WEBVTT

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 Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you as we take a look at this prophecy

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 that you gave Isaiah centuries and centuries before the birth of your son, that promised

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 that one day in the latter days you would right all wrongs and that it would be through

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 your son. Lord, we thank you that we have this wonderful truth that's been preserved

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 for us, but more than that, that it came to pass which proclaims to this world that you are good

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 and you are God and you are almighty and that everything is under your sovereign rule and

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 that's a good thing. So Lord, as we come to your word this morning, we pray that you would bless us,

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 help us to have ears to hear and minds to understand, and most importantly, Lord, that we

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 would submit ourselves to your word by your help and live according to it. And we pray this in Jesus'

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 name. Amen. Some of you, if you've been to New York City, I mean, there's a lot to see. Obviously,

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 it's an absolutely gigantic city, but if you've gone to the United Nations or the United Nations

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 Plaza, you might have seen this staircase that goes down into the plaza and on this wall that's

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 right beside, butted up right against the staircase, it has a portion of our text just emblazoned on

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 the wall. It says this, they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.

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 Nations shall not lift sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. So I don't know if

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 this is the official title, but it's known as the Isaiah Wall. It's a beautiful message. It's a message of

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 hope and presents this ultimate goal that world leaders ought to aspire to, that war would not

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 mark this world any longer, that nations would be at peace. However, the Isaiah Wall has a problem,

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 and the problem is that it does not quote verse 4 in its fullness. Verse 4 in its fullness reads like

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 this, he shall judge between the nations and shall decide disputes for many peoples, and they shall

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 beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up sword

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 against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. No mention of God on the Isaiah Wall. Maybe it's

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 implied, whoever was the architect of it, maybe it was implied. I don't fully know the backstory,

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 but as it stands today on the Isaiah Wall, it's a portion of Isaiah 2 verse 4 and not the full thing.

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 No mention of the Messiah, only that one day in some way war will end, everlasting peace would prevail,

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 and yet not a generation later the Korean War happened. And after that the war in Vietnam as kind of

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 like the big wars, not to mention the dozens or so of skirmishes in civil wars and conflicts that have

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 existed unbroken until the present. Friends, swords are still swords. Spears are still spears. Peace

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 is not, it continues to elude us, it does not exist. So as we begin Advent, we're going to spend our time

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 in Advent over these four weeks in Isaiah looking at various prophecies. And as we begin Advent,

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 this time of preparation and anticipation for the birth of Christ, for the revelation of Christ,

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 we will see why the Son of God came to earth and why he clothed himself in humanity.

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 And we'll see that only he can bring about this fruition, this only he can bring to pass verse 4 of

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 chapter 2 of Isaiah's prophecy, because only he has the authority to judge, only he has the authority

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 to arbitrate between multiple nations and the peoples of the earth. Only through him can we approach

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 this mountain of the Lord, and we'll see that shortly, and participate in this glorious plan of

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 redemption. It is only through the Prince of Peace that we will know peace. So as we go through

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 Advent, we'll keep this thing in our minds that it's only through Christ will all of our hopes and

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 longings, both individually and collectively, all of our hopes and longings, will they be satisfied in

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 him? So we're going to look at Isaiah chapter 2. Well, it's only five verses, so we're going to

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 somewhat slowly go through it. So if you have a Bible, please turn with me to Isaiah chapter 2.

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 I've broken up the text, there's five verses, I've broken the text into four points, and it goes like

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 this, that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring about peace, because in him we see the presence of

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 the Lord. Verses 2, in him we see the mission of the Lord. In him we see this and receive this call

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 of the Lord, that we actually get to participate in this mission, and finally we will see that he is

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 the Prince of Peace, because he is the Lord of all. So look with me verses 2, actually just verse 2,

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 and we'll look how Jesus is the culmination or the embodiment of the presence of the Lord,

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 and why this brings us peace. I'll read verse 2 for us again. It says this,

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 It shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be

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 established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills, and all the

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 nations shall flow to it. This verse opens with this term, this reference called the latter days.

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 You'll see variations of this throughout Isaiah's prophecy. Sometimes you'll talk about in those days,

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 or in the latter days, and this is a very comprehensive term. It's not just talking about

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 some future day that's kind of, it's in the future but doesn't really have a date. Rather,

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 it's a biblical expression for the future, specifically the time when the Messiah will come.

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 In Isaiah's day, the Messiah, this figure, especially if you get into the servant psalm,

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 songs later on in Isaiah chapter 40, there's this understanding of the Messiah being a Savior, but

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 for Isaiah's time, this idea of the Messiah as we know him today in the person and work of Jesus Christ,

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 there's just shadows, there's whispers, there's allusions to him. But Isaiah is saying that

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 there will be a day when this Savior will come, and this is what he will do.

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 So this is what he's talking about, these latter days. This time marks, in the biblical sense,

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 the righting of all wrongs, the redemption of all that is broken. It's the beginning of the fullness

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 of time. It's the beginning of the end of the ages, and this inauguration of the good and everlasting

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 kingdom of God. So, like I mentioned, the New Testament understands this as the time when Jesus

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 will come. This would be the Advent season, the anticipation that we are in the latter days,

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 the beginning of the end of the age, the beginning of when the Messiah will come.

