WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:06.140 Well, as I mentioned earlier, we are beginning a new series this morning in the book of Genesis, 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:13.880 and I joked last week with you that we would probably spend something like the next 10 years or so together in Genesis. 00:00:14.019 --> 00:00:19.920 That's not really true, but we will take a good bit of time to go through this together, 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:22.900 especially so in the first three chapters of Genesis. 00:00:22.899 --> 00:00:32.299 And we really want to take our time here because these first chapters of Genesis are foundational for our faith. 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:36.299 Foundational. They're significant for us. 00:00:36.339 --> 00:00:40.159 And so if you would, please take your Bibles and open them up to the book of Genesis this morning. 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:46.219 If you don't have a Bible, if you didn't bring one with you, feel free to use one of those in the seat backs in front of you. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:51.560 If you don't have a Bible at all of your own, feel free to take that one home with you as our gift to you. 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:54.359 It should be easy to find our passage this morning. 00:00:54.480 --> 00:00:58.340 It's the first book of the Bible, the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, 00:00:58.440 --> 00:01:02.200 and first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible. 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:04.560 Genesis 1 verse 1. 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:08.020 And so when you found it, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:09.980 Genesis 1 verse 1. 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:23.060 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:24.840 Let's pray again. 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:30.640 Lord, Father, these words are familiar to us, but they, again, are so important for us. 00:01:30.700 --> 00:01:36.060 And so we pray, Lord, would you speak to us today and reveal yourself to us through the preaching of your Word. 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:37.280 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:38.519 Amen. 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:40.200 You may be seated. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:49.980 Every good builder knows that in order to build a sturdy house, you have to first lay a firm foundation. 00:01:50.939 --> 00:01:56.040 And if you don't, sooner or later, you're pretty much guaranteed to run into some significant issues. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:59.240 And sometimes you may not even know that the foundation is off. 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:03.060 And maybe you move into a new house and you think everything is just fine. 00:02:03.060 --> 00:02:07.280 But then eventually you start noticing the walls are starting to crack. 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:11.180 The floors are starting to buckle. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:13.740 The doorways are a little bit tilted. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:17.580 And you realize these are symptoms of a bigger issue. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.379 The foundation needs to be corrected. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:25.740 This morning we begin a new series in the book of Genesis. 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:31.060 And you may be wondering, why in the world are we going to spend so much time together in the book of Genesis? 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:35.180 Or even you may be wondering, well, how in the world could this old book, 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:37.400 the very first book of the Old Testament, 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:41.579 how could that have any relevance to my life at all? 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:47.420 Well, one reason is Genesis is the foundation for the rest of the Bible. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:49.760 It's the very first book. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.480 If you want to read and understand your Bible better, 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:59.600 one way to do so is to really study and read and understand the book of Genesis. 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:05.740 Everything from the prophets to the gospels all the way to the book of Revelation, 00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:09.000 it's all built up on this foundation. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:12.120 Ken Matthews, one commentator, he says, 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:14.060 if we possessed a Bible without Genesis, 00:03:14.580 --> 00:03:19.560 we would have a house of cards without foundation or mortar. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:22.659 It's also true theologically. 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:26.979 As you think about all the major church doctrines, theological doctrines, 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.560 one of my former professors, John Currid, 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:37.939 he said almost every important church doctrine is found in seed form here in the book of Genesis. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:42.919 It's here in this book that we're introduced to God and man, 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:49.000 good and evil, sin and temptation, law and grace, justice and mercy. 00:03:49.180 --> 00:03:53.599 There's themes of kingdom and covenant, blessing and cursing. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:56.039 The foundation for all of it is laid right here. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:00.479 And I would argue, again, that most of these themes are established for us 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:03.960 even in the first chapters of the book of Genesis. 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:05.180 It's not only that. 00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:07.060 It's not the only reason we want to turn to this book. 00:04:07.800 --> 00:04:12.060 As you look around us at our culture, hopefully you see what I see. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:15.080 There are cracks in the walls. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:19.620 The floors are buckling. 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:21.800 The doorways are tilted. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:27.019 And when we look outside of these walls and we see issues around us, 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:31.300 we ought to realize that these are ultimately, they are foundation issues. 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:37.420 And so really, I'm hard pressed to find a more relevant book than this old book of Genesis. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:41.180 We see issues of human sexuality and identity. 00:04:42.020 --> 00:04:44.860 The value and the dignity of human life. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:50.460 We see the purpose and the meaning of life and the meaning of work and labor. 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:52.100 We see the institution of marriage. 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:56.860 All of it is right here, even in the first pages of the book of Genesis. 00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:05.560 I truly believe that rightly understood, the truths that we'll see here in this book are the foundation of a flourishing society. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:12.180 But not only for a flourishing society, but also for a flourishing church. 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:21.040 I truly believe that many churches and many Christians would do well to take a slow walk through the Garden of Eden. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.920 To reinforce our foundation. 00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:31.980 Make certain that as things have gone by, as time has passed, that nothing has shifted or eroded as time has gone on. 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:35.480 So here again, it's my prayer as we begin this book together. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:40.160 That God would lay for us a firm foundation for our faith. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:40.460 Amen? 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.020 Would you pray again with me briefly one more time as we begin? 00:05:46.200 --> 00:05:47.540 And ask God to do that for us. 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:53.939 Lord, we want to see and understand all things from a God-centered perspective. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:59.980 And so we pray and we ask again, Lord, would you lay for us a firm foundation for our faith? 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:06.400 We commit this series, this sermon, this time together in Genesis to you. 00:06:06.460 --> 00:06:08.420 And we ask God that you would show us Christ. 00:06:09.320 --> 00:06:10.500 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:06:11.200 --> 00:06:11.500 Amen. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:19.540 I see three foundational truths here about God in the first verse of Genesis. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:23.699 Three foundational truths about God. 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:30.560 Number one, first we see that God is the focus of all things. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:36.720 God is the focus of all things. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:42.560 In the beginning, God, Derek Kinner says, 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:46.340 It is no accident that God is the subject of the first sentence of the Bible. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:52.760 In fact, this word, God, dominates the whole chapter and catches the eye at every point of the page. 00:06:52.840 --> 00:06:57.300 It's used some 35 times in just as many verses of the story. 00:06:57.460 --> 00:07:01.160 So we won't spend too much time here, but I do just want to make this point. 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:07.660 It's obvious, I think, but it needs to be said, the Bible begins with God. 00:07:09.140 --> 00:07:12.420 As we start off this journey in Genesis, you really can't miss this, can you? 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:15.660 God is the main character of this book. 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:22.460 If you were to pick up the Bible with no knowledge of Christianity, no knowledge of religion whatsoever, 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:24.900 no knowledge of anything else that this book contained, 00:07:24.899 --> 00:07:28.099 if you were to pick it up and start reading at the very beginning, 00:07:28.239 --> 00:07:33.079 the very first person you would be introduced to is God. 00:07:34.299 --> 00:07:39.319 These first four words of the Bible, they teach us an incredibly important truth, and it's this. 