WEBVTT

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 Let us pray, and then we'll get into Acts chapter 3 this morning.

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 Father in heaven, we thank you that your word truly is like a double-edged sword.

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 That it cuts past our excuses and our insecurities and our pride and our ego

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 and gets to the very place where we are exposed.

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 So, Lord God, your word can do what only your word can do,

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 is draw us to Christ, the great healer.

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 Lord, this morning as we open up Acts 3,

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 and we encounter a man that has been lame from birth and how he was healed,

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 Lord, help us to see that the same Jesus that has healed this man

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 is here amongst us this morning by his Spirit.

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 And that healing and restoration that he offered that man is offered to us.

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 We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

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 I have a wonderful friend in my hometown who often says, and I kid you not,

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 I'm living the dream. He loves saying this, I'm living the dream.

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 My friend's not a churchgoer, although he was raised in the faith.

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 However, he still desires and seeks what we would call a blessing, or to be blessed.

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 And not just to have a few nice toys or some memorable experiences.

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 Rather, he desires a blessing that seems to be heavenly.

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 What I mean by that is a comfort and a joy that transcends work, want, struggle, and pain.

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 I thought about him this week while I listened to a conversation between a historian and a philosopher.

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 The historian is Tom Holland.

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 The philosopher is Douglas Murray, both Englishmen.

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 Both of them wouldn't claim to be confessional Christians, although they are favorable to the faith.

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 And within this conversation, they had a discussion about how Christianity has shaped the West in no small way.

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 And even though Christianity, by and large, is not practiced in the West anymore,

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 the West is still, in a sense, reverberating with the effects of Christianity over the centuries.

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 People still think in religious categories, even if they have almost certainly abandoned the Christian rhetoric or specific Christian practices.

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 Even still, they went on to describe these two conversationalists, Tom Holland and Douglas Murray,

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 how the lack of transcendence with the Christian God, in a sense, still haunts the Western imagination.

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 God is gone, but in a sense they were saying, we still long after him.

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 We still desire him.

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 We still want to enjoy real and forever blessings.

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 Although, as a society, we do not know what those blessings ultimately are or where to find them.

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 But we still crave after something that only God can give.

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 So as we make our way through Acts 3 today,

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 the text will help us to see that our deep desire to be blessed is a God-given one.

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 And that our greatest vision of blessing is so unbelievably small compared to what God has in store for us

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 if we are called by his name according to his purpose.

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 So we'll break up the text into three bits.

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 We'll look first at...

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 We're breaking it up to look at specific characters in the plot.

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 So the first, we'll look at the beggar's healing, verses 1 to 10.

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 And the second, we'll look at the nation's guilt, verses 11 to 18.

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 And we'll finish it off with looking at the servant's mercy, 19 to 28.

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 So let's read verses 1 through 5.

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 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

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 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple,

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 that is called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms of those entering the temple.

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 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

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 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, look at us.

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 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

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 Let's pause there.

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 As Peter and John walked through the beautiful gate to get into the temple to worship the Lord,

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 a beggar called out to them for alms, as he would have called out for anybody.

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 Scholars believe that this gate that he was sitting at would have been absolutely huge,

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 70 plus feet high, ornate, made with Corinthian brass.

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 I don't know what Corinthian brass is.

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 I'm not sure.

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 It sounds wonderful.

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 But it was made with ornate Corinthian brass.

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 So to see this destitute man propped up against this absolutely stunning gate would have been a contrast,

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 quite the contrast to see.

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 It would be like, I guess in a sense we're a bit desensitized to it, unfortunately,

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 but it would be like seeing somebody panhandle amongst the skyscrapers on Bay Street,

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 or downtown Ottawa with the gorgeous Parliament building in the background.

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 It seems like these two shouldn't be there.

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 With such beauty, there shouldn't be somebody begging.

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 It's such an intense contrast.

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 It was similar with this man.

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 He was a fixture at the gate, being brought daily by others.

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 Even more, given that the first century was a much more communal culture than ours today,

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 people would have known him.

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 They would have seen him.

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 They would have likely known his parents, or at least the men that brought him to beg.

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 They would have known that he was lame since birth.

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 And we're not sure why he was lame,

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 but that he was clearly so lame, so crippled,

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 that he couldn't walk on his own.

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 This man was known.

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 This was not a charade, but he was a known beggar at a very busy intersection in Jerusalem.

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 And what happens?

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 Looking for a few coins, what does he receive instead?

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 Let's continue on in verse 6.

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 But Peter said,

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 I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.

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 In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.

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 And he took him by the hand and raised him up,

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 and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

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 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk and enter the temple with them,

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 walking and leaping and praising God.

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 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

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 and recognized him as the one who sat at the beautiful gate of the temple,

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 asking for alms.

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 And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

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 By verse 9, Luke records four times that this man was walking.

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 Make no mistake about it, Luke says.

