WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.540 We're having two readings this morning. 00:00:01.720 --> 00:00:06.000 So the first is Genesis 12, 10 to 20. 00:00:06.540 --> 00:00:10.660 And the second is Genesis 14, 14 to 24. 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:16.460 Now, there was a famine in the land. 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:20.740 So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there. 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:25.000 For the famine was severe in the land. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:29.879 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.640 I know that you are a woman, beautiful in appearance. 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:41.799 And when the Egyptians see you, they will say, this is his wife. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:44.019 Then they'll kill me. 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:46.799 But they will let you live. 00:00:48.219 --> 00:00:54.600 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you. 00:00:55.240 --> 00:00:58.780 And that my life may be spared for your sake. 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:06.859 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:12.859 When the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:16.460 And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 00:01:16.459 --> 00:01:21.339 And for her sake, he dealt well with Abram. 00:01:22.139 --> 00:01:30.780 And he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys and camels. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:42.000 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.320 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, 00:01:45.319 --> 00:01:48.059 What is this you've done to me? 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:51.879 Why did you not tell me that this was your wife? 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:57.219 Why did you say she is my sister so that I took her for my wife? 00:01:58.479 --> 00:02:01.280 Now then, here is your wife. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:02.959 Take her and go. 00:02:04.339 --> 00:02:07.039 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:12.560 And they sent him away with his wife and all that he had. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:28.740 So before our next reading, some more chaos occurs with Abraham's nephew, Lot, being given the choice of where he might live. 00:02:28.740 --> 00:02:30.719 And he chooses Sodom. 00:02:33.020 --> 00:02:41.060 However, a little while later, the people of Sodom are then taken captive by surrounding kings. 00:02:42.040 --> 00:02:47.020 So we move to chapter 14, verse 14, to see what happens next. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:03:08.100 When Abram heard that his kinsmen had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:20.199 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:30.219 Then he brought back all the possessions and also brought back his kinsmen, Lot, with his possessions and the women and the people. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:44.520 After his return from the defeat of Chidolamah and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Sharek. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:46.659 That is the king's valley. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:53.780 And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:56.680 He was a priest of God Most High. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:04:00.120 And he blessed him and said, 00:04:01.140 --> 00:04:03.620 Blessed be Abraham by God Most High, 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:06.700 possessor of heaven and earth. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:12.360 And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:16.620 And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 00:04:17.840 --> 00:04:20.139 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:24.879 Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:28.339 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:33.459 I have lifted my hand to the Lord God Most High, 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:36.259 possessor of heaven and earth, 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:39.500 that I would not take a thread, 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:46.159 a sandal strap or anything that is yours, 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:48.600 lest you should say, 00:04:49.540 --> 00:04:51.079 I have made Abram rich. 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:56.459 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten 00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:59.620 and the share of the men who went with me. 00:05:00.599 --> 00:05:04.800 Let Eina, Eshkol and Mamre take their share. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:11.520 Well, in the baptisms, 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:16.020 we've just had the joy of witnessing expressions of faith. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:19.840 I want to ask the question, 00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:22.740 what does the life of faith look like? 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:26.300 Like, what are they signing up for, in a sense? 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.280 I'm going to suggest first a few things it's not. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:35.819 Some people find a church when life isn't going well. 00:05:37.299 --> 00:05:39.059 And that's a really good move. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:40.599 Like, that's a good idea. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.459 If that's your motivation in coming to church, 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:44.319 maybe even today. 00:05:44.599 --> 00:05:46.819 Like, God has all the time in the world 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:49.599 for people who aren't doing well 00:05:49.599 --> 00:05:51.479 and know they need help. 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:52.719 Like, that's a great move. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:56.779 You're surrounded by like-minded people. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:58.859 We're all sinners struggling here. 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:01.080 We're rejoicing in Jesus. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.280 But sometimes people look for a church 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:08.939 and I think sometimes there's a really wrong expectation. 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:11.060 And the thinking goes something like this. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.860 If I add some religion, 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:17.620 if I add some volunteering in my life, 00:06:18.340 --> 00:06:21.000 then God will restore my relationships 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:23.300 or God will free me from addictions. 00:06:24.080 --> 00:06:26.720 God will help raise my kids to be good people. 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:29.100 God will help raise my kids to be good people. 00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:34.560 It's seeing faith as like you add a bit of God in your life. 00:06:37.140 --> 00:06:39.340 That's trying to bargain with God. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.640 Faith is not about adding a bit of religion in. 00:06:49.640 --> 00:06:51.680 There's a musical, The Book of Mormon. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:53.459 I haven't watched the whole thing. 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:56.079 I've just been listening to a few of the songs lately. 00:06:56.980 --> 00:06:58.939 And there's a song, I Believe. 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:02.400 And Elder Price, the main character, sings, 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:07.780 I believe that God has a plan for all of us. 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:12.420 I believe that plan involves me getting my own planet. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:16.620 What? 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:21.100 Is that faith? 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:26.939 That you're working towards this enormous promise in the afterlife 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:30.399 as long as you sacrifice everything for God in this life? 00:07:30.840 --> 00:07:34.139 I think some people view that's what faith is about. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:39.019 It's not about your religious efforts. 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:43.180 That's what faith isn't. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:45.180 God tells us. 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:46.819 He gives us definitions of faith. 00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:49.360 But he does more than definitions in his word. 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:50.900 He gives us people. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.740 He gives us people as examples. 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:58.840 And God calls Abraham the picture of faith. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.980 He is the pin-up boy you should have in your bedroom of faith. 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:05.740 Abraham. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:05.939 Abraham. 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:12.399 Just to underline where I'm getting this from, 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:13.959 Galatians chapter 3 says, 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:19.279 Know then that it is those of faith who are the children of Abraham. 00:08:19.459 --> 00:08:21.639 Not just natural born descendants, but those of faith. 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:26.439 Those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:28.659 the man of faith. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:31.659 He is the man of faith. 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:36.480 Abraham is the turning point in human history. 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:40.080 The rest of the world trying to make a good life for themselves apart from God. 00:08:41.040 --> 00:08:42.259 And then Abraham. 00:08:42.660 --> 00:08:43.980 He's the picture of faith. 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:51.139 When I made my wedding vows to Emma 11 or so years ago, 00:08:51.139 --> 00:09:00.059 in those vows, there's no ifs or buts or maybes. 00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:01.960 They're unconditional. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:05.379 In sickness and in health, 00:09:07.319 --> 00:09:10.960 but as long as you're kind to me. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:14.139 Or if work isn't busy. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:16.960 There's no ifs or buts. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:17.580 They're unconditional. 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:22.440 Now the big difference between me and God is 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:26.520 God completely is faithful in keeping his promises. 00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:31.540 He gives unconditional promises to Abraham. 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.240 No ifs, no buts, no maybes. 00:09:33.340 --> 00:09:35.400 I will bless you, Abraham. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:37.379 I will make your name great. 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.920 I will make a massive family out of you. 00:09:40.180 --> 00:09:42.480 I'm going to give you land as a permanent home. 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:45.100 I'm going to treat others according to how they treat you. 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:48.259 I'm blessing you, Abraham, that through you, 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.680 I'm going to bless the entire world. 