WEBVTT

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 I'm going to read from God's word now.

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 We're going to read from Hebrews chapter 11, verses 29 to 31.

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! Just a short reading tonight.

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 This is God's holy word.

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 By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land,

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 but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

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 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down

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 after they'd been encircled for seven days.

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 By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish

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 with those who were disobedient

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 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

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 Amen. This is God's word.

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 As Chris mentioned at the beginning of the service,

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 we're moving towards the end of the series

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 in Hebrews chapter 11.

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 Next week, God willing, Chris will look at the final verses

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 of the chapter, and then the week after,

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 God willing, I will look at the conclusion,

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 which really is to be found in Hebrews 12

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 and the first couple of verses there.

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 And as we've made our way through this very famous chapter of the Bible,

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 I think one of the recurring themes

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 about living the life of faith

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 is that it involves seeing or apprehending

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 that which is invisible.

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 Faith is the conviction of things not yet seen.

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 Noah was warned by God about events unseen.

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 Moses endured as seeing him who is invisible.

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 And the author of Hebrews wants his readers

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 to live their lives with their eyes,

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 with the eyes of faith fixed upon the invisible God.

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 He wants them to see that city with foundations

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 whose architect and builder is God.

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 He wants them to be looking forward

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 to that promised reward

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 that is theirs in Jesus Christ,

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 but still yet to be realized.

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 And this chapter, as we've seen,

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 is all about traveling the way of faith.

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 And according to our writer,

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 faith is about looking beyond

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 the limited horizons of this life

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 to the living God.

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 Many years ago, the Christian writer A.W. Tozer

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 wrote these words.

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 He said,

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 In other words, for the Christian,

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 faith is focused on God.

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 He is the great object of our faith and trust,

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 and we must not lose sight of Him.

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 And so, as we make our way around

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 this portrait gallery of faith,

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 our author wants to draw our attention

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 really to two key events

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 involving the Exodus and the conquest of Canaan.

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 And now, why is he doing that?

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 He wants us to get God in focus.

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 He wants us to be looking away from ourselves.

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 He wants us to see in these great events

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 the God whose power is made known

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 amidst human weakness and frailty.

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 These Hebrew Christians knew a great deal

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 about human weakness and frailty.

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 And our writer is trying to get them

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 to look to God

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 and to the God of power and majesty.

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 So, what do we see of God

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 in these verses before us tonight?

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 Three verses,

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 so it should be a short sermon.

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 Well, maybe not.

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 We'll see.

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 What do we see of God in these verses?

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 Let me highlight three things.

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 Verse 29,

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 Faith looks or sees the God of keeping power.

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 Faith looks to the God of keeping power.

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 By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea

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 as on dry land,

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 but the Egyptians,

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 when they attempted to do the same,

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 were drowned.

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 So, the reference here in verse 29

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 is back to the destruction of Pharaoh's army

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 at the Red Sea,

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 a passage we find in the book of Exodus

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 and chapter 14.

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 The people had fled from Egypt

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 under Moses' leadership,

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 but Pharaoh, who had allowed them to leave,

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 changed his mind

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 and sent out his army to pursue them

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 and to bring them back.

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 And in one sense,

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 it is a strange illustration of faith

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 because the Red Sea on the one side,

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 the Egyptian army coming up on the other,

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 when you read Exodus 14,

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 it's not clear that the people of God

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 demonstrate great confidence in God.

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 In fact, in Exodus 14,

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 we're told that they were not full of faith,

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 but they were full of fear.

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 So, in Exodus 14, verse 10,

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 and following,

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 you read these words.

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 When Pharaoh drew near,

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 the people of Israel lifted up their eyes

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 and behold,

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 the Egyptians were marching after them.

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 They feared greatly.

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 And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.

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 They said to Moses,

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 Is it because there are no graves in Egypt

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 that you have taken us away

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 to die in the wilderness?

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 What have you done to us

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 in bringing us out of Egypt?

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 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt?

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 Leave us alone

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 that we may serve the Egyptians.

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 For it would have been better

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 for us to serve the Egyptians

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 than to die in the wilderness.

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 Moses said to the people,

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 Fear not.

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 Stand firm.

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 See the salvation of the Lord,

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 which He will work for you today.

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 For the Egyptians whom you see today,

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 you shall never see again.

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 The Lord will fight for you,

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 and you have only to be silent.

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 The people are terrified.

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 They are grumbling.

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 They are complaining to Moses.

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 And in turn,

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 Moses tells them not to fear,

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 but rather to stand firm.

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 He reminds them

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 that the Lord will fight for them.

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 And that they,

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 well,

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 in colloquial terms,

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 they should just shut up.

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 Stop their complaining.

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 So,

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 in a sense,

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 it's quite an unusual demonstration of faith,

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 isn't it?

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 People of Israel

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 backed into a corner,

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 almost left with no other option

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 than to trust God.

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 Only realistic option

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 was to do

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 as the Lord commanded them.

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 So,

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 it may not have been

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 great faith

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 that they demonstrated,

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 but it was faith.

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 It was a weak faith

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 in a strong

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 and powerful God.