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 Jesus will live, he'll die and rise again, defeating death. It is a beautiful picture and promise from

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 God. But I also want to draw your attention to a second reference that might be familiar if you've

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 gone to church for a while, but can also be a bit confusing as well. There's this reference on the

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 second line here, at least in my Bible, it's on the second line, and it says this. We'll read the first

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 part, it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be

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 established as the highest of the mountains. And I'll pause there. This is certainly is a reference

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 to the temple in Jerusalem. If you've been to Jerusalem, the temple does not exist. There's just

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 the western wall. The temple would have been absolutely huge. It would have been a sight to see.

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 This is surely a reference to the temple. But what's interesting here is that the temple in

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 Jerusalem that is referenced here isn't called the temple. It's called the mountain of the house of

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 the Lord. It's not to say that the temple is now referred to as the house of the Lord. There's a lot

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 of overlap, but Isaiah's prophecy specifically uses this term, the house of the Lord, to signify the

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 very presence of God amongst his people in these latter days in this messianic age. Why? A house is

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 where somebody resides. And here we have a reference to the house of the Lord, meaning that there will be

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 a time where God will once again be with his people. He will reside with them. His presence will be among

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 them. Sin and the things that have come into the world because of sin have separated us from the

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 presence of the Lord. On one hand, God is everywhere. There's no place where he is not. But in terms of

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 a relational presence, because of sin, because of death, we are separated from this presence, this

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 relational connection to God. This is saying that one day in these latter days, that will all be

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 reversed. Redemption will happen. And the key bit to redemption, this beautiful salvation that this

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 Messiah will bring, this cosmic victory, is a promise that God will dwell with his people once again.

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 There's also a reference to this mountain. And all of a sudden, we start to see a bit of a picture

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 being painted here. Mountains are these high places, obviously. But in the ancient world, the mountain or

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 the high place would be where the transcendent would meet the temporal. The place where we would go to get

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 as close to the divine or to the divines as we could. Think about Mount Olympus, where the pantheon

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 of gods live. It's a mountain up there. You traverse, you get as close to Mount Olympus as possible. You

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 think about in the narratives of the Old Testament, where Israel would sacrifice to the false gods,

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 the Baals and the Asheroths would be on a high place. It's a symbol of religious might and

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 religious power. Now, Jerusalem isn't anything to write home about in terms of its height. It's about

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 2,500 vertical feet or so. It is not very high. Nevertheless, this mountain, this place where

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 the house of God would be, it would be grander and bigger than any other mountain on earth, which is to say

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 that the faith, the religion of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who created everything, Father, Son, and Holy

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 Spirit, he would be above all gods. That all faiths would not compare to him. That his mountain, his house,

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 would be the pinnacle of what it meant to worship anything. For he is the only one. He is the most

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 powerful. He is the Almighty. It is no wonder then that the nations would flow to it, which is somewhat

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 bizarre language. I'm not a physics major. I'm not sure if you knew that. I know enough to know that gravity,

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 it doesn't work in reverse, right? Things flow down. They don't flow up. So we start to see a bit of a

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 bizarre picture of what this end of the age would look like. That there would be this mountain

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 where God would dwell, and it would have this magnetic pull, and not just to the people of

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 Israel, the ethnic descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but that all nations would be drawn

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 towards the presence of the one true God. That from it, it will also say that peace would flow down.

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 So we have this picture of this mighty mountain where the temple, where the presence of God is,

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 where the house of God is. People are flowing up. Peace and his word and his truth and his ways are

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 flowing down. And all of it conveys to us that God's great desire for humanity, for men and women,

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 for families, for all nations, for you and I this morning, is that he would dwell with us and we would

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 dwell with him. This is it. It's this wonderful picture of God's desire to reverse

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 all that was broken because of sin. All the chaos, all the sin, all the disorder, the evil, despair,

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 the rage, the conflict. All that would separate us from him, he would traverse it. And that we who

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 would come to him, we would know his presence and would know a true godly peace and relationship with

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 our creator once again. So he states this purpose from the very beginning. Upon his mountain, in his

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 house, the Lord will be found and you can come to him. It's a beautiful picture. It also is covenantal

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 language. An agreement, a covenant is more than just an agreement between two parties. It is

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 a relationship that people enter into. There's very specific rules and obligations, but also joys in a

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 covenant. Marriage is a covenant. Adoption is a covenant. Here we have covenantal language used so

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 that those that would come to the Lord would enter into this relationship with him. Here's the thing,

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 though. This covenant that God has promised is an agreement made by him to us, an agreement that we

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 can't somehow make on our own, but that he has initiated. And therefore, he will promise us in this

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 covenant that if we are in him, we cannot fall out of him, that we are with him to the end.

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 The reality is we have no business being in the presence of the Lord, but because it is his will for

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 this to happen, it's because he has initiated the covenant. He makes what is impossible come to pass.

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 He makes rivers flow up.

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 He makes it possible for us to ascend.

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 Why is contentment so elusive for us?