00:09:51.420 --> 00:09:52.120 Full stop. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:56.540 No ifs, no buts, no maybes. 00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:58.940 Now imagine if God said to you, 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.399 I will bless you forever. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:02.440 Full stop. 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:07.300 Wow. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:11.580 What a promise to live by. 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:16.740 And that's why I'm quoting Galatians 3 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:18.500 because I'm not sure about you, 00:10:18.560 --> 00:10:21.460 but I haven't had God audibly give me a promise like that. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:26.680 But the promise to Abraham is for you and I. 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:32.340 We're called to believe in the same promise. 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:35.340 Galatians 3 also says this. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.879 And here's the connection to baptism. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:39.500 I'm not going to go into how all this works. 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:41.360 I'm not even sure I understand how all this works, 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.679 but just see the connection. 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.159 As many of you as were baptised into Christ 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.600 have put on Christ. 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:52.679 And if you belong to Christ, 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.980 then you are Abraham's offspring, 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:58.580 heirs according to promise, 00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:01.159 heirs of all the blessing according to promise. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:02.279 If you belong to Christ, 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:04.720 the promises to Abraham, they're yours. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.460 If you belong to Christ. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.660 So don't go from Abraham to you. 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.600 Go from Abraham to Christ to you. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:14.300 That's important. 00:11:17.320 --> 00:11:19.300 So in these stories of Abraham, 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:21.480 we're going to see what faith looks like, 00:11:21.540 --> 00:11:23.300 what the life of faith really looks like. 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:27.420 I'm going to define it like this 00:11:27.420 --> 00:11:29.980 from what I think the passage is saying. 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:34.039 Faith is when God's promises are even bigger 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:37.139 than his own failures, 00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:40.639 than other people's failures, 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:46.080 even bigger than his opportunities to gain. 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:51.800 God's promises are the biggest reality in Abraham's life. 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:53.560 That's what the life of faith looks like. 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:58.559 So imagine if... 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:05.059 So Emma and I go to event cinemas at Glendale. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.979 We see a movie. 00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:09.439 It ends late, like 11 o'clock. 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:10.299 It's dark. 00:12:11.359 --> 00:12:13.159 And we're walking back to the car, 00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:14.339 arm in arm, 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:18.019 really at peace and having enjoyed the movie. 00:12:19.199 --> 00:12:21.959 And a guy with a knife approaches us. 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.019 And I just grab Emma 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:25.420 and I put her in front of me 00:12:25.420 --> 00:12:28.060 in between me and the knife. 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.660 What would you think of me? 00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:43.440 That's the kind of cowardice 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:48.639 we see in Abraham here. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.319 I think it's actually worse 00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:54.220 because it wasn't just a momentary instinct. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.659 He came up with a plan. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.740 There's a famine. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.620 God said to stay in this place. 00:13:03.699 --> 00:13:04.419 I'm going to bless you. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.360 He goes to Egypt. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.519 That's not a good sign. 00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:09.860 And Sarah is so attractive. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:11.580 He's afraid they're going to kill him 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:13.519 so that they can have her. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:16.840 That must have been a corrupt place, 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:17.939 like if he's fearing that. 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:18.760 But still, 00:13:19.160 --> 00:13:21.920 that fear drives out 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:23.620 all the promises he's just heard. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:25.060 And in his fear, 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:26.060 he lies. 00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:29.140 He pressures Sarah to lie. 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:29.500 Say, 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:30.240 you're my sister. 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:31.860 Sarah, 00:13:31.920 --> 00:13:33.340 I'm going to give you up for a time. 00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:37.480 Men might use your body. 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.660 They might. 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:45.480 It's crazy what he does, 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.020 isn't it? 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:49.940 So that I will be safe. 00:13:52.760 --> 00:13:54.360 His faith in God 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:56.760 to look after him 00:13:56.760 --> 00:13:58.680 failed big time, 00:13:59.180 --> 00:14:01.740 putting Sarah in harm's way. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.180 God had promised to make him and Sarah 00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:06.680 into this massive family, 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.280 and he put it all at risk, 00:14:08.400 --> 00:14:09.580 letting Pharaoh take her. 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.520 But God intervenes. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.639 He rescues Sarah. 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.899 He rebukes Abraham. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.340 Don't miss that. 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.939 He rebukes him through Pharaoh. 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.559 What is this you have done? 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:27.439 But God protects Abraham's life, 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.759 even though Pharaoh must have been 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.919 pretty angry. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:33.559 So he does protect Abraham. 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:36.679 And then Abraham leaves Egypt 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:39.500 more rich than when he arrived, 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:43.259 despite this failure. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.579 Not because of the failure, 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.639 but because God kept his promises. 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.620 There was no ifs, 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:51.899 buts, 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.399 or maybes. 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:56.759 Now, 00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:57.139 Abraham, 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.519 I reckon, 00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:58.279 he could have used, 00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.939 that went okay, 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:00.860 that further. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.639 He could have used that 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.259 as an excuse 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.000 to keep on doing 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:03.639 the wrong thing. 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.539 But we didn't read this section, 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.620 but the thing he does 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.580 straight after this 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:07.860 is 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.899 he goes back 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.860 to the place 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.039 where God 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.600 had made 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.659 his promises to him. 00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:14.700 I think it was a 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:16.500 demonstration 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.600 of repentance. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:17.800 repentance. 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.600 The riches 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.899 he came away with 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.860 out of Egypt 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.080 weren't the main thing 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:24.560 that was on his mind, 00:15:24.680 --> 00:15:25.720 but the rebuke. 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.200 He goes back 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.920 to the place 00:15:28.920 --> 00:15:29.340 where God 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.100 had promised him. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.519 So God's promises 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.100 to Abraham 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.480 were even bigger 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.420 than such a massive failure 00:15:38.420 --> 00:15:39.420 of his faith. 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.300 His promises 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:41.759 were bigger. 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.220 I think there's 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.180 things that we do 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:46.800 as Christians, 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.759 things we say 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.240 and do, 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:48.979 they're just 00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:51.559 massive failures 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:52.419 of faith. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.299 What does faith 00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:58.199 look like 00:15:58.199 --> 00:16:00.139 when your faith 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:02.079 massively fails? 00:16:02.579 --> 00:16:03.799 If that sentence 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:04.639 makes any sense. 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:08.519 It looks like 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.000 believing 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.539 that 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:11.879 God's promises 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.740 are even bigger. 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:16.740 true faith 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:17.799 doesn't take 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:19.100 God's guarantees 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.600 of forgiveness 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.320 and just use it 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.019 as an excuse 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:21.779 to keep on 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:22.799 doing the wrong thing. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.560 It doesn't try 00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:25.100 and blame 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.700 I was afraid 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:27.500 so I did the wrong thing. 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:27.980 It doesn't try 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:28.620 and blame things. 00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.180 It doesn't try 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:30.100 harder to repay. 00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:31.759 I think like Abraham 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.419 goes back 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.299 to the place 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:34.200 where God 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.580 has made 00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.139 those promises 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:36.080 and for us today 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.659 that place 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.379 is the cross. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:38.680 We go back 00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:39.560 to the cross 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:41.179 and see 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:41.859 that God's 00:16:41.859 --> 00:16:42.259 promises 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.899 are bigger 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.879 than even 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.599 my greatest, 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:46.439 greatest failures. 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.559 His promises 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:48.959 are bigger. 00:16:51.219 --> 00:16:52.579 That kind of faith 00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.219 when you go back 00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:53.939 to the cross 00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:55.099 and see 00:16:55.099 --> 00:16:55.919 God's promises, 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.859 that faith 00:16:57.859 --> 00:16:58.759 you'll hear 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.859 God's rebuke 00:16:59.859 --> 00:17:01.179 even while 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:01.959 you're praising 00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:02.579 him for 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.419 his rescue. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:09.619 So that's 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.119 what the life 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:10.480 of faith 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.000 looks like 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.639 when you fail. 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:12.659 What about 00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.139 when others 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:13.779 fail you? 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.399 What about 00:17:16.399 --> 00:17:16.980 other people's 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.299 failures? 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:18.819 Now we didn't 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.759 read chapter 13 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.259 for the sake 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:20.680 of time. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.839 I'm going to 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.079 give you 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.519 like this 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.339 30 second 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.139 highlights reel. 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:25.180 Abraham 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:25.839 and his nephew 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.220 Lot. 00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:27.079 Lot has been 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:27.460 with him 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.000 the entire 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.359 time. 00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:30.299 They're getting 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:30.920 too rich 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.519 and that's 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.079 the problem 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.000 and they need 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.559 to separate 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.400 and buy 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:34.779 rich. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.380 It's not 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.140 bank accounts 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:36.640 like our 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:36.980 days but 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.880 it's animals 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.799 and people 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.619 working under 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.140 you to look 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.579 after the 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:42.900 animals. 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.799 That guaranteed 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.420 your future. 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:46.700 They needed 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.619 more land 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.099 to separate. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.420 Now Abraham 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:49.920 is the head 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.380 of the family. 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:50.779 He could 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.039 have gone 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.359 Lot, 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:51.960 you're my 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.200 nephew, 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:52.819 you go 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.140 there, 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.519 I'm going 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:53.759 to take 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.079 the best 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.519 for myself 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:54.900 but he 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:55.240 doesn't do 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.460 that. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.539 He's 00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:57.880 humble. 00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.680 I think 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.339 he's trusting 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.880 God and 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.259 he gives 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.960 his nephew 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.759 Lot the 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.180 choice. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.779 Lot chooses 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.319 the best 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.019 for himself 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.019 which is 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.920 I think 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.559 a little 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.200 dodgy. 00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:11.579 I'm not 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:11.900 sure the 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:15.000 text definitely 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.620 says this 00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.279 but it 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.920 seems a bit 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.299 dodged. 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.500 Lot is rich 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.140 because of 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:20.200 Abraham and 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:20.680 then he takes 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.019 the best 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.460 for himself 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.299 but the 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.840 worst thing 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.100 that the 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:23.620 text really 00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.100 points to 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:24.519 is that 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:26.600 he compromises 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.319 his relationship 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.759 with God. 00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:28.559 We hear 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.159 that Lot 00:18:29.159 --> 00:18:31.019 goes and 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.639 sets up 00:18:31.639 --> 00:18:32.399 camp at 00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:32.819 Sodom. 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.319 Like Sodom 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.919 and Gomorrah, 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.159 I don't 00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:36.439 know if 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.619 you're 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.220 visiting today 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.480 if you 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:38.859 know about 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.159 the Bible, 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.519 Sodom is 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:40.879 just the 00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:42.220 picture of 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:44.079 not wanting 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.639 anything to 00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:44.919 do with 00:18:44.919 --> 00:18:45.200 God. 00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:47.399 Just 00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.099 absolute 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:49.179 selfishness. 