WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

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!

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 Some of you thought that. Remember, we are looking at questions like this all summer,

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 at what the Bible says about some of these hard questions, and the purpose is really twofold.

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 It's both strengthening our own faith and learning to listen and to understand non-Christian neighbors

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 and friends and some of their struggles with God and faith that often are similar to our own.

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 Almost all of us have at some point asked some version of this question this morning

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 because all of us have suffered. What does the Bible have to say to us when we ask, why?

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 Okay. We're going to look at several different passages this morning,

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 but first let's pray together and ask for God's help.

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 God, your word has pointed us already this morning to look to you, to cry out to you,

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 to express honestly the struggles, the questions that we have.

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 And so we do that now. We come to your word, wanting to hear you speak to us about the questions

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 we don't have answers for, about the difficult things that we struggle with.

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 So would you give us ears to hear and would you speak clearly and tenderly, Father,

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 to our hearts even now in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?

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 Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

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 Psalm 10.

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 God, why have you forgotten me?

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 Why do I go mourning?

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 Psalm 42.

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 Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

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 Why do you hide your face?

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 Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

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 Psalm 44.

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 Why did you bring me out from the womb?

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 Job asks.

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 Why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?

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 The prophet Habakkuk.

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 Why is my pain unceasing?

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 My wound incurable?

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 Refusing to be healed?

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 The prophet Jeremiah.

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 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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 Jesus on the cross.

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 See, the people of God often find the question, why, heavy on their hearts.

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 We understand that, don't we?

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 I hardly need to give you examples.

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 Why did we have a pregnancy only to suffer a miscarriage?

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 Why do so many children starve each day?

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 Why did the Venezuela earthquake do so much damage?

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 Why did my loved one have to die so soon?

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 Why are millions of people sold into slavery each year?

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 Why will my pain never go away?

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 I could go on all day, right?

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 You know these questions.

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 I don't have to stand up here and try to convince you that there are bad things in this world.

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 I certainly don't have to convince you that there are bad things in your life.

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 I have been with you.

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 I have shaken my fists and bowed my head with many of you in hospital rooms, in living rooms.

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 Why?

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 Why?

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 Behind that why question for many people is often a feeling that if God is really God and

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 He's really good, this suffering wouldn't be happening.

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 And so some people have concluded that the presence of evil, of bad things, disproves God's existence.

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 And I just want to acknowledge that up front because I'm not going to address it at length

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 this morning in this sermon.

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 Not because I don't care.

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 In fact, let's make sure we include that in our discussion afterwards, okay?

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 We'll get there.

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 But because the Bible doesn't focus there when we ask these questions, it doesn't give

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 us this simple, clear answer to why there is evil in the world.

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 It's that ancient question of theodicy.

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 We will touch on that a bit more in a couple weeks in what's kind of a companion sermon.

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 How can a loving God send people to hell?

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 But the Bible does tell us that all things are ultimately for the glory of the sovereign

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 creator.

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 That sin invades God's good creation.

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 That the creation is under a curse from its creator.

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 But often it doesn't specifically answer the specific why questions that are asked even by God's people.

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 Instead, I'd like to focus this morning on what God says he does with the bad things.

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 It's another angle on the same question.

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 Because the God of the Bible speaks to this a lot and he offers unique answers to that aspect of the question.

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 See, he doesn't avoid that.

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 He doesn't philosophize away the pain to defend his reputation.

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 He does speak to us in our pain.

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 So, let's listen this morning to what he has to say.

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 Suffering is so obvious, so heavy on us,

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 that some give other answers from the ones that God gives.

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 Some conclude with atheism and naturalism,

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 that the world is just a harsh place with no God and no hope to escape the suffering.

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 Others, not quite so hopeless,

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 they conclude with Buddhism or other religions

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 that suffering is so ubiquitous and so undesirable

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 that you must avoid it.

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 And you do that, you disconnect from attachments to life

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 in order to find true happiness.

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 The God of the Bible of Christianity says quite the opposite.

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 What does he do with bad things?

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 Well, like the others, he doesn't deny the existence of suffering.

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 He doesn't call bad things good.

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 And please hear that as we get started today.

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 You're sufferers.

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 You need to know that the pain is real.

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 The tears you cry are appropriate.

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 The evil really is unjust and wrong,

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 and God affirms that.

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 But unlike the others,

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 God engages bad things,

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 real evil,

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 purposefully.

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 In fact, he assures us that despite what it may often look like to us,

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 our suffering is never pointless or without purpose.

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 Now think about that for a minute.

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 Only a sovereign God could promise you that.

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 Only someone who is in total control of all of it

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 could give you a promise like that.

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 Let's see the same truth in an Old Testament story

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 and then in a New Testament statement.

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 Start with Joseph.

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 Joseph, you may remember,

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 suffers a lot, doesn't he?

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 Thrown into a pit by his brothers,

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 sold into slavery in Egypt,

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 falsely accused,

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 thrown in prison,

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 abandoned by people he helped,

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 alone, away from family and God's people.

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 Any of this starting to feel familiar to your own life?

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 But when God works to bring Joseph out of prison

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 and into second in command in all of Egypt,

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 when his brothers and father are reunited to him,

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 when his trust in God eventually brings the nations to Egypt

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 for famine relief,

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 he tells his brothers,

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 you meant evil against me,

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 but God meant it for good.

