WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.179 We're picking up the story of Jesus this morning in John's Gospel, chapter 12. 00:00:07.459 --> 00:00:12.460 Last we heard, Jesus was deeply troubled in his soul. 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:16.019 He was wrestling with his thoughts and emotions, 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:20.740 with the difficulty of this hour that has now come for him. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:28.359 And at the end of this, Jesus prayed out loud to God in front of the whole group of people, 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:30.919 Father, glorify your name. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:38.740 And something quite extraordinary and unexpected happened. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.379 Then a voice came from heaven. 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:48.039 I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:52.939 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered. 00:00:54.219 --> 00:00:57.179 Others said an angel had spoken to him. 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:02.920 Jesus said, this voice was not for your benefit. 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:08.219 Sorry, this voice was for your benefit, not mine. 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:10.120 Wow. 00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:12.039 What a moment. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:20.019 Do you wish that you could have been there, in the crowd, and heard this amazing thing? 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:30.979 Jesus turns to heaven and prays to his Father, and God, the Father himself, answers from heaven in an audible voice. 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:37.700 We're going to come back to what God said to Jesus later. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:40.820 But let's talk about the reaction of the crowd. 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.680 We notice, first of all, that not everybody came to the same conclusion here. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:50.080 Some of the crowd insisted that the noise was merely thunder. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:54.620 Not just that it sounded like thunder, but that it was just thunder. 00:01:56.340 --> 00:02:05.900 Perhaps these are people, in the words of D.A. Carson, who are just less open to observable, supernatural intervention. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:10.039 We certainly have those kinds of people in our world today. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:16.599 People who read the Bible, and then they look for a natural explanation to all of the miracles. 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:18.659 It can't have been God. 00:02:19.099 --> 00:02:21.360 It can't have been God speaking from heaven. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:27.620 And maybe they were already biased against the possibility that God would actually do such a thing. 00:02:29.160 --> 00:02:36.000 And we should note here that it is exceedingly rare for God to speak like this from heaven in an audible voice. 00:02:36.540 --> 00:02:40.500 This is one of only three times in the New Testament that God did this. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.120 The first was at Jesus' baptism. 00:02:42.660 --> 00:02:47.420 The second was on the mount, where Jesus was transfigured before his disciples. 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:49.500 And the third one is here. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:54.060 That must have been thunder, some said. 00:02:56.220 --> 00:03:01.940 As I was thinking about this, you know, we often assume that God's voice is big and boomy, right? 00:03:02.700 --> 00:03:03.580 Like thunder. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.680 Well, there is some basis for that right here. 00:03:09.940 --> 00:03:18.460 God is quite able to make himself be heard in a majestic and powerful and glorious way. 00:03:18.460 --> 00:03:28.100 But let's not forget that God's voice came to Elijah, the prophet, in a gentle whisper. 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:32.060 God can speak in all kinds of ways. 00:03:32.760 --> 00:03:37.319 Or we might say he has many different voices to choose from. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:39.740 And I love to think about this. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:42.580 He's spoken through his angels. 00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:47.159 He's spoken through his prophets, both their mouths and their pens. 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:49.479 He has spoken through dreams. 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:52.500 He speaks through his creation. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:56.479 The heavens are telling the glory of God. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.180 Their expanse is declaring the work of his hands. 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:04.659 He spoke through Balaam's donkey. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:08.180 He spoke through the big events near the beginning. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:13.840 And he spoke through the little events and the happenings with his people all through the Old Testament. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:19.019 He spoke through the Bethlehem star at the birth of his son. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:26.339 He speaks through miracles, signs, and wonders that his power performs. 00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:35.899 The old standard for home entertainment systems was 5.1 surround sound. 00:04:37.139 --> 00:04:38.939 Maybe you had a system like that. 00:04:39.299 --> 00:04:43.479 You had a speaker in the middle and then you had one on the left and one on the right. 00:04:43.599 --> 00:04:46.419 And you had a pair of speakers behind you on the right and the left. 00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:53.540 And don't forget about that subwoofer at the bottom that, you know, really brings out those low tones. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:58.680 It makes the sounds in the movie come alive with a richness and depth. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:04.540 Well, forget about 5.1 or 7.1 or whatever we're at today. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:08.920 God speaks through 10,000.1 surround sound. 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:12.319 His word is coming at us from every angle. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:14.360 All creation. 00:05:14.960 --> 00:05:16.800 Every kind of speaker and voice. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.759 Even in this moment here with Jesus, God is speaking through the lips of his own son. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:27.439 And in the same minute, he's speaking from heaven with an audible voice. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:29.120 From below and above. 00:05:29.259 --> 00:05:30.080 Surround sound. 00:05:30.200 --> 00:05:31.639 All at the same minute. 00:05:34.200 --> 00:05:35.379 We often wonder, 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:39.959 Why doesn't God speak from heaven like this more often? 00:05:41.219 --> 00:05:44.360 Well, maybe one reason is because God is glorious. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:49.659 And he delights in speaking in all kinds of ways and with all kinds of voices. 00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:53.000 A subwoofer is great. 00:05:54.219 --> 00:05:57.759 The booming thunder voice of God is awesome. 00:05:58.259 --> 00:06:01.759 But there's more than one frequency in the audible spectrum. 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:04.860 And God seems to enjoy using them all. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:08.240 But maybe there's more to it than that. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:10.800 Let me ask you. 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:17.839 Do you really want to hear the thundering voice of God all the time? 