WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.240 Great. Thank you, Irina and Graham. Well, good morning. It is wonderful to be with you again this morning. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:17.300 And this morning we are in the final part of a series we're doing called The Church That Jesus Is Building. 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:22.219 And we've looked over the last three or four weeks at Psalm 127, 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:26.980 unless the Lord builds the house, those that build it labor in vain. 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:29.839 We've looked at Isaiah 66. God says, 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:39.719 And we've looked at Psalm 115. 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:55.420 And so for the last three weeks, we've been looking at the fact that this church, Watermark Church, 00:00:55.420 --> 00:00:59.079 has to be a church which Christ is front and central at. 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:05.620 This cannot be a church which is built on human wisdom or human brilliance or human ingenuity. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.519 This must be a church in which Christ, by the power of His Spirit, is at work. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:16.180 And we do that by building this church on the Word of God and building it for His glory. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:19.599 And so that's where we've been over the last few weeks. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:26.259 But now the question remains, what happens when things don't go the way that we want them to? 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:30.679 What happens when, as a church, we say we're going to build healthy? 00:01:31.099 --> 00:01:32.679 We're going to build on God's Word. 00:01:33.199 --> 00:01:39.199 What happens when God says, I will glorify my name, but not in the way that you expect me to? 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:44.659 What happens when life doesn't always turn out the way we think it should? 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:50.420 A loved one passes away when it seems like you might be retrenched, 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.879 when your child is diagnosed with a debilitating sickness. 00:01:54.459 --> 00:01:57.819 What happens when it seems like God has forgotten us? 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:03.359 Friends, the answer is, and this is true for us as individuals but also as a church, 00:02:03.479 --> 00:02:09.120 the answer is we remind ourselves of who this God is that we love and worship. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:14.580 And so today I want to bring to a conclusion this series by asking the question, 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:16.740 who is this God that is head of His church? 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:23.159 Every God in the ancient world, every culture had their gods, every city had their religion, 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:28.439 every culture had their idols that they worshipped and bowed down before. 00:02:28.540 --> 00:02:30.580 But who is this God we've been speaking about? 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:32.379 What makes Him unique? 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:34.740 And secondly, should we trust Him? 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:36.500 Can we trust Him? 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:40.460 And so today we get to look at Isaiah chapter 46. 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:46.639 And we're going to learn three things about this God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.340 We're going to learn that He's the God who carries and cares. 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:52.500 He's the God who knows and governs all things. 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:56.379 And He's the God who redeems by His sovereign grace. 00:02:56.900 --> 00:02:57.139 Okay? 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.400 So let's dive into the Scriptures. 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:03.479 Firstly, He's the God who carries and cares. 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:10.099 Now, the Scripture that Graham and Irina read to us, let me set some of the context for this. 00:03:10.539 --> 00:03:16.759 The people of God, the nation of Israel, had gone into Babylon as exiles. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:18.839 God had spoken to them. 00:03:19.359 --> 00:03:22.599 And because of their sin and their rebellion, 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:30.180 eventually God brought the Babylonians, which is this world superpower, up to the northeast of where Israel was. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:36.060 And the Babylonians had come and conquered them and taken them as exiles back to Babylon. 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:41.060 And so they are there in Babylon as the people of God as exiles. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:47.139 Now, in Babylonian mythology, there were many gods, but there were two main gods. 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:49.599 The one was called Bel or Bel Marduk. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:53.739 And in Babylonian mythology, his son was called Nebo. 00:03:54.399 --> 00:04:00.959 And Nebo was the patron of the arts, the patron of writing and speech. 00:04:01.299 --> 00:04:08.919 And his job in Babylonian mythology was to write on the tablets of destiny your fate for the coming year. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:15.019 And so the gods would take counsel together, and then Nebo would write your destiny, 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:17.079 whether you were to have a good year or a bad year. 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:22.680 It was his job to write on the tablets of destiny your fate for the coming year. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:28.139 And so if you were to have a good year, a good harvest, a good year in business, 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:35.079 if your family was to be blessed, it was because these gods, Bel and Nebo, had looked upon you favorably. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:41.120 And so what you had to do is you had to please the gods, and then they would please you. 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:47.159 Now, there were many ways to do this, but one of the main ways that they did this was every year at New Year, 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:51.879 the people of Babylon would go to the outer parts of the city, 00:04:52.539 --> 00:04:55.180 and there were these massive statues of Bel and Nebo. 00:04:55.599 --> 00:05:02.399 They would take them off their place, carry them down the hill, put them on carts that had been constructed, 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:10.879 and then the oxen would carry these statues of the gods through the streets to a central shrine in the city of the center, 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:18.019 where everybody would burn incense and worship and bow down before these gods and elicit their favor. 00:05:18.739 --> 00:05:24.359 And so they would do this hoping to secure a favor for the coming year. 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:29.359 Now, the people of God, the nation of Israel, are in Babylon. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:35.960 They've been taken there, and when they first went to Babylon, they thought, God's just letting off some steam. 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:39.580 We know God's a bit upset because we haven't really been listening, 00:05:40.020 --> 00:05:43.620 but two or three years, we'll be here, and then God will send us back to Israel. 00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:45.960 God's not that angry with our sin. 00:05:46.400 --> 00:05:48.960 We'll just be here a short while, and then we're going to go back. 00:05:49.840 --> 00:05:51.120 And God said, no, no, no. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:53.139 Seventy years, you'll be in Babylon. 00:05:53.139 --> 00:05:58.459 And so after two or three years, the people thought, any day now, God's going to rescue us. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:05:59.599 He's going to send us back. 00:06:00.039 --> 00:06:01.639 And then five years came. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:03.120 Ten years came. 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:04.759 Thirty years came. 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:09.539 And eventually, the people of God started to wonder, is God ever going to rescue us? 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:11.620 Has God forgotten us? 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.719 Where is this God who's promised to be faithful? 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:20.900 And the temptation for the people of God may have been to keep their options open. 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:22.720 Yeah, we'll worship God. 00:06:22.820 --> 00:06:23.760 We'll worship Yahweh. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:28.380 But maybe we should also just worship the Babylonian gods. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:30.840 Maybe we should keep our options open. 00:06:31.200 --> 00:06:32.540 We should hedge our bets. 00:06:33.020 --> 00:06:36.320 Maybe these gods will look favorably upon us as well. 00:06:36.620 --> 00:06:41.080 And of course, the people of God, they knew they ought to worship God of the Bible, Yahweh. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.780 But they thought, maybe God's forgotten us. 00:06:43.779 --> 00:06:48.279 Maybe a little sacrifice here and there won't hurt anyone. 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.339 Have you ever felt like that? 00:06:51.219 --> 00:06:57.059 Have you ever felt like, yeah, I know the God of the Bible, but maybe I should just hedge my bets. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:04.159 Maybe if I just trust this thing to secure a good future for me, then I can really rest safe at night. 00:07:04.239 --> 00:07:05.519 I can sleep well at night. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:09.879 The Bible and God plus my savings account. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:14.159 This plus my boss's favor. 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:18.759 This plus just being a little sketchy on my tax returns. 00:07:19.259 --> 00:07:20.719 You know what God has said? 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:27.779 You're not denying Him, but you've presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure your future. 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:30.420 You ever felt like that? 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:32.080 I know I have. 00:07:33.340 --> 00:07:39.340 Now, as 21st century Hong Kongers, we may be tempted to mock these primitive gods. 00:07:39.460 --> 00:07:43.379 And we think, oh, nobody worships gods like that these days. 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:45.280 I mean, honestly, we are educated. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:46.780 We've been to business school. 00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:47.800 We've got our MBA. 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.939 That's very primitive. 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:57.560 But actually, if we're honest, our culture and our lives are full of such gods all around us, aren't they? 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.879 They may not be standing upright in our houses. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:04.420 Maybe we don't physically sing and dance before them or burn incense to them. 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:12.959 But all around us in our lives, there are things that we hope in, things that we trust in to make our lives meaningful, to make our lives purposeful. 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:17.480 Things that we hope will guarantee us a secure and stable future. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:20.879 And they're things that we still dance to their tune. 00:08:21.140 --> 00:08:22.060 Do you know that expression? 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:23.879 We still march to their beat. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.460 They're things that own us and control us. 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:31.759 And we feel like we need to obey them in order to have a secure and comfortable future. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:41.399 And things that, just like the worshipers of Bel and Nebo, we hope will write favorably upon the tablets of destiny, our fate. 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:52.279 And yet, these things that we hope will carry us into prosperity and fruitfulness become burdens, which we end up carrying, and ultimately, they end up owning us. 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:54.240 Look at what happens in verse 1 here. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:55.039 God says, 00:08:55.039 --> 00:09:22.059 I remember a few years ago, the church, I was involved in leading a campus of a church in Cape Town. 00:09:22.059 --> 00:09:25.859 And it was a season of wonderful fruitfulness. 00:09:26.079 --> 00:09:27.319 Everything was going right. 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:28.539 The church was growing. 00:09:28.979 --> 00:09:30.379 New leaders were being added. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:32.419 People were coming to Christ. 00:09:32.619 --> 00:09:33.919 New people were getting baptized. 00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:35.879 Everything was going well. 00:09:35.979 --> 00:09:37.819 There was such momentum in the church. 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:39.199 And it was so exciting. 00:09:40.239 --> 00:09:43.739 And one of the older men in my life, a really wise man, said to me, 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:47.099 Kevin, enjoy the momentum while it lasts. 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.059 But make sure it's your servant, not your master. 00:09:50.059 --> 00:09:52.719 And at the time, I didn't know what he meant. 00:09:53.079 --> 00:09:54.239 I thought, well, what's he saying? 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:58.559 But actually, about a year later, that season came to an end. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.059 And it was just hard work. 00:10:00.599 --> 00:10:02.000 Everything was hard work. 00:10:02.339 --> 00:10:03.579 There weren't leaders coming through. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.939 People weren't joining. 00:10:05.479 --> 00:10:08.559 It felt like everything we did took twice the effort. 00:10:09.119 --> 00:10:10.799 And I realized what he was saying. 00:10:11.359 --> 00:10:15.119 He was saying, the season that you're in, don't let it control you. 00:10:15.479 --> 00:10:16.659 Don't let it own you. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:20.219 Make sure that this doesn't become a burden that you end up carrying. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:24.939 Because this thing that you hope and trust in, ultimately, you end up carrying it. 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:26.639 It becomes a burden on your shoulders. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:33.419 The things that you hope to carry you into a secure and stable future, ultimately, you end up carrying yourself. 00:10:34.059 --> 00:10:35.719 And we all know what that's like, don't we? 00:10:36.219 --> 00:10:42.459 Who of us here haven't put our hope or our confidence in something only for it to become a burden which we end up carrying? 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:51.440 A business degree, that new promotion, that car that we really thought was going to set us apart, our children's education. 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:58.800 Things that we hoped were going to carry us into a safe future end up owning us, controlling us. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:01.940 We end up carrying them as a burden on our shoulders. 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:04.680 But look at the invitation of God here. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:06.360 Look what he says in verse 5. 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:11.519 He invites us to compare himself to these things that we hope and trust in. 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:14.620 He says, to whom will you liken me or make me equal? 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.840 Compare me that we may be alike. 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:23.279 God actually says, he invites us to compare himself to these gods that we put our hope and trust in. 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:25.200 And verse 3 tells us, what is he like? 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:27.580 He says, listen to me, O house of Jacob. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:49.040 Friends, I wonder how many of us here today feel like we've got to the end of ourselves. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.220 Feel like you don't know where to turn. 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:54.420 You feel empty and alone. 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:55.640 You feel anxious. 00:11:55.920 --> 00:11:57.140 You feel desperate. 00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.480 Feel exhausted. 00:11:59.800 --> 00:12:05.620 And the prevailing gods of our culture, the things of our culture that are inviting us to come and hope and trust in them. 00:12:05.900 --> 00:12:09.040 Things that promise a safe and stable and a secure future. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:12.720 Things imploring us to trust him and to take our problems away. 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:17.940 Friends, Jesus Christ says that if you look to these things, they promise to carry you. 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.480 But in the end, you will carry them. 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.900 There will be a burden on your back. 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:27.080 But friends, the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, he's the only one who says, come to me and surrender. 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:29.200 Come to me and give me everything. 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:31.660 He asked you to take up his cross. 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:35.480 But then he unashamedly says that you need to give him everything. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:37.940 But if you do that, he is the one who will carry you. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:38.900 Look what he says here. 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:42.460 He says, you've been born by me from before your birth. 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:44.980 Carried from the womb, even to your old age. 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:47.100 Listen to me, O house of Jacob. 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:48.639 I will carry you. 00:12:49.920 --> 00:13:03.480 Of the last six weeks as we've moved to Hong Kong, there have been a number of times where in the quiet of my own heart, I have, if I'm honest with myself, I felt like, God, I don't know if I can do this. 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.639 I've come to the end of myself. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:10.860 And I felt like God this week just encouraging me from the scripture. 00:13:11.680 --> 00:13:13.240 Kevin, I am the one who carries you. 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.600 I've carried you from your mother's womb. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:20.680 I've carried you all those times when you weren't even aware of me, where you didn't even know me. 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.919 I was carrying you from the womb to the end of your days. 00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:25.600 I am the one who carries you. 00:13:26.180 --> 00:13:27.379 Friends, do you feel like that? 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:29.980 You feel like these burdens are overwhelming. 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:32.259 God says, I am the one who carries you. 