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 It's by faith

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 that they passed through the Red Sea,

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 and the Egyptian army

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 was swallowed up

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 and destroyed

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 after them.

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 And Exodus 14

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 really is a passage

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 all about

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 the power of God

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 to deliver His people,

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 to accomplish His purposes.

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 The power of God

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 over His creation,

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 and the power of God

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 over His enemies.

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 Exodus 14,

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 30 and 31,

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 we read,

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 Thus the Lord

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 saved Israel that day

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 from the hand

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 of the Egyptians.

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 And Israel saw

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 the Egyptians

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 dead on the seashore.

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 Israel saw

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 the great power

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 that the Lord

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 used against the Egyptians.

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 So,

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 the people feared the Lord,

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 and they believed

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 in the Lord,

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 and in His servant,

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 Moses.

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 That's a passage,

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 of course,

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 that's referred to

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 right throughout

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 the Old Testament.

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 Isaiah 63,

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 the prophet there

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 speaks of this

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 as an event

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 that brings honor

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 and glory

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 to God's name,

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 a demonstration

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 of God's

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 sovereign power

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 over all other

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 gods and deities.

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 Isaiah 63,

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 11,

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 Then He remembered

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 the days of old

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 of Moses and His people.

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 Where is He

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 who brought them up

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 out of the sea

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 with the shepherds

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 of His flock?

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 Where is He

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 who put in the midst

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 of them His Holy Spirit?

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 Who caused His glorious arm

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 to go at the right hand

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 of Moses?

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 Who divided the waters

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 before them

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 to make for Himself

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 an everlasting name

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 who led them

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 through the depths.

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 So, this event

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 is a demonstration

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 of God's great power.

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 But it's not

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 to be understood

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 as a kind of

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 spectacular floor show.

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 The context here

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 is very important.

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 Pharaoh regretted

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 his decision

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 to let the Hebrew slaves go.

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 He wanted them back.

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 And what was happening

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 here in this event

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 was a kind of contest

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 about ownership.

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 Who had the right

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 to claim ownership

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 of Israel?

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 This genocidal king

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 who'd enslaved them

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 for years,

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 who had long been

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 their master,

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 or their divine king,

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 Yahweh,

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 who had come to Egypt

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 to claim,

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 redeem,

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 and deliver them?

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 It's the future of Israel.

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 It kind of hangs

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 on that question.

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 Who did they belong to?

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 Did they belong to Pharaoh,

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 or did they belong

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 to Yahweh?

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 And that question

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 of ownership

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 that we see here

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 is still a pertinent

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 one for us today.

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 To whom do we belong?

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 Who has the claim

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 over your life?

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 Who are you serving?

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 Who are you following?

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 Who are you worshiping?

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 Yourself?

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 The gods of this present age?

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 The prince and ruler

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 of this world?

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 Or the one who is

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 the God of keeping power?

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 The one who has sent

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 His only begotten Son

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 into this world

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 to claim you

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 for Himself?

00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.320
 Question one

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 of the Heidelberg

00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:32.399
 Catechism

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 famously asks

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 the question,

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 what is your only comfort

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 in life and death?

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 And the answer it gives

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 begins with these words,

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 that I,

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 with body and soul,

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 both in life

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 and in death,

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 am not my own,

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 but belong

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 to my faithful Savior,

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 Jesus Christ,

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 who with His precious blood

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 has fully satisfied

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 for all my sins

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 and redeemed me

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 from all the power

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 of the devil

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 and so preserves me

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 that without the will

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 of my Father in heaven

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 not a hair can fall

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 from my head.

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 You know,

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 sometimes in the Christian life

00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.139
 we can wonder,

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:19.439
 are we ever going to make it?

00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.240
 I think the Hebrew Christians

00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.099
 to whom our author

00:11:24.099 --> 00:11:24.779
 was writing

00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.919
 were struggling

00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:27.740
 with that kind of issue.

00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:29.500
 Sometimes we doubt

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.459
 we can keep it going.

00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.219
 Have we got

00:11:32.219 --> 00:11:32.819
 what it takes

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.500
 to endure?

00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:34.559
 We're weak,

00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:36.079
 we're fragile human beings.

00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:37.779
 How can we make it

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.199
 to heaven?

00:11:39.079 --> 00:11:39.979
 There's sin within,

00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:41.019
 there's evil without.

00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:42.799
 And the answer

00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.360
 of the Bible

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.360
 is that God

00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.659
 will keep us

00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:47.139
 by His own power.

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.639
 He will guard us

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.240
 and keep us.

00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.639
 He will preserve us

00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.799
 because we are His.

00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.559
 We belong to Him.

00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:56.939
 Remember what Paul says

00:11:56.939 --> 00:11:58.319
 to the Philippians

00:11:58.319 --> 00:12:00.199
 in Philippians chapter 1 verse 6,

00:12:00.939 --> 00:12:01.860
 I'm sure of this,

00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:02.879
 that He who began

00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.219
 a good work in you

00:12:04.219 --> 00:12:06.039
 will bring it to completion

00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:08.459
 at the day of Christ Jesus.

