660
 to the people

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:35.119
 who will be exiled

00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:36.059
 and defeated

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.859
 by the Babylonians

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.500
 and He says this,

00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:38.919
 I will gather them.

00:30:39.199 --> 00:30:40.439
 I will bring them back.

00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:41.299
 I will make them

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.279
 dwell in safety.

00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:43.419
 I will give them

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:44.019
 one heart

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.539
 and one way

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.679
 that they may fear me

00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:46.359
 forever

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.639
 for their own good

00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:47.979
 and the good

00:30:47.979 --> 00:30:48.679
 of their children.

00:30:50.199 --> 00:30:51.199
 Now for Jeremiah,

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.639
 what promise

00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.279
 do you think

00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:55.019
 is the most miraculous here?

00:30:55.979 --> 00:30:56.219
 You know,

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.799
 he's gone out

00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.739
 to buy this field

00:30:57.739 --> 00:30:58.459
 when it seems like

00:30:58.459 --> 00:30:59.599
 the whole property market

00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.659
 is going to be devastated.

00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:03.019
 He knows

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.900
 it's going to require

00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.560
 a miracle

00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:05.360
 for that ever

00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:07.120
 to mean anything again.

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.180
 For there ever

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.380
 to be a thriving

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.160
 property market

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.800
 which isn't just

00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:12.320
 controlled by the Babylonians.

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.060
 He knows

00:31:14.060 --> 00:31:14.420
 that people

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.400
 are going to be exiled.

00:31:16.800 --> 00:31:17.700
 But Jeremiah

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.720
 also sees

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.120
 that there is

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:20.040
 a greater miracle.

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.060
 Jeremiah,

00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:22.900
 as we've said,

00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.580
 he's been preaching

00:31:23.580 --> 00:31:24.680
 for 40 years

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:26.560
 and not one

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.600
 single sermon

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.460
 has anybody

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.160
 listened to.

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.820
 I don't know,

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.560
 have you ever

00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:33.100
 tried to warn someone

00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:35.519
 not to date a person

00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:36.440
 because you can see

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.400
 their bad news

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.540
 and the person

00:31:38.540 --> 00:31:39.920
 refuses to listen

00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:42.120
 and then six months later

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:42.980
 they come to you

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.600
 on the phone

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.400
 crying because

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:45.779
 disaster just happened

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:47.519
 and you predicted

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.320
 it all along.

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.800
 But then

00:31:50.800 --> 00:31:52.720
 they go back again

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.519
 to do it again

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.640
 and again

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.560
 and again

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:56.880
 well for 40 years

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.400
 and longer

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.340
 that's been Israel.

00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:00.880
 And this disaster

00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.060
 is God's judgment

00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:04.080
 on rebellious sinners

00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:06.340
 but notice

00:32:06.340 --> 00:32:06.960
 what he says.

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:07.480
 He says

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:09.480
 I will give you

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.120
 one heart.

00:32:10.560 --> 00:32:11.940
 I will make

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.580
 with them

00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:13.740
 an everlasting covenant.

00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:15.300
 I will put

00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.060
 the fear of me

00:32:16.060 --> 00:32:16.720
 in their hearts.

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:18.380
 I will rejoice

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.300
 in doing them good.

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.860
 I will plant

00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:21.700
 them in the land.

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:23.960
 the greatest miracle

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.880
 in this passage

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:26.200
 is that God

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.600
 doesn't abandon

00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.620
 rebellious

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.519
 unbelieving

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.500
 people

00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:32.000
 like you

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.420
 and me.

00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:33.519
 He doesn't

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:33.980
 give up

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.640
 on his people.

00:32:35.100 --> 00:32:35.660
 He takes

00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.240
 rebels

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.000
 and he draws

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.960
 them to himself.

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.460
 And notice

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.220
 who's doing

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.660
 it all.

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.779
 This is not

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.420
 kind of clever

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:42.920
 Jeremiah.

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.279
 It's God

00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:44.759
 who takes

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.480
 the hard-hearted

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.360
 and changes them.

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.120
 It's God

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:47.539
 who takes

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.420
 divided people

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:48.960
 and makes them

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:49.220
 one.

