WEBVTT

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 It's not a very common thing at Christmas time to talk about ancient geopolitical battles.

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 It's not exactly a festive thing, is it?

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 And yet, Isaiah chapter 7, which will be our text that we're looking in, is precisely that.

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 It is with this backdrop that we will see the promise of the son being born of the virgin.

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 His name will be Emmanuel. This is the context that this will be declared.

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 So before we continue any farther, let us take a moment and ask the Lord's blessing at this time.

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 Lord, thank you for the sweet, wonderful, beautiful, and sure promises that you have made to us through your prophets in your word.

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 We pray that this morning, even though that they are written not just centuries, but millennia in the past,

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 that they will be so fresh to us this morning and minister to us by your Holy Spirit.

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 And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 What happens to you when panic sets in?

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 When plans don't go right?

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 When situations turn south, and you know that real repercussions set in.

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 What do you do?

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 Who do you turn to?

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 What is your thought process?

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 Do you have a thought process?

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 Or maybe the animal instinct kicks in,

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 and you try to figure out what to do,

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 and you end up doing things you never thought you'd do,

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 going to people you never thought you'd go to,

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 calling on the name of different saviors that you'd never call on in your life.

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 The past three weeks, the past two weeks and this week,

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 this Advent season, we've been reading through the book of Isaiah

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 and looking at some of the prophecies that Isaiah made,

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 that the Lord made through Isaiah,

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 centuries and centuries and centuries before Jesus came on the earth,

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 but concerning him, the Messiah.

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 And these prophecies were written in a very tumultuous time,

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 not exactly a warm, festive holiday season,

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 but a season in the life of Israel that was rife with problems,

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 that saw strife and warfare and bloodshed be the constant in Israel's history.

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 Israel's history was a giant mess.

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 So over 700 years before the Christmas story,

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 a calamity falls to the Middle East.

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 It's a bit of a pattern, it would seem.

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 The Assyrian Empire, it was the superpower of the day,

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 whose kingdom spanned from modern-day Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Kuwait.

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 It was a huge empire, just preceding the Babylonians,

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 if that helps kind of situate it in your historical chronology.

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 They threatened any small country or kingdom that faced them.

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 The Assyrians weren't just an empire with global aspirations.

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 They were also incredibly cruel.

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 History tells us that the Assyrian Empire would have made Hamas and the Taliban blush.

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 They were horrendous, horrendously cruel people.

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 Their brutality was known across the land.

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 And it's not as though they showed up while Israel was a strong, united force.

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 It's not like Israel was at the high point of their history.

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 When Assyria comes, Israel, this land that God and these people that God declared his own,

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 had been divided.

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 The northern kingdom, the ten tribes of the north, divided from the two kingdoms in the south, the kingdom of Judah.

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 Once again, this season in Israel's history was one giant mess.

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 So to secure their survival, the kingdom of the north, of Israel,

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 they had since left the true worship of the one true God,

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 and they sought to align themselves with another regional power to take over Judah,

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 install a puppet king, so that they could have a fighting chance against this Assyrian army,

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 this Assyrian empire.

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 This is a bit of a background to our chapter of Isaiah 7,

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 because it is with this background that we hear about this king named Ahaz.

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 Ahaz the king.

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 Ahaz was the king of Judah, but unlike other kings of Judah,

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 he was more like a king of Israel,

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 which was to say that he was just as horrendous,

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 but in a different way as the Assyrians.

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 He chose not to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

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 but rather to do whatever was expedient for him to maintain power and to survive.

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 Morals and true worship be damned.

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 He would do whatever it would take,

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 and that's exactly what he would do.

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 So history tells us about Ahaz, 2 Kings chapter 16,

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 that he sacrificed even his own son to foreign gods.

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 This man was unhinged, and he was supposed to be the leader of Israel,

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 but he was leading them not to God, but away from God.

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 So what will he do?

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 Assyria, this superpower, is on his doorstep.

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 The northern kingdom with a regional power located in Damascus

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 has teamed up to try to overthrow him.

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 Would he turn to the Lord?

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 Would he trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

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 Or would he continue on with his pattern of finding whatever worked

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 to deal with the problem at hand in the most expedient way?

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 Ahaz is going to ask some questions

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 that I think we are going to ask as well,

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 if we are honest as we dive into Scripture

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 and take an honest, hard look at our own lives.

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 What do we do when panic sets in?

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 When our prospects have dwindled,

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 when our situations look bleak,

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 what will we do?

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 Will we trust in God?