00:12:10.339 --> 00:12:12.279
 By His mighty power,

00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:14.819
 God keeps His people.

00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:17.079
 And He does this through faith.

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:19.479
 He guards and keeps us

00:12:19.479 --> 00:12:20.299
 through faith,

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.839
 not apart from faith.

00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:21.920
 faith.

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.240
 And so,

00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:24.340
 we must go on

00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.860
 believing and trusting

00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.879
 in Jesus Christ.

00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.180
 This is why this letter

00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:28.899
 has been written.

00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:30.160
 God's power

00:12:30.160 --> 00:12:31.120
 keeps us

00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.060
 in Christ.

00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:35.080
 And we must be confident

00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.320
 and assured

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.399
 of that power

00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:38.580
 that will keep us

00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.519
 and preserve us

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.460
 for heaven.

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.620
 There's an old hymn,

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.259
 has the verse,

00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:45.000
 He will keep me

00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:46.000
 till the river

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.600
 rolls its waters

00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.759
 at my feet.

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.539
 Then He'll bear me

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.480
 safely over

00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:53.000
 all my joys

00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.600
 in Him complete.

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:56.620
 He will not let us

00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:58.899
 pass out of His ownership.

00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:00.379
 He will keep us.

00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:01.819
 He will keep us in life.

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.319
 He will keep us in death.

00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:05.080
 Because He has redeemed us

00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:06.379
 by the blood of the Lamb.

00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.080
 The Lamb that has now

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.799
 been raised

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.799
 and exalted

00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:10.860
 and given the name

00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:11.779
 above every name,

00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:13.740
 declared the Son of God

00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:14.659
 in power

00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:15.779
 through His resurrection

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.700
 from the dead.

00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:21.000
 Remember Isaiah's words,

00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.720
 Fear not,

00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:23.980
 for I have redeemed you.

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.820
 I have called you by name.

00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:27.940
 You are mine.

00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.940
 When you pass through the waters,

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.180
 I will be with you.

00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.280
 And through the rivers,

00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:33.940
 they shall not overwhelm you.

00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:36.500
 When you walk through the fire,

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.580
 you shall not be burned.

00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:40.000
 And the flame shall not consume you.

00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:42.340
 For I am the Lord,

00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:42.900
 your God,

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:43.960
 the Holy One of Israel,

00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:44.960
 your Savior.

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:48.100
 I gave Egypt as your ransom,

00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:49.519
 Cush and Seba,

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.080
 in exchange for you.

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:53.220
 Because you are precious

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:55.100
 in my eyes

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:55.900
 and honored.

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.259
 And I love you.

00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:02.519
 Faith looks to the God

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:04.660
 of keeping power.

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:08.180
 Brings me to the second thing here.

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.379
 And that is that faith looks

00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:13.600
 to the God of transforming power.

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.759
 In verse 30.

00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.480
 By faith,

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:18.899
 the walls of Jericho fell down

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:21.060
 after they had been encircled

00:14:21.060 --> 00:14:22.740
 for seven days.

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.340
 So,

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:25.500
 the second event alluded to

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.240
 in these verses

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.700
 relates not to the Exodus,

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:30.639
 but to the conquest of Canaan.

00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.360
 And in particular,

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.960
 to the fall of Jericho,

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.940
 which is detailed for us

00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:39.019
 in Joshua chapter 6.

00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:42.279
 Jericho was a highly fortified city.

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:46.779
 It was a city of huge strategic significance.

00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:49.000
 It presented a great obstacle

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.779
 to Israel

00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:51.360
 and to the leader Joshua

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.199
 as they sought to claim

00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:54.100
 that the land

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:55.339
 that had been promised to them

00:14:55.339 --> 00:14:56.699
 for God.

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.339
 The Jordan lay behind them.

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:01.019
 Jericho lay before them.

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:03.019
 And in Joshua chapter 6,

00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:03.600
 verse 1,

00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.399
 we're told this,

00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.120
 that Jericho was barred

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.899
 and secured,

00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.279
 tightly shut up.

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:09.480
 No one went out.

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.680
 No one came in.

00:15:11.320 --> 00:15:13.980
 The city was a formidable barrier.

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.019
 Jericho's walls

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.920
 were apparently impregnable.

00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.440
 And in their weakness,

00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:22.000
 how could the Israelites

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:25.200
 prevail against this great defense

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.000
 of stronghold?

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.399
 How could this stronghold

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.340
 be demolished

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.680
 and the city taken?

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.539
 Well, by faith.

00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:35.399
 By faith in the plan

00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.699
 that God provided.

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.600
 And Joshua,

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:40.240
 we're told at the end

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.779
 of Joshua chapter 5,

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.620
 has to bow the knee

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.199
 to the one

00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:45.439
 who is the commander

00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:46.579
 of the Lord's armies.

00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:47.720
 And only then

00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.360
 is he given

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.720
 God's strategy

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.600
 or plan.

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:53.579
 And it was a very unusual strategy.

00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.419
 In fact,

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:57.720
 it appeared foolishness.

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.779
 It involved God's people,

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.039
 and you can read it there

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:02.639
 in Joshua chapter 6,

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.980
 traipsing around the city

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.139
 for six days.