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.059
 It's God

00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.539
 who takes

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.600
 the disinterested

00:32:51.600 --> 00:32:52.339
 in his voice

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:52.920
 and brings them

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.680
 to fear him,

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.700
 to love him,

00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:55.579
 to obey him.

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.160
 And he says

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:56.819
 he does it

00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.620
 through making

00:32:57.620 --> 00:32:58.480
 a covenant.

00:32:59.140 --> 00:32:59.860
 A covenant

00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:00.839
 in blood.

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.519
 Through Christ's

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.860
 sacrificial death

00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.799
 on the cross

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.940
 God does

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.500
 what we

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.640
 couldn't do.

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.700
 Jesus

00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.900
 pursues

00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.319
 rebels

00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:13.059
 and he will

00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.819
 do anything.

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.700
 Even dying

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.759
 on the cross.

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:18.860
 Even taking

00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.279
 them through

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.599
 the most

00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.199
 painful

00:33:20.199 --> 00:33:21.099
 circumstances

00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:22.259
 to awaken

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.699
 them to

00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:23.240
 see their

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.719
 need of

00:33:23.719 --> 00:33:24.000
 him.

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.079
 Because

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.579
 God,

00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:26.839
 is anything

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:27.439
 too hard

00:33:27.439 --> 00:33:27.979
 for God?

00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:28.959
 Can he

00:33:28.959 --> 00:33:30.279
 even change

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.219
 the hardest

00:33:31.219 --> 00:33:31.719
 heart and

00:33:31.719 --> 00:33:32.079
 turn it

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.399
 back?

00:33:32.879 --> 00:33:33.659
 We cannot

00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.379
 revive our

00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:34.939
 own hearts.

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:35.699
 We cannot

00:33:35.699 --> 00:33:36.519
 change anybody

00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.399
 else's hearts.

00:33:37.699 --> 00:33:38.299
 We cannot

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.240
 stop ourselves

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.079
 from fearing.

00:33:40.479 --> 00:33:40.819
 We cannot

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.399
 stop anybody

00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:41.959
 else from

00:33:41.959 --> 00:33:42.379
 fearing.

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.139
 But nothing

00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:43.799
 is too hard

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.359
 for God.

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.679
 He can

00:33:46.679 --> 00:33:47.339
 change

00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.419
 even you

00:33:48.419 --> 00:33:49.279
 and me

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.720
 and the

00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.259
 people around

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.699
 us right

00:33:50.699 --> 00:33:51.099
 now.

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:52.039
 You know,

00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.759
 Jesus said,

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.179
 unless a grain

00:33:54.179 --> 00:33:54.759
 of wheat

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.599
 falls to

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.220
 the ground

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.519
 and dies,

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:57.959
 it will

00:33:57.959 --> 00:33:58.419
 not bear

00:33:58.419 --> 00:33:58.980
 fruit.

00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:00.679
 Jesus

00:34:00.679 --> 00:34:01.319
 didn't just

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.419
 buy a field

00:34:02.419 --> 00:34:02.919
 he'll never

00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.359
 see.

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.679
 He poured

00:34:04.679 --> 00:34:05.220
 out his

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.379
 life for

00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:07.179
 people who

00:34:07.179 --> 00:34:08.400
 keep on

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.279
 ignoring him.

00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.079
 And yet he

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.779
 has continually

00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:12.579
 chased after

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.019
 us.

00:34:13.819 --> 00:34:14.539
 And we

00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.400
 today are

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:15.659
 the

00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:16.440
 beneficiaries

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.880
 of that

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.500
 love

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.460
 2,000

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.239
 years ago.

00:34:20.799 --> 00:34:21.799
 Again and

00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:22.219
 again.

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.920
 He could

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.259
 have said,

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.319
 it's insane

00:34:24.319 --> 00:34:25.199
 to give so

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.039
 much for

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.779
 people who

00:34:26.779 --> 00:34:27.179
 be so

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.759
 ungrateful,

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.559
 who be so

00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.099
 centered on

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:29.599
 themselves.

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:30.719
 But he

00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.079
 didn't.

