WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.580
 you again in this new 2017.

00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:11.160
 Since Sunday fell on New Year's Day, some of you probably weren't here last week, so

00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:12.880
 we're going to do New Year all over again.

00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.859
 No, I'm not kidding, but we're going to, but this morning I do want to talk a little bit

00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:22.140
 about thinking about the New Year and coming up.

00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:25.179
 I don't know what you think about New Year's resolutions.

00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:26.199
 Anyone a fan?

00:00:26.560 --> 00:00:27.879
 You don't have to raise your hand.

00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.759
 The Guilty can, I'm not a big fan of them, to be honest with you.

00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:43.560
 It feels like they're mostly more wishful aspirations than actual commitments, and I think they often

00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:50.500
 can lure us with false hopes of instant change when it doesn't really happen.

00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:56.679
 But having said all that, I do think that New Year and the change of the season gives us

00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:02.219
 an opportunity to reflect, to reflect on where we've been in the past year and to reflect

00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:04.739
 on where we are going in the future.

00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.659
 So I want to begin this morning by asking you a few questions.

00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.620
 What have the last 12 months held for you?

00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:16.219
 What trials have you faced?

00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:22.340
 What hard things as part of life in a fallen world have you walked through?

00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:30.039
 Where have you seen your own failures and your sin rear its ugly head in your life?

00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:33.060
 What joys have you had?

00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:39.159
 Where have there been things to celebrate, to rejoice in, to throw a party for?

00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:42.899
 What successes and victories have you seen in your life?

00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:50.459
 Where have you seen God's faithful love for you expressed in this past year?

00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:54.539
 And when have you felt like you've walked alone in the darkness?

00:01:57.340 --> 00:01:59.959
 Reflecting back is part of what we do in New Year's.

00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:02.259
 The other part is looking ahead.

00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:03.319
 Where are we going?

00:02:03.679 --> 00:02:04.959
 What does the future hold?

00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:07.839
 So let me ask you this.

00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:12.199
 What do you worry about as you look ahead to the year?

00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:20.139
 Where do you find fear creeping in and gripping your heart with its iron fist?

00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:23.599
 What are you hoping for?

00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:29.759
 What do you anticipate seeing good things in parts of your life?

00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:35.799
 What parts of your life are you despairing that change will never happen?

00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:49.699
 And where do you see, with eager anticipation, hope that you might grow and change and explore something new this coming year?

00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:53.299
 I don't know if you've thought about those questions.

00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.280
 I don't know if you've taken time to do that.

00:02:56.359 --> 00:02:57.339
 I don't always.

00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:02.780
 Sometimes it's just another week, another day in the long span of life.

00:03:03.839 --> 00:03:10.239
 But I've actually set aside some time this coming week to think about these things and reflect upon them.

00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:14.939
 So I don't come to you with all, having all of my answers full out.

00:03:15.020 --> 00:03:18.980
 But I hope that you might consider joining me in doing that.

00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:29.140
 As we think about these things, as we think about these questions, as we reflect back on the last year and as we look ahead to the new year.

00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:41.739
 I was meditating on this and wanted to reflect a little bit this morning to you about what God might have to say to us in the midst of this process.

00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:45.599
 So we're going to look for a few minutes at Deuteronomy chapter 8.

00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:48.879
 It's page 152 in your pew Bibles.

00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.819
 If you want to turn there, we'll be reading it in a few minutes.

00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:56.719
 But as you turn there, let me just give a little bit of context.

00:03:56.859 --> 00:04:02.280
 If you've forgotten where we're at in Deuteronomy 8, which of course is not a part of a series, which we're usually doing.

00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:03.680
 So maybe you have.

00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:09.299
 Deuteronomy 8 is where Moses is now speaking again to the people of God.

00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:12.519
 They have wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:18.719
 And he is speaking now to a new generation because the old generation of Israelites,

00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:27.300
 most of them have died off in the wilderness as a part of God's judgment on their unbelief 40 years ago

00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:31.640
 when they would not enter the land in faith because of their fear.

00:04:33.140 --> 00:04:36.280
 And they're now standing on the plains of Moab.

00:04:36.640 --> 00:04:42.920
 And Moses is recounting to them what God has done and reminding them of who God has been for them

00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:48.020
 as they're about to cross the Jordan River and enter into the promised land.

00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:57.400
 And in the book of Deuteronomy, he's restating what God has already done for them and said to them

00:04:57.400 --> 00:05:05.940
 to prepare them to be his covenant people as they enter into the land that he has prepared for them to live in.

00:05:06.520 --> 00:05:09.560
 So that's the context of Deuteronomy 8.

00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:16.579
 Let's go ahead and look at it together and we'll read it and pray before we continue.

00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:18.459
 So Deuteronomy chapter 8.

00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:26.099
 The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do that you may live and multiply

00:05:26.099 --> 00:05:30.899
 and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers.

00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:38.019
 And you shall remember the whole way the Lord your God has led you these 40 years in the wilderness

00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:43.000
 that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart,

00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.040
 whether you would keep his commandments or not.

00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:51.500
 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know,

00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:57.259
 nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone,

00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:01.199
 but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:06.720
 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these 40 years.

00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:15.000
 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.

00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:20.800
 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him,

00:06:21.080 --> 00:06:24.200
 for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land,

00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:30.860
 a land of brooks, of water, of fountains and springs flowing out in the valleys and the hills,

00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:35.460
 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates,

00:06:35.459 --> 00:06:42.680
 a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity,

00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:51.259
 in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper,

00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:59.179
 and you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:01.519
 Take care.

00:07:01.900 --> 00:07:07.980
 Lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes,

00:07:08.060 --> 00:07:09.340
 which I command you today.

00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:16.360
 Lest when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them,

00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:22.740
 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied,

00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:29.360
 then your heart be lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:37.060
 out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its fiery serpents and scorpions

00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:43.079
 and thirsty ground where there is no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,

00:07:43.300 --> 00:07:47.480
 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know,

00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:53.200
 that he might humble you and test you to do you good in the end.

00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.600
 Beware lest you say in your heart,

00:07:57.020 --> 00:08:00.379
 my power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.

00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:03.379
 You shall remember the Lord your God,

00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:06.540
 for it is he who gives you power to get wealth,

00:08:06.780 --> 00:08:12.080
 that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers as it is this day.

00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:19.680
 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them,

00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:28.339
 I solemnly warn you today that you will surely perish like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you,

00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:34.600
 so shall you perish because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:37.819
 Let's pray together.

00:08:37.819 --> 00:08:37.879
 Let's pray together.

00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:50.000
 Lord, as we look at your word this morning, I pray.

00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:53.560
 I pray for your spirit to be at work in us.

00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:59.920
 Lord, to make us soft-hearted and eager to listen to your voice.

00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:10.280
 Lord, I pray that you would enlighten our eyes and our minds and our hearts this morning

00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:12.439
 with the truth of your word.

00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:14.079
 Encourage us.

00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:15.379
 Strengthen us.

00:09:16.439 --> 00:09:18.339
 Lord, prepare us for the year ahead

00:09:18.339 --> 00:09:20.879
 with this word.

00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.279
 Lord, I pray for your help this morning.

00:09:25.439 --> 00:09:28.240
 Lord, I pray that my words would be pleasing to you.

00:09:29.079 --> 00:09:30.259
 And Lord, would be useful

00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:32.220
 to encourage all of us

00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:34.240
 as you speak to us.

00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:36.559
 We pray these things in Jesus' name.

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:37.720
 Amen.

00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:37.799
 Amen.

00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:46.980
 What Moses is telling to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 8

00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:51.620
 is what I believe he's telling us today similarly.

00:09:52.579 --> 00:09:55.360
 That as they prepare to go into the promised land,

00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.639
 as we prepare to go into our new year,

00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.500
 we'll get to whether that's going to look like the promised land or not,

00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:05.320
 as we enter in.

00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:06.899
 The most important thing,

00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:10.240
 the greatest thing for us to do

00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.700
 is to remember the Lord.

00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:17.899
 Now, that's a really simple sentence, isn't it?

00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:19.159
 Remember the Lord.

00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:26.240
 It seems almost empty of real significance.

00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:28.459
 It seems like maybe it's too simple.

00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.959
 Maybe it's not very productive or practical

00:10:30.959 --> 00:10:33.379
 to be encouraged to remember the Lord.

00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.159
 But what I want to do is that

00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:37.559
 as we look at this chapter,

00:10:37.699 --> 00:10:39.959
 I think we'll see that actually remembering the Lord

00:10:39.959 --> 00:10:41.459
 is a very rich concept

00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:43.799
 that Moses is encouraging them.

00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:47.479
 And with lots of nuances and dynamics for us to consider

00:10:47.479 --> 00:10:49.059
 as we think about it.

