WEBVTT

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 Let me add my hello to you and my welcome to church.

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 My voice is particularly bassy tonight and I apologise for that.

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 I'll do my best not to cough over the microphone.

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 We are beginning a new series tonight which is very exciting.

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 It's exciting because of the topic.

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 It's also daunting as a preacher.

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 We're beginning a series called Knowing God

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 which we are going to sit in for the next six weeks.

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 And the goal of this series is, like it sounds,

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 for us to really reflect on and soak in who God is,

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 to look at his character, to try and understand him better.

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 I want to recommend a couple of books to you right up front.

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 We stole the title from this book, Knowing God by J.I. Packer

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 which is a sensational read.

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 We're not following the book necessarily

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 but it is a great book for the sort of things

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 that we're going to be looking at and wrestling with

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 over the next couple of weeks.

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 And this slightly smaller book by Bruce Ware

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 called Father, Son and Holy Spirit

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 I have found particularly helpful

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 as I have wrestled with the doctrine of the Trinity

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 which we are going to do over the next six weeks.

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 It may feel daunting even to use that word Trinity

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 as we get ready for six weeks of wrestling with it.

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 And you may be sitting there thinking, why this?

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 Surely there are many other series that we could look at.

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 There might be really specific practical concerns

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 that you would love us to wrestle with.

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 Maybe your work-life balance.

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 Maybe your finances.

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 Maybe any number of other things.

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 But we have chosen this

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 and it's worth us asking the question why.

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 Because there is a danger in a series like this.

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 There is a danger when we wrestle with who God is

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 when we wrestle with theology ultimately.

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 That's what we're doing.

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 There's the danger that we approach it

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 simply with the goal that we will know stuff.

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 That we will have more anecdotes about who God is.

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 That we will have more ammunition to shout back at people

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 when we get in arguments at work or uni or school.

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 There is of course the danger that we are just doing this series

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 so that we know more stuff about God.

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 If that is our goal, if that is your goal,

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 you are on a path to self-satisfaction,

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 self-condemnation and self-righteousness

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 which are all of no value.

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 And so we need to be really careful about our motivations

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 when we look at something like the character of God.

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 We need to ensure that we're coming at this

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 for more than just information.

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 Theology is one of those nerdy words

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 which sometimes immediately gives us a picture

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 of just library, university, high pants,

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 whatever other things you're thinking of.

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 We need to ensure that that's not our goal for this series.

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 It's not our goal ever when we open the Bible

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 and particularly as we wrestle with knowing God,

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 we don't just want to know more stuff about God at the end.

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 If that's where we get to,

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 we will have wasted six weeks of time together

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 and six weeks of opening the Bible together.

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 So theology, which is basically the study of God,

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 is a gift.

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 It is something in which we can find great encouragement.

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 Let me read to you the words of a very, very great preacher,

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 Charles Spurgeon, when beginning a sermon at the age of 20,

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 which is slightly intimidating.

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 But let me read you very briefly his introduction

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 as he began wrestling with this topic specifically.

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 He said that the most excellent study for expanding the soul

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 is the science of Christ and him crucified

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 and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity.

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 Nothing will so enlarge the intellect,

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 nothing so magnify the whole soul of a man

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 as a devout, earnest, continued investigation

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 of the great subject of the deity.

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 And whilst humbling and expanding,

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 this subject is eminently consolatory.

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 Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ,

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 a balm for every wound.

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 In musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief.

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 And in the influence of the Holy Ghost,

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 there is a balsam for every sore.

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 Would you lose your sorrow?

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 Would you drown your cares?

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 Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea.

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 Be lost in his immensity,

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 and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest,

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 refreshed and invigorated.

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 I know nothing which can so comfort the soul,

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 so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief,

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 so speak peace to the winds of trial

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 as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.

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 He finds in his study of God

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 comfort, encouragement, challenge, rebuke,

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 healing, inspiration,

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 and that is why we're going to spend some time

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 wrestling with what is a difficult topic.

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 I want to acknowledge that it'll be hard

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 for the next six weeks,

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 but it's worth it for those reasons

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 that he has just articulated for us.

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 Theology is a gift to us for our sake.

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 It's not a pointless exercise.

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 It is a gift that God has given us,

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 but more than a gift, it is a necessity.

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 According to Jesus himself,

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 the eternal life that we have is knowing God.

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 In John 17, he says it explicitly,

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 this is eternal life that they may know you,

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 the one true God.

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 And so we must do theology,

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 because that is the life that Jesus has died

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 and risen again to give us.

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 But as well as being a gift

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 and as well as being a necessity,

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 theology is, as Spurgeon has said,

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 incredibly practical.

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 You might think of other places you want to start,

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 thinking about the character of God

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 may appear abstract,

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 but we need to remember that God

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 is the ultimate reality in the universe.

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 He is the defining true thing.

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 He is the measure for all other things.

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 He is the means and the necessary means

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 by which we can look at other things,

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 look at our finances,

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 look at our work-life balance,

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 look at whatever else it may be.

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 It doesn't appear attractive at first.

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 It's like when you're designing a house

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 or going to look at a house that you want to buy.

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 You don't start with the sewage system.

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 You start with the veneer on the outside

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 or what gardens you might have.

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 The sewage system doesn't appear appealing or attractive,

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 but a house is not functional

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 if it doesn't have some sort of sewage system.

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 Fairly soon, if you completely neglected

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 to ensure that it was working,

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 it would destroy the nice grass

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 and the nice veneer and the nice carpets in your house.

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 Now, of course, there's a problem there

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 because we're saying that God is like sewage,

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 but the point is it doesn't appear attractive

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 in a setting like this with the Bible open

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 to go straight to just thinking about who God is.

