WEBVTT

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 Right, is it? Ready.

00:00:03.560 --> 00:00:04.240
 Excellent.

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 Raul always flatters me when he kind of looks, decides, and then puts his earpiece in.

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 Sometimes I'll start and I'll see him take it out and throw it away.

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 Or my favorite, my favorite is, I'll start telling him some of my best stories and I'm about a few seconds and he'll say, is this a long story? Because I'm already bored.

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 I did that to me in surgery.

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 Oh God.

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 It's pouring out my heart.

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 Raul, this is a long story.

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 Okay team, I don't, if you can't see that.

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 If you're upset and you care, feel free to shift.

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 All right team, well, we have taken up in our series on scripture several questions which commonly suggest themselves to thoughtful inquiring minds.

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 Questions concerning scripture's authority, clarity, historicity, canonicity, transmission.

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 And if you are just joining us and these are questions of interest to you, the recordings are accessible on Trinity website.

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 I was supposed to say that.

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 Okay, well, we want to conclude our series on a most practical note.

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 Come on in, come on in team, you're making it.

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 Perfect timing, we're just beginning here.

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 We want to conclude this series on a most practical note.

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 Taking up not so much a further doctrine or belief about scripture as a practice with regard to scripture.

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 For as vital for disciples of Jesus as are their right beliefs about scripture or anything for that matter.

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 Having the right beliefs as James disturbingly reminds us will not necessarily distinguish us from demons.

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 As James says in James 2.19, even the demons believe.

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 As Jonathan Edwards glosses this, Satan himself is educated in the best divinity school in the universe, the heaven of heavens.

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 So we must put these beliefs into practice.

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 That's going to be what we want to focus on in this final session, to explore a practice together.

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 Namely, how do we engage the scriptures that we now hopefully appropriately esteem.

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 How do we engage the scriptures to our spiritual prophet?

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 Or, to use the language of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3.16,

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 how do we get the word of Christ to come to dwell in us richly?

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 And sisters and brothers, I can think of few more vital and practical subjects as this.

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 And this topic is, for me, one that is kind of mingled with wonderful nostalgia and memories.

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 For I want to take as my guiding text a passage of scripture that my dad opened up to me when I was a young man.

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 In fact, actually just a little boy.

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 I can remember it so vividly.

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 Just opening up the scripture and saying, hey, let's work through a passage, son.

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 And what he did, I knew from his life that what he was giving to me was not incidental,

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 but at the heart of his own life and walk with God.

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 Dad lived in the word.

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 My earliest memories are running through the woods, memorizing scripture with him.

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 We even had this arrangement that if I memorized a verse, I was a really little guy.

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 If I memorized a verse, he would memorize the chapter in which it was contained.

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 We would do that together.

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 I really got him once, and I memorized one in Psalm 119.

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 He memorized the whole thing.

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 And if I memorized the chapter, he'd have to memorize the book.

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 But, yeah, it was a good arrangement.

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 Start with the verse.

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 Exactly.

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 Exactly.

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 And countless times over breakfast, I would see him kind of with boyish delight.

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 Just he'd open up his Bible and say, look what I found in the word today.

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 Isn't this fantastic?

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 Look at this.

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 Look at this.

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 And his engagement with the word was not episodic.

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 There was really no ebb or flow.

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 It was really consistent.

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 In fact, the day that he died, he died in a bicycle accident.

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 And he was rooting the word.

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 Maybe that's why he crashed, because he had his little verse pack with him.

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 He's memorizing scripture.

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 He was riding his bike.

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 But the Lord took him.

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 And so, all this to say, this model came to me with the credit of a godly life, which bore much fruit.

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 And I want to pass it on.

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 That's what I want to do today.

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 And he took this outline from the book of James.

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 James 1, 21 to 25.

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 Let me read that.

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 Read that for us.

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 James 1.

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 James 1, verse 20.

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 Picking up in 21.

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 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

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 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

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 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like one who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

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 For he looks at himself and goes away, and at once forgets what he was like.

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 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts.

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 She will be blessed in all she is doing.

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 All right.

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 All right.

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 There we go.

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 The context of this is the role of the word in bringing spiritual life.

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 So verse 18, just before, we have been brought forth by the word of truth.

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 So now James goes on to explain how that word sustains the life that it has inaugurated.

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 And so I'm going to adopt the outline that dad gave me, and illustrate the truths with profuse and delightful reference to the Puritans, particularly.

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 I'm rather fond of the Puritans.

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 So here are the four steps that dad drew from this passage.

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 First, when we come to the word preparation, verse 21, preparation.

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 Putting aside all filthiness.

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 Or in the inimitable King James Version, superfluity of naughtiness.

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 What a phrase.

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 Put away all superfluity of naughtiness.

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 You know, often we dive right in to scriptures.

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 But it's fitting and needful to prepare our hearts for the engagement.

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 As Thomas Watson, these people that I'm naming, they're all just famous Puritans.

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 As Thomas Watson put it, many come rashly to the reading of the word.

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 And no wonder if they come without preparation, that they go away without profit.

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 Or Thomas Manton.

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 They that look for the bridegroom had need trim up their lamps.

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 In agricultural metaphor, weed before you seed.

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 Weed before you seed.

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 Jeremiah 4 tells us, plow up the fallow ground, sow not among thorns.

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 Sometimes, you know, if I haven't dealt with my heart and I just dive right into scripture,

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 it's like I'm trying to sow good seed among thorns.

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 We don't want to do that.

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 So how do we put aside all this superfluity of naughtiness?

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 Well, we check to see if we're cherishing any sin.

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 And David's prayer is a good model here in Psalm 139, 23, where,

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 Search me, O God, and know my heart.

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 Try me and know my thoughts.

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 See if there be any wicked, hurtful way in me.

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 And if the Holy Spirit reveals anything, well, we confess it, according to 1 John 1, 9,

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 and he will cleanse us.

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 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

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 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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 So we just simply repair to the fountain.

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 In those wonderful words of Zechariah, that fountain opened for sin and impurity.

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 Or as I told our girls as they were growing up, you know,

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 you wash your hands before the meal.

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 And that's what we're doing with respect to scripture.

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 We're just washing our hands before our meal.

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 The second part of preparation concerns our attitude or our disposition.

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 Notice how it says there, in humility.

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 In humility.

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 So we place ourselves under the word and recognize its authority.

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 It judges us.

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 Not we it.

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 So we need to drop our defensive guarded posture.

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 And rather read with a readiness to submit to it.

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 And where does God disclose himself?

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 Well, the highest heaven, it says, but also to the humblest heart.

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 Isn't that wonderful?

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 Isaiah 66, 2.

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 But to this one I will look.

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 To him who is humble and of contrite spirit and who trembles at my word.

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 Or Luke 1 puts it this way, 52 and 53.

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 He gives grace to the humble.

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 He hath filled the hungry with good things.

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 So we want to come to the word hungry and humble.

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 Hungry and humble.

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 And then in the final phrase of our text in James here.

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 Receive the word.

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 Notice, able to save.

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 This highlights our dependence upon the scriptures.

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 We need to welcome the scriptures work in our lives.

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 For the Bible's work in our hearts is God's saving work.

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 Recall that receiving the word is a condition of salvation.

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 I want to be really careful here.

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 Not for salvation, but of salvation.

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 In other words, if we are being saved, we are necessarily receiving the word.

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 These things just are correlates.

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 They will go together.

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 They will go together.

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 So there's our preparation.

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 That's the first step.

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 Preparation.

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 Any questions or comments about preparation?

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 You seeing this in the text?

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 Emerge from the text?

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 Okay.

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 Yeah, pretty straightforward, I guess.

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 All right.

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 So, with heart prepared, we turn to the second step.

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 And that is, again, borrowing from my dad, meditation.

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 Meditation.

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 And this is suggested by the word that we have in verse 25.

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 What's rendered in our text?

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 Looks intently.

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 Looks intently.

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 Parakupsis is the word.

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 It's kind of like the image of bending over and peering.

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 It's the same word that's used of John, you know, at the tomb.

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 Bending over and peering in and looking with all your strength.

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 Referring to the disciples of the sepulchre in Luke 24, 17.

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 Or, wonderfully, that marvelous phrase in 1 Peter 1, 12, about the angels desiring to search out God's saving actions.

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 They longed to look into salvation.

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 Same thing.

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 So, what is it that we intently look into?

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 What is the object of our meditation?

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 Meditation.

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 Actually, let me add a little sidebar here.

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 And because as evangelicals, oftentimes we narrow the scope of our meditation.

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 But then we're kind of parting company with a long and hallowed tradition of Christian sisters and brothers

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 who also believe that we can meditate on nature and providence.

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 So, Psalm 19, the heavens declare the glory of God.

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 Or, Acts 17, God is the shaper of history.

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 So, these are also areas where we can meditate.

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 It does have a long and faithful pedigree.

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 As Thomas Manton puts it,

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 A gracious heart, that is a believing heart,

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 A gracious heart is like an alembic.

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 An alembic, it's like an apparatus of distillation.

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 It distills things.

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 A gracious heart is like a distillation apparatus.

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 It can distill useful meditations out of all things it meeteth with.

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 As it seeth all things in God, so it seeth God in all things.

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 Isn't that wonderful?

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 As it seeth all things in God, in the framework of God.

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 For from him and to him and through him, or through him and to him are all things.

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 We see all things in God, therefore we see God in all things.

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 Wonderful, wonderful thought.

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 And again, John Owen and his great work on spiritual mindedness.

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 He actually, the first one that he takes is a characteristic of a spiritual person.

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 is that they are able to discern God's hand in providence.

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 Interesting, isn't it?

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 Jonathan Edwards' work, Divine Emblems.

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 Everything has a stamp of their creator.

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 So he turns to nature to distill some meditations from.

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 John Bunyan's Divine Emblems, too, is another.

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 In fact, probably the first book of poetry for children in the English language.

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 John Bunyan's Divine Emblems, wonderful, where he says, go to the ant and you'll have a little

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 poem about an ant and some sort of useful meditation for children and for grownups, too.

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 Those are the book, the stripe of books that parents love to read to their kids because

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 they're so good.

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 So, but nature or history cannot be an adequate supply of any new content to revelation.

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 Okay?

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 All it can do is really, it cannot inform, it can just impress.

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 So we know what we know from Scripture, from his revelation.

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 But then this bright, wonderful world and the motions of history can illustrate and impress

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 these truths that we've got from Scripture.

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 And what a wonderful gift that is, that he surrounds us with all these things because

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 we need impression.

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 We need impressing if we're going to walk a godly life.

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 So, I just add that because sometimes that's new for this most recent generation.

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 Oh, we can meditate on nature and history and stuff, too?

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 Yes, we can.

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 But, but the chief object of meditation is Scripture.

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 And this is the object that James, in our passage, is indicating.

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 Notice, he refers to it as the perfect law.

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 Parallel to where else in Scripture you would see the law of the Lord in Psalm 1 or Psalm

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 119.

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 Okay?

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 Does this just refer to the laws of the Bible like the Ten Commandments?

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 It might seem so, the law of the Lord?

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 No.

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 No.

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 James here, and this is the common biblical idiom, is not speaking of a particular portion

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 of God's word.

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 Rather, all of God's word considered authoritatively.

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 That's why it's very natural to refer to all of God's word is the law.

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 It's not all law per se, but all of it is authoritative.

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 It comes to us that way, and it highlights that aspect.

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 So, that's what's going on there.

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 And the term is a helpful one, for it reminds us that we need to accept its authority completely.

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 If you get rid of what you don't like, you can't wrestle with God.

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 God can't challenge you and correct you.

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 It can't then be a life-changing encounter.

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 As we consider meditation, let me enforce how vital it is for the disciple, but alas, how

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 commonly neglected.

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 As Richard Baxter writes, why so much preaching is lost among us.

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 And professors, not university appointments, but those who claim to have faith, professors,

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 you know.

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 And professors can run from sermon to sermon, and are never weary of hearing or reading,

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 and yet have such languishing, starved souls.

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 I know no truer or greater cause than their ignorance and unconscionable neglect of meditation.

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 Isn't that interesting?

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 And pretty scary.

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 So, there we are running from sermon to sermon to sermon, getting all this stuff,

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:46.460
 and yet our souls can still be languishing, languishing, starved souls.

00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.500
 And he says, it's the lack of meditation.

00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:50.340
 The lack of meditation.

00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.059
 Yeah.

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:58.279
 But I'm sure that the reason for that is because they were much more distracted by media than

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.120
 we are today.

00:19:59.120 --> 00:20:01.440
 So, I'm sure we don't have these sorts of problems.

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:17.640
 It is helpful to consider meditation in relation to, first, the dynamic, how it works, and then

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:20.680
 the discipline, how we work at it.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:21.820
 Okay?

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:24.059
 How it works, and then how we work at it.

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:26.660
 So, first, the dynamic.

00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:30.019
 How does it work?

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:38.259
 Psalm 1 tells us that the one who meditates is like a tree.

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:42.019
 And just, you know, running with a better word.

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:49.140
 Water comes in one end and fruit at the other.

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.120
 Okay?

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:53.059
 Unlike a pipe where it's water in, water out.

00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:54.259
 Okay?

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:59.200
 A change, a change takes place in the substance of the tree.

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:02.980
 And this is what meditation does.

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.220
 Meditation.

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.700
 Here's an important phrase.

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:10.240
 Meditation makes the word flesh.

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:14.279
 Meditation makes the word flesh.

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:19.080
 It takes the principles and truths and works them into our being.

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.220
 Meditation.

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:20.259
 Meditation.

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.419
 Meditation.

00:21:20.419 --> 00:21:21.379
 Emotionally.

00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:22.579
 Affectively.

00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.539
 Actively.

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:23.740
 Actively.

00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:27.899
 The word becomes us.

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:39.599
 Meditation is a way to make the Bible like the burning bush before Moses.

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:42.899
 out of which God speaks to us

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:47.359
 directly and arrestingly.

00:21:48.919 --> 00:21:52.240
 Meditation is the descent of the mind

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.059
 into the heart.

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:58.139
 And as with the Mount of Transfiguration,

00:21:58.579 --> 00:22:00.859
 the truth begins to shine.

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:05.159
 And as with the Mount of Transfiguration,

00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:06.179
 you remember,

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:10.420
 as the truth is transfigured before us,

00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:13.259
 that's what transforms us.

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:17.200
 Truth in its transfiguration,

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:19.720
 that's what transforms us.

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:24.700
 Truth works into and explodes in the heart

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:26.980
 like a combustion engine,

00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:30.960
 kind of imparting the soul with speed and strength.

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:35.680
 Or think of the heart like photographic film.

00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.700
 I don't know.

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:39.840
 Remember that ancient thing that we happened so long ago?

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.980
 The photographic film,

00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:45.580
 chemically treated to make it sensitive to light.

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:46.759
 Okay?

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:52.220
 And that's the Holy Spirit working on the heart

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:56.519
 to make it sensitive to the impressions.

00:22:57.420 --> 00:23:02.579
 And then meditation brings the truth like light,

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:05.859
 impressing itself upon the heart

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:09.240
 that's prepared or sensitized by the Holy Spirit.

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:13.819
 And the corresponding images that it creates,

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.380
 that are produced,

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:18.099
 are these new affections.

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:21.579
 What then our heart longs for

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:23.200
 and is delighted with.

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.640
 That's the change.

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.440
 It's a wonderful one.

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:31.380
 And meditation actually reworks

00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:36.160
 the affectional currents of our heart

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.680
 such that they can start flowing

00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.700
 in different directions.

00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:42.000
 Like they did with the Chicago River.

00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:43.039
 I don't know how they do this,

00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:44.320
 but they actually got the river

00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:46.920
 to start flowing in a different direction.

00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:53.000
 And that's what meditation does to our hearts.

00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:56.060
 And oh, do we not have a need for that,

00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:58.160
 for some change in the currents.

00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:02.840
 And simple Bible reading,

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.340
 even Bible study,

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:08.800
 and I'm really a fan of Bible reading

00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:09.680
 and Bible study.

00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:10.880
 You know, don't get me wrong here.

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:14.700
 But even these things will not achieve this.

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:20.259
 Such inner working really requires meditation.

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:24.840
 As Thomas Watson writes,

00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:30.600
 study is the finding out of a truth.

00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:35.799
 Meditation is the spiritual improvement of a truth.

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.819
 The Puritans would use improvement,

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.799
 that it changes us,

00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:41.059
 it makes us different people.

00:24:41.120 --> 00:24:42.220
 That's what they meant by improvement.

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:45.600
 The spiritual improvement of a truth.

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:49.779
 The one searcheth for the vein of gold.

00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:53.180
 The other digs out the gold.

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.319
 Study.

00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:57.380
 Oh, listen to this metaphor.

00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:01.600
 Study is like a winter sun

00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:05.440
 that hath little warmth and influence.

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:11.000
 Meditation melts the heart when it is frozen

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:14.740
 and makes it drop into tears of love.

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.600
 What a wonderful metaphor.

00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.100
 A winter sun.

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:21.320
 Or again, with a similar metaphor.

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:24.820
 This is Thomas Watson.

00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:32.039
 There is as much difference between the knowledge of a truth

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:35.759
 and the meditation of a truth

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:39.439
 as there is between the light of a torch

00:25:39.439 --> 00:25:42.939
 and the light of the sun.

00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:45.599
 Set up a lamp or a torch in the garden

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.859
 and it hath no influence.

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:55.279
 The sun hath a sweet influence.

00:25:55.939 --> 00:25:58.199
 It maketh the plants to grow

00:25:58.199 --> 00:26:00.379
 and the herb to flourish.

00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:03.480
 So, or likewise,

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:06.659
 knowledge is but like a torch

00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:09.379
 lighted in the understanding

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:13.379
 which hath little or no influence.

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:17.060
 It maketh not a man the better.

00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:24.280
 But meditation is like the shining of the sun.

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:27.940
 It operates upon the affections.

00:26:28.320 --> 00:26:31.320
 It warms the heart and makes it holy.

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:36.700
 Meditation fetcheth life in a truth.

00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:39.560
 That is, pulls life out of the truth.

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:46.839
 If we would experience real change,

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:51.639
 we must give ourselves to meditation.

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:57.639
 A man shall as soon live without his heart,

00:26:58.419 --> 00:26:59.639
 writes Thomas Brooks,

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:02.299
 as he shall be able to get good

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:05.500
 by what he reads without meditation.

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:10.740
 Wow, I mean, this is really forceful claims.

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:13.059
 But these people have credibility.

00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.180
 They really do.

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:16.440
 A man shall as soon live without his heart,

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:19.019
 as he shall be able to get good

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.079
 by what he reads without meditation.

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:23.079
 Excellent.

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:29.000
 You say that study is like looking at a meal,

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:31.740
 but meditation is eating it.

00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.419
 Excellent.

00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:33.919
 And in fact, I'm going to use,

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.799
 Baxter's going to use a metaphor

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:37.299
 just like that in just a moment.

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.539
 That's excellent.

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.939
 Saints have a lasting rest

00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:41.399
 or the Reformed passage?

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.939
 Saints have a lasting rest.

00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.179
 Yeah, yeah, that one.

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.039
 No, yeah.

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:52.440
 So these are some vaunting claims, friends.

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:57.899
 You know, do you feel like it overstates the case

00:27:57.899 --> 00:28:02.039
 or do you feel the ring of truth to this?

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:08.200
 So how may we practice this vital discipline?

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.399
 Okay, so we were looking at the dynamic,

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.480
 you know, how it works.

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:16.779
 Now, the discipline that we must practice,

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:19.660
 how we work at it, okay?

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:25.019
 Meditation is the essential discipline

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.900
 of all of the disciplines.

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:29.960
 And really, it's a compound discipline

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:34.720
 involving both study and prayer.

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:37.400
 As Thomas Manton explains,

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:40.579
 meditation is a middle sort of duty

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:42.839
 between word and prayer

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:44.599
 and hath respect to both.

00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:47.819
 The word feedeth meditation

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:51.119
 and meditation feedeth prayer.

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.359
 And the prayer that arises

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:57.619
 is what we might call answering prayer.

00:28:58.439 --> 00:29:01.500
 Okay, this is distinct from calling prayer.

00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:04.740
 Okay, Peter steps out of the boat.

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:06.379
 Help me, Jesus, I'm drowning.

00:29:06.679 --> 00:29:08.460
 Okay, that's calling prayer.

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:11.059
 Okay, really great.

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.779
 And we want to do it all the time.

00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:13.579
 All right.

