WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.919 The scripture reader comes from Deuteronomy chapter 5. Please follow along on the screen. 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:11.740 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, 00:00:12.300 --> 00:00:17.219 Hear, O Israel, the statues and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:20.620 and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:24.600 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:29.039 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.399 who are all of us here alive today. 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:37.539 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:43.259 while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:48.280 For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:53.780 He said, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:55.700 out of the house of slavery. 00:00:56.259 --> 00:01:00.060 You shall have no other gods before me. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:01.920 This is the word of God. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:06.420 Great. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:12.000 So, welcome again to everyone who's watching on the live stream. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:13.200 My name's Chris. 00:01:13.299 --> 00:01:15.579 I'm one of the leaders here at Watermark. 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:21.480 And we are going through what I think is a really exciting series looking at the Ten Commandments, 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:25.359 which last week we said were the Ten Words in Hebrew. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:32.620 And we saw that these words, these commandments, are meant to be for abundant life. 00:01:32.620 --> 00:01:35.480 That's why we've called our series Ten Words for Abundant Life. 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:41.700 And God's commands are not just some kind of legalistic set of rules that we've got a burden, 00:01:41.820 --> 00:01:44.660 that we've got to obey for him to be pleased with us. 00:01:44.780 --> 00:01:46.780 But rather, the Ten Commandments, it starts with, 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:53.100 I'm the Lord your God, who rescued you, who delivered you out of the house of slavery in Egypt. 00:01:54.020 --> 00:02:00.500 In other words, I've set you free, and now these commands are for you to learn how to live free in your life. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:06.319 And so last week we looked at four things that these commands do to help us live abundantly. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.900 They're a revelation of God. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:12.460 They're showing us that we have a relational God who gives us relational commands. 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:16.900 We've also saw that they are wisdom to live abundantly. 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:18.580 They're for our good always. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:22.120 We saw that they are a lifestyle for missional living. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:30.599 They are to shape our community so that people will see the light shining from our community all around and be drawn to our Savior. 00:02:31.140 --> 00:02:38.120 And also they are a window on the heart to show us how much we need Jesus in our lives to save us from ourselves. 00:02:39.379 --> 00:02:43.860 And so today we're going to kind of move on to start looking at the first commandment. 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:48.680 And just before we look into that, we just have to say everyone agrees there are ten words, 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:51.659 but not everyone agrees exactly on the order of those ten words. 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:59.359 So this first command, Catholics and Jews count as one command with the second command as well together 00:02:59.359 --> 00:03:04.079 because they think of it as having no gods and making idols as the same thing. 00:03:04.519 --> 00:03:07.939 Catholics make up the ten by splitting the last command into two. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:11.539 Most Protestant Christians see them as two commands. 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:15.859 And this is how we're going to be looking at them over this next couple of weeks, 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:18.819 of who we worship and then how we worship. 00:03:18.819 --> 00:03:19.459 Okay? 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:25.620 So we're going to look at, you shall have no other gods before me. 00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:30.840 So before we kind of really dive into that command, we've got to think about an objection, 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:34.299 which is, isn't this command intolerant? 00:03:34.659 --> 00:03:35.539 Isn't it intolerant? 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:40.199 Because this command is saying, it's not saying, follow the Christian God 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:43.120 and everyone else can have their gods and that's fine. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:49.500 It's not saying, the Christian God is the best God out of a whole load of other options. 00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:57.000 It's saying that God of the Bible is the one and only, the only path to God. 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:01.200 Not many gods, not many paths to God, only one God. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:06.020 He's the redeeming, slavery-releasing God of Israel. 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:10.020 And so that's actually pretty exclusive. 00:04:10.540 --> 00:04:17.920 And many of my friends will say, from that command, if that's true, well, God is very intolerant. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:22.939 And if you follow that command, then people who follow it will become intolerant themselves. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:23.879 It leads to division. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:24.759 It leads to war. 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:25.720 It leads to hatred. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:29.500 Why can't you not have more tolerance? 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:32.780 Because obviously there's the Crusades, there's the wars of religion, there's 9-11, 00:04:32.880 --> 00:04:34.280 there's all these things in history. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:38.620 Why can't you just be a little bit more tolerant of other faiths so we can all live in harmony, 00:04:38.880 --> 00:04:40.420 we can all be nice to each other. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:42.120 Why do we need this rule? 00:04:44.080 --> 00:04:48.760 Some other people will say, well, okay, granted, let's say there is only one God, 00:04:48.900 --> 00:04:51.960 but Islam also says there's only one God. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.980 Other religions say the same. 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:59.620 And isn't the God of the Bible and of Christianity and the God of Islam the same God? 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:05.879 You say Jesus, he says Allah, you say tomato, I say tomato, same, same, isn't it? 00:05:07.280 --> 00:05:17.700 Well, we think that both Allah, Baal, and Yahweh, God, sounds more tolerant than either Baal, 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:22.840 either Allah or Yahweh, the God of the Bible. 