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 Will he do anything?

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 More than that, is the God of the Bible,

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 I mean, we pay lip service to him on Sunday,

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 but does he actually exist?

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 I mean, this is a decent community,

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 so maybe we're here for the community

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 and not so much the God that the community is formed around.

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 Does he exist?

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 And if he exists, does he care?

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 These are questions Ahaz is asking.

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 And I think we ought to ask as well.

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 So as we get to Isaiah chapter 7,

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 with those questions as are in the backdrop,

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 I think Isaiah 7 will answer a giant and emphatic yes

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 to those questions,

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 that God, he truly does exist and he truly does care,

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 and all we need to do is call upon him.

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 He is not far, but he is close.

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 So we'll pick up the story, Isaiah chapter 7, verse 3,

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 where we find Ahaz inspecting the water supply,

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 and it's presumed that he's doing so in preparation to an impending siege.

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 Jerusalem's a bit of a weird city in the ancient world

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 because it doesn't have a natural water source.

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 So here Ahaz is making sure that they have enough water

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 to withstand a possible siege on their city.

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 And then Isaiah comes to him,

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 and this is what we read, chapter 7, verse 3.

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 And the Lord said to Isaiah,

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 Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Sherrod Jashub, your son,

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 at the end of the conduit of the upper pool

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 on the highway to the washer's field,

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 and say to him,

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 Be careful, be quiet, do not fear,

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 and do not let your heart be faint

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 because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands.

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 He's talking specifically about the two kings,

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 the king of Israel in the north,

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 and then this regional king in Damascus.

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 Be careful, be quiet, do not fear,

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 and do not let your heart be faint

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 because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands.

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 But the fierce anger of Rezin in Syria

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 and the son of Ramalia,

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 because Syria with Ephraim,

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 Ephraim is like another name for Israel,

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 and the son of Ramalia as devised evil against you,

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 saying, Let's go up against Judah and terrify it

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 and let us conquer it for ourselves

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 and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it.

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 Verse 7.

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 Thus says the Lord God,

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 It shall not stand,

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 and it shall not come to pass,

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 for the head of Syria is Damascus,

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 and the head of Damascus is Rezin,

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 and within 65 years,

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 Ephraim will be shattered from being a people,

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 and the head of Ephraim is Samaria,

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 and the head of Samaria is the son of Ramalia.

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 If you are not firm in faith,

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 you will not be firm at all.

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 What's happening here?

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 The prophet encourages the king

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 not to judge the situation that he sees at hand

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 with his own eyes and with his own reason,

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 but looking at the situation through the eyes of God.

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 And what is God saying the situation is?

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 These two threats, they're nothing.

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 They're a smoldering stump.

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 There's no power in them.

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 I'm the Lord your God,

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 and in fact,

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 Damascus will be destroyed,

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 Ephraim in the northern kingdom,

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 they will cease to be a god.

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 Don't trust in whatever fortifications you can make

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 or alliances you can create.

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 Trust in me.

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 Now, if I'm Ahaz,

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 I would say that I'm not sure I can trust in the Lord

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 when two armies are descending upon me.

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 Nevertheless, the call of the prophet,

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 which is the call of the Lord,

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 is an invitation for Ahaz to trust in him,

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 into a life of faith.

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 To not live a life based on mere circumstances.

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 To not live on a,

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 to live a life based on social media trends,

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 on foreign elections,

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 on foreign wars,

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 on Bank of Canada press conferences,

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 on inflation,

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 on social fears,

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 on whatever it may be that seems like a real serious threat to your life.

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 I think the call to Ahaz here is the call to us.

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 And the Lord is saying,

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 listen,

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 trust in me.

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 See life,

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 see situations,

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 see the calamities through my eyes.

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 Not the news,

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 not social media,

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 not the chatter at work,

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 but through my eyes.

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 Trust in me.

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 And it's an interesting bit about faith here.

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 Because we see it's not necessarily a call to ignore the situations that will affect us,

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 but rather to trust in the one who transcends,

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 and therefore is greater than the problems at hand,

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 no matter how big they may be.

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 Life is difficult,

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 and the life of faith isn't a life that is free from difficulty,

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 but it is a life of trust in the one true God who is truly bigger than whatever faces us.

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 And we also see here that it's also this call to trust in the Lord in this life of faith

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 is a call to repentance from faithlessness.

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 Scripture calls faithlessness sin,

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 which is quite the statement,

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 because I do a lot of things personally without faith.