00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:16.100
 But in answering prayer,

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:19.920
 God chooses the subject.

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:23.039
 He sets the tone

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:25.720
 and he commences the conversation.

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:31.500
 You see, meditation begins with Bible study

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.019
 but proceeds to prayer.

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:35.960
 But see there, but God is choosing

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:37.940
 what the subject matter is

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:39.700
 of the conversation with that.

00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:44.639
 In the wonderful phrase of Richard Baxter,

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:48.139
 meditation is taking the truth

00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:51.200
 and praying it down into your soul

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:53.559
 until it catches fire.

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:58.799
 Praying the truth down into your soul

00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:00.420
 until it catches fire.

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:04.600
 Helpful on the meditation process,

00:30:05.060 --> 00:30:06.420
 I find Augustine.

00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.460
 There are a few of them I'm talking about.

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:10.920
 Augustine of Hippo, 354 to 430.

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:14.120
 And he speaks of meditation

00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:17.820
 as the ascent of the soul into God

00:30:17.820 --> 00:30:19.580
 and breaks down the discipline

00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:21.700
 into three steps.

00:30:22.320 --> 00:30:23.220
 Okay, three steps.

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:26.800
 The first he calls retentio.

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.240
 Retentio.

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.160
 Okay.

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:32.240
 And this is the distillation

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.700
 of the truths of scripture

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:36.240
 and holding them centrally

00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.380
 before our mind.

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:41.579
 Basically, Bible study.

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:44.079
 And here, observational skills

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.359
 are really key.

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.660
 So pray with David

00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:49.259
 for powers of observation

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.220
 as we do this.

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:52.259
 Psalm 119, verse 18,

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:54.200
 open my eyes.

00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:57.700
 And you grow in this,

00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:58.940
 we grow in this,

00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:01.840
 by forcing ourselves to do it

00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:03.640
 and just staying at it.

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.980
 Kind of like what we know to do

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.680
 with our kids

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.519
 when we're teaching them

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.160
 to eat a meal.

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.299
 Good, take a bite.

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:10.799
 Good, good.

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.200
 Okay, take another one.

00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.259
 Yep, lift the fork,

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.019
 open the mouth,

00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.559
 put it in.

00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:16.039
 Chew, chew, chew.

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.500
 Good, okay.

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.640
 Now take another one.

00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:19.400
 You just have to keep at it.

00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:21.259
 We don't do this naturally.

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:25.379
 Louie Agassiz,

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:28.000
 19th century Harvard naturalist,

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:31.079
 would have his students observe

00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:33.539
 a fish in a bowl

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:36.720
 for two whole days.

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.960
 Graduate students would come up

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.940
 and he was the most,

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:40.700
 you know,

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.980
 father of natural science

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.519
 in America,

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.279
 Louie Agassiz.

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.299
 I mean, you'd study with him,

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.160
 you were going to be great.

00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.059
 And they'd show up,

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:47.619
 you know,

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:48.640
 pretty confident

00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.940
 that they were the cat's pajamas

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.440
 and he'd say,

00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.580
 here, stare at this fish

00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:53.039
 and make some observations.

00:31:53.820 --> 00:31:55.680
 And he would make them do it.

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.680
 He would hold their head

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.320
 to the bowl

00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:59.460
 for two days.

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.299
 Two days.

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.420
 And they'd go crazy.

00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.480
 But they'd get to be good.

00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:03.740
 You know,

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:05.059
 one time he was asked,

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:07.019
 what was your greatest

00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:08.840
 contribution scientifically?

00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:10.480
 And this guy had a CV

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:12.480
 and he said,

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.620
 I have taught

00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:16.320
 men and women

00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:17.299
 to observe.

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:19.299
 That was his greatest,

00:32:19.419 --> 00:32:20.139
 that's what he felt

00:32:20.139 --> 00:32:22.059
 to be his greatest contribution.

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.480
 And lingering

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:25.000
 is required.

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:27.139
 This is not cursory,

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.740
 but protracted.

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.399
 Thomas Manton writes,

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.899
 the Christian

00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:34.240
 is like some heavy birds

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.480
 as the bustard,

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.339
 I guess the buzzard,

00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.299
 and others

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:39.980
 that cannot get upon wing

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.079
 without a run

00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.339
 of a furlong or two.

00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.359
 Have you seen those things?

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.299
 What a great image.

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:46.099
 You see him kind of flapping,

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.779
 trying to get up

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.460
 off the ground.

00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:49.339
 And we're like that.

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.419
 Manton again writes,

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:54.079
 content not thyself

00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:54.980
 with the surface

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:56.379
 of the truth,

00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.299
 like a swallow

00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:59.940
 skimming the water

00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.700
 of a lake.

00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:03.259
 But get into

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.559
 the bowels of it.

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:10.440
 Puritans are a real model here.

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:12.059
 They would see the text

00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:14.559
 like a multifaceted diamond.

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.279
 And they'd kind of hold it up

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.700
 and gaze at it

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:19.420
 for a long, long time,

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.840
 make observations,

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:22.140
 and then just slightly turn it,

00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:23.820
 look at another face of it,

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:26.039
 then slightly turn it,

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.740
 keep looking at that.

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.080
 Often they would write

00:33:30.080 --> 00:33:31.279
 entire books

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:33.360
 on a single verse.

00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.059
 On a single verse.

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:37.440
 A common phrase

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.559
 that is always spoken

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:40.299
 with this thrill and delight

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.159
 is,

00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.720
 ah,

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:44.379
 this verse is full of matter.

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:46.259
 It's full of matter.

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:48.859
 Here's perhaps

00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:50.119
 my all-time favorite

00:33:50.119 --> 00:33:51.299
 Richard Baxter quote.

00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.119
 Okay?

00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:54.980
 57thly.

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.059
 Unbelievable!

00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:00.460
 57thly.

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.859
 He's given you a list

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.759
 of his observations.

00:34:02.919 --> 00:34:03.460
 You know in his sermon,

00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:04.619
 57thly.

00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:04.979
 You know,

00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.019
 even the most stalwart

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.659
 preacher today

00:34:06.659 --> 00:34:08.719
 will never get to 57 points.

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.619
 But they did.

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:10.519
 Routinely.

00:34:12.259 --> 00:34:12.699
 57thly.

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:13.619
 Ah.

00:34:14.779 --> 00:34:15.219
 Yeah,

00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.039
 that has a savor

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.819
 of heaven about that.

00:34:17.799 --> 00:34:18.719
 And we need to,

00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.799
 we need to break

00:34:19.799 --> 00:34:21.599
 these observational barriers.

00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:23.319
 You know what I mean?

00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:23.500
 Well,

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.359
 you're staring at the Bible,

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.519
 you think you've got everything,

00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.699
 you think you've got everything,

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.139
 but you stay at it,

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.659
 and then suddenly,

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.219
 boom!

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:33.319
 And then so much more

00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:33.819
 comes in.

00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:36.220
 I used to do this

00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:37.640
 with disciples

00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:38.519
 in the early days

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.039
 where we'd take

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:40.059
 John 3.16.

00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:41.039
 They'd even memorize.

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:41.480
 They thought,

00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.640
 I know it!

00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.460
 I know it!

00:34:43.680 --> 00:34:43.880
 Say,

00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.500
 all right, men,

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.140
 we're going to make

00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:47.500
 100,

00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:49.160
 and women,

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.539
 I did it with my daughters too,

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.519
 we're going to make

00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.220
 100 observations.

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.180
 And, you know,

00:34:55.220 --> 00:34:55.900
 it was agony

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.620
 keeping them there,

00:34:56.680 --> 00:34:56.820
 you know,

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.360
 just like eating.

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.280
 Take another bite of peas,

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:58.519
 you know,

00:34:58.580 --> 00:35:00.039
 there's nothing more,

00:35:00.100 --> 00:35:00.920
 no, no, no, no, no, no.

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.059
 You know,

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.340
 I'd physically hold their head,

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:02.800
 you know,

00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:03.740
 so they can't move.

00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:03.960
 You know,

00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:06.380
 we'd fetter them.

00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:08.360
 But it was one of the most

00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.619
 exciting experiences they had.

00:35:09.680 --> 00:35:11.740
 They'd get to 100 observations

00:35:11.740 --> 00:35:13.240
 on a single verse,

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.900
 and it changed their lives.

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.519
 It changed their lives.

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.659
 They couldn't believe it.

00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.559
 Oh, my goodness.

00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:20.460
 Well,

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.579
 some practical aids

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.360
 for the process.

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.340
 You know,

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.599
 when you're looking at a text,

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.559
 paraphrase it.

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.599
 You think you understand it?

00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:27.360
 Try to put it

00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.139
 in your own words.

00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:28.940
 Whoa,

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:29.900
 pretty challenging.

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:30.940
 Outline it.

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.900
 Forces you to discern connections.

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:34.940
 Here's one.

00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.679
 Isolate one word.

00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:38.000
 What is this ad?

00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:39.199
 What if I take this word away?

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.820
 What goes missing?

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.980
 Just one word.

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.699
 Bombard it with questions.

00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:49.179
 The journalistic questions.

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:51.339
 These prompt observations.

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.899
 Just like reading a book.

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:54.139
 You know,

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.519
 you want to,

00:35:54.839 --> 00:35:55.099
 you know,

00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:56.739
 before you go into a book,

00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:58.739
 go into a book with questions,

00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.619
 or else you're not going to

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.379
 end up with answers.

00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:02.299
 You know,

00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:02.519
 like,

00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:03.179
 oh, wow,

00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:03.559
 I just,

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:05.460
 I just read War and Peace.

00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.500
 Wow,

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:06.679
 well,

00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.319
 what was it about?

00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.000
 Oh,

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.559
 Russia?

00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.719
 Start with questions,

00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.539
 or you're not going to end up

00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.199
 with any answers.

00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:16.440
 Here's a leaf

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.719
 from Jonathan Edwards.

00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:19.139
 This is a discipline

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:20.059
 that he had.

00:36:20.839 --> 00:36:21.759
 He took a Bible

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:24.199
 and broke open the spine,

00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:26.119
 and then he would put blank pages

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:28.299
 between the pages of text,

00:36:28.359 --> 00:36:29.119
 and it was already one

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:30.539
 that had the massive margins.

00:36:31.939 --> 00:36:33.059
 And then he would just,

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:35.759
 he would just make observations

00:36:35.759 --> 00:36:39.279
 all over this blank Bible.

00:36:39.799 --> 00:36:42.239
 And this is what I'll offer to you.

00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:43.379
 If I need to preach on something,

00:36:43.419 --> 00:36:45.059
 or if I need to meditate on something,

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:47.239
 I'll just take a big piece of paper,

00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.559
 just write the verse out

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.380
 in the middle of the thing,

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:50.900
 and then there's just white,

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:52.059
 and then just fill it

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.860
 with observations.

00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:54.719
 Fill it with observations.

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.599
 And clearly,

00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:57.539
 this is not the kind of

00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.179
 through the Bible

00:36:58.179 --> 00:36:59.199
 in a year approach,

00:36:59.559 --> 00:37:00.639
 but it's very,

00:37:00.799 --> 00:37:01.619
 very rewarding.

00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:03.980
 When you slow down,

00:37:04.259 --> 00:37:05.739
 you will see things

00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:06.799
 that you would have missed

00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:08.559
 kind of with the flyover

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:10.219
 or the drive-by technique.

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:12.559
 It was like that's

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:14.099
 when we talked on the phone

00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:15.059
 or on our ride,

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:18.199
 Psalm 119, 36 and 37.

00:37:21.439 --> 00:37:23.599
 Turn my heart from,

00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:26.439
 incline my heart to your testimonies

00:37:26.439 --> 00:37:27.719
 and not to covetousness.

00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.699
 Turn my eye away

00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:31.459
 from looking at worthless things

00:37:31.459 --> 00:37:33.199
 and revive me in your way.

00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:35.159
 And all those first words,

00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:35.699
 me and you,

00:37:35.859 --> 00:37:37.679
 I found out that it was God

00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:39.379
 who turned my eyes.

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:39.899
 Yes.

00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:41.539
 It was God who revived me.

00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:41.940
 Yes.

00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:43.460
 It was God who inclined

00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:45.399
 my heart to his ways

00:37:45.399 --> 00:37:46.480
 and not me.

00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.219
 Yes.

00:37:47.319 --> 00:37:48.000
 He was doing it.

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.899
 That's how you find,

00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:50.359
 oh, I don't do anything.

00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.779
 It's him who does everything.

00:37:52.259 --> 00:37:52.739
 Excellent.

00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:53.899
 It's the glory of scripture.

00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:54.859
 That's a great idea.

00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:55.679
 I never saw that.

00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:55.980
 Yeah.

00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:57.579
 I'm like, oh, I don't do this.

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:58.399
 He does it.

00:37:58.599 --> 00:37:58.839
 Yeah.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.399
 Fantastic.

00:37:59.559 --> 00:38:00.159
 Yeah, that's right.

00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:00.779
 That's right.

00:38:00.899 --> 00:38:02.319
 I mean, you will go away

00:38:02.319 --> 00:38:03.359
 laden with riches

00:38:03.359 --> 00:38:06.599
 if you linger and meditate.

00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.619
 Absolutely.

00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:09.039
 It seemed,

00:38:09.259 --> 00:38:10.279
 writes Jonathan Edwards,

00:38:10.739 --> 00:38:11.559
 it seemed,

00:38:12.259 --> 00:38:12.779
 or sorry,

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.799
 I seemed

00:38:13.799 --> 00:38:15.480
 often to see

00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:16.559
 so much light

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:17.039
 exhibited

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.799
 by every sentence

00:38:18.799 --> 00:38:20.859
 and such refreshing

00:38:20.859 --> 00:38:22.119
 food communicated

00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:23.480
 that I could not

00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.299
 get along

00:38:24.299 --> 00:38:24.960
 in reading.

00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:27.619
 Often dwelling long

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.599
 on one sentence

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:30.179
 to see the wonders

00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:31.279
 contained in it.

00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:32.759
 And yet almost

00:38:32.759 --> 00:38:33.859
 every sentence

00:38:33.859 --> 00:38:35.219
 seemed to be

00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:36.779
 so full of wonder.

00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:39.940
 Don't you

00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:41.580
 hear that confession

00:38:41.580 --> 00:38:42.460
 beckoning you?

00:38:43.140 --> 00:38:44.240
 Come on and see.

00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:46.280
 Come on and see.

00:38:46.600 --> 00:38:47.880
 So there's the first step.

00:38:48.580 --> 00:38:49.220
 Retentio.

00:38:49.700 --> 00:38:51.140
 This is kind of Augustine's

00:38:51.140 --> 00:38:51.820
 how do we do this.

00:38:52.040 --> 00:38:52.700
 Second step.

00:38:53.240 --> 00:38:53.800
 Contemplatio.

00:38:54.160 --> 00:38:54.740
 Contemplatio.

00:38:55.060 --> 00:38:55.940
 Contemplation, I guess.

00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:59.420
 Here, we seek

00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:01.880
 to gaze at God

00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:03.659
 through the truths

00:39:03.659 --> 00:39:05.079
 that we have distilled.

00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:07.460
 Okay, we move

00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:09.159
 from breaking down

00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:09.860
 the truth,

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:10.840
 analysis,

00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:14.119
 to gazing at it

00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:15.460
 as a whole,

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.720
 intuition,

00:39:16.720 --> 00:39:17.700
 so to speak.

00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:18.699
 Okay?

00:39:19.379 --> 00:39:20.779
 And the Puritans

00:39:20.779 --> 00:39:21.939
 would draw from

00:39:21.939 --> 00:39:22.599
 gemology

00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:23.939
 to elucidate.

00:39:24.339 --> 00:39:24.460
 You know,

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:24.819
 they would say,

00:39:24.899 --> 00:39:25.559
 well, the first is

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:27.599
 cutting the diamond

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:29.059
 painstakingly.

00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:31.919
 And then the second

00:39:31.919 --> 00:39:32.919
 is holding it up

00:39:32.919 --> 00:39:34.480
 and admiring its beauty.

00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:36.299
 Admiring its beauty.

00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:39.139
 Or if you're a musician,

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:40.039
 you're moving

00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:41.579
 from studying the score

00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:43.179
 to actually hearing

00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:43.919
 the music.

00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:47.059
 And so,

00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:49.220
 we take the truths

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:50.380
 from our study

00:39:50.380 --> 00:39:51.480
 and,

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:52.960
 says Samuel Ward,

00:39:53.639 --> 00:39:53.980
 oh,

00:39:54.300 --> 00:39:55.500
 I love this.

00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:58.099
 We roll them under,

00:39:58.220 --> 00:39:59.320
 roll them under

00:39:59.320 --> 00:40:00.139
 thy tongue.

00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:02.240
 Chew on them

00:40:02.240 --> 00:40:03.559
 till thou feel

00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:04.579
 some sweetness

00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:06.099
 in the palate

00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:07.240
 of thy soul.

00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:08.940
 Isn't that great?

00:40:09.139 --> 00:40:09.559
 I remember

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.440
 when I was little kids,

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.180
 missionary kids,

00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:12.320
 once a week,

00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:13.240
 we'd go to the candy store

00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:13.820
 and we'd each get

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.700
 to get one piece

00:40:14.700 --> 00:40:15.240
 of candy.

00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:17.180
 And I'd get the toffee

00:40:17.180 --> 00:40:18.559
 because it was so good

00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:19.559
 and it would last

00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:20.160
 a long time

00:40:20.160 --> 00:40:21.880
 and I'd find that

00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:22.680
 part of your tongue

00:40:22.680 --> 00:40:24.039
 that was most responsive

00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:24.600
 to sweetness

00:40:24.600 --> 00:40:25.780
 and I would roll

00:40:25.780 --> 00:40:26.980
 that thing under my tongue

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:28.200
 and it would last me

00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:29.120
 all five blocks

00:40:29.120 --> 00:40:29.940
 walking home.

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:30.559
 You know,

00:40:30.600 --> 00:40:31.800
 and that's what he says,

00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:32.760
 do it with scripture.

00:40:33.160 --> 00:40:33.280
 You know,

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:34.700
 roll them under

00:40:34.700 --> 00:40:35.720
 thy tongue.

00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:36.900
 Chew on them

00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:37.840
 till thou feel

00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:38.800
 some sweetness

00:40:38.800 --> 00:40:39.500
 in the palate

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:40.420
 of thy soul.

00:40:40.680 --> 00:40:42.340
 Isn't that a wonderful image?

00:40:42.340 --> 00:40:43.100
 Oh,

00:40:43.220 --> 00:40:43.980
 Samuel Ward,

00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:44.600
 thank you,

00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:45.340
 dear brother.

00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:47.600
 And here,

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:50.039
 we labor to make

00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:51.160
 our portion

00:40:51.160 --> 00:40:52.720
 in meditation

00:40:52.720 --> 00:40:55.160
 become a window

00:40:55.160 --> 00:40:56.500
 or an oculus

00:40:56.500 --> 00:40:58.059
 and we want to

00:40:58.059 --> 00:40:58.920
 yearn with all

00:40:58.920 --> 00:40:59.579
 of our strength

00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:01.440
 to see Christ,

00:41:01.680 --> 00:41:03.400
 to behold his glory

00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:05.320
 in that text.

00:41:05.320 --> 00:41:05.440
 Christ.

00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:07.240
 So,

00:41:07.480 --> 00:41:08.480
 I ask myself there,

00:41:08.780 --> 00:41:09.880
 how can I adore

00:41:09.880 --> 00:41:11.760
 Christ in this truth?

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:14.300
 What here stirs me

00:41:14.300 --> 00:41:14.980
 to praise?

00:41:15.980 --> 00:41:17.300
 What attribute

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:18.680
 of God

00:41:18.680 --> 00:41:20.440
 sparkles here?

00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:23.260
 This is where,

00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:24.740
 in the wonderful

00:41:24.740 --> 00:41:25.720
 phrase of Martin

00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:26.320
 Lloyd-Jones,

00:41:26.660 --> 00:41:27.260
 the truth

00:41:27.260 --> 00:41:28.760
 begins to shine.

00:41:29.180 --> 00:41:29.559
 The truth

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.500
 begins to shine.

00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:32.280
 Where you begin

00:41:32.280 --> 00:41:33.119
 to feel

00:41:33.119 --> 00:41:34.639
 his reality

00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:36.739
 pressing upon you

00:41:36.739 --> 00:41:38.099
 and his attributes

00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:39.760
 begin to blaze.