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 We want to jump to the more interesting stuff,

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 the stuff that really touches us immediately,

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 like sexual purity,

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 like generosity,

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 like love.

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 But unless we understand the character of God,

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 we can't do those things

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 because the character of God is central.

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 He is the thing that defines the way we use our finances,

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 the way we treat one another,

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 the way we use our time.

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 And so we will begin this year

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 by wrestling with what appears abstract,

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 with what might be intimidating,

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 with what might be scary,

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 and we will wrestle with our God who is Trinity.

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 The passages that Tim read out for us before

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 in the Philippians passage,

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 Paul expresses a deep desire that he might know God.

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 And I want to begin,

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 you may think I've already begun,

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 I want to begin by asking the question,

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 what can we actually know about God?

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 As Christians,

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 we love to talk about having a relationship with God.

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 That sounds fantastic,

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 but what do we even mean by that?

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 I mean,

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 God is

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 up there,

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 isn't he?

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 So when we describe a relationship with God,

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 do we mean the same thing that we mean

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 when we talk about relationships with one another?

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 How do relationships work when you meet somebody?

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 You initiate them by slowly getting to know them.

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 The relationship only works if both parties

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 are gradually giving more of themselves,

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 and giving more access of themselves to the other person.

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 And progressively,

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 as you learn more of what things excite them,

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 and what things upset them,

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 and what things anger them,

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 and you become invested in those things,

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 and you become excited by what excites them,

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 and saddened by what saddens them,

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 and offended by what offends them,

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 your relationship grows,

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 and is strengthened,

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 and you come closer together.

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 I don't mean merely romantic relationships.

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 This might be just a friend that you meet,

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 this might be an acquaintance,

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 this could even be a family member.

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 I am enjoying getting to know my son at the moment.

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 We've only had him for 10 months,

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 and progressively,

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 as he discovers more of who he is,

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 he's able to disclose more of who he is

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 to me and Sal as well.

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 And so as we get to know him,

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 he gets to know more of us,

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 and the relationship grows.

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 For a relationship,

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 there needs to be some sort of access given.

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 And when there's a superior in the relationship,

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 the access is entirely one directional.

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 Imagine for a second

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 that you have won some sort of lottery,

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 and you are given the opportunity to meet the queen.

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 And not just that meet the queen

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 where you stand in a queue,

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 shake the hand,

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 or curtsy,

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 or whatever,

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 and then she moves on

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 and pays no attention to you,

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 but meet the queen

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 in a way where you get to sit down with her,

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 have some face time,

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 just you and her.

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 And initially,

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 you sit down,

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 and if she was to insist

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 that you referred to her as her majesty,

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 if she was to limit the discussion

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 to the weather,

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 or the current affairs that were going on,

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 you might walk away a little bit disappointed,

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 because even though you had met her,

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 and you had spoken to her,

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 and you knew her name,

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 you probably wouldn't say

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 you had a relationship with her.

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 But if she was to invite you in,

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 and as you sat down,

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 she said,

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 please call me Liz.

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 And she began to give you a little bit more access

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 to who she is.

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 She began to share her frustration

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 at the comical version of a family that she has.

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 She began to talk about and discuss

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 the things that have been difficult in her lifetime.

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 She began to share some of her personal experiences.

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 She began to let you in

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 to see who she is

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 and what matters to her.

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 Only then

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 would you begin to feel like

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 there was some sort of relationship.

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 And can you see that

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 you can only have a relationship

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 in so much as she

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 reveals herself to you?

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 It's entirely her prerogative.

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 As the queen,

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 she could just ring her secret service

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 and probably find out

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 everything there is to know about you.

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 But for you to know her,

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 she needs to make a decision

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 that she will show herself to you.

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 Only what is revealed can be known.

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 And the same is true of us and God.

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 There is a relationship between us and God,

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 but it's not a relationship between equals.

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 Our relationship with God is limited

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 to what He shows us of Himself.

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 And so really quickly,

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 I want to have a look at how He shows us Himself.

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 The Bible tells us in Romans chapter 1

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 that in nature,

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 we get a bit of a glimpse into God.

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 In nature,

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 we begin to see that God is powerful and immense.

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 We get to see that God is sovereign,

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 that God is in control,

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 that God looks after and sustains

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 even the little things,

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 that God can control the storms

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 and the seasons

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 and the days

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 and the nights

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 and the years

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 and the generations.

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 But it's not until we get to Jesus

00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.639
 that we begin to see

00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.259
 some serious revealing,

00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.899
 some serious revelation.

00:12:03.079 --> 00:12:04.740
 There is a verse at the beginning

00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:05.720
 of the book of Hebrews.

00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.000
 Sorry,

00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:08.659
 I should have bookmarked lots of these,

00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.700
 but I'll flick around.

00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.519
 There is a verse at the very beginning of Hebrews

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:12.600
 in Hebrews chapter 1

00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.379
 which says this,

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:16.320
 In the past,

00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:17.879
 God spoke to our forefathers

00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:18.639
 through the prophets

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.580
 at many times

00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.720
 and in various ways,

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:22.320
 but in these last days

00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:23.539
 He has spoken to us

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.419
 by His Son

00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.580
 whom He appointed

00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.720
 heir of all things

00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:27.720
 and through whom

00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:29.019
 He made the universe.

00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.399
 God gives Jesus

00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.399
 so that we can see Him,

00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:34.740
 so that we can get

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.779
 a fuller picture of Him.