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.279 As the norm? 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:27.019 Like the Israelites did at Sinai to feel your knees knocking and your heart pounding? 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:31.139 As he spoke the Ten Commandments to them? 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:37.779 God could very well thunder at us from heaven every single day. 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:45.019 He could speak in the most elegant and sophisticated of heavenly languages that only he knows. 00:06:45.019 --> 00:07:00.879 But maybe he chooses to speak through human beings, prophets, and now his son in our language to show us his tenderness and his love for us. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:04.459 There's maybe a lesson here for us who are parents. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:09.379 We can roar and thunder at our children. 00:07:10.159 --> 00:07:11.860 We can intimidate. 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:18.439 But maybe the ultimate way is to get down on their level and use the calm voice. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:20.460 The voice of conversation. 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:22.000 The gentle whisper. 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:26.860 Perhaps there are moments to thunder, but maybe they should be quite rare. 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:32.360 So some thought or said that it thundered. 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:37.160 Others who were there acknowledged that this was a voice speaking words to Jesus. 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:38.340 Yeah, we heard that. 00:07:39.020 --> 00:07:40.080 Definitely a voice. 00:07:41.080 --> 00:07:43.600 But it seems that they didn't know who was speaking. 00:07:44.080 --> 00:07:44.879 Was it an angel? 00:07:45.340 --> 00:07:45.660 Maybe? 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.300 And then Jesus himself gives a word of explanation. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.800 Verse 30. 00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:54.280 Jesus said, this voice was for your benefit. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:56.000 Not mine. 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:58.080 It's interesting. 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:07.240 Even though the response came to Jesus, and I'm sure it pleased Jesus and encouraged him and was beneficial to him. 00:08:07.580 --> 00:08:15.240 Jesus says that the main purpose of this voice was not for him, but for the people standing here listening in. 00:08:15.340 --> 00:08:16.580 It was like a sign to them. 00:08:17.460 --> 00:08:18.280 A testimony. 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:21.540 A confirmation from God to them. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:32.039 That yes, this Jesus, the one who has just been paraded into the city of Jerusalem not long ago as King and Messiah, is the one. 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:34.340 I mean, look. 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:36.980 He prays to the Father, to God. 00:08:37.560 --> 00:08:39.940 And in that very moment, God answers. 00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:45.800 What an amazing sign and evidence that he is the Son of God. 00:08:47.640 --> 00:08:49.220 Now, I can't be sure of this. 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:51.180 So take it with a grain of salt. 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:57.120 But since God says, Jesus says, this voice was for your benefit. 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:59.979 God intended to speak for the people's benefit. 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.399 I can't help but think that these people who said that it thundered. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:05.539 It was just thunder. 00:09:06.819 --> 00:09:11.379 Really knew that it was a voice speaking from heaven. 00:09:12.459 --> 00:09:14.959 Did they really mistake God's voice for thunder? 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:25.120 Or is this Jesus' opponents and the skeptics trying desperately to cancel Jesus? 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:33.460 Now, I really do want to talk about what Jesus, what God said to Jesus. 00:09:33.680 --> 00:09:40.120 And as I was meditating on it this week, I realized there's a whole sermon right here in verse 28. 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:44.400 What Jesus says to the Father, glorify your name. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:51.040 And what the Father says in response, I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:53.060 And maybe you're thinking, oh, come on, Josh. 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:55.240 We're never going to get through the book of John at this rate. 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:57.400 But let me ask you something. 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:02.840 Let's say that you were at a little gathering here in Davidson this week. 00:10:03.060 --> 00:10:07.040 Just happened to be a whole bunch of people out bustling around the post office. 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:12.780 And while you were there, all of a sudden, God spoke from heaven audibly. 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:15.720 And everybody there heard it. 00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:18.339 What would your response be? 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:27.659 What if like some in the crowd here, you heard clearly, clear as day, what the voice said. 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.959 The words that were spoken. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.579 And there were others in the crowd too who were saying, oh, no, no, no, no. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.439 That was just thunder. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:46.940 I mean, knowing how often God speaks like this in an audible voice from heaven, would this not be one of the most significant moments of your life? 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:54.720 Something that you'd want to point back to and tell everyone about for the rest of your life? 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:04.460 I still remember that day on the sidewalk near Davidson where God spoke to all of us with an audible voice from heaven, you would tell people. 00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:10.639 And as you tell the story, people would ask you, well, what did he say? 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:18.480 And would you look them in the eye and say, well, you know, it was something about glorifying his name. 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:19.379 I don't know. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:22.940 I haven't really given it too much thought what it means. 00:11:22.940 --> 00:11:29.100 And they might say, well, I guess it didn't have too much impact on you then. 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:30.080 But cool story. 00:11:31.900 --> 00:11:41.160 How many of these people, I wonder, left and walked away this day after having the rare privilege of hearing God speak from heaven? 00:11:41.160 --> 00:11:52.300 How many of them just walked away and left, talking lots about it, maybe, but didn't really make much of an effort to understand what God's words from heaven actually meant? 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:56.800 And then I got thinking about this. 00:11:56.880 --> 00:12:02.380 This way of God speaking, this particular voice that he chose, yes, it was rare. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:07.300 But this response of people happens all the time. 00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:11.760 As I said earlier, God speaks in all kinds of ways. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:14.440 He uses a great variety of voices. 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:20.920 And yet this response of the people to God's voice happens all the time. 