WEBVTT

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 God is faithful, isn't he?

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 Faithful to get us expelled from college so he can get our attention.

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! Faithful to do whatever it takes to help create some sort of spiritual awareness

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 of where we are and where we need to be.

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 Praise God for his faithfulness.

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 Let's pray and then we'll get into our text for the morning.

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 Father, we are grateful for your faithfulness.

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 We are grateful for the fact that your mercies are new every morning.

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 There's a fresh supply.

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 There is a wellspring of mercy and grace and steadfast love

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 that we can tap into day after day after day

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 and that well will never run dry

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 because of your inexhaustible faithfulness to us.

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 Lord, I pray that as recipients of your grace

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 that you would use us as conduits of mercy and grace to others as well.

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 Lord, if there's anyone here or anyone watching this morning,

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 as we look into this text and we learn about the pathway to peace,

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 Father, I pray that you would lead many hearts to everlasting peace.

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 Peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, through faith in Jesus.

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 Do that work even now.

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 Begin the work and hearts to lead us all to deeper appreciations of mercy

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 and greater expressions of faith and peace in the world around us.

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 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Well, this morning I want to begin by looking at the passage.

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 I want to read it for you and I want to ask this question.

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 As we're reading through it, I want you to make an observation for me.

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 If you were to preach this passage or to teach this passage,

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 what points would you use?

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 What approach would you take?

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 So let me read this and see how you might approach this text

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 and how we should begin to enter into this passage

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 and what God is trying to teach us through his word today.

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 We're in Nehemiah chapter 5.

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 We're going to begin in verse 9 and take it through to verse 13.

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 Nehemiah chapter 5, verses 9 to 13.

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 So I said, this is Nehemiah,

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 The thing you are doing is not good.

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 Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God,

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 to prevent the taunts of the nations, our enemies?

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 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain.

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 Let us abandon this extracting of interest.

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 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards,

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 their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.

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 Then they said,

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 We will restore these and require nothing from them.

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 We will do as you say.

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 And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.

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 I also shook out the fold of my garment and said,

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 So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise.

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 So may he be shaken out and emptied.

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 And all the assembly said amen and praised the Lord.

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 And the people did as they had promised.

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 So what do you see?

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 What's your takeaway?

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 How would you preach or teach this passage if you were standing in my place this morning?

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 I could ask for hands and take feedback.

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 But let me just share some of the things that are possibilities.

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 And this is just kind of a tip of the iceberg.

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 You know, if you were to teach this from a Nehemiah's perspective, a leadership perspective,

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 you might say,

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 Hey, these are the three qualities of courageous leadership.

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 Or maybe if you were to take it from the people's perspective,

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 you might say the four easy steps to conflict resolution.

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 Or maybe if you were to take this from the perspective of the outsiders, the enemies,

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 who are kind of looking in,

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 maybe you would say,

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 This is your guide to risk management.

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 How to keep a movement alive.

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 And certainly all of those could be derived from this text.

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 The problem is this.

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 The problem is it's just a surface wash.

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 And it doesn't actually get to the actual heart of the power that is taking place

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 in God moving the hearts of the people to get them to a place of peace.

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 It doesn't even begin to touch on the real results that are taking place.

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 It looks on the cosmetics.

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 It looks on the outside, the exterior.

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 But it doesn't see where the actual power is.

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 It has nothing to do with Nehemiah.

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 Or I should say, very little to do with Nehemiah.

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 God uses him as a catalyst for peace.

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 It has very little to do with the people themselves.

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 They are responding because the Spirit is leading them to respond to the truth of the Scripture.

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 And so this morning as we look at this passage,

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 I want to draw our attention to the pathway of peace.

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 The pathway of peace that comes through the power of God.

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 Because after all, God is interested in peace for his people.

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 You know, we were just singing a song.

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 Our first song that we sang this morning.

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 And just drawing from the first several phrases, it says this.

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 Build your kingdom here.

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 Let the darkness fear.

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 Show your mighty hand.

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 Heal our streets and land.

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 Now, looking around at the news, those of you who are news watchers, media watchers,

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 those of you who are tuned in to what's happening around our country,

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 you might say, well, that's a nice, lofty idea.

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 Heal our streets and lands?

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 Come on.

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 That is not going to happen.

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 Well, what's happening right now is nothing compared to what was happening in tension

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 with the conflict of brothers against brothers there in Jerusalem.

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 There was an all-out internal conflict.

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 You might even say a civil war was about ready to break out in Jerusalem.

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 And the power of God needed to come and to bear itself on the hearts of both the oppressor

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 and the oppressed in order to bring peace to these people,

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 in order to draw attention to the work of God in carrying out this mission of building the walls.

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 I was encouraged and reminded about this truth just from the Proverbs.

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 As I was reading through the Proverbs,

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 I've been walking through them personally in my devotions.

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 In Proverbs 29, 13, this should be an encouragement to you

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 and has certainly been to me.

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 As you think about these two things,

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 being either oppressed or being oppressor.