00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.539
 Colossians 1

00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:37.419
 talks about Jesus

00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:39.620
 being the exact representation

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:41.440
 of the Father in heaven,

00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:43.760
 that the point of Jesus arriving,

00:12:43.880 --> 00:12:45.340
 the point of Jesus coming to earth

00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:46.920
 is so that we can see

00:12:46.920 --> 00:12:48.260
 what bits of God

00:12:48.260 --> 00:12:49.420
 He wants us to see,

00:12:49.900 --> 00:12:50.660
 so that there will be

00:12:50.660 --> 00:12:51.580
 something on show

00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:52.600
 that we can begin

00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:54.620
 to relate to.

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.580
 He already knows us,

00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:57.280
 He made us,

00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.080
 He's the Creator,

00:12:58.660 --> 00:13:00.700
 but the bit that we relate with

00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.840
 is the bit that God

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.500
 has shown us

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.940
 and the bit that He has shown us

00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:05.660
 is His Son, Jesus.

00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:08.519
 But the amazing good thing

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.079
 about our God,

00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:11.879
 even though He is far above us,

00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:13.519
 even though He is far beyond us,

00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:15.779
 is that He actually wants

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.899
 to be known.

00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:21.000
 Sometimes there is this inkling

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:24.899
 that maybe God is happier,

00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.620
 separate from us,

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.240
 that maybe God kind of humors us

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.559
 by just dangling a carrot,

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:32.079
 but repeatedly throughout Scripture,

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:34.740
 God shows us that His desire

00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:36.320
 is for people,

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:37.600
 humans,

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.779
 to know Him.

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.799
 In Jeremiah chapter 31,

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.320
 God makes a covenant

00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:43.139
 with His people.

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:46.259
 Jeremiah 31, 33 says this,

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.779
 This is the covenant

00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:49.419
 I will make with the house of Israel.

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.860
 After that time,

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:51.700
 declares the Lord,

00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.820
 I will put my law in their minds

00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:55.060
 and write it on their hearts.

00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:56.899
 I will be their God

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:58.180
 and they will be my people.

00:13:58.680 --> 00:13:59.940
 No longer will a man

00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.940
 teach his neighbor

00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:02.100
 or a man his brother

00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:02.639
 saying,

00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:03.940
 Know the Lord,

00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:06.160
 because they will all know me

00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:07.520
 from the least of them

00:14:07.520 --> 00:14:08.360
 to the greatest,

00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:09.560
 declares the Lord.

00:14:11.140 --> 00:14:13.440
 God's plan from the beginning

00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:16.080
 was that people would know Him.

00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:18.320
 People have been missing it

00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.180
 and rejecting it,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.700
 but even from way back here

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.500
 before Jesus,

00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:22.660
 God's agenda was

00:14:22.660 --> 00:14:24.860
 that all people would know Him,

00:14:25.280 --> 00:14:26.420
 not know about Him,

00:14:26.520 --> 00:14:27.780
 not have some idea who He is,

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.100
 not be able to spell His name,

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:31.380
 but have a relationship with Him.

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.980
 We flick forward

00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:33.980
 into the New Testament,

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.580
 into John chapter 17,

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.139
 and this time we have Jesus praying.

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:40.259
 John 17 is a chapter

00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.299
 we're probably going to go back

00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:42.159
 to a couple of times

00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.120
 over the next few weeks,

00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:45.460
 but in John 17 and verse 6,

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.600
 Jesus says this,

00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:48.840
 I have revealed you,

00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.580
 talking to His Father in heaven,

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:52.460
 to those whom you gave me

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:53.360
 out of the world.

00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:55.840
 The job that Jesus was given

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.500
 by God

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:58.600
 was to reveal God,

00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.960
 to show God,

00:15:00.040 --> 00:15:02.180
 and so everything He does on earth

00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:03.759
 is to show us

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.920
 the God of heaven

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:07.000
 so that we might know Him.

00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:08.920
 The relationship

00:15:08.920 --> 00:15:11.060
 is not to be just information,

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.060
 the relationship is to be

00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:15.360
 information and response.

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.779
 It's to be head and heart

00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:19.180
 and hands and feet

00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:20.320
 and whole of life.

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.639
 God shows us who He is

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.879
 that that might shape

00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:24.680
 who we are

00:15:24.680 --> 00:15:26.200
 and that that might shape

00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:27.379
 the lives that we live.

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.879
 The end point that we see

00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.840
 in Scripture

00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:31.559
 is every tongue

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:33.439
 confessing that Jesus is Lord,

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:35.059
 is every knee bowing

00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:36.600
 because finally they know

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.399
 who God is,

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.820
 because finally they are

00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:41.399
 confronted with His majesty.

00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.600
 God is not hiding,

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.939
 God's goal is not to be

00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:45.039
 hard to find,

00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:47.159
 His goal is that people

00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.080
 would know Him.

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.340
 So what can we know of God?

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.860
 We can know what He has revealed

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:53.039
 and what has He revealed?

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.399
 He has revealed Himself

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.379
 in His Son,

00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.699
 He has revealed Himself

00:15:56.699 --> 00:15:57.659
 in His creation

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:59.579
 and for us He has compiled

00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:00.959
 those things in Scripture

00:16:00.959 --> 00:16:03.939
 so that even thousands of years

00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.980
 after Jesus' life,

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:05.939
 death and resurrection

00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:08.319
 we still can meet God.

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:11.579
 We can still have Him speak to us.

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.759
 Our relationship with God

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.299
 is not exactly like

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.340
 our other relationships.

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:17.540
 relationships.

00:16:18.680 --> 00:16:20.620
 We can't see God

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:22.460
 but we can have Him

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.940
 speak to us every day.

00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:26.180
 We can have Him show us

00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:27.100
 more of His character

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:29.080
 through the people around us.

00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:31.899
 We can have a relationship

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:32.500
 with Him.

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.740
 One thing that we're going

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.820
 to wrestle with in particular

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.840
 over the next few weeks

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:39.560
 is that God has revealed Himself

00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.980
 as Trinity.