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 To bring it about that many people should be kept alive

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 as they are today.

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 The things you did, he says, were really bad.

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 You meant evil.

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 And on top of that,

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 I couldn't see the good from the pit or the prison.

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 But God had other things in mind.

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 Somebody else was in control.

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 He had in mind to bring good.

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 In fact, to redeem evil things

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 for the saving of many lives.

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 And there were years and years

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 where you couldn't have explained this.

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 And Joseph says,

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 I couldn't have told you what was happening.

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 But then all of a sudden,

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 you could.

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 We may not have the explanation of our bad things

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 even in our lifetimes.

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 But Romans 8.28 reminds us

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 that all things,

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 even if we don't understand how,

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 work together for good

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 for those called according to God's purpose.

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 He has a purpose.

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 So, so far from disproving his existence,

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 suffering bows to God's power and will.

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 He is so strong, y'all,

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 and so gracious

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 that he regularly brings good out of bad.

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 Nowhere, of course, is that seen better

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 than when the greatest redemption

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 in the history of the world

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 comes through the greatest act

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 of unjust violence ever committed.

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 More on that later.

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 But like Jesus and Joseph,

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 we often see only the knotted,

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 confusing, messy backside.

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 If you just look at the left side,

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 can you even tell what that's a picture of?

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 We only see the backside of the tapestry like this

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 while we're living our lives

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 when in fact God is weaving

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 a beautiful tapestry,

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 a good story

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 from all of the bad on the backside.

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 Now of all the good

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 that God could bring out of bad things,

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 one purpose sticks out from all the others.

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 the ultimate good

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 of deepening our relationship with him.

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 This is, after all,

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 what God says we were made for, right?

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 This is why we exist,

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 to know him,

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 to make him known.

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 Peter tells us

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 that towards that end,

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 it is necessary

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 that we face some temporary trials.

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 Because the trials are gonna do something.

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 They're going to refine our faith.

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 Right?

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 That's our relationship with God,

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 our trust in him.

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 It's gonna be refined like gold

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 being refined in a furnace.

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 He says the trials

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 deepen our love for Jesus

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 so that we rejoice in him eternally.

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 Peter goes on to say,

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 you rejoice with a joy

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 that is inexpressible

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 and glorious

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 because your love for Jesus

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 is growing.

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 And we do that

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 because the bad things

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 have shown us afresh

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 our need for him,

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 our dependence upon him.

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 See,

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 originally,

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 in the Garden of Eden,

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 God made Adam and Eve

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 and put them in the garden,

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 and he gave them the sun

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 and the moon,

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 of course,

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 to light their days.

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 And he also visited,

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 right,

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 from time to time.

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 He walked with them.

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 But in the new heavens,

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 in the new earth,

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 the way God's going to make it one day,

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 there is no need for the sun

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 because what?

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 God is the light.

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 We live always in his presence.

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 That's how God can call

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 our struggles here momentary

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 and light.

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 That's what he says

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 in 2 Corinthians 4.

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 Because the eternal

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 and weighty glory

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 of living in dependent relationship

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 with him,

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 sharing that loving relationship

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 of father and son and spirit,

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 that is the glory that we need.

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 That's what we're actually longing for

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 when we feel alone

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 or abandoned.

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 That's what you're longing for

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 when you feel discouraged

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 or depressed.

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 That's what you're longing for

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 when you feel anxious

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 or fearful.

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 You're longing to be

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 enlightened,

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 held,

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 comforted

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 by the God who made us

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 and came to be with us

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 and promises never to leave us.

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 That's what you were made for.

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 Let me see if I can picture it this way.

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 Think of the bad things

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 like this.

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 Many of you parents

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 have rushed

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 to the aid

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 of a crying child

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 in the middle of the night.

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 Right?

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 I know my kids

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 didn't enjoy

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 those scary moments.

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 We call them

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 bad dreams

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 for a reason.

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 Right?

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 Night terrors.

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 In fact,

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 even I,

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 as the one who wasn't having them,

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 probably was wishing

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 I was asleep too.

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 Nobody liked it.

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 But I found

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 that getting to show up,

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 thank you for the object lesson,

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 I found that getting to show up

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 and hold

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 my girls

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 while they're crying,

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 to comfort her

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 as she's hurting

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 or afraid,

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 to reassure her

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 of my care

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 and commitment to her

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 in those difficult moments,

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 has helped her

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 experience my love

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 in ways

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 that she never would have

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 without the dark night

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 and the bad dream.

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 Now,

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.519
 we don't stop

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.500
 to think like that

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.800
 as crying toddlers,

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.280
 right?

00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:41.320
 And we're screaming

00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:42.400
 in the middle of the night.

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:45.259
 But we're learning

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:47.659
 night after night

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:49.699
 and time after time

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.740
 when mom or dad

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.539
 shows up

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.919
 and holds me

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:54.019
 and is there

00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.379
 and comforts me.

00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.240
 We're learning

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.720
 that to make it through

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.179
 the dark nights

00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.259
 of the soul,

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:02.539
 we actually depend

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.740
 on someone

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.200
 who loves us

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:07.339
 and will be with us.

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.720
 That's a really important

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.579
 lesson to learn.

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:14.939
 One last note here.