00:41:40.780 --> 00:41:41.239
 Here,

00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.739
 meditation becomes

00:41:42.739 --> 00:41:44.539
 the bellows

00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:45.500
 of the affections.

00:41:46.059 --> 00:41:46.860
 Remember those things?

00:41:47.860 --> 00:41:48.780
 You know,

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.980
 on the coal.

00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:51.539
 That's Thomas Watson.

00:41:52.659 --> 00:41:54.539
 Like bellows

00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:55.599
 on the coal

00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:56.380
 of what we have

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:57.360
 taken in

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:58.659
 in our Bible study.

00:41:58.659 --> 00:42:00.279
 So,

00:42:00.379 --> 00:42:01.399
 meditation is bellows.

00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:02.599
 This is critical

00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:04.619
 because our hearts,

00:42:04.759 --> 00:42:05.659
 are they not?

00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:07.000
 Our hearts

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:08.319
 are like

00:42:08.319 --> 00:42:10.159
 green wood.

00:42:10.899 --> 00:42:11.319
 They're like

00:42:11.319 --> 00:42:12.099
 green wood.

00:42:15.099 --> 00:42:16.299
 Thomas Manton

00:42:16.299 --> 00:42:16.619
 writes,

00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:18.420
 green wood

00:42:18.420 --> 00:42:20.299
 is not kindled

00:42:20.299 --> 00:42:22.019
 by a flash

00:42:22.019 --> 00:42:23.480
 or a spark,

00:42:24.059 --> 00:42:24.619
 but by

00:42:24.619 --> 00:42:25.920
 constant blowing.

00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:28.299
 Wonderful.

00:42:28.659 --> 00:42:29.399
 Then,

00:42:29.759 --> 00:42:31.000
 Psalm 39.3,

00:42:31.319 --> 00:42:32.440
 while I meditated,

00:42:32.579 --> 00:42:33.799
 the fire burned.

00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:37.139
 Again,

00:42:37.379 --> 00:42:37.699
 Watson,

00:42:38.139 --> 00:42:38.879
 the reason

00:42:38.879 --> 00:42:39.739
 we come away

00:42:39.739 --> 00:42:40.739
 so cold

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:41.399
 from reading

00:42:41.399 --> 00:42:42.000
 the word

00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:43.879
 is because

00:42:43.879 --> 00:42:44.699
 we do not

00:42:44.699 --> 00:42:46.059
 warm ourselves

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:47.019
 at the fire

00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:47.920
 of meditation.

00:42:50.399 --> 00:42:51.279
 And this

00:42:51.279 --> 00:42:52.159
 takes us to

00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:52.899
 Augustine's

00:42:52.899 --> 00:42:53.719
 third step,

00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:55.920
 dilectio.

00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:56.920
 delight.

00:42:56.920 --> 00:42:58.579
 Oh, oh, oh, sorry.

00:42:58.800 --> 00:42:59.559
 Yeah, yeah, here we go.

00:43:05.240 --> 00:43:06.000
 Dilectio.

00:43:06.340 --> 00:43:06.920
 Delight.

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.039
 Delight.

00:43:08.680 --> 00:43:09.559
 And this

00:43:09.559 --> 00:43:10.380
 is where

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:11.200
 your soul

00:43:11.200 --> 00:43:11.980
 becomes

00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:12.900
 a palate

00:43:12.900 --> 00:43:14.460
 and you

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:15.300
 taste of the

00:43:15.300 --> 00:43:16.099
 glory that's

00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:16.840
 disclosed.

00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:18.820
 And we can

00:43:18.820 --> 00:43:19.300
 scarcely,

00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:20.619
 this can scarcely

00:43:20.619 --> 00:43:21.760
 be called a step

00:43:21.760 --> 00:43:22.920
 because we're

00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:23.800
 not in control

00:43:23.800 --> 00:43:24.480
 of this.

00:43:25.600 --> 00:43:26.340
 It's kind of like

00:43:26.340 --> 00:43:27.640
 whitewater rafting.

00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:28.600
 Have you done some of that?

00:43:28.900 --> 00:43:29.920
 Or kayaking

00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:30.620
 in these

00:43:30.620 --> 00:43:31.060
 great

00:43:31.060 --> 00:43:31.780
 Vermont streams

00:43:31.780 --> 00:43:32.340
 where

00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:34.160
 it takes

00:43:34.160 --> 00:43:34.620
 a lot of

00:43:34.620 --> 00:43:35.300
 skills,

00:43:35.820 --> 00:43:36.920
 but the thrill

00:43:36.920 --> 00:43:38.060
 isn't the skills.

00:43:39.060 --> 00:43:40.060
 It just takes

00:43:40.060 --> 00:43:41.080
 skills to stay

00:43:41.080 --> 00:43:41.680
 on the river,

00:43:42.220 --> 00:43:44.040
 but the thrill

00:43:44.040 --> 00:43:45.060
 is the river.

00:43:45.760 --> 00:43:46.540
 It's the river.

00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:48.259
 And that's

00:43:48.259 --> 00:43:48.779
 what we're

00:43:48.779 --> 00:43:49.579
 coming into now.

00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:49.820
 You know,

00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:51.159
 just the thrill

00:43:51.159 --> 00:43:51.860
 of the river.

00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:53.079
 That's the delight.

00:43:53.579 --> 00:43:54.300
 Skills are just

00:43:54.300 --> 00:43:55.259
 to keep you there.

00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:57.440
 Turn over my canoe

00:43:57.440 --> 00:43:58.000
 so fast.

00:43:58.539 --> 00:44:02.259
 And it's often,

00:44:02.820 --> 00:44:03.039
 you know,

00:44:03.079 --> 00:44:03.800
 we're not in control

00:44:03.800 --> 00:44:04.300
 of this.

00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.480
 It's often,

00:44:05.940 --> 00:44:07.400
 but it is often

00:44:07.400 --> 00:44:08.340
 the accompanying

00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:09.679
 experience.

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:10.759
 The accompanying

00:44:10.759 --> 00:44:11.500
 experience.

00:44:11.840 --> 00:44:12.559
 We can build

00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:13.059
 the altar,

00:44:13.800 --> 00:44:14.659
 but the fire

00:44:14.659 --> 00:44:15.199
 must fall

00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:15.800
 from heaven.

00:44:16.539 --> 00:44:18.340
 And sometimes

00:44:18.340 --> 00:44:18.779
 our hearts

00:44:18.779 --> 00:44:19.320
 don't glow.

00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:19.920
 My heart

00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:20.539
 doesn't glow.

00:44:20.739 --> 00:44:21.460
 A lot of the time

00:44:21.460 --> 00:44:21.920
 my heart

00:44:21.920 --> 00:44:22.659
 doesn't glow.

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:23.380
 It's okay.

00:44:23.960 --> 00:44:24.719
 I'll come back

00:44:24.719 --> 00:44:25.179
 tomorrow.

00:44:25.759 --> 00:44:26.440
 And I'll gaze

00:44:26.440 --> 00:44:27.059
 again tomorrow.

00:44:27.340 --> 00:44:27.659
 It's all right.

00:44:27.739 --> 00:44:28.400
 I learned a lot.

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:29.099
 You know,

00:44:29.279 --> 00:44:29.699
 it's okay.

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:31.000
 Sometimes,

00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:31.900
 writes John Owen.

00:44:32.099 --> 00:44:32.559
 John Owen.

00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:33.440
 Sometimes.

00:44:35.840 --> 00:44:36.360
 Sometimes

00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:38.239
 these meditations

00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:39.880
 fill us

00:44:39.880 --> 00:44:41.300
 with joy

00:44:41.300 --> 00:44:42.639
 unspeakable

00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:43.719
 and full

00:44:43.719 --> 00:44:44.400
 of glory.

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:47.539
 There is

00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:48.320
 to us

00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:48.940
 granted

00:44:48.940 --> 00:44:50.599
 a relish

00:44:50.599 --> 00:44:52.280
 and a

00:44:52.280 --> 00:44:52.820
 savor

00:44:52.820 --> 00:44:53.440
 in which

00:44:53.440 --> 00:44:54.059
 lies

00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:55.280
 the sweetness

00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:56.900
 and satisfaction

00:44:56.900 --> 00:44:58.300
 of the

00:44:58.300 --> 00:44:59.340
 spiritual life.

00:45:00.340 --> 00:45:01.220
 We taste

00:45:01.220 --> 00:45:01.760
 then by

00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:02.619
 experience

00:45:02.619 --> 00:45:03.200
 that God

00:45:03.200 --> 00:45:03.820
 is gracious

00:45:03.820 --> 00:45:05.340
 and that

00:45:05.340 --> 00:45:06.079
 the love

00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:07.400
 of Christ

00:45:07.400 --> 00:45:08.619
 is better

00:45:08.619 --> 00:45:09.240
 than wine.

00:45:09.239 --> 00:45:11.959
 John Owen.

00:45:12.279 --> 00:45:12.819
 Meditations

00:45:12.819 --> 00:45:13.199
 on the

00:45:13.199 --> 00:45:13.699
 glory of

00:45:13.699 --> 00:45:14.179
 Christ.

00:45:15.139 --> 00:45:15.619
 Or,

00:45:15.779 --> 00:45:16.339
 as Richard

00:45:16.339 --> 00:45:16.799
 Baxter

00:45:16.799 --> 00:45:17.699
 put it,

00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:19.439
 sometimes,

00:45:20.239 --> 00:45:22.219
 don't be

00:45:22.219 --> 00:45:22.599
 discouraged

00:45:22.599 --> 00:45:22.979
 if it doesn't

00:45:22.979 --> 00:45:23.539
 happen often,

00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:24.379
 sometimes

00:45:24.379 --> 00:45:25.699
 our meditations

00:45:25.699 --> 00:45:27.379
 be as the

00:45:27.379 --> 00:45:27.919
 chariot

00:45:27.919 --> 00:45:28.839
 of Elijah

00:45:28.839 --> 00:45:30.539
 and take us

00:45:30.539 --> 00:45:31.199
 up into

00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:31.659
 heaven.

00:45:32.139 --> 00:45:32.819
 Isn't that

00:45:32.819 --> 00:45:33.419
 wonderful?

00:45:34.419 --> 00:45:34.979
 Again,

00:45:35.119 --> 00:45:35.419
 that's

00:45:35.419 --> 00:45:35.779
 saints'

00:45:35.779 --> 00:45:36.239
 everlasting

00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:36.819
 rest.

00:45:36.820 --> 00:45:40.400
 Before we

00:45:40.400 --> 00:45:41.180
 move from

00:45:41.180 --> 00:45:41.860
 meditation,

00:45:42.600 --> 00:45:43.160
 I want to

00:45:43.160 --> 00:45:43.600
 underscore

00:45:43.600 --> 00:45:44.940
 one final

00:45:44.940 --> 00:45:45.460
 time its

00:45:45.460 --> 00:45:46.100
 vital

00:45:46.100 --> 00:45:46.940
 importance

00:45:46.940 --> 00:45:48.140
 in the

00:45:48.140 --> 00:45:48.440
 life of

00:45:48.440 --> 00:45:48.539
 the

00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:48.960
 disciple.

00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.900
 As Thomas

00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:50.660
 White writes

00:45:50.660 --> 00:45:51.380
 in his

00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:52.300
 Art of Divine

00:45:52.300 --> 00:45:52.880
 Meditation,

00:45:53.240 --> 00:45:54.080
 1672,

00:45:54.340 --> 00:45:54.760
 so these are

00:45:54.760 --> 00:45:55.380
 periods still,

00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:56.700
 it is

00:45:56.700 --> 00:45:57.440
 better

00:45:57.440 --> 00:45:58.820
 to hear

00:45:58.820 --> 00:45:59.680
 one sermon

00:45:59.680 --> 00:46:00.700
 only and

00:46:00.700 --> 00:46:01.780
 meditate on

00:46:01.780 --> 00:46:02.360
 that

00:46:02.360 --> 00:46:03.800
 than to

00:46:03.800 --> 00:46:04.640
 hear two

00:46:04.640 --> 00:46:05.440
 sermons

00:46:05.440 --> 00:46:06.200
 and meditate

00:46:06.200 --> 00:46:06.900
 on neither.

00:46:08.460 --> 00:46:08.579
 Okay?

00:46:09.180 --> 00:46:10.240
 Or as

00:46:10.240 --> 00:46:10.579
 Baxter

00:46:10.579 --> 00:46:11.400
 quaintly put it,

00:46:11.539 --> 00:46:11.980
 Raoul

00:46:11.980 --> 00:46:12.619
 anticipated

00:46:12.619 --> 00:46:13.640
 him here,

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:16.400
 a man

00:46:16.400 --> 00:46:17.579
 may eat

00:46:17.579 --> 00:46:18.420
 too much,

00:46:19.059 --> 00:46:19.980
 but he

00:46:19.980 --> 00:46:21.039
 cannot digest

00:46:21.039 --> 00:46:21.860
 too well.

00:46:21.860 --> 00:46:24.039
 Isn't

00:46:24.039 --> 00:46:24.320
 that great?

00:46:24.460 --> 00:46:24.760
 A man

00:46:24.760 --> 00:46:25.120
 may eat

00:46:25.120 --> 00:46:25.640
 too much,

00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:26.620
 boy do I

00:46:26.620 --> 00:46:27.160
 know that,

00:46:27.660 --> 00:46:29.539
 but he

00:46:29.539 --> 00:46:31.680
 cannot digest

00:46:31.680 --> 00:46:32.920
 too well.

00:46:34.160 --> 00:46:34.740
 Saints'

00:46:34.840 --> 00:46:35.140
 everlasting

00:46:35.140 --> 00:46:35.620
 rest.

00:46:35.760 --> 00:46:36.059
 Near the

00:46:36.059 --> 00:46:36.240
 end,

00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:37.500
 page 549.

00:46:38.720 --> 00:46:39.640
 In fact,

00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:40.400
 the whole

00:46:40.400 --> 00:46:41.059
 point of

00:46:41.059 --> 00:46:41.519
 eating,

00:46:42.059 --> 00:46:42.360
 surely,

00:46:43.140 --> 00:46:43.640
 is to

00:46:43.640 --> 00:46:44.380
 digest and

00:46:44.380 --> 00:46:45.140
 assimilate

00:46:45.140 --> 00:46:45.420
 it.

00:46:45.840 --> 00:46:46.380
 That's the

00:46:46.380 --> 00:46:47.079
 whole point.

00:46:48.200 --> 00:46:49.079
 Every sermon,

00:46:49.240 --> 00:46:49.920
 writes James

00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:50.340
 Usher,

00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:52.000
 is but

00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:53.019
 a preparation

00:46:53.019 --> 00:46:54.200
 for meditation.

00:46:55.059 --> 00:46:55.780
 Every sermon

00:46:55.780 --> 00:46:56.480
 is but,

00:46:56.720 --> 00:46:57.600
 nothing but,

00:46:57.940 --> 00:46:58.640
 a preparation

00:46:58.640 --> 00:46:59.900
 for meditation.

00:47:01.720 --> 00:47:02.500
 Which is a

00:47:02.500 --> 00:47:03.380
 preparation for

00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:04.240
 the consummation.

00:47:04.579 --> 00:47:04.860
 Yeah,

00:47:05.260 --> 00:47:05.620
 excellent.

00:47:05.800 --> 00:47:06.680
 That's great.

00:47:06.980 --> 00:47:07.300
 Yes,

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:07.820
 that's right.

00:47:08.140 --> 00:47:08.559
 It will

00:47:08.559 --> 00:47:10.200
 accustom us

00:47:10.200 --> 00:47:10.860
 to our

00:47:10.860 --> 00:47:11.680
 occupation for

00:47:11.680 --> 00:47:12.059
 eternity.

00:47:12.380 --> 00:47:12.860
 That's right.

00:47:13.680 --> 00:47:14.640
 Faith is

00:47:14.640 --> 00:47:15.400
 lean,

00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:16.220
 writes

00:47:16.220 --> 00:47:16.660
 Manton,

00:47:16.860 --> 00:47:17.340
 and ready

00:47:17.340 --> 00:47:18.420
 to starve

00:47:18.420 --> 00:47:19.740
 unless it

00:47:19.739 --> 00:47:20.479
 be fed

00:47:20.479 --> 00:47:21.079
 with

00:47:21.079 --> 00:47:21.899
 continual

00:47:21.899 --> 00:47:22.539
 meditation.

00:47:25.879 --> 00:47:26.479
 So,

00:47:26.919 --> 00:47:27.859
 as Thomas

00:47:27.859 --> 00:47:28.519
 Watson writes,

00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:29.059
 a Christian

00:47:29.059 --> 00:47:29.339
 without

00:47:29.339 --> 00:47:29.839
 meditation

00:47:29.839 --> 00:47:30.179
 is like

00:47:30.179 --> 00:47:30.579
 a soldier

00:47:30.579 --> 00:47:30.879
 without

00:47:30.879 --> 00:47:31.399
 arms,

00:47:31.559 --> 00:47:31.979
 or a

00:47:31.979 --> 00:47:32.279
 workman

00:47:32.279 --> 00:47:32.559
 without

00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:33.019
 tools.

00:47:33.299 --> 00:47:33.500
 Without

00:47:33.500 --> 00:47:34.099
 meditation,

00:47:34.439 --> 00:47:34.939
 the truths

00:47:34.939 --> 00:47:35.359
 of God

00:47:35.359 --> 00:47:35.939
 will not

00:47:35.939 --> 00:47:36.539
 stay with

00:47:36.539 --> 00:47:36.859
 us.

00:47:37.259 --> 00:47:37.699
 The heart

00:47:37.699 --> 00:47:38.279
 is hard,

00:47:38.359 --> 00:47:38.519
 and the

00:47:38.519 --> 00:47:38.959
 memory is

00:47:38.959 --> 00:47:39.319
 slippery.

00:47:40.419 --> 00:47:40.879
 And so,

00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:41.599
 without

00:47:41.599 --> 00:47:42.359
 meditation,

00:47:43.500 --> 00:47:44.619
 all is

00:47:44.619 --> 00:47:45.199
 lost.

00:47:45.959 --> 00:47:46.479
 All is

00:47:46.479 --> 00:47:46.959
 lost.

00:47:46.960 --> 00:47:47.099
 Christ,

00:47:47.220 --> 00:47:48.960
 so let

00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:49.280
 me leave

00:47:49.280 --> 00:47:49.599
 you with

00:47:49.599 --> 00:47:50.220
 this charge

00:47:50.220 --> 00:47:50.519
 from the

00:47:50.519 --> 00:47:50.800
 pen of

00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:51.159
 Watson.

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:53.679
 If you

00:47:53.679 --> 00:47:53.880
 have

00:47:53.880 --> 00:47:54.460
 formerly,

00:47:54.840 --> 00:47:57.159
 formerly

00:47:57.159 --> 00:47:58.300
 neglected it,

00:47:58.539 --> 00:47:59.139
 bewail your

00:47:59.139 --> 00:47:59.599
 neglect,

00:48:00.240 --> 00:48:00.880
 and now

00:48:00.880 --> 00:48:01.619
 begin to

00:48:01.619 --> 00:48:01.960
 make a

00:48:01.960 --> 00:48:02.300
 conscience

00:48:02.300 --> 00:48:02.820
 of it.

00:48:03.480 --> 00:48:03.940
 Lock up

00:48:03.940 --> 00:48:04.420
 yourself

00:48:04.420 --> 00:48:05.039
 with God

00:48:05.039 --> 00:48:05.679
 at least

00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:06.119
 once a

00:48:06.119 --> 00:48:06.559
 day by

00:48:06.559 --> 00:48:06.840
 holy

00:48:06.840 --> 00:48:07.420
 meditation.

00:48:08.119 --> 00:48:08.500
 Ascend

00:48:08.500 --> 00:48:09.039
 this hill,

00:48:09.280 --> 00:48:09.679
 and when

00:48:09.679 --> 00:48:09.940
 you are

00:48:09.940 --> 00:48:10.460
 gotten to

00:48:10.460 --> 00:48:10.820
 the top

00:48:10.820 --> 00:48:11.099
 of it,

00:48:11.480 --> 00:48:12.300
 you shall

00:48:12.300 --> 00:48:13.659
 see a

00:48:13.659 --> 00:48:14.179
 fair

00:48:14.179 --> 00:48:14.819
 prospect.

00:48:16.319 --> 00:48:16.799
 Christ

00:48:16.799 --> 00:48:17.419
 and

00:48:17.419 --> 00:48:17.839
 heaven

00:48:17.839 --> 00:48:18.339
 before

00:48:18.339 --> 00:48:18.639
 you.