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 It says this,

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 The poor man and the oppressor meet together.

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 The Lord gives light to both.

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 Isn't that awesome?

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 The poor man and the oppressor meet together.

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 The Lord gives light to both.

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 He is your hope for peace.

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 He is the answer for all the conflict

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 and all the disarray of life that is taking place right now.

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 The answer is Jesus.

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 And I know that's the Sunday school answer,

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 but there is no better one.

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 Nehemiah is used as a catalyst for peace.

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 He is, in so many ways,

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 he's kind of like the Christ figure in this story.

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 But Nehemiah can only be a catalyst for peace.

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 He can only help to broker peace.

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 He can't make peace happen.

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 He can only invite the people to participate in peace.

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 But it's got to be a work of God to create peace in their life.

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 Jesus came to offer peace.

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 We find in Romans chapter 5, 1,

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 the only peace that really matters,

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 Jesus came to bring.

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 Romans 5, 1 and 2, it says this,

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 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,

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 we have, what church?

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 Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace,

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 which we stand.

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 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

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 Remember this, okay?

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 The pathway to peace has the end point of worship and joy and rejoicing.

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 The pathway to peace leads to joy in God.

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 It leads to worship of God.

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 Always.

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 True peace leads to worship.

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 Because true peace recognizes that the power that leads us to peace

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 is a power of God working in both oppressed and oppressor.

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 In offended and offender.

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 It's a work of God to bring the two together.

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 Peace with God that comes through the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and peace that we can enjoy together because of the work of peace in our hearts.

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 Ephesians chapter 4, 1 to 3 says this,

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 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

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 urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

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 Okay, if you're a believer today,

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 if you put your trust in Jesus today,

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 there is an expectation of a life change.

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 It's going to lead to a worthy walk.

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 And what does that worthy walk look like?

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 Well, here we go.

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 All humility and gentleness with patience,

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 bearing with one another in love,

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 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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 The Holy Spirit working in a life creates peace with God and peace with others.

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 So Nehemiah has come as a catalyst, as a conduit for peace,

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 a channel of peace to point to the pathway of peace,

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 a peace that comes through God.

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 And he is the one who is inviting them to the table

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 to enjoy the peace that God would have to give.

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 And we've got three points this morning, okay?

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 I tried to make them really simple so we can remember them.

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 The pathway to peace involves these three things.

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 First, repentance, then reconciliation, and then rejoicing.

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 Repentance, reconciliation, rejoicing.

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 Can you say that with me?

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 Repentance, reconciliation, and rejoicing.

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 I know reconciliation is kind of a long word.

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 We're going to get there in just a moment.

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 Basically, it's just God bringing things together, okay?

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 Relationships restored.

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 Friendships that are brought together, okay?

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 All of these are a work of God in our life.

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 All of this leads to a pathway of peace.

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 Let's start with repentance.

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 We see repentance in verse 11 and 12, okay?

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 Where Nehemiah, in confronting this group of individuals,

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 has some pretty sharp words to say.

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 And he starts with,

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 return to them all of these things that you've taken away.

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 Whatever they might be, return to them these things.

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 And then we see the fruit of repentance in verse 12.

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 Then they said, we will restore these.

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 Fields, vineyards, olive orchards, houses, interest, grain, wine, oil.

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 And require nothing from them.

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 We will do as you say.

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 That is the fruit of repentance.

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 It's the word return,

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 which is the Hebrew word shuv,

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 which is also the Hebrew word repentance.

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 It's all kind of woven together.

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 Because the concept of repentance is a recognition that this path is leading me in a direction away from God.

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 It is a recognition of that and a humility to turn and to walk towards him.

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 That's true repentance.

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 Repentance.

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 Not just a confession of sin,

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 however important that is.

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 Not just a bad feelings about what you've done,

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 feeling guilty,

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 feeling burdened,

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 feeling sorrowful.

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 It is an active turning from and a turning to.

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 It's a reorientation of entire perspective of life.

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 It's setting your sights and you're savoring him

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 instead of looking for and enjoying and being satisfied by these other things.

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 Repentance is a turning away and a turning to God.

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 But I want you to know,

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 and I just continue to highlight the things you already know.

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 How does repentance come?

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 It comes through the conduit of two things.

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 First, it comes through the authority of the scripture.

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 It comes through the authority of the scripture.

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 Now this is really, really good news.

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 Because if you have any broken relationships in your life,

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 then I want you to understand that,

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 and if you have access to the scripture,

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 you have a pathway to peace with this individual,

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 whoever that person is.

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 The authority of the scripture, okay?

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 Now, where do I get that?

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 Nehemiah says in verse 9, he says this.

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 He says,

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 The thing that you are doing is not good.

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 The thing you're doing is not good.

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 Now, how is Nehemiah able to say that?

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 Well, he's able to say that

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 because he is not speaking on his own authority.

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 Nehemiah is pointing to the interest

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 that has been exacted on the people.

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 He is discussing with them

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 the enslaving pattern of their behavior.