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 The lame beggar who everybody knew,

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 who was crippled from birth,

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 who had to be carried to his spot by men,

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 because he was too crippled to walk.

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 This man has been healed.

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 And he is walking.

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 This is no charade.

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 It is no hoax.

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 God has done something.

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 In fact, later on in verse 16,

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 Peter says that this man was given by Jesus perfect health.

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 The condition of the beggar, remember,

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 isn't just that his legs don't work,

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 or that he doesn't have the ability to make money.

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 It goes even more than that.

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 This man is socially estranged from his people.

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 He's also religiously estranged.

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 Notice that he was daily at the gate.

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 He was not daily at the temple.

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 He did not participate in the religious life of the people of God.

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 And his greatest victory, day by day,

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 was being carried home with a few extra coins in his pocket.

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 Maybe a few bites of bread in his stomach.

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 In some ways, friends, we are not dissimilar.

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 We struggle with our relationships.

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 We struggle with the guilt that we have as we interact with God,

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 thinking that one mistake is all it takes for God to turn from us.

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 That we are so far gone because we fall into the same habitual sin,

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 and we are not liberated from our sin,

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 but we feel the weight of guilt and shame

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 heavier and heavier day by day.

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 Our situation, at best,

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 a victory for us is to create wealth,

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 to purchase toys,

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 seek experiences,

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 all of which in and of themselves are not bad things,

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 but that can often be,

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 if it is our greatest victory,

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 a very pitiable thing.

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 We know we need a blessing,

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 or a cure of some sort,

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 so we look inward to ourselves,

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 or we look outward to people and things,

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 all of which lack the capacity to do anything more than to numb,

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 or to distract.

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 I guess the similarity between us and the crippled man

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 is that we look for silver and gold,

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 but the thing is,

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 what we really look for is a divine touch from God.

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 We look for silver and gold,

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 however only a divine blessing will do.

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 In the West,

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 have we not abandoned God for silver and gold,

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 whatever that silver and gold may be.

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 I say in the West,

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 I speak generally,

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 but I hope the West isn't just outside of these walls for us,

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 that Canada isn't just outside of the walls for us,

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 but inside the walls too.

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 We swim in these waters,

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 we breathe this air,

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 where we constantly fall into the temptation

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 to find our wealth not in God,

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 find our blessing not in God,

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 but in silver and gold.

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 But we desperately crave Him.

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 Blaise Pascal, he writes this,

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 and if you've ever heard the term,

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 a God-shaped hole,

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 this is where it comes from.

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 This is what he says,

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 quote,

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 What else does this craving,

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 and this helplessness proclaim,

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 but that there was once in man a true happiness,

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 of which all that now remains

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 is the empty print and trace.

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 This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him,

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 seeking in things that are not there

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 the help he cannot find in those that are.

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 Though none can help,

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 since this infinite abyss can be filled

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 only with an infinite and immutable object.

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 In other words, by God Himself.

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 We have a longing

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 for divine blessing,

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 whether we call it that or not,

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 that can only be filled with the divine.

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 something,

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 someone,

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 that will,

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 that is eternal,

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 that is immutable,

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 that is unchanging.

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 The emptiness that we feel,

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 the restlessness that we

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 may not be able to explain,

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 friends,

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 is because we are created

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 to know God

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 and be known by Him.

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 If your conception of the Christian life

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 is that of drab and boring,

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 lacking of real blessing

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 and joy,

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 I'll humbly suggest to you

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 and to myself

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 in times of doubt

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 and struggle,

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 that we have a misguided view of Christ.

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 He is a healer

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 and a friend.

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 And He says to you,

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 stand up and walk.

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 I will heal your,

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 your,

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 the knees that buckle

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 and the ankles that,

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 that have no strength in them.

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 I will,

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 I will give you strength

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 in your hips

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 and your muscles

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 and you will walk.

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 He bids us

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 to stand up and walk.

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 Walk in true life.

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 Walk in full forgiveness.

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 Walk in the victory

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 of His cross over death.

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 Walk by His strength.

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 He says to a woman

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 in John's Gospel,

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 listen,

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 that water,

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 if you drink from it,

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 you'll get thirsty later on.

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 But if you drink from living water,

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 you will never thirst again.

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 This is a wonderful image

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 of the satisfaction,

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 the deep, deep satisfaction

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 that we long for,

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 being satisfied in Christ.

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 And friends,

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 He offers it to us lame beggars today.

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 to us who have no chance

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 of filling that God-shaped hole

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 in our souls.

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 Christ Jesus did more

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 than simply heal this man.

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 Look with me at verse 8.

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 And leaping up,

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 he stood and began to walk.

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 And he entered the temple with them,

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 walking and leaping

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 and praising God.

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 This man seems to be restored.

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 He began to enjoy

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 social restoration

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 and real joy.

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 And notice that

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 no longer is he at the gate

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 of the temple,

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 but he is entering

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 in the temple itself.

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 He is worshipping the Lord

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 because of what

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 the Lord had done for him.