00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.939
 And as we face the realities of our lives,

00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.459
 both good and hard,

00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:58.479
 and as we face the contours of our own character,

00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:00.459
 both faithful and unfaithful,

00:11:00.859 --> 00:11:03.479
 we will see that remembering the Lord

00:11:03.479 --> 00:11:06.159
 will bear great fruit in our life

00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.799
 and will do us great good.

00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:12.439
 And so, we're going to look at this chapter this morning.

00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:13.839
 We're going to think about two things.

00:11:13.939 --> 00:11:14.539
 First of all,

00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.120
 how we are to remember the Lord

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.819
 as we face various circumstances.

00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.139
 And secondly, we're going to think about

00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.439
 how remembering the Lord

00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:27.659
 shapes our character and our lives.

00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:30.519
 So first of all, let's think about how,

00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:33.339
 as Moses talked to the people of Israel,

00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:36.500
 how he speaks to us about how remembering the Lord

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:40.100
 is important as we face various circumstances.

00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:42.440
 And obviously, this chapter's laid out.

00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:43.379
 There are two things.

00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:45.419
 These people are coming out of the desert

00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:48.200
 and they are going into the promised land.

00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:51.259
 So let's look at what he says about both of those things.

00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.960
 First of all, he says,

00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:58.220
 remember the Lord in his faithfulness to you in the desert.

00:11:58.679 --> 00:11:59.620
 Look with me again.

00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:01.899
 I want you to have your text open

00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:03.240
 so you can look with me this morning

00:12:03.240 --> 00:12:04.580
 because the words are rich.

00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:07.500
 Look with me in verses two through four.

00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.520
 Remember the way he led you.

00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:14.460
 Remember the particular ways

00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:17.639
 that he provided for you

00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:20.580
 and showed his faithfulness in the middle of it.

00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:24.800
 Remember the story of the exodus

00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:27.940
 and remember the story of the wandering in the wilderness.

00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:31.759
 God had raised up a great people

00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.860
 and then he removed them from Egypt.

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.919
 He delivered them from oppression,

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.319
 from slavery.

00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:40.139
 He took them out from under the thumb

00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:42.840
 of a brutal and oppressive regime.

00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:45.319
 And he led them into the wilderness

00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:48.460
 promising to take them to a promised land,

00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:50.879
 a place where they would be fully provided for

00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:53.860
 and free to be God's people and worship them.

00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:57.120
 Moses reminds them,

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.279
 in the middle though,

00:12:58.800 --> 00:13:00.360
 you had to walk through a desert.

00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:03.440
 Maybe up to a million people

00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:04.600
 walking through a desert.

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:08.159
 If you were a logistics expert,

00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:09.159
 you might ask,

00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.800
 how is that possible?

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:14.060
 Where will these people

00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:15.800
 get the things that they need

00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:16.919
 simply to live?

00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:17.920
 Water?

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.080
 Food?

00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:19.240
 Food.

00:13:22.680 --> 00:13:24.139
 Moses reminds them,

00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:25.960
 God provided for you.

00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:29.300
 God provided for you supernaturally.

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.860
 God provided for you

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:36.100
 in ways where there was no human hope of provision,

00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:39.020
 where there was no fallback plan.

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.240
 There was no,

00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:42.280
 well, I hope God comes through,

00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:43.400
 but if he doesn't come through,

00:13:43.540 --> 00:13:45.100
 I could probably still make it

00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:47.940
 because my 401k is good,

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:50.420
 my pantry is stocked,

00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:51.659
 or whatever it is.

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.420
 There is no fallback plan

00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:55.120
 in these circumstances.

00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:57.159
 And God came through.

00:13:58.060 --> 00:14:00.340
 He brought water out of a rock.

00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.779
 He gave to them manna,

00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:08.000
 which was food

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:12.019
 that was supernatural food.

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.740
 There's no other way to explain it.

00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:15.980
 God simply provided for them

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:18.039
 every day

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.899
 the food

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:20.120
 just for that day.

00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.779
 And he did it to them

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.620
 while they grumbled

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.779
 and complained

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:29.000
 all the way.

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.340
 Why did you lead us out here?

00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.860
 God, the desert is so hard.

00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.620
 Oh, we would have been better

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.680
 as slaves in Egypt.

00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:39.039
 At least we had food.

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.620
 Grumbling and complaining

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.740
 and questioning God's ability

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.539
 to care for them

00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.659
 over and over again.

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.240
 And they were to remember.

00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:50.740
 They were to remember

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.700
 the way that God

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.679
 had cared for them.

00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.740
 Even their clothes

00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.700
 did not wear out.

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.860
 Have you thought about that?

00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:57.500
 Does anyone have

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.860
 a 40-year-old

00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:00.679
 piece of clothing

00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:01.779
 that they still wear?

00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.179
 And that's in the modern age.

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.139
 You're not wearing it

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:05.560
 every day

00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.580
 walking through a desert.

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:11.780
 God provided for them

00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:14.639
 in remarkable ways.

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.060
 He showed his goodness

00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:16.639
 to them

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.879
 and his faithfulness

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.280
 to them.

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.000
 He said,

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:20.220
 I remember you.

00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:22.040
 I have not forsaken you.

00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:23.120
 I am with you.

00:15:28.280 --> 00:15:28.780
 Friends,

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.820
 I wondered this morning

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.980
 if you can look back

00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:31.940
 on your last year

00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:34.300
 and think about

00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:36.620
 God's goodness.

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.000
 If you could think

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.580
 about God's faithfulness.

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.960
 If you could sit down

00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:43.320
 and start jotting down,

00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.320
 this is the way

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.740
 God has provided for me.

00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:48.360
 Some of you will find

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.159
 that very easy.

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.920
 Some of you may find

00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:51.700
 it more difficult

00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:54.279
 because the thing facing you

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.080
 is the lack

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.420
 and not the abundance.

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:59.279
 But I'll bet

00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.579
 if you stop and think,

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:02.139
 you could fill

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.639
 not just a column

00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.519
 but page

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.599
 after page

00:16:05.599 --> 00:16:06.879
 after page

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.419
 of how God

00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:10.779
 has cared for you

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:12.259
 in the last year.

00:16:17.959 --> 00:16:19.479
 It's not easy for me

00:16:19.479 --> 00:16:21.219
 to do this.

00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:25.139
 I feel like I've

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.699
 been led into

00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:28.019
 my own personal wilderness

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.919
 for the last couple

00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.419
 of years.

00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:33.259
 I still walk

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:36.759
 missing my wife

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.539
 who passed away

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.419
 two years ago.

00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.559
 Every day.

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.159
 I wish my circumstances

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.759
 were different.

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.779
 I wish I wasn't

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.460
 in the desert.

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.480
 But when I stop

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.519
 and I begin to think,

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:53.319
 I think about

00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:54.080
 how my children

00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:55.340
 seem to be thriving.

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:57.060
 I think of the

00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:58.180
 financial provision

00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.440
 where I have a home.

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.180
 God has taken care

00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:03.820
 of my every physical need.

00:17:04.340 --> 00:17:05.400
 I think of the love

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.340
 of this church

00:17:06.340 --> 00:17:08.220
 and the community

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:10.079
 that has surrounded me

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.100
 and supported me.

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.000
 I think of

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.980
 my own family

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.500
 and my wife's family

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:16.980
 and the way

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.600
 that they have

00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:19.140
 stood by me

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:21.079
 and given

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.779
 sacrificially to me.

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.859
 I think of the way

00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:24.420
 that God has

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.059
 encouraged me

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.019
 at just the times

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.759
 I needed it.

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.079
 Friends who have

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.759
 reached out

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.039
 at just the right

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:30.639
 times,

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.420
 who have been there

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.099
 for the long haul.

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.599
 I could go on

00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.379
 and on and on

00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:38.139
 but I think that

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.740
 God has been

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.480
 so good

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.980
 to me

00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:44.960
 in the midst

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.579
 of the desert

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.259
 that I've been

00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.000
 walking through.

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.500
 And for some of you,

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.339
 you may listen to me

00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:50.699
 and think,

00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.259
 your desert

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.720
 sounds like

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:52.500
 a promised land

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.159
 compared to what

00:17:53.159 --> 00:17:53.899
 I've walked through

00:17:53.899 --> 00:17:54.419
 this year.

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:56.099
 Which is the funny

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:56.779
 thing, isn't it?

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.480
 We all have

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.359
 our own deserts

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:58.799
 and our own

00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.539
 promised lands,

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.019
 don't we?

00:18:02.659 --> 00:18:03.439
 And yet,

00:18:04.439 --> 00:18:05.639
 and yet,

00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:09.939
 God has shown

00:18:09.939 --> 00:18:10.659
 his faithfulness

00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.059
 to you.