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 They have oppressed the people

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 rather than tried to bless the people.

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 You see, it wasn't wrong for them to be wealthy.

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 It wasn't wrong for these people to have lots of income,

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 but they forgot the reason for the blessing.

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 Why God blessed them was so they could be benevolent to others,

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 not so they could be a burden to others.

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 God blesses all of us with a degree of wealth

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 so we can illustrate God through the terms of sharing

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 and through benevolence with the people around us.

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 It is a way for us to point to God

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 because God is a benevolent God.

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 God is a giving God.

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 God is a gracious God.

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 And so when we dispense or disperse

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 the wealth that God has given to us,

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 we show God.

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 So having wealth was not the problem.

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 The problem was is they compounded the distress on the people

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 by taking their position

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 and extorting those underneath them,

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 taking advantage of the people underneath them.

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 We saw last week that Nehemiah pointed

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 to two different passages,

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 at least two different passages.

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 One in Deuteronomy chapter 23,

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 verses 19 and 20,

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 where it says,

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 you shall not charge interest on loans to your brother,

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 interest on money, food,

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 or anything that is lent for interest.

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 He understood the law.

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.760
 He understood what the law said.

00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.980
 And then in Leviticus 25,

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.200
 he understands the law says,

00:16:51.020 --> 00:16:53.360
 if your brother becomes poor beside you

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.420
 and sells himself to you,

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.640
 you shall not make him serve as a slave.

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.419
 Nehemiah was shaped by the scripture

00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:02.419
 and so he applies the word to the situation.

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.200
 He can do that boldly and courageously

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:11.359
 because he knows that for them to resist his words

00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.019
 is not to resist Nehemiah and his leadership.

00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.539
 It's to resist God.

00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:20.740
 We have the privilege as God's people

00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:24.940
 to be a mouthpiece for God to those around us.

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:27.379
 And when they reject the word,

00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:28.980
 they're not rejecting you,

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.539
 they're rejecting the scripture.

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.839
 And by the way,

00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:36.319
 it is the scripture that has power

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:40.279
 to invade a life and to change a heart.

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.839
 That's what Paul says.

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.879
 I am not ashamed of what, church?

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:47.039
 The gospel of Christ,

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:49.579
 for it is the power of God to salvation

00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:51.079
 for everyone who believes.

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:53.660
 So when we use the word of God,

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:57.940
 we're applying the power at the greatest level

00:17:57.940 --> 00:18:00.460
 because we're accessing the power of God

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.000
 on that specific situation.

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.980
 Nehemiah understood.

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:07.480
 He understood the significance of applying the scripture,

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.759
 the power of the scripture,

00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.279
 the authority of the scripture

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.740
 into this specific situation.

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.539
 And we could talk about the specifics

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:18.059
 of the process that he used.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.680
 But I want to look at the product, okay?

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.200
 We could talk about the process,

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.920
 but I want to focus on the product.

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:27.360
 We could talk about how in verse seven,

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.160
 we find that he takes counsel with himself.

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:33.880
 He gets angry, rightly angry,

00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:37.380
 because he sees the injustice that is happening.

00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:40.740
 But he pulls back, he takes some time,

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:43.620
 he collects himself, he evaluates the scripture,

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.880
 and then he applies it specifically,

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:48.660
 and notice one-on-one, first of all,

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.440
 with these nobles.

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.779
 He kind of follows the Matthew 18 process,

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:56.779
 450 years before Matthew 18.

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.599
 It says in verse seven,

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:02.860
 I took counsel with myself,

00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:05.420
 and I brought charges against the nobles

00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.519
 and the officials.

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.740
 I said to them,

00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:09.180
 you are exacting interest,

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.640
 each from his brother.

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:14.080
 Notice, no response.

00:19:15.080 --> 00:19:18.480
 There's just a period and white space

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.700
 after his confrontation.

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:23.640
 And then he moves to the next level.

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:26.380
 And I held a great assembly against them.

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:31.019
 Now he ratchets up the accusation,

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:33.759
 and now he makes a very public sin public,

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.880
 so that he can help to address

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.640
 the seriousness of the problem,

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:41.180
 and help to draw out the hearts of these nobles,

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:44.140
 so that God can begin to work in their life,

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:46.259
 not so that he can shame them.

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.820
 It has as an intention,

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:49.060
 restoration,

00:19:50.280 --> 00:19:52.620
 and the image of the glory of God

00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:53.460
 among the nations.

00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:56.940
 He's not trying to strong arm this situation.

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:59.000
 He really desires,

00:19:59.100 --> 00:19:59.920
 Nehemiah desires,

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:02.660
 the glory of God to be evident.

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.540
 It takes us to verse eight.

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:10.920
 The great assembly comes,

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.019
 and it says,

00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.519
 at the end of verse eight,

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.779
 the second half,

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.000
 they were silent,

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.920
 and could not find a word to say.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:24.159
 Now, we begin to see the force

00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.899
 of the scripture having its way.