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.559
 And then on the seventh day,

00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:08.679
 they were to march

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.500
 around the city,

00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:10.480
 not once,

00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.059
 but seven times.

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.840
 And on that final tour

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.419
 of the city,

00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:16.480
 the trumpet was to sound,

00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:17.679
 the horn would sound,

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:19.240
 and the people would raise

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.319
 a great shout,

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.220
 and the walls would come

00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.559
 tumbling down.

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.980
 And what Joshua and Israel

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.899
 were being shown

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.519
 is that by themselves,

00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.799
 they could do nothing

00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.000
 to conquer Jericho.

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.719
 Apart from God,

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:35.459
 they could do nothing.

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:37.219
 It's God

00:16:37.219 --> 00:16:38.699
 who took the initiative.

00:16:39.219 --> 00:16:39.779
 It's God

00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.799
 who takes charge,

00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.139
 really.

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:42.599
 And God

00:16:42.599 --> 00:16:43.399
 who outlines

00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.219
 a plan

00:16:44.219 --> 00:16:45.259
 for taking the city.

00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.799
 Joshua and Israel

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.639
 are called

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:49.019
 to submit themselves

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.599
 to God's ways.

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.099
 They're called

00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:51.839
 to trust

00:16:51.839 --> 00:16:52.959
 and obey.

00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:55.179
 And at the heart

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.339
 of God's plan

00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.839
 in Joshua chapter 6,

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.080
 central to it,

00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.740
 was the Ark

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.420
 of the Covenant.

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:02.720
 It's a great symbol

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.700
 of God's presence

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.559
 and power

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.360
 with His people.

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.500
 In fact,

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.460
 I think in that passage

00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.059
 it's mentioned

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.880
 around nine times.

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:11.900
 It was the Ark

00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.980
 that was to be carried

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.400
 around the walls.

00:17:15.840 --> 00:17:16.259
 And actually,

00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:17.480
 when you read Joshua 6,

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.100
 the narrative

00:17:18.100 --> 00:17:19.920
 underlines this point,

00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:21.200
 that it's the Lord

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.100
 who delivers

00:17:22.100 --> 00:17:22.860
 His people.

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.680
 It's the Lord

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.180
 of hosts,

00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:26.059
 strong and mighty

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:26.680
 in battle

00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.259
 who routes

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.740
 the enemy.

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.700
 It's the Lord,

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.059
 really,

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.019
 who encompasses

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.799
 the city.

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.980
 It's not Joshua

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.119
 who fits

00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:33.599
 the battle

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.240
 of Jericho,

00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:35.000
 but God.

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.140
 Sometimes,

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.200
 in life,

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.160
 God brings us

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.539
 to a point

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.700
 of helplessness

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:44.400
 so that we will

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:46.400
 utterly depend

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.339
 on Him.

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:48.579
 Sometimes,

00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:49.879
 He boxes us in

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.079
 that,

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.279
 humanly speaking,

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.819
 there appears

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.819
 to be no way out.

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:53.700
 He brings us

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.319
 to an end

00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.039
 of ourselves.

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.819
 That point

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.679
 where our own

00:17:57.679 --> 00:17:58.799
 schemes and options

00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.899
 have come to nothing.

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.659
 All we can do

00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:03.419
 is cast ourselves

00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:04.179
 on the Lord,

00:18:04.939 --> 00:18:05.839
 brought to a place

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.779
 of utter weakness,

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.480
 so that we realize

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.839
 if we do make it through,

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.379
 it must be of God,

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.439
 all of grace,

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.339
 all of His power.

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.619
 And that hopeless

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.700
 situation can be

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.579
 one of many,

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.419
 many things.

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.659
 It can be

00:18:19.659 --> 00:18:21.939
 crippling anxiety

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.759
 and stress,

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.960
 it can be a broken

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.660
 relationship,

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.620
 it can be a point

00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.680
 where we can no longer

00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:30.120
 escape or evade

00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:31.039
 the consequences

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.900
 of our actions,

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.680
 it can be ill health,

00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:34.840
 fear of the future,

00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.900
 all sorts of things.

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.220
 But however it happens,

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.279
 we're brought to a point

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.180
 where we have

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:40.840
 no one else

00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:41.600
 to turn to,

00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.240
 and all we do

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.279
 is we can cry out

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.980
 to the living God

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.559
 for help.

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.880
 Now, of course,

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.220
 plans and strategies

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.080
 are not wrong,

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.919
 far from it.

00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.220
 But they're not

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.480
 the most important thing,

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.839
 because on their own

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.699
 they achieve nothing

00:18:57.699 --> 00:18:58.659
 of eternal value.

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:00.919
 God's work must be done

00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:01.799
 in God's way.

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.559
 Obstacles,

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.439
 like Jericho,

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.879
 are never removed

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:08.259
 by mere human ingenuity

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.019
 and skill.