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.139
 He is the one

00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:12.839
 who gives life

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.339
 and breath

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.139
 in all things.

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:18.860
 So Moses

00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:19.560
 calls us

00:18:19.560 --> 00:18:20.120
 to remember

00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.520
 that.

00:18:20.800 --> 00:18:21.340
 As we've

00:18:21.340 --> 00:18:21.759
 walked through

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.300
 the desert,

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.400
 God has been

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:24.820
 faithful.

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.940
 Moses goes on,

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.500
 he says more

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:29.880
 to us.

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:31.100
 He says that

00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:32.160
 not only are you

00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:32.940
 to remember God

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.600
 when you're walking

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:34.280
 in the desert,

00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:35.960
 to remember how

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.920
 he has cared for you

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.580
 in the midst of that,

00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:39.840
 but then he turns

00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:40.460
 and he says,

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.920
 maybe your life

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.560
 isn't a desert.

00:18:42.800 --> 00:18:43.180
 In fact,

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.019
 you're about to go

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.160
 into the promised

00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:45.700
 land.

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.980
 And he describes

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.900
 this promised land.

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.820
 Look with me again,

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.440
 verse 7 and following.

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:55.279
 And picture if you've

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.160
 been walking in a

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.480
 desert for 40 years.

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.380
 I'm not a desert

00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:58.820
 person.

00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.799
 I didn't grow up

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.320
 in the desert.

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.060
 I've barely ever

00:19:02.060 --> 00:19:03.000
 been to a desert.

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.500
 Some of you have

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.400
 seen a real desert

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:06.240
 and can imagine

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.640
 this.

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.320
 The closest thing

00:19:08.320 --> 00:19:09.160
 I can think of it

00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.400
 is I've been

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.259
 watching Star Wars

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.039
 with my kids

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.840
 and if you've seen

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.859
 The Force Awakens,

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.079
 one of the main

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.519
 characters,

00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:15.839
 Rey,

00:19:15.959 --> 00:19:16.759
 she grows up

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.839
 on a planet

00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:18.699
 where there is

00:19:18.699 --> 00:19:19.579
 only sand.

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.199
 It is a whole

00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:22.279
 desert planet.

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.859
 And do you remember

00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:24.859
 the line when

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.659
 she gets into

00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.139
 a spaceship

00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:26.919
 and she ends up

00:19:26.919 --> 00:19:27.939
 in another planet

00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:29.199
 that has lakes

00:19:29.199 --> 00:19:30.099
 and mountains

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.099
 and greenery?

00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.339
 She says,

00:19:32.439 --> 00:19:33.939
 I never knew

00:19:33.939 --> 00:19:34.740
 there was so much

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.619
 green in the

00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:36.879
 whole galaxy.

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:41.220
 this is what

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.100
 Moses is saying

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.680
 to the people

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.080
 of God

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.740
 as they're standing

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.280
 on the brink

00:19:44.280 --> 00:19:44.780
 of the Jordan

00:19:44.780 --> 00:19:45.160
 River.

00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.660
 Look across.

00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:47.460
 Do you see

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.280
 what's there?

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:53.280
 It has water,

00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:54.500
 brooks,

00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:55.500
 streams,

00:19:56.760 --> 00:19:57.120
 pools,

00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:57.660
 rivers.

00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.420
 It has

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.780
 growing things,

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:03.980
 wheat and barley,

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.900
 food to eat.

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.039
 You're able to

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.980
 grow plants

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.140
 to feed yourself.

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.120
 And he goes on

00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.819
 and he talks about

00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.940
 all these different

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.779
 things of abundance.

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:17.960
 In fact,

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.559
 it feels like

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.579
 he almost runs out.

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.200
 He's trying to

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.019
 sort of say

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.259
 everything you have,

00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.180
 everything you

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:23.860
 would ever want,

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.440
 everything you

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.240
 would ever need,

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.259
 olive trees

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.799
 and honey

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.380
 and bread

00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:28.019
 without eating.

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.259
 And when he gets

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.700
 to verse 9,

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:29.920
 he says,

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.380
 and you will

00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:30.980
 lack nothing.

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.579
 In verse 10,

00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:33.220
 and you will

00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.819
 eat and you

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.779
 will be full.

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.319
 You who have

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.899
 walked in the

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:39.740
 desert for 40

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.159
 years,

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.059
 God is about

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.639
 to take you

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.480
 into this place

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.699
 of incredible

00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.240
 abundance

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.220
 where every

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.279
 desire

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.220
 and every

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.639
 need

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.059
 will be

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.399
 filled.

00:20:51.199 --> 00:20:52.079
 But interestingly,

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.139
 he doesn't say,

00:20:53.679 --> 00:20:54.419
 well then,

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.679
 it'll be easy,

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.019
 right?

00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:56.799
 Then it'll be

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.639
 easy to thank

00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.119
 God.

00:20:59.679 --> 00:21:00.379
 He actually

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.119
 says the opposite,

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:01.679
 doesn't he?

00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:03.699
 He says,

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.359
 when you go

00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:04.639
 in,

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.439
 be careful.

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.279
 Be careful

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:07.980
 that you

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:10.679
 don't fail

00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:11.740
 to remember

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.199
 God.

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.119
 Be careful

00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:13.639
 that you

00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:15.199
 don't forget

00:21:15.199 --> 00:21:16.559
 God

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:18.299
 when things

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:18.960
 are really

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.359
 good.

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.079
 Have you

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.480
 seen this

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:25.919
 in your own

00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.199
 life?

00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:26.559
 Have you

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:26.639
 seen this

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.819
 in your own

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.259
 life?

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.599
 Have you

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.179
 ever noticed

00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:31.740
 that when

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.900
 things get

00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:34.720
 really bad?

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.700
 When life

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.200
 is really

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.620
 hard?

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.160
 When a

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.620
 situation

00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.120
 you care

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.380
 about

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:38.839
 just gets

00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.359
 completely

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:39.920
 out of

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.079
 your

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.660
 control?

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.880
 How easy

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.440
 it is to

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:43.740
 pray?

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.140
 How easy

00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:45.620
 it is to

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:45.799
 say,

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.160
 God,

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.839
 help me!

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.900
 Because we

00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.200
 don't have a

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.559
 choice.

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.120
 We don't

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.660
 have anything

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.240
 else.

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.620
 But when

00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.079
 life is

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.440
 good,

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.880
 when everything

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.500
 seems to be

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.180
 going well,

00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.380
 the bank

00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:00.860
 account is

00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.240
 healthy,

00:22:02.060 --> 00:22:02.860
 the family

00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:03.279
 is getting

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.840
 along,

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:06.039
 work seems

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.519
 to be a

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:06.799
 general

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.539
 success,

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.920
 you have

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.299
 friends,

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.080
 you enjoy,

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:14.039
 how easy

00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.740
 it can be

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:16.740
 to forget,

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.180
 to remember

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.720
 the Lord.

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.560
 How easy

00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.240
 it can be

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.360
 to slip

00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:22.799
 into the

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.400
 thinking that

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.360
 Moses exposes

00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:24.880
 in this,

00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:25.940
 when we lift

00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.539
 up our hearts

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.140
 and we think,

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:28.460
 look what we

00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:28.920
 have done,

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.740
 I have built

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.460
 a good life,

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.480
 I have done

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.040
 these great

00:22:32.040 --> 00:22:32.560
 things,

00:22:33.020 --> 00:22:33.920
 look what my

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.280
 hands have

00:22:35.280 --> 00:22:35.700
 built,

00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.960
 look what my

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.460
 hands have

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:37.920
 provided.

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.020
 How easy

00:22:42.020 --> 00:22:42.600
 it can be

00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.180
 to think

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.140
 that the good

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.720
 things come

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.400
 because we

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.200
 deserve this,

00:22:46.520 --> 00:22:47.000
 we've worked

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.380
 hard,

00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:48.800
 we should get

00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:49.540
 these things.

00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:52.000
 And we

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.480
 forget,

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:53.860
 as he says

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.360
 in verse

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:56.219
 16,

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.199
 or verse

00:22:57.199 --> 00:22:57.699
 18,

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.359
 that it

00:22:58.359 --> 00:22:58.759
 is the

00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.179
 Lord,

00:22:59.459 --> 00:23:00.579
 it is the

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.059
 Lord who

00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:01.659
 gives us

00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:02.219
 the power

00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:02.799
 to gain

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.539
 these things,

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.839
 that everything

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.719
 we have

00:23:06.719 --> 00:23:07.439
 comes from

00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:07.859
 him.

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.919
 Everything.

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.559
 So friends,

00:23:20.959 --> 00:23:21.679
 I wonder

00:23:21.679 --> 00:23:22.259
 as we think

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.759
 about it,

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:24.400
 I don't

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:24.680
 know what

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:26.240
 your next

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.680
 year is going

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:26.940
 to look

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.200
 like.