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:44.979 The world that we live in, it does not revolve around us. 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:48.279 It revolves around God. 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:51.799 It's not about us. 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:53.239 We're not the king of the universe. 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:54.939 God is the king of the universe. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:57.839 We're not the point of this story. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.579 God is the point of this story. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.339 God doesn't exist for us. 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:09.099 We exist, along with everything else in the universe, for God. 00:08:10.179 --> 00:08:14.119 We have to understand this, and it's easy, again, it's obvious to see it, 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:18.980 but it's impossible, apart from his grace, for us to really get this right. 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:24.220 Because all of us, myself included, all of us in our sin nature, you know what we want to do? 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:28.000 We want to make everything about us. 00:08:29.160 --> 00:08:31.000 And we want to be at the center. 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:32.940 We want to be the focus. 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:34.820 We want to be made much of. 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:37.860 We want our desires to be affirmed. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:40.600 We want our ambitions to be celebrated. 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:44.560 And our sin nature really doesn't like it any other way. 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:50.240 But here again, in the beginning, we're reminded God is the focus. 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:56.019 And it's his desires that are ultimate, not ours. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:02.659 And it's his words and it's his glory that are the center of the universe. 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:05.060 And church, there's so many ways to apply this truth. 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:10.719 There's application for our worship services here as we gather together for worship. 00:09:10.839 --> 00:09:17.439 When we gather together, again, in our sinful flesh, we might want to hear about us. 00:09:18.719 --> 00:09:22.599 We might want to sing about us. 00:09:23.739 --> 00:09:26.559 We might want to worship however we want to worship. 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:29.419 We might want to come in and do whatever makes us feel good. 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:35.699 But we ought to be reminded again, our time gathering here for worship isn't ultimately about us. 00:09:35.939 --> 00:09:39.779 And our wants and our preferences and our tastes. 00:09:39.939 --> 00:09:42.199 It is about God. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:48.579 And we ought to come in here expecting and desiring and wanting to meet with him. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:55.240 There's application for our times of private devotion and Bible reading. 00:09:55.240 --> 00:10:00.180 When we come to this book, the Bible, we ought to acknowledge it's for us. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:04.460 It's for our good, but it is not about us. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:07.580 We are not the focus of the Bible. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:09.639 God is the focus of the Bible. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:16.039 When we have our times of private devotion, the point of those times is to meet with God. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:23.740 Even as we look ahead to the great work of redemption at the cross of Christ, to the gospel. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:30.039 Again, although it is for you, it is not about you and how great you are. 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:34.440 It is about God and how great God is. 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:37.480 We apply it to our own life. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:40.379 And this is a big realization. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:50.060 Every part of your life, your career, your marriage, your families, your ambitions. 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:55.419 Again, these are wonderful gifts to us, but they are not ultimately about us. 00:10:56.059 --> 00:11:01.939 We exist to magnify the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:11:02.079 --> 00:11:05.819 And you remember from last week, what we saw last week from Matthew chapter 28. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:10.479 The first task of every believer is to magnify the glory of God. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:10.839 How? 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:14.100 It is by enjoying Him. 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:17.620 By delighting in Him. 00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:20.980 So we have to ask here as we begin this book together. 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:26.220 Is He the very center of your life and your joy? 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:32.200 Or do you fight Him for control of that position in your life? 00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:32.879 You hear that question? 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:40.200 Is God and His glory at the very center of your life and your joy and your ambition? 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:45.679 Or do you wrestle with Him and try to replace Him as the center of your life? 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:48.960 Listen to this from Jonathan Edwards. 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:51.539 He says, 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:57.459 This is the difference between the joy of the hypocrite and the joy of the true saint. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:01.879 The hypocrite rejoices in himself. 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:06.000 Self is the first foundation of his joy. 00:12:07.099 --> 00:12:10.000 The true saint rejoices in God. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:17.779 True saints have their minds in the first place inexpressibly pleased and delighted with the sweet ideas 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:21.199 and the glorious and amiable nature of the things of God. 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:25.699 And this is the spring of all their delights and the cream of all their pleasures. 00:12:25.939 --> 00:12:30.240 But the dependence of the affections of the hypocrites is in contrary order. 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:34.759 They first rejoice that they are made so much of by God. 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:38.279 And then on that ground, He seems lovely to them. 00:12:38.339 --> 00:12:39.019 You see the difference? 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:44.299 Church, God is the focus of this story. 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.819 The Bible begins with God. 00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:47.620 Fully satisfied. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:49.359 Fully content. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:53.819 Fully God before anything else in the universe is made. 00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:56.740 And in this first introduction to the person of God, 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:00.819 we're told some very important truths about who He is. 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:04.379 And so second, second foundational truth here, 00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:13.519 we see that God is the sovereign, eternal creator of all things. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.779 Second foundational truth. 00:13:17.579 --> 00:13:20.319 And we'll spend most of our time here on this point. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:26.220 God is the sovereign, eternal creator of all things. 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:35.399 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:39.980 You know, it is interesting for me to think about the context of the Israelites 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:43.240 as they would have first heard and received this text. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.420 I mean, put yourself in their shoes just for a moment. 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:49.240 You might remember Moses wrote Genesis. 00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:54.480 And of course, they knew these truths through oral tradition, 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:58.980 but they would have received this text and read it for the first time 00:13:58.980 --> 00:14:02.960 as they were making their way into the promised land. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.460 And you remember what that time was like for them. 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:08.540 We just got done studying Joshua in the Sunday school hour. 00:14:08.780 --> 00:14:12.220 You remember what that time was like for them as they journeyed into the promised land. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:15.180 They are being called out of the world. 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:19.320 They're being called to be a distinct people of God. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.980 They're being marked off as His distinct people. 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:28.960 But you remember also how they're constantly tempted to look just like all the nations around them. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:34.600 They're tempted to bow down and to worship false gods. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:37.899 They're surrounded by enemies at every turn. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:42.200 And so they're tempted even to fear the strength of the gods of the nations, 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:44.340 to fear the power of these false gods. 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:47.039 And you think about what these false gods were like. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:50.379 All of these ancient Near Eastern cultures around them, 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:54.700 they associated different parts of creation with the gods. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:59.919 And so they worshiped the God of the sun and the God of the moon 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:02.439 and the God of the stars and the God of the water. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:07.220 As they looked around them, they spiritualized these aspects of creation 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:11.360 and they worshiped them as something divine and something powerful. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:18.980 Think about how powerful and reassuring it would be for them to hear, 00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:20.180 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:26.120 In the beginning, before any of these things were made, 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:28.740 God was there. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:34.820 Your God, the God who is creating you as His people, 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.840 is the same God who created the heavens and the earth. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.060 These gods of the nations are no gods at all. 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:45.519 These gods of the nations, they're the creation of the one true God. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.919 Everything that these other cultures worship, 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.579 the one true God has made. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.659 He created it. 00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:55.019 He rules over these little G gods. 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.179 They serve Him. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.360 They exist by His will. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:16:01.480 Why would you turn and serve any of these other things, 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.699 other created things, 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.299 when God, the creator of it all, 00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:07.519 calls you to serve Him? 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:12.100 Why would you fear any of these other parts of creation, 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:15.500 when God is the sovereign king of all creation? 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:18.920 None of these things can harm you apart from His will. 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:21.800 This very first line, 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:24.100 along with everything that follows, 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:27.580 is a reorientation for the Israelites 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:31.139 to give them a God-centered worldview. 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:35.580 As Israel journeyed into the promised land 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:37.840 and prepared to set up civilization 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.360 as God's people and God's kingdom, 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.279 they needed to be reminded, 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:46.059 God is the sovereign king of the universe. 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:47.120 And you know what, church? 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:52.059 Here, a few thousand years later, 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.340 the church needs to be reminded 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:57.539 of that very same message. 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:04.180 You realize God has called us out of this world 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:07.480 to be His distinct people. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.859 God has recreated us, the church, 00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:14.480 as His own people. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:17.279 We are marching forwards 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.399 towards the true promised land. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:23.319 And all around us are false gods. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:26.839 All around you are created things 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:29.839 that tempt you and that threaten you. 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.939 And we too need to be reminded 00:17:31.939 --> 00:17:33.679 that there is one God 00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:35.259 who stands before all 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:38.200 and He is the sovereign king of the universe. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.200 Not only this, 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:45.679 but He's the eternal king of the universe. 00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:47.899 Have you ever thought about the fact 00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:49.519 that God is eternal? 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:53.159 I hope you had your coffee this morning. 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:55.680 This is a lot. 00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:57.279 Stephen Sharnock, 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.220 he sums it up like this. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:02.000 He says that the fact that God is eternal, 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.440 it means that He has no beginning, 00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:07.440 He has no end, 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:12.580 and He has no temporal secession of time. 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.000 God has no beginning, 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.900 and no end, 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:19.120 and has no temporal secession. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.460 My family went to the mountains for Thanksgiving. 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:23.079 We were talking about it this morning. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.480 And as we were driving up 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:28.500 and going up these long and winding roads 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.700 up into the mountains, 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.160 the boys were looking out the windows 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:33.960 and just seeing these beautiful mountains 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.299 in western North Carolina. 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:37.460 It's dangerous how beautiful it is, 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.960 especially for the driver, right? 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.400 Because you shouldn't look out the windows. 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.519 But as we went up these mountains, 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:47.799 I was reminded of Psalm 90, verse 2. 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:50.700 And it became our theme verse for the week. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.879 Psalm 90, verse 2. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:54.440 Before the mountains were brought forth, 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:58.139 wherever you had formed the earth and the world, 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:02.400 from everlasting to everlasting, 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:06.160 you are God. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.279 God. 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.000 In the beginning, 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.259 God. 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.340 God is there. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.920 Before anything else was there. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.140 Before these mountains, 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:22.000 He was there totally complete, 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:24.019 totally satisfied, 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.640 totally glorious, 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:28.560 totally content in and of Himself. 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.640 He was there. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:32.140 And one billion years from now, 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.700 guess what? 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:35.360 God is there. 00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:38.880 From everlasting to everlasting, 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.880 He is God. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.860 He has no beginning. 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.600 He has no end. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.000 But listen, 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:46.480 even if we could begin to understand that 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.700 and wrap our minds around that, 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.600 it's the third description 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.720 that throws me for a loop. 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.400 I don't know about you. 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.559 In Him, 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:54.279 there is no secession of time. 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:54.720 You know, 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.279 we can't, 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:58.140 we can't even begin to conceive of this 00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:59.960 because we exist in time, 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.380 don't we? 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.640 And we measure everything, 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.279 by time. 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.400 We have a beginning. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.340 We age, 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.620 and we progress. 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.360 We change. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.920 We have a past. 00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.759 We have a future. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.980 We measure years by months, 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.559 and months by weeks, 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.799 and weeks by days, 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.240 and days by hours, 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.160 and minutes and seconds, 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.940 and we can't escape time. 