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.159 What on 00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:51.619 earth is 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.679 Lot doing 00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.179 there? 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.500 He's trying 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:55.720 to get 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.059 rich. 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.099 More 00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:58.460 rich. 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.519 He's doing 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.019 partnership 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.359 there. 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:03.680 It's like 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.380 someone in 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:04.960 your family 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.240 getting the 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.160 family inheritance 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:09.220 and then doing 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.019 business with 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.579 people who are 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.380 being investigated 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.019 by the 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.839 federal police. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.000 They're 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.480 suspected of 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.559 laundering money 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.519 through the 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:17.980 pokies. 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.359 They're known 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:19.799 to own 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.380 brothels. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:21.640 You're taking 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.119 the family 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.839 inheritance and 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:23.660 you're partnering 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.160 with these 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.440 people. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.400 What are you 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.240 doing there, 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:27.640 Lot? 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.119 What are you 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:29.660 doing there? 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.640 He's not 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:35.420 necessarily said 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:35.859 to be doing 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.140 the wrong 00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:36.519 thing but 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.740 he's partnering 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:39.339 with these 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:39.720 kinds of 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:39.980 people. 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.480 What are 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:40.900 you doing? 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.099 Now all 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.960 that is 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.799 background for 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.559 chapter 14. 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.140 Lot gets 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.700 caught up in 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:52.759 a war and 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.460 he's captured. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:56.000 Abraham hears 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.420 about it. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:56.880 Now what 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.420 does Abraham 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:57.799 do? 00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.920 Abraham is 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.440 safe. 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:02.559 Lot has 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:03.160 made this 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.799 choice to go 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.340 to Sodom. 00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:06.660 Like, 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.960 you deserve 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.279 it. 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:13.819 You made 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.279 your bed. 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.740 Lie in it. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.799 You reap 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.600 what you sow. 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:20.719 Abraham could 00:20:20.719 --> 00:20:22.819 have, you 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.759 deserve it, 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:26.639 Lot, getting 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.219 caught up with 00:20:27.219 --> 00:20:27.699 these people. 00:20:30.219 --> 00:20:30.740 But 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.240 incredibly, 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.500 Abraham, 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.399 God's promises 00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:37.240 to Abraham are 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.439 even bigger than 00:20:38.439 --> 00:20:39.500 whatever disappointment 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.279 he feels, 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:41.519 whatever 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.699 offence he 00:20:42.699 --> 00:20:43.259 feels from 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:43.559 Lot. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.480 they're 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.019 bigger even 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.359 than the 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:46.879 risk of 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:47.019 the 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.940 personal loss 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.099 and Abraham 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.059 goes after 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.339 him. 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.159 He pursues 00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:52.419 him. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.539 He enters 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.200 the war. 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:54.980 He enters 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.559 the risk. 00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:56.059 He enters 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:56.839 the mess 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.919 to rescue 00:20:57.919 --> 00:20:58.259 him. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.399 Maybe 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:04.240 fresh in 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.779 Abraham's 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.299 mind is 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.779 that God 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.279 had just 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.079 rescued him 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.980 from his 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.379 failure. 00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:08.460 Yeah. 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:15.220 Abraham 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.819 trusted 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.180 God's 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.579 promises 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.400 and he 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.259 pursued 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.640 Lot 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.660 to rescue 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.000 him 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.039 despite 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.340 his 00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:21.700 failure. 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.680 I wonder 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.880 who has 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:25.240 offended 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.620 you? 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:30.039 Who has 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.940 acted in 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.579 a way 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:31.980 that you 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.819 just cannot 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.579 respect? 