00:48:19.679 --> 00:48:20.099
 Let me

00:48:20.099 --> 00:48:20.519
 put in

00:48:20.519 --> 00:48:21.019
 your mind

00:48:21.019 --> 00:48:21.579
 that saying

00:48:21.579 --> 00:48:22.079
 of Bernard.

00:48:22.179 --> 00:48:22.539
 He's talking

00:48:22.539 --> 00:48:23.019
 about Bernard

00:48:23.019 --> 00:48:23.539
 of Clairvaux,

00:48:23.679 --> 00:48:24.259
 Saint Bernard.

00:48:25.699 --> 00:48:26.239
 O saint,

00:48:26.500 --> 00:48:27.219
 knowest thou

00:48:27.219 --> 00:48:27.919
 not that

00:48:27.919 --> 00:48:28.599
 thy husband

00:48:28.599 --> 00:48:29.460
 Christ is

00:48:29.460 --> 00:48:30.000
 bashful,

00:48:30.599 --> 00:48:30.980
 and will

00:48:30.980 --> 00:48:31.379
 not be

00:48:31.379 --> 00:48:32.299
 familiar in

00:48:32.299 --> 00:48:32.699
 company?

00:48:33.279 --> 00:48:33.739
 Retire

00:48:33.739 --> 00:48:34.759
 thyself by

00:48:34.759 --> 00:48:35.839
 meditation into

00:48:35.839 --> 00:48:36.539
 the closet

00:48:36.539 --> 00:48:37.079
 or the

00:48:37.079 --> 00:48:37.519
 field,

00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:38.940
 and there

00:48:38.940 --> 00:48:39.739
 thou shalt

00:48:39.739 --> 00:48:40.839
 have Christ's

00:48:40.839 --> 00:48:41.559
 embraces.

00:48:44.179 --> 00:48:46.859
 So,

00:48:47.099 --> 00:48:47.960
 we have

00:48:47.960 --> 00:48:49.099
 preparation,

00:48:50.319 --> 00:48:50.859
 then

00:48:50.859 --> 00:48:51.919
 meditation,

00:48:52.879 --> 00:48:53.139
 and the

00:48:53.139 --> 00:48:54.239
 third step

00:48:54.239 --> 00:48:55.099
 is

00:48:55.099 --> 00:48:56.339
 application.

00:48:56.799 --> 00:48:57.480
 Application.

00:48:58.319 --> 00:48:58.719
 Verses

00:48:58.719 --> 00:48:59.399
 22 through

00:48:59.399 --> 00:49:01.259
 24 and

00:49:01.259 --> 00:49:02.819
 25.

00:49:03.579 --> 00:49:04.219
 Or in

00:49:04.219 --> 00:49:04.739
 the words

00:49:04.739 --> 00:49:05.399
 of James

00:49:05.399 --> 00:49:05.719
 here,

00:49:05.919 --> 00:49:06.779
 our original

00:49:06.779 --> 00:49:07.219
 text,

00:49:07.799 --> 00:49:08.299
 becoming

00:49:08.299 --> 00:49:08.980
 or being

00:49:08.980 --> 00:49:10.199
 a doer

00:49:10.199 --> 00:49:11.539
 of the

00:49:11.539 --> 00:49:12.019
 word and

00:49:12.019 --> 00:49:13.019
 not merely

00:49:13.019 --> 00:49:14.019
 a hearer.

00:49:14.179 --> 00:49:15.500
 Now,

00:49:16.500 --> 00:49:18.179
 if we

00:49:18.179 --> 00:49:18.619
 neglect

00:49:18.619 --> 00:49:19.619
 this step,

00:49:19.779 --> 00:49:20.139
 we will

00:49:20.139 --> 00:49:20.719
 have lots

00:49:20.719 --> 00:49:21.460
 of company,

00:49:22.019 --> 00:49:22.919
 for we

00:49:22.919 --> 00:49:23.460
 will merely

00:49:23.460 --> 00:49:25.019
 swell a

00:49:25.019 --> 00:49:25.659
 throng that

00:49:25.659 --> 00:49:26.159
 no man

00:49:26.159 --> 00:49:26.819
 can count.

00:49:27.940 --> 00:49:28.859
 Those who

00:49:28.859 --> 00:49:29.399
 open the

00:49:29.399 --> 00:49:30.219
 word and

00:49:30.219 --> 00:49:30.819
 close it

00:49:30.819 --> 00:49:31.899
 without effect,

00:49:32.319 --> 00:49:32.960
 like the

00:49:32.960 --> 00:49:33.599
 fellow who

00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:34.399
 looks in

00:49:34.399 --> 00:49:34.799
 the mirror,

00:49:35.659 --> 00:49:36.599
 but walks

00:49:36.599 --> 00:49:37.079
 away and

00:49:37.079 --> 00:49:37.599
 forgets what

00:49:37.599 --> 00:49:38.019
 he saw,

00:49:38.219 --> 00:49:38.859
 the gross

00:49:38.859 --> 00:49:39.559
 deformity,

00:49:39.980 --> 00:49:40.219
 okay,

00:49:40.899 --> 00:49:42.319
 the spinach.

00:49:42.320 --> 00:49:44.720
 and the

00:49:44.720 --> 00:49:45.380
 result is

00:49:45.380 --> 00:49:46.000
 no benefit

00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:46.460
 at all.

00:49:46.960 --> 00:49:47.440
 Deluded.

00:49:48.200 --> 00:49:48.740
 Deluded,

00:49:49.680 --> 00:49:50.340
 James says.

00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:52.460
 And this

00:49:52.460 --> 00:49:53.360
 is pervasive,

00:49:54.200 --> 00:49:55.800
 but perilous.

00:49:56.539 --> 00:49:57.180
 Perilous.

00:49:57.179 --> 00:50:01.579
 Bible study

00:50:01.579 --> 00:50:03.419
 that stops

00:50:03.419 --> 00:50:04.059
 short of

00:50:04.059 --> 00:50:04.859
 response

00:50:04.859 --> 00:50:05.779
 becomes a

00:50:05.779 --> 00:50:06.199
 tool of

00:50:06.199 --> 00:50:06.679
 the devil

00:50:06.679 --> 00:50:08.000
 to make

00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:08.819
 us like

00:50:08.819 --> 00:50:09.619
 the other

00:50:09.619 --> 00:50:10.219
 denizens

00:50:10.219 --> 00:50:11.079
 of hell,

00:50:11.799 --> 00:50:12.759
 full of

00:50:12.759 --> 00:50:13.319
 truth

00:50:13.319 --> 00:50:14.019
 and

00:50:14.019 --> 00:50:14.919
 ungodliness.

00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:17.699
 Or in

00:50:17.699 --> 00:50:18.659
 Watson's

00:50:18.659 --> 00:50:19.039
 words,

00:50:19.359 --> 00:50:19.819
 reading

00:50:19.819 --> 00:50:20.339
 without

00:50:20.339 --> 00:50:21.299
 practice

00:50:21.299 --> 00:50:23.099
 will be

00:50:23.099 --> 00:50:23.699
 but a

00:50:23.699 --> 00:50:24.179
 torch

00:50:24.179 --> 00:50:24.879
 to light

00:50:24.879 --> 00:50:25.359
 men

00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.300
 to hell.

00:50:28.980 --> 00:50:29.099
 Okay,

00:50:29.140 --> 00:50:29.660
 now this

00:50:29.660 --> 00:50:30.099
 may seem

00:50:30.099 --> 00:50:31.620
 an extreme

00:50:31.620 --> 00:50:32.519
 contention,

00:50:33.260 --> 00:50:34.400
 but minds

00:50:34.400 --> 00:50:35.740
 more steeped

00:50:35.740 --> 00:50:36.280
 in scripture

00:50:36.280 --> 00:50:37.579
 assert the

00:50:37.579 --> 00:50:38.160
 same thing.

00:50:38.500 --> 00:50:38.800
 Jonathan

00:50:38.800 --> 00:50:39.280
 Edwards

00:50:39.280 --> 00:50:41.019
 has a

00:50:41.019 --> 00:50:41.240
 sermon

00:50:41.240 --> 00:50:41.559
 called

00:50:41.559 --> 00:50:42.000
 True

00:50:42.000 --> 00:50:42.700
 Grace

00:50:42.700 --> 00:50:44.079
 Distinguished

00:50:44.079 --> 00:50:44.740
 from the

00:50:44.740 --> 00:50:45.480
 Experience

00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:46.340
 of Devils.

00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:47.760
 Okay,

00:50:48.579 --> 00:50:48.840
 True

00:50:48.840 --> 00:50:49.099
 Grace

00:50:49.099 --> 00:50:50.880
 Distinguished

00:50:50.880 --> 00:50:51.480
 from the

00:50:51.480 --> 00:50:51.860
 Experience

00:50:51.860 --> 00:50:52.559
 of Devils

00:50:52.559 --> 00:50:52.920
 in which

00:50:52.920 --> 00:50:53.260
 he says,

00:50:53.260 --> 00:50:54.080
 Satan

00:50:54.080 --> 00:50:55.760
 is educated

00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:56.360
 in the

00:50:56.360 --> 00:50:56.780
 best

00:50:56.780 --> 00:50:57.500
 school

00:50:57.500 --> 00:50:57.740
 of

00:50:57.740 --> 00:50:58.180
 divinity,

00:50:58.960 --> 00:50:59.560
 namely

00:50:59.560 --> 00:50:59.860
 the

00:50:59.860 --> 00:51:00.100
 heaven

00:51:00.100 --> 00:51:00.280
 of

00:51:00.280 --> 00:51:00.740
 heavens.

00:51:02.200 --> 00:51:02.440
 Okay,

00:51:02.580 --> 00:51:02.960
 so it's

00:51:02.960 --> 00:51:03.500
 not just

00:51:03.500 --> 00:51:04.320
 knowledge.

00:51:04.680 --> 00:51:05.180
 And Jesus

00:51:05.180 --> 00:51:05.780
 underscores

00:51:05.780 --> 00:51:07.080
 the necessity

00:51:07.080 --> 00:51:08.080
 of application.

00:51:08.560 --> 00:51:09.380
 Matthew 7

00:51:09.380 --> 00:51:09.860
 from Sermon

00:51:09.860 --> 00:51:10.040
 on the

00:51:10.040 --> 00:51:10.180
 Mount,

00:51:10.280 --> 00:51:10.460
 7,

00:51:10.500 --> 00:51:10.860
 24

00:51:10.860 --> 00:51:11.100
 through

00:51:11.100 --> 00:51:11.680
 27.

00:51:12.460 --> 00:51:12.900
 Remember

00:51:12.900 --> 00:51:14.040
 contrasting

00:51:14.040 --> 00:51:14.880
 the person

00:51:14.880 --> 00:51:15.320
 that builds

00:51:15.320 --> 00:51:15.940
 their house

00:51:15.940 --> 00:51:16.780
 on the

00:51:16.780 --> 00:51:17.140
 rock

00:51:17.140 --> 00:51:17.660
 and the

00:51:17.660 --> 00:51:17.900
 person

00:51:17.900 --> 00:51:18.360
 that builds

00:51:18.360 --> 00:51:18.700
 on the

00:51:18.700 --> 00:51:19.220
 sand.

00:51:19.219 --> 00:51:21.119
 Do you

00:51:21.119 --> 00:51:22.339
 remember

00:51:22.339 --> 00:51:22.959
 what the

00:51:22.959 --> 00:51:23.500
 contrast is?

00:51:23.599 --> 00:51:23.919
 What is

00:51:23.919 --> 00:51:24.819
 the difference

00:51:24.819 --> 00:51:26.939
 between the

00:51:26.939 --> 00:51:27.439
 one who

00:51:27.439 --> 00:51:28.599
 builds their

00:51:28.599 --> 00:51:28.980
 house on

00:51:28.980 --> 00:51:29.500
 the rock

00:51:29.500 --> 00:51:30.199
 and builds

00:51:30.199 --> 00:51:30.579
 their house

00:51:30.579 --> 00:51:30.879
 on the

00:51:30.879 --> 00:51:31.299
 sand?

00:51:31.779 --> 00:51:32.379
 Was it

00:51:32.379 --> 00:51:32.819
 hearing the

00:51:32.819 --> 00:51:33.219
 words?

00:51:34.839 --> 00:51:35.199
 Anybody

00:51:35.199 --> 00:51:35.719
 remember?

00:51:36.859 --> 00:51:37.219
 No.

00:51:37.599 --> 00:51:38.079
 No.

00:51:38.459 --> 00:51:39.119
 That's right.

00:51:39.319 --> 00:51:40.059
 That is

00:51:40.059 --> 00:51:40.719
 correct.

00:51:41.179 --> 00:51:41.799
 It is he

00:51:41.799 --> 00:51:42.319
 who hears

00:51:42.319 --> 00:51:42.799
 these words

00:51:42.799 --> 00:51:43.179
 of mine

00:51:43.179 --> 00:51:43.919
 and

00:51:43.919 --> 00:51:46.419
 puts them

00:51:46.419 --> 00:51:47.519
 into practice.

00:51:47.939 --> 00:51:48.199
 Remember

00:51:48.199 --> 00:51:48.759
 that's the

00:51:48.759 --> 00:51:49.419
 contrast.

00:51:50.960 --> 00:51:52.000
 The guy

00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:52.460
 whose house

00:51:52.460 --> 00:51:52.679
 is on

00:51:52.679 --> 00:51:52.939
 the sand,

00:51:53.019 --> 00:51:53.399
 oh they

00:51:53.399 --> 00:51:53.919
 hear all

00:51:53.919 --> 00:51:54.299
 these words,

00:51:54.319 --> 00:51:54.739
 they hear

00:51:54.739 --> 00:51:55.119
 all these

00:51:55.119 --> 00:51:55.579
 words.

00:51:55.719 --> 00:51:56.039
 They might

00:51:56.039 --> 00:51:56.399
 give a

00:51:56.399 --> 00:51:56.719
 tentative

00:51:56.719 --> 00:51:56.899
 lunch.

00:51:57.059 --> 00:51:57.759
 So that's

00:51:57.759 --> 00:51:58.899
 the contrast

00:51:58.899 --> 00:51:59.239
 there.

00:52:00.579 --> 00:52:00.980
 Not an

00:52:00.980 --> 00:52:02.000
 acquaintance

00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:03.939
 with Christ's

00:52:03.939 --> 00:52:04.399
 words but

00:52:04.399 --> 00:52:05.500
 their application

00:52:05.500 --> 00:52:07.279
 is determinative.

00:52:08.299 --> 00:52:08.719
 In other

00:52:08.719 --> 00:52:09.039
 words,

00:52:09.319 --> 00:52:10.059
 Mark 4

00:52:10.059 --> 00:52:10.879
 24 and

00:52:10.879 --> 00:52:11.359
 25,

00:52:11.799 --> 00:52:12.359
 Jesus makes

00:52:12.359 --> 00:52:12.739
 a similar

00:52:12.739 --> 00:52:13.119
 point.

00:52:13.739 --> 00:52:14.879
 Use what

00:52:14.879 --> 00:52:15.439
 you've got

00:52:15.439 --> 00:52:16.299
 or lose

00:52:16.299 --> 00:52:16.619
 it.

00:52:17.239 --> 00:52:17.739
 Use or

00:52:17.739 --> 00:52:18.119
 lose.

00:52:18.319 --> 00:52:18.539
 He who

00:52:18.539 --> 00:52:19.019
 has,

00:52:19.199 --> 00:52:19.359
 more

00:52:19.359 --> 00:52:19.559
 will be

00:52:19.559 --> 00:52:19.779
 given.

00:52:19.879 --> 00:52:20.059
 He who

00:52:20.059 --> 00:52:20.419
 has not

00:52:20.419 --> 00:52:20.779
 even what

00:52:20.779 --> 00:52:21.279
 they have

00:52:21.279 --> 00:52:21.619
 or thought

00:52:21.619 --> 00:52:21.980
 he had

00:52:21.980 --> 00:52:22.219
 will be

00:52:22.219 --> 00:52:22.839
 taken away.

00:52:23.739 --> 00:52:24.379
 Apply or

00:52:24.379 --> 00:52:24.819
 forfeit.

00:52:25.519 --> 00:52:26.399
 Apply or

00:52:26.399 --> 00:52:26.980
 forfeit.

00:52:27.719 --> 00:52:28.259
 And this

00:52:28.259 --> 00:52:29.359
 crucial step

00:52:29.359 --> 00:52:30.239
 naturally

00:52:30.239 --> 00:52:31.199
 becomes the

00:52:31.199 --> 00:52:32.419
 sure focus

00:52:32.419 --> 00:52:34.799
 of spiritual

00:52:34.799 --> 00:52:35.399
 warfare.

00:52:36.419 --> 00:52:36.799
 Remember what

00:52:36.799 --> 00:52:37.359
 Jesus said

00:52:37.359 --> 00:52:37.759
 in the

00:52:37.759 --> 00:52:38.059
 parable of

00:52:38.059 --> 00:52:38.339
 the soils?

00:52:38.759 --> 00:52:39.139
 The devil

00:52:39.139 --> 00:52:40.079
 comes and

00:52:40.079 --> 00:52:41.480
 takes away

00:52:41.480 --> 00:52:42.279
 the seed.

00:52:42.960 --> 00:52:43.439
 The seed of

00:52:43.439 --> 00:52:43.980
 the word

00:52:43.980 --> 00:52:44.799
 that's been

00:52:44.799 --> 00:52:46.019
 strewn on

00:52:46.019 --> 00:52:46.139
 us.

00:52:46.359 --> 00:52:46.739
 The devil

00:52:46.739 --> 00:52:47.199
 comes and

00:52:47.199 --> 00:52:47.719
 takes away

00:52:47.719 --> 00:52:48.259
 the seed.

00:52:49.559 --> 00:52:49.960
 That is,

00:52:50.219 --> 00:52:51.419
 keeps would-be

00:52:51.419 --> 00:52:52.679
 disciples from

00:52:52.679 --> 00:52:53.619
 acting on

00:52:53.619 --> 00:52:53.899
 it.

00:52:55.719 --> 00:52:56.519
 You're no

00:52:56.519 --> 00:52:57.059
 doubt familiar

00:52:57.059 --> 00:52:57.539
 with C.S.

00:52:57.579 --> 00:52:57.960
 Lewis's

00:52:57.960 --> 00:52:58.419
 Screwtape

00:52:58.419 --> 00:52:58.739
 letters,

00:52:59.079 --> 00:52:59.779
 the correspondence

00:52:59.779 --> 00:53:01.119
 between junior

00:53:01.119 --> 00:53:01.799
 and senior

00:53:01.799 --> 00:53:02.359
 demons,

00:53:02.599 --> 00:53:03.199
 Wormwood and

00:53:03.199 --> 00:53:03.819
 Screwtape.

00:53:04.819 --> 00:53:05.319
 So here's,

00:53:06.939 --> 00:53:07.599
 the great

00:53:07.599 --> 00:53:08.279
 thing,

00:53:08.419 --> 00:53:09.439
 writes Screwtape

00:53:09.440 --> 00:53:10.119
 to Wormwood,

00:53:11.059 --> 00:53:12.220
 is to prevent

00:53:12.220 --> 00:53:13.179
 your,

00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:14.460
 Wormwood's

00:53:14.460 --> 00:53:15.320
 Christian client,

00:53:15.400 --> 00:53:15.700
 who he's

00:53:15.700 --> 00:53:16.240
 trying to

00:53:16.240 --> 00:53:16.700
 keep from

00:53:16.700 --> 00:53:16.880
 becoming,

00:53:17.159 --> 00:53:17.860
 is to

00:53:17.860 --> 00:53:18.720
 prevent him

00:53:18.720 --> 00:53:20.840
 doing anything.

00:53:21.720 --> 00:53:22.760
 As long as he

00:53:22.760 --> 00:53:23.280
 does not

00:53:23.280 --> 00:53:24.380
 convert it into

00:53:24.380 --> 00:53:24.840
 action,

00:53:25.019 --> 00:53:25.740
 it doesn't

00:53:25.740 --> 00:53:26.440
 matter how

00:53:26.440 --> 00:53:26.820
 much he

00:53:26.820 --> 00:53:27.559
 thinks about

00:53:27.559 --> 00:53:28.019
 this new

00:53:28.019 --> 00:53:28.460
 repentance.

00:53:29.220 --> 00:53:29.760
 Let the

00:53:29.760 --> 00:53:30.380
 little brute

00:53:30.380 --> 00:53:31.220
 wallow in

00:53:31.220 --> 00:53:31.460
 it.