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 A lot of my thinking,

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 a lot of my planning,

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 surprisingly as a minister,

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 does not include inviting the Lord into every decision and aspect.

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 Nevertheless,

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 what the Lord is doing here is calling us,

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 Ahaz and us,

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 into a life of repentance,

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 of our faithlessness.

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 So, it's important that we understand this,

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 because Ahaz isn't just,

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 like I mentioned before,

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 a run-of-the-mill king of Judah.

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 He is,

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 like,

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 the worst king of Judah

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 that has ever existed.

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 He is supposed to be a descendant of King David,

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 and if you know anything about the biblical story,

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 King David is the king after God's own heart.

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 In fact,

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 the Messiah himself will come from King David's line.

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 King David was the one

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 who would lead the people into worship,

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 proper worship.

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 However,

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 this descendant of the Davidic line,

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 Ahaz,

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 like I mentioned before,

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 he is sacrificing his own son

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 to foreign gods.

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 Ahaz,

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 and yet,

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 and yet,

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 the Lord,

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 knowing full well

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 who he is conversing with,

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 invites him to trust in him.

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 If this is not a beautiful example

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 of God extending mercy and grace

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 to those that do not deserve it,

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 there is,

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 there is,

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 then an example does not exist.

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 And not just once

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 does he extend this invitation to Ahaz,

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 but a second time.

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 So if verse 3 to 9

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 is the first invitation to trust in him,

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 verses 10 and 11 is the second.

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 And let's read this,

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 verses 10 and 11.

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 Again,

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 again,

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 the Lord spoke to Ahaz,

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 ask a sign of the Lord your God,

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 let it be deep as Sheol

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 or high as heaven.

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 We'll pause there.

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 You catch that?

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 The Lord is ready to stop at nothing,

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 to excite

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 and to foster faith

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 in this wayward man.

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 The Lord knows

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 the brokenness in him

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 and his propensity to sin

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 and his history of sinning.

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 And yet he says to him,

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 listen,

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 ask a sign.

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 Let me,

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 let me prove myself to you

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 and it can be anything.

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 From the depths of hell

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 to the heights of heaven,

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 there is nothing that I won't do

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 to prove myself to you.

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 This is a God

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 who meets somebody

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:57.220
 in their feebleness.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.500
 Does not say,

00:14:59.199 --> 00:14:59.980
 get your act together

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.199
 and then come to see me.

00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.899
 I will meet you where you are at.

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:05.059
 In your sin,

00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:07.299
 in your faithlessness,

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.460
 in your brokenness.

00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:11.740
 The God of Scripture

00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.899
 is not a far off God.

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.000
 He is a God that is close.

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.700
 But Ahaz,

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.679
 he has this track record

00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.700
 of making these pragmatic decisions,

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:23.820
 of jettisoning morality

00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:24.720
 and loyalty

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.600
 for personal gain

00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.139
 and political survival.

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:29.279
 So what will he do

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.200
 with this offer?

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.840
 So much depends on his decision.

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:33.519
 Remember,

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.360
 this isn't just a personal decision

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.419
 that Ahaz is making.

00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:38.000
 That just affects him.

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.500
 The entire kingdom

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.679
 is,

00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:42.740
 I mean,

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.440
 he is responsible

00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.379
 for the entire kingdom.

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.539
 What will Ahaz say?

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.379
 What will he do?

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.000
 Look with me in verse 12.

00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.740
 But Ahaz said,

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.700
 I will not ask

00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:54.659
 and I will not put

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.639
 the Lord to the test.

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.700
 It's an incredible response

00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.039
 because,

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.399
 you know what,

00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:00.000
 it's actually a very biblical response.

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.440
 Throughout the Scriptures,

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.500
 God continually says,

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.659
 don't put me to the test.

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.659
 Who are you

00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:06.740
 to put me to the test?

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:09.659
 We have this idea

00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:12.159
 that if only God will do X,

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.320
 then I will believe in him.

00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.240
 Or because he hasn't done Y,

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.539
 I'm not going to believe in him.

00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:20.299
 As if God is a pony

00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.820
 or a dog

00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.740
 that we can train

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.480
 to do a trick

00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.480
 if we only give him a treat.

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:28.000
 Or a genie

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.299
 where we rub him a certain way,

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.440
 he grants us our wish,

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.560
 and then we forget about him.

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:36.819
 That's our propensity.

00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:37.899
 And it would seem

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:40.659
 that Ahaz here

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:42.739
 is saying a very godly thing.