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:29.060 But if you view things only in that way, then you're actually thinking more like the pagan religion, 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:34.500 where the gods are either just man-made creations or they're disinterested spirits in the sky. 00:05:35.599 --> 00:05:39.000 But when we realize what we said last week about the 10 words, 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:42.419 that this is part of a covenant from a relational God, 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:48.379 it's more like a ridiculous marriage ceremony between not just one God out of many, 00:05:48.580 --> 00:05:52.040 but the creator God, the source of life himself. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.120 Everyone else is a fake copycat. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:01.000 We're the, as human beings, we're the unattractive outcast in the corner. 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:04.080 He's not just one out of many powerful nice guys. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:06.000 He's our wildest dream. 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:07.379 He's the source of life. 00:06:07.379 --> 00:06:08.459 He's our one and only. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.100 And he moves past all the other suitors to come to us and say, 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.779 I want you to be mine. 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:24.100 You know, I had a friend in the UK whose dad once came back home one day 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:31.760 and said to his wife, hey, I've got a friend called Samantha who's going to be moving into our home. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:34.340 And we're going to be spending quite a bit of time together. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:38.760 And don't get too offended if she kind of moves in. 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:43.100 In fact, she's going to be in my room and I want you to move out to the spare room. 00:06:43.640 --> 00:06:44.439 Okay, it's okay. 00:06:44.520 --> 00:06:45.520 I still love you. 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:46.840 I still love the kids. 00:06:47.260 --> 00:06:49.340 I'll spend a little bit of time with you at weekends. 00:06:49.339 --> 00:06:52.739 But I just want us to have kind of an open relationship. 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:57.459 And actually, the wife, out of fear, just gave in. 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:02.500 And my friend had to go for counseling because of just the mess that they lived with in his life. 00:07:03.359 --> 00:07:08.039 But if the wife had put her foot down and said, no way, no way, 00:07:08.419 --> 00:07:10.339 would you say she was being intolerant? 00:07:10.919 --> 00:07:15.419 Would you not rather say her jealousy for an exclusive relationship, 00:07:15.859 --> 00:07:17.579 it's not intolerance, it's love. 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:24.800 And God says, have no other gods before me, literally in front of my face, 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:29.879 because of his passion for us. 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:35.360 He won't share us with any other imitations or disinterested fakes. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:39.379 But what if it's actually all the same God? 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:45.079 Well, if I'm in a conversation about my wife, and you say, oh, yeah, I know your wife. 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:47.939 She's got eyes, got nose, she's got a mouth. 00:07:48.359 --> 00:07:52.919 And she's six foot two, loves playing football, and is a great wrestler. 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:59.199 I'm going to go to you and say, listen, you may think we're talking about the same person, 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:01.319 but you don't really know my wife. 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:08.139 Because most religions have similarities in some of their moral teaching. 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:12.620 You know, be good, don't kill your granny, a whole load of good, healthy commands. 00:08:13.779 --> 00:08:19.019 But at the core of them, there is an utter difference in who their God is and what he's like. 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:26.579 And if that's different, then we have to say, the God of the Bible who has revealed himself to us, 00:08:27.419 --> 00:08:31.620 if anyone says anything different, we have to say, I don't think you know him. 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:34.100 But he wants you to know him. 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:38.460 That's why he's passionate for a relationship with him. 00:08:39.060 --> 00:08:40.480 He doesn't accept imitations. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:42.500 This is not an intolerant God. 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:44.820 So let's kind of look on. 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:51.980 My second point, which is not just this is more about love, not about intolerance. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:58.360 This is actually, if we break this command, we will become like Gollum. 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:00.060 Let me explain. 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:10.139 When God created the world, he made human beings in his image to reflect his goodness, his character, his love, his rule. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:15.019 At the very heart of being human is to be a worshiper. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.319 You know, Bob Dylan once had a song, he said, which went, you've got to serve somebody. 00:09:20.979 --> 00:09:21.659 And it's true. 00:09:21.819 --> 00:09:23.319 Every culture worships. 00:09:23.619 --> 00:09:24.779 Everyone has a God. 00:09:25.099 --> 00:09:26.939 Your God is what you give glory to. 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:27.799 It's what you serve. 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:30.419 It's what controls your life. 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:33.439 You know, it's your precious. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:42.659 Like, if you've seen Lord of the Rings, you will know that there was a hobbit called Schmeagel whose character changes when he finds a ring. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:44.500 It's a ring of power. 00:09:44.699 --> 00:09:52.439 And it begins to consume his thinking, his actions, his life until he becomes changed into a character called Gollum. 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:55.860 His ring was his God. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:10:02.100 In ancient times, they worshipped idols in shrines and statues. 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:05.200 For us, our idols can be success. 00:10:05.540 --> 00:10:06.500 They can be relationships. 00:10:06.780 --> 00:10:07.620 They can be food. 00:10:07.760 --> 00:10:09.020 They can be people's opinions. 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:15.100 But what happens if you break the command to only worship God alone? 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:19.279 Well, Psalm 115 is this incredible psalm. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:21.579 It's, I know it's one of Kevin's favorite psalms. 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.480 It's one of mine too. 00:10:22.579 --> 00:10:23.319 It says this, 00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:28.639 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:30.759 He's saying you alone are God. 