00:53:31.820 --> 00:53:32.360
 Let him,

00:53:32.440 --> 00:53:32.840
 if he has

00:53:32.840 --> 00:53:33.240
 any bent

00:53:33.240 --> 00:53:33.619
 that way,

00:53:33.679 --> 00:53:34.139
 to write a

00:53:34.139 --> 00:53:34.659
 book about

00:53:34.659 --> 00:53:34.900
 it.

00:53:35.460 --> 00:53:35.820
 That's

00:53:35.820 --> 00:53:36.340
 often an

00:53:36.340 --> 00:53:37.019
 excellent way

00:53:37.019 --> 00:53:38.280
 of sterilizing

00:53:38.280 --> 00:53:39.099
 the seeds,

00:53:39.759 --> 00:53:40.159
 which the

00:53:40.159 --> 00:53:40.480
 enemy,

00:53:40.719 --> 00:53:41.179
 because he's

00:53:41.179 --> 00:53:41.679
 referring to

00:53:41.679 --> 00:53:42.159
 God when he

00:53:42.159 --> 00:53:42.539
 says enemy,

00:53:42.659 --> 00:53:42.900
 these are

00:53:42.900 --> 00:53:43.139
 demons,

00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:43.780
 which the

00:53:43.780 --> 00:53:44.559
 enemy plants

00:53:44.559 --> 00:53:44.800
 in the

00:53:44.800 --> 00:53:45.500
 human soul.

00:53:46.039 --> 00:53:46.380
 Let him

00:53:46.380 --> 00:53:47.199
 do anything

00:53:47.199 --> 00:53:48.300
 but act.

00:53:52.340 --> 00:53:53.199
 We must

00:53:53.199 --> 00:53:54.239
 remember that

00:53:54.239 --> 00:53:55.000
 our aim is

00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:56.440
 ultimately not,

00:53:57.000 --> 00:53:57.900
 not really to

00:53:57.900 --> 00:53:58.679
 master the

00:53:58.679 --> 00:53:59.079
 scriptures,

00:53:59.559 --> 00:54:00.579
 but for them

00:54:00.579 --> 00:54:01.340
 to master

00:54:01.340 --> 00:54:02.159
 us.

00:54:02.940 --> 00:54:03.619
 That's what

00:54:03.619 --> 00:54:04.259
 we want.

00:54:05.219 --> 00:54:05.980
 We get into

00:54:05.980 --> 00:54:06.679
 the word so

00:54:06.679 --> 00:54:07.539
 it can get

00:54:07.539 --> 00:54:08.879
 into us.

00:54:10.719 --> 00:54:11.199
 And to

00:54:11.199 --> 00:54:11.699
 this end,

00:54:11.899 --> 00:54:12.919
 we must keep

00:54:12.919 --> 00:54:13.699
 telling ourselves

00:54:13.699 --> 00:54:14.639
 that God is

00:54:14.639 --> 00:54:16.039
 addressing me

00:54:16.039 --> 00:54:17.599
 when we

00:54:17.599 --> 00:54:17.960
 read it.

00:54:18.179 --> 00:54:18.699
 Kierkegaard,

00:54:19.119 --> 00:54:19.799
 in a sermon

00:54:19.799 --> 00:54:20.419
 on this very

00:54:20.419 --> 00:54:20.819
 verse,

00:54:20.879 --> 00:54:21.239
 entitled,

00:54:21.659 --> 00:54:22.159
 What is

00:54:22.159 --> 00:54:23.239
 required in

00:54:23.239 --> 00:54:23.779
 order to

00:54:23.779 --> 00:54:24.299
 look at

00:54:24.299 --> 00:54:25.219
 oneself with

00:54:25.219 --> 00:54:25.899
 true blessing

00:54:25.899 --> 00:54:26.719
 in the

00:54:26.719 --> 00:54:27.319
 mirror of

00:54:27.319 --> 00:54:27.859
 the word?

00:54:28.139 --> 00:54:28.379
 It's a

00:54:28.379 --> 00:54:28.679
 wonderful

00:54:28.679 --> 00:54:29.059
 sermon.

00:54:29.519 --> 00:54:30.179
 He writes,

00:54:31.500 --> 00:54:32.579
 the first

00:54:32.579 --> 00:54:33.940
 requirement is

00:54:33.940 --> 00:54:34.299
 that you

00:54:34.299 --> 00:54:35.460
 must not

00:54:35.460 --> 00:54:36.519
 look at

00:54:36.519 --> 00:54:37.420
 the mirror,

00:54:37.980 --> 00:54:39.980
 but must

00:54:39.980 --> 00:54:41.179
 see yourself

00:54:41.179 --> 00:54:41.739
 in the

00:54:41.739 --> 00:54:42.039
 mirror.

00:54:42.639 --> 00:54:42.980
 Isn't that

00:54:42.980 --> 00:54:43.639
 a wonderful

00:54:43.639 --> 00:54:44.400
 observation?

00:54:45.500 --> 00:54:46.239
 As a result

00:54:46.239 --> 00:54:46.800
 of meditating

00:54:46.800 --> 00:54:47.159
 on that

00:54:47.159 --> 00:54:47.940
 very passage,

00:54:48.179 --> 00:54:48.320
 you know,

00:54:48.360 --> 00:54:48.679
 what do we

00:54:48.679 --> 00:54:48.900
 do?

00:54:49.119 --> 00:54:49.300
 You know,

00:54:49.320 --> 00:54:49.719
 just looking

00:54:49.719 --> 00:54:49.940
 at the

00:54:49.940 --> 00:54:50.139
 Bible,

00:54:50.219 --> 00:54:50.579
 that's just

00:54:50.579 --> 00:54:51.019
 like looking

00:54:51.019 --> 00:54:51.259
 at the

00:54:51.259 --> 00:54:51.380
 mirror.

00:54:51.440 --> 00:54:51.739
 But what's

00:54:51.739 --> 00:54:52.159
 the point

00:54:52.159 --> 00:54:52.539
 of looking

00:54:52.539 --> 00:54:52.820
 at a

00:54:52.820 --> 00:54:53.119
 mirror?

00:54:53.519 --> 00:54:53.800
 Not

00:54:53.800 --> 00:54:54.360
 seeing the

00:54:54.360 --> 00:54:54.739
 mirror.

00:54:55.739 --> 00:54:56.099
 It's

00:54:56.099 --> 00:54:56.380
 seeing

00:54:56.380 --> 00:54:56.980
 yourself

00:54:56.980 --> 00:54:57.480
 in the

00:54:57.480 --> 00:54:57.699
 mirror.

00:54:57.820 --> 00:54:58.059
 That's

00:54:58.059 --> 00:54:59.039
 what James'

00:54:59.039 --> 00:54:59.679
 image is

00:54:59.679 --> 00:55:00.059
 about,

00:55:00.360 --> 00:55:00.719
 seeing

00:55:00.719 --> 00:55:01.360
 ourself

00:55:01.360 --> 00:55:02.140
 in the

00:55:02.140 --> 00:55:02.460
 mirror.

00:55:05.620 --> 00:55:06.220
 Kierkegaard

00:55:06.220 --> 00:55:06.660
 continues,

00:55:06.900 --> 00:55:07.559
 and remember

00:55:07.559 --> 00:55:08.180
 to say

00:55:08.180 --> 00:55:08.720
 to yourself

00:55:08.720 --> 00:55:10.079
 incessantly,

00:55:11.240 --> 00:55:12.460
 it is I

00:55:12.460 --> 00:55:13.120
 to whom

00:55:13.120 --> 00:55:13.400
 it is

00:55:13.400 --> 00:55:13.820
 speaking.

00:55:14.500 --> 00:55:15.019
 It is

00:55:15.019 --> 00:55:16.280
 I about

00:55:16.280 --> 00:55:16.760
 whom it

00:55:16.760 --> 00:55:17.380
 is speaking.

00:55:21.820 --> 00:55:22.440
 Let me

00:55:22.440 --> 00:55:23.240
 briefly touch

00:55:23.240 --> 00:55:23.700
 upon a few

00:55:23.700 --> 00:55:24.640
 practicals of

00:55:24.640 --> 00:55:25.400
 application.

00:55:25.400 --> 00:55:29.200
 a helpful

00:55:29.200 --> 00:55:29.920
 question to

00:55:29.920 --> 00:55:30.260
 ask is,

00:55:30.559 --> 00:55:30.680
 Lord,

00:55:30.820 --> 00:55:31.800
 what is it

00:55:31.800 --> 00:55:32.220
 in this

00:55:32.220 --> 00:55:32.860
 passage or

00:55:32.860 --> 00:55:33.380
 this truth

00:55:33.380 --> 00:55:34.099
 that you

00:55:34.099 --> 00:55:34.840
 are seeking

00:55:34.840 --> 00:55:35.740
 to impress

00:55:35.740 --> 00:55:36.460
 upon me?

00:55:37.460 --> 00:55:38.480
 And why

00:55:38.480 --> 00:55:38.820
 do you

00:55:38.820 --> 00:55:39.240
 want me

00:55:39.240 --> 00:55:39.780
 to know

00:55:39.780 --> 00:55:40.820
 this now,

00:55:41.059 --> 00:55:42.000
 today,

00:55:42.960 --> 00:55:43.660
 at this

00:55:43.660 --> 00:55:44.119
 moment in

00:55:44.119 --> 00:55:44.619
 my life?

00:55:45.000 --> 00:55:45.139
 Lord,

00:55:45.300 --> 00:55:46.220
 what is

00:55:46.220 --> 00:55:48.340
 it in

00:55:48.340 --> 00:55:48.780
 this particular

00:55:48.780 --> 00:55:49.599
 passage and

00:55:49.599 --> 00:55:50.099
 truth that

00:55:50.099 --> 00:55:50.380
 you are

00:55:50.380 --> 00:55:50.980
 seeking to

00:55:50.980 --> 00:55:51.680
 impress on

00:55:51.680 --> 00:55:51.920
 me,

00:55:52.360 --> 00:55:53.019
 and why

00:55:53.019 --> 00:55:53.320
 do you

00:55:53.320 --> 00:55:53.680
 want me

00:55:53.680 --> 00:55:54.059
 to know

00:55:54.059 --> 00:55:54.880
 it now,

00:55:55.019 --> 00:55:55.380
 today?

00:55:55.400 --> 00:55:56.440
 in this

00:55:56.440 --> 00:55:57.220
 particular

00:55:57.220 --> 00:55:57.720
 moment.

00:55:58.960 --> 00:55:59.360
 And if

00:55:59.360 --> 00:55:59.680
 you're having

00:55:59.680 --> 00:56:00.360
 difficulty

00:56:00.360 --> 00:56:00.920
 coming up

00:56:00.920 --> 00:56:01.200
 with an

00:56:01.200 --> 00:56:01.720
 application,

00:56:02.099 --> 00:56:02.559
 consider the

00:56:02.559 --> 00:56:03.220
 categories of

00:56:03.220 --> 00:56:04.559
 2 Timothy 3.16.

00:56:05.480 --> 00:56:05.680
 Remember,

00:56:05.800 --> 00:56:06.599
 all scriptures

00:56:06.599 --> 00:56:07.160
 inspired by

00:56:07.160 --> 00:56:07.519
 God and

00:56:07.519 --> 00:56:08.220
 is profitable

00:56:08.220 --> 00:56:08.820
 for,

00:56:09.280 --> 00:56:09.680
 and then

00:56:09.680 --> 00:56:10.079
 use these

00:56:10.079 --> 00:56:10.639
 categories.

00:56:11.440 --> 00:56:12.019
 Doctrine,

00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:14.400
 teaching

00:56:14.400 --> 00:56:14.960
 truth,

00:56:15.660 --> 00:56:16.280
 reproof,

00:56:17.240 --> 00:56:17.639
 refuting

00:56:17.639 --> 00:56:18.019
 error,

00:56:18.639 --> 00:56:19.119
 correction,

00:56:19.780 --> 00:56:20.340
 reformation

00:56:20.340 --> 00:56:20.920
 of life,

00:56:21.760 --> 00:56:22.240
 teaching and

00:56:22.240 --> 00:56:22.680
 righteousness,

00:56:22.960 --> 00:56:23.180
 that is,

00:56:23.460 --> 00:56:24.380
 discipline in

00:56:24.380 --> 00:56:24.900
 right living,

00:56:24.900 --> 00:56:25.519
 in other

00:56:25.519 --> 00:56:25.760
 words,

00:56:26.000 --> 00:56:26.539
 the road,

00:56:27.680 --> 00:56:28.059
 how you

00:56:28.059 --> 00:56:28.539
 got off

00:56:28.539 --> 00:56:28.740
 it,

00:56:29.119 --> 00:56:29.460
 how to

00:56:29.460 --> 00:56:29.880
 get back

00:56:29.880 --> 00:56:30.360
 on it,

00:56:30.700 --> 00:56:31.139
 and how

00:56:31.139 --> 00:56:31.539
 to stay

00:56:31.539 --> 00:56:31.960
 on it.

00:56:32.019 --> 00:56:32.360
 It's really

00:56:32.360 --> 00:56:33.019
 comprehensive.

00:56:33.320 --> 00:56:33.800
 It's wonderful.

00:56:35.900 --> 00:56:36.420
 Also,

00:56:36.760 --> 00:56:37.360
 I find

00:56:37.360 --> 00:56:37.660
 helpful,

00:56:38.160 --> 00:56:39.180
 consider each

00:56:39.180 --> 00:56:40.019
 hat that

00:56:40.019 --> 00:56:40.500
 you wear.

00:56:42.559 --> 00:56:43.220
 I'm a

00:56:43.220 --> 00:56:44.019
 disciple of

00:56:44.019 --> 00:56:44.300
 Jesus.

00:56:44.539 --> 00:56:45.280
 I'm also a

00:56:45.280 --> 00:56:45.579
 husband.

00:56:46.220 --> 00:56:46.740
 I'm a

00:56:46.740 --> 00:56:47.059
 father.

00:56:47.340 --> 00:56:48.019
 I'm a son.

00:56:48.099 --> 00:56:48.320
 I'm a

00:56:48.320 --> 00:56:48.639
 friend.

00:56:48.780 --> 00:56:49.480
 I'm an

00:56:49.480 --> 00:56:49.960
 employee.

00:56:49.960 --> 00:56:52.019
 I'm a

00:56:52.019 --> 00:56:52.579
 cyclist.

00:56:52.699 --> 00:56:53.039
 I'm a

00:56:53.039 --> 00:56:53.519
 cyclist.

00:56:53.639 --> 00:56:53.940
 Exactly.

00:56:56.380 --> 00:56:58.119
 And if

00:56:58.119 --> 00:57:01.720
 this is

00:57:01.720 --> 00:57:02.619
 really what

00:57:02.619 --> 00:57:03.079
 God is

00:57:03.079 --> 00:57:03.579
 like,

00:57:04.260 --> 00:57:04.539
 what I

00:57:04.539 --> 00:57:04.840
 found here

00:57:04.840 --> 00:57:05.179
 in Scripture,

00:57:05.440 --> 00:57:06.599
 what difference

00:57:06.599 --> 00:57:07.559
 does that

00:57:07.559 --> 00:57:08.099
 make for

00:57:08.099 --> 00:57:08.679
 how I

00:57:08.679 --> 00:57:09.260
 live today

00:57:09.260 --> 00:57:10.380
 as a

00:57:10.380 --> 00:57:11.320
 father,

00:57:12.139 --> 00:57:12.619
 as a

00:57:12.619 --> 00:57:12.920
 husband?

00:57:13.059 --> 00:57:13.300
 Then you

00:57:13.300 --> 00:57:13.559
 put your

00:57:13.559 --> 00:57:14.079
 different hats

00:57:14.079 --> 00:57:14.380
 on.

00:57:14.619 --> 00:57:14.980
 How does

00:57:14.980 --> 00:57:15.460
 this make a

00:57:15.460 --> 00:57:16.000
 difference for

00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:16.539
 me in

00:57:16.539 --> 00:57:16.960
 these different

00:57:16.960 --> 00:57:17.659
 roles that I

00:57:17.659 --> 00:57:18.000
 have?

00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:20.119
 What

00:57:20.119 --> 00:57:21.039
 emotions,

00:57:21.260 --> 00:57:21.619
 attitudes,

00:57:21.840 --> 00:57:22.400
 behaviors

00:57:22.400 --> 00:57:23.659
 flare up

00:57:23.659 --> 00:57:24.440
 in these

00:57:24.440 --> 00:57:24.719
 different

00:57:24.719 --> 00:57:25.199
 arenas,

00:57:25.280 --> 00:57:25.480
 in these

00:57:25.480 --> 00:57:25.739
 different

00:57:25.739 --> 00:57:26.219
 roles that

00:57:26.219 --> 00:57:26.500
 I have?

00:57:26.920 --> 00:57:27.219
 What

00:57:27.219 --> 00:57:28.500
 flare up

00:57:28.500 --> 00:57:29.099
 when I

00:57:29.099 --> 00:57:30.000
 am forgetful

00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:30.380
 of this

00:57:30.380 --> 00:57:30.900
 truth?

00:57:34.239 --> 00:57:35.039
 How would

00:57:35.039 --> 00:57:35.940
 my private

00:57:35.940 --> 00:57:36.239
 life,

00:57:36.320 --> 00:57:36.739
 my family

00:57:36.739 --> 00:57:36.980
 life,

00:57:37.059 --> 00:57:37.440
 my church

00:57:37.440 --> 00:57:37.699
 life,

00:57:37.780 --> 00:57:38.119
 my friend

00:57:38.119 --> 00:57:38.340
 life,

00:57:38.400 --> 00:57:38.880
 my cycling

00:57:38.880 --> 00:57:39.760
 life be

00:57:39.760 --> 00:57:40.659
 different if

00:57:40.659 --> 00:57:41.579
 I grasped

00:57:41.579 --> 00:57:42.400
 this more

00:57:42.400 --> 00:57:42.920
 deeply?

00:57:44.239 --> 00:57:44.639
 So these

00:57:44.639 --> 00:57:45.500
 are really

00:57:45.500 --> 00:57:45.880
 helpful

00:57:45.880 --> 00:57:46.639
 application

00:57:46.639 --> 00:57:47.380
 questions.

00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:49.400
 And here

00:57:49.400 --> 00:57:50.079
 are six

00:57:50.079 --> 00:57:50.780
 quick tips

00:57:50.780 --> 00:57:51.119
 to make

00:57:51.119 --> 00:57:51.579
 it take.

00:57:52.360 --> 00:57:52.840
 So one,

00:57:53.780 --> 00:57:54.679
 be specific

00:57:54.679 --> 00:57:55.559
 in your

00:57:55.559 --> 00:57:56.099
 applications.

00:57:56.260 --> 00:57:56.880
 Be specific.

00:57:57.940 --> 00:57:58.420
 Not,

00:57:58.920 --> 00:57:59.079
 you know,

00:57:59.119 --> 00:57:59.500
 it might be

00:57:59.500 --> 00:57:59.940
 sincere,

00:58:00.059 --> 00:58:00.480
 but here my

00:58:00.480 --> 00:58:01.260
 application is

00:58:01.260 --> 00:58:02.059
 I'm going to

00:58:02.059 --> 00:58:02.579
 become a

00:58:02.579 --> 00:58:03.179
 better person.

00:58:03.659 --> 00:58:04.079
 That's my

00:58:04.079 --> 00:58:04.559
 application.

00:58:04.940 --> 00:58:05.679
 Or I'll be

00:58:05.679 --> 00:58:06.179
 more like

00:58:06.179 --> 00:58:06.539
 Jesus.

00:58:06.900 --> 00:58:07.360
 Great,

00:58:07.480 --> 00:58:07.840
 but too

00:58:07.840 --> 00:58:08.360
 vague.

00:58:08.960 --> 00:58:09.300
 It's too

00:58:09.300 --> 00:58:09.900
 vague.

00:58:11.019 --> 00:58:11.860
 Be specific.

00:58:12.380 --> 00:58:12.619
 Second,

00:58:12.780 --> 00:58:13.360
 be concrete.

00:58:13.920 --> 00:58:14.320
 How,

00:58:14.480 --> 00:58:14.820
 when,

00:58:15.400 --> 00:58:15.800
 what will

00:58:15.800 --> 00:58:16.420
 this take?

00:58:16.420 --> 00:58:17.800
 Okay?