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:27.419 I got thinking, this book, what is it? 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:40.439 It's our collection of all the times that God has spoken to humanity in a variety of ways, with a variety of voices that he's chosen. 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:45.500 And I'm not talking about like the little feeling we get in our heads like God spoke to me last week. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:53.740 I'm talking about the undeniable moments in human history where God chose a prophet to be his mouthpiece and spoke through him. 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:56.159 Or a scribe to write down his words. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:08.259 Or a chronicler to lay out the history of all the times when he intervened in the most tangible and obvious ways, miraculous ways, on purpose to get our attention. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:13.560 Like this book is our collection of all of those moments throughout history. 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:17.579 That's why we call it the word of God. 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:29.679 You and I may not have been there that day and heard what Jesus heard and the crowd heard as God spoke from heaven. 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:36.639 But we have the very words recorded right here for us from those who heard it. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:48.199 How often do we think about our Bible sitting on the shelf, the coffee table, the nightstand, in the drawer? 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:54.139 But then we think again, I'll read it later. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.480 I've got more important things to do. 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:00.240 I've got more interesting things to do. 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:02.539 I think I'm going to check Facebook instead. 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:08.019 I think I'll check out the news about the trucker convoy instead. 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:15.879 Or maybe we do pick up our Bibles and maybe we do make an effort to read. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:21.939 We've got maybe our Bible reading plan open beside and our pen is ready to check off the box of what we read. 00:14:22.219 --> 00:14:24.500 And we come to a verse like this and we're reading and we say, 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:27.599 Oh wow, God spoke from heaven. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:33.180 I have glorified it and I will glorify it again. 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.080 Huh? 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.040 I wonder what that means. 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.340 I don't know. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.279 Let's just keep going. 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:43.759 How's that any different from having been there in person? 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:52.440 He heard the voice in person and just walking away and not really bothering to understand what God just said. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.160 Are you catching my drift here? 00:14:55.159 --> 00:15:06.259 So many times I've been talking with Christian brothers and sisters and often something's come up in their lives and they've said these words to me. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:10.159 I wish God would just speak to me in an audible voice. 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:14.199 Tell me what I need to know for this situation. 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:25.000 But if we don't really make much of an effort to understand what we know he has said when he has chosen to speak through human history, 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:31.000 what makes us think that an audible voice today would make all the difference? 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:36.120 The problem is not that God rarely speaks. 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:40.200 As we talked about earlier, he's spoken in all kinds of ways. 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:45.360 No, the problem I think has to do with us and whether or how we listen. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:51.620 I think Jesus hit the nail on the head with the parable of the sower and the soils. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:55.139 God's word comes to us like that seed. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.940 And for some, it just sits on the surface. 00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:59.679 It doesn't sink in. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:01.620 And before you know it, it's gone. 00:16:02.459 --> 00:16:06.239 For others, it comes to us and we take it in a little bit, but not deeply. 00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:12.419 And then as soon as any trouble or stress comes our way in life, we just lay it aside. 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.959 For others, we take it in a little bit. 00:16:17.099 --> 00:16:21.459 Seems to be good and things are good are coming from it. 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:27.079 But then the worries and the cares and desires of life sprout up all around us and they choke it out. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:36.039 The problem is not with the seed or the sower, the word of God or the God who speaks. 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:44.599 The problem is with the soil, the hearts and the minds of the people to whom the word comes. 00:16:47.959 --> 00:16:51.719 So you want God to speak to you in an audible voice. 00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:56.019 And then you would really listen and take it to heart. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:17:03.179 There was another time when God spoke with an audible voice to his people long ago. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.859 Mount Sinai. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.720 Maybe you know the story. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:08.139 Deuteronomy chapter 4. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:11.299 Moses is reminding the people about this. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.680 Verse 33. 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:13.700 This is what he says. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.099 He says, 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:21.839 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire as you have and lived? 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:30.359 Has any God ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation by testings, 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.219 by signs and wonders, 00:17:32.219 --> 00:17:33.439 by war, 00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:36.759 by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:39.379 or by great and awesome deeds, 00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:45.420 like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:50.980 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:53.339 Besides him, there is no other. 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.220 From heaven, 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:56.940 from heaven, 00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:59.140 he made you hear his voice 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.980 to discipline you. 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:04.299 On earth he showed you his great fire, 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.460 and you heard his words 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.099 from out of the fire. 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.039 And it goes on. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:14.339 They heard God speak with an audible voice 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:17.799 and an awesome visual display 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:20.160 from heaven through the fire. 