WEBVTT

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 Let's bow our heads in prayer.

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 Father, we are now going to look at your word written.

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 And Lord, as always, in some ways, your word comforts us.

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 In some ways, your word convicts us and confronts us.

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 And Father, we ask that, we just ask that we would trust Jesus more

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 and that we would trust the Holy Spirit to do his work

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 and that your word would come deeply in our lives to speak into us and to form us

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 so that we might, Father, grow in knowing you and the Son and the Holy Spirit

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 and that we might walk in the fear of God.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 So, I was in Calgary this week for some meetings, three days of meetings.

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 One day to spend with my son Jacob and his wife and kids in Calgary.

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 And then due to airplane turmoil, Air Canada let me stay an extra day in Hal, Calgary.

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 I guess that's how you could look at it positively.

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 But on the day that I spent with my son, his wife went to work.

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 He took the day off.

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 And his three boys and I went and did some exploring around Calgary.

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 And one of the things he wanted me to see, and if you've never been to Calgary and you go,

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 you should go see their main branch of their library.

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 It's really, it's a beautiful building inside and sort of interesting place.

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 And Jacob's boys, my grandsons, they love going there.

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 They love going to the library for all the things that kids can do.

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 Anyway, I have a coffee addiction, as some of you know.

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 And so we get to the library about one o'clock and I need a coffee.

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 So I cut across the street to the city hall where there's a cafe, get my coffee and I'm walking back across the street.

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 And you sort of, from that place where you're getting into the main door,

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 there's probably about 25, 30 steps up to the plaza that allows you to get into the library.

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 And I'm up about, I guess I'm about 20 steps from the top.

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 And there's a guy beside me, about, he's like, you know, a few feet beside me.

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 On the other side of the rail, about 15 stairs from the top.

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 So he's five stairs ahead of me.

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 And all of a sudden, out of the blue, I see this, I'm thinking it's a young guy, all dressed in black, with a hoodie on.

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 And the hood's coming up to about here.

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 And he has a mask on his face up to here.

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 And he comes running this way to a group of two guys.

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 And he sprays them with bear spray.

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 Like he has a big container like this.

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 It's a huge cloud of bear spray.

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 It covers these two guys who start screaming.

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 People start running.

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 And then he comes running down the stairs.

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 And, I mean, this is a terrible thing.

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 I'm glad it wasn't me.

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 But he bear sprays the guy five stairs ahead of me on my right-hand side.

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 Because he comes down about five stairs.

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 Gives him a full blast.

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 A huge cloud of bear spray.

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 I get sort of caught in the side of it because the wind's blowing.

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 You know, my eyes start to sting.

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 My nose hurts.

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 My mouth hurts.

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 I wish I could tell you that I was so courageous that I went to try to tackle him.

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 But I didn't.

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 I run down the stairs.

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 I'm worried that he's going to come after me.

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 And I'm running down the stairs.

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 I turn and see that he's gone back up the stairs and has gone somewhere that way.

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 And I go to the bottom of the stairs and sort of the other side.

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 And I'm standing there.

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 My eyes are watering, you know, my tongue, everything.

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 And I decide that the safest place, the sanctuary, so to speak, is in the library.

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 So I hold my breath, run up the stairs.

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 And by this point in time, there's about three security guards, four security guards barring the door on their radios, I guess, to the police.

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 And I run up the stairs holding my breath, trying to keep my eyes, like, to slits.

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 And they let me in and ask me if I'm all right.

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 And I say, well, I mean, I was fine.

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 I mean, it takes a while to get that out of your system.

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 But I see the library as a sanctuary.

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 There's security guards there.

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 They're manning the door.

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 They have, you know, their walkie-talkies or their radio systems to the police.

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 And there's this random bear spray attack.

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 It's, like, really weird.

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 But I run in to the library, and the library is a place of sanctuary.

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 Now, I mention this because it dawned on me that this is actually a very helpful way for you to understand what's going on in the book of Nehemiah.

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 That in the book of Nehemiah, the Jewish people have been cast, brought in.

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 They've been defeated by the Babylonians.

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 Babylon's now been defeated when Nehemiah's been written by Persia.

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 But they're a distant empire controlling everything.

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 When Babylonia came, they depopulated the whole region.

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 They took most of the Jewish people away.

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 So lots of the countryside, they brought in some other people as well,

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 but lots of the countryside just became wild and unkempt.

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 Think of an abandoned house and what happens to the nice gardens if you abandon them for a long period of time.

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 It's not that the place becomes more fruitful.

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 It becomes less fruitful.

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 And the city is in rubble, and the other towns are in rubble,

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 and a group of Jewish exiles come back.

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 And first they establish the altar so they can worship God, then the temple.

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 But what they want is a sanctuary.

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 Sanctuary.

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 That's what he's trying to do by building the wall.

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 That's what the book of Nehemiah is about,

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 is that Nehemiah and the people understand they need a sanctuary,

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 a place where they can worship God,

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 where they can start to develop economics and other types of things,

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 rebuild houses, have some type of prosperity,

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 and something that helps them to be safe from their enemies

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 that have encircled them and hate them and want to kill them.

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 They don't just want to bear spray them.

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 They want to kill them, and they need a sanctuary.

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 So in many ways, what's going on in the book of Nehemiah speaks very deeply

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 to the longings and desires of lots of people in Canada today.

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 Many people in Canada, what they want is a sanctuary.

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 But we're caught in Canada because often,

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 well, first of all, certain places we just think aren't going to be sanctuaries whatsoever,

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 but there's also, in a sense, almost like this utopian idealism

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 that a certain place will be a sanctuary,

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 yet a skepticism and a cynicism as to whether you can ever find a sanctuary.

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 Because, as we know, families let you down, friends let you down,

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 institutions let you down, people who support you let you down.

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 I don't know how many of you have watched any of the testimonies

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 testimonies of people who've detransitioned,

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 but they have a very common theme, how their heart is broken,

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 that the psychologists, the psychiatrists, and the doctors

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 that have been so affirming and giving them lots of time,

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 the second they say they want to detransition

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 or they want to stop the procedures and they want to detransition,

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 they're abandoned.

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 They're just abandoned.

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 No more favorable time and counsel.

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 They just abandoned them.

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 They're just dropped.

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 Nowhere to go.

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 And so it's important to see that the book of Nehemiah,

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 in some ways, it's not just about a wall.

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 It's like me and the bear spray attack.

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 I want to go to a place of sanctuary where I'm not going to be sprayed.

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 That's what I want.

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 That's what's happening in the book of Nehemiah.

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 But now we see here, in a sense, the fears of our culture

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 that sometimes the place that we think of as a sanctuary

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 isn't a sanctuary because evil is there.

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 And that's what we see being addressed in Nehemiah 5.

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 It's a very, very contemporary story.

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 In some ways, it touches our deepest fears.

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 The place of sanctuary isn't a sanctuary.

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 So let's look at what happens.

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 If you have your Bibles, it's Nehemiah 5,

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 and it's good if you do have your Bible so you can follow along.

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 And once again, I'm going to use some of the imagery of scenes

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 as if it's a Netflix production to help us go through it.

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 So scene 1 is verses 1 to 4,

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 and the title of the scene is a good, positive title,

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 Poverty, Oppression, and Slavery.

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 And that's what this first scene is.

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 Look at this.

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 Now, chapter 5, verse 1,

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 Now there arose a great outcry of the people

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 and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.

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 Now, just sort of pause here for a second.

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 Brothers is the literal accurate word.

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 But there's two things here we need to understand.

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 First of all, it doesn't mean, like, I have one brother.

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 His name is Stephen.

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 It's not talking about that, you know, sense of biological connection.

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 It's really we see the entrance into human consciousness.

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 That's literally what's happening.

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 It's the entry into human consciousness

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 of the idea of human beings being brothers and sisters to each other.

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 Many people in Canada think this is a secular idea,

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 but it's not a secular idea.

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 It's a Christian idea.

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 It's not something that just comes from mere human reasoning.

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 It's a Christian idea.

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 And in this particular case,

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 they haven't quite understood that all human beings are brothers,

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 but they're talking now of their fellow Jews in the community.

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 And all the way through this story,

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 that's what's being referred to almost always.

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 Okay?

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 So read it again.

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 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives

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 against their Jewish brothers, the Jewish community.

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 For there were those who said,

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 here's part of the outcry,

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 with our sons and our daughters we are many.

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 So let us get grain that we may eat and keep alive.

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 There were also those who said,

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 we are mortgaging our fields and our vineyards and our houses

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 to get grain because of the famine.

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 And there were those who said,

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 we have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.

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 Now just sort of pause there.

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 We're going to see in a moment that what's this causing is slavery and oppression.

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 And there's a combination of famine and some type of crop failures.

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 And maybe because of the encircling armies,

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 there's not been able to get,

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 you know,

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 the food.

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 But what happens is the people,

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 we're going to see it now in the next couple of verses as it makes it very clear.

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 There's this combination of illegal and illegal things that the well-off are doing.

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 And what they're suffering under is the price of things is going up and up and up.

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 Food is scarce and taxes are going higher.

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 Nothing any of us can relate to with a cycle of things costing more and more,

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 less economic opportunity and taxes going higher.

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 We can't relate to that at all.

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 It's just,

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 this doesn't happen in Canada,

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 obviously.

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 Just as an aside,

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 never mind,

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 I won't do it.

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 Years ago,

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 we had a person who was the admin person,

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 and her name was Amy Van Hemmen.

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 And I would say things in staff meetings,

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 and she'd always look me right in the eye and say,

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 that's why we're not going to ever allow you to have a Twitter account.

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 So,

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 anyway,

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 let's see what happens.

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 So,

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 what we're going to see next is,

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 just as I said,

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 this idea of brothers is the entry into human consciousness of this idea of human beings being brothers.

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 It's definitely not a pagan idea.

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 For the pagans,

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 human beings aren't all equal.

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 They're not the same.

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 The emperor is a god.

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 The king is a god,

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 or a semi-god,

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 and human beings are slaves.

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 This is a radical new idea.

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 If you talk to our friends here who are from India,

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 they will tell you that they might believe that all human beings are equal.

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 But because of the strong belief in karma,

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 if you're poor,

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 if you're starving to death,

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 well,

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 that's just bad karma.

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 Like,

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 sucks to be you.

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 I've had good karma,

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 you had bad karma.

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 You have to all just work it out.