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.299 We live within it. 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.279 But for God, 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:26.000 there is no past. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.140 There is no future. 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:31.339 For God, 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:34.819 there is only eternally right now. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.779 God isn't different today 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:40.880 than He was a hundred million years ago. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.660 God won't be different a hundred million years 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:47.220 in the future as He is right this minute. 00:20:48.040 --> 00:20:51.120 God was just as present with me there in the mountains 00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:53.060 as He was the moment they were created, 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:57.299 as He will be when they dissolve. 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:00.859 That's what it means to be eternal. 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.299 You know, 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:01.919 church, 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.119 we, 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:05.919 sometimes I fear that we take these truths for granted. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.719 That we know them intellectually. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:12.059 We know in the beginning God. 00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:15.519 The right response to a God like this 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:17.159 is that we ought to marvel 00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:19.159 at a God like this. 00:21:20.679 --> 00:21:24.319 The God of the Bible is beyond our comprehension. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.039 I wonder, 00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.179 are you okay with that? 00:21:28.699 --> 00:21:29.419 Right away, 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:31.000 in the very first book of the Bible, 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.819 we are faced with truths 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:35.119 that we cannot begin to comprehend. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.859 The truth is, 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.160 I can describe that to you. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.900 God's eternal, 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:42.900 but I can't fully wrap my mind around it. 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:44.359 I can't fully explain it. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.299 Right here, 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:47.099 at the beginning of the Bible, 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.400 we are introduced 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:51.359 to a God who is greater than us. 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:53.680 Who is beyond us. 00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:56.960 To a God who is indescribable 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.579 and incomprehensible 00:21:58.579 --> 00:22:00.279 and incomparable. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.420 And we aren't dealing here 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:04.339 with a God that fits within the limits 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.799 of our natural understanding. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.160 And sometimes you and I, 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.180 we get frustrated 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.500 when we come upon something 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.480 in the Bible 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.819 that we can't understand. 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.680 And can I just suggest 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:16.519 that maybe that ought to lead us 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:16.819 to awe 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:17.819 and wonder 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.599 rather than frustration. 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:23.279 God is beyond our comprehension. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:27.660 We can jump into that ocean of His glory 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.299 and swim down as deep 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.639 as we possibly can 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.200 and guess what? 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:33.440 You will never reach the bottom. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:35.779 In fact, 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:40.019 this is what we have to look forward to 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.580 in eternity 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.820 in Christ. 00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:46.779 This is what we have been brought into 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:48.779 by the grace of God 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.620 through faith in Christ. 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.980 If you are a Christian, 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:54.160 listen to what you have to look forward to. 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.920 This is what it means 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.700 to be a Christian, 00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:56.259 by the way. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.440 To be a Christian 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.860 is to be brought 00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:01.740 into relationship 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:03.039 with this sovereign, 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.380 eternal God 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:06.200 by faith in Christ. 00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:07.100 And so now, 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.640 for the rest of eternity, 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.720 guess what you get to do? 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.820 You get to plunge 00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:12.700 the depths 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:14.559 of the glory of God 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.600 and never exhaust His goodness. 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.440 That's what it means 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.420 to enjoy everlasting life. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.660 I used to think 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.799 everlasting life 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.600 sounded a little bit boring. 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.559 Right? 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.259 What in the world 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.599 do you do 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.440 with all that time? 00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:33.339 I had too small 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.359 a view of God. 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:37.500 It will take 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:40.359 all of eternity 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:42.779 for an eternal God 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.639 to reveal Himself to you. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.379 New glories 00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:49.259 will unfold 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.759 every moment, 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.399 every hour of the day. 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:54.200 New reasons to rejoice 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.460 for the rest of eternity. 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.799 New reasons 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.799 to worship 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:59.180 for the rest of eternity. 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.139 New reasons 00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:01.180 to be satisfied 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.379 in God 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.859 for the rest of eternity. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:05.099 There is no end 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:06.099 to His goodness. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.220 So there's no end 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.680 to our pleasure in Him 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:10.099 for the rest of eternity. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.639 An eternal God 00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:13.220 is reason to rejoice 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.180 and to marvel, 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.859 church. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.819 One of my favorite passages 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.339 of Scripture 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:19.419 is Ephesians chapter 2. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.919 Paul tells us 00:24:20.919 --> 00:24:21.720 in Ephesians 2, 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:23.759 you were dead in sin. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.680 But God, 00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:29.819 being rich in mercy, 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:32.860 because of the great love 00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:34.400 with which He loved us 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.720 even when we were dead 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.779 in our trespasses, 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:39.059 made us alive 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.839 together with Christ. 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.940 By grace, 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.039 you have been saved 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.680 and raised us 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.639 up with Him 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:46.720 and seated us 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.180 with Him 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:48.220 in the heavenly places 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.200 in Christ Jesus. 