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.359
 You've probably heard

00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.579
 Christians say

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.960
 that God will never

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.639
 give you more

00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:21.539
 than you can handle.

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.259
 That's not what

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.379
 the Bible says

00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:29.000
 when you just apply it

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:31.480
 broadly to all bad things,

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.919
 to suffering in general.

00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.379
 The Bible doesn't say that.

00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:37.019
 There is a verse

00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:39.159
 that says that

00:17:39.159 --> 00:17:40.319
 about temptation.

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.819
 That it won't be

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.859
 beyond what

00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:44.139
 we can bear.

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.759
 But Paul actually

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.339
 says the very opposite

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.599
 when talking

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.859
 about some

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:51.339
 of his sufferings.

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:51.879
 It's important

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:53.599
 for us to see this

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.259
 in 2 Corinthians 1.

00:17:55.699 --> 00:17:56.259
 Paul says

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.319
 we were so

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.579
 utterly burdened

00:17:59.699 --> 00:18:01.799
 beyond our strength

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:04.000
 that we despaired

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.500
 of life itself.

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.119
 It was more

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.699
 than he could bear.

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.399
 Right?

00:18:08.939 --> 00:18:09.500
 Even Paul.

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:09.619
 Paul.

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.079
 Why?

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.420
 Why?

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.900
 Why is this happening?

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.339
 We felt we'd received

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.619
 the sentence of death

00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:17.079
 but that was,

00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:18.180
 you could say,

00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.519
 that happened

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.440
 so that

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.940
 that was

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.039
 to make us

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.740
 rely

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:25.680
 not on ourselves

00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:27.779
 but on God

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.039
 who raises

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.819
 the dead.

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:30.960
 You see what he's saying?

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.359
 Why did we have to feel

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.779
 like there was

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:34.200
 no hope for our lives

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.019
 like we were under

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.960
 a sentence of death?

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.880
 because the God

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.960
 who was teaching us

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.579
 to trust him

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:39.900
 is the one

00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:41.000
 who raises the dead.

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.120
 That no matter

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:43.000
 what we went through

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:45.000
 we could trust him.

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:45.620
 You see,

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.980
 God wanted to deepen

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.579
 their relationship

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.900
 with him

00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:50.880
 to help Paul

00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.920
 rely more

00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:52.840
 on who he

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:54.500
 really is.

00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.900
 So I just want to say

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.740
 to you this morning

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.680
 if you are in

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.840
 over your head

00:18:58.840 --> 00:19:00.600
 and many of us are,

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.960
 if you are burdened

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.640
 burdened

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.960
 beyond what

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.220
 you can bear,

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.620
 you may be right

00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:09.640
 but it's not because

00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:10.880
 God wants to drive you

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.840
 away from him.

00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:12.460
 No.

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.500
 It's because God

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.019
 wants to draw you close.

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:18.259
 It's because he wants you

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.039
 to know him

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.240
 more deeply

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.740
 as he held close

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.500
 Paul

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.819
 and Ruth

00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.039
 and Jesus

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:27.299
 in the garden.

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.480
 He will

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.640
 hold me

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.640
 fast.

00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.320
 And see,

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.840
 the bad things,

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.480
 when you see

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.700
 bad things,

00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:35.740
 it should make you

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.380
 draw near to a good

00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.440
 God.

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.460
 That's his design.

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.120
 One more part

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:44.740
 of his design,

00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:45.720
 of his purpose,

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.840
 the way he engages

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.940
 purposefully

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.900
 with bad things

00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:50.120
 is to bless

00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:51.180
 our relationships

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.480
 with others.

00:19:54.300 --> 00:19:54.759
 This is

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:56.520
 in 2 Corinthians 1

00:19:56.520 --> 00:19:57.000
 also.

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.820
 God comforts us

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.960
 in all our

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.579
 affliction

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.879
 so that we

00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.519
 may be able

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.220
 to comfort

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.299
 those who are

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.379
 in any affliction.

00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:06.859
 How are we going

00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:07.240
 to do that?

00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.259
 With the comfort

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.339
 that we ourselves

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.460
 have received

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.159
 when God

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:11.939
 comforted

00:20:11.939 --> 00:20:13.139
 us.

00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:14.240
 Not only do you

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.819
 grow in your

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.939
 dependence on God

00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:17.059
 in those hard times

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.439
 but then he works

00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:19.139
 so that you also

00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:19.939
 get the privilege

00:20:19.939 --> 00:20:20.899
 of comforting

00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:21.480
 others,

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.639
 helping them

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.720
 depend on God

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.579
 also when they

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.079
 walk through

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.240
 hard times.

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.579
 Haven't we all

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.179
 been there

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.620
 where we've

00:20:28.620 --> 00:20:29.200
 needed an

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.600
 older parent

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.799
 or someone

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.299
 who's had

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.920
 the same

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.500
 disease

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.900
 or surgery

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:36.519
 that we're

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.080
 facing

00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:38.200
 or a fellow

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.880
 addict

00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.640
 to say

00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.460
 I know

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.400
 what you're

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.940
 feeling.

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.660
 It's so hard.

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.680
 God is enough.

00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:49.060
 He's good.

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.519
 Trust him.

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.100
 We've needed

00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:51.900
 that haven't we?