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.419
 Paul tells the Corinthians

00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:13.220
 in 2 Corinthians 10,

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.279
 verse 3 and 4,

00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.220
 For though we walk

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.879
 in the flesh,

00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:18.179
 we are not waging war

00:19:18.179 --> 00:19:19.619
 according to the flesh,

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.879
 for the weapons

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.679
 of our warfare

00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:23.479
 are not of the flesh,

00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:25.679
 but have divine power

00:19:25.679 --> 00:19:28.279
 to destroy strongholds.

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:29.739
 You see,

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.859
 there is a strategy

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:32.619
 that is foolishness

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:33.599
 to the world,

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:35.459
 but is God's way

00:19:35.459 --> 00:19:36.259
 to victory.

00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:38.659
 The foolishness of God

00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:39.519
 is always wiser

00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:40.459
 than man's wisdom.

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.179
 How has God's work progressed?

00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:45.539
 Prayerful communion

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.479
 with God

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.140
 must always have

00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.539
 a place of priority

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.740
 in the work of God.

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.880
 We've got that example

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:55.120
 in Exodus 17,

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.740
 the battle

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.380
 with the Amalekites

00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.120
 at Rephidim.

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:01.299
 The battle raging below.

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:02.599
 Moses, Aaron, and her

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.740
 climb the hill above

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.819
 and they engage

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:06.180
 in prayerful intercession.

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.860
 Moses' hands are raised.

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.339
 And when he raises

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.500
 his hands in prayer,

00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:12.039
 the Israelites prevail

00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.660
 in the battle.

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.800
 And when they're lowered,

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.040
 the Amalekites then

00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:16.420
 gain the ascendancy.

00:20:17.800 --> 00:20:19.100
 The course of the battle

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.840
 determined not actually

00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:22.380
 by the fighters on the field,

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:24.060
 but by the intercessors

00:20:24.060 --> 00:20:25.240
 on the mountain.

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:29.680
 And prayer is an expression

00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.740
 of our weakness

00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.140
 and our need of God.

00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.580
 And all through the Bible,

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.540
 we discover this.

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.120
 God choosing weak,

00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:38.600
 fragile human vessels,

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.160
 clay pots,

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:42.040
 to display the excellency

00:20:42.040 --> 00:20:42.740
 of His power.

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.840
 So it doesn't matter

00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:45.600
 if it's an aged

00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:47.140
 Abraham and Sarah,

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.540
 David with his sling,

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.940
 Elijah with his cloak,

00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.620
 a wee boy with five loaves

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.279
 and two fishes.

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.460
 God delights to take

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.400
 that which is weak

00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.380
 and fragile

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:58.740
 and so act with divine power

00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:00.180
 that everyone will say,

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:02.940
 this must be the power of God.

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.519
 Paul says,

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.460
 we have this treasure

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.900
 in jars of clay

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.040
 to show that this

00:21:08.040 --> 00:21:09.700
 all-surpassing power

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:11.200
 is from God

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.620
 and not from us.

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.580
 And the weapon of prayer

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.680
 is what God uses

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:18.100
 to bring down

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.960
 the strongholds

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.500
 of the enemy.

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.600
 Because in prayer,

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:23.319
 we express our abject frailty,

00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:24.460
 human frailty,

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.440
 and need

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.360
 before a sovereign

00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:27.480
 or powerful king.

00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.460
 And it may appear foolish,

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.740
 stupid even.

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:33.100
 Yet it's through prayer

00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:34.559
 that walls crumble

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.640
 and the strongholds

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.840
 of the enemy are defeated.

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:39.279
 This is God's way.

00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:40.579
 He calls us to walk in it.

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.319
 He calls us to be a people

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.559
 looking to Him,

00:21:43.699 --> 00:21:44.899
 depending on Him,

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.939
 praying to Him.

00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:51.500
 He calls us to leave

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.639
 sometimes our own

00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:53.679
 human methods

00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:54.559
 and strategies

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.359
 of which we are so fond,

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.399
 and to take up His

00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.559
 utter dependence

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.179
 on His presence

00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:02.179
 and power,

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.299
 the way of weakness

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.720
 and the way of prayer.

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.819
 And this is how God delights

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:10.099
 not only to transform

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.700
 circumstances,

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:15.240
 but to transform ourselves.

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:18.079
 This is how He reveals

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:21.000
 His transforming power.

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:23.740
 He's the God of keeping power.

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:24.639
 Look to Him.

00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:26.720
 He's the God of transforming power.

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.240
 Look to Him in prayer.

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.220
 And thirdly here,

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.640
 you'll notice He is the God

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.640
 of saving power.

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.440
 Verse 31,

00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.960
 Faith looks to the God

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.680
 of saving power.

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.940
 By faith,

00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.299
 Rahab, the prostitute,

00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:41.620
 did not perish

00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:43.160
 with those who were disobedient

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.380
 because she had given

00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:45.480
 a friendly welcome

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.740
 to the spies.

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.900
 And this final reference here

00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:49.920
 again relates to

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:51.000
 the fall of Jericho.

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:53.019
 This time it focuses

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:54.500
 on the salvation

00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.839
 of the prostitute Rahab.

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.339
 We read about her.

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:59.619
 Yes, in Joshua chapter 6,

00:22:59.699 --> 00:23:00.859
 but also a little earlier

00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:02.539
 in Joshua chapter 2.