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:34.399 You can trust in me. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:39.419 For those of you that are in high school, the world tells you you're the master of your fate. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.319 You're the captain of your destiny. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:42.879 The world is your oyster. 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:46.039 You can do anything you want and be anything you want. 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.000 Just dance to this tune. 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.220 Just follow our rules. 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:53.079 Just trust in this thing and you will have a prosperous life. 00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:54.799 Friends, it's a lie. 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:59.939 Those burdens you'll end up carrying and they will enslave you and ultimately they'll own you. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:04.240 Friends, Jesus Christ invites us to come to him. 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:06.500 To let our lives be carried by him. 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:10.319 Christ says, I've borne you from the womb to your old age. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:12.279 Carried you to your gray hairs. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:19.439 Don't you realize the day you were conceived in your mother's womb, every moment you've been alive, every moment has been in his hands. 00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:21.199 Listen to me, O house of Jacob. 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:25.919 You who have been born by me, even to your old age, I am the one who carries you. 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:28.059 I will bear you and I will save. 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:30.659 Friends, why should we trust this God of the Bible? 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:32.480 Why should we trust the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:35.000 When things don't go the way we expected. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.360 When we end up in Babylon and we don't know where to turn. 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:38.500 Why should we trust him? 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.920 Because he's the one who says, I will carry you. 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.920 You can trust me. 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.420 He's the God who knows. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.460 He's the God who cares. 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.060 He's the God who carries. 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:50.299 Secondly, he's the God who knows and governs all things. 00:14:50.739 --> 00:14:52.659 Look at verse 8 with me. 00:14:53.859 --> 00:14:56.939 God says this, remember this and stand firm. 00:14:57.479 --> 00:14:59.079 Recall it, transgressors. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.599 Remember the former things. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.500 I am God and there is no other. 00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.779 I am God. 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.079 There is none like me. 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:07.820 Declaring the end from the beginning. 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.540 From ancient times things not yet done. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:15.400 Saying my counsel shall stand and I will accomplish my purposes. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.800 I have spoken. 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.280 I will bring it to pass. 00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:20.820 I have purposed and I will do it. 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:29.260 Friends, the thing that differentiates the one true God of the Bible from every other religion, 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:35.560 every other false God, is not the dedication of his worshipers, not the size of his temple, 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.480 but simply who he is. 00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:40.160 He is God and there is no other. 00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:44.660 He's not just one of a plethora of options of God. 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:50.220 He's not just slightly stronger, slightly more powerful, more faithful than other religions. 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:55.139 He is unique from every other God because he's the one true God because he is sovereign, 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:57.779 which means that he is supremely authoritative. 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:00.040 There is no one else but him. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:04.680 If English is your second or your third or maybe your fourth language, 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:07.080 there's a really good Bible word you need to learn. 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.279 It's the word sovereign. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:13.120 God is sovereign, which means that he is supremely authoritative. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:16.860 There is nobody that has greater authority than him. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:19.940 There's a wonderful story in the Bible. 00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:26.000 In the book of Daniel, Daniel is having a conversation with the king of Babylon. 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:31.760 So Daniel is a Jewish man and he got taken to Babylon with the exiles as a teenager, 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:33.980 around 16, 17 years old. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:37.340 He goes to Babylon and he serves the king of Babylon. 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:40.500 And the first king of Babylon is a man by the name of Nebuchadnezzar. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:44.400 Nebuchadnezzar is named after Nebo, the Babylonian god. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:50.019 And then his son called Belshazzar, named after Bel, becomes king after him. 00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:54.159 And so many years after Daniel's been taken to Babylon, 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:58.600 he's having a conversation with the king Belshazzar about the first king, 00:16:58.959 --> 00:17:00.480 his father called Nebuchadnezzar. 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.519 And this is what he says. 00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:02.459 He says, 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:27.579 So he's saying, 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:30.099 Remember your father Nebuchadnezzar. 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:34.899 He was the most powerful man of the most powerful empire in the whole world. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:39.399 There was nobody on the face of the planet more powerful than your dad. 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:42.740 If he wanted somebody killed, it was as good as dead. 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:46.359 If he wanted them kept alive, he just said the word. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:50.740 Nobody had more power than your father, the king of Babylon. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:53.599 But then look at the very next line. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.819 He says, 00:17:55.539 --> 00:18:00.200 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened, so that he became proud, 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:02.779 he was brought down from his kingly throne. 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.839 His glory was taken from him. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:09.079 Until he knew that the most high God rules the kingdom of mankind, 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:12.720 and sets over it whom he will. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:13.960 Daniel is saying, 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:18.539 Even the most powerful man of the most powerful empire in the whole world, 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:21.360 is still subject to the sovereign God. 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.160 There is one God. 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:26.480 There is no one and nothing like him. 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:28.960 Friends, what does this mean for your boss? 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:32.120 What does this mean for social media? 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:34.480 Those of us that are in high school. 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.660 What does this mean for the voice of our family members? 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:42.579 These voices that seek to control us and own us. 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:47.419 There is a God that is above even the most highest supreme authority in our lives. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.679 I am God. 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.460 There is no other. 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.599 I am God. 00:18:50.699 --> 00:18:52.279 There is none like me. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:56.379 And friends, the temptation for us as a church and as individuals, 00:18:56.379 --> 00:18:59.279 is to run to all sorts of false gods. 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:01.339 Things that promise us the world. 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.919 Things that promise us, 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.899 This is how to grow your church. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.019 This is how to have a stable and secure future. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.799 This is how to become prosperous. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.399 This is how to make things work. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:16.200 And yet we forget that our lives and our church is actually in the hands of the sovereign God. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:19.340 There is one God and there is no one like him. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.860 Now, look at this passage. 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.960 This passage tells us two things about God's sovereignty. 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.920 There are two things that make God sovereign. 00:19:27.780 --> 00:19:30.740 The first thing is that God knows everything. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.600 Look what he says here in verse 9. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.100 He says, 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:35.159 Remember the former things. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.819 I am God. 00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:36.599 There is no other. 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:39.240 I declare the end from the beginning. 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:42.419 From ancient times, things not yet done. 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:46.179 Remember, the Babylonian gods, Bel and Nebo, 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:50.799 they were the ones who were meant to write a favorable future for you. 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:55.039 They were the ones that were meant to secure that this coming year you had a good year. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:59.519 And isn't that exactly what everything we hope and we trust in promises us? 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.859 It's exactly what the gods we trust in, 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.839 whether they are ancient or whether they are modern, 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:06.019 whether we are religious or whether we are secular. 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:11.680 All of us look to something to secure a stable and a promising future for us, 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:14.159 whether it's our savings account, our education, 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:17.259 a certain relationship, maybe that job opportunity. 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.920 But look at what God says. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.240 He says, 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.019 I am God. 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.819 There is no other. 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:22.159 There is none like me. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.879 Why? 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.680 What makes the God of the Bible unique? 00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.840 Why should we trust Him? 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:30.640 Because truly I know the end from the beginning. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:33.600 From ancient times, things not yet done. 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:38.020 Friends, I'm not sure what is troubling you today, 00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:41.040 what it is that keeps you awake at night. 00:20:42.260 --> 00:20:44.740 And I'm not saying that those are illegitimate fears. 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.980 Maybe they are legitimate. 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:49.320 But there is one who knows all things. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:53.039 He knows how it's going to turn out and He invites you to trust Him. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:55.819 God says the same thing in Isaiah 44. 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.220 He says, 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:57.039 I am the first. 00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.779 I am the last. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.679 Besides me, there is no God. 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:00.460 He says, 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.220 Who is like me? 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.339 Let Him proclaim it. 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:06.179 Let Him declare what is to come and what's going to happen in the future. 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.359 Then He says, 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.899 Fear not. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.259 Be not afraid. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.240 Have I not told you from old? 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:13.359 Have I not declared it? 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.939 Is there a God besides me? 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.200 There is no other rock. 00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:18.279 I know not any other. 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:23.420 Friends, whether God is calling you to move to another country for the sake of the gospel, 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.580 like Graham in Arena, 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:27.460 whether God is asking you to start a new business, 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.740 or to leave a business, 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.759 to join a ministry, 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.779 or to start some new ministry, 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:35.299 or whether you're worried about where your children are going to go to school, 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.640 whether you're going to have children, 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:40.299 there is nothing in all the world that's going to happen next week, 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:41.340 or next year, 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:43.039 or in a million years from now, 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:46.160 that is outside of the knowledge of the sovereign God. 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:48.220 I declare the end from the beginning. 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:49.380 I know all things. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:52.299 This is the God that we love and trust. 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:56.240 Friends, this God knows what's going to happen to Hong Kong in 30 years' time. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.420 He knows where you're going to stay in the years to come, 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.400 even if you don't. 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.580 He knows how you're going to get through this year financially. 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:07.019 He knows when the next financial crash is going to happen. 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:10.100 He knows if and when you're going to have children. 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:15.539 He knows about that bad medical report that maybe you don't even know about yet, 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.379 but you might receive into the future. 00:22:17.959 --> 00:22:20.699 He knows about that phone call that's going to rock your world. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:24.939 Friends, he even knows about the mistakes that we're going to make that are going to humble us. 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:27.500 And he's not worried about any of it, 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.740 because none of it will catch him unaware. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.140 He's the God who knows all things. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.580 But secondly, 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:36.160 not only does God know all things, 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:38.299 he actually governs all things. 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:41.220 Look at verse 11 with me. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.180 God says this. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.460 He says, 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.779 I am God, there is no other. 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.839 I declare the end from the beginning, 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.859 from ancient times things not yet done, 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.559 saying, 00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:50.500 My counsel will stand, 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:52.559 and I will accomplish my purposes. 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:55.220 I call a bird of prey from the east, 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:58.460 a man of my counsel from a far country. 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.879 What's God talking about here? 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.639 Remember, 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:04.779 Babylon is the world superpower of the age. 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:08.960 The most powerful nation in the world at the time that this is being written. 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.920 And God has told his people, 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.960 Because of your sin, 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.279 because of your rebellion, 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.940 because of your disobedience, 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:17.279 I will bring the Babylonians, 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:19.059 they will capture you, 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:20.480 they will tear down Israel, 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:23.440 they will take you as exiles back into Babylon. 