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.000
 I'd encourage you

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.560
 to look around

00:20:54.560 --> 00:20:55.720
 this morning

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.160
 and in your

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.460
 life.

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.600
 Look for someone

00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.339
 with whom you

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:58.940
 can share

00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.839
 comfort and

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.640
 maybe the bad

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.819
 things that you've

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.720
 walked through

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.360
 will have a new

00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:04.880
 sense of purpose

00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.039
 in your mind

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.500
 as God works

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.400
 in them to

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.140
 bless you

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.420
 and through

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.160
 you to bless

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:11.720
 others.

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.220
 Lots of

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.360
 purposes God

00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.160
 has with the

00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:17.759
 bad things

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.860
 but as important

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.559
 as it is to

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.660
 understand that

00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.100
 they're not

00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:21.839
 meaningless,

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.079
 the things in

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.519
 our lives

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:23.920
 and in our

00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.279
 world.

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.139
 They're not

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.980
 missing God's

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.799
 sovereign work

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.279
 in them.

00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:28.940
 That's a big

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.220
 deal.

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.000
 It's also

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.099
 really helpful

00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.740
 to know

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.460
 that God

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.299
 promises to

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.440
 end bad

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.059
 things

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.779
 permanently.

00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.500
 We've already

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.200
 read several

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.059
 phrases about

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.940
 the temporary

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.059
 nature

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.440
 of suffering

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.819
 for a little

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.579
 while

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:47.480
 momentary

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.339
 and that is

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.000
 because

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.220
 God says

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.220
 He is making

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.880
 all things

00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.579
 new.

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.019
 Revelation 21.

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.279
 He talks about

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.000
 the former

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.500
 order.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.339
 When He talks

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.240
 about the former

00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.180
 order of things

00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.860
 that's the one

00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.920
 you know so well.

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.860
 The one with

00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:04.240
 tears and sorrow

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.240
 and pain

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.059
 and death.

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.299
 It will be

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.779
 no more.

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.680
 The judge

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.380
 of all the

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.120
 earth will

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.839
 somehow

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.759
 set right

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.799
 every wrong

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.620
 will in ways

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.600
 we can't even

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.319
 imagine

00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.460
 make just

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.700
 every injustice

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.019
 will hear our

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.500
 groanings

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.220
 will heal

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.619
 every hurt.

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.740
 That's the

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.279
 promise that

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.980
 Romans 8

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.779
 makes to

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.259
 all of

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.920
 creation

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.819
 that groans

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:30.019
 with us

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.980
 longing

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.000
 in these

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.539
 present

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.240
 sufferings

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.259
 for a

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.920
 glory

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.599
 He says

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.599
 a freedom

00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.839
 that's ahead

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.759
 that ends

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.160
 all the

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.660
 bad

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.819
 things.

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.779
 It's coming.

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.500
 And don't we

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:44.879
 need to know

00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.259
 that?

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.500
 Don't you need

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.099
 to know

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.339
 that dementia

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.279
 has an

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.379
 expiration date

00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:50.759
 on it?

00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:53.519
 Don't we

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.220
 rejoice

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:56.119
 even at a

00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:57.079
 graveside

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.720
 at the

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.379
 promise

00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.059
 of our

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.579
 hurting

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.519
 loved ones

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.099
 having

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:02.079
 resurrected

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.759
 bodies?

00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.639
 Don't we

00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:05.299
 resonate

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.379
 with the

00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:06.839
 hope

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:08.199
 that war

00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:09.699
 and slavery

00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:11.299
 and starvation

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.619
 and death

00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.419
 itself

00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.419
 will one

00:23:14.419 --> 00:23:14.699
 day,

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.000
 can you

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.279
 imagine

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.559
 this?

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.660
 Be so

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:17.940
 many

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.700
 millions

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:20.240
 of years

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.299
 behind

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.019
 in our

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.519
 rearview

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:22.980
 mirrors

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.559
 that we

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.299
 can't see

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.819
 them and

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.440
 we can't

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.160
 imagine

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.359
 living in

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:27.799
 a world

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.220
 where they

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.960
 exist.

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.759
 You don't

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.200
 get that

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.660
 kind of

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.019
 hope

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.559
 anywhere

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.240
 else

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.519
 than from

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.220
 a God

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.980
 who engages

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.980
 purposefully

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.579
 enough with

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.160
 suffering

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.920
 that He

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.359
 can be

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.059
 sovereign

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.759
 over it

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.419
 one day

00:23:43.419 --> 00:23:44.259
 to bring

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.919
 it to

00:23:44.919 --> 00:23:45.679
 an end.

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:46.960
 Y'all,

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.839
 we've tried.

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:49.039
 Try as we

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.359
 might.

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.039
 We have

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.799
 never been

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.539
 able to

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.019
 create

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.819
 utopia

00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.679
 even for

00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.159
 a small

00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:54.500
 group,

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.159
 even for

00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.799
 a small

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.419
 amount

00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.659
 of time,

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.179
 much less

00:23:59.179 --> 00:23:59.759
 been able

00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.379
 to create

00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:01.039
 a world

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.679
 that will

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:03.079
 last forever

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.779
 like that

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.480
 with no

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.359
 fear of

00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:05.839
 the good

00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.659
 things ever

00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:07.259
 stopping

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.139
 or the bad

00:24:08.139 --> 00:24:09.079
 things ever

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.159
 coming back.