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:43.519
 He hasn't used the word

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.080
 Trinity

00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:45.920
 and the word is sometimes

00:16:45.920 --> 00:16:47.540
 something that we trip over

00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:49.680
 but He has revealed Himself

00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:51.340
 as a God who is three

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.560
 and a God who is one.

00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.379
 This is the bit

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.759
 where we start to get concerned,

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.960
 our heads start to spin,

00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:59.060
 we start to get nervous

00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:01.060
 but the testimony of the Bible

00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:02.400
 is that God is Father,

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.140
 God is Son

00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.299
 and God is Holy Spirit.

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.240
 I want to put it out there

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:09.920
 straight away.

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:11.640
 this is a truth

00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.720
 that is incomprehensible.

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.440
 This is a truth

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.080
 that is beyond us

00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:21.420
 but it's still true

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:25.539
 which means it still matters

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:28.539
 and the reason it matters

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.259
 is because

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:31.480
 we can only have a relationship

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.120
 with what God has revealed to us

00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:35.960
 and God has revealed to us

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.820
 that He is Trinity.

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.259
 So if we're going to have

00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.660
 a relationship with God,

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.859
 it needs to be

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.539
 with the God

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.480
 who is Trinity.

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:44.079
 Over the next few weeks

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:44.799
 you're going to find

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.799
 that I repeat myself a lot.

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.680
 I'm not doing it by accident

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.240
 hopefully.

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.720
 There are things

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.319
 that Scripture testifies to

00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.799
 over and over again.

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.079
 We will go to verse

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.640
 after verse

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.259
 that tells us

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.799
 that there is one God

00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:00.220
 and one God alone

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:03.240
 and so I will keep telling you that.

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.579
 We will go to verses

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.319
 that tell us

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.059
 that Jesus is God,

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:09.039
 that the Spirit is God,

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.759
 that the Father is God

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.659
 over and over again

00:18:12.659 --> 00:18:15.179
 because that is what Scripture tells us.

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.679
 We are still then standing

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.819
 in that awkward position

00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.700
 of saying there's one

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.700
 but there's three

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.460
 but there's one

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.200
 but there's three

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.259
 but we need to be clear

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:24.220
 Scripture keeps saying them

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.220
 so they're true.

00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:27.379
 What we want to wrestle with,

00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:29.159
 what do we do with that fact?

00:18:29.679 --> 00:18:32.039
 That there is a oneness in God,

00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:33.879
 a unity that cannot be broken,

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:35.099
 that cannot be separated

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:37.219
 but there is also a distinction,

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:40.139
 there is a threeness in God.

00:18:41.059 --> 00:18:41.899
 So again,

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.839
 what do we do with that?

00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:45.659
 Well,

00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.139
 it's okay for us to acknowledge

00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:50.459
 that it's hard to understand.

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.740
 We need to remember

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.919
 that we are trying to

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:56.419
 contain a God

00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:57.459
 who is infinite,

00:18:58.199 --> 00:19:00.079
 a God who is outside

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:03.219
 of this apparently infinite galaxy

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.200
 that we live in.

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.000
 He created it

00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.920
 and yet we're trying to collect

00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.039
 all of that power

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.779
 and majesty

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:11.200
 and condense it

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.440
 into our little brains.

00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.220
 That's never going to work.

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.240
 I was trying to think

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.839
 of an illustration

00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:18.779
 to show us

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.819
 the difference

00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:21.240
 between something finite,

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.759
 trying to understand

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.720
 something that's infinite

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.740
 and I couldn't come up

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.160
 with anything

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.140
 because there is nothing

00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:27.120
 that is that ridiculous

00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:28.160
 and that far apart.

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.799
 Seriously,

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.960
 I was asking around

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.740
 and I was just looking

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.640
 for something that showed

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:34.100
 that the immense gap

00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:35.640
 between finite and infinite

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:38.500
 and finite being contained

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.740
 and infinite being uncontained

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.680
 and that trying to understand.

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.860
 You can't do it

00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.620
 because it is just

00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:44.500
 so overwhelmingly unrealistic

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.620
 but yet that is what

00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.380
 we're trying to wrestle

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.180
 with right now.

00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:49.059
 And that might be frustrating

00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:49.779
 and discouraging

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.799
 but just be reminded

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.360
 that God wants to be known.

00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.140
 That's His goal

00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:55.299
 and so He will give us

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.079
 what we need

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.100
 to know Him.

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:58.679
 He will give us enough

00:19:58.679 --> 00:20:00.559
 that we can understand

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:01.379
 who He is

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.339
 and that we can have

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:04.259
 a relationship with Him.

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:06.619
 And so to this point

00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:08.279
 in terms of what we can know

00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:08.839
 about God

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.579
 and the relationship

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.659
 that we can have

00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:12.319
 all I want to say

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.319
 for tonight is

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:16.059
 that God has revealed Himself

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:17.539
 in nature,

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.759
 in His Son,

00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:19.819
 in Scripture

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:22.259
 and that revelation is

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:24.439
 that God is triune.

00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.519
 that God is one

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.580
 and God is three

00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:28.519
 and that's the God

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:30.100
 that we are in

00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:31.360
 a relationship with.

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.660
 The testimony

00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.980
 of 1 Corinthians 13

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:35.620
 which Tim read out,

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.380
 you might have been wondering

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.160
 why are we reading

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.320
 this wedding passage?

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.640
 If you've got it

00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.259
 in front of you,

00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.400
 have a look

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.700
 at 1 Corinthians 13.

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.240
 Verse 9,

00:20:44.340 --> 00:20:45.320
 We know in part

00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:46.799
 and we prophesy in part

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:48.480
 but when perfection comes

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.920
 the imperfect disappears.