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:36.779 In our 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.860 prayer time 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.240 a small 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:38.459 group, 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.759 one of 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.079 the guys 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.539 reminded 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.059 us that 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.299 when 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:40.819 someone's 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.299 wronged 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.659 us and 00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.019 really 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.099 greatly 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.619 failed, 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.439 we might 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:45.000 pray as 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.359 Christians, 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:45.819 we might 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:48.419 pray for 00:21:48.419 --> 00:21:48.819 those who 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.019 have been 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.639 harmed 00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.319 through this 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.799 person's 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.179 actions, 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.599 we might 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.119 pray for 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:52.699 those who 00:21:52.699 --> 00:21:53.079 have been 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.519 harmed 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.019 because of 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.179 this 00:21:54.179 --> 00:21:54.559 person, 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.699 we might 00:21:55.699 --> 00:21:56.439 pray for 00:21:56.439 --> 00:21:57.439 things to 00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:58.159 be restored, 00:21:59.219 --> 00:21:59.599 oh God 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.219 please just 00:22:00.219 --> 00:22:00.659 put things 00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:01.159 right, 00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.539 we might 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:03.879 pray for 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.519 justice to 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:04.899 be done, 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:06.599 but do 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.279 we pray for 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.940 that person 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.319 to be 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.779 rescued, 00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:12.220 that person 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.799 you can't 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.299 respect, 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.079 do you 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.579 pray for 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.039 their 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.000 rescue? 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.139 In the 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:24.700 hope God 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.180 rescues 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.460 them. 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.319 For 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:31.740 Abraham, 00:22:31.899 --> 00:22:32.460 he returns 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.039 victorious, 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:33.759 God was 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.139 with him, 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.740 he trusted 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.099 God's 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.480 promise, 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.259 God kept 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.859 his promise, 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.299 he brings 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.980 Lot back, 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:40.700 but not 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.279 only Lot 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.680 and all 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.200 his people 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.500 and the 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:42.839 possessions, 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.299 he brings 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:43.879 all the 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.319 people of 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:44.920 Sodom back 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.539 and their 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.119 animals and 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.559 possessions. 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.619 Abraham, 00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:48.500 in this 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.879 moment, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.399 he has 00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:50.099 huge 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.759 opportunities 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.379 to gain. 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.059 He's just 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.480 made a 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.259 huge risk 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.339 and he's 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:57.599 got a 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.599 huge reward, 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:02.079 a rightful 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.579 reward, 00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:02.980 it's his 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.379 reward. 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:03.420 God. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:05.780 And then 00:23:05.780 --> 00:23:06.060 we've got 00:23:06.060 --> 00:23:06.780 two kings 00:23:06.780 --> 00:23:07.200 come out, 00:23:07.260 --> 00:23:07.480 we've got 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:07.900 Sodom, 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.160 we've already 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:09.760 met Sodom, 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.520 and then 00:23:10.520 --> 00:23:11.200 Melchizedek. 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.060 Let's focus 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.620 on Sodom 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:14.100 first. 00:23:16.780 --> 00:23:17.320 Sodom 00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:17.560 says, 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:18.920 the king 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.360 of Sodom, 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.660 give me 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.060 all the 00:23:22.060 --> 00:23:22.420 people, 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.300 but you 00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:24.800 keep the 00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:25.240 goods for 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:25.640 yourself. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.320 So Abraham, 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.400 give me my 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.020 people back, 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.180 you keep the 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.520 possessions. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.319 Now he's 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:32.819 not being 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.180 generous, 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.319 that's just 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.180 protocol. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.180 He would 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.940 have nothing 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.059 if Abraham 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.720 didn't bring 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:41.980 all the 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.480 people back. 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:43.859 He's not 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.379 being generous, 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.500 he's giving 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.240 Abraham what 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.839 he deserves 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.379 for his 00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:48.759 reward. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.279 And Abraham 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.579 says, 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:53.440 no, he 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.019 refuses, 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:55.319 he refuses 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.599 in a pretty 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.819 confrontational 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.160 way. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:58.779 He says, 00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.279 I'm not going 00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.759 to take a 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.500 shoelace from 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:00.720 you. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:06.220 He does 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.039 the very 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.960 opposite of 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.259 Lot. 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:10.059 Lot, 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.259 wanting to 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.180 gain wealth, 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:12.740 went into 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.379 partnership, 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.079 compromising 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.779 his relationship 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.279 with God. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.539 Abraham is 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.160 willing to 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:20.420 lose great 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.619 opportunity to 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:23.099 gain a reward 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.879 he's entitled 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:25.680 to, to not 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.099 go into 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.559 partnership. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:26.700 relationship. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.240 He doesn't 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.500 want to 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.159 compromise his 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:30.839 relationship with 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.319 God, even 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.799 if the gain he 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.779 rightly could 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:36.519 get is right 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:36.940 there on the 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.119 table. 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.579 I'm not having 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.159 a shoelace, 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:39.659 no way. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:42.059 It's the 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.639 opposite of 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:42.879 Lot. 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.440 It's strange. 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.619 He could have 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.399 got so much 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:50.859 out of that 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.419 situation. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.640 It's 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.080 strange 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.560 behaviour. 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.660 It's 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.060 costly. 