00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:33.139
 Because God's

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.880
 love is so

00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.299
 much more

00:34:34.299 --> 00:34:34.840
 expansive,

00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:35.920
 so much

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.739
 more generous

00:34:36.739 --> 00:34:38.099
 than mine

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:38.460
 is or

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.099
 yours is.

00:34:39.739 --> 00:34:40.440
 The reason

00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:40.980
 we can

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.779
 worship him

00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:42.360
 today and

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.319
 say that

00:34:43.319 --> 00:34:44.139
 theology is

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:44.860
 real in our

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.880
 lives is

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.420
 because he

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:46.759
 said,

00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.259
 not my

00:34:47.259 --> 00:34:47.739
 will but

00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:48.219
 yours be

00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:48.799
 done to

00:34:48.799 --> 00:34:49.339
 his father.

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.380
 He entrusted

00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.079
 his entire

00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.920
 life, not

00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.559
 just a field

00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:52.940
 to his

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.619
 father, so

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.159
 that you

00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:54.659
 and I

00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:55.019
 could be

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.860
 his, so

00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:56.239
 we could

00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:56.940
 be secure.

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.739
 Right now,

00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.199
 the biggest

00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:01.679
 problem in

00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.159
 your life and

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.719
 in the people

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:04.480
 around you is

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:04.819
 not the

00:35:04.819 --> 00:35:05.239
 coronavirus.

00:35:06.339 --> 00:35:07.139
 It's not

00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:07.779
 the economy.

00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:09.100
 it's not

00:35:09.100 --> 00:35:09.600
 what to do

00:35:09.600 --> 00:35:09.880
 with your

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.320
 kids.

00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.519
 It's our

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.100
 hearts.

00:35:13.200 --> 00:35:13.760
 And God

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.640
 shakes

00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:16.180
 everything down

00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:18.860
 sometimes to

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.900
 expose to us

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.800
 the reality of

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.140
 where our

00:35:21.140 --> 00:35:21.680
 hearts are.

00:35:23.160 --> 00:35:23.460
 You know,

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:23.900
 one of the

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.660
 best things

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.600
 that is

00:35:25.600 --> 00:35:26.540
 happening in

00:35:26.540 --> 00:35:27.000
 Hong Kong

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.580
 right now in

00:35:27.580 --> 00:35:28.140
 the midst of

00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:28.820
 this tragedy

00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:30.500
 is God is

00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:31.320
 shattering our

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:31.760
 sense of

00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.620
 security and

00:35:32.620 --> 00:35:33.220
 our sense of

00:35:33.220 --> 00:35:34.160
 self-control

00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:34.960
 and our sense

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.420
 of being able

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:35.920
 to control

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.500
 the world.

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.820
 God is

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:37.980
 because in

00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.639
 history,

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:40.460
 when society

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.219
 is stripped

00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:41.719
 of the

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.519
 crutches that

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.059
 it leans

00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:43.940
 on apart

00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.659
 from God,

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.179
 when the

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:46.659
 church

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.619
 realizes it's

00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.300
 got nothing

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:48.840
 left,

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.480
 absolutely

00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.420
 nothing left

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.079
 to lean on

00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.579
 other than

00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:52.500
 God himself,

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.719
 that's when

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:55.360
 revivals

00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.159
 break out.

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.860
 That's when

00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:58.599
 you begin to

00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:58.980
 see the

00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.960
 awesome power

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.519
 of God

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.000
 coming.

00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.480
 Because you

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:02.659
 see,

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.300
 the way that

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.139
 God works

00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:04.940
 through the

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.300
 cross,

00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:05.820
 he takes

00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.220
 you through

00:36:06.220 --> 00:36:06.860
 death to

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.180
 bring you

00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:07.920
 into life.

00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:10.580
 That's the

00:36:10.580 --> 00:36:11.200
 way the

00:36:11.200 --> 00:36:12.640
 gospel always

00:36:12.640 --> 00:36:12.860
 worked,

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:13.360
 the cross

00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:13.900
 before the

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.440
 resurrection.