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 Because Jesus

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 had given him perfect health.

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 This joy

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 became the source

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 of public curiosity

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 and amazement as well.

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 Verses 9 and 10.

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 And all the people

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 saw him walking

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 and praising God

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 and recognized him

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 as the one who sat

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 at the beautiful gate

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 of the temple

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 asking for alms

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 and were filled with wonder

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 and amazement

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 at what had happened to him.

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 And similar to what had happened

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 at Pentecost

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 in Acts chapter 2,

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 if you remember two weeks ago,

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 Peter seeing this opportunity

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 to give glory to Christ

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 and to bear witness

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 to the cross,

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 he stands up

00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.659
 and he begins to preach

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.620
 to the crowd

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.200
 that has gathered.

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.340
 And much like the lame beggar,

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.519
 we may find ourselves

00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.439
 actually identifying

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.460
 with this next group.

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.399
 And this is our second

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.299
 group of people

00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.840
 we'll look at.

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.659
 The guilty nation.

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.500
 Look with me

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.059
 at verse 11 to 16.

00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:09.419
 Actually,

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.299
 11 to 13.

00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:15.000
 While he clung to Peter and John,

00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:17.439
 that is the healed man,

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:18.759
 no longer lame,

00:15:18.839 --> 00:15:19.699
 no longer a beggar,

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:22.039
 while he clung to Peter and John,

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:22.779
 all the people,

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.439
 utterly astounded,

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.059
 ran together to them

00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:26.799
 in the portico

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.919
 called Solomon's.

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.019
 And when Peter saw,

00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.759
 sorry,

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.659
 and when Peter saw it,

00:15:33.699 --> 00:15:34.419
 he addressed the people,

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.099
 men of Israel,

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.720
 Why do you wonder at this?

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:38.440
 Or why do you stare at us

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:40.399
 as though by our own power

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:40.980
 or piety

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.580
 we have made him walk?

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.240
 The God of Abraham,

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.320
 the God of Isaac,

00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.420
 the God of Jacob,

00:15:47.540 --> 00:15:49.080
 the God of our fathers,

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.779
 glorified his servant,

00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:52.340
 Jesus.

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.259
 And I'll pause there.

00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:59.580
 Peter directs their attention

00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:01.440
 away from themselves.

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.200
 He addresses them

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:03.520
 and he says,

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.280
 Men of Israel,

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.620
 don't you know

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.440
 that you cannot,

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.960
 that we cannot do such things?

00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.240
 But only God

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.480
 can do it

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.759
 and not just any God

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.100
 but the God of our forefathers?

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.600
 Peter roots this healing

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:18.360
 in the scriptures

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:20.520
 by referencing Abraham,

00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.460
 Isaac, and Jacob,

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.820
 the patriarchs of the faith.

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.140
 So,

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.379
 Peter in a sense is saying

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.879
 this isn't a new religion

00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.300
 but one that is

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:29.080
 the culmination

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.840
 of all that God has promised

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:32.320
 according to his word.

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:34.480
 Then he gives it

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.020
 gives it straight to the nation,

00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:38.480
 the nation of Israel,

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.340
 those that are gathered

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.600
 as he did

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.740
 at the Pentecost sermon.

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.379
 And look with me,

00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:44.160
 verses 13 and following

00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:44.940
 to verse 16.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.620
 I'll read at the beginning

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.220
 of 13 again.

00:16:49.280 --> 00:16:50.180
 The God of Abraham,

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.960
 the God of Isaac,

00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:51.680
 the God of Jacob,

00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.720
 the God of our fathers,

00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:54.460
 glorified his servant,

00:16:54.640 --> 00:16:54.900
 Jesus,

00:16:55.420 --> 00:16:57.080
 whom you delivered over

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.700
 and denied

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.900
 in the presence of Pilate

00:16:58.900 --> 00:17:00.100
 when he had decided

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.740
 to release him.

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.120
 But you denied

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.519
 the holy and righteous one

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:05.420
 and asked for a murderer

00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.519
 to be granted to you.

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.640
 And you killed

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.519
 the author of life

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.480
 whom God raised

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.039
 from the dead.

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.680
 To this we are witnesses

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.279
 and by his name,

00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.880
 by faith in his name,

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.480
 has made this man strong

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.759
 whom you see and know.

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.019
 And the faith

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.960
 that is through Jesus

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.359
 has given the man

00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.620
 this perfect health

00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:24.460
 in the presence

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.660
 of you all.

00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.440
 Peter says,

00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.180
 Listen,

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:30.799
 you killed Jesus.

00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:32.539
 You dishonored him

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.340
 in four ways.

00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:35.200
 You handed him over

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.799
 to be killed.

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.460
 You disowned him

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:38.259
 before Pilate.

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.039
 You traded Christ

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.840
 for Barabbas,

00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.460
 a murderer,

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.640
 an insurrectionist.