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:49.779 Why? 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:52.099 What's the point? 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.039 What's the point? 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.920 What's the end of it? 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.920 What's this headed towards? 00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.039 Verse 7. 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.159 So that 00:24:59.159 --> 00:25:01.539 in the coming ages 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:03.299 He might show 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:04.720 the immeasurable 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.039 riches 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.799 of His grace 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.859 and kindness 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.759 toward us 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.159 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:13.360 How long 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:13.820 do you think 00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:14.400 that'll take, 00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:14.779 church? 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.440 It'll take 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.440 all of eternity 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:21.759 for us to drink 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.540 in the fullness 00:25:22.540 --> 00:25:24.060 of the immeasurable 00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:24.800 riches 00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:26.160 of God's grace 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.920 and kindness 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.759 towards us 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.279 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.120 If you enjoy 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.060 God right now, 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:31.740 friend, 00:25:31.800 --> 00:25:32.120 you don't know 00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:32.820 the half of it. 00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.440 He's beyond 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.259 our comprehension 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.960 and yet, 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.480 and yet, 00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:39.200 here in the first 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.920 verse of Scripture 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.720 we see that 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.539 God, 00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.460 the sovereign, 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.480 eternal King 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.200 of the universe, 00:25:44.360 --> 00:25:45.880 He has acted 00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:47.700 and He has 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:49.019 spoken 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:50.840 and He has 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:52.080 created 00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:53.860 all things. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.000 So we should ask, 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.900 why? 00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:59.580 Why did this 00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.039 sovereign, 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.180 eternal God 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.640 create all things? 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.620 And we see the answer 00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:04.700 throughout the rest 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.360 of Scripture 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.420 and it's this. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.300 He has created 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.779 all things 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:11.379 in order that 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.579 this infinite, 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.740 eternal, 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.180 glorious God 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.700 might be known 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.799 and His glory 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.759 magnified 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.519 in all the earth. 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.579 So third, 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:25.079 third foundational truth 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.899 here about God 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.379 is this, 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.740 that all things 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:30.039 exist for His glory. 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.839 This God 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:34.019 is worthy 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.259 of our worship. 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.460 That's the point 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.519 of creation. 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.980 That's the end 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.940 of all of this. 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.319 And again, 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.240 we return right back 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.980 to where we started, 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.379 don't we? 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.180 He created it all 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.200 that He might be 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.900 the focus 00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:47.759 of it all. 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.460 God created 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.359 all things 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:52.059 that in all things 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.460 He might display 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.460 His glory. 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.779 God created all things 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.180 that in all things 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.799 He might magnify 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.220 the glory of God 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.859 generally in creation, 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:03.299 but specifically 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.299 and especially 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.479 in the gospel 00:27:05.479 --> 00:27:07.079 of Jesus Christ. 00:27:08.459 --> 00:27:09.019 A creation 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.319 is for us, 00:27:10.939 --> 00:27:12.639 is for our good, 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:14.099 we benefit from it, 00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.919 we enjoy it, 00:27:14.959 --> 00:27:15.799 but it is not 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.919 about us, 00:27:16.939 --> 00:27:18.259 it's about Him 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.179 and His glory. 00:27:20.459 --> 00:27:21.979 The point of creation 00:27:21.979 --> 00:27:24.179 is the magnification 00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:25.699 of the glory of God 00:27:25.699 --> 00:27:26.619 for from Him 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.779 and to Him 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.619 and through Him 00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.439 are all things 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.019 to Him 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.160 be the glory 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.039 forever. 00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.340 He created all things 00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:35.000 that in all things 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.220 He might put 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.700 His glorious power 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.539 on display. 00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:42.160 Psalm chapter 19, 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.120 you know this text. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.539 The heavens 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.259 declare 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.920 the glory of God. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:50.200 The sky above 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.200 proclaims 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.279 His handiwork. 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.299 Day to day 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.600 pours out speech 00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.759 and night to night 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.900 reveals knowledge. 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.680 There's no speech 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.580 nor are there words 00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:01.100 whose voice 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:02.019 is not heard. 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.840 Their voice goes 00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:05.120 throughout all the earth 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:05.800 and their words 00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:07.120 to the end of the world. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.700 In them 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.740 He has set a tent 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.740 for the sun 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.380 which comes out 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:12.300 like a bridegroom 00:28:12.300 --> 00:28:13.360 leaving its chamber 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.720 and like a strong man 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.519 runs its course 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.040 with joy. 00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:17.720 Its rising 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.500 is from the end 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.040 of the heavens 00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.720 and its circuit 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.840 to the end of them 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:21.880 and there is nothing 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.500 hidden from its heat. 