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 And this next cry is part of this entry,

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 how the Bible has changed the world.

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 Listen to what it says.

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 The next chapter is just one verse.

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 It's scene number two,

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 and it's called equally human.

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 Listen to verse five.

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 Now,

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 our flesh,

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 this is what they're complaining.

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 Our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers,

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 the other Jewish people.

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 Our children are as their children.

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 Yet,

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 we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves.

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 And some of our daughters have already been enslaved.

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 But it is not in our power to help it.

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 For other men have our fields and our vineyards.

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 Now,

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 I mean,

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 the fact of the matter is,

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 is that at a purely scientific level,

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 human beings aren't equal.

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 Some of us are smarter than others.

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 Some of us are stronger than others.

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 Some of us are old and close to death.

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 And some of us are young and hope we have decades left.

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 And at a completely objective scientific level,

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 human beings aren't equal.

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 But this is a Christian idea that has changed the world.

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 Listen,

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 we're all human.

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 We're all human.

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 And why is it that in this situation,

00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:43.539
 that there's these terrible things that are going on,

00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:46.159
 that are forcing some of us into poverty,

00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:47.939
 and some of us into slavery,

00:13:48.199 --> 00:13:49.219
 and some into death,

00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:50.800
 because of a lack of food?

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.840
 Now,

00:13:56.040 --> 00:13:56.480
 it's very,

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.279
 very interesting

00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:02.360
 that one of the common things of people outside of Christianity

00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:04.200
 would say that Christianity is oppressive,

00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.500
 without realizing that actually,

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.680
 even their understanding,

00:14:08.040 --> 00:14:10.200
 even your understanding of what oppressive means,

00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:12.220
 is actually something you learn from the Bible.

00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:14.620
 And the Bible,

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.360
 rather than just having an idealistic view of sanctuary,

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.560
 it understands our need for sanctuary.

00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:23.759
 But it also understands that humans being humans,

00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.720
 if it's going to be a sanctuary,

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:27.139
 steps have to be taken

00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:29.480
 to make it a true place of sanctuary,

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:31.860
 because things keep going wrong.

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.539
 And that's what we see next,

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.919
 in the next scene.

00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:36.139
 Scene number three,

00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.379
 verses six to eleven,

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.379
 and I've called it,

00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.139
 Good Anger.

00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:42.300
 Good Anger.

00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.360
 Look at what it says.

00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.080
 I was very angry

00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.240
 when I heard their outcry,

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.639
 and these words.

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:52.460
 I took counsel with myself,

00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:55.740
 and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials.

00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:56.600
 I said to them,

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:59.000
 You are exacting interest,

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.179
 each from his brother.

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:02.179
 I'm going to explain what that means in a moment.

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:05.039
 And I held a great assembly against them,

00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:05.720
 and said to them,

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.000
 We, as far as we are able,

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:10.220
 have bought back our Jewish brothers,

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.059
 who have been sold to the nations.

00:15:12.699 --> 00:15:14.360
 But you even sell your brothers,

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.919
 that they may be sold to us.

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.019
 They, that is,

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:19.539
 the people who are guilty of this,

00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.379
 were silent,

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:22.379
 and could not find a word to say.

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.980
 Because it's true.

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.860
 They got confronted with the truth.

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.500
 So I said,

00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:31.899
 The thing that you are doing is not good.

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:35.179
 Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God,

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.580
 to prevent the taunts of the nations,

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.600
 our enemies?

00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:40.639
 And I'm going to come back at the end to look at this.

00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:42.419
 This is a very odd thing.

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:46.799
 He explains his concern

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.779
 to deal with the hungry,

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:50.799
 and oppressors,

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.779
 and economic injustice,

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.819
 that what, in a sense,

00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:56.819
 motivates and grounds that

00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:58.000
 is the fear of God.

00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:01.879
 Verse 10.

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:04.379
 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:06.019
 are lending them money and grain.

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:08.259
 Let us abandon this exacting of interest.

00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:10.360
 Return to them this very day

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:10.980
 their fields,

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.720
 their vineyards,

00:16:11.839 --> 00:16:12.959
 their olive orchards,

00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:13.699
 and their houses,

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.120
 and the percentage of money,

00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:15.960
 grain, wine,

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:18.280
 and oil that you have been exacting from them.

00:16:18.900 --> 00:16:20.560
 Now, what's going on is this.

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:26.740
 The Old Testament has two different types of categories

00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:28.000
 of low-income people,

00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:30.720
 and two different ways of dealing with them.

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.920
 And I can't remember the politician

00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.980
 who said that the best welfare program

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:37.139
 in the world is a job.

00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:40.200
 Well, that's actually a Jewish and Christian idea.

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:42.399
 So the first group that are dealt with

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.480
 in the Old Testament law

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.019
 is that it's told that when,

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.460
 let's say,

00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:47.519
 I owned a grain field

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.000
 and I owned,

00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:48.980
 I owned,

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.879
 you know,

00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:51.920
 an olive orchard.

00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:56.040
 And when I and my workers go and harvest,

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:58.480
 we're not allowed to keep going over the field

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.300
 and over the field

00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:00.100
 and over the field

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.820
 until we get every last speck of grain

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:02.800
 and every last olive.

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:03.780
 You do a,

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:03.960
 you know,

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.440
 you do a,

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.440
 you go through it,

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:07.319
 but you intentionally leave

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.400
 some of the grain

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:10.259
 and some of the olives that are there.

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.259
 And if you have a vineyard,

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.019
 some of the grapes.

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.880
 And if you have a fig tree,

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:14.680
 some of the figs.

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:16.680
 And you intentionally leave some of it there

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:18.820
 so that those who don't have land,

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.100
 those who are displaced,

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:22.120
 those who are poor,

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.759
 they can go and harvest it.

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.820
 They have to work,

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:27.740
 but it's left there intentionally

00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.019
 for them to take.

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:32.820
 And the Old Testament doesn't forbid interest.

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:37.320
 The medieval church was wrong about this.

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.259
 They were wrong.

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:42.500
 The Old Testament doesn't forbid interest.

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:45.539
 What it does say is that for low-income people,

00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:47.079
 you don't charge them interest.

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.799
 That's what it says.

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:51.019
 It's part of the two-pronged attempt

00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:53.079
 to help low-income people.

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.720
 So in other words,

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.180
 you know,

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.119
 one of you folks,

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:58.400
 you have a chance to maybe get a field.

00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:01.339
 If I was to lend you the $50,000,

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:03.200
 and, you know,

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:03.619
 later on,

00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.400
 if you look in all the notes,

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.940
 they're probably charging about 12% interest a year,

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.839
 which in those days was very,

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.779
 very, very high.

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:14.859
 But if they have to pay me 12% a year,

00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:16.779
 it's going to be unaffordable for you.

00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:17.459
 Once again,

00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:19.500
 young people want to buy houses.

00:18:20.199 --> 00:18:21.679
 Nothing here we can relate to.

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.740
 Nothing here we can relate to at all.

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.799
 But the interest is going to kill you.

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.439
 And so that was part of how they helped the low-income.

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.000
 The other aspect of the low-income

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.199
 were those who,

00:18:32.459 --> 00:18:33.559
 because of age or infirmity,

00:18:33.699 --> 00:18:34.319
 couldn't work.

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.059
 And there it was required

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.799
 that your heart would be moved

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.059
 to have compassion

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.519
 and give alms,

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.399
 give them money.

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.759
 But two different classes.

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.579
 And so what's going on here

00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:47.559
 is that there's something both elite or improper,

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.019
 and, but, you know,

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.519
 two things are going on.

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.439
 First of all,

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:54.500
 they're not helping their low-income people

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:56.419
 because they're charging them interest.

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.879
 And the other thing what they're doing

00:18:57.879 --> 00:19:00.339
 is they're seizing,

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.899
 when they miss a payment,

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:03.280
 they seize the collateral

00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:05.240
 or they seize part of the property

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.840
 so that they get their interest,

00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:07.720
 so to speak.

00:19:08.300 --> 00:19:09.920
 And so what that's doing to them

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:12.519
 is we now have a cycle of poverty going on.

00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.220
 They're trying to work the land,

00:19:14.280 --> 00:19:15.320
 but they can't work the land

00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:16.620
 because they have less land.

00:19:17.080 --> 00:19:18.380
 And because they have less land,

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.500
 they can't make the payments.

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.960
 And when they can't make the payments,

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.800
 the people take more land.

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:24.180
 You see the thing?

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:26.259
 And so there's this downward cycle

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.640
 that's going on for the people,

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.480
 and Nehemiah hasn't been aware of it.

00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:31.120
 And so he's fighting about it,

00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:32.139
 and he just confronts them.

00:19:32.179 --> 00:19:33.079
 And the other thing he's saying is,

00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:34.739
 listen, it sounds as if

00:19:34.739 --> 00:19:36.079
 they've been pulling their resources

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.299
 to buy people out of slavery.

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.099
 And he said, listen,

00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.339
 you've been pulling money

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:41.539
 to buy people out of slavery

00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:43.119
 only so you can make them a slave?

00:19:43.239 --> 00:19:44.579
 Like, how does that make any sense?

00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:47.359
 How does that make any sense?

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:50.099
 Like, how can that possibly be good?

00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:52.299
 And so he confronts them.

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:53.519
 He has good anger.

00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:55.259
 You see, the fact of the matter is

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:57.219
 you should be angry at injustice.

00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:59.179
 You should be angry at oppression.

00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:02.880
 You should be angry at the poor being,

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.440
 you know, having things taken from.

00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.360
 We should be angry about that.

00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:09.080
 That's good anger.

00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:16.759
 But it's not, he's not driven by anger.

00:20:18.820 --> 00:20:20.660
 He's driven by justice.

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:25.540
 And, you know, in many cases,

00:20:26.540 --> 00:20:30.900
 the best thing is to have a person's heart pierced

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:34.860
 so they desire repentance and amendment of life.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.920
 And that's what Nehemiah's goal is.

00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:41.080
 He wants to see the suffering relieved,

00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:43.820
 a change of heart of the oppressors,

00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:46.040
 and something costly happen.

00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:46.680
 And that's what we see.

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:48.279
 Look at what happens in the next scene,

00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:49.600
 verses 12 and 13,

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:51.440
 which I'm calling true repentance.

00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.080
 And it goes like this.

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.420
 Find verse 12.