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.039 I talked 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.660 to a man 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:04.420 once where 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:04.960 he was 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.380 wanting to 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:05.840 know more 00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.100 about 00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:06.640 Christianity 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.580 and what 00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:08.480 had motivated 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.019 him is 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.380 the girl 00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:11.100 he loved, 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.019 a girl who 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.620 would express 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.279 love for 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.700 him, 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:15.940 broke it 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.240 off. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:18.960 because she 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.539 basically said 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:19.740 to him, 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.259 I love 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.000 Jesus more. 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.339 He knew 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:26.900 she loved 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.180 him. 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:29.900 But he's 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.240 just like, 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:30.720 what? 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.539 Who is 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.099 this Jesus? 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:35.620 Because she 00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:36.140 was willing to 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.500 break it up. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:36.960 It was very 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.160 costly for 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.440 her. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.440 It's 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:40.799 strange. 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.319 But you 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:43.960 do that sort 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.680 of thing when 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.799 you don't want 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.160 to lose 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:46.540 God. 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.840 And then 00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.500 Abraham does 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.400 a second 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.180 costly thing. 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.400 Remember, 00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.259 he deserves 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.940 the reward. 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:00.440 He deserves 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:00.900 the reward. 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.620 This is 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:01.779 where 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.920 Melchizedek 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:04.460 comes in. 00:26:05.300 --> 00:26:05.519 And there's 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.000 so much in 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.300 the Bible 00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:06.560 about 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:07.240 Melchizedek 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:09.140 in small 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.420 groups. 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.160 Do a 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:11.660 deep dive 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:11.960 in that. 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.140 I am 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.060 going to 00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:14.740 glance over 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:14.960 it. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.460 Melchizedek 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.819 brings 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.380 supplies. 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:17.860 He brings 00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.319 bread and 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:18.640 wine. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.759 No doubt 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.640 the fighting 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.000 men are 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.340 hungry. 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:23.500 He brings 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.960 supplies. 00:26:24.100 --> 00:26:24.440 And this 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.900 time, 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.340 Abraham 00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:26.500 gladly partners 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.039 with 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.660 Melchizedek. 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:28.740 I'm in 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.319 your camp. 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.880 I'm with 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.100 you, 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.019 Melchizedek. 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.380 Why? 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:32.940 Because they 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.519 share the 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.220 same faith 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.500 in the 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.980 Most High 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.339 God. 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.680 They both 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.339 give credit 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.119 for Abraham's 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:40.920 victory where 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.420 it's due. 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.839 Not to 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.319 Abraham, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.359 but because 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.420 God delivered 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.339 your enemies 00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:45.759 into your 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.079 hand. 00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.819 God kept 00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:47.519 his promise. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.160 They were 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.059 both rejoicing 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.740 in God's 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:52.160 promises and 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.460 God's 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:52.879 character. 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.319 Abraham was 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.559 rejoicing in 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.960 Melchizedek, 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.019 giving all the 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.920 glory to God, 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.460 not him. 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.759 And then he 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.220 does something 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.539 weird. 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.620 He gives 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.360 Melchizedek 00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:07.819 10% of 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.299 all he 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:08.680 has. 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.079 He's just 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.420 got this 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:12.900 reward. 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.759 Melchizedek 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.640 brings a 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:15.940 meal. 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.400 He's not 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.880 paying for 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.279 the meal. 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.500 10% is a 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.059 high price. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.539 He's not 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.000 doing that. 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.620 He's not 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.019 paying for 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.160 the meal. 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.840 Why? 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.740 Why does 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.000 he give 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.019 10%? 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.799 If you 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.620 gave 10% 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.140 of everything 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:27.759 you owned, 00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:29.819 what's he 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.120 doing? 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:35.120 I think 00:27:35.120 --> 00:27:35.360 it's a 00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:35.700 way of 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.319 completing 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.079 Abraham's 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.340 joy in 00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.860 God and 00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:39.420 his promises. 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.039 It's a 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.400 way of 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.259 expressing that 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.680 God 00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:45.380 himself, 00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.779 his promises 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.600 are more 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:50.420 precious than 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:50.960 the possessions. 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.680 It's 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.120 costly. 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.779 It's 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.400 strange. 00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.460 It's 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.460 costly. 