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.379
 And perhaps a foreign prostitute

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.039
 is not someone

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.079
 we would immediately think

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:08.679
 of being as a great example

00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:09.240
 of faith,

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:09.839
 but nonetheless,

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.659
 that's what a writer does here.

00:23:13.459 --> 00:23:14.899
 Rahab shielded

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.919
 and harbored

00:23:15.919 --> 00:23:17.099
 the Israelite spies

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.859
 that came to Jericho

00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.919
 to find out

00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:21.119
 what the story was.

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.519
 And she did that

00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.959
 at the risk of her own life.

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.459
 She welcomed them.

00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.380
 She hid them

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.920
 from those who pursued them.

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.799
 She helped them

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.740
 make their escape.

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.880
 Why did she do that?

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.240
 Well, she did it

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.440
 because she received

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.340
 and believed

00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:37.440
 their testimony.

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:39.299
 She had heard

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.319
 of the great things

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.259
 that the Lord

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.799
 had done

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.779
 for His people.

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.200
 And so,

00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:44.880
 in Joshua chapter 2,

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.840
 verse 8 and following,

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.980
 this is what we read.

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.960
 Before the men lay down,

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:50.019
 she came up to them

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.680
 on the roof

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.680
 and said to the men,

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.799
 I know that the Lord

00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:54.080
 has given you the land,

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.299
 that the fear of you

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.560
 has fallen upon us,

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.960
 that all the inhabitants

00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.680
 of the land

00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:00.340
 melt away before you.

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.440
 For we've heard

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.019
 how the Lord

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.960
 dried up the water

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.799
 of the Red Sea

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.600
 before you

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.880
 when you came out of Egypt,

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.980
 and what you did

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.740
 to the two kings

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.519
 of the Amorites

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.539
 beyond the Jordan,

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.940
 Sihon and Og,

00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.120
 whom you devoted

00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:12.860
 to destruction.

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.220
 As soon as we heard it,

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.100
 our hearts melted.

00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:16.200
 There was no spirit

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.120
 left in any man

00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.820
 because of you.

00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.560
 For the Lord,

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.140
 your God,

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.840
 He is God

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.980
 in the heavens above

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.240
 and on the earth beneath.

00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:23.720
 Now then,

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.819
 please swear to me

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:26.220
 by the Lord

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.119
 that as I have dealt

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:28.059
 kindly with you,

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.799
 you also will deal kindly

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:31.319
 with my Father's house.

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.699
 Give me a sure sign

00:24:32.699 --> 00:24:34.379
 that you will save alive

00:24:34.379 --> 00:24:35.639
 my father and mother,

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:37.079
 my brothers and sisters,

00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.319
 and all who belong to them,

00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.659
 and deliver our lives

00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.399
 from death.

00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.879
 And the men said to her,

00:24:42.959 --> 00:24:43.879
 Our life for years

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.659
 even to death,

00:24:45.439 --> 00:24:46.339
 if you do not tell

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.439
 this business of ours,

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.459
 then when the Lord

00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:49.339
 gives us the land,

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.539
 we will deal kindly

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:52.399
 and faithfully with you.

00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:55.639
 So, Rahab had heard

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.639
 of what God had done

00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.399
 for His people,

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.059
 and she formed a conviction

00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.799
 on the basis

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.859
 of what she'd heard,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.159
 and she saw that it was

00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:03.000
 the living God,

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:04.139
 the Maker of heaven

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.699
 and earth,

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.419
 and so she sought

00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:08.379
 refuge in Him.

00:25:09.199 --> 00:25:10.459
 She cast herself

00:25:10.459 --> 00:25:11.480
 on His kindness

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.379
 and faithfulness,

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.220
 and in turn,

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.599
 the spies gave her,

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.379
 as the passage

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.740
 tells us a little later,

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.879
 a scarlet cord.

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.199
 That was to be tied

00:25:20.199 --> 00:25:20.919
 to her window.

00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.179
 Her house would become

00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:23.240
 a place of refuge

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.879
 for all who took shelter there.

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.659
 And her household,

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.299
 in a sense,

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.559
 became a kind of island

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.480
 of salvation

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:31.039
 in the midst of this city

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.720
 under judgment.

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.839
 And the story of Rahab

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.500
 really stands out

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.199
 as a beacon

00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:38.559
 of God's grace

00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.639
 and saving power.

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.599
 She was one of the enemies

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.220
 of Israel.

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.579
 She was a pagan.

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.879
 She was a prostitute.

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.500
 And yet,

00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:46.840
 in His grace

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.580
 and mercy,

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.620
 God brought her

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.260
 to faith

00:25:49.260 --> 00:25:50.500
 and into

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.860
 God's covenant people.

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.400
 She and her people

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.240
 came to settle

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.840
 in Israel.

00:25:56.260 --> 00:25:57.600
 On the opening page

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.540
 of the New Testament,

00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:00.360
 Matthew 1, verse 5,

00:26:00.820 --> 00:26:01.960
 we read her name

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.140
 as one included

00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:04.620
 in the genealogy

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:05.940
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:06.740
 Who would have thought

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.280
 it possible?