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.159
 Verse 12 again,

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.379
 I will not ask

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.039
 and I will not put

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.219
 the Lord to the test.

00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.259
 Remember when Jesus

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.359
 is tempted in the wilderness

00:16:50.359 --> 00:16:51.699
 by Satan,

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.779
 what does he say?

00:16:52.839 --> 00:16:53.439
 You shall not put

00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:54.659
 the Lord God to the test.

00:16:56.319 --> 00:16:56.859
 And yet,

00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:59.419
 this is the Lord's response.

00:16:59.979 --> 00:17:00.659
 Verse 13,

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:04.059
 and he said,

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.579
 oh, sorry,

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:05.899
 verse,

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.480
 yeah,

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.099
 verse 13.

00:17:07.639 --> 00:17:08.379
 And he said,

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.039
 Hear then,

00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:10.000
 O house of David,

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.420
 is it too little

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.740
 for you to weary men

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:15.200
 that you weary my God also?

00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:16.740
 You see,

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.639
 what's happening here

00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:19.799
 is Ahaz is a faithless man

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.099
 and he is shrouding

00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:21.879
 his faithlessness

00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:22.480
 in piety.

00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.359
 He is putting on a show.

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.740
 He is acting in a way

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:29.339
 so that he will appear

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.779
 well-formed and godly,

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.960
 but his heart

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:33.539
 is turned away from God.

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:34.880
 God is,

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.620
 he's inviting him

00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.740
 into a life of faith

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.319
 and he's saying,

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.880
 actually,

00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:41.059
 I'm okay.

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.700
 I've got this.

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:43.960
 I don't need

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:44.779
 the Lord's help,

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.799
 but you can't say that.

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.500
 So what does he say?

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.279
 I'm not going to put

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.079
 the Lord to the test.

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.220
 I'm not going to take

00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.019
 the Lord's offer.

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.940
 I'm going to continue on

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.279
 in my sin.

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.519
 I'll say this,

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.599
 excuses abound

00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.859
 when fear or pride

00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.779
 grip our hearts.

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.259
 It's easy to follow

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.740
 the Lord

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:05.380
 when things seem

00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.019
 like they are going

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.500
 really well,

00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:08.799
 but when difficulty comes,

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:10.319
 when pressure arises

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.779
 and we feel pinched,

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:14.180
 fear or pride kick in

00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:15.440
 and it's very hard

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.299
 to trust in the Lord.

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.799
 But the call here

00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.960
 is to turn our face

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.599
 towards him.

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.339
 It's to not tell the Lord

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:22.940
 what we need,

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.339
 but to cry out to the Lord

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:24.900
 for the help

00:18:24.900 --> 00:18:26.160
 that we need

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.780
 from him

00:18:26.780 --> 00:18:27.560
 and trust that he will

00:18:27.560 --> 00:18:28.420
 give us what we need

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:30.560
 in our time of need.

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.160
 The problem with unbelief

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:37.860
 isn't just that

00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:39.000
 it disrespects the Lord.

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.640
 It is the one thing

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.300
 that prevents,

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:42.960
 in a sense,

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:43.920
 prevents

00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.480
 the Lord

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.640
 from doing

00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.519
 the very thing

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.680
 that he desires to do,

00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:49.759
 extending forgiveness,

00:18:50.080 --> 00:18:50.759
 mercy, and grace.

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:52.779
 We need to receive

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:54.619
 the Lord's forgiveness.

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.559
 We need to receive

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.099
 his mercy.

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.839
 We need to receive

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.379
 his grace.

00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.379
 And the hard heart

00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:01.220
 that is not affected

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.180
 by the work

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.579
 of God himself

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.920
 cannot receive

00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:06.000
 because it is cold

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.160
 and it is hard

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.140
 and it is broken.

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:12.900
 More than that,

00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.599
 the Lord sees

00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.079
 the facade of Ahaz

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.079
 because only God

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.599
 has a window

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.259
 into the soul

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.920
 of all people.

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.460
 One of the things

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:20.980
 we pray

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.360
 at the beginning

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.380
 of every service,

00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.680
 what we pray today,

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.660
 is the collect

00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.460
 or communal prayer

00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.000
 for purity.

00:19:29.060 --> 00:19:29.740
 And one of the things,

00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:30.440
 and I mentioned this

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:30.779
 this morning,

00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:31.440
 it helps us to have

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.120
 the right posture

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.120
 before Almighty God,

00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:35.220
 but it also reminds us

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.279
 that God knows

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:36.840
 our hearts

00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.560
 more than even

00:19:37.560 --> 00:19:38.500
 we know our hearts.