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:02.779 when God's 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.400 promises are 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.620 so precious 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.620 to a person 00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.319 that they 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.100 freely give. 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:09.840 It's 00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:10.799 strange 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.240 behaviour. 00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.460 I heard 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:14.700 of a 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.160 businessman 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:16.860 who was 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.240 travelling 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.940 internationally. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.620 He's a 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.140 big shot, 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.819 big name, 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.120 worth millions 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:21.640 of dollars, 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.519 and he 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:22.940 gave it 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.440 up to 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:24.880 spend more 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:25.259 time with 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.799 his family 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:26.319 and with 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:26.799 his local 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.539 church family, 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.140 and part of 00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:28.660 his reasons 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.220 was because 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.700 the youth 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.940 group needed 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.880 more leaders. 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.000 That's 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.440 weird. 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.640 That is 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.539 weird behaviour. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:36.900 That is 00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:36.920 weird behaviour. 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.920 When people 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.460 give up their 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.380 Saturday morning 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.920 to willingly, 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.640 dare I say 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.440 joyfully, 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.140 clean the 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.860 church toilets, 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:51.559 that is 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.100 weird. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.220 You are 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.019 weird people. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.480 That's 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.440 strange behaviour, 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.559 people giving 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.320 freely, 00:28:59.320 --> 00:29:01.160 when they 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.480 could be 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.180 gaining for 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.620 themselves. 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.539 It's 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.120 weird when 00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.940 people choose 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.660 a house 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:08.019 that's not 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.539 as good as 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:08.799 what they 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.559 possibly could 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.120 get so 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.420 that they 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.279 could stay 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.960 close to 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.400 their local 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:12.960 church. 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.220 It's just 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.580 weird. 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.620 Things, 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.559 people who 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.240 love the 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.820 promises of 00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:22.059 God, 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.740 they do 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.220 costly things, 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.539 but they 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:24.980 don't do it 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.640 begrudgingly. 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.180 It's weird. 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:26.519 It's 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.960 strange. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.480 It shows 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.039 there's 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.539 something bigger 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:32.819 in their 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.140 life. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.120 Something is 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.599 more precious 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.019 to them. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.500 So I 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:39.920 think in 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:40.380 Abraham, 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.059 the man of 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.400 faith, 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:45.440 faith isn't 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:45.900 just about 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.599 adding this 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.120 little bit of 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:47.740 religion into 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.220 your life. 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.339 Faith isn't 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.160 trying to 00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.920 earn a 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.559 reward in 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.160 the afterlife. 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:57.000 Christian 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.259 faith is 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.259 when God's 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.019 unconditional 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.819 promises to 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.500 bless you 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:03.920 are just 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.579 big. 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.400 God's 00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:08.059 promises just 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.140 fill your 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.980 thoughts and 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.200 every nook and 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:11.920 cranny of your 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.720 life, his 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.319 promises, they're 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.279 just big, they're 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.380 just how you 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.240 see everything. 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:23.599 like what 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.359 could be a 00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.000 better thing to 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.400 build your 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:27.620 life on than 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.559 the most 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:30.099 high God who 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:31.000 possesses heaven 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:32.059 and earth, who 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:33.680 cannot lie, saying 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.799 I will bless you 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.900 forever through 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.299 Jesus. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.559 He's got all the 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.940 control, he 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.539 keeps his 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.000 promises. 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:45.200 could you 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.799 build your 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:47.259 life on 00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:47.859 something better 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:48.279 than that? 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.640 Something 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.279 interesting with 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:59.279 Abraham is we 00:30:59.279 --> 00:30:59.940 see massive 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:00.700 failure, right? 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.279 And it's not the 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:02.720 only one. 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:03.700 As we keep 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.640 reading Genesis, he 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:06.099 does something very 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:09.119 similar and other 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.460 things. 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.319 He fails again. 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:13.059 But interestingly, you 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:14.240 keep reading 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.700 scripture and it's 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.299 as if those 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:19.220 failures are 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:19.779 washed away. 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:22.039 What's focused on 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.139 is his faith. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.339 God focuses on the 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:25.179 moments of faith. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.279 How can God do 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.599 that? 00:31:30.679 --> 00:31:31.740 I think because 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.700 Abraham is not 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.279 just the picture 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.960 of faith, he's 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.439 not just the 00:31:35.439 --> 00:31:36.220 pin-up boy of 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.599 faith, he points 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.460 to the one who 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.299 is the answer. 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:42.339 He's the 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:43.099 answer to all 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:43.700 God's promises. 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:47.480 Jesus Christ, the 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.559 most high God, 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.339 possessor of heaven 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:50.859 and earth. 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.259 Jesus never uses 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:57.379 people to save 00:31:57.379 --> 00:31:58.059 his own skin. 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.980 Like Abraham 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:01.759 used Sarah. 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.559 At the cross of 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:07.399 Jesus, we see our 00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:09.039 faithful husband laying 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:10.339 down his life for 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:13.819 his bride, his 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:14.159 people. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:19.500 His cross is 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.399 bigger than my 00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:21.000 failures. 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.220 Remembering my 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.079 sins no more, 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.980 washed away, 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.680 continually putting 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.379 me back on my 00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:30.639 feet. 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.539 He just remembers 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.139 my faith. 00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.539 Wow. 00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:35.579 All because of the 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:35.899 cross. 00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:38.200 I see myself in 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.440 Lot. 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.580 I don't know who 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:41.259 you're identifying 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.180 with in this story, 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.040 I identify with 00:32:43.040 --> 00:32:43.340 Lot. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.940 Getting myself into 00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:48.480 such damaging and 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:50.060 hopeless situations, 00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.940 relationally in all 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.900 sorts of ways, 00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:54.100 because I'm pursuing 00:32:54.100 --> 00:32:55.000 my own interests. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.160 So foolishly. 00:32:59.080 --> 00:33:00.120 But the cross is 00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:01.040 even bigger because 00:33:01.040 --> 00:33:03.900 it shows Jesus 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:05.000 didn't just leave me 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:05.400 to what I 00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:05.839 deserved. 00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.759 He pursued me. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.640 He risked 00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:10.539 everything to 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:13.960 rescue me and 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.660 bring me back. 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.980 His resurrection 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:19.759 is bigger than 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.440 any opportunity to 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.220 gain here and 00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:22.460 now. 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.859 What good is it if 00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.619 someone offers you 00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.559 the whole world and 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.319 yet forfeit your 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.640 soul? 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.259 The resurrection 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:33.660 says that I have 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:35.460 the most high 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:37.900 God, the 00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.620 possessor of 00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:39.200 heaven and 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.620 earth. 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.540 I belong to 00:33:41.540 --> 00:33:43.700 him and all 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:45.220 his promises are 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:45.600 for me, 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.300 unconditional. 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.740 Opportunities to 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.000 gain? 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:53.019 Can't compare. 00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:56.160 If you know 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.960 who we have, 00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:58.580 you're going to 00:33:58.580 --> 00:33:59.220 do strange 00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.620 things. 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.259 You're going to 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.779 do costly 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.800 things, freely, 00:34:02.080 --> 00:34:03.060 gladly, joyfully. 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:08.800 So in 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.500 Abraham we see 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.079 the man of 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.659 faith and he 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.320 points us to 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:12.119 Jesus Christ 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:14.380 where we see 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:14.960 at the cross 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:16.840 all the promises 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.380 of God. 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:19.079 Imagine if God 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.820 said to you, 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.380 I will bless 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.159 you forever. 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.619 That's exactly 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.340 what he said to 00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.019 us at the cross. 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:27.340 No ifs, no 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:27.920 buts, no 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.420 maybes. 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:33.420 The life of 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.840 faith is the 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.760 promises at the 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.420 cross being 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:38.960 big in our 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.659 thinking and in 00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:40.139 our life. 00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:45.000 So know 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:47.840 then that 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:48.880 those who are 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:50.500 of faith are 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.599 blessed along 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.460 with Abraham, 00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.240 the man of 00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:53.519 faith. 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:55.259 And if you 00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:55.860 belong to 00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:56.340 Christ, 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:58.199 then you are 00:34:58.199 --> 00:34:58.780 Abraham's 00:34:58.780 --> 00:34:59.199 offspring, 00:35:00.860 --> 00:35:01.380 heirs 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.960 according to 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.539 promise. 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.259 Let me pray. 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:06.860 Let's pray. 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:20.960 Lord, help us 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.800 believe that you 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.480 are the kind of 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.380 God that wants 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.539 to bless us, 00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:27.420 not based on 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.680 anything we do 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.420 or don't do, 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:31.079 but purely 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.680 because that's 00:35:32.680 --> 00:35:33.099 the kind of 00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:33.720 God you are. 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.780 Lord, I pray 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:38.760 that you 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.760 would increasingly 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:41.820 draw us to 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.900 the beauty of 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:44.440 yourself seen 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.280 at the cross so 00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:45.980 that your 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:46.900 promises would 00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:49.519 grow to the 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.200 size that they 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:52.000 actually are in 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:52.660 our hearts and 00:35:52.660 --> 00:35:53.460 minds so that we 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.380 live in a way that 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:55.060 pleases you. 00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.620 In Jesus' name I 00:35:56.620 --> 00:35:56.820 pray. 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.240 Amen.