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:29.099
 I think this silence

00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:30.359
 is the silence of conviction.

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:33.399
 I think this silence is a silence

00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:36.240
 where they are coming to terms

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.160
 with their own sin,

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.880
 and they're not offering a defense.

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:43.180
 They're not trying to justify themselves

00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.680
 or to vindicate their behavior.

00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.740
 They're not trying to say,

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.500
 oh, Nehemiah,

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.700
 if you only knew da-da-da-da-da-da.

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.279
 They're coming to terms

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.960
 with the gravity of the scripture

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.160
 is landing on their heart,

00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:57.640
 and conviction is beginning to settle in.

00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.180
 God is beginning to have his way.

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.740
 And now we see the fruits of repentance

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.880
 starting to show up in verse 11.

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:08.220
 Where Nehemiah calls them to return

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:10.099
 this day all of those things

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.720
 that they have taken

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.559
 according to the law.

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.000
 And by the way,

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:16.240
 this isn't to return all the money back

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:18.720
 because they had legitimately offered loans.

00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:20.539
 Those loans still needed repayment.

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:23.059
 And notice there's not a returning back

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:24.500
 of the sons or daughters either

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:26.539
 because there's still an obligation

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:28.019
 for those sons and daughters

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.339
 to work off this debt.

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:34.119
 But as it comes to the things in the law,

00:21:34.959 --> 00:21:36.279
 vineyards and orchards

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:38.779
 and interest in those things,

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.339
 there's a turn of heart.

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:42.839
 There's an alignment with the scripture,

00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.980
 a compliance with the standard,

00:21:45.699 --> 00:21:46.819
 and God is having his way.

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:54.200
 Not only is the authority of the scripture

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.939
 brought to bear,

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:57.960
 but we understand that repentance

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:59.599
 only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit.

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:02.879
 The power and authority of the scripture,

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:05.960
 but also the power and authority

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:08.679
 of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:12.640
 It has always been the Spirit's work to convict.

00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:15.720
 It has always been the Holy Spirit's job

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:18.320
 to help us come to terms

00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:19.539
 with the sin in our life.

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.940
 The psalmist says in Psalm 51,

00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.960
 verses 10 and 11,

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:26.100
 creating me a clean heart, O God,

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.799
 renew a right spirit within me.

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:31.080
 Cast me not away from your presence

00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:33.480
 and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.779
 There's a work of the Spirit in a heart

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.660
 that leads an individual

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:41.339
 to understanding the seriousness of their sin.

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:44.759
 And that's what David describes in Psalm 51.

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:47.359
 And he recognizes the potential implications,

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.440
 at least for an Old Testament believer,

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:52.119
 that the Holy Spirit didn't indwell permanently

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.599
 like he does in the New Testament.

00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.579
 He just came on temporarily.

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:58.440
 And there was a chance, for David at least,

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:02.059
 having disrupted and refused to listen

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:05.160
 to the Holy Spirit's speaking in his life,

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.420
 that the Holy Spirit's saying,

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:09.940
 well, okay, fine, gone, peace out.

00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:13.080
 But for us as New Testament believers,

00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:15.779
 the Holy Spirit indwells permanently

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:18.900
 until the time that Jesus comes.

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:20.519
 And the Holy Spirit's job,

00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:22.519
 as Jesus said to the disciples,

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:24.800
 was to convict the world of sin.

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.220
 That is his ministry.

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:29.340
 So if you can think of some people in your life

00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.759
 that need to repent,

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:35.420
 you have the Holy Spirit's enabling help

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:38.059
 in their life to make that happen.

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:40.460
 Trust God to do that work.

00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:42.359
 He is able to do that job.

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:46.079
 Nehemiah entrusted himself

00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:48.700
 and the ministry of confrontation

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:51.740
 to the work of the Scripture

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.259
 and the work of the Spirit

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.319
 to do the work,

00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:55.740
 to do that job.

00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.620
 But now we turn

00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:02.859
 from repentance to reconciliation.

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.240
 And just as repentance

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.859
 was a work of God and a heart,

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:11.259
 reconciliation is also a work of God and a heart.

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:14.539
 Come back to Proverbs 29, 13.

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:17.039
 The poor man and the oppressor meet together.

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:19.240
 The Lord gives light to both.

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:22.680
 God has to do a work in the life

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.240
 of those who are hurting,

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.940
 those who have been offended,

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.859
 those who have experienced

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:30.200
 the burden and oppression

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.559
 of the individual

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.059
 who's taken advantage of them.

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.960
 They need God to work in their life

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.319
 to lead them to forgive,

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:41.240
 just like Christ forgave.

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.819
 us.

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:44.299
 The work of reconciliation

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.500
 is where we turn next.

00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.920
 And we see the significance.

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:50.460
 I want to just draw attention

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.920
 to the significance of forgiveness

00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:54.539
 and why reconciliation is so important.

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.259
 First, I want you to know

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:59.640
 that forgiveness points to God's mercy.

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:04.379
 Forgiveness points to God's mercy.