00:58:19.260 --> 00:58:19.460
 Yeah,

00:58:19.460 --> 00:58:21.480
 you meet in

00:58:21.480 --> 00:58:21.860
 the quad.

00:58:21.980 --> 00:58:22.099
 Oh,

00:58:22.139 --> 00:58:22.420
 let's do

00:58:22.420 --> 00:58:22.659
 lunch.

00:58:22.700 --> 00:58:22.840
 Yeah,

00:58:22.900 --> 00:58:23.139
 that'd be

00:58:23.139 --> 00:58:23.320
 fun.

00:58:23.340 --> 00:58:23.599
 Let's do

00:58:23.599 --> 00:58:23.820
 lunch.

00:58:24.260 --> 00:58:24.700
 Oh,

00:58:24.860 --> 00:58:26.099
 if you

00:58:26.099 --> 00:58:26.420
 haven't

00:58:26.420 --> 00:58:26.840
 pulled out

00:58:26.840 --> 00:58:27.539
 your schedule

00:58:27.539 --> 00:58:28.000
 book and

00:58:28.000 --> 00:58:28.280
 figured it

00:58:28.280 --> 00:58:28.400
 out,

00:58:28.480 --> 00:58:28.800
 it's just

00:58:28.800 --> 00:58:29.220
 never going

00:58:29.220 --> 00:58:29.579
 to happen.

00:58:30.400 --> 00:58:30.920
 You've got

00:58:30.920 --> 00:58:31.099
 to be

00:58:31.099 --> 00:58:31.559
 concrete.

00:58:32.099 --> 00:58:32.260
 Be

00:58:32.260 --> 00:58:32.820
 realistic.

00:58:33.180 --> 00:58:33.720
 Don't be

00:58:33.720 --> 00:58:34.539
 overambitious.

00:58:35.659 --> 00:58:36.079
 I'm going

00:58:36.079 --> 00:58:36.920
 to outline

00:58:36.920 --> 00:58:37.360
 the whole

00:58:37.360 --> 00:58:38.039
 Bible in

00:58:38.039 --> 00:58:38.820
 multicolored,

00:58:39.320 --> 00:58:39.720
 you know,

00:58:39.720 --> 00:58:39.820
 no,

00:58:40.340 --> 00:58:41.820
 start small

00:58:41.820 --> 00:58:42.900
 and succeed

00:58:42.900 --> 00:58:44.680
 and then just

00:58:44.680 --> 00:58:45.300
 build on your

00:58:45.300 --> 00:58:45.980
 success.

00:58:45.980 --> 00:58:46.240
 I'm going

00:58:46.240 --> 00:58:46.559
 to stop

00:58:46.559 --> 00:58:46.920
 sinning

00:58:46.920 --> 00:58:47.280
 today.

00:58:49.780 --> 00:58:50.219
 That's

00:58:50.219 --> 00:58:50.519
 right.

00:58:51.579 --> 00:58:52.059
 Sincere,

00:58:52.179 --> 00:58:52.740
 but you'll

00:58:52.740 --> 00:58:53.360
 judge.

00:58:54.800 --> 00:58:55.240
 Fourth,

00:58:56.059 --> 00:58:56.360
 be

00:58:56.360 --> 00:58:57.039
 accountable.

00:58:58.320 --> 00:58:58.760
 Solicit

00:58:58.760 --> 00:59:00.079
 some support

00:59:00.079 --> 00:59:00.860
 to buttress

00:59:00.860 --> 00:59:01.079
 your

00:59:01.079 --> 00:59:01.760
 resolves.

00:59:02.119 --> 00:59:02.260
 Hey,

00:59:02.360 --> 00:59:02.659
 will you

00:59:02.659 --> 00:59:03.199
 ask me,

00:59:03.300 --> 00:59:03.760
 this is what

00:59:03.760 --> 00:59:04.699
 I'm working

00:59:04.699 --> 00:59:04.880
 on,

00:59:04.940 --> 00:59:05.199
 will you

00:59:05.199 --> 00:59:05.579
 ask me

00:59:05.579 --> 00:59:05.840
 how I'm

00:59:05.840 --> 00:59:06.039
 doing

00:59:06.039 --> 00:59:06.559
 on this?

00:59:09.519 --> 00:59:10.000
 That's

00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:10.500
 lacking

00:59:10.500 --> 00:59:10.920
 in our

00:59:10.920 --> 00:59:11.300
 church,

00:59:11.420 --> 00:59:11.740
 in all

00:59:11.740 --> 00:59:12.159
 churches.

00:59:12.659 --> 00:59:12.860
 Yeah,

00:59:12.900 --> 00:59:13.280
 often it

00:59:13.280 --> 00:59:13.639
 is.

00:59:13.639 --> 00:59:14.679
 Yeah,

00:59:14.839 --> 00:59:15.139
 yeah,

00:59:15.460 --> 00:59:16.739
 and having

00:59:16.739 --> 00:59:17.440
 the relationships,

00:59:17.579 --> 00:59:17.819
 the thick

00:59:17.819 --> 00:59:18.219
 fabric of

00:59:18.219 --> 00:59:18.559
 relationships

00:59:18.559 --> 00:59:18.980
 where people

00:59:18.980 --> 00:59:19.480
 will care

00:59:19.480 --> 00:59:19.980
 enough to

00:59:19.980 --> 00:59:20.980
 be lovingly

00:59:20.980 --> 00:59:21.659
 intrusive in

00:59:21.659 --> 00:59:21.980
 your life

00:59:21.980 --> 00:59:22.480
 to ask

00:59:22.480 --> 00:59:22.699
 you,

00:59:23.339 --> 00:59:23.659
 you know,

00:59:23.879 --> 00:59:24.799
 write out

00:59:24.799 --> 00:59:26.000
 the ten

00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:26.579
 questions you

00:59:26.579 --> 00:59:26.980
 hope to

00:59:26.980 --> 00:59:27.400
 God no

00:59:27.400 --> 00:59:27.719
 one ever

00:59:27.719 --> 00:59:28.279
 asks you.

00:59:28.579 --> 00:59:28.819
 Write them

00:59:28.819 --> 00:59:29.159
 down on a

00:59:29.159 --> 00:59:29.400
 piece of

00:59:29.400 --> 00:59:29.739
 paper and

00:59:29.739 --> 00:59:29.940
 give them

00:59:29.940 --> 00:59:30.159
 to your

00:59:30.159 --> 00:59:30.579
 friend to

00:59:30.579 --> 00:59:31.019
 ask you,

00:59:31.519 --> 00:59:31.839
 you know.

00:59:32.940 --> 00:59:33.119
 So,

00:59:33.119 --> 00:59:35.900
 and fifth,

00:59:36.619 --> 00:59:37.699
 begin,

00:59:38.179 --> 00:59:38.759
 begin.

00:59:39.639 --> 00:59:40.619
 So many

00:59:40.619 --> 00:59:41.519
 promises are

00:59:41.519 --> 00:59:42.299
 writing in

00:59:42.299 --> 00:59:43.039
 the sand,

00:59:43.460 --> 00:59:43.819
 for they're

00:59:43.819 --> 00:59:44.239
 just not

00:59:44.239 --> 00:59:44.920
 acted upon

00:59:44.920 --> 00:59:45.719
 promptly.

00:59:47.039 --> 00:59:47.779
 As George

00:59:47.779 --> 00:59:48.279
 MacDonald

00:59:48.279 --> 00:59:48.779
 writes,

00:59:49.259 --> 00:59:49.819
 he observes,

00:59:50.199 --> 00:59:51.019
 good notions

00:59:51.019 --> 00:59:52.500
 must take

00:59:52.500 --> 00:59:53.199
 advantage of

00:59:53.199 --> 00:59:53.799
 their first

00:59:53.799 --> 00:59:54.579
 ripeness.

00:59:55.179 --> 00:59:55.400
 Isn't that

00:59:55.400 --> 00:59:55.639
 good?

00:59:56.559 --> 00:59:57.199
 And this

00:59:57.199 --> 00:59:57.579
 is where

00:59:57.579 --> 00:59:58.799
 our determined

00:59:58.799 --> 01:00:00.199
 applications are

01:00:00.199 --> 01:00:00.859
 so often

01:00:00.859 --> 01:00:01.519
 scuttled.

01:00:01.519 --> 01:00:06.259
 I will

01:00:06.259 --> 01:00:06.980
 not lose,

01:00:07.199 --> 01:00:07.679
 or he

01:00:07.679 --> 01:00:08.219
 will not

01:00:08.219 --> 01:00:08.800
 lose his

01:00:08.800 --> 01:00:09.239
 loaf,

01:00:09.900 --> 01:00:10.340
 who has

01:00:10.340 --> 01:00:11.259
 taken care

01:00:11.259 --> 01:00:11.900
 to eat it

01:00:11.900 --> 01:00:12.619
 at once.

01:00:13.800 --> 01:00:14.360
 That's

01:00:14.360 --> 01:00:14.780
 Spurgeon.

01:00:15.460 --> 01:00:15.980
 He will

01:00:15.980 --> 01:00:16.480
 not lose

01:00:16.480 --> 01:00:17.059
 his loaf,

01:00:17.159 --> 01:00:17.559
 who has

01:00:17.559 --> 01:00:18.159
 taken care

01:00:18.159 --> 01:00:18.679
 to eat it

01:00:18.679 --> 01:00:19.280
 at once.

01:00:20.239 --> 01:00:20.759
 Neither

01:00:20.759 --> 01:00:21.739
 can he be

01:00:21.739 --> 01:00:22.539
 deprived of

01:00:22.539 --> 01:00:23.099
 the benefit

01:00:23.099 --> 01:00:23.440
 of the

01:00:23.440 --> 01:00:23.880
 doctrine,

01:00:24.079 --> 01:00:24.639
 who has

01:00:24.639 --> 01:00:25.119
 already

01:00:25.119 --> 01:00:26.039
 acted upon

01:00:26.039 --> 01:00:26.360
 it.

01:00:27.519 --> 01:00:28.099
 Most

01:00:28.099 --> 01:00:28.559
 readers,

01:00:29.599 --> 01:00:31.500
 look at

01:00:31.500 --> 01:00:32.079
 this image.

01:00:32.239 --> 01:00:32.460
 Oh,

01:00:32.699 --> 01:00:33.179
 my goodness,

01:00:33.300 --> 01:00:33.480
 metaphor.

01:00:34.019 --> 01:00:34.820
 Most readers

01:00:34.820 --> 01:00:35.519
 and hearers

01:00:35.519 --> 01:00:37.000
 become moved

01:00:37.000 --> 01:00:38.500
 so far as

01:00:38.500 --> 01:00:39.239
 to purpose

01:00:39.239 --> 01:00:40.619
 to amend.

01:00:42.000 --> 01:00:43.019
 But alas,

01:00:43.599 --> 01:00:44.599
 the proposal

01:00:44.599 --> 01:00:45.900
 is a

01:00:45.900 --> 01:00:46.800
 blossom which

01:00:46.800 --> 01:00:47.260
 has not

01:00:47.260 --> 01:00:47.920
 been knit,

01:00:48.639 --> 01:00:49.460
 and therefore

01:00:49.460 --> 01:00:50.519
 no fruit

01:00:50.519 --> 01:00:51.119
 comes of

01:00:51.119 --> 01:00:51.300
 it.

01:00:51.300 --> 01:00:52.659
 They wait,

01:00:53.460 --> 01:00:54.320
 they waver,

01:00:54.840 --> 01:00:55.659
 and then

01:00:55.659 --> 01:00:56.739
 they forget.

01:00:57.179 --> 01:00:57.500
 Till,

01:00:57.780 --> 01:00:57.980
 oh,

01:00:58.239 --> 01:00:58.380
 here,

01:00:58.719 --> 01:00:58.920
 oh,

01:00:59.099 --> 01:00:59.280
 image,

01:00:59.280 --> 01:01:00.140
 till,

01:01:00.680 --> 01:01:01.260
 like the

01:01:01.260 --> 01:01:02.019
 ponds

01:01:02.019 --> 01:01:03.060
 in nights

01:01:03.060 --> 01:01:04.040
 of frost,

01:01:04.620 --> 01:01:05.160
 when the

01:01:05.160 --> 01:01:05.840
 sun shines

01:01:05.840 --> 01:01:06.400
 by day,

01:01:06.700 --> 01:01:07.040
 they are

01:01:07.040 --> 01:01:08.280
 only thawed

01:01:08.280 --> 01:01:09.240
 in time

01:01:09.240 --> 01:01:09.680
 to be

01:01:09.680 --> 01:01:10.220
 frozen

01:01:10.220 --> 01:01:11.060
 again.

01:01:12.019 --> 01:01:12.200
 Oh,

01:01:12.660 --> 01:01:16.460
 that fatal

01:01:16.460 --> 01:01:17.380
 tomorrow

01:01:17.380 --> 01:01:19.280
 is blood

01:01:19.280 --> 01:01:19.720
 red

01:01:19.720 --> 01:01:20.820
 with the

01:01:20.820 --> 01:01:21.160
 murder

01:01:21.160 --> 01:01:22.100
 of fair

01:01:22.100 --> 01:01:22.700
 resolutions.

01:01:23.700 --> 01:01:24.700
 It is the

01:01:24.700 --> 01:01:25.380
 slaughterhouse

01:01:25.380 --> 01:01:26.080
 of innocence.

01:01:26.079 --> 01:01:28.819
 Spurgeon.

01:01:31.119 --> 01:01:31.319
 Yeah,

01:01:31.400 --> 01:01:31.940
 Kierkegaard

01:01:31.940 --> 01:01:32.799
 Simone writes,

01:01:33.279 --> 01:01:33.940
 the next

01:01:33.940 --> 01:01:34.539
 hour,

01:01:35.460 --> 01:01:36.980
 after one

01:01:36.980 --> 01:01:37.480
 we call

01:01:37.480 --> 01:01:38.159
 the quiet

01:01:38.159 --> 01:01:38.579
 hour,

01:01:38.679 --> 01:01:39.000
 that's when

01:01:39.000 --> 01:01:39.279
 you've been

01:01:39.279 --> 01:01:39.719
 meditating

01:01:39.719 --> 01:01:40.360
 and you have

01:01:40.360 --> 01:01:40.900
 the impression,

01:01:41.259 --> 01:01:41.679
 the next

01:01:41.679 --> 01:01:41.980
 hour,

01:01:42.299 --> 01:01:42.799
 after the

01:01:42.799 --> 01:01:43.219
 one we

01:01:43.219 --> 01:01:43.980
 call a

01:01:43.980 --> 01:01:44.400
 quiet

01:01:44.400 --> 01:01:44.880
 hour,

01:01:45.059 --> 01:01:45.980
 is the

01:01:45.980 --> 01:01:46.539
 critical

01:01:46.539 --> 01:01:47.239
 hour.

01:01:48.960 --> 01:01:49.559
 Accordingly,

01:01:49.599 --> 01:01:50.259
 he urges,

01:01:50.659 --> 01:01:51.119
 the best

01:01:51.119 --> 01:01:51.659
 thing to do,

01:01:51.759 --> 01:01:52.019
 therefore,

01:01:52.279 --> 01:01:53.019
 is promptly

01:01:53.019 --> 01:01:53.779
 to say to

01:01:53.779 --> 01:01:54.139
 yourself,

01:01:54.139 --> 01:01:54.739
 I will

01:01:54.739 --> 01:01:55.400
 promptly

01:01:55.400 --> 01:01:56.059
 begin

01:01:56.059 --> 01:01:56.879
 to prevent

01:01:56.879 --> 01:01:57.559
 myself from

01:01:57.559 --> 01:01:57.940
 forgetting,

01:01:58.119 --> 01:01:58.539
 promptly,

01:01:58.699 --> 01:01:59.079
 at this

01:01:59.079 --> 01:01:59.619
 very moment,

01:01:59.819 --> 01:02:00.519
 I promise

01:02:00.519 --> 01:02:01.139
 myself in

01:02:01.139 --> 01:02:01.420
 God,

01:02:01.699 --> 01:02:02.259
 even if it

01:02:02.259 --> 01:02:02.799
 is just

01:02:02.799 --> 01:02:03.139
 for the

01:02:03.139 --> 01:02:03.879
 next hour

01:02:03.879 --> 01:02:04.519
 or for

01:02:04.519 --> 01:02:05.259
 this very

01:02:05.259 --> 01:02:05.759
 day,

01:02:06.179 --> 01:02:07.019
 this long,

01:02:07.259 --> 01:02:07.579
 it shall

01:02:07.579 --> 01:02:08.199
 be certain

01:02:08.199 --> 01:02:08.900
 that I

01:02:08.900 --> 01:02:09.839
 shall not

01:02:09.839 --> 01:02:10.739
 forget.

01:02:12.799 --> 01:02:13.679
 That second

01:02:13.679 --> 01:02:13.960
 of the

01:02:13.960 --> 01:02:14.579
 critical hour.

01:02:15.679 --> 01:02:16.259
 So finally,

01:02:16.879 --> 01:02:17.480
 those were

01:02:17.480 --> 01:02:18.039
 five tips

01:02:18.039 --> 01:02:18.719
 to have

01:02:18.719 --> 01:02:19.019
 it taken,

01:02:19.179 --> 01:02:19.440
 and the

01:02:19.440 --> 01:02:19.699
 sixth,

01:02:19.819 --> 01:02:20.299
 final one,

01:02:20.639 --> 01:02:21.219
 be sensitive

01:02:21.219 --> 01:02:21.579
 to the

01:02:21.579 --> 01:02:21.879
 spirit.

01:02:21.880 --> 01:02:23.700
 Sometimes

01:02:23.700 --> 01:02:24.019
 when you

01:02:24.019 --> 01:02:24.500
 make lists,

01:02:24.559 --> 01:02:24.760
 it can

01:02:24.760 --> 01:02:25.140
 sound really

01:02:25.140 --> 01:02:25.680
 mechanical,

01:02:26.720 --> 01:02:27.500
 but at

01:02:27.500 --> 01:02:27.780
 the end,

01:02:27.980 --> 01:02:28.519
 this is not

01:02:28.519 --> 01:02:29.039
 a mechanical

01:02:29.039 --> 01:02:29.340
 thing,

01:02:29.380 --> 01:02:29.599
 it's a

01:02:29.599 --> 01:02:30.000
 relational

01:02:30.000 --> 01:02:30.440
 thing.

01:02:30.960 --> 01:02:31.320
 It's the

01:02:31.320 --> 01:02:31.660
 indwelling

01:02:31.660 --> 01:02:32.780
 spirit who's

01:02:32.780 --> 01:02:33.240
 in us,

01:02:33.280 --> 01:02:33.500
 who's

01:02:33.500 --> 01:02:34.079
 personal.

01:02:35.119 --> 01:02:35.619
 The spirit

01:02:35.619 --> 01:02:36.119
 speaks to

01:02:36.119 --> 01:02:36.579
 our soul.

01:02:38.160 --> 01:02:38.680
 You can

01:02:38.680 --> 01:02:39.160
 begin at

01:02:39.160 --> 01:02:39.840
 once to

01:02:39.840 --> 01:02:40.079
 be a

01:02:40.079 --> 01:02:40.660
 disciple of

01:02:40.660 --> 01:02:41.000
 the living

01:02:41.000 --> 01:02:41.340
 one,

01:02:41.760 --> 01:02:42.140
 writes

01:02:42.140 --> 01:02:42.519
 George

01:02:42.519 --> 01:02:43.000
 MacDonald,

01:02:43.599 --> 01:02:44.720
 by obeying

01:02:44.720 --> 01:02:45.559
 him in

01:02:45.559 --> 01:02:46.039
 the first

01:02:46.039 --> 01:02:46.500
 thing you

01:02:46.500 --> 01:02:46.960
 can think

01:02:46.960 --> 01:02:47.340
 of in

01:02:47.340 --> 01:02:47.680
 which you

01:02:47.680 --> 01:02:48.059
 are not

01:02:48.059 --> 01:02:48.400
 obeying

01:02:48.400 --> 01:02:48.680
 him.

01:02:49.559 --> 01:02:50.380
 We must

01:02:50.380 --> 01:02:50.820
 learn to

01:02:50.820 --> 01:02:51.340
 obey him

01:02:51.340 --> 01:02:51.460
 in

01:02:51.460 --> 01:02:51.860
 everything,

01:02:52.660 --> 01:02:53.059
 and so

01:02:53.059 --> 01:02:53.320
 must

01:02:53.320 --> 01:02:53.660
 begin

01:02:53.660 --> 01:02:54.220
 somewhere.