00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.560
 Then they said,

00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.960
 this is the people who are the rich,

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.320
 we will restore these

00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:03.519
 and require nothing from them.

00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:05.060
 We will do as you say.

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:07.100
 And I called the priests

00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:09.940
 and made them swear to do as they had promised.

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:13.600
 I also shook out the fold of my garments and said,

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:16.680
 so may God shake out every man from his house

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:19.019
 and from his labor who does not keep this promise.

00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:21.660
 So may he be shaken out and emptied.

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.019
 And all the enemies,

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.320
 all the assembly said,

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.900
 amen and praise the Lord.

00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:28.880
 And the people did as they had promised.

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.779
 This is a very, very important text.

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:32.380
 What he's doing here is,

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.700
 when he's shaking out his garment,

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:34.420
 is he's saying,

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:37.340
 this is a symbolic prophetic act

00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:40.100
 to show that this is what God thinks of them.

00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.300
 You see this,

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:42.900
 you know,

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.480
 once again,

00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:45.360
 in the world of their time,

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:47.360
 God is the God of the powerful,

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.640
 the king,

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.360
 and the higher you get towards,

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:50.940
 in a sense,

00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.259
 the hierarchy of the culture,

00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:54.800
 the more God-like or semi-divine you are,

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.580
 and the people are slaves.

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.480
 And so in a sense,

00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:01.420
 oppression is built right into the system.

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.920
 Just as in a sense,

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.640
 all Marxist system of thought

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.820
 builds within it,

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.840
 tragically,

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.960
 a type of oppression.

00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:10.820
 Because in all types of Marxist thought,

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.779
 it's completely and utterly valid

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:14.860
 to do whatever you want

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:16.580
 to the people who happen to have power.

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:18.920
 You can be as evil as you want towards them,

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.259
 and the end justifies the means,

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:24.039
 and that creates profound hardship.

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.000
 And it doesn't matter

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.700
 whether it's full-on Marxism

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:29.279
 or whether it's other types of soft Marxism.

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.400
 I'll say it,

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.820
 like you see in critical theory.

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.480
 It always ends up

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:36.859
 furthering the cycle of oppression.

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.339
 And what Nehemiah wants,

00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:42.339
 he obviously wants things to be just,

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:44.220
 but what he's getting out of these people

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.359
 is even better.

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.939
 They see that it's wrong.

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.000
 They see that God,

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.460
 in fact,

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.460
 hates oppression.

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:52.700
 And they give everything back.

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.799
 And they promise

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.759
 that they will start going back

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:58.259
 to not doing right to the edge

00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.460
 and lending loans to money,

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.819
 giving people loans

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:03.180
 and not exacting interest

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:05.619
 so people can work their way

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:07.000
 out of the cycle of poverty

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:09.119
 and work themselves back into a place

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.079
 so that within the walls,

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.579
 when the walls are finally finished,

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.559
 because this is going on

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:15.200
 while the walls are still being built,

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.400
 that this can be a sanctuary.

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:17.620
 sanctuary.

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:20.740
 This can be a sanctuary.

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.420
 But you know,

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:28.640
 that by itself is still not going to create

00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.560
 a true sanctuary.

00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:32.060
 And what you see in this next bit

00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:33.960
 are two beautiful illustrations

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.400
 of the beautiful life.

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:38.120
 The next section is

00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:40.180
 A Beautiful Ambition.

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.360
 A Beautiful Ambition.

00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.600
 Scene 4,

00:23:43.800 --> 00:23:45.180
 verses 14 to 16.

00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:48.560
 Now, this is just Nehemiah talking.

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:50.000
 It's part of his memoirs.

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.259
 Moreover,

00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:53.080
 from the time that I was appointed

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.060
 to be their governor

00:23:54.060 --> 00:23:55.560
 in the land of Judah,

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.000
 this is now where we discover

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.080
 that he's actually the governor

00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:00.000
 of the area.

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.920
 He hadn't revealed it earlier.

00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.240
 Sorry,

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.720
 be their governor of Judah

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.920
 from the 20th year

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.160
 to the 32nd year

00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:08.500
 of Artaxerxes the king,

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.299
 12 years.

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.720
 Neither I nor my brothers

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.079
 ate the food allowance

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.700
 of the governor.

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.900
 The former governors

00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.059
 who were before me

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.240
 laid heavy burdens

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.920
 on the people

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:21.620
 and took from them

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:24.319
 for their daily ration

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:26.019
 40 shekels of silver.

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.480
 Even their servants,

00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:29.420
 that's the governor's servants,

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.799
 lorded over the people.

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.940
 But I did not do so,

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.160
 and note here again

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.740
 the second reason.

00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.779
 Why is he going to do

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.460
 something like this?

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:38.380
 It's because of the fear of God.

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.420
 I also persevered

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.420
 in the work on this wall

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.840
 and we acquired no land

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.200
 and all my servants

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.060
 were gathered there

00:24:45.060 --> 00:24:45.680
 for the work.

00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.900
 Now, just sort of pause there.

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.800
 This is a beautiful ambition.

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.279
 It's not anti-money.

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.519
 As we're going to be able

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.320
 to see in a moment,

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.940
 Nehemiah obviously

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:57.019
 had some means,

00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.460
 some financial means,

00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:00.000
 and he did own some fields.

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.980
 And as we're going to see

00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.420
 in a moment,

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.079
 he obviously

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:06.240
 was quite well off.

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.519
 And so this isn't

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:09.380
 an anti-money text.

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.279
 But what it's doing

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.299
 is showing something

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.039
 which is very,

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.799
 very significant.

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.240
 So the Bible doesn't want

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.980
 to dishearten you.

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.720
 If you're younger

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.740
 and you'd like to have

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.559
 a steady job

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.480
 and you'd like to have

00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.220
 some promotions

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.279
 and you'd like to be able

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.960
 to have some day

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.740
 where you own a house

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.240
 of your own,

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.500
 you'd like to complete

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:25.900
 your degree,

00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.960
 the Bible doesn't say

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.700
 shame on you.

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.320
 You shouldn't have

00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:29.080
 those ambitions.

00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:31.120
 But it wants to warn you

00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.660
 and it warns you

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:33.080
 in a very, very subtle way

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:34.440
 that once you go down

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.180
 that path,

00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.480
 it can end up leading you

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.480
 to oppress people.

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:38.900
 That in fact,

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.380
 the goal shouldn't just be

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:41.580
 that I come to that point

00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:42.259
 in time when I have,

00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:42.600
 let's say,

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.320
 10 fields,

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.320
 but I always want

00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.220
 one more field.

00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:45.880
 I always want

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.660
 one more field.

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.200
 I always want

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.980
 one more field.

00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:48.580
 That there comes

00:25:48.580 --> 00:25:49.340
 a point in time

00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:50.240
 when you should,

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:50.680
 in a sense,

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.860
 just also be content.

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:53.560
 And it's not that

00:25:53.560 --> 00:25:54.800
 owning fields are bad.

00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:57.159
 if nobody owned fields

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.579
 and nobody were farmers,

00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.279
 we wouldn't be able

00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.839
 to eat.

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:00.859
 Like,

00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:01.740
 we should pray

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:03.279
 that lots of people

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.379
 want to become farmers.

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.379
 We should pray

00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.379
 for full employment

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.619
 in our economy.

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.680
 These are good things

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.720
 for us to pray for.

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.460
 We should pray

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.579
 that our government

00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.359
 doesn't do

00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.799
 monetary policy

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.039
 and taxation things

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.759
 and other types

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.159
 of things

00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.460
 that hampers

00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.639
 productivity.

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.740
 We should want

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.279
 productivity.

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.339
 There's nothing wrong

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.159
 with productivity.

00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.639
 It's a good thing.

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.659
 But it's not

00:26:25.659 --> 00:26:26.619
 the end all.

00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.339
 There's a point

00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:30.720
 in time

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.579
 when you can just say,

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:31.879
 you know,

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.259
 I'm not going

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.200
 to lord it over people

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.119
 and I see,

00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.240
 you know what,

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:39.799
 I don't have to look

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.299
 at the world

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.700
 and say,

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:40.919
 you know,

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.419
 I have this

00:26:41.419 --> 00:26:42.740
 $100,000 car

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.399
 but if I just

00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.119
 worked a little bit

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.339
 harder,

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.799
 I could have

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.720
 a $150,000 car

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.599
 because I know

00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.139
 people have

00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.940
 $150,000 cars.

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.059
 And then once

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.519
 you have that

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.960
 $150,000 car,

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.839
 you're not satisfied

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.240
 with it

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.740
 because you see

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.199
 people with

00:26:55.199 --> 00:26:56.619
 $200,000 cars

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:56.959
 and you see,

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.359
 I'd like to have

00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:58.859
 that $200,000 car.

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.199
 And you know what,

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:00.819
 then you're not

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.659
 satisfied with that

00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.119
 because you see

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:02.839
 somebody who has

00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:05.519
 a $300,000 car

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:07.740
 and a $250,000 car

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.179
 and you see,

00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.699
 I've got to work

00:27:08.699 --> 00:27:09.359
 harder and harder

00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.019
 to get that.

00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:10.879
 Well,

00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.439
 that's just,

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:13.179
 that's just a trap.

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:17.900
 And so he does

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.340
 with less.

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.340
 He forgoes,

00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:19.820
 in a sense,

00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.420
 a raise.

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.360
 What?

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.080
 He forgoes

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.440
 a raise.

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:23.799
 Why?

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.960
 Because he could

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.799
 have that raise,

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.640
 that tax,

00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:29.120
 but it would just

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.840
 add to the burden

00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.460
 of all the other

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:30.860
 people.

00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.400
 And he chooses

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.160
 not to do it.

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.519
 He chooses

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.420
 to have less.

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:40.800
 Let me tell you,

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.560
 I think the Bible

00:27:43.560 --> 00:27:44.580
 calls people

00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:45.200
 who are followers

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:45.720
 of Jesus,

00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.180
 if you're not

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:47.019
 a follower of Jesus,

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.860
 you can just listen

00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.900
 to this and file it away,

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.400
 probably not going

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.220
 to surprise you,

00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:54.120
 that we don't want

00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:54.580
 to have money

00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.500
 rule our lives

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.560
 and we don't want

00:27:56.560 --> 00:27:57.140
 to have power

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.120
 rule our lives.