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.519
 I don't

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:27.900
 know whether

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.220
 it's going

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.579
 to feel

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.039
 more like

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.480
 a desert

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.059
 or more

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:31.420
 like a

00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.119
 promised land.

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.599
 It might

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.079
 feel like a

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.339
 little bit

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:34.819
 of both,

00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.579
 that's often

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.140
 true I

00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.379
 think.

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:36.980
 In some

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.400
 parts of

00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:37.799
 our life

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.180
 it feels

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.480
 like a

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.660
 desert,

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.299
 other parts

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.619
 of our

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.500
 life it

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.039
 feels like

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.500
 a promised

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:41.940
 land.

00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.359
 But what

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:47.960
 Moses wants

00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.619
 us to see

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.039
 is to

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.680
 remember that

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.180
 every,

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.099
 in every

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.740
 circumstance

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.319
 we are to

00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:53.919
 remember the

00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:54.659
 Lord because

00:23:54.659 --> 00:23:55.339
 he will be

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:55.759
 faithful,

00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:56.819
 because he

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.199
 will be

00:23:57.199 --> 00:23:57.579
 good,

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.480
 because

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.019
 everything

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.480
 that we

00:23:59.480 --> 00:23:59.939
 have,

00:24:00.219 --> 00:24:00.740
 the good

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.279
 things that

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.819
 we have,

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.459
 and the

00:24:02.459 --> 00:24:03.039
 hard things

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.359
 that we

00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:03.719
 have,

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.619
 are all

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.079
 from his

00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.480
 hand.

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.199
 When things

00:24:08.199 --> 00:24:08.719
 are hard,

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:09.480
 he will

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.079
 provide for

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.339
 us.

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:10.859
 And when

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.299
 things are

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.599
 good,

00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:12.439
 he has

00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:12.879
 provided

00:24:12.879 --> 00:24:13.339
 for us.

00:24:13.419 --> 00:24:13.919
 And everything

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:15.359
 that is

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.339
 ours there

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:18.519
 comes from

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:18.819
 him.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:26.099
 how are

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.319
 we to

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.839
 do this?

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:28.879
 Well,

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.740
 you know,

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.139
 it's funny,

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.139
 the basic

00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:32.579
 spiritual

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.299
 disciplines of

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:33.700
 the Christian

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.759
 life are

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.079
 an awfully

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.139
 good way

00:24:36.139 --> 00:24:36.480
 to think

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.939
 about it.

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.000
 When you

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.799
 stop and

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.319
 eat a meal,

00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:41.159
 do you

00:24:41.159 --> 00:24:41.619
 stop and

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.159
 give thanks?

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:43.720
 Do you

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.679
 recognize this

00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.359
 food has

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:45.899
 come from

00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.539
 God's hand

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.639
 to feed you

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.079
 in this

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.619
 moment and

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:48.939
 in this

00:24:48.939 --> 00:24:49.179
 day?

00:24:50.699 --> 00:24:51.119
 That would

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.779
 be a great

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.239
 thing for

00:24:52.239 --> 00:24:52.500
 you to

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:52.979
 spend some

00:24:52.979 --> 00:24:55.699
 time cultivating

00:24:55.699 --> 00:24:56.479
 that practice

00:24:56.479 --> 00:24:57.719
 and then

00:24:57.719 --> 00:24:58.539
 cultivating that

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.099
 prayer to

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.659
 get beyond

00:24:59.659 --> 00:25:00.059
 a rote,

00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.419
 thank you

00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:00.699
 for this

00:25:00.699 --> 00:25:00.979
 meal,

00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:01.319
 amen,

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.919
 to actually

00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:03.439
 allowing it

00:25:03.439 --> 00:25:03.759
 to be a

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.099
 time of

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.639
 thanksgiving

00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.759
 for you,

00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:06.219
 for your

00:25:06.219 --> 00:25:06.599
 family,

00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:07.000
 for your

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.599
 friends as

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.079
 you pray.

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:09.539
 Gosh,

00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:09.919
 God has

00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.279
 been so

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.639
 good to

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.179
 us today.

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:11.839
 Let's be

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.219
 thankful

00:25:12.219 --> 00:25:13.399
 about those

00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:13.899
 things.

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:17.720
 remembering

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.680
 the Lord.

00:25:19.780 --> 00:25:20.380
 Things like

00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:20.980
 fasting.

00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.780
 Fasting is

00:25:22.780 --> 00:25:23.640
 setting aside

00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:24.380
 something that's

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.120
 good that God

00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:25.860
 has given us

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.240
 so that we'll

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.160
 remember that it

00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.960
 comes from him

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.380
 and so that we'll

00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:31.160
 remember that our

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.960
 hearts, as much as

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.800
 we love the things

00:25:32.800 --> 00:25:33.580
 that he gives us,

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:34.920
 we want the Lord

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.800
 more than that

00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:37.019
 and that's why we

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:38.280
 sometimes fast from

00:25:38.280 --> 00:25:38.700
 things,

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.880
 just to train our

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:41.559
 heart and to

00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:41.940
 remember.

00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.519
 I read on a

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.900
 blog last week

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:54.140
 about someone

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.279
 who's spent

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.340
 their year with

00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.019
 a book at their

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.200
 dinner table and

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.840
 they write down

00:25:58.840 --> 00:26:00.799
 every day an

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.580
 account of God's

00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:02.620
 blessing, an

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:03.319
 account of God's

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.620
 faithfulness to

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:04.880
 them.

00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.580
 Maybe you'd

00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:06.259
 consider doing

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.640
 that.

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.980
 If you don't

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.559
 have a family,

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.019
 maybe it

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:11.480
 wouldn't be the

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.059
 dinner table,

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.700
 but maybe in

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.160
 your personal

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:14.080
 devotions or

00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:15.319
 prayers before

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.799
 bed.

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.380
 Simple

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.900
 Christian

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:23.480
 devotion can

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.620
 go a long

00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:27.840
 way to

00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:29.380
 cultivate this

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.100
 remembering the

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:31.019
 Lord and his

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.940
 goodness and his

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.140
 faithfulness to

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.460
 us.

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:36.880
 God

00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:37.700
 Let me also

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.500
 just apply this

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.759
 briefly to us

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.360
 as a church.

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.259
 I want to

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.740
 think about it

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.980
 because in the

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:46.000
 next 12 months

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.440
 it's very

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.420
 possible that

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.039
 there will be

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:50.100
 cranes and

00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:51.960
 earth movers and

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:53.120
 pile drivers and

00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.720
 all sorts of

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.680
 things right in

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:56.299
 our backyard as

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.880
 the construction

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.519
 happens.

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.840
 It might feel

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:01.000
 like a desert

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.720
 for us.

00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:04.240
 It might feel

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.440
 like a hard

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.339
 season for us

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.000
 as a church.

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.660
 Are we prepared

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.600
 to look for and

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:11.319
 to trust in God's

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:12.100
 faithfulness to

00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:12.819
 carry us through?

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.880
 Do we see that in

00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.980
 fact it might be God

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.880
 leading us into a

00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.019
 promised land where

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.740
 God will bring a

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.620
 whole community of

00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.400
 people right into

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:22.779
 our backyard to

00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.839
 love and to serve?

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:27.000
 I don't know what

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.459
 it's going to look

00:27:27.459 --> 00:27:27.759
 like.

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.679
 Who knows?

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.319
 The city might

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.259
 just not give

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.000
 approvals and

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.039
 nothing might be

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.659
 nothing for the

00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.139
 next year.

00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:35.099
 But are we

00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:35.639
 prepared?

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.799
 Are we prepared to

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.619
 remember that the

00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.779
 Lord is sovereign and

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.799
 good in all of it?

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:42.000
 And to face that as

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.259
 well.

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.179
 So remembering the

00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:48.439
 Lord in all of our

00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:49.720
 circumstances good and

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:52.220
 hard is the first

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.980
 part of what Moses

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.880
 wants us to think

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.100
 about.

00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:54.720
 But the second

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:56.759
 thing is that he

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.880
 wants us to

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.779
 recognize that in

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.740
 the process of all

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.519
 of these things in

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.279
 remembering the

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.819
 Lord there are ways

00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:05.039
 in which it shapes

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.579
 our character and

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.960
 our lives in

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:09.019
 profound ways.

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.880
 Look with me at

00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.860
 verses 2 and 3

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.180
 again.

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.920
 Do you see the

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.740
 purpose clause at

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.539
 the end of verse 2?