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:34.299 You alone are the one who deserves glory and honor and worship. 00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:35.939 No one else. 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:37.180 And he says, 00:10:37.300 --> 00:10:40.280 Why should the nations say, where is their God? 00:10:40.540 --> 00:10:41.780 Our God is in the heavens. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:43.840 He does all that he pleases. 00:10:44.660 --> 00:10:45.680 And then he says this, 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:50.900 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:53.300 They have mouths, but do not speak. 00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:54.500 Eyes, but do not see. 00:10:54.680 --> 00:10:56.160 They have ears, but do not hear. 00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:57.500 Noses, but do not smell. 00:10:57.800 --> 00:10:58.900 Hands, but do not feel. 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.180 Feet, but do not walk. 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:02.460 And they do not make a sound in their throat. 00:11:02.900 --> 00:11:03.880 Now, here's the punchline. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:07.779 Those who make them become like them. 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:10.779 So do all who trust in them. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.139 What he's saying is this. 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:15.960 He's saying we become like what we worship. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:20.899 N.T. Wright, who is a famous theologian, said this. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:24.100 You become like what you worship. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:35.419 When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship. 00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:41.459 The psalmist looks at these man-made idols and he says, 00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:45.659 If you bow down to that thing, it has no feeling. 00:11:46.099 --> 00:11:47.159 It has no senses. 00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:48.939 It's inhuman. 00:11:49.219 --> 00:11:50.579 It can't relate to you. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:52.000 It's lifeless. 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.000 It's a nothing. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:58.059 And that's what you'll become if you worship idols. 00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:06.579 Gollum desires this ring to give him control to get what he wants for himself. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:18.259 But instead, the ring begins to control him and twists and distorts him until he's this pale shadow of what he used to be and what he was made to be. 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.099 How does that work with us? 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:27.139 I mean, Harvey Weinstein doesn't have a sex drive problem. 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:29.440 He has a worship problem. 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:35.220 His precious power of success and control can twist him. 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:37.360 But we are no different. 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:43.899 If you make career success your precious, you'll see everyone else as your rival. 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:46.680 You'll trample on others to get promotion. 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:49.440 You'll steal great ideas and pass them off as your own. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:51.660 You'll neglect the relationships. 00:12:52.040 --> 00:12:55.240 You'll be present with your loved ones in body but not in spirit. 00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:58.440 Your mind will get consumed with your work. 00:12:58.800 --> 00:13:15.000 And when your precious is threatened, you'll become a stress-filled, worry-consumed ogre turned inward, losing sense and feeling and love and humanity enslaved to your idol. 00:13:16.140 --> 00:13:17.520 That's idolatry. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:20.079 Worship your kids. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:23.340 You'll become a controlling demon or a lenient pushover. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:25.019 Worship your reputation. 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:28.679 You'll become a face-saving fake or a fearful coward. 00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:32.980 Worship your plans and you'll become a monster to anyone who gets in your way. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:37.579 That's what the idols are like and we'll become like our idols if we worship them. 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:40.340 But it's not just that. 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:45.300 It's also we become Hevel when we worship and break this command. 00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:46.740 What's that? 00:13:47.020 --> 00:13:53.759 2 Kings 17 describes Israel's history of continually disobeying this command. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:57.620 And there's such a powerful statement it makes in 2 Kings 17. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.080 It says, 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:08.040 And that word for worthless is the word Hevel. 00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:11.200 It literally means vapor or mist. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.379 It's something. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:14.939 It looks real, but it's got no substance. 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.620 You try and grab hold of it. 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:19.840 And every time you try and grab it, it just escapes your grasp. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:24.920 That's what a life of worshipping idols is like. 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.620 You know, Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins, he said this. 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:28.899 He said, 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:33.019 I meet young people and they want to act and to be famous. 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:37.759 And I tell them, when you get to the top of the tree, there's nothing up there. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.379 Most of this is nonsense. 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.259 Most of this is a lie. 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:44.600 Always chasing, never satisfied. 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.620 It's Hevel. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.200 It's Hevel. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:51.720 Now, we become like what we worship. 00:14:52.280 --> 00:14:57.460 We'll become this vapor or mist when we were made to be so much more. 00:14:58.040 --> 00:15:03.980 But also, if we break the first command, that will lead to breaking all the other commands. 00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:09.640 Any command we break always starts with breaking the first command. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.160 Here's what Martin Luther said. 00:15:12.160 --> 00:15:12.759 He said, 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:24.159 He's saying, 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.120 All the commands flow out of this command. 00:15:28.079 --> 00:15:31.839 Worship is the call of every command God gives us. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:37.240 And worship stands behind the breaking of every command that we have. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:43.719 You know, in Scripture, King Saul, he had this idol of reputation. 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:47.439 He wanted to be liked by people more than anything. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:52.640 And God gives him this command to wipe out the enemy and keep nothing from them. 00:15:53.260 --> 00:15:56.000 But some of his soldiers wanted to keep some things. 00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:58.260 And he didn't want the conflict. 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.720 So he gave in. 00:16:00.020 --> 00:16:01.340 He broke God's command. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.340 He then gets confronted by Samuel, the prophet, who says, 00:16:05.520 --> 00:16:07.300 Why didn't you destroy everything? 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.620 And then he lies to cover himself. 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:12.659 He keeps shoving God into the spare room. 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:20.639 And the whole of the book of 1 Samuel is this spiral that all started back at that point of worship, 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:29.299 of his desperate grasp to keep on to his position and his reputation as David, who is to become king, comes along. 00:16:29.599 --> 00:16:35.059 And it leads to jealousy, attempted murder, witchcraft, insanity, death, breaking every command. 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:41.759 And all of that started with an unchecked idol of reputation and seeking honor for himself. 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:45.000 Why do you look at porn? 00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:47.599 It's not because you have a sex drive problem. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.359 You have a worship problem. 00:16:49.739 --> 00:16:52.159 You're looking to an idol to satisfy you. 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.519 Why are you a workaholic? 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.359 It's not because you're a driven personality. 00:16:56.599 --> 00:17:00.559 It's because success means more to you than God does. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.779 Why can we never say no to anyone? 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:06.599 It's because other people's opinions matter more to us than God's. 00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:08.759 We have a worship problem. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:13.139 All our sin is a worship issue. 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:22.599 Worship anything other than God himself, the glorious God, and you'll become a mediocre sludge, a worm, 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.859 a grimy toad of a human, enslaved and ashamed, 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:31.559 when you and I were made to be prince and princesses of the great king. 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:35.599 That is why this first command is here. 00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:38.019 Because we become like what we worship. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:42.500 And we were made to worship someone glorious, not an idol. 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:53.660 I want you to take a minute or two, just by yourself, to reflect and discuss with the person next to you, 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:56.740 if you're with someone, or by yourself, get a pen and paper. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:59.880 And I want you just to think of these two questions. 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:04.320 Right now, what am I afraid of losing? 00:18:05.260 --> 00:18:08.400 About what do I say I'll be happy if? 00:18:10.260 --> 00:18:13.660 And what does that show you about what your heart is worshipping? 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:19.100 So take a couple of minutes just to reflect on that for you right now. 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:23.140 And we'll come back and look at our third point afterwards. 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:27.140 Thank you. 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:59.860 Thank you. 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:01.880 Thank you. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:31.880 Thank you. 00:19:49.560 --> 00:19:57.520 So we've looked at really the bad news of actually what we become when we don't obey the first commandment. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:02.839 But I want to move on to actually looking at the third point, which is how do we become glorious? 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:10.119 You know, the whole story of Israel could be summed up in the words of the song, 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:12.559 Oops, we did it again. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.559 Worshipped idols. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.180 Broke the commandments. 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:20.259 Became an unjust, unfeeling, unloving people. 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:24.420 And if we're honest, deep down, we know we're all the same. 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:27.279 Idolaters again and again. 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:31.079 We know we're more unacceptable than we wish we were. 00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:36.099 And this law and our experience shows us we can't fix ourselves. 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:42.899 If God is not the true God, then all we are left with are our oppressive idols. 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:46.839 They look good, but they disappoint every time. 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:52.179 We'll be alone, used, victimized, fearful. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:54.699 Our idols don't look out for us. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:58.340 It's all up to us to fix ourselves. 00:20:58.840 --> 00:20:59.900 And we can't. 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:05.700 But here's why the worship of God is so good for us. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:08.640 Because if we become like what we worship, 00:21:09.580 --> 00:21:11.720 then if we worshipped our way into sin, 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:16.240 only the worship of a glorious God can lead us out of sin. 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:21.640 I want us to see who this God really is that we say we worship. 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:23.800 Psalm 115, it says, 00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:28.759 God is the one who is in the heavens and he does what he pleases. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.540 He is sovereign and great and all-powerful. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.300 Nothing escapes his grasp. 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:38.700 But the God of Islam also says that he can do what he pleases. 00:21:39.820 --> 00:21:44.020 But we don't know whether what he pleases or not will be good for us. 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.600 That's just up to him. 00:21:46.300 --> 00:21:48.540 But the Christian God is not like that. 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:51.020 Here's what God of the Bible, 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:55.119 here's what the God of these commandments tells us. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:57.740 He's a God who moves towards us, 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.839 not a God who moves away from us. 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.740 Because at Mount Sinai, 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.639 where the Ten Commandments were given, 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:06.900 God came down the mountain in fire, 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.720 in cloud, 00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.599 in smoke, 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.500 in darkness. 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:11.460 But God tells the people, 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:13.660 you can't come up the mountain. 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.279 You are too sinful. 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:17.079 You'll die if you do. 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:20.799 The only person who could come up and meet face-to-face was Moses. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.919 In verse 5 of chapter 5, 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.639 it says, 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:25.220 Moses, 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:27.640 I stood between the Lord and you at that time, 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:30.180 to declare to you the word of God. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:35.839 Somebody needed to stand in the gap between God and sinful human beings. 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:38.700 Most religions tell you to pray hard, 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.559 be good, 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.640 give to charity, 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:42.059 and you'll get up the mountain. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:46.160 Only the Christian God tells you that no matter how hard you try, 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.660 you're not worthy to get up. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:50.560 But what pleased Yahweh, 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.580 the God of Israel, 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:55.960 was not to do social distancing, 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.900 even though that was totally appropriate. 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:02.000 John 1.14 says this, 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:06.940 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:10.220 And we have seen his glory, 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.900 the glory of the one and only, 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:16.680 full of grace and truth. 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:18.359 Where we couldn't go up, 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.400 he came down. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:21.180 He dwelt among us. 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:23.240 That word dwell is the word tabernacle, 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:28.559 which is the Old Testament meeting place of God and his people together. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.539 He's saying, 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.339 In Jesus Christ, 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:34.259 God has come down in human form 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:37.579 to idolaters and adulterers like you and me 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:39.960 to bridge the unbridgeable gap 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:42.259 through his life and through his death 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.659 to draw us to himself. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.159 And Jesus says, 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.379 If you've seen me, 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.740 you've seen the Father. 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:51.059 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.379 I and the Father are one. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:56.500 Jesus is this God, 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.599 this one and only. 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:59.439 You want to know what God is like? 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.419 Look at Jesus. 00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:03.000 See his sacrificial love. 00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:07.980 To worship Jesus is to worship the one true creator God. 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:13.480 Not to worship him as Savior and Lord 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:16.779 is to break the first commandment. 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.759 God has moved, though, 00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:23.079 towards us in Christ, 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:25.299 though we don't deserve it. 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:27.700 That's the first thing. 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:30.200 The second thing that we see about this God, 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:34.799 this God brings justice with tenderness and compassion. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.399 I love this. 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.799 This is amazing. 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:37.899 You know, 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.700 Lech Walesa, 00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:41.859 who led Poland out of communist rule, 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.639 he said this, 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:42.940 he said, 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:46.720 Power is to be used in the service of the powerless. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:49.440 Around the world, 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:52.640 most all-powerful rulers and dictators 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:56.259 use their power to increase their own bank accounts, 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.400 build their own empires, 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.620 and to oppress people. 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.279 Here's, 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.079 in Matthew 12, 20, 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.740 what God says about, 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.799 what the word of God says about Christ. 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.620 It says this, 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:10.259 Behold my servant who I'm chosen, 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:12.939 my beloved with whom my soul is pleased. 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:15.039 I will put my spirit upon him, 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:18.339 and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:21.399 A bruised reed he will not break, 00:25:21.719 --> 00:25:25.179 and a smoldering wick he will not quench, 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:28.279 until he brings justice to victory. 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:31.419 And in his name the Gentiles will hope. 