00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.539
 We want to be

00:27:59.539 --> 00:27:59.960
 characterized

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.980
 by generosity

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:02.740
 and we want to be

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.120
 characterized

00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:04.160
 by compassion.

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.660
 And you can't

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.220
 be characterized

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.100
 by generosity

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.919
 of your compassion

00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:09.439
 if sometimes

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.279
 you don't give up

00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.240
 some of your power

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.439
 and if you don't

00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:12.980
 give up some

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.459
 of your money.

00:28:14.439 --> 00:28:15.099
 To think that

00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.659
 you're generous

00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:17.219
 and you only want

00:28:17.219 --> 00:28:17.659
 more money,

00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.219
 you never give

00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:18.619
 money away,

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:19.619
 I hate to tell you

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:19.779
 this,

00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.359
 but you're actually

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:20.980
 not generous.

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.000
 You're generous

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.919
 in your mind,

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.179
 you're a legendary

00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:26.159
 generous person

00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:26.619
 in your mind,

00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:27.459
 but you're actually

00:28:27.459 --> 00:28:28.259
 miserly

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.819
 and consumed

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.480
 with a love

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.019
 for money.

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:34.039
 I hate to say that,

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.419
 but I'm going

00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:35.839
 to say it

00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.500
 because that's true.

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:40.419
 And if you're

00:28:40.419 --> 00:28:40.959
 generous

00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:42.199
 to the cause

00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:42.799
 of the gospel

00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.219
 and if you're

00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:44.219
 generous to the poor,

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.539
 you're going

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.259
 to have less money.

00:28:45.959 --> 00:28:46.959
 It might mean

00:28:46.959 --> 00:28:48.319
 that you can't

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.579
 drive the latest

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.199
 Lexus,

00:28:50.439 --> 00:28:52.079
 you have to drive

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.199
 a Lexus

00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:54.099
 which is five years

00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:54.519
 old

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.759
 because you're

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.059
 going to have

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.639
 less money.

00:28:58.439 --> 00:28:59.119
 But you know

00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.299
 what?

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.279
 It's a lot better

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.679
 to have Jesus

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:02.599
 as Lord of your life

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.480
 than money and power

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.459
 as Lord of your life

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:07.200
 because money and power

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.860
 doesn't care

00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.779
 a hoot about you

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.680
 and will only

00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.100
 leave you

00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:11.840
 discontented

00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:12.519
 and unhappy,

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.380
 always looking

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.980
 for more.

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.559
 And it's not just

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.579
 that Nehemiah

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:20.559
 forgoes

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.799
 some money

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.100
 and some financial

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.799
 opportunities.

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.240
 He's also

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.440
 actively generous.

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.740
 Look at the final scene.

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.779
 A beautiful life,

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.480
 scene six,

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:34.160
 verses 17 to 19.

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.740
 Here's what it says.

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.620
 Moreover,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:39.099
 there were at my table

00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:41.299
 150 men,

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.480
 Jews and officials,

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.680
 besides those

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.519
 who came to us

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.200
 from the nations

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.099
 who are around us.

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.279
 He practiced

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.960
 costly hospitality.

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.920
 Every day

00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.539
 he'd feed over

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.660
 150 people

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:55.299
 at his own expense.

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.519
 Now what was prepared

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.860
 at my expense

00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.880
 for each day

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:02.260
 was one ox,

00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:04.760
 six choice sheep.

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.260
 You vegetarians

00:30:06.260 --> 00:30:07.120
 have to block

00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:07.600
 your ears

00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.580
 for this little bit,

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.080
 by the way.

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:13.060
 Six choice sheep,

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.820
 a variety of birds,

00:30:15.060 --> 00:30:15.940
 and every day

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.660
 and every 10 days

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.940
 all kinds of wine

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.720
 in abundance.

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.400
 Yet for all this

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.600
 I did not demand

00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.360
 the food allowance

00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:23.940
 of the governor

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:25.580
 because the service

00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:26.620
 was too heavy

00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.300
 on this people.

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:27.780
 In other words,

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.440
 the taxation

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.220
 was too heavy.

00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.460
 Remember for my good,

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.099
 oh my God,

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.859
 all that I have done

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.579
 for this people.

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.619
 Just one last thing

00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.339
 before we try to,

00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:39.940
 I tie it up

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.539
 with the fear

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.019
 of the Lord.

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.519
 One of the problems

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.639
 we have in this country

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:46.859
 is that we want,

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:49.059
 see what Nehemiah does

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:52.059
 is he confronts people,

00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:54.859
 but he himself

00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.899
 personally

00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:57.220
 cuts back

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.460
 to help other people live.

00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.960
 We want the government

00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.899
 to fix things

00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:03.259
 with other people's money.

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.139
 That's what we want.

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.940
 The average,

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.619
 not the average,

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.799
 almost all Canadians

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.700
 think the government

00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.480
 should do something

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.099
 about that

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.960
 and I think,

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.359
 the government

00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.019
 should do something

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.659
 about that

00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.240
 and I think

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.759
 you should take

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.079
 the money

00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:19.119
 from all these people

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.099
 to do that.

00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.119
 Me,

00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:22.079
 I want all my money.

00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:24.239
 That's how Canadians think

00:31:24.239 --> 00:31:26.339
 and the gospel

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.799
 is a very,

00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:28.079
 the Bible

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.079
 is confronting us.

00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:30.119
 If we want a sanctuary,

00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:32.159
 if we want to have

00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:32.559
 a place,

00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.719
 not just where there are walls

00:31:33.719 --> 00:31:34.339
 where enemies

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.279
 can't attack us,

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.959
 we need to deal

00:31:35.959 --> 00:31:36.639
 with oppression,

00:31:37.739 --> 00:31:39.099
 we need to see

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:40.319
 that we put in place

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.059
 things that allow

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:42.239
 people to be prosperous

00:31:42.239 --> 00:31:44.339
 and we need

00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.279
 to hate oppression

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.399
 and we need to have

00:31:46.399 --> 00:31:47.279
 a heart for those

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:47.879
 who are weak

00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:49.199
 and those who are poor

00:31:49.199 --> 00:31:50.219
 and most of all

00:31:50.219 --> 00:31:51.059
 we need to be generous.

00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:53.239
 It's not going

00:31:53.239 --> 00:31:53.939
 to be a sanctuary

00:31:53.939 --> 00:31:55.119
 if we're not generous.

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.339
 It's just not going

00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.719
 to happen.

00:31:58.199 --> 00:31:59.259
 Now what's all this stuff

00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.259
 about the fear of God?

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.359
 Like that just seems

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.259
 like the weirdest idea

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.759
 in the world

00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:04.399
 and you'll see

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.459
 that what motivates him

00:32:05.459 --> 00:32:06.279
 in both parts

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.319
 is his fear of God.

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.259
 What motivates him

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.319
 to confront oppression

00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.679
 and deal with

00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:12.259
 the cycle of poverty

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.719
 and what confronts him

00:32:13.719 --> 00:32:15.539
 to be content

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.139
 with less

00:32:16.139 --> 00:32:16.699
 and not only

00:32:16.699 --> 00:32:17.339
 to be content

00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:17.859
 with less

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.479
 but within his wealth

00:32:19.479 --> 00:32:20.539
 and he's a wealthy man,

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.980
 only a wealthy person

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.379
 can feed 150 people

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:23.859
 every day.

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.319
 So he's wealthy.

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.859
 It's not an anti-wealth text

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:29.079
 but it's a pro-generosity text

00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:32.299
 and it's a pro-cycle

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.099
 of prosperity

00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:34.079
 rather than a cycle

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:36.059
 of poverty text

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:38.680
 but it's the fear

00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.019
 of God

00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:39.940
 that motivates this.

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:41.799
 So it's very counterintuitive.

00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:42.519
 It sounds terrible.

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.700
 I'm going to do this briefly

00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.799
 but here's the prayer.

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.799
 I'm going to say this

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.259
 at the beginning

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:46.759
 and the end

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.420
 and it's a prayer

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.340
 that I hope you will want

00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.120
 to pray by the end

00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.640
 of the sermon.

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.600
 Father,

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.840
 first point,

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.180
 Father,

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.620
 please make the person

00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:55.160
 of Jesus,

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:57.000
 his completed work

00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.380
 and his words

00:32:58.380 --> 00:33:00.200
 ever more precious

00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:01.559
 to my heart

00:33:01.559 --> 00:33:03.460
 so that in the power

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.460
 of the Holy Spirit

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.640
 I will walk free

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:08.120
 in the fear of God.

00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:10.880
 Notice it's Trinitarian.

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:11.539
 By the way,

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.279
 it's Trinity Sunday.

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:14.160
 I made it as a Trinitarian prayer.

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:15.559
 All real good prayers

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.480
 should be Trinitarian.

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:17.779
 Father,

00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:18.819
 please make the person

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.259
 of Jesus,

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.480
 his completed work

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.220
 and his words

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.079
 ever more precious

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.819
 to my heart

00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:24.120
 so that in the power

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:25.019
 of the Holy Spirit

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.960
 I will walk free

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.960
 in the fear of God.

00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.200
 Now,

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:30.420
 so what's going on here

00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:31.100
 with the fear of God?

00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:31.259
 Well,

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.420
 to understand the fear of God

00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.299
 we have to understand

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.940
 something about

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:34.900
 the human condition

00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:36.740
 and that is that

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.820
 as human beings

00:33:37.820 --> 00:33:38.820
 we are sinners.

00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.660
 We sin

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.620
 and the Bible

00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.400
 doesn't use sin

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.559
 just to talk about sex

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:44.120
 as if all sex is bad.

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.320
 It's talking about

00:33:45.320 --> 00:33:47.320
 something more objective

00:33:47.320 --> 00:33:48.600
 that we see in the world

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:49.840
 and it's a unique doctrine

00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:50.400
 of Christianity.

00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.140
 It's the only,

00:33:51.580 --> 00:33:52.420
 it's an empirically

00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:53.620
 proven doctrine

00:33:53.620 --> 00:33:55.240
 that all human beings

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.400
 do things which are evil

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.140
 and here,

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:57.620
 if you could put up

00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.220
 the second point,

00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:58.860
 it's this.

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:02.180
 Sin is an ever deeper descent,

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.440
 descent,

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.120
 going lower,

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.700
 into the vain

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:07.320
 and ruinous belief

00:34:07.320 --> 00:34:08.519
 that you are God.