00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.900
 You shall remember

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.660
 the way the Lord

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.120
 your God

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:23.019
 led you these 48

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.579
 years in the

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.799
 wilderness that

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.819
 so that for the

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:29.139
 purpose that he

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:30.139
 might humble you

00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:33.699
 testing you to know

00:28:33.699 --> 00:28:34.379
 what was in your

00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.299
 heart whether you

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.979
 would keep his

00:28:35.979 --> 00:28:37.219
 commandments or not.

00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:39.559
 And then

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.839
 interestingly if you

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.139
 go back if you look

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:43.339
 again in verses 14

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.500
 through 17 you see

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:47.039
 again this theme of

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:49.899
 how God led you into

00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:50.979
 the wilderness to

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.980
 humble you.

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.860
 Part of remembering

00:28:58.860 --> 00:29:00.319
 the Lord is

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.720
 recognizing that

00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:04.860
 he is God and we

00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.460
 are not.

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.180
 Part of what

00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.140
 remembering the Lord

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.220
 is meant to do in

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.960
 our lives one of the

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.319
 dynamics of remembering

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.319
 the Lord is that it

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.660
 deepens our humility.

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:15.759
 humility.

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.640
 Because the converse of

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.420
 course is what he

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:23.000
 warns of in the second

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.940
 half of this chapter

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.279
 right?

00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.519
 That we lift our

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.960
 hearts up and we

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.420
 think of ourselves as

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:31.040
 proudly self-sufficient.

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.880
 As arrogantly

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.340
 self-sourced.

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.940
 I'm able to take care of

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.560
 my own life.

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.940
 I am able to provide for

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.240
 myself.

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.960
 I am the source of all

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.180
 good things in my life.

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:46.120
 When we lose sight of

00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:47.920
 the Lord we exalt

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.060
 ourselves into his

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:50.100
 position as the

00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:51.100
 ultimate provider.

00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:53.080
 The ultimate source of

00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:53.440
 life.

00:29:58.779 --> 00:30:01.720
 And so a part of what

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:04.100
 Moses is helping us

00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:05.140
 see is that remembering

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.420
 the Lord isn't just a

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.779
 simple thing but it's

00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.660
 one of the ways in

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:10.600
 which God wants us to

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:12.039
 have our hearts shaped.

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:14.459
 Because when we

00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:15.839
 remember him we are

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:17.000
 humbled before him.

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.240
 When we see his

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.299
 provision we don't

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:22.000
 think oh I did that.

00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.619
 We think wow this is

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:24.599
 what God has given to

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:24.819
 me.

00:30:25.199 --> 00:30:26.500
 What a wonderful thing

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.259
 it is.

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:32.559
 It helps us to be

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.980
 humble when we have

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:35.240
 times of great abundance.

00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.819
 When God gives us the

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.779
 greatest gifts.

00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:40.079
 When you enter into the

00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:41.579
 most wonderful things

00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:42.599
 that you can imagine.

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.119
 Success at work.

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.619
 Your relationship with

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:46.240
 a spouse.

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:48.819
 Your children's growing

00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:50.899
 up and having great

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:52.519
 growing up to be great

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:52.960
 kids.

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.960
 When you have these

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:55.379
 things that you most

00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:56.099
 hope for.

00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.779
 When you remember the

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.559
 Lord you say what a

00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.220
 great blessing.

00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:05.579
 What a great thing that

00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.939
 God has done for me.

00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:14.119
 And in every trial the

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:15.359
 sting of it is softened

00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.980
 by the remembrance of

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.079
 his provision.

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:20.480
 When I couldn't provide

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.500
 God was with me and he

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.460
 provided for me.

00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:25.339
 Why would he love me

00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:25.960
 that way?

00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.799
 But he did.

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.079
 And it humbles us.

00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:34.019
 And tied to humbling

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.720
 is dependence.

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:38.579
 We recognize that what

00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.460
 we have comes from him

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.659
 and this is of course the

00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:41.619
 lesson of the manna.

00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:43.000
 Did you notice that twice

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:45.539
 in this chapter Moses

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.859
 riffs on the idea of

00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.179
 manna?

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.779
 He doesn't just say oh

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:50.159
 yeah and he provided food

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.279
 and he provided water.

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.799
 He says oh yeah and you

00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:54.460
 were hungry and what did

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:54.779
 he do?

00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:56.419
 He provided this thing.

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.579
 This supernatural thing

00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.579
 for you.

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.759
 And he provided it in a

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:01.859
 way.

00:32:01.939 --> 00:32:02.639
 Do you remember the

00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.500
 rules of manna?

00:32:03.879 --> 00:32:04.879
 Manna shows up every

00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:05.199
 morning.

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.059
 You go out and you

00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:06.599
 collect it.

00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.000
 You can't keep it.

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.919
 If you try to keep it

00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:09.519
 it rots.

00:32:09.659 --> 00:32:10.720
 If you try to go out

00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.519
 and collect for two

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.819
 days you can't do it.

00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:13.799
 Except for on the

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.559
 Sabbath because you go

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.720
 out on Friday you

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.659
 collect for two days

00:32:16.659 --> 00:32:17.259
 and then you have it

00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.720
 for Friday.

00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:18.839
 And oh yeah it

00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:20.779
 supernaturally sticks

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.960
 around for Saturday and

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.939
 then you can eat without

00:32:22.939 --> 00:32:23.960
 working to gather it.

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.000
 And then it's gone.

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:33.039
 He says God gave you

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.460
 manna.

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.740
 This incredible

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:36.019
 supernatural provision

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:39.599
 of very basic proteins

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:42.639
 and nutrients that you

00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.839
 need to live.

00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:46.740
 And he provided this in a

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:48.579
 supernatural way so that

00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:50.759
 you would remember that

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:52.279
 man does not live by bread

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.539
 alone but by every word

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:56.039
 that proceeds from the

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.839
 mouth of the Lord.

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:56.899
 God.

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.519
 Friends this is how

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:06.759
 profound dependence really

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.279
 is.

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:13.419
 Do you think that by your

00:33:13.419 --> 00:33:15.259
 great work and by your

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.240
 great hand you have

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:18.099
 achieved the successes in

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:19.339
 your career that you have?

00:33:20.139 --> 00:33:21.220
 Do you think that it's

00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.139
 because of your brilliant

00:33:22.139 --> 00:33:23.919
 personality and great love

00:33:23.919 --> 00:33:26.199
 that you have achieved the

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:28.200
 marriage that you find

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:29.600
 yourself in?

00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:31.120
 Do you think

00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:33.580
 do you think as a kid

00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:34.559
 that because you've been

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:36.220
 so wonderful that you

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:37.259
 deserve all the great

00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:38.819
 things that your parents

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:40.120
 do for you every day?

00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:44.640
 No.

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:44.720
 No.

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.720
 No.

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.720
 No.

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.720
 No.

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:47.779
 No.

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:50.100
 It's because the Lord loves

00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:51.440
 you that he gives you good

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:51.860
 gifts.

00:33:53.100 --> 00:33:55.920
 All that you have has come

00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.579
 from him.

00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:00.000
 And at times he takes you out

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:02.039
 in the desert and strips you

00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:05.839
 of all those illusions so that

00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:07.079
 you can see that you have

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.500
 nothing.

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:10.720
 And that what you get from him

00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:12.659
 and what you get is from him.

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.759
 And there are times when he

00:34:13.759 --> 00:34:14.879
 takes you into the promised

00:34:14.879 --> 00:34:16.739
 land where you have

00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.339
 everything.

00:34:20.379 --> 00:34:22.159
 And he says remember me in

00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.500
 this.

00:34:23.839 --> 00:34:25.359
 It is I who have given you the

00:34:25.359 --> 00:34:26.980
 power to gain these things.

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:32.440
 this of course is what Satan

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:34.460
 tried to tempt Jesus with in

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:36.199
 the wilderness when Jesus

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.440
 quotes this passage.

00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.440
 He says you want the kingdom?

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:41.940
 Provide for yourself.

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.440
 Don't depend on God.

00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:46.800
 You can do it.

00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.760
 You're the son of God.

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:50.000
 You can make bread out of a

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.240
 stone.

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:50.840
 Go ahead.

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:55.620
 Jesus replies no.

00:34:56.760 --> 00:35:00.160
 No because I have come to walk

00:35:00.160 --> 00:35:02.300
 with these people to be a

00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:04.400
 human and to be dependent on

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:04.860
 the Lord.

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:08.640
 And I will not I will not usurp

00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:13.039
 that dependence for my own

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.460
 pleasure.

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:22.940
 Dependence is recognizing that we

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:26.420
 cannot manufacture, we cannot

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:28.860
 capture, we cannot store, we

00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:31.780
 cannot reproduce God's goodness in

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:32.559
 our lives.

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:35.519
 It comes from him and from him

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.079
 alone.

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:42.980
 Thirdly in our character remembering

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:45.500
 the Lord produces praise.