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:09.160
 We see at the end of verse 13,

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:11.940
 all the assembly said amen,

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:15.019
 meaning all the assembly

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:17.220
 were in agreement with the terms

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.220
 that Nehemiah put out

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:20.120
 because they were the terms

00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:21.660
 spelled out in the law.

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:24.259
 They were terms that were right.

00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:27.019
 And all the assembly came together

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:29.259
 to understand these are good terms.

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.240
 We're all good.

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.680
 Let's go with this.

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:36.060
 But there was some damage done.

00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:39.640
 There was some damage done

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:42.900
 that was probably unrecoverable.

00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:46.700
 Daughters who had become wives,

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:50.580
 and they weren't getting those daughters back.

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:53.320
 Those lives weren't going to be restored.

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:56.420
 Profit that had been lost.

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:58.820
 Feelings of betrayal.

00:26:00.080 --> 00:26:01.600
 Meals that had been missed.

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:03.539
 Perhaps loss of life

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:05.600
 because of some starvation

00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:07.759
 in the larger families that were described.

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:10.600
 There was loss, and there was hurt.

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:13.080
 There was oppression that was unrecoverable.

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:18.019
 Have you experienced hurt in relationship?

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:22.480
 The older you get, the more you'll experience.

00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:24.900
 And the more opportunity you'll have

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:27.900
 to put this to work in your life.

00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.819
 The need for forgiveness.

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:33.000
 The need for entrusting forgiveness to God.

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:36.200
 Because although it's easy to hold a grudge

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.660
 and to hang on to bitterness,

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.700
 it's really important to understand

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:41.960
 that the sin that is against you

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:45.839
 is preeminently a sin that's against God.

00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.179
 Not against you.

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:52.019
 So just try to knock yourself down a little bit

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:55.079
 and understand where you stand in all of this.

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.720
 He is creator.

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:59.220
 He is holy.

00:27:00.959 --> 00:27:03.939
 All of creation exists for his glory,

00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:05.199
 not for yours.

00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:08.339
 And so sin that is against you

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:10.639
 is preeminently against him.

00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:13.919
 So don't put yourself in that equation

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:16.060
 and make more of yourself than you should.

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:17.660
 Okay?

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:20.779
 And so when we choose to forgive,

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:24.259
 here are at least four things that are true.

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.600
 Maybe three things.

00:27:27.800 --> 00:27:29.440
 When we choose to forgive,

00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:32.460
 first we agree with him

00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.800
 that forgiveness is good.

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.600
 We agree with him

00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:38.080
 that forgiveness is divine.

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:40.180
 That forgiveness is his plan.

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.940
 And so forgiveness is good.

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:45.460
 And when we choose to forgive,

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.640
 we agree with him

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:51.259
 that his sacrifice covers sin.

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:55.340
 That his sacrifice was sufficient.

00:27:55.580 --> 00:27:56.519
 In the Old Testament,

00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:58.039
 the sacrifice of the lamb,

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.720
 which pointed to the future,

00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:02.539
 fuller sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.480
 And so when we forgive,

00:28:04.600 --> 00:28:05.059
 we say,

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:08.200
 yeah, Jesus was enough to cover this.

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:11.880
 And when we agree,

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.660
 when we choose to forgive,

00:28:13.840 --> 00:28:15.380
 we agree with him

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:17.620
 that we too are in need of mercy.

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:21.039
 We come to grips with the fact

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:23.799
 that we stand in need of forgiveness too.

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.019
 And thus,

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.779
 when we choose not to forgive,

00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:31.160
 we reject God's place as judge.

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.720
 We say,

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:34.200
 God, you're not good enough for this job.

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.259
 Step over,

00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.700
 let me do your work for you.

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.180
 Wow.

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.900
 That's serious.

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:45.019
 And when we choose not to forgive,

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:48.860
 we suggest that his sacrifice was insufficient.

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.720
 We say,

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.640
 Jesus was good.

00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:53.460
 He was good enough for my stuff,

00:28:53.580 --> 00:28:56.180
 but he doesn't even begin to cover that guy's stuff.

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.920
 And when we choose not to forgive,

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.580
 we imply

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:04.840
 that we're not in need of mercy ourselves.

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:07.500
 At least not as much as that other person.

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.740
 Forgiveness is so significant.

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.459
 It is a way for us to point

00:29:12.459 --> 00:29:15.919
 to the forgiving God that we have.

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:18.919
 It's a way for us to showcase the gospel.

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:22.500
 The gospel that is built on forgiveness.

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.379
 Jesus who said,

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.740
 Father, forgive them,

00:29:24.939 --> 00:29:26.000
 for they know not what they do.

00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:28.459
 And they hadn't even asked for forgiveness yet.

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:31.779
 That is the kind of forgiveness that we,

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:34.400
 or posture of forgiveness that we need to have.

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:36.200
 The kind of posture that says,

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.680
 whether or not

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:40.019
 they are willing to approach me

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:43.340
 and come to terms with their own wickedness,

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:45.799
 only then will I forgive.