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:09.220
 And her presence

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:11.160
 in that sacred genealogy

00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:13.000
 is a reminder to us

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.980
 that Jesus

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.560
 has come to welcome

00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:17.240
 sinners into His family.

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.680
 He's come

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.860
 to show

00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.900
 and to demonstrate

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:24.160
 God's amazing grace.

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.920
 He has come

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.660
 to reveal

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:29.100
 the saving power

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.900
 of God.

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.240
 Sometimes,

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.140
 as human beings,

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:36.519
 we can be weighed down

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.820
 with a sense

00:26:37.820 --> 00:26:38.460
 of our guilt,

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:39.519
 our unworthiness.

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.000
 sometimes,

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.139
 sometimes,

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.099
 we're rightly ashamed

00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:42.500
 of things

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.059
 that we've said

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:43.500
 and done.

00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:45.759
 Our lives,

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.240
 we know,

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.779
 are stained

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.579
 and unclean.

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.259
 They're dirty.

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.460
 How can people

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.000
 like us

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.819
 ever belong

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.240
 in God's family?

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.480
 How could God

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.160
 ever love us

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.420
 after the things

00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.019
 we've done?

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.839
 We know,

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.359
 deep down,

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.000
 that we're not

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.000
 good enough for God,

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.720
 that we will never

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.519
 be good enough.

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.440
 I mean,

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.299
 how can Jesus

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.079
 have anything

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.299
 to do with us?

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.420
 Why on earth

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.940
 would He?

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.519
 But friends,

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.519
 that's why He came.

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.639
 He came to be

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.539
 the friend of sinners.

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.420
 He came to welcome

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.279
 people like us

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.299
 into His fellowship,

00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.799
 into His family.

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.519
 That's why the church

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.619
 isn't a social club.

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.420
 It's a hospital

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.279
 for sinners.

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:32.539
 It's a shelter

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.460
 for refugees.

00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.339
 It's a family

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:36.160
 for abandoned

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.519
 outcasts.

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:39.799
 for if our Lord

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.720
 Jesus was happy

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.420
 to associate

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.160
 with someone

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.460
 such as Rahab,

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.839
 He is happy

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.519
 even to associate

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.940
 with someone

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.700
 like you.

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.819
 And that's

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.319
 the power

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.139
 of God's

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.200
 amazing

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.319
 and surprising

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:55.980
 grace.

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.639
 Think of the

00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.400
 Apostle Paul

00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:59.180
 or someone

00:27:59.180 --> 00:27:59.839
 like the slave

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.299
 traitor

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.240
 John Newton

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.680
 who wrote

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.500
 that famous hymn,

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.379
 Amazing Grace.

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:05.040
 Who would have

00:28:05.040 --> 00:28:05.840
 thought it possible

00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:06.880
 that they might

00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.500
 be welcomed

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.280
 into the family

00:28:08.280 --> 00:28:08.920
 of God?

00:28:10.540 --> 00:28:11.360
 But it's true

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.000
 for all of us,

00:28:12.040 --> 00:28:12.420
 isn't it?

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.020
 Who would have

00:28:14.020 --> 00:28:14.540
 thought of it

00:28:14.540 --> 00:28:17.800
 of us?

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.780
 It's all too easy

00:28:20.780 --> 00:28:21.460
 to forget,

00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:22.420
 but we must

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.180
 never lose

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.380
 sight of the

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.340
 God of saving

00:28:25.340 --> 00:28:25.880
 power.

00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:27.700
 God

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:29.820
 gets His people

00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.980
 like Rahab

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.780
 from Jericho,

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:33.200
 from the city

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.839
 of destruction.

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.519
 This is where

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.279
 Jesus Christ

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.399
 claims His people.

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.440
 He doesn't

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.039
 get them

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.619
 from heaven.

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.680
 He gets them

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.299
 from the world.

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.160
 Think of those

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.259
 words of Paul

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:50.000
 to the Christians

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.839
 in Corinth,

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.660
 1 Corinthians 6,

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.259
 verse 9 and

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.680
 following,

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.500
 Do you not know

00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:56.460
 that the unrighteous,

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:56.940
 he says,

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.680
 will not inherit

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.680
 the kingdom of God?

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.660
 Don't be deceived.

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:00.839
 Not the sexually

00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:01.339
 immoral,

00:29:01.459 --> 00:29:02.079
 idolaters,

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.919
 adulterers,

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.059
 those who practice

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:05.139
 homosexuality,

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:05.679
 thieves,

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.119
 the greedy,

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.740
 drunkards,

00:29:06.959 --> 00:29:07.519
 revilers,

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.459
 nor swindlers,

00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:09.339
 will inherit

00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.339
 the kingdom of God.

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.119
 That's what he says.

00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:12.119
 Then he says this,

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.299
 And such

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.659
 were some of you.

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:18.559
 Such were some of you,

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.980
 but you were washed,

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.500
 you were sanctified,

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.779
 you were justified

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.439
 in the name

00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:24.779
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:26.019
 and by the Spirit

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.839
 of our God.