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.860
 Look with me at verse 10.

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:50.400
 Again this is a remembering of

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:52.079
 them as they've entered into the

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:53.480
 promised land and the goodness of

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:53.559
 it.

00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.699
 And he says you shall eat and be

00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:56.440
 full and you shall bless the Lord

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:59.079
 for all the good land that he has

00:35:59.079 --> 00:35:59.619
 given you.

00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:04.119
 Remembering is not only just

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:06.019
 understanding that everything we

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:08.119
 have comes from God and seeing

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:09.699
 God's faithful hand of provision

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:12.360
 but it's also responding to it

00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:15.280
 where we actively acknowledge what

00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:17.360
 I have comes from God, has come

00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.019
 from God.

00:36:18.259 --> 00:36:20.840
 It means we praise God for him, for

00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:21.420
 these things.

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:23.780
 It means that we verbally bless him

00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:26.940
 and acknowledge that he has been

00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.320
 good.

00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:32.139
 We announce to our own hearts, to

00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:34.420
 those around us and to the world,

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:38.079
 that this is the God who has provided

00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.760
 for us.

00:36:40.860 --> 00:36:42.260
 Let me ask you this.

00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:46.519
 Take stock this morning, today.

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.159
 The fruit of your lips.

00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:50.220
 How often do you thank God?

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.180
 And really do it.

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:55.720
 Not in the sort of offhanded, you

00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:58.659
 know, almost non-theistic way that

00:36:58.659 --> 00:36:59.900
 sometimes we do in our modern

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.300
 culture.

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.240
 Oh, thank God.

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:03.940
 But really, wow.

00:37:05.160 --> 00:37:06.900
 I have a car to drive to work in.

00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:09.079
 I have an office to work in.

00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:11.700
 I have a, I have co-workers who I get

00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:13.360
 to work with and I get to serve.

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:15.820
 I have peanut butter and jelly for

00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.180
 lunch.

00:37:16.720 --> 00:37:19.039
 Thank God for all these things.

00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:23.139
 Thank God for the ability to wake up

00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:25.019
 in the morning and walk to work or

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:26.420
 walk to class.

00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:29.179
 Thank God for the ability to think,

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.339
 to study.

00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:33.679
 Thank God for the ability to love the

00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:35.839
 people around you for life and breath.

00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:43.219
 I wonder, have you stopped thanking God?

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:45.319
 Have you stopped praising him?

00:37:45.659 --> 00:37:47.679
 Have you stopped talking about him?

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:51.599
 Maybe you've grown weary.

00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:54.859
 Maybe your life in the desert has been

00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:58.980
 so long that it feels hard to find

00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:00.079
 those things to remember.

00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:04.019
 Maybe you've allowed grumbling to

00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:04.899
 conquer your heart.

00:38:05.899 --> 00:38:07.639
 And so the only thing on your lips is

00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:10.819
 complaint rather than praise.

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:14.859
 But maybe you've lived in the promised

00:38:14.859 --> 00:38:17.039
 land so long that you've lost sight of

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:17.639
 the source.

00:38:20.279 --> 00:38:23.579
 And you're enjoying the goodness

00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:25.279
 without acknowledging the giver.

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:30.360
 In our age today, in our world today,

00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:32.179
 maybe you've stopped giving thanks

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:33.539
 because it feels awkward.

00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:36.460
 Because you wonder how the people

00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:39.219
 around you will respond when you

00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:41.320
 actually thank God for the goodness

00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:42.179
 in your life.

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:44.779
 When you acknowledge it that way.

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:48.019
 And look, we can be weird about that.

00:38:48.120 --> 00:38:49.420
 Let's not be weird about it.

00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:51.120
 Can we just acknowledge that?

00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:52.440
 We can be weird about it.

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.720
 Like, oh, I have to insert that into

00:38:53.720 --> 00:38:54.420
 every conversation.

00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.660
 Oh, thank God for that.

00:38:56.600 --> 00:38:59.180
 But if we have honest hearts of

00:38:59.180 --> 00:39:01.220
 thanksgiving, it will come out.

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:03.860
 It will be the fruit of our lips as we

00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:06.820
 remember God and see that he is at work

00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:07.640
 in our lives.

00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:14.659
 And maybe, as Moses warns us,

00:39:14.759 --> 00:39:16.839
 you have fallen into the trap of thinking

00:39:16.839 --> 00:39:18.839
 that the good things you do have

00:39:18.839 --> 00:39:20.319
 is because you've earned it

00:39:20.319 --> 00:39:21.920
 and because you deserve it.

00:39:24.319 --> 00:39:26.579
 But friends, Moses reminds us that

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:28.460
 as we remember God,

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:30.759
 one of the things that it produces

00:39:30.759 --> 00:39:33.119
 in our lives is blessing to him.

00:39:33.339 --> 00:39:35.079
 And blessing here means a verbal

00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:35.699
 proclamation.

00:39:35.699 --> 00:39:37.500
 That's why I'm talking about thanking God.

00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:40.519
 Because blessing God is verbally saying to God,

00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:43.099
 God, I bless you because these things

00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:44.119
 have come from you.

00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:48.879
 And finally,

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:52.079
 maybe some of you have been waiting for me

00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:53.339
 to get here the whole time,

00:39:54.379 --> 00:39:55.179
 is obedience.

00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:58.199
 Because if you look through this passage

00:39:58.199 --> 00:39:59.719
 in verse 1, in verse 2,

00:39:59.839 --> 00:40:01.619
 verse 6, in verse 11,

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:03.079
 and in verse 20,

00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:04.639
 Moses is saying,

00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:08.779
 what I'm calling you today to do

00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:10.940
 is to fear God

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:12.359
 and obey his commands.

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:14.319
 To do the things that I,

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:16.440
 that God has instructed you to do

00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:17.279
 as his people.

00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:19.319
 Remember, in the book of Deuteronomy,

00:40:19.739 --> 00:40:20.299
 God has been,

00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:20.960
 God is,

00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:23.980
 Moses is retelling the story of Sinai

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.819
 as a part of it.

00:40:25.039 --> 00:40:25.480
 He's saying,

00:40:25.679 --> 00:40:27.940
 this is how God has given you the law

00:40:27.940 --> 00:40:29.760
 to instruct you as to

00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:31.740
 what it means to live as God's people

00:40:31.740 --> 00:40:32.440
 in the world.

00:40:33.740 --> 00:40:35.280
 And so part of what he's saying

00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.079
 in chapter 8,

00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:37.360
 in fact, in some ways,

00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:38.480
 the greatest rubric is,

00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:40.679
 if you're going to be my covenant people,

00:40:41.500 --> 00:40:43.039
 I've given you instructions

00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:44.539
 that you need to obey

00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:46.720
 in order to live out this covenant with me.

00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:51.699
 But what I want you to see

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:53.799
 is the brilliance of what Moses does here

00:40:53.799 --> 00:40:54.719
 and what God does

00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:56.500
 in helping us see our hearts.

00:40:56.799 --> 00:40:58.419
 Because it's so easy for us,

00:40:58.480 --> 00:40:58.779
 isn't it,

00:40:58.799 --> 00:41:00.980
 for obedience to become drudgery,

00:41:01.459 --> 00:41:02.859
 for obedience to become

00:41:02.859 --> 00:41:04.379
 assent with our lips,

00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:06.719
 or simply going through the motions

00:41:06.719 --> 00:41:09.759
 of doing what we have been told is right.

00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:11.859
 And yet, of course,

00:41:11.939 --> 00:41:13.559
 this has never been obedience

00:41:13.559 --> 00:41:15.579
 in a biblical sense.

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:17.019
 Instead,

00:41:17.799 --> 00:41:19.840
 what God does is he tells us

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:22.500
 that when we remember God,

00:41:22.779 --> 00:41:24.960
 when we see how good he is,

00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:27.239
 when we recognize that it is him

00:41:27.239 --> 00:41:30.179
 who has done all the good things for us

00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:31.259
 and not ourselves,

00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:33.239
 when we see in the desert

00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:34.340
 how he is provided,

00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:36.079
 when we see in the promised land

00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:37.980
 his abundant provision,

00:41:38.360 --> 00:41:39.679
 when he sees the good

00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:41.779
 that has overflowed into our lives,

00:41:41.819 --> 00:41:43.420
 and when we praise him

00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:45.340
 for all of those things,

00:41:45.579 --> 00:41:47.639
 our hearts then

00:41:47.639 --> 00:41:49.840
 have the soil

00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:51.019
 from which obedience

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:52.380
 will flow quickly.

00:41:53.279 --> 00:41:55.159
 Why would I not obey a God

00:41:55.159 --> 00:41:57.559
 who has been so good to me,

00:41:57.799 --> 00:42:00.619
 who has been so faithful to me?