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 For many in our city, I mean, again, I've,

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 the economy is that, it's like every headline,

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 and rightfully so. It's,

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 from what we've known in Canada, it is tumultuous.

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 But even,

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 even a difficult economy for us

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 would be some of the most affluent living

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 that people have ever lived in the history of mankind.

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 It's remarkable.

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 I'm not trying to downplay the economy

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 just to show our affluence.

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 And yet,

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 discontentment

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 is still very high in our culture.

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 We have,

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 it seems to be,

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 an insatiable desire for more.

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 We want more things,

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 more opportunities,

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 more progress.

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 We want more authority,

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 more prestige,

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 more fame,

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 immortality.

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 We want it,

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 and yet we cannot achieve it.

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 Our discontentment manifests itself

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 all the time,

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 often in unhappiness or disappointment,

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 but sometimes in anger and rage.

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 Could it be that we desire

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 the presence of God

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 without quite knowing it,

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 so that we try other things

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 in the stead of God,

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 instead of Him,

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 and we can't get it,

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 and it's frustrating?

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 We use temporal things

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 to achieve a transcendent joy,

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 and we can never achieve that end.

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 So we're unsatisfied.

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 Is that not because we were created

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 to know and be in the presence

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 of the triune God?

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 To know Him,

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 but more importantly,

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 to be known by Him?

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 It's remarkable then

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 that even though we have

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 all that we have,

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 we are constantly trying to create

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 and recreate ourselves.

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 Oftentimes in social media,

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 our identity is at the very top

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 of our priorities.

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 I'm speaking generally here,

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 but I'm sure it touches on all of us

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 to one degree or another.

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 But here's the wonderful thing

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 about the gospel of Christ

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 and the presence of God,

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 is that it becomes

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 our very identity

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 that when we know Him,

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 we are secure in Him forever.

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 And this is His mission.

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 This is the culmination

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 of all history,

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 that God is drawing people

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 to Himself.

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 Friends, this is the mission of God.

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 So how will He achieve this mission?

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 We'll see this in verse 3,

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 and this will be

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 the second point in verse 3.

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 It reads like this,

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 And many people shall come and say,

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 Come, let us go up

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 to the mountain of the Lord,

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 to the house of the God of Jacob,

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 that He may teach us His ways,

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 and that we may walk in His paths.

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 For out of Zion shall go the law

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 and the word of the Lord

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 from Jerusalem.

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 Like we've seen already,

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 nations are being drawn to the Lord,

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 entering into this covenant with Him.

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 So that the house of Jacob,

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 which is ethnic Israel,

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 becomes expanded,

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 so that non-ethnic Israelites

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 can claim the God of the house of Jacob.

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 It's a beautiful, incredible picture.

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 This is true inclusivity here.

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 It does not matter, then,

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 where you are from.

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 If you ascend the mountain,

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 if you know the Lord,

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 you are a part of His people.

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 You can enjoy His presence.

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 So the mission of God

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 towards humanity

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 is a mission of expanding His presence,

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 and most importantly,

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 His love,

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 so that all who are distant

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 will be drawn near

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 and will have satisfaction

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 for all eternity.

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 And I'll say this.

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 This is not just the mission of God,

00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:43.500
 but this is who God is Himself.

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:46.899
 1 John chapter 4

00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:49.720
 speaks of God being love.

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.059
 It says,

00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.920
 God is love.

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.519
 It's a wonderful passage,

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.819
 chapter 4 of 1 John.

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:57.899
 And this is precisely right,

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.939
 not because it's in the Scripture,

00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:00.500
 but because we have a triune God,

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:02.359
 a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:04.019
 So St. Augustine,

00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:05.259
 from the 4th century,

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:08.000
 he wrote a treatise on the Trinity.

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.740
 High-level thinking,

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.799
 high-level theology,

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.819
 but he has this

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.639
 absolutely remarkable

00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:19.539
 line of talking about

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.700
 why God is love

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:22.019
 and how He can be loved

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.659
 and how only in the Trinity,

00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:25.340
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.660
 can God be called

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.560
 a God of love

00:20:27.560 --> 00:20:28.980
 and love itself.

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.940
 This is what it says.

00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:33.519
 The Father is not the Son,

00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:35.519
 nor the Son the Father,

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.980
 and the Holy Spirit

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.080
 is neither the Father

00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.700
 nor the Son.

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.259
 Here it is.

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.920
 But the Trinity is one,

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.779
 the Father who loves,

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:46.140
 the Son who is love,

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.360
 and love itself,

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.120
 the Holy Spirit.

00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:52.759
 The Father who loves,

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.400
 the Son who is loved,

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.980
 and love itself,

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.680
 the Holy Spirit,

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.759
 so that in the Trinity,

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.879
 because God has always existed,

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.799
 there was never a time

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.500
 when He did not exist,

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.960
 the Father loves the Son,

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.879
 the Son is loved by the Father,

00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.079
 and the Holy Spirit

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.879
 is love itself.

00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:11.680
 That love is constantly

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.180
 and integral

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:15.059
 to the person

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.960
 of the Godhead.

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.299
 Three persons,

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:18.839
 one God.

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:22.819
 And here's the mission of God.