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:11.360
 that is

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.220
 the promise

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.840
 of a

00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:13.440
 resurrected

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.540
 and reigning

00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:15.519
 Jesus who

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:15.960
 will bring

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.500
 us with

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:16.960
 Him into

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.779
 a relationship

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.920
 in a world

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.420
 that will

00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.259
 never perish,

00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:20.980
 spoil,

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:21.840
 fade,

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.680
 or cease

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.779
 to exist.

00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.680
 Friends,

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.920
 God promises

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:29.480
 there's an

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.779
 end to

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.240
 the bad

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.900
 things you

00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.259
 hate.

00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:34.820
 He's the

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.480
 only one who

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.080
 can guarantee

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:36.480
 that.

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.060
 He's the

00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:37.640
 only one who

00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.120
 has shown

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.519
 He has

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.279
 power over

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.060
 bad things

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.819
 even death

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.759
 to bring

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.500
 them to

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.159
 an end.

00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:43.960
 And every

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.399
 time you

00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:44.759
 open the

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.500
 Bible and

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:45.899
 there's a

00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.359
 psalm of

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.779
 lament like

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.139
 we prayed

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:48.720
 together this

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.019
 morning,

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.079
 there's a

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.659
 prayer of

00:24:50.659 --> 00:24:51.839
 pain from

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.519
 God's people

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.119
 or there's

00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.819
 a prophecy

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.779
 of hope

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.879
 in God's

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.159
 Word.

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.139
 All of

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.519
 those are

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.720
 longing for

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.559
 that with

00:24:59.559 --> 00:24:59.960
 you,

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.139
 feeling the

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:02.139
 ache and

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:02.700
 the groaning

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.419
 with you.

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.200
 That's a

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.899
 great comfort.

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.240
 It is so

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.919
 important that

00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:08.659
 God works in

00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.319
 our suffering

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.079
 and that He

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.000
 promises to

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.579
 end it.

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:12.720
 But I want

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.419
 to be honest

00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:13.899
 with you,

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.759
 if that is

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.679
 all that we

00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:16.519
 get, for

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.399
 many of us,

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.379
 that's not

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.159
 good enough.

00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:22.139
 For many of

00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:22.659
 us who have

00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.279
 heard those

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.159
 promises, it

00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:25.019
 is still very

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.700
 easy to resent

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.980
 a God who

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.639
 from His

00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.879
 comfortable spot

00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.679
 up in

00:25:30.679 --> 00:25:31.539
 heaven gets

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.419
 to watch us

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:33.179
 suffer bad

00:25:33.179 --> 00:25:34.119
 things for

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:35.279
 even a little

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.819
 while.

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:37.200
 that would

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.799
 still be

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.899
 too much

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.359
 for many

00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:39.740
 of us

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.220
 to bear.

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.139
 And that's

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.480
 why it's

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.119
 so important

00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:44.579
 even to

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:46.139
 God that

00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:46.740
 He also

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.679
 endures

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:49.539
 bad things

00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:51.139
 personally.

00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.939
 You may

00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:54.700
 remember Hebrews.

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.019
 Do you all

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.659
 remember Hebrews?

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.399
 Oh, good.

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.159
 Somebody remembers

00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:58.460
 Hebrews.

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.000
 That makes me

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.980
 feel so good.

00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:01.639
 You may

00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:01.980
 remember

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.759
 repeatedly,

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.500
 Hebrews would

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.940
 make this

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:05.319
 point, that

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.079
 the one who

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.660
 would bring

00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:07.279
 us our

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.880
 salvation needed

00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.940
 to be like

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.339
 us in having

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:12.200
 suffered.

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.440
 That was

00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.160
 fitting,

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.000
 remember?

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.559
 It made

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:19.519
 Jesus perfect

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.960
 as a Savior

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.400
 because He

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.720
 suffered too.

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:24.220
 So He can

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.779
 really sympathize,

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.160
 empathize with,

00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.500
 and He can

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.980
 truly represent

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.359
 before God

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.140
 those who

00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:33.560
 likewise are

00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:35.420
 real sufferers.

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.040
 That's you

00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:36.380
 and me.

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.759
 So Jesus

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.040
 famously stands

00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:41.980
 before the

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.580
 grave of a

00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:43.160
 loved one

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:45.640
 and weeps

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:48.040
 in the face

00:26:48.040 --> 00:26:48.580
 of death.

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:50.840
 Y'all,

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.820
 there's no way

00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:52.660
 that Jesus

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.340
 is taking

00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:54.240
 our suffering

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.820
 lightly

00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:56.100
 when He

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.660
 knows what

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.220
 it feels

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.680
 like,

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.500
 when He

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.300
 hates it

00:26:59.300 --> 00:26:59.960
 as much

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.400
 as we

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.680
 do.

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.680
 Maybe even

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.259
 we could say

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.759
 He hates

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.400
 it more

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.600
 because He

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.380
 created a

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.279
 world free

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.039
 from death.

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.039
 He designed

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.039
 us never

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.500
 to be

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.319
 separated from

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:11.920
 Him or

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.360
 from our

00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:13.120
 loved ones.