00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:05.440
 And conversely,

00:42:05.839 --> 00:42:07.759
 when I lift up my heart

00:42:07.759 --> 00:42:09.739
 in arrogant pride

00:42:09.739 --> 00:42:10.319
 and I say,

00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:11.859
 I have done these things,

00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:13.619
 I have provided for myself,

00:42:13.880 --> 00:42:16.019
 I have cared for myself,

00:42:16.420 --> 00:42:17.279
 and in the wilderness,

00:42:17.500 --> 00:42:18.659
 God had forsaken me

00:42:18.659 --> 00:42:20.859
 and only led me into trial and hardship.

00:42:20.860 --> 00:42:25.700
 when I have allowed my heart

00:42:25.700 --> 00:42:26.519
 to go there,

00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:27.620
 then,

00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:29.160
 when God says,

00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:30.860
 this is how you ought to live,

00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:32.920
 my first response

00:42:32.920 --> 00:42:34.220
 in my pride will be,

00:42:34.820 --> 00:42:35.800
 well says who?

00:42:36.120 --> 00:42:36.420
 Or,

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:37.840
 I will only do that

00:42:37.840 --> 00:42:39.200
 if it makes sense to me.

00:42:39.579 --> 00:42:40.640
 I will only do that

00:42:40.640 --> 00:42:41.920
 if I agree with it.

00:42:42.240 --> 00:42:43.340
 I will only do that

00:42:43.340 --> 00:42:45.079
 if it meets my criteria

00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:45.820
 for goodness.

00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:50.120
 And so,

00:42:50.220 --> 00:42:50.940
 in the context

00:42:50.940 --> 00:42:52.140
 of this exhortation

00:42:52.140 --> 00:42:54.080
 to keep the commandments

00:42:54.080 --> 00:42:54.960
 in order to be

00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:56.019
 covenantally faithful,

00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:58.980
 part of what God is saying

00:42:58.980 --> 00:42:59.940
 is,

00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:02.380
 remember the Lord

00:43:02.380 --> 00:43:04.300
 because as you remember the Lord,

00:43:04.820 --> 00:43:07.320
 your heart will be fertile soil

00:43:07.320 --> 00:43:08.519
 for obedience.

00:43:09.260 --> 00:43:10.360
 It will flow

00:43:10.360 --> 00:43:12.000
 out of a heart

00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:13.800
 that remembers the Lord.

00:43:15.820 --> 00:43:20.000
 when we forget God's goodness,

00:43:20.700 --> 00:43:21.640
 when we no longer

00:43:21.640 --> 00:43:22.539
 not trust Him,

00:43:22.900 --> 00:43:23.660
 and our loyalty

00:43:23.660 --> 00:43:25.000
 is attached to ourselves

00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:26.240
 or something else

00:43:26.240 --> 00:43:30.440
 that we trust in more than Him,

00:43:31.100 --> 00:43:32.220
 that is when

00:43:32.220 --> 00:43:34.260
 we fail to obey.

00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:40.260
 So, friends,

00:43:40.539 --> 00:43:41.460
 remember the Lord

00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:44.580
 and His goodness to you.

00:43:45.820 --> 00:43:47.740
 And you know,

00:43:47.800 --> 00:43:48.860
 one of the amazing things is

00:43:48.860 --> 00:43:51.280
 this is to the Old Testament

00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:52.160
 believers, right?

00:43:53.100 --> 00:43:54.160
 Who had remembered

00:43:54.160 --> 00:43:56.120
 the deliverance from Egypt.

00:43:57.360 --> 00:43:57.700
 Friends,

00:43:57.800 --> 00:43:58.740
 we now stand

00:43:58.740 --> 00:44:00.100
 as the church of God

00:44:00.100 --> 00:44:01.039
 looking back

00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:02.720
 on an even greater deliverance.

00:44:03.080 --> 00:44:04.039
 We can look back

00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:05.000
 and see how God

00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:06.019
 has been good to us

00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:07.320
 by delivering us

00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:08.820
 from the greatest oppression

00:44:08.820 --> 00:44:10.260
 ever of our sin

00:44:10.260 --> 00:44:13.360
 and the curse of sin

00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:14.080
 which is death

00:44:14.080 --> 00:44:14.920
 in our lives.

00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:17.220
 God has sent

00:44:17.220 --> 00:44:18.100
 His own Son,

00:44:18.220 --> 00:44:18.900
 Jesus Christ,

00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:22.059
 to be our rescuer

00:44:22.059 --> 00:44:22.960
 and our liberator

00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:23.900
 and our provider.

00:44:26.220 --> 00:44:26.820
 And so,

00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:27.480
 we look at it

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:27.920
 and we think,

00:44:28.180 --> 00:44:28.880
 how much more

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:30.140
 do we have to remember?

00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:32.500
 How much more

00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.080
 do we have

00:44:33.080 --> 00:44:34.200
 to be thankful for?

00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:35.180
 How much more

00:44:35.180 --> 00:44:36.740
 can we say,

00:44:36.860 --> 00:44:37.980
 I have nothing

00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:40.000
 to commend myself

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:40.920
 to God for,

00:44:40.920 --> 00:44:42.920
 but God has given me

00:44:42.920 --> 00:44:43.840
 all that I need

00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:44.460
 in Christ.

00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:46.340
 I have no righteousness

00:44:46.340 --> 00:44:47.980
 but Christ has given me

00:44:47.980 --> 00:44:48.900
 all the righteousness

00:44:48.900 --> 00:44:49.639
 I need

00:44:49.639 --> 00:44:51.200
 to be God's son

00:44:51.200 --> 00:44:51.720
 and daughter.

00:44:58.940 --> 00:44:59.880
 And that would be

00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:00.400
 a good thing

00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:01.300
 for us to remember.

00:45:02.440 --> 00:45:03.039
 But friends,

00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:03.579
 the gospel

00:45:03.579 --> 00:45:04.940
 is even greater news

00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:05.599
 than that.

00:45:06.880 --> 00:45:07.920
 Because that would be

00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:08.420
 a commitment.

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:09.720
 If that were true,

00:45:09.780 --> 00:45:10.420
 then the whole point

00:45:10.420 --> 00:45:10.940
 of my sermon

00:45:10.940 --> 00:45:11.920
 would be go home

00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:12.900
 and remember more

00:45:12.900 --> 00:45:14.400
 and do better at it.

00:45:15.320 --> 00:45:16.400
 Please be better

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:17.579
 at remembering God.

00:45:20.059 --> 00:45:20.900
 But friends,

00:45:21.139 --> 00:45:22.960
 we have a Lord

00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:24.480
 who loves us so much

00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:26.099
 and knows our frailty

00:45:26.099 --> 00:45:27.200
 and knows our weakness.

00:45:28.380 --> 00:45:28.860
 And friends,

00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:30.579
 the really good news

00:45:30.579 --> 00:45:31.280
 of the gospel

00:45:31.280 --> 00:45:32.460
 is that God

00:45:32.460 --> 00:45:33.580
 has remembered us

00:45:33.580 --> 00:45:34.260
 first.

00:45:36.300 --> 00:45:37.180
 That God

00:45:37.180 --> 00:45:37.640
 is the one

00:45:37.640 --> 00:45:38.280
 who initiated

00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:38.940
 this work.

00:45:39.280 --> 00:45:39.800
 And in fact,

00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:41.120
 God sent one

00:45:41.120 --> 00:45:41.980
 in our place

00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:42.480
 who came

00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:43.120
 and remembered

00:45:43.120 --> 00:45:44.080
 God perfectly.

00:45:44.560 --> 00:45:46.300
 That's what Jesus is.

00:45:46.760 --> 00:45:47.700
 Jesus walked

00:45:47.700 --> 00:45:48.580
 through the wilderness

00:45:48.580 --> 00:45:49.660
 of life

00:45:49.660 --> 00:45:50.740
 in a fallen world

00:45:50.740 --> 00:45:51.780
 having left

00:45:51.780 --> 00:45:52.900
 the promised land

00:45:52.900 --> 00:45:55.019
 of life in heaven.

00:45:55.240 --> 00:45:55.940
 He came

00:45:55.940 --> 00:45:56.480
 and walked

00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:57.540
 through those things

00:45:57.540 --> 00:45:58.140
 and lived

00:45:58.140 --> 00:45:59.380
 dependently

00:45:59.380 --> 00:46:00.760
 and humbly

00:46:00.760 --> 00:46:02.200
 and with praise

00:46:02.200 --> 00:46:02.800
 on his lips

00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:03.380
 to God.