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:11.440
 Sin is an ever deeper descent

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.260
 into the vain

00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:13.400
 and ruinous belief

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.679
 that you are God.

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.420
 Now,

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:18.740
 one of the things

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.960
 that we understand

00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.579
 as Christians

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.200
 is that God

00:34:21.200 --> 00:34:22.240
 in his common grace

00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:23.159
 doesn't allow sin

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:24.159
 to consume us.

00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.639
 That it's part

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.860
 of his common grace

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:29.639
 that we sin in areas

00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:31.019
 but we still have

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.960
 some human freedom.

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:33.420
 we don't come completely

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.679
 and utterly consumed

00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:35.420
 by sin

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:37.000
 and in fact,

00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:38.740
 in both the Old

00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:39.500
 and the New Testament,

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:41.000
 there is a whole other sermon

00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:41.659
 but sometimes

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.519
 what God does

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.920
 to try to wake us up

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.599
 is he,

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.400
 in a sense,

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.500
 he removes part

00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.659
 of his restraints

00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:49.000
 from us

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.720
 so that we experience

00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:52.599
 the full tug

00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:53.679
 of our desires,

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:56.440
 our evil desires.

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.400
 but what happens

00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.659
 when this takes place

00:34:58.659 --> 00:34:59.579
 in a human being,

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:01.159
 this type of pride

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.200
 that we are God,

00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:04.019
 it's a vain belief,

00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.000
 it's self-flattering

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.000
 and it's something

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.840
 which is never going

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.400
 to come true

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.679
 and it's ruinous to us,

00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.720
 is this becomes

00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:11.579
 more real to us

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.380
 than a human being

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:13.420
 becomes an equivalent

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.639
 of a black hole.

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.940
 A black hole

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:17.360
 is a star

00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.079
 where the matter

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:19.340
 has become so dense

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:19.980
 that the gravity

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.780
 is so strong

00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.820
 that life can't

00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:23.039
 escape from it

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:24.300
 and it sucks

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:24.739
 in a sense

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:25.199
 the life

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.860
 and everything else

00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:27.219
 back into its mass

00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:28.099
 making its mass

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:29.440
 even more dense

00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:31.420
 and that's in a sense

00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:32.000
 what can happen

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.880
 to human beings

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:35.000
 and as we,

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:35.500
 in a sense,

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:37.139
 become just more consumed

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.800
 with being,

00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:38.920
 you know,

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.759
 seeing ourselves

00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:40.659
 almost like God

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:42.219
 then what that does

00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:43.320
 is it makes

00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:44.400
 the whole universe

00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:46.099
 out of order for us

00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:47.039
 because we become

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.840
 so important,

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.320
 people have to become

00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:50.119
 less important,

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:50.980
 the more important

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.719
 we feel

00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:53.019
 we need to be,

00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.259
 we deserve to be,

00:35:54.379 --> 00:35:55.480
 we have to be,

00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:56.719
 you know,

00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.679
 the more concerned

00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:59.119
 we are about manifesting

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.259
 and about the secret

00:36:00.259 --> 00:36:01.239
 and all of this stuff,

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:03.000
 that's all just stuff

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:04.559
 that furthers our pride

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:06.339
 and then when that happens,

00:36:06.899 --> 00:36:07.699
 people become,

00:36:07.839 --> 00:36:09.079
 seem like they're farther away,

00:36:09.259 --> 00:36:09.699
 they become,

00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:11.139
 they seem like they're smaller,

00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:12.559
 it becomes easier

00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.379
 to hurt them,

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.419
 it becomes easier

00:36:14.419 --> 00:36:15.399
 to say a hard word

00:36:15.399 --> 00:36:15.899
 to them,

00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:17.199
 it becomes easier

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.359
 to oppress them,

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.199
 we can get away

00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:19.899
 with saying whatever

00:36:19.899 --> 00:36:21.379
 we bloody well want

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:22.260
 about other people

00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:23.240
 and it's because

00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:23.640
 we just,

00:36:23.800 --> 00:36:25.340
 the world becomes weird,

00:36:26.240 --> 00:36:27.599
 when I was in Calgary

00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:28.579
 I went and spent a day

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.559
 with my son in Airdrie,

00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:30.500
 we went into Calgary

00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.539
 and then went back to Airdrie

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.380
 and if you've ever been

00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:34.119
 to Calgary or to Airdrie,

00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:35.340
 when you're coming

00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:36.039
 along the road

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:37.099
 there comes a time

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.680
 when you can see

00:36:37.680 --> 00:36:39.099
 the big skyscrapers

00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.680
 in Calgary

00:36:39.680 --> 00:36:40.559
 off in the distance

00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:42.059
 and if you were the passenger

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.680
 don't do this

00:36:42.680 --> 00:36:43.380
 while you're driving,

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.440
 keep your eyes on the road

00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:45.360
 and both hands on the wheel

00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:46.500
 but you know

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.380
 you could put your fingers

00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:48.059
 like this

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.099
 and you could put

00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.920
 your fingers like this

00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.340
 and they're bigger

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:51.019
 than the buildings.

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.660
 Of course that's not really,

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:55.039
 the buildings are 30,

00:36:55.140 --> 00:36:56.600
 40 stories tall,

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.400
 they're not this big,

00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.400
 you're not so big

00:36:59.400 --> 00:36:59.900
 that you can put

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.980
 your fingers around them

00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:02.400
 but the buildings

00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:03.200
 seem far away,

00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:04.240
 you seem so big

00:37:04.240 --> 00:37:04.980
 and it's just a matter

00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:05.579
 of perspective

00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:06.420
 and that's what pride

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:06.900
 does to you,

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.420
 makes things,

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.420
 other people,

00:37:08.539 --> 00:37:09.320
 makes the real world

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:10.039
 seem small,

00:37:10.160 --> 00:37:10.620
 other people

00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:11.039
 and their needs

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.640
 real small,

00:37:11.740 --> 00:37:12.700
 it becomes effortless

00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:14.079
 to slide

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:15.300
 into oppressing them.

00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:18.180
 So what is the fear of God?

00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:19.080
 Well the fear of God

00:37:19.080 --> 00:37:19.600
 is this,

00:37:20.220 --> 00:37:21.080
 the fear of God

00:37:21.080 --> 00:37:22.500
 is an ever deepening

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:24.560
 existential knowing

00:37:24.560 --> 00:37:26.260
 of the difference

00:37:26.260 --> 00:37:27.800
 between the triune God

00:37:27.800 --> 00:37:28.400
 and you

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.960
 so that there is

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.960
 no confusion

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.300
 or imagined

00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:33.120
 commingling

00:37:33.120 --> 00:37:33.960
 on your part.

00:37:34.140 --> 00:37:34.740
 I'll say it again,

00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.160
 the fear of God

00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:37.500
 is an ever deepening

00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.500
 existential,

00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:40.800
 like a knowledge

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:41.440
 at the level

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.360
 of your existence,

00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.519
 that's what I mean by it,

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.860
 knowing of the difference

00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:46.059
 between the triune God

00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:46.460
 and you

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.739
 so that there is

00:37:47.739 --> 00:37:48.659
 no confusion

00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:49.880
 or imagined

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:50.539
 commingling

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.300
 on your part.

00:37:52.259 --> 00:37:53.159
 How does this work out?

00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:53.519
 Well,

00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:55.539
 it's very easy

00:37:55.539 --> 00:37:56.500
 for a parent

00:37:56.500 --> 00:37:57.059
 to think that

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.719
 what's good for them

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.280
 is going to be good

00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:58.920
 for their kids.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:00.059
 Well that's not always true.

00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.759
 It's very easy

00:38:01.759 --> 00:38:02.480
 for a parent

00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:02.980
 to think that

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.880
 what makes me happy

00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:04.380
 is going to make

00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:05.079
 the kids happy.

00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:06.440
 Well that's not always true.

00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:07.900
 And it's not only

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.780
 just true with our kids,

00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:09.860
 it's true with the spouse,

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:11.000
 it's true with our neighbors,

00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:12.219
 it's true with our society.

00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:14.039
 We consistently confuse

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:15.359
 what I desire

00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:16.839
 for what others desire.

00:38:17.379 --> 00:38:18.259
 And in particular

00:38:18.259 --> 00:38:19.339
 that what I desire

00:38:19.339 --> 00:38:21.379
 obviously is what God desires.

00:38:21.459 --> 00:38:22.480
 What's going to make me happy,

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.059
 well obviously

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:24.379
 that's going to make God happy.

00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:25.619
 What I think is good

00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.519
 is obviously God

00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:27.480
 is going to think that's good.

00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:28.439
 What I think is just,

00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.299
 obviously God

00:38:29.299 --> 00:38:30.539
 is going to think that's just.

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:31.619
 What's,

00:38:32.299 --> 00:38:32.719
 you know,

00:38:32.859 --> 00:38:34.559
 and that's what happens

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:36.339
 is we lose sense

00:38:36.339 --> 00:38:39.259
 of our boundary with others

00:38:39.259 --> 00:38:40.899
 and our boundary with God.

00:38:40.900 --> 00:38:42.340
 We just lose those things.

00:38:42.539 --> 00:38:43.660
 We don't have a sense

00:38:43.660 --> 00:38:44.360
 of those boundaries.

00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:46.420
 Sin constantly is confusing us

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.320
 about these things.

00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:49.039
 And so the fear of God,

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:51.059
 and here we see

00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:52.500
 Christians understand

00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.920
 that God in his common grace

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:55.099
 gives all human beings

00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:56.519
 a certain degree of this.

00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:59.519
 And maybe even some people

00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:01.300
 an exemplary degree of this,

00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:04.380
 but it's this growing knowledge

00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:06.619
 that this is George

00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:09.159
 and these are my boundaries.

00:39:09.759 --> 00:39:11.059
 And this is Louise

00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:12.900
 and those are her boundaries.

00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.799
 But more than that,

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.779
 this is God.

00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:16.299
 And God is,

00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:18.039
 God begins and ends here

00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:19.639
 and George begins and ends here

00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:20.900
 and George is not God.

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:21.839
 He's never God.

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:23.339
 He's always different than God

00:39:23.339 --> 00:39:25.059
 and God is always different than him.

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:26.599
 And that is good

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:28.279
 and that is necessary

00:39:28.279 --> 00:39:29.519
 and that is important.