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.600
 What does it say?

00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.440
 Almighty God

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.200
 unto whom

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.620
 all hearts be open,

00:19:43.300 --> 00:19:44.740
 all desires known,

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.300
 and from whom

00:19:46.300 --> 00:19:47.480
 no secrets are hid.

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.920
 How on earth

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:50.099
 can you hide

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.759
 from this God?

00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:52.259
 How can you put

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.940
 on a show

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.720
 to this God?

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.220
 How can you

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.660
 put up a facade

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.380
 and think that

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.299
 it will fool him?

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:57.880
 You cannot.

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.759
 This is Ahaz's

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.640
 big problem here.

00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.240
 He thinks he can

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.900
 fool the Lord,

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.420
 but he cannot

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.259
 at all.

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.539
 Besides,

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.240
 this is already

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.740
 indicative

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.799
 of Ahaz

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.880
 making up his mind.

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.299
 He has already

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.980
 turned his face

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.779
 away from the Lord.

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.980
 And here's the

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.599
 interesting thing,

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.559
 not in our portion

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:17.959
 of scripture,

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:18.719
 but if we go back

00:20:18.719 --> 00:20:20.099
 to 2 Kings chapter 16,

00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:21.599
 we'll see that Ahaz,

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.799
 he will eventually

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:26.299
 side with the Assyrians,

00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:27.339
 this brutal regime,

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:30.199
 and he will travel

00:20:30.199 --> 00:20:31.579
 to pay them tribute

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.959
 of silver and gold.

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.500
 Where does he get

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.179
 the silver and gold?

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.319
 From the very temple

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.859
 of the Lord.

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.319
 He robs God

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.619
 to pay tribute

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:41.279
 to a false savior.

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:43.139
 It is a scandalous thing.

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:46.060
 The Assyrians

00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:47.120
 will go

00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:48.300
 and absolutely

00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:50.360
 crush Damascus,

00:20:50.540 --> 00:20:51.080
 crush them.

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.280
 Problem solved.

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.000
 Ahaz is justified

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.820
 in his decision,

00:20:56.060 --> 00:20:56.980
 but what ends up

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.840
 happening is now

00:20:57.840 --> 00:20:59.700
 he is not free

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:01.440
 from Damascus

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.240
 and from Samaria,

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.520
 from the Syrian,

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.300
 not Assyria,

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.380
 but the Syrian

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:09.140
 regional power

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.420
 and the kingdom

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:10.960
 of Israel.

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.519
 He's not just

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.019
 free from them,

00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:13.740
 now he's under

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.360
 the thumb

00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:15.820
 of the Assyrians

00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:16.759
 and it is way worse.

00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:20.440
 False saviors

00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:23.480
 will always promise

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.340
 salvation,

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.440
 but you will find

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.920
 that the peace

00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.400
 will not fully last

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.160
 and it will be

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.160
 not as far reaching

00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:32.200
 as you would hope for

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.400
 and you are more

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.380
 in bondage

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.340
 after the fact

00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:36.140
 than you were before.

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:39.340
 This is the nature

00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:40.460
 of false salvation,

00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:42.520
 of false saviors

00:21:42.520 --> 00:21:44.280
 and it's an interesting

00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:45.180
 bit here because

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.480
 Ahaz

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.800
 will not

00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.500
 kind of come

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.080
 to his senses,

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.820
 but what he will do

00:21:49.820 --> 00:21:50.560
 is that he'll continue

00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.240
 to persist

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.580
 in this

00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:54.080
 idolatry.

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.520
 He'll go back

00:21:55.520 --> 00:21:56.000
 to Jerusalem

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.960
 and he will

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.520
 rearrange the temple

00:21:58.520 --> 00:21:59.580
 so that it looks

00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:01.580
 like an Assyrian temple

00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:02.960
 because he's

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.020
 concurring favor

00:22:04.020 --> 00:22:05.520
 with the Assyrian king

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.139
 and now he is

00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.599
 a subject

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.740
 of the Assyrian god.

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.400
 Wild,

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.680
 a wild story.

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.579
 This is the king of Judah

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:13.980
 to lead the Lord's people

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.639
 to the Lord

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.579
 and what is happening?

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.200
 He's turning them

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.119
 into Assyrians.

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:21.019
 Here's an interesting thing.

00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:22.139
 We talked a bit

00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:22.900
 about faithlessness.