00:21:23.699 --> 00:21:25.679
 To invite us into

00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:27.379
 this love.

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:30.779
 To extend the love to us

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.899
 so that we would know

00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:32.839
 the Father's love

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.639
 through the Son.

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.319
 That the Son gives us

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.119
 the Holy Spirit

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:36.899
 to love,

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.240
 not perfectly,

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:39.579
 but to grow in our love

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.679
 and to also know

00:21:40.679 --> 00:21:41.799
 the love of the Father.

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.139
 And all of a sudden,

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.720
 without becoming a part of God,

00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:45.899
 God is God,

00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:46.480
 we are not,

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.860
 we get to participate

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.779
 in the love of God.

00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:50.519
 And this is what He invites us into.

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.700
 This is the mission of God.

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.740
 So you see,

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.380
 love is always

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.720
 an expanding force.

00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:58.120
 It never contracts.

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.500
 It always expands.

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.519
 It always looks to invite

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.460
 and go forth

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:04.220
 and to find the lost

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:07.640
 and to remedy brokenness

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.980
 and to fix

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:12.599
 the outworking of sin

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.660
 so that people can

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.579
 know what it is

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:17.319
 to have the presence of God,

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.879
 which is the presence of love.

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.740
 This is the mission of God.

00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:24.579
 To seek and save the lost.

00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:30.879
 How wonderful is this mission?

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:34.939
 It is not an invitation

00:22:34.939 --> 00:22:39.259
 to submit to a wrathful God

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.419
 so that we can get crushed

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:43.820
 and that we can become slaves to Him

00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:46.880
 and live a life of black and white.

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.300
 But rather,

00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:50.380
 there is a God who is holy

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:52.039
 who pays the penalty

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.300
 for our sins

00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:54.759
 so that we can know His love

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:57.580
 and live in 4K technicolor.

00:22:58.300 --> 00:22:59.580
 That we can enjoy

00:22:59.580 --> 00:23:01.120
 all the beauty of life

00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:02.200
 in its fullness.

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:05.480
 And a part of this mission,

00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.340
 interestingly,

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.420
 and this will lead us

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.660
 to our third point,

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:10.340
 is to include us

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.160
 in this mission.

00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.720
 That we get to participate in it.

00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:13.539
 So,

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.059
 you'll notice that

00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:16.660
 the nations

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:18.480
 flow to God

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.180
 but also,

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.360
 in verse 3,

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.559
 that there is

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:25.259
 that for out of Zion,

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:26.400
 the last part of verse 3,

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.860
 for out of Zion

00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.799
 shall go the law

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.840
 and the word of the Lord

00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.460
 from Jerusalem.

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:30.779
 So,

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.140
 the people come in

00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.860
 but also the law

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.940
 and the word go out.

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.460
 And this,

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.319
 surely,

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.759
 is a reference,

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.200
 of course,

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.319
 to the Spirit of God at work

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:40.519
 but,

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.360
 the call of God

00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.220
 to His people

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.960
 to proclaim the goodness

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.299
 and invite people

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.759
 to know the one true God.

00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:48.680
 So,

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.799
 this is the third point,

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.819
 the call of the Lord

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:53.079
 on our lives

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.420
 so that we can too

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.680
 participate in this mission.

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.920
 We'll look at two verses here.

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.279
 The first and the last,

00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.299
 verses 1 and 5.

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.920
 And I'll read it now.

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.740
 The word that the,

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.340
 sorry,

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.220
 the word that Isaiah,

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.600
 the son of Amoz,

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.980
 saw concerning Judah

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.640
 and Jerusalem.

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.680
 And then verse 5.

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.140
 O house of Jacob,

00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.220
 come let us walk

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.579
 in the light of the Lord.

00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.600
 So,

00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.000
 I mean,

00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.240
 it seems like a prescript,

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.059
 verse 1.

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.200
 It just says the word

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.640
 just introduces this,

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.660
 this prophecy

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.880
 that's going to come from Isaiah.

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.120
 But here's the thing,

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.620
 if you notice.

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:24.519
 It says,

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.620
 the word that Isaiah,

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.019
 the son of Amoz,

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.720
 saw concerning Judah

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.460
 and Jerusalem.

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.640
 Judah and Jerusalem

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:33.680
 represent the people of God,

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:34.680
 the Israelites,

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.480
 the ancient Israelites.

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:37.380
 So this is the word for them.

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.420
 And yet,

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.779
 in the entire prophecy,

00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:42.059
 it's about the nations

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:44.079
 coming to the God

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.559
 of Abraham,

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:44.940
 Isaac,

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.360
 and Jacob.

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.900
 That the message

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.960
 for the people of God

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:49.940
 is to expand the people of God

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.519
 and to proclaim

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.440
 the gospel message

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.600
 so that the nations

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.940
 could also be welcomed in.

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:56.680
 verse 5 as well.

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.080
 O house of Jacob,

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.539
 come,

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.440
 let us walk

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.400
 in the light of the Lord.

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.440
 That is a beautiful picture

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.600
 of this outworking

00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:05.380
 of lives

00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.400
 transformed

00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.600
 by the one true God

00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:09.720
 to mimic him,

00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:11.000
 to imitate him.