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.059
 Now I want to go

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.080
 down to verse 12.

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.320
 Now we see

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.519
 but a poor reflection

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.259
 as in a mirror.

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.740
 Then we shall see

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.700
 face to face.

00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:59.299
 Now I know in part.

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:01.059
 Then I shall know fully

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:03.159
 even as I am fully known.

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:06.059
 The barrier for us now

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.119
 is not just

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.339
 our finiteness

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.859
 and God's infinity.

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:12.220
 The barrier for us now

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.740
 is the fact

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.899
 that we are imperfect

00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:15.179
 and He is perfect.

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.480
 It is complex.

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.539
 There's no denying it.

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.259
 It is difficult.

00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.279
 There's no denying it

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.079
 but it is true

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.460
 and the barrier for us

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.120
 to this truth

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:23.700
 is the fact

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:25.120
 that we are sinful people

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:27.380
 and that is why again

00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:28.180
 this relationship

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.180
 we have with God

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.240
 starts with Him

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.299
 revealing Himself

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:33.100
 not us finding Him.

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.180
 Not us grasping

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:36.279
 who He is.

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.360
 Not us studying

00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.000
 to a point

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.519
 where suddenly

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.740
 we can understand it.

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.740
 It's necessarily

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.920
 His initiative

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:44.100
 to choose

00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:45.319
 to reveal to us

00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.660
 and to enable us

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.500
 to understand

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.840
 enough of Him

00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:51.120
 that we might be shaped by it

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.559
 and that it might change us.

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.059
 Now because of

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.579
 the fun that we are going to have

00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.479
 wrestling with the Trinity

00:21:57.479 --> 00:21:58.519
 for the next six weeks

00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.979
 I wanted to flag for you

00:22:00.979 --> 00:22:03.219
 that in week five

00:22:03.219 --> 00:22:04.139
 I know it sounds like

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:04.719
 a long way away

00:22:04.719 --> 00:22:05.559
 in week five

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.559
 we are actually going to

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.339
 give some time

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.119
 in our service

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.179
 for questions.

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.459
 Now you might be

00:22:10.459 --> 00:22:11.079
 a little bit shy

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.979
 about asking questions

00:22:11.979 --> 00:22:12.719
 in the service

00:22:12.719 --> 00:22:13.779
 at any point

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.659
 between now and then

00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:16.139
 you can email me a question.

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.099
 I won't name you

00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:17.519
 I won't

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.259
 it would be anonymous

00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.019
 that's fine

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:21.319
 but chances are

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.199
 if you're wrestling with it

00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.339
 there's other people as well

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.579
 so please be brave enough

00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.459
 to throw it up there

00:22:25.459 --> 00:22:26.939
 and it will bless all of us

00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.539
 to wrestle with it.

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.099
 I want to tell you

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.599
 in advance

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.740
 I won't have all the answers

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.859
 but it will be good for us

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:33.079
 to see what things

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:34.519
 that we are grasping

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.199
 and what things

00:22:35.199 --> 00:22:36.179
 we're missing as well together

00:22:36.179 --> 00:22:36.779
 so that's going to be

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.439
 in a few weeks.

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:38.679
 The Trinity

00:22:38.679 --> 00:22:39.639
 is a stumbling block

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.279
 for some of us

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.359
 because for some of us

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.779
 we have had different illustrations

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.659
 thrown at us

00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.599
 over the years

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:46.099
 that can be less than helpful.

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.539
 Well intentioned

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:49.240
 but not necessarily helpful.

00:22:50.699 --> 00:22:51.740
 The water one

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.539
 is the first one

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.379
 that came to mind.

00:22:54.219 --> 00:22:55.459
 We think of the Trinity

00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:57.159
 as water, steam and ice.

00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.099
 H2O has its three forms.

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.699
 It's a good idea

00:23:00.699 --> 00:23:01.639
 there is threeness

00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:02.779
 but there's not oneness

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.759
 in the water, steam and ice

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.000
 because God is one

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.500
 and three at the same time

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:09.679
 whereas water can be water,

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.659
 ice or steam.

00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.539
 Now someone very smart

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.099
 in our congregation

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.419
 has apparently pointed out

00:23:14.419 --> 00:23:15.199
 to me that it is

00:23:15.199 --> 00:23:15.939
 actually possible

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.000
 for water to be the three

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.700
 at the same time

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.420
 but I've never heard

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:18.920
 that version

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.820
 of the illustration

00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:20.360
 with God

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.740
 so when I was told

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.220
 the illustration

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.019
 it was unhelpful.

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.220
 The point is

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:26.240
 the reason the Trinity

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.140
 can be confusing

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.200
 is as soon as somebody

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.920
 gives you something

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.220
 to help you understand it

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.380
 you suddenly realise

00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.640
 that that's completely inadequate

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.360
 and it's actually distracting

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:36.380
 and that's kind of encouraging.

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.820
 If God could be explained

00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:39.980
 in water, steam and ice

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.180
 I'd be kind of disappointed.

00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.340
 I don't know

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.059
 how much confidence

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.019
 I could have in this

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.240
 water, steam and ice God

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.779
 to save me from my sins

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.480
 and give me eternal life.

00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.480
 It is hard.

00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:52.480
 It is frustrating.

00:23:53.179 --> 00:23:55.000
 But the majesty of God

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.879
 is an encouragement.

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.319
 It's who He is.

00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.359
 He's not going to dumb it down for us.

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.299
 He's giving us

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.460
 enough of Himself

00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.779
 that we might know Him.

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.099
 And then that verse

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.399
 in 1 Corinthians 13

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.759
 Now I know in part

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:12.100
 then I shall know fully

00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:13.900
 even as I am fully known.