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.620
 He recoils

00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.620
 at the idea

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.279
 of death

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.240
 intruding into

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.660
 His good

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.640
 creation and

00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:19.700
 impacting people

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.480
 He loves.

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:24.319
 and yet,

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:26.319
 He willingly

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.299
 sets out

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.740
 to be

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.799
 what Isaiah

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.579
 prophesied

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.200
 God would be

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.019
 like when He

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.420
 would enter

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:31.880
 into this

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.539
 world and

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.039
 take on

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.440
 flesh.

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.579
 What was He

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:34.980
 going to be

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.200
 like?

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.819
 What was the

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.380
 promise from

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:36.740
 the very

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.099
 beginning?

00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.660
 Was He

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.079
 going to be

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.120
 riding in on

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:40.039
 a cushy

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.200
 throne with

00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.160
 a crown and

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.740
 with everybody

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.700
 praising Him?

00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:44.980
 He was going

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.400
 to be despised

00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.200
 and rejected

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.839
 by men.

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.559
 A man of

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.299
 sorrows and

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.179
 acquainted with

00:27:51.179 --> 00:27:51.700
 grief.

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.399
 As one from

00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.139
 whom men hide

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.859
 their faces,

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.839
 He was despised.

00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:55.480
 We esteemed

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:55.960
 Him not.

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.339
 Surely He has

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.259
 borne our

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.319
 griefs and

00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.299
 carried our

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.079
 sorrows.

00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.319
 Yet we esteemed

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.960
 Him stricken,

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.019
 smitten by God

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.839
 and afflicted.

00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:06.200
 But He was

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.539
 pierced for

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.960
 our transgressions.

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.079
 He was

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:13.359
 crushed for

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.159
 our iniquities.

00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.119
 Surely,

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.440
 y'all,

00:28:16.679 --> 00:28:17.700
 that's what

00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.500
 our God is

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.620
 like when

00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.680
 He willingly

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:22.160
 dwells for

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.779
 a while

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.779
 among us.

00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:24.660
 Just stop

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:24.960
 and think,

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:26.360
 what a unique

00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:27.259
 comfort.

00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.620
 The incarnation

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:30.480
 of God,

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.580
 the enfleshing

00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:33.960
 of the divine,

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.340
 what a unique

00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.140
 comfort that

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:37.059
 provides.

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.360
 Especially

00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.860
 when it's not

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.460
 just for a

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.740
 moment,

00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.160
 but when Jesus

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.440
 goes all the

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.259
 way to the

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.700
 cross to

00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.940
 suffer and

00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:48.340
 die in

00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:49.100
 our place.

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.779
 I want to

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.720
 just contemplate

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.240
 for a minute

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.299
 with you the

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.100
 reality of the

00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:54.740
 cross of

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.100
 Jesus.

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.819
 Because the

00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.799
 cross of all

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.279
 places assures

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:02.220
 us that the

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.200
 bad things in

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.039
 our lives

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.120
 cannot

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:07.240
 possibly mean

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.460
 that God

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.720
 is not with

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.220
 us.

00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:12.660
 That's a

00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.440
 conclusion that

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.140
 we sometimes

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.880
 reach when

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.220
 we're overwhelmed.

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.039
 God's not

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.420
 here.

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:17.960
 He doesn't

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.340
 see me.

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:18.820
 He doesn't

00:29:18.820 --> 00:29:19.140
 care.

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.360
 It can't be

00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:20.740
 true.

00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:22.620
 It's like when

00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:23.519
 Daniel's friends

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.160
 Shadrach,

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.860
 Meshach,

00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:25.640
 and Abednego

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.519
 got thrown

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.900
 into the

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.600
 fiery furnace

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:28.160
 and all of a

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.860
 sudden the

00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:29.960
 king saw in

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.740
 the furnace a

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.480
 fourth man

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.440
 walking around

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.160
 in the flames

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.900
 with them

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.440
 while they

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.380
 were completely

00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:37.380
 unharmed.

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.720
 The cross

00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.940
 assures us

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:41.200
 God is with

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.160
 us in the

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.860
 worst of

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.679
 things no

00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:44.240
 matter how

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.639
 high the

00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.059
 heat gets

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.639
 turned up

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.899
 to protect

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:47.419
 us.

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.000
 He's not

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.059
 aloof from

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.599
 suffering.

00:29:49.719 --> 00:29:50.019
 He's not

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.219
 sitting off

00:29:51.219 --> 00:29:51.699
 in heaven

00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:53.179
 somewhere away

00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:53.779
 from us.

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.399
 Quite the

00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:54.819
 opposite.

00:29:54.979 --> 00:29:55.299
 He has

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.099
 entered in.

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:56.899
 And think

00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:57.219
 of what

00:29:57.219 --> 00:29:57.799
 happens on

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.379
 the cross.

00:29:58.659 --> 00:29:58.799
 Okay?

00:29:59.379 --> 00:29:59.939
 Think about

00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.419
 this with

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:00.679
 me.

00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.279
 God

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.240
 endures

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.079
 pain.

00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.579
 Unspeakable

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.199
 physical

00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:08.079
 torture.

00:30:08.979 --> 00:30:09.699
 Unthinkable

00:30:09.699 --> 00:30:11.199
 shame and

00:30:11.199 --> 00:30:12.000
 humiliation.