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.619 But God said, 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.500 You will only be there 70 years. 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:28.460 70 years you'll be in Babylon, 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:30.059 and then I will set you free. 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:32.879 And in the preceding chapter, 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.700 Isaiah 45, 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:36.100 God actually names the person 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.720 that's going to come to Babylon 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:39.640 to set the people of God free. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.700 Look what he says. 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.160 He says, 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:42.340 He calls him Cyrus. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:42.799 He says, 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.720 Thus says the Lord, 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:44.960 to his anointed, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.480 to Cyrus, 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:49.019 whose right hand I have taken hold of, 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.920 to subdue nations before him, 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.160 and loose the belts of kings. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.920 Cyrus is my shepherd. 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:56.680 He shall fulfill all of my promises. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.000 So God says, 00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:00.640 There is going to be a man called Cyrus. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.160 Cyrus my shepherd, 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.240 my anointed one. 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:05.279 He is going to come and set you free 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.839 and bring you back from Babylon, 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.400 back to Jerusalem. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:11.220 He will shepherd you from captivity 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.759 back to the promised land. 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.700 And that's exactly what happened. 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.319 After 70 years, 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.019 in 538 BC, 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:20.279 a Persian king arises. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.819 His name happens to be Cyrus. 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:24.140 And he overthrows the Babylonians. 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:26.880 And he becomes the king of the world's superpower. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.180 And after a year, 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.680 he says, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:28.839 Well, 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:32.500 I don't have any reason for these Jews to stay in Persia and Babylon. 00:24:32.699 --> 00:24:34.019 Let's send them back to Jerusalem. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.939 And so God raises up Cyrus, 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.899 and he sends, 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:39.619 Cyrus sends the people back to Israel, 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:43.299 and he sets them free to rebuild the temple and to worship Yahweh. 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:45.539 The only thing is, 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:51.240 this is written 150 years before Cyrus is even born. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.980 There's no king of Persia called Cyrus when this is written. 00:24:55.940 --> 00:25:00.399 How did Isaiah know that God was going to raise up a man called Cyrus to set God's people free? 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:01.879 How did he know? 00:25:02.919 --> 00:25:03.399 Friends, 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:04.799 God says this, 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.519 I am God, 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.299 there is no other. 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.539 I am God, 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.819 there is none like me. 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:11.339 I declare the end from the beginning. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.700 From ancient times, 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.619 things not yet done. 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.419 Saying, 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.339 my counsel, 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.639 the sovereign God, 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.359 will stand, 00:25:17.439 --> 00:25:19.720 and I will accomplish my purposes. 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.899 I call a bird of prey from the east, 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.519 that's Cyrus, 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:24.859 a man who will do my bidding. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:25.679 Friends, 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.379 I want to impress upon us the fact that the God of the Bible, 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:30.879 the God that we've been speaking about these last few weeks, 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:32.099 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:34.480 the God who builds his church, 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.179 the God who says, 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.299 heaven is my throne, 00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:38.059 and the earth is my footstool. 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:41.839 I want us to know that this God is not just slightly better, 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.559 slightly more powerful, 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:47.579 slightly stronger than the prevailing gods of our culture. 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:50.039 Because we are made in God's image, 00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:53.419 sometimes we think that God is a slightly better version of ourselves. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.960 But he is God, 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.319 and there's none like him. 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:58.359 He's the sovereign Lord of all, 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.440 and we can trust him. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.379 The God of the scriptures invites us to trust him, 00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:03.839 and to bank our lives on him, 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:05.519 and to build this church on him, 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:07.000 and on his wisdom, 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.539 not on our own. 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:09.400 Friends, 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:12.259 I want us to know that the God of the scriptures is the one true God, 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:13.779 who brought everything into being. 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:15.379 The one who holds all things, 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.619 and sustains all things, 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.920 and governs all things. 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.879 The one who knows the end from the beginning, 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.559 and therefore, 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.220 we can trust him. 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.980 You can bank your life on him. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.139 You can bank your life on him. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.720 As the old hymn says, 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.380 In Christ, 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:31.160 the solid ground I stand, 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:34.380 all other ground is sinking sand. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.039 What am I going to ask us? 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.640 I want to urge us as a community. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:40.299 Can we bank our lives as individuals? 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:43.120 Can we build this church on this God, 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.279 on the sovereign God? 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.960 Can we trust him with our future? 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:48.019 And can we listen and obey him, 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:50.279 because we know that he knows all things, 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.900 and he governs and sustains all things. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.140 He is the sovereign God, 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:55.339 and there is none like him. 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.559 Why should we trust him? 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.059 He is the one true God, 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.500 who knows all things. 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:01.119 He cares and he carries. 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.399 He knows and he governs all things. 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.480 Third thing is this. 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.139 Why should we trust him? 