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.259
 You killed

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.820
 the author of life.

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:47.779
 Friends,

00:17:47.820 --> 00:17:49.400
 what a damning accusation.

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.539
 It was this Jesus

00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.340
 that they sent

00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:55.059
 to the cross

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.320
 that was the one

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:57.240
 who healed the man

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.259
 from his condition.

00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.539
 And Peter punctuates this

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.299
 by using the term

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.140
 to describe Jesus

00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:04.120
 the author of life.

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.420
 How can you kill

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.180
 the author of life

00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:06.860
 except that that's

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.940
 what has happened.

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.000
 The author of life.

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.240
 The creator

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.519
 of all things.

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.660
 The one who spoke

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.940
 the world into existence.

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.059
 The one who

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.519
 orchestrated

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.900
 salvation itself

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:20.360
 by dying on the cross,

00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.440
 being buried

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.779
 and rising again

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.539
 to new life.

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.980
 You killed this man.

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.900
 It was faith

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.900
 in that Jesus

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.640
 that caused

00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.340
 that lame beggar

00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:29.920
 to be healed.

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.120
 It was not as if

00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.840
 Peter and James

00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:32.880
 had the power

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.840
 or knew the right formula

00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.400
 that would get

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.800
 the desired response.

00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:38.180
 There was enough people

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:39.740
 that could do incantations

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.420
 in the ancient world

00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:41.340
 or at least claim to.

00:18:41.780 --> 00:18:42.759
 But it wasn't that.

00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.740
 It was by faith

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.720
 and Peter is making

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.440
 it very clear.

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.360
 And even this faith

00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:50.340
 that made this man well

00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.120
 was the result

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:52.340
 of Jesus' power

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.079
 for that proclamation

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.919
 of the power

00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:56.519
 that Peter and John

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.819
 gave to that lame man

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.899
 gave that beggar

00:18:58.899 --> 00:18:59.399
 an opportunity

00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.139
 to believe.

00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:03.099
 So even the act of faith

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.699
 goes to Christ himself.

00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:07.599
 Even still,

00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.220
 that healing,

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.220
 even though it's talked

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:10.959
 about with faith

00:19:10.959 --> 00:19:11.759
 and that Jesus did it,

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.220
 the healing,

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.359
 even the healing itself

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.459
 fades into the background.

00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.240
 And the apostles

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.559
 and the man.

00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:17.980
 Instead,

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.259
 Jesus and him alone

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:21.059
 comes to the foreground.

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.980
 The spotlight

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:23.179
 is on Christ here.

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:27.079
 He is the holy

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.879
 and righteous one,

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:28.259
 it says.

00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.139
 He is the glorified one.

00:19:30.399 --> 00:19:31.659
 He is the author of life.

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.059
 The one who was raised

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:34.019
 from the dead.

00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.700
 And the Jewish people

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.980
 whom he came to save

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.559
 betrayed him

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.259
 and killed him

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.179
 and handed him over,

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.179
 traded him for a murderer

00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:45.419
 and ultimately he died.

00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.339
 As I mentioned

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.220
 a couple weeks ago

00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.480
 in Acts chapter 2

00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.720
 in Peter's

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.960
 Pentecost sermon,

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.539
 the killing of Christ

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.059
 was indeed

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.120
 by the nation of Israel.

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.660
 They are guilty for it.

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.660
 But make no mistake,

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.319
 it was the sin

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:01.900
 of all mankind

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:03.700
 that Jesus went

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.539
 to the cross for.

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.980
 For all mankind.

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.220
 It was the sin

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:10.620
 of me.

00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:13.400
 Sin of the Gribas

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:14.120
 and Susan

00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:15.059
 and Brian

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.259
 and Samuel

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.479
 and the Petrancos

00:20:17.479 --> 00:20:18.799
 and Steve.

00:20:18.939 --> 00:20:19.859
 For all of us

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.979
 he went to the cross for.

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:23.859
 This wasn't a,

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.319
 this wasn't just an issue

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.559
 with the Jewish people

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:29.239
 that they messed things up.

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.719
 But they messed it up

00:20:31.719 --> 00:20:32.399
 because they're human

00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:32.959
 and guess what?

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.519
 We are too.

00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:36.699
 Christ died on the cross

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:38.880
 and we are the guilty ones.

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.160
 So,

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.059
 in a sense,

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.160
 we

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.920
 betrayed Christ

00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.799
 in the same manner.

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.080
 I mean,

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.500
 we didn't hand him over

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.100
 to be killed.

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.620
 We didn't disown him

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.600
 before Pilate.

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.100
 We didn't trade him

00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:51.880
 for a murderer.

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.980
 But our sins

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.779
 surely killed

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.580
 the author of life.

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.880
 Friends,

00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.799
 consider how we search

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.240
 for life

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.680
 and yet

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.400
 we disregard

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.400
 the author of life.