00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:46.379
 Well,

00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:49.459
 that's just not how Jesus went about things.

00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:51.939
 He had a posture of forgiveness

00:29:51.939 --> 00:29:53.839
 that went to God

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:58.159
 and was open to invite and accept forgiveness

00:29:58.159 --> 00:30:00.519
 from others when there was repentance.

00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:04.419
 Forgiveness is important

00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:07.740
 because forgiveness points to God's mercy.

00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:09.720
 Forgiveness is also important

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:12.799
 because it depends on God's justice.

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:18.139
 Forgiveness depends on God's justice.

00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:21.480
 Now, think about this a little bit.

00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:23.839
 When somebody offends you

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:26.319
 and you find in your own heart,

00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:28.559
 like I do so often,

00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:30.720
 at times it's hard to forgive.

00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:31.139
 Why?

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.859
 Why is it hard to forgive?

00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:35.500
 Well, because,

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.539
 doggone it,

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.319
 they should be disciplined somehow.

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.359
 There should be some,

00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:41.659
 hmm,

00:30:42.459 --> 00:30:44.240
 something bad's got to happen to them.

00:30:45.199 --> 00:30:45.500
 I mean,

00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:47.740
 that's why we have eye for eye,

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.679
 tooth for tooth, right?

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.039
 I mean,

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:51.119
 let's get even.

00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:53.740
 I want to see something happen.

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:56.019
 I can't just let this go

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:58.539
 without some kind of,

00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:02.599
 some kind of remuneration, right?

00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.599
 That's our,

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.200
 in our heart.

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:09.740
 But as we remember God's justice,

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:13.539
 and as we depend on the fact

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:15.740
 that there is a judge

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:19.140
 who will judge every person,

00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:23.000
 they will stand before

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.600
 the judgment seat of Christ

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.440
 one day.

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.460
 Every knee will bow.

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:29.320
 Every tongue will confess

00:31:29.320 --> 00:31:30.740
 that Jesus Christ is Lord

00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:32.160
 to the glory of God the Father.

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.720
 That will happen.

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:37.460
 Do you depend on God's justice?

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.940
 Are you secure in knowing

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.480
 that God will handle it?

00:31:43.060 --> 00:31:44.740
 He's either handled it already

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.780
 in Jesus,

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:47.940
 meaning the wrath of God

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.759
 has already come on Christ

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.220
 to pay for that sin.

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:54.759
 Judgment has already been exacted

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.799
 on Christ

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:57.480
 for that sin against you

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.399
 because it's really a sin against Him.

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.339
 Or one day,

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:04.019
 that sin will be punished forever

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.559
 in hell.

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.279
 God's judgment

00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:09.339
 is so much more severe

00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:11.680
 and so much more fair

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:13.759
 than your judgment ever could be.

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:15.960
 And it is a sin

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:17.980
 against Him preeminently.

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:21.420
 Do we depend on God's ability

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:23.700
 to act justly

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:25.559
 as He promises to do?

00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:27.359
 Jesus did this.

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:29.200
 He was the forerunner of this.

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:33.740
 We find in 1 Peter 2, 22-23,

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:36.500
 Jesus is experiencing injustice,

00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:37.799
 but He says,

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:39.000
 He committed no sin,

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:41.359
 neither was deceit found in His mouth.

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:42.959
 When He reviled,

00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:44.959
 He did not revile in return.

00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.659
 When He suffered,

00:32:46.959 --> 00:32:48.119
 He did not threaten,

00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:50.779
 but continued entrusting Himself

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.839
 to Him who judges,

00:32:52.959 --> 00:32:53.659
 what church?

00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.500
 Justly.

00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:59.359
 That's how He could say,

00:32:59.439 --> 00:33:00.219
 Father, forgive them.

00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:02.039
 Because He knew

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:04.479
 that justice would be served.

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:07.539
 either through His own

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:10.539
 reception of the penalty,

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.160
 the wrath of God

00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:13.559
 being absorbed on Jesus,

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.819
 or the wrath of God

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:17.779
 coming on them in hell.

00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:19.980
 But,

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:22.500
 the road,

00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:23.819
 the pathway to peace

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:26.299
 begins with repentance,

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.120
 moves to reconciliation,

00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.460
 and always leads to rejoicing.

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:32.579
 And,

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:32.940
 briefly,

00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:33.799
 I just want to

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:35.640
 encourage us this

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.299
 in this way.

00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.460
 There are,

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.720
 there's an internal component

00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.440
 of rejoicing,

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.660
 and there's an external

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.980
 component of rejoicing.

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.259
 First,

00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.259
 there is the celebrating

00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.120
 the work of God

00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:45.840
 in our midst

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.900
 among us.

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.779
 We celebrate the work of God

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:50.059
 in helping to heal

00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.940
 the brokenness

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:53.259
 and the fracture among us.

00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:53.660
 Because,

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.980
 every one of us

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.240
 are in a relationship

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:57.360
 where we are

00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:59.000
 both the oppressor

00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.160
 and the oppressed.