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.220
 Ahaz

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:25.319
 is not a faithless man

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:27.259
 because he puts

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.920
 his faith

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.500
 not in the Lord

00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.180
 of Israel

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.539
 but in the might

00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.039
 and power

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.660
 of Assyria.

00:22:33.660 --> 00:22:35.420
 He is deceived

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.080
 into thinking

00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:38.500
 that he has

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.980
 bet on the right horse

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:42.300
 and this is another

00:22:42.300 --> 00:22:43.120
 interesting insight

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.640
 for us.

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.220
 We cannot not

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.140
 be people of faith.

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.420
 Faithlessness

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.200
 is an interesting

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.400
 concept in the Bible

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.600
 because it refers

00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:52.700
 specifically to the

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:54.160
 lack of faith

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.900
 we have to the one

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.320
 true God

00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:56.220
 but it doesn't mean

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.080
 that we are people

00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:57.680
 without faith.

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:59.080
 We have to have faith.

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.820
 We have to put our trust

00:23:00.820 --> 00:23:01.440
 into things

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.380
 into people.

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.840
 It's just who

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.360
 are we going to

00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.080
 put our faith in?

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.759
 What are we going

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.500
 to put our faith in?

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:11.039
 God has made us

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.460
 so that we would

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.279
 have a relationship

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.799
 with him

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.200
 and we can't turn

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:15.720
 that off

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.220
 if we

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.820
 look the other way.

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.279
 We still have

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.559
 that

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:22.039
 impulse

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.000
 that God-given

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.600
 impulse

00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:25.039
 in our hearts.

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.759
 So here's a question.

00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.759
 What is our faith in?

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:30.539
 What is my faith in?

00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.500
 Is it like Ahaz

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.720
 where we have a faith

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.879
 but it is in

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.980
 pragmatism?

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.319
 Things that will

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.279
 ease our anxiety

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.259
 but only for a moment?

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.420
 Things that

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.839
 take the pressure off

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.480
 but never deal

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.099
 with the source

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.680
 of the pressure?

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.460
 Does momentary peace

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.299
 now cost us

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.980
 true joy

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.400
 later?

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.980
 Such decisions

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.920
 will result

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:53.039
 not in a life

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.700
 of flourishing

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.279
 but a life

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.019
 of constraint?

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.980
 a life

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.420
 of

00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:59.680
 slavery

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.460
 to the things

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:00.960
 that we thought

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.720
 would give us freedom.

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.379
 True peace

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.039
 will ultimately

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.700
 be fleeting.

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.440
 It's the case

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.039
 with Ahaz

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.940
 and it will be

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.799
 the case with us.

00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.279
 So this should be it,

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:10.740
 right?

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.339
 Ahaz was given

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.960
 two chances.

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.119
 Presumably he was

00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.660
 given more

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.200
 but in our section

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.039
 just two chances.

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.039
 Should be the end

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.539
 of the story.

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.660
 God,

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.740
 he extended

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.400
 mercy.

00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.660
 Ahaz said no.

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.100
 Okay,

00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.279
 too bad,

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.340
 so sad for Judah.

00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.960
 Too bad,

00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:28.160
 so sad for Ahaz.

00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:29.259
 It should be the end

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.259
 of the story

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.540
 except that it's not

00:24:31.540 --> 00:24:33.120
 because the Lord,

00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:34.519
 he says,

00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:34.840
 listen,

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.320
 Ahaz,

00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.500
 name the sign

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.200
 and I will give it.

00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:39.060
 Ahaz says no

00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:39.720
 and then the Lord

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.980
 says this in verse 14.

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.340
 Verse 14,

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.300
 therefore the Lord

00:24:46.300 --> 00:24:47.600
 himself will give you

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.019
 a sign.

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.400
 Behold,

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.920
 the virgin

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.480
 shall conceive

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.880
 and bear a son

00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:55.079
 and shall call

00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:56.180
 his name Emmanuel.

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.259
 Israel

00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:01.380
 completely

00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.519
 turning its back

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.579
 from the Lord.

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.259
 Judah

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.200
 completely turning

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.039
 its back

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:06.460
 from the Lord.

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.559
 The entire world

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.559
 turning its back

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:10.200
 to the Lord.

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.640
 And how does

00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.519
 the Lord respond?

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.259
 The Lord responds

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.759
 by saying,

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.839
 I will give you hope

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:18.200
 not just for the

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.700
 here and now

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.259
 but forever

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.900
 and hope

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.379
 that will not

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.019
 deal with the

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:23.039
 Assyrian enemy

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.619
 at hand

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.500
 but your

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.799
 enemies

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.240
 for all time.