00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:12.460
 And how do we imitate him?

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.980
 In the same way

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.600
 that we saw

00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.519
 in the previous section,

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.740
 by seeking

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.559
 and saving

00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:20.279
 those that are far away.

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:22.559
 expanding love,

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.139
 telling of the gospel

00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:24.740
 of Christ,

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.960
 inviting people

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:26.539
 to the mountain,

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.339
 into the presence

00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.099
 of the Lord,

00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.720
 saying to people,

00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.099
 listen,

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.799
 there is a better way.

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.960
 There is a better way.

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.819
 The rat race

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.940
 does not have to go on

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.480
 indefinitely.

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.019
 The things that you find

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:43.240
 that you look to hope,

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.960
 that you look to for hope

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.420
 that fail to produce

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.440
 what you hope for,

00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.779
 you don't have to continue

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.519
 looking for them.

00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:52.559
 We found the solution

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:54.279
 and his name is Christ.

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.339
 And this is the call

00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:57.420
 of the Lord

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.200
 upon our lives,

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.839
 to know him

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.720
 and to make him known.

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.019
 So as we grow

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.660
 in our obedience

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.339
 and trust,

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.960
 in our holiness

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.740
 and godliness,

00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:09.379
 those very things

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:11.279
 will come to mark us.

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:11.960
 And friends,

00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.160
 we,

00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:15.119
 and I've mentioned this

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:15.619
 and I'll continue

00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.319
 to mention this,

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.799
 there is a vacuum

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.819
 of meaning

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.500
 and purpose

00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.359
 in our society.

00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.119
 And I think

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.240
 as we seek

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.980
 by God's help

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.899
 to live out

00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:27.000
 this life

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.700
 where we have

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.680
 a purpose

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:31.819
 and an identity

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:33.279
 that is not rooted

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.119
 in the here and now

00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:35.740
 but in the eternal God

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.599
 that is unchanging,

00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:38.619
 it will be

00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:40.980
 like a magnetic reaction

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.619
 so that people

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.659
 will be drawn to us

00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:44.459
 but also people

00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:45.740
 will be also repelled

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:48.199
 for those that are called

00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:49.159
 but those that want

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:49.639
 to deny.

00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.519
 So as we walk

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.039
 in the light,

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.559
 we learn to walk

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.459
 in the Lord's favor

00:26:54.459 --> 00:26:55.419
 and in his presence

00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:56.399
 and care

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.319
 and in his truth

00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:58.279
 and his revealed word

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.680
 and it cannot

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.759
 not be noticed.

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.960
 It's a wonderful

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:08.079
 picture of the redeemed,

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.579
 the reality

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.180
 of the culture

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.639
 of heaven

00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:12.879
 being established

00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:13.920
 here on earth,

00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:15.440
 the latter days

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.480
 coming to pass

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:18.819
 that justice

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:20.319
 will be promoted,

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.000
 that mercy

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.779
 will be promoted

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.720
 and that the gospel

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.180
 of grace

00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:23.940
 will be proclaimed.

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:26.700
 And all of this

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.759
 then leads us

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.480
 to verse 4,

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.059
 what true peace

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.680
 looks like

00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.340
 and how it is

00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:32.380
 only through Christ

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.759
 that the peace

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.000
 that is proclaimed

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.820
 on the Isaiah wall

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:37.799
 at the UN Plaza

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.080
 can really come to pass.

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.420
 I'll read verse 4

00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.080
 one last time.

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.779
 He shall judge

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.559
 between the nations

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.600
 and shall decide

00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:48.019
 disputes for many peoples

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.620
 and they shall beat

00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.279
 their swords

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.180
 into plowshares

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:52.460
 and their spears

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.279
 into pruning hooks.

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.960
 Nations shall not

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.640
 lift up sword

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.420
 against nation

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.700
 neither shall they

00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:00.340
 learn war anymore.

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:02.039
 Learn war anymore.

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.920
 The only way

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.820
 that there can be

00:28:06.820 --> 00:28:07.920
 a true abolition

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.480
 of war

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:10.460
 is when all forms

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.120
 of division

00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:12.900
 within the human race

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.799
 will be eliminated.

00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:16.700
 This does not mean

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.200
 that there will

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.620
 be the elimination

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.320
 of differences

00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:21.059
 but that

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:23.240
 that there will be

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.339
 no more division

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:27.019
 within the human race.

00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.539
 The promise

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.079
 isn't that

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.559
 through Christ

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:30.940
 humanity

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.460
 will morph

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.960
 into some

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:33.099
 indistinguishable

00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:34.079
 ethnicity,

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.740
 culture,

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.440
 or even tongue

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.500
 but only that

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.079
 the divisions

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.059
 that are brought about

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:39.119
 by disordered

00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.779
 allegiances

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.819
 are eliminated.

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.460
 What do I mean

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:41.919
 by that?

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.879
 Here it is.