00:36:15.120 --> 00:36:15.519
 God is

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.400
 bringing death

00:36:16.400 --> 00:36:17.120
 in multiple

00:36:17.120 --> 00:36:17.740
 ways in

00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.360
 our lives,

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:18.920
 to our

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.320
 dreams,

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:19.740
 to our

00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.080
 hopes,

00:36:20.220 --> 00:36:20.519
 to our

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:20.860
 idols,

00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.380
 to all

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:21.860
 kinds of

00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:22.200
 things,

00:36:22.200 --> 00:36:23.640
 because he

00:36:23.640 --> 00:36:24.060
 wants to

00:36:24.060 --> 00:36:24.960
 bring us

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.580
 life.

00:36:26.060 --> 00:36:26.720
 That's where

00:36:26.720 --> 00:36:27.280
 he's taking

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:27.660
 us.

00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.260
 He wants

00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:29.019
 to resurrect

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:30.260
 us through

00:36:30.260 --> 00:36:30.800
 this with

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.440
 his power.

00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:32.340
 So how do

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.920
 we respond?

00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:35.280
 We get on

00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:35.860
 our knees.

00:36:36.640 --> 00:36:37.519
 We repent

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:37.860
 where we

00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:38.440
 haven't bought

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:38.880
 the field

00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.180
 that he's

00:36:39.180 --> 00:36:39.579
 been telling

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:39.940
 us to

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.160
 buy.

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:41.620
 We haven't

00:36:41.620 --> 00:36:42.100
 listened to

00:36:42.100 --> 00:36:42.380
 him where

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:42.640
 he's been

00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.200
 calling us

00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:43.720
 to risk

00:36:43.720 --> 00:36:44.140
 and step

00:36:44.140 --> 00:36:44.460
 out in

00:36:44.460 --> 00:36:44.860
 faith.

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.019
 And we

00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:46.519
 ask him

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.180
 to revive

00:36:47.180 --> 00:36:47.680
 us.

00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:48.940
 Give us

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.800
 that fear

00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:51.079
 of you so

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.860
 we can step

00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.539
 out in faith

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:54.840
 this week to

00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.340
 say, God,

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:55.800
 what's the

00:36:55.800 --> 00:36:56.280
 field you

00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:56.680
 want me to

00:36:56.680 --> 00:36:57.039
 buy?

00:36:57.860 --> 00:36:58.400
 I don't

00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:58.800
 just want to

00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.079
 have a

00:36:59.079 --> 00:36:59.700
 theoretical

00:36:59.700 --> 00:37:00.559
 knowledge of

00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:00.780
 you.

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.300
 I don't

00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:01.680
 even want

00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:02.080
 to rely

00:37:02.080 --> 00:37:02.420
 on my

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.220
 past history

00:37:03.220 --> 00:37:03.740
 with you.

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.340
 I want

00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.140
 an experience

00:37:05.140 --> 00:37:05.880
 and encounter

00:37:05.880 --> 00:37:06.360
 with you

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:07.280
 today and

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:07.640
 I want to

00:37:07.640 --> 00:37:08.380
 trust you

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:09.000
 to know

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.380
 that you're

00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.440
 powerful and

00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:10.820
 your love

00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:11.540
 is unfailing.

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:13.060
 This is an

00:37:13.060 --> 00:37:13.960
 opportunity for

00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.360
 us to grow

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:14.980
 deeper into

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.480
 who God

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:16.460
 is and

00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:17.000
 our faith

00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.540
 to grow

00:37:17.540 --> 00:37:18.180
 and our

00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:18.620
 love for

00:37:18.620 --> 00:37:19.160
 others to

00:37:19.160 --> 00:37:19.460
 grow.

00:37:20.160 --> 00:37:20.600
 This is

00:37:20.600 --> 00:37:20.980
 where we

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:21.500
 as a church

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:21.800
 need to

00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:22.320
 arise and

00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:22.800
 be a light

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.100
 in the

00:37:23.100 --> 00:37:23.400
 city.

00:37:24.100 --> 00:37:24.700
 So let

00:37:24.700 --> 00:37:25.160
 me pray

00:37:25.160 --> 00:37:25.800
 for us.

00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:33.580
 Father,

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:37.740
 I'm just

00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.420
 so aware

00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:42.440
 that I

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:42.820
 can say

00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:43.340
 the right

00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:44.519
 doctrines

00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:45.180
 about you.