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:05.120
 how we try to

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:06.440
 absolve ourselves

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:08.220
 from guilt

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.780
 and shame

00:21:08.780 --> 00:21:09.220
 and ignore

00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:10.640
 the Holy and Righteous One

00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.120
 who is without shame.

00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.740
 Who offers us

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.640
 in a sense

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.580
 the alleviation

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.840
 of all our sin and shame.

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:19.200
 We try to glorify ourselves

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.320
 something that only God can do.

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.120
 We fight death

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.019
 tooth and nail

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.120
 but only through Christ

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:25.840
 can we have hope

00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:27.200
 for eternal life.

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:28.960
 Friends,

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.940
 we are

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:33.160
 in a very real way

00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.060
 confused people.

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.460
 And that's why

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.500
 we confess today

00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.300
 that we have sinned

00:21:38.300 --> 00:21:39.019
 by the things

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.400
 we ought to have done

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:40.820
 and the things

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.940
 we ought not to have done.

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.759
 And there's no health in us.

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.340
 And it seems

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:46.440
 jarring every time

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:46.880
 we read it.

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.519
 I don't know if it's

00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.660
 at least when I read it.

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.460
 I don't know about you.

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.940
 But in morning prayer

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.620
 it says

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:53.180
 it calls us

00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:54.120
 miserable offenders.

00:21:55.540 --> 00:21:57.180
 It's such a striking

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:59.100
 like absolutely

00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:00.580
 no sugar coating on it

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.759
 thing to call somebody.

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.759
 You are a miserable

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.379
 offender.

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.319
 But is that not

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.879
 what we are

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:07.640
 if we are honest

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.279
 with ourselves?

00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.140
 If we see ourselves

00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:11.839
 in a sense

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.140
 in the

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.180
 boots of the

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.420
 nation of Israel here?

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:19.200
 verse 17

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:22.080
 Peter says this

00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:23.720
 And now brothers

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.140
 I know that you

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.100
 acted in ignorance

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.880
 as also

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.440
 and as did

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.460
 also your rulers.

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.400
 Yet even still

00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.460
 even though it was

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:32.860
 ignorant

00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:33.519
 we didn't

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.680
 know that we were

00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.600
 sinning against God

00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.259
 we were just

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.940
 you know

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:38.019
 neck deep

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.440
 in opposition

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.580
 to the author

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.080
 of life.

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:44.139
 Peter understands

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:44.559
 that this was

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.419
 an ignorant thing.

00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:45.799
 Nevertheless

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.639
 it was still

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.139
 the will

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:48.339
 of God the Father

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.139
 to send Christ

00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:49.839
 to the cross.

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:50.740
 Verse 18

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.539
 this is what it says

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.879
 But what God

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:53.699
 foretold

00:22:53.699 --> 00:22:54.279
 by the mouth

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.319
 of all the prophets

00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.579
 that his Christ

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.179
 would suffer

00:22:57.179 --> 00:22:59.059
 he thus fulfilled.

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.359
 It was

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.220
 certainly our sin

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.619
 that put Christ

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.199
 on the cross

00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:06.099
 but it was God's

00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.599
 will for him

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.599
 to die in our place.

00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:09.659
 We talked about it

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.460
 a few weeks back

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:10.880
 about the

00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.160
 kind of a

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.079
 hard concept

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.960
 to grasp

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.860
 maybe potentially

00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:17.120
 fully ungraspable.

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:17.900
 I mean we could

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.680
 get bits of it

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:19.779
 how our

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.340
 agency

00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.240
 our human agency

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.180
 interacts with

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.180
 God's sovereignty.

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.279
 But this is what

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:26.000
 the text is saying

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.140
 in verse 17 and 18.

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.440
 God had

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.140
 foretold this

00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.440
 by all of his prophets

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.539
 and then later on

00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.900
 in the chapter

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.380
 he will name

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:37.960
 three of them

00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.340
 Moses

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:39.059
 Abraham

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.819
 and Samuel.

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:42.200
 all prophesying

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.019
 Jesus' death

00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.559
 and resurrection

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.480
 as the Christ.

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.100
 Which brings us

00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:45.660
 to our third

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.380
 and final point

00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:47.340
 for if

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.720
 this was God's

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:48.960
 will

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.759
 to send Christ

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.259
 to the cross

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.880
 it was because

00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.799
 he was making

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.340
 a way

00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:53.200
 to extend

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.840
 his mercy

00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.579
 through his son.

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.840
 And in here

00:23:55.840 --> 00:23:57.860
 he calls Jesus

00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.380
 the servant

00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.299
 and it's an allusion

00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.819
 to Isaiah 52

00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.420
 and 53

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.299
 but really all

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.140
 of the servant

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.460
 songs in

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.539
 Isaiah's prophecy

00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.480
 from I believe

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.680
 chapter 41

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.320
 all the way

00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:08.860
 culminating

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.500
 in 53.

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.560
 There's four

00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:11.860
 different servant

00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.320
 songs

00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:13.600
 and this is

00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.140
 what Peter

00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.000
 is alluding to.