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:28.900
 I will deal

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.579
 not with this

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.339
 regional power

00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:30.799
 that will just

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.339
 be replaced

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.400
 by the Babylonians,

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.099
 that will just

00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:33.599
 be replaced

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.400
 by the Persians

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.660
 and replaced

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.299
 by the Greeks

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.940
 and so on

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.420
 and so on

00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:37.960
 and so on

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.839
 but I will deal

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.819
 with the root cause

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.920
 of your pain

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.740
 and your enemies

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.859
 and your sin.

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.359
 I will deal

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.400
 with death itself

00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.300
 and any demon

00:25:47.300 --> 00:25:48.460
 or devil

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.400
 I will kill.

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.360
 The first reading

00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:52.100
 we did is from

00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.800
 Genesis 3

00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:53.280
 and it's this

00:25:53.280 --> 00:25:54.120
 beautiful picture

00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.320
 of in the middle

00:25:55.320 --> 00:25:58.920
 of this horrendous

00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.660
 thing that Adam

00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.240
 and Eve do,

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.980
 this curse

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.660
 in the garden

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:03.640
 that causes them

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.420
 to leave Eden.

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.200
 In the midst

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.500
 of that,

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.360
 God says,

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.060
 I will send

00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:09.019
 a child

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.900
 that will crush

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.420
 the head

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.140
 of the serpent.

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.920
 It's this wonderful

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.780
 promise and this

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.619
 is what we're seeing

00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.839
 in verse 14.

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.539
 If Ahaz

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.299
 will not trust

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.920
 in the Lord

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:20.859
 on behalf

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.519
 of his people

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.099
 then the Lord

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.740
 will intervene

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.279
 himself

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.240
 and he will

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.019
 provide a sign.

00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:27.299
 God,

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.119
 like I said

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:29.059
 a couple weeks ago,

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.299
 God is mercy

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.079
 in the same way

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:32.119
 that he is love,

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.319
 in the same way

00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:34.339
 that he is grace,

00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.639
 in the same way

00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:37.779
 that he extends

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.359
 forgiveness

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:39.220
 because it is

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.920
 who he is

00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.399
 and he can't

00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.220
 deny himself

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:43.180
 and if there's

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.779
 faithlessness

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.620
 in the people

00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.180
 of Israel,

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:47.200
 he will extend

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.200
 mercy

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.220
 and grace

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.039
 all the same.

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.080
 The Lord

00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:55.039
 in his steadfast

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.779
 love promises

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.820
 that new life

00:26:56.820 --> 00:26:57.400
 will come

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.400
 through the

00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.660
 pangs of suffering

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.519
 so that

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.720
 the insurmountable

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.100
 enemy

00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:04.320
 will be conquered

00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:06.080
 and the result

00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:06.620
 will not be

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.640
 a momentary peace

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.480
 but it will be

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.820
 forever.

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.660
 It will be a peace

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.440
 that can only be

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.920
 brought about

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.640
 by the one true

00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.019
 God

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.900
 where he heals

00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.600
 the sickness

00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.539
 of our souls

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.100
 by dealing

00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.900
 with the sickness

00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.680
 of our sin.

00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.300
 It will be

00:27:20.300 --> 00:27:20.860
 a peace

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:22.900
 from all things

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:24.340
 for he will

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.480
 give himself

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.120
 to us.

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.180
 An interesting

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:28.740
 bit here,

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.920
 he says that

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:31.019
 verse 14,

00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:31.620
 the sign

00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.259
 will be

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:34.140
 that the virgin

00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:35.700
 shall conceive

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.380
 and bear a son

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.060
 and shall call

00:27:37.060 --> 00:27:37.519
 his name

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.060
 Emmanuel

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.740
 which is

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.220
 God with us.

00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:42.379
 Matthew will

00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:42.940
 pick this up

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.599
 in his narrative

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.759
 but it is also

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.799
 appropriate to say

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:48.000
 that God

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.919
 come to us,

00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:50.179
 God save us.

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.619
 It is a declaration

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.399
 that God

00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:54.119
 is willing

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.899
 and able

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:56.960
 and joyous

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.319
 to do

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.819
 what only

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.500
 he can do.