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.180 Creation 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:25.660 is proclaiming 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.740 a message 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.740 which 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.079 it will never 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.200 cease to amaze me 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:32.680 how anyone 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.460 could go outside 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.140 and look up 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:34.680 at the sky 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.160 and think 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.960 all of this 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:38.460 is just an accident 00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:40.720 and some 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.579 product of 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:44.019 randomness. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:45.319 How in the world 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.799 could anyone 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.319 go to the beach 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:48.160 to the ocean 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:50.299 go walk in the woods 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.019 put their feet 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.579 in the grass 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.519 go to the mountains 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:54.019 and think 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.859 that all of this 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:56.900 just showed up 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.519 on its own 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.099 just random 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.660 explosions 00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.359 of matter 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:00.139 that apparently 00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:01.279 appeared on their own 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.940 without any real 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.500 explanation 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:02.839 I mean 00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:04.680 it takes a great 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.259 leap of faith 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.900 to believe something 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.440 like that. 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.099 Creation 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.359 itself 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.279 is speaking 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.500 a message 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.599 it's telling you 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.619 that it has been 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.519 made 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.619 by a good 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.500 and glorious 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.240 eternal 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.920 sovereign 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.619 God. 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:22.779 Romans chapter 1 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:24.699 Paul says 00:29:24.699 --> 00:29:25.919 God's invisible 00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:26.839 attributes 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.319 namely 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.299 his eternal 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.839 power 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:29.599 and divine 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.059 nature 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.599 have been 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.279 clearly 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.899 perceived 00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:32.939 ever since 00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:33.639 the creation 00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.639 of the world 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.939 in the things 00:29:35.939 --> 00:29:36.559 that have been 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:36.919 made. 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.879 He made 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:40.259 all things 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.959 to demonstrate 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.819 and to 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.500 communicate 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.819 his eternal 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.339 power 00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.779 and his 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.559 divine nature 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:46.919 that they 00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:47.339 might be 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.059 perceived 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.639 and in 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.700 being perceived 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.220 that they 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.740 might be 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.680 rejoiced 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:51.980 in 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.280 that he 00:29:52.280 --> 00:29:52.680 might be 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.240 exalted 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.320 and glorified. 00:29:56.020 --> 00:29:57.200 But not only 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.580 this 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:59.740 there's a 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.420 greater purpose 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:00.740 here 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.900 for creation. 00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.180 Ultimately 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:06.000 God 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.500 made 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.000 all 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.780 things 00:30:07.780 --> 00:30:09.259 in order 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.400 that he 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:10.800 might 00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:11.800 redeem 00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:13.220 all things 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:13.980 through his 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.500 son Jesus 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.060 Christ. 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:17.759 creation 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.319 in and of 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:18.799 itself 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.279 it can 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.759 show forth 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.419 his power 00:30:20.419 --> 00:30:21.339 and his 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.220 divine nature 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:22.619 and his 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.240 creativity 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.279 and his 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.879 intelligence 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.539 but the 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.099 gospel 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.679 of Jesus 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:27.319 Christ 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:29.099 shows us 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.859 his grace 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:31.379 and his 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:32.159 love towards 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.639 sinners 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.919 and his 00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.339 heart of 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.000 mercy 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.639 as well 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.099 as his 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:37.700 wrath 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.819 and his 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.299 holiness 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.799 and his 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.639 justice. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:42.720 As we 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.680 begin here 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.000 in the 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.400 book of 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.720 Genesis 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.200 we have 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.500 to keep 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:45.960 this in 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.200 view 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:47.460 that all 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.120 of this 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:48.759 everything else 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:48.980 that we'll 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.500 see in this 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.160 book together 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.060 ultimately 00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:52.280 all of it 00:30:52.280 --> 00:30:53.000 is about 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.740 the glory 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.560 of God 00:30:54.560 --> 00:30:55.680 in the 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.180 gospel 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:56.840 of Jesus 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.540 Christ. 