00:24:15.580 --> 00:24:16.120
 So look with me

00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:16.860
 at verses 19

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.340
 and this is our

00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:18.240
 third and final point

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.360
 how we see

00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:20.420
 the servant's mercy

00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.640
 being extended

00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.220
 to us.

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:24.039
 Repent

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.900
 therefore

00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:26.059
 and turn back

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.460
 that your sins

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.100
 may be blotted out

00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:32.779
 that times

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.420
 of refreshing

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.000
 may come

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.740
 from the presence

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.279
 of the Lord

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.500
 and that he may

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.299
 send the Christ

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.180
 appointed for you

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.579
 Jesus

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.860
 whom heaven

00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.759
 must receive

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.480
 until the time

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.380
 of restoring

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.180
 all the things

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.740
 about which

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.400
 God spoke

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.299
 by the mouth

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.339
 of his holy prophets

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.240
 long ago.

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.819
 Repentance.

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.960
 That's the response

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.740
 is repentance.

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.900
 Now that the truth

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.680
 has been explained

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.259
 now that

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:58.079
 the surgeon's

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.700
 scalpel

00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.160
 has cut

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.579
 right to the disease

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.180
 and we know

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.799
 what it is

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.079
 right to that

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.559
 horrible tumor

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.700
 we know what it is

00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.600
 we can't deny it

00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:08.039
 anymore

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.220
 ignorance is dispelled

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.059
 will you change?

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.519
 Will you repent?

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.640
 Will you be honest

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.240
 with yourself

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.059
 before God?

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.319
 Will you turn away

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:18.100
 from the wickedness

00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.400
 and turn towards Christ?

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.579
 That's what he's asking

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:20.960
 the people

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.759
 that's what he's asking

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.019
 us this morning

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:25.559
 will you turn away

00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.319
 from the wickedness

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.480
 and turn towards Christ?

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.279
 In case you think

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.140
 this is too hard

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.840
 or too limiting

00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:32.160
 once again

00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:34.059
 I humbly suggest

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.100
 to myself as well

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:37.519
 that we may have

00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.579
 failed to recognize

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.799
 our great need

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.720
 for Christ

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.980
 and Christ's great mercy

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.960
 extended to us.

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.100
 Look again

00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:46.940
 and see the result

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.600
 of the mercy

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:49.180
 we see here

00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.240
 in verse 19

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.460
 that your sins

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.380
 may be blotted out

00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:53.920
 verse 20

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.220
 that times of refreshing

00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.160
 may come

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.700
 and finally

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:59.180
 that he may

00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:00.400
 that's the Father God

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.460
 send the Christ

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.279
 appointed for you

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:02.620
 Jesus

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.940
 whom heaven

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.680
 must receive

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.279
 until the time

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.700
 of restoring

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.680
 all the things

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.460
 about which God

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:07.860
 spoke

00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.900
 by the mouth

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.799
 of his holy prophets

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.400
 long ago

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:12.100
 that our sins

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.860
 are blotted out

00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:14.200
 that we have times

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.980
 of refreshing

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.759
 in his presence

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.059
 and that one day

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.079
 Christ will return

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.640
 to right all wrongs.

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.079
 That is the promise

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:22.400
 for us

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.259
 if we repent

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.920
 and look to him.

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.660
 So let's briefly

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.920
 look at these three things.

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:27.839
 The first

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.720
 that sins will be

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.180
 blotted out

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.180
 literally our sins

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.259
 will be obliterated

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:32.539
 crushed

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:34.220
 pulverized

00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:35.680
 made into nothing

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.640
 dust

00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:37.799
 blown

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.059
 lost in the wind

00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.980
 gone forever.

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:42.500
 It's not like a

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:44.120
 it's not a half measure

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.860
 that he'll

00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.980
 blot out our sins

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.559
 they're blotted

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.400
 out completely.

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:50.279
 It is a beautiful

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.799
 picture

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:52.140
 that

00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:53.640
 that we see here

00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.420
 our ledgers

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.779
 are cleaned out

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.200
 we are in the black

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.759
 forever.

00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:00.259
 All our shame

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.900
 all our guilt

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.360
 gone

00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.360
 you are free.

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.059
 Is this not

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.720
 what we desire

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.299
 deep down?

00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:07.000
 To know

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.839
 that our shame

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.460
 although

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.819
 that

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.140
 how great it was

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.400
 is completely

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.900
 crushed

00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:13.600
 and remembered

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.360
 no more.

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.240
 It's good news.

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.360
 A freed

00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:19.039
 soul

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.259
 is a happy

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.519
 one

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.100
 a joyful

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.460
 one.

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.500
 And this

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.640
 then opens up

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.180
 the opportunity

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.900
 for us to come

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.840
 before God's presence

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.240
 which is

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.519
 the second benefit

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.759
 of repentance

00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.279
 and throwing

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.019
 ourself at the

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.279
 mercy

00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.960
 of Christ.