00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:30.559
 And I have a,

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.039
 the fear of God

00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:33.079
 is a growing horror

00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:35.000
 that I would ever transgress

00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:36.000
 and start to think

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.340
 that somehow my happiness

00:39:37.340 --> 00:39:38.519
 is God's happiness,

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.699
 that that would be

00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:41.099
 a horrible thing to me.

00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:42.079
 It would be repulsive.

00:39:42.300 --> 00:39:44.679
 And it's why in the Bible

00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:46.340
 you get all these weird texts

00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:47.619
 about how the fear of God

00:39:47.619 --> 00:39:48.460
 is connected with

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:49.460
 an intense longing

00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:50.460
 and yearning for God

00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:51.360
 and a love for God.

00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:52.860
 And that can only happen

00:39:52.860 --> 00:39:53.659
 if you understand

00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:55.059
 that God is different from you.

00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:56.300
 And when he's different from you,

00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.860
 then you can long for him.

00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:59.000
 You can yearn for him.

00:39:59.219 --> 00:40:00.460
 You can delight in him

00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:02.059
 because he's different than you.

00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:04.360
 And it also starts to mean

00:40:04.360 --> 00:40:05.900
 that it's without the fear of God,

00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:06.800
 without understanding

00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:08.200
 the difference between God and you,

00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:10.039
 you can never know yourself

00:40:10.039 --> 00:40:12.460
 and you can never know other people.

00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:13.860
 And so that as you grow

00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:14.920
 in the fear of God,

00:40:15.140 --> 00:40:16.599
 people become right-sized.

00:40:17.019 --> 00:40:18.800
 You see people in the world

00:40:18.800 --> 00:40:20.660
 and you realize God's heart

00:40:20.660 --> 00:40:21.720
 that he's different from you.

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:23.920
 You realize his standards of justice,

00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:25.400
 his concern for the weak,

00:40:25.720 --> 00:40:27.280
 his concern for the powerless,

00:40:27.700 --> 00:40:28.960
 his concern for people

00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:30.140
 to come to know his son.

00:40:30.139 --> 00:40:32.859
 And that heart becomes your heart

00:40:32.859 --> 00:40:34.900
 as part of the fear of God.

00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:37.739
 That's why it's the fear of God

00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:41.039
 that motivates Nehemiah

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.199
 to fight oppression.

00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:43.960
 It's the fear of God

00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:45.319
 that motivates him

00:40:45.319 --> 00:40:47.259
 to be content with less.

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.739
 It's the fear of God

00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:49.920
 that motivates him

00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:50.699
 to be generous.

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:54.719
 I want to fear God.

00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:58.439
 I want to grow in that.

00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:01.539
 I want our church to grow in it.

00:41:04.379 --> 00:41:05.179
 I don't know.

00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:06.939
 It would be the world's

00:41:06.939 --> 00:41:08.719
 most repulsive mission statement,

00:41:08.879 --> 00:41:10.459
 but maybe our mission statement is

00:41:10.459 --> 00:41:11.539
 we want a people

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:13.159
 who walk in the fear of God.

00:41:18.399 --> 00:41:19.919
 You can't do things like that.

00:41:19.980 --> 00:41:20.359
 You have to be

00:41:20.359 --> 00:41:21.399
 a little bit more winsome.

00:41:22.299 --> 00:41:23.000
 And here's the thing.

00:41:23.059 --> 00:41:24.459
 The life-giving grace of God,

00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:25.199
 the fourth point,

00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:26.900
 in Christ Jesus changes everything.

00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:28.440
 It's all part of God's grace

00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:29.840
 that human beings have,

00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:31.320
 whether they're conscious of it or not,

00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:32.480
 some sense of that.

00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:34.699
 But it's the life-changing grace of God

00:41:34.699 --> 00:41:36.119
 in Christ that changes everything.

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:36.619
 It's, you know,

00:41:36.940 --> 00:41:38.380
 when you hear Jesus say,

00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:41.360
 I came not to be served,

00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:42.179
 but to serve

00:41:42.179 --> 00:41:43.240
 and give my life

00:41:43.240 --> 00:41:44.519
 as a ransom for many.

00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:45.740
 That's why he came.

00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:47.619
 Not so that he would be served.

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:48.880
 Not so that people

00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:50.240
 would see themselves as slaves.

00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:51.659
 He came to free people.

00:41:51.780 --> 00:41:52.900
 That's what ransom means.

00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:54.300
 Free them from oppression

00:41:54.300 --> 00:41:54.980
 and slavery.

00:41:55.160 --> 00:41:57.120
 When we hear 2 Corinthians 8,

00:41:57.180 --> 00:41:57.820
 verse 9,

00:41:58.140 --> 00:41:59.560
 and it says,

00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:01.740
 though he was rich,

00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:02.900
 he became poor,

00:42:03.300 --> 00:42:04.280
 so that you,

00:42:04.600 --> 00:42:05.660
 through his poverty,

00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:06.920
 might become rich.

00:42:08.080 --> 00:42:10.380
 And we think of 1 John 4,

00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:11.019
 verse 10,

00:42:11.080 --> 00:42:11.700
 where it says,

00:42:11.780 --> 00:42:12.480
 this is love,

00:42:12.560 --> 00:42:14.180
 not that we love God,

00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:16.060
 but that he loved us

00:42:16.060 --> 00:42:17.420
 and sent his son

00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.500
 to be a propitiation

00:42:18.500 --> 00:42:19.140
 for our sins,

00:42:19.220 --> 00:42:21.800
 to put away God's proper wrath

00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:22.880
 at the things that we've done

00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:23.500
 that are wrong.

00:42:23.500 --> 00:42:25.240
 And when we understand

00:42:25.240 --> 00:42:26.420
 that in Christ,

00:42:27.360 --> 00:42:28.420
 we're poor,

00:42:28.560 --> 00:42:29.760
 but he makes us rich.

00:42:29.860 --> 00:42:30.740
 When we understand

00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:31.740
 that in Christ,

00:42:32.180 --> 00:42:33.500
 he came to serve

00:42:34.240 --> 00:42:35.900
 and lead me into freedom,

00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:37.400
 and he's the one who paid

00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:38.519
 so that I could be free.

00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:39.660
 When we understand

00:42:39.660 --> 00:42:40.840
 that he's the one

00:42:40.840 --> 00:42:42.380
 who turned aside God's wrath,

00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:43.100
 and it's all about

00:42:43.100 --> 00:42:44.180
 so I can dwell

00:42:44.180 --> 00:42:45.420
 and know his love,

00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:47.559
 this becomes a firm

00:42:47.559 --> 00:42:48.680
 and solid place

00:42:48.680 --> 00:42:50.240
 where I can say,

00:42:50.320 --> 00:42:50.700
 God,

00:42:51.360 --> 00:42:52.780
 forgive me for the ways

00:42:52.780 --> 00:42:54.579
 that I mistake my happiness

00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:56.380
 for other people's happiness.

00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:57.500
 Forgive, Father,

00:42:57.599 --> 00:42:59.320
 the ways that I impose

00:42:59.320 --> 00:43:00.720
 my senses of justice,

00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:01.780
 which is really a type

00:43:01.780 --> 00:43:03.059
 of injustice on others.

00:43:03.500 --> 00:43:04.260
 Thank you, Father,

00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:05.659
 that you are different from me.

00:43:05.780 --> 00:43:06.500
 Help me, Father,

00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.980
 to grow in the fear of God,

00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:08.740
 that I might know

00:43:08.740 --> 00:43:09.480
 that you are God

00:43:09.480 --> 00:43:10.500
 and that I am not,

00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:12.380
 and that this difference is good,

00:43:12.380 --> 00:43:16.480
 and that I might delight in you,

00:43:16.599 --> 00:43:17.880
 and I never want

00:43:17.880 --> 00:43:19.039
 to transgress on that.

00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:23.079
 The grace of Christ,

00:43:24.140 --> 00:43:24.960
 him crucified,

00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:27.280
 provides this basis,

00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:29.280
 and when we walk

00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:30.400
 in this fear of God

00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:31.840
 because of the grace of Christ,

00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:34.059
 it will make us hate oppression.

00:43:34.900 --> 00:43:36.300
 It will form us to care

00:43:36.300 --> 00:43:36.920
 for the weak

00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:37.780
 and the disadvantaged.

00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:39.660
 It will form us

00:43:39.660 --> 00:43:40.539
 to be content,

00:43:41.180 --> 00:43:42.099
 still have ambition,

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:43.480
 but not have money

00:43:43.480 --> 00:43:44.700
 and power rule us,

00:43:45.619 --> 00:43:46.660
 and to be content

00:43:46.660 --> 00:43:47.200
 and be willing

00:43:47.200 --> 00:43:48.039
 to have less

00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:48.880
 so that others

00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:49.640
 can be blessed,

00:43:49.880 --> 00:43:51.220
 and actually consciously

00:43:51.220 --> 00:43:53.059
 give of our resources

00:43:53.059 --> 00:43:54.200
 to bless others.

00:43:55.079 --> 00:43:55.460
 Friends,

00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:57.180
 I hope you want

00:43:57.180 --> 00:43:58.000
 the fear of God.

00:43:58.119 --> 00:43:58.680
 I hope you want

00:43:58.680 --> 00:43:59.440
 to know Christ.

00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:03.720
 The love of Christ

00:44:03.720 --> 00:44:04.660
 in the cross

00:44:04.660 --> 00:44:06.460
 changes everything.

00:44:09.960 --> 00:44:10.800
 Please stand.

00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:11.320
 If you could put

00:44:11.320 --> 00:44:12.220
 the final point up,

00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:12.420
 Claire,

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.100
 that would be good.

00:44:13.180 --> 00:44:13.780
 The final point

00:44:13.780 --> 00:44:14.620
 was the first point.

00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:16.220
 Father,

00:44:16.360 --> 00:44:17.300
 please make the person

00:44:17.300 --> 00:44:17.760
 of Jesus'

00:44:18.060 --> 00:44:18.940
 completed work

00:44:18.940 --> 00:44:19.680
 and his words

00:44:19.680 --> 00:44:20.660
 ever more precious

00:44:20.660 --> 00:44:21.500
 to my heart

00:44:21.500 --> 00:44:22.860
 so that in the power

00:44:22.860 --> 00:44:23.820
 of the Holy Spirit

00:44:23.820 --> 00:44:25.060
 I will walk free

00:44:25.060 --> 00:44:26.519
 in the fear of God.