00:30:59.220 --> 00:30:59.980 Colossians 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.420 1 00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:02.020 16 and 00:31:02.020 --> 00:31:02.420 17 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:03.080 says 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:04.440 by him 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:04.840 that is 00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:05.320 Jesus 00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:07.140 by him 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.900 all things 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.620 were created 00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:10.300 in heaven 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:10.980 and on 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.319 earth 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:11.759 visible 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:13.099 and invisible 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.460 whether 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.059 thrones 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.819 or dominions 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.399 or rulers 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.139 and authorities 00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:16.919 all things 00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.659 were created 00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:18.899 through him 00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:19.879 and for 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.519 him 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.000 through 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.940 Jesus 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:23.039 and for 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.779 Jesus 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.440 and he 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.159 is before 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:26.200 all things 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.859 and in 00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.539 him 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.680 all things 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.659 hold together 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:30.180 where is 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.940 Jesus in the 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.519 first pages 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.119 of the Bible 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:33.379 he is there 00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.180 creating all 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.680 things 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:36.539 he is holding 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.159 it all 00:31:37.159 --> 00:31:37.740 together 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:39.639 he's ruling 00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.700 over creation 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.220 as king 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:41.520 of the 00:31:41.520 --> 00:31:42.080 universe 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:43.740 John 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.400 chapter 1 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.700 says 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.080 in the 00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:45.440 beginning 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.100 was 00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:47.420 the word 00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:49.080 the word 00:31:49.080 --> 00:31:50.020 was with 00:31:50.020 --> 00:31:50.420 God 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:50.840 and the 00:31:50.840 --> 00:31:51.200 word 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.860 was 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.740 God 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:54.000 he was 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.480 in the 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:54.880 beginning 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:55.540 with 00:31:55.540 --> 00:31:56.400 God 00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:56.920 all 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.400 things 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:57.940 were made 00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:58.720 through him 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.180 and without 00:31:59.180 --> 00:31:59.620 him 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.340 was not 00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:00.759 anything 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.320 made 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:01.900 that was 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.620 made 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:02.940 and this 00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.340 eternal 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.720 word 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.040 he goes 00:32:04.040 --> 00:32:04.320 on to 00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:04.720 tell us 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.180 this 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.740 word 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.520 became 00:32:06.520 --> 00:32:07.420 flesh 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.400 and dwelt 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.280 among us 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:10.899 and to 00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:11.299 all who 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.119 receive him 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:12.420 who 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.420 believe in 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:13.940 his name 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.539 he gives 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.279 the right 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.980 to become 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.599 children 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.920 of God 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:20.399 Jesus 00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:22.359 is the 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.799 focus 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.639 of all 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.259 things 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:26.440 Jesus 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.960 is the 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.559 sovereign 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.799 eternal 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.599 creator 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.359 of it 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:31.700 all 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:33.359 and Jesus 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.299 is worthy 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:34.960 of our 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.399 worship 00:32:35.399 --> 00:32:36.559 all things 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.480 exist for 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.139 the glory 00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:39.000 of king 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.860 Jesus 00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:42.100 Jesus 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.520 is the 00:32:42.520 --> 00:32:42.800 lamb 00:32:42.800 --> 00:32:43.200 who was 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.680 slain 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.340 from before 00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:45.060 the foundation 00:32:45.060 --> 00:32:45.660 of the 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.040 world 00:32:46.040 --> 00:32:47.220 for the 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.700 salvation 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.060 of a 00:32:48.060 --> 00:32:48.360 people 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:48.700 who are 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.100 chosen 00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:49.740 in him 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.120 before 00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.380 the 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:50.880 foundation 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.300 of the 00:32:51.300 --> 00:32:51.620 world 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:52.900 that we 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.259 might 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.759 inherit 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.500 a kingdom 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.180 prepared 00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:55.900 for us 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.460 from before 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.240 the foundation 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:57.720 of the 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.140 world 00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:59.440 and enjoy 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.040 the glory 00:33:00.040 --> 00:33:00.620 of God 00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:01.320 who existed 00:33:01.320 --> 00:33:01.780 before 00:33:01.780 --> 00:33:02.500 the foundation 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:02.880 of the 00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:03.180 world 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.580 for the 00:33:03.580 --> 00:33:03.940 rest 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.380 of 00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:05.040 eternity 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.599 this 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.379 is why 00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:06.720 he 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.319 created 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.539 the 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:07.960 world 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:10.720 and