00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:16.420
 Once we have been

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.580
 fully transformed

00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:19.180
 once Jesus has come back

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.360
 then we will get to

00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:22.100
 grasp and bask in

00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:23.100
 and rejoice in

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.300
 and enjoy

00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:26.400
 God in His fullness.

00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.120
 Without the blinkers

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.360
 required to stop us

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.480
 from becoming overwhelmed

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.259
 we will get God fully

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.900
 when He finally comes back.

00:24:34.540 --> 00:24:36.140
 Trinity is who God is

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:37.640
 and to reject it

00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:39.020
 or to avoid it

00:24:39.020 --> 00:24:39.920
 because it's difficult

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.340
 is to reject

00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:42.820
 or avoid God.

00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.540
 Because this is Him.

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:47.259
 There is no other version.

00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.280
 To have a different God

00:24:48.280 --> 00:24:48.640
 than this

00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.320
 is to have a God

00:24:49.320 --> 00:24:50.120
 that you've made up.

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:53.000
 A God who is not God at all.

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.540
 And so it's important

00:24:54.540 --> 00:24:55.759
 that we wrestle with this

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.660
 and so we will.

00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:59.120
 And we probably will continue to

00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.200
 for many more years

00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.960
 in our lives.

00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:01.800
 In Matthew 28

00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:03.040
 the disciples are instructed

00:25:03.040 --> 00:25:04.880
 to go into all the nations

00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:06.360
 baptizing into the name

00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:08.240
 of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:08.880
 One name.

00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:10.640
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.600
 The God we worship

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:12.520
 His name is

00:25:12.520 --> 00:25:14.700
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.800
 The God who you follow

00:25:15.800 --> 00:25:16.720
 His name is

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.560
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.140
 And so

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:21.060
 we are going to wrestle with

00:25:21.060 --> 00:25:22.460
 we are going to ask God

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.920
 to give us eyes to see

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:25.100
 hearts to understand

00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.480
 that we might be shaped

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.120
 by who He is

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:29.240
 and by His character.

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.920
 But lastly

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:32.560
 tonight was

00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:33.400
 looking at

00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.860
 what we can know

00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.400
 about God

00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.060
 the relationship

00:25:36.060 --> 00:25:36.900
 that we can have

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.880
 and it's kind of

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.320
 introductory

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:39.019
 because we're going to

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.620
 start looking

00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.580
 at each member

00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:41.000
 of the Trinity

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.700
 going forward

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.440
 but I wanted to

00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.320
 before we finish

00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:45.460
 quickly wrestle with

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.440
 what it means

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.759
 to be known by God

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.380
 because a relationship

00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.640
 is two way.

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.900
 God has

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.920
 the seat

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:54.080
 of authority

00:25:54.080 --> 00:25:54.860
 He's the one

00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.820
 who initiates

00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.360
 He's the one

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:56.980
 who reveals

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.660
 but it is

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.660
 a relationship

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.940
 where we know Him

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.860
 and He knows us.

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.580
 So what does that mean?

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:05.060
 What's so unique

00:26:05.060 --> 00:26:05.440
 about that?

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.300
 Because on one level

00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:06.800
 you could say

00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:08.240
 God knows everyone

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:10.140
 God made everything

00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:11.360
 God made everyone

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.640
 Psalm 139

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.720
 testifies that God

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:15.019
 knits us together

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.980
 in our mother's womb

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.779
 that He knows

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.640
 every step

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.700
 before we take it

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:20.920
 and so what do we mean

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.880
 when we talk about

00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:23.100
 being known by God

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.259
 in a relationship

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.800
 with Him?

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.140
 Let me take you

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:26.920
 to two examples

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.600
 really quickly

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.379
 if you're fast

00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.839
 jumping through

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.299
 your Bible

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.980
 flick back to

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.819
 Exodus 33

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:33.079
 if not

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.619
 you can just

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.619
 listen in

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.759
 you might be

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.279
 faster than me

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.939
 anyway to be honest

00:26:36.939 --> 00:26:37.259
 with you

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.839
 Exodus 33

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:41.099
 this is an incident

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.139
 involving Moses

00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:43.299
 talking to God

00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:45.339
 and in Exodus 33

00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:45.859
 beginning at

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.659
 verse 12

00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:48.759
 Moses said to the

00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.000
 Lord

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.839
 you have been

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.439
 telling me

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:51.480
 lead these people

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.480
 but you have not

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.179
 let me know

00:26:53.179 --> 00:26:53.799
 whom you will

00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.480
 send with me

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.899
 you have said

00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:57.399
 this is quoting God