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:34.700 God proclaims that in Jesus, 00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:36.480 justice will come. 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:38.320 And justice isn't, 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:40.980 that word in scripture is not just about a law court, 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:43.240 and a sentence coming on people. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:45.560 It's actually about bringing about 00:25:45.560 --> 00:25:48.500 a place of flourishing and abundant life. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.380 But to get to that place of abundant life 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:54.220 is where idols and their worshippers 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:58.000 who dehumanize themselves and other people 00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:01.220 are wiped out and love reigns. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:03.660 God doesn't tolerate being shoved 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.940 into the spare room of our lives. 00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:08.320 He will bring justice to bear. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.800 But here's what I love. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.440 Verse 20 says, 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:15.880 A bruised reed he will not break. 00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:19.759 You know, a bruised reed is a wounded, 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:23.019 weak, broken person. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.800 Wounded by their own idolatry. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:28.039 Wounded by others' sin. 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:31.039 Bent over, useless, havel. 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:34.380 A smoldering wick is a candle 00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:37.480 whose flame is just about to go out. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:43.180 God, who has every right to judge us, 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:45.980 doesn't snuff out idolaters, 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.759 like you and me, 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.720 but he's tender and gentle with us, 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.840 reaching down to us 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:57.019 to bring us healing and restoration 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.359 back to himself. 00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:03.220 You know, I remember seeing on TV once 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:06.440 this huge burly farmer 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:09.859 whose field was just completely overgrown 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.879 with long grass. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.900 And he was on one of those 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:13.160 kind of massive tractors 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.579 with huge kind of cutting blades 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:17.720 to just get rid of all the grass on the field. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.819 And he was bombing down this field. 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:23.599 The grass was just being leveled everywhere, 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.700 right and left. 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.899 And he was tearing along. 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:28.200 And then suddenly he pulls up really sharply. 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.879 He gets out of his cab 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:33.460 and he walks around in front of the tractor. 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:36.000 It's just about two inches in front of his tractor. 00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:38.740 And there was this little tiny bird 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.819 with a broken wing. 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:43.439 And he reaches down 00:27:43.439 --> 00:27:45.200 and he picks up the bird 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:47.500 and he carries it back 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:49.319 into the tractor with him. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.519 He then brings out some seed 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.919 and starts feeding the bird 00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:54.419 and he does everything he can 00:27:54.419 --> 00:27:56.519 to just protect that bird with him. 00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:58.939 He finds some cloth. 00:27:59.139 --> 00:27:59.779 And afterwards, 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:02.579 he went back to his farmhouse 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:04.700 and he looked and he cared for that bird. 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:08.839 You see, that is how some of us are like. 00:28:08.899 --> 00:28:10.179 Some of us are like that chick. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:11.840 We are bruised reeds. 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:15.299 Our own sin has wounded us. 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:19.500 We feel wounded and used by others. 00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.880 We sometimes feel useless. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.960 Sometimes feel broken. 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:27.340 Sometimes feel shamed, doubting, 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.700 wondering if God's going to snuff us out. 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.720 Wonder if our faith is going to die. 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:36.019 And it's to people like you and me 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.799 that God comes. 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:38.360 We often think that God 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:41.099 is like the God of the pagans 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:43.319 that he'll just drive over us 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.099 in his power. 00:28:44.979 --> 00:28:46.319 But Jesus is the one 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.899 who is all-powerful, 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:49.519 who will bring justice, 00:28:49.939 --> 00:28:51.240 and yet he sees you. 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:54.099 And he reaches out 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:55.359 to bruised reeds. 00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.519 He doesn't break them. 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.099 He picks them up 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:59.679 and he carries you extra tenderly. 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.679 He has compassion. 00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:02.199 He has compassion. 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:05.240 He takes useless haveal, 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.960 idolaters like you and me, 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.160 and he restores us. 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:10.700 I've just seen that in my life, 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:12.420 the poor choices that I've made 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.759 in so many ways, 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:15.340 which have caused so much havoc, 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:18.039 and yet Jesus has never given up. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:20.440 He's always reaching out. 00:29:21.080 --> 00:29:22.640 And that is such good news. 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:24.680 Your boss will never do that for you. 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.680 Porn will never do that for you. 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:29.019 Education will never do that for you. 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:31.299 Only a glorious God 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:33.039 and the glory of Jesus 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.140 will do that for you. 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:35.460 And if we worship him, 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:37.680 then that is where we get released 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.740 from our slavery 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:41.259 to find freedom in Christ. 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:44.039 We become like what we worship. 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:47.380 If we worship this tender, 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:49.759 powerful, gracious God 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.660 who moves towards us, 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:54.080 we will become a community 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:55.939 of greater compassion, 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.119 tenderness, 00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.399 moving towards, 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.519 not away from people 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.419 who hurt us, 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.599 disagree or offend us. 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.740 You see, 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:05.099 that's not intolerance. 00:30:05.419 --> 00:30:06.899 That's a community of love. 00:30:10.199 --> 00:30:11.720 The last thing I want to say 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.699 is how do 00:30:12.699 --> 00:30:15.559 serial idolaters 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:17.059 like you and me 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:20.159 learn to reorient our worship 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:22.019 to this God 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.579 of incredible love? 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.359 Let me make this 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.679 very practical for us. 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.960 Our idols 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.579 are like con artists. 00:30:31.159 --> 00:30:32.339 They're always promising, 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.460 always offering samples 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:36.099 which taste really good. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:38.539 And then we give in 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:40.399 because they're so persuasive. 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.619 But then once we've signed 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:43.480 on the dotted line, 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:45.240 they deliver us nothing. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.599 Havel, emptiness. 00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:49.319 But the little tastes 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.779 they give us 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.720 just keep us chasing 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:52.119 and chasing and chasing, 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.000 giving more and more 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.559 of ourselves 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:55.000 until we're exhausted 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:56.299 and we're wasting our lives. 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.000 But God has given us 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.579 a shotgun. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.859 I call it the shotgun 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.460 of the spirit. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.059 The Bible calls it 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.059 the sword of the spirit. 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.599 This is modern days. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.539 It's his word. 00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:09.019 It's his promises 00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:11.180 that you every morning 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.119 need to load up 00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.460 with gospel bullets 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:15.099 into your shotgun. 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:17.559 Because if financial security 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.519 is your idol 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:20.599 and that salesman, 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.779 that con artist 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.159 knocks on your door 00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.099 in the day 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.379 and says, 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:24.959 you're not going to have 00:31:24.959 --> 00:31:26.059 enough in this crisis. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.639 Chase me. 00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.500 Follow me. 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.419 Buy from me. 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:30.519 You need to follow 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.619 what I'm going to tell you. 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.319 I can give you security. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.000 You need to get 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.000 your shotgun out. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:37.839 Loaded with 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:39.359 Philippians 4.19. 00:31:40.199 --> 00:31:41.759 My God will supply 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.740 all of my needs 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.819 according to his riches 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.459 in glory. 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.579 And you just shoot 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.119 that sucker. 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.479 And you do that 00:31:48.479 --> 00:31:49.599 enough times 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.599 every day. 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.599 When you hear him 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.679 knocking on your door, 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.719 you'll say, 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.059 okay, 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.259 God's word. 