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:24.960 And yet these very same people were the ones who rebelled against Moses, 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.259 challenged Aaron, 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.700 grumbled and complained against God, 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.400 disobeyed his commands, 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:33.280 were kept from entering the promised land 00:18:33.280 --> 00:18:34.340 and were punished 00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:37.640 with 40 years of wandering in the wilderness 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.940 and to die there. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:43.820 Do you really think that having God speak to you 00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:44.980 in an audible voice 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.920 will make all the difference? 00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:50.780 That then you would really listen and take it to heart? 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:55.519 It sure didn't stop these Israelites from ignoring God 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:59.800 or from turning away in their hearts from God. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:02.540 As the author of Hebrews reminds us, 00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:07.900 God has graciously spoken to us in all kinds of ways. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:11.220 And for our generation and time, 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:14.940 God has carefully preserved all that he has said 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.420 throughout human history 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.640 right here 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.320 in our Bibles. 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:22.500 And yet, 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:24.059 do we read them? 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.259 Do we not just read them, 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:31.279 but do we think and meditate hard 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:34.259 and long over the words that he has said? 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.799 Even study them? 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.359 Seeking to understand them? 00:19:39.179 --> 00:19:42.059 Trying to get them deep in our hearts? 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:45.319 Or are we waiting instead 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:47.039 for an audible voice? 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.839 Almost like saying, 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.359 well, you know, 00:19:51.419 --> 00:19:52.759 I'll only eat a meal 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:55.220 if it's of a certain caliber 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.379 or quality. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.279 And meanwhile, 00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:00.039 we're starving our souls to death, 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:03.679 shoving them full of junk food 00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:04.379 from the internet. 00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:07.560 Do you really think 00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:08.900 that having God speak to you 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:10.140 in an audible voice from heaven 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:11.600 would make all the difference? 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:16.260 The God who spoke to Jesus here 00:20:16.260 --> 00:20:19.060 in the hearing of all of them 00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:20.820 is the same God 00:20:20.820 --> 00:20:21.880 who spoke through Moses 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:23.240 and told him to write down 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.600 the first five books of the Bible. 00:20:25.540 --> 00:20:26.660 Genesis to Deuteronomy 00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:28.460 is just as much God's word 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.160 as these words are to Jesus. 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:35.180 It's the same God speaking 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:37.080 just with a different voice. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:40.320 Moses, his chosen prophet. 00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:43.140 The God who spoke from heaven 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.640 to Jesus right here 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:46.900 is also the same God 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:48.460 who spoke through the prophet Samuel 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.259 long ago. 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:52.259 Same God, different voice. 00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.980 And we have the privilege 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.300 of hearing all that God said 00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:57.200 through Samuel to Saul 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:59.360 and David and the Israelites. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:03.500 The God who speaks here to Jesus 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.019 from heaven 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.979 is the same God 00:21:05.979 --> 00:21:07.379 who spoke through King Solomon 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:09.559 as he sat down 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.899 and penned the Proverbs 00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:11.619 with the wisdom 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:13.299 that God gave him. 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.259 The same God speaking 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:17.000 yet with another different voice. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.899 And so it has gone. 00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:21.399 Same God, different voices. 00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:25.799 Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:29.480 Obadiah, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:33.259 Malachi, John the Baptizer. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.639 Jesus, God's own son. 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:42.339 Greatest human mouthpiece of God ever. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:46.039 The word of God incarnate, 00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:47.799 enfleshed. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.200 Enfleshed. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:52.200 And we have everything 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:53.400 that he did and said 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.740 right here. 00:21:56.080 --> 00:21:57.100 Not everything, 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.960 but all that we need 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.759 to see a lot 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.220 of what we need to see. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.600 The apostles, 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:04.440 the writers of the New Testament letters, 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:06.080 same God speaking, 00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:07.900 different voices. 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.039 Instead of wishing 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.720 that God would speak to us 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.720 audibly from heaven 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:16.420 like he has to some in the past, 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.240 we need to realize, 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.340 we need to open our eyes 00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:20.500 to see what we have right here. 