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:35.460
 This refreshment

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.100
 that is offered

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:36.519
 to us

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:36.700
 and

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:38.700
 is this not

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.299
 in a sense

00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.380
 what our souls

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.120
 long for?

00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.100
 Is this not

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:44.000
 in what a sense

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.539
 my friend from

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.420
 back home wants?

00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.700
 Times of refreshing

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:50.980
 where our

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:52.000
 hard

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.000
 back-breaking

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.279
 labor of life

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.120
 not physical

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.980
 necessarily

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:57.740
 but just the

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.460
 grind

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.279
 is over

00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.660
 and that our

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.440
 sorrows cease.

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.860
 to be in the

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.440
 presence of

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.259
 Christ himself

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.700
 to have

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:07.240
 the Holy Spirit

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.059
 reside in our

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.400
 souls

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.340
 to provide

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.039
 comfort

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.740
 and to lead

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.400
 and to guide

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.259
 in times of

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.519
 need

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:14.460
 this refreshment

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.360
 has in view

00:28:15.360 --> 00:28:16.100
 a picture

00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:17.440
 of God's

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.440
 leading

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.779
 confused

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.720
 and

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.900
 in a sense

00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:22.700
 lost people.

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:28.340
 we will have

00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:28.860
 purpose

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.539
 in the

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:29.819
 presence

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.340
 of God

00:28:30.340 --> 00:28:30.840
 we will have

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.259
 significance

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.740
 in the

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.019
 presence

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.500
 of God

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.460
 not because

00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:33.720
 of our

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.200
 own good

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.559
 deeds

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.000
 that we

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.480
 that are

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.000
 that are

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.759
 that we've

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.180
 done this

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.480
 week

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:39.960
 or this

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.279
 year

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.080
 or even

00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:41.299
 this

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.600
 morning

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:43.039
 that

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.580
 although

00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:44.140
 are here

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:44.660
 are gone

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.100
 tomorrow

00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:45.840
 are forgotten

00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.680
 but based

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.319
 on Christ

00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.000
 righteousness

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:49.279
 his perfect

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.220
 work on the

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.640
 cross

00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.420
 that lasts

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:51.759
 forever

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:54.720
 that's a

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.079
 refreshing

00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.579
 thing

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.779
 leaning

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.740
 on somebody

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.099
 who is

00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.740
 steadfast

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.019
 to the

00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:00.259
 end

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.619
 and finally

00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.599
 the great

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:02.920
 and sure

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.460
 hope that

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:03.980
 Christ will

00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.599
 return and

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.019
 judge the

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.319
 living and

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.640
 the dead

00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:07.259
 in some

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.759
 ways it

00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.400
 can be a

00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:08.940
 scary thing

00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:10.379
 but friends

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:10.779
 the past

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.400
 three weeks

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.720
 have been

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.379
 very tough

00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:14.740
 come Lord

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.440
 Jesus to

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.980
 right all

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.039
 the wrongs

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.420
 and to

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:18.920
 stop all

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.480
 the wars

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.960
 and to

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.460
 take the

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.019
 evil

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.259
 and expunge

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.559
 it

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.600
 eliminate

00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.059
 it

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.920
 forever

00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:26.400
 and ever

00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:29.220
 Christ has

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:29.880
 fully defeated

00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.579
 death and

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.220
 sin on the

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.600
 cross

00:29:31.600 --> 00:29:32.440
 but with

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:32.860
 his second

00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:33.460
 coming all

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.240
 remnants of

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.700
 death and

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.220
 despair will

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.779
 be forever

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.980
 vanquished

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:38.200
 it's as if

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.100
 on the cross

00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:39.779
 when Christ

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.539
 rose again

00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.900
 it's like he

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.920
 paraded death

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.360
 through the

00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:44.160
 streets as a

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:44.660
 conquered

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.720
 king

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:48.059
 king and

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:49.079
 in a sense

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.360
 death was

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:51.100
 mocked it

00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:51.740
 was as if

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.759
 in the

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.360
 ancient Roman

00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:53.980
 world the

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.600
 captured king

00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.000
 would be

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.120
 brought through

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:57.460
 the city and

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.900
 people would

00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:59.100
 hurl insults

00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:00.160
 at him and

00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:01.180
 throw garbage

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.200
 at him and

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.620
 he would be

00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.339
 mocked forever

00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.440
 and in a sense

00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:04.779
 that's what

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.339
 Christ did on

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:05.680
 the cross

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.259
 however the

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:08.120
 kingdom of

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:09.539
 death and

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.940
 Satan and

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.100
 sin continues

00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:14.039
 on there's a

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.519
 remnant that

00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.079
 continues on

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:15.759
 until Christ