00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:00.980
 We are both

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.820
 the offender

00:34:01.820 --> 00:34:02.880
 and the offended.

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:03.980
 It may not be

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.940
 the same relationship,

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.220
 but you have been

00:34:06.220 --> 00:34:07.019
 that person,

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.280
 especially if you're married

00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:10.139
 and have kids,

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.880
 you have been that person.

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.099
 Okay?

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:15.059
 You are in need

00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:16.340
 of God's mercy.

00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.420
 And so,

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.680
 when God does the work

00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:21.320
 of helping to heal

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:22.860
 that heartache

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.579
 in your life,

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:26.139
 it is cause for rejoicing.

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.200
 And that's what happens here.

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.460
 All the people,

00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.900
 it says in verse 13,

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.280
 and all the assembly

00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:32.980
 said amen

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:34.519
 and praised

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:36.119
 the Lord.

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.480
 The word Lord,

00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.019
 by the way,

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.039
 do you notice how

00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.400
 the Lord

00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:42.440
 is in all caps there?

00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:45.220
 Maybe you don't know this,

00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.579
 but when it's

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.400
 in all caps,

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.579
 it means Yahweh.

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.300
 Okay?

00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:51.420
 As opposed to Adonai,

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:53.559
 which is just Savior.

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:57.079
 But Lord is Yahweh,

00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:59.299
 and Yahweh is Jesus.

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:03.400
 It points to Christ.

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:06.059
 And that's what the people

00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.960
 are rejoicing in.

00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:08.920
 They're praising Yahweh,

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:11.079
 this future Christ

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.759
 who's coming

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:13.860
 to heal all the wounds.

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.420
 And so there's a celebration

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.880
 of worship that happens

00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:20.639
 because the people recognize

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.840
 that God has been among them.

00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.019
 The hand of the Lord

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:24.740
 has been present with them.

00:35:25.600 --> 00:35:27.100
 It's helped to heal them.

00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:30.079
 Not only does it help

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:33.840
 to celebrate

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:35.260
 the work of God among us,

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:37.920
 but it also helps

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.539
 to call attention

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.200
 to the gospel.

00:35:40.200 --> 00:35:41.200
 The work of God

00:35:41.200 --> 00:35:42.140
 in creating unity

00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:43.079
 among God's people

00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:46.079
 helped to call attention

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:47.360
 to the power of God

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.960
 to do what only God can do.

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.900
 He is the God of peace.

00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:53.119
 Only God can accomplish

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:54.599
 the work in a heart

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.820
 to lead to peace,

00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:57.019
 the pathway of peace.

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.480
 Paul,

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.539
 I'll just close

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:02.340
 with this passage.

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.139
 In 1 Timothy 1,

00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:05.260
 verses 15 to 17,

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.260
 you'll see all these

00:36:06.260 --> 00:36:07.019
 components here.

00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:09.360
 Paul is recounting

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.059
 his testimony

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.220
 and the mercy of God

00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:11.699
 in his life

00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:12.420
 when he says this.

00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.039
 He says,

00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.420
 this,

00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.920
 the saying is trustworthy

00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:16.279
 in deserving

00:36:16.279 --> 00:36:17.420
 of full acceptance

00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:19.239
 that Christ Jesus

00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:20.380
 came into the world

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.440
 to save sinners

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:23.400
 of whom I am the foremost.

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:27.840
 But I received mercy

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.960
 for this reason.

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.500
 That in me,

00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:31.840
 as the foremost,

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:32.880
 Jesus Christ

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.719
 might display

00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:35.460
 his perfect patience

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:37.199
 as an example

00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:38.400
 to those

00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.340
 who were to believe

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:39.860
 in him

00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:40.719
 for eternal life.

00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:43.059
 to the king

00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.679
 of ages,

00:36:43.779 --> 00:36:44.219
 immortal,

00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:45.219
 invisible,

00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:46.419
 the only God,

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.099
 be honor

00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:48.059
 and glory

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.659
 forever

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.699
 and ever.

00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:50.419
 Amen.

00:36:52.339 --> 00:36:53.459
 Paul is saying

00:36:53.459 --> 00:36:54.579
 is,

00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:55.739
 as people

00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.919
 look at my life

00:36:56.919 --> 00:36:57.959
 and they know

00:36:57.959 --> 00:36:59.199
 what kind of a scoundrel

00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:00.119
 I am

00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:01.099
 and they know

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:02.199
 the kind of grace

00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:03.439
 that was needed

00:37:03.439 --> 00:37:04.139
 to apply

00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.039
 to get me

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.599
 to the point

00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.379
 where I am today,

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:07.759
 they might say,

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.159
 if God can do that

00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:09.839
 for Paul,

00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.880
 he can do that

00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.400
 for me.