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.480
 I know you

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.120
 by name

00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.740
 and you have

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.320
 found favour

00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:00.740
 with me

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.019
 if you're

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.660
 pleased with me

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.180
 teach me

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.740
 your ways

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.240
 so I may

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:04.720
 know you

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.380
 and continue

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.180
 to find favour

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.620
 with you

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.580
 remember that

00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:08.100
 this nation

00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:08.900
 is your people

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:10.340
 the Lord replied

00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.259
 my presence

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.040
 will go with you

00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:12.600
 and I will

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.340
 give you rest

00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:14.400
 then Moses

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.100
 said to him

00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.880
 if your presence

00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.560
 does not go

00:27:16.560 --> 00:27:17.019
 with us

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.620
 do not send

00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.400
 us up from here

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.360
 how will anyone

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:20.060
 know that you

00:27:20.060 --> 00:27:20.500
 are pleased

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.860
 with me

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:21.300
 and with your

00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:21.660
 people

00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.360
 unless you go

00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.840
 with us

00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.720
 what else

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.360
 will distinguish

00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.100
 me and your

00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:25.700
 people from

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.240
 all the other

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.799
 people on the

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.299
 face of the

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.599
 earth

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.400
 he's really

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.859
 keeping it

00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.460
 verse 17

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.180
 and the Lord

00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.099
 said to Moses

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.460
 I will do

00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.240
 the very thing

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.940
 you have asked

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.880
 because I am

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.880
 pleased with you

00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:37.039
 and I know

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.900
 you by name

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:40.500
 God's knowing

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.339
 of Moses

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.240
 here is not

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.059
 simply a

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.480
 knowledge

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.220
 about

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.400
 it's not

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:45.980
 simply a

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.759
 knowledge of

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.799
 here God's

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.420
 knowing of

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:48.799
 Moses

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.920
 is directly

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.819
 connected to

00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.640
 God's saving

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.220
 work in

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.519
 Moses

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:53.299
 circumstance

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:55.019
 God's saving

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.500
 work in

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.180
 Israel's

00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.659
 history

00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.899
 God

00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:58.299
 knowing

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.740
 Moses

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.359
 is directly

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.839
 connected

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.379
 with God

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:00.799
 leading

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.399
 Israel

00:28:01.399 --> 00:28:01.899
 out of

00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.379
 Egypt

00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:03.399
 of his

00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:03.919
 presence

00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.240
 going

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.740
 with them

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.919
 and continuing

00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:06.419
 to look

00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:06.940
 after them

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.859
 really quickly

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.319
 in the New

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.659
 Testament

00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:09.240
 just to show

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.599
 you that this

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.079
 isn't just the

00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.539
 Old Testament

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.119
 before we get

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.639
 to Jesus

00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:13.259
 John 10

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.139
 verse 14

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:16.299
 Jesus says

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.059
 I am the

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.720
 good shepherd

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.539
 I know

00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:19.259
 my sheep

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.779
 and my

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.500
 sheep know

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.879
 me

00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:22.760
 just as

00:28:22.760 --> 00:28:23.180
 the Father

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:23.800
 knows me

00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.160
 and I

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:24.500
 know the

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:24.800
 Father

00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:25.260
 and I

00:28:25.260 --> 00:28:25.800
 lay down

00:28:25.800 --> 00:28:26.380
 my life

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.100
 for the

00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:27.400
 sheep

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:29.660
 I know

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.320
 my sheep

00:28:30.320 --> 00:28:30.740
 and my

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.240
 sheep know

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:31.420
 me

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:31.940
 there's the

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.540
 two-way

00:28:32.540 --> 00:28:33.140
 relationship

00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.620
 that God

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.140
 has designed

00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:34.680
 for us

00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.260
 and then at

00:28:35.260 --> 00:28:35.540
 the end

00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:35.960
 there I

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.660
 lay down

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.300
 my life

00:28:37.300 --> 00:28:38.040
 for the

00:28:38.040 --> 00:28:38.360
 sheep

00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.840
 Jesus does

00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:40.300
 not lay

00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:40.720
 down his

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.160
 life for

00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.560
 the sheep

00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:42.100
 because the

00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:42.600
 sheep know

00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:42.920
 him

00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.680
 it's his

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.200
 knowledge of

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:45.660
 the sheep

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.240
 that moves

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.800
 him to lay

00:28:46.800 --> 00:28:47.200
 down his

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:47.700
 life

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:49.060
 God's

00:28:49.060 --> 00:28:49.800
 knowing of

00:28:49.800 --> 00:28:50.060
 us

00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:50.460
 God's

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:50.800
 knowledge

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.159
 of us

00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.639
 God's

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:51.960
 side of

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.059
 the

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.619
 relationship

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:53.740
 is directly

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.539
 connected to

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.180
 his saving

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.879
 mercy in

00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.559
 our lives

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:58.399
 this is an

00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.519
 amazing blessing

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.480
 because as you

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.379
 wrestle with

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:01.899
 things like

00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.759
 theology and

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.680
 difficult concepts

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.059
 like the

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.399
 trinity

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.639
 it's easy to

00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.539
 feel inferior

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.799
 to maybe people

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.619
 who have

00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.119
 read more

00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.480
 than you

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.159
 or have

00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:10.799
 studied more

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.099
 than you

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.599
 or know

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:11.980
 more than

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.220
 you or

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.559
 can use

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.200
 bigger words

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.659
 than you

00:29:13.659 --> 00:29:14.680
 but here

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.019
 we are

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.579
 seeing

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:17.019
 that the

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.039
 thing that

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.819
 saves you

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.680
 is not

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.000
 your

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.379
 knowledge

00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:20.580
 knowledge

00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.960
 is not

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.460
 your level

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.280
 of understanding

00:29:23.280 --> 00:29:24.940
 it's God's

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.320
 knowledge

00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:26.100
 of you

00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:27.660
 it's God's

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.400
 knowing of

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:28.600
 you

00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.200
 it's God's

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.900
 choosing of

00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:30.020
 you

00:29:30.020 --> 00:29:30.500
 it's God's

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.220
 loving of

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.460
 you

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.200
 and so that

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.820