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.800
 all forms

00:28:45.800 --> 00:28:46.540
 of nationalism

00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:47.700
 or culture

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:49.460
 political ideology

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.240
 all of the

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.440
 things that are

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.060
 unique to

00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.760
 different cultures

00:28:52.760 --> 00:28:53.280
 or peoples

00:28:53.280 --> 00:28:54.420
 or subcultures

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:56.060
 or subgroups

00:28:56.060 --> 00:28:57.680
 that supersede

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:59.220
 supersede

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.380
 the supremacy

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:02.220
 of the one true God

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.800
 over all

00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:04.600
 of heaven

00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.080
 and earth

00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:06.000
 and the Lord

00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.900
 Jesus Christ

00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:08.380
 will inevitably

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.520
 lead to differences

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.299
 that cause

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.740
 divisions,

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.359
 distress,

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.160
 conflict,

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.559
 and war.

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.279
 Differences

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.079
 are threats.

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.079
 They're not things

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.839
 to be celebrated.

00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.460
 They must be treated

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.299
 therefore accordingly.

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.379
 If my

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.940
 ultimate identity

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.619
 is rooted

00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:25.500
 in my political

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.200
 ideology

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.819
 or in

00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:29.180
 my nationalism

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:31.279
 and somebody

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:32.200
 threatens that

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.139
 I have to

00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:33.900
 eliminate the threat

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.579
 or else

00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.400
 that's the end

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:35.680
 of me.

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.240
 It's not to say

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.120
 that having

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:40.759
 pride of your

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.120
 country

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.960
 or having

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.559
 strong

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.059
 political

00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.640
 convictions

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.759
 or being

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.799
 proud of

00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.420
 your heritage

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.259
 cultural

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.400
 ethnic

00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:51.140
 the language

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:51.819
 that you speak

00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.720
 that's somehow

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.200
 a bad thing.

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.680
 Not at all.

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.519
 It's a beautiful thing.

00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.539
 Differences

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.359
 are beautiful

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:58.220
 but they become

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.779
 ugly

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:01.120
 when they are

00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:01.660
 disordered.

00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.779
 When they are

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.279
 not put in

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.120
 their proper place.

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.240
 When they are

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.440
 elevated to supreme

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.940
 where only God

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.640
 is to be

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:09.460
 supreme.

00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:13.019
 Friends,

00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.380
 in the

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.299
 shadow of

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.200
 two devastating

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.900
 world wars

00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.720
 it makes sense

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.240
 that the United

00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:17.759
 Nations

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.900
 have these

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.279
 grand

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.019
 aspirations

00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:22.360
 to see

00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:23.759
 verse 4

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:25.019
 come to pass.

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.259
 And it's

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:28.600
 and really

00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.000
 there's

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.140
 I think it's a

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:31.100
 good thing

00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:32.200
 in a sense

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.640
 or at least

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.240
 an understandable

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.660
 thing

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.580
 that our

00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:35.059
 Prime Minister

00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.640
 and many of

00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:36.440
 the Western

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.279
 world leaders

00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.600
 have embraced

00:30:38.600 --> 00:30:39.420
 a type of

00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:40.400
 post-national

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.840
 view.

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.080
 I mean

00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:43.120
 nationalism

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:44.059
 again I'm

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:44.660
 speaking in

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.340
 general terms

00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:46.700
 was a very

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.740
 cause of two

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.740
 horrendous

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.680
 world wars

00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.759
 and it seems

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.080
 like the

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:52.019
 elimination of

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.720
 nationalism

00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.460
 would be the

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:53.980
 way forward

00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:54.640
 to everlasting

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.680
 peace.

00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:57.940
 A globalist

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.259
 ideology seems

00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.920
 admirable

00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.420
 however

00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:02.019
 any such

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.940
 vision that is

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.200
 unrooted by

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.160
 recognizing that

00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:05.980
 only Christ

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.160
 is the judge

00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:07.620
 and arbiter

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.720
 will inevitably

00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.680
 collapse

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.960
 into itself.

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:11.819
 It lacks

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.259
 the divine

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:12.779
 authority

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.039
 and power

00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.620
 to achieve

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.240
 its lofty

00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:15.600
 goals.

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.460
 To remove

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.360
 the first

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:18.860
 part of

00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:19.440
 verse 4

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:22.039
 that speaks

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.039
 of God

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.720
 himself being

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.340
 the judge

00:31:24.340 --> 00:31:24.960
 between the

00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.380
 nations

00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:26.220
 the arbiters

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.380
 between peoples

00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:28.140
 to remove

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:28.920
 that from

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.720
 the rest of

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.220
 the section

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.380
 is to

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.680
 kneecap

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:32.960
 and cut

00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.279
 out the

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.620
 legs

00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.400
 from any

00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:34.799
 hope of

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.100
 peace.

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.039
 The solution

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.640
 isn't to get

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:41.980
 rid of

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.559
 nations

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:44.140
 but is to

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:45.059
 worship God

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.880
 as the one

00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:47.000
 true supreme

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.460
 God

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.480
 and that

00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.660
 we recognize

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:50.220
 that in

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.860
 his son

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:51.220
 the Lord

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.839
 Jesus Christ

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.319
 he has made

00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:52.839
 a way for

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.279
 us to know

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.880
 his presence.