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.099 Here we go. 00:31:56.179 --> 00:31:56.919 Make my day. 00:31:58.439 --> 00:32:00.539 Because if in your day, 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:00.859 though, 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.179 you go in with nothing 00:32:02.179 --> 00:32:02.919 in your shotgun, 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.519 that salesman's going to come 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.139 and he's going to have you 00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:05.779 for breakfast. 00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:09.099 But God has given us 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.059 his word 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.859 so that as we worship, 00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:14.000 we gaze on God 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.399 through his word 00:32:15.399 --> 00:32:16.399 daily 00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:18.059 so that we can 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:19.039 worship him 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.000 in the trenches 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.159 of ordinary life. 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.980 And as we come to see 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.939 his glory 00:32:23.939 --> 00:32:25.319 in the very practical 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.879 everyday things of life, 00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:28.259 we will become 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.099 more free 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:30.559 and more the people 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.759 we were made to be 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:34.159 because of who he is, 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.459 that he alone 00:32:35.459 --> 00:32:36.579 is to be worshipped. 00:32:36.699 --> 00:32:37.699 No other gods. 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:39.299 That's what these 00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:40.440 ten words are about. 00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:41.819 Let me pray. 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.740 Father, 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.660 I want to pray for 00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:58.059 those of us who 00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:59.700 we know 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.559 that we just 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.660 give in again 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.220 and again 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:05.279 to the promises 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.339 that our idols 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:07.440 tell us. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.120 They seem so attractive 00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:13.360 and some of us 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:14.339 feel so trapped. 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.059 We don't know how 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.019 we can ever get out. 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.360 But I pray 00:33:18.360 --> 00:33:19.000 that you would lift 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.640 our eyes up 00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.200 this morning. 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.640 I pray that you would 00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.360 open our eyes 00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:23.620 to see that you're a God 00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:25.279 who doesn't stand 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.900 in a corner 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.779 condemning us 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.319 but you're a God 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:28.539 who moves towards us, 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:29.759 who wants to pick us up, 00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.460 who wants to draw us back, 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:33.880 who gives us your word 00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:35.039 to strengthen us, 00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:35.779 to feed us 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:37.380 so that we can gaze on you 00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:39.160 and see how beautiful you are. 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.340 Lord, 00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:41.340 I pray for each one of us, 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.620 Lord, 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.900 that you'd help us 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.960 each day, 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.240 Lord, 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:46.259 to remember who you are. 00:33:47.840 --> 00:33:49.600 You are so good to us. 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.900 Forgive us where we look elsewhere. 00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.740 Forgive us where we look 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.700 to the good gifts 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.660 that you give us 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:57.019 and we fail to see 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:58.300 the giver of those gifts. 00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:01.420 I pray that you would help us 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.440 to hate our idols, 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:02.840 Lord, 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:05.120 to hate the very things 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:06.720 which turn us away from you, 00:34:07.580 --> 00:34:10.360 which break our marriages, 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.820 which break our families, 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.000 which break our, 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.519 even our own sense 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:16.079 of who we are. 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.440 Bring us shame. 00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.639 Lift us out of that, 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:19.960 Father, 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:20.539 I pray, 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:22.320 that we would see 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.440 that you are the one 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:26.039 who is worthy 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.860 of all of our worship 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.659 in our lives. 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.639 Thank you for your goodness to us. 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:33.119 Thank you for your grace to us. 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:35.480 Thank you that you are so tender with us. 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.639 Change us, we pray, 00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:37.840 that we would have 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:39.320 no other gods before you. 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.239 In Jesus' name, 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:42.480 Amen.