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:46.740
 We all

00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.040
 can.

00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:48.560
 We can

00:37:48.560 --> 00:37:49.000
 say the

00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.340
 right

00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:51.900
 experiences

00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:52.900
 and testimonies

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.300
 of you

00:37:53.300 --> 00:37:54.019
 that we

00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.460
 have known

00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:54.780
 in our

00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:55.380
 past.

00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:56.860
 But

00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:57.140
 Father,

00:37:57.240 --> 00:37:57.780
 today is

00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.120
 the day

00:37:58.120 --> 00:37:58.480
 you want

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:58.780
 to take

00:37:58.780 --> 00:37:59.240
 us deeper

00:37:59.240 --> 00:37:59.840
 into you.

00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:02.400
 Forgive us,

00:38:02.540 --> 00:38:02.660
 Lord,

00:38:02.740 --> 00:38:04.220
 where we've

00:38:04.220 --> 00:38:04.920
 been so

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.120
 clinging to

00:38:06.120 --> 00:38:06.980
 other things

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.720
 that we have

00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:08.500
 failed to see

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.000
 you in the

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.540
 midst of all

00:38:09.540 --> 00:38:09.960
 that's going

00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:10.260
 on.

00:38:11.180 --> 00:38:11.740
 Forgive us

00:38:11.740 --> 00:38:12.380
 where we've

00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:14.340
 not been

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:14.760
 willing to

00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:15.400
 step out in

00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:16.060
 faith to

00:38:16.060 --> 00:38:16.760
 trust you

00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:19.080
 with what

00:38:19.080 --> 00:38:19.580
 you're calling

00:38:19.580 --> 00:38:20.060
 us to,

00:38:20.200 --> 00:38:20.380
 Lord.

00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:22.360
 Please open

00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:22.880
 our eyes

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.660
 to see you.

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:24.780
 Speak

00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:25.660
 to us for

00:38:25.660 --> 00:38:26.280
 where you're

00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:26.900
 calling us

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:27.440
 to buy a

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:27.960
 field this

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.260
 week,

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:28.580
 Lord,

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.460
 that may

00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.420
 seem insane

00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:30.980
 in this

00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:31.280
 current

00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.119
 circumstances.

00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:33.340
 But because

00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:33.900
 we know

00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:34.240
 that we

00:38:34.240 --> 00:38:34.559
 know

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:34.880
 that we

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.159
 know

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.740
 that you

00:38:35.740 --> 00:38:36.460
 are the

00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:36.920
 creator,

00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:37.240
 God,

00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:38.039
 nothing is

00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:38.519
 too hard

00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:39.019
 for you.

00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:39.820
 Give us

00:38:39.820 --> 00:38:40.480
 that faith

00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:40.800
 and that

00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:41.260
 confidence

00:38:41.260 --> 00:38:41.920
 to trust

00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.200
 you.

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:44.340
 Please work

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:44.659
 in our

00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.000
 church,

00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:45.840
 revive us,

00:38:45.980 --> 00:38:46.139
 Lord.

00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:47.260
 Let nothing

00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:48.119
 else provide

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:48.840
 the security

00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.840
 in our

00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.260
 lives

00:38:50.260 --> 00:38:51.240
 that you

00:38:51.240 --> 00:38:51.519
 do,

00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:51.760
 Lord.

00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:52.119
 I pray

00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:52.360
 that we

00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:52.820
 would run

00:38:52.820 --> 00:38:53.360
 to you

00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:54.200
 with a

00:38:54.200 --> 00:38:54.380
 new

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:54.920
 desperation

00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:56.059
 and that

00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.539
 you would

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.260
 just bring

00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:58.280
 incredible

00:38:58.280 --> 00:38:58.900
 life,

00:38:59.280 --> 00:38:59.840
 incredible

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:00.440
 fruit,

00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:01.440
 incredible

00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:02.059
 freedom

00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:03.200
 through this

00:39:03.200 --> 00:39:03.780
 situation,

00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:04.420
 we pray.

00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:05.800
 In Jesus'

00:39:05.800 --> 00:39:06.180
 name,

00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:07.280
 Amen.