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:27.959
 And that is the

00:29:27.959 --> 00:29:29.039
 wonderful reality

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.779
 of the gospel.

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:32.319
 No matter who we are,

00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.920
 no matter what we've done,

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.579
 you were washed,

00:29:37.139 --> 00:29:38.200
 you were sanctified,

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.460
 you were justified.

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.599
 That is what happens

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.619
 when you become a Christian.

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.659
 That's what happens

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:43.579
 when you're united

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.779
 to Jesus Christ

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.619
 by faith.

00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.940
 This is what Jesus

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:48.159
 offers to all

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:50.480
 and everyone

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.500
 who will come

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.259
 to him in faith.

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.539
 He invites you

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.799
 to come to be washed

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:57.000
 from all the guilt

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.279
 and shame of your sin.

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.460
 He invites you

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.359
 to come and belong

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.579
 to him as a child of God.

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.279
 He invites you

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.140
 to come and not only

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.799
 be forgiven,

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.420
 but actually be declared

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.920
 righteous in his sight.

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.619
 The God

00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:14.980
 of keeping power.

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.460
 Don't be a believer

00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.500
 filled with fear

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.259
 and anxiety

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.079
 about the future.

00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:22.400
 Here is the God

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:22.940
 who has shed

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.900
 his blood for you,

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.400
 whose power

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.180
 will keep you.

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.519
 Jesus said,

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.100
 my Father

00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:28.820
 who has given them

00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:29.200
 to me

00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.360
 is greater than all.

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.540
 No one is able

00:30:31.540 --> 00:30:32.440
 to snatch them

00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:34.180
 out of my Father's hand.

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.019
 The God

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.200
 of transforming power.

00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:39.640
 Don't be trapped

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.240
 in despair

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.900
 and despondency

00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:43.400
 over what's happening

00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.080
 in your life

00:30:44.080 --> 00:30:44.740
 or what's happening

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.340
 in the world.

00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.780
 Here is the God

00:30:47.780 --> 00:30:48.300
 whose power

00:30:48.300 --> 00:30:49.380
 can transform

00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:51.000
 the most impossible

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.860
 of situations.

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.019
 With God,

00:30:53.300 --> 00:30:54.680
 all things are possible.

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:57.880
 As the old hymn advises,

00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.640
 take it

00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:00.200
 to the Lord

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.280
 in prayer.

00:31:02.820 --> 00:31:03.880
 And he's the God

00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.720
 of saving power.

00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:06.820
 So,

00:31:07.040 --> 00:31:07.980
 no matter who you are,

00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:09.120
 no matter what you've done,

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.740
 you can come

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:12.100
 to Jesus Christ

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:14.400
 and find in him

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:17.220
 all that you need.

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.840
 Don't give up

00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.620
 on that person

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.740
 who seems lost,

00:31:21.900 --> 00:31:22.680
 disinterested,

00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:24.960
 for this God,

00:31:25.060 --> 00:31:26.180
 his powerful grace,

00:31:26.820 --> 00:31:27.900
 can save the most

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:29.080
 far gone of sinners

00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:31.660
 and save to the uttermost.

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.660
 Paul reminds us

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:35.060
 in 1 Timothy 1,

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.380
 he saved even

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.759
 the worst of sinners.

00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:41.420
 Help me now

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.460
 to live a life

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.920
 that's dependent

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:45.140
 on your grace.

00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:47.320
 Keep my heart

00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:48.820
 and guard my soul

00:31:48.820 --> 00:31:50.000
 from the evils

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.880
 that I face.

00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:53.020
 you are worthy

00:31:53.020 --> 00:31:54.260
 to be praised.

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:56.840
 Within my every thought

00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:57.420
 and deed,

00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.360
 O great God

00:31:59.360 --> 00:32:00.320
 of highest heaven,

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.840
 glorify your name

00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:02.600
 through me.

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.000
 Fix your eyes

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:06.080
 on this God.

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.300
 Look to him,

00:32:09.540 --> 00:32:10.440
 the God of keeping,

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.000
 transforming,

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:14.220
 and saving power.

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.360
 Let's pray.

00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.920
 Almighty God,

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.140
 we bless you

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.779
 and praise you

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.519
 that you are indeed

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.960
 a God of power.

00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.200
 We thank you

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.779
 for the way

00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.720
 in which you have

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.960
 revealed your power

00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.500
 in years past

00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:32.000
 and generations past.

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.680
 And we thank you

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.740
 most of all

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.240
 for the way

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.900
 in which you have

00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:37.500
 revealed your power

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.500
 and your grace

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.400
 and your love

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.440
 in the person

00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.779
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:43.220
 Lord,

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.279
 may we be found

00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.619
 looking to him

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.399
 this evening

00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:48.359
 and trusting in him.

00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.440
 May you keep us

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.440
 and preserve us.

00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:53.059
 May you use us

00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:54.059
 and bless us

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.879
 in your service

00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:57.339
 and for your glory.

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.139
 Amen.

00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:58.319
 Amen.

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:58.359
 Amen.

00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:58.399
 Amen.

00:32:58.399 --> 00:32:58.399