this 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.099 is why 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.319 he 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.720 created 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.039 you 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:15.579 is this 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:15.920 how you 00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.220 see the 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:16.399 world 00:33:16.399 --> 00:33:16.680 around 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:16.920 you 00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:19.960 is this 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.299 how you 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:20.839 understand 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:22.139 the 00:33:22.139 --> 00:33:22.539 universe 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.740 and all 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.339 that exists 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.799 within it 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.019 do you 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.399 understand 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:26.379 all things 00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:26.740 in the 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.119 universe 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.680 including 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.399 you 00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:29.099 and your 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:29.720 life 00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.119 including 00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:30.559 you 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:30.940 and your 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.700 plans 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:32.579 including 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.000 you 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.379 and your 00:33:33.379 --> 00:33:34.099 desires 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.859 including 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.240 you 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.559 and your 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.379 ambitions 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:36.819 do you 00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.419 understand 00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:37.939 that all 00:33:37.939 --> 00:33:38.339 of it 00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.219 all of it 00:33:39.219 --> 00:33:39.919 exists for 00:33:39.919 --> 00:33:40.459 him 00:33:40.459 --> 00:33:41.159 and his 00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:41.939 glory 00:33:41.939 --> 00:33:46.000 friend 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.339 if the 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:46.819 walls are 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.279 cracking 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:49.980 the floors 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.679 are buckling 00:33:50.679 --> 00:33:53.039 the doors 00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.179 are tilting 00:33:54.179 --> 00:33:54.759 and the house 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.319 is leaning 00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.039 let's make 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:56.439 certain 00:33:56.439 --> 00:33:57.159 the foundation 00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:57.899 is solid 00:33:57.899 --> 00:34:00.679 it may be 00:34:00.679 --> 00:34:00.959 that you 00:34:00.959 --> 00:34:01.319 have built 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.819 your life 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.519 on another 00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.559 foundation 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:03.879 whatever 00:34:03.879 --> 00:34:04.319 that may 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:04.519 be 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:04.839 if you 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.079 have 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:05.399 done 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:05.779 so 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.019 it's 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.819 my 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.799 invitation 00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.159 my 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.119 call 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.440 to you 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.659 this 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:09.920 morning 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.279 would you 00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:10.759 repent 00:34:10.759 --> 00:34:11.139 and put 00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.599 your faith 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.219 in Christ 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:14.179 would you 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.159 boot yourself 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:15.779 out of the 00:34:15.779 --> 00:34:16.340 focus and 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:16.699 center of 00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:17.119 your life 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:17.539 and instead 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.659 turn to 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.139 Christ 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.719 and make 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.259 God and 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:21.059 his glory 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:22.059 the foundation 00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.719 and the center 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.380 of your life 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:25.799 and church 00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.320 it may just 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.960 be that time 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.279 has gone 00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:27.900 on and things 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.320 have settled 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:28.880 a little bit 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.259 and we need 00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:29.980 some reinforcement 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:31.119 this morning 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:32.340 whatever that 00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:32.740 may be 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:33.000 church 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.340 it's my 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.820 desire 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.900 that each 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.719 one of us 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:36.280 would live 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.019 with God 00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.699 and his 00:34:37.699 --> 00:34:38.300 glory 00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.460 in Christ 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.880 right at the 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.380 center of our 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:41.840 lives 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:43.900 let's pray 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.300 father 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:49.320 worthy are you 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:49.860 oh lord 00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.619 and god 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.900 to receive 00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.639 glory and 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.199 honor and 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:53.860 praise and 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.300 power 00:34:54.300 --> 00:34:55.039 and worthy 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.500 are you 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:55.800 for you 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.480 created all 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.079 things and 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.799 by your 00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.360 will they 00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.599 existed and 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.239 were created 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:00.739 father you 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:01.420 are worthy 00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:01.920 of our 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:02.559 lives 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:04.960 we exist 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.679 for you 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.119 not for 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.659 ourselves 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:08.460 we're made 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:08.980 to serve 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.259 and to 00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:09.860 honor you 00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:10.480 and and 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:10.900 there's no 00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:12.099 greater joy 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.719 and delight 00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.420 than to know 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:14.239 you father 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.880 now and to 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.319 the rest of 00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:15.739 eternity 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.199 and so we 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:16.819 pray god 00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:18.239 would you be 00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:19.619 central to 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.159 our lives 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:21.799 we ask this 00:35:21.799 --> 00:35:22.460 in jesus name 00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:23.880 amen