00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:02.380
 friends,

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.579
 the announcement

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:05.660
 700 years

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.359
 before Jesus

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.240
 comes on the scene

00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:08.279
 that the virgin

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.660
 shall,

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.900
 she shall be

00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:10.579
 with child,

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.160
 she shall

00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:12.299
 give birth

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.720
 to this

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:14.299
 wonderful,

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.539
 miraculous

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.500
 son,

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:18.279
 it is a promise

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.660
 to us

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.660
 and to all

00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.599
 who would call

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.180
 upon him

00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.220
 that God

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.980
 will not deal

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.380
 with us

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.980
 as we ought

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.400
 to be dealt

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.640
 with.

00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:28.040
 So as we

00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:28.420
 close,

00:28:29.540 --> 00:28:30.120
 let us

00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:32.000
 not be like

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.400
 Ahaz.

00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:34.519
 Let us not

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.780
 be somebody

00:28:35.780 --> 00:28:36.259
 who when

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.200
 the difficult

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.480
 times come

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.519
 we look to

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.880
 functional saviors

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:42.060
 and not the one

00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.640
 true God

00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:43.240
 to be our

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.540
 savior.

00:28:46.780 --> 00:28:47.440
 Here's a

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.220
 wonderful irony

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.060
 in all of this.

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.680
 Ahaz thought

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:52.000
 that by

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.700
 rebuffing

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.700
 God's invitation

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:55.040
 that he would

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.480
 be a more

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.299
 free person

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:56.839
 but now

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.759
 we find

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.440
 in the text

00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.139
 that he

00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.440
 is a slave

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:02.559
 and yet

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:02.960
 the call

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.420
 for us

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:03.960
 is to become

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.819
 slaves of

00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.220
 Christ

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.019
 so that

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.500
 we become

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.299
 truly free.

00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:09.960
 Friends,

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.819
 this is

00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:11.740
 the invitation

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.279
 we have

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.720
 today.

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.119
 This is

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.559
 the Christmas

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.099
 message.

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.279
 Let us

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.779
 have ears

00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.220
 to hear.

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.339
 Let us

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:17.819
 have minds

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.579
 to understand

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.619
 and hearts

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.259
 to receive

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:22.139
 this wonderful

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:22.460
 gift,

00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:22.819
 Emmanuel.

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.139
 Let us

00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:24.339
 pray.

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:27.180
 Father in

00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:27.319
 heaven,

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:27.759
 we thank

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.159
 you for

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.579
 the gift

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.099
 of Emmanuel.

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.000
 We thank

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.480
 you that

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.039
 you didn't

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.659
 see fit

00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.180
 to leave

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.599
 us in

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:35.319
 our unbelief

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:37.500
 and really

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.399
 our false

00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:38.839
 belief.

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.519
 Lord,

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:40.920
 that you

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.480
 saw fit

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:41.899
 to not

00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.319
 treat us

00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:42.700
 as we

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.039
 ought to

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.339
 have been

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:43.619
 treated,

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.119
 but rather

00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:44.659
 you extend

00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.319
 mercy and

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:45.799
 grace to

00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:47.059
 us because

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:47.500
 you cannot

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.240
 deny who

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.720
 you are

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.079
 and you

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:49.859
 are love

00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:50.579
 incarnate.

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:51.920
 So,

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.079
 Lord,

00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:52.740
 help us

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.339
 to rightly

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:53.819
 receive

00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.259
 your son,

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.900
 to repent

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.400
 of the

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:56.839
 ways that

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.099
 we have

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.579
 sought

00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.799
 salvation

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.599
 apart from

00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.680
 you and

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.140
 come to

00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.980
 you afresh.

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.259
 Lord,

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.740
 you have

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.259
 gone to

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.000
 great distances

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.579
 to come

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.059
 to us.

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:06.940
 Lord,

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.279
 let us

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.680
 turn to

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:07.880
 you.

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:08.920
 We pray

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.359
 this in

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:09.640
 Jesus'

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.480
 mighty name,

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.120
 our Emmanuel,

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.700
 God with

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:11.980
 us.

00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:12.900
 Amen.

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:12.980
 Amen.

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.000
 Amen.

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.039
 Amen.

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.059
 Amen.

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.079
 Amen.

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:15.099
 Amen.

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.120
 Amen.

00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:15.140
 Amen.

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.160
 Amen.

00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:15.180
 Amen.

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.200
 Amen.

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:17.140
 Amen.

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.160
 Amen.

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:17.180
 Amen.

00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:17.200
 Amen.

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.140
 Amen.

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.200
 Amen.

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.220
 Amen.

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:19.240
 Amen.

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:21.180
 Amen.

00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.200
 Amen.

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.720
 Amen.