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.660
 unbearable

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.619
 relational

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.559
 breaking.

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.579
 Because at

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.279
 the cross

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.980
 God loses

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:23.220
 a loved

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.799
 one, even

00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.599
 his only

00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.319
 son, to

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:27.680
 death.

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:30.859
 Indeed at

00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:31.619
 the cross

00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:33.720
 God asks

00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.140
 why?

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.400
 My God,

00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.059
 my God,

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.960
 why have

00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:40.420
 you forsaken

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.700
 me?

00:30:40.820 --> 00:30:41.480
 That is how

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.580
 completely he

00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.940
 enters in to

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.720
 endure our

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.759
 suffering in

00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.320
 our place.

00:30:47.320 --> 00:30:48.259
 There must

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.360
 have been so

00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:51.080
 many why

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:52.880
 questions between

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.960
 crucifixion

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:55.259
 Friday and

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.080
 resurrection

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:57.500
 Sunday.

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.360
 When we are

00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:00.700
 asking why,

00:31:00.860 --> 00:31:01.500
 as the Bible

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.279
 assures us,

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.080
 we will,

00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:05.080
 our questioning

00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:06.560
 cries are heard

00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:07.700
 by a God who

00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:08.960
 has endured what

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:10.100
 we are feeling

00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.680
 and more.

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.660
 And so very

00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.779
 importantly for us,

00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.900
 that means he

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.660
 has not left us

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.720
 in the midst of

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.799
 those bad things,

00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:21.080
 but he will remain

00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:23.160
 with us in them.

00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.600
 Y'all, that is so

00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:27.340
 hopeful because if

00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:27.900
 he's there,

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:29.299
 and we remember that

00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.779
 out of the ultimate

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:32.539
 bad thing,

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.360
 the murder of the

00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:36.399
 innocent son of

00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:37.740
 God on the

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.399
 cross,

00:31:38.959 --> 00:31:40.539
 God brings the

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:42.519
 ultimate good,

00:31:43.179 --> 00:31:44.599
 the rescue of

00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:46.779
 so many lives,

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.359
 right?

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.679
 See, that's what

00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:49.979
 he does when he's

00:31:49.979 --> 00:31:50.759
 present in the bad

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.740
 things, and God is

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.299
 present to work the

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:54.779
 bad things for good,

00:31:54.899 --> 00:31:56.039
 to deepen our

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:57.039
 relationship with

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.019
 him, to bless

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.639
 others through us,

00:31:59.699 --> 00:32:00.919
 and eventually to

00:32:00.919 --> 00:32:02.500
 resurrect us to

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.339
 where the bad

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:05.079
 things are gone

00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:06.240
 forever.

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.299
 But the good

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:10.839
 thing, him, is

00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:12.399
 never gone, always,

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:14.179
 always with us.

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.039
 See, there is an

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.379
 end to the bad

00:32:18.379 --> 00:32:19.039
 things coming,

00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:19.519
 isn't there?

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.399
 Aren't you glad?

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.339
 The Bible speaks

00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.679
 way more to that

00:32:24.679 --> 00:32:26.859
 than it does to

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.759
 their specific

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.539
 origin.

00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:30.679
 Their beginning

00:32:30.679 --> 00:32:31.279
 may be a bit

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.819
 unclear, but their

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:34.779
 ending is not

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:36.079
 uncertain at all.

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.799
 Don't ever forget

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.099
 that.

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.419
 When the bad

00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:40.559
 things seem

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.319
 overwhelming,

00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:43.419
 seem all-consuming,

00:32:43.939 --> 00:32:45.099
 seem unending,

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:47.480
 don't forget the

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.279
 end is coming.

00:32:48.399 --> 00:32:49.839
 In fact, even the

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.439
 why questions that

00:32:51.439 --> 00:32:52.379
 we've been asking

00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:54.339
 for millennia will

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.339
 be coming to an

00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:55.679
 end.

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.519
 All the ones that

00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:59.200
 matter will be

00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.319
 answered, and those

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.200
 that don't will fade

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.700
 from our

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.700
 consideration.

00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.299
 Won't that be

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:05.859
 wonderful?

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.339
 Can you imagine

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.599
 living like that and

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:10.639
 not asking why all

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.079
 the time?

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:12.439
 Not having to

00:33:12.439 --> 00:33:13.819
 wonder the why

00:33:13.819 --> 00:33:14.779
 questions that we

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.000
 cry in desperation

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.980
 and wonder in our

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.179
 fears and wrestle

00:33:18.179 --> 00:33:19.019
 with in our doubts?

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.899
 They'll be gone

00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:21.299
 because we will see

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.879
 him as he is and

00:33:22.879 --> 00:33:24.439
 know him even as we

00:33:24.439 --> 00:33:26.059
 are fully known.

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.339
 I think the only

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:30.059
 question, the only

00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:31.960
 why question that I

00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:33.500
 can imagine in

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:34.599
 heaven is one along

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:37.460
 the lines of, why

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:38.279
 am I here?

00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:42.339
 Lord, why am I a

00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:43.759
 guest at this

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.899
 incredible eternal

00:33:45.899 --> 00:33:46.960
 feast?

00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:49.200
 And even there we

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.000
 will know the answer,

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.480
 won't we?