00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:14.620
 And if you have

00:37:14.620 --> 00:37:15.620
 a broken relationship,

00:37:16.620 --> 00:37:18.579
 if there's conflict

00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:19.940
 somewhere in your life,

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:22.180
 God is able

00:37:22.180 --> 00:37:23.140
 through his word

00:37:23.140 --> 00:37:24.780
 and through his Holy Spirit

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:26.480
 to accomplish

00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.380
 reconciliation

00:37:27.380 --> 00:37:28.440
 in your life.

00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.100
 He has actually

00:37:29.100 --> 00:37:29.700
 called you

00:37:29.700 --> 00:37:30.440
 to that ministry.

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.660
 The ministry

00:37:31.660 --> 00:37:32.579
 of reconciliation.

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:33.840
 As recipients,

00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:34.920
 those who have

00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:35.519
 experience

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.660
 being reconciled

00:37:36.660 --> 00:37:36.980
 to God,

00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:37.660
 made a friend

00:37:37.660 --> 00:37:38.320
 with God,

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:39.100
 you now have

00:37:39.100 --> 00:37:39.620
 the ministry

00:37:39.620 --> 00:37:41.300
 of reconciliation,

00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:42.360
 also helping

00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:43.480
 to lead others

00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:44.200
 into that same

00:37:44.200 --> 00:37:45.240
 pathway of peace

00:37:45.240 --> 00:37:45.820
 to say,

00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:46.140
 hey,

00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:46.460
 come,

00:37:46.700 --> 00:37:47.140
 join me.

00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:47.760
 Look what God

00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:48.500
 did in my life.

00:37:48.680 --> 00:37:49.700
 You can have it too.

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.700
 You can enjoy

00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.820
 peace with God

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.600
 through our Lord

00:37:52.600 --> 00:37:53.320
 Jesus Christ.

00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:54.480
 Come along.

00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:55.960
 Enjoy that peace

00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.360
 as well.

00:37:57.660 --> 00:37:58.600
 Do you know

00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.280
 that peace?

00:38:00.100 --> 00:38:01.220
 Do you have

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:02.240
 peace with God

00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.280
 through faith

00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:03.720
 in the Lord

00:38:03.720 --> 00:38:04.300
 Jesus Christ?

00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:05.440
 If you don't,

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:06.660
 I'd love

00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:07.600
 to talk with you

00:38:07.600 --> 00:38:08.320
 about how to

00:38:08.320 --> 00:38:09.480
 enjoy that

00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.060
 kind of peace.

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:12.320
 Because when

00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:13.360
 you experience

00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:13.980
 that peace,

00:38:14.200 --> 00:38:15.160
 it will lead

00:38:15.160 --> 00:38:16.280
 you to abounding

00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:17.200
 joy

00:38:17.200 --> 00:38:18.600
 and rejoicing

00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:19.500
 and worship

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:20.340
 at the work

00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:20.640
 of God

00:38:20.640 --> 00:38:21.100
 in your life.

00:38:21.160 --> 00:38:21.960
 Just like with Paul,

00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.360
 this doxology,

00:38:23.560 --> 00:38:24.180
 now to the king,

00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:24.580
 eternal,

00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:25.280
 immortal,

00:38:25.660 --> 00:38:25.980
 invisible,

00:38:26.120 --> 00:38:27.180
 the only wise God,

00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:28.580
 be honor and glory

00:38:28.580 --> 00:38:29.600
 forever and ever.

00:38:30.120 --> 00:38:30.360
 Amen.

00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.200
 Hallelujah.

00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.120
 Thanks for coming

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.739
 this morning.

00:38:33.819 --> 00:38:34.219
 Let me pray

00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:35.199
 and I'll let you

00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:35.679
 be dismissed.

00:38:37.319 --> 00:38:37.859
 Oh God,

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:39.039
 we praise you

00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:40.179
 for the work

00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:40.739
 of peace

00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:41.440
 that came

00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:42.279
 through your son

00:38:42.279 --> 00:38:43.400
 Jesus Christ.

00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:44.219
 Thank you

00:38:44.219 --> 00:38:44.759
 that you have

00:38:44.759 --> 00:38:47.079
 commissioned us

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.940
 as agents

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.799
 of peace

00:38:49.799 --> 00:38:51.480
 for the people

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.219
 around us.

00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.519
 May we be

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:53.839
 faithful.

00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:55.239
 Faithful to

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:55.799
 showcase

00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:56.940
 the power

00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.480
 of the gospel

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.259
 working within

00:38:58.259 --> 00:38:59.859
 so we can lead

00:38:59.859 --> 00:39:00.239
 others

00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:01.279
 to experience

00:39:01.279 --> 00:39:02.059
 that same

00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:02.900
 fellowship

00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:03.360
 with God,

00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:03.780
 that same

00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:04.539
 peace with God

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.460
 through our

00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.300
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:39:07.160 --> 00:39:07.700
 We praise you

00:39:07.700 --> 00:39:08.380
 for this in Jesus'

00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:08.740
 name.

00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:09.660
 Amen.

00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:09.780
 Amen.

00:39:09.780 --> 00:39:09.780


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