00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:27.840
 I invite you to pray

00:44:27.840 --> 00:44:29.360
 this prayer with me now,

00:44:29.620 --> 00:44:30.640
 and then I'll just pray

00:44:30.640 --> 00:44:32.340
 a short blessing.

00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:33.539
 And by the way,

00:44:33.580 --> 00:44:34.940
 if you're watching this online,

00:44:35.080 --> 00:44:35.960
 if you have not given

00:44:35.960 --> 00:44:37.539
 yourself to Christ,

00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:39.000
 this is your conversion prayer.

00:44:40.579 --> 00:44:41.500
 This would be how

00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:42.280
 you give your life

00:44:42.280 --> 00:44:42.840
 to Christ.

00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:43.800
 Pray this prayer

00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:44.340
 as your prayer

00:44:44.340 --> 00:44:45.039
 of conversion.

00:44:46.300 --> 00:44:47.300
 And for all of us

00:44:47.300 --> 00:44:48.139
 who are in Christ,

00:44:48.240 --> 00:44:48.800
 this is a prayer

00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:49.760
 of sanctification.

00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:52.300
 Please join me

00:44:52.300 --> 00:44:53.179
 in praying together.

00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:54.780
 All,

00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:55.699
 Father,

00:44:56.280 --> 00:44:57.059
 please make

00:44:57.059 --> 00:44:57.679
 the person

00:44:57.679 --> 00:44:58.280
 of Jesus,

00:44:58.780 --> 00:45:00.099
 his completed work,

00:45:00.460 --> 00:45:01.460
 and his words

00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:02.780
 ever more precious

00:45:02.780 --> 00:45:03.740
 to my heart

00:45:03.739 --> 00:45:05.459
 so that in the power

00:45:05.459 --> 00:45:06.479
 of the Holy Spirit

00:45:06.479 --> 00:45:08.159
 I will walk free

00:45:08.159 --> 00:45:09.419
 in the fear of God.

00:45:09.979 --> 00:45:10.299
 Father,

00:45:10.459 --> 00:45:11.459
 seal these words

00:45:11.459 --> 00:45:12.179
 and this prayer

00:45:12.179 --> 00:45:12.939
 into our hearts

00:45:12.939 --> 00:45:13.859
 that we might live them.

00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:14.619
 And we ask this

00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:15.579
 in Jesus' name.

00:45:16.279 --> 00:45:16.579
 Amen.

00:45:17.359 --> 00:45:18.719
 Please take a posture

00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:19.279
 of prayer

00:45:19.279 --> 00:45:20.759
 as we enter

00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:23.039
 into a time

00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:24.419
 of...

00:45:24.419 --> 00:45:25.659
 Oh,

00:45:25.719 --> 00:45:25.899
 I guess,

00:45:25.959 --> 00:45:26.039
 no,

00:45:26.099 --> 00:45:26.919
 there isn't intercession

00:45:26.919 --> 00:45:27.359
 right now.

00:45:27.459 --> 00:45:28.439
 There's announcements.

00:45:29.699 --> 00:45:30.059
 Actually,

00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:30.279
 you know what?

00:45:30.299 --> 00:45:31.039
 Let's just bow our heads

00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:32.139
 for a couple of moments

00:45:32.139 --> 00:45:32.619
 of prayer,

00:45:32.779 --> 00:45:33.719
 just extemporaneous.

00:45:33.739 --> 00:45:34.119
 prayer.

00:45:34.259 --> 00:45:34.679
 Let's pray.

00:45:36.199 --> 00:45:36.679
 Father,

00:45:37.059 --> 00:45:38.439
 we commend

00:45:38.439 --> 00:45:39.279
 into your hands

00:45:39.279 --> 00:45:41.419
 for our tribe,

00:45:41.559 --> 00:45:42.299
 our denomination,

00:45:42.479 --> 00:45:43.299
 the Anglican Network

00:45:43.299 --> 00:45:43.859
 in Canada.

00:45:44.500 --> 00:45:44.919
 Father,

00:45:45.039 --> 00:45:45.500
 we commend

00:45:45.500 --> 00:45:46.259
 into your hands

00:45:46.259 --> 00:45:47.859
 the discernment process

00:45:47.859 --> 00:45:48.259
 underway

00:45:48.259 --> 00:45:49.859
 as to who should be

00:45:49.859 --> 00:45:51.679
 our next assistant bishop.

00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:53.099
 And Lord,

00:45:53.159 --> 00:45:53.799
 we ask that you

00:45:53.799 --> 00:45:54.919
 would have mercy on us

00:45:54.919 --> 00:45:55.859
 and that you would

00:45:55.859 --> 00:45:57.239
 raise up a man

00:45:57.239 --> 00:45:58.239
 who's a godly,

00:45:58.559 --> 00:45:59.179
 wise,

00:45:59.439 --> 00:46:00.059
 courageous,

00:46:00.539 --> 00:46:01.259
 servant leader

00:46:01.259 --> 00:46:01.799
 who walks

00:46:01.799 --> 00:46:02.659
 in the fear of God.

00:46:02.819 --> 00:46:03.719
 That that's the man

00:46:03.719 --> 00:46:04.459
 that you would raise

00:46:04.459 --> 00:46:04.959
 for us

00:46:04.959 --> 00:46:05.879
 and help us

00:46:05.879 --> 00:46:06.459
 to recognize

00:46:06.459 --> 00:46:07.039
 who you would

00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:07.679
 have us be

00:46:07.679 --> 00:46:08.939
 as our assistant bishop.

00:46:09.439 --> 00:46:10.299
 And we ask this

00:46:10.299 --> 00:46:11.159
 in the name of Jesus.

00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:12.939
 We also remember,

00:46:13.259 --> 00:46:13.339
 Father,

00:46:13.480 --> 00:46:14.980
 those that are struggling

00:46:14.980 --> 00:46:16.199
 with mental illness,

00:46:16.359 --> 00:46:17.199
 those who are struggling

00:46:17.199 --> 00:46:18.619
 with unemployment

00:46:18.619 --> 00:46:20.039
 or underemployment,

00:46:20.739 --> 00:46:21.739
 those who are struggling

00:46:21.739 --> 00:46:23.579
 with food security

00:46:23.579 --> 00:46:24.339
 in many parts

00:46:24.339 --> 00:46:24.919
 of the world.

00:46:26.359 --> 00:46:26.839
 Father,

00:46:26.899 --> 00:46:27.459
 we commend them

00:46:27.459 --> 00:46:28.139
 into your hands

00:46:28.139 --> 00:46:28.980
 and we ask that you

00:46:28.980 --> 00:46:29.639
 help us to know

00:46:29.639 --> 00:46:30.299
 how you would have

00:46:30.299 --> 00:46:31.179
 us as individuals

00:46:31.179 --> 00:46:32.039
 or as a church

00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:33.699
 make a godly difference.

00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:35.299
 We especially commend

00:46:35.299 --> 00:46:35.940
 into your hands

00:46:35.940 --> 00:46:36.719
 the missionaries

00:46:36.719 --> 00:46:37.519
 that we support

00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:38.319
 in Angola,

00:46:38.839 --> 00:46:39.839
 directly involved

00:46:39.839 --> 00:46:40.839
 with medical care

00:46:40.839 --> 00:46:41.480
 of the poor.

00:46:42.219 --> 00:46:43.299
 We commend

00:46:43.299 --> 00:46:43.859
 into your hands

00:46:43.859 --> 00:46:44.480
 the missionaries

00:46:44.480 --> 00:46:45.119
 we support

00:46:45.119 --> 00:46:45.839
 in Colombia,

00:46:46.019 --> 00:46:46.900
 directly dealing

00:46:46.900 --> 00:46:48.420
 with the social

00:46:48.420 --> 00:46:49.519
 and other needs

00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:51.960
 of the refugees

00:46:51.960 --> 00:46:52.859
 from Venezuela.

00:46:52.860 --> 00:46:55.760
 we commend

00:46:55.760 --> 00:46:56.579
 into your hands

00:46:56.579 --> 00:46:57.660
 our churches

00:46:57.660 --> 00:46:58.380
 here in Ottawa

00:46:58.380 --> 00:46:59.039
 that partner

00:46:59.039 --> 00:47:00.120
 with churches

00:47:00.120 --> 00:47:00.800
 in Guatemala

00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:02.280
 to make a difference

00:47:02.280 --> 00:47:02.920
 in the lives

00:47:02.920 --> 00:47:03.519
 of children

00:47:03.519 --> 00:47:04.360
 and families

00:47:04.360 --> 00:47:06.940
 for their good

00:47:06.940 --> 00:47:07.620
 and for the glory

00:47:07.620 --> 00:47:08.079
 of Jesus.

00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:08.519
 And Father,

00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:09.400
 we commend these

00:47:09.400 --> 00:47:09.780
 endeavors

00:47:09.780 --> 00:47:10.660
 into your hands.

00:47:11.420 --> 00:47:12.340
 We ask this

00:47:12.340 --> 00:47:13.360
 in Jesus' name.

00:47:14.200 --> 00:47:15.079
 We lift before you

00:47:15.079 --> 00:47:16.019
 those who are sick

00:47:16.019 --> 00:47:16.740
 in particular,

00:47:16.980 --> 00:47:17.160
 Father,

00:47:17.240 --> 00:47:18.579
 we think of Bishop Charlie

00:47:18.579 --> 00:47:20.059
 and his journey

00:47:20.059 --> 00:47:20.760
 with cancer.

00:47:20.920 --> 00:47:21.480
 We ask that you

00:47:21.480 --> 00:47:22.240
 heal him body

00:47:22.239 --> 00:47:22.859
 and soul,

00:47:23.459 --> 00:47:24.239
 comfort and strength

00:47:24.239 --> 00:47:24.559
 in him,

00:47:24.619 --> 00:47:25.479
 and we lift before you

00:47:25.479 --> 00:47:26.259
 others that we know

00:47:26.259 --> 00:47:27.219
 are struggling

00:47:27.219 --> 00:47:27.859
 with sickness.

00:47:28.539 --> 00:47:29.259
 And we commend

00:47:29.259 --> 00:47:29.919
 into your hands,

00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:30.239
 Lord,

00:47:30.379 --> 00:47:32.319
 our other congregation

00:47:32.319 --> 00:47:33.479
 in Messiah West,

00:47:34.159 --> 00:47:35.059
 the church plant

00:47:35.059 --> 00:47:36.719
 that we're encouraging

00:47:36.719 --> 00:47:37.819
 in Charlottetown.