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:23.360 To see that God has spoken 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.820 to all of us 00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:26.080 in all kinds of ways 00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:27.960 using all these different voices. 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.400 And it's right here 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.860 in this most precious book. 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.700 These words were 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:37.519 not just for them back then. 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:40.240 They're for all of God's people 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.640 throughout every generation. 00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:44.320 By God's intention and design, 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:46.100 he has preserved them 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.779 so that we could all benefit 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.339 from all of those moments. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.059 I mean, 00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:52.319 think about this. 00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:54.599 What is your Bible 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:56.459 sitting there 00:22:56.459 --> 00:22:57.619 on the desk, 00:22:58.179 --> 00:22:59.659 on the nightstand, 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.699 on the coffee table, 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.399 on the bookshelf? 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:06.059 It's a phone ringing. 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:09.179 And on the other end of the line 00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:10.919 is the creator. 00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:13.599 The one who made you. 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.759 The father. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.459 The one who loves you. 00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:20.839 The same one 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.679 who spoke from heaven audibly 00:23:22.679 --> 00:23:23.819 right here to Jesus. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.539 And this is how he has chosen 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.199 to speak to us today. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.000 Through all those people 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.959 who lived long ago, 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.959 who were like us, 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.219 through his chosen prophets 00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:35.839 and apostles, 00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:37.299 through his son. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:39.399 It's like a phone 00:23:39.399 --> 00:23:40.379 ringing. 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.579 A direct line 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.319 to the God 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:45.399 who has spoken 00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.299 all through history. 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.399 Are you going to answer it? 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.779 Do you want to listen 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.919 to what he has to say 00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:55.599 in the voices 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.720 that he has chosen 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.700 to speak with? 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.440 Are you going to 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.440 answer 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.680 and then listen a bit 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.659 and just, 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.019 ah, 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.539 okay, 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.720 go on your way, 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.700 forget about it, 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.019 not think too much about it? 00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:08.940 Are you going to answer it 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.400 and press that receiver 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:12.019 into the ear of your heart 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.580 and linger 00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:15.460 and hang on those words 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.319 and seek to 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.779 understand them? 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.799 What do they mean? 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.640 What are you saying 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.299 to me, God? 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.519 Every day 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.720 for the rest of your life. 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.039 Let's not think 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.660 for a second 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:30.019 that we're any less 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.600 privileged 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.640 than the people 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.539 were 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.399 who heard 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:33.420 who heard 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.359 this audible voice 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:34.839 that day. 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.220 We know 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.839 what God said 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.480 in that moment 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.279 that day 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.460 and we have 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.559 even more. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.019 And so that's why 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:44.500 we're going to take 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.079 a whole message 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.700 next Sunday 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.500 and we're going to 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.379 just have a whole sermon 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:47.879 right on 00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:49.079 what God said. 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.899 I have glorified it 00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:53.619 and I will glorify it again. 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.519 We'll think about 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.500 what it really means. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:58.960 I'm going to end 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.480 this morning 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.799 by reading a portion 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.740 of Psalm 19. 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.299 More than 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:05.460 anyone I know of 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:06.480 David, 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.920 the shepherd boy 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.819 who became king, 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.279 he understood this. 