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.940 He is the God who saves, 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.379 through sovereign grace. 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.539 Now, 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:13.460 it is one thing for God to be sovereign, 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.740 over all the world, 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.659 totally in control, 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.539 but is he nice? 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.960 It is one thing for him to be in control, 00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:21.980 but is he kind? 00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:24.740 History hasn't always looked well, 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:26.500 favorably upon monarchs, 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:28.460 and dictators that were in control, 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.740 but they weren't kind or merciful. 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.039 Is this God good? 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.579 Can we trust him? 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:36.839 We spoke earlier about the fact that 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:40.599 God delivered his people from slavery, 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.619 from being in exile, 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.500 by this King Cyrus, 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:46.160 and Cyrus was the most unlikely source. 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.539 Nobody expected it. 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:49.420 Babylon was this world superpower. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.559 They thought that they were going to rule 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.599 for a thousand years, 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.559 and almost out of nowhere, 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.460 God raises this man Cyrus, 00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:58.539 and he comes and he sets his people free. 00:27:58.879 --> 00:28:01.139 But it was the most unlikely of sources. 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:03.940 He was the most unlikely of deliverers. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:08.139 But as you read the story of God's people 00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.819 in the scriptures, 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.079 one of the things that we quickly learn 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:13.339 is that the biggest problem 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.559 God's people face 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:16.879 is actually no external army. 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.740 It's not the Babylonians 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.539 or the Persians 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.279 or the Egyptians. 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.740 The biggest enemy 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.220 that God's people face is where? 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.659 It's internal. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.819 It's the battle of their hearts. 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:28.699 In fact, 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.779 the biggest battle 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:31.159 that Israel ever fought 00:28:31.159 --> 00:28:32.720 was not on some battlefield 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.759 in the Middle East. 00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:34.839 It was actually the battle 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.500 that was raging 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.379 in their own hearts. 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.980 Would they trust God? 00:28:38.199 --> 00:28:39.439 Would they listen to him? 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.799 Would they obey him? 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.180 The Israelites thought 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.980 that they were enslaved 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:44.120 by the Babylonians, 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.299 but actually they were slaves 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.059 to their own sin. 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.140 They were slaves 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.380 to their own self-sufficiency, 00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.620 to their own self-righteousness, 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.600 to the stubbornness 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.480 of their own hearts. 00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:54.660 Remember verse 8 says this. 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.400 It says, 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.440 Remember this. 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.299 Call it to mind, 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.360 you transgressors. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.340 Verse 12 says, 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.500 Listen to me, 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.700 you stubborn of heart, 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.660 you who are far from righteousness. 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.920 God's not speaking 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.100 about the Babylonians here. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.460 He's speaking about his own people. 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.519 His own people are stubborn of heart. 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.960 They are far from righteousness. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.559 And friends, 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.319 this is still the biggest battle 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.559 that God's people face. 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.660 Watermark, 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.860 into the future, 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.600 the biggest battle, 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.460 the biggest challenge 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.480 that we're going to face, 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.059 the biggest, 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.059 I guess, 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.259 challenges that we're going to have 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.019 are not going to be 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.620 from some government persecution. 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:27.779 It's not going to be 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:29.240 from some political party. 00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.400 It's not going to be 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.900 from some other religion 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:33.799 that wants to stamp out Christianity. 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.079 It's not going to be 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.740 from anyone 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.940 that opposes the gospel. 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.340 The biggest battle 00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:39.240 we're going to have to face 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.220 is the battle of our hearts 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.319 where we trust Christ, 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.360 where we love Him supremely. 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.779 And the biggest battle 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:46.279 which we're going to need to wage 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.140 is the same battle 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.840 that people of God 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.900 have always had to fight. 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.039 What are we hoping in? 00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:51.559 What are we trusting in? 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:54.000 What God are we banking our lives on? 00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:55.220 You see, 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.720 this is the real battle we face. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.940 This is the real enemy. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.160 But even in this, 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.079 God is not powerless. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.819 You might think God says, 00:30:02.900 --> 00:30:03.160 Oh, well, 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.400 it's a battle you've got to face 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.600 and I'll just let you decide. 00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:06.279 Even in this, 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.140 God is not powerless. 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:07.980 Look at what he says. 00:30:08.560 --> 00:30:09.259 Listen to me, 00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:10.259 you stubborn of heart, 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:12.340 you who are far from my righteousness. 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:15.340 I will bring my righteousness near. 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.759 It is not far off. 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:19.040 My salvation will not delay. 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:21.940 I will bring my salvation to you, 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:22.660 to Zion, 00:30:23.020 --> 00:30:24.400 for Israel my glory. 