00:47:38.439 --> 00:47:40.019
 We encourage before you

00:47:40.019 --> 00:47:41.359
 Dave Dauber

00:47:41.359 --> 00:47:43.259
 and Brockville

00:47:43.259 --> 00:47:44.539
 and his hope

00:47:44.539 --> 00:47:45.019
 and belief

00:47:45.019 --> 00:47:46.159
 that there's a church

00:47:46.159 --> 00:47:47.099
 to be planted there

00:47:47.099 --> 00:47:48.219
 for Matthew

00:47:48.219 --> 00:47:49.099
 in Thunder Bay,

00:47:49.659 --> 00:47:50.939
 for Aaron in Seoul,

00:47:51.059 --> 00:47:51.659
 South Korea,

00:47:51.659 --> 00:47:52.519
 Father,

00:47:52.599 --> 00:47:53.420
 we commend them

00:47:53.420 --> 00:47:54.179
 into your hands.

00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:55.779
 We ask,

00:47:56.039 --> 00:47:56.159
 Father,

00:47:56.480 --> 00:47:57.539
 that them with us,

00:47:57.619 --> 00:47:58.000
 that you would

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:59.259
 reform us by the Bible,

00:47:59.399 --> 00:48:00.199
 you would revive us

00:48:00.199 --> 00:48:01.179
 by the Holy Spirit,

00:48:01.839 --> 00:48:02.879
 that you would use us

00:48:02.879 --> 00:48:03.839
 in evangelism

00:48:03.839 --> 00:48:05.339
 and in making a difference

00:48:05.339 --> 00:48:06.699
 for the name of Jesus.

00:48:07.279 --> 00:48:08.059
 And we ask this

00:48:08.059 --> 00:48:09.460
 in Jesus' name.

00:48:09.719 --> 00:48:10.159
 Amen.

00:48:11.599 --> 00:48:12.319
 Just a couple

00:48:12.319 --> 00:48:12.759
 of announcements.

00:48:12.960 --> 00:48:13.799
 Shannon's going to come up

00:48:13.799 --> 00:48:14.139
 right now

00:48:14.139 --> 00:48:15.619
 to make a main announcement.

00:48:15.619 --> 00:48:17.619
 just as she's making

00:48:17.619 --> 00:48:18.259
 her way here.

00:48:19.940 --> 00:48:21.500
 When it comes time

00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:22.179
 for communion,

00:48:22.759 --> 00:48:23.839
 the red is wine,

00:48:23.980 --> 00:48:24.759
 the light-colored

00:48:24.759 --> 00:48:26.960
 is grape juice.

00:48:27.739 --> 00:48:28.639
 Please remember

00:48:28.639 --> 00:48:29.659
 the financial needs

00:48:29.659 --> 00:48:30.319
 of the church

00:48:30.319 --> 00:48:31.880
 and please pray for us

00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:32.420
 that we will be

00:48:32.420 --> 00:48:32.920
 a congregation

00:48:32.920 --> 00:48:33.900
 after God's heart.

00:48:34.759 --> 00:48:36.839
 And actually,

00:48:36.940 --> 00:48:37.539
 one other thing.

00:48:38.859 --> 00:48:40.079
 This is our brother

00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:41.739
 Shashir's last Sunday

00:48:41.739 --> 00:48:42.739
 with us.

00:48:44.059 --> 00:48:44.459
 Chris,

00:48:44.939 --> 00:48:46.119
 God wasn't listening

00:48:46.119 --> 00:48:46.759
 to your prayer

00:48:46.759 --> 00:48:47.679
 that he'd get a job

00:48:47.679 --> 00:48:48.279
 here in Ottawa.

00:48:48.459 --> 00:48:49.039
 He was listening

00:48:49.039 --> 00:48:50.239
 to somebody else's prayer.

00:48:50.359 --> 00:48:51.119
 We know that you're going,

00:48:51.459 --> 00:48:53.179
 Halifax is a rich mission field.

00:48:53.539 --> 00:48:54.500
 We need people

00:48:54.500 --> 00:48:55.359
 who will make a difference

00:48:55.359 --> 00:48:56.279
 for the gospel there.

00:48:56.379 --> 00:48:58.339
 It's been such a great delight

00:48:58.339 --> 00:48:58.899
 to have you

00:48:58.899 --> 00:49:00.079
 as part of our congregation.

00:49:00.759 --> 00:49:01.779
 It's been a delight

00:49:01.779 --> 00:49:02.959
 just to slightly get

00:49:02.959 --> 00:49:03.859
 to meet your wife

00:49:03.859 --> 00:49:04.859
 and your two sons.

00:49:05.179 --> 00:49:06.039
 They would have been

00:49:06.039 --> 00:49:06.979
 wonderful here,

00:49:07.079 --> 00:49:07.959
 but they'll be wonderful

00:49:07.959 --> 00:49:08.739
 in Halifax.

00:49:09.339 --> 00:49:10.279
 And maybe just before

00:49:10.279 --> 00:49:11.099
 Shannon gets up

00:49:11.099 --> 00:49:11.920
 to make her announcement,

00:49:12.259 --> 00:49:13.099
 let's just pray

00:49:13.099 --> 00:49:13.960
 God's blessing

00:49:13.960 --> 00:49:17.199
 on Shashir and Sonia,

00:49:17.339 --> 00:49:17.519
 right?

00:49:17.619 --> 00:49:18.199
 I have that right?

00:49:18.599 --> 00:49:19.579
 And the boys.

00:49:19.940 --> 00:49:20.480
 So let's just,

00:49:20.659 --> 00:49:20.900
 in fact,

00:49:21.259 --> 00:49:21.719
 why don't we,

00:49:21.799 --> 00:49:22.960
 could you just stand,

00:49:23.059 --> 00:49:23.559
 the four of you

00:49:23.559 --> 00:49:24.039
 or one of you,

00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:24.759
 whoever wants to stand,

00:49:24.819 --> 00:49:25.380
 we're just going to pray

00:49:25.380 --> 00:49:26.639
 God's blessing on them.

00:49:26.940 --> 00:49:27.460
 Let's pray.

00:49:27.619 --> 00:49:27.839
 Father,

00:49:28.460 --> 00:49:30.679
 it is so good

00:49:30.679 --> 00:49:31.299
 that we have brothers

00:49:31.299 --> 00:49:32.400
 and sisters in Christ

00:49:32.400 --> 00:49:33.219
 around the world,

00:49:33.460 --> 00:49:34.279
 including India.

00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:35.440
 And Father,

00:49:35.500 --> 00:49:36.259
 we give you thanks

00:49:36.259 --> 00:49:36.779
 and praise

00:49:36.779 --> 00:49:37.960
 that you led Shashir

00:49:37.960 --> 00:49:38.940
 to come to Canada

00:49:38.940 --> 00:49:40.599
 to have a new life,

00:49:40.599 --> 00:49:42.199
 hopefully a better life

00:49:42.199 --> 00:49:43.199
 for his wife,

00:49:43.360 --> 00:49:43.699
 Sonia,

00:49:43.779 --> 00:49:44.839
 and the two boys.

00:49:45.960 --> 00:49:47.139
 More opportunities.

00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:47.799
 And Father,

00:49:47.860 --> 00:49:48.519
 we thank you

00:49:48.519 --> 00:49:49.319
 for bringing him here

00:49:49.319 --> 00:49:50.279
 to get a master's,

00:49:50.599 --> 00:49:51.679
 for providing with him

00:49:51.679 --> 00:49:53.219
 this good job in Halifax.

00:49:53.639 --> 00:49:53.960
 Father,

00:49:54.059 --> 00:49:54.779
 we are sad

00:49:54.779 --> 00:49:56.000
 that we are losing him,

00:49:56.400 --> 00:49:57.679
 but we are happy

00:49:57.679 --> 00:49:58.819
 that you have provided

00:49:58.819 --> 00:50:00.579
 a good job for him,

00:50:00.759 --> 00:50:01.339
 for his gifts

00:50:01.339 --> 00:50:02.039
 and his skills.

00:50:02.559 --> 00:50:03.079
 I ask,

00:50:03.239 --> 00:50:03.440
 Father,

00:50:03.500 --> 00:50:04.460
 that your Holy Spirit

00:50:04.460 --> 00:50:05.319
 would bless him

00:50:05.319 --> 00:50:05.920
 and his wife

00:50:05.920 --> 00:50:06.960
 and his two sons,

00:50:07.460 --> 00:50:08.539
 help them to thrive

00:50:08.539 --> 00:50:09.500
 in Jesus,

00:50:10.079 --> 00:50:11.000
 thrive physically

00:50:11.000 --> 00:50:11.759
 and spiritually

00:50:11.759 --> 00:50:12.440
 in Jesus,

00:50:13.099 --> 00:50:13.759
 that you would

00:50:13.759 --> 00:50:15.119
 just be with them

00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:16.059
 as they sort out

00:50:16.059 --> 00:50:16.759
 accommodation

00:50:16.759 --> 00:50:18.440
 and adjust to a new job.

00:50:18.820 --> 00:50:20.039
 May you bless them thoroughly

00:50:20.039 --> 00:50:20.980
 and may you lead them

00:50:20.980 --> 00:50:22.380
 to a good church

00:50:22.380 --> 00:50:24.659
 in Halifax.

00:50:25.059 --> 00:50:25.739
 And Father,

00:50:25.800 --> 00:50:26.779
 we ask all these things

00:50:26.779 --> 00:50:27.820
 in Jesus' name.

00:50:28.440 --> 00:50:28.800
 Amen.

00:50:28.800 --> 00:50:28.980
 Amen.

00:50:28.980 --> 00:50:29.000
 Amen.

00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:29.059
 Amen.

00:50:29.059 --> 00:50:29.079
 Amen.

00:50:29.079 --> 00:50:29.099
 Amen.

00:50:29.099 --> 00:50:29.119
 Amen.

00:50:29.119 --> 00:50:31.099
 Amen.

00:50:31.099 --> 00:50:31.119
 Amen.

00:50:31.119 --> 00:50:31.139
 Amen.

00:50:31.139 --> 00:50:32.000
 Amen.

00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:33.000
 Amen.

00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:33.059
 Amen.