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.140 This is what he said 00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:14.039 in Psalm 19, 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.720 verse 7. 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.440 The law 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:18.319 of the Lord 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:20.180 is perfect, 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.640 refreshing the soul. 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.900 The statutes 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:26.299 of the Lord 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.019 are 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.460 trustworthy, 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:30.640 making wise 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.680 the simple. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.940 The precepts 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.579 of the Lord 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.539 are right, 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.180 giving joy 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.860 to the heart. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.140 The commands 00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.819 of the Lord 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.860 are radiant, 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.819 giving light 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.680 to the eyes. 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.299 The fear 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.779 of the Lord 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.480 is pure, 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.579 enduring forever. 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.420 The decrees 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.019 of the Lord 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.980 are firm 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:54.720 and all of them 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.400 are righteous. 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:57.580 they are more 00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.360 precious than 00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:59.040 gold, 00:25:59.280 --> 00:26:00.420 than much 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.880 pure gold. 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:03.100 They are sweeter 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:03.720 than honey. 00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.500 Honey 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:07.080 from the honeycomb. 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.920 I love 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.560 these verses. 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.840 How can 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.500 this man, 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.160 David, 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:14.540 say such 00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:15.160 things 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:16.880 about the law? 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:18.960 You ever 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.680 think about that? 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.480 About the book 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.080 of Genesis, 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:22.780 Exodus, 00:26:23.040 --> 00:26:23.519 Leviticus, 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.080 Numbers, 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.039 and Deuteronomy. 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.679 Refreshing 00:26:26.679 --> 00:26:27.339 the soul? 00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.799 Giving joy 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.619 to the heart? 00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:31.960 Giving 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.079 light 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.879 to the eyes? 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.679 More precious 00:26:34.679 --> 00:26:35.240 than a whole 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.379 lot of gold? 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.279 Sweeter 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.779 than honey? 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.159 I mean, 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.720 how can you 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.279 say such 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:40.859 things about 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.259 the first 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.759 five books 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.279 of the Bible? 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:42.980 Parts of which 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.939 we might just 00:26:43.939 --> 00:26:44.139 say, 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.039 that's boring, 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:45.899 and just 00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:46.740 skip over it. 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:50.120 my answer 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.559 is because 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.440 David knows 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:53.359 that God 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.380 speaks here. 00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.839 These are 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.500 the very 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.900 words of God, 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.400 and by pressing 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.039 in deeply 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.680 to meditate 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.299 on them 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.120 and understand 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.720 them 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.799 and hear 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.200 what God 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.839 has to say, 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.980 he's truly 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.880 experienced 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.380 this. 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:13.980 the refreshment 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.720 of his own 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.200 soul 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.960 while reading 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.660 or listening 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:18.780 to Leviticus. 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:21.779 the joy 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.539 rising in his 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.059 heart while 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.660 reading or 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.519 listening to 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:25.519 Genesis. 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.559 The awakening 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.759 of wisdom 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.519 in his soul 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.160 while reading 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:30.619 or listening 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.480 to Exodus. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.460 The realization 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.160 that he has 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.639 something of 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.599 ultimate value, 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.180 more precious 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:38.700 than gold 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.279 while reading 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.039 Numbers. 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.740 Something of 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.879 ultimate desire, 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:45.940 sweeter than 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.259 honey, 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.279 while reading 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.099 in Deuteronomy. 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.839 Let me ask 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.299 you something. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.619 If you don't 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.220 see the Bible 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.839 like that, 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.259 if you read 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.599 and hear 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:54.920 and feel 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.599 something totally 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.099 different than 00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.559 David did 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.240 about the Bible, 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.019 who's right? 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.779 Who's seeing 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.220 it the way 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.799 that it really 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.240 is? 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.440 David? 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:06.079 Or you? 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.279 Is David 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.119 just a flowery 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:09.779 poet that's 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.440 just making 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.220 things up here? 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.440 Is this just 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.319 different strokes 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:14.839 for different 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.339 folks? 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.440 Or is it 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.059 possible that 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:19.539 all along 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.019 you've not 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.500 been seeing 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.980 clearly 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:22.720 just what 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.259 we have 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.720 here? 00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:28.440 If you're 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.039 not in 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.600 this book 00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:32.360 meditating 00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:33.019 on it 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.620 deeply, 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.840 studying it, 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.779 chewing on it, 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.620 hanging on the 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.220 words here, 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.559 do you know 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:38.900 what you're 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:39.420 missing out 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:39.660 on? 00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.500 The refreshment 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.160 of your soul, 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:45.319 the wisening 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.900 of your heart 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.480 and mind, 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.240 joy in your 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.599 heart, 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.779 discernment, 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.859 the brightening 00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.720 of your eyes 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.400 beyond what 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.519 bars of gold 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.759 and the sweetest 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.539 delicacies of 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.119 earth could do 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:56.539 for you? 00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.240 Let me ask you 00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.480 this. 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.339 As you look 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:00.740 out at the 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.319 world today, 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.039 do you feel 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.619 a weariness 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:04.579 in your soul? 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.660 As you read 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.220 the news, 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.640 are you in need 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.599 of some refreshment 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.259 in your soul? 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.559 David says 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.179 you can find 00:29:14.179 --> 00:29:14.899 it right here 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:17.579 in the Bible 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.419 by listening 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.079 to what God 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.619 has said. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.139 Put down 00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:21.679 your phone, 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.199 your tablet 00:29:23.199 --> 00:29:25.139 and pick up 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.399 the word 00:29:26.399 --> 00:29:27.159 of God. 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.579 Maybe you're 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.219 already in your 00:29:30.219 --> 00:29:30.980 Bible and you've 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.539 just been having 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.079 a hard time 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.759 getting something 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.119 out of it. 00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.419 I want to 00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:33.879 encourage you 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.459 to come talk 00:29:34.459 --> 00:29:34.799 to me. 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.559 Maybe you just 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.319 need some extra 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.319 resources to help 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:38.579 you out. 