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.280 See, friends, 00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:26.480 the good news of the gospel 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:28.580 is that God in His sovereign mercy 00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:30.100 sent Cyrus' shepherd, 00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:31.480 His chosen one, 00:30:31.520 --> 00:30:33.120 to rescue and redeem Israel. 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:34.579 And so in the same way, 00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:36.759 God would one day send another shepherd, 00:30:36.939 --> 00:30:38.179 another anointed one, 00:30:38.379 --> 00:30:39.919 the ultimate deliverer, 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.799 to rescue and redeem Israel. 00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.959 Not trapped in Babylon, 00:30:43.439 --> 00:30:44.639 not trapped in Egypt, 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:46.239 not trapped in Persia, 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:48.319 but slaves to their own sin, 00:30:48.959 --> 00:30:50.579 slaves to their own stubborn hearts. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.159 Jesus Christ, 00:30:52.239 --> 00:30:52.959 our good shepherd, 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:54.319 came to set us free 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.639 from the battles that we wage, 00:30:55.699 --> 00:30:56.979 and to come and set us free 00:30:56.979 --> 00:30:58.579 from being slaves to sin, 00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:00.059 to carry the burden 00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.299 of our self-sufficiency 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:03.079 and our self-righteousness. 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.539 And how would He do it? 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.519 How would Jesus set us free? 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:07.799 Well, Jesus, 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.419 the good shepherd, 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.079 said this. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:09.740 He says, 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:11.199 I am the good shepherd. 00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:13.159 I lay down my life 00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:14.159 for my sheep. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.859 No one takes it from me. 00:31:16.939 --> 00:31:17.980 I lay it down 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.619 of my own accord. 00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:21.299 In His sovereignty, 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:23.460 God sent a rescuer, 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.259 the shepherd who would come 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.379 not bearing a sword 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.379 or a shield, 00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:29.020 but come bearing a cross. 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:31.080 God sent one who wouldn't come 00:31:31.080 --> 00:31:32.900 and lead an army of mighty men 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:34.120 to destroy the enemy. 00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:36.260 He came to lead 00:31:36.260 --> 00:31:38.340 a bunch of very ordinary men and women, 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:40.600 and He laid down His life. 00:31:41.300 --> 00:31:41.600 Friends, 00:31:42.260 --> 00:31:43.720 the Bible's greatest teaching 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:45.340 about the sovereignty of God 00:31:45.340 --> 00:31:47.620 is that in His perfect knowledge, 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:50.120 in His absolute control of all things, 00:31:50.300 --> 00:31:52.040 God sent His Son, 00:31:52.760 --> 00:31:54.520 born as a baby in a manger, 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:57.160 growing up in the backwaters of Israel, 00:31:57.380 --> 00:32:00.520 put on a sham mock trial 00:32:00.520 --> 00:32:02.460 by the people of Israel, 00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:04.540 sentenced to death 00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:05.980 for a crime that He didn't do, 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:07.500 and yet all of it 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.620 was according to the definite plan 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.640 and the foreknowledge 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.960 of the sovereign God. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.160 He didn't do it 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.220 because Pontius Pilate 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.040 was proudful. 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.100 He didn't do it 00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:17.700 because the Jewish people 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.660 were jealous of Him. 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.220 Jesus didn't die 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.960 because anyone got the better of Him, 00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:23.500 because Pontius Pilate 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.720 had a bad day at the office. 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.279 He did it because God 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:26.940 in His sovereignty 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:28.519 was sending a rescuer, 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.180 a saver, 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.519 the ultimate shepherd 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.039 to bring His people home. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.480 Because in His sovereignty, 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.980 He chose to carry His people 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:36.839 from captivity to freedom. 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.279 But He did it first 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.420 by carrying a cross, 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:41.000 by bearing our sin 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.180 upon Himself. 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.660 It is the only way 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:45.140 that God could destroy our sin 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.460 without destroying the people 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:48.019 in which sin dwelt. 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:50.839 And so He went to the cross. 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.039 And so in the words 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.700 of that old hymn, 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:54.940 Behold the man upon the cross, 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:57.200 my sin upon His shoulders. 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.420 Ashamed, 00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:01.079 I hear my mocking voice 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:02.740 call out amongst the scoffers. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:05.119 Why should I gain from His reward? 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.160 Why? 00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:07.240 I cannot give an answer, 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:09.240 but this I know with all my heart. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:12.559 His wounds have paid my ransom. 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:13.819 Friends, 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.960 though we all, 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.700 like God's people, 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:16.420 have gone away, 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:17.460 gone astray, 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:19.079 like all God's people before us, 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.819 by nature we are sinners. 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.440 We are unrighteous 00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.259 and without merit. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.160 God's gracious gift 00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:25.980 is that He brings 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.960 His righteousness near. 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:29.140 He brings salvation to us. 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.819 Though we are slaves to our sin, 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.519 Christ says, 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.779 I will come and deliver you. 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.880 I will carry you. 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:35.600 I've carried you from the grave, 00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.980 from the tomb to the grave, 00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.240 but I will carry you 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:39.120 to my righteousness. 