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.240
 comes again

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.619
 and when he

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.159
 comes again

00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:17.899
 it will be

00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:18.579
 forever crushed

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:20.720
 and we will

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.259
 enjoy his

00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:22.359
 presence for

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:22.940
 all eternity

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:25.399
 chapter 3 ends

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:25.839
 with this

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.619
 verse 26

00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:30.599
 God having

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.319
 raised up his

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.099
 servant sent

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.759
 him to you

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.539
 first to

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.799
 bless you by

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.420
 turning every

00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.019
 one of you

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.799
 from your

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.480
 wickedness

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:39.259
 God the

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.899
 father has

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.220
 done an

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.920
 incredible act

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.599
 of kindness to

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.339
 us by sending

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:43.379
 God the son to

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.019
 take on

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.599
 flesh to die

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.160
 in our place

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:46.660
 to defeat

00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.839
 evil and

00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.879
 rise again to

00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.480
 new life

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.680
 will you turn

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:50.980
 from your

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.539
 wickedness

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:53.500
 will you turn

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:53.859
 from your

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:54.879
 wayward ways

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:56.879
 will you see

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.460
 Christ as

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.400
 completely glorious

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.119
 and so very

00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:00.240
 worthy of your

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.579
 entire devotion

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.500
 will you see him

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.559
 as the source

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.200
 of ultimate

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.700
 blessing

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:06.500
 if we're honest

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.000
 with ourselves

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.759
 anything else is

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.119
 folly

00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:10.720
 in the weight of

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.420
 glory C.S.

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.079
 Lewis penned

00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.799
 these well-known

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.680
 words and this is

00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.200
 what he says

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.759
 quote

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.400
 it would seem

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:16.860
 that our

00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:17.740
 Lord finds

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.740
 our desires

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.600
 not too

00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:20.440
 strong but

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.060
 too weak

00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:22.560
 we are

00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:23.180
 half-hearted

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.799
 creatures

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:25.220
 fooling around

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.980
 with drink and

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.820
 sex and ambition

00:31:26.820 --> 00:31:28.120
 when infinite

00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:29.100
 joy is offered

00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:30.200
 us like an

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.960
 ignorant child

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.539
 who wants to

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.160
 go on making

00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:33.060
 mud pies in a

00:31:33.060 --> 00:31:34.320
 slum because

00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:34.720
 he cannot

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:36.019
 imagine what

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.740
 is meant by

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.539
 the offer of

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.120
 a holiday at

00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:38.460
 the sea

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:40.000
 we are far

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.820
 too easily

00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:41.299
 pleased

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:43.440
 friends

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.919
 the vision

00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.619
 that God

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:47.059
 has for us

00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.720
 to bless

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.139
 us

00:31:48.139 --> 00:31:49.980
 is far

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.379
 greater

00:31:50.379 --> 00:31:51.480
 than we

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:51.899
 could ever

00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.279
 hope

00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.359
 by our

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.740
 own

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.940
 for a hundred

00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:55.559
 lifetimes

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:57.099
 and he offers

00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:57.599
 it to us

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:58.119
 this morning

00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.879
 let us see

00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.539
 Christ as a

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:00.960
 source of

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.740
 ultimate joy

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.799
 and blessing

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:04.419
 for he offers

00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:05.079
 it to us

00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:05.519
 this morning

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.059
 let us pray

00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:11.220
 heavenly father

00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.859
 help us to be

00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.519
 real about

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.960
 the type of

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.559
 people we are

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:17.359
 that lord

00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:18.299
 even the very

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.240
 best of us

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.819
 when it comes

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.559
 to eternity

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.619
 and to ridding

00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:23.220
 ourselves of

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.119
 sin and shame

00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:24.599
 and guilt

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:26.399
 we are as

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.039
 good as a

00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.639
 lame beggar

00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:29.779
 but you are

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.279
 in the business

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:30.819
 of healing

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.519
 lame beggars

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:33.000
 so lord we

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.599
 ask that you

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.259
 would heal us

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.819
 this morning

00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:36.179
 that you

00:32:36.179 --> 00:32:36.559
 would bring

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.159
 to us

00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:38.960
 the realization

00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.339
 that our sins

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:40.819
 are great

00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.319
 but that you

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:41.799
 are greater

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.879
 and that we

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.460
 would repent

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:45.220
 by your

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.659
 help

00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.119
 by your

00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:46.559
 spirit

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.619
 that we

00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.059
 would humble

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.619
 ourselves

00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:50.119
 not so that

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:50.639
 we would be

00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:52.000
 laid so low

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.679
 never to get

00:32:52.679 --> 00:32:53.059
 up again

00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.619
 but so we

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.019
 can know

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.099
 true and

00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.059
 eternal blessing

00:32:56.059 --> 00:32:56.559
 and joy

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.960
 for forever

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:59.119
 starting right

00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.480
 now

00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:02.859
 lord help us

00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.500
 to be people

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.019
 that glory

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.440
 in the cross

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:08.339
 we pray this

00:33:08.339 --> 00:33:09.039
 in christ's name

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.819
 amen