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:38.959 There's all 00:29:38.959 --> 00:29:39.539 kinds of stuff 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.139 out there. 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.079 Maybe for you 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.399 it's the prayer 00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:44.159 and the relationship 00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:45.099 with God part 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:45.639 that's missing 00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.279 from your Bible 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.659 reading. 00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:50.019 There's resources, 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:50.559 books, 00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.180 all kinds of 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:51.759 things that can 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.379 help us with 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:52.700 that. 00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:53.639 Maybe it's 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.619 distractions and 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.220 worry and 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:56.119 anxiety that's 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.500 keeping you 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:56.879 from really 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.839 focusing while 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.359 you're reading 00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.379 and that's the 00:29:59.379 --> 00:30:00.000 battle that you're 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.639 fighting right now. 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.659 There's stuff 00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.259 to help with 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:02.599 that. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.599 Maybe you could 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.279 benefit from a 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.059 good commentary. 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.659 A man or a 00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:07.359 woman who spent 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:08.579 years of their 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:08.940 lives, 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:10.160 studying and 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.940 meditating on a 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.680 particular book 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.019 that you're 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.759 about to read 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.640 and you just 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.180 need someone 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.960 else to 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.059 kind of help 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.799 guide you and 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.400 lead you into 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:17.960 the deeper 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.460 meanings of 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.320 what's there, 00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:21.519 how it applies 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.240 to your life. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.519 I'd love to help 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.220 and encourage you 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.400 however I can so 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:27.539 that David's 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:29.299 words about the 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.279 Bible can be 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.839 your words about 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.319 the Bible. 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.700 So don't wait 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.299 for the audible 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.359 voice of God 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.140 from heaven. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.900 Pick up the 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:40.079 phone that's 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:40.960 ringing on your 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.599 nightstand. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.319 Not the 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:43.720 smartphone. 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.900 This phone. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:48.279 Open the pages. 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.019 Read the book. 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:52.240 Hang on every 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.639 word. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.379 Hang on to it 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:57.059 like Jacob did 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.599 when he was 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.819 wrestling with the 00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.480 angel of the 00:30:59.480 --> 00:30:59.740 Lord. 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.500 You remember 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.000 what he said? 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:04.480 I will not let 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.079 go of you 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.359 until you bless 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:06.619 me. 00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:08.759 May we struggle 00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.879 with God and 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:11.099 his word like 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:13.359 that and prevail 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:14.359 with his blessing. 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:16.059 let's pray. 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.559 Father in heaven 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.199 thank you for 00:31:20.199 --> 00:31:20.919 this incredible 00:31:20.919 --> 00:31:22.699 gift that we 00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:23.279 don't have to 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.279 look back and 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:24.819 think oh we 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.299 missed out. 00:31:25.699 --> 00:31:26.299 You never spoke 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:26.799 to us. 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:27.879 You have. 00:31:28.679 --> 00:31:29.699 Help us all see 00:31:29.699 --> 00:31:29.939 that. 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:30.519 Help us to 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.539 treasure and 00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.159 cherish your 00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:34.319 word and to 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.179 become people who 00:31:35.179 --> 00:31:35.939 are deeply 00:31:35.939 --> 00:31:37.039 transformed by 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.279 it. 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.159 A radiant 00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:40.819 light in this 00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.859 dark, dark 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.219 world. 00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.779 Lord, I 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.279 pray this in 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.940 Jesus name. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.039 Amen.