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:55.500
 Love, relationship,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:59.240
 grace, Jesus, the

00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:02.120
 cross, glory.

00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.839
 We know it in part

00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:11.400
 because this table is

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:13.420
 a foretaste of that

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:15.179
 unending glory and

00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:15.840
 that unending

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:17.719
 relationship of that

00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:19.320
 eternal wedding feast

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:21.019
 that we share with

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:23.620
 Jesus as his bride.

00:34:24.180 --> 00:34:25.680
 Why can you come?

00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:29.120
 Why can I be here?

00:34:30.180 --> 00:34:30.840
 You know the answer?

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.720
 Our Savior.

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:36.160
 He brings good things

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:38.380
 out of bad things.

00:34:38.640 --> 00:34:40.360
 He's washed us clean.

00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:41.900
 He's set the table.

00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:44.200
 He's insisted that we

00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:46.360
 come and be with him.

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.920
 Remember what he said

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.820
 to his disciples.

00:34:49.680 --> 00:34:50.660
 That it would all be

00:34:50.660 --> 00:34:52.860
 about his work done

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.640
 for us.

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.420
 It was that night that

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.640
 he was betrayed to

00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.820
 such an awful death

00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:59.700
 that he took bread

00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:01.700
 and he broke it

00:35:01.700 --> 00:35:03.280
 and he gave it to his

00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:04.960
 disciples as I am

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.860
 ministering in his

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.220
 name.

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.559
 Give this bread to you.

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.440
 He said, take and eat.

00:35:09.700 --> 00:35:10.900
 This is my body

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:12.940
 given for you.

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:15.440
 Do this in remembrance

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:16.080
 of me.

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.400
 And then the same way

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.480
 after supper he took

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:21.059
 the cup and he said,

00:35:21.240 --> 00:35:22.180
 this cup is the new

00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:23.900
 covenant in my blood

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:26.740
 shed for many for the

00:35:26.740 --> 00:35:27.860
 forgiveness of sins,

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:28.780
 their sins.

00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:32.200
 Drink from it all of you

00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:33.880
 in remembrance of me

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:35.619
 for as often as you eat

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:37.559
 this bread and drink

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:39.200
 this cup, you proclaim

00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:42.079
 the Lord's death until he

00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.579
 comes.

00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:47.539
 If you do not trust

00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:50.019
 Jesus to rescue you

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:51.880
 from your bad things

00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:54.460
 and to give you good

00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.420
 things forever,

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:58.059
 don't come and eat

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:59.900
 at this table where we

00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:01.139
 celebrate that, where we

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:03.699
 say, this is our hope.

00:36:03.819 --> 00:36:06.079
 We proclaim his death.

00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:07.119
 If you don't, don't

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:09.199
 proclaim outwardly with

00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:10.099
 your actions something

00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:11.139
 you wouldn't proclaim

00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:12.900
 with your words.

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:16.000
 But we do welcome you.

00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:17.199
 We welcome you to come

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:19.500
 forward with us or even

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:21.079
 to stay in your seats,

00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:22.440
 whatever you would prefer,

00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:24.900
 and to consider the hope

00:36:24.900 --> 00:36:26.900
 of Jesus, the offer of

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.799
 someone who would love

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:29.299
 you like that.

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:32.279
 And to know that that hope

00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:34.760
 and that offer is for all

00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:37.240
 whoever would trust him.

00:36:37.740 --> 00:36:38.820
 He offers it to you

00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:40.560
 today if you will but

00:36:40.560 --> 00:36:41.200
 trust him.

00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:44.720
 And if you do trust in

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:47.680
 him, then come eagerly

00:36:47.680 --> 00:36:49.180
 and eat with us.

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:49.880
 Whether you're a member

00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:51.300
 of this particular church

00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:52.940
 or some other, come to

00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:54.500
 be reminded that he is

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:56.200
 with you in your bad

00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:56.680
 things.

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.200
 Come to draw strength

00:36:58.200 --> 00:36:59.960
 from his sacrifice.

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:01.960
 Come to look forward to

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:03.460
 the good things that he

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.960
 promises are yours to

00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:06.639
 enjoy with him forever

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.059
 because he has purchased

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.900
 them for you by enduring

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:11.460
 the ultimate bad thing

00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:13.199
 so that you will not

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:13.880
 forever.

00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:16.019
 What a good Savior we have.

00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:17.400
 Let's pray and then we'll

00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:18.119
 come celebrate.

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:22.119
 Jesus, do remind us of

00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:23.820
 that, of your great love

00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.400
 for us.

00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.900
 Don't let us complicate

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:28.420
 this beyond the truth

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:30.440
 that Jesus loves me.

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:33.280
 that's why we can be here

00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:34.200
 and there is no other

00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.579
 way.

00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:37.260
 And so would you indeed

00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:39.139
 bring comfort because you

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:41.900
 know we need it as we

00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.820
 remember that you're with

00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:44.940
 us and for us and will

00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.820
 never leave us.

00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:48.380
 Give us joy in that

00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:48.800
 together.

00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:50.720
 We ask in your name.

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.260
 Amen.

00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:53.700
 For more information,

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:55.260
 visit us online at

00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:56.020
 southwood.org.

00:37:56.020 --> 00:37:56.100
 Thank you.

00:37:56.100 --> 00:37:56.100