00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:56.000
 It doesn't

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.519
 mean peace

00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:56.799
 is going to

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.539
 come immediately

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.700
 but peace

00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.120
 starts to

00:31:59.120 --> 00:31:59.559
 work its

00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:00.200
 way out.

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:02.640
 only in

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.120
 Christ can

00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.819
 such differences

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.880
 be properly

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.339
 ordered.

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.640
 And then

00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.200
 once they're

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.799
 properly ordered

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.259
 they can be

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.759
 celebrated.

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.059
 No longer

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.900
 is somebody

00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.440
 else's

00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.339
 nationality

00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:14.079
 or ethnicity

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:15.559
 or language

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:17.140
 or way

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.559
 that they've

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.120
 gone about

00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:18.720
 life

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:20.920
 no longer

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.380
 is it a

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:21.819
 threat.

00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:24.079
 With the

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.579
 caveat that

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:24.860
 there are

00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:25.299
 some

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.140
 political

00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:26.640
 ideologies

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:26.920
 that are

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.180
 threatening

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.539
 no matter

00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:27.839
 what.

00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:29.319
 But

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.700
 generally

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.259
 speaking

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.900
 people

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.299
 that are

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:31.620
 different

00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.059
 no longer

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.460
 become a

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:32.680
 threat

00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.120
 they become

00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.460
 something

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:33.819
 to

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.080
 celebrate

00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:37.660
 in their

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.100
 fullness.

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:41.240
 The other

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.920
 ceases to be

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.360
 a threat

00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:42.940
 to our

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.420
 personhood

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.860
 because

00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:44.819
 our

00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.100
 ultimate

00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:45.620
 identity

00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:47.460
 cannot be

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.019
 robbed from

00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.319
 us.

00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:48.799
 It can't

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.120
 even be

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.700
 robbed by

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.019
 death.

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:51.500
 So you

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.900
 see if you

00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.360
 take Christ

00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:52.660
 out of the

00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.080
 equation

00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:54.819
 this utopian

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.360
 vision

00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:56.360
 will be

00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:56.960
 hijacked

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.680
 turn into

00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.940
 a dystopian

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.519
 hellscape.

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.220
 It will

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:01.500
 have the

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:01.900
 opposite

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.620
 effect.

00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.640
 So it

00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.079
 is not a

00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.640
 hopeful thing

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.160
 to quote

00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.079
 Isaiah

00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:08.539
 chapter 2

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.200
 verse 4

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.940
 partially.

00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:12.700
 It's

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:12.980
 actually

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.400
 leaving out

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.680
 the very

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.200
 power

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:16.440
 and hope

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:18.220
 of peace

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.160
 that is

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:19.940
 proclaimed in

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.380
 the scripture.

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:20.819
 So I'll

00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.180
 close with

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.480
 this.

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:24.059
 the vision

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.360
 of verse

00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:25.059
 4 is not

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.880
 just that

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:28.019
 the practice

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.839
 and mentality

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:29.400
 and the

00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:29.880
 means of

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.259
 war will

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.420
 come to

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.099
 an end

00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:33.259
 although that

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.700
 is a huge

00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.180
 part of it

00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.680
 but there's

00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.120
 more to it

00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:35.759
 because here

00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.059
 it says

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:37.220
 swords will

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.960
 become

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.860
 plowshares

00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:40.099
 and spears

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:40.500
 will become

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.140
 pruning hooks

00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:42.599
 which is to

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.279
 say that it's

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.740
 not just the

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.480
 elimination of

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:46.400
 war but

00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:46.539
 the

00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:49.839
 that there'll

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.519
 be a return

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.220
 so to speak

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.339
 to the

00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:53.460
 garden joys

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:53.960
 of Eden

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:55.139
 where Christ

00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:56.099
 will be

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.740
 among his

00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.400
 people and

00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:57.940
 that we will

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.859
 see things

00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.700
 grow and

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:01.180
 flourish and

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.559
 we will have

00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.579
 a part to

00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.139
 play in the

00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:04.240
 cultivating of

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:04.519
 the new

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.039
 heavens and

00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:05.279
 the new

00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:05.579
 earth.

00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:07.279
 That the

00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:07.700
 reign of

00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.340
 Satan will

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:08.960
 be forever

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.519
 extinguished

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:12.840
 and that

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.280
 God will

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:13.900
 dwell among

00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.500
 us once

00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:14.840
 again.

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.599
 The

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.320
 mountain of

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:18.800
 the house

00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.119
 of the

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.500
 Lord is

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:22.300
 this picture

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.019
 of a return

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.420
 to Eden

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:23.860
 but it's

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.260
 more than

00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:24.579
 that.

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.559
 For the

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:28.159
 possibility of

00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:29.000
 messing up

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.679
 Eden once

00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.159
 again will

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.739
 be eliminated.

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.420
 We will

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:32.900
 know the

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:33.900
 Lord and

00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:34.320
 he will

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.059
 in us

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.679
 make it

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.480
 so that

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:36.880
 we will

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.420
 be like

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.300
 him unable

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.179
 to sin

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.960
 in the

00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.360
 new heavens

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:40.599
 and the

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:40.960
 new earth.