00:46:03.640 --> 00:46:04.920
 In every moment,

00:46:05.240 --> 00:46:06.300
 he was the one

00:46:06.300 --> 00:46:07.119
 who fulfilled

00:46:07.119 --> 00:46:07.820
 the command

00:46:07.820 --> 00:46:08.780
 to remember

00:46:08.780 --> 00:46:09.420
 the Lord

00:46:09.420 --> 00:46:10.119
 perfectly.

00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:14.940
 And in that,

00:46:15.039 --> 00:46:16.300
 God has remembered us

00:46:16.300 --> 00:46:17.500
 and provided for us

00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:18.160
 a substitute

00:46:18.160 --> 00:46:19.360
 to do what we

00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:20.260
 could not do.

00:46:22.599 --> 00:46:23.440
 And so,

00:46:23.980 --> 00:46:24.599
 he extends

00:46:24.599 --> 00:46:25.619
 to us then

00:46:25.619 --> 00:46:26.300
 grace.

00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:29.300
 Goodness undeserved,

00:46:29.380 --> 00:46:31.400
 a Savior

00:46:31.400 --> 00:46:32.700
 who loves us

00:46:32.700 --> 00:46:33.660
 this much.

00:46:41.380 --> 00:46:42.119
 And so,

00:46:42.300 --> 00:46:42.579
 friends,

00:46:43.019 --> 00:46:44.200
 yes,

00:46:44.300 --> 00:46:44.940
 we are to

00:46:44.940 --> 00:46:46.780
 try to remember

00:46:46.780 --> 00:46:47.640
 the Lord

00:46:47.640 --> 00:46:48.079
 better.

00:46:48.240 --> 00:46:48.740
 That would be

00:46:48.740 --> 00:46:49.420
 a good thing.

00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:50.340
 That's a good effort.

00:46:50.579 --> 00:46:51.480
 But recognize

00:46:51.480 --> 00:46:52.780
 that the fruit

00:46:52.780 --> 00:46:53.240
 from that

00:46:53.240 --> 00:46:53.740
 will be

00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:55.099
 going to a God

00:46:55.099 --> 00:46:56.000
 who has already

00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:56.880
 remembered you,

00:46:57.099 --> 00:46:58.119
 who has already

00:46:58.119 --> 00:46:59.420
 provided for you

00:46:59.420 --> 00:47:00.440
 in every way,

00:47:00.440 --> 00:47:01.659
 who has already

00:47:01.659 --> 00:47:02.799
 given you a Savior,

00:47:03.139 --> 00:47:03.799
 who has been

00:47:03.799 --> 00:47:04.440
 the perfect

00:47:04.440 --> 00:47:05.719
 rememberer for you,

00:47:06.719 --> 00:47:08.519
 the one who

00:47:08.519 --> 00:47:09.719
 allows you to be

00:47:09.719 --> 00:47:10.699
 in covenant

00:47:10.699 --> 00:47:11.400
 with him,

00:47:11.639 --> 00:47:12.299
 with God,

00:47:12.480 --> 00:47:13.579
 not because

00:47:13.579 --> 00:47:14.940
 you obey the laws

00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:15.539
 and the commands

00:47:15.539 --> 00:47:15.940
 well,

00:47:16.579 --> 00:47:17.539
 but because you

00:47:17.539 --> 00:47:18.339
 recognize that

00:47:18.339 --> 00:47:19.339
 you can't do that

00:47:19.339 --> 00:47:20.359
 and you simply

00:47:20.359 --> 00:47:21.179
 put your trust

00:47:21.179 --> 00:47:21.759
 and faith

00:47:21.759 --> 00:47:22.880
 in this one

00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:23.500
 who has,

00:47:23.500 --> 00:47:25.179
 in Jesus Christ.

00:47:31.099 --> 00:47:32.159
 So as we face

00:47:32.159 --> 00:47:32.940
 the next year,

00:47:33.639 --> 00:47:34.699
 whether it will be

00:47:34.699 --> 00:47:35.420
 one of desert

00:47:35.420 --> 00:47:36.699
 or whether it will be

00:47:36.699 --> 00:47:37.420
 one of plenty,

00:47:38.260 --> 00:47:39.320
 let us think of him.

00:47:39.840 --> 00:47:40.840
 Let us think of this

00:47:40.840 --> 00:47:41.239
 Jesus.

00:47:41.820 --> 00:47:42.639
 Let us meditate

00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:43.440
 upon him.

00:47:43.760 --> 00:47:44.719
 Let us fix

00:47:44.719 --> 00:47:45.840
 our hearts on him.

00:47:46.159 --> 00:47:46.980
 Let us remind

00:47:46.980 --> 00:47:47.619
 one another

00:47:47.619 --> 00:47:48.599
 about him

00:47:48.599 --> 00:47:51.519
 because in doing so,

00:47:51.519 --> 00:47:52.940
 all of the richness

00:47:52.940 --> 00:47:53.719
 of a life

00:47:53.719 --> 00:47:54.880
 of remembering God

00:47:54.880 --> 00:47:55.460
 and his goodness

00:47:55.460 --> 00:47:56.119
 to us

00:47:56.119 --> 00:47:57.199
 will be ours.

00:47:58.840 --> 00:47:59.599
 Let us pray.

00:48:05.440 --> 00:48:06.559
 Lord, we thank you

00:48:06.559 --> 00:48:07.780
 for your faithfulness

00:48:07.780 --> 00:48:08.659
 to us.

00:48:09.280 --> 00:48:10.360
 Thank you for Jesus

00:48:10.360 --> 00:48:12.719
 who is all

00:48:12.719 --> 00:48:13.400
 that we need.

00:48:15.039 --> 00:48:16.119
 Lord, we pray,

00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:17.559
 Lord, that

00:48:17.559 --> 00:48:19.039
 we might

00:48:19.039 --> 00:48:20.639
 by your grace

00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:21.539
 remember him

00:48:21.539 --> 00:48:22.299
 more and more.

00:48:23.159 --> 00:48:23.480
 And Lord,

00:48:23.539 --> 00:48:24.639
 as we remember him

00:48:24.639 --> 00:48:25.379
 that our hearts

00:48:25.379 --> 00:48:26.119
 would be filled

00:48:26.119 --> 00:48:27.279
 with humility,

00:48:28.199 --> 00:48:28.659
 that we would

00:48:28.659 --> 00:48:30.000
 recognize our dependence

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:31.699
 and we would praise you

00:48:31.699 --> 00:48:33.400
 that we would be moved

00:48:33.400 --> 00:48:34.559
 to obedience.

00:48:36.759 --> 00:48:37.239
 Lord,

00:48:37.879 --> 00:48:39.059
 we know that

00:48:39.059 --> 00:48:39.859
 this is a work

00:48:39.859 --> 00:48:41.019
 that you alone

00:48:41.019 --> 00:48:42.239
 can do in our hearts

00:48:42.239 --> 00:48:42.960
 and we ask you

00:48:42.960 --> 00:48:43.519
 to do it

00:48:43.519 --> 00:48:45.139
 for your glory

00:48:45.139 --> 00:48:46.279
 and for our good.

00:48:47.059 --> 00:48:47.739
 We pray this

00:48:47.739 --> 00:48:48.519
 in Jesus' name.

00:48:49.319 --> 00:48:49.619
 Amen.

00:48:49.619 --> 00:48:49.759
 Amen.

00:48:50.659 --> 00:48:51.319
 Amen.

00:48:51.379 --> 00:48:51.599
 Amen.

00:48:51.599 --> 00:48:51.799
 Amen.

00:48:51.799 --> 00:48:52.139
 Amen.

00:48:52.179 --> 00:48:52.199
 Amen.

00:48:52.199 --> 00:48:52.579
 Amen.

00:48:52.579 --> 00:48:52.599
 Amen.

00:48:52.599 --> 00:48:53.579
 Amen.

00:48:53.579 --> 00:48:53.739
 Amen.

00:48:53.739 --> 00:48:54.199
 Amen.

00:48:54.319 --> 00:48:54.519
 Amen.

00:48:54.639 --> 00:48:54.759
 Amen.

00:48:55.400 --> 00:48:55.659
 Amen.

00:48:56.159 --> 00:48:58.099
 Amen.

00:49:02.159 --> 00:49:03.519
 Amen.

00:49:03.679 --> 00:49:04.659
 Amen.

00:49:05.299 --> 00:49:05.659
 Amen.

00:49:05.659 --> 00:49:06.179
 Amen.

00:49:06.659 --> 00:49:07.460
 Amen.

00:49:09.039 --> 00:49:09.879
 Amen.

00:49:09.879 --> 00:49:10.460
 Amen.

00:49:12.599 --> 00:49:12.659
 Amen.

00:49:12.679 --> 00:49:13.779
 Amen.

00:49:13.879 --> 00:49:14.759
 Amen.

00:49:19.819 --> 00:49:19.859
 Amen.

00:49:19.859 --> 00:49:20.339
 Amen.