01:02:54.960 --> 01:02:55.240
 Let it

01:02:55.240 --> 01:02:55.500
 be at

01:02:55.500 --> 01:02:55.960
 once,

01:02:56.720 --> 01:02:57.079
 and in

01:02:57.079 --> 01:02:57.420
 the very

01:02:57.420 --> 01:02:58.220
 next thing

01:02:58.220 --> 01:02:59.340
 that lies

01:02:59.340 --> 01:02:59.680
 at the

01:02:59.680 --> 01:03:00.100
 door of

01:03:00.100 --> 01:03:00.220
 your

01:03:00.220 --> 01:03:00.760
 conscience.

01:03:01.680 --> 01:03:01.860
 That's

01:03:01.860 --> 01:03:02.079
 good.

01:03:03.760 --> 01:03:04.019
 So,

01:03:04.420 --> 01:03:05.140
 preparation,

01:03:06.720 --> 01:03:07.260
 meditation,

01:03:08.440 --> 01:03:08.920
 application,

01:03:09.860 --> 01:03:10.340
 and finally,

01:03:10.539 --> 01:03:10.960
 and briefly,

01:03:12.260 --> 01:03:12.980
 continuation.

01:03:13.880 --> 01:03:14.519
 Continuation,

01:03:14.640 --> 01:03:15.340
 verse 25,

01:03:15.900 --> 01:03:17.280
 and continues

01:03:17.280 --> 01:03:18.039
 in it.

01:03:18.039 --> 01:03:19.820
 And this

01:03:19.820 --> 01:03:20.420
 indicates

01:03:20.420 --> 01:03:21.259
 perseverance

01:03:21.259 --> 01:03:22.480
 in engaging

01:03:22.480 --> 01:03:23.139
 the scripture

01:03:23.139 --> 01:03:24.480
 and perseverance

01:03:24.480 --> 01:03:25.440
 in the

01:03:25.440 --> 01:03:26.599
 truths that

01:03:26.599 --> 01:03:27.199
 engagement

01:03:27.199 --> 01:03:27.900
 prompts.

01:03:29.639 --> 01:03:29.840
 Our

01:03:29.840 --> 01:03:30.279
 meditations

01:03:30.279 --> 01:03:31.099
 and applications

01:03:31.099 --> 01:03:32.219
 ought not

01:03:32.219 --> 01:03:32.739
 to be a

01:03:32.739 --> 01:03:33.360
 mere instance,

01:03:33.699 --> 01:03:34.860
 a spasm

01:03:34.860 --> 01:03:35.259
 or an

01:03:35.259 --> 01:03:35.659
 episode,

01:03:36.420 --> 01:03:37.039
 but rather

01:03:37.039 --> 01:03:37.900
 an abiding

01:03:37.900 --> 01:03:38.800
 lifestyle.

01:03:40.079 --> 01:03:40.860
 Keep at

01:03:40.860 --> 01:03:41.099
 it.

01:03:41.239 --> 01:03:41.679
 Keep at

01:03:41.679 --> 01:03:41.860
 it.

01:03:42.980 --> 01:03:43.219
 Here's

01:03:43.219 --> 01:03:43.719
 William Bates

01:03:43.719 --> 01:03:43.980
 writes,

01:03:44.339 --> 01:03:44.879
 if the

01:03:44.879 --> 01:03:45.799
 bird leaves

01:03:45.799 --> 01:03:46.539
 her nest

01:03:46.539 --> 01:03:47.139
 for a

01:03:47.139 --> 01:03:48.279
 long space,

01:03:48.899 --> 01:03:49.619
 the eggs

01:03:49.619 --> 01:03:50.699
 chill and

01:03:50.699 --> 01:03:51.019
 are not

01:03:51.019 --> 01:03:51.500
 fit for

01:03:51.500 --> 01:03:51.980
 production.

01:03:52.879 --> 01:03:53.419
 But where

01:03:53.419 --> 01:03:53.779
 there is

01:03:53.779 --> 01:03:54.939
 a constant

01:03:54.939 --> 01:03:55.859
 incubation,

01:03:56.179 --> 01:03:57.039
 then they

01:03:57.039 --> 01:03:57.939
 bring forth.

01:03:58.539 --> 01:03:59.019
 So,

01:03:59.919 --> 01:04:00.500
 when we

01:04:00.500 --> 01:04:01.179
 leave religious

01:04:01.179 --> 01:04:01.819
 duties for

01:04:01.819 --> 01:04:02.199
 a long

01:04:02.199 --> 01:04:02.879
 space,

01:04:03.319 --> 01:04:04.359
 our affections

01:04:04.359 --> 01:04:05.139
 will chill

01:04:05.139 --> 01:04:05.899
 and grow

01:04:05.899 --> 01:04:06.399
 cold,

01:04:06.739 --> 01:04:07.259
 and we

01:04:07.259 --> 01:04:07.759
 are not

01:04:07.759 --> 01:04:08.519
 fit to

01:04:08.519 --> 01:04:08.859
 produce

01:04:08.859 --> 01:04:09.299
 holiness

01:04:09.299 --> 01:04:10.459
 and comfort

01:04:10.459 --> 01:04:10.959
 to our

01:04:10.959 --> 01:04:11.459
 souls.

01:04:11.460 --> 01:04:13.639
 notice

01:04:13.639 --> 01:04:14.500
 verse 25,

01:04:14.920 --> 01:04:16.059
 not having

01:04:16.059 --> 01:04:17.380
 become,

01:04:18.559 --> 01:04:19.539
 but having

01:04:19.539 --> 01:04:20.659
 become.

01:04:21.780 --> 01:04:22.119
 So,

01:04:22.220 --> 01:04:22.860
 it is

01:04:22.860 --> 01:04:23.420
 your

01:04:23.420 --> 01:04:24.300
 continuation,

01:04:24.480 --> 01:04:24.619
 our

01:04:24.619 --> 01:04:25.240
 continuation

01:04:25.240 --> 01:04:26.400
 or failure

01:04:26.400 --> 01:04:27.320
 to continue,

01:04:27.740 --> 01:04:28.639
 which is

01:04:28.639 --> 01:04:29.240
 determining

01:04:29.240 --> 01:04:30.619
 what we

01:04:30.619 --> 01:04:31.599
 are becoming,

01:04:32.059 --> 01:04:32.579
 who we

01:04:32.579 --> 01:04:33.360
 are becoming.

01:04:34.019 --> 01:04:34.559
 This is

01:04:34.559 --> 01:04:35.579
 very sobering.

01:04:37.099 --> 01:04:37.300
 Okay?

01:04:37.820 --> 01:04:38.360
 Your

01:04:38.360 --> 01:04:38.940
 pattern,

01:04:39.440 --> 01:04:39.720
 my

01:04:39.720 --> 01:04:40.240
 pattern,

01:04:40.880 --> 01:04:41.340
 for good

01:04:41.340 --> 01:04:41.500
 your

01:04:41.500 --> 01:04:41.900
 ill,

01:04:42.800 --> 01:04:43.200
 will

01:04:43.200 --> 01:04:43.640
 become

01:04:43.640 --> 01:04:44.000
 my

01:04:44.000 --> 01:04:44.700
 character,

01:04:45.700 --> 01:04:46.920
 and finally,

01:04:47.920 --> 01:04:48.440
 your

01:04:48.440 --> 01:04:49.000
 destiny.

01:04:51.140 --> 01:04:52.079
 Remember the

01:04:52.079 --> 01:04:52.660
 parable of the

01:04:52.660 --> 01:04:53.039
 soils,

01:04:53.460 --> 01:04:53.820
 and that

01:04:53.820 --> 01:04:54.519
 chilling

01:04:54.519 --> 01:04:55.420
 utterance,

01:04:56.700 --> 01:04:57.460
 they were

01:04:57.460 --> 01:04:58.460
 only temporary.

01:04:59.640 --> 01:05:00.240
 They were only

01:05:00.240 --> 01:05:00.680
 temporary.

01:05:01.660 --> 01:05:02.440
 The only

01:05:02.440 --> 01:05:03.039
 adequate

01:05:03.039 --> 01:05:04.079
 response to

01:05:04.079 --> 01:05:04.519
 the word

01:05:04.519 --> 01:05:05.340
 is to

01:05:05.340 --> 01:05:05.840
 continue

01:05:05.840 --> 01:05:06.820
 in it.

01:05:06.820 --> 01:05:09.220
 but of

01:05:09.220 --> 01:05:09.420
 course,

01:05:09.500 --> 01:05:09.980
 to continue,

01:05:10.120 --> 01:05:10.440
 we must

01:05:10.440 --> 01:05:11.100
 first begin,

01:05:11.480 --> 01:05:11.840
 and I

01:05:11.840 --> 01:05:12.380
 conclude

01:05:12.380 --> 01:05:13.480
 these

01:05:13.480 --> 01:05:14.000
 reflections

01:05:14.000 --> 01:05:14.740
 and our

01:05:14.740 --> 01:05:15.860
 series on

01:05:15.860 --> 01:05:16.180
 scripture

01:05:16.180 --> 01:05:16.720
 with an

01:05:16.720 --> 01:05:17.300
 appeal to

01:05:17.300 --> 01:05:17.539
 you.

01:05:19.200 --> 01:05:19.800
 Oh,

01:05:19.960 --> 01:05:20.559
 friends,

01:05:21.400 --> 01:05:22.180
 will we

01:05:22.180 --> 01:05:23.059
 not commit

01:05:23.059 --> 01:05:23.640
 ourselves

01:05:23.640 --> 01:05:24.500
 with fresh

01:05:24.500 --> 01:05:25.200
 zeal

01:05:25.200 --> 01:05:26.320
 to engage

01:05:26.320 --> 01:05:26.860
 God's

01:05:26.860 --> 01:05:27.320
 word?

01:05:28.780 --> 01:05:29.440
 Would

01:05:29.440 --> 01:05:29.940
 not a

01:05:29.940 --> 01:05:30.200
 fitting

01:05:30.200 --> 01:05:31.100
 response

01:05:31.100 --> 01:05:31.940
 to what we

01:05:31.940 --> 01:05:32.580
 have considered

01:05:32.580 --> 01:05:33.180
 together

01:05:33.179 --> 01:05:34.619
 be a

01:05:34.619 --> 01:05:36.000
 re-energized

01:05:36.000 --> 01:05:36.659
 practice

01:05:36.659 --> 01:05:38.359
 of meditation

01:05:38.359 --> 01:05:39.899
 upon God's

01:05:39.899 --> 01:05:40.619
 word to

01:05:40.619 --> 01:05:42.259
 reinvigorate

01:05:42.259 --> 01:05:43.399
 a once

01:05:43.399 --> 01:05:44.219
 but perhaps

01:05:44.219 --> 01:05:44.940
 last fading

01:05:44.940 --> 01:05:45.339
 habit?

01:05:46.159 --> 01:05:47.219
 Or perhaps

01:05:47.219 --> 01:05:48.079
 not renewed

01:05:48.079 --> 01:05:49.239
 but a new

01:05:49.239 --> 01:05:49.639
 habit?

01:05:50.219 --> 01:05:50.879
 Either way,

01:05:52.500 --> 01:05:52.960
 would it

01:05:52.960 --> 01:05:53.339
 not be

01:05:53.339 --> 01:05:53.599
 fitting?

01:05:54.819 --> 01:05:55.159
 Well,

01:05:55.259 --> 01:05:55.739
 in the hope

01:05:55.739 --> 01:05:56.199
 that it may

01:05:56.199 --> 01:05:56.619
 be so,

01:05:56.759 --> 01:05:57.779
 may I propose

01:05:57.779 --> 01:05:58.759
 that we

01:05:58.759 --> 01:05:59.179
 give it a

01:05:59.179 --> 01:05:59.579
 try?

01:06:00.319 --> 01:06:00.719
 Shall we

01:06:00.719 --> 01:06:01.219
 stick our

01:06:01.219 --> 01:06:01.719
 toe in the

01:06:01.719 --> 01:06:02.399
 water together?

01:06:03.179 --> 01:06:04.299
 concretely,

01:06:05.079 --> 01:06:06.739
 just take

01:06:06.739 --> 01:06:07.419
 for your

01:06:07.419 --> 01:06:07.980
 portion

01:06:07.980 --> 01:06:09.079
 Psalm 1.

01:06:09.799 --> 01:06:10.519
 Psalm 1.

01:06:10.980 --> 01:06:12.000
 And spend

01:06:12.000 --> 01:06:12.639
 a dedicated

01:06:12.639 --> 01:06:13.399
 season.

01:06:14.899 --> 01:06:15.799
 Steal away

01:06:15.799 --> 01:06:16.419
 to an

01:06:16.419 --> 01:06:17.079
 undisturbed

01:06:17.079 --> 01:06:18.099
 place and

01:06:18.099 --> 01:06:18.480
 for an

01:06:18.480 --> 01:06:19.239
 hour of

01:06:19.239 --> 01:06:19.899
 unhurried

01:06:19.899 --> 01:06:20.440
 meditation

01:06:20.440 --> 01:06:21.039
 sometime

01:06:21.039 --> 01:06:21.799
 this week,

01:06:23.319 --> 01:06:25.019
 let us

01:06:25.019 --> 01:06:26.679
 discover if

01:06:26.679 --> 01:06:27.339
 God does

01:06:27.339 --> 01:06:28.399
 not richly

01:06:28.399 --> 01:06:29.319
 meet us

01:06:29.319 --> 01:06:31.139
 and graciously

01:06:31.139 --> 01:06:31.779
 work in

01:06:31.779 --> 01:06:32.579
 us what

01:06:32.579 --> 01:06:33.019
 is to

01:06:33.019 --> 01:06:33.920
 his great

01:06:33.920 --> 01:06:34.500
 pleasure

01:06:34.500 --> 01:06:35.639
 and ours

01:06:35.639 --> 01:06:36.119
 too.

01:06:36.779 --> 01:06:37.259
 Those things

01:06:37.259 --> 01:06:37.779
 wonderfully

01:06:37.779 --> 01:06:38.480
 come together

01:06:38.480 --> 01:06:39.480
 in the realm

01:06:39.480 --> 01:06:40.039
 of grace.

01:06:40.239 --> 01:06:40.779
 His good

01:06:40.779 --> 01:06:41.179
 pleasure

01:06:41.179 --> 01:06:41.960
 and our

01:06:41.960 --> 01:06:42.739
 good pleasure

01:06:42.739 --> 01:06:44.619
 come.

01:06:44.739 --> 01:06:45.079
 Let us

01:06:45.079 --> 01:06:46.000
 stick that

01:06:46.000 --> 01:06:46.440
 toe in the

01:06:46.440 --> 01:06:46.739
 ocean

01:06:46.739 --> 01:06:47.599
 together.

01:06:47.599 --> 01:06:47.659
 together.

01:06:50.539 --> 01:06:50.960
 Well,

01:06:51.099 --> 01:06:51.319
 team,

01:06:51.380 --> 01:06:51.880
 that concludes

01:06:51.880 --> 01:06:52.500
 our series.

01:06:52.900 --> 01:06:53.380
 Thank you

01:06:53.380 --> 01:06:54.139
 so much.

01:06:54.239 --> 01:06:54.539
 It's been

01:06:54.539 --> 01:06:55.000
 a joy and

01:06:55.000 --> 01:06:55.460
 I can't

01:06:55.460 --> 01:06:55.839
 wait for

01:06:55.839 --> 01:06:56.259
 the next

01:06:56.259 --> 01:06:56.819
 series that

01:06:56.819 --> 01:06:57.059
 we're going

01:06:57.059 --> 01:06:57.539
 to do on

01:06:57.539 --> 01:06:58.059
 who knows

01:06:58.059 --> 01:06:59.059
 what.

01:06:59.360 --> 01:06:59.599
 Any

01:06:59.599 --> 01:07:00.460
 questions?

01:07:01.940 --> 01:07:02.480
 That's for

01:07:02.480 --> 01:07:02.880
 the elders

01:07:02.880 --> 01:07:03.880
 to figure

01:07:03.880 --> 01:07:04.199
 out.

01:07:04.460 --> 01:07:04.819
 But you

01:07:04.819 --> 01:07:05.139
 guys can

01:07:05.139 --> 01:07:05.759
 always pitch

01:07:05.759 --> 01:07:06.199
 in some

01:07:06.199 --> 01:07:06.819
 requests.

01:07:07.500 --> 01:07:07.739
 Any

01:07:07.739 --> 01:07:08.480
 questions or

01:07:08.480 --> 01:07:08.779
 comments?

01:07:08.900 --> 01:07:09.279
 I know I've

01:07:09.279 --> 01:07:10.139
 run a little

01:07:10.139 --> 01:07:10.619
 bit late,

01:07:10.719 --> 01:07:11.019
 but it is

01:07:11.019 --> 01:07:11.400
 the last

01:07:11.400 --> 01:07:11.719
 time,

01:07:11.900 --> 01:07:12.519
 so forgive

01:07:12.519 --> 01:07:12.819
 me.

01:07:13.900 --> 01:07:14.299
 Questions,

01:07:14.460 --> 01:07:14.860
 comments?

01:07:15.099 --> 01:07:15.440
 Cavils,

01:07:15.440 --> 01:07:15.800
 scarves,

01:07:15.900 --> 01:07:16.280
 critiques,

01:07:16.440 --> 01:07:16.539
 too.

01:07:16.639 --> 01:07:16.840
 That's

01:07:16.840 --> 01:07:17.039
 always

01:07:17.039 --> 01:07:17.360
 fine.

01:07:19.360 --> 01:07:20.000
 One of

01:07:20.000 --> 01:07:20.280
 the reasons

01:07:20.280 --> 01:07:22.019
 why Luke's

01:07:22.019 --> 01:07:22.700
 telling of

01:07:22.700 --> 01:07:24.519
 the encounter

01:07:24.519 --> 01:07:25.720
 of Mary at

01:07:25.720 --> 01:07:26.039
 Jesus'

01:07:26.400 --> 01:07:26.720
 feet,

01:07:27.059 --> 01:07:27.380
 the house

01:07:27.380 --> 01:07:27.740
 of Mary

01:07:27.740 --> 01:07:28.179
 and Martha,

01:07:28.360 --> 01:07:31.880
 I think in

01:07:31.880 --> 01:07:32.340
 that moment

01:07:32.340 --> 01:07:33.000
 she realized

01:07:33.000 --> 01:07:33.800
 just how much

01:07:33.800 --> 01:07:34.400
 Christ was

01:07:34.400 --> 01:07:35.159
 meditating on

01:07:35.159 --> 01:07:37.099
 her and

01:07:37.099 --> 01:07:37.780
 gazing upon

01:07:37.780 --> 01:07:38.079
 her.

01:07:40.079 --> 01:07:40.559
 Yeah,

01:07:41.019 --> 01:07:41.360
 that's a

01:07:41.360 --> 01:07:42.179
 great point.

01:07:42.340 --> 01:07:42.619
 That's a

01:07:42.619 --> 01:07:43.139
 wonderful

01:07:43.139 --> 01:07:43.559
 thought.

01:07:44.780 --> 01:07:45.420
 As much

01:07:45.420 --> 01:07:45.940
 as we

01:07:45.940 --> 01:07:46.599
 do this,

01:07:47.139 --> 01:07:47.639
 as best

01:07:47.639 --> 01:07:47.900
 as we

01:07:47.900 --> 01:07:48.280
 can do

01:07:48.280 --> 01:07:48.480
 it,

01:07:49.760 --> 01:07:50.240
 he does

01:07:50.240 --> 01:07:50.659
 this even

01:07:50.659 --> 01:07:51.420
 more upon

01:07:51.420 --> 01:07:51.740
 me.

01:07:52.740 --> 01:07:53.079
 Yes,

01:07:53.380 --> 01:07:53.740
 it's a

01:07:53.740 --> 01:07:54.500
 wonderful

01:07:54.500 --> 01:07:54.960
 dynamic

01:07:54.960 --> 01:07:55.240
 that we

01:07:55.240 --> 01:07:55.579
 see.

01:07:56.099 --> 01:07:56.840
 As we

01:07:56.840 --> 01:07:57.380
 cling to

01:07:57.380 --> 01:07:57.720
 him,

01:07:58.360 --> 01:07:58.940
 his right

01:07:58.940 --> 01:07:59.159
 hand

01:07:59.159 --> 01:07:59.599
 upholds

01:07:59.599 --> 01:07:59.920
 us.