00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:41.299 God gives us a righteousness 00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:42.380 which is not our own, 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:43.840 but it's given to us by grace 00:33:43.840 --> 00:33:45.960 if we simply believe Him, 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:47.799 simply trust Him, 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:49.579 simply surrender, 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:52.340 simply repent of going our own way. 00:33:52.940 --> 00:33:53.319 Friends, 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.140 none of us in this room 00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:55.140 know what the future holds, 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.880 but we can know the one 00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.940 who holds the future, 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.759 the future of this church, 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:01.039 the future of our families, 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.660 the future of all these things 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.880 in the hands of the one 00:34:03.880 --> 00:34:05.000 true sovereign God, 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:06.079 and He invites us 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:07.340 to trust Him. 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.760 We can trust Him 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:10.000 because He's alive and real, 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.679 because He hears our prayers, 00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.320 and because He answers. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.600 We can trust Him 00:34:13.600 --> 00:34:14.800 because He's the sovereign God 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.440 over every aspect of creation, 00:34:16.580 --> 00:34:17.740 from the smallest molecule 00:34:17.740 --> 00:34:19.160 to the grandest galaxy. 00:34:19.740 --> 00:34:20.580 We can trust Him 00:34:20.580 --> 00:34:21.980 because He's the one true God 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:23.059 who, though being God, 00:34:23.140 --> 00:34:25.180 did not count equality with God 00:34:25.180 --> 00:34:26.360 something to be grasped, 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.700 but He emptied Himself 00:34:27.700 --> 00:34:29.140 and went to the cross for us. 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.680 We can trust Him 00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:32.340 because He's the one true God 00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:33.559 who's not only strong, 00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:36.519 but exceedingly gracious as well. 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.740 I am God, 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.820 and there is none like me, 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.300 says God, 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.380 declaring the end 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.480 from the beginning, 00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.880 from ancient times, 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.920 things not yet done, 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:44.579 saying, 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.880 my counsel will stand, 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:47.380 and I will accomplish 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.440 my purposes. 00:34:48.640 --> 00:34:49.480 I have spoken. 00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:51.200 I will bring it to pass. 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.720 I have purposed. 00:34:53.180 --> 00:34:54.940 I will do it. 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.539 Let's pray together. 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.680 Why don't you stand with me? 00:35:06.680 --> 00:35:08.059 Let's come before Christ, 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:10.840 stand in prayer. 00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.659 Just as I was preparing 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:19.019 this last few days, 00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:20.219 I was just so aware that 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:24.179 probably some of us here 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:25.059 that do feel like 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.820 we've come to the end 00:35:25.820 --> 00:35:26.400 of ourselves, 00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:29.599 feel anxious and exhausted, 00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:32.980 feel alone and weary, 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:37.840 just feel like 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:40.260 God's word to us is, 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:41.000 I am the God 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.000 that carries you. 00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:44.599 Come to me. 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.019 Jesus says, 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.559 come and 00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:49.079 take my burden, 00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:50.639 take my yoke upon yourself. 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:52.159 Come and follow me. 00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:53.559 Come and let me be Lord. 00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:55.480 Come and surrender. 00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:57.480 But then He says, 00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:58.539 my yoke is easy, 00:35:58.619 --> 00:35:59.599 my burden is light. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:04.179 We find that 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.559 Christ's burden is light 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.679 when you come to Him 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.179 and surrender. 00:36:07.319 --> 00:36:07.460 Say, 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:07.819 Jesus, 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.559 have your way. 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:11.960 Friends, 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.920 I wonder if we can 00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:14.920 repent of trusting 00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:16.059 in false gods 00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:16.739 to rescue 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.819 and to secure 00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:18.519 a good future. 00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:21.639 I wonder if we can 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:22.659 repent of hedging 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.199 our bets, 00:36:24.719 --> 00:36:25.759 still serving God 00:36:25.759 --> 00:36:26.400 while we have 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.319 a backup plan 00:36:27.319 --> 00:36:28.199 of the gods 00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:28.839 of our culture. 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:32.180 Maybe some of us 00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:32.920 here we need to ask 00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:33.780 Him to help us 00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.440 to trust Him. 00:36:35.600 --> 00:36:35.920 You say, 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.220 God, 00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.519 I want to trust You more. 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:39.180 Won't You help me? 00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.079 Holy Spirit, 00:36:47.180 --> 00:36:48.400 we need You 00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:48.940 to come and do 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.780 a work in our hearts. 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.860 We need You, 00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:52.059 God, 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:53.039 to open our eyes 00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:54.380 to see You afresh. 00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:57.840 God, 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.579 won't You help us 00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.300 to trust You 00:36:59.300 --> 00:36:59.920 supremely? 00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:05.180 God, 00:37:05.240 --> 00:37:05.760 this week, 00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.980 as we go into our week 00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:07.960 and some of us 00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:08.780 are going to be traveling 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:10.720 and there's pressures 00:37:10.720 --> 00:37:11.400 at work, 00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.400 God, 00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.500 won't You help us 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.380 not to trust 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.240 in all the things 00:37:16.240 --> 00:37:18.140 that our culture 00:37:18.140 --> 00:37:18.940 is telling us 00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:19.700 will secure us 00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:20.300 a good future? 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:21.260 Won't You help us 00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:22.300 to lift our eyes 00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:23.280 above those things 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:24.720 to the one sovereign God 00:37:24.720 --> 00:37:25.800 who rules and reigns? 00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:39.880 Jesus, 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:40.660 we bring our lives 00:37:40.660 --> 00:37:41.300 before You 00:37:41.300 --> 00:37:43.920 to come and have Your way. 00:37:47.040 --> 00:37:48.280 We trust You, God. 00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:49.000 We trust You 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.820 with our church. 00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:53.340 we trust You 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:54.180 with our lives. 00:38:01.080 --> 00:38:01.920 We trust You 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.539 with our children. 00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:02.620 We trust You 00:38:02.620 --> 00:38:02.680 with our children. 00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:21.279 Come have your way, God.