 means that as

00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.560
 we begin this

00:29:33.560 --> 00:29:34.280
 series we can

00:29:34.280 --> 00:29:35.080
 take away that

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:35.800
 burden of I

00:29:35.800 --> 00:29:36.640
 need to reach a

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.460
 point of

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.660
 knowing a point

00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.400
 of understanding

00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.940
 a point of

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.920
 knowledge of

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.560
 this trinity

00:29:41.560 --> 00:29:42.360
 thing to

00:29:42.360 --> 00:29:43.100
 really be a

00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:43.440
 Christian

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:45.180
 what God

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.640
 is saying

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.140
 is I

00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.720
 know you

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.840
 I love

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.039
 you

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.380
 I know

00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:48.960
 you inside

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.460
 out and

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:49.920
 I've still

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.519
 chosen to

00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:50.880
 love you

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.420
 even though

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:51.700
 I know

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.580
 everything about

00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:53.019
 you there is

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.960
 nothing that

00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.660
 could stop me

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.180
 from loving

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.900
 you and so

00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:57.519
 your knowledge

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.380
 of him is

00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.180
 just a gift

00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.900
 that he has

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.480
 given you

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:03.220
 the reason it

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:03.680
 is worth

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.340
 wrestling with

00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:04.940
 things like the

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.460
 trinity is

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.460
 because in the

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.100
 character of

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:07.900
 God just like

00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.920
 Spurgeon encourages

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.480
 us and like

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.559
 scripture shows us

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.799
 we find comfort

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.679
 when we're alone

00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:14.440
 we find strength

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.359
 when we are weak

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.679
 we find healing

00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.659
 when we are sick

00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:20.740
 our knowing of

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.619
 God is a gift

00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:23.019
 because he saved

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.500
 us not something

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.279
 that in some way

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.079
 could earn his

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.279
 saving for us

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.799
 it matters that

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.539
 we wrestle with

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.319
 the character of

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.099
 the God that we

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.359
 follow and serve

00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:35.099
 because he is the

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.720
 one who will

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.839
 shape us to live

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:38.119
 life the way he

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.000
 has designed it

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:41.799
 it's God's

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.380
 knowledge that

00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:43.180
 saves us

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.759
 and our

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.240
 knowledge of

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.880
 God is merely

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:48.599
 a gift for

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.180
 our joy

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.140
 for our sake

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:53.099
 that we might

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.880
 know the God

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.519
 who is love

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.740
 that we might

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.440
 know the God

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.099
 who is hope

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.000
 that we might

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.700
 know the God

00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.579
 who is so far

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.480
 above and beyond

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.279
 our understanding

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.240
 that sometimes it

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.839
 hurts our head

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.519
 to think about

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.880
 that is God's

00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.660
 gift to give

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.539
 us access to

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.039
 the greatest

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.920
 thing that there

00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:10.440
 is himself

00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:13.700
 as we move

00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.340
 into this series

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:14.880
 over the next

00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:15.440
 few weeks I

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.120
 want to encourage

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:16.759
 you that in the

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.539
 times where maybe

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.120
 you're feeling a

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:18.620
 little bit

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.880
 overwhelmed or

00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:21.440
 discouraged please

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.220
 persevere

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.740
 please put up your

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.300
 hand if you've got

00:31:24.300 --> 00:31:25.320
 questions please let

00:31:25.320 --> 00:31:26.019
 us know if you're

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.460
 struggling to

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.420
 understand things

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:29.380
 because the point

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.100
 of wrestling with

00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:31.300
 who God is is

00:31:31.300 --> 00:31:31.880
 not to know

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.700
 stuff is not to

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.700
 show off but is

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.660
 that all of us

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.740
 might have our

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.500
 lives changed

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:38.160
 is that all of

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:39.240
 us might as we

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:39.920
 get to know God

00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.960
 better love him

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.559
 more and feel

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.680
 loved by him

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:45.319
 more might grasp

00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:46.759
 more of just the

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.460
 lengths that he

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.380
 went to just how

00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.480
 amazing it is that a

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:51.059
 God who is one and

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:52.400
 three at the same

00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:53.480
 time would choose to

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.779
 become human for us

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:57.480
 the goal is that he

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.099
 gets glory and that

00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.139
 we progressively become

00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:01.019
 more like his son

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:06.099
 I'm going to pray for

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:07.079
 us and then in just a

00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:07.839
 second Danny's going to

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.779
 continue for us

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:14.059
 Father God we

00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:16.779
 acknowledge that there

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:19.279
 are aspects of theology

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.539
 and there are aspects of

00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.879
 studying you and your

00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.019
 character that are

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:24.700
 intimidating and

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.340
 maybe appear

00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:26.299
 abstract and

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:27.120
 potentially even

00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:29.580
 unhelpful but God

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:31.700
 give us the patience

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:33.259
 and the perseverance to

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.840
 push through in those

00:32:34.840 --> 00:32:35.720
 moments and to

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.660
 recognize that there is

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.640
 nothing better than

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.220
 knowing you

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:41.539
 Lord keep us from

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:44.160
 settling for a less

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:45.759
 version of you than

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.539
 the one that you have

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.500
 revealed in scripture

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.279
 and in your son

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:50.960
 Lord as we come up

00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.799
 against things that we

00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:53.779
 don't understand give us

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.620
 the humility to

00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.559
 acknowledge it and to

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.419
 ask for your help

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:59.459
 God and I pray that the

00:32:59.459 --> 00:33:01.259
 result of looking at you

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.659
 as Father Son and Holy

00:33:02.659 --> 00:33:04.019
 Spirit will be that we

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.759
 are more confident in the

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.859
 forgiveness you have for

00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:08.779
 us more confident in the

00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.899
 love that you have worked

00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:12.539
 in Jesus and more excited

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:13.699
 to love and serve you with

00:33:13.699 --> 00:33:14.679
 every minute that you give

00:33:14.679 --> 00:33:17.059
 us Father we thank you for

00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:18.500
 your word and pray that by

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:20.019
 it you might show us

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:22.359
 yourself more clearly and

00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:24.019
 might change and shape us

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:25.259
 that we might shine you

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.240
 into a world that doesn't

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:26.660
 know you

00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.799
 Amen

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:35.339
 have a selfish dream

00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:35.599
 all right

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.740
って awesome

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:49.180
 tom