01:08:00.680 --> 01:08:00.960
 So as

01:08:00.960 --> 01:08:01.099
 we're

01:08:01.099 --> 01:08:01.539
 gazing at

01:08:01.539 --> 01:08:01.680
 him,

01:08:01.760 --> 01:08:02.139
 that gaze

01:08:02.139 --> 01:08:02.579
 is right

01:08:02.579 --> 01:08:02.920
 back,

01:08:02.980 --> 01:08:03.240
 and that's

01:08:03.240 --> 01:08:03.519
 what makes

01:08:03.519 --> 01:08:03.980
 it fruitful.

01:08:06.300 --> 01:08:06.780
 Absolutely

01:08:06.780 --> 01:08:07.240
 great,

01:08:07.380 --> 01:08:07.860
 thank you.

01:08:10.320 --> 01:08:10.760
 Yeah,

01:08:10.920 --> 01:08:11.200
 Susie.

01:08:11.519 --> 01:08:12.039
 So in

01:08:12.039 --> 01:08:12.460
 terms of

01:08:12.460 --> 01:08:12.579
 the

01:08:12.579 --> 01:08:13.059
 application

01:08:13.059 --> 01:08:13.659
 you mentioned

01:08:13.659 --> 01:08:14.559
 about asking

01:08:14.559 --> 01:08:15.519
 God,

01:08:15.679 --> 01:08:16.220
 what do you

01:08:16.220 --> 01:08:16.939
 want me to

01:08:16.939 --> 01:08:18.220
 know and

01:08:18.220 --> 01:08:18.500
 learn,

01:08:18.619 --> 01:08:19.239
 and what are

01:08:19.239 --> 01:08:19.720
 you trying to

01:08:19.720 --> 01:08:20.880
 teach me in

01:08:20.880 --> 01:08:21.539
 this season,

01:08:22.059 --> 01:08:22.939
 how do you

01:08:22.939 --> 01:08:25.619
 know if that

01:08:25.619 --> 01:08:26.779
 passage is

01:08:26.779 --> 01:08:26.960
 really?

01:08:27.960 --> 01:08:28.439
 Yeah.

01:08:28.519 --> 01:08:30.219
 Is where

01:08:30.219 --> 01:08:30.479
 you're going

01:08:30.479 --> 01:08:30.840
 to find

01:08:30.840 --> 01:08:31.000
 it?

01:08:31.219 --> 01:08:31.460
 Yeah.

01:08:31.819 --> 01:08:32.039
 Yeah,

01:08:32.039 --> 01:08:33.439
 yeah,

01:08:33.439 --> 01:08:33.739
 yeah.

01:08:34.000 --> 01:08:34.639
 So the

01:08:34.639 --> 01:08:35.819
 wonderful thing

01:08:35.819 --> 01:08:36.519
 about

01:08:36.519 --> 01:08:37.179
 providence

01:08:37.179 --> 01:08:38.579
 is God

01:08:38.579 --> 01:08:39.019
 is able

01:08:39.019 --> 01:08:40.239
 to direct

01:08:40.239 --> 01:08:40.500
 you.

01:08:40.819 --> 01:08:41.279
 Have you

01:08:41.279 --> 01:08:42.099
 not noticed

01:08:42.099 --> 01:08:43.179
 how when

01:08:43.179 --> 01:08:43.579
 you are

01:08:43.579 --> 01:08:44.279
 actually practicing

01:08:44.279 --> 01:08:44.619
 this and

01:08:44.619 --> 01:08:44.739
 you're

01:08:44.739 --> 01:08:44.979
 meditating,

01:08:45.079 --> 01:08:45.179
 you're

01:08:45.179 --> 01:08:45.439
 spending

01:08:45.439 --> 01:08:45.939
 time in

01:08:45.939 --> 01:08:46.319
 scripture,

01:08:47.279 --> 01:08:48.340
 how those,

01:08:49.000 --> 01:08:49.699
 what you

01:08:49.699 --> 01:08:50.099
 get in

01:08:50.099 --> 01:08:50.539
 scripture,

01:08:50.960 --> 01:08:51.279
 the things

01:08:51.279 --> 01:08:51.719
 that are

01:08:51.719 --> 01:08:52.319
 able to

01:08:52.319 --> 01:08:52.960
 impress

01:08:52.960 --> 01:08:53.179
 you,

01:08:53.180 --> 01:08:53.420
 maybe

01:08:53.420 --> 01:08:53.680
 even

01:08:53.680 --> 01:08:54.400
 inscribe

01:08:54.400 --> 01:08:54.900
 you,

01:08:55.900 --> 01:08:56.360
 become

01:08:56.360 --> 01:08:56.800
 for that

01:08:56.800 --> 01:08:57.560
 time a

01:08:57.560 --> 01:08:58.039
 lens through

01:08:58.039 --> 01:08:58.380
 which you

01:08:58.380 --> 01:08:59.200
 see everything

01:08:59.200 --> 01:09:00.579
 and how

01:09:00.579 --> 01:09:01.320
 those are

01:09:01.320 --> 01:09:01.780
 often the

01:09:01.780 --> 01:09:02.300
 very things

01:09:02.300 --> 01:09:02.680
 that God

01:09:02.680 --> 01:09:03.060
 wants you

01:09:03.060 --> 01:09:03.460
 to be able

01:09:03.460 --> 01:09:03.960
 to see

01:09:03.960 --> 01:09:04.440
 and he's

01:09:04.440 --> 01:09:04.820
 provided

01:09:04.820 --> 01:09:05.560
 those lenses

01:09:05.560 --> 01:09:07.100
 and so

01:09:07.100 --> 01:09:08.000
 providentially

01:09:08.000 --> 01:09:09.640
 he works

01:09:09.640 --> 01:09:10.579
 such that

01:09:10.579 --> 01:09:11.200
 where he

01:09:11.200 --> 01:09:11.700
 has guided

01:09:11.700 --> 01:09:11.980
 you in

01:09:11.980 --> 01:09:12.240
 scripture

01:09:12.240 --> 01:09:12.800
 and it

01:09:12.800 --> 01:09:13.220
 might seem

01:09:13.220 --> 01:09:13.460
 to be

01:09:13.460 --> 01:09:13.820
 completely

01:09:13.820 --> 01:09:14.340
 random

01:09:14.340 --> 01:09:14.940
 to you

01:09:14.940 --> 01:09:15.880
 where you're

01:09:15.880 --> 01:09:16.539
 just,

01:09:16.740 --> 01:09:16.920
 you know,

01:09:16.980 --> 01:09:17.340
 I haven't

01:09:17.340 --> 01:09:17.720
 read this

01:09:17.720 --> 01:09:18.079
 in a while,

01:09:18.140 --> 01:09:18.420
 let me just

01:09:18.420 --> 01:09:18.800
 read this

01:09:18.800 --> 01:09:20.640
 and God

01:09:20.640 --> 01:09:21.220
 can take

01:09:21.220 --> 01:09:22.600
 any number

01:09:22.600 --> 01:09:23.000
 of things

01:09:23.000 --> 01:09:23.380
 from his

01:09:23.380 --> 01:09:23.800
 scripture

01:09:23.800 --> 01:09:25.000
 and use

01:09:25.000 --> 01:09:25.920
 them particularly

01:09:25.920 --> 01:09:26.720
 for just

01:09:26.720 --> 01:09:27.159
 what our

01:09:27.159 --> 01:09:28.060
 need is

01:09:28.060 --> 01:09:30.260
 so we

01:09:30.260 --> 01:09:30.619
 leave it

01:09:30.619 --> 01:09:31.079
 to him

01:09:31.079 --> 01:09:32.039
 and in

01:09:32.039 --> 01:09:32.420
 some ways

01:09:32.420 --> 01:09:32.640
 when you

01:09:32.640 --> 01:09:32.900
 just go

01:09:32.900 --> 01:09:33.079
 to the

01:09:33.079 --> 01:09:33.260
 word

01:09:33.260 --> 01:09:34.180
 he is,

01:09:34.279 --> 01:09:35.100
 he is

01:09:35.100 --> 01:09:35.480
 picking,

01:09:35.860 --> 01:09:36.199
 even though

01:09:36.199 --> 01:09:36.560
 we pick

01:09:36.560 --> 01:09:37.020
 the spot

01:09:37.020 --> 01:09:37.659
 he'll pick

01:09:37.659 --> 01:09:38.100
 the truth

01:09:38.100 --> 01:09:38.640
 to impress

01:09:38.640 --> 01:09:38.980
 you and

01:09:38.980 --> 01:09:39.820
 the spirit

01:09:39.820 --> 01:09:40.060
 will do

01:09:40.060 --> 01:09:40.260
 that,

01:09:40.520 --> 01:09:40.680
 so you

01:09:40.680 --> 01:09:41.119
 just trust

01:09:41.119 --> 01:09:41.360
 him in

01:09:41.360 --> 01:09:41.560
 that,

01:09:41.860 --> 01:09:42.199
 don't worry

01:09:42.199 --> 01:09:42.560
 about oh

01:09:42.560 --> 01:09:43.060
 no I'm

01:09:43.060 --> 01:09:43.400
 looking in

01:09:43.400 --> 01:09:43.680
 the wrong

01:09:43.680 --> 01:09:43.960
 part of

01:09:43.960 --> 01:09:44.340
 the Bible,

01:09:44.760 --> 01:09:45.239
 if I don't

01:09:45.239 --> 01:09:45.680
 find just

01:09:45.680 --> 01:09:45.960
 the right

01:09:45.960 --> 01:09:46.420
 part God

01:09:46.420 --> 01:09:46.900
 can't speak

01:09:46.900 --> 01:09:47.100
 to me,

01:09:47.159 --> 01:09:47.600
 no no he

01:09:47.600 --> 01:09:47.980
 can,

01:09:47.979 --> 01:09:48.939
 he can

01:09:48.939 --> 01:09:49.339
 use all

01:09:49.339 --> 01:09:49.559
 of his

01:09:49.559 --> 01:09:49.979
 word to

01:09:49.979 --> 01:09:51.039
 do this,

01:09:51.199 --> 01:09:51.939
 sometimes it

01:09:51.939 --> 01:09:52.559
 takes years

01:09:52.559 --> 01:09:53.019
 to learn

01:09:53.019 --> 01:09:53.479
 the lesson,

01:09:53.839 --> 01:09:55.379
 it could

01:09:55.379 --> 01:09:55.779
 be that the

01:09:55.779 --> 01:09:56.159
 lesson is

01:09:56.159 --> 01:09:56.539
 patient,

01:09:56.539 --> 01:09:57.279
 you know,

01:09:57.319 --> 01:10:00.419
 that's right,

01:10:01.179 --> 01:10:01.919
 that's right,

01:10:01.919 --> 01:10:03.759
 that's right,

01:10:03.839 --> 01:10:04.179
 some of us

01:10:04.179 --> 01:10:04.459
 are on the

01:10:04.459 --> 01:10:04.819
 remedial

01:10:04.819 --> 01:10:05.319
 program,

01:10:05.519 --> 01:10:05.779
 I'd say,

01:10:06.019 --> 01:10:07.719
 I certainly

01:10:07.719 --> 01:10:08.159
 am,

01:10:08.339 --> 01:10:08.899
 I just don't

01:10:08.899 --> 01:10:09.239
 read the

01:10:09.239 --> 01:10:09.500
 Bible,

01:10:09.659 --> 01:10:10.019
 open it

01:10:10.019 --> 01:10:10.319
 up and

01:10:10.319 --> 01:10:11.239
 then point

01:10:11.239 --> 01:10:11.979
 and then

01:10:11.979 --> 01:10:12.779
 think this

01:10:12.779 --> 01:10:13.039
 is going

01:10:13.039 --> 01:10:13.459
 to speak

01:10:13.459 --> 01:10:13.819
 to me,

01:10:13.879 --> 01:10:14.239
 I never

01:10:14.239 --> 01:10:14.679
 read the

01:10:14.679 --> 01:10:14.879
 Bible,

01:10:14.939 --> 01:10:15.199
 yeah,

01:10:15.419 --> 01:10:15.619
 you know,

01:10:15.699 --> 01:10:17.079
 he says,

01:10:17.319 --> 01:10:17.539
 look,

01:10:17.979 --> 01:10:18.719
 don't be

01:10:18.719 --> 01:10:19.279
 like a

01:10:19.279 --> 01:10:19.599
 horse,

01:10:19.719 --> 01:10:19.879
 you know,

01:10:20.079 --> 01:10:20.899
 a horse

01:10:20.899 --> 01:10:21.379
 or a mule

01:10:21.379 --> 01:10:22.479
 with a bit

01:10:22.479 --> 01:10:23.179
 bridal spur,

01:10:23.279 --> 01:10:23.419
 you know,

01:10:23.559 --> 01:10:23.959
 in other words,

01:10:24.199 --> 01:10:24.919
 have some sort

01:10:24.919 --> 01:10:25.539
 of renewed

01:10:25.539 --> 01:10:26.459
 sanctified mind

01:10:26.459 --> 01:10:26.979
 and think

01:10:26.979 --> 01:10:27.799
 through these

01:10:27.799 --> 01:10:28.179
 things,

01:10:28.379 --> 01:10:29.279
 but here's

01:10:29.279 --> 01:10:29.559
 the good

01:10:29.559 --> 01:10:29.919
 news,

01:10:30.699 --> 01:10:31.479
 even if you

01:10:31.479 --> 01:10:32.259
 don't,

01:10:33.119 --> 01:10:33.699
 God can

01:10:33.699 --> 01:10:34.859
 still use

01:10:34.859 --> 01:10:35.239
 that,

01:10:35.319 --> 01:10:35.759
 even if you

01:10:35.759 --> 01:10:35.959
 do,

01:10:36.319 --> 01:10:36.599
 you know,

01:10:36.659 --> 01:10:37.719
 you flip

01:10:37.719 --> 01:10:38.159
 open the

01:10:38.159 --> 01:10:38.799
 Bible or if,

01:10:38.899 --> 01:10:38.979
 you know,

01:10:39.019 --> 01:10:39.359
 I'm not

01:10:39.359 --> 01:10:40.039
 particularly good,

01:10:40.199 --> 01:10:40.359
 you know,

01:10:40.419 --> 01:10:41.059
 we don't,

01:10:41.279 --> 01:10:41.759
 as elders,

01:10:41.899 --> 01:10:42.500
 we don't cast

01:10:42.500 --> 01:10:42.979
 lots,

01:10:43.519 --> 01:10:43.659
 you know,

01:10:43.659 --> 01:10:44.199
 we try to have

01:10:44.199 --> 01:10:44.719
 the mind of

01:10:44.719 --> 01:10:45.019
 Christ,

01:10:45.119 --> 01:10:45.539
 we don't cast

01:10:45.539 --> 01:10:45.759
 lots,

01:10:45.760 --> 01:10:46.079
 but you

01:10:46.079 --> 01:10:46.460
 know what,

01:10:47.260 --> 01:10:47.539
 you know,

01:10:47.600 --> 01:10:48.640
 if our hearts

01:10:48.640 --> 01:10:49.079
 were humble

01:10:49.079 --> 01:10:49.360
 and we were

01:10:49.360 --> 01:10:49.840
 really seeking

01:10:49.840 --> 01:10:50.119
 the Lord,

01:10:50.360 --> 01:10:50.659
 he could

01:10:50.659 --> 01:10:51.100
 direct us

01:10:51.100 --> 01:10:51.680
 through lots,

01:10:52.039 --> 01:10:52.239
 you know,

01:10:52.320 --> 01:10:53.980
 he did even

01:10:53.980 --> 01:10:54.400
 the choice

01:10:54.400 --> 01:10:54.980
 of an apostle,

01:10:55.460 --> 01:10:55.760
 you know,

01:10:56.400 --> 01:10:57.039
 so,

01:10:57.739 --> 01:10:58.039
 yeah,

01:10:58.220 --> 01:10:58.880
 there's a

01:10:58.880 --> 01:11:00.220
 nunnery in

01:11:00.220 --> 01:11:00.940
 southern France

01:11:00.940 --> 01:11:01.940
 and they've

01:11:01.940 --> 01:11:02.300
 written out

01:11:02.300 --> 01:11:02.880
 the entire

01:11:02.880 --> 01:11:04.420
 Bible on

01:11:04.420 --> 01:11:04.960
 little slips

01:11:04.960 --> 01:11:05.520
 of paper that

01:11:05.520 --> 01:11:05.880
 they have in

01:11:05.880 --> 01:11:06.500
 a huge

01:11:06.500 --> 01:11:07.079
 cauldron,

01:11:07.659 --> 01:11:08.180
 just one

01:11:08.180 --> 01:11:08.640
 verse at a

01:11:08.640 --> 01:11:08.900
 time,

01:11:08.899 --> 01:11:09.619
 and every

01:11:09.619 --> 01:11:09.979
 day,

01:11:10.460 --> 01:11:10.719
 you know,

01:11:10.899 --> 01:11:11.479
 the head

01:11:11.479 --> 01:11:11.859
 abbess,

01:11:11.960 --> 01:11:12.259
 she just

01:11:12.259 --> 01:11:12.899
 reaches in

01:11:12.899 --> 01:11:13.139
 and she

01:11:13.139 --> 01:11:13.679
 pulls out

01:11:13.679 --> 01:11:14.059
 one,

01:11:14.500 --> 01:11:14.899
 it's like a

01:11:14.899 --> 01:11:15.460
 fortune cookie,

01:11:15.639 --> 01:11:15.779
 you know,

01:11:15.859 --> 01:11:16.659
 but it's the

01:11:16.659 --> 01:11:16.960
 scripture,

01:11:17.159 --> 01:11:17.279
 you know,

01:11:17.299 --> 01:11:17.699
 it's the word,

01:11:17.960 --> 01:11:18.319
 and she

01:11:18.319 --> 01:11:18.979
 reads that

01:11:18.979 --> 01:11:19.619
 and they

01:11:19.619 --> 01:11:21.219
 approach their

01:11:21.219 --> 01:11:21.719
 whole day

01:11:21.719 --> 01:11:22.379
 in light of

01:11:22.379 --> 01:11:23.359
 that verse

01:11:23.359 --> 01:11:24.099
 and you think,

01:11:24.299 --> 01:11:25.079
 good grief,

01:11:25.259 --> 01:11:25.960
 surely there's a

01:11:25.960 --> 01:11:26.679
 more fruitful

01:11:26.679 --> 01:11:27.079
 way to,

01:11:27.279 --> 01:11:28.359
 you know,

01:11:28.420 --> 01:11:28.879
 discerning,

01:11:28.979 --> 01:11:29.359
 engage the word,

01:11:29.619 --> 01:11:31.599
 but that's what

01:11:31.599 --> 01:11:32.099
 they do and,

01:11:32.219 --> 01:11:32.319
 you know,

01:11:32.399 --> 01:11:33.219
 God blesses it.

01:11:34.279 --> 01:11:35.219
 He guides them

01:11:35.219 --> 01:11:35.960
 into some really

01:11:35.960 --> 01:11:36.899
 fruitful paths,

01:11:37.019 --> 01:11:37.299
 you know,

01:11:37.300 --> 01:11:39.020
 and contemplate

01:11:39.020 --> 01:11:40.020
 on Jesus

01:11:40.020 --> 01:11:40.520
 wept.

01:11:40.680 --> 01:11:40.940
 Yeah,

01:11:41.100 --> 01:11:42.000
 there you go,

01:11:42.279 --> 01:11:42.619
 yeah,

01:11:43.100 --> 01:11:43.659
 that's right,

01:11:43.980 --> 01:11:44.520
 that's right.

01:11:45.420 --> 01:11:45.980
 All right,

01:11:46.060 --> 01:11:46.659
 thank you team,

01:11:46.900 --> 01:11:47.699
 we will,

01:11:48.500 --> 01:11:48.739
 yeah,

01:11:48.820 --> 01:11:49.300
 I don't know

01:11:49.300 --> 01:11:49.659
 what's,

01:11:50.380 --> 01:11:50.760
 does anybody

01:11:50.760 --> 01:11:51.300
 know what

01:11:51.300 --> 01:11:51.779
 we're doing

01:11:51.779 --> 01:11:52.720
 next week?

01:11:52.960 --> 01:11:53.640
 I guess this is,

01:11:54.060 --> 01:11:55.060
 something's starting,

01:11:55.260 --> 01:11:55.800
 I'm sure we'll hear

01:11:55.800 --> 01:11:56.320
 it in the service,

01:11:56.720 --> 01:11:57.199
 I'm sure it'll be

01:11:57.199 --> 01:11:57.720
 announced in the

01:11:57.720 --> 01:11:58.020
 service.