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:43.199
 The

00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:43.900
 mountain of

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.219
 the house

00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:44.500
 of the

00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:45.059
 Lord that

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.840
 God is

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.559
 calling all

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.119
 the nations

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:49.239
 toward is

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.599
 the very

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.419
 presence of

00:34:50.419 --> 00:34:50.859
 God among

00:34:50.859 --> 00:34:51.239
 us.

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:51.899
 It is

00:34:51.899 --> 00:34:52.500
 Jesus Christ

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:52.939
 himself.

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.500
 He is

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:57.519
 God with

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:57.819
 us.

00:34:57.899 --> 00:34:58.539
 He is

00:34:58.539 --> 00:35:00.259
 God present

00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:00.959
 among us.

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.599
 He is the

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.039
 place where

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.639
 true worship

00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.919
 happens.

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.659
 He is the

00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:05.699
 place of

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.199
 everlasting

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:06.759
 peace.

00:35:07.879 --> 00:35:08.459
 He's the one

00:35:08.459 --> 00:35:08.899
 who judges

00:35:08.899 --> 00:35:09.479
 with equity

00:35:09.479 --> 00:35:10.019
 and truth.

00:35:10.779 --> 00:35:11.279
 He is the

00:35:11.279 --> 00:35:11.679
 supreme

00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.199
 authority.

00:35:12.919 --> 00:35:13.379
 So in the

00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:13.739
 words of

00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:14.079
 Isaiah,

00:35:14.859 --> 00:35:15.419
 church,

00:35:16.419 --> 00:35:17.039
 church of the

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.719
 Messiah West,

00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.019
 let us walk

00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.519
 in the light

00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:19.840
 of our

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.380
 Lord and

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.019
 Savior Jesus

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.440
 Christ.

00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:22.639
 Let's pray.

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.679
 Father in

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:25.820
 heaven,

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.440
 we thank you

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:27.759
 for the

00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:29.639
 beautiful

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.900
 and true

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.500
 prophecy

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.519
 that you

00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.259
 gave your

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.579
 servant

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.039
 Isaiah

00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:35.320
 centuries

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:36.320
 and centuries

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:36.840
 and centuries

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.139
 before the

00:35:38.139 --> 00:35:38.739
 coming of

00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:39.199
 your son.

00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:40.920
 You promised

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.420
 a day

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.199
 and it has

00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:42.559
 come to

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:42.940
 pass.

00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.059
 Lord,

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:44.759
 help us

00:35:44.759 --> 00:35:45.099
 to look

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.480
 to you,

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.699
 to trust

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:47.059
 in you,

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:48.320
 to see

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:48.940
 you as

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.460
 supreme

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.400
 in our

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.860
 lives,

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:53.199
 to know

00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:53.920
 your goodness

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.840
 towards us

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:55.940
 that you

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.440
 purpose

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:57.500
 to redeem

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.960
 us and

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.240
 that in

00:35:59.240 --> 00:35:59.619
 Christ you

00:35:59.619 --> 00:35:59.920
 have.

00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:00.820
 Lord,

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.199
 help us

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:01.880
 also to

00:36:01.880 --> 00:36:03.440
 be faithful

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.079
 and obedient

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.860
 by your

00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:05.480
 Holy Spirit

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.360
 to proclaim

00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:06.820
 this good

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:08.119
 news to

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.460
 those that

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:08.820
 are far

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.059
 off,

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.659
 inviting them

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.039
 up to

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.460
 you so

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:11.920
 that they

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.740
 through your

00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:13.719
 son would

00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.500
 know what

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.079
 it means

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.699
 to have

00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:15.819
 their

00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.380
 identity

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.980
 and purpose

00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:19.460
 secured

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:19.980
 forever,

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.059
 never to

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.519
 be robbed,

00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.119
 not even

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.460
 by the

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:22.759
 grave.

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.360
 Lord,

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:24.920
 thank you

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.420
 for the

00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:25.739
 coming of

00:36:25.739 --> 00:36:26.119
 your son

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.659
 this Advent

00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.059
 season.

00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:28.059
 Help us

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.940
 in anticipation

00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:29.779
 of his

00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:30.299
 arrival.

00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.559
 Lord God,

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:34.219
 to eagerly

00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:35.059
 search our

00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:35.539
 hearts so

00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:35.779
 that we

00:36:35.779 --> 00:36:36.099
 would be

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:36.360
 ready,

00:36:37.279 --> 00:36:37.639
 that when

00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:37.960
 he would

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.299
 come,

00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.239
 we would

00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.259
 be ready

00:36:40.259 --> 00:36:40.799
 to receive

00:36:40.799 --> 00:36:41.059
 him

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.900
 worthily.

00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:42.679
 We pray

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:43.039
 this in

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.400
 Christ's

00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:43.539
 name.

00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:44.440
 Amen.

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:46.519
 Tennessee

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.219
oney

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.719
 in

00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:52.539
ень

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.460
 some

00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:53.659
 immigrants

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.960
 name

00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.119
ay

00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:56.000
ips

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.360
 in

00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:59.079
 the

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:09.860
 ré

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.319
 city